Of course, Torba has the right to resist! So long as he does it lawfully or accepts the consequences if he doesn't. He is entitled to his opinion, and to express it, but no more than anyone else is.

From all I can detect, he does indeed want a separation in the US, but not of the kind I think you advocate. I don't think he wants to see states breaking away from the Union, even though disastrous and implausible attitudes would seem to be attractive to him. I think he wants to establish some kind of separate identity within the whole of the USA, working within, but not co-operating or participating with, it.

Far from avoiding conflict and bloodshed, I think either proposition would result in it. The only way to avoid it is to strengthen the role of democracy and make sure people recover any trust they have lost in it. To achieve that, it is necessary to deal with the current pandemic of misinformation being spread on sites like Gab with as much vigour as that applied to Covid 19. It needs to be done internationally, jst as we did with Covid. Whether that means removing sites like Gab or insisting every item of misinformation is countered by a disclaimer isn't yet clear to me. What's clear is that the problem of conspiracy theories being accepted as truth by the impressionable is a real and present danger to all of us.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

The kind of separation that Torba advocates could never be peacefully achieved, and would be so disruptive as to create far more problems than it could ever solve. It would be a disaster for the west for the USA to be focussing on itself just as China dominates. Which is why I believe that a lot of the conspiracy theories are conceived in either China, or Russia, and spread to willing minds in the USA. For these reasons, I feel pretty sure it will be fiercely resisted by the security forces.

I don't want an authoritarian government anywhere. Unlike you, I have no love for people like Erdogan and Bolsonaro. Authoritarianism is often a mark of right wing governments.

It is a typical response of those who admire such people, which apparently includes yourself along with the unlamented past POTUS, to dismiss conspiracy theories and misinformation as simply other opinions. Opinions which are, in their view, just as valid as any other.

This is untrue. Conspiracy theories and misinformation are based on demonstrable lies. They often deny established scientifically proven facts, which command a peer reviewed consensus.

Whilst challenging orthodox viewpoints is healthy, spreading dangerous lies is not.

The attack on the Covid vaccinations is a current and very prevalent example, for which Torba bears his share of the responsibility. Whether knowingly or not, he may well be assisting his countries enemies in their quest for dominance and helping to destroy the country he claims to love.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Once again, I have neither the time nor the inclination to trawl through years of posts to confirm my memory. So let's look at some easily established facts.

You confirm you admire "what little you know" of Bolsonaro. As I might then know a little more, I can confirm that his, and your, politics are closely aligned. Whether you have said so can be left to the imagination.

That Erdogan is a rightish authoritarian is beyond dispute. As whether you have expressed support for him isn't, I will accept your denial at face value, even though I am pretty sure you would be supporting him in his political struggles with the left in Turkey.

A better example would be Viktor Orban, who I am quite sure you have heaped effusive praise upon in the past. Orban is an archetypical, right wing, populist authoritarian. To my mind, he has a scant regard for democracy and is a wanna-be dictator.

Of course the USA will decide their own destiny, but that doesn't mean we ought not be concerned, as what happens will affect us all. Whether anyone, right or left, wants to be "left alone" is an irrelevancy. Being "alone" isn't an option in a democracy, which demands the opposite of respect and compromise for, and with, others. As no-one will be "forced" to accept anything, except the will of the majority, the basic questions to be answered are "are you a democrat or not"? And then, "if you aren't, what are you doing here?"

Whataboutism is a diversion. If General Milley has committed crimes, let them be found and prosecuted. That no-one is above the law isn't just a principle that applies to the likes of Torba.

If you cannot understand the difference between challenging orthodox viewpoints and spreading dangerous lies, then I really pity you.

It's a world away from the doublespeak to be found in Animal Farm. The first uses factually based new thinking. The other doesn't. It spreads untruths.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

The only "side" I am on is that of the truth!

I condemn misinformation and conspiracy theories, from whatever source they come. No doubt there are some that arise from the left, but the left is very weak and inconsequential in the west, and especially in the USA. That the bulk arise from the right cannot really be challenged. What you, and your kind, regard as the left are nothing of the sort. They are simply centralists like me. Believers in democracy and the rule of law. The Democrats now have a noisy leftish fringe, but it is of little real importance, other than in producing a few reality checks from time to time.

The whataboutism you raise about Hunter Biden relates to a pretty minor transgression, which it appears the media were misled over. Once it has been properly assessed by the security forces, and if a crime has been committed, then it should be prosecuted.

Exactly the same applies to Milley. Let the appropriate people, who can access ALL the facts, investigate and take the appropriate action.

No-one is above the law, but equally no-one should be persecuted by it. I trust those responsible to do their jobs, blind to any political considerations. Some though don't have that trust, and create conspiracy theories around one "side" being protected, when the truth is more about the scale of any misdemeanours.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

Oh, I am perfectly able to tell the difference between my opinion and the truth. The truth is frequently obscure at best and can be unknowable. The right no more possess it than anyone else.

That my only "side" is the truth is a reflection of my passion to learn and understand. Not that I think I already know everything. That I voice strongly held opinions doesn't change that.

For the avoidance of doubt any comments in response to a previous post are directed to its ideas and not at any, or all, posters personally.

ROTFLMAO

Comedy gold right there

If pomposity was an Olympic sport you would be ahead of Jason Kenny.

That's my opinion anyway.

Responsibility Deficit Disorder is a medical condition. Symptoms include inability to be corrected when wrong, false sense of superiority, desire to share personal info no else cares about, general hubris. It's a medical issue rather than pure arrogance.