Trump: A Loser?

by Carl Bindenagel* 

Stephan Richter and Uwe Bott argued recently in The Globalist that U.S. President Donald Trump is, secretly or openly, by his increasingly egregious behavior and outrageous actions, trying to end his term of office.

Trump, the authors say, never expected or even wanted to be President of the United States. Part of the reason is that Trump either doesn’t like the enormous responsibility and demands of the job or simply cannot cope with them.

The argument that he never expected or even wanted to win seems credible, but does Trump really want to step down from his job? His re-election campaign has just raised records amounts of money.

Disorganized Democrats

Meanwhile, the Democrats are aping the Republicans in the 2016 presidential campaign. While the world back then laughed at 17 candidates and found itself gravely surprised with Trump winning, the 2020 Democrats seem even more disorganized.

There is an old, apropos saying that, when Democrats attempt to form a shooting gallery, they end up forming a circle.

Under such circumstances, it is at least conceivable, if not likely, that Trump — despite all his shenanigans and displays of incompetence — will win re-election.

At a minimum, Trump, who surely considers himself the greatest human being ever, and certainly is the world’s most narcissistic man ever, cannot accept losing. So he will stay in the race and — unless the Democrats get their act together soon — quite possibly in office for another term.

Spineless Republicans

What about the Republicans that support Trump no matter what? The Globalist described Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) as “a particularly spineless man and ruthless Republican” who lacks any real principles.

An apt description for McConnell, those words unfortunately describe most Republicans in office currently. A key reason for Republicans to back Trump is that they want to avoid aiding Elizabeth Warren, the latest Republican “horror feminae,”?

Republicans are happy as long as they can ram through their unpopular agenda against a socially divided U.S. public, intoning sonorous speeches about the importance of the rule of law, without meaning any of it.

They are especially delirious as the U.S. Supreme Court no longer operates likes a co-equal branch of government, contenting itself to operate as an especially powerful arm of the Republican Party.

Simplifying the complex

Which leaves the rest of the world wondering: Why the does a key segment of the U.S. electorate never waver, no matter how bizarrely Trump acts?

Because he suits them just fine. Trump makes complex policies seem simple, and he offers up a simple line of division to divide the public-at-large.

Trump provides a choice between the comfort of so-called fake news, which pleases voters unwilling to inform themselves immensely. Time and again, they are baited by Trump playing to their instincts, not their intellect.

In contrast, the Democrats appeal to the intellect plenty, which is always a risky proposition in politics, especially in the United States. To make matters worse, they run a totally split field of presidential candidates, which consists either of left-wing populists or dull wooden candidates.

To be sure, academics and other defenders of such noble ideas as liberal democracy are enraged in their ivory towers, extolling values and principles. But is anyone listening? Does anyone care?

Conclusion

If Trump wins re-election, and Republicans continue to ram through their unpopular agenda thriving on a divided public, U.S. expats will view their unraveling country less and less appealing to return to.

Here I am writing this in Ireland, wondering whether the Brits will finally take themselves out of the EU venture.

*policy analyst and writer on social justice and social policy

**first published in: www.theglobalist.com