Photo: Jose Luis Magana/AP
In the latest VideoCast from Deep Dive Politics, a partner of EA WorldView, I join Ali Onur Özçelik to discuss Wednesday’s attack on the Capitol in Washington.
I explain why the assault was an “attempted coup by social media” for Donald Trump to remain in the White House, and look ahead to the significance for America in 2021: from the work of the Biden Administration to the split within the Republican Party between a faction which “plays by the rules” and the Trumpists.
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Deep Dive Politics VideoCast: US-Iran Relations and the Middle East
It’s not the type of coup we usually think about: it’s not the military overthrowing the Government, or agencies removing the President.
But it’s still the same process: to sweep aside democracy and the system to keep yourself in power.
EA on TV and Radio: The Significance of Trump’s “Attempted Coup” and the Capitol Attack
It is time for Scott Lucas (and his buddies on CNN) to stop the double standard. In 2009 in Iran, the losing opposition candidate, Mir Hussein Mousavi, declared himself the winner after the polls closed, dismissed the election result that confirmed his loss, and tried to overturn the election through street protests. He could not produce one shred of evidence of fraud but demanded that he be made the president. If you claim to support democracy, you should do so when the candidate you do not like wins and the person you do prefer loses.
Just for historical accuracy:
1. Mousavi spoke after some Iranian outlets such as Fars claimed — before polls closed — that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had “won”, after widespread reports of ballot rigging for Ahmadinejad, and after his campaign offices were raided and staff detained
2. The street protests were not Mousavi’s creation, as he did not call for them. They were spontaneous.
If you want to blame more than a million Iranians for trying to “overturn” a disputed election, fair enough.
S.