... who is set to testify before Congress today, on why he thinks federal agents are justified and needed in Portland and elsewhere, despite not being requested by these city or state officials, nor their local police forces.
Let us not forget, this is the same man who shocked the world, when he approved - and was actually present - with the use of tear gas on peaceful protesters in front of St. John's Church in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C, just so Trump could take an unwelcome photo op photo there, with (an initially upside-down) bible.
First of all, if you have a brain -- especially one still capable of non-brainwashed, independent thought - you should've been asking yourselves from the get-go:
"Why Portland?!?"
Portland isn't even ranked in the top 100 most dangerous cities in America - and though it has had small nor has it been hot spot of shootings, burnings, lootings, or statue razings during the protests?!?
No one knows the answer to that question - other than the answer we are given, which is that the largely peaceful protests have gone on "too long" (for nearly 60 days straight) compared to other cities (because Portland's police force has had race problems in the past).
No city's protests have been without small incidents of violence - there's always at least one in every crowd - but their protests have, by and large, been mostly peaceful - especially compared to other major cities.
That's the given answer - which still doesn't make any sense.
In fact, Trump's own tweet - dated July 27th - inadvertently admits none of this has happened in Portland yet - he's just warning them NOT to ...
Which leads us to question whether or not the real answer is most likely a show of force, by Trump Republicans, in the most liberal Democrat city in a America, the message being:
"Even though you're not even in the top 100 most dangerous cities in America - and there's been no looting, burning, shooting, and tearing down statues, like in other cities - we have the power to manipulate/convince people that you ARE dangerous, just because you're liberals/Democrats."
"We've been very successful thus far in convincing half this country that all liberal Democrats are our Godless, amoral, violent enemy, in need of monitoring and pre-emptive strike force, because of what you MIGHT do, if left to your own devices."
"Look, we can even physically bully, intimidate, and dominate you into submission with impunity, and there's nothing you can do about it ... nanny nanny boo boo."
Oh, good, it's a giant involuntary game of rugby, that no one wanted to play, except Trump-style Republicans, who are obsessed with making people who disagree with them into their Godless enemy - thus, people must be thrown into one of two boxes, labeled "winners and losers," in Trump's America!
Regardless, whether anyone wants to admit it or not, this is clearly a case of trying to provoke Portland into actual violence and the tail wagging the dog, justifying the need for federal agents in reverse - and it's starting to work.
It's expected that Barr's testimony will include the necessity for federal agents because some protesters "might" get violent or tear down government statues/building.
Well, you would think after almost 60 days, if that was going to happen, it would've already happened.
I'm pretty sure that our constitution does NOT say: "Well, you can punish people based on subjective suspicion on what they've done, or what they MIGHT do, if given the opportunity, despite not having any evidence."
No, our constitution says, "Innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, with the right to attorney representation."
(I would only add the caveat that though our constitution doesn't say it, those with the most money and power, to afford the nastiest/most unethical lawyers, will often win, despite their guilt or innocence.)
So by Barr's logic, we could've sent federal agents to tar and feather Smug-Face Kavanaugh, based on suspicion, or drawn-and quartered Trump based on his collusion with Russia, the Ukraine and other countries to win elections.
But you see, Trump and Barr's warped sense of unconstitutional justice with impunity is only permitted because it's towards Democrats, people of color, immigrants, non-Christians, and LGTBQ, not their own ;)
But keep on calling state mask orders and shut-downs for public-health reasons in the wake of COVID, "socialism/communism," instead, Trumpers - it amuses sane people.
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PS - The Wall of Moms and BLM have now sued Trump and the federal government.
The hope is to force the federal government to provide evidence that there was any group violence or rioting whatsoever until after federal agents had been tear-gassing, flash-banging, baton-beating, and shoving them for several days.
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