You know, Voltaire said famously in our founders knew it.

I made disagree with everything you say, but I will defend with my life you're right to say it.

President Trump says, because I disagree with everything you say, I will overturn your popular election

and incite insurrection against the government.

And we might take a moment to consider another Voltaire insight,

which a high school teacher of mine told me when a student asked, when was the beginning of the enlightenment?

And she said, I think it was when Voltaire said,

anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

It isn't often that Voltaire, the 18th century French philosopher, gets quoted in the halls of Congress,

at least not these days.

But when Congressman Jamie Raskin did so during Thursday's impeachment trial,

he did so with devastating effect.

Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.

What better way to describe Donald Trump's conduct during the events of January 6th?

As Raskin and his fellow House managers laid out in their presentation,

Trump sold his followers on an absurdity that the election was stolen

and then riled them up to commit the atrocities of the ransacking of the U.S. Capitol.

Raskin's closing remarks in particular were powerful and at times inspirational,

invoking the text and spirit of the Constitution, the words of Abraham Lincoln,

and the writings of Thomas Payne, all in a plea that the Senate can Vic Trump

and permanently disqualify him from ever holding federal office again.

Did Raskin and his colleagues make their case?

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