Spirited Reasoners can remember a time when conservative Republicans were all about the strict, even literal, adherence to the U. S. Constitution. So-called Tea Party Republicans expressed outrage at the manner in which Democrats and moderate Republicans were (in their opinion) too willing to apply and accept common-sense interpretations of clauses that were written over 200 years ago.

Amazingly, some of those same Tea Party advocates appear to be willing to forget all that by supporting a man who, this morning, opined as follows:

“So, with the revelation of MASSIVE & WIDESPREAD FRAUD & DECEPTION in working closely with Big Tech Companies, the DNC, & the Democrat Party, do you throw the Presidential Election Results of 2020 OUT and declare the RIGHTFUL WINNER, or do you have a NEW ELECTION? A Massive Fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations, and articles, even those found in the Constitution.” See, Donald Trump calls for the ‘termination’ of the United States Constitution over 2020 loss (msn.com)

It’s unclear how, exactly, the termination of the U. S. Constitution would grant Mr. Trump the remedy he so desperately seeks. One conclusion, however, is painfully apparent: he views the Constitution and laws of this great nation as impediments to his immediate coronation.  He’s right about that. Our nation was formed in direct reaction against the arbitrary rule of a monarch.

What’s interesting is that, despite Mr. Trump’s increasingly candid admission that he seeks absolute control of our government, even if that would require the end of the rule of law as we know it, 40% of Americans continue to tell pollsters they maintain a favorable opinion of him. See, https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/polls/favorability/donald-trump/  Spirited Reasoners must therefore conclude that approximately 40% of Americans would be okay with the return of these United States to monarchy status, so long as Mr. Trump is the one crowned as king.

Let’s hope those polls are wrong, or at least that my interpretation of voter mindset is off the mark. One would hope, however, that Mr. Trump’s “Truth Social” rant, quoted above, will be sufficient to lower his poll support substantially.