#failed coup

We all know it’s not the last time he attempts a coup.

No, I’m not talking about Trump and the terrorists who invaded the US Capitol in January of 2021.

Events in two other countries reminded us on Wednesday that we constantly need to stand on guard for democracy.

First to Peru. 🇵🇪

Peru president removed from office and charged with 'rebellion' after alleged coup attempt

Peru’s president, Pedro Castillo, has been removed from office and detained on charges of “rebellion” after he announced he would shutter congress and install a “government of exception” – just hours before he was due to face an impeachment vote.

[ ... ]

In a televised speech, Castillo said he would temporarily shut down congress, launch a “government of exception” to rule by decree and called for new legislative elections.

The move immediately prompted mass resignations from the cabinet, and accusations that Castillo had attempted to seize power illegally.

“I strongly condemn this coup d’état and call on the international community to assist in the democratic re-establishment of democracy in Peru,” tweeted the foreign minister, César Landa, as he announced his resignation. “Castillo took this decision without my knowledge or support.”

Castillo’s bid to avoid an impeachment vote swiftly turned into an own goal as the armed forces and the police withdrew their support, saying, in a joint statement, that Castillo’s move was “contrary to the established constitutional order”.

Meanwhile, Peru’s constitutional court called Castillo’s decision to dissolve congress “a coup” and said the leader was no longer in charge of the country.

[ ... ]

Castillo became president winning by the narrowest of margins in June 2021, shaking up the country’s entrenched class system.

[ ... ]

But the novice president made numerous blunders, appointing barely qualified ministers and accumulating allegations of corruption and influence trafficking linked to his family and allies, which were investigated by the public prosecutor’s office.

[ ... ]

The public prosecutor’s office confirmed late on Wednesday that Castillo had been arrested and charged with allegedly “breaching constitutional order”, after he was accused of an attempted coup and seen fleeing the presidential palace.

Earlier in the day, the country’s national police tweeted that “former president” Pedro Castillo had been detained, shortly after congress voted to remove him.

And meanwhile in Germany. 🇩🇪

'Glimpse Into the Abyss': Germany Takes Out Far-Right Coup Plotters

German police carried out massive raids on Wednesday on a suspected far-right terrorist network which was allegedly plotting to violently overthrow the government.

The network was headed by a minor aristocrat and contained special forces soldiers and a former MP.

Germany’s public service-run Tagesschau reported that with 3,000 police officers targeting 130 locations, the raids were probably the biggest anti-terror operation in modern German history.

The network belonged to the radical Reichsbürger (“Reich citizens”) scene – followers of a distinctly German strand of sovereign citizen ideology, who believe the modern German state is illegitimate, and controlled by a shadowy “deep state.”

Prosecutors said the group believed in a mix of conspiracy ideologies including QAnon, and had even tried to establish contacts with representatives of Russia, who they delusionally believed would help them achieve their goals. 

[ ... ]

The morning raids targeted 130 locations across 11 German states. Twenty-five suspects were arrested, including one in Austria and another in Italy, with 22 accused of being members of the alleged terror network, and three others of having acted as supporters. All but one of the arrested suspects were German nationals, bar one Russian national, referred by prosecutors only as Vitalia B, in line with German privacy laws, who is alleged to have helped the network’s attempts to establish contacts with Russia.

[ ... ]

“This isn’t just one of the biggest raids against the far right in Germany in years, it’s actually the largest anti-terror raid ever here,” said Nicholas Potter, an expert on right-wing extremism at the Amadeu Antonio Foundation, a Berlin-based anti-racism organisation..

[ ... ]

“Their plans were very concrete: they wanted to attack the energy grid, storm the Bundestag, establish a ‘new state order’ with their own ‘shadow cabinet’ in waiting, and try state prosecutors and judges at a trial they call Nuremberg 2.0. They wanted civil war. And they allegedly wanted it before Christmas. This is terrorism.”

So in Peru, Pedro Castillo was removed from office and arrested on the same day he tried to shut down Peru’s Congress. That’s what should have happened here on January 6th. Just as Castillo had desired to “rule by decree” Trump has since talked about terminating the US Constitution.

In Germany, an armed far right group with connections to QAnon (and perhaps Russia) was plotting to storm the Bundestag and seize control of the government. That plot is an echo of what happened at the US Capitol. There are still armed extremist groups in the US who are prepared to use force to forward their agenda.

[Original on Twitter] [transcript]

nnnNNGNGH I shouldn't be doing this so late but I keep not doing it so

OKAY. You know what's happening with Pence and the 25th Amendment, right?

Let's go over it real quick.

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He keeps (reportedly) going back and forth on yanking Trump via the 25th Amendment.

Really, he _really_ doesn't want to. He's already facing the base's wrath. This would push them even further over the top and so honestly I kinda get it. Shit's gonna be even scarier for him.

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But he knows he should. And the Democrats know he should. And this whole impeachment timetable, sure, some of it is legit rules issues.

But some of it is also trying to force him to go ahead and do it. Pull him out via the 25th Amendment - or we'll impeach. Again.

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Difference is: this time, the Senate will convict. I'm pretty sure. I think they're pretty sure too. Not sure about removal, definite on the "no more runs for president" part.

The fact that _this_ is happening is the _only_ reason Pence is still thinking about the 25th. As things fall apart, remember how we got here.

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If the possibility of imminent impeachment goes away, so will ANY talk of the 25th Amendment solution. The Senate GOP do _not_ want to have to take that vote. Not again, not with what's happened.

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It's either political suicide (defend the seditionist fascist) or political suicide _and_ personal danger (convict/disallow future runs for office).

That's the beast they've created.

That's not what it should be about, but it is.

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They have to make this choice, and of them, _for them_, the 25th Amendment is the _least_ personally damaging. They need to talk Pence and the remaining cabinet into removing Trump that way, to avoid the fallout from the trial.

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And that's the _politics_ reason why the Democrats need to be charging full-steam ahead on impeachment, and why _we_ need to be hammering the Democrats constantly not to let up.

I mean _constantly_. Hi, @RepDelBene - impeachment. NOW.

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Because I've seen too much of this crowd working for too long. If they can scuttle their way out of definite action? Most of them will.

This is one of those rare moments when nonstop bombardment - tweets, phone calls, email, whatever - can matter.

Do. Not. Let. Up.

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Because Tr*mp cannot be allowed to finish his term. He's got to go. 25th amendment or impeachment - or at least impairment against running again - these HAVE. TO. HAPPEN.

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Because either way, we've got a fascist insurgency now. The question is whether their orangefarbener Anführer is involved in 2024, and whether we get to do all this - all _this_ - again.

On top of everything else.

We can't have that.

AOC says she won’t work with Ted Cruz on GameStop issue: “You almost had me murdered 3 weeks ago”

I am happy to work with Republicans on this issue where there’s common ground, but you almost had me murdered 3 weeks ago so you can sit this one out.

Happy to work w/ almost any other GOP that aren’t trying to get me killed.

In the meantime if you want to help, you can resign.

—  Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez@AOC  🔥 💜

#ResignTedCruz  #ExpelTedCruz  #Sedition  #Insurrection  #CapitolRiots #TrumpCoup  #MAGATerrorists

Source: ABC News  

Kazakhstan

Yes, there were genuine popular protests. Yes, there was an intra-elite struggle. And there was a failed color revolution. All three can happen at the same time. 

A Real Patriot. 

A Real American Hero.