the new ‘nam?

It’s been a busy week, what with the Marine Corps birthday, Veterans Day and Trump’s panic over his realization that what goes around comes around. It’s not that he’s lying more than usual. You can’t top 100 percent even by his math. His tell is that he not only seems to not believe himself anymore, he doesn’t even seem to be listening as he spews his massive mendacity.

He looks weary. It’s clear that his physical and mental health are deteriorating. Even his minions are noticing. Marjorie Taylor Green, once so hateful that she publicly harassed Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg, has cut bait on Aging Orange. His approval rating is steadily eroding, even with his core groups. I hope that MAGA nation is looking for a palatable off-ramp, and the Epstein debacle could give it enough righteous indignation to cleave free.

Rest assured that Trump will do something outrageous to try to change the narrative. And since he’s soulless, (sorry, I really don’t have the philosophical chops to use that term, but I have to call ’em as I see ’em) it could be appalling. My fear is that he’ll escalate tensions with Venezuela.

We all know from George Santayana’s wisdom that those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it. This is especially trenchant to me because of my stint in Vietnam. There are some unsettling parallels, like a corrupt government and suspicious boat activity. Trump has already killed 83 people in 21 strikes on alleged drug boats, some in international waters. Lyndon Johnson lied about an incident off the coast of Vietnam and immersed the U.S. in a debacle that killed 58,000+ Americans.