Dear Joyce: We are "not" in this together. Today is January 6th, and most if not all of the major morning TV news shows did not discuss the January 6th insurrection. I kept switching channels searching for even one program. The Trump lunacy has spread to our major soruces of news, and apparently if the TV shows do not agree with Trump then they "say nothing."
In a few short weeks, Trump will become the 47th President of the United States - and perhaps the last. This is NOT something to celebrate, but an inauguration date that may go down in history as the end of the U.S. democracy. Trump was telling the truth when he said: “If I am elected, there won’t be future elections, and you won’t have to vote again.” (The Hill, July 29, 2024) In Russia, the president is elected directly through a popular vote to a six-year term. The process is basically the same as in the U.S. - except under Putin, it is totally manipulated. Putin began his presidency in 2000 and has been in office for almost 25 years. He has no intention of retiring.
Donald Trump is either following Putin’s instructions or following Putin’s playbook to a tee. If Trump says there will be no more elections once he is re-elected - then BELIEVE HIM. This will be a jaw-dropping revelation for those who voted for this man, as well as an immeasurable giant step toward a dictatorship. Roughly half the voting population in the United States voted for Donald Trump. In doing so, they have unleashed a sociopath leadership that will mimic the government currently found in Russia under Putin - a ruthless dictatorship based on lies and propaganda that lead to brainwashing. This is a term that refers to both coercive persuasion and a systematic process aimed at altering an individual’s beliefs, attitudes and behavior. (www.science.howstuffworks.com)
In the very near future, those who disagree with Trump may be arrested. Under Trump, those who walked thousands of miles to escape persecution and threats to live in the “land of free” may be seized and thrown into prisons, detention camps, and/or deported. Laws and justice - the backbones of the USA that I know - are almost obsolete, and the truth is now truant and no longer relative. We are becoming a living/breathing version of 1984.
Orwell wrote in the futuristic book called 1984, “war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.” (Ibid) And yes, the other half of the American population are tired of this doltish but deadly game. We see right through Trump’s lies.
In the U.S., Trump uses the slogan "Make America Great Again". It is the exact same type of rhetorical, stylistic and convincing message found in Russia or in Germany under Hitler. Trump "plants the seeds" and watch them grow in the minds of his many brainwashed followers. The truth - or law - no longer matters to these adherent partisans - it is what Trump says and wants. Trump has seduced a large portion of the American public, just like other dictators “whose reign is based on a disinformation and propaganda ecosystem which elevates malicious content and creates an illusion of credibility.” (U.S. Department of State, “Pillars of Disinformation).
The truth about the January 6th insurrection is one such example. According to the NYT on January 5th, 2025, an article written by Dan Barry and Alan Feuer, says: “The Jan. 6 tale that Mr. Trump tells is its own kind of replacement theory, one that covers over the marble-hard facts the (same) way a blue carpet will cover those tainted Capitol steps on Inauguration Day.” The FACTS go on to tell us that “hundreds of thousands of tips, tens of thousands of hours of video footage, thousands of seized cellphones all amount to the truth. The attack on the Capitol was, after all, the largest digital crime scene in history, the total estimated cost of its aftermath exceeding $2.7 billion.” (Ibid) The Justice Department has stated that “over half of the 1,600 defendants have pleaded guilty. Sentences have ranged from a few days in jail to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy.” (Ibid) They all point the finger at Trump and the speech he gave after falsely claiming that the election was stolen, and that Trump had “reminded them to fight like hell.” (Ibid)
Within six months of the insurrection, which according to Constitutional Law was a treasonous act, Trump changed his description from “calamitous” to a “largely peaceful day.” He said: “the mob had been ‘ushered in’ by the police and those who had rallied with him were a ‘loving crowd’.” (Ibid) By mid-June, Tucker Carlson at Fox News – one of the most watched commentators in cable news, started saying that the “riot had been a false-flag operation orchestrated by the F.B.I.” (Ibid) Two Fox News contributors resigned saying that the Tucker program was “a hodgepodge of factual inaccuracies, half-truths, deceptive imagery and damning omissions.” (Ibid) It was a LIE.
As Trump’s mockery of American justice was reaching large proportions, there was adulation and adoration of those who had attacked the Capitol. Instead of “marauders, vandals, and aggressors, they were now hostages, martyrs, and patriots.” (Ibid). Trump then began to call these people “political prisoners.” (Ibid).
Rooted in Lenin-Marxist thought, the use of disinformation, propaganda, and brainwashing was first seen in the Russian 1917 Revolution. It was a rhetorical vehicle for spreading false ideas and thoughts. The Chinese began to use propaganda as demonstrated in the 1930 Mao Zedong letter showing his influence on the Chinese people – again, all lies. Then in the 1930s, Hitler (Germany) converted an entire peaceful nation into mass murderers. They slaughtered over six million humans, and about another 15 to 20 million on the battlefields attempting to stop Hitler’s madness.
History has tracked Putin’s rise to power in Russia directly due to his 15 years working as a Russian KGB spy in East Germany. While there, he learned Hitler’s methodologies and fascism. He returned to Russia to become the Russian “presidential leader” and was voted into office after the horrific bombing of several Russian apartment houses where hundreds of Russians died. The public was told that this was the Chechnya’s rebels, but it was not. It was a ploy to gain public sympathy before the Russian election, just like Trump’s “supposed” assignation attempt that grazed his ear. For a man who loves himself as much as Trump, he was amazingly calm. Could this just be an act for sympathy?
Trump began to travel to Russia in 1987. In the 1990’s he attended the grand opening of the Beverly Hills – a nightclub, casino, and restaurant that was half owned by Chuck Norris and the other half by Mayor Luzhkov of Moscow. This place was known in Russia for its corruption, its naked women, and its famous faces – especially from the U.S. Unbeknown to Donald Trump, my daughter Lize managed this joint venture. His behavior at this nightclub demonstrated that he was the subject of typical Russian KGB/FSB enlistment and entrapment. I had seen it many times and experienced it myself.
Russians use flattery, money, and women/sex to trap foreigners to work for Russia. They have this process perfected. Every single hotel room in Russia where a foreigner stays – without exception – has cameras and listening devices. Everywhere a foreigner goes, he is followed, photographed, and listened to. And every Friday, these photos and reports are submitted to the KGB/FSB for review and to find compromising material. Trump did not escape this lure or this trap.
In 1997, a book called The Foundations of Geopolitics was published in Russia. It outlines Putin’s presidential plans and goals, which includes the recruitment of Americans to work for Russia. It also includes the destruction of the United States from within. Putin believes that the U.S. caused the downfall of the Soviet Union which he says was the greatest catastrophe of the last century. He pledged retaliation and “tit for tat.”
In his famous 1956 speech, First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the USSR, said “History is on our side. We will bury you.” (CIA.gov) At that time, Putin was an impressionable young boy whose wish was to become a KGB agent and “make Khrushchev proud of him.”
Project 2025 in the U.S., The Foundations of Geopolitics in Russia, and the book called Mein Kampf written by Hitler in Germany 100 years ago are all interchangeable - they impose the will of one man over the will of the people. They initiate dictatorship over democracy.
This January 6th, it is hard to believe in our democracy when our country just elected a President who has politically betrayed our Constitution. Donald Trump is now attempting to imprison Liz Cheney and others who sat on the January 6th Committee to investigate his crimes. This is no different than Putin imprisoning Alexei Navalny in Russia - who eventually was murdered while in prison. And although his poisoning, imprisonment, and murder may eliminate the human being - Navalny's legend and the truth continues. Both Putin/Trump (and other dictators) are consummate liars, however their web of lies cannot withstand the light of truth.
