Trump is becoming more dangerous by the day. But be faithful fellow comPatriots. America does not like tyrants. In my lifetime, two would be tyrants, Joseph McCarthy and Richard Nixon, came to ignominious ends, with history judging them accordingly. And so too will Donald Trump. The goal for us is to uphold our convictions, to continue to speak truth to corrupt power, and to vote. The rest will take care of itself.
4
Trump above all else. How does this serve the nation? Clearly the only beneficiary is the fragile ego of this horrible, vain man. This is the worst reality show ever! Worse yet because there is no off switch or way to change the channel.
22
One of the earliest indications that Trump saw the presidency as a throne from which his idea of justice and power could be meted out occurred during the campaign, when the subject of the "Trump University" lawsuit came up.
Paraphrasing loosely, his comment was "Wouldn't it be funny if I came back to testify in that trial as the President? Ha, ha..."
The implication was painfully clear. His appearance in a low court, garbed in magisterial robes with a scepter in his hand would surely reduce the plaintiffs' attorneys to blobs of jelly begging forgiveness, and the judge would consider his testimony to be absolutely dispositive, sweeping all before it. After all, he would be the President!
Do I exaggerate? Possibly, for emphasis. But Trump's mindset was obvious: Who would *dare* to challenge the President??
10
At this point I don't personally care what Trump does. He and his spokespeople are so pathetically predictable. For me it is our spineless Republican Congress that is the real problem here. Why is it only a retired Navy Admiral, a retired CIA director and Democratic members of Congress, other potential targets of Trump's ire, members of the press, in other words people with zero influence or power, who have the guts to speak out in defense of Brennan and our national security? Those folks on the Hill don't seem to realize that they are going to be completely trashed in history books for their failure to put a stop to the dangerous, self-interested actions of this President who they privately despise. It would be laughable were it not so depressing.
33
Trump gets his payback now. We The People will get our payback on election day.
10
August 17. 2017
The Times knows the Trump paradigm for power and then in the worlds of Shakespeare - (Mad,)
King Lear :
"Come, let's away to prison;
We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage:
When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down,
And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,
And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh
At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues
Talk of court news."
—Lear in King Lear
3
Brennan has much more to answer for than calling out the President of the United States as "treasonous," as the fullness of time will reveal. His enablers in the resistance media will rue the day they countenanced his most blatant abuse of a sitting president. In fact, if Trump prevails as is almost a certainty, the reputations of the fomenters of resistance will irrevocably be sullied and discredited. There will no return to "normalcy".
3
The word is no undemocratic, it's autocratic and I believe we're just seeing the beginning of what Trump is capable of. Congress will not act. So we are in for a mighty struggle to take back our government from a deeply disturbed, corrupt and incompetent bully and those who support him.
Thank God for a free press.
18
If you voted in 2016, thank you for doing so, no matter your choices.
If you did not vote in 2016, please be sure to vote in 2018, no matter your choices.
But if you are posting negative comments about Trump and didn’t vote in 2016, would you please apologize to those of us who did vote?
12
Vote Blue this fall. The Republicans have abdicated their role as a co-equal branch of government and refuse to restrain Trump. I think Democrats would gleefully fulfill that traditional role.
18
Thuggery is a practice some in real estate business resort to to eliminate their enemies. Unfortunately, Trump has been behaving like a thug even after he took a leave of absence from real estate to try his hands at U.S. presidency.
Former C.I.A. director John Brennan s the latest victim of Trump’s enemy-elimination (figuratively speaking) campaign: The security clearance he earned through his 25-year-ling sterling service in the C.I.A. has been revoked by Trump. The reason the White House gave for the revocation -- that Brennan's “erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary” posed a risk to national security -- is plain hokum. The actual reason is that Brennan has been a vehement critic of Trump’s foreign policy, especially as it relates to Russia. He had the guts to call Trump's behavior in front of President Putin of Russia, during their joint press conference in Helsinki, “treasonous.”
We only have to wait until special counsel Robert Mueller completes his Russia investigation to find out why Trump was so obsequious toward Putin. And Mueller’s Russia probe is at the root of his inexplicable behavior. Brennan was involved in the probe in its early stage. Former F.B.I. director, James Comey, was fired by Trump because of, on his own admission, “this Russia thing.”
We can expect many more vengeful actions on the part of "Trump" because of the "Russia thing." Does he realize that his actions are tantamount to obstruction of justice?
8
The US has always had belief in nonsense, cruelty, and scapegoating of others. The history of American Protestantism is quite something. "I believe my way", new "churches" every day. "Manifest Destiny" is like a Trump cover story. From a moral view, our history is shadowed.
However, there is no perfect country, after all, flawed humans inhabit all lands. The US is amazing in so many ways and I am still proud to be an American, but only if the fall election, profoundly important, shows a rejection of an atrocious man as president, and a party of Machiavellian fact deniers that does not care one whit about anyone other than the rich and powerful. Anti-intellectual to the bone. Even Cruz and Kobach,educated at elite colleges, are venal and mean as hell.
When a president so egregiously abuses power, and his party allows it, helps cover up how despicable his administration is, and still there is a base that votes in support of such horrors, we are in danger of being a nation of malevolent, logic and fact denying, incompetent, mean idiots. Imagine Trump at the helm instead of FDR during WWII.
The word Protestant has been carried to the point of anti-Christianity, and the same "I believe is enough" absurdity and hate is in the far right.The Founder's aspirations, yet to be fully realized, are in mortal danger,
Government by tantrum. An old nasty infant elected by a cult.
Protest reality long enough, we're done.
9
I'm totally flummoxed. At what point does Trump's actions become obstruction of justice?
17
I have a civics lesson for you. Congress has the purse, is the maker of laws and a check on the President (the board of directors if you need a business reference). The President is a check on Congress, head of foreign and domestic policy, and Commander in Chief of the armed forces ( the CEO). The Supreme Court is a check on the President and a check on Congress based on the founding document (U.S. Constitution).
No where in the U.S. Constitution does it say the President is above the law. Currently, our man in the Oval Office, thinks he is above the law. We need to disabuse him of that idea and quickly.
35
So when is something going to be done to stop this clown show? How low are we going to watch our country and our “democratic processes” brought? At what point do we say no more?
31
@Leslie
It starts in November. Mobilize and vote.
15
Actually, that is democratic.
Helps his "tough guy image"?
Nah, it just exposes for anyone that did not already know that he is a spiteful, petty toot.
19
Something struck me today when I read this headline, that when we (our government) was involved in nation building, we would not support anyone in leadership positions that didn't at least fain democratic principles like respect for the free press and due process in courts, but especially the rights of citizens. Now, we have for the president of our own country, someone we wouldn't support for leader of South Vietnam or Nicaragua. He daily shows utter contempt for our laws, our values, and most of our citizens. What super power will support us in overthrowing this petty dictator? Justice will be served. The day of reckoning is coming.
11
I guess no one in his family has love for him , enough love to tell this terrible man what a fool he has made out of himself . Maybe they enjoy him making a fool out of himself .
12
It's the Americans who support this petty little dictator that perplex me most. My only consolation is that I know for a fact many of them pay no attention whatsoever to Trump's daily abominations.
13
I can't understand why Congress stands idly by- especially while trade sanctions are being imposed on everybody regarding almost anything and everything. Maybe it's a smoke screen to appear that China is not the only transgressor (they certainly deserve most of the blame for unfair and illegal trade practices). The stupidity of their tax reform bill is going to inflict more pain on the economy long-term as well. The explanation may be enormous campaign contributions and/or private kickbacks for going along with the "big picture"- maintaining control. If it's not money I don't know what else could be making these political "zombies" follow Trump down this path. I ALSO wonder what a number of pentagon officials and strategists must be thinking if Trump tries to do something REALLY crazy. I would hope they are thinking ahead about all the "what ifs" - Korea, the middle east, mass political chaos (already spreading) in the Americas, a refugee crisis in Europe, global warming (drought, flooding, super storms, famine, tropical diseases), etc. There are smart people still working in various branches of the government- people like Mr.Brennan- who love this country and have NOT forgotten the lessons of history. They are so needed, so essential, that we must not forget THEM.
10
Dear Donald Trump,
Please stop inflicting your damaged psyche on the rest of humanity.
DP
21
If we had a functioning congress, Trump would have already been impeached for abuse of power.
20
One salient question that we do not hear often enough, “ Why on earth are 90% of Republicans in lock step with this narsistic, juvenile, moron “ ? Why does the media in general and The NY Times in particular not pursue this question ?
32
Didnt members of the press lambast Daily Caller reporter Neil Munro for shouting out a question to Obama in the Rose Garden? He was literally chased out of there by members of the media for doing such a disrespectful thing. Then the media accused him of being a racist. Kaitlin Collins? Shes a hero for interrupting Trump.
And then you wonder why nobody trusts the "free press" anymore.
1
All the past intelligence chiefd -Brennan, Clapper, Hayden and Mullens - have dirt on them that Trump could exploit if he wanted. Congress knows it too and that's why they're silent amidst all his abuses. This is not likely to end well. Trump is only the latest villian. The system really is broken and we've all been saying so for the last 20 years. We're just wishing the inevitable crises we face as a nation wouldn't come until later. I fear that the chickens of our past excesses and neglects are coming home to roost: debt, the environment, infrastructure, inequality, government insolvency, health costs, Social Security, etc. Trump is just speeding up the collapse.
6
"What fun is it being president if you can’t use the tools of government to punish your critics?"
Why, no fun at all. It's what every member of the Paul Lazzaro "Revenge Is the Sweetest Thing in Life" Club lives for.
No criticism can go unanswered. And we relish appearing as petty and ridiculous as possible. That makes the satisfaction all the greater. The president is free to use his pardon power or pulling of security clearances of people who are mean to him in any way he chooses. Some will say he's being irresponsible, petty, even childish. Who cares? Everything Donald Trump has learned, he learned in kindergarten. He knows exactly how a five or six-year-old should respond.
2
Once again Mr. Trump's personal insecurities are more important than national security. At least to him.
Mr. Brennan and the still-threatened critics of Mr. Trump will not stop their criticism of him, nor will it be less pointed due to his autocratic behavior.
This country needs a president, not a dictator.
7
Once this bloke (Trump) is out of the Oval Office I hope the majority of Americans do not forget the chaos and thorough lack of governing the U.S. has endured under the Republican Party and keep them far from any political office into the future.
19
@eliza From your keyboard to their ears. But alas...
5
Donald Trump has a very simple brain: "That guy flattered me -- he's a good guy. That guy criticized me -- he's a bad guy." And people voted for this narcissistic moron to be president.
14
2016 was not a "change" election; it was a "revenge" election.
Given Trump's twisted persona, how and why should that change?
10
Impeach. Now.
6
Then:
https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/18/weekinreview/witching-hour-rethinking...
“...I have here in my hand a list of 205 -- a list of names that were made known to the Secretary of State as being members of the Communist party and who nevertheless are still working and shaping policy in the State Department...
Now:
“...In the president’s statement on Mr. Brennan, he reminded the public that nine other individuals are currently having their access to classified information reviewed...
.....
Just renewed my subscription with you – Quinn and Aaron notwithstanding...
And for 2X what WaPo is getting from me...
Call me sentimental – but you are the hometown team...
There are days when I can take or leave what you folks are putting out...
But there are going to be tomorrows when I’ll want – or even need – your NYT capsule to still be around...
A signed note from Krugman telling me how this is such a small amount – and for such a worthy cause – would be nice...
But I’m not going to stay up checking the mail for it...
3
"There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code, postal rates, antitrust laws and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not “democratic.”"
What short memories you have. Using the tax code to settle personal grudges? Remember Lois Lerner and the IRS targeting of conservative groups before the 2012 election? The IRS recently agreed, finally, to a multi-million dollar settlement.
The First Amendment? Remember Obama's war on Fox News, which included Obama’s Justice Department accessing the personal email of a Fox News reporter and surveillance of the reporter’s parents and colleagues. Fox News wasn't the only target, Obama's Justice Department also seized the home, work and mobile phone records of journalists at the Associated Press.
There was more. From the linked article below:
"Obama routinely banned news photographers from official events.
The Obama administration posted the worst record in history for fulfilling requests for public records under the Freedom of Information Act."
And:
"Obama, who campaigned on a promise to protect government whistle-blowers, made greater use of the Espionage Act to prosecute leakers and menace journalists than all other presidents combined."
Donald Trump the Payback President? If so he is only following the examples set by his predecessor.
https://variety.com/2018/politics/news/trump-press-war-obama-administrat...
2
But what about... is not an excuse.
17
"If Donald J. Trump decides as president to throw a whistle-blower in jail for trying to talk to a reporter, or gets the F.B.I. to spy on a journalist, he will have one man to thank for bequeathing him such expansive power: Barack Obama."
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/30/opinion/sunday/if-donald-trump-target...
In the future, the psychology text "Basic Projection 101" will have his face on the cover.
7
He just keeps winning and it does not seem as if he can be stopped. We Democrats are delusional to think there will be a change in November. His behavior and intolerable actions go unchecked. The press and the resistance have made noise but no impact. Am sure Manafort will walk abs others will recant their guilty pleas. We are doomed as a democracy .
4
Roosevelt, Truman, Johnson, Clinton, both Bushes, Eisenhower, and even Obama did the exact same thing. Every president does it and every president punishes his enemies and rewards his friends.
The editorial board thinks politics is for nice guys? Its a blood thirsty game full of dishonesty, deal making, lying, and deceit. The Board thinks this is a kindergarten play ground? Politics is a nasty business. Both parties practice the exact same techniques. Trump just happens to do it over twitter. Now go to your safe places editorial board.
It seems Kafkaesque that a lying draft dodger, known for his connections to criminals, hookers, and other stellar individuals, and who stiffs workers and who is afraid to release his taxes.....it is INCREDIBLE that this man has any security clearance at all while he takes them away from those who have served this country with distinction.
We are on the road to the collapse of the Republic.
10
@bdfreund, People who voted for Trump without seeing his tax returns should be too ashamed to ever vote again.
8
Congratulations to NYTimes for the courage to tell us more about the Trumpet's meanspiritedness. Keep up the good work! Tear up the megalomaniac and beat him down into his gutter.
And please remind us all, from time to time, that there really are three branches of government, even though in recess or barely functioning.
Readers, the Trumpet is NOT the most important person in this country; your district representative is--to you and all his/her constituents. Keep your representative informed of your needs and opinions.
Thank you, NYT for your strong words against the weakest prezzz i dunce we have ever had to endure.
God bless America, land that I love. Stand beside her, and guide her, through the nightmare...........
3
@ultimateliberal, Do you really think an immortal, almighty and all-knowing personage would take kindly to the US conceit that it is His creation?
By the way, strictly speaking the Prez is supposed to be delegating these kinds of decisions. Something to do with his having other fish to fry, and needing to try and ensure the process isn't politicized too much.
What a shame that President Trump is doesn't just take the outrageous accusations such as "treason" quietly and silently like George Bush 43. A good, establishment Republican is supposed to keep his mouth shut and simply accept mainstream media bias and baseless speculation. Instead, Trump has the audacity to join the large majority of the American public whose trust in the media has now fallen to an all time low.
@Christopher Arend, My assessment of the collective intelligence of the American public has no lower to go.
3
Not only Mr. Brennan - anyone who heads Intelligent services is privy to information on individual to which none us are.
Having seen the dossier on Trump from his private businesses around the world - the question is, are the former heads of FBI, NSA, CIA & NI "the cannery in the Mine"? - trying to warn us something ominous about this man as a possible agent for the Russians.
Yes we all - including GOP leaders, must listen to these men & women who spent their life defending the nation against same people like Putin with whom Trump is praising and gloating over.
4
I listened to some of the comments of the Republican Senators regarding Trump pulling John Brennan's clearance, someone who has done more to serve this country than either Donald Trump and the Senators that I heard comment, is typical.
It's seems like the Republican Senators and Congressmen are taking their lead from their leader for the most part, petty, narrowminded and the most partisan behavior in a government body that I have ever seen, since maybe Joseph McCarthy.
I think the Republican Senator's and Congressmen, better really think long and hard, on their cowardliness and acquiescence to this unstable and unfit man in the oval office. FDR once proclaimed that "we have nothing to fear but fear itself", it's looks like with the Republican's, their fear is more than just their shadows, they are shaken with fear to say anything to upset the petulant child in the Oval Office.
Admiral McRaven by his words today, show what bravery and integrity is all about, when do the Republican's in Washington take his lead, and not one from Bone Spurs.
4
@Chico, It looks to me that those timorous fools are petrified in fear of the unregulated militia they equipped with 10 million assault weapons.
2
The Trump presidency has exposed a serious problem in our democratic system, that is, the checks on the presidential power are TOO WEAK. The so-called "check and balance" only works with decent people who put country before self interests. However, when the President is a shameless demigod, as Trump has demonstrated, the system fails. We are rapidly defending into autocracy.
6
@Jean Kolodner, Please stop calling the stupid fraudulent disgraceful process that spat up this world-killing monster Trump "democratic".
3
Don't let Trump make you so weary you turn away and tune out. The individuals and groups Trump has singled out need to know an army of people are behind them and ready to take the lead and the next shot. Take pride in staking out positions that cause the President to use up his "valuable" early morning twitter and physical evacuation time.
8
Is it illegal to remove someone's security clearance for political reasons?
1
It astounds me that the real free press doesn’t, at White House news conferences, laugh uproariously or even just chuckle collectively at Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ ridiculous lies or anyone else’s dissembling in this Rogue’s gallery of demagoguery enablers. Of course, the liar in chief should command the biggest guffaws. Imagine if the rest of the world saw such a display of the power of the press in America. Perhaps their laughs and fears at our country’s precipitous decline on sundry levels would turn to respectful appreciation of a the true power of a free press.
10
If the litany of outrages perpetrated by this creature, Trump, do not rise to the level of impeachment, conviction and removal from a sacred office he has repeatedly disgraced, What in God's name does?
4
@Robert McConnell, God doesn't want Trump impeached according to His little pet Congresscritters.
Do we need any more proof that Trump is Putin's Puppet.
Trump and his no longer hidden agenda go hand in hand regardless and relentlessly.
Current events call for a new definition of treasonous behavior.
Globalization calls for this kind of immediate attention for the sake of our democracy and for the sake of our loyalty to our country and for our loyalty to our allies.
Treason, as understood in the 18th and 19th century, must be brought up-to-date and redefined for our modern times.
Trump's behavior has trampled on our country as a democracy and on our government as a viable, reliable, and valid institution designed to protect us from foreign adversaries and their duplicitous behaviors.
Now we need protection from Trump himself.
As a result Trump is guilty of treasonous behavior.
Trump is a traitor - pure and simple.
Call the name-caller by his own well-earned nick name ......... Benedict Trump.
Do unto him what he advocates for another well-known person and then throw away the key.
Lock him up.
(Although Treason can well call for other alternative actions.)
6
"...he wrote, citing The New York Times, CNN, and NBC News, among others, “is not my enemy. It is the enemy of the American people. SICK!” The message was deleted shortly after its posting, but numerous users screengrabbed the tweet for posterity. Several minutes later, the president re-posted the message, with slight tweakings: he added CBS and ABC to the roster of “fake news” outlets, and removed the “SICK!” from the back end. The fiery message branding the media the “enemy of the American people” came one day after a 75-minute press conference in which the president repeatedly fought with members of the media—calling outlets “fake news” and telling one reporter to “be quiet.”
I found this by looking up 'trump calls press the enemy'
6
I would hope, no expect, that the next president, whether Democrat or Republican, will strip this clown of his security clearance on day one.
5
Wake up, GOP senators and representatives.
If President Trump’s removal of John Brennan’s security clearance, combined with his continual assault on the nation’s intelligence services and praise for Putin, do not constitute high crimes and misdemeanors, what, pray tell, ever will?
The GOP legislators have obviously been pummeled into silence and submission by their Trumpuglican colleagues and the by the threat posed by the Trumpuglican base.
There are no profiles in courage among these pusillanimous, self-serving GOP sycophants.
8
@Andrew G. Bjelland, Sr.: Republican Congresscritters don't even get that Trump is working up to pulling their security clearances. It really is Dunce City under the Capitol Dome.
4
I'm reading comments about how the intelligence community has somehow betrayed 'their boss'. trump is not the boss of any citizen, including Brennan, unless we just changed to a totalitarian nation. Anyone (me first!) can call the president's actions 'treasonous', free, honest speech: You know, a little old American value for which several in my family fought and died to protect. Now comes trump, and some here say 'meh' to trump's Ceaser-like punishment of dissent. To you folks, if trump's fee-fees are hurt, it means someone must pay. Brennan doesn't NEED his security clearance. America needs experts like Brennan to have the ACCESS to their field of study, so they can be called upon when needed for consultation. It's been the American way for a long long time. But because trump whines, you point and whine along, suddenly casting public servants as enemies. Then, right on cue, it's "Hillary!". Really weak, people!
2
Should anyone really be surprised that Trump is using his position to silence those that criticize him?? It may seem like ancient history, but recall that it was Omarosa (of all people!) who said in a Sept 2016 interview...
"Every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump. It's everyone who's ever doubted Donald, who ever disagreed, who ever challenged him. It is the ultimate revenge to become the most powerful man in the universe."
It's a sad fact that Trump's move against Brennan is not the first, and it won't be the last.
138
@Jeff B
And isn't it interesting that Omarosa is now no the other end of the sword of retribution?
3
A pox on everyone who voted for that lunatic.
8
He learned at the knee of Roy Cohn, who himself learned at the knee of Joe McCarthy. What else can you say? The apple doesn't fall far from the horse.
9
Speaking of revenge… All during the 2016 campaign, I kept thinking the only reason I paid any attention at all to Trump was in anticipation of the moment his idiotic bluster would lead to his excruciatingly humiliating downfall. I wanted revenge for the torment he was putting the country through. But he survived the primaries. He survived pussy-gate. He survived his poor debate showings. He defeated Hillary, and he defeated me.
His administration has suffered repeated self-inflicted wounds… at first, weekly; now, daily. Even on vacation, he regularly inflicts wounds to himself while trying to exact revenge against his foes and perceived foes.
At this point, I, like many have been living on a knife edge of anticipation of getting revenge on this despicable bully with no… absolutely not one redeeming quality. (I know that’s not charitable, but…) We’ve waited so long, and revenge has been so elusive, I don’t even know if it’ll be satisfying or just a letdown… as in… what took so long… the damage is done already. Sad. Bad.
4
The GOP in the US Congress are just as malignant as Trump !!
Vote all of them out of office....condemn them as betraying
their oaths of office for not defending us from a dictator...!!!!
7
"Mr. Brennan’s spanking is just the latest display of what has become standard operating procedure for this president"
When is the NY Times going to admit the role it played in making this fool president?
When is the NY Times going to start posting the lies on the front page every day they occur to prevent the re-election of this dog.
