DICTATOR WATCH
(www.dictatorwatch.org)
Contact: Roland Watson, roland@dictatorwatch.org

WHAT'S AT STAKE - THE MIDTERM ELECTION

October 31, 2018
Please share:
http://www.dictatorwatch.org/prmidtermelection.html

(Personal note: I'm an Independent, but with Trump in office; McConnell and Ryan running Congress; and - for the moment at least - an ultra-right Supreme Court, it is essential to vote Democrat. America's system of checks and balances must be saved.)

There are three possible outcomes from the election: Republicans retain control of both the House and the Senate; Democrats get control of the House; and Democrats get control of both.

1. Republicans retain control:

This will be an apocalypse, and not only due to what will happen with the government, but more fundamentally because the resistance will have been unable to marshall votes. This scenario will demonstrate that the majority of the American electorate IS an ignorant and unprincipled mob (mirroring Trump), and that our democracy has collapsed. It will be a case of self-harm well beyond the U.K.'s Brexit, even approaching the mass suicide by the Jim Jones cult. Everyone in the country, except the 1%, will be hurt.

Trump and the Republicans will be so emboldened that not only will they again try to destroy the Affordable Care Act, they will also reduce benefits for Medicare and Social Security. The deficit is exploding and they won't reverse their tax cut for the rich. They will have to find money somewhere, and what better way than to also indulge their hatred of the poor and the middle class.

Trump will intensify his pro-violence rhetoric, which will further deepen America's factional split. White Supremacist domestic terrorism will become commonplace (like mass shootings today).

On a wide range of social issues, well beyond xenophobic immigration policies, we will face Taleban-like fundamentalism. Roe v. Wade will be reversed. Discrimination against gays, in any conceivable situation, will become the law of the land. And, there will be no separation of the Evangelical Christian Church (our Taleban) and the State.

Trump will fire Sessions and then Rosenstein and then Mueller. Spineless Congressional democrats will do nothing. Mueller may also pull his punches (duplicating what Comey did), and basically let Trump and his 2016 campaign team off the hook. The Russian sabotage of the election, like the Supreme Court sabotage in 2000, will be normalized.

America will be reviled by democratic countries around the world, since everyone will recognize that it is now firmly a one-party strongman dictatorship. The Administration will no longer maintain even a pretense for human rights. Instead, it will actively oppose freedom and democracy for other countries. The Republicans will also take all steps necessary - more gerrymandering and voter suppression - to guarantee that they retain power in 2020.

The stock market will collapse ("The Trump Crash") and the economy will enter a deep recession, with millions losing their jobs. Wall Street applauded when Trump stole the presidency and the Republicans gained control of everything. But after they got their tax cut, reality set in. They now recognize that he is deranged, a circus show barker foaming at the mouth, and that the economy, and hence stock prices, are going to suffer - a lot.

In summary, America will be a kleptocracy run by a super-wealthy mafia, with a lunatic as the titular head and a cabal of black-hearted fascist thugs in charge behind the scenes. In response to this, ordinary citizens will take to the streets in even greater numbers and turmoil will ensue. Police will start shooting into the crowds. Trump will try a coup by ordering the American military against the protestors.

2. Democrats take the House:

Trump is stopped and becomes a Lame Duck. There is no significant new legislation.

Many investigations, with subpoenas, are launched by different House Committees and the FBI (at the House's request), including of Trump, his family, and also of the rapist Kavanaugh.

In response, Trump may also try to launch a coup. There will be new terrorist acts perpetrated by his most disturbed supporters.

Mueller stiffens his resolve. The chances increase that rather than a report he issues actual indictments, potentially dozens of them.

A large portion of the White House staff resigns.

The Stock Market experiences great volatility, but as soon as it becomes clear that Trump will be removed, it recovers. (Analysts anticipate 3-6 months of volatility, depending on how hard he fights back.) The economy slows a bit but does not go into recession.

3. Democrats take both the House and the Senate:

The Mueller Report either has accompanying indictments, or massive evidence to support impeachment. It is released to the public in its entirety.

Democrats launch the impeachment process.

Trump steps down. His family members and other officials are arrested. He is indicted in Federal and State courts for a multitude of offenses.

Kavanaugh is investigated, with the result that he steps down as well. New appointments to the Supreme Court are put on hold.

There is also a chance, although it is small, that the 2016 election result will be declared null and void. At that point, a historic process would be undertaken to reverse all manifestations of Trump's presidency. It is even conceivable that a new, extraordinary election would be held, out of cycle, to replace him, rather than give the presidency to Pence.

Conclusion

This is the moment of truth. Our country is teetering on a precipice. Which outcome do we want? If you stand for freedom, equality and prosperity, vote Democrat. If you have been a Trumpian but now have a nagging feeling of disgust, follow the first step of all recovery programs - admit that you have a problem and don't vote. Even better, jump to Step 12 and vote Democrat.