Of course, I’m not referring to the Reich on the right, the Republican Reich. They are virtually always wrong about everything. I’m referring to the Reich on the left, Robert Reich. Robert has a fascinating theory about why women are coming out and exposing their predators.
Why are so many women now speaking out about the sexual abuses they’ve experienced for years? Is there anything unique about the time we’re now living through that has encouraged them to end their silence?
I can’t help think their decisions are part of something that’s happening throughout much of American society right now – a backlash against what has been the growing domination of America by powerful and wealthy men (and a few women) who came to believe they can do whatever they want to do, to whomever they choose.
“When you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab ‘em by the pussy,” said Donald Trump in the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape.
Sexual assault is one obvious assertion of dominance. Other forms include economic bullying and the stoking of bigotry to gain political power.
Trump epitomizes it all. As a businessman he stiffed contractors, used bankruptcy to avoid paying creditors, and wielded lawsuits to threaten critics.
As a politician he gained traction by alleging Obama was born in Africa, Mexicans are rapists and murders, and Muslims must be kept out of America.
As president, he has bullied everyone who disagrees with him – journalists, judges, members of congress, his own staff and cabinet.
And he’s bullied the vulnerable and innocent – “dreamers” who came to the U.S. as small children but could be deported because of him; the elderly and sick who may lose their health coverage because of him; the needy families who will no longer receive assistance because the the massive corporate tax cuts he’s pushing will require cuts in programs they depend on… [emphasis added]
Inserted from <Robert Reich>
Click through to read the rest of this fine article.
I think Robert makes an excellent argument, and because of it, I think we need to consider all forms of Republican bullies at the same level of depravity as GOP Perverts.
RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!
13 Responses to “The Reich is Right about Bullies”
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“This should be the Democrat’s hour – especially if they stand up against the bullies of America, and stand for the millions who have been humiliated, intimidated, disenfranchised, and disempowered.” *RR
As most people who grace these pages, we are a Resisting, Protesting, Insisting, Desisting, and yes, strong group of folks here. And…a most respectful group here also. imho.
Well, he has a point. Trump has certainly bullied many people who have not been accustomed to being bullied – and, those who were accustomed to it at some level, he has greatly stepped up the bullying.
As a corollary, this narrative feeds into my concern that they will attempt to discredit more and more individual Democrats, to push bothsiderism and try to discredit the entire party. That, if you will, is something to be vigilant for.
You do have to give the Orange Devil his due – he has galvanized genuine Progressives to get off their arses and GET ACTIVE!
“…rude awakening,” would be nice, very nice. Beating Roy Moore would be so wonderful, within this context, especially, but loosing to him would be a blow against the new momentum. Beating Moore would be a blow against Banon, and I understand that the woman in the Franken situation is close to Bannon.
Sign of Aging: My Mom has one of those grabber things like in the cartoon – and I just noticed a t-shirt that fell behind the dryer that looks like too much of a hassle to disconnect/move to get to it.
Gonna have to get one of those grabber things.
Like going through the stages of puberty in our youth, it’s now like going through the stages of getting o-l-d.
I inherited such a grabber thing from my Mom when she died and I use it for exactly those occasions you mention, Nameless. I must be getting old too; I’m finding more and more use for the darn thing.
I use my grabber dozens of times every day, but it’s not a pussy grabber, because I never grab myself.
I advise getting one.
I’ll join the chorus – I have more than one (including some of different lengths) and I have them placed strategically throughout the house so there is generally one handy. I’d go nuts without them.
I think women are fed up with the sexual abuse they have taken and it is about time they speak up. So far though, Trump seems to be unaffected. I find it difficult to believe how many women support him.
American revolutionaries needed mad king George to rouse them into action against tyranny, the French had the ineptitude and spendthrift of Louis XVI to activate them and have them take to the streets, especially the French women, and apparently Drumpf has become the figurehead in which all that is bad in a country’s elitism, power hunger, greed and bullying has culminated and unites people in rising against. That will be the only thing history is going to give him credit for.
AMEN!!!
Thanks all. Hugs!
It is amazing how far the Bully-in-Chief has come politically! But what is even more amazing is the number of people, particularly women, who support him.
Here, there is so much education going on in schools, community groups etc about bullying. And there is so much more to do. As Reich says, and of course he is speaking specifically about American politics, bullying is about “… the growing domination of America by powerful and wealthy men…”, in other words, power and influence in less political terms.
Until people are willing to educate themselves and involve themselves in thinking critically about various issues, there always be the Drumpfs willing to take power away from the individual. Given that women make up 51% of the population, it is not surprising that this group of citizens is coming out and standing up to some of the bullying.
Robert Reich, like usual, is spot on.