The tide has turned against Trump and his congressional supporters, and they are scrambling. Yesterday’s insurrection at the Capitol has brought widespread condemnation. Today all four of the living presidents—Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama-- called out Trump and his party for inciting the rioters. Bill Clinton summed it up: “The assault was fueled by more than four years of poison politics spreading deliberate misinformation, sowing distrust in our system, and pitting Americans against one another…. The match was lit by Donald Trump and his most ardent enablers, including many in Congress, to overturn the results of an election he lost. The election was free, the count was fair, the result was final. We must complete the peaceful transfer of power our Constitution mandates.”
Not to take the focus away from the matter at hand, but one thing that came to mind as I saw video and images of Congressional members hiding on the floor of their chamber: As they lay there uncertain and afraid of potential violence, did any of them think about the millions of schoolchildren who have regularly practiced this posture, and the thousands who have done it for real?
It is interesting that Hawley is taking most of the heat. He deserves it, but Cruz deserves it as much and more. Cruz seems to have disappeared from view like the smarmy rat that he is. Cruz was the more senior senator and should resign his seat along with Hawley. It seems like our news sources are allowing Cruz to hide. Why?
Well I missed seeing the newsletter and comments in my email first thing this morning. So instead, I found the newsletter on Facebook and read it. Then I listened to your interview with Bill Moyers, then I listened to your post from Thursday which I missed yesterday. I think I am hooked on hearing/ reading honest and intelligent information on what we have experienced this week and the last four years! Thank you Dr. Richardson for all your thoughtful words. I have learned so much. 💙❤️💙
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Vice President Mike Pence to urge him to begin the process of removing the president through the 25th Amendment, but after keeping them on hold for 25 minutes, PENCE'S STAFFERS TOLD THEM HE WOULD NOT TAKE THEIR CALL." WTF?!?!? (oops, sorry but not sorry) Color Mike Pence fully complicit in sedition, in spite of the efforts to canonize him for making a phone call re calling in the National Guard. If I keep writing here, I'll set this page on fire. Oh. Good morning, everyone.
Is not the attack on the Capitol one more compelling reason to grant statehood to D.C.? It was the absence of a governor with the ability to call in the National Guard that helped to allow the travesty to happen.
I am disturbed by the comments by both Democrats and Republicans who are looking at the over-running of the Capitol building saying "That's not who we are. " Sadly, that IS who we are, just not who we aspire to be.
This is one morning I can begin to believe our democratic republic can be saved. 🇺🇸
It does seem, however that Trump, Bannon and the other Seditionists have achieved what they started over 4 years ago. News out of Israel states:
“The Russian campaign’s goal was never to push out a coherent, pro-Trump message, but instead to subvert America’s democratic institutions and sow distrust. President Donald Trump was just a means to that end.”
"no one could have predicted that the president would egg on the rioters" You've got to be kidding, predicting that Trump would egg on his ignorant mob is about as difficult as predicting that the sun will rise tomorrow. That's maybe the stupidest statement out of all the stupid statements made these past two days.
Elaine Chao resigns, but never mentions Trump? She is such a coward.
Now the "little boy trump" will cry crocodile tears to be protected by "mamma", victim of the nasty people who are blaming him when he, of course, never intended such things.....the victim of all those opposed to him who "don't understand".......then he'll sulk a while and bit by bit test the waters to put a foot out of the door that'll be hiding behind.....then he'll have rewritten the story according to his own sauce saying that he has been right all the time......unless he gets put away for a very long time!
I’m sick and tired of hearing “ no one could have predicted...”. Everyone saw this coming, for months. I myself—and plenty of others, I’m not special—have been saying since spring the most dangerous period will be between November 3 and January 20.
While we’re on the subject, terrorists are discussing going to Washington on the 20th with weapons. We are not out of the woods yet.
Dr. Richardson, thank you especially for Wednesday. You were a beacon of clarity on a murky day.
I still believe that this man cannot and will not submit to impeachment, the 25th, or calls for resignation. It is not in his personality, especially not now! I believe he will hang on, his enablers allowing that, and either pardon himself at the last minute or resign late on Jan 19th and have Pence pardon him.
