Whenever my phone vibrates it can be anything, from a message from a Nigerian prince looking for someone to share his fortune with, to breaking news. I was reading on the couch in my office when I picked up the phone to learn that it was the latter and that, in a matter of moments, the crap would be hitting the fan.
The New York Times was breaking the news that a Manhattan Grand Jury had indicted former President Trump for some alleged skullduggery that took place in a hush money payment to a porn star over an alleged episode of some rolling in the hay between Trump and the porn-ette. To be clear, a straight hush money payment is not against the law, but to cook the books in order to hush up the hush money is.
My first reaction? “Good.” Finally someone was charging this corrupt scofflaw with something, even though this case is a minor league one compared to the ongoing investigations by a federal special prosecutor and Fani Willis, the district attorney of Fulton County Georgia. I fantasized seeing Trump, cuffed and wearing a jumpsuit that coordinates with his spray on tan, getting thrown in a cell with a 400 pound serial killer sporting a “Born to Lose” tattoo across his neck.
By the next day my fantasy had lost its luster. Certainly it’s a good thing to know that a former president is not above the law. Unfortunately this equal portioning of justice is coming at a high price.
***
It didn’t take long for the carnival of cynicism to commence. Over on MSNBC, where Alex Wagner and Katie Phang never bother to hide their grins while commenting on news that’s bad for Trump, news of the indictment must have sent them into orgasms. Meanwhile, on Fox, Tucker Carlson and the rest of the right wing fantasy machine was apoplectic.
Those Democrats who chose to comment trotted out the standard “nobody is above the law” boilerplate even though they know that if you have money and standing and influence you quite likely can levitate comfortably above the law. Meanwhile, schlubs like us don’t get to hire an expensive team of lawyers who can stretch out a traffic citation protest into a multi-year court drama replete with motions and appeals.
The battle lines were being drawn before news of the indictment even came down. Republican politicians had already settled into their respective corners.
In one corner you have the non-committals. Mary Pelotola from Alaska and Don Bacon of Nebraska have expressed a ‘let justice play itself out,’ stance. Mitch McConnell and John Thune who, for some time now, have displayed symptoms of acute Trump fatigue, have remained quietly on the sidelines.
In another corner you have the ones who are constantly foaming at the mouth. Steve Scalise tweeted, “one of the clearest examples of extremist Democrats weaponizing government to attack their political opponents.”
Elise Stefanik, who traded her integrity for Trump’s favor and any power, however temporary, that comes with it, called the indictment a “dark day for America.”
Lindsay Graham got his panties in a bunch and went on Fox and begged the Trump flock to donate money because, “They are trying to drain him dry.” It’s not clear who “they” are – it never is. It’s just “THEY.” This is the same Lindsey Graham who after the January 6th insurrection stood before the Senate and the world and proclaimed himself “done” with Donald Trump.
The batshit, white trash princess, Marjorie Taylor Greene, is fulminating and beating the bushes looking for some Jewish space lasers to turn against Manhattan D.A. Alvin Bragg.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who probably had visions of his de facto boss Greene coming at him with a cattle prod, came to heel and termed the indictment an “unprecedented abuse of power.”
And then there are the Republicans who have announced their candidacy for president and will at some point down the road be targeted by Trump for having the audacity to run against him. This group is walking a tightrope. They would love to see Trump knocked down a few pegs but they can’t hack off the base.
Actually it’s not the whole base they’re courting, just that part of the base that’s wavering on Trump and might be up for grabs once the primaries begin. The other part of the base is the one that will never renounce Trump. For them Trump has joined God the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. It’s no longer a holy trinity but a holy quartet.
Nikki Haley called the indictment “revenge.” Mike Pence, who Trump once called a “pussy,” for not helping overturn Biden’s election called it an “outrage.”
America’s preeminent fascist, Ron DeSantis, a sort of low rent Benito Mussolini with slicked back hair said, “The weaponization of the legal system to advance a political agenda turns the rule of law on its head. It is un-American. The Soros-backed Manhattan District Attorney has consistently bent the law to downgrade felonies and to excuse criminal misconduct. Yet, now he is stretching the law to target a political opponent.”
DeSantis made sure to include George Soros in his rant because George Soros, along with Bill Gates and Anthony Fauci are the Republican’s bogeymen. For his part Soros said that he doesn’t know Bragg, nor did he contribute to Bragg’s campaign, but for DeSantis and other Republicans that’s just an inconvenient detail.
DeSantis latest defense of Trump was a strident, full throated denunciation of Bragg, that he hoped would mollify any MAGAts who might have been pissed off by an earlier comment in which DeSantis issued a weak defense of Trump that ended with a classic backhand. “I don’t know what goes into paying hush money to a porn star to secure silence over some type of alleged affair,” said DeSantis. It was a thinly veiled and polite way of saying, ‘I only bang my wife. If you want to know how to sweep your infidelities under the rug, go ask that perv Donald.’
