# 7 Jan 2021 and beyond - the aftermath of the storming of the Capitol

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020>\
**Category:** Politics & Elections\
**Created:** [January 8, 2021, 10:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020 "2021-01-08T10:28:28Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 14

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**Author:** ![Deeg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/deeg/32/2955_2.png) [@Deeg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Deeg)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/262 "2021-01-09T22:14:19Z")

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To be fair there are a couple of Dopers who feel the same way. At least they haven’t stormed the capitol.

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**Author:** ![squidfood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a87d85/32.png) [@squidfood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squidfood)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 10:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/263 "2021-01-09T22:14:41Z")

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> [@Red\_Wiggler](#):
>
> Is it inconceivable that Romney and Sasse might want to join the group? It would have enormous influence in the Senate and might actually help in achieving its stated purpose.

Romney and Sasse are being strong specifically against Retrumplicans when fighting about these specific Constitutional principles, but are a considerable step more conservative than Murkowski. To pick just one measure, Murkowski has voted with Trump 74% of the time (Collins lowest at 66%) while Romney is at 79% and Sasse up at 86%. (The other UT senator, Mike Lee, is seeming closer to center than Romney by that metric, at 74%). Source: [Tracking Congress In The Age Of Trump | FiveThirtyEight](https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/congress-trump-score/)

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**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 10:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/264 "2021-01-09T22:36:31Z")

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> [@Cervaise](#):
>
> The idea that Murkowski, Romney, et al. would consider themselves “moderate” is Exhibit A in how fucked American politics is.

Too right.

I cringe anytime someone refers to John Kasich as a “moderate” – including Joe Biden. People should familiarize themselves with his voting record. He’s only “moderate” when compared to “bat shit crazy.” So are Romney, Murkowski, Collins and Sasse.

I’d still be happy if any one or all of them declared themselves independents and caucused with the Dems on particular important issues, such as impeaching a crazy man crawling around in the Oval Office.

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**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/265 "2021-01-09T22:50:26Z")

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> [@thorny\_locust](#):
>
> So this claim that the agreement of all 100 would be needed is nonsense; all that would be needed would be for McConnell to declare a regular session? [ETA: Well, and 67 to convict; but only McConnell to agree to hear?]

When the Senate adjourned after the joint session, they adopted a unanimous consent agreement that they would convene on Tuesday and Friday for pro-forma sessions at which no business would be conducted, and then reconvene for official business on the 19th. I assume McConnell is saying that because that agreement was by unanimous consent, it would take unanimous consent to change it.

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**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/266 "2021-01-09T22:54:24Z")

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If you add “republicans” to that it is not so bad- they _could_ be called Moderate Republicans.

Just like Biden, who is quite liberal overall, can fairly be called a Moderate Democrat… but not really a Moderate.

Pretty much, we have no moderates at this time.

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**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/267 "2021-01-09T23:16:21Z")

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What astonishes me is that, “moderates” or not, the events of the 6th and all of the associated posturing prior to should be seen as _self-evidently_ bad to any normal person. And IMHO that should include whatever it takes to remove Trump from office ASAP, as also self-evident.

The fact that it doesn’t to some people says a lot about their views of civilized society.

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**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/268 "2021-01-09T23:17:58Z")

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> [@flurb](#):
>
> When the Senate adjourned after the joint session, they adopted a unanimous consent agreement that they would convene on Tuesday and Friday for pro-forma sessions at which no business would be conducted, and then reconvene for official business on the 19th. I assume McConnell is saying that because that agreement was by unanimous consent, it would take unanimous consent to change it.

Ah. Thanks.

I don’t know whether there’s any precedent one way or the other.

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**Author:** ![Ponderoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponderoid/32/19221_2.png) [@Ponderoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponderoid)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/269 "2021-01-09T23:41:00Z")

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I’m not at all sure this is true, but I heard there’s a “nuclear option” where any senator could show up during the pro-forma session to demand a quorum call. That senator’s name will be mud if they were to shout it out during the 5-second window of opportunity, but it would be within the senate’s rules.

Perhaps whichever junior senator was tapped with actually doing the pro-forma session could be the one to do it. Their name would still be mud, though. It could get them expelled; the senate likes their vacations.

