Assessing Donald Trump's intensifying assault on migrants, the rule of law and our inclusive society, plus more photos from the joyful "No Kings" protests
Trump has a habit of trying to divert attention fro what he considers criticism or unpleasant commentary by creating a new "shining" issue to divert the media and public. Tell the world that Isreal will need American weapons to defeat Iran is his way of "hinting" that he will support Isreal and help start World War III even with use of nuclear weapons. He is so out of control that he might even do that.
To paraphrase Shakespeare :The fault is not in our stars dear Brutus but in our MAGA (Make America Gullible Again) politicians who know the quick solution to everything that has happened is to Impeach, Convict and Remove Trump and his gutless enablers, have grand juries investigate his non-politician enablers and indict and put on trial all who have committed crimes to assist him.
This nightmare could be over in 1-4 weeks at most with a stern warning to his successors that any attempt to continue policies that dm amge our democracy, our Constitution, our inalienable rights, or our right to assembly, free truthful speech, our free press and media, or ruk]=kle if kaw and they can expect similar actions by the governed.
Raymond, your first paragraph reminded me of an interview of Trump early in his first term after he had received a briefing on the US weapons arsenal. It was chilling to watch his glazed eyes and listen as he described how powerful and destructive beyond belief our nations weapons are. It was like he wanted the world to know these weapons were his, and he posses their power. I believe in his sick and twisted mind, he still believes that...and the rest of the world had better bow down to him and "his" military. That interview has stuck with me all these years, and came rushing back this morning.
Steven, I rage against these fascists in the only ways I can…protesting, either by planting my body on the streets with others, phone calling people in Congress, not just in my state, discussing these issues with everyone I meet, and now applying for dual citizenship to ironically, Germany. My mother was born and raised in Berlin before escaping the Nazis. I have all of her original documents, including her German passport from 1936-1939 which has the Swastika symbol stamped on every page except for the one where she gained passage to Brussels and London. If one can get a German passport, you can visit and live in any EU country. Mind you, I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay in my town, in my longtime home, amongst my loving neighbors.
How lucky you are to have all those things. My Grandparents were from Italy and I would love Mohave those kind of things that would allow dual citizenship. Hope you get that with out al lot of problems.. I too rage against our current administration. I don't think a one of them knows how to do anything but hate and destroy and lie.
You can get them, I heard, from the governments where your grandparents came from. You have to see what the Italian laws are in accepting (or not) dual citizens.
Here we are. A police state in all but name. People snatched off our streets, lives snuffed out at will. The Capitol itself ravaged by insurgents trying to foment a coup. The treasonous, twice-impeached, criminal author of that coup reelected as president.
But none of this happens overnight: this is the result of a dogma founded upon greed and nurtured over years at the expense of social progress, enlightenment and the values enshrined in our Constitution.
Well, enough! We, who believe in love, kindness and freedom, are in this together. Together we will prevail.
Imagine just for a moment that, say a dozen years ago, you happened upon a piece of paper with the words Stephen quoted, exactly as written (weird CAPS and all), but with no signature. What would you assume about the writer? What would you do with this alarming screed?
Now imagine that you showed it to someone--a friend, a member of law enforcement--and they said: "Oh, the President of the United States wrote that." Would you simply have shrugged?"
No matter how we analyze these words, no matter the new metaphors and turns of phrase we invent to give voice to our outrage, we cannot deny that the shock has worn off. We have been anesthetized daily, hourly even. Political, collective anesthesia.
"No Kings" day was a refusal to grow numb. A collective, inspiring antidote to nonchalance. A resistance that must continue to grow.
I was among those thousands in Santa Monica protesting the ICE raids here and the occupation by Federal military. I'm outraged by comments by Trump as quoted above and Secretary Noem's similar comment that the purpose of the occupation was to liberate Los Angeles from its socialist leaders. The advice in this column not to be outraged is like Castor oil, easy to give and hard to take. The ultimate goal isn't dealt with here. It's not to deport large numbers, as the agriculture, hospitality, and restaurant industries are now apparently exempt. Perhaps Trump and Noem will be heroes if they deport nannies or the parents of elected Democrats. What are they really after? As I stood among the crowds holding my "We are all Immigrants" sign, I wondered about those wearing masks, sunglasses, and hats, carrying no sign. Were these agitators? Were both hands free to cause mischief? Were they secretly filming attendees for future facial recognition and apprehension? What's the wanna be King really after?
