# Did the Trump protestors/insurrectionists shoot their wad? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 21, 2021, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052 "2021-01-21T03:49:16Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/21 "2021-01-22T01:02:41Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > > [@asahi](#): > > > > They are also without a figurehead, which hurts them even more. Losing Trump is akin to Al Qaida losing Bin Laden. > > I think there are a couple of Republican Congressmen who opportunistically see this as a vacuum they can fill by taking pages out of Trump’s playbook. Ted Cruz comes to mind but I think he’s too incompetent to pull it off. Cruz’s real problem is everybody already knows what he is/isn’t from 2016. He can try to adopt the Trumply mantle, but it won’t fit well enough. Ditto Rubio. FL Gov De Santis (S)\* has a low enough national profile he _might_ pull it off. As @asahi suggests, I’m thinking whoever it is really needs to play the “outsider” card. What the MAGAs really loved about Trump was the “Drain the swamp” meme. The “swamp” of LW & RW pols supporting corporate interests and Wall Street while federal bureaucrats create regulations and taxes has certainly not worked to the MAGAts’ benefit. There is legit grievance in the middle of their towering mountain of self-serving bullshit. And any of the “2 dozen dwarfs” that were the R primary contingent in 2016 are disqualified as “outsider” right from the git-go. One of the retired military wackos that helped Trump is a distinct possibility. Unless DoD can jail him for treason first. * * * \* S = Stupid party. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/22 "2021-01-22T01:14:29Z")
Today I walked to our state capital complex (in WA). While the gardens and monuments are open, the road into the complex is fenced off, and so are all the buildings. The state legislature is meeting virtually. The (relatively few) protestors there just before the inauguration were ticked they weren’t allowed closer but have gone home. The insurrectionism has not gone into remission, though; it’s simply more insidious. With or without a leader, de facto or otherwise, they find the alternate reality is just as vivid, just as convincing, and just as dangerous. It’ll be easy to ignore, but we do so at our own peril. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/23 "2021-01-22T01:31:25Z")
> [@bump](#): > > I always thought it was kind of amazing that they basically passed on the opportunity to mass-manufacture red MAGA masks and have people wearing them ALL THE TIME, just because Trump personally didn’t like the idea. Had he taken the greedy tack, he could have sold tens of millions of those masks or more. His shortsightedness and lack of impulse control have hurt him badly multiple times. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/24 "2021-01-22T01:41:51Z")
Yeah. I’d meant earlier to highlight @bump’s excellent point. IMO a lot of Trumply decision making is literally a random neuron firing coin toss. He might go in either direction with equal likelihood. At least 200K Americans are dead solely because the random idea he had was masks= embarassing rather than masks = profit$. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/25 "2021-01-22T01:43:44Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > At least 200K Americans are dead solely because the random idea he had was masks= embarassing rather than masks = profit$. Over 400,000. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/26 "2021-01-22T01:44:51Z")
Some large number of Americans were going to die even if somebody competent was elected President in 2016. Trump caused at least half. He didn’t cause all. To be clear, Trump’s an abject failure at everything except being a greedy a-hole. And especally at being a President. No love there. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/27 "2021-01-22T01:50:28Z")
I think a lot of Trump supporters had their jets cooled by seeing exactly who their fellow travelers are. They have invested a lot of time into convincing themselves that they are the good guys. That conviction is challenged when seeing their side wearing clothing and carrying flags that identify many of their political brethren as self-proclaimed racists and Nazis. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/28 "2021-01-22T01:52:15Z")
> [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](#): > > their side wearing clothing and carrying flags that identify many of their political brethren as self-proclaimed racists and Nazis. I Honestly don’t think they will have a problem pivoting to “the Nazis were the good guys. After all, they were our allies in WW 2.” They are not the sharpest marshmallows in the bag. ---
**Author:** ![MustangSal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mustangsal/32/6327_2.png) [@MustangSal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MustangSal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/29 "2021-01-22T01:56:47Z")
Wait I thought the insurrectionist were part of the Trump coup plot? Make up your minds. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/30 "2021-01-22T02:02:57Z")
