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m_d_hTwo comforting moments for me amid the chaos at the Capitol yesterday, when first the NATO Secretary General, and then the US Secretary of Defense (in concert with the Joint Chiefs of Staff), confirmed that they would support the democratic transfer of power in the United States. It meant we would not have a military coup, that the problem was limited to the unofficial mobs who feel personal loyalty to Trump.
These two statements were issued as, reportedly, the President was bypassed in the chain of command with respect to the deployment of the District of Columbia National Guard to the US Capitol, in favor of the Vice President -- who has no Constitutional authority to direct the US military. Reportedly, President Trump had refused to authorize this deployment himself. At that point, the US Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff consulted directly with Vice President Pence and Congressional leadership to address the crisis at the Capitol.
After the Capitol was retaken from Trump's mob, Congress continued to debate the Republican objections to the Electoral College until after 3am, and then formally accepted the victory of Biden/Harris. Afterward the President released a statement that he would support a "peaceful transfer on January 20", although he still refused to concede the legality of the election or the fact that he received fewer votes.
I suppose we should be grateful that after four years Trump was unable to install people at the Pentagon who were personally loyal to him. There was discussion of invoking the 25th Amendment yesterday, to remove the President, but instead the chain of command temporarily bypassed him.
There's a large bloc of 138 Republican representatives in the House who are still there for Trump, as a group representing 105 million US residents, or about 32% of us. These are your die-hard fascists who would rather tear up the Constitution to keep Trump in power. Why Trump? That I will probably go to my grave never comprehending.
The conventional wisdom is suddenly doubting that Trump will remain a potent force in US politics after January 20, but I don't see this guy transitioning into a quiet retirement in which he takes up painting as a hobby.
These two statements were issued as, reportedly, the President was bypassed in the chain of command with respect to the deployment of the District of Columbia National Guard to the US Capitol, in favor of the Vice President -- who has no Constitutional authority to direct the US military. Reportedly, President Trump had refused to authorize this deployment himself. At that point, the US Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff consulted directly with Vice President Pence and Congressional leadership to address the crisis at the Capitol.
After the Capitol was retaken from Trump's mob, Congress continued to debate the Republican objections to the Electoral College until after 3am, and then formally accepted the victory of Biden/Harris. Afterward the President released a statement that he would support a "peaceful transfer on January 20", although he still refused to concede the legality of the election or the fact that he received fewer votes.
I suppose we should be grateful that after four years Trump was unable to install people at the Pentagon who were personally loyal to him. There was discussion of invoking the 25th Amendment yesterday, to remove the President, but instead the chain of command temporarily bypassed him.
There's a large bloc of 138 Republican representatives in the House who are still there for Trump, as a group representing 105 million US residents, or about 32% of us. These are your die-hard fascists who would rather tear up the Constitution to keep Trump in power. Why Trump? That I will probably go to my grave never comprehending.
The conventional wisdom is suddenly doubting that Trump will remain a potent force in US politics after January 20, but I don't see this guy transitioning into a quiet retirement in which he takes up painting as a hobby.