Pallbearers of Democracy

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The House Impeachment managers, led by Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD), delivered the article of impeachment to the Senate on January 25, 2021. Senators were sworn in on January 26, 2021 for the second impeachment of Donald Trump for “incitement of insurrection.” The house managers waited outside the Senate chamber in the exact same spot rioters confronted Capitol police on January 6, 2021.

Senator Patrick Leahy, the president pro tempore who will be presiding over the trial, administered the oath to senators. Senators then signed the oath book declaring their intent to serve as impartial jurors. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), who said the impeachment was “Dead on arrival,” challenged the constitutionality of an impeachment trial against a former president. Just five Republicans, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse and Pat Toomey, joined all Democrats in opposing the measure, an indication that Democrats will not attract the 17 Republicans that would be needed to convict Mr. Trump at trial. Most Republican Senators will not truly be impartial, they will not convict Trump because they fear him and his lunatic “base.” As Trump said in the past, “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters.” Who knew he could kill 400,000 Americans and incite a riot on the Capitol building and not face consequences. He probably loves the idea of the trial since it will keep his name in the headlined for one more month before he fades into obscurity.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said that Paul’s interpretation of the Constitution was “flat-out wrong,” and noted that the Senate had previously held an impeachment trial for an official who was no longer in office in 1876. On January 27, 2021, Schumer insisted that the Senate would push forward with an impeachment trial of the former President despite not having the GOP votes needed.

Democratic Senator Tim Kaine and Republican Senator Susan Collins have pitched their colleagues on supporting a censure resolution against Mr. Trump. Censure is a formal disapproval that can be adopted by one, or both chambers of Congress. Unlike impeachment, censure is not a power provided by the Constitution. Censure, is “stronger than a simple rebuke, but not as strong as expulsion.” For an authoritarian like Trump it is just a slap on the wrist.

House Delivers Articles of Impeachment to Senate

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On Monday, January 25, 2021 House impeachment managers walked across the Capitol and delivered to the Senate the charge against Donald J. Trump, the first president in history to be impeached twice. The charge is incitement of insurrection. They were led into the Senate chamber by the lead impeachment manager, Rep. Jamie Raskin of (D-MD), who read the article of impeachment. Sen. Patrick Leahy, (D-VT), the president pro tempore of the Senate, is expected to preside over the impeachment trial. The Constitution says the chief justice presides when the person facing trial is the current president of the United States, but senators preside in other cases, one source said.

The trial is slated to begin the week of February 8, 2021. The expectation is, that it will take up much of February and wrap up by month’s end, if not sooner. Before the start of the trial the Senate hopes to confirm President Joe Biden‘s Cabinet and potentially handle the President’s Covid-19 relief package. Trump’s legal team and the House managers will have two weeks to exchange pre-trial briefs before arguments begin. Senators will be sworn in as jurors on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. 17 Republican Senators would have to vote to convict the former president in the Senate that now evenly split 50/50. 10 house republicans voted to impeach the president but getting 17 Senators to weigh the evidence in an impartial way seems a long shot.  Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), the only Republican who voted to convict Trump in the first impeachment trial, said, “I believe that what is being alleged and what we saw, which is incitement to insurrection, is an impeachable offense. If not, what is?”

Joe Biden has proposed a 1.9 trillion dollar COVID Relief Plan. Sixteen bipartisan senators discussed the aid plan with Biden administration officials on Sunday, January 24, 2021 and while the lawmakers agreed on the need for vaccine distribution money, many questioned the overall price tag. It could take weeks for Congress to finish talks around a coronavirus relief deal and for Democrats to decide whether they should forge ahead with an aid bill without GOP support. The bill includes calls for funds to streamline vaccinations, $1,400 direct payments, a $400 weekly unemployment supplement, and state and local government support.

Twilight’s Last Gleaming

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As a petty and petulant Donald Trump left the White House, 400,000 Americans have died from COVID-19. More than 20,000 people are dying per week. An American dies abut every minute. The virus is about to surpass the number of Americans who died in WWII.

My father fought in WWII and one of my most vivid memories as a child was our family visit to the capitol building. I remember the feeling of awe when entering that huge vaulted dome for the first time. A faded black and white photo shot by my brother documents the moment my father held the doors open for my mother to enter our Nations Capitol.

