The demonstration that led to rioting and vandalism in Washington was the kind of public outrage we have seen hundreds of times in recent years. Most of the 20,000 protesters (as officially estimated by the FBI) were peaceful. In terms of actual violence, this one was in the lower half of the scale.
It was highly focused. There were no mobs running wildly through the streets of Washington attacking businesses, homes and vehicles. There was no mass looting and no neighborhoods being torched. There was no fusillade of rocks, urine and Molotov cocktails bombarding police.
There was one unfortunate death. A young female protester inside the Capitol Building was shot by police. The news media was not able to report the circumstances that resulted in that tragic situation, but this would not be the first riot in which people were killed.
Some media reported four deaths – also without detailed explanation. We did learn that the other three died from some “medical emergency” – perhaps heart attacks. Even under the best of circumstances, people will die wherever large crowds gather. It happens at sports events and theme parks.
Unlike many of those other so-called “peaceful demonstrations” around the nation, the crowds started to disperse quietly from Capitol Hill in the late afternoon. There was no effort to “occupy” the ground or set up some sort of “autonomous zone” as might real insurrectionists.
The only reported gun shot was the one that killed the young woman. In fact, considering how many of those people support carry and conceal, it is remarkable that there was not more gunfire. Maybe that is because legal gun owners are not generally involved in non-defensive shootings.
As bad as the damage was to some windows, doors and furniture, it was relatively minor compared to the damage done in the rioting, looting, arson, graffiti and statue toppling we have seen in recent riots around the country.
About 50 people were reported to have been arrested. We do not know the charges or if they will be summarily released as has been the case in most riots where a lot more harm and injury was done.
One point on which almost everyone agrees is that the various law enforcement agencies failed in dealing with the pre-event intelligence and the actions on the ground. Severe criticism was heaped on the Capitol Hill Police, the Secret Service, the DC Police Department, the FBI and the National Guard.
It did seem obvious that their efforts to protect the Capitol Building from being breeched was an inexcusable failure – and even the press could not blame Trump for that. The fact that the rioting mostly took place inside and immediately outside the building underscores that criticalness of the police failure.
What was dramatically different about this event was the reporting. Oh my God! The morning shows were filled with hyperbolic reports emphasized … make that exaggerated … by hysterical reports of a political Armageddon. According to the folks of the Fourth Estate, this was not a demonstration. It was not even a riot – a descriptive they generally loath to use even when city blocks are burning, and businesses are being looted. Those other riots are downplayed in the press as “mostly peaceful” – an appellation that could have as easily applied to the mostly peaceful events on Capitol Hill.
Instead, the attack on the Capitol was termed as a violent insurrection. It was sedition … treason. It was an attempted coup against the United States. The gathered crowd were domestic terrorists. Of course, it was none of those things. It was a bunch of people – rightly or wrongly (and mostly wrongly) – venting their anger at what they believed was a stolen election.
It appeared that most of the demonstrators understood that there was no way to overturn the results of the election. They were protesting – not looking to seize power. They wanted Congress to order further investigation of vote fraud. The Republic was in no real long-term — or even short-term — danger.
MSNBC’s Joe Scarborough was so overcharged that he went off on one of his increasingly frequent unhinged screaming rants – even f-bombing his audience. He called for the immediate arrest of Trump, the Trump family, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Senators Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz and others on charges of sedition — and falsely assured his audience that the evidence is clear.
Playing off of the poor response by Capitol Hill police, Scarborough even conjectured that they were in sympathy with the demonstrators – giving them free access to the building. He went so far as to suggest that some of them may be part of Trump’s “cult.”
Scarborough brought in members of his pandering panels. Former Admiral James Stavridis declared that what happened at the Capitol was “as bad as 911.” Ponder that, for a moment. What happened in Washington on January 6, 2021 was as bad as a group of foreign terrorists hijacking three commercial airliners and using them to kill more than 3000 innocent men, women and children – toppling the two Trade Towers in New York City, crashing into the Pentagon in Washington and a force crashed into a field in Pennsylvania by heroic doomed passengers.
Stavridis did not stop there. He went on to say that Russian agents were probably part of the crowd. If we did not believe that we were just uninformed. Of course, he offered no evidence – just another Russian conspiracy theory.
