MegaSack DRAW - This year's winner is user - rgwb
We will be in touch
BBC also reporting that Cabinet are actively discussing the 25th.
Facebook have blocked him for a day too.
Is he/it active on Parler?
Well, looks like the Rep Senator for Missouri is still pushing the conspiracy... Incredible stuff.
As it only needs 8 members of the cabinet along with Pence to enact the 25th i doubt trump will be president tomorrow. Wonder what odds I’d get?
They are supposed to be debating Arizona but are talking about other states. I think that's maybe a sign that they expect this to be the only debated objection and they won't raise others. Hopefully.
I can't imagine many of them are keen to sit there all night after today's events!
Romney spitting facts:
"We gather due to a selfish man’s injured pride"
"No congressional audit is ever going to convince these voters."
"The truth is that President-elect Biden won the election. President Trump lost."
Romney giving a damning warning to those republicans who stand behind the president and he only received applause from democrats, this is like watching an entire series of “house of cards in one sitting.
Wonder what odds I’d get?
Pretty long, based on Jim Acosta's report just now. Cabinet unlikely to get behind it to the degree required, and not enough time to go through senate and congress.
I think both houses have to back it by 2/3rds too?
Which isn't going to happen as (apparently) only the Dems clapped Romney's speech.
I’m picturing a heavily sedated trump hiding under his desk whilst chewing off his own thumbs due to Twitter withdrawal, meanwhile Kayleigh Mcennany is giving a press briefing to an empty room populated with hastily drawn caricatures of the White House press mounted onto mop handles.
Everything’s fine.....there is no fire.......
Safe bet he'll bugger off to Florida tomorrow to play golf? Scotland isn't looking good.😁
By both definitions he is a creature of habit.
Mitt Romney giving stink eye to Josh Hawley who one was one of six to back the Arizona objection
https://twitter.com/ianbremmer/status/1347006246696710149?s=21
Some sweatshop in eastern Europe wondering why the sudden demand for flags.
https://twitter.com/eoinburgin/status/1346946053082378245
https://twitter.com/Michael46898990/status/1346960521308864513
This?
I wonder if the republicans that have been fanning these flames will show some contrition now
(likewise plenty of RW politicians & commentators in the UK ought to reflect on their praise of him, even Johnson)
Pretty clear that the sane(r) leaders of the GOP have finally understood how close Trump has taken America to the edge and are scrambling to be seen to be doing the right thing now.
Not sure there's time or the right numbers in the right places to invoke 25th, but I'd love to be in on a conversation between Pence and Trump.
Trump lost the army a couple of years ago, senior generals have been very clear and votes from the military supported that.
The so called "most powerful man in the world" has made himself head of a failed state. Wow.
Lessons for us all there.
Hmm Handmaids tale playing out.
Blessed be the fruitloop.
I've seen the full video of the *protestor being shot. Some regular police / security guards were standing in front of a set of doors being confronted by the mob. The mob were loud and obnoxious. The mob started smashing the glass panes of the doors. The protestor was a bit behind the men smashing the glass, you could recognise her clearly.
The police spoke into their radios and a short time after, a heavily armed swat type team arrived up a set of stairs slightly behind the mob. They barged in, and evacuated the regular police down the stairs. They weren't prevented from doing this by the mob. As they were going down the stairs away from the mob, you can hear a gunshot and the protestor falls to the ground. The swat team comes back up the stairs and start applying first aid along with a member of the mob - i think the same one who was smashing windows a few minutes previously. The swat team looked to me, pretty panicked.
I don't think the video of the incicdent looked great for the swat team.
* wasnt sure what to call her, I don't use 'protestor' as an attempt to legitimise, endorse of condone any of the dreadful behaviour on display yesterday. 'Rioter' felt even more loaded.
The footage of Capitol police just moving aside to let protestors through the barricades is pretty damning, I'd assume they'd been overwhelmed and had to retreat for their safety and to form an inner perimeter but nope they calmly allowed them through. I wonder if their union will protect them - surely members of Congress will demand resignations and firings given their own safety was jeopardised?
I watched most of it unfold on CNN (flipping back to the BBC when CNN's coverage got a bit OTT), fair play to their reporters, they must have balls of steel to stand amongst the crowd calling them rioters etc.
I don’t think the video of the incicdent looked great for the swat team.
