I read a lot so sometimes I’ll forget where I saw something. The other day I noticed someone make the observation that one reason it’s hard to get good electoral reform is that the winners of elections are always fairly satisfied with the outcome regardless of any abnormalities or problems that may have occurred. And I suppose, in a case like Donald Trump’s, there may be an element of worry that acknowledging any flaws in the presidential election could damage his legitimacy and undercut the magnitude of his accomplishment. He’s obviously sensitive about the subject as we all witnessed when he went to ridiculous lengths to lie about the size of his inaugural crowds. His repeated insistence that Russian interference is a hoax or fake news designed by Democrats to make excuses for their loss is another indication.
What I’m saying here is that some of Trump’s stunning lack of interest in getting to the bottom of the Russia question could theoretically be chalked up to psychological and political factors that would influence any winning candidate and party.
I try to keep this in mind as a sort of innocent explanation because the overall impression is far less understandable. I think we’re all familiar with the plot device in which a spouse comes under suspicion in the death of their loved one because they aren’t showing a normal or appropriate level of emotion. If we used that analogy in this case, Trump would be the husband who didn’t call 911 when he found his lifeless wife lying on the floor. He’d be the one who tried to stop others from calling the cops. He’d be the one who denied that she’d been murdered at all, hired one of the prime suspects to work for him, and tried to use his influence with the mayor to shut down the investigation. He’d say strangely positive things about the prime suspects and have some exculpatory story about a 400 lb. intruder that no one has ever seen. His lawyer would have extensive ties to people who had a motive to kill his wife. His son-in-law would have met privately with them and tried to conceal that fact. And when interviewed by investigators, he never once would express the slightest concern that his wife was dead or any interest in seeing her killers brought to justice.
A crime has been committed against our country, but Trump was the beneficiary of that crime and is pleased with the outcome. He has no remorse about it. He doesn’t want it investigated.
So, what are the chances that this can all be explained as normal? Is it really different from how any candidate would feel if their election was called into question?
Everything Trump does arouses more suspicion. He doesn’t make the slightest effort to look innocent. There’s no right way to act when your wife is murdered, and sometimes people will act in abnormal ways that make them look guilty even when they are not. They might even say, “I’m so glad that she’s dead and that I just bought this giant life insurance policy. I’m rich!!”
Anything can happen.
That we have a President Trump is proof that anything can happen.