‘WE USED TO WONDER HOW THE GERMAN PEOPLE COULD LET ONE ANGRY MAN LEAD THEM TO RUIN. NOW WE KNOW.” (aunt_evil)
Elizabeth Graham, From Democracy to Democrazy (and now to Dictatorship)
Yes Elizabeth, that is the long answer. But do remember, the true opposition to all that is happening IS the WE that Joyce reminds us of every day. WE will and anways will be strong in our commitment to truth, the Constitution and EACH OTHER. Never give up.
Last night exactly 12:00 AM the capable law reporter KYLE CHENEY reported that "Federal prosecutors are weighing charging as many as 200 more people for their involvement in the Jan. 6 [Capitol] attack." That's in addition to the "1,583 persons that have faced federal charges."
We still have unfinished legal business to be done.
Very good question. I will be checking the post 1/20/25 noon status of JAMES RAY EPPS & other persons NOT pardoned. James was truly remorseful & cooperated in the prosecution of other Capitol Attackers.
James only got 12 months probation, 100 hours of community service & a token $500 for restitution. Case # 1-23-CR-00321.
Trump II will have to use his federal CLEMENCY power for criminal matters but, only crimes "against the United States". Trump II will NOT be able to reach state felonies such as the 34 felonies DJT was just permanently branded with by Judge Merchan.
Stay tuned for any further orders Judge Merchan this Friday 1/10/25.The Judge has already DENIED Trump II second effort to dismiss- delay his sentencing for 34 felonies.
Why are they "weighing" it instead of taking the appropriate action? We've had enough tap dancing, considering, delaying, no show of force in the DOJ, utter weakness, and allowing fascism to metastatise throughout our home killing democracy and way of life as we know it never to return. Too many in authority have allowed this to happen and have not lifted a finger to stop its progress! We may be in this together, but we have no authority and will have even less in two weeks when our first dictator takes office. Heaven help us!
But here is my question: how will "we" be a true opposition if, as I suspect, Trump ignores the law and we are faced with an opposition bearing arms? We couldn't even get a J6 case tried in court, for heaven's sake! How do we oppose martial law or some such. We have lost our democracy and the Autocrat party is so deeply embedded in our country we may not get it back for a long time.
[Our last chance to get some revelation that could cripple putinwannabee is the Smith report, which is now being challenged by Trump's legal team. Garland ought to just release the report because technically, he can. His action would be frowned on by the legal establishment but at least half of America would give him a standing ovation for finally doing something so that the public sees just what went down four years ago.
Why would it matter what the legal profession thought? If nothing changes, the profession may be very different from what it is now. There is no excuse for not releasing it, but we've been disappointed many times before. This would just be another. I expect tfg will again be allowed to slither iff the hook. Thanks, Smith!
Dear friends, please consider this social action. Sometimes, doing something, no matter how small, is the antidote to despair.:
"On January 18th, thousands of everyday people will gather in DC and nationwide to demand and defend our freedoms. Will you be there with us?
This march will be a monumental effort—and we need all hands on deck. If you’ll be in the Washington, D.C. area and can help, sign up now to volunteer.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for this fulsome, clear-eyed, historical account. What is so flabbergasting is why 70 million or so Americans put this man back in office. I too am looking for ways to hold fast to our democracy and in that we are in this together.
One way is to get people to vote in 2026. It is the one way we have of turning the momentum back in the direction of the law. We must vote in those who will uphold it. Try to run for a local, state or federal office if you can. And fight against voter suppression and gerrymandering as hard as you can. That is what contributed to the loss of elections all over the country. We build from the bottom up, and work at it as much and as long as it takes. But above all, everyone must vote.
We need to get beyond being ‘flabbergasted’ and prepare to be defiant. Personally, I have reconciled myself with the possibility that over half of our electorate are, at best, apathetic, and at worst, interested in living under an administration based on lies, propaganda and authoritarianism. It is sad that many Americans take democracy for granted. I sincerely hope they don’t regret their decisions.
Elizabeth, that was an amazing piece. It hits all the major points of the rise and bad behavior of Donald Trump and his Klan whose goal is to take over our nation and do with us all whatever his demented mind and those of this sycophants can come up with. Hitler was crazy, but he drew to himself sadists, psychopaths, and other evils who were willing to worship him and do his bidding no matter how detestable. That is what Trump has been envisioning and working toward for decades. He, like a spoiled toddler, wants whatever he wants at any moment and to do harm to anyone who will not give it to him. Why anyone is drawn to such a person is beyond my comprehension, but clearly he has something to entice them to act in ways they probably would not do otherwise (OK, some of them would, happily do harm to others either physically or financially, or in some other way). So, today, we get the confirmation that this jerk is about to be president again and Democrats have no choice but to go along since we can't prove fraud or anything that would tell us of the cheating that Republicans did to get Trump into office again (Russian and other foreign interference, gerrymandering, "lost" ballots, constant Republican lying in ads, billions in billionaire money to Republican coffers, etc.) because all of these except Russian/foreign interference are legal, as it seems is Musk's election interference. We the People who care need to find ways to step up to keep our democracy.
Elizabeth, your writing so thorough, articulate, thoughtful, and absolutely correct as we have watched all systems failing judicial, executive, and legislative as the bottom line , and yet as I scan the responses it appears the two sides are both manipulated , on the one hand to the mid and disinformation invective spewed that keeps the extremist right ready at a moments notice, one has only to review the chilling report of the mole who whistleblew to the propublica reporter yesterday to see the long tentacles far reaching into our government and the trickle down into our communities, a plague upon us. But that same manipulation also converges on the left, much talk of don’t worry if we just stay calm and appeal to the rule of law and vote , how has that been working for us I do not know the answer, but engaged with nature, I see our time limited, humanity inhumane, and wonder, was it all worth it. Why have we throughout history chosen not to change the trajectory, a lesson learned.
Hi Susan. The insanity unleashed by Trump is primarily to save his own life - which I am sure has been owned 100% by Putin. Americans just do not get the personal threat to Trump and his family. This is not sympathy, but just plain reality. Cassidy Hutchinson mentioned that Trump is terrified of being poisoned - which is a typical Russian method used to kill those not loyal to the Kremlin. Trump sold his soul and our country to the Russians decades ago. He is now on the hook, and would do and say just about anything to remain in the White House.
I "liked" this especially to ratify that we are "not" in this together as a statement of resistance. I am outraged again especially today remembering, being reminded about what has not happened, what has resulted in this effort to grab power from the beginning. The insurrection just kept going to this day. Finally success for the haters, dividers, destroyers of democracy.. convinced they will make America great again.
The persistent lies morphed into truth, a "truth" that engineered this grab, this support for Trump all the more with lies equivocation, excuses. On election day 2024 it came to a shrug that spoke of ignorance and vulnerability of the electorate. This is the WE of "we are in THIS together". At the most basic level enough people do not understand this to be true; they are at war with the rest of us and aim to cause us existential harm. So what are they going to do with us?
You are so right - this situation will not hold. The massive ignorance in our country needs radical education and factual information backed by proof. Please read some of my other substack messages at: From Democracy to Democrazy. Warm wishes for 2025.
I lived and worked in six dictator-led countries over twenty years, and was in Moscow during most of Trump's trips there. My view of Trump, and what has happened to our "beloved" country is a disaster but we need more people to truly understand the Trump-Russia connection, and how Russia operates. Warm wishes for 2025. Elizabeth
The Mueller Report made a strong case on that connection. ✍️ The only reason charges were not brought against Trump, at least for obstructing the investigation, was his being President at the time. 😳 Special Counsel Mueller deferred to the self-serving Office of Legal Counsel memorandum of 1973 (three weeks before the Watergate chapter of the Saturday Night Massacre) that asserted that a sitting President could not be indicted. 😱 Thank you for responding, Elizabeth. 🤝 My tuition check in in the mail. 😉
Honest question---how did you cope? I'm having a hard time imagining how to keep going as if things are normal if/when we lose our democracy. In many ways it seems like it will be the proverbial frog in a boiling pot and in others it seems unimaginable how to keep going.
