This morning, the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol began its hearings with testimony from two Capitol Police officers and two Metropolitan Police officers.
I struggle with chronic depression. Yesterday's testimony made me understand that I have been selfishly consumed by my own sadness. I cried through parts of the testimony realizing that we are all living under a shadow. We are all struggling. We are all both affected and infected.
The disease is the stupidity of the truth skeptics led by masterminds who feed them lucrative juicy stories. Masterminds who, as one news commentator remarked, "sit smugly, vaccinated in their air-conditioned studios, spitting" on the the January 6th truth-seekers, calling them "actors." The disease is power money. The majority of our nation's problems arise from the business of lying to a single tribe, hiding behind the false mask of freedom of speech. For after all, aren’t the antifaxers, the COVID nonbelievers, the climate deniers, the white supremacists, the religious extremists, and the trumpers all one and the same tribe? The same disease?
For some inexplicable reason, I have found myself opening The Brothers Karamazov as a distraction to my depression and politics, bracing for a long slog. Instead of a distraction, I'm finding answers. At least answers on how to live my life. I’m calling it the Biden Solution. Forge through with eternal optimism. Use the superpower of democracy: the vote. Never deny truth. Because like the poem says, truth IS beauty - and the only way out of the mess this world and our country is in. Don't give in to the denier tribe. We are our only hope.
Biden’s optimism was forged in a crucible of poverty, loss and trauma. Part of his strength comes from his deep attachment to faith and family and democratic principles, imho. He is an example I look to often to replenish my own struggle through this morass. We the people; all of us this time. Glad you are here. Keep slogging.
Wow! Everyone! I did not anticipate this kind of response to my comment. When I sound off at home, even the dogs leave the room. I am overwhelmed and thank you all. My sincere and heartfelt best wishes.
You are in no way "too much," Cheryl. Thank you for your eloquent insights. And chronic depression is a completely understandable reaction to the five-year toxic trauma we have all endured. The Biden plan for healing the country is a good one -- keep being sane, compassionate, responsible, truthful grownups. Keep advocating and implementing solutions to the real and urgent problems, and ensure voters know who's really making their lives better. Millions of us include activism and get-out-the-vote organizing as part of our personal recovery plan. Your comment is right on. More please!
Don't be intimidated or silenced. Anyone who isn't horrified by the endless travesties, particularly over the last five years, hasn't been paying attention.
Please, come here to comment. You are not "too much" for us here, as many of us are either in a similar boat, or close to someone who is. I'm glad you're finding answers in a diversion; that is the best of both worlds indeed.
Cheryl -- I love what you say. Forge through with optimism! Never deny truth! I try to do this re dealing with Covid-19, since as you say, we really are our only hope!!!! Somewhere, someone said "we are the ones we have been waiting for," (or something like that!). Be well and know that you're not struggling alone...
Thank you for sharing. Please know others are struggling with what Trump and friends are doing. There is yet more truth to be revealed in these hearings.
I understand exactly how you feel and the desire to "organize" this crazy world we find ourselves living. However, no, they are not all from the same tribe.
I know people that aren't Republican, or white supremists, or Covid deniers that are anti-vaxers. They have been practicing alternative medicine and have been sceptical of western medicine for decades. They believe they can ride this out and will not consider that it isn't just about them, it is not an individual decision, it is not about their rights. They see no conflict with their compassion for others. Alrhogh I am frustrated I do not hate anti-vaxers. They should not be lumped in with Trump supporters who are racists and anti-govt and who were just lying in wait for a president that agrees with them so they could overthrow democracy.
There were thousands of them there on 1/6. The KKK on steroids. They lost against an army maybe 1/5 their size. 550+ dumbasses so far arrested and hate groups we never heard involved. Upholding democracy is harder than we thought and in order to uphold it, we have to practice it, and therefore we are in for a long ride.
I also think the discussion on fact vs fiction and lies vs truth is much deeper than most people want to admit. Where do you draw the line? People will always believe in what they want to, despite the evidence, lack of evidence, facts, data, or education. Good and bad people fill in the blanks as they see fit. So no, not all the same tribe. But you are right, there is a Trump tribe, and they got to the top for a brief period. "God" willing, it stays that way because we live in a democracy.
Hi Martha, I anticipated that there would be an argument about "tribes" and I honestly appreciate your comment so that I can clarify. By "tribe" I do not mean that this is a group who ALL share the same opinions, political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, regions, or who are all led by Trump. I am talking about those folks who have been persuaded by "false prophets" if you will. Persuaded by media personalities who make a business and profit by twisting the truth to suit their monetary ends. And yes, many antivaxers are knowingly or unknowingly followers of Joseph Mercola, an osteopath, who for years has spun misinformation concerning vaccines. The decisions these followers make based on Mercola's falsehoods have put themselves, their children, and their contacts at risk for life-threatening or debilitating disease. Mercola's lies and his followers have adversely affected us all.
As a "Certified Holistic Health Coach" I was a part of this movement. I wasn't exactly an antivaxxer - but I was damn close. My mom has had *many* more years living with stage 4 cancer due to holistic physicians (MDs!) ~ but oh, my horror watching my friends and colleagues grasp onto this Mercola/Northrup quackery with both hands!! A few of us gathered together and tried to infuse some logic into our "love & light" friends, but to no avail. My answer was unfriend those who fell into the abyss. I'm still sad... but they are right there preaching the same nonsense they believed when I left them last year.
You cannot fight emotions with logic or common sense.
Hi Nancy - Full disclosure. I am onboard with Holistic Health and am thrilled to see medicine become more and more "integrated." My chronic depression was diagnosed 40 years ago while in my twenties. I was prescribed Prozac which made me suicidal. Since then, I take no medication for what at times is a soul-sucking low. Adjusting my diet, long walks, and nature are my remedies. That said, I am happy for those who benefit from antidepressants. We each have to find our own way, but we need to beware of the devil which you have named well - Quackery.
An additional note if you do decide to add a dog or two - please be respectful of nature, wild animals, and other walkers by paying attention to "No pets", "Leashed pets only", and "Pick up the Poop" notices. For those of us - who may love dogs but don't live with one - who enjoy walking in natural areas, it is very distressing to encounter dog lovers walking with their dogs (leashed or unleashed) in nature preserves where they are prohibited, or with unleashed dogs in areas where they are allowed if on a leash. I've had to school myself to keep my anger under control and just call the park rangers, rather than confront the dog lovers in my county who think the signs and restrictions don't apply to them. If the walk is ruined, it's ruined - so rather than making it even worse, I get out. I don't blame the dogs. I blame the inconsiderate dog lovers who love only themselves and their dogs.
Nancy, I too have been a facilitator of somewhat woo-woo practices,but I'm shocked to see how my "higher consciousness and awareness" colleagues are dealing with Covid. In these cases, they are not politically right-wing -- far from it. Incalcuable harm is done by leaders of holistic practices who promote ignoring/refusing all allopathic treatment and vaccines. The day I heard the founder of an important 'consciousness' movement say that "it's just like a slight flu" I stopped listening to anything else he had to say.
I do not. There is absolutely nothing we can say to those who are unable/unwilling to change their mind or see logic/facts. They have dug their heels in the sand and refuse to budge. It's the same mentality as cults. (They may actually die, all the while believing they just didn't believe hard enough, eat enough of the right foods or that it really wasn't Covid).
If you love them, then love them as best you can without letting their nonsense break you. ❤️
Nancy, Thank-you for the Northrup reminder. She was my mother's doctor for a short while - until my sister and I read her book. Your are right. The horror!
Well said Cheryl. My disappointment in family and friends who continue to willfully deny the truth forced me to view them as I would those whose behaviors are triggered by mental illness albeit without the compassion reserved for those who are truly mentally ill. It is the only way I can coexist with the otherwise decent human beings in my life who choose to be in the “denier tribe.” I will not give in to them nor will I give up hoping for a cure.
Thank you for writing Cheryl. Your thoughts are so moving but I hope you will not call yourself selfish in any way. I recognize that self criticism but it's just not accurate or helpful. Your thoughtful writing shows that you are a thoughtful person, a gift. I have never read TKB and will check it out as I too could use a good read like that. Thanks for mentioning your experience with it. And thank your sharing your thoughts. Everyone's voice here is important and crucial!
Big virtual hugs to the people who scared off the deranged idiots wanting to complain about arrested insurrectionist being "political prisoners," by calling Gaetz a pedophile & blowing a whistle to drown out their disgusting lies!
This caught my attention. I think strong non-violent counter protesting is a viable tool for change. My hometown has been holding peaceful counter protests since before the elections when out of town trumpsters organized weekly stand outs downtown. We played music, held flags - realized we also needed some stars and stripes since the alternative group felt they only owned it. A few times things got rowdy. But with good organization and *training*, counter protests can drown out the lies, since we can't prevent them. And both sides are protected by the first amendment. When they are allowed to lie unchallenged - the lies get legitimized. The must be challenged every way possible.
We are better, Christopher. We aren't lying. Do you see no differences? A small crowd challenged several dishonest, fascistic, conspiracy spreading elected representatives.
Those demonstrators demonstrated the work of the people. They are us and we will follow their example by making our voices heard throughout the country.
The protesters were brilliant! The fact that they were able to shutdown the RepubThugs so completely made my day. Gotta love those peacefully disruptive tactics!
No matter how heinous their intent, they had a right to be there to spew their false talking points. Should we be proud about denying 1st Amendment rights with those whom we disaheagree?
Does that not give their supporters license to do the same to us?
Never been a fan of cancelling the other side. It's better to let them speak and then pummel them with the fallacy of their own words.
It's OK to jeer, but shutting down a legal event does not make us look better, it makes us look afraid of hearing what they had to say. Avoidance is not a good strategy in cases like these.
They ran away from the crowd that shouted some tough questions at them, and they were being heckled. No cancelling went on. This group that ran away never stops spewing their lies and conspiracies. They couldn't stand up to a crowd that stood up to them.
It wasn't the heckling, but the whistle that made it useless to try and continue. It's better to let them speak. Mo Brooks can now be sued for his remarks on Jan 6. Had he been silenced, he'd have gotten away with it.
Do blatant lies, meant to foment mistrust and violence really deserve a public podium? They had nothing new to say, it was just a photo op. So glad they folded so quickly.
These people have scripts, which are repeated endlessly. How often do regular folks have the opportunities to be heard as compared to the folks you are defending? They hardly suffer from a loss of 1st amendment rights. Their spiels play endlessly on loops, at rallies, on social media, Fox, and any old street corner of their choice.
The protest definitely did not shut down the event Christopher. To tell the truth, Green looked nonplussed and was hurried away by her handler when confronted by a single protester blowing a whistle. What was evident and telling is that they had no supporters there to cheer them on. Gaetz had reporters and a person following him to his car yelling “are you a pedophile, Mr. Gaetz?”
I think the Proud Boys and their ilk already shut down liberal protest. However, I do expect our paid elected officials to do more than spread lies and disinformation.
There are plenty of ways to protest at events like that one. Acting like a magahat yahoo is not one of them imho. What I saw was a race to the bottom that only served to play into miscreant GOP script. It will only serve to escalate more bad behavior from the right.
The hecklers were lucky it was a small event with low attendance. Definitely they deserve points for showing up but the execution was rank amateurish.
There are much better ways to get into "good trouble". That's not what I saw today, what I saw was one step removed from a drum circle.
I was listening and thinking hard about your comments as I always do. You back up your comments with your philosophies. But. What do you mean about “one step removed from a drum circle”?
There is a cherished tradition during season on a well known beach o on the west coast of Florida. Usually on weekend. Drummers (amateur and professional) of all faiths hold a drum circle in the tradition of cultural celebrations of nature and community. Every circle is so well attended and emanates good will and peace.
When you talked about singers in song such as Battle Hymn of the Republic, I thought good idea. With a few drummers to set the beat.
Most protests I've participated in have had them but they tended to be ornamental, like Deadheads looking for a venue. They add color to the event for the participants but don't add much else. I'm a musical creature and appreciate their performance but they aren't the reason or the goal of the protest, but they do no harm and like you say provide a beat. What you described is something different more along the lines of the Native American tradition or even African or South Asian where drums are part of the religious tradition.
The folks who disrupted the faux event by MTG and company succeeded in shutting it down but the optics were bad imho. Drum circles at protests can have less than ideal optics to outsiders, I think that's what I was trying to convey. Probably a bad example since I've never seen a drum circle try to drum out a GOP event.
Firstly, this was not a 'legal' event, it was a press conference.
Secondly, we already know what they have to say, they've said it ad nauseum and it stinks to high heaven. They were looking to create sound bites for their entertainment channel AKA Fox "News".
Thirdly, when a child throws a tantrum (of which this was tantamount to), one does not gain anything by pretending that they have anything valid to add to the conversation by this particular tactic. Yes, if they have something valid to say, let them say it and back it up with facts and truth. If they are going to throw a tantrum, holding up signs behind them is not 'rank amateurish', it's a good strategy in the moment and I'm thrilled that they got it together as quickly as they did. Of course, the GQP will learn from this mistake and not repeat it, as the optics are much much worse for them. We need to stay fleet and nimble and come up with creative ways to counter their tantrums. Facts and Truth are great ways to do that.
I've got to say that I agree with you. The Dems have to be careful not to go low or we're no better. These things do come back to bite. We don't want to stoop to their level. We have to have faith that truth and justice will prevail. There could be a time when stooping low is the only choice, but we are hopefully nowhere near that now. I am thinking of the riots in MO when businesses were burned and looted in 2014. My 20-something son said to me, "Mom, they feel like they have no other choice. They have not been heard or listened to for so long."
Well said. Like JFK said "..we do these things because they are hard". It's ironic that stemming the tide of rightwing lies is astronomically harder than sending someone to the moon, but there we are.
Where is the American spirit that got us through the Great Depression and WWII? I contend it's been co-opted by the American plutocracy but it's really a question for Heather.
It was a bitter pill for me to swallow when I realized the hole we Democrats find ourselves in today is a result of decades of the party turning its back on the least among us that metastasized into including most working and middle class folks.
These protesters were prepared. They had more than a whistle with them.
'Rep Louie Gohmert, one of the members of Congress to speak at the news conference, briefly returned to speak to reporters after the news conference dissolved into chaos but was drowned out by a large brass band, DC Critical Condition, which was apparently contracted by demonstrators to show up and drown out the news conference with music'. See link below:
Much better I hadn't seen that, brass is class. Still that can't be rehashed every time they want to speak.
When you let them speak, as I just pointed out elsewhere, you let them put themselves in jeopardy of causing a "yelling FIRE in a theater" moment, and then you've got 'em. If demonstrators had shut up Mo Brooks treasonous Jan 6 tirade he might have been able to be defended by DoJ, but now he can't because he was able to speak.
The speakers at this event are what I consider the Knuckle-Draggers Caucus. They are always in trouble. We need to worry about the Ivy Leaguers like Hawley and Cruz who are far more dangerous in the long run.
Yes, it's a cost of being an American. We used to talk about the pendulum swinging back and forth between left and right, but nowadays it has started to move in 3 dimensions, left and right and forward and back. We've been going backwards and right since Reagan.
It's time to move left and forward again thanks to things Biden has done I honestly didn't suspect but am so glad to see. Thanks to him many things are showing those signs of moving in positive directions but a lack of courage and an abundance of turf protecting in Congress is impeding progress.
Christopher, Our somewhat different perspectives require more expansive discussion and time, which this form does not encourage. I was very happy to hear from you. We both have had rich experiences and reflected on socio-political issues for some time. I do not have time now and do not know how we may proceed. It is too bad that we do not live near one another. That would enable us to enjoy face to face elaborations on our positions. I think, perhaps, we will have to depend of a number of fairly short exchanges over time. Until the next time, Salud!
I am listening carefully to you, Christopher. And I understand what you are saying. What do you think would have worked for the Germans/Jews/gays/ etc. in retaliation against Hitler's brainwashing of his people that they are the chosen ones and developed his Nazi regime using fear and lies.
His People were spoken to in rallies and programmed to march and carry out the most heinous crimes against their own people. I am not seeing much difference in the past five years. I see a well-armed, seditious/terrorist militia that includes trained police, veterans. And you pointed out that had there been more Gaetz/Green supporters, there could have been a very different outcome in violence perpetrated against the counter-protesters. What happens is we are a nation full of fear perpetrated against us by an authoritarian regime. They do not give an iota about real rights--over our bodies, our votes, our colors, our religions, our ultimately our Constitution and laws. We are in a dangerous time that is leading nowhere but to war. We are also full of PTSD, sick, tired, and struggling with a pandemic which prevents many of us from marching in huge groups.
We have plenty to charge all of these idiots with crimes against our country.
Allowing liars to spew their mindbending crap on vulnerable or white supremacists has not been working well for us or those who protect us. These authoritarians have infiltrated our government systems of justice and thwarted democracy. This Jan. 67th commission is the first inkling of bi-partison, truth-seeking people. To hear them and the four officers yesterday was mindbending in itself because it was so honest and real. To have shit thrown at them that they are actors is raising an anger that needs some kind of release after all the patience we have had to uphold for 5 years. Tell me, Christopher, do we wait and not try new ways of shutting up liars and brainwashers until there are concentrations camps like the ones they built for refugee children at our border? Justice is right around the corner we hear. Right around the corner. Tell that to all the officers who tried to protect our democracy from these insurrectionists. Good people were harmed, brain-injured, eye-gouged, stabbed with flag-poles. A hangman's noose was constructed to hang the Vice frigging President of the United States of America. These idiots were searching for him and others to kill. And I do not like Mike Pence one iota, but where does this stop? I ask you--where and how does insanity and lying this stop?
One last thing and we stick a fork in this one. History doesn't so much repeat as it does rhyme. While conditions seem like what happened in Germany, it's still a minority behind it. America writ large has not forgotten the Nazi regime and the killing of 6 million Jews and 400, 000 American troops, but many have yet to wake up and accept things today are not right. More do so everyday and our main job should be enlightening all those Americans too busy just meeting their basic needs, and don't have the luxury we enjoy swimming in the toxic political pool.
The insanity and lying might stop when their lying becomes so toxic it poisons itself but we had better be working towards decency and sanity delivered in a humane and common sensical fashion. More wisdom, less whistles, not saying no whistles but don't make that the strategy if you want to ultimately win.
