Decision Of The Century July 14, 2022July 13, 2022 Yesterday I offered the case for prosecuting everybody who aided and abetted Trump — but not Trump himself. Today, the counterpoint (thanks, Steve P.), posted after Tuesday’s hearing: Was this finally enough for Merrick Garland? . . . In his public testimony before the House Jan. 6 committee, retired judge Michael Luttig, who served as Vice President Pence’s legal adviser, warned that “a stake was driven through the heart of American democracy on Jan. 6, 2021, and our democracy today is on a knife’s edge.” . . . . . . . . . In all likelihood there will be blood, violence and mayhem if Trump and his confederates are (at last) prosecuted for their high crimes. But the alternative is simply unacceptable. Not to prosecute Trump and his co-conspirators would mean that right-wing political terrorism (which, in practice, means fascism) and those who wield it are holding American democracy hostage. In that scenario, every future election — national, state or local — could potentially be subject to the threat of violence from Republicans and the larger neofascist movement. In such a country, the events of Jan. 6 and the surrounding coup attempt, including the threat of martial law, could no longer be understood as extraordinary or aberrant. They would become the norm. American democracy is on the verge of collapse because of repeated attacks by the Republican-fascists and the larger right-wing movement. Not to prosecute and punish Trump and his confederates for their acts of terrorism would mark one more big win in their war on democracy, the rule of law and the Constitution. If Merrick Garland is afraid to prosecute Donald Trump for fear of violence or some other reason, he should be asked to resign by Joe Biden and then replaced by someone who is willing to do what is necessary and required to protect American democracy and the rule of law. It is a must-read piece. And so scary that I’m not sure it doesn’t itself — even if unintentionally — argue for yesterday’s view: That everyone else should be prosecuted, but not the Putin-Mussolini-wannabe. (Who kept a book of Hitler’s speeches by his bedside.) Shamed, yes; but not martyred. Whatever your view (which I welcome) I think we can all agree on this much: It is not a trivial decision. Have you joined your local chapter of the League of Women Voters? Joined Field Team 6? Joined Vote Forward? Done all you can to fund the early organizing effort that is our best chance of saving democracy and moving the nation forward toward better times?