Also, I don't think he just bullies people, I fully expect he has legions of lackeys to "dig up dirt" on those who cross him so he can threaten them with exposure if they don't agree to his demands. Nothin is too low for that man to do so that he doesn't have to look at himself in the mirror and accept what is reflected back.
I sincerely hope someone responsible has the nuclear codes. He is NOT to be trusted. Now, ask me how I really feel... :)
In 2017, Senator-elect Rev. Raphael Warnock was arrested AND HANDCUFFED for quietly praying in the Capitol rotunda. This week, white nationalist terrorists invaded the Capitol and were allowed to walk out.
The police continue to prove racism is alive and well in the USA.
First, continued thanks, Prof. Richardson, for all your hard work in distilling and contextualizing all this grim and infuriating news. For the past 2 days I found it hard to concentrate on anything, but your newsletter helped bring me back down to terra firma. You are a godsend.
Second: one of the more important reasons for removing Trump NOW is his exercise of the pardon power. One of those whom it can be safely assumed will be pardoned is Rudolph Giuliani, who, even if it is hard to believe, was even more incendiary in his remarks to the crowd than was Trump. He exhorted the crowd to settle the dispute over the election through "trial by combat." That's about as explicit as you can get: no "plausible deniability" there. He should have been arrested and charged with sedition already. Since he wasn't, it's imperative for Trump to be removed so he cannot torpedo the stark need for those, like Giuliani, who were involved in this putsch to be held accountable.
Third, the night of the coup attempt, my local public radio station (WNYC) scheduled a program with the theme "Time to Come Together?" It was hard to stay on topic given the day's events, but they tried. But the answer to that question is an emphatic "No". There is a lot of blame to go around relating to how we got here: the Republican "southern strategy" which has now born its strange fruit, Democratic feckessness, income and wealth inequality, the badly-repressed racism and sexism in "good, moderate (neo)liberals." But make no mistake: what we saw yesterday was the advancing front of the home-grown fascism that Sinclair Lewis warned us about in the 1930's, wrapped in the American flag and carrying a cross. After the reports of children in cages, children separated from "missing" parents, and forced sterilizations, I have been pretty much unmoved by the "grievances" of Trumpists, whether justified or not (mostly not). If you are cool with the aforementioned, and cool with the coup attempt (and that is what it was), then I am not prepared to "come together" and deliberate with you, holding hands and singing "This land is your land . . .). None of us should be eager to "come together" just yet, for Wednesday was clear evidence that hardcore Trumpists are hellbent on replacing Liberal Republican Democracy with an ethno-nationalist oligarchy that elicits their love because they are white, straight, cisgender (largely) males of any economic stratum and religion -- as long as it's Christian and preferably Evangelical and Protestant. I can share no sense of solidarity with them unless they admit to the peaceful transfer of power when they lose. That was not in evidence AT ALL on Wednesday. They need to be fought tooth-and-nail at the ballot box. And if the "saner" wing of the Republican party doesn't disavow them, they are enablers who likewise have to be voted out and face the loud and ceaseless music of majority public opinion, which is NOT with them.
The philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre once quipped that "modern politics is civil war by other means." His argument was that the rational resolution of moral and political problems was impossible because there is no shared vision of the common good nowadays. As is the case with MacIntyre, he vastly overgeneralizes his case and exaggerates, and is blind to the very real achievements of modern societies in achieving the common good. But here, at least, his point hits home. Trumpists vs. everybody else IS civil war by other means. We have to hold Trump and his minions accountable before it decays into civil war by the usual means.....
Well, it's more than 24 hours later and he still is President. There is fear among Cabinet members that gettting rid of him by accelerated impeachment, 25th Amendment or othewise would "stoke ill-will from his supporters," according to HCR. Well, that's just too bad. By sunset tonight (Friday), he ought to be gone and if he isn't, we are facing another very serious defect in our democratic process, its inability to deal with domestic terrorism. And that includes the visible support Trump supporteres have given to law enforcement over the years, making some of them unreliable in dealing with insurrectionist rioters which is what happened Wednesday.