We have to realize the differences between Germany then and America now. Then the government took control of the papers and airwaves, now our mainstream media is a near monopoly owned by plutocrats or their corporations BUT here we are reading LFAA and all the other Substack newsletter. We have access to many like minded content providers on YouTube and other non-mainstream outlets we can stream online.
The more we repeat their madness, the more we suck out the oxygen of the counter position, namely our position.
It scares me more when I read liberals cowering in fear of the antics of idiots than the actual acts of those morons. When you let them know they scare you they win, but by the same token, the more you act like them the more they win also.
Michele Obama got it half right. What is better is to add a little something like: When they go low, we go high and then we kick them in the nut sack with relentless truth delivered calmly with a smile or with humor.
The hecklers had a quick and lucky result but had there been a rabid maga-maniac in the crowd there could have been some serious injuries.
Where does it stop? It stops when the Democrats in Congress do the right thing. We have the too many of the wrong ones in there right now because of their recalcitrance over the past 4 decades to stand up for the majority of their lower income voters. The failure of the party to have a 50 state strategy has given them a majority of the states with a minority of the voters and the Supreme Court to boot.
This is what we need to be pissed about and should be working to fix.
Thank you for your well-thought out responses. My rational mind agrees with you. My experience and patience of the past five years and my obsession with WWII make me very wary of how patience might not work out based on the destruction of our systems of checks and balances and lack of an entire party not agreeing to operate within our rules of law. That has crippled our democracy. My heart says to believe we will bounce back much stronger, but what I have witnessed is the trampling of our justice systems, our rights to vote with all these suppressions, gerrymandering, the EC, bullying and crudeness and threats to our elected officials and their families, destruction of post offices, etc.. On and on adnauseam.
I do not belong to either major party due to them being owned by corporations and the wealthy. But this has it has always been, has it not? But the dems are more rational than the cult of repubs now.
I am not so confident that the small, highly arrogant, riled up, armed, white supremacist movement of the dying patriarchy (hopefully!) have almost committed a successful coup against our country and government. I will not be confident until I see a lot more elected officials in prison for seditious acts against our country.
The dilemma of our silence and keeping pandemically safe —— crickets or whistles? There are many kinds of whistles-- like writing, calling, speaking truth to lies. I am with the Whistlers rather than the deniers, liars and those willing to destroy our democracy.
This makes me wonder if there is also a color/gender issue with trusting a system that has been run like a caste, dominated by white men since it's inception, and is currently being trashed by mostly white men because it was almost beginning to work (election of Obama). They fear losing their power over the rest of us-- women, people of color, LGBTQ, different spiritual belief systems (Those who have been waiting, mostly respectfully, for the laws to protect us as People equally, our right to vote, to choose for ourselves what happens to our spirits and bodies? What happens to us simply because of the pigment in our skin?
White privileged males may be more patient about our 1st Amendment speech than those of us on the end of hate speech or actions. It is a very serious predicament. But right now, I am not as afraid of trampling our 1st Amendment as I am of saving our democracy. Because all of our rights will not matter much if this republican inspired, Putin/Mercer/Murdock/Koch backed coup succeeds in destroying what so many of died for, including all the Native Americans who were genocided to take their lands and resources, and the atrocities of slavery that made supremely white men rich. My only hope is that we have the Power because there are more of us than them as you say, and that, some how, the wheels of our laws and justice system will miraculously begin to work to protect All The People— this time.
NO matter what happens, we are a much more engaged and educated population than we were when the 2016 election shattered our country.
Don't beat yourself up! I tweeted today almost 700 million Americans had died from Covid. Before I could correct it several trolls had a field day. I don't take offense from folks with less than 30 followers.
I was particularly impressed by Cheney and Kinzinger, the two committee members who will pay a price for their commitment to their country. They demonstrate that it's hard to do the right thing, when doing so will harm you - but they decided that the thing that would be harmed, the offices they hold, aren't worth holding if the price is your conscience and commitment to the ideals the country was founded on. The scum like the empty McQarthy, so consumed by his desire for "success" that he's willing to turn that possible "success" into ashes, or Scalise, who was memorably described by someone who knew him well as "David Duke without the baggage, or the conscienceless little striver Stefanik, who probably didn't have a soul to sell, are all whistling past the political graveyard. Next year isn't going to happen the way they think it will, and they're not going to realize it till the walls fall in on them.
What struck me most about Kinzinger was his juxtaposition of his experiences being in the National Guard and having been called out for protests last summer and of being inside the Capitol during the Insurrection of 6 January: they are nowhere nearly the same thing. That was riviting.
Quite a few people choked up at the hearing yesterday, and they seemed sincere, and it was moving. Still, I hope this does not become the new standard for indicating serious concern. As swear words are most effective when used sparingly, so are displays of emotion. IMHO.
I agree, Becky. But I personally give Adam Schiff a pass, after watching him navigate the first impeachment hearing with great poise and determination.
As someone who was also choked up several times listening to the hearing on C-SPANradio while driving, I was very moved to hear the tears in the voices of those four police officers! I agree that when displays of emotion are used to manipulate, they are not effective; however, tears that rise unbidden - especially to the eyes of men who have been schooled to suppress them since they were toddlers - are a blessing.
As Adam Kinzinger has stated more than once, if this costs him his political seat, his life will go on. To some people, doing the right thing is important.
The only problem is that there seems to be a critical mass of sociopaths who not just lead the Ghastly Obstructionist Party but also are well placed further down the chute. The overtly deranged ones, such as Greene and Gaetz, will likely get their comeuppance (when is the latter going to be indicted for child sex trafficking?!?!) sooner or later but the ones at the top, whose lust for power is matched only by their utter lack of empathy, will not permit any change of their trajectory. And they have the sociopaths running the religious-fascism movements snuggled up to them in ways that mean that entire communities who are led by their "pastors" (such an apt term as it means a person who oversees sheep) will blindly and willingly go along with the demand that they "believe, don't think." My only consolation is that the megachurch movement seems to be declining, especially among the young, but there are still enough of these [expletives deleted] to do irreparable harm to the rest of us.
In fact, the Republicans and especially fanatical Republicans are in a distinct minority. There are enough of them to do irreparable harm, as they already have done. It is up to the majority to fight back (while we still can) and squelch the extremists that seek to destroy America. That is our patriotic duty!
The Republican Party and its supporters/believers are like a cancer on society. If we don't eradicate this cancer, it can overcome and "kill" us all.
Time is running it out so it is critical to get every Democrat, especially those in Congress to understand this. The time has come to pull out all the stops and put the future of America ahead of personal political ambitions. We can praise Cheney and Kinzinger for their willingness to put the country first, but I wonder why we cut some Democrats slack when they cautiously calculate their political fortunes at every turn. I'm not just talking about Sinema and Manchin.
Sorry for the long response Linda to your very relevant comment.
Don, thank you for this. You're correct, we need to pull out all the stops, and realize that we have the numbers to win if we refuse to sit down and accept defeat. In spite of all their destruction, lies, and dishonor, the Republicans are a minority party.
So well said, TC. I think The Lincoln Project should start airing short clips of The Watergate Hearings and President Nixon's resignation speech, as warning to all our Congressional Traitors.
I found it very satisfying that Officer Dunn related Kevin McCarthy's comments regarding his initial outrage at the insurrection, and said he'd appreciated them, yet was careful to make no mention about his about-face since then. He avoided being accused of political bias. However, Dunn later pointed out that of course the insurrection was political, and couldn't be interpreted in any other way - very riveting.
I agree, Cathy. His presentation was moving and intelligent, and the few clips that showed his reaction to others' presentations demonstrated his empathy.
I've seen ads from both the Linciln Project and Meidas Touch with this in it on Social Media. Lincoln Project tried to buy air time of Fox and it was rejected. Here's Midas' Twitter Profile.
TC, from your lips to God's ear. I think the hearings are going just fine. We're not having to listen to the din of the McCarthy clowns, and the panel is bipartisan, regardless of the whining of the mindless. I'm cautiously hopeful that, as time goes on, we'll see an investigation of the lack of response from the Pentagon, even Michael Flynn's brother, and other contributors who allowed the flames to spread for far too long. For everyone who believed that Nancy Pelosi blew it when she refused to hold a clown show, this is playing out in the best possible way, so far. I think this will benefit the Democratic cause.
I guess I just don't understand why those two are Republicans. The party has been sketchy for such a long time. I am having a hard time rallying for them as much as others. I certainly appreciate that they are sticking up for the truth here and going against their party, but they are still part of a party that is problematic to put it nicely.
You mean why they are STILL Republicans when the party has been hijacked by tRump, Koch, The Federalist Society, The Family, The Heritage Foundation, Faux News, Putin and, originally by Liz's dad, Dick Cheney? How this poisoned party will be cured is unknown. Amputation of the GQP gangrene may kill the whole party, or instead spread its venom. Our democracy needs 2 parties. Maybe a new one can start with just two courageous (but still very conservative) Americans.
I was moved by Kinzinger's emotions. That says a lot, right there. MORE Americans should be shedding tears. This is not over. Trump supporters will gaslight this moment.
Gaslighting is what worked for DJT so beautifully. It also made many of us who grew up being gaslit in our own homes (It’s not that bad; just don’t tell anyone; that’s not what really happened) SICK. Gaslighting —denying someone’s reality — evokes a special kind of toxic stress. We doubt our sanity. While we know emperor is naked, others proclaim him to be well-dressed. This crazy making is great for ratings; bad for sanity. It is outrageously abusive snd toxic. Like the rewriting of American history to deny Native American genocide or to portray enslaved people as happy and well fed. Truth heals. Thanks for sticking to it.
Those of us who grew up being gaslighted learn to gaslight ourselves first. Although it doesn't excuse their actions, I think that the gaslighting for the extremists on the right began well before the former guy and his minions (or is he a minion of even more accomplished gaslighters?) got to work on them.
While I missed bits and pieces, I mostly heard the whole 3 hours on NPR. So many emotions ran through me - gratitude for these men, gratitude that the hearings are finally underway, gratitude that my WWII veteran father did not live to see what has happened to this country! Anger and disgust at the likes of McCarthy and Co.; all the nay-saying, weasel-worded, sniveling SOBs in whatever the hell the Republican Party has become-Party of Trump, Conspiracy Party, QAnon Party, whatever. Between them they don't have a true patriotic bone in their body politic.
Then I realized that no matter how eloquent, truthful, forceful, and heart-wrenching these men's testimony was - and it was all of that - it will not mean a GD thing to any Trumpster who managed to let a word of it into their brain. They are too far gone down the rabbit hole. But if there are any fence-sitters still among them, I don't see how they could remain unmoved and unconvinced that Dear Leader is a fraud and a failed path, and if they are smart, they will abandon that path immediately.
If Jan. 6th's insurrection is allowed to go unpunished, we are truly lost. If the McCarthys and Jordans and their enablers and goaders at Fox and News Max, etc., 'win', we are truly lost as a nation. Our world will end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.
If it accomplishes what sets out to do, this committee will force that reckoning. Fox News, OANN, and the rest won’t be able to look away. McCarthy and co won’t have anybody new to blame, and Americans must face the horrors of January 6th the same way as we faced September 11 - with honesty and sobriety. There will always be holdouts, but truth has a way of shining brighter than all the temptations of conspiratorial lies.
Neither you nor I know what they will discover and broadcast to the world. I expect more revelations about the POTUS’s interference and obstruction in defending the Capitol building. These facts are what McConnell and McCarthy DO NOT WANT TO COME TO LIGHT, especially after their refusal to prosecute what they had the chance.
Sharon, I have a lot of hope, seriously. I feel that these Hearing will make the existing choir feel good and accomplish not much else. My hope is that when midterm elections come around the Democrats have enough intelligent, dignified, and qualified candidates to turn the tide of power. I have always felt that the Democratic Party does not do enough to support their candidates. For lack of any better idea, I feel that 100% of our effort should be in taking back control of the Senate and maintaining control of the Executive.
Unfortunately I’m seeing CRT become the litmus test in local elections. We’ve seen that movie before. Focus on Federal elections, sure. But the state houses are the bodies pushing Federalism.
Gail, a recent poll in NC showed that the population does not agree with our General ASSembly's move to further cut corporate taxes, eventually to zero in 2024. They are swimming against the populace tide on several other issues as well.
These are the people who took over in 2010, and thus gerrymandered the state worse than it's ever been, and ram-rodded their (and ALEC's) agenda down our throats over the past 10 years.
In my county of residence, a Democrat has not been elected to public office since 1976, and that was a county commissioner who served one term. The fix, as they say, is in in this county. If a Dem even gets on the ballot, it's a miracle. Out of 100 counties, we are not an outlier, I hate to say.
I have often thought we could run Jesus Christ on the Dem ticket in Randolph County and the good church goers would not vote for him with a "D" after his name.
Democrats carry a heavier load. What’s the difference in workload (especially fundraising) when all you have to do is obstruct progress, ignore science and experts, and create a few demagogic sound bites? How much time does it take to do nothing vs combatting real challenges? Republicans only need to tow the delusional line of TFG to get enough Super PAC funding for their campaigns. There’s no other business Republicans are doing. We do need a lot of wins next fall.
All good. In any other time exactly what’s needed.
In this case, not enough. One side has drawn battle lines (and crossed them). I cannot believe that this will not bring about a major reckoning, because this committee by its nature and declared purpose, has drawn its own battle lines.
There should be indictments. The former President’s iniquities should be fully exposed. The other side’s offensive (in both senses of the word) should be brought to a halt - at long last.
Just a report from my view of the Republiqans in my world: not a word from anyone about the testimony. Most of these guys are cops, and so far, have not said a word about the hearings. I'm sure that will change, but I have the glimmer of hope that their cop experience is drowning out the Q in their brains.
Please God, a glimmer of hope. We need cops everywhere to stand up and be counted on this one and push back against the lies. My Trumpster neighbor refuses to watch - she says its all manufactured lies. Nothing seems to break through her belief that Trump was a good president and will help her get”hers.” The woman is approaching 70 and resents that her lifestyle - a small but well appointed home completely surrounded by heavily wooded park land with lots of wildlife to enjoy - doesn’t measure up. To what, I have no idea. Feels like heaven here to me. When I asked her last winter about the Insurrection, she countered with, “I’m much more worried about the terrorists that destroyed the 3rd Precinct station.” (3rd precinct is where Derek Chauvin worked) When I countered that the building was fire bombed likely by outside agitators, not Mpls city residents, she walked away. Still gobsmacked by the refusal to look at reality. Just gobsmacked by it.
I found yesterday’s testimony to be both heartbreaking and bracing. Gone was the patina of slickness from the politicians who we are so desperately sick and tired of. In its place was the honest dignity of the police officers who were sitting ducks for a wild-eyed mob. Their descriptions were horrifying. But their nobility in the face of the ambush was inspiring, especially in that it was narrated so bluntly, with no artifice. I commend the Committee for putting them first, both temporally and metaphorically.
I am delighted that the craziest of the crazies tried to compete with them. What a delicious decision that was. In their failed press conference, they highlighted for anyone who has a shred of decency, the difference between good and evil. Their lame attempt to counter the narrative amounted to an unintentional public service. We saw them at their pathetic worst.
I think that this hearing may well be a powder keg. If done properly and fully, it will cut to the root of the problem. Evidence that elected politicians conspired should not be hard to find. I have a mental picture of the Gosars, the Boeberts, the Gohmerts fleeing for whatever hiding places they can find.
Alas I think the thugs may interrupt before it gets to that point. I feel we are near the sharp edge of the spear…but with right on our side.
Well said: "I am delighted that the craziest of the crazies tried to compete with them. What a delicious decision that was. In their failed press conference, they highlighted for anyone who has a shred of decency, the difference between good and evil. Their lame attempt to counter the narrative amounted to an unintentional public service. We saw them at their pathetic worst."
That was a brilliant media juxtaposition, wasn't it?!!!
Fair point. I thought interruption was beside the point and a little annoying. I would have liked to have watched them drink their fill of the poisoned chalice. They were to me, a curiosity, an exhibit of what it’s like to be tethered to neither morality nor reality. I could have watched the spectacle longer because clearly it was going to do nothing but sink into the muck deeper by the minute. I remember as a teenager and young adult watching televangelists fulminate. I couldn’t switch the channel to save my life. They *fascinated* me. I couldn’t believe that they could deliver such total bullshit at such at a pitch.
Your point about denying others free speech is thoughtful. As I reflect on it though, I cannot conjure up great sympathy. So much that is discreditable and dangerous has been done by these fame whores. I’m not sure we can always be expected to hold ourselves to the most scrupulous niceties at every turn.
It’s hard not to believe that we aren’t nearing a serious confrontation.
I think we should not establish any pattern of following and abusing a la the Westboro Church.
But in the final analysis your point is timely and not to be disputed.
Protecting free speech means even that speech which is abhorrent, yes? It is in the quality of rebuttal that one exercises civilized take down of repugnant ideas. By silencing the opposition, don't we indicate that our ideals are mere hypocrisy, practiced only when what is said is acceptable to the listener? I hold that in doing so, we risk abandoning democratic ideas for convenience. And they have turned us into them.
While I doubt that any rabbit tails will be seen as these scum scurry down their holes and hope to ride this out (certainly NONE of them would reverse course and dare to endure the light of day), I am hopeful that hearings held under OATH will make a difference. I am reminded that good prosecutors never ask questions for which they do not already have the answers. The ongoing DOJ investigation and the investigations that have already commenced in Congress even before these hearings, give me hope that many answers are already on the books, even if they cannot be made public for some reason right now. That said, when others are subpoenaed to testify UNDER OATH, their perjury will be duly noted. And if Congress has the will to do so, a refusal to testify or to respond to a subpoena now has the LEGAL authority of the Select Committee as a response. So, whatever ends up as the outcome, there will be MUCH more to be revealed, UNDER OATH and on the record forever. Jordan, Gaetz, Gohmer, Gosar, Boebert, Greene and others will have to make a decision - jail now or jail then. But jail, nevertheless. After all, it's befitting a Seditionist/traitor to pay the price for his and her ultimate sin against our Democracy.
I completely agree with you. After I read today’s newsletter I simply felt frustrated. These Hearings will accomplish nothing. I am not stating that the Hearings should be cancelled, I am simply stating they will change nothing. This is exactly how I feel about all the hype that went in to the arrest of the CFO of Trumps Organization. Now, you literally here nothing about it. It will not amount to anything. These Hearings will make no difference at all and even worse, is that once the hype of the Hearings have worn off, the Democrats will have, once again, given the Trump Republicans a reason to strut around claiming that Trump has been once again exonerated because he is still walking around doing exactly what he has been doing for the past 5 years.
