Protests

A question

Featured image In this post, Scott wrote about Saturday’s “Justice for J6” rally in Washington, D.C. He collected tweets reporting on the substantial, and seemingly predominant, police presence, including that of undercover feds. I was struck by a statement by CBS’s Margaret Brennan, the moderator of Face the Nation. According to this tweet by Nicholas Fondacaro, Brennan said “the strong show of security” by police and the feds “kept the crowds away.” »

At the Justice for J6 rally

Featured image I believe that Vice News reporter Tess Owen snapped the classic “There’s a bunch of bros here” photo of a few faces in the crowd among the dozens attending the supposedly fearsome “Justice for J6” demonstration in Washington on Saturday. Byron York provides the larger context in his Examiner column “Insurrection hype.” There’s a bunch of bros here. They declined an interview and said they were “just tourists”🧐 pic.twitter.com/ZsIImTXsFn — »

The Deep State Is Rattled

Featured image I had a conversation over the weekend with a senior career lawyer (who is a Trump supporter) with a federal agency who passed along some interesting information. He said career federal officials in Washington he spoke with on Thursday and Friday are seriously rattled by last Wednesday’s events. Among other things, the fact that apparently some Capitol Police were friendly with the protestors who entered the building have federal bureaucrats wondering »

Capitol police officer dies after attack on Congress

Featured image Capitol police officer Brian D. Sicknick has died from injuries he sustained during the riot at the Capitol on Wednesday. Ashli Babbitt, one of the protesters, died during the riot. She was shot by an officer as she climbed through a window into the building. Three other protesters died due to “medical emergencies.” According to reports, more than 50 law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the rioting. That’s slightly less »

Judge blocks New York’s limitation on outdoor religious services [UPDATED]

Featured image A federal district court judge today issued a preliminary injunction against Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Mayor Bill de Blasio to stop them from limiting participation in outdoor religious gatherings as a response to the pandemic. The judge, Gary Sharpe (a Bush 43 appointee), emphasized that, notwithstanding the Wuhan coronavirus, Cuomo and de Blasio permitted, and indeed seemed to bless, outdoor protests following the killing of George Floyd. Judge Sharpe explained »

Save Us From Woke Capitalism

Featured image Over the last week the stock market has enjoyed a huge rally, amidst the continuing overhang of the COVID-19 crisis and mass rioting throughout many urban areas. The market has now made up nearly all of the ground it lost starting in February. It’s either the market’s way of giving the middle finger to the virus crisis and the riots, or it could be one of the greatest short-covering rallies »

Mattis mush [UPDATED]

Featured image Since resigning as Secretary of Defense, Gen. James Mattis has been reluctant to criticize President Trump. No doubt, Mattis has grievances against President Trump, but his soldierly and patriotic instincts counseled against airing them. Mattis’s instincts were sound. He should have kept following them. Instead, the former Secretary lashed out at Trump this week. He said: I have watched this week’s unfolding events, angry and appalled. The words ‘Equal Justice »

End of the World? Please!

Featured image The video below shows environmental activists, I think from Extinction Rebellion. The venue is Trafalgar Square, and I believe the green object is broccoli. It is hard not to agree with Matt Walsh’s comment: 12 years until the apocalypse suddenly seems like a really long time pic.twitter.com/C44Z6S7QWo — Matt Walsh (@MattWalshBlog) October 19, 2019 Sometimes I wonder whether a civilization that not only produces but indulges lunatics like this deserves »

Londoners to Climate Protesters: Drop Dead!

Featured image A radical group called Extinction Rebellion, which purports to be acting on behalf of the Earth’s climate, has caused serious disruptions in England, attempting to shut down airports and other modes of transportation. This morning, the group tried to close down London’s morning commute by climbing on top of subway trains. Commuters did not take kindly to this arrogant and pointless act, as these videos show. Commuters now physically dragging »

Visit Portland, Stay for the Riots

Featured image This is wonderful. Only 1:21 long, but you’ll want to watch it five times, and send to all your friends. Especially your Oregonian friends. (Yes, I know, the narrator badly mispronounces “Willamette”—as in the river, but that’s not as bad as the time back when I was a student in DC, and stumbled into a congressman in the Capitol building who seemingly just emerged from a hearing on the effects »

After-Action Report

Featured image As advertised, Scott participated in a panel discussion on the NFL national anthem protests earlier today. The event took place at the University of Minnesota, under the auspices of the Center for the Study of Politics and Governance at the Humphrey School. I assume it was scheduled with the Super Bowl in mind, but as far as I could tell it was mostly a local audience. Scott brought badly-needed diversity »

Is the backlash over NFL kneeling racist?

Featured image The Washington Post found “experts” (its term in the paper edition) who think so. I don’t (though there must be white racists who are criticizing the kneelers, just as there must be black racists who are praising them). The Post’s experts seize on the fact that some who criticize the kneelers cite the players’ wealth and accuse them of being ungrateful. For example, Newt Gingrich said that players should be »

Pence Walks Out on NFL Game

Featured image The latest on the National Anthem controversy in the National Football League: Vice-President Pence attended the Indianapolis Colts game today to see Peyton Manning’s jersey retired. (Indiana is, of course, Pence’s home state, where he served as governor.) But Pence walked out when a handful of players refused to stand for the Anthem: Vice President Mike Pence has left the 49ers-Colts game after about a dozen San Francisco players took »

Kaepernick donated $25,000 to group honoring cop killer

Featured image Colin Kaepernick has received favorable publicity for pledging $1 million in charitable donations. But according to the Washington Times, $25,000 of that money has been donated to an outfit called Assata’s Daughters, which is named after former Black Liberation Army member Assata Shakur. Assata Shakur was convicted of first-degree murder in the 1973 shooting death of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster. He was sentenced to life in prison, but »

The Dallas Cowboys find a middle way

Featured image As I argued yesterday, the Washington Redskins “won off the field” (as well as on it!) Sunday with their approach to the playing of the National Anthem. Though it grieves me as a Redskins fan to admit it, I think the Dallas Cowboys also won in this respect last night. Rich Lowry writes: Last night, the Cowboys kneeled before the anthem and then stood when it was played. This seems »

Redskins best Raiders on and off the field

Featured image I’ve been a Washington Redskins fan since 1958. I almost never miss a Redskins game and rarely watch NFL regular season games that don’t involve the Redskins. However, if the Redskins had refused to come out on the field during the playing of the National Anthem or if most the team had taken a knee while the Anthem was played, I think I would have ended my 60 year relationship »

For the White House Press Corps, Football Is Issue #1

Featured image Press Secretary Sarah Sanders did a press briefing today. She began by talking about several items the White House is working on. Here is the first sentence or two on each topic that she raised in her remarks: On the economic front, this week, the President will continue his push to secure tax relief for hardworking American families. … We are pleased to announce that the President will be traveling »