DC Unrest Megathread

[Alcibiades]

After tonight, Trump, Cruz, Hawley and the rest of his fans in Congress have blood on their hands, as well as being accessory to an attempt to overthrow the American Republic. If they had any decency, they would now be grovelling to be allowed to walk free, let alone to resume a role in public life.

[T'Chenka]

It is funny how the Elves always presents themselves as the revolutionary vanguard, but the street power of the Elves merely amounts to burning down a few goblin tunnels, it is the Orcs which are clearly the revolutionary force, storming Minas Tirith, note how Manwe supported the Fellowship but sent out the eagles against the Nazgul, shows who the real revolutionary faction is and who the establishment is.

Ted Cruz went Full Saruman. "We must join with him, Mitch."

"The cult only answers to one master, and he does not share power."

[brucejoel99]

And with that, Joe Biden & Kamala Harris are officially your President-elect & Vice President-elect of these United States. 13 days, 8 hours, 18 minutes, & 24 seconds to go, y'all!

They could have cut it quite a bit closer by challenging all 50 states and DC.

So because math is "fun," I just did some: not including the insurrection, the joint session & the individual chambers' debates lasted a combined total of approx. 7 hours, 59 mins. So ~8 hours for just 2 objections equates to an average of 4 hours of time used up per objection. Extend that out to 51 individual objections, & without any breaks or recesses, you reach final adjournment on Jan. 15th at ~6:20am ET. Add in the obvious sleep/eating/restroom/shower breaks & recesses that would have to take place, & yeah, a very determined Senator & Representative could royally f**k things up if they really wanted to.

[Gass3268]

https://twitter.com/cnnpolitics/status/1347104760739074050?s=21

[○∙◄☻¥tπ[╪AV┼cVê└]

And with that, Joe Biden & Kamala Harris are officially your President-elect & Vice President-elect of these United States. 13 days, 8 hours, 18 minutes, & 24 seconds to go, y'all!

They could have cut it quite a bit closer by challenging all 50 states and DC.

So because math is "fun," I just did some: not including the insurrection, the joint session & the individual chambers' debates lasted a combined total of approx. 7 hours, 59 mins. So ~8 hours for just 2 objections equates to an average of 4 hours of time used up per objection. Extend that out to 51 individual objections, & without any breaks or recesses, you reach final adjournment on Jan. 15th at ~6:20am ET. Add in the obvious sleep/eating/restroom/shower breaks & recesses that would have to take place, & yeah, a very determined Senator & Representative could royally f**k things up if they really wanted to.

They could probably reduce it to 2 1/2 - 3 hours per objection not counting obvious breaks. Obviously it would keep congress quite busy but they could make it. I guess they really just have to make it through Vermont by noon January 20. It's too bad for them that the law says alphabetical order.

[Alben Barkley]

After tonight, Trump, Cruz, Hawley and the rest of his fans in Congress have blood on their hands, as well as being accessory to an attempt to overthrow the American Republic. If they had any decency, they would now be grovelling to be allowed to walk free, let alone to resume a role in public life.

This is basically how I see Trump and his final fall from power going:

[Horus]

Hilarious to see the humiliation of the American political elite, the Senate chamber overrun and pathetic politicians cowering in fear.

A few things of note, it is funny how the left always presents itself as the revolutionary vanguard, but the street power of the left merely amounts to burning down random shops, it is the right which is clearly the revolutionary force, storming Congress, note how banks supported the BLM riots but put out statements condemning the march on Congress, shows who the real revolutionary faction is and who the establishment is.

Secondly one must note how funny it is to see American diplomats etc who crow about how it is democracy whenever some random country who happens to oppose America has its parliament stormed by people now say the people who stormed Congress were traitors etc. The reputation damage to America will be real, its hypocrisy has been fully shown in reality.

Imagine defending the president who let your country fall to China.

[Alben Barkley]

I don't know where everyone went, but I for one am celebrating tonight! It's officially officially OFFICIALLY over now!!!!

[GoTfan]

At the very minimum, we should all offer critical support to the upcoming Biden Administration against the putschists.

These terrorists need to be stopped by any means necessary.

No. If anything I side with the putschists because I always support the underdog perspective. You remind me of this group that actually admitted that most of the imperialist ruling class supports Biden but still endorsed him anyway because MUH NAZIS: http://www.lrp-cofi.org/statements/election2020.html

Biden is the most bourgeois and reactionary Democrat in decades (while Trump is the least "bad" Republican, compared to Reagan, Bush, McCain, Romney, etc.) yet has gotten unprecedented support from supposed "radical leftists" who used to oppose the Democratic Party. Even Obama never had this kind of support and it is pretty disappointing, to say the least. I guess I shouldn't have expected much better from Trots.

I can't really stand with the MAGA movement though because it is cringe. I can support querfronts with some far-right groups but not the kind that think Obama wasn't pro-Israel enough, which is what most of the MAGA crowd are. I do stand with the woman who was murdered by the pigs. Working-class lives of ANY color don't matter to the pigs.

Lmao. This is a parody right?

No.

