"How Chaos in Kenosha Is Already Swaying Some Voters in Wisconsin/As residents see fires and looting, some worry that local Democratic leaders are failing to keep control of the situation."

A headline in the NYT.

In Kenosha County, where the president won by fewer than 250 votes in 2016, those who already supported Mr. Trump said in interviews that the events of the past few days have simply reinforced their conviction that he is the man for the job. But some voters who were less sure of their choice said the chaos in their city and the inability of elected leaders to stop it were currently nudging them toward the Republicans.

And some Democrats, nervous about condemning the looting because they said they understood the rage behind it, worried that what was happening in their town might backfire and aid the president’s re-election prospects.

Are they "nervous about condemning the looting because... they understood the rage behind it" or are they nervous about condemning the looting because they're afraid of the social and economic consequences of speaking out against the looting? The NYT includes the words "they said" — "nervous because... they said they understood" — but was that because we don't know whether they really do understand the rage or is it because we don't whether they're giving an accurate account about why they are holding back from "condemning the looting"? I suspect it's the former, because the NYT is otherwise downplaying the disorder: Why is it just saying "the looting"? How about the arson and other violence? Is the NYT nervous about mentioning the arson because it understands the rage?

Ellen Ferwerda, who owns an antique furniture store downtown just blocks from the worst of the destruction that is now closed, said that she was desperate for Mr. Trump to lose in November but that she had “huge concern” the unrest in her town could help him win. She added that local Democratic leaders seemed hesitant to condemn the mayhem.

“I think they just don’t know what to say,” she said. “People are afraid to take a stance either way, but I do think it’s strange they’re all being so quiet. Our mayor has disappeared. It’s like, ‘Where is he?’”

Maybe stop referring to them as "Democratic leaders." Maybe try something like "Democratic shrinkers" or — if you're nervous about condemning them because you understand their reticence — "Democratic nice people."

On Tuesday afternoon, Ms. Ferwerda was writing “Black Lives Matter” on her storefront in red paint. On Wednesday, after the fatal shooting the night before, she said she was most worried about the people from out of town who were driving around with powerful guns claiming to keep the peace.

She said she understood the looting and burning.

“I think the rage is justified,” she said. “Anyone who is paying attention should know it was going to explode at some point.”

It is not normal to stand back and allow crime to ravage your home because you understand why the criminals are angry. It is an extraordinary response to violence! Ms. Ferwerda is one of the shopkeepers! She "owns an antique furniture store downtown just blocks from the worst of the destruction that is now closed" — to quote the weirdly edited sentence. I assume "just blocks from the worst of the destruction" was dropped in belatedly. I wish "the worst of the destruction" were "now closed"!

[John Geraghty, a 41-year-old worker in a tractor factory], a former Marine, said he was disturbed to see his town looking like “a war zone,” and he feared that the Democrats in charge were “letting people down big time.”

Politics for him had long been like a sport he did not follow. In his late 20s, he voted for Barack Obama, the first vote of his life. He did not vote in 2016, and he called the president’s handling of the coronavirus “laughable.”

Mr. Geraghty said he disliked how Mr. Trump talked but said the Democratic Party’s vision for governing seemed limited to attacking him and calling him a racist, a charge being leveled so constantly that it was having the effect of alienating, instead of persuading, people. And the idea that Democrats alone were morally pure on race annoyed him.

“The Democratic agenda to me right now is America is systematically racist and evil and the only people who can fix it are Democrats,” he said. “That’s the vibe I get.”

How can it work to rebrand America as a thoroughly racist and evil?! Who will buy that brand and how crazy are the Democrats to try to sell it?!

Mr. Geraghty said he understood peaceful protesting but felt frustrated with Democratic leaders who seem afraid of confronting crowds when things turn violent.

Exactly!

He was angry at the statement by Gov. Tony Evers on Sunday, which in his view took sides against the police in a knee-jerk way that worsened the situation. On Tuesday, Mr. Evers, a Democrat, did condemn the looting and fires, while reiterating protesters’ rights to assemble....

Evers is in the position to protect us from the violence and disorder. It is not enough to condemn it! Not if you want the leadership position. Let Evers resign if he can't or won't do his job. He's not up for election this year, but who would vote for him if he were?

Mr. Biden on Wednesday denounced systemic racism and police brutality as he also sharply condemned the destruction and violence unfolding in Kenosha.

"Denounced" is not enough. What would you do?  What action do you support? How can you protect the people who are being victimized?

“As I said after George Floyd’s murder, protesting brutality is a right and absolutely necessary,” Mr. Biden said. “Burning down communities is not protest, it’s needless violence. Violence that endangers lives. Violence that guts businesses, and shutters businesses, that serve the community. That’s wrong.”

So woefully inadequate. No glimmer of an idea of what to do. He's like the nice lady who owns the antique shop downtown. Good for you, but that's not leadership.

Meanwhile, President Trump promised on Twitter to restore “LAW AND ORDER” in Kenosha by sending in troops. “We will NOT stand for looting, arson, violence, and lawlessness on American streets,” Mr. Trump wrote.... 

Don Biehn, 62, owner of a flooring company, was standing in line at a gun store on Tuesday afternoon. He said that he had never bought a pistol before, but that he had a business to protect.

Yeah, well, unfortunately, you can't protect your business by using a gun. You can have a gun, and you can open-carry it without a license in Wisconsin, but you can't use the gun unless the threat of serious violence is to a person. Your buying the gun is really only an expression of dissatisfaction with the message the city has given you about the police: They will not protect you.

“There’s people running all over with guns — it’s like some Wild West town,” Mr. Biehn said. “We are just waiting here like sitting ducks waiting to get picked off.” He added: “It’s chaos — everybody is afraid.” Mr. Trump, he said, “was not my man,” but now he is grateful he is president. He said [Trump] seemed to understand in a way that other politicians did not.

“There’s nobody fighting back,” he said. “Nobody is paying attention to what’s going on.”

Scott Haight, who was boarding up a line of businesses in a Kenosha strip mall on Tuesday, said he blamed Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, a Democrat, for what he said was irresponsibly stirring up emotion. (On Monday, Mr. Barnes said the shooting “wasn’t an accident.”) “It’s like ‘What, are you trying to burn our city down?’” Mr. Haight said.

Haight told the NYT he just wasn't going to vote. Who knows what he will actually do? Voting is secret. I suspect there are lots more Trump voters than the ones who are willing to talk about.

The article ends with a quote from a waitress at a pizza restaurant, who said,  "I’m not the one who would ever vote" but "I am going to vote for Trump. He seems to be more about the American people and what we need." There are no comments on this article, but if there were, someone would probably paraphrase "the American people and what we need" in a manner quite unsympathetic to the waitress.