The article asks, "Are we ready for a war?"
Of course you are! If not, you have to.
You fell for obvious WMD lies and you fell for right-in-your-face Trump lies.
Either Americans are ignorant or care less what their leaders do. Or just too busy with reality tv, football, beer and cheer leaders, I guess.
Of course you are! If not, you have to.
You fell for obvious WMD lies and you fell for right-in-your-face Trump lies.
Either Americans are ignorant or care less what their leaders do. Or just too busy with reality tv, football, beer and cheer leaders, I guess.
97
It's now the 2 week anniversary of Trump's presidency. Let's extrapolate to the 4 year presidency.
1.) The polar ice caps completely melt.
2.) The rust belt workers still have no jobs
3.) .01% own 99% of the $$
4.) The USA is now the USSA
5.) 100,00 people are killed by guns every year
6.) 5 people are killed by terrorists every year
....please add to list...
1.) The polar ice caps completely melt.
2.) The rust belt workers still have no jobs
3.) .01% own 99% of the $$
4.) The USA is now the USSA
5.) 100,00 people are killed by guns every year
6.) 5 people are killed by terrorists every year
....please add to list...
142
Trump is actually doing terrific so far, Paul.
Trump's REAL JOB is to keep everyone's eyes off the Republicans as they dismantle the nation.
Remember, the Republicans have only talked about the "First 100 Days".
They are dismantling as fast as they can, voting like little eager-beavers, clean streams - gone, regulations on coal - gone, gone, gone.
We are now 15 days into that Mythical 100 Days. Only 85 left to go.
What happens then?
They've never said, but my guess is that's when they haul out the 25th Amendment and write him a nice letter and tell him to go back to the Tower.
Problem solved.
Enter President Pence.
The only question left is: What happens to Bannon? Do the Republicans keep him around?
Doubt it. Bannon goes, Kushner goes, Ivanka goes, they all go back to the Tower....
Just 85 days left to go.
Then, we, the people get a shredded Constitution, every law rewritten and President Pence steps forward in all his shining, sacred glory and "saves us" from a madman.
Ah.... and you thought there were no Republican Heroes left around....
Trump's REAL JOB is to keep everyone's eyes off the Republicans as they dismantle the nation.
Remember, the Republicans have only talked about the "First 100 Days".
They are dismantling as fast as they can, voting like little eager-beavers, clean streams - gone, regulations on coal - gone, gone, gone.
We are now 15 days into that Mythical 100 Days. Only 85 left to go.
What happens then?
They've never said, but my guess is that's when they haul out the 25th Amendment and write him a nice letter and tell him to go back to the Tower.
Problem solved.
Enter President Pence.
The only question left is: What happens to Bannon? Do the Republicans keep him around?
Doubt it. Bannon goes, Kushner goes, Ivanka goes, they all go back to the Tower....
Just 85 days left to go.
Then, we, the people get a shredded Constitution, every law rewritten and President Pence steps forward in all his shining, sacred glory and "saves us" from a madman.
Ah.... and you thought there were no Republican Heroes left around....
261
If you had a guy like this working for you, in any business except maybe organized crime, you'd can him. It is almost like he's trying to do the worst job possible just to get canned.
We just need to to have a few of our conservative brothers, with their heart in the right place, to give us a hand and we can reset this deal.
We just need to to have a few of our conservative brothers, with their heart in the right place, to give us a hand and we can reset this deal.
211
DJT is beginning to remind me of Ludwig the Mad of Bavaria.
98
Krugman, you are so partisan that you have no credibility.
29
What is going to be next? A wall to the north? And one more thought: How come the orange one didn't bar Muslims from Saudi Arabia and Egypt? Why? I will let you in a little secret. ( I guess that by now you know) 17 of the terrorists that attacked the twin towers on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia. Why? He has business dealings over there. And that, folks is my opinion.
89
"...maybe even a war." A World War at that - against ALL of our friends and allies! And Putin doesn't have to lift a finger. Sending troops into Mexico? Really?! I suppose this whole presidency is a joke to him too - at the tax payer's expense, which obviously does not include him - the master tax evader.
Why would anyone vote this destructive man to ultimate control of the most destructive arsenal on the planet? I wouldn't trust him with my kid's GI Joe collection.
Trump-Hog Day every day for four years is a bit excessive. Putin can do a lot of damage in that time too.
To paraphrase Obama - Don't pray - VOTE!
Why would anyone vote this destructive man to ultimate control of the most destructive arsenal on the planet? I wouldn't trust him with my kid's GI Joe collection.
Trump-Hog Day every day for four years is a bit excessive. Putin can do a lot of damage in that time too.
To paraphrase Obama - Don't pray - VOTE!
90
If only he and Schwarzennegger COULD trade jobs. I know I'd sleep better!
146
Own it Republicans! --- People anger and ignorance, lies, lies, and more lies from the White House down. Every day. As Charles Blow says, big lies and trivial lies caused by all of you, Republicans. Dysfunction? Thanks, Republicans. it will all come home to roost - the corruption will eventually do you in, but, hopefully, not our democracy. It's all yours, Republicans. Salute and remain one, and fall as one. Resist and Never Normalize this horror show.
87
Hunch that Prof.KRUGMAN has not "been around in life,"never bothered to conduct investigative reporting or empathize with how the other half lives, those who have not grown up in an upperclass, mainly white Boston suburb,have not held down 2 university positions w/o having to teach a class, who were unable to avoid conscription when Gen. Hershey was head of Selective Service,Author leads what I view as a sheltered life.Jolly for him,Jolly for him,but downside is he could never understand those not born with the same advantages, and writes for the same socioeconomic category of folks of which he, himself is a product.Moral satisfaction at thumbing our noses at the elites on 8 Nov. was enormous.So what if DT hangs up the phone on a pompous stuffed shirt like Turnbull.?He will accept the refugees from Manus anyway?.Why take JP Junker and the EU seriously,since were it not for Union's open borders policies,lethal attentats in member countries in past 2 years might have been prevented?Krugman preaches only to the converted. Working class folk who have lost their livelihoods to offshoring,H1B visa holders, O's languid border controls, NAFTA, would see little in Krugman with which they could identify.Suggest he read Hoschild's "Strangers in their own land" to discover what courageous reporting and in depth scholarship is all about.Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Marine le Pen and their constituencies r the wave of the future. Advice to Prof. Krugman:"Get used to it pal!"
21
Regarding recent events in Ukraine (and Crimea) this column said "Strangely, however, the White House has said nothing at all about Russia’s actions"
This was written before our new UN representative sharply criticized Russia's actions. I don't think she did that without instructions from the White House.
This was written before our new UN representative sharply criticized Russia's actions. I don't think she did that without instructions from the White House.
12
Please stop with the 'Denis the Menace' allusions. Denis was a hapless, amusing child. This POTUS is dangerous; he intends great harm to a great number of us and our world. Also, could you please skip the accompanying photos of POTUS 45? We know what he looks like and just seeing another photo is keeping some people from even looking at news.
100
US Ambassador to the UN blasted Russia's intervention in Ukraine. That's something.
29
"Think about it: If you had an employee behaving this way, you’d immediately remove him from any position of responsibility and strongly suggest that he seek counseling."
If you had a boss that acted this way, and some of us have, you don't have that option and just hope the guy doesn't do too much damage or screw up your career.
If you had a boss that acted this way, and some of us have, you don't have that option and just hope the guy doesn't do too much damage or screw up your career.
59
It's only been two weeks. TWO WEEKS!! When is congress going to grow a spine?
104
actually australia didn't fight by america's side--america fought by australia's side. the aussies were in ww1&ww2 from the beginning while america sat on the sidelines making money, getting in late and then taking credit for 'saving the world' by defeating nazi germany in ww2 by itself. the usa has an odd view of what happened during the two world wars, especially ww2. it sat on the sidelines and helped bankrupt britain by demanding money and land for support while the brits--and oz, and nz and canada and others fought germany from virtually the day war was declared. the soviets, who actually did the most to defeat germany, were foolishly attacked by hitler and germany paid the price. the soviets had more to do with the defeat of germany than the usa and all the others fighting germany put together. the usa can take most of the credit for beating japan. the aussies, and others, did join the korean war. and, as for vietnam, you can be sure it's been a long time since australia has been proud of that unnecessary fiasco....
79
This article is mostly on point, but that ending...."thanks Comey."
Come on. Really?
If you are going to go there, I think far more people would say "thanks DW Schultz and other establishment Democrats who sabotaged Bernie" and in so doing dampened enthusiasm in their own caucus.
Come on. Really?
If you are going to go there, I think far more people would say "thanks DW Schultz and other establishment Democrats who sabotaged Bernie" and in so doing dampened enthusiasm in their own caucus.
30
There's no way any of this is strategic. The president is simply a bilious idiot.
But you can't blame Comey for this train wreck. After all, he would have had nothing to work with without Clinton's astonishing stupidity.
But you can't blame Comey for this train wreck. After all, he would have had nothing to work with without Clinton's astonishing stupidity.
20
I've seldom agreed with you in the past, but today I do.
15
Nice to see Professor Krugman still comfortably adorned in his neocon cloak blowing the trumpet for war with Russia over Ukraine, with Hillary gone joining hands with the never to depart war mongering Methuselah John McCain. But Trump is the menace.
14
Putin need not worry about Trump adding Russia to his list. We will have to take on Canada, Mexico, and Australia before we get around to Russia.
20
It sounds as though you would like to see America get the impeachment process started. I know I would. We need a true Presidential gag order.
38
Krugman is calling for impeachment here. Where do I sign up?
84
Menace? Sure. But let's explore some more creative, descriptive, and apropos terminology ...
7
That picture of Trump in Paul Krugman's article looks like Judas at the "Last Supper!"
34
Re: the threat to invade Mexico: "White House sources are now claiming that this threat... was a lighthearted joke."
Just want to point out that this is always the refuge of the bully -- playground or Presidential -- when caught. "We were just joking." It is never funny.
Just want to point out that this is always the refuge of the bully -- playground or Presidential -- when caught. "We were just joking." It is never funny.
142
Still hard to believe that his clown is in the white house.
79
Among other things, I see an undeclared war with Islam brewing-not just ISIS.
Reminds me of the Crusades. But on a broader front, I see dark days ahead.
Trump is like a child Emperor. Caligula comes to mind. Here in the U.S. it's getting like Lord Asquith said at the start of World War I, "The lights are going out all over Europe".
Reminds me of the Crusades. But on a broader front, I see dark days ahead.
Trump is like a child Emperor. Caligula comes to mind. Here in the U.S. it's getting like Lord Asquith said at the start of World War I, "The lights are going out all over Europe".
48
Trump has gone from embarrassing to frightening.
80
Just remember, professor Krugman, that you did your part in sabotaging Sanders' candidacy. If Sanders had been the Dem candidate, we wouldn't have a giant Cheeto in the White House.
Of course, then you would have been warning us on the dangers of single payer, free higher education and a revitalized labor movement.
Of course, then you would have been warning us on the dangers of single payer, free higher education and a revitalized labor movement.
24
We keep trying to make sense out of a crazy situation led by a crazy person. We can rationalize, justify, excuse, spin, and put lipstick on a pig, but until we admit that we're being led by a crazy person who is driving us off a cliff, and remove said crazy person from office, the situation is not going to improve.
56
I would love to be a fly on the wall during the next G7 Summit. How completely awkward it is going to be between Angela and Donald. Now that Vlad has been banned, Donald isn't going to have that many friends in the room. Oh wait, there is Theresa, his lapdog, and Shinzo, probably his other lapdog.
Perhaps these leaked phone calls are meant to distract us from the more important things that the administration is doing, which are the ones that journalists should be focusing on instead. This is the problem with covering donald. No scandal sticks because the media jump to a new one every day and we forget about the old ones. I can't blame the media completely as every scandal is so awful. It's entertaining, though.
Perhaps these leaked phone calls are meant to distract us from the more important things that the administration is doing, which are the ones that journalists should be focusing on instead. This is the problem with covering donald. No scandal sticks because the media jump to a new one every day and we forget about the old ones. I can't blame the media completely as every scandal is so awful. It's entertaining, though.
9
We use to ask are you better now than four years ago, it's been two weeks and in just those two weeks it has been answered.
As the Menace says trust me, I know what I am doing, but he really doesn't have a clue.
Donald the clueless.
As the Menace says trust me, I know what I am doing, but he really doesn't have a clue.
Donald the clueless.
33
It is hard to alienate those dependent on your largesse.
Trump understands this.
Trump understands this.
4
Sometimes, Trump seems to take on the persona of Mad Comics symbol Alfred E. Newman as well as his incessant expression “What, me worry?” like the Stephen Crowley photograph accompanying Dr. Krugman’s article.
Gary Wills write s in the current Issue of New York Review of Books:
“One can and usually should be branded as superficial if one concentrates on such a surface item as a politician’s hair. Donald Trump’s signature hairdo is so prominent that cartoonists use it as a shorthand identifier in their drawings. Writers have reason to avoid what can reduce their comments to the cartoon level.
A previous issue has a 1974 interview with the philosopher Hannah Arendt (author of “Eichmann in Jerusalem”) she said:
“Totalitarianism begins in contempt for what you have. The second step is the notion: “Things must change—no matter how, Anything is better than what we have.... Totalitarian rulers organize this kind of mass sentiment, and by organizing it articulate it, and by articulating it make the people somehow love it.”
On “Lies,” she said:
“The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen ...If everybody always lies to you, the consequence is not that you believe the lies, but rather that nobody believes anything any longer.”
Wills is watching events unfold in real time but for Dr. Arendt it was 1974, Trump was only 27, still working for his father and Dr. Arendt,, being interviewed in France probably had no idea who Trump was.
Gary Wills write s in the current Issue of New York Review of Books:
“One can and usually should be branded as superficial if one concentrates on such a surface item as a politician’s hair. Donald Trump’s signature hairdo is so prominent that cartoonists use it as a shorthand identifier in their drawings. Writers have reason to avoid what can reduce their comments to the cartoon level.
A previous issue has a 1974 interview with the philosopher Hannah Arendt (author of “Eichmann in Jerusalem”) she said:
“Totalitarianism begins in contempt for what you have. The second step is the notion: “Things must change—no matter how, Anything is better than what we have.... Totalitarian rulers organize this kind of mass sentiment, and by organizing it articulate it, and by articulating it make the people somehow love it.”
On “Lies,” she said:
“The moment we no longer have a free press, anything can happen ...If everybody always lies to you, the consequence is not that you believe the lies, but rather that nobody believes anything any longer.”
Wills is watching events unfold in real time but for Dr. Arendt it was 1974, Trump was only 27, still working for his father and Dr. Arendt,, being interviewed in France probably had no idea who Trump was.
13
Could it be that the ascendency of Bannon is a function of Russia's hold over Trump, whether thru blackmail or financial debt?
24
How many wars waged to trump and all was in order, the grandmother Hilary's hands all stained with blood..then it suddenly frightened..That the President cares about his country and doesn't want to let unwanted people, perhaps he should have taken the example of Merkel which has turned the country into the trash.
4
" .... this is looking less and less like a political strategy and more and more like a psychological syndrome." Finally! I am so tired of the idiot-intellectual's approach to crafting Trump's lunacy into strategy and then having a serious panel discussion about it.
32
It is already time to think about Impeachment. I do not share Pence's politics nor views---however, I do not think he is a madman. Trump, the "malignant narcissist" is uncontrollable and a threat not only to the US but to the entire world as he has so aptly demonstrated in less than 2 weeks in office. He reminds me of that old movie "The China Syndrome" when a madman becomes the President. It is beyond imagination how much damage Trump has done in such a short time. ( I sent an apology to the Prime Minister of Australia: Trump's bullying views and rants are not shared by millions of Americans.) Trump is "blowing up" traditional politics of both the Republicans and the Democrats. Trump, listening to Bannon the neo Nazi (and proud of it) has inflicted more damage in 2 weeks than anyone could have imagined!
43
Well, you see professor the Donald is a lot cannier than thee. You still fail to realize what Trump easily grasps; he has the hungry ear of the base and you do not. Hate, racism and bigotry sells. It's a sophisticated form of 'bait and switch'. If he comes up short on the bread, he'll throw them a little red meat.
It always works, always has, from panem et circenses to the pogroms of the czars to the Donald.
It always works, always has, from panem et circenses to the pogroms of the czars to the Donald.
32
I am terrified about my retirement fund likely going down the drain because of this ignorant megalomaniac.
41
Here's an analogy:
Imagine trump's making and selling a product.
But his strategy is not to give would-be buyers any real
information on what they'll be buying.
Instead, he "sells the sizzle." "I alone can make this
stuff great, because everybody else is a bunch of clowns!"
And he manages to sell them like hotcakes. Eventually,
almost half of everybody-and-his-brother buys a shiny new
trump-thingy.
But, here's the thing. trump-thingys don't work. trump
never knew HOW to make them work.
And those trump-thingys turned out to be wildly carcinogenic.
And not just to those who bought them.
And the moral to this story? Don't buy anything based on
advertising. And read Consumer Reports. Or something
similarly non-biased. If you can find such a thing...y.
Welcome to the new age.
Imagine trump's making and selling a product.
But his strategy is not to give would-be buyers any real
information on what they'll be buying.
Instead, he "sells the sizzle." "I alone can make this
stuff great, because everybody else is a bunch of clowns!"
And he manages to sell them like hotcakes. Eventually,
almost half of everybody-and-his-brother buys a shiny new
trump-thingy.
But, here's the thing. trump-thingys don't work. trump
never knew HOW to make them work.
And those trump-thingys turned out to be wildly carcinogenic.
And not just to those who bought them.
And the moral to this story? Don't buy anything based on
advertising. And read Consumer Reports. Or something
similarly non-biased. If you can find such a thing...y.
Welcome to the new age.
10
It will be a difficult four years, but we're needing to be litigious and small "r" republicans to resist our elected menace.
6
He doesn't sleep; he eats junk; he doesn't exercise. He'll escape to Florida this weekend and get his hair done, and postpone the inevitable a bit longer, but eventually his bloated sick body will short circuit. He'll burst a blood vessel, or develop a cancer, or some other malady. It can't happen soon enough.
29
The lead negotiator of the EU for the Brexit, Guy Verhofen, has characterized Trump as being a threat against the EU on par with jihadist terrorism and Vladimir Putin.
Something indeed rotten in one state, and this time it is not Denmark but the United States of America.
Something indeed rotten in one state, and this time it is not Denmark but the United States of America.
23
Nice little encapsulation of the week's foreign policy events and their implications. Wonder if this is how a certain casino in Atlantic City went bankrupt?
#endwriter
#endwriter
10
Thanks, Comey, indeed.
Any Democratic Senator who fails to do everything in their power to block Goes Gorsuch & every other Trump nominee from joining the Supreme Court will be unseated by a primary challenge in the next election.
Any Democratic Senator who fails to do everything in their power to block Goes Gorsuch & every other Trump nominee from joining the Supreme Court will be unseated by a primary challenge in the next election.
17
I'm hopeful that our allies will realize that Trump is insane and does not in any way shape or form represent the views of the average American. We're terrified and our Republican politicians seem prepared to go down with Trump in the name of forwarding their own agenda. For now the best thing they can do is not engage and to stand up to him when needed.
This too shall pass but it's going to be a long four years.
This too shall pass but it's going to be a long four years.
12
.
Try some deep breathing exercises, PK.
Do you think this ship will sink so easily? No confidence in its craftsmanship, engineering and timber? A green captain and crew needs to see how the ship of state handles. They'll adjust the sails, make course corrections -- in time.
Try some deep breathing exercises, PK.
Do you think this ship will sink so easily? No confidence in its craftsmanship, engineering and timber? A green captain and crew needs to see how the ship of state handles. They'll adjust the sails, make course corrections -- in time.
5
This is silly. Those who voted for Trump …. at least the voting block beyond his 25% “core” .… knew perfectly well the guy was a flamethrower – a misogynistic bully; a pathological liar; an amoral adolescent. But he was sent to Washington to destroy the place and initiate a scorched earth program to fry every vestige of the status quo. Trump has been likened to a black hole, sucking the light out of the universe; but I think he more resembles Edvard Munch’s “The Scream” in the minds of millions who lack the power to ‘drain the swamp’ and are left with nothing but inchoate rage at what they see as the total dysfunction and paralysis of their government. Mr. Trump is doing exactly what he was elected to do: shatter the china, defecate on the rug, urinate on plants and vomit across the dining room table. So what’s the problem? Thanks, Comey.
23
When he's signing executive orders, Puppet Trump should only be seen sitting on Bannon's lap-playing the dummy to Bannon the ventriloquist.
24
"Thanks, Comey"? That must be a typo. I believe you meant, "Thanks, Hillary."
If we don't look within to understand why we allowed this monster to be unleashed, we will never defeat him. Continuing to blame Comey is living in denial.
If we don't look within to understand why we allowed this monster to be unleashed, we will never defeat him. Continuing to blame Comey is living in denial.
100
Though repetition, the good professor should continue this. Someday it'll result in the needed outcome.
7
Mr. Krugman, you have said here what people here in Philly have repeated aloud and on social media for weeks, if not months. To the commenters who are medicalizing Trump's behavior: let's not confuse mental illness with good old-fashioned character defects. The man is not senile. "Little people" who've been unfortunate enough to work with him can attest that he has been an egomaniacal jerk for a long, long time.
23
Trump is playing out his insecurities on both a national and global stage. He believes he can fool and manipulate the American public (rightly so, it seems) and that he can bully the rest of the world, throwing tantrums and making dangerous threats. W had the same insecurity issues, but was a basically nice guy who was controlled by Cheney and Rumsfeld. Their goals were to get rich - a much more focused and (to some extent) sane program. Trump is being run by Bannon, whose whole goal seems to be hatred and destruction. And Trump is stupid enough to think Bannon's sickness will make Trump respected and that he will be untouchable. If Trump, as seems likely, follows Bannon leading us into war, then all of us will pay dearly. If Congress and the courts do not stop this, as a first step by throwing Bannon off the NSC, we are all in a world of hurt.
14
It is possible to promote America without making the whole world our enemy and it's time for Republicans to encourage the president to find this new path of leadership. Yet what are the odds they'd do anything? I feel like I'm asking people who hate government to save it.
I'm going to disagree here with those who want to make this all about Trump's ego or mental health. Everyone knows this is his management style. Republicans have their billionaire CEO president that they wanted, one who'll "run the country like a business". We should have asked what kind of business.
I guess Republicans won't do anything to jeopardize the tax cuts they want, so it'll be up to the CEOs advising the president to try an have him act like The President.
Such rough road to go down just so we can all agree that you can't run a country like a business.
I'm going to disagree here with those who want to make this all about Trump's ego or mental health. Everyone knows this is his management style. Republicans have their billionaire CEO president that they wanted, one who'll "run the country like a business". We should have asked what kind of business.
I guess Republicans won't do anything to jeopardize the tax cuts they want, so it'll be up to the CEOs advising the president to try an have him act like The President.
Such rough road to go down just so we can all agree that you can't run a country like a business.
8
"But the war with China will, it seems, have to wait. First comes Australia. And Mexico. And Iran. And the European Union. (But never Russia.)"
Don't forget the threat to invade Chicago.
Don't forget the threat to invade Chicago.
15
The amazing thing about all of this is that every Republican is scared to death the if they confront Trump he will tweet at them and their careers will be ruined. If a Trump tweet is all that it takes to end a political career, that career wasn't worth much to begin with.
24
"Thanks, Comey" says it all.
I have been living and Working in Duai as a expat from the USA for the last 10 years, could not wait to get back to the USA, thought the powers at be over here were lacking, now I don't feel that way.
I have been living and Working in Duai as a expat from the USA for the last 10 years, could not wait to get back to the USA, thought the powers at be over here were lacking, now I don't feel that way.
5
Foreseeably, the first two weeks turn into a parade of horribles with outrages and incompetence piling on so fast it is impossible to keep track. BUT, his supporters still support him.
The Republicans really do need Betsy DeVos to destroy public education in this country. We are too stupid for democracy.
The Republicans really do need Betsy DeVos to destroy public education in this country. We are too stupid for democracy.
9
Claiming that the remark about sending troops into Mexico is a blatant attempt at damage control. He is an extremely dangerous,and out of control bully. He must be removed from office before he causes a war. Get him outta here!
23
Trump is a cartoon character ("I am Donald J Trump, millionaire, I own a mansion and a yacht.") who has surrounded himself with white nationalists, conspiracy theorists, and jingoistic chicken hawks. Just days ago, a high official of the Chinese PLA said that war between China and the U.S. is increasingly likely. (Quoted by CNBC). The possibility of war with China and Iran is very real, and either would make the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan look insignificant in comparison. It is unsettling to realize that another world war might be started by a demented two-bit real estate hustler from Queens who has been the deserving object of derision and ridicule for his entire adult life. Returning the presidential nomination process to party officials in "smoke-filled rooms" is looking better all the time.
20
This is how he treats contractors who do work for him. Bully them and don't pay. I can't for the life of me figure out this worked for so long in his business. The TV Networks must stop providing live coverage of every little word he utters. Stop mentioning all tweets throughout the day unless what he tweets is dangerous. I was raised by a mother who was just like him. I keep waiting to wake up from this emotional nightmare. The entire administration and several GOP members need to be impeached.
17
Dr. Krugman, when are you going to stop blaming the world's plight on Comey? He may not have behaved well, but it was Secretary Clinton and her inept technology team that set up a poorly conceived, ill-secured private server to do the nation's business. That ultimately nothing top secret was found or hacked is fortunate for the nation, but not a credit for Secretary Clinton. This issue appears to be your "crowd size" in reverse.
13
This man is delusional and a harm to others if not to himself. At what point can he be involuntarily committed for appropriate psychiatric care?
12
Trump's biggest and most dangerous power is his ability to sew chaos and foment unrest. He has amply demonstrated that disruptive power in his first two weeks in office. That he's out of his depths is obvious and Krugman is correct that "America and the world can't take much more of this". Surely our Republican leaders can recognize the same menace and work with their Democratic colleagues to coordinate some sort of intervention -- soon.
8
Of all the points about the narcissist in chief and his band of sycophants covered, Comey is the most insidious.
8
This all reminds me of a Twilight Zone episode about a kid who possesses a dangerous and lethal power to do anything he wants. Anything the grownups try to do to set him straight that what he is doing is wrong is met with a weird mind control, punishment or death. So, what do the grownups do? They spend all their time placating the kid - agreeing with whatever he says or does even though they know it's wrong, out of fear he will turn his wrath on them next - all the while getting more and more stressed out and paranoid while trying to do so. Sound familiar?
17
Conway often tells reporters who question the aptitude of Donald Trump to be president, that from now on, journalists' reports and opinions don't matter any longer, because Trump won the Electoral College.
The underlying idea seems to be that in a democracy, it's enough to be elected to be by definition a serious and competent president. Just like "facts" are no longer mere facts, there are always "alternative facts".
Of course, politics is NOT a science. So yes, the political perspective you adopt (deliberately or not) filters what part of reality you'll be seeing, and determines what part you may be ignoring.
The problem in this "post-truth" Trump era, however, is that instead of acknowledging this "fact" in order to open up our horizons and try to also get to the part we may not spontaneously notice, Republicans now use Trump's victory to declare that THEIR perspective is the only valid one.
That's why Conway's "alternative facts" argument was so ridiculous. She was NOT acknowledging what Chuck Todd was showing and subsequently trying to get our attention focused on other relevant and important facts. She completely put the real numbers aside, and replaced them with other numbers, that had already been proven false. And then adds that THIS is the perspective that won the election. As if somehow, the truth of a hypothesis can be determined by a simple up and down vote.
That's EXACTLY the neocons' "fair and balanced" conception of truth, only on steroids.
The underlying idea seems to be that in a democracy, it's enough to be elected to be by definition a serious and competent president. Just like "facts" are no longer mere facts, there are always "alternative facts".
Of course, politics is NOT a science. So yes, the political perspective you adopt (deliberately or not) filters what part of reality you'll be seeing, and determines what part you may be ignoring.
The problem in this "post-truth" Trump era, however, is that instead of acknowledging this "fact" in order to open up our horizons and try to also get to the part we may not spontaneously notice, Republicans now use Trump's victory to declare that THEIR perspective is the only valid one.
That's why Conway's "alternative facts" argument was so ridiculous. She was NOT acknowledging what Chuck Todd was showing and subsequently trying to get our attention focused on other relevant and important facts. She completely put the real numbers aside, and replaced them with other numbers, that had already been proven false. And then adds that THIS is the perspective that won the election. As if somehow, the truth of a hypothesis can be determined by a simple up and down vote.
That's EXACTLY the neocons' "fair and balanced" conception of truth, only on steroids.
5
Will they be walking back their statements about war with China soon? It was Bannon who said it, wasn't it? I haven't read that Trump has also said there will be a war. He's too busy making prank phone calls to heads of state. Hopefully, this will be another item to disavow soon.
I like the suggestion Arnold Schwartzenegger made: he and Trump trade jobs. I've never liked Arnold either, but right now he seems like an adult and a breath of fresh air. Since the GOP in Congress are frozen in place with smiles on their faces, this may be our only hope.
I like the suggestion Arnold Schwartzenegger made: he and Trump trade jobs. I've never liked Arnold either, but right now he seems like an adult and a breath of fresh air. Since the GOP in Congress are frozen in place with smiles on their faces, this may be our only hope.
6
He's here for 4 years. Lets hope the daily challenges of the job will moderate his outbursts.
Is John McCain actually against an invasion of Mexico?
5
Way too easy to call this dude, our President, crazy. He knows exactly what he's doing, he has good guidance from Eastern European and Russian strategists, and his tweets satisfy a lot of followers.
He was voted in because his advisors knew the Electoral College, because he went the anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, anti-environment, anti-business regulations route, and because Republican James Comey "revealed" stuff about Clinton but not about Trump.
Mrs. Clinton ran a bad campaign. The big liar called her a "liar." The big crook called her a "crook." The man who should be jailed for treason called for her to be "jailed," and his followers called for her to be killed.
What a world. But crazy he's not. At least, not quite yet.
He was voted in because his advisors knew the Electoral College, because he went the anti-abortion, anti-immigrant, anti-environment, anti-business regulations route, and because Republican James Comey "revealed" stuff about Clinton but not about Trump.
Mrs. Clinton ran a bad campaign. The big liar called her a "liar." The big crook called her a "crook." The man who should be jailed for treason called for her to be "jailed," and his followers called for her to be killed.
What a world. But crazy he's not. At least, not quite yet.
10
Trump needs to be impeached and soon.
18
Professor Krugman,
I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion, but please drop Comey from your articles. We know what he did, he is partly responsible. But so are the close to 64 million people who voted for Trump, and the 97 million who did not vote at all. IMHO, mentioning Comey in almost every article diminishes the weight of your writings, and is getting old and boring. Just drop him, please!
I wholeheartedly agree with your opinion, but please drop Comey from your articles. We know what he did, he is partly responsible. But so are the close to 64 million people who voted for Trump, and the 97 million who did not vote at all. IMHO, mentioning Comey in almost every article diminishes the weight of your writings, and is getting old and boring. Just drop him, please!
11
Let's be honest. This is a coup.
23
The problem is not Trump suffering from dementia, it's the possibility that he does not. Because if he does not, we'll never know when he finally does.
9
Trump was supposed to be a joke candidate. A defiant finger to the Republican establishment from the average White voter. He wasn't supposed to win. Count on the Democrats to run the weakest candidate they could find, fumble the ball and lose to this practical joker.
The next question is: does Donald quit or do the Republicans have to take him out. And then, how does the GOP blame it all on the Democrats.
The next question is: does Donald quit or do the Republicans have to take him out. And then, how does the GOP blame it all on the Democrats.
16
Trump's experience in real estate licensing was to his new job as playing checkers is to three-dimensional chess. This is like watching a dental hygienist perform neurosurgery...terrifying.
15
Relax Paul, we all are on board a "ship of fools." Think of The United States of America as a Disney Cruise with a reality Tv character on the bridge taking us on the cruise of our lives.
6
Is it possible that our leader thought he was talking, not to the Austraian PM, but to the head of Azerbaijan, Afghanistan, or Ashkaban? They all begin with A...
16
Paul, the self proclaimed Liberal, you were voted out of office in both house of Congress and in numerous state houses. You , your party, and your economic advice need to huddle, as what ever you have been peddling for 8 years was sent to the trash heap. If your economics and neo liberalism is the better way I see lots of work for you folks to convince the Red States. The Clintons, Obama, the media, and Hollywood couldn't get it done. They have zillions of dollars and CNN at their disposal, along with the NYT, Washington Post, and Michael Moore.
6
I agree with all but apparently he did take steps to re-sanction Iran and said Russia should give up Crimea. Note news article today saying he is tacking back to Obama policy.
6
"I WAS JUST JOKING?" That is a classic abuser response when confronted. I think Trump's support from his voters would disappear if he tried to drag us into a war. They have already been burnt by the decade plus Iraq Afghanistan war and are not ready to send more children and grandchildren into fruitless and deadly schemes abroad.
DJT has created crisis where there was none. What will happen if we face a dire one?
Trump must go. He is not on TV playing a fake boss anymore and what he says is not funny. His lexicon is rife with implied violence and hostility and renders his Persidential leadership toxic, no poisonous, at home and internationally.
DJT has created crisis where there was none. What will happen if we face a dire one?
Trump must go. He is not on TV playing a fake boss anymore and what he says is not funny. His lexicon is rife with implied violence and hostility and renders his Persidential leadership toxic, no poisonous, at home and internationally.
31
Dr. Krugman, for all of your brilliance - and I do think you are brilliant - you are mistaken to be so quick to end your column blaming Mr. Comey. You played a real role in our current dystopia with your constant attacks on Senator Sanders. Had you and the other Clinton sycophants not been so quick to promote a very flawed candidate, especially in the wake of a growing populist revolt early in the primaries, perhaps we'd not be living with an illiterate playground bully as our president right now.
16
So. Take your pick. Impeachment under the emolument clause or under amendment 25. He is either corrupt or mentally unbalanced.
Either way I would suggest that we do it soon before this tweety bird president gets a lot of us killed.
Either way I would suggest that we do it soon before this tweety bird president gets a lot of us killed.
25
The emoluments clause is enough justification to get rid of this madman. And treason is surely enough to jail Bannon, Flynn and other Putin lackeys in the White House. Please Republican leaders, grow a spine and end this insanity.
24
Thank you, Dr. Krugman. Time to bluntly deal with unpleasant facts. Trump is crazy. His staff is full of lying toadies and at least one equally crazy buffoon. His cabinet is full of billionaire amateurs. Congress must use the 25th Amendment. If they don't protect the people the people will have to protect themselves.
19
Many folks have thought the same about you, Mr. Krugman, and wonder how much more of the thinking you and your progressive ilk force-feeding they can take.
Don't blame it on Comey or Clinton. Look to the ltiany of your own failings. They are legion.
Don't blame it on Comey or Clinton. Look to the ltiany of your own failings. They are legion.
6
A shell game has been played, and whether the hands of the perpetrator belong to someone who is "crazy" or not is beside the point. What we have here, folks, is a dangerous situation, whether it is President Bannon or Trump or a mixture of both.
We need to stand up for our dear country. Those of us who love the U.S.A. must resist.
On February 17, 2017 join the National General Strike. Flex your economic and political power. It is non-violent, it is grassroots, and it is your duty as a patriot!
We need to stand up for our dear country. Those of us who love the U.S.A. must resist.
On February 17, 2017 join the National General Strike. Flex your economic and political power. It is non-violent, it is grassroots, and it is your duty as a patriot!
12
While reading this new genre of apocalyptic Trump scenario opinion pieces by Krugman et al., I can’t help but be reminded of the (even if apocryphal) tale about St. Francis of Assisi: “The wise saint was busy hoeing beans in his garden when a novice friar ran up to him shouting: ‘Francis, Francis, the end of the world is coming! The end of the world is coming! What are you going to do about it?’ Without looking up, Francis continued working and calmly replied, ‘Nothing. For now I will finish hoeing this row of beans.’
3
Comey shmoey. Maybe the DNC and the rest of the Democratic part of that so-called swamp, and pundits like Paul Krugman, possibly with dreams of government positions in Hillary's cabinet, instead of trying to push the least liked Democrat in history down the throats of the electorate, should have supported the candidate about whom Comey or Putin or Bannon would not be able find anything that they could go ape. You all knew from the start that the Democratic candidate had to be squeaky clean, and you went with Hillary anyways.
8
In most workplaces, employees who deal poorly with their colleagues and clients are put in positions where they can do no harm. Since Trump can't seem to put together a complete sentence and his numeracy is questionable, he can't go to publications or accounting. His cabinet choices suggest that HR is DEFINITELY out of the question. Maybe maintenance. He is punctilious about cleanliness and finds normal bodily functions to be disgusting. The bathrooms would be sparkling! A beautiful thing! But chances are his small hands could handle the hard work. You don't get useful callouses from tweeting.
So, Trump seems to be unemployable. I'd be willing to let him retire on disability. Its the only kind thing to do.
The least we can do is take away Trump's phone privileges (mobile and landline).
So, Trump seems to be unemployable. I'd be willing to let him retire on disability. Its the only kind thing to do.
The least we can do is take away Trump's phone privileges (mobile and landline).
16
Since we know nothing of Mr. Trump's medical history I am seriously wondering if part of his pathology is sleep deprivation. He boasts of only sleeping 3-4 hours a night, like it's a badge of honor. Wow, I'm so macho I don't need to sleep. And of course that is verified by the frantic 3:30 am tweets. But the brain needs to sleep. It could certainly be a factor is his lack of judgment.
16
Dr. Krugman,
The worse Trump gets, the more likely he'll trip over one of his own land mines; here's hoping!...
The worse Trump gets, the more likely he'll trip over one of his own land mines; here's hoping!...
12
Blaming Comey is right much more important than Russian//wikileaks collaboration on releasing Podesta emails but in normal times this election would not be close. One can argue about Clinton's corruption but compared to Trump she appears to be Saint Francis. That being said, Paul Krugman should see http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-domestic-conspiracy-that-gave-tr..., which argues moderately persuasively that Comey acted to prevent a planned deluge of Fake News by Erik Prince discrediting Clinton on the eve of the the election.
9
Trump is a weak man who wants to appear strong -- perhaps the most dangerous combination there is for a leader. G. J. Meyer's excellent WW I history, A World Undone, is full of examples. And of men whorejected fact-based learning because they "knew" better.
19
I was born and raised in The Bronx NYC. My father was a successful business man and we eventually moved to Crestwood, NY (Yonkers). I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis. As an elementary school student, we were taught how to hide under the desk in case of a "nuclear attack". That was scary. Then President Jonh F. Kennedy, Rev. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were all assassinated in the 60's. There were the "negro" church burnings in the South. I remember thinking to myself, "what kind of world was I born into?). Oh, let's not forget the Vietnam War and the social upheaval it provoked. THE POINT is that as a Nation, we still are The United States of America and we are still FREE (for now). We MUST STAY VIGILANT so we do not lose this precious GIFT.
27
Crazy, yes. Crazy like a fox. Let's not give power to this man by under-estimating him, like we did through-out his march to the White House. We could have have fought back fire with fire, using insidious social media postings or outlandish charges about his intentions. But we laughed at him instead and would not give up our reluctance to be rude in light of this clown. And the clown won.
23
Trump's just a grumpy old man who thinks he knows all the answers because he listens to talk radio and watches right-wing news shows. He's not nuts and he's not a man-child. There's nothing particularly special about his behavior - there are thousands of men just like him here in WV or any other state in the country. And they would be similarly struggling to stay above water and lashing out if they were suddenly faced with the harsh reality of running the country.
Note: I'm willing to consider the possibility that Trump may be an outlier on the man-child spectrum.
Note: I'm willing to consider the possibility that Trump may be an outlier on the man-child spectrum.
7
Every day in which Trumpists claim their man is "making America great again" they show their true colors. Assuming "again" refers to the mid-20th century, let's see what America was up to, and use this handy checklist to see how Trump's doing:
[ ] The US was a global leader in science and technology.
