If you’re ever tempted to think the progressive voters of New York City may not be getting their money’s worth, just stop.
Bill De Blasio has to be a progressive’s dream-come-true, and then some.
His latest adventure is an abrupt departure for Germany, where he will attend some G20-related events including a protest rally in Hamburg, the city hosting the gathering.
Will this presidential election be the most important in American history?
A last-minute advisory from City Hall said Hizzoner “will attend several events surrounding the G20 Summit, including Saturday’s Hamburg Zeigt Haltung rally.”
Organizers of that demonstration — “Hamburg Shows Attitude,” in English — say 10,000 people have registered to oppose G20 participants including Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdgoan.
“All stand for an attitude that we find unacceptable and do not want to accept,” Lutheran Bishop Kirsten Fehrs has said.
According to NY Post, “City Council members said they were unaware of de Blasio’s plan to abandon the Big Apple to push his progressive agenda in Europe.”
A protest that equates Trump with Putin, Xi, and Erdogan would naturally be an attraction for De Blasio. It also seems likely to continue the pattern of riots and violence observed in Hamburg on Thursday, as Hamburgers welcomed the G20 summiteers. (With signs reading, literally – in English – “WELCOME TO HELL.”)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oS9yka8snWQ
Meanwhile, Angela Merkel, who used to be called a center-right politician, is said to have chosen Hamburg to host the G20 summit because the venue there allows protesters to surround and menace the delegations gathered for the conference.
Granted, it’s CNN saying this. It’s possible they’re just trying to stir something up with another ill-sourced report.
Nic Robertson, the network’s International Diplomatic Editor, reported yesterday “Angela Merkel has chosen to hold this summit in an environment, in a location, that can be surrounded by protesters. It’s not as we see some summits, on a remote hilltop that the whole village or the town around it is secure.”
He said there were quite a few protesters gathered here Tuesday night, where police had to deploy water cannons to disperse around 1,000 of them. …
“Angela Merkel is in a re-election campaign this year. The protesters will be able to get close so that, in part, President Trump can hear the voices of dissent here in Germany, here in Europe,” he added.
It’s an interesting question whether most German voters are actually anxious to ensure that Trump can hear voices of dissent in their country. Is that really the way to appeal to them in a reelection campaign?
Whether it is or not, it’s presumably a good way to appeal to Bill De Blasio.
New Yorkers aren’t all enamored of this latest move.
Presumptive Republican mayoral challenger Nicole Malliotakis blasted the mayor for putting the protest over pressing issues at home.
“Unbelievable. Instead of jet-setting around the world, he should be here doing his job,” said Malliotakis, a state assemblywoman from Staten Island.
“A police officer was murdered, street homelessness has skyrocketed and people continue to get delayed on the trains.”
Malliotakis also said de Blasio should have attended the NYPD swearing-in ceremony [on Thursday] at the Police Academy in Queens.
At least the taxpayers who don’t like it can take a little comfort from not having to foot the bill for De Blasio’s jaunt.
The cost is being paid for by organizers of “Hamburg Shows Attitude,” said mayoral spokesman Eric Phillips, who’s among the aides joining de Blasio on the trip.
Which sounds like quite the expenditure for a local political rally, considering the aides-and-security retinue Hizzoner the Mayor travels with. Somehow, I suspect there’s Soros money lurking in the background of this one.