The National Mall, was covered with 200,000 American flags as a memorial for the lives lost as Joe Biden is worn in as the 46th American president. On January 6, 2021 this was the sight of an angry mob’s violence as they attacked the Capitol.

I had to work through the inauguration but at lunch time I listened to Lady Gaga as she performed the Star Spangled Banner. Her performance chocked me up for the flag was still flying   above the Capitol despite the violence of the insurrection just days before. She wore a giant gold pin in the shape of a dove that reminded me of the Hunger Games. The violence the mob had incited was very much like the dystopian nightmare presented in the Hunger Games. Finally this field presents a symbol of hope. Biden plans to begin taking basic health precautions that Trump ignored and mocked. The country will still be divided among those who wear a mask to protect loved ones and those who deny science. Biden want to unify the nation and he has his work cut out for him. One year ago on January 20, the United States had its first known case of the novel coronavirus which was discovered in Snohomish County, Washington.

Losers at the Gate

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Why all the animal pelts worn by the nut jobs that attempted to overthrow the D.C. Capitol? Does  insurrection attract cos-players?

One arrived at the Capitol wearing what appeared to be a fox-hide hood and a fuzzy cloak, looking much like a Neanderthal, except he wore round Harry Potter glasses, a bulletproof vest and he was carrying a police riot shield. He has been arrested.

Another, a self proclaimed “QAnon Shaman,” wore a a horned Viking headdress and his body was covered in a brick pattern which presumably celebrates Trumps medieval attempts to build a southern border wall. He has been arrested.

Neanderthals believed that by wearing fur pelts they could inherit some of the animals viscous traits. These egg heads didn’t inherit anything but lame conspiracy theories. Viking imagery feeds into the idea of white nationalist  origins. Nazis took the warring viking sea faring culture to promote a white German nation state. German scholars blamed socialism, Jews and class revolutions for the “decline” of a Germanic race they saw descending from this Viking past. The destruction of Thor’s hammer would mark and end to this outdated vision of violent white supremacy. Oddly some had pitchforks as weapons. Of course the riot on the Capitol will be a super spreader event. The COVID-19 virus will offer its own form of justice for any that skirt the law.

The riot was in part a counter response to the Georgia election in which Reverend Raphael Warnock, a black man and a Democrat, was elected to office unseating the long held Republican state. With black voters turning out in record numbers, white supremacists responded with violent insurrection.

Nearly 100 people have been arrested for their roles in the attack. More serious misdemeanors and felony charges related to weapons, conspiracy and assault could result in prison time. In this age where everyone carries a cell phone with a camera the evidence is overwhelming and still being discovered. Many idiots shared photos of themselves online and therefor were very easy to arrest. Most rioters didn’t wear masks so they are easy to identify.

Donald Trump has been impeached a second time, now for “incitement of insurrection”. Ten Republican lawmakers joined in voting for the impeachment. It is quite possible some Republican lawmakers were complicit in inciting this armed insurrection and that evidence will get plenty of airing when the Senate begins the process of holding a trial to determine whether to convict Trump, and potentially bar him from ever running for any federal office again. The Stop the Steal event organizer, Ali Alexander, said that three GOP lawmakers, Paul Gosar (R-Az.), Andy Biggs (R-Az), and Mo Brooks (R-AL) all helped him organize the events of the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. Mo said at the Rally at the White House, “Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.” Brooks faces censure from Congress, a disciplinary action for inciting an insurrection.

During the attack freshman congresswoman Lauren Boebert (R-Co), tweeted the location of Nancy Peolci, which would give rioters a better idea of where to find the house speaker. Boeberts Twitter account has been shut down and she is surprised.

Breach

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A former 51 year old Capitol Police Chief who was on duty the day of the Capitol riot was reported to have died by suicide. Howard Liebengood was assigned to the Senate division and was with the department since 2005.

The Capitol Police are a 2000 strong force tasked with protecting the capitol complex. They were under staffed and officers didn’t have any riot gear. The huge crowd was able to push right through the flimsy security fencing.

For weeks online sites had been warning of possible violence. Yet the department of homeland security and capitol police ignored the warning signs. There was an intelligent failure. The Pentagon had offered additional National Guard troops but the offer was refused. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser put out signage that “Under federal law, it is illegal to possess firearms on the US Capitol grounds and on National Park Service areas, such as Freedom Plaza, the Ellipse, and the National Mall.”  There were clear indications that January 6, 2021 would be as Trump put it in his invitation, “Wild.” Bullet holes have been found coming from outside the Capitol through windows.