[ ] The US sought to improve national and global security through its alliances
[ ] The US offered relatively equal economic opportunity, with ever-increasing benefits and pay for workers, backed up by a robust and growing social safety net.
[ ] Union participation in both the public and private sectors was high, reducing the potential for exploitation of workers
[ ] Public education was universally understood as a public good that would safeguard the country's future.
[ ] It was possible to fund social programs and infrastructure spending, even though military spending was also quite high, partly because of high marginal tax rates on upper brackets.
[ ] In general, trade was viewed as offering both economic and diplomatic benefits
[X] Racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination were socially acceptable, and in large and small ways prevented all of these benefits from fully accruing to Americans who were not straight, white, Protestant men. Little thought was given to the idea that these practices were problematic, and indeed many reveled in them.
Please, by all means, tell me again how "great" he's making us.
[ ] The US was a global leader in science and technology.
[ ] The US sought to improve national and global security through its alliances
[ ] The US offered relatively equal economic opportunity, with ever-increasing benefits and pay for workers, backed up by a robust and growing social safety net.
[ ] Union participation in both the public and private sectors was high, reducing the potential for exploitation of workers
[ ] Public education was universally understood as a public good that would safeguard the country's future.
[ ] It was possible to fund social programs and infrastructure spending, even though military spending was also quite high, partly because of high marginal tax rates on upper brackets.
[ ] In general, trade was viewed as offering both economic and diplomatic benefits
[X] Racism, sexism, and other forms of discrimination were socially acceptable, and in large and small ways prevented all of these benefits from fully accruing to Americans who were not straight, white, Protestant men. Little thought was given to the idea that these practices were problematic, and indeed many reveled in them.
Please, by all means, tell me again how "great" he's making us.
7
Trump's self-made crises are untenable. This is no way for a nation to be represented. Angry tweets about Mexico, refugees, Australia? John McCain running behind Trump, trying to soothe offense until Trump makes the next drama?
So much for Trump saying he would make us so much more respected in the world. He's turned foreign policy into a freak show.
So much for Trump saying he would make us so much more respected in the world. He's turned foreign policy into a freak show.
10
"Think about it: If you had an employee behaving this way, you’d immediately remove him from any position of responsibility and strongly suggest that he seek counseling. "
I wish...that employee is usually the head partner of the firm or the CEO.
I wish...that employee is usually the head partner of the firm or the CEO.
9
This man is so stupid it's mind-boggling. He needs to resign and find a psychiatrist.
18
I would not trust Trump to drive my kid's school bus.
I would not trust Trump to be on my small town's selectboard.
Thanks, Comey.
Sorry world, he is really that bad, that untrustworthy.
I would not trust Trump to be on my small town's selectboard.
Thanks, Comey.
Sorry world, he is really that bad, that untrustworthy.
16
Yeah, thanks, Comey.
And thanks, Krugman.
For we had Bernie Sanders.
Not better than Trump?
And thanks, Krugman.
For we had Bernie Sanders.
Not better than Trump?
4
Like a wife-beating abuser, Trump is isolating his victim America from its friends and long-time allies
23
"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free." So says the chiseled in words on the Statue of Liberty. Trump is contemplating adding a clause to these revered words: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free (except refugees and Muslims)."
4
Does anyone else now fondly dream of the days of Bush II? I thought it couldn't get worse than his administration. Boy was I wrong!
16
Trump supporters are nor arguing that we should 'give him a chance. Don't believe what he says. That's just Donald being Donald.' Reminds me of that old German rant from the early thirties 'give him a chance. Don't believe what he says. That's just Adolph being Adolph.'
12
I note, elsewhere in the Times, that Trump is back-fracking from his Iran threats and is supporting Obama's use of sanctions. He is confronted with the reality that Obama was a great President (I always thought it was a privilege to vote for him) and that a number of his policies made sense (ACA, the Iran arrangements, etc.) It's easy to mount ignorant bellicose apocalyptic rhetoric if you are Rush Limbaugh or a Republican candidate on the campaign trail (disastrous president, failure, disaster, etc.), but once in the White House, reality sets in. That said, Trump is a disaster and he can only get worse. Those who dispute Krugman's terminology misread him. He is simply pointing out Trump's unfitness, and it is high time impeachment proceedings were under way; The 25th amendment is beckoning.
19
I keep thinking that this is just a bad dream. I say to myself, "Wake up!"
I doubt that it ends well.
I doubt that it ends well.
7
This is like the kid who comes to school without having done his homework and who is totally unprepared for the test he is about to take.
As he looks at the exam and realizes he doesn’t know any of the answers, he begins to act up in class and picks a fight with a classmate to disrupt and distract everyone.
Confronted by the teacher, he accuses her of picking on him because he is the most popular person in the class.
Donald Trump is beginning to realize that he can’t finesse this job by bullying and changing the subject.
As he looks at the exam and realizes he doesn’t know any of the answers, he begins to act up in class and picks a fight with a classmate to disrupt and distract everyone.
Confronted by the teacher, he accuses her of picking on him because he is the most popular person in the class.
Donald Trump is beginning to realize that he can’t finesse this job by bullying and changing the subject.
18
Trump is no Machiavelli. He more resembles another infamous Italian, Mussolini. He is wholly uninformed and seems to have zero interest in becoming informed. He sees America as he sees himself: too powerful to fail. This level of hubris is exactly why the Trump's of world history do fail. His supporters see a tough leader, when in reality Trump is simply a human version of a wrecking ball. Theodore Roosevelt said "walk softly and carry a big stick". Trump just carries the big stick. What he doesn't realize is that all his banging around actually breaks things. In the end, his style always fails. Always. Republicans in Congress must realize they're playing with fire just so they can repeal the ACA and cut taxes on the rich. Whatever the case, we know what happened to Mussolini. And he wasn't alone. The midterms are only 22 months away.
16
Trump's behavior will go on and on, no matter what 'the world' thinks because the minions who put him in office are solidly behind his every move. He doesn't have to acknowledge the majority of the American people either because they voted against him to begin with and to little effect. The delinquent has been given the keys to car and is now taking his joyride. Besides, half of the car's occupants are just loving the ride. what more encouragement does he need?
If it was all that simple, it might make for a good comedy, but we all know better, right? We know Trump's little joyride has great potential to end very badly. We see it coming and think, the greed of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell must be unimaginable if they too are willing to take the risk of Trump. No one seems to have a foot on the safety brake of this careening vehicle.
When it all ends badly, there will be plenty of finger pointing, if there are any fingers left, but assuredly, our current "leaders" will accept no responsibility for the outcome. Trump, like Hitler, will blame "the people". He was just taking the mandate the people gave him and making America "great again". Failure will mean the people didn't do Their part.
If it was all that simple, it might make for a good comedy, but we all know better, right? We know Trump's little joyride has great potential to end very badly. We see it coming and think, the greed of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell must be unimaginable if they too are willing to take the risk of Trump. No one seems to have a foot on the safety brake of this careening vehicle.
When it all ends badly, there will be plenty of finger pointing, if there are any fingers left, but assuredly, our current "leaders" will accept no responsibility for the outcome. Trump, like Hitler, will blame "the people". He was just taking the mandate the people gave him and making America "great again". Failure will mean the people didn't do Their part.
16
What will happen when too few folks volunteer for military service to fight Trump's endless conflicts? Will he reinstate the draft? Who, if anyone, will get deferments? Will young women get drafted this time? Stay tuned...
Just what the country needs right now; reinstate the draft.
Just what the country needs right now; reinstate the draft.
5
Soon Mr Trump's base will grow wary of his daily tantrums and they will be marching in the streets for justice. Of course he and his cronies will declare they are sore losers...which at that point will be the truth.
5
I cannot imagine why Trump fans believe a single thing coming out of the guy's mouth. A guy who refuses to pay his contractors has their interests at heart? A guy who has his stuff made overseas (STILL) is going to bring jobs back from there? I just don't get it. Seriously, what were they thinking?
But it's gone far enough. Dems need to take this to Congressional Repubs, LOUDLY and NOW. Trump is wreaking havoc with our international relations—among other things. Most Congressional Repubs are not stupid. If they impeached him, they'd still have Pence.
Why, then, are they all silent?
But it's gone far enough. Dems need to take this to Congressional Repubs, LOUDLY and NOW. Trump is wreaking havoc with our international relations—among other things. Most Congressional Repubs are not stupid. If they impeached him, they'd still have Pence.
Why, then, are they all silent?
10
You know Mr. Krugman. I was just getting back to the point where I could read you again without getting so angry about how you dismissed Sanders. And then you dropped in that last line, "Thanks, Comey."
Wow. You have some psychological issues to clear up too.
"Thanks Krugman."
And to the Times publishers. How about some real liberals on the Op-Ed page. Not these limo-libs who have no understanding of America.
Wow. You have some psychological issues to clear up too.
"Thanks Krugman."
And to the Times publishers. How about some real liberals on the Op-Ed page. Not these limo-libs who have no understanding of America.
11
Gee, Donald Trump really must have you rattled Mr. Krugman for it was hard to detect anything on matters economic in that opinion piece - just all about Donald.
Your obsession with Mr. Trump appears to even outweigh your obsession with perpetual economic growth. Neither is healthy and both distort rationality.
From an Australian perspective, blogs and letters in major newspapers are overwhelmingly favourable to your President.
And, to use an Australian expression, how about giving him a fair go.
Your obsession with Mr. Trump appears to even outweigh your obsession with perpetual economic growth. Neither is healthy and both distort rationality.
From an Australian perspective, blogs and letters in major newspapers are overwhelmingly favourable to your President.
And, to use an Australian expression, how about giving him a fair go.
6
"If you had an employee behaving this way, you’d immediately remove him from any position of responsibility and strongly suggest that he seek counseling."
Yes, if I had the full and final authority to do so, I most certainly would. But what if my boss was Steve Bannon, the head of legal was Paul Ryan, the head of Human Resources was Mike Pence, head of internal affairs was Kellyanne Conway, chairman of the board was Reince Priebus and key shareholders included Mitch McConnell, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and throngs of other vocal investors?
Now do you see how office politics works?
Yes, if I had the full and final authority to do so, I most certainly would. But what if my boss was Steve Bannon, the head of legal was Paul Ryan, the head of Human Resources was Mike Pence, head of internal affairs was Kellyanne Conway, chairman of the board was Reince Priebus and key shareholders included Mitch McConnell, Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh and throngs of other vocal investors?
Now do you see how office politics works?
35
Trump's double chin is huge in the photo. Do hair loss drugs make one gain weight? Or just the constant fast food?
4
"Thanks, Comey."
Paul,
I would add to that, thanks Vladimir, and above all, thanks Founding Fathers. True, the current Electoral College was not the system they designed - the original system was designed to PREVENT someone like Trump gaining the White House - but they should have foreseen how states would game the system and pervert it into what it is today.
Paul,
I would add to that, thanks Vladimir, and above all, thanks Founding Fathers. True, the current Electoral College was not the system they designed - the original system was designed to PREVENT someone like Trump gaining the White House - but they should have foreseen how states would game the system and pervert it into what it is today.
14
Don't forget to thank yourself Paul. If the Times had given Bernie a fraction of the coverage Hillary received, and the support, he would be the president.
8
Let´s not forget that his first wife Ivanna said that he only read a book, that he kept in his night table: Mein Kampf.
So we are dealing with a man who has no idea who Montesquieu was, who dismisses Jefferson as a hindrance to install a confessional state, who sees governing as the opportunity to inflict pain and damage on those who did not vote for him and who admires the criminal who has ruled over Russia 17 years running.
In summary a man who is putting in practice on his own version of the ideas of the only man he has read and understood.
So we are dealing with a man who has no idea who Montesquieu was, who dismisses Jefferson as a hindrance to install a confessional state, who sees governing as the opportunity to inflict pain and damage on those who did not vote for him and who admires the criminal who has ruled over Russia 17 years running.
In summary a man who is putting in practice on his own version of the ideas of the only man he has read and understood.
12
Oh, and one more thing, Dr. K - how do we go about impeaching our 45th President, removing him from his catbird seats in The Oval Office, Mar-a-Lago and Trump Tower? How does a democracy - how do WE THE PEOPLE - remove this demented dude who is commander in chief of the world's most powerful military from his office? Can the most ghastly presidential mistake in our American history be corrected? And quickly? Awaiting your words, o, Oracle, o, thrower of bones, o, griot of our American Empire! Somehow, perhaps you will wisely counsel that "the moving finger having writ moves on". Or that the handwriting on the wall - at Belshazzar's Feast - has judged Trump and found him wanting. Mene Mene Tekel Upharsin again.
5
Couldn't you have come up with a better epithet than menace? I know that you are capable of far better.
3
Clearly, Hillary would have been much worse than Donald. Certainly, there is no actual difference between the parties. OK, you folks who failed to vote in the last election---has Trump changed your mind yet? Or will it start dawning only after you no longer have health insurance and the buggy whip factory in town hasn't re-opened? Or are you waiting on Armageddon?
11
I'm afraid it's going to take a genuine catastrophe to awaken the republican party from its drunk-with-power stupor. They've been playing an all-or-nothing game for the past 8 years, and the end is near. Good riddance.
15
Trump is clearly mentally incapacitated.
Amendment 25, Article 4
Amendment 25, Article 4
26
Media please enough complaints and listing of this idiots foibles.
Geez we get it already!!!!
Please ..... will one of you journalist types make a date with some really good Constitutional Lawyers and give readers the details to steps ..... the We the People " .....can take quickly to close Trumps shop of horrors down !
Where are rational leaders in the House and Senate.
Ben Sasse please help those two brave lady republicans ... you know the two that are on to little Ms. Betsy ... who likes to " play school" with the future of poor kids and middle class kids and kids with disabilities. Using her inheritance.
We need to STOPTRUMP NOW.
Geez we get it already!!!!
Please ..... will one of you journalist types make a date with some really good Constitutional Lawyers and give readers the details to steps ..... the We the People " .....can take quickly to close Trumps shop of horrors down !
Where are rational leaders in the House and Senate.
Ben Sasse please help those two brave lady republicans ... you know the two that are on to little Ms. Betsy ... who likes to " play school" with the future of poor kids and middle class kids and kids with disabilities. Using her inheritance.
We need to STOPTRUMP NOW.
14
A) Comey didn't give us Trump. The American voters did--mainly because he was not the establishment. Hillary barely won her party's nomination against an unknown Jewish septuagenarian.
B) Had Hillary won, war was a practical certainty, given her relentlessly hawkish time as S of S. At least with Trump, there was a chance we might not fight, and anyway, if we did, it wouldn't be for the investment bankers.
B) Had Hillary won, war was a practical certainty, given her relentlessly hawkish time as S of S. At least with Trump, there was a chance we might not fight, and anyway, if we did, it wouldn't be for the investment bankers.
4
Karma handles Trump:
he is his own undoing.
Would Pence sack Bannon?
he is his own undoing.
Would Pence sack Bannon?
7
Shame on the 63% of white males who voted for Donald Trump, a mentally ill, pathological lying imbecile. Donald Trump is too stupid to hide what he is, yet white men thought he was their great white hope who was going to make America white again. Again shame on you, your hatred has endangered our country and our democracy.
17
A
"that's all folks"
As Popeye Flynn said to Donald and Bugs Bannon "where is the spinach when me need it"?
"that's all folks"
As Popeye Flynn said to Donald and Bugs Bannon "where is the spinach when me need it"?
1
Personally, I don't think there will an all encompassing war that will destroy us all in a large nuclear flash.
Russia is now this administration's best buddy and China is too busy holding on to dictatorial power while trying to turn their country into a communist middle class Disneyland. North Korea is under China's thumb and the Middle East is too busy fighting for the scraps of oil profits.
Having said all that, what really threatens us is the dismantling of free trade. By the time four years are up, this administration will have made enemies of multiple nations via tariffs and the like, Everything in the process, will be privatized ( health, education , military etc.. ) and all of the down costing will be unloaded upon us.
We will be paying exponentially more for everything, while all those at the top will be given their tax cuts and back room deals. The debt will explode and we will be fondly remembering when the deficit was only a TRILLION dollars a year.
This is what you voted for people. ( at least a minority of you )
Russia is now this administration's best buddy and China is too busy holding on to dictatorial power while trying to turn their country into a communist middle class Disneyland. North Korea is under China's thumb and the Middle East is too busy fighting for the scraps of oil profits.
Having said all that, what really threatens us is the dismantling of free trade. By the time four years are up, this administration will have made enemies of multiple nations via tariffs and the like, Everything in the process, will be privatized ( health, education , military etc.. ) and all of the down costing will be unloaded upon us.
We will be paying exponentially more for everything, while all those at the top will be given their tax cuts and back room deals. The debt will explode and we will be fondly remembering when the deficit was only a TRILLION dollars a year.
This is what you voted for people. ( at least a minority of you )
107
I feel like we are at that point in the movie where all seems lost. Now I am hoping that a small band of rebels can defeat the Death Star.
55
Threats to UC at Berkeley & European Union; rejection of Pacific Trade Partners; war of words with China & Iran; minor diplomatic crisis with Australia; verbal insults to Mexico, Britain, Germany & Iraq...and, oh yes, women; religious ban on Muslims... and that's just the "tip of iceberg" we're headed toward.
Trump's "Titanic" blunders are all the more amazing for their sheer numbers occurring in such a short time span.
The only upside is just trying to remember and process all this is giving my brain a healthy workout, an alternative to crossword puzzles.
Trump's "Titanic" blunders are all the more amazing for their sheer numbers occurring in such a short time span.
The only upside is just trying to remember and process all this is giving my brain a healthy workout, an alternative to crossword puzzles.
15
Paul, this is only the beginning. Things are going to get worse as our country is now in the hands of an ignorant erratic egomaniac manipulated by pure ideologists of the extreme right.
God protect us!
God protect us!
60
Trump and his supporters believe they have "God on their side." Woe to the rest of us when ash falls like rain. Perhaps put the Statue of Liberty in storage if you believe we can somehow muddle through this. And it's only been two weeks!
25
• Vietnam
• The Bay of Pigs Invasion
• The 2003 Iraq Invasion
• Comey’s Sabotage of the 2016 Election
• The Bay of Pigs Invasion
• The 2003 Iraq Invasion
• Comey’s Sabotage of the 2016 Election
60
What is going to happen when Putin discards Trump?
When he is no longer useful and exposing him at a critical moment exponentially increases the chaos of an event?
Will any stand against him?
When he is no longer useful and exposing him at a critical moment exponentially increases the chaos of an event?
Will any stand against him?
15
Our biggest problem is having a president with serious insecurity issues. He constantly beats his chest like the alpha male gorilla to scare off his perceived enemies. He couldn't even go to a National Prayer Breakfast and give a talk with out bragging about his "huge" election victory, claiming a "huge" mandate, and , to top it all off, dumping on Arnold Schwartzeneggar. His evangelical supporters need to start praying for some sort of lightning strike to protect us from his already hideous decisions.
68
"Scary times" says one comment below. But what is really scary is that although DT's overall approvall rating is dismal, it seems that those who voted for him love what he has done so far!
46
The columnists and most readers of the NYT recoil in horror at each new outrage, but Republican voters overwhelmingly think Donald Trump is doing just fine. These voters view carefully reasoned and considered decisions and actions as wimpy. He has no incentive to change his behavior.
35
The next ar will be fought right here, on US oil. Everybody ready for that?
11
I voted for Bernie in the primaries.
Who did you and this paper support, Dr. Krugman?
Who did you and this paper support, Dr. Krugman?
27
Comey is perhaps a bigger threat than Trump because all of us are in grave danger when the police become partisan hacks, as the Germans know full well and we should recognize, too.
30
Rather ironic that Trump would cite the Boston Bombers to the Australian PM as the family originated from the Russian Caucasus, and not one of the seven Middle Eastern countries that Trump has listed in his Muslim ban.
Does that mean that banning Russian's is next on Trump's list? Wouldn't that put a crimp in his bromance with Putin?
No, Trump doesn't ban Muslims from citizens of countries that have actually launched terrorist attacks on the US, He only bans refugees and green card holders from countries in which ZERO of the citizens have launched terrorist attacks on US citizens on US soil and that he doesn't have personal business interests with.
Does that mean that banning Russian's is next on Trump's list? Wouldn't that put a crimp in his bromance with Putin?
No, Trump doesn't ban Muslims from citizens of countries that have actually launched terrorist attacks on the US, He only bans refugees and green card holders from countries in which ZERO of the citizens have launched terrorist attacks on US citizens on US soil and that he doesn't have personal business interests with.
45
You lost me at "thoughtful people." The seething elitism that permeates your columns is getting easier and easier to spot these days. I have some suggestions that might make it a tad more subtle:
"we mandarins"
"those of us with a Nobel Prize"
"some folks I know from my university days in New Haven"
"the crowd on the funicular in Davos"
Also, you might want to change your profile picture to that one where you are wearing your carhartt jacket.
Just a thought.
"we mandarins"
"those of us with a Nobel Prize"
"some folks I know from my university days in New Haven"
"the crowd on the funicular in Davos"
Also, you might want to change your profile picture to that one where you are wearing your carhartt jacket.
Just a thought.
7
Or maybe we should be saying, "Thanks, Krugman."
Thanks for incessantly pushing Hillary in the primaries when Bernie had better poll numbers against Trump, especially in the white working class districts that swung from Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016.
Thanks for incessantly pushing Hillary in the primaries when Bernie had better poll numbers against Trump, especially in the white working class districts that swung from Obama in 2012 to Trump in 2016.
27
Great article, but you forgot to also thank Putin.
13
DJT is at least bi-polar. He's also insolvent so he keeps running, frantically looking for ever more properties to develop to get new money to pay off old debts--which he never does. If his manic carousel ever stops, he'll be buried in yet another bankruptcy. As Mitt told us, DJT is a fraud. Much of what we're seeing is distraction. DJT's only real concerns are himself and his biz 'empire'--and trying to stay a step ahead of creditors. Our democracy can't tolerate four years of this craziness. I wonder what will happen and who will emerge as the leader(s)?
43
I couldn't agree more with what you say. And am equally horrified to see that it is happening, and that there doesn't seem to be any attempt within the government or civil service to stop it.
22
I’ll be pleasantly surprised if most of us are still alive four years from now. My main hope for life: the number one rule in politics is, “Don’t annoy the Big Boys.” So far, Trump’s presidency has been a nonstop series of insults to powerful people here and around the world. If you get on the bad side of people who really count, they might not go after you right away, but if they see an opportunity, you’re toast.
Let’s hope they get that opportunity soon, before we’re all toast.
Let’s hope they get that opportunity soon, before we’re all toast.
17
And thanks Krugman for telling it like it is. I really look for this guy to finally resign because this President stuff is not fun when all you get is criticized by the "mean ole Democrats" and bad ole McCain. This job does not fit his ego needs to be constantly looked up to and his jokes don't even get laughed at by the Australians. Maybe he really needs another reality TV. By god Arnold is right!!!!
19
Paul, I wouldn't be surprised if half the voters told you, "Comey" is an island with a roller coaster and hot dogs.
32
...Comey and Putin. Three-Million more voted for HRC than for Trumpty, but one ill-advised FBI director and a sinister foreign despot were decisive in rigging the outcome. Welcome to the Oligarchy.
34
Many years ago, my brother fell apart mentally. Fear, delusions ... the whole world became his enemy. My personal physician arranged for him to be seen by a psychiatrist, and a diagnosis was made. Schizophrenia. His findings were confirmed by a second psychiatrist from a different practice, and my brother was admitted for inpatient treatment.
So how many psychiatrists do you need to commit a US president? Surely more than two. Two hundred? Two thousand? It's clear that Donald has gone off the rails. Isn't it time for these professionals to speak up?
So how many psychiatrists do you need to commit a US president? Surely more than two. Two hundred? Two thousand? It's clear that Donald has gone off the rails. Isn't it time for these professionals to speak up?
86
I am grateful that Prof. Krugman mentioned Comey. His name should become infamous. There's still plenty of space for us to name the other ones now doing worse damage: starting with Ryan and McConnell.
71
Still Paul? If it means anything to you, half of them probably don't know who Comey is --- it should be one of those Leno things. "Did you vote?" "Do you know who Comey is?" I'm afraid their minds were made up long before he came along.
2
Haven't we seen this movie before? The one called "WMD"? The cast of characters looks awfully familiar as the United States places Iran into the crosshairs:
White Knight I: George "ace Air Guard flyboy" Bush (played by Donald "bone spurs" Trump)
White Knight II: Dick "five deferments" Cheney (played by Steve "shut up" Bannon)
White Knight III: Condoleezza "mushroom clouds" Rice (played by the cross-dressing Michael "Pizzagate" Flynn)
The saber-rattling senator: John "make war, not love" McCain (played by himself, John "the maverick" McCain)
The turncoat, know-it-all insider: Curveball (casting is still desperately trying to find a person to play the new part of Knuckleball. Auditions are now under way. Apply now)
You simply can't keep a great blockbuster down.
White Knight I: George "ace Air Guard flyboy" Bush (played by Donald "bone spurs" Trump)
White Knight II: Dick "five deferments" Cheney (played by Steve "shut up" Bannon)
White Knight III: Condoleezza "mushroom clouds" Rice (played by the cross-dressing Michael "Pizzagate" Flynn)
The saber-rattling senator: John "make war, not love" McCain (played by himself, John "the maverick" McCain)
The turncoat, know-it-all insider: Curveball (casting is still desperately trying to find a person to play the new part of Knuckleball. Auditions are now under way. Apply now)
You simply can't keep a great blockbuster down.
11
It appears that we have adolescents running both North Korea and the United States.
22
Thanks, GOP leadership. Now they have to deal with it but the ones in Trump voters country will not because the game is about staying in power.
You are right, the White House is reshaping the international world order by behaving as a foe to our traditional allies and, as an ally to America's foes. We should be thinking about the consequences and what can we do about it. Muslim refugees cannot do anything about it; Ukranian can do very little about it.
In Venezuela, unethical politicians and business persons have a saying: "every day a fool is available and, whoever grabs him first, owns him". It is a cliche but Maduro is living proof of it. It is like the game in the White House. Who owns Trump each day? May vary.
You are right, the White House is reshaping the international world order by behaving as a foe to our traditional allies and, as an ally to America's foes. We should be thinking about the consequences and what can we do about it. Muslim refugees cannot do anything about it; Ukranian can do very little about it.
In Venezuela, unethical politicians and business persons have a saying: "every day a fool is available and, whoever grabs him first, owns him". It is a cliche but Maduro is living proof of it. It is like the game in the White House. Who owns Trump each day? May vary.
16
In an interview on Frontline one of Trump's classmates quoted Trump as explaining himself and his personality as the "exact same person as he was in 1st grade". Trump telling the truth about Trump. For the first time Trump offered insight to why his actions and words are so dangerous. Not sure we should have a 1st grader as president.
23
Paul Ryan has to start considering impeachment, perhaps by creating a house committee to investigate possibly violations of the emoluments clause.
We're not there yet, but Trump hasn't been in office a full month yet.
We're not there yet, but Trump hasn't been in office a full month yet.
16
The ranting, the delusions, the egomania, the inability to sleep, the inability to hear dissent, the knee jerk reaction of dismissive anger and threats, all point to bipolar disorder with mania in the ascendancy. People in this condition sooner or later crash and burn, as the body cannot take the stress of mania for an extended period of time. But now we get to crash and burn with him.
The Republicans need to remember that they were hired to think of their country first, not their paycheck, and remove him.
The Republicans need to remember that they were hired to think of their country first, not their paycheck, and remove him.
17
Impossible to believe that Trump the sandbox bully has alienated the Western world, threatened allies, and is still fixated on the Apprentice all before breakfast. This is a man who discussed the raid in Yemen at the dinner table not in the secure situation room. Why did he not meet with the King of Jordan? And his rudeness to the PrimecMinister of Australia (who does not love our down under friends?). He is kicking sand in everyone's face John NcCain (not the leaders of the Congress!) is trying to mend fences. I think he is overwhelmed - the Presidency is a 24 hr a day job. Trump jaunts to FL for the weekend (who is minding the shop - the Steve's?). His advisors are as unbalanced as Trump. Flynn was fired for his lack of control. His son fueled the story that brought an armed man to DC and terrorized a pizza place (neither were labeled terrorists). Where is the serious stuff? Hillary Clinton asked if this was the person we wanted with nuclear codes? The majority said no. The people who voted for him are as irresponsible Trump. Every day I wish that Hillary Clinton was our President. The press including the NYT torpedoed her - you are not forgiven.
15
Hunch is that Prof. Krugman has not "been around " in life, never bothered to do investigative reporting on how the "other half "lives,those who have not grown up in a fancy,upper class, mainly white Boston suburb ,do not hold down 2 university positions w/o having to actually teach a class. were unable to avoid conscription when Gen.Hershey was head of Selective Service. Krugman leads what I consider to be a sheltered life. Jolly for him,but downside is that he can never understand those not born with same advantages, for whom Trump is our vox populi. Moral satisfaction in thumbing our noses at the elites on 8 Nov. was enormous. So what if DT hangs up on a pompous, stuffed shirt like Turnbull?He will honor his obligation to accept refugees from Manus anyway. Why take seriously the EU? Were it not for Union's open borders policy, some of those deadly attentats in member states could have been prevented.Krugman preaches to the converted. Working folk who have lost their jobs to offshoring, H1B visa holders, selling for as little as $100 dollars abroad, or to the languid border controls under Obama could never identify with him.Suggest Krugman read Hoschild's"Strangers in their own land"to discover what courageous reporting and scholarship is all about.Trump, Farage.le Pen r the wave of the future. Advice to Prof. KRUGMAN:"Get used to it pal!"
2
What is the difference between Francis Underwood and Donald Trump? One is a scheming, lying, duplicitous scoundrel, the other is a fictitious President.
15
Between the time today's editorial columns were written and mid-morning, Trump reversed himself on Russia. Sanctions to continue until Russia returns the Crimea, stops supporting the ethnic Russians in Eastern Ukraine, and he'll probably demand that Russia's military bases in Syria be handed over to NATO.
In all three debates, Secretary Clinton promised regime change in Syria, which Putin promised would have required regime change in Russia. Many voted not for Trump, but against the risk that would entail.
With Trump, it looks like he wants a war against an alliance of Russia and China. And probably Iran. Anyone else I've forgotten? (The US always had good luck in all its wars with Mexico, so the very best we can hope for is that Trump will stick to some senseless war with Mexico. Sad.)
In all three debates, Secretary Clinton promised regime change in Syria, which Putin promised would have required regime change in Russia. Many voted not for Trump, but against the risk that would entail.
With Trump, it looks like he wants a war against an alliance of Russia and China. And probably Iran. Anyone else I've forgotten? (The US always had good luck in all its wars with Mexico, so the very best we can hope for is that Trump will stick to some senseless war with Mexico. Sad.)
2
Fact is that the working man and the establishment both recognize Donald Trump as key to granting their wishes, regarding employment, wages and hours, reduced crime and violence, lower taxes and less regulation, and neither trust him.
3
Donald Trump has a severe narcissistic personality disorder. This is a character disorder that cannot be "cured" or even treated effectively. It is a character disorder that affects those around him more than himself. (By contrast, "neurotics" feel their anxiety and seek help.) His behavior is "crazy" and "irrational" and destructive in order to feed his needs, but he himself is not crazy in the clinical sense. That said, this does not preclude the need to remove him from the Presidency, and the recognition of his danger to all of us
24
25:4. Remember these numbers. Apropos a column by a distinguished economist, numbers matter. These particular numbers signify the fourth section of the 25th Amendment to our Constitution. They represent a constitutional means of ridding ourselves of this tyrant-in-the-making without undoing the 2016 election because the result would be Acting President Pence, elected on November 8th as surely as was Trump.
6
"America and the world can't take much more of this." How about 3 years and 50 weeks more of this ?! I'm not concerned about the Mexican wall since it's too expensive to ever be built, and I'm not worried about 1250 prisoners from Australia trying to come here. But Iran is a different ballgame - that Trump bluster could start a mideast war worse than Bush/Chaney's ridiculous Iraq war. In my opinion it's a given that Trump will ruin the economy with his tax cuts and overspending, and he is already assisting polluters and ending any hope of holding off global warming for the next several yrs. But my biggest fear is him starting a war which could go nuclear.
25
Trump playing a dangerous game. Companies that produce for the world market, will shun the US, as Trump comes with import duties on components.
Trump voters that means no new jobs.
Trump voters that means no new jobs.
13
"And while there may be an element of cynical calculation in some of the administration’s crisismongering, this is looking less and less like a political strategy and more and more like a psychological syndrome."
Kissinger/Nixon mad a virtue of being nuts while slaughtering
millions of S.E.Asians and calling it a corollary of their
'Mad Man Theory' of diplomacy. So blatant was their
barbarity and their expressed satisfaction at actually calling
in massive B-52 strikes from the war room in the WH-and doing it over drinks no less!- that slightly saner voices in the
military felt obliged to isolate Nixon from all levers of savagery
by placing the world wide network of US military bases and ships on alert with orders to ignore all communications emanating from the WH.
With Trump, the question of his sanity is just that, making him,
by his own design, nuts. Take your pick, pathological narcissism cum bluto syndrome cum juvenile nosum pickins cum shorthitter.
The best we can do with this sick man is isolate him by letting the world know that he was not chosen to be president by the American people, that we do not listen to nor respect him, and that the remaining checks and balances are now in play.
Let us pray, remembering all the while that nothing fails like prayer...
Kissinger/Nixon mad a virtue of being nuts while slaughtering
millions of S.E.Asians and calling it a corollary of their
'Mad Man Theory' of diplomacy. So blatant was their
barbarity and their expressed satisfaction at actually calling
in massive B-52 strikes from the war room in the WH-and doing it over drinks no less!- that slightly saner voices in the
military felt obliged to isolate Nixon from all levers of savagery
by placing the world wide network of US military bases and ships on alert with orders to ignore all communications emanating from the WH.
With Trump, the question of his sanity is just that, making him,
by his own design, nuts. Take your pick, pathological narcissism cum bluto syndrome cum juvenile nosum pickins cum shorthitter.
The best we can do with this sick man is isolate him by letting the world know that he was not chosen to be president by the American people, that we do not listen to nor respect him, and that the remaining checks and balances are now in play.
Let us pray, remembering all the while that nothing fails like prayer...
9
Dr. Krugman: you can forget about removing Trump and any of his gang from office. Trump's True Believers will never admit to any of Trump's incompetence no matter how much he hurts all of us with his idiotic behavior. The Republicans like their despicable leader Paul Ryan could care less how Trump jeopardizes our nation's economic and national security only as long as they rule America.
Someone needs to offer rational and legal suggestions as to how we concerned Americans can unite to get rid of Trump and his gang of Republican backers. That is, until Trump outlaws any attempt to do so.
Someone needs to offer rational and legal suggestions as to how we concerned Americans can unite to get rid of Trump and his gang of Republican backers. That is, until Trump outlaws any attempt to do so.
27
Maybe Trump's idea of making America great again is to first create "carnage" both domestically and internationally
11
Thanks Comey?
How about thanks PK for supporting the only person who could have lost to Trump. PK needs to stop acting like he didn't contribute to this debacle.
How about thanks PK for supporting the only person who could have lost to Trump. PK needs to stop acting like he didn't contribute to this debacle.
9
Trump has mental disorders and this fact was very obvious to anyone who bothered to look during 18 months of a very long and exhaustive campaign.
Regardless of what you thought of HRC, people should have come out in droves to cast a vote against this mental defective.
Elections have consequences and we now have to live with this disgusting, white supremacist person in the WH until such time he gets impeached. Of course, I assume Bannon is egging him on to getting into a war so we keep him in power since Americans are usually loathe to change horses in midstream of a war.
We need to get this not job impeached before he gets us into a pointless war.
Thanks for nothing Trump voters and for all of those who couldn't be bothered to come out to vote at all.
Regardless of what you thought of HRC, people should have come out in droves to cast a vote against this mental defective.
Elections have consequences and we now have to live with this disgusting, white supremacist person in the WH until such time he gets impeached. Of course, I assume Bannon is egging him on to getting into a war so we keep him in power since Americans are usually loathe to change horses in midstream of a war.
We need to get this not job impeached before he gets us into a pointless war.
Thanks for nothing Trump voters and for all of those who couldn't be bothered to come out to vote at all.
30
Gee Paul, you didn't seem to mind one little bit when the Obama administration DID get us into a war. More than one, as a matter of fact.
We invaded Mexico for a reason: border bandits killing Americans on the US side. It's time we did it again.
Lies and hyperbole won't get you another prize.
What's worse, a man who is trying to do right by the people who voted for him, or a man who spends all his time undermining the president of the United States ?
We invaded Mexico for a reason: border bandits killing Americans on the US side. It's time we did it again.
Lies and hyperbole won't get you another prize.
What's worse, a man who is trying to do right by the people who voted for him, or a man who spends all his time undermining the president of the United States ?
4
How did the Democratic party, the party of the working class lose its way? We became the party of minorities, the disadvantaged, and the Clintons who enriched themselves by exploiting their political ties. There is nothing wrong with standing up for minorities and the disadvantaged but it shouldn't be at the expense of the white working class. Hillary Clinton spent her time, money, and energy in a p__s fight with a madman instead of an economic message for rescuing the people who were hit hardest by The Great Recession for which Bill Clinton was partially responsible for signing legislation ending Glass-Stegall. Democrats in leadership roles seem to think that winning more votes in New York and California is all that's required. We need to put a white male face back on the Democratic Party to take back the South and Middle America. Nancy Pelosi and Keith Ellison won't get it done.
1
Yes, we can't take much more of this. I have noticed a low grade shaking buzz that penetrates my body every time I get a full dose of the day's news. It is overwhelming. The mind cannot process or keep up with the multiple blunders and shocking pronouncements that fly like BB gun pellets out of the WH each and every day. This morning? He asked ministers to pray for Arnold's Celebrity Apprentice ratings at the National Prayer Breakfast? Can't get there from here. We have to do whatever it takes to make this end. We cannot sustain four years of this.
15
The most dangerous part of the current GOP is their continuing insistence that winning is everything.
Now that you have everything, what's next?
We have an electorate out-of-touch with how our government works, who elected a man who has never demonstrated a single characteristic required for the office. Worse, we have a political party that knew this and did nothing to stop it.
Voters take note.
Now that you have everything, what's next?
We have an electorate out-of-touch with how our government works, who elected a man who has never demonstrated a single characteristic required for the office. Worse, we have a political party that knew this and did nothing to stop it.
Voters take note.
13
Shame on us all for allowing this to happen. And shame on the Republican senators and representatives for not showing the spine to stand up to Trump's nonsense and call him out on each misdeed. They cower in fear rather than defend the country they proclaim to love.
17
Who does the Democratic party have to run for president? Kaine? Schumer? Both men cry in public so little chance of that happening. And how does the left reach the understanding after all the wins on the national and state level by Republicans still believe the answer is to move further left? The Democratic party has to get back to its working class roots. A party Tha includes white people.
As it remains the Democrats will chose h1-d's over people over fifty or even forty who can't find decent work. Who gives a... what we look like.
As it remains the Democrats will chose h1-d's over people over fifty or even forty who can't find decent work. Who gives a... what we look like.
1
Trump displays more than one personality disorder. Here are the symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder from the Mayo Clinic. Trump rates a "10" in every category:
* Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
* Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
* Exaggerating your achievements and talents
* Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
* Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
* Requiring constant admiration
* Having a sense of entitlement
* Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
* Taking advantage of others to get what you want
* Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
* Being envious of others and believing others envy you
* Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
By the way, there is no cure for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. And one of the scariest things about the fact that Trump has NPD is that conniving thugs (like Putin) who understand his condition can easily manipulate him.
* Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
* Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
* Exaggerating your achievements and talents
* Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
* Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
* Requiring constant admiration
* Having a sense of entitlement
* Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
* Taking advantage of others to get what you want
* Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
* Being envious of others and believing others envy you
* Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
By the way, there is no cure for Narcissistic Personality Disorder. And one of the scariest things about the fact that Trump has NPD is that conniving thugs (like Putin) who understand his condition can easily manipulate him.
