The Washington Post report that came out yesterday on the delay in the DOJ to go after T and Co. for the 1/6 coup attempt is deeply disappointing at the very least, and irresponsible & dangerous, it’s their job to protect our democracy and the rule of law, as you so correctly state Ruth !
The Washington Post's article finally elucidates so many peoples' observation that DOJ was moving slowly to corral the intellectual authors of the January 6th insurrection. The unfoldment and indictments to come are as exciting as awaiting the dénouement of a well-written TV series. Speaking of that, let the Trump trials be televised!
Other Countries act more swiftly to go after the leader and ringleaders and have been successful. I agree with Ruth, the go slow approach and get the low hanging fruit may be easier, but it does not ultimately address the threats to our democratic institutions or our democracy. This pickiness has allowed these people to act with impunity.
The Obamas are great people, yet the "we go high when they go low" mantra is typical of the Democratic Party who strain themselves to do the right thing to the point of overcompensating. I agree with and admire the goals of restoring order and trust in our fragile & frankly weak systems that depend on the assumption that all good people in government will do what's best for the country. But that's extremely and dangerously naive. Even laws vs norms can't help if they are not enforced and if the penalties amount to a tap on the hand. Adam Schiff was criticized for asking repeatedly: what is DOJ doing? He was right, Garland was fiddling about while democracy burned, and Wray is highly suspect in oh so many ways.
If Joe Biden would expand SCOTUS to 13 (doubtful since he's wonderful but also too cautious), he should bump Garland to SCOTUS (which is his area of strength) & promote Jack Smith to AG in my opinion.
I share the concern that DOJ and FBI were manipulated into backing off on the suits pulling the strings in order to avoid a Trump trial before the 2024 election. This makes Gerald Ford’s pardoning Richard Nixon modest by comparison.
Jun 20, 2023·edited Jun 20, 2023Liked by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
"...for every thug we see bashing heads on the ground during a coup, two more individuals in well-tailored suits or uniforms work behind the scenes to make that violence happen." Well-tailored suits and the money behind 'em. The prosecutor from The Hague ostensibly understands the fierce urgency, hence his focus NOW.
As the report in the Washington post shows, constant right wing propaganda worked. Merrick Garland has bent over backwards. He was worried that his departments actions to move swiftly to enforce the rule of law might play into his detractors and "T's contention that his DOJ is pursuing a partisan witch hunt. Garland played it a little too cautious, as many suspected. This has redounded to the benefit of the coup actor's who conspired, planned and orchestrated the lawless insurrection. Jack Smith and Justice may still be coming but it has been delayed at the expense of democracy protection.
Jun 20, 2023·edited Jun 20, 2023Liked by Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Dishearteningly, the way the Department of Justice and the FBI have approached the top-tier coup conspirators (first and foremost, the orange one) and the primary insurrection inciters (ibid.) has been neither swift nor resolute. It has been dithering and, at best, counterproductive. Here we are, two and a half years after the violent attack by MAGAts on our Capitol, our electoral process and our democracy writ large, and the only "accountability" meted out has been for the small fry. Monday's article in The Washington Post by the incomparable Carol Leonnig co-bylined with Aaron Davis is damning. At the very least, it should lead to FBI Director Christopher Wray's resignation. Confidence must be restored.
Thanks again for calling out the full spectrum of actors whose implication in the Jan 6th insurrection has been soft pedaled by FBI and other investigators who have only focused on the foot soldiers. Perhaps Trump’s inditements will stimulate prosecution of congressional supporters of an overthrow of rule of law and democratic process before another insurgence is planned and undertaken.
I am convinced, most have no idea how deep and worldwide this problem goes. In the past month, I have stumbled, quite by accident, into some very disturbing alt-right worldwide organizations. They are not teaching this stuff online, they are indoctrinating people. The connections to this country are amazing, including Richard Spencer and Dalton School.
Ruth, please tell Jason, Heidegger is alive and well. Hannah might have died, but she was wrong about Heidegger. He was no “error”, they are using him as a platform to push eugenics.
This isn’t justice we’re seeing. They’re just getting warmed up.
Yours is an incredibly important perspective on this. We have never before seen any failed coup not immediately denounced and prosecuted. As a result of all this caution by the FBI and DOJ, we now have insurrectionists in congress. They could have been gotten rid of immediately via the constitution’s 14th amendment, section 3. But no! And here we are.
It is tremendously helpful to have your study of authoritarian (fascist) coups to compare what is and has happened in our country. The clarity is much appreciated. I found the WaPo article very nuanced and fascinating—and also disappointing from the lack of a timely response to what happened. Hopefully, now that the wheels of justice seem to be turning once again, we can see the restoration of the rule of law where it is more true than false that “no one is above the law”. We shall see.
You nailed it again, Ruth. If you don't get the planners and instigators, it makes another coup attempt possible, and, God help us, probable. Good thoughts for you and your mom.
