With Nation Afire, Trump Deflects by Designating Antifa a Terrorist Organization

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

President Trump is scrambling to place blame for the violence now sweeping the country as law enforcement clashes with protesters in major cities over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police. On Sunday, the president announced on Twitter that antifa, a loose coalition of anti-facist protesters, would be designated a “terrorist organization.”

Link to tweet

?s=20

It’s a label that is usually reserved for foreign terrorist organizations and requires, under federal law, that the organization has a foreign nexus, according to CNN’s Josh Campbell. But antifa is a domestic entity with no real organization or leader, so we have to understand this move by Trump for what it is: a blatant attempt at shifting the blame for the unrest and violence onto the left. While many have been quick to blame protesters for the violence, a closer examination of footage shows that police are often escalating conflict unnecessarily by ramming protesters with SUVs and shooting rubber bullets, pepper spray and tear gas at peaceful protesters, press and even at residents standing on their own front porches.

Attorney General William Barr announced that federal law enforcement will activate the 56 regional FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces to apprehend and charge what he described as “violent radical agitators.” “The violence instigated and carried out by Antifa and other similar groups in connection with the rioting is domestic terrorism and will be treated accordingly,” Barr said in a statement.

But as Mary B. McCord, a former head of the Justice Department’s National Security Division, told the New York Times, Trump does not have the authority to declare a domestic group as a terrorist organization. “There is no authority under law to do that—and if such a statute were passed, it would face serious First Amendment challenges,” McCord said. “But right now, the only terrorist authority is for foreign terrorist organizations.”

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-news/with-nation-afire-trump-deflects-by-designating-antifa-terrorist-organization-1008101/

[WVreaper]

1. What about the f'ing Proud Boys?

What about the assholes that stormed the Michigan state house? What about all the armed to the teeth militia groups in this country?

[Botany]

2. Does he know that Antifa doesn't really exist?

Or does he know that the "Antifa" agent provocateurs @ the demonstrations are really
working for Putin/Trump by stirring up shit?

[Newest Reality]

4. Maybe,

Maybe, maybe not. I don't think it matters, though.

Keep in mind that he is a scapegoater and will use a term or label as an umbrella term. The implications are that Antifa is anybody he deems to be his enemy or not yielding to his domination.

It's a form of the Fascist playbook tactics.

So, think, the Left inclusively as per his requirements in order to start cracking down, grab power and finish off his coup before the GE. I am not saying that will be successful, but it's just a matter of not being confused about his intents and actions when it comes to things that might make sense otherwise.

This predator is going for the kill.

[Botany]

5. I would like to say you are in crazy conspiracy country.

.. but I can't. Although, it might be easier if Stephen Miller just did the talking himself instead of letting Trump do it.

[Newest Reality]

6. I know what you mean...

These are crazy times. I have studied conspiracy theories and used to just think of the old ones as interesting, quaint, what if, but never took them as my world view, which is what many people are doing these days thanks to the Internet. They then support each other in an alternate reality that just turns out to be some sort of psychological fix and outlet for paranoia.

Now, the theories are also becoming dangerous and wide spread, which makes a big difference. Some governments also utilize the theories as propaganda tools since their audience is fair game and easily manipulated.

The difference between those crazy conspiracy theories and real conspiracies is that the former are usually just abstract presumptions and projections tied to confirmation bias and the latter do have or leave some substantial evidence that can be cited.

I base that view I related on actual things that Trump has said and done, plus a good look at his history, so people can check into that if they want.

[Botany]

7. When Trump spoke of professional agitators in ....

... the crowds I thought he was telling us that he knew that there was professional agitators in the crowds.

We be in deep shit. I might be wrong but Putin is using Trump, social media, and 25% of America's dumb ass population to tear us down from inside.


Btw exactly who are these people who still support Trump?

[Newest Reality]

8. Well,

I agree.

We get certain images from the media. Sometimes they are focused on that we can't get a good grasp on who is a supporter. Often, the sampling is anecdotal. There is more than one kind of supporter.

There are those who are loyal and that's can be variable because disloyalty, under certain conditions, can happen. Then, there are those that have a total fealty to Trump, and that is a "no matter what" devotion. Then, there are those who simply voted for him for other reasons and may see the folly of that.

Remember that people have confirmation biases that they can't see and then everything looks like that bias and contrary views are then turned into support for the bias and give traction for digging in their heals. There is the lost cost fallacy as well as not wanting to admit one is wrong or to be proved wrong when one's ego is invested in a view.

I assume that the fealty group is much smaller than they appear to be, like the idea that the rally attendees are comprised of many, like the "Dead Heads" who follow the rallies around and are not necessarily fully representative of the voting block.

All in all, I do question the "picture" we are supposed to have in our minds based on attention getting people and events and polls.

[Botany]

9. A few things:

Trump knows he lost the 2016 election if it wasn't for Russia and massive cheating. Wisconsin, Michigan,
PA, North Carolina, and Florida went to HRC easily by the exit polls. Trump knows he won by cheating and it
is eating him alive. Barr, Trump, the GOP, and much of the media has been working to keep the evidence
away from us .... hell last Friday's news dump with the transcripts of Flynn talking to Kislyak was text book
treason.

25% of Americans like Trump because he has made it OK to say the word n****r again. He flashes a
white power hand sign all the time and he (more likely Stephen Miller) see racial strife as a path back
to the White House.

However one big problem we have is that for the past 2.5 generations is by Reagan's killing of the
"Fairness Doctrine" that allowed a % of Americans to be bathed in misinformation 24/7. But never forget
that to those people FoxNews, Rush, and others hate talk is comfort food to them.

We are in really dangerous times and I am scared. And I think Trump/Putin see a "race war" as a way
to keep power.

Sorry to be so A.D.D..

[Newest Reality]

10. Thanks!

I see what you mean. That's helpful and adds to the conversation.

It's multifaceted, to say the least.

[agingdem]

3. antifa...

a members only club?...why the hell is being anti-fascism a bad thing?...Hell, why is fascism still a thing? Hitler/Mussolini/Franco bad...democracy/equality good...my 9 year old grandson gets it...the self-absorbed baby in the White House doesn't...