Here’s a CSPAN live stream of the proceedings:
Also, Pence isn’t going to gum up the works. From The Post:
Pence, in a letter to lawmakers Wednesday, rejected Trump’s view that he could unilaterally reject electoral college votes from states won by Biden when he presides over a joint session of Congress.
“My oath to support and defend the Constitution constrains me from claiming unilateral authority to determine which electoral votes should be counted and which should not,” Pence said in the letter. “My role as presiding officer is largely ceremonial.”
His letter circulated as Trump repeatedly implored him to intervene in Congress’s counting of the results during a rally at the White House Ellipse.
“Mike Pence, I hope you’re going to stand up for the good of our Constitution and for the good of our country,” Trump said. “And if you’re not, I’m going to be very disappointed in you. I will tell you right now, I’m not hearing good stories.”
Flaccid Führer was just telling the assembled Brown Shirts that Pence had the power to overturn the election. He doesn’t, of course, but I figured the servile Pence would fake a seizure or something to get out of his emcee duties. Pence has spent four years occupying Trump’s colon hoping to inherit the MAGA choads, but that’s not happening now. Let the Sessionshunning of Pence begin!
Open thread.
WaterGirl
Do we think that at least a few of the 11 are rethinking their decisions
edit: Hawley has backed out, right?
ALurkSupreme
Fuck you, Jim Jordan!
Skepticat
I tried, but I just can’t tolerate the bushwah. I’ll wait for transcripts.
WaterGirl
@ALurkSupreme: always appropriate in any thread! A universal comment.
Jerzy Russian
Eww.
Can we do the equivalent of moving over to a different calendar system similar to when they moved from the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian calendar? You will recall that they skipped 12 days after that transition. We would need about 14 days or so to get us to January 20.
randy khan
I guess the Proud Boys and their fellow travelers didn’t manage to keep Dems from getting to the House chamber. Quelle surprise.
ALurkSupreme
@WaterGirl: Hee. Maybe I’ll just write a macro!
Enhanced Voting Techniques
This is what, three elections in a row your lost Donny? A lot of people are disappointed in you.
Jerzy Russian
@ALurkSupreme: I think his name should be legally changed to Gym Jordan. Perhaps the new president or attorney general can order it.
Leto
@randy khan: they’re outside brawling with Capitol Police.
WaterGirl
Nancy does not look happy with something.
Mary G
Listen to Adam Schiff speak after Jim Jordan has shouted incoherently is just pure bliss. So eloquent, well written, delivery perfect. “This house has been a place of giants, how did we become so small?”
Backhanded praise of Mitch McConnell, lol.
mali muso
I can’t bear to watch, but will follow along here. How long do we expect the circus to last before the fat lady sings?
MisterForkbeard
@WaterGirl: Probably with the violence happening in the halls, where Trump-incited rioters are trying to kill the police and various congresspeople.
Or maybe she’s unhappy with the Republicans trying to overthrow the entire government for fascism.
Porque no los dos? :)
dmsilev
@mali muso: Worst case, could be several hours if the assholes object to the count in each of the swing states.
Eolirin
@mali muso: I would think at least six hours. Less if the morons also lack stamina. If they really wanted to be assholes about it they could contest the results of every single state and tie this up for days. But I don’t think they have the fortitude for that.
mali muso
@dmsilev: Well, I am prepared with my stash of alcoholic beverages to toast when it’s all done.
Mary G
@mali muso: Don’t know for sure, but I think I read they get two hours for each objection, and since they are objecting to six states, 12 hours total. I hope Nancy keeps them there as long as it takes and they have to vote at 4 a.m.
emmyelle
Remember at the end of Breaking Bad, after Walt had enlisted the help of Uncle Jack to take care of his enemies and help him amass the 80 billion, or whatever, and then he loses control of things because of course when you fucking enlist the “help” of Nazis for your own selfish purposes you lose control and anyway then Uncle Jack and his goons kill Hank and take most of Walt’s money?
