Except this time its not regional, N vs S. Its cultural, religious, ideological, class and caste, urban v rural, and of course, racial. And it will be fought not by uniformed armies, but in the press, social media, and by State legislators and governors simply refusing to follow Federal Law.

The Republican Scalia thing, their refusal to even consider the President's SCOTUS nominee, much less vote on him or her, is our new Fort Sumter. They are not even pretending to play the Constitutional game any more, they believe they have a moral right to rebellion, and they are counting on the public not realizing this isn't just "politics", but a coup d'etat.

Redistricting and voter suppression was just a rehearsal for what's coming. Do you really think if a Democrat wins the election and they retain both houses of congress, the Right is going to suddenly start playing by the rules again? These people actually believe god is on their side. And rich folks don't spend hundreds of millions without some expectation of favorable results.

And if a Republican wins, and the Court is either deadlocked or stacked in their favor, do you really believe that they simply won't roll back every single progressive legislation that's been passed since the New Deal? Probably by executive action, claiming "Obama started it". A blizzard of constitutional amendments, or repeals of older ones, will follow, as well as the dismantling of a dozen government regulatory agencies. You can count on the tax system, and "entitlements" being "reformed" as well. Except it won't be by legislative action and after public debate, it will be by executive fiat. Go ahead, get a doctrinaire Conservative in his cups and ask him up front. He'll tell you himself. He'll call it "freedom".

Even if the electoral college fails to produce a clear winner in November, or if a key state's results are challenged (remember, it happened before, in 2000!), there will be no guarantee 8 justices will not be deadlocked. What happens then, violence? Do you really put it past them? Even if armed insurrection or a coup attempt fails, the scars will never heal; after all, what we're going through now has been festering for the last century and a half.

I believe the Republicans will do whatever it takes to have their way, and if they can't, they'll feel morally justified in escalating to whatever action they think is necessary. Like I said; they are convinced god is on their side.

I think RL has a point. I sincerely believe that there is about a 50-50 chance that by the end of this decade this nation will look very, very different. In fact, it will be unrecognizable. Is there anything you can say to reassure me? Is there anything anyone can say to reassure me?