Things have gotten pretty crazy in Portland, Oregon as the city has been protesting police brutality for 50+ days since the death of George Floyd. Trump has deployed undercover federal agents to defuse tension in the city, but it seems to have only made things worse. Curious to get some thoughts on what’s going on. Is there an end in sight to the chaos or will things continue to be this way for the foreseeable future?
It's scary, probably un-constitutional, and certainly not "bringing us together." But I suspect it will continue in Portland (and other cities as well) at least until the election in November if Trump wins, or until the inauguration if he loses. He will stir the pot as long as he has a stick with which to stir.
Where's the NRA?
You are probably right, unfortunately.
That is so on point.
Been pondering this all day, as the administration announced plans to bring this nightmare to more cities. How can citizens respond?
Portland's "Wall of Moms" might just show the way--wonder what would happen if protesters were to preempt the stated mission of the anonymous storm troopers? The stated legal basis for their presence is "to protect federal property". So maybe protesters should *help* protrect that property, Wait . . . what?
Gandhi and Martin Luther King used non-violent protest to disarm their antagonists. It remains a powerful tool. Imagine a federal courthouse, say, surrounded by peaceful protesters carefully following all laws, masked against the virus but with picture identification cards pinned to their garments. While confronting nameless and faceless federal officers, these protesters display their names and faces. Armed only with posters, placards and video cameras--lots of cameras. Let it be known that their video will be freely available to the media. Anyone vandalizing government or private property should expect to see their faces on the news. And any protesters kidnapped by federal goons and whisked away in unmarked vans should expect their identity to be recorded and broadcast. Could real-time, street level RealityTV actually prevail against a failed Reality TV administration?
From last night:
The New York Times did a shocking video that they did not post on YouTube — too bad imo. It makes you wonder, can this really be America?
YouTube would probably mark it with a caution given the blood.
In a shorter, less shocking one that they did post on YouTube, they say the federal presence has amped up the protests.
I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better. I pray I’m wrong, but none of this is encouraging.
Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers had some wise words to say on the matter.
I find it very ironic that Trump is using picture and videos of violence under his own period of leadership to make people worry about Biden. My opinion is that much of the violence could have been reduced if he had stepped up and been a compassionate leader. I hope his strong man image backfires on him and leads to fewer votes.
This can only hurt Trump. No way it helps him. Except with his base. But his base won’t get him re-elected. He needs to generate crossover appeal and has so far failed to do so.
I absolutely agree. It might be my impression but it seems governors, mayors and municipal leaders are overall not impressed with Trump. I’m open to changing my mind/opinion as a lot of the news I read is anti-Trump. If my inclination is correct, it should work against Trump in the November election. Though maybe people seeing Trumps name on the cheques will be swayed. I want a reversal of the Covid rate ramp up but if it starts heading down, it could favor Trump. He will also take the credit for any vaccine that comes out though I’m curious how his anti-vaccine supporters will feel and vote. I’m curious if anti-vaccine people are more left or right wing. I’m guessing it skews left but I have no data on that.
Although it’s tough to see what Trump has done and says, it’s a hugely interesting time in political history. We are living through something many historian will be working on for decades.
I’m very familiar now with anti-vaxxers, including two people I’m very close to. The majority are middle-class white women with young children who have college degrees but not in science or anything related to the medical field, like public health or nursing. They have distrust of experts like doctors.
My understanding is the movement used to be mostly in liberal communities but has crept into the mainstream of the GOP.
Excellent overview of what’s happening in the anti-vax movement. Pseudoscience and the promotion of quackery has the potential to kill way more people than any terrorist attacks. It’s frustrating how gullible people are and how little we do to teach people critical thinking.
⬆️ Another plot twist: Portland Protestors, Wall of Moms sue Trump administration for excessive force/violence.
Earlier today I was reading about a USA doctor who was promoting a bunch on nonsense and she was interviewed by Fox News and tweeted by Trump before. She believes demons in people’s dreams have sex with them and cause diseases. That’s just a bit of what she thinks. Trump doesn’t care what he does to the USA so long as he benefits. It’s a disaster and Russia is doing their best to spread even more misinformation in USA to make it even worse. The world is mystified by what’s happening in the united states.
I think the majority of Americans are mystified.
We had this happen before, with Senator Joseph McCarthy, who terrified my mom and controlled the senate with his conspiracy theories and awful personal attacks.
A legendary freshman Senator from Maine stood up to him in a speech on conscience and has been forever hailed as being on the right side of history. He is remembered as one of the darkest figures in American history.
Maybe that’s the way this story goes in the future. 🙏
Trump turns it into a win I’m sure. Sigh Let’s hope the vocal majority don’t take his nonsense.
