I’m not sure what to say about what happened yesterday. There was the victory in Georgia – a Black preacher and a Jewish man winning Senate seats in a state that has been pretty deep red for a long time. And, of course, there was the attempted coup by a bunch of racist thugs storming our Capitol, who easily got inside when cops opened the gates and literally welcomed them in and took selfies with them and gave them free reign of our most sacred spaces. My family watched stunned, not that a mob was exercising its right to express themselves, however backward and misguided their opinions are; we were stunned that their violence and lawlessness was not met with even a fraction of the force we’ve seen in other recent occasions of people assembling and fighting for what they believe is right. And that all of this happened against the backdrop of a pandemic that has been allowed to rage out of control in our country and to claim nearly 4,000 lives yesterday – in one day! – is simply too much. It is too much! My dry January plans were out the door by 4 pm.
I don’t know what to say about all of this. I don’t know what to tell my kids when they ask what is happening, or what I think family members who helped put Trump in office must think about what’s happening. This – the politics, the civil unrest, the toll of ten months of an unrelenting pandemic – has been such a sad, dark time in our country, in our personal lives and in our personal relationships, and even despite recent victories and so much to feel hopeful about, it feels heavy today and sad. And for all of you feeling similarly, you aren’t alone. We’ll get through this. I still think good will prevail and the year will end on a much higher note. But we have some very difficult months ahead. Hang in there, guys.
![\"\"](\"https://d5nxst8fruw4z.cloudfront.net/atrk.gif?account=r/y/j1a0Sn00OI\")
liz January 7, 2021, 10:35 am
I live in DC about a mile away from everything, and honestly it was insane. 100 percent different atmosphere/different situation than the protests in June. I also had dry january plans…they did not survive the day. My nerves were honestly shot from hearing constant sirens/dealing with police cars up and down the street.
Dear Wendy January 7, 2021, 10:50 am
I know what that feels like – the wail of sirens, police, helicopters overhead. Between the covid crisis we had here in the spring and then the police brutality during the BLM marches this summer, there were months of nonstop sirens. It sucks. Hang in there!
Part-time Lurker January 7, 2021, 11:04 am
Unfortunately I don’t think this is over. Multiple senators and representatives still voted against Arizona’s electoral votes and the minute Trump gets his twitter accounts back he’ll start spewing his nonsense all over again. On top of that you have people like Wood, Qanon believers and Powell still fanning the flames. Biden will spend his first 90 days in office just trying to do damage control and Pence managed to set himself up as the great white GOP savior so I’m sure we’ll be hearing from him in 2024.
Copa January 7, 2021, 11:41 am
My dry January plans flew out the window yesterday as well. The only thing that surprised me was the lack of security. I wasn’t surprised that the protest took the turn it did. I wasn’t surprised to see that they didn’t use the same force as with BLM protests. Last summer, armed white “militia” men stormed Michigan’s Capitol Building to protest the lockdown. To my knowledge, zero repercussions. My first thought when I read that news was how different the situation would have been if it had been armed black protestors. Or a group of Muslims. Yesterday, as soon as they announced a security breach, my mind went to the exact same place.
My boyfriend’s mom called yesterday afternoon and said she didn’t think those were Trump supporters. Like, who else would it be? Some of the flags literally had his face on it. All the while I’m sure Trump was reveling in the chaos.
I had a really hard time sleeping last night.
Liz January 7, 2021, 12:13 pm
Some of my family thinks its antifa even though the FBI has come out and said it si not them. Sometimes you can provide every single indisputable fact and people still find a way to believe what they want!
Kate January 7, 2021, 12:53 pm
I have no idea how you could watch that unfold on TV and think those individuals were anything but Trump supporters. 99% white, decked out head to toe Trump merch. No offense to your boyfriend but his mom is a willfully ignorant idiot bitch. No judgment, my MIL is too.
thatgirl January 7, 2021, 11:53 am
I have spent the last almost 24 hours condemning what I witnessed, and having to explain to my own family members who is actually responsible for yesterday’s violence….spoiler alert: IT WASN’T ANTIFA
I am disheartened and sad that this was ALLOWED to happen. On worldwide television no less
LisforLeslie January 7, 2021, 1:31 pm
I wasn’t planning a dry January but I just don’t think alcohol is going to help me right now. If it helps others – have at it with all of my support.
