The GOP establishment is reportedly plotting with Nancy Pelosi to steal defeat from the jaws of victory on January 6th:
Vice President Mike Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have reached an informal backroom deal to expedite the January 6 challenge in the Electoral College and end it with a simple majority vote after a two hour debate, multiple Capitol Hill sources have confirmed to National File.
This comes after National File reported that McCarthy originally planned to work with Pelosi to change the January 6 rules so the challenge would not be allowed. McCarthy denied this, and our Capitol Hill sources now say that McCarthy instead pursued a backroom deal with Congressional leadership.
Our sources explain that McCarthy was motivated to form this loose plan due to fears that Rep. Liz Cheney will lead a revolt against McCarthy from the liberal wing of the Republican Party.
The informal agreement is to cap the debate at two hours, then have Congressional leadership gavel over any objections and pursue a scripted simple majority vote to confirm the electoral votes, National File’s sources explain.
One source noted that this will likely conjure images of the 2012 Republican convention, when former RNC Chair John Boehner ignored loud objections from former Texas Rep. Dr. Ron Paul’s delegates, and read from an already prepared script on a teleprompter instead.
I admire President Trump’s determination to give everyone the chance to do the right thing before lowering the boom. But at this point, I’d just as soon he declared himself God-Emperor for life and had every GOPe Senator and Member of Congress burned at the stake live on CSPAN.
Which, of course, may be the reason he is permitting all of these desperate machinations and shenigans prior to taking action.
UPDATE: Or perhaps the plan is to bench Pence:
Iowa Sen. Charles E. Grassley, the Senate president pro tempore, says he and not Vice President Mike Pence will preside over the certification of Electoral College votes, since “we don’t expect him to be there.”
UPDATE: Whoopsy, someone let the cat out of the bag.
A Grassley spokesman clarifies that the senator does not “have any indication Pence won’t be present.” Grassley, he said, was just trying to explain that at president pro tempore of the Senate, he would fill the chair if Pence does not show or steps out at points for a break… Grassley’s office clarifies that he was meaning to explain what would happen if Pence had to step away during Wednesday’s proceedings to count Electoral College votes. “Every indication we have is that the vice president will be there,” Grassley’s office said.