John, I disagree with your digging in to this negativity. I believe that even each Republican in Congress who have sheepishly remained silent will need to confront his or her conscience and also the constituents who will see and hear the truth of these witnesses.
Sorry Sharon but “conscience”? We have waited and waited for the majority of the politicians of the GOP to display the slightest hint of conscience through two impeachment hearings and the vote for a bilateral hearings commission. There has been no hint of conscience from this party. Those that do display conscience and the accompanying morals and values are immediately drummed out.
Yes, Christian, it is true that they did show an incredible lack of conscience, morals and integrity but the mules/sheep were following their leaders Mitch and Kevin… but even TFG ( I hate saying his name also) is bashing those two so perhaps the sheep/mules will get a clue that TFG is never going to have their backs either. I have hope they will begin to realize they are there because their constituents put them there. Not Kevin, not Mitch, not TFG. Over 70% of Americans want the truth, the other less than 30% could care less about the truth. They bought the tainted kool aid knock off. These committee hearings aren’t going away any time soon, an infrastructure bill ( 2 of them) are going to come. WINTER IS COMING for the Qupublicans. Change is in the air. Have hope. Stay positive but not complacent. Speak the truth to any voter who will listen. Help them off the fence. My new mantra…”Words matter. Thoughts become things. What you believe you conceive.” This mantra has worked for me before.
Brava, to you Sharon for recognizing that we are not stuck in the Trump Show. There is much to do before the midterms. When one, the bi-partisan infrastructure plan, and, perhaps the larger one, is or are passed, Americans will start to be more hopeful, and there will be jobs galore. Stepping up vaccine inoculation is crucial, too. Without speaking specifically about any subscribers, in general some folks hold on to their negativity because they don't want to be disappointed again. Of course, that is no way to win our struggle for democracy. I believe that the chance of passing a strong enough version of the For the People Act will be better in the fall. A couple of our many strengths -- working together and hoping that the naysayers have an awakening -- are our tools as we move forward.
I had a completely different reaction. To see the truth of that horrific day brought forth so bravely and eloquently by these courageous and rightfully angry American patriots who put their lives on the line that day gave me hope. Yes, there are MAGAS who will never change, but there are some, like my nephew who voted for Trump in 2016 because he owns a small business, but did not vote for him in 2020 because “It would have been immoral.” who will be able to see the light.
I just hope the members of the Committee will be strong enough to enforce subpoenas and get people like McCarthy, Jordan, Ivanka, and anyone else who has information about that day in front of the cameras, testifying under oath.
The man with the whistle at the seditionists’ gaslighting “press conference” and the others who protested these Quidiots also gave me hope.
Want to see infrastructure passed and am concerned about the delay.
I heard someone last night (can't remember who) recount that throughout our history there have almost always been about 30% of this country who were on the "wrong side" of it - from the very beginning (those who sided with the Red Coats) through the Civil War, through the McCarthy hearings...you name it. The same old same old 30% who cannot or will not ever be budged off their wrong-sided intransigent stances. Thus, I take heart that we today are experiencing this generations' version of that same disgusting mob of anti-Democratic, seditionist, anarchists. For me now, the scariest matter is that they seem to have penetrated state governments and are attempting to subvert government THROUGH laws and policies that take power away from the people. THIS must be stopped in its tracks.
FWIW, I hear and agree with you. Unless something drastically different happens from what we have witnessed over the last five years ( hell, 40 years) nothing will be accomplished. I don't see anything on the horizon to make me think otherwise. You cannot have a contest in which one side follows the rules and the other destroys those rules. This is a tribal war we are in, and there are no rules of engagement.
Things may become worse before they get better, and violence and chaos may rear their ugly heads again, but the two other events happening, the indictment of Weisenberg and Barracks arrest, will affect the cult leader's position, maybe??
Your negative comments remind me of people who choose to not vote "because it won't make any difference". Yet, many elections have been won or lost by razor-thin margins, outcomes which would probably have made a difference if even some of those people had bothered to vote. So, what would you recommend instead - do nothing and ensure that the extreme views of so many will prevail? Or do everything you can working to preserve American democracy?
Judith, I do wish to point out something to you and perhaps you will learn something from it. There is nothing, nothing at all, in my post that indicates a tendency towards passivity nor fatality in my approach to politics and every aspect of my life. What happened here is that you “knee-jerked” reacted to some pre-conceived notion in your own head and rather than try to understand what I wrote you decided to cancel my thoughts because they did not directly align with yours. Though not relevant, I wish to let you know that I have been of voting age for 46 years and have not once missed the opportunity to vote when available. As to what I “recommend instead”? I have no idea, but perhaps push the Department of Justice prosecute Trump for treason? But I am at a loss as to why you seem to state that because I do not feel the January 6th committee hearing will accomplish anything, it therefore means I recommend doing nothing. Look up the word “liberal” and think about it. Best regards, John
John, I do wish to point out something to you and perhaps you will learn something from it. There is nothing, nothing at all in my post that indicates any sort of 'ad hominem' attack. Ad hominem (Latin for 'to the person'), refers to several types of arguments, some but not all of which are fallacious. Typically this term refers to a rhetorical strategy where the speaker attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making an argument rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself. What happened here is that you "knee-jerked" reacted (sic) to some pre-conceived (sic) notion in your own head and rather than try to understand what I wrote(,) you decided to cancel my thoughts because they did not directly align with yours. Though not relevant, I wish to let you know that I have been of voting age for 45 years and have often missed the opportunity to vote when available. As to what I 'recommend instead'? I would suggest looking at how you talk down to someone when you speak to them, especially when you talk to a woman. But I am at a loss as to why you seem to state that I have retreated to an 'ad hominem' attack when I am not attacking you, just your entitled way of speaking to others on this forum.
If you've been paying attention, you'll notice that I cut and pasted most of this response to you directly from your response to Judith. While I very much welcome your thoughts and ideas, please know that how you present these thoughts and ideas make a huge difference to those that you present them to as well as how you will be received by said people.
That’s a brave prediction. Could be right because so many other displays of sanity have failed, dating back to the Mueller report. One burned, twice shy.
But I think it more likely that your prediction will be wrong. If the hearings go “wherever the evidence leads”, this will be panic territory for the Republicans. It may serve to incite a defensive struggle because the destituâtes in the Republican Party will be desperately looking for cover.
This could have *something* of the effect of the Watergate hearings, relentlessly bringing the public to awareness of the poisonous effect of Trump in the last five years.
The vaccination rate may serve as a canary in the coal mine in the next couple of months. If it soars, it may well indicate that doubts have been sown amongst the cultists.
Still, I wouldn’t bet a penny either way on the national effect of these hearings. We are in beyond Hollywood territory.
Yes, but remember it’s been shown that peaceful protests have a greater success rate in bringing about change. The majority of us turn our backs on angry violent protests. Let them make that mistake. I believe this DOJ will be ready for them. The marijuana incarcerations are being set free to make room for Homeland Terrorists!
So much can be said about what we heard at yesterday's January 6 hearing.
Here is but one that resonated for me: Rep Murphy(CA) recounted that she could hear Officer Hodges screaming as he was being squeezed by rioters against a door jam some 40 paces away from where she and a fellow rep were hunkered down in the basement of the Capitol. She wanted to let him know how grateful she was that because of him she was able to go home that day to hug her family.
These first responders served to remind us they were there that day to "protect and serve" even the rioters who were beating them. There is a part of me that would have loved to have had Jim Jordan be at the hearing and have to come face-to-face with these four brave men while trying to downplay their heroic actions.
Some quotables from yesterday's hearing...
Sgt. Gonell: "I'm still recovering from all those hugs and kisses."
Officer Hodges, in response to a question from Rep. Raskin about some lawmakers referring to MAGA rioters as just tourists: "...I can see why foreign countries don't like American tourists."
Morning Lynell. Representative Stephanie Murphy is a FL congresswoman. She is on the House Armed Services Committee and formerly a nat’l security specialist with Dept of Defense. Good credentials for this committee. When I watched first day of the committee, I was struck by the expressions on the faces of the members of this committee as they watched the video clips of the insurrection. I was so surprised to realize that as many times as I’ve seen replays of that day on Jan 6th, I don’t think I ever seen the faces of those that experienced it watching it again. It was very telling as far as the truth of it. I’ll never forget the expression on Rep Murphy’s face. It was quite stunning.
I agree- Kizinger's statement included tears and visible sadness. I also noticed that @ one point, the camera panned past Ms Cheney's face-she did look sad & somewhat distressed.
Hey, Christine. Like Sandra, I did not see any of the members as they were playing the video clips. I was watching on CBS. Sorry to have missed all that.
Hello Lynell -- I, too, loved the remark about American tourists! And while I appreciated what Rep. Murphy shared (and ditto for Rep. Kinzinger), I much preferred hearing fewer thoughts and observations by committee members and more thoughts and observations from the four officers. I also wondered what would have happened if Jordan had been part of the mix but I am relieved that he wasn't given any opportunity to disrupt and dishonor the testimony. (Thinking of the recent attempts by Rand Paul to discredit Dr. Fauci... seems to me that sort of badgering just doesn't help any of us get to a better place when we're involved with serious issues).
Morning, Rev.Judith!! I agree but did appreciate that the members did not make lengthy speeches as some of them do sometimes. As for Jordan, I was conjuring up a dream in my head of him being shamed by these proceedings. But I realize the reality would not match my dream, so am as glad as you are he was not part of the mix.
Morning, Lynell! I thought Officer Hodges's response to that about American tourists was hilarious, and brought levity to a very somber hearing. I missed the Sergeant's "recovery" statement; not funny but very poignant. I thought Kinsiger's comparison of his NG duty in protests last summer and the insurrection was also very profound.
His whole speech moved me. Several stations posted the full hearing on YouTube, well worth the time to watch. Kinzinger and Cheney speak for more republicans than we may know. They will give strength to followers after these first steps in the dance. The calm strength shown by Chair Bennie Thompson, along with the consistent determination of every questioner is just what we need to continue the Biden Administration calming of very troubled waters.
Morning, Ally!! I saw and was reading about what is going on with Simone Biles at the Olympics. Pictures of her, to me, are very haunting. She most certainly came to a breaking point after all the years she has been living up to being No. 1. I correlated those images of her with the emotional "breakdown" of Adam Kinzinger, and particularly Adam Schiff who has been defending our democracy nonstop since before he led the first impeachment hearings. It was like they had been keeping their emotions (love for country) bottled up for so long, and then finally found a venue where they could "safely" let go. I was totally moved by it.
Omigosh, Linda. Hahahahahahaha. I’ll have to remember that reply next time someone correctly corrects me. Hahahahaha. That is highly humorous! Thanks for reminder of what we all furiously do on this forum…”think again”.
Thank you, Lynell! I, too, was thankful that Rep. Murphy gave her personal experience of the day, as I think it made it more 'real' for those watching and listening, including everyone on the dais. All the quotes you cite were spot on and very telling.
Morning, Sandra!! And thanks. I am pretty sure the majority of the folks on this page did watch the hearings. But I thought maybe there could be some that missed it due to other commitments. My "replay" just skimmed the surface for what we saw and heard yesterday.
Most Republicans do not want the country to get a second look at, a grim reminder of, Jan. 6th. And they certainly do not want a public airing of minute-to-minute communications within the White House and within the offices of several Republican lawmakers. A second look at the legislators who acted as tour guides for protestors "casing the joint" in the days leading up to the insurrection will not play well either.
The person who willfully inspired, those who aided and abetted the Jan. 6th insurrection at the US capitol building, must be known. Their actions, or lack thereof, in support of a coup attempt must be made known. The perpetrators may escape legal prosecution today, but they must not be allowed to escape the judgement of history. For that alone the House investigation must carry on to wherever the evidence leads.
I support criminal referrals by the Committee to DoJ where justified. I demand those responsible be held accountable without exception and suffer the full legal consequences. Simply recording the history of what happened without accountability is not sufficient.
Bruce supports steps beyond those of 'being known' by tightening the screws around those who inspired, aided and abetted the mob on January 6th. He called for criminal referrals where justified, so that the insurrectionist schemers behind the scenes 'may' NOT 'escape legal prosecution'. The mob did not act alone. Treasonous actions must face the rule of law. No 'ifs and buts' for these traitors; they will be removed from the 'Trump Show'. His Cult comprised of many millions is in a media cocoon, which the rule of law will pierce.
Thank you, I realize that is his intent. I am simply advocating as strongly as I can the importance of accountability. I know there are many, even some who abhor what happened leading up to, on, and since January 6th, that feel for the "good of the country and harmony," that we do not prosecute those who participated and incited the violence vigorously. I want to make clear that I disagree. I think accountability is a critical part of making sure we prevent this from ever happening in this country again. I do not care if you are left, right, center, or none of the above. There is no place in my America for tolerance of those who participated in, caused, or support what happened on January 6th. I demand, not simply request, demand, they are held accountable.
The heartfelt, heart-breaking testimony of the four officers who lived through this horror makes this clear. There can be no moving on without accountability. They deserve this and our democracy demands it.
Any and all participants in the January 6 should have to face the consequences of their actions that day. I remember watching in horror as rioters broke into the Capitol.
I remember Dr. HCR coming on live just to be with all of us because she believed we needed to be together. I remember her believing there was a good chance TFG would be out of office before midnight. Oh how I despaired that next day that not only wasn’t he removed but then Lindsay and Kevin did an about face. 🤦🏽♀️
I agree, I agree! But demanding and getting are two different things. The former president has avoided the consequences of his misdeeds his whole life.
Agree and good morning Ralph. This hearing is first step to outing the rats. Subpoenas first and then under oath testimony. I’m confident that testimony will be basis for action by DOJ.
And history will remember it. Save our Republic first.
I have been waiting to hear the truth of the “tour guide” saga since it was first suggested as a possible planning segment of the insurrection. I want to see proof of traitors leading traitors through the citadel.
In order to understand all this, you need to think like a criminal. Indeed (as said above) the organizers of this insurrection were actively 'casing the joint'. And I believe it will come out that a few who were smart enough NOT to take selfies and be within view of cameras were walking around quietly giving directions. " You go this way, you go that way" "Pelosi is in the basement, here's is the stairs". Take note and just wait.
Where the hell is Columbo and Perry Mason when we really need them?
I so hope you and Cathy are right Lynell. My concern is the moment will pass and other concerns will move front and center. The public attention span is very short.
After I see the “tour guides” exposed, then I’m going to make another bag of popcorn and a fresh beverage. That’s end of part 1 for me. Those tours after the winter holiday. As a visitor to Washington DC before and then watching them enter the Capitol from various points, I kept wondering “ how do these fools know where to go. They act like they know exact location of Pelosi and Clyburn and hallways and stairs and entry points. What the heck?
And then I heard a comment within that week how tours were not on regular schedule and were arranged? I was like “huh?”
One of my fave fictional female detectives, Harriet the Spy comes to mind. I had to go get my spy journal, eat a tomato sandwich and think about those tours.
I am encouraging folks to contact their Republican congress people and tell them that, with the House Select Committee Hearing, like with Watergate, the tide is turning against trump, that they will be subpoenaed, and NOW is the time to announce that they have "new information" and see that the January 6th attack on our Capitol was an attempted insurrection.
Done, and contacted both of my Senators requesting them to speak out publicly condemning the events of January 6th and those minimizing them. While I do not expect any displays of moral courage from them, I want them to know we are watching and they will be held accountable for their moral failures.
I disagree, Kay. They count the negative calls from constituents… I’m sure they all have their lifeboats and lies prepared to launch if enough of the tide changes direction.
I was just thinking that when I saw your post. I would venture to guess that both have some sort of "role" with that insurrection, most assuredly Cruz. But Cornyn always has his hands in someone's back pocket and that back pocket may very well be one of many who helped finance this.
Escaping legal and/or political prosecution is unacceptable! There must be consequences! If there are not consequences, then the dissolution of the United States of America is upon us. The majority will not cohabitate with fanatical right-wing, white supremacists bent on establishing an autocracy. The pushback is coming but it can be best mollified depending upon the degree of punishment. We live in the present. We cannot rely on the judgment of history to save the day.
Imagine people risked their lives to protect you from being attacked, was seriously hurt, and you cannot express gratitude! Cannot even make the time to listen to them relate their experience! The disrespect takes my breath away. And if Republian lawmakers feel no regard for these men, you can imagine how inconsequential is the ordinary American citizen. Only the almighty dollar can get these people’s attention. Greed. Thats why it rates as one of the Seven DEADLY Sins
Joan, good morning!!! Just remember, McCarthy and McConnell don't care about anything but power...and power alone. You could fall down at their feet writhing in pain and if it didn't do anything for their power, they would step on you on their way down the sacred halls of our nation's Capitol. Do not think for an instant they care about January 6th. It was an "inconvenience" to them. Or...they are scared something will come to light that implicates them, and they are preparing to defend themselves. They may have been too savvy to get that closely involved, but if it were something that increased their power, they would have been right in the thick of it. So sad that our elected officials are this shallow and have lost any semblance of caring about the folks who elected them. I will say that our Democratic senators from VA, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, are good guys who go out into their communities and talk to their constituents. I appreciate them for that, and wish there were many others who felt the need to remember who put them where they are.
Ditto that! I retired to Gwynn, VA. Unfortunately most who reside in Mathew’s County are TFG’s supporters and a few were arrested for being in the Capital on that fateful day. Also confederate flags the size of my barn greet visitors. 😡
That's distressing about the flag. It's weird for sure here in VA. I'm in a rural-ish part, too. Many TFG supporters. But the state manages to be blue. How them boys do that? I wonder.
Absolutely, Joan. And if they feel no regard for these officers, how much do they care about our military personnel? They only care about their bottom lines, their own pocketbooks, their 15 minutes of fame. The will all rot.
Remember the blues song adopted by Beatles "The best things in life are free, but you can give them to the birds and bees I want money..." ? THAT should be the theme song that comes on whenever a Republican candidate strides on stage
The thing is, we DO know. We know the causes and we have video of what took place. What we lack is confirmation and usable proof.
The rioters themselves said "Trump sent us"!
