133 Comments
User's avatar
Donald Nathan's avatar

Guns and masks are no different from nooses and hoods for the KKK.

Tom Twain's avatar

The idea is the same, to strike fear into the community they terrorize through their anonymity. It's totally un-American, ICE has to be abolished and return to a border patrol function.

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

True, but I'd go a step further: to the "well-regulated militia" referred to in the 2nd Amendment. The 2nd Amendment was hotly contested at the Constitutional Convention of 1787: the Southern slave states pushed hardest for it with an eye to enforcing slavery and keeping the enslaved in line. That "militia" included slave patrols and local enforcers of the law. "Well-regulated" it generally wasn't, if you're comparing it to, say, the National Guard.

The KKK, significantly, was founded in 1865, the year the Civil War ended, when the 13th Amendment (abolishing slavery) was in the works. (The 13th was ratified in December 1865.) Its aim was to enforce what came to be called Jim Crow, the subjugation of Black people who were technically now "free."

Leigh Van Lydegraf's avatar

They are ICE HOLES 100%!!!

Tom Twain's avatar

It the bad faith rationale that Maga posits in support of masks made sense many more public officials would be wearing them. Judges constantly receive threats and attacks, should they be masked? Business leaders get threats, even an actual assassination, should they be masked? Maga politicians who can't dine out in public or walk through airports, masked? JD Vance?

Jeannine's avatar

I watched Pam Bondi today so all my friends and family didn’t have to. (I stole that line from you, Lucian. Thank you.) What a disgrace! For all the women like me who have fought so hard for women’s voices to be heard, she is a disgrace to women and to her office as Attorney General. It’s all about the money. That’s what counts in Trump world. You always nail it Lucian. Thankyou.

Doris Corea's avatar

Bondi is a total disgrace! But that full of herself attitude can contribute to her come down! She’s digging her own grave! Just watch! No flowers for her! An unmarked grave will do when she gets her comeuppance! And she will! Karma is gonna get her!

Janice D Stearns's avatar

She couldn't take it when Jerry Nadler was laughing at her. That really got her angry!

Richard Knabel's avatar

Laughter is the Kryptonite for bullies and dictators. It should be used on tRump and contemptuous Bondi daily. Their own anger does them in.

Janice D Stearns's avatar

YES!! Our secret weapon!

Mark Fresolone's avatar

Thank you for mentioning this! Love Jerry - a courageous voice for years - and as I understand he is not running for re-election, will miss him!

Lance Cherry's avatar

Trump’s Ghislaine…

Lady Emsworth's avatar

I wish someone on the committee had said "Since you have obviously decided to "Do a Ghislaine", please show less contempt for Congress and simply remain silent."

Janice D Stearns's avatar

She could have just pled the 5th, like Ghislaine!

Leigh Van Lydegraf's avatar

Those two are...BUSH LEAGUE BUSH...PURE SCUM!!!

Italien's avatar

Yes! It does beg the question - are you having sexual relations with your boss? You were in those Mar a Lardo photos when you were quite young!! Funny not funny…

Charles Austin's avatar

A dumpster in an alley.😡

Brooks R Susman's avatar

The attack dog mode served The Felon well...and made a disgrace of this government. She knew her audience (of one) and was prepped with attack books filled with line of response that would denigrate her questioners. It is shameful that this is our present government!

Janice D Stearns's avatar

Scripted by Drumpf...reality show..the apprentice1

Lady Emsworth's avatar

She's hoping for a spot on the back lot at Bedminster. . .

Donald Nathan's avatar

Bondi’s refusal to even acknowledge the presence of the victims of the Trump wealthy stooges and cabinet members is a shock to the conscience of anyone decent. It’s no surprise that 7000 prosecutors have resigned or retired from the DOJ since the beginning of Trump‘s second term.

God knows. I would resign - in shame.

Italien's avatar

None of these people are resigning. They are settled in for the long haul.

Bruce Kopetz's avatar

A.G. Blondi is insolent. In today's hearing she actually shouted at questioner Rep. Jamie Raskin--twice--the contraction "didn't", pronouncing the word "DITTNT" ! Let her retire immediately to her home town of Dumpwater, Florida.

Italien's avatar

Contempt of Congress, definitely..

T L Mills's avatar

She even accused Mr. Raskin of not being a lawyer. She has some nerve seeing as Mr. Raskin graduated from Harvard with a BA in Government and Political Theory, magna cum laude. He got his Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, magna cum laude as well and was also editor of the Harvard Law Review. Bondi got her law degree from a small University Law school in Floriduh (Stetson University--which I'm sure is very much ashamed of their former student's corruption.)

Christina Johnson's avatar

Bondi IS the horror that comes next…and now! All she lacks is the mask to be more terrifying.

Janice D Stearns's avatar

UGH!!!! Does she not understand that we are paying her salary to answer questions from the representatives of the people who pay her salary. I wanted to slap her so bad!! I'm sure Drumpf wrote her 'burn book' - Binders full of shit!