CNN declared that their belief that it was all due to a strategic effort by Trump to remain President after January 20th. CNN declared the events of the day to be “the worst moments in presidential history.” Tell that to Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley and Kennedy.
They said it was the worst assault on the “House of the people” since the war of 1812, when the British ransacked our nation’s capital in an unsuccessful effort to get the colonies back. Somehow none of these anchors, reporters, historians and pundits remembered March 1, 1954, when a group of Puerto Rican independence terrorists actually stormed the gallery of the Capitol Building and shot up the peoples’ House while it was in session – wounding five members of Congress, one seriously.
They also seem to forget when anti-war demonstrators besieged the Capitol in the late 1960s. The photo atop this commentary was one I took during that demonstration – and yes, they entered the building, too.
Throughout the media-sphere, there were calls for justice. CNN’s Wolfe Blitzer demanded that police arrest and prosecute every one of the protestors – those terrorists and monsters, as they were called. Funny … I never heard Blitzer or his colleagues refer to looters and arsonists in those terms. Others suggested that the police use facial recognition to meticulously identify and arrest every possible protester.
Personally, I am all for identifying, arresting and prosecuting anyone who did damage or attacked police. It should be no problem arresting the guy posing for the camera while sitting in Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. That has been my consistent belief in ALL these riots — arrest and prosecute. It is just that the idea of arresting rioters en masse is a whole new idea from these left-leaning politicians and news folks.
The media got into a lot of whataboutism – that deal where you change the sides to suggest a difference or a hypocricy. What – they clamored – would have happened if these demonstrators were part of Black Lives, Inc. or a group of Muslims. Apart from ginning up racist friction, we already have the answers. In riot after riot, the leftwing politicians and media were hostile to any police action – especially siding with minority rioters. How many times did we witness homes being burned and businesses being looted as the police stood down – under orders of Democrat mayors and governors?
Remember how Mayor Ted Wheeler blamed those guarding federal buildings in Portland, Oregon for provoking the violence? Or how the police were ordered to stay out of their own precinct headquarters so that the anarchists could “occupy” it with their illegal autonomous zone?
While I can believe that for a few moments, there may have been a sense of fear among members of Congress as uncertainty reigned when rioters entered the building, but for them to act like they were actually attacked is a bit extreme.
Not one member of Congress was directly threatened, shoved, shot at or injured. Their chambers were not trashed. Even Lawrence O’Donnell, on MSNBC, conceded that the Senate Chamber was undisturbed by the rioters who milled about. Both houses of Congress were able to resume normal business shortly after the demonstrators and any rioters were either arrested or removed from the building.
Inadvertently, former Republican National Chairman (and now an MSNBC parroting panelist) Michael Steele hit upon the reason for the EXTREMELY hypocritical difference in the coverage of this demonstration compared to all those other leftwing riots. He said what happened on Capitol Hill was “in our house … our backyard.”
That self-indulgent, arrogant elitist Washington establishment – politicians and press – are going bonkers because the wrath of the mob is in THEIR face this time. The mob is not off in those distant neighborhoods populated by less privileged people. They do not care about all those businesses that could not operate as anti-American anarchists occupied the public commons – or because looters were stripping their stores bare of their stock in trade. They were not this riled up in support of those who lost their homes to arsonists. And not even sympathetic to the injured and dead unless the perpetrator was a cop or a rightwing nutcase. But let one demonstrator step on these folks $1000 Hermès loafers and it becomes a capital crime.
Those members of Congress who were shot at in 1954 – and those who were fired upon on that baseball field in 2017 — whined less than those who were propped up to complain on the major networks to grab media attention and further sensationalize the story.
What came across very clearly in all the news reports was that disconnected sense of privilege that infects the New York/Washington establishment. In responding to the events on Capitol Hill, the left-wing politicians and press have yet again foisted a willfully distorted narrative on the American people.
So, there ‘tis.
P.S. Before those of you on the left go bat sh*t bonkers because I did not address the role of President Trump in the short-lived siege of Capitol Hill, you will see that subject in a later commentary.
Once again we see and hear what the left wing political and reporting media want you to see and hear not what actually relates to the over all actions of the masses but of a few who decided to give them something to report, maybe these few were working for the left, and infiltrated the whole!
Are we going to sit back and just watch all this unfold or are we going to stick together and take THEM down? There are a few hundred that must be put to death because the judicial system will not do a thing about it!
you are a A hole to call for people death their could be some of your distance family there.