18
The havoc Trump is wreaking is a result of both - cynical calculation (Steve Bannon) and a psychological syndrome (Trump).
I hadn't put two and two together until I read this column - that the Muslim ban was rolled out last Friday, end of his first week, clearly as a strategy to distract Trump supporters from the obvious lack of any great plan to replace Obamacare or create jobs.
I hadn't put two and two together until I read this column - that the Muslim ban was rolled out last Friday, end of his first week, clearly as a strategy to distract Trump supporters from the obvious lack of any great plan to replace Obamacare or create jobs.
14
Enough with the backbiting and hindsight and blaming Hillary or the DNC or Bernie or Jill. Enough.
Trump got elected, and that's what we have to deal with going forward.
The rift between Republicans and Democrats is now so complete that we can re-form the Democratic party in a truly popular and progressive party. One that puts people ahead of profits, and society ahead of stockholders.
The old Democrat and Republican parties were thoroughly business-first, and whatever illness that brought to the rest of us was viewed as collateral damage.
Well, screw that. I'm not against business, but I'm sure against putting business interests ahead of people's interests.
Trump's victory was a deathblow to the old way. Now we will move forward!
Trump got elected, and that's what we have to deal with going forward.
The rift between Republicans and Democrats is now so complete that we can re-form the Democratic party in a truly popular and progressive party. One that puts people ahead of profits, and society ahead of stockholders.
The old Democrat and Republican parties were thoroughly business-first, and whatever illness that brought to the rest of us was viewed as collateral damage.
Well, screw that. I'm not against business, but I'm sure against putting business interests ahead of people's interests.
Trump's victory was a deathblow to the old way. Now we will move forward!
17
The Republican leadership must step up to curtail this lunatic. Now. They are the only ones in position to do so. I read on the front page of the NYTimes today that the Republican leadership is busy calling world leaders to smooth things over. It will only get worse. They set the stage for Trump's rise, and they have to rein him in. This will cost them, but they must put country over party. They must also put humanity over party. After the way they put party over country during the Obama administration; throwing sand in the gears of our economy to extend the recession, I'm not optimistic that they will step up, but they need to.
24
Trump first two weeks are confusion. Obama first few weeks was losing 800,000 jobs. So things now are not too bad but are likely to get worse if our government doesn't get its act together. It doesn't seen to function and it should be put on dialysis because lack of function. This is called a flawed democracy. Hopefully it will not change into something else.
1
"No, what we’re hearing sounds like a man who is out of his depth and out of control, who can’t even pretend to master his feelings of personal insecurity."
Paul Krugman outlines what common sense dictates. Unfortunately despite the evidence, Trump's hard core supporters remain committed and Republicans are gleefully accomplishing their agenda while he continues to put America's interests at risk.
Paul Krugman outlines what common sense dictates. Unfortunately despite the evidence, Trump's hard core supporters remain committed and Republicans are gleefully accomplishing their agenda while he continues to put America's interests at risk.
21
I'm a die hard conservative white guy living and prospering in Massachusetts. I like to tell people I'm disenfranchised because I voted for Trump but all the electoral college votes went to Hillary.
I enjoy reading Blow, Krugman and the comments published by the NY Times. Everyday the intensity of TDS increases, everyday the liberals are in the red about to blow a gasket and the intensity is greater the next day. It's entertaining. Trump won get over it. The violence and riots perpetrated by the left is horrible, The left openly stating the will defy US laws is irresponsible. It's another of many reasons why Hillary lost Bigly, the most important election in decades.
I enjoy reading Blow, Krugman and the comments published by the NY Times. Everyday the intensity of TDS increases, everyday the liberals are in the red about to blow a gasket and the intensity is greater the next day. It's entertaining. Trump won get over it. The violence and riots perpetrated by the left is horrible, The left openly stating the will defy US laws is irresponsible. It's another of many reasons why Hillary lost Bigly, the most important election in decades.
3
"America and the world can’t take much more of this. Think about it: If you had an employee behaving this way, you’d immediately remove him from any position of responsibility and strongly suggest that he seek counseling. And this guy is commander in chief of the world’s most powerful military."
Why does the number 25 keep bouncing around in my head???
Why does the number 25 keep bouncing around in my head???
5
So what’s new? The United States has killed or had killed over 20 million people in 37 nations since WWII.: http://www.globalresearch.ca/us-has-killed-more-than-20-million-people-i.... William Blum has created a list showing that the United States has overthrown or attempted to overthrow governments in 57 countries since WWII: https://williamblum.org/essays/read/overthrowing-other-peoples-governmen.... And Investigative Journalist, Jeremy Scahill, in a recent interview, explained what Eisenhower’s “military / industrial complex” means today. Corporations no longer view war as a national security necessity. They view war as a means of making obscene profits: http://www.actvism.org/en/events/video-jeremy-scahill-on-the-military-in....
We live in PERPETUAL WAR! Trump is simply following a long tradition. What is new is his braggadocio and recklessness that announces to the world what other presidents have done in the shadows. To suggest that he is not in a long line of administrations that perpetuated perpetual war is fallacious.
We live in PERPETUAL WAR! Trump is simply following a long tradition. What is new is his braggadocio and recklessness that announces to the world what other presidents have done in the shadows. To suggest that he is not in a long line of administrations that perpetuated perpetual war is fallacious.
3
This country, this planet, our interactions, our relationships to our neighbors....it is a complex world. I know this sounds like political speak, but it really does demand complex solutions. Trump's appeal was that things are simple, and now we are seeing how simple solutions play out. Chaos. Give me a leader who sits back and ponders things for a while, give me a leader who surrounds himself with competent people. You know, like that last dude!
11
While agreeing with you assessment of Trump's mental state, how should a thinking person think about all his supporters, including the Kellyanns, Prebuses, Republican senators and congressmen? Are they nuts too? Or is this all just a game to these misfits?
5
The Republicans in Congress are the only people who can stop trump before he goes too far. Impeachment must be a ready option. When each new day dawns we hold our collective breaths before reading what new angry or insulting outburst trump has made overnight or might do in the day to come. We cannot live like this. He must be held to a strict probation and action against him must be ready and swift. America is only an idea. Our institutions are subject to the craven careerists who control them. Republicans must be courageous and righteous and do what is necessary to preserve the best of what our nation represents. The world is watching and praying that we do what needs to be done when the time comes.
4
This "on notice" jargon sounds like something a teacher would threaten a student with before being sent to detention.
I'm sure Iran is quaking in their boots.
But the funniest part of this was some retired talking head general I saw spouting off on MSNBC the day after Flynn delivered this idiotic missive.
In very serious tones, he informed us how awesome this was, because it didn't take military action "off the table".
Well, yeah. Wouldn't military action be already implicit in a warning like that?
Slice me off a piece of that genius.
I'm sure Iran is quaking in their boots.
But the funniest part of this was some retired talking head general I saw spouting off on MSNBC the day after Flynn delivered this idiotic missive.
In very serious tones, he informed us how awesome this was, because it didn't take military action "off the table".
Well, yeah. Wouldn't military action be already implicit in a warning like that?
Slice me off a piece of that genius.
3
In the photograph, Trump is gloating behind a pile of bagels.
100 years ago, Republicans were so horrified by the millions of Jews and Italians who poured into New York by simply arriving at Ellis Island, that they changed the immigration laws to block immigration of these unwanted groups (thus trapping Jews in Europe in the 1930s/early 40s and condemning them to death)
Now Republicans cluelessly eat bagels and pizza and once again demonize innocents while putting lives of people who cherish America (and who are poised to contribute their talents ) in peril.
100 years ago, Republicans were so horrified by the millions of Jews and Italians who poured into New York by simply arriving at Ellis Island, that they changed the immigration laws to block immigration of these unwanted groups (thus trapping Jews in Europe in the 1930s/early 40s and condemning them to death)
Now Republicans cluelessly eat bagels and pizza and once again demonize innocents while putting lives of people who cherish America (and who are poised to contribute their talents ) in peril.
16
When even David Brooks gets cynical, you know things have gone too far.
10
We are on the brink of a catastrophe.
Trump is issuing threats to everybody in the world, enemies and friends alike (Russia excluded of course). This cannot end well. China and North Korea, for example, both have long-standing grudges against the Western world and are hypersensitive to insults and threats, and they both have current conflicts with us (control of the South China Sea, cultural and political independence of Hong Kong and Taiwan, North Korea's developing nuclear weapons program) each of which requires careful diplomacy to avoid military conflict. And both of them have nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Western democracies are being threatened by nationalist movements and internal dissent, related to the growing disparity of wealth around the world, and the flood of immigrants caused by the chaos George W. Bush created in the Middle East. Above all, Russia and our own radical right are disrupting the exchange of ideas, and our trust in each other and our institutions, by spreading fake the news and disinformation.
And we have global climate change, creating further economic and social instability.
Trump is walking onto the world stage, like a big cigar-smoking tycoon walking into a fireworks factory.
Trump is issuing threats to everybody in the world, enemies and friends alike (Russia excluded of course). This cannot end well. China and North Korea, for example, both have long-standing grudges against the Western world and are hypersensitive to insults and threats, and they both have current conflicts with us (control of the South China Sea, cultural and political independence of Hong Kong and Taiwan, North Korea's developing nuclear weapons program) each of which requires careful diplomacy to avoid military conflict. And both of them have nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, Western democracies are being threatened by nationalist movements and internal dissent, related to the growing disparity of wealth around the world, and the flood of immigrants caused by the chaos George W. Bush created in the Middle East. Above all, Russia and our own radical right are disrupting the exchange of ideas, and our trust in each other and our institutions, by spreading fake the news and disinformation.
And we have global climate change, creating further economic and social instability.
Trump is walking onto the world stage, like a big cigar-smoking tycoon walking into a fireworks factory.
37
Uneducated populations can be prone to mob mentality, which is why the Founding Fathers created the Electoral College. It should have stopped someone with opaque business ties that refused to release his tax returns or robust medical reports, lied continuously about easily verified subjects, bragged about sexual assault, exhibited racist tendencies, and demonstrated an utter lack of self control.
The Republican Party should start its path to redemption by dismissing all of the Electors from their roles. Then, it should insist on 10 years of tax returns and an independent medical review of some or all of its future Presidential candidates. Throw in a public tearing-up of their pledge to Grover Norquist and admit their economic platform is almost entirely fraudulent and we might have a worthy political party again.
Our one party system, with the broken party in power, simply doesn't work.
The Republican Party should start its path to redemption by dismissing all of the Electors from their roles. Then, it should insist on 10 years of tax returns and an independent medical review of some or all of its future Presidential candidates. Throw in a public tearing-up of their pledge to Grover Norquist and admit their economic platform is almost entirely fraudulent and we might have a worthy political party again.
Our one party system, with the broken party in power, simply doesn't work.
23
How much more, indeed, can the world take
from Comey's Monster?
from Comey's Monster?
23
As Freud said of narcissists, these people act like they're in love with themselves. But they are not. The reason Trump needs to be Number One in everything (even though the facts demonstrate that he is not -- witness The Apprentice as 67th top show, not number 1) is because the only other number open to him is Zero. If his self-deluding self-image is imperilled in any way, he will default to Zero (his true picture of himself) and strike back with full force. Donald J. (Zero) Trump is a grave danger to all of us. His veneer is getting thinner and thinner by the day, and he will become more and more desperate as this happens. Please D. J., get help!
19
Krugman needs to stick to the simplistic, academic economic models he knows and leave real foreign military matters to others.
Both sides in the current military fighting in Ukraine blame the other; who is telling the truth? Trump has indicated a less hostile view of Russia/Putin so why in the world would Russia goad him at this moment? On the other hand, it is obvious why Ukraine might seek a confrontation now on Russia's border to excite the McCains and Krugmans who seek yet more war -- and this time not with a third rate military power like Iraq.
Both sides in the current military fighting in Ukraine blame the other; who is telling the truth? Trump has indicated a less hostile view of Russia/Putin so why in the world would Russia goad him at this moment? On the other hand, it is obvious why Ukraine might seek a confrontation now on Russia's border to excite the McCains and Krugmans who seek yet more war -- and this time not with a third rate military power like Iraq.
1
Australia probably would like to "unfriend" us, a Cuban missile style crisis may be arising with Iran, the torch held aloft by Lady Liberty has been dimmed, trade agreements are being torn up, the ACA is under attack, all sorts of regulations from banking to the environment are about to be eased and Mexico is on alert for invasion by our military. Oh I almost forgot, the Johnson Amendment is being challenged, so soon the line drawn between Church and State will be blurred or wiped out. Has it only been two weeks? That must be in dog weeks - it feels like a year.
For all those who thought the office would make this man, how's that working out for you? What we saw in the campaign is what we have gotten on steroids. Power drunk, Trump is now bullying our allies, and threatening our relationships with other countries where we need to tread lightly, without one thought to consequences. Putin must be so proud. Act first, deal with the fallout at leisure. This man has proved to be far more dangerous than many had thought. He has amply demonstrated his immaturity and his total lack of temperament to be the President of this country. He is endangering not only our country, but other countries as well. What options do we have? Impeachment? Right now the Republicans are not willing to go there until Trump signs away the social safety nets and human and civil rights are dismantled. These are dark days for our nation.
For all those who thought the office would make this man, how's that working out for you? What we saw in the campaign is what we have gotten on steroids. Power drunk, Trump is now bullying our allies, and threatening our relationships with other countries where we need to tread lightly, without one thought to consequences. Putin must be so proud. Act first, deal with the fallout at leisure. This man has proved to be far more dangerous than many had thought. He has amply demonstrated his immaturity and his total lack of temperament to be the President of this country. He is endangering not only our country, but other countries as well. What options do we have? Impeachment? Right now the Republicans are not willing to go there until Trump signs away the social safety nets and human and civil rights are dismantled. These are dark days for our nation.
22
After just 2 weeks, it's clear that Trump is mentally unstable. It's time to start thinking about the 25th Amendment:
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
Section 4. Whenever the Vice President and a majority of either the principal officers of the executive departments or of such other body as Congress may by law provide, transmit to the President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives their written declaration that the President is unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office, the Vice President shall immediately assume the powers and duties of the office as Acting President.
16
"Think about it: If you had an employee behaving this way, you’d immediately remove him from any position of responsibility . . . ."
There are a couple of problems with this. First of all, you're asking the tens of millions of low-information, blow-up-the-system Trump voters to think. Historically, that's not what they're good at. Second, it doesn't appear to me that the GOP members of the House and Senate actually care for the good of the country, but only for the advancement of their own very retro agenda. Right now, they seem to think they can ride the Trump Train to that objective.
But last - to the Trumpists, the Donald is not their employee, even though the Constitution clearly says he works for us, the American people. To the Trumpists, Mr. Trump is their savior. They're so busy shouting "Hosannah" with their eyes closed, they don't know or care what is happening.
There are a couple of problems with this. First of all, you're asking the tens of millions of low-information, blow-up-the-system Trump voters to think. Historically, that's not what they're good at. Second, it doesn't appear to me that the GOP members of the House and Senate actually care for the good of the country, but only for the advancement of their own very retro agenda. Right now, they seem to think they can ride the Trump Train to that objective.
But last - to the Trumpists, the Donald is not their employee, even though the Constitution clearly says he works for us, the American people. To the Trumpists, Mr. Trump is their savior. They're so busy shouting "Hosannah" with their eyes closed, they don't know or care what is happening.
16
The president is in kver his head and is ill-advised. There are no veteran diplomats at his side, only a small-minded bigot and an alternative facts apologizer. I applaud the president's efforts, but our nation requires experienced leadership in these turbulent times, but what we have is a phlegmatic, out of control and out of his league leader.
9
There really is no point at all in listening to what Trump says and trying to analyze it. One day later the "policy" can be completely different. I would coin the phrase Trumplash for what Benjamin Netanyahu has just experienced (and richly deserves). When Trump says something outrageous (which is daily), my advice would be to take two Prozac and go to bed. The only thing that matters and what is worth getting upset about and protesting is Trumps actual actions - like the executive order on immigration.
9
You say "Thanks, Comey." Nice try. Sure, he's certainly a part of Mrs. Clinton's defeat. However, the REAL people responsible for her loss are the Dem elites - the power brokers and self-righteous leaders like Debbie Wasserman Schultz and hundreds of others. Including you and your paper. Bernie fought against the Republican'ts, the Corporatists, the Economic Royalists AND the Clinton machine. He damn near beat 'em all. With all the rigging in the world, HRC still showed herself to be such a flawed candidate that she lost to Donald Freaking Trump! OMG....
23
Bernie was predicted to, and did, fail to win over a cornerstone Democrat constituency: black primary voters. That was a fundamental failure that is on him, not HRC&Co. Democratic progressives are not going to be helped by ignoring that and what it means.
The United States in 1965 finally enacted the Voting Rights Act, among other civil rights achievements. But that very same year, it also overturned 40 years of restrictive immigration policy - the cumulative effects of such overturning was to introduce competition against African-Americans for entry-level jobs. African Americans gained legal equality at the same time an economic force was being introduced that would not work in their favor. Trump did marginally better than Romney with African-Americans, and that may be a sign of something to pay more attention to.
The United States in 1965 finally enacted the Voting Rights Act, among other civil rights achievements. But that very same year, it also overturned 40 years of restrictive immigration policy - the cumulative effects of such overturning was to introduce competition against African-Americans for entry-level jobs. African Americans gained legal equality at the same time an economic force was being introduced that would not work in their favor. Trump did marginally better than Romney with African-Americans, and that may be a sign of something to pay more attention to.
4
I agree with much of what you said but there is more to it. The repeal of the fairness doctrine during the Reagan administration opened the gates for talk radio and to what we now have being called alternative facts. I grew up in the Mid West and have relatives that are so brain washed, no amount of facts will change their mind. The right wing Oligarchs now have an army of people that insist on voting against their best self interest. I voted for Bernie in the primary but was willing to settle for HRC because I am focused on the long game. I have other relatives on the west coast that decided it was important to stick with their principles and either vote 3rd party or right in Bernie as a protest. Now everybody but the 1% is screwed and Romney would have only screwed 47% of Americans.
3
blah blah blah Clinton bashing blah blah. Yeah, sorry: Comey's letter was, in fact, the ctirical blow that turned the volatile electorate and lost her the election. But, hey, it's much more fun to Hilary bash blah blah.
3
This is beginning to get scary fast. Trump is so in over his head it is stunning and rather than surround himself with "like smart people" he is doing nothing of the sort. Trump needs to think he is the smartest guy in the room, this has disaster written all over it and meanwhile the Republicans say nothing.
27
Trump is a living example of Thorstein Veblen's characterization of robber baron businessmen who got ahead, not by doing anything productive, but rather by profiting from creating "interstitial disturbances." Putting them into the political sphere is a recipe for utter disaster.
22
Under Trump, international order looks to be a simplified to negotiation over position instead of interests. Bombast and shysterism can work when buying a used car, but it creates quite the stir when applying this simplified view of the world to something complex as international relations. Now, we are all witness to the greatest on the job training challenge the world has ever seen.
10
Trump doesn't respect Australia because there is a shortage of women, down under.
4
It's not "Thanks Comey". It's thanks to the 62 million people who voted for Trump and the Electoral College simply following past conventions with no re-think or guts to do otherwise. The real. deep story, is why those 62 million people voted the way they did. Look into this and many a factor explaining the growth of an increasingly dysfunctional society will emerge. It is time to stop blaming the straw that broke the camel's back, and start looking at the illnesses befalling the camel itself.
15
Not true. 3 million more than the Trump!
2
Today the WSJ reports that Trump plans to sign an executive order to set up a framework to roll back Dodd Frank. Where is the NYT coverage?
Donald Trump Plans to Undo Dodd-Frank Law, Fiduciary Rule
White House adviser Gary Cohn says banks burdened by rules added after
Updated Feb. 3, 2017 7:44 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Friday plans to sign an executive action that establishes a framework for scaling back the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial
Donald Trump Plans to Undo Dodd-Frank Law, Fiduciary Rule
White House adviser Gary Cohn says banks burdened by rules added after
Updated Feb. 3, 2017 7:44 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump on Friday plans to sign an executive action that establishes a framework for scaling back the 2010 Dodd-Frank financial
13
At least he hasn't had a Bay of Pigs yet.
4
Or an Iranian desert catastrophe (Carter).
Or a red line set and then forgotten (Obama).
Or a blue dress (Clinton).
Or a "mission accomplished" (Bush).
Or a U2 (Ike).
You want more? I've got lots of presidential screw ups. And isn't it the case that presidents typically screw up with their initial initiatives, doing the wrong thing rather than the do-able things (somehow gays in the military, big tax cuts and Obamacare come to mind). The job seems to prevent people from getting off to a good and do-able start because they want to have a Broadway hit out of the first 100 days, and that dogs them for years and years).
So let's not get ahead of ourselves about Trump. Not yet anyway.
Or a red line set and then forgotten (Obama).
Or a blue dress (Clinton).
Or a "mission accomplished" (Bush).
Or a U2 (Ike).
You want more? I've got lots of presidential screw ups. And isn't it the case that presidents typically screw up with their initial initiatives, doing the wrong thing rather than the do-able things (somehow gays in the military, big tax cuts and Obamacare come to mind). The job seems to prevent people from getting off to a good and do-able start because they want to have a Broadway hit out of the first 100 days, and that dogs them for years and years).
So let's not get ahead of ourselves about Trump. Not yet anyway.
I would say the greater majority of people living in the US do not even know what the Bay of Pigs, where it was at or anything about it. You should look at some of the youtube videos where reporters ask people on the street of all ages
Do you know where the Vietnam War was fought?'' The majority didn't know.
Do you know where the Vietnam War was fought?'' The majority didn't know.
1
I think it was on cable news that someone remarked that Trump's is "extemporaneous" presidency. Add to that volatile.
Apparently this is all by design. Keep the people nervous by saying and doing outrageous things regularly so that they lose track of what is happening and outrageous becomes the new normal. Fatigue sets in and protests and marches become less and less.
That's the goal, apparently. But let's hope the people see through that it just as they can see through the border wall with Mexico.
Homeland Security Secretary General John Kelly said the building of wall "will take a multi-layered approach. There will be the physical wall and then parts of the wall that you can see through because it will rely on sensors and other technology.”
Paul Ryan is his best to ingratiate himself with the Trump administration. He said, "we will give the financing to Secretary Kelly to go build the wall and the border security plan." Now all they have to do is come with some lies to say how Mexico, in fact, paid for it. Fox News and other "fake news" outlets, I am sure, are ready to help.
Apparently this is all by design. Keep the people nervous by saying and doing outrageous things regularly so that they lose track of what is happening and outrageous becomes the new normal. Fatigue sets in and protests and marches become less and less.
That's the goal, apparently. But let's hope the people see through that it just as they can see through the border wall with Mexico.
Homeland Security Secretary General John Kelly said the building of wall "will take a multi-layered approach. There will be the physical wall and then parts of the wall that you can see through because it will rely on sensors and other technology.”
Paul Ryan is his best to ingratiate himself with the Trump administration. He said, "we will give the financing to Secretary Kelly to go build the wall and the border security plan." Now all they have to do is come with some lies to say how Mexico, in fact, paid for it. Fox News and other "fake news" outlets, I am sure, are ready to help.
5
I fear it isn't a simple case of a single inmate running the asylum. That would be reasonably easy to solve given some time and a slow but inevitable awakening of Congress.
The real problem is that this inmate is just a marionette owned and managed by the malevolent Bannon-Rasputin... God help us all.
The real problem is that this inmate is just a marionette owned and managed by the malevolent Bannon-Rasputin... God help us all.
4
The path to happiness until this is all over? Do what I did and buy some gold and hold cash.
Now, my pain is tempered by a frisson of pleasure at every faux pas, broken treaty, ally offended, tyrant coddled, incompetent mistake. Once these clowns get bounced out, we can all invest American businesses and rebuild.
Now, my pain is tempered by a frisson of pleasure at every faux pas, broken treaty, ally offended, tyrant coddled, incompetent mistake. Once these clowns get bounced out, we can all invest American businesses and rebuild.
1
The Trump White House will only get worse. I totally agree with your premise. However, another real problem is how to persuade the millions of people who think is kind of behavior is just fine. More of it please.
We need to change minds if we are going to change this country for the better. The white rural and middle class feel that they are the ones to never get any "love" from the government. Why? It has been the relentless drum beat of the Republicans over the past 25 years.
We need to change minds if we are going to change this country for the better. The white rural and middle class feel that they are the ones to never get any "love" from the government. Why? It has been the relentless drum beat of the Republicans over the past 25 years.
6
Two weeks into the new regime and it's getting very old... seems like every day we get a bigger and better flavor of the day from the Orange Pinhead and his merry band of men (oh excuse me Ms. Conway). Who else to insult? But be careful not to step on Vlad's toes, better not to go there as Flynn, Bannon et al. suggest that might be too politically correct. Nope, there's lots of trouble out there and while thoughtful souls were contemplative and compassionate at the National Prayer Meeting he informs that he alone will fix the ails of the world... after all "that's what I do, I fix things." And oh yes, do remind us once again about those Apprentice ratings, whatever relevance for this group or for that matter anyone aside from you and the sycophantic toadies who do your bidding. Perhaps the initial shots across the bow (many) will cease and we can see some progress on economic fronts, no more need to dismantle or trash the Obama legacy or programs, we hear you and the minions. Just give us a new flavor of the day, one optimistic, uplifting and collegial. That indeed would be a welcome change but I fear its not in the cards, not now not never. The flavor of the day will stay the same.
2
This administration showed up with more than one menace. Trump is just two-thirds useful idiot, one-third attention-seeker. He's manipulated by his Council of Menace: a top strategist who can best be described as one part Hank Scorpio, two parts Russ Cargill.
There's also a Gen. Jack D. Ripper (substitute disparaging a major religion for USSR), who likes to put countries on notice with apparently not much more than an "or else" to back up that "you're on notice."
Yeah, a lot of menace showed up on Jan. 20th and started customizing their workstations. Unfortunately, their workstations are the country.
There's also a Gen. Jack D. Ripper (substitute disparaging a major religion for USSR), who likes to put countries on notice with apparently not much more than an "or else" to back up that "you're on notice."
Yeah, a lot of menace showed up on Jan. 20th and started customizing their workstations. Unfortunately, their workstations are the country.
4
If you clowns want to blame Comey for Trump, at least blame him for his actual misdeed. If he had properly charged Hillary with the multiple crimes she committed related to her email server, rather than giving her a pass, then another, more electable Democrat would have been the party's nominee. By propping up the corpse, he sunk the party and its totalitarian base.
5
Trump's musings about invading Mexico should be taken more seriously. A headline during the election concerning one of Trump’s earlier insanities was - Trump’s plan to seize Iraq’s oil: “It’s not stealing, we’re reimbursing ourselves” The word “reimbursing” is now being used in context with Trump’s assertion that he will force Mexico to pay for the wall. Trump reiterated that he would have seized Iraq’s oil recently at a speech to the CIA.
Trump ordering military force to be used to seize Mexican assets for such reimbursement might accomplish two possible Trump objectives. What did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Even if Putin asked Trump to have the American Treasury transfer, say $200 billion to Russia, that is not going to happen. Even Kellyanne Conway could not spin that one into anything that would be acceptable to the American people or congress. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
Trump might attempt to use military force to seize Mexico's significant oil assets in the Gulf of Mexico. At minimum this would disrupt production and bail out Putin with a world-wide 1973 type oil price spike. Rather than surrendering the Gulf oil platforms Mexico might sabotage them, creating multiple spills each like the 1979 Gulf of Campeche spill that rivaled the Deepwater Horizon..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
Trump ordering military force to be used to seize Mexican assets for such reimbursement might accomplish two possible Trump objectives. What did Putin hope to gain by aiding Trump? What Russia and Putin desperately need is money. Even if Putin asked Trump to have the American Treasury transfer, say $200 billion to Russia, that is not going to happen. Even Kellyanne Conway could not spin that one into anything that would be acceptable to the American people or congress. Absent writing Russia a big check, how could Trump cause Russia to gain $200 billion? The answer would be a $50 increase in the price of oil.
Trump might attempt to use military force to seize Mexico's significant oil assets in the Gulf of Mexico. At minimum this would disrupt production and bail out Putin with a world-wide 1973 type oil price spike. Rather than surrendering the Gulf oil platforms Mexico might sabotage them, creating multiple spills each like the 1979 Gulf of Campeche spill that rivaled the Deepwater Horizon..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4034048
2
Thanks Comey for what? Doing his job? Donald is certainly acting like he is not allowing business as usual in making deals with other countries that would disadvantage America. In all the case cited by Prof Krugman, I feel Trump may have dealt with them in an unpolished manner but he was right. Countries who took refugees like Australia made a deal that they will only take them temporarily and then pass them over to USA. In the mean time one of the articles in NY Times talks about the inhumane conditions in which Australia held these political outcasts of Iran in an island of the coast of PN Guinea. With regard to Mexico, is it not a fact that our borders are porous and a large part of the drug entry into the USA may be due to the porosity of our borders and a poor border control from the Mexican side. Finally with Iran, if Iran is breaking the nuclear deal putting them on notice may be in order. To state that Donald will start a war with China is absurd. If anything pulling the plug on TPP, Trump has gifted China responsibility and the control of its neighborhood and the S China sea. Would be interesting when Trump talks to President Xhi of China. I know Chinese Americans who are actually quite supportive of Trump presidency. So Prof. Krugman, dream on Trump will only indulge in war of words. If Trump has learned or should have learned anything from the raid in Yemen that was planned and received a go ahead during the sun set of the Obama presidency is war has casualties.
4
So to hear that a Trump sympathizer is concerned about inhumane conditions of refugees in Australia. And I'd thought all you guys were just borderline evil.
1
My first instinctual reaction to the way the NYT has been reporting and opinionating on President Trump is that it's been hyperventilating over-reacting and not giving the man a chance. The tone is insulting and unfair. Cheap name calling especially in headlines and titles of articles and columns is something I expect of other less reliable publications than this one, i.e. not fitting. What does it accomplish other than alienating this administration from the media? A more objective civilized approach would wield stronger influence. Today's headlines demonstrate again that he has the ability to learn and change and isn't that what we want? Don't ostracize and divide, rather stay rational, educate and unite. By the way I am a Democrat and voted for Hilary.
5
"The tone is insulting and unfair." Insulting, yes, unfair, no. The man is not qualified for the job he has. To pretend he is qualified would be insulting to me.
The Media has already been labeled "the opposition." That will not change unless it goes lockstep with Fox News and Breibart, those fonts of "real news."
Sorry if you don't like the coverage. By the way, opinion writers get to express opinions, and if they are strong ones you don't like, don't read them.
The Media has already been labeled "the opposition." That will not change unless it goes lockstep with Fox News and Breibart, those fonts of "real news."
Sorry if you don't like the coverage. By the way, opinion writers get to express opinions, and if they are strong ones you don't like, don't read them.
4
First, Donald Trump was on to something when it comes to Mexico. That he completely mishandled it does not mean he is wrong. The many national and state Mexican governments over the decades may very well have been allies of the Mexican drug cartels. The academy award nominated documentary "Cartel Land" suggested just that.
While everything involving President Trump and the Russian Federation is clouded by his gratuitous public love affair with President Putin, Russia's intervention in our election, the threat to withdraw from NATO and the business dealings between Trump, Manafort and others with the Russian oligarchs and even the government, the attempt to reduce tensions with the Russian Federation is an important foreign policy initiative to establish a stable environment in Europe. The United States and its allies by recruiting former members of the USSR into NATO thus surrounding Russia with an existential national security threat, not to mention the nuclear warheads aimed at her, was a reckless provocation and ignored the fact that the former Soviet Union was invaded twice in the 20th century from the west. In WWII alone it lost 25 million people while standing alone against the Nazis Indeed, it was the Soviet Union that largely made the defeat of Nazi Germany a certainty.
This is not about friendship or enemies, it is about interests. It is in our interests and the interests of our allies to maintain a stable relationship with Russia
While everything involving President Trump and the Russian Federation is clouded by his gratuitous public love affair with President Putin, Russia's intervention in our election, the threat to withdraw from NATO and the business dealings between Trump, Manafort and others with the Russian oligarchs and even the government, the attempt to reduce tensions with the Russian Federation is an important foreign policy initiative to establish a stable environment in Europe. The United States and its allies by recruiting former members of the USSR into NATO thus surrounding Russia with an existential national security threat, not to mention the nuclear warheads aimed at her, was a reckless provocation and ignored the fact that the former Soviet Union was invaded twice in the 20th century from the west. In WWII alone it lost 25 million people while standing alone against the Nazis Indeed, it was the Soviet Union that largely made the defeat of Nazi Germany a certainty.
This is not about friendship or enemies, it is about interests. It is in our interests and the interests of our allies to maintain a stable relationship with Russia
4
Trump does sometimes stumble on to a legit problem. It is a problem that our middle class hasn't been buttressed and the role of free trade is probably one culprit. But trump is not the person to address. He is a danger to the republic
1
You conveniently disregard all the "bad things" Russia under Putin, etc., has done but point out all the "bad things" Mexico under various elected presidents has done.
What is you agenda?
What is you agenda?
The real danger with Trump is that he is so easy to manipulate and foreign entities and the Republican majority in Congress are fully aware of that fact. All they have to do is either stroke up or attack his ego to pull him in the desired direction. My question is how did a man with this mentality ever get this far? Whatever does it say about the people in this country who voted for him?
21
I know it's an imperfect democracy. That Comey was able to make a difference in this election, and was willing to do it proves it. It shouldn't have been that close. We've elected a dangerous madman to be our President. I had a hamburger the other day at a local Trumpseter hang out called Smitty's. I ate my pretty good burger in silence and listened to the talk in the room. It was ugly. Hateful. Fearful. Old and white. If we've elected an unfit man then maybe we are also unfit for democracy. It shouldn't have been close enough for Comey to throw it over. Those patrons of Smitty's don't care about anything. Deplorable is much too nice a word. They are as crazy as the man they elected. They want to blow us all up. Republicans only wanted to have more tax cuts and less regulation and less public services and safety nets. They just want us to die quietly and peacefully for their personal profit. They're rich and careless. They don't worry about the ruined lives they leave scattered in their wake. Now they've got someone who could blow up everything, including them. I"m not going back to Smitty's, but I know they are there and they don't care about anything but how good it feels to destroy.
26
Don Trump is akin to Indiana Jones: "I don't know, I'm making this up as I go along." Of course, the critical difference is that it is not Donald the Unready Marionette "making stuff up," it is the puppet masters Steve Bannon and Michael Pence: both with the despicable goal of driving to the periphery, if not detention camps, those different from them, especially Bannon.
As Dr. Krugan writes, "... as working-class voters began to realize that candidate Trump’s promises about jobs and health care were insincere, foreign distractions would look increasingly attractive." Yes, this is likely the case and also a very effective means of identifying "those with us or against us," with those against us needing to be removed and isolated from society.
As Dr. Krugan writes, "... as working-class voters began to realize that candidate Trump’s promises about jobs and health care were insincere, foreign distractions would look increasingly attractive." Yes, this is likely the case and also a very effective means of identifying "those with us or against us," with those against us needing to be removed and isolated from society.
10
Correction: "As Dr Krugman writes ..."
"America and the world can’t take much more of this." But Republicans who control Congress are quite happy to let this madman take all the action. Yes, I'm a liberal too, but the press, including NYT is playing into Trump's (or Bannon's) hands. Can't anyone see this strategy created either by design or accident? Keep the focus on the madman all the while his "administration" and the Republican Congress destroy the country for the 1%. It's working. I agree that Trump Nation will figure it out eventually, but will it be too late to rectify the horror? Inquiring minds would like to know as those of us who can head for the door.
19
OK, don't waste time, get out now.
Please leave, since you've got it all figured out anyway.
Just don't come back. And take the preening Hollywood narcissists with you!!
Please leave, since you've got it all figured out anyway.
Just don't come back. And take the preening Hollywood narcissists with you!!
And the sad fact is that impeachment would result in yet another unprepared idiot taking charge of the world's most powerful military. Thanks, Comey indeed.
31
Thanks for all the informative facts regarding Mike Pence. You surely are a font of useable data for the rest of us to consider.
You sir are run by your emotions with no requirement to explain yourself, typical Liberal guy that you are.
You sir are run by your emotions with no requirement to explain yourself, typical Liberal guy that you are.
Mr. Trump is behaving as president precisely as he did as real estate developer. His behavior is odd to most of us and certainly to heads of states and diplomats but his customers, suppliers, partners and employees have seen it all before. The Trump business enterprise is a tribute to bullying. So it appears will be his presidency.
6
Trump is a threat to the stability of the world and to us as a nation. How did we get here?
1. Right wing hate radio on the air for 30 or so years spewing out hatred of the "other" has recently included Democrats as an enemy. Evey day they try to convince their followers the Democrats are destroying America along with blacks, Hispanics, women, Asians. The list is too long to be inclusive. Let's just say if you are a white male you are safe (excluding Democrats of course).
2. Many people did not vote for a woman because of overt or covert sexism. Of those that refused to vote for her, they try to convince themselves that it was one of several reasons detailed by hate radio, the guys in their exclusive club, Republican members of congress, or the clergy of the church they attend. All noted to resist change and denigrate the archetype of the powerful woman.
Until these issues are addressed, large swaths of the population swallow wholesale lies and untruths prepackaged to appeal to their ingrained prejudices.
Thus we have Trump. Ironically enough he embodies all the negative stereotypes the Right accuses all the other hated groups of having. Being lazy, uninformed, incompetent, reckless, clueless. He is basically all the hatreds of the Right distilled down into one crazy projection writ large. His base loves it, that's crazy on a mass scale. Comey's actions are just the cherry on top.
1. Right wing hate radio on the air for 30 or so years spewing out hatred of the "other" has recently included Democrats as an enemy. Evey day they try to convince their followers the Democrats are destroying America along with blacks, Hispanics, women, Asians. The list is too long to be inclusive. Let's just say if you are a white male you are safe (excluding Democrats of course).
2. Many people did not vote for a woman because of overt or covert sexism. Of those that refused to vote for her, they try to convince themselves that it was one of several reasons detailed by hate radio, the guys in their exclusive club, Republican members of congress, or the clergy of the church they attend. All noted to resist change and denigrate the archetype of the powerful woman.
Until these issues are addressed, large swaths of the population swallow wholesale lies and untruths prepackaged to appeal to their ingrained prejudices.
Thus we have Trump. Ironically enough he embodies all the negative stereotypes the Right accuses all the other hated groups of having. Being lazy, uninformed, incompetent, reckless, clueless. He is basically all the hatreds of the Right distilled down into one crazy projection writ large. His base loves it, that's crazy on a mass scale. Comey's actions are just the cherry on top.
8
I'm feel as though those of us who are saying "Impeach him - now" are being wrongly dismissed as alarmists. We are not alarmists, but rather hard-headed, clear-eyed realists. We're the ones who have, since Election Day, been warning legislators and the media - and our well-intentioned friends - that Trump cannot be "normalized" - that is, be expected to behave rationally or respond to events intelligently, including by seeking the advice of knowledgeable people - because Trump isn't normal. He's a sociopath, cunning but not smart, who survived in the business world by lying, bullying and manipulating.
If Trump is not impeached, and soon, we are headed for catastrophe. He must be removed from office. I am no Pence fan- but Pence is not insane. Ryan and McConnell are living in la-la land if they think that they can control him. They need to listen to Charles Blow and Ross Douthat who, speaking from the opppsite ends of the political spectrum, have delivered the same message - Trump cannot be controlled or made normal. He - and Bannon - need to go.
If Trump is not impeached, and soon, we are headed for catastrophe. He must be removed from office. I am no Pence fan- but Pence is not insane. Ryan and McConnell are living in la-la land if they think that they can control him. They need to listen to Charles Blow and Ross Douthat who, speaking from the opppsite ends of the political spectrum, have delivered the same message - Trump cannot be controlled or made normal. He - and Bannon - need to go.
