I agree that the Democrats can't be seen as obsessing over the prospect of impeachment. On the other hand, what are they to do if Mueller and his folks come up with conclusive evidence that The Donald did, in fact, collude with Russia to win the election? Are they prepared to dismiss treason on the President's part as their Republican colleagues are likely to do? Lets hope not.
15
Undaunted or Unhinged? Trick question, right? Obviously both!
I wasn't aware that Trump had a "hinge".
This is a classic piece. I hope it wins a Pulitzer Prize. Nobody, nowhere, ever will publish a more accurate, a more truthful - even sublimely poetic description of our current President as he confronts the midterm election results than Mr. Bruni — “Undiminished, undaunted and unhinged: our president in full...” Mr. Douthat is the perfect foil for this poetic observation, with classic insights of his own. We are, indeed, facing desperate times. At least we have these two souls to brighten the darkening shadows. Well done, NYT, and Frank and Ross!
2
Hypothesis: Trump is guilty of all that reputable folks have accused him of.
So, let's analyze his actions assuming that this hypothesis is true.
1. Trump must know he's guilty, and could be financially crushed by penalties from convictions and get big jail time. Assuming he's not bug crazy. Right now, the only power on Earth that can get him is an independent FBI and Justice Department, the IRS, and independent forces in any states with jurisdiction over Trump misdeeds.
2. Given 1., Trump can either run to Russia, or fight. If he fights, what would that look like? Exactly what we see: Coming close to indisputably breaking laws, without going over the line, hindering troublesome investigations. Distracting the public by attacking the press or saying and doing outrageous things in unrelated issues. The average person guilty of a crime can do little more than lawyer up. A POTUS has a lot more firepower.
3. At some point, if Trump is guilty of truly nasty stuff and this can be proven, he'll have nothing to lose. He'll cross hard lines and go out swinging. THAT is the most dangerous potential. Do we remove a sitting President during wartime? What if he declares martial law? This guy is not going to resign like Nixon, and pardons from a subsequent President won't save him from state charges. If impeached, how many Republicans will side with justice? And, how many more kool-aid-drinkers might take up arms to join all the home-grown terrorists who've already heard his call?
Well Frank, well Ross I think it was Robert Duval as that sage cowpoke 'Gus', in that magnificent Western 'Lonesome Dove', who said: "If you listen carefully, a bad man will usually tell you what he has in mind and what he is getting ready to do".
And in so far as what our boy Donny Trump has in mind for the Mueller investigation, Trump has made it clear that he is getting ready to use his newly appointed former Iowa Hawkeye tight-end, Matthew Whitaker, as temporary A/G to smash things up a bit and cause a little chaos among the newly majoritarian Democratic Congress (before they get their bearings).
To me, the real question now is: What will the Democrats do? Will the Demos wait for Whitaker to try and push Mueller aside and let him bury the investigation under a barrage of legalese until the 2020 General elections-Hoping the public will demand answers before then? Or, will the Democrats try an early end run around the bully boy tactics of Team Trump? And finally, what would 'Gus' say about this standoff?
I wonder where the anonymous author of the editorial assuring us that there was at least one adult in the room managing Trump’s worst excesses is now? Yesterday’s press conference raises yet again the question of whether that person, even by crazy town standards, has a grossly inflated sense of her or his abilities and successes?
I heard someone say, and I agree, that Nancy Pelosi should draw up an agenda of policies important to the American people, such as any improvements that need to be made to Obamacare, infrastructure projects, and immigration (to subvert Trumpism taking further hold for 2020. ) Something has to be done but what can be done that will satisfy both parties? Mr Trump ackowledged Wednesday that more immigrants are needed to meet employer demand. He should be held to that statement.
If Mrs Pelosi brought an agenda to the Republicans, they could discuss at least discuss some areas where agreement is possible and at least give the American people the sense that something is being accomplished. And try to de-escalate the tensions which only serve to give Trump fodder for his hatred.
The Dems should, as difficult as it might be, not poke the bear unless it is absolutely necessary. Maybe leave some of their most contentious actions for as long as possible.
Even impeaching him will be seen by his supporters to be provocative and it is unlikely that their support for him will waver.
Democrats have a very difficult tightrope to walk to bring America back from the brink of the abyss.
1
"It’s also the latest example of Trump’s total shamelessness and complete willingness to do whatever he believes is in his interest,"
I hope Mueller and others have the evidence PROTECTED from the new trump appointees that might, I say might, destroy or doctor the evidence at trumps direction whether directly or indirectly requested to do so.
Ross: Speak not of that awful show, which with or without Kevin Spacey shames the memory of the British original.
I agree completely!
If you both think Betomania and Beto is ridiculous, you have not been paying attention to current events, you have not heard him speak, and you are just a bit out of touch. Just my opinion. And what makes you think a woman could win? This country has a long way to go to overcome the Hillary hate machine. Women elected women this time to House seats. But they did not come out in force against Kavenaugh, against Trump, and against Senate candidates who clearly were Trump supporters and benefactors. It is another step. I wish a woman could run and win. As long as Trump's ratings are in the 40's, I would say, no chance. Beto wil be back. If he gets a national stage, people will like what they see.
1
Unlike most, I am not writing to take sides or comment on the points made but to thank Frank and Ross for demonstrating that people from different sides of the political spectrum can speak, write, interact, etc. with grace and humor. The only antidote to the venom of increasing polarization is to remember that we are Americans before we are Democrats or Republicans or liberals or conservatives. A pipe dream? Maybe but Frank and Ross demonstrate how we might proceed.
2
Dems have a lot of really good vice-presidential candidates for 2020. No really obvious leader though Klobuchar seems to be presidential timber. Maybe a Klobuchar-Harris ticket? With Bernie as labor secretary.
At the risk of repeating my previous comments on the topic, 2020 is all about the Midwest/Great Lakes states. If I ran the DNC I would consider cancelling the primaries everywhere else (that is an exaggeration, but I might assign each Great Lakes state 10 delegates and every other state 1 delegate).
1
I liked the Holder. Only that. The article really seems to me "Cantinflesco". Frank, your articles are excellent but with Ross it was predictable that the level would fall to a level frankly Trampian.
Easy answer.
Unhinged.
1
Trump is simply a horrible man-baby. The country remains captured by its own base instincts of racism, sexism, and greed. Our vices trump our virtues and this guy is the result.
2
President Trump is the first Republican who does not fear the Leftist media, and he fights back. They are not accustomed to conservatives who stand up to them, and as we witnessed Jim Acosta's embarrassing behavior yesterday, it drives them crazy.
Hopefully, more Republicans will learn from President Trump, that the press corps is not made up of journalists, but instead it is made up of frothy Left-Wing ideologues. They are not seeking information, they are seeking to affect outcomes.
When they play the race card, just laugh in their faces.
This president from his first day in office has been both undaunted and unhinged! For him both are tied together. The paranoia that he exhibits and his thirst for power show that he will not stop his ill advised agenda, until the day he is out of office. He shows no remorse in lying every day. Where is the second tax cut wasn't the congress working on it to unveil before election day. Where is his disdain of neo-nazi's or white nationalist. He has no moral compass to follow.
1
Put me down for Unhinged, thank you.
1
Unhinged. Period.
3
I don’t want the unhinged mad white guy I saw in that press conference, barking down at minorities and critics in the media, leading our nation anywhere. He has got to go ASAP.
8
Maybe Sessions writes a book after closing that unhinged door behind him.
I want my country back. I don't want to read about people migrating to Spain or talking, or even joking, about moving to Canada. We all joked about Canada, never thinking that it was possible that this excuse for a President could really be elected.
Donald Trump is the most deplorable of the deplorables.
Can we be saved?
6
I have utmost respect and admiration for Oprah Winfrey, but--no. I don't even know why, exactly, except she's a little new-agey for me to imagine her as president. Avannati? No and no and no and no. The way to answer Republican sleaze and out-of-control showmanship is NOT with Democratic same. I like Amy Klobuchar a lot.
But if the choice is Avannati and Trump, we really are doomed.
1
Trump followers feel unleashed by Trump. Except for the 1%’ers who support him because they only care about money, his supporters are basically losers. They are angry with the world and love how he tells the opposition off. Doesn’t matter a whit what he says as long as he spews resentment, hatred and accusations. What really enrages them is how many illegals have made a life for themselves here because they are willing to work hard in spite of obstacles. Rather than look inward, it is much easier to strike out with resentment. Do I look down on them? You bet I do. My parents were legal immigrants who arrived with two suitcases and two children. I remember my mother scrubbing floors on her knees and my father working long hours and going to school at night for years. Never heard a complaint out of them. They were always grateful for the opportunities this country gave them. They would have been appalled at Trump and his rallies of hate and blame.
3
And there you have it, folks. We're off on the Great American Adventure! Election 2020! Ya HOO.
The midterms are old news. The prez is surly, Sessions is toast, and somebody needs to buy Mo a duck. Cheeky! What fun!
These two guys need to do about 6 months covering white house pool sprays and pressers. Their lighthearted banter might evince chuckles some people, but I recently lost my previously prodigious proclivity for frivolity. I am not amused.
1
Trump's deliberate contemptible performance yesterday was abuse of power and a threat not only the press but to all people in this country. His supporters blind to that fact.
3
A jolly conversation about a deeply unappetizing subject, Trump's abject stupidity in designating himself, 'humbly', as 'the one', irreplaceable, vital, indispensable, never-before seen brutus ignoramus perfectibulus, mafia boss of a prostituted G.O.P., seeking relevance in spite of their abuse of power and toilet-worth morals. Trump has no scruples nor feelings towards anybody but himself; he has no remedy, requiring hospice-type life support to control his awful symptoms of ego-neglect from a newly constituted democratic House. Trump's days abusing the power of the presidency are numbered indeed. His latest moves regarding the AG position, may be what's needed to nail him for obstruction of justice. Go Donald, make our day, by taunting MW.
2
I’m not sure either of you gentlemen picked up on what I saw at the press conference.
