Trump the Wannabee Tinpot Tyrant

For living memory, the Fourth of July has been a unifying and patriotic holiday. Not any more, for El Caudillo de Mar-a-Lago wants to make the Fourth of July all about him. He's obsessing over it more than he is issues such as trade and terrorism.

President Trump has effectively taken charge of the nation’s premier Fourth of July celebration in Washington, moving the gargantuan fireworks display from its usual spot on the Mall to be closer to the Potomac River and making tentative plans to address the nation from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, according to top administration officials.

The president’s starring role has the potential to turn what has long been a nonpartisan celebration of the nation’s founding into another version of a Trump campaign rally. Officials said it is unclear how much the changes may cost, but the plans have already raised alarms among city officials and some lawmakers about the potential impact of such major alterations to a time-honored and well-organized summer tradition.
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The president has received regular briefings on the effort in the Oval Office and has gotten involved in the minutiae of the planning — even discussing whether the fireworks should be launched from a barge in the Potomac River, administration aides said. The president has shown interest in the event that he often does not exhibit for other administration priorities, the aides added.

Because Trump is a showman and he figures that if he puts on a really good show, it'll distract everyone from how badly he's doing. No doubt farmers, who are being hammered by Trump's trade war, will be cheered by the televised spectacle of Der Fuhrer of Orange reviewing the troops.

Meanwhile, Brokeahantus sees nothing wrong with using the Department of Justice as his personal hit squad.

When asked whether he would consider directing [Bootlicking] Barr to investigate the Bidens, as some Democrats fear, Trump said he had not spoken to Barr about the issue. But he left open the possibility, saying “certainly it would be an appropriate thing to” discuss with Barr.

“Certainly it is a very big issue and we’ll see what happens. I have not spoken to him about it. Would I speak to him about it? I haven’t thought of that. I mean, you’re asking me a question I just haven’t thought of,” he said, noting it “could be a very big situation” for Biden.

Because that is what autocrats, like Erdogan of Turkey, do. I guess Biden should be grateful that Trump hasn't asked the Saudis for the loan of their bone saw.

Of course, don't look for Republicans to stand up to Trump. It's now an accepted fact that Republicans are loyal to Trump and not to their country. They might as well stand up in public, thrust out their right arms, and swear fealty to Trump.