Donald Trump and maga Republicans: 250 years but now GOP violates the principles Americans fought for during the War of Independence

PennBay Pilot/talk:  Opinion letter to the editor:

Donald Trump's attack on Venezuela exemplifies totalitarian mindset
From James Matlack in Camden, Maine

In 1776, Tom Paine's widely read pamphlet "Common Sense*" energized Colonial resistance to British rule setting the stage for the ultimate success of the Revolution.

In part Paine wrote: "In America the law is king. For as in absolute governments the King is law, so in free countries the law ought to be king, and there ought to be no other."

Donald Trump defies this premise totally and relentlessly. He breaks both domestic and international laws in nearly every action he takes, scorning those who obey such legal guidelines. He demands slavish devotion from his followers as if he were a king.

As Peter Baker observed in the New York Times, "In his first year back in office, Trump has unabashedly adopted the trappings of royalty just as he has asserted virtually unbridled power to transform American government and society to his (hideous❗) liking."

Donald Trump's illegal recent attack on Venezuela exemplifies his totalitarian mindset. Without consultation with much less a vote of support from the Congress, a severe assault was made on a foreign capital city including abduction of that country's President after which Trump said that he would "run" Venezuela and "keep the oil" there.

Every day produces additional lawless conduct, arrogant boasts, and delusional claims. No guard rails now curb Trump's monarchical aspirations or his addled speeches. British historian Thomas Macaulay wisely said that "a good constitution is better than the best despot." Alas we seem to be losing our Constitution to a second-rate despot.


Yet Trump is losing public support. His charade of power is being challenged on all fronts with sagging poll numbers. His shrinkage in office reminds me of Shakespeare's description of Macbeth exercising his stolen powers: "like a giant's robes upon a dwarfish thief," his "ill-gotten title hangs loosely" upon him.


James Matlack lives in Camden

*Common Sense, published anonymously by Thomas Paine in January 1776, was a hugely influential pamphlet that argued for American independence from Great Britain, using clear, persuasive language to rally colonists to the cause of revolution by attacking monarchy and advocating for a democratic government. It became an instant bestseller, selling widely and being read aloud in public, and is considered a foundational document of the American Revolution, converting many undecided colonists to the idea of separation.

Donald Trump and maga Republicans need a history refresh about "We Hold these truths- All men - and women- are created equal"

Opinion letter to the editor published in the Maine Pen Bay Pilot/Talk: No President has been so historically illiterate
By Jim Matlack

On July 4, 2025, American just celebrated the 249th Anniversary of the founding document of our nation — the Declaration of Independence. 

I am proud to have a direct family link to the facsimile text of the Declaration, so widely published in days celebrating our nation's independence. That precious text — carefully written out on vellum with a quill pen was the handiwork of Timothy Matlack, who is often called the Scribe of the Continental Congress assembled in Philadelphia in 1776.

Timothy was a Quaker and sometime small businessman who was called upon to draft various legal documents due to his skill with a quill pen. He joined the militia in a battle against British troops in New Jersey early in the war for which he was thrown out of his Quaker meeting. Through the rest of a long life he was active in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania state politics on behalf of expanding the vote to ordinary (white, male) citizens.

I take pride in the family connection to the Declaration and its "created equal" affirmation however short we have fallen at times from this ideal that lies at the heart of our political heritage. 

Never more so than now under the corrupt and lawless conduct of the Trump Administration.

In countless ways Trump has violated both law and custom under the Constitution in a shameless quest to establish authoritarian rule. The long list of offenses by King George in the Declaration can be matched one for one by modern-day counterpart episodes of misconduct by Trump. The legacy of the founders and their caution about an over-strong executive have been swept away by mindless MAGA support for Trump's excesses.

This whole situation was exemplified in a recent encounter in the Oval Office. On May 2, when Trump was seated at the Resolute Desk while Terry Moran (ABC News) was standing beside, looking about the office. Their exchange was recorded and later broadcast for all to see.

In addition to all the gaudy gold newly installed by Trump — a vulgarian's notion of how to look successful — Moran noted a framed version of the Declaration on the wall. Rumor was that Trump had tried to get the original text written out by Timothy Matlack but was wisely denied by the Archives. 

Instead, a vintage printed version may be involved since the frame has a curtain to draw across in order to reduce fading due to bright light.

Moran said: "I see that you have the Declaration there. What does it mean to you?"

Trump's astonishing reply was: "Well, it means exactly what it says. It's a declaration. It's a declaration of unity, love and respect and it means a lot and it's something very special to our country."

What the Declaration of Indpendence really says is this: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It further establishes that governments are instituted to secure these rights and derive their just powers from the consent of the governed..."

Trump reveals his ignorance of the actual content and significance of the document. No President has been so historically illiterate or done more to betray the promise and the ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.

From Jim Matlack, who lives in Camden, Maine

American voters have the tools to fight Donald Trump autocracy: YES you and I have ability to make change

I was introduced to the Holocaust as a middle schooler. 

Echo guest editorial published in the Penn Bay Pilot newspaper, in MidCoast Maine/Rockland, Thomaston, Camden. 

Like any child would, I had a hard time fathoming the mass murder of so many people- over 6 million (+ plus 😔😡😨). 

