‘No-one is above the law’ ‘Donald Trump is a clear and present danger’ ‘…sadly, and with my heart broken having to take this action…’ Nancy Pelosi.
Excellent coverage, sadness, anger, and clarity from MSNBC’s Nicolle Wallace’s own commentary, and her interaction with guests.
It is six days ago that the coverage was of rioting, smashing windows, shooting, a variety of flags including confederate and Trump flags being flown and staffs being used as weapons, staff and members of Congress crouching in the gallery, being moved from the floor, and huddled together in a committee room. The language used over the intervening period has changed so that now ‘sedition’, ‘lies’ ‘insurrection’ and ‘domestic terrorism’ have now replaced the cautious language in the early coverage.
Note that the ABC (Australia) as reported in The Guardian, Australia, has changed its language in relation to the insurrection, and also in relation to Covid misinformation. See ABC reverses editorial decisions on Capitol breach and Craig Kelly Covid posts, Ben Butler, The Guardian.
Ten House Republicans voted with the Democrats, parting with the lies that were reiterated by those House Republicans who voted against impeachment. The most bipartisan impeachment ever.
Claire McCaskill, former Democrat Senator from Missouri, talks about timing of the impeachment trial in the Senate, outlining the various options, and her experience in impeaching a Judge by Committee. This, she says is not appropriate in this case. Joy Reid: ‘Is there a political incentive for even the most cynical of the Senators?’ Indeed, is there?
Brief notes from MSNBC coverage now: The impeachment vote is won. Ari Melber, The Beat, refers to the Capitol as a ‘crime scene’. Trump releases a video condemning violence and railing against social media bans. One hundred thousand of pieces of evidence collected so far. First impeachment of a president for a crime against his country. Republicans continue the lie that the election result was wrong; Chris Krebs, former US Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, has in the past reassured Americans that the election was fair. On election night the commentators explained repetitiously how the vote is counted, with late counting of postal votes. Steve Schmit, The Lincoln Project: ‘there must be accountability, we will run a campaign’ against Josh Hawley and other Republican Members of Congress who ‘have desecrated their oath’ . ‘Was there assistance from inside the Capitol?’ Joy Reid. ‘Incitement, or even assistance?’ Rachel Maddow.
Indigenous art at the National Gallery of Australia
In between the riot at the Capitol, with its strong elements of white supremacists and the impeachment I was happy to return to the National Gallery of Australia. There is a link, perhaps tenuous and too optimistic about our race relations, but there is a tiny light exhibited in the range of Indigenous art I saw. From recall the permanent collection in the past has heavily featured the familiar dot painting – devised to hide the meaning from non-indigenous people. Now the collection has broadened so Indigenous art includes the range that is deserved.
This poignant video must be watched to its bitter end. It is part of the exhibition I’ll revisit each time I go to the gallery in the foreseeable future.
There is also an excellent exhibition of women’s art. One example below – the remainder for the next post after I again visit the NGA.
Robin's Room 