The common sense explanation for Donald Trump’s Russia/Putin adoration comes from his bottom line: self interest & money. After multiple bankruptcies NY banks refused to finance his business ventures. After the Soviet Union dissolved, Russian oligarchs had cash needing redistribution, and Donald Trump Jr. has publicly stated Trump Inc did a lot of business deals with Russia in the 1990’s. (Trump’s taxes and business records would expose these connections). President Trump damages our national security, and relationships with European allies to pander to the man and country that boosted his bank account.
79
Considering the current state of affairs, it may seem unfortunate that the Framers defined Treason against the United States as they did. It includes "adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort." But who defines "Enemies"? Does the designation require a declaration of war?
21
The garden in my backyard has more class than Trump. My yellow lab makes better decisions than Trump. My early summer Apple tree has produced more goodness than Trump could dream of. The oak tree in my backyard can stand up to Putin in ways trump can’t understand. Trump needs a lesson in humility.
55
We wage the endless wars because we crave to be victorious more than living peacefully.
20
There was a time when, (and btw, I'm still young...) that I could read a paper newspaper and skip the ads. These days everything is "in your face", and not just ads. Without extrapolating reams of academic data, it's pretty obvious that the average pysche of the Average is easily persuaded by superficial media.
So, exactly what has changed since the days of Quintilian? The bottom line, very little.
So, Average Man, what do you understand?
12
And on it will go. No one will know what really happened between Trump and Putin since their private meet will only be attended by a translator. President Spin will give us another version of his meeting with Kim, only 3.0 this time. And like the meeting with Kim, Trump's renderings will bear little relationship to what actually took place, what scary plans were laid. Most frightening though, is because of Putin's messaging discipline is quite unlike Kim's, we won't hear any sort of intemperate Russian mockery or complaint---just a stony "fact" silence accompanied by a bland, predictable and meaningless release from the only man Trump admires more than himself.
22
Trump's behavior is not incomprehensible. There are only two explanations: 1) Trump's team actively conspired with Russians to tilt the election in Trump's favor, or 2) The Russians have something very damaging on Trump, and Trump will continue to make nice with Vlad as long as that something stays secret.
Nothing else makes sense.
68
What precisely is the proof that any Russians were involved in any way with the 2016 election? The FBI won't provide any and neither will the "Justice Department".
Alligations are one thing substantive proff is another and to-date we have none of the latter and way much of the former.
9
Early on in my father's long losing battle with Alzheimer's I realized that if you turned your watches back about thirty years everything he said and did made perfect sense.
An analogy works here: if you grant Jonathan Chait's proposition that Trump is in thrall to Putin--either via massive debt or "compromat" or both--his otherwise incomprehensible behavior make perfect sense. It makes perfect sense that the only world leader who has escaped his derision is Vladimir Putin. It makes perfect sense he would send his son-in-law to the Russian embassy to try to set up a "back channel" communication link to the Kremlin. It makes perfect sense he would propose a joint cybersecurity effort between the U.S. and Russia to "protect" our elections in the future. It makes perfect sense he would meet with Putin in total secrecy in Helsinki--outside the earshot not just of the American public but of every single one of his own aides.
The real "incomprehensible mystery" is the silence of his GOP enablers. They've already delivered masssive tax breaks to their donors, and in two months they'll have their Supreme Court. So why are they so willing to throw their reputations behind a man whose behavior can only rationally be explained by compromised loyalty to the thug who commands Russia? Do the really have no care for the country or at least for their grandchildren? Or are they, like Major Kong in Dr. Strangelove, just going to ride this bomb until it takes us all down?
70
Its been said over and over...and it will be repeated over and over till the day this baby-President is out of office. Trump is out gunned by other leaders like Putin, or a Kim. They are not actors playing a role. Not an out place former candidate who won due to a quirk in our election processes. Who never wanted to actually win.
Putin, Duerte, Kim - are real and certified despots. They dont play at being a ruthless leader, they don't play at being tough. They don't look in a mirror and tell themselves they are the best, ever. They don't rely on their self-proclaimed "extra special personality" to stay in power. They are The POWER in their country. Trump might have power right now, but he is not THE POWER. (not yet, not till the GOP completely crumbles and kow-tows to him)
Trump is deeply delusional as to the power of his highest level of special personality. Convinced he has the seduction powers of mythical proportions. Even in the face of many failures - most recently Kim - he like any full-blooded narcissist forges on.
We need to stop trying to figure him out. Instead we need to figure out how to survive him and beat him back. Too much energy wasted on reacting to his absurdities, not enough in how to beat him back.
39
It is clear from reading the posts on this hit piece that the coastal enclaves of raving far, far left Marxist indoctrinated (Government schooled) people have no clue as to what we in the heartland of America think and value. Our wants are few, a mandated balanced budget without an ounce of wiggle room, abolishment of several useless and counterproductive federal agencies, e.g., the DOE, TSA and others and returning these functions to the States where they rightly belong. Term limits for elected officials and Federal Judges. Reinstate the military draft for all, both men and women. This list is the minimum as there is eighty years of liberal malevolence and incompetence to reverse and overcome. Our biggest want though, is to simply be left alone to live our lives as we see fit without the suffocating interference and oppressive regulatory actions from the federal government.
8
"But there is no question for Putin any more. The question now is for Trump: What are you going to do about the Russian attack on America?"
Spot on statement! I am 76 and would say journalists really need to keep their eyes on the ball right now, because the game has gone to a whole new level in both foreign and domestic relations in this country, unlike any other era I witnessed. And we have had some disgraceful eras—but generally managed to get back on track and move ahead because we had some effective leaders to move to center stage to take back control.
Yet I don't see either political party doing anything effective to wrest control of our nation from the grips of the extreme right, big donors, and traitorous behavior of our incompetent, beyond embarrassing, destructive president.
And, why are Americans the only people who cannot see what is happening to our country and what is at stake? Putin must be ecstatic at the degradation and decline. Yanking small children away from their parents at the border—fascist and totalitarian do that—and so did we. Score another point for Putin.
A friend of mine from the 3rd grade on was in London this past week, & she sent an email with a photo of the protest in London. The crowd was massive and having a grand time taunting and discrediting the treacherous Trump. Why don't we?
27
The fixation of Western media against Russia has been the most negative post-war diplomatic influence between that country and the West. The double standard when citing military adventures and interference in the affairs of other nations is breathtaking. Hillary can brag about invading Libya and killing its leader, but Russia cannot regain its former Crimean territory on its own doorstep. The Hypocrisy List is a long one.
8
Look, the Republicans know that all the foreign "affairs" affronteries he commits and the focus the press, the opposition, and the affronted pay to them, is just what they need to pursue, and impose their domestic draconian, jackbooted reminiscent, hate filled driven agenda to deprive individuals of civil rights and to limit the ability of citizens to vote, seek redress of grievances and otherwise protect basic constitutional rights and the norms of civilized societies. So, while columns like these are fun to read, as well as being well written, they are exactly what the GOP wants because they help hide the ugly truth of what's happening at home.
4
Whoever makes a small replica of the "Apricot Toddler" ballon will make a lot of money. While an accurate representation of Trump's personality, the idea of him as a toddler doesn't communicate the great threat he poses to our country.
10
It's easy to beat up on Putin, but what is the alternative? So far he is holding the Russian federation together. Russia holds the world largest stockpiles of WMD's and for ANY US President to ignore this fact would be highly irresponsible . Lets collectively hold our noses and support Trump's any attempts to make the world safer. Bankrupting Russia is a recipe for a disaster .
www.isonewsinfo.com
2
All this talk of Trump being in thrall to Putin because of some Kompromat, or similar frightening political thriller jargon, is silly.
At this point, there is plenty that Trump can do to threaten or undermine Putin, so he has at least as much say in the course of the relationship.
Trump has been pro-Russia for decades, even before Putin's very long term in office began.
I think we need to stop brewing intrigue for its own sake, and recognize the likely fact that these two men have long since decided it is to their mutual benefit to cooperate.
5
Ben Franklin knew Americans all too well. When asked, after the Constitutional Convention of 1787 held in secret, if we had a monarchy or republic, he responded "A republic if you can keep it."
10
Wray is fay and Rosenstein and Guildenstern—er, Mueller—are dead…
And the kabuki dance continues.
It's all about complicity and calculus.
Mo misses the defect in the indictment: The Russians went after the Rs, too, but they couldn't penetrate.
Perhaps it was because the Rs didn't have Hillary of the private server at the helm, Wasserman-Shultz on the keel and Russia spear-phishing victim Podesta on the rudder…
In any case, Mueller omitted the Rs from the indictment to make it look like Putin only went after Hillary and not Trump.
Moreover: We also know 6 of our axis-of-evil adversaries have Hillary's email. Russia is surely one of them. (It was in Comey's original report, before the Strzok "edits.")
Putin surely preferred Hillary. And why not? He had all the blackmail material he needed to keep her under his thumb for 8 years. (Conversely, if he wanted to do her in, all he had to do was to release all the dirt from her server during the campaign.
QED.
6
An echt, 84-horse-power narcissist of toe-curling proportions.
(With thanks to Alexander McCall Smith. )
3
"Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery."
Enjoyed the piece, but not so incomprehensible, yes?
People have repeatedly tried to give Trump a good faith 'heads up' in regard to Russian interference and Putin's malevolence.
Here's the short list:
The entire US and UK intelligence apparatus
Obama
Yates
Comey
Senate Committee
Rod Rosenstein
Most of the press, many conservatives included
Many in his own party
Every warning has been dismissed as a personal or political attack, rather than a caution to protect the nation and ultimately his own presidency.
He, and his defenders, will go down in ignominy.
12
So there's no evidence the Russians affected the outcome of our elections after all? I'm confused.
7
Trump is a symptom, not a cause. He is a symptom of continuing, relentless political decline of the US over the last 30 years. We are close to the inflection point of this decline ,as very foundations of the Republic are being threatened, and one of the two major political parties, the Republican Party, is not just going along, but vigorously cheering on and enabling. In that, the Republican Party is following the long chain of ever worsening transgressions: from Nixon sabotaging peace talks with North Vietnam, through Reagan secretly negotiating with Iran to hold hostages a little longer, to George W Bush bold face lying to the world about his reasons to invade Iraq. This is simply a continuation of a pattern of decline which will turn the US into Southern American mess with nukes, in a style of Argentina or Brazil, with a sprinkle of Mexico for a good measure.
15
I wonder... what if Putin drops a dime on Trump and does confess? Then what happens? I'd love to see Hannity and the GOP spin that one.
1
If I were the translator, I would be nervous for the rest of my life.
17
Is it possible that Putin has threatened Trump's family, and this is why he is doing his bidding? Putin has no problem with killing people in foreign countries.
This would explain the European blowup, and frame the upcoming summit. It would also explain why Trump is apparently working for himself, and not his country.
8
Putin gave Trump lots of money. It explains the leverage Putin has over Trump. Our President is dangerously compromisesd. He knows it and doesn't care. The question is what are the American people going to do about it?
17
You think Trump will be Rude to Putin like he was to our NATO Allies? I don't!
10
"The Ugly American" was the good guy. Instead of hobnobbing in the capital with the elite, Homer Atkins went out into the countryside, learned the language, and helped the locals with small projects that improved their lives.
See https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ugly_American.
A better term for those who didn't know much about the country they are visiting would be "The Ignorant American". I've met plenty of those who made no effort to learn the local language or customs.
2
Trump is clearly campaigning to convince more Americans that our allies aren't such great friends, which makes it easier to accept his real agenda - to convince us that Russia isn't an enemy. That way he is less likely to be impeached for colluding with an enemy of the U.S.
So Trump lies, gaslights, gets Republicans in Congress to carry his unholy water and does everything he can to undermine Mueller's investigation. His hole card is to normalize Russia. In so doing, he is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.
Any American who attends his rallies and cheers for his "witch hunt" lines is also giving aid and comfort to the enemy. They should spend their time reading the indictment and figuring out which witch is which.
21
Not a toddler. Toddlers haven't learned to lie.
8
You made it possible for trump to win. Nice work.
15
Most people realize the damage Trump is doing to our country and the world. The sad part is that these people are turning a blind eye to the destruction of our democracy because they are keeping their eye on the prize Trump has promised them. The prize is taking our country back to the days when everything seemed simpler and the hierarchy favored one group over all others. 44 scared the heck out of the folks and if 45 has to break some heads to put things right so be it. The promise of walls and separating children from their parents really does not shock those willing to accept the collateral damage to win the war.Trump may look oafish to the world but to his fans is John Wayne riding over the hill to rescue the settlers from the savages. Can the tribalism Trump has inspired be countered by I doubt it.
6
" ... Trump said he accepted Putin's denials of Russian involvement." The Russians lied about having troops in Ukraine when even the Ukrainian separatists said they were there. The Russians lied about government sponsored drugs for Olympic athletes until it became obvious and the athletes were banned. The Russians deny meddling in US elections when every US intelligence agency says they did. "U.S. President Donald Trump described Russia’s Vladimir Putin on [12July2018] as a 'competitor' rather than an 'enemy' and said he expected they would get along well when they hold their first summit next week." (Reuters 12July2018) Mr. Trump has this one right, Mr. Putin is not an enemy of Mr. Trump, just of the American people. Given Mr. Trump's many personality disorders - narcissistic, histrionic, god complex, etc. - it probably sounds logical to him.
8
“I think the DNC should be ashamed of themselves for allowing themselves to be hacked. They had bad defenses and they were able to be hacked.”~DJT
Remember when Rosenstein admonished everyone to not look at these attacks as only affecting one group and stated that a bipartisan response is needed?
It was a odd comment but now it makes perfect sense
Trump is hinting the Russian attacks are not a priority because the Democrats were the victims
Think about it......we now have an American President who seemingly will only act if the foreign power attacks the "right type" of Americans
Even people that are Trumpists should be alarmed by the precedence being set
A some point, the occupier of the oval office will change and he or she may not have the same ideology of Trump followers.
Should that new President now allow some foreign power to victimize Trump followers or the GOP?
A president and political party that is willing to allow foreign powers to attack American citizens and institutions that are their political opponents are more than willing to destroy the USA for political or financial gain
Word to the Wise...........
20
Russia's (?) 'attack' (on rubes at the DMC) amounted to a simple password phishing scheme most 12 year old kids would recognize and delete immediately. These things are practically as outdated as Nigerian Prince shakedown scams.
10
What is Trump going to say in private to Putin? He'll say, "Thank you, Mr. President."
8
It's time to come to the realization that Trump is under the influence of Putin, he is Putin's best weapon against the West. This is way way past some "Bromance" I hope DOJ, NSC, and CIA are watching and listening to everything that is said both public and private between Trump and Putin on Monday. Something is deeply wrong and nefarious with POTUS and his minions.
16
Ms. Dowd, this guy is your president. You supported him. Why not tell us what you saw in him.
12
You have to love the brits: "apricot toddler" indeed? I just really want one of those balloons to fly at my house.
10
Perhaps our President could use a little improvement on his bedside manner but he is raising important issues that have been glossed over for decades. NATO, Immigration, Trade, Iran and many others. He seems to be making progress on many fronts even with the unanimous and incessant opposition of the Demwitted (democrat) big money press.
g
5
Trump is obviously compromised as Putin has damming info on Trump's dirty financial dealings and who in the campaign conspired with Russian intel to throw the election to Trump. If Trump wants to survive he has to cater to Putin or fire Mueller have the media arrested and suspend all elections til . Trump yearns for the power of Putin and will not stop trying to get it ,his out sized ego demands it. We need to put a check on this madman by electing democrats even some conservatives see the need to control this buffoon disrupting the world screaming look at me look at me !
6
An emergency bill is to be rushed through congress granting an unknown Russian with the initials VP citizenship so that he might be appointed to the Supreme Court. When Trump was asked if the Russian can read English, the reply was, "I can't so why is it important? He can get his decisions from fox, like me,"
3
The idea that Trump is just infantile—that there’s nothing more nefarious—is delusional. That’s exactly his strategy—collude with the Russians, fleece thousands, lie, cheat and steal, but none of it ever means anything because he’s just a spoiled reality tv star billionaire and how can he be held accountable? He’s just infintile? He’s a lot more cruel, sick and dangerous than that!
10
Trump, no doubt coifing his elaborate hair style, arrived late for his meeting with the queen, as she stood outside in the heat, looking at her watch ---and the band played on.
Typically clueless, looking slovenly with an unbuttoned jacket, he impatiently crossed in front of her, charging ahead. Her facial expression was one for the ages.
A national embarrassment, at every place he went.
He's consumed with himself primarily, and Vlad Putin is second. Cheers to England for the great Trump Baby Balloon. And for it showing up in Scotland!
28
So now what after trump's sleepover with Putin. It sounds like more of the same, denial of Russian interference and condemnation of our allies, the DNC, Hillary Clinton and anyone else trump sets his sights on in the moment. If the Republicans do not have the the integrity and morality to remove this abomination in the WH it is up to the rest of us to remove the Republicans in November.
9
Well, MD today you wrote the truth. I was afraid you were somehow going to blame President Obama and Secretary Clinton...oh heck, and Bill and Monica, too! The truth is that Donald J. Trump is unfit to serve as trash collector. He is an embarrassment to the world.
17
Millions of Americans are eager to have mini versions of the Trump blimp to display and take to protests. Please, someone make it happen. Thanks in advance!
P.S. Sorry about our president, world, and thanks for demonstrating with us! Most of us can’t stand him.
16
The ballon will be followed by thousands and thousands of Trump piñatas that people in Latin America will smash with intense whacks...
5
"Just beneath the surface of the leader was a killer.
And thanks to the admonitions of his father, Donald Trump admires killers.
So what does that make Donald Trump?
Trump and Putin are not as "different" as many of us would prefer to believe. This is a partnership, and I do not believe for one moment Putin is pulling Trump's strings, that's a pure fantasy that we are telling ourselves to make Trump seem somehow less monstrous than he truly is.
If the power dynamic favored Putin in any way before the election, it has certainly swung to Trump now, he is the imperial president of the United ....... States.
As that horrifying congressional hearing amplified to stunning effect, Trump has carte blanche to do anything he wants now, including shooting somebody on Fifth Avenue and getting away with it.
Trump's banal ignorance and clownish, puerile behavior have a tendency to obscure his true core, which makes him much more dangerous than he appears to be.
He is every bit as malevolent and sinister as Putin. If Putin had been born here and Trump in Russia, they easily could have inhabited each others roles.
8
On a scale of 1 to 10 how much did the Right hate Obama and Clinton? 10,000 for Obama and 10 million for Clinton. They would do anything to destroy Clinton. Motive! Putin had close friends in the GOP to attack Clinton. The GOP and Fox News tactics are out of the Russian playbook. And no doubt Putin kept good records of who was helping him. Why are republicans trying so desperately to stop the investigation? Why are GOP senators going to Russia? A lot of people are afraid. Trump may not be the only being blackmailed. This has the potential to bring down the Republican Party. I for one think they should be sued into oblivion.
11
Much has been said about why Trump wants the meeting with Putin to be only one-on-one. A first blush explanation is lmost embarrassingly compelling: Collusion is best accomplished in secret.
4
At least Trump has clarified the polarized electorate in the United States. No so called "conservative" can claim to favor "free enterprise" now that Trump has raised tariffs. They can't claim to be "law and order" when Trump defies the law and slanders the FBI. They can't claim to be "patriots" when Trump ignores Russia's attack on our election process, or "pro-family" when Trump strips babies out the arms of their parents. They cannot claim to be "pro-life" when Trump takes his orders from a murderer in Moscow. All of the little doilies that today's GOP has used to hide its naked fascism have been stripped away by our President. We should thank him for that.
6
"Donald Trump will be a sad aberration in American history, a mere blip."--A Baby Blip?!
1
President Trump has basically sold out his, and our, country to Russia in a transaction that has been on-going since the 1980s. History will record this treason, and the congressional GOP leadership will be depicted accurately as accomplices, with Mitch McConnell as Accessory-in-Chief.
13
Yeah Maureen, your back! The English "Apricot Toddler" is a work of art. I call it realism. I like the small hands too. Trump's "fake news" blather is getting old too. Unfortunately, he and his minions are doing real damage to us that may take years to recover from. Think EPA, Justice Dept., Health Care etc. etc.
9
The question we have to consider seriously after Trump's mad romp through Europe: is he a fool, or is he a traitor? Of course, he could easily be both. Equally frightening is a Republican-controlled Congress that refuses to take action, refuses to find Russian interference in U.S. elections important. What would get their attention? Russian tanks rolling down the streets of Bowling Green?
19
I myself, did not mind watching the destruction of the fabric of ‘meriKan “exceptionalism”’. This country needs to crash, burn, and OD into itself and rebuild from the lies we continually spew to the world at large, ‘we are better then ...’!
Get a grip people, we are few, fewer then we tell ourselves and only through true self examination will be be capable of becoming a better country then that displayed by this (not my) potus.
2
The Russians are known for handling their spies, turncoats, and useful idiots with care. Much can be accomplished without overt threats or inducements from officials. Cutouts and intermediaries can deliver the less than subtle messages. The quid for Trump's pro quo has already been delivered. Dirty Russian money poured into Trump real estate enterprises for a decade or more. And poorly hid efforts helped him get elected.
More overt messages can be sent indirectly but powerfully. Trying to kill a turncoat spy and his daughter with a deadly nerve agent in Britain sends a powerful message (Manafort, are you listening?). Throwing troublesome journalists and opposition leaders out 4th floor windows is more than symbolic.
I don't actually think Trump and Putin will overtly collude, even if only interpreters are present. Instead, I expect a lot of glad-handing like lifelong friends, commiserating about the evils of a free press and political opposition, and finally an agreement that we should forget past Russian transgressions in Crimea and Ukraine. And it's also time to facilitate 'adoptions' from Russia (read get rid of the Magnitsky Act).
Afterwards, Trump will tout the great personal relationship he has with Putin, the strength of each one's leadership, Obama's failings, and the importance of 'working' with Russia to solve the world's problems. It's time to live and let live-$$$
Roger Stone, if he manages to stay out of prison, can represent Trump in overt acts of collusion.
