13 thoughts on “Tuesday Open Thread”

1. Trump's outrageous behavior is further splitting the GOP, and even members inside the White House

   “We long ago lost sight of normal, but this was a singularly immoral act,” said Brendan Buck, a longtime former Hill aide who is now a Republican operative. “The president used force against American citizens, not to protect property, but to soothe his own insecurities. We will all move on to the next outrage, but this was a true abuse of power and should not be forgotten.”

   Trump’s decision to speak to the nation from the Rose Garden and to visit the church came together earlier in the day, said one senior White House official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. The president was upset about news coverage of him briefly retreating to the White House bunker Friday evening amid protests, and he repeatedly wondered why anyone would have disclosed those details to the news media, two officials said.

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   1. There is disagreement in my household, Trump haters one and all. Some see this latest outrage as just another in the seemingly unending series of outrages, soon to be forgotten, or at least pushed aside for the next outrage. I think this is different. The images of citizens being gassed, shot at, and assaulted contrast starkly with Trump speechifying, peacocking, and awkwardly holding someone else's bible in front of a church. I think this series of events will leave a more permanent mark on Trump and, more importantly, his enablers. I am looking at you AG Barr, VP Pence, and tortoise impersonater McConnell. 

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      1. I'd agree with you. This is different.

         I cannot recall any similar incident, one combining

          * obvious actions for show.  The timing of the assault on those in Lafayette Park and at the Cathedral with the appearance of Trump in the Rose Garden was no accident. Press gathered for Trump's remarks were well positioned to see the action.

          * obvious use of force to accomplish unconstitutional ends. Park police and their supporting forces acted to intimidate those directly involved with the freedom to assemble, freedom of the press, and freedom of religion.

          * an assault on members of the foreign press — blatant enough that Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Tuesday called for an investigation into an alleged police attack on an Australian news crew outside of the White House during protests over the death of George Floyd.

         Morrison described the incident as “troubling” and called for the Australian Embassy to investigate, according to The Canberra Times.

          * a walk to the church and photo op there which will be a subject for mocking and comparison for weeks.  I've already seen photos of Trump contrasted with Obama walking the streets of Washington, with the Obama family walking hand in hand across the park to go to church, with Hitler holding up a Bible, and probably thirty meme variations of which book Trump was holding. 

          * the photo of Trump in front of the church already drew vehement comments from the local rector, the Bishop of the Washington diocese, and the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the United States.  Plus several other Episcopal bishops, . And the mayor of Washington DC.  And the Arlington VA police pulled their loaned forces out of the district, objecting to risk "for a purpose not worthy of our mutual aid obligations."

          * Trump's campaign turned photos and videos of the stunt into campaign materials.  In response, Biden offered his criticism.  Democratic governors chimed in. Even (gasp) a Republican protested: “I’m against clearing out a peaceful protest for a photo op that treats the Word of God as a political prop,” Nebraska Republican Ben Sasse said Tuesday.

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2. Is it just me, or has anyone else noticed a deafening silence from Congress?

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   1. You didn't hear the crinkling of Sen. Collins brow?  Had to signal concern somehow.

      Seriously, there have been plenty of comments from Democrats in the House and Senate.  And Democratic governors.  So far, the muted criticism from Republicans I've seen is limited to

       * Sen. Ben Sasse

       * Gov. Baker of MA

       * Gov. Hogan of MD

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3. This ought to set Trump off like a Roman candle

   Seeking to console a nation riven by nights of violence with a promise to heal its racial wounds, former vice president Joe Biden on Tuesday will bluntly criticize the White House’s decision a night earlier to clear protesters from a Washington street so President Trump could pose with a Bible in front of St. John’s Episcopal Church, according to speech excerpts released in advance.

   “When peaceful protestors are dispersed by the order of the President from the doorstep of the people’s house, the White House — using tear gas and flash grenades — in order to stage a photo op at a noble church, we can be forgiven for believing that the president is more interested in power than in principle,” the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee plans to say, according to the excerpts released by his campaign.

   “More interested in serving the passions of his base than the needs of the people in his care,” he plans to add. “For that’s what the presidency is: a duty of care — to all of us, not just our voters, not just our donors, but all of us.”

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   1. The gassing and shooting of peaceful protestors with rubber bullets "by order of the President" came at almost the same time he was declaring to the world that he is an "ally of peaceful protestors." Why do so many people fail to see that he lies every time he speaks?!

      He is not only a very sick person, but he's also very dangerous. Will we have a military who refuses to obey an unlawful order when he sics them on the American people? I hope so.

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      1. Donnie Ttump may finally be accomplishing something . . .

         . . . doing what Charlie Manson only dreamed of. 

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         1. He is far closer than Mans’ son got. Our chosen one has a bigger ego

            He has pissed off the Episcopalians, let’s see how the Baptists respond to his publicity stunt.

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            1. And pissed off the Catholics – Trump “desecrated” a second religious site today . . . 

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4. Your rights as a protester

   Really helpful basic legal info from CNN, in consultation with constitutional and ACLU Lawyers. 

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   1. There is, however, a death penalty for some protests.  The ACLU can’t protect you from the corona virus.

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      1. The ACLU can't even protect protesters from injury or death — but there are likely to be some extensive settlements or judgments to those injured or the dead's surviving kin after some incidents during policing and National Guard activity.

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