Reflections on the Capitol Circus Show

 

From my Facebook post the other day:

Blaming Trump for the “most peaceful demonstrations” misses the point, and it’s simplistic.

We’re at a point where people feel the only way to be heard is by making a lot of noise; and the only way to be seen is to burn down a major city in a mask.

The only difference between the mobs is the color of their jerseys.

This isn’t going to go away simply because Trump does–assuming he lives a quiet retirement, yeah right.

With the incoming Biden administration, we’ll the see the return of people who wish to go back to business as usual. They’ll have their hands full with their version of the people who “vigorously entered” the Capitol.

I’m not as depressed and melodramatic as others because I think we live in such stupid and inconsequential times. This era will be like the turn of the 20th century: technical innovation mixed with political mediocrity.

If you think this riot was unprecedented and “not who we are,” then you’re probably too historically illiterate to recognize the photo.

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  1. CACrabtree Coolidge
    CACrabtree
    @CACrabtree

    Totally agree.  However, “historically illiterate” is a term that would fit a very large percentage of our population.

    • #1
  2. SkipSul Inactive
    SkipSul
    @skipsul

    Bereket Kelile: If you think this riot was unprecedented and “not who we are,” then you’re probably too historically illiterate to recognize the photo.

    It might be “who we are”, but it hardly speaks well of us as a nation.

    • #2
  3. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    Interesting post and points! I think this is very true:

    Bereket Kelile: We’re at a point where people feel the only way to be heard is by making a lot of noise; and the only way to be seen is to burn down a major city in a mask.

     

    I’d add on or spin that a little by saying we now have organizations that generate this type of behavior for themselves as opposed to government. We’ve always had riots and mass demonstrations aimed at affecting change in “government.” I don’t know if we’ve had groups using political grievances as an excuse to fight in the street, seemingly for fun, for an extended period of time like we have had recently. I think that’s new. 

    Forgive some of the generalizations that follow (“on average” and “yes there are notable exceptions”).

    What’s striking to me about the last couple of years is that we’ve seen riots/demonstrations turned into ways to gain social clout on the net. So many of these Antifa/Proud Boys type fights were them fighting each other over dominance for online applause. (I imagine some of this is translated into actual community respect.) Very early on (ex: Berkeley fights), I was surprised at how many people would get interviewed because they were generating praise for how tough their side was and how weak the other side was. If you were the person who threw a punch that got everyone talking, you could become a minor celebrity for a day or two on the boards. 

    I’m not saying they are insincere in their beliefs– just that they aren’t lobbying the government. It seems to Antifa and Proud Boys–and orbital groups–all benefit more from fighting each other than they do making government uncomfortable. That feels new to me. 

    • #3
  4. PHCheese Inactive
    PHCheese
    @PHCheese

    We are made up of different tribes. It’s in our DNA. The Democrats have spent the last 50 years breaking us up into smaller tribes to lasso together a ruling Coalition.They aren’t concerned about consequences as long as the keep power.

    • #4
  5. JoelB Member
    JoelB
    @JoelB

    I thought the image was the Andrew Jackson inaugural, but just to be sure I right-clicked on it and inspected it to confirm. It’s been a long time since I was in American History class.

    • #5
  6. DonG (Biden is compromised) Coolidge
    DonG (Biden is compromised)
    @DonG

    SkipSul (View Comment):
    It might be “who we are”, but it hardly speaks well of us as a nation.

    Blame it on temporary Covid Insanity.  We should show each other some grace and save our blame for China that knowingly sent us an epidemic and a psy-ops to stoke anarchy via TikTok.  

    • #6
  7. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    Trump may not run in 2024 but why do I expect him to be very loud and back on Twitter soon? Or hosting a show on CNN or MSNBC?

    • #7
  8. Basil Fawlty Member
    Basil Fawlty
    @BasilFawlty

    Bereket Kelile: Blaming Trump for the “most peaceful demonstrations” misses the point, and it’s simplistic.

    I think you mean the “mostly peaceful protests” which have suddenly been transmogrified into “insurrection.”

    • #8
  9. John H. Member
    John H.
    @JohnH

    Maybe Nancy Perfecthair et al are shrilling so now, I mean this week, because they know they are at the peak of their power. In less than two weeks, all enemies will have been reduced or banished, and whatever happens after that is totally on the new rulers.

    Although I expect that Joe himself will remain almost hidden. The pretext will be not his feebleness, which by the way I think is overestimated, but the idea that rebels are out to attack him physically.

    • #9
  10. Suspira Member
    Suspira
    @Suspira

    John H. (View Comment):
    Although I expect that Joe himself will remain almost hidden. The pretext will be not his feebleness, which by the way I think is overestimated, but the idea that rebels are out to attack him physically.

    And maybe they are.

    • #10
  11. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    John H. (View Comment):

    Maybe Nancy Perfecthair et al are shrilling so now, I mean this week, because they know they are at the peak of their power. In less than two weeks, all enemies will have been reduced or banished, and whatever happens after that is totally on the new rulers.

    Although I expect that Joe himself will remain almost hidden. The pretext will be not his feebleness, which by the way I think is overestimated, but the idea that rebels are out to attack him physically.

    They will create new enemies. Think about the push against Cruz and Hawley. It won’t stop there. Because it isn’t fundamentally about Cruz and Hawley. What comes next is that if you don’t condemn Cruz and Hawley then you are a bad person who doesn’t respect democracy and well “I just can’t associate with people like that.” 

    Every argument about Trump and Trump supporters, a lot of elite democrats will move to Cruz and Hawley and people who support Cruz and Hawley. That’s why the temperature is so high with those two senators. A lot of liberals see the opportunity to unperson even more of their political opponents and they are taking it. It isn’t over by a long shot. 

    • #11
  12. Dbroussa Coolidge
    Dbroussa
    @Dbroussa

    I suspect that most people are also unfamiliar with E H Crump and the Battle of Athens as well.

    • #12
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