Seeing all the news in the last 2 days about Republicans lashing back....

[C Moon]

leads me to believe this isn't about the impeachment, this is about them being afraid.
Afraid of what may soon be uncovered regarding the attack on our Capitol.
At how deep it actually went.

The part I don't like is that the FBI and DOJ don't want to convict everyone involved. That would be a huge mistake.
It's time to make EVERY ONE of them pay for their crimes—no more "let bygones be bygones" and "let's move forward."
The GOP are spoiled children, who need to be taught a lesson.
Otherwise, WE ARE DOOOOOOMED to repeat the Trump attempted coup again.

The laws need to be enforced, and they need to be standing in front of a judge for their crimes. Otherwise, what is the purpose of having laws?

[judesedit]

1. I think they mean the people who entered the Capitol, but weren't destructive.

They have the defense that their pResident told them to go there. But, they should be heavily fined and made to do community service for 6 months to a year. Any perpetrator, Congress person or state or city rep in on the planning should be charged and punished to the full extent of the law

[mr_lebowski]

2. I kinda agree that people who weren't destructive, just strolled around and left without

invading highly restricted areas or breaking/stealing shit ... they shoudn't be like jailed. Fine and community service seems fair.

But the OTHERS? Throw the book at 'em!

[Straw Man]

3. I was watching it live all day.

There were people who turned around and walked away as soon as the first clashes broke out with police at the barriers. IMO, those people aren't guilty of anything. But anyone who entered the building is at least guilty of trespassing.

[Bluethroughu]

15. Those people that walked away didn't want to be an insurrectionist

They protested, and when the terrorists started, the protesters left and insurrectionists stayed. If you went into the building you go directly to prison.

I don't care if you are 75 years old, you should know better!
When you see they are screaming threats, breaking windows and doors fighting police...and you go in...you are gulity.

[mr_lebowski]

28. I dunno ... if all you did you did was enter the building, not sure you deserve prison ...

Didn't say I support no charges whatsoever, but hell ... there's video of the cops at the door just standing there watching people file in the front door.

I think it's very important to make a harsh example of the people who did the worst shit, but considerably less so the people who only trespassed.

MHO.

[arlyellowdog]

6. I agree

They will come up with some sad example of a person who just walked in. There were hard core criminals. Go after them and make them the example.

[Claire Oh Nette]

29. REvoke their franchise

They participated in insurrection against the Federal Government.
Turn themselves in, and they can forfeit their right to vote until such time as they renounce the Neo-Confederacy, Trump, and can pass a simple quiz on the Constitution. No one is forcing them to learn, but should they choose to shed their ignorance, they can have their right to vote returned. No jail time for those who just wandered around like the sheep they are, but no voting, either.

[Bluethroughu]

14. I thought, ignorance was no excuse for the law.

I guess that only applies to people of color committing petty crimes...not those poor disenfranchised white folks committing a terrorist act against our country.

[judesedit]

22. One problem is....the pResident did tell them to go there and not be weak.

And you know the lawyers are gonna be all over that excuse.

[Solomon]

23. That's not a fucking excuse! What? If Trump said kill someone

and they did, that would be an excuse?

Wtf

[Vivienne235729]

33. Exactly!!! That's not a valid argument.

[judesedit]

35. Look, I hope they get the max. I'm just imagining lawyers like Ghouliani falling all over themselves

to make a case to acquit. Like, the Commander in Chief told them to do it. They were just following orders. Remember, these are whities we're talking about. At the least they should be heavily fined and made to do a hefty stint of community service. The jails are already overcrowded. Save it for the nutcases proved to contribute to the violence and damage done.

[ancianita]

4. Yes, it's about being afraid.

But "The part I don't like is that the FBI and DOJ don't want to convict everyone involved. That would be a huge mistake." sounds like the WaPo headline decided you should worry. They like to do that with readers, keep up the doubt and reveal Democratic administration weakness when they can.

They buried (but at least printed) the DOJ's official statement:

“There is absolute resolve from the Department of Justice to hold all who intentionally engaged in criminal acts at the Capitol accountable,” Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi said in an email.

