US democracy is under threat
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11:44 am, January 7th, 2021 - 43 comments
Categories: democracy under attack, Donald Trump, uncategorized, us politics -
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Short post to update on developments in Washington.
Short take, the US authorities appeared to be appallingly under prepared and allowed a group of Trump supporters to take over Congress after Mike Pence respected the constitution and indicated he would fulfill his role in accepting the results of the election.
I cannot believe how weak the response was.
Sure this was a bunch of wide eyed white trash with guns but surely the authorities could have done better.
Imagine if the crowd was black?
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- NZ must pursue independent foreign policy
The Green Party says the need is greater than ever for Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue an independent foreign policy. ...2 weeks ago
- Release: Winston Peters must apologise
The Deputy Prime Minister should apologise to the public servant he named and blamed for something they did not do, and for misusing the rules of Parliament. ...2 weeks ago
- Government action provides Southland farmers more time to meet plan requirements
The Government is taking action to ensure Southland farmers and growers are not affected by unreasonable regional farm plan deadlines, Agriculture Minister Todd McClay, Environment Minister Penny Simmonds and Associate Environment Minister Andrew Hoggard say.âCabinet has agreed to provide more time for farmers and growers to comply with regional rules ...6 hours ago - Bill reaffirms Governmentâs commitment to crack down on serious youth offending
The Oranga Tamariki (Responding to Serious Youth Offending) Bill had its first reading at Parliament today. The Bill reaffirms the Governmentâs commitment to crack down on serious youth offending, Minister for Children Karen Chhour says. âIn recent years we have seen an unacceptable spike in youth offending. âThis Bill makes ...7 hours ago
- Critical milestones for earthquake buildings review
Fairer, more sensible rules about managing earthquake risks are a step closer with the passing of legislation and the appointment of an independent chair to provide expert advice, Minister for Building and Construction Chris Penk says. âThe Government is committed to reinvigorating our cities and regions to support economic growth, ...7 hours ago
- State of the art radiology machine for Auckland
People in Northland and Auckland will benefit from a new machine for cancer treatment installed at the Regional Cancer and Blood Service at Auckland City Hospital. The MV5 linear accelerator, or LINAC machine, officially opened today targets cancer tumours with pinpoint accuracy. Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says this new, ...7 hours ago
- Foreign Minister to visit Europe
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters will travel to Europe for high-level talks with France, Germany and the United Kingdom next week. "Since taking office almost a year ago, the Coalition Government has emphasised the importance we place on New Zealand's traditional and likeminded diplomatic and ...8 hours ago
- First arrests made under gang patch ban
Police have made their first arrests under the new gang patch legislation, with two gang members arrested, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. âJust before 11 this morning, Police in Wairoa apprehended a gang member for wearing a patch to the supermarket. He has been arrested and will now face enforcement ...9 hours ago
- Better support for victims of sexual violence
The Government is proposing two major changes to name suppression laws that will put the views of victims of sexual violence first, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âWe are committed to restoring law and order and these two proposed changes will help ensure the victims of crime are put at ...10 hours ago
- Government moving forward with Regional Deals
Cabinet has agreed to invite all regions to submit proposals for Regional Deals between central and local government that drive economic growth and deliver the infrastructure our country needs, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown and Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop say. Inviting all regions to propose a Regional Deal that boosts ...10 hours ago
- MSA pilot participant update
One of the ten young men selected to participate in the Military-Style Academy Pilot has allegedly reoffended. Childrenâs Minister Karen Chhour is disappointed but says it would be naĂŻve to think that none of these young men would reoffend. âIâm saddened that this young person has not taken this opportunity ...11 hours ago
- Attendance rates increase, again
Associate Education Minister David Seymour says that school attendance is continuing to rise. In Term 3 of 2024 51.3 per cent of students attended school regularly, an increase of 5.3 percentage points from 46 per cent in Term 3 of 2023. âThis Government has prioritised student attendance and it is ...13 hours ago
