Too little, too late

Leader McConnell made two really important speeches today. In his first, at the opening of the debate to certify the results of the election results, he made an impassioned plea to his colleagues to acknowledge the realty that the election was properly tabulated that the result was not in doubt.  The second was as the Senate reconvened, after its work was disrupted by Trump's thugs. He pleaded again for the Senate to conduct its business without further procedural nonsense of objecting to properly certified election results. 

As heartwarming as it is to hear McConnell clearly supporting the peaceful transition of power, as Stacy Abrams noted with respect to the actions of Republican Secretary of State for the state of Georgia, we should not forget the years of obstruction, the refusal to hold confirmation hearings for Merrick Garland; and let us also note that he is finally saying what he should have said weeks ago.  

For too long, Republicans have either turned a blind eye to Trump's lies and his undermining of democracy and its institutions, and in some cases encouraged him. 

After the events of today, confirming the election results is no longer about making a symbolic protest as to the fairness of changes some states made to their electoral processed in light of the pandemic. It is now about quelling the unhinged extremists Trump has riled up.  To not do so now, will be to continue to lend credence to the insane lies Trump has been promulgating for months. 

It is also worth pointing out that, as Speaker Pelosi noted, this day of Epiphany, members of Congress appear to have had their own collective epiphany; that both sides of the aisle should work collaboratively together. What is also striking is that it was only when they found themselves personally imperiled that they come to the realization that the promoting of wild conspiracy theories and the relentless undermining of faith in the institutions of our democracy has very real consequences. 

Notably, Admiral Mike Mullen, ex-chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, who has served in that capacity  under Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, suggested this evening on PBS invoking the 25th amendment to remove Trump from office in light of his clearly undemocratic behavior and the violence his demented rhetoric has stoked. That's something I never expect to hear: the day continues to surprise.