The release of the recording of Donald Trump's comments on sexual assault being among the privileges of celebrity caused my mind to drift back more than thirteen years to one of the most repulsive displays I have ever witnessed.
The lead act on the first night of the 2003 Jubilee Jam music festival in Jackson, Mississippi, was the band Saliva. A vast throng of young, ecstatic white kids was braying in response to the music.
Then the band stopped playing and the lead singer, Josey Scott, began a harangue in which he advised all of the kids to fuck someone and told the girls, "I'm available tonight--see my shirt. Don't worry; I'll use a condom."
I got closer so that I could see what was written on his shirt. In white lettering on his tight black tee-shirt was this message:
FUCK ME
I'm Famous
Scott roused support from the very young audience by making sure that he never said more than three words in succession without having some variant of "fuck" be one of them. Apparently his philosophy was: Talk dirty and you don't have to be able to sing.
Nor was the belief that fame allows a man to "have" any woman and treat her any way he wants the only similarity to Trump in Scott's disgusting display.
Stooping to the last refuge of the scoundrel, Scott denounced "the fuckin' Dixie Chicks--They wouldn't last a half a day in the desert" (whatever relevance that might have to their views on the wisdom of a war in Iraq). It was unclear how long he thought he would survive in the desert.--but, presumably his ability to say "fuck" so much was a sign that he was more of a man than any of the Chicks. He secured cheap applause by hailing the real Americans--the army, navy, marines, and air force, along with President Bush. Then he topped it all when he denounced "anyone who supports al Qaeda," plainly implying that this category includes the Dixie Chicks and everyone who was not 100% behind President Bush. "Here's a fat, fucketey finger for those fucking terrorists!" he shrieked. "If I were George W., I'd be raining fuckin' nukes on the Middle East!"
Then this Real American Man returned to urging everyone to have casual sex--preferably with him, but he strongly implied that anyone would do. He mentioned that his eleven-year-old son had recently told him, "I want to be a fuckin' rock-and-roll star, like you!"
With each imbecilic comment from the singer, the crowd roared its approval at a higher decibel level. It was reminiscent of a Nazi rally--or a Trump rally.
Trump's angry, totally unrepentant non-apology apology hostage video
does nothing to erase the evil that he revealed when he said ""I did try and fuck her. She was married" and ""when you're a star . . . You can do anything [to women]. . . . Grab them by the pussy--You can do anything."
If this isn't, at long last, the end for Donald Trump, our country may be beyond hope. Being a congenital optimist, I believe that it is the end for him. Thank God and hot mikes.