I wonder if local interest stories exist any more. These days, a quirky local tale can quickly be transformed into a national lightning rod at the speed and hate of X, with the requisite death threats.
Consider the story of 77-year-old disabled Vietnam Vet Lenny Amicola, who has lived in the quiet village of Croton-on-Hudson, NY (population 8,327) for 67 years. He created a stir in 2021 by raising a pro-Trump message on a flagpole. The flag was stolen, so he strung up a bigger one, higher in the trees. The village asked him to take it down. He refused.
The issue simmered for a few years. Then in July of this year, the village issued a citation to Amicola for flying a prohibited banner on his property, in violation of the local code. It didn’t take long for Mad Max NEWSMAX to fan the flames nationally, hyperventilating, “A Democrat stronghold in the New York City suburbs is trying to force a property owner to remove a pro-Trump flag.” Before they could draw another breath, the village faced threats of violence and a Department of Justice investigation. So they reversed their decision pending further review.
Although Lenny didn’t receive a Presidential Medal of Freedom for his crusade, he got the next best thing, a cap-crazy shout-out on Truth Social:
Classic, how Trump posts photo of himself, not Lenny.
Lenny’s Congressman, Mike Lawler weighed in last night:
Lawler copied the Department of Justice for good measure. On planet Lawler, this is the story that inspired him to raise the selective enforcement and free speech banner up his flagpole.
You have to shake your head in wonder, Lawler lecturing this tiny village for targeting one giant Trump banner in the trees, while the giant national village has to reckon with headlines like these, just in the past week:
- Trump Demands That Bondi Move ‘Now’ to Prosecute Foes
- Trump floats pulling licenses if networks are ‘against’ him after Jimmy Kimmel suspended
- US attorney resigns amid pressure from Trump after sources say he refused to charge NY AG Letitia James
- The S.E.C. Drops Efforts to Recoup Funds From Trump Clemency Recipients
- Trump officials shut down bribery probe of border czar Tom Homan
- US treasury secretary reportedly made similar mortgage pledge to Lisa Cook
We have all been drowning in headlines of Trump’s retribution campaign, starting with the blanket pardon of 1600 January 6 criminals, winding our way through intimidation campaigns, lawsuits and enforcement actions against “radical left” universities, law firms, media outlets, political foes, charitable organizations, cultural institutions, and government agencies.
And the first time that Mike Lawler has raised his voice about selective enforcement is to call out the village of Croton-on-Hudson, population 8,327. Ignoring the threats of violence already flowing their direction. Ignoring the insanity of a post like this:
We can always count on Mike to punch down and kiss up.
Rule of Lawler 