I never got past "Don't worry that the Russian leader (and Trump) are working together".
Because THAT would be insane and exactly what the treasonous duo is banking on.
It's a national emergency of epic proportion and folks keep trying to "be calm" about the silent coup d'etat! But WHY? Are they in on it too??
Because THAT would be insane and exactly what the treasonous duo is banking on.
It's a national emergency of epic proportion and folks keep trying to "be calm" about the silent coup d'etat! But WHY? Are they in on it too??
22
I think the idea that Trump is explicitly linked to Putin (pay or power for policy) lacks subtly. It is also dangerous because if it is asserted and then not proven, it will seem like partisan propaganda and the linkage will be lost.
Start instead by considering Putin's objectives: reducing American interest and influence in Europe and Asia. Now look where we are: America First, domestic turmoil, a national focus that stops at our borders. Just look at the national press, and watch the front pages: the government, he journalist, the readers are all looking at Trump.
The emphasis on an improved American military may seem contrary to Putin's goals but: a) the real aim is procurement spending not military effectiveness, b) the threat of military force requires a credible source, and c) you can't control everything.
The Russian influence on the American government therefore need only be to facilitate Trump's election and then to influence his direction. Do not look for a link to Trump, look instead for the players who most often guide his policy of American distraction and then investigate how they reached that position.
Putin's plan is to have America exit the world stage, he does not have to pay the actors, merely to direct the script.
Start instead by considering Putin's objectives: reducing American interest and influence in Europe and Asia. Now look where we are: America First, domestic turmoil, a national focus that stops at our borders. Just look at the national press, and watch the front pages: the government, he journalist, the readers are all looking at Trump.
The emphasis on an improved American military may seem contrary to Putin's goals but: a) the real aim is procurement spending not military effectiveness, b) the threat of military force requires a credible source, and c) you can't control everything.
The Russian influence on the American government therefore need only be to facilitate Trump's election and then to influence his direction. Do not look for a link to Trump, look instead for the players who most often guide his policy of American distraction and then investigate how they reached that position.
Putin's plan is to have America exit the world stage, he does not have to pay the actors, merely to direct the script.
32
If enough Republicans in the Senate and House regain their spines and morality the current investigations into the Russian meddling in your elections will certainly reveal what strings the Russians can pull to influence the orange one. To date no other plausible reason has been put forward for his bizarre and slavish affection for Putin.
18
Trump is the eager, bumbling, not-too-bright student trying desperately to please his brilliant, but humorless teacher and ruthless mentor. That the bumbler is also greedy, ignorant, thoroughly undisciplined and prone to delusional fits in public further estranges him from teacher's cold, stern heart.
Once, our presidents were courageous, brilliant, learned leaders charting a course forward when we had difficulty seeing it ourselves. Not so any longer, apparently. Our world today is in very serious disarray.
Once, our presidents were courageous, brilliant, learned leaders charting a course forward when we had difficulty seeing it ourselves. Not so any longer, apparently. Our world today is in very serious disarray.
17
Thank you for the interesting article. However, aren't you making the same mistake we all often make theses days- focusing on scary personalities and avoiding the "duller" talk of the weath accumulation and power concentration issues- oligarcies and their minions, and the need for across- the- board reform to adress climate change, the refugee crisis, youth unemployment and educational reform. Those problems predate (and spawned) these two concrete, human symptoms. Cocktail party observations ( "we are living in a Weimar Republic! "), do not motivate people to act, but be cynical and afraid.
11
Russia is not America. The histories are different. You say it in the article, but you still expect Putin to act like an American president. He was evil and bad for fighting the Islamic terrorists in Chechnya. Remember the Beslan massacre, the 2002 Nord-Ost siege, the Russian apartment bombings in 1999, more that 200 killed; June 1995 Chechen rebels seize hundreds of hostages in a hospital in the southern Russian town of Budennovsk. 100 were killed; a suicide bomber blew up a military hospital at Mozdok, 50 killed; a commuter train bombing in Yessentuki, 46 killed; a suicide bomber on a Moscow train, 39 killed, and more.
Why don't you stop making up fake news, like for example, repeating what all other liberals are saying that Trump admires Putin. Listen to what Trump says in response to questions about Putin. Quit making stuff up.
Why don't you stop making up fake news, like for example, repeating what all other liberals are saying that Trump admires Putin. Listen to what Trump says in response to questions about Putin. Quit making stuff up.
6
Putin is a longtime political operative who is testing the limits of power and corruption. Trump is a spoiled rich kid who doesn't like it when he doesn't get his way. Trump is torn between power and business opportunity.
They both may be autocrats, even fascists, but Big Lord Fauntleroy is hardly a match for Patootie.
They both may be autocrats, even fascists, but Big Lord Fauntleroy is hardly a match for Patootie.
27
Well... Where are the Senate and House Republicans? Where is the GOP ... The Grand 'Ole Party .. The party of REAGAN. Why aren't they calling him out over this? This is the Soviet Union- The Evil Empire- Gorby tear down this wall baby! The Trillions of dollars in defense spending to combat Russian aggression since 1980 is being cast aside by an unhinged lunatic. The GOP- NOT Trump- are the true domestic terrorists if they decide to remain silent and watch Trump dismantle our Democracy. They have no principles, no shame and no conscience -and the sad fact is the Democrats are powerless to do anything. While the DNC was insisting on open borders for all illegal immigrants and farm to table food for homeless shelters- the GOP has been building a fortified bench in local and state elections turning voting districts red. Who do the Dems have to fight this? Grandma Pelosi and Old Man Schumer .. We deserve to lose.
5
I'm much more worried about our Deep State Media that's gone entirely psychotic before and after the election of Donald Trump.
Keep it up till he wins a real majority in 4 years.
Keep it up till he wins a real majority in 4 years.
A few things I see repeated in the Times and other papers. One, that the American president is the "leader of the free world," and two, that your institutions can survive the GOP and Trump. Both are a joke. Your democracy teeters on the edge. Massive violence and inequality. I love America but seriously worry for her future. Love, from Canada.
20
Mr. Trump has an enormous and extremely fragile ego. He is a true definition of a megalomaniac.
I believe Sen Corker is correct in saying that Trump's ego is what is propelling him: the pursuit of Putin's affections and gaining compliance in working with him would be the ultimate prize for Trump. Trump is emulating the "tough guy" image for Putin, trying to seduce him. He thinks he can swindle Putin at some point. Not happening.
Trump is also a master of the con and we, the United States citizens, have been conned on a colossal scale by an Olympic scale serial liar. He's the President of the United States.
I believe Sen Corker is correct in saying that Trump's ego is what is propelling him: the pursuit of Putin's affections and gaining compliance in working with him would be the ultimate prize for Trump. Trump is emulating the "tough guy" image for Putin, trying to seduce him. He thinks he can swindle Putin at some point. Not happening.
Trump is also a master of the con and we, the United States citizens, have been conned on a colossal scale by an Olympic scale serial liar. He's the President of the United States.
15
He views them as tough guys who speak of strength more than freedom
------------
The concern of the author for press and other freedoms is understandable, given the unusual utterances of President Trump. It is also true that journalists have been targeted and even killed in Russia by the state. By articulating such fears timely, future tragedy can perhaps be averted.
The backdrop of cold war which led to lone super power status, and relegation of Russia, shapes the Russian world view which policies of President Putin reflects. Likewise, a different backdrop of America shapes the world view which catapulted President Trump to power.
