Thank you, Timothy Egan for your article. You might have said more. Surely I'm not the only one who sees the parallel between our country today and Germany before the war, between the Nazi's treatment of Jews then and Trump's war of words against Mexicans and Muslims today. Trump is buoyed by a GOP that has lost its way, by the rabid right wing crowds he draws and by the media that dignifies Trump by treating him with an equanimity and respect he does not deserve.
155
Hitler, acting alone, couldn't have implemented his catastrophic policies of death and destruction. He needed - and received - a lot of help from Germans and others who were willing to support and aid the cause. In an enlightened society, Donald Trump would be the wacky uncle that no one wanted to sit next to at Thanksgiving dinner. The fact that so many Americans have enthusiastically rallied around his Nazi-like rhetoric is truly frightening.
162
Thank you, Mr. Egan, for bringing the fears of "the rest of us" out of the closet. It has been politically incorrect for moderates, progressives, and liberals to call attention to the obvious parallels between Hitler's rise to power, the economic and social conditions in Germany at the time, the popular scapegoating of unpopular minorities, the racism, anti-feminism, and thuggery and all that is going on in American life and politics now. About half our population wants "something done" to return our society to the "good old days," to stop the changes swirling around them. They want American might and superiority to be proved on the world stage, no matter how many innocents or their own family members have to die. What can "the rest of us" do? Should we try to appease them by withdrawing from fights over abortion, gay rights, racism, gun control, immigration, separation of church and state, and homeland security measures, "lying low" for a while? Should we give them a new war to vent their anger and fear on some foreigners abroad? There is nothing rational about the mood Donald Trump and his Republican cohorts are capitalizing on. Again, what can we do?
55
It is not just Trump. Where is Barrack Obama's justice department to allow Trump supporters to hit and kick a black protester. This is assault and should be punished.
61
Donald Trump is a narcissist and a bigoted reactionary, and his ideas are implausible. But the fact that he has so much support should scare us all, because at CORE he is advocating for a system of political rights based on someone who gets to decide what is an acceptable race, and what is an acceptable religion. The idea that anyone has the right to decide that is inherently dangerous, and opens up the possibility of lawful discrimination and the fostering of contempt for people. Both were tools used very successfully by the Third Reich to implement the policies that led to the destruction of 11million people. Donald Trump has an attitude that is based on contempt for others--contempt is dangerous and destructive--especially when it becomes public policy. Please review the history of Nazi Germany!
94
Trump is a most loathsome, dangerous candidate, running on a platform of fear mongering and hate. He embodies the absolute worst attributes of humans, whipping up his base with fascistic zeal. We underestimate the voters who support him at our peril. Democrats must show up in droves on election day and defeat Trump's ugly version of America.
105
Can we be surprised that after 8 years of Obama hatred spewing from the mouths of the Republican leadership and their propaganda machine Fox News that Donald Trump - a poor imitation of the Charlie Chaplin imitation of Adolph Hitler - emerges as their chief spokesperson?
103
"Of course, it could never happen here."
I believe that is true. It is extremely unlikely that this beast of a human could actually win in a presidential election. But I also have been utterly amazed at the support this beast has generated.
In the extremely unlikely event that he wins, I'll be moving to another country.
I believe that is true. It is extremely unlikely that this beast of a human could actually win in a presidential election. But I also have been utterly amazed at the support this beast has generated.
In the extremely unlikely event that he wins, I'll be moving to another country.
32
Those individuals within ISIL's leadership who are charged with the task of recruitment and radicalization of disenfranchised young people in the west have been given a gift that just keeps on giving: The Donald.
The constant barrage of lies, bluster, bullying, racism, arrogance, disregard of the principles contained in our Constitution, and outright nonsense that spew from his mouth are gasoline on the fires of the fears and desperation these people live with each and every day, and will only serve to drive them toward each other and the "families" of brothers and sisters that the terror organizations portray themselves to be.
If you think the threats we face are bad now, wait until the home-growns who are becoming more alienated and fearful each day begin to ramp up their activity.
The Republican party needs an exorcism.
The constant barrage of lies, bluster, bullying, racism, arrogance, disregard of the principles contained in our Constitution, and outright nonsense that spew from his mouth are gasoline on the fires of the fears and desperation these people live with each and every day, and will only serve to drive them toward each other and the "families" of brothers and sisters that the terror organizations portray themselves to be.
If you think the threats we face are bad now, wait until the home-growns who are becoming more alienated and fearful each day begin to ramp up their activity.
The Republican party needs an exorcism.
58
Donald, keep up the good work. Don't let the PC folks stop America from understanding the dangers facing her and help them realize the nonsense promoted by this column. And, help them understand that the greatest danger is overpopulation, especially by non-Americans right here in America.
9
trump is an idiot. nowhere as big an idiot as the people who would follow him tho. the same with carson. the 'folks' without a clue about critical thinking, their love of the constitution based on not knowing much about it and apparently not knowing much at all factual, i.e. what % of the American government's aid goes abroad can be easily gulled into doing almost anything. Iraq/9/11...Hussein.9/11 said dubya and his minions. bingo 70% of the 'folks' believe a country that had nothing to do with it, did it? don't blame trump or carson or anybody else. blame yourselves....
18
Trump does not necessarily believe a word of what he says. He used to be a "moderate," if in fact he has ever believed in anything other than the $$$ ..
No, this is far worse than that. This one is on US. Trump is a complete charlatan who will say whatever he thinks will be well-received, a salesman telling the customer what the customer wants to hear. The real problem is that so many of US welcome and applaud his vile statements. Defeat Trump -- fine, but there will be still be that substantial percentage of Americans who were gladly swallowing his swill... and they will get behind whoever the next demagogue is as well.
No, this is far worse than that. This one is on US. Trump is a complete charlatan who will say whatever he thinks will be well-received, a salesman telling the customer what the customer wants to hear. The real problem is that so many of US welcome and applaud his vile statements. Defeat Trump -- fine, but there will be still be that substantial percentage of Americans who were gladly swallowing his swill... and they will get behind whoever the next demagogue is as well.
64
Reading the comments, I can't help but think the US is now two very different countries with two very different sets of values. I, too, see parallels
With the rise of Hitler but I think they are overblown and hyperbolic. This is the same language that the other America sees in Obama and his policies.
Rather I envision the rollback of many initiatives like marriage equality and reproductive rights. I envision the crushing of the living wage movement and a real assault on Black Lives Matter. The environment will be toast, something only to be further exploited
White conservative Christians are feeling unheard; their values trampled upon; their very existence imperiled. In other words, they feel their power waning. The response is typically American--very violent. We are a very violent people with a scarring history of oppression, subjugation, and oppression. We exterminated our indigenous population and imported and enslaved another. As a culture, we see no reason to come to terms with our history. All this Propagated
With the rise of Hitler but I think they are overblown and hyperbolic. This is the same language that the other America sees in Obama and his policies.
Rather I envision the rollback of many initiatives like marriage equality and reproductive rights. I envision the crushing of the living wage movement and a real assault on Black Lives Matter. The environment will be toast, something only to be further exploited
White conservative Christians are feeling unheard; their values trampled upon; their very existence imperiled. In other words, they feel their power waning. The response is typically American--very violent. We are a very violent people with a scarring history of oppression, subjugation, and oppression. We exterminated our indigenous population and imported and enslaved another. As a culture, we see no reason to come to terms with our history. All this Propagated
25
50% of Republicans prefer two candidates who are both blatantly on the edge of violent madness. This tells me that 25% of the American populace can no longer differentiate between a malevolent personality and a benevolent one. This is its own type of madness.
59
So much hate and demogoguery on these opinion pages directed at Republicans. Many posters here display the very same attitudes toward conservatives that they vilify Trump for having toward illegals. I suspect that one of the reasons Trump has so much support is because conservatives simply want someone who will stand up to the extremism of the left. The more you vilify Trump from the left, the more support he gains from the right.
We think Obama is un-American, a liar and out of touch with reality (i.e. Paris was a "setback"?), and Hillary is and always has been a cheat and a liar. I am not a Trump supporter, but I would absolutely take him over Hillary. You leave us no alternative.
We think Obama is un-American, a liar and out of touch with reality (i.e. Paris was a "setback"?), and Hillary is and always has been a cheat and a liar. I am not a Trump supporter, but I would absolutely take him over Hillary. You leave us no alternative.
13
That's all fine and good, but it's the middle class, not the wealthy or poor, who get stuck with the bill paying for all this liberal humanitarianism. And everyone of you progressives would do immediate about face if a group of illegal workers or Syrian refugees moved into your neighborhood "safe space" and started a community. You are all a bunch of hypocrites!
17
With Guantanamo still open, the NSA still collecting every scrap of data they are able, and the Patriot Act fully endorsed by the current pResident; it is laughable to talk of Trump's hypothetical fascism in the face of actual here-and-now fascism.
14
Oh please... This is childish internet response to anything you don't agree with.
Call them a racist nazi.
Securing borders and reducing/limiting the 70,000+ or so refugees this nation accepts PER YEAR is not comparable to Hitler and a nazi regime...
That is completely disrespectful to everyone who died in WW2 soldiers and civilian victims alike. Using the deadliest war in the history of mankind and the biggest acts of genocide and murder in the history of mankind to push your political opinions is despicable yellow journalism.
Trump might have said a few comments that could be fairly labeled a bit racist... sure. But that doesn't make him a new age Hitler.
No candidate has faced as much scrutiny as Trump, yet he is still leading in all the polls at a constant rate. Media and Hilary goons will become more and more frenzied as we near closer to the primaries and then the elections. I guess this sort of childish behavior is to be expected.
Call them a racist nazi.
Securing borders and reducing/limiting the 70,000+ or so refugees this nation accepts PER YEAR is not comparable to Hitler and a nazi regime...
That is completely disrespectful to everyone who died in WW2 soldiers and civilian victims alike. Using the deadliest war in the history of mankind and the biggest acts of genocide and murder in the history of mankind to push your political opinions is despicable yellow journalism.
Trump might have said a few comments that could be fairly labeled a bit racist... sure. But that doesn't make him a new age Hitler.
No candidate has faced as much scrutiny as Trump, yet he is still leading in all the polls at a constant rate. Media and Hilary goons will become more and more frenzied as we near closer to the primaries and then the elections. I guess this sort of childish behavior is to be expected.
17
While I find many of the comments interesting, I think the commenters underestimate how much the 1% dislike Trump.
He won't be President, no matter what they have to do to stop him. Do you seriously imagine a group of people who have bought the Supreme Court and the US Congress would balk at anything to stop Donald Trump?
I don't.
He won't be President, no matter what they have to do to stop him. Do you seriously imagine a group of people who have bought the Supreme Court and the US Congress would balk at anything to stop Donald Trump?
I don't.
23
I hate to rain on everyone's parade, but part of what drives people to Donald Trump, are the failings of the Democrat party.
.
"Legal or not, Immigration is a good thing, period, end of story," say the Democrats. It's really not so simple. Immigration is on balance a good thing for the US, but there are winners and losers in the game. Legal and illegal immigration are different animals. Liberals had better acknowledge this, instead of just hoping we'll all forget.
.
Crime is another huge issue. The New York Times editorial board ran an article saying that, according to statistics, crime is down. Again, overall crime rates give an overly simple view of the issue. Crime remains stubbornly high in poor minority communities - and it is horrific.
.
Syrian refugees are yet another issue. Liberals were very, very late in confronting the lies that Trump and the other Republicans put forward. Here the Republicans were talking in absolutes: "we can't be absolutely certain that no refugees will have ties to terror cells, so none should get in," they say. Only one liberal (Nicholas Kristof) has acknowledge that in fact three terrorists have come through using the refugee program, but that the number is out of over 750,000 - so while we can't be 100% certain, we can be 99.9996% certain no refugees will be terrorists.
.
It is of vital importance that Liberals start confronting these, and other issues, or else we just might see Trump, and his tyranny, in the White House.
.
"Legal or not, Immigration is a good thing, period, end of story," say the Democrats. It's really not so simple. Immigration is on balance a good thing for the US, but there are winners and losers in the game. Legal and illegal immigration are different animals. Liberals had better acknowledge this, instead of just hoping we'll all forget.
.
Crime is another huge issue. The New York Times editorial board ran an article saying that, according to statistics, crime is down. Again, overall crime rates give an overly simple view of the issue. Crime remains stubbornly high in poor minority communities - and it is horrific.
.
Syrian refugees are yet another issue. Liberals were very, very late in confronting the lies that Trump and the other Republicans put forward. Here the Republicans were talking in absolutes: "we can't be absolutely certain that no refugees will have ties to terror cells, so none should get in," they say. Only one liberal (Nicholas Kristof) has acknowledge that in fact three terrorists have come through using the refugee program, but that the number is out of over 750,000 - so while we can't be 100% certain, we can be 99.9996% certain no refugees will be terrorists.
.
It is of vital importance that Liberals start confronting these, and other issues, or else we just might see Trump, and his tyranny, in the White House.
74
Your assertions would be a lot more credible if you didn't insist on using the derisive term "Democrat party" in the first sentence of your post. I largely agree with your statements, but when you insist on using divisive labels, you turn off a lot of readers who might agree with most of what have to say.
It's the Democratic Party.
It's the Democratic Party.
40
Yeah, its the liberals fault, not Faux news and the outright lies of Trump
34
I recognize that history means little to Americans who are inclined to repeat it but a few of The Donald's defenders within the Society of Hatred Towards Brown People might want to recall what happened when a fellow named Nero decided to blame Christians for the burning of Rome.
28
In 1972 I attended a George Wallace rally in Milwaukee. George Corley railed against the welfare cheats, war protestors and, of course, the long-haired hippies. The crowds reaction was really scary. Fortunately my friends and I were in the balcony watching the spectacle from above.
The only difference between that rally and the televised Trump speeches we see today are the targets of the attacks, the New York accent and the color of the demagogues' hair.
The only difference between that rally and the televised Trump speeches we see today are the targets of the attacks, the New York accent and the color of the demagogues' hair.
37
Trump is an evil and dangerous megalomaniac. It's time we stop thinking of him as a joke and start regarding him as a serious threat to the stability and safety of America and the world. Hitler analogies have been casually thrown around ever since World War II. I'll come right out and say this man is America's Hitler, and he must be defeated.
53
I've told myself it couldn't happen here, believing we were becoming a more enlightened America. But as more of our real history has become revealed (Woodrow Wilson's heinous disenfranchisment of thousands of African-American government employees), I see the politics of hatred and fear are like a cancerous root that keeps regenerating. Fox and Murdoch-run media are criminal aiders and abettors as are many other business groups underwritten by the Kochs. Far too many of us just trying to hold onto our jobs -- and maybe haven't been paying enough attention. God help us.
35
I suspect Mr. Egan has been watching The Man in the High Castle. His fears are misplaced. Mr. Trump is just a low-brow entertainer. He will never become president. There is far too much standing in his way. Better to ignore him than to play to his politics of fear.
6
You're missing the point, Tim. It's not that Trump and Carson are holding a Nuremberg rally. It's that the stands are full.
49
The man is a fascist. It is just that simple.
The GOP today, having destroyed our economy and totally failed in the Mideast and nationbuilding, literally has nothing to offer the nation but fear and terror and lies.
A recent analysis of the polls of Republicans who say they "Agree" or "Support" Trump found that more than half (about 55%) of his supporters openly admit to being White Supremacists and racists. By contrast, no other GOP candidate garners more than about 15% support from the GOP's racist base.
This man should be terrifying Americans, and our media should be calling out his lies at every opportunity, and cease this ridiculous "false equivalency" rule that the national media likes to use, trying to prove to conservatives they aren't really "liberals." They allow a Trump to make blatant lies, but then flat out saying they are lies, our media couches their comments with words like "We couldn't document his claim." Of course you can't document his claim!! It never happened!!! SAY SO!!!
And then start asking his supporters WHY do you support someone who blatantly lies to you?
The GOP today, having destroyed our economy and totally failed in the Mideast and nationbuilding, literally has nothing to offer the nation but fear and terror and lies.
A recent analysis of the polls of Republicans who say they "Agree" or "Support" Trump found that more than half (about 55%) of his supporters openly admit to being White Supremacists and racists. By contrast, no other GOP candidate garners more than about 15% support from the GOP's racist base.
This man should be terrifying Americans, and our media should be calling out his lies at every opportunity, and cease this ridiculous "false equivalency" rule that the national media likes to use, trying to prove to conservatives they aren't really "liberals." They allow a Trump to make blatant lies, but then flat out saying they are lies, our media couches their comments with words like "We couldn't document his claim." Of course you can't document his claim!! It never happened!!! SAY SO!!!
And then start asking his supporters WHY do you support someone who blatantly lies to you?
22
When the core or base of any political organization or party is as uninformed, ill-informed, bigoted and mean-spirited as the Republican Party's appears to be, only cretins, clowns and creeps like Trump, Cruz, Carson, Huckabee and the rest of their ilk have any realistic chance of becoming its presidential nominee.
One can justly scorn and/or joke about today's Republican Party and its presidential candidates. But it begs the question how did what was once a respected political party become such an object of derision and laughter, not only by public intellectuals and those academia, but also by anyone with enough common sense to tune out and ignore hate-mongers like Limbaugh and the talking heads at Fox News? For it seems that in every presidential nominating process since the Eisenhower presidency, the Republican Party attracted the most ideological extreme candidates. Of course the same might be said about the Democrats, but they were more likely to nominate moderates.
In any case, the Republican Party, or at least its presidential nominating process, is in serious need of reform. It needs to figure out a way to muzzle its rabid core of haters of all things non-white, non-Christian, non-laissez faire capitalist--at least during the nominating process. If the Republican Party'e establishment does not figure out how to do that, without alienating the blowhards like Limbaugh, it will continue to attract clowns and idiots as its presidential candidates and lose elections.
One can justly scorn and/or joke about today's Republican Party and its presidential candidates. But it begs the question how did what was once a respected political party become such an object of derision and laughter, not only by public intellectuals and those academia, but also by anyone with enough common sense to tune out and ignore hate-mongers like Limbaugh and the talking heads at Fox News? For it seems that in every presidential nominating process since the Eisenhower presidency, the Republican Party attracted the most ideological extreme candidates. Of course the same might be said about the Democrats, but they were more likely to nominate moderates.
In any case, the Republican Party, or at least its presidential nominating process, is in serious need of reform. It needs to figure out a way to muzzle its rabid core of haters of all things non-white, non-Christian, non-laissez faire capitalist--at least during the nominating process. If the Republican Party'e establishment does not figure out how to do that, without alienating the blowhards like Limbaugh, it will continue to attract clowns and idiots as its presidential candidates and lose elections.
10
Tim, this may be the most important column you've ever written. You absolutely have to keep at this.
26
The demagogue Trump is sounding like a fascist manipulating his way into power. Never before have I considered leaving this country based on who is elected, until now. Hitler used his brown shirts to rough up protesters, he pushed the press away and eventually out if they did not support him, he played on unwarranted fears of people who were different in any way. What is happening now at Trump rallies with protesters, and the comments this man is making about immigrants, is not much different. Is this the kind of discourse and language we need, or the America we are supposed to be?
The party that accuses Obama of violating the Constitution is allowing Trump's comments on blatantly unconstitutional actions to be heard over and over. Does this really suit the party of Lincoln, something they love to remind us of again and again?
I have known Syrian students in the school I teach in, whose families got out in time, and the children have been smart, mannerly, willing to learn, and desirous of a new life, Their parents have thanked me over and over for making their children feel a part of their new home.The things they saw no child should ever have to witness...would Trump have us in schools rooting these families out like the Nazis forced teachers to do?
We need someone in the Republican party to stop this man, before it is truly too late and we all have to bow down to his maniacal ego and bombastic, uneducated ideas. Otherwise we are all doomed to repeat history right here.
The party that accuses Obama of violating the Constitution is allowing Trump's comments on blatantly unconstitutional actions to be heard over and over. Does this really suit the party of Lincoln, something they love to remind us of again and again?
I have known Syrian students in the school I teach in, whose families got out in time, and the children have been smart, mannerly, willing to learn, and desirous of a new life, Their parents have thanked me over and over for making their children feel a part of their new home.The things they saw no child should ever have to witness...would Trump have us in schools rooting these families out like the Nazis forced teachers to do?
We need someone in the Republican party to stop this man, before it is truly too late and we all have to bow down to his maniacal ego and bombastic, uneducated ideas. Otherwise we are all doomed to repeat history right here.
30
Don't worry, Americans here in Mexico. I don't think we will throw you all out if Trump gets into power. But I expect that a lot more of you will find life happier on this side of the border.
15
Political contests have become so expensive only candidates who accept money from special interest groups have any chance of winning. Once elected, most politicians vote the will of lobbyists to insure financial backing for their next election even if their support is not in the best interest of American citizens.
Foe example, drug companies charge American 10, 20, or 30 times more than they sell the same drug to citizens of other countries. Drug companies are reaping huge profits and draining the Medicare Trust.
Greed has always been a driving force of American capitalism but in past generations greed was tempered by ethics. No longer is that true.
When I heard Mr Trump pledge to not accept donations from special interest groups, I was impressed.
I did not find his pledge to enforce America's immigration laws to be racist of fascist. Mr Trump did not say he would deport all illegal immigrants "so fast it would make your head spin". He was specifically referring to illegal immigrant gang members. Those violent immigrants should be considered enemies of American citizens.
Many millions of Americans believe Mr Trump is sincere. We agree with him that our nation's future is threatened by lawlessness, terrorism, and debt. This election is the last opportunity for American citizens to regain control of our broken democracy.
Foe example, drug companies charge American 10, 20, or 30 times more than they sell the same drug to citizens of other countries. Drug companies are reaping huge profits and draining the Medicare Trust.
Greed has always been a driving force of American capitalism but in past generations greed was tempered by ethics. No longer is that true.
When I heard Mr Trump pledge to not accept donations from special interest groups, I was impressed.
I did not find his pledge to enforce America's immigration laws to be racist of fascist. Mr Trump did not say he would deport all illegal immigrants "so fast it would make your head spin". He was specifically referring to illegal immigrant gang members. Those violent immigrants should be considered enemies of American citizens.
Many millions of Americans believe Mr Trump is sincere. We agree with him that our nation's future is threatened by lawlessness, terrorism, and debt. This election is the last opportunity for American citizens to regain control of our broken democracy.
1
Who are the followers of Donald Trump? Surely not the young people, especially those past high school, engaged in higher education. The young people today are extremely politically correct, bordering on hypersensitivity. It is almost as though these young folks (especially those of color) are sick and tired of their parents and grandparents putting up with micro-aggression, racism, dog whistles, coded language with racist undertones, hypocrisy and bigotry. They are increasingly saying, Stop, Enough of this nonsense. Sooner of later this will clash with the Trump followers' mind set, let us hope the kids and future generations of our country are able to upend bigotry, lies and division.
2
Thank you for this column, Mr. Egan.
9
I don't know what's worse -- what Trump is saying, or that people are supporting him without questioning anything he says.
14
Beyond the frightening future you outline from a hypothetical Trump Administration, there are his very real violent audiences that he may be inspiring to act in real life. As we've seen with terrorists, even a small number of fanatics or imbalanced people can create great harm and fear. He needs to be shown the world he's helping to create.
Hopefully some courageous journalists and debate moderators will ask him about these things, and not back down when he obfuscates and insults them.
Hopefully some courageous journalists and debate moderators will ask him about these things, and not back down when he obfuscates and insults them.
15
Should Mr. Trump become President and should he be the Nazi you describe, he would still have to deal with Congress and the Courts. But if he somehow did become dictator with the control and power that came with it, he could make things happen relatively quickly. Remember, it was that "efficiency" that Lindbergh and others of his era admired so much.
But Trump is probably not a Nazi and probably won't get elected. And he probably won't become dictator even if he wants to be. I enjoy an alternate reality story as much as the next guy. But, after all, it isn't real.
But Trump is probably not a Nazi and probably won't get elected. And he probably won't become dictator even if he wants to be. I enjoy an alternate reality story as much as the next guy. But, after all, it isn't real.
2
Americans usually, but not always, figure it out. They see a way out of their gnawing discontent with changes in society and vote for candidates like Richard Nixon who smile and reassure them that others are at fault for their problems. They reach for the salvation they are promised by a smooth-talking con man from the B lot in Hollywood who persuades them to trust in the generosity of the wealthy to trickle their profits down to the hoi polloi. The are giddy at the idea of sitting down with the president and tossing down a cold one. But Donald Trump offers another kind of promise that we should all beware: the shredding of decency in the name of nativism. It is my dear hope that Americans are wise enough to know that they can't see after the light has been turned off.
10
Why is it taking so long to expose Mr. Trump's real agenda?
9
False equivalence still grips the MSM.
9
It's high time.... actually way PAST time... to say loud and clear, again and again, at maximum volume, that every word out of Trumps mouth is a LIE. It's at least mildly encouraging to see that finally The Times has decided that calling a lie what it truly is: A LIE is the only truth. Is it really possible now, that our system of election will finally rid us of this horrifying proto-Mussolini?
14
If the democratic party were as successful at creating things (facts and such) out of thin air as the republican party they would have invented Trump to convince voters who are not fast asleep that republicans are not at all interested in democracy.
He would be the perfect demagogue, spouting conspiracy theories as facts and challenging the base to completely disregard the process of thinking.
And if they could have created such a thing, nobody would believe it.
Trump is so over the top that the rest of his fellow fascists are calling him a fascist.
Howard Dean put it perfectly the other day when he said that Trump is just saying what all the rest of them have been saying; he is just saying it a bit more bluntly.
There is no way that any thinking American is going to consider republicans the same after this.
Finally, I think all Trump's tee shirts should be printed on brown fabric.
He would be the perfect demagogue, spouting conspiracy theories as facts and challenging the base to completely disregard the process of thinking.
And if they could have created such a thing, nobody would believe it.
Trump is so over the top that the rest of his fellow fascists are calling him a fascist.
Howard Dean put it perfectly the other day when he said that Trump is just saying what all the rest of them have been saying; he is just saying it a bit more bluntly.
There is no way that any thinking American is going to consider republicans the same after this.
Finally, I think all Trump's tee shirts should be printed on brown fabric.
17
Why are so many educated citizens still silent on the Trump phenomenon? This is the time for free speech, while we still have it. More should be exercising that right and calling Trump out for his hatred, and his willingness to use the Constitution as toilet paper. We should be hearing the voices of all those who object, not just editorial writers. How about some demonstrations?
10
Finally someone says it like it is. Every news outlet that has any courage and intengrity to claim must now drop their reservations and print this on the front page. Any writer or journalist who wants to preserve liberty and justice must push to have articles like this published. Trump is no longer a distraction or funny, he is the 21st Century American Nationalist Party Leader in waiting.
30
Ever notice that the more the mainstream media ridicules Donald Trump the higher his poll numbers go? You know something? If the Republicans had any guts the would demand that impeachment proceedings against Barack Obama begin immediately for his failure to lead as Commander in Chief. Obama's cold indifference to the growing threat of terrorism is positively chilling. Obama should either resign or be impeached. Let Joe Biden serve the rest of Obama's term.
4
What's actually chilling is the way that this knd of impacted ignorance is absolutely impervious to facts or reason.
The President's leading just fine. You just don't want to follow his lead, which is also just fine.
Just say so, okay?
The President's leading just fine. You just don't want to follow his lead, which is also just fine.
Just say so, okay?
14
Where were you when Bush and Cheney ignored the 9/11 warnings? That didn't concern you? Obama is not ignoring the warnings. Stay off Fox news. You'll be better educated. We have not been attached under Obama's presidency. We were under Bush's.
35
There is great irony in the fact that people who are often the most silent are exerting the most effort.
I'm curious: have you by chance had something blow up in your neighborhood? Has anyone stormed your beach?
You might be misreading the situation just because no one is landing on a aircraft carrier shouting "Mission Accomplished!"
I'm curious: have you by chance had something blow up in your neighborhood? Has anyone stormed your beach?
You might be misreading the situation just because no one is landing on a aircraft carrier shouting "Mission Accomplished!"
18
We need the Fourth Estate, our real journalists, to stop reporting on the presidential race like it is a football game ( who is up who is down based on polls without any scientific validity) and focus more on issues and the historical context as this column does. And I am not talking about Fox because there are few journalists there. I can't even watch MSNBC anymore because there is so little coverage of issues and where candidates stand on them, just " political correspondants" talking about how campaigns are conducted, not much else. Let's start with a clarification of what facism really is. And then how we are descending into it with frightening speed. Maybe this is a place where we can all agree we don't want to go. Thank you for this column we need so much more thoughtful albeit frightening commentary on the state of our disintegrating union.
28
How true. Donald Trump is such a demagogue that he is unable to contain himself from even trying to sound civilized, let alone show some humanity. He has always been a spoiled brat, surrounded by wealth, unable to tolerate diversity and pluralism. For the country's health, this willfully arrogant charlatan must be stopped...before it's too late, when no stopping his stupidity is possible, when the crying starts with no end in sight. And only ourselves to blame, as we are giving his innuendos and lies (hate speech) our support. A sad state of affairs, as we sell our souls. But it doesn't have to be that way, you know. All it takes is some courage, and self-education, to do the right thing, remove this monster; and the sooner the better.
78
Reading this I can't help but be reminded of Louisiana's one-time gubernatorial candidate and former Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, David Duke. Trump lacks only the white sheet, if he only realized the hood obviated the need for the cap he would be all in.
15
One can only hope Trump gets the Republican nomination. Nothing will do more to destroy what's left of Republican cynicism than the compelling sight (Remember Sarah Palin?) of watching its nominee twist in the winds of focused, public blowback once he isn't among nine equally frightening candidates but the only one.
3
The Republicans had better get their act together. But it looks like they have fallen into their own trap, in a hopeless echo chamber. Sow the wind, reap the whirlwind. Of course, Trump is a moron, always has been. Cruz is not a moron (as in ignorant), but a smart demagogue who stands to pick up the Trump voters once Trump exits left (I mean right). Where are the decent Republicans???
15
When I teach about World War 2 and the rise of Nazism, I ask my students to imagine what could happen if a whole series of "what-ifs" became reality. What if a political candidate appeals to the basest sentiments of a population, one that feels it is being ignored? What if a country's constitution is suspended under martial law so that order can be restored? What if a political leader appeals to citizens to help rip out the supposed poisonous sectors of society? What if people claim such things could never happen, because the population is sensible and will see through the veiled threats and demagoguery? I have more what-if questions, but normally conclude by asking my students to consider if such a thing could happen again, as it did in 1930s Europe.
A number of comment writers have posted that the assumed Democratic candidate would easily beat Trump in the national election. I am not at all sure about that, because we Americans tend to feel others will take care of stuff for us, i.e. the others will go vote, so it won't matter if I do not. Trump is appealing to the lowest common denominators. He's not asking his rally attendees to think deeply. We may well end up with our own set of what-ifs coming true.
A number of comment writers have posted that the assumed Democratic candidate would easily beat Trump in the national election. I am not at all sure about that, because we Americans tend to feel others will take care of stuff for us, i.e. the others will go vote, so it won't matter if I do not. Trump is appealing to the lowest common denominators. He's not asking his rally attendees to think deeply. We may well end up with our own set of what-ifs coming true.
179
I started comparing T Rump to Hitler and Germany in the 30's months ago and got lots of blowback about it. (like he's not like Hitler, Hitler wasn't elected etc) I am happy to see the comments here that support what I was trying to speak out about. I guess we are waking up.....
9
Does this op-ed sound to anyone else like a little bit too much elastic being sown into the waistband of Trump's bad-guy-wrestler / Howard Beale costume?
1
With mocking NYT reporter Serge Kovaleski - then lying about it - and urging people to beat up demonstrators - I think Trump's decided he likes the attention but doesn't really want to be president - such a boring job for The Donald!!! But he'll ride it out while he gets free media coverage and may even 'spite-run' as a 3rd party candidate.
We need to get rid of Citizens United now - this is officially an emergency - so no billionaire can ever again self-finance a presidential run. And stop the Kochs or Adelson from giving millions to unqualified candidates (Adelson gave Newt Gingrich $20 million) and holding our democracy hostage to their agendas.
Stop this political overreach of billionaires because it's ruining us.
We should also learn from the media's egregious wall-to-wall coverage of Trump, which has been to his advantage. By live broadcasting everything Trump says, FOX, CNN and MSNBC for entertainment value, cable news has kept Trump front and center 24/7 for months. They should be held accountable for helping destroy the 2016 presidential campaign for the sake of their ratings and advertising dollars. Cable nonstop coverage of Trump 24/7 has been just as poisonous as any billionaire campaign donors pushing their agendas.
Our democracy is now completely owned and controlled by corporate $ and media interests. Take it back now or we may lose it forever. Trump won't win but an unqualified candidate may still 'buy' the presidency in 2016. Watch Marco Rubio.
We need to get rid of Citizens United now - this is officially an emergency - so no billionaire can ever again self-finance a presidential run. And stop the Kochs or Adelson from giving millions to unqualified candidates (Adelson gave Newt Gingrich $20 million) and holding our democracy hostage to their agendas.
Stop this political overreach of billionaires because it's ruining us.
We should also learn from the media's egregious wall-to-wall coverage of Trump, which has been to his advantage. By live broadcasting everything Trump says, FOX, CNN and MSNBC for entertainment value, cable news has kept Trump front and center 24/7 for months. They should be held accountable for helping destroy the 2016 presidential campaign for the sake of their ratings and advertising dollars. Cable nonstop coverage of Trump 24/7 has been just as poisonous as any billionaire campaign donors pushing their agendas.
Our democracy is now completely owned and controlled by corporate $ and media interests. Take it back now or we may lose it forever. Trump won't win but an unqualified candidate may still 'buy' the presidency in 2016. Watch Marco Rubio.
17
" Take it back now or we may lose it forever."
If you have a plan or some ideas for implementing this action, please share.
If you have a plan or some ideas for implementing this action, please share.
4
I refuse to believe that it is even remotely plausible that Donald Trump will become president. It's bad enough to contemplate that one of the other Republicans might make it (excluding Ben Carson who is a another joke) but Trump? There may be a lot of ignorant and/or frightened, feeble minded, authoritarian leaning Amerivcans out there, particularly if not exclusively on the right of our political spectrum, but there is not a majority of the general electorate who would vote for or sit at home and allow this buffoon to ruin our country by making it into the White House.
Have a bit more faith in the American people than that..
Have a bit more faith in the American people than that..
2
People thought the same thing about Hitler in 1933.
17
So what is to be done against the rising tide of fear, and fear-based politics? Do we understand what was meant by, "All we have to fear, is fear itself?" We all have to face, that right now, fear is working and fear has worked profoundly in the past.
The path forward toward a positive outcome, can, ironically, indeed help us, "Make America Great Again," by showing we can organize to defeat Mr. Trump. It may not be easy, but it is still possible. We hear that Republican "insiders" are "freaking out," but until they are actually speaking out, they remain part of the problem, and enablers to get the power they seek, regardless of the Constitution - or their usage of fear. Also hopefully, a few more of the 1%ers will help.
The voters can still say: Mr. Trump, You Are Fired!
The path forward toward a positive outcome, can, ironically, indeed help us, "Make America Great Again," by showing we can organize to defeat Mr. Trump. It may not be easy, but it is still possible. We hear that Republican "insiders" are "freaking out," but until they are actually speaking out, they remain part of the problem, and enablers to get the power they seek, regardless of the Constitution - or their usage of fear. Also hopefully, a few more of the 1%ers will help.
The voters can still say: Mr. Trump, You Are Fired!
80
I don't like the phrase "Make America Great Again." It accuses Obama of being against America. He is not. He has helped this country enormously after the terrible years of the second Bush. The 1%ers will not help. Trump does not want to tax them. Democrats do.
14
I think what bothers most thoughtful Americans about Trump is not Trump but those who support him. Have they no shame?
15
No, they don't, and they have lots of guns.
25
No they have no shame. They also have no brains. They are the most dangerous of them all because even though they have no brains, they all vote.
9
Mr. Egan's excellent but unsettling expose of "President" Trump's stomach-churning backward-moving America makes it clear why Mr. Trump avoids details when spouting off his policies and plans. It also makes Mr. Trump's self-assured "trust in me" repetitive comments and his "Make America Great Again" motto appear to be more a hypnotic facade (for getting questionable votes) that if put into practice would have an overall destabilizing effect creating a reality for our country more like the sinking of the once proud Titanic (with all those trusting souls on board) who never expected an iceberg.
6
Trump represents the sum of all of the worst and warped attitudes that the GOP has methodically embraced over the last 30 years. As the nation has become less waspish and more educated and diverse it is leaving the GOP's mainly white, mainly male, mainly, less educated, mainly latently racist Base behind.
Trump, with his longknown outlandish behavior and bullying style is the perfect bull elephant to go Rogue and lead a final charge to destruction as Rogue elephants often do.
The challenge for America is to not be swept up or severely damaged as Trump's hopefully self destructive charge destroys both him and his fellow Rogues. Then, maybe a new Republican Party or better yet a new replacement party of reasonable Ameicans, dedicated to governing in the spirit of the Preamble to our Constitution, can replace these ignorant fear mongers as party leaders and the extreme minority Base that enables them.
Trump, with his longknown outlandish behavior and bullying style is the perfect bull elephant to go Rogue and lead a final charge to destruction as Rogue elephants often do.
The challenge for America is to not be swept up or severely damaged as Trump's hopefully self destructive charge destroys both him and his fellow Rogues. Then, maybe a new Republican Party or better yet a new replacement party of reasonable Ameicans, dedicated to governing in the spirit of the Preamble to our Constitution, can replace these ignorant fear mongers as party leaders and the extreme minority Base that enables them.
87
I thought the Republicans were against government overreach. I guess they are until they aren't.
141
I think that it is entirely plausible that Donald Trump could become our next president. We can try to comfort ourselves by believing that his views are too extreme and that voters will eventually come to their senses and reject Trump's rhetoric. But history is on the side of Trump and his ilk.
Who would have imagined that George W. Bush would become president after losing the popular vote by over 400,00 votes? All it took was five votes of a conservative Supreme Court to appoint Bush president, a stunning climax to the far-right's 30 year campaign to take over the American judicial system. Conservatives long ago realized that if they can control the nation's judges they no longer need to worry about winning elections the old fashion way. Those judges stand ready to further legitimize the slow but inexorable transformation of the legislative branch into puppet representatives in service to the oligarchs. We The People barely register in the minds of many politicians because we cannot hope to afford the price of admission to the "political process." We can expect only empty promises from our "elected" representatives.
Now we have an actual oligarch running for president who doesn't even need to rely on contributions to finance his campaign. Trump panders to the haters, the fearful and all who believe that American "exceptionalism" is best expressed through intolerance and violence. The parallels with Germany in the 1930s are striking. Don't think it couldn't happen here.
Who would have imagined that George W. Bush would become president after losing the popular vote by over 400,00 votes? All it took was five votes of a conservative Supreme Court to appoint Bush president, a stunning climax to the far-right's 30 year campaign to take over the American judicial system. Conservatives long ago realized that if they can control the nation's judges they no longer need to worry about winning elections the old fashion way. Those judges stand ready to further legitimize the slow but inexorable transformation of the legislative branch into puppet representatives in service to the oligarchs. We The People barely register in the minds of many politicians because we cannot hope to afford the price of admission to the "political process." We can expect only empty promises from our "elected" representatives.
Now we have an actual oligarch running for president who doesn't even need to rely on contributions to finance his campaign. Trump panders to the haters, the fearful and all who believe that American "exceptionalism" is best expressed through intolerance and violence. The parallels with Germany in the 1930s are striking. Don't think it couldn't happen here.
241
If Trump gets the GOP nomination, God help us if there is a terrorist attack/Reichstag Fire event in October.
I am being completely serious about a Reichstag Fire event; would not put that past him or his supporters.
I am being completely serious about a Reichstag Fire event; would not put that past him or his supporters.
9
There is no doubt that the Republican Party has crossed the line into fascism. I don't think they will win the presidency this time around, but their increasing domination in one state after another is frightening. Look at how few blue states remain. I fear for the future of this country.
16
Bizarre perspective. It is republicans who've been calling him fascist.
1
Which Republicans? I don't hear Bush or anyone else calling him a fascist. They seem to be waiting in the wings to see what will happen, instead of coming out strongly to oppose him and call him on his hateful rhetoric.
10
You can find the ads released by Kasich earlier this week with ease, but yes, it's been all over CNN, MSNBC etc.
3
Mr. Trump sounds very similar to what came out of Europe in 1933 and the years after, and there were plenty of listeners that bought the message.
