> Steve Bannon publicly called for the beheading of Dr. Fauci
1) No, he used a metaphor. I suggest you read what he said:
“I’d actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England, I’d put the heads on pikes, right, I’d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats,” he continued. “You either get with the program or you’re gone, time to stop playing games.”
The Tudor period was 1485 to 1603.
Maybe somebody can comment on whether leftists misunderstand what a metaphor is, or whether it's a dishonest narrative to discredit Bannon?
2) Frankly, Fauci was useless, so no great loss either way.
He admitted that he's only interested in covid-19 medical information, without context for any other public policy (educational, economic, non-corona health, etc.)
"I'd actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England, I'd put the heads on pikes, right, I'd put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats. You either get with the program or you're gone — time to stop playing games. Blow it all up, put [Trump aide] Ric Grenell today as the interim head of the FBI, that'll light them up, right."
Jack Maxey, the podcast's co-host, responded: "Just yesterday there was the anniversary of the hanging of two Tories in Philadelphia. These were Quaker businessmen who had cohabitated, if you will, with the British while they were occupying Philadelphia. These people were hung. This is what we used to do to traitors."
To this Bannon replied: "That's how you won the revolution. No one wants to talk about it. The revolution wasn't some sort of garden party, right? It was a civil war. It was a civil war."
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I think it's pretty fair to characterize this as "literal". It's hard to read this (or listen to it, it was originally in audio form) and not think they're legitimately mulling over the possibility of executions.
> I’d put the heads on pikes. Right. I’d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats. You either get with the program or you are gone.
It’s silly to summarize this as Bannon urging Fauci to literally be beheaded. To “put [someone’s] head on a pike” is a figure of speech meaning to punish someone publicly as a warning to others, and the next line corroborates that intent.
>I think I would of agreed if I hadn't read a larger quote giving the actual context here. It's very hard to brush it off in the same way:
BANNON: Second term kicks off with firing Wray, firing Fauci. Now, I actually want to go a step farther, but I realize the president is a kind-hearted man and a good man. I'd actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England, I'd put the heads on pikes, right, I'd put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats. You either get with the program or you're gone -- time to stop playing games. blow it all up, put Ric Grenell today as the interim head of the FBI, that'll light them up, right.
JACK MAXEY (CO-HOST): You know what Steve, just yesterday there was the anniversary of the hanging of two Tories in Philadelphia, these were Quaker businessmen who had cohabitated if you will with the British while they were occupying Philadelphia. These people were hung. This is what we used to do to traitors.
BANNON: That's how you won the revolution. No one wants to talk about it. The revolution wasn't some sort of garden party, right? It was a civil war. It was a civil war.
>The call to replicate actual specific events in the American Revolution really makes it feel real, along with the mention of a civil war being on.
The original post starts with the phrase "I’d actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England." before getting into the beheading bit. Do you believe Bannon is actually pining for a time machine as well?
If the conversation ended there, in it's most favorable light Bannon could be assumed to be using "heads on pikes" as a euphemism for "getting tough / serious".
However, immediately after this quote, the other speaker and Bannon discuss historical political hangings and how the death penalty for treason is necessary during a civil war.
> Steve Bannon Under Massive Attack
> - Steve Bannon’s Twitter Account Suspended After Calling for Execution of Dr Fauci and FBI Director Wray
Regardless of where you come down on the free speech side of calling for a public figure's execution, Bannon seems to concede that he meant what he said.
The "two corners of the White House" part is totally in line with the "heads on pikes". It is all part of the same figure of speech.
The part everybody is missing is "I'd actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England", which provides the context to understand the stuff people is having a meltdown about. This is not "heads on pikes" by a bunch of salvages; it is "heads on pikes" as part of the official policy of an absolutist State.
The way I read it, Bannon said: "I would have them face the death penalty, if there was a legal way to do so. And I would use their cases as deterrence from other would be traitors."
I don't see it as a call to have civilian supporters attempting against the lives of those two high ranking officials; but could be interpreted as a declaration of intent to pursue and extend draconian powers for the (Executive Branch of the) US Government. I will let you decide which of the two interpretation is gravest.
> Then when Biden said he wants to take Trump behind the bleachers and knock him out, we should construe that as a threat of violence against the President,right?
No, just like I never said Bannon's statement should be taken as a threat.
> People never, ever use hyperbole for effect
I never said that. What effect so you think Bannon was going for? I've explained what I think, and that that the statement was a neither literal nor hyperbolic.
If you want a productive dialog, you need to respond to what people actually say, rather than fantasies of what you'd like them to have said because it is convenient to argue against.
He don't even know what that is. He has already demonstrated that he was surprised that he can't rule the government as a CEO-king. Bannon believes in big war that cleansing the system, so maybe he does. Attorney General Sessions has shown clear contempt against civil rights.
