"but what Trump did or tried to do is as close to a coup as you could get"
Yes I agree. Trump made it clear beforehand he wouldn't accept the outcome of the election if he lost, and tried to overturn the result through the courts, then through a violent attack on the Capitol.
"the idea of another president Dem or Rep doing the same is too much of a threat if people are not punished"
Agreed but you have to fight fire with fire. The Dems should be partisan ! If the Trump GOP are prepared for a war against democracy, are prepared to blow up the constitution and the law, are prepared to overrun the Capital, hang Mike Pence and seize power in a coup then urgent and extraordinary measures need to be taken ! There needs to be extreme urgency ! There is a war brewing and one side is armed and ready with no limits or mercy, the other side is dithering around with committees !