13
Thanks to the forces that inadvertently created Trump the politician, namely Fox News, Carl Rove, et al, the unwashed that support Trump believe "fascist" equates to "big meanie." The term has become a duct tape applied to any situation, policy or statement they disagreed with to get their army of loyal followers grabbing pitchforks and torches. The danger is not that Trump may actually follow through with some or all of his proposals, it is the on going programming of the uneducated by the rhetoric that supports these proposals.
Trump doesn't appeal only to GOP, his appeal crosses the boundaries of the trailer parks into the burbs. Trump is a akin to Regan but infused with Don Draper's acumen on human behavior. Trump gilds turds with gold and black friday shoppers are lining up to buy them. Like Regan and Bush he he leverages ignorance, unlike them the implications of his political engineering evidently have no moral or ethical considerations or foresight. Instead the means justifies the end, with end being the adoration and spotlight, and undoubtedly the financial benefits his position will generate.
Trump is a product of American culture and its values.A culture that adores and lionizes superfluous and vacuous celebrities, that are created and nurtured in a self feeding cycle where the uneducated are 'educated' not to be educated. The same country that created George Carlin, Carl Sagan....instead keeps up with the Kardashians.
Trump doesn't appeal only to GOP, his appeal crosses the boundaries of the trailer parks into the burbs. Trump is a akin to Regan but infused with Don Draper's acumen on human behavior. Trump gilds turds with gold and black friday shoppers are lining up to buy them. Like Regan and Bush he he leverages ignorance, unlike them the implications of his political engineering evidently have no moral or ethical considerations or foresight. Instead the means justifies the end, with end being the adoration and spotlight, and undoubtedly the financial benefits his position will generate.
Trump is a product of American culture and its values.A culture that adores and lionizes superfluous and vacuous celebrities, that are created and nurtured in a self feeding cycle where the uneducated are 'educated' not to be educated. The same country that created George Carlin, Carl Sagan....instead keeps up with the Kardashians.
13
I am not making a comparison of Trump with Hitler or other Fascist leaders. However, there are reasons to compare those who support him with the German voters of the time of Hitler's rise in the early Thirties. We need to remember that Hitler received almost 90 percent approval from the German voters to become their Dictator. It is hard to understand how Trump's supporters are willing to support a man who spouts off with such outrageous language agains all sorts of individuals and groups. This is one angry man. He should be fired now.
112
"Hitler received almost 90 percent approval from the German voters to become their Dictator" - citation please? thank you
6
A chilling account, to be sure, but aside from an improbable massive voter turnout in 2016, what's to be done? If the Republicans don't repudiate this sewage, then what? A Trump candidacy loss by a small margin is just as frightening.
5
A few months ago I was watching a live interview Trump had with CNN's Don Lemon in which Trump made the infamous remark about Megyn Kelly. IIRC the interview was about 35 minutes long and Mr. Lemon hardly got a word in edgewise. Trump rambled on and on and was unable to stay on topic but constantly when off on tangents and was unable to give specific answers to questions. I remember thinking at the time that he sounded like my father who had Alzheimer's disease and I suspected then that Trump may be in the early stages of that disease.
Watching Trump since then in which his behavior seems to be getting more and more out of control and grandiose coupled with his darker and darker ideations about how he plans to make America great again makes me think that my original suspicion was correct.
Watching Trump since then in which his behavior seems to be getting more and more out of control and grandiose coupled with his darker and darker ideations about how he plans to make America great again makes me think that my original suspicion was correct.
17
I agree.
It was my thought when I first heard his announcement to run for office. The disease killed his father, and at age 69, it is right on time for symptoms to appear. Everything we've seen from Trump supports your theory.
It was my thought when I first heard his announcement to run for office. The disease killed his father, and at age 69, it is right on time for symptoms to appear. Everything we've seen from Trump supports your theory.
10
A lesson learned early from my atheist father: Tell the truth the first time. Lies are hard to remember, let alone keep straight and consistent. This --or, rather, the lack of being taught or failure to assimilate the message-- is, I propose, the root cause of Trump's squishily unequivocal pronouncements.
So Trump, possibly never having been told the truth from infancy until now, is constitutionally incapable of telling a truth. He's not so much guilty of lying as of being completely ignorant of what a lie, or a fact, is.
He is a Christian. Apparently born one, as there is scant evidence of his religious devotion otherwise. Perhaps a check of his genome would nail down the precise flavor of Christianity, in much the same way one's DNA reveals the regional origins of one's caucasian ancestry. But he is devout enough to take umbrage at Dr. Carson's potshot at his veracity for claiming to be a Christian.
He believes all the brown people in America, citizen or not, adore him. He apparently has been told this with a straight face by someone whose salary is dependent on not upsetting Mr. Trump. And, by the same token, these off-white criminals will not resist but thank him for ushering them back across the southern borders of the desert southwest, regardless of whether that was their point of origin or not.
He has no good ideas. He has no good manners. His only real contribution to this carnival of a Republican musical chair elimination contest is to be good copy.
So Trump, possibly never having been told the truth from infancy until now, is constitutionally incapable of telling a truth. He's not so much guilty of lying as of being completely ignorant of what a lie, or a fact, is.
He is a Christian. Apparently born one, as there is scant evidence of his religious devotion otherwise. Perhaps a check of his genome would nail down the precise flavor of Christianity, in much the same way one's DNA reveals the regional origins of one's caucasian ancestry. But he is devout enough to take umbrage at Dr. Carson's potshot at his veracity for claiming to be a Christian.
He believes all the brown people in America, citizen or not, adore him. He apparently has been told this with a straight face by someone whose salary is dependent on not upsetting Mr. Trump. And, by the same token, these off-white criminals will not resist but thank him for ushering them back across the southern borders of the desert southwest, regardless of whether that was their point of origin or not.
He has no good ideas. He has no good manners. His only real contribution to this carnival of a Republican musical chair elimination contest is to be good copy.
10
It is quite reassuring that the true Truth Purveyors have Tim Egan and the New York Times to set the record straight.
7
Has anybody considered that perhaps it is TIME for a police state? Or, at the least, more control of our citizens, their obeyance of our laws, and their respect for our borders. We throw around much too easily words and phrases such as "fascist", "dictator", "thugs" and all the rest to indicate what we think about those who consider life in a different light than we do. It is time for compromise and understanding, people - understanding of "the other guy".
5
Before the US of A becomes a police state you will see a another civil war.
8
Does the phrase "Bill of Rights," by ANY chance mean anything to you?
17
A few months ago, I posted that Mr. Trump reminded me of another big mouth
bigot that came to power during the thirties, in Germany. It wasn't published, will the times print this today?
bigot that came to power during the thirties, in Germany. It wasn't published, will the times print this today?
17
Donald Trump isn't the scariest part of this situation. The scariest part is the large number of people who are supporting his atrocious plans. We must remember that fascism doesn't start with a powerful leader, it starts with an oppressed people.
22
Trump is setting the table - whether he realizes it or not - for Ted Cruz. That is a candidacy that is frightening. Cruz appears reasonable and less threatening than Trump because while holding similar positions, he articulates them more carefully. Cruz knows how to court the GOP establishment and is beloved by evangelical voters. He's a real threat.
38
Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
B. Franklin
B. Franklin
22
I share Mr. Egan's concerns. I had similar thoughts while reading David Pietrusza latest, 1932: The Rise of Hitler & FDR. The activities of Der Fuhrer and his followers struck me as uncomfortably similar to today's goings-on. I dismissed these thoughts as impossibly far-fetched but Mr. Egan's column has again got my level of concern seriously activated. Thank you, I think.
16
Well presented, Mr. Egan.
I suggest that it be mandatory for all Trump supporters to read a history book about Germany in the 1930's.
As most of them may have trouble with the reading part, they might also view the first few episodes of "World At War" and/or "The Rise of Evil". Both series are in constant rotation on The American Heroes channel and the many Military History Channels.
Scary times when a major political party has a Neo-facist (actually, a Fascist - look it up) as the front-runner in a presidential campaign.
I suggest that it be mandatory for all Trump supporters to read a history book about Germany in the 1930's.
As most of them may have trouble with the reading part, they might also view the first few episodes of "World At War" and/or "The Rise of Evil". Both series are in constant rotation on The American Heroes channel and the many Military History Channels.
Scary times when a major political party has a Neo-facist (actually, a Fascist - look it up) as the front-runner in a presidential campaign.
14
Perhaps it is TIME! Do you REALLY understand the meaning of "neo-fascist"??
Do you? Fascism and neo-Fascism know no bounds. Once they've purged one group, they'll move on to the next, and the next, and eventually, they'll even get to you, whoever you are, wherever you are.
Remember Martin Niemoller's famous words ... and substitute any ethnicity or political group or religion in any of those blanks.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
Remember Martin Niemoller's famous words ... and substitute any ethnicity or political group or religion in any of those blanks.
First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Socialist.
Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Trade Unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
9
Neo-fascism is a post–World War II ideology that includes significant elements of fascism. Neo-fascism usually includes ultranationalism, populism, anti-immigration policies or, where relevant, nativism, anti-communism, anti-marxism, anti-anarchism and opposition to the parliamentary system and liberal democracy. Allegations that a group is neo-fascist may be hotly contested, especially if the term is used as a political epithet. Some post–World War II regimes have been described as neo-fascist due to their authoritarian nature, and sometimes due to their fascination and sympathy towards fascist ideology and rituals.
5
Trump and Carson are decoys. Worry about Cruz.
33
Of course Republicans, assorted right wingers and other fundamentalists say they want nothing but freedom. Blah, blah, blah. What they really want, of course - their dream, their idea of salvation - is a Police State. And they're halfway there - if not more - already.
12
The yahoo in office is a good American tradition: Pitchfork Ben Tillman, Huey Long, George Wallace.
4
So basically Trump wants a fascist state. What could go wrong with that?
8
Donald Trump is mentally ill, and most of his rivals for the Republican nomination give every appearance of being afflicted by the same pathologies: they are paranoid, delusional and narcissistic for a start. Normally, sick people should elicit our sympathy, but this crew needs to be institutionalized and right quick. With each passing day they infect more and more eager followers with the most noxious, cruel and impractical garbage they can dredge up from the darkest recesses of their diseased minds.
13
Is not a "need to be institutionaled and right quick" exactly what was done in Germany in the 30s and 40s? Didn't work then for long, as it will not now......Who gets to decide who is in charge of "the institution"?
4
Has the leadership of the Republican Party been totally eviscerated by the full-fledged emergence of demagogues like Donald Trump? Isn’t it time the party leaders borrow from their own playbook and “stand their ground” about the lies and distortions that Trump (and others) spew on a regular basis? If not them, who?
8
Donald Trump is an egomaniac, a liar, a demonizer of "the other," and a bully who revels in leading a ragtag army of fascist goons--hmm, kinda reminds me of a certain German Fuhrer in the 1930s. People are not taking Trump seriously as a threat because of his clownish appearance (that orangey mop of hair!)--but just freeze frame on Trump's face mocking a disabled reporter, or ordering his goons to teach a Black Lives Matter protester a lesson--and you will see how ugly and scary the real Trump is.
13
As I read comments by others, there is fear that we are heading down a rabbit hole from which there is no return. Donald Trump is not the first, and certainly won't be the last hate monger in this country, but by and large, we are an educated society, and really do see the forest for the trees. Fortunately, we outnumber those so alienated from society that they find comfort in hate. So pay attention, when you hear something, say something, speak out against hate, and who knows, they just may be listening.
98
There is no doubt that sane Americans outnumber the hate mongers. What I'm not so sure about is that we'll out-vote them. The turn out for Democrats in recent elections is abysmal. Perhaps we should put some voting machines in the queue at Starbucks.
8
I fear our uber-enthusiastic Bernie Sanders supporters will fade into being non voters when he doesn't get the nomination. Many of them are demonizing Hillary Clinton and saying they couldn't ever vote for her. That's how a Trump could win.
19
Fear not. We will vote for the candidate that is the most intelligent, thoughtful, humane, and ethical. We will not be swayed by pandering to fear and hate. I hope it's Bernie, but if not we will happily and enthusiastically support HRC, because the alternatives are such horrible troglodytes. Trump is not the problem. The problem is the rest of the spineless GOP candidates, who fear becoming irrelevant if the are reasonable. They feel "out Trumping Trump" is the only way. Makes you long for the days of Ford vs. Carter- markedly different candidates, yet reasonable and civil.
100
A Hillary/Sanders ticket could solve that problem.
4
John MD...I can Hope you are right in your confidence; however, though "they"
May be "spineless", "they" WILL go to the booth and VOTE. I'm planning to have a colorful "Please Vote" sign in my corner lot. We are no longer living, I fear, in the in idyllic times of Humphry, Dole, and McGovern Congress. As I said earlier, the Media is played by a man who serves as his own Deity...and will do so if he becomes the Resident President as well. My Grandson (24) and I (79)
Are also favoring Bernie....who, until this weekend, has been shortshrifted...
In favor of Humpty Dumpty's media blitz.
May be "spineless", "they" WILL go to the booth and VOTE. I'm planning to have a colorful "Please Vote" sign in my corner lot. We are no longer living, I fear, in the in idyllic times of Humphry, Dole, and McGovern Congress. As I said earlier, the Media is played by a man who serves as his own Deity...and will do so if he becomes the Resident President as well. My Grandson (24) and I (79)
Are also favoring Bernie....who, until this weekend, has been shortshrifted...
In favor of Humpty Dumpty's media blitz.
6
Timothy Egan who rarely gets things wrong went astray in characterizing Donald Trump's followers as "increasingly thuggish." Take a look at the typical Trump audience The faces in the crowd are those of conventional Middle Americans often enraptured with the man's faux charm. It is not the bigoted few who make the Trump candidacy a sick joke.
6
My, what original use of words, though I think I have heard them before: "increasingly thuggish"; "faux charm"; "bigoted few": "sick joke". Why are you so short of other words - fascist, dictator, thug, and so forth. C'mon........
3
Trump can do anything he wants - the US is a free country (except during yesterdays Macy Day Parade - too many police with real guns blocking my kids vision). What this article should focus on instead is why so many US Citizens would vote for indeed a very dangerous lunatic - why!
13
I guess Trump's mandatory greeting will be "Merry Christmas, or else!"
7
You mean instead of Obama and Hillary's police state where you go to jail because you will not make a cake or say or think unacceptable words?
Oh wait, that is already here!
Keep pressing the party line NYT... you will make Pravda status soon!
BTW, what every happened to that story from Oregon where the Christians were being murdered? Kind of fell of the map didn't.
Out of touch, out of time, out of mind...
Oh wait, that is already here!
Keep pressing the party line NYT... you will make Pravda status soon!
BTW, what every happened to that story from Oregon where the Christians were being murdered? Kind of fell of the map didn't.
Out of touch, out of time, out of mind...
3
Who went to jail for not making a cake or for saying or thinking unacceptable words? Give names, dates, locations and case numbers please.
13
Donald Trump is just plain disgusting. He believes he and his ideas are superior to the average person's, perhaps because he somehow managed to acquire so much wealth. I'm an old person of little material means, but I've had money in the past and have known somewhat less successful men just like the Donald. The fact that he bought a "trophy" wife defines him perfectly. While she may be a wonderful person, the thought of this couple in the White House is laughable. Money can buy most things, but it can't buy good taste and manners, those you learn from your mother and life. Just imagine a State Dinner with the Queen of England..or Monsieur Holland....oh never mind, Trump is just revolting, period!
6
Yes, and have you noticed? With more attention, higher polls among his foolish followers and power...he is actually regressing. His brain is now getting more Reptilian...which is opposite of what a good successful smart savvy businessman has to be. Maybe the whole Republican lot is like that. YuckO!
6
Why hasn't anyone pointed out to the Republican candidates who want to turn America into a fascist police state that they would first have to deal with Congress and the Courts, and then overturn the Constitution? I don't believe it would be all that easy to do. Presidents implement policies, but they don't write laws. The Republican Congress has shown how effective Congress can be in thwarting a president. And the Courts have been far from shy in turning away Pres. Obama. I simply don't believe they would be rubber stamp Mr. Trump's demagoguery. Surely in the remaining debates it is up to the moderators to raise questions of just how these bullies intend to deal with Congress and the Courts in their program to undermine American democracy.
6
Don't forget that the people who support Trump and his ilk are heavily armed. Mobs of citizens with semiautomatic handguns and assault rifles all charged up to do his bidding and to fight perceived enemies could be very dangerous, regardless of the Constitution or the courts or anything else. Look how much damage one deranged guy with a handgun can do at a school. Imagine that times 100 or 1000 or 100,000 ... it would not take much for Trump or someone like him to rally those people to his side to create a "militia" to do a bit of ethnic cleansing. People are always worried about what the government will do when they defend their right to bear arms. But imagine a paramilitary force comprised of people who are already armed, charged up by fear and hysteria and ready to kill. It's almost unimaginable.
7
"Better safe, than sorry!"
It's an old axiom. I remember it was used when it was decided to make use of seat belts in automobiles, mandatory. But, it can also be misused, just as easily.
Blowing things up, and out of proportion is an old sales trick, like selling gold to fearful seniors when the slightest bit of bad news about the economy surfaces.
So, how about this one: How many times has Donald Trump been forced to declare bankruptcy? Doesn't he always wind up smelling like a rose? Just think how rich he can become, destroying various economic enterprises if he has the power of the Presidency behind him!
One good scare tactic deserves another.
It's an old axiom. I remember it was used when it was decided to make use of seat belts in automobiles, mandatory. But, it can also be misused, just as easily.
Blowing things up, and out of proportion is an old sales trick, like selling gold to fearful seniors when the slightest bit of bad news about the economy surfaces.
So, how about this one: How many times has Donald Trump been forced to declare bankruptcy? Doesn't he always wind up smelling like a rose? Just think how rich he can become, destroying various economic enterprises if he has the power of the Presidency behind him!
One good scare tactic deserves another.
7
It is difficult to imagine someone with immense and complex personal assets agreeing to the blind trust obligations of a sitting President.
3
Trump doesn't scare me. He is only the excrement of things that truly do: Ignorance and fear.
5
Trump (and many others) did see, on television, crowds of Muslim Arabs cheering on September 11, 2001. They weren't in Jersey City. They were Palestinians in Ramallah and elsewhere in the West Bank.
On the other hand, our Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants, legal and illegal, are some of the most patriotic and hard-working Americans. We are richer, economically and spiritually, for their presence.
On the other hand, our Mexican and other Hispanic immigrants, legal and illegal, are some of the most patriotic and hard-working Americans. We are richer, economically and spiritually, for their presence.
12
Between Trump and another Bush, I'd take Trump.
7
A fear that I have re the threats against refugees and Muslims made by Trump is that these preposterously wild ideas could, in short order, engender a slew of "homegrown" Muslim youth or others discouraged and maddened to begin an assault on this country from within. Trump is dangerous. His lies and the excitement shown by the easily swayed at his public appearances is alarming. The once amusing Trump circus has gone one lie and/or insult past it expiration date. Enough already. Also, one would hope that a certain morning tv program would put its interest in increased viewership and ratings aside and stop kowtowing to Trump during and after his frequent phone calls to the show. The subsequent gushing and laughter about Trump is disgusting and beneath the intellects of the hosts of the program. Bear in mind, our democracy could be in jeopardy and that's no joking matter.
128
I thought he was scarey from the beginning, not amusing.
2
Trump and Carson should not be allowed into any churches where they preach the teachings of Jesus Christ.
I would've suggested both of them to attend some Satanic temples or go to some Devil's paradise but certainly not a Christian church or a Synagogue or any other temple where a real God resides.
Because the kind of rhetoric that's coming from their mouths just to win this upcoming election in 2016, is nothing but devilish.
In a stone age, both of them would've been stoned to death which I think was barbaric too.
Maybe the options for them would be to reopen the Masonic temples and take all of their followers with them as there is really no parallel to their spreading of hatred all over the country and the whole world.
From the beginning of his campaign Donald Trump is just spewing insults one after another. Starting with calling the Mexicans "Rapists ' and "Killers' and 'Drug dealers' and insinuating and ingratiating that a Fox tv. host was 'menstruating ' at the first Republican Debate , he ended up casting doubts on the entire Muslim communities in the country. In between suggesting a 'Black Lives matter' protester was rightfully mishandled or maybe he should have beaten up more.
Now, a real follower of Jesus will never talk like that . And any Churches that they're attending should really be closed down. Unless those churches put up a message that not in any form or shape they condone the kind of rhetoric that's coming out of Trump and Carson's mouths...tkb
I would've suggested both of them to attend some Satanic temples or go to some Devil's paradise but certainly not a Christian church or a Synagogue or any other temple where a real God resides.
Because the kind of rhetoric that's coming from their mouths just to win this upcoming election in 2016, is nothing but devilish.
In a stone age, both of them would've been stoned to death which I think was barbaric too.
Maybe the options for them would be to reopen the Masonic temples and take all of their followers with them as there is really no parallel to their spreading of hatred all over the country and the whole world.
From the beginning of his campaign Donald Trump is just spewing insults one after another. Starting with calling the Mexicans "Rapists ' and "Killers' and 'Drug dealers' and insinuating and ingratiating that a Fox tv. host was 'menstruating ' at the first Republican Debate , he ended up casting doubts on the entire Muslim communities in the country. In between suggesting a 'Black Lives matter' protester was rightfully mishandled or maybe he should have beaten up more.
Now, a real follower of Jesus will never talk like that . And any Churches that they're attending should really be closed down. Unless those churches put up a message that not in any form or shape they condone the kind of rhetoric that's coming out of Trump and Carson's mouths...tkb
4
I don't know how well you follow news...but Trump has called himself a devout, though not in any traditional way, middle of the road Presbyterian. He says Carson , being a Seventh Day Adventist, is kind of "out there"...alluding to the possibility that Carson may belong to a cult...like Romney as some believe Mormonism, the faith Romney belongs to, is a cult. Why should anyone suggest that he leave his church, or somehow all Christians are unlike him. This guy's trash talk is already having negative repercussions.
1
Trump's mendacity, race-baiting, and thuggishness are, like a rattlesnake's rattle, a warning to us -- one that we dare not ignore. Let this monster win the presidency and we will pay a terrible price.
10
Trump is great and the lefty media is now failing...thanks for boosting the votes for President Donald J. Trump. :)
5
Trump is not half as scary as the mob that follows him. Be afraid.
17
The scary thing is that Trump's insane positions appeal to numbers of U.S. citizens. It isn't clear to me if the numbers are a sliver of our citizens or a significant fraction (>15%).
However, the media coverage suggests there is lots of support.
That is what scares me about Trump, rather than the nonsense he spouts.
Rational U.S. citizens - please, please start talking with your neighbors about politics; whatever your positions, they have to be better for our nation and we the people, than Trump's.
However, the media coverage suggests there is lots of support.
That is what scares me about Trump, rather than the nonsense he spouts.
Rational U.S. citizens - please, please start talking with your neighbors about politics; whatever your positions, they have to be better for our nation and we the people, than Trump's.
6
I hate to say it but I remember when Obama got into the house and everyone told the other side to sit down and shut up. You have to pass this bill to find out what is in it because it is so fat and loaded with pork. i guess it is the other sides turn now.
4
Mr. Trump is a nightmare on the verge of becoming a reality for millions of Americans. His mysogynistic, racist, thuggish rantings are reminiscent of the monstrous dictators of the 20th century; the kind of rhetoric that can provoke normal citizens to commit acts of violence.
10
It it you, me or some other "citizen" who will get to decide who is misogynistic, racist, thuggish and reminiscent of dictators"???? We have had those before. Or have you forgotten "MIssion Accomplished? And Guantanamo? And the American-run Iraq prisons? Be careful what you point at - it may come home to roost......
1
A propaganda piece. The brown shirts and creeping facism and racism is a product of the left. Just say anything politically incorrect on most any college campus and watch what happens.
6
There's politically incorrect, and then there's the Donald's political porn.
3
product of the left? Calling for shutting down houses of worship, deporting millions of people, and considering internment camps for Muslims are products of the right.
The Nazis also claimed that any opposition to them was propaganda, and that they were the misunderstood good guys, who were not afraid to say the unpopular truth
The Nazis also claimed that any opposition to them was propaganda, and that they were the misunderstood good guys, who were not afraid to say the unpopular truth
11
For the last month or so, when I think of Trump and his supporters, I am reminded of those lines from W. H. Auden's "September 1, 1939." In the poem, Auden says, speaking of Hitler, that "accurate scholarship" could perhaps "Find what huge imago made, / A psychopathic god." Trump and at least some of his followers are clearly psychopathic. In his mind, and it appears in the minds of some of his followers, he is at least a demigod. One wonders where the hearts and minds are of the reported 100 evangelical ministers who are to endorse him next week.
"Imago" is Latin for "image." Auden appears to use the psychoanalytic meaning of imago: an idealized mental image of a parent or someone else that forms in childhood and affects adult behavior. Auden suggests roots of the malformed psyche of Hitler and his German followers. The word also had a biological definition: an adult insect, having emerged from the larval stage in the process of metamorphoses. If applied to Hitler, this meaning seems more sardonic. Being the great poet he was, Auden may have had both meanings in mind. Whichever definition best fits Trump and some who follow him, we know it, in Auden's words, must be huge. Trump tells us so continually.
The time has come for the rest of us to beware Beelzebub and all his flourishing flies.
"Imago" is Latin for "image." Auden appears to use the psychoanalytic meaning of imago: an idealized mental image of a parent or someone else that forms in childhood and affects adult behavior. Auden suggests roots of the malformed psyche of Hitler and his German followers. The word also had a biological definition: an adult insect, having emerged from the larval stage in the process of metamorphoses. If applied to Hitler, this meaning seems more sardonic. Being the great poet he was, Auden may have had both meanings in mind. Whichever definition best fits Trump and some who follow him, we know it, in Auden's words, must be huge. Trump tells us so continually.
The time has come for the rest of us to beware Beelzebub and all his flourishing flies.
9
Philip Roth? The author you should be quoting is the one and only George Orwell, who of course said that if autocrats like Trump say black is white then people will believe them.
It's American society that's in trouble.
If people in this country really support the black-is-white things that Trump likes to say we need to look at the wider, deeper issues.
Trump is just not Trump; he reflects what far too Americans believe themselves.
It's American society that's in trouble.
If people in this country really support the black-is-white things that Trump likes to say we need to look at the wider, deeper issues.
Trump is just not Trump; he reflects what far too Americans believe themselves.
5
Try Sinclair Lewis.
5
For the past 8 years we have heard the vitriol cries of those demonizing President Obama. Worse yet, though, the GOP has dominated the media coverage for 12 months with continual debates, leaving the public thinking that their ideas are the only viable ones. Compare the combined coverage of the republican candidates to the democratic candidates, and the republicans win in a landslide. When the only thing heard by the masses comes from an insular group of candidates, the result we are seeing should be no surprise.
7
"If you tell a lie long enough and loud enough....people will believe you."
13
Timothy Egan consistently reports important issues cogently. Thank you.
18
I suggest Mr. Egan live in North Korea for a year then come back and write about how America would be a police state if his chosen candidate does not win.
1
Read the column again. Mr Egan endorsed no candidate, he reported on the actual words and actions of Trump (and, briefly Huckabee).
He then gave his opinion, in a piece written for the opinion pages.
He then gave his opinion, in a piece written for the opinion pages.
15
Unmasking and debunking Trump is all fine, but all the hand wringing from Democrats about the possibility of a Trump presidency is a waste of time. The people who support Trump are a minority of voters nationwide. He might well win the GOP nomination but he will never win a general election. The one who should be sweating it out is the GOP. They are having to deal with the result of 8 years of demonizing and demeaning our twice-elected, brilliant, first Africam American President, abetted by a right wing media apparatus that thinks nothing about spouting outright lies, bigotry, racism, xenophobia, homophobia and misogyny. The interests of the 1% on the one hand and the fears of the Christian fundamentalists, the undereducated, the white supremacists and the gun addicts all joined at the hip.
10
It's easy to say that Trump could never win a general election, but if he were to carry Florida and Pennsylvania, it's almost impossible for a Democrat to win. And it's not beyond reason that Trump could win Florida and Pennsylvania. So don't take anything for granted, even if this is the nation that elected Obama twice.
The biggest problem of a Trump presidency wouldn't be his racist and xenophobic demagoguery. It would be that he'd be hated by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress and as a result, absolutely nothing would be accomplished over the next four years. The current do-nothing Congress would seem like the New Deal or the Great Society Congress in comparison.
The biggest problem of a Trump presidency wouldn't be his racist and xenophobic demagoguery. It would be that he'd be hated by both Republicans and Democrats in Congress and as a result, absolutely nothing would be accomplished over the next four years. The current do-nothing Congress would seem like the New Deal or the Great Society Congress in comparison.
4
It's not Trump we should be worrying about. His negative ratings by an overwhelming majority of voters ensure he'll never be elected. What we should be worrying about is all the other Republican candidates who have been attracted to Trumped-up policies like a moth to a candle -- until we're all burned.
8
So why is the police state bad if Trump or some other Republican President, but if a Dem is President, Liberals seems to have no problem with the police state at all, and in fact are all for it? It's the same power, capable of being abused by anyone. It should be bad no matter who is in charge.
3
Please give one actual example of the current Democratic President doing or attempting to anything which remotely resembles the actions of a police state.
Hint: Fox 'News' will not be a good source for this.
Hint: Fox 'News' will not be a good source for this.
14
What police state are the liberals calling for that is anywhere near these proposals?
9
Please be helpful enough to provide some clear examples of "police state" ideas currently espoused by Democrats. Egan lists some pretty good examples here for Trump. What have you got on Dems along these lines?
9
Being the "People of the Lie," that best selling author M. Scott Peck wrote about, Republicans simply do not value truth any more than they value empathy, compassion, or stewardship of the earth. Republicans are young souls at the lowest levels of consciousness available to humans. They are the party of narcissism, the psycho-spiritual epidemic of our time. At their rudimentary level of development, Republicans are broken people that value money, status, image, and belonging to and being accepted by the group think than they do the higher evolved characteristic of empathy, compassion, love, and truth. Republicans are people ruled by and owned by fear; hence their need for guns and weapons.
The more their candidates lie, the more they are valued by their sick supporters. Hold any Republican accountable for what they are claiming and they go into victim mode, blaming the media or the President or whatever; anything but take responsibility for themselves.
Today's Republican party is a group united only by their common soullessness and profound psycho spiritual sickness, and Donald Trump is their lap dog.
The more their candidates lie, the more they are valued by their sick supporters. Hold any Republican accountable for what they are claiming and they go into victim mode, blaming the media or the President or whatever; anything but take responsibility for themselves.
Today's Republican party is a group united only by their common soullessness and profound psycho spiritual sickness, and Donald Trump is their lap dog.
18
He is after all like both of us an American, full of promise and defects which have moved him like the rest of our nation forward two steps and back about the same. He wears fine wool and we wear polyester.
Progress!
Progress!
2
Donald Trump's presidential campaign is the perfect embodiment of the darkest underside of the American psyche. That he has gotten this far says something truly ominous -- collective ignorance, hair-trigger bigotry, and the abandonment of what used to be sacrosanct American values -- about what we have become as a nation.
243
The problem isn't so much Donald Trump as it is the Republican base. We have had fringe candidates spinning bizarre conspiracy theories throughout our history--Lyndon LaRouche comes immediately to mind. But what is different is that one now has the backing of a plurality of supporters of one of this nation's two major parties. Thanks, Fox News. Thanks, Rush Limbaugh and right wing radio. Two decades of spreading disinformation and replacing factual analysis with playing up resentments has led to the rise of Mr. Trump.
Perhaps what the GOP most needs is for Mr. Trump to secure his party's presidential nomination. He would be crushed in a general election, energizing minority voters like never before, while driving what's left of moderate Republicans away from the party. By decimating the GOP--most certainly, they would lose the Senate and quite possibly even the House, as every Democratic candidate would link their opponent to the head of the ticket--the poison of mean-spirited, fantasy-based politics that has infected the Republican Party could finally be purged and it could again become a serious participant in this nation's democracy.
Perhaps what the GOP most needs is for Mr. Trump to secure his party's presidential nomination. He would be crushed in a general election, energizing minority voters like never before, while driving what's left of moderate Republicans away from the party. By decimating the GOP--most certainly, they would lose the Senate and quite possibly even the House, as every Democratic candidate would link their opponent to the head of the ticket--the poison of mean-spirited, fantasy-based politics that has infected the Republican Party could finally be purged and it could again become a serious participant in this nation's democracy.
182
I HOPE you're right, but I'm not so sure he would be crushed in a general election.
I know lots of reasonable Republicans that don't like Trump, but every last one admits that in a general election he would have to vote for Trump.
I also hear a lot about energized anti-Trump voters, but (D) voters tend to be energized by positives, not negatives. It's (R) voters who tend to get excited to vote against those they perceive negatively.
I know lots of reasonable Republicans that don't like Trump, but every last one admits that in a general election he would have to vote for Trump.
I also hear a lot about energized anti-Trump voters, but (D) voters tend to be energized by positives, not negatives. It's (R) voters who tend to get excited to vote against those they perceive negatively.
5
If he is not the Republican nominee, Trump has hinted that he will reconsider his pledge not to run as an Independent. If he does run on his own, he would certainly ensure a Democratic presidential win by splitting Republican and conservative voters. You go, Donald!!
1
It can't happen here? It already has, numerous times.
McCarythyism to begin with, Eisnehower and his Operation Wetback in the 50s which Trump has already invoked but not daring to call it by name, the KKK, anti-immigrant fervor in many eras against Irish, Italians, whoever; this is a country built on prejudices.
McCarythyism to begin with, Eisnehower and his Operation Wetback in the 50s which Trump has already invoked but not daring to call it by name, the KKK, anti-immigrant fervor in many eras against Irish, Italians, whoever; this is a country built on prejudices.
12
Isn't it true that the largest ethic origination of white folks is Germans?
And isn't it true they have a low profile because of the horrors their people brought in two world wars? It certainly wasn't popular to be of German descent, as I was, in NY after WWII.
And aren't the Kochs, Uihleins and many others are both of German families and bankrollers of not just people like Scott Walker but the John Birch Society?
And isn't it also true, then, that these German Americans form a core of the hard right that follows this new Brown Shirt, Donald Trump.
Maybe instead of "taking names" of Muslims and kicking out Mexicans, we should rid ourselves of these wholly barbaric people?
And isn't it true they have a low profile because of the horrors their people brought in two world wars? It certainly wasn't popular to be of German descent, as I was, in NY after WWII.
And aren't the Kochs, Uihleins and many others are both of German families and bankrollers of not just people like Scott Walker but the John Birch Society?
And isn't it also true, then, that these German Americans form a core of the hard right that follows this new Brown Shirt, Donald Trump.
Maybe instead of "taking names" of Muslims and kicking out Mexicans, we should rid ourselves of these wholly barbaric people?
3
Yes - Donald Trump's "police state" platform is from the party that says government encroaches on liberty and accuses President Obama of tyranny.
5
Roth demonstrates how compelling the notion is that more than any other society, we have the ability to boldly walk to the very edge of the precipice, pause, and then carefully inch back from it. But it would have been more historically compelling that Lindbergh defeat FDR in 1936 than in 1940: America had offered FDR dictatorial powers in 1933 to better deal with the crushing effects of the Great Depression, and he’d largely refused to accept them. By 1940 much of the world already was at war. We could SEE what dictatorial powers in Germany had wrought, and would have been unlikely to suffer them in Lindbergh – and they were his only electoral draw. Beyond that, in 1940 FDR had been seen to ACT in the face of the Great Depression, even if those actions hadn’t delivered much; and he was seen as an experienced hand at a time when war could very soon claim us.
The argument also assumes that what happened in Germany could happen anywhere as regards Jews and other minorities; yet it’s a bad argument because it DIDN’T happen anywhere else (except, to a far smaller extent, in Franco’s Spain).
But all this causes Tim to be concerned about a Trump presidency. Yet, Trump will not be nominated by Republicans. And if ANYONE but Jeb! is nominated, Hillary will be our next president (and could be even IF Jeb! is nominated).
Tim needs to take some warm milk and go back to bed: prophetic nightmares clearly aren’t his thing – as with Roth, just the fanciful nightmares are.
The argument also assumes that what happened in Germany could happen anywhere as regards Jews and other minorities; yet it’s a bad argument because it DIDN’T happen anywhere else (except, to a far smaller extent, in Franco’s Spain).
But all this causes Tim to be concerned about a Trump presidency. Yet, Trump will not be nominated by Republicans. And if ANYONE but Jeb! is nominated, Hillary will be our next president (and could be even IF Jeb! is nominated).
Tim needs to take some warm milk and go back to bed: prophetic nightmares clearly aren’t his thing – as with Roth, just the fanciful nightmares are.
1
"...because it DIDN’T happen anywhere else (except, to a far smaller extent, in Franco’s Spain). " And in the USA, just ask any American citizen of Japanese descent born before 1944 or their offspring." Sure, we didn't kill them (at least directly), but we deprived them of their liberty and constitutional protections.
5
Byron:
And that's the best you can do? FDR's fear of Japanese espionage through Japanese Americans that may or may not have been excessive? It temporarily if tragically affected the lives of about 100,000 people, not millions and millions.
And that's the best you can do? FDR's fear of Japanese espionage through Japanese Americans that may or may not have been excessive? It temporarily if tragically affected the lives of about 100,000 people, not millions and millions.
2
Not to mention Native Americans, African-Americans, Hispanics and formalized discrimination against Jews that went on at least until anti-discrimination laws were passed under LBJ in the mid-1960s.
In fact, today, even putting aside economic issues, we're still trying to stop Black people from voting in many states.
In fact, today, even putting aside economic issues, we're still trying to stop Black people from voting in many states.
3
If anything like this happens, let the civil war begin. Give me liberty or give me death. I will not tolerate watching Trump's fascist thugs rounding up what I consider to be hard working, family orientated and God fearing human beings who were running away from a nightmare to chase their dreams. This is what makes America so great. If we become this monster state, I'd rather be dead; but, not before taking as many of these white racist thugs with me as I possibly can.
5
I applaud the press for finally taking off the gloves with the bully Trump. We should also reserve some appropriate amount of shaming disapprobation for his anti-American acolytes.
5
I wonder if Jon Stewart is still so gleeful at Trump's entry into the Presidential race.
6
It's shameful that Americans now are willing to support policies our parents and grandparents went to war to defeat.
13
Trump has a plausible path to the Presidency. Let me spell it out:
Republicans disproportionately have winner-take-all primaries. As long as there's a big clown car of alternatives, he can win all the delegates in state after state, even with 30-40% of Republican primary votes.
Once he has the nomination, he has the votes of those voters who always vote for Republicans. As much as many of these voters may hold their nose while they do it, these voters support the Republican, whomever it is.
He also will energize new Trump voters - many racists and xenophobes who hate others and resent government that have opted out of the political process will suddenly have a candidate that draws them to the polls.
You take the voters who reliably vote and vote (R), and add to it the previously disaffected racists and xenophobes, you have potentially a winning coalition.
Meanwhile, on the (D) side, we have a candidate that is trying to draw in the previously disaffected feminists and another the previously disinterested youth (to add to the regular (D) voters). Call me a pessimist, but I think when we look beyond the reliable (D) and (R) voters that any nominee can rely upon, the pool of additional potential voters that might be energized to go to the polls is larger on the xenophobe/racist side. I honestly don't think that anyone who didn't vote Obama is going to be motivated to vote for Hillary, and the youth like rallies more than actually voting.
Trouble.
Republicans disproportionately have winner-take-all primaries. As long as there's a big clown car of alternatives, he can win all the delegates in state after state, even with 30-40% of Republican primary votes.
Once he has the nomination, he has the votes of those voters who always vote for Republicans. As much as many of these voters may hold their nose while they do it, these voters support the Republican, whomever it is.
He also will energize new Trump voters - many racists and xenophobes who hate others and resent government that have opted out of the political process will suddenly have a candidate that draws them to the polls.
You take the voters who reliably vote and vote (R), and add to it the previously disaffected racists and xenophobes, you have potentially a winning coalition.
Meanwhile, on the (D) side, we have a candidate that is trying to draw in the previously disaffected feminists and another the previously disinterested youth (to add to the regular (D) voters). Call me a pessimist, but I think when we look beyond the reliable (D) and (R) voters that any nominee can rely upon, the pool of additional potential voters that might be energized to go to the polls is larger on the xenophobe/racist side. I honestly don't think that anyone who didn't vote Obama is going to be motivated to vote for Hillary, and the youth like rallies more than actually voting.
Trouble.
7
Okay, you are a pessimist. See pczisny, above, for a more rational analysis.
Mrs. Clinton will likely draw seventy million votes.
2
I have a strange feeling about "Trumpism."
