Strap in for another three months of weirdness. Expect the unexpected. Don’t underestimate how low Donald Trump can go.
And I say the same for “J.D. Vance, the hillbilly, venture capitalist, senator who once called his running mate ‘America’s Hitler” and alerted us to the conspiracy of cat ladies to make us all miserable. 

I started making a list of weird things in this election. Donald Trump’s rally speeches, for example, are increasingly odd. Did you know “Kamabla Harris” caused the stock market to crash on Monday? “Kamabla” is one of the new nicknames Trump has conjured up as he scurries around to find something to make voters uncomfortable with Harris. So far, it is not working. And how could Kamabla cause the stock market to crash when, according to Trump, she is the least effective vice president in history, and Trump is guaranteed to win the presidential election?

Voters are getting more comfortable with Harris. Suggestions that she is a left-wing lunatic are not working. The more people see her on TV, the more they realize they did not know her until President Biden quit the presidential race. Why was that? Harris did what good vice presidents do: She supported the president, accepting the job of being “the spare” in exchange for the possibility (in Harris’ case, always a probability) of getting a shot at the top job.

While voters are seeing Harris act normally and talk about issues that will be incorporated into the platform for the Harris-Walz ticket at the upcoming Democratic National Convention, we are learning that the Justice Department was investigating a possible $10 million bribe paid by Egypt to Trump. The Washington Post broke the story. The story is weird with a capital “W.”

Just before the 2016 election, some of us learned how weird Trump was. A video of Trump bragging to TV host Billy Bush that, as a celebrity, he could grab women “by the p*ssy” surfaced. The tape was the type of thing that used to implode campaigns (Senator Gary Hart (D-CO) photographed with a girlfriend on the yacht “Monkey Business” is an example.) Trump went into crisis mode. Egypt, spotting an opportunity, schemed, with the apparent help of Trump operatives, to get $10 million to the endangered orange-haired candidate.

The scheme worked. Notwithstanding the Billy Bush Access Hollywood tape, Trump won. The DOJ investigation was shelved, and the statute of limitations has run out. Once again, Trump will escape prosecution.

However, I wonder if the Washington Post is done with this story. Look for more information about it in the coming months. 

Another weird thing about this election is Melania Trump. It was weird that she did not speak at the Republican Convention like Hulk Hogan did, which was also weird. Melania Trump is not campaigning for her husband. She has a new book called “Melania.” The “collector’s edition” is on sale for $150.

I wonder if Mrs. Trump will do a book tour wearing the infamous “I Really Don’t Care, Do U?” jacket or if the Republican National Committee (which is weird) will buy up every copy and give books away, effectively creating another grift for Trump to help pay his legal bills and penalties.

I struggle with whether a Trump Weirdness Tipping Point is about to be reached. Will things get so weird that the more rational Trumpers will shake their heads and conclude that they can no longer support a candidate who has been convicted of 34 felonies, been called a rapist by a New York judge, confuses Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi, calls the people who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021 “patriots,” and tells more lies than every Liars’ Club that ever existed?

It will be weird if Trump wins in November despite all his weirdness. But it will be weirder to see him back in office, crowning himself proudly as a dictator on day one, telling America they now will never again have the burden of voting, and sucking up to Vladimir Putin.

Weirdness may save the day for American democracy. Kamala Harris has more than Trump’s weirdness going for her, but it helps.

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

Democrats had a good week last week. Defying the expectations of some, Kamala Harris emerged as a credible presidential candidate. The now-presumed Democratic nominee is raising millions of dollars in funds, signing up thousands of volunteers, and rising in the polls. All that is great. But the prospect of a second Trump presidency remains. Democrats have not broken the code to reach voters skeptical about the direction of the Democratic party. That is a problem.

Democrats often assume, with justification, that they are the party of empathy and common sense. Democrats reject racism and oppose income inequality. Unions embrace the party. So why do so many working Americans still show up at Trump rallies, sporting MAGA baseball caps and telling reporters that the 2020 election was stolen and that Democrats are cheating again by replacing Biden on their 2024 ticket with Harris?

