The march toward fascism, dictatorship, and even monarchy rolls on in the United States, the nation that used to be the world’s beacon of freedom and democracy. We used to be a symbol of hope to people beset within brutal totalitarian regimes.

Two Oklahoma state senators have proposed specialty license plates adorned with Trump campaign slogans: the ubiquitous “MAGA” and its illegitimate child “KAG.” Such a move – beyond previously being inconceivable in a country that had some self-respect – could violate campaign finance laws, to say nothing of the fact that we fought the whole revolutionary war thing to get rid of the idea of a monarchy. Imagine what Lincoln would say. Hell, imagine what Reagan would say!

Go ahead, Business Insider, tell us the horrible details:

Though the plates wouldn’t directly benefit Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign, the Washington Post reports that the proposed plan could still violate campaign finance laws if the state uses taxpayer dollars or resources to make the plates.

Paula Ross, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Tax Commission that oversees specialty plates, told the Post that the agency doesn’t approve “plates that are discriminatory, threatening or overtly political.” However, those rules could be overruled if the state legislature approves the design, in which case officials would work with the Trump campaign to create an approved design.

So, the rule is that plates cannot be overtly political, unless it is overtly political enough that an overtly political state legislature signs off on it being fine with them? That literally seems to be the rule. God help us all.

How long until Trump’s profile is on the flag?

Speaking of god, does anyone else get just a bit queasy seeing all this Trump worship? There is an element of “early-adolescent girl obsessed with the boy band” dynamic to all this, is there not? I shouldn’t give them ideas, they might put posters of Trump (on Rocky’s body) up in the Oklahoma state capitol.

I liked Obama, a lot – actually. I liked most of his policies, I thought he had a big heart, was a great guy, read good books (except has not read mine, so far, damnit), he played hoops, drank beer, and had an ass-kicking, ivy-league educated wife, cooler than him. Plus the two of them raised two wonderful young daughters. Yes, I like Obama a lot.

I wouldn’t attempt to create a license plate deifying him, though. Nor would he let me if I wanted to, now that I think about it.

It is creepy. And that’s before we really examine the constitutionality of all this. It is very hard for me to believe that a government issued – and required – registration ornament could be “overtly political” whether upheld by the state legislature or not. You know the money will find its way into Trump’s pockets somehow. It is all he ever cared about.

Speaking of which, how long until Trump proposes to put his face on the $100 bill? And the 20, and the 10, …. Can he divert money from the “Wall” to put his face on Mt. Rushmore? Not enough rock for the chin? Good point.

I suppose we should be thankful that Trump remains so uneducated and unwilling to read. He might learn that “God Save the Queen” is the British national anthem, and get one of his few ideas.

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom