“[The MAGA Republicans] embrace, embrace, political violence. They don’t believe in democracy.”

President Joe Biden, last night.

Good old President Joeseph Biden, sincere friend of John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and many other reasonable Republicans – “Forgive me father, for I have sinned,” he once said – proved last night that he knows it would be a sin not to battle modern Republicanism. It is no less than “semi-fascism.” Joe could have called them out as “fascists,” but he is president and must speak cautiously.

Most of us have long accepted the fact that the Republican party, never mind the hardcore MAGA movement, embraced authoritarianism at least as far back as Trump’s Louis the XIV moment, “L’état, c’est moi.” Trump blatantly held critical Ukrainian policy hostage for his personal purposes. After all, he had “Article II” and could do whatever he wanted. The GOP protected him through the ultimate, obvious, impeachable act and continued to protect him right up through his second impeachment and the refusal even to investigate January 6th, as if it was just another highly charged political clash instead of an attack on democracy.

Republicans have embraced fascism, furious that the FBI walked into Mar-a-Lago with a legal, judicial search warrant to collect files that Trump clearly had no right to hold and walked out with the exact files listed in the warrant. It was time to call Republicans out from the highest podium. From the Washington Post. (Link and Video Below)

President Biden on Thursday night launched a push toward the midterm elections with a fiery speech in Rockville, Md., in which he cast the Republican Party as one that was dangerously consumed with anti-democratic forces that had turned toward “semi-fascism.”

The Post noted that this was completely out of character for the moderate deal-maker. It went on to quote the President:

The MAGA Republicans don’t just threaten our personal rights and economic security,” Biden said, referencing former president Donald Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan. “They’re a threat to our very democracy. They refuse to accept the will of the people. They embrace — embrace — political violence. They don’t believe in democracy.”

They don’t believe in democracy. Correct. And they are willing to admit it.

First, there is the dangerous 12th Amendment case that four SCOTUS justices want in front of them, a case that espouses a fringe and highly dangerous doctrine. It asserts that the state legislature, not a statewide vote, actually control the electoral college delegates sent to Washington. The legislature’s decision would not be subject to judicial review. Imagine 2020 with such a ruling in place.

Moreover, it was just a week ago that Joe Scarborough said that he spoke to a “pillar of Washington since the Reagan era,” (Just a guess, but think Chuck Grassley as the “type” Scarborough is referencing), and that pillar told Scarborough, “Joe, we can replace the American government.”

With what?

All signs point to fascism, surely not Scandanavian social democracy. Trump asserts ownership of Top-Secret files, he led a violent battle to stay in office, “They’re not here to hurt me,” “I need a favor, though,” “I have Article II, I can do whatever I want.” Now, look at DeSantis’s control of Florida. Look at Putin’s control of Russia. Replace the American government?

Fascism, as called out by President Biden. The autocrat, L’état, c’est moi.

In fiery midterm speech, Biden says GOP’s turned toward ‘semi-fascism’ https://t.co/AIC3xBTJZe

— Post Politics (@postpolitics) August 26, 2022

President Joe Biden hits the midterm campaign trail, protesting “semi-fascism” in the GOP. The Republican National Committee calls Biden’s comments “despicable.” https://t.co/F1VMuJJSek

— The Associated Press (@AP) August 26, 2022