January 6 Hearings Live

[lpetrich]

Hemant Mehta on Twitter: "No surprise that the Capitol terrorists stopped to thank Jesus inside." / Twitter

Jack Jenkins on Twitter: "So @NewYorker has footage of the prayer that was led on the Senate chamber floor by insurrectionists on Jan 6.

It was led by the so-called QAnon Shaman, and occurs roughly 2/3 into this video.

Here's a quick transcript. (New Yorker link)" / Twitter

Group:* Amen!

*So-called QAnon Shaman:* Let's say a prayer. Let's all say a prayer in this sacred space.

Thank you Heavenly Father for gracing us with this opportunity…[takes off hat]…to stand up for our God-given unalienable rights. Thank you Heavenly Father for being the inspiration needed to these police officers to allow us into the building, to allow us to exercise our rights, to allow us to send a message to all the tyrants, the communists, and the globalists that this is our nation not theirs, that we will not allow the America - the American way, of the United States of America - to go down. Thank you divine, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent creator God for filling this chamber with your white light and love, your white light of harmony. Thank you for filling this chamber with patriots that love you and that love Christ.

*Person in group:* Yes Lord! Yes!

Thank you divine, omniscient, omnipotent and omnipresent creator God for blessing each and every one of us here and now. Thank you divine creator God for surrounding (among us?), with the divine omnipresent white light of love and protection, peace and harmony. Thank you for allowing the United States of America to be reborn. Thank you for allowing us to get rid of the communists, the globalists, and the traitors within our government. We love you and we thank you, in Christ's holy name we pray!

*Group:* Amen!

Pro-Economy = Pro-Mask on Twitter: "@jackmjenkins @sarahmccammon @NewYorker So he seems pretty clear which side the police were on" / Twitter

Sandra Smith on Twitter: "@jackmjenkins @NewYorker I have been attending church services in Canada for most of my life - and two years in South Korea as well - and *never* have I heard the term "white light" - *white* light - applied to God, certainly not at the frequency with which it's used here. That was an eye-opener." / Twitter

Grumpy Chaplain on Twitter: "@jackmjenkins The call-and-response is the same. Even the rhetoric against the ists is similar in Holiness Movement churches." / Twitter

No Way on Twitter: "@jackmjenkins They've gotten crazier since I went to Sunday School. We just bowed our heads prayed quietly, no hand waving or shouting. There were no shofars; being blown or worn on anyone's head either." / Twitter

Paul Goeth on Twitter: "@hemantmehta trump's Twitter feed for weeks leading up to this was full of these people proclaiming that god/Jesus was going to perform a miracle on the 6th, and guarantee trump another four years." / Twitter

 

[blastula]

Don Winslow on Twitter: "I was contacted by someone who I've confirmed works at The Capitol who told me the following:

Laura Boebert gave a “tour” on the 5th even though she’s denying it." / Twitter

Winslow might coincidentally happen to be right about Boebert here, but he is too often full of shit.

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/donwinslow/status/1179138038464540674?s=20[/TWEET]

[TWEET]https://twitter.com/donwinslow/status/1282487027464671232[/TWEET]

He's a conman, don't believe this on his word alone.

 

[Treedbear]

So it looks like Trump finally got his way and the USPS is removing mailboxes around the nation. People will have to use their own mailbox now whenever they want to mail someone a pipe bomb.

 

[lpetrich]

Alex Kotch on Twitter: "This will make a nice campaign ad for Cruz’s next election." / Twitter
noting
Josh Marshall on Twitter: "Video of insurrectionists stealing documents on the senate floor. “I think Cruz would want us to do this so I think we’re good.” Great work, @tedcruz (Full video and article at @NewYorker (article link)) (video link)" / Twitter

Dominic Pezzola Affidavit in Support of Criminal Complaint.pdf
"W-1 stated that other members of the group talked about things they had done during the day, and they said that anyone they got their hands on they would have killed, including Nancy Pelosi."
So it was a lynch mob.

How the rioters who stormed the Capitol came dangerously close to Pence - The Washington Post

Inside the Capitol siege: How barricaded lawmakers and aides sounded urgent pleas for help as police lost control - The Washington Post

 

[Treedbear]

It's guerrillas in our midst.

