Follow the script

Recently, the great states of Colorado and Maine made headlines when they decided not to allow former President Donald Trump on their respective state 2024 ballots for president. Both states said it was because Trump was responsible for the 2021 January 6th insurrection at the U.S. Capitol.

Then last week, the U.S. Supreme Court announced that it would take up the matter, and when the supremes (three of whom Trump appointed) decide, all 50 states will have to comply with their ruling.

Now it’s true that Trump is up past his crooked pearly whites in legal trouble because of his alleged actions trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election….you know, the one where Joe Biden kicked his teeth in (I threw that in there in case Trump is reading this. I so want him to know how truly loved and respected he is by me and mine).

The allegedly criminally inclined ex-president hasn’t been convicted of anything yet, and Lord knows he and his legal team are working hard to make it extremely difficult for the inevitable to happen. But I have faith that our criminal justice system will grow tired of Trump’s shenanigans, and after all of the evidence is heard and fairly considered, will convict and sentence his troublemaking behind “twelve ways past Sunday.”

But truth be told, Trump, regardless of how likely it is that he will be convicted in connection with a January 6th-connected crime, hasn’t been convicted yet. And because of that, a lot of pundits and political figures are saying that Trump shouldn’t lose the 2024 presidential election because a few states refused to allow him to be officially listed on their respective ballots.

They say he should lose because the voters have decided they don’t want his scheming heart back in the White House causing trouble.

Part of me agrees with this notion, but the other part of me - 99.9% in fact - wants to see Trump in jail after he’s been duly convicted of the crimes I believe he is absolutely guilty of.

Yes, I understand the sentiment of allowing the voters the last word on whether Donald Trump ever serves in office again. It would be so, so sweet to have 80 million people harpoon his big, fat ego for the monstrous white whale that he is, just to put an exclamation point on the notion that we neither want nor need his kind near the White House again.

But as I indicated before, the lion’s share of my thoughts and feelings about this are that America is a nation of laws, and NO one is above them.

NO one!

And yet, the only reason why Donald Trump has been able to successfully run his mouth as if he is above the law is because he’s found ingenious ways to stall the legal process past the point of nausea (for the rest of us). Still, charges have been made against him for allegedly breaking the law, Trump should answer those charges in a fair and unbiased legal process, and then, he should be held accountable if convicted.

So given that road we’re currently on with Trump now, I say let’s follow the script, no matter how painful it is for all of us to watch and endure.

If faith is our guide, he will be found guilty of his January 6th related crimes, and be punished. I’m willing to compromise and say let’s wait to see what the courts say before removing him from anything. The Supreme Court promises to rule before the primaries.

But ultimately, if our criminal justice system means anything, then we must follow the script as far as Donald Trump is concerned.

In my mind, the next office of president he should ever serve in is that of the January 6 Prison Glee Club.

I’m sure being locked up even for a few months behind bars will inspire soul-searching music in the man that might actually do him some good.

It would certainly put a smile on my face.