We have been discussing the continued incarceration of many individuals for their participation in the Jan. 6th riot. Despite claims that the riot was an insurrection, the vast majority of defendants have been given relatively minor charges. Nevertheless, the Justice Department has insisted on holding many without bail and some have received longer sentences, like Jacob Chansley (aka “QAnon Shaman”) who was given a 41-month sentence for “obstructing a federal proceeding.”
Thomas “Tas” Alexander Starks, 31, of Lisbon, N.D., faced a strikingly different approach by the Justice Department. The self-avowed Antifa member took an axe to the office of Sen. John Hoeven’s in Fargo on Dec. 21, 2020. Federal sentencing guidelines suggested 10–16 months in prison but he was only sentenced to probation and fined $2,784 for restitution . . . he then reportedly mocked the FBI for returning his axe. Others declared him a hero and Democratic politicians pitched in for his legal defense.
Starks was caught on videotape axing the door of the congressional office. He pleaded guilty to a single charge of destruction of government property. The case has received little attention from the media outside of conservative sites.
Starks has made clear that he was neither apologetic nor deterred from the use of such violence. He has posted under the Facebook moniker, “Paul Dunyan,” an apparent reference to his preferred use of an axe as a form of political expression. He displays the Antifa symbol and, while awaiting sentencing, reportedly wrote: “I am ANTIFA. I will always attack fascists, racial superiority complexes built around nationalism that promotes genocide to fuel a war machine is the worst humanity has to offer.”
It is reminiscent of the defiance shown by arrested Antifa member Jason Charter, who declared “The Movement is winning” after his own arrest.
After his light sentence, Starks posted last month that it was all effectively a joke: “Look what the FBI were kind enough to give back to me!”
Putting aside the light sentence, the returning of the axe is rather curious. It would seem an instrument of the crime and could be declared lost in any plea. Instead, it was returned as if it was a form of political expression by the Justice Department.
Starks is now free to axe his way to a better world.It is hard to imagine the poor choice of prosecutors or the judge to cut such a deal with Starks (and not specify that the axe would be lost as an instrumentality of the crimes). However, these may or may not be those responsible from their high school period:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWE_8jW9x1w
The left is fully corrupt. That includes the DoJ. 5 years of Russia hoax, the DoJ fully engaged in the propaganda and the FISA warrant crimes. Spying on parents and using the counter terrorism units to do the spying. We know who terrifies the left. An engaged populace. Common moms and dads. Not the the rioters that burn down cities, not the millions overrunning the southern border, But the 17 year old that is forced to defend himself from the mobs. The DoJ is scared of the people. As they should be.
Interesting to me, I believe many/most people see this time it’s been the few leaders at the top , Sores/Gates/ Klaus Schwab, Prince Charlie’s inbred goons, etc., Davos group, that have always been causing for centuries all the mur*ders, robberies, looting, rioting.
That they are the ones that are instigating the trouble making gullibles.
I think just maybe this time they are completely busted once & for all in our life time. Pray God.
Remember Ashli Babbitt
-January 6, 2021
She will be remembered as a domestic terrorist.
Even you cannot believe that to be true. You just come up with whatever is dumb and repeat it.
Epstein…….Thank you for reminding us of that life lost! For her family, this Thanksgiving was the first one without her, and Christmas will be the first, also. They must be so very sad, missing her!
Jonathan: How can you be a “member” of an organization with no organizational structure or identifiable leaders? But in an attempt to deflect attention away from the real threats from right-wing white nationalists and other fascists you want us yo believe that Antifa is the existential threat. Even the FBI and DOJ say the real threat of violence is coming from these right-wing groups not Antifa.
Now along comes Thomas Starks who took an axe to the office of GOP Senator John Hoeven and you are shocked Starks was only sentenced to probation and fined of $2,784. You are incensed someone who identifies with Antifa ideology could be so lightly treated. We probably know Stark’s motives. Hoeven refused to hold Trump accountable for inciting the Capitol insurrection on Jan. 6. Hoeven gets a “D” rating from the Republican Accountability Project. This does not justify Stark’s actions but puts them in context. The difference here is that Stark didn’t injure or kill anyone–unlike Kyle Rittenhouse, those who participated in the Charlottesville riot, the Jan. 6 insurrection, the murder of Ahmaud Arbery or the other many killings by right-wing nationalists and fascists. No Antifa protester has been charged with injuring or killing anyone. Trying to compare the light sentence Stark received with the sentencing of those who participated in the Jan 6 attempt to overturn a legitimate election and install a dictator is hardly what we expected from an academic who claims “objectivity” in his columns.
