Republicans are not blocking a bipartisan January 6 commission because they fear Trump, or because they want to “move on” from 2020. They are blocking a January 6 commission because they agree with the underlying ideological claim of the rioters, which is that Democratic electoral victories should not be recognized. Because they regard such victories as inherently illegitimate—the result of fraud, manipulation, or the votes of people who are not truly American—they believe that the law should be changed to ensure that elections more accurately reflect the will of Real Americans, who by definition vote Republican. They believe that there is nothing for them to investigate, because the actual problem is not the riot itself but the unjust usurpation of power that occurred when Democrats won. Absent that provocation, the rioters would have stayed home. — Adam Serwer
I got a comment published on today's NY Times story on Trump
'Someone ought to raise the point that if Trump's GOP refuses to recognise the result of the 2020 election then they must forfeit the right to participate in the electoral cycle. Democracy is a system of rules, and not recognising the rules ought to warrant exclusion from the system.' — Wayfarer
Whose democracy do you mean by that?
For those who keep acting like and/or believing that the US is a democracy. It is not. Never has been. It's a republic with democratic traditions. A representative form of government. A group of elected officials, chosen by the people and for the people, who are supposed to be acting on behalf of the people. — creativesoul
What Trump actually did during the occupation of the capital on Jan. 6 needs to be revealed to the public. He falied to defend the US government. He cheered the attack itself. He promoted it. He still promotes it. His supporters still promote it. One Republican party leader, McConnell, has said that there's nothing more to learn about what happened on Jan 6. — creativesoul
The only two things that will save the USA is if the GOP splits or if Trump ends up in jail before elections. The latter can be frustrated through delaying tactics and the former is looking less likely every day. — Benkei
Now what do you think is the effect on the 74,216,154 Americans who went to the polls and voted for him in 2020? Wouldn't they be even more upset than they are already? How about the citizens and legislators in the red states? In the red counties of the blue states? How exactly would your scenario "save America?" Or are you going to imprison the 74 million as well? Curious to know how this is supposed to play out. You put Trump in prison. What next? How does this bring peace and harmony to the US? — fishfry
Same way the Nuremburg Tribunals and Allied Powers occupation saved Deutschland for the last several decades – "peace and prosperity" mobilized by progressive anti-neoliberal fiscal-regulatory policies and force-multiplied by the inclusive, democratic, rule of law.So you put Trump in prison. What next? How does this bring peace and harmony to the US? How does this play out? How exactly does this "save America?" — fishfry
How exactly does this "save America?" — fishfry
The only two things that will save the USA is if the GOP splits or if Trump ends up in jail before elections. The latter can be frustrated through delaying tactics and the former is looking less likely every day — Benkei
Jeez that is rich. Show me an elected official who isn't slightly better off than the average American in gains obtained by holding elected office. <Insert eye roll>They'd vote for someone less idiotic and criminal. — Benkei
Many people, of many industries and many border states do oh so care. Trust in me, we care. :100:They'd but I think plenty of people voted against the Democrats instead of for Trump, so most won't care. — Benkei
It seems more likely that they already believe such things, rather than having "bought into his lies". It seems unlikely that one person would have such power over others. Rather, this is about something that is already in the people. Similar as in Nazi Germany: Hitler didn't convert anyone, people weren't "buying into his lies". Rather, they already believed those things.a significant proportion of the populace has bought into Trump’s lies — Wayfarer
Don't be like the deva in the sala tree. That which you call "stupidity" is a seed, and it will grow, and destroy everything in its path.They’re too stupid to be genuinely dangerous. Trump is the definition of stupid. — Wayfarer
t seems more likely that they already believe such things, rather than having "bought into his lies". It seems unlikely that one person would have such power over others. Rather, this is about something that is already in the people. Similar as in Nazi Germany: Hitler didn't convert anyone, people weren't "buying into his lies". Rather, they already believed those things. — baker
It seems more likely that they already believe such things, rather than having "bought into his lies". — baker
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