(1) After decades of studying & working in politics, I finally realized it's better to have a leader who is a team player than someone who goes it alone.
That's essentially what Trump did, esp. during the 2020-2021 transition. He took advice from the wrong people.
That's essentially what Trump did, esp. during the 2020-2021 transition. He took advice from the wrong people.
https://twitter.com/GrabienMedia/status/1369124772416679937
(2) Trump's refusal to take sane legal and political advice in the last 6 months or so is #WhyYouGotBiden.
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be comfortable about a Biden-Harris White House, but I am. And here's why:
Never in my wildest dreams did I think I'd be comfortable about a Biden-Harris White House, but I am. And here's why:
(3) The framers designed a system with a plethora of checks and balances. In January 2021 the system worked.
Congress was able to ensure the election result would stand. Eventually.
The framers gave Congress more power than the President. Don't believe me? Okay.
Congress was able to ensure the election result would stand. Eventually.
The framers gave Congress more power than the President. Don't believe me? Okay.
(4) Despite the growth in presidential power in the 20th and 21st centuries, Congress is still supreme, as it should be.
And the rights and duties of the federal government concerning the states are essentially the same on this issue as they were long ago.
And the rights and duties of the federal government concerning the states are essentially the same on this issue as they were long ago.
(5) Unlike many paid commentators on the left AND the right, I'm going to admit the boundaries of my knowledge about US Constitutional matters, and for further detail point you to those with the credentials to comment.
Clearly, John Eastman is not a legal analyst I'd listen to.
Clearly, John Eastman is not a legal analyst I'd listen to.
(6) Trump's entire "stop the steal" plan for 1/6 was based on a legal opinion by John Eastman & endorsed by assorted hangers-on like Rudy Giuliani and Jennifer Ellis.
Pence's letter dated 1/6 explained the legal opinion of every credible legal analyst in the country.
Pence's letter dated 1/6 explained the legal opinion of every credible legal analyst in the country.
(7) Pence told Trump (and all of us via that letter) that he legally could not do what Trump demanded of him.
Pence did this knowing what the blowback could be. Anyone who understood what that meant and still has the temerity to call Pence a "coward" is a brainwashed fool.
Pence did this knowing what the blowback could be. Anyone who understood what that meant and still has the temerity to call Pence a "coward" is a brainwashed fool.
(8) I've noted down every excuse about 1/6 that Trump supporters have made since that day. They're all extremely easy to defeat with logic and evidence.
A recent one is that the states have more power concerning presidential election certification than Pence believed they do.
A recent one is that the states have more power concerning presidential election certification than Pence believed they do.
(9) The constitutional relationships between the states and the federal government are subjects of extreme importance in politics, and the law.
Sometimes the leadership of your party of choice is right about an issue, sometimes it is wrong.
Sometimes the leadership of your party of choice is right about an issue, sometimes it is wrong.
(10) IMO Trump and Paul Ryan made a deal in mid 2016 that they would co-operate in certain areas for the good of the country and the party. I don't think Trump could have won that election otherwise. Ryan could see Trump had taken over the party's voters & would be nominated.
(11) I think it's clear that Trump reneged on his deal with the GOP. We can debate about when that happened but there is no doubt in my mind that by the time we got to 1/6/21, all bets were off.
Only one man stood between Trump & literal imminent danger to the country. Pence.
Only one man stood between Trump & literal imminent danger to the country. Pence.
(12) By standing up so clearly to Trump's bullying, Pence led by example. He showed us that it's safe to stand up to Trump and to anyone else that bullies people in his name.
Pence was named as running mate as a way to reduce the risk of actual harm Trump might one day attempt.
Pence was named as running mate as a way to reduce the risk of actual harm Trump might one day attempt.
(13) After observing Trump's behavior between 1/6 and 1/20 I concluded that he had at last been forced to behave himself, at least in terms of not overtly encouraging further political violence. He still made appalling pardon decisions & rescinded his 2017 WH ethics EO.
(14) IMO it's a good thing that Trump allowed the mask to drop in November 2020. It became possible for #PostTrumpGOP supporters like me to point to clear issues and risks in his behavior that only the most fanatical MAGA folk would try to debate. Unsuccessfully.
(15) We can't change what's happened. All we can do is learn from it & try harder next time.
I fervently oppose Democrat policies. But I'd rather have a relatively sane team around a weak POTUS than have a POTUS unwilling to take advice & thereby totally unfit for the job.
I fervently oppose Democrat policies. But I'd rather have a relatively sane team around a weak POTUS than have a POTUS unwilling to take advice & thereby totally unfit for the job.
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