I have never been prouder to be anti-facsist than right now. Truly. I look forward to my day in court. How many left wing lunaticks and anti-facsists died storming the beaches of Normandy? Or in the literal trenches? Suddenly Nazis and fascists have feelings we should respect and give space for?
I'll face my pre-crime convictions with my head held high and a smile on my face, for my sentencing, I likely face a firing squad.
I envy your humor and courage Mike. I'm terrified. This document serves to further legitimize threats Trump tested out on the campaign trail. He pledged to rid the country of the enemy within and to deport pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Now he has emboldened a cast of ghouls like Gorka and the infrastructure of Homeland Security, DOJ, and DOD to back him up.
By dehumanizing the opposition, the administration doesn't have to give us a day in court or the luxury of re-education camps. Labeling us terrorists, nullifies our traditional defenses.
This morning Ruth Ben Ghiat was on air speaking with Mary Trump. Mary predicted the Administration is poised to loot Social Security. They will roll out an ad campaign saying true patriots will sacrifice their benefits in the interest of making the country great again.
Ruth interjected that during DOGE's reign, her 94-year-old mother with dementia lost her social security for four months. Benefits were withheld while they investigated her for fraud!
DOGE has unlocked many new pathways to neutralize the resistance. Picture this: Certain folks stop receiving their sole income (social security or disability benefits for instance). They inquire, but can't reach anyone. Eventually they learn they are being investigated for fraud. By then, they may be facing eviction and have no rational means to defend themselves. Or, the government could declare them "legally dead." This nullifies their bank accounts and credit cards.
Here is what I think the rest of us need to fear: We are arrested for being terrorists. Once you are declared a terrorist, the government can seize your assets. They can freeze our bank accounts. We will turn to our friends, or the ACLU but those avenues will be overloaded. In the interim, we can be quietly deported or die in captivity. Those who remain won't know what became of us. We just disappear.
If I learned anything from civics and from reading about the Founders of this country, it's that some fights - even fights against something as powerful as a god ordained king - are worth the insurmountable odds, especially when the desired outcome is Liberty and Justice for All.
I am sure you are sincere, but I would just say, that however much someone might believe in what they are saying, saying some things out loud, such that work to undermine the commitment of those who are needed to stop this tyranny, is a mistake, especially as a tactic, and why else would we, in this comment section of this journalist, be discussing this except how to stop it.
Regardless of personal convictions, I would urge us to think carefully, and try never say anything that would undermine others in this vital struggle. Of course, making sure people know the risks is important, but maybe to frame it as reasons for extra caution.
Sorry for the lecture, but this is not the time to be faint of heart.
Joy, you're suggesting that by posting my fears in this comment section, I'm serving to weaken the resistance. That could be true, but as a paid subscriber to Ken Klippenstein, I shouldn't be expected to simply fulfill my role in the cheering section.
I wish I lived in an echo chamber surrounded by social justice warriors. Unfortunately my physical residence is in a conservative community. Most of the people I encounter are blissfully unaware and unconcerned about our disappearing civil rights. If immigrants and activists are living in fear, these folks are unbothered.
I'm a paid subscriber, participating in the conversation because I want to have my fears abated. I want those who are better informed and more credentialed to refute the substance of my fears, not berate me for having them.
I had not intention of berating you, rather meant to point out the unintended effects of one's remarks, especially in a social context, can have detrimental results. My very statement now being prime exhibit #1. My point is that in these contexts, I would try to do everything in my framing to not make it seem like I am saying all is hopeless so don't bother, which in how I took your remarks, even if, that wasn't your intention.
If you are looking for refutation, the problem is that what you say may turn out to be true. Nevertheless, my core belief is that one must persevere in trying to prevent that outcome, and the framing of these concerns matters a great deal. To think I might have discouraged someone from doing their part in the struggle against what TPTB have in store for us, is intolerable to me. So, in the end, perhaps we are both expressing our fears, you of what is going to happen, and me that we will not have enough of us to stop them.
This is an interesting comment. I feel the truth of “saying certain things out loud” garnering the wrong attention, but my first reaction was to disagree that we should have to censor ourselves so. How exactly are we supposed to communicate, share ideas, and find like-minded people? It seems nearly impossible to protest the erosion of our rights without being labeled as against the state, and perhaps…this is by design.
A journalist like Ken serves to deliver the truth, but passive reception of information is not enough.
I do agree that this article as well as previous articles of Ken’s highlights that we need to be careful with our words.
