In One Year

Twelve months from now, barring unforeseen circumstances, Americans will go to the polls to choose whether they want to keep the President they have or trade him in for a different one.

We are usually told that the next election will be the most important in the history of the United States of America.  Due to the events of the past four years, that statement is more important than ever.

President Donald Trump, who will likely be the first impeached (and acquitted) leader ever to run for re-election, will depend on the goodwill of his loyal base and the fealty of the Republican party to help him win a second term.  Not to mention the short memories of voters who ignored the Mueller report and don't know what in heck "quid pro quo" means, while changing the channel during the televised impeachment hearings with House Democrats questioning anyone they can convince to testify without incurring Trump's wrath.  Other than that, Trump's in big trouble.

With a couple of months left before the primaries and caucuses begin, there are still at least ten Democrats who want to take on Trump.  Of those, there are only four candidates who have enough staying power in the polls to be considered for nomination:  Former Vice President Joe Biden, Senators Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Bernie Sanders of Vermont, and Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana.  For what it's worth, all four of them would beat Trump if the election were held right now, not a year from now.

And because the election is a year from now, we can expect plenty of mudslinging from both sides on the campaign circuit, and through social media and TV.  But there is an outside possibility that the GOP-dominated Senate might actually grow a spine and kick Trump out of the White House.  Then the Democrats have a new problem--how to run against Mike Pence.

That's why the next twelve months are so important.  Impeachment or no, it is still up to the voters to decide.  Unless, of course, Russia decides to put its thumb on the scale again.