Useless Protest

 As most of you know, today there's a rally (again) in Washington DC, this one aimed at "Justice for January 6"...meaning the protestors want all those arrested or charged in the events of that date in the Capitol released and charges dismissed, on the grounds that they broke no laws since they were operating on "orders" from the Commander-in-Chief.

First of all, the President's role as C-in-C only applies to members of the military. He cannot give "orders" to ordinary citizens except through signed executive orders or, more usually, properly enacted legislation.

Second, even with the military, orders that require violation of the law--such as assaulting police officers, breaking-and-entering, interfering with Congress in the fulfillment of its duties--are not legal orders.

And third, what in hell makes these people think that a few hundred (or even a few thousand) people showing up in DC is going to make the Justice Department, the DC district attorney, or any other legal entity change its mind about what happened on January 6? These people have a strange overestimation of their own importance and power in the scheme of things--perhaps brought on by their deranged leader's insistence that they are merely the vanguard of the majority of Americans who agree with them.

This protest is useless, without avail, and is only likely to result in more arrests.

Eight Days? A Week?

 I am torn as to what should be done in the remaining days of the Trump administration (eight left as of this morning). 

Clearly, the best thing is for Trump to resign--it's the fastest, requires no action on anyone else's part and takes effect immediately. But we all know that's not going to happen, at least not without some kind of metaphorical gun to his head.

Second best would be activating the provisions of the 25th Amendment, declaring him unfit to continue to serve. There are several problems with that: First, Vice President Pence has said he is opposed, so the simplest way to do it (the VP and cabinet voting for it) is not going to happen and any other method would take too long; second, the provisions outlined in the amendment's language seem to be largely directed toward health reasons and not criminal ones, which means there could be court fights over whether the amendment even applies; and third, the amendment allows the President to challenge the action in the courts, again delaying the effectiveness.

Third best is impeachment, which the House has taken the first steps towards. But until the two new Senators from Georgia are seated, the Senate remains with Republican majority. That's not expected to happen until Inauguration Day itself, so there couldn't be a successful vote to remove Trump until he was already out of office.

Eight days may not seem like a long time--especially now that so much of Trump's bully pulpit has come unplugged--but his most rabid followers, the ones who eagerly heard his words last Wednesday as permission for riot and insurrection, are tuned into him, no matter how he gets the message out. Eight days is more than sufficient for a dangerous conspiracy to continue.

Coordinated Violence?

 Not sure how many people have seen this, since it hasn't been mentioned in any TV coverage I've seen, but the insurrection against the Capitol in Washington may not have been a standalone attack.

State capitals in at least six states--Utah, Oregon, Washington, Kansas, Texas, and Arkansas--were threatened by large, violent and armed mobs yesterday afternoon. While none of these incidents seems to have resulted in the sort of breech of security that occurred on Capitol Hill, all of them resulted in some disruption of normal activity--including lock-downs and evacuations. (https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/532997-state-capitals-under-siege-by-pro-trump-mobs)

Does anyone think this is all coincidental? That there was not some sort of coordination involved? That followers of QAnon and 4-Chan and the like did not put out a call, a signal, to their compatriots that the afternoon of January 6 was the time to rise up and take control? I am not that naive.

I've seen some commentary on line comparing yesterday's insurrection to the famed Gunpowder Plot that is commemorated in Guy Fawkes Day. I think that comparison is inapposite. I think it has more in common with the Beerhall Putsch of pre-Nazi Germany. (If you're unfamiliar with that historic incident, here's a link:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beer_Hall_Putsch)

Either way, we're talking an organized attempt to disrupt or overthrow the government.