Readers: this blog is set in the future (sometime after the year 2020). Each entry assumes there has been a 5th revolution in the US — the Revenge Revolution. More about the Revenge Revolution, a list of earlier revolutions and the author, Entry #1.

Periodically I write a “sense check” to assess whether in the next few years, a revolution in the US is still possible or whether the entire exercise is based on a statistical aberration — i.e., a roughly 50-year cycle between major upheavals in the US.  Most recent sense check, Entry #332.  

Entries the past several months have been an intentional diversion from the craziness in Washington. Starting with Entry #352 put us back inside the Beltway.

­­­­­­­Background detailed in Entry #353. In response to indictments charging former President Trump with fraud, tax evasion, extortion and several other crimes, Trump’s counsel suggested entering a plea of insanity. Trump told counsel to let the court know as an alternative, he would relinquish his US citizenship and relocate to either Russia or North Korea if all charges were dropped.

The presiding judge rejected any plea deal and ordered the case to proceed. Trump’s counsel then demanded a jury trial, apparently thinking it could convince a juror to hold out and secure a hung jury. Counsel believed the jury-trial strategy would allow time for Trump and counsel to attempt to sway public option in his favor and possibly avoid a second trial.

Courtroom – beginning the jury trial. Opening statement by the prosecutor. “Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, what I want you to think about during the trial is the following. I’m certain all of you have seen the movie, ‘The Wizard of Oz.’ Think back to the scene where Dorothy and Toto leave Munchkin Land and begin their trip to meet the great Oz.

One difference between the movie and this trial will be the names of the characters Dorothy meets along the way. The Scarecrow – recall who has no brain – is former vice president, Mike Pence. The Tin Man, who has no heart, is former Senate Majority Leader, Mitch McConnell. The Cowardly Lion is South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.

And Dorothy? Well, think of Dorothy as Nancy Pelosi. Toto represents one of those people buried in the government bureaucracy who steps forth and becomes a hero. The original whistleblower would be a good example. Think of the yellow brick road as Trump’s obsession with glitz and gold.

Skip ahead: by now Dorothy, aka Pelosi, and Toto have gone far enough toward Oz to have encountered all three of the characters. As they proceed farther, the group encounters a number of situations. With each event, Pelosi realizes that Pence is starting to think more, McConnell is developing a bit of a heart and Graham is showing some backbone.

When the group reaches the Land of Oz, they face what seems to be a formidable force protecting the fortress of the Great Oz. Think of the protection as say Trump’s fixer Michael Cohen, former lawyer Rudy Giuliani or some members of the White House staff. However, when the defense is confronted by Dorothy and her group, the protection quickly crumbles and the group is able to enter the fortress.

When the group finds Oz, they begin to ask questions. Trump, I mean Oz, responds to these questions with such inane statements as ‘I am a stable genius’ and ‘In my great and unmatched wisdom.’ Along with the inane comments, Trump verbally and viciously attacks Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Lion.

The vicious personal attacks cause each of the players to pause. The pause is broken when Toto uses his paws and pulls back the curtain, exposing the Great Oz hiding behind it.

Now exposed, the self-proclaimed master ruler is no more. Toto has exposed for all to see all of the boasts, claims and lies. The era of the Wannabe Oz is over.

Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, please keep these scenes in­­­ mind as we provide evidence supporting the grand-jury indictments of Mr. Trump for fraud, tax evasion, extortion and several other crimes. Thank you for your attention.”

The defense counsel objects to the opening argument and asks for an immediate dismissal of the case. The judge overrules and the trail begins. (Continued)