I think he knows, perhaps even hopes, that he won't be the Republican nominee and, if selected, not elected. He is big, but presidential shoes are bigger.
He may have decided to be the spokesman of all the unconscious or conscious fears of the afraid who feel dispossessed but have no clue about why. And, like a Halloween prankster, will remove his mask and say: "I got you America. Shame on you."
He will simply move to his next circus show and keep charging at the door.
Well, perhaps I'm dreaming consciously. The alternative is scary.
I think he knows, perhaps even hopes, that he won't be the Republican nominee and, if selected, not elected. He is big, but presidential shoes are bigger.
He may have decided to be the spokesman of all the unconscious or conscious fears of the afraid who feel dispossessed but have no clue about why. And, like a Halloween prankster, will remove his mask and say: "I got you America. Shame on you."
He will simply move to his next circus show and keep charging at the door.
Well, perhaps I'm dreaming consciously. The alternative is scary.
5
I hope you're right. I do think he'll drop out of the primaries surge in a different direction. And he may get bored with all the actual work of a national campaign.
We can only hope.
The GOP has been such a toxic force in the world for the last forty years that I'd almost wish Trump as a candidate on them in hopes that he would damage them so badly they'd have to rebuild or die and that they might -- might -- rebuild as something other than the racist, misogynist, plutocratic, deliberately ignorant, arithmetic challenged coalition of sociopaths they currently are.
But I'm not willing to take the risk. They've stolen at least one national election in recent years; let's not tempt fate too much.
We can only hope.
The GOP has been such a toxic force in the world for the last forty years that I'd almost wish Trump as a candidate on them in hopes that he would damage them so badly they'd have to rebuild or die and that they might -- might -- rebuild as something other than the racist, misogynist, plutocratic, deliberately ignorant, arithmetic challenged coalition of sociopaths they currently are.
But I'm not willing to take the risk. They've stolen at least one national election in recent years; let's not tempt fate too much.
3
This is one of the most important columns the Times has published, another of Timothy Egan's extraordinary essays about American political life.
The ramifications of Mr. Trump's fascist promises are enormous, even if he does not advance to the nomination. If Carson's equally egocentric campaign collapses, as it most likely will, the Trump and Cruz cadres will grow, nourishing further hate. Just as the NRA and Fox News created the armed militias and Tea Party know-nothings, Trump will have created a brown-shirt brigade ready to follow blindly beyond the 2016 election. And it, too, will have an influence on the shallow brains and shredded consciences of Congress.
But what is most appalling to me is the deeply uncivil and anti-democratic tone of Trump's terrorizing rhetoric. As Philip Roth implies, a vicious and tenacious hatred of difference lies beneath the thin skin of American order. Its cruelty will leave damages in its path among our fellow citizens and these may prove to be irreparable. No elected leader can easily undo such destruction to the nation. There have been dangerous, incendiary voices in America before (Wallace, McCarthy, Coughlin, Birchers, American Nazis, the Klan), but none has come so far into the mainstream.
The point is not only the wall, the alien identity cards, the national registration of immigrants, the closing of mosques, or the thugs at rallies. The point is the promise of stormtroopers and concentration camps.
The ramifications of Mr. Trump's fascist promises are enormous, even if he does not advance to the nomination. If Carson's equally egocentric campaign collapses, as it most likely will, the Trump and Cruz cadres will grow, nourishing further hate. Just as the NRA and Fox News created the armed militias and Tea Party know-nothings, Trump will have created a brown-shirt brigade ready to follow blindly beyond the 2016 election. And it, too, will have an influence on the shallow brains and shredded consciences of Congress.
But what is most appalling to me is the deeply uncivil and anti-democratic tone of Trump's terrorizing rhetoric. As Philip Roth implies, a vicious and tenacious hatred of difference lies beneath the thin skin of American order. Its cruelty will leave damages in its path among our fellow citizens and these may prove to be irreparable. No elected leader can easily undo such destruction to the nation. There have been dangerous, incendiary voices in America before (Wallace, McCarthy, Coughlin, Birchers, American Nazis, the Klan), but none has come so far into the mainstream.
The point is not only the wall, the alien identity cards, the national registration of immigrants, the closing of mosques, or the thugs at rallies. The point is the promise of stormtroopers and concentration camps.
19
I am a non-violent professional man in my late 60's.
I doubt that the NYT will publish this comment, but I need to express my nearly overwhelming desire to meet Donald on the playground after school.
I doubt that the NYT will publish this comment, but I need to express my nearly overwhelming desire to meet Donald on the playground after school.
11
Sounds like my fantasy. A cream pie right in the ole snoot.
3
I was given a copy of Roth's The Plot Against America by friends who always argued it can't happen here.
I was born in a fascist Quebec where most of our population lived under the yoke of an English speaking economic elite and church run health, education, and welfare. That Quebec boasted the lowest taxes in North America and counties and internal suburbs where wealth was way beyond understanding. We never had the kind of poverty of Mississippi, Alabama and the then Vermont but we never had the empowered and upwardly mobile middle class that defined post war America.
Our middle class was small and was generational with most of our population working class and our mobility restricted. We had what some might call poverty but everyone had food on the table enough education to be productive and a church as a social safety net. We had English and French Canadian Catholic Schools and Protestant schools for everyone else. We had English and French Canadian Catholic Hospitals, Jewish Hospitals and a world class Protestant Hospital. We had Jewish summer resorts, French Canadian summer resorts and opulent resorts and restricted Protestant enclaves for the job creators.
The use of Mussolini, Hitler, Mussolini and the arch fiends of history to describe the society Donald Trump represents adds more smoke than fire to the desires of so many Americans who long for an America where you knew your place and everyone else knew theirs. Change is frightening and better the devil you know.
I was born in a fascist Quebec where most of our population lived under the yoke of an English speaking economic elite and church run health, education, and welfare. That Quebec boasted the lowest taxes in North America and counties and internal suburbs where wealth was way beyond understanding. We never had the kind of poverty of Mississippi, Alabama and the then Vermont but we never had the empowered and upwardly mobile middle class that defined post war America.
Our middle class was small and was generational with most of our population working class and our mobility restricted. We had what some might call poverty but everyone had food on the table enough education to be productive and a church as a social safety net. We had English and French Canadian Catholic Schools and Protestant schools for everyone else. We had English and French Canadian Catholic Hospitals, Jewish Hospitals and a world class Protestant Hospital. We had Jewish summer resorts, French Canadian summer resorts and opulent resorts and restricted Protestant enclaves for the job creators.
The use of Mussolini, Hitler, Mussolini and the arch fiends of history to describe the society Donald Trump represents adds more smoke than fire to the desires of so many Americans who long for an America where you knew your place and everyone else knew theirs. Change is frightening and better the devil you know.
2
Maybe it's because I've been teaching the book Night for the last few weeks, and getting a bit more educated on the Nuremberg Laws, and the victimization of (hated) minorities, and the bullying of anyone "different" (disabled, foreigners, etc.) by the Nazis . . . but the more I read about Trump the creepier he gets. He is playing to an increasingly rabid band of followers who drink up his rhetoric of bullying. He also has a few unsettling, common traits with Hitler: narcissism, in the form of a personality disorder; charisma; hate-mongering. I know people like to pretend Hitler was the "ultimate evil" so no one can be in the same category, but the fact is that there have been a few leaders just as dedicated, but simply not as efficient, at creating a vicious police state.
8
Whenever I read a column like this--describing the appalling real-world complexity of deporting 11 million people--I think of that photo of a young, terrified Elian Gonzalez being relocated to live with his father in Cuba in 2000.
This photo was such a rallying cry for so many conservatives at the time. Why was this one little boy so upsetting for them, while the specter of 11 million Elians is apparently something they want to vote for?
This photo was such a rallying cry for so many conservatives at the time. Why was this one little boy so upsetting for them, while the specter of 11 million Elians is apparently something they want to vote for?
11
America was built by people willing to risk their lives for a better future. They crossed an ocean, the Mississippi, the Great Divide, wrote what is probably the most significant document in history, went to the moon, won the cold war, and then what? How did we get to the point where any one group thinks that whatever is wrong must be someone else's fault, hence that group at fault must pay? That's happening on both ends of the extremes, right now -- Find the guilty who prevented me from being rich! Punish! You feel bad because you saw a screen saver you didn't like? Who made you feel that way? Punish! You don't have a job? Who did that to you? Get 'em! Can you sue them to get rich by skipping all that bothersome hard work? Do it! Rinse and repeat. Can you find one viral video and call it a crisis, a trend? Look, a guilty party! Get 'em! So this business of police state is on both sides now. I think we'll need another Reagan or Kennedy class charismatic force to fix that.
1
It's appalling to see a few postings (a minority) praising Lindbergh or saying Philip Roth was "unfair" to him in his novelistic characterization of a fictional Lindberg presidency. Some postings praise Lindbergh as having been a "hero." No, he was an aviator and a fine one, but certainly not a hero. Some of the same people who post apologias for Lindbergh (a crypto/proto fascist) also ask us to "understand" terrorism and the slaughter of civilians by thuggish murders known as Islamofascists or radical Muslims bent on killing as many westerners as possible, along with people in Cameroon, India, Spain, Denmark, and other countries. Trump's vulgarisms have taken on a neo-fascist tone, and he must be viewed as one, as should the religious zealots who promote terror and slaughter, no matter what their religious affiliations. It's sickening how some people find back-door ways to voice support for fascism and/or terrorism.
9
Whether Trump is the republican nominee or not, the entire charade has been a horrifying rally in celebration of darkness.
12
A German friend said to me the other day that no one ever thought Adolph Hitler would get elected either.
But he did.
But he did.
15
Let's stop the hysteria, Mr. Egan. It's typical politicking, and if we take EVERYTHING at face value, Hillary is a flip-flopper extraordinaire with no core values, Bernie is a socialist with scary government mandated policies, and the other Republican candidates are in various stages of tripping over themselves to say something, anything, that people will react to.
Every candidate tells "lies." We know that. What we also know is that the TONE of the President matters as well as how he/she explains things. Right now we've got a President who is detached from the issues, above what we are all stressing about, and condescending to anyone who questions him.
And the priorities of the Democrats have done less than what has been promoted by their media partners, such as the NYT. And the average American citizen voter is feeling the decline and pressure on their living standards and rights. From coddling Wall Street executives, free-trade and corporatists, PC lunatics and illegal immigrants, this Democratic party no longer has relevance to the everyman.
So when Donald Trump says uncomfortable things that have the ring of truth to them, un-PC or not, implementable or not, people respond. Because they realize the leadership to tackle such issues starts from the top and doesn't include the defeatism language or avoidance of pressing issues that characterize the Democrats and present Administration.
Every candidate tells "lies." We know that. What we also know is that the TONE of the President matters as well as how he/she explains things. Right now we've got a President who is detached from the issues, above what we are all stressing about, and condescending to anyone who questions him.
And the priorities of the Democrats have done less than what has been promoted by their media partners, such as the NYT. And the average American citizen voter is feeling the decline and pressure on their living standards and rights. From coddling Wall Street executives, free-trade and corporatists, PC lunatics and illegal immigrants, this Democratic party no longer has relevance to the everyman.
So when Donald Trump says uncomfortable things that have the ring of truth to them, un-PC or not, implementable or not, people respond. Because they realize the leadership to tackle such issues starts from the top and doesn't include the defeatism language or avoidance of pressing issues that characterize the Democrats and present Administration.
6
As scary as Trump is, his supporters are scarier. Who are these people that are so filled with hate and fear? It is one thing to disagree about taxes, social programs and other political ideals but what does it say about a party that supports wholesale hate towards groups of marginalized people? What totally astounds me is these same people call themselves Christian. Shame on them!
18
This thought just occurred to me -
If by some wild chance he does become President, he and his close circle will have lists of individuals who are seen as dangerous to his agenda, a list that will grow exponentially.
Methinks he will need his thugs in place, the moment he is sworn in.
Seriously, this crass idiot has no hope whatsoever of getting anywhere near the Presidency.
Many are just plain stupid, and do support his manical agenda, but I'm hard pressed to believe there are enough of them willing to make the fatal mistake of electing him to the Presidency.
If by some wild chance he does become President, he and his close circle will have lists of individuals who are seen as dangerous to his agenda, a list that will grow exponentially.
Methinks he will need his thugs in place, the moment he is sworn in.
Seriously, this crass idiot has no hope whatsoever of getting anywhere near the Presidency.
Many are just plain stupid, and do support his manical agenda, but I'm hard pressed to believe there are enough of them willing to make the fatal mistake of electing him to the Presidency.
The majority of Germans in the early 1930s thought the lunatic Hitler could never win either.
5
The often misused phrase, 'be afraid, be very afraid.' is no longer a cliche'.
8
Remember the comment out there during the Viet Nam War that went something like "We had to destroy the village to save it"? Apparently Mr. Trump's believes "We have to destroy democracy to save it."
It might be helpful to remember what propaganda is and the techniques used in the service of the various campaigns of the current Republican front runners:
Propaganda: The art of persuasion.
It is the spreading of ideas, information or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause or a person.
Propaganda is intended to make us accept or approve something without looking closely at the evidence.
Most of the propaganda devices utilize emotion and avoid critical thinking.
The seven most common techniques of propaganda used are:
Testimonial
Glittering Generalities
Transfer
Plain Folks
Bandwagon
Name Calling
Card Stacking
These are pretty self-explanatory. Analyze speeches by the "leading" Republican, Mr. Trump, and by the other Republican candidates and see how many of these are used every time one of them opens his/her mouth. sentence one of these utter.
As an example, what exactly does "Make America Great Again" mean? How does Mr. Trump define this mythical time to which he wishes to return. He doesn't.
Propaganda is intended to make us accept or approve something without looking closely at the evidence.
Most of the propaganda devices utilize emotion and avoid critical thinking.
It might be helpful to remember what propaganda is and the techniques used in the service of the various campaigns of the current Republican front runners:
Propaganda: The art of persuasion.
It is the spreading of ideas, information or rumor for the purpose of helping or injuring an institution, a cause or a person.
Propaganda is intended to make us accept or approve something without looking closely at the evidence.
Most of the propaganda devices utilize emotion and avoid critical thinking.
The seven most common techniques of propaganda used are:
Testimonial
Glittering Generalities
Transfer
Plain Folks
Bandwagon
Name Calling
Card Stacking
These are pretty self-explanatory. Analyze speeches by the "leading" Republican, Mr. Trump, and by the other Republican candidates and see how many of these are used every time one of them opens his/her mouth. sentence one of these utter.
As an example, what exactly does "Make America Great Again" mean? How does Mr. Trump define this mythical time to which he wishes to return. He doesn't.
Propaganda is intended to make us accept or approve something without looking closely at the evidence.
Most of the propaganda devices utilize emotion and avoid critical thinking.
13
Linda Starnes,
You mean all that name calling that most of the left commenters and writers use against Trump is bad?
You mean all that name calling that most of the left commenters and writers use against Trump is bad?
1
It is instructive to notice that Trump is not so different than his fellow candidates. In fact, a sigh of relief when Trump is finally out of the race (we all assume will happen sooner or later) should NOT be a sigh of relief at all.
Republicans mostly believe what Trump is saying, but not all the candidates can say it so crudely and "in-your-face", and still appeal. The dog whistles, demagoguery and shameless theocratic, racial, and gun issues are actually threats any of the candidates would support.
Republicans could do America a big favor and simply close their tent and re-invent a brand based on good governance instead of resentment.
Republicans mostly believe what Trump is saying, but not all the candidates can say it so crudely and "in-your-face", and still appeal. The dog whistles, demagoguery and shameless theocratic, racial, and gun issues are actually threats any of the candidates would support.
Republicans could do America a big favor and simply close their tent and re-invent a brand based on good governance instead of resentment.
8
Building a fence along our southern border did not originate with Donald Trump. However, the idea is a good one and if he were elected President it would be a priority and it would get done. Fences work. We have fences all across America to protect our own private property and we have burglar alarms in many of our homes and businesses as well as locks on all of our doors to keep out people we do not want to enter our property without being invited. Why people object to a fence along the southern border for the same reasons is beyond belief and makes no sense whatsoever. A significant majority of the Congress approved that a 700 mile fence be built along our southern border from the California coast to El Paso, Texas to keep out illegal aliens and keep Americans safe. That particular fence would cover the southern border with Mexico for the states of California, Arizona and New Mexico but not Texas. Secure Fence Act of 2006 (Pub.L. 109–367) into law stating, “This bill will help protect the American people. This bill will make our borders more secure. It is an important step toward immigration reform."
In the House, the Fence Act passed 283 -138 and in the Senate 80 -19. To this date the fence has 613 miles finished. The Congress since then has proposed bills to finish the fence and extend it another 700 miles so it would cover the Texas southern border but because of a crazy being elected President in 2008 and again in 2012 and the Democrats blocked it.
In the House, the Fence Act passed 283 -138 and in the Senate 80 -19. To this date the fence has 613 miles finished. The Congress since then has proposed bills to finish the fence and extend it another 700 miles so it would cover the Texas southern border but because of a crazy being elected President in 2008 and again in 2012 and the Democrats blocked it.
There must have been lots of Democrats voting for that fence. There weren't 80 Republican Senators nor 283 Republican Representatives in 2006.
3
About that fence. It takes many humans, dogs, drones and electronic traps to police the fence. The fence is a death trap for many wild animals and has forced the migration of people into desert regions which are death traps for them. Also,many of those who do make it here are NOT Mexicans, they come from Central and South America. And, once here, most find jobs!! Some people have pointed to the ugly fence Israel has put up as a successful way to keep people out of a country, but it is much shorter..and backed up with the military and lethal weapons. Is that really a good way to go?
1
You must visit the Big Bend area in Texas and tell us how you would fence that border. To say it can be done is absurd.
1
Excellent article, Trump is as Jon Stewart put it, an internet troll running for president. I kinda picture him as the Buy n Large president from Wall-e, the epitome of the consume and waste mentality, complete with false smile, corny showmanship and bad hair.
Sadly the reality is far more terrifying, the loss of civil liberties and virtue to be replaced with fear and secret police.
Sadly the reality is far more terrifying, the loss of civil liberties and virtue to be replaced with fear and secret police.
10
I think you are a little late on predicting the rise of an American Police State if Trump is elected.
The Police State has arrived and no one seems to care; even your own paper printed an editorial claiming the growing crime rates are exaggerated and crime rates have been declining since 1990. If this is true then why are we the world's leading incarcerator.
I cannot even blame the usual suspects here, that being the GOP; fact is both parties need to show the people they are tough on crime.
The following analogy is an example of how and where the Police State movement is allowed to grow, and quite often with great public support:
The supposed bipartisan support to reform our sentencing system for non-violent offenses is empty rhetoric, especially if you are convicted of a DUI, where here in NY a second DUI conviction within 10 years mandates SOME jail time, even if the arrest did not involve extensive property damage, any injuries, or fatalities.
Ironically, NY is supposedly a Liberal State; I believe most red States have less onerous sanctions against individuals arrested for DUI without any corresponding property damage, injuries or fatalities, which should be the relevant factors in the criminal charges.
The Police State has arrived and no one seems to care; even your own paper printed an editorial claiming the growing crime rates are exaggerated and crime rates have been declining since 1990. If this is true then why are we the world's leading incarcerator.
I cannot even blame the usual suspects here, that being the GOP; fact is both parties need to show the people they are tough on crime.
The following analogy is an example of how and where the Police State movement is allowed to grow, and quite often with great public support:
The supposed bipartisan support to reform our sentencing system for non-violent offenses is empty rhetoric, especially if you are convicted of a DUI, where here in NY a second DUI conviction within 10 years mandates SOME jail time, even if the arrest did not involve extensive property damage, any injuries, or fatalities.
Ironically, NY is supposedly a Liberal State; I believe most red States have less onerous sanctions against individuals arrested for DUI without any corresponding property damage, injuries or fatalities, which should be the relevant factors in the criminal charges.
DUI is a violent crime. It kills people. Think of it as reckless discharging of a firearm. Sometimes you miss, but it is still a crime.
2
If it can down to it, I would much prefer the Democratic Socialism of a Bernie Sanders than the neo- fascist Duceism of Donald Trump.
9
Trump is exhibiting symptoms of the illness that killed his father.
Lies, difficulty understanding and answering complex questions, delusions, paranoia and inappropriate behavior are all symptoms of Alzheimer's. At age 69, it's not even early....it is right on time.
To call him Facist, liken him to Hitler or write him off as typical of his (current) political party is to miss the fact that the man is very likely ill. His family needs to pull him off the public stage.
Lies, difficulty understanding and answering complex questions, delusions, paranoia and inappropriate behavior are all symptoms of Alzheimer's. At age 69, it's not even early....it is right on time.
To call him Facist, liken him to Hitler or write him off as typical of his (current) political party is to miss the fact that the man is very likely ill. His family needs to pull him off the public stage.
11
Is it finally PC to point out the striking similarities between the republicans and Nazis?
10
It's extremely easy to demonstrate. Take the Nazi party's 25 point platform and update the language (to replace "Germany" with "USA", replace "Treaty of Versailles" with something like NAFTA or TPP, replace "Jew" with "illegal alien", and so on.) The only people who will reject the ideas are the actual neo-nazis, and then only because they recognize what you're doing.
2
What I continue to fear is that still, notwithstanding vital writing such as your own, Timothy Egan, that only a relative handful of people will volunteer to devote even ten minutes a day to work in the campaign of anyone opposing the person who gets the GOP nomination.
Plus--it is too easy to imagine Trump himself as a third party candidate if the Republicans should reject him.
People supporting Clinton or Sanders COULD begin volunteering their ten minutes a day starting NOW.
Plus--it is too easy to imagine Trump himself as a third party candidate if the Republicans should reject him.
People supporting Clinton or Sanders COULD begin volunteering their ten minutes a day starting NOW.
3
About 15 to 20 years ago or so I read an article which detailed the way in which white supremacists were changing their recruiting tactics. Their members were becoming teachers, pastors, policemen, and joining the armed forces in order to get the most advanced weapons training. One of the leaders of the movement stated/promised that when the cleansing of America came it would be done door to door, by the army. Hearing the Republican presidential candidates, in particular Trump, brings the very real possibility that such comments might become a reality in the not so distant future. I am Latina, an American citizen since birth. This gives me no comfort. This hateful speech about illegality is a veneer for an uglier truth; the United States has become too brown and too unchristian for a segment of the population that has gained enough political traction to make their white power views acceptable. All minorities beware.
10
White Supremacists shout loudest about their 'gun rights'. They need free access to firearms to do the things they want to do. Scratch a White Supremacist and you'll likely find a gun-toting Republican.
The Observer must sound like a Troll-Democrat to the comment editors and readers who thought they had bought the Washington Times (why are you guys reading the NYT anyway? It is some kind of vicarious intellectual stimulus?).
Please understand this is not the case. Even if these words are read only by a 'censor' who then pushes the delete key, this comment is meant to express a sincere concern for the future of our country, which commenter chabela has eloquently expressed just now.
Perhaps the W.S. community has a similar concern from their perspective. The problem is in the way they want to enforce their world-view on the rest of us....
Democrats are, as Will Rogers commented, notoriously disorganized. They have been lulled into a sense of complacency by the last few decades of relative peace and prosperity at home. It could get 'very worse'. The Observer would like to urge anyone who reads Tim Egan's column and has the same reaction chabela and The Observer have had, to support the Democrats, put aside the quibbles over process-details, resist the pseudo-intellectual baloney spouted by the token-conservatives who appear in the NYT, and begin to undo the damage done by the few years Republicans have controlled Congress.
The Observer must sound like a Troll-Democrat to the comment editors and readers who thought they had bought the Washington Times (why are you guys reading the NYT anyway? It is some kind of vicarious intellectual stimulus?).
Please understand this is not the case. Even if these words are read only by a 'censor' who then pushes the delete key, this comment is meant to express a sincere concern for the future of our country, which commenter chabela has eloquently expressed just now.
Perhaps the W.S. community has a similar concern from their perspective. The problem is in the way they want to enforce their world-view on the rest of us....
Democrats are, as Will Rogers commented, notoriously disorganized. They have been lulled into a sense of complacency by the last few decades of relative peace and prosperity at home. It could get 'very worse'. The Observer would like to urge anyone who reads Tim Egan's column and has the same reaction chabela and The Observer have had, to support the Democrats, put aside the quibbles over process-details, resist the pseudo-intellectual baloney spouted by the token-conservatives who appear in the NYT, and begin to undo the damage done by the few years Republicans have controlled Congress.
4
vthe corporate media is funded via advertising purchases by the same corporations that use mass immigration to depress wages, increase the supply of workers and consumers and force economic growth down our throats...is it any wonder they attack trump at every opportunity, seeing as how trump threatens to break their corporate profits rice bowl??
Like some other commenters, I can't help thinking of Trump as a big, blunt second-rate comedian who is opening (or warming up the audience) for the real act (Cruz, Rubio or Bush). And Republican politics is about moral outrage and anger (Democratic politics is about guilt and snickering) so a Trump is sort of inevitable. Picture Rush Limbaugh as a candidate.
Personally, I'm more afraid of the Linberghs (Ben Carson is a Linbergh type) than The Donald types. Maybe I'm foolish. Anyway, "Merry Christmas" while we can still say it.
Personally, I'm more afraid of the Linberghs (Ben Carson is a Linbergh type) than The Donald types. Maybe I'm foolish. Anyway, "Merry Christmas" while we can still say it.
Trump's financial world is built on partnerships. Why aren't these partners speaking out or withdrawing support? Perhaps lists of these partners, which companies do business with him, even who's golfing at his clubs are in order.
4
Somewhere between 2030 and 2040 Whites will cease to be the majority in this country and Hispanics will become the majority. That disturbs some people so much they are willing to violate the Constitution to prevent it. These people will be shocked to find that the new majority will treat the new minority better than they were treated.
Trump is very similar to Hitler in message and political tactics. Any serious student of history can quickly see that. That he is having some success in his tactics shows how poorly we educate our citizens in history or how quickly the horrors of history can fade away. The Holocaust, never again! Don't be so sure.
Trump is very similar to Hitler in message and political tactics. Any serious student of history can quickly see that. That he is having some success in his tactics shows how poorly we educate our citizens in history or how quickly the horrors of history can fade away. The Holocaust, never again! Don't be so sure.
6
• "When a candidate for public office faces the voters he does not face men of sense; he faces a mob of men whose chief distinguishing mark is the fact that they are quite incapable of weighing ideas, or even of comprehending any save the most elemental — men whose whole thinking is done in terms of emotion, and whose dominant emotion is dread of what they cannot understand. So confronted, the candidate must either bark with the pack or be lost... All the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum. The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
• H L Mencken
• H L Mencken
5
Those of us who lived through the Reagan Administration think it has already happened. (Cf: Trees are the real polluters, aggressive military spending reduces the deficit, Lebanon and Israel are surprisingly close to each other, jokes about bombing another country in front of a microphone [and he was a media star!], etc., ad nausea.)
3
It already happened when the American people, with the help of the Supreme Court, elected George W. Bush to the presidency twice. He was a downright moron, and a puppet of the neo-cons. Now, he looks positively moderate compared to the fools, fascists, and theocrats who are hoping to be the
Republican nominee.
Republican nominee.
4
You think Trump is bad, just look at what's happening in Germany with the Muslims' efforts to impose Sharia law.
1
Could you please provide proof? Links to articles or studies that justify your claim would be nice.
6
When were you in Germany? What did you see, that you want us to look at?
2
Ignorance is easily turned towards evil. We are in a very very scary place. People had better take Trump, Carson, Cruz and company very seriously. Those that think any of them "couldn't possibly be elected" should remember that a B grade actor from Hollywood whose main experience was running the actors union was elected President twice. He allowed George HW Bush to tell him what to do, and the Pentagon was delighted. Given how we are now allowing the police to behave, given the fear and hate generated by Rupert Murdoch's multi-media circus, the non-religious "religious right" and the Koch Brothers (and others) reactionary purchase of the entire GOP, we are in deep trouble now and have been for some time save for Obama (who isn't perfect -- of course). If Hillary doesn't win, W Bush will look like Abraham Lincoln. God help women, African-Americans, Muslims and the poor, the elderly, the frail and anyone who isn't a rich, white male. SCARY. VERY VERY SCARY.
360
reply to jeanie in nyc . . . absolutely . . . this is a man who had four deferments from military service in the sixties and i am a veteran and resent the hell out of his entire rehtorical nonsense . . . the idea this man may be elected president may encourage me to leave and i have lived in texas my entire life . . . Canada has never looked so good and I do not say this lightly . . . it is beyond scary . . . thanks . . .
William Wilson dallas texas
William Wilson dallas texas
1
While I'm no fan of Reagan, let's not forget that he was the Governor of California before running for President. I disagreed with virtually all of his policy positions and he slept through his second term, but on paper, he was far more qualified to run for President than the Donald, the brain surgeon and Carly.
2
Sadly, Reagan was also Governor of California, so the voters already knew what a mediocre, mendacious politician they were electing.
2
A bit of historical background seems in order here.
For starters--the notion that a fascist regime--focused rhetorically on a trope of law-and-order rule to meet "threats" both external and internal to "stability"--could not emerge in this country is the real fiction.
The reality is that if a sizable minority in the run up to WWII had had their way--it would of happened then.
That is a matter of historical--albeit not well-known--fact.
The fact is that a significant swath of the Republican Party believed that the U.S. was on the wrong side going into World War II--that we should have aligned our nation with the Nazis and the Axis in a global crusade to crush Communism.
The evidence of that is not in dispute.
I see no reason to believe that current events have led to the demise of those yearnings among some on the right side of the U.S. political for what many would say qualifies for the description of a "police state".
Warning them that's what they are calling for may only encourage them.
For starters--the notion that a fascist regime--focused rhetorically on a trope of law-and-order rule to meet "threats" both external and internal to "stability"--could not emerge in this country is the real fiction.
The reality is that if a sizable minority in the run up to WWII had had their way--it would of happened then.
That is a matter of historical--albeit not well-known--fact.
The fact is that a significant swath of the Republican Party believed that the U.S. was on the wrong side going into World War II--that we should have aligned our nation with the Nazis and the Axis in a global crusade to crush Communism.
The evidence of that is not in dispute.
I see no reason to believe that current events have led to the demise of those yearnings among some on the right side of the U.S. political for what many would say qualifies for the description of a "police state".
Warning them that's what they are calling for may only encourage them.
4
Trump was right about one thing...the Iowans who support Carson are stupid. What he neglected to say is that the Iowans who support him are equally so. We should all remember that Hitler was democratically elected. The news media should pound that fact hard and fast at every opportunity because it's not only the Iowans who have become stupid so has the majority of the Republican electorate. As for the Democrats...it's time for them to play hardball and remind them that Trump is adamant when it comes to "his" facts...reminding the country of his tenacity re the issue of Obama's birth certificate and his poor track record re his bankruptcies in Atlantic City precipitating its fall after he had promised to resurrect it for years to come. the fall of Atlantic City that he had promised to revive.
5
Employment Opening--Post-constitutional police state empire has job opening for Tyrant. Must be Strongman, Assertive, "take no prisoners" kind of guy. Previous Political Experience not a plus. Must be able to rally the troops.
List of enemies mandatory. Skill set should include ability to make long rambling speeches, incite extreme discomfort among dissenters and mock the establishment. High Energy very desirable. Perks of the job include unlimited power, ability to create a family line of succession and purge the opposition. Compensation commensurate with the Total, Complete and Utter Domination of the World. If you have what it takes, you must be self funded, willing to work long hours and ruthless. Let's start the journey to tomorrow today!
A Non-Equal Opportunity Employer.
List of enemies mandatory. Skill set should include ability to make long rambling speeches, incite extreme discomfort among dissenters and mock the establishment. High Energy very desirable. Perks of the job include unlimited power, ability to create a family line of succession and purge the opposition. Compensation commensurate with the Total, Complete and Utter Domination of the World. If you have what it takes, you must be self funded, willing to work long hours and ruthless. Let's start the journey to tomorrow today!
A Non-Equal Opportunity Employer.
2
In an attempt to assuage the fears of those (and mine) who think Trump could be the next Mussolini or Hitler, let's consider the fact that in recent polls of the general public, Trump is viewed UNfavorably by about 60% of the population. He's only getting 28% support from wackjob Republicans.
The amount of press he garners and the rabid support of his followers WAY outstrips his popularity among the general public.
I know a lot of people complain about the American electoral system and its two-party monopoly, but remember that Hitler came to power in 1932 because of a parliamentary system that was splintered among more than 20 political factions. Only 32% of Germans voted for Hitler (or the National Socialists) in the last free and fair election before the Nazis stopped the democratic process.
So even if the GOP rejects Trump and he goes on to mount a 3rd party campaign, then he'll probably get what Ross Perot got (19% of the vote) and Hillary will get what Bill got--the Presidency.
By the way, in June of 1992, Perot polled at 39%. And he actually had some good ideas and was a little quirky, but he wasn't a fascist.
The amount of press he garners and the rabid support of his followers WAY outstrips his popularity among the general public.
I know a lot of people complain about the American electoral system and its two-party monopoly, but remember that Hitler came to power in 1932 because of a parliamentary system that was splintered among more than 20 political factions. Only 32% of Germans voted for Hitler (or the National Socialists) in the last free and fair election before the Nazis stopped the democratic process.
So even if the GOP rejects Trump and he goes on to mount a 3rd party campaign, then he'll probably get what Ross Perot got (19% of the vote) and Hillary will get what Bill got--the Presidency.
By the way, in June of 1992, Perot polled at 39%. And he actually had some good ideas and was a little quirky, but he wasn't a fascist.
10
There is a playbook that the "Republican" front-runner, along with some of his rivals for the nomination, are using. What Egan is describing can be boiled down to a simple "Mein Trumpf." This post-fascism has had its charismatic phase, when Trump's oratory claims that only he can save the nation from minorities. Now we are entering the Brown Shirt phase, as Trump illegally incites his followers to violence against ("roughen up") his nonviolent opposition. The paranoia of the Brown Shirts will also search for the man or woman on the high hill, as P.K. Dick predicted: the real or imagined leader of the scapegoated race, party or religion. A list will be helpful, such as of all Muslims in the U.S., though sewing or tattooing a star and crescent onto citizens of this faith would also quickly identify and separate them from "pure" Americans (Trumpfs).
8
The saddest and most concerning thing to me right now about the Trump phenom is the fact that in this country we have an educational process so impotent that it results in a significant percentage of our population being incapable of thinking independently and critically.
So, people who would follow this con man, how are you different than someone in a different time and place who voted for Chavez, Amin, or Hitler? Or are you even capable of thinking that abstractly?
So, people who would follow this con man, how are you different than someone in a different time and place who voted for Chavez, Amin, or Hitler? Or are you even capable of thinking that abstractly?
6
Trump is capitalizing on fear and anxiety that was already there! A situation made possible by all of our elected officials who either favored the wealthy or subsidized the poor.. Behold the angry middle class! 18-22 million who are struggling check to check, and not wanting to become on of Mitt Romney's 47%. They feel their government has abandoned them as they linger in economic uncertainty- they hear their government talk of amnesty for 12 million illegal workers and accepting thousands of Syrian refugees. Where is their lifeline as insurance, food and housing prices soar while their wages remain unchanged over two decades?
Don't blame Trump for any of this- In fact you can thank him for finally bringing the issue to light!
Don't blame Trump for any of this- In fact you can thank him for finally bringing the issue to light!
1
Better just go back to your gated OC community, Aaron. The rest of US are not afraid of widows and orphans.
5
The only celebrations among Muslims when the towers fell were held in pockets of the Middle East. Here, however, the most frightening celebratory responses came from hard right Christian fundamentalists who believed that their vengeful god had used the terrorists to punish the sins of New York and all of the U.S. But, Trump will never say that. After all, many of Trump's supporters come from exactly the same population.
14
At the end of the film Dead Zone, the president (played by Martin Sheen) is facing a global crisis, and he is contemplating a nuclear strike on the enemy. Just as the president is about to push the nuclear buttons, some aids rush in and announce, "Mr. President, there's been a diplomatic solution." In rapturous exultation, Sheen presses the death button and replies, "The missiles are flying. Hallelujah." I am terrified that this will become real, not only with Trump, but certainly Cruz and Carson. Can someone please convince me that this wont happen if the GOP candidate is elected next fall?
8
"The more lies he tells, the more popular he is with a large part of the Republican base that lives in a world of made-up horror and blunt force solutions."
Just imagine if things ever really get rough out there?
Tens of millions of ignorant male losers out there angry and hungry and armed to the teeth!
Just imagine if things ever really get rough out there?
Tens of millions of ignorant male losers out there angry and hungry and armed to the teeth!
6
I think we already have that situation in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iraq and Syria. And their leaders are an exponential version of all of our Republican candidates combined, if that's possible.
1
It seems that every time there is a serious discussion about illegal immigrants, articles are written stating that "More Mexicans are leaving than entering illegally"
See this article circa 2012
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/24/469950/more-mexicans-are-now...
See this article circa 2012
http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2012/04/24/469950/more-mexicans-are-now...
Trump is no longer a joke. Though I still cannot believe that people, in Iowa, New Hampshire, or elsewhere, would actually vote for this hate-filled person, it is apparent now that we must ready if they do.
11
CMH,
Indeed.
The fact so many energetic and devout Christians support him is even more gobsmacking.
You really begin to wonder what goes on in those brains? I know several Trump and Carson supporters. They appear normal, and even bright, yet. . .
The only answer can be they harbor a deep deep repressed anger and hatred and project it on all the rest of us, and the rest of the world.
(This applies perhaps in a greater measure to Ben Carson.)
Looking down the GOP bench doesn't get much better. In fact, Mr. Cruz is the real crypto-threat IMO. He comes on smooth and slick. The ones we consider 'main stream' are so inept and clueless it becomes obvious why the dynamic nut-jobs are on top. Have we ever seen a worse campaign than JEB!'s?
Indeed.
The fact so many energetic and devout Christians support him is even more gobsmacking.
You really begin to wonder what goes on in those brains? I know several Trump and Carson supporters. They appear normal, and even bright, yet. . .
The only answer can be they harbor a deep deep repressed anger and hatred and project it on all the rest of us, and the rest of the world.
(This applies perhaps in a greater measure to Ben Carson.)
Looking down the GOP bench doesn't get much better. In fact, Mr. Cruz is the real crypto-threat IMO. He comes on smooth and slick. The ones we consider 'main stream' are so inept and clueless it becomes obvious why the dynamic nut-jobs are on top. Have we ever seen a worse campaign than JEB!'s?
2
Had Mr. Egan written another day or two later, he could have added mocking a NYT reporter with a disability to the bag of tricks Donald Trump is using to solidify his base. He could have also highiighted Trump, once again, resorting to outright denial, even indignant denial, when called out on his behavior.
Polticians can appeal to our higher instincts or what is base in us. It has been apparent for some time that Donald Trump is appealing to what is base in us. In this respect he reminds me of the George Wallace of my youth in Alabama. Trump's followers approve because they are angry already and like playing the role of victims. And if Trump doesn't have enough followers to secure the Republican nomination, that fact has not yet become apparent.
The saving grace for our country, though, is that the voters who would nominate him are too few to elect him. It is the responsibility of the rest of us to make sure that we reject Trump and any other candidate who's primary strategy is to feed our fears.
Polticians can appeal to our higher instincts or what is base in us. It has been apparent for some time that Donald Trump is appealing to what is base in us. In this respect he reminds me of the George Wallace of my youth in Alabama. Trump's followers approve because they are angry already and like playing the role of victims. And if Trump doesn't have enough followers to secure the Republican nomination, that fact has not yet become apparent.
The saving grace for our country, though, is that the voters who would nominate him are too few to elect him. It is the responsibility of the rest of us to make sure that we reject Trump and any other candidate who's primary strategy is to feed our fears.
260
Lukey,
Good catch!
Let's review just whom the really bad guys vilified and persecuted;
1. Hated religious and or ethnic minorities
2. Gays
3. Mentally and physically challenged
4. Political opponents
I think Carson is projecting his UNCONSCIOUS fear and anger, but The Donald knows exactly what he is doing. Ditto Cruz.
Good catch!
Let's review just whom the really bad guys vilified and persecuted;
1. Hated religious and or ethnic minorities
2. Gays
3. Mentally and physically challenged
4. Political opponents
I think Carson is projecting his UNCONSCIOUS fear and anger, but The Donald knows exactly what he is doing. Ditto Cruz.
4
Vince McMahon would be proud of Donald's
run for President. Body slams and all.........
run for President. Body slams and all.........
2
If you recall they are rasslin buddies.
The Trump "Merry Christmas" will be accompanied by the stiff armed salute we know so well.
