Great column, Ross! Glad you kept an open mind. You forgot to mention the end of all those Hollywood celebrity and elites dinner parties in the White House favored by Obama in the Trump administration.
7
News from 2020. President Pence today announced his pardon for former President Donald Trump. Trump, who resigned after a Republican Congress impeached a few months after his January 2017 inauguration, tweeted that the pardon was "a big win for America."
49
"He Made America Feel Great Again" may well be the mantra in 2020 Mr. Douthat, but you'll never see the headline "He Made America Great Again".
33
It's funny how the vast majority of comments here are posted by people who share the same misguided opinions. You believe that you are "elitists" and only your opinions matter. This election was not left vs. right. It was Globalism vs. Nationalism. The silent majority has spoken!
17
Hope you made yourself feel better with this little fantasy, because that's all it is. You left out the whole climate change scenario, the conflict of interest with his businesses, and his trigger temper. I think you're going to be writing a very different column in 2020
51
Wait a wait a second, didn't Mcconnell state that an infrastructure push was not high on the republicans' to-do list?
22
And America will be burning coal again in record numbers thanks to the philosophy rancher that is running the EPA.
If you want to join in the party Ross , of heads under the sand be my guest.
Trump snake oil- cheap, tastes good and is fatal!
If you want to join in the party Ross , of heads under the sand be my guest.
Trump snake oil- cheap, tastes good and is fatal!
30
In 2020 we'll still be talking about Trump's infrastructure: the high speed walls. They went up and came down before you could blink.
11
Most Americans didn't vote for him. Even of the ones, went to the polls, more voted for her. Nearly 2 million more, and counting. I'm not feelng so great, Mr. Douthat. And whether you like it or not, I'm an American too. And not alone.
39
He is a joke. So will his presidency be.
30
And then Douthat awoke
and realized it was all a dream.
and realized it was all a dream.
14
Speculation is fun. Speculating while Rome burns is irresponsible. If you've got some new ideas for solving some of our problems. jump right in!
24
Here's a prediction:
On November 8, 2020 this planet will be warmer.
On November 8, 2020 this planet will be warmer.
42
A profile in cowardice.
21
My, how quickly the worm turns.
11
RD and revisionist history: perfect together.
I must have been listening to a different candidate than Trump. I heard free floating rage, intolerance, and accusations against those who dared to disagree.
But maybe this is the stuff that makes RD feel great?
I must have been listening to a different candidate than Trump. I heard free floating rage, intolerance, and accusations against those who dared to disagree.
But maybe this is the stuff that makes RD feel great?
20
Usually there are lot of unsahamed people running to assist the winner, but Mr. Douthat is breaking all the records.
19
Thanks for the creative and optimistic point of view. It is compelling to hear a conservative speak this way. I hope that your dream comes true because as a nation, we could use the good news. My favorite part of your column is "Trump's lack of interest in social conservatism enabled [him] to... decentralize the culture wars." Terrific! I would have add, "he dissolved the identity wars" too because his identity was never questioned.
5
Get with the program Ross and help Donald make America Great Again. It is time for a little positive thinking. Worse case scenarios are just too easy to imagine.
If you wish a target someone, target Pope Francis as goes about undermining the doctrine of the Catholic Church and acting like Mao Tse-tung.
If you wish a target someone, target Pope Francis as goes about undermining the doctrine of the Catholic Church and acting like Mao Tse-tung.
1
To be great again America must drain the swamp. Clearly a special prosecutor needs to be appointed, Mrs. Clinton needs to be indicted, and given a fair trial before she leaves the swamp for good ad goes to prison for her multiple crimes....unless of course, Obama gives her a pardon.
8
Fun stuff, Russ. But I'm not sure about Trump running in 2020. I think his showmanship and craziness will have run out of gas, and he'll know it. He won't be able to top himself anymore. The circus tent will be half empty. The audience will want their money back. I predict Howard Stern will be the Republican candidate in 2020.
16
Trump is dead,meat if he cuts my Medicare, Gov Retirement or my husband's social security. ,if he privates it all, see you at the polls in 2018, with my baby boomer friends. The orange man will lose his Congress. Promise!
35
A vote for Trump is a vote for a disaster;a vote for Trump is a vote for bigotry; a vote for Trump is a vote for misogyny; a vote for Trump is a vote for betrayal of 58,000 plus of Vietnam veterans ,whose lives perished while Trump got a draft medical exemption while the 3rd and the 9th Marines perished in defending hill 881 and Dong Ha province in Vietnam in Feb. 1968.Yes indeed,a vote for Trump is an insult to many Americans perished souls,whose sacrificed so that Trump can live and prosper with his racism,bigotry,misogyny,and hates
A nobody was in a middle of no where on route 9,South Vietnam,1968,with Love.
Nguyen Phu
A nobody was in a middle of no where on route 9,South Vietnam,1968,with Love.
Nguyen Phu
48
Heroin also makes for a great initial high, but it's not a way to live.
60
The scenarios depend on DJT's intellectual and emotional diligence, for 4--8 strenuous years.
I concede I'm no authority, and thus mediocrity shan't be arrogant, because of my deteriorating age (72) and lacking in I.Q., 110 plus or minus.
So, despite my disqualifications, I'm subjectively critiquing DJT's qualification and ability.
He does not have the intellectual capacity, knowledge, and stability, imho, for doing the job well or even competently.
He probably has attention deficit disorder---doesn't many of us?.
Granted, he is self-proven "street smarter" than anybody else, because after all is said and done, he has so stunningly if not masterfully gutted it out & brilliantly won.
So, I am of course unsure of what I am posting in intuitively bashing his capacities.
While I'm agnostic of which omnipotent G-d knows, I am hoping for him as everyone should.
I concede I'm no authority, and thus mediocrity shan't be arrogant, because of my deteriorating age (72) and lacking in I.Q., 110 plus or minus.
So, despite my disqualifications, I'm subjectively critiquing DJT's qualification and ability.
He does not have the intellectual capacity, knowledge, and stability, imho, for doing the job well or even competently.
He probably has attention deficit disorder---doesn't many of us?.
Granted, he is self-proven "street smarter" than anybody else, because after all is said and done, he has so stunningly if not masterfully gutted it out & brilliantly won.
So, I am of course unsure of what I am posting in intuitively bashing his capacities.
While I'm agnostic of which omnipotent G-d knows, I am hoping for him as everyone should.
5
Wait Ross, you forgot to include his policy of universal unicorns and rainbows for all 5 year-old girls, well the white ones, and certainly not the millions he deports.
18
And when those Obamacare subsidies went away, lots of people who know a lot of people all had stories about someone they know who was suffering without health insurance. It got personal.
And it seemed cruel.
The Iran deal "collapsed?"
That's like saying JFK "collapsed" in the back seat of his limousine on November 22, 1963.
No Ross. He was murdered.
Like the Iran deal that Trump killed.
Oh and not "replaced."
Leaving the region in peril.
But please, tell us what happens after the US invades Iran?
More ISIS?
More resentment?
More terror?
The Iraq war got us into the current mess.
The Iran war takes us where?
Please continue.
And it seemed cruel.
The Iran deal "collapsed?"
That's like saying JFK "collapsed" in the back seat of his limousine on November 22, 1963.
No Ross. He was murdered.
Like the Iran deal that Trump killed.
Oh and not "replaced."
Leaving the region in peril.
But please, tell us what happens after the US invades Iran?
More ISIS?
More resentment?
More terror?
The Iraq war got us into the current mess.
The Iran war takes us where?
Please continue.
24
A best case over the next four years is the Trumpsters realizing that their Golden One is a New York fast-talkin' billionaire con-ster who took them for a ride and did absolutely nothing for them. He doesn't need them anymore, so they all get stiffed as if they were subcontractors.
Since the Trumpster only thinks about himself and disrespects everyone not himself, it's unlikely he will remember any of his grandiose campaign promises.
The Trumpsters realize they were used and thrown to the curb. Now they get mad and a wave of amplified hate gets directed at President Trumpster and the Republican hierarchy.
Each Trumpster should be asked over and over, "What will you and your friends do if Trump totally forgets about you?" This will get them thinking.
Meanwhile the progressive forces have organized a 50-state run at the statehouses and Congress. The rural white throw in their lot with the non-white and the People take back their country.
Since the Trumpster only thinks about himself and disrespects everyone not himself, it's unlikely he will remember any of his grandiose campaign promises.
The Trumpsters realize they were used and thrown to the curb. Now they get mad and a wave of amplified hate gets directed at President Trumpster and the Republican hierarchy.
Each Trumpster should be asked over and over, "What will you and your friends do if Trump totally forgets about you?" This will get them thinking.
Meanwhile the progressive forces have organized a 50-state run at the statehouses and Congress. The rural white throw in their lot with the non-white and the People take back their country.
25
I'm a 41 year old white male and I was born and raised in the rust belt, I'm also a times subscriber, bet you thought we didn't exist. Let me explain our vote for Trump. Full disclosure I'm a Republican, but I have voted for Democrats many times! Including, Barack Obama in 2008. 90 percent of my friends and family are Democrats who voted for Obama atleast once, many of them twice, what a bunch of racist we are! We voted for a black guy with a funny name, but we hate blacks? We have as a group have been voting Democratic for almost 30 years, they have done nothing for us, Except pursue a left wing social engineering agenda. You see, bringing more immigrants and refugees into the country does nothing for us. We really could careless about gay marrige, one way or another! On top of this, they call us privileged and racist, they along with Republicans, outsourced our economy. The rust belt is hurting, our towns are dead, the factories closed and the drugs and crime moved in.
So we are Taking a chance on Trump, will he do anything? Maybe, Maybe not, I know Hillary wasn't going to do anything to benefit us. Trump offered hope, perhaps he won't deliver, but it was a big middle finger to the Elite. Please save me the " you suffer under Trump" comments, we have been suffering! We will survive, one good thing about being from the rust belt, we know how to hunt, fish and grow food.
So we are Taking a chance on Trump, will he do anything? Maybe, Maybe not, I know Hillary wasn't going to do anything to benefit us. Trump offered hope, perhaps he won't deliver, but it was a big middle finger to the Elite. Please save me the " you suffer under Trump" comments, we have been suffering! We will survive, one good thing about being from the rust belt, we know how to hunt, fish and grow food.
23
I will give Ross credit for trying to make a prediction. Most predictions about Trump have failed. Utterly.
12
Case in point. It's 1980 and Ronald Reagan and that racist spin doctor Lee Atwater land in Philadelphia, MS spouting the code language of 'states rights'. Alt-right, old school style with an Make America Great Again twist. What's old is new again.
25
Mr. Douthat:
"Throughout the 2016 election — remember those crazy times?"
You make it sound like a dance phase like the Monster Mash instead of the gut-wrenching, horrifying debacle it really was and continues to be with only promises of growing more malignant in the coming weeks.
Just contemplating the names of his core sycophants and accomplices now hovering in anticipation of their payoffs for loyalty is spine chilling —Bannon? Guliani. Gingrich. Christie? Palin? If these names alone don't conjure dread and loathing, you are as brain dead as you are opportunistic.
I can no longer even imagine you could bring anything resembling insight to the discussion of this country's convulsions with your apparent eagerness to align yourself with the current flow of power. This post in particular only confirms my rock-bottom estimation of most Republicans as spineless jellyfish. How many despite declaring their profound disgust, held fast to supporting him.
I have to wonder how this week's post would have read if Hillary had won sufficient electoral numbers as well as the popular vote. Dancing to that tune just as obsequiously I suspect.
"Throughout the 2016 election — remember those crazy times?"
You make it sound like a dance phase like the Monster Mash instead of the gut-wrenching, horrifying debacle it really was and continues to be with only promises of growing more malignant in the coming weeks.
Just contemplating the names of his core sycophants and accomplices now hovering in anticipation of their payoffs for loyalty is spine chilling —Bannon? Guliani. Gingrich. Christie? Palin? If these names alone don't conjure dread and loathing, you are as brain dead as you are opportunistic.
I can no longer even imagine you could bring anything resembling insight to the discussion of this country's convulsions with your apparent eagerness to align yourself with the current flow of power. This post in particular only confirms my rock-bottom estimation of most Republicans as spineless jellyfish. How many despite declaring their profound disgust, held fast to supporting him.
I have to wonder how this week's post would have read if Hillary had won sufficient electoral numbers as well as the popular vote. Dancing to that tune just as obsequiously I suspect.
30
Mr. Douthat:
Welcome to the world of real-thinking.
Welcome to the world of real-thinking.
2
You forgot to describe the destruction of Mar El Lago by a hurricane that was linked to excessive global warming.
26
He bamboozled the country. He lied, he whined, he said he would make America great again. Right after he won, he referred to America as "great". And his followers believed him.
17
best positive article so far on what Trump might do. written by someone who knows more about trump than what the donald said in the campaign. as a wise person said, "the media took trump literally, but not seriously, while people who voted for him took him seriously but not literally."
4
After a while political columnists, even of the intellectual type, pick up the tendency to zig zag just like the politicians they describe and write about.
"There us nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).Quick turnaround Mr. Douthat.
"There us nothing new under the sun" (Ecclesiastes 1:9).Quick turnaround Mr. Douthat.
3
Delusional. That is the only word to describe this column. The only positive effect of this electoral disaster is that it has brought Liberals together in a way never seen before and by 2020 are poised to take over everything. Ross seems to forget that MORE Americans voted for Clinton than voted for Trump and that the electorate is far more center left to left than it has ever been right. It remains to be seen what Trump will actually do but this rosy scenario of his first and ONLY term is ridiculous.
16
"Terrorist recruitment has increased in regions affected by Trump’s drone strikes; Putin, after a period of consolidation following the easing of sanctions, is working to destabilize Eastern Europe once more, and Xi Jinping is making forays in China’s near-abroad. The collapse of the Iranian nuclear deal has Tehran marching toward a bomb; Israel and Saudi Arabia are lobbying Trump to strike Iran, but Putin may have his ear instead."
That would make America great again?
That would make America great again?
10
Many thought the same things when W was elected and reelected. How did that turn out Ross?
16
Have any other fairy tales to lull Democrats to sleep?
8
Balderdash.
13
This is called magical thinking. Ain't gonna happen.
10
He made (some) White people feel great again. When he doesn't deliver, they will rise up and blame Obama...
19
You unaccountably left out the North Korean nuclear attacks.
9
Did people who lived during the rise of past tyrants write pieces like this, hoping that somehow the things those aspiring tyrants repeatedly said and wrote that they would do were somehow things they never intended to do? It was probably small comfort for such writers when the inevitable happened.
22
Must be nice to be a rich white guy with nothing to lose.
You left the part out where racist goons are emboldened for 4 years to harass, intimidate, and victimize women, Jews, gays, Muslims, latinos, and blacks. It's already starting.
You left the part out where racist goons are emboldened for 4 years to harass, intimidate, and victimize women, Jews, gays, Muslims, latinos, and blacks. It's already starting.
47
Wait. Maybe it was "make America grate again." Did anyone bother to ask?
24
It would be interesting to cast your crystal ball in the direction of Trump's ethics and those of his administration. Unlike a scandal-free Obama administration, Trumps will be fraught with potential conflicts of interests.
Also, you ignore climate. Four years is far too long to forget that we don't have four years of wanton disregard for environment after Trump appoints as EPA cabinet head a man denying climate science, boosting pipelines and drilling away with reckless abandon. You need to paint a scenario for this inevitable neglect.
On foreign affairs, you focus attention on terror without giving us a picture of how Russia and China will probe and test this inexperienced and disinterested president. And he will be tested far beyond what you visualize over four years.
You need to re-write this post at least until he gets through 100 days.
Also, you ignore climate. Four years is far too long to forget that we don't have four years of wanton disregard for environment after Trump appoints as EPA cabinet head a man denying climate science, boosting pipelines and drilling away with reckless abandon. You need to paint a scenario for this inevitable neglect.
On foreign affairs, you focus attention on terror without giving us a picture of how Russia and China will probe and test this inexperienced and disinterested president. And he will be tested far beyond what you visualize over four years.
You need to re-write this post at least until he gets through 100 days.
19
The first indications of what the Trump adminstration will look like are already here. Giuliani, Christie and Palin are among the names being tossed about. Mr. Douthat, you left out a renewed war on drugs, policing resulting in the loss of lives of a few hundred black men, and the total repudiation of the Paris agreement.
Character is destiny, and Trump's character is well understood. The best possible outcome of his presidency, is something like the worst years of Bush 43.
Character is destiny, and Trump's character is well understood. The best possible outcome of his presidency, is something like the worst years of Bush 43.
36
So you are saying trump will be Obamas 3d term. Not a chance. He has no policies. He believes whatever the last person he spoke to has told him. After his meeting with Obama he decided that maybe Obamacare is not so bad after all. I am sure Paul Ryan will convince him that Medicare is a Communist plot. The big problem is that all these manufacturing jobs are not coming back. When the factories are still closed after two years the Rust belt will turn on him. He will never get an infrastructure bill through the House. Even if he did it takes several years to even put a shovel in the ground and laid off factory workers can't just learn how to build highways in6 weeks. And climate change will still be there
40
People pretending to know things they can't possibly know because they're to impatient or afraid to wait is almost like a death wish. For them I hope what they wish for comes true. Maybe that's what the problem has been all along.
Just look who's Trump's appointing during the transition: Myron Ebell, the start climate-change denier, to head -- I mean gut -- the EPA; Ken Blackwell, who pushed voter suppression and advocates "conversion therapy" for LGBTQ people, to head the domestic policy team.
I suspect you might be trying to give Trump ideas, but you must realize that you're writing fiction.
I suspect you might be trying to give Trump ideas, but you must realize that you're writing fiction.
15
Yes, he made America feel great again by selling them snake oil in a bottle.
21
Mr. Douthat: Your pre-election genuflections of remorse about the rise of Trump were totally disingenuous, because you were one of the "decent Republicans" that allowed it to happen. You and your chohort never spoke out during the 8 years of vilification and hatred spewed about Pres Obama.
But this immature attempt at humor borders on disgusting, because it trivializes the very serious (and potentially dangerous) situation that our country faces.
Would it really be "ironic" if Trump and the Republicans "succeed" by implementing things that Obama and the Democrats had been proposing all along; and then the Republicans can gloat: "See, we told you how terrible Obama was, and how much better we are!" Gee, it's hilarious that Americans suffered for 8 years of Republican intransigence, and another 4 years of divisiveness and hatred, all for the sake of tragic irony.
I'm sure that Republicans will gladly throw money at all of the infrastructure public works projects that Trump will propose; after all, they've saved the country so much money by not giving those funds to Obama's projects in previous years.
You dare to make light of Justices Ginsberg's and Breyer's age and health? Humor makes the refusal to give Merrick Garland a fair hearing somehow less egregious?
And what's all of that claptrap about the Middle East supposed to mean? Humor a la Vonnegut?
You and your colleagues are guilty of "the complicity of silence." Childish humor can't assuage your guilt.
But this immature attempt at humor borders on disgusting, because it trivializes the very serious (and potentially dangerous) situation that our country faces.
Would it really be "ironic" if Trump and the Republicans "succeed" by implementing things that Obama and the Democrats had been proposing all along; and then the Republicans can gloat: "See, we told you how terrible Obama was, and how much better we are!" Gee, it's hilarious that Americans suffered for 8 years of Republican intransigence, and another 4 years of divisiveness and hatred, all for the sake of tragic irony.
I'm sure that Republicans will gladly throw money at all of the infrastructure public works projects that Trump will propose; after all, they've saved the country so much money by not giving those funds to Obama's projects in previous years.
You dare to make light of Justices Ginsberg's and Breyer's age and health? Humor makes the refusal to give Merrick Garland a fair hearing somehow less egregious?
And what's all of that claptrap about the Middle East supposed to mean? Humor a la Vonnegut?
You and your colleagues are guilty of "the complicity of silence." Childish humor can't assuage your guilt.
42
Since we are prognosticating, how about no one around to look back on the last four years after Trump stumbles into WWIII after he discovers his buddy Putin isn't his trustworthy good friend after all?
9
You don't mention the vaunted return of manufacturing--probably because it ain't gonna happen. I love how you gloss over "ethics problems"--just a little nepotism and cronyism, nothing to speak of-- and that little issue of environmental degradation; nor do you predict the death of the alternative energy sector as the government withdraws its support and increases its subsidies for coal and oil. The Bundys are going to love the Federal land giveaways!
I respect you for providing a conservative viewpoint within this very liberal bubble. Please don't quit your day job to become a science fiction writer!
I respect you for providing a conservative viewpoint within this very liberal bubble. Please don't quit your day job to become a science fiction writer!
7
I, for one, would love to see Trump put that nasty piece Paul Ryan down for good.
19
Ross, take this column back. You've jinxed everything now. You have been proven to be wrong about everything, starting from your scolding the commentariat about Rubio's potential success in the republican primaries. But this is a step too far.
Take this back and write a column about the impending nuclear holocaust Trump is about to create. That's our only chance for prospering under President Donald Trump.
Take this back and write a column about the impending nuclear holocaust Trump is about to create. That's our only chance for prospering under President Donald Trump.
13
Obama has made so many of us feel great all the time. So I don't know what you are talking about. Everything is not about money and greed. It was nice to be "proud" of my country for a change. No I haven't been proud of political assassinations, wars, financial collapse, more war. It has been ugly with the exception of Bill Clinton and the Repbublicans made sure that got ugly. I lived thru 9/11 and the Great Recession. I ran a retail business during these years or tried to. One ugly crisis after another. You cannot tell me after 8 years of stability and overall peace that Trump is making anything better except the corporate and elite bottom line. That's it. Everything else and everyone else be damned. Have you ever heard of carpetbaggers-- well study up because they are taking over the government.
36
The truth behind any possibility of a functional Trump presidency will be democratic leaders that do not whine and cry--like past G.O.P. leaders--but, instead, are willing to pass legislation that helps people. Now that the G.O.P. babies have control, the adults might let them think it's all their doing (good little boys and girls look at you!) and maybe degrees of stagnation will stop.
That's the best case scenario.
Worse case scenario: Man-baby Trump will get embarrassed because China doesn't roll outs its airplane staircase, or because Mexico doesn't bend, or because Putin shows how he plays hard ball... and NATO will crumble, trade relations implode, and race riots become a weekly issue.
That's the best case scenario.
Worse case scenario: Man-baby Trump will get embarrassed because China doesn't roll outs its airplane staircase, or because Mexico doesn't bend, or because Putin shows how he plays hard ball... and NATO will crumble, trade relations implode, and race riots become a weekly issue.
12
When I read the headline for this column, I thought is he really going to say that? Is he really going to admit that eight years ago, with the election of President Obama, America felt great again? We felt good about ourselves; we had put our racist past behind us; we had voted for hope.
What a contrast with how we feel now. The "winners" seem to have gotten more vicious in word and deed. The "losers" are frightened and in despair.
Is this what it means to feel great again?
What a contrast with how we feel now. The "winners" seem to have gotten more vicious in word and deed. The "losers" are frightened and in despair.
Is this what it means to feel great again?
26
HE won slightly less than Hillary Clinton in the popular vote! The pointless and antiquated electoral college system is what is sending him to the White House. Nothing more!
20
Mr. Douthat, so you believe there will be a fair and free presidential election in 4 years?
20
And then you woke up.
23
I see the Douthat of 2020 doesn't care about minority people. Not a single word about his treatments of Muslim Americans, African Americans, Hispanic Americans? Or is it just that even in the fantasies of a competent Trump, you can't believe there's going to be anything positive to say about his bigotry in 4 years.
7
i worry that you may have sipped too much absinthe,
3
Funny. I feel worse than I did before the election. And I wasn't feeling too good then, either.
8
I voted for Clinton, but I'm still hopeful for the next 4 years. Let's give the man a chance; it's not like we have any other choice. And better him than Ted Cruz.
2
Jimmy Carter Presidency revisited some 40 years later. Carter won on hate for Nixon and anybody close (Gerald Ford). Trump won on hate for Obama and anybody close (Hillary Clinton). Also, Jimmy lasted 4 years, the same time Mr. Trump will last.
1
So, in your fever dream, Trump is a closet Democrat who merely spouts dogwhistle rhetoric to rope in the uneducated. I believe you having been taking advantage of the recent loosening of our marijuana laws.
5
Pipe dream. You left out the screw up where he gets impeached. I don't know exactly. You fill in the planks.
2
You as a conservative, opposed our candidate Trump. We don't need your advice on how to rule. Mr.Trump is 70 and has been mostly successful. He will rule with an iron fist on behalf of the hardworking Americans. Ross, elections have consequences. It is time to accept the verdict and stay in the sideline and write commentary. No one want your advise. If Mr.Trump had taken your advise earlier he would in the same place as Mr.McCain (a hero of mine and you) and Mr.Romney (the nicest human being alive). Mr.Trump is not like either one. He is crude, rude but honest and a fighter. That is what people like about him. So get used to it.
2
If the one and only available solution to your nation's problems is someone else's personality traits, you have many more problems than you think. It's been excruciatingly obvious to us foreigners for decades that the US has an identity crisis, and no ideas at all about how to solve it. A retreat to the past won't work; a few brochures about the future aren't likely to help, either.
The election campaign was a marketing exercise which simply outmaneuvered the media and the political methods. The next 4 years won't be about marketing. They'll be about who's doing what in a very dangerous world. If 911 proved nothing else, it's that America is no longer immune to the world. You can get more than a nasty cold in this place, so start getting health conscious. You might even try being on your own side for a change, for the first time in 50 years.
How the world's most prosperous democracy turned in to such a misanthropic, anti-everyone shambles is for the historians to figure out. Now, you need to focus on actual results and national functionality. You may not get a next time to work with.
The election campaign was a marketing exercise which simply outmaneuvered the media and the political methods. The next 4 years won't be about marketing. They'll be about who's doing what in a very dangerous world. If 911 proved nothing else, it's that America is no longer immune to the world. You can get more than a nasty cold in this place, so start getting health conscious. You might even try being on your own side for a change, for the first time in 50 years.
How the world's most prosperous democracy turned in to such a misanthropic, anti-everyone shambles is for the historians to figure out. Now, you need to focus on actual results and national functionality. You may not get a next time to work with.
10
Iran scraping towards a nuclear bomb in 2020? Good lord, if we scrap the nuclear deal on Jan. 20, they'll have the bomb by Easter. Wake up.
7
You're probably right. Trump will 'make America great' by retiring from the World stage. China will take over from Japan, circa 1944, to 'make Asia great again', and we'll all waltz merrily along in the post Pax Americana World, where everybody has a garrison, and commerce is the less for it. But I do think the white working class will benefit. They can celebrate at their tailgate parties while the future is made, offshore, without them.
6
Ross, while this scenario is entirely possible, I'm thinking that Trump maybe gets beat out for a second term nomination by David Duke, the newer darling of the mainstream Republicans.
6
Wishful thinking, maybe hoping, perhaps? Trump is as he always was...all about himself. He will do, first, what's good for the Trumps. The country that put his narcissistic, bigoted, misogynistic self into power will see what it reaps.
The next fours years will not be a fun time.
The next fours years will not be a fun time.
12
Mr. Douthat, you write "fiscal stimulus — a policy course that (ironically enough) prominent liberal pundits had urged for years, and that the Trump era swiftly provided.
So knowing this was a necessary action for the health of the nation, Republicans obstructed for years. They passed an infrastructure bill only this year, well after it could impact the economy for the election, and even then was well below what Democrats sought.
Now according to you they're set to finally help the economy by spending freely for a Republican administration.
That's not ironic, Mr. Douthat. It's called blackmail.
So knowing this was a necessary action for the health of the nation, Republicans obstructed for years. They passed an infrastructure bill only this year, well after it could impact the economy for the election, and even then was well below what Democrats sought.
Now according to you they're set to finally help the economy by spending freely for a Republican administration.
That's not ironic, Mr. Douthat. It's called blackmail.
18
Mr Douthat - in a recent column you predicted that Clinton would win, and that if you were wrong about that prediction you would stop making more predictions for a long, long time. Here we are, just days after Trump's victory, and you are continuing to make more predictions.
No one know what's coming next. Not you, not me, and definitely not Trump. While I appreciate your column and your speculation about what might be, I think we need to acknowledge that we are in uncharted waters.
No one know what's coming next. Not you, not me, and definitely not Trump. While I appreciate your column and your speculation about what might be, I think we need to acknowledge that we are in uncharted waters.
10
I love science fiction fantasy but this one has a few plot holes.
3
Warren-Booker? I suspect Warren will feel happier defending her Senate seat in 2020. If you want a polarizing candidate, though, go for it.
1
Writers/op-ed people at the NYT do not seem to get it, even after the election. Time to unify the country now. Writing such essays as these does zero to educate the nation.
Please let it go.
Please let it go.
5
Let us pray you are close to right.
Mr. Douthat, with due respect, stop beating yourself about the head. Whether it was Gail Collins, the remarkable Frank Bruni, you never gave up, and David Brooks was sounding the alarm the loudest perhaps, with quiet angst these last few months. When it comes to the Media, George Will took a stand and bowed out because he was not prepared to do truck with Trump.
As an observer of the political times we are living, and rushing to read what the majority of journalists and authors from the New York Times had to report, I thought how awful it will be if they have to trudge through the next four years with this old boar.
It has happened. Perhaps the Editorial Board of the Newspaper convened a panel of its staff members and associates in the event that the impossible could become a reality. If it is your duty to write about the President-Elect who rarely laughs, why not take a stand, and have a day of news coverage without his name? What would happen? Would he fire you?
Autumn blessings to Mr. Abe Rosenthal and his fine team of all ages.
As an observer of the political times we are living, and rushing to read what the majority of journalists and authors from the New York Times had to report, I thought how awful it will be if they have to trudge through the next four years with this old boar.
It has happened. Perhaps the Editorial Board of the Newspaper convened a panel of its staff members and associates in the event that the impossible could become a reality. If it is your duty to write about the President-Elect who rarely laughs, why not take a stand, and have a day of news coverage without his name? What would happen? Would he fire you?
Autumn blessings to Mr. Abe Rosenthal and his fine team of all ages.
1
Douthat is hurrying to catch that Trump train before it leaves the station, but afraid to break into a dead run for fear of losing his dignity. Go ahead and run Ross, you don't have to worry about your dignity with that crowd.
17
Wait, wait, wait.
If we're going to hypothesize, against all evidence. that Trump has some some of sort of thought-filled core beyond his obvious core that it's about "me, me, me winning. winning, winning at any, any cost", then why, Ross, such a wishy-washy prediction on health care?
Trump, with his undoubtedly moronic movement capable of threatening any who dare disagree with him (including insurance companies, drug companies, the AMA and their bought-and-paid-for lackeys in Congress), could institute what he, at one time, called for -- i.e. UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.
This would be paid for by taxes (yes, you young millennials who've sucked up my tax dollars on YOUR education even though I have no children but who are aghast at being forced to buy insurance to spread the risk under Obamacare would be taxed too).
Necessarily (for cost reasons), that health care would be, ohmigod, rationally RATIONED (i.e., no diseased, withered old bodies perennially connected to the most expensive test-tubes someone-elses money can buy). But if you want your diseased, withered old body to be perennially connected to such test tubes, then you'll be free to pay for some gold-plated coverage.
Meanwhile, just think not only of the premiums to vulture insurance companies which would no longer be paid but the SAVINGS which a government-funded health care provider could negotiate with the other vultures in the health care industry
And I won't name them, as I'm sure you can.
If we're going to hypothesize, against all evidence. that Trump has some some of sort of thought-filled core beyond his obvious core that it's about "me, me, me winning. winning, winning at any, any cost", then why, Ross, such a wishy-washy prediction on health care?
Trump, with his undoubtedly moronic movement capable of threatening any who dare disagree with him (including insurance companies, drug companies, the AMA and their bought-and-paid-for lackeys in Congress), could institute what he, at one time, called for -- i.e. UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE.
This would be paid for by taxes (yes, you young millennials who've sucked up my tax dollars on YOUR education even though I have no children but who are aghast at being forced to buy insurance to spread the risk under Obamacare would be taxed too).
Necessarily (for cost reasons), that health care would be, ohmigod, rationally RATIONED (i.e., no diseased, withered old bodies perennially connected to the most expensive test-tubes someone-elses money can buy). But if you want your diseased, withered old body to be perennially connected to such test tubes, then you'll be free to pay for some gold-plated coverage.
Meanwhile, just think not only of the premiums to vulture insurance companies which would no longer be paid but the SAVINGS which a government-funded health care provider could negotiate with the other vultures in the health care industry
And I won't name them, as I'm sure you can.
7
It sure didn't take you long.
3
Conservatives want to be funny. They try really hard but it's always strained. I did think the phrase "tiptoe around racial politics" was funny. Hilarious to make a joke out of avoiding the biggest unacknowledged problem we have. Racial politics is not the same thing as racism you know. And then, "nothing on the scale of 9/11." Uproarious and side-splitting. Those darn left wing protesters. What are they worried about? Supreme Court jokes about Ted Cruz and Mike Lee. This is wit on a par with Oscar Wilde. I imagine Oscar Wilde will be outlawed in a Trump administration. But maybe this is not supposed to be funny. Maybe this is what he envisions. Does Mr. Douthat hope for this? It all sounds completely horrible to me. In his labrynthine writing style, I'm not sure if he forgot about making oblique references to gun violence and prison reform. They could be in there. Hard to tell. What he describes sounds to me like rearranging the deck chairs on the proverbial Titanic. Crimea? Who cares about Crimea? Putin. Say it ten times. Very funny word. Putin. We can only know one thing about the future. No matter what Mr. Trump plans to do, events unknown will get in his way and ours.
5
Trump made America feel white again.
Note the white supremacist graffiti being painted on walls across America.
Note the white supremacist graffiti being painted on walls across America.
11
In my view, Mr. Douthat is just like a Rockefeller Republican dealing with the possibility that Reagan might be successful after all. Should he help him? Should he sabotage him? Should he ignore him and hope he goes away?
I wonder how many Rockefeller Republicans became Democrats in the end.
I wonder how many Rockefeller Republicans became Democrats in the end.
My prediction is Melania et al stay in NY, he jets in and out of DC for photo ops, and Pence works on turning the US into a broke theocracy. Of course, Trump and Ivanka will come out ahead because that is what they do.
15
Trying to get back in the Party's good graces, eh Ross? So much for October's Ross Douthat. It was too long ago to remember well, but back then, he played the principled defender of the republic, rising above partisanship.
Ross, you're fond of writing about the "Caesarism" of Bush and Obama. Now that your little joke has been published, I hope you're ready to start writing about Nero.
For a start, please stop encouraging the idea that the Trump Administration will be moderate or reasonable in any way. Conservatives like you will also be locked out of the Trump Administration, so you also have an interest in doing what you can to prevent this from becoming the new normal.
We are looking at a religious fanatic as vice president in charge of everyday operations, the likes of Sarah Palin and Myron Ebell setting environmental and energy policy, an alt-right media kingpin as chief of staff, Tea Partiers on the Supreme Court, Wall Street in charge of the Treasury, and an authoritarian with clear contempt for the rule of law giving orders to an already-overzealous security state. You should be telling people that this is madness, starting now. You have more sway over your own party than we do.
In four years, not many people are going to be happy with what we've done. The only question is the extent of the damage. Now is the time for resistance, so that damage can be pre-empted and minimized. It's not the time for hopeful speculation and silly jokes.
Ross, you're fond of writing about the "Caesarism" of Bush and Obama. Now that your little joke has been published, I hope you're ready to start writing about Nero.
For a start, please stop encouraging the idea that the Trump Administration will be moderate or reasonable in any way. Conservatives like you will also be locked out of the Trump Administration, so you also have an interest in doing what you can to prevent this from becoming the new normal.
We are looking at a religious fanatic as vice president in charge of everyday operations, the likes of Sarah Palin and Myron Ebell setting environmental and energy policy, an alt-right media kingpin as chief of staff, Tea Partiers on the Supreme Court, Wall Street in charge of the Treasury, and an authoritarian with clear contempt for the rule of law giving orders to an already-overzealous security state. You should be telling people that this is madness, starting now. You have more sway over your own party than we do.
In four years, not many people are going to be happy with what we've done. The only question is the extent of the damage. Now is the time for resistance, so that damage can be pre-empted and minimized. It's not the time for hopeful speculation and silly jokes.
10
Here's the problem- YES the country went in an entirely different direction by electing Trump. BUT- They didn't replace the scores of long term Senators and Congressmen; who are the ones truly guilty for gridlock and obstruction. Until those geriatric clowns are gone- you can pretty much expect the same empty promises, broken hopes and shattered dreams. Nancy Pelosi, Mitch McConell et al- I would never let my 84 YO mother drive in the rain- yet we keep handing you the keys to drive our country into the ditch. What more can I say- We elected Trump- We re-elected you- We are stupid, completely stupid.
8
Ross, What planet are you living on? Did half this nation disappear.
We were taught from third grade up that congress would discuss
mutually agreed-upon finances, and provide appropriate direction
Now you have evaporated the fact democrats are the Majority of Votes. Is this the GOP view = it's all a shallow a game of win/lose. And loud circus barkers. Removing us college Americans from voting is a noxious scam.
