Steve Corbin, Daily Montanan

Former President Donald Trump has recently been crying wolf by declaring America’s legal system is a “witch-hunt” against him. Trump claims the New York, Georgia, Florida and District of Columbia court cases – with 91 felony charges – are politically motivated to restrict his ability to run for president in 2024.

Anyone with a modicum of intelligence would realize the hypocrisy of Trump’s current ploy if they knew he never once declared “witch-hunt” in the 62 lawsuits he filed and lost while contesting the 2020 election. Note: Trump-appointed judges were among the 80-plus magistrates who dismissed his election fraud lawsuits.

Let’s not forget nine jurors (6 males and 3 females) and not the judge awarded E. Jean Carroll $5 million because of Trump’s sexual abuse and defamation; a fact-driven vs. witch-hunt verdict. A federal judge ruled the ex-president’s comments about Carroll were libelous. A second trial (Carroll vs. Trump) is set to start Jan. 15, the day of the Iowa GOP caucus.

MAGA-Trumpers probably haven’t let it sink in that Judge Arthur Engoron of New York’s Supreme Court 1st Judicial District already ruled that Donald, his sons and the Trump Organization repeatedly committed fraud during the last decade; again, a fact-driven vs. a witch-hunt decision.

Furthermore, Trump never once – to the best of my knowledge — cried wolf or uttered “witch-hunt” in the 4,000-plus lawsuits that’s encompassed his life. Arizona Central-USA Today notes Trump has been the plaintiff 2,121 times and 1,929 as a defendant (2023). The media’s ongoing analysis of Trump’s legal findings are broken down as follows: 1) 17 political campaign cases; six within the last year, 2) 190 government and tax cases, 3) 85 product branding and trademark cases, 4) 1,863 casino-related cases, 5) 208 class-action cases over contract disputes tied to real estate developments, 6) 130 employee-employment cases, 7) 63 golf club-related cases, 8) 14 media outlet or individual defamation cases, 9) 697 personal injury cases, 10) 622 real estate cases and 11) 206 other miscellaneous cases.

And, let’s remember “Donald Trump has been accused of rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment, including non-consensual kissing or groping, by at least 25 women since the 1970s” (Eliza Relman, Business Insider, May 1, 2020). Since past actions are the best predictor of future behavior, it’s not surprising Trump has not yet made good on his promise “all of these liars (females) will be sued after the election (2016) is over.” Again, crying wolf.

Here’s a quick review – thanks to a Dec. 6 Politico report – of the criminal cases currently before Mr. Trump that appear to be the real deal vs. a witch-hunt: 1) in Washington, D.C., four felony counts for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, 2) 13 felony counts for election interference in Georgia, 3) in New York, 34 felony counts in connection with hush money payments to a porn star and 4) in Florida, 40 felony counts for hoarding US classified documents and impeding government’s efforts to retrieve them as per law.

Might Trump be crying “witch-hunt” and his lawyers purposely throwing as many counter arguments onto the court systems so the cases won’t have a verdict until after the Nov. 5, 2024 election? Of course.

Trump’s history of life-long legal issues – starting at age 27 (Oct. 15, 1973; violation of Fair Housing Act of 1968) — should cause any registered Republican, independent or Democrat to think a little more than once (maybe two, three, four or five times) about whether Trump is fit to lead the greatest country in the world and abide by the Constitution and laws.

The words of Theodore Roosevelt are fitting: “No man is above the law and no man is below it; nor do we ask any man’s permission when we ask him to obey it.”

Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.

On Sept. 18, 1787, the last day of the U.S. Constitutional Convention, James McHenry (1753-1816), a Maryland delegate, asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” Franklin’s reply “a republic, if you can keep it,” is profound in not only does our democracy depend upon the supreme power of its residents and their elected representatives, but for America to survive it depends upon its citizens to become actively involved in the selection of its elected delegates.

So, what’s the problem?

The Pew Research Center reports America’s voting turnout ranks an “underwhelming” 31st out of 50 countries who exhibit solid democratic traditions. While the 2020 presidential election had the highest voter turnout of the 21st century (66.7%), it’s sad that one out of every three people you meet on the street didn’t partake in our attempt to keep a republic.

In the past six general elections (2000-2020), the average turnout rate of registered voters for primary elections was 27%, while the average turnout rate for general elections was slightly over 60%. This means more than half (55%) of general election voters did not vote in primary elections. For midterm primary elections, it’s worse: About 80% of eligible voters do not partake in primary elections.

What’s the significance of this data? Low voter participation in caucus-primary elections means that a smaller subset of voters – most likely far left-wing crazies and far right-wing wackos – hoodwinked by candidate disinformation, misinformation, far-fetched promises, propaganda and/or sinister political agendas may be playing an over-proportionate role in determining the final candidates.

A minority of the minority is selecting our political candidates.

Let’s face it. We may be electing self-centered, party-before-the-people and politicians allegiant to their financial supporters simply because we’re not active – like Benjamin Franklin feared – in all elections. We only have ourselves to blame if we’re represented by less-than-desirable, narcissistic, divisive, rude, opponent bashing, retribution-oriented, racist, anti-bipartisan, anti-trade, anti-democracy, anti-constitution and pro-authoritarian delegates.

Let’s review a couple caucus-primary election examples:

Joe Biden ran for president three different times and didn’t win his first caucus-primary election until Feb. 28, 2020 when he defeated Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in South Carolina. Biden was one of 22 candidates and has been a politician since 1971. Donald Trump, who has changed party affiliation five times, was a presidential candidate in 2000 with the Reform Party. A 2020 study (Journal of Politics) revealed voters had the most difficulty assessing the ideology of Trump in the 2016 election out of all presidential candidates since 1972 and all contemporary legislators. Trump was one of 17 candidates seeking the GOP presidential nomination.

Was Mr. Biden and/or Mr. Trump the best candidate for their respective party or the winner only because a small subset of rabid fanatical Democrats or rabid extremist Republicans voted, while the majority of D and R voters didn’t partake in the caucus-primary election?

Americans aren’t taking the caucus-primary and general election process seriously.

What can you do to help America remain a democracy and select the best candidates? Be proactive. Go to www.270towin.com’s “2024 presidential election calendar” to find out the precise date of your caucus-primary election and vote. Next, mark your calendar to also vote on Nov. 5, 2024.

Officials within your political party of preference as well as your county and state auditor can assist with any voting inquiry.

The first of 15 caucus and 53 primary elections begins on Jan. 15. Heed the words of Thomas Jefferson: “We do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” Be in the majority by voting in the caucus-primary and general elections or don’t complain about the religious, cultural and political zealot elected politicians we must endure for another two to four years who purposely could be seeking office to change America from a republic to a monarchy.

Daily Montanan is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Daily Montanan maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Darrell Ehrlick for questions: info@dailymontanan.com. Follow Daily Montanan on Facebook and Twitter.