What’s the use of the hearings by the House committee to investigate the January 6 insurrection —hearings that began last night and will run for the next several weeks — unless they lead to criminal prosecution of Donald Trump for his patently criminal actions?
If Trump escapes justice, the record will show that he did so because of the silence of the Republicans in the Senate and House. Their conspiracy in denying the truth and preventing the lawful consequences of an attempted coup d'état will damn their party for all of history.
Agreed. Also, while there is no violation of law that will be believed or even matter to his cult followers, it might get a few thousand people to vote in the right direction, and the elections ahead may be that close that this determines the outcome.
I cannot even contemplate a lack of prosecution of this coward when people were killed. It’s the direct result of his actions. As it is, our justice system has been weakened and it will spiral out of control if there is no accountability. Elie Mystal thought that these hearings are for the audience of one, namely, Merrick Garland. I hope he’s right.
Yes Trump will carry the banner of fascism for many years. As with numerous carriers of the Fascist banner in the past his legacy will be linked to theirs. Like a tow chain these individuals who disdain democracy will be forever shackled together. There is no escaping truth, it will set you free. The only outcome I wish for is that the citizens of the USA will learn to recognize domestic enemies against America and electorally dismiss them from participating in our family discussion for a more enlightened America.
No matter what happens, he is a criminal and most people will know it. I fear that if he does not get indicted it will cause many to doubt our justice system and drive home the notion that there is a two tiered justice system in this country. At the very least, he should be found insane and locked up!
David Brooks, of the NYTimes, feels that the main purpose should be that we make changes to our systems so that this can never happen again. After Watergate and the 9/11 commission many changes were immediately put in place and that is what he says should be the number one thing to come of these hearings.
Republicans will ban any book that refers to Trump and all of his crimes and no one will be allowed to teach it. I want to see Trump put in prison!! Treason used to be punishable by death!!
In my view, we have a small window to protect the key mechanisms of democracy in the U.S. If designated top officials up to and including Trump are not held accountable for criminal behavior, for which there clearly is factual predication, make no mistake: the perpetuation of false grievances that the 2020 election was stolen would succeed unimpeded.
I expect, in turn, Republicans would retake either one or both Houses in 22, thereby virtually blocking furtherance of any of Biden’s domestic agenda. A likely Trump or MAGA Republican presidential win in 24 surely would mark a fatal weakening of our civic institutions and, further down the road, the ability to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law was subjected to an individual.
Circling back, I would conclude the one thing the radical right of the Republican Party loathes more than liberals, and for good reasons, is the truth.
Donald Trump is pure filth. Whether or not he is prosecuted and convicted, there will be those who view him as a hero and exemplar of righteousness. Alternatively, there will be those who see him as the scum he is. As always, it will be how history is taught; how children are raised; the quality of political leadership; and, the level of civic engagement, i.e. voter turnout, that will determine the course and quality of America's future.
While I wish the former president indicted and convicted, I realize it would change few minds and fail to remove the scales from the eyes of the converted red hat cult. I have no schadenfreude for anything which befalls him or his kith and kin because we all share in the responsibility for allowing the dark forces to lap at the shores of our democracy by often not voting at all or voting only the fears he stoked up in far too many of us.
I know his ultimate accountability will come with the celestial sorting between the sheep and the goats. This is a test he cannot stall his way around or buy his way out of. May God have mercy on his soul.
And may we have the strength and courage to right the ship of state and continue sailing forward to a "more perfect union".
Don't give up. Eventually Mussolini was arrested -- and not long after hanged. It may also end any chance for a 2024 presidency for Trump. Elections even when skewed in some states often come down to close amounts of votes. I hope that these hearings will produce a landslide against Trump if he tries to win again.
I agree as to the logic of where we are with this criminal. I can tell it’s not your preferred actions. He should be tarred feathered and hung. He is a fascist and brutal dictator. Republicans that have joined him should be expelled. Liz Chaney should immortalized for her courage. Average Americans need to take a stand for their freedom and democracy
Absolutely. We have to have what we tell ourselves about it. We have to have our conclusion about what really happened and who was responsible so we have that to create our future from.
Let us be clear. Donald J. Trump IS STILL "the most dangerous man in America" quoting his niece. Trump is Benedict Arnold, the famous American traitor, and P.T. Barnum, the circus showman who famously said,"there is a sucker born every minute" all rolled up into one. Unfortunately both were born in my home state of Connecticut. From a clinical perspective, Trump has a serious personality disorder that causes him to be centered on himself only, and totally devoid of any moral compass or real compassion.
Trump knows what aggrieved, angry, and fearful folks want to hear, and appeals to their sense of felt powerlessness. He also appeals to politicians who see what he garnered for himself, and crave that power. Like many of the "Reality" shows, he appeals to humankind's basest emotions and unrequited desires. He is Caesar presiding over the lions and gladiators in the bloody battles done for show in the Roman Coliseum. And he loves it.
This man must NEVER run in an election again, nor can we afford to banish him from our country because having been President, he knows all the state secrets and would sell them at the drop of a hat if he hasn't already. God knows what he gave to Putin. He needs to be locked up in a secure place, and my fervent hope is that this will come to pass.
I was a pollworker for 17 yrs.,we had very strict election laws and procedures.So now we have Doug Mastroiano telling us 'with the stroke of his pen he could wipe out what's on the election machine.And now he has an idea he wants everyone to reregister .Pure drek,and I'm sending a little note to the DOJ.This idiot was involved in the fake electoral votes.
