For decades, centuries, we have honored the office of President. Americans have disagreed with the man (because it's always been a man) in office, but they still held a respect for the office. Because, for better or worse, people who have occupied the office have been fairly honorable people, as far as we can tell.
Until now.
Trump has debased the office. He has made it his own personal prize. I see no indication that Trump does anything to benefit the United States, he has only done what is best for his own personal interests.
We are no longer seen as a reliable ally to most of those who once called us "ally". Why? Because Trump has soiled our alliances. Not sure why. Seems it's personal with him.
I don't give any reverence to the office anymore. An impostor is occupying the WH, and his presence has tainted the office for many years to come.
If not forever.
Idiots ruined America.
The White House will have to be fumigated to be sure, but the damage isn't irreparable. I think our allies are curious to see if we fix our little white nationalist populist problem, but simply electing Biden isn't going to be enough because we'll have to demonstrate that the fundamental flaws in our electoral system aren't going to stick around to give us another Trump in four years.
Assuming that Democrats take the White House, the Senate and keep the House, three things will have to happen, or a Democratic victory will have been for naught:
1)Eliminate the legislative filibuster.
I don't need to go into detail here. We all know what will happen the instant the House passes a bill and it goes to the Senate.
2)Rebalance the courts.
So you've got your Democratic majority, the House has passed a bill, the Senate passed it and Biden has signed it. Perhaps you even wanted to pass HR1, the broad sweeping legislation that makes it easier for everyone to vote, regardless of race or class. Now watch as HR1 dies in the courts. Even worse, watching HR1 go through the courts will take years, after which you've lost the political capital and, possibly, your Democratic majority. Also, Trump wins a second term and craps on the country all over again, at which point his damage will probably be permanent. McConnell has packed the courts, which means if you don't add extra seats (or some other rebalancing measure), every single progressive bill, policy, executive order...you name it...dies in the courts.
3)Pass HR1. There's a lot in HR1, but here are the main points:
- Automatic voter registration
- Online voter registration
- Same day voter registration
- Make election day a federal holiday
- Voting rights restoration to people with prior felony convictions
- Expand early voting and simplify absentee voting
- Prohibit voter purges that kick eligible voters off the registration rolls
- Enhance election security with increase support for a paper-based voting system and more oversight over election vendors
- End partisan gerrymandering by established independent redistricting commissions
- Prohibit providing false information about the elections process that discourage voting and other deceptive practices
While this doesn't address the problem of the Electoral College itself, it's still a harpoon into the heart of nearly every Republican operation in suppressing the vote.
At that point you can finally address the two largest issues in the United States: global warming and healthcare. But if you try putting global warming and healthcare before the others, you will fail. Badly.
And of course, Biden can rebuild the State Department, our Intelligence Community and our international alliances safe in the knowledge that Republicans aren't going to just blow it all up again in a couple years.