I think I understand why Trump wants tanks to roll through the streets of Washington

[DFW]

It's what you do when you want a show of force while occupying enemy territory.

[gratuitous]

1. Those brand new Sherman tanks he's promising will be impressive, won't they?

Come on, Mother Nature!

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. Yup. I guess we must be "enemy territory" now.

[DFW]

3. For him, D.C. sure is, anyway! n/t

[DFW]

4. Here's an advance clip of Trump's address

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Military parades are intended as a symbol of strength and sometimes as a threat.

France has a Bastille Day parade to commemorate its revolution, in which a wealthy authoritarian monarchy was overthrown. North Korea has its military parade to show its strength both to outside forces - its perceived enemies - and its own citizens. Trump knows that our military is the strongest in the world and so we are not likely to be invaded by another army. So to whom does he want to show strength and a threat of force?

Us. Citizens who oppose him.

[DFW]

6. I suppose that we managed to celebrate Thomas Jefferson's document of 1776

Rather more peacefully up to this point.

Not that Trump or the Trumpanzees would find any merit in that.

[Rabrrrrrr]

16. I think partly that - to show strength and force - but I think it has more to do with his ego.

He fancies himself a king of sorts, and he equates leadership with power, and nothing speaks power like having one's own military.

His parade is 90% "Look at how powerful I am! I say 'come to me, tank' and they come to me! I say 'fly to me, my blue angels,' and they fly to me! Look, I'm just like my best buddies Putin and Kim who also have their own militaries, except mine is bigger!"

Even though the rest of the world knows that the military isn't his. And that his penis is very, very small. Like his soul.

There probably is some part of him in the back of his head that also thinks displaying "his" military like a lizard blowing out his neck also somehow intimidates his enemies in the U.S. He's just dumb enough to think so, I'm sure.

But I think more than anything that this display is nothing than the mechinations of a 2-year old that needs to feel important and powerful.

[DFW]

21. Despite McConnell's physical resemblance to the Dr. Seuss drawings

Trump virtually embodies the text of "Yertle the Turtle" almost literally.

[2naSalit]

7. It's to show We the People that he

wants to be king and we'd better start liking it or we can expect more tanks in the streets. That's how I take it.

[friend of m and j]

29. 2naSalit, you are vert ubsightful person and I can tell I already like you..

You think like I do. I have said much the same as your comment several times on DU. I started taking notes of things he has said on twitter and at his rallies and his WH lawn press conferences. Even notes of what his minions and advisers have said. Usually trump just drops a phrase or a few words during rally rant. But if you start connecting the dots you can only come to the conclusion that he wants to be a King. I even wrote a long piece last year titled "From Democracy to Dictatorship". I even submitted it to DU and the Administrators made what I think is an unusual move and wrote me an email and said they had decided to not publish it but they wished me luck getting it published. They were very cordial and I understood their concerns. A lot of it was supposition on my part and my projections what might happen in the future.

A lot has happened in the last year. Much of my suppositions and projections have become much more believable and talked about by the pundits. I wonder if the administrators would make the same decision today.

[2naSalit]

30. Well///

I have felt that where we are is where we would be if that POS got into office. I haven't felt that we have had free and fair election since at least 2000. I think it was only by sheer force of numbers that we got Obama.

I would be cautious about having things published, for myself, as I think I could be hunted down if I speak too loudly anymore... it's happened in the past. When I speak up about what I see coming in the future, I'm usually ignored and treated with disdain because I'm not always delivering warm and fuzzies... but when the stuff I warned of happens, I'm also cast into a dark world where people don't want to talk to me because I scare them. But it's only because the truth isn't pretty and they have lived much of their lives thinking they didn't have to pay attention.

As for the admins... I don't think they would change their minds now (of course, I don't know what they told you) as they have a lot to lose by publishing something as publishers. I see many opinion pieces here but there a fine line there too. Much of what I do read here is what's already published and this site. for me . acts as a news aggregate along with some conversation. I appreciate the opinions of others who do pay attention and learn from others who know more than I do.

