A Little Perspective

[NanceGreggs]

I have been reading/hearing complaints all day about how the media were out in force to cover the J6 Rally - which turned out to be a nothing-burger. But the fact is that had it turned out to be a something-burger and the media wasn't there, the same people would be complaining about how irresponsible the media was for not being there to record the event.

I have been reading/hearing all day about how the security precautions taken at the Capitol were an embarrassing over-reach, because only a few hundred innocuous protestors showed up. But had ten thousand violent rioters showed up, those same people would be decrying the idea that the pre-emptive preparations were woefully inadequate.

No one knew how today's event would play out until it happened - any more than anyone knew how the events of January 6th would unfold until they did.

As things turned out, the fact that security measures were what some would consider to be over-the-top served as a clear warning: bring it, because we are ready for you, regardless of your numbers.

The fact that the MSM outnumbered the protestors served the same purpose: we're here to record your actions - and if your actions get ugly, we have you on tape.

Many predicted that today's events would amount to nothing - but who predicted that the events on January 6th would lead to what they eventually turned out to be?

If you are complaining that the news media and the DC police over-reacted to the J6 rally, I would point out that it's always easy to predict the future after it's already become the past.

[Bettie]

1. Better to be over prepared and not need the extra

than to be underprepared and not have what you need.

This works for outings with kids too.

[TreasonousBastard]

2. It's tempting to analyze and fault-find after the fact, since that shows off one's great wisdom

wisdom.

It is far more difficult to properly prepare before the fact since one does not have the situation to look back on.

[Jon King]

3. Agreed, the show of force was actually a good thing either way.

The Jan 6th traitors had a sense of power and entitlement and arrogance that they owned the country. They needed to see a properly organized security response. They needed to see overwhelming force. That is a language they can understand. And they needed to see that TFG is not in charge of anything at all.

[unblock]

4. To be clear, my isn complaint wasn't about then covering the event at all --

My complaint is about the grossly unequal treatment of left and right protests.

The media has long ignored or minimally covered progressive events that draw literally a million or more people. That's a massive turnout and should be taken as hugely significant politically, but the media downplays the message and the passion of progressives and only seems to care if some windows get broken.

Meanwhile, tiny gatherings of right-wing lunatics gets at least as much coverage, usually with little to no hint that their tiny numbers mean that they do not represent a meaningful constituency. Far from it, they're usually presented as being on equal footing with the left.


If a few dozen progressives gathered anywhere for a protest, would it ever get national coverage?

[stopdiggin]

5. virtual every point

including the (reliable) screams about how the media were 'playing' this - the inevitable Monday morning quarterbacking - and the perpetually aggrieved - about something or another.

I'm really glad this turned out as it did - and my personal guess was that it would be pretty weak tea - but at the same time preparedness is almost never to be regretted - and the reverse all too often is.

[LittleGirl]

6. I think there is going to be a different response

when 45 finally gets arrested. I just want to know how much longer we have to wait for that arrest! He incited an insurrection! Why isn't he behind bars yet?

[monkeyman1]

7. question : could you put millions of pages together into a viable criminal case ?

[LittleGirl]

8. Me? I'm no lawyer

I just see how much damage he continues to inflict on our country and I want him behind bars. He's continuing the Big Lie and I've had enough of it.

[monkeyman1]

9. you,me, & million's of other people ! his time & family is closing in them fast !

do like I do , sit back & enjoy watch him sweat like a caged animal ! so restricted to his movements & is totally watched in his every movement ! no freedom ! iran still has a million 's of dollar's bounty on his worthless ass ! like i said ,just chill out ! thank's for reading ! v.n. vet ! being in the jungles teaches you patience !

[kentuck]

10. If a certain person had been there to order them to "fight like hell"...

...it may have been different.

However, when that "certain person" saw that the turnout was going to be meager, he warned them that it might be a "set-up", so he could continue his insane rationalizations.