As we celebrate the anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy, it seems that there are quite a few anti-fascists at work here at home. For example, there’s former astronaut Karen Nyberg. Her husband Doug Hurley just arrived at the International Space Station after taking off on a SpaceX rocket. And, when it comes to Trump, she’s not having it. She doesn’t want her husband or the NASA space program used as political props.
The Trump campaign took down a video late Thursday trumpeting NASA’s return to human spaceflight after harsh criticism that it was politicizing the event and violating NASA advertising rules.
The video featured President Donald Trump watching last week’s launch from the Kennedy Space Center along with the slogan “Make Space Great Again” and historic footage from the Apollo era.
Ms. Nyberg lodged her disapproval on Twitter, in part because she and her son were included in the advertisement’s footage without their consent. It turns out that the ad violates NASA regulations against any endorsement of “a commercial product, service or activity,” so that’s one side effect of privatizing the space program. Political ads are also a no-no.
“Astronauts or employees who are currently employed by NASA cannot have their names, likenesses or other personality traits displayed in any advertisements or marketing material,” the rules say.
So, just like that, Trump got hoisted on his own petard and the ad was pulled.
Then there’s Secretary of Defense Mark Esper, who unilaterally sent the 82nd Airborne home from the capital region and just disarmed the National Guard serving there without consulting the White House. This followed a revolt of the generals against Trump’s effort to use federal armed forces against peaceful protestors.
You’d think that Kansas might still be a welcoming place for the Trumps, but Wichita State University cancelled a scheduled commencement address by Ivanka Trump because “in light of the social justice issues brought forth by George Floyd’s death,” it would be “insensitive” to have Ivanka speak. Noting that some students would disagree with the decision, university president Dr. Sheree Utash explained, “The college stands with those who fight injustice and advocate for social equity, and we’re profoundly proud of the diversity and social change being brought forth by our students, alumni, faculty, and staff.”
In other words, “fuck racism and fuck the Trump family.”
Then there’s District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, who is trolling the president with all her might. She had employees of the D.C. Public Works Department paint “Black Lives Matter” in gigantic yellow letters on 16th Street near the White House, and then renamed that section “Black Lives Matter Plaza.” To put a cherry on top, she sent out the following tweets:
These are just a few examples of how you can stand up to fascism. I wanted to share them with you today because a lot of people lost their lives on D-Day and we want to honor their sacrifice by continuing the fight.
My Uncle would most certainly agree since he saw nazi crimes first hand at Dachau. And did I hear right that Billy now has his own police battalion in service to his Leader? Sounds like Trump is forming his own army like maybe the SS to ensure he remains in office, since his generals have been rebelling of late to Das Fuhrer.
I would guess it’s the Colonels that did most of the rebel’ in, not the Generals.
There’s lots of ‘sit the fuck down, and shut the fuck up’ going on. And at least some of them finally are.
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I love that Mayor. Tell that fascist bastard where to go. I can only hope he losses worse than George McGovern. I liked that guy so maybe not a good sign, but I want the Orange Man to feel some pain from all this shit he has put us through.