Trump Supporters in Violent Protest? Where?
On the old Saturday Night Live, Ruth Buzzi would play a visiting news commentator expressing an opinion that was totally wrong. When the anchor character would correct her misunderstanding, she would simply say, “Never mind.”
We are seeing a lot of that lately on the left-wing news – except they do not say “never mind.” They simply drop the subject – or even worse, they continue to express the debunked opinion. We saw that big time with the phony Russian conspiracy theory nonsense.
One of the oncoming examples is the reporting and opining about the dangers of Republican activists rising in mobs of violence – hellbent on insurrection and an ongoing coup attempt.
We first must understand that the initial insurrection narrative that permeates the anti-trump, anti-Republican news agencies is already a gross inflation of the actual riot. But at least that had a semblance of reality.
What followed was a constant warning that those on the right were poised for a violent uprising at the least provocation – or at the command of President Trump. And on each occasion, nothing of significance happened.
You will recall on the first anniversary of the Capitol Hill riot, it was predicted by the media that thousands of rabid Republican insurrectionists would descend on the Capitol to take over the Hill. Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spent millions of taxpayer dollars to erect fencing and called in the National Guard – leaving the question of why she did not respond appropriately to the warnings on January 6, 2021.
Approximately 200 Trump supporters arrived with permits in hand to hear a few speakers. After a couple of hours, they dispersed without incident. Did Pelosi overreact, or was the show of force designed to give credence to the Democrat false narrative of pending doom?
It was also predicted that, on the same day, thousands of Trump folks would rise up in the cities in violent protest. The warnings were part of the left-wing news for days ahead of the anniversary. Apparently, a few people showed up in a few locations to peacefully protest. Those few “mobs” rarely numbered more than 20 people.
In checking the various news outlets the next day, no one said “never mind.” In fact, the fearmongering narrative of latent violent protests continued as if the past had no meaning. There was predicted violence associated with the trials of the Proud Boys. Again nothing.
For months, we have been warned of violence if Trump was indicted. The more extreme left-wing commentators even predicted civil unrest exceeding the Capitol Hill riot.
Despite the lack of evidence – none of the “chatter” that would be necessary to organize a major protest and the lack of any travel plans to New York City – the city, state, and federal governments made elaborate and expensive protective arrangements — $200 million worth. As a defense, they constructed the Great Wall of China to protect against a possible panda attack.
Of course, nothing happened – and as I have predicted in the past, nothing was going to happen. There is no insurrectionist movement. No coup plotters.
As a backup, the left reports a lot about threats against public officials. They currently focus on the Manhattan District Attorney and the judge in the Trump case. There are two things to keep in mind. Reporting death threats increases them. I learned that when I did public relations for the Sears Tower. As the world’s tallest building at the time, we got bomb threats on a regular basis. We never announced them because we would get more of them – and we did not evacuate the building because we would be doing that every other day.
Virtually all major public figures get threats. You can bet that Trump gets them … President Biden gets them …senators get them … governors get them. Public officials on all sides get them. Even judges get them. The overwhelming majority of threats are never acted upon – or even intended to be acted upon. That is how some folks vent anger – inappropriate as it may be.
I have no doubt that officials like DA Alvin Braggs get a spike in threats when they are the subject of increased and controversial news coverage. Law enforcement is trained in determining serious threats and idle threats – and they are very effective in dealing with both. On rare occasions, threats result in arrests – as in the case of the attempt to kidnap the Michigan governor.
The left-wing news platforms contribute to the problem by reporting more on threats to progressive figures — and elevating criticism to threats for political purposes. Pointing out Braggs’s previous statements against Trump or the deep Democrat ties of the judge and his family are NOT threats. In a case in which I was involved, I recall being criticized for publicly accusing a Chicago judge of anti-Asian bias. He was eventually sanctioned for … anti-Asian bias.
Thousands of folks turned out on the day of Trump’s indictment. They were not violent – although some on the left harassed FOX News crews. But even that was minor. Those who took to the streets could be described as two groups – those waving Trump flags in Florida as he departed Mar-a-Lago and a lot of folks in New York that seemed more curious than partisan. There were no clashes – no violence. None. Pretty remarkable in view of the pre-indictment predictions.
I do not see any of the violence that the anti-Trump media predicts – and even provokes. Having lived through the 1960s Days of Rage when real terrorists were running amok – when a President, a senator, and a civil rights leader were assassinated … a presidential candidate was wounded and permanently crippled … a Pope was shot … students were killed on campuses by bullets and bombs … and major portions of cities went up in flames – I can see the difference between real violence and fearmongering about violence for political purposes.
Methinks it is time for Democrats and the left-wing media to put a “never mind” to their narrative about right-wing violence and the fantastical ongoing coup attempt.
So, there ‘tis.
Gilda Radnor, not Ruth Buzzi……
BUZTED (just joking)
Frank Stetson … Thanks for the correction .. and not connecting to an age-related insult about my mental acuity.
