While there was a lot to see at last night's hearing, Hawley running for his damn life was arguably my favorite moment. Between that and Trump's blooper reel. Hawley took off in that hallway like Usain Bolt lol.
I know we're taking shots at these folks for saying how emotionally drained they were, but most of us know how emotionally draining it can be dealing with a toddler. Now, just imagine that toddler is the President of the United States, with none of the cuteness to balance out the bad.
And this from Amanda is soooo good:
So now everyone can be clear on what Trump did during those 187 minutes. He watched TV, he lobbied senators to delay the vote count, he put a target on Pence’s back, ignored pleas for help, sat around while other leaders organized plans, and then blew the rioters a kiss on their way out the door.
I watched a clip of Hannity from around 9:12 last night, just to see what all our crazy in-laws were watching while the hearing was on, and it was guests Jim Banks and Stephen Miller; Banks insisting that the hearings were actually exonerating Trump; Hannity engaging in some bizarre whataboutism regarding the unlawful Carter Page FISA warrants, saying falsely that no one had been held accountable for them; and Miller arguing that the hearings are completely political, and it's just politicians trying to smear Donald Trump because he was such an amazing president. And that was only about 5 minutes of the entire program.
Liz Cheney's final statement was legendary. Says this Democrat.
While it may not have been absolutely necessary to the narrative, I was glad that the Committee spared the time to take Josh Hawley out in a drive-by last night. Hardly the most central of the insurrectionists, he's nevertheless one of the most squalid and attention-seeking, and anything that tattoos the truth onto him going forward is a long-term public service.
Let's take a look at this from 10,000 feet for just a moment. I believe an excellent case and conclusion could be made that between 2016 and 2021, DJT was the single most dangerous person to the United States. It wasn't Putin. It wasn't a person on the FBI's Most Wanted list. It wasn't Xi Jinping. The most dangerous threat to the United States of America - FOR FIVE YEARS, was the President of this country. I hang my head in disgust.
I have to chuckle at the idea of Liz Cheney driving around with Josh Hawley's jewels dangling from her rearview.
On a more serious note, we need to stop this 'Trump did nothing' formulation that's going around. By not calling in reinforcements for the Capitol police, Trump was very much doing something: he was buying time and opportunity for his mob to find members of congress who wouldn't do his bidding and to target Mike Pence. He was the guy sitting in his car, blocking the intersection, so cops couldn't foil a hold up. As far as I'm concerned that makes him a participant and an accomplice to the violence and lawlessness of that awful day.
I am certainly enjoying the roasting of that quisling Hawley. That smug, smarmy look on his face with that fist pump has made me ill every time I've seen it.
Let's be honest, Trump wrote and produced the reality TV show "January 6". He wanted to go to the Capitol so he could direct it as well but that did not happen. He was watching his reality TV show on Fox and let the "contestants" strive for the goal he set. He only told them to leave once it was clear that the contestants could not win, but he wanted to assure them that, if the contest occurs again, he is 100% behind them. This was real life "Apprentice" with the highest stakes possible.
When looking at the arc of DJT's presidency, I find it surprisingly easy to believe in Evil. This surprises me because this belief doesn't come easy to a person (me) who is an atheist.
"Strong men" like Hawley and Trump, whose consciences are seared and float about with egos inflated like the Hindenburg, only respond to mockery and humiliation. And such little sparks, like a video clip, can ignite the hydrogen and bring them crashing quickly to the ground. Especially when they are incapable or powerless to control the narrative.
Remember "Little Marco" Rubio desperately cluthing for a water bottle during his rebuttal to one of Obama's State of the Union speeches?
Charlie's nod to how long it took for some of these people to realize just how much damage Trump was (and continues to) inflicted on the nation is where I am. I appreciate what the committee is doing and I am thankful for what they continue to expose. But until we can convince the "never D's" to accept that voiting for a Democrat is nowhere near as dangerous as voting for what remains of the GOP, we are doomed.
I accept we need to keep fighting. I accept the fat lady hasn't sung yet, but I didn't need the hearings, I always knew who and what Trump was. To the folks who believed they could tame the monster they created......I have little to no forgiveness.
The January 6 committee is to be congratulated for its outstanding work in bringing the facts of the Capitol riot to the American people, and for doing so in such a clear, organized, impactful way. I look forward to learning more when it reconvenes in September.
That said, unfortunately it probably will move the needle only among those in the middle who are willing to look and listen with an open mind. Those who need to hear it all are precisely the ones who pay no heed, and even mock the proceedings. (Looking at you, Tucker Carlson -- for what exact price did you sell your soul?) Per Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: "It must be believed to be seen."
