WASHINGTON (MaceNews) – The following is Wednesday’s status check of developments in the U.S. that can influence economic, health and political outcomes:
• Gut wrenching video. VP Mike Pence, Sen. Mitt Romney, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi being rushed to safety. And in the visitor’s gallery by himself, out of range of the cameras, one Republican making it clear he’s not paying attention.
• And at Mar a Lago the man who, the House impeachment presentation suggested, still thinks he is or should be the president of the United States. Not only no remorse, but intent on revenge against those Republicans who betray him. Meanwhile, images of the mob in MAGA hats, Trump flags, American flags, using the metal poles to beat police, for hours. The mob, many in tactical gear, some armed with baseball bats and a high-powered Taser,
• “Where are you, Nancy?” The mob calls, according to transcripts, ready to kill her. “Hang Mike Pence” the crowd chants. But what about the arguments that it was all Donald Trump’s fault, that he primed the crowd for weeks, even setting the stage months before the election? Dozens of tweets, many speeches, pretty explicit language that the election would be stolen, was being stolen and was, in fact, stolen. “You won’t have a country” if you don’t fight.
• The defense will have its own 16 hours to rebut the accusations point by point. It will be a big job. For anyone who already thought Trump was and is despicable, the certitude is even more certain. For most Republicans, their motivations were examined in Monday night’s “Status Check on this site.” Indications are that most Republican senators are as ready as ever to misbelieve. Remember, Chicolini, otherwise known as Chico, was imitating his brother Groucho when he asked Mrs. Teasdale in the movie “Duck Soup,” Well, who ya gonna believe, me or your own eyes?” Who, indeed.
• So for guidance, let’s check out Sean Hannity. There on Fox was video showing mobs attacking, except they were in Portland. There are Democratic senators calling for impeachment long before Jan. 6 interspersed with statements from the impeachment managers, apparently to suggest there is an equivalence between their words and Trump’s words. All of those Democrats, Hannity said, under a new standard are guilty of insurrection. “The hypocrisy is breathtaking.”
• Two of Hannity’s Wednesday night guests are both recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom granted by President Trump. Rep. Jim Jordan and Rep Devin Nunes ask how could Trump have been responsible “regardless of how many videos” the prosecution plays. Said Nunes, “They haven’t had any evidence for five years. They corrupted our intelligence services.” Those Democrats fear “74 million voters” for Trump. The Democrats “are conspiracy theorists. Jim and I know, we have to work with them.” Hannity says the “fawning media” sides with the Democrats. Rep. Jordan adds, “Americans are so sick of this.” The president, he continues, said “peacefully and patriotically, let your voices be heard.” Nunes predicts, if Republicans regain the House in 2022 “the pressure will be great for us to actually impeach Biden.” Every Democratic impeachment manager, he says, “can be removed from their committees” as was Marjorie Taylor Greene.
And so it went through the night, with Judge Jeanine Pirro following up. “This is political theater that will go nowhere.” Finally, Sen. Lindsey Graham. “The ‘not guilty vote’ is growing after today.” Graham said he doesn’t remember any of the impeachment managers complaining when demonstrators were trying to break into his house. Managers have “this absurd theory” that the president “knew what was going to happen. And that’s Looney Tunes.” Democrats are trying “to create this bizarre story.” The defense should emphasize, Graham said, that the Capitol attack was pre-planned and that Trump had nothing to do with it.
• Thursday it’s back to the prosecution which has another eight hours to use before the defense begins its 16 hours, perhaps to take Sen. Graham’s advice.
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Contact this writer: denny@macenews.com.
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