3
Shortly after lefty types face up to their having helped Trump by picking away at Hillary, pushing fanciful notions, worshipping St. Bernie, demanding absolute purity, encouraging apathy, and refusing to vote?
2
@Robert
"Shortly after lefty types face up to their having helped Trump by picking away at Hillary"
Egged on by the NY Times. If you don't think the NYT was happy to dump on Hilary, then you just weren't reading the same paper I was
Trump never has been able to determine the difference between being the CEO and board of directors of his private corporations and being President of the US. In business he could do whatever he wanted, covering his illegal behavior with NDAs and lawsuits to smother his opponents. He buried his financial incompetence with bankruptcies and by breaking his businesses into many hundreds of LLC's, each with separate liabilities from the others.
In business, he "hit back 10 times harder" against anyone who would dare to oppose him. Threats of destruction were used against anyone who dared to oppose him.
It is simply dumbfounding that Congress is more inclined to bend over to kiss his ring and let the President have his way than to do or say anything. Universally, their jobs are their route to riches and power and to hell with their oath to defend the Constitution.
4
Knowing that the GOP Congress will support him, lets Trump get away with his questionable actions. But, isnt it time to ask why people like McConnell act like Himmler and the Nazi party by allowing dissent to be punished and taking actions one party GOP rule by a partisan judiciary. Thats a lot worse than GOP claims of a partisan press.
I want to see GOP leaders howl when the Democrats take actions to undo these undemocratic actions. Much like their flip-flop and lies on budget deficits the GOP and its propaganda outlets will be the real creators of fake news and facts.
3
Trump is the personification of the republican party and anyone who votes for a republican to any office is complicit in what the party is doing to our country. Trump is a symptom, albeit a dark and sinister one.
Yes, I know that millions of good, honest and patriotic Americans have voted for republicans along with the core of strongman wannabes. We know the right wingnut core will remain exactly what they are ... brownshirts in waiting.
But the good Americans who have supported republicans in the past must not become the "good" Germans of the 1930s, unless of course you want to do so.
The burden of conscience is on you for the next few election cycles. You can either realize that the republican party left you in its pursuit of political power at any cost or you can stay silent and complicit.
2
Real, honest Americans will ensure damaging information about trump's present/past criminal actions are provided to Congress and the News Media that will ensure this piece of dung will spend many years in prison....maybe even getting the death sentence from a judge for treason.
5
To complete his attire as tinpot dictator Donald needs epaulettes. His image is lacking huge epaulettes, with lots of stars and gold braid.
1
So being responsible for a war based on lies and losing over a million lives, close to ten thousand of whom where our US military men and women isn’t good enough for the NYT?
Your once again lying in bed with CIA officials who have already lied to us? What next? Protect Jim Clapper and Dick Cheney?
1
As if Obama was innocent? Dinesh D’Souza...,James Rosen.....Michael Flynn
Drama, revenge, enablers, cheering crowds, grifters, intelligence agents, threats of war, collusion, plot twists, the rich get richer and even more grossly self grandizing! What a great story plot, spy novel, movie script! It’s so fantastic in fact that not once have I ever read or heard of a storyline in which the US President was the one selling out the United States. In full view and with the full cooperation of the US Congress. Am I bad! This is a lousy script. No one would buy this piece of junk. It goes against everything the people of this country have ever believed in and fought for since the US was created. Forget it, no one would believe that kind of treason would ever happen from our commander in chief. Back to the drawing board for a rewrite. But if it did, it would take some real heros to speak up and fight it....
3
Trump accuses Mr. Brennan of “erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary”..... this would be laughable, if it weren't so dangerous. Trump is talking about himself and thinks the American public and the rest of the world are too dumb to see through the con.
2
Trump learned from his mentor Roy Cohn, Joe McCarthy's lapdog, to counterattack without mercy. We, the majority of Americans, clearly see Trump as the unstable ignorant narcissist that plays to racial hatred and bigotry. Trump has degraded the highest office in the land. Viciously attacking his critics, trying to stifle the free press, abuse of women, creating economic and diplomatic chaos around the globe have become the daily Trumpian headlines for nearly two years. The reputation of the United States of America suffers enormously as Trump contaminates the Oval Office.
But the most important message is that Trump represents a serious crisis for American democracy: the collapse of our electoral system. Trump was place in office despite his glaring personal defects and total lack of qualification by a voter minority in an electoral process corrupted by Republican large scale voter suppression and computer-driven gerrymandering, aided and abeted by Russian hackers and fake news
Trump is a symptom of a seriously diseased political system brought about by Republican greed backed by powerful mega-donors and the Fox/Breitbart propaganda machine.. The GOP will do nothing to stem the disgrace Trump brings to all Americans with every word he speaks, every move he makes.
True payback will come when American voters overcome their routine apathy and turn out in huge numbers to restore democracy by voting out the Republicans across the land and getting rid of Donald Trump.
4
The thuggery never seems to end. I can imagine Trump lying awake at night thinking of new ways to be like the kind of lowlife "leaders" he admires. This is a man totally devoid of any sense of how he should behave and how he should respect the office he holds.
2
Nice work Editorial Board, it's truly a joy when you spit in the eye of the apprentice president, our own tin-pot despot. It will be the press that finally brings him down.
3
Lois Lerner comes to mind.
One more step towards making America, not Great Again, but into the banana republic Trump wants to be president of...like his mentor, Vladimir Putin.
2
Why not a word in your piece about Brennan lying to the Congress twice on highly important topics? Why not a word about how questionable some of these former employee (about 5000) security clearance are ? Talk about "laughable". Please: tell the whole story and you will not be viewed as (sometimes) "fake".
1
It did seem pretty clear from Trump and the Right's caterwauling about President Obama's weaponizing the IRS, NSA surveillance of political enemies, and so on during his shabby campaign that the minute he took office, he'd start doing exactly what he lyingly claimed them lib'ruls was doing. Kind of an innoculation, really.
And if this creep (or "CREEP" to offer a historical reference) gets reelected after the GOP holds onto Congress, hang on tight. It'll get radically worse, as this guy moves on from kicking refugees and NFL players and city black guys around to everybody else.
We need to get over the notion that he'll stop at ANYTHING, or that the GOP will ever grow a spines.
Please vote.
3
Donald Trump is the "Veruca Salt" of politics.
3
We will know that it is time for the rubber room when our banana republic President appears before the public in a medal-laden uniform. Wake up people, this country is rapidly heading towards dictatorship. When the institutions of government designed to protect us are led by persons with the same disposition as the president, we, the people, are up the proverbial creek.
3
Is it just me, or do most of the folks yelling at the Times find basic English a real challenge? I mean, I expect Trumpists to be allergic to facts at this point, and their grasp of logic has never been much, but I confess to being continually surprised that the folks who go on and on and on about our national language cannot seem to write in it.
And just to offend everybody, I sure wish us lefties would hold up for a minute or two, and check into what the words, "fascism," and "universal health coverage," actually mean.
Here's a couple hints: "vicious authoritarian know-nothing greedhead," and "Hitler," are not synonyms; nor are "universal," and "single-payer."
The other 'D' word is Despot.
1
I’m reading Madeleine Albright’s book “Fascism: A Warning,” and the parallels between Mussolini’s and Hitler’s rise to power and Trump are striking. Here’s an excerpt:
“Mussolini observed that in seeking to accumulate power, it is wise to do so in the manner of one plucking a chicken—feather by feather—so each squawk is heard apart from every other and the whole process is kept as muted as possible.”
We mustn’t take lightly Trump’s abuses that, step by step, take America away from democracy. Our best defense is to support a free press and vote in November. But in the meantime Republicans in Congress can and should step up before it’s too late.
1
He's a petulant little boy; it's horribly sad that he ever got elected.
3
What continues to amaze me is that Trump continues to get by with all of this. We have been led to think that there are "checks and balances" in the US system of government, but where in the world are they now? Government can commit obvious crimes re immigration and all that happens is local courts beg them to alleviate the vile results--but, then, it is only people like ACLU--Trumps enemies--who actually do try to clean up. And, by now we know with certainty that Trump is now, and has been for a long time, openly obstructing the performance of our system of justice system at the highest levels--and nothing happens. In fact, Republicans are busy making up lies to try to defend this despicable behavior. Republicans, do you really want to live in the kind of country you are busy trying to create--one in which the King can get by with anything and you all will obediently bow and shuffle your feet at his command. You really want that? Remember, some day it will come to you too.
So depressing really and no one seems to be able to do anything to stop it.
How is it that we as a country can have the power and self -given authority start the most catastrophic wars, such as Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan, in "the National Interest".
Yet we can't eject a petulant, greedy and know-nothing man-child from our own presidency, to save our nation from it's constitutional democracy.
3
The way the market works is just for the 1%. It's the very epitome of income inequality at work.
You can't give me an example of an average Joe deciding to take advantage of a short sale opportunity and his local bank loaning him $5M for 30days to cover him to do it in a worthwhile way.
1
The president’s using his office as a daily quest for ratings satisfies his childish need for attention, however when is history writes about him the dailies won’t matter.
He will be seen as the selfish imbecile that he is, putting personal everything before country.
He is an embarrassment to me as an American, a father, and a believer in God.
4
The damage that Trump has caused will continue long after he and the GOP are out of office. Will the next democratic president retaliate by firing every Trump appointee (probably rational as all are unqualified), but also firing every Trump supporter anywhere in government? Will we truly become a Venezuela or Turkey, where all dissent is crushed. Brennan is a free speech issue - I wonder how Kavanaugh will see it? I wonder how he will see a similar action by a democratic president?
Will we have our own version of brown shirts, where ordinary citizens are terrified of either being attacked or snitched on?
Trump will destroy america, which has improbably existed far beyond its expiration date, mainly due to 2 world wars which devastated the competition but left the homeland unscathed. We are NOT a homogeneous culture as is the case in most European nations, where a single ethnic group and culture has dominated for centuries. We are the melting pot experiment, and it is failing. The white nationalists THINK they are the dominant culture, but they are simply a plurality. Trump has done all he can to separate the cultures, and it is working. Like humpty dumpty, we will not be put back together again. Ever.
We have become more like africa, where separate tribes/cultures have artificially been combined into artificial states, but have no connection to each other.
More than just critics though. He is one to step down 10 levels of "management" and berate a postal worker or other federal department worker (G7) and completely usurp the management structure in place - he feels entitled because no one of power has ever said no.
Trump will witness the true meaning of "payback" in November.
1
And that word is “authoritarian.” Come out and say what everyone is thinking!
1
Are our elected representatives in Congress really so unskilled/unemployable that they feel that they must bow down and allow His Majesty Trump to rule unchecked in order to save their jobs?
Well, if that's the case, then they aren't fit for the positions they currently hold and should be given a pink slip this November.
Vote the cowards out who refuse to stand up for this country's democratic principles!
4
Many commentators so aptly describe the disgust and revulsion shared so widely as we gawk at the train wreck of this Republican Administration and House. Calls to vote decisively in November and again in 2020 are the logical next step to "throw the bums out".
Replacing the conservative minority with a liberal majority will not correct the problems that bring us to this precipice. These problems are numerous and origins much deeper than can be cleansed with an election victory. Long standing racism smouldering among so many Americans, haves grubbing so much from those who have much less and the prurient who excitedly seek control over others' reproduction exacerbate retrograde ills. As much as liberals and democrats are not conservatives and republicans, they are still part of the problem as they are indebted to the same monied class who finance politics today. Much of the social and economic destruction of the past fifty years occurred under their knowing stewardship.
It is encouraging to see a liberal activist groundswell emerging in the campaigns of people like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. It will not be enough to elect a small number of such candidates because the political system needs deeper cleansing to confront and address the disaffection of wide swaths of the population. We must all speak out, get involved and contribute to fundamentally change who wields power. Anything less and Citizens United backers will continue to puppet government, economy and society.
5
Americans need to payback Trump at the polls in November.
2
W have a petulant, angry child for a president, and his tantrums will affect us for decades to come. The GOP won’t denounce him because their agenda to change the mores and ethics of this country is being carried out better than they ever hoped for. The hate and bigotry exposed daily throughout the nation are merely the reflection of the leadership of the party. The outright theft and destruction of our natural resources, and the bowing to big business with their quest for more profits over the public good are the soul of this man and his party. The president is a reflection of Mussolini, and we know how that turned out for him. Tyrant, thy name is trump.
What's "rigged" is trump's foul regime, the electoral college and the voter rolls of Republican-controlled states. On November 6, get out and VOTE Let's start rolling back the rot.
4
When does the US wake up? This is no erratic misbehaviour. This is a full blown effort to topple the grounds of your society. You will need a Churchill to match this danger.
10
@Torsten Künzler Thank you very much for taking the time to say this in such a frank manner, from a country that's been through this and where people know where it leads.
1
It is very unseemly for the president to engage in this behavior. What he should have done is to hire a law firm to hire a research firm to hire a foreign spy to type up salacious and unverified material about Brennen. Then he should have fed the salacious and unverified material to the FBI and media to have Brennon investigated and ridiculed. This is how Washington is supposed to work. Trump is so uncouth.
2
Over at CNN Peter Bergen is saying that Trump is picking on the wrong guy. He talks about how tough Brennon is. Apparently his is not tough enough to go it alone and requires many journalists to carry him.
1
Perhaps Trump should begin building a defense fund for his legal team now, because after he leaves the White House, there is surly going to be punitive litigation beyond anyone’s wildest imagination.
This President likes to belittle people as “small”, but in comparison, the Clinton’s post Presidency legal woes are likely to seem “small” in comparison to what Trump and his gang are likely to be facing.
The First Amendment to the Constitution means nothing to Donald Trump. It is time a judge explained it to him in court!
Trump and Guiliani should be hosting a radio show to compete with the likes of Howard Stern instead of pretending to govern this country. Trump is a two note song, bullying and deceiving. OK, make it three notes, or a one chord dude by adding debauchery.
"The president’s statement on Mr. Brennan, conveyed to reporters on Wednesday by the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, claimed that the former director’s clearance had been revoked because his “erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary” posed a risk to national security." If so, should not the President revoke his own security clearance? Not that he reads his daily security briefs, but this rationale describes his own Twitter tantrums to a T.
1
Who has monetized Trump's presidency more than Trump and his tribe of merry crooks?
1
Trump is spiteful, obnoxious child, but far more dangerous.
1
The President continues to be a childish bully just as he was before being sent to military school. GOP, stand up and censure this behavior!
Most unbiased observers agree that mergers among media giants are bad for both "the news media in general" and the public.
It is not clear, then, that an unsuccessful attempt by Trump to block the merger between AT&T and Time Warner would have been anything but a public benefit.
By the usual logic, of course, if he did the right thing it must have been for the wrong reasons.
3
I recall back in the day when Nixon had an enemies list. I suspect Trump is the only one who has multiple lists since then. His thin skin, his pettifoggery, his petulance and sense of self importance is his problem but he is admirably equipped to convince his supporters to think the "others" are the problem not him. Through transference, he convinces his supporters that they too should be afraid of "others" and blame them for their problems.
2
After this presidency, the country needs to consider additional Constitutional Amendments. The Founding Fathers had vehement disagreements with each other, but they had a degree of faith that all wanted to form a better country. Thus, they could not anticipate our current politics or who would use government solely to their own advantage. Nor did they anticipate how the majority leader of the Senate could set almost any rules he/she wanted. So, we need an amendment that the advise and consent function of the Senate be done in a timely manner, eg, within 30 days of a federal judicial nomination, so that any nominee gets a fair hearing and is not blocked by the whim of the majority leader. Citizens United needs to be reversed so that corporations and unions do not have unfair advantage over the voices of the common person in electoral campaigns. I would also like to see lobbyists' financial donations eliminated. The First Amendment would still guarantee them an opportunity to lay out their cases in front of legislators. The operating rules of the Senate need to be codified in the Constitution so that the Senate can't change them at will. Congressional districts need to be determined free of party influence, ie, gerrymandering should be a thing of the past. Collectively, citizens should be allowed to bring cases against government officials, including the president. In this way, failure of Congress to act as a check and balance (as is happening now) could be overcome.
4
I think it's great that Trump revoked Brennan's security clearance and I hope he does so to the others on his enemy list. Now they can join their voices with those of the growing chorus of outspoken critics who freely and loudly protest this grotesque presidency without any restrictions whatsoever.
By taking away the security clearance of Brennen, he has made this country less safe. By weakening democracy, he is not protecting or defending the United States which is one of his main jobs that he swore to at his inauguration.
I remember that it was an honor to be Nixon's enemies list and so it should an equal or greater honor to be on Trump's enemies list.
The man, Trump this time, trades in malicious retribution without thought to dangerous and long-lasting consequences to our country or its citizens.
I would be proud to be on his enemies list put there as a private citizen who considers Trump to be a schweinehund - with apologies to pigs and dogs.
It might be useful, when writing such editorials, to clarify the difference between having a security clearance allowing the current CIA and NSA heads to ask Brennan for comments and advice when new problems crop up, and getting regular briefings on top secret information.
I'm pretty sure that Brennan's briefings stopped some time ago.
Of course, one cannot expect to convince Trumpists. They're too far gone in shouting nonsenses, from how Trump has "the right," to be vindictive all the way to how hey, Obama did the same stuff.
I have no idea how to get it across to them that no, the President doesn't get to act like a loud fool or say whatever he pleases, at least not without hurting the country, from amping up racism, to splitting us apart, to making us look petty and weak internationally.
I dunno if Trump'll get to go all the way to dictatorship, should the midterms collapse and Trump be re-elected. I do know that if anything bad happens--truly bad, 9/11 bad--happens, Trump's already crippled our ability to know how to respond, and shown our enemies that the country's being run by an incompetent fool.
And for that, we'll pay. Bigly, to be sure.
2
With all the time he spends on his vindictive responses to the merest slights, it’s no wonder Trump has no time left to faithfully perform the duties and responsibilities of the President of the United States. SAD!
1
Did the boy who shouted "The Emperor Has No Clothes" have his security clearance revoked? Those with with the courage to challenge authority and to speak truth to power will not be so easily discouraged by King Donald the Dotard.
We should all be focused on taking away this bully's pulpit, starting in November.
1
By the way, I heard Rick Tyler--a Republican--make a good point this morning. He says that Trump and his family have admitted to collusion at least for that meeting in Trump Tower, after trying to keep it secret, lying about it over and over, and accusing Democrats of doing the same thing.
His argument is that if you get together and organize to take meetings with a hostile foreign power to try and get info on a political enemy, then systematically cover up what you did, that's oretty much the dictionary def of collusion. And I get tired of seeing Trumpists scream that there was no collusion, that collusion is not a crime, and that anyway Hillary did the same.
It may or may not rise to the level of criminal conspiracy--but if it does, that's a crime, all right.
1
Trump is like a rain storm ruining the picnic, impulsively reacting from whatever stimulus shows itself, doing everything on the fly....and finding those shiny objects to distract us.
Historical perspectives won't matter. He won't think of Nixon's downfall. He'll grasp onto any notion prompted by a news item, or someone having his ear. Much of it will be self-delusion and assigning blame. But he'll happily inflict insult even if it ends up catastrophic for him, which it eventually will. #Muller Time.
1
When Donald Trump became President Trump, the Republican Party came afloat in full support of its President. It didn’t matter Trump was a conceded individual that didn’t believe in the constitution. Let’s not forget how steadfastly the Republicans approved the $1 trillion given to the rich that financially benefited all members of Congress in accordance to their wealth.
Since there has been an investigation with regards to Russia’s interference with the 2016 elections; the President fears that certain findings could be blowing up in his face though; he’s revoked John Brennan, the former CIA Director Security Clearance claiming he represents a threat to the nation. The President’s actions are only a diversion because all Mr. Brenan has done is use his Constitutional rights to criticize the President for his dubious actions; in particular his constant friendship and admiration toward Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia.
President Trump is a pathological liar; an arrogant and vengeful individual. Like a dictator, he takes action against anyone that is against his political doctrine. It should be worrisome knowing he’s depleting America; he’s given $1 trillion to the rich; spends over $1 million every time he goes to Mar-A-Lago and uses $72 million of taxpayer’s money for his golf outing while there's no money for the poor. He might be purposely
bankrupting this country to turn it over to the higher bidder. Time will tell.
2
And the abominable GOP just sits back and says nothing. Former GOP intelligence officials have had plenty to say.
Being in office and up for re-election makes the GOP rotten to the core. At least appointed GOP intelligence officials have a backbone. Has America regressed? From what? I'm beginning to think Governor Cuomo's remark is accurate. America never was great. It is exceptional only for the absence of moral compass in all these people who acquiesce to the debasement of the American presidency.
1
Trump strips people of their security clearance, calling them a danger to national security. The truth is, they are merely a danger to Trump's security. Trump is a monster who is the biggest threat to national security we have ever had. In the meantime our Congress has forgotten all about the checks and balances that were written into the constitution. The Republicans are scared of their constituents and the Democrats are just scared.
Stripping people of their security clearance also strips away access to their top secret files. In those files are surely signs that would aid the Mueller investigation. So now the only way to access them is by subpoena. Whats to say that these files get lost or destroyed or damaged in a flood in the interim? Its the destruction of files that Trump is after. He who so famously tears up any piece of paper handed to him after pretending to read it.
1
With every dismissal of long-term National Security and Legal advisors the president puts all Americans at risk. Let no one forget that John Brennan was instrumental in the raid that killed the person responsible for 9.11; Osama bin Laden. Any administration with a genuine interest in protecting the county from future terrorist attacks would consider Brennan an invaluable resource.
After reading this article, I'm thinking about the powers of the presidency. Should a president, any president, be able to do all the appalling things that Trump keeps doing? Where is Congress? But since we have a Congress that is terrified of annoying this president shouldn't there be more laws that lay out clearly just what the president can and cannot do. The time, I'm afraid has come when we can't trust the president to not act like a tinpot dictator.
2
Reading this, I thought of the picture Trump took with him and bikers. If anyone hasn't seen it they should Google. There is one in particular I call "his tough guy face". Trump will do anything to maintain that image. Anything. And this incident revealed how many Republicans are in bed with him. And the Russians.
How long must we endure this man? I am counting the days and am wondering if we will survive.
1
In the circus that has become our government, where security clearance is given and then taken away from people with "erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary,” we should expect the next president to revoke the clearance of everyone in the Trump administration. Around and around.
Let's not forget that he knows what the Mueller investigation is investigating. Surely we can see only a glimpse of the measures the Trump team must be taking to avoid legal annihilation.
Clinical narcissists (pathological vs. garden variety egotists) use projections as a weapon. Any time Trump hurls an accusation at someone else, or tacks on one of his schoolyard bully labels onto someone who doesn’t pay homage to him, you can be sure it’s a part of himself he disowns and projects outward.
What excuse for his henchmen and most of the Republican electorate who enable him save for greed, bigotry and sheer opportunism? I’ll work to shift the congressional balance so that there is some institutional check on him, but I am skeptical about the security of those elections.
2
I also suspect that by revoking clearances, the administration will get a new crack at examining the personal details of those that reapply for a clearance. Something I'm sure they want to use against their political enemies.
