Today I stopped by a “honk and wave” event in downtown Barre, held by fans of Donald Trump to mark the 100th day of his second term. And there, pictured above, is the “crowd.” About a dozen people at most.

Pretty sad, right?

They didn’t exactly get the response they were hoping for. There was plenty of rush-hour traffic at Barre’s busiest intersection, but the vast majority of drivers ignored the gathering; Once in a while, someone honked their horn in a show of support.

This was one of 11 Vermont events organized, if that’s the right word for it, by Gregory Thayer, failed Republican candidate, critical race theory scold, and sponsor of the CovidCruiser bus trip to the January 6 insurrection. Perhaps he attracted more sign-wavers at other events around the state, but the Barre event was a bust.

One more thing, which ought to embarrass any American who loves their country.

One Trump supporter held a very long flagpole (overcompensation?) bearing two flags. What’s wrong with this picture?

Yeah, that’s a Trump flag above the American flag. Which is a big fat no-no, according to the National Flag Foundation:

When it is displayed from the same flagpole with another Flag—of a state, community, society or Scout unit—the Flag of the United States must always be at the top.

Must ALWAYS be at the top. Same thing from the U.S. Flag Code: “No other flag should be placed above it.”

Maybe this was a simple mistake. Or maybe, considering the definite authoritarian bent of Trump II, it was deliberate. Because the message is “Trump Uber Alles.” It’s saying that Trump should hold a place of honor above our country itself.

Which ought to be soul-chilling to any real patriot.

And if you think I’m overreacting, well, just imagine how Gregory Thayer would react if an anti-Trump protester carried a flagpole with “Black Lives Matter” flying above the Stars and Stripes.