The good news from Georgia today was quickly eclipsed by the horror in Washington.
This day will live in history as the infamous capstone to a lawless presidency. An armed mob incited by the President of the United States occupied the Capitol building with the objective of obstructing a central function of any democratic system—the peaceful transfer of power. First responsibility for this obscenity lies of course with the president himself, but not far behind are his accomplices in his attack on democracy—the men and women promoting Trump’s lies inside the Capitol while the mob was gathering without. If indeed, the election was stolen, as millions of cult followers have been led to believe, isn’t an insurrection to seize back our democracy an appropriate response?
As I write, the plan is for Congress to resume tonight its recognition of the electoral vote for Biden. If Cruz and Hawley had a shred of scruples—a modicum of decent regard for the democracy in which they hold high office–they would call off their fraudulent, dangerous charade. But they don’t, so they won’t.
As you know, I’m not one of those bloggers who react immediately to the day’s news. I like to take a little time for more relevant information to accumulate before I write something. I will certainly have more to say about this after tonight, but consider this short post a first installment in response to an emotional need–today’s events were just too upsetting for me to wait.
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Janet Landay January 6, 2021 at 7:52 pm
I totally agree, Tony. Good post!
Frank January 6, 2021 at 8:38 pm
In over 200 years, there has always been a peaceful transfer of power… Imagine if Gore refused to accept Bush’s victory. What backlash would have been… I ask myself, what country am I in? We’ve become a third world country.
Jeffrey Herrmann January 6, 2021 at 8:52 pm
The Rethugnican Party is nearly as much at fault as Hair Twittler for this enormous shame brought down on America. No decent person could continue to be affiliated with it. Unfortunately, that leaves about 75 million who will remain Rethugnicans.
With hours left in January 6 there has not yet been one significant resignation from the tRump administration (and I don’t consider Melania’s chief of staff significant either).
Regrettably, this probably is not the end of the insurrection. Expect it to continue until at least Inauguration Day.
Criminal prosecution of all who entered the Capital must take place, and perhaps the Insurrection Act that Barr wanted to use against BLM protestors is one of several criminal statutes to be employed. Prosecution of Hair Twittler himself, unfortunately, probably would not succeed. Perhaps a civil suit against him can be thought up by creative lawyers.