‘The End of Democracy As We Know It’

An article today at WBUR by Steve Almond, purports to show how if Donald Trump is not convicted, impeached and removed from office, it Is The End of Democracy As We Know It.

I, for example, agree with Mr. Almond and believe the same thing – – if Trump is convicted and forced out of office.

Are we both right? Wrong?

This is what Mr. Almond expresses about President Trump and the collapse of democracy in his piece:
– ‘House Managers want “You know: evidence, witnesses, facts.’
– ‘The president’s defense team is performing for Fox News .. recycled talking points. … grade school deflections…legalistic doublespeak’
– ‘This is a show trial, pure and simple, in which Republicans’ stated goal is to exonerate the defendant.’
– ‘The House managers very much want to provide senators with new information… witnesses ..’
– ‘a man as confident of his innocence as Trump would be eager to get all the evidence out there and clear his name’
– ‘McConnell, … knows that Trump is guilty.’
– ‘This exoneration, will establish a new precedent: for Trump himself, and all future presidents.’
– ‘The only way to repudiate this culture of sociopathic nihilism and lawlessness (on the part of Republicans) is for citizens of good faith to become more politically active.’
– ‘the transformation .. to a de facto monarch is the inevitable culmination of this moral rot.’
– The only remaining remedy is the 2020 election already besieged by voter suppression, gerrymandering … the perverse math of the Electoral College and, … foreign subversion ..

– – – – – – – – – –

I agree with each of his statements, but, again, for opposite reasons. Here is how I would say the same things, with only minor word changes:
– ‘The Senators want the House impeachment case to have “You know: evidence, witnesses, facts.’
– ‘The House Managers are performing for the mainstream media .. The House Managers are using recycled talking points. … grade school deflections…legalistic doublespeak’
– ‘This is a show trial, pure and simple, in which Democrats’ stated goal is to convict the defendant.’
– ‘The House managers very much want to provide senators with new information… witnesses ..’because their impeachment case is so weak and to drag out an evidence free trial as long as possible for more negative Trump media headlines
– ‘a man as confident of his innocence as Trump would be eager to get all the evidence out there and clear his name’ and smart enough to see a political trap
– ‘McConnell, … knows that Trump is innocent.‘
– ‘This process and any potential guilty verdict, will establish a new precedent: for Trump himself, and all future presidents.’
– ‘The only way to repudiate this culture of sociopathic nihilism and lawlessness (on the part of Democrats) is for citizens of good faith to become more politically active.’
– ‘the transformation .. to a one party socialist empire is the inevitable culmination of this moral rot.’
– The only remaining remedy is the 2020 election, as it should always be!!

– – – – – – – – – –
And, thus, is our dilemma in 21st century America. Who has the correct perspective? Or, as the left likes to say, who is on the right side of history? Because if you don’t agree, it is no longer just a debatable point in this country .. it Is The End Of Democracy As We Know It!

Or, is it?

Suppose elections rule again. Suppose politicians don’t invent successful foreign election schemes. Suppose Presidents are not forced out of office by opposition party extremists after every election. Suppose everyone again presents and debates issues. Suppose Congressmen & women stop lying and walking in hypnotic party lockstep and instead genuinely debate issues and policies. Suppose parties actually have the best interest of the country, not the party, at heart. Would our Democracy, our Constitutional Republic more accurately, be saved and return to its progressive greatness?

I think so.

For a change, lets be fair, rational and realistic on every subject. Accept ALL factual information, whether we like it or not. Then determine together what actions are best for the country based on shared facts. Lets accept that both sides deplore hate and drop it.

Too much to expect?

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