Trump badly miscalculated in Portland - and even he knows it

[Nevilledog]

https://news.yahoo.com/trump-badly-miscalculated-portland-even-121822367.html

Opponents of Donald Trump often describe him as a “political genius” who has a cunning understanding of the anxieties and fears of American society, and is able to create and use crises to his favor. The current standoff in Portland shows, yet again, that this is not the case. While his alleged fight against antifa will satisfy some of his far-right supporters, it increasingly risks further alienating the so-called “moderate” Republicans – which seems mostly used to describe better-off pocketbook Republican voters – who are already feeling uneasy over his Covid-19 handling and the economic fallout of the pandemic.

An almost ignored aspect of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is that Trump failed to use it to push through his authoritarian agenda by increasing executive powers, weakening the powers of other institutions, like Congress, and marginalizing dissent, for instance by banning demonstrations. Almost all other countries implemented a more repressive approach to Covid-19, including those governed by progressive parties (like Spain), while most far-right governments used it to push through draconian repressive measures (such as Hungary and India).

Of course, the explanation is that Trump initially denied and ignored the dangers of Covid-19, arguing that “it’s going to work out fine” and “the warmer weather” would take care of it. This made it difficult for him to later shift to an authoritarian approach. Difficult, but certainly not impossible. But clearly Trump never wanted to. Instead, he kept insisting on an economic approach to re-election, repositioning himself as the savior of the US economy, and aggressively pushing for the “reopening of America”.

*snip*

[soothsayer]

1. I dunno, isn't he still sending stormtroopers elsewhere?

Or did that die a quiet death

[Wounded Bear]

2. Currently in Albequerque, I believe...

and I hear it isn't going well.

[Nevilledog]

3. Think he's still at the threatening stage.

[Andy823]

4. Anyone who thinks trump

is a “political genius”, has to be an idiot!

[Midnight Writer]

5. I don't think his goal was to "fix" Portland. I think it was to create B-roll for his supporters.

I think it was a pure publicity stunt made to go viral for Mid-American Trump supporters.

Every authoritarian needs an "enemy" so he will be allowed more power.

So he(they?) decided to use "rioters" having "clashes", the "anti-fa", "cities in flames".

It seems very reality show, with orchestrated conflict.

They've got the Portland footage and now they're taking the show on the road.

[Kitchari]

6. Very true

staged mayhem from the TV reality show imposter president

[Midnight Writer]

8. It's all about the ratings (including viral growth) among a particular grouping of demographics.

[Kitchari]

9. Agree

and unfortunately there are lots of folks who will follow him even still - the brainwashed - so sad

[Volaris]

13. All true BUT..

His dumb ass went out of his way to tear gas white, middle class moms.

He could have been content to let the Local Yokel Rascist Cops to walk down the block and beat the hell out of BLM protesters, and all would have been fine.

But the MOMENT he decided to use federal forces to tear gas white, middle-age, property-tax-paying moms, he sealed his own fate

They showed up to 'get the lay of the land', and got tear gassed. And three days later, they basically said:

'4 days ago I kinda didnt really care. But NOW if we find a way into that federal building, I PROMISE YOU, WERE GONNA SET THAT BITCH ON FIRE, because I pay property taxes and FUCK YOU.'

You dont rubber bullet you some White People without serious and IMMEDIATE fucking consequences.

Just sayin.

[Thekaspervote]

14. They've got a show alright! Not the one they want or will show, but the rest of have seen

And is now hard wired in our brains! Here’s what 4 more years of dotard will bring you...Tear gassing mom’s, beating vets and molesting young women.

[brush]

16. Makes little sense since their is miles of footage from agent provacatuer...

created violence during the BLM protests—the fires and window smashings. We've all saw them. Also the tear gassing and storm troopers he dispatched at the church across from the WH.

trump is no genius as he's failed at everything in life until Putin and Comey helped him luck out into the presidency.

The one thing he is good at is creating chaos. That he excels in.

[gratuitous]

7. Anytime you want to be publicly humiliated, Donald

Come on back. We're better organized, more experienced, and smarter than you. We've been doing this for decades, and we played you like a fucking Stradivarius. Now go get your shine box.

[GulfCoast66]

10. In a normal year this might have worked. But most Americans could GAF about Portland.

They are afraid of dying of the virus and despair at where the economy is headed, all with no leadership.

That issue is sucking all the oxygen out of the room. Hell the nation.

Nothing Trump can try short of dealing seriously with the pandemic will help. And he is incapable of doing that. It will never happen.

I used to fear Barr would gin a reason to indict Biden in October. And he may well. But it won’t matter. The ones trump has lost are not coming back. Once the scales fall off the eyes there is no replacing them. And more scales continue to fall daily.

Florida will have over 150-200 deaths a day for the foreseeable future. And our economy is really about to fall off the cliff with the end of enhanced Unemployment.

[CentralMass]

11. I think Cheetoloni thinks and is probably right that his base loves this stuff.

[Quixote1818]

12. When a bunch of mostly white veterans, moms and dads were lined up it didn't look like the race

war he was hoping would project. Also, I think Trump really loved the idea personally because he is racist and so because it seemed awesome to him personally, he assumed everyone else would feel the same way. NO DICK HEAD! Most people are not racist like you and your 35% cult members.

[qwlauren35]

15. Damn

Is it as high as 35%.

In my heart, I hoped it was lower.

[KT2000]

17. the pics from Portland

can be used by the Democrats and the repubs. The anonymous militia beating up people will horrify healthy people and will keep the RW salivating for more.