Outrage is unavoidable, I agree. My modest suggestion is to try not to be "consumed" by it--to avoid being unable to productively push back. Like so many of Trump's foolish and sickeningly outdated ideas, I think he really imagines returning to a white-dominated America is going to somehow make the country "better." All the hostile actions now also feed his hunger for violence and spectacle in order to stoke fear and intimidate all those who are targeted and all those who support the vulnerable.
Too many people continue to inhabit a media ecosystem that perpetuates, indeed thrives on, MAGA propaganda. This garbage includes the callous, indecent, and deliberately malicious response from persons such as US Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) to the murders of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted murders of Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
But I believe a giant has been awakened, not a minute too soon. Next up, July 17th, on the anniversary of the passing of Congressman John Lewis. He represented the best of America. https://goodtroubleliveson.org
Until then, take care and keep practicing righteous, loving, patriotic opposition!
5+ million people has been the national estimate of those Patriots who gathered for the “No Kings” protests. Solidarity, empathy, patience, self control, just to name a few of the traits that I witnessed that day. So encouraging to know there are kindred Spirits out there who understand. And, are willing to express themselves in such peaceful and clever ways. I’ve been revitalized with a sense of honor now after witnessing my fellow Americans cooperating in such a manner. I can only hope the GOP will learn a lesson from all of this, become the wiser for having done so, and stop being so complicit in all things so disruptive.
He is a street thug with a brain that would fill a thimble. End of story. One of the most hideous, disgusting, repugnant and disgraceful persons ever to walk the face of the earth.
Joy and solidarity is always something to tamp down if you are a dt&co/maga. It threatens to rip their cloaks of violence, hate, fear and intimidation. Nothing like a ray of sunshine in their gloom. What they do not know that the real joy is held up by firm convictions, that nothing can put down in contrast to their fake world of mirages. However MORE of us need to stand up. The protests were a good start, now we need more of us to stand against it - a mere 3% of population is not enough to really show that we resist. So please people resist, protest any chance you can. Show up.
There is something that Trump said at the G7 meeting the other day that stands out to me as being important:
Dean Blundell reported this piece :
“Targeting U.S. “enemy” cities:
In the very same media scrum, Trump abruptly pivoted to domestic politics, bragging about a new push to deport immigrants from Democratic-run “sanctuary cities.” He railed that “most of those people are in…all blue cities, all Democrat-run cities, and they think they’re going to use them to vote. It’s not going to happen”.
Listen and read his words carefully he is speaking it out loud
“THEY’RE NOT GOING TO USE THEM TO VOTE”
Doing all of this to affect the upcoming midterm elections.
He was actually telling why they’re targeting blue states and cities trying to purge all immigrants because once again they’re trying to purge the voters control voting limit voting.
Plus Noem declared they were going to never go away and they’re going to “LIBERATE “California.
From their own duly ELECTED officials !!
Always trying to overturn an election and go against the will of the people.
They tried to do this on January 6 when they mounted the most violent attack and treasonous insurrection trying to take over our Capitol building to stop the certification of a legitimate election and go against the will of the people.
They even went so far as to create illegally a FAKE SET OF ELECTORS from several states and manipulated to try to get the fake set of electors read into the record replacing the real ones that day.
They have tried to undermine and destroy the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 at every turn and at every state level
Yes, indeed, Trump announced at the G7 why they were going after the immigrants in the democratic blue state and cities.
The fact that he is president of the United States and he talks about blue versus red states and still wears his red Maga hat instead of being president for the whole of the United States of America and all Americans is just outrageous, offensive and perverted.
Nothing is presidential with integrity and honor, defending the constitution of the United States of America and our democracy.
All of this has been pushed through normal channels, which is impossible when there is no equivalency for what’s going on.
They know they cannot win fairly and by their pure nature, they don’t want to.
The Republican Party is dead gutted out .
We need a healthy Republican Party in this country for democracy.
In a democracy that’s working there is bipartisan cooperation. Each side it’s supposed to be considered to having good ideas coming together to negotiate on behalf of the good of the American people defending our constitution and our democracy.