- Improving the lives of young New Zealanders
Ensuring New Zealand is the best place in the world for children and young people is the vision at the heart of the Governmentâs new Child and Youth Strategy, Child Poverty Reduction Minister Louise Upston says. âChildhood represents a huge opportunity to set people on a positive path towards living ...15 hours ago
- Government continues work to reinstate livestock exports by sea
The Government is reinstating the trade of livestock exports by sea while ensuring the highest standards of animal welfare, says Associate Minister of Agriculture Andrew Hoggard.âThe Government will introduce legislation changes to reinstate the trade, enhance oversight, and strengthen requirements for exporters to identify risks and manage the welfare of ...1 day ago
- Speech to the National Quality Forum 2024
TÄnÄ koutou katoa â it is a pleasure to be here today. I would like to begin by acknowledging the important leadership role you all play in ensuring a quality health system New Zealanders can trust. There is enormous clinical expertise in this room covering a wide range of disciplines. ...1 day ago
- New Zealandâs COP29 National Statement
TÄnÄ koutou katoa. Mr President, Excellencies, Delegates. New Zealand, and all nations represented here today, are already dealing with the impacts of climate change. Our households, businesses, and economies are bearing the costs of its effects. The choices we make now will shape the severity of these impacts for generations ...2 days ago
- Latest Quarterly Investment Report released
The Government has released its second Quarterly Investment Report (QIR) which shows substantial work still to be done by agencies to improve investment reporting and meet the Governmentâs expectations, Infrastructure and Acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. âNew Zealand has significant infrastructure and investment needs. The Government is determined to get ...2 days ago
- New Zealand supporting loss and damage fund
Climate Change Minister Simon Watts announced New Zealand will contribute NZ$10 million to the new Fund for Responding to Loss and Damage while at the annual United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan. âNew Zealand is joining the global effort to address the significant challenge of responding to ...2 days ago
- Gang crackdown begins at stroke of midnight
The free ride for gangs is over when the clock strikes midnight tonight, with tough new laws officially coming into effect, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith and Police Minister Mark Mitchell say. âGang patches will no longer be able to be worn in public. To earn the right to wear a ...2 days ago
- LGFA increases borrowing capacity to support high growth councils
The Government is welcoming the decision by the Local Government Funding Agency to increase access to financing tools for fast growing councils to support greater investment in critical infrastructure, Local Government Minister Simeon Brown says.âCommunities across the country are facing an infrastructure deficit and significant population growth is projected in ...2 days ago
- Temporary Traffic Management costs revealed
The Government has revealed that over the past three years, the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA) has spent an eyewatering $786 million of taxpayersâ money on road cones and temporary traffic management (TTM), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.âWhen I became Minister, I was surprised to learn that that NZTA did ...2 days ago
- Jurisdiction of Disputes Tribunal to double
Legislation that will double the financial jurisdiction of the Disputes Tribunal from $30,000 to $60,000 has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith. âWe need to improve court timeliness and access to justice so that Kiwis and get on with their lives. Court delays affect everyone, the ...2 days ago
- Protecting New Zealand from foreign interference
Legislation that will specifically criminalise foreign interference and strengthen espionage offences has passed first reading in Parliament today, Justice Minister Paul Goldsmith says. âIt is normal and appropriate for states to interact and work to influence one another. This encourages cooperation and can have mutually beneficial outcomes. âHowever, the reality ...2 days ago
- Significant milestone for Canterbury Road of National Significance
Transport Minister Simeon Brown has welcomed news that the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) Board has approved funding towards pre-implementation and early works on the State Highway 1 (SH1) Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass Road of National Significance (RoNS). âReaching this significant milestone is a reflection of our Governmentâs ...2 days ago
- Health survey results to help drive change
