I don't understand why a Ukranian energy company would put Hunter Biden on its board at a fee/salary of $50,000 per month. Apparently he had no particular experience either with Ukraine or the international energy industry.
What's especially difficult to understand is why the media chooses to ignore the question. It's no answer to say that Trump's kids benefit from the Trump name. The issue here relates specifically to impeachment based on that Ukraine telephone call, and whether Joe Biden exercised undue influence to get the Ukrainian prosecutor fired in order to help his (Biden's) son.
Investigative reporter John Solomon has dug up significant documentary evidence calling Biden's story into question. While the national media is ignoring Solomon for now, inevitably his damning documents will gain wider exposure.
This link tells the story which will probably end Biden's candidacy and the Trump impeachment attempt:
https://thehill.com/opinion/campaign/463307-solomon-these-once-secret-memos-cast-doubt-on-joe-bidens-ukraine-story
11
The Whistle Blower deserves a commerative statue at the base of the Statue of Liberty for all to contemplate the majesty of democracy and the couraage necessary to preserve it.
75
A major question agitating the minds of all red-blooded Americans at the moment.
Does Mr. Donald J. Trump--
--REALLY have better hair--
--than Abraham Lincoln?
Well, in some ways it LOOKS better. Ever seen photos of Lincoln as a young man? My stars, that hair! That, Mr. Cohen, is hair on steroids. "Unruly" doesn't begin to describe it. "Anarchic" or "chaotic" might do better.
On the other hand--
--it's REAL.
Like everything else about our sixteenth president. What you see is what you get. As opposed to Mr. Donald J. Trump--
--in whom NOTHING is real. NOTHING is genuine. EVERYTHING is flimflam--fake--ersatz. Including (I suppose) the hair.
Give me Lincoln's hair any day of the week. With or without the hat.
And now for something completely different.
"Cover-up" in Latin. Two somewhat related phrases from Cicero come to mind.
Tenebras iudicantibus offudi. Free translation--"I threw dust in the eyes of the jury."
Also (in another connection)--si iudicatum erit meridie non lucere. "If the verdict is: the sun doesn't shine at mid-day." That is--if some flagrantly guilty person gets off.
Mr. President! Sir!
(1) I don't think you gonna throw dust in ANYONE'S eyes. sir. Except of course your ever howling, gesticulating "base."
(2) Did someone mention "verdict"? I think, sir, that in YOUR case--
--the verdict's bound to be:
YES.
The sun DOES indeed shine at midday.
Sorry about that.
39
Sadly, this author seems to believe that Trump is an aberration - some crazy mutation of the "real" American values. I cannot be so charitable - he is the face, heart, and yes, god help us, brains, of the America we don't like to admit is out there - the mean, nasty, racist, bully America that occupies every town, city, county, and state. We need to look in the mirror and acknowledge the devil is us.
965
The immediate aftermath of 9/11 was Islamophobiwa, spying on citizens, secret search warrants issued by secret courts, secret rendition, indefinite detention, and torture.
25
Now the shrieking maniac is shrieking louder, shrieking of spies and treason, and a good chunk of the United States will shriek with him. They will redouble their fury against the press, in line with what Trump said at the United Nations this week: “These animals in the press. They’re animals actually. Some of the worst human beings you’ll ever meet.” And, “They’re scum, many of them are scum.”
I hate him.
94
My worry is not the state of mind of Trump. It’s the economy, stupid.
The gridlock and weakening of the economy are now going to belong to the Democrats during an election year.
That is whole lot of responsibility over a poorly-advised phone call about Biden’s cronyism.
35
Excellent!
10
"Breakin' rocks in the ... hot sun ..."
Yes, please.
40
And adding to the evidence that Trump is incapable of the job.......this morning railing against fake news CNN because they misquoted his tweet about “Liddle’ Adam Schiff”......CNN left out the hyphen (commonly known as an apostrophe by those who are fluent in English.)
Forget US concerns, forget his own legal woes....Trump wants us to think he is so maligned by the news because of a forgotten apostrophe ...... because Trump is so proud of his nasty little nickname.
Talking about fiddling while Rome burns....
48
With no due respect, Donald Trump is a babbling idiot. The Trump comment about Abraham Lincoln, the hat, his own facsimile of a head of hair proves that again, as if we needed more proof.
One of my personal favorite photos of the Trump hairdo was when the wind lifted the whole shebang up as he walked up the steps to Air Force One, exposing what appeared to be a nearly bald head with wispy strands that resembled a large baby bird.
77
That is why this doofus should have been impeached eons ago. The longer he stays in office the more indelible his stains on our culture and our name will be.
56
Ya gotta admit, it's pretty ironic that it was Republicans saying Hillary couldn't be president because she's a liar and a crook...for having a legal personal never hacked email server.
68
Without Fox News, Trump would be marmalade toast.
77
Trump also said: “I didn’t do anything. I don’t know if I’m the most innocent person in the world.” He continued: “I just said I’m the most presidential except for possibly Abe Lincoln when he wore the hat — that was tough to beat. Honest Abe, when he wore that hat, that was tough to beat. But I can’t do that, that hat wouldn’t work for me. Yeah, I have better hair than him.”
During the presidential campaign, Senator Lindsey Graham said of Trump: “I think he's a kook. I think he's crazy. I think he's unfit for office......I'm a Republican, and he's not.....He's not a conservative Republican, he's an opportunist.....He's not fit to be president of the United States."
So what changed, Lindsey?
156
I hadn’t read the transcript of Trump’s talk at the UN, having only heard reports of his threats to “spies.” He actually said a boatload of crazy all over the place before the threats.
The man is not well.
My layman’s diagnosis is that Trump was always a sociopath but his mental capacity has deteriorated to the point that he can’t hide it or recognize how it might get him in trouble, and that all he is now consists of destructive impulses. He isn’t hiding his tracks. Other people are covering for him as best they can but if you don’t see it you aren’t looking.
97
Those, like the once-patriotic Lindsey Graham, who say "no quid pro quo," should read the chapter entitled "Going on the Square" in F. M Cornford's brilliant and still relevant MICROCOSMOGRAPHIA ACADEMICA. There Cornford distinguished between "my jobs" (public spirited proposal that have the unfortunately side effect of benefiting me) and "your jobs" (corrupt self=interest proposals, detrimental to the public, that benefit only you). The game is to get both proposals agreed to without ever seeming to suggest that my approval of yours is dependent on your approval of mine. A charade ensues of just the kind illustrated in Trump's "perfect" phone call. Cornford was writing about Cambridge University ca, 1904, No one who traded in medieval open-air bazaar would be surprised at the tactics. It shocking that Sen, Graham and others pretend not to gloom to it.
6
Americans might have some trouble adjusting to Pax Americana -- the petro/free-trade/internet world they made. The psycho-babble doesn't explain anything. We will always have enemies -- there's a word for them and it's them. Check out their version of Gloria. It's right up there with I fought the law."
2
As the hours arrive and leave with their unexpected, but anticipated, Trump harmful words and deeds, and the derived Trump-minion WE-THEY violating implications and outcomes focusing on HIM increases in all measurable dimensions.
Leaving less and less time, space, energies and other resources to focus on the necessary human and nonhuman, internal and external conditions which enabled Trump, a known destructive quality and force, to become America’s chief policymaker.
Commander-in-Chief. Holder of the code to push the nuclear button.
Greater divider of a nation of diverse People’s whose history, legacies and traditions have and continue to foster divisiveness. Dehumanizing. Discrimination. Exclusion. Marginalization. Notwithstanding the sculpted Statue of Liberty, and Emma Lazarus’ inviting words, “neutralized” by rejecting the St. Louis ship with its Pre-Holocaust “escapees,” seeking safety and refuge. Unrelated to the massacres of America’s indigenous; their trail of tears.To America’s complex contributions to slavery, its socially supported unique American lynchings while faux-decrying an ancient crucifixion- on Sunday’s! America’s ongoing, enabled toxic history of personal unaccountability for harmful words and deeds,by ranges of elected and selected policymakers. At all levels. Everywhere. Then. Now. Tomorrow?
America’s acceptance of all too many people’s creating and sustaining lifestyles of willful blindness to what IS; which shouldn’t be! Deafness.Ignorance.SILENCE!
11
The law is the law and the Senators will be the ultimate jury in this instance.
What is needed is someone like Mitt Romney--a vocal Trump critic during the Republican primary--to breaks ranks, seize the bull by the horns, and mobilize twenty Republican senators to join with the forty-five Democrats and two Independents in order to convict Trump.
A major stumbling block is McConnell, who can summarily refuse to hear the case, as he did with Merrick Garland's nomination.
Thus far, no Goldwater, Scott, or Rhodes has emerged to show Trump the writing on the wall.
31
“Cover up” in Latin is “delicti dissimulatio”. This might pose both spelling and pronunciation challenges for President Trump, but would sound impressive as a 2020 campaign slogan.
34
He is BOXED. Only a miracle will save 45th from this fiasco.
15
The United States was never more fragmented than during the Civil War, which generated more than a century of animosity. The Civil War also assisted in changing the way people referred to the country from "These United States" to "The United States", while grammatically incorrect, expressed a sentiment. Unfortunately, the Republicans in general and this Administration in particiular are setting the country on a more insidious path toward fragmentation. The desire for states to have the right to discriminate but to deny states the right to protect their people or the environment.
14
Corner a mean-spiriited dog, and see what happens.
33
I get punished with a fine for a minor traffic violation. Trump is brazenly corrupt and has cheated the state and fed out of billions of dollars in taxes. He uses his office to make money. He passes a tax bill that benefits him personally. He pays prostitutes hush money, breaking laws. He invites Russia and Ukraine to fill many brains with dirt about his opponents, making a mockery of elections and democracy. He praises dictators and attacks allies. I would be in prison for life if I did all the things Trump has done. He thumbs his nose at the law and says 'I will do whatever I want'.
Impeach him, and when he is out of office, 1 or 4 years from now, put him away in prison for life.
1025
You did it! You really did it! How did you get so civilized? How long did it take you to write this column without going feral, howling at the moon, running naked through the streets itching for a battle-ax? And did you take a hot tub, a double Black Label and the strains of Sibelius after? Great column Mr. Cohen.
21
California led the way as usual. Disentangle the Republicans from the levers of government, and it functions just fine. The GOP has become something like a Dr. Seuss nemesis: oobleck, or key slapping slippards. Meanwhile we will have to keep taking the hat off Bartholomew until we reach a better place.
16
" (The) Decline relative to other powers made Americans more desperate. They’d grown used to the century being theirs. Then they were thrust into another one that was not theirs........In the end they sent a shrieking maniac to the White House."
That nicely sums up what the rational world sees and understands. The USA has 800+ foreign military bases but China is coming up fast on the outside and will pass the USA in global influence in a decade. The USA forcing other nations to sanction other nations & putting tariffs on imports is not a solution to the real threat , Global Warming , which will drown 1/3 of Florida & Louisiana not to mention the Carolina`s , NJ & Manhattan.
Dump the Trump-Kushner crime family , slash the DOF budget by 90% & put the Industrial Military Complex to work on the real problem.
24
Watching the spin coming out of Trump's supporters and enablers reminded me of a gentleman I worked with when I started my work life in 1980. We were talking politics one day at lunch and he said: "The louder they scream, the nearer you are to finding the truth." Hopefully we are getting nearer to the incontrovertible truth. Perhaps this tempest will soon end so we can start cleaning up after the Republicans - again.
I would also hope that if this administration takes any action against the whistleblower, the majority of Americans will demonstrate in the streets. Hopefully Trump won't be able to subject this person to the same fate as Nathan Hale.
30
The line about Trump’s hair and Lincoln’s hat somehow escaped me in this week’s torrent of news. Kudos for adding it.
Actually, there is another good song about Trump, it’s titled ‘The Man in the Tinfoil Hat.’ Last I checked it was on YouTube. But be in a place where you can LOL, it’s very funny.
10
I'm so hoping what my Daddy used to say is still true: "The bigger they are, the harder they fall."
26
A cornered narcissist becomes rabid. His “self”, though fake but that’s all he has, is fracturing. We already know he can be delusional and paranoid. This is a scary mix. His comments, recent and through the years, show his penchant for violent imagery. I hope the Secret Service will keep an eye on him, in more ways than one.
24
Sad to say, this wouldn't be a story if it wasn't for Biden's son. I don't care if he didn't do a thing untoward, the very fact that he was taking the Ukrainian's easy money just for showing up is enough. It's funny how Michael Flynn, Paul Manafort, Hunter Biden and who knows how many others saw the corrupt country as a goldmine, And if Hunter's last name wasn't Biden, he would have been on anyone's speed-dial.
We see the entitlement it in the college entrance scandals, in Trump's crime family, and in Chelsea Clinton's gilded employment history; if someone thinks your parents can do something for them, you've got it made.
20
The challenge is to find a way to convince a significant number of Trump supporters that their thinking is off-kilter. The Trump Base believe that the problem is the Liberals and that Trump has delivered what they want. So long as Democrats continue to fail at persuading these people, there is no incentive for Republican senators to break ranks. Impeachment must be pursued because blatant evidence of criminal behavior coupled with admissions of guilt cannot be ignored. The outcome will remain uncertain. Let’s hope that the Democrats refine their message to keep the Trump Base from voting against their own interests. To date, they don’t get it.
12
@Ron B: Liberals liberate. That is what they need to see.
5
@Ron B Maybe, just maybe, some of the Republican senators will find their lost moral compasses and break rank.
12
Does anything/anybody ever completely win--or lose? isn't it always in some paradoxical balance? I think it is magical thinking to expect things to be tidy and unambiguous. Life is messy. Americans are not the worst people in the world. Studying History helps put this in perspective; although History only deals with the portions of the human race that managed to stop fighting long enough to develop written language...
And then there is present-tense evidence that is often ignored: if we are so bad, why are millions of people (who often pass through other countries better than their own) risking everything to get here?
Regardless of legal issues and outcomes, how can our leaders prepare for the time if/when Trump, pressured to his limit, harnesses the forces at his command for a level of violence and destruction that most of us have not contemplated? I'm not a mental health professional, but I don't see any indication that he will simply retire if removed from office by Congress or the voting public. He may be planning for other options already. We don't know what all those mystery phone calls were about.
8
Just when I thought it was impossible for me to feel any greater revulsion for Donald Trump, he refers to the press as “animals” and “scum”. Donald Trump spends more time in projection than a multiplex cinema. Mr. Cohen has come up with a smart, clearly and cleanly written column that succinctly nails the essence of Trump and what has happened to America in the twenty-first century. I only hope his “prediction” of who wins the struggle between The Trumpet and The Law is as good as this piece.
14
The silver lining in our dark national cloud could be Trump himself. There is no bottom to this mentally ill man, there is no limit to his loathsomeness; and as pressure on him mounts, the tiny screws holding his hair to his head might burst, releasing an icky mushroom cloud of madness that will repel and scare the daylights out of everybody - even those who voted for him. Let's hope his lackeys have enough sense to hide the nuclear codes from him.
26
The Justice Department holds that a sitting president cannot be indicted. So it is not a matter of law. Impeachment, as pundits keep reminding us, is not a legal procedure but a political one.
So the song needs revision. It should start "I fought the Dems." Who will win is still up in the air, but the Republicans in the Senate are not likely to jeopardize their tax cuts, their deregulation of business, their exploitation of the environment, and their own reelection chances. The last verse is just as likely to conclude "I fought the Dems and the Dems lost." We'll have to wait and see.
6
Non majority democracies can be incredibly stable. The southern state governments were "democracies" before the civil war, for the vanishingly small white minority, and they reconstituted once reconstruction was over. Bismarckian Germany had "elections" in which 1/3 of the seats were reserved for the reps of the 1% wealthiest, 1/3 for the next 25%, and 1/3 for everyone else. And parliament didn't vote on the war budget. It lasted for decades and took a world war to bring it to a close, and what came after was nothing to celebrate. At issue in the U.S. today is that the southernization of American politics in effect means we are heading to a Bismarckian version of democracy where elections are a fig leaf and the minority has power. This model has always been latent in our constitutional design. It's not all Trump. It's the decades long goals of the Republican Party.
12
The Left has yet to awaken to their nightmare: their war torpedo against working class decency has reversed and is headed in their direction. Think of the voters who invested Trump to wage war against the UN Leftist deep/allstate, as not yet "yellow-vested." Trump is their torch. The Left is so weak and divided (think of the BBC's 200 genders all clamoring to be heard) that one man has brought the Program to a standstill. The sacred cows of the PC (hyper-sensitive) Left are so abundant that Trump scores a hit every time he opens his mouth. The Trump show is merely water cooler mockery on a world stage--the equivalent of the Roman Circus with the Left in the ring. Give Trump another four years and Hollywood will cease to exist--his Left-roast is the biggest blockbuster in history. Royalties due him would make him a trillionaire. The Left is hamstrung with PC--going after rhino with PC birdshot--and has yet to grasp Trump's mandate: to bring total war to the Culture War.
2
Hey! Not merely our decline relative to other powers, but over the last 40-50 years it's been the Deadly Decline of Our People's Bottom 80 Percent that made Americans more desperate within our Rapacious Plutocracy/Oligarchy.
4
Trump, Reps, Faux “news” have, thus far, all been on the same page, marching to the same drummer, and have closed ranks defending the mountain of corruption, illegal activity, abuse of Presidential Powers and Betrayal of The Oath of Office.
However, I think just as the Mob folded under the FBI, the guys above will start turning on each other.
The reasons are similar: If you have a group of people that are immoral, shady, corrupt, lacking in ethics such a respect for The Rule of Law, they also lack other ethical qualities such as loyalty. Trump in particular, has thrown close associate after close associate under the bus. Like some mob boss, he demands loyalty to him, but provides substantially less back. To Trump, everyone is expendable except himself.
One of the more peculiar aspects of Narcissists and anti-social personality personalities is to seek out and find people to take the fall for them. Eventually, in most cases, someone will decide that they don’t want to do that, that the Narcissist in question is not quite so wonderful that they should take the fall for the Narcissist’s (usually illegal) behavior.
I think Giuliani and Trump are going to go busto, and I think the whole thing is going to start unraveling.
Things have started to get real and I think eventually all these bad guys are going to figure out that there are less chairs than people, and when the music stops you better make sure you are one of the people with a chair.
15
"The immediate aftermath of 9/11 was the high point of American unity."
No. The high points of American unity included V. E. Day, V. J. Day, and Dec. 8, 1941. Another high point will be the day Trump is removed from the White House.
698
@Pecan I disagree. Those days might have been the high points for unity among white US citizens, certainly not for black and Japanese US citizens. The high point of US unity was when LBJ signed the civil rights act, lost the Deep South in the election of 1964 and nevertheless won 61% of the popular vote, the highest amount since 1820. It remains the record percentage popular vote.
165
Trump is a lightweight. He is no match for the U.S. Constitution. Case closed.
5
Roy Cohn, Trump's mentor, helped keep his minions on point and in line by gathering dirt on them and threatening to release it. Wouldn't surprise me in the least if Trump has done the same with his minions.
11
Mr. Cohen, Thank you for this excellent column.
It is clear that "President Trump is disturbed and growing more so," and it is deeply troubling to have various Republicans on Capitol Hill publicly defend him. Trump seems to believe that he didn't do or say anything wrong, and his supporters are claiming to agree.
Senior Republican leaders are generally silent. Mitch and friends will ultimately watch out for themselves rather than go down with the bad ship Trump. Is their silence a way of giving Trump enough rope to hang himself, politically speaking, or are they working behind the scenes to gather votes? Probably both.
4
Don't dismiss the pushing of the conspiracy theory about HRC and Ukraine too quickly. This is doing Putin's bidding, getting T's fans to doubt that the Russians meddled and getting them away from Ukraine's side.
Remember, T does not talk out of what he believes is true; he talk to construct the reality he wants in people's minds.
And as to the fact that there's no evidence of his conspiracy theory to be had, does anyone think he would've been satisfied with that as an answer from Ukraine?
4
It’s very sad to see, but the current administration is nothing but a criminal enterprise through and through, and one that is steering us toward an authoritarian system.
What is even more disturbing is that possibly 30-40% of citizens support the abandonment of America as it was imagined by our founding fathers.
We may soon join the myriad of other failed governments of the world, mostly because we have become very divided.
7
“I just said I’m the most presidential except for possibly Abe Lincoln when he wore the hat — that was tough to beat. Honest Abe, when he wore that hat, that was tough to beat. But I can’t do that, that hat wouldn’t work for me. Yeah, I have better hair than him.”
He forgets that underneath the hat and the hair was a brain; can't really say that better hair beats brains.
587
Sadly, a great portion of the American population doesn't give a flying fig about the law. They LOVE Trump because he breaks all of it, while they are stuck with "innocently" breaking it by doing things like cheating on their taxes and driving 50 in the 25 zone that goes through my residential neighborhood. We should have learned by now that Americans are NOT the most exceptionally wonderful people on the planet. Americans are flawed, and evil, and thoughtless, and totally self-centered, just like everyone else. If democracy survives this, it will be under siege over and over again for decades, and a goodly portion of the electorate will LOVE it.
728
@Brookhawk
Other "innocent" law breaking driving behaviors that I have seen increase since 2016 - driving up into the left hand turn lane to cut past the traffic going straight; turning right from the middle lane to cut off those in a right hand turn lane; tossing garbage out of the car; and driving erratically while talking on cell phones.
Not to mention - an increase in bullying, name calling, violence against minorities, racism, homophobia, misogyny, etc.
When I was young, I thought that the President functioned as the moral leader of the United States. After all, the Executive Branch is there to ensure that the laws passed by Congress are upheld.
Now, with a President who is just out for himself, who has no moral compass, who sees nothing wrong with vicious attacks on private and public figures, we provide an excuse for citizens to relax their moral guardrails and let loose with any kind of behavior, as long as it benefits themselves.
161
@HN All I can say is, "so , so true".
55
@Brookhawk: It takes about a score of determined people to neutralize one psychopath. No neighborhood in the USA is altogether free of psychopaths and/or sociopaths.
42
The lackeys don't sound like they even believe themselves anymore. In round after round of interviews, you can sense the exhaustion and despair as each host tears their tortured inanity to pieces. The soul crushing weight of humiliation is a presence in the room. It follows them around like some sort cruel Grim Reaper. The lackeys are finally becoming aware of its presence.
361
@Andy
They are just disappointed that they were so close to destroying the country, and that it might escape them, at least for now.
44
@Andy, when even his ghouls at Fox keep fumbling for a coherent spin story, you know he's in deep guano.
80
We are about 3 insane tweets away from a pretty strong "diminished capacity" defense against impeachment.
No constitutional basis of course, but it would be the closet thing to an honest explanation to ever come out of this utterly corrupt and incompetent White House.
Even the usually shameless professional sycophants defending Trump have to be a liddle' embarrassed.
106
@LT
I think you meant "three insane tweets from a 25th Amendment, section 4, demonstration of inability to discharge the duties of the office of President."
