This president bent on undermining democracy

The assault on the capitol is not at all surprising. It was the natural result of continual baseless claims of election fraud and the shameless stoking of right-wing conspiracy groups by the president of the United States. The president fueled hatred, assembled an angry mob, and called on them to march on the capitol to show strength and to fight. Fight they did. This is the result of a president bent on undermining democracy for his own ego and to stay in power at any cost.

This has been brewing for years and for Trump’s enablers, supporters, and right wing commentators to now try to distance themselves from Trump’s riot is a disingenuous ploy to rewrite their own involvement in sedition. What is even sadder is that Trump maintains a tight grip on the Republican Party and many party diehards still support the false narrative of a stolen election maintained only by Trump’s continuous stream of lies.

Even out of office Trump will continue to peddle his lies to fuel right-wing conspiracy media, fringe groups and political commentators. With nothing to lose, no moral compass, and no respect for our constitution, Trump will open the gates of hell onto our democracy.

Among other carnage, Trump’s presidency and its aftermath will be remembered as the time we almost lost our democracy. Despite Trump’s best efforts, though, the democratic systems of the great nation of the United States of America shall prevail.

Steve McHaney, Arcata