Last Gasp

With mere weeks to go until the November election this appears to be the last gasp of the Trump administration.

The president will go for broke and continue to escalate his rhetoric to Joe McCarthy and John Birch Society levels.

The president will issue pardons to those who refused to cooperate in criminal proceedings.

Will the president grant himself a pardon?

Will the notoriously disloyal president replace Pence on the Republican ticket, hoping for a ‘game changer’?

If so, who would that replacement be?

What role will the Coronavirus play in the campaign?

Both Trump and Biden are in their 70’s and infection could be tragic.

The virus might encourage the candidates to do more outdoor events which could be a security nightmare. Political violence is always a possibility, especially now given the culture of hate that has been encouraged.

An unexpected Supreme Court vacancy could change not only the campaign but also the legal environment for decades to come.

What efforts will be undertaken to suppress voter turn out, especially among minorities?

Foreign powers will once again interfere in our elections. Will they get away with it again?

After the last gasp there will be more uncertainty:

Joe Biden’s age will probably make him a one term president. Biden’s vice presidential nominee will almost certainly be the front runner for the 2024 Democratic presidential nomination. Who else will compete?

And what of the future of Democratic party? Will the party shift so far left that it loses the ability to bring about a governing coalition?

Who will be the next Trump? Current elected Republican officials are far too submissive to command the respect of the MAGA followers. The person who inherits Trump’s mantle will come from outside elective politics.

Will good, decent conservatives be able to battle for control of the Republican party or will the Republican party continue to be nothing more than the party of white angst and conspiracy theories?

Take a deep breath- the next few weeks are going to be brutal.



Thanks and a tip of the hat to
DonkeyHotey for the image. See DonkeyHotey’s artwork at https://www.flickr.com/photos/donkeyhotey/29168164412/