We are witnessing just the tip of the iceberg of corruption that is likely to become one of the hallmarks of the Trump administration. The House Ethics Committee was about to release what is purported to be a very damaging report on former Representative Matt Gaetz when he suddenly resigned after being nominated by Trump for the post of Attorney General. Now, Speaker Mike Johnson, another Trump sycophant, is saying that he will resist releasing the report. He is doing this no doubt at the urging of Trump knowing full well that if the report is released, the uphill battle Gaetz is facing for confirmation will become virtually impossible to climb.
In any place other than in Trump world, one would think that a report from the House Ethics Committee into alleged sex trafficking of minors and illegal drug use would immediately disqualify anyone from consideration for the most important legal job in the country. But we are now living in Trump world where norms, laws, and transparency are simply things to be manipulated until the desired beneficial outcome for Trump is attained. Sadly, this is just the beginning of the corruption of the rule of law that we are likely to see in Trump 2.0 – and we’re not even at the starting line yet! Given the record to date of Senators, Congressman and the U.S. Supreme Court routinely bending the knee and kissing the ring of Trump, I have little confidence the report will ever surface or that Matt Gaetz’s appointment as Attorney General will be stopped.
As I said yesterday, the Rule of Law will now become the Rule of Trump. That begs the question, “Will Trump really pardon all of those involved in the January 6th insurrection?” My guess is that he will most certainly do that. Does anyone really think those individuals will return to their previous lives and decide that they have learned their lesson and will be good, law-abiding citizens henceforth? Or, will they become even more emboldened Trump stormtroopers and be willing to do whatever King Trump says? I’m betting on the latter.
Let’s not forget that Mussolini had his Black Shirts who were members of the Voluntary Militia for National Security. Hitler had his Brown Shirts who were a group of former soldiers and anti-leftists who helped advance Hitler’s political goals. There has been much speculation about whether Trump would use the military against American civilians. That would certainly present political problems for him. However, what is to stop him from gathering up all of those he pardons for the January 6th insurrection and their comrades and forming something akin to Mussolini’s Black Shirts or Hitler’s Brown Shirts. There is absolutely no doubt many of the domestic shadow militia groups like the Proud Boys are ready to answer the call. If you think that is far-fetched, I believe you are naïve.
In a previous post I said that no one should be shocked at anything Trump does anymore. But beyond foregoing the shock, we all need to get past the ‘that could never happen in America’ thought process and begin imagining the worst possible things that Trump could do and believe them.
Make no mistake about life in Trump world. The rich will get richer. Much of the population will get poorer. Deficits will soar. A recession will likely occur. The government will be weakened and chaotic. Our enemies will take advantage of this weakness and become stronger and more emboldened. Our alliances will be irrevocably damaged. Freedoms that we once took for granted will be tested and possibly curbed. And, frankly, I suspect there will be a significant increase in violence in this country.
If that sounds too dystopian because ‘that could never happen in America,’ let’s talk again in four years. It can and will happen in America if ‘we the people’ allow it. And we are well on our way.
