Read on Twitter
With the Jan 6 riots, there are several moving pieces that, in Insurrection Discourse, keep getting mashed together in order to a) justify certain emotions and b) enhance the dopamine hit.
Even if twitter is primarily a delivery device, it's worth trying to separate them out.
Even if twitter is primarily a delivery device, it's worth trying to separate them out.
1. The riot was really bad, but not a "coup"
2. Though it came to nothing, it was/is potentially dangerous
3. Trump is culpable, but didn't mastermind anything
4. Hawley, Cruz, et al., are convenient scapegoats
2. Though it came to nothing, it was/is potentially dangerous
3. Trump is culpable, but didn't mastermind anything
4. Hawley, Cruz, et al., are convenient scapegoats
5. You can criticize the reaction from BigTech/media w/out minimizing the riot
6. The official narrative is that the riot delegitimizes the Trump phenomenon, but the reasons for Trump support aren't going away
6. The official narrative is that the riot delegitimizes the Trump phenomenon, but the reasons for Trump support aren't going away
Re 1. Not a coup:
For the most part, this was a standard-issue riot. Lots of people got swept up in the heat of the moment and did stupid things with no plan or forethought. Like this guy: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/exclusive-man-who-stormed-capitol-tells-his-story-to-lifesitenews
For the most part, this was a standard-issue riot. Lots of people got swept up in the heat of the moment and did stupid things with no plan or forethought. Like this guy: https://www.lifesitenews.com/news/exclusive-man-who-stormed-capitol-tells-his-story-to-lifesitenews
Re 1. Not a coup:
Some of the rioters had clear ill intent and were looking for Pence, for ex. One guy had zipties, others were armed. Whatever vague fantasies these morons had, there was no plan for seizing power or even for occupying the Capitol, except momentarily.
Some of the rioters had clear ill intent and were looking for Pence, for ex. One guy had zipties, others were armed. Whatever vague fantasies these morons had, there was no plan for seizing power or even for occupying the Capitol, except momentarily.
Re 1. Not a coup:
In any case, a coup requires political actors planning to seize power. No evidence of this. Call it failed beer belly putsch or whatever, but it wasn't a coup.
In any case, a coup requires political actors planning to seize power. No evidence of this. Call it failed beer belly putsch or whatever, but it wasn't a coup.
Re 2. Dangerous failure
Some on the right want to minimize the danger and compare it to the summer riots. That's a different convo, and also a red herring.
Any violent seizure of a government building, esp. the Capitol or White House, opens up all kinds of bad possibilities.
Some on the right want to minimize the danger and compare it to the summer riots. That's a different convo, and also a red herring.
Any violent seizure of a government building, esp. the Capitol or White House, opens up all kinds of bad possibilities.
Re 2. Dangerous failure
Even if no coup was actually planned, conceivably Trump or Pence or Pelosi or an ambitious young general or ... could have used the chaos to effect an actual coup. Low probability, but possible.
Even if no coup was actually planned, conceivably Trump or Pence or Pelosi or an ambitious young general or ... could have used the chaos to effect an actual coup. Low probability, but possible.
Re 2. Dangerous failure
Another potentially dangerous eventuality is the one we're in right now - Pelosi et al. are doing theater by questioning Trump's authority w/ military, but nonetheless the locus of authority is truly ambiguous rn. Trump also has himself to blame, obv.
Another potentially dangerous eventuality is the one we're in right now - Pelosi et al. are doing theater by questioning Trump's authority w/ military, but nonetheless the locus of authority is truly ambiguous rn. Trump also has himself to blame, obv.
Re 3. Trump culpable, not mastermind
Trump's rhetoric was reckless, and his invitation to march to the Capitol obv helped precipitate what happened. But Trump is an idiot, not mastermind. Just like most of the rioters, he had no plan other than to have a rally/protest.
