Be In It
To Win It
Donald John Trump is a criminal. And a jerk. His stint as the 47th president of these barely United States is a kick-ass side hustle. It enriches his continuing day job as a callous and corrupt con artist whose most reliable brand is personal disgrace and business failure. And, thanks to the results of Election 2024, he’s defiling the American Dream while dismantling it.
Everybody knows it, ‘cause he shows it.
He is the poster child for institutional evils he purports to have a mandate to hunt down and destroy. He is waste, fraud, and abuse personified and glorified.
He also is a failure. As a businessman and politician he is ineffective. As a person he is boring and unattractive. As a tyrant he is a weak term-limited wannabe.
An American Tragedy
Donald John Trump is a very dangerous clown act. A life of privilege in a patriarchal democracy has allowed his insecurities to fester into a sad tribute to capitalism run amok. He is an old, physically and mentally compromised white man with a bad comb over and loose bowels consumed with being perceived as rich, virile, successful, and the king of beasts in the jungle of global politics and personal power.
He is an American tragedy.
History has allowed him to lead the American Dream to the abyss. For the next 60 days our bold experiment in self-governance will balance on the edge of knife’s blade having two related but quite unlike sides (repression and resistance).
On 07 Jun 25, he signed a memorandum to his incompetent and clueless Secretary of Defense, his unqualified Secretary of Homeland Security, and his loyal Attorney General. The memo had as its subject line “Department of Defense Security for the Protection of Department of Homeland Security Functions.” The document claimed “numerous incidences of violence and disorder” in response to high-handed enforcement by ICE of immigration policies of questionable legality. Protests inhibiting ICE activities
“constitute a form of rebellion against the authority of the Government of the United States….The members and units of the National Guard called into Federal service shall be at least 2,000 National Guard personnel and the duration of duty shall be for 60 days or at the discretion of the Secretary of Defense. In addition, the Secretary of Defense may employ any other members of the regular Armed Forces as necessary to augment and support the protection of Federal functions and property in any number determined appropriate in his discretion”.
A Partial Bill of Particulars
Crass, cruel, and corrupt self-enrichment is the goal and habit of Donny the Dangerous.
Lewd conduct is his logo.
He intends his conduct to shock, arouse or offend other persons and attack common laws and standards.
1. Abuse of Power
Conflict is the Big Man’s brand. He uses loud and outrageous playground bullying conduct to distract from actions taken in the shadow of the everyday activities that administer, ignore, distort, or discard the legislated business of the country.
The unfolding drama of militarized provocation of resistance to inhumane and illegal ICE activities in California blinded responsible notice and consideration of the issuance and intent of FOUR executive orders (signed on 06 June 25) laying “the foundation of state-aligned, tech-enabled authoritarian power.”
Three of the orders deal with federalizing air space in the drone age. Most concerning is the embrace of “routine Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.”
“The drone you see in the sky might be delivering groceries. Or it might be watching a crowd. Or it might be carrying out a mission you’ll never hear about….Trump’s drone order …is a blueprint for authoritarian airspace. A future where the government doesn’t need to knock on your door, because it’s already circling above it—invisibly, legally, and with AI on standby. And because this all comes cloaked in the language of progress, few will realize the cage has closed until long after it’s built.” (Lori Corbet Mann)
The fourth order “sets out to redefine the entire digital world: who builds it, who governs it, who gets to use it, and who is watched while doing so.”
Unless and until successfully challenged in law, these orders allow blanket surveillance of We the People individually and en masse in every place and at every time for reasons of public safety and national security.
Refer to 10 June 25 posting by Lori Corbet Mann (Your Time Starts NOW) for a concise partisan commentary regarding the quietly toxic handiwork of Trump 2.0.
Indecent Exposure
The Guy has a cesspool of a mind. Every time he opens his mouth is an indecent exposure event.
He is an empty vessel. What little character he exhibits ranges from distasteful to disturbed. What is worse—he is boring.
Breach of Contract
His choice to head FEMA was surprised to learn there was a hurricane season which might need to be of concern to his underfunded and understaffed organization. The safety of what foods can be afforded is suspect, as is the efficacy of whatever seasonal vaccines may prove available.
On 08 June 25, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., the head of the Department of Health and Human Services, in direct breach of his promise to Republican Senator Bill Cassidy (a doctor and chair of the Senate Health Committee) during confirmation hearings, disbanded the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. He told the Wall Street Journal that “a clean sweep is needed to reestablish public confidence in vaccine science.”
It is terrifying to imagine the possibility that Secretary Kennedy intends to surrender immunization practices to the processes and procedures described in Executive Order 14303 “Restoring Gold Standard Science” (signed on 23 May 25). Eyes of newt are not completely out of consideration. If properly acquired from a trusted source, of course.