Ken does an invaluable job of showing what we are up against without making it seem like there is no hope to overcome it. As I responded to Juliette, to whom my comment was addressed, the framing matters. We self-censor all the time. What effect our choice of words ends up making on others, is in many ways unknown, but some types of framing would seem to lead to discouraging countermeasures by presenting what we are facing as a monolith of extreme, and inexorable power.
To me, that leaves no room for any view of successfully opposing it. I think that has the potential to shut down some people, when everyone is needed in the struggle.
It is very difficult to bottle up these anti terrorism measures, so they mind civil libertarian niceties. They are like viruses that mutate and become a medical emergency. While we are hyperventilating about Gorka and the Beast in the White House, remember that all the administrations since 9-11 have had a hand in developing this strategy. The police state gene exists in all governments. Though I have always argued with anarchists about the state, on this they have a point. We are not going to breath easy until this administration ends, or when they find Donald's earth box and perform the appropriate rites. Garlic necklaces for everyone until then!
I hope the Homeland Security re education centers will have nice facilities, if USA home grown "terrorists" aren't to be droned or shot out of hand.
Identifying "terrorists" (any dissidents to regime who open their mouths) is what AI data centers (plus Palantir et alia's witch hunting algorithms) are actually for. They are stuffed full of every online activity, personal contact metadata & electronic transaction you have ever made. Think "what would a STUPID and MALEVOLENT cop assume from my records"? Because that's who will be in charge of going after those the algorithm target.
Israel already selects missile & bomb targets on such basis- If you are reading this, you too are probably "on the list".
Hey, lemmings have minds too! And they are quite tasty, according to Farley Mowat:
---------
"Of the several recipes which I developed, the finest by far was Creamed Mouse, and in the event that any of my readers may be interested in personally exploiting this hitherto overlooked source of excellent animal protein, I give the recipe in full.
SOURIS À LA CRÊME
Ingredients: One dozen fat mice/lemmings/voles
One cup white flour
One piece sowbelly
Salt and pepper
Cloves
Ethyl alcohol (for the cook & dish both)
[I should perhaps note that sowbelly is normally only available in the arctic, but ordinary salt pork can be substituted.]
Skin and gut the mice, but do not remove the heads; wash, then place in a pot with enough alcohol to cover the carcasses. Allow to marinate for about two hours. Cut sowbelly into small cubes and fry slowly until most of the fat has been rendered. Now remove the carcasses from the alcohol and roll them in a mixture of salt, pepper and flour; then place in frying pan and sauté for about five minutes (being careful not to allow the pan to get too hot, or the delicate meat will dry out and become tough and stringy).
Now add a cup of alcohol and six or eight cloves (add another serving of alcohol to the chef as needed).
Cover the pan and allow to simmer slowly for fifteen minutes. The cream sauce can be made according to any standard recipe. When the sauce is ready, drench the carcasses with it, cover and allow to rest in a warm place for ten minutes before serving.
My predictions when the Patriot Act was enacted have all come to pass. It took 25 years and four presidents to get where we are today, each president chipping away at our civil liberties. And if I never hear the word “homeland” again, it will be too soon. I’m glad I’m an old anti-fascist.
Thank you Ken, I just subbed because this is top-notch journalism: not only do you provide insight on the document, you have the decency to share said document with us!
As for the subject, it reminds me of Hannah Arendt's notion of colonial boomerang. Hopefully the peoples of the United States manage to push back against the consolidation of totalitarianism!
I can’t decide on an adjective to describe my feelings about the disaster and danger we are living in. I finally subscribed, Ken, because I trust you.
I also wonder when it is time to leave. I have citizenship in Switzerland and Austria, both pretty conservative countries. But they are not dangerous places to live. And it would make me sad not only to leave my 4 grown kids, but to leave a country both of my parents fought for (dad for 33 years as an AF pilot through 3 wars; mom, a Marine and an immigrant escapee from Nazis in Vienna).
I am a professor of both leadership and of sociology. I talk freely about the dangers of Trump, of unfettered capitalism, of Israel’s genocidal and land grab machinations, and of the hypocrisy of loud mouthed Christians. If I weren’t teaching at such a small college, maybe I would have already been targeted.
I am so angry at our supposed leaders and representatives who want to keep their jobs and donors more than they can conjure up their consciences to do what is right because of fear and greed.
Do we get the country we deserve? The government we deserve? Is that what is hitting us in the face?