What I don’t understand is the narrow minded view – this is EXACTLY what Steve Bannon and Putin have been pushing for. Total anarchy, rejection of democracy. The so-called patriots (ahem terrorists) have no clue that they’ve been used. And the biggest idiot of all is El Cheeto himself. He thinks he’s in control.
Betty January 7, 2021, 2:43 pm
I find it amazing how willfully ignorant people can be … the people against fascism (or antifa if you will) would definitely NOT be the ones trying to set up a dictatorship! The backwards logic is insane … also, how anyone could have watched yesterday and come to that conclusion just shows willful ignorance. My other comments:
1) If I ever realize that I am on the same side as someone painted and draped in fur and horns who looks off his meds, I would switch sides.
2) My favorite tweet was “Why is everyone asking where the police are? Do y’all ask where Miley is when Hannah’s on stage?”
LisforLeslie January 7, 2021, 3:01 pm
Ok – that tweet is fantastic but clearly you have never been to Burning Man because you would definitely see painted and horn wearing folks who just want to be one with the universe, man.
Betty January 7, 2021, 5:29 pm
You’re right, I have never been to Burning Man and that episode of Malcolm in the Middle was before QAnon.?
Sara January 7, 2021, 4:33 pm
Rumor is that T’s Facebook is permanently banned and that Twitter will do the same after the 20th.
Copa January 7, 2021, 5:32 pm
I feel like being banned from various social media platforms is the first time he’s ever faced any amount of consequences in his entire 70+ year existence.
Helen January 7, 2021, 6:48 pm
He’ll just hop on Parlor and be welcomed with open arms. I doubt anyone involved will face any real consequences
Sara January 12, 2021, 11:32 am
Parler is dead. The CEO said no one wants to host them.
What worries me is that no one is talking about Gab (another Parler like app which was briefly taken down in 2018 in connection with the synagogue shooting).
ron January 12, 2021, 1:41 pm
There is a whole dark web out there. White supremacist insurrectionists will always find a platform to talk and plan their next attack. Governments all over the world have done their best to either shut down Al Qaeda and ISIS sites, or to use them to find and go after members. Those groups are still going strong.
Bittergaymark January 7, 2021, 9:26 pm
The whole thing was simply crazy. And the fact Trump has yet to be hauled out in handcuffs — simply INSANE.
He deliberately caused a fucking riot.
He willfully attacked not one, but two, yes… BOTH rival branches of the government.
The whole thing is insane. But was I even vaguely surprised as I watched it all unfold LIVE and in real time?
No. Not at all.
Though the fact that there was virtually no National Guard presence as this event (one that has been hyped for months…) left me baffled. Confused.
And suspicious.
Liz January 8, 2021, 11:24 am
DC isn’t a state, so the DC guard is under federal control. (reasoning is so that no state can have a say and the federal goverment is in control of protecting the capitol and other buildings if the government is under attack…which like, is what happened and they did nothing) VA and MD were able to help out hours before they authorized the DC national guard.
Sara January 8, 2021, 2:00 pm
So much is still going to come out. This is sickening https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/supporters-of-us-president-donald-trump-gather-across-from-news-photo/1230454617?adppopup=true
Dear Wendy January 9, 2021, 9:28 am
Yep, that was meant for Pence, who that had planned to murder first.
Bittergaymark January 9, 2021, 10:49 am
David Bowie said it best.
“I’m Afraid of Americans.”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u7APmRkatEU
brise January 9, 2021, 11:27 am
I think the National Gard wasn’t deployed at first because of the suspicion they might associate with the mob and make a real coup.
ktfran January 9, 2021, 12:38 pm
No. They weren’t deployed because The federal government controls what happens in D.C. Trump controls the government. Trump wanted this to happen. Why else would he have had a rally right down the street?
