POTUS/General Election Thread 2020 + Aftermath

[Crandar]

YouGov poll. Vast majority of the Republicans doesn't consider the storming of the Capitol as a threat to democracy. Now, I don't find this very worrying, but the fact that 45% support the storming, while only 43% oppose it is a tad ridiculous. Overall, I'd rate it as a very amateurish coup attempt, near our Pyjama coup.

You mean like Greece's occupation of Constantinople?

Not that bad, but you get the gist.

[rory_20_uk]

Will American politicians finally stop with the ridiculous "America is the best country in the world" shtick.

[Hooahguy]

I think for most sane people in the US, that belief went away in November 2016.

[spmetla]

It really is crazy the disconnect that yesterday even has. Talking with my mom she holds the duality of thought that the protests and occupation of the capitol are justified because they feel disenfranchised while at the same time saying that the violence must have been ANTIFA infiltrators despite clear proud-boy, Q-anon, and other links. The online fringe forums have already got the talking points and spin to try and divert all blame for the bad while continuing to 'fight.'
It's fine if people don't accept Biden as president, many did that with Trump, and Obama, and Bush Jr. Crossing the line into wanting to overthrow the government and foment a revolution because you didn't get your way though is just crazy and seditious. I'm glad that the social media platforms are freezing Trump's account for the short term future. The token resignations I still value though two weeks before the end is a bit laughable.

Questions for discussion: if impeachment proceedings are started over this insurrection incitement and election interference that should make these areas off limits for pardoning right? If so then starting even doomed impeachment proceedings may be valuable even if removal from office cannot be achieved.

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

[Hooahguy]

Pelosi calls for invoking the 25th Amendment for insurrection, and should the VP not act on it, they are prepared to move forward with impeachment. She also said that she recieved the resignation of the House Sergeant at Arms, who was in charge of protecting the House. Similar calls are being made for the Senate Sergeant at Arms to resign as well.

Its going to be a wild next few days. A news report that Trump pressured Pence to do a coup, and the Secretary for Transportation, Elaine Chao (who is married to McConnell), says that she will resign on the 11th, potentially giving her some time to act on the 25th Amendment.

Oh also Facebook banned Trump through the 20th, so theres that. Twitter should follow suit.

Edit: this is just the perfect quote-

“This is not America,” a woman said to a small group, her voice shaking. “They’re shooting at us. They’re supposed to shoot BLM, but they’re shooting the patriots.”

Flipped off a bunch of Trump supporters on my walk this morning. They didnt say anything. Felt good.

[rory_20_uk]

What did they expect the Sergeant at Arms to do when faced by a mob - when the police let the insurrectionists in and even took some selfies with them - die at their posts? Unless the buildings have a decent protection (currently it is neither built as a redoubt or has the armed staff) they are expecting a standard of conduct that Congress has failed to meet for decades at best.

[Hooahguy]

The Sergeant at Arms for the House and Senate are in charge of the coordination of Capitol security procedures, working with the Capitol Police force to implement security plans to protect Congress. Nobody thinks they alone need to stand alone to face down the mob, but rather it was a critical planning failure that they must be held accountable for, especially since there were so many prior warnings that the protest would turn violent.

Edit: the chief of Capitol Police will be resigning on Jan. 16th. Good timing, because of this report that they rejected assistance prior to the riot and even as it was materializing.

Three days before supporters of President Donald Trump rioted at the Capitol, the Pentagon asked the U.S Capitol Police if it needed National Guard manpower. And as the mob descended on the building Wednesday, Justice Department leaders reached out to offer up FBI agents. The police turned them down both times, according to senior defense officials and two people familiar with the matter.

Despite plenty of warnings of a possible insurrection and ample resources and time to prepare, the Capitol Police planned only for a free speech demonstration.

[Gilrandir]

Not that bad, but you get the gist.

No I don't. The only thing I get is that you delight in constantly reminding me that the Crimea is occupied by Russia. Still I don't get why the occupation should delight you.

[ReluctantSamurai]

the party is not feuding over any sort of grand policy agenda. It’s simply a personal loyalty test.

The earlier posted meme said it all:

"I just want to own the libs. Beyond that, I have no politics."

[Crandar]

No I don't. The only thing I get is that you delight in constantly reminding me that the Crimea is occupied by Russia. Still I don't get why the occupation should delight you.

Your defensiveness makes you an irresistible target. Relax a bit, Ukraine will survive, even if you don't protect her honour every time. Did I get mad that the Greek army was expelled from Istanbul and Anatolia? No, in fact, I'm glad that our invasion and attempted annexation of foreign lands failed, which also renders me less vulnerable to jabs at national sensitivities.