WHy exactly do these former officials need security clearance? Trump has a point
4
THANK YOU! This president would like to have the powers of a dictator. While we still have a constitution, he is making and has made damaging inroads in our democracy. Where is our Congress? This one should bear the name of a Do Nothing Congress, and its Republican members (or most of them) should not be paid because they are not doing their jobs.
Trump is neither a good man nor a bumbling fool. This is a cold opportunist who has used demagoguery to achieve the Presidency. He clearly does not even try to govern according to principles of reasonable consideration of needs and challenges for the country, nor has he any regard for respecting the constraints imposed by reality in how he makes his decisions aside from playing with people to manipulate them. He does get what he wants by acting this way. Partially it’s because even the worst acting Presidents respected the office and the limits placed upon it until now—he tries to use the office to serve himself. Trump has no willingness to constrain himself. In addition, Trump finds government by consent of the governed to be a farce, in his mind if one has authority use it as one wants until someone stops one. No conscience and only contempt for those who he can harm without risk, that’s Trump. If his father had not been rich, Trump would have ended up with a long criminal history.
1
Actually, the word is obstruction of justice.
1
I used to criticize Brazilians about being supine before authority, and for being so laid back in the face of government abuse of authority. No more. I can't see how Americans continue to put up with this miserable excuse of a human being, but you (we, since I'm a native Texan), are doing just exactly what I criticized the Brazilians for.
2
Someday America will have a leader who isn't anything like this fellow. We'll probably refer to that era as our golden age.
This action by the President won't silence his critics, but it heightens controversy, which is good for TV ratings. The President's actions are easy to explain once you understand his true priorities.
4
One of the justifications for the term "fake news media" is the lack of will to be balanced in reporting news choices. Why did Brennan call Trump a traitor? Why was Bruce Ohr ignored in the "Russia investigation"? How is it that the FBI alerted Feinstein about her spy, but no one in any of the "17 intelligence agencies" alerted candidate Trump about all the spies he was using?
How about a little rebuttal?
http://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/402131-press-needs-to-restore-its-c...
2
It is incredibly distressing that the humanity hasn’t yet learned the basic logical operations, in spite of the colossal accumulated knowledge and experience.
We just don't know how to isolate the problems. We are emphasizing them instead of minimizing, ignoring or discarding.
Why is that happening? The people haven’t mastered the faith yet. That is one of the most fundamental lessons – the problem management and behavioral stamina.
We still cannot control our emotions and values. We are prone to embracing the habits of the random bystanders.
Why did the WWI start? Gavrilo Princip assassinated Franz Ferdinand and the entire hell broke out. It wasn’t construed as an individual act of violence but as an attack of Serbia on the Habsburg Monarchy. Great Britain, France, Russia and Germany couldn’t wait to jump in without even trying to calm down the passions.
Nothing has changed in the meantime.
LeBron James criticized Mr. Trump and the president returned the favor. What did our free press conclude? That the racism and hatred between the white and the blacks is at the highest level?!
The White House incumbent misconstrued what the strength and courage are.
It’s not to overreact to every single provocation. By acting in such a way we lower ourselves to the level of those insulting us.
The real strength is to reply with love and respect on unprovoked hatred and animosity and keep doing it for decades.
Lead by personal example! Don’t imitate the bad behavior!
@Kenan Porobic: All the WW I participants expected the war to be over by Christmas. With today's military technology, that could be a realistic expectation.
Every elected official from either party who is not loudly objecting and prepared to take legal action against the dumpster fire in the White House is guilty of enabling the destruction of our democratic republic and participating in treasonous behavior. There is no longer any middle ground----these people hope to destroy the rule of law and any semblance of civility, honor, integrity or responsibility. Vote!!! This is the only way to push Trump and his enabling sycophants back under the rocks and mud they crawled from.
8
Solution that eludes the media: Turn Off The Damn Cameras
In Mr. Trump's next rally or public engagement, let him look toward the back of the room and see only solitary camera trained on him, that of Fox News.
Outlets may still send reporters with pens and note pads to report as reporters do, but once he seems the lights go dim, this man ceases to exist.
No Foe. No Trump.
22
For the sake of the planet VOTE!!!!!!!!!!!
10
When you have a dishonest thug for president who is supported by a cowardly Republican Party, what can be done? Let's all vote these awful people out.
5
Earth to NY Times: the word you're looking for at the end of the piece is fascism. Use it.
22
Hey donnie! "Crush people who defy you?" Remember, what goes around, comes around! This whole presidency reminds me of the REM song "Orange Crush". And we all know who is the most orange! Speaking of orange, hope they have a prison cell with golden toilets, just for you!!
3
A loud mouthed blowhard who behaves like the biggest boy in the 8th grade class. A petty petty pathetic man.
5
Ms. Huckebee misspoke. There is a petty thug in the White House and he is the one, not Brennan, whose 'erratic behavior and increasingly frenzied commentary', be it in often misspelled tweets or simplistic five word sentence, poses the greatest risk to national security.
This low IQ thug is the one who politicized and greatly monetized his public service, as well filling the pockets of his relatives with ill-gotten money akin to a good ol' crime family Don.
As to security clearance, this unstable, mentally unfit self obsessed vulgarian should have lost his, after he tried to impress two men with a functioning brain, the Russian foreign minister and the Russian ambassador to the US, Kysliak, by nilly-willy telling them about top secret Israeli sensitive information about the brutal Syrian civil war, one that put the lives of uncover agents in that country at risk.
When will the last curtain of this farce and Theatre of The Absurd finally fall?
9
Bravo
2
The people must battle the president until he is squashed like an insect
3
I think we have a new member of the club of Sissi, Suleman, Duterte, Kim, Edrogen, and Putin
10
Off with their heads, off with their heads!! Is the present occupant of 1600 actually a transgender Queen of Hearts?
Little Fat Lord Fonderoy strikes again. Funny how "red blooded Americans" choose a prissy, whiny New Yorker, Godless pervert as their man. Nice job destroying everything you believe in, Deplorables
14
Being President of the United States is not (or at least should not be) a "reality" show full of meaningless drama and negativity, constant chaos and self-contradiction not to mention narcissism of the "host."
Adolph Hitler came to power because of a political vacuum precipitated largely by Germany's humiliating defeat in WW I. He promoted nationalism and pandered to his followers, imprisoned opponents and persecuted Jews under the banner of "ethic cleansing" and racial purity . The actual name of the "Nazi" political party was the National German Workers' Party. Sound familiar?
We too have a political vacuum due to the inability of both major political parties to get beyond partisan rhetoric to true leadership, cooperation and consensus on how to move America forward in the 21st Century rather than back the clock, or hit "reset" to the mid-20th Century. Donny Boy is President, not because of any ability to perform the job (he has none), but solely because America is tired of the political decay and paralysis and B.S.
A core issue here is that, in large part due to the United States and its democratic model, many more countries are on the world stage than there were 50, 100 or 200 years ago. Mr. Tump and his followers stuck in the past, seem to not understand that the United States needs to adapt to that changed reality, rather than destroy those who have benefited.
My motto is "Keep America Great."
3
You certainly pulled your punch, and nearly the plug, on a pretty straightforward, hard-hitting editorial with your awkward exit in the final paragraph. This paragraph is bad writing layered over thinking that previously seemed solid but ends on a very timid tack. Call a spade a spade.
5
What fun is it being an editorial board if you can’t trash Trump on a literally daily basis?
What fun is it being a Trump supporter of you can't pretend that any valid criticism is "fake news?"
1
Immature being.
Banish this little man from the land.
1
I want to say something smart and witty about the obvious parallels to Nixon's Enemies List and his active attempts to, in the words of John Dean, "use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies," but each attempt just makes me more bewildered that such parallels can be made at all.
4
Come on, NYT. We are not children. Use the word, the word you’ve been avoiding, that infamous “ F “ word : FASCIST. Every single move he makes could be taken from a new, updated version of the old manuals, and propaganda booklets. Also deconstructed to suit the audience, and the Users.
“ Fascism for Dummies “. Available online from the Trump Store, and excepts 24/7 on your local FOX affiliate.
Seriously.
7
Brennan a "critic"--perhaps criminal, perhaps deep-swamp malfeasance, or perhaps pathological protection of the "holy" wall at Langley, but "critic"--not a chance.
He worked for the CIA--its mode of truth is the lie, what it looks for in agents, which Ames used against them so effectively--perhaps Brennan's real message.
But "payback", not till the monster (Clapper and Hayden--both former Air Force generals--, too) who helped Bush and Cheney light the Middle East on fire is thrown into the darkest dungeon in the deep-swamp--Langley, criminals by the cohort. Brennan--QED
1
There have been other madmen in the attic of our government. When Hoover was head of the F.B.I, he considered Martin Luther King, Jr. an enemy of the state, bugged his bedroom and then "anonymously" sent the sex tapes to King with a note calling him an "evil, abnormal beast."
Nixon had an enemies list and in a memo Nixon refers to "how we can maximize the fact of our incumbency" in dealing with "persons active in their opposition to our Administration." Nixon wrote of "how we can use the available federal machinery to screw our political enemies."
The difference is that in the days of Nixon, there still existed Republicans who prioritized democratic principles and moral decency over party affiliation. It was ultimately Republican senators who went to the White House to advise Nixon he could not avoid impeachment. I remember clearly Howard Baker's sharp questioning asking, "What did the president know and when did he know it?"
We are not in Kansas anymore. We have spineless and pusillanimous Republicans who have sold their souls for tax cuts for the rich and dominance on the Supreme Court. In 1974, the Supreme Court rejected Nixon's claims of executive privilege. What would happen with our present politically motivated Court?
It appears Trump has free reign to do whatever he wants, using the tools of the federal government at his disposal and no Republican will stop him. This is a Constitutional crisis. If anyone finds the checks and balances, please let us know.
10
Hello Congress. Please Pick Up? Just what do you people get paid for? C'mon!
4
I think the NYT editorial board needed to be a little more blunt and to dig deeper for the meaning of Trump's act. Point 1: As other journalist's have pointed out, Trump's action is one of potentially interfering with the testimony of those with knowledge of Russia's interference in our elections. Point 2: Rather than tip-toeing around the issue, it should have stated bluntly that this the act of an autocrat and that our democracy is not being protected by those charged with doing so (the Republican's in Congress.
8
Trump is the devil incarnate!
3
In short, Brennan is a patriot, Trump is just an ordinary two-bit thug.
7
OMG! I am just so tired of it all.
3
Typical behavior for an inept, spoiled rich child...."we-venge" to quote "Ken" from the film, "A Fish Called Wanda"
2
All Trump has shown me is how easy it is for us to lose our democracy and for the Constitution to be undermined, how easy it would be for this country to fall into the hands of an autocrat and become a banana republic. Yet, I don't blame Trump. Trump is who he is, and he shows us overtly every day that he is a petulant, angry, vindictive narcissist who has no understanding whatsoever of the presidency and revels in abusing his powers, usually to punish anyone who dares say no to him or otherwise dissent from him. No, the real culprits are Republicans, esp. those in Congress, for abdicating their responsibilities and breaking their oaths in order to let this loon run free in exchange for tax cuts for bazillionaires. 88% approval of this utterly unAmerican president by Republicans???? They have lost any right to ever claim to be patriots. But also his base. These citizens have also abdicated their responsibilities as US citizens and instead have allowed themselves to be sucked in by this fraud of a man, by his cult-like control of them; they're adoration of hi over things they would condemn in anyone else is telling. This is America under Republican control, not Trump control.
11
Weak, petty, ineffectual.
1
When you're a sociopath with an anti-personality disorder (narcissism), "payback" is an essential part of who you are. You need adulation and praise (hence the frequent rallies) and anyone who has the temerity to disagree or disparage you must be mercilessly and ruthlessly destroyed to protect your weak sense of self. This is what has been on display this entire week from the racist name-calling of Omarosa Manigault Newman to the revocation of the security clearance for former CIA Director John Brennan to the attack on the "free press" as "colluding" against him. The damage this is doing is magnified by the total silence from the Republican political establishment. We have a blatant racist in the White House, but no one among the Republicans says anything. We have an attack, really a political purge, of our national intelligence agencies that began with James Comey and now has evolved into a Nixonian "enemies list" that includes a current high-ranking official, and no one says anything. Where is director of National Intelligence, Dan Coates, or CIA Director, Gina Haspel? AWOL, when they should condemn the spiteful political retaliation against John Brennan. Where is the Republican Party as these attacks as well as those against a "free press"--a 1st amendment guarantee--are made? They have allowed a mentally disturbed man to seize unfettered autocratic power and exercise real "'erratic conduct and behavior.'" Governance by subservience and vindictiveness is autocracy.
10
Yes , the word about Donald Trump’s leadership is decidedly not “ democratic “. We have entered an era in which the President of United States , has become decidedly autocratic and dictatorial in his approach to governing. What we are now seeing is a form of neofascism, and as it was with Nazi Germany the first step of a neofascist is to delegitimize the press.
The New York Times and the Washington Post have a responsibility to continue to speak truth to power. They are anything but the enemy of the people.
.
5
The word you dare not say in the last line of this otherwise good piece is dictatorship. And you need to say it. We're beyond the time of being coy and hoping that the suggestion is enough to get the idea across without "offending the base" or looking adversarial. Well, having been branded "enemies" of the people, you need to take up the sword and call things what they are: an assault on democracy, and an ongoing coup against our form of government.
3
The pettiness, vindictiveness and bullying, accompanied by narcissistic need for constant attention, is so unpresidential, especially when comparing Trump to his classy predecessors.
Can you even imagine Lyndon Johnson or Richard Nixon calling a lady presidential assistant a "dog" while they were perpetrating the Vietnam Holocaust?
Can you ever picture Harry Truman barring a reporter from her job while Truman was nuking children in Nagasaki and Hiroshima?
Would FDR have inflated his inauguration crowds while he was putting Japanese Americans in concentration camps?
Would George W. Bush have mocked a disabled reporter while Bush was exterminating many innocent people?
Compared to his predecessors, including slave owners, Trump has no class.
3
DJT’s worn out, imperious “witch hunt” phrase is meaningless, making us laugh out loud and roll our eyes. Can someone at the WH inform DJT the witch has been found, and it’s him. It’s why he is so wigged out about Brennan educating us about treason.
2
Juvenile petulance - clear and simple.
1
The word is tyrant.
1
The world's most infantile electorate on this planet didn't even vet Trump's tax returns before giving him the keys to every last secret in the USA, including dossiers on all the Congresscritters.
4
Donald Trump said that people who don't believe in "eye for an eye" payback for their enemies are fools. Some might call them Christians. But now here comes Omarosa, the reality show super-villainess created by Trump. Like Trump, she is cunning, ruthless, media-savvy, and laser-focused on her own well-being even at the expense of the country's well-being. And she is hell-bent on giving Trump a lesson in payback. From this I draw two conclusions. First, the spineless toadies (Paul Ryan, Orrin Hatch, Lindsay Graham, Mitch McConnell) who serve as Trump's simpering minions would be well-advised to adopt Omarosa as their role model. Second, in making Omarosa the instrument of Trump's downfall, God shows that he has a sense of humor.
7
@Glenn Wright, the whole US is biased to over-react without restraint. This country started WW III over something done by 19 people who died doing it.
I think We could really slow down all this criticision of Mr. Trump, if He ould just pretend too be human for just a few days.I know what was I thinking.
2
Impeach. And convict. Now.
3
Oh no, using the levers of government to attack your critics? What could be more corrupt?
Imagine, for example, using the IRS to harass political organizations you don't like. Shocking!
Even better, using the DOJ and the FBI to help your political allies gin up salacious and unverified allegations against a candidate in an attempt to torpedo his election. Oh my goodness!
How about planting spies in an opponent's campaign staff? Or selectively leaking false, damaging stories to a fawning, compliant press? Holy cow!
A president who orchestrates those sorts of things should be in jail, don't you think?
2
Since the "free" press tells me it needs my voice, let's give it another try.
This is one heck of a tortured editorial. ". . . insufficiently obsequious coverage by The Washington Post . . ." Really? I am trying to recall at least one piece from the Post that would not be critical of the president. And this is not the only distortion of facts included into this self-righteous editorial. One can write much about this episode and that episode but this will do nothing to the main problem. And the main problem for the NYTimes (that prominently colluded with other liberal MSM and attacked Trump recently) and for the MSM is the fact that they are losing the battle for the minds of the American people. A majority of Americans disapprove they way the liberal MSM handles itself.
3
@Gennady
CRITICAL THINKING is such a problem in America! Some drink their own bath water at FOX and others at CNN. You sound like someone sipping from the Fox tub. I do want to compliment you for reading the NYT despite your clear disdain for it. I occasionally subject myself to Fox too.
This is labeled an EDITORIAL for a reason. No one said it was the news. And I suspect, if this were an editorial about Hillary Clinton, you would be outraged that she used her power for payback and intimidation of her political enemies, including the press.
Two words describe Trump. Sore Loser!!!
When he doesn't get his way, he blames everyone but himself.
I know this will come across as aggressive, but I can't help but recall my high school class on 'Modern European History', and the lessons of one Adolph Hitler. When will we in America collectively wake up and recall those lessons? Just one example - should those Americans who actively separated toddlers from their parents at the border, with no regard for the young children's welfare (or even geographic destination, or ability to be reunited with their parents), eventually be subject to prosecution for crimes against humanity? Is it all "ok" because Trump deigned it so? This is far from the 'great' America that I believed in.
11
@Ben
We are all waiting for you to wake up.
Delusion is a funny thing.
Some folks never can shake it.
Tough guy draft dodger. Nuff said.
4
Trump is nothing but a coward. He ambushes people from behind a wall. He never has the guts to do anything when they are right there in front of him. The latest is the Omarosa tape we’re he claims in front of her to know nothing about he firing. What a weasel. He is not a strong man in any sense. What he is is a vindictive coward who crumbles in any face to face situation. We have a snake as a President. The least honorable of men.
2
This is one heck of a tortured editorial. ". . . insufficiently obsequious coverage by The Washington Post . . ." Really? I am trying to recall at least one piece from the Post that would not be critical of the president. And this is not the only distortion of facts included into this self-righteous editorial. One can write much about this episode and that episode but this will do nothing to the main problem. And the main problem for the NYTimes (that prominently colluded with other liberal MSM and attacked Trump recently) and for the MSM is the fact that they are losing the battle for the minds of the American people. A majority of Americans disapprove they way the liberal MSM handles itself.
2
"And that word is not “democratic.”" .... Is this really the best the New York Times can come up to conclude an editorial laying out the nature of President Trump? "....not "democratic"". What is the word? Need help? How about "Un-American", "Incompetent", or "Gross failure of leadership".
6
@Richard: Trump is the puss exploding from the unhealed wounds of slavery in the US.
There is no infrastructure to reign Trump in. All the hopeful people working so hard to protect democracy sadly cannot see the forest for the trees.
The forest gone. The trees cut down. And America is finished. It is too late to bring a corpse back.
Trump will rise again and the reality that we are ruled by a psychotic does in no ways mean Trump has lost his grip, his cruelty, his racism, and we are all painfully aware of this long list of freedoms he has obliterated.
America is not in danger. The American sword, now glittering with the blood of lost children, IS the danger.
How does Trump fear nuclear conflict, with anyone, when the man himself, the King of Chaos, can fly above it, can burrow under the ground of ashes, and then rise again with fake stigmata on his hands.
You have elected a traitor.
You have elected the dismantling of your own freedoms.
You have kicked the rest of the world into the ditch. The rest of the world will remember.
America is gone.
There is nothing left to save.
No one wants to say this, but the American people are not the bright and shining light they think they are. You have lost the fight.
There is no coming back. The people who are so heavily invested in the system will insist that Trump can be defeated.
This, in spite of overwhelming evidence that an aberrant, serial, sexual predator can actualize his psychosis with impunity. The media now under attack were the very people who gave the predator his stage.
Tragic. And stupid.
2
Has President Trump used the IRS, FBI, CIA or NSA to go after political opponents? How about unmasking information gathered by the NSA and leaking it to friendly reporters at the Washington Post or NY Times? It's becoming obvious that Brennan initiated, or at least participated, with other members of the Obama team in spying upon the Trump campaign using Russian "collusion" as a reason. A lot of Pulitzers are being left on the table as the facts dribble out, thanks to a small group people dedicated to getting the facts. We still don't know who the reporters are that were paid by Fusion GPS. Can the Times assure us that none of its personnel were paid by this Clinton/DNC funded organization?
1
Yes Mueller will get the facts to "lock Him up "
Donald Trump's firings of James Comey, Sally Yates, Preet Bahara and attempted 'witness tampering' intimidation against John Brennan = slow moving "Saturday Night Massacre."
2
For those who wonder about the silence of the German people before WWII that allowed Hitler come to power, it's time to look at the US right now. There are some with credibility speaking out like Wm McRaven but far too many are sitting on their hands while this president takes acts of revenge on those who dare to criticize him. What he is doing is silencing witnesses that could testify against him and doing whatever it takes to get rid of the Mueller investigation. As Americans who really do want their country back, it's time to speak out at every turn.
4
By golly, the NYT focus is on chimera while Mr. Brennan violated, according tp Senator Diane Feinstein, the civil rights of her committee, Select Committee on Intelligence, by the invasion of their private proceedings.
The NYT opinionating ought be about China's training flight crews for a new intercontinental, nuclear carrying bombers which will be deployed in the next 12 to 24 months. Loral's sale of sophisticated guidance systems during POTUS Clinton Administration continues to pay dividends for China at expense of the Individual and State Sovereigns of the United States.
3
Monkey see, monkey do, shooter-boy. Nobody has a monopoly on physics.
Beyond wondering why in the world we should be terrifed of sales of nav equipment that happened twenty years ago, may one ask how you think we find out about what China's up to?
I urge the press corp to totally disregard any “order” that they can not attend a breifing. Just go!!sneak in! Let them kick you out, hopefully on camera!
2
But, Brennan is so thoroughly honest - when he is not lying through his teeth to Congress and the American people.
A Democrat martyr.
Took one for the team - and Hillary, of course.
And so honest, too.
4
Were I so unfortunate as to find myself a Trumpist, I like to think I would still retain the horse sense to stay well clear of such a topic as lying through one's teeth.
1
The word you're looking for is dictator.
4
All the attributes that you mention as bad, are considered good in Trump's world. That is why Trump's supports grow more loyal every day.
1
For a paper that usually has the “best words” you disappoint me NY Times. Don’t tell us what Trmp and his regime are not. Say the words. Despotic, Authoritarian, Autocratic, Tyrannical. He MUST be called out as what he is and how he behaves. It’s extra horrifying, as the Republicans are in lock-step behind him. Forget sbout spades. Let’s call a Dictator a Dictator.
380
Dear Kathryn, it is much more important to see reality than to blindly criticize those you do not agree with.
