Am I the only one to notice that two Koch-backed extremists are now 1st and 2nd in the line of succession, should an elected Republican president be unable to serve?
Like most sane people on both sides of the political aisle, I was initially dismayed and puzzled how someone so dangerously unsuited to the job as Donald Trump could nevertheless rise to the top of the Republican ticket. I mean at this point, politics, corporate, and national leadership is a pretty well-oiled machine. Its captains generally don't reach their position by being stupid or confused - or surprised. Yet … Donald Trump!
However, the clouds suddenly parted after the recently announced VP pick of governor Mike Pence as Trump's running mate. Left to his own devices, it is unlikely that Trump's ego would allow choice of anyone who might outshine or talk down to him. Perhaps Trump was persuaded that he needed an experienced politician to strengthen the ticket. But why Mike Pence?
It turns out that Pence, like Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, is a Koch-backed poster child for the Koch-ian form of pro-business, anti-social, anti-environmental agenda. Both are Neoliberal ideologues whose pro-elite, antisocial policies might be difficult to sell to the struggling poor and middle classes. However, there is a way to “install” them in a bloodless coup, without having to go through the bother and expense of an actual election.
Whether or not Trump ascended through his own merits or with "help" (weak competitors):
- Quietly work your "people" into key positions (including Speaker of the House and now VP)
- Enjoy the public frenzy over Trump, making a public show of dismay at his candidacy
- Perhaps support vote-fixing shenanigans (as have already been seen) ensuring that Trump actually wins
- After a few months of President Maniac, seek his prosecution or forced resignation (a la Richard Nixon) over any one of a number of offenses. (If Hillary's e-mails are a nation-destroying crisis, imagine what could be done to The Donald.)
- Pence (or Ryan as a fall-back) take office. Progressives may not happy but can be consoled with "well, at least Trump is gone".
I hope I'm wrong about the above, but it is such a perfect storm of evil that sociopathic 1%-ers might be compelled to try it.
In any case, if you're bothered by the prospect of retuning to a feudal society run by a super-wealthy, unaccountable aristocracy, while the masses are locked outside the gates, then please at least consider and discuss this possible scenario.