PATRIOT   SPRING 

A, "WHAT IF," STORY

The " What If" game. Over the past eight years, if you have followed my blog, then you know one of my favorite ways to analyze a topic is to play the, "what if" game. Now, in my background, this, "what if" game was formally referred to as, Second and Third Order Effects or, The Law of Unintended Consequences, two other of my favorite topics. I've typically used, the, "what if" game only because it just made writing fun. So, here we go. The following is my attempt at one of my favorite games; a game based on the attempted Coup in DC. I asked a simple question and add my opinion, and then I will give you a scenario on an event I am going to name if it happens, " The Patriot Spring".  

What If:

Will the Senate support impeaching President Trump? The standard answer is, " absolutely not". Those that support the President are more than confident. Even those who were part of the attempted Coup believe they have no chance of taking out Trump; or do they?  Do they know something the supporters of the President don't know? Do they have a much deeper plan? 

According to the Washington Post, https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/politics/senate-impeachment-votes/ , 56 of the Senate members fall into the category of, " have not said." Let me ask anyone who follows US politics, does that answer worry you? Just how confident are the supporters of the US President the Coup plotters can't get to 2/3rds? Is it impossible? Let me frame this topic in a way many will understand. Just how morally bankrupt are most of these members? What's the Gold Rule of US politics? Yep, get in power and stay in control. Do the Coup plotters know how many votes they must get? You bet they do. Do they have a list of targeted members? Absolutely! Here is a reality. Anyone who truly believes a percentage of US Senators can't be "persuaded," that's a US political code word for, bought, is living in a different atmosphere than the rest of the US. As for me, well, I am from Missouri! For my non-US readers, you will have to look that statement up. 

It can't happen. The Senate will kill the coup attempt and then President Trump will win in 2020 with a landslide margin. Probably an accurate statement, but I'm a guy who cut his teeth on planing for potential, unintended events. Having said that, here comes the scenario I mentioned. 

Patriot Spring: 

On April 1st, :), A Super Majority was reached in the Senate. 

President Trump was found guilty on one count of " Abuse of Power."  

The news coverage was live from the steps outside the Senate and an undeniable sense of euphoria was given by CNN and MSNBC. 

Within four hours, large crowds of supporters of the Impeachment were shown live around the world. 

The numbers were estimated in the thousands, and most of the events took place in major cities and university campuses.

Global celebrations were covered by all major networks. 

 Apoxametly two hours after the Senate vote, President Trump Tweeted that a Coup had been carried out by the members of the Deep State and the American people had been stripped of their legally elected President. 

The next day, The US stock market dropped 1500 points and all breaking mechanisms were put into effect for the following day. 

By noon on April 2nd, Social media was reporting pro-Trump rallies were being coordinated across the US with the largest one set to take place on April 5th in Washington DC. 

By late that afternoon, several of the major media networks began to address what seemed to be a growing outcry by President Trump's supporters. 

Late on the day of April 2nd, many of the pro-impeachment celebrations were beginning to lose their numbers, and the media continued to address what seemed to be a growing outrage by pro-Trump supporters. Many of the pro-impeachment rallies had becomes mired in violent acts to include looting inside large US cities.  

By late in the evening on April 2nd, media coverage of the violence taking place in the larger cities of the US could not avoid the appearance of concern. Several west coast cities were under assault by growing, ANTIFA supported riots. 

On the morning of April 3rd, media coverage of the riots taking place in several US cities was world news. The violence had led to vast scale destruction in major business districts of the impacted cities, and Law Enforcement was responding with harsher than expected tactics. 

As these violent events were taking place, President Trump had continued his consistent contact through social media.

On the morning of April 3rd, the President sent out a Twitter message that stated he fully supported the pending rallies that were scheduled to begin on April 5th. It was then, the President said it was time for a US version of The Arab Spring. That particular Tweet referred to what would become, 

" The Patriot Spring." 

On the evening of April 3rd, US media networks, CNN and MSNBC, limited live coverage of the riots still taking place in several US cities as well as multiple Universities. Both networks began to form a storyline the violence might actually be coordinated by pro-Trump supporters. 