Health Minister Dr Shane Reti says findings from the annual Health Survey highlight the need to continue driving better health outcomes for New Zealanders. The New Zealand Health Survey is an annual snapshot of key metrics measured from July 2023 â July 2024. Findings released this morning include: In 2023/24, ...2 days ago
- Final push needed to get to Smokefree 2025
A renewed effort to get people to quit smoking will build on what has worked to date and target the groups who most need support, Associate Health Minister Casey Costello said today. âThe latest New Zealand Health Survey results show the daily smoking rate at 6.9 per cent and we ...2 days ago
- New diplomatic appointments
Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters has announced four new diplomatic appointments. âOur diplomats play an important role in ensuring New Zealandâs interests are maintained and enhanced across the world,â Mr Peters says. âIt is a pleasure to announce the appointment of these senior diplomats from the Ministry of Foreign ...3 days ago
- Next steps for Regulatory Standards Bill
Regulation Minister David Seymour has today announced the next steps in the Governmentâs plan improve the quality of regulation by opening consultation on a proposed Regulatory Standards Bill. âNew Zealand's low wages can be blamed on low productivity, and low productivity can be blamed on poor regulation,â says Mr Seymour. ...3 days ago
- Red Tape Tipline goes live
Minister for Regulation David Seymour has today announced that the Ministry for Regulationâs Red Tape Tipline is now live. âWe want to hear about your red tape horror stories. From today, New Zealanders will have a say on how they are regulated through an online portal,â says Mr Seymour. The ...3 days ago
- Youth Parliament 2025 announced
The Minister for Youth Matt Doocey has today announced the eleventh Youth Parliament will be taking place in 2025. âYouth Parliament offers a unique youth development opportunity to young people from across New Zealand to experience the political process and learn about how government works,â says Mr Doocey. âThe two-day ...3 days ago
- Police stats show promising change
After nearly a year in Government, Kiwis have seen significant change across law and order with promising early results shown across some Police statistics, says Police Minister Mark Mitchell. âIn August 2023, I told New Zealanders that if they had not started to see a change in public safety within ...3 days ago
- Better coordination of anti-scam efforts
With the launch of Fraud Awareness Week, the Government is committing to new coordination efforts across industry and government to combat online scams, Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Andrew Bayly says. âOnline financial scams are a growing problem for New Zealand. New data released today shows that Kiwis lost nearly ...3 days ago
- Minister to consider 7AA select committee report
Minister for Children Karen Chhour will consider the recommendations made by the Social Services and Community Committee in its report back to Parliament on the Oranga Tamariki (Repeal of Section 7AA) Amendment Bill. âI want to thank the people who made submissions and those who appeared before the committee in ...4 days ago
- Defence Minister to attend ASEAN meeting
Defence Minister Judith Collins will this week attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Defence Ministersâ Meeting-Plus in Vientiane, Laos. âWe need to take every opportunity to engage with our international partners, given the increasingly unstable geo-political situation,â Ms Collins says. âNew Zealand has a long-standing commitment to this ...4 days ago
- Launching the White Ribbon Ride
The Minister for the Prevention of Family and Sexual Violence, Karen Chhour, was on hand to wish riders well at the start of the North Island leg of the White Ribbon Ride in WhakatÄne this morning. The ride helps mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, ...4 days ago
- Construction to begin on next stage of Papakura to Drury
Construction on the next stage of the SH1 Papakura to Drury project will begin early next month, with the contract for works awarded to Fulton Hogan, Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. "SH1 Papakura to Drury is a key project that will drive economic growth and productivity, reduce congestion, and enable people ...6 days ago
- NZ signs trade deal with Costa Rica, Iceland and Switzerland
Trade and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay has signed a pioneering trade agreement that prioritises New Zealandâs sustainable exports at a ceremony during APEC in Peru today. âThe Agreement on Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS), between Costa Rica, Iceland, and Switzerland was concluded in July of this year and opens up significant ...6 days ago
- Government and iwi work together on aquaculture
Five new Aquaculture Settlement Areas will help ensure NgÄi Tahu shares in the opportunities aquaculture offers for Southlandâs economy, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones says. âThe Aquaculture Settlement Areas (ASAs) Iâm announcing today set aside space so the Crown and NgÄi Tahu can assess their potential for aquaculture development. ...6 days ago
