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Main Forums => Politics => Topic started by: griz on February 09, 2021, 11:46:02 PM

Title: Impeach / Punish
Post by: griz on February 09, 2021, 11:46:02 PM
Since the entire purpose of the current trial seem to be to prevent President Trump from running for office again (and to figuratively pin a scarlet letter "I" on him) would it be legal to impeach somebody who was already out of office before the first vote?  I know it's not going to happen, but if it came out that, hypothetically, Al Gore encouraged Portland protesters or some other evil deed, could he legally be impeached. tried, and barred from office?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: sumpnz on February 10, 2021, 12:31:44 AM
Firstly, would there even be point to doing that?  I mean, Gore isn’t going to run for, let alone win, political office ever again (for one thing he’s making too much money to bother, but he’s also even less inspiring than John Kerry).  Most likely the same is for true for Trump (given his age).

Factor in the Streisand Effect and it might be better in most regards to not provide the publicity or notoriety to them.  If criminal charges are justified, seek them.  But impeachment is a political process/tool and would probably do more harm than good.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: griz on February 10, 2021, 08:05:51 AM
No, there would be no point to it.  Just asking from a legal standpoint since there doesn't seem to be a point to the current one.
 I guess it comes down to it not being a judicial thing, but as you said:
  But impeachment is a political process/tool and would probably do more harm than good.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: bedlamite on February 10, 2021, 09:00:34 AM
It'll never happen, but part of me wants to see the R party get control of both houses, and then impeach the next D candidate just before the election.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Fly320s on February 10, 2021, 09:13:52 AM
Since the entire purpose of the current trial seem to be to prevent President Trump from running for office again (and to figuratively pin a scarlet letter "I" on him) would it be legal to impeach somebody who was already out of office before the first vote?  I know it's not going to happen, but if it came out that, hypothetically, Al Gore encouraged Portland protesters or some other evil deed, could he legally be impeached. tried, and barred from office?

In my opinion, no, he could not legally be impeached.  In the opinion of the current democrat-controlled congress?  Seems like they can impeach anyone for anything.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 10, 2021, 09:17:04 AM
In my opinion, no, he could not legally be impeached.  In the opinion of the current democrat-controlled congress?  Seems like they can impeach anyone for anything.

IANAL, but it seems that following the law, neither Trump nor Gore could be impeached. Following the theory that the dems are pushing, every single previous president is guilty of an impeachable offense.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: MechAg94 on February 10, 2021, 10:27:10 AM
Since the Chief Justice of the SC is not presiding over the impeachment, they aren't following the constitutional process anyway.  Might as well just change it to majority vote.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 10, 2021, 10:30:45 AM
Since the Chief Justice of the SC is not presiding over the impeachment, they aren't following the constitutional process anyway.  Might as well just change it to majority vote.

Not to mention that the current "unbiased judge" has already been well-documented as saying that Trump is guilty.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: MechAg94 on February 10, 2021, 10:34:58 AM
Not to mention that the current "unbiased judge" has already been well-documented as saying that Trump is guilty.
Crowder was saying he was also going to be a witness against him and would be voting on the impeachment.  So he is witness, jurist, and judge all in one.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: DittoHead on February 10, 2021, 12:13:27 PM
This seems relevant
Quote from: https://www.nationalreview.com/2016/09/impeach-hillary-clinton-congress-has-power-do-it/
These questions and the non-incumbency theory behind them fundamentally misconstrue the constitutional remedy of impeachment, which is not limited to removal from power but includes disqualification from future office. Moreover, their premise is wrong: The proceeding against Clinton would not be a presidential impeachment; it would be an impeachment based on her abuses of power as secretary of state, which would have the constitutional effect of disqualifying her for the presidency.

The Constitution does not limit impeachment to incumbent officials. Article I endows the House of Representatives with the “sole Power of Impeachment” — i.e., the power to file articles of impeachment. It further empowers the Senate with “the sole Power to try all Impeachments.” Significantly, in prescribing the standard for conviction in the Senate, Article I, Section 3 states that “no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two-thirds of the Members present” (emphasis added).
McCarthy comes to a different conclusion than I would have, but he's a pretty smart guy and I generally trust his legal judgement.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: fifth_column on February 10, 2021, 12:27:07 PM
Babylon Bee:  Pelosi Preemptively Announces Articles Of Impeachment Against Candace Owens

https://babylonbee.com/news/pelosi-announces-articles-of-impeachment-against-candace-owens-so-she-can-be-banned-from-running-for-federal-office (https://babylonbee.com/news/pelosi-announces-articles-of-impeachment-against-candace-owens-so-she-can-be-banned-from-running-for-federal-office)
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Brad Johnson on February 10, 2021, 12:34:43 PM
Babylon Bee:  Pelosi Preemptively Announces Articles Of Impeachment Against Candace Owens

Sadly, if the farce of a court now in session returns a guilty verdict, the satire may well end up becoming all too real. I could easily see libs taking the same tactic against any conservative they view both as threat and serious contender for POTUS

Brad
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 10, 2021, 02:02:47 PM
This seems relevant: McCarthy comes to a different conclusion than I would have, but he's a pretty smart guy and I generally trust his legal judgement.

If you put him in the same room with Mark Levin (whose legal credentials are, IMHO, far superior)  who would survive the ordeal? 

The point of impeachment is to remove from office.  Trump is out.  Where in the Constitution does it say he can be prohibited from running again?   I'd like to know:  it could be in there somewhere.

The only thing about impeachment I could find in a quick survey is article II  section 4:

The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States , shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdeameanors.

Maybe it's elsewhere?   IANAL.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: dogmush on February 10, 2021, 02:27:46 PM
Article 1, section 3:

Quote
Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

bolding mine.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 10, 2021, 04:52:33 PM
Article 1, section 3:


I think we have to look at the totality of impeachment as addressed in the Constitution:

Article 1, section 2:
Quote
...
The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment.

Impeachment is thus mentioned, but not defined.

Article 1, section 3:
Quote
...
The Senate shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments. When sitting for that Purpose, they shall be on Oath or Affirmation. When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall preside: And no Person shall be convicted without the Concurrence of two thirds of the Members present.

Judgment in Cases of Impeachment shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States: but the Party convicted shall nevertheless be liable and subject to Indictment, Trial, Judgment and Punishment, according to Law.

Again, impeachment is mentioned but not defined. So we still don't know who can be impeached, except that the list includes (but is apparently not limited to) the President.

Words have meaning, and in law words have very specific meanings. My work for the past 30+ years has been code enforcement, and for all those thirty years the people teaching our in-service classes have stressed that "and" does not include "or." If a law calls for something if 'A' and 'B' are met, then both 'A' and 'B' must be present or the condition does not apply. If a law calls for something if 'A' or 'B' is met, then the law applies if either 'A' or 'B' or both is/are present.

What the Constitution says is that the punishment upon conviction by the Senate "shall not extend further than to removal from Office, and disqualification to hold and enjoy any Office of honor, Trust or Profit under the United States." Therefore taken at face value based on the language of the Constitution and the principles under which all laws are construed, since Trump is no longer in office he cannot be removed from office "and" prohibited from holding federal office again. Therefore, my opinion (as a linguist, not a self-proclaimed Constitutional scholar like a certain former President) is that the trial has no merit and is not constitutional.

Now lets look at where else impeachment is mention in that musty old Constitution.

Article 2, Section 4:
Quote
The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors.

