Trump Raises an Army (Charles M. Blow, NYT)

[highplainsdem]

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/31/opinion/trump-harvey-storm-army.html

But in addition, and perhaps more sinisterly, I think that Trump is raising an army, whether or not he would describe it as such, and whether or not those being involved recognize their own conscription. This is not a traditional army, but it is an army no less.

And, when I say army, I’m not speaking solely of armed militia, although there is a staggering number of guns continuously being put into circulation. As the N.R.A.’s Institute for Legislative Action wrote in June: “Each month of Trump’s presidency has seen over two million firearm-related background checks. Only in 2016, when Americans faced losing their Second Amendment rights forever, did the F.B.I. run more checks during a January to April period.” I’m also talking about the unarmed, but unwavering: the army of zombie zealots.

How do you raise an army?

You do that by dividing America into tribes and, as “president,” aligning yourself with the most extreme tribe, all the while promoting militarization among people who support you.

You do it by worshiping military figures and talking in militaristic terms.

-snip-

Should something emerge from the Robert Mueller investigation — an investigation that is continuing unabated even as Harvey rages — that should implicate Trump and pose a threat to the continuation of his tenure, Trump wants to position any attempt to remove him as a political coup. His efforts to delegitimize the press are all part of this because one day the press may have to deliver ruinous news.

-snip-

Trump is playing an endgame. In the best-case scenario, these die-hards are future customers; in the worst, they are future confederates.

-snip-

[dalton99a]

1. Our Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi

[Tanuki]

16. Abu Ivanka al-Amikri

Link to tweet

?lang=en

[bullwinkle428]

2. Okay, I have a question about the gun angle of the story. I thought

there was a report no more than around 3-4 weeks back, which said that gun sales had dropped precipitously since Chump got elected.

Which completely makes sense when you put it into the context of how the NRA constantly drove paranoia about Obama or Hillary having all of these evil plans to take your guns away, and their chamber was suddenly empty, so to speak, once a gun-friendly clown was in the Oval Office.

[raven mad]

4. Bingo, bullwinkle428 - no paranoia from NutRA because sTrumpet won't ever back

restrictions. His "base" likes RPG's, MP5's, and AK's way too much for him to even think about it. And his BOYZ (they aren't men and never will be) NEED the firepower to hunt trapped big game - like giraffes and elephants.

[DK504]

12. Nice. And tragically too true.

They will never understand the Traitor has taken away any and all social services they have surivived on for decades. Somehow they will blame President Obama.

[raven mad]

13. Or Hillary.

Or Bill.

The funny thing is, I'm not anti-gun, not where I live! Interior Alaska, hiker and biker........camper, and I prefer fresh food, so berry gatherer, etc. Bears are real, moose are mean, and wolverines?? Dunesk..............

[sharedvalues]

20. Question: could you be pro-rifle but anti-handgun?

If there were a nationwide handgun ban in order to prevent kids from getting killed by handguns in cities,

along with rifles staying legal,

would you be ok with that?

That's basically, Canada's policy. I wish Democrats would push for that. Handguns hurt a lot of people in cities and recreational shooters can use rifles.

[highplainsdem]

7. Link to the FBI page with firearm background check data 1998-2017.

https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/nics_firearm_checks_-_month_year.pdf/view

There were over 2 million checks a month, the first four months of this year, as well as all but two months of last year. The last few months the number of checks has dropped slightly below 2 million.

Background checks spiked at about 3.3 million in December 2015, and then again at nearly 2.8 million in December of last year. Christmas sales for gun nuts, plus response to NRA propaganda.

Profits are down because gun prices have been lowered to reduce inventory. Apparently gun manufacturers were expecting demand to stay at the higher levels.

If you look at the FBI chart, you'll see that prior to President Obama's election, there were fewer than a million background checks every month, except for Nov/Dec holiday sales. The number of checks increased greatly then, then spiked just before and after his re-election in 2012, then became really high again in late 2015.

[Laxman]

3. And The NRA.....

is his chief recruitment office. They continue to push a false narrative about "threats" to the Second Amendment......

As the N.R.A.’s Institute for Legislative Action wrote in June: “Each month of Trump’s presidency has seen over two million firearm-related background checks. Only in 2016, when Americans faced losing their Second Amendment rights forever, did the F.B.I. run more checks during a January to April period.”

I must have missed when Americans faced losing their rights forever, but saying stuff like that sure keeps folks riled up. Then Trump positions himself as their savior. It's a great political tactic. Not so great for governing or American principles, but hey, you find something that works, you stick with it.

[Johnyawl]

5. What the NRA is not taking into account...

...is how many of those 2 million per month firearm related back ground checks are for scared liberals arming themselves. I've always owned hunting rifles and shotguns. I now have an AR and two sidearms and my wife and I both have Concealed Carry permits. All obtained since November.

[highplainsdem]

8. Agree.

[DK504]

14. As a life long Democrat and gun owner

I'm not afraid of anyone on this planet.

The Traitor is crating an army that will have to be put down by the National Guard and the Army. That is what he is leading up to, he thinks that we won't fight back and will allow a civil war. He doesn't understand we will fight back and the Joint Chiefs will put down anyone that tries to start a war. There will be a coup and the Traitor won't be invited.

[raven mad]

15. And no one could blame you for that.

We're open carry here - and if there's a shotgun or hunting rifle involved, don't worry about it. We, as good Dems, register ours. But you can find anything you want (2 military bases very near downtown), for no oversight, unless the person is ethical.

The only thing I object to is the open-carry fanatic with the Dirty Harry on his belt stalking the damn artichokes in the supermarket.

[sharedvalues]

21. NRA is trying to enrich their funders - gun companies and GOP billionaires

GOP donors use the NRA for votes.
Gun companies use the NRA for profit.

America should be revolted by both.

[Bleacher Creature]

6. I'd say that the deplorables are his army of wights.

But Trump's no Night King.

[mainstreetonce]

9. We are

the three eyed raven.

[SCVDem]

10. I volunteer

I will stand on 5th Ave and let tRump shoot me to see if he really can get away with anything.

It's a win-win. If dump gets away with it, I don't want to be around to see our country die.

If dump get's removed and jailed, then I just jumped on a grenade.

Semper Fi !

[cilla4progress]

11. I think if tRump thinks the military will back him

he has another thing coming.

I can't believe we are having these discussions in 21st century America.

[Augiedog]

17. (Dear)trumpenfuhrer is toast, he will be leading an army of crumbs.

[Enoki33]

18. I too was thinking how seemingly unreal this discussion

is. It is in fact very relevant when you consider how truly evil trump is, how he made his money, how he came to power, his obvious affinity with dictators and blatant refusal to prevent any future hacking of our elections. Worth repeating that we are dealing with a truly evil person who considers himself above all else.

[sharedvalues]

19. By dividing America into tribes and, as president, aligning yourself with the most extreme tribe,

Exactly

let's hope Mueller has a plan to tamp down civil unrest. I don't want another Civil War.