A year ago, we were all suffering from post-election-day hangovers. The presidential campaign had been exhausting for the nation, and probably the world. In the end, Biden was declared the winner by a margin of 7 million votes in the popular vote count and by a margin of 306 to 232 in the Electoral College vote. It was a clear victory for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Under normal circumstances, it would have been the beginning of the transition to the Biden administration. However, as we all know, nothing associated with Trump is normal so we entered into a several week period of embarrassing chaos which culminated in the insurrection attempt on January 6th which fortunately failed.
We can all remember the conspicuous absence of Trump from the inauguration ceremony marking the first time in decades when a sitting president refused to attend the inauguration of his successor. Instead, Trump picked up his remaining toys in the White House and retreated to his sand box at Mar a Lago to sulk and plot his revenge. That last word is why most Americans should be very concerned about 2024.
Most people, accept those who are unwilling to look at facts and data objectively, know by now that Trump is not interested in governing, in the traditional sense of the word. There is no altruism in Trump. There is no desire for public service. He did, after all, get a doctor to ‘manufacture’ bone spurs so he could escape the draft. No, he is not interested in ‘Making America Great Again,’ in spite of the catchy slogan.
There are only two reasons why Trump wants to regain the presidency. The first is that he needs the protective legal shield it provides him and those around him. He and many of those close to him are currently facing multiple legal problems. Those problems would all either disappear or be put on hold indefinitely if he can, in Captain Kirk fashion, “raise the shields” of the presidency.
The second and more disturbing reason that Trump is hell bent to return to the White House is revenge. It is well known and documented that Trump loves to exact revenge upon anyone who crosses him, questions him, or ridicules him. Even now that he is relatively powerless, he continues to use every means at his disposal to exact revenge. Just look at what he is trying to do to people like Liz Cheney who had the audacity to vote to impeach him and called him out for his part (still being investigated) in the events of January 6th.
Can you imagine what will happen if Trump is re-elected in 2024? It is a given that he will try to undo everything done under the Biden administration including pulling out of newly negotiated climate agreements, any future treaties with Iran regarding their nuclear capability, etc. However, the more daunting and dangerous thing will be his attempt to use the Department of Justice as his own personal cudgel to exact revenge upon everyone he believes is a RINO and any and all members of the Democratic leadership. He already tried to do this in his last administration and that is likely to look like an amateurish blooper reel compared to what we can expect the next time.
Everything that happened in the failed January 6th insurrection, the failed attempt to place only Trump loyalists in the top positions at the DOJ and the half-hearted and half-successful effort to plant only Trump loyalists throughout the government bureaucracy were merely dress rehearsals for 2024.
Given Trump’s success in pushing the ‘big lie’, if he does run and lose in 2024, we can expect even more lies and likely more violence. Polls suggest that something like 30% of Republicans agree that ‘violence may be required to save the country.’ Think about that. That should scare the hell out of everyone. Based upon what happened in 2020, does anyone really think that Trump will just ride quietly into the sunset in 2024 if he runs and loses? Odds are, it will be even worse.
If he wins, then perhaps a violent coup can be avoided but the era of the ‘Trump revenge’ will commence. It won’t be pretty. Unfortunately, as long as Trump is in control of the Republican party and the leadership of the Republican party is afraid of Trump, if he is the Republican nominee in 2024, there are no good scenarios. If he loses, we are in for another insurrection – perhaps worse – because he will claim fraud. If he wins, he will operate with impunity regardless of the Constitution, the law and public opinion.
There is a well-documented trail of destruction left in Trump’s wake. Let’s hope that the United States of America doesn’t get added to the list. Unfortunately, that is not hyperbole, it is reality, and unless more Americans wake up to this reality and refuse to accept Trumpism (authoritarianism) as a way to govern, the ‘shining light on the hill’ that was once a symbol of American democracy will be snuffed out – possibly forever.
Not worried about last night – getting a message to Dems about spending and the economy can have a benefit – Americans vote mostly with their wallets. And excessive govt spending is an easy low hanging fruit target for the Republicans to target. And there is the staggering national debt – fault of both parties but most easily blamed on social program spending as another target. And there is always bounce back in off years.
Yes – I can imagine what would happen – that’s why my passport application sits to the side ready to walk two blocks over to the post office. I for one – will leave this country and not return until it’s sanity is returned. The last world leader hell bent on revenge was good ‘ol Adolph Hitler for world war one. Didn’t end well – for anyone, except for post war United States as the only remaining major country not destroyed. Folks think we still live in that era, sadly.
Should DT be elected in 2024, if he is still alive, China on or about this time is expected to over take us / others (combined EU) as the world’s largest economy – which means they will become the world’s largest superpower if they allocate the normal percentage of money towards their defense industry. I would fear DT would be looking for a fight somewhere – which would not end well again – for anyone. Not to mention he could very well start an internal civil war between the classes which are still dividing economically.
But in the mean time – not getting to worked up – other than to warn others – as he has another 3 years to have a stroke and become fertilizer. Yes, I would visit his grave – to spit on it.