And there you have it. Article 2 is "The Executive Branch," and Section 4 is "Disqualification." It says the President, Vice President, and all civil officers may be removed from office upon impeachment and conviction. Article 1 IMHO only establishes who has the authority to do the impeaching. Article 2 Section 4 establishes who can be impeached, and it includes only current office holders. Right now, and as of 20 January, Donald Trump is a private citizen, not an officer of the United States government. The government's authority to impeach him ended the moment he left office. He can be prosecuted in criminal court and/or sued in civil court, if they think they have a case, but (IMHO) he cannot now be tried by the Senate and convicted.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Jim147 on February 10, 2021, 05:10:27 PM
Add to that the Chief Justice is not presiding over it should automatically be unconstitutional.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: griz on February 10, 2021, 06:04:23 PM
The "impeach means removal" camp is the one I'm in, so it seems a very political move to try someone who's already out of office.  My belief is because it seems clear the entire impeachment process was put in the constitution to have a process other than judicial to remove someone from office.  Ironically, the process has been deemed to exclude congress critters, probably because they are doing the voting.  My concern is: since it isn't a process controlled by the judicial system, congress is effectively making it up as they go along.  If they can decide to try somebody after they leave office merely to stop them from holding office again, what's to stop them from "impeaching" somebody who has never been in office just because congress thinks they are not worthy?  That would probably be a big enough over reach that the courts would stop them, but it's the same logic.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 10, 2021, 06:34:48 PM
Article 1, section 3:

bolding mine.

Yes.   My search in the earlier post was done as I was typing it out and was cursory - - - and obviously insufficient. I later went back and located the section you quote. I suppose if Trump were still in office, and thus subject to impeachment, he could be prohibited from attaining the office of honor (etc) mentioned.  In fact as I read it,  impeachment is both removal from office, and prohibition from it in the future.  Atleast, that's my interpretation.  Again,  IANAL. (Thank God).

I still argue he cannot (or atleast should not)  be impeached as he is no longer in office,  and as a factual matter,  he did not commit the  wrongs he's being accused of. 

This whole thing,  IMHO, is a disgusting, puerile circus of political hatred and cynicism.  I believe it's doing serious damage to America.  Griz's post #16 above this one illustrates one serious reason I think this is a malignant process.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: dogmush on February 10, 2021, 08:49:19 PM
While withholding comment on the merits (or not) of the current trial, I actually agree with the article Dittohead shared: that the impeachment process is for people that have proven too corrupt to be allowed to continue to have power in are government,  but may not be criminals. As such it seems in line with that intent to allow impeachment and barring from further office even if the person has left office (or resigned in an attempt to avoid this very fate).

There have been lengthy theses written on the comma use in the Constitution,  (the second ammendment springs to mind) and I'm not educated enough on the english of the day to refute Hawkmoon's post,  but I will point out that the legal usage of English in the 20th century doesn't always bear a lot of resemblance to the English the Founders used.

In any case, the point is moot this year, as our legislators are way more concerned with Party than facts, and there is no real chance the Senate will convict on this particular yeast infused circus.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 10, 2021, 08:49:27 PM
Add to that the Chief Justice is not presiding over it should automatically be unconstitutional.

The Dems want to have it both ways. They are claiming that because Trump is not the President, it isn't necessary for the Chief Justice to preside. Roberts hasn't said, but my guess (and my fervent hope) is that he doesn't think it's constitutional, and by keeping his pie hole closed he won't have to recuse himself if Trump is convicted and appeals.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 10, 2021, 08:54:07 PM

There have been lengthy theses written on the comma use in the Constitution,  (the second ammendment springs to mind) and I'm not educated enough on the english of the day to refute Hawkmoon's post,  but I will point out that the legal usage of English in the 20th century doesn't always bear a lot of resemblance to the English the Founders used.


That's true in many respects, but I don't think the meaning of either "and" or "or" has changed. Lawyers don't throw those words around casually. As I explained, they are used carefully because using the wrong one can make a HUGE difference in how a law is interpreted and applied.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: T.O.M. on February 10, 2021, 09:19:07 PM
IAAL, and here is my opinion.  Legally, it's uncharted territory.  Frankly, in terms of presidential impeachment, there's not much to go on.  No president has been removed from office.  As pointed out above, the plain language of COTUS is for both removal and prohibition from future office holding.  Given this, it's legally logical that a person could be impeached for acts committed in office after leaving that office.

Now, that said, this has nothing to do with anything so noble as to prevent a criminal from holding office again.  Clearly, this is pure politics.  It's a chance for Dems (and some Reps) to grandstand on the events of January 6 and lay a foundation for the next election, while sending emails to potential donors claiming to have escaped the jams of death, then stood up to domestic terrorists.

Legal opinion and political opinions there.  Now, setting aside my personal opinions on the politics, I think this is stupid.  If the purpose of the Dems is to snuff out the last of the Trump Train fire, this isn't how to do it.  Its really fanning the flames of his supporters by confirming their beliefs that they have been out to get Trump from the beginning and are willing to go to extremes to keep him from even running for election again.  If anything, an impeachment here is going to provide him a springboard that he can use to really launch the Patriot party, fundraise, and start campaigning his heir to the Oval Office.  They think that this will get rid of Trump from the political arena.  If they impeach/convict Trump, he will become more powerful than they could possibly imagine.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 10, 2021, 10:20:08 PM
  ..... Given this, it's legally logical that a person could be impeached for acts committed in office after leaving that office.  .........

Given the punishment is removal from office  how is it logical to impeach a person no longer in office.  You cannot,  at this point, prohibit him from holding office again (the "and" instead of the "or") since he can't be impeached in the first place.

If a legitimate crime was commited by President Trump,  he is vulnerable to the legal consequences that anyone charged with a crime should face.  This would be true under the present circumstances,  or if Trump had been legitimately impeached and removed from office.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: brimic on February 11, 2021, 03:38:45 AM
IANAL, but it seems that following the law, neither Trump nor Gore could be impeached. Following the theory that the dems are pushing, every single previous president wrongthinking American is guilty of an impeachable offense.

Fixed that for you?

Next up for the Streisand effect- “What dies “Bill of Attainder” mean?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: T.O.M. on February 11, 2021, 11:35:35 AM
Given the punishment is removal from office  how is it logical to impeach a person no longer in office.  You cannot,  at this point, prohibit him from holding office again (the "and" instead of the "or") since he can't be impeached in the first place.

If a legitimate crime was commited by President Trump,  he is vulnerable to the legal consequences that anyone charged with a crime should face.  This would be true under the present circumstances,  or if Trump had been legitimately impeached and removed from office.

In statutory interpretation, the use of the term "and" here implies removal from office, prohibition from future office holding, or both.  If it said "or" it would be one or the other, period.  And, to be clear, I'm a criminal/family law/probate lawyer, not a Constitutional specialist, and I have no experience with impeachment. 
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 11, 2021, 11:59:14 AM
In statutory interpretation, the use of the term "and" here implies removal from office, prohibition from future office holding, or both.  If it said "or" it would be one or the other, period.  And, to be clear, I'm a criminal/family law/probate lawyer, not a Constitutional specialist, and I have no experience with impeachment.

Ok,  but I still do not think, at this point, he could be impeached.  He's no longer in office.  If you can't remove him from office through impeachment I don't think you can prohibit him from office, either.  If he was still in office,  you could do one or both.  That's just my lay opinion.  IANAL.   
But I do have the dvd box set of PERRY MASON. [tinfoil]
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: T.O.M. on February 11, 2021, 03:06:47 PM
Okay, Tommy.  I get your argument now.  Kind of like in Ohio a juvenile court loses jurisdiction when a kid turns 21, you're saying Congress loses jurisdiction the day Biden was inaugurated. 
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: zahc on February 11, 2021, 03:37:27 PM
Exactly. They don't have jurisdiction to impeach somebody who is not in office. Now, they can use the normal court system of course. But clearly they want to do an impeachment so they can make up the rules as they go.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: MechAg94 on February 11, 2021, 03:58:57 PM
Ok,  but I still do not think, at this point, he could be impeached.  He's no longer in office.  If you can't remove him from office through impeachment I don't think you can prohibit him from office, either.  If he was still in office,  you could do one or both.  That's just my lay opinion.  IANAL.   
But I do have the dvd box set of PERRY MASON.[/i] [tinfoil]

I am sorry you were questioned.   =)
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 11, 2021, 04:53:21 PM
But I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Jim147 on February 11, 2021, 05:17:06 PM
But I stayed at a Holiday Inn last night.

