hotair--2020-06-12--Seattle mayor: It'd be unconstitutional and illegal for Trump to send troops into the CHAZ

Pardon me , mayor , but you have no right to speak for a sovereign country .
If anyone ’ s going to threaten Trump on behalf of the CHAZ , it ’ ll be Secretary-General Raz Simone .
Are we looking a gift horse in the mouth , by the way ?
If Democratic cities want to turn over parts of their jurisdictions to smelly communes , that seems win/win for everyone .
Let young wokesters in purple states pack up and strike out for bluer pastures .
They can set up anarcho-syndicalist mini-states there , tear each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around them into voting conservative for years to come .
Best-case scenario : All of America ’ s hippies end up taking over and packing into a single city , which can then be walled off like in “ Escape from New York.
” This idiot sounds like she ’ s on the brink of defecting to the CHAZ herself : I ’ m not nearly as sure as she is that it ’ d be “ illegal ” and “ unconstitutional ” for Trump to use U.S. troops .
( And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers , like James Mattis , have claimed that it would be . )
It ’ d be heinous and fascistic for him to use military force against Americans without good reason to believe that local authorities can ’ t handle the situation , but I thought we just spent a week recognizing that the president does have this authority under the Insurrection Act .
By custom , he only uses the military when the state requests help .
But not by law , and not even always by custom .
As Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eisenhower obviously didn ’ t receive a plea for help from Orval Faubus when he used the military to implement desegregation in Arkansas .
Whether the current military leadership would agree to carry out an order to retake the CHAZ over the objections of local officials is a separate question .
According to NBC , Mark Milley erupted on June 1 when Trump started chattering about sending in the troops to quell rioting .
Milley also reportedly considered resigning over his unplanned stroll through Lafayette Park although he ended up opting for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him to invade the CHAZ and Milley refuses , it should be simple enough for the president to fire him and appoint Dan Bongino or Sean Hannity chairman of the Joint Chiefs instead .
They ’ ll do it .
Speaking of which , the president is seizing this opportunity with his usual aplomb and understatement : There ’ s nothing but upside for him politically in highlighting a Democratic mayor in a Democratic state all but endorsing a total breakdown in law enforcement in part of the capital .
The Democratic governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s threats than with Seattle ceding control of several city blocks to demonstrators , some of whom are armed : At some point , probably sooner than later , Biden and the national Democratic leadership are going to start getting itchy about Inslee and Durkan allowing this to go on .
They have major electoral momentum at the moment ; polling shows Americans shifting left on matters of race and police reform .
The left is trying to start a fire to burn that down by hyperventilating about defunding the police but Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked to douse it by calling it a nonstarter .
The last thing they need now is a spectacle of law and order breaking down in Seattle in front of news cameras , seemingly with the approval of local authorities , at a moment when Trump ’ s trying to pivot the campaign to a “ law and order ” message .
At the very least they should want Inslee and Durkan to begin chatting with the occupiers to see if there ’ s a way to get them to leave without having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would create a very different kind of political liability .
The status quo is unsustainable , though , no matter how much the hippie mayor wishes it were otherwise .

Pardon me, mayor, but you have no right to speak for a sovereign country.
If anyone’s going to threaten Trump on behalf of the CHAZ, it’ll be Secretary-General Raz Simone.
Are we looking a gift horse in the mouth, by the way? If Democratic cities want to turn over parts of their jurisdictions to smelly communes, that seems win/win for everyone. Let young wokesters in purple states pack up and strike out for bluer pastures. They can set up anarcho-syndicalist mini-states there, tear each other apart, and scare the working-class people around them into voting conservative for years to come.
Best-case scenario: All of America’s hippies end up taking over and packing into a single city, which can then be walled off like in “Escape from New York.”
The mayor of Seattle said it would be unconstitutional and illegal for President Trump to send the military into the city to clear protesters occupying a neighborhood, as he has suggested https://t.co/2f4GDoiCKh pic.twitter.com/iMM38PRxgJ — Reuters (@Reuters) June 12, 2020
This idiot sounds like she’s on the brink of defecting to the CHAZ herself:
Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan says the six-block autonomous zone in her city known as CHAZ, where armed Antifa types have driven off police and set up checkpoints, is "more like a block party atmosphere" than an "armed takeover." pic.twitter.com/5S5RcXyID1 — Scott Morefield (@SKMorefield) June 12, 2020
I’m not nearly as sure as she is that it’d be “illegal” and “unconstitutional” for Trump to use U.S. troops. (And I don’t know that any retired officers, like James Mattis, have claimed that it would be.) It’d be heinous and fascistic for him to use military force against Americans without good reason to believe that local authorities can’t handle the situation, but I thought we just spent a week recognizing that the president does have this authority under the Insurrection Act. By custom, he only uses the military when the state requests help. But not by law, and not even always by custom. As Tom Cotton noted in his now-famous op-ed, Eisenhower obviously didn’t receive a plea for help from Orval Faubus when he used the military to implement desegregation in Arkansas.
Whether the current military leadership would agree to carry out an order to retake the CHAZ over the objections of local officials is a separate question. According to NBC, Mark Milley erupted on June 1 when Trump started chattering about sending in the troops to quell rioting.
A discussion ensued over invoking the Insurrection Act to send in active-duty troops to quash the unrest triggered by the death of George Floyd, the official said, but Esper, Milley and Barr all pushed back on the idea. Milley became so fired up explaining why using active-duty troops was dangerous that he shook his fists to emphasize his points, according to three defense officials familiar with the meeting.
Milley also reportedly considered resigning over his unplanned stroll through Lafayette Park although he ended up opting for a public apology instead. If Trump tells him to invade the CHAZ and Milley refuses, it should be simple enough for the president to fire him and appoint Dan Bongino or Sean Hannity chairman of the Joint Chiefs instead. They’ll do it.
Speaking of which, the president is seizing this opportunity with his usual aplomb and understatement:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1271446019281215488
There’s nothing but upside for him politically in highlighting a Democratic mayor in a Democratic state all but endorsing a total breakdown in law enforcement in part of the capital. The Democratic governor also seems more concerned about Trump’s threats than with Seattle ceding control of several city blocks to demonstrators, some of whom are armed:
This is a challenging time. Many in our state are expressing heartfelt outrage at the very real racial injustices in our society. We have work to do now and in the future to both advance equity and protect the gains we’ve made. — Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) June 11, 2020
What we will not allow are threats of military violence against Washingtonians coming from the White House. The U.S. military serves to protect Americans, not the fragility of an insecure president. — Governor Jay Inslee (@GovInslee) June 11, 2020
At some point, probably sooner than later, Biden and the national Democratic leadership are going to start getting itchy about Inslee and Durkan allowing this to go on. They have major electoral momentum at the moment; polling shows Americans shifting left on matters of race and police reform. The left is trying to start a fire to burn that down by hyperventilating about defunding the police but Biden and practically every other senior Dem has worked to douse it by calling it a nonstarter. The last thing they need now is a spectacle of law and order breaking down in Seattle in front of news cameras, seemingly with the approval of local authorities, at a moment when Trump’s trying to pivot the campaign to a “law and order” message.
At the very least they should want Inslee and Durkan to begin chatting with the occupiers to see if there’s a way to get them to leave without having to use heavy-handed police tactics, which would create a very different kind of political liability. The status quo is unsustainable, though, no matter how much the hippie mayor wishes it were otherwise.


hotair--2020-06-12--Chappelle blasts CNN's Lemon: No one cares what celebrities think about Floyd death -- but ...

This has made the rounds since the surprise release last night of a comedy set from Dave Chappelle from last weekend , for understandable reasons — but it ’ s only part of the story .
Fans of Chappelle and critics of the mainstream media will looove his shots at Don Lemon and the demands of and on the celebrity cult , and on that , Chappelle gives no quarter .
But that ’ s not the only target of Chappelle ’ s ire , and some of the other targets in the set might not have conservatives laughing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , is an impassioned demand for activism against injustice , specifically police brutality .
In this raw , still evolving set ( which Chappelle delivers with notes ) , he spends a short period of time skewering Lemon for demanding that celebrities hog the spotlight from protesters in the streets .
“ Do we give a f*** what Ja Rule thinks ?
” Chappelle declares derisively at one point .
Transcripts from BroBible , very much NSFW : I ’ m watching Don Lemon…he says where are these celebrities ?
…Has anyone listened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not listened to me say these things before ?
So now all of a sudden this n***** expects me to step in front of the streets and talk over the work these people are doing as a celebrity…This is the streets talking for themselves , they don ’ t need me right now .
Why would anyone care what their favorite comedian thinks when they saw a police officer kneel on a man ’ s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds .
This is a bit of a contradiction , though .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ indeed doing exactly what Lemon demanded .
That point wasn ’ t lost on Lemon or John Berman this morning , either .
Lemon says Chappelle has a point , but also distills Chappelle ’ s point about the nature of the action they both are urging : That ’ s the issue that a conservative embrace of this clip out of context will miss .
Chappelle spends most of these 27 minutes venting his rage and frustration with the status of American policing and justice to demand sharp changes in both .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Chappelle ’ s not doing it for dunking ’ s sake , either .
To underscore that point , Chappelle dunks on Candace Owens for arguing that Floyd was a criminal , which Chappelle calls signaling to “ white America ” to ignore his homicide : Candace Owens that rotten b**** .
She ’ s the worst .
I can ’ t think of a worse way to make money .
She ’ s the most articulate idiot I have ever seen in my f***** life .
She ’ s so articulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ f***** stupid she is .
She told George Floyd ’ s record on the Internet .
He was this , he was that he was a drug addict and why does the black community make him a hero ?
Why did you choose him as the hero ?
… We didn ’ t choose him , you did , they killed him and that wasn ’ t right , so he ’ s the guy , we ’ re not desperate for heroes in the black community , anybody who survives this nightmare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s pretty much dead on .
The only way Floyd ’ s arrest record would matter is if we adopted the idea that police can execute people on the street for having a record .
Otherwise , it ’ s a non-sequitur .
Chappelle then goes after Laura Ingraham more generally for her “ shut up and dribble ” rebuke to LeBron James and celebrities in general , which is the opposite of the point that some will take from his slam on Lemon .
Here ’ s the whole set from Chappelle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in its full context .
It ’ s not comfortable viewing for anyone , which is one reason why Chappelle matters .

