Trump Is F*cking Crazy (This Is Not a Joke)

by Keith Olbermann

  A hundred thirty-two years after Frederick Trump got here, his grandson betrayed him. Friday, he changed the law in such a way that today, his own grandfather would not have been certain to get a visa waiver to get into this country.

  And even if Frederick Trump had gotten here, and gotten a green card, he might not have been safe. For his own grandson—and his chief of staff, the son of a woman from Sudan—went after the green-card holders, locked out legal residents of this country, in what may very well be interpreted as the early, passive-aggressive stage of ethnic cleansing.

  And this Trump also betrayed every other immigrant, and every other refugee, and every other man or woman the world over who looked to us then—or who looks to us now—and believed we were who we said we were.

  I’m sorry.

  Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,

  With conquering limbs astride from land to land;

  Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand

  A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame

  Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name:

  Mother of Exiles.

  From her beacon-hand

  Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command

  The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.

  “Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she

  With silent lips.

  “Give me your tired, your poor,

  Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,

  The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

  Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,

  I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”

  *

  Donald Trump has branded himself a traitor to everything this country has ever stood for.

  We have already acted against him in the streets, and in the courts.

  We will remove him.

  We will welcome you again.

  We will even again let you think that you are getting more from us, even though history proves, in generation after generation, with nationality after nationality, that it is us who are getting everything from you.

  And until that day . . .

  We, the citizens of the United States, beg your forgiveness.

  Chapter 7

  FEBRUARY 2017

  TRUMP HAS NOW AIDED ISIS

  Post date • WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 1

  The first—perhaps the only—international organization of any kind to congratulate Trump on his Muslim-ban-in-sheep’s-clothing was . . . the so-called Islamic State. ISIS. The terrorists.

  It sent him no bouquets. It issued no press releases.

  It didn’t have to.

  It has been celebrating him—and this plan, which will almost certainly instigate the deaths of American citizens—since the night of the election.

  It—unlike so many of us—believed he would do what he said he would do.

  And they could not be happier.

  From BuzzFeed News:

  “ISIS also sees Trump as an ideal enemy for propaganda purposes, the former and current members of the group said, believing that his campaign’s heated rhetoric about Muslims will help the extremist group with recruitment by reinforcing its central narrative that America and the West are at war with Islam.”

  Of course.

  Trump has just done the Islamic State’s work for it.

  What better recruitment tool could there be?

  What better instigation to homegrown terrorists throughout the world to rise could there be?

  What better confirmation of all the terrorists’ insane immoral rationalizations for their blood lust could there be?

  The United States of America, invoking exactly the kind of action that the Islamic State always said it would. Banning refugees because they are Muslim. Banning immigrants because they are Muslim. Banning those who live here with green cards—traveling outside the country—from returning because they are Muslim. Banning some British citizens because they are Muslim. And some French. And some German. And some Canadian.

  An intelligent ten-year-old could tell you, could tell Trump, that what he enacted last Friday—criticized by John McCain and Lindsey Graham as a recruitment tool for terrorists; criticized by the organization of the infamous Koch Brothers as “the wrong approach”—an intelligent ten-year-old could tell you that the last thing the new Banana Republican government of the United States would want to do if it wanted to prevent radical Islamic terrorism would be to ban Muslims simply because they are Muslims.

  *

  Since it was, in fact, the first thing the new Banana Republican government of the United States did do . . . logic and simple common sense offer only two possible explanations.

  Since it is the greatest possible gift to ISIS for recruitment, for confirmation, for rationalization, for instigating terrorist acts, here in America, it must either be that Trump does not understand what will almost inevitably follow . . . or that he does understand what will almost inevitably follow.

  Let us put aside Trump’s lunacy and stupidity for a moment and address the idea that the most obvious thing in the world is obvious even to Trump: that a Muslim ban will result in ISIS-inspired terrorism in the West. In—perhaps—this country.

  Why would an American want that?

  Not an American president—why would any American deliberately do anything to give terrorists a rationalization to commit terrorism in America?

  *

  We need only look to what happened the last time a Republican presidential administration and the Republican Party were confronted by large-scale terrorism here, in 2001.

  For a time, that administration grieved, and that party was solemn. And that administration was somber, and that party promised unity. And both called for bipartisanship.

  And within a year, the Republicans were using 9/11 as a phony pretext for war in Iraq. And for bullying dissenters. And for creating an extra level of bureaucracy with the Germanic-sounding invocation of the “Homeland.”

  And running political television advertisements against an incumbent Democratic senator—a triple-amputee Vietnam War vet named Max Cleland—that used images of Saddam Hussein and Osama bin Laden.

  And outing a CIA operative because her ambassador husband wouldn’t back up their lies at the United Nations. And manipulating the terror alert color-code warnings—and even the first Homeland Security secretary, Tom Ridge, later admitted this is how he read it—when political fortunes turned against them and toward the Democrats.

