Every damned day, I see and hear this guy and feel disturbed, repulsed, and just embarrassed as hell that he represents us globally. This is truly exhausting
But the damage is being done!!! Politics (as horrible as they are).. are never going to be the same… it’s going to be so much worse! He’s proving just do what you want and worry about the fallout later! Too many kissing his ass when deep down they HAVE to know this admin is wrong on so many levels!! You cannot LOVE this country and what it was built on… and LITERALLY just bulldoze your way through it. You don’t LOVE the country and try to take it over as your own. You don’t LOVE the country when you allow masked agents to just brutally go after people they THINK shouldn’t be in this country. You don’t LOVE the country when you turn the national guard and military on its own citizens. You don’t LOVE the country when you keep the govt closed knowing how horrific the fallout will be for so many families because you REFUSE to negotiate. You don’t LOVE the country when you test the waters of ignoring the Constitution. You don’t LOVE the country when you bulldoze historic buildings to build a gaudy tacky entirely too large ballroom. You don’t LOVE the country when you grift and get richer and richer while citizens are being screwed in so many different ways.
I have ZERO IDEA what people see in this 🤡…. But I hope history tells the true story of the MONSTERS ruining our democracy. There is ZERO doubt he will allow midterms to happen… he knows he’s fucked if he does….:so what he’s doing now is testing the waters of how it’s going to go the closer we get to voting! He is the most vile… despicable… amoral…corrupt…FELON AND SEXUAL PREDATOR to walk this earth. RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!
A good president knows that their duty is to serve ALL Americans. They should be able to connect with as many different groups of Americans as possible.
A successful president will nominate individuals who have proven good character, competency in their field of expertise, and compassion.
The president's staff should be fully vetted prior to being nominated. They should know more than the president does about the position to which they are nominated. Their record should show that they care about people.
This would be my basic philosophy of leadership if I were to run for president in 2028. This is my tripartite philosophy: Character, Competency, Compassion.
The vast majority of voters base their choice of candidates on their emotions rather than logic, rational thought, or principles. Whoever can manipulate their emotions usually gets their vote. Trump played on the fear of white citizens that Hispanic and Latino immigrants were going to take over our country.
Emotions look for a pragmatic solution (get rid of the immigrants) rather than a logical one (i.e., secure the border and develop a humane pathway to citizenship). Logic is a much harder process than going on one's emotions.
Trump has never learned nor practiced what it means to be a successful president. He is interested in the performative aspects of the office: getting "ratings" (votes and crowds); being able to speak his mind (ramble) in front of adoring or polite crowds; and, most recently, having the opportunity to silence or punish his critics. This is how he attempts to "transform" everything around him, using his penchant for over-simplification, fake nostalgia (steamships, anyone?), and outright deception. Like a kind of deranged magician, he wants to get people to say "oooh"and "ahhhh" without hearing them ask too many pointed questions.
Great but you neglect the wills of the corporate gods and their billionaire -oligarch overlords...they won't like it much.... it's their world we/ you just dwell in it. Sadly.
Thank you for your comment, Gregg. Obviously, you and I have different worldviews regarding metaphysics. My God trumps any corporate god and their billionaire-oligarch overlords. My view is based on what Jesus said about the relationship between God and wealthy individuals who despise the poor. This is what Luke records:
16 Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' 18 Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"'
20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'
21 "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." (Lk. 12:16-21 NLT)
God doesn't implicitly hate the wealthy. He only hates those who hoard their wealth instead of using it to help the poor. Again, in the Gospel of Luke Jesus says:
33 "Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." (Lk. 12:33-34 NLT)
And, no, I am not a Christian nationalist. I only believe that the Bible is the Word of God.
I bet Moses thought the same thing when leading the Israelites to the promised land. When he turned his back the masses started worshipping the Golden Bull. We now have our Golden Wrecking Bull. Does this mean 40 more years in the wilderness?
Unfortunately politics does not bring out the best and brightest our country has to offer. It has now become a mudslinging, fear based contest with few guardrails to protect whatever is left of American values. This is what happens when anyone can become president. Just takes lots of money with a sprinkle of bigotry and greed that appeals to a minority who can swing the election. They want others to share their miserable life since they cannot do any better.
