BREAKING: U.S. Civil War commences

because there ain't one. You're either a Trump sycophant your you are abstaining from voting for Republicans until the party fixes that cancer (not just ditching Trump but fixing the mentality that made his ascent possible) - say, for example of the latter, Bill Kristol.

There's no "I really don't like Trump but I'm all in on the party he owns" voter - they are just lying to themselves.

Here's the dirty little secret:
There ***ARE NO*** such things as "conservative principles" - just the bullshit they feed to gullible voters (like shit about killing babies for example) to keep you in line.

I speak from experience.

What was really going on in that crowd? Read this:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/...LVLVjDYEttvhjKhw8mqq3C-SiacZsb2P8gqj3RZUs3Rvc

My wife and I attended the “Stop the Steal” Trump Insurrection on Wednesday (as observers, NOT participants) and there are FIVE big take-aways from what we witnessed and heard outside the Capitol that I'd like to share.
This insurrection wasn’t just redneck white supremacists and QAnon kooks. The people participating in, espousing, or cheering the violence cut across the different factions of the Republican Party and those factions were working in unison. Preppy looking "country club Republicans," well-dressed social conservatives, and white Evangelicals in Jesus caps were standing shoulder to shoulder with QAnon cultists, Second Amendment cosplay commandos, and doughy, hardcore white nationalists. We eavesdropped on conversations for hours and no one expressed the slightest concern about the large number of white supremacists and para-military spewing violent rhetoric. Even the man in the “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt wasn’t beyond the pale. They were all “patriots."

I'm sure there were Republicans there who were horrified by what was happening. But the most common emotions we witnessed by nearly everyone were jubilation at the take over and anger at Democrats, Mike Pence, non-Trump supporting Republicans, and the Capitol Police.
(that's the first 5 of 22 tweets - very disturbing)

That is the interesting thing about the republican party and the american right. They will absolutely tolerate any behavior as long as you are on their side. For those fringe people they will ignore all the rhetoric against them because they think the republicans won't turn on them as soon as they gain power. I understand why the core WASP will use the fringe support. As soon as they get power they can rid themselves of the tokens because they have the numbers. What I don't fully get is the tokens who support them.

Some of them I can understand. I can get the cubans. With enough mix with white people you get ted cruz. eventually, your kids become part of the white power structure just like the italians (Olive skinned europeans), middle easterners, and asians. eventually they will become part of WASP culture if they breed in and give up their culture for golf, jesus, and a ford. But those people don't like where they come from anyway.

so that was your experience/your opinion so it is everyone else's too? Talk about a broad brush!

agree! The more I watch the clip of him going up the stairs the more I'm impressed by his actions! If he were really retreating he would have just hauled ass but he didn't.
He kept them in sight (perilously) and under control. Of course it's too soon to publicly thank him by name because that would put him in danger, plus there is an ongoing investigation into the whole debacle.

the terrorists have won. Oh wait, they didn't! They are hopefully headed to prison.

Are there separate charges for treason, insurrection, sedition, etc? or is any combination of these crimes lumped together? What is the precedent (if any) for a situation like Trump is currently involved in? I've never witnessed anything like it so I have no idea. I like history but I'm not an expert on the subject.

That said how long until there is a Netflix movie about the Trump presidency? I'm ballparking it at two years.

Between the Spanish, Italians, and the papacy, they created white power structures and colonialism.

Pardon me? That just doesn't seem feasible.

There are transcripts (I think) of the entire hour long phone call. Regardless a few sources have weighed in on the call but it - and pretty much all other news stories - was pushed to the back burner after Wednesday.

And here we have a prime example of a "conservative" projecting unto other people what he does himself...

1) there was some fraud but it wasn't enough to change the election results. Even if (for argument's sake) every vote Trump lost by was fraudulent if Trump voter turnout was higher he would have won. Thus Trump's claim of "widespread voter fraud" are false. Is he lying? No, but he is incorrect in his assessment.
2) I wasn't present in the courts where his claims were rejected, so anything I think or imagine went on in court would be pure speculation at this point.
3) I would need to hear the recorded phone call in it's entirety, not just a segment of it.
4) this is tricky and not so cut-and-dried IMHO. If (big if) Trump had prior knowledge that there was a segment of the demonstrators that would actually physically attack the Capitol, then "stirring the pot" would be immoral and illegal. But at this point in the investigation the general public just doesn't know. Up to this point no right-wing rallies or demonstrations had ever gotten this far out of control. Trump could have underestimated how crazy a small percentage of the demonstrators could get. IMHO the entire demonstration shouldn't have happened even if no violent chaos would have ensued. Trump should have continued his fight to prove widespread election fraud if he earnestly believes that it occurred. But encouraging and enabling a demonstration in any fashion just to protest the election results is ridiculous and self-centered, immature, reckless behavior on his part.
5) yes of course the riot should be condemned, and the tragic results should give future rioters pause for concern, but I doubt that it will.
6) Trump should not be impeached because it would serve no purpose other than to paint the Democratic party as vengeful and divisive as well as fearful of a Trump return,which could likely threaten their future political control. If people (both sides of the aisle) actually think Trump is an existential threat to public safety and has committed any specific crimes (or conspiracy to commit any crimes) then they should skip impeachment altogether and push to get him arrested and charged with those crimes.