Italien's avatar

Good question! But these aren’t public servants! They are looters and pirates..🏴‍☠️

Zoe's avatar

The media and every one of us must stop referring to these masked gunman as ICE AGENTS. Instead, we must refer to them as what they currently are - simply masked gunman because, I reiterate, agents of the US government wear name tags.

Furthermore, the names of the people who murdered Renee Good and Alex Pretti must be more visible in the media.

Allowing masks should have been stopped immediately by self respecting Congress members and the courts. The media in no way should have allowed itself to be co-opted into calling these thugs (no badges) agents.

Thank you for giving this its proper due.

Dick Montagne's avatar

The shooters of Alex Pretti were Jesus Ochoa and Raymundo Guiterrez, the spelling of the last name of Raymundo may not be correct 🤷‍♂️ my spell checker doesn’t like it. I wrote it as I read it.

Donald Nathan's avatar

These thugs need to be indicted in Minnesota STATE court immediately. If out of state already, they need to be extradited back to Minnesota.

Ralph T.'s avatar

"Cops and soldiers aren’t afraid of being identified as they go about their assignments on the streets of American cities. "

Perhaps because none of the cops and soldiers are J6 scumbags.

Runfastandwin's avatar

bottom line, Democrats need to stop doing business as usual and start fighting with everything we've got. we're getting business as usualed right into the graveyard. for starters, in the senate we could deny unanimous consent to proceed every. damn. day. Democrats in the House could hold their hearing on the street in Minneapolis where Rene Good was murdered, weather be damned. instead all we get is business as usual. it's not going to end well if the Democrats keep this up.

Patricia Arack's avatar

The dems always excellent at the race to the bottom. To that point, there is a movement to run Harris AGAIN. Dont these peooke fet tired of losing? This is a life and death election in 2028. There is no doubt that Kamala Harris could be a good president, but we need to win, and we need votes from people that voted for Trump in the last election. I'm sorry but this misogynist country is not ready for a woman president or a black woman president. If they run Kamala Harris, they will deserve the loss all over again. I can't believe these people. They just need to get out of their own way and win that election. Run someone like Seth Moulton. He looks like he just stepped off a recruiting poster a marine two bronze Stars a man's man. Hates Trump let's run somebody who can win that thing not a black woman she can't win unfortunately in this country this is a racist sexist country. And if we don't win that election we are done.

David Wemett's avatar

I have to agree about Kamala Harris. Maybe sometime in the future the USA can have a female president who is not white, however not this next election, the Democrats need to win, it is life or death to democracy. The current makeup of this country is so racist that it elected Trump - twice. I have hope for the future however 2028 is too important.

GailyC's avatar

According to This Will Hold on SubStack, Kamala did win, and by a healthy margin. The Trumplicans did what they have always done... cheat. And they are now developing their Rig the Vote modus operandi because they know they have already lost the upcoming mid-terms by a landslide. That’s why they are training their Gestapo in MPLS; if the vote counting technology equipment can’t be rigged again, they’ll go to Plan B: intimidation via their Gestapo.

Runfastandwin's avatar

I believe it. She was way ahead in all the polls.

Janice D Stearns's avatar

Two words - Elon Musk!

Italien's avatar

I take polls with a grain of salt now.

Janice D Stearns's avatar

Also Gov. Beshear of Kentucky,

Italien's avatar

Agree. Let’s not shoot ourselves in the foot. As Michelle Obama said we have got a long way to go if we think we’re going to have a female president in this misogynist country. No, we don’t run Harris again. You will have people staying home. I’m in California and she came in flat last when she ran for president. Let’s not fool around with this. I don’t care what her ambitions are. Jmo

BJ Zamora's avatar

So black women, lawyers, former prosecutors, state officers, should not run because they can’t get elected? Only nice white men who joined the military can be president? She was elected Vice President of the United States!

Then how the hell did we end up with Trump?

The problem with us Democrats is that we have always believed in upholding the law, while changing it when it does not protect all of us. The Republicans, on the other hand, believe that they can manipulate the law to protect and serve themselves only.

We need to fight harder to convince people that our values and leaders are better for our nation.

Patricia Arack's avatar

Your opinion is exactly what I meant in my comment. I was talking strategy. You are virtue signaling. That is how we lose. We have to be strategic. Kamala could be a great president, but she cant be cuz she cant win in this misogynist and racist country. It is life or death that we win. There will be a female pres someday but not in 2028. I think women are far better than men in many ways, but not in the next election. If trumpland wins again, the USA democracy will be dead .

Dick Montagne's avatar

I’m afraid you are right 🤷‍♂️🤬🤬🤬

bluerainbow18's avatar

They are sleepwalking us into a coup d"etat.

