I watched the quasi State of the Union by Trump last night and my takeaway is that he didn’t say anything new. He carried on about all his “accolades” in the last few weeks and praised the juvenile antics of his lieutenant Musk.
The most important thing about this dog and pony show wasn’t what was said as much as how it appeared. Trump came into the room looking more presidential than ever. It seemed his suit was sharper and smarter, he was standing up straight and haughty, and maybe he’d had a fresh haircut. Melania too was looking smart, but more feminine than during her talk a few days ago.
And it appeared to me the crowd was more upbeat than ever breaking into rapturous applause as Trump proclaimed, ” America is back!” Back from what I don’t know.
Trump The Authoritarian Dictator Has Arrived
I guess Rep Al Green, a democrat from Texas, is wondering when he’ll be back after being removed before Trump’s camp meeting even got started good. I was watching and it didn’t seem to me that Mr. Green’s protests were loud, or disruptive, or out of context as the crowd was also simultaneously loud. He did wave his cane around a little bit, immediately in front of himself, looking more like a gesture pointing at something rather than a disrupting or threatening overture. Then, the Sargent at Arms removed him from the chamber.
Later, while enumerating his accomplishments of the past few weeks, Trump noted that he had ended censorship in the government. Well of course, but not if you’re Mr. Green or the Associated Press both of which found out that when Mr. Trump calls a meeting thou shalt kowtow to his authoritarianism or else. You may speak freely as long as you keep your mouth shut.
The Congressional Group Psychosis
Once any dissent had been effectively shut down, Trump was free morph into his favorite role of self-serving cheerleader. The democrats remaining in the Chamber sat quietly with pensive looks on their faces not daring to open their mouth in any protest as Trump extoled his virtues one after the other. The dutiful republicans continued to offer rapturous applause unimpeded as Trump systematically reinforced their happiness in the longest State of the Union in history.
Trump went on to affirm his backing of first responders, obviously in spite of numerous instances of their criminal wrong doing in recent years. I am glad that the first responders are there to do their job when appropriate and needed, but I have also learned by watching the evening news, witnessing their activities in person, and through personal experience that first responders are deeply corrupt and comprise the biggest constitutional threatening crime family in America. They should not have and do not need carte blanche to do their jobs.
I also can’t say I disagree with everything Trump has done since taking office. I can say that the unconstitutional methods of enforcing those actions, and Musk’s DOGE, are a direct, continuing and pervasive threat to our constitutional democracy. DOGE should be pronounced “doggy” for those who are confused. Only once you see the intended meme will you fully understand what’s going on.
The Danger Of The Joke And Complacency
Trump and his doggy lieutenant Musk have successfully won the heart and souls of the Republican congress, the American people and maybe even the good humor of dissenting democrats. It is the job of the congress to take back their authority from the unconstitutional abuses that have been imposed thus far. And yet, they aren’t. The show of complacency by the congress and their jovial acceptance of doggy training at last nights camp meeting is disarming.
The gradual, systematic acceptance of these tactics is also disarming for the American people. And, that’s when it gets really dangerous because, while part of Trump’s joke is the idea of a third, unconstitutional, term (it’s just a joke), the complacency invoked potentially sets the stage for a coup. It could happen like dominos.
There’s already been a regime change and it’s stretching the boundaries at face value. The only thing that makes it especially unlikely that Trump would try to take over as a dictator, is the fact that at his age he probably would rather not even be president, much less a dictator for life. But, then there’s President (it’s a joke) Musk…
I’ll say it again, Trump is extremely dangerous.
©2025 – Jim Porter Casey