Invoking its provisions to remove a sitting president has never been attempted. It's uncharted territory.
It would begin with a positive action by the Vice-President and a majority of "the principal officers of the executive departments." In common use this phrase is synonymous with the Cabinet, but the term "Cabinet" is malleable (e.g., Is the National Security Advisor a "principal officer of an executive department"? Does an "Acting Secretary of Defense" have the same standing as a Senate-confirmed Secretary of Defense?).
Once the Vice-President is installed as Acting President, the relieved-of-duty President can submit a document claiming that his "inability" no longer exists. If the Acting President and a majority of principal officers believe the "inability" continues, they must notify Congress to that effect. To uphold the determination that the relieved-of-duty president is still unable, Congress has three weeks to act. A two-thirds majority in both chambers would uphold the presidential "inability" and keep the Vice-President as Acting President. This is a high hurdle indeed.
Further, there is no reason to believe that a "relieved-of-duty" President cannot again claim the disability has past, requiring a second three-week-long cycle of declarations and congressional votes... or a third... Chaos, anyone?
18
@LT but since impeachment is not a criminal proceeding "diminished capacity" is no defense.
14
Down the road speculation: Trump impeached/removed from office because Republicans have only 13 months to replace him who has any possibility to win in 2020. Romney primaries' Pence and wins. Biden beats Romney or Romney beats Warren. What the heck we may as well have fun with this otherwise out-of-hand crises (:
64
Is it just me, or are these Trump monologues like something lifted out of "Monty Python"?
22
Brilliant, moody column that captures the spirit of despair that has so overwhelmed so many of us, with some notable quotations, mostly Trump's incoherent bleats and rages.
"Shrieking maniac." I love it. How apt. Two small words that perfectly describe the persona of the narcissistic monster occupying the White House.
The law gets a second chance, ironically handed to us on a platter by the fiend himself. Will we prevail this time, or strike out in such humiliating fashion as we did with the Mueller report? Some 60% of the American people are clinging desperately to the hope that we may finally rid ourselves of the beast.
9
First, I think the concern expressed here about Pompeo is highly appropriate. Unlike Trump, he really is especially sharp, which includes being cool-headed and yet deliberate in execution, as well as not needing public attention and flattery. The question is, Can he be trusted to uphold and defend the Constitution through his appointment which involves at the same time serving the needs of the Trump Administration? Second, as regards Trump, it’s not clear to me anyway how delusional he actually is ... as this column suggests. For example, he may think he can sell anything he wants through repetition of his “bill of goods.” And he does speak publicly in repetition very of often with extremely limited and simple vocabulary. He’s a con man, after all. Worse, he’s had personal success at this ... and therefore not likely ever to change. Backed into the proverbial corner, it’s predictable he’d come out fighting even harder, knowing his ability to con. And his ability to con is, unfortunately, a reality.
10
45 isn’t even willing to admit his spelling errors and lack of knowledge of punctuation terminology. He’s never willing to admit his mistakes because his ego is so damn fragile, which also explains why he’s a bully and a narcissist.
17
@Mark Baer: Learning by trial and error (as we are born to do) only works when errors are recognized and admitted.
4
Yes, trump is a narcissist but I’ve recently settled on what I think is the best description of him (and his family and foot soldiers) as a barbarian. He only knows how to destroy not to build. He knows nothing of ideas, science, nature, art, history, governance. He only knows about greed, bullying, self dealing and tribalism.
35
@AJ: I think it is nihilism, a belief that fire is cleansing and phoenixes rise from ashes.
1
Can he really be behind these tweets? It is getting harder to believe that he could actually compose and then post the tweets about himself. I think he would rather have the media talking about how absurd (narcissistic and stupid) he is and not focus on how dishonest and corrupt he is.
It would seem that he is actually trying to force Congress to act. I expect him to resign before Congress votes to remove him and then complain for the rest of his life about how unfairly he was treated.
He will exit office out of debt, his business empire will be booming and he will have an army of supporters that will protest and continue trying to destroy our country (with Russia's help) . He will do well financially and he will get off without going to prison.
Will we ever see his taxes? Will he be punished for all of the women he sexually assaulted?
Thank goodness that Congress is finally acting to hold this president accountable. No one knows the result, but we can look and back and say that we stood up against him.
9
I think many of us fully comprehend the horror that is Donald Trump. Nothing he does really surprises us. What is surprising is the lack of analysis and reporting on the societal forces that allow him to persist, if not thrive in some segments of society.
1. An uneducated and ignorant electorate combined with social media make anyone with intellectual capability and curiosity feel helpless to do change minds.
2. Income inequality: the system IS rigged and leaving many hopeless to rise to what was once termed middle class. This leads to anger and anger leads to Trump when considering # 1.
3. Racism: America is turning brown, whether we whites like it or now. Those who are angered feel hopeless to do anything about it. From my view, this factor could die down (off) as time passes, except #1 and #2 create new needs to find blame.
21
If, as many commentators here claim, Mr. Trump is a pathological narcissist, then we’re in real trouble now. What would happen if he were to respond to some incident by declaring Martial Law? Would our Government protect us? Would our Government be able to protect us? We created this monster by paying undue attention to his prattling inanities to the point where his saturation of media time hid the news of his government lackeys dismantling our democracy behind the scenery. Our fascination with where the impeachment inquiry may go will give him and them the opportunity to turn the manure spreader up to maximum. Can we survive this as the United States of America?
Roger Cohen’s essay is clear in how it describes the present. Will we the people have what it takes to do what we need to turn this Titanic before it hits the iceberg? Write a short, clear letter to all your representatives in Congress. By numbers of little letters we can tell them we’re not happy with this disruptor and his policies. They only listen to two things: money and individual messages from we the public.
8
@Matt Cook: The entity donating the most money usually gets to set the policy.
1
@Matt Cook
In bright red Texas they only listen to big money.
Individual messages get a cookie cutter responses.
1
Trump, in his stable genius, keeps digging the hole with his incessant braying about the phone call was perfect and alienating the "MSM"-save for Fox "News" which many of the comedians pick up on the rantings of a lunatic and parrot them when not sniping at each other.
Having lived through the Nixon debacle with Watergate and the lying about a sexual escapade by Clinton, it appears that impeachment is one of the few methods available to Congress to rein in a president who is abusing his/her authority, with the exception of Clinton who did not exceed his authority.
With the latest scree from Trump about what was done concerning spies in the past and his toxic comments about the media he may have further stoked the fires of hate and many could be in the cross-hairs of extremists who have the firm belief in a unitary executive named Trump and he must be protected at all costs.
Trump continues to proclaim he will "make America great again", or "keep America great" yet he sows hate at every Nuremberg rally he holds. And his adoring supporters on an entertainment channel calling itself a news outlet perpetuate that hate.
And the actions of that channel and Trump are doing the opposite of Trump's signature battle cries-making Americans hate each other.
I cringed at the declaration of impeachment proceedings as it will tear the country apart, but, the executive needs to be taken to the woodshed.
8
@Dan: It was perfect. It is called "setting the hook" in con-artist school.
2
If, as Cohen says, "the immediate aftermath of 9/11 -was the high point of American unity," it unraveled quickly amid the Bush administration's efforts to shift responsibility from al-Qaeda, bin Laden and the (mostly Saudi!) terrorists responsible to other actors, notably Saddam Hussein. Anyone who questioned the wisdom of Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld et al was smeared as a "hater of America."
Trump is the culmination of decades of divisive right-wing mischief, including a steady onslaught of disinformation from Rush Limbaugh, Fox News, etc. Newt Gingrich's thuggery as Speaker foreshadowed Trump's success at turning the Republican party into a political crime syndicate.
Ironically, if Trump has any saving graces. they are that (1) he is too ignorant and narcissistic to be especially competent at making the trains run on time, and that (2) he has pulled the mask off the Republican party and the religious right once and for all, revealing them to be intellectually, philosophically and morally bankrupt.
25
I always thought that, when Trump falls, things will change for him very quickly. He is such a despicable person that he has no real friends, just people who think it is in their interest to work with him. Once there is real risk, they will abandon him.
Hopefully this is the beginning of a swift end to the nightmare of having a con artist serving as the nation's president.
17
Yes,Trump is a malignant narcissist, but he is also an antisocial personality. The most interesting question to me as a psychologist is why Trump did this with the Ukrainian president so soon after Mueller's testimony and his two year ordeal of that investigation. While there could be other explanations in terms of his personality, I think that he cannot stand boredom and constantly seeks excitement and drama. This personality characteristic along with his long history of being a scofflaw, violating norms and laws, and his lack of empathy or concern for others is consistent with an antisocial personality. Such personality disorders also don't learn from experience and repeat the same destructive and self-destructive behaviors.
26
That quote about Abe Lincoln is a classic. Trump quotes don't get any better than that, provided we are still capable of finding humor in the utterly ridiculous and bombastically inane.
13
Narcissism and self-indulgence. We can afford to wallow in our pettiness and indulge in ridiculous conspiracy theories because in the absence of an external threat, we like to create internal threats for sport. Ironically, the supporters of the maniac see an imaginary threat in liberals and people of color and ignore the growing existential threat of the maniac.
11
Looking at his tweets this week and hearing him every time he opens his mouth, we are witnessing someone completely losing what small shred of sanity that was there to begin with. How scary that this (even more) mentally unstable person is sitting in the Oval Office.
11
Trump claims to like conflict. He supposedly likes to see it and watch it. Proclaiming far and wide that conflict is the way to go, he often backs down when the going gets rough. His own role tends to be non-stop tweeting of nasty things. This is a coward's approach pure and simple.
9
Anyone that defies a subpoena should be thrown in jail immediately and kept there until they comply. Looking at you Pompeo! And anyone held in contempt of court should be thrown in jail until they comply with the law.
17
Great choice of song and metaphor! Being a multinational investor and joined to the deep corporate state, Trump thinks he can reach around the world and also use his human capital for his re-election. The group of psychiatrists with Dr. Lance Dodes who wrote "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump," identifies him as a paranoid psychopathic narcissist. Law indeed is needed. The compassionate answer is a forensic mental health prison. Time for his crimes. Help for his mind.
5
Why did We The People get a redacted version of the phone call? The guy on the other end of the line is a foreigner, so he and all his aides know what Trump said. Whe can't We The People know what foreigners already know? What possible security risk could that be?
6
Forget impeachment and go straight to imprisonment! The donald, the sitting president of The United States, CONSPIRED with the leader of a foreign government to undermine a presidential election That is treason, plain and simple. And this is the second time he's done it.
6
Good writing, but I wish for some more direct terminology. Instead of “narcissist,” why not “sociopath”? Even tangential observers out here in the hinterlands have known for decades, based on appalling behavior to his first wife alone, that Trump is a sociopath. It’s a term that includes narcissism, but sounds nastier—appropriately so.
6
Anyone who believes this is limited to the Ukraine is naive.
10
The Manchurian Candidate Trump is now our Manchurian President. He muscles foreign powers to provide dirt and mass disinformation to get him re-elected. Our adversaries couldn’t dream up a better asset - sadly a president who makes a mockery of democracy :(
7
The law won't win as long as Barr remains attorney general. But I think his days are numbered, along with many others in what is clearly a criminal White House. When Fox News starts planning for a post-Trump presidency and real journalists at the network engage in open warfare with Trump toadies like Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson you know the end is near.
10
There is another Latin (ie Roman) expression we can use for the political destiny of the "disturbed man with the hair."
Thumbs down
6
I think Mr Pence is waiting for his moment.
3
I hear tRump wailing Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns, and Money."
5
I went home with a waitress
The way I sometimes do
How was I to know
She was with the Russians too?
Ha!
4
To paraphrase Corey Booker, "The next election is not a referendum on Donald Trump, it is a referendum on the American voter."
16
We are coming to the point where the Republicans in Congress, even if they defend their president will begin to sound hollow and empty in their defense. The penance for people like Lindsey Graham & Mitch McConnell who actually may be supporting Donald Trump because Trump “has something on them“ will nonetheless realize that their careers may be over when public opinion begins to shift in the understanding of real facts . This latest mess that Donald Trump has made it’s not nearly as ambiguous as the wrongdoings that we found in the Mueller report. This one is far more obvious , it really stinks and eventually the American public will take in the toxic odor. At that point Republican senators and representatives will make the very embarrassing move of changing their tune suddenly or left holding the corrupt bag that their president has handed them.
Donald Trump may not know better. He may be mentally challenged, he bears all of the behavioral hallmarks of a sociopath. But these Republicans in Congress should know better, and they will pay a price for their not having used their judgment at such a critical time.
And when the ship finally goes down you will still hear Rudolph Giuliani screaming.
6
Roger Cohen's linkage of the relative decline of American power to the disintegration of US politics - with Trump as symptom-in-chief of this devolution - is concise and convincing.
11
Coupling Donald Trump’s belief in his own invincibility with the power of the presidency has brought America to the brink. To date, we have only been given a taste of the damage Mr. Trump is capable of. I expect it will become even more difficult to reign in his destructive impulses over the next few months as the impeachment proceedings continue. This may turn out to be a race; a race between an impeachment vote in the House, and the activation of the 25th Amendment.
6
Trump is disturbed for sure. But he's not the only one. If "The Caine Mutiny" were being remade today, it's hard to decide whether he or Giuliani would make the better Captain Queeg character ("the strawberries") played by Humphrey Bogart in the original film.
4
In reference to previous activities at the presidential level (Nixon) I recall the time, and thinking, somewhat naively, that an elected official, responsible for the United States and surrounded by trusted, ethical advisors could not have possibly tried to do what they did.
It was something the trusting private citizen and voter, who knew politicians lied to gain political standing and look good, would never possibly do.
But when the facts became known and the pattern of logic so conclusive, I changed my mind. And lost my view of only the best get advanced into positions of running this country.
That is what current Trump apologists and supporters must do-- look at the facts without blind loyalty to something that has proven to be unearned by our current president.
He could have been great. His inexperience and approach to how he has performed let a lot of us down.
4
@reid: The US presidency will not represent all of the American people until the liberty-to enslave Electoral College is supplanted by direct popular election, with run-offs when no candidate wins a majority.
I don't know what goes through the minds of people who vote for blatant tax cheats who call reliable taxpayers like Hillary Clinton who disclose their entire tax-paying history of wealth accumulation "crooked".
10
The Democrats need to be wary of focusing too much on the coverup. There have been many reflections on Watergate as being a case where The Coverup was worse than The Crime, but that analogy should not be overly referenced in terms of Trump’s situation. Indeed, in this case the crime looks “pretty darn bad” itself. If too much time is allotted to the coverup, it may cloud just how serious the offense was.
8
@anonymous I think you’re right, if only in the sense that Trump is his own CREEP, and not merely directing the actions of others.
When I was in elementary school we were taught about George Washington who never told a lie, and "honest Abe" Lincoln. Now Trump who has never told the truth asserts he is "...the most innocent person in the world", how reprehensible. Trump should take a lesson from Nixon who said it best when he said "....I shall resign the presidency effective noon tomorrow" - and that's all I care to hear from Trump.
19
When you say that "Trump thrives on chaos", we should clarify. Trump only thrives on OTHER PEOPLE'S chaos--not his own. His clinical narcissism very much demands that he feel in control over every situation, without exception. It demands that he project strength at all times, even when a situation demands another affect (e.g., contrition after having sinned).
We're beginning to see the unravelling of our president's narcissistic and psychopathic personality. Stay tuned for more exciting episodes.
11
The humane thing to do would be, first, to impeach trump, to save the nation, and for his family to then commit him to some psych ward for a 72-hour hold, for a thorough evaluation. His severe malignant narcissism probably cannot be treated without his cooperation, and the severity of his case would not ever permit his realizing just how sick he is, but it would be at least something his family could understand is happening to him, as the walls close in more and more with his then-enlarging legal issues and the potential for his facing jail time.
7
The worst thing you can do to 45 is quote him accurately, absolutely verbatim. But that's so unfair.
16
And post impeachment, may Trump find himself living in another verse of that 60's song - breaking rocks in the hot sun.
5
Mitch McConnel is smart enough to realize that a vote to acquit Trump of impeachable offenses re: the Ukraine phone call, is a vote to allow the next Democratic President the right to also run roughshod over our constitution.
Presiding over this no win trial in his senate has to be his worst nightmare.
Either the Republicans vote that it’s ok for every President Republican and Democrat to get foreign aid to win re-election, or they put themselves in danger of having to look for another job.
7
Really makes me despair. How what we thought was the best political system in the world is helpless to deal with a lawless president. Facts are not facts. Laws and precedents are ignored. And all the while the courts are being stacked with political partisans with a fixed view of the world.
There should be serious jail time in the future of Trump. McConnell, Barr, Ross and Mnuchin but we'll settle for an absolute rout of Trump in 2020.
14
Mr. Cohen, you write, "The immediate aftermath of 9/11 was the high point of American unity."
I think you mean it was the high point of *white* American unity.
If you were brown skinned, or Muslim, or both, you never felt more threatened by and isolated from your fellow Americans than you did in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.
It's important to be accurate in these things, Mr. Cohen. It's also important, in your role as NYT editorialist, to try to overcome your white bias in your writing (and thinking). Just saying.
150
An important point and caveat.
An additional one to consider:
One’s skin color, ethnicity, gender and gender identity,religiosity, economic state, home - urban, suburban, inner city, rural, reservation, homelessness,- political party, political ideologies, etc.,-amongst other considerations doesn’t immunize against toxic complacency about...or complicity to... Nor choosing to be willfully blind to dehumanization; the “kidnapping,” abusing, neglecting and caging of children within the USA.
Supporting the starving to death of children in Yemin.
A fragmented educational system which has rarely taught about shameful acts, which are opportunities to “Fail better.” Learn from mistakes! How many have been taught, and know, about the “Orphan Train Movement” which moved- “relocated”- ( an example of semantic surrealism)-approximately 200,000 orphaned and homeless children from east cities to “foster homes” as a “supervised welfare program(?)” between 1854 and 1939?
Marginalizing created, selected and targeted “ the other(s).” Excluding, as an an process, both within and outside of America’s borders in a range of legal and illegal ways. Discriminating as an anchored norm and value by word and deeds, by all too many. Enabling praying to... to become transmuted into preying on...!
Consider, an artist, creating uses a pallet, with its many colors, to visually discriminate between them, mix them, as s/he creates.
We need be sensitive to not misusing “color” to violate.
1
Kant as well as Jesus said, "do the right thing whether it benefits you or not." If everyone does this Trump is done.
34
I look at my fellow citizens and realize, many of these people will do just what they did in 2016. They will get their news from one source, believe the lies and distortions, actually think that a NY Billionaire (?) cares about anything but their vote and feel good about doing what is, in reality, the last thing they need.
5
There are two responses to the outrageous inequality that American vulture capitalism produces.
One is to reform the system, from within the system. This is the progressive wing of the Democrats rising.
The other is to destroy the system. Those are the iconoclasts who vote for Trump. Of course, their ideas largely align with the libertarians who are the problem in the first place.
The country is not as fundamentally divided as the voting suggests.
5
For decades, the Grand Old Party has been vigorously supporting the elections of people who hold a disdainful view of government. These folks are politicians and their primary interest is maintaining a media presentation of themselves, and nurturing support for their campaign activities - both a cultivated base of loyal voters and a constant intake of the necessary money.
They are not in government to debate and fashion legislation.
They are there because the Grand Old Party needs distraction, and providing distraction is what they're paid to do. They are there to fog the screen and provide cover as the Grand Old Party pursues policies that benefit it's most prominent members.
Such office-holders have a built-in feature that complements their function: beyond their media work, they have no interest and very little competence in the work of making laws.
This has been going on for decades, ever since a mostly-competent Nixon got skunked.
And if the arc of history bends towards justice, I sincerely hope that skunk aroma comes pouring out of the GOP again. It's been long enough.
10
Cohen raises an interesting and important point - his questioning whether Russia was behind Trump's obsession and acrimony with the Ukraine. I hadn't thought about it before, nor read anything suggesting that Putin poisoned Trump's mind against Ukraine. But, it makes perfect sense and hopefully will be investigated as part of the impeachment proceedings.
17
Brilliant. Thanks. So was the "parody" of the "shake down" iterated by Adam Schiff. Trouble is the Republicans don't get it, or pretend not to. As you say, they don't see a "quid pro quo". "Parody", "quid pro quo" are perhaps new terms for some Trump followers, but "shake down"? I think they know what it means and they don't like it! Trump has now called for Schiff's resignation for making things up, for writing fiction, they say. The resignation Trump did get was of Volker. Dominoes starting to fall. Fall guys. Guys being thrown under the bus. So far Guiliani and Trump still stand.
8
@Boomer: Republicanism evidently precludes self-awareness.
2
So far the Comment with the most recommends notes "It's hard to imagine how we can recover" from Trump's narcissistic reign of madness, chaos, and ego. Since Times readers tend toward the more intellectual, both liberal and conservative -- it's conceivable that they/we represent a focus group of the country's more enlightened. A generalization, unscientific, but nonetheless.
Thus....the remaining tens fo millions -- as in my state of Texas -- range between rabid Trump supporters to Trump haters to a massive number of people who couldn't care less about politics, Washington DC, Republicans, or Democrats -- and maybe even Trump.
Beyond that, America seems to be missing a core set of values, of cultural sustainability, that buoys us during rough times. If impeachment of the president doesn't rip us apart even further, we have a faint chance of discovering if we have enough of an ethical sensibility to survive this era. Those who defend Trump aren't sub-human -- somehow, we have to pierce our bubbles and see if there is common air for us all to breathe.
9
@SGK, I'd like to see us guided by a Leader Who Can Unite. Clearly the populace is impressionable.
If the law doesn’t win, we are in deep trouble.
697
@BSR
We ARE in deep trouble. And have been since 2017 when trump had the "largest crowd in inaugural history.
75
@BSR. With William Barr being the law, I'd say we are in deep trouble. When an AG has no respect for the law he's supposed to enforce, doesn't that make a country a banana republic?
96
Roger Cohen’s highlighting how much the country has slid since 9/11 was a big a-ha for me. We learned our country was no longer invulnerable and that victories in wars were no longer guaranteed. The 2008 financial meltdown was a wake-up call that the largest asset for many - home ownership - was not necessarily a constantly-appreciating nest egg. All of this has contributed to putting Trump in office. What is scary is how much of the country truly believes that he is the best thing could have happened to the US, regardless of uncountable transgressions and instances of bad behavior. I am hopeful that enough of the voters who sat on their hands 4 years ago because of Clinton Exhaustion will reengage and that some semblance of leadership normalcy will return. I say I ‘hope.’ Canada is looking like a nice alternative now.
468
@Rashaverak: The 2008 financial crisis was, for many of us, far more than a reminder that homes don't appreciate indefinitely.
Many of us were flicked off the professional ladder in middle age; unable to find work; unable to afford health insurance; thrust into poverty; and beset with illness that almost certainly developed in part because of constant stress.
*That* is a huge factor in DJT's ascent -- the assault on the middle class, 8 years of zero assistance from a govt that didn't protect us from vultures in the first place, and panic at entering the last phase of life with nothing -- no profession, no money, no safety in any form.