- Government launches review to ensure electricity market is fit-for-purpose
The terms of reference for a review of the performance of the electricity market have been released. The review, initiated by the Coalition Government during the power crisis in winter will look at whether current regulations and market design support economic growth and access to reliable and affordable electricity, Energy Minister ...6 days ago
- Speech to Social Investment Hui: Jack and his whÄnau need our help
Kia ora koutou katoa. Nau mai, haere mai, piki mai. Ki te mihi atu ahau, ki te manwhenua nei, Te Atiawa, NgÄti toa rangatira, tÄnÄ koutou, tÄnÄ koutou, tÄnÄ koutou katoa. Thank you, Andy, for your introduction. Let me acknowledge you as the new Chief Executive of the Social Investment ...7 days ago
- Minister of State for Trade heads to Brisbane for PACER Plus meeting
Minister of State for Trade Nicola Grigg has travelled to Australia to attend the PACER Plus Ministers Meeting in Brisbane. âTrade plays a critical role in driving employment, economic growth, and improving the standards of living in the Pacific Region. The Government is strongly committed to supporting Pacific Island countries ...7 days ago
- Proposals to modernise conservation released
ToitĆ« te taiao â Our environment endures The Government is consulting on proposals to modernise New Zealandâs conservation management system, aiming to protect relevant natural areas while supporting sustainable growth in tourism and regional economies, Conservation Minister Tama Potaka says. âToday, the Department of Conservation â Te Papa Atawhai is ...7 days ago
- NEW POLL: Kiwis Overwhelmingly Support MPs’ Expenses Transparency Law Change
62% of respondents support the extension of the OIA to cover MPsâ spending, compared to just 13% opposed and 24% were unsure. ...1 hour ago - The House: Meanwhile, a week of passing law
The political week has been packed with worthy distractions, but all week Parliament has focused on passing new laws. Here are the highlights. ...2 hours ago - The biggest difference between HÄ«koi mĆ te Tiriti and past hÄ«koi: More support from non-MÄori
Analysis - The diversity of voices during the hÄ«koi was noticeable - from tangata moana to young immigrants to elderly PÄkehÄ from the South Island. ...2 hours ago
- The House: Samoan citizenship restoration – ‘It means we belong to this land’
When the bill to restore NZ citizenship to some Samoans passed this week, Parliament's galleries were full to the brim with members of the community. ...3 hours ago
- More Delays In Action On Use Of Puberty Blockers With Children
Womenâs Rights Party Co-leader Jill Ovens says the Ministry has put New Zealand children at risk by continuing to allow âoff-labelâ prescribing of puberty blockers at far higher rates than other similar countries. ...4 hours ago
- Police Minister adamant he wasn’t aware of gang members training at gun clubs
That is despite two papers from police that raised the matter with him. ...5 hours ago
- Shorten declares himself âa proud moderateâ, saying Australians âin the middleâ shouldnât ...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michelle Grattan, Professorial Fellow, University of Canberra Bill Shorten has declared himself âa proud moderateâ in a valedictory speech declaring parliament has the responsibility to ensure the extremes of left and right do not set the terms of political debate. Shorten, ...5 hours ago - New âbest practiceâ principles for superannuation products are coming. We asked a panel of exper...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Matt Garrow, Editorial Web Developer Studio Romantic/Shutterstock We all know how important it is to save enough money for retirement â but what about spending it wisely when we get there? Even for those who have built up a suitable ...5 hours ago
- Government accused of betraying Kiwis’ trust over lack of consultation on live exports
The government has always vowed to reinstate live exports by sea, which was banned by the previous Labour government. ...5 hours ago
- 7 things you can do if you think you sweat too much
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Michael Freeman, Associate Professor of Dermatology, Bond University ERIK Miheyeu/Shutterstock Sweating is our bodyâs way of cooling down, a bit like an internal air conditioner. When our core temperature rises (because itâs hot outside, or youâre exercising), sweat glands all ...6 hours ago
- Phenergan for under 6s is now banned due to hallucination fears. Hereâs what to use instead
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Macquarie University Australiaâs drug regulator has issued a safety warning over the medicine Phenergan and related products containing the antihistamine drug promethazine. The Therapeutic Goods Administration said the over-the-counter products should not be given to children ...6 hours ago
- A new stage adaptation of Peter Careyâs Jack Maggs is a delightful homage to theatrical storytelli...
