Interesting, this is the first I’ve heard of the “reputation rehab” angle on the guy. Do you have any further reading you could link me to?
Rather than going full Inglorious Basterds, I think it’s important to have both “carrot” and “stick” options for these people. It doesn’t really do us any good if there’s no way to come back from having been involved in hate groups. Just make sure to keep the Richard Spencer treatment available, to provide them some motivation to get their heads right.
public shaming is the last line of defense we have against these types of people
Wait, really? I know liberals tend to like weird pseudo-pacifism, but have y’all really committed so hard to it that you think “public shaming” is our last line of defense?
Get armed, and get trained. You may end up needing it. *We* may end up needing it.
It’s their second favorite thing, right after vegan cat food!
Arend also highlighted the former Soviet Union’s perceived “strength” to “stand up against Western pressures” and its ability to shield their family from ideologies they found objectionable.
“Other countries are under the Western influence and wouldn’t be able to stand up against it,” he claimed.
“Western chauvinist” to “eastern chauvinist” speed run any%
Perhaps I’ve misinterpreted your usage of “last line of defense”?
These aren’t regular conservatives that we’re dealing with. MAGA is a fascist movement. The MO of fascists is to gain and hold power for their in-group by *any means necessary*. While it should never be our first option, we need to be willing and able to violently resist them, because they sure as hell don’t have any qualms about violently subjugating us.