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**Author:** ![gnarator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gnarator/32/8266_2.png) [@gnarator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnarator)\
**Post date:** [January 9, 2021, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/270 "2021-01-09T23:45:28Z")

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Here’s Giuliani’s message to Tuberville, left on Mike Lee’s voicemail in error:

At approximately 7 p.m., Giuliani called newly sworn-in Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, a staunch Trump ally, imploring him to stall the process. “I want to discuss with you how they’re trying to rush this hearing and how we need you, our Republican friends, to try to just slow it down so we can get these legislatures to get more information to you,” Giuliani said in a voicemail. “And I know they’re reconvening at 8 tonight, but it … the only strategy we can follow is to object to numerous states and raise issues so that we get ourselves into tomorrow—ideally until the end of tomorrow. I know McConnell is doing everything he can to rush it, which is kind of a kick in the head because it’s one thing to oppose us, it’s another thing not to give us a fair opportunity to contest it.”

Giuliani tells Tuberville that McConnell wants to narrow the objections to just three states and explains that the Trump team wants to object to 10. “So if you could object to every state and, along with a congressman, get a hearing for every state, I know we would delay you a lot, but it would give us the opportunity to get the legislators who are very, very close to pulling their vote, particularly after what McConnell did today.”  
from [Giuliani to Senator: ‘Try to Just Slow it Down’ - The Dispatch](https://thedispatch.com/p/giuliani-to-senator-try-to-just-slow)

Note that this was _after_ the riot. Apparently Trump was calling Senators during the riot as well.

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/271 "2021-01-10T00:52:50Z")

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This is a somewhat long, but really interesting article written by the [Politico](https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/01/07/capitol-storming-siege-congress-inside-first-person-oral-history-455715) staffers who were inside the capitol during the insurrection.

And this quote reaffirms that GOP congress people are assholes, no matter the situation.

> One member at one point, a Democrat, Steve Cohen, yelled over towards the Republican side of the room and said, “Call Trump and tell him to call this off.” And then a little bit later on, a lawmaker sitting on the Republican side shot back and said something along the lines of, “I bet you liberals are glad now you didn’t defund the police.”

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**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/272 "2021-01-10T00:59:21Z")

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Pence needs to get the cabinet together and invoke the 25th for his own safety. He may only be president for a little over a week but secure that long term secret service protection. These maniacal unhinged mobsters are going after him and his family.

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**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/273 "2021-01-10T01:29:24Z")

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> [@Boycott](#):
>
> Pence needs to get the cabinet together and invoke the 25th for his own safety.

CNN is reporting he has not ruled it out. Look, at this point, Trump can’t give any ridiculous order that would be followed. Pence and the cabinet will remove him as unstable immediately.

They are riding out the clock, but it could happen.

I’d feel safer with Pence for 10 days over Trump for 10 days.

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**Author:** ![Mike\_Mabes](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mike_mabes/32/1782_2.png) [@Mike\_Mabes](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mike_Mabes)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/274 "2021-01-10T02:14:04Z")

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I was saying that the country gave the Repubs a 2nd consecutive term in 1988.

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**Author:** ![Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marvin_the_martian/32/2898_2.png) [@Marvin\_the\_Martian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marvin_the_Martian)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/275 "2021-01-10T03:40:26Z")

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> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> CNN is reporting he has not ruled it out. Look, at this point, Trump can’t give any ridiculous order that would be followed. Pence and the cabinet will remove him as unstable immediately.

My concern is that Trump or his hard core minions in the White House can hamstring security for the inauguration by withholding or stalling necessary resources. Who knows how much of the security shortcomings on Wednesday were due to Trump interfering, at least passively.

Even if it takes until the 19th, Trump has to be gone by the inauguration, if for no other reason than inauguration security.

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**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/276 "2021-01-10T04:16:49Z")

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> [@Mahaloth](#):
>
> Look, at this point, Trump can’t give any ridiculous order that would be followed. Pence and the cabinet will remove him as unstable immediately.

If I were Pence I would not be betting my life on that.

