Let’s take a moment to pray for those
who gave their lives to protect the “Hill”
If it wasn’t for their bravery, members of
Congress would have been roadkill

Memory of the infamous day is still raw
Disgust has only grown over the year
GOP working hard to “whitewash” the attack
Why? – Trump’s vindictive wrath, they fear

It was a brazen attack on our nation’s citadel
Actions of the frenzied mob were treasonous
Their attempt to hijack democracy, at the command
of “Commander in Chief” – utterly blasphemous

Trump tried a coup against its own administration
If it happened overseas, we would feel smug
It can’t happen here, ours is not a banana republic
Can’t be so cavalier, risk is real, don’t just shrug!

Trump watched the riot unfold on TV for 3 hours
Ignored pleas of his family and staff to call it off
He incited sedition against his own government
This is a clear dereliction of duties, don’t scoff!

Don’t get confused with names like “Patriot Boys*”
They are neither “patriots” nor “boys”
White supremacists is what they are
“patriot” label is summarily used as decoys
(* & Oath Keepers, 3%ers; Aryan Nations, etc.)

Trump’s goal has been to perniciously
damage our fragile democracy
that he would incite insurrection
against his country is a fact not a fallacy

That Trump is succeeding in his efforts against
our democracy should come as no surprise
GOP having coopted his lies and falsehoods,
is abetting and co-conspiring in the demise

GOP politicians have no moral spine
At best, their spine is like a wet noodle
Worship at Trump’s feet and parrot his tune,
they are nothing but Trump’s poodle

Immediately after the assault,
GOP leaders acted indignant
It lasted only for fleeting seconds
lest the emotion become malignant

The so called “leaders” put on a good show,
albeit with phony anger and no contrition*
McConnell, McCarthy, Graham, and others
are equally guilty of attempted sedition
(* actual words spoken listed at the end)

So why do GOP politicians behave this way?
Simple, three reasons – power, power, power
Moral and ethical considerations irrelevant
Loss of power is the only thing they cower

GOP itself has become anti democracy force
Won’t even support a commission to investigate
the January 6^th riot mounting to insurrection
Ready to castigate those willing to participate*
(* Lynn Chaney and Adam Kinzinger)

“Subversive” acts against fair & free elections
continue unabated in GOP led States
Altering voting laws, “punishing” disloyalty,
turning elections into political dictates

Politicians are afraid of being “primaried”
knowing the consequences of defying Trump
Trump has praised the rioters – that is his base
Politicians know Trump’s power at the stump

Rioters took part in criminal acts convinced
by repeated accusation of election fraud
and claims that Trump won the election* –
brazenness of GOP leaders we must applaud
(* Stop the Steal)

“Goons” who have been charged in courts
are sounding remorseful, showing feigned guilt
offering excuses despite culpatory evidence
thankfully, judges are having none of it

Of the 700 rioters charged thus far,
80 have connection to the US military
If there are Michael Flynns in service,
outcome next time could be scary!

The attack didn’t just injure the body
but also, the soul of our democracy
that this civil war is led by a President
& His cronies, is the utter indelicacy

How can we solve the problem if we don’t
even agree as to what happened on January 6^th
Half of Republican voters blame Democrats,
Antifa & Capitol police; holding on to this myth

Social Media and right-wing media have created
a parallel universe, full of conspiracies and lies
Spewing falsehood and distorting facts 24×7
That people are getting brainwashed, any surprise?
(Facebook and Fox News – the two stalwarts)

Don’t look at the Supreme Court for help
This right-wing court leans towards GOP positions
They summarily gutted the Voting Rights Act
Letting States enact anti-democracy legislations

Are we looking at the beginning of
the end of democracy* as we have known it?
All the signs are there; too soon to tell though
problem won’t go away on its own, we must commit
(*How Democracies die by Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Democracies_Die)

We need to learn how to mobilize forces
We need to turn the tables on “Trumpites”
We need to “take the country back”
from Trump’s worshippers and acolytes

Yes, we need to “Make America Great Again”, &
reverse the damage caused by Trump’s coterie
of unmoored politicians, advisors, & foot soldiers
spewing hate and lies; having gone astray

I want to be hopeful, this dark phase shall pass
without mortally wounding our democracy
But I am afraid that I would be disappointed
That my hope will prove to be nothing but a fantasy.

God save this great country of ours!

——————————————————————————————————————————–Statements of GOP leaders right after the January 6^th insurrection

• “Count me out; enough is enough” lamented Sen. Lindsey Graham.
• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell concluded that “the mob” had been “fed lies” and was “provoked by the president and other powerful people.”
• Even House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy declared that “the president bears responsibility for Wednesday’s attack on Congress.”