Wednesday, June 3, 2020

If 1967 Was the Summer of Love, 1968 Was the Summer of Fire and Tear Gas

Federal troops in the Federal enclave of Washington DC, 1968
















It was 52 years ago that federal troops, 11,000 of them, were used to restore order to Washington DC, after four days of rioting and arson had destroyed large parts of the city. They brought order with dispatch (note the - sheathed - bayonets on those rifles) and most of the public was glad to see it done. Most people in any kind of position of power back then, including those who ran the news media, were World War II veterans or at least were shaped by the experience of WWII, and had a whole different scale by which they measured harshness. Any crowd control measure short of shooting was easily accepted, and shooting was always an option.

I was a little kid at the time but I well remember the atmosphere. The first time I smelled tear gas was in the streets around National Airport, and I saw troops manning an M-60 machine gun at an intersection near the Capitol.

A dozen or so cities had riots that year that were at least as damaging as those in DC. One immediate political impact of that was to make some Police Chiefs run for office, such as those in Los Angeles and Philadelphia who became their city's next Mayor.

There's a lesson there. Keep your eye on the benevolent associations and collective bargaining structures of New York City's Police and Fire Departments, which could turn into very large and extremely effective political organizations overnight. Why should they not run someone against Mayor De Blasio?

One other lesson: the 1968 Democratic Party Convention turned into a shambles and its nominee, Vice President Humphrey, lost to a law'n'order Republican. Republicans went on to win four of the next five Presidential elections.

Who knows? Maybe the voters across America, and especially in the swing states, are taking the side of Antifa as they watch all the violence, but I kind of doubt it. We'll find out soon enough.

47 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post TSB! You mean "No Malarkey" might not be a winning slogan? gwb

TSB said...

Joe could try positioning himself as the new, improved, law'n'order candidate, I suppose. His record on the '80s and '90s crime bills would back that up. But, that's not happening, I don't think. He's stuck on the same side with Antifa.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Great post by the Rational National: Biden Is Now DOMINATING Trump In Polling looks like the latest polls show Trump is getting battered by sleepy Joe. gwb Biden Is Now DOMINATING Trump In Polling https://youtu.be/0ApP02CPtJw (even the Trump campaign says their polling numbers look awful.)

Anonymous said...

TSB:It's interesting that Prince Andrew is now required by treaty to provide evidence in the Epstein case. Creepy Joe seems to have the upper hand at the moment over Trump but I know a way he could practically guarantee a landslide win; Wait until the convention and name Tulsi Gabbard as his VP pick. Nobody would be a bigger surprise or a bigger shock to the media. She would put all the "faux patriots" to shame. gwb

Mark Tempest said...

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."

TSB said...

GWB: I think any polls at this early point in the election cycle are done for persuasion effect, and I just tune them out. Tulsi Gabbard, now, had her moment but I think her original - and now abandoned - conservative positions on social issues make her anathema to the Democratic Party power players, and she doesn't have a chance at VP.

She is the only female politician I can think of who doesn't scold or finger-wag when addressing somebody she disagrees with. Have you ever watched Pelosi's index finger going a mile a minute when she talks about Trump?

TSB said...

Mark: Thanks for your comment. Today's riots might just repeat the political blow-back that we saw after 1968, which would upset a lot of people. The more things change ... , huh?

Anonymous said...

TSB: Yesterday Tulsi addressed the Hindu's of Hawaii graduation. She said: "As you know I am not running for reelection to congress but I will be on a new platform so stay tuned." Sounds like she may be joining the Biden campaign! I might have to drag out my Tulsi 2020 t shirt for the summer! gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Well, the National Guard and Seattle Police did their best but the E. Precinct Station was abandoned and City Hall taken over last night in Seattle.
Not much has changed in 50 years but I doubt if there are any 74 year olds on the scene this time. gwb
https://www.zerohedge.com/political/seattle-protesters-establish-autonomous-zone-after-police-national-guard-pull-out

TSB said...

GWB: I wouldn't expect to see Tulsi as VP. The assumption is any Biden running mate will become President in short order, and she isn't in that league yet.

The Portland news is kind of weird, but even weirder is the lack of reaction from the authorities. Unlike 50 years ago, this time Da Man seems to be saying "you want City Hall, you keep it. I got enough grief without battling you for it."

This time it's the Major and police who go limp, not the protesters.

Anonymous said...

TSB: This is a planned distraction to get voters to support "law and order". No matter who wins the election we will have ourselves a complete corporate/surveillance state with most citizens hopelessly in debt, unemployed, still dealing with the botched virus response and basically a
civil war between civilians and swat teams. Seattle is showing the way. gwb https://www.zerohedge.com/political/seattle-councilwoman-says-warlord-controlled-chaz-should-remain-public-hands

TSB said...

