The razor wire is down.....

[brooklynite]

Link to tweet

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

1. I'm sorry to say I'm sorry to see this. I was sorry to see it up in the first place--sorry because

it was necessary. Not sure it's not still.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if some sociopathic Rs are hatching a plan to take back the Senate by nefarious means. The seem to prefer bullets to ballots.

[brooklynite]

2. What would be the point?

The election and inauguration are over.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

3. Do you mean the point of getting rid of a Dem senator before the next regular Senate election?

Especially in a state with Rs in power, or where voter suppression has been increased it could mean an R senator replacing the D senator.

You probably know this, but I looked it up just to be sure:

The Seventeenth Amendment to the Constitution (1913) established direct election of senators, as well as a means of filling vacant Senate seats. If a vacancy occurs due to a senator's death, resignation, or expulsion, the Seventeenth Amendment allows state legislatures to empower the governor to appoint a replacement to complete the term or to hold office until a special election can take place. There are a few exceptions to this rule. Some states require a special election to fill a vacancy. A few states require the governor to appoint a replacement of the same political party as the previous incumbent. The date when a senator appointed to fill a vacancy is succeeded by a senator elected to fill the remainder of the term depends on a number of factors..

www.senate.gov

[brooklynite]

4. What does that have to do with launching another assault on the Capitol?

The Jan 6 Insurrection worked because nobody expected it and still required thousands of people to overwhelm security personnel. Won’t be happening again.

[Treefrog]

6. Yes, and thank you. Very true.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

7. It doesn't take the sort of large scale assault on the Capitol we saw on Jan 6

to assassinate a senator.

And I see Newt Gingrich wanted it down and Newt is usually wrong: "Speaker Nancy Pelosi's fence around the U.S. Capitol building is an eyesore, an insult to the American people and an embarrassment for the Unites States around the world." https://www.newsweek.com/speaker-pelosi-take-down-capitol-fence-opinion-1570037

But I've also now read that there's support from Honore, as well as local residents. The idea is for the razor wire, etc. to be replaced with other security measures. Which makes sense.

[FoxNewsSucks]

5. I was thinking it to be a lot less likely

Those Proud Pricks and Boogery Boys knew that MF45 would do nothing, and his appointed cronies would do nothing.

Biden would have the National Guard back in there at the first sign of trouble. I don't think another terrorist attack on the capitol would go like the last one.

But you make a very good point. Security for the Capitol and Democrats in particular has to be extremely vigilant and increased. Republicon governors can't be trusted. Even if there's a state law requiring a same-party replacement, if there is no law stating a timeframe for that replacement, they'll just do like Moscow Mitch did to the SCROTUS. Chris Christie picked the date of a special election because he was afraid if held on a regular election day, it would hurt his own reelection. They'll just delay as long as they can, indefinitely if possible. The 50-49 Senate would change hands.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

9. Yep. Can't trust Rs. Especially regarding elections.

As for security, I would like think they know better than I do. But those charged with protection of the Capitol didn't do such a great job on Jan 6, so I don't think I'm being paranoid to worry.

[Celerity]

8. You mean an assassination of a Dem Senator in a state with a Rethug Governor?

That is crazy CT.

If a MAGAt did do it, the pressure to appoint a Dem, even if a Rethug governor, would be INSANE.

If they appointed a Rethug and gave the US Senate back to the Rethugs, you would have a near civil war on your hands.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

10. It's not CT, as I'm not saying it happened or will happen.

I'm just saying it's not impossible and it's a worry that crosses my mind.

[Celerity]

12. if we are that point where is causes real worry, then we are headed towards a very dark place indeed

Let's hope it stays extraordinarily remote in terms of the chances of it actually happening.

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

19. Agreed. And I'm with you on that hope.

Biden's election and the successful passage of the ARP brings light.

However, I see the fact that Trump did successfully incite his followers to carry out a violent coup, and that many Congresspersons refuse to correctly characterize or condemn that action, is pretty good evidence that we haven't banished the darkness. Trump's cultish devotees are still out there and they believe in perpetrating violence to achieve their nefarious goals.

So, while I am hopeful, I'm also not convinced there's anything awful that Trump supporters won't do if given a chance. Looking forward to the installation of the new, permanent, retractable barrier that's being discussed as security around the Capitol!

[Celerity]

20. +1000

[Bucky]

11. Which inauguration? January 1? March 4th? March 16th?

We still haven't got to the all important April 20th inauguration.
You got to keep up on your Q, my dude

[GulfCoast66]

14. March 16? That's one I had not heard about.

[brooklynite]

17. Of course you didn't; everyone knows it's March 20.....

[niyad]

18. I thought it was April 20. So apropos on so many levels.

[Joe Nation]

13. Thanks to those that abuse the liberties this country affords

we see fences and razor wire where there should be a welcoming and open invitation for all citizens of this country. Instead we have to fortify our precious institutions of liberty and freedom against those who would fall prey to whacky conspiracy theories and out right lies.

[Harker]

15. +33.

If everyone felt similarly about their responsibilities as they do their freedoms, there wouldn't be fences and wire.

Insurrectionists see only those rights they choose to see. And only their own.

[txwhitedove]

16. Good. Back to hopefully somewhat normal in stages.