So this is what we have come to, our democracy is being tested by a two-bit hustler who cheats. Donald Trump has found the weak underbelly of our republic in the form of the Republican party and its cynical leadership. Generally, a loser and inveterate low-life like Trump would not be worth the careers and reputations of the Republicans who still follow him despite their knowing better. Yet, they offer their support willingly. They are afraid. Their fate is yet to be written, but they deserve the disdain and wrath of their constituents and the nation as they encourage sedition by challenging the election of a duly elected candidate at the behest of a man not even worthy
Despite the fact that Donald Trump breaking the law and democratic norms on tape, in tweets, and in-person trying to save his sorry ass from the coming tsunami of court cases by stealing an election, he persists. The punishment he may face once Joe Biden places his hand on the Bible and swears to uphold the Constitution of the United States is nothing compared to what he deserves. He is a traitor—now they are, too.
The Saturday evening phone call, that was made with the subtlety of a mafia crime boss demanding Secretary Brad Raffensperger and his counsel, Ryan Germany help him steal an election is brazen enough. It recalls an earlier call also made with evil intent. The most recent call again begs impeachment for the crime of gross abuse of presidential power. After his earlier call, Trump spent most of the time after it was reported, claiming his call to the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, demanding he begin an unwarranted investigation of Joe Biden’s son was perfect. His infamous request of “a favor, though” was a naked attempt to present a quid pro quo--arms for dirt. In this case, Trump was using arms brought by taxpayer dollars and approved by the United States Congress to help a beleaguered Ukraine for his own personal benefit. That obvious abuse of power was overlooked by Republican legislators in the House and Senate of the United States. They were afraid.
At that time, it was argued here that what had occurred was a protracted commission of treason, by the president, and then by the Republican Senate. The crime not only was committed on behalf of Donald Trump’s reelection but, more importantly, directly aided and abetted the cause of his Russian patron. For those who thought the argument for treason at that time was unsupportable, the gambit on Saturday identifies Trump as a true enemy of Democracy. Donald Trump is a traitor whose allegiance has never been to his country---only to himself and by extension his handlers in Moscow. The Republican wimps (remember, they only act out of fear) deploy hairsplitting, weak ass arguments, based on their interpretation of the vagueries of Article III, Section 3, Clause 1:
Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
They and other hypercritical readers of the Constitution deny our Founders the benefit of hindsight. Were they still around, they would see Trump’s disloyalty for what it is---the work of a traitor. Trump followers cannot even conclude that the Confederacy was an act of treason. A savvy interpreter of our founding documents could easily imagine that over time the definitions of war and enemy would evolve. The asymmetrical warfare being waged on us, first in the course of interfering with our elections, then by cyber warfare, would have been impossible for the Founders to foresee, but not so difficult for them to condemn. So would the behavior of a treacherous president who chose to undermine the foundations of their beliefs in governance. The phrase “...or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort,” precisely identifies what Trump’s phone calls imply.
The more recent phone call this past weekend is continuing proof that this president is an imposter, a poseur, in the office of an American president. His Republican supporters are convenient dupes or worse, willing collaborators, in his treasonous acts. When taken in conjunction with the recent disclosure of the brazen Russian hacks of our nation’s cybersecurity system there can be little doubt that his crime goes far beyond abuse of power. He deserves far more punishment than censure, even more than what impeachment and removal from office would provide, more than the embarrassment of losing reelection provides. He deserves the fate of a scoundrel who has betrayed his country. And for those who still deny that this man has sold out his nation and tainted the office of the presidency please explain his words:
I don’t know, look, Brad. I got to get . . . I have to find 12,000 votes, and I have them times a lot. And therefore, I won the state. That’s before we go to the next step, which is in the process of right now. You know, and I watched you this morning, and you said, well, there was no criminality.
There it is. Notice the words prior to the ellipses, “I got to get...” There is the intent. Note, after the ellipses, the threat, “it's dangerous for you....” He is exactly what he appears.
For those who would prefer to quibble with definitions of the nature of Donald Trump’s crimes, ask yourselves whether the Constitution as written had considered a man so craven and debauched serving in the office first held by Washington. Ask whether the effect the Trump presidency has had on our position of power in the world vis a vis our sworn rivals in Beijing and Moscow could possibly be anything but a conscious choice by an American collaborator acting in concert with those who would do us harm. Nearly five years ago, I wrote and asked the question “Is Donald Trump a traitor?” Now, with two imperfect phone calls he
- befriended our enemy
- helped a foreign power steal one election
- used his reign to weaken and attack our democracy
- finally, held a second election hostage and refuses to accept defeat.
This is hardly the handiwork of a patriot.
Those who support him should ask the obvious:
- why hasn’t he confronted Putin regarding bounties?
- and when will he admit that Russia was guilty of the recent cyber breach?
- why does he refuse to stand up for his country when Russian agents attack us with seeming impunity?
Now, ask yourselves the more salient question—given all we know and all he has done, when will we finally admit, ourselves, that Donald Trump is a traitor---not because he consorted our enemies, but because he is the enemy from within.
Beyond Russia or China, Putin, or Kim, who has placed our nation at greater risk, who has threatened our institutions and dismantled our intelligence capabilities in a systematic campaign to take over our government? Who has alienated our allies and promoted the misdeeds of the world’s most despicable despots?
Without question, the events of the past two months have revealed him as our true enemy. He has never tried to hide it, his betrayal has been performed openly in plain view. Putin and his cronies are pikers next to our homegrown threat. No, Donald Trump is the more obvious enemy who threatens to destroy our democracy. Just watch him, listen to his words. He is committing treason before our very eyes and daring us to respond. He has earned our disdain and condemnation for all time. The title “worst president in history” is his legacy and he has earned the title with his actions every day he remains in office. He has sold us out, and for this unforgivable sin, he seeks our complicity disguised as loyalty and fawning adoration. He deserves the dishonor of being recognized as the only president of the United States who has betrayed his country.
To parody Pogo, “We have met the enemy, and he is Trump.” Donald Trump should forever bear the nom de guerre “traitor Don”, the POS who would be king.
Had enough of Trump? Who hasn’t? If you want a review of all the turmoil as it unraveled a presidency and has come close to taking down our democracy, You may consider “What the hell were we thinking?: A blogger's guide to the Trump era...” a compilation in real-time of the antics and crimes committed over the past five years. From the campaign in 2016 to the thumping he took in 2020, this book chronicles the events as they happened and records how we felt living through the worst presidency in history.