2
Good thing the American public is growing accustomed to being embarrassed on the international stage. Fasten your seatbelts, this one could be exceptional.
13
What is 'rude' about indicating a truth?
What Germany pays to NATO and at the same time enriches
Russia through buying its gas, are facts. Is it not 'rude' or just plain underhanded, as Obama was, to deny the above facts to the American people? There is an element of cultural snobbery in accusing others of being rude, also it is petty; where to put your cheese knife etc, if it is a choice between being the guy rudely stating facts and the supine guy who denies his public the facts...because it might be 'rude' to do so....I will go for the rude guy who gives us the facts every time. Wouldn't you? Well, yes i would
providing he does so in a circumspect way, keep his voice respectfully low and know what spoon to use for desert. Important that one is not viewed as being rude, so keep the facts out of it, after all they might upset one's hosts.
4
This is becoming a chess match between Putin and Mueller. Trump is merely the useful simpleton. Its fascinating to watch these two great minds (and yes, Putin is still sinister) match wits. I shudder to think who will get the final, "checkmate."
5
We went into Iraq based on false information, though most of the highjackers were Saudi, and so many former supporters of that war now aver that the war was a mistake. Which means that Bush et al. were responsible for an unspeakable number of deaths and terrible destruction. How different are they from Putin? Not to speak of Vietnam and numerous other crimes around the world. Just sayin............
2
Can we each get Trump Baby Blimp and fly it from from our houses and cars like white supremacist fly their hate flags?
8
Maureen, you should have supported Hillary Clinton in 2016. You are partly responsible for this bloated psychopath. His incompetence was on display prior to and throughout the 2016 campaign. I suggest you read "Character Disturbance: The Phenomenon of Our Age" by Dr. George Simon. Educate yourself!
16
On the money overview of this unbelievable state of affairs. there is so much talk, speculation and analyzing of a situation that truly defies understanding. That Trump, either by genetics or by nurturing, is a person with severe pathology is the one thing we know for certain.
5
These are mind-spinning days. Thank you for your clever clarity of thought. If there is a god I hope she saves us soon from this dangerous disgrace of a president.
7
The twelve Russian military officers who were indited yesterday were instrumental in revealing that DNC officials were telling West Virginia and Kentucky voters about Bernie Sanders’ Jewish heritage.
1
Prince Charles and Prince William refused to meet trump on his visit to the U.K, according to the Sunday Times of London. Queen Elizabeth II was left alone to receive the trumps at Windsor Castle. According to a “well-placed source” quoted by the Times, the absence of the two princes during Trump’s visit “was a snub,” and they “simply refused to attend.”
trump seeks acceptance at the highest level to attempt to legitimize himself. His entire life he has wanted to wash away the stain of his family background and be part of the elites or elite society. At every turn he has been snubbed.
trump thinks Putin accepts him, and so he gravitates to the Russians. What trump does not understand is that the Russians think he is a dolt and simply a means to an end.
16
Trump: "I can do great things on your behalf, Vlad, as you may have noticed so far."
Vlad: "Dah."
Trump: "Now, this election hacking thing was really slick on your part. Could you make sure it happens again? I really need my party to stay in power in November, and think of all we can accomplish for you if I get re-elected!"
Vlad: "Dah."
7
Trump wants Putin as his BFF and ignores Putin's gross actions against the United States as well as other nations. As usual, Trump is thinking of himself first and the nation he governs very little if at all. This is nothing more or less than treason and should be addressed by impeachment.
8
As usual, just too cute by half.
1
I suspect Putin was displeased by Couric's undiplomatic Q because he had been downplaying the event lest certain elements in the deep state require him to publicly deal with the possibility that, to rub Russia's nose in military weakness doodoo, Nato (US) had sunk the Kirov. As a shot after that deep state pushed our puppet aside in order to crush the Chechen rebels, supplied through Georgia, and braced and commanded by Nato (US) special forces...
...not wearing their uniforms.
Trump can bring up cyber war... but P will just say- you did first, have done worst.
Stuxnet.
The reality is T must tell P when we will get our special forces out of Syria now. Once The SA (Syrian Army) has mopped up the last rebels in the south they are going to clear the North East, taking back control of the oil fields Ms Nuland recently wrote we "are protecting".
T must do this with the knowledge that the use of nukes against foreign bases is always possible in a small war... and that Russia has few of those to threaten in a "second strike".
Wake up. Balance of Power still plays...
I want that blimp flying down Broadway on Thanksgiving! Pretty please, Macy’s?
16
Trump sheds disparagement like water off a duck's back. His armor is tweets and lies. His foundation is ignorance.
Hopefully, our next president will be an honest and very aware Democrat who will look our allies in the eye and say, "I have a lot to fix! Try to meet me half way.
12
Calling Prime Minister May "a good person" after he had just trashed her and praised Johnson is hardly praise after the damage he wreaked during an extremely sensitive situation for May.
Will he ask Putin about the hacking after he had encouraged him to do it? He will more likely thank Putin for trying to help him get elected. As for whether the hacking helped Trump get elected, that really is unknowable. If Mueller's investigation results in finding collusion between Trump and/or members of his campaign, then the election should be declared illegal, and a new election held.
The Steel dossier must be some read. It has kept Trump tied to Putin and doing his bidding. The Republicans are only pretending to care about any interference in the election, it has yielded them control of the Judiciary and soon, SCOTUS, so no doubt Trump will thank Putin on their behalf as well.
After all the insults Trump has hurled at all of the leaders of our allies, he will most likely have nothing but praise for his pal in Helsinki.
9
"...berating our European allies, NATO, the N.F.L., the F.B.I. and the C.I.A., and canoodling with the mendacious and scheming Russians."
He worries out loud--amidst the usual contradictions ((praising May and saying Johnson would be a great PM--in the same breath)--that NATO couldn't be effective anyway!
Effective against a Russian attack--even invasion. Thereby inviting Russia to do it--just as he invited Russian hacking of HRC.
When they do it, and the US Commander does nothing, he will boast, "I told you so." Such is the Trump, Russian asset.
His party has gone from finding him an embarrassment to appeasing him--and calling his critics "biased".
As though calling him a Russian asset--or any criticism at all--must be "politically motivated" --i.e. a red herring thrown merely to get votes from naive and clueless voters.
Thus his party--out of party loyalty--has become another Russian asset. And if you say so, you will be accused antiGOP bias.
Anti-treason is now a bias.
Fake news is winning
8
Queen Elisabeth’s brusque gestures indicating where the clueless Trump should walk during their stroll were really just a run through for how Putin will treat him during their “conveniently” private meeting in Helsinki- Trump will meekly comply to all Vlad’s demands and give the Russian intelligence services free rein to continue attacking our electoral process.
If only HRH had followed the advice on one British protester’s sign at the anti-Trump demonstrations in London- “Feed him to the Corgis!” It would have been only fair, considering “Comrade Trump” has been feeding our democracy to the (Russian) wolves since before the election.
14
The meetings with Putin and with Kim are about expanding the Trump empire. DJT wants a Tower in Moscow and anywhere else he can get a toe-hold. This is about his ego, because he's not really devoted to "America First." That's a smoke-screen for the gullible.
9
He's unfit.
People seeking logic and worldview from this man do so in vain. He only cares about pushing around those he perceives as weak, for example his political opponents here, and the adulation of his unquestioning followers.
It is the latter that should worry us. Anyone clear-headed, whether D or R, conservative or liberal, keeps sounding the alarm that this guy endangers the country with his antics. Only his herd -- and Republican Congressional leaders who cower in fear of them -- think he should still be in office.
Sadly, that's around 40% of the country.
I disagree with Mike Pence on probably 100% of the issues, but I would rather see him in office for the next six years than this dangerous, narcissistic bumbler for another two. At the end of the six we'll have reactionary policies -- but at least it would a country we'd recognize.
3
"his fear of people suspecting that Russia saved his businesses."
His business is laundering money under the guise of licensing his name. Russia or Russians are probably his biggest customer.
11
Clotted cream belongs on a scone, not a crumpet. Trump belongs on the infamous list, not the famous one. Perhaps someone can explain to him the difference--perhaps with a few videos of what happens to dictators once their 'loyal' mob turns.
8
"Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery"?
No. Trump is a terrified, insecure and sociopathic con man who is in debt to Russian oligarchs and by that turn, Putin. For what and how much remains to be seen. One thing is clear: this man couldn't care less about this nation, or his base. He cares about his own self preservation, and to a greater extent, admiration for fellow con men who happen to be vicious killers.
Thanks, Trump Country.
10
Donald Trump is the living embodiment of everything reprehensible in the United States. It starts with racism. But it goes much deeper. Trump personifies our greed, celebrity worship, vulgarity, and religious intolerance. These are dark and powerful forces that have always existed. Through Trump, our ugly national id has been exposed.
20
I don't know that Trump colluded with Putin, or if he was compromatted at some point in his illustrious career. I do know that, at a rally of his not-deplorable fans and in front of the entire world he begged Russia to please hack Hillary Clinton's server and give him her emails. And then they did.
And if this is not a punishable offense, he should go on and stand on Fifth Avenue and see if anyone really irks him.
10
The only person who seemed to know how to handle this bully, by her own account, was a stripper. A skill she likely needs. Does anybody else find it fascinating that trump has not trashed Stormy Daniels in the media despite her actions against him?
9
Who cares if the petulant president asks Putin if he meddled in our elections in 2016? The question has been answered by the U.S. government on multiple occasions, most recently on Friday by the U.S. justice department.
11
It's difficult to square this article about Trump with Obama's grant to Putin of one fifth control of all US uranium production. Part of Obama's famous reset with Russia, I suppose.
Perhaps Maureen could explain.
5
Unfortunately, with nothing more than his opportunity to appoint two Supreme Court justices, Trump will be more than a blip....In 10-20 years of the meantime, can we borrow the Trump Baby Blimp to fly over SCOTUS?
5
"...as politicians on both sides of the aisle got increasingly nervous about the Helsinki Rendezvous With Perfidy..."
Maureen, I gotta ask - in what alternative universe are you living?
Politicians "on both sides of the aisle" are decidedly not increasingly nervous about Trump's relationship with Putin. Republicans are - as they've been for eighteen months - running interference for the White House, convening kangaroo hearings, and in some cases helping obstruct justice.
A couple of furrowed brow tweets by Sasse or McCain don't amount to anything.
But DC media insist on holding on to a fiction in which things are running as normal. Once again, the American media is proving itself too small for our current moment.
11
Isn't it getting awkward complaining about your president over and over again ?
This guy classifies people in bullies, bunnies and loosers, has a vocabulary of a fourthgrader, can speak about politics in just the most generic terms, has an attention span of a goldfish and can only read one paragraph at a time, but only if his name is mentioned several times.
He would be the laughing stock of the rest of the world if the nation he took over wouldn't be so essential.
The people who know this, realized this long ago. So what's the point? Keeping the embarrassment up? Keeping yourself comfortable in knowing your contempt is shared?
After more than a year of knowing what your are dealing with do you still have no concept how to tackle him ? The only objective you have accomplished is that his base has hardened. You should start a campaign to diversify his tribal society of devotees. Just for once take Trump as a lead, he is meeting with his grandmaster of subversion this week.
7
I think the only reason Trump wants to meet alone with Putin is to get further instructions and thank him for his help winning the election. He now threatens to withdraw the U.S. from NATO. Can a U.S. president do that on his own? A lot of babies have more common sense and even children show signs of wisdom and empathy. Children even read, which this president admits to not doing unless it is an autobiography. I do hope we adopt the baby balloon here though because it resembles a bloated buffoon and a baby that will throw a Twitter tantrum if it doesn't get the endless attention and love and praise it craves.
7
You got to give those Brits a lot of credit for calling out Trump for what he really is - a spoiled brat of a child. Shockingly, none of this reflects very well on his supporters, from the bought and paid for evanhypocrites, to his fellow Waah-Waahs who either can't or won't see that they have been played yet again. What do both groups have in common? Fear and hatred. One sign said "Make America Sane Again". Maybe it should be a question rather than a statement.
10
European allies and patriotic hackers, stop sitting on the evidence of our corrupt President. Trump's tax returns would be great. His money laundering activities would be delightful. Tapes of extramarital affairs intriguing. The web of Trump LLCs mind boggling.
A better option than impeachment would be to exile Trump to Russia.
10
Both David Cameron and our Republican party have learned an important lesson, albeit too late to save the course of history: if you put something that's utterly idiotic on the ballot, you can rest assured that many ignorant, ill-informed people can easily be manipulated to vote for it--simply by a maintaining a drumbeat of anger-inspiring messaging, no matter how foolish and vacuous it may be.
With any luck, our Democratic party has also learned something: that if you run a candidate that lacks charisma and inspiration, you will lose, every time. Even to a Con Man.
My fear is that both of these realities may yet prove to be fatal flaws of the architecture of Western democracy, to be gleefully exploited by the likes of Fox News. Or maybe they already have.
5
Trump is showing us that he would be even worse as a DA than he is as a president.
2
These are mind-spinning days. Thank you for your clever clarity of thought. If there is a god I hope she saves us soon from this dangerous disgrace of a president.
Dear Jim,
Trump is a narcissistic sociopath. That is baked in no matter who raised him. Rather than wish Trump had been raised by Mr. Rogers, I wish for a "Mr. Rogers" type to be president. Call me a "snow-flake", but, I dream of a sweet soul promoting diverse and loving community, soothing away our collective anxiety and replacing unfettered greed with generosity. That would make America Great fro me after this nightmare.
5
When does Trump’s inaction on Russian meddling become criminal?
12
Calling the EU our foe and telling Teresa May to sue the EU are the latest actions in Trump’s playbook to curry favor with Putin before he arrives to Helsinki.
For Trey Gowdy and Goodlatte to treat Strzok as if he is public enemy #1 yet to continue to lick the boots of Trump who is the Varlet of Vladimir, he of the soulless eyes and Novichok deaths, is the height of treason. What happened to the checks and balances in our Constitution, when one man is given tyrannical control, all in an effort to cover up his treasonous trail back to Putin’s interference in our election, without which Trump would not be in power?
High time to charge Trump with the high crimes of consorting with our enemy and doing so for the world to see but not to hear. And what treasonous words will he say this time?
6
I'm convinced the special combination of pathologies that make Trump indecent don't come together in this way too often. He is severely disturbed, emotionally, psychologically, but so are many. He wields great political power, but so have many throughout history. He is enabled by a who's who of the craven, afraid of his base's wrath, yes, but also rubbing their own claws together in a "Yes, yes . . ." gesture. This combination, while hideous, has not occurred in a liberal democracy in recent memory--has it? Even the appalling Reagan and the moronic Bush II appeared to grow more reflective and marginally wise in term two. If I thought Trump capable of such growth, I might be able to stand the thought of another four years. But Trump is so stunted as a human being, so damaged, it seems unlikely he could ever grow. He is an abomination, a word I thought mightily about before typing it. But no other word seems apt.
9
Great news! The Dumb Date recording will be available on Kindle, Amazon Prime and on DVD and BRD by Tuesday and half-price on Prime Day.
I think Baby Trump balloon needs to be included in the subsequent Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades.
The Brits apparently say all kinds of horrid things in Parliament all the time. DJT the dotard comes off as inarticulate. Good idea. Bad idea. SUE! (boy named?) Golf club in Scotland about to fail? (Still no hotel in Moscow? Golf club in Russia? Emoluments, anyone? So much fun...but the market is up there!!!
5
< Sigh >
Next election, vote against every Republican, for every office, at every level. Be patriotic; save the country.
Spread the word.
15
Maybe we could just a new Revolution like the left has been calling for and figure all this out.. I think we should sort it out that way, and start over.. get inland 50 miles from the coasts and see how you do.
1
I doubt Trump has anything to do with America. In fact I doubt that he loves America. His whole European and England visits had nothing to do with the USA, it was all about money...... his golf course in Scotland is failing miserably, his businesses are still unable to pay the loans on time, his hotels except the one in Washington, are doing poorly and now the meeting with Putin ....... it’s all about negotiating his loans with the Russian oligarchs.
We have seen him being incoherent, we have heard his babbling and we have seen his foolish behavior in Britain. He has very deep rooted mental health problem or problems. And now the meeting with Putin ....... oh my goodness.
12
The word for Trump is not deplorable, it's despicable.
14
"Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery."
What is incomprehensible to me is why the good ole USA has intervened or toppled about 66 regimes during the past 60 years and now we complain when Russia meddles in our election process. Our national shadow is a national disgrace.
5
Trump cares about America but, as in the Manchurian Candidate, he is brainwashed into caring more about his selfish interests and preserving his ego at the expense of the U.S. He would idly sit by while Russia undermines our democracy if it meant he could stay in power.
8
I understand Trump congratulating Russia on hosting the World Cup while suppressing the rights of millions. However how can Trump congratulate France, who fielded a team with some many African born players. Aren't these Africans the kind of people that Trump says are ruining the culture of France and all of Europe?
6
It is a bit hard to understand, given the hard evidence of Russian attacks on our national sovereignty and Trump’s complete refusal to take meaningful action, how a strong case can’t be made to remove him from office for failure to protect and defend and defend the Constitution. To the contrary, he gives all appearances of working to subvert our nation and further the interests of the Russian State.
8
Thanks for helping him get "elected!"
2
Let us all hope that Mr. Trump will beg Mr. Putin for asylum in Russia when they meet in Finland.
10
Why the president is not allowing a note taker and a translator in the room while he is meeting with Putin, if there are no secrets and more coverups?
7
The Blimp is no mere blip, Maureen. Our illegitimately-elected Blimp has about the same degree of integrity as the Hindenburg.
The debate is over. Our country has been attacked by a country led by an amoral autocrat. Our Blimp in Chief, instead of confronting the attackers and defending our democracy, is frolicking in Finland with a modern day Franco.
It doesn't matter what the reasons are for The Blimp's dereliction of duty. Our Blimp is a traitor to the country he swore to defend. It's time for us to forego the politeness, and take back our country from the fascistic false prophets intent on distorting the truth and undermining the institutions that define our resilient nation.
The debate is over. Our Blimp has careened off course with disastrous consequences.
5
Trump reminds me of an abusive husband.
The traits are to randomly pick fights and occasionally be nice.
The wife never knows which she is going to get and is always walking on eggshells.
On the other hand, I saw him at a church in Flint. And when he tried to say political things, the black woman pastor told him that was not what he was there for. He really backed down. You could see it on his face. Just another bully until someone stands up to him.
8
The Three Graces of Trumpism are Envy, Malice and Spite, dancing with Incompetence.
8
“There is no allegation in this indictment that Americans knew that they were corresponding with Russians...."
The lady doth protest too much, methinks .
1
"Possibly it’s blackmail or his fear of people suspecting that Russia saved his businesses."
I pick blackmail....
7
I applaud Maureen Dowd for bringing into her columns many of those vocabulary words I learned in high school English, but have since forgotten. :-)
3
Putin’s puppet Trump the terrible will perform as expected, perhaps he can offer to pardon the Russian criminals while making nice with Vladimir. Perhaps Putin will launder some more Russian wealth propping up Trumps family business. Regardless inquiring minds should not expect to learn either from Pravda (national inquirer / Breitbart) or Soviet Central Television (Fox news).
2
Everything Putin did happened while Barack Obama was President. It makes sense for the leaders of our country and Russia to meet and communicate.
1
I was very proud of our British and Scottish cousins across the pond who weren't intimidated by America's Buffoon and not only called him out on his lies, but took the streets by the thousands. We need to do the same. Trump's meeting and continued mollycoddling bromance with Putin is bordering on Treason. He should not, by American law, be allowed to have a one-on-one private meeting with the leader of a country that has actually attacked us with cyberwarfare. By meeting with him even publicly is implicit approval, if not downright treason. How can we keep going on pretending that this is normal?
9
"Even so tyrants...the more is given to them, the more they are obeyed, so much the more they fortify themselves, become stronger and more able to annihilate and destroy. If nothing be given them, if they not be obeyed, without fighting, without striking a blow, they remain naked, disarmed and are nothing - like as the root of a tree, receiving no moisture or nourishment, becomes dry and dead." - Eteinne de la Boetie, 1577.
Take it to the streets
4
Maureen spent the whole 2016 election attacking Hillary. Seems inconsistent to belatedly figure out how really bad Trump is.
9
"I alone can fix it."
--- Donald Trump in his self-congratulating acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention, July 21, 2016
9
We, who were not Trump voters, are running out of adjectives and adverbs to describe his actions and mental processes, such as they are.
Trump is simply Putin's Tool.
The Republican's of this country are Putin's Handmaidens.
7
Newrepublic.com, article titled “Trump’s Russian Laundromat”. Required reading for anyone who wants another piece of the puzzle not being talked about on MSM.
1
“The Apricot Toddler” The Brits are priceless!
10
The British have long been blimp savvy, their own satirical cartoon character character, Colonel Blimp, debuting in 1934, his creator, David Low, describing him as "a symbol of stupidity." Blimpishness has cropped up in various forms in British popular culture, from the essays of George Orwell to a wartime movie. So the Brits should have little trouble understanding Trump.
5
Trump's fascination with Putin is not at all hard to understand. Putin is the exact model of what Trump aspires to be. An all-powerful and filthy rich dictator.
Anything Putin says or does is fine by Trump as he would like to do the same things.
5
In July 2016 you gave us The Clinton Contamination. Two years later, we get this op-ed. I actually think your daggers were sharper for Hillary. I would love to know whether you look back and reflect on these columns and how they contributed to the anti-Clinton hysteria. The base could not be swayed, but some of those swing votes may have looked at columns like yours in a liberal leaning paper and thought the deplorables had a point.
8
BONNIE KING DONNIE
A visitor will come to call.
Castle in anticipation.
The plebes chant slogans blocks away,
While the guards chafe at attention.
Some queen is waiting. Blue dress, gloves
And hat perched firm. Tradition stands.
Today, her guest dislikes parades,
So on her lawn his bird will land.
A rover for a rover next.
Its tires tear dirt. Colonial plow.
Emissions lingering as he exits,
To mangle hands, but never bow.
The band plays up American tune,
Transformed from British drinking song.
