Donald Trump’s gold sneakers won’t sway the Black vote, obviously https://t.co/vYGPwmSqnF
— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) February 23, 2024
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I am a regular viewer of MSNBC and CNN and listener of NPR.
I engage in those activities because I want to stay informed and because I write about social justice matters and progressive politics.
I find myself cheering on some outcomes, and feeling like I want to hurl with others. Hearing the commentators share their perspectives, even if they are delivering news that I don’t want to hear, helps me believe I am not alone in the struggle to make the world a better place.
Last night, I experienced heart pounding disgust and anger after hearing Steve Bannon getting the crowd aroused and riled up, loaded for bear at CPAC, by tauntingly chanting “Trump won!” This, to people cheering and chanting along. The horror is that they really believe it.
To date, TFG (or The Former Guy, as I tend to call him) has racked up numerous indictments in criminal cases and in civil cases, including the New York fraud trial in which the judge ordered Trump and his companies to pay $355 million. That is in addition to the $83.3 million Trump was ordered to pay to E. Jean Carroll in January for his inability to refrain from continuing to defame her, following a jury finding that he sexually assaulted her in a Manhattan department store. He was already required to pay $5 million from the sexual assault and defamation verdict last year rendered by another jury in the case.
This past week, SCOTUS (I imagine only the right-wing of the court) agreed to entertain his request for a hearing on presidential immunity. Even if justice is done, and they rule that he is absolutely not immune to prosecution and the outcome, it gives him three things that he wants: delay, time to raise more money, and fuel for the fire to his followers. “See what they are doing to your president, the one who stands by you. If they can do this to me, they can do it to you.”
This, despite the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on February 6th ruling 3-0 against Trump’s immunity claim, rejecting his bid for “unbounded authority to commit crimes that would neutralize the most fundamental check on executive power—the recognition and implementation of election results.”
One person whose observations give me some solace is Mary Trump. She is his niece, who is also a Ph.D psychologist. She has predicted, from the get-go, how her uncle would deteriorate following the loss of the 2020 election, his decline hastened by the mounting charges against him.
Despite all of this, there are millions of people who continue to support him, even going so far as buying the “promise” of purchasing gold sneakers to the tune of $399. These were pre-sold with the idea that they would be available for shipping out in July. If he is as good as his word with this deal, the purchasers are likely to be sorely disappointed.
In numerous interviews with those who voted for him in 2016, 2020, and if given the chance, would do so again, the theme is the same: he is looking out for their best interests or no matter what he does, they could not bring themselves to vote Democrat. In interviews conducted by pundit Jordan Klepper, he addressed the statement that Trump made about being a dictator, but only on day one. The responses had me shaking my head in disbelief.
What I would have added was this question: “What if his dictatorial policies and edicts limit your freedom, finances, safety, or even life?” They are in so deep that it is likely they would deflect, justify it, or think they would be immune.
This may sound silly, but I have read predictions by journalists, attorneys, politicians, and former office holders, those on both sides of the aisle and two psychics whose record for accurate forecasting is stellar, and they have said he will not win the 2024 election, will not be able to escape negative legal consequences, and may even have a medical crisis that will take him out of the running.
While I don’t wish anyone any ill will, I do believe in cause and effect and that we reap what we sow. This gives me some sense that the outcome will be favorable to the cause of peace and justice.
Lately, I have been overwhelmed and needed to do a switcheroo with my viewing and listening. I will take breaks and turn my attention away from newscasts and instead do what I did last night: watched Johnny Mathis, Carole King, and James Taylor specials on PBS and in between, “Pretty Woman” on E!
I will spend time with kindred spirits. I will work out at the gym. I will continue to write and speak about this subject. I will listen to music that carries a positive, life affirming message. I will express gratitude for the blessings in my life.
I will encourage voting. I will vote in every election.
I will choose to believe that it will all be okay, because I have to.
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