Means everything, changes nothing

The saddest thing about all the indictments of Donald Trump et al is that they don’t make any difference whatsoever.

The people who support him are somehow vindicated by every accusation, each bit of proof that he is being targeted by his political opponents as part of the weaponization of the DOJ. The Passion Play that unfolds for their Savior is a validation of their covenant, an assurance that He is suffering for them. When He says “they” are coming for his supporters, but He is in the way, they know He is speaking the Truth, and they are grateful.

The people who oppose TFG are somehow certain that the next indictment, the next leaked document, the next accusation will somehow convince Trump supporters that they have followed the wrong path, and that they will repent their scurrilous faith. Like people who speak more loudly in English so they can be understood in a foreign nation, these benighted souls are certain that truth, justice, and the American Way will triumph if only the Trump cult would heed their latest tweet.

Yes, this is the tweet, the meme, the post, the ultimate proof that will enlighten the MAGA world and inspire them to forsake their false idol.

Not gonna happen.

Seriously, exactly who is out there whose mind has not been fixed by now? Who is the lone holdout waiting for one more bit of evidence, one more explanation, the absolutely critical keystone that will hold it all together and allow them to draw a conclusion? And, if we found that person, how much would we trust their judgment on anything?

Speaking of judgment, how many partisans, pundits and prevaricators will they weed out before they find Twelve Good Men and True for any juries? What voter can stand before the judge and attorneys and swear they are not already biased, that they still have an open mind, and that they will be swayed wholly by the evidence presented in the trial?

Fast forward to the next six months and the odds of a runaway jury, or jurors, are at least equally overwhelming. Nobody will need to tamper with a jury that will undoubtedly be happy to tamper with itself. Will there be more secret MAGAs or more hidden Antifas on the panel? We don’t know, yet, but it’s pretty much a certainty there will be at least a few.

Even if they do find a dozen people who can provide impartial justice, it will make no difference in the end. Whether the trials yield guilty verdicts or acquittals, everyone will interpret the results according to the views they held today, and the day before, and the day before that. How many people will read the verdicts and say, “Gee, I guess I was wrong?”  How many people will change their vote after the judgment is rendered?

The answer, of course, is zero. Twitter overflows with sound and fury, but the people have spoken. They don’t agree, and many of them are idiots, but they’ve spoken anyway. Those who think Trump is guilty see each new charge as another nail in the coffin. The people who see him as a Christ figure view each charge as one more thorn in the crown.

And yet, we have no choice to go through with the trials, because that’s what the law requires. Different courts, different jurisdictions, different rules, different co-defendants, a veritable pantheon of legalities, all carrying enormous weight and minimal impact. It’s going to be a long ride and it’s not going to get any smoother.

We’ll be talking about other stuff from now on, so it’s safe to click here to subscribe without fear of being offended, or reassured, by our thoughts.

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