A Writer's Notebook, Day Eight-Hundred-And-Seventeen

The fact that it took yesterday's events to get any real consideration of acting against Trump and those who have allied themselves with him is beyond disheartening.  I am, of course, glad to see these things happening, but it is too late in so many ways.  The damage that has been done is not anything that we can rectify with ease, and I do not believe the resolve exists to really see the task through.  It is also quite clear that many are still acting to defend Trump, and the fact that so many legislators still endorsed the beliefs that led to yesterday's violent uprising by voting to contest the results is tragic.  I listened to some of what Ted Cruz had to say on the subject, for example, and his comments seemed designed to split the baby, by denying the underlying allegations but affirming the importance of investigating the claims of fraud because of the masses of people who believe in it.  The fact that he and others in his party perpetuated that narrative with deliberate intent seems to be irrelevant, just as irrelevant as the belief millions of Americas have in climate change or the need for changes to the various power structures our government and economy perpetuate.  The only path forward that does not prevent the continuation of what has begun is a complete repudiation, and we must recognize the villainy of those who are unwilling to take that step, let alone the many who might now stand up, but without any acknowledgement of the role they chose to play.  We must find a way to remove this from our nation, or we are doomed, and it will not happen without making the punishment for the support of such criminality meaningful and clear.

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