Shiny, bright objects - Epstein, Trump, and January 6

Our attention was in the wrong place this week

Jan 07, 2024

A federal judge ordered the release of court documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. These included the names of many prominent politicians, athletes, and entertainers. What did we find out?
Donald Trump is a demagogue who lacks compassion, intelligence, or any semblance of a soul. He continued a descent into the gutter that should cause people to shudder, but realistically, if his supporters haven’t abandoned him at this point, they never will.
It’s the anniversary of one of the ugliest events in American political history. January 6, 2021 is a red letter date, but right-wingers are attempting to engage in revisionist history that doesn’t reflect reality.
Reading / Viewing List

The ‘Epstein List’ distracted us from the more important stories his week

If you even remotely followed the news in the last few weeks, you were prepared for the release of federal court documents from the lawsuit against British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. These documents, due to Maxwell’s connections to Jeffrey Epstein, had been heavily redacted by the courts. Epstein’s vast financial holdings allowed him to travel in circles with the some of the world’s most well known individuals, including the likes of Prince Andrew and former President Bill Clinton.

Understandably, anyone who had the slightest connection or business dealings with Epstein or Maxwell did not want their name associated with convicted sex traffickers. When a federal judge determined these documents could be released in their original forms, the internet foamed at the mouth for their release.

This past week, those documents were released, and quite honestly, it was a big ‘ole nothing burger. Even Geraldo's opening of Al Capone’s safe didn’t flop like this. After all this anticipation, the documents didn’t produce any damning evidence of a vast network of human trafficking among politicians and celebrities. Sure, there were references to Epstein’s friendships with those folks, but nothing to indicate they possessed any knowledge of the sexual abuse and rape of young girls on Epstein’s private island.

News sites and media outlets produced day after day of headlines alluding to a ‘list’ like they were Joe McCarthy outing communists. Yet, just like the red-baiting senator, the substance wasn’t there. This news cycle, with its salacious material, never delivered on the promises. I’m sure Aaron Rodgers was disappointed.

Donald Trump continues to reveal himself as a cowardly demagogue

I know what you’re thinking. We know Trump is a train wreck wrapped inside a disaster, floating on a pool of raw sewage. Regardless, this world needs to be constantly reminded that he is the most despicable human to hold the office of President of the United States. So, what did he do now? Two significant events transpired to reflect his disgusting nature.

First, Trump released a nearly three minute political ad on his Truth Social network which might be the most ridiculous piece of American propaganda ever produced. The ad, titled “God Made Trump,” uses an old monologue from famous newscaster Paul Harvey (regarding American farmers) and turns it into a pseudo-religious message which tries to persuade listeners that God placed Donald Trump on this planet for the purpose of fixing the United States. The opening line provides the refrain for the rest of the ad:

“… God looked down on his planned paradise and said, ‘I need need a caretaker.’ So God gave us Trump.”

The ad continues by maintaining that God needed someone to ‘fight the Marxists’ … someone to fight against the ‘deep state,’ make money from fossil fuels, go into the ‘den of vipers’ (aka the media). Trump’s ad is full of bluster and falsehoods. It’s his way.

The ad itself would be terrible on its own merits, but he ripped off the idea from his fellow Republican, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who created a similarly trashy ad last year using the same voiceover with the title “God Made a Fighter.”

Using Biblical language, the Trump campaign wants Americans to believe God favors Donald Trump. This is not only un-Biblical, but manipulative and evil.

If Trump’s latest ad isn’t enough to annoy and disturb you, then let me present another ridiculous act. America’s ever present gun problem appeared again in a school shooting at an Iowa high school this week, leaving two dead and several others injured. Trump took a moment at a press conference to address the shooting and offered sympathies in what appeared to be a very pedestrian statement. Except it wasn’t. In the middle of his statement, Trump opined,

“… but, uh, we have to get over it. We have to move forward.”

Yes, it was one part of a minute long offer of sympathy. But, no, we do not have to get over it. Trump immediately followed this by commenting about how friends and family were devastated. This is correct — they are devastated. But family, friends, a community, and an entire cannot simply ‘get over it.’ This isn’t the message a candidate for president sends to people in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy.

I can’t wait for the Trump acolytes to complete the most complex mental gymnastics in their attempt to defend him.

No, you are not a patriot if you participated in the January 6th insurrection

Today marks the third anniversary of the insurrection at the United States Capitol in the wake of the 2020 Presidential Election. Individuals, at the behest of former President Trump, gathered in Washington, D.C. to protest the official Electoral College vote count in the Capitol.

Late in the morning of January 6th, Trump gave a speech, stating, “… if you don't fight like Hell, you’re not going to have a country anymore.” Trump also said he would never concede the election and suggested then President-Elect Joe Biden would be an illegitimate president.

The mob marched to the Capitol, breached the barricades at the Capitol complex, and subsequently forced their way into the building itself. In the process of the mob entering the Capitol, nine people needlessly died.

We all saw what happened. We watched as fools roamed the Capitol and made themselves at home. We saw these goons construct gallows outside and chant “Hang Mike Pence” when the Vice President refused to go along with Trump’s scheme.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) denounced the events of January 6th, commenting that evening:

We've never been deterred before, and we will not be deterred today. They tried to disrupt our democracy. They failed. They failed. They failed to attempt to obstruct the Congress. This failed insurrection only underscores how crucial the task before us is for our republic.1

McConnell had no problem calling the event what it was — a failed insurrection. Nearly every other member of the Republican Party who occupied a seat in Congress had no problem damning Trump’s actions.

Three years later and the Republican Party wants to paint the insurrection as not such a big deal. The same people who condemned Trump now line up to defend him and support his bid for a return to the White House in 2024.

Why, make yourselves at home with your Confederate flag, a symbol of an insurrection …

Nearly 1,000 people have faced consequences for their actions on January 6th, but instead of returning to normal life, they refuse to accept the label of insurrectionist or criminal. These felons call themselves “J6 Patriots.” Someone should tell them that you can’t give yourself a nickname.

The last three years have made Americans less critical of people who threatened the peaceful transition of power which helps make us who we are. A recent CBS Poll compared attitudes of Americans then and now and found that the opinions have trended towards taking a softer stance on participation in the insurrection.

While we have been ready for the Epstein List to drop, we are slowly being bombarded with propaganda that lulls us to sleep about genuine threats to democracy. It’s up to you and I to make good decisions based on the best information and not based on fear an manipulation.

Scalise Navidad

Discussion about this post