# 7 Jan 2021 and beyond - the aftermath of the storming of the Capitol **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 8, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020 "2021-01-08T10:28:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 62
**Author:** ![begbert2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/begbert2/32/3357_2.png) [@begbert2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/begbert2)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1226 "2021-02-24T23:17:12Z")
If you’re not a dog he doesn’t have to like you. That’s why you have to read the fine print, or else you won’t know these things. ---
**Author:** ![Aspidistra](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspidistra/32/3894_2.png) [@Aspidistra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspidistra)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 11:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1227 "2021-02-24T23:42:16Z")
Not sure where this best fits, but this thread will do - a historian’s take on the events of Jan 6, and his thoughts on how the US should move forward from it: > **[Miscellanea: Insurrections, Ancient and Modern (And Also Meet the Academicats)](https://acoup.blog/2021/01/15/miscellanea-insurrections-ancient-and-modern-and-also-meet-the-academicats/)** > > So this week I want to talk about how what I know a historian influences how I am interpreting what I am going to call the Capitol Insurrection that happened on Wednesday, January 6 instead of taki… Selected quote (from the ‘how should America respond’ section) > **The law must be enforced**. **One great advantage that the Athenian pro-democracy faction had after the fall of the Thirty was that they could claim to be acting for the law, within the law**. The rhetorical power of being ‘for the law’ in these cases is indispensable. Fortunately, what has become very clear over the past several months is that the formal legal establishment was _profoundly_ uninterested in supporting the insurrection. Moreover, while there are still serious questions about the law enforcement and security response in the early moments of the Capitol Insurrection, the[mounting lists of charges](https://www.insider.com/all-the-us-capitol-pro-trump-riot-arrests-charges-names-2021-1)makes it fairly clear that at least federal law enforcement has no intention of blinking at all of this. One assumes the change of administration will only make that more true. **The pro-democracy faction thus has a powerful advantage: it can do its work through the law** , without succumbing to private violence or petty revenge. > > - The law should be used **both to punish individual insurrectionists who break laws** **but also to break up insurrectionist groups**. > - The law should also become a key rhetorical position. ‘We are for the law’ is a powerful statement if it can be backed up by actions and can help to win over or at least neutralize potential insurrection supporters. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2021, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1228 "2021-02-24T23:48:14Z")
> [@begbert2](#): > > If you’re not a dog he doesn’t have to like you How do you know he’s not a dog? It’s the internet, after all. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1229 "2021-02-25T00:28:54Z")
On the internet nobody knows if you’re a dog. But everybody knows if you’re an ass. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1230 "2021-02-25T16:14:06Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > In yesterday’s Senate hearing, Johnson (R-LA) spouted nonsense that the rioters were left-wing provocateurs. I wish somebody had asked him: of the 200 arrested, which ones were the provocateurs? > > And that: Trump isn’t here any more, you don’t have to keep kissing his ass. He’s not President, but he’s still out there, and he can still blast you at a press conference and recruit and/or endorse a GOP primary opponent against you if you cross him. That said, Johnson probably genuinely supports Trump and would be spouting BS like this no matter what. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2021, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1231 "2021-02-25T16:26:26Z")
There has always been a very strong faction within the Republican Party that are outright fabricators, and believers in absolutely ridiculous conspiracy theories based on nothing but lies. They are not very bright, and operate from a core of hatred and toxicity. Unfortunately, this faction has now become the majority. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1232 "2021-02-26T04:10:05Z")
I just stumbled on this article while looking for something totally unrelated. Its an older article from March, but it discusses how Reaganism contributed to the fusion of evangelical religion and white extremist politics…and the phrase “The Cult of the Shining City” is priceless. > **[The Cult of the Shining City Embraces the Plague](https://newrepublic.com/article/157062/trump-falwell-evangelicals-coronavirus)** > > Those who see Trump as a messianic figure believe the coronavirus will put a fallen world right again. My apologies if it’s paywalled for you, I subscribe so I’m not sure how visible it is. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1233 "2021-02-26T05:51:36Z")
Biden wants an equal number of Republicans on the Commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection. In other words, he wants the Republicans to have equal say on a commission to investigate the Republican Party. ‘Reaching across the aisle’ was a nice election slogan, in reality it’s snake handling. ---