Because I’m naturally nosy, I wanted to see which college was lucky enough to have you as a faculty member. Lo and behold, I believe you’re in my neighborhood. I applaud you!
“President Trump has affected a complete revision… [with] the objective of destroying the groups who would kill Americans or hurt our interests as a free nation.”
That last line is something else. Good old-fashioned “we’re abolishing freedom of expression because you might organize against us” type shit. At least they’re doing it in the open I guess…?
That's where grand juries and judges have to step-up and call BS on any charges or even search warrants. However, it's easy to see how their so-called counter-terror strategy no doubt rationalizes and motivates increased mass surveillance.
Certainly the global war on terror was bound to come home. Sooner or later the violence and lawlessness of America Inc. abroad had to boomerang. Because the corrupt cads behind our overseas follies and the majority of their minions care no more about American citizens or workers than they do the "collateral damage" in their crusades waged in foreign lands. Big Brother is here, he is white, male and Judeo-Christian and he wants all of your milkshakes.
You can count on Corporate Democrats supporting this strategy; their only real - as opposed to theatrical - political enemies are actual leftists who just advocate for liberal democracy. Recall how they piled on Zohran, and observe how they currently are piling on Piker with their Republican pals.
I am terrified an Israel first candidate will win the democratic primary in US house MI-01 after an encounter I had with her. Please help me promote Kyle Blomquist.
What remains to be seen is how broadly they implement their disruption strategy and whether they can convince grand juries to issue indictments based on alleged beliefs. Apart from the bogus antifa conspiracy case in Texas, the Trump 2.0 DoJ hasn't had much success securing indictments and convictions--unless some alleged act of violence occurred.
I have never been prouder to be anti-facsist than right now. Truly. I look forward to my day in court. How many left wing lunaticks and anti-facsists died storming the beaches of Normandy? Or in the literal trenches? Suddenly Nazis and fascists have feelings we should respect and give space for?
I'll face my pre-crime convictions with my head held high and a smile on my face, for my sentencing, I likely face a firing squad.
Ffs, People, don't look away.
I envy your humor and courage Mike. I'm terrified. This document serves to further legitimize threats Trump tested out on the campaign trail. He pledged to rid the country of the enemy within and to deport pro-Palestinian demonstrators. Now he has emboldened a cast of ghouls like Gorka and the infrastructure of Homeland Security, DOJ, and DOD to back him up.
By dehumanizing the opposition, the administration doesn't have to give us a day in court or the luxury of re-education camps. Labeling us terrorists, nullifies our traditional defenses.
This morning Ruth Ben Ghiat was on air speaking with Mary Trump. Mary predicted the Administration is poised to loot Social Security. They will roll out an ad campaign saying true patriots will sacrifice their benefits in the interest of making the country great again.
Ruth interjected that during DOGE's reign, her 94-year-old mother with dementia lost her social security for four months. Benefits were withheld while they investigated her for fraud!
DOGE has unlocked many new pathways to neutralize the resistance. Picture this: Certain folks stop receiving their sole income (social security or disability benefits for instance). They inquire, but can't reach anyone. Eventually they learn they are being investigated for fraud. By then, they may be facing eviction and have no rational means to defend themselves. Or, the government could declare them "legally dead." This nullifies their bank accounts and credit cards.
Here is what I think the rest of us need to fear: We are arrested for being terrorists. Once you are declared a terrorist, the government can seize your assets. They can freeze our bank accounts. We will turn to our friends, or the ACLU but those avenues will be overloaded. In the interim, we can be quietly deported or die in captivity. Those who remain won't know what became of us. We just disappear.
If I learned anything from civics and from reading about the Founders of this country, it's that some fights - even fights against something as powerful as a god ordained king - are worth the insurmountable odds, especially when the desired outcome is Liberty and Justice for All.
I am sure you are sincere, but I would just say, that however much someone might believe in what they are saying, saying some things out loud, such that work to undermine the commitment of those who are needed to stop this tyranny, is a mistake, especially as a tactic, and why else would we, in this comment section of this journalist, be discussing this except how to stop it.
Regardless of personal convictions, I would urge us to think carefully, and try never say anything that would undermine others in this vital struggle. Of course, making sure people know the risks is important, but maybe to frame it as reasons for extra caution.
Sorry for the lecture, but this is not the time to be faint of heart.
