These Interesting Times

Three aspects of politics in America today–political turmoil, radical divisions and political parties engaged in realignment—are all the ingredients necessary to weaken our ability to protect the nation from foreign enemies are present.

The internationalist consensus from Eisenhower to George W. Bush was formally rejected by the election of Donald trump. Reflecting a new nationalistic spirit, Donald Trump showed elected officials that the way to remain in power was to focus on the home front. The democratic project of making the world better and democratic was firmly rejected and only former President Donald Trump’s ignorance lost the election to a cognitively impaired Joe Biden.

Democrats, now totally dominated by Progressives, threw all caution to the wind, ignored its slim majorities in Congress and chose to advance ideologically driven policies for which no discernible support by voters was visible.

To top off that cauldron of competing ideologies, the former President, Donald Trump, signaled his rejection of Constitutional limits on executive power, marshaled supporters in Washington on January 6 and attempted to thwart action of the Electoral College affirming election of Joe Biden.

And if that were not enough, Trump predicted that he would be installed in his former Office within months.

Bananas that usually suppress elected governments in Latin America were swept off the shelves of American supermarkets and readied for a call to act by a vengeful former President of the United States.

All this is good fun for observers of our national crackup except for signs that our enemies in Russia, Communist China and Iran smell weakness and are preparing to act.

Vladimir Putin seeks to take back Ukraine

Xi Jinping wants Taiwan.

And the new government in Iran plans to squeeze Europe’s oil supply by challenging shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

That will make for “interesting times” this year and in the many years following.