A shameful ending to a shameful presidency
The storming of the Capitol
A nation that has survived the Civil War, the assassinations of presidents, a history of racist lynch mobs, the bombing of federal courthouses, the 9/11 attacks, and the morally bankrupt and disastrous one-term presidency of Donald Trump is a nation with no more innocence to lose.
But on Wednesday, as we watched a mob of Trump supporters overpower Capitol Hill police, storm the Capitol, indulge in violence and vandalism, and temporarily stop the certification of Electoral College votes for president, we were reminded of our capacity to be shocked and outraged by something we’d never before seen — American citizens assaulting the cradle of democracy, inspired by the baseless claims of a president who lost a fair election.
These were American citizens waving scores of American flags, but they weren’t patriots pledging allegiance to the United States of America and the democratic values the flag represents. They had become domestic terrorists, pledging allegiance to Trump, whose allegiance is to only his own insatiable self-interest.
We were reminded of our capacity to be shocked and outraged by something we’d never before seen — American citizens assaulting the cradle of democracy.
This was not a nonviolent protest nor an act of civil disobedience to dramatize an injustice for which they’d be willing to go to jail. This was not respectful dissent worthy of American political tradition. The rioters assaulted police officers, broke windows, paraded on the House floor, standing at the Senate dais, shouting, “Trump won that election!”
They marauded through the offices of House members, sent elected officials scurrying for their lives while stopping them from doing the work they were elected to do.
What we witnessed is the inevitable nadir of the presidency of a man who, beginning in the 2016 campaign, encouraged violence in his speeches and texts. Pick your metaphor — “striking matches,” “pouring kerosene on fire,” “lighting a train of powder” — it all applies to Trump’s penchant for inflammatory language and his refusal to ever meaningfully condemn any act of violence committed by any group that supported him. To those who stormed the Capitol, he said, “We love you.” Wednesday’s insurrection may have been the lowest, most shameful moment for an American president. But what about those who have looked the other way, kept quiet and enabled him as he acted on his delusional and authoritarian impulses?
Little wonder what happened Wednesday was as predictable as a Trump lie. Trump, never committing to a peaceful transfer of power, has for two months lied about having the election stolen from him.
The insurrectionists were in Washington, D.C., because Trump invited them to come fight for his attempt to stage a coup. And they’ve been encouraged by more than 100 House Republicans and a dozen Senate Republicans, led by Texas’ U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, who said they would not certify the election results in a stunning abandonment of democracy.
Cruz must also be held accountable for his ignoble and divisive brand of politics. He will forever own his supporting role in this moment. After the assault on the Capitol, Cruz took to Twitter denouncing the violence, telling rioters to stop.
Cruz had four years to tell Trump to stop his violent rhetoric. He didn’t. Cruz had two months to tell Trump to stop trying to steal an election. He didn’t. Cruz could have refuted baseless claims of voter fraud. He didn’t. He could have shown conscience. He didn’t.
Instead, the junior senator from Texas “fanned the flames” and “played with fire” in a cynical attempt to court the kind of Trump supporters who have assaulted the People’s House, trampled our democracy and cheered him on as he advocated Trump’s lies.
Trump watched the assault on the Capitol on television before taping a video telling his supporters to go home, all while continuing to lie about winning the election.
So much sound and fury, but for nothing. Joe Biden will be the next president. He won the election. But the violence of today will haunt. It is the most shameful ending to a shameful presidency.
Acts of treason
I am watching an attempted coup d’état on television. I never really thought something like this could occur in the United States of America.
It is so disgraceful and sad, but this is what four years of President Donald Trump’s administration has brought us.
He and his enablers should be arrested and tried for treason for fomenting this outcome.
Michael Flinn
Shirley Moehring