Over the past couple of months, I have gone to the computer with the best of intentions to write my next blog. I stare at the blank screen on the monitor and try to talk myself into getting started, but to no avail. I did write a little, but nothing complete. Well, here I go. I am unwaveringly committed to getting this done. Whether the extended wait proves to have any substantive meaning will be left to each of the readers.
I, like many others, watch the nightly news and am amazed with what is seen. Is what I am watching coming from what might be happening in some third world country? Are these the actions of coups or groups of rebels? Just who is perpetuating such atrocities against a fellow human being? The tragedy is that these are Trump’s thugs who are carrying out his perverse and self-serving agenda. Ostensibly, these ICE agents are looking for those criminals that Trump keeps talking about. When they barge into someone’s home, drag the individual out of the house and throw them to the ground, often surrounded by numerous agents. Where is the criminality? It seems obvious that anyone who is dark skin or speaks in some foreign tongues are the enemy although many are here legally and carry the proper paperwork. These thugs are being directed by the person sitting in the Oval Office who is a deranged, demented, inhumane individual who has absolutely zero empathy or concern for other humans. He is convinced that he, and only he, has the answers to create a world ruled by an authoritarian dictator. It is interesting to listen to him and observe his behavior and lay this beside the words and actions of Hitler back during the time leading up to the second world war. For example, an interesting parallel is associated with Trump’s obsession with acquiring Greenland. This mirrors Hitler’s actions in taking other countries regardless of how it was done or if there was any interest in it happening amongst those living in the respective countries. It is very apparent that Trump is enamored with authoritarian dictators and many of his decisions during this second term follow such an unwavering commitment.
Another outcome of Trump’s inhumanity and disregard for the lives of others, revolves around the killing of over 100 Venezuelan fishermen. Trump argues, with no proof to support his claim, that these boats are carrying drugs to the shores of the U.S. They may very well be doing this, but this has not been proven or investigated. Yet as we have become accustomed to Trump has little to no interest in the facts of a situation and makes up his own. The number of fatalities from this operation are indefensible. Then there was the situation where two individuals were clinging to their boat after the first shot and Trump’s Gestapo saw fit to violate the rules of war and take a second fatal shot. Trump defended this action and, again, facts were inconsequential. The kidnapping of Madaro, the president of VrnVenezula, and his wife is another example of Trump dictating the facts as he sees them and acts, accordingly. Perhaps Madaro’s were realizing payoffs from the drug trade, but this is not known for certain.
We have seen individuals walk for miles on end to reach the border and follow the proper protocol to enter the country. They have repeatedly been subjected to inhumane conditions and actions by ICE Thugs, dressed in their black clothing and hiding behind black masks. Once in the country these migrants are treated in a manner like what they thought they were escaping. They have arrived in the land of the free, but freedom is a vague and unknown concept. We have witnessed individuals being dragged from their home with minimal clothing and thrust to the ground in subzero weather, beaten, kicked and left weeping in a fetal position. These inhumane behaviors came to a head with the murders of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Ms. Good was shot in the head as she drove away from a confrontation with ICE agents. Pretti was shot 10 times while he lay on the ground. His crime was that he confronted these agents and they took their revenge. These deaths have led to a recognition that something needs to and must change. We are not in a third world country where there are no liberties. We have a constitution and a Bill of Rights. Trump and his allies need to recognize this and accept what these documents include, like it or not.
Right from the beginning of Trump’s second term, he has acted in a way that flaunts the law and has not had to answer for any of his actions. His insulation from prosecution goes back to the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v the US. The decision of the court was that a sitting president has immunity when carrying out the duties associated with being president. This can, and has, in Trump’s case. meant most all his actions fall within this definition. The court used as precedent cases involving Nixon and Clinton, but those were civil cases and Trumps are criminal. Do not lose sight of the 34 convictions he has from actions taken before this term took place The decision by the court to blanketly give license to a derange president will go down in history as one of the failings of the conservative composition of the court.
As the president, he along with Musk, forced a significant number of federal employees to retire or run the risk of being fired. No consideration was given to what these people did or what would not get done in their absence. This was illegal according to federal personnel law, but that did not matter. The role that Musk had in the early days of the present administration has always been questionable. He and his companies have billions of dollars of federal contracts which would suggest a blatant conflict of interest, but this does not concern Trump. Even though they have had a falling out, there continues to be selected contact between the two of them. Trump enacted 225 Executive Orders in 2025 and many undercut the essence of the constitution. Democracy was being threatened by these Executive Orders, but that did not seem to matter. Granted some of what he did was a bit on the questionable side—renaming the Defense Department to the War Department. Tearing down the East Wing of the White House to build a 89,000 square foot ballroom, renaming and closing the Kennedy Center and on it goes.
As all of this takes place, and there is much that has not been noted, Republicans in positions of influence sit idly by and do nothing. There is unquestionable evidence of a depravity of morality amongst Republicans in both the House and the Senate. How they can refuse to question the words and actions of Trump is indefensible. Where is their commitment to the rightness of how others are treated and held accountable. On 60 Minutes this past Sunday, Senator Rand Paul, Republican from Kentucky and Chair of the Committee holding hearings on the actions of ICE in Minneapolis, did express his concern for what has been going on in that city. It is obvious that those in Congress are intimidated and fearful of Trump. They have a limited amount of conviction and seldom speak out to challenge Trump.
The only people we hear from are those who lie and make up the facts, as Trump does. Kristi Noem, Kash Patel, Pam Bondi are some that speak out, but not with the truth. RFK, Jr, is one hell of a piece of work who is tearing apart the Department of Health and Human Services as is Pete Hegseth with Defense. Inept does not adequately describe the collection that Trump has put together. Problem is we are living with these fools. The answer to getting some control over this mess is for us, the people, to get out and vote and bring some saneness to the Oval Office and the Congress. Failing to do so leads to a continuation of what we are currently experiencing.