Officers, Representatives, and Senators of the Great State of Oklahoma -Lets Talk Sedition

 A lot of people in Oklahoma are furious about what happened on Jan 6th 2020 and there is some confusion about things.  So lets clear it all up, ok?

Some people are saying that what Trump, his lawyers, and other people did in giving a speech to incite the attack on the Capital as Treason. Also that Senator Lankford, all the members we sent to the House, and the state legislatures who signed on to the parliamentary gimmick of objecting to the election as Treason.

This is in fact not true. Treason requires us to be in a declared war and Congress disdains the US Military and those serving in it by refusing to call any of the armed conflicts were in a war.  This is done to deprive them of various benefits and honors and getting that redressed requires veteran groups to have to continually fight to get some of those benefits they earned by sacrificing for the country.

You can, and I do call these people traitors,  as that is not a legal term but a personal judgement based on disloyalty. However I do feel they are guilty of Sedition.  I am not a lawqyer, so maybe I am wrong. Read for your self.

18 U.S. Code CHAPTER 115—TREASON, SEDITION, AND SUBVERSIVE ACTIVITIES

There is a lot to review here so lets examine the most relevant sections of that law.

18 U.S. Code § 2383 - Rebellion or insurrection

Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.

What happened was clearly illegal, and the FBI has already charged over 60 people as of this writing.  Seems pretty clear listening to what many of the rioters said on camera and by breaking into the building, as well as vandalizing and assaulting people, one of which resulted in the death of an officer that the purpose was to overturn a legal election and thus the US Government. Plus there were chants like hang Mike Pence. Anyone really dispute that was insurrection?

Section 2385 is even more compelling, specially as regards to the instigators and our elected officials who encouraged these rioters.  And for those crying about Social Media platforms silencing their voices, well it seems if they didn't they would be guilty too!  Might in fact be a good case for it anyhow, but maybe they can claim ignorance. But those in Congress and the 17 local state legislators - well cries of ignorance  seem far less credible.

Section 2384 Conspiracy likely applies to the Congressmen, Turning Point USA, and the wife of a Supreme Court Justice who paid for transportation. I dont recall all the names but you can be sure the FBI has a better memory and notes than I do.

Will anyone in power actually be charged and see jail time?  Very unlikely, the rich and powerful are often above the law and escape consequences we regular Americans would pay.

Its up to voters to hold them accountable.

Write down the names of those who represent you and attacked our country IN YOUR NAME by saying they did it in your interest and because you demanded it.  They all knew that blocking the state electors was not going to happen and it was just a stunt to get attention, raise money (Hawley and Cruz for example) or appeal to disgruntled Trump voters in hopes of them helping win their own future elections. They knew about the mob, everyone did - it was planned well ahead of time and very very public. They chose to put their personal or party political ambitions ahead of the risk of violence in the best case, and some it appears were more directly involved at the worst case.

Some are paying some consequences now, local newspapers calling for resignations, Senator Lankford being asked to step down of a local but prestigious committee (I think that one hurts him the most,  maybe I'm wrong but I think he really cares about the cause) and businesses are stepping back - at least for now.  That money train really hurts and is the likely reason Senator McConnell has indicated he may support impeachment.

Meanwhile many in the GOP are asking us to forgive and forget about the attack on our country that impeachment and calls for resignation are divisive and should stop. They say now we should heal and move forward, seems similar to the eternal "Thoughts and Prayers" after every mass shooting.  Ask yourself would they say the same thing if a Democrat had done this? Or if it was a left wing grouplike Black Lives Matter or Antifa.  Though many like Rep Jordan and Gatz are trying to blame them even though the FBI has said no evidence of that.  And really, can you see that? Left wing groups march in normal clothes - not armed and with military surplus gear. The lefts version of terrorism is chaining yourself to a tree to protect an endangered owl, or using a small boat to try and drive off a whaling ship. You may think they are crazy but when you lok at mass violence its generally the right wing from Ruby Ridge, to Waco, to the Federal Building in Oklahoma to the uni-bomber. Of course not all Republicans or conservatives are terrorists or unpatriotic just as there are vandals among the very angry crowds of people fighting not to be killed over their kid stealing a barbie doll, shot while sleeping because a warrant had the wrong address,  or a routine traffic stop.