Not to take the focus away from the matter at hand, but one thing that came to mind as I saw video and images of Congressional members hiding on the floor of their chamber: As they lay there uncertain and afraid of potential violence, did any of them think about the millions of schoolchildren who have regularly practiced this posture, and the thousands who have done it for real?
It is interesting that Hawley is taking most of the heat. He deserves it, but Cruz deserves it as much and more. Cruz seems to have disappeared from view like the smarmy rat that he is. Cruz was the more senior senator and should resign his seat along with Hawley. It seems like our news sources are allowing Cruz to hide. Why?
Well I missed seeing the newsletter and comments in my email first thing this morning. So instead, I found the newsletter on Facebook and read it. Then I listened to your interview with Bill Moyers, then I listened to your post from Thursday which I missed yesterday. I think I am hooked on hearing/ reading honest and intelligent information on what we have experienced this week and the last four years! Thank you Dr. Richardson for all your thoughtful words. I have learned so much. 💙❤️💙
"House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called Vice President Mike Pence to urge him to begin the process of removing the president through the 25th Amendment, but after keeping them on hold for 25 minutes, PENCE'S STAFFERS TOLD THEM HE WOULD NOT TAKE THEIR CALL." WTF?!?!? (oops, sorry but not sorry) Color Mike Pence fully complicit in sedition, in spite of the efforts to canonize him for making a phone call re calling in the National Guard. If I keep writing here, I'll set this page on fire. Oh. Good morning, everyone.
Is not the attack on the Capitol one more compelling reason to grant statehood to D.C.? It was the absence of a governor with the ability to call in the National Guard that helped to allow the travesty to happen.
D.C. statehood now!
I am disturbed by the comments by both Democrats and Republicans who are looking at the over-running of the Capitol building saying "That's not who we are. " Sadly, that IS who we are, just not who we aspire to be.
Is not Senator Cruz as complicit as the now disgraced Senator Hawley?
This is one morning I can begin to believe our democratic republic can be saved. 🇺🇸
It does seem, however that Trump, Bannon and the other Seditionists have achieved what they started over 4 years ago. News out of Israel states:
“The Russian campaign’s goal was never to push out a coherent, pro-Trump message, but instead to subvert America’s democratic institutions and sow distrust. President Donald Trump was just a means to that end.”
https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/.premium-putin-s-disinformation-campaign-claims-stunning-victory-with-capitol-hill-coup-1.9432690
Heather, you are correct...”The tide has turned”. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, the work to repair the damage lies ahead.
Thank you for your late nights, early mornings, and dedication to this democratic republic 🇺🇸 We are so much better because of you. ❤️
"no one could have predicted that the president would egg on the rioters" You've got to be kidding, predicting that Trump would egg on his ignorant mob is about as difficult as predicting that the sun will rise tomorrow. That's maybe the stupidest statement out of all the stupid statements made these past two days.
Elaine Chao resigns, but never mentions Trump? She is such a coward.
Now the "little boy trump" will cry crocodile tears to be protected by "mamma", victim of the nasty people who are blaming him when he, of course, never intended such things.....the victim of all those opposed to him who "don't understand".......then he'll sulk a while and bit by bit test the waters to put a foot out of the door that'll be hiding behind.....then he'll have rewritten the story according to his own sauce saying that he has been right all the time......unless he gets put away for a very long time!
I confess that I panicked when your "briefing" was not in my inbox this morning. Relief came @ 8:28!
Had the Movement Conservatives taken over the airways? No, you're here, truth reigns, we are still a democracy.
A thousand thanks!
I’m sick and tired of hearing “ no one could have predicted...”. Everyone saw this coming, for months. I myself—and plenty of others, I’m not special—have been saying since spring the most dangerous period will be between November 3 and January 20.
While we’re on the subject, terrorists are discussing going to Washington on the 20th with weapons. We are not out of the woods yet.
Dr. Richardson, thank you especially for Wednesday. You were a beacon of clarity on a murky day.
I still believe that this man cannot and will not submit to impeachment, the 25th, or calls for resignation. It is not in his personality, especially not now! I believe he will hang on, his enablers allowing that, and either pardon himself at the last minute or resign late on Jan 19th and have Pence pardon him.
