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The Road to Ruin in Riots
Townhall.com ^ | January 8, 2021 | Tim Graham

Posted on 01/08/2021 5:57:50 AM PST by Kaslin

Critics of liberal-media bias are often accused of whataboutism. We're accused of diverting everyone's attention from some conservative or Republican scandal or offense by changing the subject to the media's performance.

After a pro-Trump crowd breached the Capitol, forcing lawmakers to flee, my friend and former colleague Dan Isett tweeted: "Yeah, the media covered for left-wing riots last year. So what? We aren't children and we don't use misbehavior by those we disagree with to excuse the misbehaviors of those we do. Personal responsibility is a hallmark of our philosophy."

Amen. If we were raised right, our parents told us two wrongs don't make a right. This is not a time for calling out double standards. This is a time for standards. Respecting the home of our Congress is the lowest possible standard for American civilization. You don't Make America Great Again by shoving cops and breaking glass on Capitol Hill.

It's not hard to find prominent voices on the left who are suddenly finding lawlessness inexcusable after having suggested it was excusable if it forwarded their agenda. They used words like "rebellion" to glamorize unrest. But this is not rioting at an Apple store. This is where our democracy lives.

NBC News' Chuck Todd suggested that the attack on Congress could have the strange effect of bonding the politicians together. After all, they were all at risk in this melee. That's not much of a silver lining. But if we believe in democracy, we should believe that all the people who have been elected have a right to feel safe in their workplace, just as we all do.

Conservatives have lectured that rioting is not a justifiable shortcut to implement "social change." Conservatives have lectured that impeachment shouldn't be a partisan plaything, that we should hash it out in elections. This is no time for "yes, buts."

For four years now, we have scolded liberals who claimed repeatedly that President Donald Trump is an authoritarian who would make democracy die in darkness. But the riot of Trump supporters at this late date, deluded with the bizarre notion that Trump won in a landslide, suddenly falsifies our critique. Democracy was under siege from people wearing Trump hats and waving American (and Confederate) flags.

The "told you so's" from liberals weren't half as depressing as the "protests" from so-called "born-again Americans" themselves. And at this sad hour, I'm not invested in driving the notion that a vast left-wing conspiracy somehow overtook a peaceful Trump rally. In this moment, it feels like another unproven claim, like the Trump landslide.

Adding salt to the wounds of video showing "conservatives" ramming through police barricades were pictures of "conservatives" destroying media equipment. If you're stomping on someone's camera, you're no friend of America. Just because journalists might seem to wear hats that say America has never been great doesn't excuse your destruction of property. They have a right to report -- even a right to distort -- and we have the right to call out distortions. That's the First Amendment, too.

The media deserve our everyday attention. But this riot wasn't an everyday phenomenon. No arrogant scold with a microphone and an expensive peacoat compares to thugs who make the U.S. Capitol Police draw their guns. Right now, we should call this what it is: a day that should live in infamy.


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Culture/Society; Editorial; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: politicalviolence
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1 posted on 01/08/2021 5:57:50 AM PST by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin

Personally scaring the narcissists in Washington will get them to react in a hurry. Citizen, you’re on your own on the streets of the city, but they will be protected at any cost.


2 posted on 01/08/2021 6:04:21 AM PST by Fido969 (,i.)
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To: Kaslin

Tim Graham (the author) is a privileged dick. If it were up to him we’d still be paying outrageous tax on our tea. Get off our side.


3 posted on 01/08/2021 6:08:19 AM PST by PeteePie (Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people - Proverbs 14:34)
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To: Kaslin

Another dope who’s never heard of the Reichstag fire.


4 posted on 01/08/2021 6:09:05 AM PST by facedown (Armed in the Heartland)
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To: Kaslin
Our continued adherence to law and order got us nothing. No judges who would look at the evidence. No county officials who would hand over evidence, even when subpoena-ed. No honest media coverage.

When one side wants peace and the other side wants victory, guess who wins?

Those who converged on the Capitol simply wanted to be heard, and I don't see anything so terrible about that. Our taxes paid for that house, our taxes paid for the huge raise Congress voted themselves while denying us even a decent stimulus payment. Congress deserved that scare. They deserve worse.

