Could we have a worse start to a year that follows the worst year in memory?
A quote President unquote, whose name I cannot even speak, continues behaving like an unhinged mobster boss. His attempts to coerce the Georgia Secretary of State to throw their lawful election is just one more manifestation of his never-ending quest not to be labeled a loser, which he is and has always been. His behavior then was criminal, impeachable.
But wait, that has been forgotten now as this deranged man stood safely behind a bullet proof shield and urged his slavish rabble to storm Congress just as it was ratifying the Electoral College Vote to name Joseph Biden the next President. He yelled, Stop the Steal! He promised he’ll be there with them every step along the way. He didn’t clarify that he meant that metaphorically, as neither he nor his followers know the meaning of the word. Instead he retired to the security of his White House Media Room with family members and sycophants to enjoy the siege of his insurrectionists in what we would consider a coup attempt if we were watching a 3rd world government. It was like a Super Bowl party to them as they watched his minions do his dirty work.
Criminal, inciting sedition. This by a sitting President. Unthinkable. Punishable, impeachable,
So his job of demolishing the last vestiges of democracy and decency is complete. He is a deluded anarchist and by pandering to that base he has created a populist persona with a dedicated following, ready to die for him. It could have been a greater loss of life during the siege had those pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails been detonated. Perhaps the deep rumble of explosions and their accompanying terrifying bright lights was what he was waiting for.
We’ve all seen this coming and with every despicable act we (and many elected representatives) have given him more and more latitude. After all it has been reasoned, he doesn’t understand the consequences. He doesn’t understand how government really works.
Early in his Presidency, almost four years ago, I wrote an article presciently entitled Barbarians IN the Gate. I’ll quote the beginning of the article as the defacing of Congress completes the circle of what he began in the White House:
It didn’t take long to deface The Office of the Presidency, celebrity triviality “trumping” expertise and dignity. To the victor belong the spoils and it is no more in evidence than the recent White House fête personally hosted by Donald Trump, his guests being Sarah Palin, Ted Nugent and Kid Rock, whoever the latter two are. Supposedly, Sarah invited Ted and Kid because Jesus was busy. During their four hour run of the White House including a white china dinner they apparently discussed “health, fitness, food, rock ’n’ roll, Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley, secure borders, the history of the United States, guns, bullets, bows and arrows, North Korea, [ and ]Russia.” It is reassuring to know our President is getting such good advice.
According to NPR, Mr. Nugent described the visit as follows: "Well well well looky looky here boogie chillin', I got your Shot Heard Round The World right here in big ol greazya— Washington DC where your 1 & only MotorCity Madman Whackmaster StrapAssasin1 dined with President Donald J Trump at the WhiteHouse to Make America Great Again! Got that?"
It is the full circle.
Hillary Clinton called them “deplorable,” just another name for people who live in a world of popular culture, and ignorance. It is a Civil War and this may be only the opening volley of violence, no matter whether he resigns (the decent option, but the least expected unless he negotiates a pardon from Pence), impeached, or removed via the 25th amendment.
How easily the behavior of one tragically flawed person can obfuscate so many serious issues which are tossed by the wayside, the pandemic and distribution of the vaccines, the climate, racial issues, gun control, voter suppression, and a national debt from which the nation might not recover. Meanwhile Bitcoins and the stock market rage on while the nation burns, and we wake up each morning, fearing the next disaster du jour.
Good riddance to our Mobster President who, unfortunately, will still be part of the cancer that erodes our society from within, no matter the degree of his exile. Mar a Lago may be his Elba.
