When the verdict in Donald Trump’s so-called “hush money” trial came out, I was not surprised. It was exactly what I expected. Maybe liberals can understand my quandary when I say, “I’m trying to process my feelings.”
So, stick with me as I work through my feelings.
For better or worse, there has never been an American politician like Trump. He has the most loyal, some would say cult-like, supporters, but he also generates a level of hate never seen in American politics.
The Trump haters, which few admit they are, but their hysteria about him gives them away. Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) is very real.
When they compare him to Hitler and declare that if Trump wins, it will be the last election in America and the end of democracy, the haters implicitly give permission to do anything necessary to stop the Orange Menace.
And they have done virtually anything without regard to truth or legality. Yes, democracy is in danger, but the people who threaten liberty are those willing to do anything, legal or not, in the name of stopping Trump, who may be a womanizer and a boorish oaf of a man with a tendency to exaggerate, but not the fascist dictator his haters have portrayed.
In 2016, “Lock her up” chants permeated Trump rallies. Once elected, Trump never used the power of his office to go after Hillary or, frankly, any other real or perceived enemies.
We can’t say the same about those afflicted with TDS. They hide behind their mantra, “Nobody is above the law.” The truth is many have put stopping Trump above the law.
It began during the 2016 campaign when the FBI illegally obtained FISA warrants to spy on the Trump campaign.
For the next two years the nation was embroiled in the Russia hoax. The New York Times and Washington Post won Pulitzer Prizes for their coverage of a story that wasn’t true.
Only Uri Berliner, formerly of NPR, has called out the media for its collective failure after the Muller Report “found no credible evidence of collusion.” Even worse, many TDS sufferers still believe Trump and Russia conspired to steal the 2016 election. These are the same people who shake their heads in disbelief at the Trump supporters who still think he won the 2020 election (he didn’t – and it wasn’t stolen from him).
After Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation fizzled, Democrats found new grounds and went ahead and impeached Trump – the first time.
January 6th was ugly and an embarrassment, which the media and Democrats quickly labeled an “insurrection.” If January 6th was an insurrection, it was the dumbest attempt to overthrow a government in the history of humanity. Usually, insurrections have a leader, a plan, oh and guns – all items severely lacking from the January 6th riot at the Capitol.
January 6th became the grounds for a second impeachment effort after Trump left office.
No less than Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) thought January 6th was the end of Trump’s political career. But much like the villain in a slasher film, Trump rose again virtually unopposed for the 2024 Republican nomination.
The haters, who love democracy, have tried to keep Trump off the ballot and created civil and criminal legal actions – some with more merit than others. Probably the most ridiculous is the one that finally had TDS suffers dancing with joy. They can now label Donald Trump “convicted felon.” Just don’t ask them which law he broke
A friend who does a talk radio show went on the air the night the verdict came out. He asked people who approved of the verdict what the crime that turned the misdemeanor into a felony was. None could answer the question. They responded with something about paying off somebody he had sex with or falsifying business records.
Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor in New York unless it’s committed with the intent to commit another crime. Forgetting momentarily that the statute of limitations had run out, the indictment’s 34 counts of falsifying business records occurred in 2017. How did business records from 2017 affect the 2016 election?
The indictment doesn’t mention the second crime, and neither does the jury. In fact, according to the judge’s instructions, the jury didn’t have to unanimously agree on the second crime.
Ah, minor details and details don’t matter when you’re trying to stop the next Hitler or save American democracy. Remember, nobody is above the law.
TDS makes ignoring the law, or let’s say molding it to suit specific purposes (aka stopping Trump) acceptable.
Maine Senator Susan Collins (one of the few Republican Senators to vote to convict Trump in the second impeachment) phrased it best in a statement: “The government prosecutes cases because of alleged criminal conduct regardless of who the defendant happens to be. In this case, the opposite has happened. The district attorney, who campaigned on a promise to prosecute Donald Trump, brought these charges precisely because of who the defendant was rather than because of any specified criminal conduct.”
