The Swine -in -Chief using a bible as a prop in front of St. John's Church after having peaceful protesters tear -gassed and chased by stormtroopers on horses Monday evening.
"In reality the prime reason for all the armies of the world is that soldiers and militia may turn their guns upon their unfortunate countrymen when the owners of the Earth shall speak the word"- Clarence Darrow , Resist Not Evil, (‘The Purpose of Armies’, p. 35)
"As he was walking there he was followed behind by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - in military fatigues -and the Secretary of Defense walking behind like lapdogs. Behind this draft dodging, wannabe, tinpot dictator. " - Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Tuesday night on 'All In'
"Those who think our unhinged president’s recent mania about a murder two decades ago that never happened represents his moral nadir have missed the lesson of his life: There is no such thing as rock bottom. So, assume that the worst is yet to come. Which implicates national security: Abroad, anti-Americanism sleeps lightly when it sleeps at all, and it is wide-awake as decent people judge our nation’s health by the character of those to whom power is entrusted. " - George Will, 'Trump Must Be Removed, So Must His Congressional Enablers', Washington Post, 6/1
"He actually went to the church and held up a bible as if it were a prop for his military and authoritarian position, and used our building as if it were a backdrop for his agenda. And that was the offense. He didn't come to church to pray, he didn't come to offer condolences to those who are grieving. He didn't come to heal our nation, all the things one would expect from the highest leader in the land." Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop of the diocese that includes St. John's Church.
"It's not a very good law, this Insurrection Act. We all knew it was a vague act and last used in 1871. I mean you don't want your armed forces shooting Americans. That's why you have to request the governors' help, you can't do it on your own." Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Tuesday night, on 'All In'.
"Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people- does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. Instructions given to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that the Nazi slogan for destroying us was 'divide and conquer'. Our American answer is 'In union there is strength'. We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis, confident that we are better than our politics." - Former defense secretary Jim Mattis, yesterday, on Trump's strongman pose and rhetoric
As for Milley, Col. Lawrence Wilkerson (Ret.) had this to say about him on 'All In' Tuesday night: "This guy is not a member of the chain of command. He doesn't even command a single soldier, so what does that tell you about this stunt? What is he doing stage crafting his appearance there in battle fatigues? To your question, WHO did order that? Was it the DC guard commander? The military DC commander? Who ordered that? Who told him to do that? If it was the chairman of the Joint chiefs of staff he's out of order completely. If it was the Military District of Washington commander who decided to do that, under whose orders did he decide to do that? Donald Trump's? These are questions that are going to roil around for some time to come."
"As he was walking there he was followed behind by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff - in military fatigues -and the Secretary of Defense walking behind like lapdogs. Behind this draft dodging, wannabe, tinpot dictator. " - Sen. Tammy Duckworth, Tuesday night on 'All In'
"Those who think our unhinged president’s recent mania about a murder two decades ago that never happened represents his moral nadir have missed the lesson of his life: There is no such thing as rock bottom. So, assume that the worst is yet to come. Which implicates national security: Abroad, anti-Americanism sleeps lightly when it sleeps at all, and it is wide-awake as decent people judge our nation’s health by the character of those to whom power is entrusted. " - George Will, 'Trump Must Be Removed, So Must His Congressional Enablers', Washington Post, 6/1
"He actually went to the church and held up a bible as if it were a prop for his military and authoritarian position, and used our building as if it were a backdrop for his agenda. And that was the offense. He didn't come to church to pray, he didn't come to offer condolences to those who are grieving. He didn't come to heal our nation, all the things one would expect from the highest leader in the land." Rev. Mariann Budde, Episcopal Bishop of the diocese that includes St. John's Church.
"It's not a very good law, this Insurrection Act. We all knew it was a vague act and last used in 1871. I mean you don't want your armed forces shooting Americans. That's why you have to request the governors' help, you can't do it on your own." Ret. Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, Tuesday night, on 'All In'.
"Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people- does not even pretend to try. Instead he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership. Instructions given to our troops before the Normandy invasion reminded soldiers that the Nazi slogan for destroying us was 'divide and conquer'. Our American answer is 'In union there is strength'. We must summon that unity to surmount this crisis, confident that we are better than our politics." - Former defense secretary Jim Mattis, yesterday, on Trump's strongman pose and rhetoric
The invocation by Donnie Bonespurs of the Insurrection Act of 1807 ought to concern and alarm every thinking citizen. This is especially after he backed it up by the fascist show of force in the capital on Monday night- even using tear gas, rubber bullets and flash bangs- as combat soldiers stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, and a line of Humvees rolled down Pennsylvania Avenue. Those of historical bent would also know this act provides the sole exception to the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878, which prohibits the use of military force on domestic soil.
This reckless invocation accompanied by a brazen stunt in which he stood on the steps of a church with bible in hand is why many military and former military are alarmed. For example, it saw former Defense Secretary Jim Mattis' formal repudiation of Trump yesterday, in a published statement. This was long overdue but welcome just the same. Indeed, it was essential someone of gravitas slap back at this deformed monster in our midst seeking to ravage the nation and shred its Constitution.
Searching for an analogy here? Think of the 74 year -old man brat demagogue - infected with a toxic narcissistic personality disorder and yen for domination and power -like a three year old toddler playing with matches. He has the emotional makeup of a toddler but holds vast power over a nation which he's already shown he's incapable of using in a sane and sober manner.
It's clear a number of current and former military men have had enough of the pompous buffoon's antics and realize now he's become a mortal threat to this nation. The ultimate domestic enemy. This was especially after Trump used two military guys as props in his phony bible charade at St. John's Church on Monday. One was current Defense secretary Mark Esper, the other, Gen. Mark Milley, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman.
Searching for an analogy here? Think of the 74 year -old man brat demagogue - infected with a toxic narcissistic personality disorder and yen for domination and power -like a three year old toddler playing with matches. He has the emotional makeup of a toddler but holds vast power over a nation which he's already shown he's incapable of using in a sane and sober manner.
It's clear a number of current and former military men have had enough of the pompous buffoon's antics and realize now he's become a mortal threat to this nation. The ultimate domestic enemy. This was especially after Trump used two military guys as props in his phony bible charade at St. John's Church on Monday. One was current Defense secretary Mark Esper, the other, Gen. Mark Milley, Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman.
Esper , as I already showed in previous posts, is a known punk for Trump. Most infamous for spouting on a CBS 'Face the Nation' interview with Margaret Brennan:"The Kurds are on their own." - this after withdrawing U.S. forces from northern Syria last year, allowing the Turks to wipe out the Kurds left behind.
But this latest demonstration of feckless and reckless behavior is only the most recent iteration in a series . Indeed, Trump's execrable recent litany of lawlessness and drive to rip this nation asunder was forecast in Michael Lewis' book, The Fifth Risk. With his interviews of former Trump staffers and research Lewis exposed an unqualified, unskilled, low class degenerate and grifter whose sole claim to fame has been his manipulation of others, and starring in a 3rd rate reality TV show. From his losing casino operations - whose victims states had to often bail out - to his bogus Trump University, to his steaks with the consistency of shoe leather, everything about him reeks of fakery and mendacity.
Lewis also showed how Trump - from the time he won the presidency - had zero interest in governance. His sole concern from day one was how to use the office to leverage more money for his crime family, and more power. Lewis showed how the Trump transition teams - like for the DOE- typically wanted to learn nothing, or how to manage anything. All they wanted - when they eventually showed up- was the list of names of all those appointed by Obama. Why? So they could clean house once they took over in January, 2017.
All of this presaged what we have beheld since: a renegade imp who had fired an F.B.I. director leading an investigation into his campaign, who urged a foreign power to investigate a political rival; who purged inspectors general tasked with oversight of his administration; who led a public crusade for his own Justice Department to drop charges against his first national security adviser, who had already pleaded guilty.
