For those familiar with basketball, you might recall a famous quote from former New York Knick Michael Ray Richardson, “The ship be sinking.” This quote seems fitting when we consider the recent political events. While I was away for a week on a personal matter, a member of Congress initiated a heated argument with a personal insult aimed at Democratic Congressperson Jasmine Crockett. The presumptive Republican nominee for President invoked the name of Hannibal Lecter, a character known for his cannibalism and manipulation. And to add to the drama, it was revealed that an associate justice of the United States Supreme Court [Samuel Alito] flew an inverted American flag, a symbol of distress, presumably in response to the 2020 loss of Donald Trump to Joe Biden for President.
Let us begin with Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). During an oversight hearing involving alleged contempt of Congress by Attorney General Merrick Garland for his refusal to hand over audio tapes of special prosecutor Robert Hur’s interview with President Joe Biden. Greene responded to Crockett’s questions about bringing up Judge Merchan [who is the presiding judge in the current Trump New York case] daughter; Greene shot back with, “I think your fake eyelashes are messing up what you’re reading.” Recognizing the remark as a personal insult and against House rules, New York Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez asked the remarks be taken down. Greene, still not satisfied with her public fundraising by first attacking a Black representative, answered by going after another member of color, Cortez, asking, “Are your feelings hurt?”
Representative Cortez offered to debate Ms. Greene later, but Greene further debased the proceedings by saying that Ocasio-Cortez did not have “enough intelligence” for a debate. Rep. Crockett accused Greene of racial bigotry with her remark. Although I believe the remark was more petty fight than a race fight, I can understand Ms. Crockett's feelings. In my own experience, as a black American, often when arguments or disagreements ensue, appearance is often the last refuge of a scoundrel. Appearances, especially for people of color, are frequently used as a blunt instrument regarding styles and trends, especially makeup and hair, hence the need for Crown Act legislation across the country.
Donald Trump, in what are becoming increasingly unhinged rally speeches, labeled movie serial killer and human flesh-eater Hannibal Lecter as “The late, great Hannibal Lecter. He’s a wonderful man.” Trump first used this verbal meme back in January to disparage migrants, asking, “Did you ever hear of Hannibal Lecter? They’re being dropped into our country. Hannibal Lecter is coming.” His call back to his January rally ‘comic’ routine was dissociative and, at best, a bizarre insight into his violent rhetorical style. He has called for punching protesters, people being carried out on stretchers, and execution of his enemies.
The most frightening recent revelation was the news that current Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito displayed an upside-down flag, which became the symbol of the stop-the-steal movement by protestors, many of whom still deny Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election. Aside from Alito judging Mr. Trump’s claim of absolute presidential immunity, his blatant insertion into political matters should be a wake-up call for the demands to expand the court. More immediately, it should exacerbate demands to put meaningful ethics standards in place for the Supreme Court that at least match those of lower courts.
My brief hiatus was both sullen and welcomed. By the way, is the porn star and the president trial still going on?
Vote Against Guns