To the Editor:

Martin, I had to laugh at your finger-wagging defense of “domestic Trump” and objection to my vocabulary. I’m sorry that you were diverted by the use of the word, “feculent,” which I used to avoid a word more vivid that could be considered “cussing” (to which I have resorted on occasion, but rarely in print). If only you were as interested in the core issues, rather than in an accurate description that honored sensibilities, or facts that don’t suit your reactionary bias.

Your spin reflex remains exemplary. However, your belief that LA was about to fall to violent, trained and paid activists, without Trump’s federalization of the National Guard and deployment of Marines, is unsupported by the testimony of people on-scene. The protest was confined to one square mile of LA in an industrial/commercial area, and did not “threaten Los Angeles.” LAPD confirmed that they did not require federal backup.

The core issue: the federal government cannot invade a state, and federalize National Guard troops, without the request of the governor. The exceptions in 70 years, to enforce a SCOTUS decision. In LA, Trump’s troops were not requested.

It was another Trump performance and a test to intimidate governors of other sovereign states. “I will have troops everywhere,” Trump bragged, certain he can provide the provocation.

Both the January 6 DC and LA incidents were orchestrated by Trump. The Proud Boys, Rise Above, Oath Keepers, etc., whose guns had been largely confiscated on the 6th, did in fact come armed to the Capitol on January 6, 2021, with a variety of weapons, including stun guns, baseball bats, pepper spray, and flagpoles, and produced numerous injuries, 5 deaths, and feculent “souvenirs.” Google it.

I look forward to Martin’s take on ICE visits last week to two grammar schools in Fillmore (to draw out parents). As elsewhere, ICE dragnets people instead of enforcing warrants for identified criminals, or the “worst of the worst,” to traumatize people and families who are our neighbors, many in the queue for citizenship.

After backlash, Trump “suddenly realized” that his immigration edict negatively impacts donor farmers, meat packing plants, hospitality workers, and (horrors!) Mar-a-Lago itself. Who knew? Everyone except deportation-crazy Trump. “We can’t do that to our farmers and…hotels,” he said. They’re [undocumented immigrants] not citizens, but they’ve turned out to be, you know, great.” Then he proudly announced that Putin had called him for his birthday. Same guy, Martin, same lies, allegiances, and dizzying reversals.

Some MAGA quarters expressed fury for the betrayal of its slogan, “America First,” in Trump’s endorsement of Israel’s unprovoked attack last week on Iran’s nuclear facilities and military leaders. In a call with reporter Michael Scherer, Trump defended himself saying that he “invented” the term, therefore he alone can decide what it means. In fact, the phrase was “invented” by Nazi-sympathizers before and during WWII. Google it. What you thought Trump meant by “America First”, or anything else, depends on his knowledge level, neediness, and mood. No Kings.

This isn’t about Democratic v. Republican politics. It’s whether the people trust themselves, or want an abusive, self-adulating, logic-deprived, political Pooh-bah to tell them the “facts” as he wants them to be known, false or unreliable as they may be.

The 45-million-dollar military/birthday parade was a yawn.

Kelly Scoles,
Fillmore, Ca.