Donald Trump: The Man Who Would be Dictator

 You might be able to say many things about Representatives Bennie Thompson, D-MS and Liz Cheney, R-WY, but you can never accuse them of being subtle. For those of us who have watched endless hours of congressional panels and inquiries sink into arcane and mind numbing details last night's Jan. 6th committee presentation was like sticking your finger into a live electrical socket. 

That's right. There wasn't any pussy footing around yesterday. Donald J. Trump, they both said right up front, attempted to pull off a violent coup in order to overturn the results of a fair and legal election so he could retain power. Both promised the committee would prove it and there would be no ifs, ands, or buts about it.  

For two hours the committee laid out evidence that proved the Jan. 6th insurrection wasn't some exuberant, peaceful, demonstration that spun out of control, but rather a well planned attempt to at least delay the certification of the presidential election, or at worst stop it entirely. And it was all engineered by Donald Trump simply because he couldn't stand the idea of becoming, a loser.

Furthermore recorded witness testimony proved Mr. Trump knew he had lost the election as early as mid November--his own voting data people, among others told him. Ignoring the truth he floated the strategy of claiming mass voter fraud to invalidate his loss. His attorney general, Bill Barr told him, in his words, "The idea is bullshit." That statement, like Ivanka Trump's, that she believed Barr rather than her father, was on tape. There can be no denying, or quibbling about either one.

Live witness testimony to the brute violence that bloody day utterly disproved the current republican mythology that the demonstration wasn't any worse that what happens in Black Lives Matter actions. Or that that the entire deadly affair was instigated by BLM and Antifa provocateurs.

A British film maker putting together a documentary about the Proud Boys was with them. He testified 200 to 300 of the group left the rally to move to the capitol before Trump made his inflammatory speech. During that time they scouted the building for weak spots in it's perimeter and took up advance positions to wait for the crowd they knew was coming. When it did arrive they served as storm troopers leading the assault.

Indeed, it became clear last night from December, 2020 on Mr. Trump had, on several fronts, tried to find a way to invalidate the election. His pleas to different courts were rejected. Mike Pence, to his shock, grew a backbone and refused to budge on the nonsensical notion the Vice President could, by himself, overturn a presidential election. By the 19th of that month the then president realized he had only one option to stop the inevitable from happening. On that day he tweeted his invitation to supporters to join him in Washington on the 6th. He promised them, "it will be wild." 

In truth, Don Trump knew the 6th was his last real shot at retaining power. It is why, on that day, despite numerous panicked requests from aides and supporters who were caught up in the assault, he refused to contact anyone who might be able to intervene, or personally tell the mob to stand down. It was why he told some who were with him that the attackers might be right as they chanted, "Hang Mike Pence."

This avalanche of  damning evidence isn't even close to being over. A second hearing will be held Monday, followed by others. Even without them, though, Donald John Trump has been proven to be the first American president to attempt an overthrow of the government of the United States--that he is, in fact, the man who would be dictator.

6-10-22

   

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