Paul Krugman had perhaps the best opening to a column I have read in a long time. It hits the nail squarely on the head. We have a man who wants to be king. We have provisions to deal with such things written in the constitution. What we are lacking is the political will to exercise what we need to do:

“If America still had a fully functioning democracy, Donald Trump’s speech Tuesday to the assembled generals would have ended his presidency. Trump treated the event like a political rally and was clearly taken aback by the refusal of the audience to applaud or laugh at his jokes. Delivering a nakedly partisan speech to a mandated assembly of military officers was a gross violation of the Hatch Act. The content —telling the officers to be ready to use force against U.S. citizens — was clearly an impeachable offense. In an earlier era, Trump’s incoherent ranting would have paved the way for his immediate removal from office under the 25^th Amendment.

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So let me return to my opening point: America is no longer a fully functioning democracy. In the good old days of Richard Nixon, the Republican Party had the conscience and backbone to standup to Nixon’s attempt at autocracy. William Rehnquist, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, recused himself from US vs Nixon because of his close prior association with Watergate conspirators? Can you imagine Alito or Thomas having any such sense of fairness and duty?

But like all authoritarian regimes, America’s autocracy is being run by malevolent incompetents. And while our hallowed institutions are utterly failing to rise to the occasion, the sheer incompetence of these hacks is generating pushback that may yet save us.”

When Iowans elected their fully MAGA congressional delegation no doubt one of the criteria was that they expected “serious” people to keep a close eye on the money the government spends but also the people who spent it. After all, one of the biggest issues from last year was the creeping senility of President Biden. (which never materialized BTW)

So here we are a year later and we have a leader who does not show creeping senility but instead shows rampant full blown senility. So why are Chuck Grassley and his band of impotent legislators from Iowa not in a full loud squeal over a man who often seems to be telling BS stories of wars he’s stopped and enemies lurking behind every fishing boat.

Here is the esteemed David Cay Johnston with some examples.  (32 minutes)

As Iowa’s pipsqueak congressional delegation looks the other way, even helping to cause the distractions, the Epstein Affair continues to fester. No doubt those who aided in the distractions and those who refused to investigate should be investigated for their part in what will no doubt be the worst political imbroglio ever. 

Meanwhile as MAGA congress members continue to provide cover for our president as he sinks into dementia not one MAGA – the “serious” party – speaks a word as the Felon in the White House cements a quid from Qatar – a billion dollar luxury airplane as a “gift” – with a pro quo – a promise to Qatar to guarantee their safety in event of an attack. From dailykos.com:

“In an executive order Monday, Trump declared that “the United States shall regard any armed attack on the territory, sovereignty, or critical infrastructure of the State of Qatar as a threat to the peace and security of the United States.”

“In the event of such an attack, the United States shall take all lawful and appropriate measures — including diplomatic, economic, and, if necessary, military — to defend the interests of the United States and of the State of Qatar and to restore peace and stability,” the order states.

The language creating a pact with Qatar is nearly identical to the Article V pact between NATO nations, which are actual allies of the United States.

And, of course, the Constitution clearly states that any pact between nations must be ratified by Congress. But Trump has shown that he doesn’t give two shits about congressional power, trampling all over constitutionally granted powers to do whatever he pleases.

Still, this new agreement sure sounds like an impeachable offense, giving military support to a nation in exchange for a bribe.

In May, Trump announced that he was officially accepting the jet from Qatar. Now he’s spending billions of taxpayer dollars to convert the jet into his new Air Force One, which he will then ludicrously keep for personal use if he ever leaves office.”

Here is a question to Iowa’s congressional delegation from, I would think, most Iowans:

What does Trump have to do to get you to shed your loyalty (or fear of) him? Will you wait until our very last shreds of democracy are gone? What are you afraid of?