Pelosi calls for prosecution of any Congress members who might have helped pro-Trump siege

Bob this pandemic does not allow or provide the opportunity to hold hands.

I lost staff to the pandemic, when I sanctioned there return to Rome, providing the funds, so to attend family covid funerals only for these colleagues to succumb to the same virus.

Trump is going nowhere, he will stew awaiting trial, and spend every waking hour until the day arrives for his judgement contemplating what could have been.   

I have never taken any politician at face value, and am unlike to change that view/opinion any time soon.

Those who helped were probably not pro-Trump.

Of course, they were. 100% PRO TRUMP. Look at the photos and videos of the culprits including Trump, listen to the words, and there's zero doubt about this.

> Bob, I have no message for hope and unity. 

I am merely presenting a possible political economic strategy/route for a new administration to have a chance of enacting policies that have a chance of succeeding and combatting this pandemic.

As has been explained already, the concept of multitasking is less of an obstacle for the new administration.

Your message is really ‘leave trump alone, let’s hold hands and focus on the virus’

We have to eradicate 2 viruses.

Bob, I have no message for hope and unity. 

I am merely presenting a possible political economic strategy/route for a new administration to have a chance of enacting policies that have a chance of succeeding and combatting this pandemic.

It was a violent act of insurrection, simple as that. It was treason. Everyone involved must be held accountable for it and punished, including the Mussolini Trump. He should be arrested before even debarking to Florida.

Desert Tortoise, Harris/Biden aim /goal must be to claim, no grab and hold/retain the moral and political high ground.

That is the link.

To achieve this, it is essential not only to appear ethically superior or more reputable, but to totally unpick the credibility of your opponent in every sphere of influence.

So offering your opponent no opportunity, means, platform to undermine that goal.

One, in effect, sets the agenda for your opponent to be the arbiter of his own downfall.

Then Donald Trump must be held accountable. First and Foremost.

But not until April, according to you. How is that first and foremost?

I have the upmost respect for Joe Biden Presidency, I also believe the Biden/Harris ticket succeeded fair and square.

I’m not going to waste time trawling through your post history. But I have a good enough memory to know the evidence is contradictory to your sudden message of hope and unity.

Where Donald Trumps actions and behaviors are concerned I cannot and will not defend the indefensible.

If Trump, due process applies, is found to be complicit to/or in his actions guilty of sedition. It is a very serious crime against the State, against democratic mandate, against the very constitution that the Founding Fathers built/espoused to that shaped a nation.

Then Donald Trump must be held accountable. First and Foremost.

I have the upmost respect for Joe Biden Presidency, I also believe the Biden/Harris ticket succeeded fair and square.

I am contending that these are unprecedented times. This pandemic has thrown up challenges, political and economic the US peoples perhaps never endured or experienced for countless generation.

Nothing can be allowed to cloud the task ahead.

The trail of Donald Trump must be timed not to interfere with the changes necessary to bring this pandemic.

Politics is a vicious, ruthless and uncompromising monster, when applied as a weapon and afforded the platform to further fan the flames of discontent.

My I also point out, you are mistaken in the belief I support Trump views I don't.

I suppose people are getting confused because you appear to be constantly defending him, making excuses for him, and casting doubt on the motivations of those who are opposed to him.

In any event, the one set of crimes mentioned in the US Constitution that are not subject to pardon are those committed as part of an impeachable offense. That becomes another argument to use to invalidate any attempt at a self pardon by Mr. Trump.

What I am suggesting P. Smith there is a clear political link between the impeachment trail and Joe Biden first one hundred days in office. Also the associated political risks.

Meditate on this. Mitch McConnell has stated he will not reconvene the Senate until 19 January. He could very well reconvene sooner than that but has made a decision not to. By 19 January there is a very high likelihood that vote counts for both of Georgia's new Senators will be complete, certified by the state and both new Senators seated. If so, Mitch McConnell surrenders his gavel to Chuck Schumer and joins the opposition bench. Not his problem any more. If an impeachment trial begins after Mr. Trump is out of office the Chief Justice may not have to preside over the trial.

