60% of Americans support calling in the US military to supplement police.

[Drunken Irishman]

Link to tweet

Trump has found his reelection message. Law and order. He knows Americans are sympathetic to the protesters but not the looters. If he can frame the message that the protesters are the looters, and he's going to strike them down, he will get a boost out of this. Fortunately for him, and unfortunately for the movement, the media is entirely fixated on showing the looting and the vandalism, while less of the actual police brutality that you're seeing in many videos across social media. That's what Trump has counted on and it's what he's getting.

This is an important moment, as focus shifts from Trump's total incompetence in handling the Coronavirus to how he handles protesters. Trump understands peaceful protest is not the type of optics that help him - but violent protest may. And this poll shows why: Americans are perfectly okay using the military to restore order.

And that's exactly why Trump is doing what he's doing.

The discussion now shifts away from police brutality, and maybe his policies and his failure to lead and it lands on this idea that there is lawlessness that needs to be stamped out. That becomes the new message. And it's a message that very well could resonate with the white suburban voters who swept him into office four years ago.

Where it might backfire is if the imagery looks like yesterday's: peaceful protesters being gassed for no other reason than to clear out a pathway for Trump to waddle over to a church for a photo-op.

But if the imagery continues to be that of looting and violence? I'm not so sure that doesn't play right into Trump's hands...and it's likely why he's perfectly okay utilizing the military against the people. The question, I guess, is whether the media will do a better job showing the police, and now maybe the military, as the aggressors. If they don't, then we're in trouble.

[Turbineguy]

1. Would the Military be percieved to be less violent than the Police?

[Drunken Irishman]

2. That's a good question.

I hadn't thought of that.

[Bucky]

10. It's a faulty perception, if they do

Some people might feel that way. More probably just see it a "tougher on lawlessness." These are both people who don't understand unintended consequences.

The military are trained to bully, threaten, bluster, and kill. Along the way they're trained to destroy obstacles. If that was the solution, then the police riot squads would have done the trick 2 days ago.

Sending in men with less training and more fire power is not going to quell anything. This is stunningly stupid

[Amishman]

18. they don't care about how much violence it takes, they just want the rioting ended

Police and National Guard are being viewed as ineffective, so they want to up the ante

[Volaris]

30. Probably it depends on the city...

But doesnt this miss the fact, that the president cannot legally use federal military personnel to enforce local law, without declaring martial law first?

Posse Comitatus, and all that.

[agingdem]

3. 60% of how many?

20 maybe 30 people?...wow, that's some cross-section you've got there...polls are skewed in how the questions are presented...ask 4 people if Hitler was a good guy and 2 will say absolutely...the results?...half of America says Hitler was a good guy

[Drunken Irishman]

5. 1,600ish - typical of any poll.

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Sample size : 1624 registered voters, MOE +/- 2%

Sample balanced for race, gender and other factors.

[agingdem]

16. of these 1624

how many understood the question?...how many are registered republican voters? how many watched in horror as peaceful protesters were tear gassed and forcibly pushed to the curb by menacing soldiers on horseback?..there's your question...

[crickets]

26. 👍 How many received a decent education that includes an understanding of the Constitution? nt

[agingdem]

39. Yes!

2 questions..
#1 Did you learn anything in your 10th grade government/economics class?

#2 Do you hate (a) Blacks (b) Hispanics (c) Muslims (d) Native Americans
(e) Asians (f) Jews (g) the elderly/disabled (h) the poor (i) all of the above

[Iliyah]

4. Not against peaceful protestors . . .

and that scene is being shown all over the world and the USA. He again has eff that up too.

Forcefully getting priests and other church members out for a photo op with an upside down bible, either.

[Drunken Irishman]

6. I agree. If that becomes the image, he's screwed.

[beachbumbob]

7. I support National Guard over the military BUT we can not allow unfettered looting and rioting,

the outcome will be awful for all, especially minorities.

[Cattledog]

9. So now 58% 60% ???

[LW1977]

11. Thanks for the "concern"

[Drunken Irishman]

14. You're welcome.

[Bucky]

15. One thing about DU

There's always some idiot using the word "concern" to shoot the messenger.

Facts you don't like aren't your enemy.

[Polybius]

25. I too can't stand the "thank you for your concern" posts

They were all over DU a while back whenever someone posted a close poll. It's as if they take winning for granted, and dismiss the possibility of Republicans ever winning again.

[milestogo]

12. The military are not trained as police and the public are not the enemy.

I would support the use of the military if I knew they had a better culture than the police when it comes to violence and racism, but I don't actually know that.

