Category: Cold Civil War

The ‘Frothy’ Right


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

This is one of those times when I wish someone was paying to write this post. If that was the case, then I would spend the energy necessary to paint a clear picture of what is going on with this subject.

But, as it is, lulz. Here’s my half-assed, somewhat lazy write up.

See, there is an element of the Right that is way, way, way over stimulated about their fascist inclinations. To the point that they say and do some batshit things in bad faith that even THEY know are dumb. I mean, Dean Cane was involved in a skit at CPAC (I think) one year that was based on the emails of the two FBI lovers that Trump hates so much.

Then there are all these other instances — usually featuring Jesse Kelly — where the froth of the extreme, extreme Right is so dumb and ridiculous that you know that even they get kind of embarrassed by it all soon enough.

Anyway, it’s all very, very dumb. But there’s an audience for such bullshit.

Daydreaming Of A ‘Traditionalist’ Party


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I have seen a lot of Twitter liberals have some hope that we might see sort of “constitutional conservative” party that would, in effect, give Traditionalists somewhere for enough presidential election cycles until we get the whole autocracy – anocracy – democracy thing sorted out within the context of the browning of America.

Sad to say, I just don’t see that happening.

It’s delusional and gives the non-Blue Check rubes false hope.

You can’t have a successful party when the only people who support it are the people who are in it. I mean, I can count on one hand the people who would make up the leadership of a Constitutional Conservative Party on one hand. (As an aside, I would call it what it is — the Traditionalist Party. It rolls off the tongue a lot better than Constitutional Conservative.)

But, let’s say the Traditionalist Party ran a Pence / Cheney ticket. How successful might it be? That is a very good question. I honestly don’t know. But it probably would be doomed to failure. The reason is Trump (and supporters of the January 6 Insurrection) have such an absolute death-grip over the Republican Party that I just can’t see much happening.

It all goes back to the fear of the browning of America. That trumps — no pun intended — every other argument. That’s why Traditionalists decided to support Trump — insane tweets and all — in the first place. We’re past the even horizon when it comes to tyranny.

And, in the end, all the Blue Check Twitter liberals who got all excited about this dumb political idea will be the first to leave the country for other, more stable nations — should we have a civil war or finally slip peacefully into autocracy.

My Hot Take On Jonathan Chait’s Hot Take On Ross Douthat’s Hot Take On The Rise Of American Authoritarianism

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I saw this by Jonathan Chait and had to comment.

Even if it were true, a two-party democracy that rests on the authoritarian party never losing isn’t very safe. As democratic safeguards go, it’s the equivalent of the rhythm method of contraception. Its only real advantage is that it allows conservatives to avoid acknowledging a choice between their party and democracy. Maybe things will work out and they can have both!

This is the crux of the issue facing American politics at the moment. We have one party that doesn’t believe in democracy (Republicans) and one that is blissfully unaware of what they’re up against — Democrats.

So, here we are. The only question we have at the moment is, first, are we going to have a civil war or autocracy. Second, the question is, how bad is either one of those choices going to get. Will we bomb ourselves into oblivion if we have a civil war, or will we become a Russia-level autocracy before it’s over with.

Just assuming that the center-Left will continue to win elections forever is not exactly a great way to ensure democracy. So, we’re in trouble. The next few months will become more and more bumpy.

Addressing Traditionalist Arguments


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Both Sides
In this argument, Traditionalists say they’re forced to take the side of the MAGA New Right because “both sides” are now extreme and they would rather there be a white fascist Christian ethno-state than a Leftist government that forces the “woke” agenda down people’s throats. And, of course, something something 2nd Amendment and something something abortion, something something transgender athletes. The flaw with these arguments, to me, is, well the Nazis. There’s a big difference between the de facto assholery of the “woke Leftist mob” and the de jure attacks on freedoms that come as part of any autocratic state. Form follows function, as they say. (This is where the “bogus” argument comes in.)
Debate Nullification (The ‘Bogus’ Argument)
The “Bogus” argument is when a Traditionalists just pretty much says, I don’t care what you’re saying, I don’t believe it and fuck you. They say, in effect, that they’ve made up their minds — they’re throwing their lot with fucking fascist racist bigots and there’s nothing you can say to change their minds. Then you either just stop debating politics or you start screaming at each other.
Being Attacked Just For Being Conservative
This is actually a valid argument. This is actually happening. But I would suggest they use traditional politics to get what they want — by say, changing their general political views and working within the changing demographics of a democracy — than simply burning everything down in a racist, bigoted hissy fit.

Pick A Side


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

One thing that I continue to roll around in my head is how we’ve reached a point in American political history when both sides have legitimate reasons to believe what they believe. Or, put another way, each side has an infrastructure built out to allow them to believe what they believe.

This is all happening in the context of the two sides growing more and more radical. Either you’re with one side, or the other. No compromise. And my Traditionalist relatives do have a point — they are, in fact, in a sense being persecuted for just being conservative.

But the context of all of this is so complicate that it’s difficult for me to get much beyond that in my support for them and their agenda. Add to this how I know what no matter what, I’m going to run afoul of the autocrat simply because I’m a loudmouth drunk Internet crank and I’ll rather throw my lot with democracy than fucking fascist American Nazis. (This is the point where my Traditionalists relatives either say “both sides” or do some form of debate nullification.) I’m still of the opinion that some of the stupider elements of the Left will simply burn off one way or another.

Either it burns off because it’s ended one and for all by an American Autocrat via corrupt laws, or it’s burned off as part of a broader civil war. While I’m sure they’ll always be a part of our national discourse to some extent, I don’t see pronouns, trigger warnings and safe spaces being as urgent as they are now forever. (I’m often wrong.)