Yes, the insurrectionists did the coup attempt, and at least some of them had planned at least some of their actions in advance. However, to say that Trump’s incitement of the attack in any way rose to the level of coherence or organization of a pre-arranged “plot” is giving him far too much credit. And AFAICT nobody’s been saying any different, so I don’t know what you’re imagining they haven’t “made up their minds” about. ---
**Author:** ![MustangSal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mustangsal/32/6327_2.png) [@MustangSal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MustangSal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/31 "2021-01-22T02:09:51Z")
> [@It wasn’t a coup](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/it-wasn-t-a-coup/930407): > > It just was not. I am very Liberal. I am pissed off at what happened, as everyone in the nation should also be, regardless of party. But this was not an attempt at a takeover of government. It just was not. Hang the current GOP for their role in what happened, which was bad enough. But the coup nonsense embarrasses us and detracts from real crimes and real threats. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/32 "2021-01-22T02:17:05Z")
Not clear what your point is by posting the OP of a different thread. We’re a debating society here, so expecting consistence between the POVs expressed both in OPs and in follow-on discussion is silly. ---
**Author:** ![MustangSal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mustangsal/32/6327_2.png) [@MustangSal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MustangSal)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/33 "2021-01-22T02:31:51Z")
Well duly noted, I haven’t learned the finer points of links etc. my intention was to share a link to the whole thread. Contrasting the two. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/34 "2021-01-22T02:37:38Z")
You posted “It wasn’t a coup”. So you’re NOT saying that? That’s a relief. Sorry, I hate naked links with no editorial comment added to them. And no need to link to an entire thread, especially in the same forum… I’m betting everyone here has seen it, and most have read it. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/35 "2021-01-22T12:47:21Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > Some large number of Americans were going to die even if somebody competent was elected President in 2016. Trump caused at least half. He didn’t cause all. I think he is responsible for well more than half by 1) denying it was a threat 2) discouraging use of masks 3) having no plan to coordinate a national strategy and response. American “me first” culture is responsible for whatever was left. There have been over 20,000 deaths in Florida alone. Taiwan, with a similar population, has had 7 deaths. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 12:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/36 "2021-01-22T12:48:50Z")
> [@MustangSal](#): > > Contrasting the two. What is the point of contrasting these two threads? The other one asserts that the attack on the capitol was not a coup attempt. This one asks why there were no significant protests or attacks after January 6. It’s like contrasting apples and elephants. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/37 "2021-01-22T13:10:17Z")
> [@CookingWithGas](#): > > I think he is responsible for well more than half My personal opinion agrees w you. America’s “me first” attitude was going to kill a lot more Americans than e.g. Taiwan’s or NZ’s “us all together” attitude was going to kill Taiwanese or NZers. Nevertheless, Trump and his scurvy crew turned that up to eleventy million. And when it was obvious it was making matters worse, they doubled down. Repeatedly and with foreknowledge of the all but assured consequences. I should have been more explicit that I was throwing a dart out there that I hoped even a sensible RW adherent could accept. Which is also where my “At least …” comes from. All this is a hijack to the thread, so I’ll shut up about the ~~headcount~~ deadcount now. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/38 "2021-01-22T13:10:32Z")
**Modnote** : Keep on subject. Everyone else, ignore the stray post and back to the debate. ---
**Author:** ![MikeF](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MikeF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeF)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/39 "2021-01-22T13:58:46Z")
> [@LSLGuy](#): > > At least 200K Americans are dead solely because the random idea he had was masks= embarrassing rather than masks = profit$. Right. The one and only thing that matters more to Trump than money is his ego. And, as a nation, we continue to suffer the consequences. Edit: didn’t see the mod note above until I posted. My bad. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 22, 2021, 2:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052/40 "2021-01-22T14:32:34Z")
**MikeF:** I think your post is fine in the context of this thread. I think that What\_Exit is referring to another post that does nothing but link to another thread in another subforum that is related to this one only tangentially at best. You, OTOH, are responding directly to topics that have wandered off the OP but are certainly in bounds. (Also, with the new platform you have to put the QUOTE and /QUOTE tags on their own lines for them to work.) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-trump-protestors-insurrectionists-shoot-their-wad/931052.md?page=3)