"Only a flesh wound."
— The 𝗘nd 𝗝ustifies the 𝗠emes (@Upsidasium) February 5, 2022
Breaking News: The Republican Party officially declared the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol “legitimate political discourse” and censured two of its own members, Representatives Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger, for investigating it. https://t.co/h05eFfHvs1
— The New York Times (@nytimes) February 4, 2022
It’s official. Lincoln’s party of “liberty and Union” is now Trump’s party of violence and disunion. His cultists just called sedition, beating up cops and a coup ‘legitimate political discourse.’ They censured Cheney & Kinzinger for not bowing to the orange autocrat. Disgrace.
— Rep. Jamie Raskin (@RepRaskin) February 4, 2022
This was January 6th.
— Rep. Liz Cheney (@RepLizCheney) February 4, 2022
This is not “legitimate political discourse.” pic.twitter.com/lKgbVyVcJr
In its resolution censuring Reps. Cheney and Kinzinger the Republican National Committee referred to the violent attempt to overthrow our government as "legitimate political discourse." Let's etch that in marble, shall we? pic.twitter.com/2wIX4HHTNJ
— Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) February 4, 2022
"Legitimate political discourse"?https://t.co/Q6CTATzTma pic.twitter.com/49t8yVvuR9
— Hillary Clinton (@HillaryClinton) February 4, 2022
Nebraska GOP senator @BenSasse on RNC’s censure of Cheney&Kinzinger: “January 6th was not 'legitimate political discourse' and I'll say it again: It was shameful mob violence to disrupt a constitutionally-mandated meeting of Congress to affirm the peaceful transfer of power." pic.twitter.com/M4YbhZyyII
— John McCormack (@McCormackJohn) February 4, 2022
Republican National Committee: Killing police officers, attempting to murder elected officials and shitting inside the Capitol is "legitimate political discourse." https://t.co/bP4sEoeivM
— Eric Garland (@ericgarland) February 4, 2022
There was nothing legitimate about any part of the Jan 6th protests. The ellipse rally was legal and constitutionally protected, sure, but its aim was the same as the rioters: overthrowing a democratic election to install the loser over the will of the people.
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) February 4, 2022
I mean…good…but how absurdly pathetic our politics have become. This will be viewed as an act of political bravery—because Pence simply said that one person shouldn’t be able to overturn an election and install a despot instead. The GOP is so utterly broken. https://t.co/KS6d5hGHqH
— Brian Klaas (@brianklaas) February 4, 2022
Mike Pence waited more than a year to give such a forceful statement on Trump’s claim because Mike Pence was hedging his bets in service to Mike Pence.
— Charlotte Clymer 🇺🇦 (@cmclymer) February 4, 2022
Even now, he’s still tiptoeing around the broader issue of Trump’s responsibility for Jan. 6th because Mike Pence is a coward.
History will note that Dan Quayle (the "potatoe" guy), saved America by telling Mike Pence (the guy with the fly on his head), he couldn't flip the election for the orange guy who wanted to nuke hurricanes.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) February 4, 2022
Sounds like a Madlib, but it's TRUE.
#PASTBLAST: Remember when Pence tried to downplay January 6th as if it were nothing more than "one day in January" simply overblown by Democrats and the media, just a few months ago?
— Cyrus Toulabi (@CyrusToulabi) February 4, 2022
I'm glad he spoke out today, but let's not let him off the hook for trying to have it both ways. https://t.co/WaOaC0yzGh
Preach https://t.co/lxEeeu8j4U
— Joe Trippi (@JoeTrippi) February 5, 2022
Somewhere in South Florida, an extremely agitated, analphabetic, witless, callow, philistinic, and perfidious narcissistic sociopath is dictating an ungrammatical, incoherent, and mendacious attack on a former subordinate.
— George Conway (@gtconway3d) February 4, 2022
Rep. Jamie #Raskin examines events that foreshadowed the Jan. 6th Capitol attack in “Love & The Constitution,” a new @MSNBC_Films documentary following Raskin's fight for democracy during the Trump presidency and journey through personal tragedy. Watch Sunday at 10pm ET on MSNBC. pic.twitter.com/IQMzG25Xai
— MSNBC (@MSNBC) February 4, 2022
re: “legitimate political discourse”
— Eric Boehlert (@EricBoehlert) February 4, 2022
I wrote this 53 weeks ago when DC press was *sure* GOP would finally stand up to Trump; https://t.co/vfHzjQvRmC
Less than an hour after the RNC passed a resolution saying "ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse” were being persecuted, a court hearing is underway for a Jan. 6 defendant who pepper sprayed cops in the face while clad in MAGA gear. pic.twitter.com/pMwNpPk51y
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) February 4, 2022
***
Johnson facing the Circle of Life
I’m told Boris Johnson addressed dozens of staff in No 10 this morning in what he described as a “half-time pep talk”.
