34% Of The GOP Say The FBI Instigated The January 6th Riot

 

The chart above is from the Washington Post / University of Maryland Poll -- done between December 14th and 18th of a nationwide sample of 1,024 adults, with a 4.1 point margin of error.

Public Now Believes Trump/GOP Responsible For Jan. 6th

 

The charts above reflect the results of a Politico / Morning Consult Poll -- done between July 8th and 10th of a nationwide sample of 2,005 adults, with a 2 point margin of error.

47% Of GOP Say Left Wingers Caused Jan. 6th Attack

The charts above are from a Yahoo News / YouGov Poll -- done between June 24th and 27th of a nationwide sample of 1,630 adults, with about a 3 point margin of error.

It shows that about 47% of Republicans and 43% of Fox News viewers say the January 6th attack on the Capitol was done by left-wingers trying to make Trump look bad.

Reality is not even a concept with these people.

Home Grown Extremists Bigger Threat & Jan 6th Planned

 The charts above are from the new Quinnipiac University Poll -- done between June 17th and 20th of a nationwide sample of 1,524 adults, with a 2.5 point margin of error.

A Majority Approve Of House Comm. Investigating Jan. 6th

The chart reflects the result of the recent Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between June 11th and 14th of a nationwide sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,304 registered voters), with a 3.1 point margin of error for both groups. 

Who Does The Public Blame For Jan. 6th Attack On Capitol?

The chart above reflects the results of the new Politico / Morning Consult Poll -- done between June 10th and 12th of a nationwide sample of 2,005 registered voters, with a 2 point margin of error.

January 6th Select Committee Has Support Of The Public

The chart above reflects the results of the NPR / PBS NewsHour / Marist Poll -- done between December 11th and 13th of a nationwide sample of 1,400 adults (including 1,310 registered voters). The margin of error for adults is 4.0 points, and for registered voters is 4.1 points.

The Republicans have done their best to bad-mouth the January 6th Select Committee. They want Americans to believe it is unnecessary, and nothing more than a witch hunt. Fortunately, most people are not buying into the Republican lie.

Only the Republican base has a majority saying it's a witch hunt. All other groups say it is appropriate, and necessary to find out exactly what happened, and who was responsible for it.

Once again, Republicans find themselves in disagreement with a significant majority of Americans!

GOP Support For Prosecuting Jan. 6th Rioters Drops 22 Pts.

The chart above is from the Pew Research Center. They surveyed 10,371 adults between September 13th and 19th, and the survey has a 1.6 point margin of error.

It shows that Republicans are losing interest in finding and prosecuting the criminals who attacked our Capitol Building on January 6th. Back in March, about 79% thought they should be found and prosetuted. In September, that number has dropped to 57% (and only 27% thought it was very important).

It just shows how authoritarian the Republican Party is becoming -- that 43% think it's OK for people to use violence to accomplish political goals. Of course, they are being hypocritical, since they only support that when the goals are ones that Republicans like. They are opposed to others using even peaceful demonstrations to get equal rights (like Black Lives Matter) or to save lives (like groups wanting restrictions on who can buy a gun).

Jan. 6th Attack On The Capitol WAS A Violent Insurrection

Some of the Republicans in Congress want to deny that the January 6th attack on the Capitol Building was anything but a group of tourists visiting. And nearly all Republicans in Congress have voted to block a committee to investigate the cause of that attack. That's because the attack was a violent insurrection by their own right-wing supporters -- and many of them encouraged and incited the attack.

The following is what the editorial board of The Washington Post has to say about it:

In the six months since the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, former president Donald Trump has played down the violence, even painting the insurrectionists as the victims. But the facts prosecutors have revealed since this national disgrace suggest that the insurrection was actually better planned and more dangerous than it seemed on live television.

The Justice Department announced this week that law enforcement authorities have arrested more than 535 people, an average of about three every day since Jan. 6. The rioters did $1.5 million of damage to the Capitol building. The insurrectionists allegedly assaulted some 140 police officers. So far, authorities have charged 50 people with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer. But far more appear to have been involved: The FBI is still trying to identify more than 300 people investigators believe committed violent acts, including more than 200 believed to have assaulted police officers. These were not tourists.

