My July 4th was partially spoiled when I encountered a boat displaying three Trump-inspired flags. One read “Joe and the Ho Gotta Go.” The second was a U.S. flag that transitioned into a confederate battle flag. The third flag was more confusing. It was an American flag with black stripes and a black field for the stars. I am told the flag is meant to signal “Give no quarter,” meaning that the bearer will never surrender and will kill any enemies they encounter. It is based on a civil war flag conjured up by a confederate group when the war “turned south” for them.
The sight of the flags, these were in Caroline County, was nothing new. But they prompted me to wonder why Donald J. Trump or someone else associated with him has not done anything to condemn the flags. The answer, of course, is that Trump is fully comfortable calling the vice president of the U.S. a whore. It is who Trump is.
Over the holiday weekend, I also read about how Trump and his allies are attacking Cassidy Hutchinson. He called her “bad news,” “a total phony,” and “a leaker.” He suggested she sought to “go to Florida” with the Trump team but was turned down. In her anger, she turned on Trump, the defeated ex-president says.
The tone of the attacks is fully consistent with the Trump-inspired flags, which is to say juvenile, crude, and demeaning. It was no surprise to learn that an attempt was made to intimidate Ms. Hutchinson before her deposition. It was, however, a pleasant surprise to learn that the attempts failed. I wonder whether that failure prompted yet another plate-throwing incident?
On the encouraging side, the Trump attacks on the January 6 Committee have utterly failed. Even the “denial” of Trump’s temper tantrum in the presidential limo on January 6 has backfired. The agent who rebutted the story is known to lie. Let’s get that man in front of the January 6 Committee under oath!
While Hutchinson’s testimony has renewed calls for the prosecution of Trump, Meadows, Giuliani, and a host of others, I predict that we have not yet seen the Committee’s best work. July is not going to be a good month for Trump, even if he announces his candidacy for president.
The January 6 Committee will deliver at least two big bombshells in July. The first will be direct evidence of the extensive communication and coordination between the White House and the two militia groups that led the January 6 assault—the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. We may learn that Meadows talked to the Proud Boys during the assault and that certain House Republicans were acting as communications conduits between the militia members and the White House. You already know about Rudy Giuliani. Have you heard the names Scott Perry and Jim Jordan? Those are my two best guesses. (Other suspects, such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Andy Biggs, and Lauren Boebert may have been deemed too stupid for Trump or Meadows to trust.)
The second bombshell will be evidence of Trump’s complicity in funding the insurrection. I expect to see a financial trail connecting Donald Trump, Jr., Rudy Giuliani, and Mark Meadows to the money that enabled the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and others to get to Washington.
Of course, Trump will say all three acted on their own. If Trump does, and when the Trump associates, now with tire tracks on their backs, ponder the prospect of jail time becomes clearer, it is likely that at least one will flip. Remember how Mark Meadows was cooperating with the January 6 Committee until he wasn’t. He is the most likely “flipper.”
We may also hear from White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, who the Committee subpoenaed. If Ms. Hutchinson’s testimony was truthful, Cipollone both knew about Trump’s involvement with the January 6 insurrection and warned the president that it was illegal.
And what about John Eastman? Without Professor Eastman’s legal memo suggesting that the Vice President could unilaterally overturn the 2020 election by rejecting slates of electors and substituting others, there may have been no attack on the Capitol. Did Eastman believe his own theories? What prompted him to write the memo?
As the January 6 committee moves ever closer to the release of its full written report, Donald Trump’s future will become clearer. Rumors are circulating that he soon will announce his candidacy for president for 2024. If he announces (highly likely), it will be nothing more than an attempt to fend off prosecution. Trump will argue that Democrats are prosecuting him on political grounds. His hope will be to re-energize his base.
Somehow, as I celebrated July 4th, I started to think that won’t happen. Things are not looking good for Trump’s future. Given the strength of the evidence that is emerging about what Trump was up to after he lost the 2020 election, his campaign will be seen for what it is–another abuse of our political system to serve his own ends at the expense of the public good.
By fall, I expect Trump will resort to campaigning for president at rallies where “Joe and the Ho Gotta Go” signs and confederate flags will be in abundance. He will remind us of what a low life he is.
The threat of Trump continuing his assault on democracy should frighten all Americans. He reminds us that freedom is not free. Trump is un-American. Trump and his party gotta go, but they will not go unless and until he is held accountable for his actions associated with January 6, 2021.
J.E. Dean is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant writing on politics, government, birds, and other subjects.
John Fischer says
If the January 6th committee can reel in Mr. Trump, it will have been of great service to our country, possibly to the Democratic Party but most certainly to the Republican Party.
John Dean says
If I understand your comment correctly, I agree. Thank you for reading the piece.
Chip Heartfield says
Heres is a better-researched and more likely explanation for the black flag: https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/verify/what-do-all-black-american-flags-mean/65-042fc092-d29d-4ec5-9ed1-2b0a08cc6f53.