Trump recognized no boundaries on what he can and will do. He was able to justify to himself every and any thing he wanted to say. He conceded nothing on any point. He told outrageous lies without a trace of unease. He did not acknowledge any accountability to anyone.
He came alive when he went on the attack. It’s what he lives for: dominance.
Megalomania, narcissism, delusion - it was all on display. Trump openly attacked the press, called a black reporter racist to her face, and now Jim Acosta has had his White House credentials pulled. Trump attacked GOP candidates who were disloyal to him, and directly threatened Democrats if they tried to investigate him. He promised total gridlock if he doesn’t get things his way - even threatening his own party.
It was like watching a school bully on steroids, with no adults in the room.
Is it so hard to recognize a monster when it stands before you? Or that the Republican Party backs him 100%?
“Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack all conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.”
The question isn’t just what Democrats are going to do in response to Trump - it’s what all of us are going to do when push comes to shove?
7
I vote for unhinged. But what's new?
Twitter pledges are meaningless. Considering their records, I wouldn't count on Slick Mitt Romney or Susan Collins for anything.
2
Another day of continuous-loop comment sections. Your Apple app seems to do well until too many comments come in, then it seems to dump all but a few recent ones. Might be time to do a front page article on its abject failure- and send a copy (or a continuous loop of copies) to Bloomberg, the Wall Street Journal.....
It’s a good thing this app only affects comments; keep it away from your front page.
1
What was that mention of "bogus charges" against Kavenaugh? I thought that women never lie about this? Why do liberal columnists get to decide which woman is credible and which is not? Which is real and which is bogus? You can't have it both ways - either you must believe them all, or you must admit that on occasion false charges are brought - which leaves open the possibility that one can disbelieve the original accusation and not be a Neanderthal or a misogynist.
Ross Douthat says that the accusations against Kavanaugh "now look like bogus accusations..." What? There was a completely believable accusation from Dr. Ford, which was never fully investigated, thanks to the Republicans on the committee. Then Trump implies that Ford recanted, when what happened was that a woman admitted to falsely claiming she wrote an anonymous letter to Sen. Kamala Harris’ office alleging Kavanaugh raped her. The fact that the woman falsely took credit for the letter doesn't dismiss the fact that *someone* wrote the letter, and that should be investigated also, if possible.
The bottom line is that the allegations against Kavanaugh have never been looked into, thanks to the GOP determination to push through Kavanaugh's nomination at all costs. To say that they "look bogus" is based on no facts whatsoever and is nothing more than naked bias.
3
This is not a legitimate question to ask. It is only the utterly clueless who think it is legitimate.
Unhinged.
1
Did anyone notice that Trump appeared to be heavily madeup for this rather odd news conference? I thought this was very apparent when the right side of his face was in camera view. Common for being on TV, i know, but for a news conference?
2
Voters in toss-up district in the midterms opposed DACA for Wall, supported DACA for E-Verify and end to chain migration according to poll just taken.
"The approval of this [latter] compromise was almost the exact reverse of the rejection of the other compromise.
The approval rate was Democrats (44%-26%), Independents (53%-23%), Hispanics (55%-22%), Republicans (68%-15%)."
https://www.numbersusa.com/blog/mid-term-voters-oppose-split-congress-trading-border-wall-daca-amnesty
1
Fascism is what we are experiencing. How else could one interpret the most recent white house banana republic press conference? Have the remaining Republicans (white nationalists) heard the Presidents bull horn and fallen into lock step? If remaining Republicans (white nationalists) do not understand their mission Jeff Sessions has free time to explain. The goal is to intimidate journalists, obstruct justice, gas light reality, gerrymander elections, load the courts, and lock down the borders. I was born in the mid 60's when it became unacceptable to unleash attack dogs on people of color. It has taken the Republican Party (white nationalists) 5 decades to develop a different approach to power and that is what we are experiencing at this moment. Let us stop referring to them as Republicans and begin describing them as White Nationalists. Did Trump not state at an event that he was a Nationalist? I don't think I am the only person who heard that. The moderate Republicans have been dismissed. White Nationalists are in power. These are not boy scouts. Let's stop pretending. White Nationalists do not represent the principles of the US Constitution or the soul of our general population. These people need to be stopped.
As we get desensitized to Trump's dumpster fire, I just get more depressed about the future of the US. If the Dem controlled House can at least cause stalemate until Trump is gone, that would be success as far as I'm concerned. I just pray that in 2020 we can have a president with even a shred of decency.
1
Yesterday's "press conference" was another shining example of POTUS in full, rudely and incorrectly treating reporters as though they were his employees, or pawns. Pity the poor young intern (unpaid, did I hear that correctlly?) who tried to take Jim Acosta's mic away. Hopefully, she'll learn more than she ever expected by those actions of an unhinged man. How he is president continues to amaze me even though I have lived in Texas almost my entire life. Jeff Sessions continued his job despite being humiliated and while I am no fan of his, his departure signals POTUS as fearful of Mueller's continuing investigations. These last few years have revealed the true and very ugly nature of despotism, corruption, and ignorance from the top throughout the administration and beyond.
1
Please don't even joke about Oprah Winfrey becoming President. We need a Democrat who cares enough about governance to have bothered to have served in the trenches. Enough with celebrities!
2
Let's use grown-up language. Is it "torture" for Congress to fulfill its Constitution oversight requirement to hold the executive branch accountable? Only on Fox News. Will the President attempt to extort Democrats' silence for support of progressive legislation like infrastructure? Of course. That is his Plan B. Will Republican Senators fulfill their Constitutional obligations? Of course not. They are more interested in filling the federal bench with activist far-rightists. The endurance race to save the Republic from minority-oligarchic rule has only just begun.
Two things we know for certain about the president; first, when faced with a choice between defending his own personal interests and the interests of the country he will always choose to defend his own. And second, he has all the impulse control of a five year old looking at a marshmallow or a cookie.
2
Good night indeed! For....at least a year, the cry has been ‘resistance’, vote as if your life, your country, depended on it. Vote to check this president’s zeal for power. And in the face of this success, this energizing of an invitation to the young, the progressives, the disillusioned Republicans, all the insulted, marginalized, suppressed voters.....the message is now.... bipartisanship, working for a few policy goals that might garner the crumbs of Republican support?
It is for the president, and that jubilant Senate majority to offer legislation, set policy. You know, all those promises made, promises ....kept? It is for them to modify, to tailor legislation to get Democrat support, not the other way round.
There is only one affirmative step, one glaring necessary policy that Democrats must lead on; overturning Citizens United with a Constitutional Amendment. And frankly, looking at the obsequiousness of some ....leaders, it’s the last thing we’ll hear about. And the first thing I’ll think about in 2020.
1
With knitted eyebrows, Trump was seen nursing his wounds, akin to a wounded tiger, still ready to pounce, after his party's lapses at the midterms. And pounce he did, at the reporter, Jim Acosta, from CNN, who was temporarily banned from the WH, much to the chagrin of other newswomen and men. Trump's snarling face, when he faced questions from reporters, April Ryan, and Yamiche Alcindor, was strikingly, but not surprisingly similar to a growling grizzly.
He needs to be tackled and sacked, in 2020, without any kind of compunction, at all costs. His high dudgeon, his ire, and his irate indifference should and will not bode well for his continuously calamitous press conferences, in future. He looked anything, but presidential. Magnanimity, civility, and amity were all jettisoned out the WH press room, and hopefully, Mueller will find something, anything, pernicious in Trump's past, to nail him, lock stock and barrel.
And then this Jeff Sessions' ouster, and ushering in of a Matt Whitaker, come as a recipe for dumpster fire. Trump and his coterie of acolytes ought to be sent packing come 2020, but it might take a lot of diligent work from the Dems and others. His apoplectic attitude has to face its ugly fate of utter rout, in 2020. It ain't too much to ask for, but might be an upheaval task.
A petulant child trapped in an old mans body with something really weird attached to his head was what I saw yesterday.
The man, child, whatever, is so far off base at this point that the word normal can not be fairly used in the same sentence with his name.
To date about all Trump has provided for the last two years is a whole lot of over the top entertainment and the revelation that literally anyone is qualified for the job. That and a how not to be president for dummies book to be released when he is finally institutionalized.
3
I would say much more powerful, and like him or not in your case Frank hate him or not ,the left isn’t questioning his presidency anymore . President Trump could become a great President and be a two term President.
I know I know Franky it’s like fingernails running down a chock board hearing that pains you.
Still with the meaningless insults, "Unhinged?" It should be obvious to all by this time that the POTUS is craftier than his opponents, with a political sense as uncanny as it is effective.
Instinct may not be measured in IQ tests, but in politics and business, it's as valuable as mental horsepower. In politics, Trump is a muscle car, his liberal opponents are plug-in electrics.
Until Democrats understand the appeal of this great showman, they will continue to be taken to the woodshed. Continuing to vie with his name-calling and cheap insults won't help Democrats win away his supporters nor will it help Americans focus on his dangerous acts and precedents, i.e. firing Sessions, deploying the military to the border, that truly endanger our country.
I believe Donald Trump has some big skeletons that have been allowed to hide in his closet, protected by his Republican majorities in House and Senate. The change in the house will now allow the Democrats to open these closet doors. I think they should use this leverage to bring Trump to heel, rather than to try to destroy him, which would draw strong reactions from his public support and create more political divisiveness and chaos. Basically, they should blackmail him into some sensible behavior: stop pandering, pass some sensible legislation on immigration and infrastructure, knock off his attacks on the environment at EPA and elsewhere, let ACA proceed and help to make it more viable, retire from politics after 2020. Too much to hope for? Depends on how many skeletons!
1
It took him one day to "meltdown" and
become the tyrant he is.
Pile on the coal (pressure) and let him melt
in the heat.
This man has an authoritarian take on things and no self-control.
2
I'm having trouble connecting the dots from Trump's shameless behavior to his svengali-like control over his support base to the conclusion that "most of the country" wants better government. Some of the country certainly wants him reeled in, but a not insignificant part of the country obviously wants more of the same. That would be the part(s) of the country that improved the Republican's solid majority in the Senate, voted in a governor in Florida who embraced Trump's race-baiting techniques, and put the stamp of approval on the new governor of Georgia's manipulation of the voter roles.
