In The Princess Bride, Vizzini uses the word “inconceivable” so often and so inappropriately that eventually Inigo Montoya says “You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”
The less-than-liberal media and our fascist politicians keep using the word “unprecedented”. I do not think it means what they think it means. It’s a basic tenet that America puts no person above the law. It is totally precedented to indict people who are believed to have broken the law. Unprecedented was letting Nixon off. Never before had a President so clearly criminally subverted our democracy. There was no precedent for ignoring treason, but it was politically inexpedient, so Ford created the worst precedent since Dred Scott by pardoning Nixon. It may have been the biggest blow to democracy in my lifetime. Using this to call prosecution of Trump unprecedented is disingenuous at best.
I like to say that Trump’s actions are what’s really unprecedented, but it’s not true. Treason by Presidents in office is precedented (see Nixon). As are the rest of the crimes for which Trump should be indicted.
Here’s a poem about precedents, accountability, and consequences. Come hear it at the Vanderelli Room on April 30.
Moral Decay in America
Trump cheats on his income tax.
Why shouldn’t I?
Big insurance robs the old and infirm.
Why shouldn’t I?
Big oil pollutes the earth.
Why shouldn’t I?
Billionaires don’t pay taxes.
Why should I?
Big Pharma pushes opiates and rips off Medicare.
Why shouldn’t I?
Big Tobacco peddles addiction.
Why shouldn’t I?
Developers destroy neighborhoods.
Why shouldn’t I?
Fox News divides for profit.
Why shouldn’t I?
Every fortune in America was built on exploitation. And usually theft, deception, murder, discrimination, destruction, pollution, and sometimes rape and murder. With impunity. Americans respect the rich. We emulate their fashions and tastes and behaviors. We want their stuff, but even more we want their impunity.
Roger, talk to me. Tell me why I shouldn’t.
Jim Jordan ignores subpoenas- and sex abuse.
Why shouldn’t I?
Mitch McConnell perseverates and obstructs.
Why shouldn’t I?
Georgia Republicans breach voting machines.
Why shouldn’t I?
Householder bribed and took bribes..
Why shouldn’t I?
Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh lie under oath.
Why shouldn’t I?
Clarence Thomas commits ethics violations.
Why shouldn’t I?
Josh Hawley takes guns to airports.
Why shouldn’t I?
Trump lies, cheats, rapes, bullies, molests, threatens, betrays, steals, and so on.
Why shouldn’t I?
MAGA Republicans are coming for your books. It starts in the schools. Then they move quickly to the public libraries. Ideas scare them more than bullets. In fact, they want more bullets to protect them from ideas. They think the 2nd is more important than the 1st. Their religion than your rights. After they empty the libraries, they’ll knock on your door. After they empty your bookshelves, they’ll go through your medicine cabinet. MAGA Republicans are coming for your birth control, even condoms. Republicans are coming for your ideas. And they’ll do anything, no matter how lowdown, dirty, criminal, or downright sinful, to kill your books and ideas. Knowledge, education, and truth are their enemies. These people are leaders of our country.
Brett, please tell me why I shouldn’t be like them
Texas Schoolbooks distort, deny, and defile history.
Why shouldn’t I?
The Republican Party oppresses women.
Why shouldn’t I?
The radical Christian right grooms children.
Why shouldn’t I?
Southern Baptists rape and cover it up.
Why shouldn’t I?
Priests sexually abuse children.
Why shouldn’t I?
Bill Cosby has his way.
Why shouldn’t I?
Michigan Republicans train illegal election spies.
Why shouldn’t I?
Police murder Black men.
Why shouldn’t I?
They do what they want and fuck everybody else.
Why shouldn’t I?
