Trump channeling Henry II with Michigan militiamen?

The arrests of 13 Michigan militiamen should chill every decent American to the bone. Six apparently conspired to kidnap Governor Gretchen Whitmer at her vacation home, whisk her to Wisconsin and try her as a tyrant against American liberty. Seven members of the ‘Wolverine Watchmen’ were arrested for plotting to kill police officers, intending to start civil war, leading to societal collapse. Michigan Governor Whitmer has been harassed by armed men on her home lawn and in the State Capitol ever since President Trump singled out Michigan and its Democratic governor for derision over her pandemic restrictions. How much Trump’s tweet ‘Liberate Michigan’ and numerous other statements inciting opposition to sensible pandemic guidelines by Democratic governors might have contributed to the climate now spilling over into anti government violence is uncertain.

But what is certain is that Trump’s entire campaigning and governance since he glided down the escalator at Trump Tower in 2015 and blasphemed Mexicans as murderers and rapists, has ratcheted up antisocial behavior from the White Nationalist crowd. Telling supporters at rallies to ‘Beat the shit’ out of a protester; ‘Get him out of here’ to another; even promising to float bail for an arrested Trump supporter have become stock in trade for a president utterly devoid of the carnage he may be inciting. But his recent threat to contest a now likely election loss as a fraud has raised the ante of possible widespread violence if he follows thru with that grotesque threat.

Back in 1170, shortly before the murder of his rival Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury, England’s King Henry II, is reported to have said “Who will rid me of this troublesome priest.” That quote in recent times has come to reflect a ruler seeking vengeance on perceived enemies but reluctant to order the deed outright. It gives cover when criminal followers interpret and act upon that wish. Come to think of it, Henry II’s quote from 850 years ago fits Trump perfectly…except for substituting ‘priest’ with ‘governor’.