Axios reports that a second Trump administration would be even batshitcrazytarian than the first. Notably, a second Trump administration would reclassify thousands of federal workers, making it possible to fire them, known as ‘Schedule F.’ If nothing else, this would gut the middle levels of the civil service, weakening its capacity even further. In addition, a second Trump administration would far more aggressive in pushing the boundaries of the law (which is to say, likely engage in illegal activity). There’s a bunch of other scary shit too*.

Here’s what occurred to me: having watched the Republican Party for the last thirty years, why shouldn’t one think any Republican administration would do this? They have done something like this every time they’ve taken power (the Reagan administration did this quite often). Remember this from the Bush 43 administration?

“People like you are still living in what we call the reality-based community. You believe that solutions emerge from your judicious study of discernible reality. That’s not the way the world really works anymore. We’re an empire now, and when we act, we create our own reality. And while you are studying that reality—judiciously, as you will—we’ll act again, creating other new realities, which you can study too, and that’s how things will sort out. We’re history’s actors, and you, all of you, will be left to just study what we do.”

If you don’t want radical Republicans in office–and on policy issues, they’re all radicals at this point–then don’t elect Republicans and elect better Democrats who are more likely to beat Republicans (and use their power when they do).

The real question is why Democrats haven’t been more aggressive in using and controlling the executive branch** (one bright spot, noteworthy for its exceptionalism, has been the FTC). As long as Republican appointees are kept in place, they won’t hire Democrats, which matters both for immediate policy and for the long-term prospects of the Democratic Party.

*Notably, Trump et alia plan to install a bunch of very young people in all sorts of positions, allowing them to build up experience and credentials, which will enable them to be in and around government for a very long time. Professional Democrats, especially the geriatric leadership which is clinging onto power with a rigor mortis-like grip (and who never did this with GenX or older millenials), would never even consider doing this, because they suck at their jobs (there are exceptions, such as Sen. Warren).

**Anyone think the Secret Service or our other internal security services would be especially loyal to Democrats (compared to Republicans) at this point?