I have profound respect for Judge Luttig. Today, he clearly articulated what must happen in order for us to resume our journey towards a true democracy. Regardless of party, each of us must take the time to reflect on the importance of democracy and what we can do, as individuals, to restore sanity and thoughtfulness in politics and legislation.
I have profound respect for Judge Luttig. Today, he clearly articulated what must happen in order for us to resume our journey towards a true democracy. Regardless of party, each of us must take the time to reflect on the importance of democracy and what we can do, as individuals, to restore sanity and thoughtfulness in politics and legislation.
He was slow in speaking, which distracted a bit ---BUT his written statement that HCR quotes is a clarion call to action. He puts it to the nation---and to the sorry bunch of liars, cheats, no-goods and potential trial defendants --- to shape up and get it all together.
Fact checking that doesnтАЩt support that. Unless a close friend has revealed his personal health history it doesnтАЩt appear to be anything more than a rumor.
He did not appear to be post-stroke aphasia to me. I just pictured Luttig in a black robe, sitting high atop the judge"s bench, sternly laying down The Law.
Yes. His slow, deliberate delivery added not only drama but weight to his message, imo, thus giving us time for its seriousness to sink in. To have rushed through or spoken with less solemnity would have detracted from the profound effect it had on me and hopefully others as well.
Unfortunately, Daria, I believe the rethuglicans will not take the time, nor have the brain power to undertand/hear what this man said. This was probably the most powerful testimony the committee will hear, and it will go unheeded.
I agree it is the most powerful testimony so far, but I don't think it will go unheeded. The trumplittleasscans won't hear it, but in corporate boardrooms across the country it will toll loud and clear.
Oh my gosh, and my ADHD brain was in full effect. I kept dropping the thread and feeling lost. Having HRG recaps are essential to my understanding of whatтАЩs happening!
I respected his speaking pace. He lent solemnity to his words. It was obvious he considered the proceedings serious, respected and historical and spoke very carefully in what he was saying. We're just not used to it. I grew up with public figures speaking more slowly.
I couldn't agree more. I've just watched/heard what he said. My feeling was that this wise old man could never utter a lie. The pauses added to the horror of what he was saying. I was on the edge of my seat.
Just want to follow up and say that I respect your experience with his pace of speech, but IтАЩm not saying I am not used to it - itтАЩs a neurodivergent brain chemistry issue, not an experiential issue. Your experience doesnтАЩt invalidate another persons experience, even when viewing the same thing.
It is my understanding that Judge Luttig is still recovering from a stroke which may be why he was speaking slowly and deliberatively. That he spoke anyway is a courageous choice on his part.
That was my initial thought, and it seemed distracting. However, I realized that he spoke in a manner more suggestive of writing a well supported decision that would have eternal impact. One could both see and feel the intensity of thought as he carefully assembled his words.
IтАЩm going to rewatch it today at 1.25x speed and see if it helps me process better. The intensity, solemnity and impact were absolutely perceptible, I just personally struggled to follow.
He wasn't speaking so much as declaring. Declamation to establish the gravity of this war on democracy, and to cement his words in future history books.
Judge LuttigтАЩs words and insights are singular in their poignancy:
тАЬLuttig urged Americans to remember that the fate of our democracy is in our hands and to reject the fever dreams of the Trump Republicans in favor of тАШa new vision, new truths, new values, new principles, new beliefs, new hopes and dreams that hopefully could once again bind our divided nation together into the more perfect union that тАШWe the PeopleтАЩ originally ordained and established it to be.тАЩ
тАШThe time has come,тАЩ Luttig wrote, тАШfor us to decide whether we allow this war over our democracy to be prosecuted to its catastrophic end or whether we ourselves demand the immediate suspension of this war and insist on peace instead. We must make this decision because our political leaders are unwilling and unable, even as they recklessly prosecute this war in our name.тАЩтАЭ
When he said that he, himself, would lay his body down on the road willingly! This, to stop any clown car from destroying Democracy. Geez. That is some compelling reflection.
What a sobering spectacle of the truth the 3rd hearing showed itself to be.
