Senate Impeachment Trial of President Donald Trump, Day One: The Rise of the Red Skull?
Is one of Marvel’s biggest baddies biding his time for a real world candidacy?
“He’s nothing more than a comic book villain.” This was said to me yesterday by an old friend when discussing Mitch McConnell. “What does he call himself, The Grim Reaper?”
“That’s it,” I said. “He does put me to sleep — ”
“Well he was trying to steal any Democrat advantage,” my friend said. “Playing games with witnesses and all that.” He paused. “Speaking of, when you were collecting who was your favorite villain, anyway?”
I was a rabid comic book collector for years before giving up when I got married. Suddenly, my focus shifted.
“You first,” I said. “I need to think about it for a minute.”
“Dr. Doom,” he said, with no hesitancy. Being The Fantastic Four’s greatest adversary. “So ..?”
“I think, if I had to choose … The Red Skull.”
This will all tie together, I promise.
Upon considering my answer, I’m convinced Marvel’s Red Skull is the perfect metaphor for leadership in these troubled times.
Why? Because he’s the arch villain of the superhero who most epitomizes a non-partisan love of country, Captain America. Though many on the right view Donald Trump as the equivalent patriotic hero, they will argue that leadership of the left has twisted that party into unpatriotic, anti-Christian baby-killers.
They are as convinced of their truth as those on my side are convinced of ours.
From Wikipedia: Johann Schmidt was a Nazi general officer and confidant of Adolf Hitler. He has been closely affiliated with Hydra and is an enemy of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Avengers, and the interests of the United States and the free world in general. He was physically augmented by having his mind placed into the body of a clone of Captain America, the pinnacle of human perfection. He has been seemingly killed in the past, only to return time and time again to plague the world with schemes of world domination and genocide.
I’m Jewish. Fictional Nazi villains resonate with me as do, unsurprisingly, their real life counterparts. When neo-Nazis march in modern day, and are at times responsible for domestic terror, my eyes are open. Anti-Semitic incidents have increased exponentially since Trump took office. You may love him, but statistics prove that claim.
Thing is, Trump’s impeachment has nothing to do with anti-Semitism. The House has impeached him for Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress.
Watching the circus of Day One of the Senate impeachment hearings, I could not help but think: There’s another party, a radical party, ready to rise when all this is said and done. After another minute or so of contemplation, this came to mind: And that party has nothing to do with present independent factions.
I always write from a sense of personal honesty. Politically (and as a man who respects women), I am vehemently anti-Trump, which many of my readers already know, and I am not shy about expressing my thoughts on the matter.
Unlike some on my side, however, as verbose as I can get about it all, I always welcome dialog with the other side. I’ve said this before: We’re all going to have to coexist long after this President is out of office. Donald Trump’s influence, for good or ill, will be felt for generations, and no one side should pretend the other will simply disappear.
If we do, we would be ignoring nearly 50% of the country.
See here, for a recent story with a title that proved hugely controversial within my own party (most of whom neglected to read the context):
We’ll need to talk. With no constructive dialog, all this public inciting — and these meme-inducing warnings — about an upcoming “Civil War” from certain factions on the far right should not be so quickly dismissed.
Why? Why take this seriously?
It may well not happen, of course, but school shooting red flags, for example, as posted on social media have been dismissed in the past, as have other domestic terror events.
This above meme particularly is being carried to uncomfortable levels online, with supportive comments along these lines:
- I’m ready. Arm me!
- I’ll stand up for my country. Bring it on!
- This ain’t no comic book story. This is real life. Democrats are the enemy. I fight for God and country.
- Where do I sign up?
It’s time to be smart. It’s time to talk.
If this level of support proves to be true as opposed to keyboard machismo and attempts at intimidation, the red flags we’ve ignored before may result in further tragedy.
“This ain’t no comic book story.” That one struck me. Comic books, yet again, having come up twice in an hour when referring to politics.
It does appear that we’re presently living in a comic book world at times, doesn’t it?
Trump, McConnell and crew are looked upon as Nazis and comic book villains by many on the left. Schiff, Pelosi, Nadler and their allies, on the other hand, are called “weak” and “enemies of patriotism” by many on the right.
Both sides are equally committed to their viewpoints.
As I watched Day One of the Senate impeachment hearings, on and off, it punctuated for me yet again just how divided we are.
Clearly, voters on Team Trump insist Adam Schiff and the Democrats made fools of themselves during the first day of the Senate impeachment trials.
Social media talkbacks tell that tale:
- So, the dems on the first day of the House impeachment inquiry say, “We have overwhelming evidence of Trump breaking the law and committing impeachable offenses. Then on the first day of the Senate phase, they say we need more evidence in the form of witness to make our case. Hilarious. You can’t make this stuff up people.
- Führer Schiff doesn’t get to set the rules in the Senate trial. If he wanted more evidence or witnesses it was within his power to do so in the House. House Democrats claim there is ample evidence already, hence why they chose to impeach Trump. He’s had his day, and then Nancy held on to the docs. If this was such an emergency … what the hell?
- The economy is the best it’s ever been. North Korea is no longer testing missiles (ed. note: yes they are). DemonCrats are no longer getting away with murder and abortion will soon be illegal. Our President is guilty of absolutely nothing. Time to let him to do his job. #MAGA!
And so on.
Those not on Team Trump, however, like myself, see things differently. I posted the following on Facebook last night:
Adam Schiff is doing a great job. I sense that he and the Dems all realize they won’t get a fair shake, and what they are doing is a show for the American public to try to reach undecideds for the next election.
Schiff is methodical, taking his time and punctuating the charges against Trump step by step with video and other support. The defense, meanwhile, repeats Trump is not guilty with the word “absolutely” in front of every response. “Absolutely” not guilty, “absolutely“ innocent of all charges, and so on.
There is little other defense other than overt lies.
Everything else, meantime, is predictably being voted upon by party lines.
The public should tune in and make their minds up for their vote later in the year. There literally has been no real defense.
I hope to turn those same undecideds as to my viewpoint. That’s the best I can do, and so I write and share to further express my stance.
To elaborate on a point made above …
I am expecting a third political party to rise from this heap once Trump leaves office, one that is unique and has not been seen before.
Hillary Clinton says everyone hates Bernie Sanders. Elizabeth Warren is angry with Sanders as well. Sanders says something to Biden that he later apologizes for. Tulsi … well, she’s still technically a Democrat.
Clearly, we have our issues too.
Will this third party veer more to the left, or the right? Will it be a moderate faction, or something less dysfunctional than both?
Or, will a Civil War really happen and the equivalent of a Red Skull whip new sympathizers into a frenzy, based on some of his ilk feeling left behind and sensing a new opportunity?
Time will tell.
Let’s be smart about it all.
Thank you for reading.
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