Over the weekend, I gained new insights into the minds of voters who appear immune to the buzz that Harris has generated. These voters are not “haters” but fashion themselves as “independents.”  If you push them, they will explain that, unlike you, they listen to both sides. One such “independent” voter last week told me that the criminal prosecutions of Trump were “bogus” and politically motivated. Unintentionally quoting Trump, I was told “Trump did nothing wrong.”  When I asked about the rape in a department store dressing room, I was told, “It never happened. He did not know her.”

Some “independent” voters are also buying into Trump’s characterization of Harris as a “crazy ultra-left-wing radical” who would open the border, defund the police, and federalize elementary and secondary education. Harris, of course, has not endorsed any of that agenda, but it doesn’t matter. Harris was a senator from California. Isn’t that proof enough of how leftist she is?

The skepticism relating to Harris extends to her qualifications. She is a lawyer and experienced prosecutor who served as Attorney General of California before being elected to the Senate. That experience, I was told over the weekend, “is irrelevant.”  In response, I suggested that Trump is a failed businessman who has been found guilty of business fraud in New York, got his start with a large gift from his father, and has been bailed out of financial trouble several times by bankruptcy. My skeptical friend told me, “Those things never happened.”

Failing to recognize a dead end in the conversation, I returned to the subject of Harris and noted that the speeches she has made since Biden’s withdrawal from the race were coherent and intelligent. My friend did not dispute that characterization but simply repeated the claim that Harris is “not ready.” This prompted another woman in the room to ask, “What about Hillary Clinton?”  The response was, “She also wasn’t ready.”  Service as Secretary of State and in the U.S. Senate proves nothing, apparently. 

The conversation continued on a sharp downward trajectory towards a shouting match or name calling. I ended the conversation by excusing myself to watch the Olympic opening ceremony. My TV was showing the controversial reenactment of Da Vinci’s “Last Supper.”   One word describes it, “weird.”  I would use the same word to describe political discussions where my facts are rejected as “fake” by others. 

How do you discuss issues with people who appear to believe many of Trump’s documented lies? I am still seeking an answer.

How do you get someone to listen to a Trump rally, hear the nonsense the ex-president spouts off about Hannibal Lecter, his golf game (“I knock the crap out of the ball”) and dozens of other subjects? I don’t know. 

When I press supposedly “open-minded independents” to focus on Trump’s own words, I am told that I don’t get that Trump is only joking. If this claim is correct, I also don’t get what a joke is. 

Trump’s rhetoric since the Republican convention has been, in a word, disgusting. His selection of the self-destructing J.D. Vance may be more responsible for Harris’ rise in the polls than the speeches that Harris has given, but I hope not. I like to think that Harris is not only “ready,” but also willing and able. Two of these three qualities don’t apply to Republican Supreme Leader Trump.

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

Donald Trump had a bad day last Sunday. When Joe Biden announced he was dropping out of the election, Trump’s campaign strategy went out the window. Trump finally taught us something. Unfortunately, it was the wisdom of “Be careful what you wish for.”

Trump’s campaign for more than a year has been based on Biden’s age and “cognitive decline.”  Those attacks coming from a candidate who has accused President Biden of risking the start of World War II and who has alerted us to the dangers of both sharks and electric boats will not be effective against 59-year-old Kamala Harris.

Trump’s initial reaction to Biden’s announcement, expressed through postings on his social media site, was anger. Trump was angry at Biden for denying him what he thought would be an easy win in November, so he continued to thrash out at Biden, reminding us that Biden is old and accusing him of being the worst president in history. A saner response, if Trump were honest in his attacks, would be thanking Biden for quitting the race.

Trump welcomed a Democratic party that he believed was saddled with a losing candidate. He saw a win-win. If Biden insisted on remaining in the race, Trump would win on age and sympathy over the failed assassination attempt. If Biden quit, Trump hoped the party would descend into open warfare and a lengthy “mini-convention” process that would end with a split party.

Kamala Harris’ candidacy, unfortunately for Trump, has been well-received by the Democratic party. In less than a week, the vice president has locked up the nomination. The focus of discussions within the party has turned to the selection of a vice president. Should Harris select North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, or somebody else?

My recommendation is that Harris select Jack Smith, the special counsel prosecuting Trump for a basketful of crimes ranging from stealing secret federal documents, obstructing justice, and, of course, interfering with the 2020 presidential election. Thanks to Trump-appointed judges, Smith’s two cases are unlikely to reach trial before election day. So why not put a second experienced prosecutor on the ticket?