I'm not as far left as you are but I've been consistent on not letting Aughts #NeverTrump Republicans off the hook for Iraq War and neoliberal economic policy when it was clear they had learned nothing and forgotten nothing from the past 20 or 30 years. I'll even admit I cheered when Trump tore into Jeb! Bush on the Iraq War and 9/11 happening under his brother's watch. I still maintain that Trump is ultimately a symptom, a culmination of pretty much every pathological undercurrent in American society since the end of the Cold War if not longer and that in many ways he was the child who finally shouted that the Emperor indeed had no clothes.

That being said, what has been Trump's record since he took the oath of office? He has not inaugurated any populist or even centrist project such as his vague promises of cracking down on prescription drug prices or a huge infrastructure bill. Instead, Trump has pursued the reactionary policies of the Congressional Republicans such as an attempt to totally repeal Obamacare whose success would have left millions without insurance and a huge tax cut for the wealthy in exchange for the Congressional Republicans' servile worship of him. Trump did not end of his foreign wars and instead exacerbated tensions with Iran and Cuba. With the exception of North Korea (most of the credit for which belongs to the liberal South Korean government not Trump), he has not pursued any policy that might be remotely called progressive. His Supreme Court appointments has made decisions such as national "right to work" infinitely more likely. Trump has fundamentally governed as a reactionary conservative.

I do not blame Trump for everything on Covid-other Western nations make clear that high death rates were inevitable regardless of the quality of leadership. Still he has frequently encouraged dangerous behaviour and often undermined public health authorities, emboldening those adhering to lunatic conspiracy theories regarding the virus. With his defeat in the 2020 election, Trump embarked on a campaign to overturn the results of a legitimate election where his main opponent won. I don't see how such an antidemocratic, reactionary effort should be applauded by any so-called socialist.

Of course Trump is not "good". I cast a protest vote for Jorgensen because Hawkins and the PSL were not running in my state. But at least Trump did not start any new wars. McCain and Romney would have done all those things and worse.

The fact that Trump is supporting $2000 stimulus checks while "hero of democracy" Mitch McConnell isn't proves that Trump is better than a typical republican.

You claim to be aleftist, but vted for the Libertarian candidate. That alone discredits any claim to leftist politics you may have.

Stalinists like you are the reason people hate democratic socialists like me.

[Alben Barkley]

I... have human feelings... inside... again.

It's like some horrible curse was lifted.

I can see Harry S. Truman and my namesake Alben W. Barkley smiling.

Good has TRIUMPHED, my friends!

I haven't fully processed what that means yet, I think, but it's good. It's very, VERY good!

Literally "in this moment, I am euphoric!"

[Co-Chair Bagel23]

https://twitter.com/mepfuller/status/1347072023005163522?s=21

lmao, I’m not a small fry, I’m like 5’10 and 180 lbs of stockiness, and you can see Allred dwarfs me, Allred deffo would have won

[Alben Barkley]

https://twitter.com/mepfuller/status/1347072023005163522?s=21

lmao, I’m not a small fry, I’m like 5’10 and 180 lbs of stockiness, and you can see Allred dwarfs me, Allred deffo would have won

Sorry I'm not quite sure what you said. Apparently some LOSER from the (lmao) MINORITY PARTY has said something?

LOLOLOLOLOLOL imagine caring about THAT!!!

[Middle-aged Europe]

https://twitter.com/DanScavino/status/1347103016311259136

LOL, he "disagrees" with the outcome of the election... well, yeah, you lost, Trump.

[NOVA Green]

With Vermont certified, Biden is officially over 270.

We and my spouse were watching the final countdown live on the West Coast, and unfortunately since we had both consumed a few small shots of Vodka and Whiskey, I couldn't remember which state which would push Biden above (270).

It is completely and entirely fitting that Vermont pushed Biden over (270) EVs.

HRC completely bombed among many traditionally "DEM Voters" who in 2016 voted 3rd Party (GRN, LBT, & Write-In Sanders.... not even going to delve into the McMullin voters).

It is pretty clear that Trump maintained most of his base vote, especially with dramatically increased TO levels in just about every state, every precinct, and every City in the US.

Trump gained votes with huge TO levels (kinda like Bush W. did in '04 with Rove as the strategist) in places where he needed to hit numbers.

Reality is that, as I have posted upon on my Oregon threads (and a few other places) is that 3rd Party 2016 GE Voters broke heavily Biden overall...

Totally fitting that Biden's victory is directly a result of '16 3rd Party Voters and Sander's '20 DEM PRIM voters...

Sure we might want the world and want it now, but we all decided to support the "United Front", "Dump the Trump", recognizing that at least we can and will have some serious seats at the table when it comes to fundamental policy issues, which we have been consistently supporting for over a decade.

We might not have a European style voting system, but after the attempted Trump Putsch early today, it makes my support for the United Front, all more prescient.

[Alben Barkley]

Didn't I tell the doomers all along it would all work out? Despite all the weeping, moaning, and gnashing of teeth... At the end of the day Democrats have absolute control over the White House, House of Representatives, and Senate for at least 2 years.

Just as I said they would.

