BY VERN TURNER
Every time I tried to write an essay over the last two weeks, events sprang so quickly as to make every sentence obsolete by the time it was written. But today, the dust has settled enough, sort of, for something coherent to be written … at least I think it’s coherent. Since the standards of cogent thought seem to be bouncing around like a rubber ball, who can tell?
From the spittle-flecked raging of Brett Kavanaugh and Lindsey Graham to the absurd usurpation of democracy by Mitch McConnell, our beloved republic is in grave danger of being overrun by political thugs and ideological purists who have norespect for the rule of law, decorum, the Constitution orthe duties for which they were elected.
The president is the least of these, because he respects nothing except his own, wretched self. As evidenced yesterday, the president railed against the victim of sexual assault, mocking Dr. Christine Blasey Ford for not remembering the precise details of the surroundings of her attack by Kavanaugh 30-some years ago. Only tyrannical dictators call out individual citizens for public flaying and abuse.
His continued defense of judge Kavanaugh is clear indication that this president thinks he can do no wrong in selecting people.
There must be some other reason so many of his cabinet appointees and staff left the White House and this pathetic administration. They probably weren’t loyal enough.
Right. I guess being part of a criminal enterprise was just too much for them to handle … except those like Scott Pruitt and Tom Price who were acting like criminals themselves.
Also in the news, something even more disturbing came from the barely moving lips of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell. He announced the FBI investigation report requested by the Senate and sanctioned by Trump, would not be made public.
Why not? Oh. Right. It’s those mud-slinging, obstructive Democrats who are trying to derail the due diligence of the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh that are the problem. Click here for some pictures of those staid, calm and believable Republicans whose dignity is being so damaged.
Notice how they all seem to be responding to a dentist’s command.
Sen. Graham had the audacity to actually call Democrats obstructionists after his Republican majority completely ignored the nomination of Merrick Garland. Once again, McConnell’s mouth said seditious things: “My proudest moment in government was to look Barack Obama in the eye and tell him he would not be able to appoint a Supreme Court Justice.” How’s that for giving advice and consent per the Constitution?
I wrote a book in 2011 titled Killing the Dream: America’s Flirtation With Third World Status. In it I recounted the many ways the Bush Administration and the Republican-led Congress was driving us toward being one of those scoffed at “banana republics” where a tyrannical dictator presided over a “government” of sycophants and ass-kissers. The law resided, not in a Constitution, but in the hands of the dictator himself.
Sadly, my predictions and suspicions are coming true – on a daily basis at the hands of this most disgusting and base presidency and it’s two-headed monster, the Republican Congress.
Each day and each time president Trump addresses his base [a more perfect term for his supporters couldn’t be imagined – the most primitive form of expression] shows the world, and we Americans still clinging to the notion of self-governance, what a tyrannical dictatorship looks and sounds like.
This week, he openly degraded a female professional journalist with “I know you weren’t thinking. You never do.” Or how about telling another female professional journalist that “You’re done. Sit down.”
Shades of Chris Christie condescending to a school teacher’s questions …
In view of the popularity polls, Trump’s behavior is confounding and stupid. He is driving more potential voters away in droves. We do have him to thank for that. True conservatives have long ago turned away from the orange yeller telling the world how great he is. He has nothing left but his base, and how base they are to keep following such a vile person and such an un-hinged political party. But follow him they do …
We’re down to the last month before the most important midterm elections since the Civil War began. This election must repudiate Trump and the Republican horror show in Congress. If it doesn’t and these seditious and traitorous creatures are enabled any further, they will finish the job of destroying our democracy and turning the Constitution into just another quaint, old piece of parchment.
Any political entity that supports a president who nominates a Supreme Court justice who believes a president is above the law – and is immune from investigations against crimes in courts of law – misses the whole point about the separation of powers described in the Constitution.
If our democracy is to be saved, these tools of rightwing fascism and extremism must be removed from office, one way or another, before it is too late, lest all of us find ourselves under the boot of a pathetic, third-world type dictator.
– Denver resident Vern Turner is a regular contributor to The Oklahoma Observer. His latest book, Why Angels Weep: America and Donald Trump, is available through Amazon.