I was quaking the entire time he spoke. His was the voice of reason. His was the voice of patriotism. His was the warning we need to take to heart. I don't want what he said to become a prediction of what will happen.
Would only the main stream media use Judge Luttig's words to explain the danger we face. For the most part they should have done so since January 6, 2021.
The judge proves that thoughtful conservatives can be a voice for our democracy. I don't regard death star's minions to be conservatives, but radical far right wingers, who would have been at home in Nazi Germany. I know several Rs locally who are repelled by what the party has become and did not vote for death star. I have often talked about my next door neighbor, a former R county commissioner, who many years ago gave me a thoughtful explanation of why he was a R. Now he tells me about how odious he finds the party and he has switched to independent although I know he votes for Ds. His disenchantment began with one of his fellow commissioners who was a nut before that totally infested the party. Also she, masquerading as a big Christian, according to him, had a mouth which would make sailors blush. He served in the navy.
Our issues are not "Republican" vs. "Democrat." We're looking at what happens when an idea takes root sub rosa in the society, and is allowed to grow, despite the will of the majority. That we have millions of people who, after four years of listening to dog whistles about racism, homophobia, xenophobia and misogyny, now seem willing to believe that the people who espouse the lies are honorable in some way -- this is stuff straight out of Shakespeare, folks. We need to do a better job of educating our electorate, and demanding that people pay attention to the responsibilities of citizenship and decent society.
All those thing were there all the time, just waiting for someone to give people carte blanche to express them. Some are so obsessed with their religious beliefs that they are fine with people who are not honorable in any way. They do not understand the message of Jesus either.
I have voted for him in most elections despite his being a R. One time his primary opponent was way out there...before most Rs were. They saved our frozen food during the ice storm because they had power for some reason and we ran a cord to their house. We were also able to run the computers.....essential you know. He is also a Oregon Duck...a plus and we can talk football and basketball.
Yes, quiet and spending a lot of time with his grandchildren. He also likes to grow flowers and other landscape plants. Except for the loud R across the street, our immediate neighbors are nice.
Professor Richardson cited as source in this article from The Guardian. Encapsulates a nagging question from this forum for quite some time. The тАЬbigger pictureтАЭ to thwart democracy and tracing its beginnings to now. https://apple.news/AN73lhq5GS4K3pWYocMTkXg
"In 2020, the historian Heather Cox Richardson published a book on How the South Won the Civil War. It should be required reading for this particular moment in American politics. Richardson argues that while the Confederacy obviously lost the military confrontation, the broader ideology it was built on, the idea that the world works best when it is dominated by wealthy white men, and that only those wealthy white men are therefore entitled to rule, continued to shape the American project, and is still the leading threat to true democracy in this country today. I worry, to build on the title of RichardsonтАЩs book, that future historians might have to write about How the Insurrectionists Won the Presidency." Thanks Christine.
I have profound respect for Judge Luttig. Today, he clearly articulated what must happen in order for us to resume our journey towards a true democracy. Regardless of party, each of us must take the time to reflect on the importance of democracy and what we can do, as individuals, to restore sanity and thoughtfulness in politics and legislation.
Judge Luttig saying that he would have "laid my body across the road" to prevent the execution of Eastman's plan was especially dramatic.
He was slow in speaking, which distracted a bit ---BUT his written statement that HCR quotes is a clarion call to action. He puts it to the nation---and to the sorry bunch of liars, cheats, no-goods and potential trial defendants --- to shape up and get it all together.
He speaks deliberatively. He doesn't talk spontaneously. He chooses his words carefully and is a master at clear, succinct communication.
My take was that he knew his testimony was going down in history.
Someone on Robert ReichтАЩs sub stack comment chain mentioned that Judge Luttig has had a stroke, and that that has slowed his speech as well.
Fact checking that doesnтАЩt support that. Unless a close friend has revealed his personal health history it doesnтАЩt appear to be anything more than a rumor.
He did not appear to be post-stroke aphasia to me. I just pictured Luttig in a black robe, sitting high atop the judge"s bench, sternly laying down The Law.
