November 6: On This Day In 2024
{Assuming the GOP holds on to win the House}
Our "experiment in democracy" didn't last as long as, say, the Romans'. But, 249 years is nothing to be ashamed of.
But the era of the United States being a country of laws, rather than of men, has ended. At least for now. One single man will control most levers of government in a way that hasn't happened here before: The Executive Branch. The Senate and the House, replete with huge numbers of members who will cower and bow whenever their Dear Leader tells them to. (Are there are any GOPers in Congress who will say No to him?) The Supreme Court and a big chunk of the lower court system. The Popular Vote. He has already said he'll bring the Department of Justice, plus thousands of government positions, under presidential control. And, for the first time, he has the SCOTUS-authorized ability to do pretty much "whatever the hell he wants," as long as he claims it's within his job description.
And, given the demographics of SCOTUS, it's likely that he can cement his "gains" now for literally decades; he may end up appointing four 40-year old justices during this term.
There's no sugar-coating this. He also "has" The World's Richest Man (or wherever Musk ranks), plus many top Wall Streeters. He has already neutered the press (looking at you Jeff Bezos). Universities are in disarray and have pre-emptively announced they'll no longer make political statements. Checks-and-balances have been eliminated, and the federal government will be whatever that one single guy says it is.
And let's remember, that one man who in 11 weeks will single-handedly take charge of this country is the biggest recorded liar in the history of human civilization. And he’s already been named by historians as our worst-ever president.
And this is what most Americans want. The plurality of voters look at his mug shot and say "Fuck yeah! THAT's the dude I want as my president!" Across the country we saw several Propositions win at the ballot box even when they were opposed to GOP policies. But policy doesn't matter when He is The Man!
This is a somewhat, perhaps, maybe, dark vision. Please feel free to explain why we're wrong. Is it because he's old and sick? Is it because there will be House elections in two years? Is it because the nation's governors or civil servants or police or military or Democrats or press or courts will stand up to and squelch his worst impulses? Will JD Vance stand up to him; that same guy who called him "America's Hitler" but who then fell in line when it seemed he could personally benefit?
"Our country has never seen anything like this before," he said tonight. He is right.
Our nation felt reasonably unified in early 1991 when this moment took place. How long will it be until we can feel unified again?
On This Day In The Trump Administration: We had a good run