Germany is using the black bloc violence in Hamburg as an excuse for various repressive measures against leftists, violent or not.

Meanwhile, the violence provided the mainstream media with a useful distraction from the real issues at stake, such as global heating and globalization of low wages. Whether they are sincere but benighted, or thugs in disguise, they did the progressive cause no good.

The progressive organizations should declare the black bloc persona non grata at important peaceful protests.

Republican senators deny that Troll Jr's behavior verges on treason, and even that it is grave.

It may be criminal but not literally treason.

It has been clear for months that Republicans are traitors to the United States, in a deeper broader sense that is different from definition of the crime of treason. They are trying to destroy or pervert every democratic institution in the US, to crush them down so that the people will have no way to resist whatever Republicans rulers might subsequently do.

From eliminating filibuster against Supreme Court nominees, to nullifying ethics rules, to sabotaging federal agencies, to fake news, to violent threats, to eliminating network neutrality, to gerrymandering, and then to voter suppression, the Republican attitude toward the United States is, "We will grab power and never let go of it. By hook or by crook, we will."

Germany is using the black bloc violence in Hamburg as an excuse for various repressive measures against leftists, violent or not.

Meanwhile, the violence provided the mainstream media with a useful distraction from the real issues at stake, such as global heating and globalization of low wages. Whether they are sincere but benighted, or thugs in disguise, they did the progressive cause no good.

The progressive organizations should declare the black bloc persona non grata at important peaceful protests. The troll gets lots of money direct from each new member that joins one of his golf courses. Even from foreigners -- which is unconstitutional.

The danger of a house fire falls much heavier on the poor, as a result of dooH niboR.

US-Russian Ceasefire Holding in Southwest Syria, Say Rebel Sources.