Let me respond to a fuller quote:Heirbyadoption wrote: ↑Tue Aug 22, 2023 2:09 pmPelerin wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 2:33 pmBut finally and above all, this article is actually probably the best defense of the January 6 rioters that could have been written. The rioters believed, “They don’t care what the voters actually voted for, they’ll never let Trump be re-elected.” And now this article says, “Yeah, that’s true.”
Do you think Trump cares at all for "what the voters actually voted for"? He lost the election, the recounts, the election boards, and court case after court case. Every legitimate authority agrees that the voters actually voted against Trump. Both the popular vote and the electoral vote. That's what the voters actually voted for.Pelerin wrote: ↑Sun Aug 20, 2023 2:33 pm Law itself aside, do they really think it’s a good idea to just disqualify the guy who is probably the most personally popular politician in the US today? That’s literally exactly what actually happens in banana republics. If they were to go through with it there’s no way that Joe Biden could ever be a legitimate president. Are they even under any actual illusion that they’re not just making an end run around democracy to get rid of a popular guy they’re afraid they can’t beat?
But finally and above all, this article is actually probably the best defense of the January 6 rioters that could have been written. The rioters believed, “They don’t care what the voters actually voted for, they’ll never let Trump be re-elected.” And now this article says, “Yeah, that’s true.”
"Law itself aside", I don't see any practical way to enforce the law. The courts would have to rule on this, or Congress would have to rule on this, and I don't see that happening. Trump will be allowed to run again.
But Trump himself is "literally exactly what actually happens in banana republics" - a charismatic populist leader campaigns against democracy itself, against elections and the courts and the Congress, insisting that he should have the power to overturn everything. Including elections. He assembles a mob to commit acts of violence and threatens people, and insists on personal loyalty.
And it's a bit like a cult. You can't change people's minds - "law itself aside". And in fact, Donald Trump himself becomes the central issue, "I can do whatever I want" becomes an acceptable motto - for Trump, certainly not for Biden. And it's a total outrage to hold Donald Trump legally accountable for anything - of course, the Bidens should just be thrown into prison, all of them, no need to wait for evidence. If Donald Trump is indicted for breaking the law, the tells people "I am being indicted for you, and if they can indict me, they can indict you". Nonsense, of course, if you didn't commit the same crime. And he promises "I am your vindication", saying he will use the DOJ to get his political enemies (while protecting his political friends).
This is "literally exactly what happens in banana republics". And the rule of law is the only reasonable answer to that. Personality cults need to be answerable to the rule of law.