Gwynne Dyer HandoutArticle contentIf the question is: ‘Is America back?’, then the answer must be: ‘No.’THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentAt least not in ways that are meaningful to non-Americans, who make up 96 per cent of the world’s population.Article contentArticle contentFor Americans, it’s a bit more nuanced.Article contentNothing at all will change until Jan. 3, 2027, when all the new and old members of Congress are sworn in.Article contentWhat will happen after that remains to be seen, but it won’t include much legislation because Donald Trump is promising to use his right of veto to thwart any measures he dislikes.Article contentArticle contentCOULD TRUMP BE IMPEACHED?Article contentThere is some chatter in Democratic circles about trying to impeach the president again. (They tried and failed twice in his first term).Article contentThat would be stupid, because large numbers of Republicans in both Houses would have to defect to make it possible, but the Democrats might try it anyway out of frustration (because Trump is vetoing all their legislation).Article contentTrump might even tacitly encourage another impeachment effort, as it would distract the Democrats from better targeted and more useful investigations into his many and flagrant self-dealing enterprises. It would also help to keep the paranoia level high on his own side.Article contentSo for all the hyperbole about ‘electoral earthquakes’, this is not the dawn of a new and better era in the United States. If the Democrats can stay cool and forensic in their approach, they might lay the foundations for another electoral victory and a real reckoning in 2028, but it is not within reach now.Article contentArticle contentWhere Trump remains unconstrained is in his dealings with the rest of the world: his tariffs, his wars, his whims and hates and boundless greed.Article contentArticle contentHe is not one whit less powerful in that domain than he was last week, and the damage he can do is both unpredictable and incalculable. Just one example: Iran.Article contentWHAT ABOUT IRAN AND CANADA?Article contentSince Trump was beguiled into making a surprise attack on Iran eight months ago by Israel’s Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu, he has oscillated endlessly between believing he can bomb the Iranians into submission — and imagining that he can ‘negotiate’ a better outcome than Barack Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran (which Trump tore up eight years ago).Article contentAs I write, we have no idea whether or not Trump will resume bombing Iran now that the midterms are out of the way. He probably has no idea himself.Article contentOf course, Iran still has no nuclear weapon or anything near that — but senior regime members are now openly debating whether Iran should get the bomb just to deter this kind of nonsense.
GWYNNE DYER: Is America back? No. Here’s why
