"The assaults are masquerading as roundups of undesirable migrant elements but are actually transparent assaults on democracy and equality and the rule of law."
From The Contrarian Substack:
Late Saturday Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, telling him ICE would pull out if he met a list of unrelated demands, including the release of voting files. Any shred of doubt that this had nothing to do with immigration or safety vanished in this shameful act of what amounts to extortion.
Tell every Congressman and Senator running for reelection this fall that we will vote against them, regardless of party, if they don't defund and stop ICE. We'll vote for someone else of their party if that is our preference, but Not for them.
"This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore. A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and lies cannot distinguish between right and wrong. And such a people, deprived of the power to think and judge, is, without knowing and willing it, completely subjected to the rule of lies. With such a people, you can do whatever you want.”
Another purpose of lying about Renee Good's and Alex Pretti's murders, even though the liars know that their lies won't be believed, is to say that they can murder anyone they wish with impunity. Their lies give ICE agents the go-ahead.
I don't think that Arendt is right. I can still distinguish between truth and lies, and I am sure that I am not alone, nor that, as the government continues to lie, I'll lose my ability to distinguish between them. We just need to pay attention to who is speaking. If it is a Republican, then we know it's a lie; if it's the rare Democrat who has the courage to say anything, then it's probably the truth.
In addition, lying and breaking laws with impunity is a show of power, and there are still voters out there who are attracted to power. The stink of corrupt power draws the kind of people they need to enact their agenda. The use of blatant lies and hypocrisy is to sort, attract their own, and make it obvious that you have to obey the laws but they don't, and that instills fear - as well as resentment - but fear is a powerful suppressive and coercive force.
90% responded Yes, take it nationally, but only 69% said they would definitely join.
I'm sure there are valid reasons that people might not be able to join, but still, 90% versus 69% is a lot. I read a quote from an online commenter somewhere (Reddit, I think) that said if you want a village, you have to be a villager.
What are the Democrats in Congress doing? Seriously, guys. Putting out a press statement condemning violence and an essentially symbolic vote to not fund DHS is NOT ENOUGH.
Having served in the past as Chief of Staff for a Member of Congress, I would note that the standard response on the part of legislators to any situation is to make statements and seek legislative remedies through a well-established process. They hire staff who are skilled at activities such as writing bills, organizing hearings, drafting position papers, and responding to constituents. Until recently, this involved considerable amounts of working across the aisle with members of the other party.
That is how a peacetime Congress should work. While I understand the strong desire on the part of Democratic legislators to hold onto the rapidly diminishing remnants of regular order, I see no realistic possibility that a sufficient number of Republican legislators will vote to stop the tyrant in the White House.
While there are major limitations to what Democrats in Congress can do given that they are in the minority in both Houses, there are actions they can take in light of the refusal of virtually every Republican in Congress to take any sort of action against this brutality.
Democrats can resign from every bipartisan caucus. They can remove their names as cosponsors on every bill initiated by a Republican unless the legislation seeks to curb Trump's power. They can call for strict adherence to every procedural rule in Congress. They can use every opportunity during any committee hearing to speak out against this horrific action. They can mount round-the-clock speeches demanding action. When not in session, they can spend their time in the districts of vulnerable Republicans highlighting GOP refusal to act. They can travel en masse to Minneapolis to stand with people there.
Simply put, they should follow Teddy Roosevelt's admonition to ""Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
A national pouring of outrage is definitely needed at this point. Otherwise the atrocities will continue and magnify. Following the shootings at Kent State in 1970 it was the massive, national reaction which persuaded Nixon and that war-criminal Kissinger not to exercise the nuclear option in Vietnam.
We need to oppose this administration fully or we will end up like Germany in the 1930's. My late husband saw that happen growing up in Switzerland and recognized the similarities to that process here.
Trump is getting exactly what he wants out of these incidents, which is why he and his minions keep fanning the flames. While I admire the courage of Minnesotans, I question the efficacy of what they are doing. What if the MN demonstrators tried a different strategy: (1) first, get undocumented folks out of harm’s way … an Underground Railroad, so to speak, to frustrate the slave-catchers to the extent possible (because isn’t that the goal - if not, then what?) … a week or a month at someone’s lake house or aunt’s place in Duluth for your neighbor; (2) second, for citizens and folks with papers, turn the temperature down whenever possible … carry IDs, show them on request, and generally pretend that these goons are real cops and treat them that way … don’t shout epithets, just stand mute and record. Why? Because Trump’s endgame is to use chaos and disorder as a basis to cancel the midterm elections. Meantime, yeah, a general strike is a fine idea for the rest of us.
You've essentially answered your own questions. Legality, in any way shape or form, is irrelevant --- undocumented, legally here or citizen. The goal is submission.
Video recording now seems to be classed as Domestic Terrorism. And as someone else wrote yesterday, no shade of white will protect us. The barbarities will continue until the barbarians are scared of consequences.
I didn't answer the poll. I just don't know my own mind. Do I have the guts? Am I willing to risk the remaining few years of my career, and then my retirement?
