August 15, 2020

This Machine Kills Fascists

Artist: unknown

July 25, 2020

Homeland Security Was Destined to Become a Secret Police Force

“Homeland” is an anxious, combative word: it denotes a place under assault, in need of aggressive defense from shape-shifting dangers. The original proposal for the D.H.S. described the agency as “a new government structure to protect against invisible enemies that can strike with a wide variety of weapons”; one hypothetical example of an invisible enemy was “a non-citizen that intends to enter our nation and attack one of our chemical facilities.” The nation used to protect itself against other nations and their hostile military forces, but now it had to fear individuals. This is the premise on which secret police forces are built. Their stated purpose is to find danger where normal human activity appears to be taking place. The D.H.S. began with mobilizing against the foreign-born, via Immigration and Customs Enforcement (which replaced the Immigration and Naturalization Service). The logic of the secret police, however, dictates that it perpetually has to look in new places for threats.

As we learn more about what is happening in Portland—as footage of federal troops waging war on protesters floods social media, and as the President threatens to send his foot soldiers to other large cities—we are watching the perfect and perhaps inevitable combination of a domestic-security superagency and a President who rejects all mechanisms of accountability, including the Senate confirmation process. What we are also seeing is a perfect storm of fear: the legacy of fear cultivated in the wake of 9/11, and the fear that Trump campaigned on in 2016 and continues to campaign on now.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-dhs-was-destined-to-become-a-secret-police-force

July 18, 2020

Republicans...

https://twitter.com/ben_rosen/status/1284005053548728320

July 12, 2020

Florida reports over 15,000 COVID-19 cases in single-day record

Source: Reuters

(Reuters) - Florida reported a record increase of more than 15,000 new cases of COVID-19 in a single day on Sunday as the growing outbreak forces state authorities to close some businesses and beaches.

If Florida were a country, it would rank fourth in the world for the most new cases a day behind the United States, Brazil and India.

Its daily increases have already surpassed the highest daily tally reported by any European country during the height of the pandemic there. Florida has also broken New York State’s record of 12,847 new cases on April 10 when it was the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.

To combat the outbreak, Republican Governor Ron DeSantis has ordered bars to close but has resisted calls for a statewide mandate to wear masks in public.


Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-florida-idUSKCN24D0I5

July 6, 2020

@projectlincoln responds to Trumps' Bubba Wallace "hoax" Tweet:

https://twitter.com/projectlincoln/status/1280118483632750592

on edit: non-link text follows:

Donald J. Trump
@realDonaldTrump

Has @BubbaWallace apologized to all of those great NASCAR drivers & officials who came to his aid, stood by his side, & were willing to sacrifice everything for him, only to find out that the whole thing was just another HOAX? That & Flag decision has caused lowest ratings EVER!

The Lincoln Project
@ProjectLincoln
He won’t wear a mask, but he has no problem with a white hood.

July 5, 2020

Frederick Douglass statue vandalized on anniversary of his famous Rochester speech

On the same weekend in which famed abolitionist Frederick Douglass 168 years ago delivered one of his most historically resonant speeches, a statue of Douglass was toppled from its base and left near the Genesee River gorge.

Located in Maplewood Park, the statue "had been placed over the fence to the gorge and was leaning against the fence" on the river side, according to a statement from Rochester police. The statue was left about 50 feet from its pedestal.

There is historical significance to the timing of the vandalism — though no one can now say whether the timing was mere happenstance — just as there is historical significance to the statue's very location. The Maplewood Park location includes Kelsey's Landing, where Douglass, Harriet Tubman, and others helped shuttle slaves to safety along the Underground Railroad.

Across the United States, Douglass' July 5, 1852 speech, "What to the Slave is the Fourth of July," has been shared widely on social media and elsewhere as a reminder of the country's legacy of slavery and racism.

https://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/2020/07/05/frederick-douglass-statue-rochester-ny-removed-defaced-anniversary-july-4th-speech/5380432002/

Douglass statues in Rochester NY have had a recent history of being defaced & vandalized by individuals who associate sympathies with right wing groups known for their white nationalist viewpoints.

I have little doubt that this “happenstance” will eventually be tied to individuals associated with these local/regional hate groups...