Some, like myself, are sensible enough to know never to vote for the GOP -- but many weren't and aren't, and the country is paying the price.
It's mind-boggling that GOP greedheads allowed themselves to overlook the lessons of the 1929 Crash; if humans survive the climate crisis, I hope that in the coming decades some cannot-be-revoked regulations are implemented to ensure that such a thing never happens again.
129
@Rashaverak Excellent choice for your screen name, btw.
2
@Rashaverak:
Please, no. We citizens of the Dominion fully support people in beleaguered nations around the world in overcoming adversity and reforming their societies and governments IN PLACE. Migration is not the answer to every country’s problems. Besides, it’s cold and boring here. Really, nothing of interest. Sorry. Have a nice day.
19
What does the President have on the various members of the Republican Senate that they are silent in nearly all things except support and justification of Trump? They appear so devoid of original legislation for the nation that they agree to McConnell’s “plan” to deny discussion on the floor to any legislation as well as votes on anything but reactionary judge candidates.
Are these Senators so paralyzed by allegiance to their party that they no longer see or recognize when their nation is being used for personal gain without any kind of compensatory value for their country? And one has to pose the same question of the voters who put these Senators into office: what is it about them and their allegiance to Party that you are willing to be abused by them and the President? Are your personal issues more important than the continuance of the Truth and of Constitutional law? of ethical behavior? Even of common sense?
We are in the same moral position as the families fleeing Central America because their kids were asked to deal drugs: do we accept unethical behavior simply because there is power vested in our elected officials or do we en masse demand moral behavior from all our elected?
15
@B. Rothman
"What does the President have on the various members of the Republican Senate that they are silent in nearly all things except support and justification of Trump?"
I have often wondered. I have come to believe it is his threats that they will lose re-election money and therefore lose re-election if they cross him. And he is probably right. The few with a conscience have resigned.
14
@B. Rothman, they've seen the lifestyles of the rich and infamous Russian oligarchy, and they like it. trump has made promises they personally can't refuse, no matter the oath they all took to defend OUR Constitution. They are in it for one-party rule; turning America into a Russian-style faux 'democracy', with the GOP ruling forever.
Oleg Deripaska made a deal with Moscow Mitch, to own a big chunk of Kentucky, open an aluminum smelter (Deripaska owns the aluminum manufacturing world) and thereby influence AMERICAN public opinion with largesse. It's so Russian, so sneaky, and I'm hoping very much that voters in Kentucky (and SC, the home of the Senator formerly known as Lindsey Graham!) kick that out the door. How about it, Kentucky? South Carolina?
9
With apologies to Mr. Cohen, I must comment on another article: Nicholas Kristof, ‘Mr. President A Few Questions.’
“Cass Sunstein, a Harvard Law School professor, has a smart book, “Impeachment: A Citizen’s Guide,” in which he advises people to think about whether they would favor or oppose impeachment if they felt the opposite about this president. In that spirit, I approach it this way: How would I feel about impeachment if these Ukraine revelations were about Barack Obama?”
Being a Democrat, I think Barack Obama was a great President, surpassed by very few. That being said, if Mr. Obama was guilty of the same crime as Trump, I most certainly would vote to impeach. And I believe Mr. Obama would understand.
No man is above the law. Laws are written to stem man’s baser and more corrupting instincts. The job of ‘President of the United States’ is Public Service, not self aggrandizement. The Presidency exists to lead, protect, and defend the United States, not the individual.
It’s unfortunate that Republicans don’t see this.
It’s more disturbing that our Republicans lawmakers don’t understand this distinction.
25
@PC - We know that Mr. Obama would never have been elected to the office of president, let alone any office, if he had had the profile of the current resident of 1600 PA Avenue. Any idea why?
6
I would throw any politician to the wolves for most of what Trump has done, regardless of party. I would impeach my own father for this! Wrong is wrong.
5
"Decline relative to other powers made Americans more desperate"
A partisan's take that left much out. Bill Clinton started the problem by fostering outsourcing, without safeguards that put American workers, small businesses, and consumers at risk from unfair foreign competition (workers could be made to work long hours, at a pittance overseas, exposed to toxins and pollutants, weak environmental laws, all of which created an unlevel playing field that favored outsourcing of jobs and manufacturing), import of low paid captive labor (who couldn't change jobs without govt permission, and thus depressing the labor market over the long term). All good for large businesses, and foreign competitors. They even turned a blind eye to theft of intellectual property by China, which enabled it to become our global competitor on our ideas, and our dime.
Then came Bush Ii, who gutted regulation that kept a level playing field and protected consumers, and didn't enforce laws he didn't gut. The housing crash brought us to our knees. Not one fraudster from that time ever had their day in court.
Frustration led to Trump. American decline is not inevitable. We have met the enemy, it is us!
3
Rudy can't fail!
o` to be a columnist now. stuff writes itself. thanks for this truth
6
It may come to pass that Trump will not be impeached. Under intense pressure, it's quite possible he will mentally implode before then.
Excerpt:
what Trump said at the United Nations this week: “These animals in the press. They’re animals actually. Some of the worst human beings you’ll ever meet.” And, “They’re scum, many of them are scum.”
Trump also said: “I didn’t do anything. I don’t know if I’m the most innocent person in the world.” He continued: “I just said I’m the most presidential except for possibly Abe Lincoln when he wore the hat — that was tough to beat. Honest Abe, when he wore that hat, that was tough to beat. But I can’t do that, that hat wouldn’t work for me. Yeah, I have better hair than him.”
You heard that right.
19
@Dina Krain
People with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) cannot stay on 1 topic if their life depended on it. They also tend to quickly forget things they have said. That makes it challenging to try to put together a coherent history on such patients.
Trump reminds me of patients with ADD. Couple that with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder ("Everything is really about how great I am!") and you've got a really lethal combination for anyone on a position of leadership, especially one with as much power as the POTUS.
5
Trump is a narcissistic, sociopathic coward. Likely a traitor. Those Republicans , evangelicals and Fox “ News” types that enable him are complicit in his immorality, corruption, incompetence and his treasonous acts. Our Country will continue to decline every day he remains in power. He is a clear and present danger.
46
I CAN'T WAIT to see the transcripts of calls with Putin and MBS. Please let it be in my lifetime. Please let it be soon.
33
Don't count your chicks till the eggs hatch, Roger... Do you even know they're chicken eggs?
1
Whom the gods wish to destroy they first make mad
- Sophocles
33
Here’s my wish, beyond DJT going ‘Poof!’ In a cloud of fairy dust:
I wish all departments and writers of the NYT would start including the ENTIRE babbling diatribe of Trump’s comment on any topic that is the subject of your article. Giving us just the worst phrase in one of his toxic word salads makes him look saner and more competent than he is.
Please give us the unamended, unedited version. A lot of people who now defend him might finally see what we have here, if you rendered him in his total unspell- checked gibberish.
29
"I fought the law, and the law won"? How about, "They're coming to take me away, ha ha, ho ho, hee hee ..."
Forty percent of the voters, who just happened to be scattered into just the right states, managed to put crazed Caligula into the White House, and seem satisfied with--even proud of-- the accomplishment. Now, blinded like Samson, they seem determined to pull the temple down around them on a great experiment in self-government.
So is this how it ends? Not with a bang or even a whimper, but in madness? "A republic, if you can keep it," indeed.
36
Another pertinent lyric by Joe Jackson:
Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you.
3
"He broke the law but the law hasn't won yet."
There are many miles to go, but any reasonable assessment of the president's state of mind should no longer be in the slightest doubt. What remains a mystery is the state of character of the American voting public.
We shall probably need to await November 3, 2020 for a verdict. In the meantime however, much malfeasance will bubble to the surface of our contaminated political wastewater. Impeachment proceedings might at least slow the entropy until the people put a stop to it.
8
amen...amen....and amen...these columns are worth the subscription price standing alone!!!
7
All bullies are cowards.
Trump is a colossal bully, and has never been so terrifed.
16
Do the voters of Ukraine realise yet that they elected a patsy?
1
Not yet...
The case is a good one....and the blunder is a fatal one. This is no footsy dalliance, but a continuation of an extremely disturbing Trump pattern. He excoriates his enemies (good Americans), and he sucks up to historic competitors (if not outright enemies) of the United States. This time, he crossed the line in a fitting way: Acting as though he were making a real estate deal, he asked his would-be buyer to "do us a favor" in return--torpedo the leading claimant for his own job.
Republicans need to ask themselves only one question--and maybe spend a long night of the soul thinking about it: If this were Barack Obama, and he was known to have made a pitch to a foreign government in this way, what would you do?
What would you do??
Yes! You'd run, not walk, to get the House of Representatives to do its duty and prefer articles of impeachment to the Senate!
So you, Mr. and Ms. Republican Senator, must do the right thing for the United States, and insist on a Senate trial, and you must sit in careful and proper judgement, weighing the evidence in the light of what we Americans expect of our elected officials and our president. And if the facts that have been described are proven to be so, you must vote to remove the offender from an office he has so thoroughly failed to uphold.
15
Roger, this is a witty treatment of a serious, unfunny topic.
Your sentences are far more staccato than usual, almost aphoristic in their succinctness. I assume you deliberately adopted this style.
My favorites:
"The selfie is the image of the zeitgeist."
"In the end they sent a shrieking maniac to the White House."
"I fought the law — and the law won” -- Sonny Curtis of The Crickets.
Yup, it's a fight against the crickets.
4
Unity after 9/11 was a mirage and the genesis of the current divide. Many, perhaps most, Americans cite unity in the aftermath of 9/11 as a stirring example of our nation at its best. In New York City on the days following the attack there was indeed a brief sense of common humanity. Flags appeared everywhere and people across lines of neighborhood, race and class seemed united by numb grief. This moment in time bred a romantic notion of a nation united, but I saw the moment then and see it now as the first sign of a nation being deeply, perhaps irreparably, divided.
Within days Sikh cab drivers displayed flag stickers to avoid beatings from white passengers. The anger at the terrorists rapidly generalized into anger at all difference. People of color and immigrants, particularly from Muslim countries, believed that they too could grieve and affirm their love of country. They soon enough found that they were not welcome at the funeral.
19
When he fails, he flails.
8
The law has already shown its magnaminity by giving Trump a long rope, it is time now to demonstrate its magestic winnability againstt a recalcitrant and highly narcissist President Trump.
5
Mr. Cohen, If I were qualified, and you were willing, I would transform your columns into a “spoken word” road show. You could play to sellout crowds. (I mean it! And thanks for a fine piece of writing)
7
Trump to Rudy
“ what do you mean I can’t file Bankruptcy over this Ukraine thing?...”
Rudy looks a little queasy these days.
7
Narcissist is correct, malignant narcissist is better. Trump is not capable of empathy or love.
I think Edward Snowden got it right when he wrote that Trump has never experienced love that he did not have to pay for.
Whew! Glad I don't have to live that way!
12
I’ve had many Americans tell me to mind my own business; it’s America’s concern. Went you’re a mouse caged beside a raging elephant, it’s probably your concern also.
20
Go back to 1993 Trump saying to a Congressional committee “ they don’t look like Indians to me” . Google it to find the video showing 26 years ago that Trump never thought that laws apply to him.
5
For those that are forever “For Trump,” you should ask yourself a question…
Are you a Patriot?
Are you for America First, or Trump First?
What if he declared himself, “President for Life, and tore up the Constitution and the Bill of Rights?”
Would you support him then?
America is the land, the people, and the Founding Documents of our country. Its hard to argue otherwise.
So, are you a Patriot, or just a follower in a Cult of Personality?
When does America come first?
Are you a Patriot?
21
@SMcStormy Sadly patriotism, America first, is based on unwavering allegiance to Trump which constitutes the degree of patriotism one has.
So, the idea of patriotism has been conflated and bastardized by Trump and his champions on his favorite comedy channel.
1
There’d be no need for impeachment if the grifters around Trump would stop covering for him and just go 25th Amendment. They all know he’s unstable, incompetent, delusional, vindictive, and paranoid. As long as his base will still follow him over the cliff though, they can’t quit him.
It’s worth remembering that Plan B - Pence - was picked by Manafort, he of all the Russian connections. And that may blow up too.
12
@Larry Roth
It’s worth knowing that after Pence, the line of succession is the Speaker of the House (Pelosi), The President Pro Tem of the Senate (Grassley), then the Secretary of State (Pompeo).
1
Someone else needs to read the Constitution to figure out how the line of succession works. After Trump is removed, President Pence will nominate a Vice President who then assumes that office after a majority vote in both houses of Congress.
Nancy Pelosi would only assume the Presidency if both the President’s and Vice President’s offices were simultaneously vacant.
In other words, think Gerald Ford and Nelson Rockefeller not Tom Clancy scenarios.
1
@Larry Roth
Yip. And Pence is funded and trained by the billionaire oligarchy.
Not that I have any sympathy for those who accepted work in the Trump administration, but they like virtually everyone who ever went to work for this lawless man, will carry with them the mark of Cain from here on in.
7
@Lesothoman Indeed. How many potential employers who demand the highest ethical behavior would look at the resumes of Trump administration employees and ask the question-how honest were they and will they be honest in the future.
4
Great, let's demonize republicans. They are evil devils that are in human form. They don't have families that they love or do nice things for strangers. They are all selfish boars. Wouldn't it be better if we could criticize the policies and actions of this president without demonizing anyone who is apathetic to the things he does? The press is just as responsible for the apathy. What happened to collusion and the calls for impeaching Kavanaugh? The press has cried wolf so many times that many people who are not republicans have stopped listening..
2
@George You had me until the last three sentences.
1
@George
this is not the time for apathy
The republicans are responsible for the continuation of this horrible mess by refusing to do their duty to protect the country. They know Trump is nuts and I have no doubt each and every one of them is well aware of what they SHOULD do. But they don’t do it because they’re cowards who will sell their country down the road if they think that’s the only way they can get re-elected. I also have no doubt they’ll dump Trump like a hot potato if they think their political futures will be better served by doing so. They deserve all the demonization they get and more.
1
I would like to ask Roger to make an exert and give us his proper thoughtful explanation about what’s getting wacky and in common inside this already weird triad of world leaders such as Mrs Trump, Johnson and Netanyahu.
For a thorough and story filled podcast on understanding the Mueller report listen to https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-report/id1472798169 It is so much more understandable than the document. Put together by Lawfare.
If you couldn’t bring yourself to read it, this gripping presentation will let you know the full story. Gives a good basis for the continuing scandals.
2
Putin has those who oppose or threaten him assassinated, Trump just threatened to execute whistleblowers as traitors. Are you getting this trumpers? The 60% majority are getting it. VOTE!!!
15
Where Trump presides, insanity abides.
4
The Clash have the more appropo cover song for Trump's self centered raging narcissism.
1
@Mixilplix
Police and Thieves?
Kind of hard for the law to win if the attorney general of the United States is just as crooked as his boss.
14
Barr should be impeached as well.
Dear President Trump,
"Do us a favor," and resign.
Do you need a pardon?
Ask Vice President Pence.
But for the love of country, just go!
5
Roger: It's perfect! Seriously. IT'S PERFECT!!!
2
Kudos to Roger C on: "I Fought the Law & the Law Won". Let's make that the exit song for Trump's last rally.
3
I am witnessing all of this from afar, but the loudest voice still seems to be Trump’s. Admittedly, he continues to spew
conspiracy gibberish, but it resonates with the crowd who would forgive him for shooting someone on Fifth Avenue. It seems to me that the only way Trump can be taken down is by his own party and so far they seem to be standing by him. Really, this is there best chance to save their party,(for what it used to be) and ditch this dictator-wannabe.
Mr. Cohen, you are giving us a glimmer of hope here, let's hope the law wins and at long last and we can be rid of this daily barrage of crazy.
2
How sad that Trump blackmails the Ukraine as the Ukraine fights for its survival. Let's urge Congress to support the Ukraine and give them all the aid they need.
5
"Abe Lincoln when he wore the hat — that was tough to beat. " Is Donald at all out of his mind?
At the Atlantic Festival, the moderator asked Nancy Pelosi if Donald knew right from wrong.
She said, He is accountable.
Good answer, Miss Nancy. That's a wrap.
8
It should read "I fought the law and I won"! You go Mr. President. Fight back. Make sure no Democrat is sitting in the White House anytime soon.
The better version is by The Clash.
5
If I stay it will be trouble, if I go it will be doubled.
3
The Clash version is excellent. However, Trump has been governing according to the Dead Kennedys version - “i fought the law and i won”.
To Trump:
"You're Fired!"
That so many are unable to discern his unworthiness for the office is astounding.
3
It's rich hearing the most corrupt president in America's history claim he held up desperately needed assistance for Ukraine, a critically important US ally, out of concern over Ukraine's possible corruption.
7
Hey, Trumpers, next time a presidential candidate is, during the presidential campaign, ordered to pay tens of millions of dollars in settlement for having defrauded hundreds out of their money via a scam university, maybe heed that and pay more attention to that than, say, a legal, private email server that was never hacked. And if a candidate refuses to release his tax returns, ask why. K? You wanted a con man, fraudster, and crook? Well, you got him.
12
"In English, that’s called a cover-up. I’m not sure what it’s called in Latin, but I gather Republicans are working on finding out."
The Latin for 'cover-up' is
operimentum-usque.
The Latin for #TrumpDenial is
#TrumpNegatio.
6
We were doomed to this chaos the day he was elected. His incompetence, treachery, and corruption have been burdening the nation ever since. More damaging is the fact that his die hard clueless base is too obtuse to understand the nuanced corruption and too obstinate to acknowledge the obvious corruption, and too gullible to see through the sophomoric attempts at distraction, finger pointing, and nonsensical accusations coming fron Trump. They're the ones who would rather fracture civil society than acknowledge the truth.
6
When Trump was elected I tried to console my daughter by saying that sometimes we need to regress just to reaffirm the core values that we take for granted in our daily lives. Either this lawlessness will be forcefully addressed or we will be flushing our American heritage, ideals and any American exceptionalism we might have left right into the gutter. It's time for all Americans to take a stand against the King of Cheap Shots.
6
@Bill
Hey Bill, I used that same consolation with my daughter the day that Reagan was elected.
1
I remember that song but had forgotten, if I ever knew, who sang it. Yes, it was and is, still catchy.
“IT WAS A PERFECT CONVERSATION." Mr. Cohen your column is perfect. It's a perfect description of Trump.
11
The law hasn't won yet...Trump's base, the Senate, Justice Department, State Department, are all in Trump's pocket--so he has formidable tools to work with. What he doesn't have, it appears, is the support of what he calls the deep state---thousands of government workers, some working in the White House, who work the system...and could, in their own quiet way, like the whistleblower, up end those above them who have sold their democratic soul to a failed Casino operator.
18
As I have always said, if a relative of yours talk like Donald and assuming that you care, you will seek immediate professional help.
That word salad from phone calls to Lincoln’s hat in one breath is indicative of mental illness.
But no one in Trump’s orbit cares
Not even the First Lady/Third Wife — might have something to do with the fact that Trump paid some prostitutes to have sex with him while she is recovering from the birth of their special needs child.
5
What makes this exponentially worse is that he spewed this drivel not while being interviewed by one of his buddies at Fox News, but while standing at the podium at the United Nations.
3
@Opinioned!
People with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) cannot stay on 1 topic if their life depended on it. They also tend to quickly forget things they have said. That makes it challenging to try to put together a coherent history on such patients.
Trump reminds me of patients with ADD. Couple that with a Narcissistic Personality Disorder ("Everything is really about how great I am!") and you've got a really lethal combination for anyone on a position of leadership, especially one with as much power as the POTUS
1
This reads a bit like Trump is not guilty by reason of insanity...
4
He’s relying on Senate republicans to save him. And, if his poll numbers hold, they undoubtedly will. But, the Ukraine is only the beginning. By the time this gets to the senate, his entire sleazy life will be laid bare and the votes of his republican lackeys will be small consolation.
6
>>In English, that’s called a cover-up. I’m not sure what it’s called in Latin, but I gather Republicans are working on finding out.<<
Beautiful.
4
Thank you for sorting things out at this early stage of the process, it's quite useful for my overseas-perspective.
Please also consider the Dead Kennedy's version: "I fought the law and - I won." It's equally catchy.
https://youtu.be/S9-DIP5h0sk
4
“Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition …There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect.” -- Frank Wilhoit.
8
Thank you whistle-blower, you have given us hope again.
11
Since the revelations of the “special/secret server” serving as a repository for the President’s personal communiques came to light I cannot help but think of Nixon’s taped conversations. And we know what happened to them!
4
You nailed it. Well done.
2
I prefer The Clash's version of "I Fought the Law....", but otherwise, spot-on column.
1
Pompeo is a West Point man. That institution is supposedly built on “Duty, Honor, Country.” Looks like he missed that part of the curriculum. As for Attorney General Barr, he should reflect upon what up to now had been the two most corrupt Administrations in American history, those of Presidents Nixon and Harding. Both their Attorneys General went to jail, the only two in over 200 years to hear the Big Clink.
13
Make resignation great again.
6
Just remembering long ago hearing a speaker say: “He whose will is his law, is lawless still.” May the lawless shrieking maniac be, one day, introduced to justice and implacable reality.
4
Whatever happens, there's a lesson here: never again entrust the highest office in the land to a business man who has neither held a position in public service, nor even had to account to a board of directors.
The sad thing is that we all knew this about him but not enough of us minded.
22:30 EDT, 9/27
8
@mancuroc
Mancuroc, that is not the lesson at all. In fact, career politicians is an infestation. Trump's problem is not that he is a businessman, nor even that he did not have a position in public service.
In fact, it would be very informative to see just how it was that, in spite of all of Trump's deficits, the Republicans put him on the ticket. What is their problem?? What were they thinking??
No, the lesson here is: Pay attention to the ethics of the person running for office AND the election system really needs to be cleaned up.
1
@NotKidding
I didn't say that being a businessman per se is a disqualification, I specified that he never had the responsibility of facing a board of directors. The facts that over five-plus decades as an alleged adult, he never had to account to anyone and never even tried to enter public service say a lot about his ethics.
12:10 EDT, 9/28
2
All the Democrats really need to say time after time/repeatedly is "we only want the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth".
The truth should set the President "free"
Any innocent person would want to provide as much proof as possible to prove that they are "innocent"
Show me your birth certificate.....show us all the unedited transcripts of phone calls and all the other documents requested by the House and the truth will set Trump "free"
Of course that's impossible because he is not innocent.
This like an onion, one layer at a time.
Time patience and persistence = impeachment
4
As the Bard wrote, “he doth protest too much”.
2
If you like “I Fought the Law”, try the cover by The Clash.
1
Oh no, he didn't say he has better hair than Lincoln...please tell me this utter fool did not say such an idiotic thing in public. For this remark alone he deserves impeachment! As Michael Gerson put it, Trump perfectly represents today's Republican party: "incomprehensible and asinine."
10
If only the Rule of Law can holds & this Man is impeached & removed.