The Republicans have told us, that if the German Jews were armed there would have been no holocaust. In this country, we have easy access to arms. Therefore, according to Republican theory, there will probably be no mass deportations of Mexicans and Muslims. Instead, we'll have a national shootout between the "deportation force", and all the intended, and heavily armed, victims. A multi-year, coast to coast shoot-out can be the only outcome, if we use their own reasoning. (This would probably have an effect on jobs creation and all the other stuff the Republicans promise out of the other side of their mouths)
The Republicans have told us, that if the German Jews were armed there would have been no holocaust. In this country, we have easy access to arms. Therefore, according to Republican theory, there will probably be no mass deportations of Mexicans and Muslims. Instead, we'll have a national shootout between the "deportation force", and all the intended, and heavily armed, victims. A multi-year, coast to coast shoot-out can be the only outcome, if we use their own reasoning. (This would probably have an effect on jobs creation and all the other stuff the Republicans promise out of the other side of their mouths)
5
Donald Trump is an iconic hypocritical American coward, bigot, entertainer ,welfare king and immoral degenerate. Trump is on his third wife and only one has been an American. Trump never served in the military. Trump's real estate fortune is due to corporate oligarch welfare. Trump's mother was an illegal immigrant. Trump has no political experience and is ignorant about foreign policy, national defense and security issues. But Donald Trump is a master of entertaining circus buffoonery and media propaganda who summons the worst demons of our nature.
9
Trump-lovers have been made giddy by finally allowing their deep feelings of hate and racism to vent--in "good" company. The long-simmering anger of the low IQ whites--made exposive by the election of a black president--has paved the way for "The Donald" to gain a following. fortunately--this is a small % of American voters....
11
Your wrong. Lots of high IQ whites are all in too. And they can win. Even if Trump himself does not.
1
Trump is a very, very rich guy, really very rich, I mean it. He is also not a very, very, smart guy, its true really. His vocabulary is not that fabulous not that eloquent he tends to repeat adjectives and adverbs because his supply of them are limited; honestly it is true, true, Honestly. it is.
Let me be honest with you, he truly is not particularly smart, but and its a big but, he is dangerous because his moral equivalency while abysmal has yet to have bottomed out; you know that, right, sure you know that I'm telling you the truth. Listen to me the guy has what most of our republican presidential hopefuls don't have, he says has very, very big ideas he has an enormous grasp of things he knows nothing about.
There are some who will say he is a blowhard, a jerk, an idiot, a fool, or a particular part of the human anatomy (or is that particular parts of the anatomy?).
Well America, I am here to tell you he is much worse. I actually saw him on television saying if he was elected POTUS , he would lockup and deport (in a humane fashion that is.) those people he thought were not good enough to meet his lofty standards for America, slam shut houses of worship,single out segments of society as less than trustworthy. In short he would preside over an ethnic cleansing.
I grew up in the Bronx many years ago and we had expressions do deal with mopes like him:
he ain't squat
he 's a mutt
and in closing he is a fugazy!
Let me be honest with you, he truly is not particularly smart, but and its a big but, he is dangerous because his moral equivalency while abysmal has yet to have bottomed out; you know that, right, sure you know that I'm telling you the truth. Listen to me the guy has what most of our republican presidential hopefuls don't have, he says has very, very big ideas he has an enormous grasp of things he knows nothing about.
There are some who will say he is a blowhard, a jerk, an idiot, a fool, or a particular part of the human anatomy (or is that particular parts of the anatomy?).
Well America, I am here to tell you he is much worse. I actually saw him on television saying if he was elected POTUS , he would lockup and deport (in a humane fashion that is.) those people he thought were not good enough to meet his lofty standards for America, slam shut houses of worship,single out segments of society as less than trustworthy. In short he would preside over an ethnic cleansing.
I grew up in the Bronx many years ago and we had expressions do deal with mopes like him:
he ain't squat
he 's a mutt
and in closing he is a fugazy!
11
That this buffoon is a presidential candidate at all is chilling. That he dominates the front page front page of newspapers everywhere only feeds his enormous ego. He speaks for the 1% that rule this country. The ruling class that have nothing but disdain for those of us not able to live in their world of wealth and privilege. After he roots out all of the "undesirables", builds his wall, closes down all houses of worship that are not so called Christian;then what? For Trump and his ilk there always has to be someone to exploit. Think about it.
5
Fascists take many forms and among the Trump supporters there are the timid and fearful. They are soft spoken, polite and by all appearances civilized. Scratch the surface and you will find they are very misinformed, full of hate and most importantly afraid. They read the Bible, attend church and watch Fox News. Trump supporters are often not the bullies next door but rather the timid little blue haired ladies in the supermarket. This is the lesson of Trump.
11
I believe it is way past time to shut Mr. Trump down. Regardless of his position in the polls, his rhetoric needs to be loudly and clearly disavowed by the leaders, not just of the country, but most especially of the Republican party. While there are voices of reason within the party, Gov. Kasich being the most reasonable in my view, it would appear that the major candidates are afraid of this bully for fear he will turn on them next. Trump needs to be confronted and discredited by what he says about our national issues, not about what he might say about other individuals. And for the record, Ted Cruz is his crazy cousin, not his mainstream alternative.
10
I find it ironic that the same card-carrying NRA members who insist that the the Second Amendment was put in place to prevent a tyrannical government, are so steadfastly supporting a potential tyrant. The Trump joke isn't funny any more.
17
Here's a glance at President Trump's "bucket list:" First, he will get rid of the 'Mexicans' and other non-whites or who 'look' foreign, quickly followed by relieving the U. S. of all Muslims . After that, he will rid our nation of Roman Catholics followed by the utterly poor, the homeless, and those who exist on the margins 'feeding' at the trough of public welfare. Then, those who are mentally ill and disabled in some way, will go. Prisons will be 'cleansed' of the reprobates who inhabit them. And when it's all done - who will be left? At that point, Donald Trump will eye, suspiciously, his Vice-President, his spouse, his children...
7
He reminds me of Jerry Jones' Cowboys. He wants to be relevant. He doesn't care if it is a good relevance or bad relevance, as long as he is relevant. He may be a liar; a loud mouth idiot; and a bully, but he is relevant and he is doing his very best to enforce that!
Trump is confusing. Doesn't he know that Republicans want to cut everything except the military and welfare to large wealthy corporations? How will he pay his storm troopers? How will he pay to watch every Muslim and Mexican home, all their banks accounts, their mosques and churches? He'll have to do the one unpardonable Republican sin...raise taxes.
7
The same way Bush II paid for his shiny, new Department of Homeland Security. He won't. Then, later, when people notice how much more the national debt has increased as a result, they'll blame the poor, the unemployed and the homeless, and seek to cut programs designed to help them instead.
4
When I watch Donald Trump he reminds me of Mussolini.....enough said
8
TE is a fine writer, but he allows his received ideas, liberal biases to get in the way of his better judgement.First, out of necessity and a concern for our own survival, we r inching our way towards the creation of an authoritarian state. This trend will continue regardless of which party occupies the WH.Unlike others, DT is more straightforward about the ghastly future that may await us.Decades ago, Henry Kissinger predicted that to combat terrorism, nation states would exert more control over the citizenry.Second,would the killings in Paris 2 weeks ago, and attacks at CHARLIE HEBDO,have been prevented if EU countries had not adopted an open borders policy, and if French authorities had more finely screened incoming Algerian travelers, among whom there were those who posed a physical threat? Third, what citizen in his right mind would not surrender some of his civil liberties in return for personal security?During the Bataille d'Alger," really a police action,forced questioning of FLN suspects caught "en flag" was approved by the Algerois ,since its use by Massu's 10th Paratroop Regiment ended FLN terrorism in the city.TE should realize that this is not a right v. left issue.Paris changed everything, and if ISIL staged similar attacks here,both parties would fall into line, advocating harsh measures against "subversives," and calling for a "strong man!" Democracies r fragile, and faced with lethal threats, will sacrifice civil liberties in the name of survival.
3
Would you feel as you do if you were a second generation Muslim whose parents and grandchildren lived here? Would you feel that way if you were black and police were given even more license to kill? Would you feel that way if you were Mexican born here to immigrants who are not citizens? Under your vision, one might reassure middle class white Christians that if they are not guilty they have nothing to fear. Guilty of being Mexican, Muslim, Black or otherwise "other.
4
I'm more likely to be killed by a bathtub than a terrorist, so why should I give up the freedom that I've been told over and over again that our soldiers fought and died for over a poor understanding of statistics, especially since that is EXACTLY what the terrorists want?
4
Then the terrorists win. Well done.
2
Donald Trump and his followers are the spear tip of a not-very-veiled American fascism. Intolerant. Abusive. And full of self-absorbed hubris.
The question is how is this American nerve exposed and so easily stroked by Mr. Trump?
The answers lie in the economic mining of America by the .1%. Since 1970, the 1%'s take from the economy has grown from 7% to 23%+. This amounts to a massive redistribution of wealth upwards and an evisceration of what once was a thriving middle class.
Middle class manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas en masse, and the labor savings pocketed by the companies and people who owned them. Increased cash flow meant higher and higher management compensation as well as a newly minted army of lobbyists on K Street. Political "donations" simply became another way of investing so that taxes on corporations and the people that owned them would be at ever lower levels.
So those that hear Trump's Siren's call are angry. Their doors to the American dream of home ownership with summer neighbourhood barbecues have been nailed shut. They want answers! Who can blame them?
Obama has been a convenient straw man. Trump offers a plethora of others.
This raping of the middle class was bound to create a mob in the end. At some stage folks were going to stand up and say "I've had enough!"
The trouble with greed is it knows no bounds. Much of what the .1% has gained might now be at risk.
Therein lies the irony. As ye sow...
The question is how is this American nerve exposed and so easily stroked by Mr. Trump?
The answers lie in the economic mining of America by the .1%. Since 1970, the 1%'s take from the economy has grown from 7% to 23%+. This amounts to a massive redistribution of wealth upwards and an evisceration of what once was a thriving middle class.
Middle class manufacturing jobs were shipped overseas en masse, and the labor savings pocketed by the companies and people who owned them. Increased cash flow meant higher and higher management compensation as well as a newly minted army of lobbyists on K Street. Political "donations" simply became another way of investing so that taxes on corporations and the people that owned them would be at ever lower levels.
So those that hear Trump's Siren's call are angry. Their doors to the American dream of home ownership with summer neighbourhood barbecues have been nailed shut. They want answers! Who can blame them?
Obama has been a convenient straw man. Trump offers a plethora of others.
This raping of the middle class was bound to create a mob in the end. At some stage folks were going to stand up and say "I've had enough!"
The trouble with greed is it knows no bounds. Much of what the .1% has gained might now be at risk.
Therein lies the irony. As ye sow...
331
dax,
"The trouble with greed is it knows no bounds. "
There's the truth of the matter. I know people poorer than I who will support Trump, or Rand Paul or any of the other GOPers down the line. They actually believe the simmering pressure cooker Ben Carson is a calm, quiet, reasonable guy.
I know people my age on Medicare who think they aren't on Medicare. They think their Medicare Advantage plan isn't paid for by Medicare. It is! I've tried explaining how that works in the background to blank stares.
"The trouble with greed is it knows no bounds. "
There's the truth of the matter. I know people poorer than I who will support Trump, or Rand Paul or any of the other GOPers down the line. They actually believe the simmering pressure cooker Ben Carson is a calm, quiet, reasonable guy.
I know people my age on Medicare who think they aren't on Medicare. They think their Medicare Advantage plan isn't paid for by Medicare. It is! I've tried explaining how that works in the background to blank stares.
4
Yet the failing middle class and working poor are still heeding the call of the demagogues that this is a class war, which will redistribute their "wealth" to the poor.
4
I don't think the angry mob is saying "I've had enough."
They are saying "let's double down on stupid."
They are saying "let's double down on stupid."
2
The Times nailed it more than three years ago when it looked into a town called Chisago, MN:
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us/even-critics-of-safety-net-increasi...
Long story short, a town that formerly had robust manufacturing employment now has none and the residents make do as best they can. T-shirt shops and tattoo parlors substitute for productive labor. They hate the government benefits upon which many of them now depend.
Unsurprisingly, tens of millions of people who have been living on the edge for a decade or more are frightened and angry.
How do Republicans explain the collapse of manufacturing and middle class wages? Easy. It is:
> Obama (black, Muslim, born in Kenya, radical Christian, radical bomb thrower, budget buster, liberal, etc.) Republicans lived up to their pledge to never cooperate with the President elected twice with substantial popular and electoral college majorities. Because, any of the above.
> Mexican immigrants (without whom our agricultural economy and food supply would collapse)
> Other immigrants (although not going as far back as the immigrant forebears of the modern Republicans now wanting to keep and/or boot immigrants out)
Many people who used to believe in the American Dream have nothing to show for decades of work and nothing to hope for in the future. Trump will never actually do anything to help them, but his performance art keeps many of them entertained. For now.
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/12/us/even-critics-of-safety-net-increasi...
Long story short, a town that formerly had robust manufacturing employment now has none and the residents make do as best they can. T-shirt shops and tattoo parlors substitute for productive labor. They hate the government benefits upon which many of them now depend.
Unsurprisingly, tens of millions of people who have been living on the edge for a decade or more are frightened and angry.
How do Republicans explain the collapse of manufacturing and middle class wages? Easy. It is:
> Obama (black, Muslim, born in Kenya, radical Christian, radical bomb thrower, budget buster, liberal, etc.) Republicans lived up to their pledge to never cooperate with the President elected twice with substantial popular and electoral college majorities. Because, any of the above.
> Mexican immigrants (without whom our agricultural economy and food supply would collapse)
> Other immigrants (although not going as far back as the immigrant forebears of the modern Republicans now wanting to keep and/or boot immigrants out)
Many people who used to believe in the American Dream have nothing to show for decades of work and nothing to hope for in the future. Trump will never actually do anything to help them, but his performance art keeps many of them entertained. For now.
8
I hate to inform you, Timothy Egan, but we already have a police state. Perhaps you live on an island without the internet and cable television. Police carrying automatic weapons, emptying 16 rounds into an unarmed youth, is not uncommon today. Nor is it uncommon for police to drive MRAPs and other military armored vehicles. And your veiled violation of Godwin's Law tucked away in the first paragraph was duly noted. Nice try, pal.
1
How to stop Trump? Memo to media and voters: Ignore him. He's the disruptive bad boy at the back of the class who the teacher implores everyone not to pay attention to. He craves all the media attention and keeps feeding back what draws attention to himself: saying outrageous, self-serving things, including many lies and distortions.
6
I can't disagree with anything in Mr. Egan's column, but I think the focus is misplaced. Trump may be a billionaire brute, and his proposals may be authoritarian or just place thuggish, but Trump is not creating these sentiments out of nowhere. He is giving voice to widespread -- though by no means "majority" -- sentiments in America. Rather than being alarmed, I find him performing a kind of service: Republicans have relied on these "ideas" to give their programs and candidates a push for several years now. Racism and nativism are not new, nor is thuggery or the bullying of those who would see themselves as self-appointed armed militias. It is good for us to see "out in the open" the "natural" implications of the fears, sentiments, and opinions that Republican politicians have been fueling for years. Now, "mainstream" Republicans (if there are any), business people who have traditionally supported Republicans, and those sectors of the religious communities in the US who have supported Republicans have to take a stand -- is this really what they want? They can no longer profit from the anger they stoke, while keeping their shirts and ties clean of its ugliness. And, Democrats have to take stronger stands and actually define their principles. I hope I'm not proven by events to be naive or complacent, but I think the Trump phenomena simply gives voice to something already there, and something we've avoided dealing with.
19
Now 75, I grew up believing that the United States would turn fascist by or shortly after I died. I am right on schedule. With a culture of anti-intellectualism, now supplemented by a dumb-downed, over-priced education system, and a history of racist, sexist, and xenophobic policies and practices, evident in systematic biases and misbehaviors by the justice system, its future as a fascist state is far more likely than not.
20
I hope against hope every day that you are wrong.
3
Taking a much longer view, I realize that unless the status quo becomes objectively intolerable for large numbers of people, then they will not put enough value on changing it, and will continue to acquiesce rather than make sacrifices in order to correct the course. Things have to get worse before people demand *themselves* to make the change. Especially if that means sacrifice. I don't believe anything short of an overt attempt to create a fascist police state would be sufficient to provoke average people into making themselves into revolutionaries.
Mr. McGill, I hardly know where to begin in a response to your views. However, long your view, it is very unclear. "Objectively" is hardly the only basis for a status quo to seem intolerable; we are better off now than we were 7 years ago, but most people feel worse off. Fascist police states usually do not arise overnight; they evolve one little bit here, one little bit there, at a time--then, presto, you have one. I have no idea where "sacrifice" fits into your schema.
1
Facts and intellect have a liberal bias. Lies, stupidity and greed have more of a, well you know.
10
As it relates to Mr. Trump advocating a deportation force, in reality the only thing needed to remove people who have illegally entered our country is to enforce the curret Ronald Reagan signed 1987 Ammensty Law which provides for fines/imprisonment for "employers" who hire them. This would "dry-up" their jobs opportunities so they would "self-deport" as briefly proposed by Mitt Romney before his Republican financial backers threatened to "dry-up" their campaign contributions due to the resultant loss of their cheap and exploited labor. We need to enforce the law; establish a fair, humane "Guest Worker" program which comforms with U.S. Labor Law regarding minimum wage, limited hours of work mandates, etc., to ensure these people are not exploited and that the American worker's standard of living isn't further eroded by businesses who send our jobs oversees and import cheap exploited albeit "illegal" labor. It may not be popular, but people from "all" countries seeking employment in our country should be required to comply with our immigration law and protocols - least we have no law at all.
3
That would require more government regulation imposed on business which I assume you would oppose.
I ask every time someone brings it up: What employer are you accusing of this crime, specifically? What is your evidence, and how aggressive have you been in the pursuit of criminal charges against them? What actions have been taken by yourself, by law enforcement authorities, and what has been the response to the court from the people you accused?
Pretty ironic; this is the party that has loudly complained about an authoritarian President who they claim has consistently overstepped his boundaries. As a remedy, they offer several candidates who would actually limit basic freedoms, separate and incarcerate Americans on the basis of ethnicity, religion, and country of origin, and generally behave more autocratically (dare we describe it as fascist?) than any actions ever taken by Obama.
8
This disgusting spoiled draft dodging little rich boy is a poor excuse for a human being, yet people are willing to turn our government over to him?
He has ridiculed war heroes, Mexicans,Blacks , and of course Women.
Anyone who watched the actual speech, and saw him mocking the disability of the reporter knows that this bully has no place leading our citizens.
He has ridiculed war heroes, Mexicans,Blacks , and of course Women.
Anyone who watched the actual speech, and saw him mocking the disability of the reporter knows that this bully has no place leading our citizens.
11
Hitler, one of the world's worst monsters, said "The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it." With Trump, we see a segment of our populace that has deteriorated into fascism, dictatorship and tyrants who spout lies. The bigger they get, the more people believe him. This is terrifying.
13
Trump is both a stalking horse for the Republicans and a straw man for anti-Republicans. The brilliant thing about his candidacy is that either or both of those positions fulfills his real objective: publicity for The Donald. On the other hand, never underestimate the stupidity of the American people. I can't believe they pay as much attention to this clown as they do. Any minute now we're going to read the post that says, "We have met the enemy and he is us."
5
By all evidence, Trump is in awe of dictatorship and uses that as his model for leadership. It's like he imagines his Presidency is a CEO who does not even answer to a Board. He will round up and deport every illegal immigrant on day one. Mexico will pay for a great wall because he says they will. Putin will work with him because he says so. War refugees will return to uninhabitable lands because he says they will. It will be mandatory for all clerks to say "Merry Christmas" because he says they will. In none of his plans does he even indicate working with Congress or Governors - his will is the law. And this is the most popular nominee in the party that claims to champion freedom!
9
No surprise here that his supporters believe in his awesome powers of single-handed governoring. After working in two city governments and dealing with consitutent services on a daily basis, I became convinced that most people have no idea how government works? Most don't know what council district they live in or the name of their councilman; don't even bother to ask them who their congressional representatives are because they haven't a clue. Sometimes I wonder if I was the last person ever to take a class in American civics.
5
I was watching Television the other night with my thirteen year old granddaughter who was born to a Mexican-American father and my blonde blue eyed Caucasian daughter and she remarked after seeing trump " he scares me" I think that's all that needs to be said!
8
Egan: "These rallies are scary spectacles of rabid brown shirts in Dockers."
A friend of our family, a military attorney for many years and a professor of criminal law, recently remarked that the Trump campaign called to mind a book he read many years ago: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer.
The reference to "brown shirts" cheering on their "Fuhrer" is a very effective analogy as well as a warning.
A friend of our family, a military attorney for many years and a professor of criminal law, recently remarked that the Trump campaign called to mind a book he read many years ago: The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich by William Shirer.
The reference to "brown shirts" cheering on their "Fuhrer" is a very effective analogy as well as a warning.
12
It is time for the media to shut down the pipeline of attention paid to this business idiot savant, who is making a mockery of our Country and our values, at home and abroad.
7
Trump and the party of small, non-intrusive government!
2
Trump is Trump. He's never been anything other than a megalomaniac.
Now, let's talk about voters; the ones who consistently pick Trump in the polls.
Those who have suffered the least in the last several years, seem to think they've suffered the most, and are doing their best to lash out at those who have taken away...whatever it is they've supposedly taken away.
Those Mexicans, they take our jobs. Except that they do jobs we don't want to do. And do them well, too.
But they're on welfare, and getting free healthcare and education! Except that they aren't, and that free education isn't all that great nowadays. Oh, as for that healthcare, many native born folks can't access it much less those here illegally.
The Syrians are terrorists! Well, not the Confederate flag flying terrorists who gun down innocent people having a Bible study. Or the ones who kills at movie theaters. Or shoot down black protesters. But Terrorists!
It is really about "political correctness", if by that we mean people no longer able to exercise their bigotry and racism. You even indulged in this a bit in your article when you slam Trump, but then can't stop indulging in a little byplay about those college students wanting trigger warnings and safe places.
See, even white liberal intellectuals want less "political correctness" nowadays.
You talk about Trump. I don't give a damn about Trump. Let's talk about the voters, and why they'd pick someone like Trump. Let's talk about ourselves.
Now, let's talk about voters; the ones who consistently pick Trump in the polls.
Those who have suffered the least in the last several years, seem to think they've suffered the most, and are doing their best to lash out at those who have taken away...whatever it is they've supposedly taken away.
Those Mexicans, they take our jobs. Except that they do jobs we don't want to do. And do them well, too.
But they're on welfare, and getting free healthcare and education! Except that they aren't, and that free education isn't all that great nowadays. Oh, as for that healthcare, many native born folks can't access it much less those here illegally.
The Syrians are terrorists! Well, not the Confederate flag flying terrorists who gun down innocent people having a Bible study. Or the ones who kills at movie theaters. Or shoot down black protesters. But Terrorists!
It is really about "political correctness", if by that we mean people no longer able to exercise their bigotry and racism. You even indulged in this a bit in your article when you slam Trump, but then can't stop indulging in a little byplay about those college students wanting trigger warnings and safe places.
See, even white liberal intellectuals want less "political correctness" nowadays.
You talk about Trump. I don't give a damn about Trump. Let's talk about the voters, and why they'd pick someone like Trump. Let's talk about ourselves.
11
Yes. The voters really are the heart of the issue. They are the ones who really need to be held accountable for their support of a monster like Trump. They have some explaining to do; the beliefs they hold that underlie that support needs to be actively challenged. How to they justify supporting someone who publically ridecules a person with a disability, who encourages and justifies the beating of a person engaged in his right to peacefully protest, and who vows to "register" people based on their religious affiliation? I want them to explain how that is any different from Nazi Germany and the foreshadowing of the Holocaust. Whatever mental dance they try to do to explain away their intellectual dishonesty must be thoroughly disassembled and called out for what it is.
2
Point of information: to date, no one has ever cast a single vote for Mr. Trump. His huge numbers of "supporters" include a non-zero number of Democrats, myself included. If I could vote in the Republican primary, I would vote for him.
There will always be hate-mongers coming along to rile the masses, in America and elsewhere. Everything about Donald Trump's campaign shows that he is a liar, a grifter, a blowhard. What does is it say about a large part of the Republican Party that this appeals to them? They don't need truth or even reasonable solutions; they need a loudmouth who'll shoot off his mouth and say what they're thinking. This is the inevitable result of Reaganism, Fox News and the Republicans' systematic demonizing of government, education, good sense and reality.
513
Even the "Exceptional" USA does not have enough crazies/unenlightened people to elect Trump to anything. That is saying a lot given that in 8 separate Gallup polls 45% of US adults say that the earth is less than 10,000 yrs old & that evolution didn`t happen.
So enjoy your turkey & family gathering. Trump will be a disgruntled footnote soon but make sure you vote for Bernie the only truthful activist for change that will benefit the nation.
So enjoy your turkey & family gathering. Trump will be a disgruntled footnote soon but make sure you vote for Bernie the only truthful activist for change that will benefit the nation.
4
It can happen here. It is going to take a number of courageous people to act as a counter to these thought police. The caring, humane majority in this country better not sit out the next presidential election.
4
I just hope that Trump is the republican candidate. When put in front of Americans with a brain, he would have no chance to be elected. The throngs that follow him are people with no concept of life, who have a ton of hate for everything (except guns) and everybody (except Christians and white people). They listen to these politicians talking about how bad the government is, while probably a good portion of them are on the government dole, one way or another. Trumps popularity shows just how uneducated a lot of Americans are.
261
As much as I want the Democrats to win the presidential race, I do not want Donald Trump, or anyone like him, to continue to spew the dangerous venom he does. We are a strong nation, but I fear this kind of hate-mongering will only weaken us to ourselves and our enemies.
3
"When put in front of Americans with a brain, he would have no chance to be elected. "
I would hope that would be the case, but my fear is that there are fewer Americans with a brain all the time and also that many who have one don't bother to vote, which as far as I'm concerned, is completely irresponsible.
In addition, I think he will be very hard to debate. Hillary will get into specific details about policy, our values and our place in the world and Trump will spout vague generalities about how immigrants are terrorists and stealing our jobs and how everything is going to be great in a Trump administration. And unfortunately, people will buy into that. How do you debate someone who simply says, "it's going to be great - believe me".
On the one hand, America is the place that elected Barack Obama twice, but it's also the place that buys in to the rhetoric of Trump, Carson, Cruz, et al and has given us the incredibly corrupt Congress that we have.
If Trump wins Florida and Pennsylvania, it's almost impossible for the Democrats to win. On the other hand, if Democrats win their traditional states (aside from the tossup states), that gives them 232 electoral votes. Florida gives them another 29. They would only need 9 more from the remaining tossup states of Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico and New Hampshire. Almost impossible for them to lose.
I would hope that would be the case, but my fear is that there are fewer Americans with a brain all the time and also that many who have one don't bother to vote, which as far as I'm concerned, is completely irresponsible.
In addition, I think he will be very hard to debate. Hillary will get into specific details about policy, our values and our place in the world and Trump will spout vague generalities about how immigrants are terrorists and stealing our jobs and how everything is going to be great in a Trump administration. And unfortunately, people will buy into that. How do you debate someone who simply says, "it's going to be great - believe me".
On the one hand, America is the place that elected Barack Obama twice, but it's also the place that buys in to the rhetoric of Trump, Carson, Cruz, et al and has given us the incredibly corrupt Congress that we have.
If Trump wins Florida and Pennsylvania, it's almost impossible for the Democrats to win. On the other hand, if Democrats win their traditional states (aside from the tossup states), that gives them 232 electoral votes. Florida gives them another 29. They would only need 9 more from the remaining tossup states of Ohio, Virginia, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada, New Mexico and New Hampshire. Almost impossible for them to lose.
1
I don't think it is good if he's the candidate. Unless he makes a 3rd party bid which would be good for the Dems....
Trump is clearly psychotic, yet the ill-informed flock to him. I know that it's all too easy to drawn parallels between people like Trump and Hitler, but in this case the parallels are accurate right down to his mannerisms at the podium. If that alone doesn't scare his base, there is something wrong with them.
Since I use my real name when responding to articles in the NYT, maybe I should be very afraid that he will be coming for me at some point.
Since I use my real name when responding to articles in the NYT, maybe I should be very afraid that he will be coming for me at some point.
5
Trump's plan to deport nonresident foreigners would turn into Elian Gonzalez times a million.
5
When Trump is questioned as to what his policies would actually be, or how they would be implemented, his response is generally, " Oh it will be great, trust me, America will be great, again." It is baffling that his responses are enough for so many people to accept as a coherent informed answers. His followers are the proverbial frogs in a pot of water being slowly heated to the boiling point. The problem is, if he gets elected, the rest of us jump in the pot with them, against our will. This will not do. So many Americans seem to be slowly willing to give up their rights afforded us in the Constitution. We are more than willing to trample all over immigrants, Muslims and refugees. The way we treat others outside the realm of our constitution directly reflects how we will treat ourselves. Elect people who do not respect the Constitution, and we will be disrespected and slowly lose our rights. Trump has set out a pot of water how many of us are willing to hop in and get slowly cooked?
182
I also remember seeing TV reports of people cheering when the towers came down on 9/11.
I believe it was Palestinians in Jerusalem or gaza (until their countrymen told them to stop), but also in Patterson NJ and I think jersey city too.
That's no reason to tar all Muslims with the same brush, but I remember seeing those reports on TV, with love footage of the people cheering. Not thousands of them, but maybe a few hundred. That really happened.
I believe it was Palestinians in Jerusalem or gaza (until their countrymen told them to stop), but also in Patterson NJ and I think jersey city too.
That's no reason to tar all Muslims with the same brush, but I remember seeing those reports on TV, with love footage of the people cheering. Not thousands of them, but maybe a few hundred. That really happened.
Except no TV station seems to have the mystery NJ footage in their archive. Wouldn't they have showed us by now?
1
I have no doubt that there were handfuls of disaffected people scattered throughout the country who cheered on 911. There are always pocket of angry people ready to celebrate destruction and there always have been. They are not limited to anyone race or religion. You "believe" that you saw "maybe a few hundred"? I highly doubt it because nobody has provided any photographic or video evidence that such a gathering occurred. It would have gone viral. We all were glued to our TVs for weeks. We all would have seen it. We all would have been talking about it. Those celebrating would have been identified and picked up. For the last couple of decades, we are all potential cameramen and pulling out our tech is second nature. The evidence would have surfaced long before now, and in the rapid fear of the time of terrorists among us, along with the very active search for terrorist sympathizers and cells, this story would have been reported. The facts is that across the world, including in the Muslim world, including in Tehran, millions of people grieved at the terrorist attack upon our country and the loss of 3000+ souls. Regardless of their view of the U.S. or its citizens, they grieved at the hatred, at the fear experienced by those who perished, and at the knowledge that those senseless deaths awakened a cascading of horrific events for which we still have no end in sight.
1
Kind of strange that the governor of New Jersey does not remember it also, don't ya think! You are remembering an event of over 14 years ago. Memories fade and are easily modified by subsequent events, wishful thinking, etc. - that is why corroboration is necessary.
2
Timothy Egan's observation that “Trump is no longer entertaining, or diversionary” and is “a billionaire brute, his bluster getting more ominous by the day,” reminds me that hiding closely behind fear, one often finds hate. Trump's puffed up persona is essentially a defensive stance that brings to mind the Texas Horned Lizard:
“When threatened by a predator, a horned lizard will puff up and become very fat, which causes its body scales to protrude, making it difficult to swallow. The Texas horned lizard... also has the ability to squirt an aimed stream of blood from the corners of the eyes and sometimes from its mouth for a distance of up to 5 ft (1.5 m)... This novel behaviour is observed to be very effective in defense.” --Wikipedia
https://indigenize.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/desert-horned-lizard-by-a...
“When threatened by a predator, a horned lizard will puff up and become very fat, which causes its body scales to protrude, making it difficult to swallow. The Texas horned lizard... also has the ability to squirt an aimed stream of blood from the corners of the eyes and sometimes from its mouth for a distance of up to 5 ft (1.5 m)... This novel behaviour is observed to be very effective in defense.” --Wikipedia
https://indigenize.files.wordpress.com/2010/03/desert-horned-lizard-by-a...
5
Trump, when he first started his "campaign" was mildly amusing (I use that word lightly), then as he gained more followers, their response to him was befuddling, but now he has become very dangerous. His and his followers are cult, and see facts as a "plot to destroy America." They will follow him no matter where he leads. Kool-aid, anyone?
Trumps support is an awakening predicated on a visceral response to Obama's economy and agenda. You may not like it but its reality. We already know his support is significant and that is spilling over into independents, right leaning dems and blue collars. Now its just a matter of it holding in the primaries and sustaining through the general. For those of you that don't like it? Its very simple...an increasing percentage of the country doesn't like where we are at. You can dislike it or disagree but it is reality.
When Mr. Trump actually sends a single delegate to the Republican National Convention, I will believe claims that he has meaningful support. I'm a left-leaning Democrat and I go out of my way to support Trump.
For those who scoff that a police state can't happen here watch 'The Man in the High Castle' to see how quickly nice people adapt to the banality of evil. Yes, it can happen here unless we stop it.
7
You cite fiction as evidence to justify ginning up dangerous levels of hate against Trump.
1
Tim - writing an editorial like this is like stealing candy from a baby. Just too easy to get the support from liberal readers and admonition from conservatives; those of us in between look to the press for solutions or meaningful insight; and you have provided neither. I cringe at the Donald's popularity but I understand it. Americans are sick of inefficient, bloated, self entitled government. And far more of the voting public sadly know who The Donald is than can tell you who the Vice President is, or what the 5 components of the first amendment are. As Churchill said "the strongest argument against Democracy is a 5 minute conversation with the average voter".
However I also cringe every time a reporter calls illegal immigrants 'undocumented' - one irrefutable statement from the Donald is that, in theory, we are a nation of laws. It is a far more difficult task in editorial writing to address this intractable immigration problem with solutions. Pretty easy to bash conservatism and frankly outrageous to equate the current electoral process to Nazis and Hitler. The liberal press lambasted Carson for a similar nazi analogy regarding hand guns yet you feel perfectly comfortable going there. I condemn you both for those references.
More to the point - you have wasted precious editorial space telling us all something we know already - how about providing solutions to immigration - to outrageous government spending - to militant Islam? Dazzle us with insight please.
However I also cringe every time a reporter calls illegal immigrants 'undocumented' - one irrefutable statement from the Donald is that, in theory, we are a nation of laws. It is a far more difficult task in editorial writing to address this intractable immigration problem with solutions. Pretty easy to bash conservatism and frankly outrageous to equate the current electoral process to Nazis and Hitler. The liberal press lambasted Carson for a similar nazi analogy regarding hand guns yet you feel perfectly comfortable going there. I condemn you both for those references.
More to the point - you have wasted precious editorial space telling us all something we know already - how about providing solutions to immigration - to outrageous government spending - to militant Islam? Dazzle us with insight please.
3
While you criticism of "illegal" vs "undocumented" may be fair, regular NYTimes readers know that solutions to complex problems of immigration are published in these pages every day. They are here for readers to consider and debate. Solutions to immigration sit in limbo in congress, only waiting to be moved forward by some Gang of the Ready and Willing to Compromise. I already know from my reading of the times (and other credible sources) that it is speculated that the U.S. is much less vulnerable to militant homegrown Islamic terrorism because we have been much more successful in assimilating Muslim immigrants than have most European countries (with the exception of Spain).
I think the point of Egan's column is that we can no longer sit back and dismiss Trump's candidacy because we consider him a bad joke that will quickly go away. He has supporters and his support seems to grow with every lie he utters. That he taps into weariness of political correctness in the liberal media is no longer relevant to the discussion. What we cannot ignore is his appeal to a darkness that American the exceptional has long been told did not exist, that was not who we are.
I think the point of Egan's column is that we can no longer sit back and dismiss Trump's candidacy because we consider him a bad joke that will quickly go away. He has supporters and his support seems to grow with every lie he utters. That he taps into weariness of political correctness in the liberal media is no longer relevant to the discussion. What we cannot ignore is his appeal to a darkness that American the exceptional has long been told did not exist, that was not who we are.
2
Since the Nixon years the Republican Party has steadily advocated for creating a police state. They see the use of force and pushing back civil rights as the answer to all our political and social challenges. You only need to look t their voting record starting back in the 60's when they did not support civil rights legislation and it only gets worse from their.
Americans who support the Republican Party are playing a dangerous game with our democracy. They may wake up some day to find that they no longer have any civil rights and all of the brave men and women who have fought for freedom in the country will have been betrayed.
Americans who support the Republican Party are playing a dangerous game with our democracy. They may wake up some day to find that they no longer have any civil rights and all of the brave men and women who have fought for freedom in the country will have been betrayed.
6
Considering some of the GOP candidates stated that a recent Supreme Court decision was not binding on them, check out Huckabee. And the Supreme Count giving the 2008 election to Bush when it was clear that FL officials stole that election; then I think we have a lot to be concerned about when it comes to the GOP buying America and violating our Constitution.
5
What is scarier than Donald Trump? The substantial number of Americans who support him. That's the real story and the sooner we understand and address the factors that make the Donald's rise even possible, the better.
10
It's the same psychology used to convert downtrodden Germans in the 1930s --- that is, a Germany governed by an invincible strong man can reclaim its greatness by: denigrating and removing the culprits such as Jews, communists, and defectives; limiting the citizenship rights of opponents including voting rights; opposing a free press and protesting; and war mongering to conquer enemies. Trump is using the same game plan --- prey on people's fears, sow hatred of minorities as causing their disphoria, use strong arm tactics to prevail, and promise a glorious future if he is followed unquestionably. Very scary stuff.
1
Well I'm Irish Catholic but if any of these carnival barkers becomes president, God forbid, I want to be first in line to get my yellow crescent. Because we are either one people or we aren't and we can't allow a truck full of clowns to create a fascist police state all in the name of ginned up crisis.
6
I've been saying for months that Americans should read "The Plot Against America" if they want to better understand the Trump phenomenon — and would it could portend.
2
Thank you, Mr. Egan for this excellent cautionary tale in which Donald Trump is every rational American's version of a political nightmare. Sadly, but not surprising, his candidacy has been legitimized by a venal media, and that includes Barbara Walters, who in her dotage, recently sunk to an all time low as she met with Trump & Co., all the while ignoring the fact that this huckster's demagoguery is playing far too well with that segment of the Caucasian population which thrives on paranoia, racism, hate, willful ignorance and deep resentment of the " other".
3
I feel the clouds have parted, and it is suddenly clear why conservatives oppose science (climate change, evolution) and education (delete Dept of, denigrate teachers, less philosophers). I see now its about building an electorate incapable of critical thinking, one ready to accept lies as truth. The lies need only play on deeply held prejudices or fear of others.
Let's not pretend Trump is employing this strategy by accident. This is a conscious, masterful, campaign against American values, built on a cult of personality. Lies built on lies, outrage after outrage, the despot establishes that he can say anything. From there, an easy step up to doing anything.
Let's not pretend Trump is employing this strategy by accident. This is a conscious, masterful, campaign against American values, built on a cult of personality. Lies built on lies, outrage after outrage, the despot establishes that he can say anything. From there, an easy step up to doing anything.
11
Of one thing I'm persuaded. Fascism can indeed happen here if decent people allow it. Fascism can be avoided if we insist upon confronting it, even it it risks broken noses and kicked ribs (thank you, Donald Trump). The Philip Roth and Brown Shirt analogies are right on-target.
When we have supportive mobs, egged-on by the presidential candidates, beating up non-believers, we're beginning a descent toward 1930 Bavaria. The world has been here before. Without institutional memory, however, it's as though it's all new to us.
Are we better than our home grown right-wing autocrats? Santa's scoming; the answer is just around the corner.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
When we have supportive mobs, egged-on by the presidential candidates, beating up non-believers, we're beginning a descent toward 1930 Bavaria. The world has been here before. Without institutional memory, however, it's as though it's all new to us.
Are we better than our home grown right-wing autocrats? Santa's scoming; the answer is just around the corner.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
4
The cast of GOP presenting candidates reminds me of junior high school where bullying, swagger, and intimidation is often mistaken for leadership. Add over-simplification and you can understand the GOP base. Very early in the game yet. These GOP candidates will wear thin by Oct. 2016.
4
Let us give Thanks that, in this country, we can also call a spade a spade. Thank you, Mr. Egan.