Also, I don't think he just bullies people, I fully expect he has legions of lackeys to "dig up dirt" on those who cross him so he can threaten them with exposure if they don't agree to his demands. Nothin is too low for that man to do so that he doesn't have to look at himself in the mirror and accept what is reflected back.
I sincerely hope someone responsible has the nuclear codes. He is NOT to be trusted. Now, ask me how I really feel... :)
In 2017, Senator-elect Rev. Raphael Warnock was arrested AND HANDCUFFED for quietly praying in the Capitol rotunda. This week, white nationalist terrorists invaded the Capitol and were allowed to walk out.
The police continue to prove racism is alive and well in the USA.
First, continued thanks, Prof. Richardson, for all your hard work in distilling and contextualizing all this grim and infuriating news. For the past 2 days I found it hard to concentrate on anything, but your newsletter helped bring me back down to terra firma. You are a godsend.
Second: one of the more important reasons for removing Trump NOW is his exercise of the pardon power. One of those whom it can be safely assumed will be pardoned is Rudolph Giuliani, who, even if it is hard to believe, was even more incendiary in his remarks to the crowd than was Trump. He exhorted the crowd to settle the dispute over the election through "trial by combat." That's about as explicit as you can get: no "plausible deniability" there. He should have been arrested and charged with sedition already. Since he wasn't, it's imperative for Trump to be removed so he cannot torpedo the stark need for those, like Giuliani, who were involved in this putsch to be held accountable.
Third, the night of the coup attempt, my local public radio station (WNYC) scheduled a program with the theme "Time to Come Together?" It was hard to stay on topic given the day's events, but they tried. But the answer to that question is an emphatic "No". There is a lot of blame to go around relating to how we got here: the Republican "southern strategy" which has now born its strange fruit, Democratic feckessness, income and wealth inequality, the badly-repressed racism and sexism in "good, moderate (neo)liberals." But make no mistake: what we saw yesterday was the advancing front of the home-grown fascism that Sinclair Lewis warned us about in the 1930's, wrapped in the American flag and carrying a cross. After the reports of children in cages, children separated from "missing" parents, and forced sterilizations, I have been pretty much unmoved by the "grievances" of Trumpists, whether justified or not (mostly not). If you are cool with the aforementioned, and cool with the coup attempt (and that is what it was), then I am not prepared to "come together" and deliberate with you, holding hands and singing "This land is your land . . .). None of us should be eager to "come together" just yet, for Wednesday was clear evidence that hardcore Trumpists are hellbent on replacing Liberal Republican Democracy with an ethno-nationalist oligarchy that elicits their love because they are white, straight, cisgender (largely) males of any economic stratum and religion -- as long as it's Christian and preferably Evangelical and Protestant. I can share no sense of solidarity with them unless they admit to the peaceful transfer of power when they lose. That was not in evidence AT ALL on Wednesday. They need to be fought tooth-and-nail at the ballot box. And if the "saner" wing of the Republican party doesn't disavow them, they are enablers who likewise have to be voted out and face the loud and ceaseless music of majority public opinion, which is NOT with them.
The philosopher Alasdair MacIntyre once quipped that "modern politics is civil war by other means." His argument was that the rational resolution of moral and political problems was impossible because there is no shared vision of the common good nowadays. As is the case with MacIntyre, he vastly overgeneralizes his case and exaggerates, and is blind to the very real achievements of modern societies in achieving the common good. But here, at least, his point hits home. Trumpists vs. everybody else IS civil war by other means. We have to hold Trump and his minions accountable before it decays into civil war by the usual means.....
Well, it's more than 24 hours later and he still is President. There is fear among Cabinet members that gettting rid of him by accelerated impeachment, 25th Amendment or othewise would "stoke ill-will from his supporters," according to HCR. Well, that's just too bad. By sunset tonight (Friday), he ought to be gone and if he isn't, we are facing another very serious defect in our democratic process, its inability to deal with domestic terrorism. And that includes the visible support Trump supporteres have given to law enforcement over the years, making some of them unreliable in dealing with insurrectionist rioters which is what happened Wednesday.