I am not despairing quite yet. Trump will be (unbelievably) inaugurated and he and his power grabbers will try to rule absolutely. This is a test, no doubt, on our form of government and the people. It has to play out.
What a masterful and chilling synthesis, Elizabeth. I wonder if any of the legacy newspapers would be willing to publish it. Thank you for your clarity and courage.
Dear Gretchen: If you know of anyone willing to publish my message, you have my permission to pass it along to anyone and everyone. Please read my other posts at my substack: From Deocracy to Democrazy. Warm wishes for 2025 and buckler up.
I didn't turn the TV on until this afternoon, and while I didn't spend a lot of time on any news channel, every single MSNBC host was talking about it during their hour(s) as well as showing videos and including guests who had been there. Of course we know that Comcast has bailed on them and CNBC (which I don't know much about), and the head bozo himself will do everything he can to neutralize them. I'd like to think the people in this country wouldn't tolerate him sending people to prison for using their First Amendment rights, but he has proven over and over again that he doesn't give a damn about the Constitution, possibly because he's never read it. It would be fitting if he was struck by lightning on Jan. 20, given the enormity of the lie his oath will be.
Just a small response to your excellent piece. Amy Goodman did bring up Jan 6th in a couple of instances on her show today, as did one of her main guests, showing the connection between what happened 4 years ago to some of what is (unfortunately) happening today.
Thanks for your well reasoned, fully informed, and impassioned comment. It rings true for me and any other person of moderate education and intellect. I witnessed the insurrection in real-time. It certainly was not a peaceful Capitol tour. It was not a political protest. It was not a riot. It was a fucking seditious insurrection resulting in many deaths incited by President 45. The Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Qanon, all of which participated in the insurrection, are all on the FBI’s domestic terrorism list. I will never stop calling the events of January 6, 2021 anything other than an insurrection and attempted coup d’etat.
Elizabeth, The comment underscore above, about "no more further elections" worries me as well. I appreciate your thorough and detailed post above. John Smith
Elizabeth Graham, thank you for this. I have not read a more clear and cogent summary of what has happened regarding Trump, the GOP capitulation/ media to him, and the brainwashed followers than this .
Elizabeth Graham, No, we don't REALLY know about what made the German people kill the "Other" or the American Trump cult follow hate, misogyny, racism. Yeah, we know actions, facts, relationships, occurrences, pathologies, economic difficulties, histories but none of this gives us insight into the deep deep roots of what has made so many Americans so succeptible to lack of empathy, lack of care, hatred which is really what needs to be given deep deep reflection and attention.
Elizabeth, this is spot on, amazing encapsulation of all things and sadly it's very accurate in the reflection of the media especially. I have 100% opted out of legacy media except for NPR and PBS because they are betrayers and part of the problem. NPR did talk about 2021 and noted that Capitol tours do not mention the insurrection which blew my mind. The person quoted in the NPR piece was a FL man (of course) who said it was good it wasn't mentioned because he didn't believe anything happened.
The media in their avarice to have access and their billionaire owners have failed us since 2015 when they started with all the free advertising for him and with the normalization ever since. It's shocking but not surprising that the MSM opted out of commenting on 4 years ago today. It's part of what makes this next phase so scary---the absence of a legitimate media affirms the conspiracy theorists and the people like the FL quoted above and solidifies their already strong beliefs that any stories against Trump were all lies. And now they can say "see? Now that they can't stop him from being President again, they aren't bothering trying to smear him with lies" whenever the media bows down, doesn't report, softens the language, minimizes or negates the reality. The loss of the media was SO fast after the election that it makes me fear what will there even be to hang onto and from which to organize outside of our own silos and tribes.
That there appears to be a worldwide slide away from democracy makes it both worse and better in a sickening kind of way. Better in that there isn't a safe place to run to, really, so staying here to resist might as well be the answer. Maybe better in that it could all become SO obvious that the hoped for snap back to some semblance of normal democracy could come faster.
The downside of avoiding the legacy media is that I can almost sort of pretend it will be ok. Then of course the cogency and clarity of writing like yours brings me right back into the reality of the darkness that's descending on us all.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Donald Trump would not be held to account, let alone be re-elected after the violence we saw on January 6, 2021. It’s surreal.
Yes, this is nothing short of Orwellian. And the reason it is happening is because everyone assumes that someone else will surely do the right thing. Preaching to the choir rarely does anything to change the world.
America follows the Rule of Law to help maintain peace and order in our Nation. The Laws may be followed, broken, ignored, rewritten, and new ones made. Then, if one breaks the law, we have a judicial system to assess if the laws have been broken or not, and we have an Enforcement system to punish those who have been found guilty of breaking the Law by the courts and their peers.
Attacking our nation’s Capital, causing mayhem, and including injury and death as the result of their attack, is not forgivable.
If only America truly did follow a rule of law for EVERYONE all the same. We don't, and frankly not sure we ever really have. There have always been two systems. The insurrection was not and is not forgivable yet they will be forgiven (Pardoned) and we are all cursed with having the main perpetrator inflicted upon us as "leader" for another 4 years with a totally emboldened White Christian Nationalist movement taking over and a totally corrupt conservative wing of the SC saying anything goes as long as it's our guy doing it.
An absolutely brilliant piece of writing. Thank you. I watched in horror while the rioters entered the capital and I was absolutely terrified even though I lived very safely on the West Coast. I’m still incredibly angry at Merritt Garland for not quickly putting together a team to investigate Trump. I try not to get into despair thinking about how he always seems to get away with everything. I do believe he will be judged at some point in his life. How did we get here and how do we get out of here. That is the question.
IF we finally extricate ourselves from this morass it will be a long, difficult slog as this coup has been a long time in the making. Every institution that this country depended on to keep it going had to be undermined as it slowly was. We can see that as it happened with hindsight. It was a slow drip, drip, drip process. We got some relief during Democratic presidencies but the work by the right never let up. If we weren’t in shooting wars we were in verbal wars. While the first kills bodies, the latter, relentlessly kills souls. I wish there were an easy fix but I don’t see it right now. But then, I’m old and cynical, having seen a lot. So while Joyce is ever so right, in that we are all in this together, those of us in the opposition to what looks like an inevitable slide into authoritarianism, have got to get more aggressive and get smarter in how we go about overcoming the slide.
And never forget January 6, 2021; another day of infamy!
The book “Democracy in Chains” by Nancy MacLean shows this long history in context beginning with VP John C Calhoun of Charleston, SC utterance before the civil war from which the title is drawn.
Unfortunately, It seems Garland is much better suited as a judge than a prosecutor. When confronted by a mad dog you need to act quickly if you are to come out unscathed.
Connie, I do hope you are right about Trump meeting judgement. However, I don't see how that will happen. He is living in dementia at this point, hardly able to put a thought together. He repeats the old nonsense and lies with a few words changed, but just what he is being fed by his handlers. I do wish someone would investigate to see if he is wearing an earpiece through which he is being fed what to say, or somehow kept on some kind of track. I would bet he is, so then one wonders who is feeding him the hatred, insane talk, and lies or enhancing what Trump is already "thinking." Once he is president, no one will dare to let out that information. His entourage is a cadre of cowards, sycophants, and folks who have chosen evil as their lifestyle. Unfortunately that includes Republican members of Congress and state legislatures and governorships too which makes this a very dangerous time for all of us. We really need to stand together!
