Words I had to eat in 2016: "Trump will lose badly". [View all]

[Atticus]

I just could not bring myself to believe that there were enough mean fools to put him in the White House.

Mrs. A was not fooled. She was picking up "vibes" that I was not. In hindsight, our trip down the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway should have opened my eyes.

For miles and miles we passed all sorts of residences---from mansions to shacks---that had one thing in common: every damned one had a Trump yard sign---or a larger professionally made Trump sign---prominently displayed. I don't recall seeing ANY Hillary signs. I did my best to pooh-pooh my wife's mounting fears, but she wasn't buying it. She did not flat out say that Trump was going to win---just that he COULD win and that was terrifying.

I relate this to perhaps break through the "America is better than that" comfort blankie that some appear to have again wrapped themself in. Like Mrs. A in '16, I am not saying Trump will win or even win the GOP primaries.

But, tne fact that such a disaster COULD happen again should be viewed as an existential threat that justifies an "all hands on deck" response. It can only happen if we allow it.