The Constitution and the Delete button

Did any of us imagine that losing the sex abuse civil action would modify Trump’s behaviour? Only the supreme optimists, perhaps. Or those who looked fearfully into the future, hoping... for what?

I mean, suppose he lost everything: preaching insurrection, tampering with Georgia’s presidential results, the pilfered documents, and whatever. It’s not so much whether he would cave in, we’re damn sure he wouldn’t. Rather, would anything change the minds of his supporters or the political opportunism of MAGA Republicans in Congress? The answer’s, same again.

And suppose – ah, it’s almost too horrifying – he again became Leader of the Free World. A second term with no worries about re-election. He gave a hint when  campaigning for 2020. A third term? someone asked. Well, why not? he replied jovially. Implying not just a third term but a term of infinite length. The untouchable dictator. Talk about banana republics.

I’ve always said irony is not fully appreciated in the USA. But presently irony seems inescapable. Having kicked out the Brits the fledgling Americans had a golden opportunity to design a plan perfected for governing in the late eighteenth century. They did a pretty good job. But the irony lay in the assumption that those in power would be well-behaved when convincingly accused of malfeasance.  After all, even Tricky Dicky knew when to get into the helicopter for the last time. It was assumed morality would still work.

Amorality – the complete lack of morals – was never considered. But now, well, revolutions have kicked off for lesser reasons.

Having crossed the Atlantic in late 1965 I found myself renting in sleepy Dormont, a Pittsburgh suburb. The world seemed a warm and contented place. Suppose a time warp had me there today. Um, oh bloody um.