Anyway, the point is — pick a side. In the near future, a side will be chosen for you, even if you don’t like it. So, I suggest you pick one now and get it over with instead of letting someone else do it to for you.

My Hot Take On Crooked Media’s Ben Rhodes’ Hot Take On Trump’s Electoral ‘Trap’

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I’m a fan of Ben Rhodes and the whole Crooked Media team, but I’m in the middle of listening to the latest Pod Save America and I have to take issue with something he just said.

He apparently wrote in The Atlantic that Trump has set something of a “trap” for center-Left people by making them aware of white identity politics, etc. This, in turn, makes us angry to the point that we alienate the people who would otherwise help us win elections.

I have two things to point out about this.

One is, we’re now an anocracy, to the point that we can no longer work with the assumption that elections will be free and fair in the first place. The 2020 elections could be, in fact, the last free-and-fair national elections that the United States ever has (unless, of course, we have a civil war and sort things out that way.) So, it’s difficult to win elections — no matter what your policies are — when the whole system is run by people on the local and state level who have heeded Steve K. Bannon’s call for an “administrative coup.”

Even if we get past that particular situation, the people that Rhodes is talking about that could be appealed to — people I call “Traditionalists” — no longer believe in democracy anymore. They’re all-in with the fascist MAGA New Right because they’re deathly afraid of white people being in the minority.

So, I just don’t see traditional politics being a viable option anymore for the center-Left. Either be prepared for a civil war or get out of the country. I don’t want a civil war and I think, in the end, many, many, MANY wealthy center-Left people — like Ben Rhodes — will ultimately leave the country.

That’s our future. Listening to Crooked Media through a VPN because fucking fat fuck President Mike Pompeo destroyed America. Good luck.

My Pitch For a ‘Civil War’ Movie

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

Apparently, there is a Civil War movie being produced. Here’s how I would lay out the plot of such a movie.

Act 1
In the background of a conversation between a liberal mom and a conservative son is an announcement that the post-Election Day debate is growing tense.

Inciting Incident: Rather abruptly, things collapse across the United States as there is a huge debate about who POTUS is

The Heroine gets separated from her son in the chaos.
Second Act

Midpoint: the Heroine gets captured by Red forces

We see that tactical nukes have been used across the United States and the lights go out.
Third Act
The chaos of all of this allows her to get out her imprisonment.

The moment of truth is when she’s about to get murdered by Red forces — she’s saved by her son, who is now the leader of Red forces.

Trump Is Above The Law

by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

The following is an example of how Trump always says the quite part out loud — then NOTHING HAPPENS.

Scenario: How An Invasion Of Ukraine May Play Domestically In The United State States


by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner

I love to run scenarios, so here’s one about how the American domestic political system might handle a major war in Ukraine. I think the first thing we have to appreciate is how fucked up America is right now. Much, if not all, of our problems with COVID comes strictly from how everything, EVERYTHING, is seen through absolute lens of partisan politics.

This does not bode well for what might happen within the United States if faced with the biggest land war in Europe since WW2. A lot depends on how long the war lasts. If it’s a quick “love tap” on the part of Putin that lasts only a few weeks, then the “rally round the flag” affect would last long enough that we wouldn’t really have any problems.

But if Putin is nuts enough to try to take a huge portion of Ukraine and the war begins to drag out for months or years, then all bets are off. It could be that the United States really is so divided that not even doing something as basic as defending democracy as part of being the lynchpin of the post-WW2 global order is something we can do effectively anymore.

It could be that the war lasts the more the two sides scream hysterically at each other like they do everything else and, well, we — and the Ukrainians — will be fucked. The United States will not only be barely able to help Ukraine, we’ll barely be able to do our job as part of NATO.

All of this, of course, would embolden China in regards to Taiwan. Then we might have TWO major regional wars taking place, which, of course, would be marketed as WW3. Then throw in the DPRK wanting to get in on the action by shooting of ICBMs and testing H-bombs and, well, things would grow very unstable globally very quickly.

I only say all of this because it seems as though the United States is so absolutely divided that there’s no one issue — not even one about life and death like a pandemic — that we’re willing to put aside our political differences long enough to address. Doesn’t exactly make me feel too secure going forward into a potential major war in Europe.

‘Rally Round The Flag’ — #Lyrics To A #Country #Pop #Rock Song

I needed to get this off my chest. I fear for my nation because we’re not going to do as is suggested in these lyrics should Putin invade Ukraine.
Rally Round The Flag
Lyrics by Shelt Garner
@sheltgarner
Please give credit if you produce or perform

we’re divided as can be
they tell me
New Yorkers hate folks from the South
and Southern’s hate the Red, White & Blue
but I look across the sea
and what I do see
an opportunity for us to
rally round the flag

rally round the flag folks
time to rally round the flag
rally round the flag folks
rally round the flag
rally round the flag I tell you
rally round the flag
rally round the flag

keep the world safe for de-moc-racy
no time to argue
no time to debate
just time to celebrate
the power of Old Glory
she’s kept us safe all this time
’cause when in a pinch we unite
into a group of powerful states
out of one, many

rally round the flag folks
time to rally round the flag
rally round the flag folks
rally round the flag
rally round the flag I tell you
rally round the flag
rally round the flag

(brige)
old Mr. Putin thinks we’re weak
trying to crush Ukraine as we speak
he and his bear thinks we’re going run
when we hear a roar in the woods
but that’s just crap ’cause we’re going to
rally round the flag

rally round the flag folks
time to rally round the flag
rally round the flag folks
rally round the flag
rally round the flag I tell you
rally round the flag
rally round the flag