Regarding all these calls for leniency for those who provoked the insurrection:

[thucythucy]

I recall this line from a letter penned to the press by President Lincoln when he was faced with his own cohort of seditionists who, while not treasonous combatants themselves, urged others to do their dirty work for them.

"Must I shoot the simple-minded soldier boy who deserts, while I must not touch a hair of a wiley agitator who induces him to desert?"

Just a thought that came to me this morning.

[brewens]

1. They claim they are for law and order, now let them choke on it! n/t

[GemDigger]

2. That was then, this is now.

If they broke anything, if they took anything, if they screamed anything (eg hang mike pence, etc) , if they hit a cop or held a weapon, if they even went in that building, then NO MERCY!

Those outside that did any directing on their bullhorns, NO MERCY.

Those that came up with this, gave money, took money or gave direction on this idea should be held to the maximum of the law.

Those that just went to a rally because they are "simple minded" (stupid) then they are just stupid and that is their punishment for life.

[thucythucy]

3. That's basically my view as well.

I wasn't saying that those directly involved shouldn't be punished.

My comment was directed at those who are saying "We shouldn't punish" the instigators. I thought Lincoln's line was a nice bit of history for those who say "we have to move on" etc.

[GemDigger]

7. I knew you didn't mean it that way, I am sorry it sounded that way. I was letting off steam.

I am 10 years past my mercy point on those guys, starting with making President Obama a one term president and now this... I have no mercy left.

[ananda]

4. I should think all those calls would be drowned out by..

those calling for fair accountability!

[thucythucy]

5. My thought exactly.

[ffr]

6. Is this the context of which you speak?

Link to tweet

[thucythucy]

8. I can't link to tweets on this particular device.

It's a line to a famous letter Lincoln wrote for publication.

I found it, among other places, in Mark Neely's book "The Last Best Hope." A really excellent (IMHO) book on Lincoln.

[thucythucy]

9. Used another device and it came up as a tweet by John Cleese.

"In hindsight would you say the Nuremburg trials were divisive?"

To which the first reply was, "The Nazis just wanted us to come together..."

Always appreciate Cleese. A large man with a large intellect.