Sore Loser

It’s entirely possible that separating families at the border cooked the GOP’s goose in November. The images and audio coming from the southwest won’t be forgotten soon, and it was only a matter of time before otherwise indifferent fence sitters, acquiescent to a POTUS as unable to keep his mouth shut as he is to convey the least bit of empathy, would finally have enough. So what does a wave landslide in November look like and how will the vanquished react?

Trump’s rally in Minnesota and his unhinged cabinet meeting last week betray concern that November might be very ugly for GOP enablers. The more he repeats himself on a subject, the more preoccupied by it he is, such are the tells of a mental midget.

The primary season has brought good news and bad news for Trump. On the plus side loud and proud Trumpie nihilists have proliferated and sent a number of what passes for “moderates” in today’s Grand Old Party – or put another way, those who can read without moving their lips -packing. And the Neanderthal newbies are all in with Der Donald, bathing him in the props he requires to tweet for their cause. What was unimaginable two years ago is now a fact: this is Trump’s GOP. Even shameless Dems like West Virginia’s Joe Manchin are talking the talk (he may vote for Trump in 2020!), and walking the walk (enthusiastically voting for Gina Haspel for CIA.)

But Trump’s paving of the shockingly feckless GOP leadership and rank and file makes November’s elections unmistakenly a referendum about his constant obsession…him! And that’s a campaign few should be excited to run.

Incredibly, it’s salvation may come from the Democrats themselves, who appear skittish about going to war against unhinged nihilism, proffering parlor debates about what’s best for America’s middle class instead. Whether Trump will allow GOP candidates to accept that gift is doubtful, as he has made clear his schedule is wide open for regular rallies, where actually discussing policy differences with Democrats will surely suffer to his lust for inane self-promotion, spiced with a torrent of ugly lies and bigotry. And while that may turn on the wretched 35%, it’s unlikely anyone looking for an excuse to atone for holding their nose the last election cycle will be swayed.

But what if the chickens come home to roost earlier than expected? It’s a certainty an aggressive tariff regime will harm the economy quickly, as trading partners respond in kind, intent on sending the message they will not be cowed by a bully. Inflation and job losses may start spiking by August. And the border now has America’s attention, the fate of families torn apart should remain in the spotlight, with fresh polling placing the blame squarely on Trump. Add to that his knack for digging new holes with divisive gibberish, and a wave trouncing could go from a strong possibility to inevitable by September, no longer if but how bad. And Trump’s response to reality he can’t deny, but surely sees as an existential threat? The abyss is the limit.

What if Trump decides, as he did in the run up to November 16’, when he was convinced defeat was a certainty, to attack the integrity of the electoral system itself? What if the twice a week rallies become dominated by the “rigged system” narrative? What if he takes it to the next level and calls on his lemmings to boycott the election, stay home and be a patriot; don’t participate in this sham. And what if Fox/AM falls in line, bestowing on his sedition crusade status?
If you think this scenario is outlandishly impossible, you haven’t been paying attention.

There exists no dichotomy for identifying which Trump stump vomit is more malignant to the nation because he has been unhinged from the start. Yet and still, we know the country’s well being pales in importance to him when cast against his own rabid survival instincts. Democratic control of the Hill is game over, so why not do what he always does… fully discredit the threat to his wretched core? It is a tried and true standard operating procedure that has served him well to this point. Seems unreasonable to expect anything else.

The soundness of the American electoral process has been the currency of global order since World War II. Trump has been relentlessly attacking that status quo since he took office, with complete obedience from the body our founders assumed would stop him in his tracks. In fact, it now seems tragically certain that the GOP will fully abet Trumpism, if not actively promote it. So where is the logic in assuming this enterprise, when facing certain electoral repudiation and the loss of control of its fate which accompanies it, won’t try to burn down the house to save the plantation?

My father was wise and told me many sensible things, but none more apt for our purposes here than this: “never assume an asshole can’t be even more of an asshole!” BC