We were taught from third grade up that congress would discuss
mutually agreed-upon finances, and provide appropriate direction
Now you have evaporated the fact democrats are the Majority of Votes. Is this the GOP view = it's all a shallow a game of win/lose. And loud circus barkers. Removing us college Americans from voting is a noxious scam.
6
We can only dream.
Ross, your crystal ball is obviously cracked. Mine shows a Trump impeachment in 2018 after he secretly ordered the Treasury Department to print a new orange-hued currency called Donald Dollars, and used them to finance construction of the Trump Monument on a perch overlooking the Potomac River. Under President Pence and Vice-President Christie, LGBTQs were forced to live in internment camps in newly annexed Nova Scotia (Justin Trudeau stood down after Pence imprisoned and threatened to execute songstress Celine Dion), and Evangelical Christian youth were recruited into armies to launch another Children's Crusade, spreading the Gospel across Iran and North Korea while eliminating Islamic militants with toxic Christie gas. Americans grew tired of these shenanigans, and a new People's Party, promising free cable TV and cancellation of credit card debt, was ushered into power. And America got its first female president in 2020, Beyoncé Knowles, along with vice-president Julian Castro.
5
For heaven's sake, man, get serious.
7
How in God's name (pun absolutely intended) do you have Ted Cruz on the Supreme Court without a multi-front litigation assault on reproductive and LGBT rights?
2
Dream along with me . . .
2
"He made America feel great again." Huh?! I thought I was reading a headline from Breitbart News.
The "majority" has neither the presidency, nor Congress, nor the Supreme Court. So much for checks and "balances" that protect the majority from the minority - or is it the other way around? Kind of like Iraq and Syria, where the minority population rules the majority. Great!
Now that the pit-bull has finally caught the car, what he does with it now? Republicans want us all to help him!!! What, he can't fix everything by himself? He built Trump Co. by himself, no?
The irony with the Wall is that the Mexicans he was counting on to build it won't, and he/we can't afford "true Americans" to build it - maybe the Chinese will build it. 'Mexico will pay for the wall by increasing cocaine shipments to the US' (I paraphrased Jimmy Kimmel - thanks).
As for the Supreme Court - I guess Ginsberg or Breyer can wait until 9 months before the 2020 elections to retire so that their replacement can be taken up by the next administration - that's only fair, right? I guess not. The GOP anti-abortion folk are itching to get their hands on women's bodies - kind of like Trump.
In spite of a rising GDP (GROSS Domestic People), the soaring deficits will lead to yet another Trump bankruptcy - the Great American Default. Just Great! There won't be another four years and not even Obama will be able to fix it again.
RE your other column - isn't it the President who is supposed to "serve" - the people?
The "majority" has neither the presidency, nor Congress, nor the Supreme Court. So much for checks and "balances" that protect the majority from the minority - or is it the other way around? Kind of like Iraq and Syria, where the minority population rules the majority. Great!
Now that the pit-bull has finally caught the car, what he does with it now? Republicans want us all to help him!!! What, he can't fix everything by himself? He built Trump Co. by himself, no?
The irony with the Wall is that the Mexicans he was counting on to build it won't, and he/we can't afford "true Americans" to build it - maybe the Chinese will build it. 'Mexico will pay for the wall by increasing cocaine shipments to the US' (I paraphrased Jimmy Kimmel - thanks).
As for the Supreme Court - I guess Ginsberg or Breyer can wait until 9 months before the 2020 elections to retire so that their replacement can be taken up by the next administration - that's only fair, right? I guess not. The GOP anti-abortion folk are itching to get their hands on women's bodies - kind of like Trump.
In spite of a rising GDP (GROSS Domestic People), the soaring deficits will lead to yet another Trump bankruptcy - the Great American Default. Just Great! There won't be another four years and not even Obama will be able to fix it again.
RE your other column - isn't it the President who is supposed to "serve" - the people?
6
People thought all would great again because Americans projected whatever they wanted onto Trump. We already see that those who wanted him to get rid of Obamacare were wrong. We already see that those who wanted him to drain the swamp in Washington and get rid of lobbyists were wrong. He's brought several into his transition team. We already see that those who wanted him to keep Wall Street from crushing their lives like it did in '08 were wrong. He's handing Wall Streeters the keys to the economy. So Americans will feel great again until January 20.
6
That magician Trump also seems to have made people of color, immigrants and GLBT people disappear.
3
If we didn't laugh, we'd cry.
1
Hhm, no , the infrastructure will be built by undocumented immigrants, as always. The Trump voters don't have the skills and won't last a day on a construction site.
12
Sigh
3
I am just hoping we're all still here in 2020, from all the pollution and nuclear radiation that might be floating around in the air by then. By the time 2020 rolls around, there will probably not be an election - no need for one when Trump will have declared himself king, with promises to "make the world great again". We know how that goes, you take over one country, and then one just isn't enough. It soon becomes an addiction, with the need for more and more adoring subjects. One thing we can do then, is forget about pesky third Parties, there won't be any Parties.
As for the jobs for blue collar workers you spoke about forthcoming in your future column you found - we could have had those under Obama, but the Republicans obstructed them away now didn't they? Oh gee, maybe that was the plan. You think?
Not going to sit around moaning and groaning anymore. There is a lot of work to do between now and 2018 and the midterm elections. Come on young people. I am certainly not going to wait until the 2020 Presidential election to get cracking again. You thought we liberals might give up? Never!!! I have grandchildren. Love your suggestion of a Warren-Booker ticket for 2020.
As for the jobs for blue collar workers you spoke about forthcoming in your future column you found - we could have had those under Obama, but the Republicans obstructed them away now didn't they? Oh gee, maybe that was the plan. You think?
Not going to sit around moaning and groaning anymore. There is a lot of work to do between now and 2018 and the midterm elections. Come on young people. I am certainly not going to wait until the 2020 Presidential election to get cracking again. You thought we liberals might give up? Never!!! I have grandchildren. Love your suggestion of a Warren-Booker ticket for 2020.
7
Mr. Douthat, I have to wonder what you were drinking or smoking when you wrote this column. I know that you're a Republican but these delusions are not normal.
7
Possibly this piece is intended as sarcasm, but it doesn't read that way. It comes across as a look through some rose-colored glasses. My favorite part is the paragraph about "other right-wing priorities" that "fared better, especially on energy..." Is that rose-speak for The Environment? Because it's the only reference I could find. And about the "protests' fury" that disappears when Conway twitches her nose... is that a reference to race riots? Great! Just greatly Great!
3
And my wife, my two toddlers and I will be wishing you well from Italy. We're leaving this crazy country next summer.
5
The pleasures of this kind of journalistic pornography wear thin rather quickly. See you on the barricades.
10
Let's see, what did mainstream media miss in the three debates? Climate change. Apparently, RD wants to extend that streak as far into the future as possible.
4
Ahhh. A ship of sweet dreams, gliding through fantasy (Clarence Thomas retires!)... that breaks its back on an ugly reef of reality. One word: Breitbart.
Go over there. Check out the virulent Klan comments they let stand under their stories. That's who will be steering Trump around.
Go over there. Check out the virulent Klan comments they let stand under their stories. That's who will be steering Trump around.
6
I figure that there's a chance Trump will get something right--he's completely chaotic and could bumble across something that makes sense.
1
The real question is so called master of the dealmaker can make a deal with Republicans while Democrats dragging their feet.
or
who knows, a New York savant businessmen try to run the nation how they run New York.
we are watching.
or
who knows, a New York savant businessmen try to run the nation how they run New York.
we are watching.
Ross, you seem to have overlooked the news that rising sea levels on the Florida coast has left Mar-a-lago underwater
19
What is going to happen to those poor people that Mr. Trump promised to save their jobs. He can't. I suspect that Ross and other republicans will be there to say it is the democrats fault no matter what.
57
I was thinking as I read this that it was an unbelievable fantasy, that such things could never come true. I have to remind myself to never think that way again about anything.
4
If unemployment goes down under Trump it will probably be because of minorities being murdered or leaving the country out of fear.
9
I kept looking for the part where Mr. Trump is convicted of treason because of his communications with the Russians during the 2016 campaign. And then I also didn't find any references to Mr. Pence, who like a lot of outspoken moralizers, typically finds themselves in a Jimmy Swaggart-like scandal.
Finally, where was the part about the lion and the lamb resting comfortably together on a Tempur-Pedic?
Finally, where was the part about the lion and the lamb resting comfortably together on a Tempur-Pedic?
10
Congratulations on winning the race to be the first commentator to start discussions on the 2020 elections.
8
A great nation should be able to endure the contempt and ridicule of the rest of the world for four years. We are going to find out how 'great' we are.
14
Trump made half voting Americans feel great again.
The other and perhaps greater half of the voting Americans are shocked, fearful and angry that someone, so uniquely unqualified, is going to be the President of the United States of America.
The other and perhaps greater half of the voting Americans are shocked, fearful and angry that someone, so uniquely unqualified, is going to be the President of the United States of America.
29
When the republican congress moves to cut social security and medicare, eliminate medicaid, housing vouchers, food stamps,disability, student loans and repeal the civil rights act of 1964, when the police begin breaking into homes to find illegals you will see mass rioting.
16
Trump is in way over his head, totally inept and unqualified for a job one tenth as demanding. Being leader of the free world is not quite like running Miss USA pageant or doing Celebrity Apprentice.
The right-wing zealots will fight for the real power, and they will screw up everything they go near, hoping they can get more money to the top 1% before they lose power again. The Republicans will not be able to blame their failure on anyone - they are running things now.
Ross' fantasy is idiotic.
The right-wing zealots will fight for the real power, and they will screw up everything they go near, hoping they can get more money to the top 1% before they lose power again. The Republicans will not be able to blame their failure on anyone - they are running things now.
Ross' fantasy is idiotic.
52
Hillary out-spent Trump 2-1. Despite all the big money behind her, she had no message, and no credibility, just a massive sense of entitlement. She got the whipping she deserved.
Let's all support President Trump. His win was decisive and Hillary pledged to work with him. You never saw Republican rioting in the streets when they lost elections.
Let's all support President Trump. His win was decisive and Hillary pledged to work with him. You never saw Republican rioting in the streets when they lost elections.
7
Dream on, Ross. Your peek at the future is as good as it could possibly get under the scenario facing us, and still pretty horrible. What will the climate be like in 2020, when Donald Trump makes Ronald Reagan seem like a spring chicken? No coincidence that his corporation operates golf resorts and not ski resorts.
10
Here are my comments for the Douthat column that actually will appear in The NYT four years from now.
Trump sure made a chump of Putin. Russia looks much weaker today than it did four years ago. This is the main reason everyone is comparing Trump with Reagan. All it took was another arms race, which showed the wisdom of playing the game by your rules, and not the rules of your adversary.
As for China, no one could have guessed (but I did) that it would tear itself apart in a civil war. Most pundits blame former President Xi, but as I like to keep repeating, history is calling the shots, not individual men. No one could have held China together and suppressed the freedom of its vast population forever.
Finally, on the domestic front, I have been saying for years that Trump would be like Bernie Sanders on steroids. As I predicted, he rolled over the *conservatives* in his own party. They still have the stunned look of someone who does not know who just punched them in the face.
Trump sure made a chump of Putin. Russia looks much weaker today than it did four years ago. This is the main reason everyone is comparing Trump with Reagan. All it took was another arms race, which showed the wisdom of playing the game by your rules, and not the rules of your adversary.
As for China, no one could have guessed (but I did) that it would tear itself apart in a civil war. Most pundits blame former President Xi, but as I like to keep repeating, history is calling the shots, not individual men. No one could have held China together and suppressed the freedom of its vast population forever.
Finally, on the domestic front, I have been saying for years that Trump would be like Bernie Sanders on steroids. As I predicted, he rolled over the *conservatives* in his own party. They still have the stunned look of someone who does not know who just punched them in the face.
4
You should have started your column with this: Within days of his election, Trump, realizing that the majority of American citizens (by +2 MM) voted against him, started abandoning his campaign rhetoric.
First to go: Drain the Swamp. Critical to those who supported him. Now there is nothing they can do about it, so why not appoint the dreaded elites of the GOP establishment to run his administration? And they were worried that their careers were over if he got elected, those sillies!
Then he became emboldened to change his tune on the Disaster that is ObamaCare. A total Disaster, he said! Supporters ate it up! When one is President one can do what one wants, so now he can change his mind! His supporters, still basking in the glow of their victory, aren't paying attention to what he is actually doing, so there aren't any cries of dismay from them. Yet.
Now, he has proclaimed that he wants a country that loves each other. (Not sure what that statement really means, but then he speaks English, so it must make sense.) His supporters are probably thinking that we have reverted back to dog whistles, and that what he really means is that the country should love everyone that is like them. He is their Donald, and they know he meant what he said during the campaign, even if all of his surrogates were falling all over themselves to explain that he didn't.
And so the era of Trump began. And his supporters? They just can't bring themselves to admit that they were wrong.
First to go: Drain the Swamp. Critical to those who supported him. Now there is nothing they can do about it, so why not appoint the dreaded elites of the GOP establishment to run his administration? And they were worried that their careers were over if he got elected, those sillies!
Then he became emboldened to change his tune on the Disaster that is ObamaCare. A total Disaster, he said! Supporters ate it up! When one is President one can do what one wants, so now he can change his mind! His supporters, still basking in the glow of their victory, aren't paying attention to what he is actually doing, so there aren't any cries of dismay from them. Yet.
Now, he has proclaimed that he wants a country that loves each other. (Not sure what that statement really means, but then he speaks English, so it must make sense.) His supporters are probably thinking that we have reverted back to dog whistles, and that what he really means is that the country should love everyone that is like them. He is their Donald, and they know he meant what he said during the campaign, even if all of his surrogates were falling all over themselves to explain that he didn't.
And so the era of Trump began. And his supporters? They just can't bring themselves to admit that they were wrong.
27
Trump has continuously defied our expectations for the last year and a half. We should expect him to continue. For the worse.
33
Sorry, Ross, but I felt pretty great before the election, not so much now.
48
Make America Great Again! What does that actually mean? I will let you into a little secret, ready......America is already "great" like i said, whatever that actually means. Unfortunately, Countries will always contain the have's and the have-not's, there is no Country on the planet that is a vision of Utopia, you know why? because they are inhabited by people like you and me, we all primarily have our own best interests at heart, that's just Human nature, most of us, no matter how minuscule the part that we play, are a little bit to blame for the injustices in society.
If, by "great" you mean the biggest military, well, you already have that, by an absolute mile, you also have, for the most part, a "great" standard of living and you also have an absolutely, stunningly beautiful landscape, from Deserts to tropical forests, breathtaking mountain ranges, frozen tundra and outstanding coastlines, it's "great" i have just returned from a vacation to your beautiful country, this time i drove around New England, it was.........."great" it was more than that, it was Super-great (i actually heard someone use that phrase on Fox News.......no, i really did)
If you were to take a poll of Citizens from the "developed" world, and ask them where they would most like to visit, i reckon the USA would probably come out on top, why? because America is "great"
The only thing that's not great about America is your taste in Presidents.
If, by "great" you mean the biggest military, well, you already have that, by an absolute mile, you also have, for the most part, a "great" standard of living and you also have an absolutely, stunningly beautiful landscape, from Deserts to tropical forests, breathtaking mountain ranges, frozen tundra and outstanding coastlines, it's "great" i have just returned from a vacation to your beautiful country, this time i drove around New England, it was.........."great" it was more than that, it was Super-great (i actually heard someone use that phrase on Fox News.......no, i really did)
If you were to take a poll of Citizens from the "developed" world, and ask them where they would most like to visit, i reckon the USA would probably come out on top, why? because America is "great"
The only thing that's not great about America is your taste in Presidents.
22
Psst -- Ross ... does Trump destroy the EPA, and end the global response to CO2 by thumbing his nose at science, reality, and the whole rest of the world?
For some very short-term benefit to rich fossil fuel and manufacturing capitalists does he turn the US into India ... everyone gasping for breath and most dying much younger than they would otherwise?
How about drinking water with poisons in it, unable to fish or swim in our rivers? You are old enough to remember when the Cayahoga River caught on fire ... we're going to back to that?
This doesn't matter to you? You don't want to talk about it in Trump's/McConnell's "vision thang?"
But let's come down to earth -- let's talk about the next few months. Trump is a deer in the headlights now. Pence, Giuliani, Christie, Gingrich go to Washington -- this isn't draining the swap, this is the swamp. The Trump supporters are beginning to get it: same as the old boss, you suckers!
Ryan and McConnell already have the ring in Trump's nose. They'll put him in the stall, give him his oat bag ... trot him out when he needs to sign something. Other than that, they want him to stay shut up. Trump will bellow, to no effect.
Trump's administration will make Harding's look like the PTA. How many people do you think will go to jail, or be like Christie -- saved from jail by their fall-guys and the fact that nobody big in our country ever does time.
How long before you think Trump is in real trouble, and for what?
For some very short-term benefit to rich fossil fuel and manufacturing capitalists does he turn the US into India ... everyone gasping for breath and most dying much younger than they would otherwise?
How about drinking water with poisons in it, unable to fish or swim in our rivers? You are old enough to remember when the Cayahoga River caught on fire ... we're going to back to that?
This doesn't matter to you? You don't want to talk about it in Trump's/McConnell's "vision thang?"
But let's come down to earth -- let's talk about the next few months. Trump is a deer in the headlights now. Pence, Giuliani, Christie, Gingrich go to Washington -- this isn't draining the swap, this is the swamp. The Trump supporters are beginning to get it: same as the old boss, you suckers!
Ryan and McConnell already have the ring in Trump's nose. They'll put him in the stall, give him his oat bag ... trot him out when he needs to sign something. Other than that, they want him to stay shut up. Trump will bellow, to no effect.
Trump's administration will make Harding's look like the PTA. How many people do you think will go to jail, or be like Christie -- saved from jail by their fall-guys and the fact that nobody big in our country ever does time.
How long before you think Trump is in real trouble, and for what?
25
Ha! Mr. Trump may have made millions of Amerkans happier, but darn sure Not this one. As noted elsewhere,, the man is a genuine fool, as state that we cannot change. So help me, for greater glory of our nation, I do wish him well. Short of a major offense after 01-20-2017, I guess we are stuck with him for FOUR years. A second term? you've got to be kidding. The Amerikan public is not that stupid! Stay tuned; this will be an interesting ride...
6
Will you be writing a slightly less smug sequel to this op-ed, Ross?
I'd be curious to know what the older, wiser version of you would say about Trump's impact -- through policy or through intimidation -- on the rights and safety of women, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ folks, Muslims, and working families.
Or maybe, like so many other white men who stand to gain materially from a Trump presidency, you'd be willfully blind by then to the violence and suffering a Trump administration might inflict on Americans who aren't white men.
Or maybe -- just a thought! -- you could be reporting instead on how that violence and suffering is happening already!
I'd be curious to know what the older, wiser version of you would say about Trump's impact -- through policy or through intimidation -- on the rights and safety of women, people of color, immigrants, LGBTQ folks, Muslims, and working families.
Or maybe, like so many other white men who stand to gain materially from a Trump presidency, you'd be willfully blind by then to the violence and suffering a Trump administration might inflict on Americans who aren't white men.
Or maybe -- just a thought! -- you could be reporting instead on how that violence and suffering is happening already!
10
Trump's support group.....are they the ones who we believe will help
"make American Great Again".....do not think so...
Yet....Pence actually has a fair track record....so...there is some hope from
a Tea Party Roman Catholic/Evangelist.....right wing...and what's okay...well
for one...he IS honest...that's a start..
"make American Great Again".....do not think so...
Yet....Pence actually has a fair track record....so...there is some hope from
a Tea Party Roman Catholic/Evangelist.....right wing...and what's okay...well
for one...he IS honest...that's a start..
2
You've conveniently left out the part about the astronomic rise in hate crimes, the PTSD epidemic amongst targeted groups of people, and the fact that the water in Flint, MI is still undrinkable.
19
I really think that Trump can simply be construed as a salesman of the worst sort: he was willing to say anything, no matter how morally reprehensible, to sell his product, which happened to be himself, he did an effective con job of it, and now that he has made his sale, he is willing to say whatever might seem to some people to make it sound alright even though it wasn't. Think of most of the car salesman you have ever dealt with, especially used car salesmen; they will do or say anything to get you to buy that car, no matter what might be wrong with it. Or think of merchants bargaining in bazaars in the middle east, deal makers and prevaricators all, for whom buying and selling is a game. There is no morality there, only the sale. A good salesperson can con you and make you feel good about it, and that is what Trump does for his followers. It is a Republican tactic too, but he is better at it than most.
8
I agree, Trump made many Americans feel real good. But Trump also made it clear the only person that matters is Donald trump. The entire time he ran, he made no secret of that fact. That half the country was too busy feeling good to hear it is not Trump's fault. Once again, when you see Trump being Trump over the next four years, don't blame him. He never hid who Donald trump is.
8
Ted Cruz on the Supreme Court is a dystopian future where Donald Trump losses reelection. That one fiction, alone, makes it impossible that "America is great again".
Try again, Ross. The only way Trump wins relection is if he totally disappoints you and your neoconservative friends. If Trump has any sense, he already knows that.
Try again, Ross. The only way Trump wins relection is if he totally disappoints you and your neoconservative friends. If Trump has any sense, he already knows that.
4
Jesus. Dream on.
8
Ross, The only people who didn't think America was great the last 8 years were malcontents like yourself who are only happy when Republicans are in control. For the rest of us, "greatness" is defined by goodness, kindness, benevolency, community, and generousity; not by selfishness, greed, hate and fear.
42
We need a new kind of radical solution for Trumpism.
This Thanksgiving, everybody name their turkey, "TRUMP".
Take pictures with the gold letters above it.
Now real gold, of course. The fake kind that Trump uses.
Make sure they're all CAPS.
Have it all go viral.
This Thanksgiving, everybody name their turkey, "TRUMP".
Take pictures with the gold letters above it.
Now real gold, of course. The fake kind that Trump uses.
Make sure they're all CAPS.
Have it all go viral.
6
So the GOP's/Trump's sole source of popularity will be an infrastructure program that Obama wanted but the GOP stopped him from implementing. Congratulations GOP! Give yourselves a pat on the back!
28
Ross,
Now that Trump is picking his cabinet (see NYT "Donald Trump is Picking His Cabinet: Here's a Short List" in todays NYT), it becomes easier to see how he plans to make America great. Trump's short list includes the possibility of Newt Gingrich as Secretary of State, Sarah Palin (or Jan Brewer) as Interior Secretary, Steve Mnuchin (Goldman Sachs exec) as Secretary of Treasury, Rudi Giuliani (or Chris Christe) as Attorney General, Sam Brownbeck (Kansas Governor) as Agricultural Secretary, Chris Christe as Commerce Secretary (transportation policy), Jeff Sessions as Defense Secretary, Ben Carson as either Secretary of Education or Health and Human Services, Joe Arpaio as Homeland Security Secretary, and Myron Ebell, the "climate contrarian", to be in charge of the EPA. Do you honestly believe that he is a President for all the people (acceptance speech) who will make "America Feel Great", or even for the minority of the voters who voted for him? His short list says otherwise.
Now that Trump is picking his cabinet (see NYT "Donald Trump is Picking His Cabinet: Here's a Short List" in todays NYT), it becomes easier to see how he plans to make America great. Trump's short list includes the possibility of Newt Gingrich as Secretary of State, Sarah Palin (or Jan Brewer) as Interior Secretary, Steve Mnuchin (Goldman Sachs exec) as Secretary of Treasury, Rudi Giuliani (or Chris Christe) as Attorney General, Sam Brownbeck (Kansas Governor) as Agricultural Secretary, Chris Christe as Commerce Secretary (transportation policy), Jeff Sessions as Defense Secretary, Ben Carson as either Secretary of Education or Health and Human Services, Joe Arpaio as Homeland Security Secretary, and Myron Ebell, the "climate contrarian", to be in charge of the EPA. Do you honestly believe that he is a President for all the people (acceptance speech) who will make "America Feel Great", or even for the minority of the voters who voted for him? His short list says otherwise.
211
Even in a world of infinite universes, the chance for this scenario is zero.
5
helps to have 3 fingers of Lagavulin as I read this
6
There is no magic bullet for success. Making progress involves really hard work and takes a long time. Also, the news of such progress is not sexy or appealing and there is nothing in it for news media. It is just hard grinding work. So instead of a tough path, Americans choose to believe that Mr. Trump will be their savior.
Worst part is that the media played all along and gave Mr. Trump this opportunity. News media (including Mr. Ross) was losing its relevance so they propelled Mr. Trump. Now the news media have something to write/show for next 4 or 8 yrs. It's a victory for News Media and Mr. Trump but a loss for all Americans.
For instance, there is nothing of substance in this opinion column. Even as hard core progressive and on the very left, I would like Mr. Trump to do the right things and I am an optimist like President Obama. I like NYT and read it everyday but I would prefer my subscription $$ don't go to Mr. Ross, Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Dowd. Their columns mostly belong to Faux News.
Worst part is that the media played all along and gave Mr. Trump this opportunity. News media (including Mr. Ross) was losing its relevance so they propelled Mr. Trump. Now the news media have something to write/show for next 4 or 8 yrs. It's a victory for News Media and Mr. Trump but a loss for all Americans.
For instance, there is nothing of substance in this opinion column. Even as hard core progressive and on the very left, I would like Mr. Trump to do the right things and I am an optimist like President Obama. I like NYT and read it everyday but I would prefer my subscription $$ don't go to Mr. Ross, Mr. Brooks and Mrs. Dowd. Their columns mostly belong to Faux News.
Succumbing to hallucinations, Mr. Douthat? Can't say I blame you, though mine are of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
When living reality surpasses sci-fi horror movies, sanity must implode. As Lily Tomlin's character, Trudy, the crazed bag lady declares...
"I made some studies, and reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it. I can take it in small doses, but as a lifestyle I found it too confining."
But from the perspective of Roman Catholicism, Mr. Ross, now is the time for you to demonstrate to us the veracity and practical functionality of Faith, specifically, by performing upon Trump the Rite of Exorcism.
Pull that off successfully and you will have in me a devoted convert.
When living reality surpasses sci-fi horror movies, sanity must implode. As Lily Tomlin's character, Trudy, the crazed bag lady declares...
"I made some studies, and reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it. I can take it in small doses, but as a lifestyle I found it too confining."
But from the perspective of Roman Catholicism, Mr. Ross, now is the time for you to demonstrate to us the veracity and practical functionality of Faith, specifically, by performing upon Trump the Rite of Exorcism.
Pull that off successfully and you will have in me a devoted convert.
6
Well, let's hope that the space-time continuum also handed this to Trump. In particular, the TrumpWorks idea and the idea of taking Obamacare, using his media savvy to steal the credit for it, supporting it once the credit is securely his, and then using it to crush Paul Ryan. If he does those things, he might actually turn out okay.
I have been feeling rather like we entered a portal into Bizarro World sometime a couple years ago, in which, among other strange occurrences, a real-life troll (with orange skin and troll hair to match) was elected president. It's not too much of a stretch for me to believe that the troll then goes in, knocks heads together, and somehow causes the political system to work again. Certainly doesn't seem likely, but everything has felt like I've been on LSD all year, so why not?
I have been feeling rather like we entered a portal into Bizarro World sometime a couple years ago, in which, among other strange occurrences, a real-life troll (with orange skin and troll hair to match) was elected president. It's not too much of a stretch for me to believe that the troll then goes in, knocks heads together, and somehow causes the political system to work again. Certainly doesn't seem likely, but everything has felt like I've been on LSD all year, so why not?
1
Sounds about right.
1
There is an early scene in Howard Hawks’ film “Red River” where Thomas Dunson (John Wayne) releases two cattle onto open range in Texas and says: "Wherever they go, they'll be on my land, My land. We're here and we're gonna stay here.”
You have here in a nutshell Donald Trump’s grandiose philosophy of life, the same one that 60 million politically-anesthetized Americans eagerly bought into this past Tuesday.
Americans being what they are naturally identify with men like Dunston and Trump who relish taking over things that don’t belong to them.
What Americans prone to magical thinking in politics constantly fail to realize until it is too late to do anything about it is that the thing being taken over is them.
You have here in a nutshell Donald Trump’s grandiose philosophy of life, the same one that 60 million politically-anesthetized Americans eagerly bought into this past Tuesday.
Americans being what they are naturally identify with men like Dunston and Trump who relish taking over things that don’t belong to them.
What Americans prone to magical thinking in politics constantly fail to realize until it is too late to do anything about it is that the thing being taken over is them.
7
If you say so
2
Trump will remain focused like a laser on himself. He'll watch himself on TV, preside over big stadium rallies, and keep tweeting. He'll work short weeks, spending lots of time in Trump Tower. (Remember Bush's many weeks at the ranch? We got kinda spoiled by Obama working full time). He will continue to promote his businesses.
And he will not last a full term. Maybe he'll resign, Sarah Palin style. Or he'll be driven out, because even though there aren't enough Democrats to impeach him, a lot of Republicans will be eager to ditch him and bring in President Pence.
And he will not last a full term. Maybe he'll resign, Sarah Palin style. Or he'll be driven out, because even though there aren't enough Democrats to impeach him, a lot of Republicans will be eager to ditch him and bring in President Pence.
8
The first, second, and third objective of all democrats should be to make trump a one term president. Sound familiar?
11
I reminded of the great last line from the Redford film 'The Candidate"; Redford's character, mulling over his unexpected victory, looks at his campaign director and asks" "What do we do now?"
Perhaps Trump is also wondering the same thing . . . ps
Perhaps Trump is also wondering the same thing . . . ps
4
From your mouth to God's ear, Ross. Trump may prove himself to be a cannier, steadier, less incompetent President than he appeared to be as a candidate. That would be good. But he'll still be a bigot, a racist, a sexist, a misogynist, a xenophobe, and someone who mocks disabled people. Can't erase the record and the videos. This also assumes he has time to do all this fine stuff amid all the lawsuits he's initiated and is the target of. Also that he stays off his Twitter account and gets more sleep; and that he stays on task and on message, and doesn't shoot himself in the foot once a week as he did when he was a candidate. Wow, so many ifs here; I don't know, Ross. Maybe this column is not from the future, but from some part of your brain living in conservative fantasy land. Anyway, thanks for sharing. As I say, from your mouth (future or not) to God's ear.
116
Not a word about climate change in this grand vision, I notice.
20
Trump makes peace by letting states and their money opt out of any program that doesn't have to be nationwide. Don't like O'Romneycare? Try Texacare, Tenncare, and so on. Like it? Your state can stay with the plan.
And by letting individuals and groups opt out. Don't wanna bake a cake especially for a gay marriage? Let 'em get one down the street; they'll have no trouble doing so (unlike Jim Crow when some blacks simply couldn't get some services); stop wasting tax dollars on a non-problem.
And improves education with more parental involvement, more diversity, more competition forcing constant improvement as happens with cars and restaurants, and saving money, by giving us educational democracy, aka vouchers: educate your kids wherever you want, including home, and (most of) your dollars go wherever you choose. Educational democracy instead of school boards and departments of education and court orders.
And by letting individuals and groups opt out. Don't wanna bake a cake especially for a gay marriage? Let 'em get one down the street; they'll have no trouble doing so (unlike Jim Crow when some blacks simply couldn't get some services); stop wasting tax dollars on a non-problem.
And improves education with more parental involvement, more diversity, more competition forcing constant improvement as happens with cars and restaurants, and saving money, by giving us educational democracy, aka vouchers: educate your kids wherever you want, including home, and (most of) your dollars go wherever you choose. Educational democracy instead of school boards and departments of education and court orders.
The worst Douthat column ever. No one can predict the future in detail and this set of fantasies is absurd. The one thing I agree with is that Drumpf will probably get a second term. Most presidents do. What's more, he's a genius at branding. He'll take credit for every one of Obama's accomplishments and get away with it. Trumpcare any one?
1
I'm surprised at the number of comments accusing Mr. Douthat of angling for a position in a Trump administration. This is in fact highly critical of Trump. In his last three paragraphs, Mr. Douthat lays the groundwork for why the Trump Potemkin village will soon collapse (corruption in Trumpworks, rising inflation due to unsustainable deficits, Russia and China on the march, Tehran with the bomb, and no real program left.)
No one knows what the future will bring.
The Technocrats and Policy Wonks really don't understand
what they profess to be experts on.
So few of the Political Pundits saw a Trump Victory.
We are told we must accept Globalisation thought it seems to
benefit fewer and fewer people.
What really matters is the Supreme Court and Health Care.
The Technocrats and Policy Wonks really don't understand
what they profess to be experts on.
So few of the Political Pundits saw a Trump Victory.
We are told we must accept Globalisation thought it seems to
benefit fewer and fewer people.
What really matters is the Supreme Court and Health Care.
1
He made "America" feel great? Only if you consider America to be all-white, heterosexual, fundamentalist Christian, male, sexist, racist, xenophobic, and not disabled. I don't have time for all the other adjectives, but he certainly did not make the majority of voters feel "great." We are in mourning over the loss of the integrity of our nation.
8
This description -- massive public spending, massive tax cuts, no cuts to entitlement -- would blow the already large deficit to extreme proportion.
It is really a bit cute to think this will pass a republican controlled congress.
But the grain of truth here is that the Ryan and the Trump people are on a MASSIVE collision course over just that discrepancy ...
Trump likes grandiose projects (only now massive government building projects rather than casinos, airlines, etc) regardless of what deficit and bankruptcies they cause.
A democrat on the big spending side and a republican on the taxation/revenue side -- it is going to be interesting to watch this reality show.
It is really a bit cute to think this will pass a republican controlled congress.
But the grain of truth here is that the Ryan and the Trump people are on a MASSIVE collision course over just that discrepancy ...
Trump likes grandiose projects (only now massive government building projects rather than casinos, airlines, etc) regardless of what deficit and bankruptcies they cause.
A democrat on the big spending side and a republican on the taxation/revenue side -- it is going to be interesting to watch this reality show.
3
More than half of the votes went to Clinton, so the very title of your article is logically incorrect. Unfortunately, opinion without any basis in facts, or even more often despite the facts, seems to reign in America these days. It does not bode well for our future.
4
i believe that to be very untrue. He made a huge portion of the population scared and terrified. America is not great when it is divided, America can only be great when it is untied as one. And with Trump we are no such things.
2
Too exhausted with trying to reason the whole thing or read or listen to anyone else's take on it.
Trump will do what he darn well pleases, none of it will permanently make sense, so how about becoming Rip Van Winkle for awhile? If only we could.
Trump will do what he darn well pleases, none of it will permanently make sense, so how about becoming Rip Van Winkle for awhile? If only we could.
4
Gee, one thing left out in this prediction -- the disastrous change in the climate that Trump and his climate-denying administration is about to foster. The rising sea levels, increasingly violent weather, drought stricken areas of the country and the world, may become an inevitable stress on all countries. And that includes the USA. Next campaign slogan by the opposition -- Make America Cold Again.
5
May it be no worse than your future self reports! As a veteran budget and health policy observer, I'm particularly amused by the all-too-plausible scenario that Obamacare subsidies would be "officially repealed" yet temporarily extended each and every year.
3
Sorry, not even close.
In four years (if the NYTimes still exists) Mr. Douthat will be praising President Pence and the Supreme Court (Trump will be long gone) for restoring conservative Christian values as the Law of the Land. He'll dismiss the inevitable economic mess as an unfortunate but ultimately trivial and temporary development caused by the Obama Administration's mismanagement of whatever. He'll deplore the continuing anti-Administration protests as well as the vigilante justice meted out by the quasi-official Second Amendment American Militias, equating the two and asking that everyone unite under traditional values for the common good. And he will suggest that young Republicans of good moral character join the Pence Administration to try and curb the excesses that he dare not mention.
In four years (if the NYTimes still exists) Mr. Douthat will be praising President Pence and the Supreme Court (Trump will be long gone) for restoring conservative Christian values as the Law of the Land. He'll dismiss the inevitable economic mess as an unfortunate but ultimately trivial and temporary development caused by the Obama Administration's mismanagement of whatever. He'll deplore the continuing anti-Administration protests as well as the vigilante justice meted out by the quasi-official Second Amendment American Militias, equating the two and asking that everyone unite under traditional values for the common good. And he will suggest that young Republicans of good moral character join the Pence Administration to try and curb the excesses that he dare not mention.
5
As he walks down Pennsylvania Avenue, who's child will utter that famous phrase, "The King has no clothes". It's bound to happen since every child in America can see the First Lady in her underwear any number of places on the WEB.
A convicted slum lord and a Victoria's Secret wannabe ... what a political cesspool America must appear to be to the rest of the world. And they were elected by the evangelical conservatives who must be as proud as punch going to church tomorrow. Thank the Lord and pass the Eucharist.
A convicted slum lord and a Victoria's Secret wannabe ... what a political cesspool America must appear to be to the rest of the world. And they were elected by the evangelical conservatives who must be as proud as punch going to church tomorrow. Thank the Lord and pass the Eucharist.
