General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsKilling the mad dog.
It's a tradition in American politics that after the election, the losers congratulate the winners, acknowledge their legitimacy, and pledge (with varying degrees of sincerity) to work together for the good of the nation.
But what if the political landscape has changed to such a degree that this is no longer a viable strategy? What if your adversary is so dedicated to your defeat that, to them, nothing is off the table as a tool to effect your destruction? Once upon a time there was the Klan. It's still there, much diminished, but its place in the sun has been taken by the Alt-right.
At what point does a newly elected administration come to the realization political dissent has metastasized into domestic terrorism and treason? It wouldn't break my heart if Hillary's AG directed the Justice Department to form a task force to combat domestic terrorism in all forms. I wouldn't shed any tears if a goodly number of the Alt-righties ended up doing some serious hard time.
getagrip_already
(14,838 posts)We don't need a goon squad out enraging the already unstable - just because they used the 1st amendment. Sure, if there are "actual" domestic terrorists, investigate them.
But turning over rocks and harrassing the merely ugly would put a lot of bugs that may be beneficial in some way in jars.
Jerry442
(1,265 posts)It would still be wrong to nail them for what they say, but vitally important to hit them for the illegal stuff they do.
getagrip_already
(14,838 posts)there should be a task force to focus on domestic terrorism. But actual acts (planned or carried out), not some loudmouth in a bar or rally.......
Jerry442
(1,265 posts)...but not stepping over it, they're a lot smarter than I think they are.
Warpy
(111,352 posts)The internet is a safety valve for the unstable, more convenient than the corner bar, and most of them will stay in the comfort of home to spew their bile all over anyone who stumbles upon them while surfing. Going after blustering jerks is a waste of time.
What they need to look into is the organized crime the GOP has been engaged in for years, starting with that "firebombed" GOP office that supposedly claimed absentee ballots were destroyed. Just what the hell were absentee ballots doing in a party headquarters? Whose were they and how did they get there? Then they can proceed to things like destroyed voter registrations and dumped ballots from Democratic districts, along with illegal voter roll purges in some states. There is one hell of a lot to investigate. Voter fraud is negligible. Election fraud is enormous.
That doesn't mean that idiots stockpiling weapons shouldn't be investigated and prosecuted if there is cause. It means that the DOJ needs to go where the real crime is instead of wasting time with a bunch of blowhards on the net.