It's hard to believe where we are. Not that long ago, contemporary American politics was not quite as twisted as today. The Republican Party and the Democratic Party had competing agendas, but (mostly) agreed about the rules of engagement and the arena where the give and take of politics took place. Small-d democratic norms went unchallenged. Both sides accepted the results of free and fair elections. Republicans and Democrats embraced the rule of law at home and America's leadership abroad.
No longer. Not in 2024. Not with Donald Trump and the MAGA GOP. Consider these headlines and subheads:
Trump compares undocumented migrants to trash at insult-fueled rallies: The Republican presidential nominee compared the United States to “a garbage can for the world” because of illegal border crossings.
Remember when an iconic Republican president praised the USA as a Shining City on a Hill? Four years after his American Carnage inaugural address (courtesy of Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon), Trump has become even more negative, sounding as much like an insult comic as a past president. Speaking of insults, see the item below.
Trump rally speakers lob racist insults, call Puerto Rico ‘island of garbage’: Later, Trump took the stage at Madison Square Garden and called the GOP “the party of inclusion.” His campaign issued a statement disavowing the “garbage” comment.
There was also misogyny galore at MSG. Tucker Carlson on Kamala Harris: “She’s just so impressive as the first Samoan, Malaysian, low-IQ former California prosecutor ever to be elected president.” Ha ha. From Elon Musk's PAC: "Harris is the C-word." Sly.
A sociologist points out on Bluesky the significance of joking in communicating. She notes, "jokes are more effective than serious messaging when it comes to normalizing sexism and misogyny." This is true for both men and women listeners.
Only a third of Trump supporters say they’ll accept a narrow loss: Whatever the outcome of the election, Trump has already deeply damaged democracy.
The Big Lie, that Trump won the 2020 election, is foundational to his campaign. Trump, other GOP leaders, and conservative media trumpet the falsehood. The MAGA base, unsurprisingly, accepts the fabrication. If Trump loses in 2024, he has primed the base to reject the loss. His folks rioted on January 6, 2021. If he loses again, there is likely to be violence this time around as well.
They tried to prove Trump’s fraud claims. They failed — and got in trouble: Trump’s voter-fraud push has led to increasing legal jeopardy, but largely for those who flouted the law as they tried to substantiate it.
From deep inside the bubble the tale looks so real. Each of these attempts to prove the system is rigged, instead demonstrates that it works. Voter fraud is rare. Elections don't turn on it.
Once Top Advisers to Trump, They Now Call Him ‘Liar,’ ‘Fascist’ and ‘Unfit’: Many of those who served in former President Donald J. Trump’s administration — especially his generals, ambassadors and other national security officials — have since turned on Mr. Trump.
A critique such as this one, from among a president's closest advisers, is without precedent. But here we are.
And the scariest thought of all on this Halloween: at this stage it appears that the man whose advisors fear his return to power has even odds of winning next week.