@Kathryn:Everything he's done is within his powers and what has he done. You like Brennan so much? wasn't he the CIA chief allowing for torture methods? wasn't he involved with guaranteeing Iraq had Nukes primed for NYC? wasn't he part of that NSA cabal spying on us?. Now isn't he making a mint on anti-Trump cable shows spinning his anti-Trump propaganda? why would Trump want him having access to the his administration?.
@Kathryn
I was surprised by the switch to negative as well. Why even bother writing the paragraph if you're going to dump the ending in a Ron Burgundy moment. "And that word is not 'democracy'?" I think the author got lazy.
All the comments here, and in all the previous opinion pieces are true, but mind-numbing over time. Our critiques fail to inspire any changes in the direction we're headed. I firmly believe that Trump has some serious dirt on our intelligence and law enforcement agencies. There's no other way that he could get praise and cooperation from the likes of Orrin Hatch and Mitch McConnell and all the other willing participants in Congress. Remember when Trump used to call for the reopening of the 9/11 investigation, before his campaign? He has something big on our security agencies. There's no other explanation for his fearless behavior toward them being as tolerated as it has been. Congress is largely silent about his brazen attacks on his own agencies. And Rudy is in on the secret. I'm sure of it.
I think all of us need to suspend our daily analysis of the symptomatic words and actions and focus on the root cause: mental illness. If Trump was a colleague or family member, he would have been directed towards treatment by either choice or intervention.
Trump is part of the elite , the 1%, so his mental illness is rationalized , ignored or excused. He has been insulated by his wealth and enabled by by those benefiting from his wealth so he goes untreated. He is sick , and as President of the United States, he is dangerous. I thought he should have been removed from office months ago for medical reasons as it would have been the most humane solution. But now we are all in trouble.
7
Trump is still a bully boy from New York city and has not grown up as sensible adult. He has to win by hook or by crook. We are unlucky that he has become our president. Moreover, Trump is suffering from Russia Collusion Phobia. By firing Comey ,he made Collusion case more serious. By taking away security clearance from Mr.Brennan and others will make his case more complicated. Now these guys may take revenge which will be very bad news for Trump. Tit for TAT.
2
It’s more like the troll president. Only a troll gets away with bizarre talk about diverting water for smelt causing wildfires during a cabinet meeting. And his spineless appointees nod their heads like characters out of The Emperors New Clothes. And no one mentions the strange white circles around his eyes that appear to be from tanning bed goggles. What would happen if an egotistical troll was elected? We now know.
5
While I fully agree with the sentiment of this piece, and think Trump should be criticized at every turn for his autocratic tendencies, going after the NFL's tax-exempt status and blocking yet another merger of massive media companies aren't the worst ideas. But Trump's reasons for wanting to do those things are obviously not the right reasons.
Whoa, Editors! First, please explain in detail just why anyone at all, after leaving Government service, ought to continue to see classified Government information.
What Principle says that any former CIA chief should keep on reading -- and publicly commenting on, with the benefit of "inside information" -- highly sensitive classified information?
This is not about Trump, it's about a sloppy "habit" of putting sensitive current information into the hands of individuals who are no longer working for the US Government. Some of them appear to be ringing the cash register on the basis of their continued access to sensitive information.
Why should the Reagan-Bush insiders keep their clearance if they leave office after Clinton (Bill) is elected? Why should J Edgar Hoover keep his access after finally passing the torch?
It's a seriously bad habit. Rather than punish individuals a la Trump, just cancel the clearance as soon as an insider leaves office. Always, End of story.
1
@mitchell Except to the extent that those individuals can offer insights to the current administration. In other words it's called experience
2
"...... she only said GREAT things about me - until she got fired!"
If John Brennan had held his nose and lied through his teeth, and babbled about how GREAT Trump is instead of telling the truth, he'd be the recipient of some high-paying government position that requires no work. Instead, he was one of the few ranking individuals with the guts to tell it like it is.
Our president is incompetent, vindictive, and both mentally and morally unfit. Worse, he's a traitor.
11
Article should have ended with "that word is fascist". Why was Nixon's "Enemies List" a source of shock and impeachment, and Trumps's active revenge crusade not?
3
Rich. The IC has been using payback and enemies lists since Hoover and Dulles--and the GOP since Nixon--and now it's a problem?
1
The editorial board at the N.Y. Times presented a well reasoned, comprehensive examination of President Trump's conduct with regard to his corrupt misuse of the entire Executive Branch of the U.S. government. The editorial was appropriately direct in addressing the specific abuses in which the President has engaged.
Despite the admirable content and reasonable criticism that appeared intermittently through the editorial it must be counted as a conspicuous failure. The last sentence and the concluding thought that it conveyed was so lacking in the courage of its convictions as to be an embarrassment. The corrupt abuses of power that this administration has openly engaged with the intent of eviscerating our democratic institutions demands direct confrontation. To retreat, in a conspicuously cowardly fashion, to the characterization "not Democratic" is unforgivable. Even claiming it was intended as an ironic literary device, fails to excuse the lack of courage it revealed. The President is pushing aggressiv toward an authoritarian level of personal power. Your recognition of that reality needs to be made plain and discussed openly if you intend to claim to be fulfilling your essential role as flagship publication representing the free press in our elydemocracy.
2
Call the thing what it is. What it is is naked treason.
This is the President of the United States we are talking about, not some organized-crime thug. He has the power to launch all our nuclear weapons, at his sole discretion, with no need to even cite a reason. Let's just hope he keeps his petty vindictiveness focused on specific people and doesn't get the idea that the whole world is against him.
5
@Howard: Going by his parting words on the way to his New Jersey golf course today, Trump has soared to the outer limits of human megalomania.
I just finished watching the Netflix series “Circle of Evil “ about Hitler’s rise to power. Silencing critics especially the news media and demonizing the “other” were measures that Hitler used in order to gain a stronghold on German citizens. These are indeed frightening times. It is apparent trump has decided to silence his critics just as Hitler did more than 80 years and look where that got us. It’s appalling that the GOP stands by silently watching this horror show unfold.
5
45 thinks running this nation is his personal toy. it's amazing one third of the population defends this spoiled brat.
11
It is incredibly distressing that the humanity hasn’t yet learned the basic logical operations, in spite of the colossal accumulated knowledge and experience.
We just can’t isolate the problems. We are emphasizing them instead of minimizing, ignoring or discarding.
Why is that happening? The people haven’t mastered the faith yet. That is one of the most fundamental lessons – the problem management and behavioral stamina.
We still cannot control our emotions and values. We are prone to embracing the habits of the random bystanders.
Why did the WWI start? Gavrilo Princip assassinated Franz Ferdinand and the entire hell broke out. It wasn’t construed as an individual act of violence but as an attack of Serbia on the Habsburg Monarchy. Great Britain, France, Russia and Germany couldn’t wait to jump in without even trying to calm down the passions.
Nothing has changed in the meantime.
LeBron James criticized Mr. Trump and the president returned the favor. What did our free press conclude? That the racism and hatred between the white and the blacks is at the highest level?
The White House incumbent misconstrued what the strength and courage are.
It’s not to overreact to every single provocation. By acting in such a way we lower ourselves to the level of those insulting us.
The real strength is to replay with love and respect on unprovoked hatred and animosity and keep doing it for decades.
Mr. Brennan knows the difference between intelligence and evidence. Whether he has the evidence and failed to act or makes accusations without evidence he betrays the public trust. In either case, an objective observer must exercise caution before defending someone who routinely concealed facts and spread misinformation.
“But we must never allow ourselves to march under the banner of a false narrative on behalf of someone who would otherwise offend our sense of right and wrong. And when we discover that we have, we must acknowledge it, admit our error and keep on marching.” ‘HANDS UP, DON’T SHOOT’ WAS BUILT ON A LIE. March 16, 2015 (Capehart, 2015)
It's all about R E S P E C T - and Donald Trump ain't got none for nothin' and nobody. Well, what goes around comes around...
8
"There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code, postal rates, antitrust laws and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not 'democratic.' "
C'mon, NYT, out with it: What IS the word? Oligarchical? Dictatorial? Fascistic? I'd like to hear you call a spade a spade.
3
What fun is it being President if you cannot round up your enemies and other political undesirables? And relocate them.
2
Brennan is a retired senior intelligence official with 25 years as a CIA analyst and 4 more as CIA director. Trump wants to revoke his clearance despite longstanding norms. Meanwhile, Jared Kushner, whose sole qualification is he is Trump’s son in law, still has clearance.
Apolitical? Don’t urinate on my shoes and tell me it’s raining.
4
What fun is it is you cannot use the IRS to attack your opponents like Obama did? Chilling.
1
@Scott K Really? Never heard of any IRS attacks unless you are referring to the review of the political groups masquerading as not for profits.
1
Her's the thing: that didn't happen. What happened is that you lot flipped out after the IRS started saying no to far-right churches that regularly ran political campaigns from the pulpit.
You see, giving such orgs tax breaks is illegal. But I certainly see why folks who want taxpayers to support their madrassas would be vexed.
1
Mr Trump is acting out his personality disorder with the tools of government.
11
The story ends with the Earth as Trump's cosmic tomb.
1
This is what happens when you put a petty, petulant, self-absorbed man in the White house. Hopefully we will correct that action in 2 years.
2
Or sooner!
1
"There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code, postal rates, antitrust laws and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not 'democratic.'"
Why don't you call it for what it is? Fascism.
10
If “erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary” get you in hot water at the White House, Rudy Giuliani will be looking for a new job very soon.
7
If Brennan says our President is a traitor, I believe him.
I’m not talking crooked or self serving, I’m talking traitor.
Yes sir, I believe our President is a bonafide traitor.
8
There’s really no other way to see it, is there?
"his lackeys often feel moved to offer some type of official cover story for his petty thuggery"
Did Trump bring on this sort of language from the NYT Editorial board? Has the higher road been totally washed out? The words "lackey" and "thuggery" are strong.
It seems like it's getting worse by the day and this newspaper has swallowed the hook, line, and sinker of Trump's fishing expedition to lower the discourse.
1
Where is the Praetorian Guard when we need it?
1
Putting aside Trump’s erratic and vindictive behavior, I think he is right to revoke Brennan’s security clearance.
Brennan (like Omarosa and Comey) has been on the media circuit for months looking for exposure by criticizing the current president - mostly to sell their “tell-all” books. Why should they continue to have the tools of confidential information - especially as they no longer are in any capacity where they need it?
I have much more respect for Barack Obama who has not penned op-eds on the current administration. Surely he has opinions?
You will argue that Brennan has a right to speak his mind? But if so, he has no right to continued access to classified information. Does a current CIA Director also have the right to publish Op-Eds so long as he does not reveal classified information? Why stifle his opinions?
Moreover Brennan’s op-ed smacks of irresponsible bias. He wrote that Trump’s denial of collusion is “hogwash.” Based on what? Based on Trump’s campaign speech wishing Putin to release Hillary’s emails if he has them. That may be mockery and sarcasm - but it’s definitely not collusion. If Mueller isn’t ready to report that there was collusion and the Congressional investigators haven’t found it, how did Brennan?
To me the fact that he even wrote such an opinion for the papers justifies his being stripped of his security clearance.
2
No, actually: based on Trump's kids and campaign manager knowingly meeting with Russian agents to try and get info on a political opponent, doing it in secret, and then repeatedly lying about having done it.
That, my dear, is called, "collusion." We don't know as yet if Trump himself was directly involved, we don't know if this rises to the level of criminal conspiracy, but we darn sure know that what they've finally admitted to is collusion.
Sorry that words have, you know, actual meaning. No matter how many times you people shout that there was no collusion, that there was collusion but collusion is not a crime, and that anyway your precious Barry Obama did the same.
1
One TC clearance down, 1.3 million to go.
The institutional knowledge that these men and women have is incredibly important. They are called for that reason.
A friend who is a nuclear specialist is often called in to brief military and government officials including people from this administration without his security clearance he would be unable to do this. Taking away his security clearance would do nothing to take away the classified knowledge that he carries in his mind but he would not be permitted to attend meeting where he could share his knowledge with the people who need it because he would not be allowed in a classified meeting and our country would be the loser.
207
@K D It's not about security clearances. It's about a president who has the mentality of a street thug.
3
As a democrat I have spent years now working to understand as best I can what is happening in the parts of the country that I am not fully familiar with. I know the fabric of this country is not as simple as the newspaper and other media make it seem. With that said, it is plain and simple that this administration does not represent the majority of this country and all of the things that make it great. This administration has created a made for TV upside down world that is exciting to watch in the media but terrible to live in and the potential consequences when the TV show of a presidency is over it could be devastating to our economy, environment and well being. I do not have very many levers to pull to get this administration out but, I will do all I can in the hopes that this ends starting this November.
6
I watched him on TV this morning.
By my count, which I admit is only an estimate that falls considerably short of the exact number, he is currently in the midst of his 19th nervous breakdown since taking office.
The Rolling Stones had a song about this back in 1966.
https://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/rollingstones/19thnervousbreakdown.html
5
If Obama had acted as Trump does, Trump would have been exiled just like Napoleon, also without the internet. And the whole world would be better for it. So, shame on Obama for not being despotic and vindictive.
2
None (i.e. Republicans) dare call it (t)reason!
Take comfort in knowing - "what goes around comes around." The pox on House Trump will be epic.
7
“Why do we have nuclear weapons if we don’t use them?”
3
What fun is it being the "paper of record" if you can't punish those who don't agree with your worldview?
1
Kind of like having the IRS go after TEA Party organizations and conservative think tanks, or maybe siccing regulators on a credit agency that downgraded U.S. debt rating?
Republicans wanted a two-bit dictator and they got one in Don. The whole country is paying the price for their awful choice. Time to remedy the situation in November by voting Democrat.
9
The beatings will continue until morale improves!
3
As Trump unequivocally proves he is an Authoritarian and his administration is Fascist, (what’s so hard about saying that?) naive enablers in the GOP like Paul Ryan would do themselves and the country a supreme service by digging up an old copy of Eric Fromm’s “Escape from Freedom” which attempts to explain why well meaning people give up their democratic freedoms.
It’s happened before and their is no reason to believe it can’t happen again, only a fool would think otherwise.
6
Wow. Imagine how awful it would be if Trump actually went so far as to weaponize the IRS against his critics.
1
A clear abuse of power, another impeachable offense.
9
From the teacher he punched in second grade, to the students he defrauded at Trump U., to the contractors he bilked, to the women he harassed , and on and on ad nauseum, Trump has left the kind of pain and suffering (financial and personal) in his wake that even a Mafia boss would envy.
In word, and deed, and now “tweet,” inflicting damage on his fellow human beings (losers) now appears to be the only thing that energizes and brings our “sociopath-in-chief” anything resembling joy.
Although 63 million Americans gave him an unparalleled platform from which to exact retribution, I think he is seething in frustration at the scale of the “payback” challenge he is now faced with- e.g.Brennan and millions of non-supporters here and abroad.
So many enemies, critics, newspapers etc.- so little time!
12
Trump combines Andrew Jackson's racism with John Adams' thin skin.. and still doesn't come close to their greatness in the pantheon of presidents
5
It is also probable that Trump, glorying in what he views as unfettered "You're Fired" power, also has some inkling that those he's stripping of security clearances are potential witnesses to conspiring with Russia to gum up the 2016 election. Or at least his legal team has that recognition. Sad!
5
The guy has got to go. A confused and vindictive second rate mind playing at being the country's chief executive. Just hoping we can get out of this before anymore serious harm is done.
8
Agreed, however his mind is somewhat lower than 3rd rate.
Trump spends as little time as he can on the duties of a president because he doesn't know what they are. It's as simple as that. He isn't capable of defending the constitution and the laws created to uphold the promise of a free and fair society. He has been a person of privilege all of his life and has no concept of what work really is. His hands have never been dirty in a literal sense, but they certainly are in the figurative. He has been a bully all of his life and his parents had to send him away to boarding school because they could not exert any control of him. He is an amateur in a position where it is imperative to have a professional. He conducted his businesses by threat and obfuscation, lying and cheating whenever the opportunity arose. He continues with that modus operandi in his capacity as the president. The word we are looking for is TOXIC!
8
I can’t wait until the era of governance by tweet is over. It’s reduced the gravitas and mechanics of government to a limited vocabulary of invective that even a 10 year old wouldn’t use. We’re bombarded with it night and day and the medium trivializes what little message is there.
It’s time to just say no to the much magnified base of this man that does not represent the majority of this country. Stop caring if their howling gets louder. Stop pandering to the hypocrisy of the religious right. Claws out, people. There are more who are not like them than ones who are, and the sane and rational must lead when others won’t.
And maybe it’s past time the Democrats start working on a plan to curb presidential power in the future. I never thought I’d say that, but having one man with the power to do so much is looking like a bad idea these days.
10
It is beyond my understanding that any (non-racist) American - rich, poor or in-between, can support this abomination of a presidency.
9
The NYT should have asked this question to Obama when he used the IRS to punish political opponents, or should have asked the FBI and DOJ about their use of a FISA warrant to spy on and attack political opponents. This one sided drumbeat of hatred for Trump needs to stop before you go bankrupt. You already have zero credibility as a news organization.
1
Teddy Roosevelt was a President with a bully pulpit. This man is just a bully.
10
It is patently clear that trump is a liar, petty and vindictive, essentially unfit for the office he holds. So where are the honest statesmen among republicans who are in a position to hold trump accountable. I don't see any leaders standing up to him.
The republicans and their deep pocketed donors are getting their cherished tax cuts and de-regulation and they don't care about good governance or public policy. The people and democracy be damned.
Come November show them all the door if you love your country.
2
There is no limit to the abuse of American democracy that the Republican Congress will stand.
7
Has the Oval Office been swept of Russian bugs?
4
The word is "criminal".
12
Yeah! Fascism has come to America. What??!! This is America, and this can't happen here.
Huh! Watch and enjoy.
It won't surprise me to see prisons for political opponents. I'm beginning to think that Trump drools at what other dictators can do.
And, people still support this dude. Is it the blind leading the blind or being just plain stupid?
8
Trump fights back against liberal bullies. Love it!
Donald Trump in one words: BOORISH!
2
Well, I'm sure no other president in US history has ever used his power to get back at his enemies. Did Dick Nixon do anything like that? Fire a special counsel or something of the sort? I can't quite remember. How about Lyndon Johnson? FDR? No, Trump must be the one and only, right liberals? All the other US presidents were angels. Saints. Or maybe even gods, correct?
@Eddie You have mastered Whataboutism 101 and are ready to move on to the second semester class.
2
So...your basic argument is that because Hitler ran concentration camps, lib'ruls can't have no objections to sticking little kids in cages.
Good to know.
2
@Eddie no president has ever been as petulant, hateful, spiteful, openly racist and incompetent as Herr Trump. He belongs to you Republicans, and you will pay dearly for having elected him.
2
When you point your finger at the other guy—- we know you are guilty.
2
During the campaign Trump tells Russia to find Hillary’s missing e-mails, e.g. “hack whomever” and now he wants to censor a respected national security advisor who has kept our national secrets secret? Trump can’t keep his mouth shut because he was taught by Roy Cohn and Roger Stone to “attack, attack and attack” and “never defend” and we have to make a choice as to who we trust. That choice seems pretty obvious doesn’t it? Trump is the most disgusting, sleazy excuse for a politician I have ever seen on a national platform. I thought Nixon was bad. Or George Wallace. But after watching parts of “Get Me Roger Stone” - I can only watch 5 minutes at a time it’s so vulgar to think humans actually think like these people - I can honestly say the bottom of the barrel is much, much deeper than I ever realized.
4
How about you say what the word is. Enough already!
1
"... his “erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary” posed a risk to national security."
I wholeheartedly agree. Such behavior does indeed pose a national security risk. Which is why we need to revoke Trump's presidency.
5
All this was known well before Trump even hinted at seeking the nomination. What is surprising about any of this?
(Well, actually, that despite of the overwhelming evidence of this man's unfitness for the job of President of the USA, your system still made him so. That is truly surprising.)
2
Mr. Trump who seems to take his cues from Stalinist history first he repeated the "press is the enemy of the people" line and is now using purges. Had he the power of execution or at least a trip to Siberia this latest imitation would have taken on drastic proportions. Maintaining security clearances after retirement is not some monetary or special privilege that benefits the retiree. What the privilege provides is for the former official to stay up to date with potential crises so that they can assist current high officials to make better decisions. Since Mr. Trump lacks the wisdom to reach out for the best advice and chooses to go it alone on most major decisions he regards the practice as unnecessary.
2
@Michael Kelly
trump is currently working with Putin on a deal to use Siberia on a rental basis.
2
With the other two co-equal branches of government stand-up to this wannabe tyrant?
1
He is petty and vile, in addition to being a criminal, mobbed up with Russians for decades.
And obstruction of justice? Of course.
Where are those republicans who always have told us what great "patriots " they are? Gutless wonders, and by allowing this venal would-be dictator to stay in office, traitors to our republic.
Disgusting and so very shameful.
Mr . Meuller, press on, sir.
9
Lots of people, including me, are fed up and in despair. That our once wonderful country is being run by thugs and liars is a crying shame. Republicans in congress sometimes feign a tizzy. But seriously, we must impeach this monster soon as this behavior escalates day by day. Please congress, think for once about your country... and mine.
6
It is not just the "silencing" of Brennan that the so-called president is attempting. It is also the silencing of others by using Brennan as an example to others, both in and out of government. This man is not running a country, he is running a mafia family. And everyone had better fall in line or they will "disappear".
1
Trump is the epitome of arrogant ignorance. Likely born from being a petulant child, never reading, never listening, never learning. Without daddy's money he would have been laughed off the field. He knows it, too, which is why he's so bitter. And still striving to be noticed in his seventies. Seriously, how juvenile is that?
#CanIGetMySecurityClearanceRevokedTooPlease
5
Franklin singing to King putting a real president in tears reminding us of our greatness assuredly makes these times fleeting and our worries a bit silly.
3
You forgot to mention that Trump’s entire presidency seems to be one, big payback to Obama having made fun of him on that occasion at the Washington correspondent’s dinner ....
7
Remember: "What goes around comes around ..."
2
This is all so disgusting and distressing on so many levels. Sigh.
But to think, on top of that, it's all happening on our dime!!!
6
Donald J. Trump presidental qualities:
Retributive, punisher, punitive, selfish, petulant, childlike, thoughtless, profane, bullying, abuser of power, crude, fear monger, ignorant, devisive, political, polarizing, foolish, dangerous precedentor, without vision, pathological liar, liar, liar, amoral, narcissist,manipulator, inflammatory...
Setting the example and someone for our children to emulate and admire, the 45th POTUS.
2
Mr. Trump,
"If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen".
- Harry S Truman
5
Given Trump's squandering of time to conduct the nation's business, demeaning the office of the presidency, and continual banging on the side of the chicken coop to keep things stirred up, I propose labeling him the FAKE PRESIDENT, which is really what he is. Then every time he hollers "fake news", people would have instilled in their minds Fake President(!) and be reminded that it is only the flukey Electoral College that put him there.