You are part of the what is good is bad whats bad is good.
And you probably live in CHAD!
“No Antifa protester has been charged with injuring or killing anyone.”
Except, of course: Eric Clanton, Benjamin Anthony Varela, and scores of Antifa protesters in cities around the country, e.g., Portland, Boston.
Your handlers need better fact checkers, and an honesty compass.
Andrew says:
“Can we all just agree to ignore Jeff? I mean honestly… is he worth engaging in ANY way?”
I’ll tell you what. Let’s put it to a vote.
Reply [-1] for me to leave this blog
Reply [+1] for me to remain.
I’ll count the vote after 24 hours. No fraudulent votes!
[-1] [-1] [-1] [-1] four in the room with me, plus me, [-1], makes five.
Anonymous says:
[-1] [-1] [-1] [-1] four in the room with me, plus me, [-1], makes five.
This is voter fraud. It counts as one (-1).
So, Jeff, you agree that ballot harvesting is fraud. That is one reason why the Big Lie is a Democrat lie.
-1
-1. The easiest vote I have made since 2020, but not quite as easy as the votes I will be making in 2022 and 2024, votes that hopefully will stop the insanity.
+1 Free Speech
+1 for free speech.
While I may not agree with JS the majority of the time, I do not see him leaving as a win for our society or those who are pro-1A.
Besides, he and others have their 1stA rights to speak.
We have the right to ignore his/their posts and not comment.
As I do not have cable, nor frequent MSM to include Fox, their comments provide insight into the leftist mindset which can be interesting.
+1 in this situation is not for free speech. Jeff already has free speech on the blog, but Jeff asked for a vote on the following question.
“Can we all just agree to ignore Jeff? I mean honestly… is he worth engaging in ANY way?”
The question is, is Jeff worth engaging unless you wish to think Jeff was asking one to vote on both parts. Jeff put it to a vote which has nothing to do with free speech, instead what role Jeff plays in this type of discussion group.
Jeff isn’t interested in discussion. He wishes to create friction and discord. He is repetitive. How many times will one answer Jeff crying about Turley or Trump? Is such repetition worthwhile? Does Jeff provide proof of his contentions? Barely enough to fill one or two sentences. Does Jeff know what is generally under discussion? By his own frequent admissions, NO.
I vote -1, which is obvious. If everyone voted -1, Jeff wouldn’t have to go anywhere or stop saying the stupid things he litters the blog with. He can continue his foolish whining and tell us how Trump lied without ever naming the lies Trump made.
I did not say Jeff should not be able to exercise his 1A rights. I just suggested we not engage nonsense. I will pursue truth with anyone, so long as I get the sense that is what they are doing.. even (or perhaps especially) if they disagree with me. That is not what is happening here. All you have to do is stop for a moment and imagine what conversations you have had in the past with friends on the left sound like.
+1.
You are correct, I regret to say. The simple brainless comments here of Silberman, Natasha and Fish Wings, among others, demonstrates that the radical Left feels empowered now and has deluded itself into thinking they have their hands around our throats. If patriotic Americans continue to show resistance to their authoritarian rule, they will perform the Western equivalent of Tianamen Square. What follows that will not be pleasant for either side.
Wiseoldlawyer says:
“What follows that will not be pleasant for either side.”
What are you insinuating? Q-Anon and Trumpists asserting their Second Amendment rights?
Spell it out.
Spelled out: “brainless comments here of Silberman”
That’s what you want. If they did and they took out every single antifa supporter/participant/funder/defender/person who espouses their right to violence or ignores it, nothing of value would would be lost. That is why the left offers them up as a pawn for violence against them, so that then the left can run victimhood stories and take away 2A rights.
Yawn. The left has become a disgusting hive of the addled and addlers. They have no real message, so they must provoke, lie, and connive.