  What was all that for?

  Was it to make this country safer?

  Or was it simply to make Republican possession of the White House . . . safer?

  Is there anybody left who really thinks it was the former and not the latter?

  *

  It is instructive that one of the most chilling figures from the Bush administration, the vice president, Dick Cheney, condemned a Muslim ban within hours of Trump’s first proposing it, in December 2015. It goes, Cheney said, “against everything we stand for and believe in.”

  Even Cheney understood it. While arguing for stronger vetting of refugees and immigrants. Still: Even. Cheney. Understood. It.

  *

  Trump and the anti-American louts around him, like Propaganda Barbie Conway and the Holocaust deniers and diminishers Bannon and Priebus, and the spineless, silent, power-mad Republicans enabling him, like Paul Ryan, either do not understand the implications, the instigations, of what they’ve now done—either do not see how ISIS can exploit this—or do understand the implications and instigations and the ISIS exploitation.

  It must be the one thing or the other!

  If it is the former—if none of them understands that Trump has made this country seem as evil as ISIS tells its cult members we are—then none of them has the minimum intelligence r
equired to vote, let alone to lead a great nation.

  But if it is the latter, and they do see the instigation for what it is, then they are prepared for that outcome. Terrorism, somewhere, blamed upon . . . Trump.

  Now, why would they choose that?

  Why would you take an action that itself forces you to take a second action of preparing for a terrorist attack?

  *

  When large-scale terrorism last presented itself, the last Republican administration exploited the horror, began to play with the fear of 285 million Americans, to try to consolidate its power here permanently.

  What would Trump be willing to do—Trump, with less of a guiding moral force or understanding of the value of each human life than even Dick Cheney has—how far would Donald Trump be willing to go to get the opportunity to exploit the kind of immediate, genuine, heartrending, tangible fear and sorrow that smothered this nation in 2001?

  How far would he be willing to go, to be able to go to war somewhere?

  How far would he be willing to go, to be able to blame Democrats for lack of preparedness?

  How far would he be willing to go, to be able to say, “I alone was right about terror and Muslims and banning them”?

  How far would he be willing to go, to blame the judges who opposed his illegal order?

  How far would he be willing to go, to begin pushing back against freedom of the press?

  How far would he be willing to go, to begin denouncing critics as terrorist sympathizers?

  How far would he be willing to go, to begin to make dissent and protest illegal or impossible?

  How far would he be willing to go, to begin to make his reelection in 2020 seemingly guaranteed?

  *

  And as you ask yourself those questions, ask yourself one more.

  How many of those things . . . has he already . . . started to do?

  THE TOP FIFTY CRAZY AND/OR IMPEACHABLE THINGS DONE BY TRUMP SINCE THE INAUGURATION

  Post date • MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6

  There have been countless crazy and/or impeachable things done by Donald Trump—or in his name—since the inauguration.

  These are just the top fifty.

  Here they are, as fast as I can blow through them:

  *

  January 20:

  Bounds into the White House, leaving the First Lady standing alone by the car.

  Lies at an inaugural ball that the crowd extended to the Washington Monument.

  *

  January 21:

  Goes to speak at the CIA Memorial Wall, bringing his own staff with him to applaud him.

  Claims he holds the record for most Time magazine covers. He actually has eleven. Richard Nixon: fifty-five.

  Claims that at the inauguration it stopped raining as he started to speak, when in fact it started raining as he started to speak.

  Has his press secretary—a Melissa McCarthy character—shout a lie to reporters: “This was the largest audience to ever witness an inauguration—period.”

  *

  January 22:

  Implies that none of the Women’s March participants had voted.

  After repeatedly promising that he would release his tax returns after an audit was complete, Kellyanne Conway—Propaganda Barbie—says, “He’s not going to release his tax returns.”

  *

  January 23:

  Tells congressional leaders he would’ve won the popular vote if it hadn’t been for three to five million illegal votes.

  Places on the national security staff the man who added the infamous “sixteen words” to George W. Bush’s 2003 State of the Union address.

  *

  January 24:

  Tweets a panoramic photo of the inauguration as evidence of his crowd-size claims. Doesn’t notice photo is dated January 21—the day after the inauguration.

  Claims “carnage” in Chicago, threatens to send in “the Feds” without saying if he means the military or Eliot Ness and the Untouchables.

  *

  January 25:

  Makes up story about two people being murdered during Obama’s Chicago farewell speech.

  Threatens to cut off federal funds to sanctuary cities.

  Demands investigation into nonexistent voter fraud—specifically, voters registered in more than one state.

  Doesn’t seem to realize that among voters registered in more than one state are: Steve Bannon, Sean Spicer, Steve Mnuchin, son-in-law Jared Kushner, and his own daughter Tiffany.

