Many years ago I heard a joke that goes something like this-a guy borrows his neighbor’s lawnmower. A whole week goes by and then the neighbor notices that it was finally returned-but it was no longer starting. The neighbor confronts the borrower who tells him “I never borrowed your lawnmower. And it was broken when you gave it to me. And besides, it was working just fine when I returned it.”
This is exactly how the GOP is defending the Jan 6th riot. “It was totally peaceful. Also it was very violent because of Antifa. But that was totally justified because the election was stolen. Don’t ask for proof though. And it is Pelosi’s fault the peaceful protest didn’t have the national guard there to break it up.”
This is what is commonly called “throwing shit to see what sticks” but the more formal term is Kettle logic
Case in point, Jim Jordan.
“Yet, some of our members say: Don’t worry about it. We shouldn’t do anything. Just let it go. It was just six states who violated the Constitution. What if it is 10 states next time? What if it is 15? What if, in 2024, 2028, it is 26 states? What if it is half the states that do an end-run around what the Constitution clearly spells out? We are the final check and balance. The authority rests with us, the United States Congress, the body closest to the American people, right where the founders wanted it. We should do our duty. We should object to and vote for this objection to the Arizona electors.”
https://www.cleveland.com/open/2021/01/what-ohios-jim-jordan-said-before-during-and-after-the-riot-at-the-us-capitol.html
And…
Days after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan (R) condemned the events that unfolded and called for punishment for those who participated.
“People are responsible for their actions and these terrible actions that were taken. They need to be held accountable and prosecuted to the full extent of the law,” Jordan said in an interview on Fox News.
But last month, Jordan joined all but two House GOP members in voting against the formation of a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/20/jim-jordan-capitol-riot-committee/
And…
During a congressional debate Tuesday, Jordan claimed he never said “this election was stolen” — seemingly distancing himself from the January 6 “Stop the Steal” rally that turned into a deadly attack on the US Capitol.”I’ve never said that this election was stolen,” Jordan said during a debate in the House Rules Committee over a resolution calling for Vice President Mike Pence to invoke the 25th Amendment to remove Trump from office.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/13/politics/jim-jordan-election-stolen-fact-check/index.html
We can end with this article on CNN. Fact checking Rep. Jordan’s claim that Speaker Pelosi was responsible for US Capitol security on January 6
“Why wasn’t there a proper security presence at the Capitol that day,” Jordan asked at a news conference after House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy pulled all five members he had tapped for the committee in response to Pelosi rejecting two of them. The Ohio Republican added, “Only one person can answer that question. Only one. The Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.”
https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/21/politics/fact-check-jim-jordan-nancy-pelosi-january-6-security/index.html
So Jim Jordan thinks the election was stolen and we shouldn’t let it go. And those who were there should be held responsible for the violence that was caused. And Jordan voted against a commission that would find who was responsible. Which only happened because Nancy Pelosi didn’t call the national guard. Don’t investigate that though. And he never said the election was stolen.
I would never let Rep. Jordan borrow my lawnmower.
