Linker is wrong. We must indict Trump. We must not appease the MAGA terrorists and thugs by declining to charge Trump if the facts and law would warrant such a charge against any other citizen. We will not prevent a "civil war" by giving in to threats and intimidation, doing so would expedite it and make it worse. We must make our stand against our fellow citizens who would have us ruled over by a MAGA authoritarian (or worse), and we must make that stand using the best instrument we have in our arsenal: The Rule of Law.
Linker's argument is what has been happening for the past 6 years among the educated R's. The notion that placating Trump (and his minions) will work has failed everytime. I understand that the coming years are going to be awful, they might be violent in ways we haven't seen since the 60's but the notion that not elevating Trump to martyrdom will advance the polity of this nation is a fool's errand that has been tried and tried and tried again.
It breaks my heart what has happened in the last couple of decades to this country but can we please stop with the "we must take baby steps so the whole thing doesn't fall down" narrative. It hasn't worked, it isn't working, and it won't work. Assymetrical arguments are nonsense at this point.
How do you preserve democracy by surrendering to a mob's violent intimidation? How do you preserve the Rule of Law that our nation is founded upon by surrendering to a mob's violent intimidation? If trump is not held to account, it will fast-track democracy and the Rule of Law into the rear-view mirror for ourselves, our children, and future generations.
Sarah Longwell with a demonstration of how to Twitter.
I know Liz Cheney is a busy woman now, with important things to do like rescue the Republic from her own political party, but I hope she takes some time out of her day to read today's Morning Shots, perhaps even some of the reader comments, so she knows there are people out there who get it, and who appreciate her and what she is trying to do. She's going to be bombarded with negative, violently stupid attacks, so I hope she gets to take in some of the sane perspectives out there. I know she loves her state and her constituents, but the voters in Wyoming, I can't say much positive about them right now. Sure, they've been lied to repeatedly, but Liz hasn't lied to them, and they just don't believe her, or they don't want to face the painful truth. Either way, I can't respect that, and it's disturbing they picked someone like Hageman over someone like Cheney, even if we've seen it coming for months.
"Republicans have succeeded in undermining confidence in the rule of law, and though I waver on this, I find Linker’s argument that pursuing Trump criminally will only speed the descent compelling."
The very same people spent years chanting "lock her up" and had a longer investigation into Benghazi than 9/11, but we're supposed to pretend that *this* is what's eroding their trust in the rule of law? So much energy spent on what they say, only to completely ignore what they do.
"Republicans have succeeded in undermining confidence in the rule of law, and though I waver on this, I find Linker’s argument that pursuing Trump criminally will only speed the descent compelling.
But that doesn’t mean surrender. As Liz Cheney has demonstrated with her inspiring leadership, the truth can yet chip away at the wall of lies Trump has erected."
I'm sorry, Mona - but you don't want legal accountability, only gestures, because Trump's followers threaten retaliation? That sounds a lot like the rule of law giving way to intimidation and brute force. Courage is required in the face of these threats.
It’s not just that I think the idea that Trump should be given a pass because “lots of Republicans” believe life has been so unfair to him is bonkers. I’m sure there are people like the suicidal guy who took on the FBI office. I question how many there actually are and how deep the commitment to “civil war” really is.
This whole notion that there’s going to be big trouble if Trump’s indicted sounds more like something Trump would push to keep from being indicted. In any case, this country does not negotiate with or bow to terrorists.
Liz Cheney's speech last night showed what it means to win by losing. Far from being daunted by the loss of her house seat, she seemed fired up by it. It was interesting to hear her refer to Lincoln losing his house and senate races before running for president and winning. Anyone who thinks Liz is done for, is a fool.
But the head hunters are celebrating this morning, as expected. There's a grotesque piece in today's Washington Post by Gary Abernathy that advises 'establishment republicans' to get in the Trump boat and row and stop holding them accountable for betraying their 'deeply-held conservative principles.'
It reminded me of the despicable 'advice' women used to hear about rape.
