2016-10-17

America Increasingly Resembles the Weimar Republic

Hitler arrived after a long chain of historical events, more than a decade in the making. America is a long way from electing a Hitler (and will probably elect something closer to a Cincinnatus, a reform minded Caesar), but those most fearful of Hitler 2.0 are doing their best to recreate the conditions that created Hitler 1.0, including escalating political violence. Back in March it was violence at Trump rallies, now it is vandalism and firebombs.

Charlotte Observer: Firebombing ‘an attack on democracy’
Gov. Pat McCrory Sunday called the weekend firebombing of a North Carolina Republican headquarters “an attack on our democracy,” while one GOP official called it an act of “political terrorism.”

In a tweet, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump blamed “Animals representing Hillary Clinton and Dems in North Carolina.”

Hillsborough police said somebody threw a bottle of flammable liquid through the window of Orange County’s GOP headquarters, setting campaign signs, supplies and furniture ablaze before burning itself out.

A swastika and “Nazi Republicans get out of town or else” were spray painted on the side of an adjacent building. No damage estimates were available.

“The firebombing of a local political headquarters in Orange County is clearly an attack on our democracy,” McCrory said in a statement. “Violence has no place in our society – but especially in our elections. … I will use every resource as governor to assist local authorities in this investigation.”
Bangor Daily News: Police on lookout for vandals who spray-painted cars outside Trump rally in Bangor
Police said on Sunday that no one has been charged in connection with an act of vandalism that left several cars marked with white spray paint outside Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s Saturday rally in Bangor.

...Paul Foster, a painter and Trump supporter from Eastbrook whose van was painted, said the rally “couldn’t have been more peaceful,” but he blamed the vandalism on Trump opponents, saying “there ain’t no thinking about it, I know so.”

“Why can’t they do a peaceful protest instead of painting cars, all of this, to make their statement?” he said.

It wasn’t just Trump supporters who were affected: A rental car driven by Tim Hanlon was painted. Hanlon, who is from California, was in town and he went to “see what this idiot had to say and should have known not to come around.”

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