Six men charged in alleged plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer

[Jaguar]

The World’s 19 Most Disappointing Leaders
BY
FORTUNE EDITORS
March 30, 2016 9:00 AM EDT

The past year or so has produced an avalanche of bungles, failures, and questionable decisions among CEOs and politicians—many so distinctive or outsize that they merit special acknowledgement.

Don’t Blame Me, I’m Just The Governor Award
Rick Snyder, Governor of Michigan

The first person on that list is Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder. The magazine gave him the dubious honor of the "Don't Blame Me, I'm Just The Governor Award."

Snyder received this "award," says Fortune, for his actions in the Flint water crisis, and for what it calls his attempts to shift blame away from himself.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________



Governors who took strict measures on coronavirus are seeing better political outcomes

July 31, 2020 at 7:00 a.m. EDT

Much about the coronavirus is putting us in unprecedented political territory, but one thing is becoming evident: Keeping the coronavirus in check, even via strict measures, is so far a political winner.
A look at recent polling of nine governors — five Republicans and four Democrats from states that are polled frequently because they will likely be determinative in the 2020 election — shows that the governors who instituted face-mask requirements, urged social distancing and reopened more slowly than other states have seen a jump in their approval ratings.

By contrast, the governors who eschewed public health experts’ advice and reopened quickly — as President Trump urged — have seen their approval ratings drop, by double digits in some cases.

Hm. Anyone recognize the person in this article? I do. It's Gretchie-poo:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...navirus-are-seeing-better-political-outcomes/

 

[FemMecha]

I was curious whether or not the group itself identified their motivation as being related to Trump, and so far it seems like they have mixed attitudes towards Trump. At least one seems to praise him, but others are known to call him a tyrant. Saying Trump has some responsibility in this has two components: whether that's what Trump intended and whether the people acting interpreted his statement as such. Both motivations are relevant in discussing the issue.

Wolverine Watchmen militia linked to Whitmer kidnap plot has Boogaloo ties | Bridge Michigan

It looks like the status of their motivation being inspired by Trump is "unknown" at this point.

Fact-check: Did Trump's 'Liberate Michigan' Tweet Inspire Plot to Kidnap Gov. Whitmer?

 

[Lark]

#puremichigan

Even though Whitmer is easily the worst governor this state has ever had, drunk on self appointed unconstitutional power, and one of the first figures in public office to turn the pandemic into a toxic partisan shit-show, all while eviscerating the state economy and presiding over the 12th highest death rate from Covid among the states, I certainly would not want to see her assaulted/kidnapped, and I certainly do not want to deal with a civil war (which I understand was the underlying intention). I'd rather just vote her out of office when the time comes like a civil american. Hopefully the people who voted her in learned their lesson.

Trying to blame Trump for this is one hell of a TDS stretch. It's OK to not like Trump, but can we please just put down the MSM narrative that has been proven like ten billion times in the last four years to be absolute horse shit?

What do you think the US should do about domestic terrorists targetting elected officials?

 

[Lark]

I was curious whether or not the group itself identified their motivation as being related to Trump, and so far it seems like they have mixed attitudes towards Trump. At least one seems to praise him, but others are known to call him a tyrant. Saying Trump has some responsibility in this has two components: whether that's what Trump intended and whether the people acting interpreted his statement as such. Both motivations are relevant in discussing the issue.

Wolverine Watchmen militia linked to Whitmer kidnap plot has Boogaloo ties | Bridge Michigan

It looks like the status of their motivation being inspired by Trump is "unknown" at this point.

Fact-check: Did Trump's 'Liberate Michigan' Tweet Inspire Plot to Kidnap Gov. Whitmer?

The direct action militant tendencies having mixed attitudes towards politicians doesnt surprise me, its a pattern the world over and all through the ages.

The cleverer militants may admire or be inspired by politicians of one time or another but observe or recognize the importance of those same politicians being able to exercise a plausible deniability when it comes to any identification between them and violence. There was a lot of that here in NI during the troubles.

Finally, whether or not Trump has anything to do with it is less important than the views of the establishment about dealing with domestic terrorists.

