US Presidential Election 2020 Thread II - Judgement Day(s)

Jaded Walker

SNIP. Do not dump links here please.

Retr0gamer

And it looks like the senators that were in Capitol Building on the 6th are new testing positive for Covid19 as predicted. Many Republicans refused to wear a mask.

Brussels Sprout

Retr0gamer wrote: »

And it looks like the senators that were in Capitol Building on the 6th are new testing positive for Covid19 as predicted. Many Republicans refused to wear a mask.

They were kept together in a room for several hours. The absolute worst case scenario for Covid transmission. There's a non-zero chance that an elderly Democratic Senator could catch Covid, die and be replaced with a Republican by a Republican Governor eliminating the Democratic majority in that chamber.

Quin_Dub

Retr0gamer wrote: »

And it looks like the senators that were in Capitol Building on the 6th are new testing positive for Covid19 as predicted. Many Republicans refused to wear a mask.

Not only refused to wear a mask but laughed at and mocked those trying to get them to put one on.

They should test every single one of them and any that test positive that were not wearing a mask should be charged with reckless endangerment or similar.

BonnieSituation

Brussels Sprout wrote: »

They were kept together in a room for several hours. The absolute worst case scenario for Covid transmission. There's a non-zero chance that an elderly Democratic Senator could catch Covid, die and be replaced with a Republican by a Republican Governor eliminating the Democratic majority in that chamber.

One of the elderly (aged 75) Dem House members (Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ))have already contracted Covid.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2021/01/11/new-jersey-congresswoman-contracts-covid-19-after-sheltering-in-place-during-capitol-siege/

completedit

I just thought of something. Around the time of George Floyd's murder, there was a general feeling that the protests and riots that followed were emblematic of America's inequality. Those who had been cast aside were now using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the system that had cast them aside. How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings? Maybe they have legitimate concerns and grievances with the Democrats who they believe were instrumental in paving the neoliberal landscape that has created the discontent that exists today and that has (for a significant proportion of the American population) has completely derailed the idea that tomorrow's world will be better than today.

storker

completedit wrote: »

I just thought of something. Around the time of George Floyd's murder, there was a general feeling that the protests and riots that followed were emblematic of America's inequality. Those who had been cast aside were now using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the system that had cast them aside. How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings?

Because they weren't responding to inequality. They were throwing a murderous tantrum because their favourite candidate lost the election.

amandstu

storker wrote: »

Because they weren't responding to inequality. They were throwing a murderous tantrum because their favourite candidate lost the election.

It has yet to be shown what was tantrum and what was cynical power play.

But at a guess ,those who were just throwing a hissy fit are totally happy to have that exploited by cynical organizers.

And I think I have an idea who might be the cynical organizer in chief.

Foxtrol

completedit wrote: »

I just thought of something. Around the time of George Floyd's murder, there was a general feeling that the protests and riots that followed were emblematic of America's inequality. Those who had been cast aside were now using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the system that had cast them aside. How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings? Maybe they have legitimate concerns and grievances with the Democrats who they believe were instrumental in paving the neoliberal landscape that has created the discontent that exists today.

Pretty simple, the two situations are in no way similar. The differences are endless but below is an example of 3.

They weren't protesting anything 'legitimate', they were fed lies from Trump, the GOP, right wing 'news' about a 'stolen election'.

The looting/destruction near BLM protests are nearly always poor locals taking advantage of the situation - whereas in DC it was fully premediated with people travelling from all over the country to attend - bringing along bombs, zip ties, Molotov cocktails, guns, tasers, mace, sledgehammers, gallows, bats etc.

If it isn't obvious, looting a footlocker isn't the same as attacking one of the branches of government while they are in the process of electing the next president - the latter is coup.

Brussels Sprout

completedit wrote: »

I just thought of something. Around the time of George Floyd's murder, there was a general feeling that the protests and riots that followed were emblematic of America's inequality. Those who had been cast aside were now using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the system that had cast them aside. How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings? Maybe they have legitimate concerns and grievances with the Democrats who they believe were instrumental in paving the neoliberal landscape that has created the discontent that exists today and that has (for a significant proportion of the American population) has completely derailed the idea that tomorrow's world will be better than today.