Finding out who gave the orders to withhold support from the National Guard, or to reinforce the Capitol police, or who helped set up the other circumstances that left the capitol defenseless is what remains to be seen. From the gyrations people like McConnell, Gym Jordan, McCarthy and the other "Movement Conservatives" (aka Trumpists) they're very scared that the truth will get out.
I suspect the new government took over before they could cover their tracks entirely, and knowing the evidence is lying there waiting to be put on display has them shivering in their boots.
After the election and before 1/6, correct? That is what I remember along with the discomfort felt at what intentions that might indicate. Weren't there also FBI changes as well? We all clearly remember TFG certainly made his objections clear after 2020 election and affirmed the message he had delivered since 2016...if HE lost, the election was rigged. It was a little embarrassing for him in 2016, but he sure got to whip it up in 2020. Like a train wreck in slow motion from 2015!
If you are puzzled sometimes, as I am, at the many people in this country that remain in the throes of an alternative reality, occasionally tune into the Tucker Carlson show. I did so last night to get a sense of the story they are being fed by Fox News. I'm not easily shocked but I was flabbergasted by the lies and disinformation that spewed forth from that man's foul mouth. If he was your primary source for what happened on Jan. 6 and what it meant, you would be outraged by the evil doers in the media, the left wing and those in the Congress that continue to support "the steal". One example will have to suffice, though the entire hour, or what I watched of it, was filled with bile, falsehoods and distortions. The one example: videos of the Capitol Building during the insurrection were shown from time to time and they 100% reflected calm normal-appearing people harmlessly strolling around the Capitol Rotunda. In the meantime, Carlson is commenting about media exaggerations, as if the his videos told the whole story.
What is astonishing is the depth of deception. It depends on his audience's complete dependence for the news on him and his cohorts. They must be completely in his thrall. The least exposure to the real story would expose his falsehoods. Certainly, adults are responsible for taking the small steps that are required to find out the truth. Even so, the depth of his deception, his willingness to depart so far from the truth, is frightening. The depth of his own depravity in doing so is also deeply disturbing as is our willingness as a society to allow a major source of news to spew such venom, and such lies apparently with impunity. It is a major story in itself and is not covered by the mainstream to the extent it should be.
I judge the content of *ucker Carlson's show by the reactions of the Republiqans on my feed who will occasionally post "he's on fire tonight" or "bringing it to the libs".
On 6 January, I actually watched the Fox Noise coverage. It was not much different from my other sources (CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN) in content and scope on that day at that time. Most of the talking heads were saying the same things (where's the National Guard? How come there are no SWAT teams there? How come the cops have no riot gear?) but that changed quickly by a couple days later.
Yesterday, I watched on the hearings first on NBC and continuing on MSNBC. My husband came in the room and wondered out loud about FOX .... much to our surprise, FOX was broadcasting the hearings too. I don't know for how long, though, because we switched back to NBC/MSNBC.
Is there some person in a darkened room in a remote castle somewhere directing the far right media on TV, radio and the internet, telling them where and when and what to emphasize. Carlson, Hannity, the late Russ Limbaugh and the others don't seem bright enough to be managing their dissemination of disinformtion. And the former president isn't either. Who is giving them their orders, such as the one causing their rapid switch from condemning the rioters to making them look good? Who?
He has the brains, but he is too much in the public's eye. Even Bannon is taking orders from that one in the remote castle, who survives because of his anonymity.
Getting close, but the fact that you were able to come up with his name suggests Murdoch is not the one. It's someone like him whom you or I have never heard of, infinitely wealthy and infinitely private. (I'm inspired to write a short story about him or her.)
I sympathize. My nephew had the gall to trot out Mr. Carlson as a source for one of his crazy views, as if he could in any way on any subject be trusted to provide the truth.
They should be required to state they are for "entertainment purposes only"...a,nd nothing seen nor heard on their shows has anything to do with real persons, places things or reality."
So the question becomes, how we arrange situations, events, posts -whatever - that will penetrate the Fox/Carlson media bubble? Hmmm. I'm thinking we need to start a movement to have a picket and information presence at every WalMart nationwide. Direct the messages of the day nationally to give the truth that counters that day's biggest Fox/Carlson/et-al lies. The people staffing these information stations would need to be brave. Hmmm. Much thought would need to be given to how to deliver the truth but keep them safe... Is there a workable idea anywhere in this pile?
I am told that OANN is even worse. I cannot imagine. I do think we've crossed the Rubicon on this matter of "free speech." It seems to me that these networks are screaming "fire" at the top of their voices, night after night. Surely there's some recourse?
I've never watched OANN but could easily imagine worse than Carlson. All you need do is imagine people that avoid looking elsewhere for their news and thus are at the mercy of scoundrels. And there is no limit to what scoundrels can do once let loose on the world. Carlson is vane and weak so his cowardice reins him to some extent. He wants to be applauded by people he admires. He doesn't admire Trump nor Trump's followers and has nothing in common with them. From this perspective, he is worse than the OANN's who can at least claim they are demented. Carlson is merely without a conscience and blindly ambitious.
The anecdote to Carlson is simple: expose him. Too bad our mainstream itself is so weak and ineffectual. They are in the process of waking up a bit which will help. I even watched a show last night that referred to Carlson's despicable and patently false take on the insurrection.
Failing that, I would like to see a special on some legitimate news source dealing with Carlson. It could focus on last night's show as an example of utter depravity.
We have other news sources. I was watching Scarborough just now railing against "cable news" supporting alternative realities without having the courage even to name Fox News. Fox News has been a major news story for decades that no other news outlet has the courage or integrity to deal with accurately and forcefully. Stelter is the one guy who has done so and stands alone. Brit Hume sat opposite Carlson part of last night lending what is left of his tattered reputation to the big lie being spewed. Dante would need a new level in Hell to deal with this crowd.
"House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) both said they had been too busy to watch the hearing."
Reprehensible. Irresponsible. Unconscionable. And a display of disregard and disrespect for the officers, for their oath of office, and for the nation. They should be removed from their posts if they fail to respond or try to invoke 5th Amendment protection.
We should look upon these hearings with the same gravity as the Nuremberg Trials. While there's no comparison with the horror and loss of life for which Nazi leaders were tried, it's easy to see how the GOP leadership was just as prepared to look away from an attack on our political system and, in some cases, were probably directly complicit in undermining the rule of law in this country. For all of our historical flaws as a nation, dismantling our system of government has not been one of them. Until the reign of Donald Trump.
Viewing these hearings should be mandatory for all in Congress. It should be continuing education credits required in order to keep your seat. Herd them into an auditorium and play the tapes.
Follow the hearings of the January 6 Riot Investigation Select Committee closely. Listen to the testimony and learn the truth. The findings will be published and include recommendations to prevent this from ever happening again. It is not unlikely the Committee will make criminal referrals to the DoJ. Support those referrals. We cannot allow the Rule of Law traditions of our democracy to be subverted by anyone. This should not be a political partisan issue. There are no sides to defending democracy or our Constitution. You are either on team democracy or team autocracy. Choose wisely.
Please keep writing Professor Richardson.. it’s very anxious making but our capitol police and all the armed forces that finally showed up almost too late, need an opportunity to speak the truth of their experiences during that frightening melee Jan 6, 2021. And your writings help so many of us learn not only ‘the truth’ but also how to talk about it w friends, neighbors, relatives, even coworkers…to help all of us ‘make sense’ of what happened that day — and what could happen still if we are not willing to learn and plan to protect our governing bodies from armed insurrection.
During the Trump years, we learned that our system of government is more fragile than we realized. It is heavily dependent on “norms and traditions” and even the rules by which the two houses of Congress conduct business ex. the filibuster. The operation of our government is very heavily dependent on the character of the elected officials. When laws are broken, and the elected officials say, “So what? Who cares? “ we are in serious trouble. Our common political life has been turned into a cheap, tacky reality show shown daily on Fox.
Jenn, you are so correct. The Trump years exposed the fool's paradise we've been living in for 250 years. The Founders were men of character (albeit slave holders, but that's a separate argument), and I suspect they firmly believed their heirs to the government would also always be men of character, putting country and democracy above their own self-interest.
Now that we've had a thoroughly corrupt Chief Executive, and a proven corrupt and corruptible Congress, the future demands that we remedy this oversight PDQ. That will be a very steep climb, considering how we are living in two realities these days, but it must be done.
Yep. You can't depend upon people without a moral conscience to govern in a fair and just manner. It's about the character of leaders. And that folks, is where the problem is. IMHO of course.
A youngish family member called this morning to apologize for having gaslit my concerns that 1/6 was the horror "the Dems had made me believe". Grateful for his insight (however late to the table it is) I reminded him that it is incumbent up us in a democracy to stay informed with "real information" by reading multiple sources and this will be the best defense we have against the manipulative madness called "spin". We parted friends.
I never thought I would agree with any Cheney, but I whole heartedly agree with Representative Cheney about the subpoenas. My only concern is who exactly, will enforce the subpoenas? Time and time again over the nightmare of one term twice impeached fake president subpoenas were simply ignored by members of the GOP. Will someone actually arrest these people and drag them to the committee hearings? I know that if I ignored a subpoena there would be armed officers banging on my door. Are the GOP insurrectionists above the law?
Unless I've misunderstood, this proceeding will be different than the impeachment hearings. There will be no claims of executive privilege allowed, and those who receive subpoenas will be obligated to appear, even if they plead the fifth. The DOJ will be calling the shots.
As I watched excerpts of yesterday's testimony, I felt myself becoming filled with rage and anger. That the majority of the Republican Party is treating January 6th as a joke is incomprehensible to me. That the Republicans would hold this nation a hostage to insurrectionist violence speaks volumes about their hatred for our country, our Constitution and our rule of law.
The security officers who testified yesterday are heroes in the eyes of many, myself included. That ANYONE can make light of this assault against our democratic Republic colors them as an enemy of the United States of America, a democratic Republic. Republicans, lock, stock and barrel are the enemy of the United States of America. They cannot be and must not be regarded as anything less. They are a threat -- a monstrous, terrifying threat to our way of life and our national security. This is a moment that must be embraced with the gravity it deserves. Sitting back and hoping "this, too, will pass" is NOT an option.
I had a similar experience, especially as I watched Cheney and Kinsigner ask their questions. What angered me the most is that it is very likely that those two congresscritters* may well have sealed their terms coming to an end by participating on this committee because it goes "against the president". That signals to me that what the Republiqans WANT is to have an authoritarian government and not a democracy, republic, or democratic republic that is open to all, not just white guys.
I thought that the officer's testimony was compelling, especially one who read the definition of "terrorist" from the US code, bringing that into the open that what they faced down in the Capitol on 6 January was, in fact and in action, terrorist activity and an attempted insurrection.
*I use the Professor's term "congress critters" since it is so descriptive, and I can use it without having to check if someone is a Senator or a Representative.
Republicans have wanted an authoritarian "regime" since the days of Reagan. Reagan was the knife in the back of America, a phony elitist racist. This moment has been a long slog in arriving, and we must NOT regard it lightly. I LIKE your "congress critters", although I might have a more expletive-driven descriptive! 😊
Staying civilized amidst the most uncivilized among us is a huge challenge. I do my best to NOT become like "them". I am sickened and saddened about this moment in our country's history. We are NOT "out of the woods" with this quite yet. I am bracing for more violent behavior from Republicans and their supporters.
I was had to stop watching/listening yesterday for the simple fact that I became do enraged it was unhealthy. You are right, Keltik, those denying the assault on the Capitol are enemies of the United States. I hope the testimonies are enough to shock people back into reality. I have my doubts.
Thank you! The ONLY way this horrific moment in our country's history can be remedied is to prosecute, prosecute and prosecute. That includes bringing in Trump to testify before the Committee even if he has to be brought in physically. The problem with that "option" is the hell it would unleash in the streets of the U.S., what with Trump's violence-driven anarchists wanting to set fire to the nation. I hope people realize just how tenuous this moment in our history is.
I wish these hearings weren’t competing for airtime with the Olympics. I realize many people have other cable/Netflix, etc. options, but I wish these hearings or a condensed form of them could co-opt all of our nightly prime time programming. More accessible for those who want to see and maybe make an impression on the fence sitters.
I was glued to the TV yesterday morning. I have been watching congressional hearings since Watergate. I don't recall any hearing that was conducted more respectfully. I cried when each of the panel members shook hands with the officers testifying. I did not get watch in the afternoon, however I caught the clip of the one of congresswoman sharing her story on one of the evening shows. She shared that she heard the officers trying to hold the line, so that she and others could get to safety. She was grateful she was able to go home to her children thanks to their bravery.
I struggle with chronic depression. Yesterday's testimony made me understand that I have been selfishly consumed by my own sadness. I cried through parts of the testimony realizing that we are all living under a shadow. We are all struggling. We are all both affected and infected.
The disease is the stupidity of the truth skeptics led by masterminds who feed them lucrative juicy stories. Masterminds who, as one news commentator remarked, "sit smugly, vaccinated in their air-conditioned studios, spitting" on the the January 6th truth-seekers, calling them "actors." The disease is power money. The majority of our nation's problems arise from the business of lying to a single tribe, hiding behind the false mask of freedom of speech. For after all, aren’t the antifaxers, the COVID nonbelievers, the climate deniers, the white supremacists, the religious extremists, and the trumpers all one and the same tribe? The same disease?
For some inexplicable reason, I have found myself opening The Brothers Karamazov as a distraction to my depression and politics, bracing for a long slog. Instead of a distraction, I'm finding answers. At least answers on how to live my life. I’m calling it the Biden Solution. Forge through with eternal optimism. Use the superpower of democracy: the vote. Never deny truth. Because like the poem says, truth IS beauty - and the only way out of the mess this world and our country is in. Don't give in to the denier tribe. We are our only hope.
Biden’s optimism was forged in a crucible of poverty, loss and trauma. Part of his strength comes from his deep attachment to faith and family and democratic principles, imho. He is an example I look to often to replenish my own struggle through this morass. We the people; all of us this time. Glad you are here. Keep slogging.
He’s the REAL Deal…a much-needed salve, especially after the past 5+ years of so much fake and hate.
Me too, Sheila. The "Biden Solution" as Cheryl said.
Wow! Everyone! I did not anticipate this kind of response to my comment. When I sound off at home, even the dogs leave the room. I am overwhelmed and thank you all. My sincere and heartfelt best wishes.
Thanks for sharing Cheryl. I hear you, and I wager you're heard by thousands fellow Americans.
Thank-you for your kind words. I don't often comment, because at least to friends and family I seem to be "too much." Your words mean a lot to me.
You are in no way "too much," Cheryl. Thank you for your eloquent insights. And chronic depression is a completely understandable reaction to the five-year toxic trauma we have all endured. The Biden plan for healing the country is a good one -- keep being sane, compassionate, responsible, truthful grownups. Keep advocating and implementing solutions to the real and urgent problems, and ensure voters know who's really making their lives better. Millions of us include activism and get-out-the-vote organizing as part of our personal recovery plan. Your comment is right on. More please!
Don't be intimidated or silenced. Anyone who isn't horrified by the endless travesties, particularly over the last five years, hasn't been paying attention.
Cheryl, You are Not Alone, believe me!!😊
With truth and sincerity!
Thanks, Cheryl. Here is a quote by Aldous Huxley: "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored."
Thx for that!!!
Please, come here to comment. You are not "too much" for us here, as many of us are either in a similar boat, or close to someone who is. I'm glad you're finding answers in a diversion; that is the best of both worlds indeed.
Cheryl -- I love what you say. Forge through with optimism! Never deny truth! I try to do this re dealing with Covid-19, since as you say, we really are our only hope!!!! Somewhere, someone said "we are the ones we have been waiting for," (or something like that!). Be well and know that you're not struggling alone...
I believe the sane in the nation are suffering from PTSD - Post Trump Stress Disorder.
Thank you for sharing. Please know others are struggling with what Trump and friends are doing. There is yet more truth to be revealed in these hearings.
I understand exactly how you feel and the desire to "organize" this crazy world we find ourselves living. However, no, they are not all from the same tribe.
I know people that aren't Republican, or white supremists, or Covid deniers that are anti-vaxers. They have been practicing alternative medicine and have been sceptical of western medicine for decades. They believe they can ride this out and will not consider that it isn't just about them, it is not an individual decision, it is not about their rights. They see no conflict with their compassion for others. Alrhogh I am frustrated I do not hate anti-vaxers. They should not be lumped in with Trump supporters who are racists and anti-govt and who were just lying in wait for a president that agrees with them so they could overthrow democracy.
There were thousands of them there on 1/6. The KKK on steroids. They lost against an army maybe 1/5 their size. 550+ dumbasses so far arrested and hate groups we never heard involved. Upholding democracy is harder than we thought and in order to uphold it, we have to practice it, and therefore we are in for a long ride.
I also think the discussion on fact vs fiction and lies vs truth is much deeper than most people want to admit. Where do you draw the line? People will always believe in what they want to, despite the evidence, lack of evidence, facts, data, or education. Good and bad people fill in the blanks as they see fit. So no, not all the same tribe. But you are right, there is a Trump tribe, and they got to the top for a brief period. "God" willing, it stays that way because we live in a democracy.
Hi Martha, I anticipated that there would be an argument about "tribes" and I honestly appreciate your comment so that I can clarify. By "tribe" I do not mean that this is a group who ALL share the same opinions, political affiliation, religion, ethnicity, regions, or who are all led by Trump. I am talking about those folks who have been persuaded by "false prophets" if you will. Persuaded by media personalities who make a business and profit by twisting the truth to suit their monetary ends. And yes, many antivaxers are knowingly or unknowingly followers of Joseph Mercola, an osteopath, who for years has spun misinformation concerning vaccines. The decisions these followers make based on Mercola's falsehoods have put themselves, their children, and their contacts at risk for life-threatening or debilitating disease. Mercola's lies and his followers have adversely affected us all.
As a "Certified Holistic Health Coach" I was a part of this movement. I wasn't exactly an antivaxxer - but I was damn close. My mom has had *many* more years living with stage 4 cancer due to holistic physicians (MDs!) ~ but oh, my horror watching my friends and colleagues grasp onto this Mercola/Northrup quackery with both hands!! A few of us gathered together and tried to infuse some logic into our "love & light" friends, but to no avail. My answer was unfriend those who fell into the abyss. I'm still sad... but they are right there preaching the same nonsense they believed when I left them last year.
You cannot fight emotions with logic or common sense.
