What do you think of the current tense protests going on at the US Capital building?

[nightdrot]

A few points.

First, as a former Capitol Hill staffer, I am surprised that the Capitol police could be caught off guard like that. They are usually more efficient than that.

Second, in an era when protests have become the norm - not unlike the 1960s and 70s - and when Seattle, Portland, Minneapolis, NYC and Los Angeles, among others have seen violence, this was to be expected. The nation - as noted - has experienced populist phases like this before.

Eras when the "establishment" is not to be trusted and when the "will of the people" are the paramount cliches of the hour. The burning of Seattle and Portland and the like was called "basically peaceful" by the media and large swathes of the public.

That was bound to be storing up trouble. This made worse, bluntly, by the last minute changes in elections rules - made nominally to accommodate the pandemic.

In an era of populist mistrust, that was bound to be playing with fire and so it has proved. Where the rule of law is cast aside for the trendy passions of the hour, it is not apt to be restored at the steps of the nation's capital. In this, the country as a whole has reaped what it sewed.

Then there is Mr. Trump. This is the logical outgrowth of his particular brand of politics. He was content to pour salt in the social wounds and - to mix metaphors - this was bound to poison the well and push the nation toward further extremism and violence.

Not that the other side is to be absolved. Speaker Pelosi and her ilk were content to play the role of antagonists. Thus no one was left to soothe the ruffled feathers. The Speaker ripped up presidential speeches and stormed out of West Wing meetings - and thus where there might have been a soothing voice in the opposition there was just more fuel on the fire.

Of course, the protests have crossed the line from peaceful and constitutionally protected to violent and they should be put down. Passion is antithetical to freedom - though that message is not apt to resonate in a people who have become intellectually lazy and inclined to equate their wants of the moment with their rights.

As Burke said, ". . . But where popular authority is absolute and unrestrained, the people have an infinitely greater, because a far better founded confidence in their own power. They are themselves, in a great measure, their own instruments. They are nearer to their objects. Besides, they are less under responsibility to one of the greatest controlling powers on earth, the sense of fame and estimation. The share of infamy that is likely to fall to the lot of each individual in public acts, is small indeed; the operation of opinion being in inverse ratio to the number of those who abuse power. Their own approbation of their own acts has to them the appearance of a public judgment in their favour. A perfect democracy is therefore the most shameless thing in the world."

So it has proved. As the mayhem in the US Capitol amply demonstrates.

[mike5150]

Crazy day. No one should be breaking and entering but the anger from the people I understand. This goes beyond Trump now. The anger is coming from people who for the most part I have seen today are more angry with Republican leaders like Mitt Romney and Mike Pence than the Democrats. We have a number of politicians like McConnell and Graham who played around the past year pretending to be MAGA friendly and going along with Trump and there supporters. Once they won there own re-election and Trump needed there help, they weren't there. They left faster than you can snap your fingers. A lot of people were warned for years that McConnell was a Bush loyalist and never liked Trump but now were left with a fractured party. A Republican party that for the most part is still controlled by Bush loyalists but the supporters are there for Trump.

People online have been saying for weeks that something big was going to happen on January 6th. I figured it was just trolling but here we are. How ever things go from this point forward I feel like we will be more divided than before.

[kitty71]

I thought this only happens in the movies!! But it is terrible. Some uneducated Trump supporters scumbags. I mean if the US is all about democracy, this is not the way to achieve it. But then again Trump started all this when he could not accept he lost. He acted like a spoil brat little kid that could not get what he wanted and he had to go on rants to get what He wanted. Trump was no man or mature responsible guy who accept he lost period. In this life you win or loose, this time he lostl. Accept it deal with it.: You should be ashamed of president you elected to office. I hope now you see the type of man he is.

[Brokenheartedx]

What did u expect happen? This has been brewing for years and will only get worse.. People wanting to take down their own governments as they see they ain't fit for purpose. Don't expect the new president to be any better.

[tartaarsaus]

What an incredibly traitorous, disgusting, shameful attack on democracy. I guess these are the guys who Clinton called deplorables. And it’s all fueled by one of the worst presidents in history, honestly wondering whether he’ll really compete with Buchanan.

[kambo_trick3y]

I think of how funny it would be if one of the protesters gets shot and their last thoughts before dying is:

"Shit, I'm dying for a man who will never know my name, who could literally give two shits about me."

[HungLikeAHorsefly]

You mean coup attempt? What do I think of the currently in progress coup attempt? I think they're traitors and should be treated as such.

[Twinrova]

If that is true then they're idiots. One thing the right had going for them was that they could claim being the non-violent mainstream political party; now this will be held over their heads. Anyone with common sense who isn't completely ignorant, though, will still tell you the Democrats commit acts of political violence at a far higher rate.

[Jjpayne]

I just heard about it today... Pretty crazy! It makes me wonder what other trump supporters think about what they did. I think I'd like to hear Republican commentary on what happened and what their views are on that

[MountAverage]

They are not protesters, they are anti-democratic domestic terrorists.

[Neko911]

Fucking ridiculous and gonna cause a mass killing of people

[StarryCrossing]

It was crazy. We are an embarrassment. Why was this allowed to happen? Trump should be charged for invoking treason and sedition.

[NorthwestRider]

Low life poor uneducated terrorists who hate this country!!

[G3tAClue]

I mean, Trump said him delve that he loves the poorly educated

[legalboxers]

They asked for it, they got it. The Trump supporters were summoned by their Grand Master.. So hey. You get what you asked for.

[lovedejj_xo]

Ghetto. America is just real ghetto right now and I’m over it. I wouldn’t call that a protest either.

[captain_voidwalker]

Good i hope they put those corrupt fuckers to the sword

[alice55]

Make me wonder why some countries people keep complaining about their presidents when they could easily kill all the politician and make a revolution.

[Madhatter920]

Not a protest. That's straight up domestic terrorism and treason.

[lordskull69]

pointless it will change nothing

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

I'm watching it now on CNN it's horrible

[zerofuks]

The beginning of the revolution.

[have_a_good_day]

It's good exercise for the fat Americans yes

[Shuttlebus78]

I think it’s a disgrace. He lost. Time to move on.