Stop the institutionalization of cruelty

By Spocko

Below Digby highlighted a comment from Mike Godwin of “Godwin’s Law”
From the last paragraph:

“But Godwin’s Law was never meant to block us from challenging the institutionalization of cruelty or the callousness of officials who claim to be just following the law.”

Yes, we must challenge the institutionalization of cruelty. Now is the time to condemn the callousness of officials who claim to be just following the law. Let’s rebuke the people who support cruelty. It’s time to remove from office the officials who put cruelty in place in our country.

the WARMED CHICKPEA CAULIFLOWER MANGO SALAD, was great!

I had dinner with some wonderful old friends this evening. One wanted to understand why a certain group of people were supporting what he called “meanness.”  He wasn’t talking about the 30 some percent of white men and women who have been marginalized or left behind. Nor the racists or bigots. What was behind the additional 15 to 18 percent of people who still support Trump?  These people didn’t fit the “economic insecurity” box.  They had money and were smart people.

We discussed people who fit this  category. Why were they still supporting Trump? I had some thoughts, I quoted from Altemeyer’s The Authoritarians  I talked about the need to be seen as “tough” some men have. I covered the right wing aggrievement that Sam Seder and Digby talk about and the way the conservatives like to “piss off the liberals” that Atrios covers.

But none of those reasons seem to fit this group of people that he and his wife had encountered.

My very smart friend Sara Robinson often directs me to pieces that help explain how conservatives think, like this one. ( Why Trump country is unfazed by the child separation crisis ) The desire to understand is good because we hope understanding will lead to the changing of minds.

Explanations for behaviors are good too. It’s useful to learn that some people believe in cruelty because of X, Y and Z. But even if I can’t understand why someone believes in meanness or cruelty, and I haven’t figured out the process to change them, I CAN still work to stop the implementation of it.

We can try to understand people and also say.

“We as Americans should not be cruel.”

That people believe cruelty is acceptable is a tragedy and a failure of our institutions of education, religion and culture.  Today in our country people are working to bring more cruelty into the world.  This is tragic.

Cruelty rejects the best values of our country as codified in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Acceptance of cruelty is morally repugnant and is rejected by the major religions that people profess to be part of.

You’re telling me his name is Hey Zeus?

This meanness and cruelty will lead to future economic pain for our country. It crushes human advancement in areas as diverse as science and art. (Just look at the benefits we have gotten from intellectual and artistic refugees for years.)

Culturally the institutionalization of cruelty is horrifying and ugly.

I could go into the myth of the effectiveness of cruelty as a deterrent to immigration, but that’s like discussing  the utility of torture.  I can point to all the ways that torture doesn’t work, but then we are arguing about something else. It is the institutionalization of cruelty that we are doing now that is horrific.  (My friend Dr. Rebecca Gordon, has a lot to say about state sponsored torture and what it means)

One of Dr. Gordon’s many points is that torture has terrible effects to all involved, not just on the person being tortured, but to the person doing the torture. 

My friend Interrobang pointed out to me that Americans never put themselves in the position of the person being tortured, just the ones doing the torture.

Americans who support cruel policies and the people who implement them don’t put themselves in the position of the refugee. They see themselves as the one in power in control who can help or not help.  I wish these people didn’t feel this way, I’d like to change their minds, but if I can’t I’m not going to start supporting cruelty.

Watch this clip from the Majority Report by CNN at a diner in Arizona talking to supporters of Trump’s policy of state sponsorsed child abuse and cruelty.

You can  see three of the ways that the people justify their cruelty.

1) They are bad guys who break the law
2) They are coming here to get our stuff
3)  “Stop picking on me for supporting cruel policies!”

I can argue with these people, point out the incorrect and incomplete facts they are holding onto. The truth doesn’t always work for them, though. “I don’t care if you can prove it to me, I still won’t believe you!”
What we need to do at the same time is to take steps to stop the institutionalization of cruelty. Some people aren’t going to come around, so we move forward away from their views into a better human and humane future.

What To Do If Kids Separated From Parents Are Found In Your City?

by Spocko

On Wednesday Rachel Maddow interviewed Garance Burke, the national investigative reporter for the Associated Press, about “tender age” facilities where the Trump administration is keeping babies and toddlers taken from parents seeking asylum in the U.S.