8
Ross, you've repeatedly been wrong about Trump. This seems a craven attempt to rehabilitate yourself with him; to find a place in the new world order. In contrast, my friends now call me "Cassandra." I told them Trump would win the Republican nomination. With no mass unified movement against him, he'd win the presidency. They refused to believe it. I even called virtually every state. Ross, for over a year I've read as you've repeatedly written off Trump and shook my head in disbelief. People like you apparently haven't spent any time in western Pennsylvania, or in substantial portions of Michigan or Wisconsin. These are beautiful states, but they have huge areas that are either economically stagnant or blighted. There are far too few jobs, and far too much substance abuse, crime, and racial and ethnic animus. TrumpWorks? Sorry, no. Expect the most regressive economic system in the world. The rich will get richer, everyone else poorer. Trump's a racist. No one persuades a racist to "tiptoe around it." It's what they are. Trump's a mad bull in a china shop, shattering the Constitution, the Republic, and threatening the safety of all Americans who aren't Both White and Christian. Trump is the face of the Alt-Right, which isn't going anywhere. A huge Klan parade for Trump isn't the end, it's just the beginning. You fail the mention that Trump's rise will empower European fascists and Nazis. Within 4 years Trump will likely hold a summit with Marine Le Pen and Norbert Hofer.
17
I wish this was reasonably accurate, since - other than exploding deficits, rapidly rising interest rates, and the problems that will follow - this wouldn't be a bad outcome.
Sadly, I doubt that it is anywhere close to what actually will happen.
Let's compare notes in four years and decide whether we're really better off than we are now - and whether America is great again.
Sadly, I doubt that it is anywhere close to what actually will happen.
Let's compare notes in four years and decide whether we're really better off than we are now - and whether America is great again.
1
If they cheer for a Trump stimulus after barking about deficits and obstructing every Obama attempt to do the same thing over the last eight years, well, that would go in the bag of hypocrisies stuffed full by the Republicans over the decades, which really can't hold much more without bursting and drowning us all in a sea of vindictive, idealogical garbage.
7
Mr. Douthat, my main fear of a Trump presidency are his authoritarian tendencies. That, combined with a submissive Republican congress and Supreme Court - which in theory should act as a check on presidential power - means there may not be a 2020 election.
Your colleague, Paul Krugman, warned that the US may end up being a corrupt failed state run by strongmen. I fear he may be right.
Your colleague, Paul Krugman, warned that the US may end up being a corrupt failed state run by strongmen. I fear he may be right.
3
He is turning the US into a small minded and ugly place. The Republicans are turning the US into a small minded ugly place. Western values will suffer. Lincoln is turning in his grave. A vulgar president. What an achievement. Americas greatness is gone. Most people in Europe are horrified. We have enough bad politicians. But in comparison to Trump they are just great. I wouldn't shake hands with him or his Ayatollah in disguise Mike Pence.
8
What was the demographic that responded well to birtherism, and existed in the sea of alt-right media, the yellow journalism of the digital age? We are looking for some rational reason for his win; trying to ascribe it to recognizing the rust belt angst achieved by an economic phenomenon that occurred in 70's and 80's. The better common denominator is the response to Trump wasn't rational at all, but the effect of master (and not too tacit) dog-whistle techniques used by the Republican Party to win elections for decades. Donald (with the help of Breibart guys) manifests as a master practitioner of the art. Look at the birther demographic. By the way, the yellow-journalists would know the trap lines that Donald should run as well, explaining the failure of conventional polling techniques and analysis.
It is conceivable that a massive stimulus program would produce enough jobs and revenue that would enable the GOP to avoid meaningful tax reform and leverage our next war. Thank you for an optimistic, albeit frightening scenario for the next eight years.
Trump cleverly adopted democratic plans when they were popular with his base - childcare support, for example. But the stack of lobbyists working with Pence on staffing agencies suggests broad corruption coming along with tax cuts for the rich. Given that anything - other than infrastructure spending - that Trump does is likely to cost some folks jobs, he's going to start seeing some of his base turn against him. Then when North Korea gives his tax returns to the press, ...
2
I rather enjoyed this Utopian tale of a Trump presidency in which the religious right was denied the opportunity to impose Christian sharia on America and the fruits of a miraculous economic recovery brought peace and prosperity to all.
But then, I've always been av avid reader of fantasy.
But then, I've always been av avid reader of fantasy.
1
Oh spare us. We already have Bannon, Ailes, Gingrich, Bolton and Guliani re-writing history and the kids with Mnuchin, Bondi, and Ebell as certains, we don't need you to waste a column pretending it's all going to be sunshine and daisies. Or to imagine that somehow this time trickle-down economics will work, and all that coal won't turn our cities into Scranton of the 60's, or that somehow sans the EPA, air and water will remain clean. Or that Carrier didn't really move its jobs to Mexico or that Halliburton stayed in Dubai.
Or that swastikas didn't show up in elementary schools, non-white kids weren't spat on and the mob didn't feel emboldened to now behave as badly as the candidate had.
This is and will be a disaster for progressive thinking, and do not confuse progressive with the highly politicized label of liberal. Being progressive is what moved us out of the caves and beyond the rule of kings.
What Trump has done, is to demonstrate just what spineless, self-serving cowards our politicians are, that even after being publicly humiliated in front of millions, they crawl to his feet like beaten dogs, less they lose their place at the table. It may be America, but there's nothing great about it these days.
The best we can hope for is the rising tides will wash away some of the scum.
Or that swastikas didn't show up in elementary schools, non-white kids weren't spat on and the mob didn't feel emboldened to now behave as badly as the candidate had.
This is and will be a disaster for progressive thinking, and do not confuse progressive with the highly politicized label of liberal. Being progressive is what moved us out of the caves and beyond the rule of kings.
What Trump has done, is to demonstrate just what spineless, self-serving cowards our politicians are, that even after being publicly humiliated in front of millions, they crawl to his feet like beaten dogs, less they lose their place at the table. It may be America, but there's nothing great about it these days.
The best we can hope for is the rising tides will wash away some of the scum.
8
Since early this past Wednesday morning, I've been wondering what it feels like to be one of the hundreds of thousands of children who have a parent who came here illegally. Perhaps elitists such as Mr. Douthat should spend a bit more time considering the anxieties these kids are struggling with instead of engaging yet again in dull sophistry.
6
Hmm, more likely (I hope), Trump imposes tariffs on Mexico to pay for the Wall and the resulting "Trump" recession causes the House & Senate to flip in 2018 when those who voted for him, feeling betrayed, vote for Democrats. In 2020, Trump's approval numbers are lower then George W. Bush's.
3
My prediction:
Trump will become President "Rubber Stamp" for the Ryan agenda. He will deliver on exactly 0 of his campaign promises, checks he can't cash such as the "repatriation of jobs", the "Great Merrican Wall", and "Deportation of Muslims" and "Repeal of Obamacare". He will deliver large tax cuts on the wealthy, along with the privatization of Medicare and Social Security. Not 1 iota of change will be delivered to the vaunted White Working Class who elected their "Bomb Thrower", but by the current transition proposals, has managed to re-elected the neo-cons and Wall Street insiders running the show. With some dashes of White Nationalism thrown in so the next time an inevitable police shooting involving an unarmed black man will have lighter fluid thrown on the fire by his Administration, if he doesn't decide to take military action against the current anti-Trump protests first. I won't predict what will happen after this, will 100% Republican control and all that means be the final shot in the arm of the Republic to get "over" Republican driven fantasies of White Greatness or will it doom us to even more as the racial tensions he could inevitably widen drive more into that corner?
At the least, Trump's first responsibility as POTUS should be to immediately renounce his campaign rhetoric and all the "indulgences" in nasty racism since his election. Ignoring the protests and their concerns is a YUUGE mistake. On all other fronts, Trump needs to put up or shut up.
Trump will become President "Rubber Stamp" for the Ryan agenda. He will deliver on exactly 0 of his campaign promises, checks he can't cash such as the "repatriation of jobs", the "Great Merrican Wall", and "Deportation of Muslims" and "Repeal of Obamacare". He will deliver large tax cuts on the wealthy, along with the privatization of Medicare and Social Security. Not 1 iota of change will be delivered to the vaunted White Working Class who elected their "Bomb Thrower", but by the current transition proposals, has managed to re-elected the neo-cons and Wall Street insiders running the show. With some dashes of White Nationalism thrown in so the next time an inevitable police shooting involving an unarmed black man will have lighter fluid thrown on the fire by his Administration, if he doesn't decide to take military action against the current anti-Trump protests first. I won't predict what will happen after this, will 100% Republican control and all that means be the final shot in the arm of the Republic to get "over" Republican driven fantasies of White Greatness or will it doom us to even more as the racial tensions he could inevitably widen drive more into that corner?
At the least, Trump's first responsibility as POTUS should be to immediately renounce his campaign rhetoric and all the "indulgences" in nasty racism since his election. Ignoring the protests and their concerns is a YUUGE mistake. On all other fronts, Trump needs to put up or shut up.
2
The majority of voters wanted Clinton. We sat by and watched and *illegal* hack of the DNC and the subsequent Wikileaks (Russian-Sponsored) email dumps. We watched Comey break the law and directly interfere with the Constitutional process of our most sacred right - to vote for whom we please *without* interference from the government.
We watched while states like N Carolina passed outrageous laws that limited voter participation.
Clinton was not the perfect candidate- who it? That said, having watched Bush II steal the 2000 election, and now this outrage, I can even my later age say "no more Mr. Nice guy"!
For the years I have left I am going to be vocal and do everything I can to drive a stake through the heart of the retrograde policies of the smiling thieves who have with seeming glee done everything that I thought was good about the USA.
We watched while states like N Carolina passed outrageous laws that limited voter participation.
Clinton was not the perfect candidate- who it? That said, having watched Bush II steal the 2000 election, and now this outrage, I can even my later age say "no more Mr. Nice guy"!
For the years I have left I am going to be vocal and do everything I can to drive a stake through the heart of the retrograde policies of the smiling thieves who have with seeming glee done everything that I thought was good about the USA.
5
Well one thing is for sure. We are all going to die. I am just glad I will not be dying knowing that I supported a lying, deceitful bigot, misogynist, a fear monger, a hate baiter, a deeply hateful man in general, a divider and an ignoramus. After all death is eternal. That's an awfully long time.
4
Ross,
Hillary got a majority of the vote. Trump made some Americans enjoy their self justified anger and resentment. He made people who flew Confederate flags think that such an America is great again.
Quit putting icing on the ugly emotions that have been fostered by Trump's candidacy. Hating Hillary may feel good but it does not make America great in any way.
Hillary got a majority of the vote. Trump made some Americans enjoy their self justified anger and resentment. He made people who flew Confederate flags think that such an America is great again.
Quit putting icing on the ugly emotions that have been fostered by Trump's candidacy. Hating Hillary may feel good but it does not make America great in any way.
6
Would that it could be so.
But the reality is that he has allowed "Gay conversion therapy" Pence to be in charge, he has already reached out to Jamie Dimon, he has already hired tons of lobbyists, the indications are the alt-right and corporate interests will be satisfied at the expense of the working class losers(his term) who voted for him.
I am starting to get in shape for the marches on Washington when they want to reverse Roe v Wade. Certainly I hope for the best , but expect the worst.
But the reality is that he has allowed "Gay conversion therapy" Pence to be in charge, he has already reached out to Jamie Dimon, he has already hired tons of lobbyists, the indications are the alt-right and corporate interests will be satisfied at the expense of the working class losers(his term) who voted for him.
I am starting to get in shape for the marches on Washington when they want to reverse Roe v Wade. Certainly I hope for the best , but expect the worst.
4
"Yet here we are four years later, watching Trump bask in the glow of an easy re-election over the Warren-Booker Democratic ticket."
Thanks for that glimpse into the future through what you think is a crack in space-time. That is a vision through a crack all right, but probably produced by a different sort of crack. Trump won a relatively narrow electoral college victory and lost the popular vote. No reason for hubris yet especially since the reasons for this unexpected result haven't become clear. Meanwhile four years is a long time for smugness and euphoria to evaporate.
Thanks for that glimpse into the future through what you think is a crack in space-time. That is a vision through a crack all right, but probably produced by a different sort of crack. Trump won a relatively narrow electoral college victory and lost the popular vote. No reason for hubris yet especially since the reasons for this unexpected result haven't become clear. Meanwhile four years is a long time for smugness and euphoria to evaporate.
This is the first and I hope last time in my life that I have ever wished that most of the policies advocated by a newly elected President during his run for the office will be ignored, radically altered or thrown out altogether.
5
Rather fawning given Mr. Douthat's history on these pages? Anyway, the issue of Obamacare is live now, and will be joined early. (The wall/fence has already been authorized, just needs funding.) Prediction: Obamacare will not "limp on," as its brokenness was probably the single most important reason for Trump's rebound and win. Mr. Douthat is quite right that the prime follow-on question, after marketizing healthcare and med-insurance, will be how our vast public subsidies can better be directed to protect our poor, our elderly, our Vets and our catastrophically afflicted.
Well I do not know about Ross' version of a Trumpian future but I can add this with 100% certainty.
In 2020 and perhaps 2024, Trump will still be saying as he has in the past, "Much of my success I owe to my German genes (see note). Barack Obama just could not match my genome so I understand why he just did not make it."
And the US Census Bureau will still be providing tacit support to all who think like Trump by preserving forever, perhaps, a system that is the "Fatal Invention" of racists who understood that all who are "black by law" are worth only two-thirds as much (choose your figure) as those who are "white by law".
Too bad Philip Roth is almost as old as I am and apparently in far worse shape. Otherwise he could give us a new version of The Plot Against America where it was Charles Lindbergh with the Swedish genes who was going to rule.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen
Race: Human
Note 1: According to an anonymous commenter, Trump used to say it was his Swedish genes since citing German genes was to get too close to Hitler.
Note 2 The phrase Fatal Invention comes from the title of Dorothy Roberts' masterful book that nobody at the Times has ever read.
In 2020 and perhaps 2024, Trump will still be saying as he has in the past, "Much of my success I owe to my German genes (see note). Barack Obama just could not match my genome so I understand why he just did not make it."
And the US Census Bureau will still be providing tacit support to all who think like Trump by preserving forever, perhaps, a system that is the "Fatal Invention" of racists who understood that all who are "black by law" are worth only two-thirds as much (choose your figure) as those who are "white by law".
Too bad Philip Roth is almost as old as I am and apparently in far worse shape. Otherwise he could give us a new version of The Plot Against America where it was Charles Lindbergh with the Swedish genes who was going to rule.
Only-NeverInSweden.blogspot.com
Dual citizen
Race: Human
Note 1: According to an anonymous commenter, Trump used to say it was his Swedish genes since citing German genes was to get too close to Hitler.
Note 2 The phrase Fatal Invention comes from the title of Dorothy Roberts' masterful book that nobody at the Times has ever read.
2
Actually, Trump will do whatever McConnell and Ryan tell him to do, because he remains eminently impeachable for his many "business activities" pre-election. Meanwhile, Putin apparently has some significant leverage over him--probably a combination of illicit videos involving sex with very young girls and massive loans extended to Trump Org by Putin's allies. If Trump defies the Right, they'll throw him to the bears.
And while this is happening, the Right will steadily erode voter rights, ensuring that there will never be fair elections in the US again.
Welcome to the end of American Democracy.
And while this is happening, the Right will steadily erode voter rights, ensuring that there will never be fair elections in the US again.
Welcome to the end of American Democracy.
2
We are playing the same game. Each night, when I wake at 2 a.m. a different scenario plays out in my head. None are as rosy as Ross' dream. My worst case scenario is that with Trump in control of the Senate, House, White House, Supreme Court, FBI, Homeland Security, Joint Chiefs of Staff and CIA the next national crisis (It doesn't need to be a major one) will allow him to declare a state of emergency, demand total loyalty from the nation with no dissent and our Democracy spirals down the toilet. If you think that is far fetched check out Turkey or Putin's Russia.
1
Did I read "huge infrastructure push"? You Conservatives have doggedly refused to repair and rebuild the old and decaying USA infrastructure. Be at the apex of this push and believe me America can be great again. At the moment most liberal west countries devote more of their national budgets in repairing and revamping their unmitigated decaying infrastructure than the USA. Thanks to GOP which gives priority to foreign entanglements than domestic programs.
No mention of the class-action suit against Trump University set to begin soon? Fraud charges just disappear? Wealth has its advantages?!? The charge of rape of a 13 year old girl of no consequence? The claims of 12 women they were sexually assaulted just meaningless words? Silenced by large suits? Early protests now not a foreshadowing of things to come? Will he advocate to change the Pledge of Allegiance, "...liberty and justice for some." We he welcome the Klan to the White House who are planning a Trump Celebration March? What comfort will he bring to those children left behind when their parents are deported? With guns everywhere and potent marijuana everywhere and the nation polarized not just politically, but also the culture of civility has been castigated, how safe will the public square be? The G.D.P. has never risen in Republican administration since Herbert Hoover! When do the Millennials stop chanting, "Not My President!"? I remember chanting "Hey, Ho! Nixon's got to go!" And he did the next year.
2
Funny, I woke up Wednesday thinking I had the worse nightmare ever, Trump had won the Electoral College vote. If only it had been a nightmare instead of horrible reality.
Your dream fortunately is just that, and will remain so. Friends of mine have come up with something more entertaining to occupy our time before January 20th. They have started a betting pool. Based on a four year calendar, a person picks the date Trump is impeached, the date of Trump's conviction, and finally the date Trump either leaves or is forcefully removed from office. It's already a booming success.
It's all about the winning, you see. We're already tired of winning when it comes to Trump. Now we're into the losing, of Trump.
DD
Manhattan
Your dream fortunately is just that, and will remain so. Friends of mine have come up with something more entertaining to occupy our time before January 20th. They have started a betting pool. Based on a four year calendar, a person picks the date Trump is impeached, the date of Trump's conviction, and finally the date Trump either leaves or is forcefully removed from office. It's already a booming success.
It's all about the winning, you see. We're already tired of winning when it comes to Trump. Now we're into the losing, of Trump.
DD
Manhattan
3
God I hope so, but with Trump's temper a small geopolitical flare up could easily spiral out of control. If this election had been held in 2014, the chattering class would be chattering about the last round of globalization fueled by cutting-edge technology—brought crashing down by the assassination of a Serbian Archduke. But two years is too long for most people to remember.
I'll make only one prediction, that President Donald Trump (those words still sound as odd to me as President Ronald McDonald) does at least one really weird thing in his first term that has *everyone* rolling their eyes. Maybe he casually tweets the high points of a National Security Briefing, tries to have Congress fired, or comments on how he admires Putin for having a gymnast as a mistress. It will be entertaining for sure.
1
Why do we have to take it? 20 million people pushed off health insurance? Why are they trying to privatize Medicare when it is more cost effective than private insurance? Are we really going to stand by? Are they really going to sell this as good for the country? The government needs to be there for the citizens, not for corporations or insurance companies. Why do we talk like what radical republicans want is a done deal? Is that how everyone feels now?
5
Hmm, more likely (I hope) is a "Trump" recession caused by tariffs imposed by him on Mexico to pay for the Wall resulting in Congress flipping to Democrats in 2018. Then Trump enters the run up to the election in 2020 with approval numbers below the nadir of George W. Bush.
1
I'm cutting this column out and going to check off each prediction as it comes. My prediction is none of it will come to pass. At that time, I will invite Mr. Douthat to eat his words. I'll supply the catsup which the Republicans will once again have declared a food in the wake of widespread famine from their trickle down economics.
This column is positively Kafkaesque. It's almost hallucinatory.
Let's be clear. If Trump is going to fulfil his promises to bring back good paying blue collar manufacturing jobs, leave entitlements alone, and keep the parts of Obamacare that he has already said he would keep, he's going to have to behave like an old-fashioned, FDR liberal Democrat.
Perhaps this is why at least one pundit with a good track record for predicting presidential elections (Including this one.) has also predicted that Trump will be impeached by the very Republicans in Congress who rode his coattails to victory.
Let's be clear. If Trump is going to fulfil his promises to bring back good paying blue collar manufacturing jobs, leave entitlements alone, and keep the parts of Obamacare that he has already said he would keep, he's going to have to behave like an old-fashioned, FDR liberal Democrat.
Perhaps this is why at least one pundit with a good track record for predicting presidential elections (Including this one.) has also predicted that Trump will be impeached by the very Republicans in Congress who rode his coattails to victory.
1
Mr. Douthat forgot as few points including how Trump will heal the sick, resurect the dead,restore vision in the blind, return salmon and cod to their XIXth century numbers, provide free and unlimited supply of bread to the masses and rid Wall street of the money changers. And instead of a wall, he will part the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, leading Mexicans back to their promised land.
I will celebrate if you are correct. I will celebrate if there is an American election in 2020. I will celebrate if there is an America in 2020.
With the worst State Governor not named Lepage or Brownback by his side, with an assemblage of rogues, incompetents, and lunatics beside him I have no expectations for 2020 except if America survives it will be in a political and economic alliance with Russia and China and the rest of the world will be in (whatever you do don't make them angry mode).
With the worst State Governor not named Lepage or Brownback by his side, with an assemblage of rogues, incompetents, and lunatics beside him I have no expectations for 2020 except if America survives it will be in a political and economic alliance with Russia and China and the rest of the world will be in (whatever you do don't make them angry mode).
1
How is some sort of big infastructure program going to benefit those who voted for Trump? Isn't most of the infastructure we need to build in and around cities? Airports. Mass transport for commuting. Bridges, tunnels. "Walls"--not the kind to keep out people--but the kind to keep out rising flood waters. The spread out population of the heartland doesn't especially lend itself to the sort of big projects that would draw the gleam in Trump's eye. It's also not likely, given the trends of population movement, to make a good long-term investment.
Mr. Douthat ought to spend more time worrying about now, rather than a hypothetical "later". His "fictions" are an unpleasant and pointless exercise. As for what the future may hold, I'd say that Trump will miss ribbon cutting ceremonies and pageants to such a degree that he will simply resign about mid-term. Then, we all get to enjoy President Pence and his Christianity flavored governance. Oh boy!!
2
There are many people living in this country besides the NY Metropolitan area. Many of those people who were not living in inner cities, not on social programs for decades, hard-working and productive felt (and were) very left out by the Obama administration. No, they did not want to pay for free college, dental care, or socialism. Many had/have great lives the old fashioned way: they earned it.
2
I liked this article and hope that Ross is correct. Unfortunately it is more likely once the hard core Republicans realize that Trump is not a fellow conservative that they will impeach Trump so they can put Pence as President and Ryan as Vice President. My question to the Democrats in the Senate is do you trust Pence and Ryan more than you trust Trump? My guess is that Trump will save most of Obamacare and will create many construction jobs to fix infrastructure in this country which will upset McConnell. BTW I voted for Hilliary, so no hateful comments.
Cut the bull. Mr. Trump made Americans feel safe to hate again loud and unfiltered. He made it okay to be proud of being a bigot. He took the bigotry and hate the rightwing has been pandering for decades using code words wrapped in phony conservatism and made it okay to shout it loud and unfiltered from the rooftops as if it were a badge of honor. Its that plain and simple.
15
Presidents aren't circus clowns who are supposed to make us feel good, or even great. Americans would do well to get acquainted again with their ability to engage in analysis and how one does it by leaving one's emotions aside, to the extent possible. This would permit a person to learn history and apply the knowledge to decisions about how to vote. For example, those of us who are old enough could remember back to when NAFTA was passed and how there was a huge battle about making provisions to protect displaced workers. On the side of the workers, advocating for provisions to prepare them for the displacement that everyone feared could result, were the Democrats. Of course, providing for these workers would cost money and who is always against government spending, esp. in aid of the little guy? Republicans. To vote intelligently you don't need to know who makes you feel good in the moment of campaigns; you need to know history and who has consistently worked to serve your interests and who has not. This is what Americans miss.
5
Just a caution to the left (of which I'm a proud member): We must not ridicule Mr. Trump. We must speak of him with respect. It has nothing to do with our feelings and everything to do with his.
Our opposition, and it must be immediate and strong, must be focused on the legislative branch. The right cannot be let forget that we are the majority, and a majority that has, belatedly, remembered how to vote. We must contrive to protect our planet and the right to healthcare and a dignified old age. The rest we can recover after the long national nightmare is over.
Our opposition, and it must be immediate and strong, must be focused on the legislative branch. The right cannot be let forget that we are the majority, and a majority that has, belatedly, remembered how to vote. We must contrive to protect our planet and the right to healthcare and a dignified old age. The rest we can recover after the long national nightmare is over.
2
Ross, it seems to me that in the turbulence of slipping through the rift in space-time, your 11/8/2020 column lost a few sentences. The ones that mentioned specifically what happened in Donald's first term with "energy" (environmental regulations? EPA? Paris Agreement?) and financial deregulation (Dodd-Frank?) "fared better" sounds as if he did indeed cancel/abolish/withdraw/repeal. But I guess the environmental crisis, unlike the financial one, would only happen after Trump's second term, and if it did happen he'd tweet from his new digs on the 201st floor of his presidential library that it was all Hillary's fault.
3
How about this version:
Memories of 1968 surfaced today as Trump announced two weeks before the convention that he will not seek re-election. While surprising for someone of Trump's ego to admit failure, it is no surprise. Trump's four years were beset by stagflation, numerous scandals at JPMorgan and Citibank that caused a loss of confidence in American banks last witnessed in 2008, an unexpected refusal by the Republican Congress to allocate funding for Trump's infrastructure programs in 2017 and 2018 (leading his 2016 program's investment in factories in Michigan and Ohio -- now rusting relics - to be called Trump's "Potemkin Villages"). Trump may have been able to weather economic downturns, but the four Category 5 hurricanes that hit the southeastern United States in 2018 and his bungled appointment of Chris Christie as FEMA director (what was then called The Donald's Katrina moment) no doubt had major influences. However, more than anything else, Trump's inattentiveness to foreign policy, leading to Russia's unopposed invasion of Armenia and Georgia, the rush of NATO troops to Turkey and the Baltic States, and the needless airstrikes on Iran led to political upheavals around the globe, student protests unseen since Nixon, and the return of ISIS in northern Iraq (with commitments of four United States army divisions) that lost him support even among his strongest supporters.
Memories of 1968 surfaced today as Trump announced two weeks before the convention that he will not seek re-election. While surprising for someone of Trump's ego to admit failure, it is no surprise. Trump's four years were beset by stagflation, numerous scandals at JPMorgan and Citibank that caused a loss of confidence in American banks last witnessed in 2008, an unexpected refusal by the Republican Congress to allocate funding for Trump's infrastructure programs in 2017 and 2018 (leading his 2016 program's investment in factories in Michigan and Ohio -- now rusting relics - to be called Trump's "Potemkin Villages"). Trump may have been able to weather economic downturns, but the four Category 5 hurricanes that hit the southeastern United States in 2018 and his bungled appointment of Chris Christie as FEMA director (what was then called The Donald's Katrina moment) no doubt had major influences. However, more than anything else, Trump's inattentiveness to foreign policy, leading to Russia's unopposed invasion of Armenia and Georgia, the rush of NATO troops to Turkey and the Baltic States, and the needless airstrikes on Iran led to political upheavals around the globe, student protests unseen since Nixon, and the return of ISIS in northern Iraq (with commitments of four United States army divisions) that lost him support even among his strongest supporters.
2
Interesting prognostications. But he left out the part where Trump dumps the Paris accords, guts the EPA, gets rid of the Endangered Species Act, and lets the oil companies set up drilling rigs in Yellowstone. It's all very well to paint a hopeful picture economically, but it's a much harder stretch to get hopeful about the planet's environment health.
5
This should be saved under nitrogen in the deep-freeze (to prevent decomposition) for 4 years when it can be re-read and chuckled over. The basket of deplorables being allegedly considered for cabinet positions appears to be mainly dreck I had hoped we had seen the last of. Not a good start. I now have the goal of staying alive for long enough to vote for science and sanity in 2020.
3
Here's another news bulletin from the future, Ross. Trump's amazing success as president finally destroyed the silly notion that candidates for the Oval Office require experience in government, combined with some knowledge and understanding of world and national affairs.
Once voters accepted the revolutionary idea that the presidency could serve as an entry level position in government, men and women from a variety of backgrounds began to seek the nomination of their party. Despite Trump's achievements, Jerry Springer and Kim Kardashian decided to challenge him for the GOP nomination. After all, Donald could no longer claim the status of political outsider, which had now become the chief qualification for the presidency. Voters, moreover, had expressed misgivings over the president's decision to mount a lighted sign over the entrance to the White House, reading "TRUMP MANOR."
Once you decide to abandon realism, Ross, any scenario becomes possible.
Once voters accepted the revolutionary idea that the presidency could serve as an entry level position in government, men and women from a variety of backgrounds began to seek the nomination of their party. Despite Trump's achievements, Jerry Springer and Kim Kardashian decided to challenge him for the GOP nomination. After all, Donald could no longer claim the status of political outsider, which had now become the chief qualification for the presidency. Voters, moreover, had expressed misgivings over the president's decision to mount a lighted sign over the entrance to the White House, reading "TRUMP MANOR."
Once you decide to abandon realism, Ross, any scenario becomes possible.
1
Lost in this Op-Ed is that, while Trump was consistent in his "Make America Great Again" slogan, the bulk of his time at the podiums was spent frothing fear, dissension, and discord. Crime, drugs, non-whites, non-protestants, malevolent foreign governments, ISIS atrocities, unfair trade deals, crooked politicians, and system rigging were conjured as boogymen from which a gullible white faction jolted from its political slumber. He won by declaring his singular ability to save his homogenous flock from these demons through self-defined gravitas, no policy or platform required. No policy, no platform, just social sorcery.
For Trump to make America great again then, in his constituencies eyes, will simply take a different incantation. Words, facial contortions, a waving of arms, and it will be so.
For Trump to make America great again then, in his constituencies eyes, will simply take a different incantation. Words, facial contortions, a waving of arms, and it will be so.
4
Trump will be a one term President, just as Clinton would have been. Remember that these two deplorable candidates (admittedly, there are degrees of deplorability) were the most unpopular ever, inevitably destined to be place holders until the major parties could get their acts together to put forward candidates the majority of people could actually support.
Btw, doors that rift in the space-time continuum work both ways? I wouldn't mind getting a pass to skip the next four years.
Btw, doors that rift in the space-time continuum work both ways? I wouldn't mind getting a pass to skip the next four years.
I can't imagine the future now.
Gosh, what could happen when America elects a president of our constitutional democracy who is KKK supported, an insulter of ethnic groups, an assaulter of women, admirer of dictators, a non payer of taxes, and is basically a criminal ---the subject of many lawsuits for cheating students, customers, employees, investors, lenders, etc?
And who seems even more mentally unbalanced with constantly changing opinions, now that he's won? Is there a White House psychiatrist position?
For 2020, we hope maybe out of over 300 million population, the USA can dig up some attractive, progressive politicians who can defy the establishment, get public funding and millions of small donations, who have a true, not phony responsibility to the public and society---not their own power and enrichment.
And who the media won’t disdain, denounce and diss.
If so, a landslide—if America survives ‘til then.
Gosh, what could happen when America elects a president of our constitutional democracy who is KKK supported, an insulter of ethnic groups, an assaulter of women, admirer of dictators, a non payer of taxes, and is basically a criminal ---the subject of many lawsuits for cheating students, customers, employees, investors, lenders, etc?
And who seems even more mentally unbalanced with constantly changing opinions, now that he's won? Is there a White House psychiatrist position?
For 2020, we hope maybe out of over 300 million population, the USA can dig up some attractive, progressive politicians who can defy the establishment, get public funding and millions of small donations, who have a true, not phony responsibility to the public and society---not their own power and enrichment.
And who the media won’t disdain, denounce and diss.
If so, a landslide—if America survives ‘til then.
2
I felt from the beginning of Donald Trump's candidacy that the thrill for him is in the win. He's the ultimate closer. Perhaps it’s why he does indeed seem to be "ideologically flexible." I even wonder if, regarding the people who voted for him, he sold a whole lot of ice cubes to a whole lot of Eskimos. So, Mr. Douthat, I will not attack as completely irrational some of your predictions. In fact, with Mr. Trump's seeming to have backed away from an all-out repeal of Obamacare, and with Newt Gingrich's suggestion that a wall along our southern border was a 2,000-mile-long version of a chicken in every pot, perhaps some of the left's worst nightmares won't come true when it comes to policy.
Noticeably absent from your essay, however, is any discussion of the genie that was let out of the bottle by 17 months of racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, and downright cruel language that Mr. Trump used in his campaign speeches. And I don't need to wait until 2020 to see what kind of a license they've given to some people in this country to commit racist and xenophobic acts. They've already started. Swastikas were found at the New School tonight. I don't have a good feeling about this. I think both individuals and organized groups with a white-supremacy agenda have been emboldened to continue such acts. And they're on their own track now, separate from Mr. Trump's policies, however centrist they turn out to be. The genie. It doesn’t speak well of you that your piece ignores this.
Noticeably absent from your essay, however, is any discussion of the genie that was let out of the bottle by 17 months of racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, and downright cruel language that Mr. Trump used in his campaign speeches. And I don't need to wait until 2020 to see what kind of a license they've given to some people in this country to commit racist and xenophobic acts. They've already started. Swastikas were found at the New School tonight. I don't have a good feeling about this. I think both individuals and organized groups with a white-supremacy agenda have been emboldened to continue such acts. And they're on their own track now, separate from Mr. Trump's policies, however centrist they turn out to be. The genie. It doesn’t speak well of you that your piece ignores this.
5
"The public still has a low opinion of Trump’s ethics; they’ve just been willing to forgive a lot because of a rising G.D.P."
Yeah, I think someone said, once, "It's the economy, stupid!"
This is a fun exercise, and Ross probably got some pieces of the puzzle right. He kind of whizzed over the part about the "millennials" needing housing, a national infrastructure rebuild, and ignoring leftist protest. If he can carry all three off, he will be a successful President.
The concept of kicking the national debt down the road resonates. What else is a successful President to do? My suggestions: keep the right wing of the GOP away from domestic and foreign policy. Good luck, buddy.
Yeah, I think someone said, once, "It's the economy, stupid!"
This is a fun exercise, and Ross probably got some pieces of the puzzle right. He kind of whizzed over the part about the "millennials" needing housing, a national infrastructure rebuild, and ignoring leftist protest. If he can carry all three off, he will be a successful President.
The concept of kicking the national debt down the road resonates. What else is a successful President to do? My suggestions: keep the right wing of the GOP away from domestic and foreign policy. Good luck, buddy.
I think he'll auction city landmarks--bridges, waterways, highways-- who'll then charge toll.
Privatize. Not infrastructure as a public works project.
It's not democratic whatsoever in privatizing--enriching only a few. Better infrastructure is good but less regulation, plus tolls fallinh hardest on the poor and the cities giving up their property-- it sin't a civic-minded situation. It's to benefit corporations.
Which he promised he was above, being a (one of many) corporation himself. So capitalism has brought us here.
I agree he's blown a hole between left and right for tor the most part, until I saw pic of Mitch nearly beside himself with glee in pic. It's done.
Privatize. Not infrastructure as a public works project.
It's not democratic whatsoever in privatizing--enriching only a few. Better infrastructure is good but less regulation, plus tolls fallinh hardest on the poor and the cities giving up their property-- it sin't a civic-minded situation. It's to benefit corporations.
Which he promised he was above, being a (one of many) corporation himself. So capitalism has brought us here.
I agree he's blown a hole between left and right for tor the most part, until I saw pic of Mitch nearly beside himself with glee in pic. It's done.
I find myself oddly resigned to a Trump presidency.
It was going to be an ugly first term for Mrs. Clinton. Maybe Mr. Trump will actually be able to get something done.
I take heart when I hear Mr. Trump talking about repairing the nation's infrastructure, and amending rather than repealing Obamacare. The fact that he has managed to antagonize the GOP establishment less than a week after the election may bode well for the future.
It was going to be an ugly first term for Mrs. Clinton. Maybe Mr. Trump will actually be able to get something done.
I take heart when I hear Mr. Trump talking about repairing the nation's infrastructure, and amending rather than repealing Obamacare. The fact that he has managed to antagonize the GOP establishment less than a week after the election may bode well for the future.
2
In this "look back" a part was omitted: The special prosecutor of Hillary Clinton. Trump pledged not to have the wasteful and empty prosecutor and President Obama thought the high road would be taken so he did not grant immunity on leaving office. Guiliani threatened to bolt unless it was done, and Trump felt that as long as it was not a prosecutor of his conflicts of interest (or as a former Senator once said "it is not a conflict of interest, it is the same interest"), it would keep the far-right off his back.
Stability in any endeavor is paramount. It fuels concentration, careful thought, emotion, and decision. Trump's angry three a.m. twittering over petty personal taunts, his consistent reprehensible assaults on women, minorities, the disabled, his total lack of knowledge about the Constitution was available to the electorate. A sufficient number ignored it and he won their vote and the election. It is the Bruce Springstein lyric that most applies now that Trump will be the President: "God have mercy on the man who doubts what he's sure of".....
Despite what liberal intellectuals told us, the United States remains politically a mostly centrist nation.
Even back when the late, unlamented Soviet Union was the second most powerful nation on earth the siren call of communal bliss, and other Potemkin villages, bore no attraction to the vast majority of American citizens.
