While Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Sates Congress, Representatives Lauren Boebert and Matt Gaetz sometimes stood and sometimes sat, toying with their cell phones.  Reputedly, the Colorado and Florida Republicans’ sit-down expressed opposition to spending additional dollars defending Ukraine from Vladimir Putin.

But, it’s not about money!  It’s about “character  .  .  . moral excellence and firmness”!  “Moral,” in turn, “conforming to a standard of right behavior sanctioned by or operative on one’s conscience or ethical judgement.” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)  (My emphasis.)

Boebert’s and Gaetz’s antics demonstrate a shocking lack of character!  By contrast, two leaders, President Zelenskyy and Representative Jamie Raskin, exemplify the finest in Character, in “moral excellence and firmness.”

When Russia’s takeover of Kyiv seemed imminent, Zelenskyy’s life hung in the balance.  Offered safe passage out of Ukraine, the President famously responded, “I need ammunition, not a ride.”  With that statement, Volodymy Zelenskyy’s words and acts were widely viewed as reminiscent of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s during the “London Blitz.”  The Ukraine President’s continued courage, wisdom, and leadership bolster this analogy.   

Jamie Raskin, on January 5, 2021, buried his beloved son Tommy.  The following day, the Maryland Representative was caught up in Donald Trump’s seditious attempt to overthrow America’s Democracy and, despite losing the election, remain President.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi, on January 12, named Raskin Lead Manager in Trump’s second impeachment trial before the United States Senate.  In July, 2021, the Speaker asked Jamie to serve on the United States House Select Committee On January 6.  Over the subsequent year-and-a-half, Constitutional scholar and lawyer Raskin devoted invaluable expertise and prodigious effort to this assignment.

Representatives Lauren Boebert’s  and Matt Gaetz’s sad, sophomoric, stunt demonstrated an alarming lack of Character and failure to appreciate the awesome responsibility afforded them by their constituents, indeed by all Americans.  We can only hope that their act was an outlier, an aberration not reflecting the Character of the Grand Old Party or the United States Congress.  

Amid its joy and suffering, I understand nothing of the mystery animating “Life.”  This said, a few truths seem self-evident.

1. Now, this instant, is the only “time” there is.
2. I seem only to control my thoughts, muscles, and impulses.
3. Worrying is wasted energy.
4. Do what needs to be done.
5. Don’t manufacture problems!

Karen asked why I obsess on Donald J. Trump.  For the same reason she closes her eyes and plugs her ears when he appears on TV. 

I obsess over Donald J. Trump because our forty-fifth President represents a clear and present danger to the safety and lives of Americans and American democracy.  More egregious examples supporting this truism are the then-President’s abject, paralytic failure to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on Americans, and his seditious attempt to overthrow our government.

Despite fiscal meltdowns such as the Trump Taj Mahal, Trump Castle Hotel and Casino, Trump Plaza Hotel, Trump Plaza Casino, Trump Hotels and Casinos Resort, Trump Entertainment Resorts, Trump University, and the Trump Organization being convicted of financial fraud and tax evasion, Donald J. Trump remains the World’s All-Time Champion Grifter!

Early on, melding Daddy’s fortune with his Malignant Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD), young Donald had the ingenious notion of marketing his name “Trump”!  NBC’s “The Apprentice” took his brand public.  Reputedly, Trump viewed his fist presidential campaign as the World’s Greatest Infomercial.    

The TRUMP brand’s commercialization archived fruition with the flagship Trump Store in Trump Tower.  Those of us not favored to visit may view the   “TrumpStore.com, the official retail website of the Trump Organization” where a “COLLETIONS GOLF HOME & SPA MEN WOMEN SALE” includes MAGA and TRUMP caps, mugs, money clip, female and male apparel, necklaces, bracelets, bags, pouches, Christmas ornaments and more, much more!  Most of course, bear the trademarked and coveted “TRUMP” logo.