I do hope you can find a place to publish, though. Seems like a lot of us are already on this page.

Ooh, gotta go, I have family near that earthquake, have to call them.

[blogslut]

8. I think he wants this because it reminds him of his days in military school.

I'm guessing it's the only time in his life where he felt sincerely proud of his looks, his character and his accomplishments. He remembers marching as a cadet - strong and tall with flags flying, bands playing, saluting the brass in the stands.

Now he's the brass in the stands. When he salutes the soldiers (in his heart) he's saluting himself.

[smirkymonkey]

12. Even though in reality he's actually a 5-time draft-dodging coward from a long line

of military service avoiding cowards. He has NO shame. I can't imagine what military personnel thinks of this self-absorbed, tiny peen tribute to a yellow-bellied wimp.

[Hekate]

9. Pretty much. Joy Reid commented on the diffferent types of military show-of-force parades....

Such as intimidating enemies, or celebrating the overthrow of tyrants on home turf. But here we are, losing allies right and left, with enemies Trump wants to impress who are in fact laughing at him.

So who is he trying to intimidate? Us, the Resistance.

[marlakay]

13. I heard her say that and I agree

Its us he is trying to scare and bully.

[trusty elf]

10. video of a tank tearing up a street in Germany

[trusty elf]

11. Benedict Donald's parade

[BigmanPigman]

14. A dog humping raccoon...what is up with that?

[trusty elf]

15. an apt image for tRump's fustercluck administration

[FakeNoose]

24. If you mean the flag, I think that's a bear - symbol for Russia

... and it's humping Chump.

[BigmanPigman]

25. Look at the bottom, left corner

behind the man in black. It is a raccoon and dog.

[lunasun]

31. Internet pic

https://funnyjunk.com/funny_pictures/457868/Racoon/

Stuff happens
https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/4m01vv/my_dog_is_having_a_romance_with_a_raccoon_im_not/

[BigmanPigman]

32. I thought it had some obvious meaning that I wasn't

informed about or "in the loop" to get the joke.

[FailureToCommunicate]

20. Great details! Love the Press on ladders to be able to shot over the

no-existant crowds!

[KY_EnviroGuy]

17. "Power-mad" I believe is the appropriate term.

His entire staff, cabinet and family feed his ego, narcissism and power-madness in order to get their way with government policy.

Trump is a very ugly and mean power-mad puppet of the far right.

KY..........

[bucolic_frolic]

18. Yup

keep the citizenship focus on others so no one questions your own loyalties

classic deflect, project, deny, obfuscate

[Wolf Frankula]

19. The soldiers are practicing their Russian Parade Goose step.

The bands will be playing this.

Wolf

[Baltimike]

22. knr

[mountain grammy]

23. Exactly! The majority of Americans voted against him.

the majority of Americans disapprove of him. He is occupying a hostile country.

[Loge23]

26. He consolidating his power

The #IPOTUS may indeed be a moron, but he's also a quite a skilled criminal, and criminals are often pretty good at crime.
While we are constantly dealing with every fuck-up by him, everyday, he's busy consolidating power.
This shitshow was another step for him.
He has already successfully co-opted the DOJ - now he is concentrating on the military.
Do you know a cop? Guess what - they love this guy.
He has the DOJ & ICE, he'll soon have the military and your local law enforcement agency.

He does not plan on leaving, folks. This isn't just for show - it's warning that winter is coming.

[Eliot Rosewater]

28. He has no plans of leaving, that is certain.

He is not skilled at anything other than

he says something, it gets repeated and cheers, he repeats it

the way a 9 yr old would do

it is successful because we have approximately 45 million racist assholes with IQ's below 50

[Eliot Rosewater]

27. and he very much wants all of us dead, or gone, either way, he doesnt care