Persistent support for Trump confirms my sense that I am completely out of touch with this country, outside of my costal bubbles. May truth and Justice prevail.
Thank you Jon. One important take-away for me, offered here for your readers: be nice to all your independent/swing voter friends, no matter how conservative they might be, even if they disagree with you on maybe just about every single policy question. One more: but don’t mince words about the threat written about here.
More and more nowadays, the name Benito Mussolini stands for the abrupt, violent end of an illegitimate, autocratic regime. The comparison of Il Duce to Trump is reasonable and frightening.
Jonathan, maybe I'm naive, but I don't agree with the statement "this power grab will be attempted under any Republican president elected in the foreseeable future." I think that just about everyone in the country views this election as the turning point. If Trump loses - and I think he will because his blood-lust and promises of retribution are too much for independents who make up the largest block of eligible voters - the Republican party will have to completely reassess its future path. But, as, I said, perhaps I'm just naive.
Jonathan Alter is right. Trump IS a serious danger to the rule of law in the US. I do not reference here the "D" of democracy, because "democracy" is NOT what the US is about. There are lots of "democracies," but the US Constitution is about the LIMITS placed on the powers of democracy, not their enhancements.
As someone else said, "democracy" is two lions and a gazelle deciding what to have for lunch! My own observation is that the PUREST form of "democracy" is a lynch mob, for everyone in attendance agrees on the outcome except for the victim. What is different about the US is the need to keep a leash on the majority and protect MINORITIES.
I think the best way to treat Donald Trump is to mock him and belittle him every chance available, but to take his intentions seriously; or completely ignore him. Don't give him the attention he craves. He is a buffoon, but a dangerous one. Anyone who ignores the opportunity to keep him out of the Presidency is worthless. He got 73 MILLION votes in 2020. Biden almost LOST!
One big thing that we have going for us at this moment in time is our robust economy. If it slows down in the next twelve months though, voters will throw out the Biden administration in November 2024 and look to Republicans to change it. Of course that makes no sense, none whatsoever, but it's the American public we are dealing with here.
Perhaps another letter should be added. It appears a consensus within the Republican party is emerging to in one form or the other conduct military operations in Mexico.
Of course, drugs are a problem and have been for decades. But starting another hot war on our own border is insanity. Anyone who has paid any attention to how hot wars only become hotter whilst leading to unintended consequences should be appalled.
the demolish the deep state quote you cite is the last paragraph of the nytimes piece you referenced. when i first read it on the nytimes website, i came away saying it proved that no one hated the concept of the united states more than the former president.
I’m not sure the founding fathers predicted that one of the parties would give up its constitutional responsibility and become an authoritarian enabler. If we survive 2024, the big challenge will be to turn back this Republican authoritarian movement. Trump has lifted the veil on the fragility of our constitutional system of government that requires people of character to represent us. The president actually has unlimited power if the other branches of government cede that to him. This doesn’t go away in 2024. It’s just the beginning. Thank God the millennials and Gen Z, are just down the road. It will be up to them.
The coup plotter of the Roman Republic, Catiline, was denounced in the Roman Senate by the famous statesman and constitutionalist, Cicero, who had been elected as one of two senate consuls that year. Cicero's compelling rhetoric forced Catiline to flee the Senate and the city of Rome itself. (There is a famous modern fresco in Rome by Maccari that depicts the denunciation. Rick Wilson borrowed that historic image to use as his Twitter profile header a few years ago.) Unfortunately, the Roman Republic and its constitution died 36 years later, when Augustus (Octavian) was proclaimed as the first emperor of Rome.
The possibility of Trump’s election is so scary that at 83 years I may have to go door to door again in the pre-election weeks. I hope he is convicted prior to that time, but will his biased base care that he is a multi-felon? I fear not.
Persistent support for Trump confirms my sense that I am completely out of touch with this country, outside of my costal bubbles. May truth and Justice prevail.
