# Plot to kidnap (MI Gov) Gretchen Whitmer **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 8, 2020, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506 "2020-10-08T16:53:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 2:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/161 "2020-10-18T14:40:35Z")
The President held a rally in Michigan. Perfect opportunity for the leader of the county to try to cool down the heated rhetoric in the state, in light of the threats to the Governor. And so, of course: > **[Trump Crowd Chants ‘Lock Her Up’ About Whitmer](https://politicalwire.com/2020/10/17/trump-crowd-chants-lock-her-up-for-whitmer/)** > > The crowd at President Trump’s rally in Michigan chanted “lock her up,” after the president demanded Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) re-open the state amid the coronavirus pandemic.Whitmer quickly responded on Twitter: "This is exactly the rhetoric... ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/162 "2020-10-18T14:52:52Z")
In his defense, he has no control over what the crowd yells. The real question is how did he respond to their “Lock her up!” chants? I presume he chastised them and requested that they tone down their rhetoric. Oh wait, he laughed and said “Lock them all up.” ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/163 "2020-10-18T15:00:10Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > Oh wait, he laughed and said “Lock them all up.” Although, based on the contextual semantics of “ALM” as a response to “BLM”, this means that he _doesn’t_ want Whitmer locked up. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/164 "2020-10-18T15:02:45Z")
There is no chance he’s going to cool anything; it’s not in his interests to do so, and just as important, it’s not in Giuliani’s interests, Bill Barr’s interests, Jared Kushner’s interests, or in the interests of anyone else in his circle. You can see Trump saying the quiet part out loud. One hand saying “_If I lose the election, it’s because it’s rigged and I’ll ask my army to fight like hell to prevent me from losing - even if people have to get injured or worse to keep me in power_.” On the other hand, he’s bracing himself by saying “_But if the election is successfully stolen from me (i.e. If I really do lose), I’m gettin’ the feck outta here_.” He’s even said “_I’m never coming back to Pennsylvania or Wisconsin_,” and “_I might have to leave the country, who knows? LOL_” Yeah, great. Funny. A sitting president is openly challenging the legitimacy of an election that he fears losing and telling us he’ll go into self-imposed exile if he’s forced from office. Tell me how this is different from a fledgling democracy, quasi-authoritarian regime again? ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/165 "2020-10-18T17:26:50Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > In his defense, he has no control over what the crowd yells. The real question is how did he respond to their “Lock her up!” chants? I presume he chastised them and requested that they tone down their rhetoric Does anyone remember when McCain faced a similar situation? One of his supporters said she didn’t want to support Obama because she thought he was a Muslim and an Arab. He shot that crap down pronto. ---
**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 18, 2020, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/166 "2020-10-18T17:28:26Z")
> [@Happy\_Lendervedder](#): > > In his defense, he has no control over what the crowd yells. You’ve forgotten he _started_ the whole “Lock her up!” nonsene. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/167 "2020-10-18T17:31:57Z")
> [@Kimera757](#): > > Does anyone remember when McCain faced a similar situation? One of his supporters said she didn’t want to support Obama because she thought he was a Muslim and an Arab. > > He shot that crap down pronto. Yes, but in kind of a terrible way. IIRC he said, “That’s not true. He’s a good man.” Kinda makes it sound like Muslims and Arabs are not good people. ---
**Author:** ![Kimera757](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kimera757/32/3765_2.png) [@Kimera757](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimera757)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/168 "2020-10-18T17:36:03Z")
> [@Spice\_Weasel](#): > > Yes, but in kind of a terrible way. IIRC he said, “That’s not true. He’s a good man.” > > Kinda makes it sound like Muslims and Arabs are not good people. I remember the good old days, when Republican candidates were merely unacceptable, only treating people they didn’t like as second class citizens and only wanting to put some of their adults in cages. This wasn’t that long ago, but perhaps my glasses have already been tinted rose. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/169 "2020-10-18T18:12:22Z")
The lady said she believed Obama was “an Arab”. McCain’s thoughtful response was made in light of limited time, and limited perceived willingness on her part to listen to opposing viewpoints. In different circumstances, with a less pathetic questioner, he might have followed up with “And what have you got against Arabs? Danny Thomas was an Arab. A devout Christian who founded the St. Jude charity. Get your head out of your bigoted ass!” ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/170 "2020-10-18T18:51:31Z")
