@dannyboy Sadly.. this kind of thing? is what "stand down and stand by" is all about...tRump has already shown if he can not win he will cause great chaos and civil war to finish his job of tearing this country apart. We are truly in a battle for our country, our very lives and I am thankful that the Lights are shining in time to stop this debacle. Brace yourselves.. there will more coming.
@dannyboy - I totally agree that the key should be thrown away if they are found guilty and yes - so thankful that they were caught.
And I am so sorry this literally is hitting right next door to where you live and raise your family. I will be sending you good, calming energy as much as I can this afternoon. I have an opportunity to visit my favorite garden for a time on this sunny afternoon (waiting for my older daughter to have an ortho appt.) Will breathe deep and send some calm from the southeast up to you.
Wow what happened in Michigan is scary. It could happen anywhere.
just a thought on the fly, you don’t think it was sent ahead to scout things out for the locusts do you?
Don't lose heart. Remember that we are about to take back our nation. These people will end up going to federal prison as terrorists.
Now, you would think this means that they will go to the federal prisons with tennis courts and loose jumpsuits. But it is not (only rich people accused of embezzling money go to those places). I have seen the prisons that these men will end up at.
Thanks to our court system, there is a disproportionate number of African Americans and Hispanics that end up in the prisons that these people will end up at.
Now, these men who were planning this terrorism are obviously mouthy, militant, and Trump supporters. What do you think is going to happen when they find themselves surrounded by hundreds of decidedly "not-Trump" people?
Hold that image in your head. And smile.
And if you are worried about whether or not these men will go to prison (yes, I am aware of that earlier case a decade ago where the judge found that the government did not prove their case against several terrorists and released them, stating that all they proved was that the men merely "talked" about it), this will not happen. Based on early reports and the court indictments, these men took actual steps to carry out their plot. They tried to get in touch with plumbers and electricians to get blueprints of the buildings, they engaged in surveillance, and they were actually going to do a final trial run this week. They will be prosecuted. Don't worry.
So when you see your daughters later, don't think of this as yet another classic example of how hatred (and Trumpism) is a threat to us all. Rather, remember that light won yet again. They were stopped. They lost. We won.
@dannyboy & @cc21 I'm a Michigander living in the metro Detroit area. I've lurked on this site for a very long time, made my account a few days ago, and this is my first post. The plot to kidnap Gov. Whitmer completely horrifies and disgusts me. This is what I was afraid of after the April protests against her executive orders in Lansing, with Trump then tweeting "Liberate Michigan!" and most recently refusing to denounce white supremacy during the last presidential debate. I am so relieved Gov. Whitmer is safe.
Since this is my first post - hello everyone! Just to introduce myself, I'm a 30 year old woman living in Michigan. Like I said, I've lurked on here for quite a while, and really enjoy reading everyone's posts. I follow this and the Covid-19 thread most. Although I feel very strongly about the need to vote in November, I picked my username simply because its my birth month ?. Nice to 'meet' all of you!
To everyone who is upset about this recent Michigan news, take heart in one thing:
The FBI is on our side.
Now, according to reports, this plot against the Michigan Governor was hatched as early as March or April of this year. So why did the FBI wait? Several reasons:
1. They wanted to get enough evidence to nail these people to the wall. Tape recordings, text messages, receipts (yes, some of these idiots actually bought supplies for this), etc. From what I have heard and read in the indictments (which are VERY detailed), they got a lot of evidence (DAs don't often reveal all their evidence at once. They prefer to release it little by little to give a shock affect to the defendants and their attorneys. Drip. Drip. Drip.)
2. They wanted to get as many of the conspirators as possible, so they waited until they identified as many of them as they could before moving in. This meant that any chance that outside conspirators who may be inclined to carry out the plan are put on notice that they are under threat as well, as well as a message to them that the Michigan Governor is protected.
But methinks there was another reason why these arrests were made now and not sooner. And it comes down to politics.
In short, it puts Trump into a corner.