Oh, and as I hear the news on the background one other thing. Whats up with the excuse that voting for Impeachment could put your or your family at risk? Are Democrat's the only ones with courage? People in elected office should not allow their choices to be decided by either personal profit or risk. If you cant handle that to quote AOC "Find another Job!" You certainly should not be a position to decide the lives of veterans and active duty service members.

The nation must heal and unify, we have let the media and political parties divide us for too long. They do this for ratings, fund raising, and to weaken the American people. However we must not allow these people to get away with these activities and crimes, if they have no accountability they will just do it again and again.

A Final Thought

It pains me that the Senate does not think this is an important enough issue to call off their vacation. Right now Secratary Pompeio is politically attacking other countries and damaging relations with our alles. Hes a known warhawk so some of this is just to please him and the defense contractors but what f Trump uses it to start a war, send a a few missiles somewhere or whatever?  The military will disobey an unlawful order but civilian political appointees are in charge and  who is to say a missile strike or troop movement is unlawful? If you were ordered to do something your boss told you to that you thought might be a bad idea but if in refusing the order  you risked a felony conviction would you do it?

Trump is in my view a petty and vindictive man, and I dont trust him not to cause as much damage as he thinks he can get away with.  Apparently the majority of Republicans disagree with that assessment or at least they are willing to risk it.  I hope I am wrong, but if not we must hold them accountable for their cowardice and poor judgement.

The Striking Absence of Courage and Loyalty to America in the GOP and Amazing Self-entitlement

 The House voted to impeach Trump for sedition today, a small number of Republicans voted for it.  Apparently not a single Oklahoma Rep was among them.  So Rep Tom Cole, Rep Markwayne Mullin, Rep Kevin Hern, Rep Stephanie Bice, and local Rep Frank Lucas all voted in support of Sedition, just as they voted to encourage and give aid and comfort to seditionists by objecting to blocking the will of the voters in declaring Biden as the new President elect.

Some like Rep Tom Cole said it was just a parliamentary move, others think and have said letting Trump get away with attempting to overthrow the government as something that the country should just move beyond and forget about, such as our own Senator Lankford.

Meanwhile Republicans are screaming more about losing book deals (Senator Hawley), being censored by a few losing social media accounts and saying that prevents them from talking to people (duh you can go on TV or radio anytime you want to!).Also seriously does any Congress person actually read or understand the Constitution? or do they know but just think their voters are too lazy or stupid to, and will just believe whatever they are told? Or even more petty crying about not being able to carry guns onto the House floor and walking through metal detectors.  How out of touch and self entitled are these people? Regular Americans are typically not allowed to carry guns on their jobs, many schools have metal detectors, and have they boarded a plane lately? But somehow they think they are special and should be able to carry a gun in a supposedly secure location. Consider that several were and still are engaged in active sedition and some calling for the death of fellow congress people. At least 4 were involved in organizing the rally that led to the riot and one Rep Lauren Boebert is an admitted conspiracy theorist and was sending the location during the riot Speaker Pelosi's location to her followers. There were only two credible reasons to do that 1) Hoping the rioters would go after Pelosi and leave the floor alone (in hopes of protecting herself) or 2) Hoping they could reach Pelosi.  Why should she be allowed in office, much less to carry a gun? Apparently our own Rep Mullin was also among those crying about the metal detectors.

