The wave of disgust
More medium-size rodents fleeing the sinking gangster:
Donald Trump’s grip on the US presidency appeared increasingly tenuous on Saturday as Democrats advanced plans to impeach him for a second time, political allies continued to abandon him, and Twitter banned his account, removing his most powerful way to spread lies and incite violence.
Adding to the pressure in the aftermath of Wednesday’s deadly riot in the US Capitol building by Trump supporters, one Republican senator, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, openly called for the president’s removal.
“I want him to resign. I want him out. He has caused enough damage,” she said, punctuating the wave of disgust that followed Trump’s goading of a mob seeking to overturn his election defeat by Joe Biden.
And in this context “seeking to overturn his election defeat” means “seeking to overthrow the government.”
Five people died, including a police officer who confronted rioters and a rioter shot by law enforcement. Multiple arrests have been made, among them a Florida resident photographed walking off with the lectern of the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
The US attorney’s office said a 70-year-old Alabama man was charged with possession of molotov cocktails and assault weapons after his pickup truck was discovered packed with homemade bombs and guns.
This isn’t some after-school prank. This is enraged white supremacists trying to disable the legislature and install a dictator.
True to form, with the mob he summoned turning into something of a Frankenstein monster, Trump proceeded to hang them out dry. Perhaps he had a dim realisation that the whole thing had gone a bridge too far, and had legal implications that could result post-impeachment with him spending a lot of time contemplating the interor decor of a jail cell.
.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/jan/08/trump-incites-anger-among-acolytes-let-down-by-lack-of-support
What was going on in his mind? Did he really think that a bunch of thugs marching into the Capitol could overturn the election result and install him as President? Even if they’d killed Pence, and a few others, the government would have taken control. Was it just lashing out? Or is he really in such a fantasy land he thought this could happen?
I think he honestly believed that. I think he believed that, faced with violence, Congress would certify the election for him.
I suspect Trump naively assumed the crowd he’d whipped up would stay out of the Capital itself, but chant and wave flags and amaze everyone. The media would be saying “we’ve never seen loyalty like this from American Citizens” and the members of Congress would think “this is the Voice of the People oh there’s never been a strong president like President Trump” and the Power of Positive Thinking would couple with awe and respect and — Shazam! — the vote would NOT be ratified. Imagine if Capra had directed it.
And all those republicans turning against them are just hoping that they won’t be tarred with the same brush that trump will be slopped with and there just enough stupid Americans who will believe them to be sincere. Man this country is filled with idiots just waiting to become suckers and if celebrity suckers, more’s the better.
Yup. That’s what I think too. I think he thought of it as a glorious wave of patriotic trumpiotic passion that would move the hearts of all who saw and heard it. I think he’s every bit that dumb.
I am currently following this Twitter thread with great anticipation:
https://twitter.com/SethAbramson/status/1347908845281095680
Suggests that T knew exactly what he was doing–and in fact timed the whole thing very carefully. I’m amazed that he’d be this good at manipulation, given how bad a lot of his speeches are, but Seth is making a persuasive case. Also, I remember noticing how nervous the person objecting to the Arizona votes was–suggests he knew what was coming their way, and stalling for time until they arrived.
This is good:-
https://twitter.com/BChairss/status/1347950957997551621
And for British readers:-
https://twitter.com/nicktolhurst/status/1347913017955115014
Well, I still think it’s all compatible with Trump’s not really thinking clearly about what would be likely to happen. Which is not to say he wouldn’t have done it if he had thought clearly about what would happen, just that I don’t think he exactly expected what happened. I think he expected everyone to surrender instantly and the insurrectionists to take over and the election to be handed to him, fight over, let’s all go have a hot chocolate.
Either that, or he planned to ride to the rescue (hence holding back the National Guard), calm the rioters with a bit of patter, clear them out and wait for his prize. Then there were gunshots and Donny lost his nerve.
This is good – Trump was so surrounded by yes men, echoes and the likes of Sidney Powell he believed whatever they told him. There really is a Hitler in the bunker mentality here – believing that German armies exist when they don’t, and one big push can push back the advancing Soviet forces.
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2021/01/capitol-riot-senior-trump-official-calls-him-a-fascist.html
The White House does sound like Downfall – everyone panicking and off their heads and Trump offering pardons all round.