148 Comments
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RUTH LIEBESMAN's avatar

The accumulation of horrors indeed. What a well written essay. Thank you for sharing it.

Robot Bender's avatar

I think the accumulation of horrors topped by the Pretti murder is what did it. Murdering a man for exercising his 2nd Amendment rights gets through to MAGA. They're starting to realize that it could be one of them next.

Kay G's avatar

You got Robot Bender!! That Second Amendment is why people will vote against their own interests knowingly. They are convinced, with help of the right wing media, that Democrats will take their guns.

Now, the Trump Administration, including Trump himself, have questioned the right of a man to have his gun on him when he had a permit. The Trump Administration is even questioning the fact he had 2 loaded magazines.

Those comments indicate a BETRAYAL to Trump’s voters. What will they do? Watch the actual videos to see what happened.

Then they will begin think about Trump’s lies and Fox Media’s lies, because NO ONE is taking their guns. Most are smart enough to know if Trump comes after the guns of the left, he will come after the guns of the right, eventually.

Merry's avatar
3hEdited

Sigh… yep, well, that pretty much sums it up. Thank you for that summary, Mary.

But maybe, just maybe, hopefully, Americans HAVE had enough, after witnessing the lies, the hypocrisy, the lawlessness, the disrespect, the disregard, the brazen attacks, the heinous assaults, the indiscriminate, inhumane brutality, the arbitrary MURDERS, terrorizing young children and using them as bait, the violent hostility that Trump’s Gestapo has wielded against Americans in Minneapolis - on full display and recorded on thousands of cell phones - shown on live TV for the entire world to see.

And perhaps Americans HAVE suddenly realized that their states, their cities and towns could be NEXT. And that UNITED WE STAND.

Yes, it’s long past due. Geez. He lost me at “grab ‘em by the pussy”. …deep sigh…

Velovixen's avatar

I’ve lived in NYC most of my life, so I’ve known for 40+ years that he’s a coward and hypocrite, at best.

Kathy Hughes's avatar

I knew about his various scams from reading Wayne Barrett and Jack Newfield’s accounts of his numerous debts; stiffing contractors, subcontractors and suppliers, and his successful self marketing to the tabloids. The late Nicholas von Hoffman wrote “Citizen Cohn,” an account of Cohn’s various sleazy actions and unethical behavior which got Cohn disbarred before he died. Trump cut most of his ties to Cohn when Cohn’s illness became public. Cohn said of Donald Trump that “Donald Trump pisses ice water.”

Merry's avatar
2hEdited

As I posted above, In the 1980’s I actually lived and worked in Manhattan, 56th and 5th, around the corner from trump tower. My colleagues warned me about him, his notorious reputation is well-known and preceded him. And I’ve been following his “career” since then. So I am well aware of his history as Mary thoroughly described in her article.

He is a liar, a thief, cheat, grifter, conman with ties to the mafia, and he’s a misogynist womanizer who objectifies and sexually assaults women. He a racist bigot who hires illegal immigrants then stiffs them, defaults on his loans. And he hung out at Studio 54 with his mentor Roy Cohn.

He’s a despicable monster, all around. The devil incarnate. Evil personified.

I envision him 6 feet under, pushing daisies, next to Ivana. SOON!

In the 1980’s I actually lived and worked in Manhattan, 56th and 5th, around the corner from trump tower. My colleagues warned me about him, his reputation is well-known and preceded him. And I’ve been following his “career” since then. So I am well aware of his history as Mary thoroughly described in her article.

He is a liar, a thief, cheat, grifter, conman with ties to the mafia, and he’s a misogynist womanizer who objectifies and sexually assaults women. He a racist bigot who hires illegal immigrants then stiffs them, defaults on his loans. And he hung out at Studio 54 with his mentor Roy Cohn.

He’s a despicable monster, all around.

“Trump’s mob connections”

“There’s a reason why Trump’s behavior is so “Mafia-like.”

https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2019/09/trumps-mob-connections/176871/

Kathy Hughes's avatar

Well, yes, he does behave like a mob boss.

Velovixen's avatar

He sounds like someone who’s trying to sound like a mob boss.