I agree, Garland was the wrong man for that event. Was he afraid? His inaction was breathtaking. And now we have the result. Along with our system of counter suits and the treatment of the very rich. Who really is not about the law?
If you get a chance, please read “From Democracy to Democrazy” sold on Amazon. It may help you understand how we got here. I don’t know how to get out of here YET.
The fact that Trump was elected at all says that his voters are ignorant about, and indifferent toward, the chaos and darkness his term will introduce. His willingness to distort the truth about January 6, 2021 events is merely one example of how he plans to mislead our nation into a downfall of democracy. The time for Resistance is now.
It's actually even scarier than that. The whole 7 Mtns Mandate/Dominionist theocrats actually want to bring about the End Times. That's also why they have their Israel policy and why they don't want to support Ukraine. Way too many people are ill informed about how deeply embedded and how far this crew has gotten into taking over the "7 Mountains". I recommend reading Andra Watkins' substack. Also "The Violent Take It By Force". Another good read is "Jesus & John Wayne" to understand the evolution of this kind of religious fanaticism that actually doesn't resemble WWJD at all.
Merrick Garland's failure to make prosecution of the planners and perpetrators of January 6th his immediate priority should go down as one of the biggest missteps in our nation's history. The fact that we are here today, awaiting the second inauguration of someone who is now a convicted felon and whose avowed intent is to make our country a dictatorship, is largely due to Garland's dereliction to his duty to bring criminal charges against the most serious challenge to our democracy as soon as he was appointed.
I wonder what would have happened if the Capitol Police had stood their ground when deadly force was justified in so many of the individual encounters at the Capitol.
Unfortunately I think it would really have muddied the waters if that had occurred. The best way to deal with it would have been immediate and rigid enforcement of the laws against treason. The government would have had to be squeaky clean in its approach, but it would have been very effective.
You were right on the mark then, Joyce, and continue to be. We appreciate all you do on so many levels. Willy our questions, the right ones, ever be answered? The J 6 committee tried, but I doubt they will be answered any time soon. And ignore the inevitable trolls who will continue to spread the propaganda they have been fed.
That acting acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., who repeatedly reassured the public that he would prosecute every case of wrongdoing, once was married to my cousin. Trump appointee. MAGAT.
“Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.”
“[T]he only title in our democracy superior to that of President [is] the title of citizen.”
The failures of the DOJ, those in the deliberate "acting roles" during the "lame duck" period of '20-'21 and inaction of the current. The unfortunate (for US) corruption of the Rule of Law by Chief Justice John Roberts weighs heavily today. How is it even possible that his decision handed down regarding Presidential Immunity in '20 (19-635) which indicated 'the public is entitled to every man's evidence' can then be contradicted in '24 to 'except this man' for the benefit of a repeat criminal offender? A man convicted of fraud and election interference who then went on to interfere in two additional elections. I hate what these disgusting people have done to our Country. 💔
Sadly, you are right, Joyce, that this analysis holds up. Sadly, because the divisions that permitted the insurrection have hardened and too many of those responsible for the storming of the Capitol have escaped punishment, none more notably than DJT. Sadly, because the tail continues to wag the dog as the entrenched and corrupt elements of the GOP successfully undermine faith that government can deliver good quality of life to citizens. Sadly, because the pernicious bile too many have absorbed is rooted in racism, homophonic, xenophobia, and misogyny. Continuing to resist is exhausting given how little progress resistance seems to have made. But, surrender is not an option. So we can work in all the little but meaningful ways that can add up to eventual success. That's what I will do.
If Donald Trump is certified on this day, I will believe that the Constitution has been laid to waste. We have Senators and Congressmen who still walk the halls of congress as traitors to the words written on that paper. The nation has changed. Excuse me, but I am very depressed on this day. What happened on J6 was not okay. And it is not ever going to be okay for me.
It’s a sad day, but our country has weathered these storms before, including during the first Trump administration. I’m grateful to people such as Joyce Vance, Rachel Maddow, Heather Cox Richardson, and Robert Reich for giving us the historical perspective. We need to do our research and raise our voices. History is calling on us to step up and speak truth to power.
Four years on, and "justice" imposed upon only the lowly foot-soldiers, while the instigators, abettors, sympathizers, and divers camp followers are now working strenuously to rewrite the entirety of that day. and if the recent election was any guide, they've largely succeeded, of that surely there can be no doubt.
Who knows, perhaps even Marjorie Taylor Greene's suggestion of enshrining 1/6/2021 as a national commemorative holiday may come to pass in an Orwellian future.
Jan 6, 2021 was the loss of the innocence of the United States. It was the first time there was not a peaceful transfer of power after an National election. The actions since then, the Big Lie that there was no attempt to violently attempt to prevent the transfer of power has shaken our people to their core. Nothing can turn back the clock. As a Nation we will live with it and its aftermath forever. I watched live video feed of the events on many sources. I know the truth
It's hard because at every opportunity, MAGA misrepresents what happened on that day. I know, and you do, but younger voters may not have watched it live 4 years, 8 years, 12, and then it's gone. Erased from history.
We must not let it pass from our national memory. Events, good and bad, from our national memory are remembered, the events of Jan 6 2021 must be one of those
This is galling after all these years. Just a couple days ago, we got a picture of sneakers worn by the guy who likely set the pipe bombs at DNC headquarters.
Wtf?
There are so many feet to lay this at: McConnell, Garland.
Well, a third of eligible American voters elected Trump. Remember that a third of them didn’t even bother to cast a vote. The other two thirds weren’t that far apart numerically. My hope is that the Republicans screw things up badly enough to lose badly in the next two elections but not so badly that Democrats can’t fix it when they take over again, as they always do.
Me, too, Jody. They are off to a good start at it. My concern is that when their usual doesn't work, that they will go off the deep end in their desperate desire to keep control. I say "they" because it's pretty clear that Trump is not in control and is not making the decisions. How long can they keep this up? This is why I am still involved, in the limited way I can be. I feel ok about that, though, because I've seen what a lot of people with limited means and even limited access can accomplish when we coordinate and collaborate with those who can. We can't expect people who are in leadership positions to have the clout they need if we don't speak up and let them know we have their back. And one thinig we can do is quietly build relationships with the non-voters until they see that they too can make a difference.
Still a powerful, meaningful and scary assessment! Now the leaders of that threat are moving into the White House, and important agencies of government again. A lot to worry about. How can the third of eligible voters who stayed home on election day not feel responsible for the mess we’re in?
Dear Joyce: We are "not" in this together. Today is January 6th, and most if not all of the major morning TV news shows did not discuss the January 6th insurrection. I kept switching channels searching for even one program. The Trump lunacy has spread to our major soruces of news, and apparently if the TV shows do not agree with Trump then they "say nothing."
In a few short weeks, Trump will become the 47th President of the United States - and perhaps the last. This is NOT something to celebrate, but an inauguration date that may go down in history as the end of the U.S. democracy. Trump was telling the truth when he said: “If I am elected, there won’t be future elections, and you won’t have to vote again.” (The Hill, July 29, 2024) In Russia, the president is elected directly through a popular vote to a six-year term. The process is basically the same as in the U.S. - except under Putin, it is totally manipulated. Putin began his presidency in 2000 and has been in office for almost 25 years. He has no intention of retiring.