But it wasn't an Express so you are fired.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 11, 2021, 05:21:10 PM
DOH!
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Fly320s on February 11, 2021, 05:56:08 PM
Okay, Tommy.  I get your argument now.  Kind of like in Ohio a juvenile court loses jurisdiction when a kid turns 21, you're saying Congress loses jurisdiction the day Biden was inaugurated.

21?  WTF, over?  Last time I checked, the legal age of adulthood is 18.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 11, 2021, 06:55:03 PM
In statutory interpretation, the use of the term "and" here implies removal from office, prohibition from future office holding, or both.  If it said "or" it would be one or the other, period.  And, to be clear, I'm a criminal/family law/probate lawyer, not a Constitutional specialist, and I have no experience with impeachment.

You are an attorney and I'm not but, as I posted, as a building inspector I deal with regulatory language on a daily, on-going basis. Prior to COVID-19 we all took an all-day class every year run by the chief prosecutor from the AG's office section that deals with building code issues. And her instructions have always been the same, year after year: "and" means "and" -- "or" means one "or" the other.

It's like the Second Amendment. The 2A only grants ONE right -- a right to keep AND bear arms. They are inseparable. It's not one right to keep, and a separate right to bear.

I remain firmly of the opinion and conviction that the current impeachment trial is unconstitutional and illegal. Trump was still in office when the House voted to impeach, so that was technically constitutional -- even though it was an obviously bogus, manufactured charge with no basis in fact or evidence. However, once Trump left office, the process became moot. You can't remove from office someone who does not hold office.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 13, 2021, 04:44:38 PM
Trump acquitted
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 13, 2021, 04:46:34 PM
Trump acquitted

Well, time for impeachment #3 then.

I saw a Georgia DA is looking to press criminal charges against him. I would expect a lot more of that down the road since they didn't win again.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 13, 2021, 04:48:31 PM
Well, time for impeachment #3 then.

I saw a Georgia DA is looking to press criminal charges against him. I would expect a lot more of that down the road since they didn't win again.

Quote
The acquittal means that as of now Trump can leave the door open to another White House bid in 2024, though senators have hinted they may still try to bar him from office in a separate 14th Amendment measure.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-acquitted-in-second-impeachment-trial-for-inciting-jan-6-capitol-riot

Schumer leaves door open to 14th Amendment measure to bar Trump from office
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/schumer-leaves-door-open-to-14th-amendment-measure-to-bar-trump-from-office
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 13, 2021, 04:52:54 PM
The seven Rs that voted "guilty":

Quote
Seven Republicans vote to convict Donald Trump: Burr, Collins, Cassidy, Murkowski, Romney, Sasse and Toomey.

Also, Cocaine Mitch can drop dead. He's back to being an establishment shill.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 13, 2021, 04:53:42 PM
Dems need to be looking in the mirror if they want to bring up the 14th

Quote
The 14th Amendment to the Constitution says that Congress can bar people who "engaged in insurrection or rebellion" against the U.S. from holding office. It was originally meant to prevent former Confederates from serving in the government after the Civil War.

"No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof," the amendment says.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 13, 2021, 05:18:26 PM
I am deeply disappointed that seven turncoat, RINO "Republicans" voted to impeach. It was bad enough that six of them voted that the impeachment trial was even legal.

If there was ever a time to start a true third party in this country, it's now. The Republican party as it now stands is effectively finished, so there's no better time for an alternative.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 13, 2021, 05:20:11 PM
I am deeply disappointed that seven turncoat, RINO "Republicans" voted to impeach. It was bad enough that six of them voted that the impeachment trial was even legal.

If there was ever a time to start a true third party in this country, it's now. The Republican party as it now stands is effectively finished, so there's no better time for an alternative.

Yea .... try that,  and the demon-rats will rule forever.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: BobR on February 13, 2021, 05:28:47 PM

(https://i.imgur.com/vRnEGK5.jpg)


bob
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 13, 2021, 06:12:59 PM
Yea .... try that,  and the demon-rats will rule forever.

With the Republican party as useless and spineless as they are today, the Democrats will rule forever anyway. That's why I think now is the time for a third party to form.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Angel Eyes on February 13, 2021, 06:15:17 PM
https://twitchy.com/dougp-3137/2021/02/13/sen-ted-cruz-shares-actual-impeachment-trial-questions-that-didnt-make-cut-in-a-thread-eric-swalwell-others-will-not-like/

Quote
“Can we build the Keystone Pipeline if we add Hunter Biden to the board?”

“To Manager Swalwell: Tell us about Fang Fang.”

“Have any of the House Managers had sexual relations with a Chinese communist spy? Please explain.”

“If we put him in a burlap sack & throw him in the river, and he does not float, must we convict?”

I was hoping for "Does President Trump weigh the same as a duck?"
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Unisaw on February 13, 2021, 06:41:17 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/vRnEGK5.jpg)


bob

Is Pelosi the first Speaker to go 0-2?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 13, 2021, 07:01:11 PM
Well, time for impeachment #3 then.

I saw a Georgia DA is looking to press criminal charges against him. I would expect a lot more of that down the road since they didn't win again.

My latest attempt at a Babylon Bee headline: "Speaker Pelosi releases schedule for next five Trump impeachments."
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Lennyjoe on February 13, 2021, 07:28:30 PM
I am deeply disappointed that seven turncoat, RINO "Republicans" voted to impeach. It was bad enough that six of them voted that the impeachment trial was even legal

Romney is hardly a Republican
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Jim147 on February 13, 2021, 07:29:46 PM
Strange how as soon as democrats voted for witnesses and Trumps attorneys said fine Pelosi they said crap let's vote.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 13, 2021, 07:35:27 PM
(https://i.imgur.com/vRnEGK5.jpg)


bob

Beat me to it.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Angel Eyes on February 13, 2021, 07:57:05 PM
Well, time for impeachment #3 then.

I saw a Georgia DA is looking to press criminal charges against him. I would expect a lot more of that down the road since they didn't win again.

Schumer is making noises about using the 14th Amendment to try and prevent Trump from holding office again.

They really are that terrified of him.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: BobR on February 13, 2021, 08:56:12 PM
Is Pelosi the first Speaker to go 0-2?

Wouldn't that be Schumer at 0-2, Pelosi got her part done, Schumer couldn't close the deal!

bob
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 13, 2021, 11:04:44 PM
With the Republican party as useless and spineless as they are today, the Democrats will rule forever anyway. That's why I think now is the time for a third party to form.

While I agree with your assessment of the ...... um ... "repukeagain" party  >:D the solution is to FIX the party,  not create a new one which splits the vote.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Jim147 on February 13, 2021, 11:16:30 PM
I'm afraid spitting the votes was the plan all along.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 13, 2021, 11:21:12 PM
I'm afraid spitting the votes was the plan all along.

Whose plan?   The democrats would love it,  but they don't seem to be in a position to encourage a conservative third party.  The repukes are stupid enough to do it but, then again,  I don't see any desire amongst the ball-less blunderers to create it.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 14, 2021, 12:23:38 AM
While I agree with your assessment of the ...... um ... "repukeagain" party  >:D the solution is to FIX the party,  not create a new one which splits the vote.

It can't be saved.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 14, 2021, 01:41:04 AM
It can't be saved.

Pessimist.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: sumpnz on February 14, 2021, 03:13:01 AM
Problem is, just as with the Tea Party, any alternative to the Republican Party will get co-opted by the same elites and nothing really will change, except that the vote on the right will be split for a while.  I wish I could offer a real, viable solution but short of massive bloodshed I don’t see one.  The vested interests are too, well, vested.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: griz on February 14, 2021, 04:59:22 AM
Schumer is making noises about using the 14th Amendment to try and prevent Trump from holding office again.

They really are that terrified of him.

