General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTrumpism, after their defeat in November.
We cannot allow ourselves to think of the alternative. That is simply not an option for a majority of Americans. That does not mean it cannot happen. But, just as in 2016, it would not be something the majority of voters would agree upon. Trumpism must be defeated.
What happens when the numbers come in and Trump and his supporters are confronting a new reality?
There will be charges of cheating and massive fraud. They will find one example and let FOX News build it up as if it was overwhelmingly across the nation. That is the way they operate.
Trump will not retire to a life of an elder statesman. He will linger in the shadows, stirring up division and hate, just as he has done for the last 4 years. He will lead his minions in their revolution to "take back America".
As more and more facts are revealed about Trump's financial dealings, he will continue to play the victim to "fake news" and the "Democrat Party". His supporters will show up at events, with their guns and 2nd Amendment garb, to show their support for their defeated Leader.
No one expects them to go silently into the night. They will continue to flaunt the laws and pretend to be persecuted. Trump will cheer them on as they sow division and hatred within our country.
It is very likely that there will be violence and that people will be killed. Donald Trump will need to be held accountable. All investigations and charges against him will need to be pursued aggressively. He needs to understand that there is no Republican Party to save him. It is possible that they will be so divided that they can think of nothing but survival?
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)The GOP is thinking of nothing but survival right now. The elephant is a dinosaur.
Much of what we see is a desperate attempt to keep an obsolete party in power by any means necessary. The rat is trapped in the corner. They know that. This is how a country turns sour politically and descends into tyranny.
TBA! Take Back America. I can already see the hats.
My hope is that the whole thing flares up and then recedes into the dark bowels of infamy so that the rest of us can move on and recover from it someday. I know, wishful thinking.
kentuck
(112,491 posts)America may not be able to hold together as a nation. Just as some regions organized for their own interests during this pandemic, it could happen in the months and years ahead.
Capitalism, like communism in the 1980's, is fighting to survive. It has become a small club for the ultra-wealthy, who move paper wealth in and out of Wall Street.
We are entering revolutionary times, in my opinion.
Newest Reality
(12,712 posts)That's a plausible extrapolation.
It is hard to predict, but you have some good points there. There is enough stress on the system to bring something like that about.
I agree on capitalism, as well.
mnmoderatedem
(3,828 posts)we've seen the intimidators with their assault rifles out in public. We've seen them defended as "that's their right". We see the trump culture. Even if it's a landslide Biden victory, trump will predictably cry foul, the trump davidians will take to the streets. Potential for mass chaos and death is very real. Trump will do nothing to attempt to tap it down, in fact he will feed off of it and all but encourage it.
This could very well happen. Hope I am wrong
mitch96
(14,524 posts)MSM will STILL hang on his every tweet and comment... He will comment on EVERYTHING that happens in government and how it relates to HIM! After all it's all about him, right?
I guess he will try to stir the shit pot with his wack-a-doodle conspiracy theory's and run off to a country with no extradition if any shit sticks to him...uffda
m
FakeNoose
(35,184 posts)Chump needs to be banned and dumped from all social media. Once Chump has lost the election - or resigned if you believe James Carville - he needs to disappear completely. He needs to become a ghost and lock himself in his tower on 5th Avenue. Or better yet, stay at Mar a Lago and watch the place go bankrupt. Currently his "followers" are mostly bots and those need to be exposed for what they are ... Russians agents and trolls.
mitch96
(14,524 posts)Can you just imagine if that happened!!! He would have a coronary!! His mouthpiece would close up.. Fox is not his friend any more.. Oh what is a poor boy to do??
m
trueblue2007
(17,887 posts)beachbumbob
(9,263 posts)the trump criminal family and criminal circle. We simple tell the trumpers, love america or leave, putin may welcome you
KentuckyWoman
(6,846 posts)I do too. Hard to be tied to Kentucky and not.
Once the adults get the car keys from them, the vast majority of Magats will yell about how no one understands them and how much they hate us. Then they'll piss and moan about how unfair life is and then stomp all the way to their room and slam the door.
The alt right will get some thugs together and scare people and their may be some people hurt, but nothing like civil war. The everyday keyboard warriors aren't brave enough to their lives on the line.
However - I feel like we are overdue for an Oklahoma City style event from one of those racist maniac groups. DJT has emboldened them and my sense is that is where the danger lies.
Edwcraig
(327 posts)Unless our messaging improves, these racist, sexists, fascist, anti-americans will not give up power. Republicans have deftly demonized the word "Socialism" (whatever that is) and then linked it with liberalism (whatever that is). You notice they always say "liberal Democrats or when they are feeling their "Wheaties" say "Socialist Democrats". Our virulent, powerful response is ----- "no we are not'
Good politics for them. They have demonized us and we are feckless in our response.
This is war for the soul of our democracy. While we may not be comfortable in participating in the political gamesmanship, we must. The great undecided "change voter" must feel somewhat uncomfortable being associated with these evil people and we need to do more to make them uncomfortable.
