Subject: Re: Jan 6 picnicker gets 5 years
BHM: What I have been mocking, consistently, is the liberal fantasy about our democracy being at risk that day.

And I think you mock something you don't understand. Democracies have no guarantee of staying in existence. So let's paint a scenario, and I step outside of my area of knowledge to do so.

Mike Pence adopts strongly that the bogus electoral slates can be substituted. When Congress reconvenes to finish, he begins to accept the bogus electoral slates. Who would it be? Nancy Pelosi objects, stops the count, and arguments ensue. A substitute is found for Mike Pence, and the count starts again without the bogus slates. The propaganda drums starts up that the election was stolen all over again and trust in all institutions plunges. By the time the Supreme Court decides in favor of the new count, several states have sent letters of intent to secede to Congress. The country is in chaos. Shots fired.

Or.

Crowd breaks through early into the chamber, shots fired, zip tie guys actually get a couple of Congress critters, and hold them hostage. Mike Pence is brutalized, but lives. After a couple of day stand off everyone surrenders, the count is restarted, but lots of objections because of the two day delay. MAGA believes even more strongly that the election was stolen, the zip tie guys are heroes, and that the count is illegitimate because of the delay and refuses to recognize Biden as President. Chaos.

There were insurrectionist elements present on Jan 6. Democracy doesn't have to end on Jan 6., for that day to be seen historically as a pivot point that ended with the US losing its democracy.

Now I happen to believe we are recovering from this, but to recover a larger chunk of the country has to become pro democracy and put our democracy before their party or Trump.