Trump was upset that the mob looked “low class.” Rioters came to the Capitol with lead pipes and pepper spray. One had several hand guns and an assault rifle and ammunition his vehicle. Some rioters had on bullet proof vests and carried zip ties to restrain the limbs of legislators. These more militarized rioters knew the layout of the Capitol building and quickly found the Senate and Congress chambers and the office of Nancy Peloci and others. The plan was to hang Mike Pence and others. An investigation will likely show that these insurrectionists were given inside information. Legislators had to cower behind closed doors hoping for help that didn’t come for hours. Video shows some Capitol police posing for selfies and letting protestors into the building.

The Department of Justice offered federal law enforcement help to the Capitol Police as the situation deteriorated, but the Capitol force was slow to accept the offer. As many as 60 Capitol Police officers were injured, including 15 who were hospitalized and one officer, Brian D. Sicknick, was murdered by a terrorist who struck him with a fire extinguisher.

A former Department of Homeland Security official said that a reserve force should have been staged out of sight, to be able to respond if the situation spiraled out of the police’s control. Once the rioters moved on the building, “They should have had a very visible presence, with cops in riot gear,” the official said. “You use overwhelming force. You declare it an unlawful assembly. And you immediately begin implementing crowd control techniques. None of that was done.  Which stands in stark contrast to how Black Lives Matter Protestors were tear gassed and beaten for a photo op by Trump in front of a church.

One rioter was shot by a Capitol Police officer as she forced her way into the building toward the House Chamber where Members of Congress were sheltering in place. The rioters were close to smashing open a door and she leaped up through an open window and was immediately shot. Three other rioters died. Police identified them as Benjamin Phillips, 50, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania; Kevin Greeson, 55, of Athens, Alabama; and Rosanne Boyland, 34, of Kennesaw, Georgia. There are many ways to get injured in an insurrection.

In America over 4,000 people are now dying every day due to COVID-19. Flags throughout D.C. are at half mast for those lost in the Capitol riot. Only the flag above the White House, where Trump is hiding, is not at half mast. Trump invited the insurrection and needs to be removed from office immediately. Another attack by emboldened rioters is being planned later this week in D.C. Perhaps the treat will be considered seriously this time.

Coward’s Coup

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Donald Trump called followers to Washington D.C. for a “Wild” time. He had been feeding then lies about how his election had been stolen for weeks. When Trump incited his protestors at the White House, he claimed he would walk beside then to the Capitol where ballots were being counted and confirmed. However when he go off the stage he slipped away to watch the protest unfold on TV fro the comfort of the White House.

Trump likely considers the seditious coup attempt as a win. He celebrated the unfolding violence like a football fan cheering on his team. His cult followers succeeded in forcing their way into the capitol and they all walked away to brag about their exploits in various D.C. hotel lobbies. Few protestors were arrested in the capitol the few arrests that did happen came afterwards because of a curfew instated by the mayor of D.C. Muriel Bowser.

Senators and congressmen were whisked away just moments before the cambers were breached. On congressman knew the head of the National Guard in Maryland and he called for help. Help would not come until approval was granted from higher up, namely the presidential office. Hours passes with no such approval but Mike Pence finally stepped in to get troops on the ground. Violent insurrection works, and Trump and his followers will try again. Protestors are only concerned that they didn’t do more damage to the democracy. Rumors circulated that they wanted to hang Mike Pence and a noose was hung from a gallows outside the capitol building. Terrorists had zip ties to restrain any legislators they found. It is pure luck that legislators escaped a far worse fate. Trump was hoping for authoritarian control of the government but the cult followers didn’t know what to do once they got inside the capitol. The anarchy had no focus, much like the POTUS’s own disjointed approach to everything.

Some Capitol police simply invited the terrorists into the Capitol while others held their ground at all costs. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund said late Thursday January 14, 2021 that he would resign, hours after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called for him to be fired for the extraordinary security failure. Senate Sergeant at Arms, Michael Stenger, and House Sergeant at Arms Paul Irving, will leave his position as well. But what about the instigator in chief? Will Pence invoke the 25th Amendment that would remove the POTUS from office? Pence might want to run for president in 2024 so he needs the support of the lunatic fringe. Peloci want to impeach again but can that happen in 12 days? I doubt it. Many Republicans still back the big lie that the election was not fair. Even after facing possible murder by an angry mob, they hold tight to the lie that caused the sedition.