A slogan for Harris’s campaign is already emerging—The Prosecutor vs. the Felon. Given the scope of the Trump crime wave, a second prosecutor on the ticket would “make things interesting.”  More importantly, Trump’s anger might get the better of him.

I am joking, of course, but I look forward to Trump debating Harris in September, assuming, of course, that Trump does not concoct an excuse to cancel the debate. Harris will make mincemeat of Trump. The unhinged ex-president is also likely to attack Harris on the basis of gender and race. And how do you think the debate on abortion will go?

Harris is already supercharging fired-up women voters. The more Trump attacks her, the more likely women are to vote for Harris. Voters of color also will not take kindly if Trump suggests it is too early for another Black president.

The Trump campaign, apart from tweets coming from the 78-year-old, overweight leader of the Republican party, has not had much to say about Harris. That will change, but Trump will have his hands full, especially if he chooses to defend some of the ridiculous, destructive ideas included in his playbook—Project 2025. (Do not believe Trump when he says he knows nothing about it—Trump is lying.)

The cards in the 2024 election have been reshuffled. There will be surprises ahead, including the selection of a vice-presidential nominee to run with Harris. It is also too soon to assume there will not be more “bombshells.”  What could those be? Trump may have his own age-related issues as the stress of the campaign, recovery from the psychological shock of getting shot by a registered Republican, and more legal problems continue.

Trump cannot beat a unified, fired-up Democratic party, especially when much of the Republican party has reservations about Trump’s character, cognitive decline, work ethic, criminal record, and predilection for nepotism.

Stay tuned.

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

 

When Matthew Crooks aimed his AR-15 semi-automatic rifle at Donald Trump and pulled the trigger, America suffered another tragedy. Political violence undermines democracy and spawns more violence. And no candidates for public office, regardless of their politics, deserve to be shot.

Decent Americans are grateful that Donald Trump survived the assassination attempt, but Trump is not owed the presidency because a deranged 20-year-old tried to kill him. The Donald Trump that survived the shooting is the same Trump that many of us considered unfit for the presidency before July 13. 

Since the shooting, President Biden has called for calm and unity. Donald Trump tweeted support for “unity,” but somehow, I wonder if the ex-president and Joe Biden were thinking the same thing. 

Donald Trump was lucky in more ways than one on the 13th, starting with the shooter missing him. He also showed astuteness. Possibly knowing the significance of getting shot and surviving, Trump, intentionally or otherwise, posed for photos that will be ubiquitous in the coming months. Trump shouts, “Fight! Fight! Fight!” with a fist in the air, a bloody ear, and streaks of blood on his face. Within hours of the photos being released, news outlets described them as iconic and suggested they could change the outcome of the election. 

The Trump campaign also immediately recognized that shocked and outraged Trump supporters would want to “do something.” So, they immediately launched a fund-raising campaign featuring a Trump quote: “I will never surrender!”  The piece did not mention the shooting. It did not have to. 

Pundits now tell us that the assassination attempt will guarantee Trump’s victory in November. Let’s hope they are wrong. 

Various Trump allies have also been busy tweeting nonsense. I have read that Democrats and “the left” were behind the assassination attempt. One Senator, Mike Lee of Utah, even suggested that federal criminal charges against Trump should be dropped. More nonsense, overreaction, opportunism, and lies will follow.

In the days immediately preceding the shooting, President Biden, still reeling from his June 27 presidential debate meltdown, stepped up his criticism of Donald Trump. Biden reminded voters of Trump’s complicity in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol, and his policy agenda, outlined in “Project 2025.”

As most have us that follow politics have read, President Biden told attendees at a recent fundraiser, “It’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.” Biden’s statement has led some disingenuous Republicans, including Trump’s vice presidential pick, Senator J.D. Vance of Ohio, to suggest that Biden motivated the would-be assassin. This is nonsense. 

Biden told fundraiser attendees: “I have one job, and that’s to beat Donald Trump. I’m absolutely certain I’m the best person to be able to do that. So, we’re done talking about the debate, it’s time to put Trump in a bullseye.”

