Protestors Storm Capital

[The Grand Nudger]

They failed to act appropriately on the day of, and now they have a reason to slow walk for a few more days. This wasn't the best set of circumstances to begin an investigation.

Cynically, I can see a maga jury acquitting a man in the face of a picture showing him lighting a fuse to a bomb labeled "i did this for treason reasons"...so it's unclear how much of an effect that the clusterfuck at the beginning will have on the outcome (or, if we prefer, that a more competent response would have actually lead to more arrests or convictions).

[onlinebiker]

The far left spent last summer shitting all over law and order.

Now the far right does the same.

Neither has any room to bitch about the other.

[Brian37]

After the President said "you must be strong, you can't be weak" and after two months of inciting his voters that the election was stolen, and after Rudy said "trial by Combat", the insurrectionist violent mob were shouting at the press, "We were invited by the President" and "Hang Mike Pence" there is no arguing the violence was incited by Trump. 

Government buildings are actually no different than private businesses. Both have schedules. Citizens can't simply go into those places off schedule. Just like you cant go into a bar when it is closed. Just like you cant go into an NFL stadium, if you are not an employee, when no public events are being held. Those sick fucks who would have murdered members of congress, and even Pence if they had gotten to him, were sold the idea they could go into the Capital building whenever they wanted because they are citizens and pay taxes. 

Under non pandemic conditions, the public is given tours of the Capital Building, the White House, the Supreme Court, and other federal buildings. But you can't simply go in whenever you want. Trump new this, Rudy knew this, and the GOP members of Congress that supported Trump's dangerous lie that the election was stolen, they also knew this.

But because of Trump's vile and dangerous rhetoric over the years, the Capital Building is going to be less accessible and more restricted. And they are now trying to blame liberals for the need for security that their fearmongering caused. I used to live in the suburbs of Washington DC. I've been on that Mall countless times. I enjoyed walking down the Mall going into all the Museums, and into the Capital. And watched inauguration after inauguration, mostly on TV growing up with large crowds filling the Mall. Security was always there with every inauguration, but turning that Mall into a fortress is unprecedented, and scary. 

There is only one party to blame for the unfortunate need to go this far. The GOP for years, even before Trump ran, feared losing power instead of valuing peaceful transfer of power. The GOP shit their pants when Obama won the first time, and their leadership, even before he took office, the day after that November election in 08, the GOP leadership vowed to make Obama a 1 term President. Then did nothing but obstruct anything democrats wanted, including during Obama's second term, obstructing the seating of Garland on the Supreme Court. 

So instead of cooperation, and bipartisanship, they turned to Trump, because the had already had a hint of the power of the Tea Party movement and they knew Trump could pander to that base. They turned to appealing to the militia crowd, the Cliven Bundy crowd, the white Nationalist crowd. After years of pandering to fear, and white anxiety, the GOP unleashed domestic terrorists on the Capital. THAT is why unfortunately it has gotten to this point.

I'd love to see those barriers come down. I hate the image of the seat of our Republic, the symbol of western pluralism and democracy, being held hostage by far right extremists. I hate the fact the city I grew up near, a city I enjoyed countless times for decades, looks like the news of other instable countries Americans rightfully look at in horror. 

But there is no "two sides" in this. The domestic terrorism that is of most threat to not just the Capital, but other state capitals is a majority coming from the right. 

Trump's refusal to condemn white nationalists and KKK support, without some dog whistle qualifier is why we are where we are at. There are no good KKK members or good Neo Nazis. Most Republicans are not terrorists, sure. But most domestic terrorists are white Trump supporters. And now the GOP dares try to blame liberals for turning the Mall into a fortress, is bat shit insane. Liberals didn't want this. We'd love nothing more to see the Capital Mall full of citizens. We'd love to see the traditions of political pluralism in that transition, where the outgoing President and Vice President support the incoming President, which was he case prior to cult leader Trump.

The GOP's tactic of demagoguery and support of an authoritarian wannabe caused this. And to the point that even Pence was made a target, and GOP members of congress who voted to impeach him. Teddy Roosevelt would be horrified at what his party is doing now. Teddy Roosevelt made it clear, and Biden is also repeating  today, the oath congress takes isn't to the person, but to the Constitution. 

Now the GOP suddenly wants to "heal". No, we see how authoritarians rise, and often their followers if they think they are going to lose ask for appeasement. But that is always a ruse to recollect their efforts so they can try again in the future. The attempted insurrection, the clear act of attempted sedition cannot be forgotten or appeased. It is not up to Democrats to extend the olive branch first. It is up to the GOP to admit they were wrong and apologize for perpetuating dangerous rhetoric, and admit there was no giant conspiracy. 

The soldiers of D-Day, WW2 Europe/Pacific were not of one political party. They were Republicans, Democrats, Independent, and other parties. The came from every county in America, every zip code, every religion, and from every state, with parents and grandparents who migrated here from all over the world. Native Soldiers, and even Japanese/Americans and African Americans fought the fascism of Germany/Italy and Japan.

Is America perfect? Absolutely not. Are Democrats always right about everything? No. But no other President in American history has ever incited an insurrection that lead to the murder of police officers and came 1 minute way of murdering members of congress and possibly our Vice President. 

I don't want to hear anyone trying to downplay the very serious nature of what happened on January 6th. I don't want to hear that the two parties are the same. I want that fortress to come down. I don't like seeing the city I grew up near, looking like a prison camp. I don't want our Republic to fall prey to authoritarianism.

[The Grand Nudger]

The far left didn't spend the summer doing shit, lol.

The wingnut right projected their own intentions onto leftist antifa boogeymen and you shot that shit directly into your veins.  The amount of effort that the american left spent distancing themselves all summer, in mere reality, was an embarrassment.

