# US Capitol under siege **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 6, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830 "2021-01-06T20:27:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 21
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/401 "2021-01-08T17:02:26Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > There was trash and debris everywhere …car keys. I couldn’t help myself. I’d go find the car attached to the keys and drive into something horrible - a sewage treatment plant, a wall, New Jersey… ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/402 "2021-01-08T17:03:31Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > In this case, electrodes attached to his balls. (Tiny electrodes.) Ahhhhh. Then may the whole world graciously accept a few minutes of ‘brownout’ while the collective amperage of all seven continents is temporarily diverted to where it’s so desperately needed. BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT ! Gosh. I hope we didn’t just char Lindsey Graham in the process 😉 ---
**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 8, 2021, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/403 "2021-01-08T17:05:54Z")
> [@DavidNRockies](#): > > > [@ThelmaLou](#): > > > > In this case, electrodes attached to his balls. (Tiny electrodes.) > > Ahhhhh. > > Then may the whole world graciously accept a few minutes of ‘brownout’ while the collective amperage of all seven continents is temporarily diverted to where it’s so desperately needed. > > BZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZT ! - > > Gosh. I hope we didn’t just char Lindsey Graham in the process 😉 Pence got himself out of the way just in time. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/404 "2021-01-08T17:06:37Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Pence got himself out of the way just in time.- He was never in danger. Mother always knows exactly where his balls are at. ---
**Author:** ![Akaj](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/akaj/32/145_2.png) [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/405 "2021-01-08T17:13:01Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > An uplifting note… > > [https://thehill.com/homenews/house/533325-new-jersey-lawmaker-stayed-in-capitol-until-3-am-cleaning-rotunda-after-riot](https://thehill.com/homenews/house/533325-new-jersey-lawmaker-stayed-in-capitol-until-3-am-cleaning-rotunda-after-riot) > > > In the aftermath of Wednesday’s deadly mob attack on the Capitol, Rep. [Andy Kim](https://thehill.com/person/andy-kim) (D-N.J.) stayed in the building until early Thursday morning to help clean up the debris left by pro-Trump rioters. > > > > The New Jersey Democrat, who was in the Capitol until 3 a.m. on Thursday, was photographed cleaning up water bottles, flags and cigarette butts in the rotunda. > > > > “There was trash and debris everywhere, broken furniture and broken flags, coats and gloves, cigarette butts and car keys. Trump flags and random bits of food. There was some body armor,” Kim said in an [interview](https://www.gq.com/story/congressman-andy-kim-on-a-dark-day-for-america) with GQ. “This was probably the worst condition that room has ever been in. It broke my heart—I almost started crying.” > > > > > An iconic room. Simultaneously heart wrenching and beautiful. An image we won’t soon forget. Thank you [@AndyKimNJ](https://twitter.com/AndyKimNJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw). [pic.twitter.com/U8lwuwUKQn](https://t.co/U8lwuwUKQn) > > > > > > — Room Rater (@ratemyskyperoom) [January 7, 2021](https://twitter.com/ratemyskyperoom/status/1347314927199928325?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) > > > > Kim, a second-term lawmaker representing a district that voted for [President Trump](https://thehill.com/people/donald-trump) in 2016 and 2020, said he first cleaned for an hour-and-a-half before going back to the House for debate the debate on Pennsylvania’s electoral votes, which were being challenged by dozens of Republicans. > > … And, sadly, a metaphor for what the Biden administration will be facing in 12 days. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/406 "2021-01-08T17:21:33Z")
In case people can’t or didn’t want to check the picture link in the tweet: [![](https://i.imgur.com/AE4FDwT.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/AE4FDwT.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DavidNRockies](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidnrockies/32/6279_2.png) [@DavidNRockies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DavidNRockies)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/407 "2021-01-08T17:23:17Z")
I applaud his efforts and his commitment. I also hope he’s been instructed not to throw away (for keeps) anything that could _possibly_ be used as evidence, particularly things like the cigarette butts referenced in the article, and which can often provide DNA. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/408 "2021-01-08T17:25:13Z")
Trump clearly put Pence in an impossible position. He could not overturn the election, regardless of Trump’s thinking. And he could not remain popular among some diehard Trumpists if he did not pull some ridiculous stunt. Being honest was the right choice. Although seeing his obnoxious and subservient expression every time Trump speaks can be bothersome, he does have every right to be angry. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/409 "2021-01-08T17:35:24Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > I’m going to experiment with putting you on mute Don’t throw me in the briar patch! ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/410 "2021-01-08T17:37:46Z")
He couldn’t overturn the election, but he could have helped create the perception that he could have, which is what Trump wanted him to do. Had Pence actually done that, and had more Republicans in positions of power suggested that as a possibility, we could very well be still dealing with a political coup. I don’t know how close we were to a tipping point, but I would say that we were much closer than we (myself included) realize. Trump was basically asking Pence, McConnell, and others to ignore the Constitution, and here’s the thing: they absolutely could have chosen to do just that. And as bad as things already are, we’d have one hell of a damn mess on our hands if they had. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/411 "2021-01-08T17:58:11Z")