“She may have been fighting for principles,” said Taylor Budowich, a spokesman and adviser to Mr. Trump. “But they are not the principles of the Republican Party.”
The MAGAts will never be happy until they foist their would be god-king upon the nation permanently and channel him to inflict as much pain and harm upon others as they can. Because, ultimately, the cruelty is the point™
Personally, the only thing that makes me fear Trump's supporters is the possibility that they may elect him President.
All of the rest of their puffery about Civil War is a laughable attempt at intimidation. They'll make some noise and commit some acts of right-wing terror - some people will unfortunately die as a result, in many cases they themselves. We'll end up absorbing it like we do every other horror of gun violence in this country, and maybe it will finally drive the overwhelming majority of Americans against our free-wheeling gun culture. But most of these faux revolutionaries, especially knowing full well what an act of physical rebellion did for the 1/6 crowd, will keep their bloated rear-ends comfortably planted on their couch watching Fox News.
The only way they can realistically threaten our Republic is by getting their avatar into the White House. And stopping that will involve educating the American people about Trump and his crimes. Serving a search warrant illuminates nothing because of its opaque nature. But trials are transparent. A trial would damage Trump, regardless of the outcome. If they have a solid case, then the best Trump could hope for is a hung jury, not an acquittal. And that would be enough to convict him in the court of public opinion.
The argument against investigation and potential prosecution appears to be the applying the Rule of Mob over the Rule of Law. All of the words written, all of the statues erected, and all of the carvings made to the notion that "Justice is blind" are so easily tossed aside to the notion that "Justice follows public polling." We are again in a place where instead of fighting the Trump-ist corruption we are proposing the white flag. Did that work for the GOP? We have already seen that appeasement. Our judicial system should be blind and follow the FACTS and EVIDENCE and not polling of those in emotional need of a racist God-king.
Linker is wrong. We must indict Trump. We must not appease the MAGA terrorists and thugs by declining to charge Trump if the facts and law would warrant such a charge against any other citizen. We will not prevent a "civil war" by giving in to threats and intimidation, doing so would expedite it and make it worse. We must make our stand against our fellow citizens who would have us ruled over by a MAGA authoritarian (or worse), and we must make that stand using the best instrument we have in our arsenal: The Rule of Law.
Linker's argument is what has been happening for the past 6 years among the educated R's. The notion that placating Trump (and his minions) will work has failed everytime. I understand that the coming years are going to be awful, they might be violent in ways we haven't seen since the 60's but the notion that not elevating Trump to martyrdom will advance the polity of this nation is a fool's errand that has been tried and tried and tried again.
It breaks my heart what has happened in the last couple of decades to this country but can we please stop with the "we must take baby steps so the whole thing doesn't fall down" narrative. It hasn't worked, it isn't working, and it won't work. Assymetrical arguments are nonsense at this point.
Sarah bringing the heat.
How do you preserve democracy by surrendering to a mob's violent intimidation? How do you preserve the Rule of Law that our nation is founded upon by surrendering to a mob's violent intimidation? If trump is not held to account, it will fast-track democracy and the Rule of Law into the rear-view mirror for ourselves, our children, and future generations.
Linker argues, with a heavy heart, that we have no choice but to refrain from making Trump a martyr with a prosecution.
Shouldn’t we find out the seriousness of his crimes before that decision is made?
Sarah Longwell with a demonstration of how to Twitter.
I know Liz Cheney is a busy woman now, with important things to do like rescue the Republic from her own political party, but I hope she takes some time out of her day to read today's Morning Shots, perhaps even some of the reader comments, so she knows there are people out there who get it, and who appreciate her and what she is trying to do. She's going to be bombarded with negative, violently stupid attacks, so I hope she gets to take in some of the sane perspectives out there. I know she loves her state and her constituents, but the voters in Wyoming, I can't say much positive about them right now. Sure, they've been lied to repeatedly, but Liz hasn't lied to them, and they just don't believe her, or they don't want to face the painful truth. Either way, I can't respect that, and it's disturbing they picked someone like Hageman over someone like Cheney, even if we've seen it coming for months.
