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Krugman: The GOP plot to sabotage 2021

Photo by Doug Mills of The New York Times / President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, en route to Nevada. "One thing that's clear, however, is that Republicans — not just Donald Trump, but his whole party — are acting as if there's no tomorrow. Or, more precisely, they're acting as if there's no next year," writes NYT columnist Paul Krugman. Photo by Doug Mills of The New York Times / President Donald Trump arrives at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Saturday, Sept. 12, 2020, en route to Nevada. "One thing that's clear, however, is that Republicans — not just Donald Trump, but his whole party — are acting as if there's no tomorrow. Or, more precisely, they're acting as if there's no next year," writes NYT columnist Paul Krugman.

By Paul Krugman / The New York Times September 15, 2020 4 min read

Nobody knows for sure who will win in November. Joe Biden holds the advantage right now, but between the vagaries of the Electoral College and whatever October surprises the Trumpists cook up – who knows?

One thing that’s clear, however, is that Republicans – not just Donald Trump, but his whole party – are acting as if there’s no tomorrow. Or, more precisely, they’re acting as if there’s no next year.

And this means that if Biden does win, he will have to govern in the face of what amounts to nonstop policy sabotage from his political opponents.

To see what I mean about acting as if there’s no next year, consider the large indoor rally Trump held Sunday in Nevada.

Before the release of Bob Woodward’s new book, you might have argued that Trump doesn’t believe the science and didn’t realize that his event might well sicken and kill many people. But we now know that he’s well aware of the risks, and has been all along. He just doesn’t care.