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[yankees60]

Hard to believe if all the protestors were black they would have been treated with such deference and kid gloves and zero aggression towards them.

Not hard for me.

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[pp4me]

Hard to believe if all the protestors were black they would have been treated with such deference and kid gloves and zero aggression towards them.

Not hard for me.

Capture.JPG

Well, I remember seeing businesses being burned to the ground and statues being toppled all over the country in the past year and democrats in authority doing nothing to stop it. If you only watched CNN and MSNBC maybe you didn't see it but they covered it on Fox News.

My congratulations to the protestors who managed to breach the capital. Neither BLM, Antifa, nor the Vietnam Anti-war protestors of which I was one ever accomplished that feat.

A great day in American History IMHO. Let it live long in the history books.

Correction: The Black Panthers breached the capitol in 1967 .... https://capitolweekly.net/black-panther ... 0Panthers.

[glennds]

Update: Trump has apparently called for the protestors to go home peacefully. So he's not egging them on.

Xan, have you heard any of the transcript from his morning rally that led up to the events?

[Xan]

Update: Trump has apparently called for the protestors to go home peacefully. So he's not egging them on.

Xan, have you heard any of the transcript from his morning rally that led up to the events?

I have not. Was it bad?

[dualstow]

I see what you did there...

Capture.JPG
..some dudes...

See, Mark?

[Hal]

On a lighter note
Politics meets The Rocky Horror Show

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=503KnnUYCPU

PS: 20 April – ABC comedy series The Dingo Principle broadcasts a mock interview with the Ayatollah Khomeini, which results in diplomatic tensions with Iran, including the expulsion of two Australian diplomats. Two weeks later, the ABC receives a letter of complaint from the Soviet embassy regarding a skit lampooning Russian figures Mikhail Gorbachev and Vladimir Lenin.

[sophie]

Of course breaking into the Capitol building and committing any kind of violence is unacceptable.

But the easy and intellectually lazy response is "it's all Trump's fault". As often happens with these fast-moving events, it will take time to discover and understand all of the details and sort through the competing narratives.

It is indeed and I wouldn't support it for a second.

However, I find it interesting that the media widely condemned the protester's actions, even going so far as to say that it "threatened the Republic" whatever that means, after spending several months condoning much worse violence by BLM.

[GT]

Of course breaking into the Capitol building and committing any kind of violence is unacceptable.

But the easy and intellectually lazy response is "it's all Trump's fault". As often happens with these fast-moving events, it will take time to discover and understand all of the details and sort through the competing narratives.

It is indeed and I wouldn't support it for a second.

However, I find it interesting that the media widely condemned the protester's actions, even going so far as to say that it "threatened the Republic" whatever that means, after spending several months condoning much worse violence by BLM.

[Cortopassi]

From NYT:

For weeks, President Trump and his supporters had been proclaiming Jan. 6, 2021, as a day of reckoning. A day to gather in Washington to “save America” and “stop the steal” of the election he had decisively lost, but which he still maintained — often through a toxic brew of conspiracy theories — that he had won by a landslide.

And when that day came, the president rallied thousands of his supporters with an incendiary speech. Then a large mob of those supporters, many waving Trump flags and wearing Trump regalia, violently stormed the Capitol to take over the halls of government and send elected officials into hiding, fearing for their safety.

But if the chaos in the Capitol shocked the country, one of the most disturbing aspects of this most disturbing day was that it could be seen coming. The president himself had all but circled it on the nation’s calendar.

“Big protest in D.C. on January 6th,” Mr. Trump tweeted on Dec. 19, just one of several of his tweets promoting the day. “Be there, will be wild!”

--------------
Nah, he had NOTHING to do with this at all. He didn't egg them on. He didn't call for them to come to Washington.

Let me be 100% clear here. I do not and did not support any of the violence that happened over the summer either. Jesus, this is the capitol of the United States. I have to agree with many comments I have heard that if the crowd looked like BLM protesters, there would be a lot more dead and arrested people today vs. the relatively very light treatment these people got.

I hope every face is put into a recognition system and these people get the book thrown at them.

It was really like the zombie apocalypse.







And this nut. Hope he twisted an ankle at least

[dualstow]

Does anyone know how many arrests were made?
Seems like not many. I honestly don’t know.

