The quintessential moment was when President Trump was ranting and raving “I’m not ranting and raving!” capped with “I’m having a very good time.” It has already come to that. At least one person is having a very good time. All that was missing was the peal of maniacal laughter.

The specific offenses, other than evident derangement? Let’s start with Russia. Anybody who has followed the outlines of scandals can see that the pattern is flashing red red red, as in Red Square. Do we know for a fact that there is a nefarious connection between Trump and Putin? Real facts or fake facts? How about we start with some knowable facts? The only way to settle the obvious questions that everyone is rightly asking is with some facts. And Trump’s response is deliberately hiding relevant information that the public has a more than reasonable right to see. Starting with his tax returns. This level of secrecy is not normal, it’s not right, and it’s not acceptable.

AD

AD

A possibly even more important charge is that Trump has decided to start an open war to discredit and/or destroy the legitimate press in the United States. If this is not technically an impeachable offense, it ought to be. Trump’s manifest goal is to eviscerate or otherwise neutralize what is probably the most vital check on runaway authoritarianism in the nation. If he succeeds at that, it’s game over, my friends. It’s Trump’s facts or actual facts. Trump has called the battle.