1
(Trump) Honest Abe, when he wore that hat, that was tough to beat.
Nauseating blasphemy from a creep who's more an more clearly as crooked as a two dollar bill.
3
“President Trump is disturbed and growing more so. When he feels cornered, his symptoms run wild.”
The mere mention of impeachment set him off and his “symptoms” were on full display at his rambling U.N. press conference this week.
That was followed by his off-the-wall comments alluding that the whistleblower’s sources were treasonous spies.
One wonders what his behavior is like behind closed doors within the White House.
6
“ It was a perfect conversation, we were talking about the upcoming rain in Alabama and everything”
4
Pompeo is not a Kansan. He was brought into Kansas for his training. He represents the billionaire oligarchy.
Trump DOES have better hair than:
John Quincy Adams
Martin Van Buren
and
Dwight David Eisenhower.
other than that? Uh-uh! That fake blondish-orange comb-over is the worst hair of any President ever!
4
Trump is the Lord of the Swamp and he will be impeached but won’t be convicted by the (Law) Senate and will run against Joe Biden for President and we’ll see what happens. If Trump’s bragging about grabbing women by the genitalia because they let him, because in his own words, he is a star, doesn’t turn his supporters against him, this phone call to the Ukrainian President isn’t going to get them to vote for someone else. His supporters will still think, as Shakespeare’s play is titled, “Much Ado About Nothing”.
Let the process take its course , not only will Americans be behind impeaching this President, but so too will a significant number of Republican Senators.
In the end Good People do what is right, I firmly believe there are still Republicans in Congress who are descent. As Trump is weakened by this inquiry his vice grip on the Senate will weaken to a degree that Republican Senators will no longer fear him. They will put country over Trump.
5
Re the song reference: I might have gone with The Clash.
2
Trump was elected by his supporters to do exactly what he is doing, stick it to the system which Republicans have been trying to dismantle since Reagan. The CIA agent who reported the most recent Trump absurdity is seen by them as only a representative of government. Of course this position is outrageous as Republicans benefit from the system as much as anyone else, but their anti government obsession has turned into a hatred that brands government as 'socialist' and any other epithet they can think of. Trump the ultimate manipulator of that system won the Republican nomination only because he could out snarl his competition making him the poster boy for his adopted party.
4
So far, most of the complaints against Trump are based on things that would not constitute evidence in a true court of law. Suspicion, hearsay, innuendo, opinion, inferences built on other inferences, and the like usually do not pass muster in a court of law. The law requires hard facts that pass muster after challenge or which are otherwise indisputable. Mr. Cohen is, of course, entitled to his own opinion, but, as is often said, no one is entitled to his own facts. If the Democrats want to disenfranchise the millions of voters who voted for Trump because they believe their candidate was more deserving and should have won, they had better be prepared for the backlash and the damage to our democracy this will likely cause.
Impeachment by definition is NOT a criminal trial. Your take standards don't apply. See Clinton impeachment for your research on this matter
The great dilemma the Republicans face is that they are almost all in #TrumpDenial. The symptoms are similar to #ClimateChange denial or denials about the opioid crisis or the trade war folly or the role of capitalism in income inequality. But #TrumpDenial is particularly awkward for a party that has for a century posed as the voice of political reason and careful conservative action. Suddenly, from fiscal restraint to trade wars to neo-isolation and to open tones of white supremacy, they have found themselves tied to chaos, lies, and a Perfect phone call.
The first step in recovery from #TrumpDenial may be to recognize how the Republican party has changed since 2015. Trump was and is a RHINO who needed the nomination only to gain use of the party power and money. To do so he brought into low-turnout primaries lots of first-time voters who liked him and hated the Republican traditionalists as part of the 'establishment'. Now he has been mostly successful in an outright takeover of the party by debasing its centrists.
#TrumpDenial must stop if the party is to be restored. Otherwise it will fall with him or follow him into his world-wide madness.
7
I awoke to news this morning that the New York Times is reporting that Trump told Russians in the same conversation in which he revealed highly classified information to them, that he was not worried about their interference in our 2016 election. While I've believed for a long time now that Trump has committed multiple impeachable offenses, this is the first time I have felt that it is actually urgent that he be impeached, tried, convicted, and removed (or asked to resign by Republicans a la Nixon) ASAP. The man is a danger to this country, as is William Barr, and those defending him now are complicit. How do Republicans look at themselves in the mirror in the morning and then head to that awesome building, the Capitol, having taken an oath to defend and protect this country, and then spend the day defending this man?
20
We need to change the rules of impeachment so that the vote to convict or acquit are blind. It is reported frequently that, behind the scenes, Republicans loathe Trump, yet they will toe the line and vote to acquit a man they know is not only unfit for the office but is dangerous just to save their own seats. If they could vote blindly, that would allow Senators to vote their consciences rather than vote based on their own self-interest, which is the problem we're having with Trump in the first place.
5
I am glad the media has now noticed the first of the two favors trump demanded of Zelensky--the claim that Ukraine has someone's server. Is it Hillary's or the DNC server? I'm guessing he thinks it is Hillary's server, though that was apparently never hacked.
Do these conspiracy theorists think you have to physically steal a server to hack it?
But the purpose of the request is clear: he wants to absolve Putin of the charge of interfering in the 2016 election: they didn't do it; it was the Ukraine. No need for sanctions on Russia.
5
Mr. Cohen, your outrage is justified but it does not become you. I like your writing better when thoughtfully measured; but you can be forgiven this time as we are all stressed out. Notwithstanding, your opening paragraphs are as artful writing as I can recall reading on these pages.
This story is moving so fast that outrage over the Zelensky call such as you express is two days old news. We’ve now moved on to Trump’s attempted cover up of that call as well as others with Putin and Saudi Arabia (presumably MBS). “Print” journalism is too slow for this story. But for online alerts, we’d all be a day late if not a dollar short.
The only issues now are (1) how much more we are going to learn when more and more insiders go rogue and disclose, albeit without attribution, impeachable actions of Trump and Barr and others; (2) the time it will take for the American public to overwhelmingly support not merely the impeachment inquiry but impeachment itself; and (3) whether GOP Senators will conclude finally that it is not in their interests to vote against removal and will remove Trump; (4) whether Trump would resign after extracting a promise from Pence to pardon him.
The answers are:
(1) a lot, some of which has started;
(2) probably 30 days;
(3) absolutely yes - these guys are despicable, but they are definitely not stupid;
(4) quite possibly - but Pence could reneg on the promise.
3
Trump has had a severe Narcissistic Personality Disorder from an early age. The following are the symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder according to the National Institutes of Health:
A person with narcissistic personality disorder may
1. React to criticism with rage, shame, or humiliation
2. Take advantage of other people to achieve his or her own goals
3. Have excessive feelings of self-importance
4. Exaggerate achievements and talents
5. Be preoccupied with fantasies of success, power, beauty, intelligence
6. Have unresonable expectations of favorable treatment
7. Disregard the feeling of others, and have little ability to feel EMPATHY
8. Have obsessive self-interest
9. Pursue manly selfish goals
5
@David J. Krupp
Trump indeed is a classic case of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. While the "Goldwater Rule" admonishes psychiatrists to refrain from diagnosing public figures whom they have never personally interviewed, some things are just so blatantly apparent that it would be irresponsible to ignore or deny them. That is the consensus of most of my colleagues.
Dr. Bandy Lee of Yale Univ. even organized a well attended conference 2 years ago to discuss the danger posed by this POTUS. Personally, I feel we mental health professionals are morally obligated to lead the charge in explaining to the nation exactly how dangerous this man is, and precisely why.
At annual meetings of the American Psychiatric Association, a course entitled "Personality and Political Behavior" has been taught by Dr. Jerrold Post from George Washington Univ. By now, we will need to offer a separate full day course entitled "The Case of Donald Trump."
2
Trump probably has his pre-emptive pardons in his desk drawer signed ready to go. His list would be interesting.
3
Trump is disturbed but not mentally incompetent-he knows he is guilty because he knew enough to hide his conversations with Zelensky. The House will soon impeach DT and I would not be surprised if the Senate votes to remove him. McConnell knows if he keeps Trump they will lose big next year. The only option the GOP has is to choose another candidate-maybe Romney-and hope for the best. In the end though, it is we, The People, who have to clean up this mess and repair the immense damage that this sick man has wrought. Another possible, but unlikely, outcome is that Pence is also found guilty and is impeached too-leaving Nancy Pelosi as president. I won't count on that but that would be divine justice.
13
Mr. Cohen is right - Trump is mad and getting madder as the days go by. But unfortunately he is still President with all the power that the office gives him.
I think we had all better pray that he does not do something that will be so damaging to every last one of us that we will end up cursing the day we ever heard of Trump.
4
This repeats what we've been hearing daily for the past 3 years: Trump is unwinding. Wishful thinking. His brother reportedly said, many years ago - I forget where - that as a child Donald was always the kid at the birthday party throwing the cake at everybody else. He's been a sociopath since birth.
5
The unhinged behavior of Donald Trump will become more egregious as the pressure, and reality of what impeachment actually means pierce his solipsistic shield. The release of the verbatim transcripts of his conversions with Vladimir Putin, Saudi Arabian Prince MBS, and the president of Ukraine, will contain revelations that will make his presidency unsustainable, even to his craven Republican enablers in Senate
6
Nobody should be above the law. That is why this is a democratic nation. No political or Govt employee should be abusing the power to circumvent laws.
9
Thanks for a great column. I am guessing Putin gave the shrieking maniac the idea that Ukraine has a server with information about Clinton on it. We don't know what Putin has said to Trump or Trump has said to Putin, the transcripts are locked up in the special Classified files where they hid the Ukraine conversation. I have always wondered why Trump got away with confiscating the translator's notes after he and Putin met.
35
We are quickly reaching the most dangerous moments of the trump presidency. The latest revelations about trump's conversations with russians in the Oval is only the tip of the treason iceberg. What will trump do when trapped? The answer is anything necessary for preservation.
Expect russia to make a move in Europe against an American ally. The move will be countered by a trump threat against russia and putin will back down thus giving trump the appearance of a tough guy victory. This will be a coordinated effort designed by putin to help trump stay in office.
If the military smells a rat and refuses to play ball with trump then the plan will backfire. Otherwise it may just work.
9
@A B Bernard
Not clear what you mean by the military not playing ball. Refusing to obey orders? Letting Putin’s army conquer Poland, say?
The real problem with your hypothesis is Putin refusing to play ball—as I think he probably would, since playing the role of loser in that mock confrontation will make him appear weak to his actual and potential rivals at home.
The evidence is now clear. (As if it wasn't already.) Question -- will the Senate lackeys of Trump finally wake up and do their job?
Nah..
6
Me thinks the Democrats have more than one piece of evidence or a single criminal act on which to proceed. At least I hope so. Obstruction, emoluments, collusion, etc. I also think Nancy has prepared her troops for the shameless spectacle that will transpire through investigation, hearings, and trial.
But we’re entering the rats arena. He has spent his entire life in court with lawyers. The only way they know how to behave is to resist and attack.
Congress, and Americans, will need to be prepared to fight really hard on this one. We’re talking physical arrests and incarceration of cabinet officials and seizure of subpoenaed records. There will be no cooperation.
17
@UScentral
So true. This fight will be unimaginably bitter and will require huge reserves of emotional strength.
4
@UScentral
… In short, the gloves will be off, the knives will be out, and there will be a struggle to keep the lights on.
5
I strongly hope Roger is right.
My fear is we're closer to Barry McGuire's "Eve of Destruction".
4
Yeah...but he will get away with all of it. Republicans in the senate won’t impeach, no matter what depredations are discovered.
2
America sent "a shrieking maniac" to the White House", Roger Cohen? Yes. In this second decade of the 21st Century we're seeing a decompensating narcissistic man --"I have better hair than Abe Lincoln!" -- governing America by chaotic Tweets and social media.
Donald Trump, the celeb deal-making businessman and reality TV star for decades, is now leading America down to the ruination of democracy. This elected president is laughed at and ridiculed by the world. Mr. Trump is adored by America's enemies,and obeyed by his people, his loyalists and Republican legislators who will fight his impeachment till America's last dog dies.
Impeachment of president Trump? Yes! The straw that broke Congress's back was Trump's quid-pro-quo "perfect" phone conversation with the new President of Ukraine to dish dirt on Vice-President Joe Biden who is running (along with 9 other candidates) for our 46th Presidency. In exchange for "dirt" Trump promised military weapons he had withheld (Javelins) to defend President Velensky's country. Wondering if Mike Pompeo, Trump's Secretary of State, will take the fall along with all of his nefarious colleagues?
The impeachment tide has risen to a tsunami today and subpoenas to Trump's people are flooding the DC swamp.
Mr. Trump, who promised to "clean the swamp!" and his MAGA-capped followers will fall as nationalistic and racist leaders fell in the 20th century. We're all waiting for "lock him up" to become America's reality!
15
The country needs more Roger Cohens.
2
Well done! On of your best. You captured the circumstance of the moment and mindset of the President perfectly. And unfortunately, that of a "good chunk" of the American people as well. On reflection of all his human qualities, this man in the role of the presidency is an obscenity.
3
It's revealing to see as commentators accuse Trump of misdeeds knowing that Bush, Obama, and the Clintons were just as totally unscrupulous and dishonest. Bush lied the US public into two wars causing genocide of more than a million, while his war profiteer friends looted the US Treasury. Obama with Hillary's help expanded two wars into seven, bailed out his Wall Street friends, but gave the working-class the scam Affordable Care Act designed by insurance lobbyists.
The lawless, imperialist Obama regime, whose complete betrayal of the people gave us the Trump presidency, also gave Trump all the tools for "getting away with whatever he wants".
Trump is the symptom of a much larger problem, but unfortunately the mainstream media news avoids any logical discussion about US imperialism, genocide, the ravaging of the environment, and the plundering of the US Treasury.
It is mostly just state propaganda.
Trump, completely unwittingly, is lifting the veil on the duopoly of the capitalist dictatorship that runs the nation. With his words and actions, he is making it crystal clear that the geriatric leadership of the Dems, and indeed most of the party, sees no problem with the Trump agenda which is the agenda of big business, wall st, the MIC and laissez-faire capitalism.
He's doing the true Left a favor, smashing to pieces the notion that the Democratic Party can be reformed.
4
@Chris
Yes, the real problem is Obama and the Democratic Party. Thanks for reminding us. You are, of course, absolutely correct in encouraging the small number of us who are the true vanguard of the proletariat to not focus on the current egregious actions which come close to, if not constitute, treason. Yes, by all means let us set aside the old adage "first things first" and instead try to convince everyone that the real problem is capitalism and all that comes with it. Such an excellent strategy for these times!
2
Kat,
Remember: It's always darkest before the dawn.
I've read everything there is to read about Abe Lincoln. I like Abe Lincoln. Had I lived near him during his lifetime, Abe Lincoln would have been my friend.
Donny boy, you're no Abe Lincoln.
9
Thank you. The quoted ending and the response--very, very scary but you "perfectly" summarized.
1
Sure would like to hear what a non perfect phone call sounds like.
5
In the piece it says “I just said I’m the most presidential except for possibly Abe Lincoln when he wore the hat — that was tough to beat. Honest Abe, when he wore that hat, that was tough to beat. But I can’t do that, that hat wouldn’t work for me. Yeah, I have better hair than him.”
Many in his base are the old Southern Democrats who were “Democrats” simply because Lincoln, who freed the slaves, was a Republican. Otherwise in what world would George Wallace be considered a Democrat! Yet, there he was.
The Southern Democrats switched to the Republican Party due to Nixon’s Southern strategy.
For now Trump to speak of Lincoln in that vein of semi-admiration is not going to endear him to some.
Trump is so off base.
2
@He Is So Off-Base!! As I've always said, "Nixon's the one!" (to blame, that is, and I'm punning there off of one of his own campaign slogans, as some will recall). It was Nixon who realized or decided that racist, resentful Southern Democrats were in the wrong party and that he'd show them the GOP was their natural home - his strategy for making the GOP a national majority party. But Southerners' anti-Republican DNA from Lincoln through Reconstruction was very hard for many of them to overcome. Yet Nixon succeeded. And the rest, as they say, is history, right down to the Tea Party ("What!? A black man in the White House!?") and MAGA hats. I hope the whole GOP - a party I grew up in but haven't recognized since Nixon - reaps the whirlwind from what's ahead for them.
3
LBJ knew he had "lost the South for a generation," when he fought like the angry warrior he was to pass the acts of the second reconstruction: the civil rights act and the voting rights act. Nixon benefited from confederate anger over black people finally getting the rights they deserved, but which these hang-dog white people just couldn't (and perhaps still don't) accept.
2
"Shrieking Maniac." You pull no punches and for that I thank you. My faith in our government would be restored if the Law, this time, for the first time in the history of Trump, wins. I hope that the Law wins so much we "may get tired of it."
28
As soon as the shift came in which judges are now overtly partisans, "the law" can't win. This disturbed narcissist will remain unchecked. As each outrage unfolds, it slowly dies because there's no legitimate redress. I for one would still like to see his tax returns (must be some audit still in progress) to understand the depth of monetary influence the oligarchs and Saudis, just to name two, have over him. That outrage over 1040's faded away. So did his disgraceful Helsinki performance. So did his bragging about sexual assault. So did his obstruction of justice, clearly delineated in the Mueller Report. And so on and so forth. He doesn't fight the law, he ignores it.
13
It should be apparent to any intellectually honest observer that Trump has been in the process of unraveling for some time.
the whistle-blower / Ukraine situation seems to have supercharged that unraveling. That is a positive thing in my estimation. The sooner he completes the process, the sooner America can (hopefully) begin to pick up the pieces.
Loved the music in the You tube link.
8
I added a few lines of Cohen to Yeats:
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
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.
Disorientation set in
In the end they sent a shrieking maniac to the
White House
15
Trump is clearly extremely insecure. He did not have to withhold aid and give veiled threats to Zelinsky. The situation in Ukraine is complex with multiple ambiguities surrounding Hunter Biden in view of the effort to push out the Ukrainian prosecutor where Joe Biden had a role. For sound bites that would have been sufficient when augmented by solid doses of disinformation. Those who want to believe Trump needed no more. Biden, if he won the nomination, could have been destroyed by innuendo as long as the economy has not tanked by November 2020.
Now the logical course would be for Republicans to urge Trump to resign with some honor before Pence and Pompeo are brought down as well. Pence could hold the evangelicals and social conservatives and if the economy has not tanked have a shot at 2020 leaving 2024 open for Pompeo.
Trump Republicans, however, appear to be rallying behind Trump building a situation where their wing of the Party could be set back for a decade or more.
Trump may indeed be a manifestation of some higher power. Otto von Bismarck — 'God has a special providence for fools, drunkards, and the United States of America.' Starting with the Women's March Trump has inspired thousands of new people, particularly women, to enter public service to fight for their beliefs and oppose what Trump stands for. This latest flaw appears sufficient to limit Trump to one term or less. If the Republicans defend his indefensible actions they will sink into the swamp together.
12
Trump won’t resign, he knows criminal charges will immediately be brought against him. He wants to be President far less than he wants to stay out of prison. More than that, it’s just not in his narcissistic nature. As for Pence and Pompeo, they are now tarred with Trump’s brush of criminality, conspiracy and collusion. They made a deal with the Devil, they won’t survive an impeachment inquiry.
The Esquire columnist Charlie Pierce has posited that beginning with "Iran Contra" Republican politicians realized they could commit actual crimes against their country and literally nothing would happen. Democrats, feckless and afraid, enabled their criminal behavior. Crimes were committed during the Bush years and Bush, Cheney and Rumsfeld live in luxury in multiple homes. Trump has every reason to believe that he will pay no price for treason, theft, and larceny and no reason to fear. Republican senators and congressmen have every reason to believe that they too will pay no price. Sadly, we need a liberal oligarch, another FDR, to stand up to and crush the corrupt oligarchy and their Republican lackeys.
6
I prefer The Clash cover of this song. Growing up I didn’t realize they were a bunch of socialists.
2
Clearly Trump should be impeached. But one thing keeps bugging me: why would a Ukrainian gas-company be willing to pay $ 50,000 a month to Hunter Biden. Is he such a high-flyer? I suppose Hunter offered them easy acces to certain groups and individuals. And may be more. That's the other side of this story.
5
His comparison of himself to Lincoln has left my teeth on the floor.
18
“Breaking rocks in the hot sun, I fought the law and the law won.” A number of the President’s men would do well to ponder on this, and check out what happen to Dean , Erlichman, Haldeman, and Mitchell after the Watergate cover-up. That list of course included one Attorney-General.
14
1) we are assuming Trump withheld weapons from Ukraine for leverage. Perhaps. But is it not possible that military aide to Ukraine came up in conversations with Putin? Personally I would be shocked if not.
2) weapons were allocated to Ukraine to protect US interests. With or without the phone call, Trump MUST explain why he withheld them. Our NATO allies and our own troops in Europe are at risk should Russian incursions (too kind a term) continue. And that doesn’t even get to the Ukrainian people.
3) the Trump White House also hid records of calls with other leaders, including Putin and the Saudis. Isn’t it practically certain that these calls were recorded by those regimes (Putin was KGB, for God’s sake!)? What kind of leverage do those nations now have against Trump? What did Trump say about the 2020 election to Putin?
4) Trump asked for 2 favors. One to help give Russia cover for interfering in US elections and the second for dirt on Biden. Given that he’s already told Russian officials what they did last time, isn’t it likely that he’s already complicit, or at the very least ignoring, a cyber attack on our nation? What are we without free elections?
This is just as much about Russia as it is about Biden.
7
Sonny Curtis also wrote the theme song for the Mary Tyler Moore show.
1
What is the law? According to Republicans it’s something that exists for brown people, poor people, and Democrats. It doesn’t apply to them because they’ve got money and the Lord. They’re basically the Righteous Gemstones without a sense of humor.
7
For the past two and a half years of this vile, corrupt presidency, many of us have felt like that man(?) in Munch’s painting “the Scream.” It would be nice to think that now Trump, Barr, Pence and others are beginning to find out what it feels like.
20
This impeachment effort will not end well. Trump base supports him because he represents the last gasp mentality of a White Christian U.S. nation based on traditional western norms and morals. Every blow he strikes is a representation of a blow against their perceived loss of value and stability. If impeachment fails, Trump will feel invulnerable. If it’s successful his base will consider it a coup. We have already seen what can happen without his direct instruction. I’m concerned he will call for a 2nd amendment solution. Actually I expect it. It’s the answer that scares me.
1
Mr.Cohen, you say that you have lived most of your life with the Cold War as a threat-as a child I was terrified by Hitler and Hirohito-terrible threats.However, we have not always faced external threats.We were challenged by McCarthyism and the terrible internal divisions following the Brown v Board of Education decision-the Courts and the better judgment of citizens won on these internal threats.We are not broken as Americans, surely we will be able to surpass a delusional president and his ill informed supporters.Trump will have a huge challenge explaining that withholding funding from an ally in exchange for help with his political campaign is a good idea.America, for all of its faults has become fairer and more inclusive and more attuned to political misdeeds-I still have faith in American ideals.
