A METHODICAL REVOLUTION FROM WITHIN

The Democrats woke up on November 6 to find that they have been just guests on the planet of MAGA, bewildered and lost. The MAGA made the presidential victory in November look so easy, a Democrat would be tempted to exclaim AI did it. That is a cry in the wilderness because they are out to the pasture for at least two to four years.
American politics now is a battle between traditional Republican Establishment and MAGA Republicanism. Republican Establishment – Reaganism with big tent ideal comes to mind – seems to attract only older guys and gals whose energy and cunning is nowhere near the MAGA Republicans, younger and smarter. MAGA Republicans are representing themselves as battling the excesses of the liberal left. But in victory, they will go overboard without an effective counter force. Some of them have already stated their intention to undo or at least weaken Democracy.
The reverse revolutionary – turning Democracy back to Autocracy or another form of dictatorship – previously seemed to be unachievable because the hurdles looked insurmountable. After the 2024 election, such reversal does not seem to be impossible not only because the Republicans had all four power branches under their control, but they are also boosted by the huge energy coming from the billionaires.
For ordinary citizens, Democracy is the sole guaranty of freedom and happiness. The modern billionaires are rich and privileged right after graduating from college or even high school before they experience any hardship or injustice in life. They don’t appreciate what Democracy offers because they don’t see how it is better for them while a dictatorship offers even more privileges, and pomp and circumstances as bonuses. Their support for such scheming may also have something to do with their tendency to look for something different, a laudable habit of making life richer for everyone. But tampering with Democracy such as giving more power to one person or shutting down watchdog agencies is clearly not the same.
Even though Matt Gaetz has taken himself out of the run for US Attorney General, the new administration’s nomination of such flawed and controversial characters to run the country signals its intention. Why are men who have absolutely no experience and no knowledge of the businesses of the gigantic departments nominated to run them?
Firstly, the president wants to show the Party and other Republicans who is the boss. A democratic boss relies on consensus and persuasion. A dictatorial boss wants their underlings not just to pledge allegiance to them but to prove their loyalty. If he doesn’t get his way, he retaliates. If they don’t do what he tells them to do, he will remember. We have seen for the last four years that MO of controlling the Republican Party and its members including respectable Republican leaders who have just lost their mettle.
The new AG nominee, Pam Bondi, has stated that she would prosecute the Department of Justice’s prosecutors and investigate the investigators because they had the audacity to carry out their job duties of investigating and prosecuting the then former president for wrongdoings. It’s hard to think of anything more anti-democratic than that statement. Some commentators dismiss it as rhetorical. But if her boss tells her to do just that, will she not do it?
Let’s hope that those comments are not wishful thinking.
Secondly, those nominations are early signs of a dictatorship in the making. When a leader has around him only yes men, there will be no debate, which means contrary opinions are also seriously considered. Or vice versa, he has yes men working for him because he doesn’t want any debate on his decisions.
Again, let’s hope that the Republicans can manage to prevent such reversal from happening.
JOHN P. LE PHONG.