“We have consistently made clear that we will follow the facts and evidence and charge individuals accordingly.

We remain confident that the U.S. District Court for Washington, DC can appropriately handle the docket related to any resulting charges.”

Which means that the FBI had better not "debate" about the facts and the law. And that the DOJ and the courts are ready for this seditionist mob. It's not the Barr DOJ anymore.

This will take a while but imo, we can be confident that they'll get more than the current 135 arrested. The rest are now officially persons of interest.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

8. Thx for DoJ statement. I want the hidden people charged, convicted. Like Caldwell's hidden texters

Link to tweet

They gave explicit directions on how to get to the tunnels and then texted:

"All members are in the tunnels under capital [sic] seal them in. Turn on gas."

[Bluethroughu]

16. +100%

[SunSeeker]

5. They're afraid of their base. Their base thinks the Jan. 6 riot was no big deal.

And their base has flooded their offices with demands to fight for Trump and stop the impeachment.

[Bluethroughu]

17. Lindsey Graham called the SOS in Georgia to overturn an election

They are not afraid of their base. Their base only gives them an excuse if needed.

He needs to resign and be convicted.

[Claire Oh Nette]

30. Yes, they are...

The current GOP is afraid of their base--they got into bed with the "alt-right" white supremacist and Neo-Nazis, and now they've got fleas. These are the ideological descendants of the Anti-Civi Rights Dixiecrats who fled the Democratic Party for the GOP after Johnson signed the CRA and the VRA in '64 and '65.

The current GOP is also afraid that the era of patriarchal good ol' boy, straight, white, xenophobic America will expose them as the hollow, shallow, fearful little racists they are.

They are not superior to anyone. They are ordinary, boring and average, and they know it.

They simply can not compete on a level playing field.

[wnylib]

7. Sure, they are afraid. It's classic CYA.

[LeftInTX]

9. Absolutely!

They are also afraid to vote, "Yes" or "No" for impeachment. They want to avoid dealing with Trump at all costs! It's a lose-lose situation for them. Damned if they do, damned if they don't

[Claire Oh Nette]

31. Childish...

If I ignore it, maybe it will go away....

It's fanciful, wishful, irresponsible thinking. Their pursuit of The Big Lie killed people.

Accessories to Felony Murder, every last seditionist.

[abqtommy]

10. I still remember all the public information that was available back in 2016 about the tRUMP, reTHUG

and Russian ratfuckery that resulted in tRUMP being named the "winner" and cheating us out of our legally
elected President Hillary. Let's dust all that info off, do some more investigation and lock all of these perps up!

[Iliyah]

11. The republican party fear their own base . . ..

republicans fear for their well being and for their family and friends. WTH.

This should not be, but here it is. Party before country.

[ProfessorGAC]

18. They Fear For Their Gigs

74 million voted for the golf cheat. A couple thousand were acting like maniacs in DC.
These Rs saying the fear for their families are mostly lying.
What they fear is that 20% of their base constituency acting like pouty children and voting for a primary challenger.
They predominantly fear losing the job of congressperson.

[mezame]

12. Lock 'Em Up!

I recall reading just yesterday here on DU (it's 3am PST as I write this - awake since 1am - so forgive if I cannot reference accurately), that law enforcement had absolutely no problem whatsoever arresting and 'housing' 14,000 protesters during the George Floyd protests. They can certainly and creatively figure out how to handle a few thousand entitled assholes.

But the fact that they're reluctant to pursue convictions - of any nature for the 'coupkeyloos' caught up in the moment - says to me that the rot is actually IN the FBI and DOJ to some extent (looking at you Jeffrey Clark). So yes, charge them, convict them, and incarcerate them. It's not like the prison industry suddenly has no room at the inn.

And you're correct, C Moon, the R's adamantly lashing back are EXTREMELY afraid. If they don't vote to convict that seditious orange POS, they're gonna face their own 14th Amendment hearings by summer. If they DO fall in line behind the Turtle and vote correctly (IMO, and as they should) to convict, then what's left of the sane GOP (and I use that term very loosely), will be sinking in a quicksand trap of their own devising. It will be a very long time before they ever - if at all - become relevant again.

