“Riddle me this Batman!” So you have some questions about section 3 of the 14th Constitutional Amendment? So do I.

I am not a constitutional scholar. Additionally, this document is sometimes troublesome, because certain passages are ambiguous--subject to varying interpretations.








There is one question currently before the supreme court of the US, that has some far reaching implications: is Article 14, Section 3 sufficient grounds to remove the orange-faced, used car salesman from a state's ballot? Alright, that's the question, but what is the answer? Let's see if we can find out a little bit about this. Here is the 14th amendment, and then section 3:


"All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws."


And then section 3:


"Section 3 Disqualification from Holding Office



No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability."

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/










Now some out there might have trouble proving whether or not January 6th was, in actuality, a rebellion. In all honesty, it's pretty hard to ascertain just what ole orange face had in mind that day. I'm not sure that he would've been all that bummed if the crowd taking over Congress would've gotten really violent. One thing I am sure of, ole Tangerine Hair Comb Over would've blamed it on Nancy Pelosi.






Alright. Let's look at the last part of section 3 "Disqualification from Holding Office":

"No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath ... shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. "

https://constitution.congress.gov/browse/amendment-14/


Are you thinking what I'm thinking? What comfort or aid did he give? The framers of this amendment most likely meant monetary aid and/or physically sheltering enemies of the state. Again, I'd like you to concentrate on that very last bit--"given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof." Would a televised address directed to the angry mob at the capital be construed as 'comfort to the enemies..."?

https://www.c-span.org/video/?507774-1/president-trump-video-statement-capitol-protesters


That was his statement, ostensibly telling the "rioters" to go home peaceably. But, what got them started to begin with? Well, CNN did a fair job of breaking down the day here:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/10/politics/jan-6-us-capitol-riot-timeline/index.html


But, these are the moments I wish to emphasize:

"1:10 p.m.

As he ends his speech at the Ellipse, Trump calls for supporters to “walk down Pennsylvania Avenue” and march to the Capitol. He also tells the crowd that he will be marching with them. Around the same time, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a California Republican and Trump ally, calls Hutchinson and angrily tells her not to let Trump go to the Capitol, according to Hutchinson’s testimony.

1:19 p.m.

Trump arrives back at the White House. During the short drive back from the Ellipse, Trump becomes irate and demands to be driven to the Capitol, but members of his security team refuse to take him there, according to Hutchinson, who testified that she was told about the exchange by Ornato and another member of Trump’s security detail.

1:25 p.m.

Trump goes into the private dining room near the Oval Office, where he stays until 4 p.m., according to the committee which cited testimony from White House aides. Witnesses told the committee that Trump spent the afternoon watching Fox News’ coverage of his supporters attacking the Capitol. The chief White House photographer was told not to take pictures of Trump during this period,"




https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/10/politics/jan-6-us-capitol-riot-timeline/index.html


I will continue with the following excerpts from the same timeline, as it seems to be somewhat fair and balanced...I absolutely refuse to use anything from Fox News...for obvious reasons.






"Around 2 p.m.

The Capitol goes on lockdown as some of the first rioters breach the building. Back at the White House, the White House Counsel Cipollone tells Meadows that Trump needs to take action to stop the riot, and that “something needs to be done or people are going to die,” according to Hutchinson’s testimony.

....

Around 2:15 p.m.

At the White House, Cipollone again tells Meadows that Trump should intervene. Meadows responds by saying Trump “doesn’t want to do anything” about the riot and that Trump agrees with the rioters who were calling for Pence to be hanged, according to Hutchinson’s testimony.

2:24 p.m.

Trump criticizes Pence in a tweet, slamming Pence for refusing to implement his illegal scheme to overturn the election while presiding over the joint session of Congress.

2:26 p.m.

The Secret Service evacuates Pence from his office across from the Senate chamber, and he was eventually whisked away









....

2:38 p.m.

Trump tweets that the rioters should “stay peaceful,” but doesn’t tell them to leave the Capitol.

2:39 p.m.

Some of the first Capitol windows are smashed by Dominic Pezzola, an alleged Proud Boy who has been charged with seditious conspiracy. (He pleaded not guilty to charges related to the attack.) More pro-Trump rioters flood into the Capitol building after overrunning barricades, fighting past police officers, and climbing up the inauguration scaffolding.

Around 2:40 p.m.

A group of Oath Keepers – a far-right extremist group – weave through throngs of rioters in a military-style formation and enter the Capitol building"

....

2:44 p.m.

