Donald Trump is brazen and crude. His abuses are blatant. His henchmen are largely clowns. His underlings are turning on him. He is the easiest possible test case for can our system hold a president accountable. And we are failing, because Republicans are failing.
Lindsey Graham’s comments today should make you think one thing: it can happen here. Arguably, it is happening here, right now.
Ambition was supposed to check ambition. But now ambition *protects* ambition. Parties cooperate across branches.
Ambition was supposed to check ambition. But now ambition *protects* ambition. Parties cooperate across branches.
Americans have long believed we designed a form of government that protects us from the authoritarians and corruption that destroys so many other systems.
What we’re seeing now is we haven’t. Or if we did, we've lost it.
What we’re seeing now is we haven’t. Or if we did, we've lost it.
Imagine a president with Trump’s will to abuse power but a moderate level of strategic sense and savvy. A president who picked capable staff and rewarded loyalists. A president who knew what not to say, and when not to say it, to get his way. What defense do we have against them?
Party loyalty creates vast zones in which corruption and abuse fester unchecked. That corruption and abuse can increase the party’s power — as Trump sought to do here —and further weaken oversight, as the out-party never has the strength to exercise it.
Forget our myths and stories. Look at what is happening in front of us. If we saw this in another country, we would see where it was, eventually, going to lead.
We are not special. There is no magic to our structure. Our system, in its modern form, depends on parties to sometimes put the country's interest before their own.
If they don't, corruption will consume us. And in today's Republican Party, we are seeing how, and why.
If they don't, corruption will consume us. And in today's Republican Party, we are seeing how, and why.