Remember, he has mercilessly attacked the Michigan governor and encouraged his followers to storm the capital back in March and April (over the emergency Covid-19 protocols, of all things). Further, he even texted that the Michigan Governor she "negotiate with them (the protestors)."
Now it has been revealed that some of these "protestors" were terrorists.
This is a gift from the FBI to Biden and the Democrats. Pressure will be on Republicans and Trump to denounce these people (and questions will be asked about whether Trump incited these people to violence as a result of his rhetoric, as he had incited countless violence against others).
Remember how Trump has accused Black Lives Matter protestors of being rioters and criminals? Yes, I know that some were, but let's take a step back and look at this from an independent person's perspective.
Which seems to be a bigger threat to you? Rioters who vandalize government buildings and businesses (under the guise of protesting deaths of African Americans at the hands of law enforcement)? Or men armed with guns and bombs who plan to take over buildings, hold people hostage, kidnap some of them, and hold a "trial" before they execute them (their biggest complaint is that the governor shut down the state and mandated masks in an attempt to control the Covid-19 outbreak, which at the time Michigan had the forth highest death rate)?
Seriously, THIS is Trump's idea of law and order? To encourage his gun-toting terrorists to hurt people he doesn't like? Who will be next? The people in California and other blue states? Single women like me who despise Trump and believe a woman should say whether or not she should be forced to carry her rapist's child or to carry a child even if it costs her her life? Even his own followers won't be immune, because if he wins re-election, he has no reason to keep them happy anymore. (Not to mention more of them will likely die from Covid-19 anyway).
I have sat here and breathed, switched over to my iPad where I went to my favorite hollow bastion on my own data plan (Gizmodo and Lifehacker — both wonderful if you want to move away from the world for an hour and focus on the shallow) and am feeling better now. Jeanne, feel free to delete my ranty posts above. I first heard of this in a text message thread with my friends and at the time it just sounded like “Eh, they picked up some proud boys being proud boys.” And then absolutely lost it when I watched the press conference. My other posts probably don’t belong here or anywhere else on the site. This just hit closer than I generally like my national news to hit.
We ARE surrounded by Michigan Militia in the village right outside of Cadillac that I live. But I think some of them are in love with the “idea” of that, and not the actions like we saw today. I’ll hold on to that one too.
Anyway, thanks guys for letting me process this in writing in a public forum with a group of wonderful strangers. I’m not done, but at least my work day is over in 45 minutes.
While I don't think the FBI purposely waited to arrest these men simply as a means to hurt Trump (I firmly believe that they wanted a mountain of evidence before they closed in), this will ultimately hurt Trump. If he encourages his people to "watch polls" and to become violent if they don't like the election results, then many people will see this as Trump supporting domestic terrorism. He will whine and complain and do a half-hearted denial, and then blame the Michigan governor for the problem ("If the Michigan Governor didn't act so badly, maybe they (the Michigan terrorists) wouldn't have felt so threatened that they felt they had to take action.") [Disclaimer-if Trump tweets something like this, it will likely be in all caps and badly misspelled. I grew up in a family of teachers, and thus I can't bring myself to copy his bad grammar. Sorry.]
Either way, this takes away Trump's attempts to both use the Black Lives Matter Protests as a means to scare Americans into thinking that Biden will usher in a period of lawlessness and crime, as well as his ability to try to incite violence with his followers over the election results. If he does so, the FBI and law enforcement will get them.
If I were a Trump supporter now, I would be very, very afraid. I would wonder if the FBI has been viewing my Facebook and Tweets. I would be wondering if any comments I made about attacking people before or after the election will cause me to be sitting in a courtroom a few months from now in handcuffs. It is one thing to say that you are willing to use violence and even kill for your country (as I am sure these idiots would have done if they succeeded.) But it is another to think that you may have to serve many years or life in prison, and you never even got to carry out your objectives (aka-attack and kill anyone Trump tells you to or anyone who doesn't agree with you).
