The slow, painful disintegration of Donald Trump

We’ve been subjected to the extraordinary mendacity of Donald Trump for over 4 years, since his June, 2015 presidential campaign announcement. Begun with racist lies about Obama’s origins, xenophobic denunciations of the undocumented, and vicious smears about his Republican opponents, Trump’s campaign appeared hopeless; no such defective human being could possibly ascend to the presidency. But Trump’s realization he could win with less votes due to red state dominance in the Electoral College garnered him 30 red and purple states and the presidency. Any thoughts victory would bring out a gentler, kinder Trump were dashed when his post-election posturing doubled down on the lies, fear and loathing that have marked his entire presidency.

After 39 months in office, Trump’s reckless conduct has caught up with him. True to his self-destructive nature, he’s unapologetic about the potentially impeachable offences threatening his presidency; indeed, appearing to revel in them with a form of bravado truly scary, coming from a president. A plurality of Americans not only support a House impeachment, they favor a Senate conviction.

Watching a president disintegrate mentally before our eyes and ears should not give us comfort or joy. This human tragedy degrades Trump, humiliates his family, and horrifies people throughout America and the world. Those of us who lived through the Nixon self-immolation from 1972 to 1974, thought the lesson of his self-destruction would prevent a recurrence. Trump apparently, was too busy practicing his mendacity in high states New York real estate and fraudulent business dealings to learn that lesson. So once again we must wait for a decent American leader to tell us, “Our long, national nightmare is over”.