The Impeachment of Joe Biden

guest1163268 · Jan 19, 2021

2 hours ago, heron said:

Luckily for the citizens of Georgia, it’s not your call. Meanwhile, your post is a great example of the way minority communities’ concerns and priorities are dismissed once the dominant group gets what it wants - in this case, a pair of senate seats.

Point taken. However, I stand by my assertions. America needs her more than Georgia. In one of my previous posts somewhere, I stated that I for some insane reason, generally end up in charge. My formula has always been to immediately identify the competent, responsible staff and place them in control of certain areas of the unit regardless of age, experience or seniority. I can then Sauronized the unit, and I don't have to micro manage and I don't have to seclude, restrain OR do incident reports.

macawake, MSN · Jan 19, 2021

11 hours ago, SummerGarden said:

Trump Supporters who don't want to be associated with all of the evil that is Trump need to stop supporting Trump.

I agree. Can you be a conservative and be a good person? Absolutely. Can you be a Republican and be a good person? Yes. Can you be a Trump supporter in 2020 and be a good person? I personally don’t think you can. Can you be a Trump supporter and loyal to your country at the same time? I don’t see how.

It is so sad to watch what has happened to the U.S. Tomorrow’s President Biden’s inauguration. Up to 25,000 National Guard troops will be in DC.

https://www.stripes.com/news/us/pentagon-authorizes-up-to-25-000-troops-to-protect-nation-s-capital-1.658682

Let that sink in for a moment. To protect a ceremony that’s normally quite undramatic, a formality, in any functional democracy, the Pentagon has given the green light to massive troop presence to safeguard your democratic institutions. And your elected officials. The troops have to vetted by the FBI in case some of them sympathize with the insurrectionists that invaded your Capitol two weeks ago. It is surreal. But it’s reality.

Trump is just a symptom. The real problem is in my opinion his numerous enablers in positions of power, including your Constitutional ”checks and balances” and the millions of people who support him perhaps not despite of what he’s said and done, but because of it.

How can any sane person buy into the feverish fantasies of QAnon believers? Who on earth entrusts such people to lead their country? How did you guys end up here?

guest1163268 · Jan 19, 2021

7 minutes ago, macawake said:

I agree. Can you be a conservative and be a good person? Absolutely. Can you be a Republican and be a good person? Yes. Can you be a Trump supporter in 2020 and be a good person? I personally don’t think you can. Can you be a Trump supporter and loyal to your country at the same time? I don’t see how.

It is so sad to watch what has happened to the U.S. Tomorrow’s President Biden’s inauguration. Up to 25,000 National Guard troops will be in DC.

https://www.stripes.com/news/us/pentagon-authorizes-up-to-25-000-troops-to-protect-nation-s-capital-1.658682

Let that sink in for a moment. To protect a ceremony that’s normally quite undramatic, a formality, in any functional democracy, the Pentagon has given the green light to massive troop presence to safeguard your democratic institutions. And your elected officials. The troops have to vetted by the FBI in case some of them sympathize with the insurrectionists that invaded your Capitol two weeks ago. It is surreal. But it’s reality.

Trump is just a symptom. The real problem is in my opinion his numerous enablers in positions of power, including your Constitutional ”checks and balances” and the millions of people who support him perhaps not despite of what he’s said and done, but because of it.

How can any sane person buy into the feverish fantasies of QAnon believers? Who on earth entrusts such people to lead their country? How did you guys end up here?

Macawake, you need to provide some speculation about that. Your previous posts are usually quite insightful.

Why do you think we ended up here?

My take is ignorance, education and hypocrisy.

toomuchbaloney · Jan 19, 2021

31 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:

Macawake, you need to provide some speculation about that. Your previous posts are usually quite insightful.

Why do you think we ended up here?

My take is ignorance, education and hypocrisy.

We ended up here because our social conservatives established a cult after they defunded education throughout the country over decades of state control. Trump took control of their cult with Putin's help in 2016. Now here we are.

They also defunded public health over the decades and that has contributed to our national pandemic failures...but that's a different topic.

macawake, MSN · Jan 19, 2021

1 hour ago, Curious1997 said:

Macawake, you need to provide some speculation about that. Your previous posts are usually quite insightful.

Why do you think we ended up here?

My take is ignorance, education and hypocrisy.