>or commit genocide?
Of course not. Fascism is not equal to genocide. He want's to kill families of those who he opposes. So he is probably with some mass murders, but I don't think it's on the top of his mind.
Compare two fascist states in Europe, Germany under Hitler and Italy under Mussolini. They took two different paths. In Germany fascism developed without restraints into self destructive expansion. In Italy fascism turned into normal authoritarian rule and dictatorship under Mussolini.
If the assumption is that comparisons to fascists and Hitler all suggest some kind of holocaust, they are meaningless.
Regress in social norms doesn't require actual time travel, and that happening through normalization of political violence is a real thing, which has happened lots of places, and which Bannon is overtly calling for here, pointing to the mere firing he expects from the President as inadequate. (Making it clear that the call was not a metaphor for firing.)
> On a third hand, the loved one of a politician was severely injured because of someone who believes the incorrect speech of influential figures and I desperately do not want further injury or violence to occur spurned by incorrect speech on the facts of reality.
Oooh you really lost me here. It feels like you’ve fallen hook line and sinker for the news emotional storyline.
Deranged individuals exist regardless of current rhetoric. Never give up free speech in an attempt to cure society of deranged individuals. It won’t work.
Also, “the facts of reality”. You believe this exists in the political realm?
>>I'm glad you don't incorrectly disagree with the fact that most of the arguments proffered against ACA
Just because I choose not to respond to all of our unhinged conspiracy laced non-sense claims that everything you disagree with is a dog whistle to racism does not in anyway imply I support said statements. '
I choose not argue with crazy people on the internet, and clearly President Trump broke your mind and I hope for your sake you get professional help.
>> since you believe and spread the same conspiracy theories,
Sorry information released from government records pursuant to a FOIA request is not "conspiracy", I am sure you so biased in favor of your lord and savior (Dr Fauci) that you probably have one of those candles or figurines on your desk devoted to him so you will never believe anything negative however reality does not require your faith.
He is mid rate bureaucrat thrust in the lime light by circumstance and this hero worship of him is insane.
Further at no point did Rand threaten him or his family. The attempt to shift any real or imaged danger there is due to public backlash is a very dangerous game, tell me do you apply the same standard to Democrats who inflame AntiFa and other violent groups? Are these democrat politics to blame for all the violence, riots, etc they "cause" (and to be clear I do not believe they cause it, but you world view dictates we place this violence at their feet, i am judging you by your own standard)
> I would not have been surprised if we saw something similar if Trump had won a 2nd term.
When you say similar, what do you mean? An armed mob breaking in to the Capital to stop Congress from certifying the electoral college votes and the President-elect? Requiring the evacuation of the entire Congress and the Vice-President to ensure their safety and avoid a potential hostage situation? And then planting pipe bombs in the Capital?
Or do you mean something else?
[EDIT: Look. Let’s be real. There is not a semblance of similarity and there hasn’t been for the past four years. What we saw today was unprecedented and seditious, on the part of the mob, the President himself, and anyone else involved in the planning or execution of this attempted coup. And anyone who can’t see the truth needs to do a real hard gut check right now, no joke.
Let’s also be real. White supremacists are in the minority and their numbers are dwindling. Their days are numbered. There’s more of us than them and at some point if they push hard enough all of us patriotic American citizens who actually respect the Constitution and the vision of justice the United States, at its best, represents, well, we will push back.
These folks lost the Civil War. If they really do want to bring it, it’ll be a tragedy and waste of human life, and, it won’t be a war they’ll win.
And any Trumpists, at this point, go fuck yourselves. You should be ashamed of the treasonous behavior you’ve enabled.
That’s the real talk, and people who hate on it, hate on it because they recognize the truth - you know it deep down, and, you are ashamed of yourselves.
Consider your actions. Anyone can change for the better, as difficult and unpleasant as the process is, it’s always worth the effort.
If I was religious like that I’d pray for you, because you don’t even know how badly you need some forgiveness.]
He had repeatedly called for an ethnic cleansing of America. And now his buddy, Steve bannon is in the white house. The state has a monopoly on violence, and they aren't on our side
1) No, he used a metaphor. I suggest you read what he said:
“I’d actually like to go back to the old times of Tudor England, I’d put the heads on pikes, right, I’d put them at the two corners of the White House as a warning to federal bureaucrats,” he continued. “You either get with the program or you’re gone, time to stop playing games.”
The Tudor period was 1485 to 1603.
Maybe somebody can comment on whether leftists misunderstand what a metaphor is, or whether it's a dishonest narrative to discredit Bannon?
2) Frankly, Fauci was useless, so no great loss either way.
He admitted that he's only interested in covid-19 medical information, without context for any other public policy (educational, economic, non-corona health, etc.)
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