Well, now we know the race for the Republican Presidential nomination in 2024 has begun. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas Senator, wrote an op-ed piece in the New York Times praising the use of military force to quell disorder.

He gave a perfunctory nod to non-violent protest (which of course is what is happening for the most part), then went into a Trump-like rant on left-wing extremists and why we needed the military to enter the fray.  He said it is because the “chic” (read “non-Republican”) leaders, other than the President, are not protecting people from violence and looting.

What is pathetic is that he actually knows better.

Everyone condemns the acts of violence and destruction of property. All looters should be arrested and prosecuted. Who doesn’t agree with that? But when this is the total focus, we lose sight of why, like the past nine days, the demonstrations continue. It is also important to note that Cotton compares these demonstrations to those in the ’60s. First of all, he is too young to remember; second, if he was doing more than an early tryout for the job as Trump’s Mini-Me, he would understand the difference. Unfortunately, the line is forming to the right and I think I hear Ted Cruz oozing our way.