Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
Editorials & Other Articles
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Eugene Robinson: Why we should remember Jan. 6, 2025
Eugene Robinson - (archive: https://archive.ph/8vaY2 ) Why we should remember Jan. 6, 2025
Trump’s election certification features no riots, but scars linger from four years ago.
January 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
No angry and deluded mob stormed the U.S. Capitol Monday. There was no violent invasion, no bludgeoning of police officers, no shocking vandalism, no mortal threat to members of Congress and the vice president. Nothing particularly newsworthy happened — which qualifies as very big news indeed.
What did take place at the Capitol was the routine certification of the result of the November election. It is now official: Donald Trump, who accepts the will of the voters only when he wins, will again be president. Our battered democracy survives.
Not without scars, however. The president-elect and most of the Republican Party want us all to forget that exactly four years ago — on Jan. 6, 2021 — Trump’s refusal to acknowledge his loss to Joe Biden sparked tragic events that were unprecedented in the nation’s history. For the first time, we did not witness a peaceful and orderly transfer of power from one political party to another.
What we saw instead were scenes we never thought could take place in this country. Rioters injured 140 police officers, bashing them with clubs and assailing them with bear spray. Members of Congress were forced to barricade themselves inside the House chamber, crouched behind their desks, until they could be led to safety. The mob roamed the halls chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” inspired by Trump’s insistent demand that his vice president unilaterally reject Biden’s victory. The insurrectionists — there is no other word for them — had gallows waiting outside.
And, back at the White House, Trump watched television coverage as these events unfolded, for hours refusing to make the slightest attempt to convince his supporters to desist. When he finally told them to leave the Capitol and go home, they complied. Now, as he returns to the White House, Trump pledges to pardon many of those convicted of federal crimes for their role in the violent assault.
/snip
Trump’s election certification features no riots, but scars linger from four years ago.
January 6, 2025 at 4:17 PM
No angry and deluded mob stormed the U.S. Capitol Monday. There was no violent invasion, no bludgeoning of police officers, no shocking vandalism, no mortal threat to members of Congress and the vice president. Nothing particularly newsworthy happened — which qualifies as very big news indeed.
What did take place at the Capitol was the routine certification of the result of the November election. It is now official: Donald Trump, who accepts the will of the voters only when he wins, will again be president. Our battered democracy survives.
Not without scars, however. The president-elect and most of the Republican Party want us all to forget that exactly four years ago — on Jan. 6, 2021 — Trump’s refusal to acknowledge his loss to Joe Biden sparked tragic events that were unprecedented in the nation’s history. For the first time, we did not witness a peaceful and orderly transfer of power from one political party to another.
What we saw instead were scenes we never thought could take place in this country. Rioters injured 140 police officers, bashing them with clubs and assailing them with bear spray. Members of Congress were forced to barricade themselves inside the House chamber, crouched behind their desks, until they could be led to safety. The mob roamed the halls chanting “Hang Mike Pence,” inspired by Trump’s insistent demand that his vice president unilaterally reject Biden’s victory. The insurrectionists — there is no other word for them — had gallows waiting outside.
And, back at the White House, Trump watched television coverage as these events unfolded, for hours refusing to make the slightest attempt to convince his supporters to desist. When he finally told them to leave the Capitol and go home, they complied. Now, as he returns to the White House, Trump pledges to pardon many of those convicted of federal crimes for their role in the violent assault.
/snip
2 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
= new reply since forum marked as read
