The Week That Wasn't (for the Dems)

This is a dream week for President Trump. On Monday, the Democrats handed him the gift of the gang that couldn't count straight, the Iowa caucus a lesson in how to botch a process which was not orchestrated by Vladimir Putin. Tonight, Mr. Trump got an opportunity to give America his version of his presidency, filled with mistruths and moments to pull on heartstrings, scrubbed clean of his personal failings and political missteps. And then tomorrow, the icing on the cake, as a Republican Senate will announce there was nothing to see in the actions taken by Mr. Trump regarding Ukraine, that he had a pure heart and the nation's interest, certainly not his own, in mind when he kept $391 million in his back pocket. No mens rea, no evil intent, no harm, no foul.

This is the vision Mr. Trump hopes to take right into November. The Democrats tripping over themselves, the country on a path to glory beyond all previously known, the President a man of honor and dedication to truth (well maybe not), justice (oops) and the American way (as redefined by Donald Trump).

For the Democrats, these are the days that appear hardest. The times when the task to unmask and unseat a despot, a leader who is always but a moment removed from the next self made crisis or the next near destruction of the essence of our democracy, seems a Sisyphean task. 

But know this. This week will pass and the pendulum will swing in the other direction. Mr. Trump will assuredly provide ample opportunity for more scorn and criticism of his actions. And the Democrats will find a leader from among those remaining in the race to challenge the lies of the President, to call out his moral hypocrisies, to show this country there is a better way.

Do not lose hope. But, at least for the next few days, I think it best if you just take shelter under the covers. For Dems, this is the week that wasn't. It is not going to be pretty.