By Sid Schwab / Herald Columnist
Since the election, I’ve received gloating emails from dislikers of my columns.
They’re entitled to it, but they should acknowledge who their gloatmates are. Like anti-everyone Nick Fuentes, Trump’s honored dinner guest at Mar-a-Lago, who immediately posted “To Women”: “Your body, my choice, forever.”
They must also find it gloatworthy that racist emails were sent to Black students across the country, and that neo-Nazis are rejoicing (Washington Post, no paywall: tinyurl.com/badguys4u). And looking to intimidate (Daily Beast: tinyurl.com/swaz4u).
They must love that Trump has named white-supremacist, anti-ALL immigration, Stephen Miller as deputy chief of staff, in charge of policy. (Susie Wiles, his chief of staff choice, previewed the extent to which she’ll keep him within the law. When Trump showed her his stolen classified documents, she stayed mum about the crime.) OK with suspected Russian agent Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence? (Newsweek: tinyurl.com/no2tulsi) Matt Gaetz as attorney general?
We presume that my emailers find those choices, to whom the word “deplorable” really does apply, gloatastic. Like Fox’s Jesse Waters, they must think it’s “hysterical” to imagine parents and their terrified children held in detention camps, awaiting deportation (MSN: tinyurl.com/hyst4u). As yet unanswered: Will the people doing the rounding-up be provided jackboots or will they have to purchase them?
Gloatiizers will have about two gloatable years. If Trump imposes tariffs and deportations as promised, they might do some retro-degloatation when prices of imports skyrocket; when various imported goods become unavailable; when crops die in fields for lack of harvesters, grocery shelves offering only dust. As deficits soar and interest rates rise, they’ll either have multiple gloatasms or help liberals return Congress to Democrats. Assuming they haven’t all been arrested, as Trump has threatened, about the Clintons, Obamas, Bidens, Cheneys and Pelosis.
Based on past performance, it’s unlikely Trump will fulfill all of his campaign promises. We can hope. He’s blown past one already, namely ending the war in Ukraine within 24 hours of being elected. He did, however, call Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. For unfathomably ominous reasons, he shared that call with uber-oligarch Elon Musk; tacit acknowledgment of a shadow presidency to be. Trump said he also spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling him not to escalate the war. The Kremlin denies the call. Showing him how ignorable they consider him, Putin escalated immediately (New Republic: tinyurl.com/2sendtroops). Making their disrespect of Trump even clearer, Russian TV then ran nude and semi-nude photos of Melania.
Rather than promised millions, maybe Trump will only deport migrants who committed serious crimes. That’d be OK. Maybe he’ll never get around to those living here for years, raising families including their U.S.-born, citizen children, working, paying taxes, going to church. It’s doubtful Jesus would find it hysterical. Nevertheless, several gloatists cited their faith as a reason for choosing Trump. That’s professional-level compartmentalization. Tested to reject cruel, oligarchical autocracy, over half of America failed. Will there be, as there were during the Holocaust, citizens brave enough to shield their migrant neighbors?
As in 2016, Trump will inherit a strong economy. It’s a pattern repeated for decades: Republicans inheriting then ruining thriving economies, Democrats revitalizing them, and Republicans, when they regain power, taking pre-ruination credit. Since Trump will be busy dictatoring on Day One, expect him to wait a while before taking credit for President Biden’s economy, as he did with Obama’s. And to blame anyone but himself when his policies ruin it, yet again.
I’m neither the betting nor conspiratorial type, but I’ll put a nickel down that, soon as Trump’s installed, big agra will lower egg prices on which the election seems to have turned, giving not just a “win” for Trump, but themselves, too, having purchased deregulation that will allow making it all back by avoiding costly consumer protection measures. Eat safe, America.
No matter how unqualified, Trump will get every appointment he wants, based on a single criterion: unquestioning, prostrate loyalty. Not to Constitution or country. To Trump, exclusively. And election denial. As Senate Republicans have pre-caved on recess appointments, he might not seek confirmation (MSN: tinyurl.com/noconfirm). If he does, he’ll get it. Even for Pete Hegseth as defense secretary, a Fox “news” host with no managerial experience who’s clearly unfit (Bulwark: tinyurl.com/no2pete). He and Trump will purge generals who’ve stood for the Constitution (MSN: tinyurl.com/bye2gens). If he turns our military, as demanded, on Trump’s enumerated domestic enemies, gloaters will acquiesce. Throughout history, it’s what such people do.
For now, nothing and no one can stop Trump, my words least of all. But, despite its insignificance, were I to stop writing now, I’d feel like a coward. To withdraw in silence at the dawn of dictatorship would be to abandon duty that democracy demands.
So, ineffectual as it is, I’ll keep it up. You, too, gloatophiliacs. In a couple of years, maybe less, we’ll learn who’s right. If it’s me, I won’t gloat. I’ll ponder how America can keep it from happening again. If it’s you, you’ll have time to apologize to your progeny.
Email Sid Schwab at columnsid@gmail.com.
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