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The GOP response to the attack on democracy - and on them - resembles other events. Some lawmakers and elder statesmen do speak out firmly. Many lawmakers say they’re unhappy, privately. Publicly, the party just unanimously re-elected its Trumpist leadership. https://twitter.com/redistrict/status/1347959033286840321
Ben Sasse spoke to the dynamic on @NPR: “This isn't just a supply problem. We have a big chunk of voters. They're not a majority. But they're really loud... hopped up on rage clicks, and they're demanding nonsense stunts like the objection to the Electoral College vote.”
If faced with an impeachment vote, lawmakers can vote directly on the proposition that’s put to them (that sending rioters to storm the Capitol is bad). But they can also apply the idea of narrow personal responsibility (punish the rioters, not the leader who incited them.)
They can cast a no vote on the grounds that Trump’s term is over and there’s no point. They can vote no, saying it’s a partisan exercise. Or they can continue indulging voter fraud fantasies and imply the attack was justified. The rhetorical options are many.
The Democrats’ goal would be, as much as possible, to pose the question simply: Are you for democracy? Or even more starkly: Was that riot that could have killed you okay with you?
A further way Democrats might pose the question: Are you okay with sending a mob that injured people who protect you, and killed one of them? Of course one may answer that the justice system will handle the actual killers. Unless, of course, the departing president pardons them.
