Did Anyone Spot Brown Shirts Outside the Store?

Well, his authoritative majesty Scott Walker, Republican Governor of Wisconsin who is facing potential recall challenge as opponents launch a massive petition drive to gather enough signature to force a recall election, apparently has supporters who now how to respond to this exercise in Democracy.

UPDATE: Tuesday, November 15, 2011 — 9:42p.m

Incident Report from Madison Police:

Incident Date:
11/15/2011 – 6:39 PM

Address:
2710 Atwood Ave

Details:
On 11/15/11 at approximately 6:30pm, a rock was thrown through the front window of a cafe in the 2700 block of Atwood Ave.

Officers found that the rock was thrown just above a sign supporting the recall of Scott Walker.

In addition, there was a note taped to the rock making reference to voting for Kloppenburg. Investigation is ongoing.
_____________________________________

Posted: Tuesday, November 15, 2011–8:45 p.m.
By NBC15’s John Stofflet

A cafe owner on Madison’s East side says he is upset someone threw a rock wrapped in an anti-recall message through the window of his Atwood Avenue business.

The owner of The Victory at 2710 Atwood Avenue, Patrick Downey, tells me his business has been displaying “Recall Governor Walker” signs in its window. Tonight, he says a rock flew through the window of his restaurant, “coming within one foot of someone inside”.

He says, the rock came through the window with such force he believes a slingshot device might have been used to propel it.

Downey says the rock was wrapped in a message opposing the recall campaign against Governor Scott Walker. “People need to know about this”, he says. In addition to displaying signs in favor of recalling Governor Walker, The Victory posted last February on its website, “Half-price coffee drinks Thursday for any and all protesters!”

He has contacted the Madison Police Department.

http://www.nbc15.com/home/headlines/rockthroughwindow_133933428.html

I do not make this reference lightly, having devoted a good portion of my to life studying German language, literature, and history.

I really do wonder at what point we are going to see the GOP field the equivalent of the gangs of Brown Shirts form the early period of Hitler’s rise to power.

Hitler’s use of them in committing acts of violence against any and every opponent was extremely effective.

I see the the massive use of money and power to fund disinformation being committed by the right, the Koch brothers, and Karl Rove, as further symptoms of this same phenomenon.

History Channel was showing a feature last night based on the film that the army took as it entered the town, then the camp of Dachau, April 29, 1945, then video of the army forcing the German citizens to enter Dachau, the officials being forced to move and bury the bodies.

I think we as a species just do not want to remember how easily we slide into tyranny and murder of those we oppose, because it is simply to horrible to contemplate.

But it has historically been one of our defining traits as a species.

We prefer to pretend that we as Americans will never have to worry about the threat of the rise of a police state, with the violence by those in power that it brings, and the suppression of civil liberties.

One might one to rethink that, in light of the past twelve years. To me the most compelling and disturbing moment this week was the police refusing to acknowledge the temporary restraining order issued by the judge in New York. That just says it all. The rule of law is collapsing in this nation, to be ignored at will by the one percent and their minions of power structure.

I grew up in the Deep South, and am fully aware of the history of race relations, including violence and lynchings, which, again, most Americans prefer to sweep under the rug of consciousness rather than confront.

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Author: Ron