Time has quickly ticked down to Trump’s inauguration day; tick tock, tick tock, tick tock…  Oh, perhaps I should not mention tick tock because Trump is already really lathered up about that subject; TikTok, that is.  So, it might be better to avoid mentioning anything that sounds like the application.  Trump wanted to halt all things TikTok until after he was sworn into office.  Well, he is once again The Occupier of the Oval Office so all things TikTok can proceed under his auspices.  After all, all the brouhaha about TikTok is just another step down the endless path of Trump’s “it’s about me” obsession.  “it’s about me” is present in all things Trump.  And he has plenty of enablers who help him along the way and encourage him to continue down this path.  They are mesmerized by Trump so have lost their way: from the conservative supermajority Supreme Court of the United States down to all those everyday American people whom he has gaslighted and enchanted.

There is no need to take a trip down memory lane and review the past “it’s about me” Trump occasions because the world will see many of them over the next four years.  In essence, they will be no different from those of the past.  But this time it will be “it’s about me” on steroids with the once again The Donald J. Trump of the United States of America knowing how to avoid the pitfalls that hampered his progress and prevented him from achieving most of his goals during his first term.  Not only that, but he will be armed with the presidential immunity gifted him by Chief Justice John Roberts and the conservative supermajority Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS).  It is disconcerting and frightening to even contemplate how Trump will wield this power!

I considered not watching the Inauguration ceremonies because all Trump’s speeches are filled with so much bluster, hubris, and divisiveness that it is hard to listen to him speak for more than a few minutes.  It also disturbed me that the Inauguration was on the same day that we honor Dr. Martin Luther King for his contributions to America and all Americans.  However, a relentless feeling of obligation as a part of my civic duty to stay informed kept nagging at me so I capitulated: I decided to watch the Inauguration.  As far as Trump’s inauguration taking place on the day that we honor Dr. King is concerned, I choose to view it as being emblematic of the stark difference in how these two men view America, the American people, and the direction in which America should travel.

It’s over.  I watched it and Trump’s inauguration was exactly as I thought it would be.  His speech was filled with bluster, hubris, and blatant divisive language.  A major thing that I did not anticipate though was that he would have a gaggle of millionaires and billionaires on the dais with him.  I was appalled, not just by their presence but by the gall of him to flaunt his complete distain for the long-held norms of this occasion to a worldwide television audience.  This is not normal!  This had never happened before!  And as I alluded to previously, the “it’s about me” began immediately after his inauguration with him resending at least 78 of President Biden’s policies, pardoning or commuting the sentences of everyone involved in the January 6, 2021 insurrection/riot and, according to MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnel, directing the Department of Justice to drop all charges, with prejudice, against all those still facing charges but who have not yet been charged or sentenced, and finally, reclassifying many federal employees to make it easier to fire them.

The next four years are going to be hard for Americans who did not vote for Trump and/or disagree with him, his policies, and his overall vision for America.  They will also be hard for many Americans who voted for him with the expectation that he would make their lives easier by lowering food prices and keeping other promises he made to them.  As Trump’s term in office progresses, they will come to realize this.  That he is floating trial balloons that are tinkering with revising the 14^th Amendment, rendering it toothless, or abolishing it portends his intention to centralize power in the executive branch, i.e. Donald John Trump.  This does not bode well for everyday American people, especially poor people, and people of color.

Harry Dunn and Michael Fanone, two former Capitol police officers who recently appeared on MSNBC cable news shows were obviously angry and filled with frustration as a result of Trump pardoning all those who participated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection/riot.  Both officers said that the American people are responsible for these pardons because they put Trump in a position to grant them.  This is what they wanted, former officer Dunn said angrily.  He told them what he was going to do and now they are shocked that he did it?!  Come on; where were they?!  He told them that he was going to do it!  Former officer Fanone agreed with Mr. Dunn and in essence said this is who we (Americans) are.  He added, “Law enforcement is a microcosm of America…  They are going to do what Trump tells them to do.”  Although both men were frustrated and disappointed with the failure by those in power to hold those who participated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection/riot to account, both said that they would continue to fight.  “What are the options, former officer Dunn asked; quit?!”

The resilience and determination of these two former Capitol police officers is exemplary.  This is exactly the attitude that must be taken by all Americans who love our country and want it to remain a democracy.  All of us are tired and tempted to take a deep breath, stick our heads in the sand, and ride this one out for the next four years.  That is exactly what Trump wants us to do!  That would make his job much easier.  Like former officers Dunn and Fanone, we must not acquiesce!  Just like cowardice, as exhibited by congressional Republicans, is contagious, bravery is also contagious.

So, let’s be brave, stand on our principles, and continue to move forward and fight for what we believe in; our American democracy!  And because the once “Grand Ole Party” that touted itself as the Party of law and order seems to have now become the “Party of Convicts and Thugs,” the Democratic Party and we the people, are the last line of defense.  It is now our turn to stand watch.  Then, through the power of our collective vote, we can replace those politicians who ran for and were elected to office to exploit their personal political ambitions to the fullest instead of serving the American people and protecting the Constitution, with honorable politicians who will abide by their oath of office.

