THE AMERICAN POSEIDON ADVENTURE

The past week has laid bare the true rot and diseased thinking infecting the Republican maga leadership. Those Republicans still trying to rationalize trump’s erratic, unprincipled, unconstitutional, and often illegal behavior now find themselves skating on cracking thin ice as they struggle to make sense of what has unfolded.

Take, for instance, the case of a man convicted of fraud and lying to voters and donors. No, not trump; George Santos. Santos pled guilty to multiple criminal charges and was sentenced to jail time. Yet, in his perverse notion of “justice for all,” trump, who loves to proclaim that “no one is above the law” pardoned yet another felon. Some suggest trump’s rationale is simple: if he pardons enough convicted criminals, it will normalize the behavior and, by extension, make his own corruption appear acceptable.

Then there’s trump’s decision to weaponize the IRS, compounding the tactics of his feckless Attorney General, Bondi, who indicted James Comey and Letitia James on flimsy, baseless grounds, as well as the legitimate Bolton indictment for actions trump should already be serving time for! trump now intends to scour IRS records to threaten and punish ideological opponents he and his cabal deem “enemies.” It is a blatant abuse of governmental power to purge opponents for ‘ideological purity’ (sound familiar-1933?). Even career prosecutors reportedly saw no legitimate basis for the Comey and James indictments. It is vindictive prosecution, pure and simple, designed to inflict financial pain and intimidate dissent.

And what of the Johnson Squeaker “maga Mike”, who labeled the participants in the “No Kings” march as “Antifa” and “people who hate America”? Clearly, the maga talking points were scripted to stoke fear among citizens who dared to protest trump’s assault on our constitutional rights. Figures like the pistol-packing Laura Loomer even threatened to unleash ICE at the rallies, claiming there would be violence, an absurd projection, considering that the January 6th insurrection was dismissed by the same crowd as a “Capitol tour.” Once again, maga logic turns reality upside down: peaceful protest is “hate,” while a violent coup attempt is “patriotism.”

To cap it all off, trump’s post-march tweet, depicting himself as a king flying over Democratic-led cities, dumping excrement upon them, said everything we need to know. The image was revolting and degrading to our democracy and the office of the presidency, yet perfectly emblematic of trump’s vindictive, low-life, deranged persona and the dystopia that awaits under his rule of vengeance.

The examples keep mounting, and the realization grows clearer by the day: we are in crisis. trump cares nothing for policy or accountability; his only goal is self-aggrandizement and retribution. his sordid pleasure comes from breaking norms, humiliating opponents, and feeding the petty egos of those without moral compass beyond “me, me, me.” It is the lifeblood of trumpism and the poison of democracy.

The “No Kings” march was a joyous act of defiance, a reminder that millions love America and recognize the peril we face. But it was also a call to action. The work is far from over. The next year will decide whether our nation reclaims its democratic soul or surrenders it to a cult of cruelty and deceit.

RESIST!!! & EDUCATE!!!