From Joy in Georgia to a Coup Attempt in D.C.

This morning began on a joyous note with last night's election here in Georgia of Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff giving Democrats control of the U.S. Senate.

Within a matter of hours the joy and triumph turned to pain and anguish when armed Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol disrupting proceedings to count the electoral college votes in the 2020 election to formalize the victory of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. They took over offices, waved Confederate flags, made themselves comfortable on the floor of the House and the Senate and engaged in violence. One woman died of gunfire.

How was it that Capitol Police weren't able to prevent this from taking place? Were they overwhelmed, unprepared, did they just look the other way or were they part of the coup attempt?

Before violence broke out the certification of the election was to be delayed by Republican House members and Senators who objected to the election results echoing baseless claims of fraud made by President Trump who made matters worse by encouraging and praising rioters in a video claiming, “We had an election that was stolen from us. It was a landslide election and everyone knows it, especially the other side. But you have to go home now.” The video was swiftly removed by social media platforms. 

President Trump encouraged a coup and Republican Congressmen and Senators aided and abetted the insurrection. If Republican Congressmen and Senators have any ounce of decency then they will abandon their efforts to delay the counting of the electoral college vote when they resume their proceedings this evening. 

Although Joe Biden will take the oath of office two weeks from today, the events of today warrant either the invocation of the 25th Amendment by Vice-President Pence or impeachment of President Trump with the proviso that he never be allowed to seek public office ever again.

There will be joyous days in America again. In a year which has seen disease and death we need all the joy we can get. Hopefully America will be visited by joy come January 20th. But January 6, 2021 will leave a dark stain on our country.