Garance Burke, national investigative reporter for the AP, discusses “tender age” facilities where the Trump administration is keeping babies and toddlers taken from parents seeking asylum in the U.S.

Burke explained that children were being sent to many places around the country. Rachel then did a segment. Are they holding them in your state? In your town?

She described how people who have knowledge of what is going on are leaking to the press.

On Thursday we started to see this happening. Chicago-based Heartland Alliance confirmed it was providing shelter for migrant children who were separated from their families. CBS’s Lauren Victory did a story about what they found out. At the time they didn’t know how many children or where they are located.

The reporter contacted the Mayor’s office who didn’t know anything about it. The reporter was still investigating. What happens next?

What should you do if you find out separated children are in your city? Find the location and organize a protest? It depends on who the players are and what your goals are.

What if you find out kids are being held in a “tender age” facility run by a government agency? People should learn where the kids are so they can protest at the location. Burke talked about how she found the “tender age” facilities by following the vendors and suppliers to the locations of the facilities.

But what if the children are in a non-profit shelter that’s not bad? You could find the location the kids are being held and go protest there, but maybe the reason they don’t want locations to be known is they also house children from domestic violence cases.

Maybe the kids have their own rooms, aren’t in cages or drugged. Maybe the non-profit is providing good shelter. The separation of families still needs to be protested, because the kids still aren’t with their parents.

Young immigrants arrive with their parents at the Catholic Charities RGV after they were processed and released Tuesday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection in McAllen, Texas.

I’ve found lots of good people in nonprofits who want to help kids. They too are disgusted by Trump’s program and the concentration camp facilities with ceiling-high metal fencing, space blankets and 24/7 lighting.

For example, from Heartland Alliance website:

“Heartland Alliance does not agree with separating children from their parents at the border. It is our moral obligation to keep children safe while they are in our care.

We operate nine shelters in the Chicagoland area, and our first priority is the safety and welfare of the children in our care. We provide a stable, nurturing environment. Our staff speak the languages of the children in their care. They focus on the children’s well-being and help them to heal from trauma, and work to reunify the children with their families as soon as possible. Keeping the identities of children and details of their circumstances confidential is essential to these efforts.”

In the process of helping the kids, and protesting the program, you don’t want to hurt the people who are trying to do the right thing. So what can you do?

Find The Best Images and Allies

A big part of this story involves showing images of the bad conditions the kids are being held in. If you want to show bad shelter conditions, but not specific locations, there are ways to do it. Find elected officials who can go to undisclosed locations to ask to inspect the facilities.

This gives you a chance for a visual and a message. If the person can’t get in to see the children, you still have video of a politician opposing the program. With a politician and a protest at a symbolic location, a media outlet can still do a story about the terrible program, even if there are no crying babies.

And here is another big reason you don’t always want to go to the location. The visuals of the kids in the shelter might not be terrible! I have a source who confirms good conditions for the kids in Heartland Alliance shelters. I was happy to hear that, but the kids still aren’t with their parents. But even if conditions are fine, the previous cases of separation still need to be protested.

The media now has to mention the executive order the President signed. But it doesn’t address what is happening with the children already separated. Stories of separation and what happens to those families needs to come out in your media now. This is important to do because Fox News will be searching for and providing examples of abuses of the immigration and asylum system.

Prepare for the GOP Fox News Pushback

Something I don’t see activists working though is the need to anticipate the GOP response to actions. For example, once you have picked a Democratic politician who will talk about the child separation program in your city, they need to be prepared for the GOP response. Yesterday I watched a politician and bunch of obese white people in a cafe in Arizona throw out talking points that support Trump’s baby snatching program.

“The parents illegally came here… blah, blah, blah. “

If your Democratic politician knows what the GOP opposition will say and your spokesperson knows what the fat white people in Arizona will use as talking points, they can preempt them with specifics of the families involved.

Trump supporters deal in generalities and imaginary bad guys. When given a specific case to comment on they get stumped and move to generalities.

Know About The Worse Cases And Best Cases

We will need to provide lots of real cases to show the public because the Trump supporters will be shown cases of abuse of the asylum system and cases of crime from illegal immigrants.