They seem to be gauging interest in that idea, even talking about legislation to prevent him from running.  I suspect the main reason is because it only requires a majority to pass.  But the 14th just says somebody can't hold the office if they rebelled or took part in an insurrection.  The mechanism to bar the person is left open.  I would think one would have to be convicted of such a crime before being barred, but then congress gets to make up their own rules.

Yep, they are scared of him.  He doesn't care about the way it's always been done and they have no control over him, so he's a real threat to their power.  I'm not really a Trump fan but this entire dog and pony show is pointing out how desperate the politicians are to remain in control.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Unisaw on February 14, 2021, 07:32:23 AM
Wouldn't that be Schumer at 0-2, Pelosi got her part done, Schumer couldn't close the deal!

bob

Not that they weren’t in cahoots, but Pelosi served Schumer a crap sandwich.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Boomhauer on February 14, 2021, 08:33:24 AM
Problem is, just as with the Tea Party, any alternative to the Republican Party will get co-opted by the same elites and nothing really will change, except that the vote on the right will be split for a while.  I wish I could offer a real, viable solution but short of massive bloodshed I don’t see one.  The vested interests are too, well, vested.

If it wasn’t corrupted down to the local level there would be a chance but it’s so rotten that virtually anybody who makes it through to the federal level after rising up through the lower parts is suspect at best.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 14, 2021, 08:42:15 AM
Man, one of Trump's attorneys really hands the media their ass in this interview. Well done.

 https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2021/02/14/hello-9-1-1-wed-like-to-report-a-murder-trump-attorney-michael-van-der-veen-just-decimates-the-media-during-cbs-interview-watch/
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 14, 2021, 08:56:03 AM
The Republican Party is already split.

For decades the R "elite" campaign on the issues the grassroots care about then ALWAYS fail to get anything done.

There is always the same cast of characters that give the D's the win with timely help from a revolving group of secondary players who occasionally break ranks when needed.

It is a uni-party of grafters.

Nothing really makes sense because we can't follow the money.

If there was a flow chart of where the money begins and whose pocket it ends up in, then things would make more sense.

The split is between Republican voters and the actual Republican politicians.



Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: RocketMan on February 14, 2021, 08:56:59 AM
Man, one of Trump's attorneys really hands the media their ass in this interview. Well done.

 https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2021/02/14/hello-9-1-1-wed-like-to-report-a-murder-trump-attorney-michael-van-der-veen-just-decimates-the-media-during-cbs-interview-watch/

MVDV left that talking head bleeding on the floor.  I hope someone called the paramedics.  That was the most awesome interview.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 14, 2021, 10:33:43 AM
Given Pelosi's demented tantrum yesterday, this is appropriate.  =D

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EuMFynrXIAIHeEl?format=jpg&name=large)
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 14, 2021, 11:19:28 AM
Man, one of Trump's attorneys really hands the media their ass in this interview. Well done.

 https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2021/02/14/hello-9-1-1-wed-like-to-report-a-murder-trump-attorney-michael-van-der-veen-just-decimates-the-media-during-cbs-interview-watch/

And a literal mic drop at the end.  :rofl:
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 14, 2021, 11:48:17 AM
Man, one of Trump's attorneys really hands the media their ass in this interview. Well done.

 https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2021/02/14/hello-9-1-1-wed-like-to-report-a-murder-trump-attorney-michael-van-der-veen-just-decimates-the-media-during-cbs-interview-watch/

He still pushes the nonsense about the problem being extremism on both sides, and we need to meet in the middle. I am really tired of hearing that.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 14, 2021, 12:04:15 PM
Rosie is taking it well

https://twitchy.com/samj-3930/2021/02/14/un-glitter-glued-as-ever-rosie-odonnell-is-dealing-well-with-trumps-second-acquittal-jk-and-her-tweet-is-a-doozy/
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 14, 2021, 12:37:53 PM
He still pushes the nonsense about the problem being extremism on both sides, and we need to meet in the middle. I am really tired of hearing that.

The dialectic Cthulhu only swims left ...

Decades of meeting in the middle gets you ---> where we are now
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Nick1911 on February 14, 2021, 01:41:28 PM
The dialectic Cthulhu only swims left ...

Decades of meeting in the middle gets you ---> where we are now

Brought to you by the "lesser of two evils" philosophy.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: sumpnz on February 14, 2021, 05:02:00 PM
The dialectic Cthulhu only swims left ...

Decades of meeting in the middle gets you ---> where we are now

When the left says they want to meet in the middle, they mean the right has to move, not them (unless it further to the left).  First shift doesn’t seem so bad, but after a while you suddenly realize the middle you moved to the first time is now a long ways to your right.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 14, 2021, 08:37:11 PM
Say, shouldn't the FBI be using cell phone data, bank records, etc. to chase all these people making death threats down and bring them to justice? I thought that's the new modus operandi since 06JAN?

https://twitchy.com/gregp-3534/2021/02/14/photo-trump-attorney-mike-van-der-veens-home-vandalized/
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Lennyjoe on February 15, 2021, 10:30:33 AM
Say, shouldn't the FBI be using cell phone data, bank records, etc. to chase all these people making death threats down and bring them to justice? I thought that's the new modus operandi since 06JAN?

They only serve the Democrats now.  Don’t expect anything that makes sense from the FBI except to quiet the right.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: DittoHead on February 15, 2021, 12:32:14 PM
Also, Cocaine Mitch can drop dead. He's back to being an establishment shill.

"Ignore what he says, pay attention to what he does and the results he gets" - I heard that all the time about Trump.
If you apply that standard to Mitch then he's still looking pretty darn good.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Angel Eyes on February 15, 2021, 12:42:09 PM
"Ignore what he says, pay attention to what he does and the results he gets" - I heard that all the time about Trump.
If you apply that standard to Mitch then he's still looking pretty darn good.

Compared to Schumer, yes. 

Compared to most Republicans, not so much.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 15, 2021, 12:56:26 PM
"Ignore what he says, pay attention to what he does and the results he gets" - I heard that all the time about Trump.
If you apply that standard to Mitch then he's still looking pretty darn good.

Both Graham and McConnell are deep state players.

They will forever be defined by whether they listen to MAGA or go back to business as usual.

I was pleasantly surprised by McConnells work on the Federal judges situation so yes, I will be watching his actions more than his words. 

My expectations for both of them are pretty low though, neither seem to have a nationalist bone in their bodies.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: zahc on February 15, 2021, 02:45:06 PM
Quote
He still pushes the nonsense about the problem being extremism on both sides, and we need to meet in the middle. I am really tired of hearing that.

He is right, though. We still have to live with "coastal elites". Separating based on politics is no possible with no geographic nexii. So we really do have to live with each other, and that is the important short term goal. Agreeing with each other is, if a realistic goal at all, an extremely long term goal. It's overwhelmingly more likely that we will need to coexist even while having fundamental disagreement. Otherwise, you get cancel culture in the private sector, which is bad enough, and now we are starting to see political warfare, with an idea of punishing the undesired factions, which we saw in a very mild form with the Trump presidency, and now the blowback (in the forms of Bidens executive orders, etc.), and both are really frightening. As it escalates, and the nominal left get more extreme, it causes corresponding extremism to the right which sounds good if you agree with those policies, but...fundamental differences remember...it causes blowback and retaliation if not now, next time, or later, or eventually.

I'm in agreement that compromise usually means "Democrats win", but that's more related to the fact that the Republican party is ineffective or subverted, than it is a blow against compromise itself.

We do not want a world where you have to choose to join the Neo Nazi Party out of self preservation just to avoid starving or being unpersoned because you used the wrong pronouns. We are currently in a phase of escalation, and the Democrats are winning by a mile, and they think if they can just gain a hegemony (they already proved they own elections and get away with it), maybe pack some courts, buy/coerce a few more Republicans, then they will simply rule and they won't have to compromise at all. The problem is, they always overestimate their ability to do it because, remember, fundamental differences exist. It is equally impossible for any side to "win". The only way to really finish the job is to disenfranchise, or purge those who are different, and if it comes to it, since people rarely tolerate it in the long term, maybe by simply killing them all, and this is a very very old story so it should not be hard to see the end game.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 15, 2021, 03:36:12 PM
As it escalates, and the nominal left get more extreme, it causes corresponding extremism to the right...