Another big consideration is Mr. Trump. He has apparently asked about pardoning himself. But what will he pardon when he hasn't yet been convicted of anything? The point is moot if the trial occurs after he is out of office and no longer able to pardon anyone. If he does try to claim a self-pardon before a trial and a conviction, a good argument could be made at the US Supreme Court that since one is innocent until proven guilty there is nothing to pardon until the Senate convicts him. However a self pardon could be entered as evidence of an admission of guilt in a trial.

What I am suggesting is the timing is less about partisan politics than it is about legal strategies and the timing of events are out of Mr. Biden's control. This is personal for Ms. Pelosi. This time around she was in actual physical danger as were her colleagues, and capital police she probably knew were killed and injured. It's personal for her and her and the other members of her caucus. Very personal.

What I am suggesting P. Smith there is a clear political link between the impeachment trail and Joe Biden first one hundred days in office. Also the associated political risks.

I wholehearted agree that a trail should be conducted and if Donald Trump found to be accountable for the events leading up to the storming of the capital then justice must be seen to take it course.

My I also point out, you are mistaken in the belief I support Trump views I don't.

However I hold similar skepticism for Joe Biden policies.

I am suggesting a possible opposing view/opinion. And stating so politically and politely.

Polite manners may influence opinions but not facts.

There is not a shred of evidence Bob to suggest that Trump will not be afforded a fair trail,

I am suggesting a possible opposing view/opinion. And stating so politically and politely.

America needs the Republican Party

I will agree but not for the reason you are probably thinking of. There needs to be competitive environment for a healthy political system. The competition of ideas is vital to elected representative government. Without it the nation will stagnate. However, the Republican Party as currently constituted needs to change dramatically to remain viable. It has to find the strength to cast out the bigots and christian fundamentalists and it also needs to learn to be honest about policy and especially about economic policy. So yeah the nation needs a "Republican Party" to provide that competition of ideas, but not the one the US has today.

The first impeachment trial, Bob.

It is wise to take stock where errors were made.

Also look at the social media of all the 5 January visitors to the Capital to see if they posted anything about their activities on 6 January. There are lots of ways to prove or disprove this allegation.

But you have to know that many members of the House of Representatives now fear going to work worried they have people in their midst who were intent on doing violence to them, and they are especially fearful of the handful of members who insist on bringing guns to work. Can't be a happy place to be right now.

P. Smith, I genuinely enjoy debate, especially the controversy, and the high emotional content the surrounding the cult of Donald Trump. I don't believe any contributor has anything to worry about when voicing an opinion.

If we all agreed, it would be a boring world.

If legislators led group tours of the Capital on 5 January the names of the visitors ought to be recorded in a visitors log somewhere. Check the names against those arrested so far or under investigation for the 6 January insurrection. Get photos of everyone taken on a tour through their respective state DMV and/or US Passport photos and compare these with photos and and video of the crowd. It will be apparent soon enough if the 5 January visitors were also the 6 January insurrectionists. Some of the insurrectionists may also chose to cop to something in exchange for a lighter sentence. Those who agree early to provide evidence usually get the lightest sentences. Some members of Congress may want to lawyer up soon if they haven't already confidentially retained legal counsel.

Can you not detect the glaring errors made in the first impeachment trail? Clear stated above.

The trial hasn’t started yet. How can you see the glaring errors already?

You are for ‘law and order’ but don’t trust a trial will be conducted fairly. What a surprise...

Enough to understand and appreciate that there needs time given and careful consideration to building a case.

Yes, if and when Trump faces actual criminal charges in a court of law, that will take time to build the case.

Impeachment isn’t like that though, it is a political process run entirely by elected representatives and not judges. Trump will not go to prison as a result of impeachment. Its not the same as an actual court case even though some of the language used to describe it is similar.