Donald Trump is either following Putin’s instructions or following Putin’s playbook to a tee. If Trump says there will be no more elections once he is re-elected - then BELIEVE HIM. This will be a jaw-dropping revelation for those who voted for this man, as well as an immeasurable giant step toward a dictatorship. Roughly half the voting population in the United States voted for Donald Trump. In doing so, they have unleashed a sociopath leadership that will mimic the government currently found in Russia under Putin - a ruthless dictatorship based on lies and propaganda that lead to brainwashing. This is a term that refers to both coercive persuasion and a systematic process aimed at altering an individual’s beliefs, attitudes and behavior. (www.science.howstuffworks.com)
In the very near future, those who disagree with Trump may be arrested. Under Trump, those who walked thousands of miles to escape persecution and threats to live in the “land of free” may be seized and thrown into prisons, detention camps, and/or deported. Laws and justice - the backbones of the USA that I know - are almost obsolete, and the truth is now truant and no longer relative. We are becoming a living/breathing version of 1984.
Orwell wrote in the futuristic book called 1984, “war is peace, freedom is slavery, and ignorance is strength.” (Ibid) And yes, the other half of the American population are tired of this doltish but deadly game. We see right through Trump’s lies.
In the U.S., Trump uses the slogan "Make America Great Again". It is the exact same type of rhetorical, stylistic and convincing message found in Russia or in Germany under Hitler. Trump "plants the seeds" and watch them grow in the minds of his many brainwashed followers. The truth - or law - no longer matters to these adherent partisans - it is what Trump says and wants. Trump has seduced a large portion of the American public, just like other dictators “whose reign is based on a disinformation and propaganda ecosystem which elevates malicious content and creates an illusion of credibility.” (U.S. Department of State, “Pillars of Disinformation).
The truth about the January 6th insurrection is one such example. According to the NYT on January 5th, 2025, an article written by Dan Barry and Alan Feuer, says: “The Jan. 6 tale that Mr. Trump tells is its own kind of replacement theory, one that covers over the marble-hard facts the (same) way a blue carpet will cover those tainted Capitol steps on Inauguration Day.” The FACTS go on to tell us that “hundreds of thousands of tips, tens of thousands of hours of video footage, thousands of seized cellphones all amount to the truth. The attack on the Capitol was, after all, the largest digital crime scene in history, the total estimated cost of its aftermath exceeding $2.7 billion.” (Ibid) The Justice Department has stated that “over half of the 1,600 defendants have pleaded guilty. Sentences have ranged from a few days in jail to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy.” (Ibid) They all point the finger at Trump and the speech he gave after falsely claiming that the election was stolen, and that Trump had “reminded them to fight like hell.” (Ibid)
Within six months of the insurrection, which according to Constitutional Law was a treasonous act, Trump changed his description from “calamitous” to a “largely peaceful day.” He said: “the mob had been ‘ushered in’ by the police and those who had rallied with him were a ‘loving crowd’.” (Ibid) By mid-June, Tucker Carlson at Fox News – one of the most watched commentators in cable news, started saying that the “riot had been a false-flag operation orchestrated by the F.B.I.” (Ibid) Two Fox News contributors resigned saying that the Tucker program was “a hodgepodge of factual inaccuracies, half-truths, deceptive imagery and damning omissions.” (Ibid) It was a LIE.
As Trump’s mockery of American justice was reaching large proportions, there was adulation and adoration of those who had attacked the Capitol. Instead of “marauders, vandals, and aggressors, they were now hostages, martyrs, and patriots.” (Ibid). Trump then began to call these people “political prisoners.” (Ibid).
Rooted in Lenin-Marxist thought, the use of disinformation, propaganda, and brainwashing was first seen in the Russian 1917 Revolution. It was a rhetorical vehicle for spreading false ideas and thoughts. The Chinese began to use propaganda as demonstrated in the 1930 Mao Zedong letter showing his influence on the Chinese people – again, all lies. Then in the 1930s, Hitler (Germany) converted an entire peaceful nation into mass murderers. They slaughtered over six million humans, and about another 15 to 20 million on the battlefields attempting to stop Hitler’s madness.
History has tracked Putin’s rise to power in Russia directly due to his 15 years working as a Russian KGB spy in East Germany. While there, he learned Hitler’s methodologies and fascism. He returned to Russia to become the Russian “presidential leader” and was voted into office after the horrific bombing of several Russian apartment houses where hundreds of Russians died. The public was told that this was the Chechnya’s rebels, but it was not. It was a ploy to gain public sympathy before the Russian election, just like Trump’s “supposed” assignation attempt that grazed his ear. For a man who loves himself as much as Trump, he was amazingly calm. Could this just be an act for sympathy?
Trump began to travel to Russia in 1987. In the 1990’s he attended the grand opening of the Beverly Hills – a nightclub, casino, and restaurant that was half owned by Chuck Norris and the other half by Mayor Luzhkov of Moscow. This place was known in Russia for its corruption, its naked women, and its famous faces – especially from the U.S. Unbeknown to Donald Trump, my daughter Lize managed this joint venture. His behavior at this nightclub demonstrated that he was the subject of typical Russian KGB/FSB enlistment and entrapment. I had seen it many times and experienced it myself.
Russians use flattery, money, and women/sex to trap foreigners to work for Russia. They have this process perfected. Every single hotel room in Russia where a foreigner stays – without exception – has cameras and listening devices. Everywhere a foreigner goes, he is followed, photographed, and listened to. And every Friday, these photos and reports are submitted to the KGB/FSB for review and to find compromising material. Trump did not escape this lure or this trap.
In 1997, a book called The Foundations of Geopolitics was published in Russia. It outlines Putin’s presidential plans and goals, which includes the recruitment of Americans to work for Russia. It also includes the destruction of the United States from within. Putin believes that the U.S. caused the downfall of the Soviet Union which he says was the greatest catastrophe of the last century. He pledged retaliation and “tit for tat.”
In his famous 1956 speech, First Secretary Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the USSR, said “History is on our side. We will bury you.” (CIA.gov) At that time, Putin was an impressionable young boy whose wish was to become a KGB agent and “make Khrushchev proud of him.”
Project 2025 in the U.S., The Foundations of Geopolitics in Russia, and the book called Mein Kampf written by Hitler in Germany 100 years ago are all interchangeable - they impose the will of one man over the will of the people. They initiate dictatorship over democracy.
This January 6th, it is hard to believe in our democracy when our country just elected a President who has politically betrayed our Constitution. Donald Trump is now attempting to imprison Liz Cheney and others who sat on the January 6th Committee to investigate his crimes. This is no different than Putin imprisoning Alexei Navalny in Russia - who eventually was murdered while in prison. And although his poisoning, imprisonment, and murder may eliminate the human being - Navalny's legend and the truth continues. Both Putin/Trump (and other dictators) are consummate liars, however their web of lies cannot withstand the light of truth.
‘WE USED TO WONDER HOW THE GERMAN PEOPLE COULD LET ONE ANGRY MAN LEAD THEM TO RUIN. NOW WE KNOW.” (aunt_evil)
Elizabeth Graham, From Democracy to Democrazy (and now to Dictatorship)
Yes Elizabeth, that is the long answer. But do remember, the true opposition to all that is happening IS the WE that Joyce reminds us of every day. WE will and anways will be strong in our commitment to truth, the Constitution and EACH OTHER. Never give up.
Yes Elizabeth & yes Ransom.
Last night exactly 12:00 AM the capable law reporter KYLE CHENEY reported that "Federal prosecutors are weighing charging as many as 200 more people for their involvement in the Jan. 6 [Capitol] attack." That's in addition to the "1,583 persons that have faced federal charges."
We still have unfinished legal business to be done.
How many will be pardoned in 2 weeks? Reporting suggests the vast majority.
Very good question. I will be checking the post 1/20/25 noon status of JAMES RAY EPPS & other persons NOT pardoned. James was truly remorseful & cooperated in the prosecution of other Capitol Attackers.
James only got 12 months probation, 100 hours of community service & a token $500 for restitution. Case # 1-23-CR-00321.