No, it really doesn't. Not "corresponding extremism." There may be some extremism, but to equate the two is as absurd as it is mendacious. 

Extremism on the left is promoted, and then demanded, by people with immense influence. Those who don't go along are often shunned, deplatformed, ruined by lawfare - perhaps even physically assaulted. Some get all four of those. The extremists themselves are often bankrolled and feted by the elite.

Extremism on the right is first blown out of proportion, then used as a cudgel against everyone not in lockstep with the left, and against their policy goals. Not to mention that talk of "right-wing extremism" usually refers to things that really don't qualify as extremism at all.

So, again, I'm tired of people throwing the right under the bus every time they decry left-wing extremainstreamism. We are not the problem.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Hawkmoon on February 15, 2021, 03:44:34 PM
No, it really doesn't. Not "corresponding extremism." There may be some extremism, but to equate the two is as absurd as it is mendacious. 

Extremism on the left is promoted, and then demanded, by people with immense influence. Those who don't go along are often shunned, deplatformed, ruined by lawfare - perhaps even physically assaulted. Some get all four of those. The extremists themselves are often bankrolled and feted by the elite.

Extremism on the right is first blown out of proportion, then used as a cudgel against everyone not in lockstep with the left, and against their policy goals. Not to mention that talk of "right-wing extremism" usually refers to things that really don't qualify as extremism at all.

So, again, I'm tired of people throwing the right under the bus every time they decry left-wing extremainstreamism. We are not the problem.

Agreed. The only proof we need is to look at the lamestream media coverage of nightly riots in Seattle and Portland, in which people were assaulted, buildings were vandalized and torched, police stations ransacked and destroyed -- and the media reported those activities as "peaceful (or mostly peaceful) protests." Meanwhile, if ten patriots gather on a street corner to wave an American flag it gets reported as full-scale riot.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 15, 2021, 04:00:33 PM
Agreed. The only proof we need is to look at the lamestream media coverage of nightly riots in Seattle and Portland, in which people were assaulted, buildings were vandalized and torched, police stations ransacked and destroyed -- and the media reported those activities as "peaceful (or mostly peaceful) protests." Meanwhile, if ten patriots gather on a street corner to wave an American flag it gets reported as full-scale riot.

Somehow, the goings-on of 6th January don't bring out the usual sayings, like "a riot is the voice of the voiceless," or "speaking truth to power."
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 15, 2021, 04:08:47 PM
No, it really doesn't. Not "corresponding extremism." There may be some extremism, but to equate the two is as absurd as it is mendacious. 

Extremism on the left is promoted, and then demanded, by people with immense influence. Those who don't go along are often shunned, deplatformed, ruined by lawfare - perhaps even physically assaulted. Some get all four of those. The extremists themselves are often bankrolled and feted by the elite.

Extremism on the right is first blown out of proportion, then used as a cudgel against everyone not in lockstep with the left, and against their policy goals. Not to mention that talk of "right-wing extremism" usually refers to things that really don't qualify as extremism at all.

So, again, I'm tired of people throwing the right under the bus every time they decry left-wing extremainstreamism. We are not the problem.
All true, but in zahc's defense I would say that the widespread acceptance and celebration of leftist extremism pushes people on the right to be more tolerant of misbehavior and extremism on their own side.  Witness my own reaction to the Jan. 6 capital riot.  What those people did was wrong, stupid, and counterproductive.  It was the kind of behavior I detest, and should be quick to condemn.  But after nearly a year of almost constant leftist riots, violence, and murder protected, supported, and praised by Democrats and their media arm, it was really hard to get worked up about it.

The constant unchallenged lies on the national stage, the unhinged hypocrisy of the left, and the whiplash between the peaceful lockdown protests being condemned as terrorism, to BLM/ANTIFA riots and arson being praised as the pinnacle of free speech and fighting oppression, to the Capital riot being "no, no, this time we're really serious that it's terrorism" has made it way harder for me to properly respond to things that I intellectually know I should oppose.  It has forced me into a tribalist perspective that I don't like, and is likely to cause me to reflexively defend or maybe just ignore bad behavior on my side.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 15, 2021, 04:11:36 PM
Witness my own reaction to the Jan. 6 capital riot.  What those people did was wrong, stupid, and counterproductive.  It was the kind of behavior I detest, and should be quick to condemn.  But after nearly a year of almost constant leftist riots, violence, and murder protected, supported, and praised by Democrats and their media arm, it was really hard to get worked up about it.

This is where I am as well. I am bombarded by excuses for why it's okay for the left to do it, to the point I constantly want them to get a taste of their own medicine.

I also agree with statements above that I am sick of the left defending 100 antifa beating people with bats and burning buildings, while demanding a half dozen boomers with Trump flags standing on a corner need to be imprisoned as insurrectionists, or else call for antifa to show up and throw piss bottles on them.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 15, 2021, 04:38:45 PM
You may not see yourself as part of a tribe.

The rest of the tribes do.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: zahc on February 15, 2021, 04:43:40 PM
All true, but in zahc's defense I would say that the widespread acceptance and celebration of leftist extremism pushes people on the right to be more tolerant of misbehavior and extremism on their own side.  Witness my own reaction to the Jan. 6 capital riot.  What those people did was wrong, stupid, and counterproductive.  It was the kind of behavior I detest, and should be quick to condemn.  But after nearly a year of almost constant leftist riots, violence, and murder protected, supported, and praised by Democrats and their media arm, it was really hard to get worked up about it.

The constant unchallenged lies on the national stage, the unhinged hypocrisy of the left, and the whiplash between the peaceful lockdown protests being condemned as terrorism, to BLM/ANTIFA riots and arson being praised as the pinnacle of free speech and fighting oppression, to the Capital riot being "no, no, this time we're really serious that it's terrorism" has made it way harder for me to properly respond to things that I intellectually know I should oppose.  It has forced me into a tribalist perspective that I don't like, and is likely to cause me to reflexively defend or maybe just ignore bad behavior on my side.

Exactly. As the left gets more radical, non-radical people who are aligned towards the center have to ally with increasingly radical counter movements out of self preservation. My personal version is accepting or turning a blind eye to blatantly biased right wing media. I mean the entire media complex plus hollywood are blatantly radically left, correct? So why not try to at least balance it out with some biased right wing media? One things for sure, nobody is getting "converted" in this process.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 15, 2021, 05:55:01 PM
All true, but in zahc's defense I would say that the widespread acceptance and celebration of leftist extremism pushes people on the right to be more tolerant of misbehavior and extremism on their own side.  Witness my own reaction to the Jan. 6 capital riot.  What those people did was wrong, stupid, and counterproductive.  It was the kind of behavior I detest, and should be quick to condemn.  But after nearly a year of almost constant leftist riots, violence, and murder protected, supported, and praised by Democrats and their media arm, it was really hard to get worked up about it.

The constant unchallenged lies on the national stage, the unhinged hypocrisy of the left, and the whiplash between the peaceful lockdown protests being condemned as terrorism, to BLM/ANTIFA riots and arson being praised as the pinnacle of free speech and fighting oppression, to the Capital riot being "no, no, this time we're really serious that it's terrorism" has made it way harder for me to properly respond to things that I intellectually know I should oppose.  It has forced me into a tribalist perspective that I don't like, and is likely to cause me to reflexively defend or maybe just ignore bad behavior on my side.

That's not the point. None of what you mentioned changes the difference in kind and in quality between the extremist views and actions that now control the Democratic Party, vs the extremism on the fringes of the pro-American movement.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 15, 2021, 06:55:57 PM
That's not the point. None of what you mentioned changes the difference in kind and in quality between the extremist views and actions that now control the Democratic Party, vs the extremism on the fringes of the pro-American movement.