In context, Biden’s statement is hardly a call to violence. It is about defeating Donald Trump in November. It is a mild statement compared to Trump’s calls for “retribution” and demand that General Mark Milley be executed for treason.

Until yesterday, the most recent act of political violence was the  2021 insurrection, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including police officers and a Trump supporter who was attempting to violently break into the chamber of the House of Representatives. Rioters at the Trump-inspired insurrection also sought to assassinate House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and hang Trump’s vice president, Mike Pence. Trump allegedly commented that Pence deserved to be hung. 

Will the assassination attempt benefit Trump? Unfortunately, it probably will. History suggests that the attempt will create sympathy towards Trump. His support among his base will strengthen. Perhaps more importantly, Democrats and other critics of Trump will become more cautious in attacking him. Trump will also continue to use the event for fundraising, just as he did after his mug shot was taken in the Fulton County Jail in connection with his Georgia indictment.

Multiple speakers at this week’s Republican National Convention are praising Trump for his courage, and video of the shooting has been played on screens in the arena. Trump is being cast as a hero, with the shooting just the latest failed attempt to block him from regaining the White House that was stolen from him in 2020.

Dare I say it? The shooting was more a tragedy for American democracy than for Trump. The ex-president’s chances of being elected in November have increased. The likelihood of American democracy surviving into the 2030s has decreased.

All decent Americans regret the assassination attempt at Donald Trump, but what happened on July 13 should not prompt President Biden and the Democrats from doing all they can to defeat Trump in November.

The scope of Saturday’s tragedy will be fully appreciated if Trump returns to power. 

Nothing that happened in Butler, Pennsylvania, makes Trump any more fit to be president than before the shooting.

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

 

I was surprised at how quickly some Democrats have called for Biden to end his reelection campaign. I was more surprised to watch George Stephanopoulos’ interview with Joe Biden where Biden reiterated his intention not to quit — and not to take a cognitive test that could end the debate and guarantee four more years of Trump.

The answer to “Should he stay or should he go” is more complicated than watching Biden’s debate and declaring him out. There is a lot more to being president than winning a debate. But it is also fair to ask, “Is Biden able to serve as president for four more years?”

Unfortunately, the Democrats do not have time to weigh relevant considerations and make a decision based on “the facts.”  And even more unfortunately, Biden himself seems to be part of the problem. Biden is adamant about remaining in the race but has yet to convince party leaders that the June 27 debate-and the Stephanopoulos interview—were flukes.

Most Democrats respect Joe Biden. Even those who thought he was too old in 2020 admit that he has proven pessimistic predictions wrong. And most Democrats and plenty of Independents will be forever grateful for the role Biden played in ending the reign of Trump. 

Today, President Biden is playing a role opposite to the one he played in 2020. Instead of being the candidate who appealed to enough voters (white working-class voters in key states) to win, he is the candidate too many voters are rejecting because he “looks and acts old.” 

Biden has a problem that nothing can fix—his age. Regardless of his performance over the next four months, he will remain “too old” for too many voters. And unless Trump suffers a melt-down similar to Biden’s on June 27, he will ironically be deemed “fit for the job” on the basis of his not looking as old as Joe Biden.

Democratic leaders must act quickly to build a consensus around Joe Biden or around a new ticket. Every day that the debate goes on, voters are talking about whether Biden will quit the race, or even resign the presidency, instead of focusing on Trump’s dangerous agenda (despite Trump’s disingenuous protests, it is “Project 2025”), his involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection, and his moral turpitude. 

If Democrats conclude replacing Biden on the ticket will create too big a schism in the party, they should stick with Biden. They also need to examine the alternatives. Are Democrats ready to embrace Kamala Harris for president? Or should the party, as several leading Democrats suggest, hold a mini-primary season that could produce an entirely new team? 

The road forward for Democrats is not an easy one. Their opponent — our opponent — is a snake who will take advantage of every opportunity to undermine the Democrats that the Democrats offer. 

Trump recently called President Biden “a piece of cr*p,” and is developing nicknames for Harris. Ironically, he will challenge the legality of a Democratic nominee using campaign funds raised for the Biden-Harris ticket if Harris is not on the ticket. And it will get worse from there.

