First, the problem. Then, how the mighty K.O. Kid is illuminating a necessary path forward.
The problem is this: Democrats fear Republicans. Republicans have contempt for Democrats. Democrats cower as Republicans sneer at Democrats, calling them “terrorists,” “traitors” and “Communists”. Republicans know they can abuse Dems without worrying about blowback because Dems want to be the “reasonable” ones who speak in hushed tones, using complex sentences couched in the passive voice in order to soothe suburban swing voters.
This has caused a terrifying consequence that threatens our democracy. With no pushback, Republicans compete with each other to generate the most outrageous soundbites for red-faced yak-radio Limbaugh wannabes and Fox News windbags, Without pushback, Republicans keep ratcheting up the rhetoric to Eleven. Latest example: In attacking Alvin Bragg, Trump called Alvin Bragg “an animal” (NOTE — Bragg is Black) and “a degenerate psychopath who truly hates the U.S.” Trump said Bragg’s “persecution” of him is “worse than the Gestapo” (NOTE—the Nazi Gestapo was instrumental in the Holocaust and the death of six million Jewish people.) And then Bragg got an envelope with “suspicious white powder” and a note that said “ALVIN — I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! (yes, the idiot used 13 exclamation points).
Olbermann’s response:
Donald Trump is a stochastic terrorist. He used stochastic terrorism to get somebody to attack the FBI after the Mar-a-Lago search and within days a man breached a local FBI headquarters to try to kill FBI agents. He used stochastic terrorism to get others to commit the insurrection of January 6. He used stochastic terrorism to inspire somebody to attack Democrats in 2018 and Cesar Sayoc sent out 12 liberals and he had a second list in his computer and I know because I was on it.
Trump is not just committing stochastic terrorism, he knows he is doing it, because it has worked for him, so well, and so often.
Arrest him, today. And he has openly threatened four prosecutors and countless journalists and witnesses. He must not only be arrested - he must NOT be granted bail.
Read this again, slowly. It is true? Yes. Is Trump encouraging his followers to murder Alvin Bragg? Yes. Would you be arrested if you did this? Yes. Should a man who has, arguably, the largest media platform in America be any different? No.
The clinic that Olbermann is conducting five times a week on his iHeart Radio podcast “Countdown” is teaching Democrats to respond to provocation in kind. How? By getting off defense and playing offense. By using the tools at their disposal. By putting aside the fuzzy end of the lollipop and bringing a knife to the knife fight.
Here’s what I mean. When Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy chose to gift Tucker Carlson with exclusive rights to cull the January 6th insurrection footage, Olbermann said this:
Speaker Kevin McCarthy has jeopardized the security of every Representative and every Senator and every staffer, and the continuity of the government of the United States, and thus the safety of every CITIZEN of the United States - and he has publicly admitted to, and boasted about, committing the act by which he did so. This is treasonous. Indict him and arrest him.
Olbermann called for Chuck Schumer to form a committee to investigate McCarthy. Hearings. Witnesses. Sworn testimony. Sweaty Republicans mumbling and invoking their Fifth Amendment rights. Democrats on the offense, Republicans cowering.
You know: CONSEQUENCES.
Instead, we got what we always get: a “strongly worded” statement of Schumer “condemning” this deplorable action. No consequences. Can you hear the Republicans laughing? I can.
I don’t doubt that some people reading this will flinch at doing what Olbermann suggests. Remember, the point isn’t to persecute Republicans. The point is to GET REPUBLICANS TO FEAR DEMOCRATS THE WAY DEMOCRATS FEAR REPUBLICANS. Make them think twice, and then a third time before calling them traitors and terrorists.
The Republicans are going to hold hearings for the next two years about wholly invented bullshit invented in MAGA chatrooms. Until the Democrats decide to fight back against real stuff that’s actually happening, we’re going to have to put up with endless exhalations of vitriolic nonsense from the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene, Jim Jordan and Matt Gaetz.
Democrats—pay attention. You have power. You have options. You can revoke the Republicans’ self-granted license to slander you. Listen to K.O. Use the tools you’ve got.
A final note: what will the mainstream press say about all this? They’ll be horrified at first...and then they’ll get over it, because it makes every horserace story juicier. And then, a miracle! Voters will STOP being afraid to vote for Democrats because they’re such wimps! “Hey, they fight back! They might fight for me!” What an idea!