5
America’s democracy is teetering. For the first time in my 65 years, I’m genuinely worried our nation may fail. Our founders never imagined a president so utterly bereft of morals and ethics. I can’t either.
As the Pied Piper for grifting and thuggery, he’s somehow corrupted White House officials, attorneys, and intelligence chiefs at the highest levels. How is this even possible?
To save our nation, we must investigate and indict everyone who has enabled Trump’s intensely corrosive attacks on our nation’s soul.
Investigate, indict, and prosecute every Trump enabler that is, or has, been a traitor to our democracy until the mission’s complete.
No matter how long it takes.
18
@Dr. MedPhysics the one way to save our democracy beyond impeachment is to inflict a resounding electoral defeat. However, I believe he will receive about the same number of votes as 2016; the difference will come from young people and others inspired to get rid of him. If we re-elect him, shame on us forever!
3
Newt Gingrich took partisanship to the extreme using dumb down discourse. The desinagration since 1995 has resulted in Nunes, Jordon, Mark Meadows, the Freedom caucus and many others all communicating with the purpose of manipulating the public with propaganda along with using incendiary language. Their political objectives were not in the best interest of their constituents and have been consistently deceptive. Trump, from his soapbox in Trump Tower, used his wealth and the deep pockets of conservative members of his clubs to lend credibility to his increasing roll as puppeteer to their marionettes. He successfully transformed that roll into a cult leader by engaging the most vulnerable of society to join. He would dictate what the cult should accept, think and act upon. Tribal seems a euphemism for cult. Trumps success with his methodical lust for power has been an exercise mainly of vindictiveness, destroying reputations of opponents, disregard for American national security and institutions including the Justice Department, paralyzing Congress and above all personal profit. He appointed family members into positions of power despite no qualifications in order to create a legacy, one that lacked Democratic ideals.
7
This might be the first time that the insanity defense can be used in an impeachment trial.
8
Good column but I would go with Joe Strummer and The Clash’s version.
2
There is another Latin phrase that fits the circumstances:
" do ut des" or "I give so that you give"
By the way, and to confuse things more, the phrase "quid pro quo"
originally meant taking one thing for another or to confuse one thing for another rather than the present meaning of changing favors. So, maybe a quid pro quo in the original meaning may be applied to Trump's dealings with Ukraine: he mistakes diplomacy with real-estate dealing.
3
Is this not projecting?
Trump: « They’re animals actually. Some of the worst human beings you’ll ever meet.” And, “They’re scum, many of them are scum. »
9
The most disturbing thing about this entire situation with the Ukraine is the fact that it's almost a carbon copy of what Trump did in 2016, when he asked if Russia was listening -- and it was.
He saw nothing wrong with reaching out to an adversarial foreign power to help him win the election by gathering "dirt" on his political opponent then, and doesn't recognize it now.
That's why he called the quid-pro-quo 'favor' he asked of President Zelensky a "nothing call".
Which of course, it wasn't.
There's no way of getting around the fact that not only this is an impeachable offense, but an act that poses potential danger to our national security and our free and democratic elections.
It says a lot about our political process if Donald Trump is allowed to thumb his nose at the Constitution and get away with this.
But it would say even more about the country we have allowed ourselves to become.
24
I keep hearing Democrats say, "No one is above the law!" Probably they aren't familiar with the way the American judicial system has worked and is working. Wealth and connections matter. The old saying, 'if you can't do the time, don't do the crime' has been replace with 'if you can't pay the fine, don't do the crime.
4
Every single Republican member of Congress is complicit. With the exception of Justin Amash, they have enabled Trump's criminality. Like Trump, none of them are fir for office.
11
Laws. What are laws? They are made on a whim by disillusioned law makers trying to curry favor with the electorate. I live in Florida and the law is charter schools get to share in tax payers funding of public schools. It is the law. Florida voters voted to give felons who served their time voting rights. Florida legislature interpreted the vote to disallow voting until they paid full restitution. It is the law. Dred Scott decision became law. Most laws are a perversion of rights people deserve to the will of the powerful.
3
Thank you for this, Mr. Cohen. Reading the transcript of trump’s speech at the UN was truly disturbing. Why do the Republican members of Congress continue to back a madman? Is losing their house/senate seats the worst thing that can happen to them? I’m pretty sure they will all have good job prospects once they leave office. Or does it not occur to them that they could go to their constituents and explain why this man needs to be removed from office? It’s not like they are so busy passing bills that they don’t have the time to formulate a plan for reaching out to the people they serve. Come on, don’t let the bully in the White House win! Be best!
8
Most of us hear what the president is saying in his rambling, stream of consciousness nonsense and, after a few seconds think, what did he just say? Then he's on to something else and we forget what it was that sounded so insane. Thanks Mr. Cohen for the reminder of the Abe Lincoln quote. That one is off the charts.
8
As a true narcissist, Trump has always run his businesses like a dictator. He has the final word on everything because he is always right & knows better than everyone else. There are no such things as transparency, checks & balances in Trump's business dealings. He cannot tolerate any dissent. In the face of challenges, he becomes enraged, lashes out at anyone with the audacity to criticize him, & goes to great lengths to exact revenge against his perceived enemies. He refuses to accept the simple fact that the government of thew USA cannot operate that way. Hence, he creates new constitutional crises on a regular basis. The Ukraine scandal is merely the latest in a never ending stream of misconduct. Full transparency would expose this for the nation & the world to plainly see. In the past, there were enough people in the House & Senate with a conscience (regardless of which party they belonged to) to assure that such a bad actor would be held accountable for their blatant disregard for the rule of law. It is nothing short of tragic that today's Republicans have sold their integrity down the river for a short term political gain by tuning a blind eye to Trump's endangering our national security. Trump could not get away with his antics without the protection of his enablers in Congress & the media. We must raise our voices loudly to condemn those irresponsible persons who put party ahead of country. Then resoundingly vote them out of office.
8
I also remember Watergate and I do not think Trump will ever resign so it will need to go to a full Senate vote.Then we will see, if the evidence is strong and the case is presented clearly, if any GOP Senators have the courage to come forward.
As I recall impeachment vote in the Senate needs a 2/3 majority. Are there ~16 GOP Senators with that kind of backbone? I do not think so.
7
Unquestionably, at some point, politicians will do what they always do when they see which way the wind is blowing: they'll get out in front to lead the charge. Republicans in Congress will be doing that in the days to come. Of that I'm convinced.
4
Even though he will permanently damage this country with his Presidency (Make America Weak Forever), I kind of feel sorry for Trump — there’s really no way that he will come out of the impeachment inquiry unscathed. He will defeat himself with his meltdowns. This will be utter torture for him.
I know his most avid followers will never let go of him, so I feel sorry for them too. The world’s eco- and agricultural systems are under challenge, the world’s demographics don’t favor them, and they are falling further and further behind economically precisely because of Trump, not despite him. The world will leave them behind, abandoned because they can’t abandon him.
Finally, I feel sorry for this country, whose natural beauty will be ravaged, whose people will be more ill and poor, and whose press will be neutered by nationalist propaganda masquerading as the truth.
We’ll have to start rebuilding what we thought was impregnable.
15
@Robin Underhill...All that can be repaired once the destructive influence of Trump and the GOP has been neutralized. The great political experiment is over and we now know what their unchecked power can do. Vote ‘em all out.
2
@Robin Underhill
How will we counter "Nationalist propaganda"? I heard a portion of an add that will be running to defend Trump. It's a smear campaign out of George Orwell. These are dark times.
1
@Misterbianco - I applaud your optimism. I will work toward getting friends and acquaintances to vote as if their fortunes depended on it. I just hope that the American people are up to the task of recovering from this disaster. The jury’s still out, at least for me.
1
The disorientation that set in cannot be blamed on the American people. It is the fault of capitalism, whose injustices and absurdities are becoming more and more obvious to everyone. It is the cause of the violence and fragmentation of American society and is now recognized as being to blame for the climate changes that are threatening the future of our planet.
29
Such irony! It may well be that those many, many lawyers who represented this president years before and during the last 4 years will learn something about the very fundamental idea of having laws in the first place. Sometimes it is the law that wins.
15
In the end (and in the beginning), this is not about the law and fighting the law. This is about whether he deserves continuing public trust and holding him accountable to his oath of office and the fundamental belief system of democracy. For me, he has so severely broken the public trust, and in this case so transparently, that the verdict is in already, and there is no way back for him. So, respectfully, I would say the quote should be: ‘ I have damaged the public’s trust in me so badly, and so irreversibly, that I can no longer be allowed to continue to hold my job. I have proven beyond reasonable doubt that I am unfit to serve the great American people.’
21
I certainly hope that the notes from Pence’s Ukraine phone calls are also subpoenaed, as Trump suggested. When the president wants to throw his VP under a bus, I say bring on the bus.
Trump may believe that Pence has aided the whistleblower out of a personal ambition to succeed Trump as president. But if Trump thinks he can retaliate by taking Pence down with him, well, he may know something we need to know too.
47
@Portia
Actually, this might be one of his few canny actions.
If T is impeached, and Pence is deeply enough involved that he has to be removed too, who becomes president?
The thought of Nancy Pelosi in that role might just be enough to keep R's from voting for impeachment.
2
It is easy to imagine that this was not the first call of that kind Trump did. Probably in a similar manner with Putin before the election. Would explain his very positive out of nowhere towards Russia in his first year
18
We the readers here all concur that what has happened is most disconcerting and gravest threat to our Constitutional edifice. Mercifully, the legal process is already rolling.
If the man on country road brushes off this matter as a personal Trump and Biden fight, unconcerned about this law and that norm, what shall it take to convince him?
Trump Presidency has to be put in the historical context. He is reversing the US-China entente that led to "peaceful rise of China". China is entrenched in American mindset, perhaps even more than Japan, and is perceived as a much bigger challenge to America remaining greatest.
Then there is a sense of economy doing well, and borders being gated. This gives a sense of feel good factor that is expressed well in lyrics of the song Happy - "With the air, like I don't care baby by the way".
3
Trump wanted to kneecap Biden for his own personal benefit. Done. Ironically, this fits neatly into the left’s agenda as well, with an impeachment cherry on top. Trump will survive impeachment and face Warren, something that he and the left desperately want. We will see how the plans espoused by Warren (elimination of private insurance, free college, college debt forgiveness, decriminalized border, gun buybacks, green jobs and wiping out hundreds of thousands of blue collar jobs, etc.) play. She will have to explain (to those of us that actually focus on math) how she will pay for this. Soaking the rich only gets you part of the way there, which is why Sweden has a 62 percent middle class tax rate and a 25 percent consumption tax. While the readers of the NYTs might cheer this, middle America (Michigan, Ohio, Penn, etc) might not. Also at risk are the moderate House seats that gave Pelosi her majority....A lot to chew on....
1
You miss the point. Donald Trump is not a private person. In acting on his desire to kneecap Biden, he abused the power of his office. His subjected foreign policy and national security to his political needs, not the needs of the country and the public.
Do you feel so strongly about Sweden and Warren that you don’t care whether the president upholds the law?
29
I doubt that you are a billionaire, though you could be, there are close to 600 in the US as compared to about 30 in Sweden. Yes the rich will be taxed more heavily, they could decide to leave it they get taxed by the next administration. If that happens, we as Americans still have a choice where to spend our dollars. For instance if Bezos tries to avoid paying taxes, we avoid Amazon.
9
I think what he’s saying is just that as Nixon wanted to face McGovern so Trump would prefer to face Warren. Biden, it could be argued, will be more palatable than Warren for many Republicans and independents. And I’ve heard many people on the left already allowing this to influence their thinking on Biden. That is what Trump was seeking. Nonetheless this investigation must proceed. It’s far far far more important than election strategy. And there is likely far far far more to come out.
Great column. It includes the part about the Lincoln hat and Trump's hair. I'm not worried about Trump being President anymore. From now on, the majority of Americans will view him as as both a laughing stock and a danger to the very foundation of our Republic. Sure, the Senate won't convict but the facts laid out in the impeachment inquiry will speak for themselves. Sure, the majority Trump's base will only strengthen their support That support has never reached 50% though and it is shrinking.
23
It is not understandable that the press is treating the rough draft of a transcript drafted by Trump loyalist as the truth. These White House aides and attorneys that were part of the coverup have reason to minimize the conversation and change the frame of the conversation. Even then it is bad, but the unedited conversation is probably worse.
Trump had lost his perspective because he has surrounded himself with people who won’t tell him he is wrong. He is surrounded by people who won’t tell him what he is doing is possibly legally wrong. And Trump is surrounded by people who won’t turn him in. The wanna be king has no clothes but supposedly plenty of hair.
15
Gary, you are on to something. Edited vs unedited. Mueller report edited by Barr. All of the meetings with Ukrainians should be subject to being reviewed by a congressional committee. I would not feel this way about any other president, any other POTUS. I always felt they had the best interests of the country first. Not this scoundrel.
1
The USSR posed way more than a military threat. It was an ideological threat because it dangled the danger of the working class taking power in front of the US plutocrats. And an economic threat, as long as their system worked. US power left unchecked has turned into a nightmare. China is slowly restoring the old balance.
21
At some point, republican senators will realize that if Trump is convicted and removed from office, his threats that keep them in line will also be gone. They will then abandon him en masse. Those who think the senate won't convict are wrong.
880
@Dick Windecker True, and they could put forth a candidate for president who has a better chance of winning than Trump does.
27
@Dick Windecker Uncertain. They'd rather ride back into the Senate - and recapture the House - on his coattails than convict (regardless how they feel about him personally, and regardless of the evidence). When (not if) he's acquitted their campaign slogan will be "100% exoneration and frame-up" - and they'll all sweep back in. They are self-serving.
35
@DMN
In other words, the Republican Party has less than nothing at this point.
28
I don't think we know yet if the law wins. These are dark times.
1225
@Kat
It ain't over till the fat lady sings, I am afraid.
Neither Trump nor his cohorts will go away easy. They will fight nails and teeths to the bitter end.
And like cancer or poisonous weeds, you can never be sure you are completely rid of them.
63
@Kat
I think he'll be impeached. The Dems have the votes already and since Trump virtually impeached himself, it seems a certainty (I'm old enough to know that what I really mean is 'near certainty').
He may not get convicted, though. I was going to write, "He won't get convicted," but there are some shifts in the GOP. Regardless of whether he is convicted or not, the fact that he will be impeached suggests to me that Congress - at least the House - will have done its Constitutional duty.
And this is what frightens me: If he isn't convicted, this will make 2020 one of the most critical elections in our country's history. If he is not convicted and is reelected along with enough Republicans to retain the Senate, then this is not the country for me. Trump et al. will continue to whittle away at our Civil Rights, at the Bill of Rights, Amendments, and the Constitution itself and America will cease to exist as we know it. We will become nothing more than either a failed state or a banana republic.
75
@Kat....with Barr as AJ, what does “law” mean anymore?
53
My Republican friends laugh and joke that their leader will never get caught up in anything. They’re not claiming that he isn’t guilty, but that he will prevail over the law. How sad that the country has let him carry on making a joke of our justice system.
1917
@James These are the same republicans who were consumed with righteous fury over Hillary Clinton's e-mails. They sure have managed to turn those frowns upside down over Trump's behavior.
211
@James. That’s just it. Trump isn’t an aberration. He’s what the GOP has been leading up to all these years.
252
@James
I think this is the argument David Brooks made in his opinion piece this week. Situation ethics at work.
37
"...the lackeys of Trump who still insist on calling themselves Republicans." That's the one detail of your piece that's got it wrong. Trump's lackeys are true Republicans, as Trump has turned out to be. Only his personality stands out. Almost everything he does and stands for in policy, from taxes to regulation to environment & energy and most other areas besides trade, and in governance, from the lack thereof to the appointment of industry hacks for cabinet and regulatory agency leadership to the determined support of voter suppression, is completely consistent with Republican tradition established at least since Reagan. First and foremost is the neglect of truth when it's inconvenient, whether it's tax cuts for the rich that reduce the federal deficit or global warming or voter fraud...Trump has not revised the Republican party, he has simply adopted its core fantasies as his own.
1618
Yes, the GOP is the party of hucksters. It did not take long for them to publicly kowtow to the Donald; he might be his own act, but he is a brother in arms. The unholy trinity: DJ Trump, the GOP, and right wing media are riding the back of their constituents. Those voters in support will be loathe to back off unless a crack appears in the Senate or Fox News. All the evidence brought to light and logical explanation is destined to be gold spun into dross. As insightful as Roger Cohen is, sadly, he is preaching to the choir.
111
@KAN -- all true, with three exceptions. Republicans have traditionally been for a) family values, b) fiscal responsibility, and 3) free trade. With Trump, they have thrown all those out the window. They have betrayed even the few positive foundations they used to hide behind while carrying out their scurrilous machinations, and now stand for nothing but greed, avarice and corruption. Let's hope the voters see this in 2020 and punish them accordingly.
122
Sinbad, they supported those positions to achieve electoral majorities. They have always governed to benefit monied interests, as they do now.
99
That Donald Trump has the entire Republican Party and millions of voters defending him is the ultimate sign of American decline. It's hard to imagine how we can recover.
2425
@Eric Caine
The Republican Party must go down with him. That might pave the way for an honest opposition party.
204
@Eric Caine
We recover by first having a full and fair review of the heart rot within this administration and carrying it to its conclusion up to and including possible removal from office if the Senate agrees.
Then--and this is the important part--we make the 2020 election a tsunami of voters so we at least have a true reflection of the country in our representatives and not a mere sampling of support by ideologues. Everybody votes; everybody wins!
187
Unfortunately the Republican's have been ensuring not everyone can vote - closing polling places, restricting hours and purging voting rolls.
151
Although I agree that external threats can overcome other divisions to get people to unite, the loss of those threats is NOT the reason that people voted for Trump. They voted for him largely because of racism, xenophobia, and white identity nationalism, explicit or more mildly bigoted. It was from the start of his campaign through his entire mode of operation, an effort based on hatefulness and meanness.
33
@Larry Figdill
"They voted for him largely because of racism, xenophobia, and white identity nationalism, explicit or more mildly bigoted."
It's my judgement that resentment was a big factor in the preference for Trump, although I don't get the logic behind it. People looked at those doing better, are better educated, and pay attention to the news and politics just are too much for the "poorly educated " whom Trump claimed to "love."
1
@Larry Figdill. Totally agree with you. It is racism and cruelty based. No more and no less. Dangerous for American ideals. Truth is truth.
I wish someone would write a piece considering why conservative Republicans would rather have Trump than a tried and true right wing stalwart like Pence.
Could it be that conservatives are much more successful when they have a smokescreen like Trump hiding the worst of the policies they are enacting while Trump bloviates and tweets?
I loathe Trump but while our eyes are focused on impeaching Trump, Mulvaney, Miller and all those other creepy people, are rolling back emissions, making our air dirtier, getting rid of efficient dishwashers and LED light bulbs. Oh, and then there's dismantling Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, our reproductive rights...and what about immigration -- that which has helped power our economic engine (you can't have a dynamic economy without bodies).
I'd rather see him voted out.
18
Trump knows one thing for sure, if he is pushed out of office now or loses in 2020, he's going down hard because the Manhattan D.A.'s office is eager to nail him for tax evasion.
As much as l'd love to see him taken out in handcuffs here in NYC, I'm not so sure our country can actually survive another four years of him and his GOP enablers - this country's a mess. His loosening of regulations for basics like clean air, water and food inspections, etc, is just downright frightening.
49
Why is the GOP still supporting Trump?
Trump's great political strength is the legitimate and honest fear among most general election voters of the likes of Elizabeth Warren or Bernie Sanders as the alternative to Trump as president. The recent rise of Warren in the polls of Democratic voters is enormously helpful to Trump because of the widespread fear of Warren among general election voters.
Trump is "the devil we know",
Warren is "the is he devil we don't know".
And most voters believe "better the devil we know than the devil we don't know."
3
@David. Personally, I would rather not deal with Devils, at all!
"Now the shrieking maniac is shrieking louder, shrieking of spies and treason, and a good chunk of the United States will shriek with him."
It's the last part of the sentence that is most provocative. Trump only remains in office because approximately one third of the voting population will stay loyal to him no matter what he does, and they will punish any Republican officeholder who fails to slavishly admire the emperor's new clothes. By now most GOP members of Congress despise Trump as much as the Democrats do. But their choices are limited to either retiring from office or meekly falling into line.
This means, among other things, that if Trump is forced from office and claims foul play, members of his loyal third are capable of radical violence if Trump incites them to action. It also means that if Trump exits the scene, they will begin to seek someone similar to replace him as a vehicle for their paranoid passions. Trump may go, but Trumpism is forever.
Most GOP senators are probably ready to jump ship and vote for Trump's removal, if they believe they can survive politically. Conventionally, that means reading the opinion polling and waiting for popular sentiment to reach critical mass.
But sometime next spring in each state the primary election filing deadline will pass and GOP incumbent senators up for reelection will become less vulnerable to an insurgent challenge from the right. A Senate impeachment vote taken after the filing deadlines pass just might succeed.
8
Every time I see him wearing that flag pin, I feel profoundly offended. He has no right to be wearing it. It's not that I'm particularly "patriotic", in the narrow sense of the word, or that (unlike many conservatives) I fetishize the flag; in fact I find that fetishism more than a bit ridiculous. Nevertheless: he has no right to wear it.
15
Mr. Cohen, you are such a joy to read. It does seem that, as a son of mine pointed out in the aftermath of Mr. Trump’s election, the United States is not a banana republic. What a wonderful feeling.
3
How on earth does lack of an overt quid pro quo exonerate Trump? If you ask for something as a leader of a country, particularly a big and powerful one, there is always potential leverage exerted and implicit incentives/disincentives, I.e quids pro quo!
3
When the Law was relegated to an option, the Law had already lost. And is lost forever. The precedent for lawlessness at the top is now set for future recurrence, because we stood by and did NOTHING until it was so blatant that even the House could no longer kick the can down the road. It's pathetic. And every single one of us is to blame.
9
Trump seems to thrive on chaos. Presumably others who are similarly addicted constitute his so-called base. But chaos eventually bites, leaving both perpetrators and onlookers with deep wounds.
The chaos is hugely compounded by the nature of online social media: everyone is encouraged to immediately, publicly vent whatever unconsidered, often hateful thoughts may pass through their minds, without taking even a nano-moment to reflect. I'm not a Twitter user, but almost daily I get an mail from Twitter urging me to start tweeting, because. as one pitch said, "Some things are too good to keep to yourself."
But in fact, most things that pass through my mind don't deserve an audience and are simply the reactive chaff that constitutes unconsidered, shallow, superficial or knee-jerk reaction that, on examination, I know does not genuinely reflect my thinking. I would rename Twitter and its ilk the "spewer" media, maybe without the "p".
8
Trump is not Nixon, He doesn't care an iota what happens next?
