Taking the oath of office

THUMBS UP:

Congratulations go out to Michelle Fischbach, Chris Swedzinski and Gary Dahms, and our other government representatives recently taking the oath of office. Fischbach is now our new congressional representative in the 7th district. She took her oath Sunday. Meanwhile, state Sen. Dahms and state Rep. Swedzinski took their oaths on Monday when the Legislature convened for the 2021 session. All three will be working with their colleagues in the respective government bodies to deal with some major challenges, mainly due to the COID-19 pandemic.

Questionable decision by Fischbach

THUMBS DOWN:

We question Fischbach’s decision to join the few other Republicans who filed objections to the certification of election results in a handful of states during the election certification conducted by Congress Wednesday evening. Of course, the majority of votes in those states were cast for President-elect Joe Biden. Even Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., who lost in the Senate run-off on Tuesday, realized it was time to turn the page and get back to the business of the people after protesters stormed the U.S. Capitol earlier in the day. Loeffler originally intended to object to her state’s results but no longer could “in good conscience.” “The violence, the lawlessness and siege of the halls of Congress are abhorrent and stand as a direct attack on the very institution my objection was intended to protect,” she said.

Caught off-guard at the U.S. Capitol

THUMBS DOWN:

A West Virginia lawmaker recorded a video of himself and fellow supporters of President Donald Trump storming the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, triggering calls for his resignation, according to various news outlets. He should. Other resignations should follow. This mob was allowed to waltz into the U.S. Capitol while Congress was in session to certify the election and jeopardize the safety of the nation’s representatives and senators. What happen to security measures? It was apparent U.S. Capitol Police were unprepared to defend Congress.