Fake President!
Fake President!
Fake President!
4
In the last paragraph the NYT states: "There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code, postal rates, antitrust laws and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not “democratic.” I believe the word you have been searching for is "fascism".
14
Trump is such a bully. He should listen to his wife who has taken bullying as her cause. He is like a child. Throwing tantrums when he does not get his way.Trump needs a time out. Or take a nap. Anyone who does not bow to hs whim must be eliminated. Just look at all the Obama policies he has reversed. It is so sad that we have a bully for a president. And not a leader.
1
Trump thinks such bullying makes him a "manly man" and that America has been too sissy whether dealing with the press, China or its allies. What is really horrifying is there are voters who agree and virtually the entire Republican Party remains silent.
3
If one cares to google one of the debates between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, well, her assessment of Trump was right on target.
Trump is a Putin puppet.
Trump doesn't have the temperament to be president.
Trump is thin skinned.
Trump is ignorant of the rules of law.
He lacks character.
I would say she hit the nail on the head.
8
@marriea : Vilified Hillary, so hated by so many, turned into 'a witch who lies': how often I heard that from people of all political persuasions. Yes, she carried a lot of baggage along with her husband. Yes, she wasn't exactly charismatic as a speaker, and what she had to offer was not put forth very strongly. She bungled her way through much of her campaign, and yet she still managed to come across as a person of keen intellect and rational thought, compared to her rival, a man of little knowledge and much hot air, whose crude behavior and off the cuff remarks distracted his fan base from the important issues concerning our country in favor of the ' He tells it like it is' trope that ultimately won him the election, that and the outmoded Electoral College. What will ultimately bring this country down is the sheer ignorance of so many U.S. citizens, who, like their current' Commander-In - Chief', care not a whit for details of a basic grounding in Civics and U.S. History.
Petty thuggery is a pretty good description of the behavior of this temporary resident of our White House. That’s about all I can bring myself to call him, as with any president of the United States, they only reside there for four years at the most. Hopefully trump’s residency won’t be that long. But his determination to destroy anything his predecessor championed, as well as setting back years of climate and ecological gains will damage generations of Americans.
This man, obviously wants validation but continues to do everything and anything to set himself up for ridicule and disrespect. He constantly trips over his own narcissistic ego. If he spent more time actually trying to learn how a democracy works instead of nicknaming or degrading anyone who crosses his fragile ego he might, just might earn some respect. It would also help if he didn’t flit away to one of his clubs every weekend or hold a campaign rally to shore up his fragile ego. History won’t show him as anything other than a nasty, petulant, petty and narcissistic person.
Most of us strive to be better people. Sadly, he sets a pathetic example for millions of Americans.
3
The current occupant of the White House treats the government, the American people and indeed the constitution as if all are subservient to his every whim.
His seemingly narcissistic personality demands fealty and when his "subject" does not bow he then seeks retribution--most are empty threats. However, when he does take action it is punitive and he boasts of his ability to destroy his perceived foes.
He's buoyed in these actions by those, in his own party, who lack the courage to stand up to him.
Each successive action has a detrimental affect on our democracy and serves to encourage those who are looking to establish an autocracy.
3
" . . . Whatever the particulars, all have drawn the displeasure of the president and must be taught a lesson."
Note to the board: Please tread carefully. Irony is not the way of Trump, The Fox and his "base". They are very likely to take such comments literally.
Nice editorial, but short of the mark. Payback is petty, ugly, mean and beneath the office of the presidency. We get that. But to threaten stripping the security clearances of a list of people who could likely be called on to testify in a case about Russian interference in our elections looks to me like open-aired, premeditated obstruction of justice. When this president is finished crippling the law enforcement bodies that could constrain him, while Congress just stands around, what happens next?
4
Donald J. Trump, President of the United States
prevaricating, peeved, petty, petulant, perfidious, punishing, perturbed, problematic, and clearly temperamentally unsuited to be president of any democratic country.
The aggrieved and punishing man obsessed with control over his botched life is out of control, but the GOP has abandoned its job of damage control in overseeing its party leader.
It will be payback time Nov. 6, if we really want to save our democracy and country.
2
It has been pointed out that Trump has an enemies list similar to Nixon. The difference is Nixon tried to hide his criminality, while Trump has always put his out in the open. Accepting campaign funds/aid from a foreign government is a crime, whether his supporters and Congressmen think it is or not. And Treasonous (treason is the word he is afraid of, not collusion). Treason also in financing his real estate with Russian mafia money or Colombian drug lord money. Given the extent of this criminality overtime, is it any wonder that he thinks it is acceptable to flaunt it. And there is a "to please Putin" element in everything he does, including the extreme divisiveness.
Given his actions and the subject of the investigation against him, if he were any other public official, he would have been put on administrative leave subject to the outcome of the investigation--and with his security clearances cancelled.
2
@loveman0
there has never been collusion he keeps saying. He is right he has not colluded but has participated in treasonous acts greater than the Rosenbergs. They got the death penalty for attempting to help Russia. His treason is what he is afraid will be discovered.
That's what they did in Soviet Union: deny security clearance to dissidents and have them loose their jobs. Nest step is to put them in jail. Maybe that's one of the tips Don got from his mentor Vladimir during the closed meeting.
3
If this small, petty autocrat adds Mueller in order to shut down his investigation, there will be rioting in the streets. Count on it.
6
And all the while Trump has the despicable Stephen Miller whispering in his ear! Oh, and then there is the ridiculous Rudy Guiliani in the mix. And don't forget Jay Seculow. I can't think of anyone in Trump's circle that is worthy of respect.
4
"... his “erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary” posed a risk to national security." indeed. Wow, free speech has never been attacked this way before.
2
To all journalists working tirelessly to expose this administration and hold it accountable on daily (maybe even minute by minute basis), thank you. Thank you!
16
The question is: When will the Republicans in Congress finally realize the damage that Trump is doing to the Constitution and the country and do something about it?
His abuse of his position as president to silence his critics has all the hallmarks of a fascist leader that will have serious consequences for us and the world if he is not stopped.
3
@Ernholder
They do not care. All that interests them is holding on to their positions and power.
1
We have to constantly remember that Donald Trump's mental and emotional development ended when he was in high school, and he acts accordingly. He's the class rich kid with all the sycophants and toadies following him around. He got elected to student council president just to prove how popular he was, not because he had any real interest in student government. He doesn't have to accomplish anything at school because he'll just end up working for his father. Because of that, he thinks he's really smart, even though his intelligence is average, at best. He also thinks all girls want him just because he's rich, and by "rich" he thinks that makes him charming and handsome.
Those who look at him objectively from the outside see a spoiled, entitled, tacky dullard who will live an undistinguished life without any true meaningful achievements—just lots of money.
Sound familiar?
2
Want to keep your security clearance in this administration? Simple. Smile adoringly at Trump and say "You're right chief, you've always been right. What was I thinking?"
1
@jd
Whey should employees of a past administration keep their security clearance when they longer work in government?
1
While I think it should be brought in to question why ex security officials maintain access, after leaving office: let's first deal with the issue at hand. I agree Trump removing his access as a form of punishment is reprehensible. However was the Obama administration not guilty of similar acts? Did the IRS under the former's administration not got after conservative groups? Did his justice department not to after D'Souza for minor campaign infractions while he was making a movie critical of Obama himself? Did Loretta Lynch not meet Bill Clinton on the tarmac why his wife was under investigation? Are these all not also examples of abuse of power? Also, worthy of the title reprehensible. The fact is We deserve better. All of us. The media institutions, including this one, need to be more Impartial, and call out bad behavior; Equally. It you cherish being the fifth estate so much, call out everyone, equally. Until then, you will be exactly what your detractors claim.
3
The answers to your first three questions are no, no, and no. So, the answer to your fourth question is also “no.”
2
@Jesse
Bill Clinton meeting with Lynch had nothing to do with Obama. As far as the IRS “going after” conseverative groups, they also went after liberal groups as well and the person in charge who was hauled before Congress (as I remember) was a registered republican.
2
@Jesse The IRS went after progressive groups, too, not just tea party conservatives (you can Google it). Security clearance is not like a library card. You can't go in to the CIA or the NSA and ask to see reports and documentation about operations. Those with clearance are asked in by current administration officials to provide information, background, experience, i.e., these people are helping the government.
And the press is the Fourth Estate, not the fifth estate.
2
Trump is all about framing issues to his advantage. Defaulting to victim-hood activates all the Trump followers who would prefer to blame their situations on others rather than take responsibility for themselves. Once Trump is cast as the victim (of the deep state, of the "enemy pf the people" free press, or whoever disagrees with him at the moment), he can justify (in his own mind and that of his loyalists) taking any step he can to make things right in Trumpworld. He is, and has always been, a petty insecure person who is clearly not fit for public leadership in this country.
2
Want to keep your security clearance in this administration? Simple. Smile adoringly at Trump and say "You're right chief. You've always been right. What was I thinking?"
You have to wonder what makes this man so crazy-vindictive. It’s as if that’s the only way he finds joy in life. Sad!
1
I really dom't understand the angst over Brennan' losing his security clearance. When you leave most job, you automatically lose any security clearance you had, and you are locked oud OT the building etc.
Just based on this hearings before Congress when he was in office, I saw a nasty piece of works., that thought too highly of himself. He was no Alan Dulles.
His petty editorials the press prints also demonstrate that his is a mean, nasty man who frankly thinks that he is the only knowledgeable person on intelligence. We are well rid of him.
4
There is also a "pay back" press which has been complaining since the last election for president. I call these corporate scribes sore-losers.
4
No Netflix crime or political series provides the shock and dread of current daily headlines and they are definitely getting worse.
What movie does this absolutely bizarre, surreal period take us into...No Country for Old Men.....Dr Strangelove..American Psycho?
2
And the whole world continues to laugh at us, rightfully so.
9
Ordinary language fails us. We need new words and new idioms. Hypocrisy? Nowhere near powerful enough to describe, for example, a president who brutalizes immigrants while two of his wives were immigrants of dubious entry legality and whose in-laws just took advantage of “chain migration.”
“The pot calling the kettle black?” Laughable against the searing reality of the man who projects every one of his failings onto his opponents, who demands abject loyalty while throwing members of his own administration (the intelligence and national intelligence community) under the bus in the presence of the Russian dictator.
Fake news? Downright puny in the face of his cascades of lies, the tabulating of which has become a cottage industry.
What is the word for a person for whom revenge, payback, constant vicious verbal assaults, bullying and character assassination are the most often used tools in the pitiful toolbox?
2
The cruelty, crudeness, and cluelessness must end. We are all too busy reacting without offering any solutions. The constitution must be changed and updated, for the qualifications for presidency and the Electoral College eliminated. Greatness involves evolution and a quick recognition that something is seriously amiss. Therefore, effective action must be implemented prophylactically and proactively.
2
The first time Trump used twitter as an official White House statement he diminished the office and the stature of the Presidency. Anything that followed was down hill. It would appear that he has a problem with sleep, [as well as his serious problem
with the truth] but what is glaringly apparent is his lack of interest in Public Service. Although those surrounding him "serve at the pleasure" of the president, he was elected to serve for US.
8
@jdoe212
No, the first time he used Twitter was the day that he made the Fourth Estate somewhat irrelevant in the transfer of information from the Oval Office to The People...
And the press is not about to forgive him for the insult.
2
Trump is his own problem. This man wastes more time praising himself, seeking praise, sounding off about those who criticize him, and being disrespectful to as many people as possible than he does working as president. No wonder he failed as a businessman.
He is unable to accept criticism.
He is unable to exercise any self control when it comes to expressing himself.
He calls himself a stable genius (interesting phrase).
His cabinet meetings are held to confirm HIS points of view.
His staff is afraid of presenting him with reality or pointing out that he might be incorrect.
He seems incapable of understanding the feelings of others even allies but actively courts our enemies.
He lies without remorse and denies what he's said even when it's on tape. (And we wonder why he tries to discredit the media at every turn?)
A dead man could do a better job running America than this man. And that's saying something.
18
The US can thank a long history of Presidents not murdering critics for restraining Trump's instincts. If free of shackles Trump would probably outdo Putin in getting rid of those who pester him.
5
You have to remember that this is a reality tv presidency and that is how he likes it. He is a toddler throwing temper tantrums for the benefit of the audience and it works like a charm for his followers and changes the subject on cable news. We need to be very afraid.
10
Given the vain and willful ignorance of the bully in the Oval Office, I propose that henceforth any candidate who wishes to be on the ballot for U.S. President must have (1) read the Constitution including the amendments, (2) passed the citizenship test given to naturalized citizens, and (3) demonstrated in her/hir/his daily life the "sharing and caring" lessons of kindergarten.
2
@Julie Haught i agree . . .and how about reveal that they have been a lawful honest tax payer throughout their working life. No keys to the White House for anyone who did not contribute.
One word: insecurity.
2
The most outrageous thing about stripping Mr. Brennan's security clearance is not stripping Mr. Brennan's security clearance. Nor is threatening to revoke the other eight patriots' security clearances. No, it's the blatant assault on free speech--your right to free speech, my right to free speech. It's the clear attack on the first amendment. If Mr. Trump can revoke security clearances, he can revoke citizenship, or put us in jail, or devise some other punishment for those of us who fear for our country.
1
Let's call it what it is - a monumental abuse of power. It's not only meant for spite, but as a tool of intimidation. Everything John Brennan, who has served this country with distinction, is absolutely true. Mr. Brennan is a true patriot, as are other members of the FBI who've been denigrated by Trump. Trump and Trumpism is anathema to democracy.
2
With the passing of the great Aretha Franklin I was just watching her performance at the December 2015 Kennedy Center performance that made then President Barack Obama tear up.
Oh, how one longs for those days when we had a decent, caring, and intelligent human being sitting in the White House, rather than someone more akin to a mob boss or a dictator.
2
What fails the laugh test is that John Brennan had a security clearance to begin with. From the get go his appointment by Obama to head the CIA was fraught with question marks. At the very least it was apparent that Brennan was infatuated with the Muslim world in which he had spent the bulk of his career. He admittedly had voted for the Communist Party as a young man. He refused to swear his oath of office on a Bible, which raised more questions about his allegiances than it answered - questions as to why Obama with equally foggy religious affiliations and lack thereof - selected Mr. Brennan. These alone would merit his distancing from sensitive intelligence material. Yet he has gone much further, turning into an out of control dispenser of hearsay, innuendo, gossip, conjecture and vitriol if not outright lies, picking up from where a hostile media leaves off and using his past position as a bully pulpit from which which to jackhammer away at the President. Silencing someone like him is not an act of revenge. It is one of common sense. And his behavior should merit a full investigation into how his appointment by Obama was made in the first place. And why. Itis understandable that the Times with its relentless anti-Trump agenda would second Mr. Brennan to its armory of anti-Trump missile silos but this does not help clear his dubious record.
3
That 2hour meeting with his boss in Moscow should never have been permitted. We need to debrief the translator and release her from her nda agreement to find out what secrets were shared and what deals were made.
I’d hoped our intelligence people had bugged the room but the Russians outflanked us once again. That’s why the meeting had to be in Russia. Lock the traitor up.
2
@RjW It was in Helsinki.
The level of hypocrisy involved in ANY member of this administration accusing someone else of “politicizing” and “monetizing” their “public service” is dazzling.
7
I find it truly irksome when impartial experts and talking heads with good arguments giving ridiculous arguments from the other side credence to give the impression of balance, state their desire for trump to be successful.
NO! This president should never be allowed to succeed! Why should we want trump to succeed in dividing our nation, destroy our international friendships and allies, destroy international trade and the environment, abduct and cage children, profit off his office, dismantle our intelligence agencies, justice department and FBI, ....
His success is our doom as a nation, especially if he succeeds in destroying the Mueller investigation.
I would consider it an honour to be added to trump's enemy list.
8
Press Sec'y Sanders should have been calling out her boss when she referenced someone's “erratic conduct and behavior” and “increasingly frenzied commentary” in addition to "monetizing" their public office.
1
Can the man not be impeached?
The Constitution speaks of "high crimes and misdemeanors." That sets the bar pretty high. We all remember the impeachment of Bill Clinton twenty years ago. His conduct, though shabby and reprehensible, did not qualify as a "high crime or misdemeanor."
Even some Republican senators balked at voting for conviction. Mr. McConnell was not majority leader then--scowling, wielding the whip of total party control.
But this from Mr. Trump. The ongoing SQUALOR--the vindictiveness, the vulgarity. To say nothing of the ever growing MURK as we wonder, "What IS going on between him and Russia? What HAS gone on between him and Russia?"
And our President's poodles and lapdogs in Congress--no. Though occasionally restive and unhappy with their blundering chief. . . .
. .they're not quite there yet. I suppose not.
And yet. . .and yet. . . . .
. . .we have two more years of Mr. Donald J. Trump.
My God!
Can we AFFORD that?
What will the man DO? In what way (aided and abetted by his fawning lickspittles in Congress) will he FURTHER undermine democracy in our country?
Oh that Mr. Mueller would wrap up his investigation! I know--I know. The man HAS to take his time. I know that.
But how much time do WE have?
We. The American people.
"While The Clock Ticked." Title of a Hardy boy mystery. That title comes to mind 'cause right now. . .
. . .the clock is ticking. . .
. .. and I for one am a little scared.
8
Trump has a long way to go to beat the Obama administration who managed to used the IRS, FBI, ATF, BLM, CIA, and DoJ to punish his enemies. He also made attempts to curtail the freedom of the press.
And, all of those nefarious schemes are now public knowledge.
3
@The Owl
Are you a burrowing owl?sounds like you have been down the rabbit hole for awhile.
Decisions like this continue to prove Hillary was right. Trump's actions and those who implicitly support them and him, or those who overtly support them and him, could certainly be described as deplorable.
2
This is the flip side of the presidential pardons.
If you’re convicted for defending me I’ll pardon you.
Criticize me and I’ll bury you to scare others into silence.
Next thing is Brennan will be audited by the IRS.
Pure coincidence.
7
Uh, I could be wrong, but pretty sure Obama, Bush and Clinton used the power of the presidency to murder millions of people in fabricated wars. Petty revenge doesn’t seem so bad.
what war did Clinton fabricate? and Obama inherited two wars. People say the Iraq war is/was a disaster, which it was if you consider the cost and outcome. However, if you look at it from a dictator's perspective it is an incentive to never face the wrath of the U.S. military. Maybe that will help the world long term and it is too early to determine the results in Iraq. It will take a long time for democracy to work there.
The right thing to do.
Why do former Govt officials need access to intelligence info?? Can the Times do an article on that or at-least spend a couple of lines in the article?
Democrat or Republican - Intelligence access must be on a need to know basis. If this very basic principle that is followed in most commercial establishments, let alone our Intelligence agencies, is not understood, then you are simply anti-Trump regardless of subject matter.
8
Just because you have a security clearance doesn't mean you get to have access to classified information whenever you want. It simply means the investigation into you has cleared you to access it if need be. Say, in his case, he took a job in the private sector, his new employer would not have to do a new investigation but they would need to sponsor his clearance. This move was purely designed to hurt his employment opportunities because he hurt Trump's feelings.
8
@Patrick Sullivan...
The private contractor needs to renew his clearance with his new employer; there is no automatic transfer of the clearance and the "need-to-know"
Need-to-know policies are key to effective security.
Ex Employees of the government have no need to know, and as a consequence have no need for a security clearance.
By your argument, the top secret clearance that I had in 1983 would still be valid today.
And, I assure you, it is not.
That is not to say that clearance would be reactivated should the need arise, but that is a different discussion all together.
@Kumar
So says someone who clearly does not understand what "security clearance" either means OR what it is used for.
But at least moderately civil in attempting to dismiss anyone who doesn't support this travesty of an administration.
2010: Manafort helps elect Yanukovych (pro Russian) as president of Ukraine
2014: Yanukovych is forced to flee Ukraine for Russia in the face of widespread public protests.
2016: Manafort works for Trump. For no fee.
It is incredibly sad that McConnell and Ryan stand back and let Trump throw his temper tantrums, announce sanctions and tariffs which seem to be the only tools he can think of when countries defy his edicts. It is incredibly sad that congress and the GOP continue to be deaf dumb and blind to his autocratic rule. It is incredibly sad that Russia is now a partner of the republican party.
1
Paul Ryan's utter neglect at what is happening under Trump's rule will hound him for the rest of his life. He, Mitch McConnell and all the other sycophants in this administration care only about The Party, or whatever is left of it. Here we have a totally unqualified man making decisions based on reckless impulse. coupled with a need for vengeance against anyone who dares to criticize and/or disagree with him. Donald Trump continues to erode the dignity of our nation while at the same time visibly deteriorating both mentally and physically, in my humble opinion. From his high, isolated perch, right down to the lowest payed staff member of this current White House, the rot is visibly apparent for all to see.
15
@mikeo26, Ryan, McConnell, Pence, etc., care only about being in power. It's not about doing what's best for Americans. It's about doing what's best for their pockets. We, the people, do not matter to these elitists. They would rather support and defend a crass act in the White House.
I miss Obama, the lack of scandals, and the family that he had that took care of each other. I miss Michelle Obama and her intelligence. I miss the two little girls who grew into teenagers in the White House. I miss the man who tried to do his best but was stonewalled by the bigots of the GOP and not given enough support by his own party.
11
@hen3ry
Do you really think that Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer care for anything more than themselves?
Dream on, sir...The way you are playing this will guarantee President Trump another term in office.
@mikeo26
And this is what we all MUST remember when we walk into those voting booths this fall - while the faux president and despicable VP are the heads of this "government", it is Republicans who are going along with and actively enabling this.
Vote them all out. Restore sanity and intelligence to the country.
1
Watching Trump insult all his fellow candidates for the presidency was a preview to what was to come. How did he cross the finish line? Viewers of his fabled bully show The Apprentice and his infamous line YOU'RE FIRED somehow seem to think this is okay, and perhaps they have spouses, bosses and that's part of his appeal, that a bully in fact, in a perverse play, is their fearless leader. Mueller has some distance to go before his investigation reveals what the Russians did in this election. As Walter Bagehot wrote "the rocks only show when the tide has gone out."
Trump is doing all he can get away with in discrediting that "Russian thing". Withdrawing Mr. Brennan's security clearance is another of his clumsy and transparent attempts to find cover from what increasing looks like guilt on steroids. He'll try more mischief, because that's all he knows, and reality is closing in.
But, he still has to deal with a pair of starkly contrasting but overlapping threats: 1) a disciplined, highly informed, and honest Mueller, and 2) a (not-so-honest?) runway street fighter in Amarosa.
Follow the money to find out why decisions are made.
How's those tax cuts workin' for ya ? First thing he focused on and really achieved when he came to power. Worth $500M to him.
Trumps were famous for blocking black tenants from their apartment blocks in NYC - geez they might lower the rental values !
Ripped off multi-millions from unpaid cleaners in walk-away bankrupted Jersey City casinos - wait - AFTER he put those multi-millions in his pocket ...