Black wings fly from Tower of London.
They know that this won’t take too long.
The lubber ambling, nearly tripped her,
All too eager, he to lead.
It doesn’t matter of her status,
For she’s too old to sex or breed.
Above the town, a bigly blowhard
Soars clumsily, pitched by the air.
An effigy to trace his journey.
He looks down, but knows it’s there.
He’s thinking of his sweet Theresa,
The mother-May-I game they’ll play,
And how he hopes there’s cake for teatime.
It soothes the Brexit all away.
His mother’s ghost calls in from Scotland.
“Oh, Bonnie Donnie, hear my say.
Aristocrats done robbed us crofters.
My son must rule one of these days.”
“My orange swirl is for a crowning.
On your own head, I’ll make it stay.
That poor old Duncan ain’t seen nothin’
Compared to this new Scottish play.”
3
"Trump Calls E.U. a Trade ‘Foe’"
Trump is a faux.
6
For once, Maureen Dowd attacks a real villian: the Trump Thing. The Brits have always been far ahead of us in political comedy. Their London protest march against Trump was led by a Trump Baby Blimp, complete with nappy and cell phone. The Trump Thing knew before the rest of us that Mueller would indicted 12 Russian GRU spies in the hacking of the DNC and Clinton campaigns in 2016, but that didn't stop it from plunging ahead with a one-on-one meeting with Putin, an former KGB agent. No, the Trump thing KNOWS what it wants, and what it wants is to "make a deal" that involves using our tax dollars for to help its friends.
Meanwhile, at home, the Trump thing pushed ahead with its plans to incarcerate Central American asylum seekers in tent city detention centers on US army bases. Citing "dangers" to children kidnapped from their parents at the border, the Trump thing refused to reunite children with parents who had ALREADY BEEN DEPORTED WITHOUT THEM.
7
Wise leaders of civilized nations would best conduct diplomacy in a way that is best for their own countries.
That does not necessarily mean ultra-nationalism and isolation a la Trump. Trump will happily be gone soon and the vast majority of Americans, who never supported his destructive, amoral, narcissistic, insane policies, unless they fail to do the right thing, will re-establish civility and our appropriate place in a world community. There is no other rational choice if our children are to have a world in which they can live in freedom and prosperity.
Merkel, Macron, May - stand your ground. Do not ever accept abuse by this criminal Dotard. He has done nothing here but destroy and steal, with no plans to build or unite. We are as insulted as you are, and ashamed to have him pretend to speak for us. He does not and will not. He is a thief, a liar, an uneducated misfit and an asterisk in future history.
9
Give me a break. Donald Trump may not be the polished politician that Barack Obama is, but at least as a businessman he focuses on what is more important -- results.
Barack Obama's being black was a big factor in getting him the presidency and his Nobel prize, but it didn't help much in doing his job. He was more flash than substance.
Donald Trump has a lot of flash too, but there's a lot of substance behind it. Relying on such political neophytes as Jaron Lanier (Maureen Dowd's buddy) for analysis may seem as the so-called "labyrinth of lies" and taunting tweets mean more than domestic and foreign accomplishments, but they don't.
So some people in Russia meddled in our election. Guess what, we meddle in other countries' elections too. We have a long history of meddling in countries across the world. (Not to mention taking military action against them.)
Close to home for Russia, look at what we did in Russia's 2012 election, and even its election this year. Look up Operation Earnest Voice and you get an idea of what we do.
I've long admired the New York Times, the Economist, and other newspapers with a long history of excellence. You've gotten ridiculous on the subject of Donald Trump. What happened to you? Your Trump hatred has trumped your professionalism? Sad.
4
It isn't the cheeky citizens of London who made him a blimp. It's the overcooked steaks.
Dan Kravitz
3
Trump will meet with Putin. We will never know what happened. We do know this, however, thanks to the fine work of the FBI. Here is the Associated Press headline from yesterday: Officials: Russian firm used in Maryland election systems
The first para: " ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A vendor that provides key services for Maryland elections has been acquired by a parent company with links to a Russian oligarch, state officials said Friday after a briefing a day earlier from the FBI."
Later on in the article: "The vendor, ByteGrid LLC, was purchased by a Russian investor in 2015 without knowledge of Maryland state officials, officials said."
Here is the link https://www.apnews.com/cae268ae9fb5462cbf5048c3071f3c2b
ByteGrid is probably handling most of the upcoming election in America.
Who is investigating this? What is the remedy?
7
Remember when the NYT and candidate Obama scoffed at Mitt Romney's statement that Russia was the greatest threat to the US? Is that an OOPS? or Never Mind?
8
NATO, the U.K., the E.U., and all authoritarian, anti-liberal leaders and groups across the world are seeing what it would be like if the U.S. withdraws from it’s role in the world since World War II. For the former it’s uncertainty and a dimming of the light. For the latter, it’s more freedom to do as they will with less concern about adverse consequences. Trump seems to think that his ability to enjoy his wealth and to operate across this globe is independent of this international order which he so casually is disrupting.
Meanwhile, Trump is doing similarly with not just liberal/progressive policies and programs which conservatives have opposed since Teddy Roosevelt was President but of the liberal democracy based upon the rule of law which our republic has always been. He represents a push to replace democracy and the rule of law with plutocracy and authoritarian governance where one’s relative wealth and personal power determines one’s liberty and freedom to live as one would like.
Trump brings confusion and less happiness to the world while he voices the resentments and dissatisfactions of his supporters by disrupting everything upon which the status quo is based—Nihilism as the agent of change. If we think of the Greeks, the next step would be a dictatorship to bring order and stability, which does seem to be Trump’s intent, consciously or unconsciously.
6
Trump is quite the miscreant. A discussion about Trump is not a political discussion; it's one about psychology.
Trump goes off the deep end with his vituperative Sun interview designed to set May off guard, and then he praises her the next day. It's a childish form of manipulation that Trump continually employs; he insults Sessions, McConnell and Nielsen to get loyalty from them by making them subconsciously feel better when such a nasty man now praises them. It's brainwashing.
It's how Trump, the dumb one, gets at intelligent people, people who don't quite know how to respond to a buffoon that has become president of the U.S. Intelligent, qualified people are Trump's biggest threat; he needs to dispose of them to carry out his egomaniacal, fascist, but disorganized agenda. Trump already has his poorly educated followers and Fox Noise to promote his mythomania.
And then there's Putin, an intelligent, exceedingly qualified leader. As we all state here, Trump is no match for Putin, who has successfully manipulated the electoral process of the largest, wealthiest democracy in the world.
Given who Trump's naïvely devoted followers are, if Putin controls Trump, then Putin controls our heartland. It's a brilliant strategy.
6
Well, Trump doubted there would be any "Perry Mason" moment if he accused Putin of meddling in our election. And, he's using that as an excuse to not push Putin on the issue. What Trump seems to not understand is that he just got his "Untouchables" moment -- the other popular "Perry Mason" era TV show. The TV show where the FBI always got their man, and which was named the "Untouchables" because of the courage and honesty of the FBI agents -- they couldn't be bribed or intimidated. He really shouldn't forget about that show.
7
I want a Baby Trump balloon, where can I get one?
5
A disturbing bromance. What a couple!
3
Richard Widmark? How about updating your cultural references, Ms. Dowd.
1
I hear that trump is bringing all of his kids to Helsinki so he can ask Putin for asylum.
3
Yes, I keep waiting for Dowd to write a column apologizing for her role in Hillary's defeat.
6
2016 is over, my friend, but Hillary supporters are a target for Russian trollers in 2020.
2
No, it's apt. Film didn't begin with Jennifer Aniston.
I also see the Trump saga as the rôle of Johnny Ringo in "Key Largo". Ringo, the bully, played admirably by the great Edward G. Robinson, abusively denigrates the men and molests the women, played by the greats Lauren Bacall and Claire Trevor, Bogart and Barrymore, as he tries to launder his counterfeit money, a fitting tale for Trump and Putin.
We're still waiting for a Bogey to take Trump out.
2
Thank-you for making me laugh about our wayward President. Thank-you for making me use my dictionary. The problem is these are not jokes you are making. This really is happening. I just want to take a diaper pin and put a pin prick in the real President and watch him sputter away into the sky and out of sight or so my dream goes. RAW
4
I'm looking for my own balloon.
3
Trump is unfortunately a sociopath who likely colluded with Russia in the Presidential election and undoubtedly is supported financially by Putin and his oligarchs in his business model. Putin is likely a psychopathic despot who is an adversary to American security and directed the cyber interference in our recent election.
Trump looks up to him as the strong leader he would aspire to and as a principal provider of money for his real estate business. Trump is likely very compromised by his complex relationships with him and cannot defend our American security interests because of that. These facts explain his strange behavior toward Putin.
6
Clotted cream on crumpets? Are you mad?!?!
It's clotted cream on scones. And don't get us started on whether the jam or the cream goes on first, or whether it's pronounced 'scon' or 'scone'.
3
Oh, Ms. Dowd, how can you say such terrible things about Don the Con and Vlad the Impaler?
The alternative would have been Hillary! And after all, those emails!
You made it clear Secretary Clinton was an awful person so what alternative was there? Why, the Trumpster of course!
Thank goodness you worked so hard to decry her candidacy. Look what we got instead...
8
It is time that candidacy for the president require a minimal psychological and physical test, a basic knowledge of our government and a thorough background check. Right now it is mainly a popularity contest. Any darn fool can get elected if enough people get fooled.
5
The United States underwent a right wing coup in 2016. The electoral farce was based on Republican gerrymandering and systematic voter suppression financed by right wing corporatists. This was combined with Russian hacking of the media and the electoral system.
The corruption of the electoral process was planned in advance over many years. We have become a Banana Republic controlled by the ultra-right wing owners of the Republican Party with the egomaniac Trump at the helm. The base of the Republican Party, a minority of voters, is white nationalist and is steeped in pseudo-religious hypocrisy.
People who still support Trump - after his daily display of ignorance and incompetence at the expense of working families,- after his aggressive incomprehensible acts destroying ties with our true allies on behalf of Russia, -after his self-admitted abuse of women, -after ripping children from the arms of their mothers… these people are obsessed with Trump's explicit racism and bigotry.
How long is the Republican Party going to allow Trump, their mad dog mascot, to humiliate the United States before the world? Are these GOP cowards afraid to upset the Trump racist base who are now the primary source of their voting power? Have these traitorous Republicans no shame whatsoever?
American voters must overcome their traditional apathy that Republicans count on. They must teach Republicans a lesson at the polls in every election going forward and throw them out.
12
I guess Putin reacted the way he did because the accusation was simply wrong.
We all know by now that the doomed sailors on the Kursk were dead pretty much immediately.
So the accusation didn't go down as it was fake news.
But that is not the real problem, the real problem here is that Trump is looking for a buddy he can sit at the camp fire and trade dirty jokes with.
And he believes that Putin is this kind of person.
But Putin is way out of his league, plus Putin is trying to improve the lives of his people which is not what Trump does who is just playing his favourite role of being a global bully and lining his own pockets.
Europeans had their share of corrupt and stupid leaders and they have brought most of them to justice.
They, as Asians, have a fine tuned sense for crooks and Trump is a crook that stinks against the wind for miles.
So it is no wonder that Trump has been welcomed the way he has been in Europe, especially after all those countless insults against pretty much everyone.
in Europe he would stand trial in a court of law while in the US he is a president.
4
I am a very accomplished golfer: I love the courses in Great Britain. They allow the rough to grow so distance is unimportant. They are politically much, much better informed than Americans. Never would they gerrymander to elect "Representatives" as we witnessed during the recent Congressional hearing. A tantamount embarrassment. Just when we are amazed how stupid our electorate is, we see our Congressmen demonstrate they are just as nutty and uninformed.
The Apricot Toddler; so accurate!
6
Maureen, perhaps if you hadn’t been so intent on pummeling HRC we would not be in this horrible place. But, ah, Trump makes great copy so it’s all good, right?
5
I have been wondering if maybe Trump's latest behavior isn't possibly a brain tumor. They say that a tumor accelerates the dysfunction often to an alarming degree. Is it just my imagination, or is this guy spinning a little faster in his loopy illogic?
3
An excellent article, thank you - but you might want to rethink the Oedipal metaphor, as Oedipus in fact murdered his father. He didn't know it, of course, any more than he knew Jocasta was his mother. I rather hope for the safety of the world that the Blimp doesn't attempt to kill Putin. A very unpleasant deflation might ensue.
1
Back in 2016 Maureen was thought Hilliary’s emails were a threat to our nation, and she disliked both candidates equally. We need a mea culpa.
6
Once again, why can't someone find out what Putin has over Trump? It cannot just be daddy issues--Trump admires him but is also afraid of him.
This is high treason. Evidence is found and culprits charged with interfering with an American election. A sane president would break off all ties with the offending country, not cozy up to him like two boys whispering at a slumber party.
6
The fiction that a stupid liar is the truly legitimate leader of the whole American people and the free world, too, gives rise to the pointless speculation about what his real motives are. Who cares? His preposterous behavior is the destructive fact. I much suspect that if and when the whole truth is known about his motives for many things, we are going to see a picture of futility and human emptiness every bit as devoid of serious statecraft and moral insight as his most petty and disgusting acts and words have taught us to expect. It is the waiting for the truth that makes this nihilism so insufferably unbearable.
8
As a NY lawyer, when I watched the Trump/May press conference I observed the participants as I would
witnesses at a trial. I was impressed at the obvious
friendship between the two leaders and the lack of irony when PM May was questioned by a press eager to see her criticize our President. The deft manner President Trump handled our own hapless elite media is proof anew to U.S. supporters, who agree that 'fake news' deserve a calling out. Yes, President Trump had a 'ball...' as both he and the PM shared Blenheim Palace and observed joint exercises at Sandhurst, underscoring the special relationship. No irony by the author, protests by the hysterical Londoners or worries about a much reduced Russia can remove the truth that our President achieved much with Theresa May. After Brexit, we expect a great two way trade deal with our special ally.
4
Silly notion that talking trash and bullying an ally has any good purpose. When conducting diplomacy one must consider what will be productive. May needs domestic support and for Trump to look like a friend in the U.K., Trump’s boorish behavior is counter-productive. The same goes for NATO, the populaces of our allies must trust that the U.S. will risk it’s survival when they risk theirs to offer their enthusiastic support. Trump is bad news for us.
1
I certainly wouldn't want you on my defence team if you can interpret Theresa May's expression as anything other than severe embarrassment and 'please God let this be over soon'.
4
Observe lots of British Prime Ministers in your trial practice William? Ones with a high level diplomatic training, who are capable of suppressing their true emotions and presenting a different public face at a public event for the good of their country?
3
Perhaps Ms. Dowd could clarify how shaming NATO members into spending an additional 14 billion dollars in defense spending against Russia can be construed as canoodling. Does she really believe that Trump calling out Angela Merkel for signing on to a pipeline deal that will enrich Putin with billions of dollars inspire him to cuddle with our president? Does she believe Putin went kissy faced when told of the news that the authority president Trump gave his field commanders resulted in the annihilation of 300 Russian “mercenaries” as they “tested” US defenses in Syria earlier this year? In light of those actions and many others, her use of the term canoodling to describe president Trumps actions relative to Putin is Orwellian.
Be that as it may, Ms. Dowd’s now wants to know what President Trump is going to do about the Russian attack on America that happened while he was a private citizen. I’d love to hear her suggestions. Perhaps name calling would suffice, “minacious KGB agent” has a certain zing to it.
Putin no doubt shares with Ms. Dowd's an affinity for the “cheeky” citizens of London parading around with their “Trump Baby” balloon. It's plausible that he's even financing some of it, after all, meddling in our elections and sowing discord is not limited to cyber-warfare. I doubt he embraces the metaphor it represents however. More likely he would ascribe something more appropriate, like the “bull in the china shop”. Unfortunately for him, he owns the china shop.
5
I try always to take the long view. The very long view. In this sense, History itself is secondary to the steady evolution of technology, freedom, and man's relation to the Earth. In this sense, yes, statistics seem to show an improving Earth, more Democracy, less war, less pollution, and progress towards the control of green house emissions.
In this sense, Trump is most assuredly a blip. A nasty burp.
Yet resist him we must as mankind must resist the Putins, the Assads, ISISes, and the somewhat consistent floww, generation to generation of misguided racists, nationalists, and yes- fascists.
Journalism is a profession for the very brave. Cowardly journalism is, lets say, Fox State TV.
I applaud The New York Times for standing up to this nasty smear on the American Presidency. Hopefully Mueller will keep the pressure on.
7
"What is [Trump] going to do about Russia's attack on America?"
It is reported that he hasn't even thought of demanding Putin for the extraditions of Russia's indicted military hackers.
Instead,Trump is hanging out on his golf-course this weekend, putting his time and effort into tweeting out venom like a petulant teenager, aimed at Obama, the EU, etc., instead of putting his head down and preparing for a meeting with an existential enemy, headed by Putin, an experienced, bare-knuckles leader who is about to run circles around him
7
The left supported the USSR during Viet Nam and now gets so picky about a hug? What it underscores is how utterly powerless they feel against a president that does not care for the rosy reviews the MSM used to give Obama, he is his own persona and we accept him with all those wrinkles.
6
“Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery.”
No, it’s not a mystery at all. Take off the blinders Mo and recall the levels of investment and whatever else the Russians have inoculted an American President.
They’ve checked us, and are now threatening mate.
4
Nothing "incomprehensible" about Trump's love affair with Putin, or maybe it's a fear affair. Our Manchurian Candidate has made it perfectly obvious that Putin has some kind of hold on him, be it financial or a video tape of his antics in a Moscow hotel room. This makes Trump a threat to our national security, and his Republican enablers traitors abetting his treason. LOCK THEM UP!
14
I would be more impressed with Maureen Dowd's latest columns were it not for the fact that she continually pilloried Hillary Clinton, joining the phalanx of reporters and commenters everywhere creating false equivalence and ranting about Clinton's clothes, her voice, her supposed crimes, Benghazi Benghazi Benghazi and emails emails emails. Dowd helped to give us Donald Trump. If she ever once admitted that she was sorry for her own culpability in these matters she might be more believable now.
22
He Saw The Queen. He saw Teresa May. He saw his golf courses. He’ll see PUtin
He thinks he had a wonderful visit, a great visit. A really great visit. All those people not protesting like him. Really like him. Love him. They’re wonderful people. We got a lot of work done. Really good work. Now that he’s been there he’s got deals. Good deals. Everyone is going to be better now.
Another day in Trumpville. Oy!
11
To paraphrase a famous author, every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie including "And" and "The".
7
Trump should draw a "red line" against Putin. That worked so well for Obama against Syrian President Bashar Assad.
1
Millions of Americans, the honorable among us, put their lives on the line to protect our nation.
So, when I read columists like Maureen Dowd who see this sacrifice as a humorous punchline, like her loss of appetite during her dinner with an enemy of our nation or her softball treatment of Donald Trump in the run up to his election, despite the numerous credible reports of Trump’s collusion with Russia, it throughly sickens veterans like me.
Because, despite what out-of-touch liberal elitists like Maureen Dowd may think, credible threats to the safety of our nation should never be treated as a “humorous” punchline.
7
I would like to take this opportunity to formally thank the people of London, and Maureen, for posting this glorious photo, which gives me great joy! What struck me is that the protests in London offer a lesson in creativity and courage. They have something American protests lack. I hope it catches on. In the meantime, will someone please bring on the apricot toddler dolls, the blimp t-shirts, caps, and will someone please, please make us one of those baby balloons?!
11
The Women's March was, I think, just as courageous, just as good hearted, just as witty as our London counterparts!
6
I wonder Maureen if you are rethinking your decades long campaign of smears against Hillary Clinton who is one of the most compassionate, intelligent and knowledgeable presidential candidates I have seen in my 50 years?
29
Sorry, I meant to write "my 80 years."
Must be getting old.
4
Trump is a national embarrassment...and an international embarrassment too.
11
Maureen, Trump hugging Putin is not an incomprehensible mystery. It’s very simple: Putin has Trump’s ankles shackled to him. Trump would not and could not have gotten out of many financial crises without Russian cash. Only heaven and hopefully Mueller’s team know just how many millions of dollars Trump has received.
I have to agree with my friend who believes that Trump is capable of poisoning even his own kids if it’s for money. He is willing to sell out our country and the whole western world to save his sorry rear end. This is a man who doesn’t even begin to understand what patriotism or honor is. Whatever benefits him is always a truth for him.
Trump, Putin’s slave, occupying the WH is the biggest American tragedy of the 21st century. May God protect Mueller and his team so Trump’s crimes are exposed to the entire world, including 63 million Trump voters!
10
I would have said the song “Feelings” was the biggest tragedy, but it was written in the 20th century.
Fabulously well-written; nothing to add!!
2
Oh but if the FBI could only bug the room in Helsinki.
6
When will this nightmare end!!
7
Absolutely correct! When using blackmail so blatantly, you want to have to have both parties in the bag before you pick the winner.
It is in fact the only logical explanation for the total loss of ethics and morals in the GOP.
5
Trump deserves some big crowds to "greet" him once he returns to American soil.
5
Oedipus killed a man not knowing the man was his father. Then he married a woman not knowing she was his mother. The complex is a man desiring his mother and hating his father. Is Putin Trump's mother? Whatever their relationship, how is Trump-Putin Oedipal?
4
We really need a Trump baby balloon flying over New York City.
14
"The ugliest American." Yes.
8
I am hoping the maker of the blimp will put a small version on the market so that protesters all over the world can carry Trump Babies on a stick at future demonstrations. Proceeds from the sales could go to Raices, ACLU and other associations that are helping restore faith in America’s humanity.
9
He's merely going there to explain Hillary's reset button.
3
Putin is deeply implicated in the murder of journalists. He certainly ordered executions in KGB style, and undoubtedly gave the Novichok poisoners the orders for their UK attacks.
For an American president* to attack independent media in the US, then visit and praise Putin as a strong leader could be interpreted as giving aid and comfort to a lethal enemy. This is treason. When will the Times drop its deference to Trump and call out this potential treason? The gloves are off.
11
And how about our proud Republican delegation to the Putin empire? Were they seeking the same kind of help that the #PLIC received?