On April 4th, the US stock market closed at 1000am EST after dropping another 2300 points. Markets in Europe and Asia lost an additional 18 percent and closed after three hours of trading. 

Late on the afternoon of the 4th, CNN interviewed several people from the riots in Portland who claimed to be members of ANTIFA. They informed the CNN reporter ANTIFA's goal was the resignation of all political leaders in DC. CNN cut the interview short when two of the members being interviewed began to threaten the reporter and her crew. 

By nightfall on the 4th, FOX and BBC were leading the evening news with scenes of people gathering for the " Patriot Spring" rallies. The media identified over a dozen major cities where the Patriot Spring supporters were arriving in what was described as "huge numbers." Washington, DC, was the site of the largest gathering, and it was estimated that over 500k people were staging near the Lincoln Memorial. Social media indicated the Patriot Spring March on Congress would start at 8EST on the 5th of April. 

10:30pm EST 4 April:

Twitter reports began to circulate news of massive demonstrations inside the Gaza Strip, and multiple rockets had landed inside of Israel. At 1045pm EST, The Israeli Defense Force Tweeted Israel was going to launch a large scale operation into Gaza. Major news networks did not address this event, given the instability inside the US. 

At 1am EST, Tweeter reports, along with video shot from cell phones, reported the movement of large IDF units moving into position along the border to several key areas in Gaza. Major networks in the US mentioned the events in Gaza and Israel, but the coverage was minor and with little detail. 

April 5th: 

At 6am EST, the city of New York announced that no rallies would be allowed in the city for the next four days. New York's Mayor stated the past two days of gatherings had led to an unacceptable level of damage and destruction and as such, no further gatherings would be authorized. During their morning show, Fox News covered this announcement by the city of New York , and the statement was made that perhaps the Mayor of New York had canceled all gatherings to keep the Patriot Spring march from taking place in the city. Within the hour, social media had spread the statement as a fact, and by 7am EST, a large percentage of the nation believed New York had prevented the Patriot Spring rally. 

9am EST. 

Social media and the news networks reported the DC march would start around 9am EST and would move along Pennsylvania Avenue towards Congress Avenue. DC capital police had addressed through both social media and the major networks their concerns over additional gatherings outside the White House. Since the vote in the US Senate, a large crowd had formed demanding the President step down immediately. The celebratory nature of this gathering had become nearly uncontrollable at times, but law enforcement had been reluctant to disperse the crowd. 

Media outlets from around the world covered the event in DC. Over 100 networks broadcast the event live. Several members of the march were interviewed upon their arrival. On the evening of the 4th of April, one man stated the march was to surround Congress and demand their resignations as well as to "protect" the President and the White House from "those who want to destroy our country."  Several interviews with similar messages had been published since the 3rd of April, and many foreign networks had been covering the violence taking place in major US cities. It became clear, the world was watching to see what would take place on the 5th. 

9:30am EST. 

It was estimated the Patriot Spring march in DC had over 300K members moving towards the US Congress building complex. The movement had been underway for roughly 30 minutes when networks and social media began to show clashes between those who were protesting for the US President's immediate removal from the White House and the Patriot Spring supporters. Law enforcement attempted to form a physical barrier between the two groups. Still, the Patriot Spring numbers were so large, the process of keeping the two groups separated collapsed within a few minutes. As a result, members of the group protesting against the US President began to throw objects into the much larger crowd that was moving towards them. Video clips from cell phones were rebroadcasted by dozens of global media networks within five minutes of the first event. 

The violent clashes between the two groups grew dramatically in a short period. As the two groups merged into one large confrontation, law enforcement lost control of the contact point. Global media coverage reported the growing violence with the White House seen in the background. Major US networks were broadcasting the event as similar stories began to be reported in other cities that had been identified as Patriot Spring rally sites. BBC reported that "counter rallies" had been identified through social media, and these rallies had been organizing since President Trump's Tweet about the Patriot Spring concept. It was clear, those who supported the US President and those who opposed him were in direct conflict, and the world was observing these events. 

