Viewing the near insane reactions of ex-president Donald Trump and his followers to the recent Mar-A-Lago FBI search, the violent 2021 Capitol insurrection, Senator Lindsey Graham’s quisling blather and other such dangerous antics reminds of George Santayana’s words: “Fanaticism consists of redoubling your effort when you have forgotten your aim.”
Trump and his cultic zealots keep repeating racist rant and threats of violence, babbling imbecilities like “pedophile, deep state, Jewish space lasers, radical leftists, lesbian dance classes, and civil war;” some extreme hypocrites even call themselves “Christian.” Graham violated his oath of office by threatening “violence in the streets” if Trump is indicted. Such trash talk riles the gullible to menace federal law enforcement officers and elected officials.
Lacking a conscience, Trump immorally impels the nation’s descent into authoritarianism. Witnessing the ex-president onscreen telling his useful idiots to “fight like hell”, this country must ensure that such capricious instigation to rioting carries heavy responsibility and fomenters must suffer consequences of criminality. Republicans remaining silent on the issue or defending those actions equally violate the law. To assure this maliciousness isn’t repeated requires punitive legal action.
One direly unforgettable fact is Donald Trump’s dereliction of presidential duty resulting in hundreds of thousands of American deaths due to his ineptitude and mishandling of the COVID crisis, a monumentally grievous case of negligent homicide. He witlessly demonstrated feeble intellect by suggesting putting bleach into patients’ veins and lungs. Americans must not forget his deep ignorance and total lack of leadership.
His sycophants now run mendacious political campaigns of conspiratorial lies. One wonders if future citizens will see today’s political trends as the beginning or the end of our 246-year-old democratic republic or mourn our inability to reverse America’s slide into authoritarianism? Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Idi Amin, Josef Stalin, and Vladimir Putin achieved dictatorship using lies, violent thuggery, and intimidation. Will Americans act to assure that Trump’s coup failed and take the opportunity to create something more hopeful? Addressing her Republican colleagues, Congresswoman Liz Cheney stated “There will come a day when Donald Trump is gone. But your dishonor will remain.” History will judge.
But will we judge in the present? Republican leadership who once condemned Trump’s brash treachery now embrace his attempted coup. Voters must remember representatives are elected to serve and protect the people, not to rule over them. Trump loyalists are not a majority of Americans. But what are the rest of us – two-thirds of Americans – who see Trump’s illicit behavior willing to do about it? The whole world witnessed the ex-president orchestrating the attempt to overturn the election in plain sight, lying that the presidency was stolen. Americans witnessed his brazen provocation of the massive January 6, 2021 DC insurrection, which former aides helped plan. Trump publicly pressured Vice President Pence to throw out electoral votes – Pence clearly knew he had no Constitutional power to do. Trump could have stopped the attack once it started but allowed it to continue. Investigations may reveal something worse about the riot, but what we already know is bad enough.
But what does it matter if no one is getting punished? Representative Bennie Thompson said, “We must confront the truth with candor, resolve, and determination. We need to show that we are worthy of the gifts that are the birthright of every American.” Those gifts include speaking the truth, especially about extremist rhetoric, racism, and violence. Trump directed the Proud Boys to “stand by” and he embraced the Oath Keepers who coordinated to assault the Capitol. Republican Congressmen who stated that the rioters were mere tourists lied. They were armed thugs.
Concerning arms, Congress is elected to promote domestic tranquility. Instead the most craven take gun lobbyists’ money, enabling gun violence to persist. Haven’t we learned anything from all the mass shootings of El Paso, Sandy Hook, Highland Park, Harlem, Philadelphia, Tulsa, Laguna Woods, Buffalo, Sacramento, Uvalde and so many other such tragedies?
I received an email invitation to a party from “Friends of the National Rifle Association,” where firearms are to be raffled or are door prizes. Listening to speakers at NRA conventions, I regard the them a right-wing hate group. Their executive director was sued by New York’s Attorney General for “financial misconduct and misuse of charitable funds”, yet they donate millions to politicians. I ask such Congress members where do donations fade into bribery? Texas Republicans allow 18 to 21-year-olds to openly carry guns; these power-hungry politicians shamelessly put lives at risk. This is not democracy. It’s brutish power-seeking.
Do not take our freedoms for granted. True self-rule requires active participation through education and voting for honorable, well-intentioned politicians, not the selfish loudmouth demagogues who lie, intimidate voters and fail to rein the spread of military weaponry among civilians.
Laredo voters have sufficient numbers to honor a Constitution created to “establish justice, ensure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity…”
Please VOTE in November!
Peace to all, harm to none.