Time for the left in the US to be disposed of and reinvented from principles other than central-authoritarian, neo-bolshevik BS.
The DOJ and FBI are criminal organizations working for the Democrat-RINO Uniparty, which itself is a criminal organization. While those entities are doing everything they can to promote crime and terrorism, they also spend a great deal of time targeting patriotic Americans:
Totally agree
.SO MUCH CORRUPTION AND MARXIST IN THE ADMINISTRATION..ITS HEARTBREAKING TO SEE WHATS HAPPENING IN AMERICA..AND IF THE LEFT GET THEIR WAY..THEY WILL B SINGING A DIFFERENT TUNE.
ANY DOUBTS JUST CHECK IN WITH OTHER COUNTRIES THAT HAVE HAD THEIR FREEDOM TAKEN AWAY! ONCE ITS GONE YOU CANT GET IT BACK!
AND IT CONTINUES…
__________________
“We are five days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.”
– Barack “Barry Soetoro” Obama
__________________________
The Obama Coup D’etat in America is the most egregious abuse of power and the most prodigious crime in American political history.
The co-conspirators are:
Kevin Clinesmith, Bill Taylor, Eric Ciaramella, Rosenstein, Mueller/Team, Andrew Weissmann,
James Comey, Christopher Wray, McCabe, Strozk, Page, Laycock, Kadzic,Sally Yates,
James Baker, Bruce Ohr, Nellie Ohr, Priestap, Kortan, Campbell, Sir Richard Dearlove,
Christopher Steele, Simpson, Joseph Mifsud, Alexander Downer, Stefan “The Walrus” Halper,
Azra Turk, Kerry, Hillary, Huma, Mills, Brennan, Gina Haspel, Clapper, Lerner, Farkas, Power,
Lynch, Rice, Jarrett, Holder, Brazile, Sessions (patsy), Nadler, Schiff, Pelosi, Obama,
Joe Biden, James E. Boasberg, Emmet Sullivan, Gen. Milley, George Soros, John McCain,
Marc Elias, Igor, Danchenko, Fiona Hill, Charles H. Dolan, Jake Sullivan et al.
Looks like an instance of insurrection to me.
*Off Topic* – looks like Biden is rolling out President Trumps stay in Mexico program, wonder what other programs he’ll steal from President Trump. I guess the Dems are realizing how underwater and out of step they are with Americans?
The fact that the Trump Cult on this blog are so afraid, so scared, that they wet themselves when the word antifa appears is comical. Of course being a trump supporter would naturally make themselves wet their pants when the thought of someone who wants to stop fascism is anywhere near them. A bunch of trump boys, storming any capital dressed up like soldier’s to make up for their micro genitalia complex is not going to stop and end this nation. So put on your big boy pants and accept the fact that fascism under the trump banner is not going to take hold with citizens who know the difference.
Generally when one stands up to Antifa they are the one’s wetting their pants and the floor below. That gives you the chance to swim away.
Leftists and FBI agents or collaborators were among the most prominent in inciting violence. Their names are known, but anything about them and the FBI is kept secret. Garland refused to answer those questions because as bad as not answering ,his answers would have been worse. The evidence against these people is astounding. Start by looking up the name Epps and his involvement. I forgot. You don’t look things up. Reading is not one of your better skills.
Proving your willfully ignorance everyday is not necessary. It’s been fully established.
Did you think of that nonsense while swimming away in that wet spot? Did you look up Epps? Of course not. You are one of the willful ignorant.
F Trump.
Antifa are fascist cowards. They only fight when they outnumber everyone else. They hide their identities because their actions are an embarrassment to all. They refuse to ever engage in open debate because they have no argument. They are girlie men and exclusively white.
I hope to never see Trump again, but I respect Trump supporters…Antifa are pathetic jackals.
Tribalist dipshit.
Are you 10 years old? The only people afraid of those addled morons are the ones paid to appear so by ted wheeler, his cops.
Antifa has contributed zero to humanity except employing meth heads and making PDX ground zero for the collective lowest IQ of white people on the planet.
They are clowns.