It is no less disturbing that the committee must race to a finish line before a possible GOP majority in January opts to discontinue the necessary work and pretend that nothing ever happened. I wish I could live long enough to see how history will remember this formative era generally, and specifically how it regards the individuals in our government who had the power to be a force for truth and justice but chose to sit on their hands -- or, as feckless Hawley did, literally turn and run away from their duty.
I remember when Republicans argued that someone who was dishonorable and untrustworthy in private life should not be entrusted with public responsibility, and that a politician who lied about small things was probably dishonest in big things.
When Trump came along, most conservative & GOP thought-leaders deliberately threw that out the window and chanted "policy, not personality." They even asserted that those who still worried about character and integrity had their priorities all wrong and were hurting America just to feel righteous and superior. It was Trump, they claimed, who had the deeper sort of virtue and who loved America more purely. It's quite remarkable that people who claim to be devoted to Christian values would make Donald Trump their great champion who must never be crossed.
Obviously the Never Trumpers were right about the very big downside of Trump's malignant narcissism -- and he didn't just become that way after losing an election. Many people who worked in the White House have spoken of the challenge of restraining his destructive impulses, and have said that if things went well it was because he was not personally involved. Others find it in their self-interest to keep pretending that Trump is a much better person than the one he routinely presents to the public.
It will probably take a long time to repair the damage done by Trump and his cult.
Amanda Carpenter is right; it is misleading to say Trump did nothing. He wrote a tweet that clearly inflamed the rioters. He wanted the riot to continue until he could get enough senators to block certification. Yet millions of Americans support Trump--the man who said "we love you" to men and women who had tried to kill congressmen and the vice-president. As someone said about Trump's comment about remembering this day forever. "Yeah, it will be remembered as a day of infamy."
He was a perfect metaphor for every insurrectionist Congresscreep (Elise Stefanik e.g.) who supported the Big Lie, was protected by Capitol police and then voted to disenfranchise people.
The lead to today’s Morning Shots has a double meaning. The insurrection and the former President’s behavior are a strain on our history but in an equal sense The 45th President is a stain on our history.
While there was a lot to see at last night's hearing, Hawley running for his damn life was arguably my favorite moment. Between that and Trump's blooper reel. Hawley took off in that hallway like Usain Bolt lol.
I know we're taking shots at these folks for saying how emotionally drained they were, but most of us know how emotionally draining it can be dealing with a toddler. Now, just imagine that toddler is the President of the United States, with none of the cuteness to balance out the bad.
And this from Amanda is soooo good:
So now everyone can be clear on what Trump did during those 187 minutes. He watched TV, he lobbied senators to delay the vote count, he put a target on Pence’s back, ignored pleas for help, sat around while other leaders organized plans, and then blew the rioters a kiss on their way out the door.
I watched a clip of Hannity from around 9:12 last night, just to see what all our crazy in-laws were watching while the hearing was on, and it was guests Jim Banks and Stephen Miller; Banks insisting that the hearings were actually exonerating Trump; Hannity engaging in some bizarre whataboutism regarding the unlawful Carter Page FISA warrants, saying falsely that no one had been held accountable for them; and Miller arguing that the hearings are completely political, and it's just politicians trying to smear Donald Trump because he was such an amazing president. And that was only about 5 minutes of the entire program.
Liz Cheney's final statement was legendary. Says this Democrat.
While it may not have been absolutely necessary to the narrative, I was glad that the Committee spared the time to take Josh Hawley out in a drive-by last night. Hardly the most central of the insurrectionists, he's nevertheless one of the most squalid and attention-seeking, and anything that tattoos the truth onto him going forward is a long-term public service.
Let's take a look at this from 10,000 feet for just a moment. I believe an excellent case and conclusion could be made that between 2016 and 2021, DJT was the single most dangerous person to the United States. It wasn't Putin. It wasn't a person on the FBI's Most Wanted list. It wasn't Xi Jinping. The most dangerous threat to the United States of America - FOR FIVE YEARS, was the President of this country. I hang my head in disgust.
I have to chuckle at the idea of Liz Cheney driving around with Josh Hawley's jewels dangling from her rearview.
On a more serious note, we need to stop this 'Trump did nothing' formulation that's going around. By not calling in reinforcements for the Capitol police, Trump was very much doing something: he was buying time and opportunity for his mob to find members of congress who wouldn't do his bidding and to target Mike Pence. He was the guy sitting in his car, blocking the intersection, so cops couldn't foil a hold up. As far as I'm concerned that makes him a participant and an accomplice to the violence and lawlessness of that awful day.
