The coming catastrophe

By now the dust has settled and the agony has abated, at least a little. While there was nothing super about Super Tuesday, it was definitive. The American people cast their ballots and made their choices.

With over half of the primaries and caucuses now in the books, the outcome is pretty obvious. Either Joe Biden or Donald Trump, arguably two of the worst presidents in U.S. history, will be our president again.

No one seemed to want this. Polls consistently showed over 60% of voters preferred someone else. Yet, with other candidates on the Super Tuesday ballots, the Democrats consistently chose Biden and the Republicans consistently chose Trump. In a democracy, you get what you vote for.

So here’s our choice come November.

We could again have Joe Biden, an outright abomination. In his first 3+ years as president, he’s given us

• A botched withdrawal from Afghanistan

• Inflation with sharply higher costs for almost everything

TRECKER

• Profligate spending that put the country deeply in debt

• Open U.S. borders allowing 7-8 million illegal migrants to pour in

• An unprecedented jump in crime and opioid usage

• Total ineffectiveness overseas – in Ukraine, Gaza and particularly Iran

Biden tends to blame everything — at least everything he can remember — on Trump and “those Republicans.” But that won’t fly. These monumental failures happened on Biden’s watch.

The alternative is Donald Trump. And he’s no better. A self-centered, bombastic narcissist, he attacks everyone that disagrees with him, belittling friend and foe alike, someone with “complete distain for democratic norms.”

Trump is an unguided missile. Last fall he lambasted Gen. Mark Milley, outgoing chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, calling him a traitor and suggesting he be executed. More recently he dissed NATO countries that hadn’t upped their defense budgets, telling them, “No, I would not protect you,” and urging the Russians to “do whatever the hell you want.”

Then there’s his mishandling of classified documents and arrogant dismissal of the government investigation. And his continuous threats against the media: “When I win the presidency, they will be thoroughly scrutinized for their dishonest and corrupt coverage.” On top of it all, Trump is facing 91 felony charges.

It’s no surprise the GOP is disintegrating. The party, at least at the federal level, has become completely dysfunctional, fearful of Trump’s wrath. He called his closest challengers “birdbrain” (Nikki Haley) and “a sad little man” (Ron DeSantis). How’s that for unifying the party? Meanwhile 24 GOP lawmakers have decided not to seek reelection or are resigning early.

But back to the presidency. Here’s our choice. Either “a dangerous vulgarian” or “a brittle relic” (Lance Morrow). Either “Ol’ Cranky” or “Ol’ Crazy” (Peggy Noonan). Either “a shameless sociopath” or “a corrupt incompetent” (Joseph Epstein).

Could things change? Could there be a reprieve? The legal system could do Trump in. That’s possible but unlikely. And short of medical intervention, Biden will remain the Democrat standard-bearer. Forget about third-party candidates.

In the meantime the Doomsday Clock is running, and the American Dream is fading. A Wall Street Journal survey showed only 36% of voters — Republicans and Democrats alike — believed that we have control of our own destiny, that hard work still pays off.

This is against a backdrop of economic and global uncertainty. Columnist Walter Mead wrote, “Ours is not a world that is becoming more stable … not a world in which American interests or values are becoming more secure.”

Who’s going to show us the way in this troubling new world?

One thing is certain. It won’t be anyone on the November ballot. ¦

— Dave Trecker is a chemist and retired Pfizer executive living in Florida.

The post The coming catastrophe first appeared on Bonita Springs Florida Weekly .