Role-reversal

“The thing about trying to silence a nation built on free speech is we've had 200+ years of practicing it. It'll take a lot more than a thin-skinned orange-skinned reality TV personality to keep people down!”
So says my friend ***** ******* out in L.A. ***** is ex of the Mighty Mezz, the best reporter they ever had, at least during my employ.
Others ex of the Messenger are **** and **** ********, who now run a pet-grooming emporium in nearby Canandaigua. They daycare my dog when I’m in Canandaigua.
**** was in ad sales, **** was a reporter/page-editor; I worked with ****. Both moved on before I retired.
****, like me, is a “bleeding-heart liberal.” (Gasp!) He counsels inmates at Ontario County Jail, which I think is really cool.
**** thinks a Trump victory is the beginning of Armageddon.
I, surprisingly, side with *******.
“Trump might proclaim himself ‘Der Führer,’ and suspend the Constitution,” observes ****.
“Never Fly!” I shout. “241 years of free speech, and that’s just from the Declaration.”
Trump declares a 20% tariff on Mexican imports to fund his Wall.
“So who eventually pays? “ asks the dreaded media. “Us, the taxpayers.”
Trump and his advisors quickly repair to the Oval Office.
Welcome to 241 years of free speech, Donald.”
I predict he may be impeached; perhaps even hanged.

• The “Mighty Mezz” is the Canandaigua Daily-Messenger newspaper, from where I retired over 11 years ago. Best job I ever had — I worked there almost 10 years (over 11 if you count my time as a post-stroke unpaid intern [I had a stroke October 26th, 1993, from which I recovered fairly well]). (“Canandaigua” [“cannan-DAY-gwuh”] is a small city nearby where I live in Western NY. The city is also within a rural town called “Canandaigua.” The name is Indian, and means “Chosen Spot.” —It’s about 14 miles away.)