So, processing all the above- and that Trump has invested only in his own power and how he is seen - it is easy to grasp why he became enraged after last Friday's protests saw the Secret Service rushing him into an underground bunker. For his safety. As reported on the news Tuesday night, in the wake of that humiliating (to Trump) event, he lost it. He felt disempowered, unmasked and unmanned- as in gelded. He instantly acquired a need to assert his power anew. He decided to do it first using a conference call to state governors, and second to do a PR power stunt, helped by top toady Bill Barr. Oh, and third he's taking us all for idiots by trying to mount a new narrative that: Oh no, he wasn't led to thee bunker out of safety - it was so he could do a first hand inspection! No, folks, you can't make this shit up, certainly not like Trump can!
In respect to his call to the state governors, just made public, we learned the draft dodging coward and wannabe strong man bellowed:
In respect to his call to the state governors, just made public, we learned the draft dodging coward and wannabe strong man bellowed:
"Most of you are weak. You have to dominate. If you don't dominate you are wasting your time. You're going to look like a bunch of jerks. You have to arrest people, And you have to try people and they have to be in jail for long periods of time."
While several red state governors kissed his ass and applauded his 'get tough' rhetoric, others like J.B. Pritzker of Illinois, let him know such bombastic arrogance wasn't wanted or appreciated. Still not satisfied with his dictator- dominator pose Trump decided to pull off another power pose: going to St. John's Episcopal Church with a bible in hand, but after having Bill Barr order his capitol goon squad to clear peaceful protesters - using flash bangs, rubber bullets, and pepper balls fired at them, as well as cops on horses to march them in a rapid two step out of sight.
Having cleared Lafayette Square by ordering the use of excessive force,
"Der Fuhrer" could then stand in front of the venerable and historic Episcopal church and use it as a prop for his power PR stunt. (See top image) But according to Trump's own aides, it was worth it, as "the president was energetic after he returned to the White House" (WSJ, 'Trump's Show Of Force Brings Rebukes, Praise', June 3, p. A8). Hmmm...wonder how 'energetic' he'd be after being tear -gassed like the protesters on whom he unleashed his goons and thugs.
Let's be clear here: If another leader of another nation pulled this atrocity and then stood in its tense capital and instructed police and law enforcement to “dominate the streets” against protesters - while he held a bible aloft like a championship trophy- we'd have all agreed it was a fascist takeover. But here in the U.S. one finds numb nuts like the WSJ editors insisting that "liberals and the media" are getting worked up for nothing. The constitutional guardrails "are still holding."
Well uh, yeah, and the Brumadinho Dam in Brazil was still holding - up until January 25, 2019 when it collapsed - causing an unmitigated disaster. An ill-considered analogy? If you think so you haven't been paying attention to what's happening out there, and how Trump is pouring ever more gasoline on the situation, as evidenced by having the 101st Airborne based just outside of D.C.
Of course, the Journal's dedicated ideologues in their editorials (e.g. 'Liberal Cities, Radical Mayhem', p. A18, yesterday) appear to forget or not care how their main news pages expose their 'bubble' of detachment, see e.g. 'Protests Spread Beyond Big Cities', p. A6 yesterday) noting how the protests and violence spread from Raleigh to Texas to Omaha. So contrary to that editorial trope, it's not just blue state Dem governors facing the unrest.
Back to the takes of other military people on Trump's strongman effort:
Of course, the Journal's dedicated ideologues in their editorials (e.g. 'Liberal Cities, Radical Mayhem', p. A18, yesterday) appear to forget or not care how their main news pages expose their 'bubble' of detachment, see e.g. 'Protests Spread Beyond Big Cities', p. A6 yesterday) noting how the protests and violence spread from Raleigh to Texas to Omaha. So contrary to that editorial trope, it's not just blue state Dem governors facing the unrest.
Back to the takes of other military people on Trump's strongman effort:
In the words of Krori Schake, a former Pentagon official and Republican policy advise
“If we were seeing this in another country we would be deeply concerned and talking about the foreign policy consequences of states behaving this way.”
Actually, the CIA is already doing that and filing reports to the effect that the U.S. now appears like so many failed states in Africa, Asia that the agency has had to deal with. All appearing after a strongman tanks the given nation into the toilet and its whole system begins to fray. See e.g.
