The Last Two Weeks of Democracy?

A far tighter race than it ought to be in any country that claims to be well.

It is no exaggeration to say that two weeks from now, if Donald Trump defies the odds — yet again — and wins the presidency for a second time, we may be looking at the end of participatory democracy in the United States. (Note to hairsplitters: yes, I know Donny would not take office until noon on January 20, 2025. But “The Last Eleven Weeks of Democracy” does not really sing.) I have been part of the large chorus sounding this alarm for the past several years, as have many of you, dear readers, I am sure. It is hardly news. But now that the moment of truth is nearly upon us, it is especially nerve-wracking.

I am not writing to say that I believe that is sure to happen. Far from it. We have it within our power to beat him like a whipped dog. But even if we do, it’s going to be a nailbiter, and that in itself is telling and alarming.

I wrote recently about how astonishing (and depressing) it is that this election is as close as it is, after nine years of seeing Trump in action, and in particular, after a year or more of hearing his angry, vengeful plans should we return him to power. In any rational world, Kamala would be leading in a blowout. For that matter, in any rational world, Joe Biden would be leading in a blowout, despite his age and declining…