I'm a long-time retiree. Don't know what I can do other than refuse to buy things, which seems unfair to merchants in little old blue Rhode Island. Once this snow stops, I can certainly join local marches or whatever, as I did on No Kings Day.
I agree with a national strike. Absolutely. But having re-watched the movie Selma last night, I was struck by how different this situation is, and therefore how different our opposition strategy must be. MLK could at least talk to the US president. Not anymore. The objective of ICE is two-fold. One, arrest "illegal" immigrants. Two, cause havoc in opposition cities. So, let's flip the script. The demonstrators should seek to get arrested for the most minor obstruction infractions. Multiply the number of arrests per day from a current average of 70 (since December) to say 300 or 400. Tie up ICE with arresting, transporting, and processing demonstrators. Flood the jail cells. Clog the courts. They would never be able to arrest everyone. Also, instead of staying in their cars to obstruct ICE, PARK the cars, lock the doors, walk away, and report the cars stolen. Imagine how long it will take ICE to remove dozens or hundreds of locked cars. Safer for the drivers this way.
This "Old Man" was a "Legal Marshal" during the New Mobe, back when Nixon wrecked the Republican Party. I remember the briefing and training sessions we had, training on how to try to defuse situations, and how to spot Agnew's dockyard goons who had be hired by GOP cells (aka local Republican County Committees) who were to vandalize DC and Philly storefronts. I really remember one session held in the old Georgetown law school at 6th and E, where we had training on what to do to get people down and out of line of fire, if National Guard opened ala Kent State.
It was a scarey session, because some of those in that classroom were my Georgetown and GW classmates who were also National Guard and were realizing they may have to fire upon their friends and classmates.
"The assaults are masquerading as roundups of undesirable migrant elements but are actually transparent assaults on democracy and equality and the rule of law."
From The Contrarian Substack:
Late Saturday Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, telling him ICE would pull out if he met a list of unrelated demands, including the release of voting files. Any shred of doubt that this had nothing to do with immigration or safety vanished in this shameful act of what amounts to extortion.
Tell every Congressman and Senator running for reelection this fall that we will vote against them, regardless of party, if they don't defund and stop ICE. We'll vote for someone else of their party if that is our preference, but Not for them.
That's not enough. They must publicly support Trump's impeachment and conviction.
"This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie, but at ensuring that no one believes anything anymore. A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and lies cannot distinguish between right and wrong. And such a people, deprived of the power to think and judge, is, without knowing and willing it, completely subjected to the rule of lies. With such a people, you can do whatever you want.”
– Hannah Arendt
Another purpose of lying about Renee Good's and Alex Pretti's murders, even though the liars know that their lies won't be believed, is to say that they can murder anyone they wish with impunity. Their lies give ICE agents the go-ahead.
It is normalizing. It is desensitizing. It is implicit acceptance, but with some noise. It is just the price of existing.
With sufficient training the mouse will endure the electric shock for the peanut.
I don't think that Arendt is right. I can still distinguish between truth and lies, and I am sure that I am not alone, nor that, as the government continues to lie, I'll lose my ability to distinguish between them. We just need to pay attention to who is speaking. If it is a Republican, then we know it's a lie; if it's the rare Democrat who has the courage to say anything, then it's probably the truth.
Not about you or people like you counselor.
In addition, lying and breaking laws with impunity is a show of power, and there are still voters out there who are attracted to power. The stink of corrupt power draws the kind of people they need to enact their agenda. The use of blatant lies and hypocrisy is to sort, attract their own, and make it obvious that you have to obey the laws but they don't, and that instills fear - as well as resentment - but fear is a powerful suppressive and coercive force.
I hope this gift link works. It's an Atlantic article that is the best taxonomy of MAGAts I've ever seen.
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/2026/01/trump-roles-supporters-categories/685706/?gift=FXvCrGNOn1rkqauvWCzckBZDFboZyTQkknMHl36MD1U&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Gullible, non-thinking, hateful White Nationalists are good descriptors of the trump coalition.
Excellent article, sharing and thank you for sharing!!
Yes, the link works. Thanks!
🤠🤠🤠
If it doesn't, here's a link via archive today: http://archive.today/iWc2M
Gene understands the assignment. 💜✌🏼
It’s all working, though, isn’t it? When did anyone last ask to see the Epstein files?
90% responded Yes, take it nationally, but only 69% said they would definitely join.
I'm sure there are valid reasons that people might not be able to join, but still, 90% versus 69% is a lot. I read a quote from an online commenter somewhere (Reddit, I think) that said if you want a village, you have to be a villager.
What are the Democrats in Congress doing? Seriously, guys. Putting out a press statement condemning violence and an essentially symbolic vote to not fund DHS is NOT ENOUGH.
Do you have a solution? What would be enough? They don't have the power to do anything.
Having served in the past as Chief of Staff for a Member of Congress, I would note that the standard response on the part of legislators to any situation is to make statements and seek legislative remedies through a well-established process. They hire staff who are skilled at activities such as writing bills, organizing hearings, drafting position papers, and responding to constituents. Until recently, this involved considerable amounts of working across the aisle with members of the other party.
