Well, we’re several weeks into Trump’s FIRST criminal trial and it should be interesting how it ends up. Trump seems to always find a way to escape CRIMINAL accountability and this case may be no different – although as one witnesses it a GUILTY verdict seems appropriate. However, there’s some technicalities which could interfere in such a verdict not the least of which is if Trump’s lawyers managed to “sneak” a MAGA faithful onto the jury. His other cases seem to be running headlong into Judges who want to make sure those trials don’t happen until after the November election.

I have to wonder what these judges are thinking? Do they really believe their own “power” won’t be compromised should Trump somehow cheat his way into the “White House” a second time? Whether he’s found GUILTY or not in the Manhattan “election interference” trial, what is clear is he CHEATED to get elected the first time so why would it be any different this time. Clearly he’ll never get more than around 47% of the vote (if that) so his, and his republican sycophants, objective is to whittle down the number of people who will vote for Joe Biden – in any way they can.

The rhetoric coming out of Trump’s mouth is so reminiscent of 1930’s propaganda coming from the German Third Reich (OK, I’m talking about Hitler, Goebbels, and all the rest) and the mis/disinformation apparently flooding America’s Social Media networks (I say “apparently” because I don’t personally frequent those networks) from Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, and (maybe) Egypt – countries with authoritarian leaders who fear the spread of “democracy” – is reminiscent of the flood of propaganda which was spreading across America during the 1930’s directly from Berlin. Fascism is a form of “government” which is not restricted by norms and things like a constitution.

Here are some of the “things” coming out of Trump’s mouth which should grab the attention of democrats, republicans, and independents alike. Here’s a comparison between Trump’s rhetoric and Hitlers:

“In honor of our great veterans on Veterans Day, we pledge to you that we will root out the communists, Marxists, fascists, and the radical-left thugs that live like vermin within the confines of our country—that lie and steal and cheat on elections, and will do anything possible; they’ll do anything, whether legally or illegally, to destroy America, and to destroy the American Dream.” Here’s Hitler justifying the MURDER of six MILLION Jews: “If I can send the flower of the German nation into the hell of war without the smallest pity, then surely I have the right to remove millions of an inferior race that breeds like vermin!”

Here’s a “blurb” from “The New Yorker:” Just as the Fascists’ hateful rhetoric during the interwar period (between WW I and WW II) was intended to dehumanize, delegitimize, and intimidate its targets, Trump is trying to do the same thing to the individuals and institutions on his enemies list, (emphasis mine) which seems to include anybody who won’t forgive his attempt to overturn the 2020 election results or who supports the subsequent efforts to hold him to account. The foes he is targeting appear to include President Joe Biden, congressional Democrats, Never Trump Republicans, the Justice Department, the courts, senior military officers, and the media—i.e., many of the central institutions (pillars) of American democracy.

Trump claimed that President Biden “together with a band of his closest thugs, misfits, and Marxists, tried to destroy American democracy.” He added, “If the communists get away with this, it won’t stop with me.”

Trump has claimed with words parroted from fascists before him, that immigrants are “poisoning the blood of our country,” He (and his sycophants) have been pushing the “Great Replacement theory” which is the result of fear mongering about immigrants aimed at the republican base to the point where a significant portion believe it. (After all, we ARE a nation of immigrants. The reality is Trump is a second generation immigrant married to a first generation immigrant – what he objects to is immigrants who aren’t “white.”) He has threatened massive round ups of “illegal aliens,” putting them in what amount to concentration camps before, presumably, sending them back to their – as he calls them – “shit hole” countries.

Trump has PROMISED (I thought of writing “threatened” but decided promised would be more accurate) to suspend our constitution, he’s promised to go after the media which isn’t friendly to him (probably anything not friendly to him), he’s promised to weaponize the Justice Department to “arrest” his enemies – apparently in retribution for his own misdeeds. He’s planning to have, for example, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, the Clinton’s, Jack Smith (of course), probably the state prosecutors holding him accountable for all his CHEATING, MSNBC, CNN, The Washington Post, etc. etc. all arrested and charged with crimes he will apparently invent.

Just the other day, in a “meeting” at Mar a Lago, it was reported he made the following proposal to a group of oil executives: They would supply his campaign with ONE BILLION dollars and, in return, he would promise to end “Joe Biden’s ‘green’ policies” in favor of increased leases of government land for oil and gas exploration. What would you call that? Yep, that’s the classic “quid pro quo.” Got him IMPEACHED the first time – what do you think will happen if “we the people” vote in a House controlled by democrats? Just sayin…. (Getting IMPEACHED a third time would break his record!)

I started this post (rant) a few weeks ago and have since become lazier than usual. I’m going to attempt to bring it to some kind of a conclusion. I’ve been (sort of) paying attention to Trump’s Manhattan trial and have to say, from my layman’s point of view, it doesn’t look that good for Trump. That said, as the lawyer’s I’ve listened to have said it only takes putting a bit of doubt in one juror to cause a mistrial – which would likely leave Trump to be “off the hook.” It appears it’s likely this will be the only trial happening before the election because of a series of “Trump friendly” judges.

