Yes. Right on time. Nancy Pelosi just called for the desperately needed “next thing” on the nation’s “To Do” list to address the January 6th insurrection. Pelosi wants a 9-11 Commission-“style” body to study the attempted coup.

In these polarized times, there is an understandable tendency to think that it is impossible to put together a truly neutral and non-political group of men and women to investigate and dig out facts of anything politically controversial. But we need just such a body and it can be done, rather easily. One need only pick 4-6 established, very respected, very moderate politicians, in equal numbers from both parties to chair the group as a first step. (Perhaps even name President Obama and President George W. Bush “Trustees” of the Commission, to review the Commission’s work just prior to releasing the findings). Next, pick several respected and retired military leaders who have never shown any political leanings beyond protecting the country. And finally, pick scientists and academics – leaders in their fields – to also provide expertise to the Commission. This isn’t as easy as it used to be but certainly still very possible.

This must be done. It may be the only way to find non-political answers, though we do think that it’s possible to run an independent criminal investigation that remains secret. On 9-11, foreign terrorists attacked the heart of our private corporate sector. On January 6th, domestic terrorists attacked the heart of our public government sector. The 9-11 incident led to far more death and property damage but January 6th came far closer to ending the nation’s traditional governing structure.

So the January 6th Commission is absolutely needed and this is welcome news. From the Independent:

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has called for an independent commission, similar to the months-long probe in the wake of the attacks on 11 September, to investigate the Capitol insurrection on 6 January.

Lawmakers have renewed calls for an investigative body to dive into the events surrounding the assault following Donald Trump’s impeachment acquittal and a lack of witness testimony in his trial for inciting his followers to violence after months of peddling conspiracy theories and the lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from them.

Speaker Pelosi, who tapped Retired Lt Gen Russel Honore to perform a security review of the Capitol complex in the wake of the attack, announced on Monday that “it is clear from his findings and from the impeachment trial that we must get to the truth of how this happened”.

Having established all of that, we on the left must accept that this commission requires the presence of some Republicans we might not like. The commission could easily include someone like Paul Ryan (Used just as an example). Unless there are real Republicans on that commission, its findings are useless. It is true that there are MAGAs that are not part of the traditional GOP and never will be. Those people should not be invited. The first and only requirement to the MAGA party is loyalty to Trump over everything else. This commission must swear to defend the Constitution.

It can be done. We already know that the MAGAs will not accept any findings that point fingers. But responsible Americans must know whether the conspiracy included the White House and-or members of Congress. This body is the only way to make such findings and have the report be accepted by the majority of Americans as “fact.”

And then we act on those facts.

Thank you, Madame Speaker.

****
Peace, y’all
Jason
[email protected] and on Twitter @JasonMiciak