CNN Says 'White Men' are the Biggest Terror Threat in US

[Matnum PI]

If someone wears a shirt that implies 6 million Jews being slaughtered wasn't enough, I'm certain I wouldn't support a politician they would support. Birds of a feather, etc.

And still, the State of Israel and religious Jews throughout the world stand by Trump. Less so now that he's only going to be president for the next 9 days and the most recent events. but still a reality for the past 4 plus years.

[tech37]

wow. I hope you don't get paint on yourself with that extremely broad brush.

Really? You think that image goes too far as a metaphor for what we saw this week, what we can see online, and what (hopefully) most of us don't bother to see on the dark web?

This faux outrage from tech is downright laughable.

What's been revealed this week is an ugly truth, the Trump cult is in large part undergirded by a white supremacist, fascist ideology, complete with the most radical such adherents.

The black and white flag is a representation of that dark truth, the peeling back the revealing of what's really underneath, hidden purposely to those who it has seduced.

To be clear, there are Trump cultists who do not understand this reality, they've been seduced into it with all sorts of blatant lies, with the ground prepared over numerous years. But that's what they now find themselves part of, and being revealed.

The question is what those who did not understand this reality do, will they break their fever and disassociate themselves from the lies and violent, fascist intent?

I do. The peeling back of the blue stripe suggests to me that police, signified by the blue stripe, in general are nazi sympathizers.

Were there some off duty police involved in the bs this week? Certainly. Should they be be held accountable? Certainly. To me the image paints all police in that manner, hence the broad brush comment.

Perhaps you can explain to me the genesis of a flag that's black and white with a blue line. Is this a symbol of the Trump cult variety or is it an image promoted by Antifa or BLM etc? I am under the impression that it's the former.

Assuming the blue line is intended to represent the police, I don't think that the peeling back of that line or any other to reveal what's underneath all of the lines necessarily means ALL police or "in general" are white supremacist fascists. Just the Trump cult adherents.

But I may be mistaken. Don't think so: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020 ... rican-flag

From the article you linked:

Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.

That is the truth regarding the flag's origin and intention and why, IMO, the posted bastardized version is a lie. The flag is also a symbolic foil to the absurd notion of defund and/or abolish the police. Reform is in no doubt needed and I am quite sure the vast majority of cops would agree with that.

In the originator's own words:

Now, Jacob is the president of Thin Blue Line USA, one of the largest online retailers devoted exclusively to sales of pro-police flags,
T-shirts, neckwear and jewelry. “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” he said. “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.”

I would bet thousands of black and brown (unfortunately I need to be specific here) policemen and policewomen would disagree with your hyper-sensitive and distorted interpretation of their flag.

“When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

Well said.

And of course I never mentioned anything "Trump" regarding the flag... you on the other hand can't seem to help yourself. Your continuing compulsive need to define anything and everything as Trump-related and racist is sad. Almost feel sorry for you...

Funny...you have selected only the positive connotation excerpts...what it also says is "Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers. But it has also been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia."
Funny? To you perhaps... Obviously I chose sections of the article you posted that are accurate to the truthful origin and intention of the flag. My initial point. Why would I include sections that fall into areas of assumption/conjecture? That's your narrative not mine.

And other examples of its usage by these a-holes.
So it seems that a minority of "a-holes" have coopted/hijacked the flag? Perhaps. But instead of recognizing the minority of
a-holes for what they are (this is where accurate, honest reporting is imperative), your typical impulsive reaction is to cry, Trumpist!, racist!, Nazi!, alleging that anyone, including the well-intentioned majority of those who fly the flag, as evil. Seems pretty prejudicial to me.

And it detailed the troubled history of the phrase and concept of "thin blue line".
An easy connection to make or conclusion to draw for anyone with imagination and motive.

Again, blame the white supremacists for having adopted it as an counter to BLM, not me. Blame those in history who originated and developed the phrase and the attitude it represents towards blacks in specific, not me.
History?... history that may not apply to this day and age but can easily be contrived to support motivation/narrative?

And again, what specific blacks are you referring to? The thousands who happen to be in law enforcement and/or whose family members wish to fly the flag in support, the initial and accurate intention of the symbol?

This is not a matter of hypersensitivity, it's a matter of who has used it and why. The particular meme is a commentary of what is revealed in such usage.
So what to do MD? Do you plan to stand with the "woke mob" and ban the flag?... a ban based on a minority of a-holes who have utilized it for the false reasons, or based on a cherry-picking, deceitful media whose agenda is to further divide the country?

BTW, 2 hours ago:
2 Virginia police officers are on administrative leave after attending event at Capitol last Wednesday
From CNN's Chuck Johnston
Two Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officers are on administrative leave after attending an event in Washington, DC, last Wednesday, according to the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The two off-duty officers were present at an event in DC on Wednesday, a statement the department released on Sunday said.

“The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day. Based on the available information, the Police Department has notified federal authorities and the individuals that were present at the event are on administrative leave pending review.”
Rocky Mount is located about 25 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia.

On Friday night, the Seattle Police Department had placed at least two officers on administrative leave while officials investigate whether they took part in Wednesday's deadly riot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the department's chief, Adrian Diaz, said in a statement.


I suspect there will be more.
Painful reality. Yes, bad apples...they need to go.

Ban the flag???

I haven't even called for banning the Confederate flag or Nazi symbols. As my buddy told me years ago, "when I see the Confederate flag I'm grateful, now I know who the person is".

The Ross flag had a very important rallying purpose, at the time of its creation, and as such I revere it. HOWEVER, I'd never wave it at a political rally today because it sends a very different message TODAY (and I don't want to be associated with that insurrectionist, anti-government message)...Is what you seem to be bothered by that you actually support that message?

There were many, many Ross flags flown at the insurrection...these misguided a-holes think they're rallying "Patriots" to revolt against their government.
So are you saying that all those people at the rally-turned-insurrection, were misguided a-holes?

The balance of your post at this point doesn't interest me.

The thin blue line phrase and its history is exactly that, and it continues to be understood by communities of color to represent, in part, a confrontation with those communities, the racism runs deep. And, unfortunately, it does. Do you want that to continue? Or do you want the racists out?

You realize that supporting the police doesn't mean having to defend racist police and policing, right?


By "Funny" I simply meant you are sadly so...you clearly chose to ignore the full context of what you excerpted.

Misguided, definitely.
Deranged, many.
Traitors? Most.

a-holes? yes as to the traitors. And I said most are traitors.
Just how do you differentiate the a-holes, from the deranged, from the misguided, from the traitors, from the ignorant. That's really quite a feat.

I don't know MD, there were a lot of people there, surely one or two of the misguided thousands just might have been exercising their non violent right to protest?

Not necessarily to the just misguided, though I consider this all willful ignorance in even the least extreme cases. I'm sure many of these people don't kick their wives, beat their spouses or children, and many, like my brother-in-law would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger...but when they go near this stuff, they do become flaming a-holes in their behavior.

You're not interested in the racist part of the history of "thin blue line"?
Then why the outrage over this flag meme representation?

How about answering my question, do you want the racists out of the police?
I think it's a stupid question.

[DMac]

Welcome back, tech. You were missed but much better off where you were.
Aint nuthin's changed here, brotha.

[old salt]

JUST IN:
Two capitol police officers have been suspended and one arrested for their role in the attack on the capitol. One seen taking selfies and one seen wearing a MAGA hat and directing insurrectionists. Additionally, at least 10-15 officers are under investigation.

Anyone find it odd that there have been ZERO briefings from DHS, Capitol Police, FBI or DoD?

Where the EFF is the Federal Government? Is anyone in charge?

...& nothing being reported about the Capitol Police officer who took his own life.

[Typical Lax Dad]

JUST IN:
Two capitol police officers have been suspended and one arrested for their role in the attack on the capitol. One seen taking selfies and one seen wearing a MAGA hat and directing insurrectionists. Additionally, at least 10-15 officers are under investigation.

Anyone find it odd that there have been ZERO briefings from DHS, Capitol Police, FBI or DoD?

Where the EFF is the Federal Government? Is anyone in charge?

...& nothing being reported about the Capitol Police officer who took his own life.

How did you hear about it?

[tech37]

Welcome back, tech. You were missed but much better off where you were.
Aint nuthin's changed here, brotha.

I know DMac. I'm not sure what possessed me.

[Typical Lax Dad]

I guess someone got old seaman’s complaint:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pu ... utType=amp

Just a mess all the way around.

[old salt]

JUST IN:
Two capitol police officers have been suspended and one arrested for their role in the attack on the capitol. One seen taking selfies and one seen wearing a MAGA hat and directing insurrectionists. Additionally, at least 10-15 officers are under investigation.

Anyone find it odd that there have been ZERO briefings from DHS, Capitol Police, FBI or DoD?

