Thursday, January 7, 2021

Mayhem



Yesterday morning, with the election results in Georgia looking so promising, I set out in a good mood under an intermittently sunny sky to walk to work. I wanted to take some stuff back to my desk and get ready for next week. I didn't really need to go, but I DID need to get out of the house and walking to work seemed as good an excursion as any.

I passed this old pub in St. John's Wood. It's no longer a pub, but someone is still maintaining that beautiful old sign.


Looks like the Crusades, right?


I think this knight may have once held an outstretched sword, but it's missing now. The horse looks justifiably worried.

I'd planned to blog these images today even before what happened yesterday afternoon in Washington. I'm going ahead with them even though they now give me the willies. Like the crusaders, Trump's "true believers" are marching and invading and doing violence to impose their delusions on the rest of us. (I feel like the horse -- worried.)

We all knew that protest was going to get crazy, but I never imagined the protesters would gain access to the Capitol building. HOW?! Seriously, two decades after 9/11, in a building that should be one of the most secure in the world, we had these Q nutjobs roaming the halls and sitting in Nancy Pelosi's chair?! HOW was the building so vulnerable?

I'm sure the police were doing their best to de-escalate the situation, knowing that the protesters were likely to be armed. But still. We needed a harder line, and we need to know how security failed.

And then there's Trump, who just gets more monstrous by the day. He egged on his deranged supporters and fanned the flames. He bears responsibility for all of this. He bears responsibility for that dead woman and the damage to the building, and even in his half-hearted video urging people to go home (too little too late) he repeated his baseless lies about a rigged election. The man is a disease. He is a carbuncle on the face of Democracy, a tumor in our collective heart, a cancer in our collective brain. None of us are safe until he's gone.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is a nice work on the former pub wall. I guess since you wrote that, death toll four. Weapons and Molotov Cocktails found. Indeed how did security fail so badly. Preparations should have been made for such a possibly likely event. All so sad.

Moving with Mitchell said...

The sign is stunning, but I had the same reaction that you now have given the frightening happenings in the States. I wish they would just kick him out on his ass... today. But, the shit storm he's created (and is still adding to) is going to be difficult to calm. At least the news is great from Georgia. Following this with a Republican majority would be even worse.

Vivian Swift said...

The D C rioters got into the capital building because the cops LET them in. Most police are Trumpers, so why should Capital police be any different? That' s how the rioters got in: the " security" stepped aside and let them in.

140 House Republicans and 13 Republican senators are just as responsible as Trump. House Democrats could have written one article of impeachment on the back of an envelope and voted last night to hold Trump accountable but they didn't. Lost opportunity. Let's see what the light of day brings.

Yorkshire Pudding said...

That was not a ring of steel round The Capitol, it was a ring of jelly beans. Could it be that as well as being responsible for egging on the rioters, Trump was also responsible for the lax security? Chuck Schumer spoke of bringing them all to justice but who photographed them? Who demanded to see their ID's? I suspect that the majority of them will get away with it.

Steve Reed said...

If you mean by "them" the protesters, I think they'll be identified. Many of them have already been ID'd online.

Steve Reed said...

I imagine the police had to tread carefully, knowing that this was a potentially violent crowd and knowing they were likely to be armed. Their policy was probably to de-escalate rather than confront. But that shouldn't mean letting protesters into the building to roam the hallways, and if police did indeed enable this for idealogical reasons, there needs to be a wholesale housecleaning at the Capitol PD. If not prosecutions. (It also looks to me like there weren't nearly enough officers on hand, and why that would be the case when this protest has been planned for weeks is a matter that bears investigation.)

Steve Reed said...

I think at the VERY least, Twitter needs to turn him off for the duration of his term. That may seem inconsequential, but to Trump it would be a death blow. He lives for Twitter.

Steve Reed said...

There were others who died, but from what I read they died of natural causes. (Probably stress!)

Debby said...

Steve, when you contrast the pictures of the governmental response to the BLM marches in DC, you'll see the police response was much different. The question begs an answer. Why was it different for these domestic terrorists. You cannot deny systemic racism when you look at the pictures side by side.

Anonymous said...

I am afraid that I agree with Vivian. We watched and in addition to confederate flags and trump flags they carried that "blue stripe" police flag and appeared to walk right right on by whoever was supposed to be providing security. An authoritarian government has appeal to many in the ranks.

Ms. Moon said...

Go look at my post. The third photo down could be a picture of the guy in the front in that sign.
Every word you wrote is true.
We have to get rid of this stain on humanity.

Angelicastar said...

Steve I have to lay blame on the Republican leaders because Nancy did all she needed to do to impeach this man but they wouldn't carry it through. Most of them saying, awww, that's just Trump. The only one talked up and was ready to impeach this thug was Mitt Romney. Security should have been as tight as it was for the black lives matter peaceful protest until The THUG supporters joined in to make it look as if they were doing all the luding and fighting. I can't stand that bitch and they should have done something before now and they need to do something today to get his ass out of the white house because that dirty dog just might set fire to it. His ass need to be charged with murder for the death of this lady and also charged for creating a riot and property destruction. They need to stop sitting back and trying to see what is going to happen next. Act today and get him out of the White house before sundown. They knew before this election if he lost what he had said he was going to do. I didn't know he and his Sons invited the protestors to Washington until I heard it yesterday. All of them crooked Trumps should be put behind bars for a very long time. Ted Cruz need to be impeached from the Senate for keeping it going also.