That is not what we have had in decades
McCarthyism from the 50s in Wisconsin never went away the Nixon people and the corruption never went away
Fascism authoritarianism that reared his head in the 30s and 40s never went away
after the purging of the John Birch society (so they thought ) - never went away
History is repeating itself from the 30s and 40s with Germany
While ''No [faux] King'' was a great protest event on June 14th, we can, and will, do better. Of the roughly 60,000 people at the San Diego event, somewhere close to 55,000 were what I term ''The Seen Silent Majority''. They came out and peacefully and silently protested, and were spotted, (and counted), by the overhead news cameras and drone cameras. ''The Unseen Silent Majority stayed in their homes, or in their cars, or somewhere other than at the protest event. We need to mobilize twice as many of ''The Unseen Silent Majority'' to come out and silently and peacefully protest.
The really poor Parade turnout (Yes) coupled with the successful “NO KINGS” Rallies have really irked tRump! So much so…he has ordered his stooges et al to focus on cracking down on Blue States and Cities. I’m reasonably sure before long there’s going to be a serious incident. How long before Americans tire of “turning the other the other Cheek?” All the while… tRump’s Goons are enjoying the free reins they’ve been given in their roundup, aka repression, of other Human Beings (Guilty or Otherwise). Now the Magats are trying to spin the blame for the shootings onto the NO KINGERS, etc.. Magats seem to overlook the fact the alleged shooter was both a tRump sycophant and a registered Repuglican! How convenient!!!
Recently tRump’s deteriorating health is becoming a talking point. Unfortunately(?) he could fall over dead (fingers hopefully crossed), his replacement wouldn’t be any better…very possibly…Worse! Then What??
Your readers are also thought provoking.. One mentioned the 3% rule. The 3.5% rule suggests that once a critical mass of the population commits to sustained, nonviolent action, the pressure becomes so immense and widespread that the existing power structure finds it almost impossible to maintain control (examples of the latter would be making significant concessions or collapsing entirely.)
For Trump, the pressure will result in off year fall elections. Pressure may be seen when or if R candidates vote vs. Trump stuff.
Trump has a habit of trying to divert attention fro what he considers criticism or unpleasant commentary by creating a new "shining" issue to divert the media and public. Tell the world that Isreal will need American weapons to defeat Iran is his way of "hinting" that he will support Isreal and help start World War III even with use of nuclear weapons. He is so out of control that he might even do that.
To paraphrase Shakespeare :The fault is not in our stars dear Brutus but in our MAGA (Make America Gullible Again) politicians who know the quick solution to everything that has happened is to Impeach, Convict and Remove Trump and his gutless enablers, have grand juries investigate his non-politician enablers and indict and put on trial all who have committed crimes to assist him.
This nightmare could be over in 1-4 weeks at most with a stern warning to his successors that any attempt to continue policies that dm amge our democracy, our Constitution, our inalienable rights, or our right to assembly, free truthful speech, our free press and media, or ruk]=kle if kaw and they can expect similar actions by the governed.
Raymond, your first paragraph reminded me of an interview of Trump early in his first term after he had received a briefing on the US weapons arsenal. It was chilling to watch his glazed eyes and listen as he described how powerful and destructive beyond belief our nations weapons are. It was like he wanted the world to know these weapons were his, and he posses their power. I believe in his sick and twisted mind, he still believes that...and the rest of the world had better bow down to him and "his" military. That interview has stuck with me all these years, and came rushing back this morning.
Steven, I rage against these fascists in the only ways I can…protesting, either by planting my body on the streets with others, phone calling people in Congress, not just in my state, discussing these issues with everyone I meet, and now applying for dual citizenship to ironically, Germany. My mother was born and raised in Berlin before escaping the Nazis. I have all of her original documents, including her German passport from 1936-1939 which has the Swastika symbol stamped on every page except for the one where she gained passage to Brussels and London. If one can get a German passport, you can visit and live in any EU country. Mind you, I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to stay in my town, in my longtime home, amongst my loving neighbors.
How lucky you are to have all those things. My Grandparents were from Italy and I would love Mohave those kind of things that would allow dual citizenship. Hope you get that with out al lot of problems.. I too rage against our current administration. I don't think a one of them knows how to do anything but hate and destroy and lie.
You can get them, I heard, from the governments where your grandparents came from. You have to see what the Italian laws are in accepting (or not) dual citizens.
Thank you for the info
I did read they are now one of the countries complaining about too many tourists and air b+b that raise everybody’s rent.
Here we are. A police state in all but name. People snatched off our streets, lives snuffed out at will. The Capitol itself ravaged by insurgents trying to foment a coup. The treasonous, twice-impeached, criminal author of that coup reelected as president.
