Several stories are up about what’s going on in Portland OR right now. I’m writing this to highlight what Gov. Kate Brown is saying about it: this is purely and totally a political ploy to terrorize her citizens and turn peaceful protests into an excuse for “political theater” for no other reason to help Trump get reelected:
“This political theater from President Trump has nothing to do with public safety. The President is failing to lead this nation. Now he is deploying federal officers to patrol the streets of Portland in a blatant abuse of power by the federal government,” Gov. Kate Brown (D-OR) posted on Twitter.
“I told Acting Secretary Wolf that the federal government should remove all federal officers from our streets. His response showed me he is on a mission to provoke confrontation for political purposes. He is putting both Oregonians and local law enforcement officers in harm’s way,” she warned. [emphasis added]
She is calling it for what it is — a naked power grab. Other Oregon officials are saying this is another test by the administration to see what they can get away with it in their determination to stay in power.
We have been heading here ever since the GOP abandoned any goal other than getting and keeping power. It started before 2000, but Bush v Gore was a turning point, because that was such a blatant decision that the majority, in writing it, said it was not to be used as precedent (just in case a Democrat to use it). The country grumbled but accepted it.
We’re not grumbling any more. Trump is so incompetent and corrupt, and the GOP so corrupt (and mostly incompetent) that the country has decided we’ve had it with them. Trump is at 36% approval (I remain astonished that it’s that high). The GOP is looking at losing safe Senate seats — even Moscow Mitch is in trouble. 2020 is a redistricting election, and the GOP is facing the prospect that its careful gerrymandering is about to be undone. There is no legitimate way they can keep power, not just in the White House, but all over the country.
So they are trying illegal ways. Portland is just the beginning, and Gov. Brown just called them on it.
