January 6, 2021: a date that will “live in infamy”, like December 7, 1941 (when Pearl Harbor was attacked).

Unlike that day, and September 11, 2001, when America was attacked by foreign enemies – this time, we were betrayed and attacked from WITHIN, by DOMESTIC terrorists.

1/6 was the day Donald Trump’s lies and hatred finally caused his fanatics to explode with rage. Republican enablers must also assume responsibility, since they tolerated his behavior – emboldening him to intensify it.

That’s the day a mob attacked OUR house, the “People’s House”, a sacred monument to our democracy. Trump, often pouring gasoline on the fire of anger, invited them – and they accepted.

If these so-called patriots are brave, why not turn themselves in, admit what they did, and face the consequences? During protests after the killing of George Floyd (most of them peaceful), Trump demanded 10-year prison sentences for rioters, threatening “when the looting starts, the shooting starts”.

Most Americans – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – are DAMN angry about this insurrection, demanding rioters be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

At a rally before Congress convened to certify Electoral College votes, Trump urged followers to march to the Capitol, boasting he’d be with them (instead, he retreated to the safety of the White House). He exhorted them “to fight”, threatening “We will never concede… You don’t concede when there’s theft involved… We’re not going to take it anymore.”

Gadfly attorney Rudy Giuliani demanded a “trial by combat”. Moderates demand Giuliani, rioters and those inciting them, including Trump himself, soon face their own trials (by jury).

The U.S. Capitol hadn’t been invaded since the War of 1812. For a few scary hours, it appeared rioters might conquer and destroy it – harming those trapped inside, including VP Mike Pence and his family.

One photographer quoted rioters: they “hope(d) to find Pence and execute him by hanging him from a Capitol Hill tree as a traitor”. The mob chanted, “Hang Mike Pence.” Proud of that, Trumpers?

Unwilling to admit defeat, Trump scapegoated Pence – his staunch supporter – falsely claiming he could stop Congress from confirming President-Elect Biden’s victory, though Pence has no constitutional authority to do that.

To his credit, Pence announced he would respect the Constitution, unlike Trump and rioters.

Trump proved again he’ll throw anybody under the bus. And expose them to danger. He never checked on Pence, trapped inside the Capitol. That might soon backfire – if Pence becomes president, he should refuse to pardon Trump.

America breathed a collective sigh of relief when D.C. Police and National Guard arrived and retook the Capitol.

But where were they earlier? Many saw this coming; TMM and others repeatedly warned Trump’s tirades could incite violence. Reportedly, he and Pentagon appointees refused to deploy the National Guard to the Capitol; Pence finally did.

As Trump’s mob broke windows and doors, invading the Capitol, a police officer, Brian Sicknick, was beaten to death with a fire extinguisher – a martyr fighting to his death protecting our democracy. Proud of that, Trumpers?

Sympathizers will claim rioter Ashli Babbitt, shot by an officer while trying to climb through a window, is a martyr. Sadly, she was a Veteran; but the officer was trying to protect himself, others, and the Capitol – and she placed herself in harm’s way.

Another invader, Rosanne Boyland, was trampled to death “in a massive crowd surge when protesters clashed with Capitol Police”. Clearly, rioters had no regard for even their own comrades’ safety.

The death toll, now five, was tragic – but could have been MUCH worse. Dozens, possibly hundreds, could have been killed or taken hostage. Proud of that, Trumpers?

When aides finally persuaded Trump to intervene, he meekly told rioters to “go home”, calling them “great patriots” and declaring “we love you”.

No, we don’t. These criminals invaded OUR house, ransacking and desecrating it (smearing blood on presidential statues, scrawling “Murder The Media” on a door, scattering cigarette butts, urinating on the floor). Proud of that, Trumpers?

The TRUE patriots? Sicknick and other Capitol Police officers who tried valiantly to fight them off. And to be fair, Trump enablers like VP Pence, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senator Lindsey Graham, and others who (after four years) FINALLY showed courage and protected our Constitution.

         

This Georgia Moderate praises patriots like SOS Brad Raffensperger, who resisted when Trump pressured him to “find” (i.e., change or fabricate) enough votes to proclaim Trump won Georgia. Also Governor Brian Kemp, Lieutenant Governor Geoff Duncan and Voting System Implementation Manager Gabriel Sterling – all Republicans. All refused to surrender to Trump’s threats, steadfastly declaring election results fair and accurate, with Biden victorious.

Some Trumpers refuse to accept reality – that MANY states’ elected leaders, election officials, and judges (some appointed by Trump) who dismissed over 50 post-election Trump lawsuits, are REPUBLICANS, simply following the law.

Trump enablers bear some responsibility for this riot, since they emboldened him repeatedly. But on this terrible day of reckoning, some FINALLY stiffened their spines and did the right thing.

Sadly, after four years of Trump, that’s the best we can hope for. Proud of that, America?

 

Images: Google Images

Capitol (fire): BBC.com

Pearl Harbor: History on the Net – AP-Getty

9/11: Duke Athletics

Capitol (mob at entrance): PBS

Trump at rally: Los Angeles Times

Giuliani & Trump, Jr.: Daily Mail

Capitol (noose): NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth – Getty Images

Trump & Pence: AP – Andrew Harnik

Sicknick: Facebook

Trump at White House: SBS TV

Rioter at door: Kansas Reflector

Raffensperger: Detroit News

Kemp & Trump: Wall Street Journal

Duncan: CNN.com

Sterling: The New York Times