Law school graduate speaking here I should add.

There a also sound political logic and reasoning to delay the proceeding.

Yeah, “protecting our asses” is a sound political logic from the point of view of those whose asses are to be protected.

I’m not buying it though.

Can you not detect the glaring errors made in the first impeachment trail? Clear stated above.

I have studies law, although, economics finance (Financial Instruments and Exchange Act)

Enough to understand and appreciate that there needs time given and careful consideration to building a case.

There a also sound political logic and reasoning to delay the proceeding.

There is not room for emotion or pandering to a mercurial mind state.

There are a number of options to be weighed up

Federal Criminal Offenses and the Impeachment of Donald J. Trump

https://www.justsecurity.org/67738/federal-criminal-offenses-and-the-impeachment-of-donald-j-trump/

Jsapc there is not room from jumping in with both feet or flapping like a windmill.

My team is for law & order, without fear or favor.

Your team helped thugs storm the Capitol as the President, the head of your team, encouraged them. Not to mention the same President pardoned criminals who he liked on the basis that he liked them.

Just to see the brazen faces and hear the shameless speechifying dripping with hypocrisy and whataboutery of GOP insurrectionists Hawley, Crud, Gaetz, Jordan, and the host of other usual suspects should be sufficient to earn them all "The Benedict Arnold Award of Dishonor" constituting prima facie evidence of guilt which on further investigation ought to lead to their conviction and incarceration. No pardons for those who have violated their sacred oaths and betrayed the trust of the people they had sworn to serve!

America needs the Republican Party

I disagree.

Quite the opposite Bob, no mercy for mob violence.

In the case of the Police Officer/s, that a retired firefighter is accused of throwing a fire extinguisher. If found to be guilty of this grievous felony, he be made a example off.

In fact the perpetrator/s responsible in the killing of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who subsequently died after being assaulted by the mob that stormed the Capitol should be charged with capital offences.

My team is for law & order, without fear or favor.

My humble opinion is that Trumps senate impeachment trial can wait.

If you think the trial of the man who incited a deadly riot "can wait", then you're absolutely not for law and order, but absolutely for fear and favor.

My team is for law & order, without fear or favor.

My humble opinion is that Trumps senate impeachment trial can wait.

If you stand for those things , you need to find a new team. The GOP is now the team that covers for violent insurectionists.

Does this impeachment process, the timing, truly present an example of a healer, a uniter, a steady hand?  

Does The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, political grand standing provide a platform for unity?

Trump supporters last week: "We will Stop the Steal"...."Let's have trial by combat"...."We will never give up - we will never concede"...."Fight for it - don't let them take it away"..."You have to show strength, and you have to be strong"....“If you don’t fight like hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore"..."Storm the Capital"..."Hang Pence"...

Trump supporters this week after all the violence, chaos, and deaths: "We are the world, we are the children, we are the ones to make a brighter day, so let's start giving"....

The individual's, the mob, responsible must and will be held fully accountable for their criminality.

This will be through due process, and the guilty handed down punitive retribution from there learned Judges.

I have never suggested or implied otherwise,

I have always and continue to be supportive in condemning all form of mob violence.

My team is for law & order, without fear or favor.

My humble opinion is that Trumps senate impeachment trial can wait.

Trump alleged incitement/sedation Senate trail can wait.

No, it can’t. The country needs to move on from his BS as soon as possible, they can’t just leave this hanging unresolved indefinitely while his supporters I should add continue to plan further violent attacks.

Trump alleged incitement/sedation

There's nothing "alleged" about it.

Also, you can perfectly work on implementing an economic rescue package AND put a seditious corrupt president on trial at the same time, it's called multi-tasking.

@itsonlyrocknroll 

so you’re saying that any person who commits a crime, should not be held accountable for his crime, & not have to face any justice for his crime - all in the name of unity & healing ?