See where I'm going here ? - he may act crazy - but it's all about the money honey ... !
2
All this analysis of Trump gets tiresome. All that can be said has been said many times over. The NYT should focus its intellectual firepower on analysing those who will vote for Trump again, those who won't vote at all.
1
"Every critic, every detractor, will have to bow down to President Trump. It’s everyone who’s ever doubted Donald, who ever disagreed, who ever challenged him. It is the ultimate revenge to become the most powerful man in the universe.”
Did we think Omarosa was kidding?
You bow or, by any means necessary, you will be made to bow. Domestically or relations with foreign governments....we all will "pay" for daring not to to bow.
1
If anyone has monetized public service it is trump
2
I keep hoping that Mueller finds some criminal act byTrump that can be handed over to the state of New York for prosecution and he (Trump) gets on his jet and flies off to Moscow to join his buddy Vlad, a finer ending could not be imagined.
2
When Russia annexed Crimea by democratic referendum in 2014, it was Mr. Brennan’s first big failure (and perhaps Mr. Manafort’s second international success).
Manafort had been an adviser in the Ukrainian presidential campaign of Viktor Yanukovych, a man despised by U.S. Senator John McCain and U.S. Ambassador William Taylor because of his ties to Vladimir Putin. The U.S. Justice Department was aware of payments to Manafort as early as 2008. As a consultant, Mr. Manafort helped Mr. Yanukovych return to power (with the same kind of savvy that Mr. Trump needed to win). Manafort also negotiated a $10 million annual contract with Deripaska to promote Russian interests in politics, business, and media coverage in Europe and the United States.
Years later, Mr. Trump made the mistake of hiring Manafort as a campaign manager without fully appreciating his Russian baggage and the pre-existing grudge against Manafort by Obama’s FBI, CIA, Justice, and a large segment of the political community.
Manafort’s Russian connections are not hogwash. He is nevertheless being hogtied with legal tax claims designed to punish him for crimes he did not commit in Crimea or with the Trump campaign. "There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code ... and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not “democratic.”
2
@Eugene Patrick Devany, failure to vet Trump's taxes makes every last Trump voter look like a stupid sucker to me.
8
@Eugene Patrick Devany “Annexed Crimea by democratic referendum”? I read this kind of hogwash in the Putin-controlled Russian media and did not expect it to seep into the American public discourse. It sounds no more truthful in English than it does in Russian. The referendum was not democratic. The civil war that is still going on in Eastern Ukraine is powered by Russian mercenaries and Putin’s money. Yanukovich was kicked out from Ukraine in a popular uprising that disclosed the extent of his corruption. Manafort clearly learned from his master - did he make his ostrich jacket from the skin of one of the animals in Yanukovich’s private zoo? Ukraine, a sovereign state, is being dismembered and intimidated by the Russian bully and the American President is afraid to stand up to the Russian dictator. And having the words “democracy” and “Putin” in the same post is all you need to know in order to dismiss it as thinly disguised Russian propaganda.
6
@Eugene Patrick Devany
Might be time for you to consider beachfront property in Crimea. Your feel for democracy is more appropriate for that location. Yes. Many commenters are wary of you and your position re Russia.
Maybe your just misinformed. Maybe it’s something else.
And it’s about time he did!
1
That so many people maintain their support for a lying, cheating, greedy, spiteful and possibly sociopathic president is a telling symptom of just how ill our nation has become.
After we expel this toxic administration let's forgive the people that supported it and show them by example how to be strong without being nasty.
2
@Scott S
the entertainment is cheap for those who sit at home unemployed. They defend this man while bragging about job creation that allows some of them to have 2 or 3 jobs just to get by. Cheap entertainment is always a plus in a presidency.
For anyone in the New York City area there's at wonderful little play at NY Summerfest called Sign of the Times that demonstrates what happens when a power-hungry Trump character has his way.
2
Alt-title: "What fun is it being president if you can’t use the tools of government to be an Emperor?"
As I comment to the "Times" earlier this year, we may well be looking forward to another "Night of the Long Knives" --- the displacement of previously powerful figures on June 30, 1934, which effectively cemented the leadership ('Fuhrer' in German) of Hitler and the Nazi Empire over the previous and weakened Weirmar Republic.
Of course, IMHO, what we are seeing today, might accurately be described as the "Night of the Long Tweets" --- when Emperor Trump attempted to forcefully remove a powerful, but fully, faithfully, and subordinate to democratic principles and political government, group of intelligence/military professionals (potentially expanding to 13 or more).
Having already forced a majority of the weakened Congress to bend to his will, threats, and bluster, and having stacked the third branch of civilian government, the Courts, (which even the social democrat and progressive FDR did not do), the Enfant terrible, Emperor Trump, is now demanding 'His' fine military parade.
One wonders if Emperor Trump even has the historical knowledge to understand that that pretty Bastille Day parade, which he so admired reviewing in France, was actually in celebration of 'the French people' overcoming an internal Empire with 'a peoples' "Revolution Against Empire" [see Justin du Rivage's deeply researched and definitive history of our own Revolution against an external one].
2
Does this president do any actual work? Seems like all he does is tweet and golf. Isn't there a job description for the position of POTUS? When was the last time any of us took a job and then didn't do it - and got away with that? "The leader of the free world" spends his day digging up enemies, then activating his tweeter to whine about them. Brennan is just the latest in the daily parade. Oh, and speaking of parades . . .
6
"What fun is it being president if you can’t use the tools of government to punish your critics?"
This sub-title is sophomoric. The stakes for the future of our country's democracy are too high for such snickering comments.
1
“On a more intimate scale, the Trump White House has delighted in selectively barring journalists from official events.”
Why don’t White House journalists unite and delight in barring themselves from the phony press briefings staged by Sarah Sanders? Just walk out en masse in protest of her and her boss’s incessant lies.
Of course, this will never happen with this current crop of wannabe anchors, stars, stand-ups and bottom-lickers.
Even as I write this I wonder why I am spending my time writing this comment.
It’s because I have significant experience as a jounalist - as a copy boy, reporter, publisher and more - and I have seen how critical an unfettered press is for informing the populace, the electorate, all citizens, on what their elected or appointed representatives are doing for them - or against them.
It’s easy to hate the press and their poking and prodding and it becomes even easier to hate these curs when the president of the United States repeatedly brands them as “enemies of the people” but believe me, a free press is your last and strongest line of defense against the horrendous deceptions the trump administration is using to replace our great democracy with the new dumbocracy.
6
This article is an excellent showcasing of our nation's most spiteful President.
1
"There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code, postal rates, antitrust laws and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not “democratic.”"
Why dont you say what you really mean and just say dictator.
Also, how about stopping with the untruths and just call him the lier that he is.
2
"petty thuggery" it is. That sums it.
2
It is past time that, even in opinion pieces, the words coming out of Sarah Huckabee Sander's mouth, are ignored and left on the cutting room floor. Stop feeding the trolls.
9
And to think....and one point Republicans took great umbrage at Obama’s tan suit. Cripes.
2
Richard Nixon Redux.
6
@Brainfelt
At least Nixon had a working brain, even if it was working in the wrong direction. This guy can't even speak English.
What other former head of the CIA has accused a sitting U.S. President of being "traitorous"? Why would a sitting U.S. President allow a former head of the CIA to make such claims without a response? What would Obama have done had one of George Bush's CIA directors accused him of treason over diplomacy?
It is an interesting society we live in. The effete establishment lauds the passive aggressive and whines should there be a response. John Brennan ran his mouth and he suffered some consequences.... So?
Prediction: John Brennan will continue to spew hate and poison regardless of his security clearance status. He will be unfazed.
2
@Arthur Taylor
Blame the victim( Brennen) and make Obama equivalentcies , SOP for those duped by Putin propaganda.
If your actually a patriot then your certainly a fool, and maybe I am too, for engaging in this further polarization of our society.
i am hoping for a military coup d’etat to take trump out of office.
3
Why are you whining so loud in complaint about a patriot who stands up for our nation’s Democratic principles that so many in our government will not out of cowardice?
"That word is..." Readers are interested in how you would characterize something, not in how you would not, as is the media's annoying habit.
1
Donald Trump has more than proven the old adage: nuttier than a fruitcake. The fun will continue at least until the carnage begins
1
Guilt always means you have to punish others. Just saying.
1
Forget impeachment. Revoke his citizenship. He doesn't deserve to be an American.
3
What goes around comes around. And Donald Trump has just begun to get his comeuppance, first in the form of one of his "trainees" - Omarosa. The worst is certainly yet to come - he has brought it upon himself by vindictive, irrational behavior unbecoming of a U.S. president. Let the games begin ....
2
I think the fact that he spends so much time on meaningless, childish activities is a testament to the fact that he doesn't know the first thing about governing. He's much more comfortable impulsively responding than giving serious consideration to policy matters.
6
The Constitutional requirement for a president to ‘ take care that the laws are faithfully executed’ implies that careful consideration, fair applications, might/should apply equally to regulations, decision-making, all uses of presidential power. That our Congress continues to ignore, excuse, enable a growing enemies list with the simple observation that “he has the power” is not sufficient. I’m at a loss to even imagine how egregious an action will have to be before even Republicans say...enough.
10
I understand blacklisting is "in" this year.
2
Shallow and Vindictive - this is Donald Trump's legacy. He and his family will never have any peace for the rest of their lives -- he is destroying their lives (much like the country) brick by brick. And he's so mean with absolutely no redeeming qualities at all -- when life punches back on Trump and his family, it will be a big blow.
11
Why does he still have or need this level of clearance if he left the job ?
I would have hoped that when people left positions where they had access to very sensitive information they would automatically Lose this access?
Seems dangerous it’s retained and prudent to remove.
Is there a rationale here ? Can the Times rise above the hysteria and inform its readers why this happens ?
3
@Norville T. Johnson In ordinary times these people are regarded as valuable resources as they can bring continuity to evolving world issues. They are experts on sensitive information and can help shed light for current, less experienced employees.
1
@Norville T. Johnson
What Scott K said. Of course this requires looking at the big picture and the long haul - that is the rationale.
Which is something that tRump supporters simply cannot manage.
This editorial continues the New York Times's dangerous tradition of normalizing Donald Trump's words and actions. What will you say when he strips the security clearances of Mueller and his team and effectively ends the Russia investigation without firing Sessions or Rosenstein to get it done? What will you say when there is an international crisis and all of the clearances of former security officials have been yanked by this authoritarian in the White House and there is no one to advise his inexperienced team on the best course of action? What will you say when more and more folks with Russian backgrounds, attitudes, and money continue to filter into this administration and Congress? What will you say when Putin holds the Bible for Trump at the 2021 Inauguration? That sounds dramatic, but all these authoritarian decisions stand unchecked and sooner or later all pretense that America is an independent democracy will be gone. We're already disappearing...
8
We will seriously never be the same.
3
If it were somehow possible to liquify and then purge into the Grand Canyon the bottomless insecurities of your sitting president, that impossibly gigantic landmark would eventually be crested, with enough left over to cause floods of biblical proportion.
I don't know about you, but this Canadian and I'd bet much of the rest of the civilized world is exhausted at being held hostage to just such insecurities, Trump's pitiable illness.
The office of the president of the United States is the world's most powerful and, for the most part, the previous 44 presidents have been sufficiently sane and humble and human to actually understand that their personal issues, no matter what they were, were never going to be large enough to eclipse the issues of the country. Your 45th president, not so much.
This bloviating pustule, this all-but-insane and blindly arrogant and inhuman character, a man who is simultaneously the world's most powerful and the world's most weak man, is busy imperilling all of us.
He has to go, the sooner the better. And as to the pathetic deference thus far shown by the sitting senate and congressional republicans, maybe you could find a way to band together and make him go away sooner than later. If you're worried about recrimination, not even he is big enough to go after you all if you stick together and do what you were elected to do: put the country first. And do it while you still have a country to put first.
7
No doubt there are many in his cult like base who think a president with the power to payback, carry out acts of revenge, and hold himself unaccountable to the law is just wonderful. Just remember the powers given to this president whether in law or in tolerance of really bad personal behaviour, will all be inherited by the next one. The political pendulum is always swinging in American politics, and republicans need be wary of getting the next Obama with a compulsive twitter disorder or a sanders socialist with the power to set up re education camps or a Hillary with a massive payback complex.
President Spite doesn’t have supporters. He has accomplices.
Seriously.
10
Trump's attack on Mr. Brennan wasn't something he thought up while enjoying a round of golf, dining with lobbyists, or eating McDonald's and watching Fox conspiracy theorists.
Someone suggested this. I really, really hope that someone wasn't John Kelly, who has become increasingly strange and fixated on Donald Trump. The same John Kelly who was recorded casually threatening a former staffer in the Situation Room.
Will the real president please stand up?
7
The man lied to us because we can't handle the truth.
The man was a key conspirator in the plot against our President and our democracy.
Lack of a security clearance will pale next to his lack of freedom and the fact that the prison pillows are not too fluffy.
2
@Ken
You ARE talking about Trump, right?
1
Michael Flynn still has his security clearance, and not only is he a crminal, he no longer works for the government.
Where is your outrage, Republicans?
Why the silence on that?
Why the typical, shameless double standard?
12
@Valerie Is this true, someone please confirm. Flynn still has his security clearance ?
2
@Edward:
Here you are, Edward, and thank you for asking. I should have provided credible, verifiable support in my original post; my apologies.
http://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/402197-graham-flynn-should-lose-securit...
Using Google Chrome, use the "find" feature to search Flynn:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/after-brennan...
Same here:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/16/politics/donald-trump-brennan-security-cl...
Finally, a hard facts op ed.
This is a different, and a welcome voice, and a not funny anymore factual list of his awfulness. Keep a list, keep a running tally of the players and the accessories to the false president.
We are better than this, lets prove it, this is a start.
5
they use to refer to the president using his 'bully pulpit' to describe the president's address or appeal to the voters to exert influence on an issue. NOW its meaning is something borrowed from Tony Soprano where its use is vindictive, individually targeted and knuckle busting should one demonstrate their first amendment rights in the wrong way. SAD day for Democracy//
3
Prior to "PAYBACK" how about a demonstration of performance to the American people as required by the Constitution!
2
We are lost under the unforeseen and unimaginable punishing leadership of the worst president ever elected in America history.
The issue is not making fun and social media salad of Trump's seizure of our government by his people (in Congress, in the red wave that voted for him 2 years ago), but how to remove him from the highest office in the world. Punishing by payback, Trump's method to his madness, isn't the way to go, America! Rise up! Resist! Remove and replace him!
9
"What *USE* is it being president if you can’t use the tools of government to punish your critics?"
Um, Nixon anyone?
A hearty thank you to the NYT for distilling all my wandering thoughts into one succinct sentence.
8
Wrong again. It’s the people’s payback. The “tools of government” have been set against the people for decades by the klepto-globalists that sit at the top of BOTH major parties. The Bushes, the Clintons, the Obamas, their masters and their underlings have intitiated never-ending war, ever more debt slavery, selling of influence, greed as policy and the elimination of free movement, free thought and freedom of action in ever encroaching measure for 30 years now. A disrupter without table manners was the only choice and remains the only choice to make the crie de coeur heard. Best pay attention lest the next sound you hear be a summons to the Bastille.
@Emerson Your choice was a notoriously self-serving New York City real estate developer? Is there anything in his past that makes you think he cares about working stiffs? I gotta give Trump credit, he is a terrific salesman.
1
@Emerson
The "people's payback" and yet he lost by nearly 3 million votes! Who were these people? The Kremlin?
Put simply, Trump is attempting to turn off all the burglar alarms while he and his extended crime family loot the government.
20
What goes around, comes around. Starting Jan 2021, people like Stephen Miller, Wilbur Ross, Steve Mnuchin, Betsy Devos, Mitch McConnell would want to make sure they have squeaky clean pasts and do not attempt to 'monetize' their 'public service'. Ha!
3
The simple answer of Trump's supporters to his dictatorial and abusive leadership is: "We don't care - as long as he's our dictator."
8
This dictatorial wannabe is a monumental travesty and embarrassment. Ignorant, unstable and just plain mean.
What’s wrong with the republican leadership? Scared? Intimidated, or just plain greedy and interested only in themselves?
The situation worsens daily. A day of reckoning is approaching.
Trump is a malignant cancer that must be removed, and soon.
6
Ja. ...but nearly half of the Nation support him. Where is the action against that move?
1 Is Donald Jr. in town? Rumor has it he is in the Yukon. When you find him ask him to clarify how much money is involved since he spoke about the Russians involvement in the Trump Corporation at that 2008 real estate meeting mentioned in Vanity Fair March 2017. How big is the debt? Interest rates? Any loans repaid?
2. Why has The Donald not admitted he was present at that infamous meeting the Trump Tower the purpose of which was to get the dirt on Hilary. My source here in BC says Cohen knows about this. Have a fun evening. cheers.
6
Brennan has no "right" to maintain a security clearance after leaving his government position. The house and senate should pass a bill that makes revocation of ones security clearance a standard when separated from government employment. And yes, everyone should stand for the National Anthem, what is wrong with that? The NYT's could greatly improve communication in the US if it fully reported both sides of an issue as opposed to its own one sided, polarized, politically slanted perspective. If you did that then perhaps the NTY's would once again become the nation's paper of record.
5
@MJS If you punish people who don't stand then it's no longer "should" stand. Standing is patriotic, but the punishment would be un-American.
1
If we must stand for the anthem, we can no longer consider the nation to be free. Kneeling harms nobody, it only offends some people.
If we go forward with your suggestion and surrender our freedom, I suggest an edit to the national anthem to reflect the new reality - o’er the land of the compliant and the home ...
3
@MJS
No offense. But if you actually read the paper more often, you'd realize that the NYT's balanced reporting does cover both sides of any given subject.
Something that can't be said about FOX news.
1
The only thing I know is that people like Trump who abuse their power because are protected by their badge are cowards.
3
With Donald Trump,it's not about 'payback'.
It's all about revenge. It's not enough to give your real or imagined enemies and critics a dose of their own medicine -- you have to double-down and totaly vanquish them.
That's what we've learned about him since he's been in office. And that's what he learned from the master of vituperative assaults, Roy Cohn.
That's also the main trait of being a tyrannical autocrat, which is why it's no surprise that Mr. Trump so openly worships those men of power who do their utmost to abuse it.
And in these situations, Democracy is always the first to suffer.
You call this 'winning'?
6
I'd be honored to be added to trump's enemy list.
5
@PAN As commenters on these articles we probably are on his enemy list.
We keep hearing more and more ways Trump has violated the presidency and the country. The important issue is the republican party, tho I am not surprised at their silence. Remember the primaries? Most of what Trump peddled was pure trash, but it appealed to many unemployed workers. They cheered wildly for him. It scared the bejesus out of the other republican 'candidates'. He disparaged Syrian parents of a gold star soldier; mocked a disabled reporter, bragged about 'grabbing women...' made a joke of John McCain's heroism. On and on. Did any fellow republican candidates say ANYTHING ? NO. Instead they tried to compete with him in an imbecilic contest of phony machismo which they were destined to lose. Other than those not running for re election the same thing is happening. They occasionally make some feeble sounds, Trump does a campaign style speech at a shuttered factory, his 'base' is delirious, and the repubs skulk back. We will see what happens after the mid term elections. Dems win enough seats to impeach Trump? Maybe. Or 2 more years of .... ?
I only hope that Brennan, and now MacIversen, and perhaps others will turn things around. Maybe.
2
It might be "fun" to exchange dictators with Venezuela. Could we do worse?
2
The nation’s wayward infant is having another moment. Incredible.
Mr. Brennan, keep your chin up. America knows who their heroes and patriots are. Thank you for speaking truth to his childish power.
5
“So … did I get him? Is this all over?” asked Che’s Holt into his earpiece, acknowledging an answer that would, in any other context, be a smoking gun. Instead: “No, I didn’t? Nothing matters? Absolutely nothing matters anymore?”
Yes unless you V O T E as if your life depended on it.
3
The US FBI, CIA, Homeland Security, and Justice Department are continuously bludgeoned, and weakened, by Donald Trump. Vladimir Putin could not be happier.
6
Elections have consequences......... Barack Obama
You attack me viciously or unfairly, I will pay back ruthlessly...... Donald Trump. One of Obama's most significant accomplishment was his order to avenge Osama for murder of innocent for 911. Justice was done using the tools of government to punish the perpetrators of 911. Responding to attacks appropriately in whatever form is the American way as long as it is not illegal.
The revoking of the security clearance of Brennan as a response to Brennan maliciously attacking Trump an playing mischief in initiating the Russia investigations deserved a response. Trump has demonstrated his willingness to respond to any attacks. If everyone has their freedom of expression then why not the president of USA and if he uses tools of government without violating any laws that should be considered as fair game. No one leaving government service is entitled to have the same special access that is reserved for those actively serving the government at any given time.
Let us know tie the hands of our president behind his back and blind fold him and unleash a barrage of unfair criticism and expect that he does not respond. Let him use all the legal non violent ways to counter the barrage raining on him from all direction and when he does that don'y cry foul because he is expected to do what we expect him to do.
1
@Girish Kotwal There may be a difference between responding as President as Obama did with bin Laden and the Trump's current status as Mean Girl in Chief.
1
His base LOVES this behavior. They eat it up all day long on their own propaganda network fox and foes. Sad.
4
Is and will there ever be a tipping point when djt is deemed unfit to be president of our United Sates of America?
The white man is an out of control renegade dictator fixated on revenge and, it's all very personal.
Will the day ever come when I wake up the news that the process of stripping him of his seat as president is beginning to end?
Why is the only thread of hope lie in the elections in November taking back a majority ?
The longer this white male renegade dictator is allowed to be on the loose, the destruction he causes our institutions and the people who serve our democracy will continue to move deeper down the black rabbit hole.
Somebody or something had better happen like yesterday. I'll cast my vote and yell from my rooftops for other to do so. My fear as a citizen of the country I love and am privileged to live in is that our democracy may not find it's way back to the middle.
6
#45 personifies "petty tyrant." Unfortunately, he holds one of the most powerful seats on the planet. Fortunately, his White House is grossly incompetent. Unfortunately, the other two branches of government are either too cowardly to uphold their end of the Constitution or are as treasonous to it.
Vote Blue in every election.
6
We all know exactly what Trump is and how he operates. The relevant question at this point is for the Republican Party and its leadership: how long will you allow our system to be damaged and endangered by a man who is not simply un-American, but actively anti-American?
7
In his tweets and attacks on critics and the Press, Trump is not talking to us. He's talking to his base, preparing them for the day when the charges are announced and impeachment begins. He will then issue a call to arms to overthrow the government and "return" the US to its glory days. He wants to be President for Life and if that means sedition, he'll do it.
6
There’s no reason to revoke anyone’s security clearance; 45 is doing it just because he can, with the added feature of creating turmoil and division...this behavior has Steve Miller’s fingers all over it...the middle one.
3
It's time to stop pointing only at Trump. He couldn't be acting like a dictator without complicity from the entire Republican Party in Congress.
Pointing over and over at Donald Trump and his autocratic, paranoid acts bringing us close to a dictatorship obscures the fact that he couldn't be doing any of this without lockstep agreement from Republicans in the House and Senate. Yes a few of them make brave noises on Twitter or on TV, but then they vote in lockstep with what Trump wants.
If you want to see cowardly complicity watch the two supposedly moderate, pro-choice female Senators vote to confirm a Supreme Court justice who has made it abundantly clear that he will overturn Roe V Wade, bringing the country back to an era that we should never consider returning to.
One Senator, as far as I know, John McCain, voted against Trump at a crucial moment, and received much well deserved praise for it. He then turned around and vote in lockstep with Trump to pass the massive giveaway to the wealthy, which ensured that Trump's power would continue and just get stronger. If Republicans' wealthy backers are getting tax cuts, what motivation is there for any of them to oppose Trump whose presidency allows its passing? Had McCain just stood up and voted against that bill, it could have drained Trump of power.
The slide to dictatorship is by an entire party. People call them out now and then for cowardice, but we need to make it clear that they're doing this as much as Trump is.
12
Then Republican senators and representatives came out and strongly protested this juvenile, undemocratic action by the president, stating that it is more important for them to uphold the Constitution than to blindly support their Republican president just because they are afraid of him and his base.
Not really. Only in my dreams.
Everyone from TV pundits and panelists to reporters and talk show hosts are quick to condemn Fox News for their unwavering and non-critical support of Trump and his minions. Recently, though even the talking Fox head shills expressed disappointment in him after the Helsinki summit. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes. I am no fan of this network and dislike most of the "talent" they employ. Fox News deserves every bit of scorn heaped in its direction but what about NBC?
Why has NBC gotten off the hook? If, as has been suggested, there are outtakes and recordings of Donald Trump at his most venal, incompetent, unintelligent, racist, sexist, narcissistic, self-obsessed best and producers and executives of the peacock network kept them under wraps for fear of a ratings decline and advertising cancellations, they are just as responsible for his ascension to the presidency as his Russian comrades! Clearly, his audio in which he brags about assaulting women didn't turn people off. After all he was just mistreating women. What do they matter right? Maybe though, a pile on of him really expressing what many have always known about him would have done the trick.
We know what the mission of Fox is - to defend this cretin regardless of offense. They want to keep him in the presidency at all cost. However, NBC may just be one of many (in)direct enablers responsible for getting him there! Why aren't more people calling this network out?
1
I know it would be wrong, and harmful to our country. But there's a very small part of me that would like to see the next Democratic President do, for a couple of weeks, what Trump does on a daily basis. Just to watch the Republicans' heads explode.
3
@kenmeltzer For the most of eight years we watched a Republican controlled Senate and House obstruct and impede a learned person (much more educated than the dotard) that was elected president, we listened as many mocked him, as many made racist remarks about him, and as the lunatic Trump, as a candidate, also tread on the borderline of racism and bigotry when speaking of Obama, and also mocking Obama's leadership.
Now, that the unhinged grifter from Queens is in the hot seat, the GOP (well, Trump's Own Party), are silent concerning Trump's tirades, silent at his bigotry and racism, and only voice their opposition to the more intelligent people's mocking, deriding and blatant lack of respect of the bully called "president".
Did Trump and his courtiers not realize there will be backlash to counter their past actions?
What is Trump's Omarosa defense going to be? She knows how to use the media and make Trump crazy. His defense will be a tweet storm of his true feelings and fears. With 200 tapes, she can over shadow his spotlight for months to come.
1
You say the word is "not democratic." That's putting it mildly and with cautious courtesy. Petty dictator would better describe it.
1
trump is graciously handing us all the evidence we need to remove him from office. Let’s return the favor and use it to finally be done with this experiment in dictatorship. trump was handed the presidency due to Russian interference and misplaced hatred of Obama and Hillary. We now have the most pathetic excuse for a leader than we could ever have thought possible. America must be saved.
2
"At this point, one might ask why the White House even bothers to invent cover stories that the president himself will inevitably contradict.". Indeed. Why have anyone in this fetid swamp of an administration attempt to act as a spokesperson for the despot when his story changes from hour to hour?
When his "press" secretary stands at her podium with her serious face on, at times I don't know whether to cringe or laugh.
The use of the bully pulpit a president may have is not unprecedented throughout our history. However, the use of the pulpit by Trump is disgusting in "punishing" his, for lack of a better phrase, domestic enemies (the press, Brennan, Comey, McCabe and rest) and his foreign enemies, all enemies as they do not cower in fear of the dotard thus feel wrath of the imbecilic and juvenile tweet storm.
In time Trump will slither back to his palatial mansions and towers where he can look down on the commoner, and revel in his bombastic way how he conned and bullied a lot of people with little consequence. And his masses will still cheer.
2
@Dan This is Mrs. Gary. Small correction. One stands ON a podium (a raised platform) and AT the lectern (a stand with a slanted surface for placing a book for reading). Don't know why people and the press, especially, keeps making this mistake.
Fade in the theme song from "The Godfather", and the scene was where Michael Corleone takes out the heads of the 5 enemy families.
1
As always, no one who is innocent acts this way. He is guilty to the core and a cornered creature always snaps.
7
The additional perversity here is that Donald enjoys hitting the little guys who can't hit back. They don't have the power he has. They don't have the mouthpiece he has nor do they have the cloak of Secret Service protection he enjoys while he belittles from the podium.
Essentially he doesn't engage in what is called a "fair fight" and then gloats (fools) himself when he looks in the mirror. Mr, Trump, Rocky Balboa you ain't.
Being President isn't supposed to be fun. It's supposed to be hard work. It's supposed to be 24/7 job. That seems to out of the grasp of 45.
1
Trumps's vengeful modus operandi is like that of a gangster or mob boss. (Nice little security clearance you've got there. Too bad if something should happen to it.) He is preoccupied with
eliminating or punishing anyone that he perceives had anything to do with initiating the Russia investigation. That is all part of the big picture that affirms his intent to obstruct justice.
3
There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code, postal rates, antitrust laws and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not “democratic.”
Let’s try “despotic.”
3
Former commander of JSOC who oversaw the Bin Laden mission and a Navy SEAL, Admiral William McRaven backed Brennan and wrote an open letter telling Donald Trump that if he is going to revoke Brennan’s clearance, then he should revoke McRaven’s, too. Trump supporters and assorted conservatives love to make a big show of how much they “love the military” and “respect those who serve.” If it’s anything other than lip service, then they should heed Admiral McRaven’s words.
6
That's what you get when you elect a narcissistic sociopath as president coupled with a corrupt enabling Congress stacking the judiciary with still more partisan enablers. An interesting experiment if the point of it is to test the United States Constitution's checks and balances. I believe the engineering folks call it a "test to destruction."
3
Chaos is his ladder. It's the only thing he knows to do. And it's not done out of strategy. This is a deeply immature, petty person, and he has reshaped the White House in his own image. He destroys everything around him. We can only hope he destroys his own presidency before he destroys America. What a horrible era this is. The Republicans should be turned out of office and kept out, permanently, for allowing this to happen.
11
Donald Trump never wanted to be President to serve the country.
He has always assumed that being POTUS was HIS right. HE is the most _______ whatever person in the entire world and it is simply his just recognition by the country and the world of how wonderful HE is.
Most importantly, being POTUS has allowed Trump to do what he has always done on a new unprecedented scale, make money for himself. The advancement of the Trump Brand is foremost in his mind.
That Trump continues to use the 'tools' he has always done to advance himself is no surprise. He to date has never been held accountable or checked in his quest. Use of threats, retribution and bully tactics still work for him so why stop now? They got him where he is today.
Trump's lazy intellect and enormous black hole of ego prevent him from rising to the maturity of the office he holds. And he doesn't want to be OUR President. He just wants to make more money and have people grovel before him. He adroitly uses his 'base' in hopes of staying in the Oval Office. That is the true extent of his caring about the citizens of the country.
Exposure of any kind is Trump's kryptonite. He must beat it down at all costs.
1
@Elizabeth Too bad his bone spurs did not prevent his presidency as it did with military service.
1
I am so very proud of Admiral William McRaven! At a time of 'ostrich' officials his actions are a measure of 'America First.' This is a subject-lesson!
10
I'm surprised to find ex-employees maintaining security clearances at all. Once they leave the job , there is no need anymore. I can only think of bad reasons why an ex-employees should keep their security clearances (the Times should do a story on that, I bet that would turn up some stories fit to print). Strip clearances away from all ex-employees.
@mark I agree with your comment. My clearance was revoked the same day of my departure from my employment due to retirement.
However, it has been explained that these officials are used to ease transitions due to their current knowledge of the issues their successors may need to understand. And these officials may be employed by consulting firms which also needs their expertise.
However, with the "I'm Trump and I get my information from "Fox and Friends" there is no need for these former officials to retain their clearances to assist in any transition.
Cut to the chase.
Do we need any more proof that Trump is Putin's Puppet.
Trump and his no longer hidden agenda go hand in hand regardless and relentlessly.
Current events call for a new definition of treasonous behavior.
Globalization calls for this kind of immediate attention for the sake of our democracy and for the sake of our loyalty to our country and for our loyalty to our allies.
Treason, as understood in the 18th and 19th century, must be brought up-to-date and redefined for our modern times.
Trump's behavior has trampled on our country as a democracy and on our government as a viable, reliable, and valid institution designed to protect us from foreign adversaries and their duplicitous behaviors.
Now we need protection from Trump himself.
As a result Trump is guilty of treasonous behavior.
Trump is a traitor - pure and simple.
Call the name-caller by his own well-earned nick name ......... Benedict Trump.
Do unto him what he advocates for another well-known person and then throw away the key.
Lock him up.
(Although Treason can well call for other alternative actions.)
2
Trump.
Petty, infantile, vicious, hollow, despicable.
And immeasurably dangerous.
This administration has taught us at least one lesson. Our Cinstitutiion grants a single individual too much power.
2
Forget that the press is the enemy, it now appears that the republican party is the enemy.
7
@Alan - NOW appears? It has been for at least a decade, perhaps longer. If we don't get a Democratic majority in at least one chamber of Congress we are doomed. Please, everyone, vote like our country is worth it in November and in every election running up to it.
2
WE did not elect him. He was elected by unthinking voters who were swayed by his rhetoric, by voters who could not trust Mrs Clinton, and by those who were so disgusted or so uncaring they did not bother to vote. His campaign “speeches” were reminiscent of broadcasts heard in the 1930’s coming from Germany. Remember what happened there?
2
The media must learn that when the glorious leader has spoken the only response must be silence. Isn't that the way it works in some other countries; after all what does one voice matter when placed against the words of the glorious leader who speaks for us all. This works provided no one gets to ask by what right, aye, there's the rub.
2
I've been carefully trying to find something about this president that is admirable. It's been a solid two years of searching over and over, sifting through the blurry haze of words and actions. I'm sorry to say, but so far, I have not found a dang thing.
5
This Republic cannot function without a Senate; & clearly, the Senate cannot function under fear of retribution. -Julius Caesar
1
It won't happen, of course, but I'd love to see supporters of the president apply the "outsider test" for all of his actions.
In the outsider test, one must temporarily shed one's allegiance to a person, a party, an ideology, and look at some particular action through the lens of objectivity, or even through the lens of opposition.
In this case, would Republicans have supported stripping Brennan's security clearance if it had been done by a Democratic president?
Alas, it's become all too clear that those who support Trump are more interested in victory than justice, fairness or democracy. Many of them seem to truly believe they'd enjoy living in a society run by an autocrat or dictator.
1
I never thought, in all of my years on this planet and as a citizen of this country, that I would witness a President so far afield from the definition of 'fit for office.'
Interestingly, Alexander Hamilton apparently envisioned such a scenario in the late 18th century when he wrote Federalist Paper number 16, wherein he outlined the original purpose of of the Electoral College. In its original rendition, the Electoral College was intended to prevent a popular, but unfit candidate from becoming President, by having independent Electors do the final voting, and the only vote that really counts.
Today, most States have rendered the Electoral College to be the tool of the minority in the country with the results over the last 20 years producing two Presidents who lost the popular vote.
I have two questions: Where's the outrage? Why is this allowed to stand?
5
If Trump spent half as much time doing the work of the president as he does fomenting drama, he would probably find that he had fewer critics. But, he fans the flames with every tweet. Every speech at every rally just hands his critics more and more ammunition. He brings all his problems on himself. All the criticism that he hates so much is the result of his own actions. But, he is so enamored with playing victim that he cannot see the truth. If he would just stop with the inflammatory speeches, stop tweeting, spend a little time away from the golf course and more in the Oval Office he wouldn't be facing barbs and attacks on all sides. But, he makes it all happen, then whines that it's unfair. Honestly, dude, just go in your office and shut the door and be quiet.
455
@Ms. Pea
This is called 'reality governance'. Unfortunately, the damage being done is real damage, even if accomplished as 'entertainment value'.
@Ms. Pea, in other words, if he was a different person.
1
@Ms. Pea
Trump's job is watching Fox News in the morning and evening.
Trump's duties include preserving, protecting and defending his right to vacation and play golf a third of his time.
Trump's obligation is to do whatever Putin wants him to do in order to guarantee that Trump and his family profit from him being President.
1
I listened to some of the comments of the Republican Senators regarding Trump pulling John Brennan's clearance, someone who has done more to serve this country than either Donald Trump and the Senators that I heard comment, is typical.
It's seems like the Republican Senators and Congressmen are taking their lead from their leader for the most part, petty, narrowminded and the most partisan behavior in a government body that I have ever seen, since maybe Joseph McCarthy.
I think the Republican Senator's and Congressmen, better really think long and hard, on their cowardliness and acquiescence to this unstable and unfit man in the oval office. FDR once proclaimed that "we have nothing to fear but fear itself", it's looks like with the Republican's, their fear is more than just their shadows, they are shaken with fear to say anything to upset the petulant child in the Oval Office.
Admiral McRaven by his words in his open letter to Donald Trump, shows what bravery and integrity is all about, when do the Republican's in Washington take his lead, and not one from Bone Spurs.
5
Trump is a weak, pathetic, ego-driven human being. He has always been that way, so it should come as no surprise that he is behaving that way in his role as president. What is more surprising, though, is the Republican Party overlooking, sanctioning and enabling this behavior.
It is stomach turning to watch these Republican sycophants defend every ridiculous or authoritarian action that Trump exercises. We are watching a meltdown of the core values of our democracy under their watch. I am heartened to see members of the intelligence community pushing back by speaking up. I hope to see more patriotic individuals coming forward and adding their voice to what I hope becomes a thunderous chorus.
11
Retired Adm. William McRavens demand that his security clearance be removed as well will be long remembered for the act of patriotism that it was.
Those on the enemies list will wear that as a badge of honor the rest of their lives. The republican congress that stood by trump will be regarded as the spineless quislings and collaborators that they are.
Can you imagine the eruption that will occur when Don Jr. get indicted, and is jailed because of his risk of flight.
6
writing editorials only is not good enough. you should shame US congress and senate for supporting Mr. Trump relentlessly. Mr. Trump is geting all the courage for the sustaining attack on the press and patriotis people due to partisan action by each and every GOP leader in both houses.
2
Like many others, I am growing weary of Trump's "witch hunt" rhetoric and simplistic presentation of issues as well as his gnawing ignorance and blatant disregard for facts. The thought that Trump has garnered 88 million dollars toward his reelection campaign, and that we'd have another four years of this authoritarian behavior is beyond the pale. And there is a real possibility that he could be reelected in 2020. The Times Editorial Board is correct in calling attention daily to Trump's actions, but there needs to be more in reaching those who are not hearing these messages, as Trump tries to drown them out with his tweets and antics and divert public discourse about the nature of presidential power. Keep at it Times!
2
The editorial board should uplevel the headline to more accurately reflect the current situation. I propose, " GOP, the Payback Party."
More needs to be done to hold Trump's party accountable. He runs the GOP. They remain silent, save the few not up for reelection. Thus, his actions are the GOP's actions!
So come on NYT, speak truth to all those involved in this fiasco. The GOP, and Trump, own this.
3
The payback is on the part of the press: you missed one of the biggest stories of our lifetimes and got it completely wrong. I conclude there’s an 85% probability that this is the reason for the press’s animus.
I am only comforted by the likelihood that Trump will have an awful ending.
Treason is not something to be treated lightly.
8
As much as these are the actions of a sick, vindictive man, there's an electorate out there that put him in office, and continues to enthusiastically support him. And, that's truly sickening.
9
Face it, the entire Trump family (and the Kushners, too) are just ignorant people. They want all the money and trappings, but they've never really learned how to run businesses. They're lousy managers who expect loyalty, but don't earn it. What else would they do but try to extract retribution from imagined slights of all kinds. I don't know how anyone could have ever worked for them, or would want to now, for that matter.
3
Although I am sure he is deriving great pleasure from wreaking revenge on his critics, let's not overlook the devious plan to revoke security clearance from all of the past intelligence figures involved in discovery and investigation of Russian election meddling in 2016. By removing these people's important ability to have access to classified files tied to the actual investigation he is virtually cutting Mueller's investigation off at the knees.
As the government and intelligence officials most fundamental to the investigation, lacking the ability to access this data practically eliminates them as viable witnesses for Mueller's investigation as well as any future hearings that may be created should the Dem's take over the house.
This insidious and systematic discrediting and silencing of those most vital to uncovering the truth of this attack on our country is the real strategy at play, one that may effectively end or severely hamper the investigation. This is criminal obstruction but, even more outrageous, is the Republican congresses outright endorsement of the action. This is disgusting!
3
The primary system is the biggest political mistake we ever made in this country. Even selfish, corrupt party bosses would never have put Trump on the ballot, if only because they themselves would have had too much to lose. No one who understood anything, who had a stake in society, would have put Trump on the ballot. Only the mob would have done that, and that is who did it. And this is something the Founders warned us against in the clearest possible terms. Indeed, the imbalance of Presidential election power among the states, which is all that is left today of the Electoral College, was not its original primary purpose. Its original primary purpose was to keep the direct election of the President out of the hands of the public. I'm not saying we should (or could) have that today, but I think we've learned that the general public, uninvolved in politics except as spectators, should not pick the candidates.
1
@XXX: The voters chose Hillary Clinton with 3M more votes than Trump. It's the Electoral College that chose Trump, despite his evident unsuitability for the job.
1
Mr. Brennan did nothing to justify revocation of his security clearance. Trump is using the machinery of government to punish his critics. That is a simple abuse of power. With Trump in charge, we are already the equivalent of a banana republic. We certainly don't resemble the United States prior to Trump.
6
How about the press corps showing some real solidarity and next time a colleague is banned from a public event, press briefing or blocked to ask a question not showing up as a group? Can you imagine the effect of a Sarah Sanders speaking to an empty room, let alone the same happening to her boss?
5
Everyone who warned that Trump was temperamentally unsuited to being president has been vindicated.
He is a bully and when given the power to do ANYTHING, he does not have the self disciple to stop himself from doing things that reflect badly on himself and the office of the Presidency.
Trump has brought out the worst in certain Americans and shown the world the fear and hate which other presidents managed to contain with their visions of 'the shinning city on the hill.'
Withdrawing the security clearance of Brennon and others, people who have given their lives to working for the US government on a relatively small salary because of their love of America, and in some cases jeopardizing their pensions, as well as future earning powers, would only be done by someone who inherited millions and never had to work for anyone apart from his father.
3
The Donald has never matured past the grade school bully he lives to be every day. With a weak and timid GOP controlled House, Senate and Supreme Court he is never going to be held accountable for his words and actions. Some folks never grow up and he is a prime example.
3
Congressional Republican complicity will not be forgotten. Trump will not change. Congress has grossly failed in it's duty to remove a president who is a threat. To this nation.
6
I fear the President now has a simmering animus toward Canada. The strength and intelligence of our reaction to his illegal tariffs has really needled him. What are you to do? Being a nation of obsequious toe-suckers is what he wants, but we aren't temperamentally inclined to behave in that manner.I have a bad feeling about what is to come.
1
@Charles
We Americans, south of New Brunswick and north of Mexico, all have a bad feeling about what is to come.
Illegal tariffs against our former friends are the least
of our worries!
1
@Nan Socolow We are still friends. The links are too broad and too strong. But it gets confusing because within each of our societies are individuals who act in a hateful manner and we have to be careful not to generalize our reaction to such negativity. It helps me to look at the new Premier of our most populous province, Onatrio, who is like Trump: a failed businessman posing as a success, full of hateful speech and actions, denigrating his opponents, making false claims against the media, and not tightly tied to the truth. The problems are within our societies more than they are between our societies. I cheer for the good guys where ever I find them and they are abundant in the US and elsewhere.
I agree 100%, but it's hard not to. Reporting on this administration is not fun or challenging. The president's range of behaviors fit on a sandwich board... on one side.
There's no need to do investigative reporting on his removing Brennan's security clearance. The simplest explanation with Trump is the correct one. It looks like revenge, and it purely and simply is revenge.
He assails the press daily and it appears the reason is because they hurt his feelings by repeating what he said. Simple explanation is his ego is so out of control that he cannot abide anyone pointing out his insane behavior.
He keeps going to his golf clubs and hosting important people that feel they have to stay at his properties. The simplest explanation is he's greedy.
The question is how to report something that moves Congress to action. The question is what stupid policy that he has tossed out into the world will hurt his base, and they will actually realize it?
We cannot wait to say, oh, that was the issue we should have really done something about. Hindsight isn't good enough to protect this country.
3
My big fear in all this is what the Trump era is doing to our future government. His tactics, and the tactics of his adversaries have slowly removed all the safety rails and any sense of dignified debate. Maybe it was naive to believe there were any, but until recently I did it to be so. Now I am afraid we entering a world where there is no right or wrong, just opinion. All we can be sure of is there will be a fight, and that fight is increasingly bitter and cruel. Whether his bluster keeps him on the Avenue or he is gone in 2020, he has sown very dangerous seeds. I would even go so far as to say he has incentivized extreme elements in our country to go dark and I fear the rise of a kind of American Taliban. Please feel free to talk me off the ledge.
1
@ygj
Well spoken, ygj. Move over a bit so that we can all sit with you.
1
Donald Trump reminds me of the seedy character in, "It's a Wonderful Life", Mr. Potter. Both cared only for themselves, were vindictive, dishonest, and had delusions of grandeur to take over their country/town at any cost.
I would like to think America dreams to bring ourselves together as a Bedford Falls, and cringe at the thought of Trumpville.
2
DJT has no understanding that money and an easy life are not everyone's motivation for everything they do. There is not one person on his "enemies list" that will throw America under the bus in order to improve their bottom line. DJT is happily destroying our democracy. Shortly expect that he will let Don Jr. And Jared go to the pen if he thinks it will save himself. WHAT does it take for Congress to say "Enough!"