This has made the rounds since the surprise release last night of a comedy set from Dave Chappelle from last weekend, for understandable reasons — but it’s only part of the story. Fans of Chappelle and critics of the mainstream media will looove his shots at Don Lemon and the demands of and on the celebrity cult, and on that, Chappelle gives no quarter. But that’s not the only target of Chappelle’s ire, and some of the other targets in the set might not have conservatives laughing. Most of this set, in fact, is an impassioned demand for activism against injustice, specifically police brutality.
In this raw, still evolving set (which Chappelle delivers with notes), he spends a short period of time skewering Lemon for demanding that celebrities hog the spotlight from protesters in the streets. “Do we give a f*** what Ja Rule thinks?” Chappelle declares derisively at one point. Transcripts from BroBible, very much NSFW:
Dave Chappelle blasts Don Lemon for calling out celebrities for not speaking out on George Floyd murder “why would anyone care what their favorite comedian thinks when they saw a police officer kneel on a mans neck for 8 min and 46 seconds pic.twitter.com/Wuo2hMafVu — gifdsports (@gifdsports) June 12, 2020
I’m watching Don Lemon…he says where are these celebrities?…Has anyone listened to me do comedy, has anyone not listened to me say these things before? So now all of a sudden this n***** expects me to step in front of the streets and talk over the work these people are doing as a celebrity…This is the streets talking for themselves, they don’t need me right now. Why would anyone care what their favorite comedian thinks when they saw a police officer kneel on a man’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds.
This is a bit of a contradiction, though. By releasing this video, Chappelle is indeed doing exactly what Lemon demanded. That point wasn’t lost on Lemon or John Berman this morning, either. Lemon says Chappelle has a point, but also distills Chappelle’s point about the nature of the action they both are urging:
That’s the issue that a conservative embrace of this clip out of context will miss. Chappelle spends most of these 27 minutes venting his rage and frustration with the status of American policing and justice to demand sharp changes in both. Dunking on Lemon might be fun, but Chappelle’s not doing it for dunking’s sake, either.
To underscore that point, Chappelle dunks on Candace Owens for arguing that Floyd was a criminal, which Chappelle calls signaling to “white America” to ignore his homicide:
Candace Owens that rotten b****. She’s the worst. I can’t think of a worse way to make money. She’s the most articulate idiot I have ever seen in my f***** life. She’s so articulate that she’ll tell you how f***** stupid she is. She told George Floyd’s record on the Internet. He was this, he was that he was a drug addict and why does the black community make him a hero? Why did you choose him as the hero?… We didn’t choose him, you did, they killed him and that wasn’t right, so he’s the guy, we’re not desperate for heroes in the black community, anybody who survives this nightmare is my goddamned hero.
That’s pretty much dead on. The only way Floyd’s arrest record would matter is if we adopted the idea that police can execute people on the street for having a record. Otherwise, it’s a non-sequitur. Chappelle then goes after Laura Ingraham more generally for her “shut up and dribble” rebuke to LeBron James and celebrities in general, which is the opposite of the point that some will take from his slam on Lemon.
Here’s the whole set from Chappelle, so everyone can see his argument in its full context. It’s not comfortable viewing for anyone, which is one reason why Chappelle matters.


hotair--2020-06-12--MAGA at the CHAZ? First the walls go up -- and then the forced deportations

Has anyone else noticed a curious connection between the radicals at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone and Donald Trump ’ s policies ?
After declaring the six-block zone in Seattle separate from the US , the first thing they did was erect walls at the border to prevent “ illegal immigration ” into the enclave .
Late yesterday , as Townhall ’ s Julio Rosas reported , the CHAZ mob went one better — they began forced deportations .
Apparently they don ’ t think much of birthright citizenship either .
If we could just get them to embrace free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MAGA at some point .
Oh , as you might imagine , the language in this clip is NSFW : Say , shouldn ’ t these progressives have offered him sanctuary while his application to dismiss deportation proceedings were still pending ?
Offered him a work permit ?
Celebrated his humanity a bit ?
All tongue-in-cheekery aside , this is a scary reveal into who and what CHAZ represents .
It ’ s not human rights , it ’ s not “ true democracy , ” and it ’ s not even really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ end .
The end is a dictatorship based on violence .
This young man got deported ; the next person to cross CHAZ might not be so fortunate .
How long before the People ’ s Tribunals start forming , along with forced confessions and penance before the proletariat ?
The crime in this case apparently was a combination of opposing abortion and using a cellphone to document the processes of “ policing ” in the CHAZ .
The irony of the latter as a reaction to the homicide of George Floyd can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reason why we know about how Floyd died is because we live in a free country where everyone can whip out their cell phone and document the actions of police .
The only place in the country where that ’ s not possible any longer is in CHAZ , which speaks volumes about the nature of this authoritarian commune .
At about the same time that CHAZ started forced deportations , Mayor Jenny Durkan declared it nothing more than a tailgate party , contradicting Donald Trump ’ s characterization as an anarchist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-LA ) replied that Durkan needed to “ take her meds ” and wake up .
That ’ s not the most colorful response Kennedy had , however : We now see CHAZ forcibly ejecting people from their homes and businesses — violations of the civil rights of these Americans in America , no matter what CHAZ says about its “ autonomy.
” Where are Jenny Durkan and Jay Inslee in this crisis ?
When will the city of Seattle and the state of Washington start acting to protect the civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government have to act instead ?

Has anyone else noticed a curious connection between the radicals at the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone and Donald Trump’s policies? After declaring the six-block zone in Seattle separate from the US, the first thing they did was erect walls at the border to prevent “illegal immigration” into the enclave. Late yesterday, as Townhall’s Julio Rosas reported, the CHAZ mob went one better — they began forced deportations.
Apparently they don’t think much of birthright citizenship either. If we could just get them to embrace free markets, these guys might be full-on MAGA at some point. Oh, as you might imagine, the language in this clip is NSFW:
Occupiers forced this guy out who was live-streaming inside the zone. The crowd was calling him a white supremacist, though the man being pushed out says he’s simply an anti-abortion advocate. The crowd chanted, “Who don’t matter? This motherfucker!” pic.twitter.com/qCBl1K7G90 — Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 11, 2020
Say, shouldn’t these progressives have offered him sanctuary while his application to dismiss deportation proceedings were still pending? Offered him a work permit? Celebrated his humanity a bit?
All tongue-in-cheekery aside, this is a scary reveal into who and what CHAZ represents. It’s not human rights, it’s not “true democracy,” and it’s not even really anarchy except as a means to an end. The end is a dictatorship based on violence. This young man got deported; the next person to cross CHAZ might not be so fortunate. How long before the People’s Tribunals start forming, along with forced confessions and penance before the proletariat?
The crime in this case apparently was a combination of opposing abortion and using a cellphone to document the processes of “policing” in the CHAZ. The irony of the latter as a reaction to the homicide of George Floyd can’t be expressed strongly enough. The reason why we know about how Floyd died is because we live in a free country where everyone can whip out their cell phone and document the actions of police. The only place in the country where that’s not possible any longer is in CHAZ, which speaks volumes about the nature of this authoritarian commune.
At about the same time that CHAZ started forced deportations, Mayor Jenny Durkan declared it nothing more than a tailgate party, contradicting Donald Trump’s characterization as an anarchist “insurrection”:
For the thousands of individuals who have been on Capitol Hill, I think you’ve seen what I’ve seen: The painting of Black Lives Matter along Pine Street, food trucks, spaghetti potlucks, teach-ins, and movies. — Mayor Jenny Durkan (@MayorJenny) June 11, 2020
Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) replied that Durkan needed to “take her meds” and wake up. That’s not the most colorful response Kennedy had, however:
“I don’t mean disrespect, but the mayor needs to take her meds. She cannot maintain order in Seattle without her law enforcement officials. She just can’t,” Kennedy said, earlier stating that he believes she’s wrongly withholding police to stop the demonstrators from maintaining control of the land.
We now see CHAZ forcibly ejecting people from their homes and businesses — violations of the civil rights of these Americans in America, no matter what CHAZ says about its “autonomy.” Where are Jenny Durkan and Jay Inslee in this crisis? When will the city of Seattle and the state of Washington start acting to protect the civil rights of these Americans? Or will the federal government have to act instead?


hotair--2020-06-12--Better late than never, maybe: MN governor unveils police reform package for special session after r

Better late than never, maybe: MN governor unveils police reform package for special session after riots

