Obsidian Wings

Papers

by JanieM

From an article about the new head of the border patrol in Maine:

New border patrol chief explains why he uses #BuildTheWall and what his plans are for Maine

Jason Owens wants to increase transportation checks and the U.S. Border Patrol's visibility in Maine and takes over amid a national debate on immigration.

From the body of the article:

In Houlton, it’s not unusual for agents to know the names of the people they pass on their daily patrols or to stop and chat with residents or farmers.

“A good part of the population is law enforcement of the federal variety,” said Emily Harvey, whose husband works for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security at the Houlton station. She said she frequently travels across the border to go out to dinner, get a manicure or just go for a drive.

“Your typical everyday citizen, we really don’t see (changes to immigration policy),” Harvey said. “It really doesn’t affect us. As wives of some of these guys, we’re privy to some of the stories. But as everyday people we don’t see it.”

My bold. And her bullshit. The border patrol got on my bus to Boston in May: the first time I've had that experience, although it's been going on for a while. So let me just tell Emily Harvey: ordinary people *do* see it, and some of us don't like it, and we will do everything we can to scale it back to the invisibility in everyday life that it deserves in a free society.

From another angle, the notion that as long as "everyday people...don't see it," then everything is hunky dory, is vicious. As long as the abuse goes on out of sight of "everyday people," then everything is just dandy?

I didn't sign up to live in a police state. An increasingly more visible border patrol is not what I want or what I will ever vote for or support. I am reining in a rain of curse words even as I write.

Taking bets: how long before some R politician suggests that citizens should have to carry and show papers on demand? (I wonder how many links will come up in comments letting me know that this has already happened.)

*****

Miscellaneous articles and resources:

Increasing intrusion of the border patrol into ordinary daily travel.

The Constitution in the 100-Mile Border Zone.

Know Your Rights in the 100-mile zone.

Meanwhile in the Wider World -- Open Thread

by wj

While we have (understandably) been focused on the tragedies of the past week here, interesting things have been happening in the rest of the world as well.

In Russia, there continue to be protests in spite of heavy police actions against them. A case could be made that Putin is getting progressively more rattled. And not without reason.

Meanwhile in China, protests are now into their third month. They started over a proposed extradition (or mainland China) law, since put on hold -- although not actually withdrawn. But they have morphed into more general pro-democracy protests. All this leaves Xi with a serious problem -- to the point that China's media are now referencing the "color revolutions" in Ukraine, Georgia, etc.
1) If this keeps up, people elsewhere in China may start to entertain similar ideas about the desirability of having some say in how the country is run. Which a guy who apparently wants to emulate Mao definitely doesn't want. But
2) It's increasingly clear that the Hong Kong government's law enforcement folks are not going to be able to shut the protests down. If anything, their actions seem to be motivating more protests. The only way to make it stop may be to send in the People's Liberation Army. However
3) China promised Hong Kong 50 years of autonomy, and it's barely been 20. The example of Hong Kong has been held up as a model for the reintegration of Taiwan. And sending in the PLA to crush a protest is not going to make that case very convincing.

Oh yes, and (following an early morning tweet, of course) the US Treasury has labeled China a "currency manipulator." The cause? China has STOPPED intervening in the markets to prop up their currency -- that is, they have stopped manipulating it. For which they get labeled a manipulator now. Welcome thru the looking glass. Trump has also slapped more tariffs on Chinese goods. In response to which China has terminated ALL purchases of US agricultural products. Great days to be an American farmer.

In south Asia, India has terminated Kashmir's special status and also it's status as a state. And their Internet access was totally shut off. It appears to be a move by Mr Modi to energize his followers and bring Kashmir to heal. Whether it will achieve the latter is questionable.

In a brighter note, we have a first for the Arab world: an openly gay candidate for President in Tunisia -- where gay sex is still illegal. Actually still only a potential candidate. He's filed papers with the election commission, with twice the requited number of signatures; what they will do remains to be seen. But just that much is a milestone.

No doubt there's more that I've missed, for example the latest idiocies on Brexit. But you're on your own for that. Open Thread

Names Once More

by JanieM

This thread is in memory of people who died of senseless gun violence. Anyone is welcome to add names and stories, whether from recent events or past years. Stories of the wounded are welcome as well; those people are going to have a hard road ahead.

No politics, no policy discussion please. I will remove it as soon as I see it. When and if I get time, I will copy the names and stories from the other thread into this one.

Names: grief recurring, grief never ending

by JanieM

A "disgruntled employee" killed two Walmart colleagues and wounded a responding police officer Tuesday in far northwest Mississippi, authorities said.

RIP:

Anthony Brown, of Olive Branch
Brandon Gales, of Hernando

Both men were managers at the store, family members said.

*****

The Gilroy festival victims:

Stephen Romero, 6, of San Jose
Keyla Salazar, 13, of San Jose
Trevor Irby, 25, of Romulus, N.Y.

*****

A man killed (shot twice in the back) in a petty dispute at the Walmart in Auburn, Maine, last Saturday:

Jean Fournier, 41, of Turner

*****

No names yet from El Paso.

It's August 2019, do you know where your POTUS is?

by Ugh

The latest language eruptions* from our Dear Leader have me wondering just how much more insane things will be a year from now when we are 3 months from the election.  "None more insane" you might say, and be correct except for the ensuing 90 days.

The good news doesn't stop there, as Trump has now appointed a lackey** to be DNI, which I guess may be a bridge too far for enough Senate Rs that it will result in a more reasonable choice, like the idea of nominating wackos to the Federal Reserve Board did, but I wouldn't bet on it in this case.

So all is well in America in the year of our lord 2019, ISTM.  Here, have a doughnut.

*this is inadequate language 

**similarly, lackey does not express the necessary obsequiousness, but i'm too tired to see if there is a better word.  Stooge perhaps?