Court documents unsealed Thursday, relating to the June 30 arrest of four Florida residents, provided harrowing details of some of these alleged assaults. One of the defendants allegedly “charged the line of police officers and began throwing punches.” Another allegedly stole a police officer’s shield after he pulled the officer down the Capitol steps, then charged into a police line. And another allegedly thrust a flagpole into an officer’s chest, before raising it over his head and apparently striking an officer in the back of his head. The attack resulted in the death of one police officer, and 138 were reported injured.

These are just a few of countless examples of mayhem that have emerged since Jan. 6. Indeed, the alleged violence was not just directed at police. Authorities have arrested six people for assaulting journalists or destroying their equipment.

Prosecutors also argue that the havoc was far from spontaneous, assembling evidence that far-right activists planned for violence, even preparing a “quick reaction force” site. Testimony from alleged participants suggests that members of the Oath Keepers stashed guns in a Virginia hotel, brought paramilitary gear, used military-style formations to assault the Capitol, conducted tactical training meetings in advance of Jan. 6 and moved to erase what they described as “all signal comms about the op” afterward.

Because Republican senators rejected a Jan. 6 commission, some questions about the assault might never be answered definitively, such as exactly what Mr. Trump did and did not do while insurrectionists attacked lawmakers. But prosecutors are showing that this was not some run-of-the-mill riot; it was a violent incursion into the nation’s seat of government conducted by dangerous extremists and encouraged by the president, who asked them to descend on Washington. This should not be another issue for partisan disagreement. No American should minimize or forget the horror of Jan. 6.

21 Republicans Vote Against Honoring The Capitol Police

 

Those Not Apalled By Jan. 6th Don't Believe In Democracy

We are coming up on a date that every American remembers -- July 4th, the date our Declaration of Independence was adopted, creating our new and independent nation. I hope every American continues to remember this date.

But there are other dates that should always be burned into the memory of every American -- dates that should forever live in infamy -- April 12th (the day the Civil War started), December 7th (the attack on Pearl Harbor), November 22nd (the assassination of President Kennedy), April 19th (bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City), and January 11th (the attack on the Twin Towers and Pentagon).

Americans who love their democracy must now add another infamous date -- January 6th (the date our Capitol Building was attacked). This insurrection is at least as important as the dates listed above, because it was an attack at the heart of our democracy -- the holding of free and fair elections. Anyone not horrified by the January 6th attack does not believe in our democracy.

The following is a small part of an op-ed by Peggy Noonan in The Wall Street Journal: 

Anyway, Capitol Hill was asleep at the switch. 

I want to say something about the meaning of 1/6 and why it is so important we set ourselves to knowing all that happened that day. 

It’s not just “the past” and we can’t just “move on.” It’s a story that’s still happening.

People experienced it differently. Most of us were chilled and horrified as we saw the pictures of men in assault gear climbing the face of the Capitol, breaking in, swarming the Rotunda. It was a shock to see the Capitol breached. 

But some weren’t horrified. They see the Capitol as already trashed through decades of bad governance, and now a stolen election. Jan. 6 was merely the physical expression of a longtime fact, that the vandals had already arrived and were wearing congressional pins. 

To the horrified, the Capitol is a symbol and repository of our republic, our democracy. Those we choose to represent us do their work there. It may be a mess and a bit of a whorehouse but it’s always been a mess and a bit of a whorehouse, because it’s human. And yet greatness can erupt there, progress can be made, things improved. 

It’s what as a nation we’ve got. It’s our only hope. 

If you weren’t appalled by 1/6, then you have given up: Throw in the towel, democracy’s done, its over. Those who know it’s not done, not over, who won’t allow it to be done and over, also know that democracy needs friends right now.

Over 1 In 5 Republicans Say Attack On Capitol Justified

The chart above reflects the results of the Yahoo News / YouGov Poll -- done between May 24th and 26th of a national sample of 377 Republicans. It shows that 21% of them think the January 6th attack on the Capitol Building was justified. They approve of a violent attack on our government. It shows the sad state of today's Republican Party.
 