So, Democrats, quit talking and start deciding. We need a ticket in which we can believe. And the only way we will be able to believe in that ticket is if you, the leaders of the Democratic party, believe in it.

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

 

Congratulations are due to Former President Trump for making the right Supreme Court nominations while president. Thanks to the handiwork of his three appointees and three other right-leaning Justices, it is now established law that if the President shoots somebody on Fifth Avenue in New York in the line of “official duties,” he enjoys immunity from prosecution. 

On January 6, 2021, was President Trump’s speech ordering a crowd, many dressed in combat gear, to march to the Capitol to “save our nation,” part of his official duties? Had Trump shot and killed Vice President Pence after Pence declined to “do what was right” and block the certification of President Biden’s election, would that have been an official act? How about accepting a bribe in connection with a nomination for an ambassadorship? 

How about holding the delivery of U.S. military aid to an ally until that country finds damning evidence on the son of your political opponent?

The answers to these questions just became clearer. While the Supreme Court held, “There is no immunity for unofficial acts,”  Trump v. United States reads:  “Under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of Presidential power entitles a former President to absolute immunity from criminal prosecution for actions within his conclusive and preclusive constitutional authority. And he is entitled to at least presumptive immunity from prosecution for all his official acts.”

If you have not noticed, President Trump has an unconventional concept of truth. If he is re-elected, determines that a political opponent (I’m not naming any names here) is an “enemy of the State that poses a clear and present danger to the people of the United States” and orders that political opponent shot dead, that murder is likely to be considered an “official act” under the Court’s ruling.  The Supreme Court would presume the assassination order is an official act if the president claimed that he, as Commander in Chief, believed the political opponent to be “an enemy.”

The opinion also reads: “[T]he Court concludes that the separation of powers principles explicated in the Court’s precedent necessitate at least a presumptive immunity from criminal prosecution for a President’s acts within the outer perimeter of his official responsibility.”

What is the “outer perimeter of his official responsibility?”  That is clear as mud. 

The impact of Trump v. United States will be far-reaching. Like President Biden’s poor debate performance on June 27, the decision works to Trump’s benefit. The decision is likely to result in Trump escaping accountabilities for all allegations against him relating to the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol. Trump v. United States could one day become as infamous as the Dred Scott decision upholding slavery and denying the legality of Black citizenship. 

Three justices dissented from the Court’s broad ruling. Justice Sotomayor writes:

“The President of the United States is the most powerful person in the country, and possibly the world. When he uses his official powers in any way, under the majority’s reasoning, he now will be insulated from criminal prosecution. Orders the Navy’s Seal Team 6 to assassinate a political rival? Immune. Organizes a military coup to hold onto power? Immune. Takes a bribe in exchange for a pardon? Immune. Immune, immune, immune. Let the President violate the law, let him exploit the trappings of his office for personal gain, let him use his official power for evil ends. Because if he knew that he may one day face liability for breaking the law, he might not be as bold and fearless as we would like him to be. That is the majority’s message today. Even if these nightmare scenarios never play out, and I pray they never do, the damage has been done. The relationship between the President and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.”

The entire Trump v. United States decision, including Justice Barrett’s concurring opinion and Justice Sotomayor’s dissent is 119 pages long. It is worth reading. Have a box of tissues handy. You will need it. 

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

 

Over the weekend, science educator Bill Nye said the abnormal heat that plagued the Eastern Shore and much of the rest of America may be “the new abnormal.”  He suggested that heat indexes of more than 100 degrees could become routine in future summers. That is scary. I was miserable last week.

Over the weekend, I told a friend that the Heat Dome was a message that it is time to take climate change more seriously. Yes, I know that the Biden Administration has already devoted billions to climate change, but more needs to be done. And I am also worried that Trump supporters cheer wildly when Trump promises to end measures to hasten the transition to electric cars. Trump wants to pump more oil and mine more coal. That is also scary.

Tomorrow is the first presidential debate. Pundits, including the Spy’s From and Fuller videos, have provided plenty of knowledgeable predictions on what will happen in Atlanta. One thing I have not seen from the pundits is a prediction that climate change will be a major focus of the debate. In reviewing four or five articles while writing this column, I did not see a single reference to climate change.

