Over a year ago, I made the observation that Donald Trump’s political career was over, but it would take Republicans awhile to realize it. While they are still wandering around the desert with high support, the skids are greased for his downfall.
The four indictments with 91 charges are a key part of the grease. Yet, those charges are leveraged by his co-conspirators, some of whom are making deals to turn evidence against the former president. Plus, some other conspirators from the Proud Boys are being sentenced for heavy time for their role in the January 6 insurrection. Their biggest failing was believing Donald Trump.
Trump has lost a defamation and sexual misconduct case to E. Jean Carroll owing her $5 million and is facing additional charges in a second defamation suit simply brought because he cannot shut up and continued defaming her. It should be noted his case of defamation against Ms. Carroll was dismissed and he lost an appeal to the $5 million settlement, which actually might grow.
Now, I hear Trump wants to testify in his criminal cases. I sure hope that would be televised as he has never been the best of witnesses. Why? Because he does not know where the truth stops and lies begin. One attorney made him change over 30 false statements in just one deposition, eg.
Trump has been the lone constant in all of this mess. He has failed miserably in his legal attempts to prove his claims of election fraud. And, Fox News not only has settled two election fraud related defamation cases totaling $1.1 billion, they have one, maybe two cases, pending. Fox also has admitted in several internal emails that they knew Trump could not prove his election fraud claims, but gaslit their audience.
It is long overdue for Republican leaders to shed Trump. At a minimum, they could cease the rationalization BS where they are still lying for him. They missed several chances to put nails in his coffin, but felt they could manage him. How is that working for them? He has wrecked his party and we need to keep him from wrecking our country. We, including Republicans, deserve better than this illicit acting person.
PS – Trump advisor Peter Navarro is the latest person to fall victim to blind allegiance to Trump. Per Politico yesterday:
“Navarro faces two counts of criminal contempt of Congress for what prosecutors say was brazen defiance of the panel’s effort to obtain evidence about his knowledge and involvement in Donald Trump’s bid to subvert the 2020 election. Each charge carries a maximum of one year in prison.
‘Our government only works when people play by the rules and it only works when people are held accountable when they do not,’ said Assistant U.S. Attorney Elizabeth Aloi during closing arguments Thursday. ‘When a person intentionally and deliberately chooses to defy a congressional subpoena, that is a crime.’”
musingsofanoldfart 
Like you, I hope he does testify and that it is televised … his lawyers must be having nightmares right about now! He is his own worst enemy. I doubt he will ever see the inside of a prison cell, but if there is justice in this world he will, as will many of his cronies who paved the path for his lawlessness. And as for the Republican Party … if they are foolish enough to continue hanging on to his coattails, then they will get what they deserve. Now would be a good time for them to make a clean break and develop a platform of their own that benefits the people of this nation … ALL the people!
Jill, seeing him corrected on the stand would be lovely. And, he may very well get some prison time. He certainly will have earned it. Keith
They will have to realise sooner or later that their action toy is broken, and has dangerous loose working parts.
The ghosts of the Republicans of previous decades must be looking down, that their party has come to this.
Roger, I love the reference to action toy. That is such an apt metaphor. Keith
Thank you Keith.
Commentators talk of Trumpism as if the fellow spent many a long year crafting ideas and philosophies.
This is quite inaccurate, all Trump as done is appeal to a group than want a fundamental deconstruction of a fair society, and ultimately when analysed a pathway to mob rule.
Since it is so slapdash mish-mosh you could without much effort draw parallels with Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution in which the mob was encouraged to attack all institutions
Roger, good analogy. I believe you have to think of Donald Trump as what he is – a salesman. His goal is to make a sale. He will do whatever it takes to make that sale, whether it is winning the twelve hour news cycle or winning the presidency. He has no plan to govern, he just wants people to listen to him. Keith
Excellent, Keith. Thank you.
Thanks Steve.
Unfortunately, Keith, I think it’s now apparent that Trump captured a party that was well on its way to Trumpism and shows no signs of wanting to do anything but follow along. The House so-called “moderates” have not bucked their far-right nihilists; the Republican presidential candidates are echoing his worst aspects for the most part; and Republican state legislators are defying and/or blocking the will of voters in a growing number of states (Texas, Alabama, Florida, Wisconsin, Ohio, for example.)
The Republican strategy is to nullify and impeach because they know they can’t retain power through democracy. They espouse hatred as policy.
We need a two-party system, but we won’t get one til today’s Republicans are defeated. Our democracy demands that.