5
good one for a change.
1
Being a blip and a blimp are not mutually exclusive.
As Putin's Pimp, about which there is little question, however, it remains to be seen whether Trump comes crashing to the ground in flames, like another famed piece of New Jersey history, the Hindenberg.
5
The image of Trump strolling around playing golf while immigrant children he cruelly and forcefully separated from their parents and who are still waiting to be reunited because his incompetent administration is missing court deadlines to do so is truly disgusting.
11
Blimp would work perfectly in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
5
Is this the same Putin that Hillary presented a reset button to? Don't recall Ms Dowd complaining about that. You Trump haters have gone over the edge. I'm surprised you haven't faulted him for exhaling CO2.
4
My God Maureen, when are you going to get over the fact that Donald trump is YOUR POTUS and won fair and square? Are there any indictments against US citizens from Rosenstein? NO.
Is the man carrying out his policies as announced during the race? YES, but limited by the MSM that can't stand he represents and speaks the truth.
I get it Maureen, I really do, the next 7 years are going to be beneficial to your bottom line but woefully damaging to your over-all mental health...see you in November!
3
It would appear that he did not win fair and square, actually.
5
Ah, those craven Republicans, canoodling with the Russians...
Here's Maureen in September 2013:
"Just as Obama and Kerry — with assists from Hillary and some senators — were huffing and puffing that it was their military threat that led to the breakthrough, Putin moved to neuter them, saying they’d have to drop their military threat before any deal could proceed. The administration’s saber-rattling felt more like knees rattling. Oh, for the good old days when Obama was leading from behind."
And... remember the famous "reset" button and Hillary's goofy smile?
2
Just beneath the surface of the leader was a killer.
What "world leader" doesn't this apply to?
2
Dowd finally fully skewers Trump but overlooks a key glaring bit of infamy: Trump meeting privately with Putin.
This is a grotesque aberration- an obvious act of subterfuge once again highlighting a nefarious agenda so toxic no one- not even Trump staffers- can be present.
This is mafiosa land. It clearly reveals a need for utter secrecy when recent revelations scream for transparency.
Would a man with nothing to hide invest in such bizarre camouflage?
11
Was this meddling going on before January 2017?
1
The right still rails against Hillary's missing 30,000 e-mails.
They never say anything about the private e-mail server in the W Bush White House. gwb43.com
Hosted by the RNC and used by many including Cheney during the build up of the Iraq invasion, yellow cake, aluminum tubes, etc.
The 22 million missing e-mails.
The Republicans are masters at manipulation.
https://www.newsweek.com/2016/09/23/george-w-bush-white-house-lost-22-mi...
11
T.''I have just concluded the greatest cost savings for the American military in history. Hundreds of billions will be saved. I am going to order all our carriers and submarines be sailed over to Russia for overhauls at half the cost at once. The crews will be kept in deluxe guest quarters in the Kolyma Peninsula. They will study mining operations in the uranium mines to pass their time.
Only the great friendship I have established with Vlad, and my deal making prowess have made this possible. There will be nothing to fear from Russia, we promise. ''
7
When the apology, Maureen? When the apology to the nation for pounding HRC every column when the evidence shouts you supported an immoral, dishonest, lazy, one syllable, cheating, immigrant hating, budget busting failure?
Your awakening after 18 months of disaster- Puerto Rico, immigration horror, tax cut for the wealthy, weakening of ACA, Supreme Court flying right to damage voting rights, workers, and Roe for starters, is to little to late.
Still, a heart-felt apology would be welcome.
17
Maureen is giving Trump the drubbing he deserves.
Forget about Clinton. Many of those who voted for her, including me, did so because she was the lesser of two evils. The woman is self-serving and dishonest. Just because Trump is way more so doesn't mean she is owed a darned thing.
Trump had an hour long tea with the Queen. The Obamas had a formal state dinner.
Love the Brits!
13
And Prince Charles and Prince William made it clear to the Palace that they would NOT be willing to have anything to do with Trump.
2
If it is any comfort, it looks like our self-serving, ruthless president "Don The Con"--who conned just about everyone he ever did business with as well as the morally bankrupt GOP and about 35-41% of the U.S. electorate--is being out-conned on a daily basis by a far superior con artist, Valdimir Putin.
9
Collusion? No, I think we are witnessing treason, so blatant that it hard to believe. Forget all the psychological gobbly, gook. Just look at the actions, including the public statement about "Russia if you are listening..." That is the "smoking gun". ..
just need to observe the time line,the actors, and the actions. In the midst of the barrage of lies is an occasional inadvertent truth.
14
Trump's about-face after his initial bullying of the P.M. is curious. Am I alone in wondering if he couldn't stand the heat of public satirical balloons?
This bears on the running issue of how to respond to rhetorical excess. One does not need to argue at the level of fundamentalist tribalism, or adopt the tactics of Lee Atwater and his ilk, to stand firmly against distortions. The instances of confrontation in Washington restaurants etc. may remind the more insecure Trump supporters that, aside from the tribe they belong to on social media, there is a broader tribe and culture they're exposed to face-to-face, every day. For those who feel disrespected by the continuing failure of reality to conform to their more instinctive beliefs, whether 'conservative' dogma or the faith in the Market God, further disillusionment is coming.
3
No worries, Maureen...He will indeed be only a sad aberration in American history.
3
I, too, read Chait's piece and it is a must-read, a real eye-opener. Beyond summarizing all the damning information we already know, it contains even more shocking info (a possible murder, etc.) that most of us haven't yet heard about. It easily convinced me that as crazy as it sounds, Putin is Trump's handler and has been for many years, since even before the election. There is no other reasonable conclusion. Should be required reading and I'm glad it's being brought to readers' attention here.
14
Change my opinion on Ms. Dowd, her recent columns are worth getting another award.
4
But her past behavior proves that you can't trust her not to turn again.
2
There is something un-American about kissing-up to Russia
9
According to the publication Foreign Affairs, Trump is actually POPULAR in Russia!
"Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery" Really!? Maureen here's a little help for you so you can "comprehend": Trump is a traitor working with Putin. Got it now?
17
The blimp captures the essence of Trump...hot air.
17
Directly, I don’t have any problem with all the people that think Trump is a puppet controlled by Putin.
They don’t like Trump, and that, directly, is not a problem for me.
The only problem with it, for me, is that it is super highly unlikely.
Trump is a blazing idiot, and Putin is a crook and a jerk, the head of the Russian mafia, but I seriously, seriously doubt Putin controls Trump.
The scary part is how little of this people understand. One is left helplessly hoping that all the people “that don’t get it” will “not get it” in a way that works out well.
If they think Trump is a puppet controlled by Putin, then on Election Day they won’t vote for Trump, and that’s good, but it would be much better if they just simply saw that Trump is a blazing idiot.
If Putin controls Trump, a tiny bit, it is mostly via the praise that Putin has given to Trump via the press.
1
"On Election Day they won't vote for Trump." Are you kidding? It won't matter if they vote for him or not because the Russians attack our voting process. They're going to do it again because this administration does nothing to stop it.
4
I think most people agree with you.
Most of us don't think Trump is controlled by Putin.
Most of think that Trump admires Putin and wants Putin's admiration.
Most of think that Trump loves chaos and attention.
Most of us think attacking the G7 and NATO and never acknowledging all that Putin is doing is great for Putin.
Trump cheats at golf, cheats on his wife. Is there any doubt that he’s willing to cheat America of a better future?
16
How can we get Trump Baby for the Macy's Parade?
17
I hope that Trump will be forced to wear a wire in this "secret one on one" meeting w/ Putin.....and in case trump messes w/ his wire we should have the room bugged so we know exactly what is said and done. Force him to wear a wire...if he refuses then he is obstructing again and that speaks volumes. He was not elected legitimately and he is a traitor to the USA and all our allies. Time to end these dangerous & destructive behaviors by this kompromised asset of Russia....all on our dime btw.
16
Putin is a demagogue for sure, but Trump isn’t just a simpleton being played by a master puppeteer. Given the power he wields, Trump is just as dangerous to our democracy and its role on the world stage.
It’s almost calming to think Trump is “just an idiot,” and that we’ll be rid of him soon enough. He isn’t, and we won’t; he has set our society back decades. Undoing the damage he has wrought is going to take time we Americans can ill afford.
10
"... in July 2016 that he publicly urged Russia to find Hillary Clinton’s “30,000 emails that are missing,”
Proving that the New York / Washington "press" still don't get it. Or maybe they do, but they are so evil that they LIE about candidate Trump's comments on that day. Which is it Maureen Dowd? He was JOKING that maybe the Russians could find the 30,000 emails Hillary had deleted.
Joking is NOT urging. Get it?
2
If he was joking, then that was at the very least incredibly reckless.
Many a truth is said in jest.
Any time this president gets called out for saying or doing something inappropriate he walks it back and says it was just a joke, when originally he it meant just as said or done.
Obviously not a joke. (Anyway, it can be observed the guy has no sense of humor to begin with.)
Watch the video. He's dead serious. The following day, Katy Tur asked him if he was joking and he doubled down on the the request.
"That a person in our government, Katy, would delete or get rid of 33,000 emails. That gives me a big problem," he said, getting increasingly agitated at questions from NBC's Katy Tur. "After she gets a subpoena. She gets subpoenaed, and she gets rid of 33,000 emails. That gives me a problem. Now, if Russia or China or any other country has those emails, I mean to be honest with you, I'd love to see them."
Sounds like urging to me.
3
I love that Trump drives the Left crazy. Trump has a strategy for peace not war. The democrats would have us go to war over Chirimia. The NYT refuses to blame Obama for Russia occupying Chrimia or hacking the DNC.
2
Obama isn't to blame for Russian hacking. But he is to be blamed for not coming clean about it to the entire American public, pronto. And for not stating that it was an act of cyber war.
4
i think there is a growing group of wealthy people that have decided that representative democracy has seen it's day. it's too messy and inefficient..... and it gets in the way of them making money. i think rupert murdoch is probably the most important member of this group. he has had 25 years to destroy faith in our institutions and a lot of people have fallen for his well crafted propaganda. trump baby is the culmination and very likely the ultimate result of this tragedy. the question now is can he be stopped?
17
Trumps just checking in for his review from THE MAN
7
richard widmark huh? i would only say that widmark always played his bad guys with gusto and a great amount of humor and joy in his persona......not sure that's what you saw with putin. now where can i buy a trump baby??
7
as usual Trump blames Obama for the 12 Russians who damaged
our democracy. When does this floating blimp of a man twist his
distorted brain into truth mode. He never goes there and neither
do his supporters with eyes that don't see, brains that don''t think,
hearts that beat heartless. This is the slimiest period in our history
that I've lived through - can't recall a worse time - maybe because
we are losing so much of what we fought and bled for. I see no
shining city on the hill now, we've lost it. Thank you Trumpers - the
idiot change you wanted is here and now. Bask in it.
10
I'd like to see the Baby Trump balloon in the Smithsonian some day. It would serve as a historic reminder to why we should never again elect a wild card (or an idiot) to the presidency of the United States.
15
Before it gets to the Smithsonian, let's see a Trump baby balloon flying over New York City.
3
It's not collusion it's treason!
16
Probably, to Putin, those Soviet sailors, 118, who died on the Kursk gave their lives for Mother Russia. Thug and killer though he is, Putin is a patriot. Kouric's question was, therefore, an ultimate insult. What the assembly saw was the Cheka-NKVD-KGB, not a pretty picture. And Trump may turn out to be it's unwitting tool.
4
If Trump had made a secret call to Russian entities asking them to hack Clinton's emails it would certainly constitute collusion, but since he did it publicly, televised, apparently that's okay?
11
teach says, in one of the most-favored comments, "I really am more and more convinced that many more members of the GOP knew where all the oppo dirt was coming from, as well as all the money funneled through the NRA. No wonder they're working so hard to derail the investigation--they aren't just protecting Trump."
Yes, teach, and now the traitorous U.S. House is trying to impeach Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein. Mr. Mueller and he are getting WAY too close to the truth and I'm sure the traitros don't think they'll look good in orange prison suits when they are tried and convicted of collusion/treason.
WE THE PEOPLE must keep up the pressure to stop them at every turn until we can kick their sorry behinds OUT of OUR governments at every level in the next elections.
20
Tar Feather him, the Republican Party and his fan base for Treason. Then run them out of town to settle in Putin's country until the coming Russian revolution boots them out with nowhere to hide, no trump towers or golf courses to live in luxury
19
It is incredible that trump's advice to PM May about negotiating BREXIT IS TO SUE THE EU.Quite apart from his personality disorders this is breathtakingly STUPID! It appears that he thinks the complex union of multiple sovereign nations is like a rental development or selling condos or memberships in a golf club or dealing with unpaid contractors or porn queens who he had sex with. This reveals his profound ignorance of history, current affairs, and modern political economy. Of course, this is underscored by the way he believes that he can bully the whole planet....except for Russia...the only country NOT HIT BY HIS MISERABLE ILLEGAL TARIFFS. He thinks the whole planet will grovel at his disgusting feet if he threatens them. Where would the EU sue...hardly the EU court which is like a court of appeal. There is an exit provision in the EU agreement which the UK has proclaimed.
23
"You're a parasite. You live off other people's troubles."
When they make the ultimate "Trump" movie I hope the director obtains the rights to use that dialogue from The Odessa File (1974).....and that history plays out such that it is a judge, during sentencing, rendering this accurate description and final condemnation of trump.
If not, there's always trump's tomb stone that will need engraving.
9
Interesting to read all the teeth-nashing comments. Hillary must really have been a horrible candidate to lose to such a Cretin. I saw thousands of Trumps at every Yankee game growing up. Stiff upper lip, only 6 1/2 years to go!
2
The FBI should disclose with both barrels, all they have whilst the two threats to our country meet. Maybe Trump can be forced to study his future in Russia.
12
Ms. Dowd -
YOUR credibility is at least as suspect as Mssrs Trump & Putin.
Perhaps you remember the TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT of 1996 which was "essentially bought and paid for by corporate media lobbies" and shoved thru by your own President Clinton, and which enabled 6 corporations to buy up about 90% of this country's major media companies ? https://truthout.org/articles/democracy-in-peril-twenty-years-of-media-c...
While you rant on about Commisars' Putin and Trump, let's not forget the American PRAVDA, which serves up its own brand of devotional propaganda in a 24/7 unrelenting stream of attempted mind control.
Pray we little people out here in flyover country don't wake up one day and remember what Thomas Jefferson is quoted as saying....
"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants."
9
All while he was sleeping with his slave and fathering 6 children. Jefferson is a great guy for you to quote.
3
Which Congress approved that bill?
1
Trump is a sociopath and Putin is a psychopath. Putin is in power in Russia because the Russian Society is as it's always been backward and brutish. Trump is in power because a few ignorant peasants want to try and keep jobs in the coal mines which inevitably will go away. This is how history is so often forged. Human ignorance selfishness and downright in confidence on tomorrow and an intellectual basis lead to disasters which undoubtedly this will also end up being. No liberal democracy can allow Putin's Russia to exist very much longer. Putin has succeeded in pushing Russia forward into the hot seat right along with its receding and out-of-date economy and culture which is thoroughly unable to deal with the 21st century in a constructive manner. For their part, the base cretinous Americans who put Trump in power and to continue to support him will ultimately fail because atavism is ultimately a failing cause. But in the process they will do a man stamets not only to the United States but to the global culture. Both the Maga supporters and Russians so richly deserve the rejection and ultimate shame that they will inevitably bring on themselves.
8
The Ugliest American indeed and his family has barely been “American”. They only arrived 133!years ago.They never fought for the country in the Revolutionary War, Civil War or any other. They have always had the most parasitic relationship with this country.
Truly the worst example of what an American should be. And the Manchurian candidate analogy should chill the most die hard Republicans but for the sake of power they sell out and are complicit traitors to this country.
History will catch up with the whole lot one day and they will reap a whirlwind they never saw coming. Heaven help this country at this very dark time in history.
22
If there was ever a Manchurian candidate, it was Obama, not Trump. You guys lost this election.
Get over it and try doing something positive.
3
Say it enough and maybe it’ll be true. But history will not remember it that way.
16
Ok Bob, I’ll bite: how was Obama the real “ Manchuria candidate”? Please explain it to us.
11
@bob Wray
We are doing something positive, many of us are working to make Trump a one term president. We lost the electoral college but we won the popular vote even though Russians interfered for trump, that still wasn't enough and trump has no mandate. Get over it that many do not like trump. And please explain how President Obama was a Manchurian candidate.
5
July 2016 Dowd gave us “The Clinton Contamination” op-ed. What a difference two years makes. You set the table Maureen. Now we’re all choking on the bones.
27
Amazing, you did not mention Hillary once in this article. Have you finally decided that maybe you were ridiculously harsh? If you have not realized it, you should.
17
Wake up, Ms. Dowd. You say, "Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery."
No. It is NOT an incomprehensible mystery. It is clear to anyone who will admit the truth that The Con Don and his Robber Baron brethren - Putin, Netanyahu, Erdogan, Duerte, Sisi, Steve Bannon and their inherited/stolen wealth money masters like Peter Thiel, the Koch brothers, Sheldon Adelson and about 1500 other men and their handmaidens around the world - plan to destroy OUR lives, democracies around the world and, especially OUR United States of America.
WE THE PEOPLE - including those of you who have national and international voices - are the only ones who can/will stop them.
Wake up, Good People of America and admit what you are seeing with your own eyes, minds and hearts. Take action to preserve/restore true democracy - social and economic equity for all citizens - in OUR America.
NOW is the time. Now may be the only time for centuries.
NO WW3 to enrich the financial elite and destroy the world. Not now. Not ever again.
28
Trump is already much more than a "sad aberration" in American history or a "blip." He is the charismatic leader of a full-on authoritarian movement supported by the majority GOP party.
22
There are times when a US president must meet with other world leaders, even the most dictatorial. I don't believe this is such a time. I could be wrong, and I'm not going to say that Trump should not meet with Putin as scheduled -- given certain caveats. When Trump insists on making the meeting one-on-one, with no American staff in the room, I get more than a bit suspicious. Given Trump's somewhat cavalier attitude toward facts and truth, a complete audio and video record of the entire meeting is the only thing that would allay these suspicions. Independent agents to report on what was said would also help. Absent some sort of verifiable record, not only should this meeting not take place, but no meeting of any sort with foreign leaders should occur.
Merriam-Webster defines "paranoia" as "a tendency on the part of an individual or group toward excessive or irrational suspiciousness and distrustfulness of others." Distrusting Trump under these circumstances is not paranoia; it's the only rational reaction to Trump's actions and speech.
14
Well done Maureen! Bravo Zulu!
6
I sincerely hope that facsimiles of the Trumpty Dumpty inflatable will line the streets of the military parade that been rammed down the throats of the American People this fall. He has demanded this parade to demonstrate his authoritarian nature , let's dress it up a little...
15
I’m sure that when Trump was elected he envisioned himself someday being driven through the streets of London in a gilt carriage drawn by white horses. Instead the Brits made him stand under a canvas tent and gave him a cup of tea. Ya gotta love the Queen!
17
Such a difference to the ceremonial welcome they gave the Obamas! They got the full "royal" treatment.
The Queen does not suffer fools gladly.
3
How glad will you be when Trump and his cabal strip you and your family of any benefits your currently enjoy? Like Social Security, clean drinking water, national parks, safe roads, unemploment insurance, affordable healthcare, etc. Go find your list!
2
A liar always trips over his lies. Trump’s statement that his earlier statements were « fake news » is, however, bizarre. The King has no clothes.
5
He is, indeed, an aberration......Lock him up !
9
Soon we'll all be able to get in on the rich belly-laugh of all things Trump.
He's a joke.
Just a matter of time before it will be safe and fun to have a good laugh at such a fulsome buffoon.
5
Would the Brits loan us the baby blimp so we can fly it from the Statue of Liberty? Symbolic of how Trump is eclipsing everything decent about the US.
8
Hey Maureen, there is no "our democracy" as you say. There never was. Check out Article 8,Section 8 of our Constitution for our form of government.
1
Democratic republic then? Or as taught in us schools, representative democracy. I understand your interest in removing the word democracy and Democratic from common use. All would be fascist first try to control the language.
2
"He looked like Richard Widmark playing a psychotic thug in a ’50s film noir."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiss_of_Death_(1947_film)
Widmark's film debut.
He literally pushed an old lady in wheelchair down a flight of stairs.
While laughing.
17
“We had much better defenses,” Mr. Trump said, suggesting that the Russians could not hack the Republican National Committee. “I think the D.N.C. should be ashamed of themselves for allowing themselves to be hacked.”
Idiot Trump doesn't realize that Russia hacked him as well. Perhaps he doesn't realize it or that those emails provide blackmail fodder for Putin.
27
"moral and thoughtful americans"... Thanks for the laugh. You're all profligate.
4
Republicans should take notice.
3
Brilliant writing, Ms. Dowd.
9
The REAL fake news is that trump has any popular support beyond the few thousand his people manage to round up for his fake rallies. The cowardly congressmen in his party then think there’s this huge swell of support, and they meekly follow him off the cliff.
Listen, it’s really hard to find any one who doesn’t despise this person. I talk to many people. The seething resentment is breathtaking. The few that support him are like brainwashed zombies with no real answers for the question “why?” The masses have plenty of answers. Even possibly 50from just the past week.
Soon, the NYTimes will do a follow up on his lies since the last piece on his lies.
Soon , we will all have a chance to vote.
You will see a landslide of repudiation, led by women.
Everyone may be exhausted, but not too tired to send all the traitors and cowards a loud thumping message.
We’ve been attacked , by our enemy, the Russians.
The cowards and traitors are on their side.
32
When Americans start to differ from these behaviors personally. then Chang will come.
2
Is Chang a Korean or a Chinese?
Please, please, won't some newspaper, magazine, TV network, government agency, someone find out what the Russians have on Trump before he sells out our country completely. It must be something serious for him to act so traitorous!!
42
Russia attacked our democracy in the 2018 presidential election and continues to do so as the critical November 2018 elections approach. That’s simply an act of war! As we respond through indictments and counter cyber warfare, Trump continues to give “aid and comfort” to our enemy! Wake up people....that’s TREASON!
