Guilty? Maybe. Unfit? Definitely. Who Cares?

It now must be abundantly obvious, even to the most naive right-winger, that Number 45 is and always was a lying, cheating, conniving, slippery, disreputable, self-absorbed, narcissistic megalomaniac. But will his fans suddenly rediscover their ethics and moral fibre? Don’t count on it.

Think about it. Even the most pious or trusting among them knew that Trump had never run a successful business and had in fact squandered most of the vast wealth he inherited from his father. They heard him boast of groping, knew he had failed at two marriages, and bragged about a sexual interest in his own daughter. They knew that his only way to make money was as a shyster, stiffing lenders and contractors, and swindling the gullible. He railed against immigrants but hired them himself. Undocumented ones. You wouldn’t entrust your daughter or your savings account to this man. Would you? Well, perhaps if there was something in it for you.

It’s OK that he and his cronies appointed three judges to the Supreme Court, all of whom lied to the Senate when asked explicitly about Roe v Wade. It’s OK that he abandoned Afghanistan and left the mess for his successor. Its OK that all his best foreign buds were savage despots who continue to rain violence on their own people and their neighbours. That’s all OK to his supporters. Was, and still is.

All that stuff, and more, was OK because his supporters were getting what they wanted. And therein is the problem.

They supported Trump because they were singularly transactional and he was singularly transactional. Once Trump is taken out of commission, they’ll do a deal with the next wannabe dictator who comes along and tells them what they want to hear. That’s how these things work.

As long as they’re not personally caught in the meat-grinder, the Proud Boys and the QAnon types will continue to live in their virtual reality world, and as long as they keep enjoying their fine suits and jet planes, the evangelical leaders will continue to rail against every sin in the book except pride, greed, and treachery.

Trumpism worked for its supporters, so don’t expect them to repent when he’s gone. In fact, they won’t even grieve the man. As the Donald fades away, their only question is who is the next devil to whom they will sell their souls.