That's moral relativism for you.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 15, 2021, 07:47:45 PM
That's moral relativism for you.

How do you mean?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 15, 2021, 08:06:54 PM
How do you mean?

You are looking for logical consistency in an argument that is contrived to equivocate disparate contexts via superficial similarities.  This specious form of argument has been used heavily in the last century as a tool to obfuscate objective right and wrong.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 15, 2021, 08:56:09 PM
That's not the point. None of what you mentioned changes the difference in kind and in quality between the extremist views and actions that now control the Democratic Party, vs the extremism on the fringes of the pro-American movement.
I didn’t claim it did.  Thought I made it pretty clear the current disparity between the left and the right on the rioting/violence spectrum. And I hope the American right never lets themselves be goaded into the violent conflict that the Left thinks they want. Upon reflection (and after the guilty pleasure of watching politicians get a minor taste of what they have sponsored for the past year) the capitol riot made me worry that the Right is getting that much closer to turning the corner and getting into the political violence game we have condemned the Left for playing so long.

You may not see yourself as part of a tribe.

The rest of the tribes do.
Of course I am part of a tribe, but I also want my tribe to be better than the other tribe. If they aren’t, then why would I choose them?  Ideally that means holding my own tribe accountable when they screw up. My point was that to the extent I let myself ignore the wrongs from my own tribe because of the obvious shortcomings of the other tribe, I am debasing the very value that makes my side better.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 16, 2021, 12:51:53 AM
I didn’t claim it did.  Thought I made it pretty clear the current disparity between the left and the right on the rioting/violence spectrum. And I hope the American right never lets themselves be goaded into the violent conflict that the Left thinks they want. Upon reflection (and after the guilty pleasure of watching politicians get a minor taste of what they have sponsored for the past year) the capitol riot made me worry that the Right is getting that much closer to turning the corner and getting into the political violence game we have condemned the Left for playing so long.


Of course I am part of a tribe, but I also want my tribe to be better than the other tribe. If they aren’t, then why would I choose them?  Ideally that means holding my own tribe accountable when they screw up. My point was that to the extent I let myself ignore the wrongs from my own tribe because of the obvious shortcomings of the other tribe, I am debasing the very value that makes my side better.

Your reticence to engage in political violence, even in your own defense no less, is why you will lose to the progressives.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 16, 2021, 03:16:27 AM
Your reticence to engage in political violence, even in your own defense no less, is why you will lose to the progressives.
Self defense is not political violence.
Retributive political violence is not self defense.

Or if you prefer a pragmatic argument, do you feel that the Battle of the Capitol was a defeat for the progressives?  For that matter, can you name one act of political violence from the American right in living memory that was a net win for the movement?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 16, 2021, 02:19:01 PM
Self defense is not political violence.
Retributive political violence is not self defense.

Or if you prefer a pragmatic argument, do you feel that the Battle of the Capitol was a defeat for the progressives?  For that matter, can you name one act of political violence from the American right in living memory that was a net win for the movement?

You are in a 4th gen war whether you like it or not.  Targeted political violence is an unavoidable necessity in such.  Your position that violence is never acceptable is a position of preemptive surrender.  Furthermore you are using progressive propaganda terms like Battle for the Capitol.  There was no battle.  The cops opened the doors from the inside and let people in.  Your use of the lie diminishes your position.

To answer your question I don't believe we've actually seen any right wing political violence.  We've seen plenty of left wing violence being masqueraded as right wing, and of course the blatant left wing violence.

The last time I can recall true right wing violence in the Americas is when Pinochet had the communist agitators and organizers killed thus ending the nascent communist revolution in his country and saving themselves from total ruin (for at least 30-40 years, then they tried again, and succeeded.)
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Boomhauer on February 16, 2021, 02:43:31 PM
Left wing violence is on a knob, right wing violence is an on/off switch that will make the Civil War look like a trip to Disneyland.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 16, 2021, 03:24:43 PM
Furthermore you are using progressive propaganda terms like Battle for the Capitol.  There was no battle.  The cops opened the doors from the inside and let people in.  Your use of the lie diminishes your position.
The use of that term was fully intentional.  The (small scale) violence accomplished nothing and was an absolute propaganda coup for the left.

Yes, the cops let some people in.  Other cops were dragged out and beaten with sticks.

To answer your question I don't believe we've actually seen any right wing political violence.  We've seen plenty of left wing violence being masqueraded as right wing, and of course the blatant left wing violence.
Had the left done what happened on Jan 6 I would have called it political violence, so I'll call it the same thing for the right.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 16, 2021, 03:40:58 PM
The use of that term was fully intentional.  The (small scale) violence accomplished nothing and was an absolute propaganda coup for the left.

Yes, the cops let some people in.  Other cops were dragged out and beaten with sticks.
Had the left done what happened on Jan 6 I would have called it political violence, so I'll call it the same thing for the right.

And the small scale violence WAS initiated by leftists planted in he crowd.  Why are you content to paint the entire right with the slander of a false flag operation?  What little violence that happened on the 6th was LEFT wing violence.  It was a propaganda coup for the left because they engineered it.



America: in 4th generation war, mostly information based with targeted violence.
Left: uses targeted violence against right while pretending to be the Right to further the state of information war.
You: Shame on righties! Righties doing violence is wrong! Political violence is never self defense!
Me: Surely you can not be this obtuse.  Why do you want to lose this war?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 16, 2021, 04:28:18 PM
I'm not sure what really happened. This is a pretty good write up with a balanced take on the event.

https://libertyunyielding.com/2021/02/15/capitol-riot-prying-out-the-narrative-bringing-in-nuggets-of-reality/
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 16, 2021, 04:46:37 PM
And the small scale violence WAS initiated by leftists planted in he crowd.  Why are you content to paint the entire right with the slander of a false flag operation?  What little violence that happened on the 6th was LEFT wing violence.  It was a propaganda coup for the left because they engineered it.
I'm sure some was, but I do not believe that all of violence on the 6th was left wing violence.  If it was, great, and I'd love to see the evidence.  It is not impossible for me to believe that people notionally on my side would be capable of making bad decisions (or good decisions I guess, if you're all for political violence), especially after seeing a year of violence promoted and protected by the left and widespread government policies that just a couple years ago would have been unthinkable.

Importantly, I'm not painting the entire right with anything, or even the entire right that was at the Capitol on Jan 6.

I'm also reminded of the leftist apologists who "proved" that Nazi cops dressed up as ANTIFA were initiating their riots.

America: in 4th generation war, mostly information based with targeted violence.
Left: uses targeted violence against right while pretending to be the Right to further the state of information war.
You: Shame on righties! Righties doing violence is wrong! Political violence is never self defense!
Me: Surely you can not be this obtuse.  Why do you want to lose this war?
Apparently I can be all the obtuse.

Look, if you are legitimately in favor of engaging in real political violence (riots, arson, assassinations, bombings, whatever) then I'd recommend not posting about it in an open forum.  Unlike when BLM/ANTIFA does it, the Feds have been shown to be willing to use all available resources to track down anything with even a hint of the scent of right-wing political violence.  If it's just internet bloviating, then I guess I'm too old and too much of a dad to get fired up.

If all the bad things that our side does is actually the other side being bad, then that is amazing and so convenient!

This does bring us full circle back to zahc's post...
As it escalates, and the nominal left get more extreme, it causes corresponding extremism to the right which sounds good if you agree with those policies, but...fundamental differences remember...it causes blowback and retaliation if not now, next time, or later, or eventually.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 16, 2021, 05:28:58 PM
I'm also reminded of the leftist apologists who "proved" that Nazi cops dressed up as ANTIFA were initiating their riots.

It does seem to be left-wing SOP to accuse the right of doing exactly what you, yourself are doing. Or maybe plan to do.


Quote
  It is not impossible for me to believe that people notionally on my side would be capable of making bad decisions (or good decisions I guess, if you're all for political violence), especially after seeing a year of violence promoted and protected by the left and widespread government policies that just a couple years ago would have been unthinkable.

