The retribution begins

 The New York Times is covering Donald Trump’s retribution tour fairly well. Tyler Pager’s analysis that Trump is weaponizing the Justice Department to exact revenge against his perceived enemies. At the top of that “enemies list” is James B. Comey, the former FBI director. Trump’s beef with Comey centers on the role of Russia’s infiltration of the 2016 presidential campaign. Comey isn’t the only potential target. He’s pushing the Justice Department to go after Sen. Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif. and Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, George Soros and others.

 The Sept. 27 story prompted me to reflect on my long-term concern that I don’t see a peaceful end to the oligarch take-over of our country. My post, once again, referenced “Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical Right's Stealth Plan for America,” by award-winning Duke University historian Nancy MacLean. I’ve said for the past five years that this book has markedly changed my frame of reference about our politics but hasn’t gotten much traction in my world. However, in this case, it got some; my comment became one of the “Reader Picks.”

 

I wrote : “Let's face reality and stop debating the trivia. Every legal matter involving Trump will, at Trump's behest, go to SCOTUS. And with the six totally corrupt ‘justices’ on the bench, the court will rule in his favor. The oligarchs have outflanked our system and we are no longer a free people. See “Democracy in Chains: The Deep History of the Radical  Right's Stealth Plan for America,” by award-winning Duke University  historian Nancy MacLean. Can anyone tell me how to stop this peacefully? 'Cause I can't see this without violence.”

 

Two other posters responding to my post gratified me. One, with the screen name “Wobbly Biped,” called MacLean’s book “a masterpiece.” As you can expect, I agree. But “Happy Rabbit” posted a scenario that I’ve wanted out in the open for discussion. It’s the proverbial elephant in the room. Here’s Happy Rabbit’s post: “In a post yesterday, one commenter pointed out the following (and I'm paraphrasing): there is only one question left in this entire nightmare - which side will the military take?”

 

The question is timely, isn’t it?

 

National media are reporting that Trump and Defense Secretary spoke to a gathering of the U.S. military’s top brass at Marine Corps Base Quantico on Tuesday, Sept. 30. According to reporters Emily Davies and Matt Viser in their Washington Post story, “President Donald Trump delivered a meandering address to an unprecedented gathering of the country’s top military leaders, railing against his predecessor, celebrating tariffs and floating the idea of using American cities as a training ground for the military as he painted a picture of the U.S. under attack ‘from within.’”

 

The story points out that Trump is trying to weaponize the military against his enemies, which is the modus operandi many of us predicted. Thankfully, the military leadership gathered there seemed not to be amused — or pleased, according to the story. Maybe this telegraphs what side the military will take. We can only hope.

 

Here are the links:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/us/politics/trump-comey-revenge.html

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/us/politics/trump-comey-revenge.html#commentsContainer

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/09/30/trump-quantico-military-generals/