I watched it too. Hundreds of potentially armed 'rioters' using force to enter a small space filled with heavily armed officers charged with protecting hundreds of congressmen/women and senators makes this kind of thing highly likely. I'm only surprised at their restraint and control overall, TBH.
did notice on some of the footage they were chanting "Kill 'em" "Kill 'em" "Kill 'em" "Kill 'em"
The Wisconsin objection is not supported by a senator. It stands for Biden.
so that's it
Easy to say police and expect someone who is well paid, trained and resourced, sad to say that is most definitely not always the case. I'd be interested to see the barrier video with more context.
As for Romney, Pence and such, let's not forget they were the ones that allowed Trump to get where he was, this could have been nipped in the bud long ago but for their inaction and others like them.
From the BBC feed
The FBI has put out an appeal seeking help in "identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington DC"
Surely the orange balloon is top of the list no?
Congress has confirmed Biden now anyway 🙂
I’m only surprised at their restraint and control overall, TBH.
I'm not, there were no black faces present!
Prayers are over, joint session concluded. It’s done...
Cheerio Donald...
Thinking about this overnight.....it was was too easy for the protestors to get access; especially when compared to the forceful response seen to blm many times. They could so easily have done more to prevent what happened.
Unless...... the worst thing about the Trump presidency is his legacy. Leaving behind a huge chunk of the public that think the election was rigged and massively disenfranchised. I'm not talking about the nut jobs; I'm talking about 'normal' republican Americans. The sort of person no right think European would have as a friend but could just about tolerate as a neighbour you didn't have to speak to too often. What better way to cut the head off the snake (or lift the curtain on the wizard of Oz - take your metaphor of choice) than let his loony tunes supporters reek havoc after he has clearly and in high fidelity HD incited them to do. There was never going to be a coup, they were just a bunch of sad losers doing a bit of superficial damage and taking selfies. What they might have done is given a shock treatment to the sizable number of saveable morons that they have been suckered in by a dangerous sociopath way more effective than any number of preaching angry media commentators and ex presidents could ever do. Maybe this was made deliberately easy to achieve as it was was needed as the only way to finish him forever.
Oh god, they do a stupid little prayer after the certification.
To convert's point:
Maybe....
and whether by accident or design is relatively unimportant. The way the 'moderate' Rep senators and Representatives (moderate = not batshit unhinged, let's be honest) have either condemned or at least stood aside so that democracy can reassert control is encouraging. If the same happens in the populace now that's a good thing.
But it won't be the media or democrats that finally turn that tide. It'll be their own friends and families calling them out to stop being ****s.
Pretty sure ITV report had footage of a shot female protester – very impressive report.
https://twitter.com/itvnews/status/1346952339886923786?s=21
I watched it too. Hundreds of potentially armed ‘rioters’ using force to enter a small space filled with heavily armed officers charged with protecting hundreds of congressmen/women and senators makes this kind of thing highly likely. I’m only surprised at their restraint and control overall, TBH.
Me too. I was surprised last night when someone said it was a Trump supporter that was shot (sadly and subsequently killed) and that it hadn't sparked worse. Same with the other 3, although their circumstances are less known.
Maybe the craziness is still not totally crazy......or am I clutching at straws, trying to see positives in a very negative situation?
James Comeys call, yesterday, not to press charges against Trump now looks a tad premature...
The FBI has put out an appeal seeking help in “identifying individuals who are actively instigating violence in Washington DC”
Surely the orange balloon is top of the list no?
Rudy "Trial by Combat" Gulliani?
James Comeys call, yesterday, not to press charges against Trump now looks a tad premature…
Trying to give an autocrat a “safe” way of stepping aside is always good politics. If he won’t take that route out though… what next? USA is watching something unfold in their own country that has happened many times all over the world before.
Confederate flags.
Cosplay military.
Lame duck president complicit in calling for it all.
<shakes head>
"Even though I totally disagree with the outcome of the election, and the facts bear me out, nevertheless there will be an orderly transition on January 20th," Trump said in the statement, repeating false claims he has made throughout the last two months. "I have always said we would continue our fight to ensure that only legal votes were counted. While this represents the end of the greatest first term in presidential history, it's only the beginning of our fight to Make America Great Again."
James Comeys call, yesterday, not to press charges against Trump
Is based on him being a republican, and pompous self righteous fool, he is too aragont to admit his mistakes and politicizing of his role swung the 2016 election for Trump. And is based on the false premise that prosecuting Trump would be politicizing law, when if fact not doing so would be. If Trump has committed crimes, he should be prosecuted no matter that he can rouse a rabble. Not doing so empowers his ilk.
He's utterly deluded.
Maybe the craziness is still not totally crazy……or am I clutching at straws, trying to see positives in a very negative situation?
