Press Fairness, Washington Post Style

Just in case you have any illusion about how much of an effect the massive corruption and criminality of Donald Trump and the Republican party are going to have on the mainstream press, I would like you to consider the following long excerpt from an article published today in the Washington Post, allegedly a bastion of liberal journalism.  It is written by Hugh Hewitt, someone who is a regular contributor to the Washington Post, and as you, I and the editors of the Post know perfectly well, has spent years as a lying right wing propagandist and conspirator with the miserable Trump.  I suppose this would be defended by the Post as a fair balance to the distinguished writing of Post regulars like Eugene Robinson.  What follows is far more than might normally be considered a fair excerpt of this article, but given the grotesque unfairness of balancing Democratic truths with this kind of malignant, hate filled lies, I just don't give a damn.  Judge it for yourself.

"I’ve been remembering  (Spiro) Agnew’s appearance that gray day in California — the first and last time I laid eyes on him in person. Just as the ghosts of Shakespeare bear lessons for the living, so the specter of Agnew might have something to teach us now, as Justice Department prosecutors decide what to do about former president Donald Trump.

After an investigation into Agnew’s tenure as governor revealed a sordid history of bribery, fraud and corruption, federal prosecutors offered an unusual “plea deal.” In exchange for his immediate resignation, a plea of nolo contendere to a single federal tax violation and a fine of $10,000, Agnew was allowed to pass into private life."

A fine of $10,000 is Hewitt's proposal in return for crimes involving sedition, trying to overthrow the government, espionage and likely treason, as well as massive financial crimes, perjury, witness tampering, fraud and a host of other things.  A fine of $10,000 for a man who claims to be worth billions.  That seems like fair punishment, huh?

"Trump has little to fear from the “criminal referrals” lodged with the Justice Department by the House Jan. 6 committee this week."

Judging from his years-long attempts to silence any investigation, including inducing 30 people to plead the fifth amendment, pleading the fifth amendment 450 times himself, and engaging in numerous clearly criminal acts of witness tampering,  that is a fantastic misstatement of the truth.

"But the earlier appointment of special counsel Jack Smith to oversee two federal investigations is not political theater. As with every special counsel, Smith has the time, budget and staff with which to pursue Trump, his family and staff. Such investigations can last many years."

Which is exactly what the 76 year old Trump is trying to accomplish- string out any consequences for his treachery until long after he is dead, so that he faces no penalty at all, even the ludicrous $10,000 fine proposed by Hewitt as a fit punishment for years of eating away at American democracy.

"Add in Trump-focused investigations by the attorney general of New York, the Manhattan district attorney and the Fulton County district attorney in Atlanta, and the legal web in which Trump is ensnared is vast."

So the best thing to do is just to let him go with no punishment for his monumental criminality and betrayal of the country.  That makes sense.  If you are a Republican, who is used to the idea that your fellow criminals should pay no price for their behavior.

"Trump told me in a radio interview in September that “I can’t imagine being indicted,” adding “I’ve done nothing wrong.” 

Another blatant lie, this time from the king of liars himself.  Trump has committed literally hundreds of crimes, many of them in the White House itself, as he, Hewitt and all the rest of us know perfectly well.

"Maybe not in most jurisdictions."

In what jurisdiction is witness tampering or subornation of perjury not a crime?  In what jurisdiction is treason and sedition not a crime?  Hewitt suggests, in typical Republican fashion that Trump cannot get a fair trial in Washington D.C.  We know why he says that, not missing a chance to stoke a little gratuitous racism along the way.

"But I’m not talking about a plea, because I don’t believe there are facts in the public’s view supporting a reasonable theory about the necessary “elements” showing Trump has committed any crime. Period."

That is an absolute lie.  Hewitt knows fully well that Trump is a traitor and seditionist, having plotted along with him throughout his Presidency, and an open criminal on numerous other grounds.  Let us not play the game of pretending that these people do not know exactly what they are doing.

