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For a film released in 1968, Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey stands up well on the technical side, with its beeping gadgetry and spaceships floating to the strains of Johann Strauss. The film also invites a comparison of recent events in America, including Tuesday’s election.

On the Discovery One, headed for Jupiter, astronauts Dave Bowman (Keir Dullea) and Frank Poole, (Gary Lockwood) contend with the HAL9000 computer that controls the ship. HAL claims a perfect operational record but suddenly picks up a fault in a communications unit. Dave and Frank find it functioning perfectly, and that forces a decision. Trouble is, no HAL9000 has ever been disconnected, and Dave isn’t sure what HAL would think of it. The lipreading computer is all up front. “I know that you and Frank were planning to disconnect me,” HAL explains, “and I’m afraid that’s something I cannot allow to happen.”

HAL kills Frank by cutting off his air supply and shuts down the life support for the three scientists in hibernation.  Dave is stuck outside the ship in a pod. HAL refuses to open the door, and taunts Dave that without his space helmet re-entry is going to be tough. Dave gets in through the airlock and proceeds to disable HAL. Consider the possible parallels.

Take HAL as the administrative or “deep” state, the vast array of federal bureaucracies that controls so much, without any accountability or need to face the voters. Whatever people think of Donald Trump, he’s the first president to mount an open offensive against this force, which didn’t like the prospect of downsizing or disconnection. From day one, the DOJ and FBI mounted covert operations against President Trump and in 2020 states ramped up mail ballots and such. Joe Biden touted an “extensive and inclusive voter fraud organization” and never campaigned, but the Delaware Democrat came to occupy the White House.

The Biden-Harris administration mounted lawfare, false charges and FBI raids against Trump, who survived two assassination attempts. At this writing, Trump is like Dave, outside the ship. The candidate is hoping that voters provide him with an airlock so he can regain the White House and take on the establishment. On Tuesday we’ll have to see what happens.