It would almost make sense for the right, having watched the Left get their way by violence, arson, intimidation, and general screaming and law-breaking over the past several years; to engage in the same thing in January.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 16, 2021, 05:54:50 PM
The link I provided includes the full resignation letter from Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund.

He would have been an interesting witness at the impeachment trial.

I'll let you guys draw your own conclusions but suffice it to say, there was a very large organized group, using coms to coordinate, that attacked the capital hill police who were basically denied timely help when requested.

Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 16, 2021, 06:16:24 PM
I'm sure some was, but I do not believe that all of violence on the 6th was left wing violence.  If it was, great, and I'd love to see the evidence.  It is not impossible for me to believe that people notionally on my side would be capable of making bad decisions (or good decisions I guess, if you're all for political violence), especially after seeing a year of violence promoted and protected by the left and widespread government policies that just a couple years ago would have been unthinkable.

Importantly, I'm not painting the entire right with anything, or even the entire right that was at the Capitol on Jan 6.

I'm also reminded of the leftist apologists who "proved" that Nazi cops dressed up as ANTIFA were initiating their riots.
Apparently I can be all the obtuse.

Look, if you are legitimately in favor of engaging in real political violence (riots, arson, assassinations, bombings, whatever) then I'd recommend not posting about it in an open forum.  Unlike when BLM/ANTIFA does it, the Feds have been shown to be willing to use all available resources to track down anything with even a hint of the scent of right-wing political violence.  If it's just internet bloviating, then I guess I'm too old and too much of a dad to get fired up.

If all the bad things that our side does is actually the other side being bad, then that is amazing and so convenient!

This does bring us full circle back to zahc's post...


That was a lot of words just to say that you are so afraid of the current despotism that you won't even broach discussion of the realities of the situation and instead choose to insulate yourself in a fantasy of faux moral superiority as if it will shield you from the actual aggressions of evil people.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 16, 2021, 08:40:57 PM
It was a FAKE insurrection.

Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 17, 2021, 07:27:11 AM
That was a lot of words just to say that you are so afraid of the current despotism
Some, for sure, but not nearly so much as I am afraid of the civil war that you and the left are trying to bring about.

that you won't even broach discussion of the realities of the situation
Exactly which realities do you think I'm avoiding discussion of?

and instead choose to insulate yourself in a fantasy of faux moral superiority as if it will shield you from the actual aggressions of evil people.
We're both claiming moral superiority here. 

I'm claiming it because I see political mob violence (primarily practiced by the radical left in modern America) as a Bad Thing that is morally wrong, will not advance my beliefs, will not win supporters, will give my political opponents (who will gleefully justify the same kind of behavior from their supporters) a cudgel to beat me and my side with, and will in fact lead to more violence as the spiral continues.

You, on the other hand, are claiming moral superiority because political violence is evil if the left does it, but is good if the right does it, and despite the fact that we agree on something like 98% of the situation, because I fail to come the last 2% into "... and so we should start murdering the other side and talking about it in public," I fail your ideological purity test.

It was a FAKE insurrection.
There was no insurrection, nor any sort of real plan to overthrow the government.  It was a political protest turned riot.  When it happened I joked that it was "mostly peaceful" because that was the kind of obviously false, willful blindness we saw from the likes of CNN when it was the left rioting, but it's kind of funny to see some of us now solemnly pushing the same kind of thing.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 17, 2021, 08:06:56 AM
Quote
There was no insurrection, nor any sort of real plan to overthrow the government.  It was a political protest turned riot.  When it happened I joked that it was "mostly peaceful" because that was the kind of obviously false, willful blindness we saw from the likes of CNN when it was the left rioting, but it's kind of funny to see some of us now solemnly pushing the same kind of thing.

The FAKE meme is just a gift that keeps on giving.

Quote
What is something that is FAKE?: it's not true, real, or genuine : COUNTERFEIT, SHAM, one that is not what it purports to be : such as a worthless imitation passed off as genuine.

The left is calling it an insurrection. It was not an insurrection. Hence the left is pushing a FAKE insurrection.

One of the oddest ironies of the last five years is that of all people, Donald Trump is the one who pulled back the curtain for the normies and revealed IT'S ALL LIES. It's all FAKE.

It wasn't anyone in government, it wasn't anyone in academia, NO prominent religious leader of any persuasion called out the lies. Everyone is invested in protecting the (lying fake) system.

Of all people, it was Trump by calling the media FAKE (liars) that so many people came to question not just the media liars but all the liars running the system.

It was a fake election, we have a fake president and VP and there was a fake impeachment (again).

The best and brightest obviously aren't the ones in control. They may have the power and authority but they haven't done a very good job of making their show believable.

Whatever is really going on between our competing oligarchs, any truth of events is buried beneath mountains of lies.

It's almost as if all global principalities, powers and rulers are liars, following their god, the father of lies  ;)
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: dogmush on February 17, 2021, 08:23:04 AM
I'm claiming it because I see political mob violence (primarily practiced by the radical left in modern America) as a Bad Thing that is morally wrong, will not advance my beliefs, will not win supporters, will give my political opponents (who will gleefully justify the same kind of behavior from their supporters) a cudgel to beat me and my side with, and will in fact lead to more violence as the spiral continues.


Is Violence (political or otherwise) always morally wrong, regardless of the morality or ideas that violence is furthering?


Violence, and mob violence, has been a constant companion of humanity since before it was actually humanity.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 17, 2021, 08:30:25 AM
Is Violence (political or otherwise) always morally wrong, regardless of the morality or ideas that violence is furthering?


Violence, and mob violence, has been a constant companion of humanity since before it was actually humanity.

The problem is who is whipping the crowd up into a frenzy?

The knowledge of how to manipulate the populace is now a pretty well tuned technique.

There may be utility for our enemies in promoting freedom lovers to engage in violence.

A large percentage of the country thinks that Trump supporters committed an attempted insurrection.

Trump did a great job of pulling the rights strings, he isn't the only master wizard out there trying to control events.

It's not outside the realm of possibility that the right could get tricked into a confrontation.

 
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 17, 2021, 08:37:04 AM
If you use violence to take control of the levers of Hell, becoming the new ruler(s) ... you are still nothing more than the ruler of Hell.

Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 17, 2021, 09:55:24 AM
Is Violence (political or otherwise) always morally wrong, regardless of the morality or ideas that violence is furthering?
No.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: fifth_column on February 17, 2021, 10:14:36 AM
It was a FAKE insurrection.

This can't be anything more than a statement of belief. Those Sund described as insurrectionists in his resignation letter might have been antifa, or they might have been militia members, or even KGB for all we know. Discovering what is belief and what is fact is the first step towards wisdom.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 17, 2021, 10:56:23 AM
This can't be anything more than a statement of belief. Those Sund described as insurrectionists in his resignation letter might have been antifa, or they might have been militia members, or even KGB for all we know. Discovering what is belief and what is fact is the first step towards wisdom.



At worst, they were bad actors setting up the stage so the charge of insurrection could be leveled.

At best, they were a bunch of dufuses who were unable to imagine the optics and consequences of their actions.

If we are going to hold the capital rioters accountable as insurrectionists then we need to demand that all the BLM rioters also be held to account for insurrection. Same thing with the foolishness going on in Seattle and Portland.

If we are going to maintain that protests against government that get violent is insurrection then it needs to be applied uniformly across the board.

Otherwise we need to use discretion when applying the term.

Equal application of the law.   

Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: RoadKingLarry on February 17, 2021, 11:05:08 AM
Quote
“War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth a war, is much worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purposes of a master, such war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice, — is often the means of their regeneration. A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. As long as justice and injustice have not terminated their ever-renewing fight for ascendancy in the affairs of mankind, human beings must be willing, when need is, to do battle for the one against the other.”

― John Stuart Mill,
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 17, 2021, 01:31:56 PM
...

I fail your ideological purity test.

...


