‘A Total Failure’: The Proud Boys Now Mock Trump

After the presidential election last year, the Proud Boys, a far-right group, declared its undying loyalty to President Trump.

In a Nov. 8 post in a private channel of the messaging app Telegram, the group urged its followers to attend protests against an election that it said had been fraudulently stolen from Mr. Trump. “Hail Emperor Trump,” the Proud Boys wrote.

But by this week, the group’s attitude toward Mr. Trump had changed. “Trump will go down as a total failure,” the Proud Boys said in the same Telegram channel on Monday.

As Mr. Trump departed the White House on Wednesday, the Proud Boys, once among his staunchest supporters, have also started leaving his side. In dozens of conversations on social media sites like Gab and Telegram, members of the group have begun calling Mr. Trump a “shill” and “extraordinarily weak,” according to messages reviewed by The New York Times. They have also urged supporters to stop attending rallies and protests held for Mr. Trump or the Republican Party.

The comments are a startling turn for the Proud Boys, which for years had backed Mr. Trump and promoted political violence. Led by Enrique Tarrio, many of its thousands of members were such die-hard fans of Mr. Trump that they offered to serve as his private militia and celebrated after he told them in a presidential debate last year to “stand back and stand by.” On Jan. 6, some Proud Boys members stormed the U.S. Capitol.

But since then, discontent with Mr. Trump, who later condemned the violence, has boiled over. On social media, Proud Boys participants have complained about his willingness to leave office and said his disavowal of the Capitol rampage was an act of betrayal. And Mr. Trump, cut off on Facebook and Twitter, has been unable to talk directly to them to soothe their concerns or issue new rallying cries.

The Proud Boys’ anger toward Mr. Trump has heightened after he did nothing to help those in the group who face legal action for the Capitol violence. On Wednesday, a Proud Boy leader, Joseph Biggs, 37, was arrested in Florida and charged with unlawful entry and corruptly obstructing an official proceeding in the riot. At least four other members of the group also face charges stemming from the attack. ...

Eating their own.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/20/technology/proud-boys-trump.html

#spent #trumpism #repudiation #JoeBiden #politics #EatingTheirOwn

Sheldon Adelson, casino mogul who made big bets on Trump and Netanyahu, dies at 87

(Reuters) - Combative self-made billionaire Sheldon Adelson, who assembled the world’s largest casino empire and used his fortune to nurture conservative politicians and policies in the United States and Israel, has died at age 87.

The American casino mogul, raised in a poor Jewish immigrant family in Boston as the son of a cab driver, established lavish hotels and casinos in Las Vegas, Macau and Singapore, and headed the world’s largest casino company, Las Vegas Sands Corp.

Adelson’s wealth made him a formidable figure in American and Israel politics and in the news media. He was a vigorous supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, former U.S. President George W. Bush and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as a prolific donor to U.S. Republican politicians and foe of Democrats, including former U.S. President Barack Obama.

...

Adelson and his Israeli-born physician wife Miriam gave more than $218 million to Republican and conservative causes in the 2020 U.S. election cycle, according to the Center for Responsive Politics, which tracks political spending, more than anyone else.

They were prolific backers of Trump’s 2016 presidential bid and remained supportive throughout his turbulent presidency. The casino magnate was in regular contact with Trump after he took office and saw some of his cherished goals relating to Israel come to fruition including the moving of the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem in a break with decades of American policy. Adelson attended the embassy dedication ceremony in May 2018. ...

NPR Obit: "Sheldon Adelson, Conservative Donor And Casino Titan, Dies At 87"

Adelson made his fortune — a net worth of around $35 billion according to an estimate by Forbes — in the casino hotel industry. He spent much of it backing conservative politicians in the U.S. and Israel, shaping the political debate of both countries.

He was in the first wave of superwealthy Americans to take advantage of the Supreme Court's controversial Citizens United ruling, which opened the doors to eight- and nine-figure political donations so long as the money goes to independent superPACs and not candidates or party committees.