Fascism under Trump – if you mean having to get a job is fascism, OK, but anything else is pure BS
Fishflaps ; It is hardl;y ever what you postulate. What it does reaffirm is a two tiered system of justice…one for “them” and one for “us. A pat on th eback and his axe back sends a signal…do you not think ?.
Fishy………..well, I’m sure your little friends in your 3rd grade class covered their mouths and giggled when you read the part in your comment about ” wetting your pants”……..teeheehee!!
Top Shelf stuff:
Howdy Oky1…! Indeed…great music. Thank you!
I’m a lawyer. The next time I pick a jury in a criminal case I will bring my axe.
Face it, we have a double standard of law enforcement in this country.
Ralph,
I’ll tell you now which side I will choose- Never Trumper- the opposite of yours.
Hey, Jeff Silberman–Looks like you take the side of Antifa, BLM, and other violent left-wing anarchists, vandals, looters, and arsonists. You appear to have no compassion for the black and white owned small businesses that have been destroyed or badly damaged by leftists. Were these perpetrators Trump supporters? You would be more credible if you would condemn left-wing terrorists who would most likely be Biden supporters!
Thank you Lawrence. This is exactly the sort of discernment I called for from our left-leaning friends in a comment I made a few weeks ago. If you want to be taken seriously, or simply be effective, you have to bring more than tribalism to the table.
Andrew,
I am not a lying Trumpist, but neither am I a Leftist. I agree substantially with Turley’s legal opinions except that I don’t abide his selling-out to the Far Right Fox Network.I criticize his hypocrisy for denouncing what he calls “the age of rage,” yet he pockets money from the prime time Fox hosts who foment much of that rage. I contend that he would be hard-pressed to deny his hypocrisy were he ever to allow himself to take a question on that issue, but he has not been wiling to be interviewed on his employment at Fox. Two Conservative commentators just resigned from Fox because they objected to Carlson’s “Patriot Purge” which claims 1/6 was a false flag operation!
Did Turley take a stand on these newsworthy resignations? No, he did not. All we get from Turley is crickets….
Those two that resigned are not well liked. They no longer are at National Review. They are bottom feeders though Goldberg is a good writer. However, it isn’t coincidental that the left Fox at the same time they started their own media company. They got an extra splash by doing the two things at the same time.
Lawrence,
You must be new here because I have always condemned ALL violence and rioting. I myself have never attended even a peaceful protest. I exercise my freedom of speech with my fingers not my feet.
Your the type that preserves his own head at the expense of others.
But, SilberNut doesn’t know why.
I am far less surprised that our criminal justice system gave this anarchist probation, or enabled Darrell Brooks to post a $1,000 bail, than I am with this MSNBC panel’s comments regarding the lawlessness in progressive run cities. Damn! It’s not as if they weren’t warned. My apologies to this author, I altered the quote in bold:
First they came for the conservatives, and I did not speak out—because I was not a conservatives.
Then they came for the capitalists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a capitalist.
Then they came for the Christians, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Christian.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me. Martin Niemöller
I forgot to post the link to the MSNBC panel.
https://youtu.be/JDsGuWJXqRw
Like a lying Trumpist, Olly twists the words of a famous quotation to give it an entirely different meaning. This is what Niemöller ACTUALLY said:
“First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out— because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”
Olly twists the words of a famous quotation to give it an entirely different meaning.
Silberman is lying like the American Marxist that he is. I noted what I changed and the meaning remained the same.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
If you changed the words, then how can it be the same meaning.
The original quote is about not standing up for groups that are the subject of abuse…back then socialists were abused, today they are the establishment. Likewise, conservatives are in the same position as the socialists of yore. That’s simple enough to understand, but given your lack of honesty I’m sure you’ll pretend not to understand. Or maybe you really are dumb.
If you changed the words, then how can it be the same meaning.
Do you understand the point of Niemöller’s original quote? In the lines preceding the last line, identify the persecution you’ve remained silent about because you support it, or because you’re apathetic to it. Regardless of your reasons, if allowed to continue, persecution will ultimately find you.
You are arguing with an infantile narcissistic personality that recognizes he is short on knowledge and wants to be provocative even if it proves him stupid.
Olly says:
“Regardless of your reasons, if allowed to continue, persecution will ultimately find you.”
