When Crudity and Narcissism Takes Over, Led by an American President, We Approach a National Abyss.
When Crudity and Narcissism Takes Over, Led by an American President, We Approach a National Abyss.
In sports, the recent Ryder Cup, a bi-yearly golf tournament between Europe and the United States, is a recent example of what should be non-political.
Incredibly, the PGA hired (for the first time) a cheerleader type MC. Heather McMahon used her introductory microphone to pump up the American spectators with “fuck Rory, fuck Rory, fuck Rory,” as European Rory McIlroy stood at the first tee, his wife watching from the audience.
Never has such a spectacle been seen in the 98 years of the competition. The Ryder Cup is one of the world’s greatest sporting events. Every two years, 24 of the best players from Europe and the United States go head-to-head in match play competition. Drama, tension, incredible golf, camaraderie and sportsmanship are served in equal measure, captivating an audience of millions around the world. It’s an event that transcends sport, yet remains true to the spirit of its founder, Samuel Ryder.
Not by the Americans, not this year.
Beer was splashed on Rory’s wife, crude remarks were made in her direction, and the crowd screamed every time he addressed the ball, including during putts. The European answer was to keep their cool, kick the American’s ass and take home the trophy.
But that’s just our social decline, our political decline is a test of our Republic.
Trump (let’s name the name) is working to delegitimize the mid-term elections a year from now, because he knows he might lose. Having weaponized Israel and abandoned Ukraine, hundreds of thousands have died under his watch. Putin told him in Alaska that he would have won the 2020 election but for mail-in ballots and computer counting. A week after that conversation, he signed executive orders denying mail-in votes (including mine) and computerization of elections. We’ll see how that plays out in court, but the intent is there
He’s also demanding proof of citizenship at the polls, disenfranchising a huge percentage of his opponents. There is no proof other than a passport, and 55% of Americans have no passport. Those 55% are mostly Democrats, while Republican states are hip-deep in gerrymandering their voting districts to benefit Republican majorities.
In July of 2024, four months before the November elections, Trump told evangelical Christians “In four years, if you vote for me, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good. You’re not going to have to vote.”
The statement itself is chilling. That is not just ‘Trump being Trump.’ If you believe that, you’re going to lose your democratic republic and live in a dictatorship.
He’s just had his Director of the Justice Department indict former F.B.I. director James Comey for lying to Congress, and delivered to Pam Bondi a further list of individuals he considers ‘enemies’ for additional criminal charges.
The alcoholic former Fox News ‘contributor’ Trump chose to be Secretary of War (formerly Secretary of Defense until he changed it) called all 800 Flag Officers of the U.S. Military to a meeting in Virginia to instruct them on the rug he was pulling from under them.
This punk kid from nowheresville, stood in front of the nation’s generals and admirals, addressing them like four-year-olds instead of the career generals and admirals, they are, demanding
· Two fitness tests per year,
· Daily physical fitness training,
· Stricter grooming / appearance rules; no beards,
· A review and revision of “toxic leadership,”
· Merit-based promotions; faster removal of poor performers,
Ridding the military of female career combatants,
· Reducing mandatory training burdens, and
· Empowering leaders, restoring command authority, and eliminating risk-averse culture
The existing institutional culture, Hegseth complained, often emphasized risk management, legal review, oversight and compliance, which many leaders view as constraints. Oversight and compliance was a bed rock necessity in the military according to those in his stummed and silent audience.
Then the President, their Constitutional leader, came on for an additional hour of bollywockadoodle.
Among his verbal meanderings, Trump affirmed to the audience that “I support you … I have your backs 100%,” immediately undoing that pledge by “any dissenting officers can leave the room.” The implication was that there would be consequences for those who cannot or will not support his agenda.
In a major lurch away from constitutional constraints, Trump referred to an “invasion from within,” suggesting that U.S. cities ,with what he termed major crime or unrest, should be used as “training grounds” for the military. He named several cities (Chicago, New York, San Francisco) in that context. He insisted that the military would not remain “politically correct” when defending America’s freedoms, signaling a break from rules or doctrines (such as the US Constitution) he considers overly cautious.
Does it make you a bit uneasy to consider the Army roaming American streets on the whims of a narcissist president?
Then, of course, there’s the planned White House Ballroom.
In July, the White House announced that construction would begin in September 2025 (last month, apparently) on a 90,000-square-foot ballroom addition to the East Wing. No congressional approval asked for or required (at least by him). It’ll cost about $200 million, to be financed by Trump and private donors. Read that ‘private doners,’ the man himself doesn’t pay for stuff, he grifts.
But it brings up an interesting question. His final term is up in three years. Does it seem logical that he would leave office without a trip or two around the dance floor? Might he just declare a national emergency, an excuse he’s used to enact all of his illegal Executive Orders so far, and refuse to leave? Many have been challenged in the courts —some in the Supreme Court itself—and yet none have stopped him.
Hitler wrote Mein Kampf, outlining everything he had in mind for Germany. No one read it.
Trump has told us everything he plans to do, including never having to vote again—and has done many of them, courts be damned. We are not paying attention.
This is not a call to arms, that’s not the American way.
It is a call to attention, before we lose our beloved republic.
And the mid-terms are only a year away
For god’s sake America, put your indifference on the kitchen table, and pay attention.