# Oh dear, the violence has started **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 16, 2016, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778 "2016-10-16T22:25:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/101 "2016-10-17T02:59:24Z")
I wouldn’t be at ALL surprised to find out they firebombed it themselves. To get attention, to whine about the mean violent opposition, to make themselves get sympathy. To fire up the fan base!.. How desperate do you have to BE? It’s OVER! (and I certainly hope no one was hurt.) This SO smacks of a desperate, inside job. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/102 "2016-10-17T03:07:51Z")
If Trump is the next Hitler, or some variety of fascist, would using political violence to oppose him be wrong? Would the calculus change if he were winning? Or is “Trump = fascist” rhetoric hyperbole? How many people understand that instead of taking it seriously? ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/103 "2016-10-17T03:14:20Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > I think it’s funny. All the violence seems to be on the Anti-trump side yet somehow we’ve got a board full of people attacking trump for inciting violence. You haven’t seen the videos of protestors at Trump rallies, huh? ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/104 "2016-10-17T03:17:13Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > In 2 years his name and reputation may stand not far from Guy Fawkes in Britain. Guy Fawkes got a holiday named after himself. He must have done something right… ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/105 "2016-10-17T03:19:02Z")
This is not a good thing for anybody. Certainly not for our society. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/106 "2016-10-17T03:30:38Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > Guy Fawkes got a holiday named after himself. He must have done something right… That he failed. 🙂 One thing many forget about the day is that there were bonfires made to celebrate that the plot failed back then and people in England remember those bonfires. And between the fireworks made to cerebrate the prevention of the plot, effigies of Guy Fawkes are burned, along side some more recently hated politicians. > **[Guy Fawkes Day: A Brief History | HISTORY](https://www.history.com/news/guy-fawkes-day-a-brief-history)** > > The British holiday, celebrated annually with fireworks and bonfires, commemorates the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/107 "2016-10-17T03:48:01Z")
> [@Locrian](#): > > Bolding mine. No one was injured. Fine. Misdemeanor, $20 fine each. Trumpy Wumpy’s supporters are supporting violence. Tit for tat. All we’re going to hear from the most disgusting man in the nation is that Hillary planned it. More violent rhetoric. > > Best thing is to kidnap his kids and watch him refuse to pay the kidnappers. > > It’s their Machiavellian hell they created, not mine. It is always funny to watch liberals wet themselves over the supposed calls to violence from the right when, if you actually look at recent history, the liberals are the ones burning shit, breaking things and shooting people for political reasons. Since 1970 or so, the vast majority of the political violence done in the U.S has been done by liberals for liberal causes. I compiled a list in another thread, don’t feel like hunting it down, but the numbers were extremely clear. The left side of the political divide has been much more violent. The right has some nutjobs, no doubt, but the majority of the rioting, looting, burning and general asshole behavior has been done by liberals\* in support of liberal causes. Of course, in a feat of cognative dissonance so impressive even Trump would be impressed, I am sure you will find a way to write those acts off or blame them on Bush. Slee For the record, I hate Trump. \*I believe that most liberals do not condone the violence. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/108 "2016-10-17T03:55:54Z")
> [@Aspenglow](#): > > I hate to say it, but this is the first thought I had, too. Swastikas aren’t really the style of libs. I’m not saying it _wasn’t_ libs – obviously we don’t know anything about it at all at this point. > > I am sickened either way. Violence is never an acceptable option in an election. I am proud Clinton responded quickly and as she did, and so relieved no one was hurt. > > Agree this is the sort of thing that _helps_ Trump. The event and Donalds response are just too perfect to be true. I say it’s a fake and it’s RWA. The right are the ones anxious for it all to end in fire. I don’t see democrats or progressives doing that. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/109 "2016-10-17T03:58:13Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > It is always funny to watch liberals wet themselves over the supposed calls to violence from the right when, if you actually look at recent history,\*\* the liberals are the ones burning shit, breaking things and shooting people for political reasons.\*\* > > Since 1970 or so, the vast majority of the political violence done in the U.S has been done by liberals for liberal causes. I compiled a list in another thread, don’t feel like hunting it down, but the numbers were extremely clear. The left side of the political divide has been much more violent. The right has some nutjobs, no doubt, but the majority of the rioting, looting, burning and general asshole behavior has been done by liberals\* in support of liberal causes. > > Of course, in a feat of cognative dissonance so impressive even Trump would be impressed, I am sure you will find a way to write those acts off or blame them on Bush. > > Slee > > For the record, I hate Trump. > > \*I believe that most liberals do not condone the violence. Except they’re not liberals any more than the KKK or the Aryan Nation are conservative. Left-wing and right-wing (or alt-left, alt-right if you prefer). ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/110 "2016-10-17T03:59:38Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > It is always funny to watch liberals wet themselves over the supposed calls to violence from the right when, if you actually look at recent history, the liberals are the ones burning shit, breaking things and shooting people for political reasons. . . . Yeah, Tim McVeigh and Eric Rudolfs were such liberals… ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 3:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/111 "2016-10-17T03:59:59Z")
