"And whereas the situation called for continuous mass protest, there were just a couple of well-attended but ineffectual “No Kings” rallies."
The weekly anti-DOGE protests and networks that developed to plan "No Kings" became the anti-ICE rapid responders that galvanized this entire situation. These are not isolated things, they are all groundwork for the next. There's been a lot more activity than folks have been given credit for.
You are right, we finally have some momentum and we need to push every lever have, everywhere internationally. Universities, governments, businesses, lots of folks have little levers. In France they are dumping US tech for online meetings. In Sweden the largest *private* pension fund is divesting from T-bills. In Arizona the (Democratic) AG says that "stand your ground" laws give citizens legal right to shoot ICE officers if they feel threatened. The largest union representing federal government workers -- including DHS workers -- just called for Noem and Miller to resign of be fired.
To use the parlance of the day, there has been a vibeshift. Gotta keep pushing now, never waste a good focal point.
You don't see the elephant in the room and think red or blue is better, they are co accomplices hence acquiescence from the Democrats. Look at Mamdanis alliance with Trump and his choice of police chief a total reactionary insider representative of the 1%. He is complying the same as the ALP in Australia.
I am moved every time I see or read about the courage of people standing up to ICE at tremendous personal risk. I'm moved by white people standing up when they have the greatest temptation to collaborate and by people of colour standing up when the risks for them are so high.
But, there's nothing like witnessing heroism to cloud the judgement. I don't know how anyone can remain objective when the stakes and emotions are so high. I guess it's better that we can tell a story about things improving, given that not long ago it was hard to see a way clear.
Yes he surely does evil things but you don't think his staff are as clueless/witless as he is and have no plan along with his donors et al? I only referenced the possibility of it but it is de rigueur in politics so why would it be considered silly in this situation where no media coverage of Epstein files any more and it is a big thing for his MAGA base and similar and they were very hot under the collar about it and its connection to the support of Isreal alongside the killing of Charlie Kirk and aligned conspiracies to fill the cover up of the faulty investigation. This is all dead now and ICE is all 24/7 news so silly I can't agree.
Next step insurrection act declarations in Democrat states and no mid term votes from them. However, he does seem wary of provoking NY and CA but then he has probably calculated he doesnt need them to keep the house and senate in the midterms. Just thinking out loud.
Welcome back to the Pangloss Club! We have better mead than the Cassandra Confraternity, though the match is still undecided. The news from Minneapolis has cheered our team, tending to confirm the view that Trump is too stupid and impulsive and to avoid overreach. The very public execution of Alex Pretti seems to have catalysed something, and is playing out as a second major setback after Davos.
Two aspects leave a bad taste. One is the differential response to the murders of Pretti (nice straight white male trying to defuse a conflict) and and Good (sassy gay woman and single mother provoking one), though both were heroes. The latter aroused the anti-fascists. The former has troubled at least some in the Trump coalition, enough to secure the ouster – perhaps temporary - of Greg Bovino, a prominent and repulsive ICE leader.
This is partly because of the gun, which put Trump at odds with theNRA. Pretti went to the protest wearing a fully legal handgun, holstered but loaded. He had beeen beaten up by ICE at an earlier confrontation, and sustained a cracked rib. He was right to think he was going into grave danger – but wrong in thinking his gun would protect him. It rarely does. The bad guys are much readier to shoot first. American gun culture is only partly a rational Hobbesian trap – everybody else is armed, so I need to be too. It is also a mass Dunning-Krueger delusion of competence, fostered by standard Hollywood storylines. Not always: "High Noon" is improbable, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" realistic.
I looked up the gun. It’s a Sig-Sauer P320-AXG “Combat ” 9mm automatic pistol, with factory customisaions and a 15- or 17-round magazine. In spite of a reputation for accidental discharges, it won a $580 million contract with the US Army in 2017 for the standard service pistol, and is sold in volume to police departments. Look it up if you need more gun porn.
point is that it was not at all a “Saturday night special” but professional kit that will set you back well over $1000 new. Nice guy Alex Pretti tragically seems to have bought fully into the myth. I am using the word “tragically” correcly here. The Obamas incorrectly used it to mischaracterise his murder.
"And whereas the situation called for continuous mass protest, there were just a couple of well-attended but ineffectual “No Kings” rallies."
The weekly anti-DOGE protests and networks that developed to plan "No Kings" became the anti-ICE rapid responders that galvanized this entire situation. These are not isolated things, they are all groundwork for the next. There's been a lot more activity than folks have been given credit for.
