Citizen Trump

The Citizenry, the insurrection, old people & Rosebud.

"Don't worry about me! I'm Citizen Kane! I'm no cheap, crooked politician, trying to save himself from the consequences of his crimes!"

That, of course, is a notable quote from Citizen Kane, the classic film about a media magnate who launched a sensational scandal-ridden newspaper while trying to get into politics.

The movie opens and ends with “Rosebud,” which turns out to be the name of a cherished sled from Kane’s childhood. (Spoiler.)

If the headline is big enough, it makes the news big enough.

I remember other journalism students at Northwestern discussing Rosebud and how it symbolizes the innocence of childhood. I sat there nodding while wondering what they were talking about before suggesting we break out Broadcast News.

I couldn’t stop thinking of Citizen Kane this week when the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled that former presidents may indeed be prosecuted for alleged crimes committed in office and referred to Trump as Citizen Trump.

“For the purpose of this criminal case, former President Trump has become citizen Trump, with all of the defenses of any other criminal defendant. But any executive immunity that may have protected him while he served as President no longer protects him against this prosecution.”

While I’m just tickled that the written ruling refers to former President Trump as small-c citizen, I think I speak for all of us when I say, we don’t want him back.

Seriously. Someone else will have to take him. He’s not even qualified anymore. I undergo rigorous testing every year to remain Citizen Smith, including interpreting ink blots and wrestling with the question of whether this is, in fact, a young lady or an old woman.

I JUST CAN’T SEE BOTH OF THEM.

But the entire informed citizenry should be paying attention to today’s Supreme Court hearing. They’re taking up the Colorado case of whether Trump can be removed from a state primary ballot because of his ALLEGED role in the ALLEGED January 6th insurrection. I’m going to go ahead and predict that the Court will rule in favor of Trump but then Neil Gorsuch is full of surprises.

This case was brought by six voters including 91-year-old Norma Anderson, a former Colorado Republican state representative. She said she wanted to be part of the lawsuit in order to protect democracy. Not every nonagenarian would take time off from swimming in the pool with magic cocoons to travel to D.C.

Respect.