I posted a column about a future Trump presidency entitled “The Accidental Fascist” about two months before the 2016 election. What I meant by that was that Trump was running as a strongman without ideology who would “drain the swamp” and get things done, and when he inevitably failed, he would have to choose between defeat at the polls and humiliation or doubling down on authoritarianism. I predicted that he would pick the latter, given his thin skin and pugnacious personality.
I am pretty sure we are going to reach that point after the 2018 election. Trump is sounding more and more like a beleaguered mob boss. His legal problems are mounting, former members of his inner circle are turning on him, and his only real “accomplishment” is a tax bill that everyone other than the GOP donor class hates. He wants to lash out and double down, because that is what he has always done when he has run into trouble. What better way to do that than to fire Sessions and turn the DOJ into his own personal goon squad after the election?
His base is practically inviting him to do it. Only the Senate can stop him. More on that tomorrow.