"Buh-lieve Me"

“When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time.” ~Maya Angelou

Two years ago today:

In an interview on February 28th 2016, Birther Trump would not disavow David Duke and the KKK.

JAKE TAPPER: I want to ask you about the Anti-Defamation League, which this week called on you to publicly condemn unequivocally the racism of former KKK grand wizard David Duke, who recently said that voting against you at this point would be treason to your heritage.

Will you unequivocally condemn David Duke and say that you don't want his vote or that of other white supremacists in this election?

TRUMP: Well, just so you understand, I don't know anything about David Duke. OK? I don't know anything about what you're even talking about with white supremacy or white supremacists. So, I don't know.

I don't know, did he endorse me or what's going on, because, you know, I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists. And so you're asking me a question that I'm supposed to be talking about people that I know nothing about.

TAPPER: But I guess the question from the Anti-Defamation League is, even if you don't know about their endorsement, there are these groups and individuals endorsing you. Would you just say unequivocally you condemn them and you don't want their support?

TRUMP: Well, I have to look at the group. I mean, I don't know what group you're talking about.

You wouldn't want me to condemn a group that I know nothing about. I would have to look. If you would send me a list of the groups, I will do research on them. And, certainly, I would disavow if I thought there was something wrong.

TAPPER: The Ku Klux Klan?

TRUMP: But you may have groups in there that are totally fine, and it would be very unfair. So, give me a list of the groups, and I will let you know.

TAPPER: OK. I mean, I'm just talking about David Duke and the Ku Klux Klan here, but...

TRUMP: I don't know any -- honestly, I don't know David Duke. I don't believe I have ever met him. I'm pretty sure I didn't meet him. And I just don't know anything about him.

Establishment Outrage

Bernie Sanders tweeted: "I've got news for the Republican establishment. I've got news for the Democratic establishment. They can't stop us."

The corporate establishment media joined the chorus of outraged corporatist establishment Democrats and authoritarian, establishment, Trump loyalist Republicans.

For some reason they all resent any challenge to their establishment privilege and power.

Bernie is in good company.

Bernie is anti-establishment.

Native Americans protesting the Dakota Access and Keystone XL Pipelines are anti-establishment.

Anti racist police brutality Black Lives Matter is anti-establishment.

The civil rights movement was anti-establishment.

The anti-war movement is anti-establishment.

The pro-democracy Tiananmen Square protestors were anti-establishment.

Martin Luther King Jr was anti-establishment.

Rosa Parks was anti-establishment.

The anti-Nazi White Rose were anti-establishment.

Gandhi was anti-establishment.

Harriet Tubman was anti-establishment.

The founding fathers were anti-establishment.

Jesus was anti-establishment.

Moses was anti-establishment.

The establishment corporate media joined the chorus of outraged establishment corporatist Democrats and establishment Trump loyalist Republicans.

Bernie told Anderson Cooper that he’s “very opposed to the authoritarian nature of Cuba,” but said it’s “unfair to simply say everything is bad.”

“When Fidel Castro came into office, you know what he did? He had a massive literacy program,” Sanders said. “Is that a bad thing, even though Fidel Castro did it?” (Never mind President Obama once praised Cuba's public health care and education as well.“The United States recognizes the progress that Cuba has made as a nation, its enormous achievements in education and in health care.”)

Cooper noted that Castro’s regime imprisoned dissidents.

“That’s right, and we condemn that,’ Sanders responded.

And the corporate establishment media joined the chorus of outraged corporatist establishment Democrats and authoritarian, establishment, Trump loyalist Republicans in condemning Bernie as a Castro supporter.

Anti-establishment is anti-monarchy, anti-fascist, anti-authoritarian, anti-corporatism and anti-oligarchy. 

Anti-establishment means pro-democracy, pro-equality, pro-justice, pro-environment, pro-public healthcare and pro-public education.

No wonder the most corrupt and powerful establishment leaders are outraged. 

Rush To Judgment

Rush Limbaugh has made his career and fortune in denying truth and science, and scorning decency.

Now lung cancer is taking another smoker, despite his denial of the link between the two.

While he is a repugnant and vile man, I take no joy in his illness, and I wish people would not reflexively celebrate his condition.

However, no one should be surprised that the hate and racism Limbaugh generated has drawn hate back in his direction. In that sense, he asked for it.

I would much prefer that his hate and dishonesty would end by embracing compassion for the people who do not have the wealth and health care he has enjoyed.

That is unlikely, so death will have the final word.

This is sad to say, but our country would have been better off if he never existed, or at least wasn't such an authoritarian purveyor of divisive anger and lies. In that sense Limbaugh has been a cancer on our political discourse.

That said, I truly hate cancer more than I may seem to hate Limbaugh. It kills indiscriminately and cruelly. I will not celebrate his illness and suffering.

I do admit to finding some relief at the imminent end of his toxic and demonizing hate. Like Trump, he is an enemy of truth, decency and democracy.

Instead of rejoicing, I hope for a miracle.

I hope that he discovers he has the power to heal some of the wounds he has opened. I hope that in facing his mortality he realizes millions of people need better health care. I hope he finds a conscience and repents.

~~~

Limbaugh said on February 22nd 2020:

"I have seen what this bunch of people in the intelligence community are capable of. What they've tried with Trump here, this whole Russia meddling, Trump colluding? This whole thing is a gigantic lie, a totally bogus hoax, a silent coup. That's when I began to think the weapons of mass destruction thing was a setup against Bush, too.

"Why should we believe these people? They haven't been right about anything in the last four years. They were wrong about the weapons of mass destruction.” 

He can go to hell, anytime now.