Is there actually a potential crime for which pardon would not be possible? To pardon someone for unspecified crimes, and then discover that the crime turns out to be something heinous - serial murder, insurrection, massive financial irregularity, selling secrets to the enemy etc seems to me to be a problem. I could just about imagine a pardon for one specific potential crime - I just have to wonder about a blanket pardon, and would that relate to just the one crime, or does that relate to a whole number of various crimes? Until the extent of a crime can be established, how would it be possible to pardon it - in logic rather than by precedent. I can imagine a pardon for something that was previously a crime but now is no longer a crime or is not in the public interest - such as being gay back in the past or draft dodging but this does not seem to fit that. ---
**Author:** ![casdave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c6cbf5/32.png) [@casdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/casdave)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/412 "2021-01-08T18:00:44Z")
If that isn’t a crime, I don’t know what is @Gyrate ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/413 "2021-01-08T18:05:13Z")
> [@casdave](#): > > To pardon someone for unspecified crimes, and then discover that the crime turns out to be something heinous - serial murder, insurrection, massive financial irregularity, selling secrets to the enemy etc seems to me to be a problem. It definitely seems like a problem. But really, that would be no more problematic than specifically pardoning a person for “something heinous - serial murder, insurrection, massive financial irregularity, selling secrets to the enemy etc.” And there is absolutely no barrier to a president doing that, as long as the crimes are federal crimes. There’s basically no limit on the pardon power, certainly not in terms of the heinousness of the crime. The National Constitution Center has a regular podcast called We The People, in which they deal with important constitutional issues. They usually get two (sometimes more) prominent constitutional scholars to discuss and debate. A few weeks ago they had an episode called [Can the President Pardon Himself?](https://constitutioncenter.org/interactive-constitution/podcast/can-the-president-pardon-himself) If you’ve got an hour, and are interested in the issue, it’s well worth a listen. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/414 "2021-01-08T18:06:29Z")
News now reporting that the Capitol Police officer who died was a Trump supporter with a suspended Twitter account. Nice going, seditionists, you killed one of your own! ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/415 "2021-01-08T18:07:22Z")
Her actions say otherwise. She even tweeted, “Nothing will stop us!”. She was told to get back from the barricade, she assaulted it anyway, and paid the price. If she actually understood the gravity of her action, if she actually thought that she as putting her life in danger, I doubt she would have so cavalierly thrown it away. Once she was bleeding out on the floor, the rest of the insurrectionists suddenly got it, and backed off. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/416 "2021-01-08T18:09:32Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > News now reporting that the Capitol Police officer who died was a Trump supporter with a suspended Twitter account. Have the Capital Police said explicitly that he was on duty, in uniform? ETA: yes, they said he was on on duty > **[Loss of USCP Officer Brian D. Sicknick](https://www.uscp.gov/media-center/press-releases/loss-uscp-colleague-brian-d-sicknick)** > > At approximately 9:30 p.m. this evening (January 7, 2021), United States Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick passed away due to injuries sustained while on-duty. Officer Sicknick was responding to the riots on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at the... ---
**Author:** ![flurb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/51bf81/32.png) [@flurb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flurb)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/417 "2021-01-08T18:09:33Z")
> [@Skywatcher](#): > > News now reporting that the Capitol Police officer who died was a Trump supporter with a suspended Twitter account. Nice going, seditionists, you killed one of your own! I’m sure this will just make him and the woman who got shot twin martyrs to the cause of liberty. Not sure if the dumbass who tased himself into a heart attack will be included in the count. ---
**Author:** ![k9bfriender](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k9bfriender/32/3283_2.png) [@k9bfriender](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/k9bfriender)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/418 "2021-01-08T18:12:05Z")
That’s what happens when you support the “Leopards hit you in the head with a fire extinguisher” party. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/419 "2021-01-08T18:14:37Z")
Chief of the Capitol Police will resign as of 16 January. > **[Capitol Police chief resigning amid criticism over response to pro-Trump mob](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/capitol-police-chief-resigning-amid-criticism-over-pro-trump-mob-n1253389)** > > The announcement comes just after the head of the department's union called for a "change at the top." ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2021, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/420 "2021-01-08T18:17:58Z")
> [@gnarator](#): > > Trump essentially put _his own Vice-President’s_ life in danger, not to mention Pelosi, Harris, other members of Congress, staffers, press, and police officers. The word essentially minimizes and downplays what happened IMO; the sentence is more accurate without it: Donald Trump deliberately put lives in danger, including that of his own Vice President _and the Vice President’s family_. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830.md?page=22)