Joy, you're suggesting that by posting my fears in this comment section, I'm serving to weaken the resistance. That could be true, but as a paid subscriber to Ken Klippenstein, I shouldn't be expected to simply fulfill my role in the cheering section.
I wish I lived in an echo chamber surrounded by social justice warriors. Unfortunately my physical residence is in a conservative community. Most of the people I encounter are blissfully unaware and unconcerned about our disappearing civil rights. If immigrants and activists are living in fear, these folks are unbothered.
I'm a paid subscriber, participating in the conversation because I want to have my fears abated. I want those who are better informed and more credentialed to refute the substance of my fears, not berate me for having them.
I had not intention of berating you, rather meant to point out the unintended effects of one's remarks, especially in a social context, can have detrimental results. My very statement now being prime exhibit #1. My point is that in these contexts, I would try to do everything in my framing to not make it seem like I am saying all is hopeless so don't bother, which in how I took your remarks, even if, that wasn't your intention.
If you are looking for refutation, the problem is that what you say may turn out to be true. Nevertheless, my core belief is that one must persevere in trying to prevent that outcome, and the framing of these concerns matters a great deal. To think I might have discouraged someone from doing their part in the struggle against what TPTB have in store for us, is intolerable to me. So, in the end, perhaps we are both expressing our fears, you of what is going to happen, and me that we will not have enough of us to stop them.
This is an interesting comment. I feel the truth of “saying certain things out loud” garnering the wrong attention, but my first reaction was to disagree that we should have to censor ourselves so. How exactly are we supposed to communicate, share ideas, and find like-minded people? It seems nearly impossible to protest the erosion of our rights without being labeled as against the state, and perhaps…this is by design.
A journalist like Ken serves to deliver the truth, but passive reception of information is not enough.
I do agree that this article as well as previous articles of Ken’s highlights that we need to be careful with our words.
Ken does an invaluable job of showing what we are up against without making it seem like there is no hope to overcome it. As I responded to Juliette, to whom my comment was addressed, the framing matters. We self-censor all the time. What effect our choice of words ends up making on others, is in many ways unknown, but some types of framing would seem to lead to discouraging countermeasures by presenting what we are facing as a monolith of extreme, and inexorable power.
To me, that leaves no room for any view of successfully opposing it. I think that has the potential to shut down some people, when everyone is needed in the struggle.
It is very difficult to bottle up these anti terrorism measures, so they mind civil libertarian niceties. They are like viruses that mutate and become a medical emergency. While we are hyperventilating about Gorka and the Beast in the White House, remember that all the administrations since 9-11 have had a hand in developing this strategy. The police state gene exists in all governments. Though I have always argued with anarchists about the state, on this they have a point. We are not going to breath easy until this administration ends, or when they find Donald's earth box and perform the appropriate rites. Garlic necklaces for everyone until then!
I hope the Homeland Security re education centers will have nice facilities, if USA home grown "terrorists" aren't to be droned or shot out of hand.
Identifying "terrorists" (any dissidents to regime who open their mouths) is what AI data centers (plus Palantir et alia's witch hunting algorithms) are actually for. They are stuffed full of every online activity, personal contact metadata & electronic transaction you have ever made. Think "what would a STUPID and MALEVOLENT cop assume from my records"? Because that's who will be in charge of going after those the algorithm target.
Israel already selects missile & bomb targets on such basis- If you are reading this, you too are probably "on the list".
I call top bunk!
That's the easy one to hang yourself from...
Better to die on your feet than on your knees
@Randy
You left out the "live on" bit?
Oh crap, there went my moment of internet fame
I would rather be seen as a terrorist than a mindless lemming afraid of doing something wrong.
@Mark Huseby
Hey, lemmings have minds too! And they are quite tasty, according to Farley Mowat:
---------
"Of the several recipes which I developed, the finest by far was Creamed Mouse, and in the event that any of my readers may be interested in personally exploiting this hitherto overlooked source of excellent animal protein, I give the recipe in full.
SOURIS À LA CRÊME
Ingredients: One dozen fat mice/lemmings/voles
One cup white flour
One piece sowbelly
Salt and pepper
Cloves
Ethyl alcohol (for the cook & dish both)
[I should perhaps note that sowbelly is normally only available in the arctic, but ordinary salt pork can be substituted.]
