Northern Comment – If reporting in the NYT is accurate Mitch McConnell may have come to the conclusion Donald Trump is going to become more of a liability than an asset as he leaves office. He may have been looking at recent survey information that indicate even a significant number of Republicans are very unhappy with what happened at the Capitol.

As more film becomes available and more details of the desecration of the building emerge the picture of dedicated patriots saving democracy is likely dissolve into a picture uncouth thugs on a rampage of mindless violence. This is set to move more main line Republicans away from Trump.

It is also very likely, further, uncomfortable information will come to light as the “patriots”, charged with a range of offences up to and including insurrection come to court and their views and lifestyles are presented to public view. It is unlikely the majority of Republicans would want to be seen as having much in common with the putative stars of the incompetent insurrection.

Horned hats, wanton damage to property, threats of physical harm to law offices and lynching of legislators are not set to to play well with the party of law and order. Defecting and urinating in the Capitol building can only be seen as legitimate acts of political dissent amongst a minority of the GOP one hopes.

President Trump clearly never supported democracy but neither did he understand it. It delivers enormous power into the hands of an individual in an instant. Power which extends far beyond the formal levers of power of office. However, that, state, power is extinguished in an instant and the broader halo of power follows closely behind.

There has been much concern citizen Trump would wield an immense amount of power once he leaves office. It seems the second most powerful man in the US at the moment thinks that may not be the case. Let’s hope he is right.