So, while I'm impressed with the 2 foot tall Blue Wave that got us control of the House, I see nothing in the results of this election that leads me to believe the Trump caravan won't continue to march its way toward the border of Autocracy-land.
The new Democratic House would be well-advised to recognize this and do what we elected them to do first and foremost --- put a halt to this march.
Rev Barber says it : “I don’t know where this nation’s mind is. It is not just a President. What is wrong with the crowds that cheer and cheer? What’s wrong with the politicians that turn the other way?”
2
Build bridges to Trump supporters? How? By offering affordable health care? By working to reverse the destruction of the middle class? By trying to protect ordinary people from the predations of the Wall Street robber barons? By offering a decent minimum wage? By making a college education affordable for ordinary citizens?
Or by joining them in demonizing every minority they can scapegoat? By declaring America "white conservatives only"? By telling the rich that they can pay no taxes at all, if they only promise to make life better for everyone else? By making evangelical Christianity our state religion? By telling industry they can poison us all, if it increases profit margins? By, in brief, offering the same GOP policies that are wrecking the very people who vote for them?
2
Can you imagine what the world thought about Trump's press conference? Unattached to American politics but very much attached to the deacons by its optical leaders, I have to believe most people believed they are witnessing someone in the thrall of mental illness and on the precipice of a breakdown.
1
Two things: 1) trump doesn't blush at anything and certainly not at a word he can't possibly understand, triangulate.
2) Ross mentioned Democratic conspiracy theories. What are they? I really think it's the right wing that operates mostly on conspiracy theories. Is Ross projecting?
3
That Mr Douthat suggested Amy Klobuchar as the Democratic candidate was interesting, but based on her performance during the Kavanaugh hearings, she doesn't appear to have the killer instinct to go for the (political) jugular. And that, sadly, is one of the characteristics we need in Dem candidate; the ability to go toe-to-toe with Trump, while also being able to talk to rural folks and present a coherent, compelling and positive image of what it means to be an American (not this "blood-and-soil" foolishness).
1
Look, I understand the Democrats recovered control over one of the two houses for the first time in 8 years, that Obama was filibustered, that it was a hard pill to swallow, etc. etc. and that now you all have, for the first time ever, something to rub in Trump's face.
But please have in mind: this was programmed by the Matrix which is the American electoral system. The map is divided in a way the country will always be divided by two, between the two parties: the Republicans and the Democrats. I repeat: Republicans and Democrats, not the Communists or the Libertarians, but the Republicans and the Democrats -- the two extraofficial parties of the United States of America. This is a simulation of democracy, not true democracy.
Mr. Douthat says, "I lived through the entire 2016 campaign, after all, when with each twist and turn there were hopeful Republicans imagining that surely now — now that he had won a primary, or won the nomination, or accepted the nomination, or even won the presidency — Trump would start behaving a little more like a normal politician, or just a normal human being."
Considering Trump's approval rating with the GOP, I don't believe what Mr. Douthat is trying to sell here, anymore. I think they like how Trump behaves and just say they don't. Just as Republicans for decades have said they are against racism while actively courting the support of racists.
Where in the Mollie Hemingway article does it say that she personally overheard the Jerrold Nadler conversation? And how did she hear the other person on a cell phone conversation if she was eavesdropping on Nadler? This can't possibly be correct.
Have you not noticed the rampant misogyny? We can’t have a woman run in 2020 if we want to remove the unbalanced occupant. This country is not ready to accept a woman, sadly. And yes, in spite of all the new women in the house. We still have that undemocratic electoral college after all.
I think that Trump is protecting his family and himself, and that the financial dealings and the Russian investigations in the election are linked. Their money and corruption motivated the Russians to get Trump elected in 2016 to protect their finances, both Russian government and Trump family.
Remember, one of Trump's favorite memes is 'No Collusion!', which means there is collusion, as usually what upsets him is the truth, so he opposes in a binary fashion to tamp down what he does not like, and as lying is a technique for him which he uses to great effect.
There isn't any excuse for the dishonesty or the bad behavior deployed by Donald Trump at the WH Press Conference. His "act" is deplorable. And, his "fans" who like this inexcusable display of Con Man Acrobatics are equally deplorable. Good manners are required of leaders! Donald Trump had better learn quickly that he is accountable and that he is going to now be held accountable for all of his bad leadership. I hope that the GOP Senate grows backbone and that they put on the Bipartisan hats which the American people expect of them to stop nd to remove Donald Trump, now. There isn't going to be a 2020 for Trump. In fact, "tomorrow" should look grim for him. Donald Trump and his flunkies are nothing but criminals --and Trump is the worse president ever. The WH needs to be fumigated...sadly, but it needs to be done.
Why haven’t the pundits discussed Gavin Newsom for 2020? He is telegenic, unabashedly liberal, combative when he needs to be, presents a youthful contrast to Trump(who looks like he could have a myocardial infarction any minute); and, he would pair up well with Amy Klobuchar politically, with geographic balance to boot.
1
Still with the meaningless insults, "Unhinged?" It should be obvious to all by this time that the POTUS is craftier than his opponents, with a political sense as uncanny as it is effective.
Instinct may not be measured in IQ tests, but in politics and business, it's as valuable as mental horsepower. In politics, Trump is a muscle car, his liberal opponents are plug-in electrics.
Until Democrats understand the appeal of this great showman, they will continue to be taken to the woodshed. Continuing to vie with his name-calling and cheap insults won't help Democrats seeking to win away his supporters nor will it help Americans focus on his dangerous acts and precedents, i.e. firing Sessions, deploying the military to the border, that truly endanger our country.
To analogize the press conference with baseball, I'd say Trump scored 10 runs in the 1st inning. He's off to a great start; no signs of a let down.
If you resign at the request of your boss, can you still collect unemployment? Asking for a friend.
1
A stalemate at least provides a roadblock for trump's insane agenda. We can all be thankful for that.
1
Good, sensible discussion, guys. That's almost as rare as sensible news out of the White House.
Musing on a 2020 candidate: Michael Bloomberg. Smart, self funded, entrepreneur, centrist, socially and environmentally aware, politically experienced. Checks all the boxes.
2
Two points for Democrats to consider as 2020 approaches.
First, it's apparent that in many locations very "progressive" candidates didn't fair so well during the midterms. The ideal Democratic candidate would be a consensus builder. That might mean that certain issues are held in abeyance. While not a popular opinion I think that many people voted for Trump because of fear of a dictatorship of intolerant liberals.
The second point is both parties need to be much more aggressive in weeding out unelectable candidates before the primary season begins. Too many candidates is as bad as too few with the rancor and divisiveness associated with strongly egotistical candidates vying for supremacy both a turn off to voters and a sub-optimal entrance into the final election period. Parties have a lot of power in forming their slates of candidates but recently seem to have abdicated their responsibility - "let the voters decide". That seems to not have served the electorate well.
1
Instead, they're getting a "going through the motions" idea of a Republican dictatorship.
@Bill, agree 100% one of the many reasons we have trump is that ridiculous field of so-called candidates on the national stage, and everywhere, for months on end. It made them all look ridiculous, which I thought would make Hillary even more of a shoe-in. Like her or not, she is a friend of democracy and is not nuts. Instead, we got dangerous and deranged trump. I would hate to see the dems be that stupid, as the GOP would make mincemeat out of the dems for that level of disunity and drama.
Mueller has a mountain of evidence. If Trump makes Mueller disappear, have we lost two years of amassed evidence? I think not. Once created, it will be difficult, if not impossible, to make the evidence disappear. What cannot happen in Federal court or in the halls of Congress, can still play out various state grand jury rooms. The president may escape outright impeachment, but that shield does not extend to his children who are in tangible legal difficulty. And the evidence? In this true era of the "paperless office" and high density storage devices, the entire body of work of Mueller and his staff can easily fit into one USB drive that can fit in the palm of one's hand. It would take only a couple of hours of effort after work one afternoon to make several scores of these devices and distribute them in such a way as to make even a mammoth and draconian effort to expunge those memory sticks an impossibility. He will fire Mueller by one device or another. What happens after that will be called the Greatest Constitutional Crisis since the Civil War. Stand by.
2
The Democrat's best bet would be to focus on voter suppression in all its forms. Making voting easier for everyone would do their numbers a lot of good.
4
Frank Bruni states that Mueller has "gathered a mountain of evidence". That may well be true, but the problem is that so far, no evidence has been released linking Trump and his ilk to collusion with Russia or obstruction of justice.
What has been released involves other crimes, mostly financial, committed by greedy people who were involved in Trump's campaign. The uncovered crimes were not part of Mueller's principal remit, and the nation is (still) waiting for a report on those overriding questions.
But the more time goes by without anything concrete from Mueller, the more people will believe that there really isn't anything out there that proves the allegations connected with Trump.
Mueller has had, as far as we know, all the resources he needs to conduct his investigations; at least he has not complained about a lack of funds or personnel. With Sessions and Rosenstein sidelined, that may well change.
It's time for a report.
I don’t care what you say about progressives, l believe Bernie Sanders would have beat Trump in 2016. Hillary was too full of fluffy celebrations of diversity, inclusion, political correctness, and ethnicity to win. However, Bernie was concrete: e.g., STRENGTHEN SOCIAL SECURITY. Therefore, I’m for Bernie in 2020.
2
@Anonymous
Well, that's one way to assure Trump another four years in office. The idea that Sanders ever had or has a chance in the general election is pure magical thinking.
