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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis Is What Still Keeps Me Up At Night
Though I can honestly say my sleep patterns have improved since Joe Biden's inauguration, I still find falling asleep a restless affair. The current impeachment proceedings now in summation haven't improved the situation. The review of the January 6th insurrection, the ugly shouts and violence of the crowd, the image of a gallows erected on Capitol grounds, the knowledge of how close we came to a true political, national nightmare is chilling. Though Donald Trump is a demented, almost cartoonish thug, his nihilistic supporters, white supremacists and QAnon sleepwalkers were/are deadly serious.
It's obvious that Republicans refuse to hold Trump responsible for inciting violence against our own government, all a response to a lost election. For Republican senators, it's all about retaining power, ensuring money from various donors to continue their anti-democratic screeds, voter intimidation and grift. Anything to hold on.
Which raises the question: was January 6th merely a prologue?
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, who I've mentioned in other threads, has said that unsuccessful coups are frequently followed by additional attempts, many of which are successful. Here's a relevant clip:
". . . Looked at through the lens of the history of authoritarian leadership, January 6 could be viewed as a trial run, as failed coups often precede successful ones, as in Chile in 1973. "That's what we f**king need to have, 30,000 guns up here," said one man in the crowd, depicted in the video shown on the first day of proceedings, frustrated that the group was not entering the Capitol more rapidly. "Next trip," someone answered him."
Yeah, this thought and warning is what makes my nights less than peaceful. I sense I'm not the only one.
Vigilance!
https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/opinions/trump-impeachment-trial-video-and-visuals-ben-ghiat/index.html
SWBTATTReg
(22,112 posts)peggysue2
(10,828 posts)We have the March 4th QAnon date coming up, the day QAnon's believe Trump will assume office and put Joe Biden and all prominent Democrats on trial.
Though I hate seeing all the barricades and military in DC, I think safety comes first.
Mike 03
(16,616 posts)Ruth Ben-Ghiat is a treasure. Her new book Strongmen covers almost every square inch of the roadmap for how people like Trump gain, wield and eventually lose power.
peggysue2
(10,828 posts)Right too. I've been picking up Ruth Ben Ghiat's twitter thread and listening to the podcasts where she's been featured. The parallels she draws are chilling but info we need to pushback further democratic erosion. Her book--which I have yet to read beyond clips and snippets--couldn't have been published at a better time.
soothsayer
(38,601 posts)If theres justice in this world
sop
(10,154 posts)peggysue2
(10,828 posts)He certainly deserves it, as do many of his enablers.