> [@sleestak](#): > > It is always funny to watch liberals wet themselves over the supposed calls to violence from the right when, if you actually look at recent history, the liberals are the ones burning shit, breaking things and shooting people for political reasons. > > Since 1970 or so, the vast majority of the political violence done in the U.S has been done by liberals for liberal causes. I compiled a list in another thread, don’t feel like hunting it down, but the numbers were extremely clear. The left side of the political divide has been much more violent. The right has some nutjobs, no doubt, but the majority of the rioting, looting, burning and general asshole behavior has been done by liberals\* in support of liberal causes. > > Of course, in a feat of cognative dissonance so impressive even Trump would be impressed, I am sure you will find a way to write those acts off or blame them on Bush. > > Slee > > For the record, I hate Trump. > > \*I believe that most liberals do not condone the violence. Well if you narrow it down to domestic terrorism, which is what we are really talking about, then the right has it sewn up tight. Yeah how about lets see \*\*\*that \*\*\*list for the last 25 years? ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/112 "2016-10-17T04:02:46Z")
> [@drad\_dog](#): > > The event and Donalds response are just too perfect to be true. I say it’s a fake and it’s RWA. The right are the ones anxious for it all to end in fire. I don’t see democrats or progressives doing that. Don’t fall into conspiracy-minded mental traps. Occam’s Razor suggests it was probably just some deranged lunatic that hates Trump OR the GOP ( might not necessarily be both in this crazy election ). The _most likely_ candidate would be a lunatic from the left and they certainly exist. Although false flag operations can happen, jumping to that conclusion without evidence just because you loath the opposition is a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![sinjin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@sinjin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sinjin)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/113 "2016-10-17T04:04:15Z")
Didn’t read the whole thread. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if it turns out that the bombers were trumpsters trying to stir the pot. Libs generally don’t do this shit. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/114 "2016-10-17T04:14:31Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Don’t fall into conspiracy-minded mental traps. Occam’s Razor suggests it was probably just some deranged lunatic that hates Trump OR the GOP ( might not necessarily be both in this crazy election ). The _most likely_ candidate would be a lunatic from the left and they certainly exist. > > Although false flag operations can happen, jumping to that conclusion without evidence just because you loath the opposition is a mistake. I just remember: Morton Downey Jr; “Acid is Groovy” (Jeffrey McDonald); “Helter Skelter.” It just doesn’t smell right. I’m not saying I know. I just think there is less than 50% chance that it was upfront about it’s intent. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/115 "2016-10-17T04:25:58Z")
> [@Tamerlane](#): > > Don’t fall into conspiracy-minded mental traps. Occam’s Razor suggests it was probably just some deranged lunatic that hates Trump OR the GOP ( might not necessarily be both in this crazy election ). The _most likely_ candidate would be a lunatic from the left and they certainly exist. > > Although false flag operations can happen, jumping to that conclusion without evidence just because you loath the opposition is a mistake. Thank-you. ---
**Author:** ![cuauhtemoc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecb155/32.png) [@cuauhtemoc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cuauhtemoc)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/116 "2016-10-17T04:26:16Z")
It’s just that… Why would actual anti-Trump people do this _now?_ He’s been burning down his own campaign for weeks, as is obvious to anybody who’s paying any attention at all. It doesn’t make any sense. I’m not saying it’s a false flag, but how does anybody other than the Trump movement benefit from this? We all agree the Clinton campaign doesn’t benefit. The “radical left” (whatever that means) doesn’t benefit. Seriously, help me out here, _cui bono?_ ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/117 "2016-10-17T04:31:02Z")
> [@cuauhtemoc](#): > > It’s just that… Why would actual anti-Trump people do this _now?_ He’s been burning down his own campaign for weeks, as is obvious to anybody who’s paying any attention at all. It doesn’t make any sense. **Because They’re Stupid** Seriously. Why does nobody ever even _consider_ that as an explanation? **Some People Are Stupid. They Do Stupid Things.** We’ve just about gotten everyone on board with the idea that Trump _isn’t_ playing seventeen-dimensional chess and secretly winning the election. Don’t start in with the deep theorizing about the yahoos who firebomb offices. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/118 "2016-10-17T04:44:43Z")
> [@Derleth](#): > > **Because They’re Stupid** > > Seriously. Why does nobody ever even _consider_ that as an explanation? > > **Some People Are Stupid. They Do Stupid Things.** > > We’ve just about gotten everyone on board with the idea that Trump _isn’t_ playing seventeen-dimensional chess and secretly winning the election. Don’t start in with the deep theorizing about the yahoos who firebomb offices. Indeed, this is often true; Stupid idiot does stupid idiot things - film at 11. And there are plenty of stupid idiots on all sides. However, my **hope** is that this was done by some stupid idiot on Trump’s team. Ideally connected to Trump’s campaign directly. Partly I hope for this for purely partisan reasons to be honest, but part of my hope is (I hope) more charitable. If it was, in fact, a Trump supporter who did this, then I think it will really help tone down any potential violence that might take place after the election. People will be more watchful of the idiots in their midst, LEO will be more vigilant, and people will take Trumps’ harmful rhetoric of “rigged elections” more seriously. We need to be more aware of how dangerous Trumps latest mouth-spewings really are. ---
**Author:** ![raventhief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raventhief/32/4_2.png) [@raventhief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raventhief)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/119 "2016-10-17T05:04:44Z")
I think the violence “started” when we had Trump supporters punching those they did not agree with at rallies. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2016, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778/120 "2016-10-17T05:06:28Z")
> [@Euphonious\_Polemic](#): > > If it was, in fact, a Trump supporter who did this, then I think it will really help tone down any potential violence that might take place after the election. I don’t think the facts make any difference whatever. Most Trump’s supporters have proven that they are pretty much fact-immune. They will believe this was done by a Dem supporter no matter what. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/oh-dear-the-violence-has-started/768778.md?page=7)