By Shelton Bumgarner
@bumgarls
The reason it’s so difficult to reason with MAGA is they really, really, REALLY like Trump’s policies. Add to that a basic difference in values, and debating with them about kids in cages or unnecessary tax cuts or whatever is kind of a moot point.
That’s the reason why Republicans were so nervous about the Mueller investigation. For a few months there, they were kinda freaking out that Mueller might find some “light treason” on the part of Trump. When that threat evaporated they let out a high sigh of relief and went back to counting young conservative Federal judges and tax cuts.
And, really, here’s the rub. If it weren’t for what has happened in the last few days, they could pretty comfortable that Trump would be re-elected. They could sit back enjoy the corruption and graft without a care in the world.
Then Trump started to show signs of losing his mind.
Now instead of light treason to worry about, they have to spin the president acting rather erratically. Trump has always acted erratically, but now it’s reached a tipping point of sorts. People are taking another look at Trump’s words. No longer is to be dismissed. People of all political stripes are honestly beginning to grow worried that Trump is losing his mind.
And so MAGA simply doesn’t say anything. Rich MAGA gets tax cuts and poor MAGA gets young hack conservative Federal judges. If they’re not talking about policy but Trump’s conspicuous and erratic behavior they really don’t have much to say.
Now being bonkers is not, in itself a “high crime or misdemeanor.” But what you do as a result of being bonkers can be. As I have said before, it would not surprise me that should we actually get around to an impeachment inquiry that there may come a point when the House is talking to shrinks about the president’s state of mind. The president’s erracting Tweeting could itself be one of the articles of impeachment.
But having said all that, Trump is an avatar for systemic problems in the American political system. As such, I honestly believe Trump could rip off all his clothes and screaming and naked in front of the White House and we would not convict him in the Senate.
So, really, I think it’s more a matter of what sort of Regency is established more than anything else. We’ve had one before with Edith Wilson ran the country for her husband Woodrow Wilson after he had a stroke. That was very private — and the one for Trump may very well be as well. If Trump finally lost it, he would have to do it in a manner that was televised or it didn’t happen.
It should be noted that if you wanted to get white knuckled in your political calculations there may come a point in the next few months if Trump does need a Regency that Republicans may decide that Pence has a much better chance of winning re-election than Trump does. And given how the Constitution is written, he would have the opportunity run for re-election AGAIN in 2024.
We’re no where near that point yet, however.
And maybe we never will be.
