I think about the reports that Trump was excited by the invasion of the capitol because he thought it would derail the count, and it makes me think of a quote from the movie Boondock Saints: "Television. Television is the explanation for this. You see this in bad television."

In reality, there was zero chance that a violent assault on the capitol would have changed the outcome of the election, unless it was our own military doing it. An actual *physical* coup without military support? No.

And in fact, in reality, the more "successful" the assault was, the less likely it would be to affect the outcome. Had they succeeded in executing a congressperson on TikTok or whatever? They'd have killed their movement.

I believe that if they hadn't interrupted the process, the objections and debate would have been more successful in prolonging the process. But because of them, half the senators got cold feet and the remaining ones didn't even use their debate time.

Because they were attacked in their own chambers, because they were interrupted, it became a point of patriotic pride for Congress to finish the vote last night. Without that push, the objectors could have stretched it out, potentially for days.

If the invaders had managed to lynch someone in the halls of Congress? Then they'd be running smack up against "These colors don't run." and "We don't negotiate with terrorists." and everybody in power would be afraid to be seen as on their side.

But Donald Trump was excited and thought his salvation was at hand, and why? Because television. Because he views his life through the lens of a television show where he's the star, and he recognizes he's at the season finale and his show is on the bubble of cancelation.

I've actually had that line, "You see this in bad television." echoing in my head for years now, since around when Trump was elected, and couldn't remember what it was from until today, and I think it's because the scene in question involved an armed assault.

In reality the capitol invasion was a huge setback for Donald Trump, but on television -- in a bad TV show -- it would have represented a turning point for him. So he arranged it, he encouraged it, and he cheered it on.

I don't think he would recognize the difference. At a fundamental level. Possibly he thinks that television is more real than reality, because more people see it. https://twitter.com/B1ffLoman/status/1347222531636342790