 

[lpetrich]

There’s Video of Christian Terrorists Praying to God Inside the U.S. Capitol | Hemant Mehta | Friendly Atheist | Patheos


Rania Khalek on Twitter: "“Any chance I can get you guys to leave the Senate wing?” the officer asked politely... https://t.co/BcxxwlDjto" / Twitter
then
Rebecca Parson on Twitter: "George Floyd. Manuel Ellis. Breonna Taylor." / Twitter

Randi Mayem Singer on Twitter: "This is where the My Pillow guy could actually help America: (pic of soldiers sleeping in the Congress building)" / Twitter

Alex Jones claims he funded rally that led to Capitol chaos

Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones claims he put up nearly $500,000 to mount President Trump’s disastrous speech Wednesday in Washington, DC — and was asked by the White House to lead the subsequent march that devolved into a riotous siege of Capitol Hill.

“No one would book the Ellipse, no one would book the other areas. No one would pay for it. We went and paid for it,” Jones said in a video posted to his InfoWars website Thursday and reported by The Independent.

“Thank God a donor came in and paid like 80 percent of it,” he went on. “Because it cost close to half a million dollars, with all the equipment, all the stages and the rest of it. Port-a-Potties, you name it.”

 

[lpetrich]

FBI investigating whether woman stole laptop from Pelosi's office to sell it to Russia - POLITICO

The FBI is investigating evidence that a woman who entered the Capitol on Jan. 6 stole a laptop or hard drive from Speaker Nancy Pelosi's office and intended to sell it to Russians.

The bizarre claim, which the FBI emphasized remains under investigation, was included in an affidavit describing the criminal case against Riley June Williams, a Pennsylvania woman who was seen in footage of the Jan. 6 insurrection in area of the Capitol near Pelosi's office.

FBI vetting Guard troops in DC amid fears of insider attack

U.S. defense officials say they are worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into Washington for the event.

The massive undertaking reflects the extraordinary security concerns that have gripped Washington following the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters. And it underscores fears that some of the very people assigned to protect the city over the next several days could present a threat to the incoming president and other VIPs in attendance.

There were some 5th columnists in the Capitol Police and likely also in the command hierarchy, and there may be 5th columnists among the NG troops.

 

[lpetrich]

Noem blames Capitol insurrection on lack of civics education

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday blamed an inadequate education in American civics as “the root cause” of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, while making no mention of President Donald Trump’s role in the attack that sent Congress into hiding.

The Republican governor is a close ally of the president, campaigned for him across the country and supported his efforts to contest the results of the presidential election. Since Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, Noem has tried to deflect blame from the president while calling for an end to political violence.

Seems like deflection.

Noem said the goal of the curriculum was to teach students that the United States “is the most unique nation in the history of the world.”

And thus that Americans have nothing to learn from anywhere else in the world.

 

[TomC]

Noem blames Capitol insurrection on lack of civics education

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday blamed an inadequate education in American civics as “the root cause” of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, while making no mention of President Donald Trump’s role in the attack that sent Congress into hiding.

The Republican governor is a close ally of the president, campaigned for him across the country and supported his efforts to contest the results of the presidential election. Since Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, Noem has tried to deflect blame from the president while calling for an end to political violence.

Seems like deflection.

Noem said the goal of the curriculum was to teach students that the United States “is the most unique nation in the history of the world.”

And thus that Americans have nothing to learn from anywhere else in the world.

Noem is obviously dodging, but has a good point. Poor civics education leaves millions of people vulnerable to the kind of lies spewing out of the Trump administration. People who really don't understand how the system works.
Tom

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Noem blames Capitol insurrection on lack of civics education

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday blamed an inadequate education in American civics as “the root cause” of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, while making no mention of President Donald Trump’s role in the attack that sent Congress into hiding.

The Republican governor is a close ally of the president, campaigned for him across the country and supported his efforts to contest the results of the presidential election. Since Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, Noem has tried to deflect blame from the president while calling for an end to political violence.

Seems like deflection.

Noem said the goal of the curriculum was to teach students that the United States “is the most unique nation in the history of the world.”

And thus that Americans have nothing to learn from anywhere else in the world.

Civics! I'm sick and tired of these right-wingers saying "Civics". We aren't teaching this stuff in history class. Like they even know what is being taught in History Class.

They mistake the concept of "American Exceptionalism" and "America First" for "Civics". They want Civics to be this concept of America First, but won't even commit to the responsibility of Civics... voting, taxes, helping the community, like wearing a fucking mask!