Thank you Jon. One important take-away for me, offered here for your readers: be nice to all your independent/swing voter friends, no matter how conservative they might be, even if they disagree with you on maybe just about every single policy question. One more: but don’t mince words about the threat written about here.
More and more nowadays, the name Benito Mussolini stands for the abrupt, violent end of an illegitimate, autocratic regime. The comparison of Il Duce to Trump is reasonable and frightening.
Outstanding article on Trump’s Fascist moves. He MUST never get near the Presidency again!
Jonathan, maybe I'm naive, but I don't agree with the statement "this power grab will be attempted under any Republican president elected in the foreseeable future." I think that just about everyone in the country views this election as the turning point. If Trump loses - and I think he will because his blood-lust and promises of retribution are too much for independents who make up the largest block of eligible voters - the Republican party will have to completely reassess its future path. But, as, I said, perhaps I'm just naive.
Jonathan Alter is right. Trump IS a serious danger to the rule of law in the US. I do not reference here the "D" of democracy, because "democracy" is NOT what the US is about. There are lots of "democracies," but the US Constitution is about the LIMITS placed on the powers of democracy, not their enhancements.
As someone else said, "democracy" is two lions and a gazelle deciding what to have for lunch! My own observation is that the PUREST form of "democracy" is a lynch mob, for everyone in attendance agrees on the outcome except for the victim. What is different about the US is the need to keep a leash on the majority and protect MINORITIES.
I think the best way to treat Donald Trump is to mock him and belittle him every chance available, but to take his intentions seriously; or completely ignore him. Don't give him the attention he craves. He is a buffoon, but a dangerous one. Anyone who ignores the opportunity to keep him out of the Presidency is worthless. He got 73 MILLION votes in 2020. Biden almost LOST!
One big thing that we have going for us at this moment in time is our robust economy. If it slows down in the next twelve months though, voters will throw out the Biden administration in November 2024 and look to Republicans to change it. Of course that makes no sense, none whatsoever, but it's the American public we are dealing with here.
Perhaps another letter should be added. It appears a consensus within the Republican party is emerging to in one form or the other conduct military operations in Mexico.
https://www.economist.com/united-states/2023/07/20/how-mexico-has-become-the-enemy-of-americas-republicans
Of course, drugs are a problem and have been for decades. But starting another hot war on our own border is insanity. Anyone who has paid any attention to how hot wars only become hotter whilst leading to unintended consequences should be appalled.
the demolish the deep state quote you cite is the last paragraph of the nytimes piece you referenced. when i first read it on the nytimes website, i came away saying it proved that no one hated the concept of the united states more than the former president.
I’m not sure the founding fathers predicted that one of the parties would give up its constitutional responsibility and become an authoritarian enabler. If we survive 2024, the big challenge will be to turn back this Republican authoritarian movement. Trump has lifted the veil on the fragility of our constitutional system of government that requires people of character to represent us. The president actually has unlimited power if the other branches of government cede that to him. This doesn’t go away in 2024. It’s just the beginning. Thank God the millennials and Gen Z, are just down the road. It will be up to them.
The coup plotter of the Roman Republic, Catiline, was denounced in the Roman Senate by the famous statesman and constitutionalist, Cicero, who had been elected as one of two senate consuls that year. Cicero's compelling rhetoric forced Catiline to flee the Senate and the city of Rome itself. (There is a famous modern fresco in Rome by Maccari that depicts the denunciation. Rick Wilson borrowed that historic image to use as his Twitter profile header a few years ago.) Unfortunately, the Roman Republic and its constitution died 36 years later, when Augustus (Octavian) was proclaimed as the first emperor of Rome.
Maybe Biden should do what Trump wants to do so Dems can hold on to the power forever.
The possibility of Trump’s election is so scary that at 83 years I may have to go door to door again in the pre-election weeks. I hope he is convicted prior to that time, but will his biased base care that he is a multi-felon? I fear not.