A ROBUST NEW TRUMP WATCH

Existing structure isn't sufficient

    When Richard Nixon, the bete noire of Democrats for decades, won the Presidency, Herblock, the legendary anti-Nixon cartoonist for the Washington Post, presented the President-elect with a clean shave, a chance to start anew.

      Any Herblock wanna-bes can put away the razors; Donald Trump doesn't want to unify, or find any common ground; he wants revenge, to strike  out against political enemies, disregarding rules  or laws. 
   He was legitimately elected. But the the opposition must take him on in that context. It's not a normal time;  to paraphrase Churchill  fight him on the law, on policy, on politics and on the media.
   The existing structure even if Democrats win the House (uphill), isn't up to this challenge. There needs to be a new Trump Watch organization, well-funded with tough smart leadership; channeling any young James Carvilles.   

      After losing what Democrats considered a must win against an existential danger, the party will have a painful and bitter reckoning. One who won't participate is President Biden whose refusal to bow out earlier cost Democrats.
   Let elected officials fight that out; others have to confront the Trump danger immediately.

Source: Getty Images

   It is profoundly different from what progressives faced with Ronald Reagan after the 1980 election or what Barack Obama posed for conservatives after 2008. The controversies in those cases centered  on policies which could be reversed; both Presidents respected  the rule of  law and constitutional norms.
   Trump has openly shown contempt for both, suggesting suspending the constitution if politically necessary, expressing regret that he left the White House although he lost the election and raising the possibility of using the military against the "enemy within" which includes major Democrats. He talks of executing political opponents.

  On policy he plans to dismantle the Civil service, make the Justice Department an appendage of the White House, and although he tried to duck the abortion issues during the campaign, look for him to pay off his right wing white Christian nationalists support, directing the Food and Drug Administration to curtail the use of the pill, which accounts for almost two-thirds of abortions. 
    Robert F. Kennedy, jr. as health czar, banning many vaccines and fluoride, will cost hundreds of thousands of lives. 

     On national security he'll sell out Ukraine and  get in bed with dictators, most prominently Vladimir Putin. 

 Personnel will be a disaster. Trump 2.0 won't have any Jim Mattis'; it will be filled by right wingers who meet  two criteria:  primary loyalty to Trump not country or the constitution and a general contempt for government.  

   Congressional Democrats and advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union or the center for Budget and Policy Priorities will   actively take on the  Administration. But customary  procedures and institutions are inadequate for a radical regime that has no interest in transparency,

    What's essential are well-funded and well staffed  legal, policy, political and media units  that do full time deep dives on Trump abuses.  They can coordinate with congressional and other anti-Trump officials.
   The legal challenges taking on an Administration that sees itself as above the law are enormous, almost unparalleled. It would be a daunting, though exciting, undertaking for bright young lawyers.
  A policy arm, staffed with economists, business, labor and national security specialists has to be more steadily critical and cutting edge than traditional progressive  organizations, Similarly a political team could have more focus and less bureaucracy than Democratic committees.

   I have no doubt that top news organizations like the New York Times, Washington Post and Atlantic -as well as hybrid upstarts like the Bulwark -- will vigorously  cover the corruption of this crowd. A more concentrated focus, daily reports, in-depth investigations, a robust social media presence, a check on false equivalency, as part of Trump Watch could add real value in the fight for Democracy. 

  This needs to be done promptly. Tough, credible leaders are necessary to attract funders. The work has to be 24-7.   Diversity should be valued but the "woke" distractions  that have afflicted some old line progressive organizations are luxuries they can ill afford. 

   This may all seems unrealistic. I'm not sure it's possible.  

     What I am sure is a Trump Administration , led by a a ruthless, angry aging autocrat, surrounded by sycophants and with few  guard rails -- the Republican Supreme Court gave him pretty much of a green light on corruption while in office --is a danger that will overwhelm any regular order.