Revenge of the Thin Blue Line 44: Thomas M. Crooks and the Police Officer who backed down and how God (and hand-picked Federal Judge Aileen Cannon) saved Traitor Trump

"You think a gun makes you a tough guy?  It's when the other guy has a gun and he pulls his out then we see who the real tough guy is..."  - A Bronx Tale (1993) 

So, I've been steering clear of the Corporate Media circus surrounding Trump's near miss but I came across an AP article which had the following passage;

A local law enforcement officer climbed to the roof and found Crooks, who pointed the rifle at the officer. The officer retreated down the ladder, and the gunman quickly fired toward Trump, the officials said. That’s when U.S. Secret Service gunmen shot him, the officials said. 

Whomever this Officer is, I hope he's got a ready bag prepared and has contacted his Union Rep and gotten legal advice because this LEO is about to find out how quickly the MAGA Mob can turn on Police Officers who they view as turncoats.  Based just on that passage, I'm not going to adjudicate the Officer a coward, say he froze in the moment, or was just happily walking around complacent but, in hindsight, it appears to be he came upon one of those No Shit moments of truth every thinking Officer contemplates, perhaps dreads, and has to steel themselves up to act decisively and... did not.

Whatever the actual truth of that moment, a split second before the shooting started I feel pity for that man because his life, no matter what the outcome, is over.

But, more importantly than the Near Miss is the breaking news Trump continues to win as disreputable Aileen Cannon has dismissed the charges against Trump after sitting on them for months to delay, delay, delay.  Perhaps, Cannon seeing that Trump is protected by the Hand of Providence decided she cannot thwart the Will of God.  Understand Republicans don't give a shit about Rule of Law now, not that they ever did.  The Republicans plan on keeping the trappings of democracy and the Rule of Law whilst they embark on a murderous campaign to reshape America into the White Power Evangelical Nation of Terror.

Like, everything Republicans espouse the so-called vaunted Rule of Law was just another cudgel to bash the left and dupe the normies.

This is a Dark Summer indeed.  Everything appears to be breaking in favor of the Fascists and Traitor Trump.  But, that's not Divine Providence as Republicans would have their base of rightwing drones believe but a 50 year campaign to subvert, infiltrate, and undermine the American Democratic Republic and replace it with a NeoConfederate Theocratic Dictatorship.  We, still have the power to stop Trump's election but, I'm certain morale and spirits are low amongst Democrats and Liberals, the only solace I take today is that maybe Trump is living in fear right now.  

And while I don't want Trump to get over it, if he is living in fear the rest of his miserable life well that could be bad for Us because a scared Trump with Power means pogroms and orders to round-up and liquidate everyone who scares him. 

The Revenge of the Thin Blue Line

Ann needs higher and higher doses
of raw racism to get the same High

Another unjustified shooting of a black person by a scared, dumb, or racist white cop...

Yet another unjustified shooting of a minority by a scared, dumb, or racist white cop... The Fresno Police Department investigated itself and found it did the right thing. The "investigation" tied the young man to a previous shooting, claimed he was known to carry guns, and stated he fled into a daycare. Nicely done! All the components are thus present to allow White America sagely nod, applaud the Officers, and tut-tut those people and their criminality...

This is all done to ensure certain segments of society KNOW, justice is unequal, laws are selectively enforced, and sentences (in this case death) are unequally administered. And conservatives, who are forever warning about the Government lying, greedily accept ever report which exonerates and justifies these killings precisely because conservatives agree with the execution of black people. Conservatives believe all black people are a priori guilty of some crime. Ergo any extrajudicial killing of a black person is, in fact, justified.

As we have seen, even with the ubiquitousness of cell phones, body cams, and dashboard recordings, Police Officers don't have much qualms in shooting down even fleeing suspects. These incidents are Unconstitutional on their face. Extrajudicial executions of persons not convicted of crimes represent the ultimate seizure under the 4th Amendment. The landmark ruling of Tennessee vs. Garner is settled law and is known to every Officer for the past 35 years. But, White America and specifically white conservatives not only justify these killings but, agree with and defend them vociferously.

After every shooting, the Rightwing Wurlitzer revs up to muddy the waters, fabricate evidence, smear the dead black person, and works to undermine Law & Order. Because it serves the purpose of Conservatives to repeatedly show black America and other minority groups that the Law will be unequally applied and criminal cops will be not only afforded every opportunity and defense they denied their victims but, will be heralded as heroes and lionized by White America.

So, Police and Sheriff's Departments have a problem; partially of their own making. Throughout America, communities no longer view Police Officers as the good guys. As with the above killing in Fresno, previous killings in Ferguson, Staten Island, and so many others, Police Departments are concluding Officers use of deadly force is fine, and while minorities have known for years Police Officers are not the good guys, segments of society are having to confront the awful visual evidence.

It doesn't matter if the incidents are nuanced or if it's just a few bad apples or if it is because of the institutional and structural racism built into Law Enforcement & American Society, or whatever the "true" underling issue is; The Truth is Police Officers are killing American citizens, and especially black men, at an unjustified rate and getting away with it.

The Banana Republican Party will dissolve the US Government in order to defend Trump and maintain Power

The Crooks Brothers Riot II (Driftglass)

Trump and his cadre Republican Traitors attempted to shut down part of the Impeachment proceedings by violating SCIF regulations and laws. Because at this point, Republicans know no unlawful, illegal, or unconstitutional action they undertake will be condemned by Faux News and their actions will be applauded by the toxic rightwing internet.

Under Trump the tendency for Republicans to deny the legitimacy of a Democratically controlled Government has hyper-accelerated. It is but a matter of time before the Republicans out-right declare the US Government not controlled by them is unlawful and ipso facto defunct and they seize power in a Putsch.

Conservatives have benefited for years at the unequal applications of laws and the selective enforcement of rules. Trump himself has relied on failing upwards and not being held to account for his criminality and malfeasance. As President, Trump has sped-up the damage to foundational concepts and the Rule of Law.

We have already witnessed the Republicans declaring the US Constitution does not apply to restraining them. Trump appointed Judges have issued rulings that Trump is immune from prosecution and even investigation, including fulfilling his infamous threat of shooting someone on 5th Avenue and getting away with it. It's a short step to the Republicans declaring no Non-#MAGA official, liberal, or Democrat has any power or jurisdiction over a Republican. Ever!

Conservatives will back all illegal activities and all it will take is a drunken Matt Gaetz calling for violence and Conservatives will declare ANOTHER CIVAL WAR!

Update:
Driftglass writes up the pathos ruling the Conservative mind these days in his piece Room 101.