Donald continues scamming millions from MAGA minions.  His latest, for $99 suckers may purchase a card with Donald’s mug photoshopped onto characters ranging from a cowboy or Nasar driver to astronaut or Superhero.  According to the COLLECT TRUMP CARDS website, “There are hundreds of different cards featuring President Trump, each with its own rarity.”  Rarity‽

In the Greek myth, seeing his reflection in a pool, young Narcissist fell in love with his reflected image and stared at it for the remainder of his life.  I’ve pointed out, but it bears repeating, The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM5) defines Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD) as, “a persistent manner of grandiosity, a continuous desire for admiration, along with a lack of empathy. It starts in early adulthood and occurs in a range of situations, as signified by the existence of any 5 of the next 9 standards,”

• A grandiose logic of self-importance
• A fixation with fantasies of infinite success, control, brilliance, beauty or idyllic love
• A credence that he or she is extraordinary and exceptional and can only be understood by, or should connect with, other extraordinary or important people or institutions
• A desire for unwarranted admiration
• A sense of entitlement
• Interpersonal oppressive behavior
• No form of empathy
• Resentment of others or a conviction that others are resentful of him or her
• A display of egotistical and conceited behavior or attitudes

For Donald that’s 9 for 9 folks!  Narcissistic Personality Disorder on steroids!  To make this call, you don’t need to be a board-certified Psychiatrist.  Just look and listen.

Psychiatrists labels Donald J. Trump as exhibiting a Malignant Personality Disorder.  DSM5 does not use “Malignant.” Campbell’s Psychiatric Dictionary describes Malignant Narcissism as combining characteristics of Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorders with aggression and paranoia , making the patient not only delusional but potentially dangerous! 

Amid the hype, hiding in plain sight but curiously overlooked, is the transitive verb “Trumped  .  .  .  to get the better of: OVERIDE”!  (Merriam-Webster)  To date, Donald continues Trumping rationale and law  If he is not stopped, Donald J. Trump remains a serious threat to the wellbeing of the United States of America, to you and me, indeed to the World! 

Learning that a dozen-or-so official documents were recently discovered in Joe Biden’s former office and home, House Republicans ask for logs of visitors to the two locations.  Hearing this, Karen wondered if anyone, Republican or Democrat, requested logs of visitors to Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home/hotel where a trove of official documents had been stashed?

I think not.

On leaving the Oval Office, President Donald Trump took thousands of government documents, some classified, to his Mar-a-Lago home/resort/hotel.  After a year-and-a-half of lies, stonewalling and finally a search warrant, from the basement to his office, Justice Department investigators recovered Trump’s trove.

Joe Biden’s attorneys, on November 2, 2022, reported finding “about” 10 classified documents in a locked closet at the Penn Biden Center where the then-vice president occasionally worked.  Biden aids, on January 22, 2023, reported finding additional documents at Biden’s Delaware home.  These discoveries were duly reported, and the documents forwarded to the National Archives.

Contrasting Joe Biden’s mishandling with Donald Trump’s theft of government documents is analogous to contrasting Alec Baldwin’s tragically accidental shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with Payton S. Gendron’s methodically executing a Tops market surety guard and nine patrons, and wounding three.

It’s about intent!  Did vice president, now president, Joe Biden intend to steal government documents?  Did former President Donald J. Trump intend to steal government documents? 

With a Democrat in the Oval Office and majorities in the Senate and House, 7 of 23 statutes enacted by the 117^th United States Congress include the:

• “American Rescue Plan” facilitating recovery from the COVID pandemic.
• “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” to repair highways and manage hazardous materials.
• “CHIPS and Science Act” bringing microchip production back to America.
• “Respect for Marriage Act” protecting same-sex and interracial marriage.
• “Bipartisan Safer Communities Act” addressing mental health, school safety, gun safety, and hazardous materials.
• “Inflation Reduction Act of 2022” addressing inflation, prescription drug prices, energy, climate change
• “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023” addressing electoral reform, funding for defense of Ukraine, defense, natural disasters, healthcare, and electoral reform.

After quarreling like six-year-olds through15 ballots, House Republicans elected Kevin McCarty speaker.  Now, beside harassing Hunter Biden, persecuting a physician who dedicated his life to fighting infectious diseases, and ginning up, tit-for-tat, attempts to impeach Joe Biden, what mean, mindless “policies” and “programs” do Congressional Republicans have planned for Americans?