Somebody who knew nothing about the political climate but received the following details about the case (and didn’t know it was in the United States) might think it occurred in a South American banana republic.
- The prosecutor ran on getting one person – the nation’s former leader – not to prosecute crime.
- After getting an indictment (you can indict a ham sandwich), the prosecutor hand-selected a judge. It was not a random draw, the usual method for selecting a judge.
- The judge contributed to the current leader and political rival of the former leader.
- The judge’s daughter worked on the campaign for the current leader against the former leader.
- The jury was drawn from a limited geographic area where over 85% voted against the former leader and for the current leader.
- The opening statement was made by a prosecutor, not from the local office, but by the third-ranking official from the federal government’s justice department.
- The judge then slapped a gag order on the former leader and threatened them with jail, although everybody testifying against him was free to say whatever they wanted.
- The judge allowed a witness to give salacious and prejudicial testimony against the former leader that didn’t address the specific charges.
- The judge later declared that some of the witness’s testimony would have “been better left unsaid,” and chastised the defense for not objecting to the witness strenuously enough.
- The judge didn’t allow the defense to call an expert witness in an area specifically related to the crime.
- The entire case relied on tying a second unspecified crime and discerning intent to the charges in the indictment.
- The case relied on the testimony of a convicted perjurer who was caught lying on the stand in this case and admitted to additional previously unknown crimes.
- The judge’s rulings, especially his instructions to the jury, are highly questionable – as the appeals court will likely determine.
The most ironic part of the verdict is that it’s been a terrific salve for TDS. The afflicted have also added a second mantra to; “No one is above the law.” Maybe you’ve heard it? “Respect the judicial system.”
The new mantra is particularly ironic coming from people such as:
- Senator Chuck Schumer, standing in front of the Supreme Court, said, “You have released a whirlwind, and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you.”
- Senator Elizabeth Warren: “The Supreme Court has lost its legitimacy.”
- Reps Maxine Waters and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: “To hell with the Supreme Court.”
These are a few politicians with TDS, but I understand what they mean when they say, “Respect the judicial system.” When you like a ruling, it works. When you disagree with a verdict, to hell with the court, or the court isn’t legitimate.
However, TDS may cause people to forget how our justice system works. Because judges and juries aren’t infallible, we have appeals and higher courts up to the Supreme Court.
If I were a betting man, I would put money that the label “convicted felon” doesn’t stick. Still, the haters got what they wanted.
Up until now, Trump has led Biden in virtually every poll. He’s led in most of the swing state polls. If the verdict flips the polls and Biden wins the election, and the appeal overturns the conviction after the election, what is the recourse for the ultimate election interference?
Thanks for helping me process my feelings.
I see the lengths the TDS afflicted will go to resurrect the least popular president in the history of modern polling, or more accurately, to stop Donald Trump.
Nothing is out of bounds when you’re trying to stop the next Hitler and save American democracy. Respect the justice system – and remember – nobody is above the law.
Yes, they really are going to get away with this.
Andy Bloom is President of Andy Bloom Communications. He specializes in media training and political communications. He has programmed legendary stations including WIP, WPHT, WYSP/Philadelphia, KLSX, Los Angeles, and WCCO Minneapolis. He was Vice President of Programming for Emmis International, Greater Media Inc., and Coleman Research. Andy also served as communications director for Rep. Michael R. Turner (R-Ohio). He can be reached by email at andy@andybloom.com or you can follow him on Twitter at @AndyBloomCom.
i am only going to focus on a few of the jewels form the list of alternate facts that Mr. Bloom has chosen to impart here. As many Republicans have stated there is no such crime or laws regarding collusion. Mr. Bloom did gloss over the following;
“The investigation produced 37 indictments; seven guilty pleas or convictions; and compelling evidence that the president obstructed justice on multiple occasions. Mueller also uncovered and referred 14 criminal matters to other components of the Department of Justice.
Trump associates repeatedly lied to investigators about their contacts with Russians, and President Trump refused to answer questions about his efforts to impede federal proceedings and influence the testimony of witnesses.