1200pm EST: 

Law enforcement in the DC area requested assistance with violent clashes. The option of dispursing the event with riot control tactics such as gas and water was not approved. The Patriot Spring numbers were so large, it was feared these tactics would lead to an even great crisis if people attempted to leave in a panic. The safety of those in the contact point was not controllable as law enforcement attempted to regroup around the designated arrival point of the Patriot Spring march.

 By 1200pm EST, media coverage had moved away from the events in DC. Violent clashes were now broadcast live from several US cities.  Atlanta, St. Louis, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, San Diago, and Chicago were the cities receiving the majority of media coverage. Patriot Spring rallies in these cities had supporters numbering over 100k each. Counter rallies estimated numbers were approximately 10 to 20k in each of these cities. Media coverage showed the same scene the world had been witnessing in DC. Law enforcement had been unable to keep the two groups from making contact, even when the cities of Dallas and Chicago had utilized the riot agents DC had opted not to implement.  By the time the violence in other major US cities was being shown worldwide, China's major news networks began to cover the events live as well. To the rest of the world, the US was in a crisis that exceeded the events of the 1960s, a time most of the population of the world did not remember. 

1pm EST: 

At 1235am EST, many social media platforms, as well as several US media networks, began to report gunshots being heard in DC and Dallas. Contact with law enforcement from both of these locations provided no information, and the major US news networks began to shape the perception order was being lost. By 1am EST, FOX, CNN and MSNBC were all confirming the sound of gunfire. Several video clips began to appear on social media that seemed to show subjects dressed in all black firing handguns into a crowd of people in front of them. As the media networks continued to contact law enforcement, stories of wounded and motionless people lying in the streets erupted on Tweeter and other networks. A local news crew in Dallas went live from an Emergency Room at a Dallas Hospital, reporting multiple gunshot victims. Video clips of three gunmen dressed in black with black backpacks firing into a crowd in Dallas were shown on all global networks. Within thirty minutes of the live broadcast from the Dallas ER, rumors of shots being fired began to come in from other cities around the US. It was estimated, nearly thirty cities in the US had significant confrontations taking place, and the ability to control rumors was lost. 

2pm EST: 

Major US media networks were overwhelmed by the increasing stories and reports of violence inside the US. Emotional lead reporters were visibly shaken by the events in the US. By 2:30pm EST, CNN and FOX news were addressing statements by the governors of Texas and Georgia. Both Governor's had released statements the violence taking place in their states would not be tolerated. Within minutes of the Texas Governor putting out his statement, the Mayor of Dallas called a local news network and stated the Governor needed to understand, Dallas could keep its people safe. In Portland, the Mayor declared it was the supporters of the Governor who were responsible for the violence, and the Patriot Spring rally in Portland would be disbanded by all means necessary. As the local news network was attempting to ask the Mayor what actions might be taken, the  Mayor abruptly ended the conversation. Within the hour, word of the confrontation between the Governor of Texas and the Mayor of Dallas had spread globally. Social media depictions of this event distorted the issue, and rumors of the Dallas Police firing on the Patriot Spring members began to spread. 

5pm EST: 

At 5pm, President Trump made a statement from the White House. He called for calm and asked all parties involved to stop the violence and allow local and state authorities to ensure an orderly protest process. It was his comment about, "orderly protest", CNN and MSNBC reacted to. Within minutes of the US President's statement, both networks accused him of inflaming the violence by supporting additional protest. Again, the influence of rumors on social media turned this issue into even more fuel for the violence. Those that were demanding the US President's immediate removal were calling for more of their supporters to "come out into the streets and stand up to the Fascist leader." Media bias had now made a bad situation much....much worse. 

10:00pm EST:

By 10:00pm on the 5th of April, over twenty-five, major cities in the US had become the scene of violent protests. In the Cities of Portland and San Francisco, confirmed reports of protestors firing on law enforcement had been reported. Although major US networks continued to state the identity of those firing on law enforcement could not be confirmed, social media photos and video clips had convinced most of the US and the world, the gunmen were very similar to ANTIFA in appearance. FOX News interviewed two retired FBI agents on the topic of who was most likely firing on the police. Both retired agents stated they believed these acts were being conducted by groups who had long called for the destruction of the US government. After these interviews, people began to flood social media with comments over who was responsible for not only firing on law enforcement but the crisis itself. The overwhelming perception placed the blame on the Democratic leadership of the US Congress. The opinion of a" Witch Hunt" being responsible that led to the violence gripping the US became a reality. 