I am certainly enjoying the roasting of that quisling Hawley. That smug, smarmy look on his face with that fist pump has made me ill every time I've seen it.
Let's be honest, Trump wrote and produced the reality TV show "January 6". He wanted to go to the Capitol so he could direct it as well but that did not happen. He was watching his reality TV show on Fox and let the "contestants" strive for the goal he set. He only told them to leave once it was clear that the contestants could not win, but he wanted to assure them that, if the contest occurs again, he is 100% behind them. This was real life "Apprentice" with the highest stakes possible.
I haven't finished watching, so maybe more was made of this, but anyone note Cheney's opening statement?
Something along the lines of "We now know more than almost any person in congress did about this conspiracy on Jan 6th."
Almost....Kinda implies that some did know all about it.
I'd love to see some congressmen (or women) face accountability if they were involved.
When looking at the arc of DJT's presidency, I find it surprisingly easy to believe in Evil. This surprises me because this belief doesn't come easy to a person (me) who is an atheist.
"Strong men" like Hawley and Trump, whose consciences are seared and float about with egos inflated like the Hindenburg, only respond to mockery and humiliation. And such little sparks, like a video clip, can ignite the hydrogen and bring them crashing quickly to the ground. Especially when they are incapable or powerless to control the narrative.
Remember "Little Marco" Rubio desperately cluthing for a water bottle during his rebuttal to one of Obama's State of the Union speeches?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWkjVvoXIS0
Hawley had "a brand" day before yesterday. Not today. He has been reduced to a laughingstock to his enemies and an embarrassment to his friends.
Charlie's nod to how long it took for some of these people to realize just how much damage Trump was (and continues to) inflicted on the nation is where I am. I appreciate what the committee is doing and I am thankful for what they continue to expose. But until we can convince the "never D's" to accept that voiting for a Democrat is nowhere near as dangerous as voting for what remains of the GOP, we are doomed.
I accept we need to keep fighting. I accept the fat lady hasn't sung yet, but I didn't need the hearings, I always knew who and what Trump was. To the folks who believed they could tame the monster they created......I have little to no forgiveness.
The January 6 committee is to be congratulated for its outstanding work in bringing the facts of the Capitol riot to the American people, and for doing so in such a clear, organized, impactful way. I look forward to learning more when it reconvenes in September.
That said, unfortunately it probably will move the needle only among those in the middle who are willing to look and listen with an open mind. Those who need to hear it all are precisely the ones who pay no heed, and even mock the proceedings. (Looking at you, Tucker Carlson -- for what exact price did you sell your soul?) Per Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: "It must be believed to be seen."
It is no less disturbing that the committee must race to a finish line before a possible GOP majority in January opts to discontinue the necessary work and pretend that nothing ever happened. I wish I could live long enough to see how history will remember this formative era generally, and specifically how it regards the individuals in our government who had the power to be a force for truth and justice but chose to sit on their hands -- or, as feckless Hawley did, literally turn and run away from their duty.
I remember when Republicans argued that someone who was dishonorable and untrustworthy in private life should not be entrusted with public responsibility, and that a politician who lied about small things was probably dishonest in big things.
When Trump came along, most conservative & GOP thought-leaders deliberately threw that out the window and chanted "policy, not personality." They even asserted that those who still worried about character and integrity had their priorities all wrong and were hurting America just to feel righteous and superior. It was Trump, they claimed, who had the deeper sort of virtue and who loved America more purely. It's quite remarkable that people who claim to be devoted to Christian values would make Donald Trump their great champion who must never be crossed.
Obviously the Never Trumpers were right about the very big downside of Trump's malignant narcissism -- and he didn't just become that way after losing an election. Many people who worked in the White House have spoken of the challenge of restraining his destructive impulses, and have said that if things went well it was because he was not personally involved. Others find it in their self-interest to keep pretending that Trump is a much better person than the one he routinely presents to the public.
It will probably take a long time to repair the damage done by Trump and his cult.
Amanda Carpenter is right; it is misleading to say Trump did nothing. He wrote a tweet that clearly inflamed the rioters. He wanted the riot to continue until he could get enough senators to block certification. Yet millions of Americans support Trump--the man who said "we love you" to men and women who had tried to kill congressmen and the vice-president. As someone said about Trump's comment about remembering this day forever. "Yeah, it will be remembered as a day of infamy."
He was a perfect metaphor for every insurrectionist Congresscreep (Elise Stefanik e.g.) who supported the Big Lie, was protected by Capitol police and then voted to disenfranchise people.
The lead to today’s Morning Shots has a double meaning. The insurrection and the former President’s behavior are a strain on our history but in an equal sense The 45th President is a stain on our history.