POWERS OF THE PRESIDENCY

We should all bear in mind that Trump needs to win the presidency at all costs, desperately.  Prosecution, under Federal law, is not yet time-barred, and will only become so,  ifTrump can win a second term.  Prosecution under New York State law is still a possibility but also may become moot if he can win another term.

There remains the possibility that if Trump sees there is no way out he will resign and allow Pence to succeed to the office, on condition of his pardoning Trump.  Even if he can't make a deal with Cuomo for a State pardon, he could rely on New York's double jeopardy laws to challenge prosecution in that State.

Under a worst-case scenario, the man can blow up the world.

CASTING PEARLS BEFORE US SWINE

Trump has called further coronavirus briefings to be a waste of time and energy.  His opinion of the value of daily briefings has deteriorated since he has encountered ridicule for his cogent advice that researchers look into the use of disinfectants in treating coronavirus.  Instead of properly investigating, his critics have heaped opprobrium rather than praise for coming up with what could be the single best solution to effecting social distancing, a proven remedy for the virus.

IS IT ANY WONDER?

Is it any wonder that Southern  Governors, now that it has been fairly well established that blacks are differentially more adversely affected by coronavirus,  are hurrying to lift restrictions on social grouping?

MENE, MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN

MENE, MENE TEKEL UPHARSIN, weighed, weighed in the balance and found wanting, the words that foretold the doom of the kingdom of Belshazzar might be applicable to this generation of Americans.  For the life of me, having grown up in what has been called, perhaps mistakenly, "the Greatest Generation", I cannot imagine a group of my peers protesting the rigors of having to sit in an underground bomb shelter  for the duration of of an air raid.

DIMINISHED IN RANK

If, as Donald Trump has claimed, COVID19 is a Chinese biological weapon that escaped their laboratory in Wunan, then it has revealed how robust their defenses are, as ours are so vulnerable that they knocked out one of our nuclear aircraft carriers.  China did not have to buy all of their equipment, needed to combat the virus, from the U.S.whereas we are dependent on Chinese supplies of ventilators, PPEs, etc.  Despite all his tough rhetoric, our military has been diminished in rank during Trump's watch.

WILL THE CONSERVATIVES AMONG US BE AS INDIFFERENT?

I wonder if the conservatives among us will be as indifferent if the coronavirus begins to kill our children in a public school prematurely opened as they are school children murdered by school shootings.  They probably will shrug it off as long as they don't have to attend the funeral.  They will offer, however, "thoughts and prayers".

WHICH DO YOU DISLIKE LEAST?

It is rumored that the  G.O.P. will begin polling voters as to which of Trump's tactics they dislike least? The smoke or the mirrors?

THE MOST PRESCIENT BOOK TITLEOF ALL TIMES?

A book, first published in August 2018, by a Republican strategist, named Rick Wilson, called "Everything Trump Touches Dies" may  turn out to be the most prescient book title of all time when we consider the possible future of these once United States.

THE IMMACULATE DECEPTION

During the Obama administration, Repugs adamantly insisted that everything adverse that happened, even if it originated during the Bush administration, was Obama's fault, because it happened on Obama's watch.  On the other hand, if it happened on Trump's watch, it was the fault of the Chinese,  Pelosi, the impeachment, etc.  To the Repug, Trump is infallible ex-cathedra as a matter of faith.

IS IT POSSIBLE?

I wonder if Evangelicals ever entertained the possibility that God invented a new plague, namely coronavirus, to inflict on mankind because locusts have been so depleted by man's poisonous chemicals?

THE BRIGHT SIDE

Now that their businesses have closed because of the economy, my Trumper friends are bragging about having their taxes reduced to zero!