All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[Revolutionary_Jack]

Looks like the arrests have panicked the militia world and brought them to reality:
https://www.npr.org/2020/10/09/92231...-militia-world

militia movement: The Feds got Barry Croft.

Croft, one of 13 men charged Thursday in connection with a domestic terrorism plot to kidnap Michigan Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, was a visible figure on the message boards and Facebook pages of the so-called Patriot Movement. NPR interviews with associates who know him from that world portray a power-hungry figure whose angling for stature was unsettling at times. Now that Croft is in custody and his connections under scrutiny, their fear is: Who's next?

[...]

Throughout the summer, there was chatter in the militia world about clandestine meetings going on to discuss "constitutional flashpoints" – when and how the various factions might take a coordinated stand on pet issues such as gun rights, lockdowns and mask mandates, or the imagined invasion of leftist "looters and rioters." But the movement is diffuse, and rife with infighting and suspicion. One militia leader said he stopped attending big gatherings because they often turned into "bravado" about revolution in a room that's likely under surveillance.

"They fancy themselves some kind of Continental Congress," the leader said, with sarcasm.

One prominent militia figure, texting in response to NPR's questions about how the Michigan case was playing within the broader movement, wrote that it's a "reminder that Patriots are being monitored." He said he issued a message to his own group saying that "we are not vigilantes" and that they don't support anti-government activity.

"This is a reminder that comments can get you in trouble," he wrote. He added the names of other Patriot figures who served time because "friends" surveilled them. "Plans or acts against the government will definitely put you in prison and hurt the rest of the movement."

Kathleen Belew, a University of Chicago history professor and an expert on far-right paramilitary groups, argues that leaders' attempts at such distinctions should be taken with a grain of salt. Days before news of the Michigan story broke, Belew said on Twitter that it was dangerous to start a sliding scale of evaluating militia extremism.

"I worry that the push to qualify definitions might create the idea of good, or neutral militias that ARE legitimate," Belew tweeted. "These are not. They are not neutral observers. They are not keepers of law and order. They are paramilitary groups."

[...]

Extensive recordings and surveillance described in the court papers show how deeply the FBI had infiltrated the alleged plotters – sometimes with more than one informant or undercover operative at the same event. Investigators were inside encrypted chats where the suspects allegedly communicated in code, using "baker" and a "cake" in reference to an explosives provider and a bomb. They were along for a car ride to case the vacation home where the suspects allegedly planned to kidnap the governor and spirit her to Wisconsin for a "trial."

In June, at a meeting site in Grand Rapids, Mich., court documents said, the suspects entered a basement through a trapdoor hidden by a rug. Once inside, the men were ordered to turn over their cellphones, which were placed in a box and taken upstairs as a security precaution. But one of the people present was an informant wearing a device.

Prosecutors said that meeting, too, was recorded.

These a--holes make government surveillance and FBI infiltration look like freaking heroes. But it seems most of this militia stuff are chickenhawk cowards and armchair confederates, and most of them didn't want to actually go ahead and take over, with the only one who tried to do so - this Croft guy - being an incompetent.

This might be a deterent to post-election violence and election-day violence, one hopes. A lot of these people are in the spotlight, they post messages, there's a wave of arrests coming, that means there's going to be people coming to the Feds and turning snitch and so on and so forth. Others will be lawyering up and making plans to protect their jobs, families, income.

[Malvolio]

Saw this on Twitter:

Attachment 101345

Then there's this:



I'm sure the GOP must be proud, provided of course any of them actually care. I suspect they don't, they all have ACB and SCOTUS on the brain.

If it were a comic book, the next issue would reveal that they saved Bin Laden's brain and implanted it into his niece's head.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Just watched a commercial with Cindy McCain endorsing Joe Biden. That’s sure to piss off Trump. Heh!

[GindyPosts]

I voted early. Given how absurd the voting situation is in my state, it took a little over two hours to go from the start of the line to placing my ballot; not as bad as some spots were this past week, but I hate how limited our options are.

And, for the record, as I didn't want to cause another Johnson issue like in 2016, I voted Biden. Indiana only allows libertarians on the presidential ballot, so no Kanye West crap.

[Revolutionary_Jack]

I voted early. Given how absurd the voting situation is in my state, it took a little over two hours to go from the start of the line to placing my ballot; not as bad as some spots were this past week, but I hate how limited our options are.

And, for the record, as I didn't want to cause another Johnson issue like in 2016, I voted Biden. Indiana only allows libertarians on the presidential ballot, so no Kanye West crap.

Indiana is a red state so voting third party there probably isn't as decisive as in a swing state unless it was truly competitive (which it wasn't in 2016). I think Indiana in 2020 is expected to be red as well.

But anyway, glad that you voted, and in this election it seems third parties aren't decisive at all, the fact that Bernie Sanders has been aggressively democrat and Bernie-ites like AOC came to congress also drew third party leftists towards the Dems in larger numbers than the other side.