The first time I saw that scene, and every time since when I have thought about it, I think that’s how it is in the GOP.
Geminid
@WaterGirl: They’ve kind of gone out on a limb. I think they will still contest least one state. There is up to 2 hrs. debate allowed for an objection to state’s results, I believe. One Senator spoke of contesting three. Maybe they’ll just contest one state and get it over with. I’m interested in which Republicans and Democrats get to speak against the objections. There probably won’t be enough time for all who want to.
I'll be Frank
SO – Mitch seems near tears
Me – it’s like old yeller. He’s got to shoot his dog. Only instead of it being a beloved dog it was a rabid dog the whole time and Travis had been using the dog to keep old man Sanderson away.
catclub
I think you need a constitutional sheriff for that.
Mary G
????
Oh:
mrmoshpotato
You should totally fire Pence, you fat, orange, fascist shitpile! Do it! That’ll show him!
Oh shut your Kremlin ass-sucking face already.
Eolirin
@Mary G: This all assumes the capitol police can get the angry mob under control. They may need to evacuate before they get through the procedural roadblocks.
This could get very ugly very quickly.
PaulWartenberg
This is going to be a day-long waste of time watching for those of us at home. Let it go and tune back in around 5PM to see what happens.
Leto
And I immediately want to punch Ted Cruz in the face.
Baud
Rep. Raskin is up. Sucks that he has to deal with this now.
Mary G
Jamie Raskin gets up and thanks Nancy SMASH for her kindness and tenderness to his family and gets a standing ovation from at least the Democrats. Rs at least quiet.
patrick II
I was one of the few here who thought Pence would follow his obligation and in the end do what he was supposed to do. He was ambiguous about what he would do up until today to moderate Trump’s pressure. But in the end, he is a Dominionist, not a man of mob rule.
Dorothy A. Winsor
I’m trying to work and there’s so much truly important news and so many historic events, and you guys keep posting about them! Wait.
Baud
@Mary G: I keep reading they are only going to challenge three states. If so, maybe they can announce Biden the winner yet again during the prime time hours.
RedDirtGirl
Thought I was dreaming listening to McConnell. Guess he knows he’s in the minority now. Just had to mute the Zodiac Killer. I’m in too good a mood for his smarm.
mali muso
So it sounds like the Trump mobs are trying to enact the coup outside? What happened to lawn order???
AnotherBruce
@ALurkSupreme: You spelled his name wrong.
TaMara (HFG)
@Dorothy A. Winsor: I’ve given up. I’m going to try and do some work that doesn’t take as much focus. Writing will have to wait, I guess.
Cacti
It’s kind of cute that Trump thinks his refusal to concede will change anything.
Or it would be, if he didn’t have a cult following of deranged loons, ready to commit violence for him.
germy
@patrick II:
So, as I suspected! He’s working for Dominion….
/
germy
@Mary G:
Mr. Schafer works for BlazeTV.
Leto
I wish someone would hold Cruz down and 1) shave that fucking mullet off his head and 2) shave that scraggly werewolf hair off his face. Basically just shave him bald, Handmaiden style.
M31
it’s hard to listen to Raskin knowing what he’s going through
fuck the fucking fuckers, just sayin’
ByRookorbyCrook
McTurtle had to decry partisanship by accusing Democrats of doing the same thing in every previous election. The rest of his speech was good.
Cruz is terrible. A minority doubts the validity of the election so we need to amplify the doubt, not reaffirm the validity? Dumbass.
NotMax
@RedDirtGirl
McConnell’s attempt to both sides it was weak sauce. Other than that he seemed genuinely shaken, the shadow of Georgia hanging over him.
