Opposing a 1/6 Commission: The Disgrace of the Republicans

[Richard Smith]

This MAGA thug intended to take our elected officials hostage and so did many other domestic MAGA thug terrorists.

They were attempting to overthrow the US Government by executing officials and stopping the vote certification to illegally keep Criminal Donald in power. That is an illegal coup.   

Many of them had deadly weapons including zip ties to to take hostages. That's why the Capitol Police officer shot Babbit who illegally broke through a Capitol window. She wasn't there to take a Capitol tour, she was there to attack our elected officials.

Are you ok wirh that Richard? Our elected officials are not supposed to be protected from MAGA domestic terrorists?         


Retired Air Force officer at Capitol riot intended "to take hostages," prosecutor says

A retired Air Force officer who was part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol last week carried plastic zip-tie handcuffs because he intended "to take hostages," a prosecutor said in a Texas court on Thursday.

"He means to take hostages. He means to kidnap, restrain, perhaps try, perhaps execute members of the U.S. government," Assistant U.S. Attorney Jay Weimer said of retired Lieutenant Colonel Larry Rendall Brock Jr. He did not provide specifics.

The prosecutor had argued that Brock should be detained, but Magistrate Judge Jeffrey L. Cureton said he would release Brock to home confinement. Cureton ordered Brock to surrender any firearms and said he could have only limited internet access as conditions of that release.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/larry-brock-arrested-capitol-riots-intended-take-hostages/

I'm not sure what you are babbling about here.  Again, I've said repeatedly that anyone who committed a crime on Jan. 6 should have been arrested.  I can't make that any clearer.  Hundreds of people have been arrested mostly for minor crimes such as trespass and vandalism.  I take issue only with the killing of an unarmed woman and a secret investigation that has not provided the details of her death.  She was shot in the head while unarmed.  The fact that you and others don't like her politics is not a justification for her execution any more than George Floyd's lengthy criminal history justified his murder.  That doesn't seem particularly controversial unless you believe that political beliefs are grounds to execute unarmed American citizens.  Like something out of Communist China.

[Richard Smith]

The U.S. Supreme Court long ago recognized the government's right to stop demonstrations that present a "clear and present danger" of violence or another "immediate threat to public safety, peace, or order" (Cantwell v. Connecticut, 310 U.S. 296 (1940)).

Not one of the protestors (afaik) was forced to enter the capitol building. They all made a judgement at some point (more of them, as opposed to less) after hearing Trump's speech. imo

Once you make that decision(especially in mob fashion), your fate is sealed.

This is no different than an accomplice during a bank robbery who is only in it for the money but is ultimately responsible for the outcome from their participation.
They didn't shoot and kill the bank employee but nonetheless can/will be tried as such.

Yes, it's a shame she was shot and killed, but she only has herself to blame for her poor judgement.

Wrong.  You are conflating enforcement of the law - which obviously the police can do by arresting people - with the authority to execute unarmed people simply because they are in the commission of a crime.  These are very different concepts.  The police can use lethal force only in very limited circumstances even when a crime is being committed.  The police cannot execute people who jaywalk or speed.  And then  say they did so because the person was in the commission of a crime.  How did that work out for the police officer who murdered George Floyd?

[Jerry Organ]

Wrong.  You are conflating enforcement of the law - which obviously the police can do by arresting people - with the authority to execute unarmed people simply because they are in the commission of a crime.  These are very different concepts.  The police can use lethal force only in very limited circumstances even when a crime is being committed.

Well, there we have it. The martyr. Babbitt was "executed unarmed".

You don't have to go very far to find alt-right groups and media promoting Babbitt as a cause celebre. A few weeks ago, GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona (whose three siblings are trying to get their brother removed from office because he's a racist) said the Capitol police were "lying in wait" for Babbitt.

For these guys, getting their "news" and lamebrain ideas from Fox News and Breitbart, to name a few, isn't about about keeping informed or understanding -- it's about right-wingers feeding their addiction.

The police cannot execute people who jaywalk or speed.  And then  say they did so because the person was in the commission of a crime.  How did that work out for the police officer who murdered George Floyd?

This is as unhinged and false an equivalency as can be imagined. Neither Floyd nor Babbitt were "executed". Babbitt was shot in the midst of trying to beech a barricade to the Speaker's Lobby, after threatening police and urging others on with "Go! Go!" The officer might have thought she had a gun in her hand; now, if that comes out, you'll say he's lying. In any event, he felt she posed an immediate threat to himself or others.

[Richard Smith]

Well, there we have it. The martyr. Babbitt was "executed unarmed".

