More Television Show than Constitution

Trump’s State of the Union address was evidence of his skill as a magician

Politics is no longer substance; it has become empty theatrics. The substance that does remain stands outside of the spotlight, without democratic control. It’s called “privatize everything you can, or contaminate unapologetically.”* Donald Trump’s non-impeachment has been closer to a television show than to the Constitution. The U.S. president is a master in this illusory space. His State of the Union address – which should be updated to the more fitting “disunion” – was evidence of his skill as a magician: He mixes half-truths, exaggerations and lies with great aplomb. What he says does not matter, because he has a faithful public that believes him. He is at his maximum approval rating (49%) and lowest disapproval (51%). The Democrats are doing something wrong. Do not cast your mind to the chaos in Iowa; it is much more serious.

Utah Sen. Mitt Romney, former presidential candidate against Barack Obama, was the only Republican in the Senate to vote in favor of convicting Trump for abuse of power. It is the first time in U.S. history that a senator has voted against a president of the same party. Romney’s speech explaining the vote is a masterpiece of decency. There is something in his ethical core and stoutness that the Democrats should analyze. This type of argument can work. His decision will cost him greatly: bullying on social media and in the ultra-conservative sectors and insults from Trump. Romney is the only medium-term hope of recovery for a Republican Party surrendered to Trumpism and to his excesses.

One day after getting past the non-impeachment, the president brandished the front pages of two of the major newspapers, his enemies for the last four years, with the headline, “Trump Acquitted.” That is going to be the driving force of his campaign. What do the Democrats have to match him at the polls on Nov. 3? Not much, at the moment. There is no clear candidate or message beyond getting Trump out of the White House.

Constant Blockade

I write “non-impeachment,” because there has not been any trial or viewing of the evidence or calling of witnesses – only a constant blockade from the Republican majority in the Senate to prevent the testimony of former National Security Advisor John Bolton, a bitter hawk with a loose tongue. They have ordered an express acquittal, despite the damage that it causes to the separation of powers and control of the executive branch, one of constitutional obligations of Congress. The Democrats will be able to continue investigating the case. They can try to get Bolton to testify in the House, but little more. The impeachment was the battlefield the president wanted, and they resorted to it, knowing they could not win the battle.

Democrat Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House of Representatives and the country’s third-highest authority, resisted the impeachment process for months. She finally caved to pressure from members of Congress. At the State of “Disunion” address, Trump refused to shake her hand, and she tore up her copy of the presidential speech. She explained the reason after: it was a pack of lies.

One of the most ignominious moments has been the awarding of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Rush Limbaugh, a professional hater who spreads xenophobia, sexism, racism and homophobia from his radio microphone. He was a Trumpian before Trump. The excuse is that he has cancer. The president thanked him for his service. The first recipient of the medal, created in 1946, was economist John Galbraith. After, it was a mixed bag, from the good (John Steinbeck, Jean Monnet, Pau Casals, Lech Walesa and Nelson Mandela) to the bad (Charlton Heston, Álvaro Uribe, Milton Friedman and Dick Cheney).

Until the Year 90,000

In addition to waving around the front pages, as though it were recognition of a capitulation before a superior being, Trump pinned a tweet on his account with a video of his re-election in 2020, something that falls within the scope of logic, and in 2024 (he would have to change the Constitution, as Evo Morales did in his time), 2028, 2032 … until the year 90,000. It is a stroke of irony that continues to show his unconscious desire to continue in power like providential leaders, autocrats and dictators. It also contains a hidden, short-term message: Neither scandals nor abuse of power are moving me from here. And much less the Democrats engrossed in conspiracy theories against Bernie Sanders, an attractive guy with a social-democratic discourse that would not win the election. Those who control the substance and the theater would accept the change of a couple of adjectives, but never the entire discourse.

*Editor’s note: This quote, accurately translated, cannot be verified.