30
Some supporters of Trump, like Ken below, refuse to see facts as they are but childishly stick to their positions. One sign of wisdom is the ability to change your opinion as new facts emerge. Too many are unable to do this, so they KellyAnn their way through life lying. Your president has mismanaged almost every file he has touched. He was born into money, was given material advantage, inherited several billion dollars, though obviously not emotional strength, maturity, humility, compassion, respect, self-control or wisdom - sly and slimy, not very smart - or any other good quality except perseverance. which he does have. He seems ADHD with the mentality of a spoiled adolescent. His parents can't be proud of how he handles himself. As for the aforementioned KellyANn and other enablers, stop embarrassing your kids. Time for people to realize that visceral reactions to an unpopular Clinton, knee jerk responses to racial dog whistles (or perhaps not so knee jerk - racism is alive and well in the good ol' USA) and some legitimate concerns over job issues, which are both technology and trade-related, allowed trump to win the election game, if not the vote. But enough is enough, folks. Wake up and smell the coffee. The world is laughing at you and the guy and his gang can't manage a two-car parade. Without his inheritance, trump is nothing, a small time scam artist. Get rid of him. Soon
14
We must begin to focus on the real substance of what the Trump presidency means and less on how that substance is expressed. But what exactly is that substance…have we become deaf dumb and blind not to see that the white house has given a home to a white supremacist, wants the EPA dismantled, thinks consumers are over protected, interprets free speech to mean the legitimacy of alternative truth and see no problem with destroying the foundational pillar of separation of church and state.
America is in the hands of a president that is not in continuity with the traditions and beliefs that have given us the domestic stability that great nations thrive on. He is giving us an entirely new set ideals that include letting people die for lack of health insurance, letting people drink contaminated water, letting people become the victims of fraud schemes, letting corporations use bribes abroad and inciting hatred and xenophobia.
And what about jobs? Well, for the time being there has been job growth thanks to being saved by Obama…but Obama is not our president and Trump is , and he is more interested in laying the ground work for an America to be handed over to the alternate-reality faction of the far right !
Do Democrats understand this substance, do Republicans understand this substance ? Its time that we see past the vocabularies used and see the very un-american substance of the Trump agenda…and act !
America is in the hands of a president that is not in continuity with the traditions and beliefs that have given us the domestic stability that great nations thrive on. He is giving us an entirely new set ideals that include letting people die for lack of health insurance, letting people drink contaminated water, letting people become the victims of fraud schemes, letting corporations use bribes abroad and inciting hatred and xenophobia.
And what about jobs? Well, for the time being there has been job growth thanks to being saved by Obama…but Obama is not our president and Trump is , and he is more interested in laying the ground work for an America to be handed over to the alternate-reality faction of the far right !
Do Democrats understand this substance, do Republicans understand this substance ? Its time that we see past the vocabularies used and see the very un-american substance of the Trump agenda…and act !
24
Trump's antics are, to me, indicative of a severe personality disorder, i.e. mental illness. The man lacks the mental capacity and impulse control to be president. He is a danger to our country and to the entire world. Yes. He must be impeached ASAP and then convicted in the Senate. Pence is no bargain either, but I guess evil is better than crazy until the next election.
32
We've learned from The Art of the Deal that Trump's compulsive quest for control is a psychological mask for his inferiority complex or paranoia. No wonder he repealed the ban on gun permits for those with mental illness.
From John Lewis, the Arab Spring, Syria and Berkeley, and we've learned that peaceful protests protests can quickly devolve into violence and overreaction.
Please, Professor Krugman, warn Trump voters that the best they can expect without labor unions and skilled immigrants are junk jobs.
From John Lewis, the Arab Spring, Syria and Berkeley, and we've learned that peaceful protests protests can quickly devolve into violence and overreaction.
Please, Professor Krugman, warn Trump voters that the best they can expect without labor unions and skilled immigrants are junk jobs.
16
Funny how 98% of respondents here do not have the guts to even disclose their names, hiding behind the nicks, to continue the slender campaign. What gives? I used to consider myself a liberal until Trump's election and the psychotic reaction in this paper and others of his opponents, such as Dr. Krugman. Give the President a chance. for us - the "other half" of the country, he is doing what he promised on the campaign trail so far - how refreshing! We have gotten used to our politicians not meaning what they promise - for once, he is following through. A German alliance w/ Russia? The end of the world as Mexico will turn to ISIS? Gimme a break! Our country is stronger for Mr. trump's presidency, not the other way around. And, btw, I do not see train loads of the liberals emigrating to Canada either. This is why liberals lose every time - they don't mean what they say, they are fishy-woshy, and they hide behind meaningless nicks. Grow up and accept the Strong American President already.
4
It is quite honestly amazing to me that after these two weeks, there is anyone left making these kinds of nonsensical statements. There really are two Americas, and in one of them an obviously disturbed man with an infantile attention span and limited intellect is somehow seen as strong. God help this nation.
4
The ancient Greeks believed emotions were the work of gods at play within the human realm. Thus feelings were "possession" and behavior dictated largely by possession as well. Today, we see that the Greek gods of mythology are archetypes of human behavior. Thus Trump is best understood as being possessed by Ares, god of war. Quarrelsome, cruel, vexatious, Ares was disliked by all the other Olympians, including his father Zeus. Trump's behavior is internally consistent, based upon conflict, insecurity and pride. The Ares archetype at work is visible for all to see, and it will not end well.
3
ALL of this -- every single bit of it -- was on full display during the campaign season. Every single person who voted to put him in office, and every single Republican leader who didn't stand up to him (and yes, this includes McCain and Collins) and every single person who didn't vote or voted for some third-party candidate is responsible for whatever the main disasters are that we will endure. Yes, including devastating war, nuclear disaster, environmental disaster, killings of people the white nationalists will be targeting, etc. All of it. The lack of respect for the United States is the least of our worries. If this man destroys life on the planet, congratulations to all his supporters for what they have done.
19
Under the 25th Amendment it is a majority of the Cabinet that has the responsibility of removing the President for incapacity, mental, physical or emotional. It is vitally important for the Senate to make sure that a majority of the Cabinet are not mere Trump puppets and that each has the independence and capacity to exercise their constitutional duty of ensuring that our Commander in Chief is not disabled.
15
Here's the dictionary definition of perverse policy - and this is a criticism of both Obama and Trump.
We try to force democracy on a myriad of places that didn't ask for it, don't particularly want it, and, institutionally and psychologically don't appear ready for it. We spend billions if not trillions in this effort.
Meanwhile, one country, Ukraine, is begging for our help. The people are by in large ready, willing, and able to turn their country into a functioning, productive democracy. They have a highly educated workforce and a real yearning to join the civilised world as productive partners. Their youth has suffered and died in the hope of building true democracy in that country.
And Ukraine is the one place that we hesitate about helping. Because we're fearful and because we're vain.
Ukraine should be the greatest democratic success story since the Marshall plan. The monetary investments are relatively miniscule; Ukraine wants structural reform help and just enough money to float them over the hard times - most of which would have been over long ago if we didn't continuously give putin the green light to meddle more.
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
It's time to help Ukraine now.
We try to force democracy on a myriad of places that didn't ask for it, don't particularly want it, and, institutionally and psychologically don't appear ready for it. We spend billions if not trillions in this effort.
Meanwhile, one country, Ukraine, is begging for our help. The people are by in large ready, willing, and able to turn their country into a functioning, productive democracy. They have a highly educated workforce and a real yearning to join the civilised world as productive partners. Their youth has suffered and died in the hope of building true democracy in that country.
And Ukraine is the one place that we hesitate about helping. Because we're fearful and because we're vain.
Ukraine should be the greatest democratic success story since the Marshall plan. The monetary investments are relatively miniscule; Ukraine wants structural reform help and just enough money to float them over the hard times - most of which would have been over long ago if we didn't continuously give putin the green light to meddle more.
"Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
It's time to help Ukraine now.
20
I don't know why you're criticizing Obama for this, he's the only guy in Washington that tried to get us out and keep us out of conflict in the Middle East because he knows we can't fix what ails them. They don't want us there, resent our presence, and blame us for everything. Obama understood it's time for us to back away.
As for Ukraine, we work with and through NATO. I remember Obama wanting to impose far more sanctions against Russia than the Europeans did. The Europeans were more timid because they have more business dealings with Russia. They would be the ones dealing with backlash from Russia, not us. We have to stop our unilaterally throwing our weight around. I appreciate your sentiments, but this is a NATO issue.
As for Ukraine, we work with and through NATO. I remember Obama wanting to impose far more sanctions against Russia than the Europeans did. The Europeans were more timid because they have more business dealings with Russia. They would be the ones dealing with backlash from Russia, not us. We have to stop our unilaterally throwing our weight around. I appreciate your sentiments, but this is a NATO issue.
1
I would recommend not starting a comment with "Both Siderism". That is how the media help get us to Trump.
1
so, why is Ukraine not a success? Why after several years of "true democracy" does Ukraine remain corrupt and inefficient? Isn"t it because the American support of "new" Ukrainian elite was based on not on concern for the Ukranian people, but rather on wish to counter Russia?
1
In the space of 24 hours or less, this column is out of date and incorrect, at least to the extent that Nikki Haley has severely criticized Russia in her first speech in the UN and Trump himself has pointed out that Israeli settlements building can't help efforts to find something resembling peace there. The scary thing is, while our media and much of America are desperate for anything from Trump that resembles thoughtfulness or even emotional stability, we have no idea what the next 24 hours will bring. Will Trump cut the legs off Haley? Will he work real hard on Middle East peace for a couple of weeks and then decide it's too heavy a lift?
Trump claims to like keeping people off balance. I guess we will need to wait more than a day or a week or a month to see if it is actually Trump who is off-balance. Never has the question "Is there a method to this madness?" been so pertinent to the behavior of an America president.
Trump claims to like keeping people off balance. I guess we will need to wait more than a day or a week or a month to see if it is actually Trump who is off-balance. Never has the question "Is there a method to this madness?" been so pertinent to the behavior of an America president.
12
"Trump claims to like keeping people off balance"
Trump is a wind sock, turning to the last direction of the breeze for his positions.
Trump is a wind sock, turning to the last direction of the breeze for his positions.
2
Off balance or distraction. While Haley was condemning Russia, quietly the sanctions were being softened. Putin will read the message clearly: listen to what we do, not what we say.
2
It is my guess and hope that responsible members of Congress are meeting in the dark of night to strategize Trump's removal from office before he can do more harm. But knowing Trump, he is also paranoid in addition to narcissistic and has all members under twenty-four hour surveillance.
11
It is apparent to anyone not harboring deeply embedded partisan agendas, that Trump has real mental issues. His inability to exhibit any kind objective perspective on reality, or human compassion, had been on public display since he first became a public figure. He is the president of the United States of American. And our checks and balances have become a meaningless theory with little effectiveness. Truth is the legislative, and soon the judicial, will be dominated by men who seem to lack any human decency at all. All they do seem to care about is power and profit.
24
Perhaps the best thing the Democrats can do in the interim is call Trump, and the Repubs, exactly what they are (including collaborators with Putin) and potentially complicit in a larger genocide (pulling out health coverage from 18+ million fellow citizens) than the Final Solution (6 million). Get the facts right to show up Kellyanne and Hope Hicks as the scummy liars they are. When the ***t hits the fan, be regrouped to take action and feign surprise that low-information Americans couldn't see it coming.
The best strategy will be to comment but let the Repubs have their way for two years, regroup, and counterattack massively. This worked for the Soviets by 1943, and will work for the Democrats by 2018.
The best strategy will be to comment but let the Repubs have their way for two years, regroup, and counterattack massively. This worked for the Soviets by 1943, and will work for the Democrats by 2018.
17
I am Jewish, liberal, and am involved in many protests against Trump.
.... I want you to know where this comment is coming from:
Your comparison of pulling out health coverage (I am for a one payer system like Canada) to the Final Solution is EGREGIOUS and is part of the seemingly new wave of Holocaust denial.
Please do not talk about the Final Solution in this way!!! Do you not know history? Do you even know what The Final Solution was?
You should be extremely ashamed of yourself.
.... I want you to know where this comment is coming from:
Your comparison of pulling out health coverage (I am for a one payer system like Canada) to the Final Solution is EGREGIOUS and is part of the seemingly new wave of Holocaust denial.
Please do not talk about the Final Solution in this way!!! Do you not know history? Do you even know what The Final Solution was?
You should be extremely ashamed of yourself.
1
Trump is commander-in-chief with executive authority over a virtually unknowable destructive military power. His past and present behaviors suggest an irrational and likely insincere impetuousness that given license bodes ill for our country and the world. He has already been called, among other things, the "chaos president."
History shows that when rulers face domestic strife if not outright opposition, they are likely to engage in diversionary wars to distract their peoples by creating common enemies that require societal mobilization to defeat. This is a real possibility with the Trump/Bannon administration. A prudent step to be taken now would be for congress to revisit the War Powers Act to revise the latitude now available to Trump/Bannon to engage an enemy. A forty-eight-hour notification period and a pre-approved ninety-day operations period offer too much opportunity for mischief if not disaster. This may be true for any president but it's certainly true for Trump who has earned zero trust.
History shows that when rulers face domestic strife if not outright opposition, they are likely to engage in diversionary wars to distract their peoples by creating common enemies that require societal mobilization to defeat. This is a real possibility with the Trump/Bannon administration. A prudent step to be taken now would be for congress to revisit the War Powers Act to revise the latitude now available to Trump/Bannon to engage an enemy. A forty-eight-hour notification period and a pre-approved ninety-day operations period offer too much opportunity for mischief if not disaster. This may be true for any president but it's certainly true for Trump who has earned zero trust.
26
This is already happening at the state and local level. See North Dakota's attempt to legalize murder of protestors. Could any of us even imagine this before Trump Nation? Marshall Law soon coming to your town and state.
1
Potential candidates for president should be vetted for their ability to serve before being allowed to run for office. The GOP allowing Trump to run for president while he had never held elected office and the media giving him two billion dollars worth of free coverage for ratings were fatal mistakes. Now we're all paying the price. Republicans in congress fearing Mr. Trump and his voters have fallen silent. They need to confront him and not allow him to undermine US credibility and alliances.
36
A serious an immediate effort to impeach Trump must begin now.
Such an effort may lead him to resign and thus save us from his chaotic behavior and the dangerous inclinations he demonstrates on a daily basis.
In addition remember that sitting presidents can be sued as citizens.
So any one person or any group with an inkling of a case - step up immediately.
Trump needs to be distracted posthaste. The "greatness" of America depends on it.
Such an effort may lead him to resign and thus save us from his chaotic behavior and the dangerous inclinations he demonstrates on a daily basis.
In addition remember that sitting presidents can be sued as citizens.
So any one person or any group with an inkling of a case - step up immediately.
Trump needs to be distracted posthaste. The "greatness" of America depends on it.
26
I really wonder if the leaks from the administration are planned to send the press down rabbit holes. while the Congress is quietly dismantling the government reversing EPA rules, banking rules. etc. The President doesn't seem as upset about these "leaks" as he should be given his control issues and thin skin. No heads are rolling. I think the major media outlets should come together and agree to split up their coverage so they aren't all jumping onto the same holes. One focus on what Congress is doing, one focus on international, one on domestic, etc. Sure they can all have articles on all of it, but then focus their efforts in one particular area. Otherwise we're all just playing whack a mole and missing whats really happening. Bannon is a mastermind and I have a feeling that he's just playing the country, the world.
43
Trump is doing what he said he'd do. That it's going to hurt America in the long run isn't his concern. That the GOP damaged America with its actions during the Obama Administration doesn't concern them at all. That Americans now have a much lower quality of life than countries we count as allies and whose methods of coping could be adapted to America interests the narrow minds of the GOP and Trump administration not a bit. We are America. We are naturally GREAT! Just ask Trump or McConnell, or Ryan and they will tell us that.
That the GOP could have basked in the glory of any of Obama's ideas to help the economy had they approved of them and worked with him doesn't bother them. That our lives and our country suffered because of their refusal to work for 8 years is of no consequence. A Republican in the White House will fix everything. Even if this Republican does things that are inhumane at the least or unconstitutional, it's all good because, yes, a Republican is doing it. This American hopes that the snake turns on them at some point. This American, who didn't vote for Trump, but hoped for better, hopes the GOP is turned out of office, cannot find jobs, and winds up the way so many of us have wound up: with nothing. And I hope that someone tells them what they told us: you're lazy good for nothings who don't want to work.
That the GOP could have basked in the glory of any of Obama's ideas to help the economy had they approved of them and worked with him doesn't bother them. That our lives and our country suffered because of their refusal to work for 8 years is of no consequence. A Republican in the White House will fix everything. Even if this Republican does things that are inhumane at the least or unconstitutional, it's all good because, yes, a Republican is doing it. This American hopes that the snake turns on them at some point. This American, who didn't vote for Trump, but hoped for better, hopes the GOP is turned out of office, cannot find jobs, and winds up the way so many of us have wound up: with nothing. And I hope that someone tells them what they told us: you're lazy good for nothings who don't want to work.
53
This letter sums it up perfectly: the Rebooblicans care not for the American people, American principles, American constitution. Their only concern is the money-grab they get from their bribes ("campaign donations") and profits their puffed-up rich friends make from the sucker taxpayers. They are scummy liars, the worst of the worst.
3
Here's hoping. One of the things that have troubled me these last several years is that virtue goes friendless while the Cheat to Win method appears to ....win. We need to restore a baseline assumption of human dignity, respect for others and morality-- we need to make it shameful to cheat, even if you get what you want. It used to be, it isn't anymore. I am ashamed of the morals of my government and, by and large, my country.
4
In just two weeks, Trump has upended our system, challenged our Constitution, destabilized the health care market, destabilized relations with our allies, slammed the door shut on refugees and immigrants from seven countries and separated families, and placed a dangerous political operative in his inner circle for the security council while tossing the Joint Chiefs out of the room. And he's not done yet. Throughout the staggering chaos, the Republicans remain silent, with weak whimperings from Paul Ryan that the rollout of the immigration ban had some "issues" and stonewalling from Mitch McConnell. As usual, the Republicans put their party agenda first, even if it means allowing an unhinged man in the Oval Office to attempt to rule with impunity. In trying to get through this, I take heart in the rise of political activism to reject Trump's actions and demand Congress and the Senate respond. Let's hope that this growing activism and defense of our Constitution at the grass roots level translates into Democrats regaining control of at least one of the houses in the 2018 mid term elections - even though that's a long time to wait given how things are going.
49
Paul, your obsession with James Comey is beginning to create doubts, in my mind, as to your objectivity when analyzing other issues. Comey found himself between a rock and a hard place when Bill Clinton forced Loretta Lynch into a de facto recusal as a result of the infamous Meeting on the Tarmac. Comey's initial report covered the full scope of the investigation. He accurately reported that there was no prosecutable violation but that the conduct of official State Department business through a private, unapproved sever was unwise and not in keeping with the spirit of State Department rules and regulations. Both aspects of the statement were necessary to clear Clinton of criminal liability while countering any accusations of a whitewash.
The discovery of the Weiner emails placed Comey in a no win position. Because of the possible link to Clinton through Weiner's wife, they were germane to the original investigation. It must be noted that Comey did not call a press conference to announce this find, rather he sent a letter to congress. It was congress that went public. Imagine the stuff storm had he not notified congress and some smoking gun turned up. At that point he expedited the review and cleared Clinton before the election.
But here you are, once again, playing the Comey card. OK, I'll play. I'll see you one Comey and raise you a "Basket of Deplorables". Which one had a greater effect on the outcome of the election?
The discovery of the Weiner emails placed Comey in a no win position. Because of the possible link to Clinton through Weiner's wife, they were germane to the original investigation. It must be noted that Comey did not call a press conference to announce this find, rather he sent a letter to congress. It was congress that went public. Imagine the stuff storm had he not notified congress and some smoking gun turned up. At that point he expedited the review and cleared Clinton before the election.
But here you are, once again, playing the Comey card. OK, I'll play. I'll see you one Comey and raise you a "Basket of Deplorables". Which one had a greater effect on the outcome of the election?
8
That basket of deplorables is probably about 10% of the population; do the math: about 40% supported Trump but only 50% of population voted =20% of population. Hillary said 50% of his supporters were deplorable, so 50% of 20% = 10%. I think that is about right, and I would put Comey in the basket.
6
Couldn't have said it better myself, Ray. Repeatedly attempting to pin HRC's loss on Comey is not only disingenuous, it is unhelpful to the Democratic cause. If the reasons for Clinton's loss aren't seriously analyzed, and a more compelling candidate isn't nominated to contest Trump's reelection campaign in four years, the chance of another loss will only increase.
1
I'm sorry, but your comments are ridiculous. Comey was advised by Justice not to go public. The "discovery" of the Weiner emails probably happened long before he decided to talk about them just days before the election. Comey and the Russians were Trump allies. This terrifying presidency should never have happened, and although Pence also scares me, Trump has to go.
6
In the last couple of days Germans were asked what they think about the US. Trump destroyed in a couple of days the trust in the US. Making America great looks different. Most Europeans think he is crazy. His entourage is despicable . America will be in same league of distrust as Putin.
Trump turns America into a country nobody trusts and nobody admires. It will be detested for lying and vulgarity.
As I said Greatness looks different. How will Americas great Universities survive. I fear their great days are over soon. Stop Trump before he bankrupts the US
Trump turns America into a country nobody trusts and nobody admires. It will be detested for lying and vulgarity.
As I said Greatness looks different. How will Americas great Universities survive. I fear their great days are over soon. Stop Trump before he bankrupts the US
89
Anne, das stimmt!
Trump has made remarkable progress in his first couple weeks.
He is making good on his campaign promises. This is all too confusing for Democrats.
Paul, crawl out from under your bed. Europe will not invade us because we aren't going to pay for their defense forever. Australia will not bomb us because Trump objects to Obama's sneaky underhanded refugee deal. We've already been invaded by Mexicans if not Mexico and you can still buy all the latte's needed to keep yourself awake while driveling. The world is not ending. You simply lost an election.
Frankly, having a strong leader put US interests first is a welcome change from milquetoast Obama leadership where we were expected to be the doormat.
He is making good on his campaign promises. This is all too confusing for Democrats.
Paul, crawl out from under your bed. Europe will not invade us because we aren't going to pay for their defense forever. Australia will not bomb us because Trump objects to Obama's sneaky underhanded refugee deal. We've already been invaded by Mexicans if not Mexico and you can still buy all the latte's needed to keep yourself awake while driveling. The world is not ending. You simply lost an election.
Frankly, having a strong leader put US interests first is a welcome change from milquetoast Obama leadership where we were expected to be the doormat.
12
Ken,
You are confusing bombast and tantrums for "strength". A European invasion or Australian bombing run is hardly on the table of American concerns. A position of respect and trust in the international world we must live in is. He has already destabilized all of it and when the world gets over its initial shock, they will have to make their plans around us as best they can.
Would you trust anything Trump offered? Ask the people who did business with him in his pre-presidency. He is a pathological personality by any measure.
You are confusing bombast and tantrums for "strength". A European invasion or Australian bombing run is hardly on the table of American concerns. A position of respect and trust in the international world we must live in is. He has already destabilized all of it and when the world gets over its initial shock, they will have to make their plans around us as best they can.
Would you trust anything Trump offered? Ask the people who did business with him in his pre-presidency. He is a pathological personality by any measure.
10
RE " a welcome change from milquetoast Obama leadership where we were expected to be the doormat.'
Congratulations for surviving 8 years of President Obama ... a man who the GOP was determined to thwart every day of those 8 years. A man who Gingrich said Day One the GOP should obstruct every bit of legislation regardless of merit. A man who McConnell said Day One he would work to make a one-term president. A man who Trump accused Day One of not being born in the U.S. A man who rose above petty political vindictiveness to successfully contain the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. A man who worked to bring affordable health insurance to millions of uninsured Americans. Obama is a class act; Trump is not fit to carry his shoes. He will be missed.
Congratulations for surviving 8 years of President Obama ... a man who the GOP was determined to thwart every day of those 8 years. A man who Gingrich said Day One the GOP should obstruct every bit of legislation regardless of merit. A man who McConnell said Day One he would work to make a one-term president. A man who Trump accused Day One of not being born in the U.S. A man who rose above petty political vindictiveness to successfully contain the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression. A man who worked to bring affordable health insurance to millions of uninsured Americans. Obama is a class act; Trump is not fit to carry his shoes. He will be missed.
16
LOL Trump is acting like a psychopathic, narcissistic child who has no governor on his mouth or ill-thought-out actions. He is stirring up hatred and mistrust of the U.S. around the world and causing increasing tensions in the Middle East that will add to, not diminish, the threat of terrorist actions against the U.S. This isn't confusing to Democrats, it's frightening. He's clearly a person with mental illness that is in a position to cause much damage to the country if he doesn't get more adult supervision--and not from Bannon who seems to be and even worse psychopath.
5
How much longer must we tolerate alternative facts. How much longer must we tolerate trump being more concerned about the ratings of his reality show than far more important issues. How much longer must we tolerate trump naming totally unsuitable people to very important positions. How much longer must we tolerate trumps rudeness to our allies. And he's only been in office for two weeks.
40
More disturbing today than DT's "foreign policy" is the Breitbart coterie setting out to disrupt universities. Bannon understands that students are upset because there is no plan of the current administration to address their problems. So he is trying to destabilize with inciting campuses to violence.
Think 1933?
Given DeVos and the continuing Koch brothers' undermining of public universities, this a an additional attempt to destroy public education to corporate advantage. If the "business model" becomes the rule, good-bye to
American hegemony in education.
Think 1933?
Given DeVos and the continuing Koch brothers' undermining of public universities, this a an additional attempt to destroy public education to corporate advantage. If the "business model" becomes the rule, good-bye to
American hegemony in education.
74
Now I understand.
The reason crazy Liberals riot and rampage at places like UC Berkley is not really because they don't believe in the First Amendment and think people with opinions different than their own should not even be allowed to express those opinions, it is because Trump won't address their "concerns".
Clear now.
The reason crazy Liberals riot and rampage at places like UC Berkley is not really because they don't believe in the First Amendment and think people with opinions different than their own should not even be allowed to express those opinions, it is because Trump won't address their "concerns".
Clear now.
1
The first order of business is to read these names: Roosevelt, Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2, Obama,
Trump.
Next: can you figure out what the "Double Jeopardy" question is?
Trump.
Next: can you figure out what the "Double Jeopardy" question is?
12
Who were the us presidents between world wars ii and iii?
The question is,
How do we know evolution is random chance not progressive?
How do we know evolution is random chance not progressive?
What is truly incredible to me is that it has been only two weeks. TWO WEEKS. How can we continue like this? Utter chaos, indeed.
85
Frankly, the "chaos" seems to be the way the left-out Left is running around in circles trying to come to grips with the fact that they are no longer in charge. As a former POTUS so aptly put it, "Elections have consequences..."
1
Trump's style is a blend of disaster capitalism (if you haven't got a disaster - make one!), disruption theory, dominance games, and flat out bullying. It's how he rolls. He's never had to live with the consequences or deal with the wreckage he leaves in his wake, if for no other reason because he is the star of his own 'reality' show.
There's an element of vindictiveness to conservative voters - they want to see other people pay a price for all the things that make them feel like victims under threat - and Trump is stoking that resentment like the master he is.
If Trump is an incompetent sociopath with little to no concern for others, well he's got plenty of company in the business world, along with the giant egos that can't stand criticism. (Obama was mean to Wall Street!) Can we finally stop pretending all you need to know to lead a democracy can be learned in the business world? How many companies are run like democracies - and how many look and feel like authoritarian dictatorships? But it's worse than that.
Business blurring the lines with government, saber rattling, attacks on the press, playing the religious card, attacking selected groups... It's time to use the F word to describe Trump - and recognize the GOP made him possible.
Donald the Menace is just the front man for a much bigger problem. This 2009 essay by Sara Robinson reads like prophecy: https://ourfuture.org/20090806/fascist-america-are-we-there-yet
There's an element of vindictiveness to conservative voters - they want to see other people pay a price for all the things that make them feel like victims under threat - and Trump is stoking that resentment like the master he is.
If Trump is an incompetent sociopath with little to no concern for others, well he's got plenty of company in the business world, along with the giant egos that can't stand criticism. (Obama was mean to Wall Street!) Can we finally stop pretending all you need to know to lead a democracy can be learned in the business world? How many companies are run like democracies - and how many look and feel like authoritarian dictatorships? But it's worse than that.
Business blurring the lines with government, saber rattling, attacks on the press, playing the religious card, attacking selected groups... It's time to use the F word to describe Trump - and recognize the GOP made him possible.
Donald the Menace is just the front man for a much bigger problem. This 2009 essay by Sara Robinson reads like prophecy: https://ourfuture.org/20090806/fascist-america-are-we-there-yet
53
Truly terrifying how right Sara Robinson was. Thank you for posting this link.
1
To begin with, Germany cannot manipulate its currency because it is not in its power to do so since 15 countries are involved in the euro. Second, it was only
a while ago that the euro was around $1.45. Third, it is the strength of the dollar that is responsible for any unbalance. We have another ignorant individual talking out of turn.
a while ago that the euro was around $1.45. Third, it is the strength of the dollar that is responsible for any unbalance. We have another ignorant individual talking out of turn.
22
Oh what the Republicans have unleashed. They'd been looking for a face to appeal to the rage of "the forgotten Americans" and they found it in the pathological, adoration-craving Trump. Does anyone think for a minute Paul Ryan is/was for "the little people?" How about Mitch McConnell? Ted Cruz? (I know, stop laughing) No sticking up for middle America there. Their genius has always been the depths of their shamelessness, though, and through a combination of voter suppression, misinformation and fearmongering, they edged out Democrats who had no stomach for dirty pool all over the country (a bunch of PC snowflakes, in their jargon).
But recognizing the common cause of self enrichment, they came together, signed a deal with several devils (Bannon, Putin, Comey) and stood behind Trump, with his gaudy showmanship and his hollow and increasingly incoherent words. And if each Republican in the House and Senate can just get what they want out of this whole mess, they will be satisfied. MAGA, my foot- with every tweet and EO (and in Trump's mind, they have the same weight) he has made America less strong, less safe, less credible and absolutely LESS great.
But recognizing the common cause of self enrichment, they came together, signed a deal with several devils (Bannon, Putin, Comey) and stood behind Trump, with his gaudy showmanship and his hollow and increasingly incoherent words. And if each Republican in the House and Senate can just get what they want out of this whole mess, they will be satisfied. MAGA, my foot- with every tweet and EO (and in Trump's mind, they have the same weight) he has made America less strong, less safe, less credible and absolutely LESS great.
38
Almost any big, salaried job nowadays comes with a psychological profile study, a pee test and lengthy background assessment.
But not the biggest the best and most critical one.
It's there, yours, if you have an entertaining television personality and millions of dollars to spend to get it.
If we survive it, maybe this will be the catalyst for some real changes in how all of this gets done.
If.......
But not the biggest the best and most critical one.
It's there, yours, if you have an entertaining television personality and millions of dollars to spend to get it.
If we survive it, maybe this will be the catalyst for some real changes in how all of this gets done.
If.......
23
The Republicans are much better at achieving their goals than Democrats.
That is because the Republican goals are to cut taxes for the wealthy and cut regulations.
Which is much easier to achieve than the Democratic goals of fixing poverty, education, and healthcare.
That is because the Republican goals are to cut taxes for the wealthy and cut regulations.
Which is much easier to achieve than the Democratic goals of fixing poverty, education, and healthcare.
55
'Thanks, Comey.'
Please stop thanking Comey - if everybody knows - that it is all Obamas fault because he made fun of Trump.
Please stop thanking Comey - if everybody knows - that it is all Obamas fault because he made fun of Trump.
5
Psst! Trump ran for President as a Reform Party candidate in 2000. He floated the idea of running for President in 1988, 2004 and 2012.
So...no...
So...no...
1
For one who should wake up to the fact that he has his own share of the blame for Trump. This brilliant columnist ignored the possibility that Hillary might just not be the best candidate. In fact you, PK, worked by active inaction to ignore Senator Sanders and his message just as Hillary's totally ignored the electorate of the "rust belt" costing her precious support. Stand up, quit blaming Comey and take the part of the blame and let's all move on with the mission, to rid the country of the vermin now occupying the White House, the Senate and the House of Representatives.
17
Exactly! I warned my intellectual friends that selecting Hillary as the nominee would unleash the fury of our ill-informed electorate whose decisions are spawned from their lizard brains, not the frontal cortex where real thinking occurs.
5
You are so right. PK and the rest of mainstream media have all played a significant role in unfairly covering or ignoring Bernie Sanders' candidacy. And many of us resent the media's obvious pro Hillary bias in a candidate who was foisted upon us by the DNC and did not in fact represent the needs of many Americans. While we are all united in our outrage of Trump, it is hard to move on and continue to believe in the media to give us an honest picture. This was not democracy in action and I would like to see some reckoning.
1
The simple answer is that Trump did not expect to win, and is completely unprepared to fill the role of president. he is making up stories every day--"winging it" in other words. I keep asking myself how this could have happened, but many of the pundits were predicting a Hillary victory, and wanring that a better version of the bubling Trump might win next time. So here is the world, deep in trouble because a lot of people in 3 key states decided that Hillary was ignoring them.
16
Prime minister Turnbull should have put "Crocodile Dundee" on the phone to deal with Trump. He's had a lot of experience dealing with "reptiles."
17
I don't understand the reasoning of Republican members of Congress standing by him. Unless they've all made plans to move to Canada when this is over, they're going to have to live in what's left of our country. The longer this goes on, the greater the mess they're going to have to clean up. And we may not have any allies to help us by then.
15
Congress goals are simply, cut taxes for the 1%, destroy all Regulations, destroy Education and add to this, their true goal, destroy the ACA, Medicaid, Medicare and Social Security.
The Supreme Court will destroy women's choice, Unions and gun control.
All in a days work!
The Supreme Court will destroy women's choice, Unions and gun control.
All in a days work!
3
You said it all with your "Thanks, Comey".
7
I'm more worried about what is going on behind our backs, Trump is a smokescreen devil. Like all of my friends we look at one another and say I feel like I wake up every morning with a hangover.
13
Every time I see Trump and Bannon I think of the scenes in Blazing Saddles with Mel Brooks as Governor and Harvey Korman as his advisor. Wish it were as funny.
10
This is a long column about tweets & PR with no discussion of what Trump is actually doing (cabinet officials, NSC, executive orders). I fear Trump's plans are working out OK for him.
5
I wonder how his wife's anti-bullying advocacy is doing so far?
14
I'm waiting for her to switch to skin care advocacy, so she can peddle more products.
Again I ask, who in power in Washington, either elected or otherwise, will show the will and patriotism to intervene when this goes completely off the rails? We know it will not be McConnell or Ryan who value party over country, so any force that is going to restore democracy to this now fading government has not yet appeared. And the world grows ever more tense.
10
Umm... What is the last two weeks to be called other than 'off the rails' already? My reply is not facetious. Something is not in danger of happening. It is happening.
1
Well said. The electoral college elevation of Trump, who lost the popular vote by 3 plus million votes, appears to have been a terrible mistake. Clearly, he is out of his range of competence for handling the challenges of the Presidency.
Is impeachment next?
Is impeachment next?
10
Four years of this will exhaust the world. Very hard to believe this is a 70 year old business man. He acts like such an adolescent. The guy at the party who corners you and goes on and on about himself. A complete boor. Must be nice to be so rich that you never had to grow up -- and now you're president. It's a spoiled child's fantasy being played out.
'Vote for me, what have you got to lose?"
Is it becoming more apparent every day?
Is it becoming more apparent every day?
21
Well, what was to be expected from a candidate with zero government experience? DT would never have made it past the first round of interviews, if he even got that far, for pretty much any job application.
9
He must be removed from office before something g cataclysmic happens. If you think this is hyperbole, just like at what he is doing now: interjecting religion into politics, de-fanging Dodd Frank, bringing back coal. Insanity and very dangerous. It is no longer entertaining.
10
Assuming the Trump strategy is to start a "small" nuclear war to show who is boss. Who would you want on your side? The Russians, with a very large arsenal? These are indeed, scary times.
5
Let's hope they take him with a grain of salt when he's at his finest!
And if donald does get us into a war, it will not be the children of the Trumps, the Comeys, the Tillersons, the Carsons, and the deVos's who fight it but rather the axons of the angry people who put him in office. Be careful what you wish for
6
Why are so many commenters flipping out over "Thanks, Comey"? It is a spin on the "Thanks, Obama" joke. And to everyone trying to make the point that Comey's actions didn't have an effect the election, you cannot know that as you would be claiming to have proved a negative, which is impossible.
What is truly frightening to me is the number of Americans who think he's doing a great job. They seem unconcerned that he's alienating our neighbors and allies, and that he might get us into another war soon. All they care about is his tough talk and actions against people they don't like. At least for now.
9
Hollywood has helped to create the image of the American tough guy running the world -- this is the hype they believe. Then comes another figure from that world -- DJT, talking the bully talk. What's missing is that our leadership was based on our liberal values, not just our material strength. It's so sad that the word "liberal" means only the enemy to these people. Thanks, Rupert Murdoch and friends.
1
Thank you, Paul Krugman, as always. This says it all. Even *if* he hasn't broken any laws that could lead to his impeachment, can we not move to impeach for the safety, security, and stability of our country--and the world? It seems we are on very thin ice, not just on an international level, but even here at home. And it's only been two weeks. All of our worst fears of what his presidency *may* be are becoming what is presidency *is*. This does not bode well.
7
When do we stop writing about it and start doing something?
6
Ah, that's right Mr Krugman: 'This administration doesn't seem prepared on any front" "His first two weeks in office have been utter chaos". Continue to amplify your fear and hatred. Obviously President Trump has had to take aggressive steps to correct the damage from the most lawless President in US history. In the meantime, sit in your cube and vilify our leader.
2
Trump + Sessions + Bannon is a recipe for disaster. If no one thought it possible, just look at the last two weeks.
5
Trump lacks a worldview---a coherent formulation of how the world works---politically, economically, socially. Now, no one individual possesses or will ever possess a true or complete picture of how the world works, but, you could see in President Obama, and individual who worked at formulating one. You could disagree with his formulation, but, you had to admit, he did his homework in formulating one. Trump's worldview is limited to what he sees on TV, what his family and friends tell him, and bits and pieces of his business dealings---that's it. So, it is no surprise when confronted with problems that demand some form of a worldview response, he, instead comes up with wildly incoherent mix of policies and statements that mirror the conversations I have had to put up with at Thanksgiving dinners with my relatives.
2
Excellent read here on this very topic of Trum's worldview or lack thereof:
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/31/trumps-grand-strategic-train-wreck/?...
The author, Colin Kahl, worked for Obama and recently wrote that Trump couldn't blame his disastrous raid on Yemen on President Obama -- with some facts.
http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/31/trumps-grand-strategic-train-wreck/?...
The author, Colin Kahl, worked for Obama and recently wrote that Trump couldn't blame his disastrous raid on Yemen on President Obama -- with some facts.
1
DT is like the bad boyfriend your mom warned you about and all your friends beg you to leave, but brings excitement into your life: he endlessly does outrageous things (like the first week or so in office), then does one sane thing (a clean rollout for SCOTUS) and you start liking him again because he hasn't beaten you lately. Ya, thanks Comey, and all you rustbelt no nothings!
2
Several comments imply (or implicitly state) that Sanders would have beaten Trump, if only the Democrats had the nerve to nominate him. As a Clinton supporter who would have happily voted for Sanders had he been the nominee, I wonder how he would have fared when Trump attacked him for being too old, too Socialist, and too Jewish.
6
How much more is the GOP led congress going to allow this train to go off the rails? The former Prime Minister of Norway was detained at Dulles because he has a stamp from one of the banned countries on his passport. He was outraged. McCain and others have been trying to mend fences after each debacle. Is that going to be our foreign policy? Trump screws up and Senators have to make phone calls? Enough is enough. The world can see the dysfunction and that isn't good for the United States. Congressional Republicans need to start taking governing seriously and really put some checks back in our system. This isn't partisanship. We all lose if our country is damaged.