So these are the priority issues of the GOP, not the people who died or risked their lives to save their lives (By the way, many Republicans, including Senator Graham and some from the Oklahoma delegation were yelling at the Capital Police for not doing enough during the crisis.  We even have American service members sleeping on the Capital floor to protect their ass. While as a former service member myself I can say this is not the most uncomfortable billet, its shameful that Republicans in office are devaluing that and putting their own personal privilege's over and above the people sacrificing to protect the self-entitled spoiled brats.

When will Republican voters ever hold them accountable?  Will they ever do so? Or is racism so that damm important to you? Can't really be anti-abortion based on the reckless disregard for human life. Maybe its just the lie about taxes.  Shameful whatever the reason is.

The Trump and FoxNews shutdown

So Senator McConnell decided not to accept the House bill to open the government, even though its the same one that passed the US Senate but was shot down by Trump after Fox News complained about it and demanded a shutdown.
Monday will tie for #2 and Friday tie for #1 in longest US shutdowns.

The GOP continues to follow Trump over the cliff, most of them know the wall is a big waste of money and will do very little to stop illegal immigration, yet they are willing to hold America hostage and let tens of thousands of Americans lose their homes for a simple talking point.

Will the GOP eventually cave to common sense, political outrage, and a sense for their own survival?
Will the Dems eventually cave to political outrage or maybe just decency and bow to the terrorists?
If the Dems cave first will they message it correctly? Will they be more vulnerable and the GOP encouraged to do more such hostage taking?
Trump and the GOP already have done it multiple times, including children (holding up CHIP) and veterans (Holding some VA benefits hostage) so we know they are willing.

No matter what happens here, it seems Americans lose.

And the GOP stood by and let America slowly die

You might have heard this poem by German pastor Martin Niemoller or one of the variations of it.

First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.

Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

Sound familiar? The following are not posted in any special order....

• The GOP attacked the Socialists than the Trade Unions, then the Left and then minorities and the poor and middle class.
• With President Trump it has gotten more transparent and blatant.
• Trump attacked and objectified women, the GOP stood by.
• Trump called Mexicans rapists and murders, the GOP stood by.
• Trump called for a Muslim ban and the GOP supported or simply stood by.
• Trump ran on Universal Health Care, the GOP heard "Repeal and Replace" and cheered him on.  Not caring about the promise made to Americans but hearing what they wanted which was to get rid of the Democrats Health Care (even if it was largely Mit Romminy's a GOP plan).
• Trump feels insulted he could not get the job done and says will let the AHCA implode because he will stop funding, the GOP cheered.  After all they have already been pulling this tactic by making a month to month decision during President Obamas term to keep the insurance companies nervous and the market unstable.
• Trump violated his oath of office starting on Day one, the GOP stood by.
• Trump compared a confederate general who fought against the USA with George Washington and Thomas Jefferson and the GOP stood by.
• Trump is using the White House to line his pockets and promote his properties, the GOP stands aside.
• Trump lies to the public on a daily basis, the GOP stands aside and lets it happen.
• Trump refuses to meet with veterans and sends out Ammorsa to meet them because he cant be bothered, the GOP is quiet.
• Trump wont pay the Veterans charity he did a fund raiser for until they take it to the media. theGOP stands by.
• Trump insults a disabled reporter, a war veteran and more and the GOP stands aside.
• Trump attacks the media and tries to censor the press, the GOP stands by.
• Trump pulls climate change data from government websites and issues gag orders, the GOP stands by.
• Trump attempts to intimidate federal prosecutors and the FBI, the GOP stands by.
• Trump kicks the Secret Service to the street because they ran out of money paying his hotel for office space to protect Trump and his people, the GOP stands by.
• Trump violates the property of an Indian reservation to boost the stock he has in an oil company, the GOP stands by.

And finally...

Trump blames both sides for the death of a young woman, instead of the typical presidential call he claims the mother complimented him and otherwise uses that press conference to brag about himself.

