Trump Thread

[Seamus Fermanagh]

He would certainly toss "Posse Comitatus" in a hot minute if he thought he could get the votes. Trump is enthusiastically using every borderline interpretation, imposing his own definitions of what is right on anything not explicitly defined in the Constitution or law, using every picayune phrasing of any law while obviating the spirit of that law, and gaming every aspect of the system to supplant or sidestep the power of every other aspect of governance save the presidency. Even Lincoln did not executive power so cavalierly.

I am thankful only that the system is very probably robust enough -- and the 22nd Ammendment to the CofUSA clearly phrased enough -- that only an out and out coup will continue him in power past January 2029. While I think he IS doing what he can to allow for that potentiality, I still think it will fall short. Moreover, none of the would-be successors (Vance, DeSantis, Rubio, et al.) will be allowed to acquire the necessary adulation to continue this same sad vein of American politics -- I can thank Trump for his own Stalinesque narcissism for that. Since nothing matters to him but himself, I think the "apres moi, le deluge" tone will undercut much of the MAGA excresence. Sadly, it will persist on some levels for the rest of my life and not solely as a cautionary example. I actually think 2028 will be primed for an anti-MAGA reversal without the 'hero' himself in the lead role. Sadly, I cannot see a Dem leader, with the possible exception of Shapiro, who can both bring the Dems together and appeal to US moderates in broad numbers. This gives the MAGA crowd some hope of eking out a win for Vance or DeSantis or whoever, though I suspect without the clout that Trump wields.

Egads I hope so, anyway. The attempt at a coup would be bloody.