...

The fortune Adelson made in the casino business was spent generously on donations to Jewish causes, medical research and the Republican Party. He and his wife, Miriam, gave around $500 million over the past eight years to Republican and conservative campaigns.

The couple's prolific political giving led to what was sometimes called the "Adelson primary," in which GOP presidential hopefuls would flock to Las Vegas to court Adelson and the Republican Jewish Coalition.

...

[A]fter early reservations, the Adelsons backed Trump's 2016 election effort; they gave $5 million to his inaugural committee and then donated about $500,000 to the legal defense fund for his White House aides. During the 2018 midterms, the Adelsons donated more than $100 million to Republicans. ...

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/12/693679109/sheldon-adelson-conservative-donor-and-casino-titan-dies-at-87

That's one seditionist puppetmaster off the prosecution list, though the estate should be seized and associates pursed.

Thoughts and prayers. Answered.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-adelson-obituary/sheldon-adelson-casino-mogul-who-made-big-bets-on-trump-and-netanyahu-dies-at-87-idUSKBN29H1SM

#obituary #SheldonAdelson #seditionist #fascists #trumpism #trumpist #LasVegas #Jan6Coup

Following the January 6 Coup incited by the President, my most immediate concern is that the US is effectively leaderless

This at a time leadership is desperately needed.

Cabinet and other Administration officials are resigning or acting independently. Numerous agencies are operating under acting heads and other senior positions, many installed since the election, including DoJ and DoD.

The Vice President ordered deployment of the National Guard, and the Military complied, despite the office being entirely outside military command. The order and response, though the right ones, were entirely outside legal authority.

Military allegiances appear in at least part divided, though generally alligned with Nation and Constitution, rather than the Person of the President.

Law enforcement allegiances are much more dubious, and general uncertainty widespread.

Numerous members of the Legislature, though not leadership, remain seditiously alligned with the Person, rather than Office, of the President.

Integrity of the Secret Service is openly questioned.

Trust and integrity of the Executive branch are in question.

The current President of the United States is the country's greatest national security risk, a fact openly acknowledged.

Should further external or internal threats emerge the nation is in immediate peril. Capability to assess and act in the Nation's are disrupted.

A 25th amendment removal, even if followed by a post-term impeachment, would address that lack. Failure to remove a clear and present danger, or obstruction of same, are themselves abdication of responsibility aiding the insurrection, itself impeachable.

#Jan6Coup #sedition #fascism #trumpism #trumpists #25thAmendment #impeachment #NationalSecurity #MikePence

January 6 Coup: Fascinatingly, the Defense Department is referring to Wednesday’s pro-Trump riot as “the January 6, 2021 1st Amendment Protests.”

To be precise, and as others have pointed out, this is a memo issued by the office of the acting Defense Secretary, the fifth person appointed by President Trump to lead the Department of Defense.

https://nitter.net/navybook/status/1347908922292768771

Christopher C. Miller specifically.

The 1A language comes from a letter by DC Mayor written on December 31 requesting aid, on account that:

[T]hese demonstrations will follow similar events on November 4, 2020 and December 12, 2020, which resulted in a large influx of participants, violence and criminal activity.
Second image, above.

https://media.defense.gov/2021/Jan/08/2002562063/-1/-1/1/PLANNING-AND-EXECUTION-TIMELINE-FOR-THE-NATIONAL-GUARDS-INVOLVEMENT-IN-THE-JANUARY-6-2021-FIRST-AMENDMENT-PROTESTS-IN-WASHINGTON-DC.pdf?

Remember: History is written by the winners.

DO. NOT. LET. THESE. LOSERS. WIN.

