USA, banana repubic

Trump has publicly tweeted and said in person to the cameras that he has an absolute and unrestricted power to pardon himself.

Add this to earlier assertions of an absolute and unquestionable authority to fire any underling for any reason or for none, and of an absolute and unrestricted power to pardon anybody at all, and of the constitutional immunity of presidents to subpoena.

Some have protested he is wrong, but to the horror of Democrats most GOP office holders, talking heads, and pundits have joined him in endorsing these views, including many who previously insisted on opposite views when Obama or Clinton was in office.

[And can it really be alleged that the constitution was actually intended by the Founders (or by the ratifyers?) to grant such an absurd power to the president?]

And though some of these Republicans couple their agreement with public pleas that he not pardon himself or denials that he will ever do it, others to the contrary urge that he do it and end once and for all the Russiagate "witch hunt".

The Trumpist theory now is that the president can conspire with anyone, and however many, to commit any crimes at all, and then choke off any investigation or prosecution while he is in office, refuse to be subpoenaed while in office, and before leaving office unquestionably and irreversibly pardon everyone involved, including himself.

And that none of this, regardless of his state of mind or "corrupt intention", can count as obstruction of justice.

So there we are.

He floats serene and absolute, above and totally out of reach of the law.

Heil, Mini-Mussolini!

In recent days, that utter piece of shit in the White House is more popular than ever and it is a pretty safe bet he would defeat Republican opponents if they primaried him and might well win a second term.

He is the most dangerous enemy of the republic ever to reach such high office, and many Americans absolutely love him for it.