I Didn't Say It ...

Michelangelo Signorile, on the GOP’s attempted coup:

“The Republicans who are backing this attempt truly believe in _____ism, in authoritarian rule and in subverting democracy if they don’t win elections. Or they are ambitious enough to promote such a fascistic action—which, in the end, is not any different than being a true believer. They’re attempting a coup, and practice makes perfect even if it fails this time. We’re not going to beat them back unless we start calling this attempted overthrow of our government exactly what it is.”

All the more reason to remember who started this, who joined in, and vote them all the hell out of office.

photo

Mitt Romney, GOP Senator, on _____ inciting the riot at the Capitol this week, and those lawmakers challenging the 2020 election results:

"We gather today due to a selfish man’s injured pride and the outrage of his supporters whom he has deliberately misinformed for the past two months and stirred to action this very morning. What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States. Those who choose to continue to support his dangerous gambit by objecting to the results of a legitimate, democratic election will forever be seen as being complicit in an unprecedented attack against our democracy. They will be remembered for their role in this shameful episode in American history. That will be their legacy. The objectors [Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley] have claimed they are doing so on behalf of the voters. Have an audit, they say, to satisfy the many people who believe that the election was stolen. Please! No Congressional led audit will ever convince those voters, particularly when the President will continue to claim that the election was stolen. The best way we can show respect for the voters who are upset is by telling them the truth. That is the burden, and the duty, of leadership. The truth is that President-elect Biden won this election. President _____ lost. Scores of courts, the President’s own Attorney General, and state election officials both Republican and Democrat have reached this unequivocal decision."

Let’s be clear, Mittsy is probably planning to run for president again as the New GOP, AKA GOP2.0, but he does get props for calling out the co-conspirators.

photo

Derrick Evans, the newly elected ReTHUGlican terrorist member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, who was among the insurgents:

“We’re in! We’re in! We’re in! We’re in! Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!”

Congratulations West Virginia. You elected a domestic terrorist to office. You’ve placed a traitor to this country in power.

Reap what you sow.

photo 1  photo 2

Ilhan Omar, Democratic Representatives from Minnesota, often the subject of ______ and MAGAt racism, after the riots:

“I am drawing up Articles of Impeachment. Donald J. Trump should be impeached by the House of Representatives & removed from office by the United States Senate. We can’t allow him to remain in office, it’s a matter of preserving our Republic and we need to fulfill our oath.”

Sounds nice, but that will take too long.

Demand the Cabinet involve the 25^th Amendment and remove him now.

photo

Ed Markey, Democratic Congressman from Massachusetts, placing blame where it belongs:

“Donald _____ is responsible for today's coup at the Capitol and the attack on our government and democracy. He is a direct threat to our country. He needs to be impeached, removed from office, and barred from ever holding office again.”

Again … get his Cabinet to take this rabid dog down.

photo

Chuck Schumer, Democratic Senator from New York, and current Senate Minority Leader, after the terror attack:

“It is very, very difficult to put into words what has transpired today. I have never lived through or even imagined an experience like the one we have just witnessed in this Capitol. President Franklin Roosevelt set aside Dec. 7, 1941, as a day that will live in infamy. Unfortunately, we can now add Jan. 6, 2021, to that very short list of dates in American history that will live forever in infamy.

This temple to democracy was desecrated, its windows smashed, our offices vandalized. … The House and Senate floors were places of shelter until the evacuation was ordered, leaving rioters to stalk these hallowed halls. Lawmakers and our staffs, Average citizens who love their country, serve it every day, feared for their lives. I understand that one woman was shot and tragically lost her life. We mourn her and feel for her friends and family.

These images were projected for the world. Foreign embassies cabled their home capitals to report the harrowing scenes at the very heart of our democracy. This will be a stain on our country not so easily washed away – the final, terrible, indelible legacy of the 45th president of the United States, undoubtedly our worst.

I want to be very clear: Those who performed these reprehensible acts cannot be called protesters—no,  these were rioters and insurrectionists, goons and thugs, domestic terrorists. They do not represent America. They were a few thousand violent extremists who tried to take over the Capitol building and attack our democracy. They must and should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law—hopefully by this administration, if not certainly by the next. They should be provided no leniency.

….

But make no mistake, make no mistake, my friends, today's events did not happen spontaneously. The president, who promoted conspiracy theories and motivated these thugs, the president who exhorted them to come to our nation's capital, egged them on—he hardly ever discourages violence and more often encourages it—this president bears a great deal of the blame. This mob was in good part President _____'s doing, incited by his words, his lies. This violence, in good part his responsibility, his ever-lasting shame. Today's events certainly—certainly—would not have happened without him. Now, Jan. 6 will go down as one of the darkest days in recent American history.

A final warning to our nation about the consequences of a demagogic president, the president who enable him, the captive media that parrots his lies and the people who follow him as he attempts to push America to the brink of ruin. As we reconvene tonight, let us remember, in the end all this mob has really accomplished is to delay our work by a few hours. We will resume our responsibilities now, and we will finish our task tonight. The House and Senate chambers will be restored good as new and ready for legislating in short order. The counting of the electoral votes is our sacred duty.

Democracy's roots in this nation are deep, they are strong. They will not be undone ever by a group of thugs. Democracy will triumph, as it has for centuries. So, to my fellow Americans who are shocked and appalled by the images on their televisions today and who are worried about the future of this country, let me speak to you directly: The divisions in our country clearly run deep, but we are a resilient, forward-looking and optimistic people, and we will begin the hard work of repairing this nation tonight because here in America we do hard things. In America, we always overcome our challenges.”

And now … something good because I need a smile:

photo

Raphael Warnock, speaking about his mother, and his historic win in Georgia:

"The other day, because this is America, the 82-year-old hands that used to pick somebody else's cotton went to the polls and picked her youngest son to be a United States senator."

This is America, as it should be.

Now, I need a minute. I’ve got something in my eye.

photo