Trump II will have to use his federal CLEMENCY power for criminal matters but, only crimes "against the United States". Trump II will NOT be able to reach state felonies such as the 34 felonies DJT was just permanently branded with by Judge Merchan.
Stay tuned for any further orders Judge Merchan this Friday 1/10/25.The Judge has already DENIED Trump II second effort to dismiss- delay his sentencing for 34 felonies.
Why are they "weighing" it instead of taking the appropriate action? We've had enough tap dancing, considering, delaying, no show of force in the DOJ, utter weakness, and allowing fascism to metastatise throughout our home killing democracy and way of life as we know it never to return. Too many in authority have allowed this to happen and have not lifted a finger to stop its progress! We may be in this together, but we have no authority and will have even less in two weeks when our first dictator takes office. Heaven help us!
But here is my question: how will "we" be a true opposition if, as I suspect, Trump ignores the law and we are faced with an opposition bearing arms? We couldn't even get a J6 case tried in court, for heaven's sake! How do we oppose martial law or some such. We have lost our democracy and the Autocrat party is so deeply embedded in our country we may not get it back for a long time.
[Our last chance to get some revelation that could cripple putinwannabee is the Smith report, which is now being challenged by Trump's legal team. Garland ought to just release the report because technically, he can. His action would be frowned on by the legal establishment but at least half of America would give him a standing ovation for finally doing something so that the public sees just what went down four years ago.
Why would it matter what the legal profession thought? If nothing changes, the profession may be very different from what it is now. There is no excuse for not releasing it, but we've been disappointed many times before. This would just be another. I expect tfg will again be allowed to slither iff the hook. Thanks, Smith!
Yes Emilie!
Preach, sister!
Dear friends, please consider this social action. Sometimes, doing something, no matter how small, is the antidote to despair.:
"On January 18th, thousands of everyday people will gather in DC and nationwide to demand and defend our freedoms. Will you be there with us?
This march will be a monumental effort—and we need all hands on deck. If you’ll be in the Washington, D.C. area and can help, sign up now to volunteer.
Learn more at peoplesmarch.com."
P.S. This was originally the Women's March but has grown to encompass the many issues confronting us.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for this fulsome, clear-eyed, historical account. What is so flabbergasting is why 70 million or so Americans put this man back in office. I too am looking for ways to hold fast to our democracy and in that we are in this together.
One way is to get people to vote in 2026. It is the one way we have of turning the momentum back in the direction of the law. We must vote in those who will uphold it. Try to run for a local, state or federal office if you can. And fight against voter suppression and gerrymandering as hard as you can. That is what contributed to the loss of elections all over the country. We build from the bottom up, and work at it as much and as long as it takes. But above all, everyone must vote.
Lots of good law on voter suppression now & many fair congressional districts have been redrawn. Go for it!
We need to get beyond being ‘flabbergasted’ and prepare to be defiant. Personally, I have reconciled myself with the possibility that over half of our electorate are, at best, apathetic, and at worst, interested in living under an administration based on lies, propaganda and authoritarianism. It is sad that many Americans take democracy for granted. I sincerely hope they don’t regret their decisions.
Elizabeth, that was an amazing piece. It hits all the major points of the rise and bad behavior of Donald Trump and his Klan whose goal is to take over our nation and do with us all whatever his demented mind and those of this sycophants can come up with. Hitler was crazy, but he drew to himself sadists, psychopaths, and other evils who were willing to worship him and do his bidding no matter how detestable. That is what Trump has been envisioning and working toward for decades. He, like a spoiled toddler, wants whatever he wants at any moment and to do harm to anyone who will not give it to him. Why anyone is drawn to such a person is beyond my comprehension, but clearly he has something to entice them to act in ways they probably would not do otherwise (OK, some of them would, happily do harm to others either physically or financially, or in some other way). So, today, we get the confirmation that this jerk is about to be president again and Democrats have no choice but to go along since we can't prove fraud or anything that would tell us of the cheating that Republicans did to get Trump into office again (Russian and other foreign interference, gerrymandering, "lost" ballots, constant Republican lying in ads, billions in billionaire money to Republican coffers, etc.) because all of these except Russian/foreign interference are legal, as it seems is Musk's election interference. We the People who care need to find ways to step up to keep our democracy.
Elizabeth, your writing so thorough, articulate, thoughtful, and absolutely correct as we have watched all systems failing judicial, executive, and legislative as the bottom line , and yet as I scan the responses it appears the two sides are both manipulated , on the one hand to the mid and disinformation invective spewed that keeps the extremist right ready at a moments notice, one has only to review the chilling report of the mole who whistleblew to the propublica reporter yesterday to see the long tentacles far reaching into our government and the trickle down into our communities, a plague upon us. But that same manipulation also converges on the left, much talk of don’t worry if we just stay calm and appeal to the rule of law and vote , how has that been working for us I do not know the answer, but engaged with nature, I see our time limited, humanity inhumane, and wonder, was it all worth it. Why have we throughout history chosen not to change the trajectory, a lesson learned.
Hi Susan. The insanity unleashed by Trump is primarily to save his own life - which I am sure has been owned 100% by Putin. Americans just do not get the personal threat to Trump and his family. This is not sympathy, but just plain reality. Cassidy Hutchinson mentioned that Trump is terrified of being poisoned - which is a typical Russian method used to kill those not loyal to the Kremlin. Trump sold his soul and our country to the Russians decades ago. He is now on the hook, and would do and say just about anything to remain in the White House.
And Putin made it clear he is owed payback with DJT 2.0
I "liked" this especially to ratify that we are "not" in this together as a statement of resistance. I am outraged again especially today remembering, being reminded about what has not happened, what has resulted in this effort to grab power from the beginning. The insurrection just kept going to this day. Finally success for the haters, dividers, destroyers of democracy.. convinced they will make America great again.
The persistent lies morphed into truth, a "truth" that engineered this grab, this support for Trump all the more with lies equivocation, excuses. On election day 2024 it came to a shrug that spoke of ignorance and vulnerability of the electorate. This is the WE of "we are in THIS together". At the most basic level enough people do not understand this to be true; they are at war with the rest of us and aim to cause us existential harm. So what are they going to do with us?
This situation will not hold.
You are so right - this situation will not hold. The massive ignorance in our country needs radical education and factual information backed by proof. Please read some of my other substack messages at: From Democracy to Democrazy. Warm wishes for 2025.
A detestable, discouraging day. Bewildering. ¿How could this happen in my belovèd America? 😢https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7259852498906025984/ 💔 In any case, I am ready to fight; at sixty-seven, I will not last long, but no matter.✌🏽
Hi Ned and welcome. My substack is: https://egraham.substack.com/.
I lived and worked in six dictator-led countries over twenty years, and was in Moscow during most of Trump's trips there. My view of Trump, and what has happened to our "beloved" country is a disaster but we need more people to truly understand the Trump-Russia connection, and how Russia operates. Warm wishes for 2025. Elizabeth
The Mueller Report made a strong case on that connection. ✍️ The only reason charges were not brought against Trump, at least for obstructing the investigation, was his being President at the time. 😳 Special Counsel Mueller deferred to the self-serving Office of Legal Counsel memorandum of 1973 (three weeks before the Watergate chapter of the Saturday Night Massacre) that asserted that a sitting President could not be indicted. 😱 Thank you for responding, Elizabeth. 🤝 My tuition check in in the mail. 😉
Honest question---how did you cope? I'm having a hard time imagining how to keep going as if things are normal if/when we lose our democracy. In many ways it seems like it will be the proverbial frog in a boiling pot and in others it seems unimaginable how to keep going.
I am not despairing quite yet. Trump will be (unbelievably) inaugurated and he and his power grabbers will try to rule absolutely. This is a test, no doubt, on our form of government and the people. It has to play out.
