Last night, I had a dream that I was in the spin room following a Trump rally. Spin rooms are set up at political events to provide journalists with a place to ask questions about a politician’s speech. Typically, aides answering the questions spin the information in hopes of getting positive press.
In my dream, the Trump spin room was filled with Trump campaign staff. One staffer got my attention. She was a tall woman wearing a large button that read, “Ask me about the concentration camps.” I know Trump is right-wing, but he is not a Holocaust denier. So why did I hear someone say his plans for a second term include setting up “concentration camps” as part of his plans to “close the border?”
I walked up to the woman and introduced myself. I smiled and asked, “Tell me about the concentration camps.” She returned the smile and proceeded to tell me, with more than a hint of excitement in her voice, that to deport more than five million “illegals” from America quickly, they will have to be “rounded up” and housed in large camps built to keep them from escaping before they are transported to “whatever shithole country they came from.”
The woman did not wince at using the words “concentration camps” or “shithole.” When she noticed my discomfort she offered, “Don’t forget how many of these people came here illegally after being released from jails and insane asylums.” She looked pleased that I wrote that down.
I asked if the Trump campaign had any projections on how many “illegals” would go to which “shithole countries.” She responded, “You know, Guatemala, Honduras, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and a bunch of other places—I can’t remember them all.”
I responded, “I see,” before asking if it was a good idea to call the camps “concentration camps” given the Holocaust.
The woman, still smiling, but not as much as before, said, “We are not going to gloss over what needs to be done. Nobody is planning to kill any illegals; we are just going to get them out of the country. They do not belong here.”
I responded, “I see,” before thanking her. She asked for my card, and I gave it to her. But as I walked away, I worried about what the Trump campaign might do with my information. I have read about plans for “retribution” and know it includes journalists, but how seriously should Trump’s rhetoric be taken?
In my dream, I continued my tour of the spin room and had another conversation, this one with a bald-headed young guy who wore a badge reading, “Ask me about getting transgenders out of woman’s sports.” I was curious but continued walking until I met another guy, also in his 20s, wearing a MAGA cap and a red tie that extended three inches below his belt with a badge reading, “The Ukraine War ends when we win. Ask me how?”
I took the bait but was not prepared to hear how simple ending the war might be. Without notes, he told me, “Trump will phone Zelensky on election day, right after he wins, and tell him to either quit or wait for America to give Russia weapons.”
I waited for more, but he was done, so I asked, “Are you sure?” He was. “Yes, I heard it from Trump himself. He hates wars and to stop the killing will do whatever it takes to end the war, even if that means switching sides.”
Nodding my head, I asked a final question: “So, Trump is okay with Putin having invaded Ukraine?”
The Trump aide paused, looked at the floor, and then looked back at me. “That is Zelensky’s problem. We here in America don’t care.”
With that gem still in my mind, I woke up. I realized my dream is not that far from reality. Donald Trump has no shame regarding any of his policies. He believes in doing whatever it takes to win. And for Trump, “winning” means Trump winning even when he knows so many others could lose.
It is easy to imagine every question—no exceptions—about Trump’s policies being answered with shameless admissions or blatant lies.
As I think about who Trump is and what he plans for his second term, I realize that he is, as Kamala Harris says, a threat to democracy. But Trump is more than that, he is a threat to decency, empathy, and for many people who will get caught up in his policies—his political enemies, undocumented migrants, transgender folks, and many others—a threat to their lives.
Election day is now 27 days away. Don’t assume Harris will win. She will not win the election by default. She must win it the hard way—by earning it. And she can only do that with the help of people who feel the same way about Trump’s agenda as I do. We must do what we can to mobilize the electorate and encourage all people to vote.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. He writes on politics, government, and, too infrequently, other subjects.
Mickey Terrone says
Hello John. I’d suggest that Harris needs to win the electoral vote twice; once in the election and second in the prolonged legal mess that the Republicans will attempt to disrupt the electoral process, starting at the state level where Republicans control the state legislatures and can undermine the democratic electoral process without having any real evidence of fraud. In fact, I see them creating the fraud in order to create doubts about the validity of the elections themselves.
Republican rank and file knew this was coming when they nominated Trump, so they are essentially, his accomplices in this massive upcoming crime against our US Constitution.
America’s twin nightmares of Trump and Trumpism won’t go away until Donald and his inner circle are either incarcerated for their crimes or take off after the election on the Trump airliner bound permanently for Moscow.
Michael Davis says
As usual, Mickey, you are making sense. My bet is this will be the ugliest election since the Civil War.
A large number (50? 100?) of lawyers are planning to attack the election process in every state where Trump does not get the majority of the votes. They are funded through the Heritage Foundation by ultra-right billionaires. Unlike 2020, progressives are ready for it.
If lawyers can’t corrupt the election, Trump hinted there will be violence. His followers are more direct, sending death threats to anyone they believe does not worship Trump. January 6th proved Trump will likely call for violence again.
