ABC and CNN are reporting that Trump’s entire legal team walked yesterday leaving him unrepresented in his impeachment trial in the Senate.  The reason?  It’s probably obvious, but it’s also being reported that Trump is clinging to the “election was rigged” lie to justify inciting insurrection, and the lawyers, led by Lindsey Graham pal Butch Bowers, were having none of it.  Their strategy was to argue the constitutionality of the impeachment charge of a former president, but Trump still thinks he can overturn the world by repeating one gigantic lie after another.  Without social media to repeat the lie, he’s just another criminal awaiting trial.

You know he hates that, and that’s a good thing.

In our effort to make sure no one forgets the violence incited by Donald Trump and encouraged by traitorous shitbags like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Paul Gosar, Lauren Boebert, Mo Brooks, and Andy Biggs (along with others) we will continue to talk about the Qanon Caucus and dangerous rightwing extremists who continue to threaten our democracy.  The NYTimes posted videos today that were presented in court yesterday where more charges were leveled at violent insurrectionists on January 6.  The article and videos can be seen here.  These videos are disturbing where a woman, Rosanne Boyland, was trampled to death in the crush at the West Entrance to the Capitol where major violence occurred.  Now, let’s be frank, here.  She was a protestor, who illegally charged the Capitol with other insurrectionists on that day.  Ironically, she was carrying a “Don’t Tread On Me” flag when she was trampled by the mob she was supporting.  Even though she was breaking the law and threatening Capitol Police, her friend’s cries for help for her are tragic.

We can never forget that day, and we must continue to remind the public that many in Congress, including those from our own state, are complicit in this tragedy that forever will be a stain on our country.

I’m a private pilot.  As a private pilot, before you fly anywhere, anytime, you have to plan your flight even if you’re flying out of your own airport.  When you’re planning your flight, one of the things you look for are TFRs or Temporary Flight Restrictions.  TFRs are generally a 30 mile circle that follows presidents and vice presidents around wherever they go.  TFRs are also established around large events like the Super Bowl.  Also, there is a permanent TFR or ADIZ (Air Defense Identification Zone).  Within that is the FRZ (Flight Restriction Zone).  It should go without saying that if you fly into these areas, you will get a friendly visit from a USAF F-16.  If you ignore warnings and get closer to the center you seriously risk getting shot down.

Why am I talking about this?  Well, West Palm Beach, the home of Mar a Lago, has been surrounded by a presidential TFR for 4 years.  Private aircraft couldn’t get close.  Now that Trump is not president, no TFR.  SO, someone is paying a local banner advertising pilot to troll Trump by circling West Palm Beach with several different banners like: TRUMP WORST PRESIDENT EVER and TRUMP YOU PATHETIC LOSER.  Here’s a video from Twitter:

pic.twitter.com/bX11gSDIms

— Daniel Uhlfelder (@DWUhlfelderLaw) January 25, 2021

The entertainment value is priceless.

SCOTUS just tossed two lawsuits against Trump for using his presidential office to enrich himself.  He had lost in the lower courts, so appealed to the SCOTUS.  The cases essentially asserted (correctly) that companies and foreign governments who wanted something from the US government would patronize the Trump Hotel or one of his resorts to get favorable treatment.  Trump was well known for doing favors for people who filled his pockets with money.  Having lost in lower courts, Trump appealed to the SCOTUS last summer.  Roberts ran out the clock and tossed the lawsuits today.  The reason?  Trump is no longer president, so the case is moot.  That’s like saying, “Yes, Mr. Smith did, in fact, murder Mr. Jones over a business dispute.  But since Mr. Smith is now retired, and the business is closed, the case no longer applies.”  Sorry Ms. Jones.

I burst out laughing at this one, and thought you might enjoy it, too.  Bryan Betancur, a self professed white supremacist and member of the Proud Boys, was arrested by the FBI for his role in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6th.   That’s not news, since a lot of white supremacists have been arrested for their role in the attack where 5 people died and scores injured.  The news is how Betancur was tracked down…he was wearing an ankle monitor stemming from a conviction for burglary.  That’s right folks, this genius participated in insurrection against the federal government while on probation for a felony conviction.  Sheesh.

It gets even better – he’s from Silver Spring Maryland and lied to his probation officer that he was going to DC to…wait for it…pass out Gideon Bibles.  He’s been tracked to the Trump rally at the Ellipse just south of the White House to the Capitol with the rest of the criminals.  He’s now in FBI custody for not only his role in the attack, but also for violating his probation by lying to his probation officer and his continued participation in several white supremacist organizations.

White supremacists, like gun-nuts, are generally not known for their intelligence, but this guy takes the cake.  If stupidity was a violin, this guy would be the Stradivarius of stupidity.

Yesterday, the goofy and well-armed Qanon crowd woke up that they’ve been played for chumps for the last 5 years.  When the power grid didn’t fail, the military didn’t turn on Biden, and Trump actually fled Washington, they suddenly realized that the jig was up and they were the losers.  The Q bullshit not only drove a national insanity, it actually got people killed in the failed attack on the US Capitol 2 weeks ago.  Trump did not declare martial law; the military didn’t take over; Trump is no longer President.  Oops.

On top of the Q crowd getting disillusioned, the hard right social conservatives are not happy with their current lot.  During Trump’s term, he lost the House, then the Senate, and now the White House.  The religious right is now soul searching about how they betrayed their own faith to follow a fornicating, lying, corrupt, spray painted television game show host.  Oops.

Mainstream conservatives are also assessing the damage wrought by Trump.  One, Kevin D. Williamson, posted a scathing rebuke of those who followed Trump in the National Review today titled Witless Ape Rides Helicopter, Goodbye to Donald J. Trump, the man who wanted to be Conrad Hilton but turned out to be Paris Hilton.  It is a must read piece.  A few choice tidbits:

“They pissed that away like they were midnight drunks karaoke-warbling that old Chumbawumba song: In 2021, they control approximately squat.”

“You Trumpish Republicans sneered that Joe Biden was too corrupt and too senescent to win a presidential campaign, that he was one part mafioso and one part turnip.  That turnip just kicked your dumb asses from Delaware to DC. So you rioted. Real smart move, Cletus.”

“‘Trust the plan,’ the QAnon cultists say. Is this what you were planning? I know you are stupid, but you are not that stupid.”

This piece speaks for a lot of conservatives who may not yet be willing to admit Trump’s folly, but you know are thinking it.  Such are the smoldering ruins of the Rein of Trump; with any luck, he’ll get banned from holding office again.  If that fails, certainly his civil and criminal liability will keep him too busy (or incarcerated) to keep him from running again.

And the pendulum swings.

Note: For those who may have trouble reading the Williamson piece on NR, here it is on Yahoo News.