Hi Nancy - Full disclosure. I am onboard with Holistic Health and am thrilled to see medicine become more and more "integrated." My chronic depression was diagnosed 40 years ago while in my twenties. I was prescribed Prozac which made me suicidal. Since then, I take no medication for what at times is a soul-sucking low. Adjusting my diet, long walks, and nature are my remedies. That said, I am happy for those who benefit from antidepressants. We each have to find our own way, but we need to beware of the devil which you have named well - Quackery.
Adding dogs to your walks & nature likely helps a lot too!
An additional note if you do decide to add a dog or two - please be respectful of nature, wild animals, and other walkers by paying attention to "No pets", "Leashed pets only", and "Pick up the Poop" notices. For those of us - who may love dogs but don't live with one - who enjoy walking in natural areas, it is very distressing to encounter dog lovers walking with their dogs (leashed or unleashed) in nature preserves where they are prohibited, or with unleashed dogs in areas where they are allowed if on a leash. I've had to school myself to keep my anger under control and just call the park rangers, rather than confront the dog lovers in my county who think the signs and restrictions don't apply to them. If the walk is ruined, it's ruined - so rather than making it even worse, I get out. I don't blame the dogs. I blame the inconsiderate dog lovers who love only themselves and their dogs.
Exactly. 🤗
Nancy, I too have been a facilitator of somewhat woo-woo practices,but I'm shocked to see how my "higher consciousness and awareness" colleagues are dealing with Covid. In these cases, they are not politically right-wing -- far from it. Incalcuable harm is done by leaders of holistic practices who promote ignoring/refusing all allopathic treatment and vaccines. The day I heard the founder of an important 'consciousness' movement say that "it's just like a slight flu" I stopped listening to anything else he had to say.
Do you have any replies to these folks?
I do not. There is absolutely nothing we can say to those who are unable/unwilling to change their mind or see logic/facts. They have dug their heels in the sand and refuse to budge. It's the same mentality as cults. (They may actually die, all the while believing they just didn't believe hard enough, eat enough of the right foods or that it really wasn't Covid).
If you love them, then love them as best you can without letting their nonsense break you. ❤️
Thanks for your insights Nancy.
Wow. I’ve never known an alternative health practitioner say those thing! Run fast and far.
Nancy, Thank-you for the Northrup reminder. She was my mother's doctor for a short while - until my sister and I read her book. Your are right. The horror!
Got it. Thank you for clarifying!
Cheryl, you’ve got the herd here with you! Thank you for being so raw with your truth and inspiring us.
Well said Cheryl. My disappointment in family and friends who continue to willfully deny the truth forced me to view them as I would those whose behaviors are triggered by mental illness albeit without the compassion reserved for those who are truly mentally ill. It is the only way I can coexist with the otherwise decent human beings in my life who choose to be in the “denier tribe.” I will not give in to them nor will I give up hoping for a cure.
Thank you for writing Cheryl. Your thoughts are so moving but I hope you will not call yourself selfish in any way. I recognize that self criticism but it's just not accurate or helpful. Your thoughtful writing shows that you are a thoughtful person, a gift. I have never read TKB and will check it out as I too could use a good read like that. Thanks for mentioning your experience with it. And thank your sharing your thoughts. Everyone's voice here is important and crucial!
And your composition has lifted me up. Thanks.
Beautifully said. Thank you.
Sending a virtual hug to you for this thoughtful post. 😘🤗
Beryl, you are 100% correct and I am elated after reading your post. Hope. Thank you!
Big virtual hugs to the people who scared off the deranged idiots wanting to complain about arrested insurrectionist being "political prisoners," by calling Gaetz a pedophile & blowing a whistle to drown out their disgusting lies!
This caught my attention. I think strong non-violent counter protesting is a viable tool for change. My hometown has been holding peaceful counter protests since before the elections when out of town trumpsters organized weekly stand outs downtown. We played music, held flags - realized we also needed some stars and stripes since the alternative group felt they only owned it. A few times things got rowdy. But with good organization and *training*, counter protests can drown out the lies, since we can't prevent them. And both sides are protected by the first amendment. When they are allowed to lie unchallenged - the lies get legitimized. The must be challenged every way possible.
Yes, absolutely. The training and organizing are the bedrock of grassroots organizations.
Thing is they are allowed to lie. We need to be better than that.
We are better, Christopher. We aren't lying. Do you see no differences? A small crowd challenged several dishonest, fascistic, conspiracy spreading elected representatives.
A commentary I saw called it a "rape whistle," a defensive tool used in case of attack.
Thank you, Syd. You've explained the rhyme and reason behind the 'rape whistle' given the presence of Gaetz.
That is seriously witty. 😂
Meidas Touch is selling Q whistles "You too can interrupt a traitor's press conference with our new GQP Repellent whistles."
https://store.meidastouch.com/products/q-busters-whistle
I checked this out. So great! Thanks.
The whistles are brilliant. They resonate as a general "call to stop bad behavior" device.
I loved that that was used to drown out any words from these crazies!!
Those demonstrators demonstrated the work of the people. They are us and we will follow their example by making our voices heard throughout the country.
Yes indeed, what great examples they are.
Totally agree Eve! Gaetz and Green scurried away like the little rats they are!
Methinks that little incident portends of greater things to come. Next, I expect protesters to follow them around blowing whistles. Nice touch.
Meidas Touch is selling Q whistles "You too can interrupt a traitor's press conference with our new GQP Repellent whistles."
https://store.meidastouch.com/products/q-busters-whistle
Gotta love the American entrepreneurial spirit.
Brilliant! I posted the link on my FB page! Doing my part, one whistle at a time!
I think she's more of a medium sized rodent, and he's a long, thin snake. Please pardon my intrusion, Christine.
Not at all, Fern. Good morning and nice embellishment on your part!
I’m hearing the people’s drumbeat finally!
An insult to all snakes and rats!
...and what about the poor turtles stuck around Mitch's neck?
How many at last count? 😂
Too many to count!
🤪🤣🤣🤣
laughing. out. loud.
Me, too. I love turtles and hate to see them in that environment.
The protesters were brilliant! The fact that they were able to shutdown the RepubThugs so completely made my day. Gotta love those peacefully disruptive tactics!
No matter how heinous their intent, they had a right to be there to spew their false talking points. Should we be proud about denying 1st Amendment rights with those whom we disaheagree?
Does that not give their supporters license to do the same to us?
Never been a fan of cancelling the other side. It's better to let them speak and then pummel them with the fallacy of their own words.
It's OK to jeer, but shutting down a legal event does not make us look better, it makes us look afraid of hearing what they had to say. Avoidance is not a good strategy in cases like these.
They ran away from the crowd that shouted some tough questions at them, and they were being heckled. No cancelling went on. This group that ran away never stops spewing their lies and conspiracies. They couldn't stand up to a crowd that stood up to them.
Thou shalt be subpoenaed...
I am really hoping Gaetz and MTG will be subpoenaed, aling with a host of others. Let’s hope the Truth will out!
It will. Count on it.
You can be so devout and racy at the same time. Brava!
It wasn't the heckling, but the whistle that made it useless to try and continue. It's better to let them speak. Mo Brooks can now be sued for his remarks on Jan 6. Had he been silenced, he'd have gotten away with it.
Let them speak under oath. Big difference.
Your reply is key. Thank you, Kay.
Do blatant lies, meant to foment mistrust and violence really deserve a public podium? They had nothing new to say, it was just a photo op. So glad they folded so quickly.
These people have scripts, which are repeated endlessly. How often do regular folks have the opportunities to be heard as compared to the folks you are defending? They hardly suffer from a loss of 1st amendment rights. Their spiels play endlessly on loops, at rallies, on social media, Fox, and any old street corner of their choice.
Disagree
What do you disagree with? Was there any untruth in my post?
The protest definitely did not shut down the event Christopher. To tell the truth, Green looked nonplussed and was hurried away by her handler when confronted by a single protester blowing a whistle. What was evident and telling is that they had no supporters there to cheer them on. Gaetz had reporters and a person following him to his car yelling “are you a pedophile, Mr. Gaetz?”
I think the Proud Boys and their ilk already shut down liberal protest. However, I do expect our paid elected officials to do more than spread lies and disinformation.
Christopher Johnson
Tolerance can be taken too far. If we are tolerant of the intolerant, it will eventually destroy us.
That being said, the signs that people were holding did more to shut them down than the whistle did. 'Traitors and rapists, sit down' indeed!
There are plenty of ways to protest at events like that one. Acting like a magahat yahoo is not one of them imho. What I saw was a race to the bottom that only served to play into miscreant GOP script. It will only serve to escalate more bad behavior from the right.
The hecklers were lucky it was a small event with low attendance. Definitely they deserve points for showing up but the execution was rank amateurish.
There are much better ways to get into "good trouble". That's not what I saw today, what I saw was one step removed from a drum circle.
I was listening and thinking hard about your comments as I always do. You back up your comments with your philosophies. But. What do you mean about “one step removed from a drum circle”?
There is a cherished tradition during season on a well known beach o on the west coast of Florida. Usually on weekend. Drummers (amateur and professional) of all faiths hold a drum circle in the tradition of cultural celebrations of nature and community. Every circle is so well attended and emanates good will and peace.
When you talked about singers in song such as Battle Hymn of the Republic, I thought good idea. With a few drummers to set the beat.
Most protests I've participated in have had them but they tended to be ornamental, like Deadheads looking for a venue. They add color to the event for the participants but don't add much else. I'm a musical creature and appreciate their performance but they aren't the reason or the goal of the protest, but they do no harm and like you say provide a beat. What you described is something different more along the lines of the Native American tradition or even African or South Asian where drums are part of the religious tradition.
The folks who disrupted the faux event by MTG and company succeeded in shutting it down but the optics were bad imho. Drum circles at protests can have less than ideal optics to outsiders, I think that's what I was trying to convey. Probably a bad example since I've never seen a drum circle try to drum out a GOP event.
Firstly, this was not a 'legal' event, it was a press conference.
Secondly, we already know what they have to say, they've said it ad nauseum and it stinks to high heaven. They were looking to create sound bites for their entertainment channel AKA Fox "News".
Thirdly, when a child throws a tantrum (of which this was tantamount to), one does not gain anything by pretending that they have anything valid to add to the conversation by this particular tactic. Yes, if they have something valid to say, let them say it and back it up with facts and truth. If they are going to throw a tantrum, holding up signs behind them is not 'rank amateurish', it's a good strategy in the moment and I'm thrilled that they got it together as quickly as they did. Of course, the GQP will learn from this mistake and not repeat it, as the optics are much much worse for them. We need to stay fleet and nimble and come up with creative ways to counter their tantrums. Facts and Truth are great ways to do that.
Their press conference was NOT a legal event.
I've got to say that I agree with you. The Dems have to be careful not to go low or we're no better. These things do come back to bite. We don't want to stoop to their level. We have to have faith that truth and justice will prevail. There could be a time when stooping low is the only choice, but we are hopefully nowhere near that now. I am thinking of the riots in MO when businesses were burned and looted in 2014. My 20-something son said to me, "Mom, they feel like they have no other choice. They have not been heard or listened to for so long."
Well said. Like JFK said "..we do these things because they are hard". It's ironic that stemming the tide of rightwing lies is astronomically harder than sending someone to the moon, but there we are.
Where is the American spirit that got us through the Great Depression and WWII? I contend it's been co-opted by the American plutocracy but it's really a question for Heather.
It was a bitter pill for me to swallow when I realized the hole we Democrats find ourselves in today is a result of decades of the party turning its back on the least among us that metastasized into including most working and middle class folks.
The siren call of "power money" can be very alluring. One must be even more dedicated to the greater good than to power to resist it.
I don't know who the guy with the whistle was, but I can give $25 to help keep him supplied with Acme Thunderers.
These protesters were prepared. They had more than a whistle with them.
'Rep Louie Gohmert, one of the members of Congress to speak at the news conference, briefly returned to speak to reporters after the news conference dissolved into chaos but was drowned out by a large brass band, DC Critical Condition, which was apparently contracted by demonstrators to show up and drown out the news conference with music'. See link below:
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/gaetz-taylor-greene-brass-band-b1891648.html
I can think of nothing finer and more patriotic than a large brass band to fend off paedophiles and fascists.
These protesters are the best. Between them and you, I've had my first laugh of the day.
Oh no, Fern! It's past 7 your time! You need to catch up on laughter before bedtime!!
Much better I hadn't seen that, brass is class. Still that can't be rehashed every time they want to speak.
When you let them speak, as I just pointed out elsewhere, you let them put themselves in jeopardy of causing a "yelling FIRE in a theater" moment, and then you've got 'em. If demonstrators had shut up Mo Brooks treasonous Jan 6 tirade he might have been able to be defended by DoJ, but now he can't because he was able to speak.
The speakers at this event are what I consider the Knuckle-Draggers Caucus. They are always in trouble. We need to worry about the Ivy Leaguers like Hawley and Cruz who are far more dangerous in the long run.
Christopher they all breed trouble at the very least.
Yes, it's a cost of being an American. We used to talk about the pendulum swinging back and forth between left and right, but nowadays it has started to move in 3 dimensions, left and right and forward and back. We've been going backwards and right since Reagan.
It's time to move left and forward again thanks to things Biden has done I honestly didn't suspect but am so glad to see. Thanks to him many things are showing those signs of moving in positive directions but a lack of courage and an abundance of turf protecting in Congress is impeding progress.
Christopher, Our somewhat different perspectives require more expansive discussion and time, which this form does not encourage. I was very happy to hear from you. We both have had rich experiences and reflected on socio-political issues for some time. I do not have time now and do not know how we may proceed. It is too bad that we do not live near one another. That would enable us to enjoy face to face elaborations on our positions. I think, perhaps, we will have to depend of a number of fairly short exchanges over time. Until the next time, Salud!
Je dit salut!
We could always do a podcast. That's one of my side gigs.
Meidas Touch is selling Q whistles "You too can interrupt a traitor's press conference with our new GQP Repellent whistles."
https://store.meidastouch.com/products/q-busters-whistle
Qapitalism is alive and well! $10 for a piece of plastic!!!
I am listening carefully to you, Christopher. And I understand what you are saying. What do you think would have worked for the Germans/Jews/gays/ etc. in retaliation against Hitler's brainwashing of his people that they are the chosen ones and developed his Nazi regime using fear and lies.
His People were spoken to in rallies and programmed to march and carry out the most heinous crimes against their own people. I am not seeing much difference in the past five years. I see a well-armed, seditious/terrorist militia that includes trained police, veterans. And you pointed out that had there been more Gaetz/Green supporters, there could have been a very different outcome in violence perpetrated against the counter-protesters. What happens is we are a nation full of fear perpetrated against us by an authoritarian regime. They do not give an iota about real rights--over our bodies, our votes, our colors, our religions, our ultimately our Constitution and laws. We are in a dangerous time that is leading nowhere but to war. We are also full of PTSD, sick, tired, and struggling with a pandemic which prevents many of us from marching in huge groups.
We have plenty to charge all of these idiots with crimes against our country.
Allowing liars to spew their mindbending crap on vulnerable or white supremacists has not been working well for us or those who protect us. These authoritarians have infiltrated our government systems of justice and thwarted democracy. This Jan. 67th commission is the first inkling of bi-partison, truth-seeking people. To hear them and the four officers yesterday was mindbending in itself because it was so honest and real. To have shit thrown at them that they are actors is raising an anger that needs some kind of release after all the patience we have had to uphold for 5 years. Tell me, Christopher, do we wait and not try new ways of shutting up liars and brainwashers until there are concentrations camps like the ones they built for refugee children at our border? Justice is right around the corner we hear. Right around the corner. Tell that to all the officers who tried to protect our democracy from these insurrectionists. Good people were harmed, brain-injured, eye-gouged, stabbed with flag-poles. A hangman's noose was constructed to hang the Vice frigging President of the United States of America. These idiots were searching for him and others to kill. And I do not like Mike Pence one iota, but where does this stop? I ask you--where and how does insanity and lying this stop?
One last thing and we stick a fork in this one. History doesn't so much repeat as it does rhyme. While conditions seem like what happened in Germany, it's still a minority behind it. America writ large has not forgotten the Nazi regime and the killing of 6 million Jews and 400, 000 American troops, but many have yet to wake up and accept things today are not right. More do so everyday and our main job should be enlightening all those Americans too busy just meeting their basic needs, and don't have the luxury we enjoy swimming in the toxic political pool.
The insanity and lying might stop when their lying becomes so toxic it poisons itself but we had better be working towards decency and sanity delivered in a humane and common sensical fashion. More wisdom, less whistles, not saying no whistles but don't make that the strategy if you want to ultimately win.
We have to realize the differences between Germany then and America now. Then the government took control of the papers and airwaves, now our mainstream media is a near monopoly owned by plutocrats or their corporations BUT here we are reading LFAA and all the other Substack newsletter. We have access to many like minded content providers on YouTube and other non-mainstream outlets we can stream online.
The more we repeat their madness, the more we suck out the oxygen of the counter position, namely our position.
It scares me more when I read liberals cowering in fear of the antics of idiots than the actual acts of those morons. When you let them know they scare you they win, but by the same token, the more you act like them the more they win also.
Michele Obama got it half right. What is better is to add a little something like: When they go low, we go high and then we kick them in the nut sack with relentless truth delivered calmly with a smile or with humor.
The hecklers had a quick and lucky result but had there been a rabid maga-maniac in the crowd there could have been some serious injuries.
Where does it stop? It stops when the Democrats in Congress do the right thing. We have the too many of the wrong ones in there right now because of their recalcitrance over the past 4 decades to stand up for the majority of their lower income voters. The failure of the party to have a 50 state strategy has given them a majority of the states with a minority of the voters and the Supreme Court to boot.
This is what we need to be pissed about and should be working to fix.
Thank you for your well-thought out responses. My rational mind agrees with you. My experience and patience of the past five years and my obsession with WWII make me very wary of how patience might not work out based on the destruction of our systems of checks and balances and lack of an entire party not agreeing to operate within our rules of law. That has crippled our democracy. My heart says to believe we will bounce back much stronger, but what I have witnessed is the trampling of our justice systems, our rights to vote with all these suppressions, gerrymandering, the EC, bullying and crudeness and threats to our elected officials and their families, destruction of post offices, etc.. On and on adnauseam.
I do not belong to either major party due to them being owned by corporations and the wealthy. But this has it has always been, has it not? But the dems are more rational than the cult of repubs now.
