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| credit: Ed Bagley, Salt Lake Tribune |
There is nothing humorous about the insurrection that took place on January 6, 2021 as Congress convened to count and ratify the Electoral College votes. Five died in the chaos, and it is a miracle more were not injured or killed given the expressed intent by some anarchists to do harm to legislators. Several rioters were armed and tactically equipped. Whether some on the Capitol Police force were sympathetic to the rioters is an open question given disturbing videos of police standing down and taking "selfies" with the insurrectionists.
It is gratifying to know that the US House of Representatives is prepared to act immediately to impeach Killer again. Arguments that there is not enough time for the process, or that another resolution would be divisive are irrelevant and specious. He must be called to account for his dangerous and undemocratic incitement of a violent, anti-democratic mob to attack the Capitol building. There is historical precedent for an impeachment trial after a public official leaves office. Grant's Secretary of War, William Belknap, tearfully handed in his resignation before the House could complete its impeachment process. Nevertheless, his trial in the Senate took place anyway; he was acquitted because the Senate failed to reach a two-thirds majority supporting conviction. That result may reoccur, but the possibility of acquittal is not a reason to allow a president to destroy republican government with digital impunity.
Impeachment is all the more necessary because it is clear the Vice President is not willing to invoke the 25th Amendment, and Killer's public expression of intent to again seek office in 2024. Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment holds that any official having taken the oath to defend the Constitution, who then aids insurrection, shall not be eligible for public office. This bar needs to be applied to Dear Leader for the survival of the Republic. He cannot pardon himself out of an impeachment conviction. The House can act quickly, using a privileged resolution to bring a bill of impeachment directly to the floor for a majority vote. Keep it simple*, and do it now, before it is too late.
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| credit: Adam Zyglis, Buffalo News; Wackydoodle sez: Fight Like Hell! |
*Only two articles come immediately to mind: incitement to insurrection (sedition) and solicitation of electoral fraud. The latter being the telephone call to Georgia's Repugnant Secretary of State demanding he "find the votes" to overturn a fair and free election in that state.
gallows on the Mall....