Kamala has to win at many, many levels. Counting votes will be the beginning of the chaos.
Glenn Baker says
Do Democrats Lie about their dreams too?
John Dean says
That’s a good question. What do you think?
Wilson Dean says
The characterization of the Trump responses in this article rings all too true of virtually any topic that comes up in his campaign. It is so disappointing that the many issues requiring serious thought and discussion that face Americans today are being ignored and replaced by Trump with sheer nonsense and gibberish. It is clear that Harris is the only adult running for President. A Trump victory is a victory for mean-spirited resentment and total chaos.
trudy wonder says
Thank you for this column. It’s time for all of us to muster the courage to speak out about Trump’s dangerous and inhumane policy positions.
It’s amazing to me that while the media is complaining about Kamala Harris not providing enough detail on her policies, they and voters are not asking the same questions of the Trump campaign – even when he has telegraphed that he will begin mass deportations on day one (“the likes of which we’ve never seen”) and when pressed sad, yes, he may have his people go”door-to-door” to round them up and yes, there may be deportations camps involved.
Similarly, no one is asking or considering what will happen when 10-15 million people (numbers his campaign has provided) are suddenly removed from food processing plants, construction worksites, migrant fields and more. Or when neighbors, employees or family members you’ve known for years are taken suddenly from their homes.
Trump himself has said that he will target “anchor babies” (those born in US soil to undocumented parents who are here legally) as well because he doesn’t believe they should be here. When you factor in all the configurations he’s spoken about, it easily exceeds the 15 million mark. These numbers could double – possibly quadruple.
At a rally last month, Trump said, “They’re coming from the Congo, they’re coming from Africa, they’re coming from the Middle East, they’re coming from all over the world, Asia… and they’re destroying the fabric of our life. And we’re not gonna take it anymore. … ya gotta get rid of these people!”
When people tell you who they are, believe them. When Trump tells you what he will do, believe him.
Then vote so he never gets the chance.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. I agree with you–when Trump says what he plans to do, believe him. I believed him, for example, when he said he plans to be a “dictator for a day.”
Barbara Denton says
I have a dream that you will stop writing ridiculous articles concerning your lying fantasies about Trump.
John Dean says
I hope to stop writing about Trump permanently after November 5, 2024. Thank you.
Harvey Worthington says
What is amusing about John’s “dream” pieces is that they are, by definition, delusional. The events he describes are quite literally made up. It is an interesting, if not particularly malicious, partisan device designed to garner sympathy to The Cause without being bound to actual events. Who is to say he didn’t have such a dream? Both parties do it, and no doubt John, as a retired “public affairs consultant,” is aware that he is engaging in it. (Perhaps the best-known example of this is LBJ’s infamous “Daisy” mushroom cloud ad that he used against Goldwater in 1964. Remember that, John? It’s a nice trick.)
Here is a bit of reality in contrast to John’s fantasies. I am no Trump apologist. I regrettably voted for Biden in the last election. (I am voting for RFK Jr. in this one if he remains on the ballot.) The American people have the benefit of comparison this time, and many of them can see that the reality they know does not match the “dreams” of put-upon partisan elites who peddle ineffective corporatist policies. January 6 was ugly for sure, but they saw the following Democrat control was even uglier. That was not a return to “Democratic Norms” as promised. His rhetoric was terrible, but they know that Trump did not put Hillary in jail, he did not weaponize the justice department against his political opponents and perhaps most of all, he did not start World War III. For all of Trump’s bluster, exaggerations and lies, many people recall recently being told that Mr. Biden, the duly elected Commander in Chief of the most powerful nation in the history of the world, was “sharp as a tack.” Really, now? I don’t care if Trump fornicated with Stormy Daniels on the White House lawn on July 4th whilst wiring Bitcoin to Elon Musk to cover it up and then lied about it on a pearl-clutching episode of Morning Joe. What I would like to know is who the hell has been running the Country the last four years? For all your platitudes about Democracy, I have a hard time believing it is Scranton Joe. To hear Kamala speak, it is certainly not her. She has distanced herself so far from the Administration’s policies I am willing to believe she would align herself with MTG if it won her North Carolina. Is it Hunter? Was he on the board of a natural gas company of a country we are backing in a proxy war with a nuclear power, or am I dreaming about that? I certainly hope it isn’t some of the other commenters on these pages. God help us.
I have said it before, and I will keep saying it, Talbot County’s most eminent “Non-Partisan Education-Based News” publication has a right to keep publishing this nonsense, but when we have yet another messy transition of power for the third straight election cycle you should know that many of us who see things for what they are will not be persuaded by the inevitable fawning over “Our Democracy” and you will share the blame equally with Republican partisans on the other side who believe Zionist space-lasers cause hurricanes.
