The world is losing its mind. It's irritating as hell. First we had this free-for-all in Charlottesville followed by the President abdicating any moral leadership he ever had and now we're very busy tearing down statues. It's madness.
As for the Trump thing, it matters that he equivocated. There are no "very fine people" in a neo-nazi rally. They don't exist. Hold, on, I can hear you now "well what about Antifa?" Antifa used violence as well. That's bad too but we cannot tolerate nazi-ism or White Supremacists in our country for we know where that leads. The President needed to say that nazis are bad. That doesn't seem complicated or difficult to me. Honestly, a politician in 2017 doesn't get points for being able to articulate such a position. However, that second statement where he finally indicated that this was all bad didn't contain what Trump has in his heart. We saw that at that free for all press conference. I'm disappointed in him.
The wreckage that followed has been substantial. His two big business councils have evaporated – that really shocked me. Big time CEO's don't walk away from a power center like that easily. Bannon is gone and the President's inner circle is as constricted as ever. His Presidency is in serious jeopardy of just not mattering anymore. Honestly, he needs to man up, forget about Twitter and do what the people elected him to do. He's behaving like a 5 year old and whether you like the guy or not having a failed presidency isn't helpful.
What's followed is a rush to pull down statues, etc. celebrating / recognizing civil war era Confederate generals. In my view, there's way more heat than light around this issue. The Federal government doesn't need to be passing laws or any sort of judgment as to the appropriateness of these actions. Frankly, neither do the states but states, and southern states in particular, despite their "freedom loving" majorities tend to be overwhelmingly paternalistic. Virginia is no different so the state is involved in the debate. Honestly, this is a question for the localities to answer. I'd like to see a more public process than what happened in Baltimore but at the end of the day if the folks in Baltimore or Manassas or Richmond don't want those statues, it isn't anyone else's business. Ideally there would be public hearings or maybe even a body to study the issue but any methodology that involves the public before the Council / Board of Supervisors makes a decision would be good. If the folks in those towns don't like the decision they should find new representatives. This is the way that most big decisions need to be made and when they aren't (like the police station project here in Manassas – zero input) then the citizens don't respond well. It's an intensely local issue and it should stay that way.
What's going to happen next? Well, the republicans have a hellish September in front of them. They have to pass a deficit cap increase and a budget. The leadership keeps talking about tax reform but I'm pretty skeptical. If they get with the Democrats and figure out something that can pass with support from both parties then maybe. Otherwise, we'll have more of the same….nothingburger drama from our leadership.
August 29, 2017 at 10:18 am
Andy,
I read this post with great interest but there is something I simply don't understand. With respect to Charlottesville and many other places, one group asked and obtained a permit to protest. As dispicable as the KKK or neo-nazi's are and I condem their very existance, at least they legally filed and obtained a permit to protest. I have never heard any of the media say that the opposing groups also filed for a permit to counter protest, so why were they allowed to come? Were they working off of the KKK's permit?
Secondly, with regards to counter protesters, why do they even go and show up? Do the counter protesters think they are going to have a civil discussion in the street and possibly change the minds of the neo-nazi's and KKK and let them go and sin no more?
It would appear to me that the locality would require permits from both sides, let the neo-nazi's and KKK protest on Saturday and require the counter protesters to wait until Sunday to express their rights to protest. If the hard-left shows up on Saturday, arrest them. If the neo-nazi's or KKK show up on Sunday, arrest them because they are violating their permits. Nuff said.
August 31, 2017 at 10:30 am
As spectators in the Alt-Left vs. Alt-Right kubuki theater, it can be quite confusing. Everyone knows who the KKK and Neo-Nazis are, so it's easy for rational people to dispise and discount them in the greater civil debate. The KKK understands this, and uses the First Amendment and the law to its advantage. They obtain permits and will even go to court, in order to hold their demonstrations.
A Marine buddy of mine left the service after the 1st Gulf War, and became a police officer in rural Ohio. He related a story to me about the KKK applying for a permit to hold a demonstration and a march around the county courthouse. After some back-and forth, and the filing of a lawsuit, they were issued their permit. My buddy was detailed for secutity. About a dozen KKK showed up, did the bull-horn bit, and marched once around the courthouse, all within the bounds of their permit. They then got into their cars and departed the area. Counter protestors were bussed in. My friend estimates their were 2000 or so. No permit was obtained, and they refused to disperse after the KKK had left. When ordered to do so, they pelted the officers with rocks and d-cell batteries (they brought cases of them). They also broke windows and damaged police cars. Several were arrested.
So who is ANTIFA? If you ask those on the left, including the media, they will tell you that they are "Anti-Fasicsts who organized to oppose Trump". This is complete and utter bullshit. "ANTIFA" is just the name they go by these days, but the constituent organizations have been around for decades, Go back and look at footage from the "Battle in Seattle". ANTIFA was there in full anarcho-communist regalia, rioting and causing destruction. Look at footage of the various "Occupy X" demonstrations. You'll see ANTIFA there throwing piss&poo bombs on people walking into office buildings, and dropping dueces on police cars. Check out pictures of the various rallies held here locally, opposing the PWC 287g program back in 2007. I was at the one held at the McCoart building, and guess what? ANTIFA was there, floating around the periphery. They were there during the Presidential campaign, and there during the innauguration. Rioting, causing assaults.
And don't get me started on BLM.
The point is, America has done a pretty good job repudiating and marginalizing the KKK and the Neo-Nazis. The FBI and DOJ dismantled the most criminal parts of these organizations. Cirmes have been prosecuted, and civil rights cases won. They are all thunder, and no lightning these days.
Why isn't ANTIFA treated the same? Why is their lawlessness tolerated? A thug is a thug, regardless of whether they where a white hood, a swastika arm band, or a commie-ninja costume.
August 31, 2017 at 10:45 am
Their lawlessness shouldn't be tolerated. Lock 'em up if they break the law.