Pro-Trump rioter Ashli Babbitt is fatally shot by a police officer while trying to break into the Speaker’s Lobby, which is adjacent to the House floor, while lawmakers were evacuating. At the same time, Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a Georgia Republican who supported nullifying Biden’s victory in his state, texts Meadows that “It’s really bad up here on the hill,” according to messages obtained by CNN.

Around 2:45 p.m.

Pro-Trump rioters invade the Senate floor and break into House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office.

2:53 p.m.

Donald Trump Jr. texts Meadows, “He’s got to condem (sic) this shit. Asap. The captiol (sic) police tweet is not enough,” according to messages obtained by CNN. Meadows replies, “I am pushing it hard. I agree.”

isn't it lovely how well Trump spells "condemn"? Ye Olympian gods.




https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/10/politics/jan-6-us-capitol-riot-timeline/index.html









"Sometime before 3 p.m.

Trump speaks on the phone with House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who pleads with Trump to call off the mob, but Trump takes the side of the rioters, telling McCarthy that they seem to care more about the election results than he does, according to CNN reporting.

Around 3 p.m.

White House aides draft a statement for Trump to release, which would’ve condemned the violence and the “illegal” actions of the rioters, according to Hutchinson’s testimony. The statement was never released.

3:09 p.m.

Former Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus texts Meadows, “TELL THEM TO GO HOME !!!,” according to messages obtained by CNN.

....









3:13 p.m.

Trump tweets that his supporters at the Capitol should “remain peaceful,” but again doesn’t tell them to leave the premises. At the same time, Trump’s former Health Secretary Tom Price texts Meadows saying, “POTUS should go on air and defuse this,” according to messages obtained by CNN.

3:15 p.m.

Ivanka Trump, the President’s daughter and senior adviser, calls the rioters “patriots” in a tweet, and tells them that “the violence must stop,” but does not say that they should leave the Capitol.

Good job Ivanka!! Has anyone ever told you, too little, too late? What a twit.

3:31 p.m.

Fox News host Sean Hannity, who promoted many of Trump’s election lies, texts Meadows, “Can he make a statement. I saw the tweet. Ask people to peacefully leave the capital,” according to messages obtained by CNN. Meadows replies, “on it.”

Good Zeus on the Mountaintop of Olympus...Sean F(&king Hannity? OOOhhh, now THERE's a towering intellectual who'll help to defuse the situation.

4:03 p.m.

Trump heads to the Rose Garden to film a recorded message. His staff prepared a script for him to read, which said, “no one should be using violence or threats. … Let’s respect our institutions, let’s all do better.” But Trump goes off-script and improvises most of his remarks, according to a witness, who later testified to the January 6 committee.

Holy Revolutions, Batman. If I might say so, Dear Reader, our orange "messiah" (barf) really f(*ked up there.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/10/politics/jan-6-us-capitol-riot-timeline/index.html









Alright. If you're a little skeptical of this timeline, then you might try these others:

https://www.americanoversight.org/timeline-jan6


https://www.npr.org/2022/01/05/1069977469/a-timeline-of-how-the-jan-6-attack-unfolded-including-who-said-what-and-when

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-56004916


https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/jan-6-hearings-news-live/card/jan-6-timeline-riot-at-the-capitol-e99jxTMAzv3IB744gZNf





But, remember, that events are events...you can't change them, you can only change your interpretation of them.

So, if you decided to take a look at the other timelines, what do you think? What do I think? I think that our orange idiot arranged a riot, and then hoped it would turn into something bloody he could then act upon. Screw the electoral process! Screw the will and decisions of the American people!






You might ask, what were the numbers of the first Biden/Tr*mp election?

It was really really close.

https://www.cnn.com/election/2020/results/president


Biden: 306 electoral votes/51% of the popular vote

Orange asshole: 232 electoral votes/46% of the popular vote

Yeah, percentage-wise, it was close.

Perhaps we're dealing with a very young mind (i.e. Tr*(p), who simply is whining about losing his favorite toy (the American government).






In light of the Supreme Court decision today (2/8/24), denying Colorado's ability to keep the orange dickhead's name off its' ballot, I have to say that I'm not in complete disagreement. It would be a dangerous precedent, in my opinion, to allow the states that much power, but then, remember I spent a lot of time in my youth studying the Civil War (in the 19th century) as a graduate student, Dear Reader. II'm afraid it left me with a bad taste, with regards to state's rights vs. federal rights. After all, someone has to rule, yes?

But, Valhalla forbid it should be this guy:



Oh Thor, please use your hammer to get rid of this orange-faced schmuck.



I thought I'd lighten up this week's entry with some political cartoons. Don't worry, there are a bajillion more out there!

Until next week...