By now, unless you’ve been asleep for the last four years—or in an absolute coma for the last week—we now know what Trumpism is. It definitely is a thing! Trump has captured the Republican Party so thoroughly that the party of Lincoln hasn’t even bothered with a campaign platform for 2020. It is vision-less, adrift in a sea of hatred, lies, dirty tricks, and fear; and fear not of “mobs” in the streets protesting police brutalty and murder but fear of losing power. The singular goal of what remains of the Republican Party and the great wealth that backs Trump is to retain political power, the retention of which is not to advance any political theory but power for its own sake That is all. Trumpism is not politics. Trumpism is power, corruption, and wealth. Donald Trump would run as an anarchist if he was certain he could be re-elected. But he’s not,
For four days this week we have seen the face of Trump and his party’s campaign. Win or lose, it will not be the last of Donald Trump. If he wins, it’s just more of the same corruption—only worse because he cannot elected to another term after 2024.
If he loses, it’s now established by him in his own words that he will not go quietly. Losses will be challenged by recounts, court challenges, accusations, misdirection, claims of “rigging” and all the rest. He will absolutely challenge an electoral loss, likely lasting until after the January 20th Inauguration date.
But the shrillness of Trump as campaigner has begun in earnest. His son and his apparent gold digging girlfriend have told of broken families, riots, murder, mayhem, socialism, etc., should the Democrats win. And so it has gone with every speaker at the 2020 “Trump-vention” and of course, Trump himself, for the last four days. The irony of both our present circumstances and Junior’s prognostications is stunning.
Donald Trump has one characteristic which most human beings (even politicians) lack on Trump’s level. It is his ability to lie about anything absolutely shamelessly. The usual tells when a person lies, the nervous tics, eye pupil dilation, sputtering speech, shifts in body language...are not present when Trump lies. He is absolutely undecipherable. He will tell the nation the sun rises in the west with all the conviction of a preacher on Easter Sunday. As the old joke goes, you know Trump is lying the second he utters a syllable. It’s what he does. Yet, millions think he speaks the truth. What a feat!
Should Trump lose in November he will stand on the sidelines accusing Biden and the Democrats of being every name he can think of. For four years, He will stand on the sidelines because he will not take a 2020 loss with a shred of goodwill. As Obama said, “He [simply] can’t.“
And when 2024 rolls around, I’m pretty sure Trump will take another shot at the White House. He cannot live life knowing he lost in 2020. He is entitled to two terms only. He knows 2020 is a referendum on his 1st term and the thought of losing this year is more than he will accept. If conservative America comes to its senses, it will show him the door early on. He will be 80 years old in 2024.
Or he will be dead.