[flyingpylon]

Nah, he had NOTHING to do with this at all. He didn't egg them on. He didn't call for them to come to Washington.

Let me be 100% clear here. I do not and did not support any of the violence that happened over the summer either. Jesus, this is the capitol of the United States. I have to agree with many comments I have heard that if the crowd looked like BLM protesters, there would be a lot more dead and arrested people today vs. the relatively very light treatment these people got.

I hope every face is put into a recognition system and these people get the book thrown at them.

It was really like the zombie apocalypse.

Can't say I've seen anyone saying Trump had nothing to do with it at all. But context is everything. People are being foolish if they disregard the decades of neglect of millions of average Americans that led to Trump, the relentless attacks on him and his supporters, and the complete lack of accountability for the bad behavior of politicians, our critical institutions, and much of the media. Add in our chaotic, non-transparent election system and no real adjudication of objections based on the merits and some people are finally going to lose their sh*t at some point.

Too many people feel they are not being heard and supported by their government. They come from different perspectives and express it in different ways, but that's what is at the root of all of this.

People that commit crimes should suffer the consequences, no matter who they are. But that's not what we've been seeing recently and this is what happens when people are not treated equally under the law. Otherwise law-abiding citizens reach a point where all they can do is lash out because that's what gets attention.

It will take time to understand the failures of the Capitol Police and their security plan. But the fact is that BLM (with the help of ANTIFA) has a history of violent protests. Over 4+ years and dozens of large, boisterous rallies, Trump supporters do not. That easily could have been a factor in the different approach.

Also... the guy in the last photo is dressed in all black, with a black backpack and a helmet. How many Trump supporters dress like that? Not saying it's impossible, but it's also possible that not everything is what it seems.

[Maddy]

Of course breaking into the Capitol building and committing any kind of violence is unacceptable.

But the easy and intellectually lazy response is "it's all Trump's fault". As often happens with these fast-moving events, it will take time to discover and understand all of the details and sort through the competing narratives.

It is indeed and I wouldn't support it for a second.

However, I find it interesting that the media widely condemned the protester's actions, even going so far as to say that it "threatened the Republic" whatever that means, after spending several months condoning much worse violence by BLM.

Which is the most telling aspect of all this. For the entire summer, the darlings of the "progressive" Left set entire cities on fire, and were were told that what was needed was a "national conversation."

What a pathetic pile of hypocrites.

[dualstow]

It was clearly Trump's words -- quoted in Corto's post-- that drew this mob. However, I think they're going to cause trouble this year after Trump is out of office.

[Cortopassi]

Too many people feel they are not being heard and supported by their government. They come from different perspectives and express it in different ways, but that's what is at the root of all of this.

Also... the guy in the last photo is dressed in all black, with a black backpack and a helmet. How many Trump supporters dress like that? Not saying it's impossible, but it's also possible that not everything is what it seems.

First line, agreed. Both for Trump/blue collar workers who feel left out, and to the BLM supporters who also feel left out and abused.

Second line -- I really don't care if in the end it was simply a small radical group, whether Antifa, BLM, Proud Boys, whatever that started the storming of the Capitol. Trump called for the rally. No rally, no storming. This one seems pretty black and white to me.

Certainly there may have been some supporters there because of what was going on inside even without a call for a rally, but Trumps' call for a rally and his speech poured gasoline on a small, smoldering fire that likely would have remained peaceful.

And Maddy, yes, of course they are all hypocrites. January 21st, for example, the debt will yet again become important to Republicans.

--------------
And here, unfortunately for Trump supporters, is the new poster boy of a typical supporter. Not good. As bad, if not worse, if you ask me, as pictures of looters walking out of stores this past summer carrying TVs.

[flyingpylon]

Too many people feel they are not being heard and supported by their government. They come from different perspectives and express it in different ways, but that's what is at the root of all of this.

Also... the guy in the last photo is dressed in all black, with a black backpack and a helmet. How many Trump supporters dress like that? Not saying it's impossible, but it's also possible that not everything is what it seems.

First line, agreed. Both for Trump/blue collar workers who feel left out, and to the BLM supporters who also feel left out and abused.

To clarify, by "different perspectives" I did mean to include BLM and any other groups, so we agree.

