We can't let yesterday's events pass without comment. First, this from a young journalist who was caught in the attack. They were handed emergency gas masks...nobody told them how to use them....until:
"On the floor, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a former combat Marine, was holding up his escape hood and explaining to other members how to use it. There were about 150 lawmakers down there, and Gallego was shouting to get their attention.
"Open the first package!" he yelled.
"Then open the second!"
"The hood then inflates over your head!"
A few minutes later, police escorted Gallego and other lawmakers out of the room through a side door."
Never underestimate the Marines. Which brings us to retired four-star Marine Corps general James Mattis:
"Today's violent assault on our Capitol, an effort to subjugate American democracy by mob rule, was fomented by Mr. Trump," Jim Mattis said in a statement provided to Military.com. "His use of the Presidency to destroy trust in our election and to poison our respect for fellow citizens has been enabled by pseudo political leaders whose names will live in infamy as profiles in cowardice."
Mattis, ...who led the Pentagon for two years, added that the nation would overcome despite efforts to disrupt a peaceful transfer of power. "Our Constitution and our Republic will overcome this stain and We the People will come together again in our never-ending effort to form a more perfect Union, while Mr. Trump will deservedly be left a man without a country," he said.
Those who attacked the capitol will be found and punished. So should those who encouraged them and aided them. And it is gratifying to note that virtually none of these rioters wore masks, so identifying them will be easy. Some even used social media to post video of themselves participating in the riots, including at least one elected Republican state politician.
Shame on them all.
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