[Bucky]

17. Au contraire

The police are being trained like the military. That's a big reason why these protests turned into riots.

[milestogo]

22. Right, but the military are not being trained to do the job a police officer is supposed to do.

[JonLP24]

28. Military police are

They make up the local police department on bases but to tell you the truth I have seen MPs break rules & laws just like any other soldier.

For me personally soldiers are not as authoritarian as cops but police work should be reserved for the police.

[AntiFascist]

27. Exactly, and the LAPD was the worst example of this, until the LA Riots happened...

the militarization of the police was (and perhaps still is) getting out of control.

[roamer65]

13. Not going to happen.

The governors are not going to escalate an already bad situation. They will use their own National Guard units.

Posse Comitatus is about to take on a whole new meaning in this country. The law works to stop a fascist.

[Hoyt]

19. Don't think majority of people in this country support violence, but legitimate protests are OK.

The looting and destroying of property -- even though quite limited -- just doesn't help in this case.

[JustAnotherGen]

20. I would strongly suggest

Everyone go to the twitter link - and read through the results document posted there.

Very interesting the high number of Southerners who are 'lock step' with Trump.

[Drunken Irishman]

21. Yes. It's a good review. 60% of Americans support the protesters.

[GeorgeGist]

23. Biased in favor of Conservatives ...

Ideo: Liberal 493
Ideo: Moderate 484
Ideo: Conservative 570

[Drunken Irishman]

33. Do you believe America is 50% liberal and 50% conservative?

That's not how it works. It's biased in favor of conservatives because more responders consider themselves conservative.

Here's a breakdown of Americans who identify as either liberal, moderate or conservative:



There's a reason Trump's rarely dips below 40% and it's because nearly 40% of the country considers themselves conservative.

[dflprincess]

24. Are we sure the people being asked understand the difference

Last edited Tue Jun 2, 2020, 06:26 PM - Edit history (1)

Between the calling in the National Guard and active duty military?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

42. Ding, ding, ding, we have a winner.

I have no problem if my governor feels the need to call in the Guard. I have a huge problem with Trump sending in the Army.

[RobinA]

29. And There You Have It

What more does anyone need to understand that this election is not a done deal. Not even close.

[LeftInTX]

31. They are already using this against Biden

Link to tweet

newtgingrich
@newtgingrich
Members of Joe Biden's campaign staff have made donations to a fund that pays bail fees for looters and rioters in Minnesota. These criminals are hurting innocent people and destroying the property of small businesses.

Link to tweet

newtgingrich
@newtgingrich
How can it make sense for 13 Biden staff members to donate money to help people arrested for rioting get out on bail. After four nights of rioting why is bail even being set?Won’t the rioters go back to rioting. Does Biden approve of his staff helping rioters? It is very strange.

Link to tweet

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump
“These were the people that trashed Seattle years ago. Who’s paying for these people. I was appalled that 13 of Joe Biden’s staff were donating money to bail people out in Minneapolis. They should have stayed in jail until this is over (and beyond).”

***********************************************

I'm not gonna look at other tweets, but I'm sure plenty are out there. I saw the Newt Gingrich tweet the other day when we were all reading one of Trump's tweets the other day.

[JonLP24]

34. I don't have a problem with this

Even if they are rioters being held on bail is pretrial detention. We also need cash bail reform which Biden indicated he is in favor of during the primary.

[LeftInTX]

38. I don't either

But it's a campaign strategy to make it look like Biden supports looting, rioting and violence.

Mark my word, that is what the Trump campaign will do.

[spanone]

36. FUCK NEWT GINGRICH

[AntiFascist]

32. Supplement? How do they feel about declaring Martial Law?

I think that's what would be required, otherwise some governors will not go along.

[crickets]

37. *ding!* Exactly. nt

[spanone]

35. Watch what you wish for America.

[SharonClark]

40. The end always justifies the means.

I would suspect that is what most people believe.

Don’t like looting? Let trump use the military against peaceful protesters. Constitutional or not.

Don’t like legal abortion? Elect a non-Christian fascist who uses the Bible as a prop in a photo op because he’ll get anti-choice judges appointed.

Don’t like racial injustice? Defend looters because they’ll burn it all down. I don’t know what the endgame is on this one because everyone loses.

[Bucky]

41. People always talk in absolutes using sweeping generalizations

... usually

[ibegurpard]

43. That number doesn't bother me all that much

Because i suspect a substantially greater percentage of the public doesn't even begin to understand the legalities involved in it... which i also suspect the poll neglected to inform its participants of.