An ode to the fly in Mike’s hair
How long has that damn thing been there?
When he moves his head
That fly must be dead
That old man gave the insect a scare!
I really like all of your lymricks! Thanks for them! You are quite good. ?
My hubby was playing golf and said to his buddy today (they were talking about the debate) Hey, "Black Flies Matter!" - his friend hit the ball in water after that! ?
(With this total insanity going on with this administration we must find the funny somewhere!)
Regardless, the FBI is giving a bit of an "October surprise" right now against Trump, as it undermines both his claims that he and only he can protect us from a lawless nation and will subject him to actual backlash if he continues to suggest that he won't accept the election results (and may encourage his followers to do the same).
This doesn't surprise me. Trump has spent years trying to undermine the FBI and other intelligence communities. It is about time that they got a little revenge, don't you think? ;)
So take heart in this. The terrorists were stopped before they could do anything. (yes, I will call them terrorists and feel no remorse for it! Despite the fact that we all attempt to keep from name-calling, any person who plans to kidnap and kill a woman to make a political statement is a terrorist. Plain and simple.) Not only that, but these arrests will cause other Trump-supporting groups to rethink any plans and/or threats that they may implement, especially if they have to wonder whether or not law enforcement is already watching them. As an added bonus, this event will force the American people to consider what a a bigger threat to them-Black Lives Matter protestors, or Trump Terrorists?
That question is a non-brainer.
Finally, it once again puts Trump on the defensive, as well as take away another tactic that he has been implementing to try to cheat in this election.
There's almost too much news to absorb right now, but I don't want this to get lost:
GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy charged in bid to lobby Trump administration to drop 1MDB case
Elliott Broidy, a formerly influential campaign fundraiser for President Donald Trump and the Republican party, was charged Thursday by federal authorities with violating a foreign lobbying law.
The charging documents says Broidy agreed to lobby the Trump administration and the Justice Department to drop or favorably resolve the investigation of a foreign national for his role in the embezzlement of billions of dollars from the Malaysia state development fund, known as 1MDB.
Hi there, love. I've missed all of you too. ?
As someone's powerful guiding spirits conveyed to me just yesterday, we have to dig down and find our strength in order to stand in the fire without burning. By consciously choosing to stand in the fire together, we hold powerful healing space for the parts of ourselves, our country, and our world that are most suffering in this time of intense volatility and change.
Consciously choosing to stand in the fire together is an act of resilience, grace, and power. By refusing to waver as a result of any fear or outrage that may pass through us, we actually open a portal to a higher, better future for all.
This isn't a metaphor; it is a fact. It is our sacred responsibility to align with one another in this for the sake of all.
Yay! I love the synchronicities I always find here. And all of you.
✨
In conclusion, this news (while admittedly disturbing and troubling to us Light Warriors who can't comprehend the evil these people are willing to sink to) is actually a blessing in disguise. It is yet another reason why America is no longer safe with Trump at the helm.
These stories will continue to be released at strategic times. Just today, we heard Trump complain that he would not participate in the October 15 debate because the election commission wanted to do it virtual. For a President to refuse to take part in a debate when he is behind by double digits (10 in the latest Fox New Polls) is crazy. He knows he can't win, so he is trying to do a narrative where he will claim that he was "cheated."
Oh, but Biden is sooooo smart! He asked for the debate to be delayed until October 22, 2020, arguing that the people deserve to have Trump there "to hold him accountable." Obviously, moving the debate to October 22, 2020 is smart, in that it would have been over 14 days since Trump feel ill with Covid-19 (so he would hopefully no longer be contagious.) But it also means that Trump has less opportunity to change the race in his favor. Many states will start voting next week (my state will start October 14, 2020). That means that the last debate on September 29, 2020 will still leave a bad taste in the mouths of voters, and many will vote for Biden. Without a new debate, there is nothing else Trump can do.
