October 28, 2020--The Vampire

Number-One son-in-law Jared (the Vampire) Kushner let his country club version of racism slip out the other day when he casually said that Black Americans had to "want to be successful" in order for President Trump's economic policies to work more effectively.

I suppose sort of like when he was helped to get into Harvard (he was otherwise rejectable) after his billionaire daddy wrote them a check for $2.5 million and then as a graduation present set his son up with a gift of an additional few hundred million.

October 26, 2020--What's At Stake For Trump

I have been AWOL because my hand tremor intensified and interfered with my typing.  

But I'll give it a try.

We need to remind ourselves again about what is at stake for Trump--

Whatever remains of his assets and fortune, his personal freedom, and that of his adult children are all at risk. 

In New York where he cannot be pardoned by his successor or himself, if he loses the election, the DA of New York City and the state attorney general are ready to swoop in and cart him off at three in the morning in handcuffs and leg irons.

The cases piling up, of bank fraud among other crimes, have already been described as "open and shut."

He is looking at at least five years in Sing Sing. He is so hated by law enforcement officials in New York that they are not likely ready to offer him a no-jail-time deal.

So with Joe Biden widening his leads nationally and in most battleground states, it is amazing Trump is able to sleep or avoid a stroke.

His crazier-than-usual behavior and increasing petulance (see 60 Minutes) and incoherence are evidence of his understandable panic.

Even I can't sleep at night and all I have on my mind is the possibility that he will be reelected.

Thus the fear that he will unleash his white-supremacist hoard and blood will flow in the streets.

This is a possibility and should not be ignored. Voting early helps since it keeps voters out of harm's way on Election Day and for at least a week thereafter.  If one wants to be engaged, standing vigil at polling places as a silent witness could also help push back against what Trump might do in an attempt to delegitimize the election and keep himself out of jail. 

Whatever we do needs to take this into consideration as it may be what is inciting much of his worst behavior.

October 12, 2020--Don't Cry For Me America

Meanwhile, back at the White House. 

At least he isn't (yet) wearing a uniform.

October 6, 2020--Nolo Contendere

Many feel that the reason Trump clings so tenaciously to the presidency is because he fears that the minute he leaves office he will face criminal prosecution.  

Not at the federal level but by New York City and New York state prosecutors, who, among other things, could hold him accountable for crimes for which he could not be pardoned.  

The most likely charge would be that he committed bank fraud when he applied to Deutsche Bank for hundreds of millions of dollars of loans he needed to bail him out of numerous collapsing real estate ventures.

For those who will not be satisfied until they see Trump perp-walked in shackles to a patty wagon there is no possibility of a deal that would put a lot of this mess behind us. But for others who also want to see Trump held responsible for his crimes a reasonably satisfying deal might be possible. It looks something like this--

The New York City district attorney,  Cy Vance, requires Trump to plead nolo contendere ("no contest") to a number of crimes and misdemeanors. This avoids a trial and the likelihood that it would be almost impossible to find 12 jurors who do not include at least two Trumpers who would vote to find him not guilty of even an open and shut case of first degree murder.

Such a deal, though far from ideal, would likely require the DA to agree not to prosecute Trump's children.

This is not an easy arrangement for Progressives to swallow but it would put a lot of the nightmare we have endured for four years to rest and we would then be able to move on to larger issues such as healing our divided nation.

October 5, 2020--Trump Denouement?

Who thought Lyndon Johnson would not run for reelection ? Who thought Nixon would resign? Now, what about Trump? No way he'll step aside.

We'll see. 

Chief of staff Mark Meadows said two days ago that Trump is "still not on a path to full recovery. Full recovery? Does this suggest Trump is thinking about declaring Mission Accomplished and stepping aside since he has to tend to his health? That he's not fully recovered?

Biden jumped to a 14 point lead after the debate. Trump knows how to count. These are losing numbers. One friend up here thinks Trump will go into exile. To Russia. I doubt this but stepping aside sounds to me like the plan.

And Secretary of State Pompeo was called back early to Washington from an Asia trip. If a president resigns, he does so by informing the Secretary of State. Nixon to Kissinger, for example. 

We can only hope.