It was the summer of 2023. The GOP race for the nomination had just begun. The field was crowded, as Trump had ultimately decided not to run. Virtually all of the candidates, of course, were doing everything they could to win over his supporters.
Militia activity had increased, and was becoming more brazen and organized. There were widespread concerns that the relationship between the militias and the GOP was starting to resemble that between the IRA and Sinn Fein, to say nothing of the Nazis and the SA. As a result, one of the first questions asked of the candidates at the initial debate was about militia activity.
Predictably, only Ben Sasse was willing to condemn the militias. Marco Rubio, always a weathervane in such matters, responded to the question by attacking what he called the “radical left” and praising the “patriots.” The militias got the hint, and stepped up the violence. The left began to arm in response. It was clear that 2020 had only been a dress rehearsal; 2024 was the year that America would truly choose to remain a liberal democracy, or not.