This "record" was only possible because the president ignored the virus for seven weeks, pretended it would go away on its own, called it a hoax ... thereby missing the window of containing it to a couple of cities and, as a result, forcing the closure of the economy.
COLLEAGUES -- If you were covering county government, and a deputy you had personally witnessed shoot an unarmed suspect in the back were running for sheriff, you'd mention that killing in every story, correct?
If you were covering state government, and someone who had been caught embezzling were running for treasurer, surely that background would make it into every story, yes?
So how is it possible to write a story about Donald Trump and not mention what he did in the weeks leading up to and on Jan. 6? He used the threat of violence, and then actual violence to alter the leadership of the government -- the very definition of a coup.
If America allows a person who attempted a violent coup on the ballot in contravention of the U.S. Constitution mainly because he and his followers are threatening to burn it all down, it seems like we’ve already given up on the rule of law and democracy.
This argument can be applied to pretty much every measure of accountability against Trump.
Can’t impeach him. His followers won’t accept it.
Can’t serve a search warrant. His followers won’t accept it.
Can’t prosecute him. His followers won’t accept it.
Btw, many, many smart people make the same argument that Axelrod makes. One of the smartest lawyers I know worries that bad-faith people will accuse all sorts of people for insurrection and bad-faith judges might agree with them, creating chaos in the absence of a bright line.
People who study autocrats and coups for a living worry that he won't. If Americans put him in the Oval Office, he will find a way to remain there for life.
Heather Cox Richardson:
“The signs are all there that he would not leave voluntarily. After all, he did his best to stay in office in 2021, sparking an insurrection to do it, and he has vowed to use the power of the presidency more forcefully in a possible second term.”
Since it’s now fashionable to write about Devon Archer and Biden’s corruption….
Is Biden operating a hotel/bar five blocks from the White House where he accepts tens of thousands of dollars from foreign and domestic lobbyists currying favor with his administration?
No?
Does Biden own country clubs where foreign nationals are paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in initiation fees to join?
No?
Has Biden suggested hosting a major international conference at his beach house in Rehoboth that would net him millions?
So much of the discussion of all this, going back to the FBI search, has used phrases like "national security" about things like nuclear capabilities and war plans and so on.
Missing has been the source of that information, particularly from abroad.
Often, it's human. Actual people, who are at risk of getting arrested, imprisoned, even executed for because they are choosing to help the U.S.