Right, not one word wasted.
Yes. His slow, deliberate delivery added not only drama but weight to his message, imo, thus giving us time for its seriousness to sink in. To have rushed through or spoken with less solemnity would have detracted from the profound effect it had on me and hopefully others as well.
I have always appreciated that. Words matter.
I hope his words are not ignored.
Unfortunately, Daria, I believe the rethuglicans will not take the time, nor have the brain power to undertand/hear what this man said. This was probably the most powerful testimony the committee will hear, and it will go unheeded.
Pam, I know you're right. It's lamentable.
I agree it is the most powerful testimony so far, but I don't think it will go unheeded. The trumplittleasscans won't hear it, but in corporate boardrooms across the country it will toll loud and clear.
MaryPat, I generally don't use nicknames for those on the dark side of the aisle but TRUMPLITTLEASSCANS is brilliant. Thanks!
All any pushback against his words shows is that definitely the words were not ignored. However deliberately delivered.
Daria, I have the same hope. Still, witnessing the right's scorn for academics and their propensity to ban and burn books, I'm not overly optimistic.
Nancy, me either.
Oh my gosh, and my ADHD brain was in full effect. I kept dropping the thread and feeling lost. Having HRG recaps are essential to my understanding of whatтАЩs happening!
I rewatched some of it later on the Jan 6th CommitteeтАЩs website for clarity, but HeatherтАЩs Letter is very helpful.
I respected his speaking pace. He lent solemnity to his words. It was obvious he considered the proceedings serious, respected and historical and spoke very carefully in what he was saying. We're just not used to it. I grew up with public figures speaking more slowly.
I couldn't agree more. I've just watched/heard what he said. My feeling was that this wise old man could never utter a lie. The pauses added to the horror of what he was saying. I was on the edge of my seat.
Just want to follow up and say that I respect your experience with his pace of speech, but IтАЩm not saying I am not used to it - itтАЩs a neurodivergent brain chemistry issue, not an experiential issue. Your experience doesnтАЩt invalidate another persons experience, even when viewing the same thing.
It is my understanding that Judge Luttig is still recovering from a stroke which may be why he was speaking slowly and deliberatively. That he spoke anyway is a courageous choice on his part.
That is definitely a courageous choice, given the chance of many potential health impacts!
I was nodding along reading your comment, but the last line made me laugh right out loud lol
Oh, my! The bug man, no less! I hope you were nice to him anyway.
That was my initial thought, and it seemed distracting. However, I realized that he spoke in a manner more suggestive of writing a well supported decision that would have eternal impact. One could both see and feel the intensity of thought as he carefully assembled his words.
IтАЩm going to rewatch it today at 1.25x speed and see if it helps me process better. The intensity, solemnity and impact were absolutely perceptible, I just personally struggled to follow.
He wasn't speaking so much as declaring. Declamation to establish the gravity of this war on democracy, and to cement his words in future history books.
He knows that each word and each punctuation mark is important. Law will do that to you.
Judge LuttigтАЩs words and insights are singular in their poignancy:
тАЬLuttig urged Americans to remember that the fate of our democracy is in our hands and to reject the fever dreams of the Trump Republicans in favor of тАШa new vision, new truths, new values, new principles, new beliefs, new hopes and dreams that hopefully could once again bind our divided nation together into the more perfect union that тАШWe the PeopleтАЩ originally ordained and established it to be.тАЩ
тАШThe time has come,тАЩ Luttig wrote, тАШfor us to decide whether we allow this war over our democracy to be prosecuted to its catastrophic end or whether we ourselves demand the immediate suspension of this war and insist on peace instead. We must make this decision because our political leaders are unwilling and unable, even as they recklessly prosecute this war in our name.тАЩтАЭ
When he said that he, himself, would lay his body down on the road willingly! This, to stop any clown car from destroying Democracy. Geez. That is some compelling reflection.
What a sobering spectacle of the truth the 3rd hearing showed itself to be.
Unidad, Daria! ЁЯЧ╜
As he was testifying, my thought: "Here comes da Judge!"
