The Rittenhouse Diaries: An expected conclusion

 "What do suppose he's going to do?" 

"Retaliate First..."  - MadMax: Fury Road (2015)

There are two main takeaways from today's outrageous but, expected Rittenhouse Trial Verdict.  One the Very On-Line Fascists are gloating and celebrating.  While it is important to monitor them, there is nothing to be gained with interacting with them.  The Fash live for this.  Their goal is to post horrible taunts, murderous dank memes, and outrageous offensive shit to upset you.  If you respond they get further excitement and the mini-endorphin rush of Trolling and #OwningtheLibs which is exactly what they want.  The more upset you are the bigger rush they get.  For your mental well-being do anything else; read a book, rake leaves, go for a hike, have a drink (not too much), pet a dog.  Or if you still want to get involved in local politics or help GoTV.  But, stop engaging with the Fash On-Line; it's pointless they're gone and worse yet, it's bad for you.

This does not mean ignore them.  We can not do that.  Because we are getting closer to the Fascist Inflection Point.

And that's the second takeaway.

Republicans are passing laws and making incremental steps to firmly ensconce the right for them to murder you and get away with it.  Stand Your Ground, Run'Em Down, Self-Defense.  These all set up a subjective, impossible to disprove standard of shoot first, answer questions later if at all.  

The Rittenhouse trial has many warning signs of marching fascism.  Key components of Fascism are the unequal application of laws.  A system of justice where legal legerdemain is more effective than truth or facts.  And one which empowers a paramilitary band of armed thugs to mete out extrajudicial justice through violence. 

Trump empowered the Proud Boys with his "Stand back and Stand by".  Now, Little Mad Nazi Cawthorn is sending the same message with his gleeful, "Be armed, Be Dangerous".  I've been saying for a long time Conservatives want to murder us.  They are yearning to be given the go ahead.  To be granted the right to unleash all their inner demons and kill.  I don't know if this will empower more than a few fringe Ultra Reactionary or Paramilitary types to descend upon protests or begin shooting in street fights in Portland.  But, as Republican Terrorist Paul Gosar fantasy anime illustrates and Kyle Rittenhouse verdict hammers home or the Houston Teen who "Rolled coal" and rolled over 6 bicyclists and got off shows; it appears more and more likely rightwing domestic terrorism is now the gateway to political power.

It's part of the GQP two-pronged approach of violence in the streets and bureaucratic violence in legislatures to ensure they "win" elections even when they don't.  And the next time Democrats clearly win elections and Republicans simply refuse to acknowledge defeat and send out their political goon squads to quash protests through AR-15 rounds... well, Fascism never sleeps.