I am a firm believer in the old saying, “Every dark storm cloud has a silver lining”. Like most people across the country and around the world I was deeply disturbed, saddened, and angered by the attack yesterday by Trump’s most ardent supporters on the seat of our democracy. However, on further reflection I came to the realization that some good may come of it. It may ultimately be the event which allows us to put the era of Trump firmly in our rear view mirror.
There cannot be any doubt, it is clear in the public record, the president of the United States was in large part responsible for encouraging the attack by his most avid supporters on the Capitol Building in Washington DC.
Trump has continually lied to his supporters saying repeatedly that he won the election and that the only widespread election fraud prevented him from rightfully serving his second term. His lies were amplified by conservative media and his lap dogs in Republican leadership. He invited his supporters to descend on Washington to protest Congressional procedures which would certify Joe Biden’s victory. In a speech immediately before the attack he encouraged them to march down Pennsylvania Ave. and protest at the Capitol Building to interrupt a joint secession of Congress. Once the rioting began he did little to stop it. Ultimately, when pressed by his aides, he asked them to “go home”, but defended their actions and told them, ““We love you, you’re very special.”
In his attempts to cater to his deplorables and constantly remain the center of attention, for the last four years Trump continually stretched the norms of presidential behavior to the breaking point, but this is totally beyond the pale. The allegiance which some of Trump’s most ardent supporters feel for the man may never be broken. Politicians like Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley may continue to believe that their political future will be enhanced by catering to his narcissistic instincts. However, Trump’s efforts to overturn the election which resulted in the mob’s attack on our democracy has caused the majority establishment Republicans to quickly back away from him.
Despite Trump’s pleas and threats, Pence and McConnell have performed duties with regard to the congressional certification of the election in strict accordance with the Constitution and applicable federal laws. McConnell even tried to convince rogue Senators not to object to the certification of state election reports. Key members of the administration are resigning and there are reports of talk among cabinet members of invoking the 25th amendment. Even some of Trump’s most reliable supporters are cutting ties with the president.
Lindsey Graham, Trump’s closest congressional confidante, made his intentions clear in a speech on the Senate floor. Trump and I have had a hell of a journey, I hate it has to end this way, oh my God I hate it, but today . . . count me out, enough is enough”. Former Attorney General William Barr, who also often unethically served as Trump private lawyer, issued a statement, “Orchestrating a mob to pressure Congress is inexcusable. The President’s conduct yesterday was a betrayal of his office and his supporters”. John Kelly, Trump’s former Chief of Staff, said he would vote to invoke the 25th Amendment if he were still a member of the administration. Even the editorial board of the Wall Street Journal indicated that Trump needs to cut his losses and resign.
Yea, I hear you – you’re certainly thinking, “far too little, far too late!” I agree. These people and others have fed the monster for the last four years. It is only now that the monster has done the unforgivable (which they knew all along was fully within its ability) do they seek to distance themselves and pretend they aren’t also responsible. They are wrong. Everyone who continued to support Trump despite his past despicable behavior shares in the guilt for this stain on our country.
However, the point I am making is this, Republicans politicians are now having to decide whether to continue supporting Trump despite this desecration or to desert him completely. They know they can’t straddle the fence on this one. Predictably many of them are choosing to protect their political careers and to minimize the damage Trump inflicted on them and their party.
Some politicians like Senators Cruz and Hawley and a number of House members from ruby red districts have made what I believe is a dangerous political calculation to continue to stand by Trump and his election fantasies despite his sedition. I suspect that they will come to regret their decisions, but most Republican leaders have distanced themselves from him as far as possible.
There is no doubt that a significant segment of Trump’s everyday supporters will continue to idolize him. However, many like the evangelicals who originally supported him because he was regarded as an instrument to advance their political agenda, had likely already started to view him as someone who was no longer useful. I strongly suspect that with the ugliness of yesterday they will now move on and try to find more reliable champions.
The bottom line is that with the events of yesterday Trump lost much of his political clout and the volume of his bullhorn in private life has been diminished because fewer will pay attention to him. Social media companies have also begun to shut him down. Of course he will not go away. His narcissistic nature craves the spotlight. Conservative media, especially those lesser known outfits that are trying to build their audience, will continue to give Trump a microphone as long as it increases their revenue. But for Trump it will never be the same. He went a step too far and now he is going to pay for it for the rest of his life.
This of course is going to make our country safer. I believe Trump has squandered much of the power he might have had in private life. I truly believe that any hope that he had for another run for the White House in 2024 will be dead on arrival, as will any intention he might have had for one of his children to take up his mantel.
As damaging as the mob’s attack on the Capitol Building has been to our political institutions and our reputation around the world as the shining model of democracy, it may also offer us the opportunity to be able to totally ignore Donald J. Trump in the future if we choose. That alone has to be worth something.
Cajun (Rick Guilbeau) 1/8/2021