The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are but one man with a combover

If he were to get a terminal diagnosis, Trump, who can't imagine a world without him in it, could create a world without him in it — a world without a world.

Mamma, keep your kids close and your Bibles open.

Donald Trump has a puncher’s chance at the White House, and with election as commander in chief, the nuclear codes.

Enough with the Herbert Hoovers and Henry Wallaces of our Great Plains, goes the thinking in these reaches. They'll roll with The Donald. Damn the torpedoes and the next generation. Or will they? The latest Des Moines Register Iowa Poll shows Kamala Harris within 4 points of Trump.

The nuclear judgment issue should loom large as a closing argument, more so now than in 1964 as sensible people would trust Goldwater over Trump with the earth-ending authority.

Chuck Grassley has the power to block federal appointments.

Joni Ernst can filibuster any bills she doesn’t like.

The courts and Congress can grind a presidency down with gridlock.

But the president does have autonomy, a relatively free hand, where launching nuclear weapons are concerned.

This reality is described in Annie Jacobsen's exhaustively reported and haunting book, "Nuclear War: A Scenario." It's a must read for human beings. Period. And it should inform far more of our decisions about leadership.

No checks. The Supreme Court can’t step in to stop the president from using nuclear weapons.

No balances. Congress doesn’t advise and consent on nuclear launches.

No generals overriding missile orders. Chain of command prevails on penalty of treason, and as Jacobsen soberly points out, the "good of humanity" argument won't prevail once the nuclear conflict is lit.

Donald Trump as president would have clear and complete control over a potential civilization-ending nuclear first strike. The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are but one man with a combover.

Iowa, it appears, is comfortable with that. 

What Bible passages should families read before what could be a rendezvous of Trump’s erratic behavior and nuclear-outfitted ego? Hebrews? Revelation? John? Read these to your kids. Memorize them. You won’t have much time should a panting-mad Trump unleash the mushroom clouds.

Affixing nicknames to political opponents and inciting rebellion must be a cotton-candy thrill compared to the God-like power of snatching billions of lives from the planet because, just because, you can.

Trump may not start the nuclear conflict. But he could very well escalate an international crisis (or obscure dispute on the high seas) into a fizz over, provoking another nation, or rogue entity, into firing the first shot.

He’s all about power and leverage.

Our nation, in the wake of nuclear attack, may very well cede enormous authorities to the president. 

Which would fit nicely into Mr. Trump’s scheme of power at any cost.

If he were to get a cancer diagnosis, Trump, who can't imagine a world without him in it, could create a world without him in it — a world without a world.

(Douglas Burns, founder of The Iowa Mercury and a fourth-generation Iowa journalist from Carroll, is a member of the Iowa Writers’ Collaborative. Read dozens of the most talented writers in Iowa in just one place. The Iowa Writers' Collaborative spans the full state. It’s one of the biggest things going in Iowa journalism and writing now — and you don’t want to miss. This collaborative is — as the outstanding Quad Cities journalist Ed Tibbetts says — YOUR SUNDAY IOWA newspaper. )