 

[lpetrich]

Jesse Damiani on Twitter: "BREAKING (CNN): Rep. Steve Cohen confirms that Rep. @laurenboebert gave a large tour prior to the attack on the Capitol." / Twitter
and
Aaron Rupar on Twitter: ""We saw congress[woman] Boebert taking a group of people for a tour sometime after the 3rd and before the 6th." -- Rep. Steve Cohen says he and a colleague saw Rep. Boebert giving people a tour of the Capitol in the days leading up to the riot https://t.co/dNPymWqjPY" / Twitter

So he's claiming that Rep. LB is a 5th columnist.

Tom Winter on Twitter: "NBC News: The FBI has charged Riley Williams with her role in the Capitol riot. ..." / Twitter

NBC News: The FBI has charged Riley Williams with her role in the Capitol riot.

The FBI says she told a former partner that she intended to take a laptop / hard drive stolen from Pelosi's office, ship it to Russia, where a friend would turn it over to the SVR -- Russian intel

The FBI says they spoke with Williams’ mother on Saturday and she allegedly said, “she recognized her daughter inside the U.S. Capitol Building and that her daughter had taken a sudden interest in President Trump’s politics and “far right message boards.”

The charging document says, “according to W1, the transfer of the computer device to Russia fell through for unknown reasons and WILLIAMS still has the computer device or destroyed it.”

The FBI agent on the case says the matter remains under investigation.

After the fall of the Soviet Union, the KGB was split up into FSB (domestic) and SVR (foreign).

 

[lpetrich]

Laurence Tribe on Twitter: "“Republicans are no longer just afraid that their base will force them to defend the politically indefensible or send them packing in a primary challenge. They’re afraid that their base, or at least certain elements of it, will literally kill them.” OMG. https://t.co/HbyGdNcNzE" / Twitter
noting
Opinion | Republican politics is now defined by the threat of murderous violence - The Washington Post

You may have heard this aphorism about the parties: Democrats hate their base and Republicans fear their base. We must now confront a sinister new reality. Republicans are no longer just afraid that their base will force them to defend the politically indefensible or send them packing in a primary challenge.

They’re afraid that their base, or at least certain elements of it, will literally kill them.

...
This is not an exaggeration or a metaphor. In December, the majority leader of the Pennsylvania Senate said that if she didn’t support Republican efforts to nullify the state’s electoral votes, “I’d get my house bombed tonight.” With the attack on the Capitol, the murderous threat to the life of every elected official came home for members of Congress.

...
Rep. Peter Meijer (Mich.), one of 10 Republicans who later voted to impeach President Trump for inciting the riot, wrote about a Republican colleague who knew GOP efforts to overturn the election were wrong but joined them anyway. Why? “My colleague feared for family members, and the danger the vote would put them in. Profoundly shaken, my colleague voted to overturn.”

...
For many months, the way QAnon and its lunatic beliefs about a global conspiracy of Satan-worshipping pedophile cannibals were steadily infecting the Republican Party was bizarre and disturbing. But now it is defining the party’s relationship with its base — and the threat of violence is at the core of that relationship.

Republicans' professed love of the military and the police ought to make it easy for them to recruit bodyguards and investigators. So why are they so easily cowed by such people?

 

[bilby]

Noem blames Capitol insurrection on lack of civics education

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Friday blamed an inadequate education in American civics as “the root cause” of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, while making no mention of President Donald Trump’s role in the attack that sent Congress into hiding.

The Republican governor is a close ally of the president, campaigned for him across the country and supported his efforts to contest the results of the presidential election. Since Trump’s supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol last week, Noem has tried to deflect blame from the president while calling for an end to political violence.

Seems like deflection.

Noem said the goal of the curriculum was to teach students that the United States “is the most unique nation in the history of the world.”

And thus that Americans have nothing to learn from anywhere else in the world.

Well, he's certainly highlighted a failure of the US educational system.

The word 'unique' means 'the only one of its kind'.

So the phrase 'the most unique' means 'the most only one of its kind'. More only one than any other. It's nonsense, gibberish newspeak intended more to obscure meaning than to convey it.

He needs to be in a remedial English class, not a position of power or authority.

 

[ZiprHead]

You lie down with dogs...

