Thread by @jedshug

The joint congressional session just started. Pence had already issued a statement rejecting the Trump “theory” that a VP can unilaterally ignore certified electors, consistent with @maggieNYT reporting.
But Pence didn’t read it live (yet)...
Thread.
nytimes.com/2021/01/05/us/…

Here is Pence’s statement rejecting the crazy coup theory, but stretching to “both sides” this debate with a strawman: “Others believe that electoral votes should never be challenged in a joint session... Neither view is correct.”

Who says “never”? Sincerely I have no idea.

https://twitter.com/kellyo/status/1346878303714607110

3/ As the states are called alphabetically, @amyklobuchar recognizes Arizona's electors for Biden as valid.
Far-right nut from Arizona @DrPaulGosar rises to challenge the Arizona electors, and cheers and applause erupt from the nut gallery.
Shame on them.

4/ @SteveScalise speaks first with a failing grade on con law. He says Article II gives the electoral vote process only to state legislatures.

He ignores that state legislatures PASS LAWS THAT CREATE A PROCESS FOR RUNNING ELECTIONS.

This is so insulting to basic literacy.

5/ Article II: "Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors"

What does Scalise think Article II requires? That state legislators do all the counting of all votes? That the Framers did not know about legislation?
Idiocy.

6/ @senatemajldr McConnell says he is giving his most important speech ever.
Condemning his Republican colleagues for baseless conspiracy theories.
"This past election wasn't even all that unusually close."
Then he lists a series of closer elections over the past 50 years.

McConnell is defending the Electoral College like Tom Cotton did.
Then he pulls a both-sides, blaming Democrats for challenges in 2000, 2004, 2016. He's shameless.
"Republicans, don't follow the Democrats' delegitimizing routine."
Bad faith false equivalence.

McConnell alternates between that low road and this high road:
"Self-government requires a shared commitment to the truth and a shared commitment to the ground rules of our system...
Don't disenfranchise the voters. I will vote to defend our system of democracy."

9/ @SenSchumer challenges the Republican objectors to show one proven claim of fraud.
"The courts have found none -- NONE -- because there were none.

10/ "These Republicans embarrass themselves, their party, and our country.
This insurrection was discouraged by the leadership of their own party, but it was not quelled.
This is an attempted COUP." @chuckschumer

11/ @SenSchumer: "How can we promote democracy abroad when we undermine and delegtimize democracy at home?"
"We swore an oath 3 days ago to defend the Constitution against enemies, foreign and domestic... Do our duty to support and defend the Constitution so help us, God."

12/ @SenTedCruz: "39% of Americans say the election was rigged... 17% of Democrats say it was rigged.
You might disagree, but it is a profound danger to our democracy."

Yes. Ted Cruz's lies to spread those doubts are INDEED a profound danger to our democracy.

13/ Schumer asked Republicans for one example of fraud.
Cruz spoke for 5 minutes, spoke in empty platitudes, and gave not a single example of fraud.

Not one.

14/ @amyklobuchar got talked over by pundits. The part they played was too abstract. Schumer's challenge for actual facts was much better.

@SenToomey is doing this much better to shred the historical "precedents" that Cruz Hawley etc have cited.

15/
@SenToomey is defending federalism for state-based election rules, not national rules, and especially not post-election second-guessing. I half agree.
But he emphasizes the preservation of the Electoral College, as Tom Cotton and McConnell did.

Unsubscribe.

16/ @jbouie nails McConnell.
Mitch, what a weenie.

https://twitter.com/jbouie/status/1346892753561645057?s=20

17/ CNN & MSNBC cover chaos of MAGA mobs at Capitol.
MSNBC cuts suddenly to Senate floor to show VP Pence getting rushed out door. Secret Service taking over.
MSNBC is suggesting that Secret Service is trying secure the chamber? Clear the floor? "Scrambling"?
"EVACUATING"?