A genuine reconciliation of the post-cold war era; which President Obama attempted twice for a Russian reset, did not happen, and a seemingly third attempt by President Trump may be worth supporting.
A true reconciliation will not only extend long standing peace in Western Europe, bring peace on Russian borders, help bring peace in Middle East, particularly Syria. If such a reset could build adequate trust to make Russia an independent polarity, and not the Sino-Russian axial one as at present, it would be a welcome development.
This opportunity which President Trump seems to be pursuing, can get real, while the threat perceptions to our democracy by Trump utterances which the author fears are perhaps not.
------------
The concern of the author for press and other freedoms is understandable, given the unusual utterances of President Trump. It is also true that journalists have been targeted and even killed in Russia by the state. By articulating such fears timely, future tragedy can perhaps be averted.
The backdrop of cold war which led to lone super power status, and relegation of Russia, shapes the Russian world view which policies of President Putin reflects. Likewise, a different backdrop of America shapes the world view which catapulted President Trump to power.
A genuine reconciliation of the post-cold war era; which President Obama attempted twice for a Russian reset, did not happen, and a seemingly third attempt by President Trump may be worth supporting.
A true reconciliation will not only extend long standing peace in Western Europe, bring peace on Russian borders, help bring peace in Middle East, particularly Syria. If such a reset could build adequate trust to make Russia an independent polarity, and not the Sino-Russian axial one as at present, it would be a welcome development.
This opportunity which President Trump seems to be pursuing, can get real, while the threat perceptions to our democracy by Trump utterances which the author fears are perhaps not.
1
Putin, like Saddam Hussein, rules from fear and power. The US and his neighbors fear him, enough to contain him with their proxy NATO, boxing him in. Something we promised not to do. No matter how much you would like to populate Russia with WalMarts and McDonald's, spreading American "Make a Buck" to major 15 ers now, just remember that like Saddam he brings stability at a price. That stability keeps the nukes from flying. Replace him and some crazed warlike Muslim leader may find his way in and you can kiss our own, or what's left when Trump is done, goodbye!
1
Putin is a gangster, more Capone than Stalin or Hitler. Like Trump, he emerged, mediocre and vain, to exploit the insecurities and fears of a populace unable or unwilling to confront the challenges of post- modernity rationally and courageously. Misogynistic , both have engendered a pussy riot resistance, but at least American women have not faced imprisonment for demonstrating against our groper in chief. There are many signs of hope in these troubled times, not the least of which is that Pope Francis has firmly declared that there is no such thing as Islamic terrorism ( although terrorists have hijacked a religion, distorting its teaching on jihad to commit atrocities), that it is unchristian to build walls without supplying bridges to unite humanity, that we are commanded to love, not to fear our neighbor.
10
Reading this piece Alexander I. Solzhenitsyn Commencement Address Delivered At Harvard University, June 8, 1978, becomes crystal clear.
"The persisting blindness of superiority continues to hold the belief that all the vast regions of our planet should develop and mature to the level of contemporary Western systems, the best in theory and the most attractive in practice; that all those other worlds are but temporarily prevented (by wicked leaders or by severe crises or by their own barbarity and incomprehension) from pursuing Western pluralistic democracy and adopting the Western way of life "Countries are judged on the merit of their progress in that direction. But in fact such a conception is a fruit of Western incomprehension of the essence of other worlds, a result of mistakenly measuring them all with a Western yardstick. The real picture bears little resemblance to this.
Susan B. Glasser, column would have had a fair balance mentioning CIA dubious role along with Putin's hackers’ meddling haunted the American general election.
"The U.S. has a long history of attempting to influence presidential elections in other countries – it’s done so as many as 81 times between 1946 and 2000. That number doesn’t include military coups and regime change efforts following the election of candidates the U.S. didn’t like, notably those in Iran, Guatemala and Chile. Nor does it include general assistance with the electoral process, such as election monitoring" quote from LA Times.
"The persisting blindness of superiority continues to hold the belief that all the vast regions of our planet should develop and mature to the level of contemporary Western systems, the best in theory and the most attractive in practice; that all those other worlds are but temporarily prevented (by wicked leaders or by severe crises or by their own barbarity and incomprehension) from pursuing Western pluralistic democracy and adopting the Western way of life "Countries are judged on the merit of their progress in that direction. But in fact such a conception is a fruit of Western incomprehension of the essence of other worlds, a result of mistakenly measuring them all with a Western yardstick. The real picture bears little resemblance to this.
Susan B. Glasser, column would have had a fair balance mentioning CIA dubious role along with Putin's hackers’ meddling haunted the American general election.
"The U.S. has a long history of attempting to influence presidential elections in other countries – it’s done so as many as 81 times between 1946 and 2000. That number doesn’t include military coups and regime change efforts following the election of candidates the U.S. didn’t like, notably those in Iran, Guatemala and Chile. Nor does it include general assistance with the electoral process, such as election monitoring" quote from LA Times.
5
What Trump and Putin have in common? Are you serious? 1) Trump wasn't elected by a party which regularly wins almost all elections by around 70% of the popular vote. If you seriously think that voter turnout and victory margins of that size reflect a democratic system in Russia, you're fooling yourself. The rise to power of both executives has been polar opposite. 2) Trump was Elected in a system with term limits, and has made absolutely no moves to abolish it. Putin extended the term for his office from 4 to 6 years early on in one of his first forays into the Executive level of government in Russia. He's currently on track to be the longest serving Russian head of state since Leonid Brehznev. The revolving door he and Medvedev have set up would make Wall Street envious. 3) Trump hasn't attempted to directly interfere with the elections of neighboring nations (see: Putin and the Orange Revolution). Trump doesn't have a background in the Intelligence community (Putin and FSB), nor does he have a tendency to clandestinely remove dissidents. You're grasping at straws, Ms. Glasser. For goodness sake. We are about a month into this presidency. Do try to actually give the man a chance to do something before you start comparing him to pseudo-dictators. Not a single actual policy proposed by the Trump administration comes even close to the nepotism of the United Russia Party, Putin, and Medvedev.
The main issue for Trump's supporters and detractors is how many justices Trump gets to put on the Supreme Court. His supporters admit this, and the detractors don't.
If Trump had his way he would appoint a minister of propaganda who would be in charge of all news releases. There would be no leaks, no dissent and nothing printed or reported that trump did not approve. Thank god for our free press. I have better things to do than stand beside the side of the road with my arm raised in homage to trump.
11
Putting aside and is a tragedy. We must make Trump a farce.
2
The Trumpian Catastrophe Unfolding:
In less than thirty days, Trump's presidency bears its closest resemblance to the shambles and intrigues and dead-end future of Richard Nixon's second term, with the proviso that Trump isn't nearly half as smart as Nixon.
The Trump/Nixon commonalities include the facts that it was the
Democrats who were the targets of illegal, even treasonous, conduct by the President of the United States and/or members of his staff, and that both were/are/will be cornered by the facts.
In less than thirty days, Trump's presidency bears its closest resemblance to the shambles and intrigues and dead-end future of Richard Nixon's second term, with the proviso that Trump isn't nearly half as smart as Nixon.
The Trump/Nixon commonalities include the facts that it was the
Democrats who were the targets of illegal, even treasonous, conduct by the President of the United States and/or members of his staff, and that both were/are/will be cornered by the facts.