Trump's rhetoric was reckless, and his invitation to march to the Capitol obv helped precipitate what happened. But Trump is an idiot, not mastermind. Just like most of the rioters, he had no plan other than to have a rally/protest.
Re 3. Trump culpable, not mastermind
People have to make up their minds as to whether Trump is a bumbling blowhard or a stable genius. If you can square that circle, let me know.
People have to make up their minds as to whether Trump is a bumbling blowhard or a stable genius. If you can square that circle, let me know.
Re 4. Hawley, Cruz, et al.
Objecting to certification is standard stuff. Here's Hillary in 2005, for example. https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/1346524105105838080
Objecting to certification is standard stuff. Here's Hillary in 2005, for example. https://twitter.com/charliekirk11/status/1346524105105838080
Re 4. Hawley, Cruz, et al.
Objecting triggers debate, but it's all pro forma. Also, nobody plans a riot or a "coup" because of something Ted Cruz says in the Senate. The connection is tenuous and unseating Senators/Congressmen over parliamentary procedure is a nonstarter anyway.
Objecting triggers debate, but it's all pro forma. Also, nobody plans a riot or a "coup" because of something Ted Cruz says in the Senate. The connection is tenuous and unseating Senators/Congressmen over parliamentary procedure is a nonstarter anyway.
Re 5. You can criticize the reaction from BigTech/media
This seems obvious and not worth arguing. Objecting to the Patriot Act doesn't make you a terrorist, no matter what Dick Cheney might say about it.
I think everyone sees this, even if they don't want to admit it.
This seems obvious and not worth arguing. Objecting to the Patriot Act doesn't make you a terrorist, no matter what Dick Cheney might say about it.
I think everyone sees this, even if they don't want to admit it.
Re 6. Official narrative about the Trump phenomenon
Trump himself has been delegitimized, and fair enough. However, the Trump phenomenon isn't limited to MAGA crazies and Q-anon, however much people want to push that narrative.
Trump himself has been delegitimized, and fair enough. However, the Trump phenomenon isn't limited to MAGA crazies and Q-anon, however much people want to push that narrative.
Re 6. Official narrative about the Trump phenomenon
The Capitol riot doesn't erase the reasons why we have Trump in the first place. And the rioters don't represent the vast bulk of Trump voters.
Also see this thread: https://twitter.com/dbaten3/status/1348640107197321217
The Capitol riot doesn't erase the reasons why we have Trump in the first place. And the rioters don't represent the vast bulk of Trump voters.
Also see this thread: https://twitter.com/dbaten3/status/1348640107197321217
Re 6. Official narrative about the Trump phenomenon
"Trump" remains an indictment of the whole system. Remember, people voted for a reality TV star over anyone from the establishment - simply because he pretended to care about things like jobs, trade and forever wars.
"Trump" remains an indictment of the whole system. Remember, people voted for a reality TV star over anyone from the establishment - simply because he pretended to care about things like jobs, trade and forever wars.
Re 6. Official narrative about the Trump phenomenon
Trump failed his voters on the issues that mattered. The riot may have destroyed "MAGA," and good riddance, but the people who voted Trump aren't going away. We're still failing them - and their counterparts who vote Democrat.
Trump failed his voters on the issues that mattered. The riot may have destroyed "MAGA," and good riddance, but the people who voted Trump aren't going away. We're still failing them - and their counterparts who vote Democrat.
Re 6. Official narrative about the Trump phenomenon
Finally, I think Sam Kriss is right - the MAGA/Q-anon/corn pone Nazi nexus is its own, distinct epiphenomenon. It will go away, but the underlying material and social realities won't. https://samkriss.com/2021/01/07/the-old-golden-savages-killed-their-philosophers/
Finally, I think Sam Kriss is right - the MAGA/Q-anon/corn pone Nazi nexus is its own, distinct epiphenomenon. It will go away, but the underlying material and social realities won't. https://samkriss.com/2021/01/07/the-old-golden-savages-killed-their-philosophers/
