Why do we need a 1/6 commission? Why not let the FBI just keep investigating?

[NightWatcher]

They've arrested a shit ton of criminals already for their part in the attack on the Capitol. I'd be fine if they just started arresting the Congress critters who gave tours and assisted the attackers.

I don't need grandstanding or a useless book called "Findings of the 1/6 commission" just like the Mueller report turned out to be a zero.

Arrest the fuckers.

Tell me why I'm wrong.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

1. Trump should be under criminal investigation for inciting an insurrection, he's the freaking LEADER

of the whole damn thing.

He should be facing LIFE for what we already KNOW ... he did.

[Phoenix61]

2. Because the Repubs need to be forced to take a

stand in public. Their extremism needs to be front and center and blasted across the front page of as many papers as possible for as long as as possible. Young people who are voting for the first time need to have it spelled out over and over why they don’t want to vote for anyone with an R after their name. We’re not the audience, they are.

[brewens]

8. They want to avoid televised hearings considering who would be called. Other than that, it

seems like they would be more in the loop on the investigations if they had the commission.

[Sherman A1]

3. Why do you believe that the FBI will stop investigating?

[StarfishSaver]

4. Because the DOJ/FBI investigation is geared toward finding and punishing criminal activity

It's not looking at how and why it happened or developing and presenting recommendations for preventing it in the future.

So, for example, one of the things a commission can do is analyze procedure and practices that failed on 1/6 and determine how security can be improved.or how various law enforcement entities can better coordinate in the future. That's not a criminal matter and DOJ's investigation would not address that.

A commission can do what DOJ cannot do, just as DOJ can do things a commission cannot do. That's why both avenues are warranted.

And fyi, the 9/11 commission and the Mueller investigation were in no way comparable. The 9/11 commission was created by Congress to look at what happened on 9/11 and how such occurrences could be prevented on the future. The Mueller investigation was a criminal probe conducted by DOJ and the FBI and, contrary to your claim, resulted in a lot of people being charged, arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and put in prison.

[Captain Zero]

23. And then pardoned by Trump.

After they were "charged, arrested, prosecuted, convicted, and put in prison"

[StarfishSaver]

25. Oh, good Lord

No, they weren't all pardoned by Trump. Even those truck hardened are still burn objects to criminal liability based on what Mueller dug up on them.

[RegularJam]

5. You are wrong for multiple reasons.

The Mueller Report wasn't even close to a nothing.

I don't see how you think the FBI is going to stop their work because of this commission.

Not sure why in the world you wouldn't want to own the media cycle for a couple of weeks when the report is issued.

I cannot find one drawback and you haven't listed any.

[MerryHolidays]

6. I agree with you...it should be Congressional Select Committee, not a commission

Much like Sam Ervin's Senate Select Sub-Committee in 1973 and 1974 that looked at Watergate.

This is not the Challenger explosion or even 9/11 (where all substantial criminality was conducted by persons outside the US).

The combined pressure of Congressional investigations (not some group of retired governors, judges, etc on a commission), criminal prosecution and civil litigation is what is needed here, in one of the worst attacks ever on US soil.

[StarfishSaver]

10. The Watergate Committee was nearly 50 years ago

Different issue, different time, different Congress, different country. It's not an apt model for today.

[MerryHolidays]

11. I don't agree at all

The Benghazi hearings in the house caused Hillary Clinton huge damage....our folks in Congress could do the same on something far more awful. I don't think retired governors, judges, etc sitting on a commission gets anyone anywhere.

The bottom line is we have the majority in both houses, and we should be running with it. We also have the US AG. It's the first time in a decade that the Ds have had Congress and the AG. Not easy to run away. This is also what was there in Watergate.

Congressional investigations, criminal prosecutions, and civil litigation, running in parallel as much as possible is the way you find out what really happened.

[StarfishSaver]

16. The problem with the Benghazi hearings

Is that the point of them was to damage Hillary Clinton, not to get to the truth of anything.

We're better than that. And we should not have as our ultimate goal here to inflict damage on the Republicans. Of course, if done correctly, that will likely be one of the results. But that should not be our goal.

[Fullduplexxx]

33. And we should not have as our ultimate goal here to inflict damage on the Republicans

But that is what the commission will do by that logic we should just drop the whole thing

[StarfishSaver]

34. Your interpretation of my logic is flawed.

As is your comprehension of my post, in which I said the exact opposite of what you seem to think I said.