Families Of Fallen Officers Ask For Jan. 6th Investigation

Most Republicans in the House voted against creating a bipartisan committee to investigate the riot at the Capitol on January 6th. The bill is now in the Senate, where it will likely take 60 votes to approve it. Sadly, it looks like there will not be enough Republicans to vote for it to reach the 60 votes (which would take 10 GOP senators). 

The Republicans don't want the committee established because they are afraid the report by that committee would embarrass their party, and maybe hurt the party in the 2022 election. For them, party politics is more important that getting the truth about the riot, and passing legislation to prevent it from happening again.

That's not making the families of fallen Capitol Police Officers happy though. They want an investigation. Here's what they had to say:

The mother Of Officer Brian Sicknick is asking to meet with Republican senators, and had this to say:

“Not having a January 6 Commission to look into exactly what occurred is a slap in the faces of all the officers who did their jobs that day. I suggest that all Congressmen and Senators who are against this Bill visit my son’s grave in Arlington National Cemetery and, while there, think about what their hurtful decisions will do to those officers who will be there for them going forward.”

“Putting politics aside, wouldn’t they want to know the truth of what happened on January 6? If not, they do not deserve to have the jobs they were elected to do.” 

The family of Officer Howie Liebengood had this to say:

“We believe a thorough, non-partisan investigation into the root causes of and the response to the January 6th riot is essential for our nation to move forward. Howie’s death was an immediate outgrowth of those events.” 

“Every officer who worked that day, as well as their families, should have a better understanding of what happened. Uncovering the facts will help our nation heal and may lessen the lingering emotional bitterness that has divided our country. We implore Congress to work as one and establish the proposed Commission."

Most Of The Public Wants Jan. 6th Investigation Committee

 

The chart above reflects the results of the newest Economist / YouGov Poll -- done between May 22nd and 25th of a national sample of 1,500 adults (including 1,248 registered voters). The margin of error for adults is 2.9 points, and for registered voters is 3.1 points.

It shows that once again the Republicans are at odds with the rest of America. While the Republicans don't want the January 6th investigation committee established, a majority of adults (56%) and registered voters (58%) do want a committee to investigate the riot at the Capitol.

Republicans are afraid the investigation would make their party look bad, possibly even exposing some members of Congress as being liable (and maybe even Trump). The public doesn't;t care about that. They want to know what happened and who is responsible.

If the GOP is able to kill this committee, it is not going to increase their popularity with the voters.

Was Trump Responsible For Jan. 6th National Guard Delay?

When the rioters attacked our Capitol Building on January 6th, the call went out for National Guard help. But it was over three hours later before the decision was made to send those troops. What so long a delay? Was it because Trump administration officials in the Defense Department didn't want to upset Trump (who seemed to be enjoying watching the riot on TV)?

It certainly looks that way. The troops were not sent until Trump finally asked his rioting supporters to go home. Here is just part of the story from Dana Milbank in The Washington Post: 

Three hours and 19 minutes.

That’s how long it took from the first, desperate pleas for help from the Capitol Police to the Trump Pentagon on Jan. 6 until the D.C. National Guard finally received permission to help put down the bloody insurrection.

During those 199 minutes, the mob sacked the Capitol. People died. Overwhelmed Capitol and D.C. police were beaten. Lawmakers’ lives were jeopardized. And violent extremists defiled the seat of government, temporarily halting the certification of Joe Biden’s victory.

“At 1:49 p.m., I received a frantic call from then-chief of United States Capitol Police, Steven Sund, where he informed me that the security perimeter of the United States Capitol had been breached by hostile rioters,” Maj. Gen. William J. Walker, commander of the D.C. Guard, testified Wednesday to a joint Senate committee investigating the attack on the Capitol. “Chief Sund, his voice cracking with emotion, indicated that there was a dire emergency at the Capitol, and he requested the immediate assistance of as many available national guardsmen that I could muster.”

