Insurrection

Holy crap people, the president is miltarising America under the color of an 1807 law.

He claims to be protecting peaceful protest at the same time AG Barr is directing cops to tear gas peaceful protesters.

I lived in a military dictatorship. It’s just like this.

Flash-bangs, rubber bullets, and tear gas on peaceful protesters all for the sake of a photo-op with a bible in front of a church.

Trump’s photo-op was an abuse of the sacred symbols for people of faith in this country, and it was just to justify action, language, and rhetoric that is antithetical to all we stand for.

Shameful!

So much has been gained in the last 50 years, but now so much is being lost…the soul of your nation is at stake.  

Our moral fabric is being shredded.  We need moral leadership, not a military junta.

It angered me to see the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the JCS accompanying Trump.  If this was meant to be Trump’s General McArthur or General Patton moment…he failed miserably.

As a career military officer, I may not always know when an order is lawful, but we all know when an order is not morally right!

Using the National Guard to protect lives and property against vandalism is one thing, but using the Active Duty Military to take offensive action against peaceful American citizens in another.

That asshole had peaceful protesters tear gassed and shot with rubber bullets so he could have a poto op of himself standing with a Bible he has never read I front of the parish house of St. John’s church ( I have been to several weddings there) .

The ironic thing is the sign he’s standing in front of says “All Welcome”.
pastor Jane Millikan was clearly incensed that he would use the church that way.

All because people laughed at him hiding in the basement bunker of the White House.



The reverend Rob Fisher is being interviewed right now he says “that’s not what we are about”. Says they had no idea Trump would do this.

Geez, I think that picture you just posted should be labeled "inappropriate" for (almost) all audiences.

The episcopal bishop of Washington fumed at The  mango’s stunt.

The Right Reverend Mariann Budde wrote:
“Let me be clear: The president just used a Bible, the most sacred text of the Judeo-Christian tradition, at one of the churches of my diocese, without permission, as the backdrop to a message antithetical to the teachings of Jesus and everything that our churches stand for.”
“I am outraged,” she fumed. “The president did not pray when he came to St. John’s nor did he acknowledge the agony of our country right now.”

She added he trespassed on church property.

Trump intents to repeat the stunt at the Catholic shrine of Pope JohnPaul II. The shrine is administered by the Knights of Columbus.

Here is a statement from Washington Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory regarding the planned visit today from the president at the Saint John Paul II National Shrine:

Archbishop Wilton D. Gregory wrote: I find it baffling and reprehensible that any Catholic facility would allow itself to be so egregiously misused and manipulated in a fashion that violates our religious principles, which call us to defend the rights of all people even those with whom we might disagree. Saint Pope John Paul II was an ardent defender of the rights and dignity of human beings. His legacy bears vivid witness to that truth. He certainly would not condone the use of tear gas and other deterrents to silence, scatter or intimidate them for a photo opportunity in front of a place of worship and peace.

<edit> and he did it.

https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/06/02/washington-archbishop-wilton-gregory-calls-trumps-visit-john-paul-ii

This is for you, DD

DoubleDipper wrote:It angered me to see the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the JCS accompanying Trump.  If this was meant to be Trump’s General McArthur or General Patton moment…he failed miserably.

This morning a Pentagon contact told me Secretary Esper, and Chairman Milley, were "hijacked" by Trump, and are very uncomfortable to have been thrust into a political role.

Esper and Milley were actually on their way to the FBI’s Washington Field Office on Monday when they were asked to instead head to the White House to update the president on the protest response, according to my contact.

“While they were there, and as the meeting concluded, the president indicated an interest in viewing the troops that were outside, and the secretary and chairman went with him to do just that, but instead in ended up being a caught-up in a political circus act orchestrated by Jared Kushner and Hope Hicks."

"Expect Secretary Esper to make a statement sometime this morning," he concluded.

UPDATE: I just read Esper's comments from a new conference this morning.  They are contradictory and confusing, and lead me to believe that, although he is not supporting Trump in invoking the Insurrection Act, he is backtracking from previous statements about "dominating the streets," and apparently knew they were "going to the church," but thought it was to inspect the "damage and review the troops."  It was not until he saw Trump all of a sudden holding a bible (that Ivanka pulled the bible from her $1500 handbag) that he knew he was part of a political stunt.

