"One Vice President away from a coup." Those chilling words were spoken recently by Governor Jay Inlsee of the state of Washington at a meeting of Democratic state governors. I do not think what happened on January 6th, 2021 could have been summed up so perfectly in so few words. We've come to learn, thanks to the hard work of the January 6th Committee that the like of Mark Meadows was focused on subverting the will of the voters and threatening to derail democracy as it has stood for centuries in America.
Some of the text that have been read into the record at the hearings paint the picture of the dysfunction that was occurring at the White House as Donald Trump sought any means he could, just short of bloodshed, to remain in office, as he could not fathom the notion that many Americans collectively looked at him and uttered those words, he helped make famous. "You're Fired!" Sean Hannity texted to Donald Trump Jr "Can he not make a statement? Ask the people to leave the capitol?" Hannity asked. Laura Ingraham, Brian Kilmeade, two other Fox News Opinion show host also pleaded in vain for Trump to make some sort of calming statement. As did many members of congress. Perhaps the most direct came from Donald's own son, Donald Jr, who for the first time in his life had a moment of clarity when he texted "He's got to condemn this shit ASAP!" Trump Jr texted Mark Meadows, "We need an Oval Office address"
In a moment in which the country needed him the most, Donald Trump went silent, instead watching from the sidelines. Either he was too paralyzed with fear to make any type of statement, of fear he'd alienate his base, one he'd depended upon if he wanted to make a bid in 2024. Could it be that Donald Trump simply watched the chaos unfold on T.V. and beamed with pride, understanding that he set in motion the chain of events that happened that day? After all, he had pledge to march right beside his followers. When said march went from metaphor into reality, Trump sat by and did nothing. He truly was playing the role of Nero.
Because Trump essentially went underground while the U.S. Capitol was under siege, and the brave Capitol Police were undermanned to push back the onslaught. Trump supporters even demanded that Vice President Mike Pence, who'd refused to not certify the election, be turned over and hung for treason. Here again, Trump stood idle, as his supporters began to scream louder for the public execution of Pence without the benefit of a trial. When Trump finally did make a statement, the U.S. Capitol laid wasted and lives were lost. To make matters even worse, Trump's official statement was lifeless and without passion, as if he felt he had no need to deliver it. Perhaps deep down, he was proud of what happened that day. while one can only guess what was going through Trump's mind, the world saw something it never thought was possible. American citizens, at the request of an outgoing president, launched an attack on democracy. When Trump finally did make a statement, he commented on the very lie he created that caused it all. The myth that the election was stolen from him.
Now, Trump's own words there would make fodder for any phycologist. Trump commented that the election was stolen him, not the people. That however, would distract us from the real issue. We've all seen the 38-page power point presentation which outlined the usurp of power, the most frightening the one that allowed Pence to toss out any electoral votes he felt were unlawful and declare simply that state submitted no electoral votes. When you think about that, it would have opened a Pandora's box that would have allowed any president hold on to power despite the will of the people, Which of course, ran afoul of the U.S. Constitution, something Trump seemed to find as an annoyance while in power, expressed on social media many times as he lamented, he did not have total and ultimate power.
Mark Meadows has provided the American People with all of this insight long before he opted out of the agreement to testify. Sadly, there is a great danger the Democrats could lose control of the house which would essentially mark the end of the investigation into the attempted coup. Think about if Nixon had been able to get away with the crimes regarding the illegal bugging of Democratic headquarters at the Watergate. That is essentially what we face. If the Democrats lose the house, then those who attempted to thwart democracy will not only go unpunished, but emboldened to make another attempt any time they are in danger of losing power. That happens, the America we've all known for so long would cease to exist.
Jay Inslee put it the best when at the governor's convention when he said "The American psyche has not recognized that we were one vice president away from a coup." And we better do so, before democracy dies.
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