7
An additional similarity between Trump and Putin is their ability to instill fear in their nations' citizens. While Trump may (and should) be considered a laughingstock by those in other countries, we here in the U.S. are starting to understand that our rights and civil liberties, and our personal safety, are very much at risk.
Trump will soon have iron-fisted control of all three branches of our government. His supporters are some of the most heavily armed people in America. They would turn on their fellow citizens at his mere suggestion. Many of us who do not support him are, then, now afraid of not only his authoritarian regime, but also of many of our neighbors.
I'm a native born American in my sixties. I and many of my peers have started to develop networks, communal "safe havens" if you will, to try to protect ourselves and our families when, not if, this day will come.
Trump will soon have iron-fisted control of all three branches of our government. His supporters are some of the most heavily armed people in America. They would turn on their fellow citizens at his mere suggestion. Many of us who do not support him are, then, now afraid of not only his authoritarian regime, but also of many of our neighbors.
I'm a native born American in my sixties. I and many of my peers have started to develop networks, communal "safe havens" if you will, to try to protect ourselves and our families when, not if, this day will come.
12
"Don’t worry too much about whether Trump and the Russian leader
are working together. Worry about what they have in common."
This headline says it all. I Wish there was still a thriving 4th estate in the US with newspapers that could publish this on the front pages in all 50 states!
are working together. Worry about what they have in common."
This headline says it all. I Wish there was still a thriving 4th estate in the US with newspapers that could publish this on the front pages in all 50 states!
7
Trump is not the problem for the U.S. that Putin is for Russia. The GOP can pull the plug on Trump at any time. Right now he is a huge asset to them -- drawing attention for crazy while they gut Democratic programs in the background -- but if he ever goes too far and stops being a useful diversion, he can be flushed down the drain in an instant. The Party is much more scary than the leader.
6
Plutocracy. We stopped being a democracy after the fall of the Soviet Union. Said to say, but Communism was keeping us honest.
4
What Putin and Trump share in common which is not political but economic is common beliefs among the some of the ultra rich. One a kleptomaniac and the other inherited wealth both believe they are above the law which must be enforced on all but not the rich. That government taxation is a form of robbery only stupid people pay taxes they have the right to use resources but don't have to pay. They are global citizens but the poor and middle class are local citizens which they try to constantly remind them by encouraging nationalism. Charity is for suckers or tax breaks not to help the less advantaged. Have a very difficult time with relationships whether business or personal - everyone is trying to take advantage of them. These common personality traits bond them closely because they don't understand the purpose or functions of governments and it results in their constant abuse of governments. Fortunately their are ultra rich few and far between who do not ascribe to these beliefs and can offer them Putins and Trumps of the world another path.
8
I've read Trump/republicans are running our country at approx. 35% support, bulldozing their destructive proposals through congress. Just think, a home grown "terrorist" event in which Islam can be blamed would bump their support up much higher making the authoritarian government Trump/Bannon are working toward even more possible. The country's dangerous situation can get so much worse I afraid. This is the gift of Americans who get their world view from fox news tv and the streaming am radio programs out there. Thinking Americans have their work cut out for them.
6
Let's focus on what we need to do: win a few seats in 2018. So what that they are kinfolk? Not news. News is this: the D got to get off their blessed assurances, field some credible and likeable - yes I said likable - candidates and start pounding the pavement door to door. Those efforts will pay off. Oh yes, by the way, dump Pelosi and Schumer and Ellison as Democratic party poster children. Fatal. Let's win some elections and the final oh by the way, stay in the middle.
1
Having also been in Russia during the early days of his consolidation of power, it's easy to see what Trump admires. A small man, from less-than-stellar origins, overpowers the Yeltsin-era oligarchs to take control of a country, and become the absolute power in Russia. Along the way he silences all opposing viewpoints in the press, silences (or kills / imprisons) all legitimate political opposition from the oligarchs. Why? Because this is what people are conditioned to expect from their leaders, and haven't had the chance to shake off the fear that came with Soviet rule.
Furthermore, they never had the opportunity to fully understand the scope of the great lie that was fed to them for generations, and that was the myth of Lenin. He was so revered that when researchers began publishing documents from the Soviet archives proving that it was Lenin, not Stalin, who was responsible for the gulags and mass disappearances, they simply couldn't believe that it was true. It was truly remarkable to witness.
So when Putin stole Yukos from Khadorkovsky, or consolidated the media under government control, it wasn't difficult to frame these actions in a way that people would accept with little public protest. With all critical dissent in the media being framed as propaganda and lies, and the White House angrily stating that the only truth comes from the president, no matter how false they know those truths to be, it's easy to see why Trump admires Putin's ascendancy to power.
Furthermore, they never had the opportunity to fully understand the scope of the great lie that was fed to them for generations, and that was the myth of Lenin. He was so revered that when researchers began publishing documents from the Soviet archives proving that it was Lenin, not Stalin, who was responsible for the gulags and mass disappearances, they simply couldn't believe that it was true. It was truly remarkable to witness.
So when Putin stole Yukos from Khadorkovsky, or consolidated the media under government control, it wasn't difficult to frame these actions in a way that people would accept with little public protest. With all critical dissent in the media being framed as propaganda and lies, and the White House angrily stating that the only truth comes from the president, no matter how false they know those truths to be, it's easy to see why Trump admires Putin's ascendancy to power.
3
You correctly say the question is about America's no-longer-existing democracy because it is has already happened and continues to happen. But the right always answers that liberals are hysterical. No, liberals see what has happened and follow the logical sequence of events to see the endgame is the take down of democracy. This started long before Trump and without Trump. This has been the conservative republican agenda for decades. The recent take down of democracy is the lethal republican gerrymandering, the elimination of crucial elements of the Voting Rights Act, and the confirmation of Jeff Sessions as AG despite his long racist history. People of both sides usually stop reading about now because the truth is inconvenient. Here's the inconvenient truth, that the groups who believe government should be run by the wealthy and the corporations find ways to discredit those might stand in their way. Blacks, latinos, women. But now there's all those immigrants who one day might be citizens and that doesn't fall in their plans. So make the immigrants the enemy, but really, the terrorists in America were born or naturalized here and had been here for years. This is a rallying point to get voters to hate immigrants and that's the end of that problem. Keeping women down and creating the abortion battle is a distraction from watching corporations&GOP congress;the big hypocrisy is pro life GOP who cut benefits for the poor while denying abortions.
7
Trump has a fatal flaw. Well, perhaps many of them. One of his greatest is that he doesn't understand democracy and the heave and fro that goes with it. He wants to be king and his most ardent, in love supporters would like him to assume that role. They'd be happy.
If you spend your entire life taking on huge debts, putting up tall buildings, (memorials to yourself), and then just play around in politics (was Obama born in America?), you might get the impression that being president means you actually rule the country. Not so. The president is America's chief cajoler, the one who decides a direction the country should go and tries to convince us that he is right. As we painfully saw with Obama, when a president yells "Charge!", the troops are free to run in the opposite direction.
Through the power of money and the capacity to get others to invest in their ideas, business people force decisions on others. Trump thinks that leadership is forcing people to go along with you. To a small degree, this is correct. However, in a diverse nation of 340 million+ citizens, persuasion is not only necessary, it works better over the long term.
