While there is no predicting with certainty the future actions taken by Trump or the results, he has already given us the blueprints of what he may be up to, believing now after evading impeachment that only force itself may be able to remove him. As has been demonstrated in numerous countries that fell victim to fascism, it does not take a majority of the people’s support for this to happen.
The number of people who can’t or don’t vote, combined with voter suppression and gerrymandering, can accomplish this even without force in a democracy or republic. Add to this the fact that in America the popular vote does not even elect a president, but rather the electoral college, and we have plenty to be concerned about in November. The table is set for crisis. Trump has:
Taken over the Republican Party.
Openly sided with and pursued the support of White Supremacist Groups.
Has the Senate bullied and in lock step.
Has the Supreme Court majority.
A willing puppet heading the Justice Department.
He has a national media outlet (Fox NEWS TV) to parrot his line and justify his moves.
Has been backed by Putin and Russian billionaires.
Has beat impeachment and now believes the House to be impotent.
Crazy Like a Fox
What is not known, at least in my own case, is the true extent of his influence and support in the military, which ironically may be the only area that he has not been successful yet in contaminating, controlling, or neutralizing. He is an expert liar and bluffer, and projects better than many other more successful fascist leaders. He has revealed himself to be crazy like a fox, and has been a lot more calculated than most of us believe. His ability to stay out of prison all these years should tell us that. He acts like someone with a playbook for establishing fascism, and has in fact revealed that he is indeed cut from that authoritarian cloth. Someone who has actually studied how fascist leaders can be successful. He is much less spontaneous in many of his moves than any of us previously imagined.
Throughout history we can find numerous examples of fascist leaders and wanna be fascists who would not concede without a fight. All this should tell us that there is reason for all of us to be concerned about his plans for November. He is a desperate man whose life is on the line, not just his presidency. He knows that he will likely be sued, prosecuted and possibly imprisoned if he loses.
Fascists will resort to Violence
The candidates lined up against him, with the exception of Bloomberg, are all perfectly acceptable and supportable. But what the fascist calculates, is do they have BOTH the votes and the physical FORCE and backing necessary to remove him? They do not play by the rules, and will cheat, lie, and use force and even imprisonment and murder, to hold onto power. I foresee a low probability that he will go quietly.
I pray I am wrong, but I do not believe that the country is prepared for an attempt by Trump to avoid his removal. It goes without saying that his re-election would be a disaster and spell the end of the Republic, putting a Russian backed authoritarian white supremacist in the White House, possibly for life.
Only a massive public outpouring this Spring will discourage Trump’s predilection for subversion. I suspect that the nominated candidate, whomever it is, needs to address these dangers aggressively. Our Republic has never before been in this much danger since the Civil War. America has long survived with the time bomb of white supremacy just beneath the surface. It cost ¾ of a million lives during our Civil War and has erupted into mass public violence many times since then. Most Americans today do not want a race war, and have abandoned the agenda of the white supremacist fascists. But those arrayed against them have the sledge hammer of force and violence, and the willingness to use it, to achieve their goals. Trump is one such individual, and we assume at our own peril that the election will be on the level, or even if he loses, will be honored.