Somber Senate unites to reject election challenges
07 January, 2021
A good sober, shaken Senate returned to its hallowed chamber Wednesday nighttime to slap aside a frivolous election challenge, but its secondary purpose seemed to be to go up from the wreckage of a shocking evening in which these were forced to flee the Capitol by simply a mob of supporters of President Donald Trump.
The riot in the Capitol prompted more than half of these who had signed to the protest to instead vote “no.” Providing to Trump's supporters appeared not as much important than defending democracy.
Tennessee's GOP senators abandoned the effort, due to did Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga, who shed her runoff election Tuesday, assisting to deliver control of the Senate to Democrats. Wisconsin's GOP Sen Ron Johnson dropped out, as does James Lankford, R-Okla, a promising youthful Republican who brought up eyebrows when at first supporting the effort.
The 93-6 tally upholding President-elect Joe Biden's win in Arizona was preceded by an unusually serious debate where party labels were shed and constitutional prerogatives embraced.
“We will never be kept out of the chamber by thugs, mobs, or threats. We will not bow to lawlessness or intimidation," said Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. “We are again at our articles. We will discharge our duty beneath the Constitution for our country. And we are likely to do it tonight."
As senators debated, Trump took it on the chin from longtime critics like Mitt Romney, R-Utah. But various Republicans who put in years tiptoeing around Trump's often-scandalous behavior seemed to finally experienced enough.
“We witnessed today the damage that can result when men on power and responsibility refuse to acknowledge the reality,” said Sen Pat Toomey, R-Pa. “We observed bloodshed as the demagogue chose to pass on falsehoods and sow distrust of his personal fellow Americans."
The debate was forced by Sens Josh Hawley, R-Mo, and Ted Cruz, R-Texas, who argued that it had been the only method to speak up for an incredible number of Americans who believe Trump's false claims that the election was stolen from him. But their reputations as presidential wannabes hung over the debate.
“I ask my colleagues, conduct we weigh our own political fortunes even more heavily than we weigh the effectiveness of our republic, the effectiveness of our democracy, and the reason for flexibility?" said Romney, whose table is directly behind Hawley. “What’s the weight of personal acclaim when compared to weight of conscience?"
More than 90 senators populated the chamber for the debate - guarded by a large number of heavily armed police - and the typically verbose masses had to keep their remarks to merely five minutes.
Trump ally Lindsey Graham, R-SC, likewise abandoned the president, showing up to cite his purpose in encouraging the mob.
“Trump and I, we had a hell of a journey. I hate it being this way,” Graham said. “From my viewpoint, he’s been a consequential president. But today ... all I can say can be count me out. Enough will do.”
Romney, the party's 2012 nominee, reminded his co-workers that he has learned how unpleasant it really is to lose a good presidential election, drawing hearty laughter. But he gained an enthusiastic, spontaneous round of applause with a simple observation: “The simplest way we could show value for the voters who are upset is by telling them the reality."
Source: japantoday.com
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