Thread by @awprokop

The way you get bipartisanship on a bipartisan commission is, often, a sort of gentlemen's agreement not to make either party look too bad. Mutually assured destruction.

That's ill-suited for 1/6, because only one party looks bad on that issue

vox.com/2021/5/25/2244…

Recall that it was moderate House Republicans who introduced a bill to create a 1/6 commission, just days after the Capitol was stormed.

The idea was, explicitly, that the country needed something like a 9/11 Commission to provide a full accounting of what happened.

What could such a commission do?
1.) It could uncover new facts. But it wouldn't have special powers to do so. Any ordinary cong. committee has the same powers. And a commission half-controlled by McConnell/McCarthy appointees likely wouldn't be aggressive in using those powers

2.) A commission could try to shape a shared national narrative of what happened. This is more in the realm of messaging and communication.

But again, if McConnell/McCarthy appointees aren't on board with this mission, it won't happen. Gridlock will ensue instead.

3.) It could politically damage the GOP. This is of course what Republicans are really afraid of here and why they're set on blocking it.

The issue divides the GOP. But it's also one where the GOP is out of step with public opinion. So any focus on it, they believe, hurts them