Should we let Trump crack down on Portland?

[Slartibartfast]

Hypothetical scenario, but perhaps something to try. At least a thought experiment.

Lets say we put in the national guard into Portland and let them beat and tear gas the protestors and/or rioters like they did outside the Whitehouse and in other places.

What are the possible results?

1. Further galvanization of those who are likely to protest and a general increase in the intensity and destructiveness of protests, creating a need for a bigger response?
2. People go "this is no too much for me!" and go home and the protests stop?
3. Protests in more locations as people who are sympathetic become angry and take to the streets themselves?
4. The police become further demonized (whether appropriately or inappropriately, depending on one's perspective) and perhaps feel even more embattled, justifying their approach to the population in general, increasing incidents of the types of police response that galvanized people in the first place?
5. People increasingly support the police and the opposite of idea 4 happens?
6. People either increase or decrease their support for Trump based on factors 1 to 5?
7. An idea that I did not think of?

But for the sake of the thought experiment, what do you think is likely to happen if we let Trump go in like he asked to do? How would that affect this country, its climate, national opinion, its politics, or even the election? What would the reaction of the protesters and/or rioters likely be? Will it cause a bigger issue or will it make the issue go away?

 

[What if...?]

Hypothetical scenario, but perhaps something to try. At least a thought experiment.

Lets say we put in the national guard into Portland and let them beat and tear gas the protestors and/or rioters like they did outside the Whitehouse and in other places.

What are the possible results?

1. Further galvanization of those who are likely to protest and a general increase in the intensity and destructiveness of protests, creating a need for a bigger response?
2. People go "this is no too much for me!" and go home and the protests stop?
3. Protests in more locations as people who are sympathetic become angry and take to the streets themselves?
4. The police become further demonized (whether appropriately or inappropriately, depending on one's perspective) and perhaps feel even more embattled, justifying their approach to the population in general, increasing incidents of the types of police response that galvanized people in the first place?
5. People increasingly support the police and the opposite of idea 4 happens?
6. People either increase or decrease their support for Trump based on factors 1 to 5?
7. An idea that I did not think of?

But for the sake of the thought experiment, what do you think is likely to happen if we let Trump go in like he asked to do? How would that affect this country, its climate, national opinion, its politics, or even the election? What would the reaction of the protesters and/or rioters likely be? Will it cause a bigger issue or will it make the issue go away?

Probably number one.

I just hope there are no incidents of crowds turning on cops.

At one point bicycle cops were out in formation. Maybe twenty.

An aerial shot showed that a crowd had entered the block behind them and tactically they were trapped between two groups of angry protesters. Nothing happened thankfully.

But I have seen more than one situation where the cops were so outnumbered that they could not have won if the crowd went for them.

And in reality it's for a photo op and conservative media has gone out of it's way to film the small area of Portland in question to make it look like the whole city is on fire.

And they can only get so many of executive guard troops in that small of an area. So propaganda photos will be harder to get.

Maybe it's time for dancers in gas masks and flowing grey costumes to do interpretive dances in the tear gas and introduce rubber bullet deflecting exercise trampoline phalanxes. And leaf blowers. I would love to shake the hand of the person who thought to try that and discovered an effective counter to tear gas!

 

[Mycroft]

Hypothetical scenario, but perhaps something to try. At least a thought experiment.

Lets say we put in the national guard into Portland and let them beat and tear gas the protestors and/or rioters like they did outside the Whitehouse and in other places.

What are the possible results?

1. Further galvanization of those who are likely to protest and a general increase in the intensity and destructiveness of protests, creating a need for a bigger response?
2. People go "this is no too much for me!" and go home and the protests stop?
3. Protests in more locations as people who are sympathetic become angry and take to the streets themselves?
4. The police become further demonized (whether appropriately or inappropriately, depending on one's perspective) and perhaps feel even more embattled, justifying their approach to the population in general, increasing incidents of the types of police response that galvanized people in the first place?
5. People increasingly support the police and the opposite of idea 4 happens?
6. People either increase or decrease their support for Trump based on factors 1 to 5?
7. An idea that I did not think of?

But for the sake of the thought experiment, what do you think is likely to happen if we let Trump go in like he asked to do? How would that affect this country, its climate, national opinion, its politics, or even the election? What would the reaction of the protesters and/or rioters likely be? Will it cause a bigger issue or will it make the issue go away?

First of all, if the National Guard were brought into downtown Portland, that's not all that would happen. There would also be a strict curfew and other rules. That means anyone who is on the streets is breaking the law. So...any conflicts between the NG and rioters will be instigated by the rioters and will be immediately suppressed by the NG and a lot of people will be arrested.

That will be the first instance. If the rioters come back, it'll happen again and a lot more will be arrested. It won't take too many nights for the rioters to decide to stay away.

Mission accomplished.

As far as the rest of it...your guesses about how "people" might react. Who cares? Whether their support for Trump increases or decreases is irrelevant. The rule of law and public safety is all that matters. If people other than the rioters have a problem with that, well they can trot themselves downtown and join the rioters in jail.

 

[rickc]

Lets think about this a minute

Just when has Trump ever hesitated do do whatever he wanted no matter who said he couldn't

But the protest play right into his hands. Can you think of anything that could fire up his base more than a bunch of black people burning and looting. He is not going to stop it. He will have right wing media play it to the hilt.