66 Comments

Some thoughts:

If the Capitol is the temple of democracy, as Adam Schiff says, then Mr. Schiff would best fit the scene as the money changer whose table needs to be thrown over.

What Mr. Hodgkins actually did was little more than simply trespass, with the added element that it interfered with a congressional hearing. It's very clear that he was sentenced based upon political, rather than judicial, considerations. Why do I say this?:

Last summer "mostly peaceful" protesters on the other side of the political divide committed arson and other property crimes causing as much as $2 billion in damages, and committed violent acts injuring scores, if not hundreds, and killing nearly 30 people. Yet in city after city charges were either never filed, or filed then dropped. Of course even in this context ideology made a big difference. 17 year old Kyle Rittenhouse fatally shot armed BLM protesters in Kenosha, WI. The New York Times, of all outlets, provided an analysis that he fired in self defense. Of course, he's been charged with two murders.

Back to the actual offense Hodgkins was convicted of: interfering with congressional business. In September, 2017, Patricia “Paki” Wieland was found guilty of disrupting a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. It was the confirmation hearing for Jeff Sessions as Attorney General. After the vote in favor of his confirmation, she shouted “Shame! Shame! Shame!”. She was sentenced to six months probation with a suspended 15-day jail sentence. (https://www.gazettenet.com/Northampton-activist-Paki-Wieland-found-guilty-in-Senate-disruption-12431908) Even if one views her interference to be less serious, the disparity of the sentences - no jail time versus 8 months in prison - is beyond the pale.

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This is just unbelievable. Words cannot describe this candid destruction of the last vestiges what this country is supposed to be. I read this while stopping occasionally to imagine it was a clipping regarding the court appearance of a Boston Tea Party member (or someone standing by on the dock cheering to be more precise), only they are heralded in history books (until CRT edits them out). In fact, this form of protest in general (of the government or leading societal body) was so important the founders literally protected it in the Bill of Rights! But now suddenly it is "undemocratic"...? You cannot make up this wanton abuse of logic and I highly recommend reading the previous article on hypocrisy in these associated ideologies because there is definitely something to the virulent spread of these mental pathologies.

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We should all be up in arms about this. And Pelosi’s intentions with her committee.

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Jul 24, 2021Liked by Michael Tracey

Who is the bigger threat to democracy, a moron wandering the halls of the capitol building or a demagogue prosecutor?

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Jul 23, 2021Liked by Michael Tracey

Good piece. I expected to read two paragraphs and blow it off, but once I started reading I didn't lift my head until the end. What a ridiculous nation we live in. Or, more accurately, what ridiculous politicians and media we have.

I've got one complaint, though. Taibbi does the same thing. Here's the sentence:

"Do leftists [...] really not understand how easily the same logic could be marshalled against their own activist comrades?"

The American left feel they have a chokehold on the government (not without reason), and they find your question as irrelevant as a Maoist would have if asked if the methods of the Cultural Revolution might not one day be used against them.

I do believe Hodgkins could have had better representation. A no-bullshit just-the-facts, just-the-law, hardass type lawyer.

P.S. What were the four types of injury? Did I miss them? (The ones I saw mentioned in this piece were indeed odd.) I quit cable news, NPR, etc., a year ago, and get my news now from a small group of podcasters and Substack writers. The only mention of the "insurrection" has been the occasional eye-rolling aside.

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When the government declares nonviolent protest "terrorism", what do they think happens next?

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Can we all just take a minute and marvel at that fact that "obstructing an official proceeding" can land you up to 20 years in prison?

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Still waiting to hear why the anti-kavanaugh protestors who stormed the capitol, senate chambers all encouraged by Pelosi, AOC etc were different from these yahoos from Jan 6.

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I'm glad that someone is willing to take this on. This piece elaborates on the prosecution's flimsy argument for harsh sentencing. They are using the justice system to inflict as much injury as possible against those who supported their political adversaries.

These people had every reason to believe that they would be judged by the same standard that was applied to BLM and antifa activists. It is a blatant double standard. That part of the message is loud and clear. I wouldn't be able to forget this if I tried.

The new administration could have used this as a moment for reflection but instead, they chose retribution. They are callously twisting our justice system in ways that will eventually be applied to others. This is an embarrassment of injustice.

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Liberal outrage and emotional scars are proof enough of injury and guilt Real evidence is for the morally weak. /s If the sentence was much shorter than 8 months the judge would be tarred and feathered by the rest of the liberal establishment. The fear of the liberal establishment is what motivates most of the liberals in the liberal establishment. "There is nothing to fear but fear itself" and for elite liberals thats more than enough motivation for them to throw truth and justice under the bus, because they're all cowards at heart.

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Wish I hadn’t started off my weekend in inflamed rage, but there you have it.

Leduc does not inspire confidence in his lawyering. If even a non-lawyer like Michael smells something off about Leduc’s arguments and defense strategy, then you know he’s not only not F Lee Bailey, but bottom shelf. Very infuriating.

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founding

Governments oppress their people. State power over the individual is a matter of balance: too much is oppression not enough can lead to chaos. How to organize ourselves as a society seems to be the human story.

The elite left successor ideology despises Trump voters. It is hatred. The old values of free speech and due process are impediments, they must be subordinate to “doing what’s right” and the right thing is to punish these Trump voters. It is hatred fuelled revenge, it is right minded and it is deserving.

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Hmmmm, maybe Biden is clearing out Gitmo for a new domestic terrorist wing.

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Based upon what has transpired over the last 5+ years it is only going to get worse. The question is why. Let’s see what happens in the 2022 elections

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What appeal process is in place for these felons with asterisks?

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"it seeks the symbolic retribution of punishing the “terrorists” who desecrated what Adam Schiff has pompously called the “temple of democracy” The Capitol is the temple of Wall Street & Congress obey the sacred text of K Street lobbyists, "The man with the gold makes the rules."

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