Scorched Earth Retreat

Scorched Earth Retreat

Reading the National Media and peeking at Tweeter (don't dwell too long, it's a Rabbit hole gateway) you could get the idea that our president has lost what little mind he had left. The national problems with the virus, the economy, the social justice movement, and anything else you might want to throw into the soup, he appears to be troubled. 

Polls showing him behind Joe Biden in many of the swing states that he carried in 2016. Some reports have him roaming the White House in the middle of the night screaming at the portraits of past presidents, asking, "Why oh why don't people like anymore?" The paintings don't answer, of course, and it isn't because he doesn't remember any of their names.

I've said in many past postings on Facebook, and in this blog, that he is showing signs of dementia. I'm serious about that observation. It is not an attempt to insult him but point out a condition that I think is getting worse from the stress. But, as Rachael Maddow cautions, look at what he does not what he says. 

His playing partner in the Senate Mitch McConnell is ushering judges of his liking into posts like a bribed bouncer at a dance club. 

His other minion, Lindsey Graham, is trying as hard as he can to make us look at false charges of scandal concerning Joe Biden, so we won't notice the swamp has not been drained as promised, but it is on fire.

And fire is the critical element of the Republican strategy. I submit they have looked into the future and are getting ready for crop failure. They are anticipating they will lose the White House and possibly the Senate. I suggest they will do what states like Wisconsin experienced when our Republican Governor lost his office. The Republican-controlled legislature attempted and are somewhat successful in crippling the power of the Governor, by blocking his agenda.

At a federal level, Trump and friends have a different path to the same ending. They are sabotaging government with budget cuts and firings, loading up critical positions and issuing executive orders by the pound, Trump is leaving the table full of nothing but dirty dishes. Barr is doing his bidding at Justice. DeVos is a wrecking ball at the Department of Education. Munich is laying land mines at the treasury. And Pompeo is running for the Senate from his office at State.

In war, this is called a Scorched Earth Retreat. Lay land mines. build boobytraps, tear up the railroad tracks, burn the crops, blow up the bridges, and kill the workers. Leave nothing for the enemy to work with. It might work if Biden isn't prepared to stem the bloodletting and hit the ground running. What is going to be the most important element is being able to work with a friendly legislative branch. 

Progressives and lately sensible Republicans, have indicated that Trump must go but besides regaining the White House, The democrats must flip the senate and hold onto the house. If they don't, the necessary change in direction will not happen.