4
Frankly, given history, there's nothing new or novel about this. Nixon did it. Jefferson did it. Clinton and Obama did it. So get over it. The Republic survived it every time.
@Percy41: No, none of them violated the First Amendment and if they had done so, real Americans wouldn't have gotten over it and they will not get over it when Trump does it. The Republic won't survive a president who gets away with stifling free speech.
2
Trump is not simply punishing his critics; he is working his way through the possible witness list of people who have insider knowledge of collusion. Please call this what it is, for it is far worse, especially given the GOP's complete complicity, than throwing rocks at his critics.
7
The man is a weakling. He knows that he cannot stand up to his critics intellectually. What is striking is that his "enemies " will be fueled and validated by this mostly symbolic retribution. is Dishonest Don is welding into place a group of permanent critics who are insiders and can lay bare the incompetence and the thievery of this West Wing den of thieves. DD is nothing if not self defeating.
2
"Where is the fun in punishing your enemies if you can’t rub their noses in it? More strategically, scaring one’s critics into submission won’t work if those critics don’t understand what’s happening."
. . . isn't this a good definition of sadism?
3
It is increasingly obvious that Trump is playing his own season of the Apprentice. Whoever is not fired is the most loyal and will win. He is unable to distinguish between what is real and reality tv.
1
Although I've never been a Republican, I did have respect for many over the years. But now, one can only wonder... where are reasonable Republicans? How can they stand idly by as basic checks and balances are stripped away?
Republicans in Congress: do you not think about the legacy you're leaving? About how history will judge you?
Although the hour is getting late, it's still not too late for you to stand up for American Democracy.
6
@R.A.K. They're millenarians. They're just waiting to be Raptured-up ahead of the Apocalypse.
One thought here is how ill-suited it has been for us to have allowed a domineering business entrepreneur without prior public service experience to run the federal government as Chief Executive. Our federal government is one of the largest and complex organizations in human existence. All presidents of the modern era have had years of experience with public service prior to becoming President – except for Donald Trump. Some might see this as a good thing, because they think DJT can be a counter to the “Deep State”. Unfortunately, the ability of this president to effectively manage our “Professional State” seems to be sorely lacking.
Specifically, President Trump’s tendency to wield the power of the presidency in a way that concentrates authority in his person is the exact opposite of what the best presidents have done, and that’s an observation about presidents from both parties. The capricious removal of Brennan’s security clearance is just the latest example of current presidential behavior that fits this pattern. For those Republicans still defending President Trump, I would ask is this kind of behavior you would have expected of Ike, Reagan, or either Bush_41 or Bush_43? Even President Nixon, for all his faults, was a long-term public servant.
In short, autocratic executive behavior may work in the business world (and in my experience only some of the time), but an autocratic President is the wrong answer for our government, and our nation.
5
Our constitution determinedly set up a broad-based authority over a personal one. Security clearances have done much to sustain this broad-based, policy-driven, effective and powerful authority for decades.
Mr "I alone can fix it" with only disdain for policy, for reading, or for history believes he is dismantling the "administrative state." He's not. Effectively, he's dismantling state authority itself.
3
Trump is Trump, but I was just surprised to find that ex-government employees are able to keep top security clearances.They are now civilians without the government safeguards on their communications.
1
@TED338: Have you ever had a security clearance? Were you briefed on the laws and regulations that govern security clearances, access to information, and disclosure of classified information? I thought not. The same laws and regulations apply to former government employees, and to many civilians who have or have had security clearances.
1) A security clearance does not give you the keys to the file room.
2) The fact of being no longer employed by the Federal government does not grant any extra freedom to disclose classified information.
3
On this past Thursday night, Rachel Maddow gave a probable and far more frightening reason for Trump’s spiteful revocation and threats of more revocations of security clearances. It is, should the Democratic Party regain control of the House, to hobble the ability to conduct future investigations into Russia’s activity into election meddling and Trump’s involvement thereof. This is the real danger,
3
Even more disturbing was Rachel’s theory that the loss of the security clearance makes it impossible for Brennan to access his notes from his time in federal service as they are held by the agency. This would be crippling to preparation for any testimony he might might be called for
In the Mueller investigation or committee testimony.
No, no, NO. Do not call what Trump is doing "payback." That suggests he has been wronged. He tries to stifle and hurt anyone who is not a fan.
13
Every time Trump gets away with outrageous actions like revoking Brennan’s security clearance out of spite, he is setting a new precedent, de facto expanding the powers of the executive. It will require action from our (new) Congress to restore balance.
8
Drama is the theme of this presidency, not governing. While the country faces various crises that call out for serious policy debate--I name climate change and economic inequality--the White House chief resident pulls a tantrum, with his lawyers' and spokespersons' support. Then when media criticizes Trump's monomania and calls for a return to norms, the media gets slammed for anti-Trumpism. Most of the country is sickened by this entire scene.
522
@dmdaisy
Don't forget the opioid crisis - 75,000 dead young people in one year and Trump's playing spite games. Sad indeed.
1
@dmdaisy
Economic inequality grew under Obama and is shrinking under Trump.
Obama's work on improving his personal standing in the view of Europeans resulted in environmental policy that did not reduce greenhouse gases and inflicted major costs on red states, his political enemies. Meanwhile, China is building coal fired plants in China and the rest of Asia along with Africa. China alone, not counting its one road program, is on track to add more CO2 to the atmosphere than mankind has added since the inception of the industrial revolution.
The residents of NYC, meanwhile, dump billions of gallons of secondary treated sewage effluent and one million gallons per year of raw sewage into the waters of America and blame global warming for the acidification of Long Island Sound.
@dmdaisy
trump's base is perfectly happy with him the way he is...he is not working on their problems (they continue to blame the democrats) but the entertainment is cheap.
This isn't about John Brennan's security clearance.
This is about Trump abusing his office, mean-spiritedly looking for leverage implicit in his job function which he can wrongly and viciously use to shut up a private citizen who is criticizing him.
The rest of it is blather. This is Trump yet again using threats, intimidation and implied punishment to stop someone from talking.
Like a mob boss.
12
Oh. I thought this article was about how Trump was finally paying back those contractors he stiffed. Foolish me! He’s never going to pay a fair wage to those who’ve worked for him.
3
This petty, incompetent individual now sitting in the Oval Office is challenging our democracy in ways we haven't seen before. The Republican party has failed the test. Only a few (mostly those who are not seeking re-election) have shown the integrity to speak up against Trump. It really says something that we have former military and intelligence officials speaking out in editorials and open letters to the president.
6
Trump has been waiting his whole life to be in a position as he is in now, just to get back at everyone in his whole life whom he sees as not affording him the respect and praise he genuinely believes he deserves. What he is incapable of seeing is how the way he has led his life since he was a very young man has engendered such disrespect. He has the support of his cult and the shockingly complicit members of the GOP, but he will never has the respect that men like President Obama has earned simply by being decent. Bullies like Trump just can't see that they've made their own bed--they just can't accept that they have to sleep in it.
9
The pre-candidate was a big "who cares" to New Yorkers.
Then he was shocking
The he became predictable
Now it's just boring and sad to see his insecurities on constant display.
4
The irony of course is Mr. Brennan's behavior being termed erratic by an administration that by any standard could be defined as erratic or the better term---unhinged.
2
"We're gonna punish our enemies, and we're gonna reward our friends who stand with us on issues that are important to us"
Gee, I wonder who said that ? Was it a president whose administration regularly targeted opponents with unwarranted investigations, purpose-built executive orders, and agency rules ?
Hypocrites.
4
@Objectivist
As usual, something said by a Democrat is taken completely out of context and conservatives continue to clutch their pearls and fall on the swooning couch. It's pretty much all they have anymore; they certainly don't have any sustainable ideas that actually work. By the way, it was the Republican congress during the Obama administration that declared ideological war on the elected President and "targeted opponents with unwarranted investigations." I remember it well; the ridiculous failed Bengazi "investigation" that wasted millions of taxpayer dollars wasn't that long ago. In spite of having a incompetent pathological liar currently taking up space in the White House, facts still matter to some people.
1
I've been focused on Trump's narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) since the election, bewildered and frustrated by the democratic party's complete obliviousness to its weaknesses.
NPD is his Achilles' Heel and - while being talked about - it's been totally ignored for its value in political combat. Some serious effort should be expended on forming and utilizing a Mueller-esque "A-team" of psychological experts.
Trump is a psychological mess. He is vulnerable. The democrats have had ample opportunity but have disastrously failed to exploit this personality disorder.
2
We have a political outsider as our President.
Normal (non-coastal, non-hate-trained) Americans have asked each other for years about a Mr. Smith actually going to Washington. Well we finally got one, and he has created the best economy in the shortest time of any American President.
But being a non-politics guy, he's never had to kneel and kiss rings, and he has always been The Boss.
Pres. Trump ALSO missed out of how reporters (we have no journalists here anymore, not reporting on government issues) think that they are Insiders like the elites they crave to be seen with.
The awful Obama years taught us that well-dressed good talkers will happily let the people perish. Now that a rude & crude dude has outperformed every elite put together, that lesson will affect the rest of this century's elections.
2
@L'osservatore
Rather than assert that Trump has created a sterling economy -- as if he were Year Zero -- I suggest that you study economic history to see how recoveries work. The economy recovered and added jobs thanks to Obama, period. Any claim about the 'awful Obama years' ignores George W. Bush's blank check to fight wars in the Middle East and Afghanistan (which, I presume, you remember and can prove was economically sustainable -- right?).
I challenge you to show any proof that the Trump Administration has given this country's lower- and middle-class workers the same type of permanent, extensive tax cuts enjoyed by the wealthiest. I challenge you to show that Trump's 'solution' to health care in this country is in any way better than the ACA.
I challenge you to show how your 'rude and crude' dude has improved international relations, and not made the United States a laughing-stock. pr how his racist rhetoric has improved civility.
Trump has never been 'The Boss.' Even on The Apprentice, the firing was carefully scripted, and in real life, Trump cowers before firing anyone in person. Reality T.V. is not reality.
It is beyond me how people find Trump inspiring, when his narcissism is draining and destructive. We have all head that Americans sometimes vote for the person they would like to have a drink with. Would YOU like to have a drink with this petulant man, who lacks a sense of humor, humanity, and who revels in meanness? I doubt it.
3
@L'osservatore: Trump kneels for and kisses the rings of Putin, his boss who owns him. Obama saved the economy from Bush's extravaganzas and he succeeded in having tens of millions of Americans acquiring affordable health insurance. Obama was respected world wide and Trump is not worthy to lick the soles of Obama's shoes. Normal Americans don't want a Putin stooge in the Oval Office.
2
@L'osservatore - Its odd that a person who's moniker references the Vatican can be so cavalier about the very real danger of a "rude and crude" ethos (i.e. which tends to mock the poor) and sends itself flowers for a chance moment of economic strength (i.e. which lavishes benefits on the already wealthy by rolling back the financial protections that caused the last financial disaster).
He looks like he’s going to explode.
The removal of security clearance from Brennan and his planning to do the same to others who criticize him is a dictator move, not the behavior of a United States President.
He’s endangered journalists calling them the enemy unless they are FOX. That puts them in the target sites for crazies and is completely irresponsible and dangerous. In fact the Trump is irresponsible and dangerous. This is banana republic dictator actions. His buyout of the wealthy including democrats in that group with his tax break. Those democrats bask in their windfall.
He’s got to go. So does Pence who is complicit in all of Trumps doings. America is being destroyed by the GOP with crazy at the helm.
3
In my 66 years on this planet, I have learned that the more "Conservative" a person is, the more rigidly bound to their belief system they are.
Once their belief is locked in, then no truthful evidence can ever breach this impenetrable wall.
We can be certain in "faithful" cries from Trump supporters: "Go Get 'em - Lock 'em up - Strip their powers - discredit the fake media . . . "
There are many commentators all accurately list the accruing horrors from Trump and his minions.
The Time's editorial board did a fine job with the "Payback President" and brings light to how awful the current spite rage is diminishing our country by stripping well deserved security clearance from our most loyal and patriotic citizens.
3
'"That’s going to cost a lot of money for the people of Canada,” said Mr. Trump. “He learned. You can’t do that. You can’t do that.”'
I hadn't heard that one. What a despicable tyrant. I wonder if he has any idea that he will be eternally portrayed as a major villain in all school textbooks everywhere - except possibly in Russia and a handful of other dictatorships around the world. (That is, barring his annihilation of civilization as we know it - something I wouldn't put past him, given his compulsion to bring everyone and everything down with him.)
4
It's a slow motion Saturday Night Massacre.
What is next? Mass arrests? Show trials?
A year or two ago asking such questions would have seemed absurd, hysterical. Now not so much.
Brennan has been right to raise the alarm and to use the most descriptive language possible to describe our peril. I thank him.
3
trump has been handed, by mistake, the largest audience and the biggest stage. His focus is on himself. All ships come into his port. We are not citizens of the U.S. We are trump's little worker ants. The repubs in Congress, unlike Ivanka, do know what complicit means. While trump tramples on the Constitution, which he does not understand having never read it, and stifles criticism aimed at him while not realizing that a public figure is the tallest tree in a lightning strike, he places this country and its people in peril.
7
The Trumpster violated his oath of office the instant he took it. And his disregard for the proper workings of the constitutional design makes matters worse daily. He's impeachable already, no matter what Mueller concludes.
7
Let’s not forget the potential revenge Trump is planning on the judiciary, if Manafort is found guilty.
Giuliani has already threatened Mueller to “come at him like a ton of bricks “, if he doesn’t end his investigation soon.
Trump is not only a payback President, he’s also childishly vindictive .
5
I notice that all these people on Trump’s hit list may be or have been witnesses in the Mueller probe.
3
“[The press secretary] claimed that the former director’s clearance had been revoked because his ‘erratic conduct and behavior’ and ‘increasingly frenzied commentary’ posed a risk to national security.” Were these words directed at her boss, they’d be accurate. As a description of John Brennan, they’re ridiculous.
16
Donald Trump is a spoiled and narcissistic man-child who acts like a bully whenever someone criticizes him. Yet, like all bullies, he is a sniveling coward at heart. Trump's latest displays of temper toward those who offend them are a minor demonstration of his temperamental unfitness for office. The only real question is why so many Republicans continue to defend his utterly immature behavior.
6
It's incomprehensible that the person holding the office of POTUS can arbitrarily revoke security clearances. It's as if my state governor could walk up and revoke someone's driver's license.
9
What a child! A bully. A man who never grew up. He wants his way, or else. And we're all here as witnesses to what this so-called "leader" wants.
And - he wants us all to pay for His Parade! If he wants it to happen let him throw around his own money as he has in the past.
13
@Pam The purpose of the parade is to have an intimidating military presence in Washington right after Election Day in case the Democrats are victorious in November and he decides to try a coup d'etat by rejecting the election results. I am absolutely *not* saying that the military is in on this - I am sure they want no part of it and I hope Mattis et al. are doing some private contingency planning as to how they will deal with it if he tries anything. But it seems clear to me that that is his purpose.
5
@Pam
AMEN!
He calls himself a billionaire. Hmmm, I doubt it, but if so, if he wants a parade in his honor then let HIM pay for it.
All that money to celebrate his childishness? I think not.
3
@Pam The parade has just been canceled.He wants to spend the "savings" on new military jets. (See me roll my eyes?)
1
Either we, the American people, are going to demand our representatives, our erstwhile "leaders", are going to honor their oath to protect and defend the US Constitution against this man, this monster, this dictator attacking us, or we are not.
So far, the majority of the leadership are NOT willing to honor that oath, out of either fear or ambition, or both.
How do we peacefully survive our Constitution being burnt on the alter of the Cult of Trump if our leaders won't do stand up for it unless we, like the Russians, the Turks, and the Filipinos, are willing, instead, to live under tyranny and kleptocracy, as our ancestors did for millennia. Until a curious form of government developed on a land Europeans had only come to visit only half a millennium ago.
3
We have a president* who acts like a petulant child. A GOP majority in Congress which is unwilling or incapable of censuring the president*. An electorate that accepts this behavior. All-in-all it's an embarrassment. Tump makes G.W. Bush's guffaws seem trivial at best.
1
We have a president* who acts like a petulant child. A GOP majority in Congress which is unwilling or incapable of censuring the president*. An electorate that accepts this behavior. All-in-all it's an embarrassment. Tump makes G.W. Bush's guffaws seem trivial at best.
4
I don’t care what the (Un)Stable Genius does; come 2020, we can take our country back. What’s worrying is that millions of people have been brainwashed. I saw that 26 percent of poll respondents agree that the press is the “enemy.” That’s despicable. It’s anti-American, and it’s not true. From what I learned, the power of the press is part of the Constitution, and members of the editorial board have every right to bash Trump or any other leader. It’s what sets us apart from a true enemy, Russia. Would Trump cultists like to live there instead?
3
I am a 70 year old retired physician whose view of the world was scary but bearable with some degree of hope because precisely I lived in a democracy which protected my human rights by our U.S. Constitution. This constitution would function only by defending it with truth and justice and not permitting a despot to rule based on lies and falsehoods and diabolical greed.Yet I am witnessing the destruction of our democracy taking place by a soulless and evil man who was elected president by those who are ignorant and worship unloving power and loving wealth.
19
It's all about Trump's tax returns, that's the story, and Mueller probably already has them. Rudy all but said so the other day. Feel sure that the Special Counsel's team is scrubbing the files for every last bit of security information before he slices them off. This dictator shall not stand. We will stop him.
5
"There’s a word for an approach to leadership that features treating the tax code, postal rates, antitrust laws and the First Amendment as weapons to settle one’s personal grudges. And that word is not “democratic.”"
The Times is acting like no other presidents do this? Only difference is Trump isn't as sophisticated in hiding it. Our previous administration went after opponents with the IRS and crushed whistle blowers and tried to prosecute journalists. So put down the outrage and lets start talking about how to reign in all Presidential power which we all have allowed to get out of control over the last 80 years or so.
@E
How about some names to attach to your accusations about the previous administration?
What stands between Donald Trump and a complete dictatorship are a constitution, a lot of laws, and over two hundred years of tradition as a democracy. To become a dictator for life, Trump would trample on all of these. The man has no shame or feel of country. It's all about him, his ego, and his ambition. We're now being tested on just how strong our democracy is. Safeguards were built in to stop just such a man, and we're to find out if these were sufficient. Let's all hope so.
See: RevolutionOfReason.com
3
Admiral McRaven wrote the perfect response to Trump’s reprehensible action against John Brennan: McRaven wants to be known as one of those who have spoken against our president.
Shame on Senators Graham and Kennedy for being such cowards as to agree with Trump. I have never seen so many cowards!
10
It's reasonable to assert that Trump is in the thrall of Putin. Putin schools him on how to subvert our democratic norms. The republican party is in the thrall of Trump. They slavishly overlook or defend Trump's behaviors and policies that with a different president in the White House, perhaps one with a different skin pigment, would have caused apoplexy, fulminating umbrage, and calls for a impeachment on the grounds of treason, nominally a both a high crime. The republican party is in the thrall of Putin.
For the sake of what's left of this democracy, every republican who has defended Trump must go.
9
What’s the big deal? Brennan does not work at the White House anymore. Why does he need clearance? If the White House needs his expertise they can ask him for it. Just think of how many people are walking around with security clearance from past administrations?? What kind of national security is that. Security clearance should be pulled for all those not employed with the administration, Democrats and Republicans!
@Karen Including Jared and Ivanka ?
I do not get it. Trump is as stupid as they come.
He has no grand plan to become a dictator. That
would require some skill. He is just throwing
childish tantrums. And his base loves it because
for so long no one paid attention to them. And
now they feel they matter. And they are not going
to let any democracy talk stop them from finally
getting some status. Worse living conditions will soon
loosen Trumps grip though, I believe,and hopefully the young Democrats will get rid of Nancy and Chuck and all the corporate Democrats and we will have money out of politics and the new and uncorrupted Democrats will pay attention to these lost and forgotten people and all will go well in our Country. Make America Well Again!
3
I couldn’t help but listen to Tucker Carlson of Fox News tonight rail against liberals who he says are “claiming Brennan has a right to security clearance under the First Amendment.” A remarkable twisting of words and facts solely intended to rile up those listeners that apparently so blinded by his falsehoods, that they can not see or understand the maliciousness and desire for authoritarian governance that Mr. Carlson expounds. No, liberals and moderates understand that a president has the authority to terminate the security clearance of government employees. What a president does not have the authority to do is jeopardize the defense of the Nation to satisfy his petty ego and fear of being impeached (and hopefully indicted) for colluding with an enemy foreign power.
Meanwhile, in the same spiteful rant, Carlson claims Senator Blumenthal (D) falsified his Vietnam service record. Echo’s of the John Kerry swift boat lies and attack. Where does this stop????
How can a man who has not served one iota of time in the military (Trump) denigrate anyone (McCain) who honorably served in the military??? How can any veteran or American citizen in their right mind not be offended, repulsed and angered by this deceitful and malicious malfeasance.
Fortunately, there are honorable Americans, such as General McRaven, who are finally speaking out and opposing this shameful demagoguery and propaganda.
Fighting this Freedom To Defame and Lie is a battle that Americans must wage. 11/6/18
2
And when will he start jailing his critics? Trump is getting more Putinesque as days
go by.
3
@Truthiness "Lock her up" !
>
Pace yourself people. We are at the beginning of this train wreck not the end.
As DJT becomes more cornered, as events surely turn against him (Dems get the Subpoena, Mueller report released etc....), he'll only get worse not better. Just look at the trajectory so far.
What we have witnessed so far is child's play compared to what is coming.
17
@Prometheus: Ongoing Trump enablement promises to knock the US Dollar off its pedestal in a global liquidity crisis.
2
Trump has never become a "president" but simply changed residence and gained more powers to play with. His only concern is to make himself look strong and powerful and generally does this not through his own better qualities but by pushing others down and around. Essentially his crude behavior of pushing the PM of Montenegro at a NATO gathering is played over and over again against different individuals.
Petty, lowbrow, childish, thuggish, senseless, shameful, degrading, ... I'm running out of adjectives!
3
Please say the word. For months at the beginning of the Trump Administration, the press hesitated to call out the president when he lied. It took at least a year before they acknowledged the president is a liar who lied about everything. The word here is "dictatorship." Or perhaps "autocracy." And "tyranny" works well too. Let's not mince words.
8
Remember when Bernie's babies and bullies said there was no difference between Trump and Clinton so they stayed home on election day?
I blame you more than Trump's deplorables.
3
Mr. Trump's preemptive attack on the press is a blatant attempt to discredit them to his base when they report on his often disgusting behavior, as he admitted to Lesley Stahl. Mr. Trump is truly a disgusting individual, a walking encyclopedia of personality disorders: narcissistic, histrionic, misogynistic, racist, god complex, petulance ... competence and confidence are inversely related, and Mr. Trump is extremely confident.
11
@Steve Kennedy: Trump is the embodiment of everything he believes made America "great".