5
Any political party that would let such a man as Trump be their standard-bearer literally for months has a base that is quite sick. Anyone holding reasonable conservative ideals will be pulling the voting lever with millions of people who indeed might be legitimately characterized as Brownshirts, as Egan does here. Nothing good can ever come of such easily manipulated ugliness. I, for one, will never stand in line, waiting to cast my vote, right behind someone with Trump's don't-tread-on-me manifesto tattooed on his neck.
4
I may be bringing a "pie in the sky" attitude to the idea of Trump being the nominee of the Republican party. As a liberal/progressive I say bring him on. Not only will the Democratic nominee (Hillary) win in a landslide but may even return the Congress to Democratic control so to insure that some progress can be made in this country.
188
You spelt Bernie wrong.
1
President Hindenberg thought he could mollify the unruly National Socialist party by giving their difficult leader the job of Chancellor. I strongly feel Trump is better stopped sooner rather than later.
3
Provided of course, that ISIS doesn't pull some atrocities in mid-October, stampeding the electorate into putting Trump in the White House. It wouldn't be the first time this country's chain has been yanked by events in the Middle East.
2
Yes, this is all disgusting to watch. Yet I think it's still too soon to have any truly serious concern Mr. Trump will every get elected - as President, or to any important position.
What seems more likely to me is this. Sooner or later over the next six months, for various reasons, attention turns to the truly likely GOP candidates and the spotlight moves away from Mr. Trump. He will of course pull out of the race, but before that I believe its possible out of desperation, unbelief and narcissism his ridiculous and scary statements turn into true insanity (which is what's actually going on here). His crowds will get smaller, more hate filled, more depressing and will get all the attention from the general populace that any white supremacist gathering today (practically none). When he eventually and inevitably steps down it will be part of a sad and very public downward spiral, and he will go back to his "Trump" branding business - a brand that will be an embarrassment for anyone other than white supremacists, which is not a very valuable brand.
That, is the much more likely eventual scenario. Trust me, I can feel these things.
What seems more likely to me is this. Sooner or later over the next six months, for various reasons, attention turns to the truly likely GOP candidates and the spotlight moves away from Mr. Trump. He will of course pull out of the race, but before that I believe its possible out of desperation, unbelief and narcissism his ridiculous and scary statements turn into true insanity (which is what's actually going on here). His crowds will get smaller, more hate filled, more depressing and will get all the attention from the general populace that any white supremacist gathering today (practically none). When he eventually and inevitably steps down it will be part of a sad and very public downward spiral, and he will go back to his "Trump" branding business - a brand that will be an embarrassment for anyone other than white supremacists, which is not a very valuable brand.
That, is the much more likely eventual scenario. Trust me, I can feel these things.
3
From your lips, to God's ears.
1
Looking at Americans' party affiliation, Democrats regained an advantage over Republicans, new Gallup polling finds. The results look at the second quarter of 2015. A total of 46 percent of Americans said they consider themselves Democrats and 41 percent identified themselves as Republicans.Jul 6, 2015
This is one of a bunch of Rep/Dem polls one can find but seems to be representative. So if Donald is leading the Republican candidates with 25% that translates into 10.25% of the general population. Although my disgust with The Donald is equal to or greater than Mr Egan's, this tiny minority of Trump supporters is not enough to start me screaming fire and running for the exit. He is not creating new converts, just talking to the ones who are and have been and will be part of our society pretty much forever.
This is one of a bunch of Rep/Dem polls one can find but seems to be representative. So if Donald is leading the Republican candidates with 25% that translates into 10.25% of the general population. Although my disgust with The Donald is equal to or greater than Mr Egan's, this tiny minority of Trump supporters is not enough to start me screaming fire and running for the exit. He is not creating new converts, just talking to the ones who are and have been and will be part of our society pretty much forever.
2
There seems to be a great deal of puzzlement among the chattering classes over the rise of Donald Trump and the other proto-Fascists within the Republican Party - and astonishment at the eagerness of crowds to embrace them.
Connect the dots. This is the end result of steady propagandizing by FOX News and the rest of the Murdoch empire, along with the rise of conservative (actually radical) talk radio. This is what you get when billionaires can buy politicians out of their petty cash, and take over entire states, like Wisconsin and Kansas. It's what you get when people who increasingly seeing no hope of that good life they thought living in America was supposed to get them are offered a whole menu of targets to blame for their troubles: people of color, Liberals, Big Government, the poor, immigrants, the media...
This is what happens when the media fails to do its job, with one-hand other-hand 'balance' reporting that makes no distinctions between competing narratives, one of which has a lot more money behind it. People no longer rely on reason; they go with the gut, and the gut is connected to the darkest, most primitive parts of the human brain.
From Charles P. Pierce, "Idiot America":
THE THREE GREAT PREMISES OF IDIOT AMERICA:
1) Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings, or otherwise moves units.
2. Anything can be true if someone says it loudly enough.
3. Fact is that which enough people believe. Truth is measured by how fervently they believe it.
Connect the dots. This is the end result of steady propagandizing by FOX News and the rest of the Murdoch empire, along with the rise of conservative (actually radical) talk radio. This is what you get when billionaires can buy politicians out of their petty cash, and take over entire states, like Wisconsin and Kansas. It's what you get when people who increasingly seeing no hope of that good life they thought living in America was supposed to get them are offered a whole menu of targets to blame for their troubles: people of color, Liberals, Big Government, the poor, immigrants, the media...
This is what happens when the media fails to do its job, with one-hand other-hand 'balance' reporting that makes no distinctions between competing narratives, one of which has a lot more money behind it. People no longer rely on reason; they go with the gut, and the gut is connected to the darkest, most primitive parts of the human brain.
From Charles P. Pierce, "Idiot America":
THE THREE GREAT PREMISES OF IDIOT AMERICA:
1) Any theory is valid if it sells books, soaks up ratings, or otherwise moves units.
2. Anything can be true if someone says it loudly enough.
3. Fact is that which enough people believe. Truth is measured by how fervently they believe it.
12
Where has the MSM been these many years - particularly, the 29 years since Reagan killed the broadcast Fairness Doctrine for the express purpose of establishing a permanent Republican Party propaganda machine - as the GOP has slipped and slid toward fascism while it put forward that MSM unicorn of a 'bipartisan' Republican, like McCain and Romney and Dole and Bush, as its presidential candidates to pull the wool over YOUR eyes?
While you were distracted looking at those 'moderate' candidates, you weren't paying attention to what Club for Growth, ALEC, the Kochs and the fundamentalist theocrats were doing on the Red state levels. And, you seem to be totally unaware that the craziness in the states flows up to the Congress.
Does Trump's campaign really seem so crazy when you consider we have not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 fundamentalist Christian theocrats running for the GOP nomination - 5, counting Kasich. Theocrats, people. Theocrats who do not believe in separation of church and state. Are YOU in the right church?
The MSM jumped down the rabbit hole of false equivalence, that's where it's been. Do you think you can stop it now that you've seen where that's taken and taking us?
I cross reference to Linda Greenhouse's op-ed this week about sex, contraception, abortion and, above all, religion...which has been at the heart of the supreme court & the Republican Party's march toward theocratic fascism since 1973...1973..while the MSM lost its mind as surely as the GOP.
While you were distracted looking at those 'moderate' candidates, you weren't paying attention to what Club for Growth, ALEC, the Kochs and the fundamentalist theocrats were doing on the Red state levels. And, you seem to be totally unaware that the craziness in the states flows up to the Congress.
Does Trump's campaign really seem so crazy when you consider we have not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 fundamentalist Christian theocrats running for the GOP nomination - 5, counting Kasich. Theocrats, people. Theocrats who do not believe in separation of church and state. Are YOU in the right church?
The MSM jumped down the rabbit hole of false equivalence, that's where it's been. Do you think you can stop it now that you've seen where that's taken and taking us?
I cross reference to Linda Greenhouse's op-ed this week about sex, contraception, abortion and, above all, religion...which has been at the heart of the supreme court & the Republican Party's march toward theocratic fascism since 1973...1973..while the MSM lost its mind as surely as the GOP.
19
The fact that Trump -- a blustering, obnoxious, hateful little man -- had a successful TV show for a number of years should have alerted anyone paying attention to the fact that the "ugly" he was selling was being "bought" by a lot of people who liked his bullying, nasty demeanor. It's the same reason some NJ voters elected the bullying Chris Christie who based his campaign on demeaning teachers, cops, etc. -- all public employees as being the "enemy" of the majority of NJ residents. People like Trump and Christie have nothing to sell but bullying, hatefulness and fear and unfortunately -- the sad sack populace who has listened to an watched rightwing radio and TV for the past ten years lap it up like the stupid gluttons that they are as they fail to comprehend that they are viewed as useful idiots by the Christie and Trump types and will the target of the next round of hate when the current crop of targets no longer is sufficient to whip up the hate meter.
It astounds me that any Jewish person in the US can possibly be a Republican or vote Republican given the proposals of the Republican candidates in regard to walls across the border, roundups of Muslims, refusal of refugees and "guaranteeing" that in their new "world" we'll all be saying "Merry Christmas." This is the same kind of rhetoric that Hitler used to inflame the German populace against their Jewish neighbors and now we have the same kind of lunacy being unleashed in the US.
It astounds me that any Jewish person in the US can possibly be a Republican or vote Republican given the proposals of the Republican candidates in regard to walls across the border, roundups of Muslims, refusal of refugees and "guaranteeing" that in their new "world" we'll all be saying "Merry Christmas." This is the same kind of rhetoric that Hitler used to inflame the German populace against their Jewish neighbors and now we have the same kind of lunacy being unleashed in the US.
10
He knows Well how to Glisten....He never learned how to Listen. He, therefore,
Has No Need or Heed for any input from the outside world. This demagogue needs no other "God"', because He (Trump) is his own Deity. He can even enjoy any denigration, simply because, at least, it is about Him. Amazing, in this media-driven world, that he can be at the "top" of a "Poll", the media still declares he will "Never" be nominated.
Has No Need or Heed for any input from the outside world. This demagogue needs no other "God"', because He (Trump) is his own Deity. He can even enjoy any denigration, simply because, at least, it is about Him. Amazing, in this media-driven world, that he can be at the "top" of a "Poll", the media still declares he will "Never" be nominated.
3
My mother lived through the rise and fall of the Nazis in Germany. The thugs and the low-lives were the early and enthusiastic supporters of that party. The similarities between them and Trump supporters are scary.
14
For years the Republican Party encouraged and provided safe sanctuary to the likes of Trump, Limbaugh, Bachman, Cruz...and dozens of other equally demagogic personalities, who with their inflammatory and ultimately poisonous rhetoric has created a self consuming monster. Millions from the right wing electorate have actually come to believe the mis-information and subtle hate they've been fed for years making it impossible for a sane and sensible candidate to rise through the primaries to win the Republican nomination.
What may have worked in the past to win the votes of the ill informed has reached the inevitable tipping point where the monster the so-called conservatives created and nurtured now controls them. The question of the moment is... if the Republican Party is to survive, who among the leadership will have the courage to step forward and admit to the lies and distortions accepted as gospel, and can such a person survive as a viable candidate. I think not.
What may have worked in the past to win the votes of the ill informed has reached the inevitable tipping point where the monster the so-called conservatives created and nurtured now controls them. The question of the moment is... if the Republican Party is to survive, who among the leadership will have the courage to step forward and admit to the lies and distortions accepted as gospel, and can such a person survive as a viable candidate. I think not.
387
Thank-you for this column, Mr. Egan.
The Republican Party is alive only because it's base is willfully ignorant; that so many people it, and are, again, willfully ignorant of how they are being manipulated does not bode well for this country. The veneer of civilization is razor thin and we are at a crossroads as to which road to take. Fear will chose for us unless we become educated, and that does not seem to be the case given our Puritan heritage of believing educated people are "uppity." We are skating on thin ice when a demagogue like Trump has sway over so many.
Sadly, a large group of Americans are incapable of thinking out a problem, as you do in this column.
The Republican Party is alive only because it's base is willfully ignorant; that so many people it, and are, again, willfully ignorant of how they are being manipulated does not bode well for this country. The veneer of civilization is razor thin and we are at a crossroads as to which road to take. Fear will chose for us unless we become educated, and that does not seem to be the case given our Puritan heritage of believing educated people are "uppity." We are skating on thin ice when a demagogue like Trump has sway over so many.
Sadly, a large group of Americans are incapable of thinking out a problem, as you do in this column.
2
Kasich is strongly calling him out and I applaud him for this, but it makes Kasich seem reasonable when on many issues, he is not.
2
And in not stepping forward to debunk the lies and distortions, these Republicans will ultimately ensure the election of our next Democratic president. I have faith that there are enough Americans who see through the nonsense and hateful rhetoric...at least, I hope this is the case.
2
Tim: Usually I can find SOMETHING to argue, but this time you have it right.
The Trump-Thumpers must be stopped.
The Trump-Thumpers must be stopped.
10
TRUMP, according to the facts detailed in Timothy Egan's horrifying article, contain clear evidence that Donald Trump seems to be suffering from severe mental illness. Thus, he is unfit to govern.
The processes Egan has described can be seen in any documentary about the hunting and slaughter of the Jews by the Nazis. Also, Trump's use of the Bid Lie tactic is attracting a bunch of similarly demented voters. The media must confront him strongly and consistently on his false statements. For publishing them without such clearly merited classifications will prove to be the final blow to the free press in the US.
I recall seeing a Nazi propaganda film, where a large, menacing member of the SS, dressed all in black, says something like, When someone starts talking about culture, I take out my pistol and start shooting. I could as easily see Trump playing such a role in a similar propaganda film.
We must protect the nation from such a horrible day by moving to declare Trump mentally unfit to run for public office. The danger is clear: Trump is publicly and repeatedly making terroristic threats against clearly identified groups of residents.
I sure hope that Trump's bid for presidency, unnatural as it is, will die a natural death well before the Republican convention next year. If he's nominated, US citizens has best start fleeing the country to protect their lives. They may need to head toward places like Syria. That's going from the frying pan into the fire!
The processes Egan has described can be seen in any documentary about the hunting and slaughter of the Jews by the Nazis. Also, Trump's use of the Bid Lie tactic is attracting a bunch of similarly demented voters. The media must confront him strongly and consistently on his false statements. For publishing them without such clearly merited classifications will prove to be the final blow to the free press in the US.
I recall seeing a Nazi propaganda film, where a large, menacing member of the SS, dressed all in black, says something like, When someone starts talking about culture, I take out my pistol and start shooting. I could as easily see Trump playing such a role in a similar propaganda film.
We must protect the nation from such a horrible day by moving to declare Trump mentally unfit to run for public office. The danger is clear: Trump is publicly and repeatedly making terroristic threats against clearly identified groups of residents.
I sure hope that Trump's bid for presidency, unnatural as it is, will die a natural death well before the Republican convention next year. If he's nominated, US citizens has best start fleeing the country to protect their lives. They may need to head toward places like Syria. That's going from the frying pan into the fire!
8
Trumps stump speeches are right out of 1933.
Germans didn't take the Corporal serious either at first.
The GOP slings their pre-emptory Nazi comparisons to undermine opposition while they faithfully use the playbook. Control the courts, rile anxiety and anger, suppress the electorate...
Germans didn't take the Corporal serious either at first.
The GOP slings their pre-emptory Nazi comparisons to undermine opposition while they faithfully use the playbook. Control the courts, rile anxiety and anger, suppress the electorate...
7
The parallels are chilling. While I don't really think Trump is as pathological as the failed German art student, the Führer said, "I was always laughed at as a prophet. Of those who laughed then, countless ones no longer laugh today, and those who still laugh now will perhaps in a while also no longer do so."
2
Trump is the first presidential candidate to actually scare me with his talk of deporting and breaking up entire families and his vile bottom feeding rhetoric which has now culminated in acts of violence at his "events."
Check out pictures of Mussolini. Their narcissistic, self-satisfied smug smirk is exactly the same (although Mussolini didn't have some kind of bizarre hair weave--he let his baldness shine.)
Check out pictures of Mussolini. Their narcissistic, self-satisfied smug smirk is exactly the same (although Mussolini didn't have some kind of bizarre hair weave--he let his baldness shine.)
10
Donald Trump, the new Mussolini. But he can't win without Hispanics and blacks, so let's all relax--and switch the channel when he bloviates.
5
Depressing, your piece on Donald Trump's Police State. Seems someone else with a loud voice (black hair and little black toothbrush moustache) created a Police State called Das Dritte Reich in the 1930s and 40s. Philip Roth's "The Plot Against America" was one of Roth's better efforts in portraying social Darwinism in the US with Colonel Lindbergh as POTUS. Anti-Semitism rampant. At least Trump is not picking on Jews, given his exquisite daughter Ivanka Trump's conversion to Orthodox Judaism before her marriage years ago. For that we must all be grateful. But he does pick on people who are physically limited and "low energy" (like Jeb and Hillary). It is my earnest hope that The Donald's hot-air energy runs out sooner than later. How on earth could that man deport 11,000,000 humans from the US? His "jackbooted minions" closing mosques and registering all Muslims in the US? Liar, bloviator,demented blatherskit, a few true nouns. Syrian refgees "pouring into the US"? My foot. Thouisands and thousands of Muslims on the west bank of the Hudson cheering the downfall of the Twin Towers 14 years ago? Again, my foot. What on earth is this man talking about and why is anyone listening to him?
10
Four years ago, I watched Mitt Romney comically lurching to the far right to keep up with his competitors. But little did I know we'd have a frontrunner in 2015 who's openly flirting with fascism. After decades of the party using carefully coded language and subtle dog whistle politics to talk about scapegoats, Trump has tapped into something very disturbing in Americans and unleashed it.
Hillary Clinton is often criticized by liberal voters as being center right, and too cozy with Wall St. But she's looking better and better these days.
Hillary Clinton is often criticized by liberal voters as being center right, and too cozy with Wall St. But she's looking better and better these days.
7
Yes, I agree, Trump would usher in the last few stages of a Police State, which of course suggests we have the first states already in place, compliments of Obama and Bush, and their corporate masters.
My perception of this latest farcical run for the highest office in our land is this -
Both parties are one and the same; Hillary has been selected to be the President. The slate, both parties, is a construct, doing what it was designed to do, which is manage the perception of a very gullible population, and focus them on the least objectionable candidate.
Hillary is every bit as dangerous as Trump; once elected she will immediately do what she does best, which even the most obtuse knows is support and enhance the current corporate ownership of our government.
The game is nearing it's conclusion; the .01%ters have won. The future of the United States, and indeed the rest of the world, is a return to an existence similar to the feudalism of old, with the .01%ters as the Lords of the Mannor, and "We the very foolish People", the serfs, kept subjugated in a police state not unlike that of the old Soviet Union.
And who is to blame ?? We the people, of course, in our apathy, we allowed ourselves to be led to the slaughter.
My perception of this latest farcical run for the highest office in our land is this -
Both parties are one and the same; Hillary has been selected to be the President. The slate, both parties, is a construct, doing what it was designed to do, which is manage the perception of a very gullible population, and focus them on the least objectionable candidate.
Hillary is every bit as dangerous as Trump; once elected she will immediately do what she does best, which even the most obtuse knows is support and enhance the current corporate ownership of our government.
The game is nearing it's conclusion; the .01%ters have won. The future of the United States, and indeed the rest of the world, is a return to an existence similar to the feudalism of old, with the .01%ters as the Lords of the Mannor, and "We the very foolish People", the serfs, kept subjugated in a police state not unlike that of the old Soviet Union.
And who is to blame ?? We the people, of course, in our apathy, we allowed ourselves to be led to the slaughter.
5
If were going to talk about concern regarding potential Police State scenarios, I can't stop thinking about concerns of our current Police State scenarios such as the war on "drugs" & its prison labor industry, data collection, the treatment of the poor, etc...
This also relates to the Trump supporters who are mostly supporters of those concerns as well. People who see these as concerns don't seem as united as those ruled by their own fears. This has to change.
This also relates to the Trump supporters who are mostly supporters of those concerns as well. People who see these as concerns don't seem as united as those ruled by their own fears. This has to change.
3
I've written this before, and the those who decide which comments get published always exclude it, so, based on Mr. Egan's op- Ed piece, here I go again. Donald Hitler and Benito Carson; perfect together. Ted McCarthey & Mike (Father) Coughlin; bigots wrapped in the cloak of politics. What is happening to America?
7
I think the moderators don't care for Hitler and Fascist comparisons, but they are true. The press absolutely has a responsibility - as Mr. Egan does with this column - to not whitewash the historical parallels.
3
“As his jackbooted minions grab legal Americans (the children born in this country, citizens per the 14th amendment) and separate them from their illegal parents, he will place them — where?”
But Rubio, Cruz, Trump and others would get rid of that 14th amendment! Those “anchor babies” (As disgusting a term as “illegal alien.”) should NOT be citizens. Cruz, Rubio, and Trump are ALL sons of immigrants. Cruz’ father an immigrant from Cuba then established himself in Canada where Ted was born..to an American woman...but gee didn’t Trump go all in that Obama was not a natural citizen? Even IF Obama had been born in Kenya he would STILL be an American. Obama had dual citizenship--USA and Kenya by the fact his father was Kenyan. Obama gave up his citizenship to Kenya when he was 21 y/o LONG before running for any political office.
Cruz had dual citizenship with Canada but as soon as it became a talking point in the presidential campaign, he immediately rescinded his Canadian passport.
Trump’s mother was an immigrant from Scotland--BUT she was Bee-you-ti-full!
Rubio the son of two emigres from Cuba--NOT refugees escaping the rebels but getting jobs in the casino industry.---Not exactly the Mariel Boat lift!
NOW--STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS ORANGE HAIRED FREAK.
Let’s look at a rational plan for immigration and climate change-- a man that the NY Times will NEVER give an inch of space to--except to call hm an outlier such as Carson and Trump!
Feel the Bern.Sanders 2016
But Rubio, Cruz, Trump and others would get rid of that 14th amendment! Those “anchor babies” (As disgusting a term as “illegal alien.”) should NOT be citizens. Cruz, Rubio, and Trump are ALL sons of immigrants. Cruz’ father an immigrant from Cuba then established himself in Canada where Ted was born..to an American woman...but gee didn’t Trump go all in that Obama was not a natural citizen? Even IF Obama had been born in Kenya he would STILL be an American. Obama had dual citizenship--USA and Kenya by the fact his father was Kenyan. Obama gave up his citizenship to Kenya when he was 21 y/o LONG before running for any political office.
Cruz had dual citizenship with Canada but as soon as it became a talking point in the presidential campaign, he immediately rescinded his Canadian passport.
Trump’s mother was an immigrant from Scotland--BUT she was Bee-you-ti-full!
Rubio the son of two emigres from Cuba--NOT refugees escaping the rebels but getting jobs in the casino industry.---Not exactly the Mariel Boat lift!
NOW--STOP TALKING ABOUT THIS ORANGE HAIRED FREAK.
Let’s look at a rational plan for immigration and climate change-- a man that the NY Times will NEVER give an inch of space to--except to call hm an outlier such as Carson and Trump!
Feel the Bern.Sanders 2016
8
I wonder if Trump would have made fun of FDR, whose leadership saved the country, for being confined to a wheelchair.
7
And please do not smile while reading Mr Egan's opinion. Hitler and his thugs perfromed the same odious crimes and Trump, if elected, could do the same thing. Look at other Republican leaders, racist groups and others and the impossible might become the possible. Say NO to this Republican party.
15
Back in 1990 Vanity Fair interviewed Ivana Trump after her much publicized divorce. She indicated that her ex-husband's bedtime reading often included a book given to him by oilman Marvin Davis: the collected speeches of Adolph Hitler, 1918-39. Neither Trump nor Davis ever denied this.
Do we really want to go back there as a nation? Are we that lazy and ignorant? Do we still learn how Constitutional democracy was designed and should work--including the necessity of participation by an educated electorate? Do we learn about fascism and where it took Italy and Germany by 1945?
Or has this nation forgotten history's lessons, only to repeat them?
Do we really want to go back there as a nation? Are we that lazy and ignorant? Do we still learn how Constitutional democracy was designed and should work--including the necessity of participation by an educated electorate? Do we learn about fascism and where it took Italy and Germany by 1945?
Or has this nation forgotten history's lessons, only to repeat them?
16
When a TV report a few days ago showed Trump laughingly approving the roughing up of protesters at one of his rallies, a chill came over me. This, of course, is one of the ways the Nazis came to power: by "roughing" up their opponents at their rallies and. later, in the streets. Will we soon see the emergence of "Storm Trooper" guards at Trump rallies? Thank you Timothy Egan for revealing the worst threat represented by Donald Trump.
33
Thank you so much for making this clear. I have been telling my friends for many months now that Trump is using the techniques that Hitler used:
1. Villifying a 'despised' minority (Now he has two!)
2. Telling enormous lies and sticking to them
3. Ranting rather than speaking in a reasonable way.
When I was a young naval aviator stationed in Brunswick, Maine I took guitar lessons from a woman (wife of a professor at Bowdoin) who had been in college in Germany during Hitler's rise. She said that she and her fellow German students used to go to sit in the cafés to listen to, and laugh at, Hitler. It never occurred to them that he could actually get elected to anything. "He was so un-German", she told me.
I don't know whether she still lives (this was 1959), but I imagine that if she does, she is frightened by what she sees.
1. Villifying a 'despised' minority (Now he has two!)
2. Telling enormous lies and sticking to them
3. Ranting rather than speaking in a reasonable way.
When I was a young naval aviator stationed in Brunswick, Maine I took guitar lessons from a woman (wife of a professor at Bowdoin) who had been in college in Germany during Hitler's rise. She said that she and her fellow German students used to go to sit in the cafés to listen to, and laugh at, Hitler. It never occurred to them that he could actually get elected to anything. "He was so un-German", she told me.
I don't know whether she still lives (this was 1959), but I imagine that if she does, she is frightened by what she sees.
33
Tim, thank you for telling the truth about this dangerous liar.
It is up to all of us ordinary voters to make sure he does not succeed.
Get out and vote this time! No matter what it takes!
It is up to all of us ordinary voters to make sure he does not succeed.
Get out and vote this time! No matter what it takes!
20
To all the people who are Trump supporters, I have a bulletin for you, after Mexicans and Syrian refugees, the next group of people that Trump has contempt for is YOU!
With each and every lie Trump tells, he is mocking your lack intelligence. He counts on you to be so gullible that you will believe all his lies. He courts your fear that there are thousands of terrorists who want to take away your Doritos and flat screen TVs.
When was the last time you considered someone a "friend" who lied to you 75% of the time? Trump knows he can lie to you because he knows you are too dumb and lazy to read a newspaper or flip the channel from Fox News.
The fact that I think you are dumb should be of no concern to you, what should concern you, is that I am quite certain that Donald Trump thinks you are too! As long as his followers are as dumb as you, he will always appear to be the smartest person in the room.
With each and every lie Trump tells, he is mocking your lack intelligence. He counts on you to be so gullible that you will believe all his lies. He courts your fear that there are thousands of terrorists who want to take away your Doritos and flat screen TVs.
When was the last time you considered someone a "friend" who lied to you 75% of the time? Trump knows he can lie to you because he knows you are too dumb and lazy to read a newspaper or flip the channel from Fox News.
The fact that I think you are dumb should be of no concern to you, what should concern you, is that I am quite certain that Donald Trump thinks you are too! As long as his followers are as dumb as you, he will always appear to be the smartest person in the room.
17
We can no longer simply shrug our shoulders and roll our eyes at Donald Trump. He has become a demagogue pure and simple and yes-dangerous. Americans of integrity need to speak out now and condemn him.
18
If Trump were a Nazi Ron Paul wouldn't be so upset about his candidacy. Paul was the favorite of Willis Carto, a crypto-Nazi who some have suggested was the author of Paul's pro-David Duke, racist newsletter. Trump represents the feelings of those who feel that America is being demonized and as a result portraits of George Washington and other slave holders are being replaced with that of Al Sharpton and Michael Brown. Also there is a lot of dissatisfaction with the way Obama is dealing with ISIS in light of the fact the French president said it was in the process of assembling bio-weapons. Trump is not a isolated phenomena. Marine LePen may be the head of state of France.
2
To paraphrase a saying attributed to Sinclair Lewis: "If totalitarianism is ever to come to America, it will arrive wrapped in the American flag and carrying a cross." Yes, this menace is in the atmosphere, but Trump will not be the vehicle. He may stir up the rabble but he will not get the support of Corporate Big Money and he is light in the religion department. Ted Cruz is a far more likely candidate for the role of the Lindbergh of today.
6
Fox, Rush, and the rest of the vast, right-wing Republican conspiracy to turn America's low-info white masses into dittoheads in brown shirts with 24/7 lies and brainwashing have been following the Goebbels playbook, chapter and verse for literally decades now. The plot has, of course, worked like a charm. Human nature does not change. There's nothing magical that inoculates the anxious American mob from the racist, nativist, rabidly nationalist toxins that played so well in Germany in the early Thirties. Our most insanely "patriotic" citizens, like those who cheered Hitler so brutally, are the greatest enemies of democracy in American history. Trump and Cruz are the strong man maestros who play the mob's fears like a violin. If Hillary loses to these thugs, we're in the deepest trouble we've seen since the Civil War.
16
What I find most worrying is how Trump's followers would react if he were elected. They would expect him to follow through on these awful ideas but the courts and people of integrity would stop him. Then those same folks, who are angry at Mitch McConnell for not being conservative enough, will be ready to take to the streets with their second amendment rights on full display.
Of course the Republican party created this mess by supporting know-nothing candidates who promised the moon with no prospect of ever delivering. Unfortunately for the rest of us, "they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind."
Of course the Republican party created this mess by supporting know-nothing candidates who promised the moon with no prospect of ever delivering. Unfortunately for the rest of us, "they have sown the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind."
9
Mr. Egan, your description is terrifying, and it could well have happened. We fought WWII to prevent just that, and protect our way of life, but didn't consider our real enemies would come from within not without. There are hate groups in every country, certainly the U.S. Is not immune, and I would suggest Trump and his minions be considered a new hate group, right up there with the KKK and white supremacist groups. I do not believe Trump has the ability, the numbers, to win a presidential election, but he must stand as a warning to us that our enemies can come from our ranks, speak our language, and call themselves patriots. It is up to the American voter to be vigilant, see and call out evil when they see it, and vote accordingly.
16
History's epitaph is It Can't Happen Here. The political perfect storm. Begins with economic decline for most Americans masked by a smothering media culture of denial and distraction. Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous while Rome, Georgia, burns and the Emperors of 1% fiddle, racing their Teslas, hording vaults of gold conjured with an illicit alchemy of hedge funds and money temples too big to fail, idolizing clay-footed masters of the universe and their political agents who are the assassins of the American Dream. A sleeping middle class wakes up to an underclass reality of foreclosure, meth addiction, broken families, fractured communities. Dismay morphs into distress, denial into despair. Middle class America, the stabilizing ballast of our democracy, is unmoored and the flagship of equality and justice lists off-kilter, adrift with icebergs, gale winds, roiling high seas ahead. There's been no economic recovery for most despite all the giddy happy talk of hapless tea readers who think corporate profit is the only metric of our well-being. Optimism twists into weak-kneed foreboding. Civility contorts to venomous snakebite. Differences trigger a mindless retreat to a panic room of sealed borders and shoot-on-sight trespass. An economic drought has left America a desiccated forest of dry tinder in fire season. Trump comes as a pyromaniac, twitching with a pocketful of matches, impotent in the grip of his hellish impulse to ignite the fire next time.
12
The beauty of Trump is that it demonstrates how states can flip and become fascist dictatorships. He clearly is working on the cult of his personality, that he is above it, can win it all, make everything better, and eliminate all of your problems.
And not surprisingly a solid group of people have been drawn to this cult, and are working diligently to grow it.
Of course, I hope we don't witness a tipping point like occurred in Germany, Chile, Spain, Italy, Cambodia, etc,, since that will be the end of all free communication and the exchange of ideas. But that is where so many want to go.
And not surprisingly a solid group of people have been drawn to this cult, and are working diligently to grow it.
Of course, I hope we don't witness a tipping point like occurred in Germany, Chile, Spain, Italy, Cambodia, etc,, since that will be the end of all free communication and the exchange of ideas. But that is where so many want to go.
10
Profiles in courage for The Donald's running mates. Scared children pretending to support a bully pummeling a weaker classmate in desperate hopes the bully won't suddenly turn his wrath on them.
Difficult to imagine any of these candidates dealing with all those meanie world leaders when they can't stand up to a member of their own political party.
Difficult to imagine any of these candidates dealing with all those meanie world leaders when they can't stand up to a member of their own political party.
12
Take a look at the perpetual scowl on Mr. Trump's face, then at a picture Benito Mussolini. Thankfully we do not yet have all of the coordination and resources in place to execute his totalitarian vision. Once you create that kind of muscle, the next thing is the need to exercise it.
7
I'm no longer calling Trump "carrot-top." From now on it's "Il Duce."
2
I hate these phrases like "crypto-fascist" - to me, they represent the unbridled ambition of Left-wing PC Thought Police to slap the fascist label onto anyone they please to. I really want to see Americans elect Donald Trump their president, if only just to see him burst this ridiculous fantasy-bubble that the the streets will be ablaze after he takes office, and that there will be gestapo goose-stepping through every neighborhood. Voters are looking to push back against the PC Thought Police, against trans-nationalism, against anti-Americanism, against all the obsessive identity politics, and against lawlessness. The past 8 years of Obama have seen America backslide, and the endlessly self-adulating Left will have to pay a price for that. Trump is very irreverent, and people like that about him - the fascist card is just an attempt by the Left to force Trump to kiss their ring. Trump's not doing it - and none of the Left who promise to leave the USA if Trump is elected will ever follow through on their melodramatic false rhetoric.
1
So if you are from Toronto, you should move to the Fascist States of America if Trump ever wins! How can you live with yourself with Trudeau as Prime Minister of Canada?
4
Sadly, labels of Trump are based on documented statements he has made, i.e., facts. Another fact is under Obama, the country's economy has improved from the brink of disaster to leading the globe. It hasn't been perfect but facts are facts. Such a shame republicans don't know how to identify facts. Look at the stock market numbers. The higher numbers now indicate an improvement over lower numbers created by Bush. I can't even believe that with the republicans we even have to insist that lower numbers mean less, lower, that the number is quantifiable. This is the scariness of the right today. Even numbers can't be looked at for what they truly are.
3
Lindbergh was a national hero. Although Ross choose him as a fictional villain, because of his unfortunate cozy relationship with Germany, to compare him in any way with the personality of Trump is ludicrous.
It is not Trump we should fear as much as the segment of our own population that have the seeds of nationalism, fascism, and racism deep in their DNA. Coincidentally, Trump strongest support is from the South. Sessions of Alabama wrote his immigration policy. We have our own history to be ashamed of. You don't have to make a reach to Hitler and Nazi Germany. Just think back to our own homegrown lynchings, the fire hoses, and the cops with clubs. Who ever in their wildest imagination thought that a born and bred New Yorker would be leading the charge of this rabble.
It is not Trump we should fear as much as the segment of our own population that have the seeds of nationalism, fascism, and racism deep in their DNA. Coincidentally, Trump strongest support is from the South. Sessions of Alabama wrote his immigration policy. We have our own history to be ashamed of. You don't have to make a reach to Hitler and Nazi Germany. Just think back to our own homegrown lynchings, the fire hoses, and the cops with clubs. Who ever in their wildest imagination thought that a born and bred New Yorker would be leading the charge of this rabble.
6
Lindbergh was a rabid anti-Semite, that fact is historically documented. He accomplished a never-before, feat in aviation, but I'm not sure it makes him a hero. He was certainly brave to attempt it, but put in context it wasn't heroic. His fascist leanings, writings, speeches and support for totalitarian and brutal dictators certainly outweigh his aviation accomplishment.
3
Lindbergh was a naive and foolish man when it came to pre war Germany, but he was not a rabid anti Semite. Later in life after learning of the concentration camps, which many Americans were unaware of, he expressed deep regret for his words and actions. He made a huge mistake. His wife in her subsequent writings indicated he felt deeply ashamed of his isolationist positions and felt only horror over what happened to the Jews. I know demonizing the man feeds into Zionist propaganda, but it just happens to be false.
All the racism and bigotry spewing forth from Fox and right-wing radio has finally culminated in the deification of the odious Donald Trump. For want of a better term, I call it “The Fox Effect.”
11
What came first, the chicken or the egg?
Trump's fascism pure was only possible to gain ground because the whole Republican party had already marched so far to the right before he even announced.
The vast majority of the party and its base was already at the abyss of fascism pure - starring Sarah Palin as the prototype - when it wrapping itself in the flag while carrying the cross.
When watching Trump events and listening to his rhetoric, I feel like the famous German painter Max Liebermann, the one who declared when seeing the rise of the Nazi Party: " I can't eat as much as I want to throw up".
Trump's fascism pure was only possible to gain ground because the whole Republican party had already marched so far to the right before he even announced.
The vast majority of the party and its base was already at the abyss of fascism pure - starring Sarah Palin as the prototype - when it wrapping itself in the flag while carrying the cross.
When watching Trump events and listening to his rhetoric, I feel like the famous German painter Max Liebermann, the one who declared when seeing the rise of the Nazi Party: " I can't eat as much as I want to throw up".
14
Not so fast -- support for Trump does not only come from his "uneducated,
blue collar followers" --. and he is not the only one telling lies. Political
correctness has turned the whole country into liars -- and people are
fed up with it and Trump knows it. That is is only strength.
blue collar followers" --. and he is not the only one telling lies. Political
correctness has turned the whole country into liars -- and people are
fed up with it and Trump knows it. That is is only strength.
Yes--the many "haters"--incenced by the election of a black man--are the core of Trump's supporters. His deeply racist position is made uglier every week he spews some new toxic plan out of his warped brain. "Muslim ID cards" is but one of many of his grotesque--Nazi-like--positions....
3
In a world where we face sacrifice and change in order to stem the effects of pollution, climate change, and poverty, there are plenty of -mostly white- "Christian" people who are afraid to lose what they see as security: material wealth and sameness. The rantings of Donald Trump and his ilk allow these fearful people to maintain the lie of justification for their fight against inclusion, sacrifice and change. If we can see Muslims and minorities as a threat we can then "protect " ourselves in our bubble of white Christian sovereignty. But we are one people on a vulnerable earth. Wake up everyone!
6
Mr. Egan, our country is already a police state. Just ask Brandon Buskey, who wrote an article for today's edition of the New York Times about the vast overreach of the criminal justice system, in which citizens are held in jail until being charged with a crime for as long as a year. Or look at our militarized police departments, complete with tanks and automatic weapons. Or look at any number of video recordings of unarmed civilians being killed by police, most of whom are never even indited. With 5% of the global population, the US has 25% of world's prison population. With civil forfeiture laws on their side, police departments across the country are free to confiscate the property of anyone they suspect of a crime without so much as a summons and in many cases are free to divide the spoils among themselves. The portion of our population that deal with the outcome of those facts are overwhelmingly poor and powerless.
Some people have suggested that if taxes are increased, the wealthy won't bother to earn as much money. I suggest it is the poor who have drawn the conclusion that if they try to improve their lives, there are people in uniforms ready, willing and able to reverse their progress through violence, intimidation and blunt force.
And I haven't even mentioned how we treat immigrants.
Some people have suggested that if taxes are increased, the wealthy won't bother to earn as much money. I suggest it is the poor who have drawn the conclusion that if they try to improve their lives, there are people in uniforms ready, willing and able to reverse their progress through violence, intimidation and blunt force.
And I haven't even mentioned how we treat immigrants.
9
Politics is all about "strategy". The "republicans" posing as candidates today, including DT and BC, are a smoke screen. They are meant to create an aura of frightening "craziness". Then the strategists will march out their real candidate - my money is on Paul Ryan. There is a reason John Boehner gave up the Speaker of the House position and Kevin McCarthy suddenly dropped out. Now the illustrious Mr. Ryan seems SO reasonable and says he can work with President Obama. Mr. Ryan is just another wolf in sheep's clothing as are all republican/libertarian/tea party candidates and some Koch brother operatives posing as democrats and independents. Personally, I support whoever Senators Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders suggest and democrat party women and men currently in office who have proven they care about 99% of us. Beware America but not of blowhards DT or BC. Watch out for the wolves pretending to be anything else. Jeb no-last-name Bush included.
7
This is a hysterical column about a straw man. Trump is leading in some polls that are almost certainly inaccurate, maybe wildly so.
But let's say the polls are correct and Trump is the favorite of 25% of likely Republican primary voters. Self-identified Republicans are 29% of the electorate. Not all of them vote in primaries. Generously, let's say half of them do. So Trump is favored by 25% of the 15% of voters who will vote in Republican primaries. That gives him a 'whopping' 3.75% support among all voters.
