Quotation Of The Day: 2020 South Dakota Republican Legislature Edition

I have been reading What Are We Doing Here?, a collection of essays by Marilynne Robinson. Robinson is the author of Gilead, a novel that I contend is one of the best novels of the century.

In the essay which gives the book its title Robinson writes a seemingly perfect description of the Republican majority in Pierre during the 2020 session.

. . . these lovers of country, these patriots are wildly unhappy with the country they claim to love and are bent on remaking it to suit their own preferences which they feel no need to justify or fully articulate. Neither do they feel any need to answer the objections of those who see their shaping and their disciplining as mutilation (23).

As Iowa Democrats Caucus, I Worry

Democrats will caucus in Iowa tonight to begin the process of nominating their 2020 candidate for president.

I have numerous fears, but I will list only a few here.

First, the two front runners, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are too old. One hopes that with age comes wisdom, but tech has changed the world in ways that make it difficult for folks over 60, let alone folks approaching 80, to adapt.

Second, and much more importantly, both of the front runners have a cult problem. Trumpism has illustrated many faults in America's current system, but none may be more dangerous than the tribalism fueled by the cult of personality.

The Bernie Bros of 2016 have not gone away. If Sanders in the nominee, their fervor will ratchet up exponentially and promote an overblown Trumpist response that will take fear mongering to unprecedented heights. The McCarthy era will seem tame and civilized in comparison. (If he is not the nominee their fervor may still ratchet up exponentially but their target will be the Democrats' nominee.)

Whenever one points out that Trumpism is a cult, one is faced with the response that Obama's popularity also fueled cult-like behavior. Whether the charge is true or not, Republicans will turn out the base by contending that Biden is trading on or attempting to revive Obama's legacy and, therefore, Obama's cult of personality.

In either instance, the fear their "chosen one" will be replaced by someone they fear has a personality cult will elevate Trumpists' zeal to new, more dangerous, and insane levels. (As a side note, Democrats do not seem to understand how much fear motivates Trump's most fervent supporters.)

Third, Democrats are looking at the fact that Trump "is the only president in the history of Gallup polling who has never had the support of a majority of Americans for even a single day" as a reason to believe that they have an easy path to win the popular. If 2016 showed anything, it's that the popular vote doesn't matter. Trump's election team is likely targeting key precincts in swing states and charting a path to another minority victory. Democrats seem blissfully and dangerously oblivious to the electoral map.

Finally and most importantly, Democrats seem focused on purity rather than defeating Trump. Defeating Trump and his authoritarian tendencies should be a primary goal; it should be the only goal.