Get ready for the national media to start issuing hosannas to Gov .
Tim Walz — without mentioning that the state should have tackled the issues in Minneapolis years ago .
The special session of the state legislature originally got called to deal with a massive public-works package , and that will still take up most of the session .
However , Walz added a police reform package that will address some of the long-standing complaints about Minneapolis policing and hopefully draw down some of the lingering bitterness of the rioting in the wake of the George Floyd homicide : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wide-ranging overhaul of law enforcement Thursday as lawmakers return to the State Capitol for a special session shadowed by the memory of George Floyd , a black man who died in the hands of Minneapolis police .
Walz , accompanied by DFL leaders , challenged the Legislature to meet calls for action sparked by his death and the protests in Minnesota and across the nation .
The DFL plan would reform use-of-force standards , increase oversight of police discipline and encourage community-based alternatives to traditional law enforcement .
Republicans are mostly on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The real pushback might come from the DFL ’ s close ally — public-employee unions .
They see one change in particular as a threat to all PEUs and not just the police union : GOP Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka , R-East Gull Lake , said last week that he thought criminal justice changes need to be vetted and should not be made too quickly .
But this week he said he has had many conversations on the topic and changed his mind .
He said he now believes Republicans could agree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for public employees , put the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in charge of investigating use-of-force cases and make it the duty of officers to intervene and report unauthorized use of force .
There seems to be bipartisan support for some of those proposals , though a couple of public employee unions that largely support Democrats have said they oppose ending binding arbitration .
Just to remind everyone , the BCA is a state law enforcement agency similar to other states that work on cross-jurisdictional issues .
They routinely get called into higher-profile use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their own probe of the Floyd homicide by four police officers almost immediately .
This would formalize and broaden that jurisdiction .
It ’ s a simple reform , while the requirement for intervention is anything but .
There is no doubt that it is correct and long overdue , but it also requires a change of culture in a hierarchical organization that will not easily be accomplished .
For the most part , these are no-brainers , including the end of binding arbitration in cases of police misconduct .
There won ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these reforms , although the debate over binding arbitration pitting DFLers against their union allies will certainly be entertaining .
The question , however , is why the DFL and Walz , and Mark Dayton before him , never bothered to implement them until now .
Indeed , the city of Minneapolis could have imposed most of these reforms ( except the binding arbitration change ) at any time of the decades of progressive control of the city and police department .
Will national media outlets ask that question ?
If the coverage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any indication , don ’ t hold your breath .
Their narrative highlights Walz as a trailblazer in contrast to a gridlocked Congress and hostile White House : “ Minnesotans have raised their voice .
.
.
.
They have come to the capitol with the expectation of change , ” Walz said , announcing that the special session would begin at noon Friday .
“ The time is upon us , and we need to get it done .
The community is telling all of us what they want.
” As Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics , states , cities and some corporations are responding to Floyd ’ s death and the burgeoning national movement it sparked by embracing far-reaching changes .
Democrats in Congress have offered a police reform proposal and Republicans are set to do so , but it is unclear whether they will be able to reach agreement .
… Walz is aiming to turn Minnesota into a national leader on policing changes with the package of proposals he is presenting to the legislature .
The measure would change state law on when a police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a new measure that Walz ’ s office said would “ prioritize sanctity of life.
” A national leader ?
Please .
Minnesotans have a long list of complaints about policing in the Twin Cities , not all related to use of force .
Walz and the DFL had years to deal with those and did nothing , in large part because of the party ’ s incestuous relationships with PEUs .
The DFL got depantsed by the riots and has struggled to get back out in front ever since .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s CYA , nothing more .
The contrast with Congress is especially absurd .
Once again , the federal government has no jurisdiction or authority over local policing .
Local police and sheriff ’ s offices are run by the cities and counties , under the supervision of state governments .
The accountability for their performance lies with mayors , city councils , county boards of supervisors , and ultimately governors and state legislators .
Walz isn ’ t a hero for acting before Congress acts , because Congress has little authority to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and metrics .
If people want policing to change , they need to seek that change where the authority lies .
Don ’ t bet on the Washington Post or other national media to remind their readers and viewers of that uncomfortable fact ( with a few exceptions ) .
They have a narrative to push about Democratic heroes , rather than expose the decades of Democrat-Big Labor machine politics that left cities unaccountable .

Get ready for the national media to start issuing hosannas to Gov. Tim Walz — without mentioning that the state should have tackled the issues in Minneapolis years ago. The special session of the state legislature originally got called to deal with a massive public-works package, and that will still take up most of the session. However, Walz added a police reform package that will address some of the long-standing complaints about Minneapolis policing and hopefully draw down some of the lingering bitterness of the rioting in the wake of the George Floyd homicide:
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz laid out a wide-ranging overhaul of law enforcement Thursday as lawmakers return to the State Capitol for a special session shadowed by the memory of George Floyd, a black man who died in the hands of Minneapolis police. Walz, accompanied by DFL leaders, challenged the Legislature to meet calls for action sparked by his death and the protests in Minnesota and across the nation. The DFL plan would reform use-of-force standards, increase oversight of police discipline and encourage community-based alternatives to traditional law enforcement.
Republicans are mostly on board with much of the proposal. The real pushback might come from the DFL’s close ally — public-employee unions. They see one change in particular as a threat to all PEUs and not just the police union:
GOP Senate Majority Leader Paul Gazelka, R-East Gull Lake, said last week that he thought criminal justice changes need to be vetted and should not be made too quickly. But this week he said he has had many conversations on the topic and changed his mind. He said he now believes Republicans could agree to ban chokeholds, eliminate binding arbitration for public employees, put the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension in charge of investigating use-of-force cases and make it the duty of officers to intervene and report unauthorized use of force. There seems to be bipartisan support for some of those proposals, though a couple of public employee unions that largely support Democrats have said they oppose ending binding arbitration.
Just to remind everyone, the BCA is a state law enforcement agency similar to other states that work on cross-jurisdictional issues. They routinely get called into higher-profile use of force cases already, and launched their own probe of the Floyd homicide by four police officers almost immediately. This would formalize and broaden that jurisdiction. It’s a simple reform, while the requirement for intervention is anything but. There is no doubt that it is correct and long overdue, but it also requires a change of culture in a hierarchical organization that will not easily be accomplished.
For the most part, these are no-brainers, including the end of binding arbitration in cases of police misconduct. There won’t be any serious opposition to passing these reforms, although the debate over binding arbitration pitting DFLers against their union allies will certainly be entertaining. The question, however, is why the DFL and Walz, and Mark Dayton before him, never bothered to implement them until now. Indeed, the city of Minneapolis could have imposed most of these reforms (except the binding arbitration change) at any time of the decades of progressive control of the city and police department.
Will national media outlets ask that question? If the coverage in today’s Washington Post gives any indication, don’t hold your breath. Their narrative highlights Walz as a trailblazer in contrast to a gridlocked Congress and hostile White House:
“Minnesotans have raised their voice. . . . They have come to the capitol with the expectation of change,” Walz said, announcing that the special session would begin at noon Friday. “The time is upon us, and we need to get it done. The community is telling all of us what they want.” As Washington continues to face partisan gridlock and election-year politics, states, cities and some corporations are responding to Floyd’s death and the burgeoning national movement it sparked by embracing far-reaching changes. Democrats in Congress have offered a police reform proposal and Republicans are set to do so, but it is unclear whether they will be able to reach agreement. … Walz is aiming to turn Minnesota into a national leader on policing changes with the package of proposals he is presenting to the legislature. The measure would change state law on when a police officer is justified in using deadly force, a new measure that Walz’s office said would “prioritize sanctity of life.”
A national leader? Please. Minnesotans have a long list of complaints about policing in the Twin Cities, not all related to use of force. Walz and the DFL had years to deal with those and did nothing, in large part because of the party’s incestuous relationships with PEUs. The DFL got depantsed by the riots and has struggled to get back out in front ever since. That’s not leadership — it’s CYA, nothing more.
The contrast with Congress is especially absurd. Once again, the federal government has no jurisdiction or authority over local policing. Local police and sheriff’s offices are run by the cities and counties, under the supervision of state governments. The accountability for their performance lies with mayors, city councils, county boards of supervisors, and ultimately governors and state legislators. Walz isn’t a hero for acting before Congress acts, because Congress has little authority to do anything but spend money on studies and metrics. If people want policing to change, they need to seek that change where the authority lies.
Don’t bet on the Washington Post or other national media to remind their readers and viewers of that uncomfortable fact (with a few exceptions). They have a narrative to push about Democratic heroes, rather than expose the decades of Democrat-Big Labor machine politics that left cities unaccountable.


hotair--2020-06-12--Chicago Mayor angry that Alderman recorded her profanity over inability to stop rioting

