Saturday, 9 January 2021

Account Suspended

It's taken a long time and Facebook bit the bullet first, but finally Twitter decided to do the right thing and permanently suspend President Trump's account and that's going to really hurt. Following the absolutely astonishing scenes at Capitol Hill on Wednesday, the rogue holder of highest office is finally going to be held to account and learn a very important lesson of life, words matter. Actions do indeed have consequences.

It may only be eleven days before Trump is evicted from the White House, but it's quite clear one way or another he will face the consequences of his actions and this has now become essential in order to preserve democracy and the Constitution. The impeachment charge of Incitement to Insurrection is astonishing in itself, especially as it would seem it was prepared during the assault on Congress and as Senators and House Representatives were under siege. 

As every hour goes by, yet more incredible evidence emerges as to the President's seditious behaviour. Not only did he not call out the National Guard, instead there is news that he was engaged in frantic phone calls to loyal Republican Senators urging them to 'stand firm' and carry on resisting the process of formal confirmation of Biden's election. 

As Trump is going to discover, the process of Impeachment is not a 'politically motivated' act that will hinder 'national healing and unity', it will have increasing support from across the aisle as Republican's finally decide to do the right thing. History is going to forever record who honoured their Oath of Allegiance to the Constitution and who did not. It's not only judgement day for Trump, but also for his acolytes, supporters and enablers. 

Talking of judgement, Vice President Pence who faithfully served the rogue President almost to the end, nevertheless will go down in history as failing to do his duty by invoking the 25th Amendment and hence avoid the need for Leader of the House Nancy Pelosi having to approach the Chief of the General Staff for assurances regarding Presidential access to nuclear codes. 

It's hard to find sufficient and appropriate superlatives to adequately describe what is still playing out in American politics, but it's history in the making that will be talked about for decades. How did the greatest democracy elect a dangerous sociopath who proceeded to do dreadful things for four years and enjoy the unwavering support of so many lickspittle elected representatives right to the bitter end? People died on Wednesday as a direct result of a President's words and actions and I predict he will end up not only impeached for a second time, but will go to jail. 

Trump's rightful place in history is assured, but not in the way he so earnestly wished. Any credit for achievements during his term in office were effectively erased by what happened three days ago as he authored his inevitable epitaph. But what of the millions of duped and deranged followers? Only time will tell and to a large extent depend on to what degree the Republican Party can re-invent itself, cast out the Trumpists and return to something like a decent and honourable party of opposition. Thank goodness history has given us all a decent guy in the White House with a remarkable Cabinet that at last looks like diverse America.     

In my view, the only way unity and healing can be restored is by perpetrators of dreadful actions facing the full force of the law. Incoming President Biden confirmed only yesterday that the Department of Justice under his choice for Attorney General will have complete independence from Presidential influence to prosecute any and all, without fear or favour. Trump is about to find out what that means and even his power of Pardon over the next few days cannot save him from any criminal charges that almost certainly will be made after January 20th. 


   

26 comments:

  1. JB I am thinking he deserves the whole library to be thrown at him . However he is narcissist an absolute nutter sulking it out. I suspect he believes his limited understanding that presidential immunity will cover him. The argument will run but pence could never do the 25th having colluded for so long under his master
    And may have too much to hide than have deeper acrimony . He is a political survivor and will be considering his evidence before Congress yet to come. Trump may get nabbed after his disastrous term where business leader or crook clearly is not a responsible decent politician. His speeches were poorly read out. He stalls repeats and relies on gesturing . all poor and smack of his limited abilities. He is more used ordering and bullying than cordial address. Showing his public respect or deference to the political law making constitutional work (which he is clueless ) became an impossible task as he believes he is chosen as above all. Epstein gone associates of an international sex criminals all end up in line for major endings. That awful state visit highlighted his unsuitable manners another 4 years of him and he would have destroyed international links. So trump on the rocks at last time to get prince child molesting Andrew on charges and then Washington will be seen to be draining some of the worst scum in the pond.

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  2. And if the US doesn't fuck up & gets it right, by holding trump's feet to the flame they will send a strong message around the globe - one that many other populist so-called leaders ought to receive loud & clear, & take heed.

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  3. So the bloke with access to nuclear codes is deemed too dangerous to have a Twitter account?

    Interesting times we live in.

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    Replies
    1. Fortunately for pelosi I don't think the pentagon have them programmed to hit us soil.

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    2. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/08/capitol-attack-computer-theft-information-security

      "At least two computers were stolen from the Capitol when a violent mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building on Wednesday – including one from the office of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi – raising grave information security concerns.

      An aide to Pelosi confirmed Friday that a laptop was stolen from the speaker’s office, saying it belonged “to a conference room and was used for presentations”, but did not elaborate further on what information it may contain.

      At least one other computer was stolen, a laptop belonging to the office of the Democratic senator Jeff Merkley, of Oregon. The acting US attorney, Michael Sherwin, said that some of the thefts might have potentially jeopardized what he described as “national security equities”. "
      __________________________________________

      https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/08/my-day-photographing-capitol-attack

      "That’s when we saw people going into the offices of Nancy Pelosi. Normally this is a very secure part of the building; she’s the speaker of the House, second in line from the presidency – nobody can just wander in. But there was no staff, no police. It was just a free-for-all.

      The protesters were sitting at desks, taking selfies and rummaging through the office. It was just a bizarre scene. I kept moving through the office and saw a guy with his feet up on the desk, looking through the mail and making himself at home. The staff had left in such a hurry that the computers were still on, with emails still up on the screens."

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  4. "Gatwick immigration detention centre closed due to staff Covid cases

    Serco-run Brook House has been shut and some detainees moved to another centre, Home Office says"

    So they *can* close establishments due to covid -related issues.

    https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/jan/08/gatwick-immigration-detention-centre-closed-due-to-staff-covid-cases

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  5. CNN just announcing that twitter's exclusion of trump is total. He is banned as a person. @teamtrump account has been closed down. Even the official whitehouse potus account will be subject to scrutiny to ensure he is not slipping messages through.

    And apparently there's a further 'event' planned by his supporters later this month - perhaps to tie in with a pro-gun rally. Yeee-hah!!

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    1. Yes this is brilliant news and will really anger him - from 90 million followers to none - he is now a banned person for trying to access other Twitter accounts.

      I also see a notable lawyer has come forward offering his service for what he describes as the honour of defending Trump against any criminal charges that might flow from a charge of incitement. The defence would be on the basis of constitutional entitlement to free speech - fortunately it would seem that is no valid defence against such a charge. Things are just getting better by the hour.

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    2. Seems that donny tried to use the potus account to send messages:

      " "We will not be SILENCED," Trump sent his latest tweets from the official government account @POTUS, accusing Twitter of coordinating with quote "Democrats and the Radical Left" and "banning free speech."

      Twitter later deleted the posts on Friday, and also suspended Trump's campaign account @TeamTrump for violating its rules."

      And don jr is upset as well:

      "So the ayatollah, and numerous other dictatorial regimes can have Twitter accounts with no issue despite threatening genocide to entire countries and killing homosexuals etc... but The President of the United States should be permanently suspended.

      Mao would be proud."

      "Free Speech Is Under Attack! Censorship is happening like NEVER before! Don’t let them silence us. Sign up to stay connected!
      If I get thrown off my social platforms I’ll let you know my thoughts and where I end up."

      As are othjers who you might think ought to know better. This from Douglas Allen Collins, an American attorney and politician who describes himself as 'Husband, father, Air Force chaplain, Iraq veteran, attorney. Fighting for conservative values' :

      "Don’t be fooled.

      Big Tech isn’t shutting down accounts due to “risk”.
      They’re trying to control what you READ.
      What you THINK.
      What you BELIEVE.
      They’re after one thing: control.
      Because control means power.
      Don’t let them win."

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    3. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.livemint.com/news/world/big-announcement-soon-trump-hints-at-creating-own-platform-after-twitter-ban/amp-11610185169445.html

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    4. Comforting to hear that at least one person has an 'ology' in probation :)

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  6. Definitely the right decision but Twitter now need to ban the Chinese government from Twitter too. An example of the Chinese governments dangerous and false propaganda tweets:

    "All available evidence suggests that #COVID19 did not start in central China’s Wuhan, but may come into China through imported frozen food products and their packaging"

    Good that Trump has been permanently banned, Twitter need to permanently ban the Chinese government too.

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  7. “People in England are being told to act like they have got Covid as part of a government advertising campaign aimed at tackling the rise in infections.”

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55598918

    This doesn’t apply to those working for prisons and probation where it is business as usual.

    Beyond common sense how London has been declared a “major incident”, yet the NPS Division for the Capital in Amber. Many other Divisions have adopted a similar nonsensical position.

    No prisons or probation offices are COVID-19 secure to the new strains. All 3 main unions, Napo, Unison and GMB are complicit in this madness.

    Anything short of a 100% remote supervision is putting both staff and service-users at risk. The only exception for those without phones or homes, reporting to hubs and offices with minimum skeleton staffing. Receiving service-users released from prisons and working in Approved Premises is no longer safe.

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  8. 12.52 - you say:

    "No prisons or probation offices are COVID-19 secure to the new strains."

    Are you a virologist? Where's your evidence for your claim?

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    Replies
    1. “Are you a virologist?”

      Yes.

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    2. And your evidence?

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    3. You don't need to be a virologist to know that hot desking, lack of mask wearing and poor ventilation. Is not likely to minimise the spread of the virus. Never mind the lack of the two meter rule due to the environment.

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    4. https://www.probation-institute.org/news/probation-court-work-position-paper-and-technology-remote-courts-and-probation-practice-briefing-paper

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  9. https://www.countytimes.co.uk/news/18997155.english-probation-officer-racially-abused-newtown-man/

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    1. Is this what people mean by the word "snowflake"? This cannot be how the legislation was intended to be used, and it feels like a disproportionate response from the Probation Officer and CPS. 'Do-gooder does more harm than good' might have been a better headline.

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    2. This is what the command and control, “we are an enforcement agency”, nature of probation has created.

      I’m also struggling to fathom why “go back to Brum” is racist. A punishment maybe, but certainly not racist!

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    3. Why travel from Birmingham to Wales to see someone in a police station in the first place?

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    4. Trivial nonsense like this undermines the fight against proper racism.

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    5. Very true . The debate in probation has always been a mired mess. More often than not probation has never gotten further than trying to deliver a target for Asian and black. Everything else get boundaries glass ceilings and ignored.

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  10. https://www.conservativewoman.co.uk/why-the-times-ran-george-floyds-obituary-seven-months-late/

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