LOL people were calling me a stupid "bloomer" and wetting their pants/beds all this time LOL. If you only had FAITH that good would ultimately triumph in the end, just as Dr. King said it would, you would have KNOWN all this time and not had to worry!

[Storebought]

I thought a Twitter ban is a Twitter ban? I thought accessing a site through a sock puppet was against TOS.

OK, technically not a "sock puppet" .. but if all the putschist needed to do to access his accounts is a "spokesperson" doing his typing for him, then it amounts to the same thing.

[Alben Barkley]

I thought a Twitter ban is a Twitter ban? I thought accessing a site through a sock puppet was against TOS.

Wait did Trump actually do that? That's hilariously pathetic! Ban the socks too! They can just keep banning him over and over and over again for all I care!

[Middle-aged Europe]

I thought a Twitter ban is a Twitter ban? I thought accessing a site through a sock puppet was against TOS.

OK, technically not a "sock puppet" .. but if all the putschist needed to do to access his accounts is a "spokesperson" doing his typing for him, then it amounts to the same thing.

Still, there's a second person now who could refuse to send the tweet... you know, like the two-man rule in a ballistic missile submarine.

[T'Chenka]

Didn't I tell the doomers all along it would all work out? Despite all the weeping, moaning, and gnashing of teeth... At the end of the day Democrats have absolute control over the White House, House of Representatives, and Senate for at least 2 years.

"There is no path for Biden, or for America." -Forumlurker, late October

[Alben Barkley]

Tonight is ALL our victory! Whether you are a mainstream liberal, a libertarian, a socialist, a Never Trump conservative, a WHATEVER, it doesn't matter AT ALL tonight!

Tomorrow, we may resume our in-fighting, but we all passed the ultimate test: Do you stand resolute against authoritarian evil when it looks you in the eye? We all DID! And we all deserve some time to celebrate that and appreciate that whatever our future disagreements with each other may be, we were capable of uniting at a time when it all seemed threatened with horrible darkness that would destroy everything we ALL believe in.

Our common beliefs in truth, justice, and reason have officially WON OUT.

Do we still have a long way to go? Yes. Is it going to be easy or anything but a bumpy road? Of course not. Am I nonetheless ecstatic? YES. We have all been through the sh**tter, I think, the last four years. And anyone who has not yet done it needs to take time to just reward themselves for making it through to the other side. Hell, if you've done it already, do it again! We've earned it! We can get back to fighting each other later. But this is OUR moment!

[Alben Barkley]

Didn't I tell the doomers all along it would all work out? Despite all the weeping, moaning, and gnashing of teeth... At the end of the day Democrats have absolute control over the White House, House of Representatives, and Senate for at least 2 years.

"There is no path for Biden, or for America." -Forumlurker, late October

Aww.. I don't wanna single anyone out! Lurker and I have actually gotten along pretty well since the election. Hell I can't even blame anyone for being so scarred and cynical they went full doomer. But it's time to leave all that behind us and move on to a brighter day. There is hope. We just have to seize it.

[Alben Barkley]

I honestly feel like Scrooge at the end of A Christmas Carol when he becomes almost manically joyous and altruistic. I legitimately feel reborn. Those of you who have only known me through my harshest filters here may be surprised at what you see in the future! I genuinely believe the worst is behind us and we are about to enter a new, brighter day for us all. Happy days are here again!

[NOVA Green]

Meanwhile...

On MSNBC a former top copper is talking about how most or many of the violent perps involved in this "insurrection" can and will be tracked down because of CCTV footage.

Obviously it's gonna be harder to convict the current Incumbent PRES Trump for charges such as "Inciting a Riot", but top LEA officers even discussing this shows how egregious and extensive our current President has been when it comes to basic Law & Order themes.

Even Richard Nixon didn't go this far way back in the early '70s with his gang of "Plumbers"!

Amazing how we currently got a situation in America, where over 50% of Republicans appear to support the concept of storming the Capitol Building in order to keep their National Figurehead as POTUS.

Am I missing something here?

Hopefully I am.... we and my spouse are both 45+ / years, and this is absolute American insanity going on currently.

[Alben Barkley]

They ran out of goalposts, folks.

No more "Just wait until all the votes are counted!"

No more "Just wait until the Electoral College votes!"

No more "Just wait until the state legislators overturn the electoral college!"

No more "Just wait until Congress rejects the electoral college!"

No more "Just wait until Pence rejects the electoral college certified by Congress!"

It. Is. ALL. OVER!!!!

All but the REEEEEEEEEEEEEing!

[NOVA Green]

At the risk of going to far forward, here is a Heavy Metal Song from Black Sabbath (Ronnie James Dio takes over from Ozzy as lead singer).

Personally I consider the Dio era to be one of the most under-rated Sabbath era, especially with Ozzy effectively collapsing on albums & 6 +7, with Never Say Die (#8) being arguably one of the strongest Sabbath Albums other than Volumes 1-4.

Might be completely OT and irrelevant, and certainly will take my licks if need be, but with what is an unprecedented assault on American Democracy from within, is certainly worthy of at least a bit of cultural and lyrical commentary and historical significance.