Where the EFF is the Federal Government? Is anyone in charge?

...& nothing being reported about the Capitol Police officer who took his own life.

How did you hear about it?

No details about his assigned duties on Wed, other than he was on duty & he worked on the Senate side.

[jhu72]

I guess someone got old seaman’s complaint:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pu ... utType=amp

Just a mess all the way around.

Pure speculation, but I have a feeling he felt he let his father down last Wednesday. Sad.

[old salt]

I guess someone got old seaman’s complaint:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pu ... utType=amp

Just a mess all the way around.

Pure speculation, but I have a feeling he felt he let his father down last Wednesday. Sad.

I wondered if the family connection was a factor. He was apparently well known & highly regarded by the Senators & the media.
It didn't say how senior he was or if he was involved in any of the decision making, or if he was taking any heat or under suspicion.

[MDlaxfan76]

wow. I hope you don't get paint on yourself with that extremely broad brush.

Really? You think that image goes too far as a metaphor for what we saw this week, what we can see online, and what (hopefully) most of us don't bother to see on the dark web?

This faux outrage from tech is downright laughable.

What's been revealed this week is an ugly truth, the Trump cult is in large part undergirded by a white supremacist, fascist ideology, complete with the most radical such adherents.

The black and white flag is a representation of that dark truth, the peeling back the revealing of what's really underneath, hidden purposely to those who it has seduced.

To be clear, there are Trump cultists who do not understand this reality, they've been seduced into it with all sorts of blatant lies, with the ground prepared over numerous years. But that's what they now find themselves part of, and being revealed.

The question is what those who did not understand this reality do, will they break their fever and disassociate themselves from the lies and violent, fascist intent?

I do. The peeling back of the blue stripe suggests to me that police, signified by the blue stripe, in general are nazi sympathizers.

Were there some off duty police involved in the bs this week? Certainly. Should they be be held accountable? Certainly. To me the image paints all police in that manner, hence the broad brush comment.

Perhaps you can explain to me the genesis of a flag that's black and white with a blue line. Is this a symbol of the Trump cult variety or is it an image promoted by Antifa or BLM etc? I am under the impression that it's the former.

Assuming the blue line is intended to represent the police, I don't think that the peeling back of that line or any other to reveal what's underneath all of the lines necessarily means ALL police or "in general" are white supremacist fascists. Just the Trump cult adherents.

But I may be mistaken. Don't think so: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020 ... rican-flag

From the article you linked:

Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.

That is the truth regarding the flag's origin and intention and why, IMO, the posted bastardized version is a lie. The flag is also a symbolic foil to the absurd notion of defund and/or abolish the police. Reform is in no doubt needed and I am quite sure the vast majority of cops would agree with that.

In the originator's own words:

Now, Jacob is the president of Thin Blue Line USA, one of the largest online retailers devoted exclusively to sales of pro-police flags,
T-shirts, neckwear and jewelry. “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” he said. “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.”

I would bet thousands of black and brown (unfortunately I need to be specific here) policemen and policewomen would disagree with your hyper-sensitive and distorted interpretation of their flag.

“When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

Well said.

And of course I never mentioned anything "Trump" regarding the flag... you on the other hand can't seem to help yourself. Your continuing compulsive need to define anything and everything as Trump-related and racist is sad. Almost feel sorry for you...

Funny...you have selected only the positive connotation excerpts...what it also says is "Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers. But it has also been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia."
Funny? To you perhaps... Obviously I chose sections of the article you posted that are accurate to the truthful origin and intention of the flag. My initial point. Why would I include sections that fall into areas of assumption/conjecture? That's your narrative not mine.

And other examples of its usage by these a-holes.
So it seems that a minority of "a-holes" have coopted/hijacked the flag? Perhaps. But instead of recognizing the minority of
a-holes for what they are (this is where accurate, honest reporting is imperative), your typical impulsive reaction is to cry, Trumpist!, racist!, Nazi!, alleging that anyone, including the well-intentioned majority of those who fly the flag, as evil. Seems pretty prejudicial to me.

And it detailed the troubled history of the phrase and concept of "thin blue line".
An easy connection to make or conclusion to draw for anyone with imagination and motive.

Again, blame the white supremacists for having adopted it as an counter to BLM, not me. Blame those in history who originated and developed the phrase and the attitude it represents towards blacks in specific, not me.
History?... history that may not apply to this day and age but can easily be contrived to support motivation/narrative?

And again, what specific blacks are you referring to? The thousands who happen to be in law enforcement and/or whose family members wish to fly the flag in support, the initial and accurate intention of the symbol?

This is not a matter of hypersensitivity, it's a matter of who has used it and why. The particular meme is a commentary of what is revealed in such usage.
So what to do MD? Do you plan to stand with the "woke mob" and ban the flag?... a ban based on a minority of a-holes who have utilized it for the false reasons, or based on a cherry-picking, deceitful media whose agenda is to further divide the country?

BTW, 2 hours ago:
2 Virginia police officers are on administrative leave after attending event at Capitol last Wednesday
From CNN's Chuck Johnston
Two Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officers are on administrative leave after attending an event in Washington, DC, last Wednesday, according to the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The two off-duty officers were present at an event in DC on Wednesday, a statement the department released on Sunday said.

“The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day. Based on the available information, the Police Department has notified federal authorities and the individuals that were present at the event are on administrative leave pending review.”
Rocky Mount is located about 25 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia.

On Friday night, the Seattle Police Department had placed at least two officers on administrative leave while officials investigate whether they took part in Wednesday's deadly riot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the department's chief, Adrian Diaz, said in a statement.


I suspect there will be more.
Painful reality. Yes, bad apples...they need to go.

Ban the flag???

I haven't even called for banning the Confederate flag or Nazi symbols. As my buddy told me years ago, "when I see the Confederate flag I'm grateful, now I know who the person is".

The Ross flag had a very important rallying purpose, at the time of its creation, and as such I revere it. HOWEVER, I'd never wave it at a political rally today because it sends a very different message TODAY (and I don't want to be associated with that insurrectionist, anti-government message)...Is what you seem to be bothered by that you actually support that message?

There were many, many Ross flags flown at the insurrection...these misguided a-holes think they're rallying "Patriots" to revolt against their government.
So are you saying that all those people at the rally-turned-insurrection, were misguided a-holes?

The balance of your post at this point doesn't interest me.

The thin blue line phrase and its history is exactly that, and it continues to be understood by communities of color to represent, in part, a confrontation with those communities, the racism runs deep. And, unfortunately, it does. Do you want that to continue? Or do you want the racists out?

You realize that supporting the police doesn't mean having to defend racist police and policing, right?


By "Funny" I simply meant you are sadly so...you clearly chose to ignore the full context of what you excerpted.

Misguided, definitely.
Deranged, many.
Traitors? Most.

a-holes? yes as to the traitors. And I said most are traitors.
Just how do you differentiate the a-holes, from the deranged, from the misguided, from the traitors, from the ignorant. That's really quite a feat.

I don't know MD, there were a lot of people there, surely one or two of the misguided thousands just might have been exercising their non violent right to protest?

Not necessarily to the just misguided, though I consider this all willful ignorance in even the least extreme cases. I'm sure many of these people don't kick their wives, beat their spouses or children, and many, like my brother-in-law would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger...but when they go near this stuff, they do become flaming a-holes in their behavior.

You're not interested in the racist part of the history of "thin blue line"?
Then why the outrage over this flag meme representation?

How about answering my question, do you want the racists out of the police?
I think it's a stupid question.

If it's so obvious, why not answer...I do you the courtesy.

No, I don't think there was ANY legitimate excuse for those who rushed the Capitol. When they went past those barriers they were breaking the law, no question. And they were there not to exercise a right to non-violent protest, but rather to overturn an election, "Stop the Steal"..find me one who doesn't believe that the election was "stolen" and that they didn't want it reversed.

Now, if you ask me whether most thought they were going to violently attack the Capitol, destroying property, killing a policeman, and hunting down Congress people, I'd sure as heck HOPE most weren't thinking it would go that far, though they may have been caught up in the energy of the mob. I believe my brother-in-law who was horrified by what went on inside, but who felt perfectly great about what was happening on the steps right outside...which blows my mind, but then he's definitely a nutcase. Has no clue about what's going on around him, buys hook line and sinker all the BS.

Now, "differentiating" is another matter. There were those who definitely should be locked up, lose their jobs, etc and there are those who should simply be embarrassed to have participated with those who are full-on violent insurrectionists and/or racist a-holes. If I'm the FBI, I'm looking at the huge amount of video and identifying EVERYONE who went inside or committed any form of violence or resistance to the police attempting to stop them and then to clear the property. I'm looking at their social media feeds for any sense of prior intent, angry, violent talk, versus any sense of immediate post event remorse.