Donald John Trump is not going to be elected President. Isn't it time to write about something else?
Dan Kravitz
But let's say the polls are correct and Trump is the favorite of 25% of likely Republican primary voters. Self-identified Republicans are 29% of the electorate. Not all of them vote in primaries. Generously, let's say half of them do. So Trump is favored by 25% of the 15% of voters who will vote in Republican primaries. That gives him a 'whopping' 3.75% support among all voters.
Donald John Trump is not going to be elected President. Isn't it time to write about something else?
Dan Kravitz
3
I respectfully disagree. He is dangerous and we need to explain why he is dangerous. To ignore him would not stop his rallies, his recruitment of the racists and thugs to his cause. To have it out in the open is much better than letting it fester in the dark until it explodes and we are caught unawares. This is the duty of the free press so fundamental to our safety. If he truly is a non-entity, then he will fade from the public eye, but in the meantime it is best for all of us to have him and his "message" on full display.
4
Trump leads no political party of cross cutting loyalties and support. None of his ideas are thought through and any effort to implement his plans would be repudiated by the courts. Trump doesnt seem like a man who would send the military to seize or shutter the courts. Trump is the favorite of a passionate but small slice of the electorate. His candidacy demonstrates the contemporary weakness of the party system but he will not be the party nominee. If he runs as an independent, which is doubtful, he will not win but would damage the republican nominee. The candidate to be fearful of for his demagogic impulses is Ted Cruz, a disciplined, canny, ruthless politician in it for the long haul including future election cycles. Trump is an opportunistic sputtering schoolyard bully. Ted Cruz is something more.
4
Look at history and how white-men have sold their prejudice. Early on, the American Indians, then Jews, Irish, women, blacks, Mexicans. More recently, gays and now Muslims. We should be ashamed of our hatred. And we should be above the nit-wit salesman who want to burn a village for the worry that one is evil.
6
When protesters or people questioning Mr. Trump are at his rallies, time and again he has said "Get rid of them". This is his approach to many of the people in this country.
To Emmy-award winning reporter Jorge Ramos: "Sit down. Sit down. Go back to Univision..." and had guards remove him from the room. "Maybe he should have been roughed up," says Trump about a black protester in Alabama. "Yeah, you can get them the hell out," he says about two college student protesters from an article in the NYT yesterday.
Yes, he is dangerous, and he is fascist. Not enough media have been calling attention to this. Trump spent years trying to prove that the first black president was not born in this country. In 1927, Trump's father was evidently arrested at a KKK rally. Bigotry, lies and hate mongering have given Mr. Trump great popularity among his base. I doubt he really feels this hatred that personally, but he has demagogued ceaselessly and dangerously, and many of his followers use it as validation (to beat up a Latino man in Boston, for example).
Trump's America would not make America great again, but destroy what has made it great.
To Emmy-award winning reporter Jorge Ramos: "Sit down. Sit down. Go back to Univision..." and had guards remove him from the room. "Maybe he should have been roughed up," says Trump about a black protester in Alabama. "Yeah, you can get them the hell out," he says about two college student protesters from an article in the NYT yesterday.
Yes, he is dangerous, and he is fascist. Not enough media have been calling attention to this. Trump spent years trying to prove that the first black president was not born in this country. In 1927, Trump's father was evidently arrested at a KKK rally. Bigotry, lies and hate mongering have given Mr. Trump great popularity among his base. I doubt he really feels this hatred that personally, but he has demagogued ceaselessly and dangerously, and many of his followers use it as validation (to beat up a Latino man in Boston, for example).
Trump's America would not make America great again, but destroy what has made it great.
8
The 2016 election is going to be decided not on ideas but on gender, race, religion, and ethnicity. The result will be a country where the losing side will simply not accept the legitimacy of the victor (as in 2008 and 2012) and will do everything possible to undermine and obstruct.
And this comes from the conscious decision of the GOP starting in the 60s to invoke the "southern strategy" and play to the religious right to get their votes, with no intent on the part of the leaders to actually implement the agenda they preached. Finally the masses produced Trump, Carson, and Cruz, and they are ascendant over Jeb! and the others of the establishment.
Fasten your seatbelts, this is going to be a bumpy ride for the next decade!
And this comes from the conscious decision of the GOP starting in the 60s to invoke the "southern strategy" and play to the religious right to get their votes, with no intent on the part of the leaders to actually implement the agenda they preached. Finally the masses produced Trump, Carson, and Cruz, and they are ascendant over Jeb! and the others of the establishment.
Fasten your seatbelts, this is going to be a bumpy ride for the next decade!
5
I hate to bring up that censored time that shall not be named, but when the elite in a country called Gerxxx in the 193xxxs didn't follow sound economic policy because it wanted to break unions and middle class social programs, someone named Hixxx seized the day ... One obvious solution to the mess we are in, and the threat of a truly frightening person getting elected, would be for the power elites to loosen their stranglehold on the middle class. We're broken already. But I fear nothing will change until we all go down.
6
The NYT has provided a great deal of coverage for Donald Trump.
The best way to cleanse the public airwaves of this menace is for the NYT to establish a daily update on the most recent Donald Trump lie or misstatement of the day. If a reader wants to review the daily falsehood all he has to do is click the link to read the quote, and then read the truth which is based on facts.
Otherwise the NYT should not provide any coverage for Trump the tyrant. His words have never approached the NYT motto: "All the news that is worth to print."
The best way to cleanse the public airwaves of this menace is for the NYT to establish a daily update on the most recent Donald Trump lie or misstatement of the day. If a reader wants to review the daily falsehood all he has to do is click the link to read the quote, and then read the truth which is based on facts.
Otherwise the NYT should not provide any coverage for Trump the tyrant. His words have never approached the NYT motto: "All the news that is worth to print."
10
Thank you, Mr. Egan. You captured the 'Trump Terrorist' with eloquent factual precision. This column must be saved by all and shared with all.
9
TE is a fine writer.However, his liberal biases get in the way of his better judgement. First, as a matter of necessity and our own survival, we r moving toward the creation of an authoritarian state. This will happen regardless of which party is in the WH.Unlike others, DT is simply more straightforward about it. Decades ago Henry Kissinger predicted that, in the face of threats from terrorists, all nation states would exert more control over their citizens. Second,would the killings in Paris, including those at CHARLIE HEBDO occurred if EU had not had an open borders policy, and if immigration from France's former "department"(official status of Algeria)had proceeded on a piecemeal, basis,rather than admitting Mahgrebins en masse, with inadequate screening?. Third, what citizen in his right mind would not give up his civil liberties in return for increased personal security?During Battle of ALGIERS, really a police action, Algerois,Muslims and Pied Noirs, had no objections to forced questioning of FLN suspects by Massu's 10th Paratroop Division since such methods ended FLN terrorism in the city.TE should disabuse himself of delusions about this being a right v. left issue. Paris changed everything, and if similar attacks by ISIL were launched here, TE would find both parties falling into line,advocating harsh measures against "subversives,"and calling for a "strong man."After all, what is worse than being a victim of a terrorist outrage?
"After all, what is worse than being a victim of a terrorist outrage? "
Living the rest of your life under a fascist regime, knowing that your children will live under it, too?
Living the rest of your life under a fascist regime, knowing that your children will live under it, too?
3
Many Americans support this platform of hatred, including supposedly educated people like Maureen Dowd's brother.
For people who claim to hate government interference with their "freedom", these folks are willing to let their deep seated hatred, cultivated by Republican Party officials from day one of the Obama administration, take over .
The best modern model for this, of course, is Nazi Germany.
For people who claim to hate government interference with their "freedom", these folks are willing to let their deep seated hatred, cultivated by Republican Party officials from day one of the Obama administration, take over .
The best modern model for this, of course, is Nazi Germany.
9
"Trump promises to arrest, sort, and deport 11 million people — a number more than 25 percent higher than the entire population of New York City. This from the nominal leader of a party that doesn’t think government can do anything well."
Quite the fictional hyperbole for action to enforce the law.
Quite the fictional hyperbole for action to enforce the law.
1
One has to assume Trump has never read the Constitution and if he had he would want to abolish it!
6
This ought to be a warning to progressives too. We accept that president Obama has built a police state to deal with terrorism because we trust him to be responsible with the power. But having created the apparatus, what will we do when someone like Trump or Cruz becomes president? As a democrat, there are lots of things I want government to do, but it is becoming increasingly clear that the risks such a powerful government would pose if run by a Republican far outweigh the benefits.
And besides... all those good things will disappear in 2017 should there be a GOP President with control of Congress and the Court system.
And besides... all those good things will disappear in 2017 should there be a GOP President with control of Congress and the Court system.
3
It was George W. Bush who established official policies of torture, detainment without arrest or rights, Guantanamo, the Patriot Act, war based on lies about WMDs, etc. History matters, not anti-Obama myths,.
3
Polling shows that a majority of Republicans would not vote for Trump should he be the nominee (myself among them). So if the GOP does nominate him it's a sure thing for Hillary. Mr. Egan can sleep easy tonight.
2
In the long-shot event that Trump became President, I think most or all of the fascist threats he makes would fall aside like his lies. He uses blather and bluster to get people to listen. So few of us really hear him, in the sense of taking this bull to heart, that he'll thankfully never be president.
The big deal is that he reflects all that is worst about our country without even stepping up to the overtly fascist threshold.
His style is proof that we idolize wealth and consumption, entertainment, luxury and waste. That we still don't recognize the finite nature of material resources, or the core values of moderation and sharing that provide the greatest amount of good to the greatest number of people.
His style proves that in the name of our blind obsession with wealth and comfort, lots of behaviors are excused--bullying, bigotry, incivility, the absence of humility, compassion and true charity.
One of the first victims in this cavalcade of now-admirable character traits is knowledge.
Suffused with the power of wealth and supported by star-struck idolization, Trump makes do without a holistic worldview that incorporates deep understanding of science and history. His power validates this void; followers follow suit and remain ignorant. The result is the denial of systems, the denial of the whole humanity of entire peoples; in short, the perpetuation of the all great wrongs committed during the short tenure of mankind.
Nothing more, nothing less.
The big deal is that he reflects all that is worst about our country without even stepping up to the overtly fascist threshold.
His style is proof that we idolize wealth and consumption, entertainment, luxury and waste. That we still don't recognize the finite nature of material resources, or the core values of moderation and sharing that provide the greatest amount of good to the greatest number of people.
His style proves that in the name of our blind obsession with wealth and comfort, lots of behaviors are excused--bullying, bigotry, incivility, the absence of humility, compassion and true charity.
One of the first victims in this cavalcade of now-admirable character traits is knowledge.
Suffused with the power of wealth and supported by star-struck idolization, Trump makes do without a holistic worldview that incorporates deep understanding of science and history. His power validates this void; followers follow suit and remain ignorant. The result is the denial of systems, the denial of the whole humanity of entire peoples; in short, the perpetuation of the all great wrongs committed during the short tenure of mankind.
Nothing more, nothing less.
2
Buffalo Springfield sang:
"Stop children, what's that sound.
Everybody look what's going down..."
Why is it that only rock musicians, late night comedians, an occasional, polite NYT editorial and Timothy Egan are honest and brave enough to tell us what's going down? Nobody listens to those of us who remember history. Thanks for trying, Tim! Maybe some folks will wake up.
"Stop children, what's that sound.
Everybody look what's going down..."
Why is it that only rock musicians, late night comedians, an occasional, polite NYT editorial and Timothy Egan are honest and brave enough to tell us what's going down? Nobody listens to those of us who remember history. Thanks for trying, Tim! Maybe some folks will wake up.
16
Over the years, I, like many others have witnessed a gradual but genuinely rightward shift of the American political center. Nixon's racist "southern strategy" and Ronald Reagan's anti-poor policies seem tame by today's standards and rhetoric. Democrats have held some ground, but ceded much more. President Obama's signature legislation, the ACA, is the brainchild of the Heritage Foundation and Mitt Romney and didn't receive the support of even one Republican. Is it any wonder then that the goose-stepping Donald Trump is atop all the Republican polls and increasingly seen by many as a quite viable candidate. Perhaps we are at the moment of a necessary correction brought about by the election of a Berlusconi/Putin type. Should a Trump presidency actually occur it will galvanize the center-left in this country as few things could. It would last four years, cause considerable damage and Bernie Sanders would win a landslide in 2020.
2
Not just the Donald.
The Times own headline today on how the Obama administration (the most transparent in history) is shutting do internal investigations, and jailing whistle blowers. New gulags anyone?
And you sir. "Number of Migrants Illegally Crossing Rio Grande Rises Sharply"from today's NYT. Does it really matter where in Central and South America the illegal entry's are from? I would doubt that your area's schools are bursting beyond capacity due to new americians. To the best of my knowledge taxes and insurance are not paid on cash casual labor, so who pays for it?.
I am surprised that no one has offered to change the 14th amendment.
Citizenship tourism has got to stop.
And good fences make good neighbors.
The Times own headline today on how the Obama administration (the most transparent in history) is shutting do internal investigations, and jailing whistle blowers. New gulags anyone?
And you sir. "Number of Migrants Illegally Crossing Rio Grande Rises Sharply"from today's NYT. Does it really matter where in Central and South America the illegal entry's are from? I would doubt that your area's schools are bursting beyond capacity due to new americians. To the best of my knowledge taxes and insurance are not paid on cash casual labor, so who pays for it?.
I am surprised that no one has offered to change the 14th amendment.
Citizenship tourism has got to stop.
And good fences make good neighbors.
1
Little Barry's threats are real. HIs destruction of America is so encompassing, we may never recover. And Mainstream Media like this one are complicit in not telling the truth. If you can't see this, you ned education. If you won't acknowledge this, you are evil. There's your truth.
1
I've often wondered who would be so lacking in information and basic decency as to vote for Trump. Thank you so much for answering that question.
3
What threats? Exactly what did he destroy and how did it effect you? What is this truth you mention? What are you disturbed about: because most of the country is doing fine.
3
Could you be more specific? Folks like you continuously complain about the "destruction of America," "the death of freedom," and such without ever specifying anything in particular. How for goodness sake? It must be ACA since Obama is deporting more immigrants faster than any president in history. I certainly isn't unemployment since it is back from the Bush years. Foreign entanglements? Those are down. WHAT?
3
Egan can concentrate on Trump, but I have not heard a lot of objections among the other GOP/T candidates to his program.
3
Those of us of a certain age, including Mr Trump, will have been reminded by his spectacle, of film of Madison Square Garden ( I believe) meetings of the American Bund prior to our entry to the war in Europe. Brown shirts, swastikas and chilling scenes of racial bombast and forcible ejection of anyone daring to object.
It is all beyond belief but apparently quite real.
It is all beyond belief but apparently quite real.
7
I read Roth's novel during the Bush years. I was very worried that Bush and Cheney, knowing they were war criminals, would not relinquish Constitutional power to the next President-elect. But....not to worry! They wandered off scot-free, no consequences but more fame and power (will Cheney EVER go away and stop spouting his lies?). But, yes, fascism can come to America and if the xenophobes elect him I have no doubt it will come.
When I was a child I read a great deal about the Nazis and the concentration camps. How, I always wondered, how did the German people allow it to happen? But I knew I was safe in 'the land of the free' and it would never happen here. Now? Now I'm not so sure. When a person running to lead our people encourages his audience to beat up protesters, what else can you call it but brown shirt fascism? And yet his followers think he's great. So, yes, now I know it CAN happen here. And those of us who do not wish to see it happen - including the other Republican candidates - better start speaking up hard against this monstrosity, this liar called Trump. It can, people. It can really happen here.
When I was a child I read a great deal about the Nazis and the concentration camps. How, I always wondered, how did the German people allow it to happen? But I knew I was safe in 'the land of the free' and it would never happen here. Now? Now I'm not so sure. When a person running to lead our people encourages his audience to beat up protesters, what else can you call it but brown shirt fascism? And yet his followers think he's great. So, yes, now I know it CAN happen here. And those of us who do not wish to see it happen - including the other Republican candidates - better start speaking up hard against this monstrosity, this liar called Trump. It can, people. It can really happen here.
21
You've published my life experience.
2
Just finished watching Amazon's "The Man in the High Castle". Can't help thinking that's Donald Trump's America
6
Frank:
Hear, hear. That might be the entire point of the series: Fascism is no stranger to the United States. Indeed, that was one of the points lucidly argued in Columbia University professor Robert O. Paxton's now definitive, Anatomy of Fascism. In his summation of Fascisms (plural), Paxton wrly and very darkly noted, " Fascism in America would be pious and anti-black."
And when we think of historical works such as Warmth of Other Suns or Slavery by Another Name, it reminds us that for nonwhites, African-Americans in particular, a brutal, terroristic, racial dictatorship in the United States has existed...and in many respects, still does.
It would not take much for this nation, or at least a governing majority, however slim, to embrace Fascism's tenets and ruling style. Trump merely illuminates this sordid, horrifying reality.
Hear, hear. That might be the entire point of the series: Fascism is no stranger to the United States. Indeed, that was one of the points lucidly argued in Columbia University professor Robert O. Paxton's now definitive, Anatomy of Fascism. In his summation of Fascisms (plural), Paxton wrly and very darkly noted, " Fascism in America would be pious and anti-black."
And when we think of historical works such as Warmth of Other Suns or Slavery by Another Name, it reminds us that for nonwhites, African-Americans in particular, a brutal, terroristic, racial dictatorship in the United States has existed...and in many respects, still does.
It would not take much for this nation, or at least a governing majority, however slim, to embrace Fascism's tenets and ruling style. Trump merely illuminates this sordid, horrifying reality.
1
When will Herr Trump finally be held accountable for his know-nothing-ism, his outrageous lies and egotistical bombast, his blatant bigot-ism and his appeal to the worst elements of a know-nothing political party.
He LIES about seeing thousands cheer the destruction of the Towers on 9/11, and when confronted about his LIES, continues to LIES. "
"Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" Joseph N. Welch at the 1954 McCarthy hearings. Time to have a Welch moment!
He LIES about seeing thousands cheer the destruction of the Towers on 9/11, and when confronted about his LIES, continues to LIES. "
"Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?" Joseph N. Welch at the 1954 McCarthy hearings. Time to have a Welch moment!
16
He talketh much, but sayeth nothing.
5
I find it very ironic that a party and in particular, Trump have yelled and screamed against the intrusiveness of big government under President Obama, it's the same person who now wants to create watch lists and walls. Trump is indeed no longer entertaining, if he ever really was, and is downright scary.
The thought that people are kicking and punching a protestor and he encourages it is wrong and scary.
The thought that people are kicking and punching a protestor and he encourages it is wrong and scary.
8
The poet Thomas Grey said it best: Where ignorance is bliss 'tis folly to be wise.
3
Decades of hate radio and TV's Fox News and Newspaper's, the Fox Street Journal have created an enormous chicken that has now come home to roost.
13
I guess I understand your urge to sound a warning, but doubt that it will have much impact on the audience that reads your editorials. Perhaps if you were to write the same amount of words about the immigration and foreign policies of Bernie Sanders it would give your readers not only hope, but ammunition in persuading Independents and disaffiliated Republicans to join the revolution at
http://feelthebern.org/
that is increasingly needed as we see how far corporate media are willing to go to support the oligarchy which includes Trump, Bush and Clintons.
Moderator: please forward to Mr. Egan if you decide not to publish my comment again this week.
http://feelthebern.org/
that is increasingly needed as we see how far corporate media are willing to go to support the oligarchy which includes Trump, Bush and Clintons.
Moderator: please forward to Mr. Egan if you decide not to publish my comment again this week.
2
I note you're from my neighboring State of Kansas. You have my sympathies for your situation. The kool aid drinkers got control in Kansas sooner, but we aren't far behind. Seriously though, forget Bernie. I love the stuff he says too but HE CAN'T WIN, and we MUST win. I'd like a fresher face than Hillary Clinton but she can win and she's a decent if flawed person. In a field of Republicans utterly without character or conviction, I'm happy to vote for "decency". I loved McGovern and got Nixon. I'll never forget that lesson.
2
Instead of fantasizing about a dystopian future, we should be organizing and motivating the millions of people who consider politics beneath them or not cool enough. We should be shining a harsh light on the gerrymandering by the GOP. And we should keep in our memory the fact that the GOP has ALREADY stolen one presidential election with the help of one of the current Republican candidates. If our nation is to survive it needs to be acknowledged that the population of Iowa, so prone to excitement over blatant Fascists like Trump, does NOT represent the views of the majority of citizens in the USA.
7
All of America and the world is seeing the fallout from a severely warped Narcissistic Personality Disorder in a full un-self-regulated ghastly attempt to succeed at any cost. The need for power is bottomless. It masks a weak, helpless and decimated self, determined at all costs, all costs, to convince others of his power and importance. It is a false self, yet the only one he knows. Otherwise, he would fall into chaos, despair and have no purpose and no center. Being devoid of empathy is a hallmark characteristic. When intelligent or charismatic , they create admirers and followers, that is until those followers realize they are not in any way protected by their devotion to the narcissistic hero of their dreams. It’s all an empty, inhumane, ruse to feed the endless illusion that is never satisfied. Individuals with this disorder don’t seek therapy. Therapists usually treat and help restore their victims back to life when possible. These facts did not originate with me. I learned them while studying mental health, psychological wellness and history. This information has held up over centuries. Just sayin’.
10
Trump is a fascist, a bigot, a liar, and a fraud as a businessman and as a man. Any mention of his name without emphasizing these dangerous characteristics is irresponsible. And the public support of this dangerous man is terrifying.
10
Don't put the knock entirely on Trump. Other GOP candidates are about as bad – Carson, Christie, Carly, Cruz – not to mention a slew of GOP governors, congressmen, senators. If the militarized police state we currently enjoy doesn't suffice, many GOP & even some Dem pols will gladly intensify it … ditto the corporations that thrive off police state contracts & privatizations.
5
Donald Trump is all about glorifying his supposedly infallible ego. He is a pure dictator type who prohibits any disagreement with him. When Trump fantasizes that only he saw thousands of Muslims partying on TV, post 911, he believes his fantasy more than the objective fact that no such footage was ever aired. Trump obviously mocked the handicapped reporter but when the obvious is pointed out, he says that others were imagining it. His pathology is in our face. Most of us hopefully see how Trump plays the game of having an infallible ego and attacks anyone who disagrees.
6
Trump merely gives voice to the ignorance and bigotry inside this country. Times readers are no different, just witness the nasty, bigoted comments from people who think all Muslims should walk around with some type of apology plaque. More disturbing were the people excusing men assaulting women because something bad happened somewhere else. This racism is always on display when the Times has an article about fair housing (not in my neighborhood). The Obama presidency has unleashed the darkness in the American soul that will never go away so long as we whitewash history (Wilson? my goodness!) and refuse to confront our inner demons. I am glad, as a woman of color, that I did not have children. All Americans should go back and brush up on the rise to Hitler during the interim years and then go take a long hard look in the mirror.
14
Sobalia says, "Be afraid. Be very afraid.z' NO! That is exactly what they want. VOTE and take one or two people who usually do not vote to save America from the angry haters and fear mongers. Its' OUR country - not theirs.
9
Donald Trump is all about glorifying his supposedly infallible ego. He is a pure dictator type who prohibits any disagreement with him. When Trump fantasizes that only he saw thousands of Muslims partying on TV, post 911, he believes his fantasy more than the objective fact that no such footage was ever aired. Trump obviously mocked the handicapped reporter but when the obvious is pointed out, he says that others were imagining it. His pathology in or face. Most of us hopefully see how Trump plays the game of having an infallible ego and attacks anyone who disagrees.
7
Political pundits as a measure of a politician's like ability often ask:
"Would you want to have a beer with this person?"…
When it comes to Trump….Not only would I NOT want to have a beer with him…I wouldn't want to be in the same bar with him.
He is a rude, lying, entitled braggart…
The very antithesis of our nations core values….
He is an embarrassment …a "dangerous" embarrassment.
"Would you want to have a beer with this person?"…
When it comes to Trump….Not only would I NOT want to have a beer with him…I wouldn't want to be in the same bar with him.
He is a rude, lying, entitled braggart…
The very antithesis of our nations core values….
He is an embarrassment …a "dangerous" embarrassment.
8
Egan makes the best argument for the study of the liberal arts, especially the close reading of history.
If we look into the roots of the social unrest of the 1920s and 30s, including vast inequality and global economic disruption, which led to the New Deal in the US, the growth of socialism in Europe and ultimately the growth of populism, nationalism and fascism in the 30s, we would see a lot of similarities today.
We avoided both socialism and fascism in the US because our government actively intervened to prevent them. Without that guidance now, we are seeing a drift into populism, which was the underpinning nationalistic fascism in the 30s. We really, really don't like communism and socialism here; so when demagoguery plays on our national psyche, fascism is the more likely result.
It is all in the history books. It didn't happen here because we had leaders who didn't let it; not because it can't happen here. Do we have such leaders today?
If we look into the roots of the social unrest of the 1920s and 30s, including vast inequality and global economic disruption, which led to the New Deal in the US, the growth of socialism in Europe and ultimately the growth of populism, nationalism and fascism in the 30s, we would see a lot of similarities today.
We avoided both socialism and fascism in the US because our government actively intervened to prevent them. Without that guidance now, we are seeing a drift into populism, which was the underpinning nationalistic fascism in the 30s. We really, really don't like communism and socialism here; so when demagoguery plays on our national psyche, fascism is the more likely result.
It is all in the history books. It didn't happen here because we had leaders who didn't let it; not because it can't happen here. Do we have such leaders today?
9
Please don't trash socialism this way. What you're decrying is communism, or Hitler's deliberately mis-named National Socialism.
Many of our most treasured national institutions are socialist -- Social security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, the Post Office, the interstate system, etc.
We need to be precise with our terms. These are dangerous times, as you point out, and deceptions and propaganda are common.
Many of our most treasured national institutions are socialist -- Social security, Medicare, unemployment insurance, the Post Office, the interstate system, etc.
We need to be precise with our terms. These are dangerous times, as you point out, and deceptions and propaganda are common.
4
When his campaign started and cable would cover his rallies live and in total I was appalled. When I would try to listen to him talk about himself at length I was appalled. When I would read the reports of people being dragged out of his rallies by his supporters I was appalled. And now his latest riff is to make fun of a reporter with a disability. So apparently there are a considerable number of people out there who think that he is a hoot, including himself. I read recently that Trump supporters are a lesser part of the population than those who believe that the moonwalk was a hoax. Let us hope so. What is sad is that in the middle of this is a legitimate idea - that the government needs to do more to protect and encourage employment in this country.
7
Based on the imperialism and assaults on liberties perpetrated by the last two occupants of the White House, I can't imagine life being much worse under a president Trump. Don't hear Timmy whining about the current occupant's decision to sanction the murder of American citizens with no due process. Or to conduct an ILLEGAL drone war against countries whom our congress has not declared war? Or to continue the ILLEGAL and UNCONSTITUTIONAL surveillance activities of his predecessor?
So climb on down off the high horse Timmy, and the rest of you pseudo-Progressives who are vilifying Trump. Glass houses you know...
So climb on down off the high horse Timmy, and the rest of you pseudo-Progressives who are vilifying Trump. Glass houses you know...
4
I guess you where never taught that two wrongs do not make a right.
I'm not a big President Obama fan, but I do respect his office and his ability to get anything at all decent done with the present Congress fighting him all the way. And, comparing his actions to Bush's is absurd. His is the responsibility of cleaning up Bush's mess, with Bush's buddies in Congress. Shame on you.
2
You're right & you're wrong, RJ. Certainly you are wrong to belittle today's pertinent column by Mr Egan. But you are entirely right in decrying Obama's illegal drone policy -- seriously illegal for your stated reason. Not even to mention that our current drone policy is a terrorist policy for a nation decrying terrorism.
Trump, in my opinion, would represent just that danger of an American police state if by & large we could take him seriously. That can't be true of most Americans. A man who violates the proprieties as openly & scornfully as Donald Trump must fail.
Trump, in my opinion, would represent just that danger of an American police state if by & large we could take him seriously. That can't be true of most Americans. A man who violates the proprieties as openly & scornfully as Donald Trump must fail.
1
The media is partly to blame for creating the Frankenstein Trump Monster. Cable news needs a draw and a profit center, and Trump provides this magnificently. The first Republican debate was a huge hit for cable news - featuring the Trump phenomenon. Trump's rambling speeches are covered live on cable, uninterrupted and un-fact-checked. Fox News is not accustomed to facts or fact-checking so they can't do it.
Trump’s surprisingly weak field of Republican opponents is also to blame. They don't press Trump on the facts or the specifics of his cockamamey, half-baked ideas. You would think that one - just one - of the 20 some Republican candidates could go toe to toe with Trump and take him down, but alas no, the ability and courage are sorely lacking in the Republican field.
Trump’s surprisingly weak field of Republican opponents is also to blame. They don't press Trump on the facts or the specifics of his cockamamey, half-baked ideas. You would think that one - just one - of the 20 some Republican candidates could go toe to toe with Trump and take him down, but alas no, the ability and courage are sorely lacking in the Republican field.
9
It's frightening that we have these kind of people running for president. Where are the great leaders in this country?
2
I have no idea why the candidates for the presidency can spout non-stop nonsense. The president is the chief executive of the country, not a king with absolute powers, elected for 4 years. The laws are made by Congress. For the next year we will be flooded will all the fever fantasies the various candidates utter on what enormous things they would do. And the press and everyone else is listening to those proposals as if they were based in reality. Without Congress changing laws there is not much a president can do. Just look at Obama.
6
Martin, there in Maryland...the Congress just might back Trump's ideas. Ever think about that? We have a lot of mean spirited "looney tunes" there as well.
1
It's odd. Egan decries a fictional character who "foments an atmosphere of hatred." Then he describes followers of his own ideological opponent as "scary" and "rabid." How does characterizing a (presumably rational, unless we're abandoning democracy) voter base as dangerous, "rabid" vermin differ from fomenting an atmosphere of hatred, Mr. Egan?
2
It is not Trump you should fear, but the fuhrer principle. One can already argue that, increasingly, Trump is the Republican Party, and the Republican Party is Trump. But if that ever gets extended to America proper, then on that day America will cease to exist.
20
indeed. it is worth noting that hitler arose because of the public dissatisfaction with the economy, social restlessness and the desire to restore national pride and 'make germany great again.'
2
Well, Republicans, your shining light what you stand for is pretty clear.
Like it or not, Donald Trump = Republican and Republican = Trump.
So Republicans, we could take that a step further, logic or not, Republican stands for lies, cultural slamming, racial slurs, political insults, Christian conservative gone astray, and even now disability mocking.
Thanks, Donald Trump. You stand for Republican ideals, right? But the funny thing - no Republican can even halt this - not the other presidential candidates (well maybe Carly Fiorina's face comment), not Mr. Preibus over at the National Party office, not even the Bushes!
The man is a locomotive gone wild as the saying might go. As many of us stand aside to see what/if will throw the brakes into gear, we also look at the followers. One commenter said this is what the Republicans have created over the years because the Democrats were a little too selective with who they like let in.... Somehow, though, I don't think Democrats and maybe to a point even Republicans are totally responsible for this insult to politics. If this is really politics, which it seems to be, let's hear from political science experts/professors in addition to journalists and commenters. If political science is a science, let's hear the scientific take on the Trump drone attack.
Like it or not, Donald Trump = Republican and Republican = Trump.
So Republicans, we could take that a step further, logic or not, Republican stands for lies, cultural slamming, racial slurs, political insults, Christian conservative gone astray, and even now disability mocking.
Thanks, Donald Trump. You stand for Republican ideals, right? But the funny thing - no Republican can even halt this - not the other presidential candidates (well maybe Carly Fiorina's face comment), not Mr. Preibus over at the National Party office, not even the Bushes!
The man is a locomotive gone wild as the saying might go. As many of us stand aside to see what/if will throw the brakes into gear, we also look at the followers. One commenter said this is what the Republicans have created over the years because the Democrats were a little too selective with who they like let in.... Somehow, though, I don't think Democrats and maybe to a point even Republicans are totally responsible for this insult to politics. If this is really politics, which it seems to be, let's hear from political science experts/professors in addition to journalists and commenters. If political science is a science, let's hear the scientific take on the Trump drone attack.
11
I believe strongly in this nation that I have shed blood for despite having my son badly wounded in the lie war in Iraq brought about by mental midget macho Cowboys from Texas. Electing Donald Trump would double down on basic idiocy and initiate a race to the bottom of our moral standing both at home and abroad. Luckily our educated citizenry still outnumbers the inverse in our electorate despite all the Republicans methods aimed at eliminating basic smarts from our nation. The righties know if they can instill fear in folks then they can control them. When they come to round up or attack the "others" I for one will not stand by because I know full well that when they come for me a Cuban American veteran I want the others to have my back like I have theirs against the likes of Trump,Cruz, Rubio or any other of the clowns out to control us. Land of the free and home of the brave won't let it happen. We have nothing to fear but fear instilled by Republicans. Obamanos!
22
Where was Trump when the Pilgrims were sneaking ashore on Cape Cod?
3
Trump also borrowed from the standard dictatorship playbook, saying we should spy on our neighbors and inform on each other to the police. The only thing scarier than his publicly declared outright fascism is his still leading the Republican pack.
And for anyone asking why they should be concerned, that they're not Hispanic or Muslim or a Black Lives Matter protester - your time is coming. That's how demagogues operate. When the hatred against the first group of targets is exhausted, they move on to the next one. And the next one. And the next one...
And for anyone asking why they should be concerned, that they're not Hispanic or Muslim or a Black Lives Matter protester - your time is coming. That's how demagogues operate. When the hatred against the first group of targets is exhausted, they move on to the next one. And the next one. And the next one...
18
More stories on Bernie Sanders. He is the real deal when it comes to the truth. Stop wasting ink while knowingly printing hate, lies and fear. How about some truth through journalism and start covering the real truthful issues confronting humanity. The so called news media's continued manufactured truth and news is a sham. As I watch my neighbor rolling newspaper logs with the NY Times and burn them I can't help ask. Is this the best use of newspapers today? Burning them that is.
7
Yes, too much coverage of a crash about to happen. Let's see more reporting and analysis of national candidates -- governors, congressmen, and senators -- who have something constructive to say -- especially other fear mongering. Dig deep NY Times.
1
The chilling irony in all this is that the very Syrian refugees Trump (and other GOP candidates) are trying to exclude, might very well understand the concept of America better than they do. George Bush proved that "anyone" could actually grow up to be president - before 2000 it was just something we said - and the rabid demonization of Barak Obama, beginning with Sarah Palin rallies (rather than show how ill prepared she was) laid the groundwork for the hate-filled republican campaign for 2016. The new normal evidently is Trump shouting from the rooftops the type of rhetoric that would have disqualified a contender just a few short years ago while adoring crowds chant their approval.
Pundits are wondering what this says about him. I'm wondering what it says about us.
Pundits are wondering what this says about him. I'm wondering what it says about us.
20
Donald Trump is the postmodern Buzz Windrip, the fascist demagogue elected in Sinclair Lewis's "It Can't Happen here."
The difference is that in the novel, there was still a modicum of democracy when FDR was fictionally routed by the "Corpo" party. Today, Fascism has already here, draped in the flag or bared naked. If you don't believe we don't already live in a police state, look att one person of color getting killed by a cop, a prison guard or a security guard on an average of once every 28 hours. Look at the NSA scooping up the communications every man, woman and child in the country, if not the entire world. Look at 400 richest families owning as much wealth as 90% of all Americans. Look at the lack of any clear difference between elected officials and corporate CEOs.
"My one ambition is to get all Americans to realize that they are, and must continue to be, the greatest Race on the face of this old Earth, and second, to realize that whatever apparent differences there may be among us, in wealth, knowledge, skill, ancestry or strength -- though, of course, all this does not apply to people who are racially different from us -- we are all brothers, bound together in the great and wonderful bond of National Unity, for which we should all be very glad." -- President Buzz Windrip, role model of Donald Trump.
Latest polls show that Bernie Sanders would beat Trump in a landslide. Let Bernie become the FDR that keeps fascism at bay.
http://kmgarcia2000.blogspot.com/
The difference is that in the novel, there was still a modicum of democracy when FDR was fictionally routed by the "Corpo" party. Today, Fascism has already here, draped in the flag or bared naked. If you don't believe we don't already live in a police state, look att one person of color getting killed by a cop, a prison guard or a security guard on an average of once every 28 hours. Look at the NSA scooping up the communications every man, woman and child in the country, if not the entire world. Look at 400 richest families owning as much wealth as 90% of all Americans. Look at the lack of any clear difference between elected officials and corporate CEOs.
"My one ambition is to get all Americans to realize that they are, and must continue to be, the greatest Race on the face of this old Earth, and second, to realize that whatever apparent differences there may be among us, in wealth, knowledge, skill, ancestry or strength -- though, of course, all this does not apply to people who are racially different from us -- we are all brothers, bound together in the great and wonderful bond of National Unity, for which we should all be very glad." -- President Buzz Windrip, role model of Donald Trump.
Latest polls show that Bernie Sanders would beat Trump in a landslide. Let Bernie become the FDR that keeps fascism at bay.
http://kmgarcia2000.blogspot.com/
23
Lindbergh may have been a crypto-fascist but Trump is simply a fascist. He has no hidden agenda or political disguise. He's in your face. We should use the proper term for him. He should be called out for what he is.
What's frightening is not that he may become President next November, but that his followers will still be with us after the election. With either a woman or a self-avowed socialist in office they will be even more outraged. Ugly rhetoric will continue to ramp up and random acts of violence against "the others" will become more frequent and more organized.
Hitler spent over a decade rising to power before becoming Chancellor in 1933. It was another 6 years before he invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. Even in this world with 24/7 digital media, Trump's kind of poison take time to fully brew.
What's frightening is not that he may become President next November, but that his followers will still be with us after the election. With either a woman or a self-avowed socialist in office they will be even more outraged. Ugly rhetoric will continue to ramp up and random acts of violence against "the others" will become more frequent and more organized.
Hitler spent over a decade rising to power before becoming Chancellor in 1933. It was another 6 years before he invaded Poland, marking the beginning of World War II. Even in this world with 24/7 digital media, Trump's kind of poison take time to fully brew.
17
Trump will appoint Huckabee as his Secretary of Health and Human Services and Carson as his Secretary of Education.
Maybe one good thing will come out of a Trump presidency.: Philip Roth will come out of retirement.
But then Roth would probably be tossed into jail together with all those doctors who Huckabee will round up.
Maybe one good thing will come out of a Trump presidency.: Philip Roth will come out of retirement.
But then Roth would probably be tossed into jail together with all those doctors who Huckabee will round up.
7
Watched several episodes of "The Man in the High Castle" at our son's last night. Frightening bit of fiction, though I'm seeing parallels in our politics today.
6
Another book came to mind as you described the one by Phillip Roth--"it can't happen here" by Sinclair Lewis. Same premise: fear-driven fascism that upends our history and our constitution. Both novels emanated out of the insanity of political movements in the buildup to WWII.
I agree that Trump is growing darker by the day, as our his peers Cruz, Christie, and sometimes Rubio. Whether it's removing federal agencies or mass removal of "foreigners", the campaign rhetoric of all these guys (and gal) is more than scary.
This line in particular resonated: "He can violate the Constitution because enough Americans do not mind limiting the freedom of a suspect minority in the name of security."
I often find myself wondering, how would these guys actually do all this stuff? Don't we have laws, courts, a system of government governed by citizen franchise? How could a new president turn into a despot, grabbing power never before done, essentially destroying democracy in return for a dubious "freedom."
And I say "dubious" for a reason: right now the Trump chorus is promising everything his white privileged base wants--a purging of "others" that grow more numerous with every campaign stop. As you point out, Timothy, this promise seems alluring to bigots and haters, until one day Trump might turn on them.
We all remember John Adam's line about freedom being ephemeral, that once you have it, it has to be protected to be kept. It's up to "us", now, isn't it?
I agree that Trump is growing darker by the day, as our his peers Cruz, Christie, and sometimes Rubio. Whether it's removing federal agencies or mass removal of "foreigners", the campaign rhetoric of all these guys (and gal) is more than scary.
This line in particular resonated: "He can violate the Constitution because enough Americans do not mind limiting the freedom of a suspect minority in the name of security."
I often find myself wondering, how would these guys actually do all this stuff? Don't we have laws, courts, a system of government governed by citizen franchise? How could a new president turn into a despot, grabbing power never before done, essentially destroying democracy in return for a dubious "freedom."
And I say "dubious" for a reason: right now the Trump chorus is promising everything his white privileged base wants--a purging of "others" that grow more numerous with every campaign stop. As you point out, Timothy, this promise seems alluring to bigots and haters, until one day Trump might turn on them.
