At the heart of the latest twist in the Trump story is a question you can pose a few different ways.
Is there a line for Donald Trump? Is there a point of no return for the former president? Could a sex offender be president?
So often it’s asserted that the residents of the rural counties in only a few of America’s states are individuals who can tilt the country’s course.
In the shadow of Virginia’s Blue Ridge mountains, Donald Trump has always had his loyalists and there are, of course, those who will never be moved.
Driving south along the west side of the Shenandoah National Park, I passed a house that’s hardly visible beneath the Trump flags, banners and yard signs. One said “Behead Biden”.
But beyond this steadfast commitment, what about the more sophisticated Republican voters?
Shenandoah County has voted for a Republican presidential candidate in every election since 1932.
The whole electoral district in this part of Virginia has not supported a Democrat for president since Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964.
‘Everyone makes errors. Nobody’s perfect’
In a break from mowing her lawn in the small town of Mount Jackson, Bobbi Rosenberger agreed to a quick chat.
Self-deprecating, she pondered aloud if her hat would make her look like a “redneck” – her word.
The conservative values in this town are as strong as they come. It’s a Republican heartland, and the talks offer a lesson for anyone who choose to mock or reject the folks here as ignorant Trumpian rednecks, as so many do.
“I am not bound by my political labels.” “I vote for the candidate I believe will be the best,” she explained.
“I’m not going to limit myself to one candidate.” I want to see who decides to run. I’d probably vote for Trump. But I want to see all the other candidates before I make my final decision.”
I inquired about the fact that a jury had determined that he was a sex offender. Her answer was telling. Yes, she was willing to forgive him, but that was dependent on how much she despised the alternative.
“Everyone makes mistakes. Nobody’s perfect.”
Her despair over what she sees as the country’s damaging, liberal, woke direction under Biden was palpable during our conversation.
“Biden is a sad disgrace as a leader for our country. Someone who can’t even give a proper speech and can’t keep their train of thought. He obviously has dementia.”
Some people are sceptical of the sex offender scenario. They suspect the plaintiff, E Jean Carroll, was merely wanted the money. They believe Trump’s claim that it’s all a witch hunt.
Others agree that his moral compass might be faulty, but it doesn’t matter to them.
They feel his ‘no bull’ attitude represents them. He is their street fighter, he speaks it like it is, he isn’t like other politicians. Warts and all, they’ll take him over all the others.
‘Welcome to America’
I met Bobby Jones up the road, on the back of his tractor.
“It’s sad to see the Republicans and Democrats; it’s not like it used to be when they only had minor differences.” “They now look like two different countries,” Mr Jones said.
I asked about the latest Trump twists.
“I’m not gonna say he’s a good man or bad man,” he told me.
“All I’m saying is that on my standard of decency, he at least did try to help get rid of abortion.
“He did strive to assist keep jobs going. He attempted to keep his employment in the United States. He tried to keep an eye on the folks. If he did something immoral, I don’t agree with that. I believe it’s bad. But look at what Biden is doing. Please have mercy!
“In DC and all the northern locations we hear about how they vote for the Democrats. Well, how can they with all that going on?” he asked.
A few fields away, another revealing conversation with factory worker Rick Lutz.
“He’s just paying the price because people are terrified of him. They just want to crucify Trump. They’re all filthy, as I already stated. “But I prefer Trump!” Mr Lutz informed me, adding with a laugh: “Welcome to America.”
You would believe that the most damaging aspect of this latest twist in Trump’s story was his own reaction, which was played in recorded testimony at the E Jean Carroll trial, where he was asked about comments he made in the infamous Access Hollywood tapes in 2005.
“Is it true that stars can grab women by the pussy?” E Jean Carroll’s lawyer inquired.
Trump replied, “Well if you look over the last million years, I guess that’s been largely true. Not always, but most of the time. Whether unfortunate or lucky.”
Or fortunately?
It frequently appears that America has reached a point where entrenchment, polarisation, and distrust of the other are so deep that nothing can change minds. It is a location where there’s now an immunity to the unacceptable.
