TallGuyJohninBKK

Yes, Republicans and a lot of independents (3 in 5 Americans overall) apparently don't want to hear the truth Biden is telling about election denyers and insurrectionists led by former President Trump, saying those claims will further divide the country... But there also are polling results that support the truth of what Biden is warning about, including those in response to the similar threat of MAGA speech he gave back in early September: --"84% say political violence is unacceptable" --"52% of Americans say that American values are under assault by Trump-led extremists" --"58% say MAGA Republicans are threatening the foundations of American democracy" https://www.ipsos.com/en-us/news-polls/americans-bidens-speech-further-divide-country

None of them tried to overthrow the results of the 2016 election by armed force, unlike Jan.6... And perhaps you deliberately chose to ignore the part in your cited ABC report about....."in mostly peaceful gatherings." "Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in cities across the country Wednesday to protest Donald Trump's election victory, in mostly peaceful gatherings that nonetheless resulted in at least 124 arrests and reports of damage, vandalism and injuries in several locations."

As the various reports above have explained, the insurrectionists first plan was to pressure VP Pence to block and/or delay Biden's certification by Congress (anti-democratic) and perhaps go down the fake electors road (anti-democratic). But then if that failed... they were waiting for instructions/action from Trump (anti-democratic) that never came: "Alpers said that during the meeting Rhodes typed out on Alpers' cellphone a message for Trump, in which Rhodes urged Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act to remain in power." "As part of the alleged plot, prosecutors presented evidence that the Oath Keepers stashed guns at a hotel in Virginia just outside Washington, D.C., for a quick reaction force to speed into the city on Jan. 6, if necessary. https://www.kedm.org/npr-news/2022-11-03/prosecutors-rest-in-jan-6-seditious-conspiracy-trial-of-oath-keepers-members

And therein lies an excellent example of why MAGA election denyers are anti-democratic. To them, it doesn't matter who actually, really wins an election based on the ballots cast... It's who they BELIEVE wins elections that matters, regardless of the facts and realities. And those people seem to believe they're entitled to do anything they want -- including criminal offenses and interfering in elections and obstructing the seating of a president -- based on those unfounded (debunked by every court and judge) beliefs. If they have their way, the actual votes won't matter. It's who they believe should win that will matter, and they'll try to decide for the entire country.

In fact, what it's actually called is "seditious conspiracy," a federal criminal offense: Prosecutors rest in Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy trial of Oath Keepers members After a month of testimony, the government rested its case Thursday in the seditious conspiracy trial against Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and four other members of the far-right group. The trial is the most consequential yet to emerge from the Justice Department's sprawling investigation into the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Rhodes and the other defendants are accused of plotting to use force to prevent Joe Biden from taking office as president. ... In one snippet, Rhodes can be heard saying: "If he's [Trump] not going to do the right thing, and he's just gonna let himself be removed illegally, then we should have brought rifles. We could have fixed it right then and there. I'd hang f****** Pelosi from the lamppost." https://www.kedm.org/npr-news/2022-11-03/prosecutors-rest-in-jan-6-seditious-conspiracy-trial-of-oath-keepers-members

Key facts to know about the Jan. 6 insurrection Experts say it’s challenging to accurately estimate the crowd size because of the absence of aerial imagery, but they put a broad crowd size estimate at “several thousand.” More than 140 law enforcement officers were physically harmed during the insurrection, according to a special congressional committee investigating the attack. Rioters left behind feces, blood, bullet holes, graffiti and bear repellent. https://www.latimes.com/politics/story/2022-01-05/by-the-numbers-jan-6-anniversary

https://news.yahoo.com/jan-6-capitol-riot-arrest-numbers-one-year-later-180035360.html "75 The percentage of Trump voters now convinced the election was "rigged and stolen" from him, according to the most recent Yahoo News/YouGov poll 84 The percentage of American adults who are worried about the future of democracy, according to the poll 60 According to the poll, the percentage of U.S. adults who believe an attack like the one on Jan. 6 could happen again"

They tried, and failed, in 2020. And now they're back again in 2022 with different approaches: Judge restricts how right-wing group can patrol drop boxes When armed, masked men and people with long telescopic camera lenses showed up at ballot drop boxes in Arizona to stalk voters, many public officials were appalled. Voter intimidation complaints were filed and sent to the Department of Justice. https://edition.cnn.com/videos/media/2022/11/02/arizona-conspiracies-voting-ballot-drop-boxes-donie-pkg-cnntm-vpx.cnn

They had their weapons stored nearby...waiting for Trump's call... as cited in the prior news reports here. And as I said above, ONE gun is all it takes.

MAGA democracy: https://youtu.be/b3_O91gyj9o And, some 40% of Republicans (and 41% of so-called independents) surveyed believe violence against the government can be justified: "While a 2015 survey found no significant partisan divide when it comes to the question of justified violence against the government, the new poll identified a sharper rise on the right — with 40 percent of Republicans and 41 percent of independents saying it can be acceptable. The view was held by 23 percent of Democrats, the survey finds." https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/01/01/1-3-americans-say-violence-against-government-can-be-justified-citing-fears-political-schism-pandemic/ That's NOT democracy... And people who support that kind of action, as many Republicans do, are ANTI-democratic.

I think it was more of a comment on the quality of the "election denying" candidates the Republican party is fielding in the current election: "In one ad, Minnesota secretary of state nominee Kim Crockett is shown calling herself the “election-denier-in-chief.” In Michigan, an ad shows secretary of state nominee Kristina Karamo saying that casual sex can lead to demonic possession. And in Arizona, an ad highlights Mark Finchem’s ties to QAnon, a conspiracy theory about a Satanic-worshipping cabal." People deserve to know just who's being put on the ballot.

How many guns did it take to kill Abraham Lincoln or JFK, and thus remove democratically elected leaders? In each case, just ONE was enough to accomplish their ends.

More MAGA "democracy" in action, so a judge had to step in. Judge restricts how right-wing group can patrol Arizona drop boxes A federal judge in Arizona imposed new restrictions against a right-wing group after voters complained about aggressive patrols of ballot drop boxes in the state. The judge blocked members of the group, Clean Elections USA, from openly carrying guns or wearing body armor within 250 feet of drop boxes. ... An Arizona voter testified at Tuesday’s five-hour hearing about his encounter with right-wing “bullies” at a ballot drop box, describing how they “terrified” his wife by filming them and falsely accusing them of voter fraud. (more) https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/politics/arizona-voter-intimidation-ballot-drop-boxes/index.html Biden is right. Democracy is at stake.

Under the American system of democracy, disagreeing is fine. BUT (regarding the documented activities of MAGA folks): Armed insurrection to prevent a lawfully elected president from being certified to take office is not. Threatening to hang your political opponents is not. Subverting elections with illegal schemes is not. Harassing and intimidating election workers and voters is not. etc etc etc.

Democrats Spend $46 Million to Expose ‘Satanic’ Election Deniers — and More "In one ad, Minnesota secretary of state nominee Kim Crockett is shown calling herself the “election-denier-in-chief.” In Michigan, an ad shows secretary of state nominee Kristina Karamo saying that casual sex can lead to demonic possession. And in Arizona, an ad highlights Mark Finchem’s ties to QAnon, a conspiracy theory about a Satanic-worshipping cabal." https://news.yahoo.com/democrats-spend-46-million-expose-140550262.html

You forgot to mention about the zip ties, along with the guns, for tying up congress members if they'd been able to reach them. Armed Jan. 6 rioter had zip ties during Capitol attack, friend testifies at trial Rocky Hardie testified that he and Guy Reffitt drove to D.C. from Texas armed with firearms and both believed the 2020 election was stolen. "WASHINGTON — Guy Reffitt was armed with a handgun and zip ties when he tried to storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, a friend and fellow member of a right-wing group testified at the first Capitol riot trial on Friday. Rocky Hardie, a former member of the Texas Three Percenters, testified that he and Reffitt traveled to D.C. from Texas in Reffitt’s Chevy Equinox, that was loaded up with their rifles, their handguns, and ammo. ... Reffitt and Hardie, the latter testified, both believed Trump's false claims that the 2020 election was stolen, and joked about dragging House Speaker Nancy Pelosi down the stairs of the U.S. Capitol. (more) https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/armed-jan-6-rioter-zip-ties-capitol-attack-friend-testifies-trial-rcna18733

They (presumably all good Republicans) didn't: Yes, Capitol insurrectionists were armed. Here are the weapons prosecutors say they used A review of the federal charges against the alleged rioters shows they had a variety of weapons: stun guns, pepper spray, baseball bats and flagpoles wielded as clubs. "But a review of the federal charges against the alleged rioters shows that they did come armed, and with a variety of weapons: stun guns, pepper spray, baseball bats and flagpoles wielded as clubs. An additional suspect also allegedly planted pipe bombs by the headquarters of the Democratic and Republican parties the night before the riot and remains at large." . https://www.witf.org/2021/03/19/yes-capitol-insurrectionists-were-armed-here-are-the-weapons-prosecutors-say-they-used/ "Facts First: While it’s impossible to know precisely how many firearms were brought to the Capitol on January 6, it’s already clear that at least some of the people present were carrying guns that day." "So far, with the investigation still ongoing, three individuals have been charged for allegedly bringing a gun onto Capitol grounds on January 6. At least two other individuals have also been charged with gun crimes in relation to the events of that day, though they are not accused of carrying on Capitol grounds." https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/28/politics/armed-insurrection-january-6-guns-fact-check/index.html And then there was these guys, who seem to be believers in the philosophy of democracy at gunpoint. Oath Keeper testifies about mass of guns allegedly stored near DC on January 6 A veteran and member of the Oath Keepers testified Wednesday that the far-right group amassed more weapons outside Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021, than he had seen since his days in the military. Terry Cummings told the jury during the second week of the historic seditious conspiracy trial that he traveled to Washington with several members of a group from Florida, bringing his own AR-15 rifle and ammunition box to contribute to the Quick Reaction Force (QRF) allegedly established by the group in a hotel outside the city. “I have not seen that many weapons in one location since I was in the military,” Cummings, who showed his rifle and ammunition to the jury during his testimony, said. https://www.cnn.com/2022/10/12/politics/oath-keeper-guns-dc-january-6/index.html

