The January 6 Committee Doesn't Need New "Bombshells." We Already Know What Happened.

[babylonsister]

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2022/06/january-6-committee-hearing-trump-election/

June 8, 2022
The January 6 Committee Doesn’t Need New “Bombshells.” We Already Know What Happened.
Trump’s coup attempt was public. Don’t overcomplicate it.
Dan Friedman
Pema Levy



Sometimes one quote sums up a problem perfectly. As the congressional committee investigating January 6 prepared to begin its public hearings, Sunday show host Margaret Brennan of CBS posed a question to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) that encapsulates the political peril for the committee: “If you don’t deliver a bombshell on Thursday, don’t you run the risk of losing the public’s attention here?”

Brennan was channeling a dangerous narrative that has become conventional wisdom, not just for Beltway media types but also among many Democrats: the need for more. A violent coup attempt carried out in plain sight apparently isn’t enough. Donald Trump incited a riot. Several people died. In the run up to that horrific day, Trump plotted firing Justice Department leadership and installing a new attorney general who would help overturn the 2020 election. Trump and his advisers hatched plans to send in fake electors and for the military to seize voting machines. He cajoled election officials to “find 11,780 votes” and pressured the vice president to thwart the electoral count. He used outrageous lies to try to steal an election.

Schiff responded, appropriately, that the public already has bombshells. What Americans need now, he told Brennan, is to understand “how close we came to losing our democracy.”

But Brennan’s question gets at the greatest challenge for the panel: the belief that without even more stunning revelations, the committee will have failed. And Trump and his allies will be exonerated. We’ve seen this before. During special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian election interference in 2016, Republicans—as well as some media and Democrats—argued that without a smoking gun revealing direct collusion between Trump and Vladimir Putin, the whole thing was a partisan witch hunt. That set the bar too high, because Trump’s collusion with Russia didn’t need to include secret communications. He welcomed Russian interference out in the open and received it. The January 6 investigation could meet the same fate.

snip//

The select committee has the task of bringing home to Americans how dangerous January 6 was for the survival of our democracy—a threat that remains as long as the GOP tries to rewrite the history of that day and restore Trump to the White House. The committee’s effort will not be aided by juicy plot lines that lead nowhere. Maybe there is something worse we can learn about what happened that day. But what we already know is bad enough.

[Liberal In Texas]

1. It's all in the presentation. Prime time TV on a night with the most viewership.

From an NPR interview:

"... The committee brought in the former president of ABC News. You mentioned a news executive. This guy was at the top, James Goldston. He worked with the committee to make sure it told its story factually - first story first broken by Axios. Goldston has told associates he sees this as a civic duty, that insurrection should not be seen as a partisan question but one of good citizenship. And he has promised the committee it will all be factually based...

Factually based, but totally packaged for TV and by a TV news exec, as you just nodded to. Are the networks going to carry it live?

https://www.npr.org/2022/06/08/1103785079/a-former-tv-news-executive-is-producing-the-jan-6-hearings

[jimfields33]

5. They better deliver. They are playing this up to be the most exciting tv viewing ever

[Liberal In Texas]

7. I'm not sure I've seen the word "exciting" used to describe the hearings.

Jaw dropping perhaps. But I don't think it's been designed to be like "Top Gun 2" - something I would term "exciting."

[Novara]

2. Yeah, WE know what happened because we've been acutely following it

But a lot of people haven't followed this as closely as we have. Capturing their attention is important. Every single American must know what happened so we can take steps to make sure it can never be attempted again and be successful the next time.

I'm already tired of the criticism before the very first minute of the hearings has been presented. Geez.

[agingdem]

8. agree..

for months's we've been subjected to OMG teasers..now it's for the J6 committee to flesh out the soundbites..they've got a hell of a story to tell..

we Dems have a habit of eating our own..every parsed word morphs into a Chicken Little moment.."oh, shit, tell me Biden didn't just say that!!". if the critics among us intend to bring their "bad optics" bullshit to the solemnity of the moment..don't!

[Novara]

9. This:

"if the critics among us intend to bring their "bad optics" bullshit to the solemnity of the moment..don't!"

Exactly. Already I am hearing media outlets talk about the "legitimacy" of the J6 committee because it's a republican talking point. Goddammit! The committee has been granted legitimacy by the courts. There's absolutely no question about it, and framing it like that does nobody any favors.

This is the biggest threat to this country in its history. Never before has a losing outgoing president staged a coup to retain power. It should be treated with all the gravity this infers!

[Midnight Writer]

14. Most people I've talked to are not paying much attention to this. WE KNOW, but they don't.

[Deminpenn]

15. This

The vast majority of Americans are too busy living their daily lives to pay attention to all the details. The details just sort of float in the clouds above their heads. Occassionally they get bits and pieces but not never enough to make them really stop and take notice.

While most of the information the J6 panel will present is known to us, it isn't to most people. It's a great, riveting story that seems like it will be presented in just that way.

[Novara]

16. The most serious attack on our government in its history

It is unconscionable that people aren't paying attention.

[uponit7771]

18. +1, yep ... like Biden outed Putin's intentions J6 com needs to out the GQPs intentions

[kentuck]

3. Beware the media playing these types of games.

I believe most of them do it out of ignorance. They are not smart enough to plan it as a political strategy, in my opinion.

[fightforfreedom]

4. It depends on the bombshell.

One bombshell can change everything. Like the Nixon tapes.

[kentuck]

6. We need bigger bombshells?

Regular "bombshells" are just not enough anymore.

[PRETZEL]

10. I agree that no new bombshells are needed, but for different reasons,

The committee's purpose was to investigate what happened surrounding the J6 insurrection and what measures Congress needs to take to prevent it from happening again.

The investigation itself will be what the evidence leads them to believe what happened and who were the major players. It's the facts, pure and simple, nothing more and nothing less.

The evidence is what it is, it shouldn't be a gotcha type of hearing. Let people interpret it as the will.

[kentuck]

11. What do we know?

[msfiddlestix]

12. This 10,000 %

This article sums up my views on the matter completely.

What we already know is bad enough.

I will break my habit of avoiding tv news channels to watch this presentation this evening. My group of friends and neighbors will watch it together. But I will first self medicate with brandy or wine in advance though for mental health reasons.

I'll also bring my laptop to tune into DU watch threads. I'm sure I'll need confirmation I hadn't misheard or misunderstood somethaing reported, or that I've completely lost my mind.

[867-5309.]

13. That's why I caution against high expectations

A whole hell of a lot has been uncovered. Now you set up a prime time event and lead people to believe they'll see jaw dropping stuff, they didn't already.

[Ligyron]

17. Oh, I'd bet they have something saved up.