Second line -- I really don't care if in the end it was simply a small radical group, whether Antifa, BLM, Proud Boys, whatever that started the storming of the Capitol. Trump called for the rally. No rally, no storming. This one seems pretty black and white to me.

Certainly there may have been some supporters there because of what was going on inside even without a call for a rally, but Trumps' call for a rally and his speech poured gasoline on a small, smoldering fire that likely would have remained peaceful.

One could go back from that and say "no _____, no rally". Who should be "allowed" to call a rally at the Capitol? And who should decide?

It was clearly Trump's words -- quoted in Corto's post-- that drew this mob. However, I think they're going to cause trouble this year after Trump is out of office.

Perhaps a sleeping giant has been awakened, or perhaps not, we'll see. Do you think we'll see politicians offering to take a knee and seek to understand them?

[sophie]

It was clearly Trump's words -- quoted in Corto's post-- that drew this mob. However, I think they're going to cause trouble this year after Trump is out of office.

Well, then what about Kamala Harris' words, egging on violent BLM actions? Why wasn't she called to account for that?

The double standard is pretty clear. I personally condemn both sets of actions equally. Though the protest was perfectly justified except for the part about breaking into the building, given the election irregularities being dismissed (not "debunked" as claimed; I think "dismissed" is a much better descripton).

[glennds]

Of course breaking into the Capitol building and committing any kind of violence is unacceptable.

But the easy and intellectually lazy response is "it's all Trump's fault". As often happens with these fast-moving events, it will take time to discover and understand all of the details and sort through the competing narratives.

It is indeed and I wouldn't support it for a second.

However, I find it interesting that the media widely condemned the protester's actions, even going so far as to say that it "threatened the Republic" whatever that means, after spending several months condoning much worse violence by BLM.

Which is the most telling aspect of all this. For the entire summer, the darlings of the "progressive" Left set entire cities on fire, and were were told that what was needed was a "national conversation."

What a pathetic pile of hypocrites.

What do you feel would be an appropriate characterization of and response to what happened at the Capitol yesterday?

[Cortopassi]

One could go back from that and say "no _____, no rally". Who should be "allowed" to call a rally at the Capitol? And who should decide?

Of course he, or anyone has the right to call for a rally / protest.

But, that person should be majorly responsible for what happens at the rally, especially if it gets out of hand. More so if you are the president and you've spent the last two months continuing to stoke anger and hatred for the system that "stole" the election from him, even after having gone through, and failing, all normal legal methods.

At a minimum, the minute the first people broke through barriers he should have been on TV imploring them to stand down. He didn't. And when he finally came out with that video, it continued to be more about being a fraudulent election.

Good riddance. I don't know how Hillary would have been comparatively, but I regret my vote in 2016. I would fully support tossing him out early with the 25th amendment like is being discussed, even with only 13 days left, just for the symbolism.
---------------
sophie, I don't know much about it, but from what I've read, Harris' comments were about protests, not violence:

https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-go ... 03710.html

"The Trump campaign is promoting videos that have been manipulated to show Kamala Harris laughing and appearing sympathetic to violent protests as images of rioting flash in the background.

Harris, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, did not laugh at protesters. The laughter in the video was taken from a 21-month-old appearance on “Late Show with Stephen Colbert” that had nothing to do with protesting.

Nor did she try to justify violent demonstrations. The quotes used in the video, from a June Colbert show, were referring to the value of peaceful protests."

[dualstow]

It was clearly Trump's words -- quoted in Corto's post-- that drew this mob. However, I think they're going to cause trouble this year after Trump is out of office.

Well, then what about Kamala Harris' words, egging on violent BLM actions? Why wasn't she called to account for that?

...

She should be.

It was clearly Trump's words -- quoted in Corto's post-- that drew this mob. However, I think they're going to cause trouble this year after Trump is out of office.

Perhaps a sleeping giant has been awakened, or perhaps not, we'll see. Do you think we'll see politicians offering to take a knee and seek to understand them?

Ha, no.

[Xan]

I would fully support tossing him out early with the 25th amendment like is being discussed, even with only 13 days left, just for the symbolism.

Me too.

[dualstow]

I think a lot of us would.
Dying to know what's on Libertarian666's mind right now. Lindsey Graham is done. Bill Barr is done.

