"Trump Being Trump"

Castro: "He truly made his base believe that the only way he could lose was if the election was rigged. And senators, all of us know and all of us understand how dangerous that is for our country." pic.twitter.com/q1nVV4Ky0B

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2021

Remember Trump's totally bonkers speech declaring victory in the middle of the night on November 4? pic.twitter.com/X1HabbkvcQ

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2021

I somehow doubt this will be compelling to the GOP senators who aided and abetted Trump in this effort. It might as well be them on trial. https://t.co/Lhf5qgWHLP

— Nick Wing (@nickpwing) February 10, 2021

Eh: see, e.g., Cruz, Ted. This presentation is not just for 100 Senators trying to stay awake in their chairs.

A video clip during Castro's presentation illustrates how some of the November "stop the steal" protests in Michigan, Arizona, and elsewhere presaged the January 6 insurrection pic.twitter.com/JVd03QwGGN

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2021

This, again, is the point. January 6th was not the flashpoint of the mob; it was the endgame of Trump's efforts to generate a mob.

it's pretty wild that the president was posting tweets like this trying to invalidate democracy and we were like, welp, just Trump being Trump! pic.twitter.com/OU2ZMtbpAC

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) February 10, 2021

"Trump being Trump" should at least wind him up in the dock at a criminal trial (it's too bad we don't have a "dock" for criminals, as the English do).

JUST POSTED: My latest report on the #ImpeachmentTrial. In this historic proceeding, the Republican Party is placing itself on trial. And the verdict isn't looking good for the GOP. Please read, RT, and share. https://t.co/Y68PplXEo4

— David Corn (@DavidCornDC) February 10, 2021

Trying hard to understand what it must be like to be a Republican senator preparing to acquit Trump and listening to this evidence of how he lied to the public and undermined the election for months... ? What is the justification for this conduct that runs through your head?

— Susan Glasser (@sbg1) February 10, 2021

Trump can be adjudged individually and very directly. What happens to the Senators is another matter entirely. Any idea that it will be swift and decisive is foolish: some, like Cornyn and Graham, have just been re-elected to new six-year terms. Eroding the institutional authority of the GOP through its officeholders is the only hope there is.