Merrick Garland warns of democracy under threat in Harvard speech

[brooklynite]

Source: Axios

Attorney General Merrick Garland warned about threats to democracy in the U.S. and abroad in a commencement speech at Harvard University on Sunday.

Driving the news: Garland, who is a Harvard alumnus, pointed to efforts to undermine the right to vote, violence against particular groups of people, the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and the Russian invasion of Ukraine abroad as the "many ways in which democracy is under threat."

Garland also urged the students, members of the 2020 and 2021 graduating classes, to devote some part of their lives to public service.

"There is one particular reason that makes my call to public service especially urgent for your generation," he said. "It is an urgency that should move each of you, regardless of the career you choose. It is the urgent need to defend democracy."

Read more: https://www.axios.com/2022/05/29/merrick-garland-democracy-harvard

---

nb: this was a "do-over" Commencement speech; Harvard brought back the classes of 2020 and 2021 who didn't get to have a live Commencement ceremony.

[truthisfreedom]

1. Welcome words.

[Joinfortmill]

2. Well, that makes it real.

[ymetca]

3. So a "hey we're hiring" speech, eh?

Too bad we don't actually live in a Democracy yet.

It's still a Republic-con, ruled by the Electoral College!

[LonePirate]

4. He should take his own advice about having an urgency to protect democracy.

[Magoo48]

19. I was thinking the same thing.

His urgency could use a quart of Geritol.

[msongs]

5. uh oh, sternly worded letters alert nt

[SergeStorms]

6. So....being Attorney General.....

is there something you might be able to do about that? Perhaps put the ringleader of an insurrection in prison?

Asking for a friend.

[OrangeJoe]

11. Yep

[Uncle_Remus]

14. Yea if only there was someone in position to do something about it...

[spudspud]

16. So frustrating.

[Beastly Boy]

20. Apparently, Garland is now expected to single-handedly save democracy.

Not just in the US, but worldwide.

I would tell your friend that no, he cannot do that. Nor can he put anyone in prison. He is an attorney, not the judge, nor the jury, nor the executioner.

But, being Attorney General, he already secured convictions of over 800 insurrectionists, among many other things. That's far more than all the Garland detractors put together have ever done by making snarky remarks from the sidelines.

[Wuddles440]

22. Secured the "convictions"...

of over 800 insurrectionists? Did we miss something over the past year and a half? Just asking for a friend.

[Beastly Boy]

25. My mistake. Garland secured indictments, not convictions. Against at least 846 people to date.

In case you missed that part in the past year and a half, here's a link for you:
https://www.insider.com/all-the-us-capitol-pro-trump-riot-arrests-charges-names-2021-1#:~:text=Madison%20Hall%2C%20Skye%20Gould%2C%20Rebecca%20Harrington%2C%20Jacob%20Shamsian%2C,Ardrey%2C%20and%20Erin%20Snodgrass%20Updated%2019%20hours%20ago

Still, a hell of a lot more than all the Garland bashers put together have ever done with their snarky remarks, isn't it? Don't forget to mention that to your friend.

[Orrex]

29. What exactly was Garland's involvement in those 846 indictments?

A lot of Big Macs get made in a given day, for instance, but Ronald McDonald himself has very limited involvement in them.

[Beastly Boy]

33. He is the head of the Department of Justice

In your big mac analogy, he would be equivalent to Chris Kempczinski, CEO of McDonald's. You wouldn't question the critical role a McDonald's CEO plays in making Big Macs, would you? Ronald McDonald, on the other hand, is a fictional character and a clown, but even he gets credit for selling millions of Big Macs.

Bersides, when I make the point of Garland's not being directly involved in the minutia of each 1/6 investigation, it doesn't ordinarily detract Garland bashers from bashing Garland personally. This thread alone is a glaring example, except here Garland is being held personally responsible for failing to save democracy worldwide in addition to having nothing to show for the 1/6 investigation by the DOJ (itself a patently ridiculous and easily disprovable suggestion).

Sure, were Garland bashers more specific in separating Garland personally from the various departments and bureaus in his charge, so would I. But, as is clearly evident in this thread, the target of criticism is Garland alone, no matter how ridiculous the focus on him personally gets. So my references to Garland must be viewed in this context.

[Orrex]

36. At this late stage, with midterms looming, one can hardly be faulted for frustration

The media has certainly decided that Republikkkans will retake the House and possibly the Senate in November, so we've been watching the clock tick for 2.5 years while Garland himself has appeared to do little or nothing of substance.

Yes, yes. He's working diligently behind the scenes and secretly and quietly, and one day we'll all be sorry for our lack of faith. Garland has a number of vocal cheerleaders here who won't let anyone disparage The System.


I honestly don't believe that anyone thinks Garland is personally responsible for saving democracy here or abroad, but he is in a unique position to do something about the narrowly dodged insurrection, so when he laments the fragility of the democratic system, it is at the very least blaringly tone deaf.

[Beastly Boy]

40. How'bout one being faulted for scapegoating Garland?

That's not a sign of frustration, it's a sign of ignorance on top of impatience. While the investigation had made immense and unprecedented progress within the past year, there are no signs of Garland, personally, becoming any less of a target, or getting any more of a credit. If this amounts to expression of frustration, it is batshit insane, based on total disregard to what's happening in reality.

I am not even talking about these comments not relating to the OP. I am just struck by the total absence of any rhyme or reason which might identify Garland as the source or cause of the frustration you mentioned.

This is not normal. The whole Garland bashing trend began on the basis of absence of any information, not its presence. It's been going for months, and despite the aforementioned undeniable progress made by DOJ in the investigation, despite the 850 indictments so far issued in the course of the investigation, despite 11 charges of seditious conspiracy, the trend continues, blissfully disregarding these facts. The garland bashers have been very vocal with their pledges to be the first ones to apologize if they are to be proven wrong by unfolding events. Well, they've been wrong countless times, and yet, the promised apologies are not forthcoming. Instead, any mention of Garland triggers yet another wave of wanton criticism. The current thread is a prime example: Garland's speech to Harvard grads which mentions, among other things, the perils faced by world democracies, brings about responses that demand Garland to do something about it. WTF??? How is Garland being tone deaf here when he is addressing future lawmakers, completely out of the context of the 1/6 investigation, and how can his detractors possibly be considered halfass reasonable when they dump the responsibility for doing something about world's democracy squarely in his lap?

And once again, he IS doing something about the narrowly dodged insurrection. In fact, he is doing a hell of a lot, and he's got results to show for it. The evidence is there for all to see now. It is undeniable. It is indisputable. It is a matter of record. Any suggestion to the contrary requires no less than a mind out of touch with reality.

[Orrex]

44. Your pop psychology is unimpressive.

Again, you're crediting Ronald for putting the pickles on every Big Mac. Of the indictments that we've seen, which would not have happened in Garland's absence?

Frankly I'm tired of rehashing this for the true believers who reject and belittle any criticism or Garland and the mighty, invisible System.

When Trump and his vile spawn are in jail along with the numerous Republikkkan insurrectionists, then I will happily recant and say that I was wrong all along about Garland. Until then, Garland's cheerleaders mean nothing to me.

[Beastly Boy]

45. Glad you are not impressed with my pop psychology.

Because my posts were not intended to contain either pop or psycholofy. Ronald McDonald is completely incidental to what i was talking about. The only reason he appears in my post is because you brought him up in an awkward analogy. I merely demonstrated how this analogy is irrelevant. And while this is besides the point, the fact is I never credited him with putting pickleson any big macs. Just read my post. Nor will I speculate on the other item that is besides the point, namely which indictment would not have happened in Garland's absence. This would be pure speculation, a speculation that completely misses the fact of Garland being used as a pinata to gratify the irrational urges of the Garland bashers.

Nor do I reject any criticism of Garland. I only reject the illogical, capricious, out of context, knee-jerk reactive criticism of Garland that does not withstand the elementary scrutiny of being compared to the well documented and commonly available facts on the ground.

Also, as you may have noticed from my previous post, promises of future mea culpas do not impress me one bit.

[riversedge]

50. 298 rioters have pleaded guilty for their role in the Capitol insurrection so far. This table is tra

298 rioters have pleaded guilty for their role in the Capitol insurrection so far. This table is tracking them all.
Updated
May 23, 2022, 2:14 PM

#Jan6 #capitolRiot

https://insider.com/capitol-rioters-who-pleaded-guilty-updated-list-2021-5?utmSource=twitter&utmContent=referral&utmTerm=topbar&referrer=twitter via @thisisinsider

Link to tweet

?s=20&t=g5mWMOItPwrL5BDYFkGNeA



298 rioters have pleaded guilty for their role in the Capitol insurrection so far. This table is tracking them all.
Madison Hall
Updated
May 23, 2022, 2:14 PM
The US Capitol riot.
Rioting at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. Michael Nigro/Pacific Press:LightRocket/Getty

More than 840 people have been charged with crimes linked to the Capitol insurrection.
Over a year after January 6, 2021, 298 people have pleaded guilty in connection to the riot.
The FBI is still attempting to identify people from the Capitol siege. We'll keep this list updated......................

[Firestorm49]

56. Many of us are just frustrated. Time is running out. The mid terms may change the game.

No hard feelings, but understand how long this has been going on with no indication of justice being served on the elite of the cabal. I’m afraid that there’s more to this than meets the eye.

[Beastly Boy]

58. I am frustrated too.

But that's not Garland's fault, it's my fault. I have only the remotest clue of what it takes to prosecute cases as complicated and as precedent-setting as DOJ is dealing with. So I look for whatever objective information I can get to educate myself more. And what I find is that the timeline for such prosecutions, looking back to historical precedents, is not unreasonable at all. It takes years, not weeks. And the progress achieved so far by DOJ is immense. And when I don't find the information I am looking for, I admit to myself that I simply don't know what's going on, rather than indulge in uninformed speculations, conspiracy theories or search for a scapegoat. No indication of justice being served is not evidence that justice is not being served. Being afraid that there is more than meets the eye is not evidence that there is more than meets the eye. It takes a certain discipline to withhold judgement on things we don't know about, and exercising it is in no way equivalent to being a Garland apologist.

Deducing something on the basis of nothing is not reasonable. Blaming Garland for it is even less so. Besides, the incredible progress of the investigation (over 850 indictments in a year and a half - that's roughly 460 indictments per year) is itself proof positive that justice IS being served. One just has to recognize that justice being served is a process, not an event, and adjust one's expectations accordingly.

Having said the above, my rant is not about any of it. I am pissed at the knee jerk reactions in this thread to Garland's speech at Harvard. Using it as an excuse to make demands on Garland to do something about... what exactly? End threats to democracy in the US and abroad? Stop singling out minorities for violence? Stop Russia's invasion of Ukraine? His commitment to follow due process in the 1/6 investigation? That's a batshit ridiculous response to his speech.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

30. Garland should have a thousand recs for this speech...if not impeded by so much cynicism.

[yardwork]

52. I mean, seriously!

[KPN]

7. We know that AG Garland. I'm sure those graduating students

do as well. Was this a signal that DOJ is doing something about it or are you just urging students to do something about it?

I sincerely hope the former.

[Gaugamela]

8. Begs the question, doesn't it Merrick? I mean, you are telling us!!? Who exactly do

you think is your audience here?

[Mr. Evil]

9. Actions speak louder than words.

Lets see a shit-ton of actions.

[NullTuples]

10. If only he knew someone who could do something, like maybe the US Attorney General

[Tetrachloride]

12. Accomplishments ? i will hold my breath another 2 weeks.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

31. Aside from the arrest of hundreds of Insurrectionists and the perfect trial record of conviction?

[Voltaire2]

38. Nobody in the Trump admin or his associates or Congress.

Just the knuckleheads who rampaged.

[ancianita]

47. That's called precedence setting and

case building about conspiracy and intent. For such a large scale assault, large scale charges, convictions and sentencing have to be the scaffolding for the charges brought later.

[EthanBlue]

13. Scary time

I feel like I’m in a haze with this situation. It feels like the country just forgot there was a coup attempt.

Which scares the crap out of me. Democracy is at risk mostly due to apathy.