[Tortoise]

If you can view this you can see that if the police had used 1/100 the amount of force they'd routinely use against certain other protestors.....this crowd would have easily backed right down.

Hard to believe if all the protestors were black they would have been treated with such deference and kid gloves and zero aggression towards them.

Do you think it’s a skin color thing or do you think the police support Trump after being demonized by Democrats for the entire year.

Indeed. When I watch video of the Capitol police standing down and only weakly pushing back against the protesters, it seems to me that there are only two possible explanations that make sense:

a) The storming of the building was a staged event to generate such outrage at Trump and his supporters that Congress would be even less likely to vote in favor of any objections raised during the electoral vote counting. (Yeah, yeah... conspiracy theory. Unlikely.)

b) The Capitol police were at least somewhat sympathetic to the anger of the protesters who were storming the building. (Much more likely.)

[flyingpylon]

One of the parties responsible for the security failure is Muriel Bowser.

DC Mayor Told Federal Law Enforcement To Stand Down Day Before Violent US Capitol Riot

Also, from The Consequences Of The Capitol Assault

The obvious result of yesterday’s conflagration will be a feeble attempt at a purge by the Mitt Romneys, Liz Cheneys, and Adam Kinzingers (ha!) of the GOP. This will fail because their constituency is not just outnumbered, it is utterly dominated by the populist iconoclasts. A party of the right that rejects the mob of people who spent their hard-earned, working-class money to drive to Washington, D.C., and wave a flag as deplorables will never win, or deserve to, any more than a party of the left could reject naming something Black Lives Matter plaza.

What will happen next is obvious: A total crushing, anti-free speech effort that treats Trump-supporting groups like Branch Davidians. An effort to restore the fundamentally unserious neocons as the voice of reason in the room. A hardening of the bounds of the People’s House to keep people away from politicians. A use of any levers of government power — including audits, regulation, and lawfare — to harass conservatives now categorized as seditionists and terrorists by the incoming president who falsely claims to want to unite the country. And above all, a doubling down on all the policies and efforts put in place to crush exactly the type of people who showed up at the Capitol yesterday in a foolish, desperate attempt to make themselves heard.

The rioters failed in their effort and ensured their marginalization. But marginalization doesn’t mean evaporation. They’re still here. They’re still Americans. And they’re not going away. How our politicians handle that will dictate a lot about the next several years.

And this article written in September seems prescient: The Coming Coup?

The events of the last few months may be interpreted as an attempted color revolution that failed to gain enough steam, or as a trial run for the fall. Is the Trump Administration prepared? ... Once the ruling class gives word that the narrative is “Trump lost,” all the president’s social media accounts will be suspended. The T.V. channels, with the likely exception of Fox News, will refuse to cover anything he says. Count on it.

Apparently Facebook has already suspended Trump's account indefinitely, and YouTube is banning any videos from anyone that suggests there was fraud or errors that would have overturned the election.

[barrett]

Indeed. When I watch video of the Capitol police standing down and only weakly pushing back against the protesters, it seems to me that there are only two possible explanations that make sense:

a) The storming of the building was a staged event to generate such outrage at Trump and his supporters that Congress would be even less likely to vote in favor of any objections raised during the electoral vote counting. (Yeah, yeah... conspiracy theory. Unlikely.)

b) The Capitol police were at least somewhat sympathetic to the anger of the protesters who were storming the building. (Much more likely.)

c) In the video I saw last night it looked like the police were just totally undermanned in terms of being able to repel that many people pushing forward.

[Tortoise]

Indeed. When I watch video of the Capitol police standing down and only weakly pushing back against the protesters, it seems to me that there are only two possible explanations that make sense:

a) The storming of the building was a staged event to generate such outrage at Trump and his supporters that Congress would be even less likely to vote in favor of any objections raised during the electoral vote counting. (Yeah, yeah... conspiracy theory. Unlikely.)

b) The Capitol police were at least somewhat sympathetic to the anger of the protesters who were storming the building. (Much more likely.)

c) In the video I saw last night it looked like the police were just totally undermanned in terms of being able to repel that many people pushing forward.

And why would that be, if everyone with a few functional brain cells knew there was going to be tremendous outrage from one side or the other on Jan 6th regardless of how Pence and Congress decided to handle the electoral votes?