Just in time for Halloween, Trump brings in criminals, spoilers, clowns and fascists

Donald Trump is famous for: projection their failure is on others.

HE wrongly accused The Biden administration is spending disaster relief funds on services for immigrants, something his own administration has done.

Trump in 2016 in the name then-political rival Sen. Ted Cruz (R., Texas) said “Liar Ted” and then said: thousands of lies While in the White House.

Trump cried about election interference in 2020 but was sued situation And federal Court due to widespread efforts to subvert the will of the people.

Trump spent most of this campaign blame He blamed the Biden administration for “immigrant crime.” Nevermind data shows immigrants are significantly less likely to commit crimes than U.S. citizens.

More importantly, the conservative Cato Institute to create More convicted felons were released during the Trump administration than during Joe Biden’s term.

In fact, between January 2017 and February 2020, the Trump administration released more than 58,000 convicted criminals in the United States, including more than 8,600 violent criminals and 306 murderers. based on To the Cato Institute.

On average, Trump releases twice as many criminals as Biden every month. some continued commit violent crimes.

Somehow these details are missing from Trump’s misleading TV ads and shouts demonization immigrants.

Spoiler alert

Disappointed in the 2016 election between Trump and Hillary Clinton, thousands of voters turned to a third option: Green Party candidate Jill Stein.

It seemed like a harmless protest vote. But if Stein voters in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin they voted If it had been Clinton, then she would have been the first female president. But his emails!

What different world it would be like that. could be a country avoided Trump’s shameful chaos, corruption and incompetence. The US Supreme Court won’t be full of agenda-driven hacks overturn precedents like Roe v. wade, giver Presidential immunity and to give permission voter suppression.

And Trump, 78, probably won’t lead the country into another exhausting, superficial and hateful campaign.

But with a new election approaching, Stein is back on the ballot. The chance of winning is zero. own family does not support he. But Stein, a far-left progressive, could swing the election back in Trump’s favor.

Why play spoiler when you have so much to lose?

This much is clear: Russia is a useful idiot. Russia launched a campaign in 2016. social media bombardment He aimed to get blacks and far-left progressives to vote for Stein.

Stein in 2015 attended a dinner with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Michael Flynn, who briefly served as Trump’s national security adviser, and pleaded guilty twice Lying to the FBI. (It happened later forgiven by Trump.)

So was Stein. approved By David Duke, former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan. Much of its platform is targeted attractive Trump says progressives are unhappy with war in Gaza, even though it’s too much worse For Palestinians.

Trump is also a fan of his. In June, while Biden was still a candidate, Trump said he liked Stein “so much” because Stein “got 100% of Biden.” Trump’s newly released advisor Steve Bannon said Stein The key to Trump’s win vote.

So a vote for Stein is a vote for Trump.

Send the clowns

The thought of a twice-indicted, convicted criminal sitting in the Oval Office is disturbing enough. But the crooks, lackeys and extremists who will populate a second Trump administration are even worse.

Trump says he will gradually increase unbalanced And dangerous Elon Musk is on a new mission government efficiency office.

Other possibilities include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is located: public health and far right provocateur Laura Loomer I handle White House communications. To think anti vaxxer A conspiracy theorist who controls an epidemic and informs the public.

Round up the usual suspects like Paul Manafort, Roger Stoneand the above mentioned Flynn And bannon. All of them pleaded guilty or were convicted of their crimes and received pardons from Trump. Perfect bedfellows for a man who has been indicted four times.

Stephen Miller, angry architect As a result of Trump’s racist and brutal immigration policies, he will likely oversee the recovery plan and Deporting millions of immigrants.

Attorney general is a key position as Trump plans to use law enforcement to go after enemies. The main condition is a loyal lap dog.

Judge Aileen Cannon obviously at the forefrontsince then dismissed Trump indictment for stealing classified documents questionable legal decisions in his favor.

Voters beware: A confederation of idiots awaits. When it comes to assembling the best and brightest to lead the next Trump regime, as late Phillies manager Danny Ozark once did in question“limitations are limitless.”

A pinch of optimism

Donald Trump is a fascist.

this is it! Kamala Harris told voters at the CNN Town Hall: in nearby Delaware County. The angry response from Trump’s MAGA defenders was predictable and angry. Many have suggested that this merely represents business as usual, citing past examples of the hashtag’s overreach during campaigns.

Of course, campaigns can trigger things nonsense rhetoric. But what makes Trump different is that the allegations are true. Harris was not alone in her decision. He was echoing the words of those who worked for the former president for years and knew him best.

Trump’s former Chief of Staff, John Kelly, is an experienced military figure who served in many roles in the Trump administration and served as head of the Department of Homeland Security before taking over as White House chief of staff. According to Kelly, Trump is a “fascistWho will “rule like a dictator” if re-elected? Kelly also said Trump has expressed that he wants his generals to act like those who served Hitler.

Kelly isn’t the only former Trump official to do this. ring the alarmThe list includes former Vice President Mike Pence, former Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.

If the words of those who know him best are not enough, voters can also detect Trump’s authoritarian tendencies through his actions. Trump has pledged to mass deport immigrants if elected. possibility of concentration camps It is sprouting on American soil for the first time in 80 years. When he lost his bid for re-election, he attempted to circumvent the Constitution to remain in office.

As president, Trump cozied up to tyrants. His favorite world leaders include Russia’s Vladimir Putin, North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Hungary’s Viktor Orbán. Trump gets along well with these leaders because, like him, they do not care about democracy, honor and sacrifice. Instead they adopt an old maxim: “The strong do what they can and the weak suffer what they must” and a world where bullies have their way.

Of course, as Trump himself said, “All tyrants become weak in the end.” Despite their claims to power and commitment to militarism, the fascists also lost the Second World War; just as the confederates (another group that has received significant praise from Trump) lost the Civil War and the Soviets lost the Cold War. Authoritarian tyrants lose if enough people are willing to stand up to them.

Election day is Tuesday.

Homestretch is an occasional column by members of The Inquirer Editorial Board exploring the stakes in the 2024 presidential race.