If we cannot find a better way, we deserve what we have created.
Thank you for your comment, Russ. On the surface, it takes a more realistic view of what would probably take place. However, I have a response to your analogy of Moses and a further comment concerning running for president.
First, Moses never wanted the job of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. He did everything he could to try to get out of it and complained the whole time about how badly he was being treated by everyone—even the Lord. If you look closely, you’ll see that he had real anger issues that cost him the ultimate satisfaction of doing his job: entering the Promised Land.
Second, (and this is my personal observation) anyone who runs for President of the United States has to be somewhat of an idealistic/optimistic egomaniacal narcissist, but just not to the degree of our current President.
On the other hand, my wife doesn’t think I should do it. However, if you consider anything about the Bible to be true, it is this one thing. The fact that Adam took Eve’s advice got us into this mess. In fact, the first thing the Lord said after Adam gave his excuse for eating the forbidden fruit was, “Because you listened to the woman . . . “
I’m sure that many people make a decision with which their loved ones or friends disagree by joining the military, but I don’t think anyone would say it was always a wrong decision. So how could running for president and being physically separated from my wife for anytime between four and eight years be any different than someone who serves several tours of duty in combat zones?
They would be doing it for their country and I would be doing it for mine. Someone has to make a sacrifice in order to preserve our democracy.
I’m not saying women are always wrong. What I am saying is that over the last 50 years I have made many decisions with which my wife disagreed, but ultimately (and surprisingly) they all turned out for the good. But maybe I’m delusional when I say that.
Let me wrap up my response with this: Thank you for your comment, and would you consider serving on my cabinet or staff? I could use people who take a realistic view of situations (and know a little something about the Bible).
Thanks again, Russ.
For America,
Cliff R. Loriot, PhD, EdS, MEd, MDiv, and (Journeyman) Electrician for more than 33 years (retired).
Every cult of personality collapses. Not from revelation, but from rot. You can only worship a man for so long before the smell gives him away. Power always mistakes applause for resurrection, but history doesn’t do encores.
Economic crisis had gutted the middle class. Treaty obligations strangled growth. Foreign interests controlled too much. The traditional parties had failed. The elites in the capital seemed disconnected from ordinary citizens. Crime was rising. The streets felt unsafe. People were angry.
He emerged from outside the political establishment. A businessman. A media personality. Someone who spoke plainly. He didn't talk like a politician. He talked like them. He understood their frustration because he voiced it. Loudly. Constantly.
He promised to make the nation great again.
Not great for the first time. Great again. There had been a golden age. A time when the nation was respected. Feared. Powerful. When citizens had pride. When the economy worked for everyone. That era had been stolen from them by corrupt politicians, by foreign manipulation, by internal enemies who didn't love the country enough.
He would restore it.
The rallies were massive. Thousands came to hear him speak. They wore his colors. Chanted his slogans. The energy was electric. He fed off the crowds and they fed off him. He told them what they wanted to hear. He named their enemies. The establishment politicians. The media. The intellectuals. The cosmopolitan elites who looked down on ordinary people. The minorities who were somehow both lazy and stealing their jobs.
The media attacked him. Called him dangerous. Unqualified. A demagogue. This only made him stronger. See, he told his supporters, they're afraid of us. Afraid of you. The elites want to keep you down. I'm the only one who tells the truth. That's why they hate me.
His supporters believed. They believed so completely that facts stopped mattering. When he lied, they said the media lied. When he contradicted himself, they said he was evolving. When he broke promises, they said he was being blocked by traitors within the system.
He won power legally. Through the system. The people voted. Democracy worked.
Then he began to dismantle it.
First came the purges. Career bureaucrats were removed. Replaced with loyalists. The civil service became his personal staff. Expertise didn't matter. Loyalty did. If you questioned him, you were out. If you served him without question, you rose.