3
The GOP should look at Trump behavior yesterday under understand why they lost. Why there are increasingly becoming the party of small Rural States. It will give them clout in the Senate where rural Senators grossly exceeds their states influence in the country. The people spoke Tuesday but as usual the Trump only listens to his own voices I do hope they are more introspective,
3
I agree with Douthat on one point. Bruni's surprise about Trump's behavior seems odd for such an astute pundit. It has been obvious since 2015 that the man lacks the flexibility to adjust to changes in the political climate or his own fortunes. Thus, while he appeared to try to reach out to Pelosi and the Democrats yesterday, he quickly reverted to the bluster and threats that define his approach to bargaining. A man so insecure, convinced that, aside from sycophants, enemies populate his world, lacks the ability or desire to work with others on a basis of equality.
Some observers have remarked that his lack of ideology makes Trump a perfect candidate for striking a deal with the Democrats. In his case, though, an outsized and overly sensitive ego substitutes for commitment to some philosophy of government, and that fragile self-image seems to preclude his acting as a reliable bargaining partner. He has appeared flexible in the past, only to change his mind.
It seems entirely possible that the only way to secure Trump's willingness to compromise requires an implicit threat to investigate his conduct in office. Bullies and thugs do not respond well to reason; but fear can sometimes persuade them to cooperate.
7
I thought the main problem with Beto was simply his inexperience. If he won the senate seat or a governorship, he could leverage that experience into a presidential run at some point in the future. He has charisma. He has star power. He has at least some appeal among conservatives. His relative inexperience also gives him relatively little baggage. At the same time, Trump had no political experience and he hasn't improved on the job either. Beto at least represented a city with a population larger than Wyoming. That's something.
The bigger problem for Beto post election isn't actually his loss in Texas. It's Gillum's loss in Florida. That doesn't bode well for Beto's path to 270. Moreover, the Democratic strategy to overcome structural disadvantages through turnout only sort of worked. Trump will say anything to close an enthusiasm gap. We just witnessed another example of the man's unbound shamelessness. That could make the map tricky for a Democrat running on turnout. I'm not sure. We'll have to wait and see.
3
I have a question for my two favorite conservatives: What happened to all the Republicans? The John Birch Society or it's next generation, the Tea Party, has captured the Republican Party, completely. Where did all the old fashioned conservatives go? Are they Independents? Are they Moderate Democrats? Are they like my 91 year old Republican uncle who lived just long enough to vote Democrat for the first time in his life before he died? Where are they?
30
you mean folks like Mitt "the Carpetbagger" Romney?
I’ll go out on a limb here, and say “ unhinged “.
BIGLY. So unhinged that someone in the West Wing better have the Tranquilizer Injections nearby, at all times.
Seriously.
32
Silly question. He remains unhinged!
5
"But a House Democratic majority prepares to pounce."
Indeed.
And because of that, this will be one of the shortest periods of Democratic control of the House that will have ever been seen.
Voters expect them to attend the business of their constituents, not act like a bunch of vindictive socialist brownshirts.
If their only act is to prove Trump correct, then the areas that flipped from red to blue will fliip right back again.
4
@Objectivist your theory seems to ignore the reason these areas flipped..... more people voting against trump. we even overcame the voter suppression and gerrymandering in some places. they want him held to account and they want someone to stand up and put us back on the track of accountability in government. we let the people that lied us into the war in iraq and set up the financial collapse get away with a slight tap in the wrist..... no more.
@Objectivist,
Naturally...either they "attend the business of their constituents", act like mature adults, don't dig their heels in, or THEY'RE OUT!!
Of course it have been/would be unfair to expect the same of their counterparts, who haven't paid any price going back over the last 10 years for their childish, lock-step, shutting down of the other side (trying to make President Obama a one term president etc).
Oh no. As "punishment" for republican behavior, an unhinged madman is placed at the head of their attack force, as they are handed all branches of government.
Such are the ridiculous, one-sided expectations that are always placed on the shoulders of Democrats.
1
Please quit promoting your favorite reality TV star. It sells newspapers, yes, but it also weakens our Republic.
I'd expect to see an article like this in a high school newspaper, not the NY Times. You should be ashamed that the standards of this paper have dropped so much in the last 40 years. It would be appropriate to have a Trump supporter write a response, though I question if a response is even justified. This is childish and shallow.
3
@Mike
Both of these men are Republicans, they're just not Trump supporters. Surely you realize that there can be a difference? Further, this 'article' is not reporting, it is opinion. There's a difference there, as well; something that Fox viewers should be aware of, but sadly, are not.
1
So you approved of that press conference performance? I’m genuinely curious.
2
Trump is undaunted - and that's what makes his unhinged mental state so despicable and so threatening to our country.
5
He was Mussolini two years ago and as he continues to
understand the breadth of his power and the lack of our backbone to stop him. Like Mussolini, he’ll chip away at our institutions and the democracy until he can establish himself as an authoritarian leader. Look, a 2nd rate real estate agent leads our country, filling his own head with who he always believed he was and it's working for him.
30
We knew that there was a thug strutting about the White House, ordering his minions to yell and threaten, but Trump was pretty much content with having Spicey or Kavanaugh or Lindsey do his sneering.
Now that the midterms are over, and Mueller is his real danger, Trump is showing us his real, uncommonly ugly face, the one he reserves for underlings he wants to dominate and humiliate.
Well, I am an American, and there are lots of us out here who are tired of being nice to him.
Trump and his family stole hundreds of millions from the American people, according to research from this paper. Never, ever forget that he laughs at the law, and at the idea of democracy.
So thanks to Jim Acosta, and to the next media person who directly challenges our Jerk in Chief.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
70
Unhinged.
He's in full mob boss mode now.
Please shine a bigger light on his derelict of duty.
26
Dowd never eats with anyone who isn't a celebrity or who doesn't wield power. So I guess, even though he is buying, Frank has made it big.
2
Guys, come on! Get it right. Undaunted AND Unhinged. Payback for the ultimate con artist on the verge of getting the ultimate dose of reality. Maybe we can call it the second coming of the Milhous (has a nice religious overtone to it don't you think?)
1
Trump. Unhinged or undaunted? Both. The man has Narcissistic Personality Disorder. His ego knows no bounds. Anything and everything could or would become just so much collateral damage. His is the face, and words, and tweets of insanity.
What's a Democracy to do?
12
Where is Frank taking Maureen for his favorite duck in NYC? Don’t always agree with his politics but count me as a devoted groupie when he talks food!
4
Dear Frank and Ross, I am a longtime follower of both your columns but after this one I want to buy you drinks. It was the most fun I've had reading commentary in a long time. Ross, I bow to you. President Pence vs. Winfrey-Klobucher in 2020? Still cleaning my laptop screen from the coffee spray. Not because it's unlikely. Because it COULD happen. But who might Pence's running mate be? Duncan Hines? Imagine the possibility of a WH admin running from a federal prison. And Frank, your hilarious poke at Trump for thinking triangulate has to do with the Kama Sutra??? Ha! But please don't mock House of Cards. If your gigs at the Times go south (please, no!) you two could become the head writers. And about those drinks...
4
@Saralee Rosenberg, right now someone has shared this column with trump. I can see the cartoon bubble with his thought: "are there pictures of my past triangulations?" (That visual is enough to make ME spit MY coffee.)
It reminds me of the years right after World War I. In Europe. It reminds me of T. S. Eliot's "Waste Land"--"These fragments have I shored against my ruins." It reminds me of Communists battling in the streets against guys on the far right--Die Freikorps and (of course) the Nazis. And wasn't there a book or something--Ein Blick ins Chaos? "A glance into chaos."
Where are we going? What is happening to us?
Donald Trump running as a third party candidate?
Thanks, guys. You just ruined my slumbers tonight.
"The good lack all conviction while the worst
Are filled with a passionate intensity."
All this reminds me of old-fashioned Whigs just before the Civil War. At which time you had
(1) the southern fire-eaters. They loved slavery.
(2) the northern abolitionists. They abominated slavery.
(3) innumerable gradations of the foregoing
(4) people who kept saying "Can't we all just be friends?"
I am reminding myself of (4) all the time. Wringing my hands and exclaiming "Woe!" Or should I spell that "Whoa!"
One thing I could do--and DID.
Go out and vote for a Democrat.
Thanks, guys. Interesting piece.
1
Donald Trump is hinged to Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin and Mohammad Salman.
Trump is daunted cowering in fear of Netanyahu, Putin and Salman.
Trump is no George Washington nor Abraham Lincoln nor Dwight Eisenhower nor John McCain nor Robert Mueller.
3
he's much more like Charles Ponzi.
Trump was and remains both unhinged and undaunted. While praising the intelligence of the American electorate, he secretly knows that they can be led around like a bulls with nose rings - only instead of a bull rings, he uses their beliefs and prejudices to lead them wherever he wants. If DJT doesn't destroy our fragile democracy, he has published the blueprint and playbook for some other demagogue to do it later. If a democracy like America's is going to exist, there will have to be a paradigm shift in human thought throughout the world.
In the near future, we will program the human mind in the computer based on a "survival" algorithm, which will provide irrefutable proof as to how we trick the mind with our ridiculous beliefs about what is supposed to survive - producing minds programmed de facto for destruction. These minds would see the survival of a particular group of people or a belief as more important than the survival of all. When we understand all this, we will begin the long trek back to reason and sanity.
See RevolutionOfReason.com
1
Our very own sycophant is more unhinged than ever and for many good reasons. His disgusting behavior yesterday when Mr. Acosta was doing his job was just another way of trying to achieve his goal of dictator. To his supporters I ask if this what you really want and if so, get your heads out of the sand.
13
Uhinged?
the journalists obsessed and spouting vitriol toward Trump, daily, endlessly. Let the clown's actions speak for themselves, but such endless hate from self righteous journalists is as bad the President's silly tweets
Message discipline, enforced by the formidable Pelosi is what worked. More of that. Impeachment is absurd. Forgettaboutit! Amy Klobuchar is a fine idea. Trump’s pathetic little insults would be ineffective against her. Enjoy the conversations . When Maggie Haberman isn’tconcentrating on the latest “inside info” on what trump ate for breakfast , the NYT produces interesting journalism.
By this point, all should know that what you see in our President is what you get. And, what you see is frightening.
He and his allies are attacking every democratic institution and norm of our government.