The Washington Post report that came out yesterday on the delay in the DOJ to go after T and Co. for the 1/6 coup attempt is deeply disappointing at the very least, and irresponsible & dangerous, it’s their job to protect our democracy and the rule of law, as you so correctly state Ruth !
The Washington Post's article finally elucidates so many peoples' observation that DOJ was moving slowly to corral the intellectual authors of the January 6th insurrection. The unfoldment and indictments to come are as exciting as awaiting the dénouement of a well-written TV series. Speaking of that, let the Trump trials be televised!
Other Countries act more swiftly to go after the leader and ringleaders and have been successful. I agree with Ruth, the go slow approach and get the low hanging fruit may be easier, but it does not ultimately address the threats to our democratic institutions or our democracy. This pickiness has allowed these people to act with impunity.
The Obamas are great people, yet the "we go high when they go low" mantra is typical of the Democratic Party who strain themselves to do the right thing to the point of overcompensating. I agree with and admire the goals of restoring order and trust in our fragile & frankly weak systems that depend on the assumption that all good people in government will do what's best for the country. But that's extremely and dangerously naive. Even laws vs norms can't help if they are not enforced and if the penalties amount to a tap on the hand. Adam Schiff was criticized for asking repeatedly: what is DOJ doing? He was right, Garland was fiddling about while democracy burned, and Wray is highly suspect in oh so many ways.
If Joe Biden would expand SCOTUS to 13 (doubtful since he's wonderful but also too cautious), he should bump Garland to SCOTUS (which is his area of strength) & promote Jack Smith to AG in my opinion.
I share the concern that DOJ and FBI were manipulated into backing off on the suits pulling the strings in order to avoid a Trump trial before the 2024 election. This makes Gerald Ford’s pardoning Richard Nixon modest by comparison.
"...for every thug we see bashing heads on the ground during a coup, two more individuals in well-tailored suits or uniforms work behind the scenes to make that violence happen." Well-tailored suits and the money behind 'em. The prosecutor from The Hague ostensibly understands the fierce urgency, hence his focus NOW.
As the report in the Washington post shows, constant right wing propaganda worked. Merrick Garland has bent over backwards. He was worried that his departments actions to move swiftly to enforce the rule of law might play into his detractors and "T's contention that his DOJ is pursuing a partisan witch hunt. Garland played it a little too cautious, as many suspected. This has redounded to the benefit of the coup actor's who conspired, planned and orchestrated the lawless insurrection. Jack Smith and Justice may still be coming but it has been delayed at the expense of democracy protection.
Dishearteningly, the way the Department of Justice and the FBI have approached the top-tier coup conspirators (first and foremost, the orange one) and the primary insurrection inciters (ibid.) has been neither swift nor resolute. It has been dithering and, at best, counterproductive. Here we are, two and a half years after the violent attack by MAGAts on our Capitol, our electoral process and our democracy writ large, and the only "accountability" meted out has been for the small fry. Monday's article in The Washington Post by the incomparable Carol Leonnig co-bylined with Aaron Davis is damning. At the very least, it should lead to FBI Director Christopher Wray's resignation. Confidence must be restored.
Fascism and its delusional mindset are like a cancer; if you let it metastasize, it will take the entire body down with it.
Thank you. And take good care of your mother and yourself.
Thanks again for calling out the full spectrum of actors whose implication in the Jan 6th insurrection has been soft pedaled by FBI and other investigators who have only focused on the foot soldiers. Perhaps Trump’s inditements will stimulate prosecution of congressional supporters of an overthrow of rule of law and democratic process before another insurgence is planned and undertaken.
Excellent synopsis - best wishes to you and your Mother during this trying time.
I am convinced, most have no idea how deep and worldwide this problem goes. In the past month, I have stumbled, quite by accident, into some very disturbing alt-right worldwide organizations. They are not teaching this stuff online, they are indoctrinating people. The connections to this country are amazing, including Richard Spencer and Dalton School.
Ruth, please tell Jason, Heidegger is alive and well. Hannah might have died, but she was wrong about Heidegger. He was no “error”, they are using him as a platform to push eugenics.
This isn’t justice we’re seeing. They’re just getting warmed up.
Yours is an incredibly important perspective on this. We have never before seen any failed coup not immediately denounced and prosecuted. As a result of all this caution by the FBI and DOJ, we now have insurrectionists in congress. They could have been gotten rid of immediately via the constitution’s 14th amendment, section 3. But no! And here we are.
It is tremendously helpful to have your study of authoritarian (fascist) coups to compare what is and has happened in our country. The clarity is much appreciated. I found the WaPo article very nuanced and fascinating—and also disappointing from the lack of a timely response to what happened. Hopefully, now that the wheels of justice seem to be turning once again, we can see the restoration of the rule of law where it is more true than false that “no one is above the law”. We shall see.
You nailed it again, Ruth. If you don't get the planners and instigators, it makes another coup attempt possible, and, God help us, probable. Good thoughts for you and your mom.