CIA veterans see troubling parallels in Trump’s response
So no surprise now that most academics (and some formerly dedicated Trumpers) agree, it's time to have the conversation. Why? Well, from the earliest days of his norm-smashing, standards flouting administration, fretful critics, scholars and foreign policy experts have kept watch on Trump’s ever more malignant anti-democratic streak. And oh, btw this has not always required an exhaustive search - or a Mensa level IQ.
CIA veterans see troubling parallels in Trump’s response
So no surprise now that most academics (and some formerly dedicated Trumpers) agree, it's time to have the conversation. Why? Well, from the earliest days of his norm-smashing, standards flouting administration, fretful critics, scholars and foreign policy experts have kept watch on Trump’s ever more malignant anti-democratic streak. And oh, btw this has not always required an exhaustive search - or a Mensa level IQ.
Add in the Trumpsters' response to the engulfing national traumas of this moment and the reality that's registered has appeared to be on another plane, That is, producing the kinds of scenes and sound bites that some doomsayers have long prophesied and adding to the mounting social and public health crises a festering concern about the state of American democracy itself. See e.g. William Galston's op-ed column in yesterday's WSJ ('I've Never Been So Afraid For America', p. A17) and Thomas Friedman's piece in the NY Times two days ago:
Thomas L. Friedman
America, We Break It, It’s Gone
Excerpt:
" How about the social media barons? Will they save us from the toxic waste they now circulate? Certainly not Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg, who is clearly the Rupert Murdoch of his generation. He’s always justifying his cowardly choices with vacuous bromides about “free speech,” but he’s obviously just in it for the money — no matter how much his platform is used to destroy our democracy."
Looking at the quote (top) from Clarence Darrow's book 'Resist Not Evil', some may express skepticism or be amused. Armies to turn against their own people? They perhaps need to recall Trump’s defense secretary, Mark T. Esper, who told governors to “dominate the battle space” against protesters. Soon, a Black Hawk helicopter flew low enough above the city’s Chinatown district to snap tree limbs and tear signs from the sides of buildings, a show-of-force maneuver often seen in combat zones to scare off insurgents.
And presiding over it all was the coward - the yellow belly - e.g.
who had dodged the draft five times with "bone spurs" and yet now has the absolute temerity to threaten to send the American military to states where governors could not restore calm. Oh, and labeling demonstrators who have used violence to draw attention to police brutality against black people as “organizers” of terror. (Not to mention trying to label Antifa as a "terror organization" which had Repuke goon Matt Gaetz drooling as he tweeted: "So if they're terrorists can we start hunting them down ....like the Islamic radicals?")
Of course, Trump's vapid and vile admirers have encouraged the imp's autocratic vows to curb chaos with strongman tactics - totally un-American- but they are blind to that. They've also cheered the religious imagery he reached for, quite literally, in service of a photo opportunity- despite his being the foremost hypocrite and arelgious pretender in U.S. history.
According to Robert Jeffress, the pastor of First Baptist Dallas and a stalwart evangelical Trump supporter:
"Every believer I talked to certainly appreciates what the president did and the message he was sending. I think it will be one of those historic moments in his presidency, especially when set against the backdrop of nights of violence throughout our country.”
Actually, fool, it will mark one of the most degraded, debased moments in American history - say akin to the slaughter of Indian women and children at the Sand Creek massacre here in Colorado on Nov. 29, 1864. Hence, one more depraved episode to add to our sordid history and let's hope to hell it doesn't get worse with a modern day 'Sand Creek' massacre of peaceful protesters by U.S. active military.
Representative Ruben Gallego of Arizona,, a veteran of the Iraq war, said in an interview
“For us to just shut our eyes and somehow believe he won’t go that far — he just ordered the federal government to fire at innocent protesters. We need to accept the fact that this president, if given the opportunity, will try to be a dictator.”
Mr. Gallego also predicted that military leaders would find themselves at a decision point soon: “They’re going to have to say no to the president and not follow illegal orders.” Well, at least Mark Esper apparently tried - like for ten hours, e.g.