Dare I say that climate change is more important than all other topics that will be addressed at the debate, including border security, abortion, crime (Trump’s and others), gender politics, and even the economy. Climate change could change our way of life so significantly that it could eclipse all other key issues of our time.

Ridiculous? Climate change can (and will) destroy agriculture, leading to starvation crises abroad. It could flood much of the Eastern Shore and change the ecology of Chesapeake Bay. Climate change could force school districts in much of the U.S. to rebuild or replace their schools with buildings equipped to cope with elevated temperatures between May and mid-October. Millions of Americans will suffer heat-related illnesses, some of them long-term. I could go on.

Climate change deniers will, no doubt, condemn new warnings about climate change as yet another “panic attack” or as a not-too-subtle way to pursue a socialist agenda and take away individual rights. Is the right to drive a gas-guzzling car or truck or otherwise continue to contribute to climate change a Constitutional right? I looked. No such right to destroy the environment is in the Constitution. 

Last week’s heat wave should have been a wake-up call to all, but it will prove not to be. It may take three or more additional Heat Domes this summer to convince some of us that something dangerous is going on, something that demands a change in our political priorities, something that needs to be done if we want our children to live in a world not plagued by periods where going outside means risking your health.

I will watch President Biden and Trump duke it out on Thursday. I hope for a civil debate but fear that will not happen. I hope that “takeaways” from the debate will be something other than comments on how senile Biden is and how insane Trump has become. I am not holding my breath for a substantive, civilized debate and a healthy discussion.

As I write this column, I almost forgot to mention Andy Harris, our local champion of the Second Amendment and one of the few members of the House of Representatives to prove his fealty to the Second Amendment by attempting to carry a loaded handgun onto the floor of the House of Representatives. Andy Harris has a lifetime score of two percent from the League of Conservation Voters. He has also been a major beneficiary of political contributions from the oil and gas industry.

Let me state the obvious—if you are worried, even a little, about Climate Change, please know that Congressman Andy Harris is not representing you. 

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

How long does it take to teach an old dog new tricks? Once again, I write that America may be waking up to who Trump is. I hear Ronald Reagan muttering from his grave, “There he goes again,” but I like to think that Reagan would agree with me that a convicted felon does not belong in the White House.

In the past, the Billy Bush Access Hollywood tape, boorish behavior, racist comments and actions, and a lot more convinced me candidate Trump was finished. This time, it is Trump’s 34 felony counts that convinces me that his reign of terror may be over.

A new poll, out this week, surprisingly suggests that Trump remains ahead of Biden, but that Biden’s favorability ratings continue to improve while Trump’s ratings decline. Whether Trump’s drop in favorability is solely because of his felonies is unclear. Trump continues to focus on his legal problems at campaign rallies. He also continues to make bizarre comments about sharks, electric cars, and a lot more.

Trump railed against a contractor who supplied teleprompters at a Las Vegas campaign rally held in 100-degree heat, suggesting that their work was “sh*tty.” When several attendees needed medical help because of the heat, Trump lamented that there was not enough concern about him. He also told the audience that January 6 was a “set-up” and that the insurrectionists were victims. 

Trump’s continuing mental decline may yet be what costs him the election, but Democrats are focusing on the ex-president’s criminal record. They have been quick to resurrect Donald Trump’s 2016 comments where he told voters a candidate under criminal indictment should not be allowed to run for president. In 2016, Trump told attendees at a Reno, Nevada, campaign rally: “Folks, folks, folks, she shouldn’t be allowed to run. If she were to win this election, it would create an unprecedented constitutional crisis. In that situation, we could very well have a sitting president under felony indictment and, ultimately, a criminal trial. It would grind the government to a halt.”

Trump added, “Her current scandals and controversies will continue throughout her presidency and will make it virtually impossible for her to govern and lead our country.”

Hillary Clinton, of course, was not under indictment, but Trump’s message helped taint Clinton and rally his base. The statement is also an example of a rarity: Trump was telling the truth. He was right–a candidate who faces criminal charges (let along having been convicted of them) should not be president. 

Trump’s legal problems are not limited to the “hush money” felonies. He also has been labeled a rapist by a New York judge and fined millions of dollars for business fraud and for defaming Ms. Carroll. 

