Before Julius Caesar crossed the Rubicon (on January 10, 49 BC) there was precedent.
Precedent: /presadant/ An adjudged case or decision of a court, considered as furnishing an example or authority for an identical or similar case afterwards arising or a similar question of law. Courts attempt to decide cases on the basis of principles established in prior cases. Prior cases which are close in facts or legal principles to the case under consideration are called precedents. A rule of law established for the first time by a court for a particular type of case and thereafter referred to in deciding similar cases
Sulla marched into Rome in 88 BC. That led to the first Roman Civil Wars, with the top players Marius fighting Sulla. To reform the Roman Constitution, Sulla added Proscriptions, Enemies Lists (including family members), and increasing members of the Republic Government. It made Marius’ reign look peaceful. (Sound familiar?)
The Siege of the Capitol on January 6, 2021 (I interned up there during the 103rd and 104th Congress’) echoed the protests of 2020. Unlike the earlier protests, there was condemnation.
The precedent of the Mobs of 2020 being excused set the template for future protests.
No double standards; A riot is a riot. I grew up in the shadow of the ‘68 riots in Queens. Wreckage of the past everywhere (even the 1964 World’s Fair). No matter how cool the 70s were (Studio 54, anyone?), I was a kid looking on the detritus of the past. Rising crime, graffiti subways (that stank to high heaven) and entropy in the City (Sound familiar?)
Before the riots of 2020, there were the Act 10 Riots in Minneapolis in 2011. The protestors took over the Legislature and tried hard to create havoc for the sitting legislators and Governor Walker. Read all the posts at Althouse here.
The protestors overtook the State Capitol and no words from any Democratic Party Elected official said “It’s wrong,”
Precedent on being OK with riots started in 2011; It metastasized in 2020 and then the Trump supporters picked up that same banner on January 6th.
There is always a warning on Capitol Hill:
What you do for your Party today can be used by the other Party in the future.
Speaker Pelosi forgot that lesson.
Now, what about whataboutism?
If you forgot the Precedent started by your party is excusing riots, and it’s brought up; the best way to ignore the question “How we got here?” is to yell “Whataboutism!” The Post-2000 Democratic Party shows no signs of leaving their arrogance or know-it-alls or their cultural disdain for the hoi polloi
If your wife asks you “Why didn’t you clean the sink tonight?” You do not reply, “What about the time you didn’t clean the floors?” You’ll be out of the house in a second.
Modern Democrats cannot answer a straight forward question such as:
“If you supported the Capitol incursion in Madison in 2011 and the Riots in 2020, why are you opposed now?”
I’m opposed to riots no matter whom they belong too. Elected and Media Democrats don’t want the question asked, so the run to Whataboutism is an excuse not to answer.
My question: Are you consistent with not wanting riots anywhere? If not, why not?
How quickly those who do not study history condemn the rest of us to repeat it. It seems the world has gone mad. Arnold Schwarzenegger tweeted a video where he basically called Trump Hitler and the supporters Nazis. What was interesting was he said that those who seek to overturn our Constitution will never win...he didn't mention anything about those on thr left who wish to do so, but only the Trump supporters...
Maybe the Democrats will figure out that you reap what you sow...and they sow discontent.