If Trump escapes justice, the record will show that he did so because of the silence of the Republicans in the Senate and House. Their conspiracy in denying the truth and preventing the lawful consequences of an attempted coup d'état will damn their party for all of history.
Agreed. Also, while there is no violation of law that will be believed or even matter to his cult followers, it might get a few thousand people to vote in the right direction, and the elections ahead may be that close that this determines the outcome.
I cannot even contemplate a lack of prosecution of this coward when people were killed. It’s the direct result of his actions. As it is, our justice system has been weakened and it will spiral out of control if there is no accountability. Elie Mystal thought that these hearings are for the audience of one, namely, Merrick Garland. I hope he’s right.
Yes Trump will carry the banner of fascism for many years. As with numerous carriers of the Fascist banner in the past his legacy will be linked to theirs. Like a tow chain these individuals who disdain democracy will be forever shackled together. There is no escaping truth, it will set you free. The only outcome I wish for is that the citizens of the USA will learn to recognize domestic enemies against America and electorally dismiss them from participating in our family discussion for a more enlightened America.
No matter what happens, he is a criminal and most people will know it. I fear that if he does not get indicted it will cause many to doubt our justice system and drive home the notion that there is a two tiered justice system in this country. At the very least, he should be found insane and locked up!
David Brooks, of the NYTimes, feels that the main purpose should be that we make changes to our systems so that this can never happen again. After Watergate and the 9/11 commission many changes were immediately put in place and that is what he says should be the number one thing to come of these hearings.
trump thrives on infamy. I had hoped the hearings would prevent his running again.
Republicans will ban any book that refers to Trump and all of his crimes and no one will be allowed to teach it. I want to see Trump put in prison!! Treason used to be punishable by death!!
In my view, we have a small window to protect the key mechanisms of democracy in the U.S. If designated top officials up to and including Trump are not held accountable for criminal behavior, for which there clearly is factual predication, make no mistake: the perpetuation of false grievances that the 2020 election was stolen would succeed unimpeded.
I expect, in turn, Republicans would retake either one or both Houses in 22, thereby virtually blocking furtherance of any of Biden’s domestic agenda. A likely Trump or MAGA Republican presidential win in 24 surely would mark a fatal weakening of our civic institutions and, further down the road, the ability to consolidate power, wherein the rule of law was subjected to an individual.
Circling back, I would conclude the one thing the radical right of the Republican Party loathes more than liberals, and for good reasons, is the truth.
Donald Trump is pure filth. Whether or not he is prosecuted and convicted, there will be those who view him as a hero and exemplar of righteousness. Alternatively, there will be those who see him as the scum he is. As always, it will be how history is taught; how children are raised; the quality of political leadership; and, the level of civic engagement, i.e. voter turnout, that will determine the course and quality of America's future.
While I wish the former president indicted and convicted, I realize it would change few minds and fail to remove the scales from the eyes of the converted red hat cult. I have no schadenfreude for anything which befalls him or his kith and kin because we all share in the responsibility for allowing the dark forces to lap at the shores of our democracy by often not voting at all or voting only the fears he stoked up in far too many of us.
I know his ultimate accountability will come with the celestial sorting between the sheep and the goats. This is a test he cannot stall his way around or buy his way out of. May God have mercy on his soul.
And may we have the strength and courage to right the ship of state and continue sailing forward to a "more perfect union".
Don't give up. Eventually Mussolini was arrested -- and not long after hanged. It may also end any chance for a 2024 presidency for Trump. Elections even when skewed in some states often come down to close amounts of votes. I hope that these hearings will produce a landslide against Trump if he tries to win again.
I agree as to the logic of where we are with this criminal. I can tell it’s not your preferred actions. He should be tarred feathered and hung. He is a fascist and brutal dictator. Republicans that have joined him should be expelled. Liz Chaney should immortalized for her courage. Average Americans need to take a stand for their freedom and democracy
Absolutely. We have to have what we tell ourselves about it. We have to have our conclusion about what really happened and who was responsible so we have that to create our future from.
Let us be clear. Donald J. Trump IS STILL "the most dangerous man in America" quoting his niece. Trump is Benedict Arnold, the famous American traitor, and P.T. Barnum, the circus showman who famously said,"there is a sucker born every minute" all rolled up into one. Unfortunately both were born in my home state of Connecticut. From a clinical perspective, Trump has a serious personality disorder that causes him to be centered on himself only, and totally devoid of any moral compass or real compassion.
Trump knows what aggrieved, angry, and fearful folks want to hear, and appeals to their sense of felt powerlessness. He also appeals to politicians who see what he garnered for himself, and crave that power. Like many of the "Reality" shows, he appeals to humankind's basest emotions and unrequited desires. He is Caesar presiding over the lions and gladiators in the bloody battles done for show in the Roman Coliseum. And he loves it.
This man must NEVER run in an election again, nor can we afford to banish him from our country because having been President, he knows all the state secrets and would sell them at the drop of a hat if he hasn't already. God knows what he gave to Putin. He needs to be locked up in a secure place, and my fervent hope is that this will come to pass.
I was a pollworker for 17 yrs.,we had very strict election laws and procedures.So now we have Doug Mastroiano telling us 'with the stroke of his pen he could wipe out what's on the election machine.And now he has an idea he wants everyone to reregister .Pure drek,and I'm sending a little note to the DOJ.This idiot was involved in the fake electoral votes.