He started off the last conference stating how great a job he has done with the economy (News flash the first year is still based on the previous years policies as it takes time for new company fiscal years) and ended it by bragging he has one of the biggest wineries in the USA. He never once mentioned Heather Heyer by name.  I doubt he even bothered to think about her or remember her name.
The Neo Nazis actually THANKED Trump for his remarks

And though we are hearing a lot of noise only TWO GOP members have called him out on it by name,  The rest continue to aid and abet this enemy of our country and try to provide him cover so they can push their agenda.  Because Party over Country, profit and self interest over patriotism

#GOPKillsUSA.

So far Senators McCain and Graham are the only ones to call Trump out on this by name.

Democrat vs. Republican: A study in Ethics and Morality

Readers of this blog may think I hate the Republicans and like the Democrats.
That is only half true as I hate both parties.  Not all individuals in both, but overall both stink.

However the latest GOP attempt to pass something, ANYTHING along the lines of repeal for Obamacare (The Affordable Health Care Act) shows the hypocrisy in a dramatic (though not the only) way.
Republicans screamed that not enough time was taken to discuss the AHCA and that it was passed without bi-partisan support.
The AHCA was debated in the senate for a month and numerous GOP amendments added to it.  This after taking about a year to pass through various committees, being scored by the CBO, and public exposure and discussion.
And now?
Republicans have been screaming for repeal and Replace for over 7 years yet never bothered to actually work on a plan.  If they had we would have seen it by now.
Instead they keep coming up with rushed plans behind closed doors where not even all party members get to carefully examine it before voting on it.  They deliberately exclude and dont even try to get Democratic support. Granted getting support to repeal a bill that you passed and so many of your party sacrificed for would be a tough sell but to not even try?
Further after failure after repeated failure the GOP Senate decided to just call for a procedural vote on a bill none had seen just so they could check a box.
Understand that this is not actually passing anything but it is a step towards it. The idea i to vote quickly on whatever Mitch McConnel wrote and try to hash it out in reconciliation between House and Senate leadership. Democrats are expected to try and push amendments in order to slow things down enough that people will have a chance to read it.

Do you understand the difference here?
Democrats worked on trying to make health care better for over a year and let the public and Republicans look it over and put in amendments and comments. Their President asked them to take a stand for making Health Care better (not perfect but it did slow down premium rate growth and saved lives) and they fell on their swords and many lost their seat as people did not really understand what was really going on. Democrats suck at messaging compared to Republicans, witness how much more popular the AHCA is now after Republican attacks and people have a chance to see the real benefits to them compared to GOP plans.
However now that they have the power the Republicans refused to do the homework on crafting a bill (7 years and nothing to show for it?) and keep trying to sneak something past not only the Democrats and the American People but others in their own party as well.  They violate everything they complained about before.
Republicans have demonstrated they are short on ethics, morality, and commitment.

Right now many want to pass something, anything so they can go home and aid they kept their promise to Repeal and replace.  They forget they also promised to make it better and transparent.
What they did not forget is to cut taxes to their wealthy donors.

I hope people remember what happens here and hold them accountable.  Though they are trying to procrastinate and pull one over us by pushing out most of the damage for two years.
So they hope to get reelected because people wont realize the costs in time.

In summary both parties are full of problems but at least the Democrats are less bankrupt than the Republicans.  Lets replace them all by voting in fresh faces at Brand New Congress!

Rep. Tom Cole declares against Public Edcuation

So with Betsy DeVoss on the stand over the proposed Education budget Rep Tom Cole cheered her on and declared his position to anyone watching that he is against public schools and for private schools getting taxpayer funding.
I am ok with my taxes going to public schools even though I have no kids.  A good education simply makes for a better country so it is my patriotic duty to support public education.
However I fail to see why our taxes should go to support private schools, especially when those schools are not accountable for quality.

Why do Republicans want to take our money to support fake schools that have no accountability?
Tom Cole has declared he is against children with this support of Betsy DeVoss.  More party over country from these traitors.