I'd say it's already starting, but this is a continuation

Yesterday, I wrote a post about how Cheeto's supporters are already getting violent.

Then another story broke.

From AP -

Fires set in drop boxes destroy hundreds of ballots in Washington and damage 3 in Oregon

Incendiary devices were set off Monday at two ballot drop boxes — one in Portland and another in nearby Vancouver, Washington — destroying hundreds of ballots in what one official called a “direct attack on democracy” about a week before a heated Election Day.

The early morning fire at the drop box in Portland was extinguished quickly thanks to a suppression system inside the box as well as a nearby security guard, police said, and just three ballots were damaged there.

But within a few hours, another fire was discovered at a transit center drop box across the Columbia River in Vancouver. Vancouver is the biggest city in Washington’s 3rd Congressional District, the site of what is expected to be one of the closest U.S. House races in the country, between first-term Democratic Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez and Republican challenger Joe Kent.

January 6, 2025 should be interesting - the new Congress is scheduled to accept the election results then.

I expect lots of whining and some violence from Cheeto's supporters.

Cheeto hasn't even lost yet, but his supporters are already getting violent

My guess is that the insurrection of January 6, 2021 will seem like a high school pep rally whether or not Cheeto loses the election.

And I'm not even talking the burning of some ballots in a mailbox; subsequent news reports have indicated that the presence of early ballots in the conflagration  was a coincidence.  The person arrested for that looks to someone who's NOT political and just wanted to go back to prison.

From USA Today (article written before the other stuff came out) -

Electoral ballots damaged in Phoenix after someone set fire to a mailbox; arrest made

A suspect is in custody for allegedly burning 20 electoral ballots that were inside a mailbox in Phoenix, Arizona, on Thursday morning, the city's mayor and police said.

Dieter Klofkorn, 35, is accused of igniting a fire in a mailbox at a U.S. Postal Office in the area of 7th Avenue and Indian School Road around 1 a.m., Phoenix police said in a news release.

Nope, I'm talking about other stuff.

From AZFamily (emphasis added by me -

Man punched election worker who told him to remove hat at voting site, police say

A Texas man who wore a hat supporting former President Donald Trump punched an election worker who told him that wearing items endorsing a candidate are prohibited at voting sites, a sheriff said Friday.

The election worker, identified as a 69-year-old man, was treated at the scene Thursday and returned to his election post at a San Antonio library on Friday, officials said. The suspect was arrested on felony charges of assaulting an elderly person and could face additional charges, Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said.

[snip]

The suspect, identified as Jesse Lutzenberger, remained in jail Friday evening, according to Bexar County records. Jail records did not list an attorney and a phone number for Lutzenberger’s home could not immediately be found Friday.

Yet that wasn't the scariest, or the most craven, behavior engaged in by MAGA-its this week.  What's worse happened here in AZ.

From AZMirror, written by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy (emphasis added by me)

Phoenix man charged with shooting Democratic office had 250,000 rounds and a grenade launcher

In less than two weeks, Arizonans and the nation will decide the next president of the United States, but concerns about political violence leading up to and after Election Day has experts concerned, especially in light of revelations about a Phoenix man arrested Tuesday who authorities said was allegedly planning a “mass casualty” event in the state. 

Jeffrey Michael Kelly, 60, was arrested in connection to his alleged involvement in four separate incidents of political violence. Police have tied him to a series of shootings at a Democratic National Committee office in Tempe, as well as placing anti-Democratic signs with razor blades and bags of white powder attached to them in nearby Ahwatukee. 

During an initial appearance in Maricopa County Superior Court on Wednesday, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office said that a search warrant of Kelly’s home found 120 guns, 250,000 rounds of ammunition, body armor and a grenade launcher. 

Prosecutors said that law enforcement believed that Kelly was leaving his home Tuesday to “potentially do something” and was preparing for a “mass casualty” event. At a press conference Wednesday afternoon, Tempe police would not elaborate on what led them to believe Kelly had larger plans, citing an ongoing investigation. 

 

Mr. Kelly has given money to Cheeto and other Republican causes and committees, including to Cheeto on 10/14, after the shootings he's been charged with.

The case number in Maricopa County Superior Court is CR2024-150570-001; the case history page is here.

I truly don't know when he was radicalized, but his anti-society attitude and behavior seems to be long-standing.

All I know is that elections officials here and all over the country have to use unprecedented security measures because the supporters of one candidate will violently object to any election results that they don't like.

Another Cheeto (alleged) assassination attempt: Pardon, my cynicism is showing

Let me be clear:  politically-motivated violence has absolutely NO place in our society.

Period.

Not even if the alleged target is an utterly vile human being.

Having said that, I find it rather curious that when Cheeto has a bad week (and his debate performance was epically bad) he experiences an "attempted assassination" that may serve to alter his media coverage.