Frankly, we’d all be better off if you all woke up from your dreams and enjoyed an unsweetened cup of the real world with the rest of us. In the meantime, I might recommend a brisk walk followed by a dram of some decent whiskey a few hours before bed. I do it every night and I personally sleep like a baby. -HR
John Dean says
Thanks for reading my piece. You lost me by implying that we should all know that when Trump promises retribution against his enemies, threatens to cancel CBS’ license to broadcast because of how the Kamala Harris interview was edited, and deports millions of undocumented migrants, Trump doesn’t mean it.
I was also confused about your comment about January 6. It was an insurrection. But don’t take my word for it; the case will eventually go to trial unless Trump wins and pardons himself and dozens of co-conspirators as well as the “patriots” that threw spears at a Capitol Police Officer.
I do care about Trump’s ethics, especially his long history of business fraud and sexual assault. Character does matter.
Finally, am I supposed to consider you a voice of reason because you want to vote for RFK, Jr.?
That said, thanks for reading the piece. I’m sorry you did not like it. I am hopeful people will reject Trump in November—that was the point of my piece.
H.R. Worthington says
If the electorate decides to put the “rapist-insurrectionist” back in the White House it will be because of you and your comrades, not me. The policies of today’s Democratic Party simply don’t work. If they did, Harris/Waltz would be winning by a large margin. However, rather than hold your own Party to account, and thereby forge better candidates through the crucible of criticism, each week you dutifully repeat the same talking points I hear on MSNBC or CNN with little variation. You are actually doing Democrats a disservice. First of all, I doubt you are changing the mind of anyone who disagrees with you. Moreover, you are complicit in allowing them to run candidates that I suspect, in your heart of hearts, you know are weak and incapable puppets of the Party’s cynical power brokers.
Anyway, you may think I am not reasonable for voting for RFK Jr., fair enough. But I find it even less reasonable to support a party that runs a sham of a primary process driven by elite insiders that puts forward a candidate so mediocre that she’s in real danger of being defeated by a “convicted felon”. Perhaps if the DNC trusted the “democracy” they claim to care about so much, we might all be in a better place for it. Plus, we might all be able to enjoy your non-political writing for a change.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Your projection is pure Trump. Perhaps you should question why the Republican Party allowed itself to be highjacked by, arguably, the most dangerous person ever in our nation’s history to be
running for its highest office. Please, do your own research. Learn why almost every one of HIS
hand picked cabinet members say this, including his own VP.
Make no mistake. Trump voters vote their hate.
This is all that matters to them. Trump voters do not care about facts, about science, about evidence, about proof. They want only the hate.
And this is something Trump delivers, in spades.
Trump voters want a president who will ensure that those of us who are neither white nor Christian will remain under their boot. The hatred. This is all that Trump voters want. And yes. It is really that simple.
And your Trumpian misogyny is on full display. How dare you say a woman who was Attorney General of one of the top 6 economies in the worlds, a former US Senator and a VP of the USA
is “mediocre. Yet you support a man with brain worms and mental decline? How cute.
You are showing your deep insecurity.
Mickey Terrone says
If the electorate decides to put the rapist-insurrectionist back in the White House, it will likely be because too many Americans are hopelessly racist and support Trump’s immense bigotry against immigrants of color and African-Americans. Supporting Trump despite his catastrophic “economic” plan to hand massive tax breaks to the wealthiest few, to abolish the Affordable Care Act, to abolish Social Security and to impose a huge embargo on Chinese products, is virtually mindless to middle and lower middle class Republican “base” voters.
No American should be willing to vote for a degenerate convicted of assaulting a woman and publicly bragged about physically grabbing women by their genitalia. What kind of father, mother, son, brother would support a thug like that? No patriotic American should be willing to vote for a complete scoundrel who would act to cripple NATO for the benefit of Vladimir Putin. What kind of American would vote for a deluded person who admires and applauds a murderous dictator like Putin and other authoritarians like Orban, Kim Jong Un, Xi Jinping and numerous others?
Why would the Republican Party nominate a convicted felon, currently out on bail, whose primary goal in this election is to avoid trial and likely serious prison sentences for the crimes he is accused and for which there is a mountain of evidence? Is the Republican party so lost they can’t find anyone with more dignity, integrity, wisdom or leadership? Why would they nominate a pathological liar who they know will seek illegal paramilitary efforts to take the White House when and if he loses the election after having tried before on January 6, 2017?
The policies of the Democratic Party don’t work for fascists. They work well for most Americans. They work for the wealthy. The Dow finished above 43,000 yesterday, so your retirement accounts are soaring since Trump left it at 19,000. We have low unemployment and pay rates are higher. I note you offered no details about why you think Democratic Party policies “don’t work”. If Trump was president, he’d probably dislocate his elbow patting himself on the back for that achievement. Democratic Party policies do work – for the middle and lower classes.
I trust that enough honest, responsible American men and women will vote for Kamala Harris because they know right from wrong, honest from dishonest, patriots from traitors, womens rights from false Christianity and truth from lies. Sorry for you.