Do you remember James T. Hodgkinson?
On January 12, 2017, Bernie Sanders tweeted that an additional 36,000 people would die every year if the Republicans repealed Obamacare. Later that month, the Washington Post and the Chicago Tribune made similar claims (although Glenn Kessler in the Post gave Bernie’s tweet four Pinocchios).
As early as 2009, Democrats’ mantra was that the Republicans’ health plan was, if you get sick, die quickly.
On June 14th, Hodgkinson shot up a softball practice of Republican Congressmen and aides in Arlington, Virginia. Representative Steve Scalise was seriously wounded and almost died. Hodgkinson also shot four other players. He was wounded in a shootout with Capitol police who were at the practice and Alexandria police who responded to the park. He later died in the hospital.
CNN reported Hodgkinson was a Bernie Sanders supporter and worked as a volunteer on the Sanders presidential campaign. He also hated President Trump and Republicans. He joined several anti-Republican Facebook groups, such as “The Road to Hell is Paved with Republicans” and wrote letters to a local paper urging that all Republicans be voted out of office.
He presumably followed all the false stories about President Trump colluding with Russia during the 2016 election, stealing the election from Hillary, etc. Yet, as Senator Rand Paul notes, when Hodgkinson shot up the ball field full of Republicans, and it was revealed that he was a “Bernie bro,” no Republican claimed the extreme left-wing wacko was inspired by Senator Sanders or any other Democrat to commit what would have been a mass shooting of Republicans but for the presence of the Capitol police officers.
We now know the storming of the Capitol was not occasioned by the president’s speech at the rally earlier that day. Instead, it has come to light that several right-wing extremists were making plans to attack the Capitol in the weeks prior to the rally. Indeed, many never attended the rally, instead massing at the Capitol and breeching the barriers the police set up before President Trump’s speech ended. If they had attended the rally, they would have heard the president tell the crowd to march to the Capitol and “peacefully and patriotically” protest.
Democrats will also contend that the president’s speeches and comments since the election, claiming fraud and urging that the election results be overturned, amounts to incitement of the crowd that led to the storming of the Capitol. I don’t buy it. Trump’s rhetoric has not incited his followers to commit acts of violence in the past; more often, they were the targets of violence leaving Trump rallies.
I believe that the president and his lawyers should have stopped the challenges sooner than they did. They never provided evidence to substantiate the allegations of massive fraud. But to say “they stole the election” means “go invade the Capitol Building” is going too far for me. Was this BLM activist inspired by the president to invade the Capitol?
As I have noted previously, in the riots that occurred in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis, several Democratic leaders made incendiary comments to support the not-so-peaceful protests occurring across the country, such as Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (“… there needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there’s unrest in our lives.”) and Vice President Harris (on Stephen Colbert’s show): “And everyone beware, because they’re [violent protests] not gonna stop…. They’re not gonna let up. And they should not. And we should not.”
Yesterday, on the floor of the Senate, Rand Paul detailed additional examples of other Democrats who have made comments that could be viewed as inciting violence.
The people who stormed the Capitol, fought with and injured police officers and damaged the building interior should be prosecuted (I hope the DC prosecutors do a better job than they did with the over 200 people who were arrested after the violent protests that erupted at President Trump’s 2017 inauguration; 21 of those people pled guilty and charges were ultimately dropped against the remaining defendants). They made the choice to do what they did; I doubt they needed any encouragement from Trump or anyone else to invade the building.
And can we stop referring to the riots at the Capitol Building as an “insurrection” (by “we,” I mean Democrats)? See liberal independent journalist Michael Tracey: “But the idea that this was a real attempt at a “coup” — meaning an attempt to seize by force the reins of the most powerful state in world history — is so preposterous that you really have to be a special kind of deluded in order to believe it. Or if not deluded, you have to believe that using such terminology serves some other political purpose.”
Here’s Glenn Greenwald: “It is unhinged to the point of being obscene to compare yesterday’s incursion to the 9/11 attack or (as Sen. Chuck Schumer did last night) to Pearl Harbor.”
Yes, there is a political purpose in Democrats calling what happened at the Capitol an insurrection: keeping Donald Trump out of the White House in 2024. That’s why they bandy about the terms “sedition” and “insurrection.” I mean, isn’t it enough to say that the president incited a riot? By saying he incited an insurrection, as the single article of impeachment states, can’t Pelosi see that such hyperbole winds up hurting their case?
No, they can’t.
The Capitol police officer was killed when someone threw a fire extinguisher into a crowd. The only person killed by a gun was Ashli Babbitt, the unarmed Air Force veteran who was shot by a Capitol police officer. I’ve seen reports that the other three people who died had heart attacks. If this was supposed to be an insurrection, where were the long guns? Where was the seizure of a radio station (doesn’t that always happens in an insurrection)? Where were the white nationalist sympathizers the Rep. Steven Cohen (D-TN) says are in the National Guard?
No, this was no revolt or insurrection. It was a riot of extremists for which the Capitol police were unprepared.
