The next couple of presidents will have to work extra hard to regain the trust of the People

[ck4829]

I think we can safely say at this point, that it's perfectly acceptable, smart even, to throw the concept of "respect for the office" out the window.

Trump has tainted the office of president. Priority #1 for the next potus and maybe even the next potus after that will be to undo that taint as much as they can.

As a symbol, I think the damage he has done to it is pretty severe though...

[stillcool]

1. So many Americans expect way too much...

from one person, and nothing from themselves.

[ck4829]

4. Maybe it'll be a good thing if some trust is never returned

We could use a diminished executive branch, if that's what happens.

[Firestorm49]

2. Let's hope.

[uponit7771]

3. Or ... we can get democratic officials to tell America that Republicans stink at governing and the

... party in its current incarnation should not exist?

That it can exist with totally different members or named something else like the Fuck Up Crew or something just to warn everyone?

[DEbluedude]

5. The damage to the office, the damage to the institutions,

the damage to the whole "idea of America" has been irreparably harmed. It will take decades if not generations to heal this nation.

[Frustratedlady]

6. The next POTUS will have to work double-time just to put the office back together, not to mention

the country. Just look at all he has repealed/eliminated, as well as all the positions he has refused to fill. Those departments will have to straighten up/catch up for 4 years of neglect. It will be like walking into a ghost town with buildings falling apart and weeds everywhere.

I'd love to know if any other president came close to the damage this idiot has done to our country AND the world.

Biden is crazy to even consider the job, unless he has a senate and house to back him up. If that happens, it will be fun to watch him put us back together again. If he gets a female VP, she will make sure the smallest of details get covered. Women are like that.

[Hortensis]

7. This era is over 40 years long of intensive embedding of false equivalence

between the betrayals of the hierarchical, increasingly wealthy white male Republican Party and the attempts of the Democratic Party to provide government of, by and for the people.

Those intelligent and informed enough to see the enormous difference between the two aren't going to have to taught respect at all. We're just going to be glad.

As for those easily confused and/or uncaring about the difference between good and bad, they are the problem that is always with democracy because there's nothing new about this situation. In every era, feckless, easily fooled, even eager-to-be-fooled, people always draw bad leaders happy to oblige.

[pnwest]

8. ...and our allies.

[pansypoo53219]

9. not if they ain't a grifting moron.