Here we go

When District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issued a protective order on Friday toward criminal defendant (and former President of the United States) Donald Trump, indicted for alleged crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, it was to prevent him from disseminating material obtained from the government during the discovery phase of the trial.

In other words, to keep his mouth shut. No more "If you come after me, I'm coming after you" stuff and thus effectively tainting the jury pool. Jury tampering, if you will.

Well, here it is Sunday morning, and as far as I know, Trump has remained relatively silent. It might be a personal record for silence, I don't know. Part of me is pretty sure that Chutkan will throw Trump in jail for any violation of the order, and part of me thinks that Trump is arrogant enough to force the issue, reasoning that 24 hours or so in the hoosegow is exactly what he wants to further inflame his base of whiny and aggrieved supporters.

This, Trump's third indictment with a fourth one expected from Georgia later this week, illustrates the sad state of affairs No. 45 has brought on this country: conspiracy, fraud, conspiracy to defraud, obvious lies stated as his perceived notion of fact, liable for sexual assault, apartheid, subversion of democracy, voter suppression, misogamy, delusion of reality, unconstitutionality and simple meaness.

In my mind, he might be the most un-American president in our history.

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I guess it's no surprise that in the Trump era – whether he's president or not – we have a conservative Supreme Court that reflects Trump's arrogance.

I'm thinking of Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, who is busy accepting 38 vacations in the past 30 years – some apparently unreported – from billionaire donors like Harlan Crow and others. Man, if there's one way to corrupt the judicial system, money would be it. 

So how can we be sure Thomas' decisions on the court are not being influenced by his donor friends? Why isn't Chief Justice John Roberts laying down an ethics rule book?

Is the title "Justice" even appropriate for members of this court?

•  •  •

Republican Alabama Senator Tommy Tuberville (who might not actually be from Alabama) is single-handedly withholding 301 promotions in all five branches of the military because of the military's policy on abortion. Tuberville, who says he is a pro-lifer, objects to the military's paid leave and reimbursed travel expenses for personnel seeking abortions in states that have not banned or restricted the procedure.

Because of Tuberville, both the Army and the Marine Corps are waiting for commandants to be promoted into their positions of leadership. Because of Tuberville's idiocy, the military – and thus the nation's security – is at a greater risk. Culture war versus security. Imagine that. Meanwhile, Tuberville insists he's on a righteous crusade.

I'd ask why anybody would support a clown like this. Then I remember when Trump said that military personnel who died in the line of duty were suckers...that coming from Private Bone Spurs himself. And look at the support he continues to receive.

All of this stuff is why many folks find themselves worrying for the democracy of this country as the 2024 general elections draw closer and closer.

It's time to think hard about what we want for this country. There are no protective orders in an autocracy.