[stuckinhell]

When it comes to Trump, people seem to be blind to the effects of soft power. Trump is beloved by his base in a way no other president in the last 100 years is.

The danger of this half-assed prosecution to the republic is fucking enormous, I'm actually scared.

[mindslight]

Trump's "base" doesn't particularly matter. They'll continue on in denial/spite regardless of what happens. The damage they themselves can do is limited, as long as we have functioning law enforcement.

The only way we're getting out of the larger situation is for Republicans and independents to realize that Trump is/was just another basic grifter capitalizing on frustration with the system. Just because someone is despised by the people at the country club doesn't mean they're your friend. While we're hungry for reform, this doesn't mean that every type of change is a step in the right direction. And despite the suffocating dynamic, there's actually a damn good reason we've come to expect that politicians should be a bit neutered. Ultimately true conservatism for the American status quo that we've come to take for granted, as much as it pains my past self to write that.

[trafficante]

Trump’s base scares the hell out of DC for very good reason.

“Jan 6th but an actual insurrection with guns and political/military leaders”

Or

“Southwestern sheriff decides to expel illegal immigrants on his own, requests ‘MAGA patriots’ to come on down and get deputized, atrocities ensue, feds get involved and it spirals into a state vs federal fiasco (which sounds fanfic but Abbott and DeSantis are clearly sympathetic to the idea)”

I honestly think that the second scenario or at least another Malheur Wildlife Refuge/Waco style standoff is only a matter of time - and judging by DoJ’s public priorities, they’re extremely concerned about it as well.

[guelo]

What about the rule of law? Isn't it important? Isn't it possible that Trump committed a crime and should be prosecuted?

[roenxi]

There has been an 8-year witch hunt looking for a way to shut Trump down, with 10s of millions of dollars spent accessing and scrutinising his affairs looking for a legal attack vector. Likely no politician could have withstood that level of scrutiny without some sort of technically-illegal activity turning up.

A big part of the rule of law is treating people equally. Given the lead up, this is probably a question of selective persecution.

[bobsil1]

"some sort of technically-illegal" is a funny way to describe a combined lawfare coup / violent coup attempt.