Most Americans don't need to be told by the "elites" how American exceptionalism is only valid if it is also a suicide pact. Outside the largest, immigrant obsessed cities most don't care that the left abhors nationalist pride as racist.
Even as nations that are looking to unload surplus populations on us maintain strict immigration policies of their own.
One thing that has never changed since the early 20th Century is the left's profound hypocrisy.
The Clinton's success was always based on pandering to the democratic party's left wing, while maintaining a centrist policy in actual practice. Where Hillary failed in 2016 was in pandering too much to the Bernie Sanders crowd, and mostly ignoring Bill's advice to work more diligently to attract the flyover country voter.
The "dirty little secret" of this election cycle is that while any number of unhappy leftists are setting fire to trash barrels, and planning future pie in the sky October Revolution type agitprop, any number of citizens who only voted for Hillary because she was more civil than the President-elect are secretly pleased that the left has once again failed to dismember the nation.
Even back when the late, unlamented Soviet Union was the second most powerful nation on earth the siren call of communal bliss, and other Potemkin villages, bore no attraction to the vast majority of American citizens.
Most Americans don't need to be told by the "elites" how American exceptionalism is only valid if it is also a suicide pact. Outside the largest, immigrant obsessed cities most don't care that the left abhors nationalist pride as racist.
Even as nations that are looking to unload surplus populations on us maintain strict immigration policies of their own.
One thing that has never changed since the early 20th Century is the left's profound hypocrisy.
The Clinton's success was always based on pandering to the democratic party's left wing, while maintaining a centrist policy in actual practice. Where Hillary failed in 2016 was in pandering too much to the Bernie Sanders crowd, and mostly ignoring Bill's advice to work more diligently to attract the flyover country voter.
The "dirty little secret" of this election cycle is that while any number of unhappy leftists are setting fire to trash barrels, and planning future pie in the sky October Revolution type agitprop, any number of citizens who only voted for Hillary because she was more civil than the President-elect are secretly pleased that the left has once again failed to dismember the nation.
2
Ross, you left out this part: "Attorney General Rudy Guliani, as promised, immediately empaneled a grand jury and his subordinate DOJ prosecutors brought indictments against Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and 87 other former and present officials, media commentators, and professors on the 'enemies list' that President Trump, with relish, compiled and daily revised. After firing James Comey as FBI Director and appointing Chris Chrstie to take his place, the FBI undertook 'counter-intelligence' investigations against a longer list of tens of thousands of 'potential subversives,' using the NSA's enormous cache of data about the private lives of every American. In the face of such blacklists, newspapers, television networks, Hollywood studios, and universities, and fired or refused to hire anyone who publicly or privately challenged President Trump's authoritarian power. President Trump's appointees to lower federal courts, many of whom were members of his legal team prior to the 2016 election, issued rulings that set aside the concept of "precedent," in effect nullifying Congressional legislation and corroding the fragile culture that sustained the rule of law. In the face of large, increasingly violent rallies orchestrated by the Trump Administration, Congressional leaders such as House Speaker and head of the Freedom Caucus, Jim Jordan, abandoned any oversight of the Executive Branch and the Judiciary, leaving the citizenry unprotected against FBI and DOJ lawlessness."
3
I just wish I could be a fly on the wall when the newly-minted president wakes up to a three-inch stack of briefings and policy papers every day that he needs to read and digest by lunchtime. Maybe it doesn't happen quite like that, but it is hard to see how a responsible, effective president could function without reading.
I hear that the president-elect spends part of every day reading the newspapers, after a fashion. No doubt he scans for his own name and looks for news that could affect his business interests, but does he read anything else?
Nothing in the campaign suggested that he is a reader, or has devoted any effort to teaching himself about public policy, America's history and governmental system, economics or foreign affairs. Given his attention span and capacity to master factual detail, is he going to delegate the task of learning to his children or his intimates?
I hear that the president-elect spends part of every day reading the newspapers, after a fashion. No doubt he scans for his own name and looks for news that could affect his business interests, but does he read anything else?
Nothing in the campaign suggested that he is a reader, or has devoted any effort to teaching himself about public policy, America's history and governmental system, economics or foreign affairs. Given his attention span and capacity to master factual detail, is he going to delegate the task of learning to his children or his intimates?
It seems to me that, since Trump's detailed CIA briefing and his 90 minutes with Obama, the swagger is gone. The shoulders are a little slumped. When he does smile, it looks forced; pasted on. It is my impression that Donald Trump has the look and bearing of a man in the process of discovering that he is in way, way over his head.
It takes a skilled salesman to win an election. It takes a skilled mechanic to govern. Trump is all one, and none of the other. Douthat's dream of Trump somehow quickly mastering the nuts and bolts of governing is just that. Draining the swamp? More likely drowning in it.
It takes a skilled salesman to win an election. It takes a skilled mechanic to govern. Trump is all one, and none of the other. Douthat's dream of Trump somehow quickly mastering the nuts and bolts of governing is just that. Draining the swamp? More likely drowning in it.
441
I predict that the con man is about to be conned. I think the two buddies from Wisconsin, Paul Ryan and Reince Priebus, decided last spring that they will back Donald Trump and then impeach him if he reaches the White House. I bet they already have the evidence - tax evasion (a la Spiro Agnew) or racketeering or fraud. With Donald Trump, the possibilities are endless.
The goal is President Ryan. This is a much easier way to become President than a pesky presidential race. But I wonder what they plan for Mike Pence? Too machiavellian you say? I don't think so. This is how the Republican bases' revolt against the Republican elite is going to end. I would be sympathetic if they hadn't chosen a mendacious, perfidious, know-nothing con man to represent them.
The goal is President Ryan. This is a much easier way to become President than a pesky presidential race. But I wonder what they plan for Mike Pence? Too machiavellian you say? I don't think so. This is how the Republican bases' revolt against the Republican elite is going to end. I would be sympathetic if they hadn't chosen a mendacious, perfidious, know-nothing con man to represent them.
It's blue state cities that really have the infrastructure needs, so I'm not so certain the GOP will be eager to pump big dollars into pressing projects like rebuilding Laguardia airport or repairing interchanges in Pittsburgh. Technology is the job killer not trade, and at some point the GOP constituency may realize that those factory jobs aren't coming back. Donny Rotten will insult someone he shouldn't and that won't seem so endearing now that he's actually in charge. The war on Islamic fundamentailism will officially be named and coincidentally or not, we may well experience another terror attack. The vitriolic tweets will fly at 3AM, and the side men who put the "con" in neo-con will let their DNA do its stuff. Troops in action? Inflation? Growing debt? No wall across the border? The downside to gutting Obamacare? Oh my goodness. Politics has real consequences. Who would have thought?
There is no such thing as time travel--leaving only one possibility: This concoction is a hopeless fantasy.
Is it really possible that after the last round of 'deregulation' in the Bush era and the near fiscal collapse that ensued, we are again embarking on a reckless course of financial bubble building?
Here is my missive from 2020: About half the population turns out to be so stupid that they will elect (and re-elect) a man who is functionally incoherent on every issue and espouses policies which when taken as a whole are entirely mutually exclusive.
What we learn is that it is not the president which makes America great. It is the people who believe in this country and continue to do what they do every day--even if there is a nincompoop in the White House.
Is it really possible that after the last round of 'deregulation' in the Bush era and the near fiscal collapse that ensued, we are again embarking on a reckless course of financial bubble building?
Here is my missive from 2020: About half the population turns out to be so stupid that they will elect (and re-elect) a man who is functionally incoherent on every issue and espouses policies which when taken as a whole are entirely mutually exclusive.
What we learn is that it is not the president which makes America great. It is the people who believe in this country and continue to do what they do every day--even if there is a nincompoop in the White House.
Let's not venture out four years. Travel in time to February, 2017, when NYS Attorney General Eric Schniederman files charges against Donald Trump for irregularities in the operation of the Trump Foundation including forbidden political contributions, failure to register and submit regular audits of money taken in as required by law and the use of foundation funds for personal benefit. Trump protests and Judge Curiel, who has been transferred to NY in this fantasy, rules that the case can go forward.
Trump testifies via satellite and inadvertently, or perhaps on purpose, misrepresents his role in the foundation. When the lie is exposed, Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell put their heads together and thank Bill Clinton for creating a precedent for impeaching a president who lies under oath.
Trump is found guilty of fraud for his management of the Foundation.
The House, recognizing that Mike Pence is a good friend and just a great guy, quickly impeaches and the Senate votes to convict. Ex-president Trump departs the White House in a Trump helicopter in the dark of night.
Hillary Clinton has no comment. Melania plagiarizes Pat Nixon when asked how she feels about the rise and fall of her husband.
It's just as likely that this will happen as the rosy scenario Ross presents. Maybe some version of it is more likely.
Trump testifies via satellite and inadvertently, or perhaps on purpose, misrepresents his role in the foundation. When the lie is exposed, Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell put their heads together and thank Bill Clinton for creating a precedent for impeaching a president who lies under oath.
Trump is found guilty of fraud for his management of the Foundation.
The House, recognizing that Mike Pence is a good friend and just a great guy, quickly impeaches and the Senate votes to convict. Ex-president Trump departs the White House in a Trump helicopter in the dark of night.
Hillary Clinton has no comment. Melania plagiarizes Pat Nixon when asked how she feels about the rise and fall of her husband.
It's just as likely that this will happen as the rosy scenario Ross presents. Maybe some version of it is more likely.
2
So Mr. Douthat, what is the climate like in 2020? Any problems with melting icecaps and glaciers, rising ocean levels, more frequent and powerful hurricanes, drought in some areas and floods in others? With the US no longer trying to reduce greenhouse emissions, and other countries falling away because why should they sacrifice when the US as global leader will not, the carbon burden in the atmosphere spikes up (drill baby drill) and guess what, the greenhouse effect is real. Reality can be unforgiving despite your ideology, and sometimes nature is just an uncooperative (Republican) party pooper.
1
Douthat has finally lost it - completely. Whether or not Trump is a racist, a bigot, a science denier and misogynist (I personally believe he is) his rhetoric and behavior have enabled and emboldened the most destructive elements in our society. The most likely scenario for 2020 is a nation divided, with armed mobs attacking minorities and an environment growing warmer and more polluted by the day. Women's and gay rights will be relegated to the history books. Christian religion will become required curriculum while science - especially evolution and global warming - will be banned. Mass deportations will be the order of the day. Putin will be doing his happy dance. All you need to see are names like Arpaio, Ebell, Gingrich, Christie, Hamm, Giuliani, Sessions, etc. on short lists for major positions to know that Douthat has once again gotten it completely wrong.
3
The man who ran as an anti-establishment candidate will become a hammer for the establishment and a tool for McConnell. For someone who ran as an anti-establishment candidate, Trump seems to be backfilling with establishment politicians. The same establishment politicians that anti-establishment voters just voted back in.
The white working class, blue collar, and uneducated people that voted Trump in have the most to lose with a Trump presidency and a republican ran government. I suspect what the republicans are about to do will hurt these rabid Trump supporters for decades to come.
With the approval of Keystone how many trucking and rail jobs will be lost to a pipe?
Will a conservative GOP selected supreme court really rule in favor of the working man over corporate America?
Will insurance rates really be lower and cover more working class people without Obamacare?
Will dismantling the EPA really improve the health and industrial environment of workers?
How can coal really compete with cheaper energy options? Those jobs are gone, that America is gone like the bronze age.
How has lowering the taxes on the rich ever helped the working man and the schools their kids attend?
The working man was snookered. If they didn't like the establishment before Trump they certainly are not going to like an establishment on steroids.
The white working class, blue collar, and uneducated people that voted Trump in have the most to lose with a Trump presidency and a republican ran government. I suspect what the republicans are about to do will hurt these rabid Trump supporters for decades to come.
With the approval of Keystone how many trucking and rail jobs will be lost to a pipe?
Will a conservative GOP selected supreme court really rule in favor of the working man over corporate America?
Will insurance rates really be lower and cover more working class people without Obamacare?
Will dismantling the EPA really improve the health and industrial environment of workers?
How can coal really compete with cheaper energy options? Those jobs are gone, that America is gone like the bronze age.
How has lowering the taxes on the rich ever helped the working man and the schools their kids attend?
The working man was snookered. If they didn't like the establishment before Trump they certainly are not going to like an establishment on steroids.
1
Great fiction. So all the things Republicans fought to block Obama from doing the past 8 years will now magically happen because Trump is such a great study and knows all about policy. He's an empty vessel. He's surrounded now by far right conservatives who, like they did with George W. Bush, will steer him into the worst policies. That is if he even bothers to make any decisions. He's already tried to pawn off all the work to his VP.
He's an incurious easily bored limited attention span child. Like one of his pampered sons said, while others are doing everything, Trump will be making America great again.
And you forget the still ugly reality. He lost the popular vote by a million and half votes. He spent his entire campaign spewing insults, misogyny, lies on a level never before seen in a presidential or any campaign. He has an acute personality disorder that leads him to believe that what he is saying at the moment is true. Lies instantly refutable with a simple search. He contradicts himself daily. He denies he said things millions of people can see and hear. He is monumentally insecure. He's conned tens of thousands. Stiffed vendors, groped women, hasn't paid taxes. Crashes charity events just to get his picture taken.
And the saddest and most frightening thing of all is how many people ignored all these horrors and voted for him anyway. He does't have the intelligence or grace to do what you said. He's a national embarrassment.
He's an incurious easily bored limited attention span child. Like one of his pampered sons said, while others are doing everything, Trump will be making America great again.
And you forget the still ugly reality. He lost the popular vote by a million and half votes. He spent his entire campaign spewing insults, misogyny, lies on a level never before seen in a presidential or any campaign. He has an acute personality disorder that leads him to believe that what he is saying at the moment is true. Lies instantly refutable with a simple search. He contradicts himself daily. He denies he said things millions of people can see and hear. He is monumentally insecure. He's conned tens of thousands. Stiffed vendors, groped women, hasn't paid taxes. Crashes charity events just to get his picture taken.
And the saddest and most frightening thing of all is how many people ignored all these horrors and voted for him anyway. He does't have the intelligence or grace to do what you said. He's a national embarrassment.
1
Ross, I fear that you give Trump way too much credit. A campaign of phony promises that he is already walking back within hours of the election, combined with divisive, racist rhetoric to mobilize and exploit a white nationalist turnout is not a campaign. Dumbed down electorate with zero assistance by an uncurious media allowed the narrative to appear that a guy born with a silver spoon and has a gold plated toilet was fighter for the working man and swayed just enough voters (110,000)in just the right anachronistic electoral states to win....despite possibly losing the popular vote by perhaps 2 million votes. The final straw is the fact that apparently the GOP bears no responsibility for these disenfranchised "working class" voters in the Rust Belt despite having control of both houses for several years and passing no meaningful legislation to assist. The ill prepared Trump family oligarchy and his cadre of retread advisors, long run out of mainstream politics will set us back once again, hopefully without stumbling in to nuclear war or damaging the economy and social safety net beyond repair in the next four years for the next Democratic president to come in and fix, as Obama had to do in 2008.
1
SO, Ross jumps on the Trump bandwagon like the rest of the GOP, who, I can only believe, feigned their disdain during the campaign. For those Republicans still with reservations Ross's column from the future is here to assuage you: there will be an increased GDP securing the white working class and Midwest electoral votes firmly in the GOP column, a right-wing Supreme Court, and best yet Trump's foreign policy will not result in Armageddon. Sure, China is expanding its sphere of influence, Putin has Trump's ear but Israel doesn't, Iran is pursuing the Bomb again. Obviously, no mention of the environment, pollution, severe weather, disappearing beaches and a shrinking Florida. Under Trump, predictably, ethics are low and corruption is high, but Ross drives home the message of Tuesday for those in GOP, and Democratic Party too, for those too dense to understand: voters want good paying jobs, and everything else is esoteric and ephemeral, and concentrate on other issues at your peril.
"A week is a long time in politics" has never been more true. Ross and the GOP have forgotten their morals and, in laying aside their conservatism, abandoned their convictions. As many on the left always suspected, GOP policies were mere rhetoric to gain votes, hold office, and exercise power.
Ross is so enmeshed in Trumpism that he has retired Paul Ryan, who not long ago was the party's White Knight and leading intellectual. Ross and GOP won on Tuesday but forever lost their souls.
"A week is a long time in politics" has never been more true. Ross and the GOP have forgotten their morals and, in laying aside their conservatism, abandoned their convictions. As many on the left always suspected, GOP policies were mere rhetoric to gain votes, hold office, and exercise power.
Ross is so enmeshed in Trumpism that he has retired Paul Ryan, who not long ago was the party's White Knight and leading intellectual. Ross and GOP won on Tuesday but forever lost their souls.
2
I am seldom on the same wavelength as Mr. Douthat, but I think this column is brilliant. It reminds us of some of Mr. Trump's signal features, forgotten by many: He's only in it for himself, and lies as easily as most people breathe. It was useful to play to the prejudices of rural America to get the job. Now that he has it, he does not need those useful idiots anymore.
He'll kick in the infrastructure spending, probably using his company, run by his kids. With Republicans in charge there won't be any ethics probes. But the checks will be cashed, and Keynesian stimulus will be a reality. Mr. Trump has never been shy about piling on debt. And I think Douthat is right about the political alignment behind it. He won't touch Obamacare in a meaningful way. Too much work to replace it.
As pointed out, though, foreign policy is where we should really be afraid. after the end of the Cold War it seemed like Democracy was on the rise, and that people would slowly but steadily see how much better it made life. Now, however, it appears to be an endangered species, and its foremost champion has a) lost a ton of credibility and b) indicated a clear interest to let the strongmen everywhere else have their fun. Interesting times ahead.
One quibble: No mention of Trump renegotiating our national debt, which he might actually try, and which really would bring on immediate and horrible financial panic.
He'll kick in the infrastructure spending, probably using his company, run by his kids. With Republicans in charge there won't be any ethics probes. But the checks will be cashed, and Keynesian stimulus will be a reality. Mr. Trump has never been shy about piling on debt. And I think Douthat is right about the political alignment behind it. He won't touch Obamacare in a meaningful way. Too much work to replace it.
As pointed out, though, foreign policy is where we should really be afraid. after the end of the Cold War it seemed like Democracy was on the rise, and that people would slowly but steadily see how much better it made life. Now, however, it appears to be an endangered species, and its foremost champion has a) lost a ton of credibility and b) indicated a clear interest to let the strongmen everywhere else have their fun. Interesting times ahead.
One quibble: No mention of Trump renegotiating our national debt, which he might actually try, and which really would bring on immediate and horrible financial panic.
1
Trump has a secret infrastructure plan, for those who care about policy. Unless you take a helicopter to work, you might be interested.
The federal government would offer tax credits to private investors interested in funding large infrastructure projects, who would put down some of their own money up front, then borrow the rest on the private bond markets. They would eventually earn their profits on the back end from usage fees, such as highway and bridge tolls (if they built a highway or bridge) or higher water rates (if they fixed up some water mains). So instead of paying for their new roads at tax time, Americans would pay for them during their daily commute. And of course, all these private developers would earn a nice return at the end of the day.
The federal government would offer tax credits to private investors interested in funding large infrastructure projects, who would put down some of their own money up front, then borrow the rest on the private bond markets. They would eventually earn their profits on the back end from usage fees, such as highway and bridge tolls (if they built a highway or bridge) or higher water rates (if they fixed up some water mains). So instead of paying for their new roads at tax time, Americans would pay for them during their daily commute. And of course, all these private developers would earn a nice return at the end of the day.
1
The problem with your scenario is that Trump needs Ryan. Contrary to the most recent media misinformation, it was Republicans who dragged Trump across the finish line, not the other way around. In every critical state--Florida, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, the Republican Senate candidate outperformed Trump. It is true that Trump brought uneducated whites to the fight, but Ryan and Company brought enough educated whites to keep Trump in the game. The Republican Party has become overwhelmingly dominant, controlling all levers of government, more than at any time since Reconstruction. But they are only dominant with the Trump and Ryan wings of the party united.
Everyone better pray that by 2020 Trump succeeds. White angry working people will be more of a minority and looking for more extreme candidates. The 2016 election the Republican Party candidate legitimized racism, misogyny,antisemitism, anti-LGBT, xenophobic which will encourage the next group of candidates to be even more extreme. Authoritarian figures which Trump claims to be in an effort to appeal to a declining minority lays the ground work for much more extreme candidates. This is only the end of the beginning of Trump Era of candidates -the future will get a lot worse.
1
Well, let's just be governed by history here, and the lesson we were taught over the past 15 months. We can bet that Trump will continue to break with our social and political norms. He'll keep using his "beautiful twitter account" in addition to the bully pulpit of the presidency to attack, bully, and intimidate people across America and the world. He will attack the institutions of our democracy--the press, the courts, the separation of powers as it suits him, regardless of the reaction it elicits (he will do so because of the reaction it elicits). He will be very successful at manipulating the public, the press, and the political class. Someone will come up with a term for the exhaustion we will experience with Trump news. And then there will be some term to describe the Sisyphean task of having to keeping read more Trump news past the point of exhaustion or surfeit. It's going to go on and on. Whether all of this leads to Trump somehow failing spectacularly or succeeding spectacularly is an important question, but I disagree if anyone says it's going to lead to America feeling great again. Also, what makes you think the campaign of 2020 isn't going to just as ugly as this one was? Also, the nytimes probably will be letting go all of its opinion writers before 2020 so it's questionable whether Ross Douthat will even be writing a column here. Maybe he'll be on CNN or something.
Have you seen who Trump is appointing in his cabinet? For example, the "head in the sand" climate change naysayer whose mission will be to further coal/oil industry interests and kill the EPA? Please do not try to delude us with false hope that Trump is really a democrat in disguise. He has no ideological loyalty except to what grants him the most personal gain. That's why he has no stated policies - he has to remain nimble to be able to make excuses for changes on positions which must be accommodated when personal gain is at stake. Period. Democrats - please don't be lulled in to false complacency and futile hope. Organize, fight, take back Congress in 2020 (despite the challenges). Let's dominate our nation's consciousness and agenda with urgency to reject Trump's (and his supporters) infantile bigotry and racism!
Trump will find a way to get impeached. He would have never wanted to be President. He would have just wanted the attention. It would be Pence-Rubio running for office in 2020 against a galvanized and angry left. Pence-Rubio will lose badly because the economy would have deteriorated, civil unrest would have made the 60s look like a warm-up act and unregulated abuse of natural resources would have arguably led to natural disasters. The Chinese currency would have become the world standard as the dollar would have retreated into the sunset of a once Great country. Mexico and Canada would consider building walls to keep panicked Americans away and Trump Construction would win the bid to build them.
Ross will probably enjoy this "it's all okay" dream every night while the statistics accumulate--showing that Trump won't be able to redistribute wealth by trickle-down, any more than Reagan or Bushes did; will head an administration of cronies, shady operators, and family members who enrich themselves and their friends through loopholes and preferences; and will fail miserably to restore the middle class and their jobs, while solidifying a tax structure that coddles the wealthy. And this doesn't even address the very long-term disaster of a Supreme Court whose conservative caucus is stacked with Scalia Juniors, eager to continue privileging corporations as person/ citizens, roaming the financial and political world to seek the low-hanging fruit of advantage. Some dream, Ross. No thanks.
Dream on Douthat. Trump will either totally surrender and capitulate to the Republican party or he will be impeached. Either way US is for very rough 4 years. First blue collar working class you and everybody know that the jobs are not coming back and with the outrageous tax cut the gap between this group and other in 90% income brackets and 1% will increase and there will be no legislation to provide blue collar working class who lost and continues to loose their jobs with stable income and no investment retraining of these worker. The chances of significant increase in the minimum wage have vanished. EPA will be led by global warming deniers and antiscoience Koch brothers funded fake scientists. Giuliani or Christie will become Attorney General who are partisan and divisive figures in American politics. I could on and on. Tuesday November was one of the darkest day not only for USA but for all humanity.
1
Mr. Douthat should also mention how much money the Trump children running the "blind trust" have made. Incredibly, by 2020 the Trump children's total assets now place them together ahead even of Putin in the world ranking. Oh yes, the EPA was abolished despite some protests and Trump-connected builders have made billions in contracts for reconstruction after the series of terrible hurricanes which have lashed the U.S. in the last few years. President Trump mocks scientists who claim that New York will be underwater by 2050 along with two thirds of the world's cities because the Arctic and most of the Antarctic shelf are melting fast. Refugee flows to Europe from Africa tripled in these four years because grain harvests collapsed with global weather changes. President Trump has recommended to the EU a gigantic new sea defense against illegal immigrants.
Uncharitable critics of President Trump have compared the American electorate to the audiences on the first two nights for "The Royal Nonesuch" in Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" - see the link:
http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/writings_royal.html
Uncharitable critics of President Trump have compared the American electorate to the audiences on the first two nights for "The Royal Nonesuch" in Mark Twain's "Huckleberry Finn" - see the link:
http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/learnmore/writings_royal.html
Maybe Donald Trump is not a Republican, not a Democrat, and might actually want to break to GOP-controlled obstructionism in Congress.
He lost the popular vote, so he knows he doesn't have a mandate. He barely won the electoral vote in two state squeakers, so his grasp on power is tenuous at best.
After insulting a vast majority of the nation, and rigging the election with the help of the Kremlin, the Republican FBI Chief, and gutting the Voting Rights Act, it would just take a match to see 60s protests again.
He beat all 16 alt-right conservative Republicans, so even Republicans don't want a Ted Cruz or a Mike Pence in power.
If he let's those extremists set policy, he will lose the people who elected him and the plurality of people who didn't.
This country is divided. Trump could actually bring the country together, despite all the despicable comments he made, if he isn't trapped by partisan politics.
If he gets a do-nothing Congress to rebuild the nations infra-structure, increase discretionary income for the middle class, doesn't try to violate the 195 nation Climate Accord in Paris that is already ratified, and doesn't appoint Supreme Court Justices that will overturn settled law like Roe v Wade or Marriage Equality, he may be able to hold the country together.
But if the hardliners get in control, they will unify the opposition instead.
America will be more divided than ever before if they push their narrow views through with no popular support at all.
He lost the popular vote, so he knows he doesn't have a mandate. He barely won the electoral vote in two state squeakers, so his grasp on power is tenuous at best.
After insulting a vast majority of the nation, and rigging the election with the help of the Kremlin, the Republican FBI Chief, and gutting the Voting Rights Act, it would just take a match to see 60s protests again.
He beat all 16 alt-right conservative Republicans, so even Republicans don't want a Ted Cruz or a Mike Pence in power.
If he let's those extremists set policy, he will lose the people who elected him and the plurality of people who didn't.
This country is divided. Trump could actually bring the country together, despite all the despicable comments he made, if he isn't trapped by partisan politics.
If he gets a do-nothing Congress to rebuild the nations infra-structure, increase discretionary income for the middle class, doesn't try to violate the 195 nation Climate Accord in Paris that is already ratified, and doesn't appoint Supreme Court Justices that will overturn settled law like Roe v Wade or Marriage Equality, he may be able to hold the country together.
But if the hardliners get in control, they will unify the opposition instead.
America will be more divided than ever before if they push their narrow views through with no popular support at all.
1
Another scenario.
Trump declines to run in 2020 as even he knows he will be defeated by a Warren ticket.
The economy is in dire straits , since 2017, the auto and residential industries have stagnated, commercial real estate is in serious decline as on line sales increase, energy sector remains devastated as prices stay low, automation gathers pace as manufacturers seek to lower cost.
The income inequality gap grows as wages stagnate and the top 20 percent wallow in the excess of their tax decrease mainly by vacationing in Europe and beyond.
Corporations after tax profit increase , they do not invest it in new jobs there is no demand to justify it. They return cash to their shareholders.
Growth in GDP is an anemic 1 percent per annum
The national debt balloons due to tax decreases and a tepid infrastructure stimulus watered down by Ryan
Health care costs continue to rise as do premiums at a double digit rate
Trump learns a new phrase " Risk pool" as he repeals the ACA mandate still keeps protection against preexisting conditions.
Russia invades Ukraine after the soccer World Cup, Trump tweets Putin congratulating him
Assad stays in power , Iran goes nuclear aided by Russia, ISIS is defeated in Syria and Iraq in first quarter 2017. ISIS continues to terrorise throughout the Western world.
So the angry disappointed Trump voters, together with progressives, minorities quickly becoming majorities form a coalition to drive a Warren to the Presidency
Trump declines to run in 2020 as even he knows he will be defeated by a Warren ticket.
The economy is in dire straits , since 2017, the auto and residential industries have stagnated, commercial real estate is in serious decline as on line sales increase, energy sector remains devastated as prices stay low, automation gathers pace as manufacturers seek to lower cost.
The income inequality gap grows as wages stagnate and the top 20 percent wallow in the excess of their tax decrease mainly by vacationing in Europe and beyond.
Corporations after tax profit increase , they do not invest it in new jobs there is no demand to justify it. They return cash to their shareholders.
Growth in GDP is an anemic 1 percent per annum
The national debt balloons due to tax decreases and a tepid infrastructure stimulus watered down by Ryan
Health care costs continue to rise as do premiums at a double digit rate
Trump learns a new phrase " Risk pool" as he repeals the ACA mandate still keeps protection against preexisting conditions.
Russia invades Ukraine after the soccer World Cup, Trump tweets Putin congratulating him
Assad stays in power , Iran goes nuclear aided by Russia, ISIS is defeated in Syria and Iraq in first quarter 2017. ISIS continues to terrorise throughout the Western world.
So the angry disappointed Trump voters, together with progressives, minorities quickly becoming majorities form a coalition to drive a Warren to the Presidency
No he didn't Ross.
The actual majority of voters feel deep down in their gut that, having traduced any sort of responsible political process, Donald Trump will all too predictably set up a regime which will systematically traduce our positive traditions and values for at least the next four years.
And it is absurd to claim, without empirical back up, that even the majority of Trump voters themselves now feel great in even half the way the majority of Americans clearly felt great after the election of Obama, great not just in the moment, but in the hope and promise for a brighter future for all.
Until, of course, much of that hope was obstructed by Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and Paul Ryan for the sake of their petty partisan interests.
Trump has preached a message of divisiveness and despair from the beginning. Why change now?
Let me guess. Many of those Trump voters who were voting for change in the hopes of getting a decent job again - as distinguished from those captains of the fossil fuel industry and Wall Street who now see the opportunity to gut regulations and frack and privatize everything in sight - are still as apprehensive about American greatness as they were when they went into the voting booth.
Unlike Mitch McConnell and Rush Limbaugh with Obama, I actually hope Trump succeeds, and increases the existing greatness of America.
But fat chance if pundits like Douthat scurrilously wrap themselves in the flag of all America for this minority government.
The actual majority of voters feel deep down in their gut that, having traduced any sort of responsible political process, Donald Trump will all too predictably set up a regime which will systematically traduce our positive traditions and values for at least the next four years.
And it is absurd to claim, without empirical back up, that even the majority of Trump voters themselves now feel great in even half the way the majority of Americans clearly felt great after the election of Obama, great not just in the moment, but in the hope and promise for a brighter future for all.
Until, of course, much of that hope was obstructed by Mitch McConnell, John Boehner, and Paul Ryan for the sake of their petty partisan interests.
Trump has preached a message of divisiveness and despair from the beginning. Why change now?
Let me guess. Many of those Trump voters who were voting for change in the hopes of getting a decent job again - as distinguished from those captains of the fossil fuel industry and Wall Street who now see the opportunity to gut regulations and frack and privatize everything in sight - are still as apprehensive about American greatness as they were when they went into the voting booth.
Unlike Mitch McConnell and Rush Limbaugh with Obama, I actually hope Trump succeeds, and increases the existing greatness of America.
But fat chance if pundits like Douthat scurrilously wrap themselves in the flag of all America for this minority government.
74
Before we go any further, can someone please point out to the author that the economy is in a secular rebound. Job growth is strengthening and so is GDP - this in the teeth of absurd obstructionist opposition from GOP hacks in Congress. So unless Drumpf does something entirely stupid, such as launch a protectionist Armageddon, he will benefit from an economic rebound that he did nothing to launch.
Credit Obama for rescuing this economy. Now cry for America as a carnival barker becomes the most powerful office holder in the world. The nightmare is only starting. For us and for the world.
Credit Obama for rescuing this economy. Now cry for America as a carnival barker becomes the most powerful office holder in the world. The nightmare is only starting. For us and for the world.
This is - unfortunately - an all too plausible scenario. Tax cuts and more spending are always popular, as are subsidies and tax credits. The problem, of course, is that we can't spend more than we take in forever. As the world's reserve currency the US has more room for deficits than other countries but someday we'll end up like Greece if we don't decide to spend less on entitlements or pay more taxes for those entitlements. (And no, there aren't enough rich people to pay for everyone else's entitlements.)
So yes, America may feel great again due to the narcotic of deficit spending, but eventually the US needs to struggle with detoxifying and living within our means or we'll surely eventually overdose.
So yes, America may feel great again due to the narcotic of deficit spending, but eventually the US needs to struggle with detoxifying and living within our means or we'll surely eventually overdose.
I felt from the beginning of Donald Trump's candidacy that the thrill for him is in the win. He's the ultimate closer. Perhaps it’s why he does indeed seem to be "ideologically flexible." I even wonder if, regarding the people who voted for him, he sold a whole lot of ice cubes to a whole lot of Eskimos. So, Mr. Douthat, I will not attack as completely irrational some of your predictions. In fact, with Mr. Trump's seeming to have backed away from an all-out repeal of Obamacare, and with Newt Gingrich's suggestion that a wall along our southern border was a 2,000-mile-long version of a chicken in every pot, perhaps some of the left's worst nightmares won't come true when it comes to policy.
Noticeably absent from your essay, however, is any discussion of the genie that was let out of the bottle by 17 months of racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, and downright cruel language that Mr. Trump used in his campaign speeches. And I don't need to wait until 2020 to see what kind of a license they've given to some people in this country to commit racist and xenophobic acts. They've already started. Yes, it remains to be seen if they continue, but I don't have a good feeling about it. I think both individuals and organized groups with a white-supremacy agenda have been emboldened to continue such acts. And they're on their own track now, separate from Mr. Trump's policies, however centrist they turn out to be. The genie. It's more than disappointing that you said nothing about it.
Noticeably absent from your essay, however, is any discussion of the genie that was let out of the bottle by 17 months of racist, xenophobic, misogynistic, and downright cruel language that Mr. Trump used in his campaign speeches. And I don't need to wait until 2020 to see what kind of a license they've given to some people in this country to commit racist and xenophobic acts. They've already started. Yes, it remains to be seen if they continue, but I don't have a good feeling about it. I think both individuals and organized groups with a white-supremacy agenda have been emboldened to continue such acts. And they're on their own track now, separate from Mr. Trump's policies, however centrist they turn out to be. The genie. It's more than disappointing that you said nothing about it.
1
Bizarre fantasies aside, allow me to make a simple point: in this kind of fantasy, you can hope that Trump turns out to be a decent President. All of the evidence is against this, of course - 70 year old men, particularly narcissistic sociopaths who are staggeringly ignorant, do not change their spots that easily. When Kasich was approached to be Trump's running mate, he was told that he would be in charge of all foreign and domestic policy; I suspect that Pence will really be running the WH relatively soon. But, even so, let's say, for the sake of argument, that Trump turns out to be a decent President. Even then, the US will never regain its standing in the world because there was absolutely no basis on which to predict or expect such an outcome based on the nature of his campaign. If Trump is good, that will be entirely the product of luck. The rest of the world knows this. The US, in electing Trump, has proven that it is a terribly unreliable ally and global power. Trump is only possible in a severely dysfunctional political system. The US is no longer in any position to hold itself out as a model of democracy or good governance to the rest of the world. It is clear that the US system just doesn't work. This devastating blow to American soft power is something the US cannot recover from. Of course, as our world burns up and the US obstructs any efforts to deal with climate change, we will have bigger problems.
1
I don't know; I don't think you can get people this aroused and then tell them to go take a cold shower. Mr. Trump ran on the crucifixion of Sec. Clinton ticket. There is a certain portion of his constituency, inflamed to violence by his rhetoric and misinformation on the part of certain media outlets, who will not be satisfied until she is nailed up and has had a sword thrust in her side. Anything less and they'll consider themselves betrayed.
[Just as an aside, Elon Musk is definitely a brilliant guy and most likely is a good guy, I'm not really sure about that; but, I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with the privatization of the space program. Some stuff needs to be the province of government. Not to be too Austin Powers, but I don't see how we couldn't accidentally end up with a Dr. Evil type blasting us off to Mars, whether we wanted to go or not. Plus, don't they use our community-property launch pads?]
[Just as an aside, Elon Musk is definitely a brilliant guy and most likely is a good guy, I'm not really sure about that; but, I'm not so sure I'm comfortable with the privatization of the space program. Some stuff needs to be the province of government. Not to be too Austin Powers, but I don't see how we couldn't accidentally end up with a Dr. Evil type blasting us off to Mars, whether we wanted to go or not. Plus, don't they use our community-property launch pads?]