What a masterful and chilling synthesis, Elizabeth. I wonder if any of the legacy newspapers would be willing to publish it. Thank you for your clarity and courage.
Dear Gretchen: If you know of anyone willing to publish my message, you have my permission to pass it along to anyone and everyone. Please read my other posts at my substack: From Deocracy to Democrazy. Warm wishes for 2025 and buckler up.
Elizabeth
I didn't turn the TV on until this afternoon, and while I didn't spend a lot of time on any news channel, every single MSNBC host was talking about it during their hour(s) as well as showing videos and including guests who had been there. Of course we know that Comcast has bailed on them and CNBC (which I don't know much about), and the head bozo himself will do everything he can to neutralize them. I'd like to think the people in this country wouldn't tolerate him sending people to prison for using their First Amendment rights, but he has proven over and over again that he doesn't give a damn about the Constitution, possibly because he's never read it. It would be fitting if he was struck by lightning on Jan. 20, given the enormity of the lie his oath will be.
🙏🏼 [prayer hands]
Just a small response to your excellent piece. Amy Goodman did bring up Jan 6th in a couple of instances on her show today, as did one of her main guests, showing the connection between what happened 4 years ago to some of what is (unfortunately) happening today.
Thanks for your well reasoned, fully informed, and impassioned comment. It rings true for me and any other person of moderate education and intellect. I witnessed the insurrection in real-time. It certainly was not a peaceful Capitol tour. It was not a political protest. It was not a riot. It was a fucking seditious insurrection resulting in many deaths incited by President 45. The Proud Boys, Oath Keepers and Qanon, all of which participated in the insurrection, are all on the FBI’s domestic terrorism list. I will never stop calling the events of January 6, 2021 anything other than an insurrection and attempted coup d’etat.
For reference, read my latest post.
https://open.substack.com/pub/wrybanter/p/an-insurrection-by-any-other-name?r=1wsqoo&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
“Donald Trump is either following Putin’s instructions or following Putin’s playbook to a tee.”
I’d add Orban’s instructions and playbook as well. After all why do you think the GOP had Orban as a keynote speaker at CPAC.
Elizabeth, The comment underscore above, about "no more further elections" worries me as well. I appreciate your thorough and detailed post above. John Smith
Joy Reid onMSNBC had an excellent report remembering the treasonous attack on the Capital on Jan 6, 2021.
Elizabeth Graham, thank you for this. I have not read a more clear and cogent summary of what has happened regarding Trump, the GOP capitulation/ media to him, and the brainwashed followers than this .
Elizabeth Graham, No, we don't REALLY know about what made the German people kill the "Other" or the American Trump cult follow hate, misogyny, racism. Yeah, we know actions, facts, relationships, occurrences, pathologies, economic difficulties, histories but none of this gives us insight into the deep deep roots of what has made so many Americans so succeptible to lack of empathy, lack of care, hatred which is really what needs to be given deep deep reflection and attention.
Elizabeth, this is spot on, amazing encapsulation of all things and sadly it's very accurate in the reflection of the media especially. I have 100% opted out of legacy media except for NPR and PBS because they are betrayers and part of the problem. NPR did talk about 2021 and noted that Capitol tours do not mention the insurrection which blew my mind. The person quoted in the NPR piece was a FL man (of course) who said it was good it wasn't mentioned because he didn't believe anything happened.
The media in their avarice to have access and their billionaire owners have failed us since 2015 when they started with all the free advertising for him and with the normalization ever since. It's shocking but not surprising that the MSM opted out of commenting on 4 years ago today. It's part of what makes this next phase so scary---the absence of a legitimate media affirms the conspiracy theorists and the people like the FL quoted above and solidifies their already strong beliefs that any stories against Trump were all lies. And now they can say "see? Now that they can't stop him from being President again, they aren't bothering trying to smear him with lies" whenever the media bows down, doesn't report, softens the language, minimizes or negates the reality. The loss of the media was SO fast after the election that it makes me fear what will there even be to hang onto and from which to organize outside of our own silos and tribes.
That there appears to be a worldwide slide away from democracy makes it both worse and better in a sickening kind of way. Better in that there isn't a safe place to run to, really, so staying here to resist might as well be the answer. Maybe better in that it could all become SO obvious that the hoped for snap back to some semblance of normal democracy could come faster.
The downside of avoiding the legacy media is that I can almost sort of pretend it will be ok. Then of course the cogency and clarity of writing like yours brings me right back into the reality of the darkness that's descending on us all.
Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that Donald Trump would not be held to account, let alone be re-elected after the violence we saw on January 6, 2021. It’s surreal.
Yes, this is nothing short of Orwellian. And the reason it is happening is because everyone assumes that someone else will surely do the right thing. Preaching to the choir rarely does anything to change the world.
America follows the Rule of Law to help maintain peace and order in our Nation. The Laws may be followed, broken, ignored, rewritten, and new ones made. Then, if one breaks the law, we have a judicial system to assess if the laws have been broken or not, and we have an Enforcement system to punish those who have been found guilty of breaking the Law by the courts and their peers.
Attacking our nation’s Capital, causing mayhem, and including injury and death as the result of their attack, is not forgivable.
Those in authority are solely lacking in courage, even today.
If only America truly did follow a rule of law for EVERYONE all the same. We don't, and frankly not sure we ever really have. There have always been two systems. The insurrection was not and is not forgivable yet they will be forgiven (Pardoned) and we are all cursed with having the main perpetrator inflicted upon us as "leader" for another 4 years with a totally emboldened White Christian Nationalist movement taking over and a totally corrupt conservative wing of the SC saying anything goes as long as it's our guy doing it.
An absolutely brilliant piece of writing. Thank you. I watched in horror while the rioters entered the capital and I was absolutely terrified even though I lived very safely on the West Coast. I’m still incredibly angry at Merritt Garland for not quickly putting together a team to investigate Trump. I try not to get into despair thinking about how he always seems to get away with everything. I do believe he will be judged at some point in his life. How did we get here and how do we get out of here. That is the question.
IF we finally extricate ourselves from this morass it will be a long, difficult slog as this coup has been a long time in the making. Every institution that this country depended on to keep it going had to be undermined as it slowly was. We can see that as it happened with hindsight. It was a slow drip, drip, drip process. We got some relief during Democratic presidencies but the work by the right never let up. If we weren’t in shooting wars we were in verbal wars. While the first kills bodies, the latter, relentlessly kills souls. I wish there were an easy fix but I don’t see it right now. But then, I’m old and cynical, having seen a lot. So while Joyce is ever so right, in that we are all in this together, those of us in the opposition to what looks like an inevitable slide into authoritarianism, have got to get more aggressive and get smarter in how we go about overcoming the slide.
And never forget January 6, 2021; another day of infamy!
The book “Democracy in Chains” by Nancy MacLean shows this long history in context beginning with VP John C Calhoun of Charleston, SC utterance before the civil war from which the title is drawn.
Unfortunately, It seems Garland is much better suited as a judge than a prosecutor. When confronted by a mad dog you need to act quickly if you are to come out unscathed.
Connie, I do hope you are right about Trump meeting judgement. However, I don't see how that will happen. He is living in dementia at this point, hardly able to put a thought together. He repeats the old nonsense and lies with a few words changed, but just what he is being fed by his handlers. I do wish someone would investigate to see if he is wearing an earpiece through which he is being fed what to say, or somehow kept on some kind of track. I would bet he is, so then one wonders who is feeding him the hatred, insane talk, and lies or enhancing what Trump is already "thinking." Once he is president, no one will dare to let out that information. His entourage is a cadre of cowards, sycophants, and folks who have chosen evil as their lifestyle. Unfortunately that includes Republican members of Congress and state legislatures and governorships too which makes this a very dangerous time for all of us. We really need to stand together!