I am not so confident that the small, highly arrogant, riled up, armed, white supremacist movement of the dying patriarchy (hopefully!) have almost committed a successful coup against our country and government. I will not be confident until I see a lot more elected officials in prison for seditious acts against our country.
The dilemma of our silence and keeping pandemically safe —— crickets or whistles? There are many kinds of whistles-- like writing, calling, speaking truth to lies. I am with the Whistlers rather than the deniers, liars and those willing to destroy our democracy.
This makes me wonder if there is also a color/gender issue with trusting a system that has been run like a caste, dominated by white men since it's inception, and is currently being trashed by mostly white men because it was almost beginning to work (election of Obama). They fear losing their power over the rest of us-- women, people of color, LGBTQ, different spiritual belief systems (Those who have been waiting, mostly respectfully, for the laws to protect us as People equally, our right to vote, to choose for ourselves what happens to our spirits and bodies? What happens to us simply because of the pigment in our skin?
White privileged males may be more patient about our 1st Amendment speech than those of us on the end of hate speech or actions. It is a very serious predicament. But right now, I am not as afraid of trampling our 1st Amendment as I am of saving our democracy. Because all of our rights will not matter much if this republican inspired, Putin/Mercer/Murdock/Koch backed coup succeeds in destroying what so many of died for, including all the Native Americans who were genocided to take their lands and resources, and the atrocities of slavery that made supremely white men rich. My only hope is that we have the Power because there are more of us than them as you say, and that, some how, the wheels of our laws and justice system will miraculously begin to work to protect All The People— this time.
NO matter what happens, we are a much more engaged and educated population than we were when the 2016 election shattered our country.
Tres besos y muchas corazons for that one Penelope!
We live in a binary world conundrum of always having 2 choices. In this hornets nest I've shaken it boils down to:
1. Shutdown the opposition and not hear what they have to say
2. Let them speak so we know what's going on.
I like to think that's behind the Washington Post's masthead(?) that says:
"Democracy dies in darkness"
I prefer to stand in the light. I need to see and hear as much from the enemy as I can.
Excuse me, I meant Jan. 6th commission, not 67th.
Don't beat yourself up! I tweeted today almost 700 million Americans had died from Covid. Before I could correct it several trolls had a field day. I don't take offense from folks with less than 30 followers.
Typos are my personal trademark ™️
Agrée!
I was particularly impressed by Cheney and Kinzinger, the two committee members who will pay a price for their commitment to their country. They demonstrate that it's hard to do the right thing, when doing so will harm you - but they decided that the thing that would be harmed, the offices they hold, aren't worth holding if the price is your conscience and commitment to the ideals the country was founded on. The scum like the empty McQarthy, so consumed by his desire for "success" that he's willing to turn that possible "success" into ashes, or Scalise, who was memorably described by someone who knew him well as "David Duke without the baggage, or the conscienceless little striver Stefanik, who probably didn't have a soul to sell, are all whistling past the political graveyard. Next year isn't going to happen the way they think it will, and they're not going to realize it till the walls fall in on them.
Gotta say, it gets right to me when a man gets choked up, as did Kinzinger.
What struck me most about Kinzinger was his juxtaposition of his experiences being in the National Guard and having been called out for protests last summer and of being inside the Capitol during the Insurrection of 6 January: they are nowhere nearly the same thing. That was riviting.
Schiff choked up as well. He apologized for his pauses to gather himself and then said...."Must be the day for Adams to get choked up."
Quite a few people choked up at the hearing yesterday, and they seemed sincere, and it was moving. Still, I hope this does not become the new standard for indicating serious concern. As swear words are most effective when used sparingly, so are displays of emotion. IMHO.
I agree, Becky. But I personally give Adam Schiff a pass, after watching him navigate the first impeachment hearing with great poise and determination.
As someone who was also choked up several times listening to the hearing on C-SPANradio while driving, I was very moved to hear the tears in the voices of those four police officers! I agree that when displays of emotion are used to manipulate, they are not effective; however, tears that rise unbidden - especially to the eyes of men who have been schooled to suppress them since they were toddlers - are a blessing.
Morning, Ellie!! Yes, the two Adams were quite emotional.
As Adam Kinzinger has stated more than once, if this costs him his political seat, his life will go on. To some people, doing the right thing is important.
The only problem is that there seems to be a critical mass of sociopaths who not just lead the Ghastly Obstructionist Party but also are well placed further down the chute. The overtly deranged ones, such as Greene and Gaetz, will likely get their comeuppance (when is the latter going to be indicted for child sex trafficking?!?!) sooner or later but the ones at the top, whose lust for power is matched only by their utter lack of empathy, will not permit any change of their trajectory. And they have the sociopaths running the religious-fascism movements snuggled up to them in ways that mean that entire communities who are led by their "pastors" (such an apt term as it means a person who oversees sheep) will blindly and willingly go along with the demand that they "believe, don't think." My only consolation is that the megachurch movement seems to be declining, especially among the young, but there are still enough of these [expletives deleted] to do irreparable harm to the rest of us.
In fact, the Republicans and especially fanatical Republicans are in a distinct minority. There are enough of them to do irreparable harm, as they already have done. It is up to the majority to fight back (while we still can) and squelch the extremists that seek to destroy America. That is our patriotic duty!
The Republican Party and its supporters/believers are like a cancer on society. If we don't eradicate this cancer, it can overcome and "kill" us all.
Time is running it out so it is critical to get every Democrat, especially those in Congress to understand this. The time has come to pull out all the stops and put the future of America ahead of personal political ambitions. We can praise Cheney and Kinzinger for their willingness to put the country first, but I wonder why we cut some Democrats slack when they cautiously calculate their political fortunes at every turn. I'm not just talking about Sinema and Manchin.
Sorry for the long response Linda to your very relevant comment.
Don, thank you for this. You're correct, we need to pull out all the stops, and realize that we have the numbers to win if we refuse to sit down and accept defeat. In spite of all their destruction, lies, and dishonor, the Republicans are a minority party.
So well said, TC. I think The Lincoln Project should start airing short clips of The Watergate Hearings and President Nixon's resignation speech, as warning to all our Congressional Traitors.
And air the video of what Kevin McCarthy said immediately after the Jan. 6 insurrection, compared with what he's saying now.
I found it very satisfying that Officer Dunn related Kevin McCarthy's comments regarding his initial outrage at the insurrection, and said he'd appreciated them, yet was careful to make no mention about his about-face since then. He avoided being accused of political bias. However, Dunn later pointed out that of course the insurrection was political, and couldn't be interpreted in any other way - very riveting.
So proud of Officer Dunn for calling it all what it is.
I agree, Cathy. His presentation was moving and intelligent, and the few clips that showed his reaction to others' presentations demonstrated his empathy.
I've seen ads from both the Linciln Project and Meidas Touch with this in it on Social Media. Lincoln Project tried to buy air time of Fox and it was rejected. Here's Midas' Twitter Profile.
https://twitter.com/MeidasTouch?s=20
Hey, Kelly. That gal was great..."Are you a pedophile?" over and over. Yes!
Meidas Touch is selling Q whistles "You too can interrupt a traitor's press conference with our new GQP Repellent whistles."
https://store.meidastouch.com/products/q-busters-whistle
This is great. They should join forces with the folks at Insurrectigone (overthrow your memory) and sell their wares in a package deal!
https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow/status/1392812116135063557?s=20
Had to buy several for gifts! Thank you!
Great idea!!!!
YES!!
And lists of what happened to Nixon supporters in Congress and lawyers after he left power
TC, from your lips to God's ear. I think the hearings are going just fine. We're not having to listen to the din of the McCarthy clowns, and the panel is bipartisan, regardless of the whining of the mindless. I'm cautiously hopeful that, as time goes on, we'll see an investigation of the lack of response from the Pentagon, even Michael Flynn's brother, and other contributors who allowed the flames to spread for far too long. For everyone who believed that Nancy Pelosi blew it when she refused to hold a clown show, this is playing out in the best possible way, so far. I think this will benefit the Democratic cause.
Yes, it was like a breath of fresh air to have a hearing with only functioning, serious- minded adults on the Committee.
I guess I just don't understand why those two are Republicans. The party has been sketchy for such a long time. I am having a hard time rallying for them as much as others. I certainly appreciate that they are sticking up for the truth here and going against their party, but they are still part of a party that is problematic to put it nicely.
You mean why they are STILL Republicans when the party has been hijacked by tRump, Koch, The Federalist Society, The Family, The Heritage Foundation, Faux News, Putin and, originally by Liz's dad, Dick Cheney? How this poisoned party will be cured is unknown. Amputation of the GQP gangrene may kill the whole party, or instead spread its venom. Our democracy needs 2 parties. Maybe a new one can start with just two courageous (but still very conservative) Americans.
I was moved by Kinzinger's emotions. That says a lot, right there. MORE Americans should be shedding tears. This is not over. Trump supporters will gaslight this moment.
They'll try, that's for sure, but no sane person ever expected Trumplicans to be moved.
Gaslighting is what worked for DJT so beautifully. It also made many of us who grew up being gaslit in our own homes (It’s not that bad; just don’t tell anyone; that’s not what really happened) SICK. Gaslighting —denying someone’s reality — evokes a special kind of toxic stress. We doubt our sanity. While we know emperor is naked, others proclaim him to be well-dressed. This crazy making is great for ratings; bad for sanity. It is outrageously abusive snd toxic. Like the rewriting of American history to deny Native American genocide or to portray enslaved people as happy and well fed. Truth heals. Thanks for sticking to it.
Those of us who grew up being gaslighted learn to gaslight ourselves first. Although it doesn't excuse their actions, I think that the gaslighting for the extremists on the right began well before the former guy and his minions (or is he a minion of even more accomplished gaslighters?) got to work on them.
While I missed bits and pieces, I mostly heard the whole 3 hours on NPR. So many emotions ran through me - gratitude for these men, gratitude that the hearings are finally underway, gratitude that my WWII veteran father did not live to see what has happened to this country! Anger and disgust at the likes of McCarthy and Co.; all the nay-saying, weasel-worded, sniveling SOBs in whatever the hell the Republican Party has become-Party of Trump, Conspiracy Party, QAnon Party, whatever. Between them they don't have a true patriotic bone in their body politic.
Then I realized that no matter how eloquent, truthful, forceful, and heart-wrenching these men's testimony was - and it was all of that - it will not mean a GD thing to any Trumpster who managed to let a word of it into their brain. They are too far gone down the rabbit hole. But if there are any fence-sitters still among them, I don't see how they could remain unmoved and unconvinced that Dear Leader is a fraud and a failed path, and if they are smart, they will abandon that path immediately.
If Jan. 6th's insurrection is allowed to go unpunished, we are truly lost. If the McCarthys and Jordans and their enablers and goaders at Fox and News Max, etc., 'win', we are truly lost as a nation. Our world will end, not with a bang, but with a whimper.
If it accomplishes what sets out to do, this committee will force that reckoning. Fox News, OANN, and the rest won’t be able to look away. McCarthy and co won’t have anybody new to blame, and Americans must face the horrors of January 6th the same way as we faced September 11 - with honesty and sobriety. There will always be holdouts, but truth has a way of shining brighter than all the temptations of conspiratorial lies.
Yes to this! And, even a sliver of light can begin the unstoppable march to a brighter future.
As the saying goes, Jane: "From your lips to God's ears".
Yes Jane.
No…it will not force any reckoning whatsoever.
Neither you nor I know what they will discover and broadcast to the world. I expect more revelations about the POTUS’s interference and obstruction in defending the Capitol building. These facts are what McConnell and McCarthy DO NOT WANT TO COME TO LIGHT, especially after their refusal to prosecute what they had the chance.
And…I hope you are right
Why are you such a naysayer, John? Not even one glimmer of hope left in you?
Sharon, I have a lot of hope, seriously. I feel that these Hearing will make the existing choir feel good and accomplish not much else. My hope is that when midterm elections come around the Democrats have enough intelligent, dignified, and qualified candidates to turn the tide of power. I have always felt that the Democratic Party does not do enough to support their candidates. For lack of any better idea, I feel that 100% of our effort should be in taking back control of the Senate and maintaining control of the Executive.
Unfortunately I’m seeing CRT become the litmus test in local elections. We’ve seen that movie before. Focus on Federal elections, sure. But the state houses are the bodies pushing Federalism.
Gail, a recent poll in NC showed that the population does not agree with our General ASSembly's move to further cut corporate taxes, eventually to zero in 2024. They are swimming against the populace tide on several other issues as well.
These are the people who took over in 2010, and thus gerrymandered the state worse than it's ever been, and ram-rodded their (and ALEC's) agenda down our throats over the past 10 years.
In my county of residence, a Democrat has not been elected to public office since 1976, and that was a county commissioner who served one term. The fix, as they say, is in in this county. If a Dem even gets on the ballot, it's a miracle. Out of 100 counties, we are not an outlier, I hate to say.
I have often thought we could run Jesus Christ on the Dem ticket in Randolph County and the good church goers would not vote for him with a "D" after his name.
Democrats carry a heavier load. What’s the difference in workload (especially fundraising) when all you have to do is obstruct progress, ignore science and experts, and create a few demagogic sound bites? How much time does it take to do nothing vs combatting real challenges? Republicans only need to tow the delusional line of TFG to get enough Super PAC funding for their campaigns. There’s no other business Republicans are doing. We do need a lot of wins next fall.
Yes, we do.
And serious work on gerrymandering and Citizen's United?
All good. In any other time exactly what’s needed.
In this case, not enough. One side has drawn battle lines (and crossed them). I cannot believe that this will not bring about a major reckoning, because this committee by its nature and declared purpose, has drawn its own battle lines.
There should be indictments. The former President’s iniquities should be fully exposed. The other side’s offensive (in both senses of the word) should be brought to a halt - at long last.
Agree.
Just a report from my view of the Republiqans in my world: not a word from anyone about the testimony. Most of these guys are cops, and so far, have not said a word about the hearings. I'm sure that will change, but I have the glimmer of hope that their cop experience is drowning out the Q in their brains.
Please God, a glimmer of hope. We need cops everywhere to stand up and be counted on this one and push back against the lies. My Trumpster neighbor refuses to watch - she says its all manufactured lies. Nothing seems to break through her belief that Trump was a good president and will help her get”hers.” The woman is approaching 70 and resents that her lifestyle - a small but well appointed home completely surrounded by heavily wooded park land with lots of wildlife to enjoy - doesn’t measure up. To what, I have no idea. Feels like heaven here to me. When I asked her last winter about the Insurrection, she countered with, “I’m much more worried about the terrorists that destroyed the 3rd Precinct station.” (3rd precinct is where Derek Chauvin worked) When I countered that the building was fire bombed likely by outside agitators, not Mpls city residents, she walked away. Still gobsmacked by the refusal to look at reality. Just gobsmacked by it.
You need a sign on your instrument that says 'This Tuba drowns out conspiracy theories'.
Appreciate your update. Thank you Ally.
I found yesterday’s testimony to be both heartbreaking and bracing. Gone was the patina of slickness from the politicians who we are so desperately sick and tired of. In its place was the honest dignity of the police officers who were sitting ducks for a wild-eyed mob. Their descriptions were horrifying. But their nobility in the face of the ambush was inspiring, especially in that it was narrated so bluntly, with no artifice. I commend the Committee for putting them first, both temporally and metaphorically.
I am delighted that the craziest of the crazies tried to compete with them. What a delicious decision that was. In their failed press conference, they highlighted for anyone who has a shred of decency, the difference between good and evil. Their lame attempt to counter the narrative amounted to an unintentional public service. We saw them at their pathetic worst.
I think that this hearing may well be a powder keg. If done properly and fully, it will cut to the root of the problem. Evidence that elected politicians conspired should not be hard to find. I have a mental picture of the Gosars, the Boeberts, the Gohmerts fleeing for whatever hiding places they can find.
Alas I think the thugs may interrupt before it gets to that point. I feel we are near the sharp edge of the spear…but with right on our side.
Well said: "I am delighted that the craziest of the crazies tried to compete with them. What a delicious decision that was. In their failed press conference, they highlighted for anyone who has a shred of decency, the difference between good and evil. Their lame attempt to counter the narrative amounted to an unintentional public service. We saw them at their pathetic worst."
That was a brilliant media juxtaposition, wasn't it?!!!
No concern in supporting liberal fascism? When we prevent the opposition from speaking, isn't that when we then become what we profess to hate?
Fair point. I thought interruption was beside the point and a little annoying. I would have liked to have watched them drink their fill of the poisoned chalice. They were to me, a curiosity, an exhibit of what it’s like to be tethered to neither morality nor reality. I could have watched the spectacle longer because clearly it was going to do nothing but sink into the muck deeper by the minute. I remember as a teenager and young adult watching televangelists fulminate. I couldn’t switch the channel to save my life. They *fascinated* me. I couldn’t believe that they could deliver such total bullshit at such at a pitch.
Your point about denying others free speech is thoughtful. As I reflect on it though, I cannot conjure up great sympathy. So much that is discreditable and dangerous has been done by these fame whores. I’m not sure we can always be expected to hold ourselves to the most scrupulous niceties at every turn.
It’s hard not to believe that we aren’t nearing a serious confrontation.
I think we should not establish any pattern of following and abusing a la the Westboro Church.
But in the final analysis your point is timely and not to be disputed.
Tolerating intolerance is not healthy.
Protecting free speech means even that speech which is abhorrent, yes? It is in the quality of rebuttal that one exercises civilized take down of repugnant ideas. By silencing the opposition, don't we indicate that our ideals are mere hypocrisy, practiced only when what is said is acceptable to the listener? I hold that in doing so, we risk abandoning democratic ideas for convenience. And they have turned us into them.
Amen.
While I doubt that any rabbit tails will be seen as these scum scurry down their holes and hope to ride this out (certainly NONE of them would reverse course and dare to endure the light of day), I am hopeful that hearings held under OATH will make a difference. I am reminded that good prosecutors never ask questions for which they do not already have the answers. The ongoing DOJ investigation and the investigations that have already commenced in Congress even before these hearings, give me hope that many answers are already on the books, even if they cannot be made public for some reason right now. That said, when others are subpoenaed to testify UNDER OATH, their perjury will be duly noted. And if Congress has the will to do so, a refusal to testify or to respond to a subpoena now has the LEGAL authority of the Select Committee as a response. So, whatever ends up as the outcome, there will be MUCH more to be revealed, UNDER OATH and on the record forever. Jordan, Gaetz, Gohmer, Gosar, Boebert, Greene and others will have to make a decision - jail now or jail then. But jail, nevertheless. After all, it's befitting a Seditionist/traitor to pay the price for his and her ultimate sin against our Democracy.