He attacked the press relentlessly. Called them enemies. Liars. Traitors. Some outlets became propaganda arms. Others struggled to maintain independence. His supporters stopped trusting any media except his approved sources. Truth became tribal.
He consolidated power slowly. Each step justified by the previous crisis. Each crisis perfectly timed to justify the next step. Emergency powers. Special authorities. Temporary measures that became permanent. The legislature grew compliant. Opposing him meant ending your career. His party fell in line.
The courts were packed with his appointees. Young judges who would serve for decades. Judges who believed in his vision. Judges who ruled in his favor. The law became whatever served his interests.
He scapegoated minorities. They were the source of the nation's problems. They diluted the culture. They committed crimes. They took resources from real citizens. He didn't call for violence directly. He just pointed. His supporters understood. The violence came anyway.
He promised order. Safety. Prosperity. All people had to do was trust him. Stop questioning. Stop resisting. Unity meant obedience. Loyalty meant silence. Patriotism meant supporting him without reservation.
The opposition tried to stop him. They held investigations. They passed resolutions. They gave speeches. He ignored them. When they pushed too hard, he pushed back harder. Some were arrested. Some fled. Some simply gave up.
He spoke constantly about enemies within. Saboteurs. Deep state operators. People who wanted the nation to fail. The conspiracy was everywhere. Only he could root it out. Only he could be trusted. Anyone who opposed him was part of the conspiracy.
His supporters never wavered. They'd made an investment. Emotional. Social. Identity. To admit they were wrong would mean admitting they'd been fooled. Easier to double down. Easier to believe the enemy really was that evil. Easier to trust the strongman than face uncertainty.
The economy suffered. He blamed others. Foreign powers. His predecessors. The saboteurs. Never his policies. Never his decisions. The suffering was someone else's fault. Always.
He spoke longingly about having more power. How much easier it would be. How much more he could accomplish. The constitution was outdated. The system was broken. What the nation needed was strength. What the people needed was a leader who could act decisively without constraints.
Some of his supporters heard this and cheered. Finally, someone strong enough to do what needs to be done. Others heard it and felt uneasy. But they'd come too far. Invested too much. They rationalized. He doesn't really mean it. He's just frustrated. He's exaggerating to make a point.
The warnings from historians were dismissed. This is different. That was then. Our nation is special. Our institutions are stronger. Our people are smarter. It can't happen here.
But it was happening. It had happened before. It would happen again.
The pattern is always the same. The details differ. The names change. The era shifts. But the arc is identical. Democracy doesn't die in darkness. It dies in daylight. Voted away by people who convince themselves they're saving it.
This is the story of Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany, 1933-1934. Every detail is historically documented. If you saw someone else in this narrative, ask yourself why.
This passage should be a REQUIRED feature of every high school American history course! Our citizens, our voters, MUST know the perils our democracy is subjected to by future evil leaders!
Well stated. The rise and fall of empires. Whose to say a country with $30+ trillion in debt could not be next? One way to solve the debt problem. All debts are eventually paid either by the borrower or the lender. if the borrower defaults Fate does not care about good intentions.
Thanks David - that was a hopeful article. A good recap of how things are starting to shift. Also interesting to see a recent poll which showed how significantly support for the No Kings rally grew from June to October 🥰🥳
Every movement built on one man’s ego eventually erodes. The noise gets louder as the foundation weakens, the slogans start to ring hollow, and even the faithful begin to hear the silence between the cheers. Trump thrived on anger and myth for a long time, but nothing fueled by resentment lasts forever. The spell is beginning to break, and what’s won’t feel like victory, just the long, hard work of cleaning up the mess.
On the contrary, Trump is slowly fading away, regarding his health! His minders are concealing his terminal diseases of aging, hiding his medical records—which we, the public, have a right to review so as to KNOW the state of OUR president in the Open Government outlined in our Constitution! This weasel has gotten away with MURDER hiding his health records, tax records, etc. for over ten YEARS from the voting public! Only through a vile conspiracy by the Republican Party has he gotten away with this deception! This must all be examined by a Democratic-majority Congress so as to change our laws to prevent this horrendous hijacking of our democracy EVER again!