(I wrote this part last night. This afternoon Trump held an event where he gave statistics of “the human toll of illegal immigrant” He starts talking about homicides and kidnapping from a 2011 report with idea over what period of time these happened. Then he talks about arrests in Texas over 7 years of “criminal aliens” (vs “illegal aliens”) with no break down of the crimes. After talking about murder, robbery and kidnapping people will assume they are from homicides, robberies or kidnapping. The Washington Post did an analysis of Trump’s number of crimes committed by people who entered the US illegally? Guess what? They are totally BS, untrue, made up. Source>? from PETE KING from 2005 https://t.co/PqaONObTuN )

Fox or Trump PR will find a story of a human trafficker from MS-13 who claimed to be a parent. Even if they have to go back years and ignore tens of thousands legitimate asylum seekers, they will get that story to Fox, Breitbart and Town Hall.

Fox will explain that the bad guy came in under Obama years ago! Fox will then run that story of the abuse of the system 24/7. It will be shared and forwarded on email and Facebook millions of times just to prove to the libtards that bad people slipped through.

Then, because of the Fox story of abuse, the MSM will run a story about it. Because of how the MSM works thousands of legitimate asylum seekers will be “balanced” against a handful of abuses, making it look like half of the people entering are liars. That is why a big part of our job as activists is to show the preponderance of evidence of why asylum programs are necessary.

Soon, the right wing will find stories of people who gamed the system, they will find and share specific stories of immigration abuses and coached children- because they exist. We don’t need to deny the stories exist (although we do need to verify them!) In response we need to show and share examples from the tens of thousands of cases where the need for asylum was real, the children weren’t coached and the parents were trying to get away from a bad situation to a better life.

Finally we should also show stories of what great citizens the dreamers and asylum seekers have become.

Why Was Melania given credit for Trump’s change on child snatching?

By Spocko

An NPR story today called Melania Trump, “a private lobbying force behind President Trump’s change of heart on his controversial policy that resulted in thousands of family separations at the southern U.S. border.”

A White House official confirmed to NPR’s Sarah McCammon that Mrs. Trump pressed her husband to act to keep undocumented immigrant families together.

“She’s been talking to him about it from the very beginning,” the official said, who declined to speak on the record due to the sensitivity of the issue. The first lady’s “Be Best” initiative is focused on the well-being of children. 

          NPR: Melania Trump Pressured President Trump To Change Family Separation Policy,
          by Jessica Taylor

Mrs. Trump, shown here during a viewing of the caged children.

.
When Trump gets busted for something bad, he usually finds a scapegoat to take the heat. When he makes a change in a bad policy he doesn’t want to acknowledge that any outside force caused him to change his mind.  Trump doesn’t want anyone to think that his mind CAN be changed, especially by protests from Democrats.

Trump also doesn’t want to give credit to Republicans who asked him to change his mind. That would be giving them perceived power over him. He won’t acknowledge the actual reason, a disastrous public response.

Remember the change in policy after Trump saw the photos of kids in Syria? Was it really Ivanka who showed him the photos that changed his mind, or was she simply given CREDIT for it?

In general Trump doesn’t want to acknowledge what leverage works on him. It would be admitting weakness.  By giving the credit to Melania, it makes her look like a person with power over the President.  Yes, she might have some influence, but saying Melania convinced him is really just an acceptable excuse to use for  the media instead of the actual reason. Plus, it helps push her her #beBest initiative. She’s probably still pissed at him and giving her credit for this change is one way to appease her.

Baby Gitmo is Bad PR
We know that Trump watches a lot of TV, but it wasn’t until images of the kids in cages reached him and his remaining staff, did he finally get the, “This is bad.” feeling.

The reason that we never saw the girls who were separated from their parents? It’s the same reason that factory farms pass Ag Gag laws.  They don’t want people to see atrocities on their TV screens.

Going forward we should note that reaching Trump involves creating the images that get to him.  This is why everyone in the White House goes to Fox and Friends to reach him. To reach Fox and Friends you have to give them something to show, even it is so they can downplay it or lie about it or justify it.

Activists know the importance of photos and video. The media aren’t going to get these images and videos by themselves.  We need to help them.

Sometimes we need to make our own videos, other times we need to tip off the media so they can get the images.  Now is the time for insiders or people who know insiders at the Baby Gitmos to act.  Here’s a tip. Find a third party to get the story to the media.

