Forget About Forgetting January 6

Try as he might, Donald Trump can’t erase the sacking of the Capitol from Americans’ minds.

By
390
A Donald Trump supporter wears a gas mask and holds a bust of him after he and hundreds of others stormed stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in Washington, D.C (Photo by ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images)

One week from today, I will have joined the rest of the political press in our quadrennial pilgrimage to frozen Iowa, going to the Canossa of the cornfields to do penance for our many transgressions of punditry, reportage, and analysis.

And Iowa will not disappoint, offering a forecast for snow and a low of 3 degrees next weekend. The mortification of the flesh by outdoor liveshots.

Democrats have dumped Iowa, so all the attention will be on the Republicans, and, as usual, one Republican in particular. Former President Donald Trump, having himself been disappointed in Iowa eight years ago, seems to be taking seriously the possibility that it might happen again.

This content is available exclusively to Dispatch members
Try a membership for full access to every newsletter and all of The Dispatch. Support quality, fact-based journalism.
Start Your Free Trial
Already a paid member? Sign In
390
By
Comments (390)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
  1. Dlhaydenod

    Chris, I’ve always enjoyed your content, must say I’m embarrassed to say I mistook News Nation for Newsmax and have avoided both. Just put News Nation in my YouTube tv lineup. Thanks

    Collapse
  2. Avatar photo
    Lchrisberg

    Let's start with correcting the language usage. 1/6 was NOT an insurrection because a component of qualifying as an insurrection is to overthrow the existing government. Trump was still President. By definition, you cannot have an insurrection to overthrow yourself.
    The Cline Center at one of the U of Illinois schools is considered the expert at categorizing these coups.

    "Using the Cline Center’s Coup d’État Project definitions, the storming of the US Capitol Building on January 6, 2021 was an attempted coup d’état: an organized, illegal attempt to intervene in the presidential transition by displacing the power of the Congress to certify the election. In terms of the type of coup attempt, the complex nature of this event leads it to be categorized as both an attempted auto-coup and as an attempted dissident coup, reflecting the distinctive activities of different actors involved in the event."

    Not an insurrection.

    Collapse
    1. BPhillips

      There seems to be a bit of overlap between the definition of the terms insurrection, coup & sedition. Being guilty of any should be disqualifying, the rest is splitting hairs.

      Collapse
  3. Avatar photo
    Mister D

    January 6th shattered my last illusion about nominal conservatives and Republicans. For years, through the Tea Party and Other 99 Percenters and Black Lives Matter protests you'd hear repeatedly that "we don't riot; we pick up the trash when we leave; etc, etc". Whether you believe 1/6 was a protest that got out of hand or a planned insurrection or something in between, it certainly put the lie to the notion that "we" were better protesters.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Lchrisberg

      Don't sully the Tea Partiers and other organizations on the Right with the 1/6 Trumpster Traitors. Those on the REAL Right still pick up the trash. The populist Trumpster traitors have little that aligns them with Real Americans.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Mister D

        1) Whether you consider them "real" or not, they are Americans, the rest of the country sees them on the Right, and they tend to be supported by commenters and politicians on the Right as well.
        2) While I understand being irked about the Tea Party being lumped in with the Trumpers, many Trump supporters were in the Tea Party as well. There is not a perfect overlap in the Venn diagram, but there is an overlap. Regardless, the point of including them above was to use them as a contrast to the Other 99% and BLM groups since those were the examples the Right held aloft prior to 1/6.

        Collapse
  4. Avatar photo
    Chris Lynch

    Can someone explain to me why nobody has even floated the idea of the Republican National Committee ejecting Trump from the GOP? Yes, it would make the DJT fans mad. Yes, there would be consequences. But I think the Trumpies would move on, and settle for a DeSantis or other semi-Trumpy Republican. Even just _talking about it_ would have a salutary effect, in my opinion.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      George.Skinner

      I think the practical problem is that the RNC is populated with Trump supporters, and why would they turn on their guy? Every president effectively becomes leader of their party and gains great influence over who runs the various party organs. However, once they've left office, their influence usually diminishes quickly as they either step back or are discredited by having lost. That's not the case with Trump, who's never going to willingly yield the spotlight and is too shameless to step back with dignity after defeat.

      Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      Chris Lynch

      I would have thought that Jonah, rather than stumping for a third-party, would have just flexed his “strong party” bona fides and said “why doesn’t the GOP just kick him out? “

      Collapse
    3. Jim.H

      I don’t think the RNC has that authority to eject a candidate that wins the primaries just because they think he is guilty of a criminal act.….it’s not like the DNC with all the super delegates.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Chris Lynch

        The idea is that he would not be eligible for the party primary, because he would no longer be in the party. Seems like something that is 100% the party prerogative.

        Collapse
        1. Jim.H

          Maybe that might have worked in 2016 before Trump actually ran for anything at all….but I think now that he won on a republican ticket, it would be hard to discount the votes in this primary season.

          The Democrats could have done that with Bernie Sanders in 2016 since he always ran as a socialist....

