Part of the problem facing Democrats in 1968 that helped Nixon get elected, was the response to the Protests and riots. Almost immediately, the final night was known as the Police Riot, when the cops went hog wild on the protestors. The longer term aftermath was that the police had overreacted, the Democrats could not come together to condemn the abuses, and they left the convention looking fractured and with incompatible ideals.
Of course, the same thing happened at the Ferguson Riots. The Cops, standing in armor and all that, snarling on camera to the Protestors. Bring it you ******* animals. The cops looked out of control, and as violent as we are told the "baddies" are.
So to this year, all the lessons of the past have been thrown out the window. It is too good an opportunity for the racists and morons of the Right to pass up. They want blood and they'll have it. Even if they have to send in Feds to do the brutality that the locals won't do.
Yes, the rioters are doing damage. Yes people are being hurt, and all that. But as long as the police are controlled, it is the Rioters who look bad on TV, and their message is lost to that image. However, when the Feds go brutal on a man standing there, or on people wearing Red Cross markers to show they are there to help the injured, then the message of the Rioters, the protestors, or whatever you want to call them is amplified.
So all of you thinking that Trump will win easily if he puts down the riots with brutality, You are losing ground on that issue mate. More people, including people who have never gone to a protest before, are showing up. Mothers are showing up to stand between the police and the kids. People are stepping up to oppose the brutality. They have had enough of the idiotic excuses and promises of reform that never materialize. They are tired of the internal investigations that take years. While those who dare touch a cop are already in prison serving long sentences for their horrendous crime in months instead of years of investigation.
The old excuses just aren't working anymore. And the people closest to the riots and protests, the city officials, are aware of it. That is why they keep pushing for restraint on the part of the police they have influence over. And those who are farthest from the area, are the most out of touch, are the ones demanding brutality to bring the masses in line.
It is backfiring. Unlike the RW heroes who demand live ammunition, those opposing the Police Brutality are showing up. While the Heroes stay safe at home, clutching their guns, and dreaming of the day that someone announces it is open season on the rioters. Of course, even then they would be the last ones in, they might get hurt if they're first in.
There is no good way to handle it. But you might want to take stock of Prisons which have riots. At Attica they charged in guns blazing, and lost tons of respect. Since that time, they set up a cordon outside the prison, and wait while the prisoners calm down and negotiate an agreement. Patience and honest dialogue goes farther than fury and firearms in solving problems. Especially when the State Police, in retaking the prison, killed ten of the hostages and four times that number in prisoners.
Rockefeller assumed he would look strong and resolute, and instead insured he would never achieve his real goal, the Presidency. Think about that for a minute.
