I am all out of words but I will try to not be inflammatory.

[kentuck]

But there are some facts we should not forget.

Donald Trump could have stopped the assault on our government if he had chosen.

Many people called him and pleaded for him to stop the assault on our Capitol. The mob took down the American flag and put up a Trump flag. What should that tell us? They beat a police officer with an American flag as he lay helpless on the ground. What does that say about their love for the American flag? Or for the "blue line"?

He told the mob at the rally that "We are going to march down to the Capitol", giving them the impression that he was going to go with them.

Once again, he told them that he had won a landslide victory and that someone was going to be in the White House that should not be there. There was no evidence that he won the election and more than 60 judges, after careful examination of the facts, disagreed with him. But he continued with the Big Lie. And he made his supporters believe it. The truth is so uncomfortable sometimes.

He advised the mob that some of the people at the Capitol were strong and some were weak and that they had to be "strong". That is how they were to distinguish who was on their side and who was not?

He advised them that if they were not "strong", they would not have a country very long.

It was all code but they understood it perfectly. They knew very well what he was asking them to do. They thought he was with them.

After the mob had breached the Capitol, many people inside and out were calling for help. Trump ignored them. He enjoyed watching it on TV, according to reports. After the damage had been done, he came out and gave a short, meaningless speech.

Whether you love Trump or not, you should not dismiss these basic facts.

Everybody has grievances against their government but they don't get in their private plane and fly to Washington to attack our Capitol and the people elected to office. They don't look to overthrow our democracy. It is insane and criminal.

No one can justify it by saying Hillary called us "deplorables" or Robert DeNiro threatened to punch Trump in the face. That is a sick and weak equivocation.

[Rhiannon12866]

1. And neither Hillary Clinton or Robert DeNiro are currently in the government they attacked

Well said.

[Rhiannon12866]

7. Same here.

We've had exceptional presidents and not-so-great presidents, but never anyone like this - who demanded obedience and reverence for a job he couldn't be bothered to do...

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Well, I've said this before, but I believe he only ran as a money making scheme

He'd run out of options, so decided to ask for campaign contributions. He never intended to actually do the job, and he hasn't. But he found he liked the adulation and the power so decided that this was the life he deserved, everyone at his back and call - including the United States treasury. And he took advantage of every perk he could, while doing nothing expected of an American president.

[Arkansas Granny]

14. He never expected to win the nomination in the first place and

certainly not the Presidency, but once the wheels were in motion, his ego wouldn't allow him to step aside. It was nothing but an advertising gimmick.

[Claire Oh Nette]

39. TrumpTV

He wanted free publicity, campaign donations, then wanted to launch a newwork to out Fox fox.

He wanted to be OANN.

He wanted to have a license to berate and demean and shower sexism and mysogynoy over a Hilary Clinton presidency. It was bad enough for him that black man was smarter, more capable, and beloved. But he'd be damned f he was going to let some woman run the country. He had a thing or two to say about that....

That's the whole Trumpism thing in a nuthell.

Biden was the first Black man's VP and now, as President, he's got the first female VP and she's black, to boot.

The free pass to the gentleman's C is over. Yes, white men, you ARE on a level playing field. You are not inherently smarter or better than anyone else. You are ordinary, boring, and well, stupid.

The 25-29% of hard core Trump supporters *know* they are superior to no one. And it's entirely their own choosing.

[ARPad95]

43. I couldn't have stated it any better than you!

The free pass to the gentleman's C is over. Yes, white men, you ARE on a level playing field. You are not inherently smarter or better than anyone else. You are ordinary, boring, and well, stupid.

The women that enter the "Good Ole Boys' Club" thinking they won the game are just as "ordinary, boring, and well, stupid." They're too obtuse to know that they're helping their men-folk drag us all the way back to the 1950s. No way!

[Claire Oh Nette]

44. They call it rug rating

Secretaries and admins rank themselves based on the size of the rug in their bosses' offices, even though it's the same exact job.

These are grown up women who dated football players to seem popular when they really weren't. They peaked at 17. And they know it.