Aileen Cannon is not even subtle in her rulings (constantly) in Trump’s favor and her apparent disdain for Jack Smith. I’m convinced if Mr. Smith is unable to get a different judge Trump will get away with what may be significant espionage crimes. I mean, who knows how many people he shared the classified info with and, as I’ve said before, there were a number of classified folders which were empty when the FBI executed the Search Warrant on Mar a Lago. I know I’ve often wondered where the files which were in those folders actually ended up. Does Trump still have them? Or, did he work something out with a foreign government to get them.

And, the Supreme Court even taking the ABSURD “absolute immunity” case just shows how low this court is willing to go despite their increasingly “ugly” standing with the American people. (OK, I should say with a significant MAJORITY of the American people) We’ve got TWO judges who have NO business even participating on ANY case which has ANY thing to do with the January 6th INSURRECTION. (Which at least two cases do) As most people know Ginni Thomas was right in the middle of the attempt by Trump to overthrow the 2020 election. As far as I’m concerned she – along with SEVERAL members of Congress – SHOULD have been indicted as being part of the conspiracy to overthrow the election.

Then there’s Sam Alito. He’s been at the center of several pro business (corporations are “people”) decisions since the early days of President Obama’s administration along with the gutting of the Voting Rights Act, the blocking of Affirmative Action at top U.S. Universities, the overturning of Roe, and lots more to come. Recently, evidence came to light showing Alito flying an America Flag upside down – in concert with the so-called “Stop the Steal” movement – right in the front yard of his home. As most cowards would do, he blamed his wife. (Similarly to Justice Thomas claiming he didn’t talk to his wife about her allegedly ILLEGAL activities) The issues with the Supreme Court is bordering on the absurd.

A quick refresher: Judge Gorsuch is there because Mitch McConnell refused to allow Barack Obama’s choice (after the death of Antonin Scalia) to be even considered – for over one year – because “it was an election year.” Judge Kavanaugh was confirmed despite credible reports he had committed sexual assault on more than one occasion – allegations which were stifled by Trump’s FBI. And, of course, Judge Barrett had her confirmation rushed through by McConnell even while voting was taking place in 2020 because, well, he didn’t have to follow his own example set when Obama’s choice (Merrick Garland) was blocked for over one year. Give the republicans credit – they are unable to govern – but, they are really good at CHEATING and the SCOTUS is a great example of their success.

Will the Court decide Trump has “absolute immunity” both while in office and after leaving office? My guess is likely not. However, they can “remand” the case back to the District Court to force Judge Chutkin to differentiate between official duties and no official duties – as if overthrowing a free and fair election might be considered an “official duty.” Just by accepting this ABSURD claim by Trump and then putting off arguments until the LAST day of their term, they did for Trump what he needed. And, that’s to stall this case until after the election so that if somehow he CHEATS his way back into office he can have the two federal cases against him thrown out. Why? Because he says so!

The reason I don’t think the Court will simply rule on the case which was brought before it is because there still might be time for Judge Chutkin to get the case tried if, for example, the Court renders their decision at the end of June (putting it off as long as they can) That would not fit into the time schedule of Alito and Thomas as both, by rights, should be resigning in disgrace as I’m writing this. They’ve (the Court) acted in the space of a couple weeks in the past when the case is pressing (see Bush v Gore) but this court seems to be in the opposite of a hurry. I’ve said before I have NO confidence at all in this Court and I don’t expect that to change. I will say, this decision will NOT be unanimous. Judge Jackson put it best when she wondered why the discussion (in the arguments) seemed to go anywhere but to the case which had been presented to the Court. The fact they accepted the case, in the first place, told me “somethin’s up.”

Final Thought: Watching Trump’s Manhattan Trial confirms to me, even more, that Trump is nothing but a two bit mob boss. Michael Cohen was the perfect lawyer for him, until he wasn’t. Apparently, Trump expected Cohen to “take the fall” for him regarding the “Stormy Daniels” payoff and, as he’s done before, he’s said “I hate flippers.” (And, we’re not talking about people in a swimming pool) The evidence of Trump’s guilt is overwhelming, but the defense appears to be basing their chances on pointing out Mr. Cohen is a LIAR. Well, of course, Trump is a (allegedly) pathological LIAR and, if you’re working for him in the capacity of Mr. Cohen, well, you MUST be willing to LIE. Apparently, Trump has an ability to suck people into his “cult of personality” as he’s done with MILLIONS of Americans (plus what’s left of the republican party) – let’s hope a guilty verdict in this case might wake a few of the MAGA faithful up – and, really, clarify things for those independents and young people who don’t especially care for President Biden to cast a vote for the preservation of our democratic republic. In the words of Ben Franklin: “We’ll have this republic as long as we can keep it.”

I personally know so-called “upstanding Americans” who would rather have an authoritarian rule by Trump than “keeping the republic” under Biden. Almost every one of them watches/listens to Fox “news” or worse. Just about every one of them who’s said to me “I don’t watch Fox ‘news'” has, without thinking – later- confirmed to me they actually do and that they know how bad it is because they’re willing to LIE about the fact they DO watch it. Stay tuned………..