Utah’s Mike Lee has changed from a choir boy to a MAGA buffoon. 

You know the saying: “A leopard doesn’t change its spots.” Generally, that statement is one of universal truth. Sadly, Utah is being forced to reconcile the fact that one of its shining stars wasn’t really so shiny at all.

No matter how brilliantly a star has shone in the past, it seems destined for a predictable end. And that is that all stars will eventually fizzle. That’s the unseen reality of joyful lovers, peering wistfully into our Milky Way. They need only watch for a short while, to discover that there will be a final frantic flare as another star disappears into the universe.

Utah now has to face the fact that a star has fizzled, also considering the possibility that its very existence may have been merely an illusion or a deceptive artifact of something long extinct.

The star? Sen. Mike Lee.

Whomever Lee was in a previous life—or appeared to be—he can no longer claim the superlative descriptions to which he may have once been entitled. Among them were: 1. brilliant constitutional attorney; 2. well-scrubbed choir boy in a rousing rendition of the national anthem; 3. devout follower of the LDS faith; 4. a valiant warrior-hero marching under the Heavens-ordained leadership of a Book of Mormon-inspired “Captain DJT Moroni.”

By all accounts, Lee really did start out as a star. As a newcomer to national politics, he publicized his firm commitment to the principles of our democracy, assured his constituents that he was the ultimate authority on our great Constitution, and made his vows to face any sacrifice in order to preserve the greatness of America.

As a good start, he vehemently opposed Donald Trump’s confirmation as the 2016 Republican presidential nominee. But, like so many who have traded respectability and principles for a chance of recognition in the Trump monarchy, he’s proven himself to be, at best, a miserable failure at anything that really matters.

His latest attempt to rid himself of all respectability comes from his written response to the Minnesota assassinations of Democratic politician Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and the unsuccessful, bullet-riddled attack on Democratic Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, who miraculously survived multiple hits by the gunman.

As the Hortmans hovered near death, each with multiple bullet wounds, Utah’s own brown-noser buffoon had the indecency to do a social media post—one that showed a total absence of humanity and a truly depraved sense of decency. Rather than decrying the vicious acts, he apparently felt like he had to give it his own MAGA spin. And what do the MAGAs do? They blame everyone else for their own atrocities.

On Lee’s “X” account, previously Twitter, he made light of the assassinations and attempted murders, alleging that they were the work of a “radical leftist.” He also did a little Trump-style name calling, referring to Minnesota’s governor’s “Nightmare on Walz Street.” And there were further deceptive accusations, like "The far left is murderously violent" and “This is what happens when Marxists don’t get their way.”

Apparently, Elon Musk also felt obligated to demonize and accuse the left. His social post was countered by Fred Guttenberg, father of one of the Parkland school shooting victims. His assertion was terse and clear.

“Hey @elonmusk, the person who killed my daughter and 16 others was a Trump and MAGA supporter. The person who killed at Tree of Life in Pittsburgh, MAGA. Those who attacked DC on January 6th causing the death of police, MAGA. I could go on,” said Guttenberg. “Violence must be condemned. If your only interested in politicizing it, then move on and fuck off.”

Lee’s insensitive posts were accompanied by a surveillance camera image of the shooter, wearing a silicone face mask and armed to the teeth.

It’s hard to say which was worse—Mike Lee’s dishonesty, essentially accusing Democrats and the politically-left of the horror of the shootings, or his total lack of human compassion that resonated through his words. Instead of mourning the loss of life and the deterioration of American democracy, all he could do was villainize the left.

It only takes a moment to realize where the violence comes from. It isn’t the left at all. It’s a president and his hopeless followers who have worked to foment violence from the very start. Trump’s name-calling, lies, baseless accusations, his persecution of detractors and his appointments of sub-humans for his cabinet positions is at the root of an America that is getting constantly more radical and violent.

Mike Lee is now a shameful embarrassment to the citizens of Utah. He can’t be a constitutionalist and support the administration while, at the same time, assaulting our most basic human rights.

He can’t be a choir boy, trying to sing the Star Spangled Banner while his nose is buried up Trump’s ass. He can’t claim to be a good Mormon if his god is the god of lies. And he can never claim to be an American patriot when he faithfully follows America’s worst traitor.

More than a few have asked Lee to resign, but the best we can likely hope for is to have him rediscover what being an American is all about. Was Mike Lee actually a good human being at one time? All I can do is repeat the adage: “A leopard doesn’t change his spots.”