Oh gosh, that’s extremely hard to answer in a short post. And social psychology isn’t my forte, I’m a ???? ??? nurse ?

I think there are many reasons. I think that a significant portion of the population feel ”left out” and that the world around them has changed, and not (in their opinion) for the better. I think some of it has to do with the increasing income inequality and that the middle class have lost ground in the last three to four decades. The economy has changed and what used to be good middle class careers no longer exist as manufacturing is outsourced to low-wage countries. I think there’s a feeling of insecurity and alienation and I think these people are an easy target for a populist like Trump. He basically promised them to bring back the good ’ol days. He promised he had their backs.

Many people are disillusioned with politicians/the establishment. He was something new. I guess he has some kind of charisma? I personally don’t see it. Apart from him appearing mean-spirited and completely lacking in intellectual inquisitiveness, his anemic vocabulary and constant repetitions of the same words or phrases and his meandering word salads grate on my nerves.

I think some supporters have a darker side. They simply want the 1950s back when the white male reigned supreme and the little missus knew her place as well as non-white folks and no one was anything other than heterosexual (well, not openly). They genuinely don’t object to either the racism or the sexism. They align with their own convictions.

A portion of any population will score significantly higher than the majority of us on the Right Wing Authoritarianism Scale. They simply like strongmen and don’t necessarily think democracy is the best system.

I also don’t think we should underestimate the power of the constant barrage of propaganda and lies that have been launched from the White House. I can’t remember if it was Trump himself or one of his many Press Secretaries who told the American people to not believe what they see with their own eyes? Crazy stuff. The media has been called the enemy of the people, repeated verbal attacks have been launched against intelligence organizations and against judges/courts of law. They’ve pretty much declared war on science and truth. Someone’s bold-faced lie is every bit as much worth someone else’s verifiable facts.

I think that once truth and facts become amorphous and malleable, societal unity, cohesion and identity are threatened.

It scary that many people get most, if not all, their news from social media and extremely partisan web sites. Unfortunately I don’t have the answer to how to change that. I’m sure that education is an important and necessary part, but I don’t think it will be an easy fix.

I was going to write a bit about conspiracy theories like QAnon, but I really need to prepare a presentation for work tomorrow. And I guess this post is plenty long as it is. To anyone who made it all the way here, you have stamina ?

guest1163268 · Jan 19, 2021

3 minutes ago, macawake said:

Oh gosh, that’s extremely hard to answer in a short post. And social psychology isn’t my forte, I’m a ???? ??? nurse ?

I think there are many reasons. I think that a significant portion of the population feel ”left out” and that the world around them has changed, and not (in their opinion) for the better. I think some of it has to do with the increasing income inequality and that the middle class have lost ground in the last three to four decades. The economy has changed and what used to be good middle class careers no longer exist as manufacturing is outsourced to low-wage countries. I think there’s a feeling of insecurity and alienation and I think these people are an easy target for a populist like Trump. He basically promised them to bring back the good ’ole days. He promised he has their backs.

Many people are disillusioned with politicians/the establishment. He was something new. I guess he has some kind of charisma? I personally don’t see it. Apart from him appearing mean-spirited and completely lacking in intellectual inquisitiveness, his anemic vocabulary and constant repetitions of the same words or phrases and his meandering word salads grate on my nerves.

I think some supporters have a darker side. They simply want the 1950s back when the white male reigned supreme and the little missus knew her place as well as non-white folks and no one was anything other than heterosexual (well, not openly). They genuinely don’t object to either the racism or the sexism. They align with their own convictions.

A portion of any population will score significantly higher than the majority of us on the Right Wing Authoritarianism Scale. They simply like strongmen and don’t necessarily think democracy is the best system.

Not done yet.... Have to get a cup of ☕️

Be right back ?

I wish I could understand how they can be fooled so easily by such an OBVIOUS CON MAN?

Tom Cotton or Hawley, I can sort of understand because they appear to have the characteristics that right wingers like and they appear intelligent? However, Trump is someone they have encountered numerous times in their lives. Life insurance salesman, used car salesman, the snake oil charmer? They have been conned by these people before, so what is his appeal?

I hate bullies and loud, fast talkers especially impolite people, so I would immediately dislike him. I still don't get the appeal?

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Jan 19, 2021

Mitch McConnell convened Senate at Noon today and spoke re events past 2 weeks, signaling his thought re impeachment . "THE MOB WAS FED LIES. THEY WERE PROVOKED BY THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER POWERFUL PEOPLE."