We now have perhaps 30 to 40% of the population on each side of political questions who will not be persuaded of anything. The far right has convinced millions that working together, compromise, is evil, near traitorous. So, let Trump try his strong man act. In time, he will see it only makes people taker harder positions against him.
If you spend your entire life taking on huge debts, putting up tall buildings, (memorials to yourself), and then just play around in politics (was Obama born in America?), you might get the impression that being president means you actually rule the country. Not so. The president is America's chief cajoler, the one who decides a direction the country should go and tries to convince us that he is right. As we painfully saw with Obama, when a president yells "Charge!", the troops are free to run in the opposite direction.
Through the power of money and the capacity to get others to invest in their ideas, business people force decisions on others. Trump thinks that leadership is forcing people to go along with you. To a small degree, this is correct. However, in a diverse nation of 340 million+ citizens, persuasion is not only necessary, it works better over the long term.
We now have perhaps 30 to 40% of the population on each side of political questions who will not be persuaded of anything. The far right has convinced millions that working together, compromise, is evil, near traitorous. So, let Trump try his strong man act. In time, he will see it only makes people taker harder positions against him.
4
It's not clear that Ms. Glasser is a neutral broker here, and moreover, her experience in Russia is limited to journalism. What the West might worry about more than her special interest straw man, is whether the US, UK and other aligned parties, try to pursue an economic disruption operation like the 1990's "shock therapy" plan (or Ukraine more recently). It was earlier intellectually incubated by Columbia's Jeffrey Sachs, U. Chicago's Milton Freidman and readily absorbed by US defense and intelligence. It was a shock alright: utter mayhem; the pillage of industry by insiders and the marginalization of whatever middle class could have emerged. I've lived and worked in Russia off and on for the past 25 years for multinational projects and am proficient in Russian. It is very easy to understand how Putin became elevated: destroying the "Soviet Union" was a very poorly thought-out construct. In the early 1990s, scores of US state department bureaucrats and others were more interested in seeing statues of Lenin toppled over and scavenging Soviet artifacts than the hard work of seeing through any kind of transition to a market-based and liberalized Russia. Trump and Putin are "similar," if at all, only to the extent that they represent, in their respective ways, a core interest in national economic and security integrity. In both cases, it has been marginalized. In that regard, Russia and the US share a common enemy.
4
Few times in history has a man who believes himself so smart, been taken for a complete fool. Guess who's who in the relationship between the Pig in the Wig (Trump) and Little Putin?
2
Only those who hate Hillary Clinton more than they love America can ignore the message in this column.
5
I find it interesting that Trump, as the newly elected leader of the free world, is giving a pass to attend the most important international meeting for the US this year, namely the NATO leaders meeting in Munich. Instead, he has chosen to set up a useless campaign event in Florida, which will be of no value to the nation, but only to his ego.
So, why is he bypassing the best opportunity to assure the leaders of the NATO member states that he truly supports this critical transatlantic alliance? I can think of two reasons.
First, he fears he will be either cold shouldered or embarrassed by European heads of state as they likely would press him to personally commit to the alliance and perhaps to also support the European Union, both of which he has criticized, and both of which Putin has and is attacking with cyberwarfare and propaganda outlets.
Second, it is possible that he is attempting to not endanger his relationship with Putin by avoiding getting too cozy to Putin's European adversaries.
Unfortunately, I have not seen any of the major media outlets pick up on this. Instead, it seems Trump has once again gotten the media to chase squirrels in Orlando when the real story is elsewhere.
So, why is he bypassing the best opportunity to assure the leaders of the NATO member states that he truly supports this critical transatlantic alliance? I can think of two reasons.
First, he fears he will be either cold shouldered or embarrassed by European heads of state as they likely would press him to personally commit to the alliance and perhaps to also support the European Union, both of which he has criticized, and both of which Putin has and is attacking with cyberwarfare and propaganda outlets.
Second, it is possible that he is attempting to not endanger his relationship with Putin by avoiding getting too cozy to Putin's European adversaries.
Unfortunately, I have not seen any of the major media outlets pick up on this. Instead, it seems Trump has once again gotten the media to chase squirrels in Orlando when the real story is elsewhere.
8
One topic notably absent from this interesting, disturbing commentary is that Putin is rumored to be the wealthiest leader of all, with a "net worth" of perhaps $2 billion. We can be very certain that he did not "earn" this the old fashioned way - he has undoubtedly "redirected" these funds from his nation to his personal, well hidden accounts over the years he has been in power. If there is any characteristic Don the Con would most admire, it is Putin's vast wealth, and his "acquisition" of his lucre over the past 17 years, through his rise to power. What Don the Con can never replicate, however, is cool calculation and the ice cold planning of a former KGB agent and killer. Our illegitimate POTUS doesn't have the temperamental capacity for such deadly cold planning and calculation - his recent return to the "glory days" of his campaign confirms that he, unlike Vlad, suffers from a pathological need for affirmation and inflation of his stunted psyche - and that not only makes Con Man a willing, fawning puppet for Vlad, it means he is truly an existential threat to this nation. 2/19, 10:57 AM
5
Yes, the similarities, between Trump and Putin abound; however, many of the same are shared by most, is not all, Authoritarian Regime's. Control, if not cow the media, dumb-down or outright influence the way people think, with a carefully allotted combination of fact and fiction. Divide the country, so that the Dictator always ssmns to be protecting "The People" from some danger, which is generally disingenuous. Direct the media, whether by fiscal and bribery perks, or outright nationalization, so that the Dictator may control the allocation of assets--even more so than just Guns versus Butter.
But, now that Donald Trump will be off jin the campaign trail, for the next 200 weeks, he's showing the true signs of wear and tear--as well as outright insanity. He's been in over his head for the past month--disruption, divisiveness and always, always with a scowl on his face.
Senator John McCaine, Donald Trump ne3eds an Intervention...STAR!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
But, now that Donald Trump will be off jin the campaign trail, for the next 200 weeks, he's showing the true signs of wear and tear--as well as outright insanity. He's been in over his head for the past month--disruption, divisiveness and always, always with a scowl on his face.
Senator John McCaine, Donald Trump ne3eds an Intervention...STAR!
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
5
The whole Russia is the devil story stems from the Clinton campaign. It was they that first said that Russia hacked the election , without real evidence. The CIA piled on, they hate both Trump and Russia , (because Russia is the devil and Trump supports Russia )
We might be heading for a nuclear war with Russia. And this is caused by the push for a Clinton Restortation. Evidence indicates she's running in 2020. You ain't seen nothing yet!
We might be heading for a nuclear war with Russia. And this is caused by the push for a Clinton Restortation. Evidence indicates she's running in 2020. You ain't seen nothing yet!
1
Democrats and liberals ranted and raved when Obama's critics claimed that he was sympathetic to Islamic countries and supported the radical Muslim Brotherhood, refused to enforce his "red line in the sand" comment about Syrian aggression, and the one-side "deal" with Iran that gives them a path to nuclear weapons within 10 years, and $150 billion to carry out their nuclear plans and support of terrorism. Those were proven facts about Obama. Nothing here about Putin's so called relationship with Trump has been proven, yet Democrats claim it all to be true. Typical self serving lies and hyperbole from the very people who perfected the art of political assassination.
You make the same mistake the rest of our media makes. You think Trump is in control. Steve Bannon is the guy running the show and he's much more like Putin than Trump is. Bannon wants to bring down our government and he wants a war with Islam so white Christians can the world. Of course that means we will always be at war but at least he'll get rid of the Muslims in this country either by throwing them out or later perhaps killing them.