And the impeachment of former President Trump, who is no longer in a position from which to be removed, and at which the Chief Justice has declined to take part, only shows that former President Trump continues to live rent free in the heads of progressives.
I agree, and this whole impeachment process is a sham, a disgrace and a waste of taxpayer dollars. These people are just full of hatred, so vindictive and I guess it is their last (maybe not) shot at Trump. President Biden talked about unification in his inaugural address. Put your $ where your mouth is Mr President!
As always Pete, right on point!
“ No, this was no revolt or insurrection. It was a riot of extremists for which the Capitol police were unprepared”
Deflect, distract, dissemble, very Trumpian. It wasn’t Trump, it was right wing crazies. There are left wing crazies too.
Let’s start with the basic questions;
Why were the people there? They were invited by Donald Trump.
On December 18, Trump announced on Twitter, “Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!”
Ah, a big protest!
What were they protesting? Donald Trump said the election was stolen from him.
Ah, but this was in January, wasn’t the election 2 months before in November and weren’t the election resulrs certified on December 14th. Yes, they were.
So why a rally a month after that? Donald Trump continued to say the election was stolen from him.
But wouldn’t that be a matter for the courts?
It was, there were over 60 lawsuits filed and 2 trips to the Supreme Court.
So Trump won those lawsuits? No, he lost everyone except one which was settled and had no effect on the outcome.
Once the legal process is complete isn’t that it, what’s left?
In our democracy we have a ceremony where the electoral college results are presented to a joint session of congress.
So the joint session can change the election results?
No, it’s a pro forma exercise signifying the coming change in power.
So why hold a rally at the same time?
Donald Trump, for whatever reason, still thought Mike Pence, VP and President of the Senate could overturn the election.
Could he?
Absolutely not. Like I said, it is just a pro forma exercise in democracy.
So what was the point of the rally?
I don’t know Donald Trump’s mind but he hates to loses and likes to fight so what did he have to lose.
So what did he tell the crowd he had gathered?
He complained about the election being stolen from him and exhorted the crowd with such terminology as; “We’re coming for you”, “you have to fight”, “trial by combat”, “take back your country”……. and concluded with ,”let’s march down Pennsylvania to the Capitol, I’ll be with you”
Could those words be considered inciting a crowd, a crowd that Trump had gathered?
I would say so.
So what did they do?
Well a bunch of them went to the US Capitol, tried to break in and, presumably, reclaim the election for Donald Trump.
How were they going to do that?
Well some of them wanted to “get” Mike Pence and Nancy Pelosi among others. They came prepared with tactical gear.
In any country on the planet, what do you call it when they attack the seat of government?
An insurrection is a common term, attempted coup is another.
But it really wan’t that bad, only one person was shot, right?
Five people died (6 now as a Capitol Police Officer who was there committed suicide) or were fatally injured during the event: one was a Capitol Police officer, and four were among those who stormed or protested at the Capitol. Nearly 140 Capitol Police officers were injured, of whom at least 15 were hospitalized and one was in critical condition; all had been released from the hospital by January 11. Additionally, rioters injured more than 58 D.C. Metro police officers during the attack, including one who remained hospitalized five days after the attack. Some rioters beat officers with pipes, and some officers sustained head injuries from being struck with lead pipes. Rioters injured other police officers by using chemical irritants and stun guns hitting them with fists, sticks, poles and clubs; trampling and stampeding them; pushing them down stairs or against statues; and shining laser pointers in their eyes. Many police officers were attacked with bear spray a highly concentrated form of pepper spray stronger than the tear gas typically carried by officers. One D.C. Metro officer was hit six times with a stun gun and suffered an apparent heart attack. According to the chairman of the Capitol Police officers’ union, multiple officers sustained traumatic brain injuries one officer suffered two cracked ribs and two smashed spinal discs; and another officer would lose an eye.
One of the most intense of the many violent incidents occurred shortly after 2 p.m., as a swarm of rioters attempted to breach a door on the West Front of the Capitol. There, rioters dragged three D.C. Metro police officers out of formation and down a set of stairs, trapped them in a crowd, and assaulted them with improvised weapons (including hockey sticks, crutches, flags, poles, sticks, and stolen police shields) as the mob chanted “police stand down!” and “USA” At least one of the officers was also stomped upon.
Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick died from injuries sustained in the riot. In a separate incident during the riots, Capitol Police officer Brian D. Sicknick, 42, a 15-year veteran of the force, was mortally wounded by a rioter who hit him in the head with a fire extinguisher. Reuters reported that Sicknick suffered a stroke after sustaining head injuries, and collapsed after returning to his division office. He was later placed on life support, but died the following day. Sicknick’s death is being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homicide Branch, the USCP, and federal authorities.
That’s horrible, horrifying! Shouldn’t someone be held to account, maybe the person who pit the whole thing in motion?
Yes, but as you see that was Donald Trump who happened to be the president at the time and the only thing you can do to a president for what happened on his watch is impeach him. The rest of the rioters, insurrectionists, whatever you want to call the are accountable under the law and multiple indictments are expected shortly. But the only thing that can hold the provocateur to account is impeachment..
