The FBI search of his palace in Florida is the nexus of so much hate by the insurrectionist Republican party that no one can possibly be surprised to find violence rise rapidly. The attempted attack on an FBI office in Cincinnati is just the first of what will surely follow.
Most of us will go to great lengths to avoid violence, of course, but I am amazed at the number of political pundits who now advise caution in even pursuing the Trump lawbreaking. After all, it could all get so much worse!
But could it? Maybe, it's already quite bad. I read a column by David Brooks, who is a right-leaning centrist, that posed this: "Did the FBI raid guarantee Trump's reelection?" I sometimes find him persuasive, but this column is just him buckling under to the deluge of menace and threats and growing gun sales.
I am fine with compromise and honestly believe there is value in multiple views being balanced and everyone finding some positives from legislation and regulations. Incremental change tends to be more long-lasting than sudden changes.
But there has to be a time when society has had enough. I know the Trump cult will not back down but I suspect the core radicals are relatively few in number. If a former president simply refuses to recognize lawful authority (this is Trump's appeal to many of our undereducated and ignorant citizens), are we to simply throw up our hands and claim "nothing can be done."
At some point, ethics and justice must be tested. There may be unexpected complications, but are we really fine with different justice systems for the rich and powerful?
There will be MAGA violence and threats as long as Trump lives. He wallows in the chaos and drains money from his sheeplike followers. Nothing can be done about that.
But we can make certain this gangster does not rise to any powerful political offices ever again. My hope is that one or more of the several criminal and civil cases involving Trump and his minions gets the job done.
Trump is a bully and bullies never can be overcome through patient compromise. Many in his cult are also petty bullies and they revel in the chaos of the moment. They can not be overcome by patient compromise. Many of them are willfully ignorant, unaware of most anything going on... just enjoying being able to throw in with a strong ruler who promises them worldly gain.
That willingness to bow to some authoritarian who promises them power and prestige is not new among humans. One thing we know is that if such authoritarians are not confronted, they can prevail.
Trump is not being persecuted. He is being prosecuted. He's danced around various laws for many years and it is shameful that legal authorities have shied away from confronting him most of the time, up to now.
I say let's opt for seeking truth and justice. If the guy turns out to simply be a troll and a bully who hasn't actually broken any laws, fine.
At least we will know.
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