For example, maybe you know the guy who delivers diapers to your local Baby Gitmo. You don’t want to be the whistleblower, but if the diaper delivery guy gets the idea, totally out of the blue, to call his local TV station with what he noticed… well it’s not your fault he noticed, you just work in shipping and receiving!

I want a DeTrumpication of the Country

By Spocko

When I read about Presidential pardons being handed out to “clean things up” I feel my Angry Left human side rise up. I really want to see some serious prosecution of the jerks who are driving the fascist state. I want them to get caught, disgraced, lose their money and go to jail.

I want the people who supported them to not get away with the, “I barely even knew them!” crap.

I want these jerks to get caught for crimes they committed, flip on the crimes that others committed, and then NOT get off easily for their own crimes.

I don’t want them to get a fine and get rehabilitated on Fox News.

When the Democrats get back in power, I don’t want them to “move on” or “look forward, not backward.” I want them to hold investigations and trials. I want them to repeal laws that made corrupt things legal.

 I want the  DeTrumpication of the country

I’m tired of Republican politicians not getting their feet held to the fire for their support of fascist policies. I want them to OWN Trump hard now, so that when he goes down, they go down with him.

I want the media to keep asking why the degradation of Constitutional values is acceptable to Republicans.

I want the Democrats to have a thirst for punishment, instead of a timid attitude of, “Well, the Republicans are just like me, I better not piss them off, because then they’ll come after me when they are in power.”

To return to norms of humanity, decency and American constitutional values we need punishment of the breaking of those values. Otherwise they become the norms.

Transcription of Trump’s cheezy “In A World” movie trailer for North Korean summit

By Spocko

Two men. Two leaders. One crappy movie trailer.

Here is the video link on Facebook for those who want to see the high res version.

My friend Dan Mcenroe, a brilliant video production guy in Sweden, saw this live at about 1:30 am California  time. He said,

“They cut a fucking TRAILER for the summit. I’m dead serious. They’re showing it on big screens to the media. It’s crazy. They actually got a trailer voice guy who says shit like, “Destiny Pictures presents…” and, “…featuring Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un.” At one point they say something like, “Two men, two LEADERS have two paths before them,” and show a montage of nuclear missiles launching followed by a montage of kids on a playground and shit. Then trailer voice guy intones, “Which path will they choose?” This is like an SNL digital short. My head is spinning.” 

I transcribed the entire 4 minute piece.

Seven billion people inhabit planet Earth. Of those people alive today only a small number will leave a lasting impact. And only the very few will make decisions or take actions that will renew their homeland and change the course of history. History may appear to repeat itself for generations, cycles that never seem to end. There have been times of relative peace and times of great tension. While this cycle repeats, the light of prosperity and innovation has burned bright for most of the world. History is always evolving and there comes a time when only a few are called upon to make a difference. But the question is, “What difference will the few make? The past doesn’t have to be the future. Out of the darkness can come the light and the light of hope can burn bright.

What if a people that share a common and rich heritage can find a common future? Their story is well known. But what will be their sequel? Destiny Pictures presents a story of opportunity. A new story, a new beginning. One of peace. Two men. Two leaders. One destiny. A story about a special moment in time when a man is presented with one chance that may never be repeated. What will he choose? To show vision and leadership? Or not?

There can only be two results. One of moving back. Or one of moving forward. A new world can begin today. One of friendship, respect and good will. Be part of that world where the doors of opportunity are ready to be open. Investment from around the world, where you can have medical breakthroughs and an abundant resources. Innovative technology and new discoveries. What if? Can history be changed? Will the world embrace this change?  And when could this moment in history begin? It comes down to a choice on this day, in this time, at this moment. The world will be watching, listening, anticipating, hoping. Will this leader choose to advance his country and be part of the new world? Be the hero of his people? Will he shake the hand of peace and enjoy prosperity like he has never seen? A great life? Or more isolation? Which path will be chosen? Featuring President Donald Trump and Chairman Kim Jong Un. In a meeting to remake history. To shine in the sun. One moment, one choice. What if? The future remains to be written.

What will he choose? To show vision and leadership? Or not?

As Dan said, this is a really crappy video production. It looks like it was thrown together quickly. They used stock video images and generic music.