PS Roberts is not presiding because Trump is no longer president
Look, I agree with you that President Trump went too far in contesting the election. His attorneys made claims of extensive fraud that were never substantiated. Since they never set forth evidence to support the claims, they should have stopped the legal actions sooner than they did.
That being said, there are now news reports that the two pipe bombs found by the DNC and RNC headquarters were placed where they were found the night before the rally. Also, as I have noted in prior posts, I didn’t know that there were many protesters turned rioters turned invaders who were never at the rally; they went directly to the Capitol in their riot gear. Groups of these right wing agitators started attacking the Capitol Police before the president finished his speech at the rally, one mile away.
It now seems undisputed that the riot at the Capitol was planned well before the president’s speech at the rally. Nevertheless, you would say that his Tweets and comments in the weeks prior to January 6th also incited the rioters. That is quite a stretch. I don’t equate “don’t let them steal the election” with “go and break down the doors and invade the Capitol.” My view is that he wanted the protesters heard and seen at the Capitol to show the politicians he had the support of the assembled people. At the rally he told them to “peacefully and patriotically” protest. He did not urge violence.
And he never has. There were no marauding mobs after his campaign rallies. When he was being impeached the first time, he didn’t ask his followers to break into the Capitol to disrupt the impeachment trial. There is no history of him inciting his followers to riot. Likewise, there was no looting, property damage or burned out cars after his rallies. In short, there is no history of violence surrounding President Trump or his followers. We certainly can’t say that about BLM or Antifa.
I saw the scenes of violence during the riot. I hope all those people who assaulted and injured police officers and damaged the building are prosecuted. Not so sure about the ones who were let in by the police and seemed to be just strolling around the lobby. Or the ones who walked in the building and stayed within the rope barriers, watched by the police. Didn’t seem to be a lot of insurrection going on there. Just don’t tell me it was a coup attempt or akin to Pearl Harbor. As Jason Whitlock says, the politicians were back in the building working three hours after the rioters were removed. No one went back to work in the burned buildings of Baltimore, Atlanta, Minneapolis or Portland this summer.
P.S. Roberts isn’t there because Trump is no longer the sitting president-and impeachment is meant to be used to remove a sitting president. This impeachment is a waste of time and resources. Trump is living rent-free in progressives’ heads. It’s only going to work to his benefit when he is acquitted again.
The fact that it was planned makes it worse. Regardless of how and why It was 100% Trump supporters. Regardless of the planning they were egged on by Trump. The campaign was over November 2nd. Who has a rally as counterprogramming to a Joint Session of Congress performing a traditional ritual.
As far as violence, there are many quotes of Trump exhorting people to fight. That’s what the rally was all about, fighting for the election that he still claims was stolen.
As for living in someone’s head. I’m responding to you. You raised the subject.
Also, do you have any response to my more succinct comment?
Yes, I do.
The ball field shooting was different in degree, not kind. It is only fortuitous that more Republicans were not killed.
You have missed my point. 26 people were killed and billions of dollars of property destroyed this past summer. Democratic politicians did not condemn the BLM and Antifa thugs who attacked the police, looted and destroyed property; in fact, they seemed to encourage them. Yet, they were not accused of inciting riots. Trump’s language was far less incendiary than AOC, Senator Harris, etc.
Frankly, I don’t think Antifa and BLM care what politicians say; they’re gonna do their thing no matter what any politican says. Same with the right wing thugs who rioted at the Capitol Building.
You also seem to be using the term “conservative” to lump in the Capitol rioters with the 75 million Trump voters. Would you do that with the Antifa members who barricaded a police building in Seattle and set it on fire with policemen inside? Are they good Democrats?
You miss the “Elephant in the room” No one encouraged BLM or antifa they were spontaneous uprisings. You’re wrong to say no one spoke out against violence. In the Hodgkinson situation it was a lone gunman. In the attack on the US Capitol it was encouraged by Trump and effected by Trump supporters. No, I don’t think the majority of Trump voters encouraged it but where’s the hue and cry about an attack on the nation’s Capitol that left 5 people dead? The attackers were clearly of the opinion that Trump sent them. There is so much video and audio tape that it’s undeniable.
No, I don’t think that’s what conservative means but that is republican conservatism under Trump. Also undeniable.
BLM/Antifa spontaneous?? They’ve been described as many things but never that. So the weapons, shields, helmets, pepper/bear repellant spray and signs attacking white people and the police just pop up out of…? Where we disagree is that I see Trump encouraging protests, not violence. As I said earlier, there is no history of violence by Trump supporters at his rallies. That is, as you say, undeniable.
To put it more succinctly, I know of no one, left, right or center, who didn’t decry the James Hodgkinson shooting. No one mourns his death in the ensuing shootout. To compare the sick effort of a lone gunman to the planned rally, resulting assault on the US Capitol and deaths of Capitol Police Officers is beyond odious. All these years I though being conservative meant upholding law and order and maintaining traditions like the Joint Session of congress. Apparently I’ve been mistaken.
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