 

[Keith&Co.]

So why are they so easily cowed by such people?

uncanny valley.
They've long industrialized violence against the enemy. Bombing the bad guys in Jesus' name is the American Way.

Recently, they've normalized violence against fellow Americans, but political opposites. Muslim Congresspeople getting death threats, from the right, that's politics. And, leftist voters threatening violence against the right just validates the choices the right made.

But voters thst are supposed to be ON YOUR SIDE calling you RINO, and ANTIFA, and traitors, and threatening to kill YOU? That's not how it's supposed to be!
If antifa were threatening to hang them, they probably have their speeches already drafted. But the guys in their own posse wanting yo string them up? That's too scary.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Noem blames Capitol insurrection on lack of civics education

Seems like deflection.

And thus that Americans have nothing to learn from anywhere else in the world.

Well, he's certainly highlighted a failure of the US educational system.

The word 'unique' means 'the only one of its kind'.

So the phrase 'the most unique' means 'the most only one of its kind'. More only one than any other. It's nonsense, gibberish newspeak intended more to obscure meaning than to convey it.

He needs to be in a remedial English class, not a position of power or authority.

And you need a gender awareness class, as Gov. Noem is a woman.

Their idea of Civics is "America is Awesome! USA! USA!" It wouldn't be that much of a class really, pretty much just need a 1980s Hulk Hogan promo to cover the bases.

 

[marc]

Here is a collection of a few hundred videos of the riot, collected from parlor and arranged in chronological order. Can even filter between in the area, by the capitol, and in the capitol.

 

[lpetrich]

Senate Dems eye punishing Hawley and Cruz for election objections - POLITICO

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) this week joined the growing calls for Hawley and Cruz to be censured, but said the penalties under consideration should also extend to the six other GOP senators who joined them in objecting to the election results, including Sens. Rick Scott of Florida and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. Even though the others were less vocal about their objections, Murphy said they were all “legitimizing this view amongst the crowd [of rioters] that Congress had the power to overturn the election.”

“If it really was only the two of them, maybe the unreasonable expectation that all these rioters had would have been dampened,” Murphy said, adding: “So I also don’t love the idea that all of the shame is being targeted to just those two senators. I think everybody who signed onto that letter deserves blame as well.”

Malevolence Tempered by Incompetence: Trump’s Horrifying Executive Order on Refugees and Visas - Lawfare - "The malevolence of President Trump’s Executive Order on visas and refugees is mitigated chiefly—and perhaps only—by the astonishing incompetence of its drafting and construction."

That seems to be the case with this attempted coup.

 

[lpetrich]

QAnon's 'Meme Queen' Marches On - The New York Times

Valerie Gilbert posts dozens of times a day in support of an unhinged conspiracy theory. The story of this “meme queen” hints at how hard it will be to bring people like her back to reality.

Ms. Gilbert, 57, is a believer in QAnon, the pro-Trump conspiracy theory. Like all QAnon faithful, she is convinced that the world is run by a Satanic group of pedophiles that includes top Democrats and Hollywood elites, and that President Trump has spent years leading a top-secret mission to bring these evildoers to justice.

She unspools this web of falsehoods on her Facebook page, where she posts dozens of times a day, often sharing links from right-wing sites like Breitbart and The Epoch Times or QAnon memes she has pulled off Twitter. On a recent day, her feed included a rant against Covid-19 lockdowns, a grainy meme accusing Congress of “high treason,” a post calling Lady Gaga a Satanist and a claim that “covfefe,” a typo that Mr. Trump accidentally tweeted three years ago, was a coded intelligence message.

“I’m the meme queen,” Ms. Gilbert told me. “I won’t produce them, but I share a mean meme, and I’m kind of raw.”

...
What attracts Ms. Gilbert and many other people to QAnon isn’t just the content of the conspiracy theory itself. It’s the community and sense of mission it provides. New QAnon believers are invited to chat rooms and group texts, and their posts are showered with likes and retweets. They make friends, and are told that they are not lonely Facebook addicts squinting at zoomed-in paparazzi photos, but patriots gathering “intel” for a righteous revolution.

This social element also means that QAnon followers aren’t likely to be persuaded out of their beliefs with logic and reason alone.

 

[Shadowy Man]

Like flat earthers but more dangerous. Though, maybe if they had the President backing them and egging them on they might storm the UN.