Trump mob mentality: A charismatic leader with an armed following and a Capitol target
When someone as powerful as the president tells a large group of his supporters to fight like hell, they will listen to him and feed off each other.
Catherine A. Sanderson
Opinion contributor
Many Americans watched never-seen-before video footage of a mob invading the U.S. Capitol as House impeachment managers presented their case this week against former President Donald Trump. Rioters smashed windows, crushed a police officer in a door, and chanted “Hang Mike Pence.” It seems clear that the events of Jan. 6 as bad as they were had the potential to be far worse.
The doors may be closing on the chances of a Republican in President-elect Joe Biden’s Cabinet and, honestly, so what? There’s no good reason for him to name one, and lots of reasons to give this tradition a pass.
Biden’s picks to date leave no doubt that you can assemble an excellent team of people who collectively look like America; all you have to do is try. In fact, the most difficult diversity challenge may be to find a Republican if that s even a priority for the Biden transition.
Most of the party is in thrall to President Donald Trump or pretending to be, meaning most of the party is disqualified. In many cases, Republicans who had the integrity and patriotism to endorse Biden are not aligned with his policy objectives. They are much appreciated but in no way suited for posts like attorney general or labor secretary (still open at this writing) in a Democratic administration.
Trump and 2020 nightmares are ending and COVID help is coming. It s no time to go wobbly.
Victory is not in doubt. Don t give in to your fears or start bickering with each other when we re so close to leaving this terrible year behind us.
Tom Nichols
Opinion columnist
Back in 1990, President George H.W. Bush faced a decision about going to war against Iraq after the surprise invasion of Kuwait in August. Victory was never in doubt, but it would still be a momentous step to take the United States and its allies into a conflict with what was then a significant military power.