Back to the present as
Trump inauguration fizzles
True believers will have to postpone their “Storm” to another date but in the meantime much is happening
By Byron Toben
It was fun in my earlier article to compare the QAnon fantasy that, on March 4, Donald Trump would be inaugurated as the 19th president to the movie Back To The Future. Whether due to security measures “just in case” or lack of enthusiasm among the true believers, there was no reported massing or rioting to celebrate on the 4th, 5th or 6th of March.
True believers will have to postpone the coming of their “Storm” to another date. In the meantime, back in the present, much is happening.
CPAC 2021
The Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), founded in 1974, held its annual meeting in Orlando, Florida, instead of the usual Washington, D.C. Dominated by Trumpeters, it featured a giant golden statue of the Donald paraded through the halls, evoking a comparison to the golden calf mounted by biblical Israelites wandering in the Sinai desert.
In his keynote speech, Trump was light on policies, heavy on vindictive against House and Senate Republicans who voted against him. He also indicated he would run as the Republican president again in 2024 rather than form a 3rd party. If so elected, he would be the second president to serve two interrupted terms, Grover Cleveland being the only one before.
Dominated by Trumpeters, it featured a giant golden statue of the Donald paraded through the halls, evoking a comparison to the golden calf mounted by biblical Israelites wandering in the Sinai desert.
He continues to refer to Republicans who oppose him as “RINOs” (Republicans in Name Only). I prefer to refer to them as “RPIEs” (Republican Party in Exile), having been ostracized from the cult of Trump.

$15 minimum wage protest in 2015 – Image: The All-Nite Images from NY, NY, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Past as precursor to the present
In the 1850s, the “Know-Nothing” party advocated black suppression and immigrant restriction.
In 1918, the first “Red Scare” repressed labour as the vanguard of Communism.
In the 1930s and 40s, various House committees on Un-American Activities (HUAC) came and went, concentrating on Hollywood, deeming any underdog sympathies as Communist.
‘In the 21st Century, most congresspeople are millionaires or richer. Yet Republicans and some rich Democrats block a reasonable minimum wage.’
In the 1950s, the second “Red Scare” gave rise to Joe McCarthy and his committee dubbing every socially concerned person a secret communist, his brandishing of envelopes containing “proof” (rarely revealed) a forerunner of Giuliani doing same in recent years.
In the 21st Century, most congresspeople are millionaires or richer. Yet Republicans and some rich Democrats block a reasonable minimum wage.
Identity of Q?

Shaman at the storming of the Capitol on January 6 – Image: TheUnseen011101, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
QAnon, which sprung on the horizon in 2017, had predecessors in previous years: FBIanon, CIAnon and the like. Amazing that this cult has attracted so many, yet the leader(s) are unknown. We know, in varying degrees, of Moses, Jesus and Mohammed, yet Q is sometimes presumed to be a high-ranking former intelligence officer. Some research points to a U.S. citizen who is a pig farmer living in the Philippines.
In any event, cryptic clues (Q drops), the importance of the number 17, and vilification of the usual suspects all interact to make this curious and curiouser.
How will this all evolve as we amble forward toward the future?
Latest Trump complaints
Barbara Amiel, wife of Conrad Black, famously once exclaimed that “My extravagance knows no bounds.” It may be said of Trump that his narcissism knows no bounds.
Having compared himself to Presidents Washington and Lincoln (maybe), worthy of a sculpture on Mount Rushmore, deeming himself “The chosen one” who is a “serene genius”, demanding a Nobel peace prize and a Time Magazine cover, and slapping his name on tall buildings, casinos and golf courses as well as airlines and schools (most in foreclosure), he now blasts the RNC for using his name to raise money and, as reported in Vanity Fair, urges all COVID vaccination recipients to picture his likeness upon receiving their shot(s) for his having created the cures in one year only, compared to the estimated 5 years.
Feature image: Gage Skidmore via StockPholio.net
More articles from Byron Toben
Byron Toben, a past president of The Montreal Press Club, has been WestmountMag.ca’s theatre reviewer since July 2015. Previously, he wrote for since terminated web sites Rover Arts and Charlebois Post, print weekly The Downtowner and print monthly The Senior Times. He also is an expert consultant on U.S. work permits for Canadians.
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