27
Putin has propped-up Trump for decade$, and has likely threatened the Trumpster's family, so the Orange Baby has no choice but to continue to do Putin's bidding.
16
I'm stunned by such insanity. What is even more appalling that 17 misguided souls Recommend. Putin is a trained killer.
5
The Financial Times just published their results of a 10 month long investigation into the Russian-Canadian partner who provided funding for a Trump Toronto.
Included in the story are the amount of funds provided from Russian mob figures and from the Russian bank that Putin was chairman of before he resumed his present government head of state job.
Story is one of the best investigative pieces yet on Russian funding for Trump as he now does " loan free" property development.
24
I just read the FT piece. Highly recommended. What it reveals are Trump’s many dark links to Russian oligarchs who, in turn, owe their wealth and standing to doing the Kremlin’s bidding. More broadly, the article reveals that Trump’s business empire has been on shaky financial ground for decades, only propped up by laundered Russian investment.
8
"It is up for debate whether Donald Trump will be a sad aberration in American history, a mere blip."
Maureen Dowd, at best for him and his supporters, Trump will go down in history as the most corrupt president in the U.S. ever. At worst for him and his ilk, he will go down as the first illegitimate POTUS and will be impeached for treason.
27
Even if Trump does nothing more for the country than he already has (go find your own list!), just to see how he infuriates you leftists makes me more than glad I voted for him!
7
Trump meeting with Hannibal Lector:
"Hannibal (they call each other by their personal name) I firmly ask you 'Did you eat those people?' I expect an honest answer"
Trump meeting with Vladimir Putin"
"Vlad (they call each other by their personal name) I firmly ask you 'Did you attack our 2016 elections?' I expect an honest answer"
5
Thank you Maureen Dowd. I’ve become as blasé as you have about worrying about the next thing except to watch for the next fireworks as I said to some Canadian commentor: “just sit back and watch the fireworks… “ Or something to that effect
3
"The question now is for Trump: What are you going to do about the Russian attack on America?"
Absurd question. Trump IS the Russian attack on America.
And mocking Trump with an orange blimp trivializes the danger: there is Machiavellian method in his madness.
29
You jut have to love how DT tweaks these leftist (like Maureen) daily. In the past they would get their way with the Bushes. DT just ignores them and calls them FAKE news.
Yup the Russians hacked the DNC and Podesta but did Putin wait for DT and his campaign staff to give him approval? I don't think so. That is what spies do, they hack computer accounts to get information.
6
Fine, then explain all the communication between Trump's campaign and the Russian spies. "Campaign's just do that"? How about Trump's kid glove treatment of Putin, refusal to criticize and insistence of having a summit? Or most importantly his insistence on destructing our long standing trade and security alliances? He probably is simply an ignorant fool who simply responds most to self aggrandizement but here's the obvious question for all those who still support Trump. If he where an actual Russian Putin (Manchurian Candidate) plant, what would be the difference?
2
Trump 'admires killers' - that must be a new low. Tell us Ms. Dowd, did you say the same when Hillary presented the ridiculous 'reset' button in Moscow? When Obama told Putin thru Medvedev that he'd have 'more flexibility' after the 2012 election? Did you say the same when Bill Clinton, Jimmy Carter and Madeline Albright gave America the "Agreed Framework" in the 1990's after negotiation with Kim Jong Il?
Did you say the same when Bill gave fawning speeches in Moscow and was paid handsomely for them? Did you feel the same way when Obama put token sanctions on Russia after the 2014 Crimea Annexation that were more for US media consumption and far less a Russian punishment?
Did you say the same when Obama visited the Castro's? Did you say the same when Obama took in a baseball game with Raul Castro posing for photos like they were old friends?
Legitimate critical analysis & criticism is always welcome and needed with politics. If you did not assail these other issues though, then your hypocrisy is on display for too many to see.
4
"His face completely changed, almost as though he had ripped off a “Mission Impossible” mask. Suddenly, he stared coldly at Katie, every inch the minacious K.G.B. agent. He looked like Richard Widmark playing a psychotic thug in a ’50s film noir."
So YOUR interpretation of Putin's facial expression becomes the reality?
It is obvious that a lot of the establishment does not want peace with Russia. The "big bad ogre" is our justification for spending more money on "defense" than the next eight nations put together.
China has a train that travels at 300 miles per hour. OUR fast train Acela travels at less than 60 miles per hour between New York and Boston.
But hey, we have eight aircraft carriers, and all because of "Putin's facial expression."
Sorry to see Maureen that you are basically a warmonger and a tool of our defense establishment.
4
Clotted cream has no business being on a crumpet.
4
Lemon curd is much better.
2
and Trump has no business being in the White House.
but there you go.
3
Putin sought to cultivate the American right wing as well as the Europeans. He uses whatever it takes: flattery, propaganda, kompromat, and money. Trump will be tossed aside when he stops being useful. The GOP is just as “in the bag” with Trump. Treason is in the air, in the Kremlin, in DC and soon to be in Helsinki.
15
Anthony Lane, at the New Yorker, puts it perfectly: "Much attention had been focussed, ahead of his visit, on the Trump blimp—or, as it should have been branded, the Blump."
15
The most terrifying realization for citizens of our country should be the fact that a huge fanatical layer of population worships this pathetic creature. How did it happen, how this is possible! The most offensive for me personally is this blasé attitude of some of my Russian friends who came from the same oppressive regime as I did many years ago and ended up being these fanatical trump voters. What gives?
31
When GWB looked into Putins eyes he claimed to see his soul. donald looks into those same eyes and sees all those tapings the Russians took of donald's business and mischievous behavior while in Russia.
9
Trump is going to surprise everyone by demanding an answer to that important question......'do you really have a tape of me at the Ritz?'
12
Stormy's lawyer has it. Really
3
I don't think he'll be an aberration, Maureen. I think he'll have a
few asteriks though beside his name in the History books. Along with "First Impeached US President" and "First Treasonous President". We've had many racist, misogynist and ignorant Presidents so Trump is not an aberration. I just hope that he'll be the last. I hope the American People can fix themselves and stop this madness that's going on in or country. But that might be asking for too much. It might just be too late, stupidity and the cultish mentality of weak minded people is becoming the norm. That's how the Russians, religions and carnival barkers take over. Stay tuned.
15
Clinton was the first impeached US President. Hopefully Trump will have the honor of being the second. Of course he will brag that his impeachment was hugely and bigly better than Clinton's and for once he might be correct
2
I’m so sick of him I can barely follow the news. He’s embarrassing and dangerous. Please, my fellow Americans, find a way to be rid of him. It’s been a nightmare.
40
I am greatly impressed with you insightfulness. Whether one is a Trumpian or an intelligent person the President...no....let's call him Trump has the social skills of....
4
Unfortunately Trump does not/cannot read so has a complete lack of knowledge about anything. How did he ever get through those two years at Wharton? I expect he made it all up and no one noticed. Bannon and Farange are behind the curtains - give him fancy uniforms and a weekend golfing and he he will be happy and programmable for the Putin show. Cheney, Rove, Bannon, Miller - kindred spirits in the destruction of the West.
9
Our clown of a President should not "ask" Putin if he interfered in our elections. The Sun King should tell Putin we know he did it. After Trump's 4th bankruptcy he could not get a car loan in the US, so he turned to Russians and Ukranians to save his business. Over the years he began money laundering for them. This was not a new experience for our crooked Liar in Chief. The Trump Taj Mahal casino broke anti-money laundering rules 106 times in its first year and a half of operation in the early 1990s, according to the IRS in a 1998 settlement agreement. If the Trump supporters wanted him to go through our allies this past week like a wrecking ball, then they are as ignorant as he is.
23
He is such a psychologically dysfunctional being that you can't easily and succinctly sum up any his motivations. I once had a CEO who was certainly the epitome of a sociopath. He didn't care what damage he did to the people that worked for him - or in fact for that matter his clients.He was shielded from his clients by his unwitting staff.
I think it's much the same with Trump. He is a dangerously irresponsible and incompetent politician. He apparently heeds virtually no well meaning and highly thought through advice except possibly from cronies.
The insults to his G7 and NATO colleagues and the foolish interview with the Sun newspaper will stick to him like mud. He will never recover from these ill judged outbursts of behaviour. These are all nails in his coffin. But the biggest nail I think is reserved for Monday when he meets with Putin. He's a goner.
16
Definitely NOT a “blip”, nor a one-time aberration:
Rather, Trump is the personification, the embodiment of a large swath of this “great” (?) country - our greed, our crassness, our adulation of ignorance, our misogyny (cough-cough), the significant racist underbelly of the beast that is our society.
Putin’s sheer genius is that he freed the entire beast completely. It is nauseating, it is a nightmare, and it’s a wonder any of us can sleep anymore.
29
Steele Dossier - hotel room. And much more, I suspect.
Putin got where he is because of his KGB skills. What else do you need to know?
27
This is the old Maureen pre-2008. Welcome back!
9
Occam’s razor would suggest that if it looks like a duck, walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, it most probably is a duck. By this same logic, I would conclude that Trump is a Russian oligarch, dancing on strings controlled by Putin.
27
Great comment, Maureen Dowd. Thank god for people like you!
8
Where's the nuclear deal with North Korea? What has he gotten from Canada, the EU, Mexico? How is he 'dealing' with Russa? In the future, everything Trump has done will be revealed as the antics of a destructive narcissist who gained power due to an ignorant peasantry. It will be dust.
33
The lying. The incompetence. The narcissism. The massive ego. The lying. The lack of grace. The incompetence. The narcissism. The lying. The massive ego. It just goes on and on, until it makes you almost numb. There seems to be no end to this rabbit hole. Will November bring some sanity back to our government? Is there any republican in Congress willing to stand up to this demagogue and finally state the obvious. " Sir, at long last, have you no sense of decency?"
29
Trump's behavior is his message. Chaos, buffoonery, deceitful, ignorant statements later denied by this man without integrity!
He reeks of self-pity, fear of being found inadequate (which he parades constantly), and struts onto the world stage a figure of universal scorn.
America will survive him, but the future harm to humanity is not as yet known!
13
Why does Trump insist on giving us the Mea Culpa incorrect by the way that these indicted Russians did not affect his election? He has insisted on this so many times it suggests his guilt.
But this is not the real point that he does nothing to change and fix what is obvious to everyone that Russia meddled in the election. Trump was sworn in as president and as long as his GOP enablers control Congress he will not be impeached. But still he will not do the nation's business and protect our elections. Rather he insists on acting like the British baby balloon he so much resembles giving us another tantrum and stupid mea culpa.
5
To understand the relationship between Trump and Putin, one need only think back to that magical debate moment when Hillary correctly nailed Trump with the "puppet" label. His response was right out of a middle school playbook. "Puppet? I'm no puppet, you're the puppet!" Oh he's a puppet alright and Putin is manipulating him like like he owns his soul. Perhaps he does.
30
It's worth discussing, which Ms Dowd of course does not, why the Republicans still back Trump. Sure, the occasional Jeff Flake steps forward to make a brave speech or carefully worded Tweet distancing himself from Trump's betrayal of America and American values. And then Flake votes with Trump anyway. So much for taking a real stand, Mr. Flake! Ryan and McConnell don't even bother denouncing Trump's un-American actions. They've got their Supreme Court picks and the tax cut. So why won't they denounce the betrayal of America? Sure looks like they're covering up for members of their own party cozying up to Putin, too.
11
Every one of these contemptible Representatives is looking forward to the day when they can cash in for what they have helped accomplish. For the billions they have handed out they will be reimbursed either through "campaign contributions," well paid seats on boards, future job positions, or outright future payoffs once the public is no longer paying attention. Continuing to support Trump however, is part of the deal. The poster boy for this is Paul Ryan.
9
You’d think they’d be willing to at least give up Rohrbacher though, wouldn’t you?
Ryan was caught on tape after someone admitted that trump and Rohrbacher were payed by the kremlin advising the rest of the republicans to keep that statement on the downlow- “ keep it in the family” or something similar. I hope no one ever forgets that.
2
Now that the USA has indicted these Russian military spies...where are the Republican Senators and Representatives who swore to protect Americans from these foreign and domestic threats to our way of life? Missing in action, we think. Sad, but revealing.
19
Over in Russia having a meet and greet.
2
On the 4th of July no less. Amazing chutzpah from our Vichy republicans
Was the occasion at the 21 Club 'social' or a 'press conference'? If it was social, Katie Couric sounded crazy or at least out of line - is she tone deaf?
2
Katie Couric:Always asking the hard questions... not an example that I’d have used even though Putin’s reputation as a bit of a killer is probably pretty accurate
1
This President considers himself courageous. The naked truth is he is reckless, not brave. He helicoptered out of London and urban Scotland to avoid facing a non adoring crowd.
I can't help thinking by going against the world's citizens he takes it as an ego booster--prudent introspection be darned. If anyone thinks he does these things in this country's interest, I've got a blimp to sell you.
It doesn't dawn on him how his personality soaked in destructive fantasy is at odds with the American public or anybody's public.
Unfortunately even if we wiped away his uncanny ability to make you cringe, we are left with policies that echo neanderthal existence with 40% of the too selfish voting public backing him, GOP legislators in lockstep, appointed individual-rights-removing judges, and actual laws and executive orders that cause visible harm to citizens.
We are in a governing crisis, and it is time to heed Thomas Paine''s words in "The Crisis": "...THESE are the times that try men's [and women's] souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman."
VOTE AND MAKE SURE IT COUNTS It is the last bastion of liberty that truly still belongs to us
27
Mo, you are off the charts successful with creating sets of penetrating, but humorous bon mots about those in power who, for one reason or a hundred, shouldn't be. Yet, that's what the various electorates have chosen. As bad as the detriment of leadership is most everywhere, save the Vatican, we have still somehow kept the wheels of the world still turning. Deaf to the call of "Wolf, wolf..." we have discovered that we can all still get up in the morning and do whatever we chose to do. As the World Turns reminds us all that the end does not appear, as yet, to be close. So let's get on with it and do our jobs. As for Putin, I wonder what you would have said had he questioned you about your laced brownies in front of Katie and the Gang. You just might have whipped off your own mask and said, "Hey, it's none of your business."
3
I think by now, most intelligent people all over the world realize that Donald Trump is a cartoon character. When I was a child in the early 40’s, we used to go to the movies every Saturday, and my favorite movies were the “Cliff Hangers”. BTW, back then, with 25 cents you got into the movies for 9 cents, popcorn was 10 cents, drinks 5 cents and that remaining penny could actually buy you something. Why do I bring up that nostalgia? Because nothing remains the same, not even reality. Talk about “witch hunts?” Joseph McCarthy comes to mind. Many of us were taken in by his machinations because he seemed so sincere. He must be right because he was a member of Congress. Obviously, we were all duped until the real truth came out, and that took time. Today, ANY intelligent person, regardless of your party affiliation who still continue to support Donald Trump, for whatever reason, are the real cartoon characters.
6
It has become clear that the Republican president sought out Russia's help during the campaign and maintains a pro-Russia attitude, relative to the average American.
But beyond that, the story is pretty weak. Although the prevalent theory is that Russia is blackmailing the US government, there is a huge weakness in this theory. Blackmail is basically a threat. And if you are attempting to use a threat to control someone else's actions, you have to adhere to 2 rules.
1) assume the person you are threatening will turn against you at the first opportunity
2) never let them hold a greater threat over you than you do over them
So how do you effectively blackmail a person by handing them the U.S. presidency?
If Trump were acting purely under threat from Putin, he would have tried to undermine Putin in every way at the first possible chance, to remove the threat and seize more power.
On the other hand, if Trump is authentically pro-Russia, then Putin would have little to fear in helping him obtain power, and Trump would remain friendly to Russia even after he had the power to do otherwise. That's essentially what we see happening now.
If you look back at Trump's personal history, it's very unlikely he was blackmailed into marrying two different eastern European women. He probably just likes them.
Why haven't we Americans already begun a concerted world wide effort to remove Trump from office as soon as possible by applying unrelenting pressure on Congress?
Anything less means we don't really care enough to do anything meaningful for America and would rather be lazy political slackers!
9
I can perfectly understand Putin getting angry for Katie Couric asking about the Kursk. This was a "gotcha" question. Ms Couric aimed to change the meeting into a contest who was best humiliating Putin - while simultaneously sabotaging anyone who wanted to have a sound political discussion.
I am just dumbfounded that Ms. Dowd doesn't get that.
3
@Wim : getting angry indicates that he know he had something to answer for. He revealed an aspect of his soul in that moment. Sadly Bush missed that when he looked into his eyes.
1
It's good that Maureen could read so much into Putin's facial expression. Better still if she presented some verifiable evidence, but then that would be much more difficult to do.
Speaking of losing your appetite, Trump recently described the Queen as “beautiful inside and out”. Made my skin crawl. Trump is simpatico with those that find issues like Brexit more difficult than originally thought because it aligns with his realization that the world is really complex without simple answers (especially for issues that are self-inflicted) and that being president is way out of his depth.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/jul/15/trump-reveals-the-queens...
4
Dowd: "Just beneath the surface of the leader was a killer."
Reporters are always pretending that they have exposed the "real" person.
Anyway, Dowd should have told us what else Putin said:
'Putin also acknowledged that his government made mistakes in the way it disclosed information about the incident. "It could have been handled better--I agree with that," he said.'
Kursk Crew Sent No Signals After Sinking, Putin Says
By Robert G. Kaiser
September 8, 2000
Washington Post
"The dinner with 20 media executives and journalists took place at New York's famous 21 Club."
Well Maureen, I wish the worst Trump could be is an aberration or a blip in American history. Rather, I fear he could be the wrecking ball, taking out untampered elections and our system of checks and balances - and that's just during his first two years. By year four or five the entire Bill of Rights could have one foot in the grave and the other foot on a banana peel.
5
A Democratic Congress would probably impeach Trump which would be the only way to save the union from further degradation. Trump is morally and intellectually deficient.
2
Our intelligence agencies should not be looking for the Russian spies that allegedly meddled into the US democracy.
It’s impossible to interfere into something that doesn’t exist. No democratic country would wage the century-long foreign wars, get addicted to cheap foreign imports, pile up the colossal national debt and let the global corporations bribe the elected officials with lavish campaign contributions.
If you cannot get elected without the hefty campaign donations from the multinational corporations, then the voters don’t control the outcome of the elections but the cash of the global businesses.
If the money is equal to freedom of speech, then the bribes fall within the same category.
If having a single political party is dictatorship, then having just two political parties in control of government is twice worse than tyranny. Two parties polarize and divide the population.
I haven’t met a single smart and patriotic person yet. If they are patriotic, they keep voting for Dems and the GOP. If they are smart they try to get wealthy. A bribe is a bribe even if the money exchanged the hands after the elected official left the office. Outrageously lavish speaking fees and the cash allowances for the memoirs are just the old-fashioned bribes.
The money gained by describing the functioning of government belongs to the government, doesn’t it?
1
Come on:
Even if Putin doesn't have control over Trump via extortion, Putin and the KGB helped Trump win the election. Trump LOVES these guys!
For Trump, all is fair in love and war -- unless The Donald is theatened by it. Then NOTHING is fair.
4
Nice one, Maireen. I agree with you about Trump, that,"it is still befuddling and alarming to watch him kowtow to Putin." But I wrote Trump off as mentally and psychologically unfit to lead anything a long time ago. So I'm not surprised.
What does surprise me is the GOP being in lock-step formation, supporting this mobster as he years apart the FBI, Clinton, the media, civil rights...the list is endless.
When did the GOP finally turn the corner and reach such a vile, nasty, level, a place seemingly devoid of ethics, morality and honor?
7
Nobody seems to want to look into what Putin has on Trump. I’m certain it’s evidence of sinister, deeply immoral behavior.
3
seeing Hannity's name mentioned in the comments here reminds me of Aug 2015. Mr Hannity was on his radio show stating he had investors to offer Russia and China cash for Clinton's emails. This went on for around two weeks, I finally was so revolted by this I emailed the Philadelphia office of the FBI. The very next day Hannity stopped with his treasonous offer to our adversaries. I never had any response of follow up by the FBI. My question for Mr. Hannity, Who were the investors??
7
Will the president ask putin to send the indicted Russians to the USA to stand trial?
How will we know? Who will be in the room?
Does the president’s pardon power extend to Russians? Even those who are undermining our elections?
2
Perhaps we on the other side of the pond should borrow the Apricot Baby when Trump comes to our town to spread his lies?
4
Miss Dowd, I recall, was AWOL when Mr. Obama and Mrs. Clinton were all aflutter about an imaginery springtime in the Arab world, butchery in Libya and IRS meddling in a presidential election.
She and Katie are not serious individuals, merely hacks who turn a blind eye toward butchery for their matinee idols.
4
Interesting article.... but "clotted cream on crumpets"?
Alliterative nonsense...
clotted cream and crumpets,
like truth and tRUMP never go together...
5
Trump is a bully in a china shop. Unlike the Democrats Putin knows how to deal with bullies.
4
Not to mention the photo of the Queen in a cluttered hallway next to a dog bowl.
Me thinks the deafaning silence from so many of your fellow citizens is the best answer you will get....sad.
1
It’s a “hat trick” 3 con’s in one election period. Putin groomed Trump.......Trump Groomed the voters.......The Billionaires Party groomed the Republican Party. It’s a version of “The Putin Doctrine”.
2
He said he felt unwelcome there.Unfortunately too many American voters welcomed him into the White House...maybe if we fly the Trump Baby Blimp around the White House ...he will feel unwelcome and Resign !!
7
Remember when Republicans and Trump and his supporters wanted Hillary Clinton locked up because she had a private email server which, "....could have been hacked by a hostile foreign adversary!!!!!"? Seems their concern about foreign adversaries hacking into email servers is conditional, just like their "Christian values", their "Character counts!", their patriotism, their rage over lying....
10
Theresa May is a disgrace. She should keep pandering to Trump -- make the most of that "special relationship". So special. Her pandering is not even half unwilling. She deserves Trump. Just like Tony Blair deserved Bush. A deserved undoing.
