It (he?) makes no sense. A few weeks ago we were told ISIS was defeated and America would soon be withdrawing its  troops from Syria. Now we have been informed that it may take years to withdraw. Trump has also shut down the government in order to blackmail recalcitrant lawmakers to fund a “wall.” Well, actually it may be a “fence” or maybe a “barrier.” Oh, Mexico would pay for it we have been told since 2015; in fact, it is the American people who will bear its cost. I can go on and on with this nonsense.

It has also recently been reported that even Republican lawmakers privately admit  Trump is, at best, “unhinged.” In fact, his behavior indicates serious psychological problems. The solution (other than impeachment, which remains, at this time, the best, but politically unlikely answer), is to counter Trump’s problematic behavior at every opportunity. But, thanks to the winners of my “5 Despicable Enablers” of 2018, that is unlikely to readily occur. Like some of their predecessors, Hitler’s Albert Speer and Lyndon Johnson’s Robert McNamara being notable self-admitted examples, it is clear they know better, but continue to close their eyes and cover their ears regarding Trump. They swore allegiance to the Constitution, but instead assist and enable a deranged President who continues to harm the country and ignore our system of laws.

At the top of the list is Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. His actions during the earlier days of the Obama administration, when he announced that he would do everything he could to impede the President’s legislative agenda, was a clear demonstration that he would use his position to increase his power and project his racist agenda on the country. Under Trump, despite private—and sometimes public—early misgivings, McConnell has maneuvered whatever the President has desired through Congress. The Majority Leader does not appear unhinged, just hateful. He’s not dumb, just malicious.

Number 2 is Mike Pence, Vice-President and Trump robot. Publicly, he stands beside the President, usually silent and expressionless. At cabinet meetings, he sheds fawning praise on his boss. He views himself as moral, the picture-perfect Christian fundamentalist. In fact, by enabling Trump’s misogyny, racism and worst tendencies, he is a self-righteous disgrace to what Jesus represents. He is the would-be President.

Number 3 is Senator Lindsey Graham, someone whose behavior brings dishonor to the memory of his “friend,” John McCain. Graham’s episodically displayed beliefs seem based on whatever will draw him into the limelight. He dishonors the Senate and the nation. The tragedy is that if he actually shared and acted upon McCain’s principles, he could have been an effective roadblock to the current insanity in Congress.

Number 4 is Sarah Huckabee Sanders. She is the Goebbels of this administration, practitioner of the “big lie,” as well as countless small ones. As Trump’s press secretary, she is an enabler of the worst sort as she misleads, dissimulates, and makes excuses for Trump’s policies and behavior.

Number 5, Paul Ryan, should be remembered as “the man who could,” smart, energetic, and seemingly trustworthy. He was, as Speaker of the House, a knowing enabler of the Trump agenda, someone very much in the Robert McNamara mold, a person who understands how government must operate if it is to have a salutary effect on the American people. As third-in-line to the Presidency, our now former Speaker, brought dishonor to the job, becoming a rubber-stamp for the President’s insidious machinations.

There it is, the worst five. So many others remain. With the House now led by the Democrats, we will soon see how effective they are in freeing the country from the scourge of Trump and his cohorts.