And if we have the conviction (see what I did there?) and determination and put these seditious white supremacists down...er...in their place?...severely punished (that's better), it will continue to fester. Thankfully, the demographics of this country are swamping them into obscurity. The Blue Tsunami is real and it's approaching quickly, and it will start crashing into their realities in 2022. I truly have hope now (finally!) that the 'centrist' way the D's have traditionally tried to do things will be a thing of the past. JB learned some hard and first-hand lessons as VP for 8 years. He's too old to put up with that bullshit any longer. The Squad will continue to lean in, and already there's terrific legislation coming to a Congress near you, so hang on to your hats fellas, it's going to be a bumpy ride. But man oh man I cannot wait to get there!

Fauci Ouchies For Everyone!

[Bluethroughu]

19. +1

[Bluethroughu]

13. There will be zero healing in this Country

If FULL ACCOUNTABILITY FOR ALL participants of the insurrection. It has to be everyone, including people funding this treason.

[SheltieLover]

20. Every single person who entered the Capitol must be charged

Every one of them should be charged with the murder of cop & others.

Wtaf not wanting to prosecute?

Dump telling ghem to do something is not a legal defense!

How did that "just following orders" work out for nazis?

These terrorists ALL contributed to the mob mentality that nearly resulted in executions of our lawmakers!

Prosecute every single one to the max!!!

And prosecute with felonies so they can no longer legally own guns OR VOTE!

[tavernier]

21. Well of course they shouldn't be convicted

because that could really make them angry and then they might get violent, or worse yet, come another election, they might not vote for you.

I have a solution for that... it’s called death penalty! I believe that is how people who tried to overthrow our government were dealt with in the past.

Shhhhheeeeesh! It’s like we are trying to figure out a way to give them a damn medal for treason!

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

24. They need to at least be charged with felonies, and have their right to

own firearm taken away. Participating in an attempt to overthrow the government is close to as serious as it gets

They made a deliberate choice to knowingly commit a crime, many with the intent of killing members of Congress, and taking over the government, in order to install their beloved wannabe dictator as president for life.

Each needs to be charged, arrested, and investigated, in order to best determine their motivations and intentions for unlawfully entering the Capitol and participating in a violent insurrection while Congress was certifying and election.

Another example of criminals being excused for their crimes, simply because they are Trump worshiping RWers. No accountability for RWers who commit crimes is a serious problem that our government needs to fix.

Peaceful protest is great. Peaceful protesters do not follow violent domestic terrorists, who intend to overthrow the government and install a dictator as POTUS, into the Capitol, after the domestic terrorists attacked and murdered Capitol police, and broke windows and doors in order to enter the Capitol with the stated intention of hanging the Vice President and murdering members of Congress.

"Oh, hell, just let 'em go, they's just good ol' trump lovin' white folks havin' a good time. No real harm done. Besides, we ain't got time for all this, not to mention they'll just crowd the jails, takin' up valuable space in jail we need for black people and Mexicans who jaywalk."

No.

[Claire Oh Nette]

32. Voluntary Criminals and Ignoramuses

Peaceful protesters do not follow violent domestic terrorists, who intend to overthrow the government and install a dictator as POTUS,

The insurrectionists pulled down an American Flag at the Capitol and replaced it with a Trump flag. This is the very definition of Cult behavior. They opted for the man over the office, a dictator over a president, tyranny over democracy.

They attempted a Cou d' etat. They failed. They forfeit their rights under the laws.

They planned, packed a bag, booked tickets, and went to overthrow our governement.

GItmo awaits.

[KentuckyWoman]

34. McConnell gets intel reports - and he gave the R's permission to vote their conscience.

When I heard McConnell's condemnation I knew right there it was BAD. I think it is so bad we'll never actually know the full story.

The big problem right now is the Republican party is at war with itself. The rest of us are collateral damage. At the moment, we don't know how this will play out. However, jails are how we deal with "regular people". Politicos at worst do a few months at some country club prison. There are other ways to deal with them far more effective than jail.

If the McConnell Republicans can hold on, I think you'll see some house cleaning. If not, it's anyone guess.