G.O.P. Scrambles to Respond to Public Demands for Police Overhaul

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

WASHINGTON — Congressional Republicans, caught flat-footed by an election-year groundswell of public support for overhauling policing in America to address systemic racism, are struggling to coalesce around a legislative response.

Having long fashioned themselves as the party of law and order, Republicans have been startled by the speed and extent to which public opinion has shifted under their feet in recent days after the killings of unarmed black Americans by the police and the protests that have followed. The abrupt turn has placed them on the defensive.

[...]

On Tuesday, Republicans on Capitol Hill rushed to distance themselves from that approach, publicly making clear that they would lay out their own legislation and refraining from attacking a sweeping Democratic bill unveiled this week aimed at combating racial bias and excessive use of force by the police. The measure, which House Democrats plan to push through this month, would make it easier to track, prosecute and punish police misconduct, ban chokeholds and restrict the use of deadly force by officers, as well as condition federal grants on anti-bias training and other practices to combat racial profiling and discrimination.

Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, pressed on whether his party would embrace such steps, said on Tuesday that Republicans had yet to fashion their response.

Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/09/us/politics/republicans-police-reform.html

[scarletwoman]

1. Poor, poor pubbies. Thought they had their fascist paradise almost complete - then BOOM! (nt)

[Grokenstein]

2. Dang, you mean Republicans aren't simply going to

...instruct the sturmentruppen to open fire? What, are they saving it for October?

[wnylib]

3. Not for October, but November.

When the vote totals come in and Trump declares them invalid because they give us a Dem president and Senate, he will unleash his troops on the masses to enforce his continued WH occupancy.

[Dios Mio]

6. If

I were a little more paranoid I would think the recent statements of disapproval by all these retired generals is a prelude to a military coupe. Nah. Couldn’t happen here.

[Johnyawl]

8. Not a prelude to a military coupe...

...but a warning to trump not to expect the military to support him if he attempts a coupe.

[wnylib]

10. It IS happening here. it is a work in process

right now. That's what the WH .fence is about. That's what is going on with the chronic assertion that antifa is behind any acts of violence related to protests, even though the violence comes from RW supremacists.

Donald Trump never had any intention of being president and being limited to 2 terms. His intention from the start was to become a RW dictator. He has spent 3 1/2 years consolidating power to that end.

There has been a long-standing RW extremist goal of obtaining absolute power, backed by some wealthy, powerful persons. The Kochs were Birchers in the 1960's. Add Spencers and others.

The hand-wringing of Republicans in the 2016 campaign over Trump's crudenesd and racism was total hypocrisy. They were delighted with his ability to openly say things that actually gained support for them and their agenda.

In 2014, Trump took a shot at the NY governor campaign. He announced his intention to run as a Republican on one condition. He required total endorsement by the Republican party from the start, with no Republican primary. They turned him down and he withdrew. Then he turned to the presidency directly, without the NY governorship as a stepping stone.

The official launch of the coup was the church and Bible photo op, with the forceful removal of protesters first. Law and order, God on his side, any means necessary.

The WH fence is preparation for November. He might not even wait until then. He expects to need a fortified bunker.

[Dios Mio]

4. Taking time out from being assholes

in a hypocritical attempt to look like they give a shit led by Bitch McTurtle.

[Dios Mio]

5. If Repub's base knew how to read they would

see through this but alas dump’s approval ratings will go up because obviously he just found jeezus.

[duforsure]

7. The truth is Trump and the GOP support racist and corrupt bad police

While trump gives them the green light to be abusive and violent and ignore the law, while Democrats want good cops, law abiding and can be non violent and not be racist. Trump backs bad cops and attacks attacked citizens with propaganda and promotes violence, even against 75 year olds, and women. Trump and the GOP want a gustopo not a police force.

[moonseller66]

9. Collin's type concern?

"Tuesday, Republicans on Capitol Hill rushed to distance themselves from that approach, publicly making clear that they would lay out their own legislation..."

Yeah! Right after they lay out their legislation for their healthcare to replace ACA!!

[LiberalLovinLug]

11. Unfortunately November is eons away in the political world

Like how after Newtown, Republicans just waited it out until enough other stories clouded the landscape. And things went back to "normal"

https://www.nhpr.org/post/new-poll-support-stricter-gun-control-law-drops-newtown-shootings

In the months following the school shooting in Newtown, Conn., polls showed greater support for stricter gun control laws.

A new CBS News poll released today, however, finds that growth has deflated back to pre-Newtown levels. CBS reports:

[flibbitygiblets]

12. This is going to be quite a trick for them; systemic racism is their brand

To pull this off, they'd have to figure out a way to make white people change their minds about supporting people of color. Based on the events of the past two weeks, that doesn't seem likely.

They are SO out of their depth on this. Terrifyingly, their best bet is either all-out cheating (and they're definitely practicing that as we speak), or another distraction (a scary "caravan", or another 9/11 scenario), and I wouldn't be at ALL surprised if they pulled the latter.