Mary G
All the impeachment managers are speaking for Dems. Good choice. Well written and mostly well delivered. Zoe Lofgren always seems trembly and nervous, but her content was good. Republicans mostly relying on yelling. This is the new one, the crazy Colorado gun girl. Spouting Fox News talking points as fast and as loud as she can. Trying to outdo Kimberly Guilfoyle, but she doesn’t have nearly enough lung power.
jimmiraybob
Anybody else notice that a full-blow MAGA riot is happening at the Capitol?
trollhattan
@Leto:
Isn’t it interesting they’re not decked out in full riot gear?
https://twitter.com/Acosta/status/1346885911108268037?s=20
M31
this Boebert person is a low-quality scumbag, can barely read off a card
Cacti
@NotMax: AG Merrick Garland investigating Mitch and wife’s Kentucky kickback scheme at the DOT, and the firing of the Inspector General?
This couldn’t have worked out better in a movie plot.
waratah
I cannot stand Ted Cruz.
Cameron
@mrmoshpotato: Trump drops his Pence too often as it is.
MisterForkbeard
@M31: Remember: She didn’t finish high school. Dropped out.
Amir Khalid
@Leto:
Ted Cruz looks appropriately creepy as is. Unlike you, I do not think kindly enough of him to want to make him look less creepy.
Leto
@trollhattan: the response to these traitorous shit weasels v BLM protestors is stark. It’s the same type of response ala the Michigan capital protests. Don’t see any extra Justice Dept goons out there beating the shit out of people.
Elizabelle
Thanks for this. Will check back in later.
NotMax
Shorter Cruz:
“We must look into these allegations. Pay no attention to them being bereft of evidence and having repeatedly been held to carry no merit.”
All that was missing was his closing by using a finger to make motorboat noises with his lips.
Leto
@Amir Khalid: Personally I think a “To the Pain!” Princess Bride styling would be fitting.
germy
So Boebert is screaming about… more people being allowed to register and vote.
And she mentions her constituents… who are outside rioting.
topclimber
@Mary G: I am intrigued by this “up to two hours” provision. If Nancy gets pissed off enough by the MAGA invasion of her House, what stops her from getting approval to make each objection have only 10 minutes or 5 minutes or even 1?
Maybe enough GOP Senators get to do the same thing in their chamber, once the House makes it clear their co-equal branch ends this charade TODAY. They can overrule Mitch if they are pissed enough about mobs in the hallways.
Jerzy Russian
@Leto: You are slipping. You left off “3) Punch the newly bald face”.
JWR
NBC covering the MAGA rally, and it’s odd. Something seems off. Oh, I know… no tear gas. (Or is gas verboten so near the Capitol?)
Goddamn! Now the crowd has breached the gates of the building!
Leto
Traitorous shit weasels have pushed further up the capitol steps. MSNBC is showing it on the split screen. It looks like they’re moving into the Capital itself. This really, really needs to be fucking shut down.
Geminid
@Mary G: If Kevin McCarthy thinks giving Lauren Bobert speaking time is a good thing, he’s an idiot. But I guess we already knew McCarthy is an idiot. But I’m glad the Democratic impeachment managers will speak. That’s a talented bunch.
mrmoshpotato
@Eolirin:
Definitely contest the states won by their Soviet shitpile mobster manbaby god emperor.
Fraud Guy
Trump supporters trying to give Trump reason to invoke the Insurrection Act? Wouldn’t that be a conspiracy?
I think Pence should have a letter in his pocket to give to Nancy and Mitch with the signatures of half of the Cabinet to have Trump sidelined until the end of his term.
NotMax
@topclimber
The rules in place provide for a maximum of two hours’ debate. No speaker to hold the floor for more than five minutes. No speaker to be granted the floor more than once during the time allotted for debate.
Barbara
@JWR: They are using tear gas now. They probably needed to get the right protective gear in place.
germy
Leto
Riot geared cops are showing up to the capital. Seeing a formation moving up (via MSNBC).
Roger Moore
@Leto:
Another day ending in “y”, then.
