Comments by "Xyz Same" (@xyzsame4081) on "The Damage Report"
channel.
-
AOC was not alone one staff member (a man she refered to as G) was with her (in the next connected office). It was around 1:10 pm. She went online to order lunch, saw they were marching on the Capitol, and a part of the Trump supporters had arrived earlier on the grounds. Around 1 pm The DC Police chief asked the Capitol poice chiefs and sergeants in arms to call in the National Guard, they said they had to run it up the chain.
AOC and her staff members got texts warning them (from friends but I think also from an alert system of Capitol police). Someone banged on doors loudly, after that there was yelling: Where is she. Then a man - probably police - entered their office immediately after that.
To be fair we do not know for sure that HE yelled. Or banged.
but if it was not him does that mean a group was already in the building ? Did he distract them ? Or was he sympathetic to the cause of the rioters but not to the degree that he wanted politicians and staff to be assaulted or killed, so he sent them to a safer place - it sounded like he was either unprofessional and too upset to keep his cool. Or he enjoyed scaring them.
The man that scared both of them seemed to be police, but he wore a beanie, was alone, and behaved almost in a hostile manner (AOC said she second guessed that impression because she was in shock, but her staff member also perceived him to be angry / aggressive / hostile. So they did not ask him any questions, and he for sure did not try to calm them, they just run, because they were not sure, if he was safe for them.
He told them to go to the other building but did not offer to escort nor did he give them a reason why not (have to hold the fort here, but they are not yet in the ward and the other building be quick). Nor any specific insructions how to be safe.
He enterd the office saw her staffer first who also tried to hide, who called on AOC to come out from hiding - but he did not identify himself as police or Capitol police and he was alone (which is also unusual). And he was almost aggressive with them, told them to go to the other building and she and her staffer found hims so suspicious that they just run (in shock) and only on arrival they realized that he had not told them WHERE to take shelter specifically in the other building, the location was floor level.
They saw / heard the mob outside and felt like stitting ducks. She knew where the office of Rep. Katie Porter was, who shelterd down with her staff and they allowed them in.
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
2
-
And what have your criticism on the strategy of AOC to do with the fact that she has a target on her back, and she and her staffer were scared - and rightfully so. Plus the fact that former trauma from a sexual assault was activated. That she chose to share that (her personal experineces - as opposed to regular politics).
I find her stream to be relevant, and there are practical questions, too. it adds to the question why the Capitol police is not trained to evacuate the Capitol in case of any emergency in a calm and professional, reassuring manner.
Or the man was not even police - so when did the first rioters show up in that part of the Capitol ? Someone banged on doors and shouted: where is she, where is she ? That was either unprofessional police (searching for her to evacuate her ??)or already rioters. Or worse: police colluding with them (but they did not want politicians to get killed, they just wanted to enable the spectacle and a show of force).
A soft knock and identifying himself as police and they would not have feared for their life. Telling them exactely where to go (not only "the other building"). If he did not know more, he could have asked her if she knew anyone that was likely in office over there and could have reminded her to exchange her heels for flats if she had them. (or at least to take them). The staff of Katie Porter helped her out with sneakers, in case they would have to run.
The "police" man behaved in a weird manner, something does not add up. Either unprofessional or he is a sympathizer. Not to the degree that he would not do his job to evacuate the offices or that he wanted them attacked or killed - but that he enjoyed seeing them scared and did his best to have them scared.
Or he was not even police, he wore a beanie, was alone, did not identify himself at least not before entering the office, and her staff member also perceived him as hostile.
2
-
2
-
2
-
There are constitutional problems with that, a judge is not going to sign a restraining order. She cannot carry a firearm they have detectors if they enter the chamber (likely she could carry one in the Capitol building). A restraining order is never "can be in the same room, but always with a certain distance to the person that asks for the order". If there is a restraining order at all, it needs to be an adress and a few streets around it that she has to avoid.
She has an office and might meet Pelosi by coincidence.
And she MUST be allowed to carry out her duty, and for that she must be in the Capitol and in the chamber (with Pelose chairing the session) if they have a vote. Except if two thirds of The House vote to remove her. With good reason they need that - it should not be easy to remove an elected representative.
If Republicans had any decency they would ALL vote against her. Then the Trump / Greene fans could not turn against any specific Republican. What are they gonna do, vote for a Democrat ? At most they would sit out one election, but not even that would be so bad if they cannot concentrate on one politician.
That way the R party could handle their crazy base (that THEY egged on, that has been going on since new Gingrich one could argue since Nixon finetuned the Southern strategy), they could avoid too much electoral damage AND get rid of Moronic Marjorie.
But many have been grifters for many years, the end justifies the means, they have been riling up
voters to make brownie points, now they just took it to the next level with pretending since summer that mail vote is unsafe and after the election that it was stolen.
They cannot let go of the craven practice now.
Many of the cynical, disgusting behavior has to do with positioning themselves for 2024 when some of them want to run for president: all those wanna be presidential candidates want to inherit the Trump base to win the primaries with them.