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**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/277 "2021-01-10T04:22:51Z")

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> [@Czarcasm](#):
>
> > [@Mahaloth](#):
> >
> > Look, at this point, Trump can’t give any ridiculous order that would be followed. Pence and the cabinet will remove him as unstable immediately.
> 
> If I were Pence I would not be betting my life on that. -

God will protect him. /s

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**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/278 "2021-01-10T10:27:08Z")

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> [@digs](#):
>
> His tagline is “I look at Parler so you don’t have to.”  
> Check out **Parlertakes 🇺🇸** on Twitter. It’s so much fun… the schadenfreude is thick there (and delicious).

We can laugh all we want, but this isn’t the end of the movie. It’s the start of the second act, the moment in one of the Jurassic Park/World movies when the system just broke down and all the dinosaurs have gotten out. A lot of blood is going to be spilled before this shit is over.

The Trumpists are all well beyond the control of the Mitch McConnell types. They’re fucking nuts, driven to insanity by conspiracy theories.

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**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 1:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/279 "2021-01-10T13:09:13Z")

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Lots of hate going toward Josh Hawley for questioning the vote even after the riot.

**Sen. Josh Hawley becomes public enemy No. 1 on Capitol Hill** [NBC](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/sen-josh-hawley-becomes-public-enemy-no-1-capitol-hill-n1253470)

**Hundreds gather in St. Louis calling for Hawley to resign** [stltoday](https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/hundreds-gather-in-st-louis-calling-for-hawley-to-resign/collection_e72e46d1-acd3-518c-843e-d89f2d3b3a5f.html)

**Top Missouri GOP donor Sam Fox disavows Sen. Josh Hawley** [kmov](https://www.kmov.com/news/top-missouri-gop-donor-sam-fox-disavows-sen-josh-hawley/article_fed934f7-c1af-5b07-b2e5-9c10fc8b72f1.html)

Article of Impeachment to be introduced on Monday with 180 co-sponsors. Also on Monday, a resolution to abolish the electoral college to be introduced, prompted by the riot. Adam Schiff to blame McConnell for any damage done by Trump if McConnell blocks impeachment.

**Article of impeachment will be brought against Trump on Monday** [Independent](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-impeachment-capitol-riots-us-b1784945.html?utm_source=reddit.com)

**Congressman Cohen Will Introduce Resolution to Abolish the Electoral College** [house.gov](https://cohen.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-cohen-will-introduce-resolution-abolish-electoral-college)

**McConnell Responsible for ‘Whatever Dangerous Acts Trump Commits’ if He Stops Impeachment: Schiff** [newsweek](https://www.newsweek.com/adam-schiff-mitch-mcconnell-responsible-dangerous-acts-trump-commits-impeachment-1560246)

More police and now firefighters suspected of taking part in the riots.

**NYC firefighters spotted at Capitol during siege: FDNY** [nydailynews](https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-fdny-members-spotted-outside-capitol-during-siege-20210109-67gamvnsvza3dc6mmtuehs3m3q-story.html?outputType=amp)

**Police officers who traveled to Washington are being investigated for connection to the Capitol melee**. [NYT](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/09/us/politics/capitol-police.html)

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**Author:** ![N9IWP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/n9iwp/32/3154_2.png) [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/280 "2021-01-10T18:15:48Z")

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Pretty sure abolishing the EC would require a Constitutional Amendment.

Brian  
Eta Cohen recognizes thus, good luck getting enough states to agree

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**Author:** ![Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/heffalump_and_roo/32/7691_2.png) [@Heffalump\_and\_Roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heffalump_and_Roo)\
**Post date:** [January 10, 2021, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/7-jan-2021-and-beyond-the-aftermath-of-the-storming-of-the-capitol/930020/281 "2021-01-10T18:23:08Z")

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Yup.

> [@](#):
>
> Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), the Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, will introduce on Monday a joint resolution to amend the Constitution by abolishing the Electoral College.

I don’t know if that sentence makes sense but it has ‘amend the Constitution’ in it. It’s from the Congressman’s page on [house.gov](http://house.gov). I’m thinking the last part of that sentence should be ‘to abolish the Electoral College’, or something like that.

ETA: simulpost with your eta

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