I agree, Garland was the wrong man for that event. Was he afraid? His inaction was breathtaking. And now we have the result. Along with our system of counter suits and the treatment of the very rich. Who really is not about the law?
If you get a chance, please read “From Democracy to Democrazy” sold on Amazon. It may help you understand how we got here. I don’t know how to get out of here YET.
Elizabeth Graham
The fact that Trump was elected at all says that his voters are ignorant about, and indifferent toward, the chaos and darkness his term will introduce. His willingness to distort the truth about January 6, 2021 events is merely one example of how he plans to mislead our nation into a downfall of democracy. The time for Resistance is now.
They believe that it is a god thing, that fairy tale narcissistic god is making all this happen for his own greater glory. How do you fight that?
It's actually even scarier than that. The whole 7 Mtns Mandate/Dominionist theocrats actually want to bring about the End Times. That's also why they have their Israel policy and why they don't want to support Ukraine. Way too many people are ill informed about how deeply embedded and how far this crew has gotten into taking over the "7 Mountains". I recommend reading Andra Watkins' substack. Also "The Violent Take It By Force". Another good read is "Jesus & John Wayne" to understand the evolution of this kind of religious fanaticism that actually doesn't resemble WWJD at all.
I need to look at this theory. Have several t people mentioning this.
Dear Joyce,
Merrick Garland's failure to make prosecution of the planners and perpetrators of January 6th his immediate priority should go down as one of the biggest missteps in our nation's history. The fact that we are here today, awaiting the second inauguration of someone who is now a convicted felon and whose avowed intent is to make our country a dictatorship, is largely due to Garland's dereliction to his duty to bring criminal charges against the most serious challenge to our democracy as soon as he was appointed.
I wonder what would have happened if the Capitol Police had stood their ground when deadly force was justified in so many of the individual encounters at the Capitol.
Unfortunately I think it would really have muddied the waters if that had occurred. The best way to deal with it would have been immediate and rigid enforcement of the laws against treason. The government would have had to be squeaky clean in its approach, but it would have been very effective.
You were right on the mark then, Joyce, and continue to be. We appreciate all you do on so many levels. Willy our questions, the right ones, ever be answered? The J 6 committee tried, but I doubt they will be answered any time soon. And ignore the inevitable trolls who will continue to spread the propaganda they have been fed.
I have abandoned all but my local news station. Completely disgusted with cable news… with a few exceptions.
The Congress should have their paychecks withheld for not doing their job.
I think it is up to us, the voters, to work harder to get those on the sidelines to vote and for all to elect decent, not paid for people to Congress.
That acting acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., who repeatedly reassured the public that he would prosecute every case of wrongdoing, once was married to my cousin. Trump appointee. MAGAT.
Appeared on 60 Minutes. https://www.paramountplus.com/shows/video/AfHE7d_0G1AolNI77H1lACzXmhYqzy9c/?ftag=CNM-00-10abb6c
Oh I remember that interview! And shortly after read that he was reprimanded for prejudicing the case and left the DOJ.
Seriously? Saboteurs everywhere.
“Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a lawbreaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy.”
“[T]he only title in our democracy superior to that of President [is] the title of citizen.”
— Justice Louis Brandeis
The failures of the DOJ, those in the deliberate "acting roles" during the "lame duck" period of '20-'21 and inaction of the current. The unfortunate (for US) corruption of the Rule of Law by Chief Justice John Roberts weighs heavily today. How is it even possible that his decision handed down regarding Presidential Immunity in '20 (19-635) which indicated 'the public is entitled to every man's evidence' can then be contradicted in '24 to 'except this man' for the benefit of a repeat criminal offender? A man convicted of fraud and election interference who then went on to interfere in two additional elections. I hate what these disgusting people have done to our Country. 💔
Sadly, you are right, Joyce, that this analysis holds up. Sadly, because the divisions that permitted the insurrection have hardened and too many of those responsible for the storming of the Capitol have escaped punishment, none more notably than DJT. Sadly, because the tail continues to wag the dog as the entrenched and corrupt elements of the GOP successfully undermine faith that government can deliver good quality of life to citizens. Sadly, because the pernicious bile too many have absorbed is rooted in racism, homophonic, xenophobia, and misogyny. Continuing to resist is exhausting given how little progress resistance seems to have made. But, surrender is not an option. So we can work in all the little but meaningful ways that can add up to eventual success. That's what I will do.
If Donald Trump is certified on this day, I will believe that the Constitution has been laid to waste. We have Senators and Congressmen who still walk the halls of congress as traitors to the words written on that paper. The nation has changed. Excuse me, but I am very depressed on this day. What happened on J6 was not okay. And it is not ever going to be okay for me.
It’s a sad day, but our country has weathered these storms before, including during the first Trump administration. I’m grateful to people such as Joyce Vance, Rachel Maddow, Heather Cox Richardson, and Robert Reich for giving us the historical perspective. We need to do our research and raise our voices. History is calling on us to step up and speak truth to power.
Why bother when our leaders turn their heads and ignore their obligation to protect and defend??
Four years on, and "justice" imposed upon only the lowly foot-soldiers, while the instigators, abettors, sympathizers, and divers camp followers are now working strenuously to rewrite the entirety of that day. and if the recent election was any guide, they've largely succeeded, of that surely there can be no doubt.
Who knows, perhaps even Marjorie Taylor Greene's suggestion of enshrining 1/6/2021 as a national commemorative holiday may come to pass in an Orwellian future.
My mantra has always been for my children, and in general, bad behavior unchecked begets worse behavior.... certainly what we can expect from tRump.
Jan 6, 2021 was the loss of the innocence of the United States. It was the first time there was not a peaceful transfer of power after an National election. The actions since then, the Big Lie that there was no attempt to violently attempt to prevent the transfer of power has shaken our people to their core. Nothing can turn back the clock. As a Nation we will live with it and its aftermath forever. I watched live video feed of the events on many sources. I know the truth
It's hard because at every opportunity, MAGA misrepresents what happened on that day. I know, and you do, but younger voters may not have watched it live 4 years, 8 years, 12, and then it's gone. Erased from history.
We must not let it pass from our national memory. Events, good and bad, from our national memory are remembered, the events of Jan 6 2021 must be one of those
We all saw it.
This is galling after all these years. Just a couple days ago, we got a picture of sneakers worn by the guy who likely set the pipe bombs at DNC headquarters.
Wtf?
There are so many feet to lay this at: McConnell, Garland.
Trump.
And now, the American people.
Well, a third of eligible American voters elected Trump. Remember that a third of them didn’t even bother to cast a vote. The other two thirds weren’t that far apart numerically. My hope is that the Republicans screw things up badly enough to lose badly in the next two elections but not so badly that Democrats can’t fix it when they take over again, as they always do.
Me, too, Jody. They are off to a good start at it. My concern is that when their usual doesn't work, that they will go off the deep end in their desperate desire to keep control. I say "they" because it's pretty clear that Trump is not in control and is not making the decisions. How long can they keep this up? This is why I am still involved, in the limited way I can be. I feel ok about that, though, because I've seen what a lot of people with limited means and even limited access can accomplish when we coordinate and collaborate with those who can. We can't expect people who are in leadership positions to have the clout they need if we don't speak up and let them know we have their back. And one thinig we can do is quietly build relationships with the non-voters until they see that they too can make a difference.
Still a powerful, meaningful and scary assessment! Now the leaders of that threat are moving into the White House, and important agencies of government again. A lot to worry about. How can the third of eligible voters who stayed home on election day not feel responsible for the mess we’re in?