"Only those who have never worked in a White House can doubt that papers often get mixed up in the chaos of a transition..."

Bullshit.  When, in all of our country's history, has a President ever absconded with hundreds of classified documents?

 "...and Trump’s power to declassify when he was president was unlimited."

Also a complete lie, as the courts have ruled over and over again throughout our nation's history.

"As for the New York and Georgia matters, they seem like very weak legal tea."

Rigging elections, intimidating government officials, and stealing hundreds of millions of dollars from the government?  Weak tea?

"The idea that Trump intended a riot and occupation of the Capitol? I don’t believe it."

Another monstrous lie.  Hewitt knows perfectly well that this is exactly what happened, having participated in the planning of it himself.

"And I doubt any reasonable jury instructed on reasonable doubt and the legal meaning of intent would either."

Then let it go to trial, buster, and quit trying to lie your way into having us just forget about the whole thing.

"Trump’s fervent supporters continue to believe he is a noble Jean Valjean of American politics being pursued by a mob of Javerts."

Lots of Germans thought Hitler was a great guy too.  He wasn't; he was a monster, and so is Trump.  I don't give a God Damn what all of Trump's stupid, morally bankrupt followers think.

"But that won’t stop a prosecutor who believes they found the elusive element of “intent.”

Which they may well find, because intent is written all over everything Trump has done.

"If Smith — or the other prosecutors — want to indict Trump, an indictment will follow. And political and civic chaos would break loose."

Okay, here come the right wing threats.  We know what Hewitt means by civic chaos- we've seen it at Sandy Hook and Buffalo and Uvalde and a thousand other places.  Let us not mince words: It means a war of right wing terrorism designed to end democracy once and for all in this country.

"...the country has more than enough anger already. Is there a deal that could spare the nation another collision of the extremes — or even crisis?"

Yes there is.  A guilty plea on all charges, followed by Trump's placement in strict solitary confinement for the rest of his life, with contact with nobody except a small group of attorneys, so he cannot spill the secrets that he stole to Putin or the Saudis or anyone else willing to cough up the price, or maybe engineer his escape from justice.

"No one outside of the far right and far left, the one-percenters who thrive on conflict, wants the white-hot anger on all sides that would greet the spectacle of Trump on trial."

There will be no white hot anger on the left.  There never is, except the anger that a man entrusted with the Presidency committed sedition and treason, colluded with foreign dictators, attempted to overthrow our government and incidentally participated in dozens of other crimes, and his party thinks that is just fine.  As for the white hot anger on the right, bring it on, traitors, and we will pray that our real government will act swiftly to crush it out of existence.

 

"Trump would have to promise to follow the path of other modern former presidents: a memoir, a library and museum, some highly paid appearances, but no more campaigns, for himself or others."

What in the name of God would lead us to trust the word of this monstrous criminal?  Once he was absolved of all charges, what could possibly make us think he would spend the rest of his miserable life keeping his end of the deal?

"His Agnew Option would not involve suspended sentences, fines or admissions of guilt. Just a laying-down-of-arms on all sides..."

Both sides get off scot free- the innocent Democrats and the treacherous Republicans.  That seems like a fair deal. doesn't it?

"Trump will never be an Agnew, because Trump scored the greatest upset in U.S. political history"

No he didn't.  He was the first person to cheat his way into the Presidency through treasonous collaboration with foreign dictators, and the first President in history to attempt to overthrow the government by force.  He was the first President to see the White House as nothing but a chance to steal the country blind.  He was the first President to tell 30,000 documented lies during his term.  He was the first President to steal our nation's secrets, a crime whose impact may not be known for decades.  And for all of this, Hugh Hewitt, and the Washington Post apparently feel he should be let off with no penalty whatsoever, insuring that Trump himself, and any other of the thousands of equally corrupt Republicans who surround him will feel no compunction about trying it all again.

Well, there it is:  Mainstream American journalism in its most stark form.  And that's all I have to say about that.