On Wednesday's Morning Joe, liberal historian Michael Beschloss said that the indictment of former President Trump "fits perfectly into the American story" because there has been a history of "monsters" seeking to destroy American democracy. Beschloss cited the Confederacy, the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Osama Bin Laden.
In the context of commenting on the new indictment of Trump relating to January 6th, an apparently panicked Beschloss [see screencap] described Trump as a "monster" like Bin Laden. And in a bit of unhinged scare-mongering, Beschloss warned that if elected, Trump will institute a "presidential dictatorship" and "take away our democracy."
"9/11/2001, Osama bin Laden and other terrorists hated our democracy, tried to destroy it. You see where I'm going," he proclaimed.
Beschloss sees the latest indictment as America's last best hope for salvation from the threat of another Trump presidency. He said that the indictment came at "almost the last minute. I think if it had been two or three months later, we'd be a lot less optimistic about the chance a trial can take place before next year's election."
Beschloss didn't offer any evidence in support of his claim that Trump has said that the would institute a "presidential dictatorship," or that he would "take our democracy away."
As for the indictment somehow saving America from Trump being elected: even a conviction would not legally bar Trump from running and serving, and Trump has indicated that would be his intention. Indeed, this indictment, which even the National Review has editorialized "shouldn't stand," could be the very thing that propels Trump back into the White House.
Be careful what you wish for, Michael Beschloss and the rest of the liberal establishment!
On Morning Joe, liberal historian Michael Beschloss describing Donald Trump as a "monster" like Osama Bin Laden and saying he will institute a "presidential dictatorship" and "take away our democracy" if elected, was sponsored in part Chewy, GoDaddy, Servpro, Sling,
Here's the transcript, click "expand" to read:
MSNBC
Morning Joe
8-2-23
6:35 am EDTMICHAEL BESCHLOSS: I think, one thing we'll remember is how last night, in the 12 hours since Jack Smith delivered that indictment with the help of a courageous grand jury, you know, how does this fit into the larger American story?
I think the last 12 hours fit perfectly into the American story. And that is this. From time to time, America faces threats from monsters who want to destroy our democracy. That happened in 1861 with the Confederacy. Abraham Lincoln and Northern soldiers and Northern voters came to our rescue, saved the Union.
The same thing happened in 1933. Almost at the point last minute, Franklin Roosevelt came to power, saved our economic system. Pearl Harbor, 1941, we were bombed. Our system was very much in danger, our democracy, many people were giving it up and saying that the democracy had seen its last days. Franklin Roosevelt helped put a coalition together at the last minute to save democracy and freedom around the world.
9/11/2001, Osama bin Laden and other terrorists hated our democracy, tried to destroy it.
You see where I'm going. What we see in this indictment is that on January 6, 2021, Donald Trump, just like those other threats to American democracy, tried to destroy our system. To take away our rule of law. Came very close to doing it. To take away our system of elections. To take away our tradition of peaceful transfer of power to a new, elected president. It almost happened.
And the thing is, Joe and Mika and Willie and everyone, it's almost happening again this morning.
MIKA BRZEZINSKI: Right.
BESCHLOSS: Just as you said. Who is the Republican front-runner? Donald Trump, threatening to do it all again but even more effectively, saying he's going to institute a presidential dictatorship, that we may assume is going to take our democracy away.
And this indictment, and I'll close with this, is coming at almost the last minute. I think if it had been two or three months later, we'd be a lot less optimistic about the chance a trial can take place before next year's election.