Mary G
worn
Re: magats storming the Capitol – I guess what’s been going on out here in Salem the past few weeks was an omen.
Leto
Mike Pence was just taken out of the Senate chamber.
mrmoshpotato
@Eolirin: Can the trash be safely (shitbags not shooting anyone) teargassed? (I’m only half joking.)
dr. bloor
@trollhattan: Why would they need riot gear, silly commenter? Those protesters are white.
NotMax
Secret Service rushes Pence off the Senate floor.
LuciaMia
@jimmiraybob: Yup. And like somebody suggested below, just get out the water hoses. Its 40 degrees out.
Patricia Kayden
Yep.
RedDirtGirl
@M31: I didn’t know he was ailing ?
Leto
@Roger Moore: 365 instances of it.
mrmoshpotato
@Leto:
Evergreen. And the beard doesn’t improve anything. C’mon. Ted.
randy khan
@Mary G:
Edit: It seems like the Post story I quote was not entirely up to date, based on a couple of other items. I hope these idiots get prosecuted and sent away for a long time.
The WaPo account puts this in better perspective (with a photo that probably tells the story): They didn’t get in.
Here’s the gist:
Appalling, of course, but in the end they never got within 100 yards of anyone but law enforcement (and I’d add that you really can’t get into the Capitol from that side anyway).
Roger Moore
@Fraud Guy:
What makes you think he could get half the cabinet to sign such a letter? Most of them are 100% on-board with Trumpism.
Mary G
ET
Capitol Police were more prepared for BLM than the Nazis.
Closed building, telling people to stay away from windows, metro bypassing Capitol South, building evacuations.
Patricia Kayden
@Eolirin: The Capital Police need to pretend that these thugs are Black and act accordingly.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Mary G: watching MSNBC– sounds like the Secret Service hustled trump out of the chamber, a plain clothes Capitol Hill police officer is in the presiding chair of the Senate chamber.
ETA: “REpbulican National Committee headquarters evacuated”
what’s that whole what you sow thing again?
Leto
@mrmoshpotato: while we’re at it, add Fuck Todd to that list. Totally useless bloviating right now. I say right now as if the last N+ of his tv career has been anything less.
Mary G
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Yeah, House recessing pursuant to “Clause B, rule 1”. Grassley gaveled the Senate out until the call of the chair. Members milling around glued to their phones. And Grassley cuts the cameras.
mrmoshpotato
@Dorothy A. Winsor: You trying to get some work done is as good a reason as any for the Rethuglicans to stop being fascist trash.
JWR
NotMax
@Mary G
Book burnings a hallmark of you know whats.
Leto
@randy khan: reporters there at the scene, and now HuffPo people are posting photos of protestors outside the Senate Chambers. They’re 100% inside the building.
edit: not protestors, insurrectionists. Fuck these people.
Immanentize
@RedDirtGirl: He is not. His beloved son committed suicide on new year’s day.
trollhattan
@Leto:
The contrast is compelling and appalling. And the lack of preparation should get somebody canned. These assholes should have been kept well away from the building.
(Also, how did antifa manage to disguise themselves as humble patriots?)
Tazj
@Mary G: You won’t be surprised to learn that many conservatives are blaming the actions of these rioters on the actions of protesters this summer and the “failure”of the press to call out how violent the protests were. No comments about how violent the police became against those protesters.
germy
They’re calling the police “motherfuckers” and “traitors”
Betty Cracker
Wow, this is some crazy shit!
germy
Some of the rioters are getting a face full of pepper spray or mace or whatever it is.
Patricia Kayden
So now thugs have shut down the Congress. How nice.
germy
topclimber
@NotMax: It’s NotMAX I am talking about, but MIN (couldn’t resist). Nothing stops the Congressional majority from changing the rules, especially in the face of an a-hole invasion.