DoubleDipper wrote:Our moral fabric is being shredded.  We need moral leadership, not a military junta.

It angered me to see the Secretary of Defense and the Chairman of the JCS accompanying Trump.  If this was meant to be Trump’s General McArthur or General Patton moment…he failed miserably.

As a career military officer, I may not always know when an order is lawful, but we all know when an order is not morally right!

With none other than General James Mattis, along with Admiral Michael Mullen and General John Allen apparently as angry as you, DD, maybe there is some hope our country won't be under military rule...

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/mattis-harshly-condemns-trumps-actions-he-tries-to-divide-us-2020-06-03

Geezaldinho wrote:All because people laughed at him hiding in the basement bunker of the White House.

Working with the poor in Puerto Rico I've learned of poverty, racism, and class distinction, but until the president had the park cleared so he could pose with a bible, I had no idea how bad the the current administration in the US is.  

I just read this article from the Washington Post and learned of the many lies being told by the president and his administration.  Is this real, or fake news?  I need to find out.

I need to get back to the States and see for myself.

Trump and allies try to rewrite history on handling of police brutality protests:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-and-allies-try-to-rewrite-history-on-handling-of-police-brutality-protests/ar-BB15046l?ocid=msedgntp

StudentPilot wrote:With none other than General James Mattis, along with Admiral Michael Mullen and General John Allen apparently as angry as you, DD, maybe there is some hope our country won't be under military rule...

The JCS chair is obviously concerned:

Fox News wrote:Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mark Milley Wednesday reminding military leaders about their oath to the U.S. Constitution.

"Every member of the U.S. military swears an oath to support and defend the Constitution and the values embedded within it. This document is founded on the essential principle that all men and women are born free and equal, and should be treated with respect and dignity," Milley wrote. "As members of the Joint Force –composed of all races, colors, and creeds–you embody the ideals of our Constitution.

Please remind all of our troops and leaders that we will uphold the values of our nation, and operate consistent with national laws and our own high standards of conduct at all times.

This is a pretty different tone from the ones in power, who were talking about US cities being “Battle Space” (Esper) and “Dominating” peaceful protesters, (Trump, Barr, and others)
They even gleefullytalked of deploying tanks in the streets of our cities.
I wonder how that would have looked on the anniversary of the Tienanmen massacre.



A president who has to mention the second amendment while visiting a shrine of a Saint completely walked all over the first amendment , article 20 and 21 on the international  convention on human rights, and the American convention on human rights right to freedom of assembly.

First ammendment wrote: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

The Police, secret Service, and US Military use agents described as tear gas by the CDC and banned by international law in warfare on innocent civilians for a photo op, then joined the Mango in the photo op walk.

Mattis' and the other's calling out of Trump reminds me of this oldie, but goodie:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-mccarthy-meets-his-match

One can only hope the final result is similar.

A_Fan wrote:Mattis' and the other's calling out of Trump reminds me of this oldie, but goodie:

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/joseph-mccarthy-meets-his-match

One can only hope the final result is similar.  

Yikes AFan, that’s creepy when you think that the prosecutor McCarthy used was Roy Cohn, later the pit bull lawyer papa Trump and the Mango used for years in civil Rights complaints for his rentals.





I have seen articles comparing the bunker and  Lafayette square incident to the triggers for the Arab Spring downfall of Qaddafi and Mubarak.

Which makes perfect sense considering Trump’s idolization of strongman dictators.
And you remember that Qaddafi set up his tent in Trump’s backyard when he came to the U.N.

Speaking of Roy.....good reading

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2019/09/19/roy-cohn-donald-trump-documentary-228144

“The open question,” Tyrnauer said when we talked, “is whether Trump’s luck will hold up or whether—like Cohn—he’ll run out of road and face a tsunami of legal difficulties that will diminish him or put an end to the game that he’s played so effectively.”

“We were all brought up to believe, whether it’s an eye for an eye, it’s religion, it’s Greek tragedy, it’s whatever, that justice is going to catch up with everybody,” Zirin added. “The jury’s still out on Donald Trump. We don’t know whether he’ll get his comeuppance.”