Christine, indeed! I feel like shouting at those rejecting the testimonies:
"Hello! Is anybody in there?"
Unidad!
Here's his whole statement. Wow....just wow. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/16/j-michael-luttig-opening-statement-jan-6-hearing-00040255
Unbelievable, a great piece of writing it should be published in every newspaper in the US.
Worthy of Lincoln.
Exactly. Wow.
Thank you for the link. This is powerful stuff!!!
Thank you, Pam!
I was quaking the entire time he spoke. His was the voice of reason. His was the voice of patriotism. His was the warning we need to take to heart. I don't want what he said to become a prediction of what will happen.
God is watching, indeed.
Would only the main stream media use Judge Luttig's words to explain the danger we face. For the most part they should have done so since January 6, 2021.
The judge proves that thoughtful conservatives can be a voice for our democracy. I don't regard death star's minions to be conservatives, but radical far right wingers, who would have been at home in Nazi Germany. I know several Rs locally who are repelled by what the party has become and did not vote for death star. I have often talked about my next door neighbor, a former R county commissioner, who many years ago gave me a thoughtful explanation of why he was a R. Now he tells me about how odious he finds the party and he has switched to independent although I know he votes for Ds. His disenchantment began with one of his fellow commissioners who was a nut before that totally infested the party. Also she, masquerading as a big Christian, according to him, had a mouth which would make sailors blush. He served in the navy.
So important to separate the wheat from the chaff and value that distinction.
I apply this also to Christians...those who actually understand what Jesus taught and those who haven't the foggiest, but love to hate.
Our issues are not "Republican" vs. "Democrat." We're looking at what happens when an idea takes root sub rosa in the society, and is allowed to grow, despite the will of the majority. That we have millions of people who, after four years of listening to dog whistles about racism, homophobia, xenophobia and misogyny, now seem willing to believe that the people who espouse the lies are honorable in some way -- this is stuff straight out of Shakespeare, folks. We need to do a better job of educating our electorate, and demanding that people pay attention to the responsibilities of citizenship and decent society.
All those thing were there all the time, just waiting for someone to give people carte blanche to express them. Some are so obsessed with their religious beliefs that they are fine with people who are not honorable in any way. They do not understand the message of Jesus either.
These local good Republicans are the ones we need to reach, and are worth spending our energy on..
Agreed.
Michele, very thoughtful comment. Your neighbor sounds like a wise and sensible fellow.
I have voted for him in most elections despite his being a R. One time his primary opponent was way out there...before most Rs were. They saved our frozen food during the ice storm because they had power for some reason and we ran a cord to their house. We were also able to run the computers.....essential you know. He is also a Oregon Duck...a plus and we can talk football and basketball.
A good neighbor!
Yes, quiet and spending a lot of time with his grandchildren. He also likes to grow flowers and other landscape plants. Except for the loud R across the street, our immediate neighbors are nice.
Professor Richardson cited as source in this article from The Guardian. Encapsulates a nagging question from this forum for quite some time. The тАЬbigger pictureтАЭ to thwart democracy and tracing its beginnings to now. https://apple.news/AN73lhq5GS4K3pWYocMTkXg
"In 2020, the historian Heather Cox Richardson published a book on How the South Won the Civil War. It should be required reading for this particular moment in American politics. Richardson argues that while the Confederacy obviously lost the military confrontation, the broader ideology it was built on, the idea that the world works best when it is dominated by wealthy white men, and that only those wealthy white men are therefore entitled to rule, continued to shape the American project, and is still the leading threat to true democracy in this country today. I worry, to build on the title of RichardsonтАЩs book, that future historians might have to write about How the Insurrectionists Won the Presidency." Thanks Christine.
Thanks for this, Christine. So delighted whenever HCR is cited. The more recognition she gets, the more critical thinkers will appear.
That HCR was cited in the final paragraph leaves a strong and lasting impression, I think. Thanks, Christine.
What a powerful, powerful statement he has given us all. https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/16/j-michael-luttig-opening-statement-jan-6-hearing-00040255
Thanks for this, Lisa
Thanks will do.