GOP Day 3: Message from an Alternative Universe

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Day 3 of the GOP’s virtual convention could have been transmitted from another Universe. It was a Universe in which Joe Biden promised to defund the police, rather than repeatedly refusing to do so. It was a Universe in which Biden would bring socialism to America, after having repudiated Medicare for All, and after having beaten the only Democratic candidate (Sanders) to have endorsed socialism.

It was a Universe in which the direst threat now facing American cities is the flames of protest-driven violence, not a still-raging pandemic or a Category 5 hurricane about to devastate the Gulf Coast. It was a Universe in which global warming doesn’t exist, and there is no less costly alternative to burning fossil fuels until we’ve turned their every last drop into greenhouse gases. It was a Universe in which Trump, after having made every effort to demean, belittle and marginalize Black Americans, undermine their just causes, and normalize white supremacy, trotted out a team of hitherto hidden supporters—including a Black former football star and a white team manager, to give full-throated homage to his “leadership.”

It was a Universe in which “professors and protestors blame others,” as one speaker said, but not our president, who passed the buck to governors and mayors, scientists and even mask wearers for failing to contain the virus and so devastating our economy. Most of all, it was a Universe in which the normal rules of cause and effect don’t apply. Speaker after speaker told of soulful conversions and positive life changes without even attempting to relate them, in any way, to Trump, the GOP or Trump’s presidency. The flow of their “logic” was as ludicrous as “I’m a good person who has overcome real obstacles, so vote for Trump.”

The culmination of the evening, of course, was Mike Pence’s speech accepting re-nomination for vice-president. The pundits at the PBS Newshour seemed to think that it was par for the course in political conventions. But I had a different take.

I have seen Pence brush off hardened newspeople who question his lies (like Judy Woodruff) with a dismissive air and a look that says “How dare you question me!” Last night I saw him all but call Democrats baby killers. He does this with impressive gravitas and the absolute certitude of a man who believes, deep in his heart, that God is on his side. He reminds me of the Taliban and the Islamic State.

Joe Biden is right. Our democracy is on the ballot. I think ours may be history if Trump wins another four years. But that’s not my worst nightmare. My worst nightmare is that Trump’s ticket wins and—whether through death, disability, resignation or impeachment and removal—Pence ends up in the Oval Office.

Trump is erratic, scatterbrained, chaotic and indecisive. He’s done a lot of damage, but his many personal weaknesses make him less dangerous. He’s the crazy uncle we just can’t get rid of.

Pence is nothing of the kind. He’s deliberate, methodical, careful and adamant, even in his lies. Like Hitler, he picks the most strategic lies to repeat endlessly; he doesn’t waste time or credibility flogging minor ones, like the relative size of Trump’s inaugural crowd. Trump lies too much; Pence lies just enough. As his speech last night so well demonstrated, Pence has the potential to become a superior demagogue.

While purporting to be a Christian, Pence has, methodically and deliberately, compromised many Christian and American values. Like most of Trump’s enablers, he has endorsed, implicitly or explicitly, violations of law, immunity from legitimate investigation, cruelty to the vulnerable and the helpless, malign neglect of the poor, extortion, gross corruption, and pardoning convicted but supportive criminals.

Unlike Trump, Pence doesn’t have the excuse of being unable to discern right and wrong through the fog of his own psychic needs. Like Bill Barr, he seems to have chosen the Dark Side to get closer to power; but Pence is a stronger and a tougher man than Barr.

Trump’s many and obvious personal faults—including his craving for attention and praise—make him malleable. Pence has none of those weaknesses. Trump has a will of mush, Pence a will of steel. He’s Caesar to Trump’s Nero or Caligula. And he’s the ultimate authoritarian: he’s sure he knows what God wants. If he ever gets the chance, he could become an American Stalin. That’s an alternative Universe I don’t want to see even in my nightmares.

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