Blue Lives Battered
The first hearing for the select committee was historical first because of it’s subject matter — officers giving testimony about being attacked by domestic terrorists while defending the US Capitol. Second, there weren’t any obnoxious Republicans on the committee to make a mockery out of the process by insulting the witnesses, performing for the cameras and making total fools of themselves. Third, the only two Republicans on the committee are all in and have been shunned and denounced by their own party. They made history by breaking with the pack, calling their own party out, and doing right by the Constitution, as it should be.
There was no grand standing or freak shows by any of the committee members. Everybody was very somber and respectful, as it should be.
The opening statements by the two Republicans were carefully constructed because they both understand that their words will be in the history books as the only two who broke rank and jumped ship.
Liz Cheney was the first to speak after the Chair. She said, “If those responsible are not held accountable, and if Congress does not act responsibly, this will remain a cancer on our constitutional republic, undermining the peaceful transfer of power at the heart of our democracy system.”
Adam Kinzinger got really emotional when he addressed the officers. He made sure that they knew how much they were appreciated and that they didn’t fail. They held. He said, “Democracies aren’t defined by our bad days but how we come back from them……We might have deep differences on policy issues. But we are all Americans today.”
The officers were emotional, having to relive the horror in front of members of Congress and the entire country. Committee members were emotional too because they not only had to relive that day but they were sitting face to face with four of the men who literally saved their lives.
Adam Schiff, who is loathed by Trump, the Republicans and their cult followers because he impeached Trump said, “I’m convinced one of the lives you saved that day might very well have been my own.” He understands all that’s at stake. “If we’re no longer committed to a peaceful transfer of power after elections if our side doesn’t win, then God help us. If we deem elections illegitimate merely because they didn’t go our way, then God help us.”
Right wing pundits and MAGA trolls made fun of the officers and the committee members for being cry babies. One troll called Officer Michael Fanone while he was testifying to leave this voice mail: “You’re a punk f*ggot, you’re a lying fuck! … too bad they didn’t beat the shit out of you more. You’re a piece of shit!”
All four of the officers said that none of their training or anything in their backgrounds prepared them for what happened on January 6. Officer Gonell, who fought in Iraq said he was way more afraid on January 6 than any day in combat because he was fighting citizens that he was there to protect, who beat him with the American flag. He was fighting for his life with no idea when they would be relieved or provided with back up.
Officer Hodges was concerned about guns and bombs. Many of the rioters were ex-military and law enforcement. If they dared to flash their badge, then it was safe to assume they had a gun. “We scanned the crowd, but these people know how to conceal their weapons…..I was wondering how many more bombs are there? What’s the trigger? Is it going to be a cellphone? Is it on a timer? How many guns are there? If we start firing, is that the signal to set off the explosives?” He never used his weapon because he feared that would set off phase 2 of the attack.
The four officers who testified represented hundreds of other officers, each with their own horror story. All of them risked their lives defending and protecting members of Congress, half of whom have no respect or gratitude for them at all, even after dubbing them with “Blue Lives Matter” to demonize Black Lives Matter, yet they’re still protecting them. Those indifferent smug fuckers walk by the very officers that they once exploited but now condemn when they come and go in the Capitol, ignoring them.
The Republicans did their best to make news and get attention during and after the hearing. They tried to grab the headlines before the hearing by blaming Nancy Pelosi with their own press conference. The two leaders of the Republican Party blew off the hearing because they were too busy “working.” Matt Gaetz, Marjorie Taylor Greene and Louie Gohmert got chased off by protesters at their press conference they held to release the political prisoners who attacked the Capitol, and Ted Cruz showed up to vote in sweaty gym clothes.
They were pretty much ignored. As it should be.
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