The script is designed to appeal to an audience of two. Trump and Kim Jong Un. (Trump showed him this video on an iPad.)  It is important to understand why this script was written. It was designed to flatter Trump.

When something like this comes out of the Trump White House it tells you something about how Trump wants the world to see him. He sees himself as that “one man” who is remaking history.
He is shining in the sun.

Trump believes he is the hero the whole world is watching and listening to.

I think the video will work on Kim, because it is designed for Trump, a wanna be dictator. It includes all the flattering that insecure men need.

We all saw the photo that Merkel’s office sent out with Trump sitting and everyone else standing over him.  But what you might not have seen is the photo the Press Secretary’s office put out.  I’ve lightened the face of Trump and darkened the foreground so you can see better.  This is where Trump wants to be, at center of everyone’s attention.

The childish script and cheezy video actual left me optimistic for the future. It’s important to know your audience. This video was designed to flatter and hopefully calm down two people with huge egos, bad haircuts and nuclear arsenals at their disposal.

We aren’t dead today, that’s a good thing. The hand of peace has been shaken.

Next week I expect the White House to take out “For your Consideration.” ads in the Economist,
“Donald Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.”

Let’s focus on the “If he SHOT Comey” part of Rudy’s trial balloon

By Spocko

People are writing about the impeachment vs indictment part of Giuliani’s comment, because that is what normal people do.

Giuliani said impeachment was the initial remedy for a president’s illegal behavior ― even in the extreme hypothetical case of Trump having shot former FBI Director James Comey to end the Russia investigation rather than just firing him.

“If he shot James Comey, he’d be impeached the next day,” Giuliani said. “Impeach him, and then
you can do whatever you want to do to him.”

But look at the violent rhetoric Giuliani uses, “If he shot…“
Shot, not punched with his tiny hands. Shot, not stabbed in the back. Shot. Not fired from a fake Apprentice job.

Trump wants to shoot and kill his enemies.

I think this comment is about something on the #TrumpTapes. Rudy says what Trump wants to do out loud. The media and some of us are using the “Rudy is a dotty old man bit” to discount his comment. But to diminish them allows the Trump Team to float outrageous trial balloon after trial balloon to reset expectations on normalcy.

Let’s imagine audio of Trump telling Michael Cohen to threaten Stormy Daniels with violence. Violence ordered by Trump might not sound so bad as compared to him using personal lethal violence with a gun.

This is all about setting expectations. It’s like the old joke where the kid tells his dad some horrible story and at the end of it he says, “It’s not true!” because it makes the fender bender of the car sound better.

I’ve been writing about the terrible effect of the right wing using violent rhetoric for over a decade.
I like to remind people that threatening speech is not protected speech. Giuliani could have used a number of other words, but he wanted to create an NRA-approved image. “Trump can personally shoot and kill someone.”

The image Giuliani uses is Trump personally shooting the head of the FBI. Executing him.

You will note this isn’t an image of Trump acting in self defense. Giuliani created an image of Trump shooting and killing someone who he feels wronged him. This is Trump using lethal violence.

For Comey in this scenario there is no arrest. No trial. No Judge. No jury of peers. Just BLAM! Trump as the gunfighter shooting the bad guy, Comey.

But even mob bosses don’t do their own killing. they order others to do it for them. They have people “whacked” or other euphemisms for physical violence.

When a comms team floats a trial balloon of the most extreme case, they are hoping to learn something and set up something. Rudy’s trial balloon tells us to expect the next level down from Trump personally executing a defenseless man with a gun.

In Rwanda the radio hosts for the Hutu’s said “Cut the tall trees” when they wanted to tell Hutus to kill the Tutsis. They didn’t say, “Take a machete and kill your neighbor.” But people knew that was what they were talking about. I’ve got 5 Quatloos on Trump telling Cohen to do some kind of physical violence to Stormy Daniels. Then people will start arguing about what is to be taken seriously vs what is hyperbole. “It’s not like Trump told Cohen to shoot her!”

Therefore, when the #TrumpTapes come out, please keep in mind that this is not a TV show. This was not some clowns joking. This was not some dotty old men shaking their fists at some mean lady with no actual plans to do anything. This happened before the election. Just because Trump personally didn’t shoot someone doesn’t make the threats he DID make okay.