Precisely the reason I criticize Turley for remaining silent in the face of Trumpism. He has called out Trump’s lying a few times in the past; he even called for Trump’s Congressional Censure for his conduct on 1/6. However, Turley has not condemned Trump’s Big Lie nor has he condemned the Trumpists for cancelling Liz Cheney for exercising her free speech.
No one will remember Turley as the Martin Niemöller of our day. Pity.
If you changed the words, then how can it be the same meaning.
Synonyms. But any 4th grader understands the concept. Find a forth grader to get up to speed.
Olly, the American Nazi, would have you believe that Niemöller would accept his apology for turning his quote on its head. Trumpists similarly pull quotations of MLK out of their context to suggest that he would support their odious views.
American Nazis love playing the victim card not unlike Hitler who blamed the Jews for all the political, social and economic woes of the Weimar Republic in order to assert that they were the oppressed party.
Apparently someone has a difficult time understanding the concept of analogy, no matter how clear.
Jeff SilberNut is a mental midget.
Olly said: “My apologies to this author, I altered the quote in bold:”
Is JS too dumb to note that Olly notified everyone he was changing the poem. The underlying meaning remains the same. This is how SilberNut deals with anything he disagrees with. SilberNut doesn’t know what he is talking about and most of the times is clearly wrong.
Well said.
ANTIFA and Communists….there is but one way, exactly one way, to deal with such ideologies….and no amount of chit chat is going change that.
Playing nice shall not work, persuasion shall not work, both seek to destroy the Norms, Values, and Constitutional underpinnings of our system of government and do so by any means to include violence.
If they are left alone to go about their violent acts and are not treated as the terrorists and evil actors they are…..at some point it shall lead to open violence by those who just do not wish to involved.
There is hope that the 2022 elections shall be the start of the American People awakening to the the threat to us all and hand the Democrats and all of its radical elements a huge defeat.
Then….compound that by doing the same in 2024….and then if the Republicans fail to take the needed actions to put down such radicalism….it will fall back to the People in general to do what has to be done.
Let’s pray this can be done without the kind of violence that is being risked by both sides of the aisle in Congress and within the Executive Branch of our government.
Ralph suggests:
“Let’s pray this can be done without the kind of violence that is being risked by both sides of the aisle in Congress and within the Executive Branch of our government.”
———
“What restrains us from killing is partly fear of punishment, partly moral scruple, and partly what may be described as a sense of humor.”
H.L.Mencken
The singular American failure has been, since 1860, and continues to be the judicial branch, with emphasis on the Supreme Court.
The heinous “Waukesha Killer” should have been in prison, not out in public threatening Americans.
Dictatorial “mandates” on “China Flu, 2019” lockdowns, masks and vaccinations should have been precluded by findings of unconstitutionality by the Supreme Court.
The entire American welfare state should have been struck down by the Supreme Court in the legislative phase.
The judicial branch is not elected and the only control on that branch of government, impeachment and conviction, is never imposed on it by Congress.
Something has got to give.
_____________________
“…courts…must…declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void.”
“…men…do…what their powers do not authorize, [and] what they forbid.”
“[A] limited Constitution … can be preserved in practice no other way than through the medium of courts of justice, whose duty it must be to declare all acts contrary to the manifest tenor of the Constitution void. Without this, all the reservations of particular rights or privileges would amount to nothing … To deny this would be to affirm … that men acting by virtue of powers may do not only what their powers do not authorize, but what they forbid.”
– Alexander Hamilton
Two standards of justice.
One, compassionate and forgiving for the Left.
Look at McCabe, awarded full back pay and legal costs in spite of lying and undermining a sitting president.
The other system, harsh and punitive for conservatives.
We all know those cases.
If justice is unjust, then it cannot be tolerated.
The real issue is that Lefties are destroying our system in support of partisan advantage.
That cannot continue.
Monument says:
“If justice is unjust, then it cannot be tolerated.”
I agree. Like Trump pardoning convicted felons who could have turned on him as a witness against him. Similarly, I hope Joe does not pardon Hunter if he is found guilty of corruption.
