I hate to agree with Bill Maher about how very real the threat to America's democracy itself is, or how inevitable it's continued decline and eventual collapse feels.
In fact, though, it does feel inevitable. With every passing year, with each new election, we are sliding ever closer to the de facto end of our experiment with democracy here in the United States. Maher believed that this election would realistically mark the end of democracy, since literally hundreds of 2020 election deniers and pro- Big Lie and conspiracy theory advocates would seemingly sweep to power.
True, the Republicans did not see a "Red Wave," exactly, with yesterday's election results. Yet despite how much there is to discredit them and their beliefs, it always seems that they quickly gain traction. The collective memory in American politics seems too often short, but it appears to always be growing shorter still, especially when it comes to Republicans. Reagan brought the rise of staggering economic and corporate corruption, the Savings and Loan Scandal, early climate change and science denial, the rise of casual racism in place of the more overt racism that, at least at the time, ceased to be in fashion in the United States. And, of course, he sold weapons to Iran, illegally, in order to fund a war effort in Central America, which also happened to be illegal. His championing of "trickledown economics" ushered in a wave of economic inequalities that have only grown since, with many politicians of both parties continuing many of these same kinds of policies. Yet very quickly after he was gone, Republicans ever since held Reagan up as the model conservative.
George W. Bush similarly had an eight year term that was chock full of corporate scandals, some of which could and probably should have threatened the very existence of his administration, from Enron to Blackwater to Halliburton to the economic crisis that nearly brought this country to it's knees. His answer to everything was cutting taxes for the wealthiest Americans and corporations, and he was even more consistent with that than Reagan was. That, plus, the two wars, one of which was fought under entirely fabricated reasons, as the stated justifications of Saddam Hussein having piled up an arsenal of "Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's) and linking him to terrorism (without any serious proof) as the pretext to invading Iraq proved to be utter nonsense. Yet signs popped up within months of him leaving, with a picture of him next to the question, "Miss Me Yet?" Since then, his popularity has only grown, and many Democrats who once condemned him now almost view him in a pseudo romantic light.
There were other horrific Republicans, like Tom Delay and Dennis Hastert, who were undeniably creeps. There was the radical Tea Party movement, which sprang up quickly after Bush left office, and gained strong political traction, even though they supported a strong majority of Bush's failed policies. Sarah Palin quickly rose to incredible political prominence, without people knowing much about her, before her rather staggering ignorance was revealed in a now infamous interview with Katie Couric. Despite the job of a reporter being to expose crummy politicians, many blamed Couric for what was perceived as an unfair question, which clearly exposed Palin's ignorance, rather than blaming Palin for...well, her ignorance. That seems as American as apple pie.
Then, of course, came the rise of Donald Trump. There were so many scandals revolving around, and quite often directly involving Trump, that they are frankly too numerous to mention here. From his constant lies to his broken promise to divorce himself from his businesses while in the Oval Office, leading to all sorts of conflicts of interest concerns and issues, to his "perfect phone call" with the Ukrainian president, to his relentless attempts at undermining the legitimacy and credibility of American elections, to his clearly leading role in the attempted coup on January 6th, to theft of sensitive documents, bringing them from the White House to Mar-a-Lago, it is almost amazing that he is not already behind bars and deemed an immediate and very dangerous threat to the United States. But I say almost there, because Trump is perhaps the most glaring example of one reality that has frankly become undeniable: some people are above the law. Maybe not officially, but when you get down to it, he was. And he still is.
And why leave the Democrats blameless? The Clintons engaged in criminal conduct as well. Whitewater was never proven, but hardly seems unlike them. Then, there was his obstruction of justice while serving as the sitting president. At the time, I glossed over it, admittedly, thinking the whole controversy was overblown (pardon the pun). Now, I would not dismiss it so readily. Since then, the Clintons have clearly engaged in all manner of corrupt behavior, and I am not talking about ridiculous conspiracy theories like Pizzagate or lizard people or such. Remember, Hillary Clinton asked the Democratic Party leadership for help in a race that many felt belonged to her, when she knew that asking for such help was illegal. The Democratic leadership themselves should have known better, but Debbie Wasserman-Shultz gave that help to Clinton, and she received the nomination. Then there was that whole weird incident with former President Bill Clinton meeting Attorney General Loretta Lynch on a tarmac at the Phoenix Airport, actually temporarily closing the airport. Clinton and Lynch both claimed that it was a casual conversation, but the entire airport was briefly closed. Very shortly thereafter, Lynch closed an active investigation into Hillary Clinton's handling of sensitive documents. And then, Hillary Clinton received one of the debate questions, also illegally, from Donna Brazile (and Brazile admitted to this). Joe Biden likely also won the Democratic nomination for the White House as a result of similar help, because many Democrats clearly viewed Bernie Sanders as a threat, and many went to considerable, even shocking lengths to try and discredit him.
Should we hold up Barack Obama as an ideal politician, then? Hardly. Obama's first term so closely resembled George W. Bush's, particularly in terms of economic policies, that it was sometimes half-jokingly referred to as "Bush's third term." Remember, he escalated illegal surveillance, even on allied countries, and he also was responsible for drone strikes and killings. And let us not forget how he suspended habeas corpus.
No, all of this has clearly revealed that, in fact, both parties are blatantly corrupt, and beholden to their corporate sponsors (or perhaps masters would be the more appropriate term for it) in the policies that they champion. The Republicans are more blatant about it, true. but I hardly view Biden as some ideal president, not Clinton, nor Obama.
Yet, I voted against Trump because he is an outrageous threat to our democracy, and not just some symbol of hidden corruption With Trump, the corruption is something that he almost wears on his sleeve and appears to take pride in. After all, he once bragged that he could shoot somebody on a crowded street in Manhattan, and his support by loyal MAGA fans would not even waver. And he was right.
What a horrible time in American politics.
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