Skin and gut the mice, but do not remove the heads; wash, then place in a pot with enough alcohol to cover the carcasses. Allow to marinate for about two hours. Cut sowbelly into small cubes and fry slowly until most of the fat has been rendered. Now remove the carcasses from the alcohol and roll them in a mixture of salt, pepper and flour; then place in frying pan and sauté for about five minutes (being careful not to allow the pan to get too hot, or the delicate meat will dry out and become tough and stringy).
Now add a cup of alcohol and six or eight cloves (add another serving of alcohol to the chef as needed).
Cover the pan and allow to simmer slowly for fifteen minutes. The cream sauce can be made according to any standard recipe. When the sauce is ready, drench the carcasses with it, cover and allow to rest in a warm place for ten minutes before serving.
----------
"Never Cry Wolf"
-Mowat
My predictions when the Patriot Act was enacted have all come to pass. It took 25 years and four presidents to get where we are today, each president chipping away at our civil liberties. And if I never hear the word “homeland” again, it will be too soon. I’m glad I’m an old anti-fascist.
Thank you, Ken. I never doubted your reporting.
I know we've left the realm of facts when our government thinks we have a radical left in this country.
Thank you Ken, I just subbed because this is top-notch journalism: not only do you provide insight on the document, you have the decency to share said document with us!
As for the subject, it reminds me of Hannah Arendt's notion of colonial boomerang. Hopefully the peoples of the United States manage to push back against the consolidation of totalitarianism!
Appreciate your support!!
I can’t decide on an adjective to describe my feelings about the disaster and danger we are living in. I finally subscribed, Ken, because I trust you.
I also wonder when it is time to leave. I have citizenship in Switzerland and Austria, both pretty conservative countries. But they are not dangerous places to live. And it would make me sad not only to leave my 4 grown kids, but to leave a country both of my parents fought for (dad for 33 years as an AF pilot through 3 wars; mom, a Marine and an immigrant escapee from Nazis in Vienna).
I am a professor of both leadership and of sociology. I talk freely about the dangers of Trump, of unfettered capitalism, of Israel’s genocidal and land grab machinations, and of the hypocrisy of loud mouthed Christians. If I weren’t teaching at such a small college, maybe I would have already been targeted.
I am so angry at our supposed leaders and representatives who want to keep their jobs and donors more than they can conjure up their consciences to do what is right because of fear and greed.
Do we get the country we deserve? The government we deserve? Is that what is hitting us in the face?
Thanks for your support professor!
Because I’m naturally nosy, I wanted to see which college was lucky enough to have you as a faculty member. Lo and behold, I believe you’re in my neighborhood. I applaud you!
“President Trump has affected a complete revision… [with] the objective of destroying the groups who would kill Americans or hurt our interests as a free nation.”
That last line is something else. Good old-fashioned “we’re abolishing freedom of expression because you might organize against us” type shit. At least they’re doing it in the open I guess…?
That's where grand juries and judges have to step-up and call BS on any charges or even search warrants. However, it's easy to see how their so-called counter-terror strategy no doubt rationalizes and motivates increased mass surveillance.
Certainly the global war on terror was bound to come home. Sooner or later the violence and lawlessness of America Inc. abroad had to boomerang. Because the corrupt cads behind our overseas follies and the majority of their minions care no more about American citizens or workers than they do the "collateral damage" in their crusades waged in foreign lands. Big Brother is here, he is white, male and Judeo-Christian and he wants all of your milkshakes.
You can count on Corporate Democrats supporting this strategy; their only real - as opposed to theatrical - political enemies are actual leftists who just advocate for liberal democracy. Recall how they piled on Zohran, and observe how they currently are piling on Piker with their Republican pals.
No doubt Gorka, like the rest of the crypto-slime, tossed his few bits into monuments declaring the Third Reich as a "victim of Communism" . . . .
I’m shocked someone who would wear his dad’s Nazi medal would be so worried about people who are antifa. Another grave I look forward to pissing on.
I am terrified an Israel first candidate will win the democratic primary in US house MI-01 after an encounter I had with her. Please help me promote Kyle Blomquist.
If you aren't anti-fascist, what are you?
A Ukrainian Summer camp counselor?
https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2021/03/29/ukrainian-baraboo-nazi-statues/
What remains to be seen is how broadly they implement their disruption strategy and whether they can convince grand juries to issue indictments based on alleged beliefs. Apart from the bogus antifa conspiracy case in Texas, the Trump 2.0 DoJ hasn't had much success securing indictments and convictions--unless some alleged act of violence occurred.
Wait.....what happened to the.....NIHILISTS?
that designation is still being used!