Irrelevant to what you wrote, but I have been in the Capitol police holding area...or at least, where it was in 1985. This was in the midst of a year of coordinated daily arrests for peaceful protests at the South African embassy (remember apartheid?). After umpteen days of arrests with immediate release, our groups (some seminary students and some lesbians from Philly) were held for several hours and made to post bail, which we were not prepared for. The reason given was that the day before there had been an anti-abortion event at the Supreme Court where protesters poured real blood on the steps (ie, vandalism). So yeah, same thing? I didn't have much faith in the Capitol Police' ability to discern the difference. As I recall, the holding area was a large green-carpeted room with little furniture, but FAR more comfortable than the holding cells used by the Independence Park Service in Philly (been there too). They fed us bologna sandwiches (white bread w/ mayo) which left some of us vegetarians quite hungry. Thank goddess for Chinese restaurants that stay open till midnight!
Fun idea but it wouldn't work in practice. To begin with, it would need an O.K. from the Speaker and/or a majority of the House. Otherwise, the Capital Police would be ordered by the Speaker to release any taken. Police actions to the contrary would be swiftly enjoined by a Federal Judge. In short, your plan in the end would only mean more work for lawyers.
I fear that the resistance must be on the streets. telephones, Internet and in the courts.
I KNOW they need Congress to instruct them. But imagine if Congress had the balls to do so. And with unemployment rising, I'm okay with more work for lawyers.
This might be an absolutely insane idea which is why I bring it to you for guidance. Since they are not really answering phones, and are no where to be found. What about a petion that is signed by everyone in each state on one particular topic. For example get Musk out of the White House. Then the petion is copied onto paper and mailed to each member of congress. Postage Return Receipt Requested.
Here's the problem -- anything that goes in an envelope is thrown in a bin, and then at some point, a staffer in gloves and a mask with eye protection opens them to be certain there's no anthrax or other nasty powder in the envelope.
YEARS ago, we used to do all of our petitions on paper, and then we'd put them in boxes and deliver them (like back when we wanted to lower the voting age to 18) - you bring hundreds of boxes, you get press!
Keep calling! Some people ARE getting through. And use the "Contact Me" page on the official sites.
As of yesterday, the hue and cry from the reps and senators objecting to cuts in THEIR states is starting to get media play -- it was more under the radar before that.
And get in the streets -- large protests are going to be the thing that works.
Oh my God, Jessica I have been saying this to everybody I know. Muskrat used mercenaries to keep the senators out out of the treasury building. We should’ve sent the capital police or possibly any generals who wanted to uphold the constitution to arrest every one of them.
I go with the Capitol Police because, if ordered, they'd do it. The other option would be to find them in violation of court orders -- sadly, that would need to come from DoJ, and that's not happening. The REALLY SAD thing is that "regular people" have more balls and spine than elected officials, and thus they keep approving insane legislation and dangerous nominees.
While I do love the concept and relish the picture of Elmo in handcuffs, remember that Ford granted a full, free, and absolute pardon to Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed against the United States while in office. I am reasonably sure that FOTUS's minions have already drafted pardons for all involved - to be produced, as needed.
I think it would still slow them down. I'm betting most people don't know where the Capitol Police would take people. I am, however, COMPLETELY OPEN to a better idea. This was the best one I had. Yes, people in the streets, and all the phone calls and emails to Congress are helping -- but we need something BIG. Ideas?
Potentially -- but that would be a forward-looking pardon, as normally pardons are for people who have been convicted of things. It would at least slow things down. I am SO OPEN for better ideas!!!
Their plan is to do everything they can just up to the point that someone says NO. And yes, we're heading to a Constitutional crisis between the courts and the executive branch, since the GOP has abandoned their oath to the Constitution.
I have heard rumblings from some GOP Congressmen that the Constitution needs to be upheld. In addition, there is a HUGE amount of blowback in GOP districts regarding promised IRA payments for farm improvements that aren't being repaid -- so these reps are in the awkward position of needing to be in favour of IRA repeal, but keeping THEIR projects. It won't work well for them.
Don't feel powerless -- call and write your elected officials daily. Join a protest. It's snowballing and in the end good WILL triumph over evil. (It might just take a while.)
THANK YOU!!! I'm pretty sure it would work, and I don't hear of anyone having a better idea. I just have NO IDEA how to get someone in Congress to do it....sigh.
Irrelevant to what you wrote, but I have been in the Capitol police holding area...or at least, where it was in 1985. This was in the midst of a year of coordinated daily arrests for peaceful protests at the South African embassy (remember apartheid?). After umpteen days of arrests with immediate release, our groups (some seminary students and some lesbians from Philly) were held for several hours and made to post bail, which we were not prepared for. The reason given was that the day before there had been an anti-abortion event at the Supreme Court where protesters poured real blood on the steps (ie, vandalism). So yeah, same thing? I didn't have much faith in the Capitol Police' ability to discern the difference. As I recall, the holding area was a large green-carpeted room with little furniture, but FAR more comfortable than the holding cells used by the Independence Park Service in Philly (been there too). They fed us bologna sandwiches (white bread w/ mayo) which left some of us vegetarians quite hungry. Thank goddess for Chinese restaurants that stay open till midnight!