He is ready to burn everybody on the process and doesn't feel any remorse a bit.
Nixon was opposite , he succumbed deep depression and alcohol.
6
Silly me! I thought the HBO Chernobyl series was the most riveting thing I have seen on tv in years, but you have to hand it to Trump- he is a master of the Art of Crises.
My biggest concern right now and I’m dead serious about this is that Trump is going suffer a stroke soon. I really really really really really really really want this man to to be punished for all the turmoil he has created because of his selfishness and vanity. Lock the cell, take away his sun tanning goggles, his cell phone and tv and Its doubtful he could survive a week by not being the center of attention, although I would prefer he live as long as his 90 year old mother.
Then can we then please please please please move on to the environment? That’s sort of important too.
8
Whenever elitists attack anyone their opening gambit is to declare them "disturbed", after all, anyone who would disagree with them must need psychiatric help. And, it's easy to quote Mr. Trump against himself, even his supporters wish he could occasionally shut up, but why do we want him in the White House instead of a Democrat? Well, would a Democrat be confronting China on trade? Would they be doing anything to control immigration? Would they be taking a sensible, market and employment friendly position on climate change? Of course not! They'd be enacting a blizzard of government programs to tax away and redistribute the profits of businesses and earnings and savings of working people to financially prop-up and reward swarms of self-pitying layabouts, which is the same thing as saying, they'd be making an everyday business of buying the votes they need to stay in power no matter how much damage they would do to the economy. The great mistake of communist regimes, and the great mistake of the Democrats is the same: Putting politics ahead of economics and then watching with indifference as the nation sinks into poverty.
@Ronald B Duke, oh my, you might take a look at the history of the economy under Clinton and Obama. Growth up, debt down. Who plunged us into the Great Recession? Yup, Republicans.
3
Trump promulgated the idea that our political system is rigged and then clandestinely attempted to coerce a foreign power to rig the next election.
Trump imagined the whistle-blower report indicating that people are “spying” on him and then patently suggested that those responsible within the intelligence community be put to death.
Trump called the free press the “enemy of the people” and then tacitly condoned the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
So what will tomorrow bring?
Perhaps a new hope, for a country that has been beaten up for too long … perhaps dreams of a brighter future?
Courage, strength and perseverance will be all. Fortunately, Americans have always had these within themselves … and in abundance.
America will prevail.
10
@Blue Moon. I truly hope so for my children and grandchildren’s sake.
2
If Trump had encouraged the investigation of a Republican friend, it would have been fine right? Putting law above friendship and party. So what we are saying is presidents can't order the investigation of political opponents even when there is probable cause. What Hunter Biden di may not have been criminal but is totally outrageous. 2 months after discharge for cocaine use gets job that creates massive appearance of impropriety. A company under investigation and your dad has the power to get the prosecutor fired...and uses it. Any fair minded person would want that fully investigated.
From the Caine Mutiny, Captain Queeg on the stand:
"they were all disloyal. I tried to run the ship properly, by the book, but they fought me at every turn. The crew wanted to walk around with their shirt tails hanging out, that's all right, let them. Take the tow line, defective equipment, no more, no less. But they encouraged the crew to go around scoffing at me, and spreading wild rumors about steaming in circles, and then old yellow-strain. I was to blame for Lt. Maryk's incompetence and poor seamanship. Lt. Maryk was the perfect officer, but not Captain Queeg. Ah, but the strawberries, that's, that's where I had them, they laughed at me and made jokes, but I proved beyond the shadow of a doubt, with geometric logic, that a duplicate key to the ward room icebox did exist, and I've had produced that key if they hadn't pulled the Caine out of action. "
4
@Eben I'm glad someone saw the similarity here as far as excuses go between Trump and Queeg. The USS Caine's personnel were all cognizant of Queeg's mental problem. The U.S. electorate is only beginning to see it in Trump and part of that electorate will never see it or see it and consider it a virtue.
2
All this focus on Mr. Trump, the "narcissist" and "shrieking maniac", no one even mentions how the Democrats' rush to impeachment has collapsed the Biden candidacy ('collateral damage' I suppose you'd call it) and thrown the nomination to Elizabeth Warren (no stranger to maniacal shrieking, herself) effectively reducing the size of the voter base to which Dems can appeal. Notice how quiet Ms. Warren has kept about this.
When we’re up against it, and logic is unequal to the madness of Trump, Roger Cohen explains it all. The man’s a genius.
4
“These animals in the press. They’re animals actually. Some of the worst human beings you’ll ever meet.”
Trump also said that House Intelligence Committee Chairman Schiff should resign. And that the White House aides that appropriately shared information with the whistleblower be treated as spies. Like a child throwing a tantrum, he has a problem with all people doing their jobs well, if doing so thwarts his will. If Trump is impeached, he probably wouldn't be convicted in the Republican controlled Senate. And I am sure he would gloat about that like a child escaping punishment. But let voters pay attention and carefully note the damage that he has done in three short years and, especially, his appalling behavior both when he does and doesn't get his own way.
5
As a true narcissist, Trump has always run his businesses like a dictator. He has the final word on everything because he is always right & knows better than everyone else. There are no such things as transparency, checks & balances in Trump's business dealings.
He cannot tolerate any dissent. In the face of challenges, he becomes enraged, lashes out at anyone with the audacity to criticize him, & goes to great lengths to exact revenge against his perceived enemies.
He refuses to accept the simple fact that the government of thew USA cannot operate that way. Hence, he creates new constitutional crises on a regular basis. The Ukraine scandal is merely the latest in a never ending stream of misconduct.
Full transparency would expose this for the nation & the world to plainly see. In the past, there were enough people in the House & Senate with a conscience (regardless of which party they belonged to) to assure that such a bad actor would be held accountable for their blatant disregard for the rule of law. It is nothing short of tragic that today's Republicans have sold their integrity down the river for a short term political gain by tuning a blind eye to Trump's endangering our national security.
Trump could not get away with his antics without the protection of his enablers in Congress & the media. We must raise our voices loudly to condemn those irresponsible persons who put country ahead of party. Then resoundingly vote them out of office.
7
It's exhilarating, even empowering to see the shrieking maniac go up against the wall, flailing and threatening death to "spies," now that the whistleblower has exposed his corrupt intent to influence the 2020 election with a foreign power. You'd think he'd take a lesson from the Mueller probe which nearly ensnared him, but no--Trump. who believes himself to be "the chosen one,"-felt more emboldened. Pelosi, however, has reduced him to just another pathetic loser who fought the law and the law won.
7
@Mary Reinholz. If he goes down...as he should...this old lady will dance to that old song again...
"Now the shrieking maniac is shrieking louder, shrieking of spies and treason, and a good chunk of the United States will shriek with him."
You are correct on one count. This cocky, paranoid adolescent, 'shrieking manic,' whose behavior is displaying signs of sleep deprivation will continue to crank up the volume. His mantra; I told you so, I warned you from the beginning 'they' will do anything In their power to bring me down.
I strongly disagree with your comment that a 'good chunk of our United States will shriek with him.'
In 2016, Attitude vs. Aptitude won him this seat. Two years into his term on 11-6-2018 midterm elections for The House of Representatives seats were up for grabs. Voter turnout was the highest in more than a century and Democrats won the back the majority by the largest gain of seats since the post-Watergate 1974 elections. Aptitude defeated attitude.
All his paranoid, nonsensical bravo will not get him impeached. However, I stand steadfast that the voter turnout in 2020 will be historical. When he loses, this will rocket him back into his private life. Then the 'man of the deal' who is a prisoner of a nightmare of his own making will face the frightening reality "he fought the law, and the law won.
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." (Winston Churchill).
6
All this makes one appreciate even more the recently deceased patriot, Joe Wilson. For those of you too young to remember Wilson, I would strongly suggest you read today's Times article on Joe.
Fortunately, Wilson's partner in courage, patriotism, and victimization, his former wife Valerie Plame, is currently running for Congress in New Mexico. She is the unusually extremely qualified person who can go to Washington and not be cowed, manipulated, or bought off. She has taken the worst the political establishment could throw at her and tossed it back in their face. That is precisely what Washington, especially Congress, needs more of: people who will stand up for principles, when the going gets tough. It is extremely important to have someone in Congress who has demonstrated she can and will walk the walk, not just talk the talk.
A fitting tribute to Joe Wilson and true American patriotism would be to support Plame, not because she was his wife, but because like Joe, she is the rare individual who has demonstrated she can take the worst Washington politics will throw at you and come back swinging.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/27/us/joseph-wilson-dead.html#commentsContainer&permid=102783395:102783395
5
This is more like it!
Cohen describes Trump with impeccable journalistic honesty.
We Americans will have to endure the following days of ugly incriminations from Trump defenders.
We may have to endure four more years of Trump.
No one ever said keeping your democracy would be easy.
3
The astute Cohen is telling us what most of should already instinctively know. We’ve arrived at the point in our few centuries as a democratic republic when the rubber is seriously meeting the road. Can we civilly and constitutionally move past the corrupt “shrieking maniac” occupying the WH and go about the work of repair and reconstruction or does the USA become something else entirely, a country of permanently warring social and cultural and racial tribes who represent voting blocks for the shrieking maniacs to follow to exploit? Much of the answer lies in the hands of our elected representatives and the courts. Courage and self-sacrifice and fidelity to the constitution is critical. I’m neither pessimistic nor optimistic. I’m waiting and, in the words of Jesse Jackson, trying to “keep hope alive.”
2
Here's where the Art of the Deal comes into play. The House impeaches. Before the Senate comes into play, the Dems tell him that the facts developed in the impeachment inquiry will form the basis for prosecution after he leaves office. He would stand a real chance of dying in prison.
He can choose to resign, having Pence resign with him, with the clear understanding that the President who replaces them grants them pardons. That would be the Speaker of the House.
outside chance, but would he really want to give up his rounds of golf?
A little more than a year ago Trump was meeting with reporters on the driveway at the White House and said to those gathered, "Most of you are fair." Headline news? Perhaps because no one believed they could simultaneously be "the enemy of the people" and, in Trump's mind, "fair".
On at least one other occasion (the place and date do not come immediately to mind) Trump posed a question: did you notice, he told the media, that he only complains when he is losing? Occasionally some truth bubbles forth from the deep well of his otherwise endless narcissism.
Who in this world, facing the possibility of being removed from office in disgrace, talks about his hair and compares it to Abe Lincoln's? Who, for that matter, has given a nanosecond's consideration of the hair of our 16th president? Do we need any further indication that he has left planet earth and is floating out there, far away, well beyond earth orbit?
As for impeachment further dividing the country, that would be difficult to accomplish. Bear in mind, however, that the Always Trumpers are a minority within the 46.1% minority who put him in the White House. My personal guess is that Trump activated several million voters who otherwise would have stayed home in 2016. In the meantime, he has riled up many more millions, especially young people, African-Americans and Hispanics.
These are fearsome times but, like sailors in a storm tossed sea, we have no choice but to try to weather it. High risk is part of the equation
7
@Doug Terry
You made me think of this article I just read which may explain Trump supporters:
"This quirky cognitive bias could potentially be making it easier for Donald Trump to deliver unchallenged falsehoods to his more uneducated followers. In some cases, not only are these individuals uninformed, they are unlikely to try to become more informed on their own. In their minds, they have nothing new to learn."
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-in-the-machine/201808/the-dunning-kruger-effect-may-help-explain-trumps-support?fbclid=IwAR2qx2Qh_SvGHu3vLtyYLXlTVo-wgN-U743mlEv9lDNKLi_CNAODSclVpbE
My take away from all I read last couple days.
Nero will burn the Rome and many will perish.
Trump Doesn't care anything, All the President's men one way or another going to be jailed, stained, tarnished , disgraced .
2
"We have just reached the high point of American fragmentation."
Silly me, I thought that was in 1861.
2
Break-in" rocks in the hot sun,I fought the law and the law won.
It is a catchy tune, I fought the law and the law won. One for the law, huh. Roger Cohen rises magnificently to the occasion with an unerring sense of history, that only an Englishman could have. More so if he arrives as a central European nine-year-old. Rose to be a highly-valued columnist for the New York Times, and today manages to encompass the tragic moment of the American Republic in precise learned prose. What a pleasure to read him. Almost as great as the pain caused by what he is referring to.
2
I would never describe a conversation as "perfect". What does that mean?
3
“The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”
MLK, during the Montgomery Bus Boycotts.
2
Let’s hope impeachment is just the start. Then, criminally indict Trump, prosecute, convict and incarcerate him. In a just world, he would live out the rest of his life in prison, stripped of his status, wealth, white male privilege and freedom.
4
All the evidence, provided by the White House, is there.
All the world is watching. Is America the country rule of law? Or just political animal?
If Congress does not follow up impeachment, then Trump and his collaborators will cry “witch hunt” even louder.
4
That Clash line has recently been used in the British press to comment on the Supreme Court ruling that went 11-0 against Boris Johnson. May it ever be thus.
3
Remember Gerald Ford? Trump will resign before he is impeached and Pence will pardon him. Now if Pence has a conscience he should then resign also. Then Pelosi becomes president. "Tis a consummation devoutly to be wished.
1
There's no way he compared himself to Lincoln, no possible way. Should I power down and reboot? There's something wrong with my screens. Oh here's the number, 1-800-Wearesopathetic
3
@S Neraho And it's wasn't his first time. The "Honest" nickname is just too tantalizing for Trump.
The whole thing is actually quite scary.
3
Take away the first four paragraphs and the opinion could stand very well on it’s own. By invoking the need of an external threat as the ne plus ultra requirement for national unity, Cohen falls flat checking 9/11 and the Cold War. I assume that his revisionist history would lead him to commend Gen. Patton’s disgust at being thwarted at the Elbe. In hindsight, by Cohen’s measure, the destruction and subjugation of our “ally” would have been a noble accomplishment, saving many decades of Cold War shenanigans. As for the unity that has unleashed forever war in the Middle East, the same hindsight applies, we blew the chance to take out another “ally”. Curious that these erstwhile allies are extremely influential with he who shall not be named.
I just hope I live long enough to take an American History class or better yet teach one on this Presidency. Truth is stranger than fiction. My descendents will no doubt shake their heads in disbelief that the American people let this happen to our great country. That is if we still exist as a democracy at that time.
34
@Suzanne Conklin, I've lived through four of the worst presidents in history, and I still don't believe what I saw.
2
This isn't an impeachment, it's an intervention. Long overdue.
78
Please do not imply Trump is crazy. This is premeditated and is happening with precision. This type of policy and approach takes a lot of people conspiring together and takes a lot of coordination. Where is this coming from? The people who elected him and the people who have fought so hard to keep him in power. Remember the united Republican response to trump - “well I don’t necessarily like Trump but I really like his policies.”
There are tens of billions of dollars riding on Trump’s re-election. The entire GOP is the conspiracy. This is the party of “birtherism,” in all its glory. Therein lies the greatest threat to America, American democracy, and world security.
75
@BillC Indeed Trump is not crazy and it does not serve our understanding of political realities if we think he is. Idi Amin was not crazy either. Such men are driven to lie in order to cling to power since truth and democracy fail to serve their ends. In the case of Trump the end is to profit through division to secure the wealth of a relatively few number of people.
5
@BillC Very well said!
Cohen's first paragraph here explains much of the problem with trying to impeach Trump today for "soliciting foreign help/interference in the U.S. election": "When there is no external threat, there is less incentive to hang together. The bigger the threat, the more people cohere. The immediate aftermath of 9/11 was the high point of American unity. We have just reached the high point of American fragmentation."
If there is no external threat to the U.S. today what does it matter to have foreign influences, involvement, effects on the U.S. whether that means calling the U.S. a nation of immigrants (foreigners), allowing political, cultural influences from afar to affect the U.S. (Greta Thunberg/U.N./climate change), allowing illegal immigrants to cross the southern border, or to ask a foreign leader for help investigating a political rival?
What exactly is U.S. law with respect to foreign entanglement with national interest today? Answer: There is no law, we make it up as we go along. What becomes law is what we can enshrine by a process of branding, shaming, influencing, strong arming, rationalizing until it seems stable, always was rather than in a process of becoming.
If the U.S. wants to move to a world of peace, democracy, alliances, if we want to move to a one world political order, then sadly, we are going to see any number of broken laws, arguments, about what constitutes positive/negative foreign effect on national interest. Is this the next big argument?
3
@Daniel12 Maybe it is the internal threat Trump poses that will cohere enough of the tribes that Trump will be sent packing.
2
When the leader of nation descends into madness, bad things happen – to the leader and to the nation.
Among monarchs, the list of those with mental afflictions is long and includes Tiberius and Caligula in Rome, Philip V and Ferdinand VI in Spain, Henry VI and George III in England, Ivan the Terrible in Russia and Ludwig II and Otto in Bavaria.
In modern times, there have been many dictators who were elected, selected or who seized power – and then became mad as hatters. The list includes Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Pol Pot, Muammar Gaddafi and Idi Amin.
Without comparing Donald Trump to any of the famously insane leaders from history, there is a crippling narcissism, an instinctive cruelty and a need to be perceived as special and gifted, which plague the man in the White House.
All of this was at work in the phone calls to Ukraine and the ensuing bizarre public tantrums about being criticized, as Roger Cohen points out.
Regarding Ukraine, in all fairness, we have to keep in mind that President Trump’s nerves are frayed because he is under tremendous pressure to keep Vladimir Putin happy.
62
The American people have selected a King. And Trump can not handle the pressure and power of a democracy turning into a monarchy. What I can’t behead people who betray me? What betraying me and the country are not the same thing? How could I possibly wrong, everything I do is appropriate, legal, and right?
5
@Gary Ward
The fact that the man who won the presidential election of 2016, with considerable help from his friend, Vlad, was an abnormal person and has become even worse as he revels in the trappings of power and non-stop attention, does not change the ledger. The legal culpability of Donald Trump for selling out his country to enhance his personal power and purse is not excused or mitigated by his mental infirmity.
5
Dangerous game that Cohen plays. It is as if he did not know the context of the Clash song.
It is reverse meaning. But that does not bother some who think they are high intellectuals.
He gives the benefit to Trump of being a sort of Robin Hood.
3
@JPH
Thanks JPH. I had thought Hank Jr. first recorded and probably wrote the song. Glad I finally actually learned something from the Times today.
3
@JPH
The Clash May have turned it around, but long before them The Bobby Fuller Four had no such illusions. Mr. Cohen noted the proper version.
33
@db2
Roger Cohen is right about everything here, including the song.
Bobby Fuller Four recorded it 13 years before Clash.
12
Trump wouldn’t be president if not for Putin’s efforts. We only know the iceberg’s tip of media posts the Russians posted to sow chaos, division and animosity among us. Bill Maher showed a few examples last night. They worked.
They took the latent, always crazy1% and grew it to a whopping 30% of the population. Without the Hilary interference even that wouldn’t have been enough. Trump’s constant use of the term Fake News has been quite effective. We need to vaccinate ourselves against disinformation by increasing our love and respect for truth, reason, and the rule of law.
100
Everyone is celebrating before the race is over. Remember Hillary and all those balloons that she did not know what to do with on election day? All that has happened so far is that an investigation has begun. The white house will stone wall and the supeonaed officials will dissemble and very little more will become known. In the meanwhile the Fox Propaganda machine will run 24/7 destroying the reputation of every Democrat in the investigation and Trumps poll numbers will slowly climb till the election. Trump will never resign as Nixon did, he will fight till the end and he will never acknowledge that a vote in the House means anything, and in his case it does not. Some in the Senate will fold but they will never get the 2/3's necessary to convict and when they fail Trump will use it as proof of his innocence. The fact is that our system is based on honor at the top and it has no provision for how to handle a dishonorable man. There is no force that can move Trump out of the white house involuntarily so what is the end game here? Hoping that the Trump believers will NOT take the failure of impeachment as evidence of his innocence? Really? Trump is a genius and he is thinking (perhaps unconsciously) three moves ahead and he is betting he will get a second term out of this. It might sound crazy but he has always found a way to win before, why would this time be different?
22
@Bobotheclown One has to have faith in the democratic institutions and the law, and the fact that sooner or later the law will catch up with Trump as well. Remember Bernie Madoff? He swindled hundreds of people for decades, until finally the law caught up with him.
24
Because the truth usually does catch up with people. And it isn’t pretty.
3
@Bobotheclown
You mean it has no provision for how to handle a dishonorable man with a corrupt party maching behind him. Trump alone would not have been such a problem; it is the lock-step Republicans indebted to their "donors" who are the bigger problem. And this is not only at the top of their party. Every Republican office-holder and candidate is a contributor, like it or not.
6
The current mess for Trump is akin to the sinking of The Titanic which I recall could have stayed afloat if only 4 of its watertight compartments flooded, but nobody informed the iceberg which managed to enable 6 forward compartments to flood. The Mueller Report, and the Whistleblower make for two flooded compartments. Wait a minute, I think I just saw Barr and Pompeo soaked to the bone and wearing life preservers walk by.
178
@Sam - One more. The case of campaign fraud, where Trump is listed as "Individual Number 1" It's the same case that saw "Individual Number 2 (Michael Cohen) go to prison for following "Individual Number 1's" orders.
6
And I saw Barr and Pompeo pushing women and small children out of the way to get to the front of the lifeboat line.
6
Great metaphors
4
The difference between Donald Trump and all other presidents is that Donald Trump represents his own interests, not our country's interests. That's why Trump is friendly with Putin and Kim. Through Trump's eyes, Russia may be our adversary but it's not HIS adversary. Same for Kim. Trump has spent his life chasing money and swindling people (Trump University, Trump Water, Trump Steaks). He views the presidency as a huge treasure trove to exploit. He has blown apart the emoluments clause of the Constitution by renting his hotel properties to foreign officials and attempting to host next year's G-7 at his failing Florida hotel. He demands to have an advantage in every game he plays, including the election game, and it is perfectly consistent with his corrupt behavior for him to request a "favor" of Zelensky while dangling military aid in front of him. Trump is delusional in the sense that he has delusions he is not our president but our emperor. But I cannot believe he is so delusional as to think his solicitation of Ukraine to get dirt on the Bidens is aboveboard, regardless of his defenders will say. Once impeachment is turned over to the Senate, are its Republican members willing to ignore Trump's national security-threatening behavior merely because of their loyalty to party and allow Trump to walk all over the Constitution?
232
@nzierler
"Once impeachment is turned over to the Senate, are its Republican members willing to ignore Trump's national security-threatening behavior merely because of their loyalty to party and allow Trump to walk all over the Constitution?"
Of COURSE they will,
106
@Kim Not obligatory. It depends if if he endangers himself to a point of no return and they won't be able to back him off.
2
@nzierler
In answer to your last question, yes.
5
Nixon resigned because of the COVER UP, not he Watergate break in.
Any one who supports Trump is not only an abettor, but also a traitor as well as against he Constitution.
A republic is is a state in which the people and their elected representatives hold power, while a democracy is government of the whole people though elected representatives .
The Republicans believe in tyranny of the minority and the rich.