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) February 4, 2022
He told them: "As Rafiki in the Lion King says, change is good, and change is necessary even though it's tough.” https://t.co/BGybXhA7gt
🚨BREAKING: Tory MP Nick Gibb calls on Boris to resign
— Ben Riley-Smith (@benrileysmith) February 4, 2022
One of the longest serving Tory ministers in the last decade. A moderate. Letter submitted.
“I am sorry to say that it is hard to see how it can be the case that the Prime Minister told the truth” https://t.co/Svu2LjjAUu
EXCL: Police have a photo of Boris Johnson holding a can of a beer at his lockdown birthday party in June 2020 – taken by his taxpayer funded official photographer.https://t.co/9mr7GiRbnK
— Pippa Crerar (@PippaCrerar) February 4, 2022
A reminder that Boris Johnson was “furious” at people laughing at the mere idea of a party.
— David Schneider (@davidschneider) February 4, 2022
Imagine how livid he must be at seeing a picture of Boris Johnson actually attending one. https://t.co/AVEnwoZKWp
the last days of Boris Johnson https://t.co/OfvcvNKUeE pic.twitter.com/RFAOU1T24b
— Henry Mance (@henrymance) February 4, 2022
Jacob Rees Mogg has submitted a letter to the 1822 committee .
— Chris Velvick 🔶🇬🇧🇪🇺 (@VelvickChris) February 4, 2022
Meanwhile…
Historians may look back and conclude that the DUP have thrown away the best and perhaps last chance to make NI prosperous in its history. Prosperity brings stability. But no, symbolism and fear of extremists made them toss away an opportunity Scotland and Wales dream of.
— Sam Thompson (@JarrieSam) February 4, 2022
Incredible: 60 seconds of exasperated, astute analysis on the #DUP current predicament https://t.co/zRKnZyKoaM
— Claire Higgins (@ClarNiUigin) February 4, 2022
Are you working for the other guys? 🖐🎤 pic.twitter.com/jnhLRz6FHs
— Irish Unity 🇮🇪🇵🇸 (@IrishUnity) February 4, 2022
Some of the biggest concerns about the events of recent days are coming from the business sector. As Kevin Sharkey now reports, businesses are worried about inward investment and local trading. pic.twitter.com/DmLkqHKzQr
— BBC Newsline (@bbcnewsline) February 4, 2022
Would anyone in DUP like to tell the truth and explain that its support for Brexit has brought us to this point.
— Paul Gosling (@PaulGosling1) February 3, 2022
During ex-DUP leader Arlene Foster's soft GB News interview with DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, Mrs Foster referred to "the political posturing of your opponents" & said: "I did hear some of your opponents in NI, including the BBC in NI, challenge that figure of [the NIP cost]…" pic.twitter.com/1ypYGPg23p
— Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) February 4, 2022
It now appears that the #DUP figure quoted about the cost of the #Protocol comes from one economist extrapolating from looking at 4 companies who does not accept the benefits of increased cross border trade. Totally discredited by John Campbell on #BBCGMU @bbcradioulster
— Tim McKane (@timmckane) February 4, 2022
THREAD
— Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) February 3, 2022
DUP's '850m cost of Protocol' is a nonsense lie that needs nailed finally. It doesn't come from a peer reviewed study or govt data but… a Newsletter article.
Here is @gordonlyons1 flailing when pressed earlier and then falsely claiming it was from the Fiscal Council.. pic.twitter.com/EGUguu6gGR
After years of creating Brexit problems, the DUP has painted itself into a corner and is lashing out at everyone else.
— Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) February 4, 2022
Meanwhile everyone else is trying to deal with a cost of living crisis and struggling public services.
Me on @LBC earlier @ pic.twitter.com/ERB7KFqmNd
The department's barrister (who was not John Larkin QC) said its position was that Mr Poots' order was "entirely lawful". The injunction does not imply that is wrong but the judge said a key reason for his order was that the checks had been going on for over a year.
— Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) February 4, 2022
He says he won't answer because he's 'not contemplating defeat'.
— Ben Kelly (@BenKellyTweets) February 4, 2022
Well if he looks at the polls and his party's recent track record, perhaps he should be.
Exactly 💯. Now that nationalists could be in the majority in the near future, suddenly the majority of consent principle no longer applies to the constitutional question,it has to be cross community consent, like 60% from both communities. This never applied to NI as part of UK
— Mark (@SparkyDarksider) February 4, 2022
The Overnight Note 