Like I said earlier, technically, a sycophant is someone who flatters insincerely with an eye to personal gain. So it not true to say that you're either a sycophant or a non-voter. Effectively, there is not much of a difference between sycophants and other brands of Trump supporters/enablers but here are but a few of the shades of Trump supporters/enablers:

1. The sycophants: people who know better but are kissing up to Trump and the MAGA movement hoping to get rewards for themselves. People like Mike Pence, Ted Cruz and most elected Republicans.

2. The sometimes dissenters: People who will make public or private breaks with Trump and the MAga movement even if they still will vote with Trump 90+ percent of the time. People like Mitt Romney and Ben Sasse.

3. The true believeers: People who believe all or most of what Trump says and act accordingly, even to their own possible detriment. I'd imagine something like 30-45 percent of Republicans fall into this category.

4. The single-issue voters: The people whose reactions to parts or most of Trump's agenda might range from indifference to actual hate but are willing to hold their noses about them because abortion, or conservative judges, or tax breaks, or culture war.

5. The culture warriors: People who may not know or care about the ins and outs of policy arguments, but damn it feels good to own the libs!

Then there are the Never Trumpers: People in the Republican Party who have seen Trump as a problem and actively sought to minimize his power, however unsuccessfully. People like those behind the Lincoln Project. They are still Republicans.

In case you are not just joking, the limits of the pardon power have not been tested in court. There is at least a precedent for a president pardoning whole categories of people pre-emptively. On his first day in office, Carter pre-emptively pardoned everyone for dodging the Vietnam War draft. So hypothetically, Trump could issue a pardon for everyone for "all crimes committed against the United Staes for any activities in any way connected to the protests at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021." Such an action would be presumptively valid and because D.C. does not have its own state law, would likely end criminal prosecution of anyone for their role in the insurrection. It's conceivable that such a broad pardon would be challenged in court, but if so, presumably this Supreme Court would uphold it 5-4 or 6-3.

Yes I was joking. "Pardon me" was the joke. Don't get your panties in a twist, we already lost one wf lawyer a couple of years ago, we don't need to lose another.

andy warhol called, your 15 minutes are up.

By the standards of number 6 nobody should ever be punished for anything.

I'm not saying that at all. Behavior resulting in impeachment is not necessarily the same as criminal behavior. There is often overlap, but not always. Impeachment is similar to an indictment. The actual conviction is the deal-breaker. I'm quite sure you've checked the "yes" or "no" box that asks if you have ever been convicted of a felony. ASAIK there is no question of "have you ever been accused of a felony" on the form. Thus impeaching and convicting Trump to remove him from office is pointless once he has already left office.
Even if Trump is impeached and convicted that is no guaranteed that he couldn't run again. It's all in the link provided - it's about a five minute read.

If Biden is all about "unity" and "healing" impeaching Trump just for spite would not go unnoticed by those who think/know Biden is full of shit. But hey, if people want to waste their time and resources and risk a likely pushback that ends up weakening their political goals then go for it!

https://www.npr.org/2021/01/08/9549...ump-from-office-is-unlikely-if-not-impossible

Just for spite?

No guarantee, but I'm willing to buy the impeachment anway (and eventual conviction even if it's after 100 days or more).

Per your link:

The Constitution, under Article I, Section 3, Clause 7, says that "judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office of honor, trust or profit under the United States."

He could be a congressman in FL but not hold any federal office.

It's also not up to Biden to impeach. Yes he holds some sway, but it's up to the house of representatives and then the senate to convict him.

Trump has been astronomically bad for democracy, the country, and the world. Beyond impeachment there is an array of criminal charges and civil suits awaiting him.

To not impeach would be a dereliction of duty by the house. After a nice damaging trial in the senate, who knows?

Do you really think that any sane person would would accept Biden's "C'mon man! I'm a unity guy! I don't want to impeach Trump but my hands are tied!" bullshit tap dance?
Obviously my last three political predictions were a bust. I'm about to get lucky and here's my prediction:
Biden is going to step on his dick six ways from Sunday and his regime will go down like the Titanic. Granted he may only be at the helm long enough to plow into that iceberg, but regardless the hilarity will still ensue. Should I get plain or buttered popcorn for the show?

Doesn't matter as congress holds the authority to impeach, not Biden.

After the shitshow of the last four years, you might be disappointed.

His regime?

In this case I think impeachment after he leaves would be prudent and they should disqualify him from running for federal office.

Bull.

If we can't impeach when his words directly started a coup and endangered members of Congress, then what *can* we remove a President for? Hair sniffing?

The other issue is that the prevailing legal theory is that a sitting president cannot be charged with crimes while he remains in office.

Hell be out of office in a week. Will criminal charges be concurrent with impeachment proceedings? If either one of these situations don't end in a quick conviction Trump could drag out a trial and/or impeachment for three or so years, end up getting an acquittal then moving right into running for president in 2024. The odds are against that of course.

Imagine running a Micky D's this way.

Employee- Randy's been stealing from the register, and he splashed fry oil all over Teresa's arm on purpose! Fire his ass, and call the cops!

Manager oldfella- Eh.... his parents are moving, so he'll be gone next week anyway.