8
I appreciate the outrage that motivates this column. However this news is readily available and understandable by all. I would hope in the future we could use this forum to discuss economic implications of such outrageous action. I have a hard time understanding economic complexity of the world. I try. Trade war, like all war, is destructive. What's the rationale behind it that got the presidency? Why do millions of republicans think it's good and beautiful to have economic and physical walls around our country? Why are tax cuts for the rich supported by the working class / middle class / average republican much less extremist republican? Why do country folk hate city folk and right back at you, so to speak?
5
The last question is the key -- they've been trained by Murdoch to hate liberals and people of color, who they equate with liberals.
1
Paul Krugman: "In a call with Malcolm Turnbull, Australia’s prime minister, [Trump] ... complained about an existing agreement to take some of the refugees Australia has been holding, accusing Mr. Turnbull of sending us the 'next Boston bombers.' Then he abruptly ended the conversation after only 25 minutes."
One very likely possibility here is that Trump sounded off on Turnbull in the mistaken belief that Turnbull, as leader of Australia's Liberal Party, was a center-left politician.
In other words, Trump may be utterly ignorant of the fact that in much of the world, where the center-left is represented by a Social-Democratic party, the Liberal Party is a center-right to right-wing conservative institution.
One very likely possibility here is that Trump sounded off on Turnbull in the mistaken belief that Turnbull, as leader of Australia's Liberal Party, was a center-left politician.
In other words, Trump may be utterly ignorant of the fact that in much of the world, where the center-left is represented by a Social-Democratic party, the Liberal Party is a center-right to right-wing conservative institution.
1
While the immigrant ban, the Mexican border fiasco, and poor manners with the Australian prime minister are significant in their own right in the larger scheme of things they are a largely-successful manufactured distraction from they key issues, i.e., President Trump's entanglements with Russia and his burgeoning conflicts of interest between his public responsibilities and his private business interests. They have largely disappeared from the news media as protests grabbed the headlines and White House apologists serve up another round of lies and evasions. In all probability locked in a secure place is a one-page plan on how to stage a Persian Gulf incident as an excuse for a military adventure in Iran, a bellicose venture designed to rock Wall Street, send gas prices soaring, and with luck provoke a nasty retaliatory action by the Iranians giving the president an excuse for further repression of Muslims in the US. Again, all significant but managed as distractions. in time we will be so overrun by additional crisis and turbulence that no-one will be remarking about "Putin's Poodle" or other disqualifiers. In fact Putin would love US military action against Iran. it would rip apart NATO, would rally the Muslim world against the US, and might even drive the United Nations from New York. At the same time it would furnish the Republican Party with a perfect pretext to dump Trump in favor of a leader who would get back to the serious business of tax cuts and deregulation.
4
Like a magician distracting us with their right hand while the left hand does the unseen work, Trump's first week is distracting us from the coming Paul Ryan deficits which nobody is talking about.
Go look at the Paul Ryan budget. It is the Republican economic policy established by Reaganomics - tax cuts for the wealthy, increased military spending, complain about the deficit when the next Democratic president is elected.
When Grover Norquist was asked about the obvious deficits, he said the Paul Ryan budget would offset those tax cuts for the wealthy with cuts to “entitlements.”
I started working and paying taxes when I was 15. After 50 years of work and taxes and Social Security contributions, I don’t consider Social Security benefits and Medicare to be an “entitlement.”
Go look at the Paul Ryan budget. It is the Republican economic policy established by Reaganomics - tax cuts for the wealthy, increased military spending, complain about the deficit when the next Democratic president is elected.
When Grover Norquist was asked about the obvious deficits, he said the Paul Ryan budget would offset those tax cuts for the wealthy with cuts to “entitlements.”
I started working and paying taxes when I was 15. After 50 years of work and taxes and Social Security contributions, I don’t consider Social Security benefits and Medicare to be an “entitlement.”
9
Having recently traveled to Iran (as one of only about 2,000 Americans to do so in 2016), let me just say that if Trump thinks he's going to make any headway against Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei or President Hassan Rouhani, he can think again. What Trump is getting now in the way of Iran's response (essentially, pooh-poohing him and his administration), is exactly what he's going to continue to get.
The one thing that has had an effect on Iran's policies is economic sanctions. That's what brought Iran to the bargaining table with respect to their nuclear program. The missile launch by Iran is not a violation of the nuclear treaty with Iran (which treaty cannot be undone by the U.S.). If it had been a violation, the other signatory countries to the agreement would be howling, and the economic sanctions that enforce the treaty would have automatically snapped back into place. (This treaty was a fantastic accomplishment of Obama's, for which he has gotten basically no credit.)
By issuing empty threats against Iran, Trump and his know-nothing inner circle (e.g., Flynn, Bannon) are succeeding only at harming U.S. interests in Central Asia.
By the way, the Iranian people are extremely kind, generous, and well-educated people. They love America and Americans (we were showered with affection everywhere we went) -- or at least, they did prior to January 20, 2017.
The one thing that has had an effect on Iran's policies is economic sanctions. That's what brought Iran to the bargaining table with respect to their nuclear program. The missile launch by Iran is not a violation of the nuclear treaty with Iran (which treaty cannot be undone by the U.S.). If it had been a violation, the other signatory countries to the agreement would be howling, and the economic sanctions that enforce the treaty would have automatically snapped back into place. (This treaty was a fantastic accomplishment of Obama's, for which he has gotten basically no credit.)
By issuing empty threats against Iran, Trump and his know-nothing inner circle (e.g., Flynn, Bannon) are succeeding only at harming U.S. interests in Central Asia.
By the way, the Iranian people are extremely kind, generous, and well-educated people. They love America and Americans (we were showered with affection everywhere we went) -- or at least, they did prior to January 20, 2017.
20
This isn't a syndrome, it's a Traitor: Donald Trump is controlled by Vladimir Putin. This provides the only thread of consistency that explains and even illuminates the President's otherwise puzzling inexplicably inconsistent positions and behavior.
Since cryptic pronouncements of mutual admiration and support began to issue forth from candidate Donald Trump's lips and Vladimir Putin's rare press encounters last year, it has become increasingly clear that Trump works for Russian interests.
Each of his otherwise nutty or counter-intuitive provocations become easily explained when filtered through the prism of this understanding:
1. Confronting and provoking war with Iran. Even during the sanctions, and certainly since their easing, Iran has been perhaps the most significant factor is lower oil prices in Europe, Russia's biggest market. A war with Iran, embroiling the Saudis as well, would certainly help "cure" this problem for Putin.
2. The Fixation on "holding NATO accountable." Taken as a whole, Europe is the second largest GDP to the U.S. Instead of supporting this 70 year old alliance, Trump has been in the forefront of undermining it. Who benefits: Russia. It is poised to solidify its hold on the Ukraine and poised to move aggressively into Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, etc.
3. Every other Trump action has been to sow chaos and confusion while destroying the eyes and ears of our counter intel community. Trump's ties to Russia must be investigated!!!
Since cryptic pronouncements of mutual admiration and support began to issue forth from candidate Donald Trump's lips and Vladimir Putin's rare press encounters last year, it has become increasingly clear that Trump works for Russian interests.
Each of his otherwise nutty or counter-intuitive provocations become easily explained when filtered through the prism of this understanding:
1. Confronting and provoking war with Iran. Even during the sanctions, and certainly since their easing, Iran has been perhaps the most significant factor is lower oil prices in Europe, Russia's biggest market. A war with Iran, embroiling the Saudis as well, would certainly help "cure" this problem for Putin.
2. The Fixation on "holding NATO accountable." Taken as a whole, Europe is the second largest GDP to the U.S. Instead of supporting this 70 year old alliance, Trump has been in the forefront of undermining it. Who benefits: Russia. It is poised to solidify its hold on the Ukraine and poised to move aggressively into Belarus, Poland, Hungary, Estonia, etc.
3. Every other Trump action has been to sow chaos and confusion while destroying the eyes and ears of our counter intel community. Trump's ties to Russia must be investigated!!!
91
This is absolutely correct and even extends to domestic policy like Trump saying he wants to "destroy" the Johnson rule prohibiting political activities for tax exempt churches. Like Putin, Trump wants to form a political alliance with churches willing to support and parrot his views.
The degree of Putin control is way beyond what most imagine!
The degree of Putin control is way beyond what most imagine!
14
Perhaps Mr. Trump didn't threaten to invade Australia because he figured that he couldn't get permission for border crossings from its neighbors -- Italy and Germany.
8
The writer confused Austria with Australia!
Thank you for speaking truth to power. We will need unafraid voices in the months to come, I think, as Trump clamps down and uses direct threats against critical voices. Hopefully he will have a breakdown of some kind and the 25th Amendment or impeachment will take care of the problem. At this point, I will take a President Pence. Or anyone else. Or anything else.
5
How much longer are the Republicans going to play pretend with our, obviously, crazy president? He is not well and they have known this for a long time. If they are waiting for his Supreme Court pick to be confirmed, please say so. If they are waiting for his cabinet to be installed, they may be waiting a long time, because these choices are part evidence of his craziness. Who nominates someone for Education Secretary who doesn't know anything about public education? Who charges the EPA with someone who doubts climate change? He is crazy....Please get him out of office before he blows us all up!
1280
Repubicans are responsible for removing 70-year-old Trump from office. He's apparently suffering from progressive dementia and he doesn't realize it. When the Australian prime minister told Trump that Obama had agreed to take in 1250 refugees, the fact upset his equilibrium, and he became angry. We've seen patients react irrationaley when surprised. Trump then forgot the number of refugees and talked about "thousands." He's working with diminished capacity and should be relieved of office.
4
Unfortunately too many in Congress, especially too many Republicans , share his views on climate change, environmental protection, public education, separation of church and state, muzzling the press and free access to information, and fact based government.
5
I would agree, but if we "get him out of office" we end up with someone who so far has supported all of this insanity. Pence is much more dangerous because he seems so much more rational and stable, but would lead the USA down the same catastrophic paths while being less of an embarrassment to his Republican sycophants in Congress.
2
Mentioning Comey is looking backwards. We need to look for ways out of this mess. Yes the 2018 midterms are critical, but if 3 Republican Senators were to change their party registration to Independent and caucus with the Democrats, it would redefine the power structure in DC and act as an emergency brake.
9
Which Senators do you think might consider doing this? I would hope that the Democrats would consider doing this? I worry about Joe Manchin doing the opposite.
Yes!! Craven Congressmen/women, the United States needs you desperately. There is a junior high school boy with nuclear weapons shooting off his mouth at friends and foes alike.
1
Well, I'm sure you've heard that Trump wants Putin out of Crimea and the Ukraine now, so I guess they are not going to be pals anymore.
On a personal note, "thoughtful people have been quietly worrying...." is a little condescending, as you are wont to be. There's about a hundred million of us out here quietly worrying, and we're not even "in the know."
I'm putting high hopes on Tillerson. He's an engineer, like me, and I understand how engineers think. He apparently also has very good interpersonal skills and can work a room--that's the additional requirement beyond basic smarts that allows an engineer to sift to the top of the sand heap at a place like Exxon Mobil. He has his work cut out for him. He'd better get up to speed in a hurry. It's unfortunate that his first duties involve so much damage control.
On a personal note, "thoughtful people have been quietly worrying...." is a little condescending, as you are wont to be. There's about a hundred million of us out here quietly worrying, and we're not even "in the know."
I'm putting high hopes on Tillerson. He's an engineer, like me, and I understand how engineers think. He apparently also has very good interpersonal skills and can work a room--that's the additional requirement beyond basic smarts that allows an engineer to sift to the top of the sand heap at a place like Exxon Mobil. He has his work cut out for him. He'd better get up to speed in a hurry. It's unfortunate that his first duties involve so much damage control.
4
This isn't going to get any better.
Since WW2 the US has been fortunate to elect presidents who all had at least some historical perspective and sense of their responsibilities on the world stage. As for Trump any superlative does not even begin to describe how unfit and dangerous he is.
There is still a majority of people who had seen this coming and are terrified by what could come next.
Lamenting about Trump's latest misdeed is a serious waste of journalistic talent. The clown in chief cannot entertain us any more.
The NYT should open a serious discussion about what can be done to contain or remove this man.
Bar that, we are helpless and living the american nightmare.
Since WW2 the US has been fortunate to elect presidents who all had at least some historical perspective and sense of their responsibilities on the world stage. As for Trump any superlative does not even begin to describe how unfit and dangerous he is.
There is still a majority of people who had seen this coming and are terrified by what could come next.
Lamenting about Trump's latest misdeed is a serious waste of journalistic talent. The clown in chief cannot entertain us any more.
The NYT should open a serious discussion about what can be done to contain or remove this man.
Bar that, we are helpless and living the american nightmare.
967
"The NYT should open a serious discussion about what can be done to contain or remove this man."
May I suggest Rosa Brooks' article in Foreign Policy magazine: "3 ways to get rid of President Trump before 2020" at http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/30/3-ways-to-get-rid-of-president-trump...
May I suggest Rosa Brooks' article in Foreign Policy magazine: "3 ways to get rid of President Trump before 2020" at http://foreignpolicy.com/2017/01/30/3-ways-to-get-rid-of-president-trump...
3
Maybe Mr. Trump has serious mental diseases which are causing him to behave as he does, maybe he behaves that way deliberately because it has been and continues to be rewarded. It doesn't matter. Trying to cure Trump's diseases - if they exist - or trying to nag him or other Republican politicians into doing "the right thing" when it's against their individual and party interests are fools' errands. Perhaps the biggest fool''s errand is trying to explain to Trump's base how his behavior really isn't good for them. As long as his behavior makes those people feel better about themselves, they will support it and so will Republican politicians. Perhaps if Trump's behavior were used to attack those people and threaten their self identities some could actually be peeled away from him? But that would require a long, stressful effort. It would be risky to the individual Democratic Party leaders involved though the party itself has little to lose.
4
Which Shakespear plot line forms the basis for this theatre? I see threads of Hamlet, King Lear, The Tempest and naturally The Comedy of Errors.
However, this is not the 17c. and the actions of the cast have real consequences. The ability to sucessfully engage in global affairs requires tact, diplomacy and discretion from world leaders and their repertoire. When the Bard said 'All the Worlds a stage' it should be understood that the Globe of action and consequence is smaller than we imagine.
However, this is not the 17c. and the actions of the cast have real consequences. The ability to sucessfully engage in global affairs requires tact, diplomacy and discretion from world leaders and their repertoire. When the Bard said 'All the Worlds a stage' it should be understood that the Globe of action and consequence is smaller than we imagine.
2
Don't blame only Trump. He's simply an opportunist. A businessman. And knows a good opportunity when he sees one.
Trump capitalized on the alternative reality that the GOP, FOX News and the right wing megaphone has been profitably peddling for decades.
Unemployment rate? 4.5%? Or 49%. War on Christmas? Repealing the 2nd amendment? Radical Islamic terrorists streaming across our unprotected open borders? Lurking in every town in America? "No one knows!" Planned Parenthood selling baby parts? Obama the founder of ISIS. A Muslim? What 2008 World Financial Crisis? The one Bill Clinton caused. Our inner cities are a total disaster. "Black Lives Matter." White lives don't? The foreigners took my job. It goes on and on.
"What have you got to lose?"
Plenty. In a non FOX News reality. Reality reality,
But don't expect that to be reported in the right wing media. It's not their business model.
They product they sell is "We are weak. America is failing."
Someone had to put a stop to this madness.
And if true, I would agree.
But if you believe the right wing narrative, then Trump is a savior, not a disrupter. He's Americas last chance to save ourselves from the distopian hellscape America has become. Political Party and Profit over Country.
Trump capitalized on the alternative reality that the GOP, FOX News and the right wing megaphone has been profitably peddling for decades.
Unemployment rate? 4.5%? Or 49%. War on Christmas? Repealing the 2nd amendment? Radical Islamic terrorists streaming across our unprotected open borders? Lurking in every town in America? "No one knows!" Planned Parenthood selling baby parts? Obama the founder of ISIS. A Muslim? What 2008 World Financial Crisis? The one Bill Clinton caused. Our inner cities are a total disaster. "Black Lives Matter." White lives don't? The foreigners took my job. It goes on and on.
"What have you got to lose?"
Plenty. In a non FOX News reality. Reality reality,
But don't expect that to be reported in the right wing media. It's not their business model.
They product they sell is "We are weak. America is failing."
Someone had to put a stop to this madness.
And if true, I would agree.
But if you believe the right wing narrative, then Trump is a savior, not a disrupter. He's Americas last chance to save ourselves from the distopian hellscape America has become. Political Party and Profit over Country.
9
Identifying someone as having a mental or emotional disorder is not demeaning to others who have such illnesses. Calling out behavior in an individual that is characteristic of someone with mental illness is not disrespectful--to him or to anyone else. Ignoring--or worse, delighting in--someone's erratic and/or self-destructive behavior is dangerous. Over the decades, there's been plenty written about the current president, his boasting, narcissism, prevarications and bawdiness, much of it offering ample evidence that all was not right with Mr. Trump. But this is a nation that deplores facts and hates experts. Much better to stick it to some vague notion of an elitist community somewhere on a coast, and have a total whack job from tv in the White House.
14
Dear Tom:
Oh how right you are. Just imagining Mr. Trump sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office, makes my skin crawl in utter disbelief. This is a stain on the country of unimaginable proportions.
Oh how right you are. Just imagining Mr. Trump sitting behind the desk in the Oval Office, makes my skin crawl in utter disbelief. This is a stain on the country of unimaginable proportions.
2
It is fitting that Krugman, who has been commonly known at Princeton as a bully, is so willingly overlooking all the good that has come out of the new President's Administration for the last 2 weeks, and concentrates on what he and his liberal masters consider "bad". Of any people, Krugman should know how the Nazis were pulling the same kind of bias on the Jews 80 years back in Germany. Please, please, give the President the credit he so clearly deserves - like hundreds of Americans, I have cancelled my subscription to the NYT based on this type of slender of our New leader.
6
"Yulia" or what your name is--spend a little effort and give a list of the "good deeds" done by the Trump administration so far. I am sincerely curious about this list.
My greatest fear is that in repelling Germany, Trump has opened the door to a possible German-Russian alliance. Just this is what Dean Acheson and J. F. Dulles feared might happen in the 1950s, if Stalin offered a German reunification. German know-how coupled with vast Russian raw materials would give the US a true adversary. And maybe the Germans would drag the EU, including Poland, the Baltic states and Czech Republic into the Russian sphere of influence also.
My greatest fear is that in repelling Germany, Trump has opened the door to a possible German-Russian alliance. Just this is what Dean Acheson and J. F. Dulles feared might happen in the 1950s, if Stalin offered a German reunification. German know-how coupled with vast Russian raw materials would give the US a true adversary. And maybe the Germans would drag the EU, including Poland, the Baltic states and Czech Republic into the Russian sphere of influence also.
Thanks for this hilarious comment. The NYT added about 300 000 (that's three hundred thousand) subscriptions recently. So without your tantrum it would have been 300 001. What a miss. Sad!
Krugman ignores "all the good", you say? Can you offer examples? Any that don't involve enriching Trump or his cronies?
The enemy is within
Donald Trump, as President of the United States, has done more to ruin the world-wide and hard won reputation of this country in less than two weeks, than the rantings of foreign enemies and tyrants during two World Wars, through wars cold and hot, and through rabid propaganda campaigns in over two hundred years.
Because we own him. He is ours. He speaks for us.
The photo of this man accompanying this column says it all - he could care less. Whatcha gonna do about it? I won. So sue me.
So smug, so sure, such a simpleton.
I know I must have had a part in this but I sometimes can't see it. I'm an old hippy, been involved in politics all my life.
Always thought conservatives wanted to keep things the way they are - conserve them - because they were doing alright in the system the way it was - and didn't really care about those who weren't.
I was a liberal because I thought things could always be made better, and that the goal should be to make them better for the most people possible, those hurting the most first. Which led inevitably to changes in the way things are.
Thus the clash.
Understandable and workable with good hearts and minds and compromise.
Untenable without them.
And here we are.
I have a good heart and mind and will compromise so long as people and the environment aren't endangered.
What have I done, what can I do?
Donald Trump, as President of the United States, has done more to ruin the world-wide and hard won reputation of this country in less than two weeks, than the rantings of foreign enemies and tyrants during two World Wars, through wars cold and hot, and through rabid propaganda campaigns in over two hundred years.
Because we own him. He is ours. He speaks for us.
The photo of this man accompanying this column says it all - he could care less. Whatcha gonna do about it? I won. So sue me.
So smug, so sure, such a simpleton.
I know I must have had a part in this but I sometimes can't see it. I'm an old hippy, been involved in politics all my life.
Always thought conservatives wanted to keep things the way they are - conserve them - because they were doing alright in the system the way it was - and didn't really care about those who weren't.
I was a liberal because I thought things could always be made better, and that the goal should be to make them better for the most people possible, those hurting the most first. Which led inevitably to changes in the way things are.
Thus the clash.
Understandable and workable with good hearts and minds and compromise.
Untenable without them.
And here we are.
I have a good heart and mind and will compromise so long as people and the environment aren't endangered.
What have I done, what can I do?
11
Sinclair Lewis predicted this in 1935 alert: President Berzelius Windrip whips up a war with Mexico just for the heck of it. Any bets as to when 45 fires the first shot?
6
In Sinclair Lewis's book sarcastically titled "It Can't Happen Here" the good guys get tortured by the sadists who are part of the president's "militia." I notice that one of our military units near TN was flying a special purple TRUMP flag on its convoy the other day. Watch your back American citizens.
1
We didn't hit Normandy Beach for this, but here we are.
Non-voters and third party nihilists let Trump squeak in, and we are on the verge of war, depending on Trump's whim of the hour.
The GOP leaders, especially Ryan, are collaborating.
It's diaper change time at the WH.
Non-voters and third party nihilists let Trump squeak in, and we are on the verge of war, depending on Trump's whim of the hour.
The GOP leaders, especially Ryan, are collaborating.
It's diaper change time at the WH.
13
Nothing will happen until voters began telling their Republican idols in the House and Senate that Trump's behavior must change or else they will vote Democratic in the upcoming mid-terms.
Then, and only then, will same said members of Congress approach Trump and inform him that he must change or else be impeached.
After all, getting elected and re-elected is the number one goal of Republicans in the House and Senate.
Only in America.
Then, and only then, will same said members of Congress approach Trump and inform him that he must change or else be impeached.
After all, getting elected and re-elected is the number one goal of Republicans in the House and Senate.
Only in America.
11
Maybe not. Next year are mid-term elections, and if those 3 million more who voted for Clinton, and if some of the millions who didn't vote at all, but are sorry for that now, get out and vote Democratic, we could change the makeup of Congress completely. We must stay strong, mobilize, get people to the polls, have the greatest number of mid-term votes in history and take back the country before it's too late. With a Democratic majority, Trump can be impeached. It can be done.
Since we have not seen any of his medical health records perhaps Donald Trump's infantile juvenile behavior may be due to senile dementia and/or his medications and/or simple low energy old age fatigue.
If Trump cannot be impeached to protect, preserve and defend our Constitution then perhaps it will become time to invoke the 25th Amendment to rid us of this troublesome Siberian President.
If Trump cannot be impeached to protect, preserve and defend our Constitution then perhaps it will become time to invoke the 25th Amendment to rid us of this troublesome Siberian President.
5
Comey and Putin did what they could to defeat Clinton but what will defeat Trump? Will his tax returns? Is there a concerted unremitting effort by Democrats to compel the release of Trump's tax returns? Will contact and collusion with Russians who poisoned our electoral process with propaganda, lies and leaks extending back to 2011? Or will conflicts of interest with Russia? Is there a determined effort to expose links with Russia in our White House?
What is lacking among Democrats is a commitment to win. Republicans hounded Clinton without any cause or evidence until she was defeated by lies and innuendo. With evidence that Comey interfered in the election, and with evidence that Russia invaded American cyberspace and American media to disrupt democracy, Democrats are doing nothing, saying nothing, writing nothing and betraying the trust of the 99%. No outrage, no courage, just snipping and whining. What does the Democratic Party represent? Appeasement of a demagogue?
Krugman has the resources and intelligence to curtail the assault on democracy, western capitalism, and peace. Comey and Putin are real, Trump's tax returns are real. Hammer away.
What is lacking among Democrats is a commitment to win. Republicans hounded Clinton without any cause or evidence until she was defeated by lies and innuendo. With evidence that Comey interfered in the election, and with evidence that Russia invaded American cyberspace and American media to disrupt democracy, Democrats are doing nothing, saying nothing, writing nothing and betraying the trust of the 99%. No outrage, no courage, just snipping and whining. What does the Democratic Party represent? Appeasement of a demagogue?
Krugman has the resources and intelligence to curtail the assault on democracy, western capitalism, and peace. Comey and Putin are real, Trump's tax returns are real. Hammer away.
11
Exceptionally well said.
Oh but he just told Russia to get out of Crimea... Maybe Putin will have release that pee video after all.
7
As per normal, Krugman cherry picks his facts.
He ignored Nicki Haley's statement at the UN yesterday entirely. She took a hard stance against Russia, and it was widely reported that the administration was on board with that stance.
He ignored Nicki Haley's statement at the UN yesterday entirely. She took a hard stance against Russia, and it was widely reported that the administration was on board with that stance.
Trump is behaving precisely as personality disordered individuals behave. Idealization followed by swift devaluation and denunciation.
4
While it is not therapeutic to demean a person with mental illness, it is preternaturally foolish to have a leader dependent on chemicals to function, whether Seroquel or scotch.
Thomas Eagleton was cashiered when a history of treatment for depression was found. Ed Muskie cried himself out of contention for high office.
Mr. Trump has risen in part because he avoided the "extreme vetting" of his physical and mental health prior to his inauguration. Now, his volatility itself makes it nearly impossible for any health professional to find him deficient in any way. An alcoholic will not identify as such until he hits bottom; with nuclear weapons at his disposal, Mr. Trump's nadir may be the death of us.
Thomas Eagleton was cashiered when a history of treatment for depression was found. Ed Muskie cried himself out of contention for high office.
Mr. Trump has risen in part because he avoided the "extreme vetting" of his physical and mental health prior to his inauguration. Now, his volatility itself makes it nearly impossible for any health professional to find him deficient in any way. An alcoholic will not identify as such until he hits bottom; with nuclear weapons at his disposal, Mr. Trump's nadir may be the death of us.
7
What baffles me most, is this untouchability for such an obviously grotesquely disqualified person. Certainly his biggest asset now has become his status as the sworn-in President... he actually made it. Which comes with it countless additional layers of available secrecy, system manipulation, ducking and dodging of meaningful audits of physical & mental health / financial dealings / ethical entanglements, etc. Why is there not more being done to demand transparent accountability?! He should have never ever ever made it this far and it's a catasrauphic failure on all levels that he has. We need to get him out of there immediately.
3
Even an un-extreme vetting of his tax returns would probably be enough to force him out of office.
1
Thanks Comey. And thanks Fox News, National Enquirer, Catholic Church, NRA, Right to Life, Goldman Sachs, Vladimir Putin, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Edmund Gerry, White Supremacists, gullible voters(who I thought should have been Time person of the year), and the list goes on.
7
"Thanks Comey"???
Thanks Hillary is far more accurate. Comey didn't cost her the job, she did it by being the most unsuitable candidate, so unsuitable that someone like Trump could defeat her. No other candidate would have lost. As to the popular vote it was 3+ million Californian votes in a state Trump hardly contested. He played smart and HRC played dumb, like her victory was a foregone conclusion.
So now you have Trump. I hoped he would overturn the status quo in Washington, a bit maybe like Mao did with his disastrous great Leap Forward. The idea was sound, the execution was all too literal. Trump at least cannoy go that far, but showing up the rotten underbelly in Washington is overdue, so cross our fingers for that!
Thanks Hillary is far more accurate. Comey didn't cost her the job, she did it by being the most unsuitable candidate, so unsuitable that someone like Trump could defeat her. No other candidate would have lost. As to the popular vote it was 3+ million Californian votes in a state Trump hardly contested. He played smart and HRC played dumb, like her victory was a foregone conclusion.
So now you have Trump. I hoped he would overturn the status quo in Washington, a bit maybe like Mao did with his disastrous great Leap Forward. The idea was sound, the execution was all too literal. Trump at least cannoy go that far, but showing up the rotten underbelly in Washington is overdue, so cross our fingers for that!
4
And it sounds like we also have you to thank too, Trump voter that you appear to be. Good job!
Can you imagine the outcry from Republicans if Hillary had won with the help of the Russians -- the RUSSIANS, of all nations? There would be demands that she step down.
And yet the chant continues: 'He's still doing very well with his base." It is incomprehensible to me that this small base of voters, seemingly out of touch with the 21st century, have so much say in who we elect for President and how we run our country. Trump's psychological profile was on display for all to see during the primaries and the election. These people evidently want a narcisstic, uneducated (yes, I know he went to Penn, but learned nothing, apparently) braggart to run the country. Why can't the majority of the people do something about it?
9
You forgot to thank Mr Putin
4
Trump plunged into international discussions without any preparation and has quickly jeopardized long-term allies and trade partners. We’re hearing from clients in both countries and it is not good.
The White House cannot be the vehicle for one man’s personal psychodrama. Trump is clearly unstable and unfit and while Republicans like McCain have been an important counterbalance, they need to act decisively and not just play clean-up crew.
The White House cannot be the vehicle for one man’s personal psychodrama. Trump is clearly unstable and unfit and while Republicans like McCain have been an important counterbalance, they need to act decisively and not just play clean-up crew.
5
All the fears and accusations falsely made by republicans against President Obama actually apply to Trump:
*Never read our constitution
*Narcissist
*Colludes with enemy (Putin)
*Corrupt
*Inherently dishonest
*Wife is of ill repute
This is a mere fraction, but, gotta go to work.
*Never read our constitution
*Narcissist
*Colludes with enemy (Putin)
*Corrupt
*Inherently dishonest
*Wife is of ill repute
This is a mere fraction, but, gotta go to work.
15
If you look at the US presidents of the last 100 years or so there has never been anyone remotely like Trump. There have certainly been incompetents but for the combination of recklessness, incompetence and bluster at the head of a major power you really have to cast the net wider. The best analog I can come up with is the pre-WW 1 Kaiser. The theatrics, the constant boasting, governing as performance theater, mismanagement, narcissism, bullying, irresponsibility, mildly deranged personal behavior. Trump hasn't smacked a head of state on the backside yet but one can well imagine him doing it. Meanwhile he's surrounded by sycophants and water carriers not unlike the camarilla surrounding Wilhelm II and at the fringes responsible adults (Mattis? Tillerson?) who think they can control him and suffer endless humiliations in the process. The similarities are uncanny. It's all probably going to end in a series of disasters and national humiliations, they have already started.
85
Require mental as well as medical evaluations for all presidential candidates.
From www.mcafee.cc (partial).
Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
Grandiose Sense of Self
Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis.
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
Callousness/Lack of Empathy Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse... Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
From www.mcafee.cc (partial).
Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.
Grandiose Sense of Self
Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis.
Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.
Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since they are not genuine, neither are their promises.
Callousness/Lack of Empathy Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.
Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Rage and abuse... Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.
Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity
2
You can get REALLY upset when trump shows up in public wearing a military tunic, jodpeurs and riding boots (and I'm not trying to be cute). And don't kid yourself, bannon and conway are very dangerous.
1
I agree with your assessment save one... "our disasters and national humiliations" started the evening of November 8th. The fact that any thinking rational person could vote for such an obvious ignorant fool is a national stain on this country.
1
President Dunning-Kruger's presidency is proceeding precisely on schedule over another cliff of supremely confident right-wing ignorance.
The nice thing about being an overconfident simpleton is the confidence in your own stupidity.
As actor John Cleese once explained the Dunning-Kruger effect: “If you’re very, very stupid, how can you possibly realize that you’re very, very stupid? You’d have to be relatively intelligent to realize how stupid you are …"
Bad drivers usually think they’re good drivers....because they have no idea how to drive well.
Republicans know they hate and must repeal Obamacare....until they learn that Obamacare has lots of details and provisions that they like and that it actually works pretty well......Republicans promise to repeal Obamacare until they realize they can't think of anything to replace it with except a traditional GOP Death Panel.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is Republistan writ large and it is championed by the their King of Overconfident Stupidity, Donald Trump.
Donald Trump bragged that his Cabinet has “by far the highest IQ of any Cabinet ever assembled.”
As physicist and genius Stephen Hawking said when asked about his own IQ:
"I have no idea. People who boast about their I.Q. are losers."
Donald Trump's stupidity is a fatal, catastrophic substitute for actual knowledge.
Stupid, poorly educated and overconfident is no way to run a democracy.
The nice thing about being an overconfident simpleton is the confidence in your own stupidity.
As actor John Cleese once explained the Dunning-Kruger effect: “If you’re very, very stupid, how can you possibly realize that you’re very, very stupid? You’d have to be relatively intelligent to realize how stupid you are …"
Bad drivers usually think they’re good drivers....because they have no idea how to drive well.
Republicans know they hate and must repeal Obamacare....until they learn that Obamacare has lots of details and provisions that they like and that it actually works pretty well......Republicans promise to repeal Obamacare until they realize they can't think of anything to replace it with except a traditional GOP Death Panel.
The Dunning-Kruger effect is Republistan writ large and it is championed by the their King of Overconfident Stupidity, Donald Trump.
Donald Trump bragged that his Cabinet has “by far the highest IQ of any Cabinet ever assembled.”
As physicist and genius Stephen Hawking said when asked about his own IQ:
"I have no idea. People who boast about their I.Q. are losers."
Donald Trump's stupidity is a fatal, catastrophic substitute for actual knowledge.
Stupid, poorly educated and overconfident is no way to run a democracy.
457
PS - The reason the Republicans don't have an alternative to Obama-care because Obama-care was the Republican plan.
It was Romney-care with the exchanges being the free-market solution and the individual mandate being accountability and responsibility.
When Obama agreed, that all became "government take-over of healthcare" and "death panels."
It was Romney-care with the exchanges being the free-market solution and the individual mandate being accountability and responsibility.
When Obama agreed, that all became "government take-over of healthcare" and "death panels."
3
Socrates, You need, you must be hired at the NYT as a brilliant writer. There's absolutely nobody as good andd as poignant as you are.
Thanks for the illuminating comments.
I wonder how all this tragic collapse of empire will end.
Thanks for the illuminating comments.
I wonder how all this tragic collapse of empire will end.
2
Thank you Socrates for being there for us everyday. Could not agree with you more. I suggest we stop calling the moron President but use "President" since, he is arguably illegitimate, anyway. Please don't forget to comment on those spineless, right-wing lawmakers!
1
Trump doesn't see the big picture, doesn't understand how the world is one big symbiotic organism in which politics, the environment, financial markets, people's health (to name a few) are all related. The quickness with which Trump makes uniformed, misguided, and cruel decisions was probably nurtured long before he mastered it on Celebrity Apprentice. And with each new tweet and phone call, he is not only betraying America at its best, he is making the world a much more dangerous place.
30
Here's a really silly thought: how long would trump last as a contestant on that show?
Trump stated "it was putting Iran on notice". Maybe he should have said, "this will go on your permanent record". I'm not sure but it worked in school, perhaps it will work with the clerics.
8
Just as we have seen in the past: Republicans are so ideologically bound-up that they are unable to govern. Couple this with their incompetence and bellicose regard of the world, their lack of scruples and honor, and their willingness, indeed, eagerness to lie and you've got a recipe for disaster.
Even the strength of the Obama Economy will not carry us for much longer.
Even the strength of the Obama Economy will not carry us for much longer.
23
The notion that the universe was made for them is their most profound conceit.
Thanks, DNC. And Robby Mook, for running the worst campaign in history.
16
This election demonstrated beyond reasonable doubt that the Electoral College scheme of voter nullification has undermined federal sovereignty in the US.
Thank the Russians and James Comey. They and the colluders in the trump campaign who worked with the Russians to steal the election.
And yet, Clinton still got almost 3million more votes than Trump*.
1
So true, and so frightening!
7
I suspect a war with Iran will start sometime right before the mid-terms.
Besides thanking Comey I would like to add all the people who voted for someone who had no chance of winning because you did not like Hillary and those who stayed home in protest.
29
Can I also say to those people who voted third party or not at all.
I TOLD U SO.
I TOLD U SO.
Every morning when I read the news, I hear Chuck Schumer's refrain:The dog has caught the bus.
11
I think that we do need to treat trump and his cronies like children - we cannot stop the tantrums, but we must also not increase their paranoa to the point they use the weapons just because they feel threatened. They must be reassured, and given fake weapons, perhaps something like a TV show every week, where their weilded anger will be spent on mere air, goingn nowhere, but they don't realize it, as we continue to reassure them of their greatness.
Just a weird idea i had.
Just a weird idea i had.
7
I admire your wishful thinking and weird idea. The only problem is the weapons are real. They have their own TV show anytime they want, and they've already have enough toadies telling them how great they are. It would be nice if your suggestion could work. But we're in for some heavy lifting to keep this clown car from driving us all over a cliff.
If a woman was acting like Donald Trump, the question of whether she had the emotional stability to run this country would be dominating the conversation. But, because he is a man, his followers keep insisting he is being tough, pushing for America and trying to make better deals. I think he is making people really angry and I am not a salesman, but when did ticking everyone off become a succesful deal-making strategy?
59
Pamela, you are so right.
Anybody who has been in business, commercial law, accounting or a number of other professions can tell you some basic business rules of which the Trumpster seems either blissfully ignorant or deliberately smashes at every opportunity.
1. Generally, people like to do business with people that they like. Donald Trump's zero sum game approach to life, business, and now the presidency violates this basic rule.
2. Sooner or later, one no longer needs to deal with such a person. That is especially true in an international economy. Pax Americana is long dead. None of the king's horses and none of the king's men can put it back together again.
3. Stated another way, you don't drive away your customers and, in many cases, into the waiting arms of a competitor ... of which there are many in today's world economy. China comes to mind.
4. Bullying works ... but only in the short term, usually only with someone much weaker (think Grenada) and, ultimately fails when a bigger bully hits the bully where it hurts.
5. Under promise and over deliver. This one is so obvious that its articulation is redundant.
6. Deals, negotiations, international relations, nature itself, and all else Donald Trump touches, like power, abhor a vacuum. Our misguided, ignorant-of-history, totally unaware of his own megalomaniac need for attention leader is creating that vacuum.
I could complete this commentary with many more examples but your readers know it's outcome:
You're fired.
Anybody who has been in business, commercial law, accounting or a number of other professions can tell you some basic business rules of which the Trumpster seems either blissfully ignorant or deliberately smashes at every opportunity.
1. Generally, people like to do business with people that they like. Donald Trump's zero sum game approach to life, business, and now the presidency violates this basic rule.
2. Sooner or later, one no longer needs to deal with such a person. That is especially true in an international economy. Pax Americana is long dead. None of the king's horses and none of the king's men can put it back together again.
3. Stated another way, you don't drive away your customers and, in many cases, into the waiting arms of a competitor ... of which there are many in today's world economy. China comes to mind.
4. Bullying works ... but only in the short term, usually only with someone much weaker (think Grenada) and, ultimately fails when a bigger bully hits the bully where it hurts.
5. Under promise and over deliver. This one is so obvious that its articulation is redundant.
6. Deals, negotiations, international relations, nature itself, and all else Donald Trump touches, like power, abhor a vacuum. Our misguided, ignorant-of-history, totally unaware of his own megalomaniac need for attention leader is creating that vacuum.
I could complete this commentary with many more examples but your readers know it's outcome:
You're fired.
3
Another day, another boast, another strut, another national security briefing skipped. This farce of a presidency will end in an epic disaster.
21
My fear is that the "normal" Republicans will find grounds to impeach him because Trump is tarnishing their brand so badly. Then Pence will be in and things will be less chaotic but their crazy, conservative agenda (i.e. neoliberalism economics -- which has NEVER worked) will go far and their party will be normalized (even though they have so many crazy candidates in the primaries) and people will forget and not vote in the elections--especially the mid-terms where we need to vote to stop this crazy see-sawing in our governance.
11
I hate to say it, but it's been President Pence all along. Just look at the grin he tries to contain in his photo ops with Trump.
11
President Bannon, actually.
