Ridiculous

 Politicians and would-be politicians love to wrap themselves in warm, snuggly blankets of celebrity approval.  Just take a look at the New Year's Fuckin' Eve lineup at Mar a Lago:  Vanilla Ice and someone in a Mutant Ninja Turtle costume (possibly Sean Spicer, who's available for your next function).  Not even John "Hang the Bidens" Schneider?  The Secret Service must have scared the ever-lovin'...

The Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., "I Am Not a Crackpot" campaign decided to try something similar, announcing that its "American Values 2024" superpac would hold a star-studded fundraiser on his 70th birthday featuring Dionne Warwick, Andrea Bocelli, Martin Sheen and Mike Tyson.  They probably should have asked the stars first.  "If you're going to lie on my name, at least lie about something cool," retorted Miss Warwick, suggesting "Dionne collaborates with Rihanna on new album."  Mr. Sheen also stated his "wholehearted" support for President Biden, slyly getting Bradley Whitford to announce it.  (Whitford played Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on The West Wing to Sheen's President Bartlet.)  Mr. Bocelli says he won't even be in the United States on the date in question, which leaves Mike Tyson.  If you can't believe the Daily Mail, I no longer have any faith in skeevy tabloids.

There was more political fibbing involving Margie Greene and the Westgate Resort in Kissimmee, Florida.  The Osceola County Republican Party told the resort they were holding a book signing for Greene's...book.  They were selling tickets for between $45 and $1,000, which may have tipped the resort that this was no ordinary book signing.  Turns out it was a celebration of the January 6 coup attempt and Westgate was not down with that, so they cancelled it.  Asked about the change of venue at a Trump event in Iowa, Greene responded, "I really don't understand the point of your question," which is the most honest thing she has ever said.  According to the county chairman, those scheming Democrats are to blame.

In other Insurrection Day news (for those who celebrate), Proud Boy Christopher Worrell led authorities a merry chase last year after cutting off his ankle monitor and faking a drug overdose when captured by the FBI.  Since he has lymphoma, the judge only gave him ten years instead of the fourteen he could have faced.  "Please forgive me and have mercy on me," he said at sentencing, a curious statement for someone who participated in what seven out of ten Republicans now call "no biggie."  They're ready to move on, with malice toward none and charity for all, to quote an earlier Republican talking about an earlier insurrection.  Maybe a little more malice would have helped.

Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn is also ready to move on.  Dunn, who was in the front line three years ago, is running for the House from Maryland's Third district:  "The forces that spurred that violent attack are still at work and as a patriotic American, it is my duty to defend our democracy."  Former DC Metro officer Michael Fanone, an admitted Trump voter, concurs:  "I see President Joe Biden as our best defender of democracy."  He says he has spent three years "trying to convince people that it actually fucking happened."

He may get some help when Nancy Pelosi releases the videos she made starting February 2, 2021, of House members recalling the day while memories were still raw.  Members were hustled out of the House chamber after they had been assured it was safe, struggling to put on gas masks as some texted farewell messages to family.  Two Congresswomen decided to shelter behind Colin Allred of Texas, a former NFL linebacker.  Ruben Gallego flashed back to his combat PTSD but still said, "We should have not shown we had fear and stayed there and continued to vote."  Dean Phillips of Minnesota thought becoming a hostage was probably preferable to the alternative.  Just your typical day on the Hill.  

I don't expect any of this to make a dent in the rightwing gaslighting.  As Charlie Pierce would say, the prion disease in MAGA is too far advanced.  We have all looked at the hundreds of hours of video from that day, but only some of us can see it.