This Trump tweet largely was overlooked, but it's newly relevant in light of Trump's invocation of the Insurrection Act and militarization of the police function:
Why would Trump refer to WW2 generals "McArthur" (sic: MacArthur) and Patton in the context of DOMESTIC unrest?
1/
Why would Trump refer to WW2 generals "McArthur" (sic: MacArthur) and Patton in the context of DOMESTIC unrest?
1/
Why would Trump refer to MacArthur and Patton in the context of DOMESTIC unrest?
Bec. before they became WW2 heroes, MacArthur + Patton presided over one of the darkest days in U.S. history: July 28, 1932, when US infantry, cavalry + tanks crushed a peaceful domestic protest.
2/
Bec. before they became WW2 heroes, MacArthur + Patton presided over one of the darkest days in U.S. history: July 28, 1932, when US infantry, cavalry + tanks crushed a peaceful domestic protest.
2/
At the height of the Great Depression, with thousands standing in soup lines, a former US Army sergeant from Oregon organized a march from the West Coast to DC, of World War I veterans who had been promised bonuses in 1945 but who needed the $ now, please.
The "Bonus Army."
3/
The "Bonus Army."
3/
When they reached D.C., the Bonus Army camped right outside the White House. Which: yeah, that's embarrassing to a president (Hoover) who's already feeling besieged by events and fears he's about to lose re-election.
So Hoover lost patience and militarized things: ...
4/
So Hoover lost patience and militarized things: ...
4/
On one side: 20,000 WWI veterans and their families, in hastily-erected shacks on public land (the original Occupy DC).
One the other side, under MacArthur's command (with a Major Patton and an aide-de-camp named Eisenhower by his side): infantry, 200+ cavalry, + five tanks.
5/
One the other side, under MacArthur's command (with a Major Patton and an aide-de-camp named Eisenhower by his side): infantry, 200+ cavalry, + five tanks.
5/
On July 28, 1932, those troops marched down Pennsylvania Avenue toward the Capitol to launch an attack on World War I veterans.
With tanks.
During the Great Depression.
Militarily, it was a rout. The tanks crushed the veterans' "Hooverville." The Bonus Army was dispersed.
6/
With tanks.
During the Great Depression.
Militarily, it was a rout. The tanks crushed the veterans' "Hooverville." The Bonus Army was dispersed.
6/
I mean:
7/
7/
But 1932 also was an election year, during the Depression, and the American people were in No Fucking Mood, and recoiled at what had happened. In Nov., FDR rolled over Hoover as easily as Patton's tanks had rolled over the veterans' tarpaper shacks.
9/
9/
So THAT'S what Trump's talking about in that tweet about "McArthur" and Patton, and THAT'S what he was urging governors to do in that call yesterday, and THAT'S why he's invoking the Insurrection Act, and THAT'S what the Lafayette Park assault yesterday was modeled on.
10/
10/
Those BlackHawks disrupting DC protests last night?
Patton's tanks and cavalry.
The militarization of domestic discourse.
We're the Bonus Army.
11/
Patton's tanks and cavalry.
The militarization of domestic discourse.
We're the Bonus Army.
11/
His violent reaction to the Bonus Army doomed Hoover to a one-term presidency. May it be so for Trump, too.
But those of us hoping that soldiers will refuse to turn on the American people should remember what happened to MacArthur, Patton and Eisenhower:
They were promoted.
12/
But those of us hoping that soldiers will refuse to turn on the American people should remember what happened to MacArthur, Patton and Eisenhower:
They were promoted.
12/
Dear Everyone Claiming The Insurrection Act Only Applies When A Governor Requests Federal Troops: nope. Congressional Research Service analysis (PDF): google.com/url?sa=t&sourc…
Good analysis here:
"Tanks."
Tanks.
Tanks.