I am not sure I was taught about the slippage of democratic norms, the years of capitulation and fear. I remember asking my mother why no one tried to stop it❓ She had vague answers, about it being far away, with it being hard to tell what was going on. 

Needless to say, the question lingered.

I kept that question with me while touring our nation’s Holocaust Memorial Museum in D.C. more than two decades ago. I stood for many minutes in the room dedicated to America's response, reading New York Times articles from the late 1930s, finding vague information, a lack of clarity, and what I perceived as a lack of alarm.

I worry. We Americans are now in the same place of inaction and vague, unfocused alarm, even though hate, racism, and an authoritarian regime are plainly amongst us. 

No ocean separates us from this horror. Not one location in the USA has been spared the change in our method of governance.

You and I — all the American people, no matter who we voted for, or even if we voted (a third of the electorate didn’t) — have been gut-punched and rolled.

We no longer live in a democracy. The administration is on a path to an autocratic regime in which dissent, rule of law, peaceable, and non-corrupt behavior is replaced by lies, intimidation, corruption, violent destruction of institutions, and disregard for the courts — replaced by the whims of the new leaders.

The Trumpzi-ism administration has fundamentally altered the way our country is governed. This is not a time to pretend this will solve itself, or go away. It won’t. We, the American people, are the ones who’ll change what’s happening. We are now at war, and we, the American people are the troops. (According to the Oxford Dictionary, war is “any active hostility or struggle between living beings; a conflict between opposing forces and principles.”)

Now’s the time to fight. These are your weapons:your emotionally regulated self that does not quiver in fear or dive back under the covers (or get lost in doom-scrolling);

• Your attention and understanding of context and big picture — this is not a singular shift, it’s part of a global trend — read Autocracy, Inc.; On Tyranny; How Democracies Die;]
• Your voice—it’s time to be loud, and get used to speaking up for democracy;
• Your words — talk to others about what you’re seeing and feeling. Write. There is certain to be several negative comments made at the bottom of this essay. Our best work is to ignore them. 
• Your energy is precious. Instead of taking the bait from those who are gullible enough to believe that they’re actually safer, or that their eviscerated autocratic government is now more efficient, use your words and energy to chat with your neighbors, call a friend, gather at one of the many democracy meetings being held (visit indivisible.org or jointheunion.us to search for a group near you); your imagination—spend some time considering where this is all heading. 

The Trump administrations’s power grab and the moves of Project 2025, plus the capitulation of the Congress, is a sign that those currently in power in the Trump administration want to move this country permanently to an autocratic state. 

These aren’t the moves of an administration that intends to allow free and fair elections or to cede control even if elections are held. Once you’ve gone down that deep hole, consider the country you’d like to live in. Consider how you want to be governed. What role can you play in the next USA? Use your imagination to paint those pictures of the after time, when we rebuild from this destruction. There will be a resurgence of democracy.

• Your creativity: it’s well known that autocrats don’t like to be ridiculed. So write the script of an absurdist play about where these leaders wind up in their dotage; or get out your paints and depict the way you want this war to end; or channel your rage into a bakeathon whose goods you share with neighbors; or create the best protest signs; or write the next anthem (creative endeavors also bring joy, which nourishes us during the struggle); 

• Your ability to show up and protest (March 29 was national take down Tesla day teslatakedown.com; April 5 is a day of national protest about all of the administration action—Hands Off; see indivisible.org);

• Your pocketbook—he current administration is motivated by greed, using corruption and dealmaking to line their pockets. Circumvent their money grabs: boycott large corporations, shop local, reduce your consumption overall. Consider delaying paying taxes until you’re convinced those dollars are being legally spent. 

• Your trust in yourself—your voice matters, your behavior makes a difference;

• Your trust in an inclusive, USA of the future — keep up your practices that promote diversity, many voices, the role of women; refuse to diminish people to “other;”

• Your community and your trust in your neighbors—do what you can to tighten those bonds;

• Your local government—get involved, inquire about your community’s plans for emergency notifications, mutual aid, and formation of neighborhood teams to help when crises strike; 

• Your belief in our democracy, and our ability to come together to win it back.

We’ll overturn this administration and win this war — non-violently, with the world’s strongest force: human hearts and minds pulling together to serve the future of our one planet.  

I’ll see 👀 you out there.

From Molly Mulhern lives in Camden, Maine

Republicans cannot accept the fact that paying hush money to a porn actress is NOT a legal expense

Echo opinion letter published in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2024/jun/12/letters/

Paying hush money is not a legal expense

It should come as no surprise that Donald Trump was convicted on all 34 counts against him in his hush money trial. Maureen Dowd with The New York Times summed up the case against Trump in one simple sentence. She wrote, "You don't slime your way into the presidency by having your creepy gofer pay off a porn star you slept with while your wife was home with a newborn and call it a legal expense."

At one and the same time, Gov. Sarah Sanders and our entire congressional delegation piously claim to represent "Arkansas values" while shamelessly defending and supporting the immoral and mendacious Trump. Their photograph ought to be placed in the dictionary next to the word "hypocrite."


From Eugene Bramblett in Camden Arkansas