Francesca Cee's avatar

You forgot to mention that he's a pedophile, or at the very least a protector of pedophiles

Merry's avatar

Huh. The whole world knows he’s a pedophile! Are you just finding that out?

Merry's avatar
2hEdited

In the 1980’s I actually lived and worked in Manhattan, 56th and 5th, around the corner from trump tower. My colleagues warned me about him, his reputation is well-known and preceded him. And I’ve been following his “career” since then. So I am well aware of his sordid history, as Mary thoroughly described in her article.

He is a liar, a thief, cheat, grifter, conman with ties to the mafia, and he’s a misogynist womanizer who objectifies and sexually assaults women. He a racist bigot who hires illegal immigrants then stiffs them, defaults on his loans. And he hung out at Studio 54 with his mentor Roy Cohn.

He’s a despicable monster, all around.

Oh, and did I mention that he’s a PEDOPHILE!?!?!

Trump’s mob connections”

“There’s a reason why Trump’s behavior is so “Mafia-like.”

https://www.cityandstateny.com/politics/2019/09/trumps-mob-connections/176871/

Michele Ainsworth's avatar

Excellent essay, Mary.

Sky Blue's avatar

What DECADES of HISTORY have shown us ALL....

trump has NO LOYALTY to ANYONE ELSE EVER!!

NEVER EVER BACK DOWN TO A BULLY or they will continue to chase you FOREVER!

Remember this...WE ARE STRONGER TOGETHER!

WE SHALL OVERCOME!!

William Ozanick's avatar

And we need to continue to pound the pavement on the Epstein Files. These are all distractions from the largest con man in the history of mankind. How do you stop a bully? You punch him in the nose! Keeping the faith that KARMA still exists.

Nancy Marzano's avatar

Spot on analysis as usual Mary. Thank you

Susan Troy's avatar

Donald Trump is a gross, repulsive man. Even if he is never held accountable, he will be hated and vilified, much like Sadaam Hussein and other despots. There is little comfort in that, but perhaps the best way to get through this is by being the best versions of ourselves possible. Courage, honesty, compassion, and trust. All things Donald Trump is incapable of. Trump is not getting away with anything that counts like love, or friendship, or sitting peacefully in the shade of a tree. He will always be a prisoner of his own impulses and the madness of his soul.

Lisa Pearce's avatar

"...the madness of his soul." Perfect description! 👌

Debi's avatar

I tend to doubt he has a soul - does Satan have a soul? Not sure . . .

Deb Vitkova's avatar

Satan won't take him soul or not. Satan does not want the competition from this evil ghoul.

Cathy Mieczkowski's avatar

Mary, as always, you speak the truth. Thank you so very much.

Rhys McKay's avatar

Ditto.

And congratulations on gettin' hitched!

Keep up the excellent work, Mary!

Sharon m petix's avatar

Thank you 🙏🏼

Charronne Johnston's avatar

Well said.

We are all still waiting for the Epstein files. While he is trying to deflect and bury them. There must be some fascinating and horrifying things there. He loves violence so much. - when it is aimed at other - I have to wonder if some of those innocents in those files were the victims of ‘thrill killing’ on video

Velovixen's avatar

Interestingly, I think you may have explained why he loves military parades and shows of force even as he calls service members “suckers” and “losers.”

I didn’t agree with much of their politics, but I have always respected Bob Dole and John McCain. They sacrificed more for their country in a day than Donald ever will.

Charronne Johnston's avatar

There is a fairly easy to find video on line, of DT years ago. At a wrestling match. He used to follow that ‘sport’ and I believe owned a large stake in one of the wrestling organizations. One of the wrestlers comes flying out of the ring, trump leaps to his feat and rushes over, business suit and all, and starts hammering on the guy who is still on the floor. Just pounded away then stood up and walked off. Not sure if it was all a setup , or a moment seized on for potential publicity. But gave a good idea of what kind of person he was.

Dale Rowett AR OK VA PA NY's avatar

Charronne, as an expat New Yorker, I've (unwillingly) been aware of Donald for decades because of his constant appearances in NYC-based media. Mary's writing has filled in many gaps with knowledge about Donald not available from other sources.

