he knew were falsehoods. He created a cabal to force from many directions a coup of the election process despite
all the knowledge there was no election fraud (on a massive and defining scale). He pressured States election officials
with threats, and with honey to falsify records, ballots and outcomes in his favor. This as we know is antithetical to the
smooth and unobstructed exchange of a democratically elected government.
The former president did this. His last resort was for violence and the storming of a Federal building, the Capitol
at the time his VP would validate the electoral process.
A very many of those who were there that day had weapons - guns like side-arms, AR15 assault rifles, knives, brass knuckles,
spears and so on.
The very fact that this hearing isn't a shit show where people from either side shouts out questions, admonishes the witnesses,
speaks over-top of the witnesses to make some far off point doesn't make this set of hearings less in-depth or less honest.
In fact, it makes them clearer, unobstructed. Though somewhat staged and scripted (let's call it better vetted) with serious people asking
asking difficult questions even if leading. There are two very intelligent Republicans on the committee who are very interested
in finding the truth but more importantly, in displaying what is the truth without the chaos in bites the American public can hear
without the usual misdirection of competing parties.
These 1/6 hearings have been sober and intelligent treating the American people who take the time to listen as adults who should
and will think about what did happen on 1/6 and how it got to that point - and without the usual distractions.
What makes me sad in all this is the willingness of a side to discredit what's being said with dismissive rhetoric started by the GOP
and the former president. Most of it is obvious and much is salacious.
The GOP had an opportunity to add a few more R's to the committee but Murphy decided to be a moron and call this a witch hunt.
Instead, he could have saturated the panel with smart and forward thinking members instead of people like Jim Jordan, Louie Gohmert
and the likes. (PS: those who he put forward to be on the committee asked for presidential pardons and have a terrible record of
panel voices seeking facts and corroborating witnesses.) Had he done so, the panel might have taken a different path or sought
other witnesses. But in the end, Murphy wanted obstruction in any way he could manage it. He clearly has something to hide.
By the by, most of the witnesses thus far are republicans, so this is not a one-sided story.