Will We Let Fascism Come to America?

Write Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan . . .

In 1935, renowned independent journalist George Seldes published Sawdust Caesar, his political biography of Italy’s dictator, Benito Mussolini. “Il Duce” ejected Seldes from Italy a decade earlier for his critical reporting. But Seldes still managed to complete the book, detailing Mussolini’s rise to power using the press, populism and violence, all backed by financiers, including Wall Street banks.

In the foreword, titled, “To Americans Facing Fascism,” Seldes warned, “Fascism not only exists in America, but it has become formidable and needs only a Duce, a Fuehrer, an organizer, and a loosening of the purse strings of those who gain materially by its victory, to become the most powerful force threatening the Republic.”

Ninety years later, we are faced with an election many predict will be won by Donald Trump, a man who in 2016 retweeted a Mussolini quote, “It is better to live one day as a lion than 100 years as a sheep,” then defended his tweet. Trump told NBC’s Meet the Press, “I know who said it. But what difference does it make whether it’s Mussolini or somebody else? It’s certainly a very interesting quote.”

What institutional checks exist on Trump’s authoritarian ambitions? The Supreme Court has repeatedly demonstrated, as recently as this week, its endorsement of the imperial presidency. The Democrats, expected to lose control of the Senate, are desperate to win back the House, as the sole means of countering Trumpism.

Meanwhile, to capitalize on a potential second Trump presidency, the right-wing Heritage Foundation has brought together over 100 like-minded organizations to form Project 2025 – a 922-page blueprint for reshaping the federal government along what critics describe as “authoritarian” and “Christian nationalist” lines, while attacking unions, climate action, universal healthcare, abortion access and more.

Another book published in 1935 was Sinclair Lewis’ dystopic novel, It Can’t Happen Here, about fascism coming to America. We now see that it can happen here. The question is, will we let it?

– Amy Goodman and Denis Moynihan
Excerpted from “As Authoritarianism Sweeps the Globe,
Will the U.S. Follow?”
Democracy Now!
July 3, 2024

Related Off-site Links:
“So Were Mussolini and Mobutu”: Scholar Shreds Media Praise of Trump’s Performing Skills – Matthew Chapman (Raw Story, July 4, 2024).
Fascination With Fascism: How Project 2025 Enables Trump’s Vision to Dismantle American Democracy – Thom Hartmann (Milwaukee Independent, June 25, 2024).
Trump Isn’t Like Hitler, He’s Like Mussolini – Dave Nagal (The Courier, January 20, 2024).
Trump Steals a Strategy From Mussolini’s Playbook – John Nichols (The Nation, February 1, 2022).
Mussolini Seized Full Power 97 Years Ago: Does Donald Trump Long to Follow Suit? – Matthew Rozsa (Salon, January 2, 2022).
Woodward and Costa’s Book Peril Shows Trump as Mussolini-in-Waiting – Joe Sims (People’s World, October 22, 2021).

See also the previous Wild Reed post:
• Bernie Sanders: Quote of the Day – July 1, 2024
• The Ongoing Danger of the Trump Cult and the Wider Specter of American Fascism
• Dan Rather on America’s “Moment of Reckoning”
• Donald Trump’s Open and Shameless Criminality
• Insurrection at the United States Capitol
• Trump’s Legacy
• Republicans Don’t Care About American Democracy
• “We Have an Emergency On Our Hands”: Marianne Williamson On the “Freefall” of American Democracy
• “Fascism Is Upon Us”
• Adam Serwer: Quote of the Day – May 23, 2018
• On International Human Rights Day, Saying “No” to Donald Trump and His Fascist Agenda
• Progressive Perspectives on the Election of Donald Trump as President of the United States
• Progressive Perspectives on the Rise of Donald Trump

A New Beginning

With talk of replacing incumbent Joe Biden as the Democratic presidential nominee increasing daily, author, activist and former 2024 presidential candidate Marianne Williamson is calling for an open convention for the Democratic Party. In anticipation of such a convention, Williamson has restarted her campaign.