The BLM protesters were people at the end of their tether who felt that they had run out of legitimate options just to stay alive when dealing with police in their own communities. They spontaneously took to the streets all over the country in reaction to the George Floyd killing. I cannot put it more eloquently then this lady did last year:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sb9_qGOa9Go

In contrast, the MAGA protesters were trying to stage a coup on the seat of government because they were unhappy with the results of a democratic election. They attempted to hunt down members of the government in order to do god knows what with them (many were armed, some had zip ties, someone even constructed a gallows). This was planned weeks in advance and concentrated in one single location.


Both events had protests that led to violence but context is everything.

Hurrache

completedit wrote: »

How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings?

Dunno, murder?

jill_valentine

The cast-aside forgotten proud boy who smashed the windows for Babbitt's charge was wearing a $325 hat. What exactly is his legitimate grievance?

Christy42

I would point ou that violence at the Capitol was also preplanned. Check any of the message boards (that are left) that allowed right wing "free speech" and you will find a hoard of death threats to members of Congress and glorying in a coming civil war.

Blm was not trying to overthrow a government, blm did not stick white nationalist flags in government buildings. Again there is no dealing with what only wants to kill.

Like France has riots relatively regular. These are protests that get out of hand in clashes with police, not nice but also not treason. This is a flat out assault on the US government with specific targets to capture and kill.

Brian?

completedit wrote: »

I just thought of something. Around the time of George Floyd's murder, there was a general feeling that the protests and riots that followed were emblematic of America's inequality. Those who had been cast aside were now using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the system that had cast them aside. How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings? Maybe they have legitimate concerns and grievances with the Democrats who they believe were instrumental in paving the neoliberal landscape that has created the discontent that exists today and that has (for a significant proportion of the American population) has completely derailed the idea that tomorrow's world will be better than today.

They had a chance to express their concerns in a democratic election and lost. There is nothing wrong expressing your concerns via protest to draw attention to injustice. That's not what they were doing though, they were trying to reverse the democratic will of the people.

There is nothing wrong with dissent and expressing yourself. Storming a parliament with the express goal of over turning a legitimate election results is wrong though. It's really that simple.

Tell me how

completedit wrote: »

I just thought of something. Around the time of George Floyd's murder, there was a general feeling that the protests and riots that followed were emblematic of America's inequality. Those who had been cast aside were now using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the system that had cast them aside. How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings? Maybe they have legitimate concerns and grievances with the Democrats who they believe were instrumental in paving the neoliberal landscape that has created the discontent that exists today and that has (for a significant proportion of the American population) has completely derailed the idea that tomorrow's world will be better than today.

This is useful because it shows without doubt that you do not understand the disparity between fighting for equality versus fighting just so your side has power.

prawnsambo

Tell me how wrote: »

This is useful because it shows without doubt that you do not understand the disparity between fighting for equality versus fighting just so your side has power.

It was also striking how they felt that they could attack police officers with impunity. Numerous incidences of out right violence towards police officers, pushing them violently with barriers, dragging them out into the crowd and beating them with anything they could get their hands on and only one of them was shot. Qwhite a privileged position to be in.

BlitzKrieg

completedit wrote: »

I just thought of something. Around the time of George Floyd's murder, there was a general feeling that the protests and riots that followed were emblematic of America's inequality. Those who had been cast aside were now using this as an opportunity to demonstrate their dissatisfaction with the system that had cast them aside. How come the same sympathy is not shown to the people who invaded Capitol Buildings? Maybe they have legitimate concerns and grievances with the Democrats who they believe were instrumental in paving the neoliberal landscape that has created the discontent that exists today and that has (for a significant proportion of the American population) has completely derailed the idea that tomorrow's world will be better than today.

I think a better question is why the rioters last week were not more like the protests when trump got elected.

BLM marches are a poor comparison because they were reacting to specific events and communities.

Losing an election, you can protest and march, they did 4 years ago when trump got elected to send a message that he did not have the support of the people (women in particular).

They were peaceful and considering how much he whines about how popular his innaguration was, it clearly struck a nerve.

Thats not what happened last week. And thats the key difference in responding to losing an election