I do think that there has been restraint and what could have been an really very violent situation ended in a relatively controlled way. Seeing the images of the armed SWAT, police and security up close and personal with so many of the insurrectionists it is amazing there wasn't more death and injury.
Still 4 lives taken, 30+ police and officials injured and a variety of damage to building and property is not exactly the way things should be.
hmm
makes the open letter a few days ago from the Sec Def saying do not involve the military in politics very relevant
Sadly the military cosplay types aren't covered by their remit.
Not sure why the National Guard weren't already at the Capitol in the same way they were deployed with the BLM protests but with the (presumably) limited number of police and guards they felt that an armed response, or indeed any overt pushback would escalate the situation. Obviously easy to look at these things from outside and with hindsight.
In the mid 1980s I was on a mountaineering trip to ****stan and we were drinking in the US embassy bar/club and talking to some of the Marines stationed there. Although they were armed (more than likely extremely heavily) they said that if there was a mob outside that attacked then they wouldn't fire as they'd run out of bullets before the mob ran out of bodies. Not dereliction of duty, just reality.
Surely the Donald only has to seek advice from his good friend, Mr Farrago, on how to make money when you've lost your job, there must be some vacancies for a man with his political insight and wealth creating capabilities, post Covid ,in China, say.
Not sure why the National Guard weren’t already at the Capitol in the same way they were deployed with the BLM protests but with the (presumably) limited number of police and guards they felt that an armed response, or indeed any overt pushback would escalate the situation. Obviously easy to look at these things from outside and with hindsight.
Call me cynical but im pretty sure there is a very black and white reason as to why.
Call me cynical but im pretty sure there is a very black and white reason as to why.
Not even that - the sitting president is the only person who can order the deployment of the DC National Guard. He is quite happy for his opponents to get the shit kicked out of them, but not his supporters.
There is still a little confusion as to who eventually ordered them in in the end, as it was claimed to be Mike Pence, leading to lots of chat as to whether the 25th had already been invoked.
Radio silence from the rest of the Trump clan, even those not current banhammered.
Although they were armed (more than likely extremely heavily) they said that if there was a mob outside that attacked then they wouldn’t fire as they’d run out of bullets before the mob ran out of bodies. Not dereliction of duty, just reality.
Stalin's "numbers have a quality of their own" philosophy.
Not sure why the National Guard weren’t already at the Capitol in the same way they were deployed with the BLM protests
Dunno how true this is but saw reports last night that initial requests to the Defence Department for a National Guard callout were declined, and they subsequently requested and received assistance from Virginia and their NG. I believe Pence subsequently agreed to deploy the NG, not Trump.
Dunno how true this is but saw reports last night that initial requests to the Defence Department for a National Guard callout were declined, and they subsequently requested and received assistance from Virginia and their NG. I believe Pence subsequently agreed to deploy the NG, not Trump.
That Tallies with what I was seeing and reading. Both Virginia and Maryland sent 200 state troopers and their NG in to Washington at the request of the DC mayor because the president wouldn't authorise him to use the DC national guard. Note that those asking if the NG should have been there in the first place, a certain carrot topped lunatic would have had to authorise that in the first place...
@martinhutch - not according to this https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/06/us/politics/national-guard-capitol-army.html
The decision to mobilize the D.C. National Guard — by Secretary McCarthy and Christopher C. Miller, the acting defense secretary — came as a pro-Trump mob breached the Capitol earlier in the day.
Defense and administration officials said it was Vice President Mike Pence, not President Trump, who approved the order to deploy the D.C. National Guard. It was unclear why the president, who incited his supporters to storm the Capitol and who is still the commander in chief, did not give the order.
I think that last sentence is disingenuous in the extreme 😉
@Sandwich - part of their reasoning was that it wasn't "them" per se that a mob would be protesting against but the institution of the embassy/the USA, they would be pushed aside, maybe roughed up, while the mob wrecked the place. At most they would delay things until sensitive papers had been destroyed.
I was surprised last night when someone said it was a Trump supporter that was shot (sadly and subsequently killed) and that it hadn’t sparked worse.
An ardent Trumpet/QAnon nut I had been debating on TikTok actually had a bit of an epiphany at that. He suddenly changed tone and said he still thought it was dodgy but that this had gone too far. He actually seemed genuinely upset to realise that this wasn't just a Reality TV show.
a mob would be protesting against but the institution of the embassy/the USA, they would be pushed aside, maybe roughed up, while the mob wrecked the place.
Ummm.. that same mob were chanting "Traitor Pence", went through the building shouting "Where are they?", and erected a gallows outside the building.
****ing hell, hadn’t seen that!!
Isn’t it about time all Trump threads were combined into one big internet-conspiracy thread?
