In the three years since his election. Trump has proven beyond all reasonable doubt that he is brazen, belligerent, vindictive, vulgar, mendacious, deceitful, egomaniacal, avaricious, emotionally unstable, poorly educated, and incapable of introspection. That does not mean that he is weak, without ability, or lacks clever wilfulness. 

From a warped perspective, it may be possible to appreciate how Trump so adroitly exploits the capacity his mass of followers have for hate, their predilection for foolish hysteria, and their propensity for chants and slogans.

It may also be possible to appreciate how he has cowed all present Republican office holders into a cabal of cowardly silence devoid of criticism, opposition to him, or to his deviant behavior. None of them dare tell the emperor that he wears no clothes for fear his lust for vengeance will be directed at them. Like a giant leech. Trump has attached himself to the body politic and is sucking the lifeblood from it.

It would be an act of mercy and compassion if this demagog and his cohorts were merely discredited, and removed from office, and their criminal behavior not prosecuted or punished , no matter how willful and cunningly perpetrated. As a people, if we are incapable of such an act of compassion, or full justice through prosecution and punishment, we will end in bondage to a new generation of tyrants.

It has been but 239 years since the declaration of independence was signed, this nation escaped subjection to the British Empire, and all citizens were given a republic within which the right to life liberty and pursuit of happiness were declared the divine right of all citizens. We were repeatedly warned by the founding fathers that such divine rights would have to be reaffirmed and earned by every succeeding generation, and passed on enhanced. It is now our turn.

Have we the character, courage, insight, and conviction, to see Trump, and his sycophants, as what they are, rather than what they claim to be, reject them en-mass, and pass our birthright on enhanced to generation yet to come? Or will we slide bak into oppression and tyranny? The next year will be looked on for generations as a pivotal point in our history. Let us be resolved it will not be with regret.

Trump is the instrument through which evil is spreading throughout the land. We will fail to excise him, and his ilk, at our peril