It truly doesn’t get more clear than that.
Kate January 9, 2021, 3:14 pm
I’m dying at all the frickin memes about these people, like the guy who tasered himself in the balls 3x while trying to steal a painting of Tip O’Neill and suffered a fatal heart attack.
My aunt (who is 100% with it and probably the only person in her nursing home who is) finally broke down and started watching TV a while back. She has the sound off and just watches the chairons. She’s OBSESSED with the coup situation and calls my parents like 3x a day to be like, “did you see THIS?” I mean, it’s platinum entertainment.
Except it’s sickeningly horrifying and they’re going to come back with automatic weapons in a week.
ron January 9, 2021, 7:34 pm
The authorities will be ready for them. The current level of security will exist until at least after the inauguration. I believe Trump appointees and perhaps some sympathetic Congresspeople, along with bad assumptions that of course White demonstrators can be trusted, unlike those BLM and anti-global warming and anti-war protestors, made sure that the Capitol was ill-defended on Wednesday. The Pentagon excuses for not sending the rapid reaction force quickly are laughable. And those guys were all political appointees,
Kate January 9, 2021, 7:44 pm
I mean, I think there’s more to it than that… I think a lot of people who should have been protecting the capitol actually wanted this and hoped it’d be violent and they’d drag Nancy Pelosi out and rape & kill her and AOC, and lynch Mike Pence, but ok sure, now they get it that white “protesters” can’t be good boys and girls and will totally have the kind of military presence they had for peaceful BLM protesters. I hope you’re right.
Kate January 9, 2021, 7:47 pm
Not that I think Mike Pence is the LAST person who should be lynched, but really no one should.
ktfran January 9, 2021, 9:43 pm
There is no way that it wasn’t a deliberate attack that the White House wanted. There was chatter on all of their white supremacist sites. There were people with hand ties or whatever they’re called. There was a vehicle with a full arsenal of weapons. It’s more than “they’re white, so it’s cool.”
There’s apparently a task force for domestic terrorist. Why wasn’t something done? Because Trump wanted it. Guiliani told people to use force.
Kate January 10, 2021, 6:34 am
I think they really truly thought they were going to overthrow the government. That the end result would be Donald Trump king, the end. They were willing to kill Pence and Congress. Just like in the Handmaid’s Tale. Because they’re white supremacists. And I’m not at all confident law enforcement and military are going to be “prepared” when they show up again to do it right.
Dear Wendy January 10, 2021, 9:29 am
I have zero confidence that law enforcement – which is full of white supremacists – and the military will be “prepared” for the attacks planned in the coming days. They’re all in cahoots over it.
Kate January 10, 2021, 6:38 am
Oh, sorry, they’re nazis too.
Kate January 10, 2021, 11:45 am
At what point can we drop the narrative that white men (and women, sure, but it’s more so the men) just didn’t realize? That they’re just hardworking good people who want jobs? That line of thinking needed to die after the 2016 election but apparently it’s still alive and well. No: They. Are. White. Nationalists. Or. At. Least. Sympathizers.
Bittergaymark January 10, 2021, 5:00 pm
Sadly, I fear the inauguration will end in tremendous bloodshed. The fact that the death toll was so low the other day will ultimately come back to bite us all in the ass. Had it been truly been a Pence swinging massacre then people would take this seriously. As it stands — few in charge do. Pence NOT invoking the 25th both astounds and baffles me.
He’s an even bigger dolt than even I thought.
CanadaGoose January 11, 2021, 2:31 pm
@Bittergaymark I saw an interview with one of Trump’s former advisors who explained why the 25th will not work. It was created in the event a president CANNOT do their job, as in they are physically unconscious type of cannot. Apparently, the wording is very specific and narrow in what counts. Refusing to do the job or being crappy at it (committing a crime as well) is not enough. All Trump would have to do is contest the assertion that he CANNOT function and it triggers an appeal process of something like 3 weeks where the president can prove themselves able. By then, he’s out anyway.
