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A quick news check on Saturday evening shows the MAGA people (is that a fair term?) are quiet. A car parade in one city. A couple flag waving demonstrations on street corners here and there. A lightly attended gathering at a state capitol or two. No MAGA activity reported in DC. In other news...

No. None had a dog in those fights. But the Constitution is pretty clear about pardon power. Trump already pardoned some of his associates in cases where he may very well have had a dog in those fights (Stone, Manaford, Flynn, etc.). No one has challenged his ability to do that.

I think a mass pardon of the Jan 6 insurrectionists would be deemed valid. Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederate soldiers en mass. Jimmy Carter pardoned draft dodgers en mass. Benjamin Harrison pardoned all members of the Mormon Church en mass (bigamy).

Perhaps not a Machiavellian genius. Perhaps no 24-dimensional chess. But the man is brilliant is some ways at least He sensed and exploited frustrations in the population that establishment Republicans and Democrats missed. With that sense and his willingness to fire people up and pit them...

As you said, it's hard to say. Anything we say or think about Trump's mindset is pure speculation. That said, the notion that Trump is plotting revenge and wallowing in self-pity resonates with me. I am worried that he is contemplating a mass-amnesty pardon for all Jan 6 insurrectionists. I...

I'm a little surprised Trump did not have a Plan B in place to respond to the Twitter and other Big Tech bans. I thought he would be back online by now, one way or another. It's not like this ban was not a risk to prepare for. In business, SWOT analyses are common (strengths, weaknesses...

At the moment, Trump has 94 hours remaining in office. He has been uncharacteristically quiet in the last few days. What do you think he is doing? What do you think he will do between now and noon Jan 20?

"Police leaders are turning in their own to the FBI and taking the striking step of reminding officers in their departments that criminal misconduct could push them off the force and behind bars." (Source) If the insurrectionists and their sympathizers had the notion that police and military...

That depends on what you want to say. There is the classic you cannot yell fire in a crowded theater if there is no fire. Laws exist that prohibit slander and libel. It is illegal to make a terroristic threat. It is illegal to lie to the police. It is illegal to lie to a court of law. It is...

I would call it the defense of government continuity and the defense of democracy. And also the defense of human life as a mob is now prevented from killing Capitol Police, injuring officers, hanging Mike Pence and storming legislative chambers with the intent to kill. But you are right about...

It has never been OK to talk about harming someone and the "I was joking" defense has always been weak. Do you remember when hijacked planes were very much in the news? Laws were passed. Policies were changed. And it became unwise to even joke about hijacking a plane, especially if you were in...

It's 2/3 of those present, as long as there is a quorum (51, the minimum number required to be present to conduct business). The Vice President only votes in the event of a tie vote. So, with the soon-to-happen 50/50 split in the Senate (50 Republicans and 50 Democrats), a quorum can be...

That is a possible scenario, yes.

What would you have had "them" do instead? What would have been appropriate in your view?

It's true of any group of human beings. Whatever the stated purpose or beliefs of the organized group is, there is within the group a range of people who agree and/or comply to one degree or another. Also, people change or act out of character. A church may prohibit adultery and all agree. Then...

Are you sure about that? According to this chart, 2016 gas price was $2.14. 2020 gas price was $2.17. In between, there was movement. But if you're going to credit Trump with the decline, you must also credit him with the rise.

For some, yes; but for others no. 75 million people voted for Trump. Their reasons for doing so are widely varied. For some, it is cult-like. But for many others, that is not the case. Flying a Trump flag on your pickup does not mean that person is a Trump cult member. It would be unwise to...

I agree with Turtle on this. A legitimate question exists as to the applicability of an impeachment trial and conviction (if obtained) after a president has left office. The question will certainly be answered as developments unfold. I'm inclined to believe it is legitimate to convict after the...

No. It's not an easy subject. Before Trump became a candidate, these people were ordinary neighbors. Over time they bought into the Trump story and became consumed by it. Their friendships reoriented around pro-Trump/anti-Trump. Their time, their thoughts, their actions became Trump-infused...

Some are not. Those who flew Trump flags, spent weekends on Trump boat parades, and stood on street corners waving signs while dressed head to toe in MAGA gear are agitated and angry in their walk and talk. They stomp to the mail box when they walked more peacefully before. They wave nervously...