I completely agree with you. After I read today’s newsletter I simply felt frustrated. These Hearings will accomplish nothing. I am not stating that the Hearings should be cancelled, I am simply stating they will change nothing. This is exactly how I feel about all the hype that went in to the arrest of the CFO of Trumps Organization. Now, you literally here nothing about it. It will not amount to anything. These Hearings will make no difference at all and even worse, is that once the hype of the Hearings have worn off, the Democrats will have, once again, given the Trump Republicans a reason to strut around claiming that Trump has been once again exonerated because he is still walking around doing exactly what he has been doing for the past 5 years.
John, I disagree with your digging in to this negativity. I believe that even each Republican in Congress who have sheepishly remained silent will need to confront his or her conscience and also the constituents who will see and hear the truth of these witnesses.
Sorry Sharon but “conscience”? We have waited and waited for the majority of the politicians of the GOP to display the slightest hint of conscience through two impeachment hearings and the vote for a bilateral hearings commission. There has been no hint of conscience from this party. Those that do display conscience and the accompanying morals and values are immediately drummed out.
Yes, Christian, it is true that they did show an incredible lack of conscience, morals and integrity but the mules/sheep were following their leaders Mitch and Kevin… but even TFG ( I hate saying his name also) is bashing those two so perhaps the sheep/mules will get a clue that TFG is never going to have their backs either. I have hope they will begin to realize they are there because their constituents put them there. Not Kevin, not Mitch, not TFG. Over 70% of Americans want the truth, the other less than 30% could care less about the truth. They bought the tainted kool aid knock off. These committee hearings aren’t going away any time soon, an infrastructure bill ( 2 of them) are going to come. WINTER IS COMING for the Qupublicans. Change is in the air. Have hope. Stay positive but not complacent. Speak the truth to any voter who will listen. Help them off the fence. My new mantra…”Words matter. Thoughts become things. What you believe you conceive.” This mantra has worked for me before.
Brava, to you Sharon for recognizing that we are not stuck in the Trump Show. There is much to do before the midterms. When one, the bi-partisan infrastructure plan, and, perhaps the larger one, is or are passed, Americans will start to be more hopeful, and there will be jobs galore. Stepping up vaccine inoculation is crucial, too. Without speaking specifically about any subscribers, in general some folks hold on to their negativity because they don't want to be disappointed again. Of course, that is no way to win our struggle for democracy. I believe that the chance of passing a strong enough version of the For the People Act will be better in the fall. A couple of our many strengths -- working together and hoping that the naysayers have an awakening -- are our tools as we move forward.
👍
Hurrah hurrah for Sharon!!!
Thank you.
I had a completely different reaction. To see the truth of that horrific day brought forth so bravely and eloquently by these courageous and rightfully angry American patriots who put their lives on the line that day gave me hope. Yes, there are MAGAS who will never change, but there are some, like my nephew who voted for Trump in 2016 because he owns a small business, but did not vote for him in 2020 because “It would have been immoral.” who will be able to see the light.
I just hope the members of the Committee will be strong enough to enforce subpoenas and get people like McCarthy, Jordan, Ivanka, and anyone else who has information about that day in front of the cameras, testifying under oath.
The man with the whistle at the seditionists’ gaslighting “press conference” and the others who protested these Quidiots also gave me hope.
Want to see infrastructure passed and am concerned about the delay.
I heard someone last night (can't remember who) recount that throughout our history there have almost always been about 30% of this country who were on the "wrong side" of it - from the very beginning (those who sided with the Red Coats) through the Civil War, through the McCarthy hearings...you name it. The same old same old 30% who cannot or will not ever be budged off their wrong-sided intransigent stances. Thus, I take heart that we today are experiencing this generations' version of that same disgusting mob of anti-Democratic, seditionist, anarchists. For me now, the scariest matter is that they seem to have penetrated state governments and are attempting to subvert government THROUGH laws and policies that take power away from the people. THIS must be stopped in its tracks.
And that this 30% have gerrymandered their way into the the electoral 'majority'.
Amen...this was the long game.
FWIW, I hear and agree with you. Unless something drastically different happens from what we have witnessed over the last five years ( hell, 40 years) nothing will be accomplished. I don't see anything on the horizon to make me think otherwise. You cannot have a contest in which one side follows the rules and the other destroys those rules. This is a tribal war we are in, and there are no rules of engagement.
Things may become worse before they get better, and violence and chaos may rear their ugly heads again, but the two other events happening, the indictment of Weisenberg and Barracks arrest, will affect the cult leader's position, maybe??
Your negative comments remind me of people who choose to not vote "because it won't make any difference". Yet, many elections have been won or lost by razor-thin margins, outcomes which would probably have made a difference if even some of those people had bothered to vote. So, what would you recommend instead - do nothing and ensure that the extreme views of so many will prevail? Or do everything you can working to preserve American democracy?
Judith, I do wish to point out something to you and perhaps you will learn something from it. There is nothing, nothing at all, in my post that indicates a tendency towards passivity nor fatality in my approach to politics and every aspect of my life. What happened here is that you “knee-jerked” reacted to some pre-conceived notion in your own head and rather than try to understand what I wrote you decided to cancel my thoughts because they did not directly align with yours. Though not relevant, I wish to let you know that I have been of voting age for 46 years and have not once missed the opportunity to vote when available. As to what I “recommend instead”? I have no idea, but perhaps push the Department of Justice prosecute Trump for treason? But I am at a loss as to why you seem to state that because I do not feel the January 6th committee hearing will accomplish anything, it therefore means I recommend doing nothing. Look up the word “liberal” and think about it. Best regards, John
Judith, you just got mansplained...
I noticed.
How sad, rather than debate the issues you retreat to ad hominem attacks.
Seems rather presumptuous and disconnected. But…whatever.
John, I do wish to point out something to you and perhaps you will learn something from it. There is nothing, nothing at all in my post that indicates any sort of 'ad hominem' attack. Ad hominem (Latin for 'to the person'), refers to several types of arguments, some but not all of which are fallacious. Typically this term refers to a rhetorical strategy where the speaker attacks the character, motive, or some other attribute of the person making an argument rather than attacking the substance of the argument itself. What happened here is that you "knee-jerked" reacted (sic) to some pre-conceived (sic) notion in your own head and rather than try to understand what I wrote(,) you decided to cancel my thoughts because they did not directly align with yours. Though not relevant, I wish to let you know that I have been of voting age for 45 years and have often missed the opportunity to vote when available. As to what I 'recommend instead'? I would suggest looking at how you talk down to someone when you speak to them, especially when you talk to a woman. But I am at a loss as to why you seem to state that I have retreated to an 'ad hominem' attack when I am not attacking you, just your entitled way of speaking to others on this forum.
If you've been paying attention, you'll notice that I cut and pasted most of this response to you directly from your response to Judith. While I very much welcome your thoughts and ideas, please know that how you present these thoughts and ideas make a huge difference to those that you present them to as well as how you will be received by said people.
Peace.
I'm with you, Judith.
That’s a brave prediction. Could be right because so many other displays of sanity have failed, dating back to the Mueller report. One burned, twice shy.
But I think it more likely that your prediction will be wrong. If the hearings go “wherever the evidence leads”, this will be panic territory for the Republicans. It may serve to incite a defensive struggle because the destituâtes in the Republican Party will be desperately looking for cover.
This could have *something* of the effect of the Watergate hearings, relentlessly bringing the public to awareness of the poisonous effect of Trump in the last five years.
The vaccination rate may serve as a canary in the coal mine in the next couple of months. If it soars, it may well indicate that doubts have been sown amongst the cultists.
Still, I wouldn’t bet a penny either way on the national effect of these hearings. We are in beyond Hollywood territory.
My fear is that anger may mount rapidly.
Yes, but remember it’s been shown that peaceful protests have a greater success rate in bringing about change. The majority of us turn our backs on angry violent protests. Let them make that mistake. I believe this DOJ will be ready for them. The marijuana incarcerations are being set free to make room for Homeland Terrorists!
I hope you are correct, except the anger part of course:)
Morning, all!! Morning, Dr. R!!
So much can be said about what we heard at yesterday's January 6 hearing.
Here is but one that resonated for me: Rep Murphy(CA) recounted that she could hear Officer Hodges screaming as he was being squeezed by rioters against a door jam some 40 paces away from where she and a fellow rep were hunkered down in the basement of the Capitol. She wanted to let him know how grateful she was that because of him she was able to go home that day to hug her family.
These first responders served to remind us they were there that day to "protect and serve" even the rioters who were beating them. There is a part of me that would have loved to have had Jim Jordan be at the hearing and have to come face-to-face with these four brave men while trying to downplay their heroic actions.
Some quotables from yesterday's hearing...
Sgt. Gonell: "I'm still recovering from all those hugs and kisses."
Officer Hodges, in response to a question from Rep. Raskin about some lawmakers referring to MAGA rioters as just tourists: "...I can see why foreign countries don't like American tourists."
Morning Lynell. Representative Stephanie Murphy is a FL congresswoman. She is on the House Armed Services Committee and formerly a nat’l security specialist with Dept of Defense. Good credentials for this committee. When I watched first day of the committee, I was struck by the expressions on the faces of the members of this committee as they watched the video clips of the insurrection. I was so surprised to realize that as many times as I’ve seen replays of that day on Jan 6th, I don’t think I ever seen the faces of those that experienced it watching it again. It was very telling as far as the truth of it. I’ll never forget the expression on Rep Murphy’s face. It was quite stunning.
Christine, I'm sorry I wasn't able to see that. I had to be satisfied with just listening. A picture is always worth 1000 words!
I agree- Kizinger's statement included tears and visible sadness. I also noticed that @ one point, the camera panned past Ms Cheney's face-she did look sad & somewhat distressed.
For you and anyone else who couldn't/didn't watch, the full hearing video is available at https://www.c-span.org/video/?513434-1/capitol-dc-police-testify-january-6-attack Page down and you will see clips from testimony including a link to take you to additional clips.
Hey, Christine. Like Sandra, I did not see any of the members as they were playing the video clips. I was watching on CBS. Sorry to have missed all that.
Hello Lynell -- I, too, loved the remark about American tourists! And while I appreciated what Rep. Murphy shared (and ditto for Rep. Kinzinger), I much preferred hearing fewer thoughts and observations by committee members and more thoughts and observations from the four officers. I also wondered what would have happened if Jordan had been part of the mix but I am relieved that he wasn't given any opportunity to disrupt and dishonor the testimony. (Thinking of the recent attempts by Rand Paul to discredit Dr. Fauci... seems to me that sort of badgering just doesn't help any of us get to a better place when we're involved with serious issues).
Morning, Rev.Judith!! I agree but did appreciate that the members did not make lengthy speeches as some of them do sometimes. As for Jordan, I was conjuring up a dream in my head of him being shamed by these proceedings. But I realize the reality would not match my dream, so am as glad as you are he was not part of the mix.
Morning, Lynell! I thought Officer Hodges's response to that about American tourists was hilarious, and brought levity to a very somber hearing. I missed the Sergeant's "recovery" statement; not funny but very poignant. I thought Kinsiger's comparison of his NG duty in protests last summer and the insurrection was also very profound.
His whole speech moved me. Several stations posted the full hearing on YouTube, well worth the time to watch. Kinzinger and Cheney speak for more republicans than we may know. They will give strength to followers after these first steps in the dance. The calm strength shown by Chair Bennie Thompson, along with the consistent determination of every questioner is just what we need to continue the Biden Administration calming of very troubled waters.
Morning, Ally!! I saw and was reading about what is going on with Simone Biles at the Olympics. Pictures of her, to me, are very haunting. She most certainly came to a breaking point after all the years she has been living up to being No. 1. I correlated those images of her with the emotional "breakdown" of Adam Kinzinger, and particularly Adam Schiff who has been defending our democracy nonstop since before he led the first impeachment hearings. It was like they had been keeping their emotions (love for country) bottled up for so long, and then finally found a venue where they could "safely" let go. I was totally moved by it.
Sorry—it was Sergeant Gonel who replied with the tourists statement.
I wrote down in my notes that it was Hodges, and articles about it confirm this.
https://www.businessinsider.com/watch-daniel-hodges-responds-republican-claim-insurrectionists-tourists-2021-7
Thank you—there I go thinking again 😱
Omigosh, Linda. Hahahahahahaha. I’ll have to remember that reply next time someone correctly corrects me. Hahahahaha. That is highly humorous! Thanks for reminder of what we all furiously do on this forum…”think again”.
😂🤣😂
LOL!
Officer Hodges' response made me laugh out loud. His responses overall were quite fine. As he said, he came prepared.
Morning, Pam!! Yes, Officer Hodges seems to have a wry personality in his approach! But each of the four were great witnesses.
Yes, every time one of them spoke I felt myself virtually waving a flag of hope
Thank you, Lynell! I, too, was thankful that Rep. Murphy gave her personal experience of the day, as I think it made it more 'real' for those watching and listening, including everyone on the dais. All the quotes you cite were spot on and very telling.
Morning, Sandra!! And thanks. I am pretty sure the majority of the folks on this page did watch the hearings. But I thought maybe there could be some that missed it due to other commitments. My "replay" just skimmed the surface for what we saw and heard yesterday.
Link for anyone who didn't/couldn't watch the entire hearing: https://www.c-span.org/video/?513434-1/capitol-dc-police-testify-january-6-attack Page down for clips including a link for additional clips.
Thanks so much, Judith!!
Most Republicans do not want the country to get a second look at, a grim reminder of, Jan. 6th. And they certainly do not want a public airing of minute-to-minute communications within the White House and within the offices of several Republican lawmakers. A second look at the legislators who acted as tour guides for protestors "casing the joint" in the days leading up to the insurrection will not play well either.
The person who willfully inspired, those who aided and abetted the Jan. 6th insurrection at the US capitol building, must be known. Their actions, or lack thereof, in support of a coup attempt must be made known. The perpetrators may escape legal prosecution today, but they must not be allowed to escape the judgement of history. For that alone the House investigation must carry on to wherever the evidence leads.
I support criminal referrals by the Committee to DoJ where justified. I demand those responsible be held accountable without exception and suffer the full legal consequences. Simply recording the history of what happened without accountability is not sufficient.
I think what Ralph is saying, Bruce, is that the perpetrators MAY escape legal prosecution. I don't think he is advocating that they should escape it.
Bruce supports steps beyond those of 'being known' by tightening the screws around those who inspired, aided and abetted the mob on January 6th. He called for criminal referrals where justified, so that the insurrectionist schemers behind the scenes 'may' NOT 'escape legal prosecution'. The mob did not act alone. Treasonous actions must face the rule of law. No 'ifs and buts' for these traitors; they will be removed from the 'Trump Show'. His Cult comprised of many millions is in a media cocoon, which the rule of law will pierce.
🙏🏻
Thank you, I realize that is his intent. I am simply advocating as strongly as I can the importance of accountability. I know there are many, even some who abhor what happened leading up to, on, and since January 6th, that feel for the "good of the country and harmony," that we do not prosecute those who participated and incited the violence vigorously. I want to make clear that I disagree. I think accountability is a critical part of making sure we prevent this from ever happening in this country again. I do not care if you are left, right, center, or none of the above. There is no place in my America for tolerance of those who participated in, caused, or support what happened on January 6th. I demand, not simply request, demand, they are held accountable.
Yes! We are where we are today because TFG was not held accountable the first go round at impeachment! They must all be held accountable!
The heartfelt, heart-breaking testimony of the four officers who lived through this horror makes this clear. There can be no moving on without accountability. They deserve this and our democracy demands it.
Hey, Bruce. In agreement 100%!!
Any and all participants in the January 6 should have to face the consequences of their actions that day. I remember watching in horror as rioters broke into the Capitol.
I remember Dr. HCR coming on live just to be with all of us because she believed we needed to be together. I remember her believing there was a good chance TFG would be out of office before midnight. Oh how I despaired that next day that not only wasn’t he removed but then Lindsay and Kevin did an about face. 🤦🏽♀️
Indeed! Otherwise, what IS the point?
I agree, I agree! But demanding and getting are two different things. The former president has avoided the consequences of his misdeeds his whole life.
That was then and this is now. He is facing a different Department of Justice, US Attorney General ... The looooop holes are closing.
👏👏👏💃💃💃🍾🍾🍾
Agree and good morning Ralph. This hearing is first step to outing the rats. Subpoenas first and then under oath testimony. I’m confident that testimony will be basis for action by DOJ.
And history will remember it. Save our Republic first.
I have been waiting to hear the truth of the “tour guide” saga since it was first suggested as a possible planning segment of the insurrection. I want to see proof of traitors leading traitors through the citadel.
In order to understand all this, you need to think like a criminal. Indeed (as said above) the organizers of this insurrection were actively 'casing the joint'. And I believe it will come out that a few who were smart enough NOT to take selfies and be within view of cameras were walking around quietly giving directions. " You go this way, you go that way" "Pelosi is in the basement, here's is the stairs". Take note and just wait.
Where the hell is Columbo and Perry Mason when we really need them?
And Monk!
Exactly
You read my mind.
Are you applying for a job on the Commission's detective squad?
I would be so honored.
Look forward to security camera videos as part of the proof
Me too Christine. They seem very reluctant to implicate Congressmen/women. That troubles me.
Just not yet. Always close the net gently.
It's early yet, Diane. I'm thinking (hoping) they're waiting for more puzzle pieces to fit before implicating.
I so hope you and Cathy are right Lynell. My concern is the moment will pass and other concerns will move front and center. The public attention span is very short.
After I see the “tour guides” exposed, then I’m going to make another bag of popcorn and a fresh beverage. That’s end of part 1 for me. Those tours after the winter holiday. As a visitor to Washington DC before and then watching them enter the Capitol from various points, I kept wondering “ how do these fools know where to go. They act like they know exact location of Pelosi and Clyburn and hallways and stairs and entry points. What the heck?
And then I heard a comment within that week how tours were not on regular schedule and were arranged? I was like “huh?”
One of my fave fictional female detectives, Harriet the Spy comes to mind. I had to go get my spy journal, eat a tomato sandwich and think about those tours.
