Eugene Robinson: Biden's Jan. 6 speech sets the stage for a battle for truth and democracy

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/01/06/bidens-jan-6-speech-sets-stage-battle-truth-democracy/

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https://archive.fo/ZvcCu

It has always been clear, but not always clearly stated, that the person responsible for the deadly insurrection at the U.S. Capitol last Jan. 6 was Donald Trump. In his speech Thursday, President Biden called Trump out — without once mentioning his name.

Speaking in the Capitol’s historic Statuary Hall on the first anniversary of the coup attempt, Biden minced no words about the man he beat in the 2020 election. “He can’t accept he lost,” Biden said. “He’s not just the former president, he’s the defeated former president. … You can’t love your country only when you win.”

There were no new revelations from Biden and Vice President Harris about the shockingly violent events we all witnessed a year ago. But I did think I was hearing a new tone from an administration that, until now, has tried to look ahead rather than behind and has avoided re-litigating the Trump years. “I did not seek this fight,” Biden said. “But I will not shrink from it either.”

By “this fight,” Biden meant the effort to repair and reinforce our democracy after the brutalization it suffered under Trump. But I had to wonder whether the speech might someday be remembered as the opening salvo of a 2024 Biden-Trump rematch.

*snip*

[Irish_Dem]

1. Biden's speech was a call to arms. He cannot fight this battle by himself.

[Slammer]

6. Honestly

Biden shouldn't have to fight it himself.

The DOJ should be leading the charge.

[Irish_Dem]

7. The American people have to decide if they want to live in a democracy

or an autocracy funded by the wealthy.

It is really up to the people, one president and one party cannot do it alone.

[GB_RN]

9. An Autocracy Funded By The Middle Class & Poor...

Ruled over by corporations and the insanely wealthy (aka, oligarchs).

FIFY.

[Irish_Dem]

10. Yes exactly. The wealthy are funded by the middle class and poor.

The wealthy believe that all the available money and power belong to them. We get scraps.

[musclecar6]

2. I always enjoy

Hearing from Eugene Robinson. He has a measured response to events that gets right to the issues at hand. We are lucky to have a guy like him to help us fight the good fight against the evil menace.

Like Joe, I don't have to name the bully who so deservedly he knocked on his ass. We all know who he's talking about.

[azureblue]

3. Biden gave the GOP a chance

to do what's right but they all hunkered down behind Trump and covered for him. The GOP had their chance and they blew it. Biden gave them ample room, was civil and they all laughed at him. Now they get to see the other side of Joe. Of course, NOW they will get all "we'll work with you" but Joe knows that game they play all too well. Biden is right - he didn't want to have to fight Trump and the GOP for American Democracy, but the GOP left him no choice.

Kind of reminds me of the infamous Japanese message from Yamamoto after they bombed Pearl Harbor: ""I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve."

[Aristus]

5. Yamamoto's statement is apocryphal. There's no record that he actually said it.

Still, a prescient man. His prediction that he could guarantee no more than six months or so of Japanese victories in the Pacific is on record. And he was right.

[gratuitous]

4. There are a lot of us who have been battling for the truth to be told for decades

It would be wonderful to have major media outlets join rather than oppose the battle. That includes not playing dumb when an obvious lie is being told. Or searching high and low for some false equivalency to some egregious action by one party. Or resetting to zero every day as if the lies today aren't built on the lies of yesterday. Or ignoring the message because the messenger isn't a divine oracle.

So tell your colleagues and your acquaintances and your fellow professionals, Mr. Robinson. We've been here for years and the absences of the major media have been duly noted. Let's put to rest the MedIA (MIA media).

[UCmeNdc]

8. It is a battle. Dis-information by the GOP is out of control within the United States.

Conservative media dominates rural areas all across the whole country.