This may have been a bridge too far as DeSantis is slipping in the polls. Maybe it wasn’t his weak support of Trump. Maybe DeSantis projecting himself as a low calorie version of Trump isn’t the right tactic. He’ll never win over the true believers, the ones who are so far gone they’re willing to follow Trump over the cliff. Trying to appear Trump-lite might not play with the ones who are fed up with Trumpism, even a version that has a little polish to it.
All of this outrage and indignation has come before, b-e-f-o-r-e, the charges have been unsealed. All the harrumphing by the party that used to be all about “rule of law,” is over something that is, well, a complete mystery. All of the posturing is about saving political skins. The whole quaint notion of love of country has been supplanted by the drive to remain in power for as long as possible before retiring and cashing-in by writing a book, or becoming a lobbyist, or going on the speaking circuit.
And the anger at Bragg? He didn’t issue the indictment. It was 23 Manhattanites, regular citizens who while performing their civic duty, looked at the evidence and said, ‘hmmm, something looks a little fishy here.’
Most of the posturing is born of the fear of pissing off Trump and his base. The exceptions are Greene, Matt Gaetz, Jim Jordan and the other loony tunes who are true believers. Most other Republicans are wearing a public mask of outrage while privately telling their spouses that it wouldn’t hurt their feelings to see Trump wearing an orange jumpsuit in a prison yard, turning big rocks into small ones.
And then there’s Trump himself. For most politicians, getting indicted for silencing a porn star over a poke would mean political death. The poke all by itself would be fatal. Just ask Gary Hart, whose promising run for the presidency wound up in a ditch because it was revealed that he was dipping his wick outside of the marital bed.
But not Trump. For him, the indictment has become a cash cow. Five million and counting in less than a week.
And then there’s the woe is me tour. Trump wouldn’t be Trump if he didn’t dust off the “witch hunt,” “prosecution,” “it’s unfair,” playbook. “The Democrats have lied, cheated and stolen in their obsession with trying to ‘Get Trump,’ but now they’ve done the unthinkable – indicting a completely innocent person in an act of blatant Election Interference.”
Following the indictment, Trump is going to be making a statement at Mar-a-Lago. As Samuel L. Jackson said in Jurassic Park, “Hold onto your butts.” Or at least have a good stiff drink handy. Make it a double. No, a quadruple. Hell, leave the bottle, barkeep.
Realizing that there’s gold in that there indictment, Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), decided to get him some. He’s also fundraising off this mess.
When Andrea Mitchell called Schiff out on it, Schiff did a magnificent two step and babbled something about “accountability,” “defending democracy,” “the rule of law,” and the always necessary, “nobody is above the law.” Schiff stressed that he will “speak out on it (the indictment).” He added, “I’m going to be pushing back against what Kevin McCarthy and Jim Jordan are trying to do in the House by running interference and trying to stop or somehow impede or discredit this investigation. That’s a continuing and important part of the work I’ve been doing to defend our democracy.”
He never once addressed the issue of fundraising off the indictment and being an MSNBC host, Mitchell let him off the hook. So much for penetrating journalism. It was a big disappointment all around but I’d already decided that I won’t be voting for Schiff for Senate anyway. My vote goes to Katie Porter who, by all accounts, still has a hold on her integrity.
I know plenty of people who share my political beliefs who are just dying to see Trump in handcuffs, doing the old perp walk. They’d love to see him in the stocks in a public square where the citizens can pelt him with rotting produce.
Not me. What purpose would it serve? So I can call my wife over to the TV? “Hey Cora, come look at this. A former president is doing the perp walk. Serves him right.”
And then what. A few seconds of “that’ll show you,” and meanwhile the country gets further divided. Humiliating Trump will serve no purpose other than to gin up more sympathy for a man who deserves no sympathy.
Do I think that Trump should be held accountable? Certainly. And there’s a lot to be accounted for. Ever since that dark day when Trump announced his candidacy we’ve seen a succession of nails driven into the coffin of democracy. He’s fucked up this country six ways from Sunday and he’s going to continue to do so. Turning this drama into a torch and pitchfork spectacle only makes it worse. There’s nothing here to be gleeful about.
All of us, especially those who share my own political beliefs should view this as a sad time in America.
What saddens me the most is the cynicism and all of the self-serving posturing that has been revealed over the course of the past week. Politicians, political hacks, commentators and the media are feeding off of this like the jackals that they are. It’s hard to find someone who cares more about this nation and the preservation of the world’s oldest democracy and less about the riches, power, exposure or position that they can milk from this mess.