**Author:** ![PatrickLondon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/patricklondon/32/4422_2.png) [@PatrickLondon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatrickLondon)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 7:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1234 "2021-02-26T07:39:22Z")
> “The Cult of the Shining City” is priceless To which there’s a Shining Path 🙂 ? ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1235 "2021-02-26T13:44:25Z")
It’s the only way such a commission would be perceived as being nonpartisan; otherwise, a partisan committee would be viewed by neutral observers as politically motivated and a waste of precious time and resources. The most important thing Biden can do right now is to be seen as being an effective leader. That means bringing the pandemic under control, putting money into people’s pockets - directly if he has to. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1236 "2021-02-26T14:17:39Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Biden wants an equal number of Republicans on the Commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection. Where did you see that? I’m not finding Biden’s opinion on searching. That’s what the Republicans want of course. Of course, you would never want the commission to have an even number of members to avoid tie votes. The present plan calls for two members each to be chosen by the two top congressional leaders in each house, and 3 by Biden, for a total of eleven, four chosen by Republicans and seven by Democrats. Biden could in theory pick an anti-Trump Republican to make it six to five. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1237 "2021-02-26T14:51:14Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Where did you see that? I’m not finding Biden’s opinion on searching. That’s what the Republicans want of course. Of course, you would never want the commission to have an even number of members to avoid tie votes. This is what talking heads reported last night. They weren’t official statements, probably meant to test the waters. Pelosi facing criticism for a lack of bi-partisanship said the makeup of the commission can be negotiated to achieve the bipartisanship the GOP wants. I don’t really care who the Democrats on the commission are but any congressional Republicans from either house will be there simply to sabotage the process. Here’s an interesting [Washington Post article](https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/02/24/republicans-commission-insurrection-sabotage/) about the subject in general. The Republicans are already being successful in challenging this commission. They know it’s going to point back at them. We saw what they did during the Russia investigation, they can’t be trusted. They may not have the control they had then but they will do anything to scuttle this investigation. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1238 "2021-02-26T14:54:48Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I don’t really care who the Democrats on the commission are but any congressional Republicans from either house will be there simply to sabotage the process. Mitt Romney might be OK. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1239 "2021-02-26T15:00:03Z")
I suppose he has demonstrated some integrity. If he were the lone Republican it probably wouldn’t be a problem. And I understand this is an intractable issue politically, but the Republicans are going to fight this tooth and nail and if the Democrats don’t hold strong and steadfast on digging out the whole truth it will never happen. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1240 "2021-02-26T15:04:31Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I suppose he has demonstrated some integrity. Given that he is the only Republican to have voted twice to convict Trump in the impeachments, and stated that he believed that Trump was responsible for the insurrection, I don’t think that he would be adverse to negative findings about Trump. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1241 "2021-02-26T15:19:15Z")
I suppose integrity played a role there, but I find Mitt more acceptable because he has a personal grudge against Trump. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1242 "2021-02-26T15:28:31Z")
What are the chances that McConnell picks him? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1243 "2021-02-26T16:07:17Z")
> [@k9bfriender](#): > > What are the chances that McConnell picks him?. Good question. Ordinarily I would say close to zero, but although McConnell wouldn’t vote to convict he did denounce Trump and say he was responsible for the insurrection. It would be a way for McConnell to screw with Trump without being too overt about it. ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1244 "2021-02-26T16:34:30Z")
Could McConnell pick himself? Would he? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2021, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/1245 "2021-02-26T16:43:13Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Biden wants an equal number of Republicans on the Commission to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection. In other words, he wants the Republicans to have equal say on a commission to investigate the Republican Party. Not all the GOP was complicit. Plenty abhorred the insurrection. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020.md?page=61) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020.md?page=63)