This Is Why Treason Doth Never Prosper

Proud Boy expressed pride in being perceived as a terrorist like 'our founding fathers': prosecutors https://t.co/zBlrSzg2GK

— Raw Story (@RawStory) January 12, 2023

One message from Proud Boy Joseph Biggs was particularly inflammatory in nature, as it boasted about the gang being perceived as terrorists for their actions at the Capitol.

"Look, we started this country this way and we’ll f*cking save it this way," he wrote after the riots. "People tend to forget that our founding fathers were considered terrorists."

Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason McCullough also told jurors that that the Proud Boys described themselves as "lords of war" in the days leading up to the riots, while also emphasizing that they plotted to not only participate in the deadly attack, but also lead it and incite others to commit acts of violence. 

Yeah, but the "Founding Fathers" won their war.  Single-handedly, apparently, according to Mr. Biggs.  Had they lost, they'd have faced a trial much like he is facing now.

Well, and they also weren't complete idiots.  Although, aside from Washington, I can't remember a significant role any of the writers of the Constitution (13 years later) played in the battles of 1776.  Maybe that's just my poor knowledge of history.  But the writers of the Constituion (and Jefferson) are usually the people we think of as the "Founding Fathers."

Just curious who Thomas Payne is in Mr. Biggs's analogy.  And who are the signatories of the Declaration of Independence, which was not only a public document, but a published one? Who are the leaders and participants in the Boston Tea Party, laying the groundwork for support of a war for independence? And the battle for independence didn't save "this government" so much as make it possible, albeit 13 years (plus ratification) later.

So, yeah, the signatories to the Declaration knew they were putting their necks in the noose.  But they also knew what they were doing.  And they garnered the support of enough of the colonists to actually carry it off.

What the hell did the Proud Boys do?  Besides listen to Donald Trump, I mean.

(I'm sure there's a better historical analysis to be made than this, but lordy was my CrimLaw professor right: they don't catch the smart ones.)