I think the TParty, and those who pander to them and think like them, see Muslim Jihadists as a highly dangerous and potentially violent group that allows them to be prejudiced and bigoted without the risk of being called out for being racist. Essentially, they’re saying, “See, its OK to hate these people because they flew airliners into our office buildings. You don’t have to apologize for your hate, you can be self-righteous about your desire for vengeance, it is OK to let your religious and racial superstitions be displayed openly because now you can say they are really a form of patriotism.”

This fear of the Other, the Alien, the Outsider has always been how the Right has mobilized the fear and prejudice of its supporters to get them behind their political and economic agenda.

For Conservatives, racism is not a character flaw or a moral shortcoming. Its a political tool designed to further an economic program. Its important to understand this, because racism is an automatic human defect, a mistaken but expected relic of our ancient tribal past, perhaps even of our reptilian ancestry. The use of racism as a rhetorical and motivational technique is much worse, it reveals a deliberate, conscious and intellectual effort to weaponize this poison for personal gain and power. Focussing its toxins on a narrowly defined ethnic group allows the targeting of one particular and specific enemy with great power and effectiveness, while simultaneously ignoring its association with a human shortcoming that has become increasingly deprecated by civilized society.

These guys aren’t just mean, they’re smart, too.

When you use the phrase “those people”, that’s a red flag.

When you say “those people had it coming”, that’s game over. You’re a bigot.

I’ve said before that one of the defining features of bigots I’ve learned over the years is the desperate need to sell it. To portray bigotry as simply addressing a “real problem”…with “those people”. It’s always “those people”.

You’re becoming increasingly irrational as the election season goes on, Rob.

Exhibit A: “first amendment righs…are being denied to Trump”

Wow. I have never in my lifetime witnessed a politician so brutally abuse the First Amendment as Donald Trump. Every speech he gives is the political equivalent of yelling “fire” in a crowded theater. He’s the most blatant and unashamed liar to run for office I’ve ever seen. He encourages violence among his supporters, then denies he ever said “and I’ll pay your legal fees” or anything else to encourage violence. Yet, despite all that, he doesn’t just enjoy full First Amendment protection, he wallows in protected speech that’s amplified hourly by the whores in corporate media.

Donald Trump enjoys more freedom of speech than any other American living or dead.

But you and Trump are being silenced? You’re victims of “political correctness”? Geez man, seek professional help!

Seriously, Rob… if I had told you a year and a half ago that you would be defending beating up protesters and supporting a guy that endorses war crimes and torture you would dismiss me by saying I was unfairly lumping you together with the most crazy and extreme on the right….

Look how far you have let yourself be dragged down.

It’s certainly not a lesson that the most opportunistic of future political candidates are likely to ignore. I can’t see how this unfortunate turn will do anything other than hasten American decline.

When you read about immigration policies, the word “illegal” is never mentioned. And iff there is no current way to effectively “vet” refugees from Syria and other IS territories, I can see the need for a temporary ban on Muslims coming from these countries. We’ve seen the results in Europe. It’s an unpleasant idea but you have to admit the world has changed.

It’s ironic that our first amendment righs, so dear to Liberals (and taken to extremes by them) are being denied to Trump.

As far as the violence within Trump rally’s, those people had it coming. You should look at the psychology of fan violence. It’s just a part of human nature.

I “really” don’t like to have to defend Trump but the propaganda against him is full of lies.