Neil Vigdor, who covers politics for The New York Times, notes that “[a] shift to an open or brokered convention would be highly unusual at this stage of an election cycle. It has been more than 40 years since a major party went into its convention without a clear indication of who would lead its ticket.”

Regardless, Williamson is calling on the party to reopen the competition during its August convention in Chicago.

“The nominating process for the Democratic Party needs to begin again,” says Williamson. “We need to recalibrate, and we need to do so quickly.” She also says that it is “imperative that the new process not be manipulated by party and media elites. The search for a new candidate must be not directed by behind-the-scenes players, but rather must be a genuinely democratic process.”





Related Off-site Links:
Marianne Williamson Calls for Open Convention to Decide Democratic Nomination – Neil Vigdor (The New York Times, July 2, 2024).
Marianne Williamson Calls for Biden to Step Down – and an Open Convention to Replace Him – Lee DeVito (The Detroit Metro Times, July 2, 2024).
Marianne Williamson Calls to Replace Biden: “Today I Throw My Hat in the Ring” – Sarah Fortinsky (The Hill, July 2, 2024).
Marianne Williamson: “The System is Bleeding Voters” – Urja Sinha (NewsNation, May 19, 2024).
Love, Democracy, and Gangster Politics – Marianne Williamson (Transform, May 5, 2024).
Marianne Williamson on Why She’s Fighting for Gen Z in This Election – Julia Merola (Her Campus, May 3, 2024).
One Season Passes and Another Begins – Marianne Williamson (Transform, April 11, 2024).
Why I Keep Going – Marianne Williamson (Transform, March 16, 2024).
In Hopes of a Future Harvest – Marianne Williamson (Transform, March 13, 2024).
How Marianne Williamson’s Name Became the Placeholder for “Uncommitted” Protesters in Arizona – Alex Tabet (NBC News, March 19, 2024).
Primary Purpose and Power – Marianne Williamson (Transform, March 12, 2024).
Biden and Other Centrist Democrats Keep Bragging About the Economy. But Here’s the Problem – Perry Bacon Jr. (The Washington Post, February 20, 2024).

UPDATES: Marianne Williamson Throws Her Hat Back in the Ring After Biden Debate Disaster – Marco Margaritoff (The Huffington Post, July 3, 2024).
How to Replace Biden and Beat Trump: Longtime DNC Member Jim Zogby Proposes Process to Pick New Nominee – Democracy Now! (July 3, 2024).
Risk of Trump Win “Too Great”: First House Democrat Calls On Biden to Step Aside – Julia Conley (Common Dreams, July 3, 2024).
Here’s How It Would Work to Replace Biden Before or During the Democratic Convention – Miles Mogulescu (Common Dreams, July 3, 2024).