Live pipe bombs were found outside the DNC and RNC and weapons like lead pipes and even fire arms were used. A Capitol police office died from his injuries. Thankfully these terrorists are not smart. They filmed themselves commuting their crimes with their cell phones. Dan Rather made a great point, in that it would be much harder to identify these idiots if they wore masks. Of course it was a man from Florida, Adam Christian Johnson who had his photo taken as he walked of with House Speaker’s lectern. Arrests are happening all across the country now since so many shared their crimes on social media. Trump has already invoked the punishment for destruction of Goverment property, it is a $250,000 fine and, ten years imprisonment. I hope everyone who entered the Capitol gets that sentence. Of course the largely mask less protest will become the latest super spreader event, allowing the virus to spread across the country.

In 1923 Adolph Hitler had a failed coup attempt in Germany with no major consequences. He spent 8 months behind bars, during which time he dictated Mein Kampf, his political autobiography. Ten years later he took power in Germany. If there is no consequences for Trump, insurrections like the one at the capitol will continue. Twitter shut down Trump’s account permanently but far more action is needed. Inciting violence against the government hasn’t happened since the civil war. It is not a time to turn the other cheek.

50 Legislators Infected

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As of December 30, 2020, Ballotpedia identified 50 United States politicians, candidates, and government officials at the federal level who have been diagnosed with COVID-19. One Federal Politician, 7 state politicians and 4 local politicians have died from COVID-19.

Seven members of the U.S. Senate have been diagnosed with COVID-19 as have 33 members of Congress. Four members of Congress have died from the virus.

Luke Letlow, a representative of Louisiana’s 5th Congressional District died December 20, 2020 and Stephen F. Williams of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit died August 7, 2020, Virginia State Senator Ben Chafin died on January 1, 2021 due to COVID-19.

Mike Pence swore in 6 new Senators on January 3, 2021, “Do you solemnly swear that you will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic?” he asked each in turn. Senators who would typically be gathered in full on the Senate floor were spaced, and many were not in attendance due to COVID-19.

As Americans continue to die at a rate of several thousand every day, the POTUS is only obsessed with a seditious attempt to overthrow the election results. He has pledged to fight when Congress meets on January 6, 2021 to formally count the votes of the Electoral College. Several GOP lawmakers signed a letter pledging to object to the results unless Congress investigates the election before they counted. The effort is sure to fail in the Democratic-controlled House and likely in the Senate, where several Republicans led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have warned colleagues not to challenge the Electoral College vote. A group of nearly a dozen Senators announced they would join the effort unless an “emergency 10-day audit” of the election returns in the “disputed states” is completed.

This waste of time by seditious Senators and Congressmen is likely just an attempt to build a name for themselves as they think ahead to future elections. The nations capitol is bracing for violence as MAGA marchers gather to disrupt the city. Posts on the new far right social media site Parler, indicate that January 6 is in line with the QAnon conspiracy pseudo-religion that thinks President Trump is building a “storm” that will wash away his enemies. It’s seen as a “final stand” for many of Trump’s supporters. Trump who is encouraging protestors to DC said the day “will be wild.” Rep Gomer Pile (R) Texas, said that a court’s refusal to force Mike Pence to overturn the presidential election results essentially served as a call to Americans to incite violence in the streets. Signs are being erected in DC stating that open carry of guns is illegal in the capital. The time for racist groups and militias to “Stand back and stand by” has expired.

Not a Creature was Stirring

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Twas the Night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring not even a mouse. – Clement Clarke Moore.

Crede Baily, a top White House security employee who contracted the coronavirus has lost his right foot and lower leg in his three-month battle against COVID-19. Crede who is in charge of the White House security office, was the most severely ill among dozens of coronavirus cases known to be connected to the White House, Bloomberg News reported.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo  invited 900 people for a mid-December holiday party to be held indoors at the State Department. Only 75 mindless souls sent back RSVPs. The State Department canceled its holiday party on December 16, 2020 after Pompeo was forced to go into quarantine after exposure to someone with the coronavirus.