To start. Never say Republican without saying. Racist Republicans or Sexist Republicans or Fascist Republicans (if you are feeling your Wheaties). Also never say Trump without saying Republican Donald Trump or Trump Republicans.
Say it. Trump supports are anti-american and plan to over through American Democracy if they do not win. Let them respond. Make this the subject dejour.
Be politically smart. Our country may depend on it.
Butterflylady
(3,919 posts)Right now he has a doctor at his beck and call 24/7. He won't have that when he's out. He'll gain more weight and lead a more sediment life. It will do him in.
Chainfire
(17,757 posts)A lot will depend on how wisely we govern.
If we decide to persecute Trump with never ending trials we will be feeding the fires of hatred, violence and death. We will be better off, to try to move forward and leave Trump in the wastebin of history. As satisfying as it would be to see Trump in an orange jumpsuit, it would only keep him in the news. Out of sight, out of mind would be the Democrat's best policy.
As much as I hate to say it, and as much as it goes beyond my emotional desire for revenge on the bastard, Biden should hand DJ a blanket pardon, and we should move on. That policy need not extend to Trump's underlings who the hard core right will have no personal loyalty to. To jail the criminals who propped up Trump will be a more effective message going forward.
I is time for rational governing by adults, if, in winning, we further fan the flames of hatred, we will get what we fear.
kentuck
(112,491 posts)Biden should keep a distance from it but his AG, just like Barr has done, should appoint a "special investigator" to investigate the entire Administration, especially Donald Trump. Democrats will desert the Party in droves if Biden gives a blanket pardon.
mitch96
(14,524 posts)Correct... keep a distance and let the law decide.. Then again McTurtle has been stacking the deck with Con Judges...
m
dajoki
(10,681 posts)justice must be served to all of them.
Chainfire
(17,757 posts)If you want to establish the policy of attacking former presidents, for real or imagined crimes, then you go for it. I think it would be poor policy because what goes around is sure to come back around. We do not need to emulate banana republics.
The more rational policy would be to quit fighting after you have won.
What really matters is that Trump is out of office, out of power and we can reverse the destructive measures he has taken in the last four years. In doing so, we will consolidate power by bringing people into the fold rather than alienating them out of spite. If we are to make longterm gains we need to retain power long enough to repair damage to the courts and we won't do that spending the first two years of a Democratic government in a giant pissing contest. We can not effectively govern if we are wasting our energies in an emotionally driven war on Trump the person. What has to be attacked is Trumpism.
I too would love to see Trump in cuffs and an orange jumpsuit, but not enough to throw away the possibility of making real political gains that have some staying power. If we try to rule out of spite and hatred for Trump then we are no better than the right wingers.
kentuck
(112,491 posts)But there were/are crimes being committed. In the name of justice, not political retribution, Democrats have a duty to investigate and to get to the truth of the matter.
If it were only politics, they could say that they are putting everything in the past behind us, and moving forward as a nation united, but, in reality, they could be investigating certain charges to see if there is enough evidence for the new Democratic AG to file charges. That should include the full Trump Cabinet and Administration. If they committed crimes, they should be prosecuted. That would include AG Barr if he covered up evidence in any investigation?
dajoki
(10,681 posts)I don't want to see the same mistake Ford made with Nixon.
mitch96
(14,524 posts)They have been trying to do it to Dems so the gloves are already off. No more bringing a "hot dish" to a knife fight..
m
peggysue2
(11,401 posts)We've been there, done that. Nixon should never have received a pardon. The fact he was turned into an elder statesman in his later years only spurred the ongoing "We can do anything" belief among GOP operatives. Reagan's misdeeds and Bush&Cheney's national lies were pushed aside with a need-to-move-forward position and now we have the most lawless Administration in American history.
At some point, perpetrators need to be held accountable, publicly shamed, called out for what they are. Otherwise? We're simply turning a blind eye until it happens again.
Joe Biden has said, 'No Pardons.' That's a good starting point. Allow a reformed Justice Department to carry out a thorough investigation starting on Day 1. Uncover, reveal and prosecute where necessary. It will be part of restoring the country by cleaning the stables. Americans need to be reminded that we're suppose to be a country of laws, not men, and that 'no one is above the law' is more than mere lip service.
Never forget, never forgive.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)nightly rallies, while investigations and litigation proceed. That doesn't mean his depowered minority would prevail against the sizable majority who voted him out of office. He'd also lose enormous power to influence current followers who now saw their strongman as a loser, and their numbers would shrink dramatically to his hard core alone.
But there will always be other RW leaders. It really all depends on how many majorities the Republican Party loses. If they were to hold congress, for instance, their corruption and national destruction, would continue, just at a slower rate again. And if they kept control of the senate, our ability to repair our nation and clean out their corruption would be enormously handicapped.
Then there are the states they managed to keep conservative control of -- or to lose!. Most of the corruption of government, usurpation of power and destruction of American values have been taking place there.
This is this month's cover, but I'm not reading the lead article, too distressing to contemplate. Note the prominent Bible, though. Religious extremists have become infiltrated all through government since they helped elect him, he's trotting on their leash, and if he's reelected he'll owe it above all to them and Russia.