* The Colorado Supreme Court has barred Trump from the state’s ballot. The rationale: A section of the 14th Amendment that prohibits anyone who swore an oath to support the Constitution and then “engaged in insurrection” against it from holding office. It’s an unprecedented application. In another era, such seditious behavior might have warranted a firing squad. But a de facto “You’re fired” will do.
* Rally rhetoric: 2016–“carnage,” 2024–“vermin.”
* According to Liz Cheney, George W. Bush wanted Trump impeached.
* Trump still wants to end the Affordable Care Act. The begged question: Can America afford a sequel to the Trump Apprentice act.
* “MSNBC (MSDNC) uses FREE government approved airways, and yet it is nothing but a 24-hour hit job on Donald J. Trump and the Republican Party for purposes of ELECTION INTERFERENCE. … Our so-called ‘government’ should come down hard on them and make them pay for their illegal political activity.”–Donald J. Trump.
* Weaponizing the government to punish the free press: Yet another reminder that the dictator’s playbook that advocates the demonization of the media is still very much in play.
* If re-elected, Trump says he won’t be a dictator—“except for day one.” … “We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.” How reassuring, except that these are the words of a well-documented, self-serving, pathological liar with a proven dictatorial fixation.
* “I don’t call them ‘prisoners.’ I call them ‘hostages.’” Trump on the alleged violent offenders who are detained and await trial for their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection.
* “Daniel Ellsberg is the most dangerous man in America. He must be stopped at all costs.”–Henry Kissinger, 1971. Those were the (“most dangerous”) days.
* “Nikki Haley, at the top of the ticket, would boost candidates up and down the ballot.”–Koch Brothers-founded Americans for Prosperity, which has been raising money to help the GOP oust Trump.
* New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu has endorsed Nikki Haley for president–not Civil War historian.
* True that: “There is no bigger issue in this race than Donald Trump. His conduct is unacceptable. He’s unfit.”–Chris Christie, the only GOP debater to go after Trump.
* Reportedly Kevin McCarthy, the ousted GOP Speaker, would like to be considered for a Trump Cabinet position. Apparently senior sycophant isn’t prestigious enough.
* “Trump enjoys some unusual advantages for a challenger. … Even Ronald Reagan did not have a Fox News and the Speaker of the House in his pocket.”–Robert Kagan, WaPo
* Trump’s autocratic dream: Russian President Vladimir Putin will be seeking another—six-year—term. He’s already been in power for nearly a quarter of a century. No debates, no primaries, no relevant media, Stalin nostalgia, token opposition.
* “(The office of the presidency) does not confer a lifelong ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ pass.”–U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutka.
* “Red Caesar”: New Right coinage for a leader whose post-Constitutional rule will restore the strength of his people. Or should that be Orange Caesar?