John Dean says
Thank you for the link to the wusa article. I had not seen it.
I still believe that some people currently flying the black stripe flag are doing so because they believe it means “No quarter.” These people may have their history wrong, but their message appears clear.
Thanks for pointing out the history. I appreciate it.
Bob Jones says
Thank you, Mr. Dean. We have seen the Mid-Shore Trumpers display their childish and vulgar selves in 2020 and here they come again. They hide behind the notion that both sides do it”. But in fact, only they do it. Wanna play Who’s the Ho? C’mon up, Melania, Stormy, and the rest.
John Dean says
Thank you for your comment. I join you in getting tired of people saying “both sides do it.”
I appreciate you reading the piece.
Paul Rybon says
Mr Dean conveniently forgets that it is Ms Hutchinson and the committee that is going sfter him and not the reverse..what is he supposed to do, hug and kiss. Another fallacy is that the crude flags and banners were ‘inspired by him. There is no evidence of that. Truth tellers DO say that they will attack anyone who is harming this country and there is PLENTY of proof that the Pres and the ‘ho’ are doing that.
Brian H. Childs says
Mr Rybon- The last clause of your last sentence invalidated any good points you wanted to make. Civility is what we need now but that seems to be an idealistic wish.
Michael Davis says
This comment proves the point of the incivility and lack of respect of Trump and his allies. Trump belittled Gold Star families, questioned why anyone would fight for America, hosted Putin’s security personnel at the White House, endorsed Putin’s views over America’s security establishment, and countless examples of disrespect. This comment repeats that the VP of the United States is a “ho.” Public use of this kind of language was unheard of before enabled by Donald Trump. It is not Mr. Dean who conveniently forgets things.
kathleen nilsen says
It’s an affront to all women to be using ‘HO” in your comments.
Mickey Terrone says
Mr. Rybon asked what Trump is supposed to do with the January 6th Committee “going after him”. That’s easy. Trump should come come in and testify under oath about his actions leading up to, during and after the Insurrection Riots. That’s all he has to do to clear his name and the names of his co-conspir, er, associates. His associates can do the same. After all, it was Trump himself who said during a 2016 Iowa campaign speech, “You see the mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?” Why did John Eastman take the 5th 100 times during his deposition? Maybe these people in the Trump Mob are afraid of being convicted for their crimes against the United States of America. Maybe the 147 Republican congresspersons who voted not to certify the electoral votes on January 6th, 2021, and thus, failed to uphold their oaths to support and defend the US Constitution should also explain their actions under oath. Or resign from Congress in disgrace. This is what can happen to good peolple who become involved with degenerate demagogues.
James Wilson says
the pro-trumpers 4th of July pledge … ” I pledge allegiance to … trump.” and nothing else.
And in response to Mr. Rybon, there have been over 30,000 lies told by trump during his presidency. The current committee has conducted hearings for over 12 hours showing evidence. You provide none. “There is plenty of proof” you say. Go conduct hundreds of interviews … under oath … present your “proof.” Spend hundreds of hours doing your own research. Back it up with detailed citations of the sources, confirm your information with extensive interviews. Hire experts to do independent research.
Then come back in a year or so with your proof.
Anne Stalfort says
Thank you Mr.Dean. As I have done my entire adult life, I will vote in the primary and in November. I will vote for Democrats. How else can we save our democracy?
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. I agree with your comment. I have been advising people to not vote for any Republican as long as Trump remains a force in the party. As long as Trump remains associated with the Republican party, that party is a threat to democracy.
Deirdre LaMotte says
We live in really distressing times. I grew up in the Washington DC area where posters, campaign signs, bumper stickers were
everywhere. Well not on our cars as mother thought they were crude. This nightmare of crass signs and flags lies at the feet of my former party, the GOP. All of the Republican enablers in power, GOP operatives (looking at you Tim Miller!) and right wing media are responsible for not only nominating Trump, but not voting to impeach him; Because of selfishness and greed. Trump was just the useful idiot the Party needed to accomplish their self-serving agenda, and it worked almost to
perfection. The GOP got what they wanted: a politically radical, theocratic Court. And given the docket for the next term, you do realize it doesn’t matter how one votes. Every red state will be tossing votes in the trash as fast as they can hand count. The process will be completely opaque and irrevocable,
Russell Stone says
The Eastern Shore of Maryland is a beautiful place, how could you let a couple flags ruin your 4th of July?
What ever happened to sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me.
This is still the greatest country in the world and I am sorry to hear your feels were hurt.
If you are going to post your opinion maybe you should focus on the positive things the Biden administration was done and not the negatives of past administrations.
John Dean says
Thank you for reading the piece. It was a lot more than the flags that spoiled the holiday. As long as those responsible for January 6 are not held accountable, our democracy is at risk. That’s why “the negatives of past administrations” wasn’t my focus. My focus was on Trump and others that no longer support the Constitution.
I don’t expect you to agree with me, but it is hard to celebrate America given that about a third of the country still believes Trump’s Big Lie.