5 posted on 01/08/2021 6:09:20 AM PST by A_perfect_lady (The greatest wealth is to live content with little. -Plato)
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To: Kaslin
I thought we had the right, actually the obligation, to throw off oppressive government. Especially one where our supposed elected officials promise us the moon on the campaign trail but when the rubber meets the road their hands are tied.

Where the colonists not justified in fighting back when the crooked King and Parliment infringed on their rights?

6 posted on 01/08/2021 6:09:42 AM PST by frogjerk
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To: Kaslin
What about the statues that were ripped down. The cities that were burned, the riots in NYC. Apparently one side of the aisle thinks that was okay....and a statue removed from the hall of statues in DC. All that has been dismissed as some kind of right of "special groups".

The left should look at the real history...the one that says the south was given total amnesty after the war and we were indeed one nation. Apparently, these "special groups" exalted by the Dems have free rein.

7 posted on 01/08/2021 6:10:24 AM PST by Sacajaweau
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Please stop fighting back! Comply and maybe the left will like us!


8 posted on 01/08/2021 6:12:10 AM PST by ArcadeQuarters (Socialism requires slavery.)
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To: Kaslin

Governments rule by the consent of the governed. They’ve continually violated our trust, and consent has been withdrawn. They are busy trying to re-establish the fact that we work for them, and that our tax money will build walls tall enough to protect them, no matter how they abuse us.

Emporer Palpatine got chased out of his citadel and had to change his pants. Looks like he has yet to understand simple math, or the concept of numerical superiority, and needs a reminder that “inalienable right” means hands off, or else.


9 posted on 01/08/2021 6:14:31 AM PST by jeffers
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To: Kaslin

The liberal failure to condemn Antifa and BLM have made rioting an acceptable form of protest. They are complicit in the Capitol riots for that reason. The left’s outrage at the Capitol riots is just another example of their essential hypocrisy.


10 posted on 01/08/2021 6:14:44 AM PST by djpg
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To: Kaslin
Democracy was under siege from people wearing Trump hats and waving American (and Confederate) flags.

I'm not so sure I believe everything I see like this guy......because after all, the enemy would never do anything do deceive us.

Yeah right.......

Operation Greif: When German Commandos Were Trained To Act American And Wreak Total Havoc Behind Enemy Lines

11 posted on 01/08/2021 6:18:03 AM PST by Mopp4 ("It is a cruel world, Herr Hauptman. You said it yourself.")
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To: djpg
The liberal failure to condemn Antifa and BLM have made rioting an acceptable form of protest. They are complicit in the Capitol riots for that reason. The left’s outrage at the Capitol riots is just another example of their essential hypocrisy.

Thank you. Bears repeating.
12 posted on 01/08/2021 6:18:28 AM PST by MonicaG (God bless our military! Praying and thanking God for you every day. Thank you!)
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To: Kaslin

“..the attack on Congress could have the strange effect of bonding the politicians together. After all, they were all at risk in this melee.“

Dude... the right need to reject the notion that we “attacked” or “rioted” or were “violent”...

A bunch of people pushed their way into the Capitol building, ran around and took selfies. THAT is what happened.

Apologizing for it is only going to embolden the NAZIS.
It was a DUMB thing to do, but it was no violent riot.


13 posted on 01/08/2021 6:18:49 AM PST by joethedrummer
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To: Kaslin

It’s not whataboutism. It’s chicken coming home to roost ism. It was shameful but was it shocking?

I repeat:

We could start with the “peaceful” movements of the 60’s featuring Weather Underground with Bill Ayers and his bombings. But let’s stick with the more recent:

We have seen years of abuses such as storming the Wisconsin Capital in 2011 assaulting legislators and shutting it down, Code Pink infiltrating the Senate and threatening and intimidating Senators during the Kavanaugh hearing, GOP congressmen being shot, our cities burned in the name of resistance and social justice and on and on. Oh and not to mention that the Dems have objected to past GOP presidential wins.

We have a two tiered system of outrage and worse, criminal justice. And participating it only dumps gas on the fire. It only further alienates and enrages those who are subject to it.

And that brings us to storming the Capital and the feigned shock at this shameful act. And it was a shameful act. But those who now decry it while having remained silent or allowed themselves to be silenced when shameful actions were taking place over the last decades are themselves shameful. They are eager participants in the Orwellian new order.

