DON IS ALICE IN WONDERLAND
EVERY RABBIT HOLE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLOIT
“I almost wish i hadn't gone down that rabbit-hole," said Alice, never once considering how in the world she was to get out again and yet—and yet—it's rather curious, you know, this sort of life!”
Donald, like Alice, inhabits his own political wonderland, where all the creatures and situations he encounters involve some form of Delay, Domination, Deflection, Debasement, Destruction, and perhaps, Dementia.
We the people of the United States have been dismayed every fourth or fifth day by another Trump rabbit hole that demonstrates his non-stop authoritarian behavior as he again occupies the White House.
This past week it was all about ICE agents, behaving like terrorists, in Southern California screaming obscenities at people while wearing masks and pointing automatic weapons at people they suspected of being illegal immigrants.
For those of us well-versed in German history from the 1930's it was a scene from the Gestapo and the streets of Hamburg. In a week b Trump seized the California National Guard and sent a Marine detachment to Los Angeles in a show of domination and disregard for rules and traditions. The ICE agents, acting like bounty hunters promised more money, reach for "quotas" of people snatched off the street. We can't write "arrested" because there is NO semblance of due process or warrants for arrest.
The terrible behavior of the ICE agents did not go unnoticed, by people from all walks of political life. Nor did the laughing stock of a military parade in Washington for his birthday, a vanity project ridiculed by millions of Americans holding "No Kings" protests across the nation, leading the visual news for two days. Trump's deflection about "give me two weeks to decide what to do about Iran" was a cover for a complex bombing mission: B-2 bombers would fly nine hours non-stop to destroy Iran's underground mountain facility used to enrich weapons-grade uranium. The US Air force did its mission flawlessly, but it will be weeks, months,or forever to understand the level of destruction 200 feet underground.
Trump has been an overconfident bully since his teenage years, always believing that his father could get him out of trouble. That streak is revealed in his approach to debase or humiliate anyone who disagrees with him.
The next few months will reveal whether this haphazard "policy" toward the Middle East has accomplished anything positive. Iran has announced it is closing the Straits of Hormuz to shipping, which impacts about 20% of the global oil that flows to refineries in other nations.
Can Trump bring his "friends" in the leadership of Saudi Arabia and other Arab nations together to rebuild Gaza while minimizing Hamas and other terrorist style organizations in the process?
Will Trump continue to let Netanyahu take advantage of his vanity and neediness in this situation? Israel is better off with USA engagement than trying to cut a deal with Iran regardless of what government is in charge there. The bigger and more important questions are can the USA survive this non-leadership by a cult leader, can the USA be put back on its Constitutional footing instead of being torn apart by wealthy individuals and companies that want to control everything.
And yes, I'm looking at you Elon and a vulture flock of your techbro buddies.