[Fullduplexxx]

7. For the same reason McCarthy gave re the Benghazi hearings

Excpt the target would be the gop

[StarfishSaver]

17. We don't abuse power that way

Inflicting damage on our opponents should never be our ultimate goal. That would just mean we are no better than they are.

[Justice matters.]

19. Not when the opponents seek to destroy Democracy and install a dumb dicktatoRtot familly!

We must go to the jugular or they will do it for their own corrupt purposes: Power and Money.

[StarfishSaver]

21. Uh huh

We should break all the rules if our goal is right, right?

But you know what? They think the same thing.

No, the ends do not justify the means. If we behave the way they do to achieve our goals, we're no different than they are, so what's the point?

[Justice matters.]

24. I'm not saying "breaking any rules" (or laws).

Just go on the offence (legally), find the evidence and pass a plan to make sure they won't try again.

[StarfishSaver]

26. What is "passing a plan"?

[Justice matters.]

28. Or "measures" or "laws" or ...

(it's not my job to define what) but we (our side) must find solutions and pass them for cheating-corrupt Rs not to do it again. Otherwise, we're a banana republic in the eyes of the rest of the world.

[StarfishSaver]

30. A commission will enable them to do that

It would conduct a much wider ranging investigation than congressional hearings would allow (Not to mention, operate outside of the grubby hands of McCarthy, Jim Jordan, Ted Cruz, etc) and then present its findings and make recommendations to Congress for steps that should take, including legislation.

[Fullduplexxx]

29. Pardon me but "we are no better than they are" is bullsht...imo

Of course we are better than they are . Our motives are better . One person runs a red light to get a dying person to a hospital another runs a red light to run over a squirrel .. the both ran a red light but one clearly is better than another .

[StarfishSaver]

31. No

The BS lies on arguing "We can do exactly what they do because our motives are purer than theirs."

[Fullduplexxx]

32. I disagree . And I wouldnt say more pure just better . .... nt

[Effete Snob]

9. The FBI develops evidence to charge individuals with specific crimes

The FBI does not look at systemic causes, failures and policy implications.

[Lovie777]

12. Maybe . . ...

but the criminal hearings will expose a lot of who initially caused the insurrection.

"caused the insurrection" coupled with names, etc.

[StarfishSaver]

18. These would not be "criminal hearings"

Congress would not be doing a criminal investigation. That's what DOJ is doing.

That's ES's point.

[NQAS]

13. The internets had a comment on that very point in the past day or two

Hitler's Beer Hall Putsch, 1923.

Hitler went to jail for a couple of years, but there was no fundamental reckoning for what he attempted. The rest, as the saying goes, is history.

So, sure, the FBI can and should continue its work, and with some luck and determination many of the 400 or so charged will go to prison. Heck, maybe even trump will end up in prison (though I'm increasingly pessimistic that trump, his minions, and his repubilcan party lackeys will see any time behind bars - no special insights, just a feeling).

But if We - the People, the Congress - don't have a more thorough reckoning, the likelihood that the next coup attempt will be successful increases. To those on the right, fascism has become just another option for governance. Draconian laws suppressing the vote and disseminating against large portions of our population are simply part of reasonable governing. After all, how bad could 1/6 have been if no one investigated it? Maybe it just was a bunch of tourists.

[Fiendish Thingy]

14. You're wrong because it isnt either/or; Congressional hearings would be televised

It would hold GOP insurrection-enablers accountable in a public forum.

Meanwhile, DOJ continues their prosecutions.

[StarfishSaver]

27. Because we've seen how effective congressional hearings and influencing are in educating the public

Last edited Wed May 19, 2021, 07:15 PM - Edit history (1)

Nothing like giving Jim Jordan, Louie Gohmert, Rand Paul, Lauren Boebert, Josh Hawley, Ted Cruz, et al a televised forum to illuminate the issues ... That will really help the country better understand what happened on 1/6.

I'm not opposed to a select Congressional committee investigation, if a commission cannot be formed. But I think a commission is much more effective and also believe that, even if unsuccessful, the attempt to first form a bipartisan commission is very important.

[Grasswire2]

15. SKIP the commission.

SKIP the circus.

GOP will not comply with Congressional subpoenas.

Go directly to charging, then grand jury, then trials, then sentencing.

Bring shock and awe.

Comity, bipartisanship, cooperation, gentleman's agreement ---- ALL A TRAP.

It took six months to get Barr under oath.

And we are on a short clock.

[spanone]

20. We need a commission because the republicans don't want one.

Their fear of it makes it all the more needed.

[StarfishSaver]

22. The DU experts say no.