It's Not Policy, It's Performative Cruelty

The battle of Minneapolis (and beyond, here in Minnesota) goes on, despite how Tom Homan fronts and the national media moves on. 

There was a letter to the editor in the Star Tribune today that captured my point of view well:

IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT

The political theater is the goal itself

Commentary writer Matt Dowgwillo (“Minnesota deserves good policy, not political theater,” Strib Voices, Feb. 6) urges Minnesotans to drop the heated rhetoric and focus on goals — as in, a discussion of what the Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol surge is trying to accomplish, what should it cost and how we would measure outcomes.

Here’s the problem. The policies that are tearing our state apart were cooked up by an aging narcissist who brags about his wildly inconsistent dictates (President Donald Trump); lying, amoral opportunists who embrace cruelty (Vice President JD Vance and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem); and a trio of jingoist sadists who proudly trumpet their hatred of nonwhite immigrants (White House adviser Steven Miller, Corey Lewandowski and Border Patrol Cmdr. Greg Bovino). Oh, and then there are the “influencers” who alter video and post laughable lies (whistles are a dangerous weapon, etc.). They are all united by a lust for absolute power and the corruption that goes with it.

The “policy” is to grow their power by whipping up a MAGA base with fear and hatred of immigrants. That’s the reason for the nonstop repetition of the mantra “rapists, pedophiles and murderers.” That’s the reason they’ve loosed barely trained officers armed with military-grade weapons. That’s the reason the Whipple Federal Building resembles a gulag-style prison. The surge’s only purpose is performative cruelty.

Since the Republican Party of Minnesota dare not confront the whipped-up MAGA base, there is no chance for a rational discussion of goals for immigration policy. The only way out of this is for Minnesotans to fight back by supporting our neighbors and documenting the abuses; it will take way too long, but in the end, kindness, compassion and the truth will win out.

Philip Deering, Minneapolis

I don't know Philip Deering, and from a quick search I see nothing about him and I don't think I know anyone who knows him. So it's not such a small town around here. Lots of people agree with what he said.

Too bad about the people who still believe the Trump and Miller's goons are after "the worst of the worst." The only way you could still think that is if you are paying no attention, or you think worst = anyone who isn't white. But given Trump's recent foray into simian slop, that isn't much of an assumption.