Joe Biden fears no impeachment at this time.

McConnell Senate Video:

https://www.c-span.org/video/?507835-1/senate-session

Quote

...UNDERSTAND THAT THE SENATE HAS RECEIVED A MESSAGE FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES THAT IT HAS TAKEN ACTION RELATIVE TO IMPEACHMENT, THOUGH IT HAS NOT YET TRANSMITTED THE ARTICLE OF IMPEACHMENT TO US. I ASK THAT PURSUANT TO RULE 1 OF THE RULES OF IMPEACHMENT, THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE NOTIFY THE HOUSE THAT THE SENATE HAS RECEIVED ITS MESSAGE....

THE LAST TIME THE SENATE CONVENED, WE HAD JUST RECLAIMED THE CAPITOL FROM VIOLENT CRIMINAL WHOSE TRIED TO STOP CONGRESS FROM DOING OUR DUTY. THE MOB WAS FED LIES. THEY WERE PROVOKED BY THE PRESIDENT AND OTHER POWERFUL PEOPLE.

AND THEY TRIED TO USE FEAR AND VIOLENCE TO STOP A SPECIFIC PROCEEDING OF THE FIRST BRANCH OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WHICH THEY DID NOT LIKE. BUT WE PRESSED ON. WE STOOD TOGETHER AND SAID AN ANGRY MOB WOULD NOT GET VETO POWER OVER THE RULE OF LAW IN OUR NATION, NOT EVEN FOR ONE NIGHT. WE CERTIFIED THE PEOPLE'S CHOICE FOR THEIR 46th PRESIDENT. TOMORROW PRESIDENT-ELECT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT-ELECT HARRIS WILL BE SWORN IN. WE'LL HAVE A SAFE AND SUCCESSFUL INAUGURAL RIGHT HERE ON THE WEST FRONT OF THE CAPITOL. THE SPACE THAT PRESIDENT BUSH 41 CALLED DEMOCRACY'S FRONT PORCH. THEN WE'LL MOVE FORWARD. OUR WORK FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE, AS IT HAS FOR MORE THAN 230 YEARS. THERE ARE SERIOUS CHALLENGES THAT OUR NATION NEEDS TO CONTINUE CONFRONTING, BUT THERE WILL ALSO BE GREAT AND HOPEFUL OPPORTUNITIES FOR US TO SEIZE. CERTAINLY November'S ELECTIONS DID NOT HAND ANY SIDE A MANDATE FOR SWEEPING IDEOLOGICAL CHANGE. AMERICANS ELECTED A CLOSELY DIVIDED SENATE, A CLOSELY DIVIDED HOUSE, AND A PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WHO SAID HE'D REPRESENT EVERYONE. SO OUR MARCHING ORDERS FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE CLEAR -- WE'RE TO HAVE A ROBUST DISCUSSION AND SEEK COMMON GROUND. WE ARE TO PURSUE BIPARTISAN AGREEMENT EVERYWHERE WE CAN AND CHECK AND BALANCE ONE ANOTHER RESPECTFULLY WHERE WE MUST. AND THROUGH ALL OF THIS WE MUST ALWAYS KEEP IN MIND THAT WE'RE ALL AMERICANS. WE ALL LOVE THIS COUNTRY, AND WE'RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER.

NOW, ON A RELATED MATTER, A GREAT DEAL HAS ALREADY BEEN SAID ABOUT THE DISGRACEFUL EVENTS OF January 6. MORE WILL BE SAID IN THE WEEKS AHEAD. I UNDERSTAND THE F.B.I. HAS ALREADY MADE AT LEAST 100 ARRESTS AND THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT REPORTS MORE THAN 275 PERSONS UNDER INVESTIGATION. A NUMBER THAT IS CLIMBING FAST. I WANT TO COMMEND THE WORK OF THE DEPARTMENT TO SWIFTLY INVESTIGATE AND BRING OFFENDERS TO JUSTICE. AS I'VE STATED, January 6 SAW FAILURES OF INSTITUTIONS, PROTOCOLS, AND PLANNING. THOSE FAILURES DID NOT JUST LEAVE CONGRESS ITSELF EXPOSED. THEY ALSO LEFT THE COURAGEOUS MEN AND WOMEN OF THE CAPITOL POLICE THEMSELVES IN A TOTALLY UNTENABLE SITUATION. SO TODAY I WANT TO REAFFIRM THE HUGE RESPECT AND GRATITUDE THAT I HAVE AND I BELIEVE ALL SENATORS HAVE FOR THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE U.S. CAPITOL POLICE. -- WHO PUT THEIR OWN SAFETY ON THE LINE EVERY SINGLE DAY THAT THEY CLOCK IN AND STAND GUARD. ...