(By the way-did anyone laugh when Trump claimed that a virtual debate on October 15 would favor Biden because Biden allegedly had the equipment already set up in his basement? Trump is the President of the USA! And yet he claims that Biden has better equipment in his basement than Trump? Seriously?????)
Anyway, this debate tussle no longer matters, because now this Michigan story will dominate the weekend news cycle. Trump will continue to see the walls close in, and he will hopefully realize that there is no way out. With any luck, I hope that he decides to resign before the election, so that the threat to our democracy is gone for good.
This is a possibility, as Republicans see their chance to remain in power slip a little each day. They very well may try to convince Trump to step down, and then Trump will do so, but only after inflicting damage to them so as to punish them for their "disloyalty." This will make him feel good in the short term (he walks out as a winner and not be told by America that he is "fired," as well as see the Republican party burn in flames for not being completely loyal to him).
How do I know this? Because Trump said in an interview today to Fox News that if they failed to fill the Supreme Court Justice seat before the election, then it would be the Republicans' fault. Why would he do this? Don't they have the votes? Why not blame the Democrats?
Simple. Unbeknownst to the American public, Republican senators are worrying how the public will react to the fact that they are pushing through the confirmation now (after the Garland 2016 fiasco), as well as making it a priority over getting a Covid-19 aid package done.
With luck, Trump will resign in the next few weeks due to "health concerns," leaving the Republican party bereft of a leader and at the mercy of a blue wave election that will finally sweep them out of power. He hopes he can keep his image as a "winner" by not going through the election results and play the victim card (blame the Republicans, the media, the elite, etc.) He also hopes that by leaving, the liberals' interests in seeing him behind bars will lessen (Spoiler alert-It won't).
Then we will send our own message to them "Stand back and stand by, because we are coming for you!"
(Note-"coming for you" is meant to mean "arrest you, stop you from carrying out violence, vote in spite of your "poll watchers" and threats of violence, ensure that any attempts you make on our freedom will ensure that you will spend the rest of your lives in a small concrete block cell with a very small window and bars. Remember, back in 2016, 3 MILLION more people voted for Clinton over Trump. The number has almost certainly doubled now, and there is NOTHING Trump can do to stop this election or him from being thrown out of power and back under the proverbial rock where he slid out from.
"Coming for you" does not mean "we plan to attack you, kidnap your representatives, cause harm to you, etc. Unlike them, we are NOT TERRORISTS. We don't plan to use violence, preferring to resort to legal methods because (1) we are RIGHT and (2) we have the numbers to ensure that our will is carried out. In other words, we don't need to resort to lawbreaking, threats, violence, cheating, etc., to carry out our goals. Our decency and determination to make things right is all we need!
So, yeah. Those who plan violence on Trump's behalf-"Stand back and stand by! Because we are coming for you!"
Side note-to those who are being instructed to "stand back and stand by," methinks you probably should start deleting your Facebook accounts. And your twitter posts. And cancel your next meeting with your fellow terrorist co-conspirators. Because the law is watching you.
You know what, it is already probably too late! Maybe you should go to law enforcement yourself and offer to testify against your co-conspirators at trial. Maybe you will get a plea deal or immunity. ;)
Just watched Big Gretch do her statement before I clocked out officially for the day. (Let’s be honest, I clocked out at 1 p.m. when Dana Nessel our awesome AG came on and broke the nuts and bolts of the story).
That woman is steely resolve. Yes, I know — she’s been being briefed and updated on this for months. She’s known about it for a long while and gotten reports as they’ve shored up their evidence and finally moved in to grab this first batch of terrorists.
But daaaaayyyyyummmm. There is no way I could have given that press briefing the way she did. Can we stop saying “so and so sure has some balls, doesn’t he?” To say someone is strong and replace it with “That woman’s got ovaries on her!” Because that woman was poised, articulate, calm, rational, and remarkably stoic given what broke today.
She’s the definition of grace under pressure.
I don’t care if Jesus himself is running against her in 2022. That’s my governor.
I'm so glad Whitmer is safe and the plot was thwarted. Scary.