Headline rhymin’ time April 3/24…

Court Painter calls upon the studio poet in residence Chatterley Gonad Peterheater Thundercloud ( Chat GPT), to rhyme today’s domestic and international headlines. AHM provided some editorial adjustments.

Court Painter images are randomly selected from the vast studio archive.

In the budget’s embrace, more loans will be lent,
For apartments to rise, the government’s intent.

Federal funds tied to fourplexes, Ford cries no,
Liberals plan moves ahead, despite this blow.

Ford stands firm, no mandate for four units in sight,
Doubling down on this pledge with all his might.

In Gaza’s harsh sands, a Canadian’s life was undone,
A veteran with a son, his aid work now done.

O’Toole points fingers, loss of seats he does blame,
On foreign hands meddling, in the political game.

Premier Ford seeks to limit, in universities’ halls,
Only Ontario students, he stridently calls.

No water, no oil, the parched west’s plight,
Could hinder the oilpatch, in its economic might.

Tech industry voices, barriers impede,
Canadian firms’ access, to government’s need.

Ontario stands firm, drinking age won’t bail,
Nor will corner stores halt, alcohol’s sale.

In the political dance, Israel’s Gantz calls for change,
While Biden stays steady, policy remains the same.

The White House stands opposed, to NATO’s arm,
For Ukraine’s defense, while sounding the alarm.

The Pope holds a rosary, a soldier’s tale of woe,
Denouncing war’s madness, as tears freely flow.

In Russia’s sphere, blame is shared in the fray,
A concert hall attacked, by militants’ way.

NATO warns of alliances, in Russia’s Asian domain,
Consequences in security, they cannot feign.

In Finland, a deal, Ukraine’s security to shore,
As Zelenskiy warns of Russia’s troops, at his door.

Manhattan’s DA opposes, Trump’s trial’s delay,
In the glare of media, justice seeks its say.

Prosecutors rebuke, a judge’s flawed command,
In Trump’s classified case, truth they demand.

Trump himself sues, his social platform’s kin,
Alleging mismanagement, is the media’s spin.

Two brothers plead guilty, in schemes they wove,
Linked to Trump’s business, the courts must prove.

In Taiwan’s tremors, buildings collapse,
Nine souls are lost, for sure not perhaps.

South Africa’s parliament speaker resigns, in probe’s strife,
Over corruption’s shadow, in the nation’s life.

A federal judge speaks, of January 6 day,
We cannot normalize, the events of dismay.

characteristics…

How Fascism Typically Takes Over a Nation by Rhetoric… 

Words. Speeches. News conferences. Rallies. Media. Money. And they all point in one direction: violence in service of the fascist leader.

THOM HARTMANN MAR 29

Analysts of fascism from Umberto Eco to Hannah Arendt to Timothy Snyder and Ruth Ben-Ghiat generally agree on a core set of characteristics of a fascist movement. It includes:

— A romantic idealization of a fictional past (“Make America Great Again”)


— Clear definition of an enemy within that is not quite human but an “other” (“vermin,” “rats,” “animals,” all phrases Trump has used just in past weeks to describe immigrants and employees of our criminal justice system)


— Vilification of the media (“fake news” or lugenpresse)


— Repeated attacks on minorities and immigrants as a rallying point for followers (shared hatred often binds people together)


— Disparagement of elections and the rule of law (because neither favors the fascist movement)


— Glorification of political violence and martyrdom (the January 6th “patriots” and Ashley Babbitt)


— Hostility to academia and science leading to the elevation of Joe Sixpack’s ability to “do his own research” (simple answers to complex questions or issues)


— Embrace of fundamentalist religion and the moral codes associated with it


— Rejection of the rights of women and members of the queer community as part of the celebration of toxic masculinity


— Constant lies, even about seemingly inconsequential matters (Hannah Arendt noted in 1978: “If everybody always lies to you, the consequence is not that you believe the lies, but rather that nobody believes anything any longer.”)


— Performative patriotism that replaces the true obligations of citizenship (like voting and staying informed) with jingoistic slogans, logos, and mass events: faux populism


— Collaboration with oligarchs while claiming to celebrate the average person

Donald Trump and his MAGA movement check every single box.

Remember Trump received about 74 million votes in the 2020 presidential election, according to the Federal Election Commission. That’s almost 47% of the popular vote. He won 232 electoral votes – 270 are needed to win.