The 2024 Election -- My Worst Fears

And now to a slightly less depressing topic -- Donald Trump is not only cruising to an easy victory in the primaries, but seems poised to win the general election as well.  No amount of deranged behavior on his part seems to dent his chances.  The real danger he poses to democracy is finally becoming a story, but Trumpers like that, anti-anti-Trumpers dismiss it as hysteria, and the persuadable public sees the whole thing as too abstract to matter.  Young people are fleeing Biden over the Gaza war and minorities seem to like Trump's vulgar racism.  It is depressing.  My angry, warped imagination imagines the election playing out something like this:

January:  Donald Trump announces his intent to deal with Joe and Hunter Biden with two bullets to the head on inauguration day.  Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers say Biden named an acting director of the National Highway Safety Traffic Administration to evade Senate confirmation, so really, what is the difference.  Trump sweeps Iowa and New Hampshire.  Polls show him two points ahead in national and swing state voting.

February.  Trump announces his intent to arrest all Democratic leaders in Congress and ship them off to Guantanamo.  Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers explain that concerns are overblown and besides, the federal bureaucracy will stop him.  He sweeps Nevada, South Carolina and Michigan.  Polls show him four points ahead in national and swing state voting.

March.  Trump trial begins, showing hitherto undisclosed details of his attempt to overturn the 2020 election.  He vows to do the same if he loses this time. Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers dismiss the 2020 election as ancient history and ask why people are obsessing on it.  Trump sweeps Super Tuesday and secures the nomination.  Polls show in six points ahead in national and swing state votes.

April.  Trump vows if elected to reinstate the Muslim ban, strip all American Muslims of their citizenship, and deport them.  Crowds applaud.  Muslims vow anyone but Biden.  Polls show Trump ahead of Biden among Muslim voters.

May.  Trump convicted for his role in the 2020 election but allowed to remain free on bond pending his appeal.  He vows to ship all judges, prosecutors, and witnesses involved off to Guantanamo.  Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers say not to worry, Congress would impeach him if he tried anything like that.  Polls show Trump ahead by eight points in national and swing state votes.

June.  Trump vows if elected to outlaw the "Democrat party" and establish a one-party state.  He will require all news media to tow the Republican line and make it an affirmative defense to all crimes that they were done on behalf of the Republican Party.  Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers dismiss all concern over these remarks as hysteria and is it any different than Biden's proposal to cancel student loans.  Polls show Trump ahead by ten points in national and swing state votes.

July.  The Republican convention.  Surrounded by Confederate imagery, Trump names David Duke as his vice presidential nominee, saying that now he is impeachment proof.  He vows to repeal the Civil Right Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.  Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers say the Confederate imagery is not a great look, but Trump is right to roll back federal tyranny and return power to the states.  Polls show nearly a third of Black voters back Trump.

August. Trump announces plans to turn the Proud Boys into his private praetorian guard, tasked to do anything he says with no constraints.  Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers laugh at the whole idea that the Proud boys could be any serious threat and say the real danger to freedom is IRS audits and environmental regulations.  Polls show Trump ahead by 15 points in national and swing state votes.

September.  Trump shoots someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue.  Supporters say how glad they are that we finally have a politician who takes the Second Amendment seriously and any elitist who hangs out on Fifth Avenue deserves to die.  Anti-anti Trumpers say it is not a great look, but still it was only one person out of a population of 300 million and we have to consider what he will accomplish.  Polls show Trump's lead widening to nearly 20 points.

October.  Trump announces that he will name Joe Arpaio as Secretary of Homeland Security and have ICE stop anyone who looks too Hispanic and make them prove citizenship or be arrested and deported on the spot.  Crowds applaud.  Anti-anti Trumpers say we need to get tough on the border.  Polls show Trump has nearly two-thirds of the Hispanic vote.

November.  In the days leading up to the election, Trump stands in front of a giant poster of Adolph Hitler and leads crowds in Nazi uniforms in changes of "Sieg Heil!"  Supporters are thrilled.  Anit-anti Trumpers say isn't it clever how Trump knows how to troll the liberals.  Trump goes no to win the general election by nearly a 2-1 margin.

 OK, so it wont' be that bad, I know.  But it really is frustrating that nothing seems to dent his lead.

PS:  Of course, how could I have forgotten?  Somewhere along the line Trump will pledge never to leave office regardless of his term.