I actually don’t think anything will happen on the 20th, as Trump has been effectively silenced for the moment and people are seeing many of the idiot rioters getting arrested. I think people will start to fear consequences as that is now what is filling social media. With Parler down, it will be harder to mobilize them as well. I’m keen to see what the FBI does with all the account info and posts from Parler that the hacker was able to send them last night. The FBI now has the tools to find and charge far more people than the videos and photos of the day would allow, though I have to wonder if they will elect not to for the sake of ‘unity’.
Bittergaymark January 11, 2021, 2:51 pm
That’s simply NOT true. Trump’s advisor is lying. Surprise, surprise.
FYI January 11, 2021, 3:06 pm
Sorry, canadagoose, but this is really naive. Trump has proven time and time and time and time again that he is NEVER “effectively silenced.” It is not in his DNA to stay silent. He is now planning a country-wide “tour” so that he can hold campaign-style rallies for his last nine days. Yep, nothing to see there. No issues will come up at those gatherings at all.
The more he loses, the more he lashes out. Violently. He must be removed.
FYI January 11, 2021, 3:09 pm
Also, the 25th does not say anything explicit about physical incapacity. It says “unable to discharge.” He cannot discharge his duties because he has well and truly lost it.
“Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.”
Kate January 11, 2021, 3:27 pm
Yeah, sorry, all of that is nonsense.
Kate January 11, 2021, 3:23 pm
Ummmm
https://www.rawstory.com/white-house-2649876432/
Kate January 11, 2021, 3:24 pm
This is terrifying.
Bittergaymark January 11, 2021, 4:16 pm
Things are about to go so far south… I sincerely hope whoever is third, fourth or even fifth in line to the Presidency is gearing up for a truly impossible job.
Nobody in DC is taking this seriously enough. Trump’s supporters are dangerously beyond unhinged.
CanadaGoose January 11, 2021, 3:37 pm
I tried to find the clip but there is so much coverage, I can’t unfortunately. He was a former advisor, and agrees T is dangerous and needs to go. “Unable” that’s right. Sorry I got the wrong word but anyway the advisor said all T has to say is he contests “unable” and it triggers this appeal period which extends beyond the 20th. He also mentioned resignation, which T will never do, and that impeachment won’t be fast enough but at least shuts him out of running in 2024.
Silenced and effectively silenced are not the same thing. He can go on all the tours he likes, none will have the reach of social media and with those platforms on alert for future insurrection plans, it will be much harder to organize (thoughnot impossible). Parler’s shut down at the moment, its participants’ details hacked and delivered to the feds, and even Mail Chimp has trashed his access. I just don’t see a repeat on the 20th but time will tell. After the 20th, who knows?
ron January 11, 2021, 4:04 pm
The big problem isn’t what he might say on social media or at a rally. It is what he tells the military to do and whether they obey.
LisforLeslie January 12, 2021, 8:21 am
The current generals have been pretty clear that they have no intention of using the might of the military against citizens and they want no part in a coup. I think they understand that if they were to support this in any way, they’d be the first to be pushed in front of the bus and “I was only following orders” would not be well received.
Hazel January 13, 2021, 4:44 pm
Is he really impeached now, and what does everyone think will ensue as a result? So hoping for better days for you all in America (not that it’s super-peachy in the Uk but it’s all relative)
Kate January 13, 2021, 7:19 pm
Yes, impeached. Tried and convicted, not yet.
LisforLeslie January 14, 2021, 9:40 am
Current news is that Biden is going to push for a huge stimulus package and vaccine management approach. Immediate help for people.
As for El Cheeto, – a number of Republicans have simply had enough and impeachment would simply mean that he can’t run in 2024. If they can find their ovaries and vote to convict, then maybe the Republican party can survive – although many predict the split between moderate conservatives and fucking lunatics can’t be easily repaired.