4
tRump will “firmly” ask Putin whether Russia meddled in our election? You would have to be a simpleton to believe that, or to believe the answer. BLOTUS (Biggest Liar of the U.S) is too cowardly even to fire his subordinates in a face-to-face confrontation. Confront Putin, who is holding onto that kompromat????
More likely the conversation will go: “Listen, Vlad, the Dems, losers and haters keep nagging me with this Russia thing that I thought I got rid of when I fired Comey. Let’s agree to pretend I asked you if you did it, and I’ll tell Fox News you denied it so sincerely that I believed you.”
7
Trump hugging Putin while Putin stabs our democracy is not an "incomprehensible mystery" as you put it, Ms. Dowd.
It's nice of you and other columnists to give the Orange Blimp the benefit of innocence until proven guilty, but that boat passed a long time ago. Putin owns him- whether for money he funneled to his failing businesses or golden showers no longer matter.
He's a crook and fraud, plain and simple.
Now it's time for you to concentrate on his political enablers. They call themselves Republicans, Tea Partiers and conservatives. They're all over the place. Start covering them, they're just as abominable as the Orange Blimp.
9
I have never been more ashamed of our country and the person that represents us than to see that idiot strolling along two steps ahead of the old old lady known as the Queen of England. He was the epitome of rudeness and non-caring of a vacant human posing as a president. Any real human would have at least slowed down. Creepy and crummy, and crass.
12
Or maybe this Benedict Arnold is planning on handing Washington over to the Putin-ites. A golf course on the Siberian tundra as a place of exile?
4
He left the queen standing. He'll never meet with her again. He managed to burn even that bridge.
5
The “it’s Obama’s’ fault” answer has been played out.
Think of another one to blame, Don.
FBI? Democrats? Oh yes- Hillary!!
10
I disagree on the orange baby blimp. The body /skin is the wrong color. It should be transparent so we can see the internal organs, revealing how thin skinned our corpulent Trumpski is.
3
Maybe we can borrow that blimp from England for the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade!
7
And yet what a cheerleader you were during the election run-up. Opportunistic hypocrite.
7
You cringe, I weep!!! Trump is an unmitigated tragedy for the U.S.A. How long will it take us to recover our reputation and our dignity once he is six feet under?????
4
A DAY OF INFAMY
Pearl Harbor December 7, 1941
Trump Putin Meeting July 16, 2018
12
Is this the same ruthless and nasty Putin that Obama met with and Hillary brought the plastic and childish reset button to become friends?
No criticism when that occurred . Hypocrites
1
Let's hope that our President comes home soon. He is a crazy animal when he's out of his cage. He's crazy in the cage, too, but I feel safer when he's at home in his crib. Maybe some kind of ADHD drug will help.
3
There is something "loufoque,"farcical about 2 prima donnas of the news world, Dowd a writer and Couric a talk show host, sitting down at a table at 21, 1 of the most exclusive clubs in the world, and interviewing Putin , the Russian strong man and concluding he is a killer, which is like saying the sky is blue. "No one can rule guiltlessly"wrote Saint Juste, quoted in Koestler's "Darkness at Noon," and Putin is no more or less unscrupulous than other chiefs of state who also r known to eliminate dissenters"with extreme prejudice!" Did not Obama use services of Navy Seal Team 6 to kill American citizens abroad, including moderate cleric Anwar Al Walaki and his entire family via a bombing raid?De Gaulle initiated a policy carried out by his defense minister, Messmer, to send Algerian war veterans, specialists in counter insurgency, read torture, to aid the juntas in Argentina during the "Dirty War,"1976-1983 when armed forces disappeared grosso modo 30,000 suspected subversives, often throwing them out of planes in vuelos de muerte,a method of extermination taught them by the French!Can't blame Trump for cozying up to the Russian strong man. Recall that we r only the 2 super powers, and we need Russia to help us keep world peace. Remember how US and USSR cooperated in 1956 to head off a Middle Eastern war!Do your research, if you please, and leave our vox populi alone, if you please!He's doing the best he can to serve u, me,the American people and the cause of world peace!
2
Do you not watch any news at all? The insane, hateful, truth denying activist segment is the DEMOCRAT/SOCIALIST PARTY.
2
Trump has fake news. His supporters have fake ideas.
9
You apparently don't believe your lying eyes. You don't have to watch any news channel, just watch Trump. A complete and utter ignorant disaster.
3
Should be called “not one ounce of logic”
2
Certainly a blimp, hopefully a blip, perhaps an aberration, but maybe the birther of a changed world order.
2
I am sure Dowd voted for Hillary as did I. To bad we did not have a candidate that could actually win.
1
We did. Stop blaming Hillary for the racism, sexism, and gullibility of voters. If Hillary were a man, she would be president right now. If not for the EC, she would be president right now. If not for the unbelievable and childish self-centeredness, ignorance, and sheer stupidity of too much of the electorate, she would be president right now.
The tragic mistake here by Democrats was putting Obama in in '08, rather than HC, who would have then been followed by Obama. As a college professor of mine taught me, while racism is certainly a problem, sexism is a far bigger one.
8
Eric,
Before you waste any more tears on Hillary, think a minute of how we then came to elect the utterly incompetent buffoon, trump. "...a candidate that could actually win.", indeed.
Russia's interference is very real, and Comey's digs and unorthodox reopening the email scandal days prior to the election did not help as well. Add to this mix, the final American anomaly called the electoral college. Where the outcome of any election is controlled by a handful of swing states. Majorities mean nothing.
Which all led to the election of the con man trump. The English blimp is ours.
1
Just finished watching the video from the news conference with Trump and May where Dear Leader once again lashed out at CNN as "Fake News" before taking a question from "real network" Fox News. Fortunately, Fox' own John Roberts defended CNN on live TV. We'll see how long it takes before Fox cans him.
But seriously, can't our dimwit president ever come up with anything else to say about any journalist he disagrees with? You would think that even his low-information base would grow tired of the same old well-worn line. Maybe we could usefully shorten "POTUS" to "OTP: One Trick Pony."
15
The Brits show us up with Baby Trump blimp. Love it. Want it at Trump’s military parade and the Macy’s Thanksgiving parade.
9
I love how President Trump is living rent free in your head and no one outside your little coastal bubble world pays any attention to your overwrought hallucinations.
Two scoops, two genders, two terms!
3
Neat, sweet, complete.
Yeah, Trump is a really terrible president. But elections boil down to concrete choices between the people who have chosen to run for office, so, Ms. Dowd, maybe you should look back over your corpus of virulently anti-Clinton writings over the years and cogitate on your role in getting him elected. Thanks for nothing.
5
Trump is such an embarrassment. The epitome of the moniker "ugly American" that Europeans call crass, rude and unapologetic American tourists. As for Putin, he is what he is and we all know it. I don't think Trump is being blackmailed, but I think Russian money has propped up his empire so he gives them a pass wherever he can and wants to show his gratitude. How much longer do we need to suffer this fool?
3
MoDo,
This column is a far cry away from the sycophantic drivel you wrote leading up to the election in November of 2016. You fawned over Trump and dissed Hillary with a predictable regularity that baffled the Democratic Party faithful -- women, minorities, labor, the bottom 99%. You were almost in the "lock her up" crowd.
Now, you have something to say about the man; a little too soft and a little too late.
22
Let us pray Putin doesn’t annex the USA.
4
May the Trump blimp fly until Trump is taken down.
10
Yes, Putin is a killer, but down deep he's a patriot. Trump is neither.
Just a sad, shallow bully.
3
Maureen
You and others FIRST owe Hilary Clinton an apology for your role in electing a traitor to the Presidency. Then read the latest FBI report and do some real investigative journalism.
6
Thank you Maureen for this insight into the aberration that is our fragile, juvenile, incoherent, President.
1
Trump could tell Putin to “cut it out”. That would work. Why is everyone giving Saint Barry the Fatuous a pass on this when it was his responsibility? Saint Barry bequeathed us Trump, instead of leading the effort for Biden, the best, most loyal Vice President the country has ever had.
1
No , the real Manchuria candidate was Barry. Liberals Gad no problem with Putin when they were giving him uranium supplies! And sure our wonderful allies , any time they can they stuck it to us but have no problem taking our money. It’s about time we had a president that looked out for our interest first!
2
Bravo.
Maureen Dowd once again has let her imagination take hold of whatever limited intelligence she retains! ....she should be writing Novels not reporting on reality!
1
The really interesting question is why the Times publishes Dowd’s biting pieces on Trump, and presumably pays her for them, when she was defending him so fervently before the election. For anyone who can remember those pre-election columns, Dowd has no credibility remaining. Her figurative lips have barely had time to heal and she’s already using them to spew indignation. So we have to wonder. Which are the feigned opinions? Did she deliberately try to stack the deck to make her next four years profitable? Or were those earlier columns written by Russians? We need an investigation.
13
When, during the presidential debate on live television, Trump looked straight into the camera and blithely invited Russia to hack into Hillary's email I had a lightbulb moment. I turned to my partner and said "He knows something". He thought I was being dramatic and it was just Trump being Trump, but now I know it was one of my "nothing will ever be the same" prescient moments. Like when I woke up on that beautiful sunny morning on 11Sep2001 with an unexplainable feeling a dread, and while driving to work past the airport, I wondered what I would do if an airplane crashed into our nearby offices. Fifteen minutes later the first WTC tower was hit.
I felt that same way the morning after the 2016 election. But I can't claim any Cassandra-like moment there - millions of Americans woke with dread that day. We have to trust our guts and VOTE and take to the streets and yell in protest to the lies spewing from the Apricot Toddler. To all the British protesters who took to the streets, shouting out in rage on our behalf, I say THANK YOU!
4
Clearly Putin has some things over Trump - there is no other explanation for why he will not engage over the blatant attacks on our nation, ignoring, for a moment, the rest of the world. Trump’s typical MO is to go after anyone and everyone for even the slightest offense either real or perceived, with fabrications and half truths: POW’s, Gold Star families, actors, politicians, news people, military and intelligence and his own staff. So why does arguably the currently most powerful man in the world take a complete pass on the greatest true threat to our democracy and global stability? And why do we as a people, with our elected representatives allow this? At times I’d really like to know what runs through their hearts and minds of these “courageous patriots” as they continue to look the other way and shirk their responsibilities. The only relief is knowing that one day soon the charade will be exposed and there will be a stampede of cowed representatives to suddenly get in front of a camera and microphone to declare their new found loyalty and commitment to our country.
3
Gales of paranoia rising as the ship of state is foundering. Goodbye USA. Good riddance. Time for a change.
1
Bob Dylan's "Tempest" prophecy is now fulfilled. He couldn't get beyond this point. We are now totally lost.
I know I don't have all the pieces to this puzzle but I can see what the picture is at this point...my question is where is the GOP in this debacle? Why are they allowing this meeting to continue? They are now the party of trump...they must be so proud.
6
Trump will come out of Helsinki a big time winner and we'll begin another Trump crisis. And, then, Mueller will save our country by bringing Trump down with the one thing that always wins - the truth.
Does Putin have a "Romney"? Surely Trump has said a long the way that he conned his base.
1
Occam's razor is all we need: the simplest answer is likely the right one. In this case yes, Trump is in hock to the Kremlin, probably not because of some ideological twinning but only because of multiple shady deals. Remember: such deals needn't have involved Russia or Russians; if Putin can hack the DNC, he could have long been hacking Trump, Trump Jr., Ivanka, Cohen & Co. Oh, and as an editorial note, Ms. Dowd might find that it's a scone (not a crumpet) that calls for clotted cream. Neither is likely to be served where the Trumps are going.
4
Disinformation, exaggeration and outright lies from the opposing party have historical precedent and are not illegal. Hacking of personal information is illegal in the US; Foreign governments interfering with elections is illegal in the US; no amount of hand waving by Mr. Trumps apologists can change this and it is inconceivable that anyone can argue that Russian meddling is understandable because of the past actions of US Presidents.
4
There were Americans amongst the London anti-Trump protesters, and one of them gave an eloquent interview with a TV reporter, and in a nice use of Trump's campaign slogan, declared "We want to make America AMERICA again!" I liked that!
5
Trump maybe going to Helsinki to secretly give Putin a wink and a nod to Russia's interference in the upcoming midterm election. As along as Trump and his Republican congress can stay in power, anything goes for him.
5
Trump's presidency is the inevitable result of America's political immaturity and ignorance. As Putin once remarked, " “It’s difficult to conduct a dialogue with people who confuse Austria and Australia.” What is one to make of a Republican Congress attacking the institutions dedicated to protecting the nation?
7
Maureen - One of your best. It seems few journalists actually see what's going on here; DOJ's mental illness running rampant while the world watches incapable of doing what is necessary. Keep trying to analyze behavior based on political goals, underlying intellectual philosophy, etc. The man is nuts. All we are witnessing are symptoms of his illness and this is what journalists and the public generally have to come to grips with. The "Trump Baby" says it all - the Brits "get it." Great piece, thanks.
2
Trump smiles at Putin, and gets the Europeans to pony up for NATO. I fail to see how this damages the US. Who is playing who?
1
Ms. Dowd,
While this is a passably good op-ed piece (nothing new here), I can’t help but recall that when a piece like this would have been most helpful (i.e. before the 2016 election), you chose instead to prolong your bashing of both President Barack Obama and Secretary Hillary Clinton. You were quite snarky.
No candidate is perfect, but there are those who work for the common good and those who do not. Most voters realized that. Let us not forget that Secretary Hillary Clinton received the most votes. Except for an intransigent Electoral College that did not do its job as envisioned by the Founders, she would have been President.
No matter the positions you take now, you certainly did not come through when it mattered most. Like many others, you have helped propel the Current Occupant of the White House into power. I cannot forget that.
17
Thanks for the name dropping, which isn't the same thing as a thoughtful, reasoned essay.
It is no longer a question of IF Putin did interfere with our elections, the evidence is available and has been confirmed. It's time for Trump to enforce sanctions against Russia. No more kissing up to a clear enemy. Any other move is just short of collusion. Like the driver of a getaway car in a bank robbery. Our democracy is being robbed.
5
Another self-soothing op-ed on why Trump's presidency is an aberrational one whose only lasting impact will be on balloon characture design. The MSM still insists on taking him literally rather than seriously. Meanwhile, the resistance has de-evolved into a Glastonbury-like carnival circus. In ten years, the MSM and the left will be bitterly disappointed when the final tally is made on who had more lasting impact.
Don't forget Canada among those allies that Trump has attacked, claiming they represent a risk to the US’s national security. Nukes versus snowballs, I wonder which would win.
2
Don’t stop, Ms. Dowd. The Big Lies must be continually revealed for what they are.
I’m convinced there will be a major initiative on Trump’s part, after meeting with Stalinesque Putin. I’m surprised there aren’t Vegas odds already on whether it will be a proposal to rescind the Magnitsky Act, which is what Stalinesque Putin has wanted all along.
4
Trump will come out of Helsinki a big time winner and we'll begin another Trump crisis. And, then, Mueller will save our country by bring Trump down with the one thing that always wins - the truth.
3
Looking at what Trump has said and done over the last few days has been indescribable for lots of people around the world - attempts to destroy NATO, interfere with the UK's politics and Brexit negotiations, totally denying statements he's made that have been recorded on tape.
His absurd desire to cosy up to Putin is beyond belief, well, absurd if you're anyone other than Putin.
I've read that Trump is intending to travel to Australia later this year - well. he can expect the same rapturous welcome the British public gave him - hope we can get the Donald Baby Blimp out here! Plenty of time to dream up suitable placards for the demonstrations - count me in!
8
"It is up for debate whether Donald Trump will be a sad aberration in American history, a mere blip."
He has already put the country on a stronger economic footing and bullied NATO into reconsidering member funding (a pretty good indication of whether a nation truly values its sovereignty). And, if reelected as I think is becoming increasingly possible, he will return the Supreme Court to its proper role of being a Court rather than a Progressive, unelected legislature.
Maybe Globalists see no harm in America playing games with immigration while calling Whites "deplorable". But I suspect a larger part of the country is getting its back up with all of the moralistic shaming, claims of "racism", micro-aggressions, talk of "homo-phobia", and focus on transgenderism.
Just a suspicion.
2
The latest Dowd twist on our very twisted president- what can anybody really add? In Maureen's case, style- that's for sure.
To most Americans with a college education Trump seems like a sadistic psychopath (and so on and on and on)- but this isn't news or important, we've always had people like Putin and Trump among us- the sad, nauseating and supremely depressing thing is that both men have so many admirers and followers- some even with good educations.
It is beyond questioning patriotism anymore and whether you can love a nation that put such men in power, it leaves one questioning the value of human beings themselves. What are we not capable of and how can we possibly evolve beyond the possibility of such leaders?
6
Maureen, Say what you will, Trump is correct in pointing out spending deficiencies in our allies military expenditures. I also believe it is fair for him to mention the immigration situation facing Europe as it threatens the long term aspects of the NATO alliance. We already have seen some green on green killings in our own military (Major Hassan), so of course this is a legitimate policy concern, especially as the long term demographics change. Meeting Putin, a meeting now being condemed by the idiotic Democratic leadership, is a legitmate foreign policy initiative, of course Russia is an important country, one that the USA has more in common with than China, a country that robs and cheats US at every oppourtunity. China, is a country that should be closely watched. So meeting with the leader of Russia is important. The Democrats have pushed this incredibly dangerous narrative too far and it is affecting policies in a dangerous way.
3
It is not true that Trump is trying to undo 70 years of American diplomatic policy, leadership of the free world and alliances with liberal democracies. Trump does not know that there are 70 years of anything. He is like a blind man in a strange room knocking over vases. It is ignorance madam, pure ignorance. But one more factor is involved. This blind man does not care about the vases. Most blind people would slow down after the first crash or two, but not this guy.
Besides ignorance there is indifference to anyone and anything but himself. He loves making people run around in confusion, which shows his dominance and if the PM is inconvenienced, so much the better. If he knew the importance of NATO (or anything else) it would not make much difference.
I had a chance to ask a distinguished psychiatrist if Donald has narcissistic personality disorder. She replied: "I have no doubts." Look up the disorder in Wikipedia. You don't always need an MD to know what ails a person.
6
The greatest threat to American democracy is the Republican Party. Only one of countless examples-birtherism. They were all in on it. Fox News ran the story 24-7 for years. 85-90% for Republicans believe it. This is Russian style propaganda and control. Putin had a lot of compatriots in the US. This is just not Russia. We are in great danger.
9
Overall Trump is very bad news for America, but he, at least, appears not to be rushing to restart the Cold War, and risking a hot one. And he did put aside, for now, that vile treaty that Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama championed, the TPP. Beneath the veneer Trump is carrying out the most longed for items in the Republican agenda, which favors $ over people, oligarchy over democracy, and wars over peace. But joining the chorus of demonizing Putin has not been in his repertoire as of now, that much it can be said he is not mentally disturbed.
Trump will continue to do as his handler tells him.
This administration is more than a blip, it is a damaging, sad and terrible stain on our history.
5
I fear that mocking Trump for his spoilt child-like behaviour risks missing the main point - that he and his cohorts are deliberately destroying much that makes our world a good place to live
his recent appointee to the Supreme Court is I understand likely to create a decades-long scar on the legal rights of the oppressed - even possibly overturning hard-fought rights of women over their own bodies
I'd prefer we pay attention to how we can assemble enough forces to stop the deliberate destruction of our modern world by those seeking to link hands as cruel dictators helping each other crush dissent all around the world.
4
It's parachute time! Trump's puppet master must recognize the jig is nearly up; that is, Trump's usefulness as an agent in the US is about to end. In Helsinki, Trump will beg Putin for asylum in time to avoid prosecution in the US. Perhaps even Monday ... just imagine Trump flying off to Moscow with Putin. A pleasant thought...
6
Clearly Putin has tremendous power over the President, and perhaps also members of Congress. Is it money? Kompromat? Or a threat of war? Likely a combination of all three. My prediction, Trump will come out of his private unrecorded meeting with Putin more terrified, threatened and cowed than before. Putin will up his game; Trump will up his bizaar traitorous showmanship and continued propagandizement of America. American democracy is compromised. Where do we go from here? It's a brave new world requiring brave new leaders.
4
I'd like to see a 'Trump Baby' flying above every major US city from now until Nov. Russians stole this election, plain and simple. Without them, Trump doesn't win.
11
Donald's anxiety level must be very high as he heads into his meeting with Putin, given Friday's indictment. Which means he'll be in rabid let's make a deal mode. One can only pray that his instincts for self preservation kick in and he arranges exile for himself and his crime family in Moscow.
Lost in the conversation is the information in the indictment that a then candidate for US congress asked for and received hacked info from Guccifer 2.0. Who is this person? Is this a current member of Congress? One of Donald's great defenders? Nunes, Meadows, McCarthy, Jordan? Who is it?
3
Excellent column, Maureen. Wish it was on the front page of my local paper, which chose to feature a local football player rather than world news. But it's the rule to tiptoe around the mess the "Trump Baby" is creating in Tennessee. Self-imposed ignorance.
My take is that Putin and Trump are both sociopaths who wish to use their countries, both resources and people, for personal gain. The main difference between the two is that Putin is calculating and capable, while Trump is a professional bumbler who gained his success based on inherited money, lawsuits, and hot air. Sort of like an expensive blimp.
Trump should not be allowed to be alone with Putin. But that's a side issue. Trump should be removed from the presidency. Now. No excuses, no waffling by Congress. He is a dangerous, evil man who has already done too much damage.
4
"Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery."
Incomprehensible mystery? Hardly, Trump is beholden to Putin. The only mystery is how many 'secrets' Putin holds over gullible Donnie.
4
Manipulators are generally the easiest to manipulate
"It is up for debate whether Donald Trump will be a sad aberration in American history, a mere blip"
More appropriately, Donald Trump will be, and is, an odiferous splat in American history.
10
When will we Americans learn about Trump's tax returns?
Will our so-called "president" get away without being condemned widely by the free press for what is essentially a "secret" meeting between two autocratic kleptocrats who have further enriched themselves during their time in "staged" presidencies.