"Republicans have succeeded in undermining confidence in the rule of law, and though I waver on this, I find Linker’s argument that pursuing Trump criminally will only speed the descent compelling."
The very same people spent years chanting "lock her up" and had a longer investigation into Benghazi than 9/11, but we're supposed to pretend that *this* is what's eroding their trust in the rule of law? So much energy spent on what they say, only to completely ignore what they do.
"Republicans have succeeded in undermining confidence in the rule of law, and though I waver on this, I find Linker’s argument that pursuing Trump criminally will only speed the descent compelling.
But that doesn’t mean surrender. As Liz Cheney has demonstrated with her inspiring leadership, the truth can yet chip away at the wall of lies Trump has erected."
I'm sorry, Mona - but you don't want legal accountability, only gestures, because Trump's followers threaten retaliation? That sounds a lot like the rule of law giving way to intimidation and brute force. Courage is required in the face of these threats.
Linkerism is appeasement.
How has that worked out in the past?
It’s not just that I think the idea that Trump should be given a pass because “lots of Republicans” believe life has been so unfair to him is bonkers. I’m sure there are people like the suicidal guy who took on the FBI office. I question how many there actually are and how deep the commitment to “civil war” really is.
This whole notion that there’s going to be big trouble if Trump’s indicted sounds more like something Trump would push to keep from being indicted. In any case, this country does not negotiate with or bow to terrorists.
Liz Cheney's speech last night showed what it means to win by losing. Far from being daunted by the loss of her house seat, she seemed fired up by it. It was interesting to hear her refer to Lincoln losing his house and senate races before running for president and winning. Anyone who thinks Liz is done for, is a fool.
But the head hunters are celebrating this morning, as expected. There's a grotesque piece in today's Washington Post by Gary Abernathy that advises 'establishment republicans' to get in the Trump boat and row and stop holding them accountable for betraying their 'deeply-held conservative principles.'
It reminded me of the despicable 'advice' women used to hear about rape.
File this under "True, dat".
“She may have been fighting for principles,” said Taylor Budowich, a spokesman and adviser to Mr. Trump. “But they are not the principles of the Republican Party.”
The MAGAts will never be happy until they foist their would be god-king upon the nation permanently and channel him to inflict as much pain and harm upon others as they can. Because, ultimately, the cruelty is the point™
I'm sure that if we just let Trump get away with it just once more, we'll have peace in our time.
Personally, the only thing that makes me fear Trump's supporters is the possibility that they may elect him President.
All of the rest of their puffery about Civil War is a laughable attempt at intimidation. They'll make some noise and commit some acts of right-wing terror - some people will unfortunately die as a result, in many cases they themselves. We'll end up absorbing it like we do every other horror of gun violence in this country, and maybe it will finally drive the overwhelming majority of Americans against our free-wheeling gun culture. But most of these faux revolutionaries, especially knowing full well what an act of physical rebellion did for the 1/6 crowd, will keep their bloated rear-ends comfortably planted on their couch watching Fox News.
The only way they can realistically threaten our Republic is by getting their avatar into the White House. And stopping that will involve educating the American people about Trump and his crimes. Serving a search warrant illuminates nothing because of its opaque nature. But trials are transparent. A trial would damage Trump, regardless of the outcome. If they have a solid case, then the best Trump could hope for is a hung jury, not an acquittal. And that would be enough to convict him in the court of public opinion.
The argument against investigation and potential prosecution appears to be the applying the Rule of Mob over the Rule of Law. All of the words written, all of the statues erected, and all of the carvings made to the notion that "Justice is blind" are so easily tossed aside to the notion that "Justice follows public polling." We are again in a place where instead of fighting the Trump-ist corruption we are proposing the white flag. Did that work for the GOP? We have already seen that appeasement. Our judicial system should be blind and follow the FACTS and EVIDENCE and not polling of those in emotional need of a racist God-king.