The War Finally Does Him In
I drafted this back in June, but never got around to posting it. Why do I post it now? Well, obviously because I have a good chance now to be proven right.
I never thought a man with criminal record would be able to gather a crowd so large that it can swing the election. We know of course how it was done, through the amplification by Fox News run by Murdoch and the help of other opinion shows that were determined, like Joe Scarborough’s in 2016, to give him the benefit of doubt while watching their own profits rise with the controversies that ensued.
We all know how Trump has conducted himself, with utmost depravity, determined to ignore the entire framework of constitutional and criminal law, aided and abetted by a Supreme Court which was stacked by him and long ago lost its footing and credibility: a president without criminal accountability for actions in office, thanks to the infamous Supreme Court decision, will exactly conduct himself like this: like a king. And aided by a Congress whose majority is beholden to him and in mindless lockstep with him forever, until the tables are turned.
It is amazing what he got away with – the list is too long for this space, and it has been enumerated before. But … but the outcome of the war he recklessly started with Iran will be his final demise. By all accounts, including a lot of Republicans in the House and Senate, he put USA in a much weaker position worldwide.
If we learn anything from history, countries follow their leaders through the craziest of follies but there is one red line: whatever you do, don’t lose a war you started. The Argentina junta started a war re-claiming the Falkland Islands, and its quick defeat within weeks brought them down. The Soviet Union poured untold military resources into the 10-year conflict with Afghanistan, which became the quagmire contributing to its downfall. Kaiser Wilhelm started World War I and found himself and the entire Roman Empire he presented booted out of history in the end. While the Republican party for most part stayed mum watching their leader falling over himself in the most embarrassing ways, they finally see the light and the risk of following him over the cliff.
What’s next? Believable retreat from a long-held and long-published opinion is difficult, but as they are used to quick-silvery speech and the short-term memory of the brainwashed MAGAs, they will manage this as well. How will de-trumpification work? Will there be de-MAGAfication, in the model of Entnazifizierung? Will we see Stephen Miller, RFK, Bondi finally brought to justice? The half-assed turnaround of MTG and Tucker Carlson give us a clue: they will disparage Trump and claim another base as they hold on to most of their remaining silly positions. In MTG’s view, Trump is endangering the 2028 chances for her most beloved Vance.
.
.
Leave a Reply