I've had an embarrassing uncle like Trump at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
People tend to take their plates and go into the living room just to get away from listening to people like him. (I went into the garage so I could eat in peace. I shared part of my turkey leg with the dog because the dog was better company than my uncle.)
One historical example is DC Stephenson. During the twenties he was a leader in the KKK and considered by some to be presidential material. He was also serial sex offender whose political downfall followed a rape conviction. Mark Twain said that history might not repeat itself but it does sometimes rhyme.
The full story is told in "A Fever in the Heartland" by Timothy Egan.
It will only be over if lessons learned are lessons applied:
1. No more unlimited pardons. Biden should not have been able to pardon his own son, Trump should not be able to pardon political friends to include Jan 6 rioters. There also needs to be an limit on the number and timing of pardons. None given on the way out of office. No more conflicts of interest. Santos, Diddy and Maxwell should not be given special treatment.
2. Candidates with any foreign business interests cannot run.
3. Office holders cannot trade stock or have proxies doing it for him.
4. Children of office holders cannot work for them even unpaid.
5. Term and age limits
5. Candidates will have their taxes audited independently before being allowed to run for office.
6. Senior appointments cannot have business ties to the president.
7. DOJ/FBI will be independant and not under the thumb of the president.
8. Civil Service and military cannot be fired without due cause and due process.
9. No withholding of funds authorized by Congress. This is a backend line item veto which is illegal.
10. Green card holders will have the same rights as citizens and cannot be removed from the country.
11, Felony conviction and any civil conviction prevents running for office.
#RazPutin is NOT a good hypnotist. His perversion is on FULL DISPLAY as #DT soundly dominates #RazPutin like the little "beetch" #RazPutin is! Score: #Trump (1) #RazPutin (-10) ... Pásame el pelota por favor! #LosAlbiCelestes #3i-Atlas ⚽
We are no longer UNITED with him as POTUS. He created war at home, he cares nothing for WE the people. But the thing that got me the most is the fact he is a 34 count felon, who they allowed not just to vote but run the country. How did this happen? A felon, releasing other felons boldly! He shows zero concern as he took on a huge amount of money to tear down half the Whitehouse, for something he deems more important than people. I don't know how much more of Conduct unbecoming a POTUS are they going to let go. Impeach this dictator, we don't want that.
That's the hardest part to accept: Trump was "enabled" by so many people, from voters to armed groups to media to elected officials (esp. GOP). Even when we rid ourselves of Trump, there is an entire infrastructure of ideas and institutions that must be reformed, in order to prevent such a criminal enterprise from ever again seizing control of the presidency.
Best program for keeping the public updated on the authoritarian takeover of our republic. We need to fight with all of our collective strength to save it.
When I go to the candidate debates for the primaries that are sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Tucson, I will call out the incumbents from both parties as cowards who never represented us -- the people who put them in office. I will call for new people, new energy, and maybe naively, strong moral character. Wish me well.
Right you are, Stephanie. At bottom, Trump is raping and destroying the entire country because he exhibits all the metrics and characteristics of a clinically psychopathic sexual predator and killer.
Every damned day, I see and hear this guy and feel disturbed, repulsed, and just embarrassed as hell that he represents us globally. This is truly exhausting
But the damage is being done!!! Politics (as horrible as they are).. are never going to be the same… it’s going to be so much worse! He’s proving just do what you want and worry about the fallout later! Too many kissing his ass when deep down they HAVE to know this admin is wrong on so many levels!! You cannot LOVE this country and what it was built on… and LITERALLY just bulldoze your way through it. You don’t LOVE the country and try to take it over as your own. You don’t LOVE the country when you allow masked agents to just brutally go after people they THINK shouldn’t be in this country. You don’t LOVE the country when you turn the national guard and military on its own citizens. You don’t LOVE the country when you keep the govt closed knowing how horrific the fallout will be for so many families because you REFUSE to negotiate. You don’t LOVE the country when you test the waters of ignoring the Constitution. You don’t LOVE the country when you bulldoze historic buildings to build a gaudy tacky entirely too large ballroom. You don’t LOVE the country when you grift and get richer and richer while citizens are being screwed in so many different ways.