One time long, long, ago, Chris Christie sometimes had something resembling actual integrity. Someone challenged him for appointing a Muslim judge and asked if he was worried about the judge implementing Sharia Law. His response was something like, “I’m so tired of hearing about this Sharia Law crap. It’s ridiculous. Justice so-and-so has been serving our country for years and he shall continue to do so in this capacity because he’s the best man for the job. I don’t want to hear another word about Sharia Law, it’s complete nonsense.” He was my governor at the time and I always respected him for that. I mean until he crawled up Trump’s asshole. Not that he wasn’t a terrible governor in other ways. I’m just sayin’. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/171 "2020-10-18T19:50:02Z")
The thing is, as bad as that McCain supporter was, she wasn’t even saying Obama should be locked up or met with violence; she was xenophobic for sure, but a certain percentage of voters are going to show ignorance, prejudice, or bias, and in any case, McCain handled it the right way. Trump’s “lock him/her up” at rallies is essentially violent discourse. It’s rhetoric which says “_Our political opponents deserve jail. They are not to be trusted to walk among us as free citizens. Our political opposition are not people with different views; they are our enemies._” ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/172 "2020-10-18T19:52:35Z")
That episode gave me some hope when Christie started being mentioned as a possible candidate. Then he worked together with President Obama to coordinate state and federal responses to Hurricane Sandy, and apparently got tarred as untrustworthy by Republicans. Here’s his quote: > [@](#): > > Gov. Christie said, “I was disgusted, candidly, with some of the questions he was asked by both parties at the Senate Judiciary Committee. I thought it was awful. But in the end the Senate did the right thing because the facts were undeniable that Sohail Mohammed is an outstanding attorney and will be an outstanding judge.” > > When asked to comment on the relevance of Sharia law to Sohail Mohammed’s appointment, Gov. Christie said, “Sharia law has nothing to do with this at all,” and followed up with, **“It’s just crazy. And I’m tired of dealing with the crazies.”** Would that he had stayed with that. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/173 "2020-10-18T19:54:35Z")
Trump’s agreement to lock them all up, coupled with his “stand back and stand by” remark - there’s gotta be a criminal charge in there somewhere. ---
**Author:** ![Chingon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chingon/32/17645_2.png) [@Chingon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chingon)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/174 "2020-10-18T20:13:22Z")
> What a crazy time. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/175 "2020-10-18T20:20:43Z")
> [@Chingon](#): > > [x.com](https://twitter.com/TrumpWarRoom/status/1317887947304280071) > > > [@](#): > > > > 86 can be shorthand for killing someone. > > What a crazy time. They’re trying to make it sound like she’s as bad as they are. Good grief, 86452020 has been a thing for ages now. > **[Amazon.com: 86 45 2020 Anti Trump 8645 Dump Trump T Shirt : Clothing, Shoes...](https://www.amazon.com/2020-Anti-Trump-8645-Shirt/dp/B07PJ487N4)** > > Buy 86 45 2020 Anti Trump 8645 Dump Trump T Shirt: Shop top fashion brands T-Shirts at Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases ---
**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 18, 2020, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/176 "2020-10-18T20:28:09Z")
[Eighty-six](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eighty-six) > Definition of _eighty-six_ > > [transitive verb](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/transitive) > > slang > > **:** to refuse to serve (a customer) also **:** to get rid of **:** [throw out]([Throw Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster](https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/throw) out) ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/177 "2020-10-18T21:08:42Z")
For the life of me, I don’t understand this impulse to frame anyone who isn’t Trump as “maybe kinda good, almost.” Like George W. Bush, John McCain was a scumbag, and as W’s did, McCain’s body count as president would have certainly rivaled Trump’s. Trump is certainly more incompetent, dumber and more personally noxious, but I think it’s a fairly crazy thing to do to put McCain in a class of politician that was “merely unacceptable,” as if his own racism and war-mongering and corruption was a matter of taste. McCain would have just done all the things Trump does without tweeting about it. ---
**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/178 "2020-10-18T21:31:10Z")
Oy. That’s terrible? It was a good, respectful answer given off the cuff. Just because it wasn’t perfect doesn’t make it terrible. Sheesh, it wouldn’t kill you guys to give Republicans some credit. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/179 "2020-10-18T21:47:06Z")
I did give him some credit at the time. I actually liked McCain once. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2020, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506/180 "2020-10-18T21:58:28Z")
> [@Deeg](#): > > Oy. That’s terrible? It was a good, respectful answer given off the cuff. Just because it wasn’t perfect doesn’t make it terrible. Sheesh, it wouldn’t kill you guys to give Republicans some credit. Perhaps you wouldn’t be saying that if you were Arabic. Or if she had called Obama an Irishman or Italian or Englishman or Protestant or Catholic or Jew. Woman: I can’t trust Obama. I’ve read about him, and he’s an Irishman/Italian/Englisham/Protestant/Catholic/Jew. McCain: No ma’am. He’s a decent family man. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plot-to-kidnap-mi-gov-gretchen-whitmer/922506.md?page=10)