'Tis a Gift to Be Simple

We'll keep this simple.

I've written a lot online yesterday about Trump's actions in regard to recommending that two members of the United States Congress not be permitted in Israel -- and Israel acting accordingly.  And further, the outraged talk all day has been pervasive about how contrary it is to American values, not just as a matter of the First Amendment, where the government acted to silence U.S. citizens, but that members of Congress have the sworn duty to go to foreign countries where we give aid to in order to understand conditions there.  There has been a great deal of anger deservedly directed at Israel, our ally, but that is the wrong main focus.  The issue is what Trump did, not Benjamin Netanyahu.  He acted cravenly and foolishly, following directions of his country's main benefactor. But it was Trump who set the agenda, and was against American citizens and members of Congress.

But two simple observations leap out to me.  The first is --

This is not normal. 

Not much elaboration is needed on that.  Simply that it must not be seen as normal.  It must not be accepted as normal.  Because this is not normal.

And the second is just as simple and clear, and something said on these pages often but demands being repeated once again --

As reprehensible and un-American as Trumps actions have been in regards to Israel and the two members of the United States Congress, it must be noted that this is not about Trump. We know who he is.  This is about the elected Republicans in Congress who enable him and are complicit.  And have been silent.

One last tangential observation.

Trump is going to unravel over the next 15 months.  That is a very easy comment to make, since he has been unraveling significantly for the past four months or so.  And he has no one around him willing to stand up to him and stop him, and no one of significant talent in his administration to help in the job.  And so he will continue to unravel.  And it will be very bad for him and the Republican Party.  The U.S. as a whole will take some hits from it, but they will be painful flesh wounds.  Unraveling is far, far worse.  For all those complicit.