I think it overly flatters any of the groups involved to call this "planned." They're all just going moment to moment. If the past is any guide, there will be a law'n'order backlash in November. Watch the Democratic convention for an early indicator.

Anonymous said...

TSB: The Mirror is reporting that the Mayan calendar was off and the world is going to end on Sunday! That gives me just 5 days to live like there is no tomorrow. I started today by going to "Heavenly Donuts" and buying 6 maple bars and 6 chocolate cake donuts. Beyond that I guess I'll just take it one day at a
time. gwb

TSB said...

We have until Sunday? I'm with you, then, and will pick up a cheesecake today. As it says in the Good Book, take no care for the things of tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself; sufficient unto the day are the troubles thereof.

Anonymous said...

TSB: California Reports Another Record Jump In New COVID-19 Cases: California just made wearing a mask while in public legally mandatory...
The hardest work I did all day was the 15 minutes I spent putting sunscreen all over myself
and brushing off sand. It was 82 and sunny with kids,moms and dads running all over in and out of the water and nobody was wearing a mask. Tomorrow won't be any easier but I'll be there working on how to stop this end of the world thing. gwb

TSB said...

Good luck with the end of the world thing. A beach sounds great. If I wasn't tied to work, I'd find a beach myself.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Trump Campaign Cancels Plans to Address ‘Overflow Crowd’ Because Not Enough People Showed Up
I understand this perfectly. 2 million wanted to come but it rained so only 15,000 showed. I was going to make it two days in a row exercising at the beach but it rained all morning and afternoon so I took a 2 hr nap after yapping on the phone with my sister for an hour. Trump better hope the weather is nice on election day. gwb

TSB said...

That's too bad about the beach. I think Trump's crowd showed up in Tulsa, and he got 3 to 4 million unique hits in cyber land, which is the real audience. Election day will be here before you know it!

Anonymous said...

TSB: Holy Bananas Batman! California Shatters Prior Record By Reporting 6,000 New COVID-19 Cases In A Day: I told you they wouldn't be able to keep em off the beaches TSB. After all the months of lockdown and no masks and now Cali goes up 30% in one day. They are climbing the leader board fast along with Florida. And if what I have been learning lately about the vaccine they are going to be testing is true you don't want anyone you care about to be taking it because it is designed to change "who you are" Stepford Wives style.
All these new cases are going to really screw up the food supply fast. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: This was the race I was really anxious to see! Jamaal Bowman beats
Elliott Engle of MARYLAND lol a poster child for the swamp. Great speech!
gwb https://youtu.be/Ir9hrtxrfZE

Anonymous said...

TSB: https://www.zerohedge.com/political/appeals-court-orders-flynn-judge-dismiss-case Couldn't Flynn now sue Biden, Rice, Obama,Strozk, Comey,Yates for false prosecution, reputational damage, loss of income, extortion and all that mafia behavior? gwb

TSB said...

GWB: Engle's loss is a big blow to Albanians from New York to Kosovo. My eyes, however, are dry. We'll see whether Bowman takes up the slack after he gets in office.

I don't know who Flynn might sue, but I expect he'll provide a great issue for Trump to campaign on.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Mexico City Police Chief Wounded In Daylight Assassination Attempt Using .50 Cal Rifles & Grenades.... Read my wife's upcoming book: "Escape From Mexico City" gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: I came across this statement today that I think is really interesting:
The genius of pathologized totalitarianism is like that old joke about the Devil … his greatest trick was convincing us that he doesn’t exist. Pathologized totalitarianism appears to emanate from nowhere, and everywhere, simultaneously; thus, technically, it does not exist. It cannot exist, because no one is responsible for it, because everyone is. Mass hysteria is its lifeblood. It feeds on existential fear. “Science” is its rallying cry. Not actual science, not provable facts, but “Science” as a kind of deity whose Name is invoked to silence heretics, or to ease the discomfort of the cognitive dissonance that results from desperately trying to believe the absurdities of the official narrative.
Everyone in my family is caught up in what this describes and faced with galloping cases everywhere they live. In one particular way I am the oddball out since I have been called for jury duty which I dare not risk. Getting the virus I would "probably" survive because I understand cheap immediate treatment at home, but hospitalization would 100% bankrupt me. Everyone else, all 40-50 of them are covered. Of course I'm the oddball in most other ways too. gwb PS: my neighbor discovered today he has to get $8,000 of dental work pronto to protect his heart. despite that he went to Costco and got me $98 worth of great underwear that they are rapidly going out of stock! (no briefs)

Anonymous said...