But, the First Amendment was first for a reason because it is the right of the people and the press to speak truth to power that in the end will repel these attacks.
He looked so tiny and alone yesterday standing at that podium directing one of his minions to grab the microphone from Jim Acosta.
He looked even tinier when he called Yamiche Alcindor a racist and belittled her by insinuating that because she is an African-American woman she had to write down her question because she could not remember it.
The press is not the "enemy of the people," Mr. President, no matter how many times you say it.
The press is the "defender of the Constitution" and, in the end, the truth will set us free from your tyrannical reign.
233
@Didier
A comment so worthy of our attention and of course, a nice shiny cup to go long. Well done, and hear, hear !
6
President Trump and the press: why doesn't he just jettison the rest of his cabinet, his advisors, and top appointees and let Fox News and some of the more reprehensible radio personalities take over the government all at once, rather than in agonizing increments? it would be so much more efficient. perhaps "Justice" will led the way, aided by paragons of leadership experience like Kudlow.
we all know of the President's great respect for the press. he clearly idolizes TV performers, because what's on TV is more real to him than unscripted reality. and he has a profitable hate-hate relationship with the reality-based media, including CNN and the NYT, because they feature him so often and give him something to rail against that resonates in the echochamber of his minority constituency.
3
@Didier: Yes this President does not hide behind pretending to be civil, and covering his lies in an cloud of intellectual arrogance. As an Ivy grad, I had have seen the inner workings of the left, ans how in the end, they despise everything that made this nation great.
Even in NY don't think that the entire state is blue, much of the suburbs are split or red.
Excellent conversation that did a clear job of highlighting the important and urgent situations we are facing after the midterms. I hope it is read all over Congress today. Thanks for giving me a positive read! And I hope Frank and Maureen enjoyed the duck.
5
Why can't he be both unhinged and undaunted? Either way, he is unfit to be president and needs guardrails. He behaves like a person who is guilty and with much to hide. I don't want Pence. He's creepy. However, DT needs to be contained before he does more damage. He needs to be held accountable. If not, it will only demonstrate that some people are indeed above the law, which doesn't comport with this country's values. I've always believed DT is mentally unstable. He might even have early onset of dementia. There's absolutely no doubt that he has a serious personality disorder.
14
@Ginger Walters, I am a proud democrat. Even if I were a republican, which today means at least close to right wing, I would have voted for a dem in tuesday's election, becasue the GOP dominance of both houses has been so accepting of this nut in the white house. I am disappointed that more GOP voters put party before country in this dangerous time. And yet...at least with the house soon under democratic control, there are the guardrails you so correctly say we need. Between that, the media, and Mueller--- we may just make it through hurricane donald.
1
Ross: "I think the key for Democrats is to stay focused. That means going after corruption, both Trump’s own and the shady doings of some of his functionaries, without going down every rabbit hole that the party’s conspiracy theorists want investigated. It means getting the Trump tax returns, or trying to, while leaving the Russia stuff to Mueller as long as he’s still allowed to do his work."
Hey Ross, The Dems have been trying to "go after Trump's corruption" all along! What's gotten in the way? YOUR Republican party.
As always, you're putting the responsibility on the Dems, lecturing us on what we "should" be doing; meanwhile, you never acknowledge that it's actually YOUR party that's causing the problems, and not letting the Dems do what needs to be done.
It's hypocrites like you that let YOUR party break all the rules; and now you're wringing your hands that trump's doing exactly what YOUR party elected him to do?
Did you protest when the Republicans stole a seat on the Supreme court? Did you protest when YOUR party promoted the Birtherism lies? Did you complain when YOUR party refused to even meet with Pres Obama? Did you ever call out Fox News (i.e. YOUR party's propaganda machine) for promoting blatant lies and racism? Did you ever tell YOUR party that gerrymandering is wrong?
No, no, no, no, and no!
So, stop telling us Dems what "we" should be doing, and start telling YOUR party what they should be doing!
7
Even though Trump is obviously a deranged, cruel criminal, he retains his incredible con-man appeal to less educated voters, still a plurality in this country.
There is no 'secret sauce'. A white male Democrat from the heartland, younger than Trump, will beat him in 2020. Any other nominee will lose. I'm not saying this is a good thing, just that it is a true thing.
Dan Kravitz
4
Armed militiamen--private citizens and Trump supporters--assemble at our southern border to stop the caravan. Trump mocks losing Republican candidates for rejecting his "embrace." Trump praises a Congressman who body slams a reporter. He revokes the press pass of CNN reporter Jim Acosta for doing his job and then allows his press secretary to flat out lie--flat out--about Acosta putting his hands on a White House intern. Trade tensions with China don't appear to be easing and nuclear tension with North Korea seems to be escalating. Trump refers to his Secretary of Defense as "kind of a Democrat." And now we are saddled with a president who knows that he himself is a traitor and a liar and a thief. He desperately wants to stay out of prison and it is a certainty that he will do whatever it takes to achieve that goal.
Now that we can clearly see where things are headed, it might be a good idea to forget about politics for a moment and ask a simple question: How many divisions does Robert Mueller command?
12
So why this question "after the midterms"? Trump has always been unhinged and undaunted in his unhingement. His "war-like" attitude if democrats challenge him is the epitome of both. Dems, stand up for what's right, hold people who are criminals (let's say like, uh, Trump) accountable and don't be blocked from the pursuit of truth. Prepare for war. Undaunted. Let the dems spend every US tax dollar to get rid of this president. Impeach him. Do it.
1
I don't know about Trump. But the Republican party is unhinged and the Democratic party clueless.
Trump has hurt people his entire life. He enjoys it. He will do all that is possible in the next two years to inflict pain — within the country, at the borders, overseas. Look for: death on the border, more massacres inside the US, and bombing against Iran. If Iran responds, look for him literally going nuclear. The man is bith unhinged and cruel, and America has brought death and dishonor on itself.
6
Susan Collins is jumping in front of every news camera to claim that she'll stand up for Mueller? She's just after the role of Lindsey in SNL skits.
8
@Jeff Atkinson
You mean the way she stood up for women, re: Kavanaugh?
1
Use of the word “unhinged” to describe President Trump after the midterm elections is highly inappropriate. It falsely suggests that at some point in his Presidency he was “hinged”.
6
the obsession with Trump is fascinating. The entire front page of NY Times is Trump, Trump, election, election, spin, parse, explain, rinse repeat.
The country is in turmoil, on the page of the newspapers that are paid for page views.
The country is calm, peaceful and thriving (imperfectly, as always) if we walk the streets of this beautiful nation.
Obsessive minds? Groupthink? Bubble of liberal outrage? Fascinating.
1
@Joe yohka
I'm reminded of another shining example of right-wing mendacity from long ago, in which a particularly loathsome segregationist named Lester Maddox (a titular Democrat), accused President Carter of being a racist. This farcical fabrication occurred during the campaign that would culminate in President Carter's election.
Being both a Southerner, and quite a witty fellow, JC replied with typical "down-home" levity that: "Being accused of being a racist by Lester Maddox, is like being called ugly by a "toad frog." Being accused of unhealthy obsession, group-think, spinning of facts or unreasoning rage by a devotee of the Crackpot-in-Chief, is indeed like being called ugly by a toad frog.
Hey Joe...where you goin' with those lies in your hand?
He is a Sociopath. That is not in itself horrible. Some function well in society. But his monomania, his inability to forgive slights, his lack of impulse control argue that he is not stable.
Mile Pence needs to involve the 25th and remove this menace. If Trump’s Far-Right followers and their surplus-store militias act up, we crush them.
6
Susan Collins' "twitter pledge? Trust her? Not likely.
3
Don't leave us hanging Frank! We're all feeling delicate at the moment.... so, where is your favorite duck in Manhattan?
PS Love the Klobuchar idea!
Lets not forget the Joy of the re-election of Bob Melendez, the Poster Boy for corruption, a great win for Senatorial Pilfering.
Obviously unhinged. Did you see that presser yesterday? Trump is emotionally unstable and should be removed from office.
6
Trump will go full-on Nixon (Conny Donny) and soon. Firings and resignations will happen at AR-15 pace. Not surprisingly Trump will demand to be addressed as Your Majesty. Princess Ivanka and Prince Jared will have an opera composed about them and performed daily in the Rotunda. Queen Melania will be named to a new U.S. Department of Fashion, and her shoes will be featured at the newly renamed Smithsonian (Trumponian). All hail.
3
I appreciate the efforts in this column, but the press continues to frame the problem incorrectly.
Our president is mentally impaired. the evidence is now overwhelming: he has Narcissistic Personality Disorder, which is much worse than it sounds and has no cure. He cannot change, and did not decide to have this, therefore we cannot blame him for anything.
The base of the Republican Party, and Fox News in particular, are the ones who deserve our scrutiny and scorn at this point. They put the guy with the mental disorder in the White House. Your analysis and questions should be aimed at them entirely.
2
During the last two years, Trump has suggested offering a path to citizenship for 1.8 million undocumented immigrants. He has said that he admires Canada's single payer system. And he has said that a transgender person can use any restroom he/she likes in a Trump building.
But you have totally ignored these positive signals from Trump and gone back and forth between contempt and hostility towards Trump.
Why not try to get something DONE? Trump is who he is.
Never mind Trump's defects, I grant that he has several. But what about YOU? Why can't YOU act like adults?
Trump. Unhinged indeed. Watergate seems quaint by contrast. Where fore art thou my fellow Republicans? Trump's Trumps?
1
I think you meant Trump's chumps.
1
Is there any hope of passing some legislation favorable to the United States? Say an infrastructure bill? That goes beyond stupid politics as usual. That suggestion aside, it is discouraging to look ahead for continuing conflict with no hope of change.
The damage done to America by this rude and volatile man is breathtaking and there appears to be no end in sight.
11
This was a fun read but, Ross, what was the "Obama-esque agenda?" Did I miss that?
