By Sid Schwab / Herald columnist
How inured we’ve become to Trump’s atrocities.
The Republican-majority Senate Intelligence Committee just released its final report on Trump and Russia, and it’s been practically ignored, especially by Republicans. It’s damning. They concluded Trump and Roger Stone lied to Robert Mueller, and that Trump’s first campaign manager “represented a grave counterintelligence threat” and did business with “a Russian intelligence officer.”
The Republican-led investigation also concluded the White House “significantly hampered” its efforts, and coordinated the testimony of witnesses before they appeared. It found that WikiLeaks, with which Roger Stone was conspiring on behalf of Trump, was “knowingly collaborating with Russian government officials.” It stated that Trump’s campaign encouraged and received Russian help in electing him, and are doing it again. Collusion.
Knowing all this, Republican members of the committee still voted to deny Democratic requests for witnesses during impeachment, continuing a traitorous perjurer’s squatters-rights to the Oval Office. “Ho,” say Trumpists, “hum.” The friend of our enemy is our friend, too.
We know what’s at stake. The “virtual” Democratic Convention made it clear: decency vs. indecency; common cause vs. deliberate division; compassion vs. cruelty; DACA vs. border cages; addressing climate change vs. making it worse; celebrating vs. demonizing diversity; inspiration vs. invective; science vs. conspiracy theories. Empathy vs. sociopathy. In short: America’s best vs. Trumpism.
“I thought it was divisive,” said Trump of Michelle Obama’s heartfelt speech. Said the man who claims liberals want to destroy you; calls journalists enemies of the people; urged “liberation” of Covid-fighting Democratic-run states; leads chants to imprison opponents, urges violence at rallies; calls neo-Nazis “very fine people;” who retweets a call to “Let [Democratic cities] rot.” (Rule of thumb, fingers, and palm: When Trump accuses someone of something, it’s he who’s doing it.)
After four years of so-called conservatives condoning Trump’s lies and incompetence, coddling dictators and insulting friends, making Americans unwelcome and pitied worldwide, suckered by China and North Korea — and more — no one imagines Joe Biden can completely heal us. Those still supporting Trump’s demagoguery will never heed a President Biden’s calls for clarity and compassion. But whereas Trump would continue to stoke acrimony and alienation, Biden will try to rid us of them. Only those who need someone to hate would miss it; only those unwilling to pull together as Americans to face our increasingly challenging future would turn away.
Just from last week, here’s more proof of November’s importance:
• Having pig-headedly reneged on the Iran nuclear agreement because Obama, Trump implored nations to renew the arms embargo against it. You no longer matter, they said. In an unprecedented, humiliating defeat for the U.S., they rejected Trump’s plea; whatever good might come from the UAE/Israel accord is on even shakier ground.
• Trump finalized plans to drill in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, one of America’s most pristine and environmentally fragile places. Simultaneously, he reversed President Obama’s regulation of methane, the worst of greenhouse gases. It’s as if he wants to burn us down on his way out.
• When reminded there’s no evidence of mail-in ballot fraud, Trump’s Chief of Staff said lack of evidence is “the definition of fraud.” Seeing no dinosaurs on your lawn proves they’re there. It’s science.
• Trump and the MyPillow-guy are pushing untested, poisonous oleandrin; yet another fake Covid-19 “cure.”
• Trump’s second campaign manager was arrested for defrauding investors with a phony border-wall-funding scheme. On its website, Trump is pictured up-thumbing the plan.
• Damage done, Postmaster Pfc. DeJoy says he’ll suspend further dismantling of the U.S. Postal Service till after the election. (KUOW: tinyurl.com/bye2mail)
• To keep Trump from descending into a rage of denial, intelligence agencies hide evidence of Russian interference in his briefings.
• 73 Republican national security officials wrote a letter. (tinyurl.com/70standup)
• The former DHS Chief of Staff revealed Trump’s temerarious attempts to make the department his personal instrument of power. (YouTube: tinyurl.com/DHS2bad)
• Trump called for boycotting Goodyear (cancel culture!) because they banned MAGA hats in the workplace. In fact, they banned ALL political paraphernalia, which is good business.
• He stepped up his lies about voting by mail. And voted by mail.
• He thinks the stock market is the economy. He golfed while his brother died. He repeated the debunkum that President Obama spied on his campaign. He praised people who believe the world is controlled by Satan-worshipping cannibalistic pedophiles who spread Covid-19 via 5G.
Barack Obama laid down the stakes like railroad ties, his words a cri de coeur for country and constitution. Joe Biden made it clear he understands the challenges of the future and the failings of the present and is ready to take them on for all Americans.
Email Sid Schwab at columnsid@gmail.com.
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