Note: I am ericlewis0’s uncle. He read this article on my Gerry Meandering blog when it appeared late last night on WordPress and urged me to re-post it here on Daily Kos.
Two things have become clear in the past month. First, that in a fair democratic election, Trump cannot win a second term. Second, that Trump will do everything in his power to ensure that there is not a fair democratic election.
In her book “Too Much and Never Enough” Trump’s niece, Mary Trump PhD (who has taught graduate courses in trauma, psychopathology and developmental psychology), says “I hope this book will end the practice of referring to Donald’s ‘strategies’ or ‘agendas’, as if he operates according to any organizing principles. He doesn’t.” She explains “…Donald … understands nothing about history, constitutional principles, geopolitics, diplomacy (or anything else really) … [He] has evaluated all of this country’s alliances, and all of our social programs, solely through the prism of money.” “To him every dollar going out was his loss, while every dollar coming in was his gain.”
Trump’s inability to understand the concept of democracy means that while attempting to gain reelection he will not be constrained from taking actions that destroy it. In fact, he is already embarked on doing so in Portland OR where, as the New York Times reported “Federal agents dressed in camouflage and tactical gear have taken to the streets, unleashing tear gas, bloodying protesters and pulling some people into unmarked vans in what Gov. Kate Brown of Oregon has called ‘a blatant abuse of power.’” Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler called it “an attack on our democracy.” The Trump administration is planning to deploy what a Portland resident calls “Federal Brownshirts” across the country, without the agreement of state or local authorities … a technique common in dictatorships.
On the basis that whenever you think the actions of the Trump regime can’t get worse, they do, let me go out on a limb and predict two more ways they will try to tip the election scales by destroying democratic norms.
A month ago, Michael Pack, a colleague of Steve Bannon, was confirmed as the CEO of the Agency for Global Media, which controls all the television and radio networks – such as Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, Radio Free Asia and Radio Marti – that have been important in projecting American democracy and democratic values to the rest of the world. These networks have been effective enough that China and Russia make strong efforts to block them and to punish citizens who tune-in to them. They have been run by objective, respected journalists, guided by independent boards of directors, and supported by all past Republican and Democratic administrations. They have been unique in presenting America in an open non-partisan manner and have been a very useful means, for example, of countering Russian disinformation campaigns internationally.
However, immediately on assuming his role, Pack, who has no background in broadcasting, immediately fired the heads, as well as the boards of directors, of every one of these networks. Since then, there have been no reports as to what the Trump administration has in mind for this multi-billion dollar network that they now fully control. There must be some reason why they executed this “Coup d’etat” at AGM and, when the other shoe drops, my guess is that it will fall in some way on the head of Joe Biden.
In May 2019 Attorney General William Barr appointed John Durham to look into issues related to the origins of the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation. Durham is a long-time federal prosecutor in Connecticut, with a good non-partisan and non-political reputation. He is known for leading organized crime and public corruption cases. The results of his investigation will be released well before the November election. However, in April this year the Republican-dominated Senate Intelligence Committee issued a bi-partisan report concluding that the Mueller investigation was justified in determining that the Russians interfered with the 2016 election with the knowledge, and to the pleasure, of the Trump campaign. The report identified no problems with the way the investigation was instigated and executed.
According to a recent article in the respected legal blog Lawfare, the justification for the Durham investigation was slim and it seems quite unlikely that it will have uncovered any serious wrongdoing..However, the article raises the possibility “…that Barr is an out and out partisan hack – a Sean Hannity equivalent operating from the fifth floor of the Justice Department to try to fire up the president’s base or give the president other short-term political advantages.” It continues “This widely held view is difficult to square with Barr’s reputation for probity … but it is consistent with other aspects of his behavior …” If this is so, the fact that no serious wrongdoing was found will not stop Barr from distorting the report’s conclusion – just as he did when he issued his summary of the Mueller report a month before its release, which allowed Trump falsely to claim “No collusion;. No obstruction.”
Along with the Durham probe, Trump and Barr have been systematically trying to wipe out the results of the Mueller investigation. Barr has already dropped charges against Michael Flynn, after he pleaded guilty; and Trump has granted clemency to Roger Stone, who was not only found guilty but was about to serve a three-plus year prison term. At the same time they are attempting to turn the tables; accusing Hunter Biden — and Joe Biden, by association – of collusion with the Russians through his connections with Burisma in Ukraine. In order to do this, Barr has fired the key prosecutors investigating the Ukraine situation, effectively stopping pending investigations of Rudi Giuliani and his Ukrainian associates.
So here is my third prediction. After the Durham report is released, Barr will find a way to spin it in a way that favors Trump. At the same time, he will try to link it to Hunter Biden – and, by association, to Joe himself – possibly resulting in indictments.. This may seem far-fetched, but that is what happens in dictatorships.
Will any of this work? Unlikely, because Trump and Barr have already lost so much credibility. But it will serve as a distraction, putting Biden on the defensive if he is not prepared to handle it – just as the release of information about Hillary’s emails shortly before the 2016 election put her on the defensive (and probably lost her the presidency)..
Whether or not my predictions prove to be correct, there is no way to stop the Daily Destruction of Democracy from happening, in whatever form it takes, before the election on November 3rd. and, if Trump wins, that destruction will be finalized in his second term.
On the other hand, if Biden wins by a narrow to moderate margin, the eleven weeks between Nov 3rd 2020 and Jan 20th 2021 are likely to be (as one pundit has called it) “the most dangerous period in American history”. During that time Trump will still have the full power of the presidency with nothing more to lose – and there is no telling what he might do. His actions could conceivably start a civil war.
So the only safe answer is for Biden to win by a margin large enough that it can’t be contested … and current polling shows that this is possible. However, complacency must be avoided at all costs. Not liking some of Biden’s positions is not a reason to withhold your vote. Not voting – or voting for a third party – is a vote for Trump and a vote against democracy.
So donate!. Make calls!. Vote! Don’t just sit there – do something! Democracy – and your future – is on the line.