2
Given the Russian meddling and all the puppet's yammering about a rigged election, I still wish we could have a forensic audit of the voting machines. The passage of time isn't making it any easier to believe that an electoral-college's worth of American voters actually wanted hand our country over to Donald the Menace.
11
The collective popular vote was to divide the government between a Democratic president and a Republican legislature.
There also needs to be a forensic audit of the voter rolls, especially in those states where it appears that (mostly minority) voters were fraudulently scrubbed.
1
I wish he would get impeached before he really causes war.
14
The whole point IS to get us into a war, and with Tillerson at the tiller, to take the oil. Just as the showman promised us.
12
During the electoral season when he was battling with Hillary, I found myself remembering an old WC Fields film I saw at a college film festival, "My LIttle Chickadee" where WC and Mae West are on a train that is being attacking by "Indians" with bows and arrows. As I remember it, as Mae takes out a dainty pistol from her pocket and whenever things are quiet for moment, WC pops to lean out the window and yell, "We hate you!" Now, unfortunately, he's the one with the pistol in the form of a real military and it's not funny.
4
Give him enough rope and he will hang us all.
13
Can't someone slap this two-year old and tell him to grow up?
7
Yes, Trump is a man who is out of control. His high speed activism and his high level aggression may indicate either that he is manic or runs on cocaine. Anybody checking into that?
9
Thanks, Comey; and thanks, Electoral College, which easily and legally could have prevented all this.
17
They were petrified by all the crazy people who view guns as legitimate means of political expression here in the US.
1
I'm melting!
Apparently, in dealing with Donald Trump, one must be gently clear but only after having lathered on a layer or two of adulation, praise and reinforcement that when boiled down amounts to something like: "Who's a good boy". Subsequently, avoid any quick movements....making believe you've just walked in on a toddler playing with a loaded gun wouldn't hurt either.
6
As of this moment, Iran is on Double Secret Probation!
3
Only another 206 weeks to go!
5
Krugman's and Blow's Opinions should be moved to "This Week in Hate" with their hatred directed at Trump and Republicans.
3
Thanks for the morning chuckle. They do spew a lot of hate.
1
It's not hatred of Trump and Republicans- it's contempt.
The Wreak inherited the Earth.
3
Mr Trump seems to be handing the American world over to the Russians. What are his motives and what do the Russians know about Mr Trump that we don't know.
Let me add my personal thanks to Mr Comey, a true Amerikan hero. The ultimate result of his well thought out and patriotic meddling will be the complete and total destruction of Exceptional Amerika and the extinguishing of that annoying light on the hill. Power to the despots!
2
What have we done...
1
So, doesn't Trump's doctor have an Hippocratic duty to call out this severe mental illness or, shall we say, disorder?
5
I would love for the American people to be able to say, "Donald, you're fired"! But no matter how bad it gets, Republicans will always put party over country. Just look at their "lock-step" approach to Trump's appointees. Not only is America, "Up for Sale", it's now been "bought and paid for". Thanks, Supreme Court (not).
2
I wonder if the same women who saw their way clear to vote for this vainglorious, misogynistic, immature, inarticulate and psychologically challenged man will maintain their allegiance once he commits their sons and daughters to be killed or maimed in yet another foolish war?
7
I know women who voted for him precisely because they felt sure that Hillary would commit their sons and daughters to be killed and maimed in yet another foolish war. You know, like Iraq.
The nonstop outrageousness of reality TV does not translate into foreign policy.
1
Trump said nothing about Russia Ukraiainian actions himself but Nicky Haley the U.S. embassador to the U.N. strongly denounced them. Do all actions of the U.S. government have to come directly from Trump?
1
I wish the explanation were as simple as "thanks, Comey"...I was watching a clip of Richard Nixon's 1972 victory speech, and thinking that an unholy alliance of cynical billionaires, faux christians, anti-intellectuals, and racists has been inflicting their choices on us for at least 45 years, whenever democrats grow complacent for an instant. This time, they elected an out-of-control basket case because his primary rivals were particularly unappealing, and the democratic party let money&machinery pick THEIR nominee. So now we're in the awful position of hoping 3 republican senators will find their moral compass, the proverbial needle in a haystack. We may have to resort to banking on cooler heads in the Pentagon to keep us alive--not an enticing prospect, given the military's reverence for "chain of command"....
3
One penny, two penny, three penny, a trumppence... when are these boys going to get their comeuppance?
2
If you still remember anything about economics, now would be a good time to start writing about that again.
1
Kudos to Mr Turnbull for showing our 2 year-old Commander and Thief how a real leader should act on the world stage and, most importantly, how a true leader should always act in the best interest of the citizens of the nation he represents.
2
Let's not go all anthropomorphic. One-man rule is the rule of a team of advisers, sycophants, and string-pullers. And the team rules because a large elected and unelected apparatus (Hannah, America hath need of thee now!) pushes the papers and nods in compliance. Ryan Lizza of the New Yorker had the key insight weeks ago: most of Trumpismo is just the polices that the Republicans promised to push when they gained control. And it is on them -- the ones with the chokehold on 'our democracy' -- to step forward and halt the collapse while there is still a democracy to put an end to.
1
"....Thoughtful people have been quietly worrying that the Trump administration might get us into a foreign policy crisis, maybe even a war." The natural progression of life is for the children to bury their parents, but in war fathers and mothers bury their sons and daughters. War is horrific for all involved. So many precious lives lost and right now it would all seem to be for the sake of providing a distraction from the chaos in our government. This is wrong Congress! This is evil! When does party loyalty give way to sanity? When do people matter more than money for the next election? When do we stop seeing human beings as collateral damage for a man who is indeed a "menace" to the well-being of our nation and world?
3
My fear is that as more and more people call out the President's apparent mental illness that his symptoms will only increase, and before steps can be taken to legally remove him from office, he will have detonated an international incident from which there is no recovery. One only has to listen to his remarks from the Prayer Breakfast, or those from Black History Month to see that his speech patterns and train of thought are deteriorating. The only thing that is keeping this whole situation from derailing are Bannon, Conway, Miller, and the self-serving GOP toadies who are willing to sacrifice our entire nation for the chance to advance their mean-spirited, racist, misogynistic agenda.
5
Let's stipulate for the moment that Trump really was joking about invading Mexico, or that it was mindless hyperbole. That alone shows his unfitness for the office. Presidents don't joke about military invasions.
I lean more toward mindless hyperbole. At any rate, it's like having a 10-year-old bully in the Oval Office. It's a nightmare I keep hoping to wake up from. It's exhausting, the constant stream of falsehoods and pointless threats and crudity. I calm myself with the mantra "take the House, take the House, take the House." Can't wait till 2018.
I lean more toward mindless hyperbole. At any rate, it's like having a 10-year-old bully in the Oval Office. It's a nightmare I keep hoping to wake up from. It's exhausting, the constant stream of falsehoods and pointless threats and crudity. I calm myself with the mantra "take the House, take the House, take the House." Can't wait till 2018.
4
Most problematic is that Trump seems to be spinning in his own orbit with only two or three advisors.
If you look at the photo of his call with the Aussie PM, he is there with young Mr. Miller and the lager loutish looking Bannon.
Why is he making phone calls to heads of state before his Secretary of State gets into office? Will he bypass Tillerson and continue only his "trusted" advisors?
Did Trump even know before the call that the refugee issue would come up? Was he properly briefed before the call?
I know Trump supporters love the bellicosity, swagger and lack of p.c.of the new President. But if those qualities are considered a proper substitute for preparation and knowledge, we are in dire straits.
We may need to go to war, economically or militarily. But let's not cross that line because our President is misinformed, or uninformed. We did that once this century and we are still feeling the disastrous repercussions.
If you look at the photo of his call with the Aussie PM, he is there with young Mr. Miller and the lager loutish looking Bannon.
Why is he making phone calls to heads of state before his Secretary of State gets into office? Will he bypass Tillerson and continue only his "trusted" advisors?
Did Trump even know before the call that the refugee issue would come up? Was he properly briefed before the call?
I know Trump supporters love the bellicosity, swagger and lack of p.c.of the new President. But if those qualities are considered a proper substitute for preparation and knowledge, we are in dire straits.
We may need to go to war, economically or militarily. But let's not cross that line because our President is misinformed, or uninformed. We did that once this century and we are still feeling the disastrous repercussions.
2
I can't understand why rational people voted for him. I live in an area of the country where they think he's going to bring lots of energy jobs regardless of the economic situation. Many of these same individuals live well beyond their means. Many die very young and some kill themselves when diagnosed with a serious disease. The federal reps blame Obamacare yet the state government enacted policies to assure the program wouldn't work. Social Security and Medicare, regulations to protect consumers and their retirements are on the chopping block and most, fortunately not all, ignore these proposals. I hope to move within a year if possible.
19
The Republican majority in Congress has this great Nation hamstrung. They are the sole reason that the world at large is in the whirl it is with this disgracefully unfit knuckleheaded corrupt authoritarian sociopathic businessman, president donald john trumpetsky, the treasonous Moscovite Candidate. What are they waiting for? Their more establishment-style man Pence is waiting in the wings. While I disagree vastly with republicans, at least Pence would aid in easing the dyspepsia We the People suffer as a result of this showman's Rufus T. Firefly's Duck Soup-like antics, apologies to Groucho.
5
Trump is undoing all the hard work done by his predecessor in building good relations with its allies and also with Iran which was on the verge of detonating a nuclear bomb. In spite of China's assertion, Obama trod cautiously on South China Sea dispute, avoiding a possible conflict which could have proved disastrous. Although, Obama's Pivot of Asia failed, but one can't fault him for not trying.
here is a president, who is threatening Mexico with a possible invasion and had the temerity to hung up a call midway with the Australian president, a strong ally of the US. Such boorish behaviour will create more enemies than friends. Trump should chart his foreign policy carefully lest one day the US might find itself totally isolated.
here is a president, who is threatening Mexico with a possible invasion and had the temerity to hung up a call midway with the Australian president, a strong ally of the US. Such boorish behaviour will create more enemies than friends. Trump should chart his foreign policy carefully lest one day the US might find itself totally isolated.
17
My recipe for all of us who are trying to come to grips with the madness of Trump, ( We all knew this before the election and two weeks in, it has come to fruition ) is to focus en masse on a couple of issues such as the hacking by the Russians. The Senate investigation is apparently starting today. Another one is the violation of the emoluments clause.
The "confuse and control" mentality of Trump and Bannon are intentional. I would not put it past these guys to make a contentious statement during the Super Bowl. We can not get distracted by all of their fire crackers going off, only to confuse and debilitate are psyche. Stay focused. Trump will or already has made a mistake that could be an impeachable offense. It takes only one, Nixon and Watergate.
The "confuse and control" mentality of Trump and Bannon are intentional. I would not put it past these guys to make a contentious statement during the Super Bowl. We can not get distracted by all of their fire crackers going off, only to confuse and debilitate are psyche. Stay focused. Trump will or already has made a mistake that could be an impeachable offense. It takes only one, Nixon and Watergate.
38
I have little doubt that Trump's intention is to become America's Putin. That was clear to me the moment I heard him exhort his audience to beat up a protestor, at least in the context of praises Trump had given Putin as a leader. My only doubt is as to who is/was devising that plan for him at which time. His progress seems to me so methodical that, given his borderline personality, I have to wonder if it's one of his Russian oligarch friends. But the monster Bannon is obviously contributing. But, I am not disputing that Trump's personality disturbance is constantly running whatever plan a muck now that he has the Presidency. And that gives me hope.
13
Let's not forget that Trump's ascension happened on Obama's watch. I am a big admirer of the former President, but the truth is that Trump's election went down when he was in the Oval.
It starts with him not selecting and grooming a successor. I'm sure Joe Biden is a nice man - his Anita Hill stain and Clarence Thomas confirmation aside, but he should have stepped away and Obama should have brought someone else on board to be his VP. If he liked Joe so much he could have kept him on as a senior adviser.
These decisions by Obama left us with another Hillary run. Again, I'm sure she's a nice and very bright woman, but she brought with her a rail car of baggage. Enough it turns out, for the mud that Trump slung at her to stick pretty effectively.
Her campaign was stung by the Comey letter. Which should never have happened. What exactly did the President and his AG do to prevent this? A simple phone call to Comey to tell him no letter was being sent would have or should have been enough.
The Ohio hairdresser, the one who said that Trump had done more in a week than Obama had done in 8 years was at least sort of right. Obama made few bold moves to help her and her family. Yes, it's true that the Republicans stood in his way no matter what he tried to do, but he never went to the country about her plight.
Or the vacant Supreme Court seat.
But that was then and this is now.
Taking to the streets is all that matters.
Believe me.
It starts with him not selecting and grooming a successor. I'm sure Joe Biden is a nice man - his Anita Hill stain and Clarence Thomas confirmation aside, but he should have stepped away and Obama should have brought someone else on board to be his VP. If he liked Joe so much he could have kept him on as a senior adviser.
These decisions by Obama left us with another Hillary run. Again, I'm sure she's a nice and very bright woman, but she brought with her a rail car of baggage. Enough it turns out, for the mud that Trump slung at her to stick pretty effectively.
Her campaign was stung by the Comey letter. Which should never have happened. What exactly did the President and his AG do to prevent this? A simple phone call to Comey to tell him no letter was being sent would have or should have been enough.
The Ohio hairdresser, the one who said that Trump had done more in a week than Obama had done in 8 years was at least sort of right. Obama made few bold moves to help her and her family. Yes, it's true that the Republicans stood in his way no matter what he tried to do, but he never went to the country about her plight.
Or the vacant Supreme Court seat.
But that was then and this is now.
Taking to the streets is all that matters.
Believe me.
22
Taking to the streets? The average American, like the average Canadian, wants a decent job, decent standard of living, decent neighborhood, quiet streets, safe places for children to play, etc.
The 'taking to the streets' groups are behaving like thugs/are thugs, destroying property, and costing the average citizens who work and pay taxes to have to pay more in taxes to clean up the messes made by the thugs.
The average American looks on these groups as fools who destroy college property, businesses, cars, and cost the average American money.
The people who are 'taking to the streets' will cost the Democrats more votes. For every American who supports the rioting and thuggery and destruction, five-to-ten more are horrified by it.
Wonder why the Democrats have lost control of state after state? Watch TV tonight and see many of the reasons.
The 'taking to the streets' groups are behaving like thugs/are thugs, destroying property, and costing the average citizens who work and pay taxes to have to pay more in taxes to clean up the messes made by the thugs.
The average American looks on these groups as fools who destroy college property, businesses, cars, and cost the average American money.
The people who are 'taking to the streets' will cost the Democrats more votes. For every American who supports the rioting and thuggery and destruction, five-to-ten more are horrified by it.
Wonder why the Democrats have lost control of state after state? Watch TV tonight and see many of the reasons.
1
Respectfully disagree. Obama's greatest challenge was bailing out banks and wall street and not helping homeowners caught in their vise. Add no prosecutions of wrong doing financial executives while homeowners lost their life's major asset. It allowed these same financial institutions to profit from the misery left behind. It put Obama squarely in the elite realm.
3
@Adirondax
Obama should not be faulted for keeping Biden as his VP. Planning on having a VP elected to succeed a President is going against history. There was a 152 year gap between VP Van Buren being elected president and VP George H. W. Bush being elected president.
Obama should not be faulted for keeping Biden as his VP. Planning on having a VP elected to succeed a President is going against history. There was a 152 year gap between VP Van Buren being elected president and VP George H. W. Bush being elected president.
Pay attention that even Paul Krugman makes no allusion to Tramps conflicts of interest, his hiding his tax returns, his incompetence, ineptness. The man throws so many newer and newer scams that even the best of pundits get confused and are lost in their large quantity. So they're discussing only the last one. One thing is sure, this man knows how to lead the public discussion away of matters unwanted for him. During the last days he has created so much controversy in so many areas - healthcare, his Politburo appointments, immigration, and so on, and so forth, and so many more are anticipated that the reporters got really, really confused.
Starting a war is always an option for him, to which he will turn when people get tired of his otherwise very exhausting antics. I don't think he'll have the courage to start a war with China, even Iran. As a coward, he'll choose a less protected object. Notice how he left all main Moslem countries out (Iran he had to) of the immigration ban and targeted the relatively unprotected ones? That's how he'll choose the country to bomb first. He'll provoke some, he'll find out whom and how later. Main thing is showing his toughness. And with the intellectual quality of the members of the Congress, Democrats included, he'll have no difficulty selling another phony war to Americans.
Starting a war is always an option for him, to which he will turn when people get tired of his otherwise very exhausting antics. I don't think he'll have the courage to start a war with China, even Iran. As a coward, he'll choose a less protected object. Notice how he left all main Moslem countries out (Iran he had to) of the immigration ban and targeted the relatively unprotected ones? That's how he'll choose the country to bomb first. He'll provoke some, he'll find out whom and how later. Main thing is showing his toughness. And with the intellectual quality of the members of the Congress, Democrats included, he'll have no difficulty selling another phony war to Americans.
15
I think we have a madman in the White House for 3 basic reasons. Our laws governing the influence of money in elections (corporate and personal) are broken, allowing unfettered purchasing of elected positions. Secondly, our educational system has been gutted so the result is we have millions of basically uneducated people who have no idea how government or the world functions, including the ignorant President. Thirdly, half of the population does not vote which allows a menace like Trump to represent us even though he only got 25% of the vote. We should be required to vote or pay a penalty, as is true in Australia. Then perhaps we might get a leader who actually represents the will of most of the people.
44
I've started to think that mandatory voting might solve a lot of our problems.
You realize that Trump spent much, much less than just about every other candidate in the election, right?
Well spoken.
As Bannon's past statements indicate, this administrations' goal is to blow up the entire system and rebuild it in their Leninist vision for power. I believe it's going to come down to the American people coming together, resist with full force and obstruct this illegitimate power grab. I believe we would have the backing of the vast majority of the world. I have never been more terrified of my government as I am right now.
36
Mr. Krugman - My disappointment in you is profound,
Years before you won your Nobel prize I championed your writings to friends and encouraged them to read your columns.
I saw you as a bright light shining through an overall collection of dim, somewhat hysterical bulbs at the Times.
"Thanks Comey." ? I didn't bring it up. You did. And I wish you would stop.
It serves no purpose, and is childishly petulant. It's beneath you.
For the final time ( I hope ) - Comey is not THE reason Clinton lost the election.
Years before you won your Nobel prize I championed your writings to friends and encouraged them to read your columns.
I saw you as a bright light shining through an overall collection of dim, somewhat hysterical bulbs at the Times.
"Thanks Comey." ? I didn't bring it up. You did. And I wish you would stop.
It serves no purpose, and is childishly petulant. It's beneath you.
For the final time ( I hope ) - Comey is not THE reason Clinton lost the election.
6
He certainly helped , didn't he?
1
No, not petulant, Professor Krugman is just being descriptive of inescapable historical facts now. I agree w him--DJT is either unconsciously incompetent or "Bigly" in need of referral to our national EAP, if we had one!
How do you know?
No wonder Russia interfered with our election and wanted Trump to win. Russia knew he would destroy us from within.
50
We can't allow this to be normalized, if we do Trump's presidency will be the beginning of the end of America!
16
Real-life Duck Soup and Freedonia.
6
Dr. Krugman used the word "chaos." I think that word has been in more news articles the last ten days than during all other presidencies combined. Donald has already gotten one Navy Seal killed, I hope we aren't heading back to the days of American troops dying by the bushel basket load and America being numb to it.
12
A popular minority of the American people wanted a totally unqualified, inexperienced, unlettered real-estate salesman to 'make them great again'. They've got what they wanted and the great American experiment in democracy is the lesser for it.
92
Of course there's a strategy here, it's "America First," or make America a white, Christian, patriarchal, paradise. Trump didn't complain to Australia over a trade agreement or a security pact in the South China Sea, he called to complain about non-European whites who were allowed to enter the US under an agreement made by Obama.
Why are we surprised at this? Trump has been talking this way for years, and Bannon has an extensive body of writing on this. Their vision for America is exactly what those who voted for Trump voted for. It's exactly the outcome that Comey wanted. The fight against it can't start until we acknowledge Bannon and Trump's vision for America as what it really is: racist.
Why are we surprised at this? Trump has been talking this way for years, and Bannon has an extensive body of writing on this. Their vision for America is exactly what those who voted for Trump voted for. It's exactly the outcome that Comey wanted. The fight against it can't start until we acknowledge Bannon and Trump's vision for America as what it really is: racist.
62
It is always fascinating to view the words of those who, are you listening Mr. Krugman, lament, decry and expound on what they don't understand.
The New York Times is right to give you a forum to expose the foolish and shortsighted ideas many sheep will gobble up. Most sane adults would reserve comments until the disgraceful mess promoted and foisted upon the US citizenry from 2000 to 2017 is at least addressed.
The profound cowardice, corruption and anti US republic actions of Barack Obama and his minions calls for drastic measures and your blindness to it is a symptom of a deep prejudging bigotry and populous stupidity all too common in America today.
The New York Times is right to give you a forum to expose the foolish and shortsighted ideas many sheep will gobble up. Most sane adults would reserve comments until the disgraceful mess promoted and foisted upon the US citizenry from 2000 to 2017 is at least addressed.
The profound cowardice, corruption and anti US republic actions of Barack Obama and his minions calls for drastic measures and your blindness to it is a symptom of a deep prejudging bigotry and populous stupidity all too common in America today.
2
Your logic, knowledge of history and ill-framed conclusions are indeed mysterious, Dr.
2
You didn't mention on single thing that was corrupt. Mostly because anything you bring up will just be a silly talking point handed to you. Regardless he is no longer president and this clown is.
1
I only read one sheep here, smiling as he's led to slaughter. Although, I must admit, Dr. Mysterious is a strange name for a sheep.
1
I'm waiting for a "Have You Left No Sense of Decency?" moment from one of our elected officials - or - more likely it seems, the leader of one of our allies. Krugman's "... a man out of his depth..." very sadly sums it up. I never thought I would feel this way in my lifetime, but I fear for my family and our country.
19
At my place of work I would be charged with a title IX violation just for mentioning his name.
8
i am not a fan of the current occupier of the oval office. if no one can remove the twitter machine from his hands the ludicrous behavior of the last 2 weeks is just a start. never in my life has a leader done all he can to assure his electorate they have made a colossal mistake. sure we all know about nero and his greatness on his nation. well nero we have our own national version of it. trump i fear you will not let us down at all. our folly will be manifest in our recriminations while we attempt to reassure the world we are not truly insane, just a little petulant at the moment.
6
How will MSM handle someone as extreme and irresponsible as Mr. Trump? The game that MSM will play will be false balance and false equivalence. Krugman’s accurate assessment is not what we will usually find in MSM.
We see false balance in the reports on fake news. We occasionally hear the story that ‘they all do it.’ Fake news comes from both sides. Not true. From Breitbart ‘News’, Fox ‘News’ and on, most fake news comes from conservative media and political leadership.
MSM will point to a blogger or other source not part of any political or media leadership, and claim that ‘they all do it.’ The entire spectrum of media and political leadership will be equally blamed for fake news.
Any legitimate facts and information that Mr. Trump does not like, he calls ‘fake news.’ Instead of doing journalism, MSM will be He-Said-She-Said stenographers.
With false balance, MSM will report what Mr. Trump says and give it a platform. What MSM will leave out of that story is… well, the story. No needed facts and context, no evaluation on the level of journalism.
99% of scientists (not counting scientists and economists funded by the Kochs and their uncountable foundations, institutes, lobbying groups and supposed media outlets, their Kochtopus) will say that we have man-made global warming. Mr. Trump says we don’t. Oh well.
Warning: Corporations and philanthropists have always supported research groups at universities, but not with the level of diktat now imposed on them by the Kochs.
We see false balance in the reports on fake news. We occasionally hear the story that ‘they all do it.’ Fake news comes from both sides. Not true. From Breitbart ‘News’, Fox ‘News’ and on, most fake news comes from conservative media and political leadership.
MSM will point to a blogger or other source not part of any political or media leadership, and claim that ‘they all do it.’ The entire spectrum of media and political leadership will be equally blamed for fake news.
Any legitimate facts and information that Mr. Trump does not like, he calls ‘fake news.’ Instead of doing journalism, MSM will be He-Said-She-Said stenographers.
With false balance, MSM will report what Mr. Trump says and give it a platform. What MSM will leave out of that story is… well, the story. No needed facts and context, no evaluation on the level of journalism.
99% of scientists (not counting scientists and economists funded by the Kochs and their uncountable foundations, institutes, lobbying groups and supposed media outlets, their Kochtopus) will say that we have man-made global warming. Mr. Trump says we don’t. Oh well.
Warning: Corporations and philanthropists have always supported research groups at universities, but not with the level of diktat now imposed on them by the Kochs.
6
This behavior from the new president is consistent for him if not for the presidency. He is more reminiscent of Nikita Khrushchev and his antics than of any American head of state, and his eccentric self absorbed leader shtick is wearing thin. Not to worry though, he assured us that we would be winning so much that we would "grow tired of so much winning". Never mind that his idea of winning is built on a foundation of bombast and lies, what could possibly go wrong?
15
Dr. Krugman, when wisps of smoke are dancing above the charred ruins of our civilisation, your words will be the record of how we got that way.
11
The Emperor has No Clothes... And because Trump is out of his depth, he relies on the whispers in his ear. He whipsaws back and forth, lashing out at the global threats surrounding him. He is afraid. His puppeteers write Executive Orders and stage Trump for the photo-op. Then his propagandists, FOX and Talk Radio, sort out how to sell President Bannon's insular bigotry to the gullible.
25
Bowling Green Massacre is the latest incarnation of this. As well as the former Prime Minister of Norway being held for questioning for over an hour at Dulles Airport "because of a 2015 Obama directive." You can fool some of the people some of the time, but not all of the people all of the time. The scorecard of the administation so far is so deplorable, it's hard to find words for it.
Of course I agree with you Mr. Krugman. And I see many Democratic commentators make the same remarks. But in my mind your credibility would rise substantially if you took responsibility for putting this man in office. I remember time and time again, you treated Mr. Sanders, who most likely would have won against Trump, as someone to take down and not be treated seriously. At one point, you even had the nerve to suggest that Mr. Sanders had racist tendencies. I stopped reading your column after reading that. You played unfair and along with the rest of the corporate media that served as cheer leaders for Hillary, who was beholden to the mega-corporate structure, you played a large part in placing the imbecile in office. So take a big breath, and help us get past that point. It calls for a big apology from a Nobel ego.
7
Alan Graf's posting assumes that Sanders would likely have won against Trump. One can speculate about that, but I'm not so certain that would have been true. For example, while the GOP smear machine had been able to work on Clinton for much longer, I would bet that they were well-prepared to do the same for a self-professed Socialist and big-government proponent. Sanders did not have the same level of support in the black community as did Clinton. One of the big turning points in the election was the evangelical Christian community deciding that Trump's promises to break down the separation of church and state were more important than his personal moral failings. Would they have felt differently were Sanders the alternative rather than Clinton? Alan Graf also assumes that somehow Krugman's remarks made huge numbers of primary voters abandon Sanders and vote for Clinton.
I could go on and on, but I don't think Krugman owes anybody a big apology for this purely theoretical issue.
I could go on and on, but I don't think Krugman owes anybody a big apology for this purely theoretical issue.
Wrong. Sanders would have lost too.
Right on! I am a fan of Paul Krugman but I did not agree with him when he disparaged Bernie as having policies that were naive and would never be implementable. Better that than the erosion of our democracy we have now!
We are in a foreign policy crisis, and have been for some time. The liberals just can't see the forest when they are surrounded by trees.
This is not Donald Trump's war. He did not invade Iraq and Afghanistan. He did not double down on Afghanistan and withdraw 20,000 troops from Iraq.
And he certainly didn't bomb the bejesus out of Libya, and supply Syrian rebels with arms and then walk away.
No Dr. Krugman, I'd say that was GW, and Obama. American Foreign policy has created the largest refugee crisis since Cambodia.
Now somehow an adult needs to mange it. We were lead down this road by a tactician, not a strategist who might have the foresight to see what is next.
So here we are. At least now we have a President who knows his next 4 or 5 moves. In fact he knows your next 4 or 5 moves, and has a plan to deal with it. We saw about 20 others run for the job, all very successful, smart, experienced, none could defeat this great strategic mind.
Good luck Kruggie, you will be spending perhaps the rest of your career writing these rants.
This is not Donald Trump's war. He did not invade Iraq and Afghanistan. He did not double down on Afghanistan and withdraw 20,000 troops from Iraq.
And he certainly didn't bomb the bejesus out of Libya, and supply Syrian rebels with arms and then walk away.
No Dr. Krugman, I'd say that was GW, and Obama. American Foreign policy has created the largest refugee crisis since Cambodia.
Now somehow an adult needs to mange it. We were lead down this road by a tactician, not a strategist who might have the foresight to see what is next.
So here we are. At least now we have a President who knows his next 4 or 5 moves. In fact he knows your next 4 or 5 moves, and has a plan to deal with it. We saw about 20 others run for the job, all very successful, smart, experienced, none could defeat this great strategic mind.
Good luck Kruggie, you will be spending perhaps the rest of your career writing these rants.
"At least now we have a President who knows his next 4 or 5 moves. In fact he knows your next 4 or 5 moves, and has a plan to deal with it."
We have a president who has yet to figure out how he is going to get Mexico to pay for a wall, one of his signature promises. A 20% tax on Mexican products? Americans will pay this tax, so that's our tax money paying for a wall. Divert aid to Mexico to pay for the wall? Again, American tax money paying for the wall. The current president has not thought one move ahead.
We have a president who has yet to figure out how he is going to get Mexico to pay for a wall, one of his signature promises. A 20% tax on Mexican products? Americans will pay this tax, so that's our tax money paying for a wall. Divert aid to Mexico to pay for the wall? Again, American tax money paying for the wall. The current president has not thought one move ahead.
"...this great strategic mind."
I needed a good laugh this morning.
I needed a good laugh this morning.
Any one who uses the word "rant" to characterize a logical, fact based argument should not be taken seriously. If Hillary had won we would not be plunged into the chaos on so many fronts as we now face. Krugman has been right about way more things than he's been wrong about. It doesn't take a clinician to see that Trump is mentally unstable. To call his a get strategic mind, after he attacks or fires those in his administration who have acted in our national interest, reflects poorly on your judgment.
It's almost amusing that Trump is so ignorant about Mexico that he thinks the Mexican government's failure to suppress the drug cartels is somehow a matter of choice or of willpower, and therefore threats of intervention will get the government to take care of this problem. The truth is that the Mexican government has been fighting a largely unsuccessful war with the cartels for years. Perhaps Trump will acquire some humility once he realizes that he can't "bring the jobs back" and can't solve the inner city "nightmares" he claims exist.
6
Agree win part with what you say; here's where I disagree:
Many members of the Mexican government have been made wealthy by the drug cartels. 60 Minutes has showed this in past decades - a 'civil servant' with a $20K annual salary who has a $3 million dollar retirement home.
And the "nightmares" in some parts of inner cities exist. The mothers and fathers, siblings, grandparents of 600+ murdered children in Chicago, along with the hundreds of other murdered children in cities such as NY, Oakland, NOLA, and others are living the nightmares. These are largely African American and Hispanic children killing others who are African American and Hispanic.
Those mothers and fathers don't get the attention that one African American child gets from the media.....if a police officer shoots the child or man. But those mothers suffer the same pain.......
Many members of the Mexican government have been made wealthy by the drug cartels. 60 Minutes has showed this in past decades - a 'civil servant' with a $20K annual salary who has a $3 million dollar retirement home.
And the "nightmares" in some parts of inner cities exist. The mothers and fathers, siblings, grandparents of 600+ murdered children in Chicago, along with the hundreds of other murdered children in cities such as NY, Oakland, NOLA, and others are living the nightmares. These are largely African American and Hispanic children killing others who are African American and Hispanic.
Those mothers and fathers don't get the attention that one African American child gets from the media.....if a police officer shoots the child or man. But those mothers suffer the same pain.......
1
I think the only thing that might be worse than Trump being soft on Russia because he's got some nefarious ties to Putin (or his Russian debt holders) is if he's just doing it simply because Putin flattered him. Imagine our critical foreign policy decisions being made based based on flattery of the narcissist-in-chief. It appears that's the case. One can imagine how differently the call with Australia would have gone if the PM started the conversation by saying how incredible Trump's win was, and how powerful and handsome he is.
But enough talking about how "Trump needs to go." That's clear. Let's outline the specific steps its going to take, and make it happen.
But enough talking about how "Trump needs to go." That's clear. Let's outline the specific steps its going to take, and make it happen.
38
America, you are on notice. Trump's bellicose approach to international relations is putting all Americans who travel, work or study abroad at risk. It is not enough to disagree with him. We must find the mechanism that removes him from office. We cannot afford two, much less four or eight, years of his unilateral narcissism.
34
Trump is the poster child for narcissistic personality disorder. It's the only script he follows--it's hard-wired.
Unfortunately, as we all know, the higher they climb, the harder they fall. And this little boy is all the way up the beanstalk.
Unfortunately, as we all know, the higher they climb, the harder they fall. And this little boy is all the way up the beanstalk.
25
The Doomsday Clock is ticking down. Dr. Strangelove "occupies" the White House."And how I learned to stop "worrying and love the bomb" is becoming all to real.If your not worried---you should be.After watching that "pathetic drivel" at the National Prayer Day Breakfast;I can only shake my head in disbelieve?Is this "man-child" really President of the United States? Or,have I just woken up from a terrible nightmare? This man is mentally unhinged.Impeachment is not only required,but ASAP.
24
The reference to Comey is a cheap shot. The liberals who failed to perceive the weaknesses of a Hillary candidacy and failed to craft the Democratic agenda to meet the needs of the average American (including PK) are far more to blame for the election loss than James Comey..
2
Comey's implication that a search of her email correspondence could lead to her prosecution was a huge factor in her loss. If she had been elected the commentators on this site would not be pondering the impeachment of Trump, whose actions to date have raised the impeachment possibility.
Nobody ever went broke underestimating the intelligence of the American people. It was uninformed, ignorant or just party-bound voters who "elected" Trump. I don't know what he has to "brag" about: he had the help of the FBI and the Russians plus a marginal democratic candidate; 95 million eligible didn't vote; 66 million voted for Clinton; 7 million voted for others; 63 million voted for Trump - the latter mostly because they are republicans who simply lever pullers no matter who the republican is. But democrats were blase' and didn't feel a need to turn out. Maybe they will correct that at mid-terms.
President Trump does suffer from an immense over-inflated ego or narcissism disorder which does lead to grandiosity, self importance, and bullying and denigrating others who disagree with him. So, Trump has thrown out more of that political red meat by doing what he always does--bullying the weak who are in no position to retaliate, and who have been some of our best friends. While it may be good political theater, especially for his base, it creates uncertainty in both friends and enemies alike about what this impulsive and unstable man will do next. The situation with Iran is the most frightening. As recent history shows, bullying can get you only so far before it escalates into hot confrontation.
10
Donald keeps reminding me of a quote from Leontine Young, “When the manipulations of childhood are a little larceny, they may grow and change with the child into qualities useful and admired in the grown-up world. When they are the futile struggle for love and concern and protection, they may become the warped and ruthless machinations of adults who seek in the advantages of power what they could never win as children.”
Fred Trump Sr. turned his oldest son into an alcoholic who drank himself to death. The Donald is a miserable, needy, and raging power, money, and status addict who’s in the process of self-destructing and taking as many people with him as he can.
Fred Trump Sr. turned his oldest son into an alcoholic who drank himself to death. The Donald is a miserable, needy, and raging power, money, and status addict who’s in the process of self-destructing and taking as many people with him as he can.
11
Our country is now being led by a group of greedy, self interested billionaires who mostly hate the departments that they control. "More money" is their passion, their focus, and their driving force - their reason for living.
How does the concept of country and "the People" fit into this? It probably doesn't.
This gang of billionaires has a mentally unstable narcissist as their leader.
This is the price we pay for years of corrupt government - a government that stopped being of, by, and for ALL Americans a very long time ago.
This government needs to know that these opportunistic parasites will no longer be tolerated.
How does the concept of country and "the People" fit into this? It probably doesn't.
This gang of billionaires has a mentally unstable narcissist as their leader.
This is the price we pay for years of corrupt government - a government that stopped being of, by, and for ALL Americans a very long time ago.
This government needs to know that these opportunistic parasites will no longer be tolerated.
15
Like Chance the Gardener, Trump likes to watch TV.
Doesn't read past headlines or 'zine covers or ever a book. Doesn't engage in any conceptual or analytic thinking. No curiosity. Just knee jerk reaction and a preface to "look at me." Like he sees on TV.
His brain is a severed live wire, spitting sparks and buzzing like bees on Red Bull. The sporadic flashes aren't thoughts but tweets in utero. For DJT there's no connect between mind and mouth. Everyday his mouth gets a real workout. But his mind is still parked in the same basement stall from when he last took it for a spin 20 years ago.
For Trump Cogito Ergo Sum is Cogito Zero Sum.
A weak attention span isn't helpful with nuisance facts that constitute a policy that becomes a template for purposeful actions. Instead of policy DJT's mouth is guided by a delusional True North: Me First. Every utterance points in that direction. Refugees? "It'll cost me politically."
At a celebrity golf event, actor Mark Wahlberg is paired with DJT: “He was very...Trump-like, talking about the things he does, things he has, business interests, properties...I don’t think he asked me...questions, or what I do.” Nothing personal, Mark. Talks to world leaders the same way.
Former USDA Secretary Bob Bergland used to say: "Republicans know the cost of everything and the value of nothing."
The doomsday device, the DJT bomb, is in the White House. It's ticking and we don't know if it's Putin's secret weapon or just homemade hubris.
17
With every column, Krugman gets worse: his hatred of Trump and blaming Comey for Trump's election have driven this loser crazy in his Princeton Ivory Tower. Why don't you go back to my Alma Mater Berkeley and shout your stupidities to the wind and tear gas?
1
Unlike you, Krugman sticks to the facts and responds to what is obvious to rational Americans: Trump's actions during the first weeks of his presidency, barring refugees, firing public servants following the law, denouncing Australia's prime minister, one of our most loyal allies, have been disgraceful. Krugman's sagacity has won him world wide respect, including a Nobel Prize. Krugman doesn't hate Trump. He describes his actions and condemns their consequences.
A little off topic. Trump in his first address to the nation and to the world stated all previous presidents had let down America. He would not and it would be America first. No one has really brought up, how America is supposed to be the leader of the free world, if it is me first. No one follows a leader who cares only for himself. No one follows a leader who takes first at the cost of his followers. There is a cost to being a leader and there are rewards. The rewards are primary currency, loyalty, admiration,willingness to accept counsel. Trump s idea of making America great is a sure fire way to lose our Greatness. Countries do not want to follow Russia or China because they know that they are Russia and China first. With Trump there is no longer American leadership. It is sad, and there will be a price to pay.
7
The name of this game is "chicken". Business people play it all the time.
Our nation was founded on it, partly. Boston Tea Party anyone?
Most individuals are sensible enough not to partake. It's a dangerous game. School bus drivers should never play chicken.
Other presidents have played in extraordinary circumstances such as Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis. It can lead to war. The U.S. Civil war broke out during a game of chicken.
Presidents should play other games. Like "Diplomacy" Or even "Risk".
Maybe Checkers or Chess.
Most days Mr. Trump seems to want to play only one game. Sadly, it's Chicken.
Our nation was founded on it, partly. Boston Tea Party anyone?
Most individuals are sensible enough not to partake. It's a dangerous game. School bus drivers should never play chicken.
Other presidents have played in extraordinary circumstances such as Kennedy during the Cuban missile crisis. It can lead to war. The U.S. Civil war broke out during a game of chicken.
Presidents should play other games. Like "Diplomacy" Or even "Risk".
Maybe Checkers or Chess.
Most days Mr. Trump seems to want to play only one game. Sadly, it's Chicken.
5
"No, what we’re hearing sounds like a man who is out of his depth and out of control, who can’t even pretend to master his feelings of personal insecurity."