But none of this happens overnight: this is the result of a dogma founded upon greed and nurtured over years at the expense of social progress, enlightenment and the values enshrined in our Constitution.
Well, enough! We, who believe in love, kindness and freedom, are in this together. Together we will prevail.
Democratic, not Democrat. Democrat is the way republicans try to slur members of the Democratic party.
Thanks for flagging.
Imagine just for a moment that, say a dozen years ago, you happened upon a piece of paper with the words Stephen quoted, exactly as written (weird CAPS and all), but with no signature. What would you assume about the writer? What would you do with this alarming screed?
Now imagine that you showed it to someone--a friend, a member of law enforcement--and they said: "Oh, the President of the United States wrote that." Would you simply have shrugged?"
No matter how we analyze these words, no matter the new metaphors and turns of phrase we invent to give voice to our outrage, we cannot deny that the shock has worn off. We have been anesthetized daily, hourly even. Political, collective anesthesia.
"No Kings" day was a refusal to grow numb. A collective, inspiring antidote to nonchalance. A resistance that must continue to grow.
"a refusal to grow numb" is a good way to put it, Jill. Thanks.
I was among those thousands in Santa Monica protesting the ICE raids here and the occupation by Federal military. I'm outraged by comments by Trump as quoted above and Secretary Noem's similar comment that the purpose of the occupation was to liberate Los Angeles from its socialist leaders. The advice in this column not to be outraged is like Castor oil, easy to give and hard to take. The ultimate goal isn't dealt with here. It's not to deport large numbers, as the agriculture, hospitality, and restaurant industries are now apparently exempt. Perhaps Trump and Noem will be heroes if they deport nannies or the parents of elected Democrats. What are they really after? As I stood among the crowds holding my "We are all Immigrants" sign, I wondered about those wearing masks, sunglasses, and hats, carrying no sign. Were these agitators? Were both hands free to cause mischief? Were they secretly filming attendees for future facial recognition and apprehension? What's the wanna be King really after?
Outrage is unavoidable, I agree. My modest suggestion is to try not to be "consumed" by it--to avoid being unable to productively push back. Like so many of Trump's foolish and sickeningly outdated ideas, I think he really imagines returning to a white-dominated America is going to somehow make the country "better." All the hostile actions now also feed his hunger for violence and spectacle in order to stoke fear and intimidate all those who are targeted and all those who support the vulnerable.
"My modest suggestion is to try not to be "consumed" by it--to avoid being unable to productively push back."
That's great advice! In between unavoidable moments outrage, we've got to keep cool heads.
Too many people continue to inhabit a media ecosystem that perpetuates, indeed thrives on, MAGA propaganda. This garbage includes the callous, indecent, and deliberately malicious response from persons such as US Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) to the murders of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, and the attempted murders of Minnesota Senator John Hoffman and his wife.
But I believe a giant has been awakened, not a minute too soon. Next up, July 17th, on the anniversary of the passing of Congressman John Lewis. He represented the best of America. https://goodtroubleliveson.org
Until then, take care and keep practicing righteous, loving, patriotic opposition!
5+ million people has been the national estimate of those Patriots who gathered for the “No Kings” protests. Solidarity, empathy, patience, self control, just to name a few of the traits that I witnessed that day. So encouraging to know there are kindred Spirits out there who understand. And, are willing to express themselves in such peaceful and clever ways. I’ve been revitalized with a sense of honor now after witnessing my fellow Americans cooperating in such a manner. I can only hope the GOP will learn a lesson from all of this, become the wiser for having done so, and stop being so complicit in all things so disruptive.
He is a street thug with a brain that would fill a thimble. End of story. One of the most hideous, disgusting, repugnant and disgraceful persons ever to walk the face of the earth.
Rarely have so few words approached this density of truth.
Thank you! What is more offensive than the man himself is the millions who continue to follow and support him.
Joy and solidarity is always something to tamp down if you are a dt&co/maga. It threatens to rip their cloaks of violence, hate, fear and intimidation. Nothing like a ray of sunshine in their gloom. What they do not know that the real joy is held up by firm convictions, that nothing can put down in contrast to their fake world of mirages. However MORE of us need to stand up. The protests were a good start, now we need more of us to stand against it - a mere 3% of population is not enough to really show that we resist. So please people resist, protest any chance you can. Show up.