You don't have to go very far to find alt-right groups and media promoting Babbitt as a cause celebre. A few weeks ago, GOP Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona (whose three siblings are trying to get their brother removed from office because he's a racist) said the Capitol police were "lying in wait" for Babbitt.

For these guys, getting their "news" and lamebrain ideas from Fox News and Breitbart, to name a few, isn't about about keeping informed or understanding -- it's about right-wingers feeding their addiction.

This is as unhinged and false an equivalency as can be imagined. Neither Floyd nor Babbitt were "executed". Babbitt was shot in the midst of trying to beech a barricade to the Speaker's Lobby, after threatening police and urging others on with "Go! Go!" The officer might have thought she had a gun in her hand; now, if that comes out, you'll say he's lying. In any event, he felt she posed an immediate threat to himself or others.

You are making stuff up again to suit your political bias.  The details of Babbitt's death have not been revealed.  So you have simply made up stuff to suit the Trump hating narrative.  Just like the claim that a Capitol police officer was killed with a fire extinguisher which was promoted for months.  Another fake story.  I have just pointed out your hypocrisy.  All I'm asking for is due process for someone killed by the police.  Something that I thought libs like yourself advocated.  But I guess you are only concerned with police abuses when they can be used for race baiting purposes.  Shoot an unarmed woman in the head?  No problem because you don't like her political views.

[Rick Plant]

The violent MAGA cult is at it again threatening violence against Biden voters. These people are the bottom feeders of society and just a bunch of animals. Look at how they nearly crushed this cop to death as they were storming inside the Capitol. Disgraceful and despicable. The GOP tried to stop an investigation into their own violent coup. 

Michigan Republican spooked by Trump fans openly threatening violence against Biden-voting neighbors
https://www.rawstory.com/ed-mcbroom/

Capitol rioter's friends tell judge he was just 'helping' cop he was dragging on the ground
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-insurrectionist-2653623700/

Video shows US Capitol police officer crushed by door during riot by MAGA mob: The officer screamed for help as he was crushed
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-election-2020/us-capitol-police-officer-crushed-riot-b1784670.html

[Chris Davidson]

Wrong.  You are conflating enforcement of the law - which obviously the police can do by arresting people - with the authority to execute unarmed people simply because they are in the commission of a crime.  These are very different concepts.  The police can use lethal force only in very limited circumstances even when a crime is being committed.  The police cannot execute people who jaywalk or speed.  And then  say they did so because the person was in the commission of a crime.  How did that work out for the police officer who murdered George Floyd?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2021/01/08/ashli-babbitt-shooting-video-capitol/
"Imminent danger" via mob action is the justification for the shooting. It appears the "Maginot Line" was the glass doors. Babbitt is the first one attempting to cross the line.
Who in their right mind would want to be the first person across the line, knowing full well guns are drawn upon them.
She gambled and she lost.
Floyd wasn't part of a mob. He was subdued at the time of his death. Totally different situation.
The short, but very telling video is quite revealing.
These lawbreakers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

[Chris Davidson]

If you missed it on the video, the muzzle flash comes approx 30frames=1 second after Babbitt is in place to cross the Maginot Line.

[Richard Smith]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/investigations/2021/01/08/ashli-babbitt-shooting-video-capitol/
"Imminent danger" via mob action is the justification for the shooting. It appears the "Maginot Line" was the glass doors. Babbitt is the first one attempting to cross the line.
Who in their right mind would want to be the first person across the line, knowing full well guns are drawn upon them.
She gambled and she lost.
Floyd wasn't part of a mob. He was subdued at the time of his death. Totally different situation.
The short, but very telling video is quite revealing.
These lawbreakers should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Again this has absolutely nothing to do with whether ANYONE who broke the law that day should have been arrested.  If there were crimes committed, then arrest those people.  If there were legitimate grounds to use lethal force, then let's hear them.  What is so controversial about that?  Why a secret investigation if it is an open and shut case?  Floyd is not an entirely different situation.  He was in the commission of several crimes at the time of his arrest (passing counterfeit money, public intoxication, resisting arrest).  An open investigation into the facts and trial confirmed that he was murdered by the police even if he was breaking the law at the time.  Exactly the same situation as these unarmed protestors.  Why not provide an open investigation for Babbitt?  Maybe the facts and evidence will demonstrate that her death was justified.  Or maybe they will show us that something we have been told to accept is not true like the story about a Capitol police officer being killed with a fire extinguisher.   All I'm suggesting is that we be given the facts.  This is still America and not Communist China where the government does whatever it pleases and then covers it up.