By John Q. Hosedrinker 
The January 6th, 2021 attack on the US Capitol, while presented by some as a minor incident, was a culmination of a broader effort by Donald Trump and his allies to overturn the 2020 election results. This included pressure on election officials, the promotion of misinformation, and the deployment of “fake electors.” Despite the violence and arrests, a significant portion of the population, particularly Republicans, downplay the event’s severity, exhibiting a concerning normalization of the attempted coup. This revisionist narrative, fueled by disinformation campaigns from certain media outlets, suggests a concerning vulnerability to manipulation within the information ecosystem.
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January 6th was a blatant attempt to overthrow the American government, a coup d’état thinly veiled as a protest. Don’t let the constant gaslighting from Trump and his allies convince you otherwise. The evidence is overwhelming and undeniable, from the meticulously planned strategies to the chillingly close calls.
The Eastman memos, for example, are irrefutable proof of a deliberate plan to subvert the electoral process. These documents clearly outlined a scheme to overturn the legitimate election results, a stark betrayal of democratic principles. It’s astonishing that those responsible haven’t faced appropriate consequences, a failure that will be a stain on American history.
The focus shouldn’t solely be on the individuals who stormed the Capitol building. While their actions were reprehensible, the bigger picture involves the elected officials who actively participated in the plot. They attempted to pressure the Vice President to either discard electoral votes or halt the certification process, actions designed to enable the theft of the election.
This wasn’t a mere attempt; it was a calculated, multi-pronged attack on the foundations of American democracy. There were multiple simultaneous efforts to overturn the election: the “Green Bay Sweep” strategy, the actions of the rioters, and the deployment of fake electors. Each piece contributed to the larger scheme.
The fact that Trump is now president again, emboldened by the apparent success of his previous coup attempt, is deeply alarming. His continued presence in power, coupled with his stated intentions to weaponize the government against his perceived enemies, signifies a grave threat to democratic norms. This isn’t about a failed attempt; it’s a slow-burning success story for authoritarianism, punctuated by January 6th.
The sheer audacity of this undertaking is breathtaking. To witness such a blatant assault on democracy and then to see the perpetrators not only escape punishment but also regain power is profoundly disheartening. The American justice system failed miserably, allowing a wealthy and powerful individual to escape accountability for his egregious actions.
The public’s response, or rather the lack thereof, is equally troubling. The apparent apathy of many voters in the face of such blatant attacks on democracy speaks volumes about the fragility of the system. This complacency allows such actions to continue, unchecked and emboldened. This isn’t about partisanship; it’s about the survival of American democracy itself.
It’s tempting to say this was an “attempted” coup, but the reality is far more sinister. It has been effectively completed with Trump back in office. The damage is done. The systems designed to prevent such actions failed spectacularly, and the implications are far-reaching and deeply concerning. The “coup” succeeded, not through an immediate seizure of power, but through the slow, insidious erosion of democratic institutions and norms.
January 6th wasn’t an isolated incident; it was a pivotal moment in a larger, ongoing campaign to undermine democratic processes. The perpetrators learned from their initial efforts, adapting their strategies for future attempts. The success of the 2024 campaign underscores this chilling reality.
The consequences of this success are already visible. The erosion of trust in institutions, the rise of disinformation and polarization, and the threat of further attacks on democracy all stem from the events of January 6th and its aftermath. The normalization of such behavior is a dangerous precedent, one that must be actively resisted.
Ignoring the reality of what happened on January 6th and its subsequent implications is dangerous. To downplay the events as a mere “attempt” is to ignore the profound threat to democracy that still exists and continues to grow. The slow, methodical, and seemingly successful coup will be complete on January 20th, 2025. The silence of so many in the face of such a blatant assault on democracy is far more terrifying than the events themselves. The American people must remain vigilant and actively fight to protect their democracy from those who seek to destroy it.