This is real life, not Apprentice Mob Boss

Following the release of the #TrumpTapes the public and the media must demand all the elected adults act. This means impeaching the president, then indicting him. Then arresting and trying him. That’s what normal people do in a democracy.

 Watch The Americanization of Emily, an anti-war movie written by Paddy Chayefsky


by Spocko
Do you want to watch an anti-war movie following Memorial Day? I recommend watching The Americanization of Emily. The screenplay is by Paddy Chayefsky, who wrote Network. As you know, I’m a huge fan of Network. It changed the way I looked at the news businesses. This movie stars Julie Andrews and James Garner.  It goes places you really don’t expect, and makes a case against war in a very different way. It was anti-war about WWII, the “good war” which people have an easier time justifying.

Here’s the set up:
In wartime London just before D-Day, Lieut. Comdr. Charlie Madison (James Garner), an aide to eccentric Rear Admiral Jessup (Melvyn Douglas), specializes in supplying the top Navy officers with luxuries such as party girls. Madison is a proponent of cowardice as a virtue because he believes reverence of heroism promotes war. He falls in love with Emily Barham (Julie Andrews), his British motor pool driver, a young woman who has lost her husband, brother and father in the war.

I’d love to share all the long quotes from the film to show just how interesting the views are and how brilliant the screenplay is. Here are three clips from the scene with James Garner’s character talking to Mrs. Barham, the mother of Julie Andrews’ character, Emily.
First he talks about how war gives a man a chance to do something redeeming. Next he talks about how he believes in cowardness.

In the final clip he talks about how we perpetuate war. The following quote is from this clip.

Lt. Cmdr. Charles E. Madison: I don’t trust people who make bitter reflections about war, Mrs. Barham. It’s always the general with the bloodiest records who are the first to shout what a hell it is. It’s always the war widows who lead the Memorial Day parades.

Emily Barham: That was unkind, Charlie, and very rude.

Lt. Cmdr. Charles E. Madison: We shall never end wars, Mrs. Barham, by blaming it on the ministers and generals, or warmongering imperialists, or all the other banal bogeys. It’s the rest of us who build statues to those generals and name boulevards after those ministers. The rest of us who make heroes of our dead and shrines of our battlefields. We wear our widow’s weeds like nuns, Mrs. Barham, and perpetuate war by exalting its sacrifices.

Trivia:  James Garner said it was his favorite movie. Julie Andrews made this film between Mary Poppins and Sound of Music. The movie is available to stream on Filmstruck.com. It’s a great quality transfer of the B&W print. They have lots of great movies and a free trial for new subscribers. I’m watching a bunch of musicals next.

Another interesting connection that I don’t think anyone has made is that James Garner’s character and his eventual involvement in the war is very much like Tom Cruise’s character in Edge of Tomorrow.

The Tactics of The NRA Fox GOP Intimidation Machine

By Spocko

My friend Amanda Gailey protested outside of NRA lobbyist Chris Cox’s home and his wife’s business, Ivy Lane Linens & Living in Old Town Alexandria Virginia, a few weeks ago. I wrote about it here, NRA Fears Women Brandishing Posters Protest Gun-Lobbyist Cox

Both protests were peaceful and legal. The Coxs called the police at both locations. The police made it clear the protesters did nothing wrong, however a woman identified as Cox’s wife did assault Catherine Koebel, one of the two protesters at the business, when she snatched the video recording phone from her hand and threw it on the ground. Catherine Koebel declined to press charges

The WaPo did a story about this. Protesters target NRA lobbyist’s home and wife’s business

Amanda Gailey, left, and Catherine Koebel, co-founders of The Great American Gun Melt, protest outside NRA lobbyist Chris Cox’s home in Alexandria this month. (The Great American Gun Melt)

Tucker Carlson did a story about it during his ‘The Aggressive Left segment” under the heading “Campus Craziness.”

Tucker was very concerned about people going to Cox’s house to protest. He questioned Jason Nichols, a University of Maryland professor about it asking,“Is it okay, if you decide you disagree with someone you can show up his house and scream at his wife and kids?”

NOTE: Gailey and her fellow protester did not scream and shout at Cox’s wife and kids. They also were on a busy public intersection.