6
Thanks for the history lesson, Ms. Glasser. While many of American citizens seem to eschew the value of critical thinking or understanding the value of looking at the history of other countries, we would be wise to listen to the cautionary tale told here about the essential ingredients to Mr. Putin's rise to power. Across any border or ocean, some things remain constant in the dark side of the human condition - lust for power, control and applause.
The template to power used by Putin that Ms. Glasser describes here is manifesting itself in our democracy today.
Who will stand up and defend our republic? In watching the actions of the leadership of the republican party, I don't see any profiles in courage that will put country over party. Trump tells us the world is a dangerous place and we should be afraid. I am not afraid of the world, I am afraid of Trump.
The template to power used by Putin that Ms. Glasser describes here is manifesting itself in our democracy today.
Who will stand up and defend our republic? In watching the actions of the leadership of the republican party, I don't see any profiles in courage that will put country over party. Trump tells us the world is a dangerous place and we should be afraid. I am not afraid of the world, I am afraid of Trump.
4
Trump wishes he could be Putin. Unfortunately the three legged stool of the American constitutional system prevents such. Thank you founding fathers. I am certain that the trump business is dictatorial. however so There in lies the rub. Our commander in cheat is having a difficult time wrapping his immature mind around the concept that he is only one leg of the stool. Putin has no illusions. The Russian dictator is certain he can take him. Any day of the week and on weekends too. Trumps art of the deal style of sowing chaos works if you have a functioning psyche. Our president so far has shown that his psyche is terribly flawed. Putin will take advantage of trumps chaos theory and run circles around American foreign policy for the foreseeable future. You cannot make deals with Putin. It will only reinforce Russian ideals that you are an adversary to overcome and reinforce perceptions of weakness to be exploited.
7
Personally, I think Trump looks more like Yeltsin rather than Putin.
1
Being from one of your great enemy countries, Australia, I'm fascinated reading about your country's great allies, such as Russia. And I feel not so alone, at least have some comfort that the newspaper I read these reports in is also an enemy of the American people.
4
Putin and Trump have a few other things in common as well:
For one thing, for decades they have both used pervasive dishonesty and cheating in their dealings with others to get rich and gain power -- Putin with falsified contracts, shell companies, and disinformation; Trump with fraudulent business dealings, stiffing creditors, and disinformation.
For another, both demand absolute loyalty from their subordinates.
Putin has been in power for many years now and has learned how to use the power of government to shut down media opposition and political opposition -- death by a thousand cuts or, sometimes, by bullets or poison.
Trump has only been in power for a month and he is already trying to shut down media and political opposition. Unlike Putin, he is incompetent, but his malevolent political cronies are not.
For one thing, for decades they have both used pervasive dishonesty and cheating in their dealings with others to get rich and gain power -- Putin with falsified contracts, shell companies, and disinformation; Trump with fraudulent business dealings, stiffing creditors, and disinformation.
For another, both demand absolute loyalty from their subordinates.
Putin has been in power for many years now and has learned how to use the power of government to shut down media opposition and political opposition -- death by a thousand cuts or, sometimes, by bullets or poison.
Trump has only been in power for a month and he is already trying to shut down media and political opposition. Unlike Putin, he is incompetent, but his malevolent political cronies are not.
7
I am livid.
As a lifetime Progressive, I was called a “Commie”, a ‘Pinko” in the 60s, more recently a “Red Diaper Doper Baby” by the reactionary Right.
Who are the “Commies” and “Pinkos” now?
Republican leadership … an oxymoron.
As a lifetime Progressive, I was called a “Commie”, a ‘Pinko” in the 60s, more recently a “Red Diaper Doper Baby” by the reactionary Right.
Who are the “Commies” and “Pinkos” now?
Republican leadership … an oxymoron.
3
Thank you for this interesting study in similarities and contrasts. We will now see how strong our media and our legislative and judicial branches are. And we will see whether our legislative branch is responsive to those who have concerns about executive power.
1
We have elected Vladimir's poodle. He won the election by fake news, lies, prophanity and manipulation. He has no substance. The world is at a great danger.
4
In both the Russian people and a large swath of the American people there lies a susceptibility to the machinations of oligarchs. God help the world if we see an axis form between the two.
4
The threat suggested in this column is worse than most Americans appear to think -- the threat that Obama was our last American President, and Trump is becoming our first American Czar.
Trump has a Congress full of raving advocates of his drive toward a Dark-Ages world of barons in the castle and suffering serfs outside. With their support he will soon have one or more Scalias on our Supreme Court, majority-approving control of our elections by money instead of The People. Out in the states, that approval will be exploited by the Koch Bros. and the like to buy more gerrymandering and voter suppression.
I envision Trump, after losing our election in 2020, screaming voter fraud. Using his Twitters and Alt Facts the way Big Brother used loudspeakers, to explain to us that he must set aside our votes, remain in command until the voter fraud is uncovered. Call upon his well-armed friends in the ranks of the NRA to defend his seizure of our America as his Czardom.
Trump has a Congress full of raving advocates of his drive toward a Dark-Ages world of barons in the castle and suffering serfs outside. With their support he will soon have one or more Scalias on our Supreme Court, majority-approving control of our elections by money instead of The People. Out in the states, that approval will be exploited by the Koch Bros. and the like to buy more gerrymandering and voter suppression.
I envision Trump, after losing our election in 2020, screaming voter fraud. Using his Twitters and Alt Facts the way Big Brother used loudspeakers, to explain to us that he must set aside our votes, remain in command until the voter fraud is uncovered. Call upon his well-armed friends in the ranks of the NRA to defend his seizure of our America as his Czardom.
6
Putin may have done something for Trump. But what exactly has Trump done for Putin? Nothing at all. What is the basis for the claims that Trump is Putin's lapdog? Apart from the disparity in sizes - Trump is much bigger than Putin - it is Putin who helped out Trump and not vice versa.
Trump would like to normalize our relations with Russia and Trump is right. But it is clear that the establishment, including those odd bedfellows Obama and McCain, will prevent him.
The world has a lot of chronic problems. The tension between Europe and Russia is one. The Israel-Palestinian problem is another. Some fresh thinking is needed and Trump DOES have the ability to think outside the box.
The problem is that he has no help, little political skill, and it seems easy to talk him out of whatever he had in mind. He was talked out of recognizing Taiwan. And he has been talked out of better relations with Russia.
Trump is hardly a dictator. He is a bad boy who behaves better as soon as the teacher scolds him, even when she is wrong.
But what the NYT and its readers are seeing is not the real Trump. They do not see the Trump who said that it was an honor to meet Obama. They see the birther. This distorted view is not realistic but no doubt it gives THEM some satisfaction. In the meanwhile we moderates watch in disappointment and dismay.
Trump would like to normalize our relations with Russia and Trump is right. But it is clear that the establishment, including those odd bedfellows Obama and McCain, will prevent him.
The world has a lot of chronic problems. The tension between Europe and Russia is one. The Israel-Palestinian problem is another. Some fresh thinking is needed and Trump DOES have the ability to think outside the box.
The problem is that he has no help, little political skill, and it seems easy to talk him out of whatever he had in mind. He was talked out of recognizing Taiwan. And he has been talked out of better relations with Russia.
