General Discussion

The powers behind the scene, whoever they are - Putin, billionaires, corporations, tech bros, religious right, Project 25 wingnuts… - appear to have decided that Donald’s cons (so to speak) outweigh his pros. The handwriting is on the wall. The Epstein scandal is perfect since it allows the powers that be to get rid of Trump without alienating much of the base. I’m wondering if they might actually make a deal for Trump to retire ‘gracefully’ in return for a pardon for any crimes for which he can be pardoned. Trump would have to be stifled indefinitely, however, or he’d constantly be undermining the new administration.

Of course, then we get Vance, who presents his own problems. But at least the insanity might be less capricious and chaotic. And the base is not going to like their new President, who has zero charisma and comes across more as an effete intellectual than as a hillbilly. Who knows what would happen with Vance in charge, other than a continuation of the authoritarianism that his handlers love.

At some point, however, this whole thing has got to come to a head. Three hundred and fifty million Americans are not going to accept being ruled by a dictator while their future is destroyed by a cabal of crazy people.