Anyway, back to topic, our Caucasian brothers were also featured in Wednesday's Capitol affair.

I think for most sane people in the US, that belief went away in November 2016.

Exceptionalism is one of the main factors that the Trump phenomenon was allowed to gain such extraordinary influence. For a developed nation, America seems too much indoctrinated with chauvinism and militarism, both of which are inherently far-right principles and contribute to make xenophobic and racist messages more easily digestible to the wider public. Even here in the backwards Balkans, people are less obsessed with the uniqueness of the nation, the army and the veterans. The most long-term way to safeguard the republican foundations of your institution is to reconsider the values that mainstream/pop culture and the education system transmits to the citizens. The situation has improved since the Cold War, but in a very slow pace, judging from how absurdly nationalistic concepts like American supremacy and exceptionalism are still taken seriously by both sides of the political spectrum.

An even clearer video of the shooting. Watch at your own discretion. A question that might sound stupid to our American members: If I understood correctly, the person who shot her is said to have been a police officer, but I got the impression that he was not dressed in uniform. Doesn't this mean he belonged to the secret services or are police officers also allowed to wear suits, while on duty?

[edyzmedieval]

Anyway, back to topic, our Caucasian brothers were also featured in Wednesday's Capitol affair.

There was also a Romanian flag waved over there, cut in the middle (symbolising the Romanian Revolution against Communism), which I found odd, confusing, and if the symbolism is implied, beyond shameful to compare the Romanian Revolution to this insurrection.

I'm almost 10.000 miles away and this has been left, right, front, back and center news over here.

[Gilrandir]

Did I get mad that the Greek army was expelled from Istanbul and Anatolia? No, in fact, I'm glad that our invasion and attempted annexation of foreign lands failed, which also renders me less vulnerable to jabs at national sensitivities.

There is a whole world of difference between "invasion and attempted annexation of foreign lands" and protection of one's own integrity.

But in general, I take it that any sensitive issues and tragic events are allowed to be mocked at on this forum, including holocaust, massacres, racist lynchings, gas chambers and so on.

[edyzmedieval]

But in general, I take it that any sensitive issues and tragic events are allowed to be mocked at on this forum, including holocaust, massacres, racist lynchings, gas chambers and so on.

Of course not. Denying such events is a rather quick trip to Cooldown Town but there's also a fine line about mocking such events.

I personally do not like it, I find it distasteful and wrong towards the memory of those who were wronged, but keep in mind there is also dark humour, which in many cases was a coping mechanism. Case by case basis.

[Hooahguy]

If anyone is interested, George Washington University set up an online database detailing everyone who has been charged so far in the Capitol riots.

[ReluctantSamurai]

Not sure this is going anywhere:

https://beta.documentcloud.org/docum...rturn-election

On the one hand, doing nothing encourages more of the same type of behavior from these seditionists, but dwelling too long on the subject seems like a witch-hunt. Certainly Mo Brooks (AL) should come under scrutiny for this horse-shit:

https://theintercept.com/2021/01/07/...can-mo-brooks/

Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., one of the most outspoken lawmakers in support of Donald Trump’s false claim that the presidential election was stolen, floated the possibility of violence as a reasonable form of political resistance while speaking on local Alabama talk radio today. [note: this was a day AFTER the 6 Jan debacle]

Brooks was one of the featured speakers at the rally and had more to say about it:

On the radio, Brooks defended his participation in the rally the previous day, baselessly charged that there was “mounting evidence of fascist antifa’s involvement in all of this,” and said that those involved in storming Congress should be prosecuted.

The inflammatory rhetoric suggests the Alabama lawmaker has little interest in stepping back from his rhetoric earlier this week. Brooks opened the “Save America” rally with a searing speech that charged, “Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.”

During his remarks, he asked the crowd to consider the American ancestors who sacrificed their blood and “sometimes their lives” to create the “greatest nation in world history.” “So I have a question for you,” Brooks continued. “Are you willing to do the same?”

Republicans who would not support the effort to decertify Electoral College votes for President-elect Joe Biden also received scorn. “America does not need and cannot stand and cannot tolerate anymore weakling, cowering, wimpy Republican congressmen and senators,” yelled Brooks at the rally.

If Papa Don gets deserved condemnation for incentivizing the crowd, then this seditionist should get the same.

I take it that any sensitive issues and tragic events are allowed to be mocked at on this forum, including holocaust, massacres, racist lynchings, gas chambers and so on

I'm not aware of any members here that are neo-nazi, or extreme right-wing racists....