Trump is hardly a dictator. He is a bad boy who behaves better as soon as the teacher scolds him, even when she is wrong.
But what the NYT and its readers are seeing is not the real Trump. They do not see the Trump who said that it was an honor to meet Obama. They see the birther. This distorted view is not realistic but no doubt it gives THEM some satisfaction. In the meanwhile we moderates watch in disappointment and dismay.
Are we going to be surprised when people who oppose Mr. Trump start disappearing or dying mysteriously?
5
It's noticeable that the one thing that Put in really had in his favour was the ability to control the press. This is the great challenge of being either conquered or coerced by this administration into a supportive stance. It is the challenge to power of a strong press that has kept the US as the land of the free. Failure now would be catastrophic.
3
Maybe Putin has a better sense of humor?
As you report, on June 18, 2001, Putin spoke of "the real threat in the world, Islamic terrorists[.]" Taking this phrase in isolation causes me to rethink 9/11/2001. Was Putin just strategically prophetic? Was Putin actually behind the attacks, which continue to weaken the fabric of the nation even today or was it all just a coincidence? I don't pretend to have the answer. But I think it is an important set of questions which may be useful for assessing what is going on between Putin and Trump.
2
Excellent article! The key issue is captured in Ms. Glasser's drawing the contrast in personalities impulsive Trump vs. controlled Putin. Mr. Putin is dangerous like a snake in wait for his prey. He's slowly doing his political dirty work behind the scenes, waiting for opportunities to increase control of eastern Ukraine or move into the three Baltic states. He'll wait until he has narcissistic Trump strutting around from Putin's adulation and then move in when Trump is admiring himself in a mirror. Putin is willing to wait for years.
Trump admires Putin. In contrast, though, he wants to accomplish in months what it has taken Putin 15 years. He'll eventually blunder and stumble if he continues to move that fast. The potential damage he could do in the mean time is very troubling. He could enable Putin's further consolidation of power in the Ukraine or watch, dumbfounded, as Putin marches into the Baltic States.
Trump admires Putin. In contrast, though, he wants to accomplish in months what it has taken Putin 15 years. He'll eventually blunder and stumble if he continues to move that fast. The potential damage he could do in the mean time is very troubling. He could enable Putin's further consolidation of power in the Ukraine or watch, dumbfounded, as Putin marches into the Baltic States.
4
How quickly the past is forgotten. Back in the early 1990s, when the media could hardly contain its enthusiasm over the restoration of the market in the former USSR and endorsing economic "shock therapy," then President Boris Yeltsin's trampling of democracy was defended as necessary if the desired capitalist "reforms" were to be implemented. In October 1993 this newspaper editorially endorsed Yeltsin's use of tanks in the center of Moscow to fire on the parliament building, with a loss of approximately 1000 lives. There was no denunciations of his dictatorial methods back then. One need not approve of Putin to note that he has won several elections overwhelmingly. The savage denunciations of Putin have more to do with the fact that Russia interferes with US foreign policy objectives, than it has with genuine concern over the fate of Russian democracy.
2
SHOW US THE MONEY! Congress needs to make a priority of reviewing Trump's tax returns. As well as those of his picked advisors and cabinet posts.
6
Great article, confirmed by the number of trolls who crawl out of the woodwork to defend Putin, and to claim "no similarity" between Trump and Putin.
America will survive the current tragedy unfolding with hurricane force and become a stronger Democracy. We will survive and not follow Trump into the abyss.
America will survive the current tragedy unfolding with hurricane force and become a stronger Democracy. We will survive and not follow Trump into the abyss.
5
There is infinite irony in the call for the border wall, the isolationism from Muslim immigration, the protective seal of an larger and more deadly military, the hunkering down in ostentatious bunkers--all emanating from a man who has no boundaries. The parallels are so predictable, so cliched, an editor wouldn't getJ past the first chapter.
And yet we continue, day after day, to be shocked.
We continue to assume our institutions will recover and protect us.
We assure ourselves this is the true bottom, that it can't get any worse, that Senator A or Judge B or Network C will finally make an appearance, the principal in an unruly classroom.
We refuse to believe that it is some rough beast, its hour come 'round at last.
And yet we continue, day after day, to be shocked.
We continue to assume our institutions will recover and protect us.
We assure ourselves this is the true bottom, that it can't get any worse, that Senator A or Judge B or Network C will finally make an appearance, the principal in an unruly classroom.
We refuse to believe that it is some rough beast, its hour come 'round at last.
6
Putin has built Trump up, he is the only one who can take him down. Go Putin!
1
No different than the last czar we were stuck with for 8 years. I hope this one can get along with Russia.
Yes Trump & Putin have similar characteristics, however there is one striking difference, Trump must pander to the Evangelics, where as Putin is only beholden to himself.Another difference is Putin is courageous in his quest to make Russia Great again , where Trump is at present just talk.Putin ’s take over of Crimea gave Russia a Navel base on the Black Sea, & his alliance with Assad gave Putin a Navel Base off Syria.For the first time in Russian History they have the possibility to be a Navel Power, & a threat to Americas control of the Oceans.I don’t think Trump is as adventurous as Putin or has a desire to become a Dictator. This is where the comparisons ends.
1
Incredible how an innocuous e-mail server was considered a huge scandal and threat to Americans while a tax dodging conman (stealing from the American tax payer) and likely financial and ideological connections to our greatest foe is not worthy of a comment from Republican leadership.
Two soulless individuals with leading the two most militarily active nations on Earth will be imposing "regulations" on individual freedom and the press while eliminating "regulations" on the oligarch class.
What would Reagan say? "Trust but verify"? How does that work when these fakers say flat out "flat earth" level lies to everyone - and their base of "believers" swallow it line, hook and sinker?
Ironic that the government haters from before are now pro-government under Trump looking to take names, loyalty oaths and replace news with propaganda - and are okay with that kind of governing.
Two soulless individuals with leading the two most militarily active nations on Earth will be imposing "regulations" on individual freedom and the press while eliminating "regulations" on the oligarch class.
What would Reagan say? "Trust but verify"? How does that work when these fakers say flat out "flat earth" level lies to everyone - and their base of "believers" swallow it line, hook and sinker?
Ironic that the government haters from before are now pro-government under Trump looking to take names, loyalty oaths and replace news with propaganda - and are okay with that kind of governing.
9
This is a fine article by an experienced journalist. Balanced, rational, frightening. It echoes warnings from other authors who've witnessed or studied dictatorships up close. Warning # One: When a budding autocrat says he's going to do something crude to change your country, don't laugh. Listen closely, word by word. He will try to do it. He may succeed.
And yet there's one sentence in this analysis that gives me hope, and that's when the author notes that Trump is "impulsive," while Putin is controlled, calculating. I look at their faces and still see, in Trump, a busy yet lazy and vain, painted man who can't control his little rages or his behavior, even when temporary good manners would profit him. Putin, on the other hand, looks like a KGB agent and has the cool eyes of a real predator. He reads all the notes from his intelligence agents. He remembers them. Then he acts.
Another cause for hope? The US does have more resilient, broadly rooted democratic institutions than does Russia. (Thank you, journalists. Thanks courts. Thanks civic-minded civil servants.)
Sadly, after these moments of optimism, sparked by Trump's ineptitude, the name STEVE BANNON comes to mind. Bannon reads the notes. He's as mean, macho, nationalistic, and sly as Putin, and he works in the shadows. Surely it was Bannon (and friends) who researched and identified a team of cabinet nominees, each one tooled to destroy the agency he or she was being recruited to lead.