1130pm EST:

Tweeter postings began to state that large scale military operations seemed to be underway not only in the Gaza Strip but in Syria and Lebanon as well. By 11:35am, Israeli Defense Force's Tweeter page stated Israel had launched a massive military operation to eliminate an immediate threat to Israel from Iranian supported groups in Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. By 1145pm, BBC reports from Beirut Lebanon showed massive impacts taking place along the Lebanese, Israeli border, as well as the Beirut international airport. By midnight on the 5th of April, it was clear Israel had launched a major military operation, and Iranian targets were being struck across the region. 

April 6th : 

7am EST: 

Morning news networks in the US had not stopped their live broadcast for over 24 hours. The news of a major conflict in the Middle East had been briefly discussed, but even that issue had become a point of contention. FOX interviewed individuals whose perception was, the growing conflict in the Middle East was a direct result of the Democratic Congress deliberately destabilizing the US President's standing in the world and that this action was now leading to the possibility of a global war. At the same time, CNN, MSMBC interviewed individuals who believed the actions of Israel were a result of a" disconnected, global community", brought on by the Trump Administration. 

The discussion over the events in the Middle East had no value to the people of the US. By the morning of the 6th of April, over thirty cities in the US were dealing with the repercussions of the two opposing group's violent clashes. 

In the cities of Dallas, Atlanta, and Portland, the violence had continued throughout the night. In addition, large scale celebratory rallies, that had been taking place in Los Angles since the Senate vote, became increasingly violent. 

US stock market trading remained closed, and rumors of runs on hard currency throughout the nation grew by the hour. Local news stations showed long lines at ATMs and even longer lines at gas stations. Networks in Dallas and Houston showed what they claimed were miles of vehicles leaving both cities. Reporters interviewed multiple individuals as they were filling up their vehicles. All of them stated they were leaving the city, given the fear of the growing violence. Reports also began to paint a perception local grocery stores had limited food items left as people stocked up in order to stay home.  The events in the US were unlike anything anyone had witnessed in decades, and this time around, social media drove perceptions, and those perceptions became a reality. 

9am EST:

When the Mayor of Portland was interviewed on CNN news, it was clear to the world, Portland was going to take action to remove the Patriot Spring protestors from the city. The argument was made, this group represented a violent viewpoint, and as such, it would not be allowed to hold any level organized activity inside the city. CNN asked the Mayor if it could be proven Patriot Spring members were responsible for the violence. The response was one that was heard around the nation, 

" These people are the ones that gave us this madman in the White House."  As the threats coming from Portland became a topic that showed the divide facing the US, FOX News reported that many people in the US saw Portland as a strong base for the ANTIFA movement. To many, the perception was, many of the US cities were leaning towards blaming the Patriot Spring movement for the violence in the US. By noon on the 6th, it was clear CNN and MSNBC, as well as several other world networks, had taken the same stance. 

4pm EST: 

At 4pm, BBC news and a Twitter account held by the government of Iran announced Iran was launching a counter-attack in order to defend the people of Lebanon and Gaza. The statement was shot and gave no details, but the message was clear. Iran was going to war with Israel and perhaps others in the region. The news networks in the US interrupted their coverage of the crisis in the US, but the amount of viable information on what was said and what it meant only made the situation worse. Again, the accusations came from both sides of the US conflict over who was responsible for this crisis in the Middle East. No definitive information was provided, but social media from the region made it obvious the war was growing at an alarming rate. People were posting how they were leaving Israel, and the major airports in Israel were closed within two hours of the Iranian statement. Israel and Iran were in a technical state of war, and the US was powerless to control the event. When the reports began to come in of Portland Police Officers refusing to show up to work, the issue of Isreal and Iran disappeared from US news outlets. 