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            Chris Lynch

            Thanks. I just get so tired of hearing “it’s Trump’s party, now”. Makes me want to yell at the TV, “no it isn’t!”. The GOP has a platform, and decades of policy stability that djt doesn’t give two sh- - ts about.

            Collapse
    4. Avatar photo
      Jconstantino199

      I've brought this up multiple times, but the Trump defenders keep putting their fingers in their ears and start repeating "Hunter! Hunter! Hunter!" until their brains return to their happy place.

      Collapse
    5. Jackrabbit McQuivers

      I'm assuming it's because every member of the RNC is a coward.

      Let me edit that for emphasis: every single member of the RNC is 100% a coward, and refuses to take your (quite reasonable) suggestion to heart, even though it might save the country, because they like their position of power. That's really it. The cravenness is shocking. They don't get to call themselves the Party of Lincoln.

      Romney and Cheney were anomalies; they are gone.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Cheerio

        Kinzinger as well.
        Did anyone read his 1/7 substack? It is open to everyone.
        https://adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/honestly-im-angry

        Collapse
        1. Jackrabbit McQuivers

          big fan of Kinzinger. I only didn't include him because my phone kept autocorrecting to Kissinger, and I was too lazy. But he deserves major kudos as well.

          Collapse
      2. Avatar photo
        Chris Lynch

        I would assume that among 150 members (plus), a few short-timers could be persuaded to rip off the Band-Aid(R)

        Collapse
        1. Jackrabbit McQuivers

          Exactly. One would assume, as I did for several years. After years of them burying their heads in the sand, those 150+ members have shown us who they are.

          Collapse
  5. Deleted Comment

    This comment has been deleted

  6. Avatar photo
    Kleboutillier

    Okay, so let's NOT call it an insurrection and give 'ol Trump the benefit of the doubt. But I'm stuck on the question of why did Trump demand Pence "to literally reject the votes" and essentially nullify the election? And what about the fake electors? I'm not clear on that either.

    But I'm sure it wasn't an attempt at insurrection, it was just something else. Oh, a few other things. The mostly peaceful riot spurred on by the FBI plants? Right! I'm still trying to find any evidence of that from any Fox journalists or anyone, anywhere. And that question about the Georgia election office and Trump's people in the room in Coffee County. What happened there? I'm sure it's something we should all just...move on from. Let's re-nominate 'ol Trump. It's a good idea.

    Collapse
    1. Avatar photo
      Cheerio

      It was an insurrection. Trump & Co. sought to reverse the decision of the electorate and the Constitution outlining the peaceful change of leadership.

      Collapse
    2. RaoD

      Turns out you and I are the idiots; we think same rules apply to everyone. The defense offered by Andrew McCarthy and Trump’s other apologists is George Costanza defense. If you believe it then it’s not a lie. Trump believed that he won and so he was asking Pence to follow the law and seat the rightful electors.

      Collapse
      1. Krbrady1919

        Thank you for mentioning the "Costanza Defense". My wife and I are re-watching "Seinfeld" from the start, and it really stands up. We just finished the Season 7 episode where George is trying to grab the marble rye from Jerry with a fishing hook, and my stomach hurt the next day from laughing so hard.

        Collapse
      2. Avatar photo
        Kleboutillier

        It's the "My Truth..." defense. It's not the truth, it's "My Truth". Oh, okay. Yeah, George Costanza defense. You are right! Now back to what Pence said.

        Collapse
      3. Jackrabbit McQuivers

        Doesn't matter if Trump believed it or not. Doesn't even matter if he "engaged" in an insurrection. He clearly gave aid-and-comfort to the violent insurrectionists on January 6. We know this through testimony from his greatest allies, but also through his own public statements.

        That he gave aid-and-comfort is an open-and-shut case. Others will argue that Jan 6ers weren't insurrectionists; or that Trump isn't an officer. But the case does *not* turn on whether or not Trump believed a lie. One can believe a lie, and still refuse to give aid-and-comfort to people storming the Capitol with zip ties and a gallows.

        Collapse
  7. Feelflows67

    I will never forget 1/6/21. We discovered it accidentally as it was already in progress. Has anyone seen a TV special on Jan 6th '21 this weekend? I've seen a few multi-minute summaries but nothing in depth. Like 9/11 it seems all media should run documentaries on 1/6's anniversary.

    Collapse
  8. Avatar photo
    Rajeev

    Megyn Kelly was so god-awful as a moderator in that NewsNation debate. Elizabeth Vargas & Eliana Johnson were both far better.

    Unfortunately NewsNation feels like a AAA ball club with a lot of reclamation projects. But it’s also in its infancy so it’s certainly got a chance to eventually bear some of its competition.

    Collapse
  9. Paul

    Glad you discussed NewsNation. I hadn't watched it. Thought this was the network Trump inspired when he thought Fox didn't support him enough. May sample it soon.

    Collapse
  10. Markabyler

    Pretty sure most people wouldn't even remember Jan 6 if the media wouldn't keep reminding them...