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Catherine Campbell, Lecturer, Performing Arts, UniSA Creative, University of South Australia Matt Byrne/STCSA Jack Maggs is a delight and a homage to theatrical storytelling in Australia. Based on Peter Careyâs bestselling novel, Jack Maggs follows the ex-convict as he lands ...6 hours ago
- The government has introduced laws for its social media ban. But key details are still missing
Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Daniel Angus, Professor of Digital Communication, Director of QUT Digital Media Research Centre, Queensland University of Technology Ron Lach/Pexels The federal government today introduced into parliament legislation for its social media ban for people under 16 years. Communications Minister Michelle ...6 hours ago
- Archives NZ, National Library to cut 27 roles
The Department of Internal Affairs wants to bring the two organisations under the joint leadership of the Chief Archivist and National Librarian. ...6 hours ago
- Gang patch ban: Members warn of potential for violence to ‘erupt’ as new laws enforced
"I can't see this lasting unless they have a budget to lock fullas up in jail which I think is absolutely stupid, really it's ludicrous," Ngavii Pekapo, who set up a Mongrel Mob chapter 54 years ago, says. ...6 hours ago
- ACT leader David Seymour raises doubts about Waikato medical school
Government documents show ACT leader David Seymour told the government he was "dissatisfied" with a cost-benefit analysis. ...6 hours ago
- National’s Erica Stanford allegedly calls Labour’s Jan Tinetti a ‘stupid bitchR...
The Education Minister has apologised in Parliament for her remark. ...6 hours ago
- Labour backs new Police Commissioner – but warns against routine arming
The alternative to policing by consent would be a police state, which New Zealanders don't want, the party says. ...8 hours ago
- Youth on boot camp pilot re-offended five weeks after release
Children's Minister Karen Chhour said while it was disappointing, it would naĂŻve to think none of the participants would lapse. ...8 hours ago
- In photos: People of the hīkoi, and why they marched
Hikoi mĆ Te Tiriti has come to an end, going down in history as the largest march to Parliament in Aotearoa. ...9 hours ago
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Ahead of his appearance in Aotearoa, the acclaimed British journalist, podcaster and documentarian talks to Stewart Sowman-Lund about why people are still fascinated by the fringes. The last place I would expect to find Jon Ronson is relaxing in the countryside. The iconic British journalist and writer is best known ...9 hours ago - Kia kaha Lebanon: NZ media only tell half your story of struggle
The United States has vetoed a UN Security Council ceasefire resolution â for the fourth time â in Israelâs war on Gaza, while Hezbollah demands a complete ceasefire and âprotection of Lebanonâs sovereigntyâ in any deal with Israel. Amid the death and devastation, Joe Hendren reflects on his time in ...10 hours ago
- âDeserves a Baftaâ: After the Party premieres in the UK to five-star reviewsÂ
The acclaimed New Zealand drama has just premiered on TV in the United Kingdom, and the five-star reviews are already flowing in. Six months after it was called a âblisteringâ âtour de forceâ by Australian critics, and nearly a year since The Spinoff declared it the best drama New Zealand ...10 hours ago
- Drugs are getting cheaper and easier to find in Aotearoa
New Zealanders are drinking and smoking less, but most other recreational drugs are becoming cheaper, more popular and more available, two new reports show. Two significant new surveys about drugs in Aotearoa were released this week, offering a rare insight into New Zealandersâ choice of substances, which ones are becoming ...10 hours ago
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Source: The Conversation (Au and NZ) – By Steven Ratuva, Director, Macmillan Brown Centre for Pacific Studies, University of Canterbury Lenora Qereqeretabua, the deputy speaker of Fiji’s Parliament, at the COP29 climate summit. IISD/ENB/Mike Muzurakis, CC BY-SA As this yearâs UN climate summit reaches its final stage of negotiations, Pacific ...10 hours ago
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She will get the champion for global change award from the United Nations Foundation at a ceremony in New York tomorrow. ...12 hours ago
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Analysis: NZ is lifting what was supposed to be a permanent ban on live animal exports. But itâs not the lucrative industry it once was. The post NZ will resume live animal exports â to low demand appeared first on Newsroom. ...12 hours ago - Financial forms of family violence affect one in seven of us â but the law is lagging
There are calls for New Zealandâs Family Violence Act to name economic harm as a standalone type of violence, rather than a subcategory of psychological abuse, to bring it in line with the United Kingdom and Australia. Economic harm â restricting access to, sabotaging or exploiting another personâs financial resources, ...12 hours ago
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New Zealand is currently running a structural fiscal deficit, with expenditure exceeding revenue. Economic growth falling short of expectations has been making it harder for the Government to bring the books back into balance. ...13 hours ago
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This is caused by just a few hundred Trump supporting idiots-hardly a threat to democracy.
It will blow over by the end of the month when Biden will be ensconced in the White House and the Democrats will also have control over the Senate and House
….at least for the next two years.
Donald who?
