Dream becomes nightmare

In her May 13 column, Sue Lani Madsen asserts that because the White House flips from one party to the other on a regular basis that Trump following Obama is normal from a historical perspective. She notes there have been divisions in the past, but nothing like the past five months, and wonders what is so different now.

Short answer: Unlike any of his predecessors, Donald Trump’s words and actions have revealed him to be a psychotic demagogue, a sociopath with no comprehension of the difference between right and wrong and no regard for other people or the rule of law. He openly states his admiration for authoritarian rulers like Putin, Mussolini and Duterte. He is attempting to turn America into a thugocracy like theirs.

Like Alice, we have gone down the rabbit hole. Trump is the Queen of Hearts, explosive, cruel, villainous, powerful and tyrannical. “The Queen had only one way of settling all difficulties, great or small. ‘Off with his head!’ she said, without even looking round.”

Can you say James Comey? The difference, dear puzzled innocent, is that this is not a dream from which we will simply awaken and go on our merry way. It’s a frightening reality. It’s not normal.

John Miller

Spokane