Astonishing times. As my Dad used to say, the whole thing is fucked from arsehole to breakfast time.
“…fucked from arsehole to breakfast time.” That about says it.
Paul
The sad times seem to get sadder by the day. Any talk of common interests and greater good seems to be dead and buried. So bloody sad.
Hello Jane,
Yep, common interests no longer exist. It’s now, ‘what’s in it for me.’
Paul
Being a Dutchman I’m looking over the pond in amazement. And with worries, for the country that established an early and solid form of democracy when being put together, seems to be insecure about how to handle their institutions and rules. It only took an elephant in the china shop to let the whole thing about falling apart. If I were a US-citizen I would strongly urge for re-inventing the democratic system. In the mean time it seems that not Trump is the problem but the many many folks willing to vote for him. That is his power. Not he himself but, well, a large amount of Americans.
Hello Peter,
You hit on the main points.
*Trump started the chain reaction that’s led to this mess.
*The people who vote for him are ultimately the problem.
*A need to do a reset. Many countries revise their constitutions. The U.S. does it through the amendment process but with such division, I don’t see that happening.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Paul
Well said, Paul, as always. This sentence, in particular, points to one of the root problems this nation faces – “The whole quaint notion of love of country has been supplanted by the drive to remain in power for as long as possible before retiring and cashing-in by writing a book, or becoming a lobbyist, or going on the speaking circuit.” As for the self-serving commentators, I couldn’t agree more. I’m irritated with all of the ones who are going on and on about this being a “threat to our democracy.” BS. Follow the law and follow the normal procedures. No special treatment, but no pandering to the circus clowns, either.
Hello Martin,
I believe there is a threat to democracy, but it certainly isn’t for the reasons that Trump offers. Much of the threat can be trace back to Trump and his base. Politicians who were once normal have gone loony and trashed their integrity out of fear that they’re going to get primaried if they don’t show deference to Trump. The news and commentary media are widening the divide all in the race for ratings. I still shake my head over the fact that we went straight from a two term, decent, intelligent and knowledgeable, Black man to the orange disaster.
Thanks for reading and commenting
Paul
IMHO, even more than “A SPECTACLE OF CYNICISM”, it’s a SPECTACLE OF HYPOCRISY (at least on the GOP side). Being a cynic isn’t a bad thing in every instance — being a hypocrite ALWAYS is.
I kinda have to differ about when this all started and also about the lofty and admirable but hugely flawed beginnings of democracy in this country. I don’t think Trump started all this. I think the problematic founding of the country after the genocide of the Natives and before, during and after the kidnapping, murder, and enslavement of Africans was already on its downward spiral starting from there. Democracy was a fantastic ideal but meant only for some. Not for all. So the tainted seed of superiority and entitlement had already been planted, and I believe this to be the inception of our doom. Donald Trump accelerated what was already there, for sure, but he was only an accelerant for long-held beliefs and convictions. As for all the rest–the hypocrisies and BS and selfishly motivated actions of politicians on both sides–who has EVER liked politicians? lol They really, truly, are all the same. The Democrats just wear the mask of “caring” better than the GOP, who’s let the mask fall off entirely and seem to be relishing their new-found “it’s all in the open now, no turning back!” behavior. What I do have in common with everyone here is sadness, though. Things really DID seem like they had been getting “better” in the ’90s…. don’t you think? I think 9/11 did a lot more damage to the American psyche than we even know…and has steadily led to the divisions we’re experiencing today.
Hello Stacey,
Thank you for reading and for the comprehensive and thought provoking response.
Nothing that you point out is undeniable. Before America became a nation the seeds had indeed been planted. With the founding, injustice was baked into the Constitution with the three-fifths clause, which not only denied people of color the right to vote (along with women), but codified the notion that Black people were not even human. Indeed, it allowed for four of the first five presidents to be enslavers from Virginia (the lone exception being John Adams).
Since then it has been a (too) long and arduous process in making things “better”. It took seventy-nine years, the sundering of the nation and a Civil War to undo the injustice of the three-fifths clause and another year to grant Black citizens the right to vote. When a southern sympathizer, Andrew Johnson, ascended to the presidency, the terms of reconstruction began to unravel which led to one hundred years of Jim Crow. As a child I watched the civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s that continued into the 1970’s. It took a Texan of all people, to ram through the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. It was getting better until recent years when Republicans, with the consent of the Supreme Court, began to yank the teeth of the Voting Rights Act and states have passed laws codifying voter restrictions which mostly affect people of color. I used this example to make the point that history has been an ebb and flow. Should it be this way? Of course not. It should be a constant march forward and it shouldn’t have happened so slowly.