I have ZERO IDEA what people see in this 🤡…. But I hope history tells the true story of the MONSTERS ruining our democracy. There is ZERO doubt he will allow midterms to happen… he knows he’s fucked if he does….:so what he’s doing now is testing the waters of how it’s going to go the closer we get to voting! He is the most vile… despicable… amoral…corrupt…FELON AND SEXUAL PREDATOR to walk this earth. RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!
Yeah what she said....
A good president knows that their duty is to serve ALL Americans. They should be able to connect with as many different groups of Americans as possible.
A successful president will nominate individuals who have proven good character, competency in their field of expertise, and compassion.
The president's staff should be fully vetted prior to being nominated. They should know more than the president does about the position to which they are nominated. Their record should show that they care about people.
This would be my basic philosophy of leadership if I were to run for president in 2028. This is my tripartite philosophy: Character, Competency, Compassion.
For America,
Cliff R. Loriot, PhD, EdS, MEd, MDiv
I'm with you. I just don't get the hordes of fellow citizens who DON'T want Character, Competency, Compassion. It blows my mind.
The vast majority of voters base their choice of candidates on their emotions rather than logic, rational thought, or principles. Whoever can manipulate their emotions usually gets their vote. Trump played on the fear of white citizens that Hispanic and Latino immigrants were going to take over our country.
Emotions look for a pragmatic solution (get rid of the immigrants) rather than a logical one (i.e., secure the border and develop a humane pathway to citizenship). Logic is a much harder process than going on one's emotions.
Thanks for the “Like,” Marian.
You got my vote.
Thanks, Sylvia.
Facts
Trump has never learned nor practiced what it means to be a successful president. He is interested in the performative aspects of the office: getting "ratings" (votes and crowds); being able to speak his mind (ramble) in front of adoring or polite crowds; and, most recently, having the opportunity to silence or punish his critics. This is how he attempts to "transform" everything around him, using his penchant for over-simplification, fake nostalgia (steamships, anyone?), and outright deception. Like a kind of deranged magician, he wants to get people to say "oooh"and "ahhhh" without hearing them ask too many pointed questions.
Thanks for the “Like,” Rodney.
Great but you neglect the wills of the corporate gods and their billionaire -oligarch overlords...they won't like it much.... it's their world we/ you just dwell in it. Sadly.
Thank you for your comment, Gregg. Obviously, you and I have different worldviews regarding metaphysics. My God trumps any corporate god and their billionaire-oligarch overlords. My view is based on what Jesus said about the relationship between God and wealthy individuals who despise the poor. This is what Luke records:
16 Then he told them a story: "A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. 17 He said to himself, 'What should I do? I don't have room for all my crops.' 18 Then he said, 'I know! I'll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I'll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods. 19 And I'll sit back and say to myself, "My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!"'
20 "But God said to him, 'You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?'
21 "Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God." (Lk. 12:16-21 NLT)
God doesn't implicitly hate the wealthy. He only hates those who hoard their wealth instead of using it to help the poor. Again, in the Gospel of Luke Jesus says:
33 "Sell your possessions and give to those in need. This will store up treasure for you in heaven! And the purses of heaven never get old or develop holes. Your treasure will be safe; no thief can steal it and no moth can destroy it. 34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be." (Lk. 12:33-34 NLT)
And, no, I am not a Christian nationalist. I only believe that the Bible is the Word of God.
Thanks again for your comment.
I bet Moses thought the same thing when leading the Israelites to the promised land. When he turned his back the masses started worshipping the Golden Bull. We now have our Golden Wrecking Bull. Does this mean 40 more years in the wilderness?
Unfortunately politics does not bring out the best and brightest our country has to offer. It has now become a mudslinging, fear based contest with few guardrails to protect whatever is left of American values. This is what happens when anyone can become president. Just takes lots of money with a sprinkle of bigotry and greed that appeals to a minority who can swing the election. They want others to share their miserable life since they cannot do any better.
