Law, order & the Bible

As awful a president as Donald Trump is, he stands better than a puncher’s chance at reelection despite a pandemic, 40 million Americans unemployed and cities now racked by mayhem. We choose those words because Trump, who loves to punch, itches to send the military to quell domestic disturbances, becoming a muscular hero who saved millions from American carnage.

But the president, a divider to the bone, knows how to sound reasonable even as he does nothing to answer legitimate cries to reform policing.

As he put it Monday: “The biggest victims of the rioting are peace-loving citizens in our poorest communities, and as their president, I will fight to keep them safe. I will fight to protect you. I am your president of law and order, and an ally of all peaceful protesters. But in recent days, our nation has been gripped by professional anarchists, violent mobs, arsonists, looters, criminals, rioters, Antifa, and others.”

Don’t underestimate how such rhetoric might resonate with some Americans. Few of us enjoy seeing images of wanton destruction and rapacious larceny. A leader standing up to such chaos has appeal.

Of course, those were just words. No sooner was Trump’s address completed than federal troops used tear gas to clear peaceful protesters (some “ally”!) from Lafayette Park across the street from the White House.

All so Trump could stroll over to a historic church that had been vandalized and grossly pose with a Bible.

Give not this cynical commander in chief more ammunition.