Tucker is really concerned about what is “normal” and asked “Do decent people do this?” He states he believes that this crosses over into indefensible behavior.

Tucker says doing this is not okay. “It’s disgusting and wrong. “

This appears to be Charles Couger, Producer, Tucker Carlson Tonight @ Fox News

Fox Intimidation 
Today it looks like Carlson sent a producer to Lincoln Nebraska in full Jesse Watters, James O’Keefe mode. The reporter and a cameraman showed up in a truck outside Gailey’s home, followed her to her daughter’s middle school and then confronted her. He didn’t give his full name, just Charles.

(We believe he is Charles Couger, a producer for Tucker Carlson on Fox News)
He asked her, “All we want to know is whether you’re comfortable…”

Meanwhile Gailey identifies the truck and asks the name of the producer, who declines.

“Are you okay with people confronting you about your political beliefs in your private life like you did to Chris Cox?”

Gailey gives her message to Cox reiterating her message about Cox profiting from the sales of weapons.

I have the full Video from Gailey’s POV and is available for Rachel Maddow’s producers. Especially if Carlson does a segment on this…

Tucker said in his “Campus Craziness” segment that standing on a street corner with a sign outside someone’s house is “a threat.”

Carlson’s comment mirrors the language of the NRA attorney for the Coxes who said, “These coordinated tactics have crossed the line of civility and human decency.”

GOP Intimidation 
The producer, also asks Gailey about the three state senators trying to take her on. (Nebraska politicians Holloran, Erdman and Brewer are attacking Gailey because she and her group, Nebraskans Against Gun Violence, blocked NRA legislation.)

Gailey was not doing anything wrong using her 1st Amendment rights, but the politicians think she should be more civil. They believe professors should model what they call “right behavior” propriety, civility and respect for opposing viewpoints, which they state “used to be the hallmarks of a good education at UNL.” (Link)

Also Gov. Pete Ricketts rescinded Gailey’s “Admiral in the Nebraska Navy” award after Gailey testified against a bill the governor supported. Nebraska is a landlocked state, it’s a joke award given to people who are nominated by friends. Ricketts is speaking at the NRA convention this Friday.

The coordination that the NRA complains about and the threats that they talk about are classic projection. They pitched the idea to Carlson, who sent a producer out with the premise, “Liberal snowflakes don’t like it when THEY are protested!” This is a variation of the tactic used by James O’Keefe and his people or the Turning Point USA people (who also are very involved going after Gailey and other professors at UNL) They try to turn the tables on liberals with false equivalencies, “You liberals say you are tolerant but you won’t tolerate my hate speech!”

Assault Rifles vs Assault Posters

Two days ago, in Phoenix there was a “die in” calling for better gun laws in Arizona. A group called Arizona Patriots protested the students and teachers by yelling at them while open carrying handguns on their hips.

Jennifer Harrison, of Arizona Patriot who shouted at children at a protest in Phoenix while carrying a gun.

Another photo of  Jennifer Harrison and Arizona Patriots with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey

There is a qualitative difference between an armed protest and a paper one. In Arizona they are both legal. Does Tucker see these as something that normal and “decent people do?”

When the professor brought up protesters going to the Coxs’ house he said, “I’m assuming he’s armed.” Carson pulls back, “It’s not a matter about being armed, I hope we aren’t suggesting it’s going to get to gun play. I’m asking a philosophical question.”

Yeah right. The classic NRA open carry gun toter philosophical question, “I’m just showing off my 2nd Amendment right on my hip. What are you afraid of? The gun is just an inanimate object. It’s all legal.”

One of the ways that the NRA uses its power is to unleash its fan base against individuals who oppose them. They especially love to go after women. They like to tell them just how afraid they should be if they don’t carry guns. And then some show up with their guns as proof that it’s a scary world out there.

Arizona Patriots. Note the white power hand sign.

Keep an eye out for these individuals, you see it turns out that for many of them it is NOT legal for them to carry.

As we have been seeing in Florida and other states, people who shouldn’t legally have guns, do. Sometimes the system just hasn’t caught up with their mental health issues.

I always suggest to my activist friends “ABR. Always Be Recording” Video can be useful in the future. I know, I’m from it!

Updated to add photos and fix wordos.