(the secret conversation of narcissistic imagination)
"Again Vladimir, congratulations on your fake election. I greatly admire what you have accomplished for your great country. I want my people to stand at attention for me, just like they do for you. How can you further help me make America great again?"
3
"Nobody knows the system better than me, which is why I alone can fix it,"
~donald trump - speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination~
6
It seems obvious that Trump is in the pocket of Putin and various Russian oligarchs; that our GOP politicians in Congress are willing to "turn a blind eye" is baffling. They have gone along with every foolish policy that Trump has put forward. Our environment, our healthcare, our financial stability and our international standing have all diminished in the Trump administration, while the GOP is "fiddling". It's horrifying.
3
so what did Obama mean when he said to the Russian president, "tell Vlad I will have much more flexibility after the election". What could Obama do after the election that he would hesitate to do before the election? I imagine it would have to be something that most Americans (those not a part of the 20% hard left ideology that read this twat's rantings on a regular basis) would not agree with.
1
The suggestion Dowd makes that Trump could be sucking up to Putin because of the impression that he won the election illegitimately ignores all of the mysteriously pro-Russian stances Trump took before the election. Clinton was even accusing him of being in Putin's pocket during the debates. The language alteration on Ukraine in the Republication platform and Trump's submissive comment that it would be good if "we could get along with Russia" are only two of many examples.
Trump's pro-Russian worldview was well-documented in the candidate before any post-election analysis. The Russian intervention in the election ("meddling" sounds too ineffectual, like a nosy neighbor) would certainly add to Trump's defensiveness over Russia's role, but it was not the cause.
2
"Gossamer ego"
Beautiful.
3
Note to Macy's: your Thanksgiving Day parade will have an unprecedented audience size (larger than Trump's inauguration!) if "Trump Baby" is in the balloon line up.
10
Dereliction of duty, the shameful failure to fulfill one's obligations. With all Trump's traitorous behavior, can't that be the basis of impeachment?
3
It does not matter whether DT is in bed with Putin because of blackmail, election conspiracy, or some profound psychological issue. What matters is that this man is dangerously run amok creating chaos where ever he goes and our Congressional leaders are allowing it to happen. This mentally unstable man and his enablers are picking the next Supreme Court Justice. Is there not some uncharted legal route that the American public or our Congressman can take to prevent further harm internationally and at home? How far will Congress let him proceed before putting a halt to his wildly inappropriate behavior?
4
I hear you. But, with so much incessant gaslighting and denials, it is incumbent on the media to keep countering the brain-washing historical revisionists with their endless "alternative" facts. These are not normal times. The media is struggling, just like the rest of us, with the bizarre new reality.
4
'The question now is for Trump: What are you going to do about the Russian attack on America?'
The real question is, why didn't the Obama Administration do anything about Russian election meddling when they knew about well before the election? Or even mention it, post-election? Pretty hypocritical for Democrats to go after Trump about it now...
Maybe you should read about McConnell's role in not agreeing to bipartisan disclosure in Fall 2016. Just a suggestion...
1
Trump meeting with Putin is a problem because it's TRUMP meeting with Putin. Just like people on the left wailed about him meeting with Kim.
Hasn't anyone noticed that while he denies any Russian interference, he blames it on President Obama? This would confound even George Orwell.
6
My how times have changed. I can remember when the left went insane, as they are doing now, when Reagan called the soviet union the evil empire. That could start a war. One noted expert on Russia has been saying for the last few years that he fears that we are slowly drifting into war with them. Just maybe the President is trying to stop that drift.
Sure, if trump sells us out to Putin, there will be no need for a war.
Your experience with the temperment of Putin, and that of Couric before you, enlighten us about the terror that Obama must have felt when he pleaded with Russian diplomats to be patient until after the US election, when he (Obama) could be more flexible.
I am sure that those who permitted that "open mic" incident to go public must have been dealt with by now.
4
Ambassador Daniel Fried, former assistant secretary of state for European affairs, was interviewed last week by NPR, and asked what advice he would give to Trump before his meeting with Putin.
First of all, Fried reminded listeners that "the Russians are not our friends, and Putin is not, as the president called him, fine. He's not fine. He's not even a competitor. He's an adversary" who loathes the USA and our democratic principles.
Then Friend would instruct the president to say " I don't care what you say you did before, but I don't want anything like this to happen again. I don't want my intel people, I don't want my Homeland Security people telling me that your trolls, your hackers, your GRU military intelligence operatives are in our elections. And by the way, stay out of Europe's elections."
A strong admonition would not leave Putin shaking in his boots; nor do I believe that Trump would say anything this strong to his Russian ally. The thinly-veiled sycophancy he utters about Putin suggests to this NYT reader that he will receive his instructions/suggestions in the Helsinki meeting.
In some fairness to Trump, perhaps the Brits did stretch the bounds of insulting by creating and displaying a baby Trump blimp over the streets of London. Yet, while it takes hot air to keep a blimp aloft, no matter its form, it can be reasonably said that Putin's man in Washington will not be running out of hot air anytime soon.
2
I still find it remarkable that Ms. Dowd patters on about Trump in blatant denial of her role in helping "legitimize" The Donald.
3
Too late, it already is.
The Russian-Republican Party in the US Congress is supporting the Trump-Putin ticket. Republicans who do nothing to prevent the Russians from interfering in our elections need to be named as Russian-Republicans, or traitors. All members of Congress who work to secure the safety of our vote may be named Democrats, Independents or Republican patriots.
5
President Obama was in office when Russia's meddling in the 2016 election occurred and he knew about it. Why didn't he do anything about it? Also, has the USA ever meddled in an election taking place in a foreign country?
1
This "Summit" with Putin is more likely his annual Performance Review. I wonder what grade will be bestowed upon him by his boss.
2
I don't know if it's a mystery of Trump hugging Putin. Trump likes people who are like himself -- big egos, and small minds.
I can never forget how Trump said that Frederick Douglas was doing "a good job." How sad that we have a leader who knows absolutely nothing.
3
Did you know that the London protests were double the size of Trump’s inauguration crowd ?
11
Too bad Congress and the State Department refuse to intervene and stop the Helsinki meeting. Talk about a huge slap in the face of the American people, not to mention our Allies.
It would not surprise me that Trump wants this meeting to arrange a loan for his next real estate deal, a Trump Hotel and Casino in Moscow.
But I regress.
Trump is a poor representative for our people to any other country in this world. He does not uphold our Constitution, which he is sworn to do. He is cavorting with the enemies of our country and uses the excuse he wishes to open doors to have good relationships with these Dictators. He ought to spend his time trying to have a better relationship with our Allies and our citizens. Instead he slices and dices all decency with his tweets, his lies and his appointments of the most incompetent people to government agencies.
Trump needs a chaperone in that room. And maybe a taster. Just in case Putin tries to serve him a Moscow Cocktail, like the one served to the former Russian Spy in England. But then again this is just Putin's MO. Maybe the real reason Trump is there is to learn even more heinous behavior, if that it is all possible.
Mueller's investigation is our only hope right now, as we have a do-nothing Congress who is aiding and abetting all of Trump's behaviors.
To read about Putin's reaction to Katie Couric's question leaves no doubt that he is possibly more dangerous than Kim.
And Trump is over there ready to hold Putin's hand.
5
One can recognize in Trump's behavior and attitude, the deep south mentality. Essentially showing the trademarks of frustration and "bad loser" thing. But Trump has something unique in his narcissistic views, total absence of empathy, paranoiac reaction to any challenge to him, incredible ignorance and his pathological lying. Its no wonder that he does not get along very well in Europe. Nevertheless, I don't think Trump's personality is the reason why he is so unwilling to condemned Russia's interference in US election. I believe it is probably because he is guilty.
6
Fly on wall time. With 12 Russians indicted, what will Mr. Putin say to Mr. Trump in private? He's certainly not happy about it and probably not shy about saying so.
The amazing thing about Trump is that he is completely insulated from consequences no matter what he says or does. Furthermore, his consequence-free life is enabled by a mainstream TV media that asks softer questions than their British counterparts do (as was evident in the Trump press conference with Teresa May). Tough and pointed but respectful, fact-based questions from the Brits prove that it can be done. But much of the American press corps is so concerned with appearing unbiased in the eyes of people who despise them that they voluntarily frame GOP talking points as questions (as I just saw Jake Tapper do today in an interview with Mark Warner), have the chairman of Trump's re-election campaign on as an ordinary commentator (as a CNN program recently did), and shrug off Trump's continual attacks on them, rather than frame Trump's insults as the attack on the first amendment that they are. They have to know that there is a real method to Trump's attack on CNN and holding up of Fox as the real news channel during the press conference. This was in effect an in-kind gift to Trump's buddy Rupert Murdoch, who wants to expand Fox News' loathsome footprint internationally. ... If someone mentions the word ‘gun’ after a mass shooting, second amendment supporters go ballistic. But the people whose profession is built on the first amendment allow the amendment and themselves to be walked on. That's dangerous.
20
The now-two year old public question is, "what hold do the Russians have on Trump?"
Where did the Trump Organization find the money to sustain it when banks were unwilling to loan it to Trump?
29
Asking someone "firmly" sounds like enhanced interrogation techniques. Putin himself was trained in interrogation as part of his KGB background, so I doubt Trump would get far. Hugging Putin after he did that stage hug of the U.S. flag is sad, and is somewhat like the Moscow Mule senators who celebrated the Fourth of July in Russia. Patriotism is a dying art for many on the GOP side of the aisle as the farcical House 'investigation' of the Russian interference in the election on behalf of Trump showed.
I love this column though. The famous Dowd snark has found a good object. It's a saver to be savored until the blimp has exploded à la Hindenburg.
8
It was London 1 Trump Nill...well played, Brits!
14
Maybe Putin will promise to poison Hillary in exchange for the dissolution of NATO.
4
Like everyone else with a semblance of sanity, I’ve been laughing at Trump......well, I’m a New Yorker, so I’ve been laughing for the last 30 years.
But when Trump advocated admitting Russia into the G7, and said ‘oh well’ about Crimea, and wants to have a bromance with Vlad — I wonder — is he really a Russian agent, or being blackmailed by Putin, or the girls really did tinkle on him, or he’s just an imbecile? Or all of the above?
I really can’t figure this all out.
12
Notwithstanding the “Pinocchios” assigned by some press outlets to Trump’s non-stop lies, it seems a little too “little”, passive and acquiescent. The question is why? Is Trump being manipulated as a useful idiot who will effect and deliver gifts otherwise unattainable? Such as land anexation/s, deregulation of everything under the sun. Is Syria going to be exchanged for Crimea for Putin? At least, this is said to be the desire of Saudi Arabia and others relative to their position on Iran. What was Netanyahu doing in Moscow last week? Why is Alan Dershowitz defending Trump and claiming that he can’t be impeached. Is destroying the Western Front less valuable than personal cupidity? Trump’s /Putin’s dislike of Merkel has to do with her government sharing intelligence on Trump’s/ Russian money laundering via German banks .
Trump’s raving about immigrants changing the face of Europe is the result of the US-led Iraqi invasion and subsequent destabilization of the region. Who, exactly benefited from the incursion? What countries in the region are currently running tourism P.R. campaigns? Hint: not Iraq
Wonder if Trump will reference the huge size of the London anti-Trump demonstration crowds. That many cities across the world have asked to borrow the orange flying baby speaks volumes.
12
Look for Trump to give Alaska back to the Russians—a good will gesture.
16
It’ll happen about the same time that leftists give Manhattan back to the Indians.
What happened in Crimea was during Obama’s watch. What did obama do to prevent the takeover of another sovereign country that we have no interest in?
Is the Palin family part of the deal?
Oh Maureen you could not have said it better; you and your colleagues at the Times keep us from going mad!
6
When will we get even ONE GOP congressman to say “Enough!”?
The only way to fix this disaster is to vote Democrat this November — for everything, all the way down the ballot.
12
Please, Macy's, buy a Trump blimp for this year's Thanksgiving Day parade! I'll even sign up for your credit card if you do!
17
The more hot air in the Trump balloon, the more it resembles Trump.
8
The balloon has way better hair.
1
The only thing completely hilarious is that wonderful balloon! I want one! Love the English humor. Unfortunately our president is a disgrace. What a mess. Sorry world. We let lose a tyrant. I cover my eyes but when I open them he’s still there. Thank you Peoples if England and Scotland for your resistance. I don’t feel so alone.
14
So what does your brother think now?
13
A blingy blimp showing up as a turn like blip on the historical radar screen.
1
Trump is a massive narcissistic authoritarian gas bag--the son of a racist authoritarian. Putin may be both his political and psychological father figure who rescued him from bankruptcy and handed him the keys to the White House. Narcissists lack empathy just like Putin, as Trump cruelly demonstrated with his attack on Khazir Kahn, a gold star father, whose son died in Iraq and more recently his inhumane "zero tolerance" in reality a zero humanity policy literally kidnapping innocent children from their immigrant parents and putting them in internment facilities. These are two cold-blooded men are both absolutely ruthless in their pursuit of absolute power. Anyone in their path must be humiliated and diminished and eliminated either politically or with Putin physically. The body count of those politically liquidated is already setting a record and Trump has been in office less than two years. The truth of their conspiracy is becoming more and more apparent and the consequences for our democracy, especially with his "Get Out of Jail Free" Judge Brett Kavanaugh, are frightening.
9
Good article....and all without bringing the Clintons into it. MD you’re getting there.
4
Putin owns Trump. Trump will not criticize him. Even before the election he disparaged our country instead of calling out Putin on his thuggishness.
Whether there was collusion I don't know. But I also think he couldn't call out Russia for interference because Putin owns him.
Trump is frightened of Putin and I believe it is because he either can destroy him financially or humiliate him with the p p tape.
11
I couldn't a ree with you more. Until he is removed from the WH the US is in for a rapid decline economically and internationally.
Perhaps both.
Perhaps both.
Republicans in Congress have accepted money from sources linked to Putin.
How Putin's oligarchs funneled millions into GOP campaigns ...
https://www.dallasnews.com › Opinion › Commentary
May 8, 2018 - Buried in the campaign finance reports available to the public are some ... Earlier this year, The Associated Press reported that Paul Manafort, .... the effort to interfere in our electoral process, McConnell's PAC accepted a $1 ...
we should be very happy that he only vaguely knows how to employ proven National Socialist tactics.
we cannot afford to give the feckless leader more time to figure it out.
if the Republican Party and the republican congress won’t right itself—highly unlikely given its performance in the recent committee hearing in advance of Friday’s new round of indictments of Russian perpetrators then we as a nation must bring woe to them and do justice upon them and their feckless leader.
4
One of your better ones in along time.
4
The ugly American was actually ugly but was a good guy.
But that is the least of Maureen’s sins including being one of the leading Hillary haters of America who have helped pave the way for the Forever Stain of Trump.
13
Sadly, recent events caused me to think of the Hindenburg tragedy.
After reading your line, "Ever the Ugliest American, Trump tried his own version of crazy damage control" I remembered somewhat, how the airship's crew dumped ballast to stabilize her.
At this juncture nothing appears to be capable of stabilizing Trump, and I'm capable of predicting all the ramifications of the FBI's recent and future indictments. They could be terrible.
4
" Incomprehensible mystery " ....... not really ... he owes Putin and his gangster pals lots of money, among other things. Which include money laundering & pornographic tapes.
He's a traitor in every sense of the word. And people like Sessions and Miller, & others, are accomplices.
9
At this point and with the new indictments yesterday - of Russian intelligence agents no less - there is zero doubt that trump is in it up to his little piggy eyeballs.
He's not being blackmailed, he's not acting out some Oedipal issue, it's not about is fragile ego or narcissism, he is not being unwittingly manipulated. That's just trump being trump subterfuge, meant to obscure. His Perry Mason comment was practically a confession hiding in plain sight.
No, trump is a bought and paid for, very willing accomplice. He and Putin made a deal. He wants what Putin has and what Putin uniquely can give him. In exchange, he gives Putin western democracy on a gold trump platter.
It's a "win win".... so much winning, you wouldn't believe, like the world has never seen before.
And he's daring anyone to stop him.
6
Direct attacks on Trump are futile. He has a lame excuse for every situation, and when that doesn’t work, he lies. The people around him need to held accountable for his actions. Cabinet members, appointees, and political backers, including the conservative media, must be called out. They must be asked directly, “Do you support Russia or the USA? Who’s side are you on?”
9
Only a few years ago - in order to establish your membership among the liberals and democrats ( those who stayed a bit too long at the university's liberal arts program are good examples) you had to regurgitate some well known but meaningless fact(s). Things like "Benjamin Franklin owned slaves", or "Thomas Jefferson was an adulterer" or even "Capitalism is bad". Even if everyone already knows slave owning is bad or that practically every US president is/has been involved in adultery. Like a rat in the wild - they still had to press the lever to get the "pellet". There's no reason to repeat these statements other than to re-establish ones membership, and allow access to those whose thinking process is similarly limited. Not so today- today all you have to say is "Trump is bad" and you are magically and instantly granted access to the group that's trained to repeat rather than consider.
1
I can’t think why you find it ‘incomprehensible’. Trump abhors democracy as much as Putin. Giving power to losers to vote instead of power being taken by the meanest and least principled? Cmon baby ?!?
6
"… as Putin stabs at our democracy“
let him stab all he wants. if our demockracy [my spelling] were strong, it could shrug them stabs off. yet, as it has long been weakened from within, by oligarchs, that is - on either side of the divide, rich guys ’n’ gals w|o any conscience as to the fate of the much less fortunate around - our tumbledown house might indeed do just that. now do we, in the meantime, want to keep blaming the evil external enemy? look inward, [don't focus on djt], check for flaws. repair. then stand strong, just and fair.
[as to killings and cold-bloodedness, the west is in no position to point fingers eastward!]
1
It is so obvious why Trump is constantly cuddling up to Putin: money, and Putin is getting a useful idiot to achieve his ends. Trump's golf courses in Scotland & Ireland are losing millions. He paid cash for them, then spent fortunes refurbishing them to his glitzy & gaudy taste. Where did he get the money? According to his son Eric, Russia was supplying "all the cash we need." https://www.newyorker.com/news-desk/swamp-chronicles/where-did-donald-tr...
Everything Trump is doing, blowing up NATO, criticizing May, Merkel, Trudeau - constantly denigrating Mueller's investigation - all of it helps Putin. It is time to rid our nation of this deadly infestation. Why isn't Trump doing more to stop Putin from meddling in our next election, why is he not punishing Putin for meddling in the last election? The answer is crystal clear to me: Putin the spymaster has Trump firmly entangled in his web.
9
It is time to impeach and remove Trump before he does more damage to our democracy.
If Trump meets with Putin without his security personnel, it will send a clear message that he is a traitor and colluded with the Russians. He admires Putin, the killer, because he's strong?
This apricot blimp is dishonoring our nation. When will the Republicans in Congress act? When will they finally put country before party? White nationalist dog whistles, constant lies, misogynistic comments, racism, xenophobic policies, name-calling ... Have we no decency left?
8
Obama tried to get McConnell to help and form a plan and statement, but he refused. As he never wanted to help with anything. Obama did not want to seem like he was interfering in the election so he let it be. McConnell is another one who should be put on trial for treason, esp for the stolen Supreme seat.
22
What will he do about Russian hacking? Nothing. What will he do to stop them from doing it again in the midterms? Nothing. What will he do about the Chinese slapping tariffs on products from red states? Nothing. He will deny that any of this had anything to do with him. He will blame others if his voters, supporters and cheering section are now paying more at Walmart, Target and Meijer for the same stuff they always buy, but are not earning any more and never saw much of a tax cut. But he and his friends and sponsors sure saw one and will do even better over the next 9 years or so. And then what? Will he be re-elected? Or will they throw the bums out?
The Apricot One's mouth should be twice as big and the double chin curve should be in bold.
1
What will he do about Russian hacking? Nothing. What will he do to stop them from doing it again in the midterms? Nothing. What will he do about the Chinese slapping tariffs on products from red states? Nothing. He will deny that any of this had anything to do with him. He will blame others if his voters, supporters and cheering section are now paying more at Walmart, Target and Meijer for the same stuff they always buy, but are not earning any more and never saw much of a tax cut. But he and his friends and sponsors sure did see one and will do even better over the next 9 years or so. And then what? Will he be re-elected? Or will they throw the bums out?
The Apricot One's mouth should be twice as big and the double chin curve should be in bold.
9
Agree or disagree, this is another magnificent Column by Ms. Dowd. I regret that her dinner at "21" was ruined; that is a tuff place to have a dinner ruined. Leave it to that pixie, Katie Couric, to have asked a question that was not in the order of etiquette as polite dinner conversation. Sounds like Katie owes Ms. Dowd a polite, appetizing dinner at "21."
4
Dowd's story of Putin and the journalists brought this thought to mind. Like everyone else in America, I have wondered what hold Putin has on Trump that gets Trump to behave like a quisling. Maybe it is as simple as this: Trump is afraid that Putin will assassinate him if he does not do Putin's bidding. It seems preposterous given the security that surrounds a president. And it seems irrational, because normal presidents and candidates for president are men and women of some courage. However, Trump is a bully and all bullies, whether in the playground or the office or in Congress, are cowards.
11
So many words and so little said.
1
Make Russia Great Again.
6
The Times should begin running a page one box proclaiming how many days it has been since the Trump inauguration that Americans have gone without getting a look at his tax returns...and asking why he hides them. His ego is the size of a continent, but his greed dwarfs his ego.
7
Maureen obviously would join Hillary Clinton and flunk the D.C. Bar, based on her comments that Mueller has found a dozen Russians guilty of messing with our election. Almost any prosecutor can persuade a grand jury of indict absentee actors of darned near anything. But almost any fool knows that an indictment is merely an accusation. And as the old saw goes, a prosecutor can get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich. And obviously Mueller and his political manager Rosenstein know well that these Russians will never show up for trial. I admit that this was a pretty slick political maneuver that duped Ms. Dowd as well as a brace of people still searching for a reason that Hillary lost
1
Cliche after cliche after cliche
2
Honeymoon in Helsinki OR time for another pay-off ??? I'll go with Treason for 500, ALEX. Seriously.
