(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . January 6th 2021. Millions watched. [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-01-04 I happened to watch it live on TV: as did millions. Probably tens if not hundreds of millions of Americans have seen footage of the assault on the Capitol on that day. How we respond to an emergency reveals characteristics about us as individuals. Let me describe how I reacted to an emergency some time back. As I closed the front door of a friends’ house at night there was the sound of breaking glass. It was not the window pane in the door, it was two vehicles outside that had crashed. I instantly gravitated towards the quiet one who was injured which no one else wanted to engage. I did what I needed, and was able to do. I asked where it hurt. I asked his name. Say it was Fred Smiles. I asked what his friends called him. Let's say it was “Smiley”. I held his hand. Every time I thought he was going to lose consciousness I called out “Smiley” and he would “come back”. I never called 911. I would have had to drop my mission as the only phones at that time were land lines indoors. Indeed at the time the Constitution was written, phoning 911 was not an option. I have also called 911 to report flames which briefly flared up in the building opposite for five seconds and then disappeared. I thought it was a hallucination!!! The fire brigade arrived to find an electrical fire getting hold under the floor boards. The call for help had arrived in a timely manner. So, readers will be able to fill in their own and varied experiences of an emergency situation and it is a no brainer that speedy reactions are essential, unless….. Unless an individual likes what they see. In the modern world we are so used to cell phones that in an emergency situation any one of those who are witness to that emergency can make a 911 call and get help. However on January 6th only one individual could lift the phone and issue the order to call in the National Guard — that was Donald Trump. VP Mike Pence could not lift the phone and call in the National Guard — he was not authorized. Speaker Nancy Pelosi could not lift the phone and call in the National Guard — she was not authorized. Any of those threatened in the Capitol were not authorized to call in the National Guard. Jack Smith has the task of proving that Trump was involved in and instigated the insurrection. That is a heavy lift which involves proving intent and purpose. Also events need to be put in context, If guilty, then prison time is in order for the terrible crime of insurrection. But back to the millions of witnesses on January 6th. In the modern world, in an emergency, reinforcements can be called in minutes. SCOTUS can chose to ignore modern Physics and bury their attention in erudite legalese from a previous generation, when help was summoned by a messenger on horse back or by messages sent by carrier pigeon, but more fool if them if they do. But on January 6th 2021 help was not summoned for over three hours!!!! Of the millions of witnesses who watched January 6th on TV they fall into two groups. One group who supports the insurrection, and had they been authorized, would not have called in the National Guard for at least three hours. Another group who supports the Capitol Police and the peaceful legal work of Congress, which is the anthesis of insurrection, and if authorized would have called in the National Guard hours earlier. SCOTUS can condemn or condone the insurrection and choose their group. Of course they could rule that there was no insurrection and roll out the red carpet before bowing to their King. Have fun. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/1/4/2215392/-January-6th-2021-Millions-watched?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/