Not explicitly stated in this column but deeply implied is the idea that voters just won't care enough to understand Trump's future screw-ups. And I think this cynical outlook is exactly right. Trump will undo Obama's many accomplishments, but in ways that will avoid major headlines. Instead of totally repealing Obamacare, he'll undo it piece by piece over a long time so as to avoid a headline that might read "20 Million Suddenly Left Uninsured." And by muddying the waters, Trump will successfully do what he's always done; he'll take credit for any good news that might fall on his lap while diluting and deflecting the blame for his screw-ups to underlings or enemies. And with every future blame-game, the media will spinelessly cover it as a 50-50, "both-sides-are-potentially-correct" fight. Trump by 2020 may have become unpopular, but not quite unpopular enough to overcome an incumbent's inherent advantage. (This nation re-elected Bush, keep in mind).
So my advice to Democrats is this: don't wait for Trump to screw up in some big, flashy way. He may not. Instead, his failures will build up slowly and opaquely. So Democrats should just stick to their principles, excise the rampant Wall Street influence from its party, and counter Trump with endless attempts to pass legislation that will directly benefit the working class. In other words, let Bernie Sanders and his ilk take the helm for a while.
So my advice to Democrats is this: don't wait for Trump to screw up in some big, flashy way. He may not. Instead, his failures will build up slowly and opaquely. So Democrats should just stick to their principles, excise the rampant Wall Street influence from its party, and counter Trump with endless attempts to pass legislation that will directly benefit the working class. In other words, let Bernie Sanders and his ilk take the helm for a while.
2
I think a president's hobbies give us a clue about what to expect from him. Teddy Roosevelt loved the great outdoors and established Yellowstone as the first National Park. Gore would have been my choice for president in 2000 because he had a strong interest in the environment and climate.
So what's Trump's 'hobby'? He's a builder. For that reason I actually bet he's got a higher probability of pulling off a trillion dollar infrastructure upgrade than any other candidate who ran this year, including the Republicans, Sanders and Clinton. And yes, I think this would kick start GDP growth, strengthen wages, and most important cure the desperately sick labor participation rate. Not incidentally this result would overjoy the working class. Trump could end up a huge hero.
The downside of course, is his taste is tacky. I dread the prospect of too much gold on all the new bridges and airports. But if the rest of America is great again I could live with that.
So what's Trump's 'hobby'? He's a builder. For that reason I actually bet he's got a higher probability of pulling off a trillion dollar infrastructure upgrade than any other candidate who ran this year, including the Republicans, Sanders and Clinton. And yes, I think this would kick start GDP growth, strengthen wages, and most important cure the desperately sick labor participation rate. Not incidentally this result would overjoy the working class. Trump could end up a huge hero.
The downside of course, is his taste is tacky. I dread the prospect of too much gold on all the new bridges and airports. But if the rest of America is great again I could live with that.
Dream on, Ross. Sure, there is always hope that the zebra will change from stripes to plaid. Any of us septuagenarians can tell you, however, that very few mature as they grow older. Most become just the child they have always been, but more so. This is particularly true of insecure narcissists.
The current catastrophe could have been avoided.
Hindsight is humbling and dismaying. Democrats should have advanced Candidate Clinton in 2008 and held Candidate Obama in reserve for 2016.Then we would now be looking forward to the White House being, as it has been during the Obama years, a home filled with good humor, grace and dignity--a home in which family values are truly in evidence.
Admit it Ross, the Obama White House is that rare place wherein the your own expectations concerning family values are surely met.
Last night, my wife viewed something like 2,000 photos on Flicker. They featured the Obama family in the White House. She was nearly reduced to tears.
The current catastrophe could have been avoided.
Hindsight is humbling and dismaying. Democrats should have advanced Candidate Clinton in 2008 and held Candidate Obama in reserve for 2016.Then we would now be looking forward to the White House being, as it has been during the Obama years, a home filled with good humor, grace and dignity--a home in which family values are truly in evidence.
Admit it Ross, the Obama White House is that rare place wherein the your own expectations concerning family values are surely met.
Last night, my wife viewed something like 2,000 photos on Flicker. They featured the Obama family in the White House. She was nearly reduced to tears.
1
We do not not know what proportion of Trump's supporters are dyed-in-the-wool bigots, misogynists, white supremacists, etc., but I would wager it is a small percentage -- less than 10%. However, a much higher proportion apparently think that they are getting shafted while other groups -- minorities, immigrants, refugees, city people, college-educated people -- have a sweet deal thanks to corrupt or incompetent politics. These attitudes are partly organic but have been cynically fostered by Republican politicians, conservative media, and right-wing propaganda organizations like the Koch network. In reality, other groups of poor and working people don't have a sweet deal by any means, and poor whites benefit from government programs too. The reason that right wing propaganda has worked is that Democrats have paid less and less attention to these people over the years, for a variety of reasons. The only way for Democrats to change the attitudes of these people is to talk to them about their concerns, often and without condescension. The Democratic Party should begin recruiting candidates for state and local office who can and will do this and provide them with organizational help and resources. This should be done without neglecting core Democratic constituencies. People who don't want to live in TrumpLand should be willing to contribute money and time to help make this happen.
1
Mr. Douchat makes one correct prediction: a stimulus program to repair and upgrade our infrastructure. Democrats have been proposing it for years and Republicans have fought tooth and nail to prevent it, precisely because they knew it would provide immediate and direct benefits to the voters across the political spectrum, especially the Red States.
Now, given their successful obstruction for eight years, they will adopt such a program and their devoted minions will credit them for the benefits it brings. Deficits won't matter and the press will fawn over the improvement in the economy.
And while this is happening, Republicans can go about their normal activities, with minimal fanfare and little scrutiny from an intimidated media.
And what might those activities be?
1. Looting the US Treasury for the benefit of their favorite constituency, the .01%. Starting with the elimination of the Estate tax.
2. The nationalization of voting restrictions to combat voter fraud (defined as anyone likely to vote against a Republican).
3. Congressional investigations of any Democrat who appears to be gaining traction as a Presidential candidate, fueled by information from the FBI
4. The packing of the Courts, at all levels, with judges who have been selected to support goals 1, 2 and 3.
The rest of Mr. Douchat's article is fantasy.
Now, given their successful obstruction for eight years, they will adopt such a program and their devoted minions will credit them for the benefits it brings. Deficits won't matter and the press will fawn over the improvement in the economy.
And while this is happening, Republicans can go about their normal activities, with minimal fanfare and little scrutiny from an intimidated media.
And what might those activities be?
1. Looting the US Treasury for the benefit of their favorite constituency, the .01%. Starting with the elimination of the Estate tax.
2. The nationalization of voting restrictions to combat voter fraud (defined as anyone likely to vote against a Republican).
3. Congressional investigations of any Democrat who appears to be gaining traction as a Presidential candidate, fueled by information from the FBI
4. The packing of the Courts, at all levels, with judges who have been selected to support goals 1, 2 and 3.
The rest of Mr. Douchat's article is fantasy.
2
We recently tried the experiment of electing an ignorant uncurious president, and he too had a Republican Congress. It didn't turn out so well. We got party-line ideologues on the Supreme Court. We got corporate hacks and lobbyists running regulatory agencies. The fight against unfair discrimination was redirected to help us white males. We got pals of the fossil fuel industry in the EPA. We got complete disinterest in ever more urgent Cassandra's warnings about al Qaeda, right up to the final CIA alert that was ignored shortly before 9/11. We got a fantasy-based foreign policy that led to war based on phony pretexts run by incompetents. We got a world full of allies who were furious at "my way or the highway" - that's how it was commonly described. We got arrogance that looked down snidely at our "reality-based" limitations.
All that was in the first 4 years. We also got unregulated free-wheeling finance that ended in the crash. In every conceivable dimension, our country was left worse off by far than 8 years earlier. So was much of the world. We complain that our economic recovery is not complete. In the middle east millions of lives are lost and shattered.
Now we're starting the same experiment, with someone who is uncontrollably boorish as well as ignorant. But sure, there's a chance it will turn out OK. Let the wild ride begin!
All that was in the first 4 years. We also got unregulated free-wheeling finance that ended in the crash. In every conceivable dimension, our country was left worse off by far than 8 years earlier. So was much of the world. We complain that our economic recovery is not complete. In the middle east millions of lives are lost and shattered.
Now we're starting the same experiment, with someone who is uncontrollably boorish as well as ignorant. But sure, there's a chance it will turn out OK. Let the wild ride begin!
2
...and as his efforts to drone-bomb Islam into submission stretched the U.S. military into it's 17th consecutive year with no end in sight, Mr. Trump decided to make a reality of his dream of taking Iraq's oil to repay the loss of the nearly $5 Trillion spent on the war thus far, and annexied Sadr City as a permanent U.S. colony.
But in an impulsive reaction to resurgent resistance, & to forestall the oil financing attacks during the 3rd decade of U.S. occupation, Mr. Trump ordered the bombing of the oil fields, to 'destroy the oil' as he had been threatening since his first campaign.
As a result of the bombing, all oil heads have been raging geysers of fire for 6 months, with no feasible means to extinguish & cap the wells, Ecological disaster already exponentially exceeds that caused by the fires set by Saddam Hussein's retreating troops in the first gulf war, & the oil wasted is projected to exceed the entire Deep Water Horizon disaster each month. We remain at DEFCON 2 at Mr. Trumps command.
Back on the home front, Interior Secratary Sarah Palin has fulfilled her mission to auction off the very last 3% of ancient virgin forest on federal lands to the toilet paper to employ loggers.
After fulfilling his promise to repeal the Endangered Species Act, rampant clear-cutting of old growth forests has rendered the Spotted Owl & Marbled Murrelet extinct in the wild. All remaining activists were maced & arrested & charged with unamerican activities for making america un-great.
But in an impulsive reaction to resurgent resistance, & to forestall the oil financing attacks during the 3rd decade of U.S. occupation, Mr. Trump ordered the bombing of the oil fields, to 'destroy the oil' as he had been threatening since his first campaign.
As a result of the bombing, all oil heads have been raging geysers of fire for 6 months, with no feasible means to extinguish & cap the wells, Ecological disaster already exponentially exceeds that caused by the fires set by Saddam Hussein's retreating troops in the first gulf war, & the oil wasted is projected to exceed the entire Deep Water Horizon disaster each month. We remain at DEFCON 2 at Mr. Trumps command.
Back on the home front, Interior Secratary Sarah Palin has fulfilled her mission to auction off the very last 3% of ancient virgin forest on federal lands to the toilet paper to employ loggers.
After fulfilling his promise to repeal the Endangered Species Act, rampant clear-cutting of old growth forests has rendered the Spotted Owl & Marbled Murrelet extinct in the wild. All remaining activists were maced & arrested & charged with unamerican activities for making america un-great.
1
I have been completely wrong until now, but I cannot see Trump executing this (unless he essentially hands governing over to someone else - Pence? Ivanka?) and plays pure figurehead. Unlike say, Nixon or anybody past Machiavellian politician you could point to, the man does not have the tools up there to stay the course. And I even wonder if after 4 years in the DC wringer he would have any interest in continuing.
He is not going to be able to impose any discipline on this thing, because he does not have it, the best talent will not rally around him, his own personality will draw old retread challenged people like Gingrich, Guilliani, Christie. You know what retreads who have had several go rounds and become disillusioned do? They want to cash in (see Clinton, Hillary), the urge overcomes those necessary political instincts that got them there the first time (see email scandal). This gets in the way of single minded best efforts, for one example, the corruption in "TrumpWorks" will be very obvious very quickly, and today's world is far less forgiving of it than the times of backroom presidents past. When many appointees are being investigated or going to jail, one or two signature policies don't work as expected (of many outlandish, impossible promises), the whole thing starts to unravel. It is natural after being wrong so often to throw in the towel, but that is sometimes a sign that the impossible phenom is reaching its zenith.
He is not going to be able to impose any discipline on this thing, because he does not have it, the best talent will not rally around him, his own personality will draw old retread challenged people like Gingrich, Guilliani, Christie. You know what retreads who have had several go rounds and become disillusioned do? They want to cash in (see Clinton, Hillary), the urge overcomes those necessary political instincts that got them there the first time (see email scandal). This gets in the way of single minded best efforts, for one example, the corruption in "TrumpWorks" will be very obvious very quickly, and today's world is far less forgiving of it than the times of backroom presidents past. When many appointees are being investigated or going to jail, one or two signature policies don't work as expected (of many outlandish, impossible promises), the whole thing starts to unravel. It is natural after being wrong so often to throw in the towel, but that is sometimes a sign that the impossible phenom is reaching its zenith.
Predicting the landscape 4 years out is a fool's errand. Douthat's prediction that there will be no economic downturn during Trump's term defies historic truths. While Trump indeed may be President, the economic cycle always reigns.
At least since 1972, no President enjoyed office without an economic downturn, entering during recession, or beginning after. These downturns have almost nothing to do with policy, in the short term. Carter took office at the tail end of a recession that had persisted, off and on, through Nixon and Ford, then handed the office to Reagan as the nation entered another one. Reagan entered office when interest rates were high and easing, but the nation continued in a dark decline for a good part of Reagan's entire 1st term. The Bushes' years were notable for generally catastrophic problems with the economy, and Clinton enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity through his entire Presidency until the very end when the economic cycle took charge as it always does, sending the economy into a bubble and then collapse. Obama, greeted with economic collapse, leaves on strengthening fundamentals, with no notable slowdown in 8 years but stubbornly sluggish, but improving, growth.
Obama's steady economic hand pay offs for Trump, but falling bond prices signal the Fed to raise interest rates, a recession's fertilizer. The cycle likely wins again making Douthat's predictions today risky, foolish, and likely wrong. Trump, however, has defied history. Why stop?
At least since 1972, no President enjoyed office without an economic downturn, entering during recession, or beginning after. These downturns have almost nothing to do with policy, in the short term. Carter took office at the tail end of a recession that had persisted, off and on, through Nixon and Ford, then handed the office to Reagan as the nation entered another one. Reagan entered office when interest rates were high and easing, but the nation continued in a dark decline for a good part of Reagan's entire 1st term. The Bushes' years were notable for generally catastrophic problems with the economy, and Clinton enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity through his entire Presidency until the very end when the economic cycle took charge as it always does, sending the economy into a bubble and then collapse. Obama, greeted with economic collapse, leaves on strengthening fundamentals, with no notable slowdown in 8 years but stubbornly sluggish, but improving, growth.
Obama's steady economic hand pay offs for Trump, but falling bond prices signal the Fed to raise interest rates, a recession's fertilizer. The cycle likely wins again making Douthat's predictions today risky, foolish, and likely wrong. Trump, however, has defied history. Why stop?
The damage to America's greatness has already begun. The daughter of a friend of mine is a top-tier candidate for graduate medical-biological graduate research programs in this country, courted with scholarships and grants from top schools. Since Trump's election, she is reconsidering her offers and considering applying overseas, figuring Trump and the GOP are likely to dry up significantly funding for education and science and scientific research programs over the next four or more years. It's not a political judgement. It's a career judgement, and it's not hers alone. There's an entire global age cohort of top students, right now, reconsidering whether America is any longer the best place to launch their careers. The damage being done by this alone to America's future scientific, technical and economic dominance is incalculable. Don't tell us fairy tales, Mr. Douthat, about how it all works out in the end.
6
While your scenario is unlikely, I supposed it is possible, but you fail to include Trump University and then there is the matter of the tax return audits. Exploitation of the People's National Parks, handling of inevitable natural disasters, with coastal flooding made worse by rising sea levels and climate change would all be equally likely outcomes.
Remember that Trump has to deal with a Republican controlled Congress who will likely not support the rising deficits resulting from tax cuts and will want to solve the problem by raising social security eligibility, cutting medicare and reducing SNAP and other public assistance measures. I also can see that cutting funding subsidies to ACA could result in reductions in employment in the healthcare sector as fewer people have health insurance. Results of trade wars caused by tariffs might produce layoffs in all sorts of industries. My crystal ball is cloudy, but I am very worried.
Remember that Trump has to deal with a Republican controlled Congress who will likely not support the rising deficits resulting from tax cuts and will want to solve the problem by raising social security eligibility, cutting medicare and reducing SNAP and other public assistance measures. I also can see that cutting funding subsidies to ACA could result in reductions in employment in the healthcare sector as fewer people have health insurance. Results of trade wars caused by tariffs might produce layoffs in all sorts of industries. My crystal ball is cloudy, but I am very worried.
Douthat grossly underestimates the determination and rigidity of his party's Congressional caucuses. Ryan and McConnell see Trump's election as an opportunity to enact their agendas, not Trump's.
So Republicans will go along with tax cuts for corporations and upper income earners, but they will never go along with a "huge infrastructure push." They will go along with a modest infrastructure investment, imposing offsetting spending cuts on social programs favored by Democrats. The job-creating effect of that modest investment will also be modest, and the income-raising effect will be even smaller in the Rust Belt states run by anti-union Republicans. And there will be no increase in the federal minimum wage.
Nor is Trump going to "crush" ISIS, since he is interested only in military solutions, and there's no way the country will stand for ground invasions of Syria and Iraq, much less all of the other 30 countries that Trump maintains are home to ISIS.
Trump will never stand in the way of Obamacare repeal. The individual mandate is toast.
Neither Kellyanne Conway nor any other living human can control Trump for four years - Trump's deep narcissistic wounds require him to respond when he feels insulted, and nobody can change that fundamental aspect of his psychology.
Finally, Republicans in Congress would much rather have a President Pence, so will not hesitate to take advantage of the inevitable Trump scandals and screw-ups.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
So Republicans will go along with tax cuts for corporations and upper income earners, but they will never go along with a "huge infrastructure push." They will go along with a modest infrastructure investment, imposing offsetting spending cuts on social programs favored by Democrats. The job-creating effect of that modest investment will also be modest, and the income-raising effect will be even smaller in the Rust Belt states run by anti-union Republicans. And there will be no increase in the federal minimum wage.
Nor is Trump going to "crush" ISIS, since he is interested only in military solutions, and there's no way the country will stand for ground invasions of Syria and Iraq, much less all of the other 30 countries that Trump maintains are home to ISIS.
Trump will never stand in the way of Obamacare repeal. The individual mandate is toast.
Neither Kellyanne Conway nor any other living human can control Trump for four years - Trump's deep narcissistic wounds require him to respond when he feels insulted, and nobody can change that fundamental aspect of his psychology.
Finally, Republicans in Congress would much rather have a President Pence, so will not hesitate to take advantage of the inevitable Trump scandals and screw-ups.
politicsbyeccehomo.wordpress.com
3
A wonderful, creative essay. Nicely done. Let's hope you're mostly right. Mr. Trump's strategy of going to the Left of Clinton on labor issues (protectionism, immigration reduction, 2x HRC infrastructure) was brilliant. Keynes got it right. Let's trade a higher national debt for getting the Rust Belt working again and some wage-driven inflation. Who knows, having Russia and China on our side trying to get the Middle East stabilized might not be so bad.
On the other hand, those huge corporate profits and tax cuts for the rich mean income and wealth inequality get even worse. Our people don't have the college degrees and STEM degrees necessary to compete for real without massive government borrowing to fund make-work like a worthless wall. Without a huge influx of immigrants, Social Security and Medicare get that much tougher to afford, as the worker to retiree ratio deteriorates.
The empowerment of white supremacists probably means a lot more hate crime is going to happen. The war on facts and science continues, with several steps backward on environmental issues.
So again it will fall to Democrats to do what needs to be done: Raise taxes on the rich to get the debt under control; regulate the risk taking of banks; breakup concentrated industries to make them more competitive; invest in our people's education, and bring in as many immigrants as it takes to stabilize the welfare state.
On the other hand, those huge corporate profits and tax cuts for the rich mean income and wealth inequality get even worse. Our people don't have the college degrees and STEM degrees necessary to compete for real without massive government borrowing to fund make-work like a worthless wall. Without a huge influx of immigrants, Social Security and Medicare get that much tougher to afford, as the worker to retiree ratio deteriorates.
The empowerment of white supremacists probably means a lot more hate crime is going to happen. The war on facts and science continues, with several steps backward on environmental issues.
So again it will fall to Democrats to do what needs to be done: Raise taxes on the rich to get the debt under control; regulate the risk taking of banks; breakup concentrated industries to make them more competitive; invest in our people's education, and bring in as many immigrants as it takes to stabilize the welfare state.
1
Dead wrong, Mr Douthat. The Trump Administration will be a study in contrasts that tips into intolerable contradictions and levels of corruption not seen in Washington in a century, since Warren Harding. Trump the pragmatist will start a bi-partisan Keynesian stimulus program for infrastructure and new forms of energy that will founder in mal-administration and scandal and plunder because oversight functions of government will be unsupported, ignored and corrupted. Conservatives will successfully reduce human service, roll back civil rights, and cripple the Supreme Court; Trump will not fight them, and the US will remain an ugly, grim place socially. Racism and anti-semitism will rise. The rust belt white working class who won the election for Trump end up worse off than they are now (he has a history of stiffing investors). Oil-gas industry will accelerate its destruction of habitable earth. Millenials and inner-city African Amercians and Hispanics and Muslims will be treated abominably. A dysfunctional America will have three choices: Take it to the streets, impeach, or organize Congress to develop a cross-party centrist alternative to the administrative meltdown of the Federal government. It is going to be bad, very bad. Congratulations, Phil Thiel. You got your disruption. Now we'll all have to deal with the mess, in creative ways yet to be invented, to revive the promise of our America and give real meaning to e pluribus unum.
3
Feel great again! Mr. Douthat indeed has a credible 2020 vision. If Trump keeps his promises, here is an alternate view.
By 2020, China would be making more cars than US and EU combine, A series of Chinese Moon landing would have begun. Mexican wall built, and it would imply Monroe doctrine has been forsaken, and the hemisphere ceded to emerging super powers.
Dollar would be shunned in whole of Middle East and much of Asia, while Chinese currency become the predominent one, Dollar being a distant third, way beyond EU. Most of East Asian nations, including Japan would have done a Philipine on US, and make peace with China; since the TPP was unilaterally aborted by US. On climate deal, rest of the world would stick to their agreed target, except smoke stacks of US, which would have turned into a pariah of apartheid South African kind. Even UK, due to its commonwealth credential shall distance itself from US.
Yes, he can make his constituency, having kept his promises, feel great again and probably win again easily.
The promise to make American great again can be kept, but it has to be the only objective. All decisions, all policies have to be determined with a clean slate, and surely consensus on the right course of action can follow. But it may imply single term Presidency.
It is too early to judge Mr. Trump. But what we have seen of him until now is far from assuring. But trusting him and the men around him shall do the right thing, is the only option.
By 2020, China would be making more cars than US and EU combine, A series of Chinese Moon landing would have begun. Mexican wall built, and it would imply Monroe doctrine has been forsaken, and the hemisphere ceded to emerging super powers.
Dollar would be shunned in whole of Middle East and much of Asia, while Chinese currency become the predominent one, Dollar being a distant third, way beyond EU. Most of East Asian nations, including Japan would have done a Philipine on US, and make peace with China; since the TPP was unilaterally aborted by US. On climate deal, rest of the world would stick to their agreed target, except smoke stacks of US, which would have turned into a pariah of apartheid South African kind. Even UK, due to its commonwealth credential shall distance itself from US.
Yes, he can make his constituency, having kept his promises, feel great again and probably win again easily.
The promise to make American great again can be kept, but it has to be the only objective. All decisions, all policies have to be determined with a clean slate, and surely consensus on the right course of action can follow. But it may imply single term Presidency.
It is too early to judge Mr. Trump. But what we have seen of him until now is far from assuring. But trusting him and the men around him shall do the right thing, is the only option.
Your treatment of the protestors who are ignored and then resented by the majority of Americans is precisely the kind of blind spot necessary for fascism to flower.
The protestors aren't malcontents. They have legitimate grievances based upon the proposed trashing of the climate and alliance with white nationalism that Trump has embraced.
Your article also makes no mention of how he ham-handedly violated rights of protestors, further alienated the black and female community through ignoring pleas for a special task force to address rising hate crime and sexual harassment, and the dissolution of relationships with EU partners due to both his war crimes that target innocent civilians, and his 'meh' approach to Putin's further incursions into the Ukraine.
Seriously, Ross, it is one thing for the President an opponent concede and appeal for a peaceful transition into the hands of this incredibly dangerous man. It's quite another for pundits of a conservative stripe to be captured by that false narrative.
Trump is brutal and a narcissist. And if you haven't gotten a sense of how his psychology portends worse in the future, just remember he plaintively tweeted about protestors of his victory 'How Unfair!'. This is not the time for 'it's going to be ok narratives'. Any conservative can see that Trump is a betrayal of the traditions, authority, and values of the Republican party.
The protestors aren't malcontents. They have legitimate grievances based upon the proposed trashing of the climate and alliance with white nationalism that Trump has embraced.
Your article also makes no mention of how he ham-handedly violated rights of protestors, further alienated the black and female community through ignoring pleas for a special task force to address rising hate crime and sexual harassment, and the dissolution of relationships with EU partners due to both his war crimes that target innocent civilians, and his 'meh' approach to Putin's further incursions into the Ukraine.
Seriously, Ross, it is one thing for the President an opponent concede and appeal for a peaceful transition into the hands of this incredibly dangerous man. It's quite another for pundits of a conservative stripe to be captured by that false narrative.
Trump is brutal and a narcissist. And if you haven't gotten a sense of how his psychology portends worse in the future, just remember he plaintively tweeted about protestors of his victory 'How Unfair!'. This is not the time for 'it's going to be ok narratives'. Any conservative can see that Trump is a betrayal of the traditions, authority, and values of the Republican party.
4
You forgot to add that during Trump's first term the following
had taken place. The concept of the National Parks was completely upended.
Mining near the Grand Canyon. clear cutting & other mineral extractions
have left many of the parks in shambles. Leasing to oil concerns
in wilderness areas did serious damage . The Keystone pipeline was
built. but leaks & spills polluted valuable ground water leaving it
unusable. Increased coal use pushed the levels of acid rain to
new heights. Decreased federal regulation have left many slag piles ready to collapse. The Everglades is now so badly polluted that by 2050 it will be totally lifeless. Reduced federal regulations have increased the number of water borne illness especially in minority areas. The Standing Rock Sioux were overruled & heavily fined causing them to go into receivership further worsening poverty levels. Without US leadership the Paris climate accord fell apart. Meanwhile in the US the average summer temperature in cities reached over 95 degrees on many days. Nationally the increased demand for A/C caused rolling blackouts. Serious drought conditions reduced crop yields driving up food prices. Many poor & mid class are left helpless as the social safety was shredded to pay for tax cuts. An oil spill off the VA coast created mass evacuations as beaches were rendered unusable. Lax
Fed. oversight created gas pipeline leaks & fires. The NJ Pine Barrens
are now in ashes.
had taken place. The concept of the National Parks was completely upended.
Mining near the Grand Canyon. clear cutting & other mineral extractions
have left many of the parks in shambles. Leasing to oil concerns
in wilderness areas did serious damage . The Keystone pipeline was
built. but leaks & spills polluted valuable ground water leaving it
unusable. Increased coal use pushed the levels of acid rain to
new heights. Decreased federal regulation have left many slag piles ready to collapse. The Everglades is now so badly polluted that by 2050 it will be totally lifeless. Reduced federal regulations have increased the number of water borne illness especially in minority areas. The Standing Rock Sioux were overruled & heavily fined causing them to go into receivership further worsening poverty levels. Without US leadership the Paris climate accord fell apart. Meanwhile in the US the average summer temperature in cities reached over 95 degrees on many days. Nationally the increased demand for A/C caused rolling blackouts. Serious drought conditions reduced crop yields driving up food prices. Many poor & mid class are left helpless as the social safety was shredded to pay for tax cuts. An oil spill off the VA coast created mass evacuations as beaches were rendered unusable. Lax
Fed. oversight created gas pipeline leaks & fires. The NJ Pine Barrens
are now in ashes.
5
How cute! Here is Ross Douthat currying favor with the Trump team. Look at him make nice, in his best bright schoolboy manner after all that tough guy talk about Mr. Trump all those months. My goodness! Why he's extending an olive branch to the incoming team. Wonder why? And so it continues... Amazing how this works.
5
So if you're keeping score at home, it has taken less than a week for the right wing of the NY Times editorial staff to fall in line behind the Trump disaster machine. I guess this is the result of the new "fair and balanced" policy of the paper.
Meanwhile, there are thousands of people on the streets of the country protesting this utterly disastrous turn in American political history. Which begs the question: when a Russian-backed puppet was elected to the the presidency in Ukraine, the population rose up and demanded a reversal of the elections - and won. The global community backed this revolution as an expression of the will of the people. What, exactly, is different here?
We have a president-elect who lost the popular vote, who may have used his contacts in the FBI, through Giuliani, to push for a surprise "reopening" of the Clinton email case to push his agenda, and who is now assembling a government of environmental flat-earthers, pro-wall street corporate shills, and anti-democratic authoritarians.
Why do we not have the right to follow the path of Kiev?
Meanwhile, there are thousands of people on the streets of the country protesting this utterly disastrous turn in American political history. Which begs the question: when a Russian-backed puppet was elected to the the presidency in Ukraine, the population rose up and demanded a reversal of the elections - and won. The global community backed this revolution as an expression of the will of the people. What, exactly, is different here?
We have a president-elect who lost the popular vote, who may have used his contacts in the FBI, through Giuliani, to push for a surprise "reopening" of the Clinton email case to push his agenda, and who is now assembling a government of environmental flat-earthers, pro-wall street corporate shills, and anti-democratic authoritarians.
Why do we not have the right to follow the path of Kiev?
5
Yup, Trump will defeat Warren-Booker in 2020.
Not for the reasons you mention.
Neither Trump nor the Republican house and congress will fix anything or do anything great. Manufacturing jobs will not come back, Obama care will be gone and people will be left to fend for themselves, there will be no real money going to infrastructure (even if spent), and no there will be no movement on immigration, on farms, or the drug problem. There will be a tax cut for those making a lot of money. Military spending will surely double. We will be ready to invade Mars, in case that is necessary.
If not him, his acolytes will stick it to everyone Trump promised he would. Many Americans, and many not American, will be fed to the lions. There will be new inquisitions to the giddy delight of his acolytes; many will be rather busy catching the bread flung at them while viewing grunting gladiators, witch trials, and book burning festivals. All done by his retinue, his army of sycophants, vigilantes.
In a land that is no stranger to irony, Trump will go down in history as one of the greats; right up there with Reagan.
He may not be the first to produce greatness in America rather entirely by the speaking of it. But he will most surely be the first American president to produce greatness in America rather entirely by having the media speak of him speaking of it.
Kalidan
Not for the reasons you mention.
Neither Trump nor the Republican house and congress will fix anything or do anything great. Manufacturing jobs will not come back, Obama care will be gone and people will be left to fend for themselves, there will be no real money going to infrastructure (even if spent), and no there will be no movement on immigration, on farms, or the drug problem. There will be a tax cut for those making a lot of money. Military spending will surely double. We will be ready to invade Mars, in case that is necessary.
If not him, his acolytes will stick it to everyone Trump promised he would. Many Americans, and many not American, will be fed to the lions. There will be new inquisitions to the giddy delight of his acolytes; many will be rather busy catching the bread flung at them while viewing grunting gladiators, witch trials, and book burning festivals. All done by his retinue, his army of sycophants, vigilantes.
In a land that is no stranger to irony, Trump will go down in history as one of the greats; right up there with Reagan.
He may not be the first to produce greatness in America rather entirely by the speaking of it. But he will most surely be the first American president to produce greatness in America rather entirely by having the media speak of him speaking of it.
Kalidan
3
Wouldn't it be more accurate to say he made twenty-five (25%) percent of adult America feel better or maybe not as bad as they were feeling? And that he made less than half of those who bothered to vote feel better or not so bad?
As for all you waiting for the tariffs to bring manufacturing back, Congress enacts tariffs not the president. And for those wanting all the illegal immigrants ousted from the US, it will take an immigration budget 4 times what it is now so expect cuts in education, health care spending not to mention the end of Social Security and Medicare as we know it. Since the GOP controls the Congress and most states, look to them when you get the change you voted for in Trump. Most may not know what the GOP has in store with repeat to entitlements, which by the way you have been paying for, but Obama's veto power kept most of it from becoming law. What will Trump do? Defy his party and veto anything? If he does, his first misstep will lead to impeachment. Possible reasons to impeach, the Trump university fraud case or the civil assault case for rape of an underage girl. Ryan and McConnell are really in charge. Would you have voted for either of these men for president? Well we have foxes in the hen house, lots of foxes and you Trump voters are the hens along with everyone else.
As for all you waiting for the tariffs to bring manufacturing back, Congress enacts tariffs not the president. And for those wanting all the illegal immigrants ousted from the US, it will take an immigration budget 4 times what it is now so expect cuts in education, health care spending not to mention the end of Social Security and Medicare as we know it. Since the GOP controls the Congress and most states, look to them when you get the change you voted for in Trump. Most may not know what the GOP has in store with repeat to entitlements, which by the way you have been paying for, but Obama's veto power kept most of it from becoming law. What will Trump do? Defy his party and veto anything? If he does, his first misstep will lead to impeachment. Possible reasons to impeach, the Trump university fraud case or the civil assault case for rape of an underage girl. Ryan and McConnell are really in charge. Would you have voted for either of these men for president? Well we have foxes in the hen house, lots of foxes and you Trump voters are the hens along with everyone else.
2
Ronald Reagan made us feel great again.
But Reagan tripled the debt and gave us a recession where unemployment topped 10%.
Do not confuse a con artist making us "feel good" from an effective president whose policies produce long range positive results.
But Reagan tripled the debt and gave us a recession where unemployment topped 10%.
Do not confuse a con artist making us "feel good" from an effective president whose policies produce long range positive results.
42
Have you already completely given up on reporting and or investigating Trump's past failures and illegal activities? Did you ever even begin that chapter? Do you think you are up for the job of keeping up with the present Trump debacles?
Maybe he was right about the NY Times.
Maybe he was right about the NY Times.
15
I smell fear. Coming from someone who wrote, "But to support Trump for the presidency is to invite chaos upon the republic and the world. No policy goal, no court appointment, can justify such recklessness." (May 7, 2016), this column reads like the beginnings of a feckless pivot. It was easy for some Republicans to aspire to the anti-Trump moral high ground when they felt sure his presidency was impossible. Now that it's a reality and reputations are in jeopardy, we see how deep, or shallow (cf. @BillKristol), their virtue really runs.
21
Well Ross, that certainly didn't take long.
17
The Presidency that hate rants built.
8
A fantasy of Reagan-redux ? Or is Douthat trying to cure the national nausea ?
Yes- Nixin went to China when no liberal could. Reagan signed arms treaties with similar cred. And yes- Trump could defrost the GOP obstructionists and inch toward thwarted Obama agenda.
But the reform of medicare would have to include a gradual extension for purchase to younger Americans until everyone agreed to chip in. Not a mandate- a benefit.
And yes- supporting ruthless despots has been a US strategy with some patches of success, but it has always backfired badly (see Afghanistan, Egypt,Iran, Panama, Chile, Syria, et al --in past decades). Isolationism and shallow values will surely clinch the collapse of the American era.
Mostly- it is hard to imagine a true Trump doctrine when he seems incapable of reading, studying, thinking deeply about complex matters. His 'Cheney' won;t be Pence- a rigid evangelical light weight. Will Bannon or Conway make policy/propaganda decisions ?
Who will be the de facto POTUS while Trump lives in his NYC 'Buckingham Palace'- trotted out for ceremonial events and pep rallies ?
Yes- Nixin went to China when no liberal could. Reagan signed arms treaties with similar cred. And yes- Trump could defrost the GOP obstructionists and inch toward thwarted Obama agenda.
But the reform of medicare would have to include a gradual extension for purchase to younger Americans until everyone agreed to chip in. Not a mandate- a benefit.
And yes- supporting ruthless despots has been a US strategy with some patches of success, but it has always backfired badly (see Afghanistan, Egypt,Iran, Panama, Chile, Syria, et al --in past decades). Isolationism and shallow values will surely clinch the collapse of the American era.
Mostly- it is hard to imagine a true Trump doctrine when he seems incapable of reading, studying, thinking deeply about complex matters. His 'Cheney' won;t be Pence- a rigid evangelical light weight. Will Bannon or Conway make policy/propaganda decisions ?
Who will be the de facto POTUS while Trump lives in his NYC 'Buckingham Palace'- trotted out for ceremonial events and pep rallies ?
21
Contributing to Trump's popularity and re-election is the fact that Peter Thiel, Rudolph Giuliani and Sarah Palin will be personally on the Mars Shot, among the first to establish a colony there. Along with 20,000 lobbyists.
21
There's a lot of things that could happen over the next four years:
- We might finally make contact with alien beings.
- The earth could be hit by a large meteor resulting in global mass extinction.
- The Mets could win the World Series.
I guess anything is possible.
- We might finally make contact with alien beings.
- The earth could be hit by a large meteor resulting in global mass extinction.
- The Mets could win the World Series.
I guess anything is possible.
16
It ain't about Trump, per se, IMO. It's about the Supreme Court makeup, which will have a potential shelf-life of 20-25+ years.
