BONE SPURS

If you want a measure of sanity, or at least good judgment, take a look at this scenario:

An otherwise healthy young man beat the draft by getting a letter from his father's tenant, saying the playboy had "bone spurs on his heels,” and was therefore ineligible for the draft, saving our hero from military service during the Vietnam War. No records have ever been found substantiating that physical condition – – beyond records showing that Donald Trump's father was the landlord of the podiatrist who wrote the letter to the draft board certifying the alleged physical infirmity of the landlord’s son.  Oh yeah, there is much evidence showing the podiatrist enjoyed a preferred monthly rental for his offices.

One would think that a sensible, sane, logical person who enjoyed the favor of evading the draft, while others were being killed in service of their country, would not make frequent negative references to those who did serve their country, basically protecting the draft-dodger’s ass.

If that be the test of sanity and sensibility, then Donald Trump certainly fails it. He has on several occasions, mocked those who have served their country, and at a great personal cost. Even while serving as Commander-in-Chief of the United States military, President Trump, mocked anyone fool enough to wear a United States military uniform.

 (Warning, I am not objective on this issue. I am proud of the framed document on my wall, certifying that Sergeant E-5 Martin London has honorably completed his assigned military obligations to his country.)

Recall, please, that on a trip to France, President Trump canceled a scheduled visit to an American military cemetery because his helicopter could not fly in the rain and the Secret Service wouldn't take him by automobile. Both statements were lies. Four people who were involved in the conversations that day said the truth was Trump feared his hair would become disheveled in the rain, and he did not believe it important to honor American war dead: he is reported to have said, ”Why should I go to that cemetery? It's filled with losers and suckers.”

He mocked John McCain’s military service and the years he spent in North Vietnam’s prison camps by saying "I prefer fliers who do not get captured.”

And now he has mocked his political adversary, Nikki Haley, by suggesting her husband, has left her, when, in fact, he is a Major in the United States Army serving a tour of duty in Africa. (Apparently, Major Haley lacks bone spurs in his heels.)

When you add this to his most recent statement inviting Putin to attack NATO countries that do not spend enough money on their military establishments, you come to the conclusion that the man is borderline nuts. Scary, but nuts.

It is ironical that so much of Trump's support comes from militia types, a high percentage of whom are military veterans. What is going on here? The Commander-in-Chief mocking his own troops, especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice? Who is crazy? Trump, or the MAGAS who support him– or both? I vote for the latter.

Whatever a psychologist might find to be the explanation for this twisted personality, there can be no doubt that even if Trump doesn't win the election, he will still get millions of votes. This is Jonestown expanded to a national level.

And yet, this psycho has not only recruited a large band of lawyers, followers, and assorted thugs to be his loyal followers, he has flummoxed our court system so effectively that Article III of our Constitution is virtually non-functional in the face of this man's 91 counts of criminality, and a judicial finding of insurrection.

All of the above does not speak highly of the Democratic Party. The notion that Trump remains a viable candidate to be a free man, no less the President of the United States, is an indictment of the party’s incompetence and calls for dramatic action.

 I wish I knew exactly what we should do, but I don't. If there is no one in the Democratic Party with more knowledge and experience than I, then surely we are up shit’s creek. 

There are, however, two areas I see as becoming more and more obvious:

First, the situation at our southern border is a disgrace, and the Republicans have used it to its maximum potential— especially the Governor of Texas who has now shipped tens of thousands of migrants to the streets of New York, Chicago, Denver, and other Democratic strongholds. The tactic is destroying state and city budgets and enraging municipal voters. I know the immigration laws are complicated and have been a subject of political discussion for a long time. Nevertheless, the bottom line is Biden is in charge, and he owns this problem and if he doesn’t do something, it may prove to be the downfall of his party, not to mention the election of a dishonest, borderline insane autocrat who threatens to end our democracy, the Constitution be damned.

Second, though we don't like to face it, is Biden too old for this job? For one thing, what are the odds of his making it through (with all of his faculties) to January, 2028?  My guess is no better than 50-50. I hope I am wrong.

Is there nobody in the Democratic Party who can figure this out before it's too late? 

A bientot.

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