Failure of Fiduciary Duty
Donnie the Dubious demands brand loyalty. He is not hampered or confused by notions of legal and ethical responsibility to We the People. He does not even try to act in the best interests of anyone other than himself.
He is not bound by duties of care, loyalty, and candor. He is transparent about self-dealing, conflicts of interest, misappropriation of funds, and failure to disclose crucial information.
Domestic Violence
He foments conflict to justify repression. Thought leaders on the Substack platform uniformly, correctly, and eloquently point to the militarization of his ire and ambitions in California as baldly performative.
He needs distraction from his faux fight with Elon Musk, his stalled (and illegal) tariff initiative, and eroding support for a Big Beautiful Bill that will further unbalance the economy.
Alienation of Affection
He displays contempt for the aspirational nature of the human spirit. His assault on education, the arts, and science is unrelenting, ongoing, dispiriting, and dangerous. He is hawking to domestic and foreign uber-wealthy a $2 million opportunity to view Les Misérables at the Kennedy Center this season in his august presence
Treason
Donnie the Deluded gives aid and comfort to our enemies.
He betrays our allies. He ignores or breaks international covenants.
He solicits and accepts bribes on a dazzling level of personal enrichment.
Manifesto
Removing the Mad King and associated evils as quickly as possible is immediately necessary. It is not the end game. The Turmp 2.0 damage is deep and the rot is institutionalized. It will take a long time and directed effort to mend the badly battered body of our betrayed and abused ship of state.
It is essential to the proper operation of our form of government that persons of sound character and good purpose occupy positions of power and action within it.
Let us find them where they are. Let us grow them where we can. Let us support their candidacy with our persons and our purses. Let us insist upon their success at the ballot box and require their faithful service at every level of government in every place of influence and power.
We have the right and the duty to defend ourselves against Trump 2.0, unresponsive representatives, and corrupt jurists. We are entitled to sue for violations of law and/or betrayal of trust. The damage is real and quantifiable.
We have the ability and the will to restore the American Dream to a better, stronger place than where the implementation of Project 2025 found and leaves it.
Tomorrow starts right now in every willing heart and determined mind.
Read each Executive Order. Proclamation, and rogue shadow docket holding. Resist them in every place and every way they damage your life and attack your value system.
Refuse to be the victim of distraction, deflection, or division.
Keep calm and stay purposeful.
Anthem
The time is ripe for Resistance 2.0 to become even more bold.
Increase the volume and instances of resistance.
Hats off to those who are planning, supporting, and attending visible signs of a growing resistance to Trump 2.0 across the nation throughout June and on 04 July 25. And all honor and glory to the educational institutions, lower court justices, politicians, lawyers, journalists, and media spokespersons defying implementation of the illegal aspects of the Project 2025 playbook.
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 every day in every peaceful way everywhere all at once to demand:
The elimination of the Big Beautiful Bill. Draft a reasonable and sustainable budget that maintains the social network and personal rights put into law and custom in the last 80 years.
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.
Resumption of support of Ukraine, NATO, WHO, IMF and related international organizations and accords dedicated to the proposition of global peace, health, and prosperity.
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.
Open, timely, and impartial consideration of and rulings on pleadings regarding the constitutionality of executive and administrative actions taken by Trump 2.0 and its implementation of the Project 2025 playbook
Our statue of liberty has broken chains at her feet.
This administration does not have our leave to reinstall ancient constraints on her or us. The tide is turning in favor of Resistance 2.0. Let us raise our sails of resolve and ride the rising wind of redemption.
I truly believe that right is might.
Deny despair. Be determined and strategic. Inspire yourself. Strengthen others.
Resist. Persist. Prevail.
In a world where “only the weak will fail,” let us continue to be strong.
We cannot, we will not, fail.
Go, team, go.
I pale to think of what will be required to purge the rot that is MAGA from the ranks of government at all levels once (please God) the political power has returned to rational actors. They have permeated the depleted institutions of government that remain and will continue to look to their leader(s) for marching orders even from prison. Will it take mass termination of any and all civil servants hired under the emperors reign? Will we be compelled to similarly trample on individuals’ rights in order to undo what has been done in a timely fashion? I am getting a sober vision of what will fill the last chapter of my own story in the book of America.
Yes to all of this, Susan. Lori Corbet Mann took the time to provide the many details of the latest Executive Order, which is about redirecting everything we know about the Internet and the air above our heads, all 50 states, and every individual, to a complete consolidation of state-assigned, tech-enabled authoritarian power.
This goes beyond Big Brother or The Matrix and it's exactly what Trump and his enablers intended. It redefines the entire digital world: who builds it, who governs it, who gets to use it, and who is watched while doing so. The link to her whole article is here -- https://loricorbetmann.substack.com/p/breaking-while-we-watched-musk-and