We'll just keep on truckin' here in Cali, where perhaps one day we'll become an independent entity. This every few years of Republicans-smashing-the-furniture thing doesn't really play out here. It's old school, poorly aligned with the 21st century mindset required to really do new, creative things and ultimately just no way for us here to live our lives.
www.yescalifornia.org Let's do this.
We'll just keep on truckin' here in Cali, where perhaps one day we'll become an independent entity. This every few years of Republicans-smashing-the-furniture thing doesn't really play out here. It's old school, poorly aligned with the 21st century mindset required to really do new, creative things and ultimately just no way for us here to live our lives.
www.yescalifornia.org Let's do this.
16
Right on cue, the Clinton supporters take to the streets to riot, burn, smash and cry. If ever the Trump voter needed validation the Clinton crowd is providing it in
spades.
spades.
4
Yes, all 1000 of them. What a massive display of civil disobedience. And of course we now need an authoritarian type to take control of this intimidating example of violent revolution in the streets. God almighty rightwingers are quick to make a mole hill into a huge mountain. And it will only get worse. Wait till the rightwing radio propaganda machine kicks in.
Right on cue, a Trump supporter unleashes venom on his enemies, imaginary as usual.
Now that marijuana is legal in California, your column makes sense.
19
Dream on Ross, dream on. Unless and until, Trump decides to twist arms to convince Republican congressman to raise taxes to pay our country's bills for infrastructure, health care, the military, and so much else, there's no chance Trump's political career will have a happy ending. It would be truly astounding for a guy who's spent his life evading taxes to knock sense into the Republican electorate. I think David Brooks' prediction of Trump departing from either resignation or impeachment within the next year to be far more plausible.
22
It's stunning that Hillary's post-mortum of her loss focuses on FBI director Comey. If Big Dog Bill hadn't bum rushed the Attorney General's plane Comey might have been able to call it a day after the first pass investigation. He had no choice.
The core reason the Democrats are out in the cold now is that Obama betrayed his friend Joe Biden while making a Faustian deal with Clinton Inc. Joe Biden would have not produced the negative reaction that Hilliard generated and won.
Obama's "legacy" is tarnished if not ruined because he didn't leave the dance with the one he brought.
Just move on.
The core reason the Democrats are out in the cold now is that Obama betrayed his friend Joe Biden while making a Faustian deal with Clinton Inc. Joe Biden would have not produced the negative reaction that Hilliard generated and won.
Obama's "legacy" is tarnished if not ruined because he didn't leave the dance with the one he brought.
Just move on.
6
I remember how so many talked about Bush getting reelected with massive deficits and a weak opponent. There will be no weak opponent in 2020.
The problem with stimulus is just like Mr. Brownstone. a little gets more and more.
And the start of the reckoning will begin with massive missteps at home and abroad.
The problem with stimulus is just like Mr. Brownstone. a little gets more and more.
And the start of the reckoning will begin with massive missteps at home and abroad.
5
We will all be dead from earthquakes and poisoned water from unfettered fracking
More will die from botched abortions.
We will all be in debtors prison as healthcare will be unaffordable for all and we will all live in a right to work environment
There will be riots and anger and the haves will fear the have nots. Private security forces and people living in walled compounds like South Africa
And death panels just like Soylent green
More will die from botched abortions.
We will all be in debtors prison as healthcare will be unaffordable for all and we will all live in a right to work environment
There will be riots and anger and the haves will fear the have nots. Private security forces and people living in walled compounds like South Africa
And death panels just like Soylent green
17
Funny. This sounds like "Back to the Future". But, alas, it was the first one, from 1937. It was a humor column co-written by Joseph Goebbels and Heinrich Himmler. It wasn't funny then, either.
23
Or Trump will give someone grounds for impeachment;
either by doing something reckless that endangers national
security or over conflicts of interest tied to his business.
When it come to write a fiction anticipating the next four years,
the possibility are endless. Maybe the NYT should organise
a contest among the the columnists, the plurality of opinion
is always welcome to shed a light upon those heavy and alarming
clouds shrouding the future of America and the world order.
either by doing something reckless that endangers national
security or over conflicts of interest tied to his business.
When it come to write a fiction anticipating the next four years,
the possibility are endless. Maybe the NYT should organise
a contest among the the columnists, the plurality of opinion
is always welcome to shed a light upon those heavy and alarming
clouds shrouding the future of America and the world order.
7
"And with four years of ignoring climate change, Trump and the rest of the government have ignored what scientists have warned about for decades. Recent monthly world high temperature records and the new report out from the International Panel on Climate states that climate change is now in a new dangerous phase that may prevent it from being reversed or controlled. Agricultural declines around the world caused by dangerously high temperatures, floods, coastal flooding and sea rise are now occurring. The stock market is down 25% in the last months due to these concerns."
164
Comments on certain specific errors:
"Trump’s Keynesianism was mostly defense spending and tax cuts" - Tax cuts are an ineffective way of stimulating the economy, compared to putting money into the hands of poor people, so you better hope he put a lot more in infrastructure.
"The assumption that the economy had hit full employment in the later Obama years proved to be an artifact of work-force dropouts and increasing illegal immigration. " - in truth, the long secular trend in decreasing work force participation is largely from the aging of the work force. And the percentage of illegal immigrants in US population has been flat, around 3.3% to 3.5% since 2002. The problem of a net influx stopped almost two decades ago. It is not 'increasing'. Unless Trump is really expelling millions of people, this is just wrong.
"Trump’s Keynesianism was mostly defense spending and tax cuts" - Tax cuts are an ineffective way of stimulating the economy, compared to putting money into the hands of poor people, so you better hope he put a lot more in infrastructure.
"The assumption that the economy had hit full employment in the later Obama years proved to be an artifact of work-force dropouts and increasing illegal immigration. " - in truth, the long secular trend in decreasing work force participation is largely from the aging of the work force. And the percentage of illegal immigrants in US population has been flat, around 3.3% to 3.5% since 2002. The problem of a net influx stopped almost two decades ago. It is not 'increasing'. Unless Trump is really expelling millions of people, this is just wrong.
8
Trump could "PullAHarrison and save the country and possibly the world. Gawd, how that would inflate his ego. It would be HUUUGE. William Henry Harrison, POTUS #9
1
Did you mean he made America feel DEGRADING again?
14
Ross you forgot to mention the millions who have migrated to the remaining blue states that has made them the powerhouse of the economy.
21
With the exception of Washington, the fastest growing states are NOT blue--They're red!
What's interesting is to look at Trump's margins in states like TX, GA & AZ. He won by much smaller margins than Romney did in 2012. These states are slowly but inexorably shifting purple. Cities such as Atlanta, Houston and Dallas are already blue & getting bluer as they grow larger and larger. The larger framework of this struggle is more about rural v urban America than red v blue states.
What's interesting is to look at Trump's margins in states like TX, GA & AZ. He won by much smaller margins than Romney did in 2012. These states are slowly but inexorably shifting purple. Cities such as Atlanta, Houston and Dallas are already blue & getting bluer as they grow larger and larger. The larger framework of this struggle is more about rural v urban America than red v blue states.
1
You forgot to mention the persistent droughts, the plague of malarial mosquitos, damage from violent storms, rampant pollution from the fracking boom, being shunned by the international community for having tanked the Paris Accords, the rising violence against... Well, everyone who white and Christian. Oh so many wonders your future will hold.
16
Oh, my, Ross. One hopes you're right about the economic recovery.
To reflect back to Bill Clinton's first campaign, "it's the economy, stupid!".
Pitty Hillary didn't remember that.
Doubtless, having a GOP majority will remove the roadblocks to governance that we've seen for the past 8 years. Would it would also remove the stupidity that characterized the previous 8, wherein we were treated to a lack of national security on 9-11, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the worse economic collapse since the great depression. All brought to you courtesy of the GOP!
Remember the Fence Post Turtle during Bush 43? Wanna bet we see it again?
I doubt that a Warren-Booker ticket would prevail; too left. But Hillary-Booker would have rocked. If only... she hadn't lambasted deplorables, and Comi hadn't acted on meaningless emails just before the election. But more than anything, Hillary simply did not grasp the global economic issues as they reflect upon our domestic economy. You can't just tax the rich and corporations...they're the engine that creates investment and jobs.
And for the past 30+ years, our corporate tax structure has prevented US multinational corporations from investing in plant, equipment and jobs.
Congress is the problem--and they just don't get it.
Question is...can Trump muster enough hutzpah to whip them into line, and
at the same time recover from his hateful campaign language.
To reflect back to Bill Clinton's first campaign, "it's the economy, stupid!".
Pitty Hillary didn't remember that.
Doubtless, having a GOP majority will remove the roadblocks to governance that we've seen for the past 8 years. Would it would also remove the stupidity that characterized the previous 8, wherein we were treated to a lack of national security on 9-11, wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, and the worse economic collapse since the great depression. All brought to you courtesy of the GOP!
Remember the Fence Post Turtle during Bush 43? Wanna bet we see it again?
I doubt that a Warren-Booker ticket would prevail; too left. But Hillary-Booker would have rocked. If only... she hadn't lambasted deplorables, and Comi hadn't acted on meaningless emails just before the election. But more than anything, Hillary simply did not grasp the global economic issues as they reflect upon our domestic economy. You can't just tax the rich and corporations...they're the engine that creates investment and jobs.
And for the past 30+ years, our corporate tax structure has prevented US multinational corporations from investing in plant, equipment and jobs.
Congress is the problem--and they just don't get it.
Question is...can Trump muster enough hutzpah to whip them into line, and
at the same time recover from his hateful campaign language.
21
Why should Shell, Exxon or GE not pay taxes at all while getting tax breaks from local and state entities?
This is by far the most pointless and least insightful thing that I've read since the election, and I've read a lot. Your prediction on the morning of the election was laughably wrong because of its overconfidence, and this just shows a very loose appreciation for anything except your own wishful thinking.
5
Trump is not physically capable of carrying out a full schedule of the true responsibilities of the presidency. Pence and a few others will actually run things while he maintains enough public presence to save face and promote his Trump-branded properties. They will strongly favor the plutocrats and hedge-fund managers who will form the kitchen cabinet, and there will be no surge of manufacturing in the USA.
4
Trump didn't make me feel "great again," he made me feel dirty.
8
Any musings on what his climate policy might have looked like?
5
Hopefully the paper can move on and stop pointing the finger at WHY and HOW the hugest Democrat loss could possibly have happened. I stayed up all night Nov. 8th so it seems to me that we all just need to get some sleep. Let's have some class and please look to the next Congressional elections. Stop crying, start working. I just won't be able to read the paper any more if we continue to grind teeth and cry.
4
If we even make it that far!
More wishful thinking from the always-wishful Mr. Douthat.
His real column four years from now (If the NYTimes still exists) will dutifully note that President Pence has been elected after a remarkably sparse vote for the Democratic candidate in Republican-controlled states. There will be barely any mention of Whatshishame who left office "for health reasons" two years before.
The column will praise the Republicans for revitalizing big business, cutting taxes and government regulation, freeing up the poor from government dependency, and returning America to its Christian roots. And that booming national debt will just be sign to cut government even more.
That rabble-rouser who spent his whole time in the Presidency going around in Air Trump One holding red meat scapegoat-fests for his followers, will be swept under the rug. But the showy televised arrests and detention of immigrants and "terrorist suspects" that he started will continue, in order to distract the Real Americans from their continued lackluster economic prospects.
Mr. Douthat will no doubt deplore the continuing protests and riots and the Second Amendment Militias who've had free rein to administer their own "American Justice".
Finally, Mr. Douthat will urge all Americans to come together to restore the unity that adorned a bygone era, and will suggest that young Republicans of good morals sign on to work in the Pence Administration to thwart, you know, those excesses no one dares talk about.
His real column four years from now (If the NYTimes still exists) will dutifully note that President Pence has been elected after a remarkably sparse vote for the Democratic candidate in Republican-controlled states. There will be barely any mention of Whatshishame who left office "for health reasons" two years before.
The column will praise the Republicans for revitalizing big business, cutting taxes and government regulation, freeing up the poor from government dependency, and returning America to its Christian roots. And that booming national debt will just be sign to cut government even more.
That rabble-rouser who spent his whole time in the Presidency going around in Air Trump One holding red meat scapegoat-fests for his followers, will be swept under the rug. But the showy televised arrests and detention of immigrants and "terrorist suspects" that he started will continue, in order to distract the Real Americans from their continued lackluster economic prospects.
Mr. Douthat will no doubt deplore the continuing protests and riots and the Second Amendment Militias who've had free rein to administer their own "American Justice".
Finally, Mr. Douthat will urge all Americans to come together to restore the unity that adorned a bygone era, and will suggest that young Republicans of good morals sign on to work in the Pence Administration to thwart, you know, those excesses no one dares talk about.
3
Nah, he'll leave "to spend more time with family" just like all discredited public figures do. The question is, who will quit first -- Trump or his Secretary of the Interior Palin?
1
How can a man who has no reassurance for those currently protesting that his administration will support the rights of all citizens no matter their race, religion, gender, or ethnic background make anyone feel great? He is failing a simple and important leadership test right now.
7
This column appears to be an attempt to rewrite history, but as a reminder: Trump's assembly line of lies, his invective against a judge, minorities and women, his mimicry of a journalist with physical disabilities, his assertion that he knows more about ISIS than the generals, his racial and religious bigotry, and his use of Twitter to insult and besmirch - all a mere fraction of his rabid nature. Have you already forgotten this Ross Douthat?
Trump was and will be incompetent and unfit to govern so your dream of a future under the Trump presidency will actually be a nightmare for our country, social progress, income equality, the environment, education, health care and this too a mere fraction of what will be adversely affected during this presidency.
Think again Mr. Douthat about the future - it won't be as you've described it.
Trump was and will be incompetent and unfit to govern so your dream of a future under the Trump presidency will actually be a nightmare for our country, social progress, income equality, the environment, education, health care and this too a mere fraction of what will be adversely affected during this presidency.
Think again Mr. Douthat about the future - it won't be as you've described it.
12
here's my prediction(s)
Trump moves forward with his shambolic agenda; many oxen discover they are being gored. trump meets with the heavy hitters of the Republican Party and donor class and is surprised the FBI Director Comey accompanies them. The Wise Men suggest some modest changes in the President's agenda and are given a sample of Trumpian vituperation. At this point Director Comey opens several thick file folders and shows them to the President and the two have a whispered, heart-to-heart conversation.
Subsequently: (a) the President sees the light and agrees to aid the Party in achieving its goals with regard to Medicare, Social Security, Obamacare, deregulation etc. Harmony is restored; or (b) the President tells them all to go to hell. he is in charge here. The contents of the most explosive of the files are leaked, the party stalwarts are "Shocked! Shocked, I tell you!" and momentum builds rapidly for impeachment.
Mrs. Pence begins looking at wallpaper and upholstery swatches for the move to the White House.
Trump moves forward with his shambolic agenda; many oxen discover they are being gored. trump meets with the heavy hitters of the Republican Party and donor class and is surprised the FBI Director Comey accompanies them. The Wise Men suggest some modest changes in the President's agenda and are given a sample of Trumpian vituperation. At this point Director Comey opens several thick file folders and shows them to the President and the two have a whispered, heart-to-heart conversation.
Subsequently: (a) the President sees the light and agrees to aid the Party in achieving its goals with regard to Medicare, Social Security, Obamacare, deregulation etc. Harmony is restored; or (b) the President tells them all to go to hell. he is in charge here. The contents of the most explosive of the files are leaked, the party stalwarts are "Shocked! Shocked, I tell you!" and momentum builds rapidly for impeachment.
Mrs. Pence begins looking at wallpaper and upholstery swatches for the move to the White House.
6
You forgot the part about the sanctions and boycotting of American goods because of our withdrawal from climate change initiatives and public denial of its existence.
231
doesn't even succeed as "humor"...
Trump's transition team looks like recruiters for The Great Bank Heist. Which Republicans are going to vote for infrastructure spending? The ones who voted for Obama's plan when the nation was hemorrhaging jobs? The ones who voted to raise the gasoline tax?
It sounds like Trump is hoping to spend much of his time at Trump Tower in Manhattan. I don't think "bipartisan maneuvering" is going to be high on his agenda.
Like I said, it ain't funny.
Trump's transition team looks like recruiters for The Great Bank Heist. Which Republicans are going to vote for infrastructure spending? The ones who voted for Obama's plan when the nation was hemorrhaging jobs? The ones who voted to raise the gasoline tax?
It sounds like Trump is hoping to spend much of his time at Trump Tower in Manhattan. I don't think "bipartisan maneuvering" is going to be high on his agenda.
Like I said, it ain't funny.
4
Way to sugar coat something that poses a huge threat to the security of minorities in this country, and to the status of women. I don't find your take funny. I don't find it clever. Today a Muslim teacher received a note from a student, telling her to hang herself with her headscarf. The KKK is thrilled. Racist events and threats are increasing by the day. Sexism is back in style! Is this the kind, Christian world you believe in, Ross? If so, I denounce you as a dangerous false prophet. I denounce you.
13
Amusing but to influence Trump, suggest things that not only make America great but him great as well. He needs to defy the conventional GOP and cross party lines with initiatives that show strength and unite the nation. Nixon went to China, Reagan negotiated with Gorbachev on nukes. Stuff like that.
Trump works is great start but don't waste it all on standard infrastructure projects. Build new solar plants on coal mines and hire locally. Force firms hoarding cash overseas to invest new factories in industrial park in rust belt locations. Do it and get new lower corporate rate, don't and face punishing taxes on overseas cash hoards and tariffs on products made there.
Trump care - Tell vets they can buy any drug or go to any healthcare provider, be seen in two weeks and tell them to send the Pentagon the bill at 10% discount below the best rate insurers pay. Any supplier who asks why vets get to jump lines or receive a discount can call their local legion branch who will come right over to 'splain it. Require same rates (without discount) to be applicable to AHA plans for regular folks.
Others?
Trump works is great start but don't waste it all on standard infrastructure projects. Build new solar plants on coal mines and hire locally. Force firms hoarding cash overseas to invest new factories in industrial park in rust belt locations. Do it and get new lower corporate rate, don't and face punishing taxes on overseas cash hoards and tariffs on products made there.
Trump care - Tell vets they can buy any drug or go to any healthcare provider, be seen in two weeks and tell them to send the Pentagon the bill at 10% discount below the best rate insurers pay. Any supplier who asks why vets get to jump lines or receive a discount can call their local legion branch who will come right over to 'splain it. Require same rates (without discount) to be applicable to AHA plans for regular folks.
Others?
You forget to mention that our National Parks and Forests were turned into oil fields, and half of Florida is sunk under arctic sea ice that melted exceedingly faster than predicted because of Trump's mandate that all clean power production be destroyed to boost the coal industry. Luckily Mar-a-Lago was declared a National Park and federal dollars were used to build seawalls and turn it into an island destination. Somehow Secretary of the Interior Eric Trump managed to push through a law allowing the profits from Park-a-Lago to return to the Trump Organization. Every member of the family got a new private jet. You also forgot that Trump's victory in 2020 was widely ascribed to the death of millions of democratic-leaning voters whose drinking water was poisoned by unregulated mining and pipeline building. Without the EPA, industry had no qualms dumping toxic waste everywhere. Additionally, millions more stayed home on election day because of the newly assembed "Election Force", a Trumpworks program to employ military veterans to protect the election from fraud in the inner cities. Oh yeah, these things aren't widely known because all reporters who write poorly of Trump are in the journalist's prison at Guantanamo (somehow you avoided such a dire fate).
What a silly column, Mr. Douthat. A tired rehash of all the "it won't be so bad" columns that have come out the last few days. We can all make stuff up. Based on what we know of Trump, my scenario is just as likely as yours.
What a silly column, Mr. Douthat. A tired rehash of all the "it won't be so bad" columns that have come out the last few days. We can all make stuff up. Based on what we know of Trump, my scenario is just as likely as yours.
7
I just want him to cancel Daca and Dapa and start deporting illegal immigrants. They have no right to be here and it is time they went home.
I also want to see him end refugee programs - spend the money on them where they live and don't bring them to the US - especially ones from the Middle East.
Let Russia have Ukraine and Crimea - neither are worth spending money on.
Let the EU have control over NATO and staff it. And reduce the number of bases we have all over the world - we don't need that many.
I also want to see him end refugee programs - spend the money on them where they live and don't bring them to the US - especially ones from the Middle East.
Let Russia have Ukraine and Crimea - neither are worth spending money on.
Let the EU have control over NATO and staff it. And reduce the number of bases we have all over the world - we don't need that many.
1
He made part of America feel great again—most of whose inhabitants were easily seduced by empty, baseless promises largely detached from reality. They will turn on him quickly as the promises are borne adrift into the ether. Indeed, in the three days following his election, pullback seems to have begun—the ACA, Muslim immigration, and more to come. Soon, beguiled Trumpsters will turn on him, their anger rising to even higher levels. Only those able to transmogrify into complex manufacturing robots will find desirable employment and be able to do without healthcare. That said, all of America will feel awful (and suffer), as the damage—certain to be inflicted by his evil acolytes [Bannon, Rudy, Newt, Kellyanne, Myron Ebell, Palin, Dr. Ben, General Flynn and maybe even Christie (if he avoids prison)]—mounts.
4
On the other hand, the "Trump Era" is not likely to survive the 2018 mid-term elections, when the populace, feeling betrayed by Trump's failure to make good on his vague grandiose promises, returns Democratic control to the Senate, and maybe even the House. Maybe the Notorius RBG will hold out till then.
Between now and then, however, fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be bumpy.
Between now and then, however, fasten your seatbelts. It's going to be bumpy.
4
And then we all went to the seashore, shich won't be hard as the oceans rise.
2
Surprised you missed the real news during his four years - the embedding of an authoritarian dictatorship in every state and federal branch of government.
During his four years, well funded anti-democratic forces hardened their positions of power with laws and actions and executive orders and rulings and investigations and appointments and repeals and Constitutional amendments designed to permanently secure a militarized authoritarian police-surveillance-torture state.
Deportations provided ethnic cleansing to reverse the non-white demographic shift while ideological cleansing was executed by re-education camps for Liberals.
Ideological fanatics believe that the end justifies the means. The above was obvious in 2016 considering voter (citizen) suppression, gerrymandering, refusal to accept an election result if not in their favor, government shutdowns, FBI and Supreme Court election meddling, rule changing power grabs, refusal to consider a Supreme Court nominee, pushing the voter fraud myth, RNC biased electoral reform, claim of system rigging (unless in their favor), gutting the Voting Rights Act, voter ID laws, voter roll purges, voter intimidation, routine filibusters to thwart majority rule - all anti-democratic acts of sedition.
The 30-year project of the vast right-wing conspiracy to change the Republican Party into the Anti-Democratic Party culminated in the soft coup of 2016.
What Mr. Douthat failed to see was that in 2020 there were no elections.
During his four years, well funded anti-democratic forces hardened their positions of power with laws and actions and executive orders and rulings and investigations and appointments and repeals and Constitutional amendments designed to permanently secure a militarized authoritarian police-surveillance-torture state.
Deportations provided ethnic cleansing to reverse the non-white demographic shift while ideological cleansing was executed by re-education camps for Liberals.
Ideological fanatics believe that the end justifies the means. The above was obvious in 2016 considering voter (citizen) suppression, gerrymandering, refusal to accept an election result if not in their favor, government shutdowns, FBI and Supreme Court election meddling, rule changing power grabs, refusal to consider a Supreme Court nominee, pushing the voter fraud myth, RNC biased electoral reform, claim of system rigging (unless in their favor), gutting the Voting Rights Act, voter ID laws, voter roll purges, voter intimidation, routine filibusters to thwart majority rule - all anti-democratic acts of sedition.
The 30-year project of the vast right-wing conspiracy to change the Republican Party into the Anti-Democratic Party culminated in the soft coup of 2016.
What Mr. Douthat failed to see was that in 2020 there were no elections.
7
folks, I made America great again” — is one that a majority of Americans understandably believe..
Actually no!..Last time I checked the majority of Americans who voted did not believe in...
Facts don't matter to you do they, Ross?
Actually no!..Last time I checked the majority of Americans who voted did not believe in...
Facts don't matter to you do they, Ross?
4
Russ didn't mention the jack-booted thugs that have immediately started harassing immigrants, blacks, women and gays. And they already have their own guns. They are the ones we saw at the rallies. The way all Fascist movements start with young white men who feel they are not being paid enough attention to. THis movement will keep all non-whites from voting in the sham elections to come.
Donald will serve 8 years and then his son will take over. We will never see the end of them.
Trump will also negociate with older america about their social security and give them bad choices that they will have to accept. Sorry, he spent all the money on his military, and it will be his to do with what he wants.
Hey, this is history folks. See ITaly and Germany.
Donald will serve 8 years and then his son will take over. We will never see the end of them.
Trump will also negociate with older america about their social security and give them bad choices that they will have to accept. Sorry, he spent all the money on his military, and it will be his to do with what he wants.
Hey, this is history folks. See ITaly and Germany.
6
Funny, not a single comment about the "disappearance" of hundreds of thousands of Muslims, African-Americans, gays, or just plain outspoken opponents of the president? Didn't warrant mentioning, did it, Ross? We all just looked away the past four years, happy that the economy was booming?
4
Oh, he drained the swamp, alright.
And look at the swamp creatures he's found.
Wait until he puts them to work...
And look at the swamp creatures he's found.
Wait until he puts them to work...
5
very interesting. i actually think that there's a reasonable chance that something like this could come to pass. but i also think that it's pretty likely that Trump will -- by choice -- be a one-term president.
I was profoundly affected as a 5-8 year old by bricks being thrown through the windows of my father's grocery store, calls in the middle of the night about dirty Jews and Christkillers and endless conversations in my presence of what my parents came to learn about the events from 1939 and on.
It has stayed with me like a never ending cloud and as I have said numerous times since Tuesday, I've seen this movie and it never ends well for the Jews.
I could abide all of the outrageous policy retreats including the ACA, undoing our position on climate change, even the Supreme Court (for which it will be interesting to see if any profiles in courage emerge) and what I expect will be a major recession world wide. However the most disturbing thing and my impetus for trying to convince my family to leave this country is Trump's failure to stand up NOW and disown the alt right and the Nazis, among them Bannon (the new Goebbels), Coulter ( did you happen to see her statements regarding only voters who have 3 grandparents born here should really be permitted to vote?) Alex Jones, Giuliani (who is the new Eichman) and the rest of the crew The deep recession and possible depression will be the catalyst for the 21st century equivalent of the Reichstag fire.
Trump won't even realize it until they walk out his daughter who has converted, his ignorant son-in-law and unfortunately a grandchild born of a Jewish mother.
It has stayed with me like a never ending cloud and as I have said numerous times since Tuesday, I've seen this movie and it never ends well for the Jews.
I could abide all of the outrageous policy retreats including the ACA, undoing our position on climate change, even the Supreme Court (for which it will be interesting to see if any profiles in courage emerge) and what I expect will be a major recession world wide. However the most disturbing thing and my impetus for trying to convince my family to leave this country is Trump's failure to stand up NOW and disown the alt right and the Nazis, among them Bannon (the new Goebbels), Coulter ( did you happen to see her statements regarding only voters who have 3 grandparents born here should really be permitted to vote?) Alex Jones, Giuliani (who is the new Eichman) and the rest of the crew The deep recession and possible depression will be the catalyst for the 21st century equivalent of the Reichstag fire.
Trump won't even realize it until they walk out his daughter who has converted, his ignorant son-in-law and unfortunately a grandchild born of a Jewish mother.
6
A dream; unlikely to come true. One extremist party rule is unlikely to serve our democratic-constitutional-republic.
America is at its best when we wear our liberal policies of multiculturalism, egalitarianism upon our sleeves and in our hearts; in other words when we embrace the mandate to-
"...form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."
America is at its best when we wear our liberal policies of multiculturalism, egalitarianism upon our sleeves and in our hearts; in other words when we embrace the mandate to-
"...form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity..."
1
I have written, regarding Herr Trump, that, before, President in pretension, during the Campaign, had bloviated into a bonafide diagnosis of being a Psychopathic Personality. With all the critique and comment of "Sociopathic" (same basic "diagnosis") in describing Lord Trump, especially in his chronic free-floating Lying, it seemed, to me, that this was nearly generalized Common assumption. I do not think that the Republican Party is, generally, Dull, but it may be that part of the acceptance of the President Select is that there is not only acceptance of his active Public Pathology...but an active anticipation of "how useful" That Personality may be in the Oval Office. Now that would be shrewd and crude and Very scarey! At the very least, I have easily perused.....that He will be Used.
I admit fatigue at the consistent commentary on the Presidency, but one added thought is that in his given Goal to Only Win...in Life, that he may have actually faked the whole Campaign-Presence...and "staged, in presence, the brilliant Performance of the most Public Psychopathic presentation we have seen in Modern time. Now, in the Real World, we will, I hope see the True Normal Elected Public Servant.....sans Insanity.
I admit fatigue at the consistent commentary on the Presidency, but one added thought is that in his given Goal to Only Win...in Life, that he may have actually faked the whole Campaign-Presence...and "staged, in presence, the brilliant Performance of the most Public Psychopathic presentation we have seen in Modern time. Now, in the Real World, we will, I hope see the True Normal Elected Public Servant.....sans Insanity.
2
I hope you are closer to the truth than what we fear. By the looks of the short list of his cabinet, he will be worse than W.
6
Pam I do not think that there is any doubt about that. I thought that after Ronald Reagan that America had reached a nadir. Then along came George W. Bush. And again I thought that his presidency was the absolute bottom of the barrel. I mean, after all, this is the country that put men on the moon, has more Nobel Prize winners than you can point a stick at and Silicon Valley, etc.
There was a breath of fresh air with the election of Barack Obama but his style was severely cramped by a viscous, mean-spirited and hostile Congress. Then along comes Donald Trump. You are in real trouble over there. And the rest of the world will also pay a hefty price for this too I am sure.
There was a breath of fresh air with the election of Barack Obama but his style was severely cramped by a viscous, mean-spirited and hostile Congress. Then along comes Donald Trump. You are in real trouble over there. And the rest of the world will also pay a hefty price for this too I am sure.
Seriously? He's in way over his head and the only reason he has to "drain the swamp" is to get to the bottom where his future cabinet resides.
9
Go ahead and continue to demonize Trump to your heart's content, media.
You couldn't possibly make it easier for President Trump to exceed expectations. Merely by behaving like a pragmatic leader focused on results -- which he has done throughout his life in business -- he will win over many voters who were so anxious over his "riskiness" that they refused to vote for him. Once they see how overblown those concerns were, they will be firmly on his side, and will completely lose trust in you.
And then, with your usual self-awareness, you will wonder how so many more voters became racist, misogynistic bigots.
You couldn't possibly make it easier for President Trump to exceed expectations. Merely by behaving like a pragmatic leader focused on results -- which he has done throughout his life in business -- he will win over many voters who were so anxious over his "riskiness" that they refused to vote for him. Once they see how overblown those concerns were, they will be firmly on his side, and will completely lose trust in you.
And then, with your usual self-awareness, you will wonder how so many more voters became racist, misogynistic bigots.
I've always tried to be philosophical about election results given that over the last 40 years or so I've been on the wrong side of a lot of them. I'm not sure that I've experienced quite the visceral reaction as I watched the results come in the other night. And it's taken a few days to get over the sick feeling, then the anger and finally the acceptance that this man for whom I have such a dramatic lack of respect is going to the President for at least the next four years. I admit that my expectations, especially regarding the Supreme Court remain quite bleak. However, as Ross's column has demonstrated, there is also the outside chance that one of Trump's most predominant tendencies, to very comfortably lie even though all the real evidence was against him, will once again stay the course and all of the things he campaigned on will soon fade away as just more broken GOP promises. The one thing that this opportunity will hand the GOP on a silver platter, though, is to no longer be able to blame Obama, the Democrats, the media, the liberal elites. We'll now know, unmistakably, who to blame.
12
Hi American, how are ya? That's what I thought.
Me too?
Soul searching? You bet..
Angry? Hell yeah!
Scared? Yes, and that's coming from a straight, poorly educated middle-age white man.
Surprised? Somehow, no.
In 2020 I don't wanna still be talking about Donald Trump. But if you think that surely The Donald could not last that long - Think again.
All the buffoon has to do is vaguely keep one or two of his promises and not get caught doing anything that is obviously illegal. At least the kind of illegal that his base would turn on him for.
Here's some ways I think he could graft himself semi permanently to our beloved country's number one office:
1) Massive Infrastructure Enhancements. Remember, his party now.
2) Some short quick military action somewhere that leaves us not holding the bag and whose negative results are either not immediately apparent or nebulous at best. Perhaps a joint Russian/US attack on some new terror network or even the ouster of Assad himself.
3) Presiding over a series of domestic terrorist arrests complete with shoot outs, revealed cells, networks, public trials and of course the repeated claims that it was all The Donald's idea.
and . . God Forbid he manages this -
4) Some type of modest but visible Anti-Immigration program, wall, or just very public arrests and deportations. But not Nazi Germany level.
Don't underestimate this guy AGAIN!
He has no soul and therefore is not afraid of losing it.
Me too?
Soul searching? You bet..
Angry? Hell yeah!
Scared? Yes, and that's coming from a straight, poorly educated middle-age white man.
Surprised? Somehow, no.
In 2020 I don't wanna still be talking about Donald Trump. But if you think that surely The Donald could not last that long - Think again.
All the buffoon has to do is vaguely keep one or two of his promises and not get caught doing anything that is obviously illegal. At least the kind of illegal that his base would turn on him for.
Here's some ways I think he could graft himself semi permanently to our beloved country's number one office:
1) Massive Infrastructure Enhancements. Remember, his party now.
2) Some short quick military action somewhere that leaves us not holding the bag and whose negative results are either not immediately apparent or nebulous at best. Perhaps a joint Russian/US attack on some new terror network or even the ouster of Assad himself.
3) Presiding over a series of domestic terrorist arrests complete with shoot outs, revealed cells, networks, public trials and of course the repeated claims that it was all The Donald's idea.
and . . God Forbid he manages this -
4) Some type of modest but visible Anti-Immigration program, wall, or just very public arrests and deportations. But not Nazi Germany level.
Don't underestimate this guy AGAIN!
He has no soul and therefore is not afraid of losing it.
14
Note that FactChecker, by the time 2020 was reached, had expanded it's Pinocchio Test to scores beyond 4, then 5, then 10, then 100, then 1,000
and now uses a hyper-dimensional measure to accommodate the reversal of time, space, and physics to model the "Trump Effect".
Astrophysicist was the top profession of choice for new college students in 2020, since it was not sure how long the opportunity to do research inside an actual Black Hole would continue.
and now uses a hyper-dimensional measure to accommodate the reversal of time, space, and physics to model the "Trump Effect".
Astrophysicist was the top profession of choice for new college students in 2020, since it was not sure how long the opportunity to do research inside an actual Black Hole would continue.
4
Ross,
Really? You forgot to mention his denunciation of hatred, racism, bigotry, misogyny and the alt right! Dream on! The republican party worked very hard to break this country and now we have this clown to deal with along with all his hate filled minions and hypocrites! What a shame this carnival barker follows one of the greatest presidents we have ever had. My only hope is that more than half the country did NOT vote for this buffoon and this nightmare will likely be over four years from now. It is unfortunate we will then be cleaning up the mess that he and the republicans will make!
WE'RE STILL HERE!
Really? You forgot to mention his denunciation of hatred, racism, bigotry, misogyny and the alt right! Dream on! The republican party worked very hard to break this country and now we have this clown to deal with along with all his hate filled minions and hypocrites! What a shame this carnival barker follows one of the greatest presidents we have ever had. My only hope is that more than half the country did NOT vote for this buffoon and this nightmare will likely be over four years from now. It is unfortunate we will then be cleaning up the mess that he and the republicans will make!
WE'RE STILL HERE!
11
"It is unfortunate we will then be cleaning up the mess that he and the republicans will make!"
We haven't finished cleaning up from the Bush train wreck.
We haven't finished cleaning up from the Bush train wreck.
1
You almost got it right, but what you meant to say was, "He made America feel HATE again."
8
It is 2020, and Douthat has been fired long ago from his job as a columnist for the New York Times -- along with Maureen Dowd and David Brooks! Their sins are said to have been many, but mostly spreading the gospel of neo-conservatism, playing loose with facts, and attacking former President Obama and Mrs. Clinton on flimsy grounds, while always tilting favorably toward Republican office-holders and candidates for office. These are the only positive and encouraging news stories that have emerged from four years of Trump Presidency.
14
They should be fired today for crimes against humanity, for defending (with strategic equivocations) the indefensible.
1
And he made the trains run on time!
4
Ross must be afraid Trump will "lock him up" or something for being somewhat honest about Trump - up until now? However, going low should certainly endear you to the Trump of the moment. Press secretary perhaps? Ross would make a great Ron Ziegler don't you think? He's very good at making "inoperative" statements.
5
This is the problem, with dictatorships, the people in power control the narrative. That is why Trump was elected. He was allowed to lie and say whatever he wanted to get elected. Now, he plans to go do "whatever he wants as president" without having to account to his voters. How, by either saying he is changing his mind, or simply "changing the narrative." He will simply make some changes to Obamacare, same as Hillary and rename it and take credit. He will send out legislation for infrastructure and take credit for Hillary's ideas. The problem with unethical corruption in politics is that it breaks down the entire system and it trickles down to all walks of life. The people of this country did not just vote in a Republican, they have seriously damaged our democracy and it will take 50 years to repair, just you wait and see!