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, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube, and Living Between The Line

A person that you love and care deeply about who is like family to you steals from you while they are in your home.  You discover that they stole from you and so you confront them about it.  That person admits that they stole from you and express remorse.  You forgive them.  The same person comes into your home and steals from you again.  You discover it and so confront them about it.  They admit it and express remorse.  You forgive them.  The same person comes into your home a third time and steals from you yet again.  You discover it and so confront them about it.  They admit, yet again, that they stole from you and, again, you forgive them.  This same thing continues to happen repeatedly until finally, when it happens again, you have had enough and tell this person that they are no longer welcome in your home.  They plead with you to forgive them.  They say “yes, I have stolen from you but this is not who I am; I am not a thief!”

Is this person not a thief?  They have violated your trust and stolen from you numerous times.  How about instead of saying numerous times we replace it with a number.  How about replacing it with the number 248?  That seems like a good solid number.  That’s about how long the United States has been a democracy.  Down through all these years on numerous (you can replace numerous with a number) occasions a majority of voting Americans (at least, via the Electoral College) have chosen to put elected officials in office who do undemocratic things and support and enable those voters who do undemocratic things.  Yet, many American pundits continue to say “this is not who we are” when America is confronted by people, foreign and domestic, for her hypocrisy.

But just like the thief who violated the trust of someone, who loved them dearly and to whom they were like family, and yet stole from them 248 times, then said, “this is not who I am; does this mean that this person is not a thief?  By the same token, simply because American pundits say “this is not who we are,” does this mean that Americans who do or condone the previously mentioned undemocratic things are not hypocrites?!  I choose not to give you my answer to this question because I do not want to create even the slightest bit of bias that might influence your answer.  No matter what your answer to this question is, that still does not change the fact that America is the greatest country in the world.  No disrespect meant to the other democratic countries in the world but I am an American and, despite America’s faults, that is my humble opinion.

America’s faults, even though all of them cannot ultimately be corrected because they are dynamic, those that are not corrected can continue to be mitigated while work to correct them continues…possibly, in perpetuity: That is because as we correct existing problems, new ones will arise and others will reoccur.  However, to even begin this process, Americans must first acknowledge that these faults exist and have existed for the, almost, 250 years that America has existed!

We cannot pretend that America is perfect and invent some utopian world that says that this is the case by trying to erase American history.  Banning books, putting politicians into office who currently agree with us, and replacing our beloved republic with an authoritarian one headed by a politician who wants to “make America great again” by taking her back to the slavery era is not the answer.  Acknowledging who we were does not make it who we are!  Not if we acknowledge that that is who we WERE and do the work that is required to define who we are now!  Not if we accept that the American democracy is a dynamic democracy and that Americans must work in perpetuity toward forming a more perfect union!

Sadly, many people have become elected politicians, not to protect the Constitution and to serve their country; but instead to exploit their personal and political ambitions to the fullest.  But these kinds of politicians have existed ever since America has existed.  There are just more of them now.  Although it is discouraging to witness so many politicians deserting America when she needs them most, we, the people, must stay in the fight!  We cannot afford to despair!  We must dig deep and find the will to remain engaged no matter how bleak things may appear because the soul of America is at stake!

Under the current circumstances with the open and full-frontal attack on the American democracy and its institutions by Trump’s Republican Party, it is reasonable and appropriate to state out loud what many Americans are obviously thinking.  That is, not only are citizens faced with traditional Republican politicians deserting America when she needs them most but those traditional Republican politicians, who normally conduct official business in suits and ties, appear to have been joined by apolitical partners who conduct official business in long black robes and who have been long accepted as non-partisan.

It appears that the conservative supermajority in the SCOTUS has aligned itself with Trump in this fight.  Whether this is true or not is important; but just as important is that it appears to be the case!  And because among the SCOTUS’ rulings is the ruling in favor of presidential immunity, which heavily impacted on how judges in all the trump cases handled them, this means that the judicial branch of government, headed by SCOTUS Chief Justice John Roberts, and in essence the justice system as a whole, has completely failed the American people.  This is not only damaging to the SCOTUS in the eyes of the public but it makes the job of citizens to remain engaged harder because of its deeply demoralizing impact.

Many signs right now indicate that America is ripe for an authoritarian oligarchy type of government run by a few rich and powerful men.  Fortunately, this is not a foregone conclusion.  Again, if American citizens remain in the fight and remain engaged, we will find a way to successfully pass through the next four years and remain a democracy.  After that, Americans once again will be able to vote in a presidential election.  Trump will not be able to run for office again and maybe, just maybe, Americans will choose a president who will place the interest of the country above his own personal and political interests.

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, M2: Street Cop To Top Cop, Operation Rubik’s Cube, and Living Between The Line