Obviously Donald Trump decided this past week that it was time to, as they say, pump up the volume. On Thursday he posted a video which showed him declaring, "Our foreign policy establishment keeps trying to pull the world into conflict with nuclear armed Russia based on the lie that Russia represents our greatest threat. But the greatest threat to western civilization today is not Russia. It's probably more than anything else ourselves and some of the horrible, USA hating people that represent us."
When that didn't raise the temperature enough, on Saturday he posted on his social media site that he would be arrested this coming Tuesday. He demanded his supporters to not only protest, but take their country back--presumably from those horrible USA hating people.
That was the button he was looking for. Democrats howled in outrage and fear while republicans in congress and points beyond rose to defend their persecuted leader. The response was so overwhelming, within 24 hours everyone, both left and right, understood exactly who is in charge of what passes for the 21st century GOP. And his name isn't Ron DeSantis.
Of course the NYC DA's office who is supposed to make the arrest seemed as surprised as the rest of us by Trump's post. That doesn't mean they aren't going to indict him, but just not as early as Tuesday. After all if you are going after a former president of the United States you had better make sure you have the goods on him.
Professional republican war monger, John Bolton said as much. During an appearance on CNN he claimed if Trump was indicted, but found innocent he would win the 2024 presidential election. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Steve Bannon went further. They both promised a landslide Trump victory in the event he is indicted. The verdict wouldn't matter. An indictment is all it will take. None of them considered winning the nomination a problem for The Big Orange Guy.
The major threat right now, if you listen to the talking heads on MSNBC and CNN is the immanent threat of street violence. There is a little uncertainty about where it would happen, but memories of January 6th are clear. Chatter on pro Trump on line forums seem to support the notion things could turn violent. How much muscle is actually behind the talk is questionable.
A lot of the Oath Keeper and Proud Boy types have to remember their boy Don J. left them hanging after January 6th. Many are doing time, or awaiting trial. How many of those left are willing to make another full scale assault on Trump's behalf has to be problematical. As does their willingness for personal sacrifice.
It may not matter. This whole week might have just been Donald Trump creating a media and political crisis of sorts. Listen, that ego must be massaged and given a boost every now and then. How better to do it than provoking every republican from Keven McCarthy to local trailer park Barbies into jumping as high as they can just for you. Not to mention causing the opposition media to talk about you and what you might do rather than what Joe Biden has actually accomplished during his presidency.
Yes, suck up all the air time, baby. It doesn't matter what they are saying about you. What counts is they aren't talking about anyone else.
Hey, as we all know far too well. it has worked before.
sic vita est
3-19-23
I am tired of hearing about him, but his words and their effect are too important to ignore.
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