Walker immediately alerted senior Army leadership — and then waited. And waited. Approval to mobilize the guard wouldn’t be received until 5:08 p.m.

At best, this was a catastrophic failure of government. At worst, political appointees and Trump loyalists at the Defense Department deliberately prevented the National Guard from defending the Capitol against a seditious mob.

The man ultimately responsible for the delay, Christopher Miller, had been a White House aide before Donald Trump installed him as acting defense secretary in November, as the president began his attempt to overturn his election defeat. Miller did Trump’s political bidding at another point during his 10-week tenure, forcing the National Security Agency to install a Republican political operative as chief counsel.

Also involved in the Pentagon delay was Lt. Gen. Charles Flynn, brother of disgraced former Trump adviser Michael Flynn, convicted (and pardoned) for lying to the FBI. Michael Flynn had suggested Trump declare martial law, and he helped to rile Trump supporters in Washington the day before the Capitol attack. The Pentagon had falsely denied to Post journalists that Charles Flynn was involved in the pivotal call on Jan. 6. . . .

Curiously, the Pentagon claims Miller’s authorization came at 4:32 — 15 minutes after Trump told his “very special” insurrectionists to “go home in peace.” Was Miller waiting for Trump’s blessing before defending the Capitol?

The Pentagon’s 199-minute delay looks worse in light of a Jan. 4 memo Miller issued saying that without his “personal authorization” the D.C. Guard couldn’t “be issued weapons, ammunition, bayonets, batons or ballistic protection equipment such as helmets and body armor.”

The Army secretary added more restrictions the next day, saying in a memo that he would “withhold authority” for the D.C. Guard to deploy a “quick reaction force” and that he would “require a concept of operation” before allowing a quick reaction force to react. McCarthy even blocked the D.C. Guard in advance from redeploying to the Capitol guardsmen assigned to help the D.C. police elsewhere in Washington.

Without such restrictions, Walker, the D.C. Guard commander, could have dispatched nearly 200 guardsmen soon after the Capitol Police mayday call. “That number could have made a difference,” Walker testified.

Capitol Riot Has Cost Taxpayers $30 Million (& Still Rising)

The Pro-Trump Capitol riot on January 6th caused damage to our democracy (especially our electoral system). But that wasn't all it cost this country. Repairing the damage done to the Capitol Building and providing security for it is also costing taxpayer money -- about $30 million so far, and that cost will rise further.

Here is how National Public Radio (NPR) is reporting this: 

The cost of repairing damages from the attack on the U.S. Capitol and related security expenses have already topped $30 million and will keep rising, Architect of the Capitol J. Brett Blanton told lawmakers on Wednesday.

The events of Jan. 6, he said, were "difficult for the American people and extremely hard for all of us on campus to witness."

Blanton said that congressional appropriations committees have already approved a transfer request of $30 million to pay for expenses and extend a temporary perimeter fencing contract through March 31.

But more money will be needed, he added: "History teaches us that project costs for replacements and repairs beyond in-kind improvements across campus will be considerable and beyond the scope of the current budgetary environment."

The price tag will go even higher, Blanton told lawmakers on the House Appropriations Committee, if the fence and other security measures are needed beyond March.

In his prepared testimony, Blanton described how his employees tried to minimize the threat to the Capitol and lawmakers on Jan. 6, when thousands of former President Donald Trump's supporters breached security perimeters at the Capitol grounds. Many of them then engaged in a pitched battle with police and security personnel.

"[Architect of the Capitol] employees sheltered congressional staff in their shops to protect them from the roving mob," Blanton said, adding, "Other members of our team raced to the roof to reverse the airflows within the building to help clear the air of chemical irritants, like bear repellents and pepper spray, while more team members rushed bottles of water and eyewash stations to Capitol Police officers in need of assistance."

When the mob thronged the Capitol, the Architect of the Capitol's painters and artisans were laboring to complete the massive task of readying the campus to host a presidential inauguration.

"Over the course of a couple of hours, the hard work of our team was destroyed," Blanton said.