There is a report in ther NYT today about judgement in a lawsuit in Florida won by members of a Trump golf course against the Trump organization. The course was failing when he bought it, over 200 members had resigned and requested a refund of their initiation costs, which they were entitled to receive and until they did were entitled to continue to use the club, so Donald sent them all a letter blowing them off, telling them they could not use the club and he didn't want their dues, then continued to bill them for dues and minimums, while not refunding their deposits. So they sued, and won, of course, winnig the right to be paid thier deposits and interest and costs, with no liability for dues and mimimums. Trump has appealled, and puts the fiasco all on his son Eric. Trump says i signed the letter, but my son Eric was running the club. LOL, that is a good one. Trump obviously decided the strategy and took the intitial step with the letter, then dumped the mess that no-one could fix on Eric, and moved on to the next deal. Unfortunately, the next deal is America.
Trump is a blithering incompetent.
There is a report in ther NYT today about judgement in a lawsuit in Florida won by members of a Trump golf course against the Trump organization. The course was failing when he bought it, over 200 members had resigned and requested a refund of their initiation costs, which they were entitled to receive and until they did were entitled to continue to use the club, so Donald sent them all a letter blowing them off, telling them they could not use the club and he didn't want their dues, then continued to bill them for dues and minimums, while not refunding their deposits. So they sued, and won, of course, winnig the right to be paid thier deposits and interest and costs, with no liability for dues and mimimums. Trump has appealled, and puts the fiasco all on his son Eric. Trump says i signed the letter, but my son Eric was running the club. LOL, that is a good one. Trump obviously decided the strategy and took the intitial step with the letter, then dumped the mess that no-one could fix on Eric, and moved on to the next deal. Unfortunately, the next deal is America.
Trump is a blithering incompetent.
9
Sell Crimea to the Russians in exchange for Ukraine's gas debt to them
1
Uhmmmm. ... we don't own Crimea. Can't sell what we don't own.
Trump may think this is a game. But it isn't.
Trump may think this is a game. But it isn't.
4
Precedents have been set...Remember, after 911 Cheney/Bush attacked (with alternative facts} Iraq. So every country--friend or foe--should be thought of as "On Notice."
We have an administration gleefully operating in Rumsfeld's third condition:
on facts "...we don't know we don't know."
We have an administration gleefully operating in Rumsfeld's third condition:
on facts "...we don't know we don't know."
5
Or on "facts we know...but can't admit"
I have relatives who voted for Trump or a third party candidate based on their distaste for Hillary's email boo-boos. Really, guys? The success of a democracy depends on an informed electorate, and if you can't bother to pay attention, please don't vote. When this damaged psyche triggers its first launch, I'm looking at you, kids.
15
JULIUS ROSENWALD: Most people are of the opinion that because a man has made a fortune, that his opinions on any subject are valuable. Don't be fooled by believing because a man is rich that he is necessarily smart. There is ample proof to the contrary.
Rosenwald was part owner and one-time CEO of Sears during the early 20th century. He was a remarkable and generous man, helping to established many schools across the South for underprivileged American children facing discrimination ( http://www.npr.org/2015/08/19/432910288/rosenwald-celebrates-the-greates... ). His brief comment above is readily applicable to our current president.
None of us knows what will happen. Also remarkable for me are video-clips of Kellyanne Conway mounting a defense for a man unrecognizable from her descriptions. Now we watch pundits tell us that we have a "chance" at more "normal" governmental functions as the cabinet is completed and other advisors take over. I do not recall having to wish so hard with past presidents during my lifetime.
It is clear that amateur psychiatric assessments in public media do not hold much sway. That is the way it should be, but it does not stop me shaking my head and wondering what we've done and why we did it (that is rhetorical; I do not want to hear another list of reasons).
Rosenwald was part owner and one-time CEO of Sears during the early 20th century. He was a remarkable and generous man, helping to established many schools across the South for underprivileged American children facing discrimination ( http://www.npr.org/2015/08/19/432910288/rosenwald-celebrates-the-greates... ). His brief comment above is readily applicable to our current president.
None of us knows what will happen. Also remarkable for me are video-clips of Kellyanne Conway mounting a defense for a man unrecognizable from her descriptions. Now we watch pundits tell us that we have a "chance" at more "normal" governmental functions as the cabinet is completed and other advisors take over. I do not recall having to wish so hard with past presidents during my lifetime.
It is clear that amateur psychiatric assessments in public media do not hold much sway. That is the way it should be, but it does not stop me shaking my head and wondering what we've done and why we did it (that is rhetorical; I do not want to hear another list of reasons).
2
Flynn's warning to Iran, to me, was particularly disconcerting because it seemed so personal. Flynn clearly was using it to "get back" at the Obama administration (which he for a tangential reason criticized during his "warning" to Iran) for its having fired him from his job. Of course, in speaking like this, Flynn made clear to the rest of us WHY they had fired him.
But more seriously, if Trump is going to run his Executive branch with a collection of "rebels" who want to use whatever power he's given them (even if it's illegal power) to settle old scores, then we are in for a sorry bit of chaos. Of course, Trump sets such a tone himself with his own efforts to continually settle scores with one enemy or another. Dumb.
But more seriously, if Trump is going to run his Executive branch with a collection of "rebels" who want to use whatever power he's given them (even if it's illegal power) to settle old scores, then we are in for a sorry bit of chaos. Of course, Trump sets such a tone himself with his own efforts to continually settle scores with one enemy or another. Dumb.
7
Has war with Iran broken out? Oh, maybe they haven't read your comment yet - they will soon launch missiles having been enlightened by you.
He seems to have done some about-faces on Russia and Israel in the last 24 hours. It's dizzying. It's like an abuser who flips between sweetness and violence.
12
How long before the 'there is no bad publicity feedback loop' starts to go way negative? His disapproval ratings will steadily grow, until Senate Republicans decide to do away with him. Or, there is the kind of crisis that just can't be ignored and there is a sudden lurch downward. Bad stuff is happening now, but the really scary proposition is a 'you are either with us or against us' war. there is a precedent- Karl Rove's 'permanent war footing' as a means to ongoing republican control. It's in the playbook; don't be surprised.
4
Trump's pattern of behavior in office, including his belligerence towards our allies, his illegal and incompetently executed Muslim ban, his apparent lack of diligence and planning for the Yemen operation, and his failure to resolve his major conflicts of interest, has been one of incompetence, recklessness and misconduct and is clearly impeachable. When will Congressional Democrats start putting that on the table?
7
Don Trump is mentally ill. This is the way he has operated his entire life. He has been bankrupt four times (?6), lies like a rug, no friends, and claims victory with every event (although most are losses). He also is a Republican with majorities in both houses of Congress composed of men who are anxious to d his bidding because they have dollar signs in their eyes and share the same greedy philosophy.
He is dangerous and must be removed. The only way to do this is through the ballot box in 2018. We can be thankful that he is such a monster that even the blind will start to see his faults and their mistake in voting for him and his Republican cronies in 2016. This will keep the pot boiling with descent.
Honest, ethical people have to organize, register voters and vote the Republicans out of Congress in 2018. The present Republican majority is poking a stick in hornet's nests all over the world and we are unlikely to survive a full four years of this morally bankrupt, politically naive Republican government. The voters forget the lies of Saint Ronnie and the Cheney-Bush years that did so much damage.
He is dangerous and must be removed. The only way to do this is through the ballot box in 2018. We can be thankful that he is such a monster that even the blind will start to see his faults and their mistake in voting for him and his Republican cronies in 2016. This will keep the pot boiling with descent.
Honest, ethical people have to organize, register voters and vote the Republicans out of Congress in 2018. The present Republican majority is poking a stick in hornet's nests all over the world and we are unlikely to survive a full four years of this morally bankrupt, politically naive Republican government. The voters forget the lies of Saint Ronnie and the Cheney-Bush years that did so much damage.
9
All will hinge on Republicans in Congress. At the moment they are behaving in a cowardly, appalling manner. But there will be a tipping point at which they will realize that Trump is not only dangerous - he will jeopardize their chances of re-election. Then they will turn on him and he will be gone (impeachment or 25th Amendment).
7
"Thanks, Comey?" How about "Thanks, Krugman?" Krugman openly ridiculed the supporters of Bernie Sanders and made some pretty vicious, and totally unfounded, smears against him in the primaries. Krugman then went on to depress voter turn out by advancing the completely false narrative that Clinton was the overwhelming favorite with a 90% chance to winning. So why should we listen to someone who helped bring us a Trump Presidency? And Krugman may wish to read the front page of the NYT's before alleging that the White House has said nothing about Russia's actions in the Ukraine.
9
Absurd to claim that Prof. Krugman's preference in the election and his supporting columns were in any way influential in bringing about Trump's victory. Seek the real causes elsewhere.
The Republcans WANTED Bernie to be the Democratic nominee! They would have pounded him into the ground.
2
Oh please, Dr. Krugman depressed voter turnout? That is ridiculous. Sanders lost the Democratic primary because more people favored Hillary Clinton and voted for her. Are you supporting Trump or Sanders or just populism in general? Maybe its voters like you Mike that brought us a President Trump.
1
Har' to Port! Now Har' to Starboard!
Captain Caprice is at the wheel again today, this time warning Putin about Crimea and Ben Netanyahu about building more settlements, that he applauded yesterday. If it were Dad at the wheel drunkenly sloshing a car full of kids from lane to lane, they'd be screaming, "Pull over and let Mom Drive."
But, not Paul Ryan and Mitch, content to save their miserly Republican hides and hope their Trump whisperer Rheinhold Priebus can outflank the many flanks of Steve Bannon.
Just another day at the White House, when he prayed for better ratings for Ahrnohld, and paid homage to a lost Seal that died after he unleashed the dogs of war in Yemen. Apparently, some voters chafed at a steady hand on the wheel with President Obama. The new Comrade in Chief feels has to take the country for a spin. Offstage we can hear Bette Davis warn us about needing seatbelts for a bumpy flight.
When Americans opted for change, I doubt they wanted a reeling foreign policy that turns on a dime for no apparent reason, or a wall they will pay for with TAXES on groceries, oil, and brand-name vehicles. Those 60-some million voters exercised their resentment to spurn solid if cautious leadership and policy for a "sober" figurehead, drunk on his image in the mirror, who they mistook for a decisive CEO in the mahogany boardroom that would fire the people they disliked and give a wonderful, fabulous job to the pretty girl at the end.
Uff-da. The price we pay for ignorance.
Captain Caprice is at the wheel again today, this time warning Putin about Crimea and Ben Netanyahu about building more settlements, that he applauded yesterday. If it were Dad at the wheel drunkenly sloshing a car full of kids from lane to lane, they'd be screaming, "Pull over and let Mom Drive."
But, not Paul Ryan and Mitch, content to save their miserly Republican hides and hope their Trump whisperer Rheinhold Priebus can outflank the many flanks of Steve Bannon.
Just another day at the White House, when he prayed for better ratings for Ahrnohld, and paid homage to a lost Seal that died after he unleashed the dogs of war in Yemen. Apparently, some voters chafed at a steady hand on the wheel with President Obama. The new Comrade in Chief feels has to take the country for a spin. Offstage we can hear Bette Davis warn us about needing seatbelts for a bumpy flight.
When Americans opted for change, I doubt they wanted a reeling foreign policy that turns on a dime for no apparent reason, or a wall they will pay for with TAXES on groceries, oil, and brand-name vehicles. Those 60-some million voters exercised their resentment to spurn solid if cautious leadership and policy for a "sober" figurehead, drunk on his image in the mirror, who they mistook for a decisive CEO in the mahogany boardroom that would fire the people they disliked and give a wonderful, fabulous job to the pretty girl at the end.
Uff-da. The price we pay for ignorance.
36
When all three branches of government are spinning out of control, or could if nobody in the bunch recognizes the danger, America needs to elect a legal guardian to provide adult supervision of them. Paul Ryan was only four when Richard M. Nixon's presidency was fully engulfed in flames and may not know how that thing all went down. Impeachment needs to be on the table. The Emoluments Clause and 25th Amendment options also need to be explored before any further damage is done.
20
Rove and Cheney were the power behind the throne in the bon vivant Bush's White House. Bannon, Flynn and maybe Putin are the power behind the throne in the egomaniac Trump's White House. These are not nice people. Trump is incapable of rational analysis. He exists to be worshipped. That stock market crash some people were talking about last November no longer looks so improbable.
18
The one phone call that was blocked from the media by "45', was his call to Putin. I Would love to know what Putin has on this president., and I would also like to see his taxes to know where he has business interests and other investments and debts.
26
Excellent and needed editorial, but folks need to read between the lines to see that we may already have a buffer system forming iin place to try to protect us. The Trump family, which is used to his stupidity and narcissism, had the good sense last Spring as Trump's political ascent was building to a clear and present danger to the nation, to circle their wagons around him in the national interest. Ivanka and Jared were designated his minders, so they moved to Washington and the White House, Don Jr. and Eric were assigned to take over the business. Melania, who wanted no part of all this, opted to remain in New York shielding Barron. They have intervened on key Cabinet (State with Tillerson, Defense with Mattis) and other appointments. Jared is no doubt anxiously watching Bannon's power grab, perhaps even allowing his catastrophic error on the immigration directive to embarrass and discredit him. The Senate, now that it sees Trump's constant incompetence, has to get with the program, to push back on the craziest appointments and decrees. All this is informal, until a more decisive formality—impeachment or Article 25—becomes possible.
8
Trump's constant barrage of insults, provocations and outright unconstitutional proposals will never stop. In his quest for constant attention, he is creating a news flow of outrages that his cabinet and career government employees will have to clean up, explain and reverse again and again. How will this cycle be broken? Only by a crisis of epic proportions, ignited by a throw-away comment or some perceived insult. Whether this emergency is economic, political or military, it will come. America needs to be prepared with actual crisis management plans to survive this incoherent President in the age of instant communication.
7
Trump is chaotic, but Bannon isn't, and if you go back to the Time magazine story from 11/16 you learn that Bannon openly desires a war to usher in a remaking of American government in accordance with his authoritarian, repressive vision. And every Cabinet appointee stands poised to help. http://time.com/4575780/stephen-bannon-fourth-turning/
14
Any expectation that Republican leadership will try to corral Trump's ride 'em cowboy, tough guy act is misplaced. Until Trump's behavior endangers Republican Congressional reelection concerns, they are going to stand back, exercise seeming loyalty to Trump, and allow him enough rope either to succeed or to hang himself. If he succeeds, they can take credit; if he hangs himself, they can them come to the rescue and take all the credit. For them, it is win/win. They do not see long term consequences to Trump's actions. But for them "long term" is never longer than the next election cycle. For most of us, it's the future of America for our children and grandchildren, which looks more like lose/lose with every passing day.
10
It is believed that Russia hacked the DNC and the information they had on Democrats was released and is now public knowledge.We know therefore what Russia had on the Democratic party. We know also that there are allegations that Russia has compromising information on Trump. What we don't know is how many other Republican leaders Russia may have compromising information on? We can't be sure anymore that our leaders are working in the interests of America. The unhinged nature of the government right now would lead you to think they are more interested in providing constant distractions than actually governing. My question is with all these distractions, what indeed are they trying to distract us from? The saying "The Truth shall set You Free" is more pertinent than ever.
7
Daniel Ellsberg said years ago that anyone who gets into position to be president of the US has an incredible drive for personal power that ordinary people couldn't comprehend. But he said, they all know how to hide it well. Trouble is, Trump doesn't hide it at all! Is he capable of learning?
One other point I disagree with Paul about; Hillary's deplorable comments were her '47 percent comments' that were easily as devastating to her as Romney's were to him. This had much much more to do with her losing than anything Comey said.
One other point I disagree with Paul about; Hillary's deplorable comments were her '47 percent comments' that were easily as devastating to her as Romney's were to him. This had much much more to do with her losing than anything Comey said.
Comey totally changed the course of history. Waiting for two weeks before the election to make that announcement with finding a shred of evidence of wrong doing in advance, could have only one intent. Of course they where all duplicates. Any that Clinton sent would be on her server in Sent Mail. Any replied to would be in her Inbox. Advance analytic technology today could determine this in hours or a couple of days. It could have easily been done and should have been done before the announcement.
9
What a ridiculous comment - Clinton's poll numbers were the same before and after Comey's anouncement, so he clearly had no measurable effect. Quite simply, she was an appalling candidate (so bad, even a vulgarian like Trump could beat her - digest that!) Moreover, how do Comey's actions reflect in Republican victories in the House, the Senate and overwhelmingly at the State level?
More accurate to thank your brain dead political party, with halfwitted ancients like Pelosi and Schumer in charge, and a nominating process long on money grubbing and short on ideas. Here's more bad news: the FBI didn't elect this guy, we did by staying away and by voting for third parties. This was a coordinated expression of our detestation for your half baked candidate, for that horrible congressperson from florida and for the clinton insiders who ruined the golden opportunity to elect a real candidate of the people. Until your party reforms to our liking, we will do this over and over. We can live hand to mouth very well - can you?
2
Personally, I am getting accustomed to the daily drama and perversely looking forward to the next episode. This is truly a Reality TV show. Dr Krugman should, however, give the President some slack. After all, as Howerd Stern recently commented, "Donald just wants to be loved."
Yeah Paul, let's start a new cold war with Russia. Since when did the Democrats become like the Republicans of the fifties? The amount of Red baiting coming from places like MSNBC and the NYT is incredible. Or Trump could just follow Obama's footstep and continue to actively bomb the seven countries we've been bombing for the last few years. Or why not start a covert, CIA backed war to arm ISIS and al Qaida rebels in Syria? Oh wait, we've already been doing that.
You are so behind the times. Russia is no longer "red." It is a full fledged capitalist kleptocracy these days.
The Republican President's philosophy -- don't disappoint. If you really are a 2,000 pound gorilla, a huge gorilla by any standard, beat your chest and roar like a gorilla. It's what the people expect, it's only natural and it enthralls a huge audience.
7
All he wants is love. All he hands out is abuse. The Times needs to start covering him with board-certified psychiatrists, preferably some who are equipped with nets. This man is seriously disturbed.
15
Trump is the world's foremost embodiment of a Cluster B Personality Disorder. There will be no changing, pivoting, learning or improving. Some will be fooled by occasional, superficial normalcy, and trump's alternating carrot and stick manipulations, but the man's core is fixed. What we have seen is what we will continue to get.
11
trump fails to comprehend that the goal of being President is to make the job as boring as possible not exciting. trump does not understand why "may you live in interesting times" is a curse, mistaking it as a directive. Interesting times is good for TV ratings but disatrous for statesmanship. In almost every way, trump is the wrong man for the job. Those who voted a reality TV figure into office now have the forced "interest" that pulls cheap eyeballs to boost ratings as president. Me, I voted for the most boring candidate so I can get on with my life.
11
"Thanks, Comey."
PK - The Dems themselves are primarily to blame for this unfolding fiasco. Despite having the better candidate (by a country mile), the marketing and selling of the Dem candidate was completely out of touch with tens of millions of voters. Uncle Joe Biden knew this and tried to tell everyone who would listen - now we have to wait for another 4 years or an impeachment process before getting rid of this blundering ametuer in the most powerful role in the world politics.
PK - The Dems themselves are primarily to blame for this unfolding fiasco. Despite having the better candidate (by a country mile), the marketing and selling of the Dem candidate was completely out of touch with tens of millions of voters. Uncle Joe Biden knew this and tried to tell everyone who would listen - now we have to wait for another 4 years or an impeachment process before getting rid of this blundering ametuer in the most powerful role in the world politics.
11
Get real, armchair quarterback. She won all three debates, raised $1B and received the most votes. She's smart, experienced and had actual policies on her website. She had a positive message, too; however, no legitimate candidate in what was already a close election could have beaten the clandestine Comey-Putin tag team. No one.
2
Hillary won the majority of the votes. In a true democracy that would mean she was the winner. Only the jiggery pokery of the Electoral College would insure that the person with less votes is declared the winner.
1
Do you blame women who are raped for the attack? Yes - the 'Dems' made mistakes, but this nightmare - perhaps the last one of the Republic - is the fault of the GOP. The lies and obstruction by the GOP undermined government to the point that too many low-knowledge voters decided they wanted a strict daddy figure instead of a fairly elected President. We're screwed and the GOP is to blame.
1
That's it! I want a divorce now! My first. Trump's third. The reasons are mental cruelty and irreconcilable differences. He is driving me and the world nuts. I won't be able to take four years of this pain and suffering or even one more day.
He makes sane people insane and the people who voted for him will go zombie Apocalypse. Are there any Republicans who could rescue us? I doubt it. They went insane years ago.
He makes sane people insane and the people who voted for him will go zombie Apocalypse. Are there any Republicans who could rescue us? I doubt it. They went insane years ago.
15
Unbelievable! Based on some current reader comments, I'm actually ready to "defend" Trump? His behavior related to senility or antisocial old age? The evidence put forward is a rigid fecklessness, intellectual disability, gratuitous and personal cruelty, etc. But these have been traits publicly exhibited by Trump for at least 30 years, or however long his "celebrity" has been going on.
8
Trump's interactions with high officials in other nations worry me, but I still hear people saying he's Making America Great Again. It worries me even more when I think about what might happen when we hit a crisis. It could be a terrorist attack or it could be something that goes beyond a "provocative" international incident.
Steve Bannon has made his intentions quite clear and it's also clear that he has the president's ear.
Steve Bannon has made his intentions quite clear and it's also clear that he has the president's ear.
17
The two parties are slowly settling into familiar corners. Cons, the values party, has none. The search for power, massive obstruction,was rewarded & has resulted in electing the biggest dummy in modern history and my first was Eisenhower.
If the dems had elected someone who has done half the cra cra stuff Doofus has done in two weeks impeachment hand wringing would be well underway.
Now we'll see if dems have a spine. Who cares if they win, fight, fight, fight. God help us all.
If the dems had elected someone who has done half the cra cra stuff Doofus has done in two weeks impeachment hand wringing would be well underway.
Now we'll see if dems have a spine. Who cares if they win, fight, fight, fight. God help us all.
14
Thanks, Comey, indeed. And let's hope that the investigation into what clearly was a political move to destroy any chance of a Hillary win will bear honest witness to this despicable act. Whether Democrat or Republican all citizens rightly appalled and disgusted by this inept narcissist should be writing in or calling for his removal from office. And let's hope, too, that we the people will soon find out why, in fact, Putin the dictator gets no scathing review from Trump and his administration. Party loyalty is understandable but not now, or ever, with this Presidency. It's time that Democrats and like-minded pols close ranks and take their cue from Mitch McConnell. Make certain Trump fails and falls and this time at least it will be for the right reasons.
37
Trump is the drunk guy at the corner bar who yells out in a slurred voice to no one in particular, "yeah, well, you got some bad hombres down there, maybe we'll just invade your country..." before he falls off his stool.
Later, as the police haul him away to the squad car, he pleads, "ofissher, I was just being light-hearted."
Obama could be "light-hearted".
Trump only knows "cruel", "offensive", "belligerent" and "threatening".
Later, as the police haul him away to the squad car, he pleads, "ofissher, I was just being light-hearted."
Obama could be "light-hearted".
Trump only knows "cruel", "offensive", "belligerent" and "threatening".
48
good one.
Too many people (newscasters, politicians, people interviewed on TV) seem to regard Trump's behavior as sort of cute and interesting but not nearly as alarming as I think it is. He is purposely discarding civility. He seems to regard war as a party game. (Clue: It's not.) Most of us want to get along with our neighbors, being as kind to them as we want them to be to us. (Hey, Prayer Breakfast: Does that sound at all familiar to you?) It's really time to have a plan to get him out of office. I hope that the Democrats, as well as having short term plans to resist Trump's more inflammatory nominees to the Cabinet and Supreme Court) are seriously working on an impeachment plan.
26
I believed for some time now that our illegitimate president is mentally unstable and his recent actions have done nothing to change my mind. The question is not whether he is unsuited to the job but what are we going to do about it.
It is obvious that the Republicans who control Congress will not impeach him. They still think they can control him and use him to pass thier regressive agenda.
The Democrats can not do anything since they are in the minority in both houses of Congress.
Asking the cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment is useless. Most of them probably haven't even read it.
The only option I see is to gear up for the 2018 election and try to get a Democratic majority in the Senate and maybe the House. Then we can begin the impeachment process.
In the meantime, resist, resist, resist. And pray that our fearless leader doesn't plunge up into another unnecessary war.
It is obvious that the Republicans who control Congress will not impeach him. They still think they can control him and use him to pass thier regressive agenda.
The Democrats can not do anything since they are in the minority in both houses of Congress.
Asking the cabinet to invoke the 25th amendment is useless. Most of them probably haven't even read it.
The only option I see is to gear up for the 2018 election and try to get a Democratic majority in the Senate and maybe the House. Then we can begin the impeachment process.
In the meantime, resist, resist, resist. And pray that our fearless leader doesn't plunge up into another unnecessary war.
32
Look up the Senate elections due in 2018. The democrats will not gain seats with that particular batch. Quite the opposite.
The House is more of a possibility, I think, but we should focus on getting people like Lindsay Graham and John McCain on board with an impeachment when it comes to the Senate. Not all Republicans are party-first cowards, just most of them.
The House is more of a possibility, I think, but we should focus on getting people like Lindsay Graham and John McCain on board with an impeachment when it comes to the Senate. Not all Republicans are party-first cowards, just most of them.
1
With all due respect it is the "can't just help themselves with an attraction for shiny objects" who elected him our President and not Mr Comey.
The other side of that coin fetes the obstructionism of a racist Congress which coincedently blocked every progressive measure of the only nonwhite President we will ever see and assisted in defeating a person who happens to be a reasonable woman.
This election shouldn't have even been close and will guarantee we end up with fleas.
The other side of that coin fetes the obstructionism of a racist Congress which coincedently blocked every progressive measure of the only nonwhite President we will ever see and assisted in defeating a person who happens to be a reasonable woman.
This election shouldn't have even been close and will guarantee we end up with fleas.
25
He has a severe mental illness and is totally incompetent in terms of management and personnel selection. This on top of his total ignorance of world affairs and history.
This horror show is responsible for the the good of the American people and constructive cooperation with the world.
I do not wish this man well and am eager join the resistance movement against him as there is zero chance of his improving.
Resist, resist, resist.
This horror show is responsible for the the good of the American people and constructive cooperation with the world.
I do not wish this man well and am eager join the resistance movement against him as there is zero chance of his improving.
Resist, resist, resist.
78
I was in my teens during the Cuban Missile Crisis, When it was over, and we had avoided a nuclear war with the Soviet Union, the relief was palpable. I realized that I had been fearing a nuclear war for as long as I could remember.
I had experienced "duck and cover" exercises and always noticed the location of bomb shelters (identified by yellow and black signs with three triangles). In junior high, I had read Philip Wylie's "Tomorrow" about a Soviet nuclear attack on several American cities a few days before Christmas--in order to catch the maximum number of shoppers on the town squares. The book was full of horrific details, no doubt drawn from accounts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including long-term effects of radiation on the people and animals that survived.
For the first time in over 50 years, a nuclear war seems possible. The Vice President, Cabinet and Congress must act--and soon.
I had experienced "duck and cover" exercises and always noticed the location of bomb shelters (identified by yellow and black signs with three triangles). In junior high, I had read Philip Wylie's "Tomorrow" about a Soviet nuclear attack on several American cities a few days before Christmas--in order to catch the maximum number of shoppers on the town squares. The book was full of horrific details, no doubt drawn from accounts of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, including long-term effects of radiation on the people and animals that survived.
For the first time in over 50 years, a nuclear war seems possible. The Vice President, Cabinet and Congress must act--and soon.
36
This article succinctly sums up Trump's dangerous and stupid war mongering with any nation, ethnic or gender group, institution or individual who dare criticise or cross him. In less than 2 weeks he's alienated China, Australia, Mexico, Iran, Germany (and most of Europe), Japan, Canada, all Muslim countries except the ones he has business ties with or relies on for oil. He's intent on destroying women's, LGBT, minority rights, and cutting off US humanitarian aid around the world if it funds birth control. And he's capped it all off with preposterous tweets about a war with the media and cutting off federal funding for institutions like UC Berkley. One can only hope that Arnold Schwarenegger turns back into the Terminator and saves the world from this dreadful man.
57
"In less than 2 weeks he's alienated China, Australia, Mexico, Iran, Germany (and most of Europe), Japan, Canada, all Muslim countries except the ones he has business ties with or relies on for oil. "
Let's not forget, he's likely done a lot more that we're not even considering.
For example, if you were the Japanese PM, what would you think about having Ivanka being brought into a meeting, when she's got a loan pending at a Japanese bank? Wouldn't you feel you were being asked to become some kind of sleazy fixer on her behalf? Can't she get her own loan? Is the US presidency really sinking to this level?
We haven't heard many details of the conversations he's had, and most international politicians have the wisdom to keep a poker face. But, good God, how long are we going to let this go on?
Let's not forget, he's likely done a lot more that we're not even considering.
For example, if you were the Japanese PM, what would you think about having Ivanka being brought into a meeting, when she's got a loan pending at a Japanese bank? Wouldn't you feel you were being asked to become some kind of sleazy fixer on her behalf? Can't she get her own loan? Is the US presidency really sinking to this level?
We haven't heard many details of the conversations he's had, and most international politicians have the wisdom to keep a poker face. But, good God, how long are we going to let this go on?
2
Responsibility for the appalling Trump's election goes far beyond James Comey and the electors who cast their votes for him and must include the media outlets who provided him with so much free publicity and the Democratic Party which long ago deliberately abandoned their representation of working class people of all skin colors. Trump's tenancy in the Oval Office is so alarming that it will be easy to forget that he emerged from a system that, to quote Matt Taibbi from his recently published book Insane Clown President "must be very sick indeed" and that includes a great many players.
38
While I agree with most of your statement, I do not believe for a minute that the Democratic Party abandoned the working class at all, their policies have always had the working class in mind...however they may have taken their constituency for granted while attempting to broaden their appeal to more than just the working class. But it's the Dems who want to raise wages, provide training and safety nets for people in job classifications that are becoming obsolete, and improve working conditions, overtime or health benefits. During Obama's eight years, a good half of his Presidency was repairing the damage to the entire economic system dealt by the financial crisis...that did require shoring up the levers of capitalism, the banks the financiers, the large scale manufacturing auto industry in order to lay the groundwork for job creation to return. Comparison to Reagan's so called "growth" is egregious as times have changed, manufacturing has changed and not just because of trade. But jobs did not return to some areas of the country, those that relied on rapidly becoming obsolete industries such as coal mining or steel production - and along comes Trump promising fairy dust to bring these types of jobs back? How - and to what purpose? Will allowing coal producers to dump into waterways make coal competitive with natural gas again? I think not. American has elected the ultimate Con Man in Chief, and it will take years to recover from his damage.
10
For a history of Democratic Party conscious abandonment of working class people see Thomas Frank's book Listen Liberal. While the Democratic Party's policies are better in regard to working people, their representation is really quite anemic, "taken for granted" as you say, while the Party has actually done relatively little to raise wages or "provide training and safety nets for people in job classifications that are becoming obsolete." And the ACA, while better than no effort at all, is a joke in comparison to any of the several systems adopted by other industrialized countries to ensure access to affordable health care.
2
You have fallen for the narrative that it's poor, abandoned white working class men who have elected Trump. Don't kid yourself. While a number of such men did support Trump, they'd never have made a dent in the rest of the electorate. No, it's the mass of people, including middle-class comfy and professionals, who have bought into the far-right-wing stories about how democrats are devils and Obama (and black people, and Muslims, and gays) are devils, too. And only white, well-off people deserve anything at all and should have tax cuts and the end of regulations on their businesses, and the rest of the feed-the-rich wish list on the right. They also tend to be war-lovers, and never find any cruelty to clash with their ostensible holier-than-everyone Christianity. I live in Oklahoma, and I love some of these people (who have other traits than these, after all). But until you see the right-wing machine that has worked since Reagan at least on today's debacles, you are missing the boat. And by the way, it is only democrats who have the clout to oppose them, and who do in fact do so. It's foolish to fight your allies when you have such adversaries as you do.
3
I can't keep that old Sinclair Lewis quote out of my mind: “When fascism comes to America, it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying a cross.”
Americans have traditionally valued three attributes in our leaders: honesty, competence, and vision. The Donald fails miserably, in all that and more. What is truly terrifying is that a significant number of Americans are OK with dishonesty, incompetence, and someone taking us on a road to nowhere.
Americans have traditionally valued three attributes in our leaders: honesty, competence, and vision. The Donald fails miserably, in all that and more. What is truly terrifying is that a significant number of Americans are OK with dishonesty, incompetence, and someone taking us on a road to nowhere.
120
A very large portion of his voters will turn a blind eye as long as his promise of big beautiful "jobs" holds them in thrall....when they don't materialize on a grand scale as promised, the rejection will be swift and harsh.
2
Let us not forget the several reputable biographies of Andrew Jackson that indicate that he was a deeply troubled individual, psychologically unstable and given to frequent tirades. He was also consumed by a lifelong fear of death and a consequent need to prove himself. Witness his erratic behavior in the Peggy Eaton Affair, the Bank War and the Nullification crisis. Thankfully his Vice President, Martin Van Buren was a steadying influence, able to restore some sanity to Washington and national politics.
13
Jackson, my vote for absolute worst president before this one, only gave us the Panic of 1837, the Trail of Tears, and threats to kill his vice-president. The difference is, he had physical courage. And no nuclear codes.
5
If only the damage Trump can do were as limited as Andrew Jackson's, when not only was the presidency much weaker, but tweeting and mass communications were non-existent, as well as, of course WMD.
2
Pence is hardly a steadying influence. We're screwed through the whole Republican line.
2
I was exhausted at the end of his first week just trying to keep up and to get my head around all the nonsense. Lately I've taken to watching Archie Bunker & Edith rather than the national news just to stay sane.
19
It's rather like having Homer Simpson as our Pres. -- only Homer is much more loveable and teachable.
1
Same issue, same problem, a 7 year old mind in a 70 year old body.
33
Not true. Even a 7 year old is more rational.
1
Recently I read a book by the Jungian scholar Stephan Hoeller. Below is a quote. It is the reason for my fear.
Hoeller, A., Jung and the Lost Gospels Insights into the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library. Wheaton, Illinois: Quest Books, 1989
“The fanatic may criticize everything and everybody with the exception of himself and his own fanatical ideas. Thus a disharmony arises. As a result of the rejection of the compensating influence there emerges the destructive power of unconscious elements, which blindly and furiously begin to take charge of the individual against his will and better judgement. Incomprehensible thoughts and moods, violent outbursts of temper, psychosomatic illness, hallucinatory intrusions unto consciousness; all of these and many more are the result of the unwillingness of the mind to accept balance and compensation.”
www.InquiryAbraham.com
Hoeller, A., Jung and the Lost Gospels Insights into the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library. Wheaton, Illinois: Quest Books, 1989
“The fanatic may criticize everything and everybody with the exception of himself and his own fanatical ideas. Thus a disharmony arises. As a result of the rejection of the compensating influence there emerges the destructive power of unconscious elements, which blindly and furiously begin to take charge of the individual against his will and better judgement. Incomprehensible thoughts and moods, violent outbursts of temper, psychosomatic illness, hallucinatory intrusions unto consciousness; all of these and many more are the result of the unwillingness of the mind to accept balance and compensation.”
www.InquiryAbraham.com
16
Trump needs to be removed before he does lasting damage to the nation. Republicans hold the key to doing so by impeachment, but relying on Republicans to do any honorable thing is a hopeless matter. I'm guessing that we have to wait for the inevitable military escapade that goes badly for us.
31
It is ironic that Germany is the last bastion of liberal democratic internationalism. And led by a former East German. Irony aside, it is no wonder that Germany is being attacked as a "currency manipulator" in order to weaken Ms. Merkel, who seems to be the only national leader who is smart enough to stand up to Trump and Putin. So, of course, she has to go, and elections are this year. I think Germany is the mirror image of Greece, Italy, Spain. A current account out of balance to the surplus side, and a result of the Euro. It is pretty clear that the common currency straddling so many different national economies has created economic dislocations, but an integrated Europe is still better than the nationalistic rivalries of the past that led to war after war for centuries, including the last two big ones in the 20th Century.
14
Donald Trump bothers me less than the 50% of American voters who actually want and support his bombast. They want to live in a simple and reduced world longing for a restoration of American power. Simple narratives for a complex world that they, nor frankly anyone, can really fathom. Donald Trump is bringing them that. He's bringing change and hence for me the problem -- change based on simple narratives of a romantic use of American power.
Already lessons from Iraq are forgotten.
Already lessons from Iraq are forgotten.
83
It appears that the much employed ploy of dived and rule as well as plunder from created confusion is doing wonders for our new non governmening government. It also seems to take advantage by the creative use of chaos in its fast track to fascism.
We as a country should take ownership to our mess up and and act fast to stop this menace before it grows feeding on our systems, twisting our own checks and balances to fit that convocation
We as a country should take ownership to our mess up and and act fast to stop this menace before it grows feeding on our systems, twisting our own checks and balances to fit that convocation
10
My high school daughter was in tears last night. Afraid of her future, the future of the United States, and the world. The rashness, the incompetency, the cruelty, the realization that our dystopian future is a finger away has destroyed any sense of security she and our entire family, in fact, the entire U.S. once enjoyed. Trump is no president. He is a destroyer and seeks only his own gain and glory.
46
It's bizarre that Professor Krugman continues to fan the flames of the Comey distraction. The fact that Comey's look into DNC emails and Clinton speeches shortly before the election had no effect on its outcome is irrefutable. But blaming the FBI director for Trump's victory is easier for ostriches like the professor than blaming the DNC for engineering the candidacy of the candidate more likely to lose to Trump.
10
Comey's pivotal role is easily demonstrated—his egregious public letter to the Senate, an impropriety in itself, halted the momentum of the Clinton campaign, which was at that point 92% favored in the polls; that percentage immediately began to decline, a fall of 30 points before Comey then said publicly that there was nothing in those letters.
7
Not irrefutable at all. Actually, the slight dip after the October surprise announcement was enough to do HRC in. And the veiled Bernie protest here--that Bernie could have beaten Trump, even with all the lovely oppo research the RNC had on the Vermont Senator and all the indigenous anti-Semitism we have seen in Trumpworld--can also be refuted.
5
No effect on it's outcome is irrefutable? There is no way to prove it had no effect. Nice made up "fact'
2
Looking for a positive or two:
1. The GOP may have painted themselves into a corner. Leaving reason behind in favor of 'rationale' for anything that their greedy, grasping ways desire is now an obvious fact. Real Americans may gather enough gumption to actually vote as a bloc in 2 years as this becomes more obvious to all. The GOP brand will suffer from the SCOTUS and Obamacare tussles.
2. For Trump the Vacant (I liked that when I used it for Rubio also) impulse is the driving engine for his madness. It is all, really, a commercial venture for him and is bound to fail as many of his seem to do. Witness his loss of a prominent CEO from his Council of CEO's, more to follow I suspect. Consider Ivanka's loss of Nordstrom as a distributor for her beauty products due to customer's boycott. Soon his hotels and golf courses will feel the wrath of the consumer, if they aren't already.
It may take some time and I hope war is not the path to distraction for voters this time. But, let's continue to thank Comey for his betrayal at the last minute. Let's counter commenters who still rail against Hillary's e-mail non-issue but ignore the 25 years of GOP driven drivel against her.
1. The GOP may have painted themselves into a corner. Leaving reason behind in favor of 'rationale' for anything that their greedy, grasping ways desire is now an obvious fact. Real Americans may gather enough gumption to actually vote as a bloc in 2 years as this becomes more obvious to all. The GOP brand will suffer from the SCOTUS and Obamacare tussles.
2. For Trump the Vacant (I liked that when I used it for Rubio also) impulse is the driving engine for his madness. It is all, really, a commercial venture for him and is bound to fail as many of his seem to do. Witness his loss of a prominent CEO from his Council of CEO's, more to follow I suspect. Consider Ivanka's loss of Nordstrom as a distributor for her beauty products due to customer's boycott. Soon his hotels and golf courses will feel the wrath of the consumer, if they aren't already.
