Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Did the GOP Just Dodge a Bullet?
Townhall.com ^ | May 21, 2021 | Pat Buchanan

Posted on 05/21/2021 8:15:11 AM PDT by Kaslin

When he took the floor of the Senate to reject the Democrats' Jan. 6 Commission, Mitch McConnell may have salvaged his party's chances to recapture the House in 2022.

For that commission, being spun as a "bipartisan" effort to learn what "really happened" in the Capitol that fateful day, is a Democratic scheme to have the left's version of events on Jan. 6 enshrined as the official history of the United States.

And what is the left's version?

It is that the forced entry and five-hour occupation of the Capitol by hundreds of Trumpists was "an attempted coup d'etat," an "armed insurrection," an act of "domestic terrorism," the "worst attack on the Capitol since the British burned it down in the War of 1812" -- and a "threat to our democracy" unrivaled since the Civil War.

Moreover, those who shouted, "Hang Mike Pence!" were out to kill the vice president to prevent his doing his duty and overseeing the count of the electoral votes that would make Joe Biden president.

And the instigation and inspiration for the assault was Donald Trump's two months of promoting the "Big Lie" that the presidential election had been "rigged" and "stolen," as was his rally speech on the Mall that day that called on his followers to march on the Capitol.

This is the party line the establishment wants written into the record as the official version of events that day.

But is that the truth, or is that a painted-up version of the truth?

While the mob that breached the Capitol in the afternoon of Jan. 6 was no "normal tourist visit," as one GOP congressman has suggested, nor was it an attempted coup or an armed insurrection.

No statue in the Capitol was pulled down, as would have been the case had antifa or BLM invaded the building. No painting was desecrated. No act of arson was committed. No gun was drawn, or brandished, or fired by Proud Boys or Oath Keepers or Trumpists within the building.

The lone victim of gunfire in the Capitol that day was an Air Force veteran with a decade of service, Ashli Babbitt, who was shot in the neck by a Capitol cop from the other side of a closed door to the speaker's chamber.

Babbitt was engaged in an unlawful act, but nothing she was trying to do justifies her being shot to death. Four months later, we still do not know the identity of the cop who killed her.

This is not to excuse what went on during that invasion of the Capitol, which was a shameful disgrace. Cops were assaulted and injured as the crowd smashed its way in. Windows were shattered. Offices, including the speaker's, were ransacked. Crimes were committed.

But the people who should sort this out and allocate blame where it belongs are police and FBI investigators and U.S. and D.C. prosecutors, not political partisans in the warring parties of a polarized nation.

Democrats had anticipated that the commission hearings would rivet the nation and media's attention all this year, with the final report coming out at year's end. This would enable the Democrats and their media allies to make Trump's actions on Jan. 6 -- the worst day of his presidency -- and not the record of Joe Biden -- the issue of 2022.

When Trump labeled this commission idea a "Democratic trap," he nailed it. Republican Senate Whip John Thune also got it right:

"Anything that gets us rehashing the 2020 election... is a day lost on being able to draw a contrast between us and the Democrats' very radical left-wing agenda."

To establish the commission, which was approved on Wednesday by the House, Senate Democrats now need to find 10 Republican votes, which, after McConnell's declared opposition, they do not have.

This "national commission" gambit is an old one in U.S. politics

In 1967, after urban riots in the Black communities of Newark and Detroit, LBJ appointed a National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders. Liberal Democratic Governor Otto Kerner was named chairman and ultra-liberal Republican Mayor John Lindsay of New York vice chairman.

Early in election year 1968, the Kerner Commission declared that white racism was the underlying cause of the Black riots.

And this has since been a recurring theme of the left.

Again, this not to excuse what took place on Jan. 6.

But if it was an insurrection, an act of sedition, an attempted coup, an act of domestic terrorism, the conspirators should be charged in court, for each of these is a specific crime. And if anyone plotted to kill Mike Pence, then they should be charged with that and put on trial.

But it would be folly for the GOP to cooperate in a Democratic scheme to indict the GOP and Trump presidency in the court of public opinion for abetting something close to treason, which did not happen.