SO why don’t the people from Washington DC the senators and congress and those that worked for President Trump, that were harassed in public file suit against those democrats that advocated violence to get their way. Why doesn’t every store and business owner that was damaged file suit against those that advocated for violence and claimed that those rioters had a right to riot! Vice President Harris was one of those saying they should continue to destroy other peoples property. Joe Biden running for president never stepped forward to condemn anyone. If you are running for president should you not act presidential? It is unconscionable that he sat in his basement and said nothing, knowing he already won the election before the first person cast their vote. The defection of the republicans that were supposed to be on the peoples side made me realize there are no parties. There are only Politian’s and almost all of them go which ever the wind blows. None of them give a darn about the people they are supposed to represent. I am only sorry that my grand kids have never and will never see the America I grew up in! They will never know what it was like to have Politian’s that actually worked for the better good of the country! They will never have role models’ that show them what a compromise is. We are being ruled by the mob, the unscrupulous people who organized this entire pandemic and everything else that has happened this year! Yes that’s right The head of the CDC a democrat funded the COVID-19 virus He asked the lab in Wuhon China to create this virus. He has been lying to us all a long, and keeps changing his story. He has been working with the Biden team, solely so he gets his place at the table. Biden has sold out to Russia and China and so has Harris! So put that in your pipe and smoke it! You have been duped and will be rowing right next to me when the flood comes!
Thank you for saying what every informed person knows.
Couldn’t have said it better myself sir! Except I would have probably cursed a little and called them ass kissers or something but you said best!!! DONALD RRUMP BY FAR THE BEST PRESIDENT SINCE THE GREAT ABRAHAM LINCOLN WHO ALSO GETS NO RECOGNITION FOR THE GREAT THAT HE DID!!!
I AM SORRY FOR THE MISSPELLING OF
“TRUMP” “TRUMP” NOT RRUMP. SO SORRY!
I would guess there are people on the left that do KNOW there was theft in the election in all of the states mentioned. The dominion machines can, and did switch votes. That has been demonstrated by a party from the company. It really should not surprise anyone that people are so disappointed in the system, that they want to get the real answers to the vote. The only reason the democrats do not want an audit is that they KNOW THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF DISCRIPANCIES in the votes that would show Trump was the winner. Trump has many reasons not to trust the vote – the democrats have tried to get him out of office from day one. He never got anyone to wok with him for the people. He got a lot done with almost no help. You were too busy spending taxpayer money to get rid of him at any cost. The media was in the democrats pocket. I am 79yrs old and never thought that communist China would run the country. If the voting majority really want Biden to run the country, I hope you are happy with the results!?
AMEN brother!
insightful article about the protests on the hill. It will be lauded on the right and ridiculed and reviled on the left. I feel it was discritively to the point.Please keep up the good work,more reporting like yours is needed.
Absolutely correct in all points. Unfortunately the current narrative started during the entire Obama administration will only label you a hater and a racist. I’m more than a little disturbed with the incessant onslaught of all media outlets. This nonstop banter filled with vitriolic hate for anyone that might be unfortunate enough to disagree has no end in sight. While the majority of conservative people are being silenced we are seeing our freedoms gutted or simply revoked. This country has several lessons to relearn and it will be a very painful experience. Though I saw no point to Trump’s refusal to accept the inevitable I absolutely concur that we are living in a system of double standards. These standards are unceasingly reaffirmed day after day by every single media outlet with only a very few exceptions. Unfortunately these exceptions are not seen on any major media. I can’t help but wonder who has that kind of power. Who can create a narrative that covers every single television “news” program? Meanwhile we sit and watch another bs election in Georgia! Elections have always been corrupt. ALWAYS. For those who choose to buy into the current propaganda I give fair warning. These string pullers behind the scenes have no concern for those who they manipulate. They only strive to retain their power and money. If in fact the liberal agenda was truly about their constituents then why now? Joe Biden has held political office for nearly 50 years and has done nothing on the subject of racism. Divide and conquer folks. While they continue to drive a wedge between white and black, left and right “We The People”, are losing the very freedoms they claim to preserve. Wake up people! This is a dog and pony show and it’s only going to get worse. There’s nothing new under the sun.
