By Paul Anger
Retired Editor and Publisher
2nd Vice Chair, Jefferson Parish Democratic Executive Committee
I love retirement, cherishing time with wife of 23 years Vickie Dahlman-Anger, seeing kids and grandkids, traveling, enjoying life in the always interesting City That Care Forgot. Still, sometimes I wish I were back in the newsroom, editing or writing truth. Many folks have already weighed in on today’s Jan. 6 hearing, and many more will write with more eloquence and insight than I can muster. But for what they’re worth, my thoughts …
Today, we heard in detail how Donald Trump assaulted American Democracy.
How he demanded that his Jan. 6 armed followers be allowed past the “f-u-*-*-* -n-g” magnetometers at security checks. Became furious as live TV cameras showed the crowd to be less than what he wanted on screen. Told the mob to march on the capitol -- and promised he’d be with them.
Grabbed the steering wheel of his limousine when Secret Service agents told him he must return to the White House instead. Struggled physically in the limo with his agents, thrusting his hand toward the throat of agent Bobby Engel.
Flung his lunch at the White House -- broken plates, catsup staining the wall. Told aides who begged him to calm rioters chanting “Hang Mike Pence” that maybe Pence deserved it. Caused some members of his cabinet to wonder about Trump’s fitness to remain president.
Cassidy Hutchinson, top aide to Trump’s Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, revealed the new details. She’s a Republican. Her questioning was led by Republican Liz Cheney. When Hutchinson finished her testimony, she was hugged by a Republican congressman.
Trump could be charged with conspiracy sedition, treason, inciting a riot, assaulting a federal officer, and more. He acted as an unhinged would-be dictator straight out of a third-world autocracy, or modern Russia, or Germany of the 1930s.
Didn’t matter to him that about five dozen lawsuits challenging the election were thrown out by a variety of judges, including those Trump appointed. No challenges were upheld. One judge, who might as well have been speaking for all of them, ruled sarcastically, “Allegations are not evidence.”
That didn’t matter to Trump, either — nor did the U.S. Constitution. And America as we know it – peaceful transition of power, rule of law, primacy of the Constitution, sanctity of the vote – is wobbling. Not because of political issues, economic policy, choice vs. life, GOP vs. Dems. Because we almost lost our democracy on Jan. 6.
So what happens now? Can Trump and his followers – including those Texas legislators who went on record to reject the 2020 presidential results – lay the groundwork to more easily throw out the results of fair-and-square elections as voted by citizens at the ballot box?
Next time, will there be a Mike Pence to follow our Constitution? A Cassidy Hutchinson to tell the truth about what she saw and heard, politics be damned?
And when Americans hear that truth, how many of us will reject it?
America teeters.