Now I'm scared again.
And yet there's one sentence in this analysis that gives me hope, and that's when the author notes that Trump is "impulsive," while Putin is controlled, calculating. I look at their faces and still see, in Trump, a busy yet lazy and vain, painted man who can't control his little rages or his behavior, even when temporary good manners would profit him. Putin, on the other hand, looks like a KGB agent and has the cool eyes of a real predator. He reads all the notes from his intelligence agents. He remembers them. Then he acts.
Another cause for hope? The US does have more resilient, broadly rooted democratic institutions than does Russia. (Thank you, journalists. Thanks courts. Thanks civic-minded civil servants.)
Sadly, after these moments of optimism, sparked by Trump's ineptitude, the name STEVE BANNON comes to mind. Bannon reads the notes. He's as mean, macho, nationalistic, and sly as Putin, and he works in the shadows. Surely it was Bannon (and friends) who researched and identified a team of cabinet nominees, each one tooled to destroy the agency he or she was being recruited to lead.
Now I'm scared again.
7
Grave words based on history, the ascent of a K.G.B. thug to an "imperial" presidency, and an American copycat intent in taking his circus to town. Do I smell 'buyer's remorse'? Just because we bought ourselves an expensive "lemon"? One thing we ought not do is confuse strength where there is none, coming from an irresponsible, and unscrupulous, bully (a coward in disguise), so insecure about himself that he needs to brag and lie and insult others, really anybody in his way (and the press seems as good as a refugee or judge or 'Mexican' as scapegoat), causing a shadow on his inflated tender ego. This vulgar demagogue, our American Putin, no matter how abusive his language and how petty his actions, he cannot prostitute our democracy...unless we become complicit in our silence. Trump's idiocy must be stopped. And if he intends to institutionalize violence, it is just and necessary to respond likewise. This entails our will to re-establish ' law and order' (under which slogan he intends to cheat his followers, by the way, as a climate of chaos and fear unravels). This requires the courage, hard work and perseverance to see things through. The question is, Do we have what it takes?!
3
It is interesting how the liberal’s attitude to Russia has changed in the age of Trump. For most of the 20th century, the liberal looked to Russia as Utopia; they saw it as a wonderful Marxist-Socialist experiment, even under Stalinist totalitarianism, they still looked upon the USSR with much fondness. Perhaps the latest example of the liberals favor to Russia was Hillary Clinton’s sell off a uranium mine in Colorado to Russia in exchange for contributions to the Clinton Foundation. And, of course, who can’t forget Sander’s presidential campaign which heaped praise on Marxist-Social principles under the guise of Democratic Socialism. Also the early march to abortion was led by Bolshevik anarchists who immigrated to America, like Emma Goldman. Abortion, the main tenet of modern liberalism, is directly out of the Communist playbook. So I find it odd that the liberal now opposes Russia, as it has provided them with so much inspiration the past. Thank you.
1
Steven Bannon is the puppet master, Trump the puppet. Patriotic Americans are being led into slavery by the rings in their noses. Ryan, like McCain, needs to stand up and defend the Constitution. Trump's supporters hate others more than they love the Constitution.
9
Trump is controlled by Putin, and Putin has a few simple objectives and priorities in exercising that control. His leverage is that now Trump must worry about being exposed as a traitor who has compromised agents in the field who have been arrested and killed based on information he has sources to cover up Russia's support, financial and strategic to Trump for years.
Putin's priorities are: 1. Increase the world price level of oil. 2. Restore the Baltic States of the FSU to Russian control.
To gain these objectives Putin looked to Trump to appoint Exxon Chm. Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. (Done). Undermine and abandon the agreement signed with Iran and encourage a war with that nation (Trump has repeatedly sought to denigrate that agreement and threaten Iran). Weaken and undermine democratically elected governments in Western Europe and weaken NATO. (Trump continues to maintain the myth that 'NATO is not paying its fair share and he has not spoken out against Russia's obvious interference in England on Brexit, or its attempts to fiddle the elections in France, Germany or the Netherlands). Undermine efforts to stabilize the refugee population in the Middle East directly generated by the war in Syria. (Trump's public provocations in his failed travel ban have nonetheless contributed powerfully to the polarizing message ISIS wants to get across).
Trump wants autocracy because it is his only path to survival as a traitor. Putin is in control.
Putin's priorities are: 1. Increase the world price level of oil. 2. Restore the Baltic States of the FSU to Russian control.
To gain these objectives Putin looked to Trump to appoint Exxon Chm. Rex Tillerson as Secretary of State. (Done). Undermine and abandon the agreement signed with Iran and encourage a war with that nation (Trump has repeatedly sought to denigrate that agreement and threaten Iran). Weaken and undermine democratically elected governments in Western Europe and weaken NATO. (Trump continues to maintain the myth that 'NATO is not paying its fair share and he has not spoken out against Russia's obvious interference in England on Brexit, or its attempts to fiddle the elections in France, Germany or the Netherlands). Undermine efforts to stabilize the refugee population in the Middle East directly generated by the war in Syria. (Trump's public provocations in his failed travel ban have nonetheless contributed powerfully to the polarizing message ISIS wants to get across).
Trump wants autocracy because it is his only path to survival as a traitor. Putin is in control.
7
It is quite clear that President Trump, and some of his advisers like Steve Bannon, admire Putin and wish to emulate his strongman persona, at least in part. Many conservatives feel that President Obama projected weakness to our enemies and are more comfortable with a more assertive, if not belligerent, president. Although I disagree, I can understand the feeling that a President should "get tough" sometimes. What I would point out to my conservative friends is that the whole package that is Donald Trump carries far more downside than upside. Mr. Trump is not as smart or as focused as Vladimir Putin. He is probably not as malevolent as Putin, but he is inspiring a malevolent segment of his supporters to behave like Putin's thugs. He has not had his opponents murdered or silenced the press, but their are serious warning signs. Look out especially should a real or manufactured national crisis arise: a major terrorist attack, supposed provocations by Iran, etc. In any case, Mr. Trump's chaotic and divisive approach leaves our country vulnerable to enemies and competitors in ways that President Obama never did. Finally, to my progressive friends I would advise not to help him out by opposing things he does that a majority of Americans actually agree with, like reducing illegal immigration (humanely).
There is another possible similarity not mentioned here: apparently Putin has used his position to greatly enrich himself at the expense of the Russian public. It certainly looks like trump and his family are attempting to do the same.
But really I think the more accurate comparison is with Kim Jong-Un. Thin skinned, vindictive and erratic. If trump and family owed as much money to North Korea, he would be praising him just as much as he is Putin.
But really I think the more accurate comparison is with Kim Jong-Un. Thin skinned, vindictive and erratic. If trump and family owed as much money to North Korea, he would be praising him just as much as he is Putin.
4
The inn-keeper doesn't want to be President, he wants to be running for president all of the time and thus be the subject of the adoring crowds. His first month in office was more like a gigantic grandstanding show where he could bask in his glory in front of the drunks, rednecks, white supremacysts, gay bashers, latino haters, anti semites and 2nd amendment loonies. Those strange people see themselves when they look at him and he loves it, like he said at the press hating-conference where he worshiped himself for 77 minutes like a lunatic. He is a danger to himself and to others and should live somewhere in protective custody.