If we cannot find a better way, we deserve what we have created.
Thank you for your comment, Russ. On the surface, it takes a more realistic view of what would probably take place. However, I have a response to your analogy of Moses and a further comment concerning running for president.
First, Moses never wanted the job of leading the Israelites out of Egypt. He did everything he could to try to get out of it and complained the whole time about how badly he was being treated by everyone—even the Lord. If you look closely, you’ll see that he had real anger issues that cost him the ultimate satisfaction of doing his job: entering the Promised Land.
Second, (and this is my personal observation) anyone who runs for President of the United States has to be somewhat of an idealistic/optimistic egomaniacal narcissist, but just not to the degree of our current President.
On the other hand, my wife doesn’t think I should do it. However, if you consider anything about the Bible to be true, it is this one thing. The fact that Adam took Eve’s advice got us into this mess. In fact, the first thing the Lord said after Adam gave his excuse for eating the forbidden fruit was, “Because you listened to the woman . . . “
I’m sure that many people make a decision with which their loved ones or friends disagree by joining the military, but I don’t think anyone would say it was always a wrong decision. So how could running for president and being physically separated from my wife for anytime between four and eight years be any different than someone who serves several tours of duty in combat zones?
They would be doing it for their country and I would be doing it for mine. Someone has to make a sacrifice in order to preserve our democracy.
I’m not saying women are always wrong. What I am saying is that over the last 50 years I have made many decisions with which my wife disagreed, but ultimately (and surprisingly) they all turned out for the good. But maybe I’m delusional when I say that.
Let me wrap up my response with this: Thank you for your comment, and would you consider serving on my cabinet or staff? I could use people who take a realistic view of situations (and know a little something about the Bible).
Thanks again, Russ.
For America,
Cliff R. Loriot, PhD, EdS, MEd, MDiv, and (Journeyman) Electrician for more than 33 years (retired).
Every cult of personality collapses. Not from revelation, but from rot. You can only worship a man for so long before the smell gives him away. Power always mistakes applause for resurrection, but history doesn’t do encores.
And he has been “smelling” for a long time. Rotting from within. 😖
This collapse couldn't happen quick enough for me! I'm was ready in 2015!
Yes, this whole Trump "kleptocracy" is an idea that never should have launched.
The People's Champion
The nation was humiliated.
Economic crisis had gutted the middle class. Treaty obligations strangled growth. Foreign interests controlled too much. The traditional parties had failed. The elites in the capital seemed disconnected from ordinary citizens. Crime was rising. The streets felt unsafe. People were angry.
He emerged from outside the political establishment. A businessman. A media personality. Someone who spoke plainly. He didn't talk like a politician. He talked like them. He understood their frustration because he voiced it. Loudly. Constantly.
He promised to make the nation great again.
Not great for the first time. Great again. There had been a golden age. A time when the nation was respected. Feared. Powerful. When citizens had pride. When the economy worked for everyone. That era had been stolen from them by corrupt politicians, by foreign manipulation, by internal enemies who didn't love the country enough.
He would restore it.
The rallies were massive. Thousands came to hear him speak. They wore his colors. Chanted his slogans. The energy was electric. He fed off the crowds and they fed off him. He told them what they wanted to hear. He named their enemies. The establishment politicians. The media. The intellectuals. The cosmopolitan elites who looked down on ordinary people. The minorities who were somehow both lazy and stealing their jobs.
The media attacked him. Called him dangerous. Unqualified. A demagogue. This only made him stronger. See, he told his supporters, they're afraid of us. Afraid of you. The elites want to keep you down. I'm the only one who tells the truth. That's why they hate me.
His supporters believed. They believed so completely that facts stopped mattering. When he lied, they said the media lied. When he contradicted himself, they said he was evolving. When he broke promises, they said he was being blocked by traitors within the system.
He won power legally. Through the system. The people voted. Democracy worked.
Then he began to dismantle it.
First came the purges. Career bureaucrats were removed. Replaced with loyalists. The civil service became his personal staff. Expertise didn't matter. Loyalty did. If you questioned him, you were out. If you served him without question, you rose.
