The deflowering of America.

Donald Trump is a biological WMD who is contaminating the moral fibre of America. This POTUS is a brain cancer eating into all fair-minded citizens. He's a disgrace, our very own Mugabe. And, like Mugabe, he must go.

This week, he handed a megaphone to the bigoted views of a fringe British alt right group. On one of the darkest days for American democracy, he insulted decent Brits by, in effect, saying 'I'm with these wackos.'

Because he's a wacko himself. Not just mentally-impaired in the harmless way of the stupid uncle at Thanksgiving lunch; he we can tolerate because we know he's old and grumpy and fading into dementia - Uncle Jed's no threat to the way we live. But Trump, this 'short-fingered vulgarian', holds the lives of millions in his fluttering hands.

The revolving door that today passes for the White House, will soon send another body spinning across the lawn in the burly form of Rex Tillerson. POTUS, according to his press spokeswoman, has 'lost confidence' in his secretary of state. The feeling, we can be sure, is mutual considering that Rex the Tex, in a private aside, called his boss 'a (expletive deleted) moron.'

And so we are left with POTUS as our top diplomat, regardless of whoever gets the appointment. And what do his people say when this president bleats his tweets? 'Trump being Trump' they shrug, whenever their man heaps more shame on America.

They are his accomplices, of course - all bullies have them. We know who they are: Republican 'leaders' in congress and the senate who would rather lose their integrity than their cushy lives. They are far too busy crafting a tax bill that - in relative terms - will benefit the penthouse people (yes you, congressman and you, senator) a lot more than Joe the Trucker. Trouble is, according to a bipartisan study released yesterday, the tax cuts will raise the deficit by more than a trillion dollars. Republicans argue that that increased investment and consumer spending (liberated by the theoretical 'trickle down' effect of the tax cuts) will offset the drop in government revenue caused by fewer taxes being collected. We hope, as we watch the pigs fly by.

Is all this worth adding around $1.4 trillion to the deficit? Thankfully, not all Republican legislators agree; a small flock of 'deficit hawks' are circling the tax bill as it limps towards the vote. The bill may not be the 'beautiful Christmas present' that Trump promised, in exactly the form he had hoped.

And where are the Democrats? Struggling to explain why congressman John Conyers, their 88 year-old 'icon' and chair of a key judiciary committee, is having the 'sad' experience of being accused of sexual harassment.

Meanwhile, above the squirming 'Lyin' Mike' Flynn, (the Russia-loving, former national security adviser) and the drone of the national conversation about 'inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace' (is there an appropriate version?), war with North Korea gets closer. Trump, our own alleged sexual predator and top diplomat, thinks he's negotiating when he calls nuclear-hot Kim Jong Un 'little rocket man.' In some pockets of this country, folks must think such language is 'fightin' talk.' In the civilized world, though, as we reflect on America's governing crisis, perhaps we might recall the words of the 18th century poet, James Thompson:

'Thus human life, unhinged, to ruin reel'd
And giddy Reason totter'd on her throne.'

He must go.



Brian Clewly Johnson
Amagansett, NY 🇺🇸
December, 2017.
Illustration: Harry R Hopps, American (1869-1937) part of a color lithograph currently at MOMA.