"The [inauguration] platform was wrecked. There was broken glass and other debris. Sound systems and photography equipment was damaged beyond repair or stolen. Two historic Olmsted lanterns were ripped from the ground, and the wet blue paint was tracked all over the historic stone balustrades and Capitol building hallways."

In the Capitol building complex, historical statues, murals and furniture were damaged, mainly from pepper spray accretions and residue from chemical irritants and fire extinguishers, requiring expert cleaning and conservation. Work crews covered gaping holes with plywood and cleared "a small mountain of debris left behind on the west and east fronts," Blanton said.

Blanton also said many lawmakers have asked his office about preserving mementos from the unprecedented violence wrought by U.S. citizens on their own Capitol. While most damaged items had to be removed because of safety concerns, he said his staff preserved the panels of the historical Columbus Doors on the east front "for a potential presentation or display."

176 People Have Been Charged In The Capitol Riot

 These charts are from The New York Times. Here's is a part of what they had to say:

In the weeks since the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors have announced criminal charges against more than 175 people — less than a quarter of those involved in the melee, but enough to provide a rough portrait of the mob and the sprawling investigation into its actions.

At least 21 of those charged so far had ties to militant groups and militias, according to court documents and other records. At least 22 said they were current or former members of the military. More than a dozen were clear supporters of the conspiracy theory QAnon. But a majority expressed few organizing principles, outside a fervent belief in the false assertion that President Donald J. Trump had won re-election.

The accused came from at least 39 states, as far away as Hawaii. At least three were state or local officials, and three were police officers. Some were business owners; others were unemployed or made their living as conservative social media personalities. Many made comments alluding to revolution and violence, while others said the protests had been largely peaceful.

A New York Times review of federal cases through the end of January suggests that many of those in the horde were likely disorganized, but some groups and individuals came to the events of Jan. 6 trained and prepared for battle. The early charges set the stage for those to come as the Justice Department promises to prosecute even those accused of misdemeanor trespass and also devotes resources to more serious crimes, like conspiracy and homicide.

50% Say BLM Was Treated More Harshly Than Capitol Rioters

 The chart above is from a YouGov Poll -- done between January 10th and 12th of a national sample of 1,500 adults, with a 3.6 point margin of error.

Insurrection's NOT Over - They are Planning To Do It Again

Most Americans were horrified at the mob riot (insurrection) by right-wing Trump supporters  as they forced their way into our Capitol Building, endangering elected officials.

But the far right was not horrified. They were proud of it. It has emboldened them, and they are planning to do it again. It was just the opening salvo in a war the far right has been planning for years.

And the next round is not far away. They are calling for another round of insurrection around January 17-20 -- and may well try to turn the inauguration into a battle. And they're planning to come with weapons this time.

Consider this from NBC News:

In the wake of Wednesday’s riot at the Capitol, Trump supporters with extremist views feel emboldened and are vowing to return to Washington for the upcoming inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden on January 20, using online platforms to rally each other.

“Many of Us will return on January 19, 2021, carrying Our weapons, in support of Our nation's resolve, towhich [sic] the world will never forget!!! We will come in numbers that no standing army or police agency can match,” wrote a popular Parler user who frequently posts about QAnon, and is being tracked by the Anti-Defamation League.

Parler, Telegram chat rooms and the platform TheDonald.win were all used to plan and coordinate the Jan. 6 rally that turned into a riot. Posters explicitly stated their intentions to “occupy” the Capitol. QAnon conspiracy theorists and people associated with militia groups had a visible presence in Wednesday’s crowd.

“Round 2 on January 20th. This time no mercy. I don’t even care about keeping Trump in power. I care about war,” an anonymous person posted on the platform TheDonald.win, which is filled with comments posted by people who lauded those who rioted Wednesday as “heroes.” . . .

According the National Park Service, which handles permits for rallies in D.C., there are seven First Amendment permit applications in process that overlap with the inauguration date, one of which is clearly for Trump supporters.

Statues Of 11 Confederates Desecrate Our Capitol Bldg.