The Jan. 6 national commission idea, understandably supported by every congressional Democrat, belongs in the dumpster.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: insurrection; january6; mitchmcconnell; presidenttrump; tresspass; unarmed
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

1 posted on 05/21/2021 8:15:11 AM PDT by Kaslin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Eh, not so much, Townhall.


2 posted on 05/21/2021 8:19:15 AM PDT by madison10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Where was the commission on the Capitol riot on January 20th, 2017?

I know, silly of me.


3 posted on 05/21/2021 8:19:19 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: madison10

Edited: they are correct in the end, but I wish they would stop villainizing what happened that day...and look more into what happened to Ashli.


4 posted on 05/21/2021 8:21:43 AM PDT by madison10
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Dodged a bullet? This implies that Republicans could have gone for this. Isn’t it beyond obvious that Republicans ought not hitch their wagons to a Democrat train and certain railroading? And a bullet was dodged? Wow, what a sad Party the GOPe is.

And yes, I am aware of the House Republicans who voted for this, and as far as I’m concerned they should absolutely be primaried.


5 posted on 05/21/2021 8:25:57 AM PDT by Obadiah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
It is that the forced entry and five-hour occupation of the Capitol by hundreds of Trumpists was "an attempted coup d'etat," an "armed insurrection," an act of "domestic terrorism," the "worst attack on the Capitol since the British burned it down in the War of 1812" -- and a "threat to our democracy" unrivaled since the Civil War.

I might buy this the protesters were carrying the traditional guns, machetes and pikes instead of iPhones to take selfies.

6 posted on 05/21/2021 8:26:44 AM PDT by Sooth2222 (“Taxation without representation is tyranny.” -James Otis (1761))
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

“Anything that gets us rehashing the 2020 election... is a day lost”

Ya mean like a commission to investigate the massive criminal conspiracy to steal the election, unprecedented in American history?


7 posted on 05/21/2021 8:28:45 AM PDT by Regulator (It's Fraud, Jim)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

Republican Senate Whip John Thune also got it right:

“Anything that gets us rehashing the 2020 election... is a day lost on being able to draw a contrast between us and the Democrats’ very radical left-wing agenda.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thune just doesn’t want the GOP’s complicity in the Big Steal exposed.


8 posted on 05/21/2021 8:30:47 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents)(Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

The Jan 6th commission is nothing but a vehicle to feed CNN, et. al., anti Trump propaganda for the next two years. This attempted big lie operation should be strangled in its infancy.


9 posted on 05/21/2021 8:31:14 AM PDT by DeplorablePaul (s)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Obadiah; All

Here are the House Republicans who broke with their party:

Liz Cheney of Wyoming

Tom Rice of South Carolina

Dan Newhouse of Washington

Anthony Gonzalez of Ohio

Adam Kinzinger of Illinois

Fred Upton of Michigan

Jaime Herrera Beutler of Washington

Peter Meijer of Michigan

John Katko of New York

David Valadao of California

Tom Reed of New York

Don Bacon of Nebraska

John Curtis of Utah

Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania

Andrew Garbarino of New York

Tony Gonzales of Texas

Dusty Johnson of South Dakota

David Joyce of Ohio

Chris Smith of New Jersey

Van Taylor of Texas

Chris Jacobs of New York

David McKinley of West Virginia

Jeff Fortenberry of Nebraska

Maria Elvira Salazar of Florida

Mariannette Miller-Meeks of Iowa

Steve Womack of Arkansas

Stephanie Bice of Oklahoma

French Hill of Arkansas

Mike Simpson of Idaho

Rodney Davis of Illinois

Blake Moore of Utah

Michael Guest of Mississippi

Trey Hollingsworth of Indiana

Carlos Gimenez of Florida

Cliff Bentz of Oregon


10 posted on 05/21/2021 8:37:35 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin (I don't have 'Hobbies.' I'm developing a robust post-Apocalyptic skill set. )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Assistant Democrats all and not coincidentally, all Cheap Labor Express stooges.