I hate to say it, as this would include my brother-in-law potentially, but I'm also looking at those who made it to the steps or just on the grounds past the barrier and looking for any indications that they may have been egging others on, etc. The worst such I'd prosecute.

Were you there, tech?

[MDlaxfan76]

I guess someone got old seaman’s complaint:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/pu ... utType=amp

Just a mess all the way around.

very sad, whether out of guilt for being unable to do more or even if he'd been somehow complicit and was concerned about being exposed. My gut says the former.

[tech37]

wow. I hope you don't get paint on yourself with that extremely broad brush.

Really? You think that image goes too far as a metaphor for what we saw this week, what we can see online, and what (hopefully) most of us don't bother to see on the dark web?

This faux outrage from tech is downright laughable.

What's been revealed this week is an ugly truth, the Trump cult is in large part undergirded by a white supremacist, fascist ideology, complete with the most radical such adherents.

The black and white flag is a representation of that dark truth, the peeling back the revealing of what's really underneath, hidden purposely to those who it has seduced.

To be clear, there are Trump cultists who do not understand this reality, they've been seduced into it with all sorts of blatant lies, with the ground prepared over numerous years. But that's what they now find themselves part of, and being revealed.

The question is what those who did not understand this reality do, will they break their fever and disassociate themselves from the lies and violent, fascist intent?

I do. The peeling back of the blue stripe suggests to me that police, signified by the blue stripe, in general are nazi sympathizers.

Were there some off duty police involved in the bs this week? Certainly. Should they be be held accountable? Certainly. To me the image paints all police in that manner, hence the broad brush comment.

Perhaps you can explain to me the genesis of a flag that's black and white with a blue line. Is this a symbol of the Trump cult variety or is it an image promoted by Antifa or BLM etc? I am under the impression that it's the former.

Assuming the blue line is intended to represent the police, I don't think that the peeling back of that line or any other to reveal what's underneath all of the lines necessarily means ALL police or "in general" are white supremacist fascists. Just the Trump cult adherents.

But I may be mistaken. Don't think so: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020 ... rican-flag

From the article you linked:

Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.

That is the truth regarding the flag's origin and intention and why, IMO, the posted bastardized version is a lie. The flag is also a symbolic foil to the absurd notion of defund and/or abolish the police. Reform is in no doubt needed and I am quite sure the vast majority of cops would agree with that.

In the originator's own words:

Now, Jacob is the president of Thin Blue Line USA, one of the largest online retailers devoted exclusively to sales of pro-police flags,
T-shirts, neckwear and jewelry. “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” he said. “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.”

I would bet thousands of black and brown (unfortunately I need to be specific here) policemen and policewomen would disagree with your hyper-sensitive and distorted interpretation of their flag.

“When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

Well said.

And of course I never mentioned anything "Trump" regarding the flag... you on the other hand can't seem to help yourself. Your continuing compulsive need to define anything and everything as Trump-related and racist is sad. Almost feel sorry for you...

Funny...you have selected only the positive connotation excerpts...what it also says is "Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers. But it has also been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia."
Funny? To you perhaps... Obviously I chose sections of the article you posted that are accurate to the truthful origin and intention of the flag. My initial point. Why would I include sections that fall into areas of assumption/conjecture? That's your narrative not mine.

And other examples of its usage by these a-holes.
So it seems that a minority of "a-holes" have coopted/hijacked the flag? Perhaps. But instead of recognizing the minority of
a-holes for what they are (this is where accurate, honest reporting is imperative), your typical impulsive reaction is to cry, Trumpist!, racist!, Nazi!, alleging that anyone, including the well-intentioned majority of those who fly the flag, as evil. Seems pretty prejudicial to me.

And it detailed the troubled history of the phrase and concept of "thin blue line".
An easy connection to make or conclusion to draw for anyone with imagination and motive.

Again, blame the white supremacists for having adopted it as an counter to BLM, not me. Blame those in history who originated and developed the phrase and the attitude it represents towards blacks in specific, not me.
History?... history that may not apply to this day and age but can easily be contrived to support motivation/narrative?

And again, what specific blacks are you referring to? The thousands who happen to be in law enforcement and/or whose family members wish to fly the flag in support, the initial and accurate intention of the symbol?

This is not a matter of hypersensitivity, it's a matter of who has used it and why. The particular meme is a commentary of what is revealed in such usage.
So what to do MD? Do you plan to stand with the "woke mob" and ban the flag?... a ban based on a minority of a-holes who have utilized it for the false reasons, or based on a cherry-picking, deceitful media whose agenda is to further divide the country?

BTW, 2 hours ago:
2 Virginia police officers are on administrative leave after attending event at Capitol last Wednesday
From CNN's Chuck Johnston
Two Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officers are on administrative leave after attending an event in Washington, DC, last Wednesday, according to the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The two off-duty officers were present at an event in DC on Wednesday, a statement the department released on Sunday said.

“The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day. Based on the available information, the Police Department has notified federal authorities and the individuals that were present at the event are on administrative leave pending review.”
Rocky Mount is located about 25 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia.

On Friday night, the Seattle Police Department had placed at least two officers on administrative leave while officials investigate whether they took part in Wednesday's deadly riot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the department's chief, Adrian Diaz, said in a statement.


I suspect there will be more.
Painful reality. Yes, bad apples...they need to go.

Ban the flag???

I haven't even called for banning the Confederate flag or Nazi symbols. As my buddy told me years ago, "when I see the Confederate flag I'm grateful, now I know who the person is".

The Ross flag had a very important rallying purpose, at the time of its creation, and as such I revere it. HOWEVER, I'd never wave it at a political rally today because it sends a very different message TODAY (and I don't want to be associated with that insurrectionist, anti-government message)...Is what you seem to be bothered by that you actually support that message?

There were many, many Ross flags flown at the insurrection...these misguided a-holes think they're rallying "Patriots" to revolt against their government.
So are you saying that all those people at the rally-turned-insurrection, were misguided a-holes?

The balance of your post at this point doesn't interest me.

The thin blue line phrase and its history is exactly that, and it continues to be understood by communities of color to represent, in part, a confrontation with those communities, the racism runs deep. And, unfortunately, it does. Do you want that to continue? Or do you want the racists out?

You realize that supporting the police doesn't mean having to defend racist police and policing, right?


By "Funny" I simply meant you are sadly so...you clearly chose to ignore the full context of what you excerpted.

Misguided, definitely.
Deranged, many.
Traitors? Most.

a-holes? yes as to the traitors. And I said most are traitors.
Just how do you differentiate the a-holes, from the deranged, from the misguided, from the traitors, from the ignorant. That's really quite a feat.

I don't know MD, there were a lot of people there, surely one or two of the misguided thousands just might have been exercising their non violent right to protest?

Not necessarily to the just misguided, though I consider this all willful ignorance in even the least extreme cases. I'm sure many of these people don't kick their wives, beat their spouses or children, and many, like my brother-in-law would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger...but when they go near this stuff, they do become flaming a-holes in their behavior.

You're not interested in the racist part of the history of "thin blue line"?
Then why the outrage over this flag meme representation?

How about answering my question, do you want the racists out of the police?
I think it's a stupid question.

If it's so obvious, why not answer...I do you the courtesy.
And exactly why it's a stupid question. Oh I'm well aware of what a courteous person you are.

No, I don't think there was ANY legitimate excuse for those who rushed the Capitol. When they went past those barriers they were breaking the law, no question. And they were there not to exercise a right to non-violent protest, but rather to overturn an election, "Stop the Steal"..find me one who doesn't believe that the election was "stolen" and that they didn't want it reversed.

Now, if you ask me whether most thought they were going to violently attack the Capitol, destroying property, killing a policeman, and hunting down Congress people, I'd sure as heck HOPE most weren't thinking it would go that far, though they may have been caught up in the energy of the mob. I believe my brother-in-law who was horrified by what went on inside, but who felt perfectly great about what was happening on the steps right outside...which blows my mind, but then he's definitely a nutcase. Has no clue about what's going on around him, buys hook line and sinker all the BS.
All what BS? Whether it's truthful/accurate or not, all I've seen/heard from MSM is the same stuff you've been feeding on here.

That's why you're important MD. What's needed are more really really smart (and courteous) people such as yourself who can see things for what they truly are. The a-holes, and misguided, the ignorant and nutcases will simply be lost without your guidance. I just don't understand how you remain so objective, equitable, unbiased, and of course humble through it all in this day and age?

Now, "differentiating" is another matter. There were those who definitely should be locked up, lose their jobs, etc and there are those who should simply be embarrassed to have participated with those who are full-on violent insurrectionists and/or racist a-holes. If I'm the FBI, I'm looking at the huge amount of video and identifying EVERYONE who went inside or committed any form of violence or resistance to the police attempting to stop them and then to clear the property. I'm looking at their social media feeds for any sense of prior intent, angry, violent talk, versus any sense of immediate post event remorse.

