By inciting insurrection, Trump must go
American carnage. While President Donald J. Trump watched from the White House, the Capitol nearly burned as his supporters essentially attempted what was essentially a coup against the country.
Words are hardly sufficient for what happened at the U. S. Capitol, as protesters spurred on by an equally disgraceful commander in chief, broke into the floor of the U. S. Senate as lawmakers met to certify Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory.
It was a scene few Americans could have imagined would occur — until recently.
Scenes of drawn guns, broken windows, rioters seemingly unconstrained. Insurrectionists occupied Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office, leaving a message, “We will not back down.”
Some law enforcement officers were injured; one seditionist woman was shot and killed, three others died from “medical” issues.
Vice President Mike Pence and members of the House and Senate were evacuated, as they began to consider certifying the lawful election of Presidentelect Biden. This protest was hardly a secret, yet security at the Capitol was weak and unprepared and we know some will be fired — especially those who “welcomed” in these terrorists and then posed for selfies.
Can you imagine what the response would have been if say, Black Lives Matter protesters had attempted a similar criminal siege of Congress? Antifa?
This is what happens when conspiracy theories and lies are expounded from the president of the United States. When there is no peaceful transition of power. When that so- called leader incites riots by failing time and again to condemn similar kinds of acts and bad actors. Many Republicans have already condemned the rioting and insurrection, and even, before the siege, the soon- to- be Minority Leader in the Senate, Sen. Mitch McConnell, warned attempts to overturn election results would damage the republic.
Trump incited these riots, but he was aided and abetted by Republicans such as Sens. Josh Hawley and Ted Cruz along with California congressmembers Doug LaMalfa, R- Richvale; Tom McClintock, R- Elk Grove; Ken Calvert, RCorona; and Mike Garcia, RSanta Clarita. McCarthy, LaMalfa, McClintock and Calvert all supported a Texas lawsuit to overturn All of their actions were designed to create the violent coup attempt that unfolded at the U. S. Capitol on Wednesday.
The crime of sedition is a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. The MerriamWebster Dictionary defines sedition as “incitement of resistance to or insurrection against lawful authority.” The American public got a good illustration of sedition in action and those lawmakers along with Trump openly advocated sedition against the government as should these senators and congressmembers.
From Trump? He reluctantly put out a late video where he repeated that the election “was stolen from us” but “we can’t play into the hands of these people — we have to have peace, so go home. We love you.”
In stark contrast, Biden went live on TV and said, “Our democracy is under — unprecedented assault” from a “mob” and that “the words of a president matter — they can incite. The work of the next four years must be the restoration of our democracy — of decency — not stoking the flames of hate and chaos.”
Trump’s destructive behavior and words cost the Republicans control of the U. S. Senate with the election of two Democrats in the Georgia runoff Tuesday. His own Cabinet has grown ever more alarmed at his behavior and many former staffers are condemning what took place at the Capitol.
Trump long ago stopped governing, as the ongoing pandemic turned more deadly. Trump may only have less than two weeks left in office. But even that’s too long. Thirteen more days of lies and incitements is 13 too many.
Although it may be unlikely, Trump’s Cabinet and Pence should take action today and invoke the 25th Amendment to force Trump out of office immediately because he is obviously unfit to carry out the powers and duties of the office he so clearly does not respect.
Trump’s cabinet and Vice President Pence should use the 25th Amendment and oust Trump.