The problem is that we’re so used to this pattern that its effects are muted. This is the president of the United States suggesting that members of the opposition party should be killed because they took a relatively tepid stand against his obvious interest in exceeding his executive power. It is not as bad as actually trying and killing them, but it is a multitude of steps past what would have been considered acceptable rhetoric a decade ago. Or even ten months ago, really.
Just because this rhetoric is no longer shocking doesn’t mean we should give Trump a pass. He’s a grown adult man who is responsible for the real violence he inspires in his followers.
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