It ’ s no secret that Chicago has seen more than its fair share of troubles from all of the recent racial unrest .
In addition to all of the COVID-19 deaths and record-breaking incidents of shootings , the Windy City has seen massive looting and the destruction of businesses and private property .
All of this crime led to a private conference call between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and all fifty of the city ’ s Aldermen .
At least it was supposed to be private.But after the conversation turned heated with plenty of expletives flying around , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recording they made of portions of the call to the press .
This led the Mayor to accuse them of “ illegally ” recording the call and the finger-pointing only got worse from there .
( CBS Chicago ) Mayor Lori Lightfoot accused an unnamed alderman of breaking the law by recording a private conference call between herself and the City Council , and leaking a foul-mouthed exchange to the media .
During a conference call with all 50 aldermen on May 31 to discuss the city ’ s response to widespread looting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 15th ) traded profanities when he accused the city of being ill-prepared for the violence , and expressed concerns looters could start targeting homes… Lightfoot did not answer Lopez ’ s questions in the call , prompting an angry exchange .
“ It ’ s not something you ignore .
This is a question that I have , ” Lopez said .
That ’ s when the call turned profane .
You can listen to the recording of the call at the link if you wish .
While it should go without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standard warning about potentially offensive language .
It drags on for a bit more than four minutes after the infighting begins .
Mayor Lightfoot is blaming Alderman Lopez of the 15th Ward for the leak , which I suppose is possible , but it doesn ’ t make a lot of sense since he was flinging the obscenities faster and at a higher temperature than the Mayor .
But to be fair to him , Lightfoot actually broke the protocol for civil discourse first .
Lopez was making what sounded like a series @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s been going on in the city and asking for a new plan and additional resources to handle the violence .
He mentions the areas that have already been looted and burned by criminals , noting that he has “ gang-bangers with AK-47s walking around right now looking for some payback.
” He then mentions his concerns that once all of the businesses have been looted , the rioters will move into the neighborhoods and begin breaking into residences .
Lightfoot thanks him for his comments and attempts to move on to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in and says the city can ’ t ignore these threats and he wasn ’ t just making a comment .
He expected an answer .
That ’ s when Mayor Lightfoot tells him that she thinks he ’ s “ 100 % full of s**t. ” At that point , Lopez responds by saying , “ Well , f*** you , then .
Who are you to tell me I ’ m full of s***t ?
” The call then devolves into a solid two minutes of shouting and cursing before some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them to calm down and get back on track .
The fact that portions of the call were leaked is kind of a shame .
During a crisis like this , it seems imperative that the City Council and the Mayor be able to have candid conversations , address questions and develop solutions .
Not every word uttered in that process needs to be dumped out into the public eye ( or ear , in this case ) .
As long as there is transparency about what ’ s being done , they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I can only imagine that some of the Aldermen will be less open about participating in such sessions if they know that the calls are being recorded .
They ’ re going to need to find a way to get past this quickly .
Downtown Chicago is a mess .
Lopez correctly described his own Ward as “ a war zone.
” Despite the best efforts of most of the MSM to describe the “ mostly peaceful protests ” taking place everywhere , things are going off the rails in the Windy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that full excerpt from the call , the City Council is admitting that they don ’ t have enough police or National Guardsmen to hold the line .
You can call it a “ protest ” all you like , but Chicago is quickly devolving into Mad Max territory .

It’s no secret that Chicago has seen more than its fair share of troubles from all of the recent racial unrest. In addition to all of the COVID-19 deaths and record-breaking incidents of shootings, the Windy City has seen massive looting and the destruction of businesses and private property. All of this crime led to a private conference call between Mayor Lori Lightfoot and all fifty of the city’s Aldermen. At least it was supposed to be private.But after the conversation turned heated with plenty of expletives flying around, one of the Alderman decided to leak out a recording they made of portions of the call to the press. This led the Mayor to accuse them of “illegally” recording the call and the finger-pointing only got worse from there. (CBS Chicago)
Mayor Lori Lightfoot accused an unnamed alderman of breaking the law by recording a private conference call between herself and the City Council, and leaking a foul-mouthed exchange to the media. During a conference call with all 50 aldermen on May 31 to discuss the city’s response to widespread looting, Lightfoot and Ald. Raymond Lopez (15th) traded profanities when he accused the city of being ill-prepared for the violence, and expressed concerns looters could start targeting homes… Lightfoot did not answer Lopez’s questions in the call, prompting an angry exchange. “It’s not something you ignore. This is a question that I have,” Lopez said. That’s when the call turned profane.
You can listen to the recording of the call at the link if you wish. While it should go without saying, I’ll include the standard warning about potentially offensive language. It drags on for a bit more than four minutes after the infighting begins.
Mayor Lightfoot is blaming Alderman Lopez of the 15th Ward for the leak, which I suppose is possible, but it doesn’t make a lot of sense since he was flinging the obscenities faster and at a higher temperature than the Mayor. But to be fair to him, Lightfoot actually broke the protocol for civil discourse first.
Lopez was making what sounded like a series of very valid observations about what’s been going on in the city and asking for a new plan and additional resources to handle the violence. He mentions the areas that have already been looted and burned by criminals, noting that he has “gang-bangers with AK-47s walking around right now looking for some payback.” He then mentions his concerns that once all of the businesses have been looted, the rioters will move into the neighborhoods and begin breaking into residences.
Lightfoot thanks him for his comments and attempts to move on to the next speaker, but Lopez jumps back in and says the city can’t ignore these threats and he wasn’t just making a comment. He expected an answer. That’s when Mayor Lightfoot tells him that she thinks he’s “100% full of s**t.” At that point, Lopez responds by saying, “Well, f*** you, then. Who are you to tell me I’m full of s***t?” The call then devolves into a solid two minutes of shouting and cursing before some of the other Ward leaders finally convince them to calm down and get back on track.
The fact that portions of the call were leaked is kind of a shame. During a crisis like this, it seems imperative that the City Council and the Mayor be able to have candid conversations, address questions and develop solutions. Not every word uttered in that process needs to be dumped out into the public eye (or ear, in this case). As long as there is transparency about what’s being done, they would at least be doing their jobs. I can only imagine that some of the Aldermen will be less open about participating in such sessions if they know that the calls are being recorded.
They’re going to need to find a way to get past this quickly. Downtown Chicago is a mess. Lopez correctly described his own Ward as “a war zone.” Despite the best efforts of most of the MSM to describe the “mostly peaceful protests” taking place everywhere, things are going off the rails in the Windy City. And if you listen to that full excerpt from the call, the City Council is admitting that they don’t have enough police or National Guardsmen to hold the line. You can call it a “protest” all you like, but Chicago is quickly devolving into Mad Max territory.


hotair--2020-06-13--More Trump: Yes, he'll peacefully leave the White House if he loses

Talk about gaslighting .
That ’ s exactly what Joe Biden , members of his campaign , and the likes of Hillary Clinton are doing about the upcoming presidential election .
The narrative is that if President Trump loses re-election , he will refuse to accept the results of the election , refuse to leave the White House , and have to be forcibly removed from the White House .
It ’ s absurd , of course , but this is 2020 .
This conversation is so ridiculous , I can hardly stand it .
The Democrats are projecting their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
They simply deny the validity of the results .
After the 2016 election results were all tallied up , Hillary Clinton refused to concede the election until almost 24 hours later .
She is still in deep denial almost four years later .
She and failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams are big in the Democrat talking point of voter suppression .
So , when creepy old Joe said that the U.S. military would take Trump out of the White House after he loses in November , as crazy as it sounded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kind of statement from Biden that is almost expected now .
Harris Faulkner , FNC anchor , interviewed President Trump after his town hall in Dallas this week and she asked him about Biden ’ s assertion to late-night talk show host Noah Trevor that Trump would try and steal the election .
“ Look , Joe ’ s not all there .
Everybody knows .
And it ’ s sad when you look at it and you see it , you see it for yourself .
He ’ s created his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wherever he is and he doesn ’ t come out , ” Trump told Harris Faulkner on “ Outnumbered Overtime.
” The commander in chief went on to say , “ And certainly if I don ’ t win , I don ’ t win.
” Trump reacted to former Vice President Biden telling Comedy Central ’ s “ The Daily Show ” Wednesday night that “ my single greatest concern [ is that ] this president is going to try to steal this election .
This is a guy who said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he sits behind the desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in a primary.
” If Trump refuses to concede , Biden told host Trevor Noah , “ I am absolutely convinced they [ the military ] will escort him from the White House with great dispatch.
” And Trump finished by saying that losing the election would be a “ very sad thing for our country ” , specifically referencing the defund the police movement and Democrats ’ failure to stop the violent protests .
He reminded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the cities dealing with unrest are led by Democrats .
President Trump said , “ you go on , do other things.
” That ’ s what traditionally is expected of political candidates .
If you lose an election , you move on with your life .
Lower level political office-seekers can always run again for another office .
Trump , though , whether he loses in 2020 or ends his second term in 2024 and is out of office , will light up his Twitter feed , as he is known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still be a very wealthy man .
The fall-out on the left , if Trump wins re-election , will be even more epic than the fall-out from the 2016 election .
I can see the marches and protests now .
Why ?
Because we ’ ve seen them for almost four years .
The anti-Trumpers have nowhere else to go .
All they have left is more ridiculous conspiracy theories and their cohorts in the media pushing their narratives .
I ’ ll end with this tweet from a “ Republican ” group @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a good example of the lameness of the opposition .

Talk about gaslighting. That’s exactly what Joe Biden, members of his campaign, and the likes of Hillary Clinton are doing about the upcoming presidential election. The narrative is that if President Trump loses re-election, he will refuse to accept the results of the election, refuse to leave the White House, and have to be forcibly removed from the White House. It’s absurd, of course, but this is 2020.
This conversation is so ridiculous, I can hardly stand it. The Democrats are projecting their own modus operandi when they lose an election. They simply deny the validity of the results. After the 2016 election results were all tallied up, Hillary Clinton refused to concede the election until almost 24 hours later. She is still in deep denial almost four years later. She and failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams are big in the Democrat talking point of voter suppression.
What happened in Georgia yesterday was by design. Voter suppression is a threat to our democracy. pic.twitter.com/XDyeabKFoc — Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) June 10, 2020
So, when creepy old Joe said that the U.S. military would take Trump out of the White House after he loses in November, as crazy as it sounded at the time, it’s the kind of statement from Biden that is almost expected now. Harris Faulkner, FNC anchor, interviewed President Trump after his town hall in Dallas this week and she asked him about Biden’s assertion to late-night talk show host Noah Trevor that Trump would try and steal the election.
“Look, Joe’s not all there. Everybody knows. And it’s sad when you look at it and you see it, you see it for yourself. He’s created his own sanctuary city in the basement or wherever he is and he doesn’t come out,” Trump told Harris Faulkner on “Outnumbered Overtime.” The commander in chief went on to say, “And certainly if I don’t win, I don’t win.” Trump reacted to former Vice President Biden telling Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” Wednesday night that “my single greatest concern [is that] this president is going to try to steal this election. This is a guy who said that all mail-in ballots are fraudulent … while he sits behind the desk in the Oval Office and writes his mail-in ballot to vote in a primary.” If Trump refuses to concede, Biden told host Trevor Noah, “I am absolutely convinced they [the military] will escort him from the White House with great dispatch.”
And Trump finished by saying that losing the election would be a “very sad thing for our country”, specifically referencing the defund the police movement and Democrats’ failure to stop the violent protests. He reminded Faulkner (and the viewing audience) that the cities dealing with unrest are led by Democrats.
President Trump said, “you go on, do other things.” That’s what traditionally is expected of political candidates. If you lose an election, you move on with your life. Lower level political office-seekers can always run again for another office. Trump, though, whether he loses in 2020 or ends his second term in 2024 and is out of office, will light up his Twitter feed, as he is known to do. And, he will still be a very wealthy man.
The fall-out on the left, if Trump wins re-election, will be even more epic than the fall-out from the 2016 election. I can see the marches and protests now. Why? Because we’ve seen them for almost four years. The anti-Trumpers have nowhere else to go. All they have left is more ridiculous conspiracy theories and their cohorts in the media pushing their narratives.
I’ll end with this tweet from a “Republican” group who are supporting Joe Biden in November. It’s a good example of the lameness of the opposition.


