Clay Jones for June 11, 2020

Actually, I’d prefer to start with defunding the republicans.

And how exactly would reallocating resources to allow the police to only do police work instead of animal control, mental health work, domestic arbitration, etc. help Il Douche’s horrible poll numbers?

While I certainly understand how Trump might try to blow up a minority leftist view (that is wildly distorted and misrepresented) into a political talking point, his effort actually speaks to his desperation because the effort ultimately backfires.

Yes, there is a minority viewpoint that was to defund and disband some police departments in some areas where they are troubled, ineffective and counterproductive, but the fact that JOE BIDEN OPPOSES THAT VIEW, and puts him (yet again) at odds with the most PROgressive elements of the Democratic party (and other PROgressives), actually makes Biden seem to be arguing against the more radical voices and places Biden firmly in the mainstream of middle America.

And as for that defund/dismantle viewpoint, even though Biden rejects it (though Trump will, as usual, lie and say the opposite), the view itself is wildly misunderstood and misrepresented.

The idea behind “defund and dismantle” is that some police forces are just so corrupt and brutal that they cannot be reformed. They must be defunded, dismantled and then REPLACED with new systems of PUBLIC SAFETY agencies in which the first strategy is PROACTIVE — addressing social issues to prevent crises (the fence at the TOP of the cliff preferable to relying mostly on ambulances at the bottom) — and when REACTIVE measures do become necessary, initial contact is not aggressive and hostile, but focused on mediation, de-escalation and easing of tensions — use of counselors and mediators and using force only as a RARE last resort. We need systems of PUBLIC SAFETY that actually make the public safer and not in fear that those who are supposed to “protect and serve” will come into their neighborhoods and “point and shoot.”

When you have an old car that keeps breaking down, and you have to keep pouring money into repeated repairs, at some point you say it’s time to stop throwing away money on a lost cause, you get rid of the junker, and you buy a whole new car.

I tend to agree. That phrase is a pure invitation to right wingers. Kinda like Bernie’s “Democratic Socialism”.

Now, he’s running an ad that he’s so wonderful and really making this MAGA. Not a word about reelection, just that.

Sometimes scare tactic don’t bring the desired results. What a pity. Another shot to the foot. . . hopefully not the one with bone spurs.

Defunding might be a good idea, but after November. It scares too many people too much.

Only the MAGA people will find this appealing.

Not sure that encouraging a police state.. is a wise political move. Still, trump is envious of the likes of Putin or kim jong un and with his state TV (aka Fox News) perhaps can sell it to enough red-necks to bump up his adornment ratings.

Read the articles on how the Camden New Jersey, police dept. was disbanded in 2013, then rebuilt, it can work. npr.org

Baby? Bathwater? Knee-jerk reaction? Passion over contemplation?

Defunding was all fine and dandy when used against Planned Parenthood, and every government agency that was created to actually help people, and, if the corporate politicians get their way, Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare, but applying it to police departments is now outrageous?

Yep, always in their wheelhouse to exaggerate and lie about what opponents are saying in order to justify your own villainy…

Snatching defeat from the jaws of Victory. Whew I was worried for a bit. Watching the over reach with riots & looting just scared that middle 40% right into GOP hands. America was 100% in agreement on a issue [Floyds Murder] to wildly divided on the “Defund The Police” movement such a missed opportunity for change, now sides are bickering again like always, the rich get richer and we will ban chokeholds and give Cops body cams no real change. This anti- everything crowd of man bun triggered white people just stole the moral high ground from Black America…AGAIN. If I was African-American I would be pissed off at rich white punks stealing the momentum. We don’t need FOX or Rush to lie to Us seeing blocks of boarded-up buildings in our hometown shows the truth. Rather than re-opening after the virus shutdown Sacramento was busted burned and boarded. Not that Cali is in play come November.

Defund is NOT to disband. Very small minority advocates actually disbanding. Another right-wing Trumpian straw man attack.

hello

Tomorrow Trump can hold up a graph of the stock market dropping almost 1900 points. Expect a tweet after his morning dump.