Not just a question of semantics

Some may question that the Republic is in any danger after all.  The fulfillment of the requirements for being able to call one's government a "Republic" is not very hard to do.  Look at how many countries that claim to be republics.  Therefore, just about any government can be a "republic" as long as those running it say that's what it is.

There has to be a definition that covers all possibilities, otherwise the word has no real meaning.

For the purposes of the blog here, the word "Republic" refers to a government that gets its power from the American Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.

Thus, the power ultimately comes from the people, and "we the people" wield it, according to the Constitution.  Every officer serving this government must swear an oath to support the Constitution.  Any officer who does not is subject to discipline according to the laws derived from it.

It is thus said to be a government of laws, as opposed to a government of the rule of men.

So, when I say that the Republic is threatened, it is meant that the rule of law is breaking down and the rule of men is replacing it.

An example of how the rule of law in a Republic can break down into the rule of men is to look at how the Weimar Republic became a dictatorship under Adolph Hitler.   All officers had to swear an oath to Hitler, not to the Republic.  Thus, Hitler became sovereign and usurped the rightful power of the Republic and its laws---thus becoming a law unto himself.

Could that happen here?

Only if enough people forget where the real power is and neglect to enforce it.

However, such may happen if there's enough passivity and indifference amongst the public.  We may very well have such a situation today.  There are simply too many people who don't care about what's going on and are simply indifferent to what's happening.

For any well-organized minority can seize power for itself and usurp the rightful power of the Republic.  That's always a danger.  That danger is provided for in the Constitution itself.

But it only works if it is applied.

The price of liberty is said to be eternal vigilance. 

Who's on guard?  Anybody?