Amok Time

Amok Time

Star Trek debuted in 1966, when I was ten years old (I heard that – that “Oh My God – he’s a Trekkie – click off!!”) While there is a lot of Sixties history that relates to Trek, that’s not what I’m getting to in this essay (whew!!)

Perhaps the most famous character from Star Trek was Commander Spock, the first officer. Spock was from a planet where the Vulcans had given up emotion in order to save their civilization from self-destruction. Spock, half human and half Vulcan, constantly struggled to maintain his Vulcan composure, submerging his human side.

Except during “Pon farr,” the time when Vulcans were biologically drawn  to their planet to mate. Then Spock took over the ship, took it to Vulcan, and damn-near killed Captain Kirk in a battle over a prospective mate. It was “Amok Time” – the time of Insanity.

Ok, that is enough Star Trek. But the United States is approaching our own version of “pon farr,” our Amok Time over the Presidency of Donald Trump. Here are the headlines of Fox News (or sort-of news) on Friday, January 24th:

  • Trump denies trying to fire Mueller
  •  Obama-Farrakhan photo kept hidden for more than a decade
  • Texts – FBI officials worried about being too tough on Hillary during email probe
  • George Soros calls Trump Administration a “danger to the world”
  • Democrats see crumbs and scraps with new tax cuts, Americans see bigger pay checks and more jobs.

Meanwhile on CNN:

  • NYT – Trump tried to fire Mueller over three issues
  • Crowd boos as Trump calls media “fake”
  • Trump is not getting along with his chief of staff, again
  • Dems slam WH immigration proposal.

The news broke last night that President Trump was planning on firing Special Counsel Robert Mueller last June, only stopped by his White House Counsel threatening to quit. Meanwhile Trump’s lawyers are negotiating with Mueller on if/when/where Mueller will question Trump about “Russiagate.” And the Trump loyalists in the House of Representatives are touting a four-page report on the purported ‘coup’ plot by senior members of the FBI.

It’s getting near “Amok Time.” And while it’s crazy, to some the fate of our Democracy is at stake. A somber Congressman Jerry Nadler (D – New York) said last night:

“…Democracy can slip away into another form of government. I hope the Republicans and the people won’t allow that.”

That is the great danger that we all face. Whatever Mueller finds, it is clear that the nation will be divided over the results, and the consequences. Trump supporters have done their best to delegitimize the investigation and the institutions behind it. Congressional Republican leaders have done nothing to alter that perception, and in their silence, have lent support. Americans will be faced with stark alternatives.

If Mueller comes back with tangible evidence that President Trump actively participated in crimes, including obstruction of justice and conspiracy to commit felonies in the election (the legal term for collusion), what will America do? Many Americans, myself included, will expect the Congress to move forward with holding the President accountable for his actions; impeachment.

But the Republicans in Congress have shown no inclination to consider such an option. It seems that they are willing to accept and excuse any actions of the Trump campaign or administration. Just as the Evangelical Christians were willing to give Trump a “mulligan” on his morality, the Congressional GOP seems willing to accept whatever he did for whatever they can get.

And the opposite Democrats will demand impeachment, not just for what Trump may have done, but for what he stands for. They want his removal for Russiagate, and destroying the Consumer Protection Bureau. They want his head for laundering money and Russian mobsters, and for “Making America White Again.” I find myself in that camp, but remember that after Trump comes Pence, and after Pence, Ryan, and after Ryan, Hatch; like some Biblical curse.

We are headed into “Amok Time.” It will determine the outcome of the Trump Presidency, it will determine the future course of our nation: but more than any of that, it will determine the fate of the Republic. We, all sides, should keep that in mind, as we lose ours.

 

 

 

 

Author: Marty Dahlman

I'm Marty Dahlman. After forty years of teaching and coaching track and cross country, I've finally retired!!! I've also spent a lot of time in politics, working campaigns from local school elections to Presidential campaigns.

2 thoughts on “Amok Time”

  1. … And this is where we simply HAVE to trust the Democratic process. And yes, we may be saddled with a Pence presidency. A whole different brand of crazy …

    I’ve thought from day 1 that maybe the Trump presidency is ultimately a good thing. (Ok, maybe I’ve watched “The Life of Brian” a few times too many.) I’ve adopted the attitude that Trump is taking Democracy back to boot camp. He’s the drill sergeant, and all these government departments are his recruits. He’s giving them every challenge he can; testing them to their limits and beyond. They’re either up to the task or not. He’s looking for every weakness he can.

    I feel, ultimately, a Trump presidency is going to make the US better. It’s may not be pretty, but it really is time for American Democracy to assess itself. I can’t think of anyone better than our lovely Trump/Pence administration to take on that job.

    m.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ

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