I hate to say it, as this would include my brother-in-law potentially, but I'm also looking at those who made it to the steps or just on the grounds past the barrier and looking for any indications that they may have been egging others on, etc. The worst such I'd prosecute.

Were you there, tech?
I'm sorry to disappoint you MD but I wasn't. I thought about going but I couldn't locate my viking helmet from last Halloween, and all my zip ties are being used (ya see, here in upstate New York that's how we fix things round the house), and damn it, none of my t-shirts were provocative enough (unless of course you have a problem with SU Lacrosse). There was no chance of being cherry-picked out of that enormous crowd...what's the point?

[foreverlax]

If someone wears a shirt that implies 6 million Jews being slaughtered wasn't enough, I'm certain I wouldn't support a politician they would support. Birds of a feather, etc.

And still, the State of Israel and religious Jews throughout the world stand by Trump. Less so now that he's only going to be president for the next 9 days and the most recent events. but still a reality for the past 4 plus years.

Indeed...

[MDlaxfan76]

wow. I hope you don't get paint on yourself with that extremely broad brush.

Really? You think that image goes too far as a metaphor for what we saw this week, what we can see online, and what (hopefully) most of us don't bother to see on the dark web?

This faux outrage from tech is downright laughable.

What's been revealed this week is an ugly truth, the Trump cult is in large part undergirded by a white supremacist, fascist ideology, complete with the most radical such adherents.

The black and white flag is a representation of that dark truth, the peeling back the revealing of what's really underneath, hidden purposely to those who it has seduced.

To be clear, there are Trump cultists who do not understand this reality, they've been seduced into it with all sorts of blatant lies, with the ground prepared over numerous years. But that's what they now find themselves part of, and being revealed.

The question is what those who did not understand this reality do, will they break their fever and disassociate themselves from the lies and violent, fascist intent?

I do. The peeling back of the blue stripe suggests to me that police, signified by the blue stripe, in general are nazi sympathizers.

Were there some off duty police involved in the bs this week? Certainly. Should they be be held accountable? Certainly. To me the image paints all police in that manner, hence the broad brush comment.

Perhaps you can explain to me the genesis of a flag that's black and white with a blue line. Is this a symbol of the Trump cult variety or is it an image promoted by Antifa or BLM etc? I am under the impression that it's the former.

Assuming the blue line is intended to represent the police, I don't think that the peeling back of that line or any other to reveal what's underneath all of the lines necessarily means ALL police or "in general" are white supremacist fascists. Just the Trump cult adherents.

But I may be mistaken. Don't think so: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020 ... rican-flag

From the article you linked:

Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.

That is the truth regarding the flag's origin and intention and why, IMO, the posted bastardized version is a lie. The flag is also a symbolic foil to the absurd notion of defund and/or abolish the police. Reform is in no doubt needed and I am quite sure the vast majority of cops would agree with that.

In the originator's own words:

Now, Jacob is the president of Thin Blue Line USA, one of the largest online retailers devoted exclusively to sales of pro-police flags,
T-shirts, neckwear and jewelry. “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” he said. “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.”

I would bet thousands of black and brown (unfortunately I need to be specific here) policemen and policewomen would disagree with your hyper-sensitive and distorted interpretation of their flag.

“When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

Well said.

And of course I never mentioned anything "Trump" regarding the flag... you on the other hand can't seem to help yourself. Your continuing compulsive need to define anything and everything as Trump-related and racist is sad. Almost feel sorry for you...

Funny...you have selected only the positive connotation excerpts...what it also says is "Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers. But it has also been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia."
Funny? To you perhaps... Obviously I chose sections of the article you posted that are accurate to the truthful origin and intention of the flag. My initial point. Why would I include sections that fall into areas of assumption/conjecture? That's your narrative not mine.

And other examples of its usage by these a-holes.
So it seems that a minority of "a-holes" have coopted/hijacked the flag? Perhaps. But instead of recognizing the minority of
a-holes for what they are (this is where accurate, honest reporting is imperative), your typical impulsive reaction is to cry, Trumpist!, racist!, Nazi!, alleging that anyone, including the well-intentioned majority of those who fly the flag, as evil. Seems pretty prejudicial to me.

And it detailed the troubled history of the phrase and concept of "thin blue line".
An easy connection to make or conclusion to draw for anyone with imagination and motive.

Again, blame the white supremacists for having adopted it as an counter to BLM, not me. Blame those in history who originated and developed the phrase and the attitude it represents towards blacks in specific, not me.
History?... history that may not apply to this day and age but can easily be contrived to support motivation/narrative?

And again, what specific blacks are you referring to? The thousands who happen to be in law enforcement and/or whose family members wish to fly the flag in support, the initial and accurate intention of the symbol?

This is not a matter of hypersensitivity, it's a matter of who has used it and why. The particular meme is a commentary of what is revealed in such usage.
So what to do MD? Do you plan to stand with the "woke mob" and ban the flag?... a ban based on a minority of a-holes who have utilized it for the false reasons, or based on a cherry-picking, deceitful media whose agenda is to further divide the country?

BTW, 2 hours ago:
2 Virginia police officers are on administrative leave after attending event at Capitol last Wednesday
From CNN's Chuck Johnston
Two Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officers are on administrative leave after attending an event in Washington, DC, last Wednesday, according to the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The two off-duty officers were present at an event in DC on Wednesday, a statement the department released on Sunday said.

“The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day. Based on the available information, the Police Department has notified federal authorities and the individuals that were present at the event are on administrative leave pending review.”
Rocky Mount is located about 25 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia.

On Friday night, the Seattle Police Department had placed at least two officers on administrative leave while officials investigate whether they took part in Wednesday's deadly riot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the department's chief, Adrian Diaz, said in a statement.


I suspect there will be more.
Painful reality. Yes, bad apples...they need to go.

Ban the flag???

I haven't even called for banning the Confederate flag or Nazi symbols. As my buddy told me years ago, "when I see the Confederate flag I'm grateful, now I know who the person is".

The Ross flag had a very important rallying purpose, at the time of its creation, and as such I revere it. HOWEVER, I'd never wave it at a political rally today because it sends a very different message TODAY (and I don't want to be associated with that insurrectionist, anti-government message)...Is what you seem to be bothered by that you actually support that message?

There were many, many Ross flags flown at the insurrection...these misguided a-holes think they're rallying "Patriots" to revolt against their government.
So are you saying that all those people at the rally-turned-insurrection, were misguided a-holes?

The balance of your post at this point doesn't interest me.

The thin blue line phrase and its history is exactly that, and it continues to be understood by communities of color to represent, in part, a confrontation with those communities, the racism runs deep. And, unfortunately, it does. Do you want that to continue? Or do you want the racists out?

You realize that supporting the police doesn't mean having to defend racist police and policing, right?


By "Funny" I simply meant you are sadly so...you clearly chose to ignore the full context of what you excerpted.

Misguided, definitely.
Deranged, many.
Traitors? Most.

a-holes? yes as to the traitors. And I said most are traitors.
Just how do you differentiate the a-holes, from the deranged, from the misguided, from the traitors, from the ignorant. That's really quite a feat.

I don't know MD, there were a lot of people there, surely one or two of the misguided thousands just might have been exercising their non violent right to protest?

Not necessarily to the just misguided, though I consider this all willful ignorance in even the least extreme cases. I'm sure many of these people don't kick their wives, beat their spouses or children, and many, like my brother-in-law would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger...but when they go near this stuff, they do become flaming a-holes in their behavior.

You're not interested in the racist part of the history of "thin blue line"?
Then why the outrage over this flag meme representation?

How about answering my question, do you want the racists out of the police?
I think it's a stupid question.

If it's so obvious, why not answer...I do you the courtesy.
And exactly why it's a stupid question. Oh I'm well aware of what a courteous person you are.

No, I don't think there was ANY legitimate excuse for those who rushed the Capitol. When they went past those barriers they were breaking the law, no question. And they were there not to exercise a right to non-violent protest, but rather to overturn an election, "Stop the Steal"..find me one who doesn't believe that the election was "stolen" and that they didn't want it reversed.

Now, if you ask me whether most thought they were going to violently attack the Capitol, destroying property, killing a policeman, and hunting down Congress people, I'd sure as heck HOPE most weren't thinking it would go that far, though they may have been caught up in the energy of the mob. I believe my brother-in-law who was horrified by what went on inside, but who felt perfectly great about what was happening on the steps right outside...which blows my mind, but then he's definitely a nutcase. Has no clue about what's going on around him, buys hook line and sinker all the BS.
All what BS? Whether it's truthful/accurate or not, all I've seen/heard from MSM is the same stuff you've been feeding on here.

