The election is over. If you've read anything I've written over the past eight years, you know that I'm appalled by the results. But people spoke; the majority of Americans He happily returned Donald Trump to the presidency.
According to the book, we are all to accept the election results and commit to fighting the good fight over the next four years, looking forward to better times in 2028. I don't know if I can do that.
I'd like to try this and see what the results are. What if, for example, a ticket featuring Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro was better? But give credit where credit is due.
Donald Trump is a wolf in wolf's clothing. His voters knew he disdained the rule of law and democracy. They knew about his dark impulses and desire for revenge. (How could you not? “I am your retribution” was one of them) his slogan.) They knew about his conspiracy theories and his lies. they heard his warning my own advisor Trump wanted to rule as a dictator, and he did. “A fascist through and through.” And they accepted all this in stride. Many of them enjoyed it.
Kamala Harris could not have been more different. She ran a good campaign, reaching out to centrist voters with a clear message: protect american democracy. If someone had conveyed that message in a more folksy accent, nothing would have changed. People wanted to buy what Trump was selling.
In 2016, we could all act like Trump was an anomaly. Not this time. People knew exactly what they were voting for. Democracy is not very high on the list of priorities.
Democrats will look at these results and conclude that demagogy is the future. If that's what people want, why not give it to them? And the future Democratic firebrand is probably already in elected office at this point. Don't imagine that the Democratic politicians who stand up to Trump can't be Trump. Political ambition allowed demagogy to take over the Republican Party in just a few years. There's no reason why we can't do the same for Democrats.
This goes double as the expected turmoil of the past two years in President Trump's next term could provide fertile ground for populist demagogues. The billionaire is ignore laws that apply to others and Hand out pardons and special deals to your cronies If you want to stir up public anger while ordinary people are suffering, it's an attractive foil.
For 250 years, we have had this strange idea that democracy is an end in itself. But every good dictator knows that democracy is nothing more than a tool that can be thrown away when it is no longer useful. I think we have reached that stage in America.
Mr. Trump has very openly expressed his belief that: The only fair election is the one he wins. His running mate, J.D. Vance, has said much the same thing. Assuming Trump doesn't run for a third term – his thoughts floated Mr. Vance is likely to be the Republican nominee in 2028. Given the amount of power Trump is amassing as president, it's hard to imagine him and those around him shrugging their shoulders and walking away from office simply because they lost. election.
Meanwhile, every presidential outrage, every abuse of power, every special favor will be lovingly recorded by Democrats and etched in their political minds. When it's their turn to take power, as it inevitably will someday, this will all be permission to elicit their own retribution. And they will. Why should only Democrats follow the rules?
The cycle of abuse and anger will continue forever because neither side trusts the other not to take their revenge. Once democratic trust in one's fellow citizens is lost, it cannot be easily regained.
Perhaps I'm too cynical. Perhaps I, too, have been infected by President Trump's apocalyptic vision of America. However, even if that doesn't happen, the future I envision is even possible. And that alone is enough to indict.
The election was fair and free and I respect the results because I cannot do otherwise. But I doubt the same will be true four years from now. Unable to maintain center.
chris tuax He is an appellate attorney and served as Southern California chair for John McCain's 2008 primary campaign.