    Collapse
    1. Scianti7

      Nah, I'll always remember people proclaiming themselves "true patriots" rubbing their own feces on the halls of Congress. As well as erecting a gallows, bringing rope, overcoming police & barriers & chanting "hang Mike Pence."

      Our republic is only as strong as our resove to follow the Constitution, & the guy t that inspired that assault says he wants to revoke the Constitution. His supporters have failed to notice his abandonment of anyone he no longer finds useful & his attacks on anyone he sees as a threat. Let's remember that the violent overthrowers of governments are usually executed by the leader they install because they have experience overthrowing a government. They are fools.

      Collapse
    2. Avatar photo
      Cheerio

      So long as there is a sizeable group of MAGA supporters to continue to try and whitewash it, the duty of all law abiding democracy loving citizens who believe the Constitution is our nation's bedrock is to ensure no one forgets it.

      Collapse
    3. Avatar photo
      Abridge683

      I think it's backwards - the MAGA world (most of the GOP) - is doing everything to suppress the memory or minimize the memory/important of Jan 6. And I mean EVERYTHING. Lie? You bet. It's lies all the way down. It's a kind of cowardly evil. Anyone who puts forward those lies deserves never to serve in government and I'll be delighted to do everything I can to see that happens.

      Collapse
    4. Avatar photo
      Kmregan7

      I hope that’s not true- the first time in our history the peaceful transfer of power didn’t happen and an insurrection with calls to hang the VP did?!

      Collapse
    5. Avatar photo
      Magpie

      That's ridiculous. Sheesh.

      Collapse
    6. Jackrabbit McQuivers

      On the contrary. It goes down in our memories as "do you remember where you were when..."

      One of the most horrific things I've seen on American soil. Definitely fits into "I never thought I'd ever see that here."

      The other thing I'd never thought I'd see here: People trying to minimize the importance of something like Jan 6

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Scarlette Tarte

        Agree. I remember the first I heard of it was from friends on Twitter, and my phone dinging incessantly. I could not believe the networks didn't have it. It was a good 30 minutes before it started on the news networks. I remember where I was and what I was doing...playing mahjong with friends. We quit early and went home, we were all so concerned.

        Collapse
        1. Jackrabbit McQuivers

          I was in a meeting at work. And my cell phone was also dinging; a friend was texting me "THE CAPITOL WAS JUST BREACHED." He kept sending me minute-by-minute updates until my meeting was over. I will always remember the words "THE CAPITOL WAS JUST BREACHED."

          And for those who still defend Trump, or who minimize Jan 6: Has there EVER been an attack on foreign soil that the President of the United States just let play out? He could have easily called a stop to the violence. And he sat there. By many accounts, he was gleeful. And THIS is the guy that some Americans want to vote for? And people in this comments section keep saying "Biden is just as bad." What Trump did was not just unpresidential; it was actively anti-American. He sat and let the seat of American government be vulnerable to being sacked. Anyone who finds a way to defend that, or to tolerate it just so they don't have to vote for a Dem, has a lot to think about.

          Collapse
          1. Avatar photo
            Cheerio

            It still floors me that sentient American citizens literally defecated on the floor of the Capital. If only we could rub their noses in it.

            Collapse
          2. Jackrabbit McQuivers

            edit to the above: I clearly intended to say "on DOMESTIC soil"

            Collapse
          3. Avatar photo
            Magpie

            I wish I could like this comment more than once.

            Collapse
    7. Avatar photo
      Jhc

      To the contrary, there's no chance that I'll ever forget January 6th. (Not unless dementia gets me.)

      I never watch television or listen to talk radio; haven't for years. But I made an exception on 1/6/21 and was glued to TV and constantly refreshing news sites on the web as that afternoon unfolded.

      (And now I'll spare you my anti-Trump rant. You're welcome. ;-)

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Cheerio

        I did as well. As a rule, I never watch the 24/7 news stations but that day, I was glued.

        Collapse
    8. Avatar photo
      Abridge683

      It's as deeply engraved in my mind as Oklahoma City bombing and as 9/11. It was an atrocity and it keeps on being an atrocity with every lie that Trump and his ilk shout.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Scarlette Tarte

        Seeing as I was in the journal record building when the Murrah building was bombed ( we were across the street) I also will never forget that day.

        For anyone who thinks political violence is "necessary and great", just ask me about that day.

        Collapse
        1. Jackrabbit McQuivers

          Oh wow, Scarlette. That's a conversation for another day. But I have no doubt that there is trauma there. Glad you are still with us.

          Collapse
    9. Avatar photo
      PJ

      I will forget when The Biggest Loser is in prison or six feet under.

      Collapse
      1. Avatar photo
        Jhc

        "I have never killed any one, but I have read some obituary notices with great satisfaction." - Clarence Darrow

        Collapse
        1. Krbrady1919

          Haha, I didn't realize that quote is from Clarence Darrow, it's fantastic.

          Collapse
    10. Avatar photo
      Mandy B.

      WRONG.

      Collapse
Load More