But Tyrnauer reiterated the last lesson of Cohn.

“He got away with it,” he said, “until he didn’t.”

Trump sees the end as well. They are now fortifying the While House with a stronger perimeter.

In the Nixon years the perimeter was cordoned off with city busses parked bumper to bumper.



Hey! That guy with the round glasses and water jug looks eiriiy familiar.

You can see his glasses?

A_Fan wrote:You can see his glasses?

Haha,

Yeah, and the goofy little mustache. Probably doesn’t show well in forum size.


Now retired marine general John Allen is expressing fear that this could be “the end of the American Experiment” unless saner leadership steps up.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/04/politics/john-allen-trump-protests-george-floyd/index.html

Congress, the courts, and his own staff, including the attorney general have failed to reign him is. Now it looks like the only ones with a moral compass are retired generals.

Let’s hope they can have a good talk with the ones in the White House.

Is is someone we know?

Well, might have been.  Was there, but mrs geez pointed out I probably had shoulder length hair by 1970.

The look in the picture was so freshman year.

And another retired general and member of the joint chiefs has come out against Trump’s response and as much as called AG Barr a liar for saying that clearing Lafayette park wasn’t correlated with the Bible walk.

He pointed out the area around the White House is the most restricted air space in America, with automated systems controlled by the FBI and secret service, and beyond that perimeter by the military. He said there is no way the national guard medevac helicopter used to buzz the crowd at the start of the police action would not  have needed clearance from “the very highest level” in the White House, possibly Barr himself. He said he knows that because when he was the Army representative on the Joint Chiefs, one of his duties was perimeter defense of the White House.

General Honoré served in Korea, but is probably best known for heading up the coordinated relief effort after Hurricane Katrina, and for being fiercely critical of the Trump lack of response in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria. At the time he said Maria was “10 times worse” than Katrina, and that “  "The president has shown again he don't give a damn about poor people. He doesn't give a damn about people of color."

Geezaldinho wrote:All because people laughed at him hiding in the basement bunker of the White House..

“It was a false report. I wasn’t down. I went down during the day, and I was there for a tiny, little, short period of time. And it was much more for an inspection. There was no problem during the day,” Trump told “Fox & Friends” co-host Brian Kilmeade on his Fox News radio show.

Look, I get it, presidents and their families should be escorted to the bunker by the Secret Service if they are considered to be in danger...that is correct and prudent, but why deny it happened?  That makes no sense (to me).

With at least three wire/concrete barriers now going up around the White House the Secret Service is probably breathing easier...and Trump finally has the wall to protect America he promised.

I’m fine with the wall.  As an old climbing partner once pointed out,  

At either end of the social spectrum people live behind walls and steel bars

So while Bernie Madoff  petitioned his sentencing judge for early release on health grounds ( denied) the President is locking himself in,  preparing himself for life after the presidency.

And to give him a better view from his new compound, the mayor has graciously given him a new street view.



I suspect his walks to St. John’s church will be less frequent.

The White House has announced the new wall will only be up until June 10. After that? Who knows.... maybe they are trucking up part of the border wall to keep America safe.

The mayor of DC wants federal forces out of town. She says they are unnecessary, counterproductive to peaceful streets, and the city has adequate means to handle crowds of protestors, something the city has done for decades.

She sent a letter to the Governor of New Jersey, where the National Guard troops we called in from, asking him to recall the Guard.

She also sent a letter to the president asking he remove active military, bureau of Prisons, and possibly active duty troops and even CIA/DIA operatives  from fort Bragg and the CIA’s training facility at Camp Peary VA, near Williamsburg.

One of the problems the Mayor points out is that these troops are in black uniforms with no identifying insignia or badges, so there is no way to identify them should any more illegal actions occur.




I’m trying to recall times when troops in black uniforms roamed the streets of capitals unidentified. The Russians sent black operatives into Ukraine ( maybe Putin gave him the idea)

But the one that stands out starkly is Ernst Röhm’s SA. Now there is a role model.

What’s to prevent every Tom , Dick, and Skinhead from dressing up in black?