Importantly, there are many reasons why Trump should not be returned to the White House that have nothing to do with the ex-president’s convictions, indictments, and judgments. His policy positions, threats of retribution against his political opponents and persecutors, racism, and declining mental ability are enough. But ask any Trump supporter if they still intend to vote for Trump, and most will respond yes. That is why Democrats are focusing on the convictions. As James Carville once said, “Keep it simple, stupid.”

While a criminal conviction is an obvious disqualification for the presidency for me and many of us, it may take a special effort to convince Trump supporters to change their minds. One 2020 Trump voter I spoke to last week responded to my question of whether a felon belonged in the White House by updating me on the Hunter Biden trial. Did I know about Hunter Biden’s crimes? Trumpers like first names, Hunter Biden is always “Hunter” just as Hillary was always “Hillary” or “Crooked Hillary.” The Trumper ignored my response that pointed out that Hunter is not running for president.

Recently, a group of anti-Trump Republicans posted billboards in Arizona depicting Republicans who “won’t vote for a convicted felon.” I expect the billboards will cost Trump some votes. Who wants to admit they want a criminal in the White House?

Not every Trump supporter will see the billboards, but television ads, social media posts, and references in campaign speeches will follow. Direct testimonials from fellow Republicans who will not vote for a convicted felon will cost Trump votes.

Will Biden’s emphasizing Trump’s criminal convictions be enough for Biden to win? That remains to be seen. Trump fights fire with fire, so expect him to respond to efforts to undermine his candidacy by attacking Biden. Thus, we will hear more about Hunter Biden’s guilty verdict and Joe’s cognitive decline. We will also be reminded that if a re-elected President Biden dies in office, Kamala Harris will be president.

I plan to continue to write about Trump’s convictions. If you pour enough water on a duck’s back, some of it will stick. I really do not care if Trump goes to jail. I am not interested in retribution. I want him out of the White House. I am okay if he lives out his days cheating at golf, railing against Democrats, and predicting an economic collapse caused by another election being stolen from him.

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

 

I have an idea. Why not make D-Day a national holiday? Like Memorial and Veteran’s Day, the new holiday would celebrate the bravery, service, and sacrifices of American service members. But more importantly, the day would commemorate what may be America’s finest hour. On June 6, 1944, the world was saved. 

D-Day, and the months of battle that followed it, was a triumph of will, sacrifice, and courage. Hitler was defeated. Without the success of D-Day, you might be reading this column in German, assuming, of course, that you were alive.

Like most Americans, my knowledge of D-Day comes from books, documentaries, and movies. As a teenager, I remember watching The Longest Day and a TV series titled “Combat!” I remember reading Dwight Eisenhower’s Crusade in Europe. Recently, I watched Band of Brothers. My “take-away” from these and other readings and watchings is that in 1944 we collectively knew what had to be done and made the necessary sacrifices to succeed.

D-Day saw 160,000 troops land in Normandy, 73,000 of them Americans. They were met by 50,000 German troops. By the end of the day 2,501 Americans were dead. In total, 73,000 Allied troops were killed, and 153,000 were wounded in the full Battle of Normandy. Not calculated was the impact the battle had on the soldiers involved. Many suffered years of pain from injuries and the memories of what they experienced in the battle.

Honoring the D-Day troops and what the invasion represents is particularly appropriate at a time when America arguably has lost its way. Today, America doubts its own role in the world. Leading politicians seek to abdicate America’s world leadership and return to the isolationist policies that contributed to World War II.  By remembering D-Day we will be reminded of the necessity of American leadership as well as its rewards.

The state of mind of America in 1944 was dramatically different than it is today. That is to be expected. A lot has happened since the end of World War II, including the Vietnam War and other conflicts where brave Americans died which are not celebrated like “the Greatest Generation.”  That is unfortunate because everyone who served in the military deserves our respect.  Even if the war they fought in did not produce a dramatic “win” for the United States, their service helped get us to where we are today—still free after 248 years.

The America of today tends to downplay the positive role it has played in the world. That is unfortunate despite things in our history that we wish could have been different. The Vietnam War was a mistake made by well-intentioned people. Other parts of American history are more troubling, especially slavery and its aftermath. It is good that America recognizes these mistakes and tragedies but that doesn’t mean we cannot or should not celebrate those parts of our history that help define who we are as a nation.