131
@Andrew Mitchell if you knew the etymology you would be ridiculous affirming this in front of educated people.
There is no difference between Republic = " The public thing/ idea " and Democracy = " power to the people "
Exactly the same greek idea.
Americans when they are ignorant, invent that they know something special, like about French wine ( cabernet and Merlot ) or French food " French Toast " that never existed. But they are so sure of it.
1
Brilliant, Roger! Thanks. I'm wondering if we could get Nancy Pelosi as lead in a new cover of this classic.
27
@ron in st paul
madam president
The problem as I see it is that a democratic republic such as ours can only remain viable if all stakeholders value the law above party loyalty. Since 1968, at fairly regular intervals, I've seen lots of evidence that the Republicans do not. I honestly think the United States as a viable country is done if Trump survives impeachment and wins reelection.
912
@Vesuviano
The GOP is all about winning and enacting their agenda; they are not a party that stands for We the People, they stand for We Some of the People (you know, the white ones).
18
Yes, as Lou Reed also sang: "Remember that song by a dude named Bobby Fuller", and yes I do, and I can only hope that indeed, the law(s) win and Trump loses.
34
"We have just reached the high point of American fragmentation."
I wish I shared your optimism.
89
@Eric W How quickly the American Civil War is forgotten.
2
Trump, according to Trump, has better hair and is more Presidential than someone else?
No. I don’t think so, whoever that someone may be.
Trump, according to Trump, has better hair and is more Presidential than ABRAHAM LINCOLN?
I don’t know whether to laugh, cry, or run to the barricades.
494
@T
Perhaps, if Trump claimed to be more Presidential than Warren G. Harding, it would be worth discussing.
8
Well, yeah. I’m lacing up my sneakers. A run to the barricades definitely is in order.
19
@T
Laugh or cry? I want to run across the Canadian border!
25
Well, we don't know that yet. I think the test case would be to have Trump actually shoot and kill somebody on Fifth Avenue in NYC and see if any repercussions emerge. Republican senators may well be willing to accept foreign donations to a Republican presidential campaign in exchange for U.S.-taxpyer-payed materials. I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.
78
Fantastic article. Loved every word.
169
Law is not perfect. Sometimes law is capricious and unfair. Having said that, I still hope the law will win over Trump.
But will it be enough? Will the law's triumph turn out to be a Pyrrhic victory? Will it only serve to further alienate the 60 million voters who sent the shrieking maniac to the White House? Will it only strengthen their conviction that the system is rigged and the very rule of law has to be discarded to clear the way for another strongman who would promise to address their grievances?
25
@
Fight. Courage is never knowing the outcome.
3
@Vlad The evidence against Trump is very damning, and most Americans do not want to see him get a second term of more of the same or worse. (Probably worse.) And the Trumpists are still a minority. A sizeable minority but a minority nonetheless, and they are shrinking by degrees as more and more intelligent, open-eyed Republicans are favoring impeachment. Even if the Senate rolls over and acquits him, he has been so awful a president that, unlike Clinton and his reelection, even fewer people will want to see Trump's second act. Once all of Trump's crimes and misdemeanors have been revealed, repeatedly, not even the gerrymandering, the voter intimidation, the Russian interference, Fox News, Trump's own bluster, threats and intimidation, or even the magic wand of the Blue Fairy can save him. He is going down.
Trump's quote portends that the men in white coats might remove our man in the White House during mid-Tweet, well before the election.
Perhaps Nixon was evil; but he wasn't insane. The difference between this situation and Watergate is stark. A foreign government is implicated, and a Democratic presidential candidate is hobbled.
And roughly 40% of the populace will take Trump's downfall... badly.
The body count after this affair will go far beyond Trumpians, to others from both parties who have accustomed themselves with the spoils of 21st century corrupt power.
We're about to see how political power really works in this country, and the world. Are you sure you want to know? You might lose faith in the system, more than you already have.
As epochal change begins to scatter people's fates, at first they turn to hope for consolation. As the fire grows, hope fades to fury. After that, despair.
Many people voted for Obama, and later for Trump, because they saw a corrupt Washington, where both parties were complicit in the systemic rot. Obama inspired hope for change; eight years later, Trump inspired fury for change.
The fire became a conflagration this week. I'm afraid that a politics of despair is emerging that will defy any predictive outcomes.
77
@Questioner
I'm not sure it's as you said.
T's fans like a "strongman" and if he loses that "strength" (he is after all a bully and doesn't stand up to in-your-face challenges well, as we're seeing), they just might turn on him.
3
Glad to see you are enjoying your retirement! Keep up the good work.
5
“Addled mind,” “shrieking maniac.” I am not disagreeing. But I remember when it was conventional to say that his statements were “not accurate.” The word “lying” was rarely used in national media outlets because it was considered too harsh to apply to the person occupying the office of the president. We are entering interesting times.
50
@Don
Thankfully, the msm are using accurate descriptors, having been previously cowed into an undeserved respect for Trump just because he occupied the White House.
Considering how right-wing media has talked trash about Democrats for decades and for little-to-no reasons, it’s long overdue.
8
@Don- Yup. And I would like to add that most of the media and general population were very late coming to the point of using such words.
Way way way back at the beginning of this presidency, people of ALL political views were saying things like, "Give him a chance. Maybe....."
4
We all know of Trump's criminal activity up to the 2016 election, and continuing for the past three years. In fact, his voters know it too, and are not at all troubled by any of it, including this most recent whistle blower's complaint. Indeed, Trump voters support him because of his recklessness, his law breaking, because they see his conduct as simply "sticking it to liberals" and not the felonies that they actually are.
So while Mr. Cohen and others may rail against Trump's lawlessness, not one word has been said about the tens of millions of his voters who love that he toadies to Putin, who love that he threatens journalists, who love that he flouts Constitutional requirements. Sadly, impeachment will have absolutely no effect on them. In fact, they will double down in their support for this mentally deranged man.
Trump has destroyed much of what this country once was. It is no exaggeration to say that his greatest act of destruction is our democracy itself. This is the only way he may retain absolute power indefinitely. And he has some 40% of our citizens who love his lawbreaking and would literally partake in any destructive acts he would have them do.
Is this impeachment too little, too late? Probably. History shows that dictators rarely leave peacefully. They first incite their most rabid supporters (here, this would be millions of heavily armed Trump voters). But understand that Trump will not go quietly. The law only "wins" when those in power follow it.
344
@Charles Dodgson You know, I am a bit of a pessimist. I’ve thought about what it would look like and mean for Trump not to give up power.
I honestly have a hard time believing that our military would back a dictatorship. The people who have chosen a life of service in this country would not, I think, throw out the principles of democracy. They swear an oath to the country and the law, not to the president.
And of course, Trump has mocked military members, made light of their service, and otherwise disrespected our armed forces. I can’t imagine a river of goodwill flowing that direction.
38
@E Le B, I've heard that Trump has quite strong support from members of the military (politically), but I hope you're right that they'd align with the Constitution they've sworn to defend.
27
This scares me.
5
As always, Mr. Cohen, excellent analysis based upon a more objective perspective. As for the truth, it's out of the tube, and those who will sacrifice anything and everything to get it back will do everything in their corrupt, greedy and hypocritical power to deny, repress and condemn the facts that prove them wrong.
The rest is just noise.
Vote.
47
This is really 25th Amendment stuff. But if the lackeys are unwilling to do this, the House of Representatives must impeach. Then if at trial, the Senate is unwilling to do its duty, then the American people must take action. And if, after all of that, the American people accede to the madness, then we were always doomed anyway. But we gotta give it one last try.
293
@beaujames
I agree. David Brooks tells us to "be pragmatic," to "weigh the consequences." My concern with pragmatism and consequences is quite different than Brook's: Congress must impeach the President based on clearly illegal activity to see what is left of our democracy and if people can be bothered to sustain it.
77
@beaujames As of 9/28/19, 43% of the American approve of Trump. The 57% must actively support and vote for ALL democratic candidates.
16
I can’t believe they can’t find one Republican senator or a congressman to come out and unequivocally denounce Trump. Is it that terrible to be an ex congressman that you are willing to sell a nation to the foreigners, risk national security?
622
@eraven
When your one true god is Mammon, when wealth and power for the few are your only goals, then, Yes, it’s very difficult to risk becoming an ex-Representative or ex-Senator.
33
@Eraven
GOP Rep. Mark Amodei of Nevada has become the first Republican House member to support the impeachment inquiry. I can only hope & pray that this will be merely the first crack in the wall. If a certain critical mass abandons Trump, he will do as Nixon did & resign before submitting to the disgrace of a Senate vote to convict.
30
What one needs to realize is that the only entree at every Republican lunch or dinner meeting is boneless chicken.
31
Even if Trump is impeached. Even if he is edged out in 2020. We are still left with a country that voted him in. A country wherein half the population is sorry to see him go. A country wherein a substantial percentage of people compete with each other in their display of glee over the torment of desperate dark-skinned women and children. And one "mentally ill" Swedish child.
OK, let's remove Trump on Monday. Any ideas for what we do on Tuesday?
438
Yes.
Abandon the hubris that allows merit to be conflated with virtue and thus the paucity of one to imply the lack of the other.
Either start becoming big, big fans of an ecumenical religious restoration or come up with a secular civic culture which allows that human dignity is a reified, space-filling reality for all. Make adjustments to capitalism that are consistent with this, which is to say: we all go down together or we all rise together; no more centrifugal meritocratic sorting. Human societies can’t absorb this much without bloodshed.
None of the above easy stuff. Nor even likely stuff.
Sorry, you asked.
49
It’s a great point. I know Werner Hertzog didn’t actually say this but the message rings true and chilling: one third of the country would murder another third while the final third watches. America’s cultural schism really is at a tipping point: are we going to be a pluralistic and progressive society or are we going to be some sort of ethnocentric capitalist-theocracy? Demographics say the former; gerrymandering and the Electoral college say the latter. It is, to put it mildly, disturbing. Unlike the Civil War, we don’t have a convenient dividing line.
44
@Biomuse
Teach civics in school? We used to do that. I don't know why that stopped, but I suspect "No Child Left Behind" and "Race to the Top" contributed by soaking up class time in test prep.
17
That tie length, now that's one professional person that deserves to be listened to. Briefly, of course.
5
Kurt Volcker, the Special Envoy to Ukraine, just resigned. There is this story’s John Dean. That is the guy who is going to flip and tell all to the House Intell Committee.
It’s all over.
144
@Lefthalfbach
I sure hope so. And I agree that if Volcker turns, it will lead to both impeachment and conviction.
25
@Lefthalfbach. Ehhh I have to add that there is already a story that Volcker was outside the Magic Circlr sand did not know about this. The story seems to be that the Ukies approached him when Rudy started sniffing around. The guy might be 100% kosher.
3
@Lefthalfbach
Maybe so maybe so
The Republicans all know he is unhinged, and they all know he cares nothing about the law, but they thought that they could change the law. Not only the law, they want to completely reframe our perceptions of right and wrong. Now that they've been caught, they are returning to the default "collusion is not illegal" argument. Nothing wrong with extortion, bribery, despotism, as long as its their naked emperor doing it.
Its worked for them so far. Let's see if it works this time as well.
82
Thank you Trump for making brilliant columns like this possible. They will long outlive you.
36
The Very Stable Genius thought he was fully safe. Just like the French in 1940.
They thought that the Germans would attack through Belgium, because the Maginot Line was impregnable. Trump thought that as the Mueller Report was a dud he could rely on his Maginot Line of “executive privilege” to block any further investigation.
The French found out they had left the Ardennes undefended; Trump left his Ukraine conversation open. The result will be the same.
33
@John Graybeard
The Maginot Line WAS impregnable. If the French Air Force and the RAF had bombed the incredibly traffic jammed German columns going through the Ardennes it would have been a catastrophe for the Germans. The Belgian cavalry had reported that the Germans were moving thru the Ardennes but nobody took them seriously.
19
@Lefthalfbach
This is a very interesting thought, new to me.
The Maginot line was only beaten (as a test of German power) after the French were defeated.
1
Alas, in the end a big nothing. The House impeaches, the Senate acquits. All is forgotten as the electoral campaigns enter full swing. But alas, there are losers; e.g. Biden, Democrats' control of the House( hopefully not ), Trump reelected ( hopefully not )? Democrats and media supporters, be careful of what you wish for.
Reason and evidence don’t matter to many Americans. President Trump’s Republican colleagues know he’s corrupt and lawless, but because they wish to protect their own power, they protect him. It goes beyond grotesque hypocrisy; it is a kind of moral violence.
For Mr. Trump’s supporters, the situation is different. He embodies their fears and dark passions, and he knows it and preys upon it. When he is attacked, they feel attacked. When he celebrates his power and greed, they celebrate their own aspirations. When he howls with rage and indignation and paranoia and self-pity, he voices his supporters's inchoate fury. Mr. Trump is a personal proxy supported by faith not fact - one reason why evangelical Christians support him in great numbers. It is not possible to argue against faith to Mr. Trump's devout believers.
Facts and logic will not deter the mob that supports Mr. Trump. At this moment, I’m not sure what will.
211
@jrinsc
I am in Facebook jail now for arguing with Trump supporters in pro-Trump FB groups. You can see their comments at FB group, Citizens for Trump.
Their faith in God and Trump (or Trump and God) is unshakable.
8
@jrinsc
I found this article which may explain Trump's support:
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/mind-in-the-machine/201808/the-dunning-kruger-effect-may-help-explain-trumps-support?fbclid=IwAR2qx2Qh_SvGHu3vLtyYLXlTVo-wgN-U743mlEv9lDNKLi_CNAODSclVpbE
"The effect is a type of cognitive bias, where people with little expertise or ability assume they have superior expertise or ability. This overestimation occurs as a result of the fact that they don’t have enough knowledge to know they don’t have enough knowledge. "
"This quirky cognitive bias could potentially be making it easier for Donald Trump to deliver unchallenged falsehoods to his more uneducated followers. In some cases, not only are these individuals uninformed, they are unlikely to try to become more informed on their own. In their minds, they have nothing new to learn."
7
@jrinsc
I worry about precisely the same things. But when I get very upset, I remember George W.
Remember him? The Bush-Cheney regime? We viewed him also as evil incarnate, and that Barack Obama was a heroic knight come to slay the dragon and rescue us all.
And now we learn that Michelle adores George!
So, do you ever wonder if we're being suckered?
(But I suppose 10,000 kids in cages would say no.)
"I lived most of my life in the Cold War. There was a clear external threat. When that ended, societies inclined toward narcissism."
Sorry Mr. Cohen, the disappearance of that threat is an illusion. There is more of a nuclear threat today than ever. More nukes, more thugs in power, more risk from these and many destabilizing global factors.
Trump is an aberration, the most obscene distraction in American history. Look at the nuclear clock. It's ticking toward the brink.
25
This column is perfect-and I intend absolutely no irony--thanks Mr. Cohen!
13
Wonderful article, so so good— oh the White House must be so fun right now.
7
If he did take your advice and tune into that clip, Trump would just look at the go-go dancers and miss the message
12
My prediction? Mitt Romney declares he's running by the end of October.
28
@Tom Gold, Gail Collins will be delighted. ;)
1
I dunno, has the press walked into an ambush? Not Fox News but yourselves. Why do I say this look at the last three years: collusion, treason and cover up. It seems to never work out. Whats really on Americans minds? Not this.
I dunno, what happens now? A secret vote by Republican Senators impeaching Trump. Yeah and huzzah, or another eight years of someone answerable to big money. Really what it comes down to is vote for the guy that says your taxes are going to be raised or not. Its been that way since 1980. Who always wins?
I suppose I could claim citizenship in the old country but...
2
Can a US President who has been impeached and voted out of office by Congress, turn around and run for president for the next term and then possibly serve as president again?
Just wondering.
2
@Andrew
It might be technically possible, psychologically very hard.
3
@Andrew The penalty for conviction can apparently include a prohibition of running again.
2
@Andrew: According to WaPo (sorry, Times) only if Trump is removed from office is there a question; but even then, just as Trump blows through every precedent, the framers never envisioned this problem so there's no concrete law prohibiting it.
Literature and history insist on repeatedly showing us that hubris eventually has serious (or outrageously farcical) consequences. It is not unexpected, not unforeseen that Donald J. Trump would land in a heap o' trubble -- except for Mr. Trump, I Jupiter himself. All the baroque hand-wringing and "much ado" from politicians on both sides of that swampy aisle should get a grip, indulge in a sense of the comic muse and enjoy this episode for the enjoyment it's worth.
But as for Climate Change . . .
Doug Giebel, Big Sandy, Montana
5
@Doug Giebel
History shows us contradictory lessons. Genghis Khan had no come-uppance; his empire was divided among his sons and endured for some time. Tamurlane was also successful. Alexander the Great was nothing if not hubristic.
3
The part about Abe and the hat and the hair would be funny, if it were delivered by a guy who could tell a joke with a sliver of self-deprecation.
14
Excellent piece, Roger.
Just one quibble, you skipped the first line of the song:
I'm breakin' rocks in the hot sun
I fought the law and the law won.
Just sayin'
24
In the mind of a Narcissist, the law will never win. It will have made a very bad, very unfair mistake.
30
We should do a better job of listening to Trump's long term associates. Michael Cohen told us, in no uncertain terms, that Trump always speaks in code. Trump knows how to get the message, or should I say threats, across without being explicit.
Anthony Scaramucci, who has known Trump for years has repeatedly told us that Trump is off his rocker. Others have chimed in also.
We can plainly see that Trump exhibits all of the characteristics of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Just go down the symptom list and compare it to the public record of his behavior.
This is a more technical and would require more expert analysis, but he also looks like he is suffering from at least the beginning stages of dementia. He certainly is demonstrating paranoia which can be a key component of dementia.
Look, Trump just shot himself in the foot this week, and several times over and he doesn't even realize it. Trump has descended into his own world, his own reality that he constructed to glorify himself. Isn't that a symptom of being delusional? Trump is so in love with Trump that he made Lesley Stahl's passing about him.
Trump is truly and totally incapable of telling the truth because in his mind, he is the greatest everything that ever existed. So he lies constantly to maintain that self image.
One more thing we did find out this week. Trump is a great chef. He just cooked his own goose.
224
We just found out that he cooks. Not that he is a great chef. I wouldn’t want to taste that goose he cooked for one :-)
16
@Bruce Rozenblit
Oops - I had a bit of alarm there, but after checking,
I think Leslie Stahl is still with us. Perhaps you meant Cokie Roberts passing?
38
@AliceInBoulderland Thanks for the quick correction, had one of those "how'd I miss that" moments.
13
Are the Republicans so desperate to pick a Supreme Court judge that they continue to support a man who is clearly insane? I thought the fake weather map drawn by Trump with a Sharpie was the height of insanity, but saying Lincoln was presidential because of the hat, and insisting he has better hair than Lincoln, well, you'd think the GOP would realize something was up with Trump's mind.
By the way, except in one photo, taken when he had a mild case of smallpox and his hair was cut off like a crewcut, Lincoln had good looking hair. Full and not fake-looking at all. In other words, better hair than Trump.
88
@Linda simply put, yes Republicans are determined to take control of the US Supreme Court. Such control will allow them to insure the power the wealthy have to control the rest of us.
13
Our 4 year old grandson is in the middle of the egocentric stage - seeing things through his eyes only, wanting what he wants when he wants it, and throwing conniptions when he doesn't get his way. That essentially describes Trump, who suffers from extreme arrested development. The one salient distinction is that our grandson is not a pathological liar.
59
Thank you Roger, looks like everyone but poor David Brooks is on board. Watched him tonight on PBS Newshour, he was struggling, but he too will come around.
This will be my 3rd Impeachment proceedings, this by far will be the most rewarding.
44
I'm just a dirt-farmer from Bammy. Kind of been-there-done-that on the narcissism thing though. Little too much Dr. Phil for us peasants.
But we're Americans too down here. Patriots. Gave life and limb for our country the hard way: in Nam...Iraq. Paid the price.
We've got a problem with Trump. He's crossed the ditch. Guess what we've got to worry about now is Pompeo, who's waiting in the wings with his frozen smile. Or maybe Romney, who's got a few things to say...not much...he's cagey.
Much as I hate to admit it, it may be time for a change from business as usual. What that is? Got me...
71
I wish you would explain more. Maybe you represent the people who can change things when you say Trump crossed the ditch. If more people in Bammy and Texas, where I live, realize this man is a clear and present danger, there is hope. Otherwise I feel America is over.
@Nighthawk
3
@Nighthawk
What do folks down your way think about Iraq, seeing as how there were no WMD and it appears that GWB lied us in us into it?
How many other folks down there think like you do that Trump has gone too far at last?
3
Can we finally pop some popcorn and watch the bad guys get their long-overdue comeuppance? Will Trump take down a bunch of them with him? I’m betting on it.
22
IMHO, Trump is as happy as he has ever been and ever will be, because he has been the focus of attention for so long.
The grand denouement is finally at hand, and his cult is raining millions of dollars in support.
In his alternate reality, everything he aspires to is, or will be, a glorious success, he is The Chosen One, and epiphany is about to dawn with his great impeachment vindication. He was merely unappreciated, misunderstood. Nothing was his fault! As President, he is above the law, and cannot be indicted. The end justifies the means, etc. He is already, in effect, shouting “off with the traitors’ heads!” What will happen when he actually starts a war to save his egotistical self?
15
@Vada
His starting a war has been a fear of mine also because every sentient soul can see that he will do anything to stay in power. Can't give up the attention; it is the very air he breathes.
4
It's now been two years since publication of "The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump: 27 Psychiatrists and Mental Health Experts Assess a President" (updated edition March 2019). If anything, subsequent events have surpassed their most pessimistic expectations.
In mid-1974 as Watergate neared its climax, Nixon was drinking heavily and apparently depressed. Defense Secretary James Schlesinger issued orders that if Nixon gave any nuclear launch order, military commanders should check with either him or Secretary of State Henry Kissinger before executing them. At some point soon, the current cabinet members (and "acting" members) will need to make some hard choices.
https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2017/08/11/donald-trump-nuclear-weapons-richard-nixon-215478
37
@ghsalb
Alas. There is not one of them with the discretion or sense of Kissinger or Schlesinger -- and I am a fan of neither.
9
The Vietnam War draft dodger should obviously know The Bobby Fuller Four song from the summer of 1966. I do. Most appropriate and most fitting. Also, the classic line from the mainstay actor Ben Johnson from "The Last Picture Show," 1971: "It could've have happened to a nicer fella." Yes. "I fought the law and the law won." Go BFF!
5
"In the end they sent a shrieking maniac to the White House."
Nice line. Hopefully, it's not the end of the book.
26
If the conversation was so perfect, why isn't the full unedited transcript released from the eyes-only computer in which it has been interred? I personally would love to be perfect, and to learn by studying this conversation.
Isn't it time we all just started prefacing the name 'Trump' with the word 'Traitor'?
Dan Kravitz
47
@Dan Kravitz
Or with "Perfect". He'll never realize what it means. "President Perfect Trump".