It may take some time and I hope war is not the path to distraction for voters this time. But, let's continue to thank Comey for his betrayal at the last minute. Let's counter commenters who still rail against Hillary's e-mail non-issue but ignore the 25 years of GOP driven drivel against her.
25
This is slightly off topic but I want to touch on the subject of impeachment. Impeachment is not a quick fix solution to get rid of a president we dislike. Impeachment is a long, cumbersome process with articles of Impeachment first being drawn up by Congress for high crimes and misdemeanors which are then passed along to the Senate. Then the accused President has to face his accusers during another lengthy Senate trial presided over by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. It takes a 2/3 of the Senate to impeach a president.
But it doesn't end there. What everyone overlooks is that in order to a remove a president from office requires the Senate to convict him on the more serious charges of bribery or treason. In our history only Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson were impeached. However Clinton and Johnson still kept their day job as President because the Senate failed to convict them. So a president can be impeached and remain in office any way. I hope this derails the blogger fantasies that if only Donald Trump were impeached America would be rid of this unwelcome albatross who wrecked Hillary Clinton's presidential aspirations for good.
But it doesn't end there. What everyone overlooks is that in order to a remove a president from office requires the Senate to convict him on the more serious charges of bribery or treason. In our history only Bill Clinton and Andrew Johnson were impeached. However Clinton and Johnson still kept their day job as President because the Senate failed to convict them. So a president can be impeached and remain in office any way. I hope this derails the blogger fantasies that if only Donald Trump were impeached America would be rid of this unwelcome albatross who wrecked Hillary Clinton's presidential aspirations for good.
19
What you say about the impeachment process is true. It should not be a casual process. However if I recall, Nixon resigned because he faced impeachment and jumped before he was pushed. An egotist like Trump is more likely to do the same thing, wearing out his thumbs tweeting about the unfair media.
If impeachment means Pence steps in, no thank you. He's too smug, self righteous and anxious to impose his religious fanaticism on us all for me. Any chance Oprah can be president?
Trump voters strike me as the kind of people who lead boring, tedious lives.
Why else would they be riveted to the blustering, over-the-top, reality-TV Donald antics rather than researching his background to see if he is capable of carefully looking at all sides of situations and can work effectively with people with different viewpoints? Honesty, decency, intelligence, fairness ... does he have these qualities?
Most people get their fill of 'politics' before elections, when the hopefuls are fluffing their feathers and exaggerating their ability to make the changes potential voters in their own little areas want. Then the election is over and the winner gets down to the serious business of government.
Unless they can't. Donald is flapping like the proverbial fish out of water. He'll never admit he is wrong, incompetent, or that the situation is out of control. So he's lashing out and desperately looking for help that's as macho and tough as he thinks he is. Enter Bannon.
The Republican congress can get our country, and the entire world, out of this mess. Impeach. Get rid of Donald and Pence. But they won't. They're godly people, and they'll keep waiting for their miracle.
Why else would they be riveted to the blustering, over-the-top, reality-TV Donald antics rather than researching his background to see if he is capable of carefully looking at all sides of situations and can work effectively with people with different viewpoints? Honesty, decency, intelligence, fairness ... does he have these qualities?
Most people get their fill of 'politics' before elections, when the hopefuls are fluffing their feathers and exaggerating their ability to make the changes potential voters in their own little areas want. Then the election is over and the winner gets down to the serious business of government.
Unless they can't. Donald is flapping like the proverbial fish out of water. He'll never admit he is wrong, incompetent, or that the situation is out of control. So he's lashing out and desperately looking for help that's as macho and tough as he thinks he is. Enter Bannon.
The Republican congress can get our country, and the entire world, out of this mess. Impeach. Get rid of Donald and Pence. But they won't. They're godly people, and they'll keep waiting for their miracle.
15
"Why else would they be riveted to the blustering, over-the-top, reality-TV Donald antics.."
In his book _Hillblly Elegy_, J D Vance portrays people who are blustering and combative, who don't plan ahead or look at the bigger picture, who feel they have to strike out at any perceived insult, however trivial... Sound familiar?
This belligerence and lack of forethought is perceived by so many as "strength" or "toughness" rather than as the shallow flailing it really is. But can there really be so many people who lack that much perception?
In his book _Hillblly Elegy_, J D Vance portrays people who are blustering and combative, who don't plan ahead or look at the bigger picture, who feel they have to strike out at any perceived insult, however trivial... Sound familiar?
This belligerence and lack of forethought is perceived by so many as "strength" or "toughness" rather than as the shallow flailing it really is. But can there really be so many people who lack that much perception?
It is time to demand a psychological evaluation of the President and to publicly state that our President is mentally ill. This statement, if made by responsible members of our government, would tell the world that we know we have a problem, and we will endeavor to solve it.
Luckily for us, collusion with Russia to undermine our democracy is called treason. As the investigations proceed, we may be able to save the republic, impeach Trump and carry Bannon out of Washington on a rail, properly tarred and feathered.
Luckily for us, collusion with Russia to undermine our democracy is called treason. As the investigations proceed, we may be able to save the republic, impeach Trump and carry Bannon out of Washington on a rail, properly tarred and feathered.
58
What concerns me the most is the President's skill in capturing reality TV ratings may be used like a shell game by the vested economic interests to distract the attention of the global media from the real issues: stagnant incomes for most, soaring inequality, privatization of public goods, accelerating drift to monopoly and oligarchy, and very importantly, denial and delay in developing technologies and strategies for a prosperous post fossil fuel economic future.
43
James,
Agreed. Some of the polls show disturbingly high support for emotions of xenophobia and for loosely worded statements of policy addressed to those emotions. I have seen nothing above the low forties for these poll-answering blocs, if there is such a thing. This is a tribute to the essential decency and good sense of the American peoples.
But what in a crisis, genuine or contrived? On the morning of 9/11 Americans and the world rallied to the United States and its apparently sane and friendly President. That surge of friendly emotion transformed into a near catatonic inability of the Congress to scrutinise mistakes and falsehoods coming later from that President and his very closest co-workers.
America now has a President who lacks those cosmetic qualities. There is nothing apparently sane and friendly about Donald Trump. This may have a worthwhile effect on the otherwise potentially catatonic.
There still remains, however, a third of the American populace who think that what the President is doing is reasonable. My goodness, it's a relief to find that the people who run NASCAR, professional football and major league baseball understand the difference between administration of the nation and talking trash on some playing field!
Has anybody gotten through to the professional wrestling folks?
-dlj.
Agreed. Some of the polls show disturbingly high support for emotions of xenophobia and for loosely worded statements of policy addressed to those emotions. I have seen nothing above the low forties for these poll-answering blocs, if there is such a thing. This is a tribute to the essential decency and good sense of the American peoples.
But what in a crisis, genuine or contrived? On the morning of 9/11 Americans and the world rallied to the United States and its apparently sane and friendly President. That surge of friendly emotion transformed into a near catatonic inability of the Congress to scrutinise mistakes and falsehoods coming later from that President and his very closest co-workers.
America now has a President who lacks those cosmetic qualities. There is nothing apparently sane and friendly about Donald Trump. This may have a worthwhile effect on the otherwise potentially catatonic.
There still remains, however, a third of the American populace who think that what the President is doing is reasonable. My goodness, it's a relief to find that the people who run NASCAR, professional football and major league baseball understand the difference between administration of the nation and talking trash on some playing field!
Has anybody gotten through to the professional wrestling folks?
-dlj.
3
I share your concern. The media lavishes attention on each outrageous Presidential action and we all duly go apoplectic over it. Meanwhile, Congress is passing legislation that will likely cause real harm to many Americans, actions get very little media attention. There is a tort reform bill that is likely to be passed and signed that will curtail the average Americans' right access to the courts to redress grievances. (8th Amendment) Coal companies will soon be free to dump waste in local streams without regard to the downstream effects or the impact on people's drinking water. The mentally incapacitated will soon have unfettered access to guns. It is imperative that the media give Trump's outrageous actions a single sentence and move on. The media needs to start keeping an eye on what is going on behind the curtain in this show. This is especially important in a political climate where the loyal opposition is incapable of stopping any of it.
10
Those were the old "real problems"...now we have to worry about being asked to invade Australia, join Russia in carving up Europe, and militarizing our southern border. Not to mention how to fill the 20 or 30 million jobs immigrants and refugees have been doing to get their feet on the bottom rung of the ladder...
3
First, Australia, a country far, far away that does us no harm, only good. Trump seems to have destroyed that relationship. Second, Mexico is a country we share a border with and a few hundred years of culture with. He walked in looking for a fight with them. The last Mexican-American War cost at least 10,000 US lives. Next Germany or should I say Europe. Has Germany practiced currency manipulation? Not since the last year or so. The Euro was well above $1.30. Only recently has it declined. Maybe the export more for other reasons, like good industrial policy. Which brings me to Iran. Why do we always have to use Iran as the middle east whipping boy? Not involved with 9-11. Have never killed a US soldier in combat. Don't invade their neighbors. I guess for demigods like Trump they are the Cuba of the middle east. Well get a grip. An invasion and occupation of a country this size, with this many people would be difficult at best, maybe in the long term impossible. Have fun fighting that one. My bottom line, Donald Trump is going to destroy what is left of this nation, day by day, piece by piece, and nobody will stop him.
70
Paul only alludes to it but we all seem to be moving past the real threat of war with China. Our now sitting SoS Tillerson has threatened war during confirmation hearings..."island building must stop" (they are already built with military infrastructure,i.e. runways)...and "access denied." Of course the Chinese brushed him/Trump/Bannon back with a fast ball roughly translated to bring it on chump! This is such a naked projection of conflicts of interest, nay treason, in serving Russia's geopolitical aims as a failed petrodictatorhip, Exxon Mobil, Bannon's eschatological yearnings and rumps blind narcissistic insecurities that there really aren't words harsh enough to state the horror that is enveloping us.
Cannot remember the invader in the Iran-Iraq war. Think it was Iraq.
Your bottom line, however, is correct unless you, and everyone like you, resists. Get on it!
Your bottom line, however, is correct unless you, and everyone like you, resists. Get on it!
The conversation between the U.S. president and the Australian prime minister was captured in a photograph of Trump in the Oval Office that ran two days ago. It is an amazing piece of work, an image of beauty, in its own way. A view from the outside on a grey and cold mid-winter day, the drapes, the wallpaper, the frame of the painting, the urn, his hair -- all gold -- in Trump’s case truly symbolic of his vanity and shallow materialism. His face is red with anger as he spews into the phone, the background figure of the warrior on horseback seeming to emanate from his mouth, Andrew Jackson on the wall presiding, Trump’s mischievous elves suitably enthroned and enthralled before him. The Resolute desk looks rented, devoid of any personal items, its disorder mimicking the chaos unfolding before us. All this takes place where JFK Jr used to play with his father, the thought an unnerving juxtaposition in both space and time. There is surely so much hidden in that moment, and yet there is also so much to see.
31
Trump’s mischievous elves suitably enthroned and enthralled before him.
I wonder if VP Pence is beginning to feel like gofer Christie yet. Speaking of which, does Chris Christie wish he had supported anyone else but Trump after he dropped out of the race or just kept his mouth shut, come back to NJ and tried to do his job? By the way, Blue Moon, an almost poetic comment I very much appreciated in contrast to the president's thousand-word vocabulary and constant repetition of generic words like "very" and "really".
I wonder if VP Pence is beginning to feel like gofer Christie yet. Speaking of which, does Chris Christie wish he had supported anyone else but Trump after he dropped out of the race or just kept his mouth shut, come back to NJ and tried to do his job? By the way, Blue Moon, an almost poetic comment I very much appreciated in contrast to the president's thousand-word vocabulary and constant repetition of generic words like "very" and "really".
2
Quite a scene indeed. Those golden drapes kind of make him look like he's surrounded by a cascading waterfall. Maybe they remind him of his trips to Russia...
1
My bar is very low for this president, did he nuke someone today? If no, I relax.
I don't think he gets enough sleep and it makes him crazy.
I don't think he gets enough sleep and it makes him crazy.
24
Too much late night tweeting. Melania should take away his phone.
I had a brother in law who served as a captain in the WW2 New Guinea campaign. He's gone now, as are most of his comrades of the greatest generation, but I remember how he loved the Aussies he fought alongside, saving how fearless and fun loving they were. Now we have this poor excuse for a man, our president, insulting both their memory and their country. I know exactly Donald's problem - he was born with a silver spoon in his mouth, and has never rubbed elbows with with the blue collar folks who form much of his base. If he dad ever gone into a working class bar and launched into his obnoxious act he would soon have experienced an attitude adjustment he would never forget. That's the way most men learn their limitations, and it's a crude but effective teacher.
60
Yes! And we got rid of the draft, a great equalizer. On the other hand, Trumps would have paid a bounty or faked a physical to escape it.
Worldwide, Many are troubled by what America has gotten itself in to. A minority of Americans have elected a deeply flawed individual and a complicit Congress. Daily we are horrified by what he and his inner circle have done and will do.
There are two Americas; one that reacts to reality and the other ready willing and able to act on its inner rage brought about by lies fed them daily. There is no reasoning with these folks because the hear the truth and reject it, safe in the knowledge their savior is in the White House. We have to survive but 22 more months to a point where we can turn the tide in Congress and clean the White House and adjacent swamp.
There are two Americas; one that reacts to reality and the other ready willing and able to act on its inner rage brought about by lies fed them daily. There is no reasoning with these folks because the hear the truth and reject it, safe in the knowledge their savior is in the White House. We have to survive but 22 more months to a point where we can turn the tide in Congress and clean the White House and adjacent swamp.
77
These juveniles are living for their imaginary afterlives, not real life.
2
The US really needs to get over its ludicrous notions that faith can alter reality.
5
We cannot just "survive." We have to resist by writing, phoning, demonstrating, and contributions (thank you, Citizens United, Republican SCOTUS) during every day of these 23 1/2 months. Please find your way to Indivisible, if you haven't already done so.
One of the more helpful reviews I've seen of Steve Bannon was from Ann Hornaday, the Washington Post movie critic, who watched his films and interviewed him once, at Cannes. There's also USA Today, whose reporters went through Bannon's statements at Breitbart. They sound like Trump, and seem fixated on China.
We can hope that the secretaries of state and defense, and maybe even the CIA director will get Trump's ear, and that Trump might allow himself to be briefed before phone calls.
Meanwhile, to beat a possible travel shutdown, I've done a quickly arranged visit to mostly rural Cuba. There's good air fares to east Asia.
We can hope that the secretaries of state and defense, and maybe even the CIA director will get Trump's ear, and that Trump might allow himself to be briefed before phone calls.
Meanwhile, to beat a possible travel shutdown, I've done a quickly arranged visit to mostly rural Cuba. There's good air fares to east Asia.
16
In addition to your shout-out to Comey for getting us here, I'd like to offer thanks to the electors who failed in their duty to prevent the election of Trumputin, despite evidence of foreign meddling in our election.
Forget the groping, the bankruptcies, the Russian connections, the Trump U. fraud, the evidence of racism, etc. Millions of Americans voted for a guy who questioned the legitimacy of our sitting President for years.
Forget the groping, the bankruptcies, the Russian connections, the Trump U. fraud, the evidence of racism, etc. Millions of Americans voted for a guy who questioned the legitimacy of our sitting President for years.
483
Trump questions the humanity of everyone who sees him as just another spoiled rotten punk with nothing of interest to say or do.
2
Or, they didn't vote at all because, get this, they thought Hillary would win.
It amazes and disheartens me that Republicans can close ranks behind whomever their candidate is, no matter if it's Trump or Bush/Cheney. But all core Democrats seem to want to do is complain: "We wanted Bernie," or "Democrats take our votes for granted and then do nothing for us," (a lie) or "I don't like either of them," suggesting that Republicans can elect even a Trump, but Democrats demand a pristine candidate in exchange for their precious votes.
It amazes and disheartens me that Republicans can close ranks behind whomever their candidate is, no matter if it's Trump or Bush/Cheney. But all core Democrats seem to want to do is complain: "We wanted Bernie," or "Democrats take our votes for granted and then do nothing for us," (a lie) or "I don't like either of them," suggesting that Republicans can elect even a Trump, but Democrats demand a pristine candidate in exchange for their precious votes.
3
I wait up every day asking what the heck happened? I try to keep up with all this and the only word I come up with that describe this challenge is chaos. Yes, Trump is erratic, narcissistic and, Easily Lead for the is not the "brightest apple on the tree". The realization I have come to is that this whole fiasco is planned. Introduce the extreme, step back a few notches and create a new normal. Let The people feel they have won. Cunning, very cunning. This plan started before he was elected. God please help us.
68
No, he is a narcissist who is full of rage. He does not plan, he lashes out. His campaign and the early days of his presidency show this.
I've seen many versions of this theory -- that it is all some clever distraction from the serious changes he'll do -- but it's not. He is just not mentally well.
I've seen many versions of this theory -- that it is all some clever distraction from the serious changes he'll do -- but it's not. He is just not mentally well.
4
It is abject juvenile silliness to believe that nature cares about our collective suicide with this psychopath even one tiny bit.
2
I agree with you about Trump. However, I think Trump is too screwed up
mentally to be able to come up with any plan like this.He is only concerned
with how great he is,nothing else.The guy is a heavy duty narcissist. He is not
capable of any kind of long range thinking,like he would have to be to be able
to come up with and stick with any kind of plan like you suggest,
mentally to be able to come up with any plan like this.He is only concerned
with how great he is,nothing else.The guy is a heavy duty narcissist. He is not
capable of any kind of long range thinking,like he would have to be to be able
to come up with and stick with any kind of plan like you suggest,
3
There is a process in the Succession Act wherein the President can be found to be "incapicated." He would then be relieved of his responsibilities until he either recovers or is removed by a more permanent action (Article 25). Works for me.
139
But, can this process be executed before Trump alienates most of our allies and starts a few shooting wars? My sense is that no one with the authority to act has the guts to use these powers soon enough to be preventative. Like most important issues in Washington, it will take a national or international crisis before any meaningful action is taken. Let's hope that whatever moves us to action doesn't come at too terrible a cost.
5
That would leave the world with President Pence. Have you hear of the old saying, "Out of the frying pan, into the fire?"
Problem is that the successor, while not as erratic, is policy-wise little better.
One of the real dangers is that, after alienating our closest allies, one or more of our enemies, like Iran or Russia, will test the resolve of our unstable President, and either he, like many bullies, will cower and further erode America's influence in the world, or will overreact and trigger a conflagration with our allies sitting this one out. Look at the Iran's missile test. It has already started. What happens if we impose sanctions, but our allies, whom we've alienated, do not? America first and last can quickly devolve into America the impotent and irrelevant.
109
No sane person wants to do business with Donald the Demented.
7
Here are the symptoms of antisocial personality disorder from the Mayo Clinic. While I understand you can't diagnose someone without interviewing them, it is a little creepy isn't it?
* Disregard for right and wrong (depends on your viewpoint perhaps)
* Persistent lying or deceit to exploit others (check)
* Being callous, cynical and disrespectful of others (check)
* Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or personal pleasure (check)
* Arrogance, a sense of superiority and being extremely opinionated (check)
* Recurring problems with the law, including criminal behavior (maybe, what with the taxes and lawsuits)
* Repeatedly violating the rights of others through intimidation and dishonesty (check)
* Impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead (check)
* Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, aggression or violence (check)
* Lack of empathy for others and lack of remorse about harming others (check)
* Unnecessary risk-taking or dangerous behavior with no regard for the safety of self or others (remains to be seen)
* Poor or abusive relationships (no basis for judgement)
* Failure to consider the negative consequences of behavior or learn from them (check)
* Being consistently irresponsible and repeatedly failing to fulfill work or financial obligations (check)
* Disregard for right and wrong (depends on your viewpoint perhaps)
* Persistent lying or deceit to exploit others (check)
* Being callous, cynical and disrespectful of others (check)
* Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or personal pleasure (check)
* Arrogance, a sense of superiority and being extremely opinionated (check)
* Recurring problems with the law, including criminal behavior (maybe, what with the taxes and lawsuits)
* Repeatedly violating the rights of others through intimidation and dishonesty (check)
* Impulsiveness or failure to plan ahead (check)
* Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, aggression or violence (check)
* Lack of empathy for others and lack of remorse about harming others (check)
* Unnecessary risk-taking or dangerous behavior with no regard for the safety of self or others (remains to be seen)
* Poor or abusive relationships (no basis for judgement)
* Failure to consider the negative consequences of behavior or learn from them (check)
* Being consistently irresponsible and repeatedly failing to fulfill work or financial obligations (check)
728
Some of these should get a double or triple check. These are not just 0-1 variables. There are "levels" here that are important.
3
* Recurring problems with the law, including criminal behavior (maybe, what with the taxes and lawsuits)
No, definitely. See Florida, and suit against him in NYC for violating anti-discrimination laws in housing by repeated refusal to rent to black applicants for apartments. Also hiring Polish illegal immigrants to help build Trump Tower and then refusing to pay them.
No, definitely. See Florida, and suit against him in NYC for violating anti-discrimination laws in housing by repeated refusal to rent to black applicants for apartments. Also hiring Polish illegal immigrants to help build Trump Tower and then refusing to pay them.
4
Again, not my patient, so this isn't an actual diagnosis. But as a psychiatrist, I can tell you that you can have more than one personality disorder. For people to make up their own minds, I should add the Mayo Clinic symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder:
-Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
-Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
-Exaggerating your achievements and talents
-Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
-Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
-Requiring constant admiration
-Having a sense of entitlement
-Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
-Taking advantage of others to get what you want
-Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
-Being envious of others and believing others envy you
-Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
America, you decide.
-Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance
-Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
-Exaggerating your achievements and talents
-Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
-Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people
-Requiring constant admiration
-Having a sense of entitlement
-Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations
-Taking advantage of others to get what you want
-Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
-Being envious of others and believing others envy you
-Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner
America, you decide.
1
Our Fearless Leader has mistaken incoherent threats with having a tough foreign policy. The rest of the world is well aware they are dealing with a television star B-list actor and real estate developer with multiple bankruptcies. The back room scheming we should be worried about is happening in countries looking to fill the world leadership vacuum our voters have created. Look for China's rising dominance in world trade and political influence.
200
China, moving ahead full stream to develop clean energy, is about to eat our lunch on a manufacturing sector that we invented and could have been the world leaders in, thanks to years of idiotic Republican policy on energy from Reagan onwards.
1
Thanks, Comey? No, thanks Hillary. If she has any conscience left at all she must wake up each morning these days thinking: "What have I done?" If only she had not actively sabotaged Bernie's bid for the nomination; if only those 400 plus super delegates had been responsible enough to rescind their support for her after realizing she had been lying for over a year about her email set up; if only she had realized that Bernie was drawing such huge crowds because he was hammering home the very issue that Trump would ride to victory--all those middle class workers left behind and ignored by Washington. If only she had admitted that she was an unworthy candidate and stepped aside to allow Bernie to crush Trump in the general election. Democrats only had Comey because they insisted on having Hillary. Thanks a lot.
49
Didn't I read somewhere that Sanders refused to criticize Clinton on emails because he thought the issue was irrelevant? She made a mistake, get over it. The US education system is obviously inadequate or there wouldn't be so many gullible Americans choosing the loathsome Trump over a less-than-perfect Clinton.
297
Wally - it's time to give it up. Bernie would not have won. He would have been savaged as a communist (I'm not saying that - the Republicans would have said that). It's pretty clear to most people that Hillary would have won if Comey had not thrown a curveball the last few weeks of the election. Save your recriminations for Comey and Putin.
38
@wally ~ The people who should be waking up each morning thinking "What have I done?" are those who voted for djt or didn't vote. Hillary Clinton has a conscience, the current occupants of the White House seem not to.
41
Trump's foreign policy has been antagonistic prior to today. But keeping sanctions on Russia and discouraging more settlements are a new development. I wish the press wouldn't undermine these ideas by saying they are Obama's. It's like they are encouraging Trump to abandon them.
I have very little faith in Trump's ability to govern. But maintaining Russian sanctions would be reassuring to those of us who believe he may have been compromised by Putin.
I have very little faith in Trump's ability to govern. But maintaining Russian sanctions would be reassuring to those of us who believe he may have been compromised by Putin.
12
Comey acted to put a senile man with the emotions of a 2-year old in the Oval Office. I wonder if Comey, presumably intelligent, has come to grips with his role in reducing America to the butt of a joke and elevating George W. Bush to the 2nd worst president in US history? Worse than that, Comey's fingerprints are on Trump's crimes; Comey was the driver in heist of the presidency.
Beyond Comey, there are Trump's playground supporters (the ones who just wanted to throw a Molotov cocktail at Washington), his De-evangelical Christian supporters (Christians who believe lying and groping women were Jesus' teachings) and the GOP (the league of Faustian hypocrites playing with fire). Have any of these deplorables given a second thought to their collective guilt in placing the world in jeopardy?
What's next for Trump? We've been put on notice: nothing's off the table. But some adult should make him take his naps, place him in time-outs when he has tantrums, and take away his toys (cellphone)...permanently.
What's next for the GOP? Payback.
What's next for us? I hate waking up each morning wondering what has Trump done now? I hate worrying about the future world my grandchildren will inherit. If we do nothing.
I do not accept Trump, never will. I try to do something daily to express my disapproval/disdain for him. I've called, written and marched. I want to join a movement to remove the stain on America. I'm looking for a leader to organize and mobilize a revolution. Bernie.
Beyond Comey, there are Trump's playground supporters (the ones who just wanted to throw a Molotov cocktail at Washington), his De-evangelical Christian supporters (Christians who believe lying and groping women were Jesus' teachings) and the GOP (the league of Faustian hypocrites playing with fire). Have any of these deplorables given a second thought to their collective guilt in placing the world in jeopardy?
What's next for Trump? We've been put on notice: nothing's off the table. But some adult should make him take his naps, place him in time-outs when he has tantrums, and take away his toys (cellphone)...permanently.
What's next for the GOP? Payback.
What's next for us? I hate waking up each morning wondering what has Trump done now? I hate worrying about the future world my grandchildren will inherit. If we do nothing.
I do not accept Trump, never will. I try to do something daily to express my disapproval/disdain for him. I've called, written and marched. I want to join a movement to remove the stain on America. I'm looking for a leader to organize and mobilize a revolution. Bernie.
510
Re: " I'm looking for a leader to organize and mobilize a revolution. Bernie."
Unfortunately Bernie's revolution had the unintended consequence of helping to elect his antithesis (DJT) because so many of Bernie's supporters were so disaffected that he wasn't the nominee that they either stayed home, voted third party or most dumbfoundedly, voted for djt.
Unfortunately Bernie's revolution had the unintended consequence of helping to elect his antithesis (DJT) because so many of Bernie's supporters were so disaffected that he wasn't the nominee that they either stayed home, voted third party or most dumbfoundedly, voted for djt.
6
@Mary Ann Donahue
Right. So ironic. Some of Bernie's supporters were misguided. But lets look ahead.
We must get rid of the djt.
We call, write, march but the GOP is ignoring us. We need to get their attention. Bernie called for a revolution. That was his answer to Republicans who have turned Congress into Confrontation. Bernie was rolled, Hillary was knifed in the back. There is no reason we should not revolt. We need a leader who understands this is not business as usual.
Right. So ironic. Some of Bernie's supporters were misguided. But lets look ahead.
We must get rid of the djt.
We call, write, march but the GOP is ignoring us. We need to get their attention. Bernie called for a revolution. That was his answer to Republicans who have turned Congress into Confrontation. Bernie was rolled, Hillary was knifed in the back. There is no reason we should not revolt. We need a leader who understands this is not business as usual.
4
Keep marching, writing, supporting organizations that will help us hold to our ideals. This is even bigger than Bernie. He would tell you that this is everyone. Support whoever and whatever he supports. He is a true patriot to follow.
But we have other leaders speaking out too. Support them where you can.
But we have other leaders speaking out too. Support them where you can.
2
If our democracy was functioning as designed, Congress would take its oversight role seriously and begin the process of removing this malignant narcissist from power before he causes lasting and perhaps permanent damage. However, Republicans have made the public commitment of Party over country. We could then look to the courts to check his power, but decades of court-packing and politicizing the judiciary, again mostly by the Republicans, have severely weakened it's effectiveness. We could then look to the States for help, but decades of gerrymandering and voter suppression by, you guessed it, the Republicans have turned the majority of state governments over to hands of radicals. The final backstop, of course, is the American people, but 46% of them were bamboozled enough to elect this madman, and do not seem that dismayed with his performance. It would seem that we are out of options...
262
The states are sovereign over the federal government in Republican Lalaland.
The lack of a genuine popular election of the president leaves the people with no national figure to curb the excesses and corruption of states.
The lack of a genuine popular election of the president leaves the people with no national figure to curb the excesses and corruption of states.
4
Remember that, of the total number of eligible voters, only 27.2% voted for DT. That is not a mandate by any stretch of the imagination.
6
The Republicans could have removed him from consideration at their Convention. That, after all, is the purpose of having a party structure.
3
Trump said “I alone can fix the nation’s problems.” He promised crime and terrorism would end the day he took office. He promised so much prosperity we would be sick of it. He promised to return manufacturing jobs to the rust belt. He promised to build a wall on the border with Mexico and make them pay for it.
How could you possibly criticize a president like that? So lets raise a can of beer and toast our dear leader. All of our problems will soon be solved.
How could you possibly criticize a president like that? So lets raise a can of beer and toast our dear leader. All of our problems will soon be solved.
25
And now Russia is in the mix, too! Is there no situation, no forum, no conversation in which this child-man will refrain from confrontation, bombast and braggadoccio? I feel as I did during the nomination/election cycle that he is playing at all of this, testing the wits of the media and his followers and sycophants as he probes further their tolerance to be abused. To say I'm embarrassed isn't big enough, what word can capture the Trump-ish feeling of humiliation and shock that I have?
24
JFR: "To say I'm embarrassed isn't big enough, what word can capture the Trump-ish feeling of humiliation and shock that I have?"
'Dismay' is good word for that, but don't feel humiliated - that's what Trump-Putin, Bannon, and their minions want.
Furthermore there's no reason to feel humiliated. Crooked Donald Trump is a Fake President who lost the popular vote by almost 3 *million* votes.
The proper emotional response to Trump being selected President of the United States by the Electoral College, despite losing the popular vote, and with a Republican Senate majority that also lost the popular vote, is not humiliation.
The proper responses are: anger, rage, a determination to fix the processes that allowed Trump to take office despite losing the election, and a determination to stop the damage that Trump and his Republican cronies, minions, and enablers threaten to do to the country.
'Dismay' is good word for that, but don't feel humiliated - that's what Trump-Putin, Bannon, and their minions want.
Furthermore there's no reason to feel humiliated. Crooked Donald Trump is a Fake President who lost the popular vote by almost 3 *million* votes.
The proper emotional response to Trump being selected President of the United States by the Electoral College, despite losing the popular vote, and with a Republican Senate majority that also lost the popular vote, is not humiliation.
The proper responses are: anger, rage, a determination to fix the processes that allowed Trump to take office despite losing the election, and a determination to stop the damage that Trump and his Republican cronies, minions, and enablers threaten to do to the country.
6
"Then he abruptly ended the conversation after only 25 minutes."
Damn, I had taken 20 minutes in the office pool.
I think Jon Stewart's name for Tump holds up best: Man-baby. Though in truth he seems to be stuck in his terrible-2s.
Damn, I had taken 20 minutes in the office pool.
I think Jon Stewart's name for Tump holds up best: Man-baby. Though in truth he seems to be stuck in his terrible-2s.
38
Three circle of ideas inform thinking: inner dialogue, social speech, and external influence. Writing, I think of words and ideas that match my understanding/insight, that will be received and shared, and will sway readers to agree with a series of views. Tump is good at only one: influence.
Rambling about The Apprentice at a prayer breakfast and saying “What the hell” after the Senate Chaplin's remarks is only a cut above “locker room talk.” (His social speech is limited and maladroit.)
Inner dialogue, the first source of deep thinking, involves a high sense of details, an empathy for process and its steps, a tenacity for review: esp. the ways they might go wrong; esp. blind spots of self-righteousness and narcissistic self-deceit. Here Trump utterly fails. (His supporters, too, are void of empathy and create blind fantasies.)
His talks with foreign leaders show the classic breakdown of his situational ideas: he gropes things he likes by breaking normal boundaries; he breaks boundaries for things he dislikes as well. He appears constantly out of control.
He is! He won because a new principle manifested after Obama: the high-low principle. A Southern staple became a national standard, emerged from inner dialogue: the dumbest/most uncouth white guy was just as good as the smartest/most intelligent black. (Black radio calls it moving from “class to trash.”) This (smug) assurance will provide more satisfaction than jobs.
Rambling about The Apprentice at a prayer breakfast and saying “What the hell” after the Senate Chaplin's remarks is only a cut above “locker room talk.” (His social speech is limited and maladroit.)
Inner dialogue, the first source of deep thinking, involves a high sense of details, an empathy for process and its steps, a tenacity for review: esp. the ways they might go wrong; esp. blind spots of self-righteousness and narcissistic self-deceit. Here Trump utterly fails. (His supporters, too, are void of empathy and create blind fantasies.)
His talks with foreign leaders show the classic breakdown of his situational ideas: he gropes things he likes by breaking normal boundaries; he breaks boundaries for things he dislikes as well. He appears constantly out of control.
He is! He won because a new principle manifested after Obama: the high-low principle. A Southern staple became a national standard, emerged from inner dialogue: the dumbest/most uncouth white guy was just as good as the smartest/most intelligent black. (Black radio calls it moving from “class to trash.”) This (smug) assurance will provide more satisfaction than jobs.
97
Mr. Hett, thank you for the quote from Black radio. Even before beginning to read Colson Whitehead's "The Underground Railroad," I had concluded that it is people like yourself, linked to millenials of all stripes, who will save the country if it is salvageable.
I await with great hope the return of President Obama to the the public sphere. Either he, or a coterie he puts together, will be our rallying point. And we need one.
(Still enjoying "class to trash." Having lived most of my life in the south, I know the meaning and the feeling of both.)
I await with great hope the return of President Obama to the the public sphere. Either he, or a coterie he puts together, will be our rallying point. And we need one.
(Still enjoying "class to trash." Having lived most of my life in the south, I know the meaning and the feeling of both.)
4
I'm with you until the "Thanks, Comey." Forget Comey. You have the Wimp-Ola Democrats to thank.
And President Obama, as much as I love him, should have been out on the road every single day for 8 years, blasting the republicon intransigence.
He should have developed a huge proposal to rebuild infrastructure and walked over to Congress every single day and throw a copy on the steps, with TV cameras watching, castigating the republicons for not working for America.
I'm true blue all the way through, but the Democrats are so bad at politics that it lost them the country. And they won't learn, I guarantee it.
Oh and by the way -- Bernie was the populist choice that would have landslided the White House. But yet again, the Democrats were too wimpy to go for it.
Until the entire Wonder Bread Democratic "leadership" is gone and replaced by Bernie-style populist radicals, we'll have Trump/Breitbart for the foreseeable future.
And President Obama, as much as I love him, should have been out on the road every single day for 8 years, blasting the republicon intransigence.
He should have developed a huge proposal to rebuild infrastructure and walked over to Congress every single day and throw a copy on the steps, with TV cameras watching, castigating the republicons for not working for America.
I'm true blue all the way through, but the Democrats are so bad at politics that it lost them the country. And they won't learn, I guarantee it.
Oh and by the way -- Bernie was the populist choice that would have landslided the White House. But yet again, the Democrats were too wimpy to go for it.
Until the entire Wonder Bread Democratic "leadership" is gone and replaced by Bernie-style populist radicals, we'll have Trump/Breitbart for the foreseeable future.
258
The republicans love it when we fight among ourselves and point fingers. Blaming president obama for not fighting? we, the people, failed to get enough dems into both the senate and the house. Let's take responsibility for that.
Bernie did not do himself, or us, any favors by putting outdeeply unrealistic, unfundable hopes.
Bernie did not do himself, or us, any favors by putting outdeeply unrealistic, unfundable hopes.
4
Bernie could not even win the Democratic primary. (I voted Bernie in the primary, BTW.)
You think the deplorables would have accepted a socialist New York Jew? Seriously? They had a chance to vote for him in the primaries, anyone could have changed party affiliation and voted for Bernie even in closed primary and caucus states, and they passed it up because he was not the racist misogynist climate change denier Klan and Nazi supported press hating lying con man they wanted as president.
Yes, it may be time to move on from Comey, but it is also time to move on from Bernie fantasies.
People deplore Bill Clinton today because of triangulation, etc. (Confession, while I voted for him both times I was never a big fan). But they forget that the blue collar stalwarts of the Democratic party went big time for Reagan, and gave him landslide victories. The only reason Clinton won even after going to the center was that Ross Perot ran and Bush I governed more responsibly and raised taxes when necessary (as, BTW, Saint Ronnie Reagan himself did, something the Republican base immediately forgot because of Bush I's desperate promise of no new taxes.
Democrats were desperate to get back into the White House. Clinton, with his compromises on things like the Bush I NAFTA (I agreed with Ross) and the Phil Gramm led repeal of Glass Steagall (unforgiveable), which Clinton signed, and welfare reform, was the only way to do that.
Reagan Democrats rejected Bernie Dem policies, bigly.
You think the deplorables would have accepted a socialist New York Jew? Seriously? They had a chance to vote for him in the primaries, anyone could have changed party affiliation and voted for Bernie even in closed primary and caucus states, and they passed it up because he was not the racist misogynist climate change denier Klan and Nazi supported press hating lying con man they wanted as president.
Yes, it may be time to move on from Comey, but it is also time to move on from Bernie fantasies.
People deplore Bill Clinton today because of triangulation, etc. (Confession, while I voted for him both times I was never a big fan). But they forget that the blue collar stalwarts of the Democratic party went big time for Reagan, and gave him landslide victories. The only reason Clinton won even after going to the center was that Ross Perot ran and Bush I governed more responsibly and raised taxes when necessary (as, BTW, Saint Ronnie Reagan himself did, something the Republican base immediately forgot because of Bush I's desperate promise of no new taxes.
Democrats were desperate to get back into the White House. Clinton, with his compromises on things like the Bush I NAFTA (I agreed with Ross) and the Phil Gramm led repeal of Glass Steagall (unforgiveable), which Clinton signed, and welfare reform, was the only way to do that.
Reagan Democrats rejected Bernie Dem policies, bigly.
4
Bernie's appealed to nihilism of the left.
We don't need any more nihilism in the US.
We don't need any more nihilism in the US.
2
Krugman notes that Trump's foreign policy "is looking less and less like a political strategy and more and more like a psychological syndrome."
YES, YES, and YES! We have elected a man who is an egotist and narcissist. History buffs will remember monarchs from centuries ago who waged war for personal vendetta. Why, as recently as 2003, George W. Bush invaded Iraq because Saddam Hussein had threatened to assassination his father a few years back. And he was no monarch from the past.
If that was possible as recently as 2003, with Trump at the helm, anything is possible. Be worried, deeply worried.
YES, YES, and YES! We have elected a man who is an egotist and narcissist. History buffs will remember monarchs from centuries ago who waged war for personal vendetta. Why, as recently as 2003, George W. Bush invaded Iraq because Saddam Hussein had threatened to assassination his father a few years back. And he was no monarch from the past.
If that was possible as recently as 2003, with Trump at the helm, anything is possible. Be worried, deeply worried.
203
Bernie wasn't the populist choice and I tuned out the first time I heard him rant about free college education for everyone. The country can't afford that which should be obvious. Greatly lowering the interest rates on federal school loans makes sense. The big problem is that many people still can't seem to accept a strong woman leader and will vote for any man no matter how much lesser his qualifications and judgment.
7
It's not "walking back" or "changing course." Call it what it is: FLIP FLOP. And in the case of Trump, a very dangerous course from an unfit President with a severe mental illness.
Perhaps its nearing time for a call of impeachment...
225
Impeachment gives us Pence. Out of the frying pan into the fire.
It's beyond time.
2
I'd say it's high time – before it's too late.
2
NYT front page:
"He also demanded that Russia withdraw from Crimea."
Ask and you shall receive.