House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been attacking Republicans members as traitors in a continuation of the reckless rhetoric from the last four years on both sides. Despite a desire for greater unity from voters, Pelosi has sought to capitalize on rather than close those divisions while other Democrats are calling for blacklists and retaliatory measures. The Speaker has now doubled down on these attacks by claiming that the need to increase security is due in no small degree to the “enemy within” in reference to the Republican ranks. As with her prior conduct as Speaker, Pelosi continues to refuse to recognize any obligation to the institution in seeking consensus and reconciliation.
Pelosi declared on Thursday that there is an obvious need for a “supplemental [budget] for more security for members when the enemy is within the House of Representatives — a threat that members are concerned about in addition to what is happening outside.”
Such language obviously thrills many who want to portray any opposing voices as traitors and seditionists. It has been rhetoric building for years as the more leaders and academics engage in the politics of personal destruction. The idea is to avoid responding to actual positions by labeling the opposition as actual traitors, criminals, and threats. It is the very signature of this age of rage in American politics.
The members are legitimately debating the issue of members carrying permitted weapons in Congress or on the House floor. Pelosi made direct reference to one such member. There has also been criticism of a member, Rep. Greene, for her inflammatory statements on social media. Far enough. Those issues can be addressed and Republicans have denounced Rep. Greene. However, even when confronted by reckless accusations against a member who was reportedly showing her own family around the Congress, Pelosi has doubled down on the rhetoric of treason in reference to Republicans generally. It precisely the type of rhetoric that many of us condemned when used by former President Donald Trump.
I have commended President Biden for his statements about the need to end the language of division and personal recrimination. Recently, he repeated that call and said that politicians need to “eliminate the vitriol” and stop that “the ad hominem attacks on one another.” He objected to people who “make anything that you disagree with about the other person’s personality, or their lack of integrity, or they’re not decent legislators, and the like. So we have to get rid of that.”
I like the demeanor of Biden as president. However, as the President was making those comments, Speaker Pelosi was engaging in the very vitriolic language that he condemned. It will not end unless Biden calls out people in his own party and demands a lowering of such rhetoric. His words continue to be drowned out by the words of his own party’s leadership.
Nancy has finally passed Maxine Waters for inbred stupidly.
https://twitter.com/govttrader/status/1355245730018041859
‘somebody trying to crash the treasury market”
remember somebody predicting this months ago?
I do
Sal sar
And by all means, leave it up to the government (the fox in the henhouse) to identify the threats. What could possible go wrong.
§2385. Advocating overthrow of Government
Whoever knowingly or willfully advocates, abets, advises, or teaches the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying the government of the United States or the government of any State, Territory, District or Possession thereof, or the government of any political subdivision therein, by force or violence, or by the assassination of any officer of any such government; or
Whoever, with intent to cause the overthrow or destruction of any such government, prints, publishes, edits, issues, circulates, sells, distributes, or publicly displays any written or printed matter advocating, advising, or teaching the duty, necessity, desirability, or propriety of overthrowing or destroying any government in the United States by force or violence, or attempts to do so; or
Whoever organizes or helps or attempts to organize any society, group, or assembly of persons who teach, advocate, or encourage the overthrow or destruction of any such government by force or violence; or becomes or is a member of, or affiliates with, any such society, group, or assembly of persons, knowing the purposes thereof—
Shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
If two or more persons conspire to commit any offense named in this section, each shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than twenty years, or both, and shall be ineligible for employment by the United States or any department or agency thereof, for the five years next following his conviction.
As used in this section, the terms “organizes” and “organize”, with respect to any society, group, or assembly of persons, include the recruiting of new members, the forming of new units, and the regrouping or expansion of existing clubs, classes, and other units of such society, group, or assembly of persons.
(June 25, 1948, ch. 645, 62 Stat. 808; July 24, 1956, ch. 678, §2, 70 Stat. 623; Pub. L. 87–486, June 19, 1962, 76 Stat. 103; Pub. L. 103–322, title XXXIII, §330016(1)(N), Sept. 13, 1994, 108 Stat. 2148.)