[hlthe2b]

2. While I don't see DUers diminishing Trump's culpability, I do see a post today suggesting risk is

overblown and that our militarization of the Inauguration against further Trump-related threats is excessive.

I nearly dropped my coffee on my laptop screen reading that.

We are in grave danger and while not wholely due to Trump, he lit the match and ensured that metaphorical "bombs" lay in wait. Trump is beyond traitorous and dangerous as hell.

[kentuck]

3. The fear in our Capitol is understandable after what happened.

It is better to be prepared. Nobody understands what degree of danger is waiting.

[yardwork]

18. Whoever said that is wrong.

[KS Toronado]

19. Pete Townshend of the WHO sang that.....

And he wasn't on 1st base at the time, more like the outfield looking in.

[malaise]

6. I don't think it was all code

He was quite explicit

[Buckeye_Democrat]

9. Being intolerant of the intolerant...

Last edited Sat Jan 16, 2021, 09:21 AM - Edit history (1)

... is indeed not the same as being an intolerant person.

Right-wingers have been using that "argument" for years, even when they're incapable of a "live and let live" attitude.

And then the evangelicals among them are compelled to constantly CONVERT others to their views. So what happens if they ever converted everyone? They eat their own and create new "others" which need converted, that's what.

[exboyfil]

11. Yes and every Representative who voted no

Takes that no vote down into history. The Constitution is almost toothless when it comes to a rogue President. I think he expected the undermanned Capitol and Metropolitan police to fold like a cheap suit. They didn't. Many were compromised, but the ones who stayed at their posts are heroes (fuck the Republican Congressman that pointed out that the policeman who shot the insurrectionist was black).

Four fucking hours to get anything but one tactical team into the Capitol, and that team for some reason that I still don't understand pulled out after the insurrectionist was shot. I also note they say it had just arrived. Really it just happened to get there when she was shot. Interesting timing. There were also guards on the other side of the barricade. What were they doing? The guy with what looks like a Capitol ID in a suit standing around with the insurrectionists - what was he doing?

[Demonaut]

12. this is so true, I watched from his speech to the NG walking people out, we are rational

trumpanzees are not, my coworker said it was caused by antifa, they will always find others to blame, justifiable excuses and whataboutisms.

After it is found that trump and his crime family did major damage, theft etc, they will call it a witch hunt, sore winners or just plain lies from the media.

[Ford_Prefect]

15. He invited them, wound them up and sent them to the target with his blessing.

They were there to do his works. Along with roughly 140 members of Congress and the Senate, as evidenced by their persistent, willing and confident testimony during the debate and voting on acceptance of the electoral college tallies.

He was never going to intervene in so noble and effective an event. It was the kind of public theater he prefers.

[634-5789]

16. You had me at 'Trump could have stopped the assault on our government if he had chosen'.

[Laha]

17. Well said

Thank you

[Laura PourMeADrink]

20. The more I read about how difficult it is to prove

"incitement" the more I think the Mgrs should focus more on exactly what you mention first - that he could have stopped it.

I would definitely broaden the scope on his part in helping to create the angry mob though. Back to the start and his inflammatory language from beginning. He corralled the hate, and breathed life into it for 4 years. There were 7 hate groups involved. Like the culmination of all his efforts.

[Ohioboy]

22. Yes!

It should certainly be focused on in the trial.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

27. A simple clear timeline... I wonder if his inner circle can just

refuse to comply with subpoenas or refuse to answer? Would be great to hear he was just eating popcorn, watching TV while the mob bash windows. And aides had to convince him to say something!

[Ohioboy]

31. I hope they can't refuse to comply with subpoenas. We need truth!

We need to have the truth out so that we can get some of his supporters to see him for what he is.

That is the hardest thing about Trump- people just don't see past the grifting.

My own mother, who I love dearly, believes Trump's lie that he sent the National Guard in right away. This, and many other lies need to be dealt with before people like my mother will open their eyes.