11 posted on 05/21/2021 8:41:28 AM PDT by Lurkinanloomin (Natural Born Citizens Are Born Here of Citizen Parents)(Know Islam, No Peace - No Islam, Know Peace)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

What’s amazing is the moron Miller-Meeks who just squeaked in with the staunch help of the hard line Right in Congress against Pelosi.

What was the point of people walking over broken glass for her?


12 posted on 05/21/2021 8:41:45 AM PDT by Regulator (It's Fraud, Jim)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

There I was at The Siege!

Back to back with Nancy Pelosi in our foxhole putting on lipstick and making hair appointments!

The VC, Virginia Conservatives, had us pinned down with flags and some goof wearing a bison cap!

Our supply of $15 a pint ice cream was running low when Nancy called for an immediate airdrop of Tutti-frutti.

Imagine our surprise to see them pushing Jerry Nadler out of an airplane!

He bounced like an air-filled pork pie and came to rest, eventually, against the White House where they declared him to be a UFO.


13 posted on 05/21/2021 8:44:24 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: blueunicorn6
The VC, Virginia Conservatives, had us pinned down with flags and some goof wearing a bison cap!

Sounds frightening, I'm surprised you've recovered from PTS. Our experience was worse, I had a claustrophobic attack as I had to remain inside the Red velvet ropes, which seemed quite narrow, as we made our way through the hall of statues

14 posted on 05/21/2021 8:48:42 AM PDT by 1Old Pro
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin
Babbitt was engaged in an unlawful act

Oh realli? What was that, exactly?

This is not to excuse what went on during that invasion of the Capitol, which was a shameful disgrace. Cops were assaulted and injured

Oh realli? Who and how many?

The neocons are unmasked. They are desperate to get behind the curtain and to start pulling levers again, but it's just not working.

15 posted on 05/21/2021 8:53:36 AM PDT by Jim Noble (Extremism in the defense of Liberty is no vice)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: 1Old Pro

Those ropes were actually there to show safe lanes through the minefields planted by those tricky VC (Virginia Conservatives).


16 posted on 05/21/2021 8:58:32 AM PDT by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer”)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 14 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

January 6th is the DEMONCRATS version of the Nazi Reichstag Fire.

They are milking it for all it’s worth with the help of 35 RINOS in the House and and a still undetermined number of RINOS in the Senate.

Those who broke in to Nancy Pelosi’s “Hive” should face the same penalties as the Antifa and Burn Loot Murder crowd who broke into Federal Courthouses.

Those who wandered in after the doors were opened by the Capitol Police and took some Selfies while standing between the Velvet Ropes should at the most get a Citation for Trespassing and pay a small Fine like getting a Parking Ticket.


17 posted on 05/21/2021 9:06:24 AM PDT by Kickass Conservative (THEY LIVE, and we're the only ones wearing the Sunglasses.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Diana in Wisconsin

Only one from California. Maybe California is not so bad after all.


18 posted on 05/21/2021 9:31:23 AM PDT by forgotten man
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: madison10
No statue in the Capitol was pulled down,

as would have been the case had antifa or BLM invaded the building.

No painting was desecrated.

No act of arson was committed.

No gun was drawn, or brandished, or fired by Proud Boys or Oath Keepers or Trumpists within the building.

The lone victim of gunfire in the Capitol that day was an Air Force veteran with a decade of service, Ashli Babbitt,

who was shot in the neck by a Capitol cop from the other side of a closed door to the speaker's chamber.

One victim - an unarmed white woman shot by a cop - a cop the 'establishment' is protecting... not even releasing his name...

Thanks Pat Buchanan ...

19 posted on 05/21/2021 9:42:56 AM PDT by GOPJ (Liz Cheney: There was NO VOTER FRAUD Winston. YOU agree Winston? Winston? How many fingers?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Kaslin

If this is limited to just Jan6 it is gonna be nothing other than another Mueller scam. The scope needs to look at all “rioting” not just what was done by people at the capital who obviously did not attend the DJTrump rally on the other side of DC.


20 posted on 05/21/2021 10:19:59 AM PDT by bobbo666 (Baizuo)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-23 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson