I have a confession to make. This piece is inspired by comments made on Steve Parks’ editorial on ex-president Trump’s second impeachment trial. The article itself was excellent, reflecting many of my own sentiments towards Trump. But it was comments on the article that moved me to write. I was amazed how angry Parks’ thoughtful observations made some of us. It reminded me of a rockfish just after it is pulled out of the water.
It would be folly to address individual comments or writers. That would only start yet another war of words—one ending with my being accused of a lifelong hatred for Trump and his family. Rather, I concluded that some people are not able to turn the page and acknowledge not only that Trump is finally history, but that that history is a low point in our national journey.
So, let me suggest to everyone who might be nostalgic for the Trump White House Show: Those who dwell in the past are destined to live in it. Translation: Enough already! Move on! If you think Biden and the Democratic Congress spend too much money, are opening immigration floodgates, or are trying to slow down global warming, you better turn the page. Biden is our president. He is trying to address our national crisis. Why not give him a chance? Stop worrying about how and why Trump was victimized and turn to how we can recover from the pandemic and economic crisis. And if you want to have a Republican party in the future, you better start thinking about what that party has to do to recover from the damage that Trump’s incompetence and treason caused.
Republicans face a fork in the road. In one direction, we find Ted Cruz, the disgraced Josh Hawley, giants like Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz. (If you don’t know these last two, look them up, but have a stomach distress bag handy.) These party leaders are joined by Ivanka, who is thinking of running against Marco Rubio in Florida. Press reports indicate that some of her suggestions for last-minute pardons were motivated by her future fundraising needs. We even have a Texas State Representative, Kyle Biedermann, who has introduced a resolution in the Texas legislature for that state to hold a referendum on seceding from the Union. (If you look up Mr. Biedermann under Google Images, you can find him dressed up as “The Gay Hitler” at a fundraiser a decade ago. Apparently Biedermann thought that was funny.)
And let’s not forget our own contribution to today’s Republican party: The gun-toting Andy Harris. You know him. He’s the guy who just broke his term-limit promise.
On the other side of the fork is what I’ll call traditional, or sane, Republicans. Most people are OK with these Republicans even if they disagree with them on policy. Examples of this group included John McCain before he died, Mitt Romney, John Kasich, Ben Sasse, Rob Portman, Liz Cheney, Lisa Murkowski, and Susan Collins. None of the living people on this list believe Trump or Trumpism was good for America. If the vote to convict Trump of treason at his upcoming trial were secret, all of the Senators on this list and several others would vote to convict.
My hope is that enough moderates, Republicans, former Republicans, Independents, and even some Democrats, will see sufficient value in having a sane, principles-based opposition party to rid the current GOP of racists, QAnon followers, and Trumpists. The Republican party is not irretrievably lost. It can rebuild, but that takes dumping Trump and his legacy.
And if the Democratic party goes too far left, that reformed Republican party could pick up Congressional seats in 2022 or even the Presidency in 2024. How would that happen? Once the current GOP is dead and Trump forgotten, the displaced voters, if they choose to vote, will have nowhere else to go. The policies that might result here might not be optimal, but civilized political debate is invaluable.
The new Republican party should be one that embraces science, supports honest and efficient government, supports world cooperation, and first and foremost, is not a personality cult. That aspect of the most recent Republican administration offers us an important lesson: Leader-worship is the enemy of truth.
One other thing that those angry about Trump being impeached twice need to hear. To those commenters on Steve Park’s editorial, please don’t ask again if I was hurt personally by Trump or his policies. I was. My risk of dying of COVID-19 is higher because of Trump. My pride in America was hurt by the racism that regularly flowed from Trump’s mouth and that was the foundation for his border policy. Part of the country became greedier, with the negatives of income disparity hurting our ability to act together as a country. And I don’t relish Canadians, New Zealanders, Australians, Europeans and others asking me how the country could elect someone as bizarre and divisive as Trump. (Please note I did not include Russia on this list.)
As some of you may recall, I anticipated the defeat of Trump just as I currently anticipate that Trumpists will lose their grip on the GOP. I now predict that dark days lie ahead for Trump. The prosecutors are circling. The former president soon will be up to his eyeballs in criminal court. Given the extensiveness of Trump’s apparent crime-spree, he most likely will be in court for the rest of his life. Somebody preoccupied with litigation and worrying about the possibility of time behind bars is not likely to head a political movement. We are done with Trump.
When Joe Biden was sworn in on January 20, we got our government back. The period a bit before election day through Inauguration Day was the greatest period of jeopardy our democracy has faced in my lifetime. May we never go through that again.
