Gordon Robinson | International Domino Awards 2025
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For the 14th time I celebrate my days around Gene Autry’s domino table by handing out awards named for the regulars.
International Dunce Award:
How does Donald Trump not win this award hands down?
Elementary, my dear Watson. Firstly, there’s nothing careless about anything he does. Nor should one single act of horror, scandal or oppression by him surprise anyone particularly the 77 million plus Americans who enthusiastically voted him into the White House despite multiple felony convictions and two earlier impeachments.
He told everyone with ears to hear what he’d do. He’s doing it!
Mainstream media likes to portray him as an incorrigible liar and it’s a fact that he often economizes with truth especially regarding his “achievements” as President BUT he didn’t tell a single lie on the campaign trail as to what he planned to do. Mass deportations; government contraction; DEI abolition; white supremacy support; radical education shift from black to white history; and tax cuts for the wealthy were all up front parts of his platform.
Mark you he also couldn’t resist the politicians’ lure of promising to lower the cost of living. No doubt a coming attraction....
If you were in any doubt you needed only read Project 2025. It’s a political manifesto published by the “Heritage Foundation” (whose heritage?) to restructure government to concentrate executive power and enforce right wing policies.
So said, so done!
But The Orange Buffoon is only one man. Especially in a carefully constructed governance arrangement that entrenches legislative oversight of and separation from Executive Power, it’s Republican legislators who’ve kow-towed to Trump in the most base, bootlicking fashion and allowed him to effect these racist, bigoted, megalomaniacal policies.
The unbelievable undo by former Never-Trumpers like Ted Cruz and J.D. Vance with straight faces is beyond mind-boggling. The only credible explanation has its origins on January 6, 2021 when a Trump incited gang of thugs descended on Capitol Hill with murder as their rallying cry. Legislators huddled fearfully in offices turned bunkers or were spirited away. In the melee and its aftermath five people died and 174 police officers were injured.
Most of the culprits convicted and imprisoned were pardoned by Trump so I suspect Republican legislators fear for their lives. If that’s so this makes them worse than co-conspirators,. It makes them spineless wimps.
So, whichever it is, Republican Legislators, save one (named later) are winners of this year’s Dunce Award
The Dunce’s message to them: “If a macca, mek it jook yu!”
International Dunce Move of the Year Award:
The Australian Government, as personified by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, wins this year for its inane attempt to legislate a social media ban for persons under 16.
PM cemented his award by announcing the ban would be enforced against tech platforms not users who breach the law or their parents.
Oh dear.
Lookie here Tony: in case you haven’t noticed, this is 2025. We’re a quarter century into the third millennium since Jesus’ birth. He had to spread His message on foot or donkey without microphones. Today messages are sent worldwide in an instant.
In 2025, you can no easier prevent a specific demographic from sending or receiving information than wheels from spinning. So why are you trying? What are you planning to achieve? Do you believe Government can be Australian teenagers’ parents? Or that paper-tiger legislation will stop teens from doing what teens want to do?
One last thing, Tony and pass it on to all governments. Please stop trying to divide criminals from non-criminals by arbitrary numbers. Whatever the “crime” whether social media use, purchasing alcohol, smoking or any other Judea-Christian inspired sin legislated as crime, you can’t be guilty at 15 years, 364 days but innocent the next.
This award goes to Australian PM Anthony Albanese
Congratulations, Tony, for rushing in where angels fear to tread. The Dunce says: “If a macca mek it jook yu!”
MARJORIE TAYLOR-GREENE’s recent development of testicular fortitude and consistency in advocacy despite presidential pressure is deserving of recognition that goes beyond the casual.
In the context of fears being driven into the hearts of Republican legislators (see Dunce Move Award above) her ability to draw the line is remarkable and her lack of anxiety to flip flop at Trump’s insistence commendable.
Yes, it took an attempt to suppress evidence of at least aiding and abetting paedophilia for her to draw the line but she did. Obviously her brave stance has inspired others to follow as latest defeat of Republican attempts to gut Affordable Care Act subsidies, inter alia, has proven. Thanks to her example, it looks like House Speaker Donald Trump (oops, sorry, Mike Johnson) has lost control of the Chamber.
Good on you Marjorie. Merry Christmas to all!
Peace and Love.
Gordon Robinson is an attorney-at-law. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com