Category: America’s Shame

America's Shame

America’s Nazi Problem and the End of Policing | The Smirking Chimp

Who Cried Make Germany Great Again?

Put in a broader historical context, the attack on the Capital was an act of political terrorism made in the name of white supremacy. It echoes a sordid history that included the violence against Blacks that took place in Tulsa a hundred years ago. Tulsa was destroyed as a result of white supremacist violence and over 300 Black people were killed. That was an act of economic terrorism. Today economic and political terrorism are unified and drive a Republican Party that is relentless in its destruction of the rights of Black people and its willingness to destroy democracy as well. In the current moment, politics has become an extension of racial violence; this is a politics that no longer hides in the shadows or margins of society and has become a governing principle of the Republican Party.

Source: America’s Nazi Problem and the End of Policing | The Smirking Chimp

America's Shame

Tucker Carlson is the face of Fox News | Media Matters for America

Tucker Carlson Fox News

Time to choose Fox has engaged in a deliberate strategy to make its brand inseparable from Carlson’s. The network should pay a price for that. Advertisers who support the network are now indirectly — and at times directly — supporting Carlson’s vile rhetoric. Media buyers should remember that when Fox tries to pitch them on ads at the upfronts later this month. If they continue to support Carlson, they own the results.

Source: Tucker Carlson is the face of Fox News | Media Matters for America

America's Shame, American Politics, American War

COVID-19 cases rise as states ease restrictions; CDC director warns of “impending doom” | Salon.com
main article image

At the same time, Republican governors in states from Texas and Mississippi to Alabama and West Virginia have been loosening or eliminating COVID-19 restrictions in response to declining COVID-19 numbers. Earlier this month Walensky urged policymakers to be mindful that Americans would not be truly safe until as many people are vaccinated as possible, adding that the rise of variants could “complete lose” the gains made so far in defeating the pandemic.

COVID-19 cases rise as states ease restrictions; CDC director warns of “impending doom” | Salon.com
America's Shame

Jim Crow Tactics on Display as Georgia Rep. Park Cannon Arrested for Knocking on Door
State Rep. Park Cannon, D-Atlanta, is placed into the back of a Georgia State Capitol patrol car after being arrested by Georgia State Troopers at the Georgia State Capitol Building in Atlanta, Thursday, March 25, 2021. Cannon was arrested by Capitol police after she attempted to knock on the door of the Gov. Brian Kemp office during his remarks after he signed into law a sweeping Republican-sponsored overhaul of state elections that includes new restrictions on voting by mail and greater legislative control over how elections are run. (Alyssa Pointer/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)
Back to the Future. Back to the 60s

“This is clear voter suppression, clear racism, a clear manifestation of white supremacy. Georgia is going backwards instead of forwards.”

Jim Crow Tactics on Display as Georgia Rep. Park Cannon Arrested for Knocking on Door
America's Shame

Anti-Asian violence shares the same roots as the hatred plaguing all communities of color

Racist pandemic comments may have sparked this wave of violence against Asian Americans, but in many ways it is simply the latest chapter in a much longer story.

Anti-Asian violence shares the same roots as the hatred plaguing all communities of color
America's Shame

The Decades-Long Struggle Over Big Corporations and Poverty Wages

The Senate Parliamentarian dealt a strong blow to the Fight for $15 movement by ruling that a federal minimum wage increase could be included in the stimulus bill. Senator Bernie Sanders is pushing back with an amendment to take tax deductions away from large, profitable corporations that do not pay at least $15 an hour. This is just the latest battle in a struggle over big business wage practices that goes back decades. There was a time when landing a job with a large corporation was, even for blue collar workers, a ticket to a comfortable life — good wages, generous benefits, and a secure retirement. Women and workers of color did not share fully in this bounty, but they generally did better at big firms than small ones.

The Decades-Long Struggle Over Big Corporations and Poverty Wages
America's Shame

A Fragile Democracy | The Smirking Chimp
Democracy fails where ‘not voting’ is a right. Voter suppression doesn’t exist where voting is compulsory

Thus, the country that for centuries had developed a system of government and justice became a victim to the whims of a psychopathic personality who in the short period of four years threatened to destroy had-earned advances towards a democratic and pluralistic society. It shows that unless we are serious in restoring the values fundamental to its existence, we will become one of those countries south of the border pejoratively called “banana republics.”

