The Trump Presidency VI: Stormy Weather

Maybe there will be a horrendous terrorist attack in early November forcing Trump to cancel the elections and declare martial law.

Or maybe he'll learn the Russians are so good impacting elections that we cannot be assured the November elections will be free and fair. As such the mid-term elections will have to be delayed until their integrity can be assured.

So many possibilities to feed my cynicism.

 

I wish.... I'd clean shop real quick.

 

Was American democracy dead when a large part of the country was essentially an apartheid state in which basic political and civil rights were routinely denied on the basis of race? Because that was the case not all that long ago, and I'd say it was worse than anything that's happening now.

Obviously, Trumpism is a thoroughly undemocratic phenomenon. It's also a type of authoritarianism that we aren't familiar with, and may seem more dramatic because of its exoticness. The narcissism, ignorance and buffoonery of a petty tyrant, the shameless and blatant self-enrichment of his cabinet and cronies, and the hiring of totally unqualified family members to high level positions - these are things that aren't supposed to happen in a developed country, and their presence in the White House seems a bit bizarre and surreal in comparison to the more dignified authoritarianism of, say, Dick Cheney.

All the same, undemocratic currents have run deeply in the veins of American government for most of the country's history. Fatalism about these most recent departures from democratic ideals seems unjustified. Unless Trump starts a nuclear war or something, we'll get over it.

If the Democrats win a house of Congress, that's probably the de facto end of the Trump presidency. If they don't win in 2018, a scenario where Trump wins reelection in 2020 still seems unlikely to me (barring a truly awful Democratic nominee). Even if the economy is good, are people really going to vote to subject us all to four more years of the ongoing absurdity and moral disgrace, and roll the dice that Trump can go four more years without causing a major disaster?

I'm dubious. Long term authoritarian projects need a firmer foundation than whatever the Trump freakshow is currently constructing.

 

Speaking of which... This becomes a “How to kill your guaranteed $100k+ job in two days or less”. Home boy went from unopposed, to opposed, to primaried, to out of the race within 48 hours.

https://www.pressherald.com/2018/03/16/house-candidate-who-insulted-florida-teens-drops-out-of-race/

 

There are many possible future scenarios that are worth worrying about. These are not among them.

I mean, if there was actually a national catastrophe big enough that Trump could use it to cancel elections, declare martial law, and get away with it - then I'd be a lot more worried about the effect of said catastrophe itself than about any hypothetical Trump administration response to it.

 

For just a moment sanity has prevailed.

 

Democracy will take a dramatic turn for the better if the Democrats win the House in November. That should be a goal that all non-Republicans support, as well as every Republican who values her country over party politics.

At some point, the American people will need to say No, or accept that the rule of law will be disappearing.

 

It is a tribute to the twin powers of Fox and misogyny that Donald Trump can spend his life taking down people who are just doing their jobs, because they are in his way and he is vindictive, that Hillary Clinton has rarely if ever done that, and that tens of millions of Americans believe the opposite is true.

 

Let's not exaggerate. There are fundamental differences between the US and countries like Turkey and Hungary. First of all our institutions are more deeply established. And we're not a homogenous country so it's impossible to really dominate public opinion.

I wouldn't jump to conclusions yet about the demise of the country. These people have zeal, but not a whole lot of competence. Incompetence has a way of rising to the surface one way or another. Some might say that what we're really seeing is the death of the Republican Party. And it's not about 2020. 2018 is much more important right now, and that is only 7 months away. For a group of people that supposedly are ending democracy, they sure found it hard to fix the recent election in a +11 Republican district. If they can't fix an election there, I can't imagine how they'll fix one in a purple district.

 

So Michael Flynn was spotted campaigning for a Republican in California. Coincidence? Normally his lawyer would probably advise him not to do that. Expect his case to be thrown out within the next few days.

 

John Brennan, not mincing words.....

When the full extent of your venality, moral turpitude, and political corruption becomes known, you will take your rightful place as a disgraced demagogue in the dustbin of history. You may scapegoat Andy McCabe, but you will not destroy America...America will triumph over you. https://t.co/uKppoDbduj

— John O. Brennan (@JohnBrennan) March 17, 2018

 

No caption or comments needed......



Andrew McCabe reveals Trump was obsessed with his wife — bringing her up ‘every time I ever spoke to him’
In at last four occasions, Trump taunted him about it being a “mistake or “problem,” and called the man’s wife a “loser.” Trump even raised the issue with former FBI Director James Comey at one point, “Out of the blue,” he told CNN’s Pamela Brown Friday.

Trump would say things “like, ‘What’s wrong with that deputy director of yours?'” The comment implied that somehow McCabe was politically motivated against Trump, which McCabe said is “absolutely not true.”

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/03/an...ssed-wife-brought-wife-every-time-ever-spoke/

 

I predict that in the next two months, both Mattis and Kelly will be gone, and then things will get really interesting.

 

How long till he goes full American Psycho, steps out of his limo on 5th Ave and guns down a black guy (at random of course). "Hey - he was probably guilty of something, amirite?"

 

THAT is bricks through GOP office time.

 

A great day for fascism! Another voice (potentially) smothered.

Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018

 

You really think that will affect his standings with the GOP and his faithful?

 

Months or weeks?

 

He does not know how to handle a gun, I suspect.
Don Jr. or Eric on the other hand....?

 

That is just beautiful.

 

Oh my. I hope that this is just the start of people speaking out and being heard.

 

The firings of Comey, McCabe, White House staff, and 'others' is the closest Trump can get. At the moment. To emulating Putin's poisoning, shooting, and strangling people who he perceives are against him.

Give him time.

 

Well...The next move from El Douche.....

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