# 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:** 8
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/141 "2021-01-07T01:01:36Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Maybe this is the kick in the rectum to knock the smugness and complacency out of us, and to push us to become more vigilant – I hope that’s true. Well, look at all the Republicans scurrying off the sinking ship (too little/too late). Even Mitch ‘nearly’ did the right thing today. That’s gotta be encouraging in the slightest. ---
**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 7, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/142 "2021-01-07T01:14:32Z")
Sometimes, authoritarians overreach and miscalculate, and this might be one of those times. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/143 "2021-01-07T01:15:02Z")
They are back on the floor to finish the count and certify. I’m very surprised. I figured it would be days before they got back in that building. I wonder if those Asshats are gonna keep up with the objections??? ---
**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 7, 2021, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/144 "2021-01-07T01:23:14Z")
Aww, now lookie lookie. Senators McConnell and Lankford and I’m sure others wanna play patriotic statesman. Isn’t that just cute. I don’t know what to say, but **FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK YOU**!!! Too late, you scum sucking fuckers! If you really had decency, you weasels would just fucking resign. I will NEVER forgive them. Ever! Ever. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/145 "2021-01-07T01:28:05Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Aww, now lookie lookie. Senators McConnell and Lankford and I’m sure others wanna play patriotic statesman. Isn’t that just cute. Notice they blame ‘them’ instead of ‘him’. Bunch of worthless talky-talk bullshit. Shut the fuck up and get the count done! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/146 "2021-01-07T01:33:54Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > Sometimes, authoritarians overreach and miscalculate, and this might be one of those times. I hope so. Members of Congress may have goldfish-like memories, but at this hour many of them probably do remember what it felt like to be in actual fear for their own actual lives. Or at the very least, to feel anger at the sight of Cletus and Cletella riffling through their desks. They fear Trump’s mob. They don’t want to have their picture put on the Internet with cross-hairs superimposed over their faces. But they do want him gone. If they can find a way to get rid of him without placing themselves in danger, I think they might do it. Everyone knows Trump will only intensify his calls for violence in the next two weeks. Bribes to the Cabinet (and subsequent 25th Amendment action) might be the route they pursue. Of course the bribes would have to be large enough so that the Cabinet members can go live on private islands—they would have their own fears of crosshairs-over-faces pics being posted. ---
**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 7, 2021, 1:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/147 "2021-01-07T01:38:48Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Members of Congress may have goldfish-like memories It’s people - ordinary people - who have to have memories. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/148 "2021-01-07T01:39:47Z")
Deplorables. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/149 "2021-01-07T01:42:16Z")
Bugs are way smarter. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/150 "2021-01-07T01:44:11Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > It’s people - ordinary people - who have to have memories. . Sure, but the memories quickly get over-written by the spin that their news-source-of-choice happens to employ (which might not even be media as such, but instead, ‘what my friends are saying’). It’s a human foible that we’re stuck with. The memories that will count here will be those of the big-money donors. For example, the National Association of Manufacturers is done with Trump: [https://www.axios.com/trump-protests-dc-capitol-business-citi-brt-nam-25th-amendment-0f51b5d7-06ce-4f29-9b3a-1ea7d36c5a42.html](https://www.axios.com/trump-protests-dc-capitol-business-citi-brt-nam-25th-amendment-0f51b5d7-06ce-4f29-9b3a-1ea7d36c5a42.html) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/151 "2021-01-07T01:47:32Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > For example, the National Association of Manufacturers is done with Trump And hey, who has been arguing for all this time that whatever happens you should not tank the economy… ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/152 "2021-01-07T01:48:02Z")
In his defense, he doesn’t know anything, and he’s really dumb. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/153 "2021-01-07T01:52:39Z")
You want civil war? Do you really? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/154 "2021-01-07T01:53:27Z")
> [@JRDelirious](#): > > And hey, who has been arguing for all this time that whatever happens you should not tank the economy… As Lobohan says, he’s really dumb. (The article linked in my post has a summary of other corporate-world entities speaking out against the Sedition Faction’s actions, as well as against the Clown’s incitement of violence. Actually-successful business people know perfectly well that their profits would not be safe in a dictatorship.) ---
**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 7, 2021, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/155 "2021-01-07T01:53:28Z")
So explain this to me: if there was really and truly election fraud, why would today’s events change anything? Why have Senators Loeffler, Cruz, Lankford and others had a change of heart? Election fraud is pretty goddamn serious – so serious that protesters shouldn’t dissuade senators from protesting on the floor of the senate. Looks to me like a pretty solid acknowledgement that this was nothing more than a game of political chicken that got out of control and they realize the optics suck. As I said: **FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK** these fucking shit asses. Just God damn them all. ---
**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 7, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/156 "2021-01-07T01:55:28Z")
Senator Sasse: “Shovel your neighbor - er, shovel your neighbor’s driveway.” I think “Shovel your neighbor” was just his instinctive Republican Freudian slip. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/157 "2021-01-07T01:55:43Z")
Calm down! Read the whole thread, hopefully for context, and try not to have an aneurysm. And complement means that which completes a set. It does not mean analogy. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/158 "2021-01-07T02:13:22Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > t’s the final (we hope) act of a fake reality play. Very little chance of that alas. I’ve spent some time thinking about how we as a country can possibly get over our serious division short of civil war, and the only plausible scenario I came up with was an over reaction from the right that was so heinous, that even those on the right would see that it had gone too far, and would move to the center to avoid being associated with it. I would have been nice for this day to be that incident, but reading on right wing boards all I’m seeing are a combination of “Its really the antifa that breached the captiol first” “That’s what you get for trying to steal an election” “The Capitol police shot an unarmed protestor, the poilce never did that at BLM protests” So no stepping back from the brink at all. Now this may change over as Republican lawmakers backtrack, and if right wing media decides that promoting armed insurrection is bad for buisniess. But I’m not holding up high hopes. The problem is that if you really do believe that there was massive voter fraud that was taking the vote away from the people, then doing what they did was justified. So its really going to be hard to convince the truly deluded that this was a step too far. Now I don’t actually think that many of not most of the rioters don’t actually believe this,. I think that more most of them if you asked whether there were actually thousands and thousands of fraudulant votes and convinced them that an omniscient being knew the real answer and would kill them if they got it wrong, they would probably grudgingly admit that Trump probably didn’t win. They are just spouting off convenient partisan rhetoric the same way that people here say that Trump will flee to Russia before Biden’s inauguration, even though more than likely he won’t. But there are enough real true believers that there is a reasonable probability that one of them will do something truly (Oklahoma city level) horrific before this is done. ---
**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 7, 2021, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/159 "2021-01-07T02:17:56Z")
By final act - I meant today, or this term. No, long term, this is by no means over - not at all. Agreed completely. ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [January 7, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830/160 "2021-01-07T02:35:32Z")
I’m still curious as to how’d you implement your purge. You think 10s of millions of heavily armed folk are going to be easy to re-educate or eradicate? What concrete steps would you enact? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/us-capitol-under-siege/929830.md?page=9)