June 24, 2020

Democrats confirm plans for nearly all-virtual convention

Source: Associated Press

Democrats will hold an almost entirely virtual presidential nominating convention Aug. 17-20 in Milwaukee using live broadcasts and online streaming, party officials said Wednesday.

Joe Biden plans to accept the presidential nomination in person, but it remains to be seen whether there will be a significant in-person audience there to see it. The Democratic National Committee said in a statement that official business, including the votes to nominate Biden and his yet-to-be-named running mate, will take place virtually, with delegates being asked not to travel to Milwaukee.

Party Chairman Tom Perez said scaling back Democrats’ festivities is a matter of public health. He sought to draw a contrast with Trump’s push for a traditional convention in North Carolina, clashing with the state’s Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, and public health officials over the details amid the pandemic.

“Unlike this president, Joe Biden and Democrats are committed to protecting the health and safety of the American people,” Perez said.

Read more: https://apnews.com/09785e274676e46351c70644d2b77215?utm_medium=AP&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlow

June 18, 2020

Susan Collins Puts Bolton Book in Amazon Cart but Remains Undecided About Placing Order

Senator Susan Collins has put John Bolton’s new book in her Amazon cart but is undecided about placing an order for it, Collins confirmed on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the Senate, Collins called the decision to pull the trigger on the Bolton book “one of the most wrenching of my career.”

The Republican senator from Maine indicated that, even if she ultimately decides to buy Bolton’s book, she is leaving open the possibility of returning the book to Amazon.

“All options are on the table,” she said.

https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/susan-collins-puts-bolton-book-in-amazon-cart-but-remains-undecided-about-placing-order?utm_source=nl&utm_brand=tny&utm_mailing=TNY_Borowitz_061820&utm_campaign=aud-dev&utm_medium=email&bxid=5be9e7a72ddf9c72dc6f2afa&cndid=25255454&hasha=e450e5d7ac64a48fbff0a62d476541d4&hashb=72674cc0ad06ff28254ac53aee01b7c589ad3608&hashc=27040374fc5fa29c2bfefcb5e4160a5e4637f89910617754ae6a8f4446e232ce&esrc=newsletters-form-sig&utm_term=TNY_Borowitz

June 12, 2020

Facebook page that copies President Trump's posts gets flagged for violence

Facebook and the company's CEO Mark Zuckerberg have come under fire in recent weeks after the social media platform declined to take action against President Trump's more inflammatory posts. While Twitter began flagging several of Mr. Trump's tweets for false statements and "glorifying violence," Facebook maintains that his posts do not violate its policies.

On Thursday, one Facebook post, which was taken word-for-word from Mr. Trump's Facebook page, was flagged, a week after it was posted on the "Will they suspend me?" account.

The language in this post was also used in one of Mr. Trump's tweet, which was flagged by Twitter because it "violated the Twitter Rules about glorifying violence." Twitter also flagged the same language on the @SuspendthePres account.

"To the best of my knowledge, Facebook has yet to take any corrective action against content posted by the President. However, provided that if the same verbatim text posted from a normal account apparently warranted at least an initial disciplinary action it does bring up a whole host of other questions to be addressed by Facebook," the owner of "Will they suspend me?" told CBS News. This person wishes to remain anonymous.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/facebook-donald-trump-copy-account-flagged-inciting-violence/

June 6, 2020

Protester pushed to ground by police is longtime peace activist from Amherst

Buffalo police Thursday night in front of City Hall, in a video seen by more than 58 million people, is a longtime peace activist from Amherst.

Martin Gugino, 75, was in serious but stable condition at Erie County Medical Center as of Thursday night, according to police.

"He’s a gentle person who really believes that he must stand up for what he thinks is right," said his friend Terrence Bisson, who has worked with Gugino on Latin American issues through the Western New York Peace Center.

"That’s why he went to the demonstration. He would never resist physically any kind of orders," Bisson said. "He’s a bit frail, not because of his age. He has some health problems.
https://buffalonews.com/2020/06/05/protester-pushed-to-ground-by-buffalo-police-is-longtime-peace-activist-from-amherst/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=puma&utm_source=Facebook#Echobox=1591367649