But we the people need the answers and any other information that a good investigation may uncover, in order to support our constitutional republic and protect it from the next wave of such attacks, say in early 2025.

I think what we the people need to concentrate on between now and the midterms is how to get more voters registered and do an end run around Republican efforts to suppress the vote.

You say it's not about Trump and you are absolutely right.

It's about half the American population that believes Trump is still president. How does a partisan select committee make that situation better?

It's time to move on to strategizing how to win seats in 2022, not lose them.

It seems Dems don't have the ability to do that, though ... so, good luck to y'all.

Guess I've just seen way too many of these circus-like select committee hearings to hold out much hope that it will proceed the way you imagine it might. And, this one has got a whole lot more working against it than any I have ever witnessed.

Secondly is the question of the weak preparation and ineffective initial responses to the attack. How many security agencies, starting with the FBI and Capitol Police and ending with the DC Police and the Pentagon, were hesitant to take the warnings seriously, or to prepare a defense and response of adequate force, because they perceived that doing so would anger the president, the Republican Congressional leadership, and the conservative media? How many were hesitant because they agreed with the agenda and mission of the attackers, at least at first if not after the full extent of the violence was clear?

No one is going to get answers to these questions easily, and they are not going to answer themselves. But we the people need the answers and any other information that a good investigation may uncover, in order to support our constitutional republic and protect it from the next wave of such attacks, say in early 2025.

This isn't just about Trump, and it's nowhere near time to "just move on" - as the Republican Party so desperately wants us to do.

JL

You misunderstand. I have left Trump a long, long time ago. Unfortunately, most of your countrymen have not.

that's just absolutely brilliant!

JL

Saw this and immediately thought of you!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/07/01/america-forgot-how-to-make-pie-crust/?itid=mr_opinions_4

The problem is that most of Trump's supporters think he was right to do it, and that's what needs to change. Rather than focusing on Trump's role in the insurrection, go after the lies that other Republicans either spread or refused to contest that convinced people to support Trump's push for insurrection. That might actually have a chance at changing minds, and could help the Democrats in upcoming elections. If you can convince people that they were lied to by other Republican politicians, they may refuse to vote for them in the next election.

Rather than trying to pin everything on the man who is currently out of office and has a cult following, go after the politicians who are still in office and have voters who can be swayed. Trump's base may never desert him, but the same can't be said of most other Republican politicians. And perhaps most importantly, it will allow the Democrats to at least partially avoid the accusations of "Trump Derangement Syndrome".

If Democrats are concerned about democracy, then there are a million and one things they should be doing now instead of this complete waste of time.

But the Dems should hold out, and still refuse. The committee should wrap up its case, with the pro-Trump case covered by the testimony of his allies and associates.

And the reason they must give for not summoning the former president to testify? Simple.

"The former president's word cannot be relied on for truth, even under oath. This man lies like a rug, as has been documented beyond debate over the four years of his administration. It would be a waste of the committee's time, and the American people's money, to invite him to lie hour after hour on national television. No purpose of fact-finding or intention would be served by his appearance."

All the protests and shrieks of outrage would be hilarious, especially if the media joined in and pretended they didn't understand what the committee was talking about. And no matter what the pressure, the Dems should hold out both in its position and its reasoning. As you point out here, to allow him a seat and a mike and a camera is a losing game for them, for all of us, for the truth, and for the memory of our day of national dishonor on January 6.