TSB: Do we need more evidence that voting is mostly for fools? Amy McGrath Defeats Charles Booker In Kentucky... with only one polling place opened in Louisville and 95% of the polling places closed statewide Chuckie Schumer's candidate wins with the additional help of a 50-1 money advantage, 96.3% of it from outside Kentucky. Booker raised $800,000, half of it from in state donors.
Also, the Fed announced today that it's LOAN program for small business, defined as $15
MILLION DOLLARS or smaller which was announced in March has so far disbursed ZERO DOLLARS!!
No wonder I haven't heard from my company in a month. They are probably looking for that big check in the mail along with every small business in the country. gwb
On a brighter note: One of the asylum seekers I've been supporting financially is from Ecuador which today banned any returnees from the US indefinitely. I think we are gonna win for both of these guys.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Lots of news out of Louisville today: China Caught Smuggling 10,800 Assault Weapons Parts Into Louisville By US Customs ... and headed for Florida! Looks like phase II of the trade deal might be hitting a rough patch. Not that the Dems would wish any harm on the President. gwb https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/china-caught-smuggling-10800-assault-weapons-parts-louisville-us-customs

Anonymous said...

TSB: France Suspends Role In NATO Naval Mission, Outraged Over "Turkish Aggression"...Looks like Lucy pulled the football on NATO again. But bankers probably don't make good naval commanders. gwb

that "the frigate Courbet was 'lit up' three times by Turkish naval targeting radar when it tried to approach a Turkish civilian ship suspected of involvement in arms trafficking." The Turkish military ships were allegedly escorting the smaller civilian ship, suspected by the French of illegal gun-running.

Anonymous said...

TSB: They arrested Ghislain Maxwell and announced she is being charged. This should alarm a lot of Dems, including the Clintons because reportedly GM was having an affair with Bill in various places Bill swears he never went. LOL
gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB,
First off this "End of the World" thing has been tried quite a few times and rather inconveniently we're still here. I've been watching the "Market" and what seems to be a titanic struggle to depress the DOW. The old "Left" has lost control of the new "Left", also both are acting like they are losing (Trying everything possible to get Trump). On the bounty thing I'm not aware of any war where they didn't exist. I could be way wrong on this but it looks like Trump will win this easily, but November is a long ways off.
Sennacherib

Anonymous said...

I remember this and Detroit.
Sennacherib

Anonymous said...

TSB: I think this is the key to the arrest: Recall it was U.S. District Judge Richard Berman who officially dismissed the Southern District of New York's case against Epstein after his death. The Deep State was using the judiciary once again to silence the witnesses. Surprise...AG Barr preserved Grand Jury indictment that US Atty Geoffrey Berman SDNY fired 6/22 would not pursue arresting Maxwell. It took little over one week to locate and arrest Maxwell. Amazing!

The Bermans run deep...Berman was appointed by Clinton. gwb

TSB said...

GWB: The summer before a presidential election is always a good time to enjoy a diverting sex scandal, so I'm happy to see where that Maxwell woman has been arrested. The most interesting aspect of it for me was the fantastic value of New Hampshire real estate. She purchased a huge hardwood house on 153 acres (!) of land for only $1 million. I'm reconsidering my possible retirement locations.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Here is diverting scandal: A warrant for seizure of 4 Iranian gasoline tankers headed for Venezuela! This should be interesting come Monday morning. gwb
If US attempts to seize Iranian tankers carrying oil to Venezuela now, de-escalation will be more difficult than ever...https://www.rt.com/op-ed/493773-us-seize-iranian-oil-venezuela/

TSB said...

GWB: There's a twitter I follow (ImageSat Intl.) that gives precise locations for Iranian oil tankers entering Venezuelan ports. Great private sector / open source info! What the USG will do about it, I don't know. Personally, I'm always inclined to *not* to go war over anything short of a "clear and present danger" to national security, and I don't mean the Tom Clancy movie. I can't see anything in Venezuela that would pass the Just War principle, or that I think is worth my life or limbs.

James said...

Hey Skep,
The political winds are going to get heavy. Trump's one of those characters who likes to fight for the fun of the fight and the Left doesn't get that.
Sennacherib

Anonymous said...

TSB: Monday humor! A quarter of a million dollars is estimated to have been lost when the sportsbook at the Bellagio allowed winning wagers to be placed well after the start time of several Korean and Chinese baseball games.
You don't have to be a "stable genius" to run a casino! Just ask the President! Bellagio spokesperson attributed it to "human error". The biggest such loss he'd ever seen. gwb

TSB said...