8
As with George W. Bush, it may take 8 years for the next great recession to arrive. Mr. Douthat also forgot to mention the big conflict of interest scandal involving the Trump business empire. And of course, dumping Melania (after she gained a few pounds) for a new model.
4
For all the comments claiming they know what's coming; obviously, as we found out on Tuesday, we don't know what's coming. this scenario is as likely as the next. we could be in a full on civil war in four years too; it's fun to speculate. But stop claiming you have ANY IDEA what's going on anymore. the world is inside out; learn to love it
1
Ross, let me remind you and the esteemed readership that on the eve of Election Day, you predicted a decisive victory for Hillary Clinton, which (unfortunately) did not materialize. I suggest that for now you stick to commenting on the past, or if anything, place your bets on events that are at most an hour into the future. Quick: what do you think will be Trump's next tweet about?
10
OK Ross, answer this one. A decisive group in the Trump victory was his appeal to the the white blue collar working class who have been seeing their jobs evaporate, 20 years of stagnant wages and their real feelings of being abandoned by both parties. He won them over by promising that he was going to bring back all the great paying industrial jobs that you used to be able to get right out of high school. That and bringing back coal mining by ending the so-called "War on Coal" Obama was supposed to be waging. The problem is that most of the industrial jobs have been lost to automation and now require considerably more than a High School education. Check out the Nucor steel corporation as a prime example. This is the way all industry is going. If he imposes tariffs on foreign industrial products that will raise the costs in the US effectively making everyone except the 1% poorer. Coal? The war on coal is being conducted by the Oil & Gas industry, not liberal tree huggers. American ingenuity has made the price of natural gas CHEAPER than coal. What's he going to do, tell the O&G industry to shut down? Also he's promised to "drill baby drill" so he's going to gore someone's Ox. Like many promises he made to get elected these working class ones aren't going to happen. NPR recently interviewed a Wyoming coal miner about how soon he expected the jobs to start coming back. His reply: If it didn't happen in 18 months he was never going to vote Republican again.
22
This column is precisely the magical thinking and pre-normalization that we don't need.
20
Douthat seems to have taken up humor writing. Although bizarre it's not funny.
7
Trump is going to do great.
He is going to start a bit of a trade war, but that is ok. In order to help our manufacturing base I am willing to pay a little more for toys, clothes, and cars made in the USA.
Unlike most coastal elites, I actually have empathy for my fellow Americans who live in the rest belt and are suffering. Trump rightly empathizes with them, who once made our country great, instead of always emphasizing with and spending money on illegal Mexicans, Syrians, gays and transgenders.
This is a new world order. Dems have permanently lost the working vote.
He is going to start a bit of a trade war, but that is ok. In order to help our manufacturing base I am willing to pay a little more for toys, clothes, and cars made in the USA.
Unlike most coastal elites, I actually have empathy for my fellow Americans who live in the rest belt and are suffering. Trump rightly empathizes with them, who once made our country great, instead of always emphasizing with and spending money on illegal Mexicans, Syrians, gays and transgenders.
This is a new world order. Dems have permanently lost the working vote.
1
How nice of you to generalize about "coastal elites," most of whom you've never met so you have no idea if they have empathy for the rust belt or not. I can only speak for myself and my community in Northern California, but we were crazy about Bernie, not Hillary, partly because he is far more (genuinely) concerned about the rust belt than the Orange Beast pretends to be. But that's okay, you go on making generalizations about things you know nothing about, and we'll see how that works out for you. And keep believing in America's greatest con man, proving once again that there's a fool born every minute, while spewing your hate about "illegal Mexicans, Syrians, gays and transgenders" who, of course, all belong in the same sentence, since they're all the same thing -- at least in your little mind.
My, Ross, how quickly you have become a cheerleader!
7
One of the things that I have most against the MSM including many of its columnists is the portrayal of Paul Ryan, as a personable decent human being with just a different point of view. There are few greater adversaries to democracy than Paul Ryan. He is well-known to be a sycophant follower of Ayn Rand who portrayed poor people as all undeserving lazy leeches and businessmen as virtuous producers. This brutally cold pretender wants to get rid of Medicare and make medical care for older people into a source of lucrative profits (i.e. much more expensive) tool for the virtuous health care industry.
If this was 1850, Ryan would be in favor of slavery as a source of profit that produced jobs for undeserving lazy people. All that it takes is for a politician to give a lot of access and act friendly to MSM editors for them to create a falsely favorable picture of him. Ryan is nothing more than a covert Trump with an even worse agenda, and the MSM, especially in the political field, are nothing more than a crew of Iagos.
If this was 1850, Ryan would be in favor of slavery as a source of profit that produced jobs for undeserving lazy people. All that it takes is for a politician to give a lot of access and act friendly to MSM editors for them to create a falsely favorable picture of him. Ryan is nothing more than a covert Trump with an even worse agenda, and the MSM, especially in the political field, are nothing more than a crew of Iagos.
30
The left are firmly determined not to let anything like Reagan ever happen again. Reagan made fools out of them and brought down the Soviet Union, which they admired and hoped would win. He did this mostly by restoring the confidence of the American people, which had been shaken by the Vietnam war and by the Carter era. Everything else followed naturally.
Trump is not the man that Reagan was and the left are much more entrenched in American institutions, so the second time things may turn out differently.
Trump is not the man that Reagan was and the left are much more entrenched in American institutions, so the second time things may turn out differently.
So not happening, because it is obvious that Pence, Giuliani, etc. are in charge.
2
Totally weird! And how do these people keep their jobs?Did I miss that all the Clintons were sent to Guantanamo, that a 100 foot electrified fence enclosed the US and that everyone is blonde so they won't be confused with Muslims and people from south of the border. The former Society satellites were invaded by Russia and Trump is opening golf courses in all these countries.
2
The people who got Trump elected because he promised living wage jobs won't forgive the lack of same "because of a rising GDP".
2
If he made America great again, how come Hillary won the popular vote?
Add the two other 3rd party candidates and he's a real loser. Only the Electoral College saved him, which he, BTW, has condemned before he won. LOL
Add the two other 3rd party candidates and he's a real loser. Only the Electoral College saved him, which he, BTW, has condemned before he won. LOL
9
Ross,
One of the things I have noticed in all my reading in the NYT's editorial and option pages is the absence of the word repudiation.
So as they did back in school, and for the benefit of Progressives everywhere the word means " to reject; to to disown." Let me use it in a sentence. In the 2016 election the voters repudiated the Progressive agenda.
So instead of carrying on, placing blame, and distorting the reasons Trump was elected, why don't Progressives just accept the truth, get on with their lives, and stop the whining.
One of the things I have noticed in all my reading in the NYT's editorial and option pages is the absence of the word repudiation.
So as they did back in school, and for the benefit of Progressives everywhere the word means " to reject; to to disown." Let me use it in a sentence. In the 2016 election the voters repudiated the Progressive agenda.
So instead of carrying on, placing blame, and distorting the reasons Trump was elected, why don't Progressives just accept the truth, get on with their lives, and stop the whining.
1
Well, there is the pesky little fact that more people voted for Clinton than for Trump. And another pesky little fact: when voters are given the chance to vote on progressive issues via referendum, those issues pass way more often than they lose. Higher minimum wage in multiple states, support for mass transit, and gun control all passed Tuesday. That's hardly a rejection of the Progressive agenda. Sounds more like supporting it to me.
http://nyti.ms/2fnTen1
http://nyti.ms/2fnTen1
Please, some commenting wag, write about Mitch McConnell's political demise.
2
Your prediction is as good as the ones prior to the election- you know, the ones that predicted an easy Hillary victory? In other news, I predict that a mother in CA will kick her 7 (8?) year old out of the house for voting for Trump in a mock election. I also predict that some readers of the WAPost and NYT will sympathize... with her.
2
And the climate, Ross? That issue everyone keeps forgetting. You didn't mention whether Trump followed through on our commitments under the Paris agreement that Obama helped to negotiate. Should we assume that the answer is no? What were the consequence of our walking away? Did the rest of the world then walk away too? All climate scientists say that the failure to act now will result in an irreversible and catastrophic rise in the average temperature of the earth. Maybe the humanitarian crises will not have become apparent by 2020. But it's just a matter of time. You say he made America feel great again. For how long? Until the water from the melting ice reaches his lower lip?
6
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.
Do Not Let It Happen Here
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.
Do Not Let It Happen Here
5
Unfortunately, I think future you wrote this because writing critical columns results in retaliation from a White House severally hostile to freedom of the press.
6
Unfortunately, I'm assuming that future you wrote this because writing a critical editorial would get 2020 would experience intimidation and retaliation directly from the oval office.
5
This was a relatively innocuous, if not downright rosy, take on the Trump administration, until I got to the paralyzing phrase "his second term."
Not on our watch.
Not on our watch.
1
Hey Ross, you forgot the (failed) impeachment, the tousand of protests, the nuclear mistake, and the trial against the New York Times, best of luck with that!
6
I wish Donald Trump good health for the next four years, you know why ?
Mike Pence is way more dangerous man who needs to go away after the first term.
Mike Pence is way more dangerous man who needs to go away after the first term.
10
Unfortunately, we do not have an alternate, disposable planet on which to conduct the experiment.
2
I am pretty sure that if Trump achieves even a small percent of the bombastic, hair-brained ideas we will be lucky to maintain banana republic status. That said, it's hard to take in this sci-fi vision vs. what he has promised to deliver: The Mexican wall; US military support for money, hatred and war on all of Islam and apparently all of those hated by his white supremacists friends - to name a few. He will either play out his promises or he will play the game of bait-and-switch; aka politics as usual, and that will prove him no better than anyone else in elected office.
4
Ross - How many times do you need to be wrong before you just give up? You're having in Bill Kristol territory with this one.
1
Ross, you do remember your 29 October 2016 don't you?
"The Dangers of Donald Trump"
"The Dangers of Donald Trump"
5
Fantasizing is one way of getting through this.
4
How about: the deficit exploded, inequality increased, millions lost health insurance, seniors could not afford insurance with vouchers in a "free market" industry, the jobs did not come back, companies were not repatriated, minority unrest increased leading to violent clashes with law enforcement agencies liberated to ratchet up the violence, the air and water table were defiled, the Chinese got decades ahead of us in renewables, and the rest of the world considered us the biggest idiots on the planet?
8
We know this column could never come to pass because pundits like Ross never admit they were wrong.
4
Well, I mean, that's the thing about a guy with no values, no positions on anything, and no attention span: you can make up a future where he does anything! Let me play, too! Hey, I think he's going to clone dinosaurs and become a Michael Jackson impersonator. That is exactly as plausible as what Douthat wrote here.
4
I held out some hope that this might have some accuracy until I started seeing the names of the people he is surrounding himself with, not to mention his tweets against protesters. He has an opportunity like no man in history, and he is blowing it already.
1
I think Mr. Douthat, after denouncing Trump right up to Election Day, might have waited a week before running desperately across Manhattan to Trump Tower to throw himself at the Great Man's feet. Show a little dignity, sir.
5
What about the war? was not there a war during this time? somewhere in the middle east or in Europe?
1
Dear Mr. Douthat:
Although you often refer to Taleb's Black Swans, usually without crediting him, you prove over and over again that you have no idea what a Black Swan is. "First, it is an outlier, as it lies outside the realm of regular expectations, because nothing in the past can convincingly point to its possibility. Second, it carries an extreme impact...Third, in spite of its outlier status, human nature makes us concoct explanations for its occurrence AFTER the fact, making it explainable and predictable."
I believe Trump is a Black Swan and I expect so do you. So keep predicting away about Trump. For most of us, the extremity of his impact is yet to be known.
Although you often refer to Taleb's Black Swans, usually without crediting him, you prove over and over again that you have no idea what a Black Swan is. "First, it is an outlier, as it lies outside the realm of regular expectations, because nothing in the past can convincingly point to its possibility. Second, it carries an extreme impact...Third, in spite of its outlier status, human nature makes us concoct explanations for its occurrence AFTER the fact, making it explainable and predictable."
I believe Trump is a Black Swan and I expect so do you. So keep predicting away about Trump. For most of us, the extremity of his impact is yet to be known.
Ross, My crystal ball for 2020 goes like this: "NY Times supports centrist Democrat for President stating that the progressive challenger presents only out of reach, pie-in-the sky ideals and hopes for the working class. Only a stay the course, centrist pro-trade agreements, pro Banking/ corporate direction can solve America's problems". More of the same from the old-school pro-corporatist Democrats and their media supporters.
2
Hmm. Nothing about the the messiah's 'tweet of the day' blast over loud speakers 24/7 in 2020?
It's always interesting to be entertained by yours' and David Brooks' fantasy views of the world. You're really in the wrong end of the writing game Ross, grade B pulp fiction would seem to be more where your talents lie. Brooks should entertain hot air ballooning to spend more time where most of his writing resides.
It's always interesting to be entertained by yours' and David Brooks' fantasy views of the world. You're really in the wrong end of the writing game Ross, grade B pulp fiction would seem to be more where your talents lie. Brooks should entertain hot air ballooning to spend more time where most of his writing resides.
2
Hahahaha, dream on Mr. Douthat. This column must have slipped through from an alternate universe where Trump isn't a mysoginistic, bigoted, immature, politically inexperienced sexual predator and bully.
5
The Times copyeditor mistakenly erased a paragraph about global warming that came to me through my time machine. (Lucky we all have them now.) Here it is:
And Trump's decision to do nothing about global warming has actually helped him politically. Now that south Florida is under water and the Democratic voters all have all moved away, winning Florida's electoral votes was a breeze. A side benefit is that Florida is now further from Cuba, making it harder for Cubans to reach American soil and satisfying his supporters who wanted him to build an additional wall all along Florida's coast.
And Trump's decision to do nothing about global warming has actually helped him politically. Now that south Florida is under water and the Democratic voters all have all moved away, winning Florida's electoral votes was a breeze. A side benefit is that Florida is now further from Cuba, making it harder for Cubans to reach American soil and satisfying his supporters who wanted him to build an additional wall all along Florida's coast.
4
Trump supporters are quickly going to find out that Trump is Trump and he will do what Trump wants to do. He will support social conservatives as long as it benefits him. No more benefit? Dump them. He has already dumped the promise to end ObamaCare and to appoint outsiders to his transition team. It is going to be a wild four years with opportunism being the political philosophy du jour.
Interestingly enough that opportunism may work better than the unyielding Conservative beliefs of a Cruz or Rubio. Trump's biggest danger to himself is his month. If he can keep it under control, he may do all right.
Interestingly enough that opportunism may work better than the unyielding Conservative beliefs of a Cruz or Rubio. Trump's biggest danger to himself is his month. If he can keep it under control, he may do all right.
2
After the sewer of a campaign Trump staged and his supporters gulped whole, probably it's too rote a cliche to say that Douthat's piece had to have been meant for The Onion but was inadvertently routed to The Times.
4
You forgot to mention that with rising sea levels, much of Southern Florida is being evacuated. Half of greater Miami has now been abandoned to the Atlantic Ocean. These rising sea levels and loss of the Polar Ice caps are now indisputably tied to AGW.
Meanwhile Trumps appointment to the EPA Myron Ebell, a Climate Change skeptic is under indictment after millions of dollars were found in a numbered Swiss bank account that he controls. These monies are believed to have come from the Koch brothers.
In another note, James B. Comey , the past FBI director is also under indictment for violating the Hatch act during the runup to the Trump/Clinton election .
Meanwhile Trumps appointment to the EPA Myron Ebell, a Climate Change skeptic is under indictment after millions of dollars were found in a numbered Swiss bank account that he controls. These monies are believed to have come from the Koch brothers.
In another note, James B. Comey , the past FBI director is also under indictment for violating the Hatch act during the runup to the Trump/Clinton election .
2
Did NY legalize cannabis last week? Quite the tall tale from an alternate universe where Trump was actually a good businessman, had more than a 15-second attention span, and did not hold grudges. In another bulletin from that alternate universe, Spock comes back to meet himself. Sci-Fi, Ross.
2
Or Trump quits in 2017 because he really really hates the job of being President.
2
This fantasy scenario doesn't even pass as wishful thinking. We are potentially looking at something so destructive that only a resignation or impeachment within the next year is going to remotely bring us back to some reality.
1
I think it's really, really naive to think there will be impeachment proceedings any time soon, regardless of what the president does. Ross Douthat is probably right about Trump being canny and popular enough to stay on top for a while. And he will leave behind a giant mess.
Yes, this is pretty much my fantasy. In fact I would go even further -- I would say that Trump is now in a position to totally remake American politics, for the better, and for a generation.
Of course being in a position to do that does not mean he actually will! That would require a thoughtfulness and understanding that to this point I simply haven't seen in Trump. So far I've simply been grateful that he has been on his best behavior since the election, and managed not to embarrass the country (any further). But yes, we can dream...
Of course being in a position to do that does not mean he actually will! That would require a thoughtfulness and understanding that to this point I simply haven't seen in Trump. So far I've simply been grateful that he has been on his best behavior since the election, and managed not to embarrass the country (any further). But yes, we can dream...
2
Can the NYT at least limit their opinion writers to thoughts on what is happening in the real world?
Stop trying to manipulate to storyline of the future.
Stop trying to manipulate to storyline of the future.
2
He will be impeached by the Republican House and the Republican Senate, chose your reason, and Pence, otherwise unelectable and the Republican's true choice for President, will rise to that office - and then the fun will really begin....
6
What's wrong with Pence? The state of Indiana is doing well financially.
JR, it is the House of Representatives alone that has the power to impeach the President. The Senate cannot impeach anyone.
Oh please, Mr Douthat. You crystal ball has been cloudy and incorrect every step along the primaries and election. Instead of getting out and seeing the country and talking with people you are content to bask in the glow of your computer screen and imagine the future. Quite a deal, to get paid for this.
4
One test of Trump's leadership will be the quick quashing of the White Power harassment that one colleague of mine encountered yesterday. The bigoted hateful cannot be allowed to feel comfortable in their own skins again.
4
Five percent of current United States senators are losers of GOP Primary and General presidential Election Losers: Cruz of Texas, Paul of Kentucky, Graham of SC, McCain of AZ and Rubio of Florida.
It is my hope that none of them looking forward to became the most influential political gigolo of the income administration. If they do, most likely, Senator Rubio will be the winner since Mark Rubio is the youngest and physically closer to the incoming president.
It is my hope that none of them looking forward to became the most influential political gigolo of the income administration. If they do, most likely, Senator Rubio will be the winner since Mark Rubio is the youngest and physically closer to the incoming president.
1
I love predictions,NOT! This article reads like regular "news". The only thing missing is the color of Kardasian's underwear on page one. I blame Jerry Springer for debasing the news to the point of hearsay. The news use to be reported not invented. Deplorables swallow anything out of Pussydent Dumps mouth but libertards have no rights(,the nerve that they would protest). It doesn't matter that he said it recorded on video, it is denied by him 30 minutes later and then spun up to what he meant. Think of it as the new newspeak.
4
Trump would be 78 at the end of a second term. He'd have spent his 70's doing the most stressful job in the world. If he survived that long, he wouldn't live much longer.
I don't believe that is how Trump wants to spend the rest of his life.
One term would be a much lesser burden. By the time he is 75 he could be an ex-President whose brand would be worth billions more. That is a far better way to spend the rest of his (probably much longer) life.
Whatever happens in the next four years, that is it for Trump.
I don't believe that is how Trump wants to spend the rest of his life.
One term would be a much lesser burden. By the time he is 75 he could be an ex-President whose brand would be worth billions more. That is a far better way to spend the rest of his (probably much longer) life.
Whatever happens in the next four years, that is it for Trump.
7
I'm now 75 and Trump; is definitely NOT the way I want to spend the rest of MY life. So 'short-live Trump!'
And I already know from experience that my call for Trump to have a short life will be a futile as Glendower calling spirits from the vasty deep.
At the same time, I don't expect Trump will soon shame the Devil.
Glendower:
I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
Hotspur:
Why, so can I, or so can any man;
But will they come when you do call for them?
Glendower:
Why, I can teach you, cousin, to command
The devil
Hotspur:
And I can teach thee, coz, to shame the devil—
By telling the truth. Tell truth and shame the devil.
Henry The Fourth, Part I Act 3, scene 1, 52–58
And I already know from experience that my call for Trump to have a short life will be a futile as Glendower calling spirits from the vasty deep.
At the same time, I don't expect Trump will soon shame the Devil.
Glendower:
I can call spirits from the vasty deep.
Hotspur:
Why, so can I, or so can any man;
But will they come when you do call for them?
Glendower:
Why, I can teach you, cousin, to command
The devil
Hotspur:
And I can teach thee, coz, to shame the devil—
By telling the truth. Tell truth and shame the devil.
Henry The Fourth, Part I Act 3, scene 1, 52–58
6
What makes you think that trump will undertake the most stressful job in the world? Hasn't already stated that Pence would be in charge of domestic and foreign policies?
"A vote for Trump is not a vote for insurrection or terrorism or secession. But it is a vote for a man who stands well outside the norms of American presidential politics, who has displayed a naked contempt for republican institutions and constitutional constraints, who deliberately injects noxious conspiracy theories into political conversation, who has tiptoed closer to the incitement of political violence than any major politician in my lifetime, whose admiration for authoritarian rulers is longstanding, who has endorsed war crimes and indulged racists and so on down a list that would exhaust this column’s word count if I continued to compile it." - Ross Douthat, November 2, 2016.
How, exactly, does one go from "An Election Is Not a Suicide Pact" to "He Made America Feel Great Again" in just 10 days? You waited until it looked like Trump was going to lose to denounce Trump, and now that he has won, you're making rosy predictions about what a great president he will be. Sticking your finger out to see which way the wind is blowing isn't moral courage; it's toadyism. You might think about that the next time you write a sneering column about liberalism's lack of consistency, Mr. Douthat.
How, exactly, does one go from "An Election Is Not a Suicide Pact" to "He Made America Feel Great Again" in just 10 days? You waited until it looked like Trump was going to lose to denounce Trump, and now that he has won, you're making rosy predictions about what a great president he will be. Sticking your finger out to see which way the wind is blowing isn't moral courage; it's toadyism. You might think about that the next time you write a sneering column about liberalism's lack of consistency, Mr. Douthat.
257
Indeed, as I've written previously, Douthat is both an idiot and an enabler.
Fabulous comment and awfully good memory.
They used to say the same thing about science fiction - that it can never happen - which is why I'm writing this from an iPad now.
16
Here is a less-feel-great prediction. When Trump fails to imprison Hillary Clinton for those imaginary "terrible, terrible crimes;" when Trump declines to sue each of his accusers; when Trump abandons his campaign pledge to undo the ACA on his first day (which he is clearly too far out of his depths to undertake); his supporters will be disillusioned and turn against him. The Trump fans weren't looking for respectable leadership, they wanted his outrageousness. Trump is poised to disappoint, but for the wrong reasons.
49
A prosecutor can get a grand just "to indict a ham sandwich." The Federal criminal court system is heavily loaded against defendants, who don't even get to see the evidence against them until well into the trial, with no time to review it.
If Trump needs to throw Hillary to the dogs to keep them off him, he will. He'd get her too, justice or not.
Her only hope is that it isn't worth it to him to make a long period of his term all about jailing Hillary. But if that serves him, he could.
If Trump needs to throw Hillary to the dogs to keep them off him, he will. He'd get her too, justice or not.
Her only hope is that it isn't worth it to him to make a long period of his term all about jailing Hillary. But if that serves him, he could.
3
I'm not sure that people who were so mesmerized by this tyrant would ever turn on him. Even the unexpected supporter would remain loyal in the bizarro world we now live in.
Definitely one of the better scenarios of how this plays out. Not great, but it wouldn't destroy the country. I agree: if we can put many people to work and improve our infrastructure at the same time, it could be very good for the country, even if it increases the debt. At least we are improving infrastructure that works for all of us, not just giving money to the 1% and corporations. Of course, it's not a new idea ... WPA worked.
9
It's not a new idea. It's one Obama has tried to get Congress to consider, but of course they have ignored.
Obama proposed that years ago, but Republican Congress blocked it.
Bizarro -World view.
I don't think Trump lasts four years. The man has no attention span, hates details and long meetings. He does not know much about international affairs. He don't care how many updates his staff feeds him, he should know certain things already.
What I really believe it that Trump will do something stupid and get himself impeached, because I think that is what most Republicans really want.
Some even wonder if he truly wants to be president, but wanted to prove a point.
But one thing has already happened: Trump has made American hate again.
I don't think Trump lasts four years. The man has no attention span, hates details and long meetings. He does not know much about international affairs. He don't care how many updates his staff feeds him, he should know certain things already.
What I really believe it that Trump will do something stupid and get himself impeached, because I think that is what most Republicans really want.
Some even wonder if he truly wants to be president, but wanted to prove a point.
But one thing has already happened: Trump has made American hate again.
121
CL - Yes. The Republican hierarchy will impeach him if that best furthers their authoritarian strategy to secure total power in perpetuity. If he softens toward Liberals, they will dump him.
The Republicans have been playing chess while the Liberals are playing checkers. To understand republicans, you need to throw good faith, morality, mercy, fairness, decency and all the other positive values out the window.
These are not people you can talk with, since all they want is a chance to stab you in the back.
Instead you must consider what the most cynical outcome could be, and then you get what the republicans are focused on every time.
Most of these comments miss the mark because the commenter thinks the Republican hierarchy shares at least some of their values. This is an error.
Better to consider Republicans as having the values of a poisonous snake.
The Republicans have been playing chess while the Liberals are playing checkers. To understand republicans, you need to throw good faith, morality, mercy, fairness, decency and all the other positive values out the window.
These are not people you can talk with, since all they want is a chance to stab you in the back.
Instead you must consider what the most cynical outcome could be, and then you get what the republicans are focused on every time.
Most of these comments miss the mark because the commenter thinks the Republican hierarchy shares at least some of their values. This is an error.
Better to consider Republicans as having the values of a poisonous snake.
1
I think that the Republican Establishment will be more savvy than to throw Trump out. They'll encourage him to continue his road show of red-meat rallies to keep his followers riled up and distracted while they enact their far-fight agenda; and he'll sign whatever papers they shove under his nose.
And Trump's not likely to last four years. Either poor health or boredom will catch up with him and he'll be gone, voluntarily or by natural causes.
And Trump's not likely to last four years. Either poor health or boredom will catch up with him and he'll be gone, voluntarily or by natural causes.
Sounds plausible to me..you basically have provided the final impulse for me to move
17
The many-worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics is on the ascendency, and what you describe may well (will surely?) happen in some of these worlds. But in many others, I foresee a President Pence running for a new term after Donald Trump was eagerly impeached by Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell...
34
In those four great years, the planet continues to radically heat up and all of these benefits are not felt by the population of 8 billion on the planet. Nobody seems to be concerned about the scarcity of resources and how that will affect global instability.
68
Sadly we can no longer afford to focus on climate change as we have a much more pressing short-term existential crisis in the making.
Mar-a-Lago will be flooded permanently.
And here are my comments in reply to that 2020 column, coming through the same time warp, summing up a tally of the four-year disaster that was the Trump Experiment: "widespread rioting and near civil war has broken out after Trump executive orders started requiring all Muslim-Americans to register with the FBI and get permission to travel across state lines and ordered police in military surplus armored vehicles to start dragnets across major cities to round up 'illegal aliens' to deport, along the way expelling hundreds of thousands of American citizens and legal residents who were not carrying required proof of citizenship; DOJ will not investigate police brutality; Much of the west, including Yellowstone National Park, have been opened to mining, the entire California coast & the ANWR to oil exploration; Medicare has been repealed, Social Security eligibility age was raised to 79, and taxes for the top 10% were cut to 4%; official unemployment rates have shot up to 24% after the U.S. pulled out of NAFTA and the WTO, and China, EU & others have retaliated against U.S. tariffs of 150% on all imported goods; Russia under Czar Putin has 'taken back' the Baltic states, Belarus, Moldova & the rest of Ukraine; Japan & S. Korea are nuclear states; and the Supreme Court, now with Justices Giuliani, Palin and Gingrich, has made abortion illegal, ruled all civil rights legislation unconstitutional, and upheld the repeal of ACA, leaving millions without insurance again." Fun times!
358
Mr. Magoo; yes, but that's just the start. Consider what happened to millions and millions after 1933... America, I believe, is more apt to follow that path than Germany was - not less, the way most people believe. It is already happening.
1
also he will cut the minimum wage to 5 dollars an hour
1
What is scary is that your scenarios, in part and/or all, seem well within the confines of possibilities. As much as I hate to say it, all that you have said seem plausible. And that scares me as the rightwing now controls both Houses of Congress, the Presidency, the FBI, and the CIA. All I need to do is go back listen to say 10 of tRumps video-tapped comments.
1
Talk about punditry run amuck. Here's my crystal ball gazing moment: He'll be out on his ear in less than four, for egregious conflict of interest trading his own interest for the national interst or assorted high crimes and misdemeanors. Our "deep government" will see to it that he doesn't finish his term.
54
Sure, but who is going to take him out? Who would have that power? And why would Trump allow them to have that power? The tell will be this upcoming fraud trial, in a couple weeks we'll have the first proof of how dangerous this man is if he is able to shut down that trial. The judge he called out with racism has already been cowed to press the plaintiffs to settle. Will our president-elect humiliate himself by actually taking the witness stand - in person or via video?
1
This all is based on the assumption the GOP "leaders" will do what's right. And of course they never do....
We'd all like to see that happen, but unless we show up in force in the midterms to take back at least one branch, he's not going anywhere till 2020. And maybe not even then.
In other words, if Trump makes the country better, it will be because he acted like a liberal, and Republicans could no longer oppose common-sense ideas just because they would've made Obama look good.
Actually, this is what I believe could happen, along with some horrible hits to the environment and human rights.
Actually, this is what I believe could happen, along with some horrible hits to the environment and human rights.
94
How long do you suppose it will take for a state run broadcast network, featuring heavy nightly propaganda for the Trump administration, to be announced?
Isn't that something we can foresee?
After all, government control of the networks is dicey- not out of the question but why bother when public television is already up an running and simply needs to be converted to Trump TV? The Mob must be fed its propaganda pablum so that they always hear that America is getting greater by the day, or that it would were it not for- -take your pick-- pesky protestors; downer democrats; wily wall streeters; fetid foreigners; contrary congressmen...
After all, if it gets difficult to show the great again stuff, there will need to be someone to blame.
And when it comes time to announce the national emergency that justifies the exercise of additional emergency powers, it will be important to get the word out to the faithful without the silly unpatriotic reporting of the mainstream media.
After all, the truth needs to be shaped to fit the needs of the Great Leader.
Will that be part of what we are talking about in 2020?
If so, you can bet it won't be on the government network. Thank God for the bulwark of a free press.
Isn't that something we can foresee?
After all, government control of the networks is dicey- not out of the question but why bother when public television is already up an running and simply needs to be converted to Trump TV? The Mob must be fed its propaganda pablum so that they always hear that America is getting greater by the day, or that it would were it not for- -take your pick-- pesky protestors; downer democrats; wily wall streeters; fetid foreigners; contrary congressmen...
After all, if it gets difficult to show the great again stuff, there will need to be someone to blame.
And when it comes time to announce the national emergency that justifies the exercise of additional emergency powers, it will be important to get the word out to the faithful without the silly unpatriotic reporting of the mainstream media.
After all, the truth needs to be shaped to fit the needs of the Great Leader.
Will that be part of what we are talking about in 2020?
If so, you can bet it won't be on the government network. Thank God for the bulwark of a free press.
16
Why would Trump spend any money or capital on creating his own propaganda network when Fox is doing it already for free?
27
Just another trophy to add to his collection. Another business he can declare acumen in. And he will weild absolute and total control and not have to deal with occasionally errant Shep Smith or Megyn Kelly because they would never be hired in the first place.
Done. The day after the election, his son-in-law Jared Kushner, who owns the New York Observer newspaper announced it would stop the print version, drop 'New York' from the title and be solely online known as the 'Observer'.
All too plausible.
3
Trump will govern in a fiscally liberal and socially conservative manner, despite being personally fiscally conservative and socially liberal.
I was predicting that for some time, and recent statements of his indicate that I was right.
On the fiscal side, he will preserve entitlements, spend big money on infrastructure, block TARP and "replace" Obamacare with something not very different. GDP growth would be good but the deficit would continue to balloon.
On the social side, he will secure the border and replace Scalia, Ginsberg, Breyer and Thomas with pro-life judges, finally resulting in the iconic repeal of Roe-vs-Wade, which would leave it to the states to decide on abortion. ISIS as a state actor will also be crushed in the first year of his presidency.
He would, thus, become a hero to both the Left and the Right, and win a second term.
I was predicting that for some time, and recent statements of his indicate that I was right.
On the fiscal side, he will preserve entitlements, spend big money on infrastructure, block TARP and "replace" Obamacare with something not very different. GDP growth would be good but the deficit would continue to balloon.
On the social side, he will secure the border and replace Scalia, Ginsberg, Breyer and Thomas with pro-life judges, finally resulting in the iconic repeal of Roe-vs-Wade, which would leave it to the states to decide on abortion. ISIS as a state actor will also be crushed in the first year of his presidency.
He would, thus, become a hero to both the Left and the Right, and win a second term.
3
Trump has no ideology or ideas, and cannot comprehend a movement based on either or both of those concepts. Consequently, he will never understand nor be able to "crush ISIS," which is a movement of ideology and ideas. All Trump knows is force, zero-sum tactics, and what he thinks he learned about war in his elite quasi-military high school. Even General Stanley McChrystal acknowledged the fact that we can't kill our way out of terrorism, considering that the terrorists actually want to die. Comparing the war on terrorism to previous world wars, as many want to do, is comparing apples to floor tiles.
1
Dear Mrs. Clinton,
You don’t know me. I’ve never met you and wasn’t involved in your campaign.
I am writing to express my deep gratitude to you for making the run, working as hard and bravely as you did to defeat the hideous and awful Mr. Trump and for your lifetime of service to the people of this country, especially our kids.
I am never going to understand the hate and venom that was directed at you by the Trump forces.
Mr. Trump, I did understand. He is damaged goods, a man whose only real interest in life is himself and his appetites.
The people of this country who voted against you are a different story. Many of them are people who possess real hurts, but how they could come to hold you personally responsible for these will forever be a mystery to me.
Please know that the people who sponsored and spread the preposterous email and Foundation charges that were leveled against you knew full well
just how preposterous they were; and that you bear no personal responsibility for the damage they did to you.
Remember always -- as millions of grandmothers, mothers and young girls will -- that the people of this country elected you as their President.
(Mr. Trump was selected by the Electoral College, which is a college in the same way that Trump University is a university.)
With best wishes to you and your good husband for many more years of health, happiness and success doing whatever it pleases you to do.
--- Stanton in Dallas
You don’t know me. I’ve never met you and wasn’t involved in your campaign.
I am writing to express my deep gratitude to you for making the run, working as hard and bravely as you did to defeat the hideous and awful Mr. Trump and for your lifetime of service to the people of this country, especially our kids.
I am never going to understand the hate and venom that was directed at you by the Trump forces.
Mr. Trump, I did understand. He is damaged goods, a man whose only real interest in life is himself and his appetites.
The people of this country who voted against you are a different story. Many of them are people who possess real hurts, but how they could come to hold you personally responsible for these will forever be a mystery to me.
Please know that the people who sponsored and spread the preposterous email and Foundation charges that were leveled against you knew full well
just how preposterous they were; and that you bear no personal responsibility for the damage they did to you.
Remember always -- as millions of grandmothers, mothers and young girls will -- that the people of this country elected you as their President.
(Mr. Trump was selected by the Electoral College, which is a college in the same way that Trump University is a university.)
With best wishes to you and your good husband for many more years of health, happiness and success doing whatever it pleases you to do.
--- Stanton in Dallas
365
With the stroke of the pen, A. Stanton brings back and class back to a classless situation. Well-done.
1
What a beautiful letter. A nice contrast to people who are now piling on Mrs. Clinton just to get on the Trump victory bandwagon. I find that to be a horrible trait of human nature.
1
Wow, Reagan would be rolling in his grave.
6
I agree with this projection. I wish I could forward this article to my friends without fear of losing my friends, my career, and my physical safety.
4
You left out that most of the US is about 2 degrees hotter, and much of Florida is flooded....
505
Much of Florida is flooded? I live in Florida, in St. Petersburg, and have lived here for about 30 years. I can tell that you have no clue about what you are saying, but this is how rumors get started. The only flooding we get is during storms and hurricanes, like anywhere else. Please don't spread false facts.
1
I love it. we have no idea what Trump will do, or the outcomes, but giving him a chance, suggesting maybe the world is not ending. And certainly much of this is true, like the current unemployment rate being a statistical error.
3
Even criminals deserve a chance. But Trump is unrepentant so he must be carefully watched!
1
Its interesting, but you have one thing right for sure. You (the collective you/media) had it wrong. That's right.