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=%2Fprelim%40title18%2Fpart1%2Fchapter115&edition=prelim
“. . . by force or violence . . .”
According to the latest woke memo: Words are violence. Silence, too.
Jonathan: From defending Senator Tom Cotton you now attack Speaker Pelosi because she refuses to seek “consensus and reconciliation” after the attacks on the Capitol on January 6. The problem is that most Republicans in Congress still refuse to accept the election results. “Stop the Steal” seems to be their mantra. Right-wing extremist supporters of Trump who attacked the Capitol are still plotting further violence. Pelosi is calling for heightened security because she recognizes the danger–not only from the outside but also from inside the House chamber from Republican office holders. Take Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. She is not interested in “consensus and reconciliation” but in stoking the fires of insurrection. Greene has just introduced articles on impeachment against President Biden because she falsely claims the election was stolen from Trump. She wants no part of “unity” and said Democratic leaders like Pelosi should be “shot in the head”. Greene espouses QAnon conspiracy theories and calls the January 6th insurrection the Republicans’ “1776 moment”. She has close ties with the far-right militia movement that participated in the looting of the Capitol. It is bizarre you would attack Pelosi but fail to adequately condemn Greene’s incendiary rhetoric calling for the killing of members of Congress and demanding the overturning of the 2020 election. Greene is an insurrectionist who has violated her oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution. She has no place in the House of Representatives!.
Republicans will “accept the election results” when Democrats and their media “accept the election results” from 2016. Which is to say: never. Joe Biden is an illegitimate president who was “installed” by way of corruption, cheating, rule changing in the middle of the night, big tech/media censorship, sabotage, and fraud. Resist!
Senile Joe Biden got the most votes ever cast for a president in the history of elections?
What a farce. What a lie.
Joe Biden was “Installed.”
Anyone who doubts this, is the fool.
OK, here goes: Trump CHEATED to get into office AND lost the popular vote. Biden didn’t. Why should Americans accept Trump holding office by way of cheating?
There was no corruption, cheating, rule changing, censorship, sabotage or fraud. These are Trump lies. Why won’t you believe Chris Krebs who said 2020 was the most-secure election in US history? Why won’t you believe Bill Barr when he says there was no fraud? Both of these were Trump appointees, and both were fired because they refused to go along with the lies. Why won’t you believe the rulings of 60+ courts, some with Republican judges, or multiple Secretaries of State and Governors, most of whom are Republicans, who said there was no fraud, cheating, etc? Because you are a Trump disciple who prefers to believe lies from a sociopathic narcissist who will never admit he lost, never admit that after one week, Joe Biden already has a higher approval rating, never admit that Americans consistently disapproved of him for 4 years, and that the polls predicting his loss were accurate?
+10
And at what point will trump never having won a popular vote settle in? Preparing for a trumpist lecture that the electoral college decides elections (when his popular vote losses just highlight the need to rebalance the system).
Elvis Bug
“And at what point will trump never having won a popular vote settle in?”
Never – it is not relevant.
“Preparing for a trumpist lecture that the electoral college decides elections”
If you do not like that change the constitution.
” (when his popular vote losses just highlight the need to rebalance the system).”
Again change the constitution – if you are correct and people really believe there is a problem you will have no difficulty doing so.
Just as you should have changes state constitutions and election laws rather than run roughshod over them by executive and judicial fiat.
“Trump CHEATED to get into office AND lost the popular vote.”
That is how the election is decided – it is not cheating. – if you do not like it change the constitution.
“Biden didn’t.”
There is pretty strong evidence that he did.
The election was inarguably conducted lawlessly in violation of state election laws and constitutions.
“Why should Americans accept Trump holding office by way of cheating?”
You shouldn’t
Elections should follow the laws and constitutions.
If we do not like those – we should change them – legitimately, by changing the state constitutions, and state election laws,
Not be exiecutive or judicial fiat.
“there was no corruption, cheating, rule changing, censorship, sabotage or fraud.”
Of course there was – that has been well established.