Thanks for your usual astute comment. It is critical that Trump be defeated. Just listen to his threats to get even. One thing even his fans know, he is a vindictive person. So, if he won, he would clearly move us to more of an autocracy. But, it goes further than just unwinding our democracy. Climate change action would be hindered as it was when he was in office before. We lost four years under Trump and eight years under Bush (and oil executive Cheney). We cannot lose any more time to a Republican president, especially this one. Keith
Absolutely, Keith! I feel that as profoundly as I’ve ever felt anything. My point was that defeating Trump is not enough. The Republican Party you left has hardened and worsened and is as anti-democratic as he is. The entire party must be defeated. I hear that from many Never-Trump Republicans too.
Thanks Annie. You are so right about those Republicans who have not drunk the Trump Kool-Aid.
I think the reality is the GOP need to be more than defeated, but DECIMATED! They are neiher pro-democracy or pro-republic anymore, they are pure pro-power for power’s own sake. The saddest part, as mentioned above, is nobody is doing anything to stop them. They are the real power in the USofA no matter who is predident or governor or Chief Executive of the Outhouse. Everything happening in your nation right now is a response to Trump, and ofern that response is a non-response. Voting rights, gun ownership, abortion laws and more are Republican power-plays, and the Democrats have no response to any of it!
Biden may be doing a fine job of governing, but he is doing a horribly piss-poor job of protecting the nation, its people, and their constitutional rights.
And this is what I think most Americans are missing. Your nation is crumbling around you and Biden is playing Nero. He is playing right into Trump’s hands.Trump may not be President, but he is still King, where no one should be even a prince!
Rawgod, thanks for your comment. To me, the courts must be allowed to do their job. What we must do as citizens is support their work, by being critical of those who say 91 charges are politically motivated. We must emphasize these are serious charges and we must get to the bottom of them. This is not one isolated charge against Trump. Plus people and entities associated with this illicit acting person are paying for their crimes. The charges must stick and he should go to jail if it is warranted. That is the only way he can be held accountable. And, we need to hold the sycophants accountable as well. Keith
Note to Readers: One thing to not lose sight of is Donald Trump did not just become this way when he ran for president. He has been this way, at least dating back to when he became a known public entity. There are many examples, but here are two:
1) he settled a Housing Discrimination case to avoid trial, agreeing to take restorative action. After failing to honor his commitment, he had to be taken back to court as the judge ordered him to honor the settlement.
2) he settled another case to avoid trial that he would have artisans carefully remove an ornamental facade to a building he purchased to preserve it for another venue. In the middle of the night, he had illegal immigrants strip down the facade reneging on his agreement.
There are so many other examples to pick from, but these two show his word is meaningless and he has little respect for the law.
Note to Readers II: Here is an email response from a friend who has a career in marketing for major organizations.
“100% agree with everything you said. Unfortunately I fear he will be the next president given how weak the support for the Biden/Harris ticket is and what I expect will be a lot of voter apathy.
Key is to get the kind of passioned turn out we got in 2020. Trump certainly has created that passion to keep him from office. Can enough people get energized enough to go to the polls is the question. Get out the vote activities will never be as important as they will be come November 2024.”
My response to him:
“Thanks J. While not perfect and he has made a couple of mistakes, Biden does not get the credit he deserves for his time in office from Republicans or progressive Democrats. I realize he is older than what people want, but his presidency is far more productive and saner than his predecessor’s.”
His follow-up response:
“I completely agree with you and was not ‘sliming’ his presidency at all. The cold hard facts though is that he is not a strong incumbent in the eyes of the broader voting electorate and that cracks the door open for Trump. That terrifies me to no end. I simply cannot fathom a world where Trump is president.”
Note to Readers III: Here is another email response from L and G:
Per L, “Why oh why does the GOP continue to protect this lunatic? And the fact that the deeper he gets in his own mess, the more his rank & file supporters double down in fundraising. This is a real head scratcher.”
Per G, “I am encouraged that the Governor of Georgia-Kemp came down hard on Trump but softened that a little by saying he thought the charges were politically motivated by the DA.
Geoffrey Duncan-sharp guy-Lieutenant Governor of Georgia also slammed Trump pretty hard.
Appear.”
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Thanks for the reblog, Jill. As always, it is much appreciated. Keith
Here’s hoping!
Thanks Frank. I appreciate your stopping by. Keith
Note to Readers IV: After posting this, I did see one more revelation this morning on the classified documents case. Apparently, there is a recording of his attorney cautioning the former president months before that if he did not comply with the subpoena, his home would be raided. His home, of course, was raided. Why this matters is any other former official who finds himself or herself with classified documents cooperates to return them. Trump had to be subpoenaed and then ignored it. Keith