Someone named ‘Sarah Palin’ just claimed that the storming of The Capitol Building was performed by leftist Democrat Antifa infiltrators dressed up as MAGA people (very fine people, some of our best people) in order to make True Americans look bad*
This morning my porridge looked a bit funny so I stabbed my self in checked behind my eyes with a fork just to be sure there wasn’t an implant. Always eat porridge with a fork. Spoons are an Egyptian conspiracy.
*Paraphrased and/or satirical. Always be sure to ask the internet before and after believing anything to be true and/or accurate.
Someone named ‘Sarah Palin’ just claimed that the storming of The Capitol Building was performed by leftist Democrat Antifa infiltrators dressed up as MAGA people
Yep - that's the right-wing loon spin all over Parler, TikTok etc.
These were all "antifa in disguise" (despite several of them already being identified as well-known Q/Trump nutters. Plus their own social media posting images from inside the building).
Can't even accept the consequences of their actions. Utterly pathetic.
Given that Trumps supporters are meant to be blue-collared working men, that's a really shit gallows
and they're some of MAGA's best people.
Should've been aiming for something more achievable. Perhaps Make America Average Again.
Given that Trumps supporters are meant to be blue-collared working men, that’s a really shit gallows
Joinery skills aren't normally the preserve of stout tree branch, burning cross and pillowcase enthusiasts.
that’s a really shit gallows
What kind of lynch mob can't even tie a proper noose?
I'm sure it was intended to by symbolic rather than functional, but what it symbolises is still hugely disturbing.
Saying nothing
Yeah, all that praise and support for Trump from Starmer looks foolish now.
Is that what you're not saying?
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/keir-starmer-urges-boris-johnson-22993564
What kind of lynch mob can’t even tie a proper noose?
13 turns, unlucky for some...
Is that what you’re not saying?
No wasn't a barb at Starmer, more the tories who lined up to kiss his arse. It is however a reminder that what some may call pointless virtue signalling is actually just an exercise in being principled.
Yeah, if only we'd listened to Jeremy all along none of this would have happened!
On the NG point, I just read that Trump was very ready to call out the NG on BLM, but reluctant to do so on the Trumpets. It seems Pence, having realised the game is up, may have belatedly stepped up and be taking his oath seriously at last, and encouraged the NG to pull their fingers out.
Well... that was crazy, but I'm sure the next two weeks will pass without incident.
the tories who lined up to kiss his arse
He made the right move... especially when you contrast the fawning of people like Rees-Mogg. Trump's visits to the UK showed who was prepared to do the fluffing for him. Much of the country supported Corbyn, and many others, notably Burcow, for the stance they took at the time. Why people still voted for those vocally proTrump Conservatives in huge numbers is a very worrying concern.
The photos no matter how much you disagree with them are very good and will remind the USA what trump did.
Tinpot Dictator behind bullet proof glass√
Georgia flag √
Bloke with feet up on leader of the house's desk√
Man in panto costume with starwars tattoos and face paint√
Many more to come I'm sure.
Anyone seen the first lady??
Why people still voted for those vocally proTrump Conservatives in huge numbers is a very worrying concern.
They vote for them because the tories are trying to pull the same trick as Trump and the republicans. They've rebranded themselves as the anti-establishment populists on the side of the people. It's ridiculous to those of us who can see it, but to the voters supporting them who don't really take an interest in politics all they see is what is on the surface, which is the likes of Farage and Boris 'saying it as it is' in non-elitist language. Populists derive power from insecurity, disenfranchisement and ignorance. What's happening in america is happening here, and the solution as I've been saying repeatedly is to engage with the people supporting the populists, rather than dismissing them. This is a wake-up call for the UK, and we can avoid descending into the mess the US is in, but only if we abandon our own embryonic culture war.
https://vm.tiktok.com/ZSvoKkCo/
Poor Elizabeth: “Why did they mace me? I was just storming the Capitol during a revolution. Couldn’t they see I was white?”
Poor Elizabeth: “Why did they mace me? I was just storming the Capitol during a revolution. Couldn’t they see I was white?”
One thing that has struck me about trump supporters recently is how incredibly thick they appear to be. Not just a bit uneducated, but proper borderline imbeciles. elizabeth demonstrates that perfectly. What on earth did she think would happen?
And my other observation from Twitter is why do they all claim to be deeply religious, but not think God may be pissed off that they all act like utter cxxxx?
LMAO at Poor Elizabeth.
LOL at Elizabeth. On record with that statement I wonder if she’ll get charged or will they let it slide.