Wednesday 10 June 2020

Is Antifa Simply the 'Step-child' of the German Red Army Faction?

There is an interesting short article which discusses the old German Red Army Faction (RAF) and how Antifa relates to them....over at the Center for Security Policy. 

I discussed the beginning of the German Antifa a few days ago on my other blog site.  For brief side of that discussion....at the very end of the war....the Communists became a reality. 

The Communist Party of Germany attempted to become a public magnet between 1919 and 1933, and with public standing rarely going past 15 percent (mostly in urban areas).  Toward 1930, in heavy competition with the Nazis and the SPD Party (the left-of-center folks)....the Communist Party reached a point where they declared both the SPD and Nazis a problem, and eventually opened up a bigger mess, with the Nazis convincing a lot of the public that the safer of all choices, for stability....were the Nazis.  Ultimately, that worked.

By 1934, Hitler had dumped the Communists and went to one of two policies....either kill the leadership, or chase them out of Germany.  Those of the German Communists who went to the Soviet Union?  By 1937, they'd been executed by Stalin or taken to Siberia.

The remaining minor players in Germany?  They claimed that they converted into something called 'Antifa'. 

There is some speculation going on that after 1945.....as things began to develop...the Antifa of Germany eventually by the late 1960s had become creature heading toward the Red Army Faction. 

One key point pointed out.....the RAF had known leaders.  You can't say that for Antifa in the US. 

The attempt to convince the public of some political end-result (dump Trump)?  This is an odd thing....basically, you'd be saying that Biden (or whoever takes over for Biden) will be this guy to bring people together.  It's hard to imagine how you'd plan this 'sell' to the general public. 

So a terror organization like RAF....developing out of this?  It's a curious thing to suggest. 

Things I Wouldn't Worry About in Six Months

1.  The NFL season.  I seriously doubt that things can be worked out with COVID-19 or the riot business, but even if they get to the first month of the season....don't go and expect more than 50-percent of stadiums filled up. 

2.  Second stimulus package occurring.  Maybe two weeks ago before the riots were going on....the stimulus had an opportunity.  Now?  For Trump, it's probably a number 88 priority issue.  Getting the House back into order and the Senate to agree....by summer vacation?  Nope....it's very unlikely.

3.  Churches bunching up on hyping 'BLM' and racism.  Once they cross this imaginary line....about a quarter of each congregation will start to go home, ponder upon things for a week, and then make the decision to skip next Sunday's services.  Some idiot team will arrive in two weeks from the Church to note they haven't seen you and were there to pray with you at your house....hoping that you would seek their wise counsel.  You halt them at the door, and suggest that you already prayed to God, and he gave you wise counsel already.  You suggest to them that they return to their homes, pray some more, and get some counseling from God.

4.  Kids arriving back at college....assuming their riot business is done, and they are 'safe'.  At some point, in a hallway or in the dorm....fed agents will arrive and detain dimwits like these, and then they call dad to ask for lawyer help.  Dad is asking now....what the hell did you do? 

5.  Tourism in Minnesota for the summer and fall?  Well....it's not going to occur.  What idiot would load the RV and take off for this type of Somalia-land adventure?  Tax revenue from tourists?  Forget that.

6.  Job growth in Minnesota?  I wouldn't worry about it.....companies will review their options, and probably opt to safer states. 

7.  Learning gains for high school students in 2020....relatively marginal.  Yep, it's a funny thing....some experts are now talking about a comical slide on math and grammar.  Where you should be in the fall?  Maybe 50-percent behind on math skills.  And missing maybe one-third of the grammar situation that you should have gained over the last year.

8.  AOC.  NY judge stood up and said that AOC can't be on the ballot in November.  Bulk of the problem is that her party in the district kinda dumped her. 

9.  NY City streets being safe.  Some words this morning indicate that the Commissioner of the Police, and the Chief of Police in NYC have handed their resignation paperwork over.  There's also chatter that around 500 officers are fixing their retirement paperwork or just plain leaving the force. 

10.  CNN Covid-19 coverage.  It's amazing to watch CNN four weeks ago, and getting massive coverage, and now in the past week....Covid-19 just about goes away completely.  You can watch almost an hour, and no mention occurs.  The Impeachment chatter?  Yeah, that's disappeared too. 

What the 'Red-County' Guy Sees

Out of 3,141 counties in America in 2016....3,084 basically voted in the majority for Donald Trump.  The remaining counties?  Highly urbanized areas (Detroit, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami, LA, SF, or Seattle)....went to Hillary Clinton.

So when this group of average working-class people identified with Trump....it sent a message, and should have been a big deal for the Democrats to re-brand their strategy.

What do you have now?  Mostly riots and branding that the folks in the 3,084 counties won't agree with it.  In fact, the same people are going into gun-shops and buying pistols or rifles....to ensure they don't have a problem with the riot-folks.

The red-county guy sees thugs and juvenile delinquents in adult clothing.

The red-county guy sees commerce being destroyed or looted.

The red-county guy sees statues being toppled.

The red-county guy sees cars set on fire.

The red-county guy sees police disrespected.

The red-county guy sees behavior that he just would not agree with.

The red-county guy sees political folks bending on some knee and effort to ask for forgiveness from the thugs and riot-folks.

Here's the problem....this re-branding doesn't sell.  Asking the red-county guy to find something in gut to bring Joe Biden in....to resolve this?  It won't work.

Adding to the fury.....that red-county guy can often be identified as black or Latino, and agrees with friends and neighbors that rioting and juvenile behavior is unacceptable.

As a strategy for the 2020 campaign?  I think they really screwed up badly.