 The statue at left is of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy. The statue on the right is of Alexander Hamilton Stephens, the vice-president of the confederacy.

These statues are not in some history museum. They are in the Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

They are among 11 statues of Confederate officials and soldiers that are desecrating the U.S. Capitol.

I know there are those who claim they represent our heritage, but what heritage? Do we really want to glorify a heritage of hate and racism. These men fought to. keep slavery legal. They believed in the supremacy of Whites. There is no doubt of this. It is in the constitutions of the states that made up the Confederacy.

And they were traitors. They actively worked against the United States of America. These 11 men should not be honored. They should be vilified.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi has asked that the statues be removed from the Capitol building. States could replace them with real American heroes (each state donates two statues to be exhibited in the Capitol). She is right! The statues symbolize the racism that is too prevalent in this country. They must go!

Here, from KIRO7.com, is a list of the 11 states that should be removed:

Jefferson Davis, statue donated by Mississippi: Davis, who owned a cotton plantation in Mississippi before the Civil War, was the president of the Confederate States of America during the war.

James Zachariah George, statue donated by Mississippi: George was a leader in the state during Reconstruction and was a staunch white supremacist. Called the “Great Commoner,” George was a lawyer and a member of the Mississippi Secession Convention. He signed the state’s Secession Ordinance.

Wade Hampton, statue donated by South Carolina: Hampton was one of the largest slaveholders in the Southeast prior to the war. He fought for the Confederacy, reaching the rank of lieutenant general. After the war, he became the leader of the Redeemers, a political coalition that hoped to enforce white supremacy in all aspects of life. Hampton, a Democrat, was elected governor of South Carolina in a campaign that became known for its violence against black and Republican voters.  

John E. Kenna, statue donated by West Virginia: Kenna was 16 years old when he fought for the Confederacy. He was wounded, and when he returned home, he dedicated himself to becoming a lawyer. He was a prosecuting attorney and then a judge. Kenna, a Democrat, was elected to the U.S. House in 1876 and to the U.S. Senate in 1883. He died in office at age 44.

Robert E. Lee, statue donated by Virginia: Lee, a graduate of West Point, was the commander of the Confederate States Army. Lee married into one of the wealthiest slaveholding families in Virginia – the Custis family. Upon the death of his father-in-law, Lee was charged with managing Custis’ estate. He would eventually free Custis’ slaves, five years after Custis’ death, per the orders in his will. Lee also owned slaves.

Uriah Milton Rose, statue donated by Arkansas: Rose, an attorney, was a strong supporter of the Confederacy. He became chairman of the Resolutions Committee of the state Democratic Party, determined "to preserve 'white man’s” government in a “white man’s country.” He served as president of the American Bar Association. He helped found the Rose Law Firm, where Hilary Clinton was a partner.

Edmund Kirby Smith, statue donated by Florida: Smith was born into a wealthy slave-owning family in St. Augustine, Florida. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Mexican–American War, he joined the Confederate States Army to fight in the Civil War. Eventually, he would command the Trans-Mississippi Department after the fall of Vicksburg to Union forces. He was the last Confederate general to surrender after the end of the Civil War.

Alexander Hamilton Stephens, statue donated by Georgia: Stephens was a Confederate politician who served as the vice president of the Confederate States. He was a Democratic representative in the U.S. House and was the governor of Georgia from 1882 until his death in 1883.  

Zebulon Baird Vance, statue donated by North Carolina: Vance was a member of the Confederate military before being elected governor of North Carolina and the U.S. Senate. Vance favored the modernization of the Southern economy following the war.

Joseph Wheeler, statue donated by Alabama: Wheeler was a commander in the Confederate Army of Tennessee before he served as a general in the United States Army during both the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War.

Edward Douglass White, statue donated by Louisiana: White was captured during the Civil War as he was fighting for the Confederacy. After the war, he was elected to the Louisiana state Senate and served on the Louisiana Supreme Court. A Democrat, White represented Louisiana in the United States Senate and was appointed an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. A few years later, President William Howard Taft appointed him chief justice of the Supreme Court.