hotair--2020-06-13--NYC Molotov throwers facing life in prison

We recently learned the identities of three of the people who were throwing Molotov cocktails at NYPD police cars and officers during the recent riots .
The trio was also responsible for manufacturing the firebombs and attempting to distribute them to others .
Samantha Shader already had a rap sheet as long as your arm , but Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman were both attorneys who had been practicing in the Big Apple until recently .
Their case has been moving forward since their arrests and we ’ re now learning what they ’ ll be up against when they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have gotten involved , all three of them are looking at the possibility of life in prison .
( NY Post ) An upstate woman and two Brooklyn lawyers were indicted Friday on federal explosives and arson charges for allegedly tossing Molotov cocktails at NYPD vehicles during George Floyd protests in New York City .
Samantha Shader , 27 , of Catskill , is accused of hurling the makeshift explosive at an NYPD vehicle occupied by four police officers on early Saturday morning , May 30… All three face life in prison on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the use of explosives , arson , use of explosives to commit a felony , arson conspiracy , use of a destructive device , civil disorder , and making or possessing a destructive device .
“ Such criminal acts should never be confused with legitimate protest , ” said United States Attorney Richard Donoghue in a statement .
“ Those who carry out attacks on NYPD Officers or vehicles are not protesters , they are criminals , and they will be treated as such.
” Given that we ’ re talking about New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a miracle that the three of them weren ’ t immediately released without bail so they could return to their bomb factory .
But I suppose there are some lines that even Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio aren ’ t willing to cross .
Hopefully this arraignment will get some widespread coverage in the mainstream press , though I ’ m not holding my breath .
It sort of runs contrary to the “ peaceful protester ” narrative that the MSM has been pushing so hard .
But we need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across to the rest of the vandals filling the streets .
Urooj Rahman gave an interview on the same day that she blew up the police van , saying “ the only way they hear us is through violence.
” Well , perhaps the rest of your riotous little friends will hear the rest of us when you ’ re staring at spending the rest of your life behind bars .
Or we can at least hope so .
Something has to be done to get this message across to the rioters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Firebombing is quickly becoming the go-to choice for those engaging in all of this mayhem .
Three people in Georgia recently tracked down two police officers to their homes and tossed Molotovs at the vehicles parked there .
Another guy in Pittsburgh was found to have left an entire backpack full of these firebombs in a plaza in the center of the city .
Another protester and his girlfriend were recently arraigned in San Diego for packing Molotovs when they participated in a demonstration .
Just yesterday , somebody threw three Molotovs at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that one was out in the suburbs , not in the business district of the city .
I don ’ t know what ’ s gotten into some of these maniacs lately , but this is serious business .
Smashing storefronts or car windows with bricks is bad enough , but when you start throwing firebombs , you ’ ve definitely long since crossed over the line into full-blown domestic terrorism .
These rioters need to receive the message that law enforcement isn ’ t playing around here and federal charges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one night in the lockup for breaking a few windows is probably no big deal to most of these hoodlums , but the very real prospect of spending their lifetimes in prison might get their attention .

We recently learned the identities of three of the people who were throwing Molotov cocktails at NYPD police cars and officers during the recent riots. The trio was also responsible for manufacturing the firebombs and attempting to distribute them to others. Samantha Shader already had a rap sheet as long as your arm, but Colinford Mattis and Urooj Rahman were both attorneys who had been practicing in the Big Apple until recently. Their case has been moving forward since their arrests and we’re now learning what they’ll be up against when they go to trial. Because the feds have gotten involved, all three of them are looking at the possibility of life in prison. (NY Post)
An upstate woman and two Brooklyn lawyers were indicted Friday on federal explosives and arson charges for allegedly tossing Molotov cocktails at NYPD vehicles during George Floyd protests in New York City. Samantha Shader, 27, of Catskill, is accused of hurling the makeshift explosive at an NYPD vehicle occupied by four police officers on early Saturday morning, May 30… All three face life in prison on the seven-count indictments, charging them with the use of explosives, arson, use of explosives to commit a felony, arson conspiracy, use of a destructive device, civil disorder, and making or possessing a destructive device. “Such criminal acts should never be confused with legitimate protest,” said United States Attorney Richard Donoghue in a statement. “Those who carry out attacks on NYPD Officers or vehicles are not protesters, they are criminals, and they will be treated as such.”
Given that we’re talking about New York City, it’s something of a miracle that the three of them weren’t immediately released without bail so they could return to their bomb factory. But I suppose there are some lines that even Andrew Cuomo and Bill de Blasio aren’t willing to cross.
Hopefully this arraignment will get some widespread coverage in the mainstream press, though I’m not holding my breath. It sort of runs contrary to the “peaceful protester” narrative that the MSM has been pushing so hard. But we need to do something to start getting the message across to the rest of the vandals filling the streets. Urooj Rahman gave an interview on the same day that she blew up the police van, saying “the only way they hear us is through violence.”
Well, perhaps the rest of your riotous little friends will hear the rest of us when you’re staring at spending the rest of your life behind bars. Or we can at least hope so.
Something has to be done to get this message across to the rioters and their cheerleaders at CNN and MSNBC. Firebombing is quickly becoming the go-to choice for those engaging in all of this mayhem. Three people in Georgia recently tracked down two police officers to their homes and tossed Molotovs at the vehicles parked there. Another guy in Pittsburgh was found to have left an entire backpack full of these firebombs in a plaza in the center of the city.
Another protester and his girlfriend were recently arraigned in San Diego for packing Molotovs when they participated in a demonstration. Just yesterday, somebody threw three Molotovs at an occupied home in Springfield, Massachusetts. And that one was out in the suburbs, not in the business district of the city.
I don’t know what’s gotten into some of these maniacs lately, but this is serious business. Smashing storefronts or car windows with bricks is bad enough, but when you start throwing firebombs, you’ve definitely long since crossed over the line into full-blown domestic terrorism. These rioters need to receive the message that law enforcement isn’t playing around here and federal charges will be filed as applicable. Spending one night in the lockup for breaking a few windows is probably no big deal to most of these hoodlums, but the very real prospect of spending their lifetimes in prison might get their attention.


hotair--2020-06-13--Atlanta police shot and killed a man Friday night after attempting to arrest him <span class='red'>(

Atlanta police shot and killed a man Friday night after attempting to arrest him (Update: Police Chief resigns)

Last night 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police in Atlanta after resisting arrest and wrestling with two officers .
It happened in the parking lot of a Wendy ’ s fast food restaurant .
Officers were initially called because Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in or near the drive-thru line .
Officers received a complaint about a man sleeping in a car in the drive-thru and cars having to drive around him… Officers performed a field sobriety test on the man .
The [ Georgis Bureau of Investigations ] says he failed the test and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He resisted and a struggle happened over a Taser , according to witness reports .
“ During the arrest , the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued .
The officer deployed a Taser .
Witnesses report that during the struggle the male subject grabbed and was in possession of the Taser , ” the GBI said .
“ It has also been reported that the male subject was shot by an officer in the struggle over the Taser.
” Because this happened in a public spot where other people were waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ incident was captured on cell phone video .
You won ’ t see the actual shooting in any of these clips but you will hear it ( along with some NSFW commentary ) .
This is going to be dissected like the Zapruder film but here ’ s my first impression .
You can see one officer attempting to subdue Brooks using a taser .
Brooks takes the taser with his left hand , throws off one officer and manages to get up and run .
Another officer fires his taser and as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You can see the taser leads and hear it discharging as they pass the camera .
Then the second officer runs past the camera and someone fires three shots .
When the camera turns back we see that Brooks is down and not moving .
Given that Brooks was caught drunk driving , the arrest seems appropriate .
We don ’ t see what set off the altercation but the officers clearly made multiple attempts to use tasers rather than bullets .
Brooks is fighting and throwing punches so there ’ s no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was real rather than imagined .
What ’ s not clear is what justified the use of deadly force .
Brooks did take the officer ’ s taser but from what we see he was running away , not attempting to use the taser on them or anyone else .
We can ’ t actually see ( in the video above ) what happened in the final seconds before the shots were fired .
Was Brooks shot in the back or had he turned around ?
What we do know is the immediate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It happened again , bruh.
” Here ’ s video from another witness ( you can actually hear him briefly in the clip above ) who claims cops were interacting calmly with Brooks for 20 minutes before the altercation started .
[ Lots of NSFW language . ]
Here ’ s another clip of the immediate aftermath : George Floyd ’ s funeral was four days ago and the officers involved have been arrested and charged .
It seemed the violent protests , at least the worst of it , was behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case , also caught on video , and this morning there is a protest at the scene with people blocking traffic in front of the Wendys .
The leader of the protest is saying , “ This is the new ground zero.
” There is already some disagreement between officials about what is seen in the video .
Atlanta City Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd says the shooting was not justified .
A spokesman for the Atlanta PD says he ’ s not sure .
Finally , as I write this , demonstrators have gathered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peaceful at the moment and I hope it stays that way , but as we ’ ve seen many times now , there is often a change in the tone of the protests at night .
Update : Atlanta police chief Erica Shields has resigned .
In addition the mayor has asked that the two officers involved be fired .
The mayor reviewed body camera footage which showed Brooks did turn and try to fire the taser before he was shot .
You can watch it for yourself in the clip below , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and aimed .
In fact it ’ s possible he actually hit the officer with the taser as the office chasing seems to stumble into a parked car .
But Mayor Bottoms said , “ there is a clear distinction between what you can do and what you should do.
” In other words , even if the officers were justified in using deadly force by the book , she believes this was not a justified shooting under the circumstances .

