Let's stop pretending Trump is anything but a mobster and a would-be tyrant.

[kpete]

The Case for Going After Trump
Fuck It

The thing about Trump is that he will say anything and do anything, and he will also try to get his followers to do anything. He essentially tried to overthrow the government of the United States. He’s a criminal on many levels. But we’ve convinced ourselves that if even if he’s not legitimate, we have to pretend he’s legitimate to placate his supporters. This is because Republicans, on top of all their other structural advantages, have performed an ideological trick on the entire country where they always an have extra little bit of Americanness: even when in the minority, they have a special something that makes it wrong to cross them. They are the “real Americans,” after all. It’s really an amazing feat, the political version of a small animal that has evolved to puff itself to appear intimidating. Republicans love to say, “What about the millions of people who voted for Trump? Are you just gonna ignore them?” Well, what about the millions of people who voted against him—twice. The will of the public here is pretty clear: “No to this guy.” But the press and even the opposing party constantly plays along with Republican bullshit. It’s part of the unspoken code of American politics that most conventional pundits reinforce. (Not for nothing, no one ever is like, “Well, what about Democrats? What will they think of all this?” The attitude there is always, “Shut up, libs. Crybabies. Snowflakes.”)

................

It’s time to stop fucking around. All of the savvy political wisdom of the preceding years got us here: with a half-lunatic trying to shake down the country to call off his followers. Trump doesn’t care about precedents: as soon as he’s able, he will use whatever tool he’s able to use against his opponents. This is why his supporters like him. They openly say so. The first time around, he didn’t really know how to wield the power of the state or the most violent core of his supporters, but most likely he will will learn. The Federal oath of office begins, “I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic.” If that means anybody in the history of the country, that must mean Trump. He cannot be allowed to hide behind his supporters or try to use them to manipulate the U.S. government. Is it possible that this will lead to bad outcomes? Sure, anything is possible. But treating Trump like he’s got special powers has lead us here.

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A political class that can’t defend the constitutional order and the rule of law is worse than useless: it’s actually conspiring with its enemies. Trump attacked the very heart of our system of government. If the system can’t respond to that forcefully it doesn’t deserve to exist anymore. Let’s stop pretending Trump is anything but a mobster and a would-be tyrant. In this case, prudence demands action.



MORE:
https://johnganz.substack.com/p/the-case-for-going-after-trump

[Irish_Dem]

1. Let's stop pretending the GOP is anything but a crime syndicate.

Even if the Trump is out of the picture, they will find a new mob boss.

[Ferrets are Cool]

2. Or a corporation intent on enriching those at the top.

Including themselves.

[Irish_Dem]

4. GOP elected officials/GOP corporate oligarchs, same kind of sociopaths.

Ruthless drive for power and money at all costs.

[uponit7771]

5. +1, and crime syndicates 100% don't give a shit about democracy

[Irish_Dem]

6. Democracy is now in their way.

"We the people" having power is a major read block to what the GOP now demands:

Total permanent power, access to all US financial assets, white male christian minority rule

[njhoneybadger]

8. +1

[mopinko]

3. democracy depends on the consent of the losers.

it has ever been thus, but in murika, all that counts is winning/winners.

[LAS14]

7. Who's pretending otherwise? Sounds like an accurate description to me. nt