28 State constitutions prohibit mailin voting – yet voting was by mail. That is both corruption, cheating, rule changing sabotage and fraud.
Election observers were barred from observing counting for long periods of time, and not permitted to meaningfully observe for the rest.
The entire purpose of election observers is to thwart fraud and instill trust in elections.
“These are Trump lies.”
“Why won’t you believe Chris Krebs who said 2020 was the most-secure election in US history?”
Because that is a bald faced stupid silly lie. That is idiocy even if there was no fraud.
A mailin election CAN NOT BE secure – it is just not possible.
Did the insecurity of the eleciton result in fraud – with certainty. How large was that fraud – that is an unanswered question.
But the claim the election was secure is just silly nonsense.
It is stupid claims like these that destroy your credibility.
“Why won’t you believe Bill Barr when he says there was no fraud?”
Because that is NOT what he said.
“Both of these were Trump appointees, and both were fired because they refused to go along with the lies.”
Krebs was fired – you should expect that when you make ludicrously stupid statements
Barr resigned during a period in which people normally resign.
“Why won’t you believe the rulings of 60+ courts, some with Republican judges, or multiple Secretaries of State and Governors, most of whom are Republicans, who said there was no fraud, cheating, etc?”
Nor will you beleive the now over 50000 affadavits alleging fraud – many first hand observations.
The only challenged state with republican governors and sec states is GA. Raffensburger has been caught lying repeatedly. That is why he ha not been beleived.
And no they did not say there was no fraud or cheating. Please read the decisions. These cases were dismissed on legal technicalities. Standing – i.e. you do not have the right to sue, or laches – your suit is too late, or you requires a remedy that is impossible.
“Because you are a Trump disciple”
I have never voted for Trump. I suport about 50% of his policies to some extent.
That is not a disciple.
You constantly try to divide the world into leftists and brain washed trump supporters
The world is more complex that that.
Few people beleive Trump is right on everything.
“who prefers to believe lies from a sociopathic narcissist”
That describes all of washington.
“who will never admit he lost, never admit that after one week, Joe Biden already has a higher approval rating, never admit that Americans consistently disapproved of him for 4 years, and that the polls predicting his loss were accurate?”
The polls were not accurate – they were not even close.
Rasmussen has Biden as -4. They are the only daily tracking poll.
More people strongly disapprove of Biden than approve.
But that is not the critical criteria.
Turley’s not going to ever condemn any GOP–he’s on the payroll. But it’s still important to point out his bias.
Good for Turley.
It’s my belief to not point out his bias would be disrespectful to him.
Elvis Bug
I expect Turley and anyone with a brain to focus their criticism on our actual serious problems.
The GOP whatever their faults is not among those. When they are – I would expect Turley to attack them.
When Thomas Paine wrote attacking British rule – was he obligated to give equal time to British critiques of the colonies ?
I have no problem condeming many things the GOP does.
But they are not the problem.
This is more leftist rot that everything should be equal.
The most significant threats to the country are from the left not the right.
When republicans are a real danger to the country – rather than democrats I will be happy to amplify my criticism.
“From defending Senator Tom Cotton”
You have already lost the debate regarding Cotton.
Cotton’s uniform says RANGER.
“you now attack Speaker Pelosi”
There i a long list of excellent reasons to attack pelosi.
“the attacks on the Capitol on January 6.”
Congress locked a public federal building while congress was in session to silence protests against the election – the result should have been expected.
This is not the USSR, our government is subject to oversight and criticism by the people.
“The problem is that most Republicans in Congress still refuse to accept the election results. “Stop the Steal” seems to be their mantra.”
That could easily have been solved by following state election laws and constitutions. and by conducting the eleciton in a transparent and lawful fashion.
Even after the fact, confidence could have been restored by welcoming scrutiny.
The responsibility to secure public trust in elections rests with government – not the people. Not the candidates.
Failure to secure that trust leaves the government illegitimate.
While there is good reason for people to doubt this election – and the majority do.
It would not matter whether the reasons were good or not.
