Was the Senator Padilla incident the beginning of true authoritarianism in America?

[blaze master]

1 minute ago, FolkGuitar said:

 

Correct. But he can invoke the Insurrection Act, and THEN declare Martial Law.

And after that, ' temporarily' stop elections in order to 'protect the people' from fake elections.'
We're just one executive order away from a total dictatorship.

 

 

[JimGant]

1 hour ago, sqwakvfr said:

It did not look like the DHS agents knew Padilla was a Senator.  He looked angry and was walking towards Noem and the agents did their job.

Yep. End of story. Can't be too careful these days, when political entities are subject to assault, or even assassination. Had he looked more like John Hinckley than a brown minority -- I'm sure security would have reacted the same way. 

[Mark1969]

I would say no as a one off incident. However, if the governor Gavin Newsom were to be arrested (or somehow put out of power) I would say yes.

[FolkGuitar]

2 minutes ago, blaze master said:

 

 

The fact that there is 'no legal basis' for such a declaration is totally and completely irrelevant.
Trump has already broken so many laws, violated so many court decisions, etc., that one more will make no legal difference.

 

[sqwakvfr]

4 minutes ago, JimGant said:

Yep. End of story. Can't be too careful these days, when political entities are subject to assault, or even assassination. Had he looked more like John Hinckley than a brown minority -- I'm sure security would have reacted the same way. 

When you work as security for a principal (public or private) you take it seriously. You see nothing but threats everywhere. I do not know what the DHS security detail was briefed before the news conference but they have the duty to deal with any perceived  threats to the DHS secretary. Could they have responded differently Yes things can always be done differently. 

[blaze master]

1 minute ago, FolkGuitar said:

 

The fact that there is 'no legal basis' for such a declaration is totally and completely irrelevant.
Trump has already broken so many laws, violated so many court decisions, etc., that one more will make no legal difference.

 

 

Ok.

[NanLaew]

On a far more serious note, what on earth has Kristi Noem done to her face?

 

https://www.women.com/1882202/kristi-noem-face-transformation-sight-see/

[Patong2021]

Kristi Noem is a nasty piece of work. Trump was warned about her, but wanted to reward her for being one of the first to support him last election. He will regret having this uncouth, dimwit in his cabinet.

[connda]

22 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I was quite shocked to witness the takedown of Padilla as he attempted to ask a simple question of Kristi Noem. The level of intolerance that this administration has shown toward people who have the audacity to ask a simple question about policy has been rather alarming. 

 

Was his plan to wait in line and ask questions with the rest of the media, or was his plan to disrupt the meeting?
My guess is the latter.  If it was the former, then he should not have been arrested.  But it looks like his actions lead to the authorities in the room to see him as a threat.  
I don't condone bad conduct by Democrats or Republicans, and yet these members of Congress now feel completely immune to actions by law enforcement.  

"I'm a US Senator and I can disturb the peace and even commit crimes - BECAUSE I'm immune to prosecution. Don't touch me.  Don't lay a hand on me.  I'M SPECIAL." 

I looks to me like his intention was to create a disturbance during Noam's speech.  Trust me - I'm no fan of Officer Barbie at all.  But I'm no fan of illegal immigration.  Yes!  Legal immigration laws have needed an overhaul for decades but the exact people like Padilla refuse to engage in the overhaul and create equitable laws which allow for foreign workers to obtain visas and work in the US legally. The immigration processes need to be simplified and streamlined.  But, "No!"  The Congress and Senate from BOTH sides of the aisle, imho, WANT illegal immigration as opposed to creating legal and simplified ways for a foreign workforce to enter the US.  Why?  Democrats want voters legal or otherwise.  Republicans want underpaid slave labor. 

[spidermike007]

2 hours ago, connda said:

 

Was his plan to wait in line and ask questions with the rest of the media, or was his plan to disrupt the meeting?
My guess is the latter.  If it was the former, then he should not have been arrested.  But it looks like his actions lead to the authorities in the room to see him as a threat.  
I don't condone bad conduct by Democrats or Republicans, and yet these members of Congress now feel completely immune to actions by law enforcement.  

"I'm a US Senator and I can disturb the peace and even commit crimes - BECAUSE I'm immune to prosecution. Don't touch me.  Don't lay a hand on me.  I'M SPECIAL." 

I looks to me like his intention was to create a disturbance during Noam's speech.  Trust me - I'm no fan of Officer Barbie at all.  But I'm no fan of illegal immigration.  Yes!  Legal immigration laws have needed an overhaul for decades but the exact people like Padilla refuse to engage in the overhaul and create equitable laws which allow for foreign workers to obtain visas and work in the US legally. The immigration processes need to be simplified and streamlined.  But, "No!"  The Congress and Senate from BOTH sides of the aisle, imho, WANT illegal immigration as opposed to creating legal and simplified ways for a foreign workforce to enter the US.  Why?  Democrats want voters legal or otherwise.  Republicans want underpaid slave labor. 

While I wholeheartedly agree with you in regard to your statements pertaining to immigration, I completely disagree with you in regard to Senator Padilla. He is a true gentleman, and he was escorted into the room by an FBI agent and a National Guard, so they knew exactly who he was and they just simply didn't like him speaking out and being critical.

 

It's that simple, every single member of Trump's cabinet is completely intolerant of criticism, just like the huge Goon himself. 

[Felton Jarvis]

8 hours ago, sqwakvfr said:

It did not look like the DHS agents knew Padilla was a Senator.  He looked angry and was walking towards Noem and the agents did their job. I only know of Padilla because I lived in CA  for many years.  Maybe the DHS agents were not from CA? Many people know who the other CA Senator is. Yes the famous Adam Schiff and if he was there most would have known he was a senator.  Padiila is less know nationally.  Could Padilla have done things differently? Don't know because he said after that he was "peaceful".    

It doesn't make any difference WHO he was.  He asked a question. By what standard of law does that require cops to throw a man to the floor and handcuff him?