Pentagon chief breaks with Trump on whether to use active-duty military
Pentagon chief breaks with Trump on whether to use active-duty military
Before being threatened hours later in a presser conducted by Trump's latest hired airhead McEnany - who made a swipe at his decision and how it "might" just risk his position. Not long after Esper lost his spine and whatever residual manhood he possessed, and came sniveling back to Trump. Agreeing not to send the 101st back to their home base.
Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, seemed to echo this anxiety on Tuesday in an article for The Atlantic. While he was confident that uniformed officers would obey lawful orders, he wrote, he had less faith “in the soundness of the orders they will be given by this commander in chief.”
Adm. Mike Mullen, the former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, seemed to echo this anxiety on Tuesday in an article for The Atlantic. While he was confident that uniformed officers would obey lawful orders, he wrote, he had less faith “in the soundness of the orders they will be given by this commander in chief.”
Well, if they dispute them - say any order to fire on fellow Americans who "are just grabbing a TV or shoes" - then under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, it is not incumbent on them to follow orders. As Lt. Gen. Russell Honore made clear on All In last night, , "We do not fire our weapons at looters".
Experts on democratic systems have been careful to distinguish certain conspicuous traits and data points — Mr. Trump’s boundary-pushing instincts, his inveterate bluster, his fondness for some phrases associated with strongmen — from the most legitimate challenges to the country’s institutions and ideals. But by now it ought to be obvious to even the most thick-headed that Trump is for real - a new Hitler in the making. While he fumbled for the "power" buttons at the beginning, he's now drunk with that power and willing to use it to advance any of his narcissistic authoritarian ends. And he certainly isn't prepared to give it up, without literally a fight.
Experts on democratic systems have been careful to distinguish certain conspicuous traits and data points — Mr. Trump’s boundary-pushing instincts, his inveterate bluster, his fondness for some phrases associated with strongmen — from the most legitimate challenges to the country’s institutions and ideals. But by now it ought to be obvious to even the most thick-headed that Trump is for real - a new Hitler in the making. While he fumbled for the "power" buttons at the beginning, he's now drunk with that power and willing to use it to advance any of his narcissistic authoritarian ends. And he certainly isn't prepared to give it up, without literally a fight.
Meanwhile, his quislings, sycophants and puppets in the Repuke party are prepared to do whatever they can to try to ensure this loathsome maggot's re-election. That includes the Reepo Senate Judiciary Committee issuing some 53 subpoenas to mount a bogus "investigation" on the Bidens to try to keep an aura of criminality on Trump's opponent. Meanwhile, as the real criminal continues to wreak havoc to try to destroy this country we commence again the search for real patriots to oppose this march to national perdition.
Most of us with the sense we were born with understand perfectly well every new blast about using force against protesters is no joke. It is a prediction out of Trump's own piehole of what he will aspire to do on a mass scale if re-elected. And that is why everything must be done in our collective power to prevent that nightmare from happening. We cannot allow this depraved pestilence to hurl this country and its citizens into a perpetual cesspool.
On that note, I end with a new word - German - Janice has found to describe Trump. This is having run out of English descriptors. The word is Abscheulich, meaning:
On that note, I end with a new word - German - Janice has found to describe Trump. This is having run out of English descriptors. The word is Abscheulich, meaning:
See also:
by Amanda Marcotte | June 4, 2020 - 7:30am
| permalink
And:
And:
Excerpt:
There is an iconic scene in the film The Dead Zone where a thoroughly unglued President Stilson, played by Martin Sheen, bulldozes one of his generals into co-authorizing a nuclear strike. “You are not the voice of the people, I am the voice of the people!” Stilson rages. “The people speak through me, not you!” After the launch is effected, upon being told an attack is not necessary, Stilson says with a smile, “The missiles are flying, hallelujah, hallelujah.”
Folks have been batting that disturbing clip around on social media since before Donald Trump was elected president, partly because Sheen’s hair and demeanor are eerily similar to Trump’s, but mostly because they were afraid such a scene could actually unfold in real life. It was an early, semi-ironic warning of a doomsday scenario that could potentially come to pass if a human wrecking ball like Trump were to be elevated to a position of such astonishing power.
And:
And:
by Robert Reich | June 3, 2020 - 6:52am | permalink
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