(C) Daily Kos This story was originally published by Daily Kos and is unaltered. . . . . . . . . . . The Inherent Flaw in Trump's Defense: "Loyalty" [1] ['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.'] Date: 2024-06-02 It wouldn’t be a flaw, except he’s helplessly nuts. He drives his defense into the ditch every time. He’ll take serious financial penalties and blow them up even worse, because he just can’t keep his mouth shut. There’s even speculation that his intemperate comments will come back in a big way at sentencing on July 11. (I’ll believe that when I see it.) And it’s not just what he says. It’s his need for loyalty above all else, that really keeps the people around him in turmoil. That muzzles common sense, and turns them all into flatterers. An entire political constituency turned on to livestock de-wormer instead of vaccines? Great idea! Look at what happened with Fauci. He was just trying to be polite while they chatted: “Well, Mr President, I’m not sure we ever considered injecting janitorial chemicals, heh heh.” And the next thing he knows, Trump’s out there in front of reporters, “Yes, we discussed using janitorial chemicals!” Palm, meet face. And then the Trumpies all thought he should have leapt to the man’s defense, and joined him in looking like an idiot. Fauci’s crime was disloyalty! He’s so crazy about it, the first act of his presidency was to make his press secretary spout an obvious, silly lie about the Inauguration crowd. Manifestly false, given the photos. But it was loyalty. Prostitute what you know, you’re working for Donald J Trump. the world’s most insecure rich man. The Boss is very fragile. Ok, so we all know this. My point in this post: don’t expect Trump’s side to suddenly become more agile, and start putting up real challenges to President Biden. He can’t attract capable people. And the ones he has, have to follow his demented lead. Including the Republican National Committee. Blanche was Manafort’s lawyer, and he got that case dropped. But this time, the Boss himself was pulling the strings, and some of the tactical decisions were real doozies- Costello? Jeez. And browbeating Cohen about the phone call, only to have the state whip out a photograph proving it. That was downright embarassing. And so forth. What about an actual defense? Like, explain without calling them “reimbursements”? Unfortunately, you must never frame things so the Boss looks bad in any way; he did call them “reimbursements” and then say they weren’t, both times on the record-- what, you’re trying to say he’s confused? You’re confused! I don’t feel sorry for his lawyer, and I’m not surprised to see Blanche pissing all over the justice system on TV; Guiliani, who’s that? But after watching this case, and the other two before it, I think the pattern’s set, at least in court: Defense witnesses that make him look worse. Ill-advised cross-exam. No alternate explanations. Getting called out by the judge. Always charges, never facts. No defense, really, beyond, “I get to do whatever I want to do.” Including, the defense for this case. This is apparently the last of the 3 displays of the corrosive effect of this type of “loyalty” on Trump’s ability to defend himself in court. But it’s worth thinking about, going into the campaign. I mean, look at all the times Trump could have done the sensible thing, and been a bigger danger. Starting with accepting the results of 2020. And now we see him personally crashing the defense on all 3 cases tried this year. He’s his own worst enemy. America’s enemies may find him a useful disruption. But his demand for unthinking loyalty above all else is like a built-in self-destruct. [END] --- [1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2024/6/2/2244321/-The-Inherent-Flaw-in-Trump-s-Defense-Loyalty?pm_campaign=front_page&pm_source=more_community&pm_medium=web Published and (C) by Daily Kos Content appears here under this condition or license: Site content may be used for any purpose without permission unless otherwise specified. via Magical.Fish Gopher News Feeds: gopher://magical.fish/1/feeds/news/dailykos/