Can Trump get away with normalizing a coup?

Thom plus logo One of the big lessons that Donald Trump has learned through his years at the center of the New York tabloid media is that he can normalize just about anything.

When he was getting bad press because he was having an affair on his first wife, for example, he called newspapers pretending to be his own assistant to say that Marla Maples was astonished with "the best sex ever." It changed the entire newspaper narrative, and Trump proved to himself one more time that he can normalize just about anything.

In the last four years, he has normalized a president lying to the American people on a daily basis, putting lobbyists in charge of every federal agency and then looting the federal treasury, breaking laws like the Hatch Act right out in public, and has even normalized being accused of rape.

He's so normalized ignoring precautions in a pandemic that his followers routinely expose themselves to a deadly disease without a second thought.

No matter what Trump or the corrupt, sleazy members of his administration do, after a day in the news cycle America collectively shrugs its shoulders.

Now he's normalizing fascism. He's normalizing federal police taking over cities, colluding with foreign autocrats, criminalizing protest, and ignoring the results of elections. We have armed vigilantes in our streets, and he praises them as he normalizes a situation America hasn't seen since the Civil War.

In the entire history of the United States, one of the most highly cherished and praised values of our country is the peaceful transfer of power after an election. Now, Trump is trying to normalize the idea that that peaceful transfer of power does not need to happen.

He's trying to normalize the idea that states can simply change their laws right around the election so their legislatures can direct their own votes in the electoral college. This radical departure from American traditions is a coup.

Thomas Paine referred to the vote as the beating heart of democracy. Donald Trump is trying to rip that heart out of our republic.

We can't let him normalize this. Speak out. Double check your voter registration at Iwillvote.com. Sign up to help out over at indivisible.org. Call your elected officials, both federal and state. Express your outrage on social media. We all need to use every tool available to us to save this republic.

-Thom

Comments

DrRichard 2 years 36 weeks ago
#1

Sadly he and his enablers will keep trying to get away with it as long as Americans let them. And let's face it, most people are followers who will just "go along to get along." Oh not everyone, but a lot. And when a man with name recognition puts on a splashy reality show and claims he has the answers for all their anger and frustration then some people will ignore what's behind the curtain. After all, a lot of folks equate wealth with success, and many barely remember the civics they learned in high school.

That's a very cynical and dark view, but you can't make people think. Those of us who do will keep at it, and he is so terrible that the election may come out with Biden clearly on top. What worries me more is the next, slicker dictator wannabe. And the insane reaction to these difficult times as expressed by QAnon is not a healthy sign at all. If this period has taught us anything it is that the president is too powerful, that many people in power will ignore the warning of creating a Frankenstein-like monster, and that eternal vigilence is indeed the price of liberty. Oh, and that education never stops. With the facts in front of them some people will always listen.

Louisdr's picture
Louisdr 2 years 36 weeks ago
#2

In todays radio show Tom said Congressman Salwell was mistaken about what happens in Congress if the Presidential election is disputed. He cited the 12th amendment. This amendment does not apply yet. 3 US Code 5 "Determination of Controversies as to Appointment of Electors, would apply first.

lifesizedolls4c... 2 years 36 weeks ago
#3

That chupacabra thinks he is king. He is ripping our democracy away from us and the power to himself. He is doing exactly what Hitler did in Germany in 1933! He plans to be the US' first dictator and then emporer. Can somebody please make him an invisible suit? I heard he made "peace" in the Middle East? And that somebody nominated him for a Nobel Peace Prize? Is that true? How nutty can this guy get? We might as well prepare to physically remmove him from the White House, whatever it takes. And please tell those born-again Christians, he is the devil in disguise!

alis volat's picture
alis volat 2 years 36 weeks ago
#4

Mr. President, have we given you enough rope yet? I think we have some more here, should you need it.

In his god-awfulness are the seeds of change. Now it is up to those with common sense and a modicum of decency to plant, nurture, and harvest them. We believe in America, and it's our job to care for it. I'd like to leave it better than I found it.

Ali had his "rope-a-dope" strategy. I say, just keep talking Prump. If lives were not lost and people decimated on so many levels, I'd think we needed this wake-up call. Apparently the Senate-a unanimous Senate-heard the alarm. They pretty much sent him, his cabal, and cult members a big F-U today on this subject. Hallelujah!

whatabout's picture
whatabout 2 years 36 weeks ago
#5

Chinese virus and the CDC

The US govt Sept 10, 2020 updated the survival rates (i.e., IF infected) for Covid19:

Age brackets

0-19 99.997%

20-49 99.98%

50-69 99.5%

Turn off the news, wash your hands, and wear your mask when appropriate.

70+ 94.6%

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/hcp/planning-scenarios.html

deepspace's picture
deepspace 2 years 36 weeks ago
#6

The Trump virus and the CDC:

Unfortunately, the public can no longer trust data coming out of a once world-revered scientific agency. The CDC is now just another bullsht source that Trump's "disgusting people" (Trump, about his supporters) can now add to their arsenal of deadly disinformation, which will result in thousands more dead Americans, who will have made the mistake of trusting Dear Leader.

Grow up and get your head out of Trump's fat ass. People are dying because of fcking idiots who support this psychotic, criminally-minded egomaniac trying desperately to cling to power, which by virtually all truthful accounts he unquestionably does not deserve!

vetinla's picture
vetinla 2 years 36 weeks ago
#7

@ # 6; DITTO, especially the last paragraph, first sentence..

Remarkably, we still have NO debate about the research done on viruses in our bio-weapon research labs.

Research Dr. Francis Boyle..

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