Heres hoping the true us caring citizen who who voted for China China take over & sympozisers have learned that democratic slavesr still rule over black & brown once a democratic follower with free free stuff are summer than sheep & know who still pays the Bill’s it’s time to get off your ass & take these dems & boot the asses out of office you cowards yes you cowards my openion
Thank you! Well said!
Rise up.
Gun up.
Secession or civil war
Let my people go.
The federal government is worthless. The Democrats are the root cause of the unrest in this nation. They only want it their way or the highway. The nation will never unite. Look, it’s already split at the top, Republicans and Democrats and those independents who can’t stand either party. The nation will always be split. But somehow we are to work together. With the house and senate now under one party by simple majority rule how can there be inclusion? What happened to the 2/3 majority and rule of 60 votes to pass measures? If I were the Republicans, I would just sit out the next two years and see how the Democrats screw the people. The checks and balance are for the house, senate and executive. There needs to be a check and balance between the major D and R parties. Talk about mob-rule. The D’s around the country have figured a way to ensure their majority at the federal level. The federal government needs to be fixed to help ensure the people are represented. It’s ridiculous that the past four years were nothing but separation according to the D’s and now they want to unite. Screw the D’s. They are the enemy. You can’t count on the powers that be to do the right thing. Rules need to be placed. A politician should be judged by the job they do and not just because they are a D or R. Term limitation! And what the hell is it when a politician has other loyalties to other countries above the US? USA should be number one. USA is the country who helped the world. I am no longer proud to be an American with the joke of Washington DC. At least there are still laws that make this nation more favorable to stay. But how long will that last under the dictatorship of the Democratic Party?
Heart broken for president Trump for four years he endured the worst treatment any President ever encountered..and he never cried out about it ……instead he did what a president should do ….he went on with business trying to make this mixed up country GreatAgain..now the left has done the damage and no one speaks out about it…and is still going on in some states..the media is a waste..all
Brown nosers the left is no better
And we will ALL find out their gruesome effect they will plunge on our country and those who voted for them will deserve the battle………
Get all those animals that were arrested punish them good and hard and make it a law that riotetors are subject to life in prison A
…and death if any one is killed……So sick of the evil ones gat away all the time and they cry for Justice…
I watched Trumps Really on the sixth of January, He said nothing that would be a cause for a Roit, However as I was looking though the Crowd of people I started to notes some men up in the back rowe that did not look to be interested in what trump was saying, they were looking aroun and spoke to each other and loughed than i saw other people in the crowd that looked like they did not belong there. There was nothing I could do but watch. As they aproched the Capital I saw one of the men from the really, that I thought did not belong there start waving his hand in a guester like follow me, he kept waving for people to follow him as he led his group into the building I saw him pushing a lady though the door. I am shore Antifa and Black lives had infortated the really. all I could do was watch. A Guard opened the door for them and than ran ahead like he was being attack by the people he opened the door for.
Liberal,socialist,marxist democrats live by one set of rules,almost none and conservative AMERICANS have to live by a different more strict set of rules.
At first I thought the photo was something out of a play or movie about the French
Revolution…until I spotted the usual garb and look of the 60s rich kids. Any chance the pictured are id’d and/or still “peaceful
Protesters” or haven’t yet paid off their student loans?
I may be wrong, but I think this mess began with mail-in voting pushed by Pelosi because of the virus.
I stood in line to vote knowing that fraud would be a problem and so did Trump. When the election was
over and the ballots started to surface, I knew there was trouble ahead, especially in the key states.
What angers me is that when Trump had his suspicions and began his investigation, no one had a word
to say except deny there was any problem and the media as well. All of Trump’s supporters have been
sitting with this denial of fraud and finally could not take it anymore. I think the MAGA group intended
it to be a peaceful demostration, but a few radicals got out of control and the crowd followed. It is a
shame that this happened and Trump is being blamed for it.
The answer to the media’s question ” What – they clamored – would have happened if these demonstrators were part of Black Lives, Inc. or a group of Muslims.” is Many innocent people and elected politicians would have been killed or injured, the building would have been burned to the ground and all designer handbags, shoes and flat screen TVs would have been looted. Because that’s what those groups have done and continue to do over and over again. (it’s all on video for those who wish to deny these actions have happened!)
It’scalled bend over we will do as we please and screw you .
Thank you, O voice of reason