Quick Hits: Volume CCXXVI

- As is often the case when a "progressive" engages in nefarious behavior, subsequent media stories seem to put a larger emphasis on GOP/conservative reactions than the proggie actions themselves. 

From the Pioneer Press: 

A Minnesota House candidate from St. Paul who on Saturday spoke at a Black Lives Matter protest in front of Minneapolis Police Federation president Bob Kroll’s home in Hugo, is facing backlash for his fiery rhetoric.

In videos circulating on social media, John Thompson, a DFL-endorsed candidate for House District 67A, threatened to burn Hugo and said “Blue Lives ain’t sh–.” He also appears to yell at young white girls watching from an open garage, calling them “racist mother-f—–s.”

On Monday, Thompson said he was getting death threats and declined an interview out of concern for his family’s safety.

“When people are calling my family and telling my family they are going to put a bullet in my son’s head, I’m not in a space right now to talk to the press,” he said.

If indeed Thompson's family was being threatened in the manner he describes, that is absolutely reprehensible and thus ceding the moral high ground. Let's not approach the thuggish demeanor which you condemn, m'kay? 

That said, as my friend and NARN colleague Mitch Berg points out, the stature of the person engaging in "fiery rhetoric" matters a great deal here. 

Someone observed this is no better than the Tiki Parade.

In a way, it's worse. The Tikis were losers with no power.

Hugo "protesters" *are* the MN political class. In five months, John Thompson will be a state rep.

This is what 'Disparity of Power" looks like. #NARNShow https://t.co/joJKMCxSo1

— Mitch "Extremist for Western Civilization" Berg (@mitchpberg) August 18, 2020

Indeed. 

- An acquaintance I haven't seen in more than 20 years recently took to Facebook to ask for prayers upon being hospitalized with COVID-19.  

Because we're in a time where pretty much everything is politicized, someone posted the following in the comment thread: 

I'd be willing to bet a crisp $100 bill that the "two people with MAGA hats" are the exact same two white dudes who lynched actor Jussie Smollett. 

- The proverbial clown car that is the 2020 Democratic National Convention kicked off Monday evening. 

Former First Lady Michelle Obama (who conservative journo Michelle Malkin refers to as "The Bitter Half") essentially mailed in her video speech given that she recorded it in late July.

This is one excerpt which stood out. 

But remember, the GOP are referred to as "ReTHUGlicans" because they're allegedly the party which uses fear and intimidation for political gain. 

Not surprisingly, Mrs. Obama's pre-recorded talk was filled with (to be charitable) dubious statements. 

Her lamentation of lack of "empathy" -- her examples included non-mask wearing and calling the cops on people wrongly -- studiously avoided the greatest examples of non-empathy currently on display: riots, violence and looting in major American cities.

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) August 18, 2020

Remember, this was only night one. Ugh.

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