Mid-term blues

In 2016, the American electorate voted for Donald Trump as President.

They decided against a second term in 2020, and on 6th January 2021, Trump intigated an armed insurection that nearly saw his Vice-President, and several members of congress killed. As it was, several police were killed.

Despite Trump's claims, there was no evidence of a stolen election. Each time such claims were brought, courst across the US rejected them, and many of Trump's council did not repeat his claims, lest they be disbarred.

The Democrat controlled lower house impeached Trump, the upper house did not.

He got off.

Even after all this, the electorate thought that was was needed was a second term for Trump.

Trump on stilts.

The first two years of the second term has been wild. Elected on a ticket of no new wars, he started wars in Nicaragua and Iran. Fishing boats were attacked nearer to home, with no evidence the fisherment were also drugrunners. ICE has been killing and kidnapping at will, though there has been resitance, and meanwhile, the war in Iran and the closing of the Strait of Hormuz has caused oil and gas prices to surge.

In the mid-terms, the much expected rout of the GOP took place, as many once red states, like Texas, turned blue.

Vote like my name is on the ballot Trump told voters.

They did.

Although Trump takes no responsibility for the defeat, its always someone else.

But.

The US electorate has voted for Trump twice, the second time knowing what he was like, and did it anyway. If they vote for a Trump twice, they will a third time, though not the Donald. Probably.

And the Democrats suggest changing laws and maybe the Constitution to ensure this cannot happen again. And yet there are laws and ammendments to the Constitution that should have prevented the excesses of Trump. Congress cluld and should have stepped in, but the GOP stood on the sidelines and cheered as Trump imposed trariffs over and over again, then abolished them, then reinstated them.

Trade policy is the role for Congress.

The Supreme Court should have trimmed Trump's wings, but they allowed clearly unconstitutional acts to take place. Allowing gerrymandering, and errosion of voter protection.

If the GOP can get round or just ignore the coursts, flout the Constitution, with no consequences, then tey will do it again. Passing new laws and new ammendments is a waste of time and paper for the GOP will just ignore them.

Trump has tried to annex Canada and Greenland, but has succeeded in annexing Nicaragua and stealing their petro-chemical dollars. It has played games with Ukraine, and pivoting to supporting Russia invasion and expansion plans. The US is no longer a trusted ally, even with a weakened Trump and a friendly Congress. Trump and the GOP have sacrificed decades of global policy on thirty pieces of Russian silver, and that betrayal will never be forgotten of forgiven.

The only thing to do is to prosecute those who have broken the law and constitution, giving no quarter. Otherwise, in two or six years time, the US will be at the same point.

Meanwhile the Democrats need to show America that it can govern better, to make America heal, to make people's lives better. I don't know if they can do that, and if they can't, the next, less stupid Trump, is waiting round the corner.