See also: Marianne 2024 Official Site | About | Issues | News | Events | Donate

For The Wild Reed’s coverage of Marianne Williamson’s 2024 presidential campaign, see the following chronologically-ordered posts:
• Marianne 2024
• Marianne Williamson Launches 2024 Presidential Campaign
• Progressive Perspectives on Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Run
• More Progressive Perspectives on Marianne Williamson’s Presidential Run
• Ben Burgis: Quote of the Day – March 10, 2023
• Despite the Undemocratic Antics of the DNC, Marianne Williamson Plans on “Winning the Nomination”
• The Biblical Roots of “From Each According to Ability; To Each According to Need”
• Marianne Williamson on The Next Revolution with Steve Hilton – 05/30/23
• Marianne Williamson’s Economic Bill of Rights
• Three Progressive Voices on the War in Ukraine
• Marianne Williamson: Quote of the Day – June 27, 2023
• Marianne Williamson on The Issue Is with Elex Michaelson – 07/20/23
• Voters, Not the DNC, Should Choose the Nominee
• Marianne Williamson in New Hampshire
• Marianne Williamson: “Repairing Our Hearts Is Essential to Repairing Our Country”
• Marianne Williamson on Trump’s Day in Court
• Marianne Williamson on NewsNation – 08/25/23
• Presidential Candidate Marianne Williamson Joins NYC’s March to End Fossil Fuels
• Marianne Williamson on Your World – 10/6/23
• Marianne Williamson’s “Radical Idea” of Putting People First
• Marianne Williamson: “We Need to Disrupt the Corrupt”
• “We Are Surging”
• “Let the People Decide”: Marianne Williamson on the DNC’s Efforts to Deny and Suppress the Democratic Process
• Democratic Presidential Debate: Marianne Williamson and Dean Phillips – 1/8/24
• The Democrats Challenging Biden
• Bannering for Marianne
• Campaigning for Marianne Williamson in New Hampshire – Day 1 | 2 | 3 | 4
• Marianne Williamson: “I Have Decided to Continue”
• Marianne Williamson in Nevada – 2/4/24
• Forever Grateful
• What Marianne Williamson Learned from Running for President
• Marianne Williamson: Playing It Big
• Minnesotans Launch Super Tuesday Push for “Suspended But Not Ended” Candidate Marianne Williamson
• A Welcome Return
• This Super Tuesday, Don’t Be “Uncommitted” . . .
• Super Tuesday in Minnesota
• Marianne Williamson, the Cassandra of U.S. Politics, on the “True State of the Union”
• Marianne Williamson in Arizona – 3/17/24
• “This Is the Moment”
• Marianne Williamson on Washington Journal (4/2/24) and The Letterhack (4/4/24)
• For Marianne Williamson, One Season Passes and Another Begins
• Cylvia Hayes: “Why I’m Voting for Marianne Williamson”
• Marianne Williamson on NewsNation – 5/19/24
• “What I Want to Remember Are the Moments of Love”

See also:
• Marianne Williamson: “We Must Challenge the Entire System”
• Marianne Williamson on the Current Condition of the U.S.
• Marianne Williamson’s Politics of Love: The Rich Roll Interview
• Now Here’s a Voice I’d Like to Hear Regularly on the Sunday Morning Talk Shows
• A Deeper Perspective on What’s Really Attacking American Democracy
• Marianne Williamson on the Tenth Anniversary of Occupy Wall Street
• Marianne Williamson on How Centrist Democrats Abuse Voters with False Promises
• “Two of the Most Dedicated and Enlightened Heroes of Present Day America”
• Deep Gratitude
• “A Beautiful Message, So Full of Greatness”
• Marianne Williamson: “Anything That Will Help People Thrive, I’m Interested In”
• Caitlin Johnstone: “Status Quo Politicians Are Infinitely ‘Weirder’ Than Marianne Williamson”

Image: Marianne Williamson at the SiriusXM Studios on September 19, 2023. (Photo: Jamie McCarthy / Getty Images)

Quote of the Day

Earlier today Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement on what many view as the right-wing takeover of the United States Supreme Court. As Sanders points out, it’s a takeover that’s evident in a number of recent decisions by the Court.

_______________

Over the years, among other disastrous rulings, this right-wing court has given us Citizens United, which created a corrupt, billionaire dominated political system. [More recently] it overturned Roe v. Wade, removing women’s constitutional right to control their own bodies. Last week, the Court chose to criminalize poverty by banning homeless encampments in public spaces – forcing more poor people into the cycle of debt and poverty. With the Chevron case, they have made it far more difficult for the government to address the enormous crises we face in terms of climate change, public health, workers’ rights, and many other areas. And, today, the Court ruled in favor of broad presidential immunity, making it easier for Trump and other politicians to break the law without accountability.

These are just some of the dangerous rulings from a right-wing, corporate-sponsored Supreme Court that continues to serve an extremist agenda. If these conservative justices want to make public policy, they should simply quit the Supreme Court and run for political office.