“We first must understand that the initial insurrection narrative that permeates the anti-trump, anti-Republican news agencies is already a gross inflation of the actual riot. But at least that had a semblance of reality.” You can spin, you can try to dumb it down, dress it up, but it’s still a pig, Larry. You try to minimize by noting other tragic events, yet you tend to link multiple events together to match this one. Amazingly, you leave out one of the most egregious uses of Federal Forces to quell domestic violence by REPBULICANS under TRUMP as an election year gimmick.
The January 6th, 2021 REPUBLICAN insurrection to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election is the largest investigation the DOJ has ever conducted. It is a waste of tens of billions to law-abiding US taxpayers, over 3 billion and counting just because Republicans went wild. If you had impeach TRUMP on the second, and valid, go round, this would have never happened on YOUR WATCH by YOUR PEOPLE in YOUR PARTY.
It will take Tucker three years, 8 hours a day, all seven days of the week, just to watch the tapes, yeah, that many terabytes of terror just to find a few bytes where tourists got frisky, not wild.
I am not sure that this is not the largest mass arrest in American history. But I think it is the hugest mass arrest in American history. Got a bigger one? Larry laments that the 60’s were wilder. Yes, in many cases they were Larry. However, we have learned a lot since then which is why we have less death here, or in the Summer of Floyd.
Larry, you act like this was a one-off, just some tourists gone wild, people getting a little frisky. This was not an isolated event but the conclusion of a year’s worth of violent sieges at State Capitols across the land. This was combined with a half dozen other plans to overturn the election and illegally install Trump as President after he lost his second popular vote. Republicans even attempted the kidnapping of a governor. You have become the party of trash and trashing law and order. If you track REPUBLICAN violence, you can see it spread across the country all during 2020 culminating in DC after the failed election results. It is not a one-off spontaneous affair, but the apex of a year’s violent efforts by REPUBLICANS.
There are around 1,000 arrests; we are still arresting at about 10 a day. The total could possibly reach 2,000.
– 994 are Federal crimes, 24 are within DC
– 543 guilty pleas — they admitted it Larry, they broke the law.
– 67 guilty at trial, 1 acquitted, some of the guilty had some charges dismissed/acquitted, 13 dismissals
– 447 sentenced
– 50 conspiracy charges including a baker’s dozen of seditious conspiracy indictments handed out, about a half dozen already pleaded or found guilty — they did it.
– 6 have fled, are on the run
– 57% of those adjudicated get prison time, median sentence is 60 days. Yeah Larry, crimes heinous enough for prison as in about 33% arrested for assault, resisting, or impeding police
– There were over 140 police officers assaulted, injured, harmed
This was a big deal, Larry.
“What followed was a constant warning that those on the right were poised for a violent uprising at the least provocation – or at the command of President Trump. And on each occasion, nothing of significance happened.” And does that make you happy? TRUMP called for violence again, but his followers did not react after what happened last time.
Along with the warning, you left out all those updates indicating low amounts of chatter, little was planned, so there really wasn’t that much of your imagined surprise by most. Matter of fact, Trump actually dialed down his protest requests due to lack of response for fear of looking impotent that might affect donations.
But he still cornered many a Republican to pay fealty to him in public or face being primaried in the future. That was his real plan: donations! Almost all the tough race Republicans submitted. TRUMP still runs your party, he is the leading candidate, and he continues to stir controversary by stirring citizens to take action against his self-induced situation. There is every reason and no reason to doubt what he says.
“Then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi spent millions of taxpayer dollars to erect fencing and called in the National Guard – leaving the question of why she did not respond appropriately to the warnings on January 6, 2021.” For the millionth time, Pelosi is not responsible for defense of the Capitol, yet Trump was responsible for defense of the nation on 1.6.2021 when he sat watching the violence unfold on TV while tossing burgers at the wall for over three hours. Three hours. The Minnow was lost in just under that time. Pelosi does not put fences up, create perimeters, or personally own the budget for said works. It has been documented over and over that she does not control the Capitol Police, she is not a cop, she does not manage cops, but like a junk-yard dog, you just have to get Pelosi, your favorite bogyman in there to stoke the flames and diminish what should be your shame.
It was big. It was violent. It was 100% REPUBLICAN. It could happen again. TRUMP wants it to happen again. TRUMP is asking his deplorable army to do it again. Just because they have not heard the call yet does not mean it did not happen or that it could not happen again.
Would you bet your life that it wouldn’t? Of course not. Would you put up fences at high profile attack points. Of course. Remember, you’re the party that brought unmarked Federal police CBP surrogates into Portland shooting tear gas at protesting mothers. And then REPUBLICANS sent them to lots of Democratic Cities in 2020 for crime prevention too. And they did this via Operation Legend where TRUMP took over a dozen cities with untrained jack-booted Federal troops launched against American citizens.
