Net time from Twitter logon to quitrage at a fellow leftist, for feverishly lecturing us on how this was a credible and cunningly planned actual credible real genuine actual actual very coup, and how dare we question him or be anything but terrified about our very fierce and disciplined enemies:

1.5 minutes.

See. To me, "coup" strongly implies an organized force with an organized goal and a chance in a million of success in taking and holding political power for any length of time. Not "running in and busting the place up and demanding to see America's manager." But you know, I like it when words mean things and stuff.

(I might be exaggerating my infuriator's point by... um... about a factor of 30-40. O:) But I'm in quite a mood this morning.)

@zebratron2084

I've increasingly moved to accepting that it's meaning is drifting to any attempt at extra judicial transfer of power.

I suspect it is because putsch doesn't sound harsh enough in English.

@001zlnv Dammit. Why do you gotta play on my weaknesses like that? :)

Because you do have a good point -- every linguistic on earth would support you, 'cause Usage Is God and there really is no other arbiter.

My motive really isn't linguistic purity or pedantry, though -- it's the urge to criticism what I see as the _motive_ for calling it a coup. It really feels like these folks are doubling down because they want to preserve their dramatic narrative that this was somehow a tragic and scary defeat for *us* -- not them, even though they blatantly failed and blatantly overreached.

@zebratron2084

yes and no. I'd call it closer to a draw at the moment.

The putsch failed, and they did not over turn the election, or topple the congress.

But they managed to show that enough of the federal apparatus has been compromised, that they could get to the door of congress, and suffer minimal losses/consequences.
And it's blatant enough that they're still bringing in forces from out of state/region to reinforce.

I mean NJ just sent a unit of 50 state police to help watch the capital.

I'm confident the trumpists won't win, but it is very much still a fight in progress.

@001zlnv You're Not Wrong, but personally, watching the GOP collapse -- and even the freakin' National Association of Manufacturers roasting Trump and calling for 25A over this -- I would put a LOT of money on this movement not having any real success until 2024.

No bets on 2024 and DEFINITELY not on 2028. I know my history. :O :O :O

Still. I do have to disagree very strongly on "minimal losses/consequences." The consequence for the rioters seems to have been trivial. But as noted... the consequence for Trump has been UTTERLY RUINOUS. His OWN CABINET is discussing the 25A. People are trying to dive off his sinking ship in droves. If this could have gone worse for Trump without him literally sticking a fork in his own eye, I don't see how. :)