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Mr. President: We Are Not Afraid of You, Steve King, or Your Biker Friends
File under “Things I never thought I’d say:” Last week, the President of the United States menaced the country with violence if he doesn’t get his way, suggesting the police, military and “Bikers for Trump” would create danger for his (unnamed) opponents. Rep Steve King, he of the WTFBrigade, amplified this by suggesting that in a civil war setting, the sides are mismatched.
As any negotiator knows, veiled threats are a sign of major weakness. You do not have to threaten your opponent if they understand your capabilities and limitations. If you actually had the power in question, you would simply use it. The only scenario under which this kind of bluff would make sense is if you wanted to persuade yourself or the weak-minded.
I don’t take the President’s threat seriously, nor do I take it lightly. The idea that the executive branch would threaten to wage war on citizens for political disagreement should be a major cause for concern. Any true American should rise up in opposition to this idea, as an affront to the nation’s core values.
But also, and I want to be super clear about this: We are not afraid of you, Mr. President — nor are we afraid of any of your goons — whether in FBI gear or otherwise.
