While there has always been a touch of theater in being President of the United State, Mr. Trump has taken it to OBIE-level performances. (Google OBIE Awards if you don’t know what I am talking about).

Benjamin Parker asks a very legitimate quesiton.

National Review editor, Rich Lowry, writing in POLITICO, expresses his pain over DJT. You can feel it in his piece. He has evolved from a never-Trumper to a regular apologist. But now he sees what is happening :

https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/06/10/a-presidency-is-a-terrible-thing-to-waste-312289?utm_source=The+Bulwark+Newsletter&utm_campaign=500c123252-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2020_06_11_09_03&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_f4bd64ac2e-500c123252-80816622

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2020/06/conspiracy-mainstream-media-trump-farage-journalism/612628/

For those who tend to malign mainstream media, this piece is reason to give you pause and make you think. Just a little. Maybe.

https://theweek.com/cartoons/919478/editorial-cartoon-police-racism-prejudice

Pretty good one by Lukovich.

https://theweek.com/cartoons/918193/editorial-cartoon-trump-no-american-leadership

Posted without comment, as no comment needed.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/context/former-defense-secretary-jim-mattis-s-full-criticism-of-trump/c7050442-0c6c-417f-98e8-406b1b583def/

Posted without comment, just a nod of the head.

If you haven’t signed up for The Bulwark newsletter (free, babay!), you are missing out. It is not some left wing, namby-pamby, MSM website. Conservatives, including Bill Kristol, are part of it’s masthead. (OK, it’s Never-Trump conservatism, but hearkens back to better days, in a way) I strongly recommend it for it’s content and insights. It has given me a modicum of respect for the remaining conservatives out there.

https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/500790-mcconnell-blocks-resolution-condemning-trump-over-treatment-of-protesters

Mitch McConnell blocked a resolution that condemned the order by the administration (Barr reportedly issued the order) to use tear gas and rubber bullets as well as other aggressive actions against PEACEFUL protesters.

“The Democratic resolution would also throw congressional support behind the right of Americans to protest peacefully and the belief that “violence and looting are unlawful, unacceptable and contrary to the purpose of peaceful protests.””

https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/500858-trump-shifting-on-threat-to-deploy-troops-report

Perhaps cooler heads in the administration prevailed. Or his campaign manager called and told Mr. Trump that he was not helping his re-election bid. Photo-ops at religious places or not.

Once again, he threatens and then retreats when rhetorically punched in the nose. Definition of a bully.