He attacked the press relentlessly. Called them enemies. Liars. Traitors. Some outlets became propaganda arms. Others struggled to maintain independence. His supporters stopped trusting any media except his approved sources. Truth became tribal.
He consolidated power slowly. Each step justified by the previous crisis. Each crisis perfectly timed to justify the next step. Emergency powers. Special authorities. Temporary measures that became permanent. The legislature grew compliant. Opposing him meant ending your career. His party fell in line.
The courts were packed with his appointees. Young judges who would serve for decades. Judges who believed in his vision. Judges who ruled in his favor. The law became whatever served his interests.
He scapegoated minorities. They were the source of the nation's problems. They diluted the culture. They committed crimes. They took resources from real citizens. He didn't call for violence directly. He just pointed. His supporters understood. The violence came anyway.
He promised order. Safety. Prosperity. All people had to do was trust him. Stop questioning. Stop resisting. Unity meant obedience. Loyalty meant silence. Patriotism meant supporting him without reservation.
The opposition tried to stop him. They held investigations. They passed resolutions. They gave speeches. He ignored them. When they pushed too hard, he pushed back harder. Some were arrested. Some fled. Some simply gave up.
He spoke constantly about enemies within. Saboteurs. Deep state operators. People who wanted the nation to fail. The conspiracy was everywhere. Only he could root it out. Only he could be trusted. Anyone who opposed him was part of the conspiracy.
His supporters never wavered. They'd made an investment. Emotional. Social. Identity. To admit they were wrong would mean admitting they'd been fooled. Easier to double down. Easier to believe the enemy really was that evil. Easier to trust the strongman than face uncertainty.
The economy suffered. He blamed others. Foreign powers. His predecessors. The saboteurs. Never his policies. Never his decisions. The suffering was someone else's fault. Always.
He spoke longingly about having more power. How much easier it would be. How much more he could accomplish. The constitution was outdated. The system was broken. What the nation needed was strength. What the people needed was a leader who could act decisively without constraints.
Some of his supporters heard this and cheered. Finally, someone strong enough to do what needs to be done. Others heard it and felt uneasy. But they'd come too far. Invested too much. They rationalized. He doesn't really mean it. He's just frustrated. He's exaggerating to make a point.
The warnings from historians were dismissed. This is different. That was then. Our nation is special. Our institutions are stronger. Our people are smarter. It can't happen here.
But it was happening. It had happened before. It would happen again.
The pattern is always the same. The details differ. The names change. The era shifts. But the arc is identical. Democracy doesn't die in darkness. It dies in daylight. Voted away by people who convince themselves they're saving it.
This is the story of Adolf Hitler's rise to power in Germany, 1933-1934. Every detail is historically documented. If you saw someone else in this narrative, ask yourself why.
This passage should be a REQUIRED feature of every high school American history course! Our citizens, our voters, MUST know the perils our democracy is subjected to by future evil leaders!
Well stated. The rise and fall of empires. Whose to say a country with $30+ trillion in debt could not be next? One way to solve the debt problem. All debts are eventually paid either by the borrower or the lender. if the borrower defaults Fate does not care about good intentions.
Thanks David - that was a hopeful article. A good recap of how things are starting to shift. Also interesting to see a recent poll which showed how significantly support for the No Kings rally grew from June to October 🥰🥳
Every movement built on one man’s ego eventually erodes. The noise gets louder as the foundation weakens, the slogans start to ring hollow, and even the faithful begin to hear the silence between the cheers. Trump thrived on anger and myth for a long time, but nothing fueled by resentment lasts forever. The spell is beginning to break, and what’s won’t feel like victory, just the long, hard work of cleaning up the mess.
Insanity Reigns
Our demented King Farts-Aloud Clown,
Has finally gotten his crown.