Last night 27-year-old Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police in Atlanta after resisting arrest and wrestling with two officers. It happened in the parking lot of a Wendy’s fast food restaurant. Officers were initially called because Brooks had fallen asleep in his car in or near the drive-thru line.
Officers received a complaint about a man sleeping in a car in the drive-thru and cars having to drive around him… Officers performed a field sobriety test on the man. The [Georgis Bureau of Investigations] says he failed the test and officers started to place him into custody. He resisted and a struggle happened over a Taser, according to witness reports. “During the arrest, the male subject resisted and a struggle ensued. The officer deployed a Taser. Witnesses report that during the struggle the male subject grabbed and was in possession of the Taser,” the GBI said. “It has also been reported that the male subject was shot by an officer in the struggle over the Taser.”
Because this happened in a public spot where other people were waiting to get food, most of the incident was captured on cell phone video. You won’t see the actual shooting in any of these clips but you will hear it (along with some NSFW commentary).
Officer involved shooting last night in Atlanta, GA (District 5) I grew up in this neighborhood. It’s time to have the conversation! RESISTING arrest, excessive force, & justified shootings😞 this young man is deceased. #RayshardBrooks #Atlanta #Police #District5 pic.twitter.com/MSogObtUZF — Angela Stanton King 🇺🇸 (@theangiestanton) June 13, 2020
This is going to be dissected like the Zapruder film but here’s my first impression. You can see one officer attempting to subdue Brooks using a taser. Brooks takes the taser with his left hand, throws off one officer and manages to get up and run. Another officer fires his taser and as Brooks runs the officer follows him. You can see the taser leads and hear it discharging as they pass the camera. Then the second officer runs past the camera and someone fires three shots. When the camera turns back we see that Brooks is down and not moving.
Given that Brooks was caught drunk driving, the arrest seems appropriate. We don’t see what set off the altercation but the officers clearly made multiple attempts to use tasers rather than bullets. Brooks is fighting and throwing punches so there’s no doubt the resisting arrest in this case was real rather than imagined. What’s not clear is what justified the use of deadly force. Brooks did take the officer’s taser but from what we see he was running away, not attempting to use the taser on them or anyone else. We can’t actually see (in the video above) what happened in the final seconds before the shots were fired. Was Brooks shot in the back or had he turned around?
What we do know is the immediate reaction from people at the scene: “It happened again, bruh.”
https://twitter.com/Breaking911/status/1271699888577929219
Here’s video from another witness (you can actually hear him briefly in the clip above) who claims cops were interacting calmly with Brooks for 20 minutes before the altercation started. [Lots of NSFW language.]
🚨Atlanta police shot and killed a Black man tonight … Here is the direct aftermath. … Meanwhile Keisha Lance Bottoms is doing CNN interviews and panels pic.twitter.com/SNEUY5UujM — The Ghetto Rhetorician (@Issa_Brae) June 13, 2020
Here’s another clip of the immediate aftermath:
What’s the names of the two race soldiers with Atlanta PD who racially executed #RayshardBrooks during the #AntiBlackWar ? pic.twitter.com/oB0Fq1IFTS — Tariq Nasheed 🇺🇸 (@tariqnasheed) June 13, 2020
George Floyd’s funeral was four days ago and the officers involved have been arrested and charged. It seemed the violent protests, at least the worst of it, was behind us. Now we have this new case, also caught on video, and this morning there is a protest at the scene with people blocking traffic in front of the Wendys. The leader of the protest is saying, “This is the new ground zero.”
John Wade, a leader of the demonstration here at the Wendy’s on University Avenue, where Rayshard Brooks was killed overnight in an officer-involved shooting: “This is the new ground zero. Another man was taken right at this spot.”https://t.co/Kv1vwlbkwU pic.twitter.com/l9eT2b7ylT — Scott Trubey (@FitzTrubey) June 13, 2020
Demonstrators continue to block University Avenue. “Respect what we’re trying to do. Turn your car around.” pic.twitter.com/iWETbRQo6M — Scott Trubey (@FitzTrubey) June 13, 2020
An APD Officer got a motorist to turnaround. Demonstrators had blocked the road and surrounded the car. pic.twitter.com/6NhohCHzaN — Scott Trubey (@FitzTrubey) June 13, 2020
There is already some disagreement between officials about what is seen in the video. Atlanta City Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd says the shooting was not justified. A spokesman for the Atlanta PD says he’s not sure.
Could not get this video to send earlier. Here is APD Major CT Peek saying he could not say if the shooting was unjustified from the video because it didn’t show the shooting. Then Councilwoman Joyce Sheperd says, from what she saw, the shooting “was not justified. Period.” pic.twitter.com/t4KnDl23Kj — Scott Trubey (@FitzTrubey) June 13, 2020
Finally, as I write this, demonstrators have gathered outside police headquarters. It’s peaceful at the moment and I hope it stays that way, but as we’ve seen many times now, there is often a change in the tone of the protests at night.
Several dozen demonstrators outside Atlanta police headquarters about to march through downtown. The man speaking, John Wade, said he learned Rayshard Brooks was a cousin by marriage pic.twitter.com/J2dJPjlCxS — Scott Trubey (@FitzTrubey) June 13, 2020
Update: Atlanta police chief Erica Shields has resigned. In addition the mayor has asked that the two officers involved be fired. The mayor reviewed body camera footage which showed Brooks did turn and try to fire the taser before he was shot. You can watch it for yourself in the clip below, starting at 5:00. He definitely turned and aimed. In fact it’s possible he actually hit the officer with the taser as the office chasing seems to stumble into a parked car.
But Mayor Bottoms said, “there is a clear distinction between what you can do and what you should do.” In other words, even if the officers were justified in using deadly force by the book, she believes this was not a justified shooting under the circumstances.
Update: Protester organizers have reportedly sent white people onto interstate 85 to block it off.
The Wendy’s where Brooks was shot has been vandalized.
Protesters are breaking the windows of the Wendy’s that Rayshard Brooks was shot at. @ajc pic.twitter.com/CNJS5TE9Pa — Sarah Kallis (@SarahKallis) June 14, 2020
Crowd is growing outside Wendy’s as protesters continue to smash windows. @ajc pic.twitter.com/dAwMx7cR2V — Sarah Kallis (@SarahKallis) June 14, 2020
Protesters have thrown a firework inside Wendy’s @ajc pic.twitter.com/XVIY3xn2dN — Sarah Kallis (@SarahKallis) June 14, 2020
It appears that a fire has been lit inside Wendy’s. @ajc pic.twitter.com/8T5MKXGlBG — Sarah Kallis (@SarahKallis) June 14, 2020
Update: The Wendy’s is torched.
This is when people started breaking the glass at Wendy’s. You can hear “block the camera” being shouted at my colleagues, while another person tried to block my cell phone video. The people blocking our photojournalists ending up taking a skateboard to that camera. pic.twitter.com/A5Oipl6Gfz — Natasha Chen (@NatashaChenCNN) June 14, 2020
Here’s the video as someone broke CNN’s camera.
Video: CNN attacked by its own side as rioters set fire to the Wendy's in Atlanta. Fellow lefties attacked them, harassed them, and broke their camera. I don't like CNN very much (you all know that), but let them be and do their biased thing. I repeat: LEAVE CNN ALONE. pic.twitter.com/SgGmF95kTV — Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) June 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/SaturnyneT/status/1272033916623388673
The justification I’m seeing online for this is that an employee called police.
The Wendy's restaurant where #RayshardBrooks was street executed by U.S. security forces has been burnt down. It is alleged that it was Wendy's employees that called the police on Brooks, which led to his execution. #AtlantaShooting #AtlantaProtest pic.twitter.com/BIu2zK5oJ2 — Anonymous (@YourAnonCentral) June 14, 2020
https://twitter.com/EoinHiggins_/status/1272006162091778048
The officer involved in the shooting has been fired:


hotair--2020-06-13--Josh Hawley: I'll offer an amendment to block Warren's effort to rename bases named after Confederat

Josh Hawley: I'll offer an amendment to block Warren's effort to rename bases named after Confederate soldiers