11
And he seems to still have it wrong -- so he goes to fantasy. What a waste of time.
A lot of this could be true - we just don't know. Happy to let him take credit if he does the right thing. But climate change is not something he's interested in, and climate change will be getting much worse in the meantime, and climate change will sweep any Trump victories away within decades.
207
Unlike this ludicrous fantasy; climate change is real.
123
First of all, Mr. Douthat, WHICH America are you talking about???
Because you must have noticed by now, that there are several...and they don't all agree with each other.
In fact, the divisions in this country are so great, that it 's more than racial, or religious, it's also cultural, and educational, and geogrpahical, and politically ideological, etc.....do you get my drift?
For example; All of us here in New York City have always known that we're not really part of America. We are a law unto ourselves. And we like it that way.
That's why the rest of America despises us.
That's also why most of is didn't vote for Donald Trump.
And why he didn't make us feel great again....and he won't.
But he did make us feel more ashamed.
Because you must have noticed by now, that there are several...and they don't all agree with each other.
In fact, the divisions in this country are so great, that it 's more than racial, or religious, it's also cultural, and educational, and geogrpahical, and politically ideological, etc.....do you get my drift?
For example; All of us here in New York City have always known that we're not really part of America. We are a law unto ourselves. And we like it that way.
That's why the rest of America despises us.
That's also why most of is didn't vote for Donald Trump.
And why he didn't make us feel great again....and he won't.
But he did make us feel more ashamed.
55
The only way to unite a divided country is a dictatorship, the way Soviet Russia held on to its empire and Saddam Hussein kept Iraq together. Dictators are the only ones who can herd cats, and we're a bunch of cats.
We better be vigilant because there are forces in the Republican Party that would like nothing more than to rule as a dictatorship of the Kochtapuses, corporations, Evangelical Christianity and big money (that's fascism).
In case you haven't noticed, November 8th was the day he had a coup d'etat, not by the military, but by the Republican Party. It's very possible that there was a concerted conspiracy to destroy Hillary Clinton.
I may be wrong, but, for heaven's sake, pay attention, America; we're at a crossroads and you have proven yourselves to be susceptible to snake-oil salesmen (how do you explain so many who support the Republican Party?). I hope I'm wrong, but you have allowed yourselves to be put in the hands of sleazy people; there is a possibility that we may not be able to turn back and our rights may be slated to disappear.
I sure hope I'm wrong, but I'm fairly versed in history and that makes me think this way.
We better be vigilant because there are forces in the Republican Party that would like nothing more than to rule as a dictatorship of the Kochtapuses, corporations, Evangelical Christianity and big money (that's fascism).
In case you haven't noticed, November 8th was the day he had a coup d'etat, not by the military, but by the Republican Party. It's very possible that there was a concerted conspiracy to destroy Hillary Clinton.
I may be wrong, but, for heaven's sake, pay attention, America; we're at a crossroads and you have proven yourselves to be susceptible to snake-oil salesmen (how do you explain so many who support the Republican Party?). I hope I'm wrong, but you have allowed yourselves to be put in the hands of sleazy people; there is a possibility that we may not be able to turn back and our rights may be slated to disappear.
I sure hope I'm wrong, but I'm fairly versed in history and that makes me think this way.
1
I agree. Did our leaders of the past see this divide coming? Was it avoidable, or simply inevitable due to the passage of time and innovations? You know, the ones that made the US a smaller player in the world, when some of us want only to rule it.
Ah, the Big Apple. Always is, always has been, and always will the Big Apple.
My experience is when people tell you who they are and show their colors, believe them! When Trump claimed the election would be rigged -- was he talking about Republican tactics to suppress the vote? The aggressive steps to disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of people in key districts in state after state? Was he signaling advance knowledge of the pressure that would be brought on FBI Director Comey to tip the scales before the election? His has been a dirty tricks campaign from beginning to end, going to the mat to repeat lies, insults, denigrate, threaten revenge, etc. Against this, you and others have willfully ignored the 3,500 lawsuits against Trump, his despicable sexual assaults, his extreme refusal to pay his fair share of taxes--netting a $916B gift (in just one year) from Americans who carried his freight, and other despicable behavior. While I believe his supporters have sincere concerns and grievances, I think they and we non-supporters have been played. Our voting system has lost it integrity and Trump is correct: the system is rigged, but in his favor!
65
Mr. Douthat, You should take a victory lap. Not because the Republicans won - but because you maintained your standards.
Unlike many of your colleagues at the NYT, you didn't malign straight, white, Christian, old men. And now that the Dems, liberals, and lefty media lost the election, they are eating their young.
While there has been a lot of introspection, it is not clear that they learned their lesson. The lesson should be that many liberal ideals are hypocritical and contradictory. Moreover, they are not in the best interest of America and Americans.
Unlike many of your colleagues at the NYT, you didn't malign straight, white, Christian, old men. And now that the Dems, liberals, and lefty media lost the election, they are eating their young.
While there has been a lot of introspection, it is not clear that they learned their lesson. The lesson should be that many liberal ideals are hypocritical and contradictory. Moreover, they are not in the best interest of America and Americans.
12
Right.
He really makes us feel great again by his shining examples of greatness, including his: pandering to xenophobia, gender and racial biases; pitting different population groups against each other; denying global warming; proposing to cut taxes of the 1% at the expense of the public interest; implementing an economic plan that will increase our national deficit by 20 trillion; deregulating Wall Street by his proposal to do away with Dodd-Frank Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act so that they can have their way with the economy and bring us all back to the Great Recession 2 if not worse; taking away medical coverage from 20 million people by repealing ACA and leaving the public less medical coverage options at higher costs; reneging on our agreements with other nations; withdrawing from NATO if members do not pay the US what he thinks is a fair price for our participation- a collective that will help us deal with global problems that we can’t successfully tackle alone; letting Putin have his way with Eastern Europe at risk of destabilizing Western Europe; encouraging the proliferation of nuclear weapons in questionable if not unstable countries; curbing the freedoms of the press, and demonstrating to us all that he is totally unprepared to be president.
What America are you talking about?
He really makes us feel great again by his shining examples of greatness, including his: pandering to xenophobia, gender and racial biases; pitting different population groups against each other; denying global warming; proposing to cut taxes of the 1% at the expense of the public interest; implementing an economic plan that will increase our national deficit by 20 trillion; deregulating Wall Street by his proposal to do away with Dodd-Frank Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act so that they can have their way with the economy and bring us all back to the Great Recession 2 if not worse; taking away medical coverage from 20 million people by repealing ACA and leaving the public less medical coverage options at higher costs; reneging on our agreements with other nations; withdrawing from NATO if members do not pay the US what he thinks is a fair price for our participation- a collective that will help us deal with global problems that we can’t successfully tackle alone; letting Putin have his way with Eastern Europe at risk of destabilizing Western Europe; encouraging the proliferation of nuclear weapons in questionable if not unstable countries; curbing the freedoms of the press, and demonstrating to us all that he is totally unprepared to be president.
What America are you talking about?
2
Please, name a "liberal idea" that is not in the best interest of America. Is it immigration? Because I seem to remember the country being built on immigration. Is it Social Security? Because older Americans were once the poorest Americans, and they are now the wealthiest. Is it higher taxes on the rich? Because most of the best periods of economic growth in the last 70 years coincided with increases in taxes on the rich. Is it using federal power to guarantee the right to vote for all Americans? Because up until very recently, federal oversight had protected the right to vote for many million of Americans.
And as for maligning straight, white, Christian, old men, I seem to remember the Times attacking racists, homophobes, and xenophobes, categories that include many persons who are not white, or male or Christian, or old.
I honestly don't think these "lessons" you have for us liberals are things a lot of us need to learn. No, I think the real lesson here is that conservatives will support anyone, however incompetent and mendacious, who promises them lower taxes, immigration restrictions, and the return of the job market of 1948-1973. Unfortunately, the first two won't get you the last one.
And as for maligning straight, white, Christian, old men, I seem to remember the Times attacking racists, homophobes, and xenophobes, categories that include many persons who are not white, or male or Christian, or old.
I honestly don't think these "lessons" you have for us liberals are things a lot of us need to learn. No, I think the real lesson here is that conservatives will support anyone, however incompetent and mendacious, who promises them lower taxes, immigration restrictions, and the return of the job market of 1948-1973. Unfortunately, the first two won't get you the last one.
7
That's true. The liberal left is once again turning on itself, blaming everything and everyone for this stunning loss.
Oh, how I wish that my party had the focus, single-mindedness, and arrogance of the GOP. The ability to back any lie with a straight face; to go to any lengths to suppress people's right to vote while holding themselves up as the only true patriots committed to the "rule of law"; to pivot from position to position on a dime, without once acknowledging the blatant hypocrisy therein (kind of like this column); and to change the rules in the middle of the game whenever it suits them (Supreme Court picks come to mind). Oh, and most amazingly, to so successfully project its own lies, contradictions, and hypocrisy on the other side with pinpoint precision every single time.
On second thought, I'm happy to let you all have this. Let's see how people who have trashed government so thoroughly over the last 35 years, while salivating over controlling it all, will do when there are no more Democrats, especially the Clintons and Barack Obama, to blame. I have grown old watching the Republican Party deliver death by a thousand cuts to our country's sense of civility, unity, and promise. I am so ready for you to deliver the final, fatal blow. Perhaps only then can we rise out of the ashes with grown up, honest leaders who can make us whole again.
Oh, how I wish that my party had the focus, single-mindedness, and arrogance of the GOP. The ability to back any lie with a straight face; to go to any lengths to suppress people's right to vote while holding themselves up as the only true patriots committed to the "rule of law"; to pivot from position to position on a dime, without once acknowledging the blatant hypocrisy therein (kind of like this column); and to change the rules in the middle of the game whenever it suits them (Supreme Court picks come to mind). Oh, and most amazingly, to so successfully project its own lies, contradictions, and hypocrisy on the other side with pinpoint precision every single time.
On second thought, I'm happy to let you all have this. Let's see how people who have trashed government so thoroughly over the last 35 years, while salivating over controlling it all, will do when there are no more Democrats, especially the Clintons and Barack Obama, to blame. I have grown old watching the Republican Party deliver death by a thousand cuts to our country's sense of civility, unity, and promise. I am so ready for you to deliver the final, fatal blow. Perhaps only then can we rise out of the ashes with grown up, honest leaders who can make us whole again.
3
Having been a GOP acolyte for all these years, Ross uses the "into the future" trope to evade responsibility for what he and his fellow GOP pundits have wrought in 2016!
But you simply can't use a cheap narrative device to deflect what you have supported for years. It isn't that simple.
Trump is here. All the detail about Raqqa and Putin is obfuscation.
I don't believe any of it for a moment.
But you simply can't use a cheap narrative device to deflect what you have supported for years. It isn't that simple.
Trump is here. All the detail about Raqqa and Putin is obfuscation.
I don't believe any of it for a moment.
77
Here's the more likely path forward. Mr. Trump delegates policy decisions to cronies and insiders who he has appointed to his cabinet. After all, he needs to make America great again by expanding his chain of golf courses. He signs anything that people put in front of him because he is to busy (lazy?) to read anything longer than one page. His delegates, after all, were supposed to take care of all the details.
A few of those details were cuts to Medicare and Social Security pushed through by Paul Ryan. Seniors turn out in droves and help elect the Deval Patrick/de Castro ticket.
A few of those details were cuts to Medicare and Social Security pushed through by Paul Ryan. Seniors turn out in droves and help elect the Deval Patrick/de Castro ticket.
70
Trump is a vulgar bigoted narcissist with the attention span of an eight year old. There is little doubt that the crucial event leading to his election was the Comey letter(s) which he determined to make public against the advice of the Justice Department. They had nothing to say, but very clearly changed the momentum of the election. I am embarrassed to say I am an American and I am embarrassed for my country. If anyone should doubt what I have to say, they should try reading the comments in the foreign press. Our country is being viewed as a joke....and we deserve it.
424
Nah, Comey was just one nail in Democracy's coffin. A cause-in-fact, but not proximate.
What we need to be embarrassed about is Liberal namby-pambyness - being too nicey nicey, too constrained by political correctness, to forcefully stand against the gathering anti-democratic forces that staged a soft coup in the form of an election.
What I'm talking about is the authoritarianism that has taken over the state and federal levers of power such that we may never again see an election.
We Liberals tried to play fair and in good faith against a fanatical enemy for whom their ends always justify their means. An mortal enemy who pursues total victory without mercy, honor, or shame.
Their means being the anti-democratic playbook of a 30-year well coordinated vast right wing conspiracy.
To wit: voter (citizen) suppression, gerrymandering, refusal to accept an election result if not in their favor, government shutdowns, FBI and Supreme Court election meddling, rule changing power grabs, refusal to consider a Supreme Court nominee, pushing the voter fraud myth, RNC biased electoral reform, claim of system rigging (unless in their favor), gutting the Voting Rights Act, voter ID laws, voter roll purges, voter intimidation, routine filibusters to thwart majority rule.
Now they own us and will have their way. The great experiment is over. We thought Democracy was a bedrock value, but they saw it as something to be gamed.
What we need to be embarrassed about is Liberal namby-pambyness - being too nicey nicey, too constrained by political correctness, to forcefully stand against the gathering anti-democratic forces that staged a soft coup in the form of an election.
What I'm talking about is the authoritarianism that has taken over the state and federal levers of power such that we may never again see an election.
We Liberals tried to play fair and in good faith against a fanatical enemy for whom their ends always justify their means. An mortal enemy who pursues total victory without mercy, honor, or shame.
Their means being the anti-democratic playbook of a 30-year well coordinated vast right wing conspiracy.
To wit: voter (citizen) suppression, gerrymandering, refusal to accept an election result if not in their favor, government shutdowns, FBI and Supreme Court election meddling, rule changing power grabs, refusal to consider a Supreme Court nominee, pushing the voter fraud myth, RNC biased electoral reform, claim of system rigging (unless in their favor), gutting the Voting Rights Act, voter ID laws, voter roll purges, voter intimidation, routine filibusters to thwart majority rule.
Now they own us and will have their way. The great experiment is over. We thought Democracy was a bedrock value, but they saw it as something to be gamed.
5
Our Country may be viewed as a joke, but an uneasy and unenlightened one. Have you noticed how quiet India has been these last few months, the Superpower of the Developing World? 'France' reminds quiet at the moment with courtesy and some concern.
Perhaps this is not the time to be embarrassed by how divided we have become as a Nation and got a kick in the pants. We may have some trouble explaining our state of affairs to our future generation, and although I always vote for the person I feel is best, I will say that the Republican Party could not manage the Great Recession, it fractured and crashed, America had a breakdown.
There is a lot of work to be done, and enough hungry Americans who are in need of more than humble apple pie to survive.
Perhaps this is not the time to be embarrassed by how divided we have become as a Nation and got a kick in the pants. We may have some trouble explaining our state of affairs to our future generation, and although I always vote for the person I feel is best, I will say that the Republican Party could not manage the Great Recession, it fractured and crashed, America had a breakdown.
There is a lot of work to be done, and enough hungry Americans who are in need of more than humble apple pie to survive.
1
Unfortunately there will not be an investigation of Giuliani's e-mails and the FBI's that resulted in the partisan manipulation of this election.
You are right, W.A. Spitzer, about how our country is viewed from abroad. A country that pretends to be great is laughable and terrifying at the same time.
Obama recovered some of the moral authority our country lost with "W's" reckless personal wars, torture and concentration camp in Guantanamo. With Trump, we will no longer be the standard bearer of moral authority in the world - now to be at a level similar to Putin's Russia.
You are right, W.A. Spitzer, about how our country is viewed from abroad. A country that pretends to be great is laughable and terrifying at the same time.
Obama recovered some of the moral authority our country lost with "W's" reckless personal wars, torture and concentration camp in Guantanamo. With Trump, we will no longer be the standard bearer of moral authority in the world - now to be at a level similar to Putin's Russia.
4
Wishful thinking Ross? The English proverb/nursery rhyme "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride" might apply to those people down on their luck who voted for Trump to save them.
170
What we get out of this is that Keynesian economics would have worked to quickly revive the economy in 2008, and was therefore resisted until Republicans were in power. It would work to keep booms from exploding the economy, by reducing government spending, but such reductions do not happen when modern-day Republicans are in power; they are reserved for Democratic administrations, which are unlikely to gain power from Republicans when times are good.
So this article accepts Keynesian economics while rejecting the idea that an unregulated Wall Street will drive ever faster until the economy runs off the road into a ditch. When Wall Street firms see a crash coming they arrange to profit from that crash if possible, usually at the expense of firms that are less astute at reading the future; Goldman Sachs was smarter than Bear Stearns. Each firm has neither the capability nor the responsibility to prevent crashes, and it is illegal for them to act together to do so. Yet with government out of the picture, the article projects that we have nothing to worry about.
The article also assumes that ignoring climate change is safe and that the weather will not get even weirder than it has lately been. Founding pubic policy on what can be sold to the electorate rather than on what is real will continue. Any adverse consequences of this will be handled by using them to demonize the other side.
So this article accepts Keynesian economics while rejecting the idea that an unregulated Wall Street will drive ever faster until the economy runs off the road into a ditch. When Wall Street firms see a crash coming they arrange to profit from that crash if possible, usually at the expense of firms that are less astute at reading the future; Goldman Sachs was smarter than Bear Stearns. Each firm has neither the capability nor the responsibility to prevent crashes, and it is illegal for them to act together to do so. Yet with government out of the picture, the article projects that we have nothing to worry about.
The article also assumes that ignoring climate change is safe and that the weather will not get even weirder than it has lately been. Founding pubic policy on what can be sold to the electorate rather than on what is real will continue. Any adverse consequences of this will be handled by using them to demonize the other side.
133
He made America believe that it COULD be great again. He defined a path to what he believes can be yet another American Century of prosperity and global leadership, through corporate investment, explosive growth, good new jobs, a more balanced participation of America in a world that has been all about taking for over seventy years, and valuing a culture that has taken us 240 years to VERY painfully build that we don’t wish to lose.
But he’d better set us on that path, grab some low-hanging fruit and make the end-points at least visible, or America will toss him on the trash-heap in five seconds. America has just about had it. What brought it back, for now, was Donald J. Trump. Despise him, even hate him, or tolerate him, you have to give the man his due: a lot of people are nervous, even frightened, at America’s arc over the next 4-8 years, but a huge number of Americans see hope reawakened – the kind of hope they saw in November of 2008 for very different reasons.
We should note, however, that in November of 2020, Ross will be the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, having bought it from Rupert Murdoch and taken it private.
Warren-Booker ticket? Maybe Corey – now THERE’S a guy with moxie, even though a Democrat – but Elizabeth Warren? To put her at the head of a presidential ticket, you’d have to dig in the political graveyard so deep to exhume her that China would complain about violations of territorial sovereignty.
But he’d better set us on that path, grab some low-hanging fruit and make the end-points at least visible, or America will toss him on the trash-heap in five seconds. America has just about had it. What brought it back, for now, was Donald J. Trump. Despise him, even hate him, or tolerate him, you have to give the man his due: a lot of people are nervous, even frightened, at America’s arc over the next 4-8 years, but a huge number of Americans see hope reawakened – the kind of hope they saw in November of 2008 for very different reasons.
We should note, however, that in November of 2020, Ross will be the publisher of the Wall Street Journal, having bought it from Rupert Murdoch and taken it private.
Warren-Booker ticket? Maybe Corey – now THERE’S a guy with moxie, even though a Democrat – but Elizabeth Warren? To put her at the head of a presidential ticket, you’d have to dig in the political graveyard so deep to exhume her that China would complain about violations of territorial sovereignty.
25
Pot has been legalized in a number of new states; but alas, not New Jersey.
It's OK, Richard. I won't rat you out.
It's OK, Richard. I won't rat you out.
70
Richard,
You seem measured and fact-based in your arguments.
What are you basing your predictions upon? His 4 bankruptcies? His buying Marla Maples a $250,000 engagement ring while he owed creditors millions? His taking subsidies while he declared bankruptcy and making up a way to avoid paying taxes -- Congress and Hillary outlawed that "scheme" in 2004? His lack of transparency in not releasing his taxes? That same lack of transparency not allowing We, the People, to know whether he has any conflict of interests while running our country? His calls to the Russians to hack the DNC (Are you really okay with that?)? His lack of payment to contractors, ruining some of them? His ranking of women by numbers? His grabbing women and sticking his tongue in their mouths? His threatening to sue the women who came forward to call him out? His denigrating President Obama in insinuating Obama wasn't born in the US and demanding that he show his birth certificate, for FIVE years. His refusing to acknowledge that he was wrong when Obama showed his birth certificate? His denigrating of Mexicans, Muslims? His eloquent tweets? His cries of "Lock her up?" His lack of knowledge about nuclear weapons, the Ukraine? His naming Don Jr. for the transition?
The locusts, I mean lobbyists, have already descended. Ryan and McConnell are gleeful and planning to privatize Medicare. Trump is bunkered down in his bunker in NY. Pence is already running things.
What are you basing your prediction upon?
You seem measured and fact-based in your arguments.
What are you basing your predictions upon? His 4 bankruptcies? His buying Marla Maples a $250,000 engagement ring while he owed creditors millions? His taking subsidies while he declared bankruptcy and making up a way to avoid paying taxes -- Congress and Hillary outlawed that "scheme" in 2004? His lack of transparency in not releasing his taxes? That same lack of transparency not allowing We, the People, to know whether he has any conflict of interests while running our country? His calls to the Russians to hack the DNC (Are you really okay with that?)? His lack of payment to contractors, ruining some of them? His ranking of women by numbers? His grabbing women and sticking his tongue in their mouths? His threatening to sue the women who came forward to call him out? His denigrating President Obama in insinuating Obama wasn't born in the US and demanding that he show his birth certificate, for FIVE years. His refusing to acknowledge that he was wrong when Obama showed his birth certificate? His denigrating of Mexicans, Muslims? His eloquent tweets? His cries of "Lock her up?" His lack of knowledge about nuclear weapons, the Ukraine? His naming Don Jr. for the transition?
The locusts, I mean lobbyists, have already descended. Ryan and McConnell are gleeful and planning to privatize Medicare. Trump is bunkered down in his bunker in NY. Pence is already running things.
What are you basing your prediction upon?
273
Kevin:
Sadly, perhaps; but not since college, 40 years ago.
Sadly, perhaps; but not since college, 40 years ago.
3
Right, if Donald Trump turns into a centrist Democrat, all will be well. Ya think? He has no apparent ideology, so it's possible. But given the people he surrounds himself with and the blatant racism of his campaign, I'd bet against it.
278
Would Mr. Douthat care to venture any predictions on the condition of the biosphere four years hence? Will the waves at high tide be lapping over the threshold at Mar-a-Lago; will November wildfires be consuming forests in the Appalachians; will ocean acidification be accelerating?
357
You're right that there will be a Warren-Booker ticket and my prediction is that Obamacare will become Ivankacare (they even sound similar.
You may also be right that he may make SOME people in American FEEL better again. However, the same people who suffered under Reagan will do the same under Trump unless we can somehow take back the House and/or Senate in 2018.
And if there were a Hillary-Booker ticket, this would be a totally different weekend. Cory Booker was just what she needed. Hillary picked the wrong VP.
You may also be right that he may make SOME people in American FEEL better again. However, the same people who suffered under Reagan will do the same under Trump unless we can somehow take back the House and/or Senate in 2018.
And if there were a Hillary-Booker ticket, this would be a totally different weekend. Cory Booker was just what she needed. Hillary picked the wrong VP.
95
,,,or Julian Castro.
38
No, Obama failed to support his OWN VP, Joe Biden.
He would have carried Scranton by a landslide, and his party would have kept power.
Hillary was a disastrous candidate, and she is responsible for her own demise.
Even a majority of DEMOCRATS found her dishonest and untrustworthy.
Joe Biden was the poorest senator out of all 100 before he became Veep.
He was unquestionably honest, and had the common touch with the blue collar voter.
Hillary, "You're fired!"
He would have carried Scranton by a landslide, and his party would have kept power.
Hillary was a disastrous candidate, and she is responsible for her own demise.
Even a majority of DEMOCRATS found her dishonest and untrustworthy.
Joe Biden was the poorest senator out of all 100 before he became Veep.
He was unquestionably honest, and had the common touch with the blue collar voter.
Hillary, "You're fired!"
3
Who can say? Might have energized more African Americans and might have alienated more rust belt voters.
1
Here's a more likely scenario: Trump has a great time at the inauguration ball, sleeps in the Lincoln Bedroom, has a big breakfast the next morning followed by a shower, shave and "very successful BM", is handed his schedule by his chief of staff, discovers that there are two other branches of government, calls a news conference, announces his resignation.
623
But Stu -- the other two branches of government are also going to be completely dominated by Republicans and Republican appointees hand picked by President Trump. You're echoing David Brooks who is also sure that Donald Trump will either be impeached or forced to resign before his first term ends. All the Democrats can do is sit back and sulk because they have been completely marginalized. Nice try, though.
2
That sounds more like it... He has a case of extreme ADD, so this is a scenario to be expected...
3
Hopefully........
It took 6 years of the Bush Presidency before the negative impacts of his policies were felt.
A stimulus bill with infrastructure spending is sorely needed. But for the intransigence of the Republicans we might have already had one. Of course, coupling it with tax cuts for the wealthy will explode the deficit. But deficit spending is good if a Republican proposes it.
I think it is possible for Trump to achieve good things for the country. But given his short list of candidates for cabinet positions, it is clear that he is trudging down the well-worn Republican path. What good he accomplishes will be short term and will carry a hefty price tag.
PS. It is incredibly sad that only now, after the election, we are beginning to have discussions on policies. This is squarely on the media who let Trump dictate the low content level of discussion and who focused on the email issues to the exclusion of just about anything else. And a special hat tip to Comey who insured that t was kept in the news.
A stimulus bill with infrastructure spending is sorely needed. But for the intransigence of the Republicans we might have already had one. Of course, coupling it with tax cuts for the wealthy will explode the deficit. But deficit spending is good if a Republican proposes it.
I think it is possible for Trump to achieve good things for the country. But given his short list of candidates for cabinet positions, it is clear that he is trudging down the well-worn Republican path. What good he accomplishes will be short term and will carry a hefty price tag.
PS. It is incredibly sad that only now, after the election, we are beginning to have discussions on policies. This is squarely on the media who let Trump dictate the low content level of discussion and who focused on the email issues to the exclusion of just about anything else. And a special hat tip to Comey who insured that t was kept in the news.
872
Precisely. NOW the media begins to discuss policy ?
7
My one very rare comment for the NYT. You give Trump WAY too much credit.
2
Ummm, I think the folks - American and Iraqi - who died because Bush lied us into war would disagree about how long it took for the negative effects of his presidency to manifest themselves.
1
Ross, are you by chance auditioning to be Trump's Communications Director? Are you about to depart the NYT Opinion section? Because, from the sound of this, you sure are groveling before the throne of Trump, as golden as ever, but I suspect your obeisance might be misplaced.
It almost sounds after 4 days of "work", the President Elect is growing a tad weary, perhaps even bored. My prediction, based on maybe more knowns than your fantasies, is that Vice President-elect Pence will be doing all the heavy lifting. That Trump will be the titular head of his administration but be relieved of the need to dig deep, read widely, or attend those pesky briefings. Pence and others will whisper in his ear (last one near said ear gets the vote), and Donald--or the kids--will sign off.
Sure, Trump might pose for turkey pardoning, Parade Christmas photo displays, and Easter Egg rolls, but Pence will be the Man.
As such, I could write a column of my own four years hence, in the era of Pence, when religious freedom has been federalized as mandated Christianity, when women have to ask permission of men to have babies in the hospital instead of at home, and anyone caught with birth control will be placed in the stocks.
Alcohol will be banned, and so will football on Sunday afternoons during times of required prayer. Evangelical Christianity will have preferred status, Catholicism and other faiths second tier.
And, no swearing allowed from sea to shining sea.
It almost sounds after 4 days of "work", the President Elect is growing a tad weary, perhaps even bored. My prediction, based on maybe more knowns than your fantasies, is that Vice President-elect Pence will be doing all the heavy lifting. That Trump will be the titular head of his administration but be relieved of the need to dig deep, read widely, or attend those pesky briefings. Pence and others will whisper in his ear (last one near said ear gets the vote), and Donald--or the kids--will sign off.
Sure, Trump might pose for turkey pardoning, Parade Christmas photo displays, and Easter Egg rolls, but Pence will be the Man.
As such, I could write a column of my own four years hence, in the era of Pence, when religious freedom has been federalized as mandated Christianity, when women have to ask permission of men to have babies in the hospital instead of at home, and anyone caught with birth control will be placed in the stocks.
Alcohol will be banned, and so will football on Sunday afternoons during times of required prayer. Evangelical Christianity will have preferred status, Catholicism and other faiths second tier.
And, no swearing allowed from sea to shining sea.
530
Read "The Handmaids Tale" by Margaret Attwood...
6
Pence is scarier than trump.
17
I would approve the no swearing part.
1
Ross, here's what my window into the space-time continuum reveals: Donald Trump will be, at best, a one-term President - who might not even receive the GOP nomination in 2020.
Donald Trump is also likely to be presiding over one of the most turbulent four year periods in American history - a turbulence that he himself helped to set in motion, and from which he can never escape.
Donald Trump is also likely to be presiding over one of the most turbulent four year periods in American history - a turbulence that he himself helped to set in motion, and from which he can never escape.
833
"At best, a one term President". What are you implying?
1
I read a comment yesterday in which I believe the person was on to something when they stated that Trump is really not interested in the day to day responsibility of actually governing the country. An old long-time friend of his, talk show host Larry King said Trump was too egotistical and would essentially get bored quite quickly with a job that requires a daily itinerary of going to meeting after meeting, trying to absorb all the information gathered from those meetings and then have to make decisions based on all of it. This is just not his style and he has never operated his businesses anything close to this manner. At 70 yrs. old, it would be impossible for him to make an about face in his approach even to this job.
Should that be the case, we could be looking at somewhat of an absentee President whom relies solely on his hand picked sidekicks whom will ultimately make the decisions on his behalf because he just couldnt be bothered.
Should that be the case, we could be looking at somewhat of an absentee President whom relies solely on his hand picked sidekicks whom will ultimately make the decisions on his behalf because he just couldnt be bothered.
5
David C - A shameful stretch you made there. Matthew's context and tone have zero hint of threat.
5
Just as Ross was wrong before, he will be wrong again.
There will be no "Trumpworks".
There will be Reaganomics on steroids, resulting in a brief boom and then a nasty recession, with ballooning deficits and rising inflation coupled with higher interest rates.
The EPA will be gutted and any sane approach to battling climate change will be ignored.
Oh, and forget about Trump running again. He will do an LBJ and not seek another term, leaving us with Pence.
The left will not relocate to another country.
WE ARE STILL HERE.
There will be no "Trumpworks".
There will be Reaganomics on steroids, resulting in a brief boom and then a nasty recession, with ballooning deficits and rising inflation coupled with higher interest rates.
The EPA will be gutted and any sane approach to battling climate change will be ignored.
Oh, and forget about Trump running again. He will do an LBJ and not seek another term, leaving us with Pence.
The left will not relocate to another country.
WE ARE STILL HERE.
1111
To Kevin:
"WE ARE STILL HERE"
Who cares?
The alt.left of the Dem party shares much in common with the alt.right:
anti-Semistism, anti-Zionism, hatred toward anyone not sharing their vision, violence when they do not get their way, patronizing attitudes towards minorities, dependence on social welfare and "free stuff," strongmen populist leaders, an unerring sense of victimization and self-righteousness, and absolutely NO answers to anything other than transient slogans and protests.
But, hey, thanks for letting us know you are still here. I am glad for that, because as the Times photo of the snarling woman carrying the protest sign against Trump today proves:
"Love trumps Hate."
"WE ARE STILL HERE"
Who cares?
The alt.left of the Dem party shares much in common with the alt.right:
anti-Semistism, anti-Zionism, hatred toward anyone not sharing their vision, violence when they do not get their way, patronizing attitudes towards minorities, dependence on social welfare and "free stuff," strongmen populist leaders, an unerring sense of victimization and self-righteousness, and absolutely NO answers to anything other than transient slogans and protests.
But, hey, thanks for letting us know you are still here. I am glad for that, because as the Times photo of the snarling woman carrying the protest sign against Trump today proves:
"Love trumps Hate."
2
Bill Maher reminded them (and us) last night that indeed, "we are still here." An there are more of us than them.
6
And don't forget, Kevin- the rich will get richer and the poor will get poorer.
2
In an astounding coincidence, I found a future comment that I apparently wrote in response to Douthat’s Nov. 8, 2020 column. It was on the chair I had just been sitting on, apparently having come from a crack in, well, let’s just say the luminiferous aether. It read:
“I don’t know what reality Mr. Douthat is living in, because it’s clearly not the one I’ve endured these past four years. Lord Trump (God, I hate that title) has been the cause of one embarrassment after another, the most recent being when he tried to make the “Crotch Grab” the official White House greeting. Queen Elizabeth was not amused, I can tell you that. But it was astounding how high she jumped, considering her age.
“Trump is not basking in the glow of anything. That’s just a skin pigmentation problem caused by years of too much orange makeup. And as far as there being no economic slump, well, I heard that increased taxes on the poor go directly to conservative pundits who write favorably about the arid, dystopian world that Trump has created.
“Social conservatism is rampant. Pence has declared that evolution can’t be taught in the U.S., ever since he saw a dinosaur wearing a saddle at Ken Ham’s ark exhibit. But Lee and Cruz have issued some surprisingly favorable opinions on gay marriage, and giggle whenever someone mentions oral arguments. Rumor has it they’re registered at the Rainbow Depot.”
It seems I got an "NYT Pick" and a slew of recommendations for that comment.
“I don’t know what reality Mr. Douthat is living in, because it’s clearly not the one I’ve endured these past four years. Lord Trump (God, I hate that title) has been the cause of one embarrassment after another, the most recent being when he tried to make the “Crotch Grab” the official White House greeting. Queen Elizabeth was not amused, I can tell you that. But it was astounding how high she jumped, considering her age.
“Trump is not basking in the glow of anything. That’s just a skin pigmentation problem caused by years of too much orange makeup. And as far as there being no economic slump, well, I heard that increased taxes on the poor go directly to conservative pundits who write favorably about the arid, dystopian world that Trump has created.
“Social conservatism is rampant. Pence has declared that evolution can’t be taught in the U.S., ever since he saw a dinosaur wearing a saddle at Ken Ham’s ark exhibit. But Lee and Cruz have issued some surprisingly favorable opinions on gay marriage, and giggle whenever someone mentions oral arguments. Rumor has it they’re registered at the Rainbow Depot.”
It seems I got an "NYT Pick" and a slew of recommendations for that comment.
1034
Move over, Andy Borowitz, you have serious competition!
"Lord Trump (God, I hate that title) has been the cause of one embarrassment after another, the most recent being when he tried to make the “Crotch Grab” the official White House greeting. Queen Elizabeth was not amused, I can tell you that"
I LOVE THAT!
"Lord Trump (God, I hate that title) has been the cause of one embarrassment after another, the most recent being when he tried to make the “Crotch Grab” the official White House greeting. Queen Elizabeth was not amused, I can tell you that"
I LOVE THAT!
26
gemli, you are a national treasure! And someone whose comments have kept me from canceling my subscription to the NYT. Thank you, and keep on keeping on!
7
A comment of the year(s)
5
Wow Ross, this is an interesting take. Are you applying for a position in the Trump administration? I'm afraid a lot of this is just wishful thinking, although it would be nice to see Ryan disappear from the scene.
363
azlib, My thought, too, was that Ross is bowing and scraping in hopes that kissing and making up with Trump will land him a plum job in the Trump administration.
8
Ryan is practically licking his chops isn't he.
Thinking, "Boy, now we can get rid of all those pesky seniors, poor people, sick people, disabled people - man who needs THEM. Drain on the economy. Along with the polar bears."
Thinking, "Boy, now we can get rid of all those pesky seniors, poor people, sick people, disabled people - man who needs THEM. Drain on the economy. Along with the polar bears."
8
Even with the 3rd party voters, the clueless elite who were more interested in casting a feel good vote, rather than noting the consequence of their vote, and the angry Bernie supporters who stayed home, it looks like Clinton will be more than two million votes ahead of Trump. It might even get to three million when all counting is done. A gap of millions is not trivial!
Add to this that Trump did not even get 50% of the voters that DID vote, and we have a man who will be President, but without a mandate for change, or even leadership - not even close. The Electoral College does the electing, to keep the Common People's ignorance in check, and to insure a person of decency, intelligence, and gravity is at least the final choice. Tragically, Trump is the absurd, shocking exact opposite of this! What has happened is nothing like what the Founders could have envisioned! The safety construct the Founders put in place has failed. Trump won on a technicality only.
This will bear bitter fruit. Trump, either through Plan, Hubris, or outright Ignorance, fully intends to turn the country upside down like never before. Already his arrogant kids are on the Transition team. His emerging short list for his senior team is a horror show of extremists, failed politicians, and has beens. Some have dubious records or outstanding legal claims against them - as does Trump himself.
Who will check the insanity?