Something critical and ominous is missing from the debate discussion. Watch the clip below, or read the quoted excerpt. When asked what he would say to voters who fear that he would again violate his oath of office by obstructing the constitutional transfer of power, Trump replied:

Don’t be distracted by the lying. It’s much darker than that.

Trump is trying to condition your thinking. He’s saying, in essence, “Things were better with me in power, see, and you should feel good about doing anything – even taking power through violence – to ensure my rule. Don’t worry about the constitution, or democracy. I’ll make everything great. As for that failed mob-led coup d’etat, that was just a missed opportunity.”

He is brazenly laying the foundation for becoming America’s Supreme Leader. (No doubt he’s jealous of his acknowledged heroes – Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, and the Supreme Leader himself, Kim Jong Un – who don’t have to worry about fair elections.)

Am I overreacting? As if to quell any doubts, later in the debate Trump said that he would accept the results of the upcoming presidential election only “if it’s a fair, and legal, and good election.” ...Say what?!? A “good election”?

When asked what form of government the newly formed United States had, Benjamin Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Quoted so often as to become tiresome, before the debate I might have rolled my eyes when someone trotted it out. I won’t now.