There were far more violent anti-democratic riots by the extreme right in Venezuela. Most of the legislators in Washington either vociferously supported them or said nothing.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/world/americas/venezuela/article239965673.html
Couldn't agree more Morrissey….and there were demos in Bolivia to get MAS back in power that were mostly ignored.
The lesson here is simple, there are extremists at the margins of every cause who believe that disruption, rioting and violence are justified by the righteousness of their beliefs.
The vast majority of all other people condemn them.
The vast majority of all other people condemn them.
You and I condemn them, RedLogix*, and I'm sure most other people on this site do as well. But not the majority of U.S. congressmen and women. They gave a standing ovation for the ridiculous failed coup leader Juan Guaidó one year ago.
* Please accept my apology for my mean-spirited comment on the Waikeria Prison thread yesterday. I'm sure you do have a deal of expertise on the matter, contrary to my claim then.
No apology was expected or required Morrissey, nor was I assuming any special expertise. If I gave that impression I was wrong.
I saw a poll result suggesting that 45% of Republican supporters approved of the storming of Congress …
Which goes to show what a bunch of low IQ cretinous individuals nearly half of the Republican voters are.
Anne – intellectual snobbery never seemed so good. I fully agree.
A visit to KB is always such a nice reality check đ
https://twitter.com/therecount/status/1346959738479718400
https://twitter.com/bubbaprog/status/1346920198461419520
https://twitter.com/cevansavenger/status/1346920924310867968
https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/1346969164246900740
Fact to be aware of: the US Capitol Police is a separate police force that reports solely to Congress. It is separate to DC Metropolitan Police (that reports to city government) and other federal police agencies that also have jurisdiction in the area, that report to the Justice Department or other executive branch agencies.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Capitol_Police
https://twitter.com/SteveSchmidtSES/status/1346969164246900740
https://twitter.com/traceyecorder/status/1346962474357063683
That's one way of collecting evidence.
I thought that too.
Hopefully they'll track most of them down and jail them.
Do you really believe that? The FBI warned in 2006 about police departments being riddled with white supremacist views. As we saw yesterday, there seems to have been no improvement.
https://law.lclark.edu/live/files/28080-lcb231article2johnsonpdf
If Sanders was president elect, the police would probably be facing the other way, and the media outrage much more muted.
Threat my ass.
Congress, Senate, and White House have democratically elected people in them.
Supreme Court rejected the appeals.
Conservative commentators unanimous in condemnation.
Order restored.
What will Biden do with this political gift of a crisis?
Thereâs only one response unequivocally clear enough for Trump and his âtroopsâ to understand:
That order surely must be given to the police there as well.
This is about Trump, heâs acting as a detonator. He lost the Election, he needs to concede, heâs been fired.
Agreed.
The way tensions are currently, hair triggers and all, hollering 'fired' would be ill advised.
One thing you have to give these protesters is that they are at least on the streets fighting for what they perceive to be right ( they are wrong of course).. ..nothing wrong with that, putting a little fear into the political class is essential and good thing in my opinion, especially when it comes from organized workers movements, not so great when it comes from a bunch of this lot…..I have always thought it is a real shame that our own political class don't have a bit of historical fear of the masses embedded deeply at the back their brains.
Except they were not on the streets protesting Adrian. They were inside the Capitol doing this:
This is not protest. This is illegal entry, vandalism, and sedition. Idiots egged on by a narcissistic sociopath who needs to be removed from access to the nuclear codes immediately.
"This is illegal entry, vandalism, and sedition"….. that sounds a lot like direct action protest to me, you (and I) might not agree with their cause, but it is still protest.
Here is a great bit of direct action protest from yesterday, I guess you don’t approve….
McConnell, Pelosi homes vandalized after $2,000 relief fails
https://www.politico.com/news/2021/01/03/mcconnell-pelosi-homes-vandalized-relief-453691
No I don't approve.
