I’ve never totally understood why it hasn’t been more obvious to a larger number of people.

I think I’m grasping the dynamic of standing one’s ground—it’s what the different sides have been doing since Trump descended from on high. Still, over time, it surprises me that support for policies and for the person himself hasn’t eroded further than it has.

If for no other reasons than Trump’s personality and demeanor, many have thought since the outset that he would be a flash in the pan—he’s shallow, self-involved, lazy. We’ve apparently underestimated how far anger and vindictiveness could carry him, along with the racist whispering and Savior complex, and the cadre of misfits and sycophants feeding him sound bytes and offering up the daily dose of compliments and kudos that feed his narcissism. Not to mention the Playbook.

It’s been ten years of a perfect storm—even when he was out of office! Think of the army of attorneys he’s had to employ. Think of how badly he wants victory at any cost. Not victory in an unwarranted war, or over nagging domestic challenges, but victory for himself, in any form—whether it’s someone else’s Nobel Peace Prize, or putting his name on buildings, creating his own NIL scheme, tearing down a whole wing of the White House, demeaning people left and right, or in general usurping power and abusing privileges.

Policies—or lack thereof—notwithstanding, one might dare think, “How is it possible for such a vacuous, emptied-souled cretin to hold sway for so long?”

The answer lies, in no small part, in an unsettling reality: he’s had help. He’s got “friends” in high places who think he’s either a business genius or a sap who’s easy to play. There’s a whole cadre of alternate universe thinkers who possess a horrifying vision for America, and they see Trump as the one through whom they can extend their reach.

He and a cadre of Republicans will denigrate Democrats for holding up funding for DHS, but the reality is that he long ago planted the seeds of peoples’ opposition to the draconian measures that have become a hallmark of this administration.

He often reaps what he sows, but he never learns.

It doesn’t matter what the polls say, where public sentiment lies. Trump and Netanyahu will get their war, because war will be good for somebody’s business and take the focus off their misdeeds.

Public sentiment may lean in a totally different direction, but it hardly ever matters. We can demonstrate, make clever signage, voice our anger and discontent, then Trump will double down and try his damnedest to remove our last best hope—a blue wave in November.

Where on earth is Congress? How can Republicans still be so intentionally blind?

Congrats, Donald. Looks like you and your top-notch lieutenants—along with Benjamin Netanyahu—are angling for a world war. Armageddon finally becomes more than a word used for dramatic effect.

The Middle East is where it’s at, in terms of being a likely locale for a precipitating incident, always there to serve as perpetual flash point. This is what religion has gotten us– hate that consumes, along with spasmodic violence and misery.

Prophecy is somehow fulfilled. God observes, eventually picks a winner. And Vladimir Putin reaps the spoils. How crazy is that?

Through it all, Donald, you somehow manage to hold onto the title of Conniving Dumbass.

The heatwave out west is of course a huge red flag. Unless something drastic happens over the next few weeks, the stage is being set for a Spring and especially Summer of unprecedented fire danger, drought, and deadly heat.

What should concern us all is that no one cares about this in the places where people should be caring about this. Donald Trump, being the face and voice of so-called leadership in Washington, dismisses most environmental concerns as the rantings of liberal snowflakes and tree huggers, and instead kowtows to the deep-pocketed fossil fuel industry. We can expect no help from those controlling policy and purse strings, which is maddening beyond reason.

So, while the earth heats up and rids itself of the human pestilence messing with its homeostasis, the Trump administration is twiddling its thumbs and dreaming about how to cash in on oil drilling in the Arctic Ocean.

It seems that Donald Trump, the mouthpiece for Stephen Miller and his ilk, may be starting to check out. There’s a part of me that hopes this is the case. But the other part is greatly concerned with the next guy in line, who’d likely do his best to be a more sober and serious threat to our democracy, what’s left of it.

J.D. Vance comes across as more studious, more methodical and brainwashed, somehow more diabolical and way less comical than DJT—and DJT has never been funny.

In any event, things are getting pretty scary in the world. There is much speculation about the actual reasons behind starting a war with Iran. Bibi likely had something to do with it, along with being able to check off another line item on the list of distractions to use and squirrels to chase. Which all points to a serial coldness, a wanton destructiveness, pure deceit and power play and stunning incompetence.

Trump never came to lead. He came to add another notch in his belt, to play POTUS, to punish his perceived enemies and enrich himself, along with playing the stooge for the Heritage Foundation and their goal of tearing America apart.

It seems like it’s working better than they could have expected. And all because Americans by nature are hopeful and trusting and, sadly, naïve enough to believe that an empty vessel like Donald Trump could ever rise to the occasion and summon even an ounce of character.

Of course, it’s never really been about character. It’s been more about preserving white privilege and a certain brand of “Christianity.”

I was reminded, after watching a clip from the woke media personality Chris Hayes, that MAGA is right. There’s nothing to worry about, as far as Donald Trump is concerned.

Why have we left-leaning progressive types lost sleep over him? He’s assured us that all is well, so we need seek no further clarification. We can rest easy because Donald never lies and he gets feelings in his bones. When he says something ill-timed or completely tone deaf, we needn’t worry—he has a plan. Or he’s just being his hilarious shoot-from-the-hip, brutally honest self. I can almost hear the laugh track.

The same goes for when he turns a Japanese reporter’s question into a spectacle regarding the value of surprise attacks, choosing to remind said reporter—and the Prime Minister who was sitting right next to him – that Japan should know the value of a surprise attack better than just about anyone. Because, you know, 1941…

When Trump teases out the serious medical condition of a Republican Congressman and puts Yes-man par excellence Mike Johnson on the spot, it’s just Trump embracing a penchant for full disclosure. When he goes off on tangents in the middle of a Cabinet meeting or a speech at the U.N., it’s just Trump trying to be laid back and folksy. Or never missing an opportunity to sing his own praises.

It’s truly shocking to learn that Trump apparently didn’t put his ear to the ground or utilize his giftedness at horse whispering to divine the number of counterattacks Iran would mount after he and Bibi opened this can of wor… I mean whoop-ass.

But I get it now! Jeez, it took me long enough.