If Congress were to make D-Day a national holiday, it should be a day of national reflection. It should be a reminder that when America shares a vision, it can accomplish anything. That vision, of course, needs to reflect our democratic values. 

More than 16 million Americans served in World War II.  Fewer than 116,000 of those heroes remain alive. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the national holiday of D-Day were created while some of them could witness it? 

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.

 

It is sunny in Portugal. The weather is mild, and the people are friendly. With a few exceptions, the Portuguese are like Americans. They have treated us with remarkable kindness during our stay. 

Before my arrival last week, we did not know what to expect. Our last trip abroad was three years ago. During those travels, several locals expressed horror and disappointment that America had elected someone like Trump as president. They asked us if America had gone crazy and expressed fear that without American leadership in the world, their own freedom was in jeopardy.

With Trump’s first term over but with the prospect of another on the horizon, what would we hear? Would the Portuguese be more outspoken than the Australians, Czechs, French, and others we discussed politics with in the past? We were about to find out. 

Before our departure, we read that Americans now buy about 10 percent of available real estate in Lisbon. We wondered, do the Portuguese resent this? Signs at many shops, and the menus of most restaurants in Lisbon offer an English translation. 

It turns out many Portuguese welcome the Americans, both as tourists and immigrants. Nobody we spoke with talked about building a wall to keep us out or murmured anything about Americans initiating a crime wave.

Our trip to Portugal is strictly for tourism. Despite our deep distaste for Donald Trump and fears he could return to power, we love America too much to abandon her. We are proud of America and much of its history. We also would miss the Eastern Shore. In our humble opinion, Portugal has nothing that matches the Eastern Shore’s beauty and wonder. 

On the second day of our trip, we visited a row of street vendors offering various treasures to tourists, including beautiful tiles, leather purses, and various trinkets. Without exception the vendors seemed happy. They smiled at us even if we evidenced little interest in their wares.

One booth offered an attractive array of painted tiles. The vendor indicated the tiles were made at his family business and were hand-painted. We selected four and paid in cash. Before we left, the vendor engaged us in conversation, asking how we liked Portugal, where else we were visiting and where we were from. We answered the last question, “America.”

The vendor broke into a mischievous smile and remarked, “I’m sorry.”  

In past years we might have been offended, even if the person who stated what might be considered an insult was smiling. This time we both knew that the vendor was prompted by the presumptive Republican nominee for president. The look in the vendor’s eyes said it all. He felt sorry for us and was simultaneously amused that the country that saved Europe from Hitler is considering bringing Donald Trump back to the White House.

Other Portuguese we interacted with on our travels seem careful not to mention Trump. Several people we met in hotels and restaurants, as well as taxi drivers, have volunteered that tourism is energizing the Portuguese economy. Not one has complained about louts or “ugly Americans,” even though we ran into a few of the latter ourselves.

As I reflected on our reception in Portugal, I realized that the damage done by Trump during his first term was still being felt. America is no longer held in awe (perhaps a good thing when you think about it). But the concept of America as a world-class lesson that democracy can work to preserve freedom is gone. American politics are now viewed as no better than the circus of Italian politics or the buffoonery of any number of other countries. It no longer seems strange that many Europeans now see China as more stable than the U.S. 

We did not hear anyone say, “The American era is over,” but I wonder what attitudes will look like if Trump is returned to power for four more years. The European press is following the Biden-Trump contest closely. Some publications assume that Biden is too old to be re-elected and that Trump is too clever and ruthless to lose. Europeans know what “January 6” means and wonder if it will be repeated.

When the tile vendor told us he was sorry we were Americans, we did not get angry or correct him. We laughed. Immediately thinking that the incident might be worthy of a piece in The Spy, I laughed and told him his comment was the funniest thing I had heard all day.

My response was not, as some may think, cowardly. I am not ready to engage in fisticuffs or, as Trump would say, “rough somebody up” to respond to someone thinking Trump is turning America into a joke.

I do not know when or if I will return to Portugal, but I would be curious to see how the Portuguese will respond if Biden is re-elected. I like to think the joking might end, just like Trump’s political career. 

J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.