"Think while it's still legal" is perfect
There is something that Trump said at the G7 meeting the other day that stands out to me as being important:
Dean Blundell reported this piece :
“Targeting U.S. “enemy” cities:
In the very same media scrum, Trump abruptly pivoted to domestic politics, bragging about a new push to deport immigrants from Democratic-run “sanctuary cities.” He railed that “most of those people are in…all blue cities, all Democrat-run cities, and they think they’re going to use them to vote. It’s not going to happen”.
Listen and read his words carefully he is speaking it out loud
“THEY’RE NOT GOING TO USE THEM TO VOTE”
Doing all of this to affect the upcoming midterm elections.
He was actually telling why they’re targeting blue states and cities trying to purge all immigrants because once again they’re trying to purge the voters control voting limit voting.
Plus Noem declared they were going to never go away and they’re going to “LIBERATE “California.
From their own duly ELECTED officials !!
Always trying to overturn an election and go against the will of the people.
They tried to do this on January 6 when they mounted the most violent attack and treasonous insurrection trying to take over our Capitol building to stop the certification of a legitimate election and go against the will of the people.
They even went so far as to create illegally a FAKE SET OF ELECTORS from several states and manipulated to try to get the fake set of electors read into the record replacing the real ones that day.
They have tried to undermine and destroy the Federal Voting Rights Act of 1965 at every turn and at every state level
Yes, indeed, Trump announced at the G7 why they were going after the immigrants in the democratic blue state and cities.
The fact that he is president of the United States and he talks about blue versus red states and still wears his red Maga hat instead of being president for the whole of the United States of America and all Americans is just outrageous, offensive and perverted.
Nothing is presidential with integrity and honor, defending the constitution of the United States of America and our democracy.
All of this has been pushed through normal channels, which is impossible when there is no equivalency for what’s going on.
They know they cannot win fairly and by their pure nature, they don’t want to.
The Republican Party is dead gutted out .
We need a healthy Republican Party in this country for democracy.
In a democracy that’s working there is bipartisan cooperation. Each side it’s supposed to be considered to having good ideas coming together to negotiate on behalf of the good of the American people defending our constitution and our democracy.
That is not what we have had in decades
McCarthyism from the 50s in Wisconsin never went away the Nixon people and the corruption never went away
Fascism authoritarianism that reared his head in the 30s and 40s never went away
after the purging of the John Birch society (so they thought ) - never went away
History is repeating itself from the 30s and 40s with Germany
While ''No [faux] King'' was a great protest event on June 14th, we can, and will, do better. Of the roughly 60,000 people at the San Diego event, somewhere close to 55,000 were what I term ''The Seen Silent Majority''. They came out and peacefully and silently protested, and were spotted, (and counted), by the overhead news cameras and drone cameras. ''The Unseen Silent Majority stayed in their homes, or in their cars, or somewhere other than at the protest event. We need to mobilize twice as many of ''The Unseen Silent Majority'' to come out and silently and peacefully protest.
Thank you again, Steve as always
The really poor Parade turnout (Yes) coupled with the successful “NO KINGS” Rallies have really irked tRump! So much so…he has ordered his stooges et al to focus on cracking down on Blue States and Cities. I’m reasonably sure before long there’s going to be a serious incident. How long before Americans tire of “turning the other the other Cheek?” All the while… tRump’s Goons are enjoying the free reins they’ve been given in their roundup, aka repression, of other Human Beings (Guilty or Otherwise). Now the Magats are trying to spin the blame for the shootings onto the NO KINGERS, etc.. Magats seem to overlook the fact the alleged shooter was both a tRump sycophant and a registered Repuglican! How convenient!!!
Recently tRump’s deteriorating health is becoming a talking point. Unfortunately(?) he could fall over dead (fingers hopefully crossed), his replacement wouldn’t be any better…very possibly…Worse! Then What??
The replacement of Trump by Vance surely doesn't provide a reason for calm.
Your readers are also thought provoking.. One mentioned the 3% rule. The 3.5% rule suggests that once a critical mass of the population commits to sustained, nonviolent action, the pressure becomes so immense and widespread that the existing power structure finds it almost impossible to maintain control (examples of the latter would be making significant concessions or collapsing entirely.)
For Trump, the pressure will result in off year fall elections. Pressure may be seen when or if R candidates vote vs. Trump stuff.