You’re correct Donald Trump was the accelerant, and that is exactly the point that I was trying, apparently not successfully, to make in my post. Vile people like MTG have always existed. Trump turned over the wet rocks to give them light.
We are currently in a serious period of ebbing. Our democracy, however flawed it has been, is the only one we have and it is under an assault unprecedented since the mid-nineteenth century.
Consider:
Just yesterday in Tennessee, two Black legislators were expelled for a peaceful act of civil disobedience by a mostly white male Republican body. The third, a white woman, was spared.
We’ve learned that a sitting Supreme Court Justice has been granted free luxurious travel perks by a rich, ultra conservative donor.
In Wisconsin a progressive was elected to be that state’s chief justice. In response, the Republican supermajority in the legislature is considering impeaching her.
Kansas just passed a law banning trans athletes from participating in women’s sports. When the sponsor of the bill was asked how it could be enforced, she responded by saying that would happen during the athlete’s sports physical. It’s part of the elimination of trans people.
States throughout the country are passing laws that outlaw the teaching of all of the injustices that you mentioned in your comment. This was accelerated by Trump’s call for “patriotic education.”
And of course we’ve all witnessed the election denying. In 2016, despite being elected Trump called the election rigged, even before the first ballot was cast. He did the same in 2020 and we know what proceeded from there. It used to be that election results were accepted as legitimate and we either celebrated or we vowed to do better next time. Now it’s a cause for celebration when a losing candidate concedes and congratulates the victor.
This has been a long way to explain a point that I was trying to make and that is; this is the only democracy we have, as flawed as it has been. If we let what we have slip away then it will take decades, maybe a century to recover it.
Just last night, I told my wife that what this country needs is a general strike.
Hi, Paul. I thought I was being fairly redundant, and I definitely knew you knew that already. So in retrospect, I’m sorry for stating the obvious, because you do explain your point of view very eloquently! Thanks for your response. 🙂
Hi Stacey, Please, no apologies. Your words cannot be repeated often enough. Particularly in these times.
Paul
Hi Paul,
I couldn’t help myself and had to read this blog even though I’m still catching up from Feb.
It’s a terrific piece, but you’re right … it’s a sad time in America. As gleeful as I was when I heard of the indictment, I’m not sure anymore. By all accounts, it’s going to be difficult to convict him. Perhaps it’s opened the door for Fani Willis and more serious charges. Maybe one of them will stick. In the meantime, it will elevate tRump’s martyr status if and when more people pile on him.
I can’t believe he’s back in the news cycle with his hateful speech, his lies, his nauseating, shameless pleas for sympathy. And it’s gaining traction because of other self-serving politicians, sycophants, and citizens throwing money at him to continue the chaos.
And it does feel like chaos, which is deeply troubling because I can’t see how order can be restored. 🙁
Hi Eden,
Trump is like a disease carrying mosquito. He buzzes around, biting here and there spreading his contagion, disappears for awhile and then returns to spread more of his vile infection. Cowards, bigots and racists are gaining power. It is a scary time in America. This is no time for people to sit on the sidelines.
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Paul
Trump has allowed the crazies to come out from under the rocks and is using them to push his agenda which is himself. He has no intention of helping the people. This article is right on and well said.
Thank you Anne. My fervent hope is that the Trump fatigue that is setting in with some will begin to spread. As for the crazies? They’re beyond hope or help.
Paul
Very thought-provoking. Like you say in the post, Convict him? What for? if people are still defending him for Jan 6th? The only thing to do is to rely on the more moderate people who don’t want that direction for our country. In 2016, I think a lot of people thought they’d give him a chance. I doubt they’d make the same mistake again.
Hello Dan,
Thank you for reading and commenting. I don’t know that he shouldn’t be convicted of any crimes. My biggest gripe over recent events is the rush to condemn the charges, before they were known, by Republicans who can’t wait for him to disappear. I HOPE they don’t make the same mistake again. It’s been an 8 years long telenovela.
Paul
Hi, Paul. I’m very pleased that you just joined me at annieasksyou, leading me here, where I’m about to sign on. (I’ll be responding to your comment on my gun screed next.) We are likeminded on a number of issues, I believe, but will find some areas for healthy disagreement. I work hard to remain optimistic about our fragile democracy—cognizant of the dangers, for sure—but seeing the current horrors as the last gasps of a dying, flailing breed. As disgusting as the TN legislators’ actions were, they managed to elevate from obscurity two terrific young Black leaders who are galvanizing young people everywhere. GEN Z gives me hope.
Cheers,
Annie
I’m Canadian but close enough to be distressed by the goings on in the US with you-know-who. (I refuse to use his name.) Good luck dear man. Muriel
I guess I know it’s gloomy when we’re relying on luck.
Thanks Muriel.
Paul