[Brian37]

The far left didn't spend the summer doing shit, lol.

The wingnut right projected their own intentions onto leftist antifa boogeymen and you shot that shit directly into your veins.  The amount of effort that the american left spent distancing themselves all summer, in mere reality, was an embarrassment.

First off "antifa" is an idea, not a organization. It literally means "anti fascist". The soldiers of D-Day were anti fascists.

Secondly, there is a huge difference between civil unrest, like the riots after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr, whom said while he valued peaceful protest, he basically said, you cannot expect others not to react to being oppressed. He was basically arguing, that the way to peace is to address inequality and conditions and oppression. 





What far right white nationalists do in getting violent, isn't because they are oppressed, but because they fear changing demographics. 

Blacks and minorities and white liberals who support BLM, don't like violence either. But one is about fearing for their lives, white anxiety is about fear of change.

[Irreligious Atheist]

It was really dumb to storm the capitol and these people should be punished, but whatever new laws are put in place about domestic terrorism or whatever else I find far more terrifying than a small number of idiots storming a building and causing a handful of deaths. The politicians act outraged, but they are really overjoyed that this took place, just like they were when 9/11 happened. Now they get to take away people's rights even further, and censorship is off the charts now. Just what they wanted. What the politicians can and will do, if far more terrifying than what the Trumpers did. That's my takeaway from all of this.

[Spongebob]

Not just Teddy, I'm pretty sure every president except perhaps Andrew Jackson would be appalled at what happened. It's no accident that Trump actually respects Jackson (maybe the only person he respects).

[Brian37]

It was really dumb to storm the capitol and these people should be punished, but whatever new laws are put in place about domestic terrorism or whatever else I find far more terrifying than a small number of idiots storming a building and causing a handful of deaths. The politicians act outraged, but they are really overjoyed that this took place, just like they were when 9/11 happened. Now they get to take away people's rights even further, and censorship is off the charts now. Just what they wanted. What the politicians can and will do, if far more terrifying than what the Trumpers did. That's my takeaway from all of this.

Um no, this is nuts. 

Tell me exactly who is being censored for private companies banning incitement to violence? That one GOP lady congresswoman with a mask with the word "censored" on it, when she spoke in the House chamber, was covered by CSPAN, Fox News, MSNBC and CNN AND PBS. 

Freedom of speech only refers to what the government isn't allowed to silence. Incitement to violence is not protected speech regardless. What Facebook and Twitter did in banning Trump was not censorship. He violated their terms of service, and they gave him a ton of slack before cutting him off. Trump could have stayed on those platforms if he had simply stopped selling dangerous lies and pouring gas on the fire knowing his followers would act out on his words. 

Part of the free market is allowing a private business to refuse service, just like a bar owner has every right to toss out an unruly patron who is shouting and trying to start fights with others.

[Irreligious Atheist]

It was really dumb to storm the capitol and these people should be punished, but whatever new laws are put in place about domestic terrorism or whatever else I find far more terrifying than a small number of idiots storming a building and causing a handful of deaths. The politicians act outraged, but they are really overjoyed that this took place, just like they were when 9/11 happened. Now they get to take away people's rights even further, and censorship is off the charts now. Just what they wanted. What the politicians can and will do, if far more terrifying than what the Trumpers did. That's my takeaway from all of this.

Um no, this is nuts. 

Tell me exactly who is being censored for private companies banning incitement to violence? That one GOP lady congresswoman with a mask with the word "censored" on it, when she spoke in the House chamber, was covered by CSPAN, Fox News, MSNBC and CNN AND PBS. 

Freedom of speech only refers to what the government isn't allowed to silence. Incitement to violence is not protected speech regardless. What Facebook and Twitter did in banning Trump was not censorship. He violated their terms of service, and they gave him a ton of slack before cutting him off. Trump could have stayed on those platforms if he had simply stopped selling dangerous lies and pouring gas on the fire knowing his followers would act out on his words. 

Part of the free market is allowing a private business to refuse service, just like a bar owner has every right to toss out an unruly patron who is shouting and trying to start fights with others.

They are not only censoring incitement to riot. They are taking down whole platforms like Parlor (I don't really know what Parlor is and have never visited it, but I know it's anti-American to take it down). I'm not talking about incitement to riot. I believe Biden won, but questioning the election results should absolutely be allowed. Questioning the World Health Organization should absolutely be allowed. Questioning any official story should absolutely be allowed. It's anti-American to not allow it, and it's beside the point that the government itself isn't the one doing the censoring. The mass censorship is having the same effect basically.

Do you support new domestic terrorism laws being put into law like Biden wants? Like the Republicans want? Did you support the anti-American Patriot Act after 9/11? This is the same shit all over again. Your rights are going down the tube.

[The Grand Nudger]

They are not only censoring incitement to riot. They are taking down whole platforms like Parlor (I don't really know what Parlor is and have never visited it, but I know it's anti-American to take it down).

It's neo nazi twitter.  The government cannot force any of the businesses who have decided that parlor is bad for business to continue to do business with parlor.

That, would be unamerican - on more than one obvious level.

I'm not talking about incitement to riot. I believe Biden won, but questioning the election results should absolutely be allowed. Questioning the World Health Organization should absolutely be allowed. Questioning any official story should absolutely be allowed. It's anti-American to not allow it, and it's beside the point that the government itself isn't the one doing the censoring. The mass censorship is having the same effect basically.

Do you support new domestic terrorism laws being put into law like Biden wants? Like the Republicans want? Did you support the anti-American Patriot Act after 9/11? This is the same shit all over again. Your rights are going down the tube.

Rights abrogation, drink.