IS THIS THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF DEMOCRACY IN THE USA?

The U.S. Supreme Court this morning declared that Donald Trump does have immunity for official acts!!!  In other words, they took the guardrails off his power if he becomes the next president.  When you add to this monumental judgement the awful performance of Joe Biden at the presidential debate last week, and you know what Trump will do if he gets re-elected, one can only wonder if this is just the beginning of the end of Democracy in the United States.

That above paragraph is, actually, an exaggeration of the reality.  Trump and the MAGA movement, of course, are ecstatic and now emboldened by SCOTUS's action.  However, here is what actually happened:

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  The vote could have gone 5-4 against Trump, because there are the three liberal female associate justices and five conservatives.  However, Amy Barrett was only barely in the winner's side corner, and Chief Justice John Roberts, while also siding with the majority, had some cautionary words.
• The ruling only would protect Trump for "core" acts as president.  They left it to lower courts to determine what can be tried.  DC Judge Tanya Chutkan now has control over the terms of the Jack Smith versus Donald Trump trial.
• What this means is that Trump will avoid any embarrassing new trials this year, for this process will take time.  He can then both eviscerate the Department of Justice if he becomes president, and if the worst happens, can still pardon himself for anything.
• That New York State trial will remain a thorn for him, and the July 11 sentencing by Judge Juan Merchan can still be crucial.  If Trump gets four years in jail, he will appeal all the way to the Supreme Court, and could very well be exonerated.  But he cannot pardon himself for this felony.

But about the presidential campaign, Time magazine was, after the June 27 debate, like practically everyone else, concerned about the prospects of President Joe Biden.

You can read that article.  Here is the finally paragraph:

True, Biden has been knocked down plenty in his career, but sometimes it's best to stay on the canvas. “Folks, I give my word as a Biden: I would not be running again if I didn’t believe with all my heart and soul I can do this job,” he said. For many Democrats who watched the debate, the problem is that what Biden believes is starting to look more and more at odds with reality. 

So is there any hope?  Absolutely.  For one, this presidential election pits an experienced and trustworthy human being versus a no good, bombastic, convicted felon who has promised to destroy democracy.  How terrible is Donald Trump?  According to a recent survey ranking “Presidental greatness” of the 45 Presidents of the United States, President Joe Biden emerged as the 14th-best President, while his anticipated 2024 presidential contender, former President Donald Trump, came in last place.  45 presidents have served in 46 presidencies.  Abraham Lincoln was ranked #1.  The #45 President of the United States was Donald Trump.  He also was ranked #45 in greatness.

FULL LIST OF OVERALL PRESIDENTIAL GREATNESS RATINGS AND RANKINGS

1. Lincoln - 93.87%
2. FD Roosevelt - 90.83%
3. Washington - 90.32%
4. T Roosevelt - 78.58%
5. Jefferson - 77.53%
6. Truman - 75.34%
7. Obama - 73.8%
8. Eisenhower - 73.73%
9. LB Johnson - 72.86%
10. Kennedy - 68.37%
11. Madison - 67.16%
12. Clinton - 66.42%
13. J Adams - 62.66%
14. Biden - 62.66%
15. Wilson - 61.8%
16. Reagan - 61.62%
17. Grant - 60.93%
18. Monroe - 60.15%
19. GHW Bush - 58.54%
20. JQ Adams - 55.41%
21. Jackson - 54.7%
22. Carter - 54.26%
23. Taft - 51.67%
24. McKinley - 51.23%
25. Polk - 49.83%
26. Cleveland - 48.31%
27. Ford - 46.09%
28. Van Buren - 45.46%
29. Hayes - 41.15%
30. Garfield - 40.98%
31. Harrison - 40.64%
32. GW Bush - 40.43%
33. Arthur - 39.61%
34. Coolidge - 39.38%
35. Nixon - 36.41%
36. Hoover - 34.08%
37. Tyler - 32.99%
38. Taylor - 32.97%
39. Fillmore - 30.33%
40. Harding - 27.76%
41. Harrison - 26.01%
42. Pierce - 24.6%
43. Johnson - 21.56%
44. Buchanan - 16.71%
45. Trump - 10.92%

After that debate, Donald Trump boasted that he had the greatest performance in the history of presidential debates.  The truth was that he had a flood of falsehoods, 30 of them according to CNN.

How many times did he lie when be was president from 2017 to 2021?  Can you believe something  more than 20,000?

So let's see what happens on July 11 at 10AM when Judge Juan Merchan sentences Donald Trump.  Will this announcement be televised?  Will he get 4 years in jail?

Further, there will be considerable activity in DC when Jack Smith's and Donald Trump's attorneys appear before Judge Tanya Chutkan to determine if Trump can be tried, and for what.

Not sure what will happen in Georgia.  In August 2023, Willis indicted Trump and 17 of his GOP allies on charges they engaged in an organized crime-like conspiracy to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election. Four of those 18 originally indicted have already reached plea deals with Willis’ office.  There will be some activity, but what?  And all of this will be televised.

So is Democracy in the USA on its way to extinction.  Maybe not.  Why?  We are the world leader of freedom, and, surely, most of us are sensible citizens, for scarily enough:

Monday’s decision, in other words, ensures that, should Trump return to power, he will do so with hardly any legal checks. Under the Republican justices’ decision in Trump, a future president can almost certainly order the assassination of his rivals. He can wield the authority of the presidency to commit countless crimes. And he can order a subordinate to do virtually anything.

Statements like this will bring the fear factor into the coming presidential campaign, and help Joe Biden with fundraising.  More importantly, those at the margins, particularly Republicans and Independents with any kind of conscience, might now see Donald Trump as truly dangerous....a King with dictatorial authority to do anything he wants....and vote against him.  Democrats will thusly too be further catalyzed against Trump.  Congressional races will similarly be influenced, for if Republican candidates continue to side with Trump, they too could be damaged in their races.  There are so many unknowns, and so much yet to unfold.

Appropriately enough, the decision on the future of our Nation is being left to the voters.  If we are who I think we are, Biden could well pull it off on November 5, for the heart of our country is not anywhere near the intent of MAGA extremists, Donald Trump and his cronies.  Me on that day?  I will be on a cruise from Seattle, through the Panama Canal, to Southampton, England.  I'm too old and isolated from DC to be particularly concerned.

Hurricane Beryl is now up to 150 MPH, making landfall over the Grenada's Carriacou Island, the most severe storm to ever strike this country.  Will get close to Jamaica, but weaken somewhat before hitting the Yucatan Peninsula at the end of the week.

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