I'm not suggesting you're being insensitive to the race stuff, Maine. I get what you're asking, I think. I'll also try another way:
I think that your premise that the Capitol can handle that kind of pressure on any given day. I think that premise is false. I don't think there's enough staff to fend off an angry mob of thousands on a random Wednesday. But, with foresight and prep and increased security members, they no doubt could.
My whole point is that because of all of the reasons I mentioned in my previous thread, this mob wasn't a perceived threat so those additional measures weren't taken.
I think I was partly under the same delusion as Maine. Not that the regular Wednesday contingent would necessarily be enough, but that the "everyone, including the VP and both chambers, is here" situation would result in an increase in security, in and of itself (even without an announced demonstration).
I didn't think such a force would be able to hold off thousands indefinitely, but certainly for long enough for reinforcements to arrive.
Imagine the number of covert troops an enemy state would be able to muster on US soil... I could easily imagine a few hundred very well armed... Imagine them storming the Capitol.
I really hope it turns out that the doors were deliberately opened / held open, just because the alternative is even more scary.
And I don't buy that the regular security was worse due to any direct or indirect Trump influence. Lack of preparedness, response, etc, sure, that's plausible, but I doubt the day-to-day security was affected.
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