Bob said...

Never forget 1/6/21 and what _____ and the GOP did to America. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz should resign, and all those goose-stepping ReTHUGlicans should be voted from office at first chance.
And never be allowed to run again.

Steve Reed said...

Absolutely. If this had been a BLM march the response would have been drastically different.

Steve Reed said...

If that's the case -- and I'm not saying it isn't -- then the force needs restructuring.

Steve Reed said...

It's true! Deluded crusaders both!

Steve Reed said...

Well, the Republicans are already suffering (and rightly so). Their party is fractured, they've lost control of both houses of Congress and the presidency, and they are infighting like squabbling babies. This is what fealty to Trump has done to them.

Steve Reed said...

It will be very interesting to see how voters respond come the next election cycle. I'm afraid too many of Hawley and Cruz's constituents still approve of what they've done.

Tasker Dunham said...

On the news I watched interviews with the rioters in astonishment: "We are the world's last hope," said one (albeit in a rather rabid tone of voice). They genuinely believe they have been cheated out of their rightfully elected President. A significant percentage of the population seems to agree and will continue to hold that view. I don't understand how this can be.

Sharon said...

I agree about the security. In fact I was screaming it at the TV while I was watching. I had read that the mayor of DC had requested National Guard protection the day before so where were they? What I didn't know is that she can't call them out without the approval of the government which is something she didn't get. Another reason that DC should become a state! The photos of National Guard and police guarding the capitol during the BLM protests compared to the scene yesterday were astounding. There needs to be a full investigation into what happened and why there was so little security. AND.....Trump needs to be removed now and in a way that prevents him from ever obtaining a public office again. I also think that all his enablers in the Republican party need to be censured. They are just as complicit in the spreading of lies and conspiracies. Hawley and Cruz need to feel the wrath of the Lincoln Project. And, while I'm at it...Rudy Giuliani needs to be arrested for inciting a riot! Phew...can you tell I'm mad?

Anonymous said...

That sign is really beautiful and also eerily haunting. What we all witnessed yesterday was truly a nightmare. I am still a little PTSD'ed about it this morning. When I looked at the headlines and saw that Trump accepted the electoral outcome, I breathed a sigh of relief and yelled some expletives about him. I won't feel safe until he is ushered out of the White House in whatever way is necessary.

Red said...

It was a very sickening afternoon to watch what was going on. It could have been much worse and we're not finished with it yet. I think there will be many questions about security.

Ellen D. said...

I think Trump should leave NOW - he is a danger to the country.

Allison said...

If Pence has a spine, he'll start the 25th Amendment today. Or they could impeach again, and maybe this time the Senate would do the right thing. He is certifiably nuts.

Colette said...

It's hard to know what to say. I'm reeling.

Margaret said...

The Capitol Police appear to be complicit in many photos I've seen. I hope there's an uproar about that as well. It is a crazy situation and not finished yet, I'm afraid.

Linda Sue said...

Yes to what Margaret said, "complicit" If you took a tally of the leanings of police force in USA you would find that KKK and trumpians dominate. Biden and harris are going to have to jack up their protection with well vetted guards- as far as the inauguration goes - they would be wise to go to a basement room with some flowers and a justice of the peace and say "I do", keep it low key due to pandemic of both sorts.

The Bug said...

It was the craziest thing, yet I was not the least bit surprised that they'd try something like that. I WAS surprised that they were allowed to just roam the building at will. Where was the tear gas that was flung into BLM crowds?

A Cuban In London said...

I just spent a few delightful minutes looking at your flickr feed. I have cycled under that Bakers Arms sign so many time! :-)

Michael said...

I am at a loss for words with all of this. I still cannot believe that mob breached security to gain access to the capitol building.

Steve Reed said...

Neither do I. I don't understand why Trump inspires this weird cultism. Some people genuinely think that he is a messiah figure, coming to lead us all out of darkness. It's insane.

Steve Reed said...

I worry that removing Trump will merely intensify the conflict. I'd rather see him prosecuted AFTER he leaves office. We only have to get through 12 more days. I did see that Congress plans to investigate the security breaches, and it will be very interesting to see what that reveals.

Steve Reed said...

I am PTSD'd too! And I'm surprised at how deeply it's affected me. I agree. I won't feel safe until he's gone.

Steve Reed said...

Sickening is the word!

Steve Reed said...

He is a danger, but he always has been. I think we just need to stagger across the finish line in a couple of weeks. I'm afraid that trying to force him out will actually be more destabilizing.

Steve Reed said...

Sounds like Pence has resisted the 25th amendment option, but impeachment sounds like it's a real possibility.

Steve Reed said...

Me too!

Steve Reed said...

Yeah, this is why there needs to be an investigation. I can't tell if they were sympathetic or just trying to de-escalate the situation to avoid even worse violence. I DO think that if those protesters had been BLM supporters the outcome would have been disastrously different.

Steve Reed said...

And why do the police support Trump? What has he ever done for them? Honestly, the power that man seems to hold over some people is completely bewildering.

Steve Reed said...

Exactly. It was astonishing that they got as far as they did.

Steve Reed said...

Awesome! I'm glad you enjoyed it! When you mentioned Bakers Arms I thought, "Hey! I've been there!"

Steve Reed said...

Me neither. Someone has a lot of 'splaining to do.

Janie Junebug said...

Love the sign; hate the mayhem.

Love,
Janie