Although some Trumpists will doubt me, I take no pleasure in what is happening to Trump now, or the even bigger problems he will soon face. I don’t care what happens to him, even if he manages to escape justice. My dog in this fight is the one that believes in limited government—the type supported not only by the checks and balances cited in the Constitution, but also through a viable, healthy, two-party system.
The rehabilitation or destruction of the current Republican party will help the country to cleanse itself of a bit of its racism and to reestablish respect for science and empathy as standards for our government. That appears to be happening. And it’s essential that it does.
J.E. Dean of Oxford is a retired attorney and public affairs consultant. For more than 30 years, he advised clients on federal education and social service policy.
Linda Baker says
Mr Dean, you always give me a laugh. I can’t believe how naive you are at your age. The show is just beginning. So many surprises in store for you.
John Dean says
I ordinarily don’t reply to comments that include personal attacks on me. Still, I wondered if the show you are referring to is the Trump impeachment trial (the second one) that is just beginning. I don’t expect to be surprised. I expected that the House managers would present a compelling case that the ex-president incited the January 6 riot. I also expect that cowardly Republicans will not vote to convict, regardless of the strength of the evidence. Are you expecting a conviction? I hope that is the surprise you are referring to.
In any case, as I have said many times, the ex-president will soon face massive criminal and civil litigation at the same time his hotels are losing business. If the impeachment court doesn’t end Trump’s political career, these other problems will.
As I said, maybe it’s time to move on.
Mike Huffstetler says
Mr. Dean:
You are so wrong in so many respects!
Please stop filling the Talbot Spy with your nonsensical editorials!
If you think Biden is a legitimately elected President, or that both Trump impeachments were other than political stunts with absolutely zero supporting evidence, or that Biden is moving this country in the right direction, you are either blind, unwilling to review the facts, or dishonest to yourself (likely all three)!
President Donald J. Trump is far from history, unlike illegitimately elected Joe Biden, his entire corrupt family, and all of his corrupt Deep State comrades!
Editor says
Fact check: President Biden was legitimately elected president last November.
Willard T Engelskirchen says
Mr. Dean, Your keyboard to God’s iPad. IMHO, as a person who is not a Republican but who voted for many of them over way too many years, I am anxiously waiting for the authorities in New York (The Attorney General and prosecutors) to go after trump. Do you think it is OK to value a property at one price when counting it as part of your net worth so you can get a loan while saying it is hardly worth anything at all when talking about tax assessments? How about tax shenanigans with inherited wealth worth tens of millions of dollars. Hell the Donald even signed an agreement that states that he cannot call the place in Florida his home. The hawks are circling.
Republicans do tend to shoot themselves in the foot from time to time. I remember in Illinois years ago, when they had to find a new candidate for the senate when the original one got involved in a sex scandal. They brought in a guy from Maryland who was going to lose. He was so memorable I can’t even remember his name but he was kind of like trump. The late Jim Thompson, a well respected former Governor and member of the 911 Commission said in front of TV cameras “I spent 30 years building the Republican Party in Illinois and these guys have destroyed it in one day.”
Stephen Schaare says
My Dearest Mr. Dean, I am dumbfounded. You, who admitted to being obsessed with Trump are telling Repubs to “turn the page”.? Huh? You, with every submission in these pages,went on and on with his orange tone, speech, body weight and diet? You? Now you feign concern for the Republican Party? Thank goodness some Repubs do not vote in lockstep. Some diversity in thought. The Dems always vote as they are told by Queen Pelosi. If they do not fall in line, there will be no funding for their next election. You must know this, you simply must.
Look, I have always taken joy from showing the hypocrisy of the leftie authors here on The Spy. I openly admit this, kinda’ like Christmas morning when I was six years old. Every time I have a chance, I am getting that shiny new bike under the tree.
Since about 9:12 pm on the night of first Prez debate, I DID turn the page. Since that moment, As you know very well, I have implored you, Parks, Grant and others to move on.
So here, today, you go on again with Trump.You believe this is healthy?
Let me, please, quote two of your favorites. Perhaps six months ago, Donna Brazil( former head of DNC), she the one who took over for the disgraced Debbie Washerwoman Shultz. On FOX news, a conservative was concerned about the future of the Dem party. Ms. Brazil angrily blurted out ” you worry about your own damn party” . In his first inaugural address, President Obama, wary of the challenges ahead, stated ” it is time to put aside childish things”Please, take his advice, Mr. Dean
Put this childish obsession with Trump aside. Turn the page.Thank you.
Maria Grant says
Steve,
Might I suggest that instead of endlessly criticizing everyone else’s editorials, you write one of your own so that we understand your positions. It’s easy to criticize others and you are a master at it.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Well, Mr.Dean, you certainly have them crawling out from…where ever. One cannot deal with insanity or cults or make up this stuff.
The window into their brain must be chilling, to say the least.
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Deidre, “Still a man hears what he wants to hear, and disregards the rest”. Paul Simon, 1965 from “The Boxer”.
Deirdre LaMotte says
But the problem with your argument is you are not hearing….truth. Go ahead and hide in that bubble because I
gotta tell you, your party and your man are through. The GOP had better get their spine back from #45 lest they become a miserable footnote in history. Not too much time left to do this. It’s better to reign in hell than serve in Heaven
is the new GOP mantra….mixing poor diluted hateful driven souls with the power hungry politicians. What a sad mix
of misguided people. It is just embarrassing what has happened to the GOP!!
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Deirdre, Are you addressing me when you say “hiding in a bubble”? Are you saying that I am untruthful? I hope not. Can you please point out where I have been dishonest? Where I have claimed that Joe Biden is not President? I shall take the higher road and presume you were referring to that good old “basket of deplorables” in general.
Even more interesting is your concern for the Republican party. As I have asked others, what’s up with that? You have much more interest in the GOP than many Republicans (including myself).
I must say once again, at a time when you and so many other Dems should be happy and joyful with the election of President Biden, you remain so negative, melancholy and miserable. Why not look forward to a better, brighter America? Be positive and uplifting with your words. I know you can do this if you try. Thank you.
Deirdre LaMotte says
Of course I care what happens to a major Party. I spent 45 years as a member of the GOP, quite
actively. That was when it’s leaders cared about this nation not their personal fortunes.
They and theirs are a cancer on this democracy; normalizing Trumpism is fatal.
Stephen Schaare says
“My risk of dying from covid-19 is greater because of Trump”
Can you please explain this statement? You did not have the good sense to wear a mask and latex gloves when out in public?
Michael Davis says
I can explain it from one point of view. The longer a virus stays in a population, the more it evolves. Trump’s well-documented inactivity concerning the virus gives it more time to evolve to be more infectious and lethal. Mutations are now in Maryland. Also well documented is that Trump’s inactivity vastly increased deaths and numbers of people infected. More infected people with a more infections virus increases the risk to all of us. Trump can be thanked for this.
John Dean says
I agree with Mr. Davis’ comment. I also believe that Trump promoted unsafe social distancing practices, ridiculed science, spread misinformation about the risks created by the virus, and personally held many super spreader events. In total, I suspect over 50,000 deaths may have been avoided.
I have written more on the pandemic. See:
https://medium.com/politically-speaking/the-vaccine-distribution-mess-was-avoidable-9c7ddaf72bc?sk=f2dd7731c1fb3699049bf145ad238bf8
Stephen Schaare says
Hi Mr. Dean, You are good to write today , I admire that. Once again, obsessed with your “orange menace”. God bless.
Michael Davis says
Thank you Mr. Dean. Communicating with people in cults, also known as “true believers,” is fruitless. But someone has to keep trying. If nothing else, I hope it makes you feel better although you cannot change their beliefs.
Doris says
Thank you for expressing so well, all of my same thoughts !👍
Linda Baker says
Steve, I applaud you for once again trying to get through to the hard left. They must love that Biden has signed almost 50 Executive Orders causing people to lose jobs, (including small businesses), raising the costs of drugs again (insulin from $60/month to now approximately $400/month), open borders to all these young men wanting to infiltrate our nation, and when arrested for burglary, rape, etc then release them back out into population (no deportation). I would like them to reply how, what Biden is doing, is helping our citizens and our nation? Also, I believe I heard one mention there being a cult. Funny she should say that. Like I said, waiting and watching.
John Dean says
I guess I should thank you for reading the article, so I will. But are you really suggesting that President Biden signed an executive order to “open borders to all these young men wanting to infiltrate our nation, and when arrested for burglary, rape, etc then release them back out into population (no deportation).”?
If you are going to make an assertion like this, may I suggest you cite your source?
Linda Baker says
Mr Dean, he stated he is opening the borders up. He even threatened to take the wall down when running for president. There are 100,000 immigrants (mostly men) heading this way. Also, on Newsmax, Tom Holman, former head of immigration stated Biden has rescinded Trumps policies of 2018. Biden himself has even stated that he is not deporting immigrants. So, when they get released from prison, they will no longer be deported but be released back into our population. Do you not listen to what your president says, or is it your news channel you’re watching.