I think if they ever get rid of the electoral college, we might see more avenues for Independents and Third Party candidates because then there's less pressure and force on individual voters to not compromise the electoral votes of the state.

[The Cool Thatguy]

I voted early. Given how absurd the voting situation is in my state, it took a little over two hours to go from the start of the line to placing my ballot; not as bad as some spots were this past week, but I hate how limited our options are.

And, for the record, as I didn't want to cause another Johnson issue like in 2016, I voted Biden. Indiana only allows libertarians on the presidential ballot, so no Kanye West crap.

Took me about ten minutes to vote, it was actually a pretty long line. I did it in person absentee simply because I don't want to allow Trump to pull something.

[Farealmer]

Saw this on Twitter:

Attachment 101345

Then there's this:



I'm sure the GOP must be proud, provided of course any of them actually care. I suspect they don't, they all have ACB and SCOTUS on the brain.

They walked it back. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...n-b959629.html

[Powerboy]

So any of the resident Donny supports have an excuse for this?

It won't let me read it without subscribing. Could you summarize it please?

[Kirby101]

It won't let me read it without subscribing. Could you summarize it please?

About him demanding DOJ arrest Biden.

[The Chou Lives]

Another thing I have to say.

I got a friend here in the NY area. Who is worried ( old man) that the Democratic state government will tap into his petition system and why voting republican to prevent it.

I myself, hailed originally from an Republican controlled state, due to f-Ed up mental issues certainly died disabled. Yet, that state in the end cut off all of my food stamps there and was giving less and less a check in an attempt to encourage me to work ( fat chance, as there were no freakken jobs. They off shores everything or needed correct education for what paid.)

So yeah people, the Republicans will cut off ya nuts to save themselves a dollar. Do not fall into the tax cut trap, as that applies only for their rich friends.

[Tami]

Scoop: Trump wants to hit campaign trail every day through election

President Trump has asked his campaign to put him on the road every single day from now until Nov. 3.

Behind the scenes: His team is in the process of scheduling events to make that happen, two sources familiar with the discussions tell Axios. But not everyone thinks this is a good idea. One adviser said, “He’s going to kill himself.”

Why it matters: Look at the polls. Trump is in need of a rebound, and he's betting he's got a better chance on the move than sitting around the West Wing.

What we're hearing: The campaign is more worried than ever that seniors — a crucial voting bloc — are abandoning Trump over his handling of the pandemic.

"He really f----d up with seniors when he said not to worry about the virus and not to let it control your life," one Trump adviser told Axios. "There are so many grandparents who’ve gone almost a year without being able to see grandchildren."

Anyone want to bet Trump collapses at some point during this?

[Tami]

Letter left at Frederick home in apparent attempt to intimidate voters

FREDERICK, Md. —

Police and the Secret Service are investigating an incident in Frederick involving an apparent attempt to intimidate voters with the delivery of a threatening letter.

The Secret Service is involved because the letter specifically threatened Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris.

Like people in many communities, residents in Frederick show their political preferences through yard signs.

But early Sunday morning at a home with Biden-Harris signs in the yard, a man walked up to the door and left behind a warning.

"The beginning of the letter makes some general threats about people supporting particular candidates," Frederick police Lt. Kirk Henneberry said.

The letter warned, "If you are a Biden-Harris supporter, you will be targeted. We have a list of homes by your election signs. We will not comply or give anything up, especially our guns."

The writer threatens to shoot and kill former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, who was shot and wounded in 2011. She's now a gun control advocate.

The writer threatens to beat Biden and rape Harris and execute both on national TV.

[worstblogever]

Scoop: Trump wants to hit campaign trail every day through election

Anyone want to bet Trump collapses at some point during this?

When that steroid wears off, he's going to crash hard. He will be the "doesn't he/she look tired?" meme times twenty.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Scoop: Trump wants to hit campaign trail every day through election



Anyone want to bet Trump collapses at some point during this?

I’m no gambling man, but that looks like a safe bet. A 74 year old man who’s never been in good physical condition, AND coming off a bout of COVID that might’ve put him in the ground if he wasn’t president won’t be able to handle that sort of grind, not even Trump who’s desperate to win. Unless he’s talked out of it, I don’t see him lasting more than three or four days before exhaustion catches up to him or, perhaps, he screws up and has a relapse of the virus which I suspect he’s not fully over, no matter what the doctors said.

Letter left at Frederick home in apparent attempt to intimidate voters

THIS is what Trump has wrought with his endless rhetoric and poisoning the well of political discourse. And, of course, he won’t take any responsibility for the madness he unleashed.

[The Cool Thatguy]

When that steroid wears off, he's going to crash hard. He will be the "doesn't he/she look tired?" meme times twenty.

Who wants to start the pool, then?