DC Unrest Megathread

[ProudModerate2]

Fareed Zakaria: There is cause for optimism after capitol attack.

Watch the 5-1/2 minute video here ... https://us.cnn.com/videos/tv/2021/01/10/exp-gps-0110-fareeds-take.cnn

[ProudModerate2]

"Some Americans have traveled a path to radicalization that reminds current and former U.S. national security officials of the indoctrination of Islamist militants."

This quote is from the Washington Post.
Think about this for a minute. trump cultists are compared equally to ISIS Terrorists ... as they should be.

WAPO article link here ... https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/trump-capitol-mob-attack-origins/2021/01/09/0cb2cf5e-51d4-11eb-83e3-322644d82356_story.html

[ProudModerate2]

I asked a friend of mine who’s a police officer why some of these officers didn’t fire when clearly had justified shoots, and his reply was:
My service weapon has 12 round, and I have two spare mags. 36 rounds. In some of these cases, there was one or two officers running away from dozens of these guys. Hopefully you have 100% accuracy but you’re probably outnumbered and will be out of bullets quickly. If you get overpowered you’re gonna get killed with your own gun too.

I mean, I get that, it’s clear the officers were extremely outnumbered, but still. I figure after bodies are going down, some would have fled.

Not just "some would have fled," but many would have fled.
The number of dead or injured would actually be more, not from guard gun shots, but from people trampling each other as they try to flee the (even few) gun shots. (If the crowd is in a confined area, with few exit points.)

[ProudModerate2]

Armed stormings have been planned at every state capitol, as well as four consecutive days of armed protests at the US Capitol, per the FBI.

God help us.

https://abc7ny.com/fbi-armed-protest-president-donald-trump-capitol-raid/9563994/

All locations need to have massive police and National Guard personnel.
With guns and with permission to use them to protect themselves and their fellow officers.

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/rexchapman/status/1348347827173412866?s=10

I want to thank these trump bastards, for teaching all of us that "True American Patriots" use the pole with the American flag attached to it, to bludgeon law enforcement with.
What a truly Patriotic thing to do.

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/hugolowell/status/1348769912265826312

What the hell does this even mean?
Iranians?

[ProudModerate2]

Biden indicating he still plans to follow through with plans for outdoor inauguration.

I respect his courage, but I do worry that he's putting himself at significant unnecessary risk.
The symbolism of a normal inauguration is important, but I think that the optics of an evacuation, or (God forbid) shots being fired towards the Capitol, are far worse.

https://twitter.com/JenniferJJacobs/status/1348702776705114114

He'll be surrounded by the military, there's not a chance a gunman is getting near him.

Also, being outdoors is good because of covid.

Yeah it is almost impossible that anyone could shoot at Biden. Certainly impossible to get close enough to him to shoot him with a handgun or something.

I guess a gun with enough of a long range could make it, but you'd need to be a very good shooter and I am not familiar with DC's geography to say whether there is any building or anything where you'd have a line of sight to Biden as he swears in.

Any would-be presidential assassins wouldn't do it on the inauguration I imagine.

I'm sure that the entire stage area will have the tall bulletproof glass in front. If not mistaken, this has been the normal thing to do in most of the recent inaugurations. It will probably be taller, wider and stronger for next week.

[ProudModerate2]

WTF?

https://twitter.com/DrEricDing/status/1348691563619233795

I double checked this, and it's true. What the ACTUAL F!?

These people are absolute maniacs! Say what you will about their ability to empathize with other humans, but why harm an innocent animal!? Something is inherently wrong with you if you support Trump! You are a despicable psychopath if you do. I'm not pulling punches anymore. F*** Trump and everyone who ever voted for him!

If not mistaken, the mantee are still considered an endangered species. Because they swim so close to the surface, many small boats (and their propellers) accidently hit them, and injure or kill them.

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/NaphiSoc/status/1348741118545039365

Thank GOD. I was so worried this guy was not going to be caught. I hope he rots in prison for a long, long time.

They (We) don't have him yet.
But with a good image like that, something tells me it will be soon.

[ProudModerate2]

More Republicans are now freaking out and refusing to go through the medal detector.

Is there someone (media) showing this live?.
If so, where.

[ProudModerate2]

More Republicans are now freaking out and refusing to go through the medal detector.

Is there someone (media) showing this live?.
If so, where.

https://twitter.com/MEPFuller/status/1349159121032011777?s=20

https://twitter.com/MEPFuller/status/1349159492383100928?s=20

https://twitter.com/MEPFuller/status/1349162337568227328?s=20

This is an absolute joke.
What a bunch of ignorant a$$holes.

Well there you have it Republicans ... the duchebags you elected on full display.
Are Capitol police refusing them entry ... stopping them from acting like an elitist, bratty adolescent? If not, they should be. Use force if necessary (man-handle them and their unchecked bags/briefcases.)

[ProudModerate2]

I would have assumed the Capitol would have been one of the first places metal detectors were installed after their invention. Unbelievable they were just installed. Not so hard to believe many of our elite think they are above having to use them.

And what is this about the loons thinking metal detectors are "unconstitutional."