King Lear gripped the helm,
Of his royal mad realm,
As bleak, raging madness bore down.
https://jeffreyckeith.substack.com/s/not-so-funny-limericks
i, for one, am hoping he never fully collapses. Imagine Trump collapsing? Could shake the entire eastern seaboard
Dudes a tank
On the contrary, Trump is slowly fading away, regarding his health! His minders are concealing his terminal diseases of aging, hiding his medical records—which we, the public, have a right to review so as to KNOW the state of OUR president in the Open Government outlined in our Constitution! This weasel has gotten away with MURDER hiding his health records, tax records, etc. for over ten YEARS from the voting public! Only through a vile conspiracy by the Republican Party has he gotten away with this deception! This must all be examined by a Democratic-majority Congress so as to change our laws to prevent this horrendous hijacking of our democracy EVER again!
Will they try to keep him "alive" indefinitely through AI?
Look what happened to the Hindenburg when it finally crashed.
"Twill be a hot, hot time in Lakehurst, New Jersey when the Hindenburg lands tonight."
:)
I've had an embarrassing uncle like Trump at Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner.
People tend to take their plates and go into the living room just to get away from listening to people like him. (I went into the garage so I could eat in peace. I shared part of my turkey leg with the dog because the dog was better company than my uncle.)
One historical example is DC Stephenson. During the twenties he was a leader in the KKK and considered by some to be presidential material. He was also serial sex offender whose political downfall followed a rape conviction. Mark Twain said that history might not repeat itself but it does sometimes rhyme.
The full story is told in "A Fever in the Heartland" by Timothy Egan.
When it's over, we will be so fucking happy!
It will only be over if lessons learned are lessons applied:
1. No more unlimited pardons. Biden should not have been able to pardon his own son, Trump should not be able to pardon political friends to include Jan 6 rioters. There also needs to be an limit on the number and timing of pardons. None given on the way out of office. No more conflicts of interest. Santos, Diddy and Maxwell should not be given special treatment.
2. Candidates with any foreign business interests cannot run.
3. Office holders cannot trade stock or have proxies doing it for him.
4. Children of office holders cannot work for them even unpaid.
5. Term and age limits
5. Candidates will have their taxes audited independently before being allowed to run for office.
6. Senior appointments cannot have business ties to the president.
7. DOJ/FBI will be independant and not under the thumb of the president.
8. Civil Service and military cannot be fired without due cause and due process.
9. No withholding of funds authorized by Congress. This is a backend line item veto which is illegal.
10. Green card holders will have the same rights as citizens and cannot be removed from the country.
11, Felony conviction and any civil conviction prevents running for office.
#RazPutin is NOT a good hypnotist. His perversion is on FULL DISPLAY as #DT soundly dominates #RazPutin like the little "beetch" #RazPutin is! Score: #Trump (1) #RazPutin (-10) ... Pásame el pelota por favor! #LosAlbiCelestes #3i-Atlas ⚽
We are no longer UNITED with him as POTUS. He created war at home, he cares nothing for WE the people. But the thing that got me the most is the fact he is a 34 count felon, who they allowed not just to vote but run the country. How did this happen? A felon, releasing other felons boldly! He shows zero concern as he took on a huge amount of money to tear down half the Whitehouse, for something he deems more important than people. I don't know how much more of Conduct unbecoming a POTUS are they going to let go. Impeach this dictator, we don't want that.
That's the hardest part to accept: Trump was "enabled" by so many people, from voters to armed groups to media to elected officials (esp. GOP). Even when we rid ourselves of Trump, there is an entire infrastructure of ideas and institutions that must be reformed, in order to prevent such a criminal enterprise from ever again seizing control of the presidency.
Amen‼️
Best program for keeping the public updated on the authoritarian takeover of our republic. We need to fight with all of our collective strength to save it.
JEL
When I go to the candidate debates for the primaries that are sponsored by the League of Women Voters in Tucson, I will call out the incumbents from both parties as cowards who never represented us -- the people who put them in office. I will call for new people, new energy, and maybe naively, strong moral character. Wish me well.
Right you are, Stephanie. At bottom, Trump is raping and destroying the entire country because he exhibits all the metrics and characteristics of a clinically psychopathic sexual predator and killer.