A Fragile Democracy | The Smirking Chimp
America's Shame

Forget $15 an Hour — the Minimum Wage Should Be $24
Harry Truman Minimum Wage 1949

The coronavirus pandemic relief bill passed by the House of Representatives this week would raise the federal minimum wage in steps until it reached $15 an hour in 2025. But an increase in the minimum wage has been removed from the Senate’s legislation. At least for now, it is stuck at $7.25.

Forget $15 an Hour — the Minimum Wage Should Be $24
America's Shame

‘Shameful’: Millionaire Senators Vote Against Popular Minimum Wage Raise That Would Lift Millions Out of Poverty | Common Dreams News
Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), worth more than $10 million, was one of eight Democrats to vote against including a federal minimum wage increase in the Senate's coronavirus relief package. (Photo: Demetrius Freeman/The Washington Post/AFP via Getty Images)

“It is despicable and unacceptable that there is not unanimous support among Democrats in Congress for a $15 minimum wage,” said Rep. Jamaal Bowman.

‘Shameful’: Millionaire Senators Vote Against Popular Minimum Wage Raise That Would Lift Millions Out of Poverty | Common Dreams News
America's Shame

Deathbed Confession: FBI and NYPD Responsible for Malcolm X Assassination | The Smirking Chimp

A half-century after the death of Civil Right activist Malcolm X, lawyers revealed new evidence of NYPD and FBI involvement in his assassination.

Deathbed Confession: FBI and NYPD Responsible for Malcolm X Assassination | The Smirking Chimp
America's Shame

Trump Unleashes Mob to Disrupt U.S. Government
Supporters of US President Donald Trump protest inside the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, DC. - Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the a 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. (Photo by SAUL LOEB / AFP) (Photo by SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)
Dr Mary Trump Made The Perfect Call

The defeated president called for chaos and his supporters responded by storming the Capitol in Washington, disrupting the counting of electoral votes. Robert MackeyRobert Mackey January 7 2021, 9:44 a.m.

Trump Unleashes Mob to Disrupt U.S. Government
America's Shame, American Dream

Donald Trump may be chasing a TV gig after the US election — and millions of fans could tune in – ABC News
An image of a woman from behind watching US President Donald Trump on multiple TV screens.

Can the Democrats afford to have him jailed? (ODT)

“Live from Palm Beach, it’s the Power Hour with Donald Trump!” The studio audience erupts in cheers as the former president ambles on to his Oval Office set and takes his place behind a replica of the fabled Resolute desk. The walls are lined with portraits of Trump and posters with the words “rigged” and “stolen”.

Donald Trump may be chasing a TV gig after the US election — and millions of fans could tune in – ABC News
America's Shame

Whoever Wins, This Election Is Not the End of Trumpism

Joe Biden and the Democrats have steadfastly refused to articulate a compelling alternative political vision to Donald Trump’s reactionary right-wing politics. Trump looks likely to have lost, but without creating an alternative to defeat it, Trumpism could return with a vengeance four years from now.

Whoever Wins, This Election Is Not the End of Trumpism
America's Shame

The end of democracy? If Trump loses, Trumpism still wins
Illustration: John Shakespeare

“Trump has attacked virtually every important check-and-balance institution in the US that’s got in his way – the intelligence community, judges, the media. Every significant constraint, he wants to get rid of it.” Of course, he’s also opposed to the ultimate constraint in a democracy – the outcome of elections, unless he happens to win.

. “It’s got crazy when you have a US president promoting completely outrageous false information like QAnon,” the fantasist conspiracy movement. “He came into office completely unprepared and instead of being awed by the responsibility, he’s failed to take it seriously. From top to bottom, he’s filled his administration with mediocrities whose only qualification is loyalty to the President’s family. “Almost every statement that comes out of his mouth is a lie. It’s hard to imagine anyone with worse judgment and less qualified to be president.”

