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Narcissism for the win

I've been trying to imagine how the last four years could have been worse for U.S. democracy. It could have been, but I think the worst was likely thwarted by an unlikely actor.

Trump has the tendencies of an authoritarian. He has done a lot of damage to our democracy but he wasn't able to permanently establish himself like he clearly wanted. He pissed off too many people. He not only provoked the Right but also the Left and that doomed him.

What if he had been smarter about his approach? What if he had actually handled the pandemic well? What if he had been able to reign in his vulgar tongue and act like a decent guy? He may have actually been re-elected.

In my opinion it was purely his rampant narcissism that foiled him. He couldn't unchamber his ego and shot himself in the foot with it. But that also concerns me. If that's true, then that means luck had a lot to do with it. I can clearly see how if luck weren't on our side, our system may have actually failed.

It seems to me that we have a brief, unexpected window in which to react before more leaders like him bully their way in. I can think of several already in Congress, including one VP, that could pick up right where he left off. The fact that they might not be as overtly divisive is exactly why they could be more successful.

Trump was a trial run for all the wannabe autocrats and theocrats who are eyeing the throne right now. And I'm sure they've been taking notes.