Trump's Warped Photo-Op, Floyd's Brother Urges Protesters to Vote & G. Will Calls For Trump's Defeat

Trump's sickening photo-op. Donald Trump's photo-op yesterday at St John’s Episcopal Church will be remembered as one of the lowest points in a presidency with far too many lows. Trump had peaceful protesters gassed and shot with rubber bullets so that he could posture and appear in charge of a crisis that he has inflamed with his bellicose rhetoric. Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde, of the Episcopal Church, was quick to condemn Trump's stunt.

CNN Interview, Budde: “I am outraged… Everything he has said and done is to inflame violence. I am beyond. We need moral leadership, and he’s done everything to divide us, and has just used one of the most sacred symbols of the Judeo-Christian tradition.”

Kaitlan Collins, CNN, Via Twitter: "President Trump was angered by coverage that he was rushed to the underground bunker during protests Friday night and told aides he wanted to be seen outside the White House gates, per @Kevinliptakcnn , leading in part to his walk to St. John’s today."

Axios: "a senior White House official told Axios that when they saw the tear gas clearing the crowd for Trump to walk to the church with his entourage: "I’ve never been more ashamed. I’m really honestly disgusted. I’m sick to my stomach." ...

George Conway: "Has there ever been a lower moment in the history of the American presidency?"

We will all move on to this President's next outrage, but this one won't soon be forgotten.

George Floyd's brother urges calm and voting. Speaking at the intersection in Minneapolis where his brother was killed by police, the brother of George Floyd appealed for calm yesterday in Minneapolis. Terrence Floyd told protesters that violence won't bring his brother back, and that real change requires them to participate politically.

AP: “In every case of police brutality, the same thing has been happening. Y’all protest, y’all destroy stuff. ... Let’s do this another way,” he said, encouraging the crowd to vote and to educate themselves. “Let’s switch it up, y’all.”

Wise man. If demonstrators can channel their anger into organizing for the Fall elections, they could bring about real change. Continued violence will just play into Trump's hands.

Conservative icon, George Will, calls for Trump's removal. Long-time conservative columnist George Will has had his fill of Donald Trump and yesterday called for his defeat in November. His column is scathing and he notes that the President shares some of the blame for what happened in Minneapolis.

G. Will, Washington Post: "Social causation is difficult to demonstrate, particularly between one person’s words and other persons’ deeds. However: The person voters hired in 2016 to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed” stood on July 28, 2017, in front of uniformed police and urged them “please don’t be too nice” when handling suspected offenders. His hope was fulfilled for 8 minutes and 46 seconds on Minneapolis pavement."

Will goes on to note that America's restoration will also require that Trump's Republican enablers be defeated in November.

Will, Post: "We cannot know all the measures necessary to restore the nation’s domestic health and international standing, but we know the first step: Senate Republicans must be routed, as condign punishment for their Vichyite collaboration, leaving the Republican remnant to wonder: Was it sensible to sacrifice dignity, such as it ever was, and to shed principles, if convictions so easily jettisoned could be dignified as principles, for . . . what?"

Will is correct; the GOP will wear the stain of Donald Trump for years to come. Trump showed how easily they could be corrupted, how few principals they actually possessed.

#news #Trump

By: Don Lam & Curated Content