1
In Mr. Sessions, Mr. Trump hired a stalwart early supporter and son of the South. And he mocked, bullied and discarded Mr. Sessions when he recused himself. Southern values include some antiquated notions such as dignity, chivalry, honor (remember dueling?) respect of law, respect of women, charity, obligation, and many others. The President has crossed these lines many times. It’s time, y’all.
5
Undaunted and unhinged both describe what we have in this presidency. It is very hard to reconcile the needs of a nation - for truth, justice and pursuit of happiness that can only come from understanding, empathy and respect for rule of law/our constitution - and the criminality of one oafish, bigoted man. Let's hope Bob Mueller has law suits at the ready and that they include the facts of this man's criminality - in violation of emollients, in his oh so obvious obstruction of justice, and of his collusion - of his treason. Only then can America begin to heal.
99
@Judi
I fear it is going to far worse before it remotely gets better, but we must not turn away from the fight, as well as looking in the mirror. The nation depends on it.
9
The press conference yesterday when he spoke of losing Republican House members refusing “The Embrace” (subtext: Kiss my imperial ring) reminded me of Shakespeare tragedies where the king has gone mad.
Undaunted or unhinged? I think he’s unhinged and the newly elected Democrats better have a plan to deal with the potential mayhem during the next two months before Congress resumes.
142
Not just Democrats - all of us.
3
We're stuck with Trump in all his undaunted, unhinged glory. I doubt that either a lost election or the two-term limit could dislodge him from the White House. I fully expect him to claim the 2020 election is rigged (if he loses) and to override the 22nd Amendment with an executive order in 2024 (if he wins in 2020). The only saving grace is he's already old, he's fat, he gets no exercise and he eats terrible food. We all succumb to decrepitude at some point, and even Trump can't bully old age into submission. Eventually, he'll be seen no more in public, and Donald, Jr. will become an Edith Wilson for the modern age, running things behind the scenes. We may never be rid of the Trump family (remember, there are grandchildren!) and we've only ourselves to blame.
3
Beto should take a run at governor in Texas. He's only 46 and has a bunch of big runs left in him. He's also got the best donor and voter lists in the state.
10
@Maria Good idea. I also like a Sherrod Brown-Beto O'Rourke ticket in 2020.
Trump has never shown any ability to exercise self-control. The forced resignation of Sessions immediately after the elections was planned, but his tantrums at yesterday's press conference are just the latest examples of Trump demonstrating that he always was and still is unfit to be President (not that that matters to his base, who love the fact that Trump acts like a regular (unhinged) guy).
99
@Jay Orchard That's the saddest part. The more this animal acts like a petulant, angry, insecure little jerk, the better a lot of his base like it. Inasmuch as his populist appeal lies in the fact that some voters could see themselves in him (ignoring the whole silver spoon, private education, expensive college, dishonest millionaire part), Trump's erratic behavior and lack of impulse control validate the violence and bigotry in their own lives.
1
So much legislation and so little time. I agree with your column for the most part today and its overall assessment.
No offense to Oprah, and I am a fan, but even she should know we don't need another disaster of a president even a benign one. We need a qualified, fit representative of 325M Americans and the world. Avenatti was just a tongue-in-cheek total joke right?
1
Brown +Klobuchar. Well, DUH. I’ve been writing this for two years. BOTH very hard working, competent and Boring. And I mean that in a good way. We’ve had enough reality TV government. We need serious, intelligent and honest people to recover from the Creature. Just saying.
12
@Phyliss Dalmatian I agree with the idea to concentrate on work that benefits the American people -- all of them--instead of playing the Trump entertainer game. Please don't fall into this trap. Trump would love this, but I want to live long enough to see the changes we need to benefit all.
1
Wait, are you gentlemen under the impression that Trump's behavior at his latest press conference hurt his image. You have to know that the WWE West Wing episode was his supporters favorite yet. Trump was absolutely right in telling Acosta to sit down, it's his arena, he'll yell if he want's to. The mini shoving match was just gravy for Trump and his supporters. They probably DVR'ed it and watched it with popcorn. And barring Acosta from the White House, pure 'tune in next episode' palaver.
1
As in his dialogue with Frank Bruni or in his own columns, Ross Douthat provides his usual blend of weak analysis and poor "advice" to the opposition. To wit:
"That means going after corruption, both Trump’s own and the shady doings of some of his functionaries, without going down every rabbit hole that the party’s conspiracy theorists want investigated."
What rabbit holes? Who's is going down them? It seems to me that the incoming House leadership is focused on the important issues.
"It means treating their newfound investigative power mostly as means to check Trump’s behavior now and weaken him before 2020 — and recognizing that it would take more extraordinary developments for a path to open to actually removing him.
"...it makes sense for Democrats to pick a few (but only a few) discrete pieces of potentially popular legislation...the public will respond better to liberal incrementalism..."
How do you read the public mood after Tuesday's election as wanting only "a few" pieces of popular legislation and small, "incremental" change?
"I expect a lot of madness to come in the next few years, but for policy purposes we’ll probably be in stalemate till 2024 at least."
Ross has only half-digested the impact of the 2018 midterms and now he's predicting what will happen in 2024?
"Speak not of that awful show..."
No one talks this way.
Leadership requires daring and imagination. The nation is in the mood for some disclosures and closure regarding the Mueller probe. The stench from 2016 and team Trump's coziness with Moscow must be disclosed authoritatively and soon. If all this results in the indictment go Don, Jr., so be it. That being said, the madman in the Oval Office cannot be appeased by offering olive branches. Neither can his legion of followers. If there's one lesson the Republicans have taught America, it is the benefits from plodding ahead towards a goal. Today, that means a thorough airing of the financial shenanigans of the president, the treasonous footsie with Russia and the obstruction of justice by those in high places.
3
The Democrats will form their usual circle and shoot themselves. They are continually a party in disarray and confusion. They have no defining leadership.
Republicans can line up behind President and champion his agenda of full employment and a prosperous, healthy and growing economy. Americans are interested in dollars in their wallets and purses first.
Americans are NOT interested in any Democrat investigations, ideology, politics or other time-wasting pursuits which do not advance the economic health of America.
The next two years and beyond will demonstrate vital and true continuing executive initiative from President Trump as he continues to bring America back from economic bankruptcy.
1
@Reggie "[B]ring America back from economic bankruptcy." As I recall conservative orthodoxy, you cannot borrow your way to prosperity. And that is exactly what the massive GOP tax cut* in 2017 did. I remember when conservatives pretended to care about balancing the budget. Somehow that is always silently dropped from the conversation whenever they're actually in charge.
Try again.
* This should be called a tax shift, as it effectively taxes future generations for profligacy today. More of a "tax shaft" in fact, since those people weren't given the opportunity to vote on it.
3
must agree: Trump has experience coming back from Bankruptcies AND American voters seem to care more about money (their own, of course) than anything else.
@Reggie. First, this economic recovery is rooted in President Obama's leadership out of the 2008 recession, Trump is only riding the coat tails of that recovery and has made it "better" admittedly; but, has done so by opening flood gates for the 1%, big corporations, big oil, etc., by deregulating, the arbitrary rolling back of environmental protections, non-enforcement of corruption, and on and on.
All for short-term hyper-gain. And we're lead through this by a merit-less scoundrel, a figure with a shady, to say the least, past in his personal and business life... likely an international money launderer, tax evader; and, bottom line, a draft dodger.
So, if the economic rewards seem worth it.... are fat enough?... many of us, as Reggie has apparently, say it's worth it. If the price is right, and we throw out our sense of decency, values, empathy, self-respect..... we've established what we are, now it's just a matter of haggling over the price.
We are still waiting for the press to do the Kavanaugh investigation that the FBI did not do.
7
So Dems take the House and unveil their Vision for America: endless investigations of the President that will go nowhere. The country will surely reward the Party come 2020 for addressing the urgent needs of the nation.
The democrats must legislate, not investigate and they must do it fast---get in the policy making game early with the kinds of legislation---particularly health care---that the public is screaming for. Let the Republicans become the party of no. And, as much as possible, limit Trump to his rants about Zombie invasions--do not give him red meat talking points---keep focused on policy, policy, policy---make Trump boring.
3
@ACJ I totally agree, the Democrats do not go off the deep end here, limit the damage this moron can inflict wait till 2020.
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Yes to both and probably terrified of the truth coming out.
He will do whatever he can to control or bury it.
2
Under any other circumstances, I would both shudder and guffaw at the prospect of Oprah as Democratic candidate. Under he present circumstances, my feeling is that if she can win, she should run. Whatever it takes to get rid of Trump and his entire crew.
1
I've been saying for some time now that Amy Klobuchar should be on the next Dem ticket. How could Trump insult her? She's not an Elizabeth Warren or Kamala Harris or Cory Booker that Trump could knock out in an instant. She's smart, an prosecutor, she is not 'annoying' like those others I mentioned are, she's easy to listen to. I don't think Trump could knock her down with insults.
Maybe a Biden-Klobuchar ticket, with Joe promising to be a one-term president and Amy ready to advance to the presidency.
All I know is that right now, at this moment, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. I pray we can, at some time, get rid of Trump. There is a very strong possibility he'll become America's 'last president and first dictator with Ivanka being ensconced when he's dead.
And another shooting. If I were rich, I would leave this country. I might try, even being poor, if it becomes more certain that we will never get rid of this terribly unfit, immoral, not-very-bright man. He knows no accountability, never in his life. This midterm was the first effort at accountability. We'll see how it goes.
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@Sofia. I understand your desire to leave. Watching the news this morning was almost unbearable. What are we becoming? While this election gave me hope, I have never felt this afraid for our country. And I have lived through a presidential assassination, Watergate and the Vietnam War.
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@sophia I really like Klobacher. No way Biden. He is toast.
1
Let me put in this way, This house democrat take over either will be a shining credit or failure in tenure of Nancy Pelosi.
I full heartedly support Ms. Pelosi who has reached the top of the political status.
And history is in one of the most unpredictable and mercurially uncontrollable period. Trump is not a easy person when it comes to deal with it.
He is applying 100% of tactics in Roy Cohn no hostages taken plan. Trump is here for true killing.