That is how a peacetime Congress should work. While I understand the strong desire on the part of Democratic legislators to hold onto the rapidly diminishing remnants of regular order, I see no realistic possibility that a sufficient number of Republican legislators will vote to stop the tyrant in the White House.
While there are major limitations to what Democrats in Congress can do given that they are in the minority in both Houses, there are actions they can take in light of the refusal of virtually every Republican in Congress to take any sort of action against this brutality.
Democrats can resign from every bipartisan caucus. They can remove their names as cosponsors on every bill initiated by a Republican unless the legislation seeks to curb Trump's power. They can call for strict adherence to every procedural rule in Congress. They can use every opportunity during any committee hearing to speak out against this horrific action. They can mount round-the-clock speeches demanding action. When not in session, they can spend their time in the districts of vulnerable Republicans highlighting GOP refusal to act. They can travel en masse to Minneapolis to stand with people there.
Simply put, they should follow Teddy Roosevelt's admonition to ""Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."
A national pouring of outrage is definitely needed at this point. Otherwise the atrocities will continue and magnify. Following the shootings at Kent State in 1970 it was the massive, national reaction which persuaded Nixon and that war-criminal Kissinger not to exercise the nuclear option in Vietnam.
We need to oppose this administration fully or we will end up like Germany in the 1930's. My late husband saw that happen growing up in Switzerland and recognized the similarities to that process here.
Support the website ICEList with donations and information.
https://icelist.is/
But don't go there on a government-owned computer.
Never,even when I was a federal contractor.
Trump is getting exactly what he wants out of these incidents, which is why he and his minions keep fanning the flames. While I admire the courage of Minnesotans, I question the efficacy of what they are doing. What if the MN demonstrators tried a different strategy: (1) first, get undocumented folks out of harm’s way … an Underground Railroad, so to speak, to frustrate the slave-catchers to the extent possible (because isn’t that the goal - if not, then what?) … a week or a month at someone’s lake house or aunt’s place in Duluth for your neighbor; (2) second, for citizens and folks with papers, turn the temperature down whenever possible … carry IDs, show them on request, and generally pretend that these goons are real cops and treat them that way … don’t shout epithets, just stand mute and record. Why? Because Trump’s endgame is to use chaos and disorder as a basis to cancel the midterm elections. Meantime, yeah, a general strike is a fine idea for the rest of us.
I have read of cases where people were carrying their papers, but the goons either refused to look or falsely claimed that they were fake.
Or took them and didn't return them.
And likely the same people that demand ID cards from voters, while Maryland has a data based system that is more secure.
You've essentially answered your own questions. Legality, in any way shape or form, is irrelevant --- undocumented, legally here or citizen. The goal is submission.
Submission by fear or intimidation. Or brute force.
Video recording now seems to be classed as Domestic Terrorism. And as someone else wrote yesterday, no shade of white will protect us. The barbarities will continue until the barbarians are scared of consequences.
The only papers I would ever offer is a pocket copy of The Constitution.
I can't help but feel fake compliance generates real compliance - a mute lying down and giving in.
I didn't answer the poll. I just don't know my own mind. Do I have the guts? Am I willing to risk the remaining few years of my career, and then my retirement?
I'm a long-time retiree. Don't know what I can do other than refuse to buy things, which seems unfair to merchants in little old blue Rhode Island. Once this snow stops, I can certainly join local marches or whatever, as I did on No Kings Day.
I agree with a national strike. Absolutely. But having re-watched the movie Selma last night, I was struck by how different this situation is, and therefore how different our opposition strategy must be. MLK could at least talk to the US president. Not anymore. The objective of ICE is two-fold. One, arrest "illegal" immigrants. Two, cause havoc in opposition cities. So, let's flip the script. The demonstrators should seek to get arrested for the most minor obstruction infractions. Multiply the number of arrests per day from a current average of 70 (since December) to say 300 or 400. Tie up ICE with arresting, transporting, and processing demonstrators. Flood the jail cells. Clog the courts. They would never be able to arrest everyone. Also, instead of staying in their cars to obstruct ICE, PARK the cars, lock the doors, walk away, and report the cars stolen. Imagine how long it will take ICE to remove dozens or hundreds of locked cars. Safer for the drivers this way.
This "Old Man" was a "Legal Marshal" during the New Mobe, back when Nixon wrecked the Republican Party. I remember the briefing and training sessions we had, training on how to try to defuse situations, and how to spot Agnew's dockyard goons who had be hired by GOP cells (aka local Republican County Committees) who were to vandalize DC and Philly storefronts. I really remember one session held in the old Georgetown law school at 6th and E, where we had training on what to do to get people down and out of line of fire, if National Guard opened ala Kent State.
It was a scarey session, because some of those in that classroom were my Georgetown and GW classmates who were also National Guard and were realizing they may have to fire upon their friends and classmates.