(DON THOMPSON / iNFOnews.ca)

OPINION

U.S. President Donald J. Trump’s biggest adversary is truth. His contempt for honesty and facts is equaled only by his vengeful and sadistic nature.

The lexicon of Americans will soon expand the current meaning of the word “trump," it will be understood as an antonym for words like “truth” and “character” and “integrity,” a synonym for words like “corrupt” and “liar” and “idiot.”

Imagine, in business, you might hear: “Bob could have supported my idea if he just accepted the facts…simply told the truth…but he decided to ‘trump’ instead.”

In the military, it might sound like this: “Kevin was dismissed from the U.S. Naval Academy after his ‘trumps’ finally caught up to him.”

And at school, kids might say: “Gee, Billy, why are you always such a ‘trumper’ around the girls?”

Yes, Donald J. Trump will - in years to come and for a long, long time - be held up to ridicule. He will be everyman’s fool. He will symbolize for the world that which is not simply wrong, but that which is diametrically opposed to everything that is good.

His supporters will eventually cave…no longer wanting to grimace when someone disparages the future former president for their fear of being seen - once again - as “one of those who voted for Trump.”

Yes, people will have long memories on this topic. We will recollect every aggrandizing moment that this sorry excuse for a human being ever showed us…an amazing feat of memory given the sheer number of his transgressions.

And yes, it will take years…many years…of decent men and women in the White House before people around the world will see America differently…with any respect or admiration. As the somewhat vulgar truism I first learned in the Air Force 50 years ago clearly states, “It takes a lot of attaboys to make up for one aw shit!”

Earlier this month, Pew Research asked Canadians what word came to mind when they heard “United States?” The majority said “Trump” followed by “president” and then negative words like “chaos,” “confused,” “bully” and “disappointing.” Enough said.

My Canadian friends usually shake their heads about almost everything Trump does or says…and rightly so. They wonder why more Americans don’t hold Trump in utter contempt.  

The truth is most of America has been hijacked…riding in the back seat of a runaway car…one driven by a drunk monkey. If monkeys had lawyers I would likely be sued for defamation of character. Americans - like the rest of the world are suffering through the coronavirus pandemic - and with Trump at the helm - it’s worse.

He has blood on his hands…as do most Republican congressmen, governors and other elected officials who have sacrificed Americans unnecessarily by first denying the threat…then moving like a rudderless ship rather than moving forward against the threat.

Consider South Korea…the first nation to act quickly and decisively. On Feb. 20, 104 South Koreans tested positive for the virus, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). South Korea enacted mass testing, strict isolation, social distancing. Thirty-two days later, 8,961South Koreans tested positive and 111 had died.

Compare those numbers to the United States. By March 6 in America, according to the WHO. There were 121 confirmed positives. Thirty-two days later, on April 7, the WHO reported that 333,811 Americans were infected and nearly 10,000 were dead.

Forget the Trump lap dogs who attack those of us who deal in facts…in truths. I’m tired of Trump’s lies…I’m tired of his supporters’ stupidity. If you want truth from Republicans…look at their actions and don’t listen to their words. And if you're a die-hard Republican Trumper, I don't care what you think about me...or anything else...you've proven your ignorance.

You see, Republicans are terrified of losing their stranglehold on America. Making it “Great Again” has always been code for returning to a time when people of colour knew their places…and there were no abortions for any reason…and women were home where they belong! Any doubts?

A couple of of weeks ago, Wisconsin Republicans, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court and the U.S. Supreme Court…all conspired to force Wisconsin citizens to risk their lives to vote. You see, this primary wasn’t about national politics so much as it was about keeping a Right-Wing Conservative Republican on the State Supreme Court in Wisconsin.

By the way, just to point out the irony that might otherwise be lost…The Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court voted 5-4 to force Wisconsin’s in-person voting. So, they voted remotely…to force people not to vote remotely. How very…Republican?

Republicans fear losing in a high-turn-out election…or one with absentee ballots…so they made a predictable move. But rather than postpone the election to June 9 - you know, when it’s likely safer - or allow absentee ballots, Republicans said, “No, it has to be now, in person voting…no absentee ballots.”

And bless their hearts, Conservative Republicans just couldn’t do the right thing. So, what makes better sense than holding a primary election during a stay-at-home pandemic, outlawing absentee ballots and shutting down 75 of the 80 polling places in Milwaukee…you know, to make it safe?

And what did Trump say about absentee ballots?

“Mail ballots, they cheat,’’ he said during one of his recent rallies masquerading as a news conference about coronavirus. “Mail ballots are very dangerous for this country because of cheaters. They go collect them. They are fraudulent in many cases.’’

By the way, Trump voted absentee - by mail - in the 2018 midterms and in last month’s Florida primary. Just to be clear…the only party denying people the right to vote in America is…the Republican Party. Another by the way…the Republican ploy in Wisconsin failed…the incumbent Conservative judge lost.

Make no mistake, Republicans are already working the propaganda pump…already questioning whether there should be an election in November. Even so, it’ll get worse…with lies, cheating and attempts to suppress voting at local, state and national levels by Republicans this November in the General Election. People who vote for Trump - Republicans - are the biggest threats to democracy in the United States.

Apparently, most Republicans refuse to see it…or they are incredibly flawed…bigots and ignorant people and religious folks who want only Conservative judges...and that somehow outweighs everything else. Yeah, I’m angry…I’m weary of the deceit, the cheating, the bigotry, the incredible self-interest and Republican voters simply looking away.

In 2012, actor Samuel L. Jackson encouraged Americans to re-elect President Barack Obama with a simple, four-word admonition: “Wake the F*** Up!” The only thing I can add to that is “Vote!” Vote, Americans, as if democracy and freedom and equality and decency depend on you. Because they do.

If not, well, you’re “Trumped.”

— Don Thompson, an American awaiting Canadian citizenship, lives in Vernon and in Florida. In a career that spans more than 40 years, Don has been a working journalist, a speechwriter and the CEO of an advertising and public relations firm. A passionate and compassionate man, he loves the written word as much as fine dinners with great wines. His essays are a blend of news reporting and opinion.

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