 [Ricochet ht Insty] What does it mean when a group of people, ages 20-50, swarm a federal courthouse and literally throw bombs at it? It means, much as it meant on April 12, 1861, when forces fired on Ft. Sumpter. It means a revolution is already underway. As the media continues to gaslight us with the "peaceful protester" narrative, video from folks on the ground like Andy Ngo show the real effects of this mayhem.
Now, with the governor of Oregon, a Democrat, agreeing to stop the violence, VP Pence has agreed to remove Customs and Border Protection from Portland. While that seems like a win for the bad guys, this is actually pretty brilliant strategy move by Republicans. It cuts sufficient rope from the spool to allow the governor, and the rioters, to hang themselves. Because, let’s be honest: the rioting won’t stop, it will intensify. There will be a full-scale frontal attack, likely with more than fireworks, on the federal courthouse and other federal buildings. The buildings will be seized. Lives — and justice — will be put at risk. Federal judges will get to see up close and in vivid color what injunctions protecting rioters from the full force of the law really accomplish. The nation will get to see that the word of a Democrat governor has all the worth of used toilet paper without any of its utility. The property will have to be retaken at a cost in lives and dollars that should be — but likely won’t be — borne by the state of Oregon.
For Democrats, this could be their time to shine. This could be their time to show they actually can accomplish something useful. Imagine if the riots stop, the courthouse gets left alone, and peace descends on Portland. It would prove the Democrats right, and President Trump wrong. But, it won’t.
Let me explain why.
I was ten years old when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and a group of brave souls marched across a bridge in Selma. They did not carry guns. They did not riot. They were peaceful. They made speeches. Dr. King’s I Have A Dream speech later on the Washington Mall is still regarded as one of the most masterful in history. His Letters from a Birmingham Jail (smuggled out in toilet paper) should be required reading for every law student. He led by example. He accomplished so much more than even he realized.
People of all races and religions saw that what Dr. King wanted was basic humanity and human dignity for a large swath of the country that could not obtain it. He pushed for change. Nonviolence won, in the end, because it worked through the democratic process. Although filibustered by Democrats for something like 65 days, the landmark Civil Rights Act brought thousands of young men who went to high school with me their first real experience with quality education. It brought them some pride in who they were. I remember, at the time, being offended by hearing "I’m black, I’m proud," but today I understand it wasn’t meant as an attack on me, but as an affirmation that needed to be said. Many in that era had determined they had nothing to be proud of. How can you understand that if you’ve always been proud of who you are? But for them, it was a new and liberating experience.
While the Black Panthers, SDS, and the Weathermen took the violent route and claimed victory, it was Dr. King who won the day. Sadly, like Moses, he did not live to see his people reach the promised land. But the opportunities he created are still changing lives. And most importantly, the national consensus that the status quo was wrong came about by peaceful protest that showed how indifferent to human dignity and basic liberty certain Americans were in 1965. Now, 55 years later, those gains are about to be diminished, and if not diminished, certainly tarnished, by a bunch of young white people shouting "Black Lives Matter" when they do not, in fact, believe that. Rather, the entire organization is aimed at a Marxist revolution. And the first shots have already been fired. The first casualties have already been claimed.
Anyone with a little understanding of human psychology understands variable scale reinforcement. It’s why the slot machines near the entry have the most frequent (but lowest) payouts. If you occasionally give a gambler back a bit of what they lost, they will continue to lose money all night long. Because they get the rush from the occasional win. Very few gamblers play the slot machine for 30 minutes, hit a payout, and walk away. They go back looking for the next payout.
It’s the same thing with these Portland rioters. While there may be a temporary peace long enough to let the federal people depart, once they can reliably be thought to be gone, the full-scale assault will begin, and neither the mayor of Portland, Ted Wheeler, or the governor of Oregon will be able to stop it, or in truth, will want to stop it. They’ll declare, as Durkan did in Seattle, a "summer of love" and refuse to cooperate with retaking the courthouse. They will, instead, blame Trump. Wash, rinse, repeat.
I hear you asking "But if they got the feds out, why would they do this?" Because their goal was never to get the feds out of the courthouse. Their goal before, now and in the future will be to overthrow the duly elected government and impose a socialist order. If you think I’m making this up, look at some of the signs being carried in Portland that have nothing to do with black lives or police brutality. "Tax the Rich" "No Walls No Border" "Justice is Tyranny." Oh, sure, there are a few token signs saying Black Lives Matter, but the majority are people in black clothing, black masks, with iron shields, clubs, frozen water bottles, and gas masks, are so lily-white they hurt your eyes and couldn’t give two cents about black lives.
These people do not swear off violence. They idolize it. They revel in it. They can’t wait to prevail over the feds and start ransacking the courthouse. Because their goal is not "peaceful protest" or even incremental change. It’s full-on revolution. Until you understand that, Portland makes no sense.
Anyone with eyes can see this is what is going to happen. As you read this, you know it’s true. So, surely you’re asking, why would Trump let that happen?
Because if that happens even CNN won’t be able to avoid covering it. And people all over the country will see two things: (1) Democrats can’t be trusted to keep their word; and (2) Democrats don’t care about the safety of their citizens or the continuation of the Republic. It will be a huge awakening moment, nationwide. It will have down-ballot consequences for Democrats in an order of magnitude that even they don’t understand at this point.
The television advertisements with footage practically write themselves.
Not a single Democrat in Congress condemned the violence in Portland when they had the chance. They pressed for a federal retreat. It’s clear they don’t care about you or your personal safety. If this level of violence comes to your town, who do you want representing you in Congress? Someone who couldn’t take the time to condemn anarchy and thereby supports it, or Ms. X, a Republican, who keeps her word?
I do hope that the violence ends. I would love for the Democrats to be right, and for the Republicans to be wrong here, because I am tired of seeing good men and women injured by fireworks and improvised explosives.
But I won’t be wrong.
Write this on your calendar. The cease-fire will be temporary, if it happens at all. You heard it here first. 
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