Albuquerque, Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Philadelphia and St. Louis all fell under TRUMP’s siege. You had Federal Bureau of Investigation, United States Marshals Service, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and United States Department of Homeland Security spending billions to arrest thousands of American protestors.
In most cases, this was done without request or acceptance of local government officials as TRUMP’S election year stunt.
This was a REPUBLICAN affair, it was a concerted effort over time, and it was big, messy, and violent. Larry, I can concede it’s not all Republicans. But you need to concede that your party’s extreme edges are nasty, violent, deplorables that you need to deal with, extricate you party from, and move on as real conservatives versus this TRUMPIAN bastardization of the Republican Party, the part of Lincoln, the party of Reagan but NEVER the party of TRUMP. Quit defending him, his people, or his bad policies like Operation Legend or the Republican Insurrection of 1.6.2021.
And he will continue to be the leader of our party for as long as we want him to!!!
Suck on that!!!!! 🇺🇸
Larry,
The right did not, would not, and have not because that behavior ultimately backfired.
Their January 6 debacle proved ineffective as to its goal, no matter by what term you categorize it, as well as bettering the conservative image and the Republican brand.
Who was surprised the call to arms by Trump of his beleaguered and dwindling supporters bore no fruit. Then, who was not surprised things did not turn ugly.
Demonizing media and your so-called mainstream leftist ideologues by setting them up like so many straw men is conservative’s engineering propaganda. It’s less than critical thinking when taking a broad brush approach and painting all your adversaries with whatever denigrating words are of the moment.
Were you disappointed there was not any real action from the Trumper’s contingent?
In the end, Trump is attempting a leveraging maneuver he has long employed to enrich himself at the expense of the GOP and the country. He is wholly mendacious and toxic to whoever and whatever he contacts and wherever he pops up and speaks.
Hopefully, the right who looked to Trump as a savior are getting wise to his lies.
However, if in November 2024 he’s on the top of the Republican ticket, No doubt what the right will do. Conservatism be damned, Trump’s their man.
Larry,
Me think perhaps you really do protest to much. Consider concentrating comments your compatriots in arms, the Republican conservatives, Are you all more the problem offering not a wit in tackling major issues confronting their constituents and the country as a whole.
Taking potshots at those you believe are the root of what is evil in government, MSM, and all that you see out in the world that maybe progressive. led does not contribute an once of cure.
Surely, ‘tis a better thing, for you, that PBP is positioned where it is in the general scheme of media coverage and opinion commentary. Because, what happens on PBP is confined to PBP readership’s small contingent.
And, your profession of conservatism as the core principle on which all else must hang true appears contradictory to your comments about justice as applied to the least of us in this country. People of low means, no estate, of color non white, and disadvantaged are not seen as innocent until proven otherwise. In fact, are not the conservative right those who would sooner judge than do the honest work required gathering facts and context.
Team GOP has a ways to go getting its act together until it is well grounded with firm footing far from its present ridiculousness portrayed by its so called leadership. Its numbers may add up to a majority, but the individuals counted hardly merit being counted. What we have there in Washington is a weak majority that sums to a failure in governing. So. that Republicans who see clearly must admit that the situation is embarrassing.
Clear eyed Republicans? What was I thinking?
Never Mind.
Still, Larry, consult with your optometrist to diagnose the sight issues. In comparison, from every indication in your commentary the log in your own eye is impairing your vision impossibly. Those you allege every bad act constantly are doing have a mere speck in their eye.
Conservatism is a one dimensional perspective .
The Justice System in America, its proponents believe, is virtually flawless. Therefore, it can not have and does not have systemic baked in injustices , prejudice, bias, and inhumane practices. What is systemic in Republican conservatism is unequal justice between individuals from different social castes .
Firstly the popular vote is not counted .The law of the land is the Electoral College votes.
Secondly this was not a coupe. Look at the real coups during the thirties and then maybe you will comprehend.
Paul: not sure what you mean, your English seems a bit off. Of course the popular vote was counted; I think you meant it does not count which is not true either. I am guessing you mean how we use a REPRESENTATIVE VOTE, called the electoral college where in 48 out of 50 States, the winner of the popular vote in that State takes all Electoral Votes thus you can see where the winner of the electoral vote is REPRESENTATIVE of the popular vote. In two States, it’s done with a weird method…
Thus you can win the ELECTORAL but lose the NATIONAL popular vote but the popular vote is still counted and counts mightily in how the ELECTORAL vote is counted.
The Republican insurrectionist’s intent was to stop the election and reinstall TRUMP. I would gather that was his goal too given his rhetoric before and since said incident where he continually claims he was robbed and should be President. Coup is defined as: “a sudden, violent, and unlawful seizure of power from a government” by Webster.
Look it up, that’s what they say about the popular vote, electoral college vote, and the 1.6.2021 Republican Insurrection at the Capitol.