Let’s face it, most of the Republican members of Congress are either authoritarians, stupid, radical right or cowards, with the majority falling into this latter category.  Voters can no longer trust them to do the right thing for the nation or the people.  They do whatever former president Trump tells them to do because they fear him.  Is this my opinion?  Damn right!  But what Republicans say and do every day confirms it in spades.

Many of the more rational House Republicans have either lost primary elections to obstructionists, or left Congress.  Now, second term Rep. Margorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who is beyond radical, wields great power in that chamber, along with others of her ilk, including leaders of the hard-right House Freedom Caucus and the 160+ member ultra-conservative Republican Study Committee.

The Senate is almost as bad; Utah’s Mitt Romney won’t return in 2025 and anti-democracy Sen. J. D. Vance (Ohio) replaced moderate Rob Portman in 2023.  He joined, among other election deniers, Sen. Ted (crazy) Cruz (Texas) and Sen. Josh Hawley (MO), who was video-taped supporting the Capitol attackers with a raised fist. 

Trump now has control of the Republican National Committee (RNC), installing his right-wing daughter-in-law as co-chair.  The GOP as we have known it during our lifetimes no longer exists; it is totally the party of Trump.  Consequently, even if he is convicted of one or more criminal charges prior to the Republican convention, Trump will almost certainly be the party’s nominee. 

What brought the GOP to this sad state?  Well, I totally agree with political blogger Charles P. Pierce who wrote, and I am paraphrasing, that it results from thoughtless gerrymandering, massive amounts of unregulated money that prevented the RNC from maintaining discipline over nominees and the steady deterioration of conservatism since Ronald Reagan’s philosophy began influencing the party in the late 1970’s.

Of course, congressional Democrats certainly aren’t perfect and their caucus has some radicals too, but as a whole, they support the rule of law and the Constitution’s democratic principles.  In my opinion, their legislation is primarily designed to improve the health, safety and welfare of Americans.  Yes, they may propose too much government and too much spending, but I believe it is all within the framework of our constitutional democracy and intended to benefit the entire population.  What’s so bad about that?

My greatest concern today, however, is Trump.  He is facing civil and criminal charges that could destroy his businesses and put him behind bars for the rest of his life.  I am virtually certain that he will be convicted of numerous crimes if he goes to trial in either federal case or the Georgia case.  He knows that too.  That’s why he is frantically trying everything possible to avoid a trail, including the one in Manhattan later this month, which could also convict him of several crimes.

Some legal experts, like Andrew Weissmann and Neal Katyal, seem to basically agree with my assessment that Trump’s best chance of avoiding criminal penalties is by winning in November and attempting to stay in office after 2028.  But I haven’t heard them fully articulate what they believe will likely happen if he loses. 

Trump is literally fighting for his freedom and his fortune.  And I have no doubt that he will do anything to avoid losing either one.  The rule of law, the Constitution and democracy mean absolutely nothing to him.  Think about it, if he doesn’t win the election, what the hell does he have to lose by attempting to incite nationwide violence or even a civil war?  

Trump praises the January 6 insurrectionists as “patriots,” many of whom he promises to pardon if he is elected.  He is legitimatizing their effort to violently reverse the outcome of a valid election.  He is also signaling to his supporters that they should get ready for a second attempt and that he will pardon them if they succeed.  It’s exactly like his 2020 debate statement about the far-right Proud Boys extremist group, “Stand back and stand by.”

The House January 6 Committee recommended that the Biden administration take extraordinary measures to ensure a fair election in 2024 and a secure transition period to the next administration.  They also advised that President Biden designate the joint session of Congress that will certify the election next January as a “National Special Security Event,” just like the inauguration and the State of the Union address.  This will mandate elaborate planning and expanded security measures and I believe the president will follow through.

I have not expressed my darkest concerns in recent posts; why add to all the depressing political news, I thought.  But no good purpose is served by clouding reality any longer: Donald Trump is like a cornered, wounded carnivore who will attempt to destroy anything and anybody that blocks his escape from accountability.  Truth is, even if he loses in a close election, our nation will still likely face a deeply troubling, possibly horrific, situation.

Polls show that most voters support democracy, the Constitution, and our democratic institutions.  That’s encouraging.  But naively hoping that everything will turn out okay – or not voting because neither candidate is appealing – could spell disaster this year.   

Biden’s poll numbers are improving and I don’t believe Trump will win come November.  But all democracy-loving Americans should get actively engaged in the process to ensure he is soundly defeated.