Call This "A Modest Proposal for the Democrats"

 Of all the ideas I have read lately giving advice to the Democrats, Shove the Presidency Down Trump’s Throat by Jason Linkins (The New Republic) is the most brilliant one I have seen. It has no navel-gazing, no lamentations, and no excuses for letting Trump into the White House. 

A second Trump era offers the opportunity for a change of course—a second reckoning of sorts. I think that Last is on to something when he suggests that Trump’s opposition should force him to “own every bad outcome that happens, anywhere in the world.” I’d actually take this a step further. Rather than exert so much energy trying to thrust Trump out of the presidency, liberals would be well served to spend their time thrusting the presidency upon Donald Trump. Instead of searching for illusory quick fixes for the existence of the Trump administration, start demanding the Trump administration fix everything quickly.

The proposal rests on what seems firm ground - considering the public persona of Donald J. Trump.

But Trump has historically faltered when he’s been forced to contend with the actual pressure of the presidency and its myriad responsibilities (see also: the Covid-19 pandemic) because his ideas are bad and he doesn’t have a deep and abiding interest in public service to really make a sustained effort to confront, let alone solve, the biggest problems we face.

What goes unmentioned is the psychology (if I may use that word) of Trump's supporters. They see him as their deliverer, a bullshitter who is the real truth-teller, the competent deal-maker, the great businessman, the one who will solve their problem, and the man who set the world right.

Making him work, and keeping the difference between his blathering and his results, is important to destroying what his followers see in him. His base needs an attitude adjustment.

He has never had to work a real job in his life. Neither has had to be responsible for his failures. Forcing him to work and be responsible may squelch any ideas he is having about a third term.

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