Patricia Kayden
@germy: I’m not seeing that on MSNBC.
mrmoshpotato
@NotMax:
Cry harder? Can fascist turtles even cry?
trollhattan
@NotMax:
NPR did a solid this a.m. playing audio of VP Biden cooly swatting away Dem. objections to the Trump vote four years ago.
Quinerly
Pelosi has been ushered away.
RNC Headquarters evacuated due to bomb threat.
Betty Cracker
Now CNN is saying there are MAGA thugs INSIDE the Capitol building, and they’ve advised everyone in there to find a place to shelter away from windows and public spaces.
Patricia Kayden
I see the police on CNN.
Mary G
Using the flimsy crowd control barriers as ladders:
trollhattan
@Patricia Kayden:
Can you imagine the scene if D.C. had Michigan’s open carry laws?
Steeplejack (phone)
@Leto:
Why should today be different from any other day?
Quinerly
@Patricia Kayden: protesters on the balcony outside of Senate Chamber. Capitol completely locked down. Protesters inside.
Baud
House is coming back, according to MSNBC.
Leto
@trollhattan: totally agree. As someone mentioned, somehow they’re “prepared” for BLM protestors, but fucking Nazis/Insurrectionists show up and nothing can be done? Someone def needs to be shit canned, procedures revised, and full lockdown needs to be implemented. Will Bobert (whatever the fuck her dumb name is) start pewpew’ing all these traitorous thugs? Worthless sacks of skin.
randy khan
@Leto: Yeah, WaPo is behind on the story. I’ve edited accordingly. It still sounds like it’s just a small group. I honestly have no idea what the Capitol Police were thinking here, but I hope they arrest every single one of them and that they all get prosecuted.
Quinerly
Trump 3 mins ago: “Mike Pence didn’t have the courage to do what should have been done to protect our Country and our Constitution, giving States a chance to certify a corrected set of facts, not the fraudulent or inaccurate ones which they were asked to previously certify. USA demands the truth!”
mrmoshpotato
@Jerzy Russian:
???
cain
@worn:
I assume Oregon, I think it’s happening today as well.
RedDirtGirl
@Immanentize: Oh, how awful!
Mary G
House back in session: Paul Gosar addressing the Capitol police guy as “Madam Speaker,” and continuing the speech as if he’s talking to Nancy Smash.
NotMax
@topclimber
Actually, no. The time and format of debate for this situation are delineated by a law passed in 1887. Not something which can be waived by a spontaneous ruling.
Leto
@Steeplejack (phone): I can usually go weeks/months without seeing him, but it’s just such a visceral reaction whenever I see him. It’s no different than any other day, but it’s like a surprise $5k bill for something and you just go, “FUUUUUCK!” You weren’t expecting it, you’re not prepared for it, and you want it to immediately die/go away. Ted Cruz!
Geminid
@randy khan: Lock ’em up!
Leto
MSNBC showing live feed of the insurrectionists inside the Capital. They’re about 20 yards from the Senate chamber. They’re just milling about, grouping up, no Capital Police control of the situation.
Mary G
Now instead of the House proceedings, they are showing Magats in the Hall of Statuary screaming “We Want Trump.” Capitol police standing back and watching.
topclimber
@NotMax: But the law you quote talks of a maximum debate limit, not a required one, yes?
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Were the bloated, loathesome mediocrity anything approaching decent, he’d come out and ask that they go home.
He won’t. He’ll sit like a fat, belching Panjandrum and let them (and us) bear the consequences of his incitement.
It is too much to ask him to act as a statesman.
Quinerly
MAGA Protesters in Statuary Hall milling around with flagpoles., banners.
Leto
DC Mayor just ordered a 6pm (1800) curfew for the city. For all of our DC jackals, please be safe!
Immanentize
@RedDirtGirl: This the family’s statement. Both made me smile and broke my heart:
Tommy Raskin
He was trapped in a world he never made.
I'll be Frank
we seem to be on our way to President Pelosi
Quinerly
@Mary G: police seem to be standing down. Doing nothing.
mrmoshpotato
@Leto: Maybe Upchuck Toddler needs some of Hillary’s email to yell about and a bottle of warm milk.
