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So, a judge—a Trump-appointed judge, no less—actually told the Trump administration that they couldn't just roll troops into Portland like it was Fallujah? Give me a break.
This whole "Trump sending in the National Guard" fiasco just screams desperation. Remember when he tried to paint Portland as some "war-ravaged" hellscape? As if a few smashed windows and some spray paint are equivalent to, you know, actual war? It's insulting.
The article says Justice Department lawyers described a "violent siege overwhelming federal agents." Overwhelming? Seriously? I've seen more violent scenes at a Black Friday sale. And then there's the Oregon AG saying it's about "whether we are a nation of constitutional law or martial law." Hyperbole much?
It's all just political theater, designed to rile up the base and scare suburban voters into thinking the country's going to hell in a handbasket.
The judge, Karin Immergut (another Trump appointee, let's not forget), apparently didn't buy the administration's claim that protesters at an ICE facility constituted a full-blown rebellion. Imagine that. Someone actually using their brain for something other than political posturing.
But here's the kicker: the article notes that a Reuters review of court records found that at least 32 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the Portland protests since they began in June. Okay, that sounds kinda bad, right?
But then you dig a little deeper. Eleven pleaded guilty to misdemeanors and got probation. One dude threw a knife (and missed!) and could face up to 20 years. Half the defendants were charged with assaulting federal officers, mostly for kicking, shoving, spitting, and throwing rocks.
Rocks. Water bottles. A kitchen knife. This is the stuff of a "violent siege?" This is what justifies sending in the freaking National Guard? I've seen tougher resistance from toddlers who don't want to eat their broccoli.
The article correctly points out that Trump's attempts to use military force on US soil are a "sharp break with long-standing but rarely tested norms." And that's the real danger here. It's not just about Portland. It's about setting a precedent. Trump's order to send National Guard troops to Portland, Ore., was illegal, U.S. judge rules
If a president can just declare any protest a "rebellion" and send in the troops, what's to stop them from doing it again? Next time it could be a protest against fracking, or a demonstration for higher wages, or... well, you get the picture.
And offcourse, they'll appeal. They always do.
It's a dangerous road to go down, this blurring of the lines between civilian law enforcement and military power. It's like… like slowly turning up the heat on a frog in a pot of water. Before you know it, you're cooked.
Then again, maybe I'm just being paranoid. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. Maybe I should just chill out and watch some cat videos. Nah, can't do it. This stuff matters.
It's a clown show. A goddamn circus of political grandstanding, fear-mongering, and the slow erosion of civil liberties. And the fact that we're even having this conversation is a terrifying indictment of where we're at as a country.