 

[Jaguar]

I was curious whether or not the group itself identified their motivation as being related to Trump, and so far it seems like they have mixed attitudes towards Trump. At least one seems to praise him, but others are known to call him a tyrant. Saying Trump has some responsibility in this has two components: whether that's what Trump intended and whether the people acting interpreted his statement as such. Both motivations are relevant in discussing the issue.

Wolverine Watchmen militia linked to Whitmer kidnap plot has Boogaloo ties | Bridge Michigan

It looks like the status of their motivation being inspired by Trump is "unknown" at this point.

Fact-check: Did Trump's 'Liberate Michigan' Tweet Inspire Plot to Kidnap Gov. Whitmer?

It's a mixed bag:

Alleged Whitmer kidnapping plotter posted anti-Trump video

 

[anticlimatic]

What do you think the US should do about domestic terrorists targetting elected officials?

Have the local magistrate arrest them and punish them accordingly....

 

[Lark]

Have the local magistrate arrest them and punish them accordingly....

Given that you've shared an image from a movie in which that guy clearly misjudged the situation its hard to know what you really mean.

 

[anticlimatic]

Given that you've shared an image from a movie in which that guy clearly misjudged the situation its hard to know what you really mean.

A couple layers. First, on its face, the government should arrest and try people that it discovers are trying to commit acts of terror on its citizens, elected officials included. And second, the government can help prevent its citizens from doing it in the first place by not being unconstitutional petty dictators.

 

[Jonny]

Sounds like a case of Whitmer Derangement Syndrome brought about by consumption of fake far-right news media. What else could explain someone who also believes Biden could only win by cheating?

Michigan voters approve of Whitmer's handling of pandemic, poll finds

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

A couple layers. First, on its face, the government should arrest and try people that it discovers are trying to commit acts of terror on its citizens, elected officials included. And second, the government can help prevent its citizens from doing it in the first place by not being unconstitutional petty dictators.

Unconstitutional petty dictators? Oh right, because government intervention is socialism.

There's nothing in the constitution about preventing monopolies, either.

 

[ceecee]

Sounds like a case of Whitmer Derangement Syndrome brought about by consumption of fake far-right news media. What else could explain someone who also believes Biden could only win by cheating?

Michigan voters approve of Whitmer's handling of pandemic, poll finds

See that's the thing. How is she, just her alone, an unconstitutional dictator when most other governess are doing the same thing to I guess keep people alive. <cue running in screaming about nursing home deaths >. But on the flip side, these chuds won't wear a mask and don't seem to grasp if everyone wears them, they can reopen most places.

I think this has always been something conservatives and right wingers do to justify their own behavior- belief in layers and layers of crazy conspiracy theories and truly hateful lies. That's why they blame the media or the left or the deep state and walk back things they say constantly or claim they - have no idea what you're talking about. It's just an obtuse nastiness a lot of these people possess. That's what they have to do to live with the things they support. It doesn't and won't make sense to everyone else.

 

[anticlimatic]

Unconstitutional petty dictators? Oh right, because government intervention is socialism.

There's nothing in the constitution about preventing monopolies, either.

The Boston tea party was essentially a "fuck you" to trade monopolies, which the American revolution itself was predicated on. It's also one of the primary reasons the power of the executive branch was deliberately choked down when written, and also why congress was forbidden from directly employing corporations. But, as we all know, human beings have a way of sucking power through the cracks and circumventing the original designer's ideas- which is why a call to get back to founding principals, in the context in which they were originally written, is always a good one.

Michigan is a battleground state, split somewhat in half north and south between the red counties and the blue counties, so no matter who our governor is half the population is going to disagree with how they govern- so when someone declares an emergency, and unlocks extra executive authority and control over citizens (particularly, the half of them that already disagree with their style of governance), and then keeps re-instating that power over and over again with no congressional approval, it's clearly going to upset those people- especially the ones who are directly impacted by her more arbitrary state/county-specific mandates, mostly business owners who are under water thanks to the lockdowns, or the inability to hire anyone in the service sector because no business owner can compete with the bloated unemployment benefits the state is offering. When the supreme court finally caught up to the unconstitutionality of her actions and ruled it thus, she essentially just side-stepped it and kept on going. People who enjoy living in fear, enjoy getting free short-term cash, and won't eventually be on the hook for personally rebuilding a state where this economic crater currently is will support whatever dictatorial decrees she imposes, but people who enjoy liberty, want to work/build things, and aren't afraid of the <1% covid death rate are getting the short end of the stick.