Now we will see House speaker Nancy Pelosi can do and make Trump excesses trimmed.
As I said toughest timer and she is in tough spot, But Nancy Pelosi is the only person can stand between living normal and falling in to the abyss.
2 year in Trump presidency we lost almost all high grounds and moral backbone.
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I sincerely hope that the Democrats who switched the House from majority GOP will work on issues that matter now and continue to matter in the future.
Investigations on issues of fraud, Mr. Trump's tax returns and how much he and his family and other of his close supporters gain from government is reasonable IMO.
Other wise, stick to the reasons we Democrats voted you into office.
As we all know, looking for something in the future does not negate "sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof."
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Unbridled ambition to rule should be treated like any other mental illness and preclude any other qualification as to fitness for office.
We have a residency and age requirements.We should also have mental fitness standards.
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"...the key for Democrats is to stay focused. ...going after corruption...."
-Ross
Good point Ross. And I'm confident that Rep Adam Schiff will keep the Intelligence Committee he will chair on track. Unlike Trumps lackey Devin Nunes.
"if Democrats are wise, they will..... draft and move along sensible, helpful legislation."
-Frank
Reading some of Pelosi's recent comments on the takeover of the House, the Democrats already have in place some worthwhile legislation like Infrastructure to introduce. They're ready and willing to work for "all the people".
2
I would say unhinged. If Trump thinks he can derail the Mueller investigation by appointing a political hack to replace Sessions as Acting AG, he's got another think coming. There are some soon-to-retire Republicans in the Senate -- Flake, Corker, Sasse -- who would join Democrats in reining him in.
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Yes to Amy Klobuchar. But MN is not a purple state - we've got reactionary rural folks like every state, but check our results from Tuesday.
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The big news of Trump's press conference was the subsequent lifting of the press credentials of CNN's Jim Acosta. It was a milepost in Trump's assault on the free press whenever they dare to confront him, making it look as if it will only get worse in the latter half of his term.
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Going after corruption is a noble thing, but it is not fixing infrastructure, repealing Citizens United, or demolishing the Mercer et alia’s brainwashing propaganda.
2
The press conference was, frankly, terrifying. People in this administration are committing a crime by enabling this situation.
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So much to say, and so little room. First, while still on my cloud of joy for a job well done by my Party - and the women especially who won - I kicked myself for listening to Trump’s angry rant yesterday. Where does one begin? Lies, ala Jeff Session, banning a CNN journalist from White House privilege, accusing an African American PBS News’ reporter of sounding “racist,” claiming another electoral victory for himself? We always knew the man was unhinged, but now let us add two other D’s to his name, Desperate and Dangerous.
Re Mueller, I believe it was Frank who mentioned the mountain of evidence already amassed. The train has left the station and is going full speed ahead, unstoppable. No matter what Trump does, or attempts to do, he will only deservedly so harm himself to the point of blatant, no longer insidious, obstruction of justice. The real test of some semblance of integrity will point to that other “Arful Dodger,” Mitch McM and his spineless, also of questionable ethics, Red colleagues.
Lastly before we analyze or prejudge our new Democratic House, let us be thankful that we now have the ability to come closer to the checks and balances crucial to our democracy. Let us embrace our winners and pledge our support. God knows they will need it come January.
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Unhinged, off the rails you can bet,
How far from the truth can you get,
A Leader misleading
And still bottom feeding,
The Head of our Nation, ill met.
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I actually have hope that the House will get some work done this term. Infrastructure programs, debt reduction and protecting Mueller's investigation for starters. These three priorities also are priorities of some of the Republicans in the House.
As for 2020, most of us are already exhausted. However I like Ross's suggestion of Amy Klobacher. In my mind she was the star on the committee that interviewed Kavanaugh. Her calm demeanor, non-accusatory questioning and her dignified reaction to Kavanaugh's angry retorts and questions of her "drinking...blackouts" showed her to be the real adult in the room.
The mere fact that she is not a grand-stander puts her way ahead of most of the potential candidates.
As for the messaging of the Democrats for 2020, that will come together.
I do not think we should get ahead of ourselves and just concentrate on what we can do to take care of our problems right now.
18
It's time for the Democrats to stand up for themselves. Create an agenda to follow in the House and do so. The first priority should be working on a legislative policy agenda for All Americans. Health care and pre-existing conditions. Jobs and infrastructure. Clean water. DACA and student debt.
Then they can formulate a measured approach to oversight. No get you back publicity seeking (Mr. Nadler?) but thoughtful inquiry into corruption that is harming the citizens of America. Approached from the perspective of corruption that harms our country and defined in the press as such is better than just trying to 'bring down' an individual.
As for Trump, the only thing he cares about is himself and his money. He does not serve the American people or our Constitution. His base are votes to support his brand and his profit. Clearly he feels his brand and his money have been threatened with the midterm results. Now that he owns the Supreme Court and Justice Department with paid for lapdogs put in place, why he feels so scared does not compute. There never was a law that bothered him, he ignores all. And now he has the US government agencies as free personal lawyers.
I conclude that those tax returns must be real doozies. He is so afraid of the information therein becoming public. His ego made him unhinged yesterday at the press conference. And despite all the safeguards he has put in place to protect himself, his fear is real and deep. What is he afraid we will find out about him?
16
I too have been writing about Amy Klobuchar as an interesting dark horse Democratic Presidential candidate, suffused as she is with Minnesota nice and a reputation for working across the aisle. (Of course, I don't believe she's said anything indicating an ambition to run.)
But--and here's an important but--as the 2008/2012/2016 elections taught us, and even Tuesdays elections taught us, a lot of turnout is still tribal. Obama won in great measure due to huge African American turnout; Hillary lost in great measure because in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Florida, and Wisconsin many of those same voters stayed home (voter suppression tactics notwithstanding). Andrew Gillum and Stacey Abrams got as close as they did in their governor races due to considerable African American turnout. It makes sense for the Democrats to try to place a person of color on the 2020 ticket; a woman of color is optimal. It's certainly part of the reason behind the Oprah discussion. (I myself keep talking about Mazie Hirono, although again I have little idea if she's interested.)
A candidate who could draw both African American and Hispanic American voters to the polls in great numbers?--that would be the Holy Grail.
This all, of course, just serves to reinforce the need for Democrats to organize their ground game, their turnout mechanisms, starting now, and to spend more of their campaign money there.
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@Glenn Ribotsky, I agree my choice is Sen. Tammy Duckworth, (D) Illinois. She is part Asian so she is definitely a woman of color, but more importantly she is a war hero, double amputee and has the guts and moxie to stand up to Trump. She would very likely wipe the floor with Trump at debates.
2
Terrified more than likely, and afraid he will be impeached and convicted along with members of his family. The speed with which he fired Sessions, the anger he displayed at the press conference, the taking away of a press pad which was never done before. All this points to a man scared to death it is coming apart in front of him. Dollars to donuts that within this very first week after the election this new temporary AG Whittaker will issue orders (or fire Mueller) for the investigation to be stopped before the January Congress is sworn in.
Perhaps Mueller will speak first? And with devastating words?
15
Trump's behavior should surprise no one. I don't think even in his most delusional moments he expected to keep the House. From his perspective losing the House is irrelevant. They've won the Senate,increasing their majority. That's a huge win for him & the GOP. Control the Senate & you control the most important lever of power: the judiciary. That means the GOP will continue to nominate more conservative justices. The courts are the source of the Republican's power, their blunt instrument in the cultural war that divides us. The GOP is not going to have to worry about confirmation battles anymore. They're not going to have to worry about appeasing moderates. They will put up whoever they want...the more to the right the better...and get them quickly confirmed. The GOP is playing a long game. Trump will be gone soon. They will still be here. The GOP will wait him out & achieve all of their objectives. Their goal is to nominate 3-4 very conservative Supreme Court justices. Trump has gotten two SCOTUS appointments, he may get more. He’s moved much faster on lower-court appointments than Obama did. The legal arm of the conservative movement is the best organized & most far-seeing sector of the Right. They truly are in it — and have been in it — for the long term goals. Control the Supreme Court, stack the judiciary, and you can stop the progressive movement, no matter how popular it is, no matter how much legislative power it has. Nothing will get in the way of that goal.
5
"I was surprised that the Republicans defeated both Andrew Gillum and Bill Nelson in Florida; the polls were off, but they were different enough candidates that I expected at least one of them to win if the other fell short."
Given that this was in *Florida* I personally have no faith in those being legitimate results. The republicans will do ANY thing to win, including cheat, lie and steal.
"The polls were off" is the first clue. Yeah, the polls were off because the machines were rigged. Not to mention outright voter suppression.
19
@Ambient KestrelI I think you might need some evidence if you are going to make this kind of silly accusation
@Ambient Kestrel Florida has both paper ballots and a machine to scan them. When the margin of victory is 0.5% or less, or 0.25% of a machine count, a manual RECOUNT is conducted. We'll see as Nelson asked for a recount.
1
To answer the column's question, Trump is both undaunted and unhinged. Every day since his inauguration he has debased the presidency as he has escalated his move to autocracy and nationalism. He has accomplished little for average Americans, many of whom apparently think his demeanor and actions against defenseless migrants and separation of children from parents are suitable. We deserve those whom we elect and is is profoundly saddening that many Americans believe that Trump speaks for them. Guess that we have more of Sarah Palin's "real Americans" than we have had in the past.
Will a Democratic led House overreach with inquiries into Trump's actions? They will be deemed to have overreached if their inquiries do not succeed in revealing the truth and in just consequences. If they fail to reveal the truth about Trump with black ink evidence then, yes, they will be deemed to have over reached, which will have potentially negative consequences for 2020. Trump is transparent and his anger about revealing his tax returns very probably means that they contain embarrassing and possibly illegal actions. That fight will go to the Supreme Court and unless Justice Roberts observes precedence, Trump will run free to be the autocrat he envisions.
4
Glad to see Frank and Ross are confident that things might change in 2020. That means the US is going to be successful in repelling the invasion on the southern border. And how come there was no mention of the caravan at the press conference?
