THE DECLARATION DEFENSE

 Maybe we have been at this game too long. But when the arrests and indictments began to be issued against the individuals who stormed the Capitol on January 6, we immediately thought that if retained we would mount this defense: 

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, –That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security...

To be clear, we do not and did not support the political objectives of those who stormed the Capitol. But for that matter we did not support the political ideals of those held at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, for their opposition to the United States on and off the battlefield. But we would have represented them. 

Nor did John Adams support the presence of British soldiers in Massachusetts, but he successfully represented several of them who fired into a hostile crowd. Well before Florida's SYG law, he mounted a successful self defense with these memorable words: "facts are stubborn things and whatever may be our wishes , our inclinations, or the dictates of our passions, they cannot alter the state of facts and evidence."

Are we wrong? Do not the words of the Declaration of Independence provide the framework for a defense on those charged for what they did on January 6? Now before you put down your hotdog and cold one and fire off an angry missive, we remind you that we do not believe this current government has become "destructive of these ends" requiring revolt. However, had POTUS 45 successfully seized voting machines and had Mike Pence agreed to reject slates of voters submitted by States on January 6 and kept POTUS 45 in power, subverting the lawful votes and outcome of the last election- would you not have taken up at least figurative arms against a government that was not "instituted among men?" 

We would have.

And doesn't that make the actions of those who stormed the Capitol simply whose Ox was gored? 

Happy Fourth. No hot dog eating and driving! 

Rumpole's Best Bet: The Battle for The Mustard Belt will take place today at Nathans, Coney Island, NY. The Over/under is 76 Hot Dog and Buns (HDB) for the men's competition. Take the OVER. The o/u for the Women's competition is 46. Take the UNDER. Enjoy.