6pm EST: 

By 6pm, it was confirmed by several local news networks that over half of the Portland Police Department had not shown up for work or was calling in sick for the evening shift. The Mayor put out a public statement about the issue but gave no media interview.  Portland leadership shaped the event as a contractual issue, but virtually no one in the US believed the statement. Within an hour of the Portland story, a social media trend began to appear. " The Blue Line Walks" was the name of a hashtag that had over 5 million followers in the first hour of its arrival on major platforms. By the time the news networks were mentioning the phenomenon, the movement had over 10 million followers. FOX News was the first to ask the question if other cities were witnessing what had taken place in Portland? The answer stunned everyone who was listening. FOX received text message from Police Officers in twelve major cities, all of them stating that if they were asked to move on the Patriot Spring groups, they would refuse to do so. 

8pm EST:

At 8pm, the headlines on CNN web-based news site read, " Police Officers refusing to follow orders across the nation."  Within fifteen minutes, CNN removed the lead caption, but the damage was done. The world had seen social media reports. They had seen the headline on CNN. Other major networks had carried the caption from the website. Law enforcement in the US was breaking down. Reality no longer drove the actions of the US or the world; perception was reality, and the world sensed a growing crisis. 

9pm EST:

Up until this point, the response to the crisis in the US by the government had been vague and uncoordinated. The Director of Homeland Security had been questioned by MSNBC on the options the federal government had given the growing violence in the major cities. The answer that was given only made matters worse. " These events are issues for the cities to deal with, and federal support is not necessary at this time." Soon after that statement was made, the White House put out a statement the administration understood the frustration of those who believed the will of the American people had been subverted, but violence was not the answer. Again, the major news networks in the US turned that statement into the President openly supporting the crisis. By the end of the day, it was clear the major news networks in the US were overwhelmed with nonstop reporting, and almost every statement was based on pure emotion. 

APRIL 7TH:

The morning White House Intelligence Briefing took place as scheduled. The Tension in the room was undeniable. Agency heads had mixed understandings of what was taking place in the US, and the events in the Middle East appeared to about to turn into a regional war the US would be part of. 

The Director of Homeland Security and the Head of the Department of Commerce gave a quick analysis focused on the status of food item distribution in the US. The media had not yet picked up on the reality a large percentage of the over the road truck drivers were not at work. It seemed many of them were attending the Patriot Spring rallies across the nation, and as such, goods, especially food items, had limited delivery services. The issue of truck drivers led to the topic of gasoline delivery operations. It was clear those operations had been severely impacted by the same point of drivers. By the time the subject of people reportedly leaving major cities for lack of food and fuel, the environment in the room deteriorated dramatically. The US government was not only unaware of the status of the nation, but it was growing powerless to do anything about it. The issue of law enforcement walking away from their jobs deteriorated into a verbal argument that led to the Vice President screaming at everyone in the room. Of all the issues in the room, it was the statement by the President that shook everyone's confidence the most. When someone told the President he must address the nation as soon as possible, his reply was met dead silence. " What good would that do? The media will only blame me for the crisis, and besides, I've been Impeached"! For over three years, the opposition to the President had been in a full-court press to destroy his ability to lead the nation. What had now taken place was the classic example of, " The law of Unintended Consequences."  Those that hated the President had what they longed for. The Trump administration was in ruins. It had been voted out of the White House, not by the will of the people, but by those who valued their own power more than the future of the nation. In less than one week, the US was near collapse. Its economy was near ruins along with the rest of the world. A regional war that could quickly turn into a global conflict was about to take place all because the Israeli government saw the removal of Trump as a beginning of a new approach towards an enemy that was close to having a nuclear capability. Israel had chosen, "go now before it's too late." People were leaving the US major cities. Law enforcement was breaking down in many of those same cities. US citizens were killing each other in open conflicts, and at the end of that week, the true enemies of the United States understood one thing. Their time had come. The world would turn to the Dragon for stability. 

At her million-dollar Vinyard in California, Nancy Pelosi's husband walks into the room, looks at her sitting in her favorite chair, and says, "what have you done"? 

Does this story sound outrageous? Yes, I know, there is NO chance of the Senate voting against Trump. But................but........................ even if this event slides away, what of the future? Just how divided can this nation continue to be without falling into the type of crisis I've described above? DC is out of touch and out of control. It is time to limit the powers of the corrupt Deep State!