At a time of massive income and wealth inequality, billionaire control of our political system, and major threats to the foundations of American democracy, it is clear to me that we need real Supreme Court reform. A strong, enforceable code of ethics is a start, but just a start. We’ll need much more than that.

– Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.)
July 1, 2024

Related Off-site Links:
Supreme Court Says Trump Has Absolute Immunity for Core Acts Only – Nina Totenberg (NPR News, July 1, 2024).
Right-Wing Supreme Court Rules Trump Has “Absolute Immunity” for Official Acts – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, July 1, 2024).
The Supreme Court Just Turned Trump Into the First American King – Thom Hartmann (Common Dreams, July 1, 2024).
“The President Is Now a King Above the Law,” Sotomayor Warns in Chilling Dissent – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, July 1, 2024).
Justice Jackson Warns New Ruling Could “Devastate” Federal Regulators – Brett Wilkins (Common Dreams, July 1, 2024).
“Power Grab”: Supreme Court Overturns 4 Decades of Federal Regulatory Control and Hands Power to Courts – Democracy Now! (July 1, 2024).
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Vows to File Articles of Impeachment After Supreme Court Trump Ruling – Brett Wilkins (Common Dreams, July 1, 2024).
How the Supreme Court’s Chevron Decision Benefits Big Oil and Gas – L. Delta Merner (Union of Concerned Scientists, July 1, 2024).
We Just Witnessed the Biggest Supreme Court Power Grab Since 1803 – Eli Mystal (The Nation, June 28, 2024).
“Gift to Corporate Greed”: Dire Warnings as Supreme Court Scraps Chevron Doctrine – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, June 28, 2024).
Progressive Democrats Call for Codifying Chevron After “Dangerous” Supreme Court Ruling – Olivia Rosane (Common Dreams, June 29, 2024).
Don’t Let the Supreme Court Get the Last Word on Housing Justice – Fran Quigley (Common Dreams, June 29, 2024).

UPDATES: “A King Above the Law”: Supreme Court Rules Presidents Have Broad Immunity from Prosecution – Democracy Now! (July 2, 2024).
Bernie Sanders: Right-Wing Supreme Court “Out of Control” and Must Be Stopped – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, July 2, 2024).
Supreme Court Furthers Right-Wing Agenda of Deconstruction of the Administrative State – Marjorie Cohn (TruthOut, July 2, 2024).
A Vicious Right-Wing Supreme Court Helps the Neoliberal Empire Strike Back – Chuck Idelson (Common Dreams, July 2, 2024).
“Screaming the Quiet Part”: Trump Advisers Say He’s Ready to Embrace King-Like Powers – Jake Johnson (Common Dreams, July 2, 2024).

See also the previous Wild Reed posts:
• Robert Reich Presents Five Facts About Donald Trump’s Indictments
• Sean O’Grady: Quote of the Day – August 15, 2023
• Why Trump’s Case Is Unique
• Chauncey Devega on the Ongoing Danger of the Trump Cult
• Progressive Perspectives on the Overturning of Roe v. Wade
• Dan Rather on America’s “Moment of Reckoning”
• Donald Trump’s Open and Shameless Criminality
• Insurrection at the United States Capitol
• Trump’s Legacy
• Republicans Don’t Care About American Democracy
• Progressive Perspectives on Trump’s Supreme Court Nominee, Amy Coney Barrett
• “We Have an Emergency On Our Hands”: Marianne Williamson On the “Freefall” of American Democracy
• “Fascism Is Upon Us”
• Laura Bassett: Quote of the Day – October 5, 2018
• Insightful Perspectives on the Kavanaugh/Ford Hearing
• Adam Serwer: Quote of the Day – May 23, 2018
• On International Human Rights Day, Saying “No” to Donald Trump and His Fascist Agenda
• Progressive Perspectives on the Election of Donald Trump as President of the United States
• Progressive Perspectives on the Rise of Donald Trump
• In a Blow to Democracy, U.S. Supreme Court Affirms Corporate Personhood