https://www.c-span.org/congress/?chamber=senate#

macawake, MSN · Jan 19, 2021

23 minutes ago, Curious1997 said:

I wish I could understand how they can be fooled so easily by such an OBVIOUS CON MAN?

Tom Cotton or Hawley, I can sort of understand because they appear to have the characteristics that right wingers like and they appear intelligent? However, Trump is someone they have encountered numerous times in their lives. Life insurance salesman, used car salesman, the snake oil charmer? They have been conned by these people before, so what is his appeal?

I hate bullies and loud, fast talkers especially impolite people, so I would immediately dislike him. I still don't get the appeal?

Honestly, I think that many of them are intelligent and see him for what he is. I think they’re simply using him to further their own political careers.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 19, 2021

5 minutes ago, macawake said:

Honestly, I think that many of them are intelligent and see him for what he is. I think they’re simply using him to further their own political careers.

The most glaring example of that is Ted Cruz. Trump treated him like garbage in the campaign and Cruz is not an unintelligent man, and his about face has been stunning. There was no denying Trump's popularity and influence and Cruz got on that train. It blew up in his face, but he has time to recover, and he can relax a bit unlike the other Senator that used Trump to advance his agenda and career, Lidnsey Graham, who was accosted and called a traitor recently. They are left behind with the wreckage of Trump, but doubtful they will take this time for self-reflection when they need to be sure to oppose Biden from day 1.

toomuchbaloney · Jan 19, 2021

1 hour ago, Tweety said:

The most glaring example of that is Ted Cruz. Trump treated him like garbage in the campaign and Cruz is not an unintelligent man, and his about face has been stunning. There was no denying Trump's popularity and influence and Cruz got on that train. It blew up in his face, but he has time to recover, and he can relax a bit unlike the other Senator that used Trump to advance his agenda and career, Lidnsey Graham, who was accosted and called a traitor recently. They are left behind with the wreckage of Trump, but doubtful they will take this time for self-reflection when they need to be sure to oppose Biden from day 1.

McConnell is in that group with Cruz and Graham. He's just singing a different song now.

Tweety, BSN, RN · Jan 20, 2021

2 hours ago, toomuchbaloney said:

McConnell is in that group with Cruz and Graham. He's just singing a different song now.

He's already at the top of his game, can win re-election, and is probably going to retire soon, and didn't need Trump to advance his career. He used Trump to pass his agenda of tax cuts, cutting regulations, etc. So now he's done with Trump. McConnell is slick and knows how to play the game and doesn't care what anyone thinks about what he does as long as he can get done what he wants done. He's more about the party than Trump. Cruz on the other clearly did an about face and put is nose of Trump's orifice to advance his career. IMO

McConnel was definitely an enabler. In fact was the leader in that department.

toomuchbaloney · Jan 20, 2021

1 hour ago, Tweety said:

He's already at the top of his game, can win re-election, and is probably going to retire soon, and didn't need Trump to advance his career. He used Trump to pass his agenda of tax cuts, cutting regulations, etc. So now he's done with Trump. McConnell is slick and knows how to play the game and doesn't care what anyone thinks about what he does as long as he can get done what he wants done. He's more about the party than Trump. Cruz on the other clearly did an about face and put is nose of Trump's orifice to advance his career. IMO

McConnel was definitely an enabler. In fact was the leader in that department.

Agreed. McConnell is a deeply corrupt man. He has done much damage to our system of governance, checks and balances. He is a kleptocrat, IMV.

You've described Cruz well. A corrupt and self-serving talker and brown noser with little in terms of self respect (relative to Trump) but thinks very highly of himself.

It seems to me that the GOP is fracturing...a sizeable portion will continue on a collision course with our republic and a sizeable portion will try to restore reason, values and ethics to their political agenda. I, personally, think that the collision course will consume the party.

It's a shame that conservatives let their extremists decide their future.