Beachfront Property, Room with a View
It was sort of ethereal to watch on Tuesday. Like one of those things that happens when you see someone holding a family heirloom crystal bowl that's filled to the brim with food for a very special dinner, and it slips out of their hands, and you see it falling – almost in slow motion – you want to grab it, you can see the disaster unfolding, in your mind you can touch it, stop it, but it’s out of control, and then back in real time the valuable dish crashes to the floor, breaking into thousands of pieces, dangerous jagged shards, fragments microscopic like dust but that still can cut, the food all over the place, the evening ruined, the family treasure destroyed.
That’s a bit what it was like watching the video of Trump with Benjamin Netanyahu eerily smiling, as Trump talked to reporters about sending U.S. soldiers to Gaza, where they’d be stationed permanently, where the United States would “own” the land and rebuild Gaza into a wonderful place in which Palestinians could be cleared out and hopefully wouldn’t even want to return there, – and then he rhetorically asks, his voice unable to comprehend, filled with bewilderment, “Why would they even want to return there, it’s so terrible” – and a voice from the back shouted, “IT’S THEIR HOME, SIR!!!!”
Yes, Trump really seems to want to go into Gaza. I’m sure in the end he won’t – even MAGOPS in the Senate seem to be horrified by the suggestion. Some of them are trying in desperation to put the infantile, cruel plan in a good light, though the problem with that is that when you shine a good light on something so monumentally insane, unworkable, dangerous, hated and illegal, all that you see from the light shining on it is a pile something that is monumentally insane, unworkable, dangerous, hated and illegal.
There are so many things wrong and lunatic about this. But as merely a starting point to make this "plan" work requires moving almost two million Palestinians out of their homeland -- which is one of the definitions of ethnic cleansing. But that isn’t even the hard part. The hard part is that none of the countries around Gaza – Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Araba, Israel – none of them want to take in any Palestinian refugees! Zero. And that adamant, rock-solid refusal was well-known long before Trump started flapping his gums, and they reiterated it after.
But also keep in mind that right now, there is a very tenuous, delicate cease fire between Israel and Gaza, with a hostage release in operation. And right smack in the middle of that, Trump suddenly tells the Palestinians that he wants to move all of them out of their home – permanently – so that he and America can “own” it! “It” being their homeland. Hey, what a cool thing to bring up in the middle of a cease fire.
And now, add in that Trump is in the midst of shutting down the USAID department whose entire existence is handling all international assistance, and has long said he’s against aid to our ally Ukraine under attack by Russia – but…but…but he now wants to send U.S. troops to Gaza (one of the most dangerous spots in the world) and rebuild the entire land! As basically a beachfront resort! (Something that his building developer son-in-law and close adviser Jared Kushner stated recently, as well, lest anyone think that this beachfront concept only just by chance popped into Trump's warped mind and he really means something else entirely. Seriously, folks, Trump is not a politician, he doesn't care about politics, he doesn't have A Vision -- he's a real estate developer, who signs deals and slaps his name on them.)
And…and…oh, God, there’s so much more that’s insane. And unworkable, dangerous, hated and against international law.
And anyone who thinks that this – sending U.S. troops to permanently “own” Gaza -- is something even Trump’s base voted for, while food prices rise and inflation still has to be lowered, is only fooling themselves. But then add trying to make our ally Canada a state, threatening our ally Demark to buy Greenland, threatening our ally Panama to break a treaty and reclaim the Panama Canal, and start a trade war with Canada, Mexico and China – which will disastrously worsen inflation. Forget “this isn’t what Trump’s base voted for” – this wasn’t even in Project 2025. (Reporters and Democrats combed through it all, and there wasn't a word about making Gaza a beachfront resort or Canada a state or...well, most any of this.)
So much for the whole, y’know, America First!!!!
I think it’s likely that Trump will back off on this, because it’s unworkable, illegal, crazy and has no support. But that won’t keep him from talking about it, and the more he talks about it, the more disastrous it will be for him and any MAGOPs enablers.
But also, as Trump talked about it – and Netanyahu sat there smiling – two other thoughts came to mind.
First, when I heard Trump talking about sending troops to Gaza and be there permanently (!!!!!!!) -- as much as I hope he doesn’t do that because it would be galling, , and seriously doubt he will, it was hard not to think that if it does, it couldn’t happen to a more deserving person, and I’m sure it will just crush him politically.
But my other immediate thought was all the people here from Palestine and the Middle East understandably angry, but furiously ranting at President Biden, saying how they couldn’t vote for him, and not listening to anyone saying, “Wait, do you truly not understand that Trump loves Netanyahu and hates Palestinians and will be so much worse that’s “so much worse” on a whole another level of worse??!!!” As sickened and contorted in in rage as they much be at listening to Trump talking about clearing out Palestinians from Gaza and rebuilding it to a resort the U.S. would own, my God, they brought this down on themselves. I’m sorry for that, and I hope they flip for Democrats in the mid-terms and forever, but…I’m sorry, but thanks, folks, for ignoring reality and letting your hurt, your true anger, your tears and, for some, your anti-Semitism all mix together and blind you.
And not only them, but also all the Hispanics who voted for Trump. Who thought he was only talking about “them,” the others, but bad immigrants, not themselves who had done nothing wrong, Trump didn’t dislike “us.” Were you not paying attention?????! Trump hates immigrants, hates minorities, hates women, hates Muslim, hates Jews, hates pretty much all religions that aren’t Christian – which is weird because he doesn’t seem to especially care much for Christians unless he can con them into voting for him, and hates pretty much all people who don’t pay loyalty to him. Were you not paying attention?
But even the police, too. When the massive Fraternal Order of Police (who endorsed Trump) had no comment after Trump pardoned the 1,500 convicts, including those who had attacked police during the January 6 Insurrection – and then a couple days after the pardon when even they couldn’t stay silent and finally criticized the release, you just wanted to yell at them, as well: “Hey, what did you think would happen???!! He said he was going to do this!!!!!! He told you!”
And then there's the National Cryptologic Museum, which (because it's a government facility) was ordered by Trump's directive against DEI to cover up displays celebrating women and people of color who served at the National Security Agency -- the people who devote their lives to provide the United States with...well, y'know, security. And NASA was ordered by Trump's anti-DEI directive to scrub from all its public websites by 5 PM that day the accomplishments of minorities and the womenfolk in leadership. Just so you know. Especially those women and people of color who voted for Trump because "he's for me, he understands me." Actually, no, he hates you. So, if you have any complaints now -- I completely understand, and here's hoping you switch your votes to help try to right the ship, but know the damage right now is done. And so here's hoping, too, that you acknowledge responsibility in a woeful mistake of judgement. And no, this isn't "shaming." Accepting responsibility is the only way we correct our mistakes, or else they just get repeated. Because this has always been Trump.
To be clear, there is nothing holier than thou here. I always make mistakes, too. Just like everyone. And I do try to acknowledge and correct them. Happily, none of my mistakes have put democracy at risk.
Nor, I will add, among all the stupid things I've done, have I ever voted for someone convicted of 34 felonies, found liable of rape and found guilty of fraud. Who tried to overthrow the government. And then had to slap my forehead, "Oh, man, what was I thinking??!"
Yes, as a friend said, every day there’s a fresh decade of horror. And it is hell and will continue to be. But yes, it’s hard to imagine that enough of the public will be sickened. Even piece of hell will cause damage to Trump, as well. I think a lot of people forget how bad Trump was and though he was worth another “chance” – and within two weeks he’s not only reminding them how despicable he was…but is now far worse.
Early voting for mid-term primaries start in only 15 months.
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