That's why you're important MD. What's needed are more really really smart (and courteous) people such as yourself who can see things for what they truly are. The a-holes, and misguided, the ignorant and nutcases will simply be lost without your guidance. I just don't understand how you remain so objective, equitable, unbiased, and of course humble through it all in this day and age?

Now, "differentiating" is another matter. There were those who definitely should be locked up, lose their jobs, etc and there are those who should simply be embarrassed to have participated with those who are full-on violent insurrectionists and/or racist a-holes. If I'm the FBI, I'm looking at the huge amount of video and identifying EVERYONE who went inside or committed any form of violence or resistance to the police attempting to stop them and then to clear the property. I'm looking at their social media feeds for any sense of prior intent, angry, violent talk, versus any sense of immediate post event remorse.

I hate to say it, as this would include my brother-in-law potentially, but I'm also looking at those who made it to the steps or just on the grounds past the barrier and looking for any indications that they may have been egging others on, etc. The worst such I'd prosecute.

Were you there, tech?
I'm sorry to disappoint you MD but I wasn't. I thought about going but I couldn't locate my viking helmet from last Halloween, and all my zip ties are being used (ya see, here in upstate New York that's how we fix things round the house), and damn it, none of my t-shirts were provocative enough (unless of course you have a problem with SU Lacrosse). There was no chance of being cherry-picked out of that enormous crowd...what's the point?

Ok, the way I read your response, given that I lack humility apparently, is that you're afraid to answer straight that question, to admit that you were wrong in your attack.

That's where you leave me, and I suspect other readers.

What's the BS???? the Big Lie. That Trump won the election in a landslide, that the only reason why he didn't have larger vote counts than Biden was due to massive, multi-state fraud. That the Courts didn't do their jobs.

These are paraphrased quotes directly from Trump, repeated on right wing media, repeated by my brother-in-law. That's why he was there.

I don't get where you're saying I think the misguided etc need MY guidance. This is a discussion board, I'm simply expressing my views. If you want to ignore my views, go ahead.

And no, I certainly don't have anything against SU ! Glad you weren't there wearing an SU shirt, carrying a lax stick to beat on police with...I only asked because you seem so offended that anyone would think many of these people are whacked out, drunk on the Big Lie, misguided by a fascist sociopath in the White House, insurrectionists and seditionists...seemed like you had some stake in defending the violence, the calls to hang the Vice President, the hunt for the Speaker and other members of Congress, the beating of cops, the waving of Confederate flags, the Auschwitz and other anti-semitic symbols...all for Trump...

You asked about differentiating and I explained what I thought the FBI is probably doing and IMO should do to differentiate.

[Farfromgeneva]

wow. I hope you don't get paint on yourself with that extremely broad brush.

Really? You think that image goes too far as a metaphor for what we saw this week, what we can see online, and what (hopefully) most of us don't bother to see on the dark web?

This faux outrage from tech is downright laughable.

What's been revealed this week is an ugly truth, the Trump cult is in large part undergirded by a white supremacist, fascist ideology, complete with the most radical such adherents.

The black and white flag is a representation of that dark truth, the peeling back the revealing of what's really underneath, hidden purposely to those who it has seduced.

To be clear, there are Trump cultists who do not understand this reality, they've been seduced into it with all sorts of blatant lies, with the ground prepared over numerous years. But that's what they now find themselves part of, and being revealed.

The question is what those who did not understand this reality do, will they break their fever and disassociate themselves from the lies and violent, fascist intent?

I do. The peeling back of the blue stripe suggests to me that police, signified by the blue stripe, in general are nazi sympathizers.

Were there some off duty police involved in the bs this week? Certainly. Should they be be held accountable? Certainly. To me the image paints all police in that manner, hence the broad brush comment.

Perhaps you can explain to me the genesis of a flag that's black and white with a blue line. Is this a symbol of the Trump cult variety or is it an image promoted by Antifa or BLM etc? I am under the impression that it's the former.

Assuming the blue line is intended to represent the police, I don't think that the peeling back of that line or any other to reveal what's underneath all of the lines necessarily means ALL police or "in general" are white supremacist fascists. Just the Trump cult adherents.

But I may be mistaken. Don't think so: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020 ... rican-flag

From the article you linked:

Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.

That is the truth regarding the flag's origin and intention and why, IMO, the posted bastardized version is a lie. The flag is also a symbolic foil to the absurd notion of defund and/or abolish the police. Reform is in no doubt needed and I am quite sure the vast majority of cops would agree with that.

In the originator's own words:

Now, Jacob is the president of Thin Blue Line USA, one of the largest online retailers devoted exclusively to sales of pro-police flags,
T-shirts, neckwear and jewelry. “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” he said. “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.”

I would bet thousands of black and brown (unfortunately I need to be specific here) policemen and policewomen would disagree with your hyper-sensitive and distorted interpretation of their flag.

“When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

Well said.

And of course I never mentioned anything "Trump" regarding the flag... you on the other hand can't seem to help yourself. Your continuing compulsive need to define anything and everything as Trump-related and racist is sad. Almost feel sorry for you...

Funny...you have selected only the positive connotation excerpts...what it also says is "Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers. But it has also been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia."
Funny? To you perhaps... Obviously I chose sections of the article you posted that are accurate to the truthful origin and intention of the flag. My initial point. Why would I include sections that fall into areas of assumption/conjecture? That's your narrative not mine.

And other examples of its usage by these a-holes.
So it seems that a minority of "a-holes" have coopted/hijacked the flag? Perhaps. But instead of recognizing the minority of
a-holes for what they are (this is where accurate, honest reporting is imperative), your typical impulsive reaction is to cry, Trumpist!, racist!, Nazi!, alleging that anyone, including the well-intentioned majority of those who fly the flag, as evil. Seems pretty prejudicial to me.

And it detailed the troubled history of the phrase and concept of "thin blue line".
An easy connection to make or conclusion to draw for anyone with imagination and motive.

Again, blame the white supremacists for having adopted it as an counter to BLM, not me. Blame those in history who originated and developed the phrase and the attitude it represents towards blacks in specific, not me.
History?... history that may not apply to this day and age but can easily be contrived to support motivation/narrative?

And again, what specific blacks are you referring to? The thousands who happen to be in law enforcement and/or whose family members wish to fly the flag in support, the initial and accurate intention of the symbol?

This is not a matter of hypersensitivity, it's a matter of who has used it and why. The particular meme is a commentary of what is revealed in such usage.
So what to do MD? Do you plan to stand with the "woke mob" and ban the flag?... a ban based on a minority of a-holes who have utilized it for the false reasons, or based on a cherry-picking, deceitful media whose agenda is to further divide the country?

BTW, 2 hours ago:
2 Virginia police officers are on administrative leave after attending event at Capitol last Wednesday
From CNN's Chuck Johnston
Two Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officers are on administrative leave after attending an event in Washington, DC, last Wednesday, according to the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The two off-duty officers were present at an event in DC on Wednesday, a statement the department released on Sunday said.

“The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day. Based on the available information, the Police Department has notified federal authorities and the individuals that were present at the event are on administrative leave pending review.”
Rocky Mount is located about 25 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia.

On Friday night, the Seattle Police Department had placed at least two officers on administrative leave while officials investigate whether they took part in Wednesday's deadly riot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the department's chief, Adrian Diaz, said in a statement.


I suspect there will be more.
Painful reality. Yes, bad apples...they need to go.

Ban the flag???

I haven't even called for banning the Confederate flag or Nazi symbols. As my buddy told me years ago, "when I see the Confederate flag I'm grateful, now I know who the person is".

The Ross flag had a very important rallying purpose, at the time of its creation, and as such I revere it. HOWEVER, I'd never wave it at a political rally today because it sends a very different message TODAY (and I don't want to be associated with that insurrectionist, anti-government message)...Is what you seem to be bothered by that you actually support that message?

There were many, many Ross flags flown at the insurrection...these misguided a-holes think they're rallying "Patriots" to revolt against their government.
So are you saying that all those people at the rally-turned-insurrection, were misguided a-holes?

The balance of your post at this point doesn't interest me.

The thin blue line phrase and its history is exactly that, and it continues to be understood by communities of color to represent, in part, a confrontation with those communities, the racism runs deep. And, unfortunately, it does. Do you want that to continue? Or do you want the racists out?

You realize that supporting the police doesn't mean having to defend racist police and policing, right?


By "Funny" I simply meant you are sadly so...you clearly chose to ignore the full context of what you excerpted.

Misguided, definitely.
Deranged, many.
Traitors? Most.

a-holes? yes as to the traitors. And I said most are traitors.
Just how do you differentiate the a-holes, from the deranged, from the misguided, from the traitors, from the ignorant. That's really quite a feat.