[ProudModerate2]

The most galling part about the Congressmen getting bent out of shape over the metal detectors is that they have routinely passed legislation subjecting American citizens to these kinds of security checks in the public domain, but then throw a tantrum when the security state imposes itself on their own workplace.

And ... if their use is "unconstitutional," are these GOP reps saying that they are only valid/lawful to use on the rest of us, but not to them?

[ProudModerate2]

The most galling part about the Congressmen getting bent out of shape over the metal detectors is that they have routinely passed legislation subjecting American citizens to these kinds of security checks in the public domain, but then throw a tantrum when the security state imposes itself on their own workplace.

They have to go through security like everyone else at airports. The difference between them and you is that they are members of Congress, not a visitor or staff. The buildings were literally built for them (in their capacity as the people's representatives, of course), and security exists to protect them from you. Also, 535 publicly-known members of Congress is an infinitely smaller security risk than the many thousands of staff and visitors that enter the Capitol during a single term.

But where is the "unconstitutional" part of their argument?

[ProudModerate2]

CNN on air is reporting Mr. Trump considers pardoning himself, Don Jr. and Rudy for their role in the terrorist attack.

Could a self pardon allow him to run in 2024 even if he’s barred from doing so by the Senate?

No.

he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

So regardless of whether or not self-pardons are valid, he can't prevent being blocked from office by a Congressional impeachment.

So my understanding from that is, if he is convicted by the Senate, his potential pardon immunity is voided for any federal charges related to the events of the 6th?

I'm wondering if it even needs to be a process where the Senate actually reaches a conviction. If the wording is "Impeachment," does that mean just passage by The House?

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/AnaCabrera/status/1349461808688594949

I believe every word of this.
Narsassitc, Un-Patriotic, Bastard of the Worst Kind.

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/AndrewDesiderio/status/1349521778629107713?s=20

Good.
This is just basic protection for not only the elected officials, but their assistants, for other dignitaries inside and also for the Capitol guards themselves.

[ProudModerate2]

I don't understand why members of the House need to be fined for refusing to walk through metal detectors.

Just deny entry.  Can they walk onto a plane without going thru one?

They are lawfully elected members of a national legislature, not customers conducting a transaction.

It also seems like a petty tyranny, which is why I asked about it. What conceivable safety benefit is there to scanning the bodies of every member?

From the images I saw, they are standard metal detectors. They do not "scan the bodies" of elected officials.

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/DavidBegnaud/status/1349781522614804480

Imagine coming to her as a student who needs counseling and therapy.

How the hell did she even get her job, in the first place?
Do school districts not do thorough background checks?
What a loon.

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/alanfeuer/status/1349820067974938629

What I don't understand about this specific incident, is why did the other guards that were at the door (door area), not surge forward in strength (20 feet or so) in order to reach this guard that was on the ground. They could have then grabbed him and then retreated back to their original line.

Seeing a fellow guard in distress and immediate need is motivation enough. And they would have had the right to use excessive force, if necessary, to achieve this goal. These trump bastards were (slowly) killing this guard, right in front of them.

[ProudModerate2]

I found this video very interesting. One of the officers interviewed, was the one who was trapped and being crushed by the door. Give it a view. It is 5 minutes long.

Washington, DC, police officers are speaking out following a riot at the US Capitol which resulted in five deaths. CNN's Shimon Prokupecz reports.

Watch video here ... https://us.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/01/15/dc-police-officers-capitol-riot-prokupecz-newday-vpx.cnn

[ProudModerate2]

It is clear that some of the rioters at least had the intent to capture/assassinate. But maybe there’s no evidence stupid horns man was one of those, so they don’t want to give his legal team something to seize on to deflect from his very clear crimes?

I don’t know, just spitballing here but it would make sense.

I think that is the actual story here.
The dropping of "the assertion to capture and assassinate" only pertains to the case/charges regarding this QAnon-wearing-horns moron, and not necessarily for all cases.

[ProudModerate2]

https://twitter.com/cbszak/status/1350202054665498624

Could some of these Congress-people (and/or their assistants) be that stupid as to give tours to these terrorists, knowing that every corner in The Capitol has cameras-upon-cameras (taped footage)?

[ProudModerate2]

It is clear that some of the rioters at least had the intent to capture/assassinate. But maybe there’s no evidence stupid horns man was one of those, so they don’t want to give his legal team something to seize on to deflect from his very clear crimes?

I don’t know, just spitballing here but it would make sense.

I think that is the actual story here.
The dropping of "the assertion to capture and assassinate" only pertains to the case/charges regarding this QAnon-wearing-horns moron, and not necessarily for all cases.

But if that were the case, wouldn't they seek to strike only the words " including Chansley's own words and actions at the Capitol"? Striking the entire sentence seems to State the entire mob's violent intent can't be established at this point, which I find difficult to swallow.

OK. I see what you are saying now.
But I agree that it shouldn't be that difficult to prove for some of these scumbags. I mean, we/they literally have taped recordings of them making threats to murder and kill.

[ProudModerate2]

The My Pillow Guy wants another coup:

https://twitter.com/jabinbotsford/status/1350186100564905985?s=20

Wasn't this guy a serious drug user in his past?
Maybe the drugs fried his brain.