The Enabler

It's safe to say, there's one guy, yes a single solitary one guy, who had it in his power to prevent all this shit.

-to prevent the destruction wrought by Trump 2.0 (Not Trump 1.0 - there were definitely signs and warnings posted, but that was a curve ball from left field. Well, okay, maybe Jim Comey actually threw that curve ball, just 11 days before the 2016 election by announcing an investigation into Clinton's email server.)

-to prevent the Supreme Court's descent from respected hallowed ground to politically complicit swamp land.

-to prevent the countless (no room to list them all) ways Trump has brought suffering to so many: children, innocents, citizens, and even strugglers across the globe who've never even heard his name.

That one guy? Mitch McConnell. Mitch Fucking McConnell.

When Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died in February 2016, McConnell forced a delay of Obama's nominee, Merrick Garland, for 293 days until it officially expired, claiming (paraphrased) "we are too close to an election [Nov 2016], and the American people deserve a voice" in the nomination, i.e. by letting the new president make his choice the following year. This led to Neil Gorsuch becoming Justice Gorsuch in April 2017. Recall, in his confirmation hearings, he repeatedly referred to Roe v. Wade as "a precedent of the U.S. Supreme Court" and "the law of the land". Like other nominees, he adhered to judicial norms by refusing to state how he would rule on future abortion cases. However, he spoke extensively on the importance of respecting past rulings. And then he voted to overturn Roe.

And then when Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg died in September 2016 (just 46 days before the presidential election), McConnell promised Trump he would fast-track his nominee and magically, in 38 days, McConnell held hearings and confirmed Amy Coney Barrett 8 days prior to election day. Unlike Gorsuch, she did remain uncommitted when asked about Roe, and then she voted to overturn it.

With its decision on the reversal of Roe, and then later providing near-perfect immunity for Trump while in office, the resultant 6-3 politically bent court has plainly contorted the Constitution into such a pretzel it will take generations to recover. Thank you, Mitch F. McConnell.

As Senate Majority Leader in 2021, McConnell strongly condemned Trump’s role in the January 6 Capitol attack, labeling it a "disgraceful dereliction of duty" and holding him "practically and morally" responsible. Despite this condemnation, in Trump's impeachment trial in February 2021, McConnell voted to acquit Trump, arguing that the Senate lacked the constitutional authority to convict a former president. If he had lived up to the moniker of "leader," then very likely other Republicans may have found a spine and also voted guilty as charged. Then, of course, by law (nostalgic, right?) he could not have run for election in 2024.

Speaking of Roe v. Wade, I think Trump himself, his very existence, is sufficient evidence for the legalization of abortion. I don't surmise to know his mother's intentions in the fall and winter of 1945, but if she had had any inclination to not be a mother, abortion was illegal and presumably her options were limited. Although in retrospect, I would advise her to "go ahead, take one for the team..." and take her chances by any means available.

This is often suggested for mothers of other heinous specimens (Hitler, most notoriously), but the immediate counter reply is "Well, you never know... that baby could be another Mahatma Gandhi! or Beethoven!" But if you believe in balance in the universe, and maybe even theological dualism of good vs evil, then Trump is still the ideal candidate (not for president...). There has never been (and the prediction markets suggest there never will be) a single embryo with the counterbalance of goodness or benevolence to offset his limitless cruelty, disregard, and actual harm to sentient beings everywhere. He as an individual has more than enough repugnance to spare, but when given the Oval Office by gaslit sycophants and low IQ voters, the "multiplier effect" gave wings to his narcissism and cruelty, and the effects of his crimes against humanity have propagated worldwide. He will never be held fully accountable. (It's not possible to ever FULLY pay for his sins, even in hell.) The net negative result for all living creatures, and yes the planet itself, will be long lasting, well beyond his years, and mine, and my grandchildren's.

Don't dare tell me I have TDS, Trump Derangement Syndrome. This, like every one of Trump's aspersions, is projection. I and all members of Team Normal are not the ones who are deranged. To his supporters I say: He is the very antithesis of all that is right and moral. He lies, cheats, steals, has no regard for anyone other than himself. He is unstoppably boastful, incurably unethical, and unequivocally hypocritical. He is an unabashed racist, and by example has given tacit permission for closet racists to re-emerge. He is everything you were taught NOT to be, and in my gut I'm sure you KNOW not to be. Yet you still support him. You look at Trump and say, "Yeah, that's my guy." Well THAT is the derangement. YOU have TDS, not me.

Yes, thank you Mitch. Your middle name is not Frank, but to me you are Mitch F. McConnell, or simply MF McConnell. Yes, that MF.