I feel a little awkward writing such an alarmist headline. But the facts on the ground justify the alarm. I’m reminded of William Lloyd Garrison:
I am aware that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or to speak, or write, with moderation. No! no! Tell a man whose house is on fire to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hands of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; — but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present.
There is a temptation to dismiss Trump as a buffoon and his followers’ rhetoric as just so much shit-posting on the Internet. But, there they were on January 6th, killing a police officer, carrying zip ties, bent on mayhem, en route to block certification of electoral votes duly cast after a free and fair election. Despite no evidence of irregularities that would have come anywhere close to altering the election results, and despite losing dozens of legal challenges on the subject, Trump urged them on and they followed – seeking to keep Trump as President despite Joe Biden’s having been elected to the office.
The Associated Press documents what was apparent at the time: “The insurrectionist mob that showed up at the president’s behest and stormed the U.S. Capitol was overwhelmingly made up of longtime Trump supporters, including Republican Party officials, GOP political donors, far-right militants, white supremacists, members of the military and adherents of the QAnon myth that the government is secretly controlled by a cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophile cannibals.” Unsurprisingly, Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) was lying when he tried to say that this attack came from somewhere other than Trump supporters. These people called for the execution of Mike Pence. These Trump supporting conspiracy theorists made death threats against Nancy Pelosi. They brought assault rifles, homemade napalm, and pipe bombs. Per the AP:
“Fight like hell,” Trump exhorted his partisans at the staging rally. “Let’s have trial by combat,” implored his lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, whose attempt to throw out election results in trial by courtroom failed. It’s time to “start taking down names and kicking ass,” said Republican Rep. Mo Brooks of Alabama.
Unsurprisingly, participants in this mob have created an internal narrative where they are the heroes of the story: important people in unique times, acting violently against cartoon-level evil. These are not emotionally mature people, willing to live humbly for a cause in a vast universe of which they are very small pieces. Rather than abide by the often unsatisfactory outcomes of the democratic process, Trump urged them to embrace the more emotionally pleasing notion that only a shadowy kind of supervillainy could have short-circuited their righteous cause and that it was a moral imperative that they violently impose their preferences on the country. Not only was their tantrum permitted — it was imperative!
These are people who get their guidance from the likes of Trump, Alex Jones, QAnon boards, Roger Stone, and others who feed the masses garbage for fun, profit, power, prestige, and to own the libs. It’s all fun and games until people die and our democratic institutions are threatened. I think we’re there.
Also, there are many who claim to be against the violence, but think the answer to “unify” the country is to “move on” and and pretend the entire episode didn’t happen.
I think American history shows that allowing the losers to “move on” ends up not only not punishing the guilty, but it furthers future resentment from those wronged.
Yup. I’m a live-and-let-live kind of guy and am generally of the opinion that nursing grudges don’t end up on the plus side of any cost/benefit analysis. But, in this case, I think it’s worth tearing out the coup attempt, root and branch; prosecuting those who have committed crimes and ostracizing those who supported or instigated the criminals.
it was a move that wasn’t taken after the South lost, and we have continued to pay for it as these notions that their bullshit was merited then continues.
I turned on my TV right as the mob was storming the capital and felt that horrible sinking feeling in your stomach when you get the word that a loved one has died. Presently from what I have gathered the FBI seems to be the only agency that is investigating this heinous act of violence. I truly hope that when Biden takes office that the justice department heads up the investigation and along with the FBI goes after Trump and his sons and everyone that was on that stage inciting the riot.
I am happy to see corporations that back these far right Republicans are pledging to withdraw support and money that fuel their agendas and campaigns. Sad to say this might be the only concrete way to slow these politicians down that only want to appease Trump’s base of white voters. I suppose I could sit here and surmise how our society mirrors the German state before the rise of Hitler, but what’s the point. The thing that scares me is Trump has a war chest and it frightens me on how he may use it..