#Jan6Coup #ChristopherCMiller #insurrection #sedition #trumpism #trumpists

And sometimes their eyes open, if but briefly

One of the alt-right hangers-on on Diaspora, @Robbie, ... sees an inconsistancy and begins to wonder, if but for a moment:

Mike #Pence is probably the most honorable man in politics. He simply did not agree with the President #Trump that “the VP can single-handedly reject the Electoral College votes.” Pence followed the #Constitution and Trump betrayed him. I’m really surprised and disappointed to see so many people attacking Mike Pence, who has served with uncompromising devotion to #God and the Constitution of the United States.

https://joindiaspora.com/posts/9b27191034a30139253e7085c2fdcc0b
https://diasp.org/posts/17542961

Archived:
https://web.archive.org/web/*/https://diasp.org/posts/17542961
https://archive.today/qFfRG
https://archive.is/qFfRG
https://archive.fo/qFfRG
https://archive.li/qFfRG
https://archive.vn/qFfRG
https://archive.md/qFfRG
https://archive.ph/qFfRG

Robbie follows up with:

Really. It’s like they treated Christ in Jerusalem: Hosanna one day and Crucify him! the next day. I hate to see otherwise sane, thinking people act like that.

Naturally the rest of that small group immediately attempt to steer him to the New Orthodoxy, most especially ringleader @Theaitetos (テアイテトス)

Robbie, trust your gut, your memory, and the evidence of your own eyes here. And ask yourself what it is your "friends" here are telling you, and why. And trust that they'll crucify you just as they did Christ and Pence should they realise they've lost you to their lie.

What you are experiencing right now is Revelation. Enlightenment. And it is painful:

Make no mistake about it -- enlightenment is a destructive process. It has nothing to do with becoming better or becoming happier. Enlightenment is the crumbling away of untruth. It's seeing through the facade of pretense. It's the complete eradication of everything we imagined to be true.

I'm unable to comment on the post. Others might care to, and I suggest they do, sharing this link.

How do we encourage moments of lucidity? Because we'll likely see more of them.

#BreakingTheSpell #deprogramming #revelation #enlightenment #trumpism #trumpists #fascism #fascists

NYT: A Capitol Police officer dies from injuries sustained during the pro-Trump rampage.

A United States Capitol Police officer died Thursday night from injuries sustained when he engaged with a pro-Trump mob that descended on the U.S. Capitol the day before.

Officer Brian D. Sicknick died at about 9:30 p.m. on Thursday, the Capitol Police said in a statement. He had been with the agency since 2008.

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2021/01/07/us/electoral-vote?name=styln-transition&region=TOP_BANNER&block=storyline_menu_recirc&action=click&pgtype=Article&impression_id=d38a9b50-5172-11eb-aeb8-47982499ac55&variant=undefined#a-capitol-police-officer-dies-from-injuries-sustained-during-the-pro-trump-rampage

#Jan6Coup #sedition #trumpism #politics

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump under the Constitution’s 25th Amendment

While Trump has just 13 days left in his term, there were numerous demands for his ouster including by the Senate’s top Democrat and a Republican congressman. Congress early on Thursday formally certified Democratic President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory despite objections from some Republican lawmakers.

Members of Trump’s Cabinet and allies of the Republican president have discussed invoking a provision of the U.S. Constitution to remove him from office, a source familiar with the situation said.

Meanwhile, a growing number of White House aides said they would quit, including envoy Mick Mulvaney, Trump’s former chief of staff, and top Russia adviser Ryan Tully. More departures were expected soon.

Facebook, a key social media platform for Trump, also said it would ban Trump posts until Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration.

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer called on Vice President Mike Pence to remove Trump under the Constitution’s 25th Amendment, which allows Cabinet members to oust a president who has been incapacitated. At least one Republican and 19 Democrats in the House of Representatives also called for that step.

“What happened at the U.S. Capitol yesterday was an insurrection against the United States, incited by the president,” Schumer said in a statement. “This president should not hold office one day longer.”

“If the vice president and the Cabinet refuse to stand up, Congress should reconvene to impeach the president,” he added.

#politics #uspol #ChuckSchumer #25thAmendment #impeachement #DonaldJohnTrump #Trumpism #facism #insurrection #Jan6Coup