Donald Trump and Lieutenant - Commander Queeg

 ("The Case Against Trump" - Talk of the Town - August 1, 2022)

Amy Davidson Sorkin's evaluation of the circumstances surrounding the circus involving Donald Trump reminds me of the film, Caine Mutiny. Ms. Sorkin writes of President Trump's relentless assault on the truth, his disappointment that Vice President Pence "let (him) down" and the unwavering support for the former President, no matter the facts that would suggest otherwise.

In the film,  Lieutenant - Commander Queeg speaks of alternative considerations as to what is the appropriate manner of performance by those under his command:

Queeg (during his introduction to the officers): "Mr. Maryk, kindly tell the crew on behalf of myself- that there are four ways of doing things on board my ship: the right way, the wrong way, the Navy way; and my way. So long as they do things my way, we'll get along."

And later, at Queeg's trial, there is a description of his symptoms which bears striking echoes to what we, as a nation, have borne witness to regarding Mr. Trump:

Lt Greenwald :"Doctor, you have testified that the following symptoms exist in Lieutenant- Commander Queeg's behavior: Rigidity of personality, feelings of persecution, unreasonable suspicion, a mania for perfection, and a neurotic certainty that he is always in the right. Doctor, isn't there one psychiatric term for this illness?"

And the response, which could apply with equal force to those who have stood behind Mr. Trump despite all evidence to the contrary, and would very likely result in their casting votes for him to run this country, even from a jail cell, in 2025:

Doctor Dickson: " I never said there was any illness."