James: Hi! I completely agree about Trump; he fights, and moreover, he has the exact verbal combative style of a NYC stand-up comic (particularly, Colin Quinn). I can easily imagine either of them doing Trump's exact material at a Fire Dept fundraiser in a VFW Hall in Queens, and that resonates with the kind of people Washington types ignore. Most people in Washington have no idea what they're dealing with when it comes to Trump.

GWB: I'm astonished but kind of pleased to learn about that casino's losses. You tend to have really good luck when you own the casino, so that doesn't happen often.

Anonymous said...

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2020/07/09/no-more-physical-fitness-assessments-for-2020-navy-says/TSB: No more Physical Fitness Tests for the Navy!
But they have ok's mock PPT with no more than 10 sailors at a time with temp checks. Our County owned beach would be great for that. (They need funding!) It would be great to have a short bus full of local navy guys out there doing workouts
a couple days a week and after that they could join the wife and kids for some beach,water and sun fun you can't find in the Portland Vancouver area. Maybe they would give me a cap and a whistle to march around and take temps. I want to be a Volunteer Lt. Junior Grade like my dad in WWII. Have a fun weekend! We are going to have
sun and 70's. gwb

Anonymous said...

TSB: Pretty funny that the man in charge of checking the authenticity of the Steele Dossier teaches "spying ethics" at small college as well as to the FBI academy. He reportedly WROTE the Steele dossier himself and then discussed it with Steele and was a Hillary Clinton campaign worker.
No wonder he didn't find anything questionable when reviewing that report. Sounds about the same as when I report on my IQ. gwb
https://www.zerohedge.com/markets/fbi-man-heart-surveillance-abuses-professor-spying-ethics

TSB said...

GWB: I empathize with those Navy guys. Confession: I flat-out cheated on my last PT test in the Army, since I was weeks away from discharge, it was 5:30 in the AM, and I was all out of cares about PT.

About that spying ethics professor, have you considered that he might have actually been *modeling* spy ethics for his students and, more importantly, his paying customers? He probably got tenure for that.

Have a great beach weekend!

Anonymous said...

TSB,
I wouldn't doubt that about the professor.
GWB,
Good beach time!
Sennacherib

Anonymous said...

TSB: Speaking of fire and tear gas, this is starting to look like terrorism.
undergoing maintenance when the fire was discovered Sunday around 8:30 a.m. PDT after sailors reported hearing an explosion. There was no work under way at the site of the fire’s origin, which was a staging area for supplies like drywall, scaffolding and rags, Adm. Sobeck said Monday. That area also held equipment used by Marines who serve on the ship...
But he said the vessel’s mast had collapsed and that there was “burn damage all the way through the skin of the ship.” (of course the Fitzgerald was intentionally rammed several years ago and the Captain and crew falsely blamed. It sits nearby undergoing maintainence.)gwb
https://www.wsj.com/articles/navy-officials-fear-uss-bonhomme-richard-fire-has-damaged-it-beyond-repair-11594677325

Anonymous said...

TSB: Yesterday AMLO reported that Mexico's epidemic is "loosing intensity" as total deaths raised it to #5 worldwide. My wife's friend a couple blocks away had a transformer blow up and it took 4 days to fix. That mean't all the food spoiled in the 105 degree heat and the baby girls were miserable day and night. One of the repair guys said AMLO cut all the federal power companies budgets by 50% which was why it took 4days to get a new transformer to install. AMLO
says: Today I want to transmit tranquility because we're improving facing professionally this pandemic," the President added.
Hair salons are open but they are packed and probably aren't safe. She has a nephew who does landscaping and yardwork for rich people but at 105 degree he has plenty of work but finds he's getting too old to handle it at age 45. Everybody wants to hang AMLO. gwb

TSB said...

GWB: I've always liked AMLO, and he seems to be genuinely interested in getting along with El Norte. I say, let's all cooperate and Make Mexico Great Again.

Terrible news about that ship. I understand the fire suppression system was down for maintenance when the fire broke out.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Breaking: Iran says at least seven ships have been burnt after a large fire at the Bushehr port in southern Iran. The cause of the fire is unknown. That sounds a lot like the story in San Diego in the past week. I'm still thinking terrorism in San Diego. The timing was too good so no deaths but immediate huge explosion. gwb https://twitter.com/PMBreakingNews/status/1283387594789793794?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1283387594789793794%7Ctwgr%5E&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.rt.com%2Fnews%2F494840-iran-bushehr-port-fire%2F

TSB said...

I'm not too surprised about Iran's ships. The regime has been having a rash of industrial accidents and infrastructure failures recently, almost all of them in the nuclear sector.

Anonymous said...

TSB: Re: 1000 pair of laser protective goggles.
There goes "Defund the Police" gwb