Comparing executive pardons would not be a winning scenario for the D’, if my memory holds. Both sides issue some that are real head-scratchers, but some of the Clinton and Obama pardons were really, how shall I put this, “extraordinary”
Whig,
Did Obama pardon anyone in return for their silence in testifying to all that they about him as did Trump? Refresh my recollection. I’m waiting for your reply.
False premise.
Jeff is doorknob dumb. He talks leftist, but truth and his words never come close. One should never argue with such a liar of his type. Jeffy believes his lies even though he has no factual basis for them and regularly admits his lack of knowledge.
monumentcolorado — True. There’s not a nation on earth that can withstand the social fabric wreckage the Democrats are causing. Destroying our history, our economy, our safety, our language, our children, and our borders — our very sense of nationhood is being attacked by people whose socialist, collectivist agenda demands they tear down everything this country built and start from “ground zero.” The pushback will come in 2022 and again in 2024. Dems will learn that hatred and socialism are not good campaign strategies.
Giocon1 says:
“The pushback will come in 2022 and again in 2024.”
Since the Trumpists are a minority party, everyone knows that the ONLY way the Democrats could lose in 2022 and 2024 is if the Republicans rig the elections.
The actual problem for Democrat hopes in 2022 is not the Republicans. The Democrats and even some of the minority groups realize what liars and miscreants Democrats have become.
All one has to do is listen to Jeff, and one immediately recognizes that the left is relying on unsustainable lies.
Can we all just agree to ignore Jeff? I mean honestly… is he worth engaging in ANY way?
Jiffy ; Please lay off the koolaide. Your worry shows through your wild fear mongering.
And the FBI Gave his Axe back!!!! And his ass is still on fascistbook!!!! nothing pisses me off more than to see such vile evil garbage, as this!! The FBI has gone more than downhill. It has gone full-on, full-bore evil corrupt!! And, it is without a doubt rubbing this kind of crap 💩 in our faces because they know that out side, stands for real law & order regardless, of who commits the crimes!!! Regardless of the persons political beliefs. Political stances or, who they voted for!!!!!! Dear God I am pissed off!!!!!
It’s *gone* full-on corrupt? It was sort of founded on corruption. This post is about something that has always been true – the Democratic party just didn’t used to peopled with literal psychopaths. I think it may still be a couple of decades away, but these young fools could bring us to the brink of another world war, and with modern technology, that may well be the end of us. what is happening today is absolutely unprecedented in recorded history, and anyone that was ‘disturbed’ by the Rittenhouse verdict can STFU right about now. Kyle will try to have a peaceful life – low lifes like this idiot will continue to grow their bloodlust.
Herte is Another example of No rule of Law exists; as they prosecute or not as they choose. The Dems are sending out solicuitation emails and saying they will remove DT from future POTUS election under the 14TH Amendment, for leading insurrection at the Capitol 1-6-2021. Thyese double standards as Arthur Carlson has implied, could bring on another 1776.
Whenever the left denies being fascist, Stalinist/Leninist, Maoists one has to think of the left’s storm troopers, Antifa, the MSM, cancel culture, funders like Go Fund Me, etc.
This op-ed completely undresses the left to their naked totalitarian state where the Rule of Law doesn’t exist.
Should the right continue to be polite and treat true leftists with normal human interaction? Absolutely not. That type of response leads to more and more abuse. Call them what they are. Label them.
We are getting closer and closer to the time when real Americans are going to say enough and take matters into their own hands.
“It is hard to imagine the poor choice of prosecutors or the judge to cut such a deal with Starks . . . .”
Poor choice?
Not necessarily.
It kind of depends on one’s goals.
Carlson apparently agrees with H.L.Mencken who once said
“Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.”
But in the case of Trumpists, they will hoist the Confederate Battle flag.
Jeff baby…..it matters not which Flag it is that gets raised at that time….so long as you are on the side that carries it forward into battle.
History is replete with examples of this happening in the past in multiple places and times.
Choose wisely when that time comes!
Wow! Jeff Silberman obviously has a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. Get treatment for your problem Jeff, before you embarrass yourself further….
I didn’t used to think so, but now I have no choice but to agree. The dems will not relent, not even in the smallest of ways, and this is probably going to get very, very ugly before all is said and done.