I don't know MD, there were a lot of people there, surely one or two of the misguided thousands just might have been exercising their non violent right to protest?

Not necessarily to the just misguided, though I consider this all willful ignorance in even the least extreme cases. I'm sure many of these people don't kick their wives, beat their spouses or children, and many, like my brother-in-law would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger...but when they go near this stuff, they do become flaming a-holes in their behavior.

You're not interested in the racist part of the history of "thin blue line"?
Then why the outrage over this flag meme representation?

How about answering my question, do you want the racists out of the police?
I think it's a stupid question.

If it's so obvious, why not answer...I do you the courtesy.

No, I don't think there was ANY legitimate excuse for those who rushed the Capitol. When they went past those barriers they were breaking the law, no question. And they were there not to exercise a right to non-violent protest, but rather to overturn an election, "Stop the Steal"..find me one who doesn't believe that the election was "stolen" and that they didn't want it reversed.

Now, if you ask me whether most thought they were going to violently attack the Capitol, destroying property, killing a policeman, and hunting down Congress people, I'd sure as heck HOPE most weren't thinking it would go that far, though they may have been caught up in the energy of the mob. I believe my brother-in-law who was horrified by what went on inside, but who felt perfectly great about what was happening on the steps right outside...which blows my mind, but then he's definitely a nutcase. Has no clue about what's going on around him, buys hook line and sinker all the BS.

Now, "differentiating" is another matter. There were those who definitely should be locked up, lose their jobs, etc and there are those who should simply be embarrassed to have participated with those who are full-on violent insurrectionists and/or racist a-holes. If I'm the FBI, I'm looking at the huge amount of video and identifying EVERYONE who went inside or committed any form of violence or resistance to the police attempting to stop them and then to clear the property. I'm looking at their social media feeds for any sense of prior intent, angry, violent talk, versus any sense of immediate post event remorse.

I hate to say it, as this would include my brother-in-law potentially, but I'm also looking at those who made it to the steps or just on the grounds past the barrier and looking for any indications that they may have been egging others on, etc. The worst such I'd prosecute.

Were you there, tech?

He lost interest so moved on...

[tech37]

Ok, the way I read your response, given that I lack humility apparently, is that you're afraid to answer straight that question, to admit that you were wrong in your attack.
Attack? Oh please...

I will say that rooting out any racists in law enforcement will need to be accomplished through reform with thorough personality assessment. Some will still slip through and others may develop racist tendencies through their experience on the job. Don't be crushed, it will never be perfect.

Just be careful in your pogrom to root out all racism that you don't take down a lot of innocent people in the process.

That's where you leave me, and I suspect other readers.

What's the BS???? the Big Lie. That Trump won the election in a landslide, that the only reason why he didn't have larger vote counts than Biden was due to massive, multi-state fraud. That the Courts didn't do their jobs.
Ah, "The Big Lie." Well, I said I wouldn't be voting and didn't, so I'm not really in any position to complain now am I?

From an objective non-voter POV, the entire process did look FUBAR to me. I was happy not to have been a part of it. Hopefully FUBAR is not the case and the voting process can be much improved going forward. I hope to see the day when I have confidence in the voting process, if/when in my mind a viable candidate emerges. I won't hold my breath.

These are paraphrased quotes directly from Trump, repeated on right wing media, repeated by my brother-in-law. That's why he was there.
Geez it must add to your insanity to have a MAGA person living under your roof. You're obviously doing a poor job coercing him to line up with the "woke" side. Remember, "think globally, act locally."

I don't get where you're saying I think the misguided etc need MY guidance. This is a discussion board, I'm simply expressing my views. If you want to ignore my views, go ahead.
Thanks for your permission.

And no, I certainly don't have anything against SU ! Glad you weren't there wearing an SU shirt, carrying a lax stick to beat on police with...I only asked because you seem so offended that anyone would think many of these people are whacked out, drunk on the Big Lie, misguided by a fascist sociopath in the White House, insurrectionists and seditionists...seemed like you had some stake in defending the violence, the calls to hang the Vice President, the hunt for the Speaker and other members of Congress, the beating of cops, the waving of Confederate flags, the Auschwitz and other anti-semitic symbols...all for Trump...
"many of these people"? How many were there in total? All of the images I've seen from the deceitful media, show only the goons rushing the Capitol. I suppose that conscious edit somehow helps support some narrative. Has anyone provided an accurate count? If there were perhaps thousands there, my assumption would be that the majority was not party to some designed insurrection.

I'm not sure exactly what you meant, but if you're insinuating that I have been "defending the violence." you're lying.

You asked about differentiating and I explained what I thought the FBI is probably doing and IMO should do to differentiate.

[tech37]

wow. I hope you don't get paint on yourself with that extremely broad brush.

Really? You think that image goes too far as a metaphor for what we saw this week, what we can see online, and what (hopefully) most of us don't bother to see on the dark web?

This faux outrage from tech is downright laughable.

What's been revealed this week is an ugly truth, the Trump cult is in large part undergirded by a white supremacist, fascist ideology, complete with the most radical such adherents.

The black and white flag is a representation of that dark truth, the peeling back the revealing of what's really underneath, hidden purposely to those who it has seduced.

To be clear, there are Trump cultists who do not understand this reality, they've been seduced into it with all sorts of blatant lies, with the ground prepared over numerous years. But that's what they now find themselves part of, and being revealed.

The question is what those who did not understand this reality do, will they break their fever and disassociate themselves from the lies and violent, fascist intent?

I do. The peeling back of the blue stripe suggests to me that police, signified by the blue stripe, in general are nazi sympathizers.

Were there some off duty police involved in the bs this week? Certainly. Should they be be held accountable? Certainly. To me the image paints all police in that manner, hence the broad brush comment.

Perhaps you can explain to me the genesis of a flag that's black and white with a blue line. Is this a symbol of the Trump cult variety or is it an image promoted by Antifa or BLM etc? I am under the impression that it's the former.

Assuming the blue line is intended to represent the police, I don't think that the peeling back of that line or any other to reveal what's underneath all of the lines necessarily means ALL police or "in general" are white supremacist fascists. Just the Trump cult adherents.

But I may be mistaken. Don't think so: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020 ... rican-flag

From the article you linked:

Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.

That is the truth regarding the flag's origin and intention and why, IMO, the posted bastardized version is a lie. The flag is also a symbolic foil to the absurd notion of defund and/or abolish the police. Reform is in no doubt needed and I am quite sure the vast majority of cops would agree with that.

In the originator's own words:

Now, Jacob is the president of Thin Blue Line USA, one of the largest online retailers devoted exclusively to sales of pro-police flags,
T-shirts, neckwear and jewelry. “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” he said. “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.”

I would bet thousands of black and brown (unfortunately I need to be specific here) policemen and policewomen would disagree with your hyper-sensitive and distorted interpretation of their flag.

“When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

Well said.

And of course I never mentioned anything "Trump" regarding the flag... you on the other hand can't seem to help yourself. Your continuing compulsive need to define anything and everything as Trump-related and racist is sad. Almost feel sorry for you...

Funny...you have selected only the positive connotation excerpts...what it also says is "Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers. But it has also been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia."
Funny? To you perhaps... Obviously I chose sections of the article you posted that are accurate to the truthful origin and intention of the flag. My initial point. Why would I include sections that fall into areas of assumption/conjecture? That's your narrative not mine.

And other examples of its usage by these a-holes.
So it seems that a minority of "a-holes" have coopted/hijacked the flag? Perhaps. But instead of recognizing the minority of
a-holes for what they are (this is where accurate, honest reporting is imperative), your typical impulsive reaction is to cry, Trumpist!, racist!, Nazi!, alleging that anyone, including the well-intentioned majority of those who fly the flag, as evil. Seems pretty prejudicial to me.

And it detailed the troubled history of the phrase and concept of "thin blue line".
An easy connection to make or conclusion to draw for anyone with imagination and motive.

Again, blame the white supremacists for having adopted it as an counter to BLM, not me. Blame those in history who originated and developed the phrase and the attitude it represents towards blacks in specific, not me.
History?... history that may not apply to this day and age but can easily be contrived to support motivation/narrative?

And again, what specific blacks are you referring to? The thousands who happen to be in law enforcement and/or whose family members wish to fly the flag in support, the initial and accurate intention of the symbol?

This is not a matter of hypersensitivity, it's a matter of who has used it and why. The particular meme is a commentary of what is revealed in such usage.
So what to do MD? Do you plan to stand with the "woke mob" and ban the flag?... a ban based on a minority of a-holes who have utilized it for the false reasons, or based on a cherry-picking, deceitful media whose agenda is to further divide the country?

BTW, 2 hours ago:
2 Virginia police officers are on administrative leave after attending event at Capitol last Wednesday
From CNN's Chuck Johnston
Two Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officers are on administrative leave after attending an event in Washington, DC, last Wednesday, according to the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The two off-duty officers were present at an event in DC on Wednesday, a statement the department released on Sunday said.

