By Butch Freedman
“A sickening moral slum of an administration.” The Washington Post
I find myself bouncing between hopelessness and giddiness some days. Maybe most days. Here’s why. Oh you probably don’t need me to tell you. But I will anyway. I need to vent when I see the world in this painful political whirlpool — one that is almost solely due to the outrageous and illegal manipulations of the trump clown posse. And now, in late August of 2026, we are only 70 days away from the Nov. 3rd mid-term elections that will decide the make-up of the U.S. House and Senate — and thus hopefully (very, very, very hopefully) put at least some blocks on the rampages and grift of the current criminal establishment. Returning Democrats to leadership will begin to build the bridge that will take us out of the toxic swamp we are all swimming in: 50% tariffs on our once friendly ally, Canada, causing them to reciprocate in kind to defend themselves. The trump administration has effectively managed to make Canadians hate Americans. As do most (all?) of our one-time allies. The Middle-East is a total shamble thanks to trump’s mindless wars and invasions. The economy goes from bad to worse, as trump spends billions turning the White House into Mara Lago. And the republicans in congress still huddle in fear, scared that they might say the wrong thing and bring down big daddy’s wrath. Meanwhile, a sitting president illegally enriches himself and his family to the tune of billions of dollars. Every day a new outrage. It’s hard to keep track. Maybe that’s the point. Or is it simply a money grab made possible because the criminals realize there are no longer consequences for their crimes.
Then there’s the insane vanity naming. Vile and disgraceful. Splashing his twisted visage and name onto every available surface. Today, I read about the Navy Warship that was to be named in honor of Doris “Dorie” Miller, a Black Mess Attendant 3rd Class who heroically manned an anti-aircraft gun and saved wounded sailors during the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. He was the first African American to receive the Navy Cross. Now the Pentagon says they are considering renaming the ship instead after trump — a cowardly hulk of a person who pleaded 4-F to avoid military service and has called soldiers “suckers and losers.” That one ranked a nine on my disgust meter. Also high on that meter: when asked by reporters if he thought the sailors on the aircraft carrier, the USS Abraham Lincoln, who had been at sea for 260 consecutive days and were now without adequate food, water, or sanitation had been there too long, he answered, “not nearly long enough.” What does that even mean? Has trump reached the point where he no longer tracks what comes out of his mouth? Has he not an ounce of self-reflection? No wonder I sometimes feel hopeless and sick to my stomach? I could go on, and on, and on. But enough, some small residue of hope left in my soul still cries out, reaching for optimism.
And so we move to a returning hopefulness, and giddiness, a ray of sunshine arising from voter polls and early primary results, and a clear understanding that almost everybody who is still able to have a clear thought hates what has become of our country under trump as much as I do. It’s way too early to celebrate; there’s so much work to be done: making sure family and friends and friends of friends, and strangers on the street get out and vote. Sending money to the candidates who are in tight races, every one counts. If you’re able to donate money to candidates you believe in, here is one good way to do that and to make sure your money has an impact. Donate through an organization called Oath.vote. (Google them.) What they do is look at which races will most effectively make use of funds and donate accordingly, thus avoiding donations to candidates who already have more than enough money, or donating to candidates who are highly unlikely to win. It’s a legit outfit. Also cuts down on unwanted emails and spam. If you care, you’ll do your part. The mid-terms are the first step to reclaiming our country and our integrity. Let’s make it happen.
Note: I will no longer be using pejorative terms to refer to president trump. There’s no point in stooping to his level. But I will not refrain from using accurate descriptors, such as: crude, corrupt, and cruel—to name just a few. And I still maintain that his name and title do not deserve capitalization.