Does Mitch McConnell want an up-or-down vote for his caucus on whether U.S. military bases should continue to honor the CSA in their nomenclature ?
Especially right now , five months out from a national election at a moment when white Americans have rarely been more sympathetic to their black countrymen ?
That ’ s what Hawley ’ s going to try to force on him , it appears , because Hawley ’ s running for president in 2024 and already thinking about stiff competition for the populist vote from the likes of Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz .
Can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of traditions honoring the Confederacy if you ’ re looking to get a leg up in that situation .
On Thursday , he tweeted about the vote , adding , “ Congress should not be mandating renaming of our bases and military installations.
” Hawley later elaborated to reporters in the Capitol , “ I just don ’ t think that Congress mandating that these be renamed and attempting to erase that part of our history is a way that you deal with that history.
” In a floor speech Thursday , Hawley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to undo Warren ’ s “ not to celebrate the cause of the Confederacy but to embrace the cause of union , our union , shared together as Americans .
It is time for our leaders to stop using their position here to divide us.
” There ’ s no easy way out for Cocaine Mitch now that the Armed Services Committee has voted to add Warren ’ s amendment to the final defense bill .
If the Senate passes the final bill with Warren ’ s amendment in it , Trump might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proposal — which would mean no funding for the Pentagon and a black eye for the party as the president goes to the mat to protect Confederate names for bases .
On the other hand , if the Senate votes on Hawley ’ s bill to try to strip out Warren ’ s amendment , it would force every Senate Republican to take a public stand on this issue .
They don ’ t need to do that right now ; they could just pass the final defense bill with Warren ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had no choice but to vote yes , that funding the Pentagon is too important .
Choose your poison , Mitch .
Either hand this off to Trump and let Senate Republicans try to run away from the issue , which is probably futile given how much media attention a Trump veto would receive .
Or tackle the issue head on via Hawley ’ s bill and let the political chips fall where they may on the roll-call vote .
If he ’ s inclined towards the second option , it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is very likely to fail : Not only would all 47 Democrats vote against it , there are various Republicans in the chamber who have gone on record in the past few days to say that they ’ re open to renaming the bases .
The latest ?
Texas ’ s John Cornyn , surprisingly .
Roy Blunt , the other senator from Hawley ’ s home state of Missouri , is fine with it too : Mike Rounds of South Dakota sounds like he ’ s on Warren ’ s side as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guess that the usual centrist trio of Collins , Murkowski , and Romney will also support her amendment , and very likely Cory Gardner since he needs to do something to pander to swing voters in his blue state with the election approaching .
There may even be others , as fencesitters like Ben Sasse and Tim Scott are getting cover to support a name change from respected retired officers like David Petraeus and John Kelly : “ In 2020 I think it ’ s time the potus , Congress and our Army @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and do it , ” [ Kelly ] said in an email .
“ I would hope the new bases would not be renamed after politicians , but after Medal of Honor recipients or exceptional soldiers who have fallen in defense of our country — of which America ’ s Army has any number to choose from .
I am confident that with leaders like Secretaries Esper , McCarthy and General Milley they can convince the powers that be that it is the right thing to do.
” He added : “ Interestingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named after were mediocre to poor generals.
” Even if the Republicans I ’ ve named above are the only ones to cross the aisle , that ’ s more than enough to defeat Hawley ’ s bill alongside a unanimous Democratic caucus .
So Hawley ’ s attempt at vice-signaling isn ’ t even an earnest attempt to stop Warren .
His bill will fail and he knows it .
It ’ s simply a branding exercise for him ahead of 2024 , with potentially uncomfortable complications for his party .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amendment is embedded below .
It was obnoxious in ways large and small , starting with quoting Lincoln of all people as part of an argument for honoring the Confederacy at U.S. military bases .
He tried to make the case that Warren and Democrats are being divisive by forcing the issue and starting a sort of cultural civil war over it .
But he ’ s the one who wants to do battle ; Cornyn , Blunt , Rounds , and others seemingly see this differently , as a small overdue national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and black veterans especially — after our country shamefully lent its military prestige to people who waged war in defense of enslaving their ancestors .
From the Times : “ It is really kind of a slap in the face to those African-American soldiers who are on bases named after generals who fought for their cause , ” said Jerry Green , a retired noncommissioned officer who trained at Ft. Bragg , N.C. , which is named for a Confederate general , Braxton Bragg .
“ That cause was slavery.
” … For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confederate names on military barracks delivers a special sting , given that they lionize men who led a treasonous war .
“ I have been in every one of those barracks , ” said Stephane Manuel , another West Point graduate who served in the Army from 2011 to 2017 .
“ I studied in them and had friends there .
I didn ’ t like it .
The military hasn ’ t wanted to reconcile that the Confederate forces were traitors .
I always felt from the mere moral standpoint of what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ West Point stands for today.
” Changing the name of a fort to honor , say , Dorie Miller instead of some traitor is literally the least we can do to honor America ’ s black soldiers .
In fact , Hawley ’ s claim that this issue is “ divisive ” is revealing in how he assigns the onus for that divisiveness .
Naming U.S. bases after Confederates in the first place was necessarily “ divisive ” to black Americans , a small insult among many greater ones to remind them that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet the country tolerated that for generations because it was deemed more important to show white southerners that they were fully part of the United States and its institutions after the Civil War .
All Warren ’ s doing with her amendment is trying to make amends for that original “ divisiveness.
” If that happens to end up creating a new cultural division because some people just can ’ t let go of honoring Confederate “ heritage , ” well , no one ’ s forcing Hawley to be on the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his choice .

Does Mitch McConnell want an up-or-down vote for his caucus on whether U.S. military bases should continue to honor the CSA in their nomenclature? Especially right now, five months out from a national election at a moment when white Americans have rarely been more sympathetic to their black countrymen? That’s what Hawley’s going to try to force on him, it appears, because Hawley’s running for president in 2024 and already thinking about stiff competition for the populist vote from the likes of Tom Cotton and Ted Cruz. Can’t go wrong vice-signaling in defense of traditions honoring the Confederacy if you’re looking to get a leg up in that situation.
On Thursday, he tweeted about the vote, adding, “Congress should not be mandating renaming of our bases and military installations.” Hawley later elaborated to reporters in the Capitol, “I just don’t think that Congress mandating that these be renamed and attempting to erase that part of our history is a way that you deal with that history.” In a floor speech Thursday, Hawley said he would offer his own amendment to undo Warren’s “not to celebrate the cause of the Confederacy but to embrace the cause of union, our union, shared together as Americans. It is time for our leaders to stop using their position here to divide us.”
There’s no easy way out for Cocaine Mitch now that the Armed Services Committee has voted to add Warren’s amendment to the final defense bill. If the Senate passes the final bill with Warren’s amendment in it, Trump might veto it because of Warren’s proposal — which would mean no funding for the Pentagon and a black eye for the party as the president goes to the mat to protect Confederate names for bases. On the other hand, if the Senate votes on Hawley’s bill to try to strip out Warren’s amendment, it would force every Senate Republican to take a public stand on this issue. They don’t need to do that right now; they could just pass the final defense bill with Warren’s amendment in it and say that they had no choice but to vote yes, that funding the Pentagon is too important.
Choose your poison, Mitch. Either hand this off to Trump and let Senate Republicans try to run away from the issue, which is probably futile given how much media attention a Trump veto would receive. Or tackle the issue head on via Hawley’s bill and let the political chips fall where they may on the roll-call vote. If he’s inclined towards the second option, it’s worth noting that Hawley’s amendment is very likely to fail: Not only would all 47 Democrats vote against it, there are various Republicans in the chamber who have gone on record in the past few days to say that they’re open to renaming the bases. The latest? Texas’s John Cornyn, surprisingly.
“I was asked that question yesterday,” Cornyn said, a nod to comments he made Thursday to reporters in which he pushed back against the notion of changing base names. “And since that time I’ve learned actually that the Senate Armed Services Committee has voted in a bipartisan vote to issue a study, a commission to come back with recommendations to Congress. I think that’s the appropriate way to handle it.
Roy Blunt, the other senator from Hawley’s home state of Missouri, is fine with it too:
Blunt also adds, unsolicited: “Braxton Bragg was probably the worst commanding general in the Confederate army. Interesting general to name a fort after.” — Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) June 11, 2020
Mike Rounds of South Dakota sounds like he’s on Warren’s side as well. I’m going to guess that the usual centrist trio of Collins, Murkowski, and Romney will also support her amendment, and very likely Cory Gardner since he needs to do something to pander to swing voters in his blue state with the election approaching. There may even be others, as fencesitters like Ben Sasse and Tim Scott are getting cover to support a name change from respected retired officers like David Petraeus and John Kelly:
“In 2020 I think it’s time the potus, Congress and our Army take a hard look at renaming, and do it,” [Kelly] said in an email. “I would hope the new bases would not be renamed after politicians, but after Medal of Honor recipients or exceptional soldiers who have fallen in defense of our country — of which America’s Army has any number to choose from. I am confident that with leaders like Secretaries Esper, McCarthy and General Milley they can convince the powers that be that it is the right thing to do.” He added: “Interestingly most of the generals the bases are named after were mediocre to poor generals.”
Even if the Republicans I’ve named above are the only ones to cross the aisle, that’s more than enough to defeat Hawley’s bill alongside a unanimous Democratic caucus. So Hawley’s attempt at vice-signaling isn’t even an earnest attempt to stop Warren. His bill will fail and he knows it. It’s simply a branding exercise for him ahead of 2024, with potentially uncomfortable complications for his party.
His floor speech yesterday in support of his amendment is embedded below. It was obnoxious in ways large and small, starting with quoting Lincoln of all people as part of an argument for honoring the Confederacy at U.S. military bases. He tried to make the case that Warren and Democrats are being divisive by forcing the issue and starting a sort of cultural civil war over it. But he’s the one who wants to do battle; Cornyn, Blunt, Rounds, and others seemingly see this differently, as a small overdue national gesture of conciliation to black Americans — and black veterans especially — after our country shamefully lent its military prestige to people who waged war in defense of enslaving their ancestors. From the Times:
“It is really kind of a slap in the face to those African-American soldiers who are on bases named after generals who fought for their cause,” said Jerry Green, a retired noncommissioned officer who trained at Ft. Bragg, N.C., which is named for a Confederate general, Braxton Bragg. “That cause was slavery.”… For black members of the military, seeing confederate names on military barracks delivers a special sting, given that they lionize men who led a treasonous war. “I have been in every one of those barracks,” said Stephane Manuel, another West Point graduate who served in the Army from 2011 to 2017. “I studied in them and had friends there. I didn’t like it. The military hasn’t wanted to reconcile that the Confederate forces were traitors. I always felt from the mere moral standpoint of what they were fighting for went against what West Point stands for today.”
Changing the name of a fort to honor, say, Dorie Miller instead of some traitor is literally the least we can do to honor America’s black soldiers. In fact, Hawley’s claim that this issue is “divisive” is revealing in how he assigns the onus for that divisiveness. Naming U.S. bases after Confederates in the first place was necessarily “divisive” to black Americans, a small insult among many greater ones to remind them that their feelings didn’t matter, yet the country tolerated that for generations because it was deemed more important to show white southerners that they were fully part of the United States and its institutions after the Civil War. All Warren’s doing with her amendment is trying to make amends for that original “divisiveness.” If that happens to end up creating a new cultural division because some people just can’t let go of honoring Confederate “heritage,” well, no one’s forcing Hawley to be on the other side of it. That’s his choice.


