Is Trump the Tip of a More Coherent Fascist Spear?

Is the level of political discourse a reflection of the rise of fascism in the United States? Will Biden set the stage for a more dangerous far-right demagogue? Adolph Reed and Leo Panitch say organizing a renewed labor movement is crucial for defeating the rise of fascism. On theAnalysis.news podca Is the level of political discourse a reflection of the rise of fascism in the United States? Will Biden set the stage for a more dangerous far-right demagogue? Adolph Reed and Leo Panitch say organizing a renewed labor movement is crucial for defeating the rise of fascism. On theAnalysis.news podcast with Paul Jay   Transcript Paul Jay Hi, I'm Paul Jay. Welcome to theAnalysis.news podcast. And please don't forget there's a donate button at the top of the webpage. In the presidential debate, Joe Biden was saved by moderator Chris Wallace and the vice presidential debate Kamala Harris, was saved by a fly. Mike Pence (a fly is visible on Pence's head) "This is a great insult to the men and women who are... " Paul Jay  The vulgar display of bullying and bellicose behavior of Trump brought presidential debates to a new low. Chris Wallace (moderator) "You have repeatedly criticized the answer is that you have stated, you know, you've been talking. He made a statement. I'm asking you. I would love to know, sir. I would love to know if you want to switch seats. We could very quickly." Paul Jay In some ways, the VP debate was even worse. Praised by most pundits as being civilized. Perhaps, that's what was so wrong about it. The same lies and hatred dressed up in a central casting, presidential looking Pence, who pretended to respect his opponent rather than trash her, I think was even more insidious than the at least honest and raw expression of the rage and contempt Trump feels towards anyone who disagrees with him. The inability, of the over scripted Harris, to land a punch on the perfect square jaw of Pence. When so many opportunities presented themselves that almost any well-informed viewer could have devastated him. I think it was less about her quality as a prosecutor, than her political strategy of trying to appeal to Trump voters and conservatives in the audience, in a way that corporate Democrats imagine might work. It's called playing it safe, and perhaps it was given the lead Biden holds at the moment. But her disavowal of the Green New Deal, and her passionate defense of fracking, brought the level of discourse to another new low in its own way. I remember when Obama, who was no socialist, was accused by McCain of being a socialist in the last week of the election of 2008, he did not get defensive. Instead, he said, quote, "My Bible tells me, I should be my brother's keeper". Compare that to Biden and Harris, running as fast as they can, from every progressive notion they claim to support. And this is civilized. In a forthcoming article, Leo Panitch writes, "what was perhaps most disturbing, though, to those of us abroad who watched the so-called debate, and here he's talking about the presidential debate, was what it revealed about the current level of American political discourse. Whatever else may be said about the disappointments of his presidency, Obama certainly raised that level not just in comparison with Bush, but even with Clinton. By contrast, the degradation of political discourse under Trump, brings to mind Umberto Ecos observation, that the most telling characteristic of the rise of fascism was how its impoveris...