[KS Toronado]

15. For the simple fact Garland said

"It is the urgent need to defend democracy." tells me he is going after everyone connected to Jan 6th,
and he's got the entire DOJ keeping their mouths shut, never let the enemy know what you're doing.
My glass is half full with Merrick, yours should be too.

[FailureToCommunicate]

17. Wouldn't it have been great if the Harvard grads started chanting "Do SOMETHING!"

"Do SOMETHING!" Like was reported from basketball games recently.

[Beastly Boy]

27. Never gonna happen. They are Harvard grads for gawd's sake, not basketball game spectators!

They know exactly what Garland is talking about, and they are not about to make fools of themselves with frivolous and ignorant remarks. Not a single one of them.

[MiHale]

18. I thought it was an encouraging speech...

After reading the speech.

https://www.justice.gov/opa/speech/attorney-general-merrick-b-garland-delivers-commencement-address-harvard-classes-2020-and

He will defend democracy, I truly believe that, it means a great deal to him. I’m starting to appreciate people that can practice patience.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

32. Correct takeaway. All else is false.

Patience on social media and chats? Surely u jest sir!

[ancianita]

48. Yep.

You're exactly right about patience. It takes patient citizens to support such a huge democracy's having to enforce rule of law over this huge, unprecedented assault on our government.

I'm confident that AG Garland's leak-proof DOJ will make sure it's done.

[gab13by13]

21. DOJ does have a civil rights division,

we only have to wait until Kristen Clarke is confirmed. Oh yeah, she was confirmed months ago.

[Scrivener7]

23. Sigh.

[Hotler]

24. 18 months past 1/6 and the leadership of the fascist party still walks free.

You better get busy Merrick and put these fuckers in prison. If not, you will be one of the first they come for when they take power next year.

[Beastly Boy]

26. Due process of law sucks, doesn't it?

And, being a dedicated public servant, shame on Garland for following it exactly the way he is supposed to, right? Why doesn't he just tar and feather all the suspects, chop off their heads and display them on spikes all around the Capitol? Or show some mercy and just summarily execute them with a firing squad, just as it would be done in any self-respecting banana republic.

[ancianita]

49. Nah. It just takes longer at scale.

You da best!

[jalan48]

28. He's working his way toward getting up to speed.

[Voltaire2]

39. He should be fully engaged by 12/24.

[greenjar_01]

34. If only the Attorney General of the United States could do something

[Novara]

35. Oh come on, people

I'm as impatient as you lot are but it makes no sense for the DOJ to duplicate the J6 committee's work. Rather, it makes sense to USE THEIR FINDINGS once the committee is done gathering evidence, then pursue the trail of evidence.

If the DOJ does nothing after being given a treasure trove of evidence of prosecutable crimes, I'll be right there beside you screaming about inaction.

But not yet.

Have a little patience. The J6 hearings start in 10 days. Let's see what they've got.

[ShazzieB]

46. This, absolutely.

[Alexander Of Assyria]

51. Impeccable logic sir, sorely missing from he perpetually hair on fire social media.

[867-5309.]

53. I seriously doubt the DOJ would suspend their J6 activity waiting for a congressional committee n/t

[Novara]

57. I'm sure they won't either, but they're not going to duplicate the work of the committee

That makes no sense whatsoever. A lot of their direction will come from what the committee finds out. They will pursue other leads (like Navarro), but what the committee gives them will be dynamite and very, very useful.

[Voltaire2]

37. Just maybe do something about the fucking coup.

Is that too much to ask?

[Deminpenn]

41. He's in a unique position to do something about it

We shall see.

[samsingh]

42. doesn't he have the power to actually do something about?

is he is just a talker and the type that apologies later on.

[Beastly Boy]

43. Do something about what?

Stop the erosion of the right to vote? Xenophobia? Trumpism? Stop Russian invasion of Ukraine? Single-handedly defend democracy?

No. No he doesn't. He doesn't have the power to do any of the above. No attorney general ever did. He is no petty dictator with the power to ignore the country's and international laws..

[867-5309.]

54. He should contact the Attorney General immediately

and express his concerns.

[brooklynite]

55. Would that be because the AG isn't doing anything?

You have evidence for that?