George Washington did not have the insight to realize that all men are created equal, despite fighting for a cause that declared it an unalienable truth. That said, he certainly had the foresight to see the danger of political parties to warp patriotism into tribalism. In his farewell address on September 17, 1796, he said this:
However [political parties] may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion. "
“They’re eating dogs!” is the improbable quote that defines a generation, and an era that is exhausted, stale, ludicrous and coming to an end. Someday, someone somewhere is going to closely examine the inanity that occurred on CNN during the two hours that preceded the debate during which Trump psychologically decomposed on national television, and realize the scale of the idiocies dressed up as commentary describing the greatest threat to freedom in America since 1860. Trump is most certainly an unserious man, but he is covered by a bevy of unserious people whose smugness blinds them to the reality that they make MAGA grow by fertilizing fascism with so much curiosity, wonder, and detachment. Standing for the proposition that what is cannot be is as delusional as the fulminations from the deranged gentleman foaming at the mouth about immigrants eating dogs.
Though what I am writing about is fundamentally idiotic and utterly insane, it is important because a moment has arrived that cannot be undone, unseen or otherwise forgotten. During the hours leading up to the debate, while Trump was being heralded as Muhammad Ali on CNN, and as Kamala Harris was being derided as an empty vessel, Donald Trump posted the following on Truth Social:
Each communicates and spreads the lie that Haitians are kidnapping and eating pets in Ohio. Nevertheless, the silly and corrupted media continues to demand that Kamala Harris offer specific policy proposals even though she has — and no doubt will continue to do so. It is the only position that can conceivably compete against Trump’s insanities for pole position in an Olympics of political madness.
In the end, I have faith in America that — despite everything — is fairly unshakeable. Because of this, I believe Trump is finished. The American people are better than the corrupt MAGA Republicans who fill the airwaves and their corrupt enablers in the national cable conflict freak show business that celebrate weirdness, while trolling for eyeballs. The majority of Americans are decent, hard-working and normal. They won’t commit national suicide and hit the self-destruct button.
Kamala Harris shouldn’t be worshipped, but she should be supported because the alternative is batshit crazy, and the time has come to shout from the rooftops what has been clear for a long time. Trump is the leader of a fascist movement that is supported by all the usual suspects from propagandists to self-interested billionaires who share Trump’s passion for taking and control. Together, they are part of a wicked cause that is a desecration of every noble quality that built America.
Voting against these people should be enough joy for anyone, but for the first time in a long time, it is increasingly clear that there is something to vote for — not just against.
Kamala Harris for president.
I hope you are correct but there are so many Americans who refuse to listen to anything negative about Trump. Three of my brothers are among them and are unwilling and not receptive to a message of hope. I lost 2 brothers a decade ago out of nine children and my parents also died more than decade ago. That left my family evenly divided but now one of my sister has been listening to my brothers and I fear she is also becoming unreceptive to reality. I have been blocked by my maga family. At first I thought it was funny but now I am deeply concerned because maybe there are other families out there who have members in the Trump cult. That is what trumpism has become, a cult. My health has been failing. I have an as of yet undiagnosed neurological condition. I am scheduled for a new MRI and hopefully will get some answers from the VA. It sucks not knowing what to call my disorder but at the same time a little scary. I have made plans to vote early just to be safe. Who knows I could possibly be one of the dead people voting Trump is so worried about which makes me extremely happy and proud I am able to get under his skin.
“In the end, I have faith in America that — despite everything — is fairly unshakeable. Because of this, I believe Trump is finished.”
I hope you are right, Steve, I hope you are right.
It reminds me of what Obama said during the summer of 2016. He said, “The American people are smart”. This was in the context of these smart Americans will never elect such a poor specimen as trump to be President. At the time I screamed at the tv, “No! No they are not smart enough to see the man behind the screen. Thank you so very much mainstream media!”
I am one of the “shaken”. And I am shaken, shaken to my core by the sheer number of fellow citizens that still, still, after all the insanity of 9 years, still think trump/vance would be good for the country.
My 7th grade English teacher (god rest her soul) would be apoplectic at that last sentence!
Trump’s ascension and the 24/7 never stop hateful/racist/misogynistic right wing media has destroyed my family and led many down a path of despair to an early grave.
His take over of the GOP has brought our legislative branch to its knees. And his appointments to the judiciary will take years to undo.
Vote blue up and down the ballot. You don’t have to love the democrats. You just have to love democracy. You don’t have to convert to the DNC. You just have to stand up this one time for what is truly a noble cause, saving our democracy.
And then, when the fascist threat of Project 2025 is dead and buried with a stake through its heart, we can all live to fight another day.