Trump’s version of personalized white nationalist authoritarian rule hasn’t yet infected every political institution nor the thinking of the majority of the American people. But his certain acquittal by the Senate turns the November elections into the remaining barrier to prevent the full consolidation of this form of rule. In the face of this existential threat to everything we hold dear, the watchword across the diverse democratic coalition and Democratic Party should be a no brainer — UNITY.

Trump’s lawyers in the Senate trial are vessels of lying, deception and deflection. They consider truth a contagion to be avoided at all costs.

Watched House member Barbara Lee (CA) on Morning Joe today. Before the interview, they showed her speaking on the House floor nearly 20 years ago where she opposed the resolution giving the Bush administration broad and sweeping war making powers. She was alone in her dissent, an opposition of one. What a profile in courage, what a brilliant example of piercing through the fog and hysteria of war. Over the years since then, her commitment to progressive values and policies — to a Beloved Community — has few peers in the Congress or elsewhere for that matter.

That same resolution is still in effect. And Lee (and others) are once again calling for its repeal.

Yesterday Trump’s lawyer Alan Dershowitz made the astonishing and dangerous claim at the impeachment trial that a president could not be removed from office for demanding political favors if he believed his re-election was in the national interest.

It makes me wonder what motivates him? Is it money? Is it notoriety and fame? Is he a Trump lover? Is he a true believer like Barr, who sees himself as a soldier in an existential culture war? Is he simply corrupt to the core?

This is an excerpt from a presentation I made to the Communist Party’s convention in 2014. It still retains relevance:

“I mention this because some on the left – even in our own party – are ready, if not to vacate, then at least to dial down on the struggle to defeat right-wing extremism. A few go a step further, claiming that the effort to defeat right-wing extremists is a retreat from the class struggle. None of these claims hold up in the court of life.

In the first place, this strategy has stymied the right wing’s most extreme plans to restructure political, economic, and cultural relations in a deep-going, permanent, and thoroughly reactionary way. No small achievement; in fact, an enormous achievement!

Second, victories – some of great import garnering fewer headlines – have been won. And these victories have made a difference in the lives of tens of millions.

Third, the emerging movement against the right doesn’t yet have transformative capacity, but it’s closer to acquiring it today because it has consistently battled the right.

Fourth, there is no other way – and certainly no easy way – at this stage of struggle to get to a future that puts people and nature before profits other than to battle and defeat right-wing extremism.

Finally, the struggle against the right is a form of the class struggle. In fact, it’s the leading edge of the class (and democratic) struggle at this moment. Only someone with a dogmatic cast of mind would think otherwise. Struggle, class and otherwise, never comes in pure forms.

I wish this stage of struggle could be skipped too in favor of something sexier, but it can’t. Political possibilities at every level are and will be limited as long as the right wing casts a long shadow over the country. Islands of progressivism in a sea, in which the right wing makes the biggest waves, are no substitute for a consistent and sustained struggle against the right on every level.”