You are right, we finally have some momentum and we need to push every lever have, everywhere internationally. Universities, governments, businesses, lots of folks have little levers. In France they are dumping US tech for online meetings. In Sweden the largest *private* pension fund is divesting from T-bills. In Arizona the (Democratic) AG says that "stand your ground" laws give citizens legal right to shoot ICE officers if they feel threatened. The largest union representing federal government workers -- including DHS workers -- just called for Noem and Miller to resign of be fired.
To use the parlance of the day, there has been a vibeshift. Gotta keep pushing now, never waste a good focal point.
No, I’m the most pessimistic of commentators.
The determined cooperation of people on the ground makes the necessary possible.
This reminds me of fifty plus years ago which Crosby stills Nash and Young captured https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCS-g3HwXdc
You don't see the elephant in the room and think red or blue is better, they are co accomplices hence acquiescence from the Democrats. Look at Mamdanis alliance with Trump and his choice of police chief a total reactionary insider representative of the 1%. He is complying the same as the ALP in Australia.
I am moved every time I see or read about the courage of people standing up to ICE at tremendous personal risk. I'm moved by white people standing up when they have the greatest temptation to collaborate and by people of colour standing up when the risks for them are so high.
But, there's nothing like witnessing heroism to cloud the judgement. I don't know how anyone can remain objective when the stakes and emotions are so high. I guess it's better that we can tell a story about things improving, given that not long ago it was hard to see a way clear.
There's suggestion this whole ICE thing is a distraction from the Epstein files etc it sure removed any discussion about them.
Also why are ICE only out on the streets in Democrat controlled cities or states I wonder Robertition? Are there no so called illegals in GOP states?
It never is what it seems.
The whole idea of "distractions" is silly. Trump does evil things because he is evil, not to distract people from the other evil things he is doing
Yes he surely does evil things but you don't think his staff are as clueless/witless as he is and have no plan along with his donors et al? I only referenced the possibility of it but it is de rigueur in politics so why would it be considered silly in this situation where no media coverage of Epstein files any more and it is a big thing for his MAGA base and similar and they were very hot under the collar about it and its connection to the support of Isreal alongside the killing of Charlie Kirk and aligned conspiracies to fill the cover up of the faulty investigation. This is all dead now and ICE is all 24/7 news so silly I can't agree.
Next step insurrection act declarations in Democrat states and no mid term votes from them. However, he does seem wary of provoking NY and CA but then he has probably calculated he doesnt need them to keep the house and senate in the midterms. Just thinking out loud.
Welcome back to the Pangloss Club! We have better mead than the Cassandra Confraternity, though the match is still undecided. The news from Minneapolis has cheered our team, tending to confirm the view that Trump is too stupid and impulsive and to avoid overreach. The very public execution of Alex Pretti seems to have catalysed something, and is playing out as a second major setback after Davos.
Two aspects leave a bad taste. One is the differential response to the murders of Pretti (nice straight white male trying to defuse a conflict) and and Good (sassy gay woman and single mother provoking one), though both were heroes. The latter aroused the anti-fascists. The former has troubled at least some in the Trump coalition, enough to secure the ouster – perhaps temporary - of Greg Bovino, a prominent and repulsive ICE leader.
This is partly because of the gun, which put Trump at odds with theNRA. Pretti went to the protest wearing a fully legal handgun, holstered but loaded. He had beeen beaten up by ICE at an earlier confrontation, and sustained a cracked rib. He was right to think he was going into grave danger – but wrong in thinking his gun would protect him. It rarely does. The bad guys are much readier to shoot first. American gun culture is only partly a rational Hobbesian trap – everybody else is armed, so I need to be too. It is also a mass Dunning-Krueger delusion of competence, fostered by standard Hollywood storylines. Not always: "High Noon" is improbable, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" realistic.
I looked up the gun. It’s a Sig-Sauer P320-AXG “Combat ” 9mm automatic pistol, with factory customisaions and a 15- or 17-round magazine. In spite of a reputation for accidental discharges, it won a $580 million contract with the US Army in 2017 for the standard service pistol, and is sold in volume to police departments. Look it up if you need more gun porn.
point is that it was not at all a “Saturday night special” but professional kit that will set you back well over $1000 new. Nice guy Alex Pretti tragically seems to have bought fully into the myth. I am using the word “tragically” correcly here. The Obamas incorrectly used it to mischaracterise his murder.