General Discussion

... in this thread. I am grateful. But even if Trump dies tomorrow, as was mentioned earlier, the poisonous effects of his influence will linger for God only knows how long.
However, another, even more insidious shadow is still going to have a detrimental effect: PUTIN. Trump is a traitor, but no one wants to even acknowledge this irrefutable fact; it's too scary. And if they did acknowledge it, then they'd have to do something about it. He's been in Putin's pocket for decades, and much of the damage he's done, though it satisfies his own vindictive nature, has primarily been done at Vlad's behest. Putin has hated the US since he was a child, and he wants to destroy America from within, without firing a shot. And he's succeeding, with the help of the irredeemably corrupt GOP, the craven SCOTUS majority, and a substantial percentage of the populace that is consumed by inchoate resentments that they're too stupid to even articulate. Sadly, I've got some of these raging idiots in my immediate family, and they are beyond reason; they are too invested in their diseased belief system to ever admit what's staring them right in the face: They. Fucked. Up. BIG time. And all their suffering is a direct result of their support for a malicious liar and bully. But they love his fat, pimply ass because, as another poster accurately pointed out, he gave them permission to openly be the assholes they've always been.
Remember when, in 2018 I think it was, a delegation of Republicans visited Moscow on the fucking FOURTH OF JULY? Is anyone foolish enough to believe that was a coincidence? And why did they refuse to reveal any of their discussions? Inquiring minds want to know.
I suspect they were laying the groundwork for what we're experiencing right now. Republicans have always hated democracy, and now that they've proven that fact beyond any shadow of a doubt, they don't even try to hide it anymore.
So, yeah, we've got an uphill battle in front of us, even after Trump is dead, which can't happen soon enough to suit me. So gird your loins, me hearties, it's gonna be a long, hard ride.