hotair--2020-06-13--Trump campaign changes date of Tulsa rally, no to Juneteenth

About that Trump Juneteenth campaign rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma … it ’ s not happening .
Instead of holding a campaign rally on June 19 , the date has been moved to June 20 .
The announcement of the first campaign rally since the national shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic got off to a shaky start .
Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day – the date that celebrates the end of slavery .
It began in Galveston , Texas in 1866 and spread across the country .
After the Civil War ended in April 1865 most slaves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom .
This began to change when Union troops arrived in Galveston .
Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger , commanding officer , District of Texas , from his headquarters in the Osterman building ( Strand and 22nd St. ) , read ‘ General Order No .
3 ’ on June 19 , 1865 .
The order stated “ The people of Texas are informed that , in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States , all slaves are free .
This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” With this notice , reconstruction era Texas began .
Freed African Americans observed “ Emancipation Day , ” as it was first known , as early as 1866 in Galveston .
As community gatherings grew across Texas , celebrations included parades , prayer , singing and readings of the proclamation .
In the mid-20th century , community celebrations gave way to more private commemorations .
A re-emergence of public observance helped Juneteenth become a state holiday in 1979 .
Initially observed in Texas , this landmark event ’ s legacy is evident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the triumph of the human spirit .
Under normal circumstances , the date would have been controversial .
In today ’ s political atmosphere and the Black Lives Matter protests , it is impossible .
Trump is working to gain support with African-American voters ( as is Joe Biden ) and this was an unforced error that the re-election campaign made .
If it was only going to be held on Juneteenth , the president could have said he was doing it to honor the holiday and reach out to black voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the location of the rally .
Hence , the blowback .
The Tulsa Race Massacre , also known as the Greenwood Massacre , happened in 1921 and is called the single worst incident of racial violence in America .
Mobs of white residents attacked black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District of Tulsa .
The district was called the Black Wall Street – a 35 block area , a thriving business district .
Black politicians jumped at the chance to call out Trump as a racist and his supporters as white supremacists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day ending in ‘ y ’ .
Trump tweeted out about the decision to change the rally date .
He said he made the decision himself after black supporters asked him to do so .
I can ’ t help but think that Trump ’ s interview with Harris Faulkner on Fox News Channel during his visit to Dallas played a role in the decision .
Faulkner , an African-American woman , asked about the choice of date and location and Trump said it would be a celebration .
It may be that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brought it to Trump ’ s attention just how bad the decision was and that he should correct it .
What I wonder , though , is why did the campaign choose Oklahoma in the first place ?
Trump will win Oklahoma in November , which isn ’ t in question .
Is it because the state has had a fairly easy time of mitigating the coronavirus ?
Like other red states that pushed for re-opening , Oklahoma is seeing an increase in cases , though relatively small .
Yesterday , June 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed by public health officials .
This represents the state ’ s largest single-day increase in new cases .
The total number of positive cases of the coronavirus in the state now stands at 7,848 .
That ’ s a nearly three percent increase in total reported cases .
However , the state population is almost 4M and more than 81 % of cases are classified as having recovered from the virus .
The Trump campaign says that over 200,000 tickets have been requested for the Tulsa rally .
This must distress Team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take a swing at Trump for holding a rally on Juneteenth but , as usual , his facts were wrong and the gaffe was apparent .
He said Trump was having a rally in Arizona in this quote .
I ’ ve also seen a quote that he said the Juneteenth rally would be in Texas .
Bless his heart .
“ What in God ’ s name is this guy doing ?
And now did you hear what he just did ?
He ’ s having a rally on Juneteenth in…Arizona , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday afternoon hosted by the American Federation of State , County and Municipal Employees .
“ And guess what , all the people coming to his rally have to sign a — they have to sign a piece of paper saying , if they get COVID in this , they will not sue the campaign .
I mean c ’ mon man , what the hell is going on ?
Not only doesn ’ t Biden get the location right , which is the whole point of the outrage , but he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ liability waiver ” .
C ’ mon , man .

About that Trump Juneteenth campaign rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma … it’s not happening. Instead of holding a campaign rally on June 19, the date has been moved to June 20.
The announcement of the first campaign rally since the national shutdown due to the coronavirus pandemic got off to a shaky start. Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day – the date that celebrates the end of slavery. It began in Galveston, Texas in 1866 and spread across the country.
After the Civil War ended in April 1865 most slaves in Texas were still unaware of their freedom. This began to change when Union troops arrived in Galveston. Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, commanding officer, District of Texas, from his headquarters in the Osterman building (Strand and 22nd St.), read ‘General Order No. 3’ on June 19, 1865. The order stated “The people of Texas are informed that, in accordance with a proclamation from the executive of the United States, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of personal rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves.” With this notice, reconstruction era Texas began. Freed African Americans observed “Emancipation Day,” as it was first known, as early as 1866 in Galveston. As community gatherings grew across Texas, celebrations included parades, prayer, singing and readings of the proclamation. In the mid-20th century, community celebrations gave way to more private commemorations. A re-emergence of public observance helped Juneteenth become a state holiday in 1979. Initially observed in Texas, this landmark event’s legacy is evident today by worldwide commemorations that celebrate freedom and the triumph of the human spirit.
Under normal circumstances, the date would have been controversial. In today’s political atmosphere and the Black Lives Matter protests, it is impossible. Trump is working to gain support with African-American voters (as is Joe Biden) and this was an unforced error that the re-election campaign made. If it was only going to be held on Juneteenth, the president could have said he was doing it to honor the holiday and reach out to black voters. Instead, Tulsa was chosen as the location of the rally. Hence, the blowback. The Tulsa Race Massacre, also known as the Greenwood Massacre, happened in 1921 and is called the single worst incident of racial violence in America. Mobs of white residents attacked black residents and businesses in the Greenwood District of Tulsa. The district was called the Black Wall Street – a 35 block area, a thriving business district.
Black politicians jumped at the chance to call out Trump as a racist and his supporters as white supremacists. In other words, just another day ending in ‘y’.
“This isn’t just a wink to white supremacists—he’s throwing them a welcome home party,” Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) tweeted earlier in the week. “Tulsa was the site of the worst racist violence in American history. The president’s speech there on Juneteenth is a message to every Black American: more of the same,” Rep. Val Demings (D-Fla.) tweeted.
Trump tweeted out about the decision to change the rally date. He said he made the decision himself after black supporters asked him to do so.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1271644265890942976
I can’t help but think that Trump’s interview with Harris Faulkner on Fox News Channel during his visit to Dallas played a role in the decision. Faulkner, an African-American woman, asked about the choice of date and location and Trump said it would be a celebration.
“Think about it as a celebration. My rally is a celebration,” he said, going on to brag about his crowd sizes. “In the history of politics, I think I can say there has never been any group or any person that’s had rallies like I do. I go and I just say give me the biggest stadium and we fill it up every time. We have never had a vacant stadium.”
It may be that an FNC anchor asking about the rally brought it to Trump’s attention just how bad the decision was and that he should correct it. What I wonder, though, is why did the campaign choose Oklahoma in the first place? Trump will win Oklahoma in November, which isn’t in question. Is it because the state has had a fairly easy time of mitigating the coronavirus? Like other red states that pushed for re-opening, Oklahoma is seeing an increase in cases, though relatively small.
Yesterday, June 12, 222 new cases of COVID-19 were confirmed by public health officials. This represents the state’s largest single-day increase in new cases. The total number of positive cases of the coronavirus in the state now stands at 7,848. That’s a nearly three percent increase in total reported cases. However, the state population is almost 4M and more than 81% of cases are classified as having recovered from the virus.
The Trump campaign says that over 200,000 tickets have been requested for the Tulsa rally. This must distress Team Biden. Poor old Joe tried to take a swing at Trump for holding a rally on Juneteenth but, as usual, his facts were wrong and the gaffe was apparent. He said Trump was having a rally in Arizona in this quote. I’ve also seen a quote that he said the Juneteenth rally would be in Texas. Bless his heart.
“What in God’s name is this guy doing? And now did you hear what he just did? He’s having a rally on Juneteenth in…Arizona,” Biden said at teletown hall on Friday afternoon hosted by the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “And guess what, all the people coming to his rally have to sign a — they have to sign a piece of paper saying, if they get COVID in this, they will not sue the campaign. I mean c’mon man, what the hell is going on?
Not only doesn’t Biden get the location right, which is the whole point of the outrage, but he can’t find the words to say “liability waiver”. C’mon, man.