Thread: New America
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Old 11-26-2022, 11:54 AM
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Raellus Raellus is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by castlebravo92 View Post
Pre-internet, there were the classified ads in Soldier of Fortune magazine, subscription newsletters and mailing lists, dial-up bulletin board services, etc. The NSA (allegedly) had trunk level taps into the phone system and were recording calls way before the public internet was a thing.

That's not to say de-centralized groups couldn't fly under the radar, but it would necessitate them to be relatively small, relatively minor in capability (sans some other explanation).
Right. My point re the very early days of the public internet was only that it would be a little more difficult to keep track of and/or infiltrate the sundry far-right/racist/nativist groups than it is today. The hydra metaphor applies either way, both pre and post world-wide web.

Regardless, as long as Hughes keeps his nose clean, he stays out of prison and can continue to build support through TV and radio appearances, newsletters, zines, etc. In some mainstream political circles (it's all relative), he'd probably carry a sheen of legitimacy (e.g. Strom Thurmond was still in the US Senate in 1996). Even if Hughes was not particularly active in recruiting and organizing, his reputation in ultra right wing-racist-nativist circles as an OG and simple name recognition will position him to take up the mantle of leadership once the war breaks out and the government shifts its focus from right-wing domestic terror groups to foreign threats (and left-wing organizations).

The CIA angle is an interesting one, but I think the last half-dozen years or so or real life have proven that American far right/white supremacist groups don't need direct gov't support to grow and thrive, and that, try as it might, the FBI can't completely eliminate the threat they pose.

Tegyrius' Pacific Northwest sourcebook presents an interesting solution for New America's plausibility issues. Until he chimes in on the subject, I'll leave this here: https://www.drivethrurpg.com/product...pacific+northw

To connect this topic to the Mexican Invasion thread, if there's pre-war tensions with Mexico re illegal immigration and the drug war, Hughes can definitely capitalize on it. We saw in the impact of nativist sentiment on the 2016 US presidential election (many analysts see it as the deciding factor), IRL. Once Mexico invades in the T2k timeline, it'll be a big, "See, I told you so," for Hughes and New America.

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Last edited by Raellus; 11-26-2022 at 12:52 PM.
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