I want to be clear that I am not calling for or condoning this but, if Trump does send more of

[Atticus]

his unbadged mercenaries to "Democratically governed cities", I think it is possible that some of them will be killed and their deaths may be used to justify mass arrests and killings of protestors.

Chaos and divisions benefit Trump's re-election chances. The smart opposition would be to scrupulously avoid giving them any possible excuse to attack peaceful ptotestors.

[grumpyduck]

1. Take a hint from Mohandas Ghandi's playbook?

[Sneederbunk]

3. Many Portland demonstrators did not take that hint.

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. Problem is, all it takes is one

And that one can be anyone. A mentally disturbed person, an angry anarchist that hates both parties, even a fed provocateur paid to pretend they are protesters and then initiate some destruction of property for the cameras.

[Glamrock]

2. True that brother

But you just can’t account for the ignorant-with-the-best-of-intentions. There are plenty of people out there following their consciences. But a whole lot of them are not politically aware. They are focused on a single issue. Namely police violence against minority’s. But they know fuck all about anything else. Doesn’t mean they aren’t doing the right thing. Not what I’m saying. Just...not a lot of strategy with some. We need to expect that those”on our side” are going to push the envelope further than some of us would prefer and need to plan the next step from that starting point.

[brush]

4. If they try this in other cities there will eventually be push back.

And it will get ugly during the run-up to the election.

Just another miscalculation by barr and trump. No one ever called them geniuses.

Well trump called himself a stable genius. But we know what to think about that.

[Andy823]

9. even if barr wanted to stop trump, it would never work

as the republicans in the house and senate have found out, you can NOT control trump. When it comes to coming up with all these insane Ideas, it's trump who will make the choice on what they do, not barr, not mitch, none of them can make him a "better" person, and they sure as hell can't make him a "real" president.

It all boils down to trump having to look "tough", his new "law and order" tactic to get votes. What he will never realize is it will back fire on him. Sending in his "force" of whoever these people are, will not help him get elected again.

[brush]

14. I'm with you on this. It won't work. He's done too much damage already...

to get re-elected.

[LastDemocratInSC]

10. Mister Ed, the talking horse, was the only true stable genius.

[LiberalLovinLug]

12. There is actually a danger it WILL work.

If cities are in turmoil, especially Democratic cities, it could clog up the election process. Close polling stations, even delay voting. All reasons to be used by the Trump team to question the results. Or worse, use the chaos to alter the results.

Add to that when a nation is in disorder, there is a greater desire for voters to restore law and order. And vote for the most authoritarian leader. And RW media will be screaming fear into the ears of the Trump cult that the new civil war has already started, and the "violent left" are trying to start a socialist revolution, because they know that if they didn't start something Trump would easily win the votes.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

5. Trump is trying to radicalize protesters

and create a domestic insurgency they can "crush" with the US military so they can declare marshal law and stop the elections.

[jimfields33]

7. He's sending 150 to Chicago this weekend

He says 49 shootings is too many. What he doesn’t understand is that adding these will not help and the number will rise. January can’t come quick enough.

[Delphinus]

17. And is

there any crime of a federal nature?

[jimfields33]

18. Not that I'm aware of.

Trump does what he wants. Frustrating!!!

[Thekaspervote]

8. They cannot stop the election!! The dates are set by congress

Even if they were to stop the election his term is over on 1/20/2021- including pence. The speaker of the house then becomes the interim president

[SiliconValley_Dem]

13. keep telling yourself that

we are in uncharted waters

[themaguffin]

6. The whole point is to cause something. He desperately wants the VIDEO.

[sanatanadharma]

15. There is only one way to avoid violence

Only the well photographed reality of Ghandian non-violent, unarmed, (socially distanced) arm in arm, nude demonstrators, granddhis, pop and momdhis and kiddhis can reveal America's fascist fashion.

Let it all hang out except cover your noses.

[maxrandb]

16. I'm almost to the point where I think NOT confronting these goons is more harmful

Seriously, let's not lose sight of who is in the wrong here.

A small part of me says; "if he wants a violent uprising, let's give it to him".

Those Stormtroopers are perfectly free and able to say; "fuck this shit, I'm not attacking my fellow Americans".

If they chosen to be there, they've chosen their fate.

NOT confronting this shit forcefully may normalize it.

That's more scary than whatever political gain Donnie Dipshit could get from it.