Our Bad

You have to wonder at the damage that is being done to the American republic for every hour that this contemptuous jackass continues to occupy the White House. Forty-five years ago this summer the crimes committed by Dick Nixon and his gang finally proved to be to much for even the Republicans in Congress. Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona - America's last great conservative - finally marched into the oval office and read the Trickster the riot act. In effect, he told him that the jig was up; he would have to resign from office in disgrace or be removed via impeachment - an even greater shame. Nixon read the writing on the wall; he was soon off to his bunker in San Clemente, to bitter and decrepit exile.

There were a number of heroes on Capitol Hill during the final weeks before Richard Nixon's political demise. Ironically enough a fair proportion of them turned out to be Republicans. Back in the weird old days, you could still count on more-than-a-few members of that party to step up and do the right thing. The GOP back then were a square and fairly goofy lot to be sure, but we always knew that (most of them, I think) had their hearts in 1974, the "party of Abraham Lincoln" was not a full-blown organized criminal enterprise. It was on its way, but there was still plenty of room for hope for less-extreme conservative voters. That hope is long gone.

There won't be any Republican heroes by the time the bells of doom toll for the twisted and dysfunctional presidency of Donald J. Trump - and very few Democratic ones I imagine. Trying to imagine a corrupt troll like Mitch McConnell channeling his inner Barry is akin to picturing Pope Francis beautifying Heinrich Himmler. Our only consolation in June of 2019 is that we  have only to endure this disgusting administration for less than a year-and-a-half - which is probably just as well. The idea of enduring even a day of the administration of a dirty old dingbat like Mike Pence really shouldn't fill anyone's heart with joy. Whatever scenario eventually transpires, the damage that is being done to the United States will survive the lifetimes of most of you reading this. Isn't that a lovely thought? 

Tom Degan
Goshen, NY