Slip sliding away...

The week's been a "great" one for the rapidly approaching end of American democracy - soon to be topped off with a military parade with the Army bending the knee to their yellow leader (in more senses than one.)

Let's see - the National Guard and (even worse!) some Marines sent in to intimidate a city and its administration; a Senator being wrestled to the ground and handcuffed for asking (I assume loudly) questions of a cos-playing Homeland Security wannabe Nazi; Trump going to Fort Bragg and attacking his predecessor to the smiles (and some boos) of many of the young, dumb soldiers behind him.  (And then, grossly, they enjoyed his gormless YMCA dance, like it was a political rally.)

What's going on in the military will, I suspect, ultimately determine the fate of US democracy.   As I have said before, while it's possible for a deranged officer to rise in the Pentagon (see Michael Flynn), most of the leadership there was clearly leery of Trump in his first term, and the mystery is how many of them remain there now.   The problem is, the lower ranks with limited education are likely to be conservative and Trump supporting;  the commanders with real experience are going to be the ones to have to convince them their duty is not towards Trump personally but the constitution, which is just an inconvenient obstacle as far as Trump's concerned.   

I would not be surprised if an incident of significant internal unrest happens within the military over a Trump order, with rogue elements aligning with Trump.   

I am slightly encouraged that the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was reluctant to endorse Trumpian views.   But still I'm concerned that those who would most strongly stand up to Trump have either left the Pentagon or been sacked.