She seems to believe strongly in forgiveness and not touching the hot stove again. But leaving the hot stove turned on anyway.

Of course there can be unity. Right after "accountability" and "consequences".

That's how law works. Especailly after sedition and insurecction.

What I am stating is clear, Joe Biden/Kamala Harris first one hundred days in office and this impeachment process are now inextricably linked politically and in the priority to gain cross isle consensus for Biden's $1.9 trillion economic rescue package.

"It's not hard to see that we are in the middle of (a) once in several generations economic crisis, with the once in a generation public health crisis"

"The crisis of deep human suffering is in plain sight. There is no time to waste. We have to act and we have to act now."

Trump alleged incitement/sedation Senate trail can wait.

Let return to….

Joe Biden Delivers First Speech as President-Elect…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx8yBckkkUE

“Joe a healer, a uniter, a tested steady hand”……

Does this impeachment process, the timing, truly present an example of a healer, a uniter, a steady hand?  

Does The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, political grand standing provide a platform for unity?

Last week your team just tried to commit an armed insurrection against their own country. They were going to execute Congress members on live TV. They were going to hang VP Pence. They killed a Capital policeman...

And you now want unity and healing?

Maybe after we hold accountable all those pro-Trump seditonists that trampled all over our Constitution...and committed murder...

Does this impeachment process, the timing, truly present an example of a healer, a uniter, a steady hand?  

Does The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, political grand standing provide a platform for unity?

Does violently storming congress in an attempt to overthrow the legislative branch and murder the legislators provide a platform of unity?

Seriously, the country should be (and largely is) united in denouncing these acts and holding those responsible accountable for their actions. The argument that “Hey you’ll hurt the terrorists feelings if you punish anyone for carrying this out, lets just hold hands and pray this whole little incident away” just isn’t going to cut it.

@itsonlyrocknroll

so you’re saying that any person who commits a crime, should not be held accountable for his crime, & not have to face any justice for his crime - all in the name of unity & healing ?

‘It wasn’t Trump supporters’

’The election ( only the districts that Trump lost) was stolen’

These people are fantasists. No amount of evidence will sway them. The’ law and order party is in a battle between cultists manipulated by a narcissist who lies like the rest of us breath, and those too afraid to oppose him.

Does this impeachment process, the timing, truly present an example of a healer, a uniter, a steady hand?  

Please, the impeachment process has nothing to do with Biden. He isn't in Congress, he didn't vote for impeachment. Nor has he really even talked about it publicly.

Does The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, political grand standing provide a platform for unity?

The onus isn't on Speaker Pelosi. It's on the insurrectionists and their supporters in congress. Unit cannot happen until they acknowledge what they've done.

If the GOP congresspeople who provided tactical support to the riot aren't prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, it will just be a matter of time before another revolt is tried again.

I would also to remind the enemies of America of the African proverb about when elephants fight...

Let return to….

Joe Biden Delivers First Speech as President-Elect…..

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tx8yBckkkUE

“Joe a healer, a uniter, a tested steady hand”……

Does this impeachment process, the timing, truly present an example of a healer, a uniter, a steady hand?   

Does The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, political grand standing provide a platform for unity?

agree - name them & shame them.

kick anyone pro-trump out of the party, then the republicans can start building again from scratch.

America needs the Republican Party, but they certainly don’t need anything trump

Might as well quote Fang-Fang!

It's almost cute to see the right wing propaganda machine regularly try to fabricate scandals to deflect from the myriad Trump and the people around him have to deal with.

Except when the FBI investigates those type of allegations, republican operatives often end up in jail, and democrats just go back to work because they're cleared of any wrongdoing.

And little Marco too!

Rafael Eduardo Cruz should be ashamed of himself. This guy doesn't even have any self-pride. The fat guy calls his wife ugly, says his father killed JFK and basically shamed him into make phone calls to get votes for the fat guy on national TV. And yet, there he is, pretending to be his best buddy. He'd stab his own mother in the back if he thought it would further his career.