Elections are to be conducted according to the law and constitutions, and to be conducted openly and transparently – because without that the people are not likely to trust the election.
each candidate must endeavor to win the election – according to the law.
Government is not there to favor one candidate over another. It is there to assure that whoever wins, that the people can Trust the outcome.
If they do not – govenrment failed. BY DEFINITION.
“Right-wing extremist supporters of Trump who attacked the Capitol are still plotting further violence.”
They might be – foreclose protests, and you encourage violence from the most extreme.
Silencing dissent – even angry dissent gets you nowhere.
“Pelosi is calling for heightened security because she recognizes the danger”
And that is backfiring. Government serves the people – not itself.
“not only from the outside but also from inside the House chamber from Republican office holders.”
So ? In the past the capital has been bombed and there were gunfights on the house floor.
“Take Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. She is not interested in “consensus and reconciliation””
She is not required to be.
Democrats have a crisis of legitimacy as a result of this election and republicans are properly using that.
“but in stoking the fires of insurrection.”
“Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Patrick Henry March 23, 1775 Second Virginia convention.
There is no consequential movement towards actual insurection YET.
But insurrection is a justified response to government lawlessness.
“Greene has just introduced articles on impeachment against President Biden because she falsely claims the election was stolen from Trump.”
Saying ‘falsely” hundreds of times does not make something false.
If you wanted trust in government – a prerequisite for legitimacy, you were obligated to prove it.
“She wants no part of “unity” and said Democratic leaders like Pelosi should be “shot in the head””
I want no part in what democrats call “unity”.
Regardless, Green did not say Pelosi should be shot in the head.
If the democratic party wants unity – they need to grasp that whether the won the eleciton narrowly or not, their policies are unpopular.
If you want Unity
do not impose idiotic and debunked climate change nonsense on us all by force.
Since 1979 the climate has warmed 0.11C/decade exactly the same as the prior 200 years.
There is no catastrophic climate threat.
Do not deprive people of their jobs over debunked nonsense.
Do not invite millions of foreigners to overrun our borders and take peoples jobs.
Do not try to make permanent and legal the lawless election that the majority of people find dubious.
Do not threaten to stack the courts.
Do not force citizens to pay for the abortions of foreigners in foreign countries.
Do not threaten to rig future elections by essentially gerrymandering the country by manufacturing new states.
Do not talk about unity when you mean capitulation.
“Greene espouses QAnon conspiracy theories”
The core of Qanon is that there is a cabal of Globalist peodofiles that seek to Thwart Trump.
I have no interest in Qanon, but as conspiracy theories go – that is far tamer than the claim that the Biden Laptop was russian disinformation, or the collusion delusion.
Many many people on the left think that Epstein was murdered.
“calls the January 6th insurrection the Republicans’ “1776 moment””
It might be, only history will tell.
“She has close ties with the far-right militia movement”
So ? I have no problems with Militia’s. This county was born of millitias.
“participated in the looting of the Capitol.”
There was very little looting, and so far no evidence of organized militia involvement.
BTW if there were – you would know it. They would have come organized in companies and platoons, and they would have come with weapons like AR-15’s You would not have been able to miss them.
A significant portion of those in “millitias” are law enforcement and/or military/ex military.
“It is bizarre you would attack Pelosi but fail to adequately condemn Greene’s incendiary rhetoric calling for the killing of members of Congress ”
And yet Green did not call for killing members of congress.
“demanding the overturning of the 2020 election.”
A plurality of americans want that.
“Greene is an insurrectionist who has violated her oath of office to defend and protect the Constitution.”
Since when does protecting the constitution require supporting lawless elections ?
Greene also swore to uphold the law.
It is beyond any doubt that the 2020 election violates state constitutions and existing election laws.
The oath violation is on the part of democrats.
“She has no place in the House of Representatives!.”
The voters in here district think otherwise. She won her distrcit with 74% of the vote.
Virginia has as a Governor a Physician Specialist. And yet West Virginia ranks far higher
Virginia ranked last for COVID-19 vaccines administered
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/01/26/virginia-ranked-last-covid-19-vaccines-administered/4257962001/