A statement signed by over 1,000 former federal prosecutors concluded that if any other American engaged in the same efforts to impede federal proceedings the way Trump did, they would likely be indicted for multiple charges of obstruction of justice.”
Mr. Trump had a trial by jury which his lawyers helped select, he had the best lawyers available to him, he had the option to take the stand in his own defense which would not violate the gag order, and he was convicted based on evidence and witness testimony.
In America no one is above the law, including former elected officials.
Judah:
Thank you for an exemplary comment that demonstrates so much of what I wrote.
The results the Mueller investigation produced were mostly process crimes (crimes that arose from the investigation itself and would have otherwise never occurred). Others had nothing whatsoever to do with the 2016 campaign, such as Paul Manafort, who received jail time for filing false tax returns from 2010-2014. Mueller didn’t get a single conviction for the underlying reason for his appointment, collusion between the Russian government and the Trump campaign, which you seem to still believe happened thanks to two years of relentless “misinformation.”
You wrote, “compelling evidence that the president obstructed justice…” You’ll have to remind me where he was convicted of obstruction – other than the media and the Democrat politicians in the House.
I am unfamiliar with the statement signed by over 1,000 former federal prosecutors you mention. Was this statement akin to the statement Joe Biden used in the 2020 debates calling Hunter Biden’s laptop Russian disinformation? Nonetheless, I believe that there are “over 1,000 former prosecutors” who caught TDS and would sign a letter saying Trump is Hitler’s love child.
True, Trump’s lawyers helped select the jury, but from a pool of which 88% voted for Biden, and only after a change of venue request was denied.
You decided that the issues I wrote about Judge Merchan and the trial were better left unchallenged because, deep down, you must know how much he compromised this trial.
As my Southern friends might say, bless your heart, for including the mantra “No one is above the law.” Next time, don’t forget to add “Respect the judicial system.”
TDS is a stubborn disease, for which there is no known cure. I wish you luck on your path to recovery.
Andy
So your entire reply is blah blah blah TDS blah blah blah blah TDS. 2016 called and they asked you to come up with something new.. All of those comments that you think I wrote, were actual quotes from the Muller report summation. You should have paid attention to the quotation marks.
As for the rest of conspiracy theory points, here is my personal favorite. “The judge then slapped a gag order on the former leader and threatened them with jail, although everybody testifying against him was free to say whatever they wanted.” Trump was making threats against officers of the court and their families, was warned to stop, and refused to comply. When people testify they can say what they want when answering a question. Trump had the choice to testify to defend himself.
Since you have been triggered by my comments don’t worry. A team trained to care for snowflakes like yourself is on their way to your home and they are heavily armed. With crayons, coloring books, and puppies.
I remind you all to refrain from personal attacks or you will be banned and comments will be locked.
Julia:
I’m impressed with how clever and brave you are hiding behind a keyboard and pseudonym. You’ve demonstrated that your mind is like a steel trap—rusted shut and illegal in 27 states.
Good for you, blowing the dust off your copy of The Mueller Report, the one that’s been sitting neglected on the shelf since 2019. Welcome back from your five-year coma, or did you just miss the memo to change the subject after The Mueller Report broke the hearts and shattered the dreams of Trump-haters? After two years and thirty-five million dollars, all Mueller gave you was a bunch of process crimes and other infractions unrelated to Russian collusion. Smarter Trump-haters moved to Ukraine, but hey, Sparky, if it makes you feel better and helps you write snarky comments here, then the group discount on delusion you got wasn’t for naught.
For ten years, haters like you have wanted Trump to keep his mouth shut, even for one day. When he finally did, you turned it into a negative. Of course, you did. It seems you missed the day of law school when they taught that a defendant’s decision not to take the stand is not an admission of guilt, and would it really have mattered given the judge and jury?
Before you spend the lunch money mommy gave you on crayons and coloring books, take a few minutes and refute anything I wrote in my column.
Sorry to occupy so much space in your tiny brain. I better leave before you start charging rent, but thanks for reminding me why God created the middle finger.