Cheeto may be the one person who can make Americans more cynical about politics than Richard Nixon.

Muslim legislator assaulted in CT by someone with a facial tattoo; how long before MAGA types call for the attacker's pardon?

From AP via Yahoo! -

The man who attacked a Muslim lawmaker first made lewd comments and tried to kiss her, police say

A man accused of attacking a Connecticut lawmaker outside a Muslim prayer service first made lewd comments to the woman and tried to kiss her, according to a police report.

Andrey Desmond, 30, was ordered held in lieu of $250,000 bond at his arraignment Thursday on charges including misdemeanor assault, unlawful restraint, breach of peace and interfering with police.

The attack happened Wednesday morning after State Rep. Maryam Khan, a Democrat from Windsor, attended a service celebrating the Eid al-Adha holiday at Hartford's XL Center arena with about 4,000 other people.

She was taking pictures with her family outside the building when she was approached by Desmond, who directed a sexual statement at her, according to the police report. He then followed her when she tried to walk away from him, put his arm around her neck and tried to kiss her, according to the report.

From the same story -

Guessing that a stretch in prison is in this guy's past...and future.

Maybe MAGA type will show their solidarity with the attacker by getting an orange-colored facial tattoo of a "D" or a "T".  The really dedicated ones will prove it by getting a "45" tattooed on their foreheads.

Want to see some violence, real or implied? Visit Miami on Tuesday.

Cheeto is scheduled to arraigned there and then.

However, security there will be increased (the events of January 6th, 2021 are fresh in everyone's mind).

From WSVN in Miami, dated 6/9/2023 -

Stepped-up security in downtown Miami ahead of Trump’s arraignment; former president expected Monday at Trump National Doral

Former President Donald Trump is days away from surrendering in downtown Miami, and that means there will be stepped up security during his arraignment.

All eyes are on South Florida as Trump will be facing charges at the Federal Courthouse.

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In an interview with Fox News Sunday, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said everyone’s safety will be the top priority.

“We want to make sure that all of our citizens know that they’re going to be able to express their First Amendment rights, and at the same time, we’re going to keep them safe, and we’re going to make sure that there is no disorder,” he said.

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“FBI domestic terrorism agents and analysts are actively working to identify any potential threats surrounding that upcoming court appearance,” said Former U.S. intelligence officer Josh Campbell. “They are looking at online platforms that are popular with extremist groups.”

Downtown Miami is expected to mirror New York City when Trump was indicted, with barricades, rooftop security, street closures and sharpshooters.

Of course, Cheeto's followers are spouting off about violence over their Dear Leader's indictment (hence the heightened security), but it's being pushed back on.

From The Guardian (UK) -

Kari Lake’s vow to defend Trump with guns threatens democracy, Democrat says

The Arizona Republican Kari Lake’s vow of armed resistance over Donald Trump’s indictment for retaining classified records “threatens the very core of our democracy”, an Arizonan Democratic congressman said.

Ruben Gallego is running to replace the former Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in the US Senate next year.

He said: “I know this language isn’t just hyperbole – it’s dangerous and it threatens the very core of our democracy.”

My guess (and it's only that) is that Lake still wants to be Cheeto's choice for his ticket's VP slot (hence her violent rhetoric) and this is normally where I would say get out your popcorn.

If you do, though, make sure the popcorn bowl is made out of Kevlar.

Just in case.

Most GQPer governors are busing migrants now, so some Texans have resorted to other means

I could have titled this post as "Texans doing what Texans do," but there are Texans who are decent human beings.

These just aren't among them. (Note: all those accused of crimes are presumed to be innocent until proven guilty)

From The Daily Beast -

Texas Jail Warden and Twin Brother Accused of Shooting 2 Migrants, Killing 1

The warden of a federal jail for detained immigrants in West Texas and his twin brother were arrested after allegedly shooting at a group of undocumented migrants walking along a remote roadway on Tuesday, killing one, according to authorities.

Shortly after he was arrested on a manslaughter charge, Michael Sheppard was fired from his position at Sierra Blanca’s privately run West Texas Detention Center, the San Antonio Express-News reported Thursday. A spokesperson told the newspaper that Sheppard had been “terminated due to an off-duty incident unrelated to his employment.”

The affidavit of probable cause is here, courtesy El Paso Matters.

From the affidavit (emphasis added by me) -

This doesn't appear to be an isolated incident.

From Texas Public Radio -

[snip]

On Wednesday morning, there was another shooting in Hudspeth County that appeared to also target migrants.

26-year-old Erick Garibaldi of Fort Hancock was accused of shooting a man in the face. The victim taken to Del Sol Medical Center.

It was not clear if the two shootings were connected.