Since the day that Mr. Donald J. Trump was inaugurated, the democracy of the United States of America has been under siege. To my knowledge, no democracy has ever lasted longer than that of the United States of America. My hypothetical equation as to how much damage that our democracy will sustain under the so called leadership of Mr. Trump, if we will recover from it or whether it will even last is this: (18000 L + TIO + IATIO)/3.5 Y x DJT Lifespan = DJTDTD. In this equation “L” = lies, “TIO” = time in office, “IATIO” = influence after time in office, “Y” = years, “DJT” = Donald J. Trump and DJTDTD = Donald J. Trump damage to democracy. So to state the equation, it is: the sum of 18,000 lies plus time in office plus influence after time in office divided by 3.5 years times Donald J. Trump lifespan = Donald J. Trump damage to democracy. In other words, the democracy of the United States of America could hinge on this hypothetical equation and whether or not, by way of our vote, we will cut that “TIO” short. If we cut it short, America stands a much greater chance of continuing to survive as a democracy.
What did we get ourselves into when America elected Mr. Trump – according to the American intelligence community, with Russia’s help?! Only history will reveal the complete story. Unfortunately, many of us will not be around when the final chapter of this occupier of the Oval Office, The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America is revealed. Whether or not we are around for the final chapter, we are all witnesses right now to the unfettered carnage that Mr. Trump has unleashed and is continuing to unleash on America.
With the Novel Coronavirus that has America in its grip – and to date has killed almost 120,000 Americans – and protests in every state of the United States and around the world because of the rate at which the police are brutalizing and murdering black men and women as if our lives do not matter, The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America has chosen to move on from the coronavirus pandemic and focus on his reelection campaign. He has moved on from the coronavirus problem by pretending that the pandemic no longer exists in America and is in essence discouraging Americans from wearing masks and from social distancing. He and his Republican minions in the House and Senate are pushing “reopening” America with little to no regard given to advice by scientists and health experts as to how to handle such a reopening.
As regards the brutalization and murders of black men and women by police and the need for transformational reform in the 18,000 police departments throughout the United States, Mr. Trump and almost all congressional Republicans insist that there is not systemic racism in the police departments around the country and that a “few bad apples” in these police departments are causing these problems. They insist that the problems in police departments can be solved with more training and a bit of tweaking. Those in the United States and around the world who have been protesting and demanding change because of the way that the police in America treat black people obviously disagree. And they are continuing to express that disagreement.
Mr. Trump and his administration have failed miserably to provide America and the American people with the leadership that we deserve. The United States State Department and Department of Justice (DOJ) have succumbed to Mr. Trump’s influence and have now become completely possessed by him. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo eagerly carries Mr. Trump’s water and DOJ head, William Barr, is nothing more than Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer. He has done nothing to act as the American peoples’ lawyer and he has lost the confidence of his predecessors, his peers and many of those civil servants who, unfortunately, fall under his auspices.
I would be remiss if I did not mention Trump former National Security Advisor John Bolton. Mr. Bolton, for whatever reason – I believe it was for consideration of future potential profit from a book that he wrote, was also among those who protected and enabled Mr. Trump: he refused to testify in the House impeachment proceedings and said that he would only testify before the senate if subpoenaed. With the Republican-led senate, guided by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, hell-bent on clearing Mr. Trump of all Impeachment charges to the point where they chose to have a trial without calling any witnesses, Mr. Bolton did not have to concern himself about being subpoenaed. He likely knew this in advance. And although Mr. Bolton’s testimony probably would not have changed the final result of Mr. Trump’s impeachment trial, it would have put more pressure on the senate to avoid presenting a sham trial to the American people. I agree with Congressman Adam Schiff; former National Security Advisor John Bolton might be an author but he is not a patriot!
The failed well-warranted attempt to impeach and convict Mr. Trump allowed him to remain in office to complete his first term. And there is no doubt that The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America can do a tremendous amount of damage between now and the time that he leaves office if he should lose. But he can do far more damage if he is given another four years. Whether you support Mr. Trump or feel that America needs a new president, it is incumbent upon all of us to vote this November. And if we all vote no matter how many roadblocks that Mr. Trump and his Republican minions place in our paths, I am confident that America will have a new president in office in January 2021. I believe that that new president will be a Democrat. I also believe that all of those elected officials who placed their personal and political ambition above their oath to defend America against all enemies foreign and domestic and blindly followed The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America will be held to account and will be replaced.
So always remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican or Independent, your vote is the most important one of all…unless you don’t use it!
Eulus Dennis – author, Operation Rubik’s Cube and Living Between The Line