Most comments here are snarky and sarcastic – signs that you (understood) are making ego decisions and are incorrect.
Trump has a history of being terrible at selecting staff. e.g. (exempli gratia/ for example) Michael Cohen, who worked for former President Trump from 2006 to 2018. Trump made the mistake of hiring him. Trump, and Trump alone.
In January of 2018, at an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, former Vice President Joe Biden was videoed bragging about withholding military aid to Ukraine as a pressure tactic to force the firing of a prosecutor he did not like – and that idiot Trump was impeached simply for looking into this very topic. The “deep state” and legacy media colluded to trick all of us regarding this matter. All the very nicest people support the Ukraine (written the Ukraine with intent) and Gov. Shapiro. Mastriano was such a beast! Shapiro – elegant and cultured in appearance, manner, and taste – likes to push decisions to deprive little children. Who is the actual beast?
Mr. Andy Bloom – get real. These octogenarian (person between 80 and 89) candidates both stink. They are false choices presented by corrupt oligarchs that have hijacked this country. Make lists. Find these disreputable oligarch actors… then write strongly worded letters. Violence is never the answer.
MicHaEL
Biden and the rest of the E.U. wanted that prosecutor gone because he was falsely convicting people of murder and was slow walking Hunter Biden’s case. All of your comments here are revolve around conspiracy theories that are easily debunked – signs that you are nonsensical claims that are incorrect.
Upper-case Judah,
January of 2018, at an appearance at the Council on Foreign Relations, former Vice President Joe Biden was videoed bragging about withholding military aid to Ukraine as a pressure tactic to force the firing of a prosecutor (he did not like.) Yes, it was a conspiracy, but it is not a theory. It happened.
Subsequently there was an impeachment trial concerning Trump’s conduct during a July 25th phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy as “improper.” One of the star witnesses of Trump’s first impeachment trial, Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, has been pitching the government of Ukraine to obtain defense contracts through Trident International LLC, of which he is the CEO. Illegal? No. Conspiracy? Well, they are actions done in secret by a group to do something harmful…
Shapiro beat Mastriano and then reversed course and stuck it to the poorest children in PA. That happened. Why? Well, in the 2021–22 cycle, public-sector unions sent virtually all (99.6%) of their political contributions for statewide offices to Democrats. Even including other races, the scales barely register — government unions sent a close 92.3 percent of their overall contributions to Democratic candidates and causes. Conspiracy? Yes. It is. And bullies like you will not people like me to shut up about these obvious conspiracies by calling us racists or “conspiracy” theorists. You have not debunked anything. You actually rarely address anything head on and instead throw strawman arguments around or call people names or insult them.
Andy: Good article. You left out our friend Adam Schiff who has TTDS (terminal), but loves making money from it. I saw yesterday that Chuck Schumer’s brother’s law firm worked with Bragg to bring the indictment of Donald Trump. He lent Bragg 3 of his attorneys. Regarding Biden bragging that he got rid of Ukrainian prosecutor Vicktor Shokin: Shokin was elevated to lead the Office of the Prosecutor General on February 10, 2015, during an ongoing, international investigation focused on corruption surrounding Burisma. In April 2014, Hunter Biden joined Burisma and was paid approximately one million dollars per year. The Interagency Policy Committee asserted Prosecutor Shokin had made sufficient progress in combating corruption to warrant a third guarantee of a $1 billion loan. On November 5, 2015, then-Vice President Biden participated in a call with then-President of Ukraine Poroshenko and provided no indication that the United States’ policy regarding Ukraine required the dismissal of Prosecutor General Shokin. By late 2015, however, the removal of Prosecutor General Shokin became a condition of the $1 billion loan guarantee. That is fact from the House Committee on Oversite and Accountability. I guess Shokin was fighting the wrong kind of corruption. I’ll also add that Trump never threatened any officers of the court or their families. His statements were facts regarding the jurors (95% democrat) and Merchan’s daughter being a paid consultant to democrat candidates. FACTS, not threats.