 

[anticlimatic]

Man accused of hatching plot to kidnap Whitmer is BLM supporter and made comments critical of police

I don't blame BLM for what they were trying to do, for the record. Though promoting anarchy and lawlessness doesn't really help.

 

[Kingu Kurimuzon]

She’s one of the kneejerk clowns who pushed to ban vaping across the board.

 

[ceecee]

I don't know who needs to hear this but the Boogaloo is NOT a cohesive movement. There are anti-government Boog, anti-cop Boog, white supremacist Boog, Neo-Nazi Boog, neo-Confederate civil war fetish Boog.

Boog have been at BLM rallies since long before the plot to kidnap the governor - it doesn't make them BLM allies. But if people actually read more than The Washington Examiner lol, they might know this already. But they don't, so I'm saying it.

Shit like this headline..

Accused Killer Of California Cops Was Associated With Right-Wing 'Boogaloo Movement'

...is also misleading and fosters ignorant views on the subject.

For anyone that really wants to know what's going on, this is an excellent follow.

https://twitter.com/jjmacnab

 

[Jaguar]

Sounds like a case of Whitmer Derangement Syndrome brought about by consumption of fake far-right news media. What else could explain someone who also believes Biden could only win by cheating?

Michigan voters approve of Whitmer's handling of pandemic, poll finds

WDS? Yes, I've heard of the malady.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

The Boston tea party was essentially a "fuck you" to trade monopolies, which the American revolution itself was predicated on. It's also one of the primary reasons the power of the executive branch was deliberately choked down when written, and also why congress was forbidden from directly employing corporations. But, as we all know, human beings have a way of sucking power through the cracks and circumventing the original designer's ideas- which is why a call to get back to founding principals, in the context in which they were originally written, is always a good one.

That doesn't change the fact that there's nothing in the constitution about preventing monopolies. Can you prove me wrong and find a passage?

 

[ceecee]

Man In Militia Plot To Kidnap Michigan Governor Shared Stage With Extremist Sheriff | HuffPost

There is good information in here about the Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA).

The CSPOA is the flagship organization of the constitutional sheriff’s movement, which maintains that sheriffs are the ultimate law-enforcement authority in their respective counties, outranking officials from the federal or state government. Constitutional sheriffs are part of the broader antigovernment “patriot” movement in the U.S., which is animated by a multitude of conspiracy theories about immigrants, Muslims, Jews, gun control measures, and a coming “New World Order.”

The CSPOA also has a close working relationship with armed far-right paramilitary groups. Among those who attended the 2019 CSPOA conference with Leaf was Stewart Rhodes, leader of the national militia organization the Oath Keepers.

But...

Leaf said he had no regrets for having appeared at the rally with the recently arrested militiaman. He added that he knew Null — as well as his identical twin, Michael, who was also arrested in the terror plot — and called the brothers “nice” and “respectful.”

which is all that matters. Civility, polite and lol respectful.

The man that ran against him in 2016 got death threats, his children were threatened and followed and someone tried to blow up his car. I'm sure it was one of those nice and respectful people. He's left the area. That's the tyranny of small town America in many cases.

 

[Julius_Van_Der_Beak]

The man that ran against him in 2016 got death threats, his children were threatened and followed and someone tried to blow up his car. I'm sure it was one of those nice and respectful people. He's left the area. That's the tyranny of small town America in many cases.

You just don't understand right wing values.

 

[ceecee]

You just don't understand right wing values.

My husband always tells me that when the posse of pick ups flying Trump and confederate flags congregate in the Wal-Mart parking lot.

My fam and friends that live on the other side of the state never really believed it when I described the sheriff and living in this county. Now they are like

But there is a regular Board of Commissioners meeting tomorrow morning and they'll be asking for his resignation. I don't think that will be successful but there is a lot of light shining on this. That might be a benefit for the future.