“He came into office completely unprepared and instead of being awed by the responsibility, he’s failed to take it seriously. From top to bottom, he’s filled his administration with mediocrities whose only qualification is loyalty to the President’s family.

“Almost every statement that comes out of his mouth is a lie. It’s hard to imagine anyone with worse judgment and less qualified to be president.”

The end of democracy? If Trump loses, Trumpism still wins
America's Shame

New York Faces Lawsuits After Police Violence
Protesters marching against police brutality are arrested by officers from the New York Police Department at 136th Street and Brook Avenue in the Bronx, NYC, on June 4, 2020.

Police enforcement is against First Amendment Rights: ” The right to protest is protected by both the U.S. Constitution and the Texas Constitution. The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution states that “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble.”

A Human Rights Watch investigation found that police deliberately trapped and assaulted medics, legal observers, and peaceful protesters.

New York Faces Lawsuits After Police Violence
America's Shame, Uncategorized

Boeing’s ousted chief executive Dennis Muilenburg departs with $90 million, despite two crashes – Business – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Dennis Muilenburg.jpg

Witness to Corporate Crime committed in plain sight. America is a Fascist State when a Corporation can and does fly in the face of peoples elected governments no matter what their persuasion. Sending the message that the State is whatever the Corporations declare it to be. Justice and Equality are under Corporate control. (ODT)

via Boeing’s ousted chief executive Dennis Muilenburg departs with $90 million, despite two crashes – Business – ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

America's Shame, Uncategorized

US would attack foes & friends to protect its hegemony and doesn’t shy away from using terrorists as proxies – Assad to RT — RT World News

US would attack foes & friends to protect its hegemony and doesn’t shy away from using terrorists as proxies – Assad to RT

They already have (ODT)

via US would attack foes & friends to protect its hegemony and doesn’t shy away from using terrorists as proxies – Assad to RT — RT World News

America's Shame, Uncategorized

White al-Qaeda, Trump and Economic Terrorism against El Paso

https://www.juancole.com/images/2019/08/white-al-qaeda-trump-and-economi-750x422.jpg

Trump is an inveterate liar, having told thousands and thousands of lies during his 2.5 years in office.

One of the things he has repeatedly lied about is El Paso.

In his State of the Union address, Robert Moore wrote for Texasmonthly.com, Trump alleged that El Paso had been one of the worst cities in the US for crime but that since the partial border wall built in 2008-2010 it had abruptly become safe:

“The border city of El Paso, Texas, used to have extremely high rates of violent crime—one of the highest in the country, and (was) considered one of our nation’s most dangerous cities. Now, with a powerful barrier in place, El Paso is one of our safest cities.”

Rep. Veronica Escobar tweeted out newspaper headlines from 20 years ago touting El Paso as the third safest city in the US:

The year 2000 was eight years before the wall started being built.

Moore points out that border towns across the US have low crime rates, exactly the opposite of what Trump would expect.

By depicting El Paso as crime infested when Mexicans were supposedly unconstrained by a wall, Trump implied that Mexicans are criminals, bringing their crime over the border.

In other words, their commerce itself is undesirable.

That’s rhetorical economic terrorism. But then some young man heard the words and took them to heart and implemented them. That is White al-Qaeda.

via White al-Qaeda, Trump and Economic Terrorism against El Paso

America's Shame, Uncategorized

American values: Embassies are for chopping up journalists, not protecting them — RT Op-ed

American values: Embassies are for chopping up journalists, not protecting them

That said, the decline of moral standards and creeping dishonesty amongst the US leadership is broad. For instance, asked this week why Washington endorsed the Israeli seizure of the Golan Heights but sanctioned Russia for its reabsorption of Crimea, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo told senators there was an “international law doctrine,” which would be explained later. Of course, it turned out there was no such thing.Pompeo’s boss also struggles with the truth. On Thursday, Trump said “I know nothing about WikiLeaks. It’s not my thing.”Yet, in 2016 he called it “a treasure trove,” saying “I love WikiLeaks.”

via American values: Embassies are for chopping up journalists, not protecting them — RT Op-ed