Judge Engoron just handed Trump 355 million reminders that he is not, in fact, above our great city’s laws.
It’s the internet. A truly gobsmacking number of people can’t.
We’re riding around in a machine that runs on outrage, and we’re as susceptible to conditioning as any creature. It’s unsurprising to me, particularly as I empathise with the urge to keep being wary and upset.
That’s because for a gobsmacking number of people, judicial decisions are the absolute final word. My attitude wouldn’t be nearly so cynical if we were talking about an average person, like you or me.
For this putrid waste of oxygen, though, judicial decisions are just another inconvenience for his lawyers to appeal, delay, or simply ignore. It doesn’t even matter if those lawyers are incompetent. Some magical circumstances always seem to protect him from consequences.
Like when was impeached?
What does the win achieve other than energising his supporters against the Demonrats, deep state, sinister Jewish cabal, trans kids, or whatever enemy they’ve confected this month? Everyone else knows he’s a crook - this is a net loss in the absence of actual consequences.
I don’t want to get overexcited and pop my champagne at the latest possibility of getting a glimpse of boob meaningful consequences - I’ve spent enough time being wet, sticky, disappointed and full of shame, thanks.
He’s still probably going to be president again in 18 months. None of this stuff is hurting his polling, and more and more people are evangelizing being never-Bideners, especially in places like this.
It’s not a win yet. And there never will be a win. The enemies of democracy only need to succeed once.