These far-right pro-Trump domestic terrorists and their co-conspirators in the GOP need to be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible.

They attempted a coup against their own government - they are fascists, authoritarians, anti-democracy seditionists...

Hold them accountable for this desecration of our Constitution...

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, on Monday tweeted a claim that Rep. Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas, had "met with terrorists who attacked Capitol and killed an officer. He told them to 'keep fighting.' They listened."

Not really an ideal person to be quoting given his past.

Might as well quote Fang-Fang!

I fully endorse Pelosi's call and believe that it is time for the GOP to rebuild the ruins.

Just more than an hour ago, the ABC News reported that numerous big corporate donors – including Coca-Cola, Walmart, Hallmark, Amazon, Airbnb, and MasterCard – are pulling their political donations from America's Republicans (please refer to the article titled "Corporate donors flee Republican Party following Capitol Hill riot, and it's only the beginning."

I believe that unless the GOP politicians can demonstrate that Trump's influence on GOP is dead, buried, and cremated, more big companies will follow suit.

Particularly, there is no better opportunity for those who voted to reject the certification of the Electoral College votes and also those who are Trump's allies to do the right thing by joining their ten ethical GOP senators to convict Trump in the current impeachment.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, on Monday tweeted a claim that Rep. Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas, had "met with terrorists who attacked Capitol and killed an officer. He told them to 'keep fighting.' They listened."

Not really an ideal person to be quoting given his past.

These pathetic GOP members, the ones who enabled trump and his savage supporters need to be tried for treason and murder.

The deaths of the police officer and the 4 brainless supporters is on the GOP terrorists and trump.

Those who helped were probably not pro-Trump.

There are all kinds of lies rampant on right wing media trying to create distance from these insurrectionist acts. Just don't think and they may seem reasonable.

Incredulous for so many reasons, like someone would actually believe them let alone utter them.

Trump will be financially well in spite of his failing businesses. He just needs to keep monetizing his cult with the next scam. "Stop the Steal" has been easy money though.

Those who helped were probably not pro-Trump.

Well, they certainly didn’t help him.

But, yes they were pro-trump. And also dumb as a bag of hammers, although at this stage that goes without saying when using the word ‘pro-trump’.

It amazes me the depths that the GoP will go to hold onto power.

Gerrymandering and limiting the right to vote seemed like the worst thing possible.

When that failed, they openly violated their oaths to uphold the constitution.

The part of rule of law and fiscal responsibility. Not any more.

"My hypocrisy knows no bounds" was once a laughable line from a great movie.

Now it perfectly fits these GoP seditionists.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, a California Democrat, on Monday tweeted a claim that Rep. Pete Sessions, a Republican from Texas, had "met with terrorists who attacked Capitol and killed an officer. He told them to 'keep fighting.' They listened."

Swalwell, added that, "Out of a consciousness of guilt Sessions deleted this tweet." But Swalwell included an image of Sessions' now-deleted tweet from Jan. 3, which said, "Had a great meeting today with folks from 'Stop the Steal' at our nation's Capitol."

"I encouraged them to keep fighting and assured them that I look forward to doing MY duty on January 6th,'" Sessions wrote.

Sessions deleted that tweet on Jan. 7, a day after the riot.

Those who helped were probably not pro-Trump.

Any members of the U.S. Congress who helped a crowd of President Donald Trump's supporters storm the Capitol should face criminal prosecution

They should be fully investigated and if found by a court of law to have helped Trump's violent and deadly failed coup in any way be tried.

They should each have a capital letter S for seditionist permanently attached to their names.

As should those members of congress who threw more fuel on the country's long burning fires by claiming the election was 'rigged', and especially those who CONTINUE to say the election was rigged. Looking at Ted Cruz, Hawley, Jordan, Gaetz and the other far right extremists in congress.