Viewpoint: A singular method dominates the approach toward candidate Trump
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Washington Governor Jay Inslee is working to establish his state as a safe haven where women can access abortions without risks of prosecution. An organization is also preparing for potential audits by the Internal Revenue Service if Donald Trump is re-elected.
While it's commendable that certain officials and groups realize Donald Trump as the President again could pose a threat to our democratic liberties, the only permanent solution to stop Trump from manipulating the government for a revenge-focused campaign, with key positions held by Trump supporters promoting a far-right agenda, is to beat him in the November elections. Our main focus should be on keeping Trump out, not on limiting damage once he's in power.
Trump has talked about his ominous objectives for a second term, such as mass deportations, construction of extensive detention centers for migrants, expanding his authority, and a vow to "free" America from those not loyal to him. This rhetoric was heard during his 2023 speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), where he promised to be his supporters' retribution, targeting Democrats, the media, RINOs, globalists, and others who oppose him.
We've never seen an American political leader discuss "freeing" the country from fellow Americans with whom they simply disagree politically, because we've never had one who pledged to be a dictator on his first day—then claimed he wouldn't be one after that.
The methods used to hinder Trump's first-term agenda might not be effective against this bitter, vengeful convicted felon determined on retribution and purging America from those who won't bow to him. Even a strategy mentioned in a recent New York Times article—using the courts to slow down a potential second-term Trump agenda—will likely be less successful compared to Trump's first term, as he has already confirmed over 200 federal judges during his first term, including three Supreme Court justices.
A Trump-appointed federal judge, Aileen Cannon, can slow down Trump´s prosecution on allegations of retaining classified documents, leading critics to claim she is furthering Trump's plan to delay his trial until after the election. Moreover, the Supreme Court is appearing to safeguard Trump from being prosecuted before the election for his alleged crimes related to trying to remain in power despite losing the 2020 election by procrastinating on a decision about Trump's claim for total immunity.
In terms of legislation, if Trump wins and MAGA Republicans gain control of the House and Senate, they'll likely implement long-desired right-wing policies that were blocked during Trump's first term, like the unsuccessful attempt by the late Arizona Senator John McCain to repeal the Affordable Care Act with his vote.
Almost all of the Republicans who have defied Trump are either out of Congress or submitted to his undemocratic rule. Out of the 10 House Republicans who impeached Trump in January 2021 for inciting the January 6 insurrection, only two remain in Congress (Reps. Dan Newhouse of Washington state and David Valadao of California). Even Republicans in the Senate have surrendered. Senator Mitt Romney, a vocal critic of Trump, will be leaving office this January. Even GOP Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, who criticized Trump on the Senate floor after the January 6 attack, recently met with Trump and expressed their encounter as "entirely positive." However, even without a GOP-controlled Congress, Trump could cause significant damage during a second term with few restricting him.