We all remember John Adam's line about freedom being ephemeral, that once you have it, it has to be protected to be kept. It's up to "us", now, isn't it?
13
"... alabaster cities gleam..."
Alabaster is a very fragile stone, requiring careful handling...
Alabaster is a very fragile stone, requiring careful handling...
3
I also enjoy Ben Franklin's quote: “They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
3
There is explicit holocaust denial: this is when one denies the very well-documented fact that, in the mid-twentieth century, millions of marginalized people were systematically exterminated.
There is also implicit holocaust denial: this is when one denies--or even engages in--the ideological practices that legitimated and propelled this event.
Trump and his followers are engaged in the latter. I should be clear that I support their right to project this political garbage, 100%. I also support all of our rights to mock, belittle, and shame them--and that includes our fellow Americans who've joined this clownshoes, infant dictator--for crossing a major line.
There is also implicit holocaust denial: this is when one denies--or even engages in--the ideological practices that legitimated and propelled this event.
Trump and his followers are engaged in the latter. I should be clear that I support their right to project this political garbage, 100%. I also support all of our rights to mock, belittle, and shame them--and that includes our fellow Americans who've joined this clownshoes, infant dictator--for crossing a major line.
9
Great column and on the money. Trump equals Hitler 2.0
We all know the story. Germany humiliated in WWI. Hitler chooses the Jews as a convenient scapegoat for all of Germany's woe's - as Trump is doing with Mexicans, and other minorities.
He is actually doing 2 things here. One, demonizing a whole block of people, but equally important, distracting people from asking more important questions about economic issues etc. For example, why do I pay Comcast $180 a month for cable and internet when it is far cheaper in most countries?
As a card carrying member of the 1% and a cheerleader for crony capitalism,
Trump is thrilled to keep the masses mad at Mexicans and other minorities, and ride their racist angst to the top of the polls, without them asking important questions.
In his constant of boast of being the greatest this and the greatest that, I'll add one more to his list. He is now the greatest demagogue to achieve national stature in American history.
We all know the story. Germany humiliated in WWI. Hitler chooses the Jews as a convenient scapegoat for all of Germany's woe's - as Trump is doing with Mexicans, and other minorities.
He is actually doing 2 things here. One, demonizing a whole block of people, but equally important, distracting people from asking more important questions about economic issues etc. For example, why do I pay Comcast $180 a month for cable and internet when it is far cheaper in most countries?
As a card carrying member of the 1% and a cheerleader for crony capitalism,
Trump is thrilled to keep the masses mad at Mexicans and other minorities, and ride their racist angst to the top of the polls, without them asking important questions.
In his constant of boast of being the greatest this and the greatest that, I'll add one more to his list. He is now the greatest demagogue to achieve national stature in American history.
27
Let me get this straight. You pay money to watch television?
1
Since Trump's announcement, I have secretly believed (and now openly espouse) that the real estate baron cum politician is actually a plant to take down the GOP by outting their base as racists, thugs and terribly stupid, frightened people. Trump's agenda is clearly about upping his brand, and taking down the GOP is a strange project, but it is exactly what he's doing. When he's ousted either by the GOP or Hillary (or Bernie), he could conceivable come on the tube and say he was kidding all along. And that might be the only thing he'll say that would make sense.
3
Isn't this how Hitler started?
"Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it."
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth."
"Be afraid. Be very afraid."
"Those who refuse to learn from history are condemned to repeat it."
"A lie told often enough becomes the truth."
"Be afraid. Be very afraid."
20
Trump could serve our country well. As he travels the country drawing his supporters to rallies, we need to identify the supporters, round them up and deport them to Texas. At the same time we need to build an impenetrable wall where Texas borders America (sorry Mexico, you have to build your own wall). After we deport Trump's supporters the mean IQ in America will jump 50 points, violence will drop as civility will be restored in our society and the NRA will lose its base support. A new day will dawn in America! All thanks to Trump.
12
Just so you know, there are bigots and uninformed idiots everywhere, not just in Texas. And many of us here are just as offended by the pathological liars currently running for office as you are.
3
Same thought as mine...Important to know who ..what and where the dangerous Americans are...These are the people that ruin our country with bigotry and low tolerance of anything or anyone not the same as they are...I see them everyday..No real people skills...no good ideas and a big chip on their shoulder...
" in fact more people are now returning to Mexico than are coming in"
I've seen this statistic a lot recently. Canada a better place to live than America, check. Europe a better place to live than America, check. But now Mexico? What have Americans done with their country?
I've seen this statistic a lot recently. Canada a better place to live than America, check. Europe a better place to live than America, check. But now Mexico? What have Americans done with their country?
15
The answer is visible everywhere; we allowed ourselves to become lemmings, in thrall to the modern day version of Romes' "Bread and Circuses", dished out in great big helpings, designed to sate our already dumbed down intellect.
America is the epitome of how .01%ters can capture a country, and not fire one shot.
America is the epitome of how .01%ters can capture a country, and not fire one shot.
1
Some of what drives the Trump supporters are President Obama's successes. He has managed to stop the economic freefall he inherited upon gaining the presidency and addressed the decades-long need for health care reform, all the while maintaining his cool in the midst of purposeful disrespect and non-cooperation. How dare he! What in part fuels Trump's popularity are those parts of the American soul one finds when overturning a rock.
20
Exactly, Pres. Obama has been so successful in his leadership that the right and even some of the left who pretended to support him (to be cool or with it but never really meant it) have turned his intelligent, analytical, cool-headed, compassionate, wise leadership against all odd upside down and inside out. We have fallen down the rabbit hole where truth is twisted into lies with every act he has accomplished. That the democrats have been unable to combat this propaganda from the start is tragic. To have elected a black President who has worked tirelessly to be president to all has proved to be too much to fast for our nation that is racist and xenophobic at its core and especially when it feels threatened. We are living in precarious times. Joanna
4
Mr. Trump has played into the hands of ISIL. His Stoking the fear engendered by acts of terrorism is exactly the destabilization sought by these people. Every time he opens his mouth, He is bringing us closer to anarchy. Be afraid, very afraid.
11
As Jamelle Bouie writes in Slate, "Trump is a fascist." He means that in the nicest possible way: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/politics/2015/11/donald_...
The good news and it's really good news, is that the United States didn't just lose two million men in a war, hasn't suffered hyper-inflation that caused the price of a loaf of bread to rise from $1 to $1,000,000,000+ over the course of four years and there's no communist revolution on our doorstep.
Trump's a loser. But only because our economic and political situation is actually pretty good.
The good news and it's really good news, is that the United States didn't just lose two million men in a war, hasn't suffered hyper-inflation that caused the price of a loaf of bread to rise from $1 to $1,000,000,000+ over the course of four years and there's no communist revolution on our doorstep.
Trump's a loser. But only because our economic and political situation is actually pretty good.
3
I think of the RW cries we've heard of "Obama's a dictator, Obama's a tyrant, he thinks he's king".
Then I listen to Trump's spew.
And he is just the loudest of the bunch. Carson, Rubio, Fiornia. Cruz is just warming up.
I think the GOP has gone completely around the bend.
It's so important to vote in 2016, folks. I hope Bernie takes the primary, but if he doesn't, I'm still voted D all the way.
Then I listen to Trump's spew.
And he is just the loudest of the bunch. Carson, Rubio, Fiornia. Cruz is just warming up.
I think the GOP has gone completely around the bend.
It's so important to vote in 2016, folks. I hope Bernie takes the primary, but if he doesn't, I'm still voted D all the way.
31
Trump would start with already vetted refugees, a group needing no attention because we have lists. Meanwhile Trump’s super-attentive socialist, Republican, Tea Party government, remembering if you will the instruction of national socialism and Soviets, or never mind remembering if you have no memory for the outcome will be the same in either event, would be unable to hire enough functionaries with intellect and discretion to attend needs. America will become great again, and Trump’s business will collapse in less time than one might expect if it is built on sand. Perhaps that collapse motivates his drive to get into government. There will be no economy left to rescue Trump. One who believes Trump’s business will be the only collapse needs attention. Comrade Trump might understand that but for the absence of a merit relationship education with his education.
1
Trump is following a similar blueprint used by Hitler when he came to power in the 1930’s.
Trump has mobilized a disenfranchised group of people and promises to bring back a “golden age” that never was.
Hitler promised he would rid the land of the Jews to make Germany great again, Trump promises to extract the immigrants and make America great again.
Similar to Trump, Hitler convinced large numbers of people to reject the established government. Hitler convinced people he was the “only solution”, Trump is copying this plan.
Hitler convinced the Germans of his day, that Germany does not “win anymore” and blamed the lost of the 1st world war on the Jews.
Trump’s campaign has evolved from funny to dangerous. The GOP seems scared of him; he is like the school yard bully that everyone is scare to stand up to.
Trump has mobilized a disenfranchised group of people and promises to bring back a “golden age” that never was.
Hitler promised he would rid the land of the Jews to make Germany great again, Trump promises to extract the immigrants and make America great again.
Similar to Trump, Hitler convinced large numbers of people to reject the established government. Hitler convinced people he was the “only solution”, Trump is copying this plan.
Hitler convinced the Germans of his day, that Germany does not “win anymore” and blamed the lost of the 1st world war on the Jews.
Trump’s campaign has evolved from funny to dangerous. The GOP seems scared of him; he is like the school yard bully that everyone is scare to stand up to.
22
Those of us closer to epicenter of the last fascist earthquake have been saying this for months. The last WWII pill box down near the Danube was just removed last month. The memorial to the Gestapo house in down town Vienna is a stark reminder of how things turned out last time leaders of major powers talked like Trump does.
I'm glad you have finally seen Trump for what he is, Mr. Egan. Better late than never. Let' just hope for all our sake's that it is not too late.
I'm glad you have finally seen Trump for what he is, Mr. Egan. Better late than never. Let' just hope for all our sake's that it is not too late.
16
We've had a Marxist dictator sitting in the White House since 2009, and Egan is worried about what a Pres. Trump would do to our Constitution? Spare me.
2
This comment illustrates that the real danger to America comes from Roger Ailes and Fox " news". This writer's impression of reality was formed by the fact- free hate- filled Fox propaganda machine. He has become as malleable as an insecure frightened child.
19
Would a Marxist dictator create a health care plan based on creating more customers for private insurance companies? Would a Marxist dictator oversee a huge upswing in the stock markets? Would a Marxist dictator have passed up an opportunity to nationalize the big banks in the wake of the financial crisis? Of course not. You have been drinking the bitter Republican koolaide for so long you cant recognize a dictator when you see one. Thus, your support for Trump.
9
The funny thing about Donald Trump's popularity is that I do not think people really love him so much as people want to BE him. The swaggering brash, aggressive, callus, rich, famous, independent, not a care in the world, pushy, extravagant, loud, play everyone one for a fool, dishonest, revolting, contentious, gunslinger, side show barker, devil may care provocateur and playboy. He is the quintessential antihero hero. He is a tyrant waiting to get the blessing of the voters to go full swing into "action hero." Welcome to Tea Party America! NOT!!!
4
The one thing that The Donald has not said, and might as well say, is that he'll change the wording on the Statue of Liberty to the following:
"We'll send back the tired and poor masses back to where they cannot breathe. If you are homeless, don't count on finding a home here. My lamp will show you the exit door."
"We'll send back the tired and poor masses back to where they cannot breathe. If you are homeless, don't count on finding a home here. My lamp will show you the exit door."
8
This trend of vitriolic "tougher than thou" posturing has been a part of Republican political speech for much of the last 60 years. From Goldwater's willingness to use nuclear weapons, to Nixon's "War on Crime" to G.H.W. Bush's use of the Willie Horton ad to G.W. Bush's "Axis of Evil" the "get tough" rhetoric has played successfully to a significant portion of the American polity. Tapping into issues that make people angry has always been an easy reach for politicians. As American wages have stagnated and the jobs that created the middle class shipped overseas, there are many people who see immigrants as an invading force destined to make their struggles even more difficult. When you dwell near the fine line between working poor and just plain poor it is realistic to see every immigrant as an enemy who might push you below that line. People who live in desperate straits will grasp at any lifeline thrown their way. Trump isn't laying out policy positions in his demagoguery; he is merely saying what pleases angry bitter people and riding the top of the polls because of it. It is not Trump that should scare us, it is the anger he so deftly churns up in our citizenry that should be our concern.
19
I have been thinking for a while now that Trump is preaching Fascism. And this morning I realized that Trump is just saying all the things the Republicans really stand for but do not say it like he does. So by extrapolation if Trump is preaching Fascism so are the rest of the republican candidates for president.
17
Mr. Egan sketches a very scary scenario of a Trump presidency. To argue that Trump resembles a clown more than a tyrant provokes the reasonable response that a great many people in and out of Germany dismissed Hitler as a buffoon, also.
My skepticism about Egan's analysis stems from the character of Trump. Fanatical dictators of the kind he has in mind tend to resemble ascetics, only marginally interested in leading a life of comfort or in acquiring wealth. But Trump brags mainly about his great wealth, and he clearly enjoys the lifestyle advantages that wealth confers. To create the kind of regime Egan describes would require him to devote all his efforts to the project, neglecting the acquisition or at least maintenance of the fortune that defines him.
Trump is, without question, a thoroughly nasty individual, with the morals of a black widow spider. But he is also a hedonist, who derives intense pleasure from a life in the spotlight. To keep public attention focused on himself, he will say anything, however outrageous, especially since he has discovered that a certain segment of the public will respond with cheers.
But a successful tyrant must match words with deeds. Such behavior would require him to ally with thuggish fanatics, rather than the successful businessmen with whom he clearly identifies. The good life would be replaced by the driven life. His selfish desires, rather than any sense of morality, would make that a road not taken.
My skepticism about Egan's analysis stems from the character of Trump. Fanatical dictators of the kind he has in mind tend to resemble ascetics, only marginally interested in leading a life of comfort or in acquiring wealth. But Trump brags mainly about his great wealth, and he clearly enjoys the lifestyle advantages that wealth confers. To create the kind of regime Egan describes would require him to devote all his efforts to the project, neglecting the acquisition or at least maintenance of the fortune that defines him.
Trump is, without question, a thoroughly nasty individual, with the morals of a black widow spider. But he is also a hedonist, who derives intense pleasure from a life in the spotlight. To keep public attention focused on himself, he will say anything, however outrageous, especially since he has discovered that a certain segment of the public will respond with cheers.
But a successful tyrant must match words with deeds. Such behavior would require him to ally with thuggish fanatics, rather than the successful businessmen with whom he clearly identifies. The good life would be replaced by the driven life. His selfish desires, rather than any sense of morality, would make that a road not taken.
2
"Of course, it could never happen here." I thought that, too, Mr. Egan, until I read up on Republican Joseph McCarthy and his "war on commies" in the 1950s, learned about the ALEC/Koch brothers/u.s. chamber of commerce/Wall Street/radical religious right/ nra/major media corporate conglomerate and the top 1% global financial elite war on average people. Now I'm a believer that the way of life most Americans still think we have is nearly decimated by those people and people who think like them - like DT.
13
Your editorial is spot-on. What we are seeing with the candidacy of Trump (and to a lesser extent Carson) are the dregs of our society coming out of the woodwork because they've finally found a "voice" that can articulate the bigotry and intolerance that they believe in. We will not see Trump's numbers go down. Those that support him don't care about his outrageous behavior and fascist pronouncements. These people are DEDICATED Trumpers - the more outrageous the man the more fervent is their support. These are the people who, as kids, sat in the last row and shot spitballs at the nerds up front. No, their support won't wane HOWEVER Trump's numbers will not grow either. His supporters are who they are, nothing more or less. It's sad to think that about 25% of the American people agree with Trump's views but I've never really doubted that they existed. They voted for Bush and Romney and even McCain in the past because they had nowhere else to go but NOW their savior has appeared. This is why the GOP is fractured. The mainstream candidates don't satiate these hysterical people but Trump does. Pity it will take until next November and the election of Clinton to see them crawl back into the holes they've recently come out of. "Rough up a protester" suggested Trump. What could be more fascist that that?!
10
Trump and his Brownshirts are clearly advocating for this nation to become a bastion of hate against the following minorities: Hispanics, Muslims, Women, physically challenged individuals (including countless vets),and ANY other person who is not a racist bigot! Reading about his daily gatherings and their bilious contents, I anticpate that it will not be long before actual crimes are committed by his Shutstaffel, against people who do not adhere to his twisted belief system based on lies, xenophobia and outright hatred! France would learn a good lesson from Trump-oh wait a minute-France has its own racist demagogues, namely Le Pen and her branch of Vichyists!
17
One thing that bothers me a great deal is what a coward Trump is. He's said he'd never apologize, although he's been wrong on 99% of things. But when it comes to insulting people, it's funny how he pulls away and makes himself the victim.
If he had no idea what the NYT reporter looked like, why then did he lead with "you've got to see this guy"? That only implies he's seen the guy. Just like the time the audience member began saying that Obama's not even an American and Trump led with "we need this question". So when are people going to stop defending him and his blatant lies and call him out for what he really is - a coward for afterwards backing down from his heinous speech.
I too am concerned with his supporters, who believe this crap out of hate and ignorance. Theirs is the classic case of people in the lowest rung of society who will step on any other group of people to make them feel just a tiny bit better about themselves. I believe it's time for us to educate these people, who unfortunately are distant members of our own families. We need a social movement led by the people, and we need to confront this problem at the root.
If he had no idea what the NYT reporter looked like, why then did he lead with "you've got to see this guy"? That only implies he's seen the guy. Just like the time the audience member began saying that Obama's not even an American and Trump led with "we need this question". So when are people going to stop defending him and his blatant lies and call him out for what he really is - a coward for afterwards backing down from his heinous speech.
I too am concerned with his supporters, who believe this crap out of hate and ignorance. Theirs is the classic case of people in the lowest rung of society who will step on any other group of people to make them feel just a tiny bit better about themselves. I believe it's time for us to educate these people, who unfortunately are distant members of our own families. We need a social movement led by the people, and we need to confront this problem at the root.
39
There is a very interesting conflict coming: Donald Trump versus Karl Rove.
What they are going to be fighting over is the fact that Karl Rove knows exactly how the the 2000 election was stolen by hacking computerized voting machines in Ohio. Trump has made Rove one of his punching bags in this campaign, saying over and over that Rove spent $400 million on the 2012 elections and won zero elections. Trump is going to be very interested in how computerized voting machines can be hacked - and there are plenty of people who know how to do it. It's going to be very important for The Republican nominee to know how to steal the election - because that is the only way he or she can win.
Will Rove blow the whistle on Trump?
My bet is that Rove will join the Trump team and help him steal the election.
Republicans know they cannot win a fair election - that is why they spend so much time and energy gerrymandering Congressional districts and trying to disenfranchise minority voters. At one time it was thought that a stolen election was impossible in the US.
But does anyone doubt that Donald Trump would steal an election, if he could?
What they are going to be fighting over is the fact that Karl Rove knows exactly how the the 2000 election was stolen by hacking computerized voting machines in Ohio. Trump has made Rove one of his punching bags in this campaign, saying over and over that Rove spent $400 million on the 2012 elections and won zero elections. Trump is going to be very interested in how computerized voting machines can be hacked - and there are plenty of people who know how to do it. It's going to be very important for The Republican nominee to know how to steal the election - because that is the only way he or she can win.
Will Rove blow the whistle on Trump?
My bet is that Rove will join the Trump team and help him steal the election.
Republicans know they cannot win a fair election - that is why they spend so much time and energy gerrymandering Congressional districts and trying to disenfranchise minority voters. At one time it was thought that a stolen election was impossible in the US.
But does anyone doubt that Donald Trump would steal an election, if he could?
33
Martin O' Malley affixed an appropriate appellation on Trump when he called Donald a "carnival barker."
The unfortunate part is that when Trump the carnival barker says, "step right up, folks!" there are quite a few who are stepping up to see his act, hopefully not enough to win him the nomination, leave alone the election.
Trump's penchant for hyperbole notwithstanding, the fact is Mexico is not going to pay for the "beautiful wall" he wants to build and there are enough good lawyers in the country who would file lawsuits to prevent the sort of draconian measures that Trump and his cohorts propose.
The good news is that the circus that is the current GOP nomination process will soon end and we can go about our business without having to listen to the likes of Trump. As of now, Jindal is out and Christie has now been relegated to the kiddie table in the debates. Hopefully, others will exit soon.
The bad news is that Ted Cruz's stock seems to be rising. The GOP's own Mitch McConnell and others can't stomach Cruz. God help us if Cruz wins the nomination.
The unfortunate part is that when Trump the carnival barker says, "step right up, folks!" there are quite a few who are stepping up to see his act, hopefully not enough to win him the nomination, leave alone the election.
Trump's penchant for hyperbole notwithstanding, the fact is Mexico is not going to pay for the "beautiful wall" he wants to build and there are enough good lawyers in the country who would file lawsuits to prevent the sort of draconian measures that Trump and his cohorts propose.
The good news is that the circus that is the current GOP nomination process will soon end and we can go about our business without having to listen to the likes of Trump. As of now, Jindal is out and Christie has now been relegated to the kiddie table in the debates. Hopefully, others will exit soon.
The bad news is that Ted Cruz's stock seems to be rising. The GOP's own Mitch McConnell and others can't stomach Cruz. God help us if Cruz wins the nomination.
17
Trump and some of the Republican candidates sound like what I might hear at the neighborhood bar during a discussion with drunken local "political scientists."
11
What we need now is to crack open the closed box that Republicans (and Democrats) are in. Have the two parties debate each other prior to the conventions, just as Bernie Sanders espoused earlier this year. By allowing the cross currents of ideas to flow, there might yet be some sunlight in these increasingly dark cellars of hatred and fear. For the network taking on the challenge, there should be a flood of viewers.
8
The Don seems so outlandish in just about every way that I can't take him seriously. He is too shrewd of a businessman to think he can deliver on his rhetoric. He is in a competition and his competitive instincts are forcing him to pander to the base instincts of his base.
I expect that if he is still a contender next year, that he will withdraw his candidacy and tell his supporters that they need to support someone with a command of facts and a realistic set of policies.
But then, again, he could be a megalomaniac whose grandiose delusions have overwhelmed his business acumen.
I expect that if he is still a contender next year, that he will withdraw his candidacy and tell his supporters that they need to support someone with a command of facts and a realistic set of policies.
But then, again, he could be a megalomaniac whose grandiose delusions have overwhelmed his business acumen.
9
Even before Obama, whites in this country saw themselves slowly starting to head toward minority status. Then Obama came along. Having a black man as president completely flipped out portions of our population. Hence the birther movement, the Tea Party, the insistence that somehow Obama is the "other" (not Christian, not born here, not true American). We didn't expect to have our first black president without significant pushback, did we?
Trump is the "logical" response to Obama. Trump tells the racists they no longer need to hide their racism. He tells the rich and the oligarchs they no longer need to even pretend to care about the poor. He tells the misogynists they are free to call women "disgusting pigs" who ask difficult or insightful questions only because they are menstruating. He tells the ignorant to be proud of their ignorance. It all feels good to so many people.
Let's hope decent Americans bother to get up off their couches to go and vote--not just in 2016, but in 2018 as well.
Trump is the "logical" response to Obama. Trump tells the racists they no longer need to hide their racism. He tells the rich and the oligarchs they no longer need to even pretend to care about the poor. He tells the misogynists they are free to call women "disgusting pigs" who ask difficult or insightful questions only because they are menstruating. He tells the ignorant to be proud of their ignorance. It all feels good to so many people.
Let's hope decent Americans bother to get up off their couches to go and vote--not just in 2016, but in 2018 as well.
85
Completely agree.
Saw a show recently about 'abused spouses' and one of the counselor's being interviewed said "The most dangerous time for an abused spouse is when they actually make the decision to leave. This often represents an unacceptable loss of control to the abuser..."
This is a nearly perfect metaphor for what is happening in the Republican party today. After 200 years of being 'in control' of the country, White European-descended Christian Males can feel that the country has decided to 'leave them'... and they are willing to do some very stupid, self-destructive and violent things to stop that from happening. That is how you get Trump, Cruz, Carson, et al....
Saw a show recently about 'abused spouses' and one of the counselor's being interviewed said "The most dangerous time for an abused spouse is when they actually make the decision to leave. This often represents an unacceptable loss of control to the abuser..."
This is a nearly perfect metaphor for what is happening in the Republican party today. After 200 years of being 'in control' of the country, White European-descended Christian Males can feel that the country has decided to 'leave them'... and they are willing to do some very stupid, self-destructive and violent things to stop that from happening. That is how you get Trump, Cruz, Carson, et al....
4
"Of course, it could never happen here."
But of course it did: some 112,000 Japanese-Americans were interned (i.e., placed in improvised concentration, but not extermination, camps in remote desert locations) during WW2 by FDR, on the urging of then California Attorney General (and future governor and Supreme Court Chief Justice) Earl Warren, and against the recommendation of FBI Director Hoover. Hoover did not consider them a security threat and thought their neighbors just wanted to confiscate their properties. West Coast Japanese-Americans, according to the then discriminatory laws, could not own land, even if they were naturalized citizens, and were thus dependent on neighbors to act as legal straw men.
At least Warren later regreted that decision in his 1977 memoirs:
"since deeply regretted the removal order and my own testimony advocating it, because it was not in keeping with our American concept of freedom and the rights of citizens...Whenever I thought of the innocent little children who were torn from home, school friends, and congenial surroundings, I was conscience-stricken...[i]t was wrong to react so impulsively, without positive evidence of disloyalty."
But of course it did: some 112,000 Japanese-Americans were interned (i.e., placed in improvised concentration, but not extermination, camps in remote desert locations) during WW2 by FDR, on the urging of then California Attorney General (and future governor and Supreme Court Chief Justice) Earl Warren, and against the recommendation of FBI Director Hoover. Hoover did not consider them a security threat and thought their neighbors just wanted to confiscate their properties. West Coast Japanese-Americans, according to the then discriminatory laws, could not own land, even if they were naturalized citizens, and were thus dependent on neighbors to act as legal straw men.
At least Warren later regreted that decision in his 1977 memoirs:
"since deeply regretted the removal order and my own testimony advocating it, because it was not in keeping with our American concept of freedom and the rights of citizens...Whenever I thought of the innocent little children who were torn from home, school friends, and congenial surroundings, I was conscience-stricken...[i]t was wrong to react so impulsively, without positive evidence of disloyalty."
28
Maybe the Trump GOPers could put ankle bracelets on the Syrian refugees.
3
Just saw the BBC Documentary "Auschwitz". The SS soldiers were making fun of the handicap and mentally ill. Trump is channeling something out there.
3
Tim, I have my issues with George Lakoff's approach to positive political messaging (and winning elections), but he makes the argument that Americans on the hard right have become so inundated by the toxic emotions associated with conservative political messaging that the synapses in their brain have literally been altered.
Let me suggest that Trump's growing appeal is an outgrowth of this - and that the day is rapidly coming when even old-style mainstream Republicans will lament this development (as David Brooks has in recent columns).
There are some political victories that come at too high a price.
Tim, I would strongly argue that what we're witnessing today on the far Right is largely a mental health issue. These voters are suffering from a kind of post-traumatic syndrome induced by excessive exposure to emotionally toxic conservative messaging - like the kind that flows daily from Trump, from Fox, from the poison-pen authors, and from the hateful (yet incredibly well-compensated) conservative shock jocks.
These people get rich tearing a nation apart - while rendering a substantial segment of its population collectively insane.
For a similar perspective on this growing mental health problem, let me recommend John Dean "Conservatives Without Conscience", which itself is based on the research of the Canadian psychologist Bob Altemeyer.
Let me suggest that Trump's growing appeal is an outgrowth of this - and that the day is rapidly coming when even old-style mainstream Republicans will lament this development (as David Brooks has in recent columns).
There are some political victories that come at too high a price.
Tim, I would strongly argue that what we're witnessing today on the far Right is largely a mental health issue. These voters are suffering from a kind of post-traumatic syndrome induced by excessive exposure to emotionally toxic conservative messaging - like the kind that flows daily from Trump, from Fox, from the poison-pen authors, and from the hateful (yet incredibly well-compensated) conservative shock jocks.
These people get rich tearing a nation apart - while rendering a substantial segment of its population collectively insane.
For a similar perspective on this growing mental health problem, let me recommend John Dean "Conservatives Without Conscience", which itself is based on the research of the Canadian psychologist Bob Altemeyer.
51
I agree with you 100% Matthew. I have always maintained that conservatism is a form of mental illness and you have just articulated my position even better than I ever have.
Regarding the Trumpster he's nothing more than a right-wing punk with a huge megaphone. I have no doubt that saner heads in his party will never let him get the nomination -- although nothing would be more satisfying than an electoral landslide in 2016 which will likely happen if he is the nominee.
Trump/Palin 2016!
Regarding the Trumpster he's nothing more than a right-wing punk with a huge megaphone. I have no doubt that saner heads in his party will never let him get the nomination -- although nothing would be more satisfying than an electoral landslide in 2016 which will likely happen if he is the nominee.
Trump/Palin 2016!
2
This kind of talk by the Donald reminds me of another country in another time which I prefer not to think about.
18
Then I'll say it for you: Fascist Germany.
5
I wonder how many people go to a tRUMP rally merely to be entertained as opposed to actual support. like a much darker version of the satire on the old Colbert Report. Maybe they tell a pollster that he gives voice to some flakey idea that they themselves might have had. It may be possible that 23% of the voters are tired of being sold 'hope and change' when the only changes they see on a daily basis are the ever increasing micro-SNAFUs of everyday life and horrible news of mayhem everywhere they look.
This is the breeding ground of demagoguery, and Trump is playing the oldest political trick of all... find a parade and stand in front of it.
This is the breeding ground of demagoguery, and Trump is playing the oldest political trick of all... find a parade and stand in front of it.
9
This shouldn't surprise anyone who has had the chance to listen to right-wing talk radio the past 10 years. Or just go to the Tea Party web sites to feel the hate and catch up on the latest conspiracy theories. The Koch brothers alone are pouring millions of dollars into infecting the body politic. The enemy is the government of the people. The friend is the unregulated dollar. Without their base, the GOP barely exists.
61
Jim,
As a fan of the self parody that is right wing talk radio myself, I have to say I AM surprised by Trump's continued success. While they've had some solid successes such as destroying Hilary care, talk radio seems mostly powerless to get their candidates or agenda adopted. Sharon Angle, Todd Aiken, and the witch from Delaware are among the candidates talk radio strongly backed and who just as strongly crashed and burned. On the national stage, Herman Cain (remember him), was the talk radio darling until he was revealed to be who he is.
But Trump is different. He has reached the Caine-esque singularity many times over and still remains in the lead. I have my theories as to why, but I for now, I'm simply not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Many talk radio guys and gals have confidently predicted that he'll beat Mrs. Clinton if he is their nominee but, as unsettling a Trump's continued success is, I'm going to go with their long range track record of predicting the political demise of the Clintons.
As a fan of the self parody that is right wing talk radio myself, I have to say I AM surprised by Trump's continued success. While they've had some solid successes such as destroying Hilary care, talk radio seems mostly powerless to get their candidates or agenda adopted. Sharon Angle, Todd Aiken, and the witch from Delaware are among the candidates talk radio strongly backed and who just as strongly crashed and burned. On the national stage, Herman Cain (remember him), was the talk radio darling until he was revealed to be who he is.
But Trump is different. He has reached the Caine-esque singularity many times over and still remains in the lead. I have my theories as to why, but I for now, I'm simply not going to look a gift horse in the mouth.
Many talk radio guys and gals have confidently predicted that he'll beat Mrs. Clinton if he is their nominee but, as unsettling a Trump's continued success is, I'm going to go with their long range track record of predicting the political demise of the Clintons.
4
Thank you for pointing out the involvement of the Kochs. I do believe they have a very insidious agenda along with the money to carry it out. In a nutshell they want to create a society solely for the benefit of rich white men like themselves, a land of unfettered capitalism where no regulations exist to complicate their amassment of profits. I believe that deep down these brothers do not believe in any kind of equality across classes or ability of "others"to run things; hence their desire to influence elections and put in place simpleminded white puppets who can be bought off to do their bidding. In other words government of the few for the few.
4
Again, Trump's lies need to be identified as such on the news pages of the Times. This is the 2nd op ed piece to do so. But as long as the news stories describe his lies with phrases such as "difficult to prove" or "most people do not agree". There is still true and false in this world, proven false opinions don't deserve the same respect as the truth.
46
Candidates for President should be required to have read the Constitution before they are allowed to run.
14
The scariest scenario has Trump running as a third party candidate and activating his base to secure the election. Look at Maine to get a sense of how this might play out…
9
The Republican Party has been all too eager to stoke fear, hatred, and animus toward "others" among its "base" supporters for political gain over the last six or seven election cycles. Now, it needs to deal with the Frankenstein monster it has created; a monster that threatens to destroy ONLY the "rogue scientists" who created it. Think about that when next you are tempted to appeal to people's worst instincts.
18
Perhaps Trump has actually done us a favor by fully revealing the ugly American underbelly of fear and hate which is driving misguided voting decisions in many parts of the country. People who are fearful and feel victimized by circumstances are frighteningly easy to manipulate with powerful sounding rhetoric. And Mr. Trump is also capitalizing on our own shameful history of racism and xenophobia, currently having been brought to a fever pitch by the election of a black man to the Presidency. Not once, but twice. There would be no rise of Trump without the anger and hatred now openly expressed by his supporters. What frightens me most is the thought that many of my fellow citizens are so consumed with hate that they would happily vote for a man who openly calls for instituting a fascist state here in America. Dare I say, this is how Hitler came to power too? Thank you, Mr. Egan, for reminding us that this can only too easily happen here if we pretend that it's not as bad as it seems. Believe it.
73
Interesting column Mr. Egan, a combination of "1984" and "The Plot Against America." And what's scary is the support Trump is getting despite the absurdity and viciousness of his agenda.
Scarier yet is the lack of a credible strong voice that can address the Trump plans and show them up for what they are.
Scarier yet is the lack of a credible strong voice that can address the Trump plans and show them up for what they are.
20
For intelligent people or even people with a minimal conscience and sense of decency, Trumps "plans" should be easily seen for what they are by anyone. Trump is a brute and he appeals to the brutish, thuggish worst part of people.
4
Be afraid. Be very afraid. Fear stupidifies the mind, and we brave, upstanding (formerly immigrant Americans all) have always been better at tribal in-group/out-group paranoiac rage (King Phillips War) than we have at clear thinking. It all seems too slow and "sissy-like" for us. Act first. That's the manly and safe thing to do.
As far as the all-American avatar Mr. Trump is concerned, his success is the logical end result of generations of deliberately cultivated contempt for objective truth, impatience with complexity, and deification of certainty. Richard Hofstadter wrote eloquently about such dangerous but marketable stuff in his landmark book (books? - Blah, who reads those, got too much to do) "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" way back in the 60s.
One would assume that no one at a Trump rally, save the most purely cynical, would have ever read such a forbidding doorstop. (Isn't that why we invented the internet?)
OK, surely the consistently 20%ish slice of Britain, France, and Denmark (UKIP, National Front, and Danish People's Party) will hold in the US too, and we won't actually elect this inflammatory loudmouth. At least I hope not.
As far as the all-American avatar Mr. Trump is concerned, his success is the logical end result of generations of deliberately cultivated contempt for objective truth, impatience with complexity, and deification of certainty. Richard Hofstadter wrote eloquently about such dangerous but marketable stuff in his landmark book (books? - Blah, who reads those, got too much to do) "The Paranoid Style in American Politics" way back in the 60s.
One would assume that no one at a Trump rally, save the most purely cynical, would have ever read such a forbidding doorstop. (Isn't that why we invented the internet?)
OK, surely the consistently 20%ish slice of Britain, France, and Denmark (UKIP, National Front, and Danish People's Party) will hold in the US too, and we won't actually elect this inflammatory loudmouth. At least I hope not.
10
Trump is a bully which translates to being a coward.
Look no further for evidence than military high school attending Trump dodging the Viet Nam draft.
Generalissimo Bone Spur, leading the next Charge of The Fools Brigade.
Whatever could go wrong?
Look no further for evidence than military high school attending Trump dodging the Viet Nam draft.
Generalissimo Bone Spur, leading the next Charge of The Fools Brigade.
Whatever could go wrong?
56
What a great article and so true. he is so full of hate and anger and misery its scary. In my own opinion he is a very sick person. He suffers from many mental disorders. for him it won't end well. They say misery loves company. Hate is like a cancer with no cure. God help us all.
36
Wow, what a way to start the post Thanksgiving end of the year stretch run. Course we all know(probably even his cult followers) that he is a gasbag with little to offer in a reality based environment. But his cult has forgotten reality. They live in the echo chamber of early 1950's rhetoric when all was good. Of course this thinking totally ignores the truth. But those passed over by progress have little to cling to but a swaggering bully like Trump. So be it, he wins totalitarianism is in. Good luck to all.
12
Trump can boast about turning America into a police state for one simple reason. He assumes that police state will not use its powers against his fellow billionaires, just as the today's system balks at using its powers against them.
And he certainly has good reason to believe that.
How many times do federal and state cops seize the assets of billionaires without charging them with any crime? How many bankers have been convicted of the tsunami of financial crimes that lead to the financial crisis? How many rich whites have been hauled into police torture chambers in Chicago? How may state judges deny the right to counsel to rich white kids? How many times do cops storm into houses in rich, white neighborhoods to bust teens for underage drinking or smoking joints?
How many times do cops shake down rich white neighborhoods as if they were Ferguson, Missouri?
And he certainly has good reason to believe that.
How many times do federal and state cops seize the assets of billionaires without charging them with any crime? How many bankers have been convicted of the tsunami of financial crimes that lead to the financial crisis? How many rich whites have been hauled into police torture chambers in Chicago? How may state judges deny the right to counsel to rich white kids? How many times do cops storm into houses in rich, white neighborhoods to bust teens for underage drinking or smoking joints?
How many times do cops shake down rich white neighborhoods as if they were Ferguson, Missouri?
29
Trump is scary, dangerous and an affront to all things we believed America stood for and was built upon. His entire career has been based upon deception, lies, and being perhaps the most sensational huckster and self promoter since PT Barnum. What is frightening, and rings eerily true about your essay is that millions of America's come out to see him, support him, and believe the vicious lies he spews and the vitriolic bombs he lobs. He is voicing what apparently millions of Americans believe and think about fellow Americans, the world and freedom. It is an indictment of America and the American way and the fact that no one has forcefully confronted or challenged him within the ranks of the Republican Party informs you of all you need to know about what they really think about freedom and democracy!
27
No, the creepy thing is not Donald Trump. It's all the media who flock to cover his next venomous fulmination and then broadcast, discuss and analyze his presidential prospects. It's time for the media to step up and give the Donald even less coverage than it gives Bernie Sanders and to report on the Donald as contemptuously as it reports on Bernie. That's what it takes to deflate a gasbag like Trump.
23
But think of the ratings!!
1
As several have confessed it is not so much Trump's words that are frightening,
he is just a TV character, it is the following that he has.
The fact that people support his hateful, fearful moronic positions is what scares me.
he is just a TV character, it is the following that he has.
The fact that people support his hateful, fearful moronic positions is what scares me.
36
You are preaching to the choir as the saying goes. Most NY Times readers will find nothing new here except the knee jerk alarmism and ratcheted up hysteria.
Take your piece to someplace Republicans can read it. Here it's just another log on the fire.
Take your piece to someplace Republicans can read it. Here it's just another log on the fire.
15
There was a time in this country, thankfully the years of my youth, when leaders existed, and their leadership held the nation on course to its highest aspirations, as embodied in the Declaration and established in the Constitution. Now, too many would-be leaders pander to the lowest forms of human emotion in their self-serving drive for power and control. It is up to those who wish to hold themselves and their country to the highest standards to reject demagogues, and to recognize true leaders when they see them. Otherwise, our destiny looks very bleak.
23
What else should we expect when so much of our society has become so adolescent. I find it incredible that so many (certainly not all) of our citizens are so caught up in consumerism that to them not much else seems to matter.
2
Trump's German heritage is getting the best of him; we can say that due to our own German ancestors, including grandmother Gretchen.
25
Well this is a rather facile sentiment... not to mention unhelpful, and rather in the same essentialist vein as that which you (rightly) find worrisome coming from Trump.
Are authoritarianism and racism uniquely German tendencies? I don't think so, and I can say that due to my own scattered ancestors.
Are authoritarianism and racism uniquely German tendencies? I don't think so, and I can say that due to my own scattered ancestors.