I am encouraging folks to contact their Republican congress people and tell them that, with the House Select Committee Hearing, like with Watergate, the tide is turning against trump, that they will be subpoenaed, and NOW is the time to announce that they have "new information" and see that the January 6th attack on our Capitol was an attempted insurrection.
Done, and contacted both of my Senators requesting them to speak out publicly condemning the events of January 6th and those minimizing them. While I do not expect any displays of moral courage from them, I want them to know we are watching and they will be held accountable for their moral failures.
YES!!
Ha! My two senators are Lyin’ Raphael Cancun Cruz and John Cornhole Cornyn. A complete waste of my time.
I suffer with you.
I disagree, Kay. They count the negative calls from constituents… I’m sure they all have their lifeboats and lies prepared to launch if enough of the tide changes direction.
I was just thinking that when I saw your post. I would venture to guess that both have some sort of "role" with that insurrection, most assuredly Cruz. But Cornyn always has his hands in someone's back pocket and that back pocket may very well be one of many who helped finance this.
Escaping legal and/or political prosecution is unacceptable! There must be consequences! If there are not consequences, then the dissolution of the United States of America is upon us. The majority will not cohabitate with fanatical right-wing, white supremacists bent on establishing an autocracy. The pushback is coming but it can be best mollified depending upon the degree of punishment. We live in the present. We cannot rely on the judgment of history to save the day.
Imagine people risked their lives to protect you from being attacked, was seriously hurt, and you cannot express gratitude! Cannot even make the time to listen to them relate their experience! The disrespect takes my breath away. And if Republian lawmakers feel no regard for these men, you can imagine how inconsequential is the ordinary American citizen. Only the almighty dollar can get these people’s attention. Greed. Thats why it rates as one of the Seven DEADLY Sins
Joan, good morning!!! Just remember, McCarthy and McConnell don't care about anything but power...and power alone. You could fall down at their feet writhing in pain and if it didn't do anything for their power, they would step on you on their way down the sacred halls of our nation's Capitol. Do not think for an instant they care about January 6th. It was an "inconvenience" to them. Or...they are scared something will come to light that implicates them, and they are preparing to defend themselves. They may have been too savvy to get that closely involved, but if it were something that increased their power, they would have been right in the thick of it. So sad that our elected officials are this shallow and have lost any semblance of caring about the folks who elected them. I will say that our Democratic senators from VA, Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, are good guys who go out into their communities and talk to their constituents. I appreciate them for that, and wish there were many others who felt the need to remember who put them where they are.
I think Kaine is terrific One of a kind
Yes to Warner and Kaine, my fellow Virginian!
Ditto that! I retired to Gwynn, VA. Unfortunately most who reside in Mathew’s County are TFG’s supporters and a few were arrested for being in the Capital on that fateful day. Also confederate flags the size of my barn greet visitors. 😡
That's distressing about the flag. It's weird for sure here in VA. I'm in a rural-ish part, too. Many TFG supporters. But the state manages to be blue. How them boys do that? I wonder.
I hope the blue trend picks up more momentum!
I’m wondering what Mitch’s wife might have to say on the witness stand. She resigned the next day. 🤔
Absolutely, Joan. And if they feel no regard for these officers, how much do they care about our military personnel? They only care about their bottom lines, their own pocketbooks, their 15 minutes of fame. The will all rot.
Remember the blues song adopted by Beatles "The best things in life are free, but you can give them to the birds and bees I want money..." ? THAT should be the theme song that comes on whenever a Republican candidate strides on stage
Love this idea! You should pitch the idea to the Lincoln Project!
Maybe if they are as smart as they seem to be, they will read our dear Heather Cox Richardson's columns and get many ideas...
Another good article.
The thing is, we DO know. We know the causes and we have video of what took place. What we lack is confirmation and usable proof.
The rioters themselves said "Trump sent us"!
Finding out who gave the orders to withhold support from the National Guard, or to reinforce the Capitol police, or who helped set up the other circumstances that left the capitol defenseless is what remains to be seen. From the gyrations people like McConnell, Gym Jordan, McCarthy and the other "Movement Conservatives" (aka Trumpists) they're very scared that the truth will get out.
I suspect the new government took over before they could cover their tracks entirely, and knowing the evidence is lying there waiting to be put on display has them shivering in their boots.
I hope so.
From reporting I've seen, tRump replaced the folks @ the Pentagon w/ his minions with intent so they could delay sending in the Guard.
After the election and before 1/6, correct? That is what I remember along with the discomfort felt at what intentions that might indicate. Weren't there also FBI changes as well? We all clearly remember TFG certainly made his objections clear after 2020 election and affirmed the message he had delivered since 2016...if HE lost, the election was rigged. It was a little embarrassing for him in 2016, but he sure got to whip it up in 2020. Like a train wreck in slow motion from 2015!
If you are puzzled sometimes, as I am, at the many people in this country that remain in the throes of an alternative reality, occasionally tune into the Tucker Carlson show. I did so last night to get a sense of the story they are being fed by Fox News. I'm not easily shocked but I was flabbergasted by the lies and disinformation that spewed forth from that man's foul mouth. If he was your primary source for what happened on Jan. 6 and what it meant, you would be outraged by the evil doers in the media, the left wing and those in the Congress that continue to support "the steal". One example will have to suffice, though the entire hour, or what I watched of it, was filled with bile, falsehoods and distortions. The one example: videos of the Capitol Building during the insurrection were shown from time to time and they 100% reflected calm normal-appearing people harmlessly strolling around the Capitol Rotunda. In the meantime, Carlson is commenting about media exaggerations, as if the his videos told the whole story.
What is astonishing is the depth of deception. It depends on his audience's complete dependence for the news on him and his cohorts. They must be completely in his thrall. The least exposure to the real story would expose his falsehoods. Certainly, adults are responsible for taking the small steps that are required to find out the truth. Even so, the depth of his deception, his willingness to depart so far from the truth, is frightening. The depth of his own depravity in doing so is also deeply disturbing as is our willingness as a society to allow a major source of news to spew such venom, and such lies apparently with impunity. It is a major story in itself and is not covered by the mainstream to the extent it should be.
I wish lying made your teeth fall out or your skin turn green.
Or your nose grow and grow and grow!
I judge the content of *ucker Carlson's show by the reactions of the Republiqans on my feed who will occasionally post "he's on fire tonight" or "bringing it to the libs".
On 6 January, I actually watched the Fox Noise coverage. It was not much different from my other sources (CNN, MSNBC, C-SPAN) in content and scope on that day at that time. Most of the talking heads were saying the same things (where's the National Guard? How come there are no SWAT teams there? How come the cops have no riot gear?) but that changed quickly by a couple days later.
Then a MSM outlet and/or the Lincoln Project needs to air a mash-up of Fox on January 6 and Carlson now.
The wrong people would watch it.
Yesterday, I watched on the hearings first on NBC and continuing on MSNBC. My husband came in the room and wondered out loud about FOX .... much to our surprise, FOX was broadcasting the hearings too. I don't know for how long, though, because we switched back to NBC/MSNBC.
Of course. Then they can claim how "fair" they are. But starting at about 5 p.m., (EDST), the misinformation programs take over on Fox.
Is there some person in a darkened room in a remote castle somewhere directing the far right media on TV, radio and the internet, telling them where and when and what to emphasize. Carlson, Hannity, the late Russ Limbaugh and the others don't seem bright enough to be managing their dissemination of disinformtion. And the former president isn't either. Who is giving them their orders, such as the one causing their rapid switch from condemning the rioters to making them look good? Who?
Bannon.
He has the brains, but he is too much in the public's eye. Even Bannon is taking orders from that one in the remote castle, who survives because of his anonymity.
Murdock
Getting close, but the fact that you were able to come up with his name suggests Murdoch is not the one. It's someone like him whom you or I have never heard of, infinitely wealthy and infinitely private. (I'm inspired to write a short story about him or her.)
Ahh, the handy edit tool at work, it seems.
Carlson is exactly the source of the false narrative that at least one member of my family keeps believing and repeating.
I sympathize. My nephew had the gall to trot out Mr. Carlson as a source for one of his crazy views, as if he could in any way on any subject be trusted to provide the truth.
They should be required to state they are for "entertainment purposes only"...a,nd nothing seen nor heard on their shows has anything to do with real persons, places things or reality."
YES! Every 15 minutes!!
Absolutely!
So the question becomes, how we arrange situations, events, posts -whatever - that will penetrate the Fox/Carlson media bubble? Hmmm. I'm thinking we need to start a movement to have a picket and information presence at every WalMart nationwide. Direct the messages of the day nationally to give the truth that counters that day's biggest Fox/Carlson/et-al lies. The people staffing these information stations would need to be brave. Hmmm. Much thought would need to be given to how to deliver the truth but keep them safe... Is there a workable idea anywhere in this pile?
Agreed. I had the same experience watching TC. The fact that he is given a platform for his evil rhetoric is frightening.
I am told that OANN is even worse. I cannot imagine. I do think we've crossed the Rubicon on this matter of "free speech." It seems to me that these networks are screaming "fire" at the top of their voices, night after night. Surely there's some recourse?
I've never watched OANN but could easily imagine worse than Carlson. All you need do is imagine people that avoid looking elsewhere for their news and thus are at the mercy of scoundrels. And there is no limit to what scoundrels can do once let loose on the world. Carlson is vane and weak so his cowardice reins him to some extent. He wants to be applauded by people he admires. He doesn't admire Trump nor Trump's followers and has nothing in common with them. From this perspective, he is worse than the OANN's who can at least claim they are demented. Carlson is merely without a conscience and blindly ambitious.
The anecdote to Carlson is simple: expose him. Too bad our mainstream itself is so weak and ineffectual. They are in the process of waking up a bit which will help. I even watched a show last night that referred to Carlson's despicable and patently false take on the insurrection.
Yes. And it should be against the law, and enforced.
We need a new fairness doctrine, with teeth.
YES!!
Failing that, I would like to see a special on some legitimate news source dealing with Carlson. It could focus on last night's show as an example of utter depravity.
True. What can be done about this?
We have other news sources. I was watching Scarborough just now railing against "cable news" supporting alternative realities without having the courage even to name Fox News. Fox News has been a major news story for decades that no other news outlet has the courage or integrity to deal with accurately and forcefully. Stelter is the one guy who has done so and stands alone. Brit Hume sat opposite Carlson part of last night lending what is left of his tattered reputation to the big lie being spewed. Dante would need a new level in Hell to deal with this crowd.
If I do that, I will need a couple “airsickness bags” left from the before times, when we traveled.
"House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) both said they had been too busy to watch the hearing."
Reprehensible. Irresponsible. Unconscionable. And a display of disregard and disrespect for the officers, for their oath of office, and for the nation. They should be removed from their posts if they fail to respond or try to invoke 5th Amendment protection.
We should look upon these hearings with the same gravity as the Nuremberg Trials. While there's no comparison with the horror and loss of life for which Nazi leaders were tried, it's easy to see how the GOP leadership was just as prepared to look away from an attack on our political system and, in some cases, were probably directly complicit in undermining the rule of law in this country. For all of our historical flaws as a nation, dismantling our system of government has not been one of them. Until the reign of Donald Trump.
What they said they did and what they actually did are two very different things. I'm betting both m&m saw the whole thing.
I don't care. Admit it. This makes them look worse than they already are.
They are two of the most miserable people on this planet.
Viewing these hearings should be mandatory for all in Congress. It should be continuing education credits required in order to keep your seat. Herd them into an auditorium and play the tapes.
Never mind what they said. They lie.
Follow the hearings of the January 6 Riot Investigation Select Committee closely. Listen to the testimony and learn the truth. The findings will be published and include recommendations to prevent this from ever happening again. It is not unlikely the Committee will make criminal referrals to the DoJ. Support those referrals. We cannot allow the Rule of Law traditions of our democracy to be subverted by anyone. This should not be a political partisan issue. There are no sides to defending democracy or our Constitution. You are either on team democracy or team autocracy. Choose wisely.
Having an honest DOJ makes all the difference. Today, they clarified the conditions "executive privilege" may be invoked. see: < https://www.npr.org/2021/07/27/1021144336/justice-department-clears-way-for-trump-officials-to-testify-about-jan-6th >
And then there's this.... https://www.npr.org/2021/07/28/1021611663/the-doj-wont-defend-rep-mo-brooks-in-court-against-claims-he-incited-jan-6-riot
This, to me, is so encouraging! House of Cards!!!
And, it's simply a "memo" that sitting presidents SHOULDN'T be charged with crimes. WHAT a Shitshow the last 4 years was.
Shred the freakin' memo!
Please keep writing Professor Richardson.. it’s very anxious making but our capitol police and all the armed forces that finally showed up almost too late, need an opportunity to speak the truth of their experiences during that frightening melee Jan 6, 2021. And your writings help so many of us learn not only ‘the truth’ but also how to talk about it w friends, neighbors, relatives, even coworkers…to help all of us ‘make sense’ of what happened that day — and what could happen still if we are not willing to learn and plan to protect our governing bodies from armed insurrection.
During the Trump years, we learned that our system of government is more fragile than we realized. It is heavily dependent on “norms and traditions” and even the rules by which the two houses of Congress conduct business ex. the filibuster. The operation of our government is very heavily dependent on the character of the elected officials. When laws are broken, and the elected officials say, “So what? Who cares? “ we are in serious trouble. Our common political life has been turned into a cheap, tacky reality show shown daily on Fox.
Jenn, you are so correct. The Trump years exposed the fool's paradise we've been living in for 250 years. The Founders were men of character (albeit slave holders, but that's a separate argument), and I suspect they firmly believed their heirs to the government would also always be men of character, putting country and democracy above their own self-interest.
Now that we've had a thoroughly corrupt Chief Executive, and a proven corrupt and corruptible Congress, the future demands that we remedy this oversight PDQ. That will be a very steep climb, considering how we are living in two realities these days, but it must be done.
Yep. You can't depend upon people without a moral conscience to govern in a fair and just manner. It's about the character of leaders. And that folks, is where the problem is. IMHO of course.
Face time on Fox has become the primary objective.
A youngish family member called this morning to apologize for having gaslit my concerns that 1/6 was the horror "the Dems had made me believe". Grateful for his insight (however late to the table it is) I reminded him that it is incumbent up us in a democracy to stay informed with "real information" by reading multiple sources and this will be the best defense we have against the manipulative madness called "spin". We parted friends.
I never thought I would agree with any Cheney, but I whole heartedly agree with Representative Cheney about the subpoenas. My only concern is who exactly, will enforce the subpoenas? Time and time again over the nightmare of one term twice impeached fake president subpoenas were simply ignored by members of the GOP. Will someone actually arrest these people and drag them to the committee hearings? I know that if I ignored a subpoena there would be armed officers banging on my door. Are the GOP insurrectionists above the law?
Unless I've misunderstood, this proceeding will be different than the impeachment hearings. There will be no claims of executive privilege allowed, and those who receive subpoenas will be obligated to appear, even if they plead the fifth. The DOJ will be calling the shots.
As I watched excerpts of yesterday's testimony, I felt myself becoming filled with rage and anger. That the majority of the Republican Party is treating January 6th as a joke is incomprehensible to me. That the Republicans would hold this nation a hostage to insurrectionist violence speaks volumes about their hatred for our country, our Constitution and our rule of law.
The security officers who testified yesterday are heroes in the eyes of many, myself included. That ANYONE can make light of this assault against our democratic Republic colors them as an enemy of the United States of America, a democratic Republic. Republicans, lock, stock and barrel are the enemy of the United States of America. They cannot be and must not be regarded as anything less. They are a threat -- a monstrous, terrifying threat to our way of life and our national security. This is a moment that must be embraced with the gravity it deserves. Sitting back and hoping "this, too, will pass" is NOT an option.
I had a similar experience, especially as I watched Cheney and Kinsigner ask their questions. What angered me the most is that it is very likely that those two congresscritters* may well have sealed their terms coming to an end by participating on this committee because it goes "against the president". That signals to me that what the Republiqans WANT is to have an authoritarian government and not a democracy, republic, or democratic republic that is open to all, not just white guys.
I thought that the officer's testimony was compelling, especially one who read the definition of "terrorist" from the US code, bringing that into the open that what they faced down in the Capitol on 6 January was, in fact and in action, terrorist activity and an attempted insurrection.
*I use the Professor's term "congress critters" since it is so descriptive, and I can use it without having to check if someone is a Senator or a Representative.
Republicans have wanted an authoritarian "regime" since the days of Reagan. Reagan was the knife in the back of America, a phony elitist racist. This moment has been a long slog in arriving, and we must NOT regard it lightly. I LIKE your "congress critters", although I might have a more expletive-driven descriptive! 😊
You and me both!! I have to monitor my use of "colorful metaphors" on this page. I go to Jim Wright's Facebook page for my other utterances.
Staying civilized amidst the most uncivilized among us is a huge challenge. I do my best to NOT become like "them". I am sickened and saddened about this moment in our country's history. We are NOT "out of the woods" with this quite yet. I am bracing for more violent behavior from Republicans and their supporters.
I was had to stop watching/listening yesterday for the simple fact that I became do enraged it was unhealthy. You are right, Keltik, those denying the assault on the Capitol are enemies of the United States. I hope the testimonies are enough to shock people back into reality. I have my doubts.
Thank you! The ONLY way this horrific moment in our country's history can be remedied is to prosecute, prosecute and prosecute. That includes bringing in Trump to testify before the Committee even if he has to be brought in physically. The problem with that "option" is the hell it would unleash in the streets of the U.S., what with Trump's violence-driven anarchists wanting to set fire to the nation. I hope people realize just how tenuous this moment in our history is.
I wish these hearings weren’t competing for airtime with the Olympics. I realize many people have other cable/Netflix, etc. options, but I wish these hearings or a condensed form of them could co-opt all of our nightly prime time programming. More accessible for those who want to see and maybe make an impression on the fence sitters.
I "solved" that problem by following highlights on the Net.
I was glued to the TV yesterday morning. I have been watching congressional hearings since Watergate. I don't recall any hearing that was conducted more respectfully. I cried when each of the panel members shook hands with the officers testifying. I did not get watch in the afternoon, however I caught the clip of the one of congresswoman sharing her story on one of the evening shows. She shared that she heard the officers trying to hold the line, so that she and others could get to safety. She was grateful she was able to go home to her children thanks to their bravery.