“The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day. Based on the available information, the Police Department has notified federal authorities and the individuals that were present at the event are on administrative leave pending review.”
Rocky Mount is located about 25 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia.

On Friday night, the Seattle Police Department had placed at least two officers on administrative leave while officials investigate whether they took part in Wednesday's deadly riot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the department's chief, Adrian Diaz, said in a statement.


I suspect there will be more.
Painful reality. Yes, bad apples...they need to go.

Ban the flag???

I haven't even called for banning the Confederate flag or Nazi symbols. As my buddy told me years ago, "when I see the Confederate flag I'm grateful, now I know who the person is".

The Ross flag had a very important rallying purpose, at the time of its creation, and as such I revere it. HOWEVER, I'd never wave it at a political rally today because it sends a very different message TODAY (and I don't want to be associated with that insurrectionist, anti-government message)...Is what you seem to be bothered by that you actually support that message?

There were many, many Ross flags flown at the insurrection...these misguided a-holes think they're rallying "Patriots" to revolt against their government.
So are you saying that all those people at the rally-turned-insurrection, were misguided a-holes?

The balance of your post at this point doesn't interest me.

The thin blue line phrase and its history is exactly that, and it continues to be understood by communities of color to represent, in part, a confrontation with those communities, the racism runs deep. And, unfortunately, it does. Do you want that to continue? Or do you want the racists out?

You realize that supporting the police doesn't mean having to defend racist police and policing, right?


By "Funny" I simply meant you are sadly so...you clearly chose to ignore the full context of what you excerpted.

Misguided, definitely.
Deranged, many.
Traitors? Most.

a-holes? yes as to the traitors. And I said most are traitors.
Just how do you differentiate the a-holes, from the deranged, from the misguided, from the traitors, from the ignorant. That's really quite a feat.

I don't know MD, there were a lot of people there, surely one or two of the misguided thousands just might have been exercising their non violent right to protest?

Not necessarily to the just misguided, though I consider this all willful ignorance in even the least extreme cases. I'm sure many of these people don't kick their wives, beat their spouses or children, and many, like my brother-in-law would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger...but when they go near this stuff, they do become flaming a-holes in their behavior.

You're not interested in the racist part of the history of "thin blue line"?
Then why the outrage over this flag meme representation?

How about answering my question, do you want the racists out of the police?
I think it's a stupid question.

If it's so obvious, why not answer...I do you the courtesy.

No, I don't think there was ANY legitimate excuse for those who rushed the Capitol. When they went past those barriers they were breaking the law, no question. And they were there not to exercise a right to non-violent protest, but rather to overturn an election, "Stop the Steal"..find me one who doesn't believe that the election was "stolen" and that they didn't want it reversed.

Now, if you ask me whether most thought they were going to violently attack the Capitol, destroying property, killing a policeman, and hunting down Congress people, I'd sure as heck HOPE most weren't thinking it would go that far, though they may have been caught up in the energy of the mob. I believe my brother-in-law who was horrified by what went on inside, but who felt perfectly great about what was happening on the steps right outside...which blows my mind, but then he's definitely a nutcase. Has no clue about what's going on around him, buys hook line and sinker all the BS.

Now, "differentiating" is another matter. There were those who definitely should be locked up, lose their jobs, etc and there are those who should simply be embarrassed to have participated with those who are full-on violent insurrectionists and/or racist a-holes. If I'm the FBI, I'm looking at the huge amount of video and identifying EVERYONE who went inside or committed any form of violence or resistance to the police attempting to stop them and then to clear the property. I'm looking at their social media feeds for any sense of prior intent, angry, violent talk, versus any sense of immediate post event remorse.

I hate to say it, as this would include my brother-in-law potentially, but I'm also looking at those who made it to the steps or just on the grounds past the barrier and looking for any indications that they may have been egging others on, etc. The worst such I'd prosecute.

Were you there, tech?

He lost interest so moved on...

the board's toxic GenX hero chimes in... for no good reason

[MDlaxfan76]

Ok, the way I read your response, given that I lack humility apparently, is that you're afraid to answer straight that question, to admit that you were wrong in your attack.
Attack? Oh please...

I will say that rooting out any racists in law enforcement will need to be accomplished through reform with thorough personality assessment. Some will still slip through and others may develop racist tendencies through their experience on the job. Don't be crushed, it will never be perfect.

Just be careful in your pogrom to root out all racism that you don't take down a lot of innocent people in the process.

"pogrom"...you reveal yourself again. Glad we agree about racists having no business in policing. I'm fine with the personality assessment concept, especially in hiring, but I'm not looking for some sort of witchhunt purge. But when there are clear indications of racist views, whether complaints from the public or fellow officers, I want the officer out if there's confirming evidence of that racism such as social media posts, activities of association with racist chat groups (unless officially undercover of course), etc...out, no protection from union or bosses.


That's where you leave me, and I suspect other readers.

What's the BS???? the Big Lie. That Trump won the election in a landslide, that the only reason why he didn't have larger vote counts than Biden was due to massive, multi-state fraud. That the Courts didn't do their jobs.
Ah, "The Big Lie." Well, I said I wouldn't be voting and didn't, so I'm not really in any position to complain now am I?

From an objective non-voter POV, the entire process did look FUBAR to me. I was happy not to have been a part of it. Hopefully FUBAR is not the case and the voting process can be much improved going forward. I hope to see the day when I have confidence in the voting process, if/when in my mind a viable candidate emerges. I won't hold my breath.

FUBAR?, so you've bought the Big Lie. You think because you didn't bother to vote against this guy, you are absolved of responsibility as a citizen?

Got it.



These are paraphrased quotes directly from Trump, repeated on right wing media, repeated by my brother-in-law. That's why he was there.
Geez it must add to your insanity to have a MAGA person living under your roof. You're obviously doing a poor job coercing him to line up with the "woke" side. Remember, "think globally, act locally."

I don't expect to 'guide' or control or 'coerce' my brother-in-law or anyone else. I've had a direct window into the Trump cult effect, but he's not the only window. I quoted Trump...you ignored those quotes.

I don't get where you're saying I think the misguided etc need MY guidance. This is a discussion board, I'm simply expressing my views. If you want to ignore my views, go ahead.
Thanks for your permission.

And no, I certainly don't have anything against SU ! Glad you weren't there wearing an SU shirt, carrying a lax stick to beat on police with...I only asked because you seem so offended that anyone would think many of these people are whacked out, drunk on the Big Lie, misguided by a fascist sociopath in the White House, insurrectionists and seditionists...seemed like you had some stake in defending the violence, the calls to hang the Vice President, the hunt for the Speaker and other members of Congress, the beating of cops, the waving of Confederate flags, the Auschwitz and other anti-semitic symbols...all for Trump...
"many of these people"? How many were there in total? All of the images I've seen from the deceitful media, show only the goons rushing the Capitol. I suppose that conscious edit somehow helps support some narrative. Has anyone provided an accurate count? If there were perhaps thousands there, my assumption would be that the majority was not party to some designed insurrection.

I'm not sure exactly what you meant, but if you're insinuating that I have been "defending the violence." you're lying.

YIKES..."deceitful media"??? Maybe you haven't bothered to watch the many, many videos, the many wide pan as well as close ups of that crowd, the flags and banners waved, the interviews with dozens and dozens of otherwise normal looking MAGA folks there...it's horrifying. 10's of thousands crowded in.

Or are you meaning "deceitful media" as to those in some media claiming this was Antifa? Totally denied by the FBI already. Is that the media you trust, been watching?

But sure, there were over 100 thousand people who went to the protest, not all participated in the mob action, not all chanted hang Mike Pence, not all beat on cops with pipes and flag poles, not all carried flags clearly identified with white supremacy groups, not all wore Q paraphernalia...but they ALL marched side by side with those who did. And sure, most of them were not there knowingly in a coordinated violent insurrection, though the idiots (my term of art) did think they were there to reverse the results of the election...some didn't expect to be successful, but that was indeed their hope. And they thought their cause was righteous because they'd been told the Big Lie by their cult leader and his minions.

You asked about differentiating and I explained what I thought the FBI is probably doing and IMO should do to differentiate.

[Farfromgeneva]

wow. I hope you don't get paint on yourself with that extremely broad brush.

Really? You think that image goes too far as a metaphor for what we saw this week, what we can see online, and what (hopefully) most of us don't bother to see on the dark web?

This faux outrage from tech is downright laughable.

What's been revealed this week is an ugly truth, the Trump cult is in large part undergirded by a white supremacist, fascist ideology, complete with the most radical such adherents.

The black and white flag is a representation of that dark truth, the peeling back the revealing of what's really underneath, hidden purposely to those who it has seduced.