Lots of competition for the basket cases among the voters.
So it was not likely they would go the path of decency and have a unified front - if they would be decent they would not pretend to believe that mail vote is on principle rigged, would not have pretended to believe that the election was stolen, and they would not have delayed the stimulus package in fall.
She is elected. it would be upon the party leadership to discipline her, or even better to remove her (it begs the question why they allowed her on the ticket) but they will not do it.
Likely the founders did not anticipate that level of cravenness.
Legally a primary is NOT an election but a selection process of a private institution (a party). They do not have to respect the outcome, there are court rulings about that. They could have chosen the second best in the primary for GA 14. (First round 9 candidates, she got 44 % with 44,000 votes. The next R was 23 %. Almost the same number of voters in round 2 for her which then amounted to 57 %. 44,000 voters is not much, the GA REpublican party could have done something).
But the 2 R Senators that lost their races ;) courted her for her endorsement. Parts of the GA Repubs noted her online history and were secretly worried (but shut up to not draw unwanted attention when they were also a little concerened about Biden and the GA Senate races. Others most likely liked her for it. So they could not be bothered to do something when it would have been relativeley easy. Pouring money into the runoff to help the other candidate that made only 23 % in the first round. He had 43 % in round 2 so that was not impossible to win with improved turnout.
2
-
2
-
2
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
Under Yeltsin and the assault of unfethered Capitalism which he allowed to happen (incl. privatizations - more like fire sales) the GDP of Russia shrank more than that of the U.S. during the Great Depression. Putin took over in 2000 - Yeltsin endorsed him and in exchange he was not prosecuted and could keep his loot. Putin btw won against a crazy far-right nationalist - it could have been worse !
The West was initially relieved. Under Yeltsin it had gotten so bad, the military and the pensiosn or wages of civil servants did not get paid anymore. The mafia had quickly gotten a stronghold, Russia got drugs, prostitution, theft, human trafficking and much higher crime rates. And homeless people, incl. many children and teenagers (if their parents could not cope with the difficulty life).
During that time birth rates plummeted and life expectance dropped (especially for men, they have a MALE culture of drinking too much anyway, so when times got really bad especially men drank more than usual. it is frowned upon that females get drunk, so that effect of the depression showed more with males).
At the end of the Yeltsin reign the West feared weapons grade uranium, plutionium, chemical and biological weapons could be sold off by people in the military.
Of course Putin was not just a sober Yeltsin, turned out he is intelligent, strategic and pushes back.
He stopped the privatizations, especially selling off the natural resources of Russia. So that did not endear him to the predatory investor class especially in the U.S. he also made sure that the pensions were paid and order restored within the military (and they got their money).
There is a reason why he is still popular in Russia - not with all but many and despite the economic problems caused by lower oil prices and also the sanctions. Those problems are nothing compared with the Yeltsin era.
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
The Dems and Repubs serve the same big donors. A few brazen Republican Lite defectors have always defended the interests of the big donors, when the voters had given the Democrats too much power, so they would have run out of excuses why they did not deliver for the constituents.
That is the reason the defectors are gladly tolerated, even if they occasionally take it that far that they undermine the presdent that REALLY wants to get something done. Or a very popular campaign promise (the puplic option).
No one steps on their toes. They come either from red states or are very well established, or represent a small state with a lot of affluent voters.They have 6 year terms, so they can easily risk to sell out the regular people.
Manchin and the 2 others cost their collegues in the 2014 midterms and one could argue that with a stimulus package passed in Nov. 2013 (just in time to show some effect for the midterms 2014) the Rustbelt states would have voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016.
She snatched defeat from the jaws of victory to be sure, but that is and additional reason for the D own goal.
She needed WI, MI, and PA (as she lost Florida by 1.2 % and Ohio by 8 %) - and Trump to everybody's surprise won all 3 (and needed only one of them, no matter which one).
But the margin in favor of Trump was 70,000 votes in ALL 3 states. With all 3 states called for Hillary Clinton (so 70,000 votes - and then a few more to avoid a Florida 2000 scenario - in the other direction) SHE would have won. With 273 Electoral Votes. Not impressive, but she would have won.
"We did not have the votes to get a bill passed" often means: The blue dogs took one for the team. Of course this was not in the middle of a depression in most cases, and in the past it was easier for mainstream media to control the narrative for them.
Republicans misbehaving (for instance under Obama) was intentionally conflated with them hindering the Dems from getting things done. If letting the Repubs participate is presented as necessary; they (both big donor serving parties9 can always water down the D proposals and the Republicans play the role of the bad cops. And the Democrats have someone to blame. No one talks about why Dems do not eagerly go for passing bills with a simple majority. (at least not in the past).
Obama let the Republicans "negotiate" (in bad faith) regarding healthcare reform and after 1 year of a lot of watering down by Republicans and removing a lot of regulations that would have helped with cost control - not ONE of the Republicans voted for ACA anyway.
