Alpha1Nine :funkwhale: :sofia:<p>Mary L. Trump says:</p><p>“Donald Trump and his minions were warned against <a href="https://aus.social/tags/politicizing" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>politicizing</span></a> a visit to <a href="https://aus.social/tags/arlingtonnationalcemetery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>arlingtonnationalcemetery</span></a>. </p><p>They did it anyway, violating self-evident norms and the law: military cemeteries cannot be used to stage partisan political events. </p><p>When it became clear that Donald’s staff was going to ignore this prohibition, an employee at the cemetery sought to restrict photography in accordance with <a href="https://aus.social/tags/federal" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>federal</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/regulations" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>regulations</span></a>. </p><p>Arlington is “the final resting place” of more than 400,000 U.S. troops, veterans and family members. </p><p>Donald was there to mark the third anniversary of a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. troops during the evacuation of Afghanistan,” an anniversary he did not see fit to commemorate in 2023 or 2022.</p><p>Cemetery staff had made it clear ahead of time that official photography was not allowed in Section 60, where veterans of recent wars are buried. </p><p>When the employee sought to reinforce the guidelines, she was, according to a report released by the Army, “abruptly pushed aside” by people in Donald’s entourage. </p><p>The last part should surprise no one. Donald is a foppish, chubby overlord who relies on the unquestioning thuggery of the conscienceless jackals who comprise his inner circle and staff who exist to make him look tough. </p><p>For him, “toughness” means being an unrepentant asshole; people in his orbit simply follow his lead.<br> <br>Arlington National Cemetery is run by the <a href="https://aus.social/tags/Army" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>Army</span></a>. The woman who tried to make sure the guidelines, and the law, were followed by Donald’s team, is employed by the Army. <br> <br>After the <a href="https://aus.social/tags/altercation" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>altercation</span></a> with members of Donald’s staff, she filed a report. </p><p>It’s understandable that she does not want to press charges—after all, she remains unidentified because of concerns for her safety—but why won’t the Army? <br> <br>What exactly is gained by allowing this act of <a href="https://aus.social/tags/desecration" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>desecration</span></a> to go unpunished? </p><p>And, by the way, engaging in the kind of behavior Donald and his campaign staff engaged in isn’t simply indecent, it’s illegal. <br> <br>So why is the <a href="https://aus.social/tags/convicted" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>convicted</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/felon" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>felon</span></a> allowed to commit more crimes with impunity?</p><p>But let’s summon the will to be shocked, shall we? </p><p>Let’s be shocked that the former Commander-in Chief is such a <a href="https://aus.social/tags/despicable" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>despicable</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/narcissist" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>narcissist</span></a> that every interaction he has with service members is simply a means simultaneously to steal their honor while <a href="https://aus.social/tags/denigrating" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>denigrating</span></a> them. </p><p>Is this the worst thing Donald’s ever done? Not by a long-shot. <br> <br>But the combination of <a href="https://aus.social/tags/selfishness" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>selfishness</span></a>, <a href="https://aus.social/tags/thuggery" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>thuggery</span></a>, <a href="https://aus.social/tags/menace" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>menace</span></a>, and his willingness to bring the entire weight of his power to bear on a private American citizen is a pretty good encapsulation of everything that is wrong with and disqualifying about him.</p><p>It's time for corporate media to catch up and refuse to let this one go.”</p><p><a href="https://aus.social/tags/USPol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>USPol</span></a> <a href="https://aus.social/tags/auspol" class="mention hashtag" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">#<span>auspol</span></a></p>