State governors and secretaries of state elected by the public have a lot of influence over how elections are administered in their states. And many observers believe that's exactly what this Republican gubernatorial candidate was talking about lately: "In Wisconsin, Republican gubernatorial nominee Tim Michels suggested at a campaign stop Monday that his election would result in permanent GOP control in the state. “Republicans will never lose another election in Wisconsin after I’m elected governor,” Michels said. ... His spokesman later said he meant only that he would do a good job and voters would reward his party, but Democrats feared he was hinting at an overhaul of how state elections are administered." https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/02/biden-warning-democracy-midterms-election-gop/

The Fake Electors Scheme, Explained The plan to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election by creating slates of electors pledged to Donald Trump in states he had lost was expansive, long-running and often confusing The brazen plan to create false slates of electors pledged to former President Donald J. Trump in seven swing states that were actually won by Joseph R. Biden Jr. was arguably the longest-running and most expansive of the multiple efforts by Mr. Trump and his allies to overturn the results of the 2020 election. It was also one of the most confusing, involving a sprawling cast of pro-Trump lawyers, state Republican officials and White House aides in an effort that began before some states had even finished counting their ballots. It culminated in the campaign to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to use the false slates to subvert congressional certification of the outcome on Jan. 6, 2021 — and in the violent attack on the Capitol that unfolded as he refused to do so. (more) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/27/us/politics/fake-electors-explained-trump-jan-6.html

Nearly 300 Republic election denying candidates are on the ballot this year: "Election deniers will be on the ballot in 48 of 50 states and make up more than half of all Republicans running for congressional and state offices in the midterm elections. Nearly 300 Republicans seeking those offices this November have denied or questioned the outcome of the last presidential election, according to a Washington Post analysis. ...More than 170 election deniers are running in districts or states where Republicans are expected to win, according to Cook Political Report race ratings and Partisan Voter Index." https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/interactive/2022/election-deniers-running-for-office-elections-2022/

Why would any American who believes in the country's democracy vote for lawmakers from a Republican party that in effect condoned (by not impeaching Trump) an armed insurrection he fomented attempting to overthrow the presidential election? Why would any American who believes in the country's democracy vote for candidates from a Republican party whose party leaders in multiple states tried to subvert the country's presidential election with a scheme to promote fake presidential electors? Why would any American who believes in the country's democracy vote for candidates from a Republican party where a large share of them continue to deny the legitimacy of an elected president and election outcome, even after dozens of courts and judges across the land, including those appointed by Trump, found their claims entirely without merit? Etc etc etc. The Big Lie is alive and well in the Republican Party at large, and not just among MAGA extremists. And Biden is right when he says, those kind of people and candidates are threats to the American democracy.

"Capitol Police said the agency has launched a review of security in the wake of the Pelosi incident. “We believe today’s political climate calls for more resources to provide additional layers of physical security for Members of Congress," Capitol Police Chief Tom Manger said in a statement. "This plan would include an emphasis on adding redundancies to the measures that are already in place for congressional leadership." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/how-pelosi-attacker-evaded-cameras-security-police-to-get-inside-her-home-beat-husband/ar-AA13ETfr

For the good of all concerned, hopefully the authorities involved/Capitol Police had better re-think their narrow assumptions...

And he also believed Donald Trump and Mike Lindell's lies about the outcome of the presidential election. Not surprising that the suspect here also would be talking to faeries and angels.

The suspect had been living in the Bay Area community of Richmond -- not Berkeley -- in recent years, as detailed in the FBI affidavit supporting the federal criminal charges against him. And, his motivation has been pretty clearly established as well, again from the same charging documents and his own statements to authorities. To wit: "In the course of the interview, DEPAPE articulated he viewed Nancy as the “leader of the pack” of lies told by the Democratic Party. DEPAPE also later explained that by breaking Nancy’s kneecaps, she would then have to be wheeled into Congress, which would show other Members of Congress there were consequences to actions. DEPAPE also explained generally that he wanted to use Nancy to lure another individual to DEPAPE." https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1548106/download Along with his recent postings and writings showing his true MAGA colors. He was checking all the key boxes, as per CNN below.... "The man who allegedly attacked House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband early Friday posted memes and conspiracy theories on Facebook about Covid vaccines, the 2020 election and the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, and an acquaintance told CNN that he seemed “out of touch with reality.” ... Last year, David DePape posted links on his Facebook page to multiple videos produced by My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell falsely alleging that the 2020 election was stolen. Other posts included transphobic images and linked to websites claiming Covid vaccines were deadly." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/alleged-paul-pelosi-attacker-posted-multiple-conspiracy-theories/ar-AA13uLaM