To be clear, there are Trump cultists who do not understand this reality, they've been seduced into it with all sorts of blatant lies, with the ground prepared over numerous years. But that's what they now find themselves part of, and being revealed.

The question is what those who did not understand this reality do, will they break their fever and disassociate themselves from the lies and violent, fascist intent?

I do. The peeling back of the blue stripe suggests to me that police, signified by the blue stripe, in general are nazi sympathizers.

Were there some off duty police involved in the bs this week? Certainly. Should they be be held accountable? Certainly. To me the image paints all police in that manner, hence the broad brush comment.

Perhaps you can explain to me the genesis of a flag that's black and white with a blue line. Is this a symbol of the Trump cult variety or is it an image promoted by Antifa or BLM etc? I am under the impression that it's the former.

Assuming the blue line is intended to represent the police, I don't think that the peeling back of that line or any other to reveal what's underneath all of the lines necessarily means ALL police or "in general" are white supremacist fascists. Just the Trump cult adherents.

But I may be mistaken. Don't think so: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2020 ... rican-flag

From the article you linked:

Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers.

That is the truth regarding the flag's origin and intention and why, IMO, the posted bastardized version is a lie. The flag is also a symbolic foil to the absurd notion of defund and/or abolish the police. Reform is in no doubt needed and I am quite sure the vast majority of cops would agree with that.

In the originator's own words:

Now, Jacob is the president of Thin Blue Line USA, one of the largest online retailers devoted exclusively to sales of pro-police flags,
T-shirts, neckwear and jewelry. “The flag has no association with racism, hatred, bigotry,” he said. “It’s a flag to show support for law enforcement—no politics involved.”

I would bet thousands of black and brown (unfortunately I need to be specific here) policemen and policewomen would disagree with your hyper-sensitive and distorted interpretation of their flag.

“When I see that flag as a sticker on a car or flying in someone’s yard, I know that there is someone there that knows what I’m going through. They know because they are a part of the family,” Bishopp said. “I don’t really care if it bothers people or hurts their feelings to see that flag. I absolutely could care less. I am proud of what I do, the people I work with, and the ones who have died defending the rights of strangers. I will continue to fly that flag until my very last day.”

Well said.

And of course I never mentioned anything "Trump" regarding the flag... you on the other hand can't seem to help yourself. Your continuing compulsive need to define anything and everything as Trump-related and racist is sad. Almost feel sorry for you...

Funny...you have selected only the positive connotation excerpts...what it also says is "Those who fly the flag have said it stands for solidarity and professional pride within a dangerous, difficult profession and a solemn tribute to fallen police officers. But it has also been flown by white supremacists, appearing next to Confederate flags at the 2017 ‘Unite the Right’ rally in Charlottesville, Virginia."
Funny? To you perhaps... Obviously I chose sections of the article you posted that are accurate to the truthful origin and intention of the flag. My initial point. Why would I include sections that fall into areas of assumption/conjecture? That's your narrative not mine.

And other examples of its usage by these a-holes.
So it seems that a minority of "a-holes" have coopted/hijacked the flag? Perhaps. But instead of recognizing the minority of
a-holes for what they are (this is where accurate, honest reporting is imperative), your typical impulsive reaction is to cry, Trumpist!, racist!, Nazi!, alleging that anyone, including the well-intentioned majority of those who fly the flag, as evil. Seems pretty prejudicial to me.

And it detailed the troubled history of the phrase and concept of "thin blue line".
An easy connection to make or conclusion to draw for anyone with imagination and motive.

Again, blame the white supremacists for having adopted it as an counter to BLM, not me. Blame those in history who originated and developed the phrase and the attitude it represents towards blacks in specific, not me.
History?... history that may not apply to this day and age but can easily be contrived to support motivation/narrative?

And again, what specific blacks are you referring to? The thousands who happen to be in law enforcement and/or whose family members wish to fly the flag in support, the initial and accurate intention of the symbol?

This is not a matter of hypersensitivity, it's a matter of who has used it and why. The particular meme is a commentary of what is revealed in such usage.
So what to do MD? Do you plan to stand with the "woke mob" and ban the flag?... a ban based on a minority of a-holes who have utilized it for the false reasons, or based on a cherry-picking, deceitful media whose agenda is to further divide the country?

BTW, 2 hours ago:
2 Virginia police officers are on administrative leave after attending event at Capitol last Wednesday
From CNN's Chuck Johnston
Two Rocky Mount, Virginia, police officers are on administrative leave after attending an event in Washington, DC, last Wednesday, according to the Rocky Mount Police Department.

The two off-duty officers were present at an event in DC on Wednesday, a statement the department released on Sunday said.

“The Town of Rocky Mount fully supports all lawful expressions of freedom of speech and assembly by its employees but does not condone the unlawful acts that occurred that day. Based on the available information, the Police Department has notified federal authorities and the individuals that were present at the event are on administrative leave pending review.”
Rocky Mount is located about 25 miles south of Roanoke, Virginia.

On Friday night, the Seattle Police Department had placed at least two officers on administrative leave while officials investigate whether they took part in Wednesday's deadly riot at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, the department's chief, Adrian Diaz, said in a statement.


I suspect there will be more.
Painful reality. Yes, bad apples...they need to go.

Ban the flag???

I haven't even called for banning the Confederate flag or Nazi symbols. As my buddy told me years ago, "when I see the Confederate flag I'm grateful, now I know who the person is".

The Ross flag had a very important rallying purpose, at the time of its creation, and as such I revere it. HOWEVER, I'd never wave it at a political rally today because it sends a very different message TODAY (and I don't want to be associated with that insurrectionist, anti-government message)...Is what you seem to be bothered by that you actually support that message?

There were many, many Ross flags flown at the insurrection...these misguided a-holes think they're rallying "Patriots" to revolt against their government.
So are you saying that all those people at the rally-turned-insurrection, were misguided a-holes?

The balance of your post at this point doesn't interest me.

The thin blue line phrase and its history is exactly that, and it continues to be understood by communities of color to represent, in part, a confrontation with those communities, the racism runs deep. And, unfortunately, it does. Do you want that to continue? Or do you want the racists out?

You realize that supporting the police doesn't mean having to defend racist police and policing, right?


By "Funny" I simply meant you are sadly so...you clearly chose to ignore the full context of what you excerpted.

Misguided, definitely.
Deranged, many.
Traitors? Most.

a-holes? yes as to the traitors. And I said most are traitors.
Just how do you differentiate the a-holes, from the deranged, from the misguided, from the traitors, from the ignorant. That's really quite a feat.

I don't know MD, there were a lot of people there, surely one or two of the misguided thousands just might have been exercising their non violent right to protest?

Not necessarily to the just misguided, though I consider this all willful ignorance in even the least extreme cases. I'm sure many of these people don't kick their wives, beat their spouses or children, and many, like my brother-in-law would stop on the side of the road to help a stranger...but when they go near this stuff, they do become flaming a-holes in their behavior.

You're not interested in the racist part of the history of "thin blue line"?
Then why the outrage over this flag meme representation?

How about answering my question, do you want the racists out of the police?
I think it's a stupid question.

If it's so obvious, why not answer...I do you the courtesy.

No, I don't think there was ANY legitimate excuse for those who rushed the Capitol. When they went past those barriers they were breaking the law, no question. And they were there not to exercise a right to non-violent protest, but rather to overturn an election, "Stop the Steal"..find me one who doesn't believe that the election was "stolen" and that they didn't want it reversed.

Now, if you ask me whether most thought they were going to violently attack the Capitol, destroying property, killing a policeman, and hunting down Congress people, I'd sure as heck HOPE most weren't thinking it would go that far, though they may have been caught up in the energy of the mob. I believe my brother-in-law who was horrified by what went on inside, but who felt perfectly great about what was happening on the steps right outside...which blows my mind, but then he's definitely a nutcase. Has no clue about what's going on around him, buys hook line and sinker all the BS.

Now, "differentiating" is another matter. There were those who definitely should be locked up, lose their jobs, etc and there are those who should simply be embarrassed to have participated with those who are full-on violent insurrectionists and/or racist a-holes. If I'm the FBI, I'm looking at the huge amount of video and identifying EVERYONE who went inside or committed any form of violence or resistance to the police attempting to stop them and then to clear the property. I'm looking at their social media feeds for any sense of prior intent, angry, violent talk, versus any sense of immediate post event remorse.

I hate to say it, as this would include my brother-in-law potentially, but I'm also looking at those who made it to the steps or just on the grounds past the barrier and looking for any indications that they may have been egging others on, etc. The worst such I'd prosecute.

Were you there, tech?

He lost interest so moved on...

the board's toxic GenX hero chimes in... for no good reason

I lost interest and love done. How was the nap Rip?