That was a Coup Attempt, Albeit a Clownish and Unsuccessful One Yesterday
Trump repeatedly claimed he won the November presidential election, and he was denied his victory by electoral cheating. This was amplified by his captive, news media on TV, by his favorite propagandists, and by his Congressional enablers. The Trump lies then became gospel certitude for far too many in the GOP with push-back from only a few courageous Republicans in Congress and the states.
He called his supporters to Washington on the date that Congress was scheduled to open the Electoral College votes; he addressed his supporters at the White House, and he encouraged them to storm the Capitol with strength to take back his stolen election. His personal attorney encouraged trial by combat. His son was complicit as well. At the same time in the Capitol, his supporters inside the Capitol building led by Senator Josh Hawley and Senator Ted Cruz sought to overturn the overwhelming popular vote victory and Electoral College victory by President-elect Joe Biden. They were abetted by the House minority leader McCarthy and by 120 House Republicans. For whatever reason, the Capitol Police had no back-up from the National Guard or DC police when, as was predicted and totally foreseeable, the Trump supporters stormed the Capitol and took over the Senate and House floors and the Speaker’s office among others. Trump refused to call in the National Guard to quell the Capitol take-over by his supporters. Four people died in the skirmishes and resulting chaos. This is not a free speech or freedom to protest issue; this is an attempt to overthrow the newly elected government of the United States. This was not spontaneous; it was organized, planned and forecast from the moment he lost in November and in fact well before. This was the second serious impeachable offense committed by the President in one week.
It was clownish, and it backfired; it did not prevent both Chambers from approving Joe Biden as the next President of the United States. The GOP, the Congress, the Courts, the Vice President and the Cabinet need to take action to prevent a repeat and to set/reset/reinforce the standard for the peaceful transition of power in a democracy. This includes 1) invoking the 25th Amendment to remove Trump, 2) impeaching and convicting Trump, 3) charging those of his followers who participated in the Capitol take-over, and 4) assessing what caused the break-down in security at the US Capitol. Vice President Pence would replace Trump for the next 13 days. The American people will need to remove from office via the ballot box those in Congress and the states who worked in concert with Trump to overturn the peaceful democratic transition of power. We need to honor the Romney’s, Sasse’s, Raffensberger’s, Ducey’s and others who stood up to Trump since the Biden victory in November at significant danger to themselves and their families and their future political careers. Equally importantly, we have to address the Covid 19 crisis, its health, medical and economic consequences which are being ignored by our seriously unwell President during his state of electoral rejection frenzy.
Prepared by: Lucien Wulsin
Dated: 1/7/21