Thank you for the gift link. That makes for awesome reading. The accusations taken all together paint a picture of just reckless criminality. As such, it certainly implies that there has to be accountability if the concept of justice still holds in America.
It’ll be interesting to see if one of the reasons these much better lawyers are much better lawyers is because they know better to get involved in cases like these and risk tarnishing their record or worse, finding themselves in a position of putting their own licenses on the line. Trump clearly has a way of persuading people to see things from his point of view. It seems best to just not have anything to do with it.
Seriously! Just finished reading the bit about Jeff Clark. Whee doggies, how he didn’t get knocked out for insubordination, at the very least, is baffling.
I tend to be awfully critical of Repubs, but surely you don’t suggest all/most Dems are unconcerned with re-election or immune to posturing? And even in my criticism of Repubs, I’d suggest SOME were motivated by intolerance, prejudice, etc at least as much as greed.
I think it worthwhile to not overstate criticisms of Rs - there is PLENTY of legit fodder for criticism.
This NY Times article agrees with you:
A Diminished Trump Meets a Damning Narrative
As the summer and the House Jan. 6 committee’s hearings began, former President Donald J. Trump was still a towering figure in Republican politics, able to pick winners in primary contests and force candidates to submit to a litmus test of denialism about his loss in the 2020 election.
Six months later, Mr. Trump is significantly diminished, a shrunken presence on the political landscape. His fade is partly a function of his own missteps and miscalculations in recent months. But it is also a product of the voluminous evidence assembled by the House committee and its ability to tell the story of his efforts to overturn the election in a compelling and accessible way.
Guided by a veteran television executive, the committee sprinkled the story with moments that stayed in the public consciousness, from Mr. Trump throwing his lunch in anger against the wall of the dining room just off the Oval Office to a claim that he lunged at a Secret Service agent driving his car when he was denied his desire to join his supporters at the Capitol.
Mr. Trump still has a durable base of support within the party, though just how large it is at this point is up for debate after a handful of public polls have shown more Republican voters backing Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida as an alternative. Other potential candidates are also watching carefully, weighing their chances if they get into a race with a weakened Mr. Trump.
For many members of a party that would like to recover from three bruising election cycles, Mr. Trump has never felt more like a product of the past.
“Ironically, this is not too different from a reality TV series that’s run its course,” Mr. Curbelo said. “And people are just kind of over it, even his supporters.”
Yes.
I have no data to support this, but I think maybe a key moment for many voters was when they heard about how certain perfectly innocent poll workers were harassed and threatened to the point where their lives are diminished – forced to hide out, quit jobs, fear for themselves and their families – after Trump himself condemned them by name.
I thought this brought the awfulness home – “that could have been me” – like nothing else did.
(Maybe it’s just because I’m a poll worker myself).
The both sides do it analogy is quite tiring, and nothing but an excuse to commit crimes. After all, it I’m robbed, why shouldn’t I rob someone else?
Moderating:
Interesting discussion. Please take it elsewhere, as it does not belong in this thread. Thanks.
I completely relate to this! I felt just the same.
I never had to worry about crap like this during my time as an active elections worker, and it appalls and disgusts me that now, it’s a very real consideration for anyone who chooses to perform a civic duty. I’m very glad the Committee spent time focusing on this perversion by Trump of our elections process.
I feel like the Trading Card debacle was a terrible blunder, at the worst possible time. It made Trump look like such a buffoon, such an out of touch, low-class loser. All those tawdry, hyper-masculine images. This is like something Caligula or Michael Scott would have thought was cool. Truly cringey.
All these damning accusations are being formalized right at a moment when people are suddenly starting to feel embarrassed to be associated with him. Not something that motivates an ardent defense
Again. But maybe this time…
That was a product of having nothing but suckups in his inner circle. Not one person around him had the guts to tell him what a stupid idea that was or how it made him look like a lowlife grifter.
Something of a moot point, as every day is a holiday for Trump as he celebrates the Festivus Airing of Grievances.
“I declare these documents… DECLASSIFIED!!!”
I know the comparison of Trump to Michael isn’t fair because even at his worst Mr. Scott was clueless rather than malicious, but there are some parallels.
That was certainly a hard-hitting moment. But I suspect a lot of damage was also done by the video outtakes from when he was trying to record his Jan 7 message. Actually seeing him, personally, whining about “I don’t want to say the election is over”, and stumbling over some pretty easy words, is hard to ignore, even if you’re trying. Everything else we’ve heard about him denying reality has come second-hand, but this was a primary source.
I have not seen this yet. Anyone have a link? It sounds like it would be fun to watch.
fast fingers, susan!
Thank you! Trump should get 25 - 30 years in a supermax prison.
There’s a longer version, even more cringey fun!