2
@RNS - Because Trump no longer needed it as a political prop.
1
Right now, Donald Trump is focused on one thing: stopping investigations into him, his family, and his remaining cronies. Nothing else matters, and he has been preparing for this battle to the death since the first "no collusion" tweet left his fingertips.
Rest assured, he has performed no other presidential duties. Even the whipping of his base (rallies, troops to defend a non-hostile border) and merger with Fox News (now complete) has one central goal: to amass defenders of his suspect activities and shut down any and all investigations.
With the firing of Sessions, neutering of Rosenstein, ascendance of Kananaugh to the High Court, and the frightening Fox/Dept. of Justice Alliance, Trump has drawn the battle lines.
On one side, a nationwide series of rallies, on the other side, the highly scripted News Conference, and the 2018 Game of Thrones is underway. It will be epic.
41
@Victor - Yep you hit it - we citizens are in for quite a ride now. Early comment by someone who has known him for years was - "he (Trump) is the meanest man I've ever met." God protect the country if he is cornered - with all the guns we own ... scary.
8
I predict the Democrats will overplay their hand and may help Trump in 2020 more than they realize. What we need is for them to pass legislation in the House reflecting their 2020 platform and let Republicans in the Senate obstruct. At least they will look like the are trying to govern sanely. All bets are off if the unhinged Nadler is not reined in by the Democratic leadership. Either way, I'll enjoy the show.
6
After watching Trump's presser yesterday,
it's obvious we have, in plain site, a much more pressing problem.
The President is not of sound mind.
The good news is we have the 25th Amendment,
the bad news is, Pence and the cabinet will not use it.
44
@Blue in Green Unfortunately, the 25th Amendment is irrelevant, no matter how much we wish we could use it. It not only requires a total revolt of the Cabinet, but 2/3s majority support in both houses.Impeachment would be easier, and is still impossible for the same reason: the Senate. We really have to live in the real world and seek real solutions to real problems and stop even talking about chasing wild geese.
5
On morning tv lots of talk about Trumps weird behavior at his sleep deprived presser. I don't think he was able to complete one sentence in a coherent way and all sorts of disorganized hostile impulsive things came pouring out. This event should have been rescheduled but the very old man that he has become couldn't allow that to happen. He apparently reached his use by date well before 2016 and things will just continue downhill from here. (So sad!)
78
You've brought up the big question: Will the material from the Mueller investigation reach the light of day, no matter what happens? One would think (and hope) that it will. It's got to contain vast amounts of damaging information concerning POTUS and his family. But how will it matter when the President seems capable of taking over the entire government?
14
What I saw at yesterday's press conference was fear. Trump is very afraid of the Mueller investigation and the fact that the democrats now can exercise subpoena power. I will be going to my first protect Mueller rally tonight--1 of 900 or so across the nation. With Roger Stone circling the drain and Don Jr. on the hook, the Trump family has some serious liabilities to worry about. Sadly, it is unlikely to contribute to making American sane again.
121
@Susan
Maybe that is the slogan for the Democrats. "Make America Sane Again...MASA!
13
@Susan
What I saw at the press conference was that 45 never let a reporter finish their question, interrupting constantly, yet going off the rails if the reporter interrupted him.
He also complained about how the Democrats would never go along with legislation put forth by the Republicans. But the answer to that is simple. Put something into the legislation that the Dems can accept and go along with. This is the way politics used to work; both sides got something they wanted.
12
House Democrats should call Trump out on his disingenuous promise of a week ago to give the middle class a 10% tax cut. They should have the proposal on his desk soon as the new members are sworn in. They should keep it front and center for the next two tears to prove that: 1) it was another Trump lie, and 2) Democrats aren't owned by big money but have the backs of working Americans.
Let Congressional Republicans spin their reasons not to accept the proposal for the next two years.
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And pay for that middle class tax relief by undoing the giveaway, make-the-superwealthy-even-wealthier legislation with which the Republican Congress paid off their donor/masters.
22
@two cents
Absolutely!
11
@two cents
Yea, where’s my middle class tax cut! The one, "they are working on 24-7”? Trump, literally, lies with impunity. There are no repercussions, zero, to his in your face, lies. The press lets him get away with it constantly. In that whole press conference not one question about it. Here it is: “Mr President, why did you lie to the American people about a middle class tax cut a few days before the election?"
3
Good column. And I agree on Sen. Klobuchar. I was very impressed with how she handled the Kavanaugh questioning. And Senator Whitehouse.
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@clct53
I was not so impressed with Klobuchars work during the Kavanaugh hearing. She may have many talents but she missed a golden opportunity to have destroyed him when he asked her his foolish question about drinking. If she had just kept her mouth shut and not responded at all to his question it would at the very least have made his bizarre question stand out in bold relief and it might have made him feel pressured to continue to embarrass himself further. Instead she felt she had to respond to fill the awkward silence. In my opinion she let this golden opportunity slip away. All she had to do was to say nothing and just stare at him until her allotted time had expired. She had a bad case of Minnesota Nice.
@clct53 what about Durbin?
2
The idea of a three-term Congressman with six years of prior City Council experience running for president is "ridiculous," according to Ross Douthat. But he believes it makes perfect sense for a 34-year-old author / commentator with no political experience whatsoever to run for the US Senate in Ohio.
Call us when JD Vance manages to raise a single dollar in fund-raising, let alone $70 million.
67
Trump ran with NO government experience AND some quite obvious mental disabilities and proclivities toward sexual harassment.
17
We can be certain that nothing of consequence will happen legislatively over the course of the next 2 years. The Democrats will craft some rational legislation, but it will not be passed by the Senate. If a miracle should occur and the Senate passes it, then the President will veto it. The session will be note worthy for what does not happen, the ACA, for example, not being repealed but possibly strengthened. I do not have a high bar for the Democrats on legislation, but I do on recreating a sense of justice in these United States. No one is going to pursue "impeachment," but you can be sure that Trump's personal business and political maneuvers will be and rightfully so.
Personally, I do not see how the Democrats can over reach. There are a gazillion issues worth pursuing, but just remaining focused on the top 100 or so would be enough and the right thing to do. I see Donnie, Jr., as a target, as well as Kavanaugh. Both gave sworn testimony and lied, given all that we know from all the reporting that had been done on the issues: in Donnie's case, whether he told his father about the meeting in advance; and in Kavanaugh's case, whether or not he knew in advance about the second sexual abuse allegation. These things need to be righted, and the Democrats, as usual, are the ones that will have to clean up the mess.
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@Reuben
Indeed. I think Democrats/Speaker Pelosi are just going to send up bill after bill and dare republicans/President to ignore them. This scenario relies greatly in the press framing it by who is subverting the will of the people. I believe in Democrats - the press - not so much.
As for the Mueller inquiry, I really do not have a clue as to how it will all shake out. It seems like all of the evidence is there (especially all of the guilty verdicts so far), but again, it will be a matter of how the press frames it all, and whether the American public will even care if the President has clearly broken the law. (I think he already has with the emoluments clause)
We shall see.
51
I believe there are (3) major points moving forward:
(1) How is the press going to react to the next 2 years ?(especially if the Mueller inquiry comes back with irrefutable evidence of an ongoing conspiracy to defraud the american electorate by republicans, this President and his family?) How does the far right press react ? Are they going to roll over and continue to be the megaphone of the President while parroting his words?
(2) How are Democrats going to run the house with Ms. Pelosi at the helm as Speaker of the House. Do they just keep passing bills and sending them to the Senate and the White House to be dismissed by republicans? How Progressive will they be ? Surely, we cannot cut taxes anymore, and that we need to raise them, the minimum wage, and benefits. (especially if they want to spend a TRILLION more dollars on infrastructure)
(3) Does the Mueller inquiry get to fulfill its duties, and what do they come back with ? Does it all get swiped under the rug and rubber stamped by a radical right wing judiciary ? IS the country going to care ? (will it translate to 2020 ? )
Many questions, but I have no doubt Democrats are going to try and lead (from the house), and the only question I have is will the country follow ?
I think they will.
58
@FunkyIrishman "How are Democrats going to run the house with Ms. Pelosi at the helm as Speaker of the House. Do they just keep passing bills and sending them to the Senate and the White House..."
Run the House by passing bills? It does happen to be the job description.
3
@Victor
Aye, but for too long (under republican rule) all of the ''business of the people'' has been done behind closed doors, and then only come to the floor for a vote, if republicans had a clear cut majority to win. (rare the opposite)
I am looking forward to rigorous debate and then bills being sent to the Senate for consideration. (as it should be)
Put them on the spot.
6
The fact that the NY Times doesn't have a columnist who can defend the man elected president and who still holds the support of the people who voted for him shows how perilously divided we've become- no longer between conservative and liberal voters or pundits but between rural voters and the rest of us who are the majority of Americans.
Rural voters do not share the same reality as suburban and urban voters, and yet their individual votes carry much more clout because every state, no matter what the population, has two representatives in the senate. Less populous states are overwhelmingly red.
The warped nature of our constitution, which includes the electoral college, is the source of much of the political division in the country right now where the majority of Americans don't have the government they voted for.
I pray our nation manages to overcome the built-in liabilities of our own constitution. In the end, it may count on the fact that rural populations are falling in this country including in red to purple states like Florida and Texas. If Texas and Florida turn fully blue, it won't matter so much that the likes of N. Dakota has two seats in the Senate.
The GOP will have to appeal more to voters not rural to survive. That will likely happen.
39
@alan haigh I take some comfort in the fact the Rhode Island, with a population of just about one million, also has two senators. Maybe I can stay sane thinking of us as a bulwark against North Dakota.
78
@Cathy RI is not a rural state, though, but that is a good source of comfort. I draw mine from the fact that rural citizens are increasingly becoming urban and suburban, making it harder for them to avoid more logical arguments than the ones that hold their fairy tales together.
9
@Cathy, Yes, but in Rhode Island it is one million people as opposed to the 1.86 million beef cattle and calves in North Dakota (more than two cattle for every person in the state).
7