1
Oratory from one whose stream of consciousness has a rather yellow tinge. And the crowd lapped it up.
3
When do we take to the boats and hope for the best? The ship is fragmenting and half the crew are determined to do nothing, and the passengers are screaming at each other. What do we do? SOS
7
Gorgeous George, the wrestler, had better hair than Trump. He was also a better bad guy.
6
Ah Roger. You always have it spot on. Cheers to you.
6
Nice column but there really is nothing new here.
"Trump is disturbed and growing more so. The narcissist cannot bear not getting away with whatever he wants."
I hope that the above quote is not something that Mr. Cohen just found out about. That has been true of The Donald his entire career. The Donald has always been an extreme narcissist; he has always ignored the law and done whatever he thought he could get away with; he has always been ignorant and arrogant; and he has always excelled in shamelessness and brazenness.
Mr. Cohen is one of my favorite opinion writers in the NYT but it is perplexing to read articles by him and many other writers who seem to have just caught on to The Donald. The Donald has not changed. He is just the same -- shameless and brazen. That is what surprises people. There is no limit to The Donald's shamelessness and brazenness. Most people are taken a back when they are caught in a lie or accused of lying. Not The Donald, he just tells another lie and keeps going as if nothing has happened.
I wonder if the Democratic congress people are nasty enough and tough enough to deal with The Donald. That is how he wins -- he just out nasties everyone else. No matter how brutal his opponents are, The Donald will be more brutal and nasty.
31
@Aubrey
I fear that you are right. Schiff speaks as though this is touch football when it’s actually tackle (with no helmets ⛑).
6
@Braxton
Schiff is one of those "talk softly but carry a big stick" people. He is truly brilliant, and we are lucky to have him lead this investigation.
2
@Braxton I have not followed all of this real close, but it seems to me that the "brains" of the House democrats are Ms. Pelosi and Adam Schiff. Now there are a lot of smart democrats in the House but in dealing with The Donald, it takes a special person to stay in the ring with him.
I don't think that I could deal with him and there are a lot of normal, intelligent, competent people who would have a hard time dealing with him. With The Donald, the bullying and intimidation are just part of the daily routine.
So I think that Adam Schiff is the best prospect to lead the democrats in dealing with impeachment. I hope that JM from Los Angeles is correct in his comment with this post. I hope the democrats stick together.
Best wishes and always look for the positive.
2
its not the crime its the cover up. once again this guy running the show knows just a little less daily..
great column
1
@daniel r potter
It is the crime AND the cover up!
1
Mr. Cohen, it appears to this observer that everyone who still calls themselves a Republican is a lackey of Trump. The party chose and supported him for a role for which he has always been manifestly unfit. No one who understands what a legitimate president does could honestly argue otherwise. The GOP may still be able to fool a lot of people into believing they are conservatives but that hasn't been true for decades. They aim to funnel the country's wealth to a very few with no regard for the majority of American citizens from whom they are stealing. I hope this horrendous fiasco of a presidency is the death knell of this toxic, destructive group. They deserve to lose everything.
55
After all Trump’s threats and taunts to ‘lock her up,’ it would be beyond satisfying to have him end up ‘breaking rocks in the hot sun,’ to borrow from the song.
33
“In English, that’s called a cover-up. I’m not sure what it’s called in Latin, but I gather Republicans are working on finding out.”
‘Occultatione veritatis’. Google does more than just catalogue your search history, in order to cater to your marketing preferences (also, the stuff in the fine print).
“I didn’t do anything. I don’t know if I’m the most innocent person in the world.”
First, no one’s questioning how little Donald Trump has done. To the question of innocence, I would simply look to what the word means (via Wiktionary):
-innocent
1)Free from guilt, sin, or immorality.
2)Bearing no legal responsibility for a wrongful act.
I’m glad that Donald Trump himself is openly doubting his innocence, because otherwise he might not appear to have any credibility.
6
And with any luck (or at least, justice), next Pres. Trump will be 'breaking rocks in the hot sun.'
10
Roger, it's not Trump. It's the RNC infrastructure. They have Fox News, the NRA, the Evangelicals, the White-Makes-Right crowd, Country Music (except perhaps the Dixie Chicks), the Veterans giving Trump their war medals, and lot's of Wall Street Hedge Fund Managers. The Democrats have hugs and handshakes, calling for diversity and minority support at $5 and $10 a pop. And of course a few wealthy contributors (which they get slammed for being "corrupt" and "selling out"). Anyway, I'm not as concerned about DJT as I am about the GOP "safety net for millionaires". It took Vietnam to wake America up when their sons weren't returning home, and Saigon almost had to surrender to the Communists. We finally extricated ourselves from SE Asia, and everyone went back to only reading the sports page. It seems we only react to extreme pain- well, we just fell back into "that burning ring of fire". Trump will hopefully be credited with making us a Big Cup Of Joe so we will finally Wake Up again, and function as One Nation. We constantly brag that we have the best system and the best economy in the history of civilization. Or so some people are constantly reminding us. Well watch it fall apart without a swift kick in our collective rear ends.
15
@flyinointment
Spot on, sir.
As a toast to the mass and massive desire for Trump's exit from the Oval Office, I offer this grim chuckle... To protest Trump, a young Seattle woman has decided to fast until Trump is impeached. In her You Tube video rant, she wears a red MAGA hat but she has altered the letters so that it reads, MAKE ERICA EAT AGAIN.
13
Will the “disturbed man” retain nuclear code access?
Something to contemplate over a nice cup of hot chocolate.
But he was a disturbed man long before the impeachment inquiry. Ah, no worries.
6
The moniker "spoiled brat" is usually applied a child but in Trump's case we'll make an exception.
6
Oh My God. How has Trump lived this long and only learned like, four adjectives? What in the world is a "perfect conversation"? Who talks to someone and afterwards thinks to themselves, "That conversation was simply perfect." ? No one. Well, one person. I figured he would dust off one of his other go-to's like "it was a beautiful conversation." or "it was a terrific conversation."
Can someone at least give him one of those starter dictionaries we all had in primary school?
84
@stable genius Thanks so much for actually putting into words what I've been wondering about for ages. Trump's use of language is mystifying!
6
@stable genius
Ha-ha!
2
@stable genius It's because , for Trump, everything is an optic. It's as if he has his own imaginary film crew capturing every moment of his magnificent life and presenting it to an audience of one. Himself.
4
Roger Cohen today writes the most intelligent synopsis of what's happened to bring to this point of an impeachment inquiry. There's so much here, so much more than Trump since it's also about us, this column deserves rereading. For those looking for a should or should not impeach, look elsewhere. Without specifying that, Cohen makes it very clear.
26
We are all in grave danger as this man with limited intelligence and no moral compass sits in The White House and, day by day, grows more unhinged. Missiles pointed toward Iran probably being warned up already.
64
Silly.
Here is but one what if.
What if Gore had shown up for the last of the three debates in human form or able to pass as human?
He would have won.
No Iraq war. That is three trillion saved right there.
No federalist right wing Roman Catholic Supreme Court. That is the bring on the lying corruption decision in Citizens United gone right there.
No affordable care act.
Probably no more Hillary.
No tea party.
Putin and Xi live in a different world that reins in their shenanigans.
America is a proper noun but it is not a person. It does not have moods. It does have a surplus of useless jerks in DC. Just watch the clown show of Nadlers committee taking on Trump clowns. The vast majority of Americans feel dirty and just not right after watching even a few clips.
America will be very different if it’s elected government officials bothered to do their jobs instead of do their clown routines just for the next year. Just watch the Corey Lewandowski farce and contempt of Congress until a grown up does his job. Voila.
Now will the democrats do impeachment that way? Well the odds may be higher than an asteroid wiping us all out in the next month but not by much. But this sweeping essay of sixty years using America as an actor in a soap opera is just silly.
5
@In deed
What if the Supreme Court had not stolen the election from Gore?
3
@indeed I do agree with you that Al Gore never showed up in 2000. 4 years later when I heard him speak at the Democratic convention I yelled where were you? Yeah things would’ve been different.
This is what happens when two inexperienced TV personalities somehow get elected. They both don’t get that asking for and returning favors, which is normal practice in private interactions, is not ok in government relations when personal gain is at stake. Both Presidents seem not to believe there is anything wrong with the phone conversation. People are not as stupid as they these two think.
13
@Chad Brown
You underestimate Zelensky. He offered nothing and agreed to nothing, while flattering Trump.
1
Trump’s song is “I am the Law”.
M
2
Pitch perfect. Thank you.
21
Did you ever consider the possibility that Donald Trump is not only a narcissist, but just plain dumb ?
153
@SledgeTrup is 73 years old and in declining health. What we're seeing is increasing impairment.
23
Roger, I’m so glad you mentioned Mike Pompeo. Pompous, as he is known in my household, was OUR Congressman. Make no mistake, He is much smarter than the average GOP lackey. I’ve been predicting this since he joined Trumps merry band of scammers and schemers : Pompous is going for the BIG prize. IF Trump is Impeached and removed from Office, Pence becomes President, Pompeo WILL be his VP. If Trump remains in office and loses his re-election Bid, Pompeo will be in the pole position as the GOP Nominee for 2024.
Literally, Pompeo Himself cannot lose in this situation, unless he Lies. He’s too smart to perjure himself for Trump.
This is getting very interesting.
85
@Phyliss Dalmatian, I always like your comments, and this tag of Pompous is perfect. My only thought about his political future is that he is already in so deep, I don't think any rational person will ever see him again without noticing the stain of this scandal.
7
I thought of that song first thing this morning. May the law win against Giuliani, Barr, and every other crook in the "administration". It is evident from everything they do that they have no idea what the law is. May they be breaking rocks for years to come.
22
Well, now you can consider that you may live through a Brazilian style coup of your very own country. One more marvel of living in the United States.
4
@Analyst, yeah. Lucky us. :)
Ok so he’s ranting. Ok. You can’t impeach him for that. I want to know all there is about Biden and The Ukraninan prosecutor. And I want to hear from Barack Obama on that subject. And lots of others. Because Biden is the Achilles heel here. What the heck was his lovely son doing??? And what was Biden doing??? Then we can see if this impeachment will work out well. (If Biden is not squeaky clean it’s going to look very wiggly. And he needs to drop out now anyway. It’s the kids fault but it’s too much. )
2
@Richard the Ukrainian prosecutor Joe Biden was railing against was problematic because he was NOT prosecuting corporate corruption cases, including against the company with which Hunter Biden was affiliated. And it is reported that Hunter Biden became affiliated with that company as part of a clean up effort to oust corruption.
19
Richard: These conspiracy theories about Biden and his son have been repeatedly debunked. If you want to hear more about them, tune into Sean Hannity, who has replaced our Intelligence Agencies as the source of everything Trump knows about national security.
6
@Richard
His son is an adult, same as Ivanka, Don Jr. and Eric Trump. What's the difference?
1
Donald Trump, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo and Bill Barr should all do the honorable thing and immediately resign.
Saving our nation from the disastrous spectacle of impeachment for the amusement and benefit of smiling and smirking Benjamin Netanyahu, Kim Jong Un, Abdel el-Sisi, Vladimir Putin, Recep Erdogan, Rodrigo Duterte and Xi Jinping.
No one should or would expect them to act like an Ancient Roman or a Japanese warrior and take their mutually worthless corrupt cowardly criminal dishonorable unpatriotic mortal lives.
Nor can anyone expect an appointment with a gallows, a firing squad or lethal injrction.
President Nancy Pelosi would not be a candidate for reelection in 2020. At 79 years old and counting she would gracefully retire.
16
The honorable thing? Tell them each at their respective offices that there is a pistol in the desktop drawer, wait for the sound, and go back in to confirm they did the honorable thing.
16
@Isadore Huss
There is ample precedent for that solution, though not in the U.S. Look up Col. Alfred Redl, who gave Austro-Hungarian military secrets to Russia. He was found out and the generals told him to do the honorable thing, which he did. Our people have less honor.
6
Heh heh, the times, they are a changin.
11
Ignorant voters, cunning, cynical Republican Senators, an angry, defiant President whose only consistent trait is selfishness and self-interest. We're living in interesting times. I don't know how this will end up, but hold onto your seats because we're in for quite a ride.
14
The same Trump who won’t stop repeating that ‘we are a nation of laws’ has no appreciation that these very talking points apply to himself, too.
20
oh my. sounds like desperation. push forward Nancy, and don't ease up. guiluani was scheduled to go to Moscow. really? now? what r u thinking? trip has been cancelled. their is rot in the oval office.
18
Roger Cohen continues to be my favorite journalists and in reading this I marvel at his ability to condense the rise and fail of American influence post WWII to the present in a couple of paragraphs. Our malignant narcissist in the WH is going bongo crazy now that Nancy Pelosi called him out, She expects him to abide by the law and she is just the one to make him do it. Your free ride is over Donald, there is a new sheriff in town and she can't be bought like Billy Barr. You are going down dude.
281
I wonder if Donald will wear a red tie with his orange jump suit.
86
@phil morse
No ties in prison. But, with a red Sharpie he can draw a tie on his uniform.
5
"Because I used to love him, but it's all over now." That's the song I want to hear. Add to the playlist: Highway to Hell and 96 Tears. Those preferring instrumentals might want to go with Wipe Out.
67
@JR
Or perhaps "The End" by the Doors.
Followed by ‘Crawling from the Wreckage”
There were times in his past when Mr. Trump did not get away with it. But he always shifted into denial and pretended those incidents had not occurred. This time he cannot do that. This time the whole world is watching.
14
Not to quibble, but as an informal student of history I would argue that the "high point of American fragmentation" commenced at Fort Sumter in April of 1861.
That's not to say that the Republic, in its current circumstance, is not speeding downhill on the hellbound train. But even at this point there are times in American history that were more fraught with danger. At the same time we must turn once again to Santayana's well-worn aphorism: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it".
As are, one might argue, those who refuse to learn the lessons history teaches.
11
Most excellent choice of song reference, and the fact I cannot imagine Trump ever having the self-insight to tell this to himself, never mind others, just points how poignant that song is, and how what a shallow little man he is.
In my own experience? I proudly declare that on more than one occasion I tried to fight the law, and the law won.
I cannot believe I am saying that with pride, but that is where we are at. Let's here it, everyone!
11
Wonderful article, we have to stop this madness, maybe this century is us reclaiming who we could be. Expose the corruption in our own house and move forward. The corruption of Wall Street and the GOP is going to end democracy for our children.
Maybe Trump will just develop dementia and for his own sake needs to move out of the white house to Russia where he can be very happy.
18
@Tony Even though the last 3 years have been hellish I think that saying "It’s been a long dissolution, punctuated with mistakes. Decline relative to other powers made Americans more desperate. They’d grown used to the century being theirs. Then they were thrust into another one that was not theirs. They came under attack.
Disorientation set in. In the end they sent a shrieking maniac to the White House."
We must remember that Hillary Clinton won the popular vote; the result of the election was an aberration of the electoral college system. So, yes, enough people voted their fear and anger and racism to send that maniac to the white house but many more people didn't. And that is something we shouldn't forget.
3
At some time in the hopefully not too distant future Trump will not be there, if he is there now, wherever that is.
And he can sit down to write his memoirs, well, somebody else can do the sitting and the writing.
A title? I have a suggestion. It's been used before but the one who used it was just as famous as this most famous of all presidents, for a time. The book was entitled "If I Did It". Trump could just steal that for himself. He could finally reveal his thinking behind all his tweets, and other weighty matters of state.
He could even stiff the original author on the copyright percentage. Maybe it will end up in court. Go figure.
16
@paulyyams
Titles are not subject to copyright, so all will be well.
1
Great article. One casualty of all this is "quid pro quo". It is actually a good thing when done right. An exchange that both parties benefit from. When governing bodies do it it has to be for the sake of the people they represent. Trump's mistake is that he did it for himself. He cannot bring himself to see that he is a servant of the people....all his work has to be free of any selfish motive. He has to give his whole being to the selfless task of helping all the citizens of the country he represents. His selfishness taints everything he does, and he is unable to see it.
108
@SP
Not many presidents think they are servants of the people any more. They may say so, but they don't act it. One indicator is "executive privilege", a theory that has been extended to allow the president to deny even Congress access to whatever he wishes.
3
I think one could learn a lot more about the root problems of our divisive, party/Presidential hatreds by reading the immediate best selling book published this month, Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell. It is heavily scientific evidence-based. Washington is a place where people think conspiracy whichever side they are on. There are so many different opinions from "intelligent"people on the Ukraine incident it is obvious no one has a firm grip on the truth. Talk is cheap. But as to action, NO Republican majority Senate will ever "convict" the POTUS over this controversial incident. Is there anyone on planet earth who believes they would?
5
@Curiouser - or maybe, just maybe, the whole edifice will begin to topple - if just a few Republicans are pried loose, the calculus of political survival might change for others.
14
@Curiouser The problem with the Gladwell reference is it suggests a false equivalence. Both sides … But the conspiracy adherents are almost entirely on the Republican side-- climate change being an easy example to cite. The only way climate change deniers can base their argument is on some vast scientific conspiracy. To believe this is to believe in snake oil.
30
@how-right Not necessarily snake oil, just oil.
6
"Decline relative to other powers made Americans more desperate. They’d grown used to the century being theirs."
Perfect parallel to the narcissist Cohen describes as finding unbearable the inability to get what he wants, instantly, on command.
Donald Trump didn't expect to win the presidency, as revealed by his spooked eyes while yanking family members up onto the stage. But after 3 years, he hasn't expected to lose it either--until this past week.
Look it's a long way to Tipperary, as well as to full Trump impeachment. God knows, this man has more than 27 lives. And yet, I find it instructive to hear that his Republican "allies" are so much with him, as they are not against him, for whatever that's worth.
Get ready for him to hit the road seeking unconditional love at a series of rallies. Even worse, get ready for more wild talk about how the good old USA treated "spies" back in the day.
162
For the title alone, my gratitude. Should circumstances prove you right, you're heroic. And you have eased my troubled heart more than somewhat. Thank you.
68
I prefer the Clash’s version. More raucous and therefore perhaps more appropriate for today.
67
@Tony Randazzo
Sonny Curtis wrote it, The Clash did one of about a thousand covers.
4
@Tony Randazzo
Or Unknown Hinson’s (says right here on my birth certificate: mama, Miss Hinson; father, unknown) where he fought the law and HE won.
@Tony Randazzo
Either version. I have a loony vision of the next audience Trump faces erupting, like a flash mob, drowning him out singing " I fought the law and the --- law won."
Maybe the press corps could chime in on the chorus . .
3
My concern about where the Ukrainian angle could go, or could have gone, is that the President was talking with the Ukrainian president about an "investigation." In our country, we associate "investigation" with a fair and balanced inquiry into the facts. But I believe the American President would have wanted even more. If a mere investigation would suffice to unlock $250 million or whatever in aid that Trump directed be withheld, how much more aid could Ukraine expect to receive if they filed bogus charges against Hunter Biden? Totally unfounded political charges filed in a legal system that probably does not rival ours would be accepted by some as legitimate and could be the bomb that would sabotage Joe Biden's run for the presidency.
32
@Late Inning Relief
Well, given that Joe Biden was going to be attacked over his son's business dealings sooner or later, maybe better to get it over with now and Democrats can move on without Biden, he's too vulnerable to make a good nominee.
52
@Late Inning Relief
Given the incentives related to military aid, no reasonable person would believe anything that came from Ukrainian officials about the Bidens at this point.
4
@Sidewalk Sam
True enough. But the phrase Hunter's business dealings implies that Hunter HAS actual business dealings, other than just BEING a Biden. That's all he was there to do: BE a brand name on a corporate board, collect paycheck, wait for Dad to move him along to the next corporate board, or "consult" for some hedge fund.
Make no mistake, it IS corrupt and disgusting. But these are not the droids the World's Dumbest Jedi Donald Trump is looking for.
1
One of the most beautifully written, perceptive and persuasive pieces ever. Bravo, Roger!
353
@Joseph GringJr.
I'm happy you liked it, but what new information or insight did it depart? Is there anything really new here? Frankly, a lot of it did sound like a broken recored.
2
In Trump's world there are only two kinds of people - those who do whatever he desires and everyone else. The former are allies, the latter enemies.
He believes he already knows all that is important with regard to every subject. It is his genius. Therefore there is no need to study, read, contemplate, or listen to what anyone else has to say.
He desires power. All communication with others exists only to help achieve it. All enemies must be destroyed. Truth, decorum and the rule of law are not required to destroy enemies and are therefore meaningless.
587
@Richard Phelps
No, the former are *useful* and the latter are enemies. Trump has no friends, just lackeys and hangers on. He has no real allies, only potential rivals for attention and power who can be used while he keeps a wary eye on them.
49
@Richard Phelps "he desires power"
You left out "and money".
11
The louder he shrieks, I believe the more Independent voters will take the time to read the straightforward easily accessible facts. The thud of subpoenas and the ensuing testimony of Trumpkins afraid of jail time, will convince many as they did during the Nixon Impeachment hearings. I sense the dominos are falling and yes, the law is winning. I hope he'll resign and seek a deal as even this deranged pretend President should realize his business will go down with him unless he does.
402
@Kathleen. He won't give up till the rope is before his very wicked eyes and then many of the dependents and co-dependents will fall because he will never be and has never been an honorable man .
40
@Kathleen It is a pleasant thought, and I hope you are right. But I'm not holding my breath. It will certainly be interesting to see how the next few months unfold. Will the majority of Republicans turn a blind eye and remain faithful? Will some finally say enough is enough? Will a majority of them vote him out of office?
24
@Kathleen Reminds me of Alexander Porter Butterfield's Watergate testimony vis-a-vis the Nixon taping system. The rest is history...
3
Those of us experienced in watching suspects then defendants in the criminal justice system that are cornered occasionally see an unhinging spectacle, sometimes in court. That’s what we are all about to witness. This will be a doozie. Listen for the snap or thud.
634
I think this was the most fulfilling column I've ever read. Took the words out of my emotional flooding at the state of things, put them in print, and did so far more eloquently than I ever could. Thank you.
778
@elizabeth
Exactly my thoughts. Thank you Roger.
17
Trump's preferred lyrics: "I bought the law, and the scofflaw won."
Or so he would like to believe. Things are not going well for Trump and his henchmen, and they know it. I have not seen Trump so subdued and chastened as he was during his most recent press conference. For Trump, in the words of Bob Dylan, "The times they are a-changin'".
121
@tom
Or words from The King, Elvis:
"You're the devil in disguise.
Oh, yes, you are..."
16
@tom Also Dylan: "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows."
2
The Clash also did that song, and the Grateful Dead occasionally covered it, but watch out for the Dead Kennedys version in which Jello Biafra screams out, "I fought the law and, I won!"
37
@rbjd I hope the song proves apropos. It's notable that Trump can't hold a candle to Curtis or Strummer or Biafra when it comes to the cogent delivery of a point.
3
@rbjd At the very end he sings, "I AM the law, so I won"
1
@rbjd
Unknown Hinson’s version is the same. He wins.