Are political scruples (PS) just bulls*** (BS) when it comes to securing political contributions? I mean really – I’m not joking; are PS just BS when it comes to money (the king) and clinging to power?! When presented with a choice of standing on principles and serving their constituents or taking the money and doing whatever is necessary to remain in power, do politicians just cast their constituents to the wind and get their hustle on?
The answer to this rhetorical question is “they take the money and do whatever is necessary to remain in power.” If this is not the correct answer, the actions of our politicians – especially since the time that Donald J. Trump was elected to office up until now, certainly make it appear to be.
Because when it comes to money and remaining in power, a switch seems to trip in politicians’ minds that says to hell with constituents, it’s imperative that I get reelected so that I can continue to serve them. Continue to not serve them would be the appropriate wording under these circumstances. In their eagerness to justify bowing to the king they drone on in their efforts at critical thinking.
I can’t risk being replaced by someone who doesn’t know how things work here in Washington and would run afoul of their colleagues by insisting on representing their constituents rather than adhering to party norms and traditions; yes, I have got to get my hustle on. And this applies to all politicians whether they are accustomed to wearing suits or black robes… These politicians unspoken mantra? Show me the money!
This kind of thing is especially hard on regular Americans since the dawn of the Trump political era. Truth (the truth is what I say it is), lies (alternative facts), “my generals”, “my judges”, “my R congressmen”, “my documents.” Mine, mine, mine! Divisiveness, hate, anger and fear. A ball of confusion; helter-skelter. And then there are these Trump infamous statements; “I’m the most honest human being, perhaps, that God has ever created.” “I’m the only one that matters.” And, “It is election interference, & the Supreme Court Must intercede. MAGA!”
This is Trump’s America and what his politics is all about! This is Trumpworld! This is a former The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America who has been involved in more than 3,000 lawsuits, has been twice impeached, is a convicted criminal and is facing multiple indictments that could involve felony charges and prison time.
His latest indictment was handed up on August 1, 2023 for interfering in the 2020 election; United States of America v. Donald J. Trump. Nevertheless, Mr. Trump is supported by the Republican Party, the majority of Republican voters and is on trajectory to be the 2024 Republican presidential nominee. According to recent polls, He is polling at +43 points ahead of his nearest challenger, Governor Ron DeSantis, and is holding steady or gaining ground with each new indictment.
This latest indictment, because it is replete with evidence and has witnesses who can corroborate this evidence, seems to have placed Mr. Trump in an untenable position. But the American people must never underestimate the former The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America because he is a proven true, although infamous, phenomenon: he is a modern-day Houdini!
He is likely already thinking along the line of “my judges” – including Supreme Court Justices, “my R congressmen”, truth (the truth is what I say it is), lies (alternative facts) and how he can use divisiveness, hate, anger and fear to his advantage. And if none of these things work to prevent him from ultimately being convicted and sent to prison, then he is sure to have a plan B, C, D etc.
Just like I am aware, and likely many who read this article are as well, that even if Mr. Trump is convicted and given a prison sentence, he could still run for president from prison. Even then – if he is elected, even if he could carry out his duties as The Donald J. Trump of the United States of American from prison it is unlikely that this would occur.
His sentence would at the very least need to be placed on hold and he would be released from prison during his tenure as the Occupier of the Oval Office. On day one of his new term as The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America, everyone knows that he would try to pardon himself.
The American people must not allow Mr. Trump to have a second opportunity to convert America from a democracy to an autocracy. It is far too risky. That is why every American should read the indictment of Mr. Trump for his interference in the 2020 election that was handed up by the Grand Jury on August 1, 2023. It is reasonable to assume that no one who is a Trump sycophant, Trump supporter or closet Trump supporter will ever read this article but if you do, you too are included in that previously mentioned “every American.”
For your convenience, you can click on this PBS page link and it will bring up the full indictment so that you can read it to help you decide for yourself if Mr. Trump was indicted strictly for political reasons as his followers have claimed. Or, if you prefer not to click on the provided link, type https://d3i6fh83elv35t.cloudfront.net/static/2023/08/trump-indictment.pdf into your browser and that also will bring up the indictment.
On the trial date and going forward until he is either found innocent or guilty, Mr. Trump will receive a fair trial. He should be assumed innocent until it is proven otherwise. The American democracy is at stake in this trial so all Americans must put aside our personal political preferences, biases and differences as regards the direction in which America is traveling and whether a D or R precedes a politician’s name, and move forward together to keep our Republic.
And for any politician who opts to get their hustle on rather than stand up for America and to represent their constituents, they should be voted out of office whenever they come up for reelection. As for the Supreme Court Justices who believe that congress cannot regulate them; if they will not reasonably regulate themselves through written policies, then congress must prove to them that it can regulate them.
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