However, there's a deeply hidden side of her uncle that even Mary doesn't know about, I believe.

Donald famously stated that he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in broad daylight and not lose a voter. I believe him. I'm not sure "snuff sex" would scare off his cult.

You know what would cause the MAGA faithful to abandon him? Discovering that he's had sex with men and/or boys. That would be a bridge too far.

Consider how Donald has spent his whole life trying to prove that he's a "manly man," with a "tough guy" persona, serial philandering, multiple marriages, and being a sex pest with women. But then consider this random evidence: He wrote a birthday greeting to Epstein that implied they were more than just buddies. The body language of the two men in recorded images suggests the same. What provoked Mark Epstein to make the emailed crack that Donald "blew Bubba?" He publicly fellated a microphone. He publicly discussed the size of Arnold Palmer's "manhood." (Straight men don't retain that kind of memory, much less, discuss it. Why was he even looking?)

Donald is counting on his MAGA faithful to keep him in the White House and out of prison. If he loses them, he loses his freedom. That's pretty strong motivation to keep the Epstein evidence hidden.

Julie L. Hall's avatar

Truth. Thank you Mary for your moral clarity. Corruption always escalates to justify itself, whether in the narcissistic family or narcissistic society. Until we finally repudiate it. Let's hope we're there. P.S. Congratulations about getting married. Yay to you both!

Sonja Anderson's avatar

Will have to continue to hold onto hope💖 The more people that repeat that he's never been held accountable, he never will! He's got people convinced of that. However it not true. The more we insist on it we can will it into reality. Nobody escapes the Karma of their own making.

Nancy M's avatar

I hope he doesn't escape!

Linda Nation's avatar

That malevolent f*ck in the WH needs to charged, tried, and convicted of treason and embezzlement of the U.S.

And yes, he's old and it probably wouldn't matter, but he can still be neutered by castration. I think the survivors of trumpepstein would sign up to perform that procedure.

Janet Guerrin's avatar

I think Pretti's murder was a tipping point because it could no longer be called an anomaly. For a similar reason the number of agents involved kept it from being a personal matter.

Nancy M's avatar

Sadly, I think it's because he was a white man (with a gun he had legally, and wasn't using). Nothing else is worth it to the "potus" and his rabid followers.

Robot Bender's avatar

I think it was the sum of all of the ICE abuses up to Pretti's murder for exercising his 1st and 2nd Amendment rights. His murder for trying to help someone while legally carrying concealed is getting through to a lot of MAGA.

Dee Cee's avatar

Agree. As I mention above, Pretti's murder may not have occurred had it not been for Minneapolis staging its huge regional strike. And that strike was a response to Renee Good's murder, along with all the other atrocities.

As Governor Walz said, Minnesota has had it.

Sharon Bouchard's avatar

It's not just MAGA. I wish it were so.

Dee Cee's avatar

Something to remember is that it was the accumulation of all the atrocities that then resulted in Renee Good's murder that caused Minneapolis to stage a regional strike in the first place. But not for that strike, the execution of Alex Pretti wouldn't have occurred.

msaw's avatar

damn! last night I had my first political

nightmare ever.. am 78 .In the nightmare I was in my 30s

it seemed. Your uncle wanted me to sign something I did not want to. So I hid in my house. Then he started coming for me.Each time he appeared at a window or sidewalk I dove for the floor, rolled out of sight from a window.. it was exhausting.. then I thought I was done with this ..

BUT

I turned the corner from

the kitchen and he was lumbering down the hall grim and determined eyes fixed on me like a predator😱.

I froze.. I woke up🤬

Punkette's avatar

How awful! Hope you are okay. Hug! 💙

Linda Laz's avatar

The spraying of pepper spray 4 inches from someone’s face is ABSOLUTELY DESPICABLE, and I want that grub thug prosecuted to the fullest extent.

The Velvet Chaise's avatar

Thank you, Mary. I share the relief that the pileup of horrible realities got horrible enough to break through the surreal wall of Trumpworld. That it took so much ... ugh.

Rob and Diana's avatar

My Dear Mary,

Thank you for being there for all of us.