Yes you do, because your mentality gets loaded onto train cars while undercutting any who would choose to resist.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 17, 2021, 05:09:31 PM
Yes you do, because your mentality gets loaded onto train cars while undercutting any who would choose to resist.
I've said there is a time for violence.  Even offensive violence.  I do not believe the time for violence is now, and I believe that beginning an offensive campaign today, or advocating such a thing at this stage is counterproductive in the extreme.

Despite your fiery rhetoric I feel confident that you're not actually interested in practicing what you preach.  You're smart, experienced, and you have an excellent grasp of OPSEC.  If you were remotely serious about jump starting the boogaloo I highly doubt you would be raising your profile by getting in internet catfights about whether or not today is the day to start murdering Democrats.

If all you want to do is beat your chest in public and burn bridges with insufficiently pure allies, okay.  Not much of a winning tactic, but have at it.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Perd Hapley on February 17, 2021, 07:56:40 PM
"Ignore what he says, pay attention to what he does and the results he gets" - I heard that all the time about Trump.
If you apply that standard to Mitch then he's still looking pretty darn good.

On that head:
https://thefederalist.com/2021/02/17/mitch-mcconnell-has-learned-nothing-and-forgotten-nothing/
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Lennyjoe on February 17, 2021, 09:06:04 PM
I've said there is a time for violence.  Even offensive violence.  I do not believe the time for violence is now, and I believe that beginning an offensive campaign today, or advocating such a thing at this stage is counterproductive in the extreme.

If not now, when do you think it’s appropriate?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ron on February 18, 2021, 07:35:45 AM
I'm in no hurry for CWII or any other type of "hot" warfare to breakout. We are already in an unconventional war and that sucks bad enough.

I'm not sure the political left we see are anything other than ideological footsoldiers and cannon fodder to be sacrificed. They are not the power "behind the throne".

Taking out frustration on the lefts unarmed willing dupes/cannon fodder would be a strategic blunder, imho.

If it comes to shootin time I don't think there will be much doubt it is shootin time. Start shooting or be shot/disappeared removes a lot of doubts.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 18, 2021, 09:42:11 AM
If not now, when do you think it’s appropriate?
In my opinion, when the peaceful options have failed and the threat is imminent. 

The question might be turned around and asked ... why hasn't it been shooting time for decades?  What has changed for you in 2021 that you think now is time to start the violence?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: dogmush on February 18, 2021, 09:49:42 AM
In my opinion, when the peaceful options have failed and the threat is imminent. 


A valid case could be made that those conditions have been met in several cities in America.


{For Clarity, I'm not arguing with you.  We haven't hit my personal line for "shoot people for politics" yet, but I live in a pretty safe region of the country (Safe from political extremists, anyway).  I might have a different opinion if I risked mob violence by taking a wrong turn downtown.}
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 18, 2021, 10:31:11 AM
A valid case could be made that those conditions have been met in several cities in America.


{For Clarity, I'm not arguing with you.  We haven't hit my personal line for "shoot people for politics" yet, but I live in a pretty safe region of the country (Safe from political extremists, anyway).  I might have a different opinion if I risked mob violence by taking a wrong turn downtown.}
I agree completely, but I would classify that as self-defense against political violence, not the initiation of political violence.

Maybe that's the difference between myself and kgb.  I too live in a relatively safe part of the country.  Sure, last year I walked the streets of a nearby city with my young daughters and fielded questions about why every ground-floor window we saw was either broken or boarded up and there was graffiti all over the place.  But that's not where I live, and I've been able to avoid such riots while they were going on.

It is possible I might feel different if I'd survived one of those riots.  Or maybe if someone I loved hadn't survived.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: dogmush on February 18, 2021, 11:29:49 AM
I agree completely, but I would classify that as self-defense against political violence, not the initiation of political violence.

Maybe that's the difference between myself and kgb.  I too live in a relatively safe part of the country.  Sure, last year I walked the streets of a nearby city with my young daughters and fielded questions about why every ground-floor window we saw was either broken or boarded up and there was graffiti all over the place.  But that's not where I live, and I've been able to avoid such riots while they were going on.

It is possible I might feel different if I'd survived one of those riots.  Or maybe if someone I loved hadn't survived.

No, not self defense.  Proactively finding people that are members of groups that are destroying [local] civil society and dismantling those groups.  We are discussing justified political violence here, not self defense.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: cordex on February 18, 2021, 11:48:31 AM
No, not self defense.  Proactively finding people that are members of groups that are destroying [local] civil society and dismantling those groups.  We are discussing justified political violence here, not self defense.
Ah, I see what you're saying.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: RoadKingLarry on February 18, 2021, 01:33:54 PM
No, not self defense.  Proactively finding people that are members of groups that are destroying [local] civil society and dismantling those groups.  We are discussing justified political violence here, not self defense.

Proactive self defense.
 =D
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 18, 2021, 04:30:10 PM
I'm in no hurry for CWII or any other type of "hot" warfare to breakout. We are already in an unconventional war and that sucks bad enough.

I'm not sure the political left we see are anything other than ideological footsoldiers and cannon fodder to be sacrificed. They are not the power "behind the throne".

Taking out frustration on the lefts unarmed willing dupes/cannon fodder would be a strategic blunder, imho.

If it comes to shootin time I don't think there will be much doubt it is shootin time. Start shooting or be shot/disappeared removes a lot of doubts.

This is why General Pinochet only targeted the leadership and organizers of the communist revolutionaries in Chile.  And it was always a disappearing via helicopter in order to deprive them of their martyrs and propaganda from such.
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: kgbsquirrel on February 18, 2021, 04:39:29 PM
I agree completely, but I would classify that as self-defense against political violence, not the initiation of political violence.

Maybe that's the difference between myself and kgb.  I too live in a relatively safe part of the country.  Sure, last year I walked the streets of a nearby city with my young daughters and fielded questions about why every ground-floor window we saw was either broken or boarded up and there was graffiti all over the place.  But that's not where I live, and I've been able to avoid such riots while they were going on.

It is possible I might feel different if I'd survived one of those riots.  Or maybe if someone I loved hadn't survived.

Normalcy bias certainly seems a factor in our differences of mentality; you've never been personally exposed to any political violence whereas I have done political violence, in your name and paid by you. 
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 18, 2021, 09:28:03 PM
And the *expletive deleted*it show continues

Democrats introduce bill prohibiting ‘twice-impeached presidents’ from being buried at Arlington National Cemetery
https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2021/02/18/democrats-introduce-bill-prohibiting-twice-impeached-presidents-from-being-buried-at-arlington-national-cemetery/
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: RoadKingLarry on February 18, 2021, 09:46:27 PM
Wouldn't that come under that bill of attainder prohibition? Or ex post facto?
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: TommyGunn on February 18, 2021, 10:33:08 PM
Wouldn't that come under that bill of attainder prohibition? Or ex post facto?

It comes under "STOOPIDZ." ;)
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Doggy Daddy on February 18, 2021, 11:23:23 PM
And the *expletive deleted*it show continues

Democrats introduce bill prohibiting ‘twice-impeached presidents’ from being buried at Arlington National Cemetery
https://twitchy.com/brettt-3136/2021/02/18/democrats-introduce-bill-prohibiting-twice-impeached-presidents-from-being-buried-at-arlington-national-cemetery/

If that passes, we need to impeach Clinton.  (Bill)
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: WLJ on February 19, 2021, 09:30:31 AM
If that passes, we need to impeach Clinton.  (Bill)

Someone committed that they want to set it at two instead of just one because impeached period would have included Clinton.
Basically this is the dems throwing a sandbox "We double don't like you!" tantrum
Title: Re: Impeach / Punish
Post by: Ben on February 19, 2021, 09:42:06 AM
Someone committed that they're want to set it at two instead of just one because impeached period would have included Clinton.
Basically this is the dems throwing a sandbox "We double don't like you!" tantrum

This is exactly why the set it at two. If the Rs said, "We agree with you but we need to change the language to "impeached", the dems would pull the bill.