(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . Same Farmer’s Market, Different Experience [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-08-15 On August 4, 2024, I wrote, “Back At The Famer’s Market” in which I recounted a pleasant and encouraging experience. Last week, Saturday, August 11 was a very different experience. The Market was not as well attended as it was on Saturday, August 3, and Republicans, panicked over the excitement inspired by Kamala Harris and Tim Walz and in full denial of Trump’s slipping support, were on the prowl. One male dotard stopped at our booth to verbally wave the frayed and tattered straw dog of socialism at us. To which I replied that I might think his fear was understandable if I did know that his party defines socialism as any government spending that does not further enrich people who are already billionaires. He ignored my truthful comment, muttered something about Sweden, and shuffled off. He was soon replaced by a dotard we know well. This well known dotard can be found at the GOP registration booth when he is not out annoying people by repeating to them the absurd utterances of the most prolific liar in the history of the American presidency as if doing so demonstrates some great knowledge of governement and/or politics that he must share with others whether they want to hear it or not. He is far too stupid to know that he is ignorant, and I realize that it would be easier to teach my dog calculous than to inform him of anything that challenges his favorite delusions. Yet I let myself get sucked into the trap of responding to his election denials and other nonsense knowing that he responds to everything by simply doubling down on the lies. I can almost hear my dad saying, “idiots will always drag you down to their level if you make the mistake of arguing with them!” All right, Aug. 3 was a mental health break, and Aug 11 was a reminder that I live in a red district where there is much work to do. The fact that so many Republicans still believe Trump’s big election lie made me revisit something I wrote on Nov. 3, 2022. It needs more work and editing. Sorry about that, but I think the first three or four paragraphs, with some editing and revisions, are worth repeating. Hopefully with your kind indulgence, and with my acknowledgement that the people who really need to read this do not visit Daily Kos, here are those edited paragraphs with revisions and additions: Trump Won In which court? To overturn an election in this country or any other democracy you have to go to a court of law and present clear and convincing evidence that the election you want to overturn is invalid. This rule of law is essential because any democratic nation that overturns elections because of unproven allegations will not be a democracy very long. None of the plaintiffs in the over sixty lawsuits alleging outcome determinative fraud in the 2020 presidential election were able to present any evidence of the frauds alleged, and all those suits were thrown out or decided in favor of the defendants. Yet the unproven and false allegation that the 2020 election was stolen persists among MAGA’s who, unlike jurists and jurors, do not have to (and will not) look at the evidence. To see how grave a threat Trump's big lie is to democracy just look at the number of R-fascists who now say they will not accept the result of any election they lose! Note: since writing this, voters have wisely punished many of the election deniers, but some of the deniers, such as Kari Lake, continue to win Republican primaries. Go figure! Calling Republicans fascists may seem unwarranted, but the traits the MAGAs share with fascists make the comparison almost inevitable. By “take America back” Trump's chumps are saying they want to restore the absolute rule of privileged white males. I am not just being hyperbolic here. The white nationalists believe their culture and fragile manhood are under attack, and they are more than willing to give up democracy to keep what they perceive to be their racial, ethnic, religious, and gender superiority. The January 6 insurrection bears no resemblance to 1776. If the secret service had allowed Trump to go to the capital during the January 6 insurrection, we would now be talking about Trump's putsch – assuming that the first amendment still protected free speech. The slogan Trump took from Ronald Reagan, “Make America Great Again,” should have provided ample warning about was to come. As Mussolini hearkened back to the glory of the Roman Empire, all fascists (including Donald Trump) claim they will return their nation to the greatness it achieved during some mythical past. “All you have to do is follow me, the great leader,” they say. The traits stated above are just a few of the characteristics Trump and his MAGAs share with fascists. Furthermore, the threat posed by the R-fascists is far greater than it would appear to be at first blush because the movement appeals to both the white nationalists and other people who feel victimized, threatened, and/or exploited. Unfortunately, billionaires and big corporations have been too successful in selling the myth that Republicans are better at handling the economy, and far too many of the people who believe this myth will choose prosperity over democracy if they think that is the choice. In doing so they will lose both their democracy and their prosperity, and so will we. If you love democracy only when you win, you don’t love democracy! Now, in 2024, Trump and the R-fascists are trying to set us up for the specious allegations they hope will get us to ignore the will of the electorate and install Donald J. Trump, the loser, as President of the United States for life! Note: since writing this, more people have started expressing confidence in the economy and the ability of the Democrats to make it better. This makes me more optimistic about our ability to win the November elections and thwart Trump’s attempts to do away with our constitution. Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are moving us forward again -- away from the depressing shadow of grievance politics, happily stepping into the light to the beat of “Freedom” by Beyonce. The Harris/Walz rallies are filled with large crowds of smiling, cheering Democrats who laugh at the jokes and make me think of Franklin Roosevelt’s theme song, “Happy Days Are Here Again.” Yay! The laughter and happiness are infectious, and it is making people want to join us. Thank you, Kamala and Tim. Thank you for the joy, we need it! [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/story/2024/8/15/2263368/-Same-Farmer-s-Market-Different-Experience Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/