JWR
Anybody else have a feeling these Covidiots, in coordination with certain people, are planning to undertake a full on riot on the House floor? I mean, they’re right outside the chamber’s doors.
NotMax
@topclimber
That’s cutting it rather fine. Debate ends when no one rises to speak (and is recognized by the presiding officer) or when two hours have elapsed, whichever comes first.
Quinerly
VP Pence and Senator Grassley taken to a secure location. Pete Williams reporting
Betty Cracker
@I’ll be Frank: Hey Frank, if your username contains an apostrophe, every comment will automatically go into moderation until someone with admin access approves it. I’m not sure why it works that way, but here we are. Maybe change your name to “I Will Be Frank”? :)
Fraud Guy
@JWR: certain people with the initials DJT?
?BillinGlendaleCA
@Leto: That was Statuary Hall(the Old House Chamber).
mrmoshpotato
@Patricia Kayden:
Where are their white trash fathers? What kind of Nazi music do they listen to?
Shalimar
@Fraud Guy: The question arises for 25th Amendment purposes: What constitutes a cabinet member? To wit, do all of the illegal temp workers Trump has appointed without confirmation count?
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Quinerly:
Anybody checked to see if Boebert is rolling strapped? Nancy is in significant danger.
Kristine
What @Dorothy A. Winsor said.
Fraud Guy
@Shalimar: I would say only ones appointed to their specific cabinet position and voted on by consent of the Senate.
worn
OMG, that fur-wearing dude with the horned helmet made it inside. I have a memory of one of his unhinged tweets being front paged sometime in the last month or so…
https://twitter.com/igorbobic/status/1346899437520621568
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I think it was Katie Tur who just said “Oh my god” on a hot mike, and I don’t think she was responding to what Elissa Slotkin is saying on the phone
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
Greenwald is excoriating McConnell for not going along with the notion of investigating the EV count.
https://twitter.com/ggreenwald/status/1346889152076382209?s=20
topclimber
@NotMax: You are probably right…but let’s see what happens if the sedition squad has the stomach to continue their game beyond 3 states after rioters have invaded Congress. I suppose the worst case is they can drag proceedings out for several days by objecting to every pro-Biden state’s electors. I think Nancy would find a way to cut things short if she gets annoyed.
Alternatively, Mother may wake Pence up to the fact that it is already too late for him to be a MAGA fave. Then he can do what Biden did and dismiss further objections for lack of grounds. Being spirited out of the Senate by the secret service might make even this wimpish weasel angry enough to strike back.
When the evangelicals dump the deplorables to make an alliance with Chamber of Commerce types in the new and smaller Republican Party of the 2020’s, Pence might even be seen as a hero, just by acting like one now.
Fraud Guy
@Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes:
Glenn needs to pay attention to current events.
eponymous
jesus fuck. I think my BP has soared to dangerous levels. Can they please stop calling these mofos “protestors”??
Tazj
@Leto: Yes, how true. Riot gear and armored vehicles in Buffalo, NY and many other cities, why not here?
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@topclimber:
I like to think that Mark Kelly has punched Ted Cruz into a bloody pulp in whatever bolthole the Senate has fled to.
On a doomy note, the DOD is denying the requests of DC officials for the National Guard to come in. We’re in full on coup/autogolpe.
Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes
@Fraud Guy:
Oh, he is, and likes it.
To be Frank
@Betty Cracker: Thanks for mentioning that. I had been wondering if my nym was a problem for some time now.
eponymous
So, DoD is down with the coup.
NotMax
@topclimber
In practice, to little effect as she would still have to wait until the Senate’s two hours (or less as the case may be) is up and their vote is held before they traipse back in to the House chamber to resume the joint session.
citizen dave (aka mad citizen)
@eponymous: Yup, what in the everloving F?