Now We Know

After the defeat of Adolf Hitler there was a soul searching. How did the population of what was then the most civilized country in the western world permit such barbarism, such lawlessness, to occur? Why did they not rid themselves of Hitler? Now we know. It appears that a majority of United States citizens do not support Donald Trump. But that doesn’t matter. Disposing of the man is nearly impossible, even as he continues to show signs of mental deterioration to go with his melt downs. Congress is a body that fears him is so so much that they did not even insist on his following such fundamental laws as appropriation bills, or the fact that inspectors general can only be fired with the consultation of Congress. There you have it — disposing of a president requires a remarkable consensus by a body that fears him. Further, Trump’s supporters seem willing to physically threaten those who challenge him.

Now We Know

After the defeat of Adolf Hitler there was a soul searching. How did the population of what was then the most civilized country in the western world permit such barbarism, such lawlessness, to occur? Why did they not rid themselves of Hitler? Now we know. It appears that a majority of United States citizens do not support Donald Trump. But that doesn’t matter. Disposing of the man is nearly impossible, even as he continues to show signs of mental deterioration to go with his melt downs. Congress is a body that fears him is so so much that they did not even insist on his following such fundamental laws as appropriation bills, or the fact that inspectors general can only be fired with the consultation of Congress. There you have it — disposing of a president requires a remarkable consensus by a body that fears him. Further, Trump’s supporters seem willing to physically threaten those who challenge him.

Quiet Piggy

We all know Donald Trump is a president like no other we’ve had. Many of us are repulsed or just very annoyed at his behavior, while his supporters seem delighted at his acting out, while he “sticks it to the libs.” Let’s try to remember that we are a country, not a playground, no matter how childish the president’s rants are.

Do we really want a president who melts down most nights over perceived slights (or possibly just the lack of coffee ice cream in the White House mess)? Apparently we do, as Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt constantly reminds us. Not only is he the president the American People wanted, for her money his every tantrum is what we voted for. The only thing missing is an appreciation from Leavitt that Trump has special glands to make him go with so much energy. That was Jack Valenti’s supposition on LBJ’s great stamina.

But Trump is no LBJ. It’s a different era, and the question is “what kind of drugs is Trump getting to keep him going?” And what is so special about Donald Trump that makes him feel totally unconstrained, able to insult anyone just as easily and naturally as some of us brush our teeth? And finally, what is it about Trump that freezes Congress even as Trump dumps, re-embraces, and dumps again allies. Last week he was sending high performance land attack missiles to Ukraine; this week he’s ready to throw Ukraine to the wolves if it doesn’t accede to all of Vladimir Putin’s demands. His BFF Vlad wants Ukraine emasculated, so that’s good enough for The Donald.

And... what the heck will be left of the US when Trump is finally, blessedly gone?

No, We Can't Keep It

Long ago, in a city far away, Octavian broke the Roman Republic to his will. He did it not through force of arms, but by his own will and intimidation. At that moment no Roman senator realised what a crossroads the republic had reached. None understood that the republic was dead, and that the monarchy had been birthed. Yet there it was for all to see. With nary a word spoken, Octavian emasculated the Senate. We are close to this same situation today. Donald Trump has passed no laws; he has threatened many, but few of those weathering his wrath are political players. They are mostly minor functionaries, retired civil servants, or military officers, people who pose no threat to his rule. I intentionally use the word ‘rule,’ for in governing by decree, he has ruled rather than governed.

It is unlikely we can ever go back to the time before Trump began his second term with such focus on exactly what he wanted to do, most of which consists of satisfying grievances and seeking revenge against enemies actual and perceived.

No future president will be able to resist following in Trump’s footsteps. He has broken through the firewall separating the republican from the authoritarian — our past as a democracy is dead, for every future president will find it irresistible to wield the same power Trump is wielding in some form. The fact that his actions are illegitimate is irrelevant. They will now become the norm, and so become legitimate, even though they violate both the Constitution and federal laws.

Apocryphally, Benjamin Franklin is said to have remarked that the founders had birthed a republic, if we can keep it. Now we know that we cannot.

Since Donald Trump’s return to the presidency, Congress has passed no laws of consequence, and much existing U.S. law lies in tatters, irrelevant because it is ignored by both the President and Congress. The President and his acolytes in the executive branch have violated civil service law, the Budget Control and Impoundment Act, and several other laws tghat support the framework of our government and stitutions, some of which established independent agencies, and some of which mandated certain actions on the part of the federal government. There is much more, but it’s not worth citing the entire list.

The President and his supporters have hinted many times that there is a way for him to seek a third term. While the President himself hints at it with a certain coyness, supporters such as Steve Bannon and others speak of it with conviction, as something that is legally compliant. Considering the wrecking ball Trump has applied to most of the country’s governing framework, I believe he has no intention of leaving office at the end of his term, whether through an attempt at a third elected term or by ensuring that no election happens in 2028. At any rate, we can expect a nationwide state of emergency if Trump doesn't get his way through “legal” means.

His acolytes in the Supreme Court have essentially given him absolute power by ruling that anything the President does in the performance of his office is legal, including murder. The court steamed through decades of precedent going back to the Nixon administration to finally realise Richard Nixon’s contention that if the President does it, it cannot be illegal.

As a super mob boss he has conducted shakedowns of major corporations and law firms, and threatened criminal penalties on those he disagrees with, the Justice Department having essentially become both his personal lawyer and his enforcer. How ironic that one of the first acts of the current congress was forming a committee to investigate the weaponisation of the Justice Department by the previous administration.

With Eric Adams, the governor of New York, fully Trump’s pocket after a sweetheart cancellation of Hizhonor’s indictment, the Trump Justice Department announced an investigation of Adams’ probable primary opponent.

Our current government has become as one with Erdogn’s Turkey. Apparently The Donald spent time while out of office reviewing the Justice and Development playbook. We can expect Trump’s enemies to soon enough begin receiving ruinous tax bills; expect the recipients to include media outlets that disagree with Trump and corporations that his family covets.

A full bill of particulars of Trump's treasonous misconduct is too long to list here

The most powerful country in the world, the keeper (for now) of the world’s benchmark currency, has become a criminal enterprise, controlled by a small cadre of kleptocrats, and ruled by a head of state with the emotional makeup of a twelve year old who finds no perceived threat or insult too minor to leave unpunished. Assuming he agrees to leave office after his current term, he will have left the country a ruined hulk, and he and his family multi-billionaires.

How Does this End? Perhaps it Already Has

Not since 1932, when the Portuguese, to stanch the chaos, gave over their country to Antonio Oliviera Salazar, has a people willingly handed their country to a dictator. But the citizens of the United States have done just that with the election of Donald Trump.

For those who hadn’t noticed, we’ve had chaos since 6 January 2020. Leadership denying reality adds to the chaos. I don’t know what percentage of the population is unhappy with the situation; those opposing the administration are keeping low. But our president is en route to absolute power.

Several federal judges have invalidated his actions, but he continues as if there is no judiciary.

He is essentially ruling by decree via executive orders.

He has de facto eliminated civil service protections, and openly threatened states with cancellation of government support if they don’t do his bidding.

He has violated the Budget Control and Impoundment act of 1974 by failing to release appropriated funds. The Congress has given its concurrence by its silence.

There is evidence that Trump has threatened leaders of major industries.

Donald Trump’s acolytes are floating the idea that he can have a third term, since his first two weren’t consecutive. And these same acolytes are pushing the idea that the man who would give over Ukraine to her invaders should get the Nobel Peace Prize.

A full bill of particulars would be too depressing.

As George Orwell wrote:

War is peace

Freedom is slavery

Ignorance is strength