Applaud
Or Disappear
The mind Donald John Trump appears compromised. It seems to have privilege as its default position. He brings to his second term in office the stench of personal, business, and political weaknesses and failures he refuses to accept or acknowledge.
He was returned to office despite those failures and with the promise of a Time of Terror and a Tour of Revenge against any person, institution, law, or custom that has questioned the morality or legality of his actions before, during, and after his first term.
He no longer is tentative in attitude toward any authority other than his will. He has surrounded himself with loyalists. He has been taking full advantage of a cowed Congress and a pet judicial system.
Out of Control
He insists upon being right. He needs might to enforce his will. He is deploying three tools to further his self-interest as his causes administration of the Project 2025 playbook:
1. Intimidation;
2. Coercion; and,
3. Emergency.
Donny the Dodger mocks the constitution. He has escaped oversight by declaring several “emergencies” requiring immediate executive action to protect against deadly harm. He uses a bevy of compromised attorneys to create cases of dubious first impression as they rush appeals for relief from lower court losses into the beckoning arms of a corrupted Supreme Court. Where even the high court draws a line, he steps around or over it.
As public resentment at his monarchial style gains strength, he needs might to enforce his will at home.
Federal troops support state law enforcement officers aiding ICE in arresting and detaining immigrants identified by the IRS and the DHS as persons Trump 2.0 has promised to identify and detain. Deportation operations utilize military personnel and equipment.
He has mentioned the possibility of identifying, detaining, and deporting legal citizens guilty only of a bad attitude toward his programs and actions. The niceties of due process are not expected to be extended to the accused.
A Suspended Threat
Recently, there was some mention of the possibility of Trump declaring martial law on 20 Apr 25. That did not happen.
Should that threat arise again, here is a little information regarding it.
In 1628, Sir Matthew Hale described martial law as, "no Law, but something indulged rather than allowed as a Law." It most frequently is justified under the Doctrine of Necessity. It is invoked to restore order or uphold fundamental constitutional principles even if such an action contravenes established constitution, laws, norms, or conventions.
In 1878, Congress passed the Posse Comitatus Act, which forbids U.S. military involvement in domestic law enforcement without congressional approval. The Department of Trump Justice has a penchant for reaching into the past to find legal precedents of dubious applicability. Our justice system previously has limited martial law in this country to instances arising between the Civil War and World War II.
I see very little sunlight between an executive order declaring some sort of emergency and the shaky Doctrine of Necessity.
Silly Boy
Donald John Trump is not a lovable guy. Failing to receive unconditioned affection, he demands unqualified loyalty. Those failing the fidelity test are subject to being thrown from the throne room. It is a very short jump from a haughty “kiss my ass” demand to a braggadocio “hold my beer and watch this” attitude.
The guy has a fatal attraction to being perceived as powerful. He just does not want to pay the price in person.
Because he intrinsically is a bully, he prefers to coerce. He is a stranger to the discipline and honor required of a warrior. He displays a habitual distain for the chumps who risk their lives in the defense of this country’s safety at home and abroad.
But, boy, oh, boy, does he groove on authoritarian sabre rattling.
Happy Birthday, Sir
History is an endless parading of the troops before the rulers of the time and place.
China, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, England, and France all have scheduled ceremonial saber-rattling events. Donald John Trump dearly wants one of his very own.
The adults in the room denied him a military parade during his first term in office. Well, he has another try in the works. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser reports she has been asked to accommodate a parade on 14 June 25. It would stretch from Arlington, Virginia (Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetary neighborhood) across the Potomac River and into Washington, D.C.
Trump will celebrate his 79th birthday on 14 June 25.
The U.S. Army is considering folding its 250th birthday festival into the proposed parade event.
The White House is not responding to requests for further comment.
I doubt that the event, if held, will be occur in the dark of night. Likely there is some concern about how “good people on both sides” of the event will act in broad daylight with smart ‘phones capturing the facts of the moment as it unfolds.
Anthem
More peaceful No King protests were visible and successful this past Easter weekend. Hats off to those who planned, supported, and attended these visible signs of a growing resistance to Trump 2.0.
These are interesting times. We the People now must wait for the next exciting chapter in the Clash of the Titans (between the imperial executive and his corrupt high court). Will the 7-2 margin of sanity and sound jurisprudence hold? Will Thomas and Alito be allowed to continue to participate? Stand by time on these questions likely will be brief.
It is important to remember that Donald John Trump believes “only the weak will fail.”
Let us continue to be faithful, strategic, and strong in our resistance to the fact and effects of his Reign of Terror and Tour of Revenge.
Let us continue to pull up our socks and step into the breach now, every Power of One person dissatisfied with the results and consequences of Election 2024.
Let us continue to put into play our persons and our purses to demand:
A return to positions of principle those persons, institutions, and organizations betraying a public trust in their integrity when bending a knee, kissing the ring, funding the personal wealth, or furthering the ambitions of Donald John Trump.
The bringing of criminal charges against Musk and articles of impeachment against Trump.
The bringing of articles of impeachment against corrupt justices now contaminating the opinions of the high court.
Referendum and recall of congressional representatives not faithful to their oath of office and/or unresponsive to the concerns and wishes of their constituents.
Creation of a Shadow Cabinet charged with daily briefings of administrative assaults upon the rule of law, the health, safety, and welfare of We the People, and simple decency.
Course correction on the conduct of matters related to national security.
I truly believe that right is might.
Resist. Persist. Prevail.
In a world where “only the weak will fail,” let us continue to be strong.
We cannot, we will not, fail.
The bully will keep tormenting and taking until something or someone stops it. Permanently. Meanwhile, I put my attention on your Anthem and what Robert Hubbell recommends: Let’s spend less time speculating about what Trump might do and more time planning what we will do to reclaim democracy. Why do we like parades? Because it gives us something to cheer about. The work at hand then, may be to organize, build, create something worth cheering for that benefits everyone instead of destroying.
OMG I hadn't even thought about how “good people on both sides” will show up for that event. I certainly wouldn't take my family to see that parade - or to even be in the same town with it. I know! Let him have a parade and the only folks who show up are the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Everyone else can be in local protest marches. That way the "good people" of his cults can have the show all to themselves.