I am in fear for our country, and I believe the truth is the only thing that may save us.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

35. You made me think....talking about your mom. Nothing should be used that's subjective

like he EXPLICITLY TOLD people to storm the inside of the Capitol. Similar to arguments on Ukraine - ANYTHING
that can be open to the right's interpretation.

If they stick to pure facts, at least we have a fighting chance. Say the protesters breech the doors at 2:00. Then show
that trump called in NG at 4:00p - *just making up times here. Throw in that calls were made by various people/agencies
in that window begging for backup. Then, if you could get an aide to say they requested the prez call in guard at 3:00.

Maybe more of the facts like that would persuade people like your mom? It's got to be SUPER SIMPLE though. Somehow
showing HIS actions along side of what was happening at the Capitol.

Just brainstorming here.

[Ohioboy]

37. We need to brainstorm how to stop this

[kentuck]

23. And the date, January 6th, was not just a coincidence.

He knew what that date meant and so did the mob.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

24. More than final electoral count day?

[Ohioboy]

33. Exactly!

What president holds a rally on the very day they are certifying the EC vote, says he will "never concede" that "there's theft involved" and sends his followers to where the vote is being certified?

[Ohioboy]

21. Trump has yet to recognize the officer beaten to death that day

A man gave his life defending our Capitol and the president just sluffs him off. So much for the law and order president he claims to be.

[VA_Jill]

25. He didn't WANT to stop it

In fact, quite the opposite. He started it. It was PLANNED.

[kentuck]

26. Yes. When Pence refused to change the count to his favor....

He decided to pull the trigger on his plan. The timing of the count and the timing of his speech to the mob was all part of his plan.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

28. One clue it was planned -- that noose and hanging frame!!!

[lookyhereyou]

30. no protection of tRump bunker boy ?

they flue W.around so he would be safe.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

32. Yes! So how can they find a link between trump and the upfront

planning?

Call me tinfoil hat, but remember that warning to air traffic control that a plane would crash into Capitol on 1/6 (re:Iran)? I think that was the "all systems go" coded message to the riot mob.

[mvd]

29. K&R

The Capitol attack wasn’t just an attack on our institutions, but on the members itself. Trump is responsible for something that could have been a lot worse.

[Nexus2]

34. There's been reporting the Trump actually did want to accompany that mob.

But the Secret Service talked him out of it.

[FormerDittoHead]

36. The other speeches that day should not be parsed from what Trump said.

If you see what Don Jr. and esp Rudy Guilani said before Trump, the picture comes into better focus.

However, let's understand that all of this was just the latest entry in a "big lie" campaign which has been telling them all the whole election (actually in 4 states all with Republican legislatures) was a total fraud.

If someone stands up and says, "Go to the Capitol and start killing people", and Trump comes up and says nothing to condition his agreement or distance himself from the prior speaker(s), he is doing nothing less than saying the same things.

[Ohioboy]

40. I like your username

[I_UndergroundPanther]

38. of course they knew what trump said that is why they chanted trump invited us here.

[apnu]

41. Here are the facts of that day.

Trump spent a month promoting this rally, he made sure it was a grievance rally. He nurtured a narrative that was a blatant lie.

He called for as many supporters as possible to come to DC that day, specifically when the Electoral College was being certified by Congress.

He held his rally and wound them up with his grievances. He got his inner circle and his own family to do the same.

He told them specifically to march to the Capitol and 'fight'.

During the run up to all this, actual hate groups, that Trump goes out of his way to ignore, embedded themselves in the rally and planned actual sedition and insurrection.

Trump and his Administration did nothing about this, maybe some did this intentionally. The lack of preparations at the Capitol, that other departments were held in the dark about this, suggests strongly there is intent for this rally.

Using the cover of the crowd, militant militias and hate groups (Oathkeepers, Proud Boys, and more) did lay seige to the Capitol of the United States while Congress was in session.

Even if Trump is not a ring leader in all this, he is certainly guilty for creating an environment where it was quite easy for seditious American elements to enter the halls and offices of Congress with clear, unmistakable malicious intent.

[Grasswire2]

42. Four words provide all the evidence of his intent that day.

"IT WILL BE WILD."