What struck me on day #3 of the impeachment trial was the arguments about how the Capitol rioters were duped by Trump into thinking they'd be safe. The implications for GOP senators who stand by him are not subtle. https://www.salon.com/2021/02/11/house-democrats-make-their-case-to-senate-republicans-trump-duped-his-rioters--and-hell-dump-you/

After all this time, you'd think Senate Republicans would get that Trump only ever rewards loyalty by spitting in your face. But here they are, ready to acquit him — even after he repaid the loyalty of Capitol rioters by abandoning them.

I was impressed with DeGette's presentation on how the insurrectionists believed that they were not only there on Trump's orders, but that he would protect them from consequences. The former was true — but the latter was another Trump lie.

New evidence shows insurrectionists *did* fear arrest prior to Jan. 6. On that day, however, they were deluded by Trump's promise that they were "allowed" to storm the Capitol. Many couldn't believe Capitol police were fighting them.

To be clear, the Capitol rioters are not innocent victims of Trump's lies. They were easy to dupe because Trump fed their ugliest impulses. He cons Senate Republicans the same way, by feeding on their will to power.

The morons in the Senate GOP are no smarter than the people who stormed the Capitol. They all think they are in on Trump's con, but actually, he happily leaves them to die or rot in prison.