I can understand why McConnell is the victim of these actions, but Pelosi always wanted the $2000 stimulus package. It was McConnell who held up the approval and amended the amount from $2000 to the measly $600. Pelosi only agreed in order that desperate families would at least get something, and aid packages that were due to expire would continue. When Trump – hoping to curry favour with his supporters – called for the sum to be raised to $2000 (the sum initially proposed by the House before the package went to the Senate) – Pelosi immediately agreed (as that was the sum they had already sent to the Senate) and asked for the House to rubber stamp the increased funding. This proposal was not agreed by some Repugnant Reps in the House, and so the funding remained at $600.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/24/house-votes-on-2000-stimulus-checks-after-trump-supports-them.html
https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/mitch-mcconnell-rebuffs-trump-democrats-by-blocking-2-000-cheques-120123100077_1.html
Pelosi used the stimulus as a political football without a thought for the suffering US citizens, that is just a fact…they should have burnt her house down…and McConnell’s while they were at it…
“fellow Democrats, led by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, were responsible for delaying urgently needed coronavirus relief by walking away from the White House’s offer of a $1.8 trillion coronavirus package.”
https://nypost.com/2020/12/08/bernie-sanders-admits-democrats-stalled-covid-19-relief/
Pelosi ADMITS She Held Up Stimulus Before Election To Help Biden
There is good reason why Pelosi is one of the most unpopular politicians in the USA today…yuk.
Poll: Majority wants Pelosi out as House speaker
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/22/poll-people-want-pelosi-out-449788
Amazing. We have a situation where a rabble of coup-coup clown cosplayers made up of a rabble of neo-nazis, white supremacists, Qooks, and other right wing nutcases actually successfully disrupted one of the most important functions of democracy, the peaceful transfer of power, and all you can think of is somehow to make up some completely unrelated fantasy so you can whine about Democrats.
Idiot.
Andre, if maybe you could just control your lizard brain for a moment you would have seen that I was clarifying some obvious misinformation about Pelosi…Now we all know that it is just completely normal and in character for you to excuse and/or ignore the failings of the Democrat’s because of your belief that everything bad in the USA started in 2016..ironically, it was largely because of the failings of liberals just like you that Trump won in the first place and because of people just like you that we will probably get something much worse next time….however you liberals have shown the world you are so fucking narcissistic that you are incapable of conducting any self-analysis…no you blame anything and everyone else for your failures…the Russians, Bernie, Nader, Jill Stein.
So don’t come on here and attack me you sad sycophant.
You're reminding me of the recent Mt Maunganui new years riot where the Council and business 'elite' blames it all on the deplorables and refuse to take any responsibility whatsoever for the society they're in charge of.
Angela Merkel’s comments on today's developments:
Angela Merkel
@Queen_Europe
I can assure you that my departure from office is going to be very boring. (my bold)
Isn't it strange that we are all supposed to be so concerned with American Democracy….the very corrupted Democracy that led to Trump being elected in the first place…meantime…under the cover of the Covid Bill…. "$33 million “for democracy programs for Venezuela” (page 1498) "…ah yes, America and its helping hand bringing 'Democracy' to those folk who insist on voting for the wrong guy….maybe they need to spend money on their own Democracy Program
https://wnynewsnow.com/2020/12/21/congress-reaches-deal-securing-900-billion-for-stimulus-relief-package/
Four dead as police storm the US Capitol.
I think you are a little confused as to who did the storming. But keep trying.
By no means – some of the police let the trumpsters in, even took selfies with them, but were obliged to storm the place to get the rioters out some hours later.
Well Chris Liddle seems to be hanging in there. I'm baffled as to what would need "considering" – other than the quickest way to the exit door. Wonder what Simon thinks?
https://edition.cnn.com/2021/01/06/politics/national-security-adviser-resigns-trump-protest/index.html
What Jacinda calls a 'mob', Hilary called 'deplorables'.
It may be hard to see through the smoke and broken glass but Trump and the Republicans are on the exact same team as Joe Biden and the Democrats. The shrill hysteria over Trump and his supporters is all part of an elaborate theatrical display of democracy – where the 2 political parties and their supporters pretend that they are fundamentally different when in reality they serve identical interests.
The Democrats now have control of Congress and the White House and they will spend the next couple of years twisting themselves into all kinds of intricate knots in order to avoid making any significant changes to Trumps corporate friendly policies.
Real political change does not happen through democracy and beneficent leadership from the top it comes from a genuine fear of violent revolution from the bottom. Which is why watching US citizens (albeit with misdirected motives) smashing their way into the heart of government is a sign that things are at a tipping point and this can only be a good thing for the future of the country.