The formerly infected POTUS arranged 20 indoor holiday parties at the White House despite the CDC saying such events pose a great risk of COVID-19 transmission. Videos and photos taken at these parties show many guests not wearing masks. Trump campaign lawyer Jenna Ellis, who posted a photo of herself at a party December 4, 2020, has tested positive. It is unclear whether Ellis posed a risk when she attended. She did not wear a mask. If she was infectious then the White House hosted yet another superspreader. Ellis likely caught the virus from Rudy Giuliani in Lansing, Michigan at an Election Integrity Hearing.

 

Warp Speed Vaccine Distribution Plan

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Operation Warp Speed immediately hit a snag just days into Pfizer distributing doses of the COVID-19 vaccine across the country. It is no surprise that the Trump administration would bungle the distribution pipeline.

Governors across the country were frustrated that the number of doses they expected was cut by nearly half in some cases, and they were left in the dark as to why for several days until a federal official took responsibility on Saturday December 19, 2020.

For several days governors tried to get answers about the distributions shortfalls. Lack of clarity from the federal government represented a huge headache for states as they scrambled to adjust their vaccination programs.  Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said Tuesday December 15, 2020 that Florida could receive less than the 452,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine that the state was expecting because of a “production issue” on the part of a vaccine manufacturer. DeSantis said that two shipments of the vaccine slated to be sent to Florida in the coming weeks are “on hold right now.”  Though the Governor pointed a finger of blame at Pfizer, the blame seems to rest on the Federal Government. Pfizer immediately sent out a statement contradicting the Governor. “This week, we successfully shipped all 2.9 million doses that we were asked to ship by the U.S. Government to the locations specified by them,” Pfizer said in an official statement. “We have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse but, as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses.” Both sides have been accused of using the media to negotiate, and fingers have been pointed, in every direction.

Operation Warp Speed chief operating officer, Army General Gustave Perna, said that he overestimated the number of vaccine doses that will be available to states next week. Originally, the number was 7.3 million, but Perna now says only 4.3 million doses will be available. “It was a planning error, and I am responsible,” Army General Gustave Perna said, according to Politico. “We’re learning from it. We’re trying to get better.” Perna said the numbers differ because he failed to account for the time required to get all of the vaccine doses approved by the FDA to be distributed.

Pfizer’s vaccine requires the patient to be injected with two doses taken 21 days apart. Putting aside so many doses for second shots adds to the logistical nightmare of distribution. Florida was supposed to submit a detailed plan to the federal government about its strategy by Dec. 4, 2020 but that plan has not been made public despite numerous requests from news organizations. For now the Trump administration has basically decided to pass daunting task of distributing vaccines to individual states, a strategy it used to address the pandemic this spring that led to disastrous results. Distribution will likely continue to be a confused mess until the Joe Biden administration can begin starting January 20, 2021. Biden’s team appears to be regularly meeting with pharmaceutical executives without the Trump administration.

“We Want Them Infected”

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In newly discovered e-mails, Paul Alexander, a Trump appointee, urged top health officials to adopt a “herd immunity”. “Infants, kids, teens, young people, young adults, middle aged with no conditions etc. have zero to little risk …. so we use them to develop herd … we want them infected…” Alexander added.

A maskless Santa exposed at least 50 children to COVID-19 in Ludowici, Georgia. Mr. and Mrs. Claus posed for pictures with the children and then tested positive for COVID-19 two days later. Some children were justifiably terrified, but many were forced to sit on Santa’s lap.

City officials have advised the children who were at the event to quarantine for 14 days and follow guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The event took place on the day Georgia reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases.

A 1918 Nebraska newspaper showed a stark contrast at the time. Nebraska was experiencing the ravages of the Spanish Flu which killed, 675,000 Americans. “In Gering, Nebraska, a department store arranged for a visit by Santa Claus in December, but hundreds of children were shocked when police arrested both Santa and the store owner for violating a local ban.” They knew how to knuckle down those days, unlike the soft, misguided, or genuinely evil officials of today.

Today the World Health Organization (WHO) claimed that Santa is immune to COVID-19, just as the infected POTUS declared himself immune since he caught COVID-19 and was injected with Remdesivir,  Regeneron’s monoclonal antibody cocktail, zinc, famotidine, and melatonin and dexamethasone a steroid. Santa must also be hyped up on steroids. Maria Van Kerkhove, who herself has two young sons said, “I can tell you that Santa Claus is immune to this virus,” She continued, “We had a brief chat with him and he is doing very well and Mrs. Claus is doing very well, and they are very busy right now,” she said.