Yup, plenty of “shameful” actions to go around. Yes sir, we didn’t arrive at our Capital being stormed overnight.

At the time it was happening my reaction was one of “what the hell did they expect!!” You turn away from this madness for years and then express shock when it escalates?!?!

It is like a battered spouse making excuses for beatings and defending the abusive spouse as if he or she was justified. Hell, the abusive spouse in this case has been praised for, in effect, bringing the victim to the hospital (paying for bail). Now the abuse has reached a point where it is deemed critical. I wonder, if said spouse had been stopped earlier, would we be here?


14 posted on 01/08/2021 6:19:33 AM PST by FlipWilson
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To: facedown

“Another dope who’s never heard of the Reichstag fire.“

Can’t wait to see what he has to say should Plugs meet his demise by some ”person” who just HAPPENS to be wearing a MAGA hat or shirt...

I’m sure they’ve already hired the person..


15 posted on 01/08/2021 6:21:07 AM PST by joethedrummer
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To: MonicaG

“The liberal failure to condemn Antifa and BLM have made rioting an acceptable form of protest. They are complicit in the Capitol riots for that reason. The left’s outrage at the Capitol riots is just another example of their essential hypocrisy.

Thank you. Bears repeating.”

YES!

And so - AGAIN!


16 posted on 01/08/2021 6:22:36 AM PST by joethedrummer
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To: Kaslin

Two more A-moron leftists exposed.

They got their money for this crap.

Regards


17 posted on 01/08/2021 6:29:06 AM PST by Swiffer_Ralf (Orig. Eureka_Lead)
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To: A_perfect_lady

True law and order NO LONGER exists in this country. Lying, cheating, thieving, misleading, all of that is now the norm and acceptable, BY OUR LEADERSHIP!!! I am not speaking of the average Joe doing this, I am speaking of our so called leaders. They get elected and THINK they have been elected GOD. They are elected and now no longer answer to us, we answer to them. NO OTHER JOB in the world gets to make up their own rules, laws, make their own PAY RAISES, makes up their own retirement plan, makes up their own health care plan, and ALL OF THIS IS PAID FOR BY US!!! The Founders gave us the avenues to take the nation back when the crooks take it away from the citizens. My true fear is that the citizens are to afraid to go take it back. Will the cops support the thief’s? Will the military take orders of the thieves and shoot the citizens? The thieves will cut off checks and medical care of those citizens who do not bow down to them and that is what a lot of older, disabled, mothers without fathers taking care of children who get checks, etc., are all afraid of. I am truly afraid that we have lost the nation and shall never get it back. Now that they own all three branches of government, they are going to move fast and quick to do everything they have been making their lists to do when and if they got control of all three at one time again. It is their “wet dream” and it has been realized. They will do absolutely EVERYTHING to make sure they NEVER LOSE ANOTHER ELECTION. I don’t think we shall ever see another republican president or republican controlled house or senate. I think those days may well have moved on. We are going to become a banana republic nation and pay homage to the UN who will become our masters. IF, if we do fight back and some civil war starts here, I believe the Red Chinese and/or Russians, along with Iran would use that event to attack this nation, while everyone was not paying attention.


18 posted on 01/08/2021 6:30:17 AM PST by RetiredArmy (Free Will. GOD gives you the choice to accept or reject Him! Choose Him. It depends on you.)
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To: Kaslin

I’ve been in worse dust ups in college bars than what happened at the Capitol. The Trump crowd didn’t do anything. The break in was a DC psy ops. Now the lunatics are running the asylum. That is the insurrection. Trump needs to take back over or we will have to. Its gone way beyond the constitution. This is the communist takeover.


19 posted on 01/08/2021 6:35:43 AM PST by Georgia Girl 2 (The only purpose of a pistol is to fight your way back to the rifle you should never have dropped)
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To: Kaslin

The incident exposed the utter incompetence of the deep state when it comes to intelligence and security. And this happened right in the deep state’s front yard.

I’m sure that our foreign enemies took notice.


20 posted on 01/08/2021 6:41:26 AM PST by sergeantdave (Federal courts no longer have any standing in America. )
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