Let's be clear about what we're talking about with the attempted coup on January 6, including the new info in the John Eastman memo.
We're not talking about "another term" with Trump as president.
If he would have pulled this off, he would effectively be a dictator. . .
1/
We're not talking about "another term" with Trump as president.
If he would have pulled this off, he would effectively be a dictator. . .
1/
Because he would have (1) overthrown an election and (2) installed himself as president in place of the duly elected president.
It would mean all democratic institutions had broken down.
It would also mean that the population would either tolerate it or be subdued by force.
2/
It would mean all democratic institutions had broken down.
It would also mean that the population would either tolerate it or be subdued by force.
2/
When we say "he came close" the question is "close to what?"
I believe we came close to a major constitutional crisis and possibly a great deal of violence and bloodshed.
3/
I believe we came close to a major constitutional crisis and possibly a great deal of violence and bloodshed.
3/
"What if the Supreme Court allowed it?"
The courts had already made clear they were not going to hand Trump the election.
I believe, to succeed (meaning take over all parts of the government) he would have needed the military willing to participate in a military coup.
4/
The courts had already made clear they were not going to hand Trump the election.
I believe, to succeed (meaning take over all parts of the government) he would have needed the military willing to participate in a military coup.
4/
The violence we would have experienced is whatever these guys would have been able to pull off.
It would have been them against law enforcement.
5/
It would have been them against law enforcement.
5/
Right-wing extremists would rather live in an autocracy than a liberal democracy.
I am using "liberal democracy" in this sense⤵️
Liberal democracies tend to expand (include more people) and they see this as illegitimate.
6/
I am using "liberal democracy" in this sense⤵️
Liberal democracies tend to expand (include more people) and they see this as illegitimate.
6/
The current right-wing extremism we are seeing today is a reaction to the civil rights movement and changes brought about since 1954 when the Supreme Court declared racial segregation illegal.
They can't and won't tolerate an inclusive government.
7/
They can't and won't tolerate an inclusive government.
https://twitter.com/ElizaBassett/status/1440432473708498945
7/
The best way to understand what is happening is this:
The United States had never actually been a multi-racial democracy. Before the modern civil rights movement, America was ruled by white men.
For the past 60 years, we've been trying to make the transition.
8/
The United States had never actually been a multi-racial democracy. Before the modern civil rights movement, America was ruled by white men.
For the past 60 years, we've been trying to make the transition.
8/
What we are seeing now is a reaction. They don't want the US to make the bridge. They want to go back to the time when white men ruled.
That's what John Eastman wants. They are terrified of a multi-racial democracy and think that Trump is the better alternative.
9/
That's what John Eastman wants. They are terrified of a multi-racial democracy and think that Trump is the better alternative.
9/
I left something out back there.
The military made clear it was not going to help Trump stay in power, and I don't believe that the US military would help overthrow an election.
10/
The military made clear it was not going to help Trump stay in power, and I don't believe that the US military would help overthrow an election.
10/
Right.
In a very convoluted way (sorry) I argued that we were not actually close to a dictatorship. Trump would have needed the courts or military.
We were, however, close to chaos if, say, Pence had gone along.
But he didn't.
In a very convoluted way (sorry) I argued that we were not actually close to a dictatorship. Trump would have needed the courts or military.
We were, however, close to chaos if, say, Pence had gone along.
But he didn't.
https://twitter.com/rpd158/status/1440437845911498756
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