  Cites Pew Research data to support his voter fraud claims . . . that actually refutes his voter fraud claims . . . then claims Pew researcher is “groveling” and suppressing the truth.

  Tells interviewer about imaginary five million fraudulent votes, “If you look at it, they all voted for Hillary. They all voted for Hillary. They didn’t vote for me. I don’t believe I got one. Okay, these are people that voted for Hillary Clinton.”

  Ignores logic that his conspiracy theory requires that Democrats planted five million illegal voters around the country but forgot to put any of them in the states where just seventy-seven thousand votes cost Clinton the election.

  *

  January 26:

  Reported to have personally pressured National Park Service to support his inauguration crowd exaggeration.

  After campaigning against Clinton for slovenly handling of classified data and private email, is revealed to have tied the POTUS Twitter account to private email, to be using only one-step security, and to be tweeting from a five-year-old, non-secure phone.

  *

  January 27:

  Cites voting fraud “expert” who claims three million illegal votes, but has never produced any of the evidence he has repeatedly promised.

  Issues statement commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day that does not include the words “Jew,” “Jewish,” or “Judaism.”

  Institutes a Muslim and refugee ban—on a day that recalls how America turned its back on refugees from Nazi Germany.

  *

  January 28:

  Muslim ban is so hastily introduced, no one knows about exceptions intended for those with green cards, and border and customs agents are left guessing what to do next.

  In phone call with prime minister of Australia, becomes angered about agreed-upon refugee resettlement deal, reportedly hangs up on prime minister.

  *

  January 29:

  Falsely claims Muslim ban is just an offshoot of a temporary immigration suspension once ordered by Obama.

  Dismisses anti-ban statement by Senators Graham and McCain by calling them “former presidential candidates.”

  Is tweeting while authorizing raid on Al Qaeda camp in Yemen.

  Says nothing when self-professed white supremacist Trump “fan” opens fire at a Quebec City mosque, killing six, injuring five.

  *

  January 30:

  Claims weekend airport chaos owes not to his Muslim and refugee ban, but to Delta Airlines computer problems and the “fake tears” of Senator Chuck Schumer—ignoring that Schumer’s great-grandmother and seven of her nine siblings were murdered by the Nazis after they were unable to become refugees.

  *

  January 31:

  Among those confirming they were detained at a U.S. airport during Muslim ban crisis—because he once visited Iran—is the former prime minister of Norway.

  *

  February 1:

  Commemorates start of Black History Month by implying he doesn’t realize Frederick Douglass has been dead since 1895. Then complains about CNN.

  Vice President Pence commemorates start of Black History Month by tweeting tribute to . . . Abraham Lincoln.

  White House does not issue readout of weekend phone call between Trump and Vladimir Put
in, reportedly because White House switched off the recorder.

  Attacks Australian refugee deal, calling the 1,250 refugees “thousands of illegal immigrants.”

  Revealed by personal physician to be taking doses of the drug Propecia to promote hair growth. Possible side effects include “dizziness, weakness, feeling like you might pass out,” and “abnormal ejaculation.”

  *

  February 2:

  At National Prayer Breakfast, asks for prayers . . . for Arnold Schwarzenegger’s TV ratings.

  Also at Prayer Breakfast, in front of seventy worldwide religious leaders, says, “What the hell.”

  Rescinds sanctions against sales of cybersecurity materials to the Russian FSB, the same spy agency accused of blackmailing him.

  Administration claims Yemen raid was authorized by Obama; two Obama national security advisers publicly state that is not true.

  Adviser Propaganda Barbie (Kellyanne Conway) complains that media has ignored one of the justifications for the Muslim ban, namely the “Bowling Green Massacre.” There was no “Bowling Green Massacre.”

  Tweets that Iran has been “formally PUT ON NOTICE,” even though the phrase means nothing diplomatically.

  *

  February 3:

  Also tweets about a “new radical Islamic terrorist” with a knife at the “Louvre Museum in Paris.” The attack was at the Carrousel du Louvre mall; there was one minor injury; the perpetrator is Egyptian and would not have been prevented from entering the United States by the Trump ban; Trump still hasn’t mentioned the Quebec mosque attack.

  Administration posts terrorist video supposedly obtained during Yemen raid, to prove raid was worth it. Administration pulls down terrorist video when it turns out video has been on the internet since 2007.

  *

  February 4:

  In clip revealed in advance of Super Bowl interview, says he respects Vladimir Putin. Interviewer says, “But he’s a killer, though. Putin’s a killer.” Trump replies, “There are a lot of killers. We’ve got a lot of killers. What, do you think our country’s so innocent?” Pressed, he explains that among the killers were those “in the war in Iraq.” Deputy editor of Wall Street Journal editorial page tweets, “Never in history has a President slandered his country like this”—and he’s goddamned right.