C K Smith's avatar

"What horrors come next?" — The question of all time, Lucian!

cal lash's avatar

Ghetto warehouses

C K Smith's avatar

I didn't want to hit the Like button because it is a horrible thought. However, I agree with you, Cal.

ira lechner's avatar

Lucian: Another valid answer is that ICE functioned legally and effectively for decades I believe without the use of masks or any other facial disguise! And ICE did so when dealing exclusively with hardened criminals whether under Republican or Democratic administrations. The excuse with respect to “doxxing” has no basis in fact or law over decades! And BTW in last night’s column you mentioned that Lutnick was previously in business with Epstein which we hadn’t heard before? Would you please clarify that fact and when it was a going enterprise? Many thanks for your superb columns! We all appreciate it and you!

Dick Montagne's avatar

They lived next door to each other in tony brownstones, both had plenty of money to play with, he was asked if he would release all of his communications with Epstein and said he hadn’t thought about it, the consensus was that there was a snowball’s chance in hell of that happening. If he wasn’t in it for the girls, and he may well not have been, then he was most certainly in it for the money. Don’t forget he controlled Cantor Fitzgerald the brokerage that had the top three floors of the WTC, he had some reason to not be there the day they were hit.

Leigh Van Lydegraf's avatar

I will never forget Bill O'Reilly pointing out that Cantor Fitzgerald cut off pay checks to the families of the deceased!!!

bluerainbow18's avatar

On 9/11, Lutnick was bringing one of his kids to school. The first plane hit at 8:46 AM so he was just arriving and was outside. He's a despicable piece of shite.

Andrea L Lacey's avatar

This is what I don't understand. As Phil Ochs said "there but for fortune...." many survivors realize this and it shapes the rest of their life for the better

bluerainbow18's avatar

Not Lutnick. He only got greedier more narcissistic.

Bill Corbett's avatar

This tactic of ICE is one of the most despicable aspects of the many things they are doing, to and including, who are they. They are cowards along with the leaders they serve. This agency needs to be dismantled and a new department with rules and guidelines put in its place. Tomorrow would be a good day to start that.

shee-rah's avatar

It ain’t gonna happen during this administration.

Leigh Van Lydegraf's avatar

We are stuck with the ICE HOLES ...sad to say.

Timothy Cooper's avatar

Well, I try to stay on top of things, but I havenʻt heard or read one news item about an ICE agent being doxxed. I donʻt know of any actions taken by ICE agents in American cities that arenʻt illegal, and despite court orders, they keep happening just the same. Clearly, disguising these mercenaries is about terrorizing the public, perhaps even more than filling immigrant quotas, but at least as much.

ICE needs to continue to exist, but return to what it was before this regime

- Karen Cooper

Andrew S.'s avatar

Agree and have felt strongly about this since it began. There is almost no excuse for hiding law enforcement identities in our system.

But of course, identification means accountability - and that's the whole point.

cal lash's avatar

While prior to 911 federal agencies were not sufficiently communicating with each other and a Big Dog activity pervaded. The Homeland Security Act was poorly done and today has become a national nightmare. Beware the Monster.

Friedrich Nietzsche

Janice D Stearns's avatar

And they are all decked out in their US military surplus -what world are we living in????

Leigh Van Lydegraf's avatar

Cos Play rules with morons!

cal lash's avatar

Ck with e.e. cummings.

Pity this busy Monster maunkind

Patricia Arack's avatar

Its obvious to me. They are Jan.6 criminals, shamefully pardoned by Piggy. They don't want peopke ti kniw they are Proud Bogs abd Oathjeepers. This is why Piggy let tgem out!!! His own private thuggish army. 🤮

Leigh Van Lydegraf's avatar

Don't forget Gravy Seals!

shee-rah's avatar

They’re ready to form the Trump gestapo.

Janice D Stearns's avatar

One guy, pardoned J6er, arrested today for child sex crime!

Richard's avatar

Excellent post. Excerpts:

"What’s going on with ICE and Border Patrol?

"It’s all macho nonsense, intimidation, and the coverup of crimes and violations of law enforcement as they carry out arrests of immigrants and even citizens who have been swept up in their tactics of terror.

"What masks and anonymity do for ICE and Border Patrol agents is to put them beyond the reach of the law and the courts. Masks and the absence of identifying badges and name tags are violations of the Constitution’s provisions against unreasonable searches and seizures and guarantee of the protections of due process of law.

"ICE needs to be abolished, but short of that, Democrats should stand by their demands that ICE and Border Patrol agents must be banned from wearing masks and must wear badges with their names and identifying numbers. If they want to enforce the law, they must first abide by the law."

Walt Svirsky's avatar

Exactly right, Lucian. In addition, the masks conceal the fact that over a thousand of these so called agents were let out of prison for attacking the Capitol on January 6th.

Chris Duncan's avatar

They’re fucking Brownshirts. Blackshirts. Tasmanian Pig Fuckers, if you remember that term. These republicanazis have created a private army just like every other junta and fascist regime. They are not going to give it up peacefully. Lady Lindsay would love to be squired around on a divan by a big strong Praetorian Guard.

Susan Mandeville's avatar

"It’s all macho nonsense, intimidation, and the coverup of crimes and violations of law enforcement as they carry out arrests of immigrants and even citizens who have been swept up in their tactics of terror." EXACTLY!!