WOW! Just WOW!
Fun idea but it wouldn't work in practice. To begin with, it would need an O.K. from the Speaker and/or a majority of the House. Otherwise, the Capital Police would be ordered by the Speaker to release any taken. Police actions to the contrary would be swiftly enjoined by a Federal Judge. In short, your plan in the end would only mean more work for lawyers.
I fear that the resistance must be on the streets. telephones, Internet and in the courts.
I KNOW they need Congress to instruct them. But imagine if Congress had the balls to do so. And with unemployment rising, I'm okay with more work for lawyers.
And yes -- POWER in the streets!
This might be an absolutely insane idea which is why I bring it to you for guidance. Since they are not really answering phones, and are no where to be found. What about a petion that is signed by everyone in each state on one particular topic. For example get Musk out of the White House. Then the petion is copied onto paper and mailed to each member of congress. Postage Return Receipt Requested.
Here's the problem -- anything that goes in an envelope is thrown in a bin, and then at some point, a staffer in gloves and a mask with eye protection opens them to be certain there's no anthrax or other nasty powder in the envelope.
YEARS ago, we used to do all of our petitions on paper, and then we'd put them in boxes and deliver them (like back when we wanted to lower the voting age to 18) - you bring hundreds of boxes, you get press!
Keep calling! Some people ARE getting through. And use the "Contact Me" page on the official sites.
As of yesterday, the hue and cry from the reps and senators objecting to cuts in THEIR states is starting to get media play -- it was more under the radar before that.
And get in the streets -- large protests are going to be the thing that works.
Tysvm ❤️
Oh my God, Jessica I have been saying this to everybody I know. Muskrat used mercenaries to keep the senators out out of the treasury building. We should’ve sent the capital police or possibly any generals who wanted to uphold the constitution to arrest every one of them.
I go with the Capitol Police because, if ordered, they'd do it. The other option would be to find them in violation of court orders -- sadly, that would need to come from DoJ, and that's not happening. The REALLY SAD thing is that "regular people" have more balls and spine than elected officials, and thus they keep approving insane legislation and dangerous nominees.
While I do love the concept and relish the picture of Elmo in handcuffs, remember that Ford granted a full, free, and absolute pardon to Richard Nixon for any crimes he may have committed against the United States while in office. I am reasonably sure that FOTUS's minions have already drafted pardons for all involved - to be produced, as needed.
I think it would still slow them down. I'm betting most people don't know where the Capitol Police would take people. I am, however, COMPLETELY OPEN to a better idea. This was the best one I had. Yes, people in the streets, and all the phone calls and emails to Congress are helping -- but we need something BIG. Ideas?
I rather like "You won. You hold the majority. Pass something on strictly GOP votes.” and throw the ball completely to them.
That was my formal way of saying it -- what I REALLY thought was "You bought it, you broke, now fix it, you demented cult victims."
Can’t he just pardon them right away even if Capitol Police picked them up?
Potentially -- but that would be a forward-looking pardon, as normally pardons are for people who have been convicted of things. It would at least slow things down. I am SO OPEN for better ideas!!!
It’s a good idea. I’m just feeling so powerless in a situation where the law is just being ignored.
Their plan is to do everything they can just up to the point that someone says NO. And yes, we're heading to a Constitutional crisis between the courts and the executive branch, since the GOP has abandoned their oath to the Constitution.
However, street action IS working. Even in West Virginia. https://www.wtap.com/2025/02/11/demonstrators-protest-against-reported-doge-visit-parkersburg/ WEST VIRGINIA!!!!
I have heard rumblings from some GOP Congressmen that the Constitution needs to be upheld. In addition, there is a HUGE amount of blowback in GOP districts regarding promised IRA payments for farm improvements that aren't being repaid -- so these reps are in the awkward position of needing to be in favour of IRA repeal, but keeping THEIR projects. It won't work well for them.
Don't feel powerless -- call and write your elected officials daily. Join a protest. It's snowballing and in the end good WILL triumph over evil. (It might just take a while.)
I would love for this to happen. I've been dying for some law enforcement entity to slap handcuffs on Muskface and his cronies since this all started.
And these WOULD be the folks to do it -- payback is a bi**h. Someone just needs to tell them to go do it...the legal justification is there.
i like your idea.
THANK YOU!!! I'm pretty sure it would work, and I don't hear of anyone having a better idea. I just have NO IDEA how to get someone in Congress to do it....sigh.