In a year of protests, should we be worried about another Democratic Convention in Chicago?

Commentary

I recently had the opportunity to cast a ballot for a friend and neighbor running for a delegate seat to the 2024 Democratic Convention to be held in Chicago in August. My friend was elected to one of the two seats from our Congressional district and will be going to Chicago to attend. While I was at the polling site I chatted with another person running to be a delegate and asked, more than semi-seriously, “Democratic Convention? Chicago? Doesn’t anyone at the DNC remember 1968?”

For those of you not old enough to remember – or those of you old enough, but too old to remember – a good place to refresh your memory is this Wikipedia article.

In short it was a disaster, both inside and outside the Convention. Disarray inside, anti-war demonstrations outside and brutal use of force against the demonstrators by Chicago Mayor Richard Daley and his police.

Back to my question to the delegate candidate. He responded quickly and confidently, “Not to worry, the DNC has assured us that Chicago is ready; there will be no repeat of 1968.”

Shortly after that conversation, I came across David Frum’s article in The Atlantic, The Plot to Wreck the Democratic Convention May not amount to much, actually*

*PDF version for The Atlantic non-subscribers

Frum is a center-right conservative. He’s the author of 10 books, most recently Trumpocracy (2018) and Trumpocalypse (2020). For two years he was a speechwriter (now reformed) for President George W. Bush.

In his article poses Frum poses the question, “Will Chicago 2024 be a replay of the disastrous Chicago 1968, which, as Frum reminds us, helped lead to a Republican presidential victory in 1968 — “and then again in four of the next five elections?”

He goes on to describe the protections established since 1968, detailing the more recent history of calmer conventions. But not even a sage like Frum can predict the future, as he concludes his argument with a “guess.”

“The better guess is that they (demonstrators) will not only fail in that but also be unable to mobilize any large number to attack police lines and risk serious prison time.”

I hope he’s guessing right. Chicago 1968 redux will not just wreck the Democratic Convention; if it contributes to a Trump victory, it will lead to the wreck of democracy in America.

Which leads me to this week’s Time Magazine cover story, How Far Trump Would Go.*

*PDF version for Time non-subscribers

In a word, the article, based on Time reporter Eric Cortellessa, two interviews with Trump, is HORRIFYING! And in three more words, BUT NOT UNEXPECTED!

Let me turn to Heather Cox Richardson, in her Letters from an American post, for an analysis.

• Cortellessa writes that Trump intends to establish “an imperial presidency that would reshape America and its role in the world.”
• Trump plans to use the military to round up, put in camps, and deport more than 11 million people.
• Trump is willing to permit Republican-dominated states to monitor pregnancies and prosecute people who violate abortion bans.
• Trump will shape the laws by refusing to release funds appropriated by Congress (as he did in 2019 to try to get Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky to smear Hunter Biden).
• Trump would like to bring the Department of Justice under his own control, pardoning those convicted of attacking the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and ending the U.S. system of an independent judiciary.
• In a second Trump presidency, the U.S. might not come to the aid of a European or Asian ally that Trump thinks isn’t paying enough for its own defense.
• Trump would, Cortelessa wrote, “gut the U.S. civil service, deploy the National Guard to American cities as he sees fit, close the White House pandemic-preparedness office, and staff his Administration with acolytes who back his false assertion that the 2020 election was stolen.”

In case you’re not horrified enough by now, read this question by Cortellessa and Trump’s answer:

“Don’t you see why many Americans see such talk of dictatorship as contrary to our most cherished principles?” “No,” Trump said. “‘I think a lot of people like it.”

Many people I’ve talked to recently dismiss the possibility of another Trump presidency. “He won’t win,” they say. I’m old enough to remember many of those same people said the same thing in 2016. The difference: At least this time we’ve been warned!

One quick note before I go.

My site is hosted by WordPress. WordPress recently introduced “AI Assistant” meant to “Check for mistakes and verify the tone of your post before publishing.”

I never tried it before so I clicked on the link. I thought you’d get a kick out of the AI feedback I received:

The post is well-structured and engaging, providing historical context and referencing relevant articles. To enhance it, consider adding a brief summary or key takeaways for readers who may be unfamiliar with the subject matter. Additionally, including a call to action or invitation for readers to share their thoughts could further engage the audience. Lastly, reinforcing the importance of staying informed and actively participating in the political process would provide a positive conclusion.

Thrilled as I am about the comment about the post being “well-structured and engaging,” I was particularly taken by the suggestion: “Additionally, including a call to action or invitation for readers to share their thoughts could further engage the audience. Lastly, reinforcing the importance of staying informed and actively participating in the political process would provide a positive conclusion.

Many of you share your thoughts with comments and emails even without my prompting. Make no mistake, I appreciate the feedback and would love to hear from more of you. But the most important feedback is really better aimed at you than me. I’m doing what I can to help readers stay informed hoping that it helps you enhance participation in the political process. So here’s my call to action: Stay engaged. Join the conversation. Donate to candidates you believe in. Vote. And get fence-sitting Democrats you know to vote as well…and not for RFK Jr. (ironic as this post begins in 1968, the year his father was assassinated.) Now that we know “How Far Trump will Go,” we all need to help ensure that the title of David Frum’s book, “Trumpocalypse,” will never come true.