It should be mentionen that some blue dogs then too worked openly for the big donors. Some "Democrats" in the Senate killed the public option that was a campaign promise of Obama.
Obama did not invite them to the White House to "discuss" this (FDR would have twisted arms).
The Democrats then passed ACA with NO R votes in spring 2010 during a filibuster proof window of 60 days (R Senators retiring or something like that), they could have passed ANY bill. then 51 votes were enough (and they should have had a few others ready to go on the shelf).
They let the Repubs make the (not too good origianl proposal) much worse and gave them enough time to fearmonger and deceive the public.
Remember death panels ?
In the end the D candidates that were up for election in Nov. 2010 ran from the reform and distanced themselves from Obama when they were in a purple state. One in Tx did not want to say if she had voted for Obama.
voters do not appreciate cowards.
Midterms went badly and then the Dems REALLY had it hard to get anything done (that would be good for voters. They found the Repubs cooperative with some issues. Military spending, Patriot Act, subsidies for big biz. And trade deals.
Obama made the Bush era tax cuts permanent.
Did Repubs reciprocate for that. Of course not.
I am not even sure the Democratic establishment and Obama regretted losing the midterms 2010 and not having all 3 branches of government anymore.
Good shills that lost the election, but were useful for the big donors will get a golden parachute. If Republcians hold either congress or Senate Dems can complain that Repubs do not let them do anything.
That is the base for their demand of the base to vote for them and to fall in line. So that they can do a little more for the voters in the future. Or so they say ....
Next round in the game of Fool The Sheeple.
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
1
-
At the end the Comey discussion: I think he is a staunch defender of the deep state and by extension also the police. He does not want their authority to be undermined, that is a reflex. He would be hurt if the FBI would look bad (likely not in this case) but he is also protective of police. - Sure the FBI warned about right wing domestic terrorism, and they offered help before Jan 6 (that was declined), so it was not the FBI that dropped the ball.
Except they could have secretly warned the incoming admin, or Schumer and Pelosi. But then it may not be good form to sideline the Capitol police that is supposed and certainly equipped to deal with such challenges. The head of the FBI was a Trump appointee, and the lower ranks did not stick their neck out. Likely assuming Capitol and DC police could not possibly fail at that obvious task and knew what they were doing.
Likely the FBI would not look bad in an investigation - but types like Comey are deeply uncomfortable if the police would be proven to be a) incompetent
b) complicit and maybe much more than we know and at the highest level, of police. (military ?) And cabinet members. Who are - after all is said and done - Club Insiders (in the sense of George Carlin).
The POLICE (and maybe the military) being undermined by white supremacists, as they were undermined by the KKK.
Types like Comey do not even like strictly peaceful mass protests for a just cause. They get nervous when the peasants get too uppity, nevern mind peaceful protests, the Constitution, .....
The FBI under Hoover targeted many Civil Rights activists (Dr. King was the most prominent) and war opponents later. Police, FBI, CIA see themselves as supportive of the ruling class and the oligarchs. They know best and ssume they have the AUTHORITY - nothing undermines that more than injustice paired with incompetence.
Comey cringes at the idea that the police could be exposed even more. That they are even more rotten (aside from killing people of color) another argument why part of their budgets should be switched to social workers, etc. (= less authoritarian leaning actors that naturally are protective of the upper 30 % of society). Or the notion that they should be held more accountable, no more qualified immunity.
It may also implicate high ranking people in the Trump admin.
After all they made the R Gov. of Maryland wait NINETY minutes for the authorization to deploy the MD National Guards accross state's lines to help at the Capitol.
Trump obviously delayed it (he probably would not have given it at all and was sidelined at some point), but there was the secretary of Defense and down the chain of command. THEY should have sidelined the president immediately - that could have gotten them favors with the incoming admin.
Governor Logan hat gotten an urgent or frantic call from D Steny Hoyer, high ranking Democrat in Congress, with Senate minority leader shouting from across the room. Logan likely knew better than the legislators (who were in session and did not know what was going on outside) that trouble was ahead and had the National Guard ready to go. But he needed federal authorization. The president, the Secretary of Defense, his deputy, .... or down the chain of command.
That would come up as well. the failure to have the NG there already, and the dealy.
It is my understanding that Mike Pence who was evacuated first around 2 pm STAYED in the Capitol in a secure location, Pelosi, and Mcconnell were evacuated next. There are rumours that he tried to reach the White House to send help. Some of the intruders wanted to hang him, so he should have bothered.
Well, if so that was a failure. He should have returned to the White House (if that was possible) where HIS security did not bind additional forces and should have raised hell. If necessary adressing the nation. that president and SoD refused to allow the National Guard from MD (and likely it was the same with VA) come in to help secure the Capitol.
High ranking members of the cabinet (incl. Mike Pence) should have gone public and shamed them into immediate action. Comey and the cabinet are in the same club. He may be pissed at them, but he does not want to see them exposes. It is like the tribalism in the military if there is wrongdoing.
1