Using a Common Language

For John, BLUF:  What is the House Select Committee on 6 January investigating?  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Understanding the 6 January Capitol Hill Imbroglio

From a blog by Ann Althouse, by Professor Ann Althouse, 30 May 2022.

Here is the lede plus three:

"As one of the nation’s leading proponents of the insurrection hoax, Liz Cheney has pushed a grotesquely false, fabricated, hysterical partisan narrative.  Look at the so-called word insurrection, January 6 – what a lot of crap."

Said Donald Trump, quoted in "Trump calls Capitol attack an ‘insurrection hoax’ as public hearings set to begin/Former president intensifies attacks on Liz Cheney at Wyoming rally and endorses her Republican primary challenger in midterm elections" (The Guardian).

I believe what he was calling a hoax was the "insurrection" characterization.  That's why he said "the so-called word insurrection."  Now, that's a bit inarticulate.  Obviously, "insurrection" is really a word.  The point is that entry into the Capitol doesn't fit the definition of an "insurrection," which isn't a surprising assertion.  Trump gets back at his accusers by calling the "insurrection" characterization "a grotesquely false, fabricated, hysterical partisan narrative."

Has anyone on the Cheney side ever explained how it could be possible to think that overrunning the building could overthrow the government?  I wish people on both sides would use accurate language, but of course, they won't.

Here is one of the 86 Comments:

If it was an insurrection it was one of the worst in recorded history.  I have heard nothing about plans to seize communications centers.  There seemed to have been no plan for sustaining an occupation of the Capitol Building.  The number of armed participants seemed small.  Yes, we need more of a Wikipedia definition of insurrection than a Dictionary version.  On the other hand, the Post-6 January judicial process seems slow, ineffective, vindictive and avoiding of any deep dive.

Pretty much sums up my views.  However, one wonders if what the Democrats in the House of Representatives are thinking is Coup?

In summation, I see the 6 Jsnuary hearings as being a political ploy by a coalition of Democrats and Anti-Trump Republicans, to try to smear all Republicans in anticipation of the November Elections.  I don't think it will work.&nsp; On the other hand, I don't think it will hurt Democrats in the Mid-Term Elections any more than will inflation of fuel and food prices.

In the mean time, individuals continue to misremember what happened.  For example, President Biden recently said that two Capitol Police were killed by the "Occupiers".  Didn't happen. Yet no discussion of the killing of Ashli Babbitt.

For the re4cord, I believe ethat Candidate Joe Biden received the necessary Electoral College votes to be President of the United States.  At the same time, I believe there were irregularities in voting in various states.

Hat tip to Ann Althouse.

Regards  —  Cliff