Chapter 2 The Electoral College was intended as protection from the inclination of “the people” to fall in line behind a demagogue. The parties took over the “gatekeeping,” and for decades (until 2016) managed to keep radical fringe candidates off the major tickets
Chapter 3 In the 2016 primaries, Republican leaders made the classic mistakes when confronted by an authoritarian leader grabbing power: they believed they could contain him & believed he would further their own political aims.
Chapter 4 The rise of a strongman increases polarization, which creates discord, which plays into the strongman’s hands.
Chapter 5 The strongman consolidates power by assaulting “norms” of society: free press, courts, respect for political rivals, respect for rule of law. In the US, whites afraid of losing majority has given rise authoritarianism (Huey Long, Nixon, etc.)
Chapter 6 Unwritten rules of American democracy include: -accepting the legitimacy of political rivals -understanding that democracy requires compromise and civility -making sure other institutions check and limit presidential power
Chapter 7 The unraveling began in the 1990s when R’s began disregarding the norms by opposing compromise & delegitimizing political opponents (Clintons, Obama) including unreasonably blocking Obama’s SCOTUS nomination.
Chapter 8 DJT’s first year in office followed the playbook of authoritarian figures rising to power. The fate of US democracy now rests with the Repub. containing DJT, public opinion & whether a national crisis will allow DJT to consolidate personal power.
