What a uniter!

[mahnmut]

Here's a scene for you to contemplate. A loud but peaceful protest just across from the White House.

Meanwhile, the president gives a speech on TV, saying he's "allies with peaceful protests".

Next up, police in riot gear meets the protesters, and starts shooting tear gas and rubber bullets at them that can be heard in the White House rose garden. Panic ensues, people start running, rubbing their faces.

Now that the street has been cleared, it transpires what president peaceful-protest-ally's purpose really was. He needed access across the street. He walks past graffiti-covered walls, to reach a historic church nearby, to "pay his respects" and "inspect the damage made by the crowds".

He doesn't use the church for prayer. There's little sense of respect in fact. He gathers some staff (no blacks of course), and just holds a bible for the cameras to see. There aren't many words, but words are not needed. The cameras must clearly see his message to the congregation: "I'm your ally". He's your ally. Not theirs. Not of the "thugs" who just chanted bad words at him from across the street a few minutes ago. He's not their ally. But he's your ally. Or so he claims. But is he really? Whose ally is he really?

Comments

[airiefairie]

The bishops are not very happy, it would seem. The message must have failed to get through.

[kiaa]

Trump's only allies with Trump. I think that should've become clear by now.

[luzribeiro]

He's now threatening blue states with the military. A uniter indeed. The greatest uniter in the history of this country.

[abomvubuso]

Recall Bobby Kennedy's speech A Prayer For the Nation that he gave to calm people down at a time of a similar crisis back in 1968. And now compare it to Trump's "You've got to dominate or you'll look like a bunch of jerks" address to the governors, or his announcement that he's "deploying thousands and thousands of heavily armed troops", or his vow to unleash "vicious dogs and ominous weapons".

Is any further comment really needed?

[tcpip]

As Hannah Arendt pointed out many years ago, totalitarianism is constantly in search of enemies.

A claimed ally today will become a target for the next Great Purge tomorrow.

[jazzyjj]

Agreed on all points. I can't help but wonder if George Wallace would've done the same thing? LBJ? But that was a different time and place. Only reason I bring them up is that I'm currently reading Lawrence O'Donnell's excellent book "Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics." Highly recommended!

[dancesofthelight]

Himself and his movement, which is the spirit of nihilistic hate and edgelordism made over into the revelation of the truth behind old ideas and old lies and legends. His political instincts are those of a rabid dog and unfortunately his enablers in the House and Senate are going out of their way to give them form and substance.