Donald Trump didn’t just happen. America has had its faux populists, “dog whistle” racists and “America First” obsessers before. This time, however, the planet is even more fragile, and America’s leadership against demagogues and dictators never more necessary. To paraphrase FDR, Nov. 8, 2016 will go down in “infamy.” As will Jan. 6, 2021. And here’s hoping Nov. 5, 2024 doesn’t join them.
But let’s not forget that 2008 was the de facto catalyst for where we now find ourselves. When John McCain put the implausibly ignorant, female-insulting Sarah Palin on his presidential ticket, the Veep bar was lowered to subterranean depths. And then the historic election of an African-American president.
For all those who didn’t like their lives and needed scapegoats, they could always look down on those of color. But as of 2008, one of them was now president. An electoral bridge way too far. As a result, we’ve been living in the racist, nativist, Trumpster backlash.
But how utterly ironic–and sanguine for democracy–that a female president of color is now quite possible. If that happens, infamy would be more for historians than contemporary Americans.