10
Trump's behavior is completely understandable. He and Putin are two peas in a pod. Putin of course has his spy background to compound his viciousness, but they see the world the same. Sociopaths, I venture to say. Just hope nobody at NATO gave him any big secrets to share with Putin.
5
Ironical Ms. Dowd, that when your beat was Manhattan and the most important thing in a journo's life then was getting a return phone call from The Donald, he always returned your inquiries , at least according to another NY based journo, Pete Hamill, author of "A Drinking Life!Is this how you repay the c-in-c, blasting him at every opportunity, despite his efforts to make America a great country again, and despite being criticized 24/7 by a biased media, which includes yourself!?U come down hard on Putin for being a killer, a despot, but if we had thought through more carefully overthrow of Sadaam HUSSEIN, and decision to go to war in Iraq, a million Iraqui lives would have been saved, as well as 4,000 lives of our servicemen, plus the 50,000 or so wounded, many of whom r "dismounted"due to i.e.d's or blinded by a sniper's bullet coming from the Insurgency. Sometimes you need strong men. As late paratroop general Jacques Massu, hero of the Battle of Algiers was wont to declare,"des deux maux il faut choisir le moindre!"W/o Putin, Russia would be overwhelmed by centrifugal forces, including a virulent anti semitism. Neither u nor Ms.Couric knows anything about war, having never been in combat. You have had a soft, pampered life in my view, based on what I have read of your stints at Time Life among other cushy assignments. Only public female figure whom I would trust is Sen Duckworth,who has more character than either u or Couric put together.
1
"Trump hugging Putin even as Putin stabs at our democracy is an incomprehensible mystery."
Putin is often mentioned as the world's richest man.
Need we bother looking deeper for Trump's infatuation... & emulation.
6
Worthy of Jonathan Swift Maureen....Thank you...this column really nails it down beautifully.
1
How can we possibly know what Trump and Putin will talk about without aides in room? This is madness-The Liar-in-Chief and the Spy Master alone together. Trump will probably summarize their meeting with whatever spin he chooses to give, like they have become greater friends than before because Vladi told him what a brilliant genius he is and how he would only hack into the Democrats' election systems in November.
4
Ms. Dowd looked into Putin's eyes and saw a killer. What can we say except that Ms. Dowd gets invited to all the big deal dinners because she is so? Important? We at least have no mention of The 2 in this latest article.
Donald Trump has always been a very unlikeable and ignorant man. Trump has been tolerated for years because of his money. He had to buy his own golf courses because he was not accepted by any established club in the entire trip-state area. If he was not POTUS, he would be phoning in his own press briefings to anyone who would listen.
This incompetent ego was made POTUS and thus gained even more stature. Anyone reading a transcript of any of his word salad statements knows this guy is in way over his head.
No wonder he crashes and burns wherever he goes. We all know he doesn't know or care about a darn thing but himself and yet continually give him deference because we have to, and Trump mistakes all this as evidence that he is the greatest.
4
And thank you, Lord above - if you are indeed There - for those "cheeky citizens of London." I was with them every step of the way, vicariously walking and protesting with them while helping hold the Trump Baby blimp. What an excruciatingly embarrassing and humiliating week for thoughtful and moral Americans to have to watch this rude, crude, egomaniac belittle our allies and go beyond insulting Ms May while a guest in her country. He is sick, and as of yet we can not stop his venomous destruction of all that is good in the United States and abroad.
So now there are two questions to be asked. The first is what is driving this creature to be so downright evil? It could be his genetic makeup, perhaps destined to be a Bad Seed...an incurable greedy narcissist with the gluttony and insatiable appetites of Caligula himself. Yes, he is for reasons yet to be known, a captive of Putin. But he did that to himself. His characteristic makeup allowed him to be prey to a demonic predator. The second query is why is this GOP Congress and those people it represents feeding this parasite. What is driving them? Maybe officially the compass is pointing to Mother Russia. But it ultimately points to not only this Ugliest of Americans but also the Ugly Americans who sustain this - I can barely write it - POTUS.
7
Comments like this will ensure a Trump victory in 2020 and of course the "Blue wave that is failing this year.
You think for a minute we forget your Trump cheerleading Maureen, you are quite wrong. History is not going to forget you either. Your rep is toast.
19
We must not ignore the eternal "businessman" in Donald J. Trump. He has pined for, and he still pines for, a Kremlin Trump Tower and Trump's name on buildings, golf courses and vodka bottles in Russia. Donald J. Trump may be President of the United States, but he is thinking ahead to his retirement from political office and a return to being the Self-Anointed Supreme Deal Maker. And he will have to pay someone handsomely to write those cash-flow presidential memoirs. Remember Trump Tower. "Rosebud."
Doug Giebel, Big Sandy, Montana
4
Hey Mo,
Didn’t you know Trump was a madman back when he was the candidate you were actively promoting?
17
THE NEW COLONEL BLIMP. Not even the "APricot Toddler" can be so stupid as to fall for a guy like Vlad so it has to something much worse of which we are unaware. I suspect the "peetape" is just the tip of the iceberg and "while it's good to be the king,' it probably is "trump or death" to Vlad's King LOUWEEEEEEE.
How anyone can look at the mountain of evidence collected by both the media and the government offices AGAINST hump and his cohort and "say it sin't so" is beyond me and millions of others. It seems that the GOPEE is now the POTTY of Lincoln, a mess that someone will eventually have to clean up. How people could value their PAYCHECK above the nation that pays them for their service strikes me as more than a bit treasonous.
6
Your contrasting portraits of Putin and Trump suggest another reason that Trump lionizes Putin. Both of these heads of state want to dominate any conflict, but only Putin has the killer instinct needed to win. Like other infants, Trump lacks the self-possession to stand strong during face-to-face conflict. Oh how he wishes that he could ride on Putin's coattails to victory as Putin takes on the rest of the world.
9
Considering that there are legal avenues in which to depose Trump---impeachment---where is the political will to do so? Voting in Democrat majorities in both houses this coming November makes the prospect more enticing, but little else.
Trump's accidental and terrible presidency is the product of apathy, be it from GOP lawmakers who abandon their responsibilities to protect the American Republic, or worse, from voters whom enabled his presidency by not voting in the first place.
3
I'm old enough to have taken typing classes in high school. Our teacher made us type one particular sentence over and over, and that sentence has been bouncing around in my head as my anger grows over the Republican Congress' dereliction of duty: Patrick Henry's "Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country." Except for the glaring omission of all good women, it's a pretty perfect call to action. But it's falling on deaf ears. Maybe I'll type it out for them.
20
Your assessment completely overlooks the fact that DT was already whipping up his followers to reject an HRC victory as "rigged". Playing careful may have back-fired, but, there were legitimate reasons to do so. Also, the incontrovertible evidence was not locked down yet, as it is now. The suspicions were clearly on Obama's watch. The facts are on Trump's. Now, what is HE going to do about it? Evidently, as little as possible to ensure that he, personally, stays on Putey's good side. No matter what damage is done to the democracy he is sworn to protect.
6
Rupert Murdoch is a long time friend and informal advisor to Trump. If one of Murdoch’s English papers printed false news about Trump there would be consequences for that journal. Murdoch has not intervened. Clearly Trump has lied once again.Trump has become the ultimate ugly American. The moment you believe it cannot get worse.It does. There is no ceiling on Trump’s bottom.
12
Sorry Maureen but canoodling and kowtowing hardly describes President Trumps interaction with Putin, unless you reside in some Orwellian alternate universe. Then again, perhaps you dusted off some unpublished piece written during the Obama administration and simply changed a name. Either way you seem oblivious to the fact that the 12 GRU hackers were indicted by the Trump Justice Department. You ignore that Trump is supplying arms to the Ukrainians. You ignore that instead of micromanaging military operations in Syria he has given his commanders the freedom to obliterate 300 Russian “mercenaries” during an attack on an American base in February of this year. You ignore his embrace of energy producers in this country and the negative impact increased US production has had on the only cash source Putin has. Perhaps you can explain how shaming NATO members into increasing their defense expenditures facilitates Putin’s hegemonic ambitions. I doubt Putin shares your embrace of the “Trump Baby” balloon as an appropriate metaphor for our president. A more appropriate metaphor would be the “bull in the china shop” and unfortunately for Putin, he owns the china shop.
1
The Embarrassment in Chief is going to have a private meeting with a former KGB spy, and our team won't be listening to and watching them?That's not gonna happen.
6
Mum! 'E's at the Twitter!
"The stories you heard about the 12 Russians yesterday took place during the Obama Administration, not the Trump Administration. Why didn’t they do something about it, especially when it was reported that President Obama was informed by the FBI in September, before the Election?"
Ah, yes. Why didn't "they" do something in September 2016? Something non-partisan like .. start an investigation, get facts, and NOT politically smear the Russians' favorite.
And, of course, "stories you heard about".
"Stories" that name the 12 Russian officers and THAT ACTUALLY BRING the formal charges -- MUST BE -- the Obama administration's responsibility.
Don't you agree, Sean Hannity (very stable co-genius)?
THREE DAYS AGO at the NATO summit, the current President DID ADDRESS the 'possibility' of Putin denying election interference: "Look he may. What am I going to do? He may deny it. All I can do is say, ‘Did you?’ And, ‘Don’t do it again.’"
Thanks, President "Only I Can Fix It". Wouldn't want you to interrupt your Russian Bro-fest.
8
There is nothing "incomprehensible" about this "mystery".
You list many very comprehensible reasons why Donald Trump acts as like the selfish and vile man that he is rather than a President engaged in the tasks of his responsibility.
What is more incomprehensible is how so many people, including you, were so willing to buy into his con.
We are now stuck with a man empty of principles and values but brimming with spectacle, pomposity and self-aborption. The cost goes up every day.
13
" firmly ask ". Sure. As in " please, SIR, may I have another ? ". Another denial, another explanation, another caviar laced amuse bouche. Except, the question will not be asked, it's entirely superfluous. Even a person of limited intellect knows better, or should. This is part of the charade, the farce, the " witch hunt " and " fake news " of the Trump special blend of denial and blame shifting. He's either a Treasonous PAID Russian Agent OR an exceptionally Stupid person. I'll go with BOTH.
Seriously.
32
I guess i'm just old enough not to miss your allusion to Trump's 'chequers' speech with May. Digging his heels in ever deeper as the stubborn ideologue protecting his special kind of rancid capitalism, he continues to twist and spin every false move and sell out anyone who gets near him. Also, like Nixon, he wants to keep the dog, Putin, his very own Checkers...still gambling that if he makes it to the other side, ie., the end of his term, there will be more gold to spin on the international market.
Bravo to Rosenstein and Mueller for staging such an essential moment in the middle of trump's Scottish jig. They pinned the tail on the true donkey, Putin, just in time to ruin Trump's weekend golf game and give him time to truly second guess his Monday tweets.
11
Vlad, my intelligence orgs say you guys messed with our election. Is that true? Is it true, Vlad?
Don, don't ever ask me about my business!!
But Vlad...
OK, Don, you can ask me just this once.
Did you Vlad? Did you?
Long stare looking into each other's eyes....
No.
Trump post summitt tweet: "Pres Putin denied meddling. I believe him. He said some nice things about me and we had dinner, topped off with a delicious chocolate cake.
12
What a nightmare this has turned out to be. It's as if one went to sleep, tossing , turning and churning, the brain pickled with the remnants of classic , political cautionary novels recently read, re-enacted for a long night's journey into day, and you wake up in a cold sweat, shaking with fear, realizing to your horror that this is really happening.
How utterly strange it is to witness on our side of the Atlantic Pond the bizarre goings-on taking place in Belgium, London , a Trump-branded Scottish golf course and ultimately Helsinki , as this garish man runs will-ly-nil-ly through European assemblies ; is witness to angry Londoners raging against his presence ; a cringe-inducing meeting with the British PM ;a brief, awkward Royal get-together, leading up to his ultimate meeting with Vladimir Putin. The horror is that Donald Trump is The President of The United States.
21
Dowd is a metaphor for all that was--and is--wrong with US media, including the most prominent left-leaning media like the NYT. They both backed HRC over Bernie--the one and only candidate that could've handily beaten Trump--with Dowd going even further in berating Hillary for brownie points and cheap ratings.
Don't doubt for one minute that Putin would, given half a chance and the expectation that the US wouldn't respond in time, nuke us into oblivion. He makes Hannibal Lector look like the Good Humor Ice Cream man. Evil genius trumps moronic narcissism any day. My hunch is Putin has thought about the consequences of striking at the US militarily as well as with cyber-warfare and came to the conclusion that cyber-warfare will achieve the same end result without exposing himself and his entire country to deadly radioactive fallout. That's the calculus.
To our GOP Congress: Think about that.
12
No point in me reciting the by-now nearly endless litany of the flaws, mistakes, insults, and truly incredible callousness and cruelty of the current POTUS. Small point in my appreciation of Ms. Dowd's (typically) fine work.
Main point: Buckle your seat belts, as, given the guy's support (I won't credit him or them for being a man), this is both going to get and has to get much worse before it gets better. Many people may actually die, in the world at large if not the streets of the USofA, as a result. Love your loved ones, stock up, and catch up with your God, everybody. I sincerely wish I am proven wrong in this. Get ready.
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Looks like Putin will declare that he didn't do nuthin wrong, and he ain't gonna do it again.That's what trump wants.
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For trump it is, and always will be: No women, no Brown, Black, or Yellow people....has to have his misogyny and heritage.
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Nice statement. Where is there any truth in it. Psych 101 has none of that at any college. At least it didn’t 40 years ago. I suppose that victimization is now the main theory behind the sylibus of every self respecting college professor.
Another incomprehensible mystery is why you helped get Trump elected and attacked Clinton (take your pick) so relentlessly. However cleverly you write now, it's too little, too late.
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Maureen Dowd has finally decided that Trump's glaring inadequacy as #45, after over a year of possibly irreversible damage to our democracy, alliances, trade,environment,etc. might outweigh her personal animus for the Clintons . It took behavior which was unimaginable to most of us and multiple moves against our best interests, democratic allies,rule of law and the very real move toward an authoritarian state and destruction of our constitution to move the boulder-sized chip on her shoulder - which resulted in multiple childish columns and ad hominem attacks on HRC during the campaign.
As she moves among the glittteri and "in" crowd of New York City, she must have known something of Mr. Trump's doings and reputation.. Yet she ignored the lesson most of us learn in kindergarten; that you do not have to like,love or be particular friends with someone to pick out the best qualified person for the job at hand. Yet she chose to feed her mysterious animus toward HRC instead, wasting precious prime column inches in the editorial page of the " paper of record."
The job was President of the United States. There was a qualified candidate. The people,by popular vote, chose well and were defeated by a slave-state anachronism called the Electoral College. That it was even close is a topic of its own which includes responsible media utterly failing at reporting the facts about "djt". Too late, Ms Dowd. Like many readers prior to the election, it's time for you to go.
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"It took behavior which was unimaginable to most of us and multiple moves against our best interests, democratic allies,rule of law and the very real move toward an authoritarian state and destruction of our constitution to move the boulder-sized chip on her shoulder" - Agree with your post except that actually it didn't even take THAT. Maureen Dowd has changed her tune only because Donald Trump was ELECTED. She is no different from those she attacks - she goes with the flow and she wants to be seen as connected to power even while she criticizes it. Her motives seem to me nearly as narcissistic as Trump's. She attacked Hillary relentlessly during the campaign because, like the rest of us, she thought Hillary was going to WIN - so it was SAFE to preen and coo over Donald Trump, rich NYC developer who always returned her phone calls ... she started practically every column pointing out that he had taken her phone call. Just as she starts this one noting she once had dinner with Putin. Once it is really out in the open that Putin controls Trump, she'll be telling us that Robert Mueller takes her phone calls. Just watch.
2
In the past, Russian moles such as Aldrich Ames and Robert Hansen betrayed their country clandestinely. They did it generally because they needed the money or felt they were not adequately respected by their agency. Trump is betraying his country in plain sight, carrying water for Putin, giving Russian interests preference over those of America and her allies and sabotaging, ridiculing and undermining our intelligence and legal agencies. There's no reason to ask: "Why?" As investigators and reporters have disclosed, he obtained financing after his multiple bankruptcies from the only available lender: Russia. Donald Trump Jr. acknowledged this on the record. Anyone who has done business with Putin knows that he demanded more than an attractive interest rate. We also know that if there was ever a ripe target for blackmail, it is the sexual predator Donald Trump. We know that he consorted with American porn stars. Why would he have balked at Russian porn stars? But bottom line, we don't really have to know "why." We just need to know that he's a traitor. Apparently, his "base" is OK with that.
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Putin is like the republican base a racist, a misogynistic and anti gay.... He is also a fake Christian. Putin is like the republicans for voter oppression and gerrymandering if necessary. They like each other.
5
What we need is a smaller version of the blimp we can fly in our American backyards!
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The British nature is blessedly unchanged. It was the British alone who declared war on Nazi Germany due to a national revulsion over Hitler and keeping its word to its ally Poland.
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If only it were true. The French also "declared" war on Nazi Germany. But neither country did anything to help Poland as it was being eviscerated by both the Nazis and the Soviets. No attack from the west to relieve the pressure; nothing but thinly veiled threats until the Nazi juggernaut turned against them a year later.
The Poles would fight on for the rest of the war only to be abandoned to Soviet occupation at its end. Some true allies... not!
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Is it control of the United States judicial courts that much more important to the GOP then explaining to their children and grandchildren how they are supporting this president and his administration? The day after this president's inauguration was a women's march that spanned across the world. from there we have gone on a roller coaster ride which leaves the majority of this country and much of Europe reeling from such a perverse, vile man whose idea of governing is through perversity in heart, mind and spirit.
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When Donald Trump started exhibiting some of his destructive and autocratic behavior on the campaign trail, people who compared him to famous dictators were accused of overreacting. But no dictator, Hitler included, started out where he ended. They all latch on to buried resentments or unresolved conflicts in a country, and slowly but consistently expand their reach with the help of their enablers. We're seeing that every day now: Trump's defenders like Guiliani and his staff adopting his way of speaking (witch hunt, disgraceful, political opponents should be in jail); Republicans in Congress who allow only themselves to have political opinions and be considered competent in their jobs, and the general assault on truth as a value in this country (3,000 lies and counting, children's detention centers are "summer camp"). I can only hope that the people of this country stop this man and his enablers before we travel much further down the destructive path we are on.
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I’m beginning to think that Melania is signaling rebellion. First, The Jacket. Now the yellow dress, a color Megan Markle Windsor just wore to great effect at a public event in London. (The London tabs affectionately called it her “banana dress.” Ah-hem...) Is Melania signaling that she wants to identify with the biracials of the world —contrary to her husband’s bigotry? Can Melania bring down the whole ghastly Republican national betrayal with her wardrobe? That would be great.
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You’re reading too much into her clothes. When she wants to say something, it’s in big letters on her back.
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@joymars
Don't hold your breath.
NOT my president
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The “ big letters on her back” were very nearly the exact words of a Italian fascist marching song of the 1920s
The fever must be passing, Ms. Dowd. Another column and hardly a swipe at Ms. Clinton. Is this an indication of enabler's remorse?
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Our lewd crude apricot baby's behavior makes horrifying sense if one posits he's beholden to Putin and desperate to avoid accountability and humiliation at all costs. “The Manchurian Candidate” (1962) aired on tv last week — character Senator Jordan's cautionary words eerily prescient: “There are people who think of Johnny as a clown and a buffoon, but I do not. I despise John Iselin and everything that Iselinism has come to stand for. I think, if John Iselin were a paid Soviet agent, he could not do more to harm this country than he's doing now...”
A loyal, patriotic leader would cancel the alarming private meeting with Putin, not defend the authoritarian adversary who criminally interfered in our election. Trump's constitutional oath means nothing to him.
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As a woman, it was embarrassing and depressing to see Trump’s pathology play out on the world stage, especially against female leaders. Trump follows the three-pronged pattern of physical or emotional abusers that I learned about in Psych 101 in college: 1) bullying, or breaking down
the victim with physical or emotional violence 2) then “repairing” by sucking up, complimenting, or pretending not to mean it after all, and 3) stepping in finally as a “hero” who’s going to magically make life better for the victim and others. If I can correctly remember further, the only way to escape from the abusive relationship is to refuse to remain in the pattern. It appears to me that Robert Mueller’s recent indictments with more to come might just provide the break from Trump’s abusiveness we all so desperately need.
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Congratulations Maureen. You helped elect him!
14
A mere blip who will always be a blimp?
Or a mere lip who will always be limp?
2-b or not 2-b, and the answer comes out Donald Trump.
6
Blip or blimp ... hey, we'll always have the blimp. I'm sure I'm among millions who took some comfort from that silly blimp. It makes one feel less alone - there are others who see the shocking absurdity of everything going on.
This is how we and the rest of the world see Trump. He is a big loudmouthed baby. Trump is like the screaming out of control 6 year-old that his parents bring to a party. He won't sit down, he won't be quiet, and he won't behave. He runs around screaming, kicking people in their legs, and pulling at the curtains and tablecloths. The hosts and their guests look on in horror thinking, "If he were mine I would whip his little behind." But his parents (the 40% that adore Trump) look on with simpering smiles and remark to one and all how sweet and liberated their little horror-show is. The party cannot continue, the hosts are undone, and some of the guests are getting their coats and heading for the door. Will no one do what has to be done, namely taking the spoiled brat into a bedroom and, if reason doesn't work, punishing the little monster?
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Follow the money...
Two P's in a pod: POTUS is being handled by Putin.
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It is far easier to verbally decimate this orange lesson in abnormal psychology than to figure out how he came to represent us.
Trump will escape the noose that is closing around him. Hucksters know when to fold the tent. He will go back to riding in his 30 year old plane and putting the Trump name on garbage for cash. His will be the 'most successful 3 year presidency' America has ever seen.
As for America, do we look at each other, shrug and try to go about life as we remember it? While our masks are off, it might be a good idea to take a good look at ourselves.
5
Trump knows in the back of his pea-brain that he invited the Russians to his party and whether he danced with them is moot. He's not going to prevent them from crashing the next party, either, or the one after that, or the one after that. You can count on it.
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