After thinking the matter over, I think there is a reasonable chance that Senate Republicans will honor the promise of a DACA vote, and that a relief for Dreamers will pass the Senate. Why would Senate Republicans act so out of character? They will benefit by appearing reasonable to more voters, and they know that no matter what they pass, it is doubtful that Lyin’ Ryan will ever allow the House to vote on it. So we’d better prepare for Round 2.
Time, on its own, doesn’t assuage racism. White power concedes nothing without a vigorous fight, and the fantasy that racism is a problem that can just be waited out is an absolute delusion. That’s part of America’s problem: it continually asks black and brown people to sit tight, stand down, never gripe or protest, and naively hope that a country that has repeatedly betrayed and abused them will miraculously do the right thing. That’s what’s happening with DACA right now, and the frustration of watching this familiar scene play out is maddening.
The DACA fight, including the 60-hour recent government shutdown, has been about racism from day one. Donald Trump’s well-documented white supremacist bonafides dating back to his discriminatory real estate practices in the 1970s are legion, and the evidence has come fast and furious over the last two years. There was the launch of his presidential bid with a speech that cast all Mexicans as criminals, the judge he insulted based solely on his Mexican heritage, his promise to his supporters to enact policies specifically designed to hurt people of color, and his sympathizing with the “very fine [group of] people” who murdered an anti-racism protester. By the time word leaked that Trump had moaned about immigrants from “shithole countries,” the statement only confirmed what was obvious. Trump believes DACA allows shithole-caliber black and brown people to live in this country at a moment he is desperately trying to Make America Aryan Again, apparently with a huge influx of Norwegians.
Trump isn’t alone in this effort, he’s backed by a White House full of racist xenophobes. Senior Trump staffer Stephen Miller has a record of anti-immigrant racism that dates back to junior high school, when he reportedly unfriended a schoolmate for being Latino, and his undergrad days at Duke University, where he railed against “multiculturalism” and hung out with notoriously punchable Nazi Richard Spencer. The first hint that White House Chief of Staff John Kelly might be a racist was his willingness work for Trump. Since taking the job, he has solidified his stance by singing Robert E. Lee‘s praises, defending monuments to the Confederacy, and promoting the idea that slavery wasn’t such a bad institution if you just get into the mindset of white slaveowners (and John Kelly, apparently). He has also been relentless in advancing this administration’s xenophobic goals. “In just six months, Kelly turned [the Department of Homeland Security] into a deportation machine” notes the the Nation’s Julianne Hing, “translat[ing] much of Trump’s brazen anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric into actual policy."…
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Click through for an excellent in depth analysis of the racist hatred that pervades the Republican Party. That is why I see little this as an exercise in futility.
RESIST THE REPUBLICAN REICH!!
11 Responses to “Prepare for Round 2”
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I think we may be able to reach a few of the whites who think that racism can simply be waited out – given time. It’s the ones who think that racism no longer exists, because reasons. The ones who think that black and brown people have already been granted equal rights, or even special rights. The ones who think that black and brown people are overrepresented in prisons, or in school suspensions, because white people are in fact better citizens (spoiler: they aren’t. In fact, not even close.) Those are the people who scare me.
We need to grab them by the midterms. Then maybe we can get something done.
They (gop), want to spread their heinous screed to the peoples, by lying and deceiving. If the situation were reversed, and THEIR families or THEIR grandchildren were deported, or being labeled “Illegal”, you’d have a riot. I’m very concerned about this, as we have dreamers who are Vital, Important Persons, and wonderful folks.
Grab the GOP by the cojones and tell them NO!!!
The Rethuglicans control the Oval Office, the Senate and the House – then blame the Democrats for everything. Sure, the Democrats are no prize – too many Democreeps are just GOP Lite – but I am confident that enough of them are accepting their party’s need to return to its Progressive roots.
Talking about the piece of s**t named Ryan, check out this link for the reward he’s gotten from the Koch boys, and the bulls**t they spew out regarding their vision of the future:
https://www.nationofchange.org/2018/01/23/paul-ryan-receives-half-million-koch-contributions-just-days-passing-tax-law/
If Ryan has tit the Koch machine’s way the house will never pass, much less even vote, on this issue. The Koch boys are elitist racists, and little else!
Excellent analysis, thanks for posting, TomCat.
Articles like these always have two very opposing effects on me. On the one hand I’m appalled by the amount of racism and xenophobia that have been lying hidden, but never dormant, under the spirit of the largest immigration country in the world and which now show themselves in all their ugliness under this Republican/Drumpf regime. On the other hand it comforts me to hear many people of all color, including progressive whites, acknowledge this racism and xenophobia and fighting it.
Americans need not fool themselves nor beat themselves up over it to the extremes, racism and xenophobia is rampant around the world, much like it ever was. The dip was short lived, I’m afraid, and the political situation has them rearing their ugly heads in the countries dear to me (Holland and Australia) but also in near-perfect Norway. They have always been a part of human frailty which could be easily exploited by politicians, warmongers, dictators, colonialists and religious leaders alike. But acknowledging that it is a some fault in mankind’s psychological makeup, a remnant of primordial times when it probably served some survival purpose, is in now way excusing it. Mankind has managed to overcome other such primeval thinking and the Era of Enlightenment and the 1960’s were a good start. Stop the blame game politicians want you to play, acknowledge it as the threat to all of us it is and start resisting.
Good advice until this racist and lying cabal can be turned out of office! Do not be silent because to do so is to consent to the madness!
Haven’t been on lately. Husband is in ICU and has been for the last 18 days. Sorry. Nothing to report.
Terribly sorry to hear that your husband is still in ICU, Vivian. I hope for both of you that will change for the better soon and your husband will be transferred to a ward to start his next steps in the road of recovery. My thoughts are with you both.
Viv, I’m so sorry about your husband. You both continue in my prayers.
2018 is in general not a great year for husbands’ health so far. I’m praying for all the husbands currently suffering, and also for those not yet affected for them to be safe! We need our good men!
Viv, you and hubby are in my thoughts and prayers. Take care!