2
It fascinates me that the very segment of the population which sees itself as the true defender of the Constitution, are all excited about Trump. The man has no idea about the Constitution or about how our government is supposed to work. From his speech it is plain that he thinks he can go into DC and act as CEO treating the rest of the government as his employees; that he can issue orders to Congress which will, of course, be carried out - or "you're fired."
At the same time Trump and his supporters are demonstrating our need for the Constitution. Folks who espouse majority opinions or practice the majority faith are, of course, covered by the 1st amendment, but it those who hold minority opinions or practice a minority faith who are in most need of and are most protected by that amendment (because they are most likely to be threatened by the majority). Trump and his mob want to do away with that suggesting that really those protections apply only to the majority and those whom they find acceptable. The Founding Fathers would be horrified.
At the same time Trump and his supporters are demonstrating our need for the Constitution. Folks who espouse majority opinions or practice the majority faith are, of course, covered by the 1st amendment, but it those who hold minority opinions or practice a minority faith who are in most need of and are most protected by that amendment (because they are most likely to be threatened by the majority). Trump and his mob want to do away with that suggesting that really those protections apply only to the majority and those whom they find acceptable. The Founding Fathers would be horrified.
150
Trump promises to do things that aren't within the power of the Presidency to begin with. Some of the more mundane things he promises are within the power of Congress, but Mr. Trump won't run for Congress. Becoming President might actually mark the first time that anyone ever says "no" to Donald Trump and prevails.
3
Today, a Trump Presidency seems a little unlikely, given a slowly but steadily growing economy, low inflation and falling deficits.
But imagine only one term of any of the GOP candidates and their radical agendas, with majorities in both houses of Congress and another radical justice in the SCOTUS. Trillions in tax reductions on the wealthy, expansionary foreign military adventures, huge cuts to government at all levels, massive privatization of public lands and assets, a deregulated financial sector, default on US debt, crippling trade wars, rollback of EPA constraints on pollution and ideological opposition to economic intervention or stimulus.
Another Great Recession of the W Bush type, amplified by the above and wiped out savings of the middle class, might just broaden fear enough to make a Trump type electable.
Then Mr. Egan's feat driven nightmare scenario sounds downright plausible.
But imagine only one term of any of the GOP candidates and their radical agendas, with majorities in both houses of Congress and another radical justice in the SCOTUS. Trillions in tax reductions on the wealthy, expansionary foreign military adventures, huge cuts to government at all levels, massive privatization of public lands and assets, a deregulated financial sector, default on US debt, crippling trade wars, rollback of EPA constraints on pollution and ideological opposition to economic intervention or stimulus.
Another Great Recession of the W Bush type, amplified by the above and wiped out savings of the middle class, might just broaden fear enough to make a Trump type electable.
Then Mr. Egan's feat driven nightmare scenario sounds downright plausible.
159
All it will take is a terrorist attack on US soil between now and the election. Then we're toast.
4
Your scenario would be painful for the current generations, but it might be necessary for the status quo to become intolerably bad before a living generation decides, en masse, that sacrifices must be made for the sake of future generations. And yes, by "sacrifices", I'm talking about killing and dying in violent revolution. How bad do things have to get before we reach that juncture? I doubt that anything a President Trump is capable of doing, takes us there. What *would* take us there?
Trump's campaign is a case-book of demagogic practices employed by authoritarian, if not dictatorial, would-be leaders. The basic tool of all such people is fear of disorders, fear of foreigners, fear of sudden attacks. He has ready-made subjects for his harangues: fear
of economic collapse represented by Mexicans and Chinese, fear of attacks in the persons of Muslim refugees. And he proposes to solve these problems by disregarding the law and democratic process using authoritarian measures. The signal character of dictator is the claim of his total capacity to deal and solve all issues. And that is the message that Trump proclaims constantly.
What is really frightening, however, is not so much Trump and his ideas but that so many people are willing to follow him. This should warn us that were it not for the nature of our system, with its dispersed centers of power,
we would be in danger of losing our liberties.
Many a dictator started with fewer followers.
of economic collapse represented by Mexicans and Chinese, fear of attacks in the persons of Muslim refugees. And he proposes to solve these problems by disregarding the law and democratic process using authoritarian measures. The signal character of dictator is the claim of his total capacity to deal and solve all issues. And that is the message that Trump proclaims constantly.
What is really frightening, however, is not so much Trump and his ideas but that so many people are willing to follow him. This should warn us that were it not for the nature of our system, with its dispersed centers of power,
we would be in danger of losing our liberties.
Many a dictator started with fewer followers.
273
We are in constant danger of losing our liberties, and it's drip drip dripping every day on the state level.
3
Fascism - often capitalized : a political philosophy, movement, or regime (as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition. (Merriam-Webster)
129
At the beginning Trump's "stream of consciousness" monologues were fun. It's easy to see why. Trump resembles that most entertaining American anti-hero, Holden Caulfield in his stylized vocabulary, one-liners and dislike of phoniness. However, as time has passed, Holden's less appealing qualities are on full display: a narrow emotional range, snap judgments, and intellectual immaturity. At the start, Donald claimed he whines until he gets his way. It's getting to be the irresistible force vs. immoveable object time.
26
Having just this last week finished RE-reading "It Can't Happen Here" by Sinclair Lewis; I can't help but wonder whether we are currently closer to the values of the Founding Fathers of the Constitutional Convention time-frame; OR those of the Founding Fathers of the Pilgrim-Puritan Theocracy time-frame. The more things change; the more they stay the same.
35
Sinclair Lewis envisioned the rise of fascism in "It Can't Happen Here". Both he and Philip Roth paint an all too realistic vision of the United States becoming a police state. It is getting all too close to what is happening here right now and it is chilling. I had an American History Professor at college who felt that the number of Americans susceptible to authoritarianism was greatly underestimated, and I think he's being proven right. That Chinese curse "May you live in interesting times" comes to mind. That's what we are living in right now, and let's hope our Democracy survives.
261
Course one could also say, "twas the best of times, twas the worst of times".
1
It can happen here.
1
Many of the things Trump images - or promises - have already happened here. And not in the far distant past
1. Massive deportation of Mexicans - Did it under Eisenhower. Not as many people as Trump claims but we did it.
2. Separate American citizens - Japanese Americans removed from their homes and neighborhoods and put into camps.
3. Police state tactics. - check into the McCarthy hearings.
Trump isn't a new phenomenon - nor are his ideas.
1. Massive deportation of Mexicans - Did it under Eisenhower. Not as many people as Trump claims but we did it.
2. Separate American citizens - Japanese Americans removed from their homes and neighborhoods and put into camps.
3. Police state tactics. - check into the McCarthy hearings.
Trump isn't a new phenomenon - nor are his ideas.
2
Land of the FREE and the home of the BRAVE. Not a GOP vision.
50
Violating the constitution is already happening. US citizens are being spied upon as we speak. They have given up freedoms in the name of fear and security. Because someone talks about it in a non politically correct form should not alarm anybody. Racism has always been woven into the fabric of america. Trump is speaking for the disenfranchised middle class upon whose backs all the benefits of others are extracted. Trump is not a political smoothy like Hillary. Who would you trust more?
10
Trump is not speaking for the "disenfranchised middle class". He is speaking for the racists, the religious bigots, and the cowards.
21
I'm getting very tired of the [white] middle class [of which I am one,] moaning about what a raw deal they're getting. We have a roof over our heads, ample food on the table, our children have nice clothes and usually go to a decent school.
But oh dear, poor us, no doubt this Trump fella will put a BMW in all our garages and get rid of all these pesky people who don't look like us.
But oh dear, poor us, no doubt this Trump fella will put a BMW in all our garages and get rid of all these pesky people who don't look like us.
19
You've got to be kidding.
5
A decade ago we were talking about “truthiness”: an empty shell of plausibility that refused to succumb to any reality check. Now “truthiness” has given way to “strengthiness.” “Strengthiness” does not even masquerade as being true, so it does not matter how often Trump reverses and re-reverses his claims, or says things that can be demonstrated on the spot to be false, or strings together utterly unrelated phrases—just so long as this verbiage meets some formal pattern that is recognizable as “tough talk.”
There is no question that Trump does not care—and probably does not even realize—how closely his rhetoric mimics totalitarian tyranny, or that he is proving the perfect stooge of ISIS, or that what he promises Americans is, indeed, an “unthinkable” transfer of power to a Great Leader (“you’re gonna love it—or else…”).
“Strengthiness” has the dangerous ability to fire some reptilian synapsis deep in the human brain. And Trump has without question dragged public discourse in the U.S. to a dangerous new low. Yet the attention he continues to get is mostly political rubber-necking: I remain confident that only a limited segment of the American electorate can ever be seriously attracted by this vile spectacle.
There is no question that Trump does not care—and probably does not even realize—how closely his rhetoric mimics totalitarian tyranny, or that he is proving the perfect stooge of ISIS, or that what he promises Americans is, indeed, an “unthinkable” transfer of power to a Great Leader (“you’re gonna love it—or else…”).
“Strengthiness” has the dangerous ability to fire some reptilian synapsis deep in the human brain. And Trump has without question dragged public discourse in the U.S. to a dangerous new low. Yet the attention he continues to get is mostly political rubber-necking: I remain confident that only a limited segment of the American electorate can ever be seriously attracted by this vile spectacle.
681
"I remain confident that only a limited segment of the American electorate can ever be seriously attracted by this vile spectacle."
If only. I am nowhere near as confident as you are, Peter of London. Until the probability of electing the likes of Mr. Trump to the office of President of the United States becomes identically zero, the "strengthiness" you describe here, and the nightmare scenario Mr. Egan describes are likely. In the case of Mr. Trump, even a failure to become the Republican nominee zeroes the probability of his being elected. He could always run as an independent candidate and may be elected by an American electorate gone mad. A similar statement appears to be applicable to all the other Republican candidates on offer this time.
If only. I am nowhere near as confident as you are, Peter of London. Until the probability of electing the likes of Mr. Trump to the office of President of the United States becomes identically zero, the "strengthiness" you describe here, and the nightmare scenario Mr. Egan describes are likely. In the case of Mr. Trump, even a failure to become the Republican nominee zeroes the probability of his being elected. He could always run as an independent candidate and may be elected by an American electorate gone mad. A similar statement appears to be applicable to all the other Republican candidates on offer this time.
5
I'd like to say from your lips to God's ears, but.........
"I remain confident that only a limited segment of the American electorate can ever be seriously attracted by this vile spectacle."
What? Trump's been the party's front runner for months. It's the base that's sick; the candidates are merely the symptom. The entire Republican line-up is a vile spectacle. It's the entire Republican Party that deserves repudiation, not just Trump.
What? Trump's been the party's front runner for months. It's the base that's sick; the candidates are merely the symptom. The entire Republican line-up is a vile spectacle. It's the entire Republican Party that deserves repudiation, not just Trump.
7
Fox 'News' , the Internet and GOP politicians' long standing fear mongering strategy are three big reasons for the rise of right wing reactionary populist expression. Check out Trump rally videos to see adoring porcine Caucasian faces twist with fear and hate when a heckler challenges Trump.
232
We won't be able to say we weren't warned.
102
Not only can it (fascism) happen here, it is happening here.
278
We've had it here since '09 from Obama.
2
And "we" aren't so upset about it that we would make any particular sacrifice in order to stop it. Probably too busy shopping today, to kill and die for revolution.
The way to beat Trump is to ignore him. Will the press ignore him and turn off the Oxygen? Trump is a big ratings generator so journalists are left in a bind, should they write about him and keep their advertisers happy or should they, for the sake of their country" turn off the tap"?
53
I agree so much. And FOX, CNN and MSNBC. Each is owned by a corporation anchored by entertainment/movie companies (20th Century Fox, Warner Bros. and Universal Pictures) so ratings are primary.
4
Your wrong, the way to defeat Trump and his supports is call them out for the Fascist doctrine they are promoting.
5
the fourth estate is dead and buried.
With Trump we see what American fascism in the 21st century looks like. A combination of nasty blusterism, nativism, stoking prejudices and self promotion.
It is the concentration on me,me,me that differentiates it from the fascism of the past. Trump will solve all US problems, believe me, just because he is Trump, the greatest American product in his own eyes, He does not have brown or black shirts ready to beat up the opposition, but he does have a large following of people who are angry and believe all their problems come from those who are not like them. These people have been fed a steady diet of demonizing Muslims, illegal immigrants and coddling of the undeserving by talk radio and Fox News. One should not lose sight of the fact though that his followers are a minority and not matter how many stadiums they fill will remain a minority during this election cycle. There is reason to worry about the future though, just like Goldwater (a much more decent human being) eventually won incarnated as Reagan, who knows what may come in Trump's wake.
It is the concentration on me,me,me that differentiates it from the fascism of the past. Trump will solve all US problems, believe me, just because he is Trump, the greatest American product in his own eyes, He does not have brown or black shirts ready to beat up the opposition, but he does have a large following of people who are angry and believe all their problems come from those who are not like them. These people have been fed a steady diet of demonizing Muslims, illegal immigrants and coddling of the undeserving by talk radio and Fox News. One should not lose sight of the fact though that his followers are a minority and not matter how many stadiums they fill will remain a minority during this election cycle. There is reason to worry about the future though, just like Goldwater (a much more decent human being) eventually won incarnated as Reagan, who knows what may come in Trump's wake.
126
Hitler's brownshirts were duty-sworn military men with recent battlefield experience.
3
With thoughts of Wordsworth
The World is too much with us still,
And billionaires ne'er have their fill,
Brotherhood, compassion
Remain out of fashion,
And know-nothings will have their will.
It's time that we now have our surge
And curb the hell bent profit urge,
Back Bernie, reveal
A resurgent New Deal,
Thoughts of yachts and mansions now purge.
,
The World is too much with us still,
And billionaires ne'er have their fill,
Brotherhood, compassion
Remain out of fashion,
And know-nothings will have their will.
It's time that we now have our surge
And curb the hell bent profit urge,
Back Bernie, reveal
A resurgent New Deal,
Thoughts of yachts and mansions now purge.
,
82
I, too, don't remember being more worried about fascism in the U.S. -- and I lived through the McCarthyite 1950s and J. Edgar Hoover at the FBI and the age of paranoid President Nixon and his enemies list and CIA spying.
I think it is useful and even imperative for writers like Egan to discuss this.
But I am not panicking -- yet.
First, I want to see the votes in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary counted in winter. And after the Super Tuesday primaries, see the state of the Republican presidential race.
Second, if Trump is on his way to the nomination, I want to see if the sane leadership of the Republican party -- what's left of it -- will unite to stop him.
Third, if Trump is indeed the GOP candidate next summer, I want to see what the polls say and what the pols say: which Republicans will be supporting the Democratic nominee, probably Hillary Clinton, either openly or covertly and which will simply refuse to support the Trump campaign with their money or words.
Finally, if Donald Trump is our President-elect a year from now, I rely on our Constitution to trump President Trump's authoritarianism. If President Obama's executive order to help immigrants can be tied up and blocked in federal courts for over a year and probably until he is out of the White House, I expect the federal courts to block illegal actions of President Trump and believe that even a Republican Congress has enough members with sanity of both parties, to block Trump at every illegal turn.
I think it is useful and even imperative for writers like Egan to discuss this.
But I am not panicking -- yet.
First, I want to see the votes in the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire primary counted in winter. And after the Super Tuesday primaries, see the state of the Republican presidential race.
Second, if Trump is on his way to the nomination, I want to see if the sane leadership of the Republican party -- what's left of it -- will unite to stop him.
Third, if Trump is indeed the GOP candidate next summer, I want to see what the polls say and what the pols say: which Republicans will be supporting the Democratic nominee, probably Hillary Clinton, either openly or covertly and which will simply refuse to support the Trump campaign with their money or words.
Finally, if Donald Trump is our President-elect a year from now, I rely on our Constitution to trump President Trump's authoritarianism. If President Obama's executive order to help immigrants can be tied up and blocked in federal courts for over a year and probably until he is out of the White House, I expect the federal courts to block illegal actions of President Trump and believe that even a Republican Congress has enough members with sanity of both parties, to block Trump at every illegal turn.
27
You are giving the Republican Congressional members too much credit. They will only do what their financiers tell them to do. We've long ago given up a people-elected government.
3
But you have to remember that if Trump is elected president, there's a good chance both houses of the congress could be republican, in lock step as usual.They could do some serious damage.
5
"Second, if Trump is on his way to the nomination, I want to see if the sane leadership of the Republican party -- what's left of it -- will unite to stop him."
We can all have high hopes, but Mr. Trump's campaign is the outcome of more than fifty years of "work" on the part of the Republicans. Is it truly reasonable to expect anything else?
We can all have high hopes, but Mr. Trump's campaign is the outcome of more than fifty years of "work" on the part of the Republicans. Is it truly reasonable to expect anything else?
3
Mr. Egan, you've never noticed before this that there is a strong fascistic element in American culture???
I first became aware of this when I saw Leni Riefenstahl's Nazi propaganda film, "Triumph of the Will" when I was in college, and a friend of mine told me with unabashed sincerity how thrilling it was for him to see that long parade of goose-stepping soldiers near the end of the film.
Self-righteousness is a type of fascism.
Even after WW2, when my parents were going to build a house using the GI Bill in a suburb north of Chicago, when they got to the sign announcing that they were about to enter Highland Park, the sign had this word still on it: "RESTRICTED". Or so they told me.
I first became aware of this when I saw Leni Riefenstahl's Nazi propaganda film, "Triumph of the Will" when I was in college, and a friend of mine told me with unabashed sincerity how thrilling it was for him to see that long parade of goose-stepping soldiers near the end of the film.
Self-righteousness is a type of fascism.
Even after WW2, when my parents were going to build a house using the GI Bill in a suburb north of Chicago, when they got to the sign announcing that they were about to enter Highland Park, the sign had this word still on it: "RESTRICTED". Or so they told me.
17
They had no need to lie about that.
1
Any country that elected Donald Trump to the presidency would deserve him. We would have witnessed the slide from the Greatest Generation to the Worst in just a few decades. Social Darwinist Charles Lindbergh would have approved. When you get rid of all of the undesirables, imagine what a great country this would be. And there would be plenty of room, because the desirables remaining after the purge would fit comfortably in Rhode Island.
The economy would improve under a Trump administration. For one thing, the jackboot Industry would burgeon. Infrastructure projects would abound. The wall separating church and state would not be torn down but merely relocated along the Mexican-American border. It wouldn't be needed for its original purpose, and would just interfere with the government's abolition of unapproved religions. True, the huge holes in it would have to be patched, but that would keep plasterers employed for years to come.
We'd probably need another wall along our northern border, since we don't want contamination with those lefty Canadians, or American citizens being lured to the north by the promise of decent medical care and cheap prescription drugs.
We'd have to change the wording on the Statue of Liberty, but a skilled craftsman could probably change "Give Us" to "Keep Your" without too much trouble.
When we're finally a Christian nation, Merry Christmas will not offend anyone, although we'll probably have to explain what "merry" means to the kids.
The economy would improve under a Trump administration. For one thing, the jackboot Industry would burgeon. Infrastructure projects would abound. The wall separating church and state would not be torn down but merely relocated along the Mexican-American border. It wouldn't be needed for its original purpose, and would just interfere with the government's abolition of unapproved religions. True, the huge holes in it would have to be patched, but that would keep plasterers employed for years to come.
We'd probably need another wall along our northern border, since we don't want contamination with those lefty Canadians, or American citizens being lured to the north by the promise of decent medical care and cheap prescription drugs.
We'd have to change the wording on the Statue of Liberty, but a skilled craftsman could probably change "Give Us" to "Keep Your" without too much trouble.
When we're finally a Christian nation, Merry Christmas will not offend anyone, although we'll probably have to explain what "merry" means to the kids.
382
Cabinet level position for Scott Walker (after he is finished destroying my birth state) in the Trump administration: "Secretary of Walls".
11
I have the sneaking suspicion that the rest of the world would like to see us build a wall. One that will keep us in.
12
Since my and many others religious beliefs would be in conflict with any plan to round up and deport citizens and others and also to say "Merry Christmas", it would be very interesting to see what happens when we refuse to act on these plans because it conflicts with our beliefs. That's another fascist idea they have cooked up, right?
Fortunately, it will never happen, because true Americans will come out in droves to vote against Trump. Right?
Fortunately, it will never happen, because true Americans will come out in droves to vote against Trump. Right?
43
I don't think one needs to have "religious beliefs" to realize that Trump's plans are inconsistent with our Constitution, morality, economic growth, and common sense.
10
I'm not believing that or holding my breath.
2
The racism and hate in the US is becoming more and more palpable by the day. Not because Donald Trump is saying these things, but because a large segment of people seem to agree with him. Not because of the increasingly outlandish statements from Trump, but because the more hateful his ideas the more support he's getting.
This radicalization of the right-wing is happening in Europe as well (UKIP, La Pen, etc.), and clearly along the same lines of White Christians against the rest. And the rhetoric has been ratcheted up in many places with the refugee crisis and Paris attack, and serves to legitimize hateful sentiments. Even comments on some NYtimes articles are reflecting this dark mood, e.g., where the top comments on an article on the backlash against Muslim propagate the notion that all Muslims should be held accountable for terrorists' actions. This is how ethnic cleansing starts. This is how wars start. Tribalism driven by fear and hate.
What's scary is that racist and nativist rhetoric is a lot more open now than it's been in a long time, and wrapped in a layer of legitimacy based on economic and security fears (immigration/terrorism). Ironically, these distract people from the far more prevalent problems that have much more impact, like economic inequality, global warming, and lack of reasonable gun control. Maybe that's the goal.
This radicalization of the right-wing is happening in Europe as well (UKIP, La Pen, etc.), and clearly along the same lines of White Christians against the rest. And the rhetoric has been ratcheted up in many places with the refugee crisis and Paris attack, and serves to legitimize hateful sentiments. Even comments on some NYtimes articles are reflecting this dark mood, e.g., where the top comments on an article on the backlash against Muslim propagate the notion that all Muslims should be held accountable for terrorists' actions. This is how ethnic cleansing starts. This is how wars start. Tribalism driven by fear and hate.
What's scary is that racist and nativist rhetoric is a lot more open now than it's been in a long time, and wrapped in a layer of legitimacy based on economic and security fears (immigration/terrorism). Ironically, these distract people from the far more prevalent problems that have much more impact, like economic inequality, global warming, and lack of reasonable gun control. Maybe that's the goal.
1257
I thought your comment was right on point until you spoke about it distracting people from more prevalent problems. In my mind there is no greater problem, more of an ominous threat to America and the foundations it was formed upon and fought to preserve than this. Trump and the people who listen to him, support him and parrot his lies and racist rants are a clear and present danger to the American way, freedom and democracy. The only way to stop it is to confront them and expose them and Trump for who and what they are.
11
Trump is a blessing in disguise. No more dog whistles. Get this fascism out in the open where it will be analysed and debated and we can decide who is a Fascist and who is not.
For me, fascism has three essential pillars of belief: Nationalism, Racism and Theism. This was true for the National Socialists (NAZIS), the Fascists of WWII Italy, the Dutch Reformed church of South Africa (Apartheid) and their Rhodesian counterparts, the Confederacy in our Civil War, the KKK, (a Christian organization, remember?), many white American Christians and the Republican Party in it current iteration. This isn't the only way to view fascism, but for us, it is the most salient.
For me, fascism has three essential pillars of belief: Nationalism, Racism and Theism. This was true for the National Socialists (NAZIS), the Fascists of WWII Italy, the Dutch Reformed church of South Africa (Apartheid) and their Rhodesian counterparts, the Confederacy in our Civil War, the KKK, (a Christian organization, remember?), many white American Christians and the Republican Party in it current iteration. This isn't the only way to view fascism, but for us, it is the most salient.
11
Follow the money. Encouraging the worst aspects of human behavior is a proven route to wealth and power over others. It's how the authoritarian game is played.
9
You better watch out, you better not cry, you better not pout, I'm telling you why, the Trumpster is coming to your town !
He'll grab you while you are sleeping, he'll grab you while your awake, he'll grab you if you've been bad or good, so you better run for goodness sake !
He'll grab you while you are sleeping, he'll grab you while your awake, he'll grab you if you've been bad or good, so you better run for goodness sake !
37
Donald Trump's run for president, from it inception, has not ever been close to funny.
A great deal of the blame belongs to the media.
Particularly NYT.
Barely a day has passed without seeing something about Trump on the front page.
Pushing this thug onto us all these months as if he actually qualified for the position of president.
Shameful.
Thank you Tim for this article .
A great deal of the blame belongs to the media.
Particularly NYT.
Barely a day has passed without seeing something about Trump on the front page.
Pushing this thug onto us all these months as if he actually qualified for the position of president.
Shameful.
Thank you Tim for this article .
415
But on the otherhand, if people weren't made aware of Trumpism, how can they react against it?
9
"Second, if Trump is on his way to the nomination, I want to see if the sane leadership of the Republican party -- what's left of it -- will unite to stop him."
The only thing wrong with your argument there is that Mr. Trump is offering himself as a potential _Republican_ candidate for President of the United States. That fact makes it important that Mr. Trump gets the kind of media coverage he does get. The only thing you can hope for is that the extensive media coverage serves to illustrate to the American People what the Republican party has become.
The only thing wrong with your argument there is that Mr. Trump is offering himself as a potential _Republican_ candidate for President of the United States. That fact makes it important that Mr. Trump gets the kind of media coverage he does get. The only thing you can hope for is that the extensive media coverage serves to illustrate to the American People what the Republican party has become.
4
Sorry, w, it's not the New York Times, which is just reporting of the Republican base's inability to comprehend that they are being taken on a ride to totalitarianism. Whether it's reported or not, the embers simmering in humanity's heart of darkness is very real and is being stoked by demagogues like Trump; his unquestionable lust for power has no conscience. The New York Times is just the messenger.
6
The GOP has simply adopted Orwell's Newspeak dictionary and the Ministry of Truth has disseminated it through our fair and balanced "public airwaves."
132
As a Canadian, I'm proud that our government has decided to accept 25000 Syrian refugees who should be here by the end of February 2016.
But I'm afraid our openness might get us in trouble. How many Americans will we have to accept as refugees if Trump is elected? Latino and Muslim Americans first and then all Americans fleeing the Trump government. Should we start building a Wall? If we do, I propose that the first person allowed in be Bernie Sanders whose home state is right next to the border; because most of his left of center proposals are already implemented here, he'll feel right at home.
But I'm afraid our openness might get us in trouble. How many Americans will we have to accept as refugees if Trump is elected? Latino and Muslim Americans first and then all Americans fleeing the Trump government. Should we start building a Wall? If we do, I propose that the first person allowed in be Bernie Sanders whose home state is right next to the border; because most of his left of center proposals are already implemented here, he'll feel right at home.
619
Take me too. I have always had the same political beliefs as the Bern, and live on a large lake that shares an international boundary with Canada. I can't tell you how many times I've been tempted to swim across for good...
Another commentator noted that the scary fact wasn't one person standing on a stage saying all these things, but the throngs of people who admire that one person for the things he says. I never realized the extent of the problem until Barack Obama was elected. At that moment, it was like the racist folks who had been staying in the shadows for so long had to uncover themselves when a black man became POTUS - an idea completely anathema to them. Racism is more than alive and well in this country. It's presence is so pervasive, that all it takes is the election of a black man to the highest office in the land, and a demagogue with the gravitas and bank account to get onto a national stage and bring the problem to the fore of our political discourse. If Americans truly believed what is in the Constitution, Trump would have been booed and kicked from the national stage long ago.
Another commentator noted that the scary fact wasn't one person standing on a stage saying all these things, but the throngs of people who admire that one person for the things he says. I never realized the extent of the problem until Barack Obama was elected. At that moment, it was like the racist folks who had been staying in the shadows for so long had to uncover themselves when a black man became POTUS - an idea completely anathema to them. Racism is more than alive and well in this country. It's presence is so pervasive, that all it takes is the election of a black man to the highest office in the land, and a demagogue with the gravitas and bank account to get onto a national stage and bring the problem to the fore of our political discourse. If Americans truly believed what is in the Constitution, Trump would have been booed and kicked from the national stage long ago.
245
@ Bernard Masse,
Merci mille fois. Bernard.
I hope I don't have to take you up on that, although I love Montreal.
Merci mille fois. Bernard.
I hope I don't have to take you up on that, although I love Montreal.
5
I tried to emigrate to Canada for years. It's hard for me to accept that refugees can do it, but I, a well-educated American, a mid-career professional with solid technical skills, conversational in French, and genuinely motivated, never found a genuine relocation opportunity in over twenty years of trying. Every employment opportunity I came across was that of an expat (paying US taxes, not becoming eligible for Canadian benefits, and no path to Canadian citizenship whatsoever), and even those opportunities were less than lateral moves. I finally gave up on this dream when I realized that I had crossed another line where I would face age discrimination as well. I very much doubt that when the time comes to "flee the Trump government", I will choose Canada.
6
It’s not just Trump. It is the Republican party which has spent 8 years insulting, disrespecting and demonizing our twice elected first Black President, Barack Obama which has sowed the seeds of this kind of hatred. Trump is merely the result. Be afraid. Be very afraid.
833
give newt gingrich his share of credit for the fanatical anti-government, anti-tax, anti-liberal mindset that has consumed the gop. with white-hot rhetoric, he raged against all of it for years and helped lay the groundwork for the rise of the radical right in the republican party. and don't overlook the considerable influence of the late gop political operative lee atwater in helping inject the race card as a fundamental strategy in countless gop campaigns across the country. without gingrich and atwater the united states may well have avoided the hate and frightening, desperate depths to which the country's political culture has sunk, or at least much of it.
79
Add Fox News and Rush, and now you have a room with its floor full of gasoline. Guy like Trump can be the match....
18
Atwater and Trump are prime movers in the race to the gutter, but you left one head off of Cerberus, Karl Rove. Put all 3 together and you understand why the tail is wagging the dog.
16
Achtung Baby
Trump keeps tellings us who he is. Believe him. Truth, facts
have no meaning to him whatsoever.
As Jimmy Breslin would have said he is a "Man in search of
a balcony."
Fear and lies, the Trump MO. It works of the MSM plays
along. His GOP opponents have to call him out on it
to his face. Will they? Not bloody likely.
Trump keeps tellings us who he is. Believe him. Truth, facts
have no meaning to him whatsoever.
As Jimmy Breslin would have said he is a "Man in search of
a balcony."
Fear and lies, the Trump MO. It works of the MSM plays
along. His GOP opponents have to call him out on it
to his face. Will they? Not bloody likely.
183
trump is limbaugh in drag, but with a few extra bucks and plenty of free air time.
5
Make no mistake: when combating an extremist ideology that makes exclusive claims to truth, abrogating all rights to itself, including the right to deny rights, the last thing to do is adopt one of your own. Today, the Christian right and its sympathizers would do just that, down to forcing a Christmas greeting. Not very Merry at all.
As Americans have a terrible time understanding the threat of militant Islam, perhaps simply understanding that it is Donald Trump in other guise might help. Rather than harp, which seems to turn off readers, I plea for others to read, read, read, and research. The West has yet to properly identify the issues, and they run deeply counter to the bedrock values of democracy.
Those values rely on government for, by, and of the people, absent the imposition of any religious narratives. To turn the US into another hell-hole of ideological horror such as Saudi Arabia or Iran would be the ultimate victory for the obscure forces of ignorance, intolerance, and oppression. This is being forgotten on both sides of the Atlantic.
Friends and countrymen, take care with the guardian angels of today, who when victorious tomorrow will reveal their demonic nature. Trust democracy, trust the rule of law, trust reason and empathy.
As Americans have a terrible time understanding the threat of militant Islam, perhaps simply understanding that it is Donald Trump in other guise might help. Rather than harp, which seems to turn off readers, I plea for others to read, read, read, and research. The West has yet to properly identify the issues, and they run deeply counter to the bedrock values of democracy.
Those values rely on government for, by, and of the people, absent the imposition of any religious narratives. To turn the US into another hell-hole of ideological horror such as Saudi Arabia or Iran would be the ultimate victory for the obscure forces of ignorance, intolerance, and oppression. This is being forgotten on both sides of the Atlantic.
Friends and countrymen, take care with the guardian angels of today, who when victorious tomorrow will reveal their demonic nature. Trust democracy, trust the rule of law, trust reason and empathy.
88
I have been reading article after article about Mr Trump and his lies, his fear mongering, the reactions from his audience and I'm frightened. They all read like the beginning of a dystopian novel, say a Handmaids Tale or a Hunger Games, where its described the downfall of mankind and how we ended up in a totalitarian regime. I have faith that the audiences are only made up of the most rabid among us and that surely, surely, in a general election he wouldn't get a very high percentage of the vote. But as time goes on and his popularity continues to rise, my faith is being tested.
938
You have forgotten the horror to end all horrors: 1984. Trump seems geared to a fear-mongering, Ignorance is Strength-world, in which people are keprt ignorant of the facts so that the government has free reign. Well, from what I've seen of some of the more rabid Trump followers, we'd also have a great Thought Police, funded by the 1%, who would take over the role of the Inner Party, livig high on the hog and supported by the Proles (85% of the population).
I'm hoping that American voters are more critical than to vote for a potential Big Brother.
I'm hoping that American voters are more critical than to vote for a potential Big Brother.
41
Irma, allow me to be the first to help calm your nerves...my immediate family holds Mr.Trump in low regard.
1
So are you suggesting that if Trump become the GOP presidential candidate Republicans would then come to their senses in November and either not vote or jump ship and vote for -- well Hillary?
Given the degree to which the country is riven into two dogma dominated camps it would much more likely be a close contest.
God forbid there would be a terrorist incident in America between now the election remotely of a magnitude similar to Paris, and Trump could be a roaring shoe in. What would follow would be a precipitous decent into the abyss.
Given the degree to which the country is riven into two dogma dominated camps it would much more likely be a close contest.
God forbid there would be a terrorist incident in America between now the election remotely of a magnitude similar to Paris, and Trump could be a roaring shoe in. What would follow would be a precipitous decent into the abyss.
8
Thank you, Mr. Egan. With Trump making fun of a disabled NYT reporter, perhaps the only coverage the Times should offer him are the debunking of his myths. No more free publicity. NONE.
473
Don't hold your breath, the fourth estate is dead.
2
I can only hope that the editors of the NYT read this suggestion and take it to heart!
7
I would completely agree with this sentiment if it was directed to national news media outlets. However, most people who would vote for Mr. Trump most likely don't (or can't) read the NYT.
8
Americans have a First Amendment right to worship (Muslims), but illegal immigrants do not have a right to break into this country against the law, or overstay visas against a limited right to be here for a short time. The two should not be conflated. Trump's idea of deporting illegal immigrants is simply what President Eisenhower did in the fifties. Jackboots? Law breakers should expect consequences. Children? They can go with their parents and make their own choices, hopefully legal ones, when they are 18. Think Eisenhower, not a fictional Lindberg.
10
But where is your humanity in all of this. These are people, not statistics.
15
Deportation has increased under the Obama Administration. So maybe think Eisenhower and Obama.
The Trump solution is ridiculous, not feasible and unconstitutional.
The Trump solution is ridiculous, not feasible and unconstitutional.
12
Henry-Since you support Trump's ideas on deporting people, I would really appreciate it if you would answer the following question-What does Trump mean when he vows to "bring back the good ones legally"? If, by "the good ones", he means those who have not committed serious crimes, that is the vast majority. So, if I believe Trump's own words, his program involves:
1. Rounding up 11 million people at huge cost to the Treasury and the economy, not to mention the individuals themselves and relatives and friends who are citizens or legal residents.
2. Deporting them, again at great cost to the Treasury. A large number are not Mexican and can't be dropped off at the border, they will have to be flown to China, Honduras, the DR, Africa, Europe, etc.
3. Then bringing the vast majority back.
How does that make sense? Or is Trump lying?
By contrast the Obama plan or that foreseen under comprehensive immigration reform is:
1. Get those here illegally to register.
2. Screen to find criminals and deport them.
3. Give the rest some sort of legal status.
It seems to me the end result is the same as Trump, but the process is humane, non-disruptive of normal society and values and far less costly to all.
1. Rounding up 11 million people at huge cost to the Treasury and the economy, not to mention the individuals themselves and relatives and friends who are citizens or legal residents.
2. Deporting them, again at great cost to the Treasury. A large number are not Mexican and can't be dropped off at the border, they will have to be flown to China, Honduras, the DR, Africa, Europe, etc.
3. Then bringing the vast majority back.
How does that make sense? Or is Trump lying?
By contrast the Obama plan or that foreseen under comprehensive immigration reform is:
1. Get those here illegally to register.
2. Screen to find criminals and deport them.
3. Give the rest some sort of legal status.
It seems to me the end result is the same as Trump, but the process is humane, non-disruptive of normal society and values and far less costly to all.
16
I thought the novelist Philip Roth was unfair to Charles A. Lindbergh. He was a better man than that, with better motives.
FDR is one of my heroes precisely because he braved and overcame things that Lindbergh reasonably feared could not be overcome.
We should remember that Stalin panicked when the Germans invaded Russia, and the Soviet Union came very near collapse. There was a surrender party in Britain too, and if Churchill had failed there were people ready to create there some of Lindbergh's worst fears.
Lindbergh could have looked prescient, but for things that were not in the control of the US, the fates of Britain and the Soviets. That is a measure of FDR's courage, and remember that whatever else he was, Lindbergh himself was no coward. Actually, FDR created some fall back positions just in case that are not much remembered now, but could have been critical, because he knew Lindbergh's fears were not mere fantasy.
This is important because Trump is no Lindbergh. The better comparisons are to Berlusconi and Mussolini before him, clown kings of fantasy ideas supported by bluster and money. No courage there.
Take a close look at Berlusconi, and you'll see a big part of Trump. For Trump's nastier police state ideas, you'll find those in Mussolini. We don't need Roth to understand Trump, we've got an ugly history all laid out before us in Italy.
FDR is one of my heroes precisely because he braved and overcame things that Lindbergh reasonably feared could not be overcome.
We should remember that Stalin panicked when the Germans invaded Russia, and the Soviet Union came very near collapse. There was a surrender party in Britain too, and if Churchill had failed there were people ready to create there some of Lindbergh's worst fears.
Lindbergh could have looked prescient, but for things that were not in the control of the US, the fates of Britain and the Soviets. That is a measure of FDR's courage, and remember that whatever else he was, Lindbergh himself was no coward. Actually, FDR created some fall back positions just in case that are not much remembered now, but could have been critical, because he knew Lindbergh's fears were not mere fantasy.
This is important because Trump is no Lindbergh. The better comparisons are to Berlusconi and Mussolini before him, clown kings of fantasy ideas supported by bluster and money. No courage there.
Take a close look at Berlusconi, and you'll see a big part of Trump. For Trump's nastier police state ideas, you'll find those in Mussolini. We don't need Roth to understand Trump, we've got an ugly history all laid out before us in Italy.
340
as i recall lindbergh said germany had a "jewish problem" so the question becomes was lindbergh the trump of his day or is trump lindbergh 2.0 ?
24
Good men can do bad things. Lindbergh would have been a disaster.
11
Both Trump and Lindbergh share in the fear-mongering. Yes, Trump spouts neo-fascist bombast, and lies pour out of him like lava from a volcano. However, one need not praise Lindbergh for not having been a coward. He was a crypto-fascist, as Timothy points out. Roth's novel, as is the case with much fiction, conveys deeper truths than meet the eye. There is always a segment of the population to support hate, and there are always some crypto-fascists among us. Americans should be ever-watchful because that kind of thinking can metastasize, like the cancer it is.
14
No, the creepy thing is not Donald Trump. It is all of the people who cheer hiim on!
772
It's both.
56
Both.
36
We need not fear Donald Trump. He will surely soon implode and disappear from the political landscape. But what of the thousands and thousands of people who share his views and believe that he is qualified to lead the country. They are the ones we should fear.
48
Coughlin was pals with two notorious anti-Semites, Henry Ford and Charles Lindbergh. Besides his radio show he published a "newspaper" called "Social Justice." It printed whole parts of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. He exhorted his followers to attack Jews in the streets, which some did, particularly in New York and Boston. Roving gangs armed with chains and knives, targeting Jews in broad daylight.
Fortunately Father Coughlin wasn't running for president. Fortunately he was eventually forced off the air, so hateful was his speech.
When I listen to Trump, I hear Father Coughlin. I suppose I try to take some comfort in the fact that demagogues find an audience in America, but the audience never lasts, the Coughlins and McCarthys fade into history. I hope -- perhaps assume -- that Trump, too, shall pass, like those before him. I hope I'm right.
Otherwise, the nightmare Mr. Egan portrays may become a reality too vile to contemplate. A fascist America, a page out of the Hitler playbook. It's beyond comprehension. no matter how frightened we may be right now.
Happy holidays, everyone.