Traditionally, “lame duck” has referred to a politician who for one reason or another cannot be reelected, but still remains in nominal power for the remainder of his term. It is a milder form of “dead man walking” .
Typically, it has been felt such people have lost most of their influence. Who will listen to them? And in this scenario (feared by everyone who grows old), the future seems less and less important, no need to care about consequences. So we have senile seniors living in a home filled with cats, for example. Or driving an automobile when addled on medication .
In politics, “lame duck” always implied impotence. But that was before the geriatrics took over. In an age of senile senior lame ducks, there is an increasing tendency for the official to “go rogue” and do anything, heedless of consequences, reputation, or advice .
This has,unfortunately, always been the pattern when emperors, dictators, or whatever have aged too much in office. But the US, until recently, was spared the antics of such as Tiberius, Stalin, or Mao. No longer .
It’s another effect of concentration of wealth. Wealth is power, power corrupts, and at some point a billionaire or trillionaire feels omnipotent, clever, and invincible and nobody can stop the madness .
An interesting phenomenon to observe, if one can stay out of the way .
HuntingtonHarborThoughts 