8
Readers; Google "Steps to become a Dictator" it will horrify you.
Here's a just a few
1. They rise to power in a weak economy
2. Use propaganda and fear to create a common enemy (Muslins and the press)
3. They begin a campaign of disinformation, high lighting their greatness to sway the uneducated masses. (duh)
4. They use censorship to control information (Jared Kusher's meeting with CNN)
5. Expand their power thru nepotism.
6. Build buildings and statues in their honor.
7. Take control of intelligence agencies.
I could go on, check it out yourself but I warn you, you will be scared to death and sick to your stomach. This is happening folks and thank God for the press and John McCain. I bought a subscription to the NYTimes yesterday to support all their investigating reporting, I've marched in two marches (so far) and I am staying informed as much as possible. I have found that I need downtime from 45 because his "sickness" is making our country seriously ill.
Here's a just a few
1. They rise to power in a weak economy
2. Use propaganda and fear to create a common enemy (Muslins and the press)
3. They begin a campaign of disinformation, high lighting their greatness to sway the uneducated masses. (duh)
4. They use censorship to control information (Jared Kusher's meeting with CNN)
5. Expand their power thru nepotism.
6. Build buildings and statues in their honor.
7. Take control of intelligence agencies.
I could go on, check it out yourself but I warn you, you will be scared to death and sick to your stomach. This is happening folks and thank God for the press and John McCain. I bought a subscription to the NYTimes yesterday to support all their investigating reporting, I've marched in two marches (so far) and I am staying informed as much as possible. I have found that I need downtime from 45 because his "sickness" is making our country seriously ill.
6
I can't figure out how the boogyman phenomena works in journalism. Almost as if in lockstep Russia and Putin have resurrected the Cold War and become our number one enemy. Only a few months ago ISIS was our number one enemy. Before that Al Qaida was our primary nemesis. And lest we forget we have been waging war on terrorism for the last 16 years.
Terrorism of course is a tactic, not an entity. So we are committed to eliminating a tactic. Makes perfect sense? Of course not. Yet journalists keep repeating things about our 'war on terror' as if their life or maybe their job depended on it.
The Russia/Putin axis of evil seems to have emerged from three events. First Russia had the audacity to organizes a settlement to the conflict in the Ukraine. Based on the Minsk Agreement the president was to step down and new elections would be held. But this might have left our hand picked successor out so we instigated a coup.
Then the Russians supported Russian speakers in the east of the country who revolted against the coup and blatantly held a referendum in Crimea where the vote was to succeed from the Ukraine. To top off this insolence Russia intervened at the invitation of the Syrian government and began bombing ISIS in Syria of all places! We had been bombing ISIS in Iraq but could never find any terrorists targets in Syria.
These events obviously justify bumping Russia up to number one on the nemeses list because no one should interfere with our endless war on terror.
Terrorism of course is a tactic, not an entity. So we are committed to eliminating a tactic. Makes perfect sense? Of course not. Yet journalists keep repeating things about our 'war on terror' as if their life or maybe their job depended on it.
The Russia/Putin axis of evil seems to have emerged from three events. First Russia had the audacity to organizes a settlement to the conflict in the Ukraine. Based on the Minsk Agreement the president was to step down and new elections would be held. But this might have left our hand picked successor out so we instigated a coup.
Then the Russians supported Russian speakers in the east of the country who revolted against the coup and blatantly held a referendum in Crimea where the vote was to succeed from the Ukraine. To top off this insolence Russia intervened at the invitation of the Syrian government and began bombing ISIS in Syria of all places! We had been bombing ISIS in Iraq but could never find any terrorists targets in Syria.
These events obviously justify bumping Russia up to number one on the nemeses list because no one should interfere with our endless war on terror.
1
This article defines the mechanism of risk that many have tried to articulate, and which many have been afraid of.
I continue to fear for our Country's future.
Every voter's action counts.
I encourage all to engage, consider and discuss our future.
I continue to fear for our Country's future.
Every voter's action counts.
I encourage all to engage, consider and discuss our future.
2
The republicans I know used to preach that presidential authoritarianism was the biggest threat to the US. Now they preach that the biggest threat to the US is that the president doesn't have enough authority to do whatever he wants.
I'm sure it's just a coincidence that the change occurred at the same time a republican was elected president.
I'm sure it's just a coincidence that the change occurred at the same time a republican was elected president.
6
Increasingly I fear we are being played by something greater than Trump. And that Trump is the straw man. We spend hours of thought and digital ink trying to unravel the babble he spews not pausing to note that distraction is the goal of his riddle. It is all too simple is it not? Too easy. Too obvious a faux despot. Too obvious a counterweight to say Obama. Too obviously salt on the wounds of progressives. And what do we do? We do what we are meant to do. We fragment. We get loud. We get angry. We divide.
Second maybe to hypocrisy as noted in the NYT today, a great American trait is opportunism. And one great target of opportunity is to seek advantage over other groups, societies and nations that are tribal and divided. So if first you seek to make a killing and take control over the lives and fortunes of others, you seek first to exploit their differences. You take away the feeling that we can meet in the middle. You dispel any notion of progress to unity and harmony. And you provoke special interests and groups to dig in to protect their turf.
And while they are screaming at each other. You move in to privatize their world. You automate. You profit. And by the time they come around, they see they are owned.
Second maybe to hypocrisy as noted in the NYT today, a great American trait is opportunism. And one great target of opportunity is to seek advantage over other groups, societies and nations that are tribal and divided. So if first you seek to make a killing and take control over the lives and fortunes of others, you seek first to exploit their differences. You take away the feeling that we can meet in the middle. You dispel any notion of progress to unity and harmony. And you provoke special interests and groups to dig in to protect their turf.
And while they are screaming at each other. You move in to privatize their world. You automate. You profit. And by the time they come around, they see they are owned.
5
Plans to usurp our freedoms have been going on for a very long time.
No one took Mrs.Clinton seriously when she said, "....there is a vast right wing conspiracy...."
No one took Mrs.Clinton seriously when she said, "....there is a vast right wing conspiracy...."
7
Bosses, such as Trump and his ilk, are not collaborators or team players. They are dictators in their own world, with the power to get rid of anyone they find threatening.
That is what Trump finds impressive about Putin, because he has done it with a government, and clearly that is what Trump is trying to emulate.
Trump is finally catching on that he can't control everything now, and he's flailing --and running away from the heat in DC to get the adulation he craves.
He has yet to actually lead and govern -- signing papers is easier, and a much better photo op.
We'll see how long it lasts. Hopefully not long.
That is what Trump finds impressive about Putin, because he has done it with a government, and clearly that is what Trump is trying to emulate.
Trump is finally catching on that he can't control everything now, and he's flailing --and running away from the heat in DC to get the adulation he craves.
He has yet to actually lead and govern -- signing papers is easier, and a much better photo op.
We'll see how long it lasts. Hopefully not long.
2
A bizarre and emotional article. It was nice of her to admit at the end that yes, we have a judiciary, a vastly different history of citizen control, an old Constitution and other checks that make it impossible for a president here to even begin to imitate an autocrat.
I don't like Trumps zaniness, but calm down, take a Xanax, and stop fantasizing based on emotion instead of reality. If this is the best a long time reporter can do, it makes me more concerned for the ability of the press to educate us than about what a president can do in the context of our remarkably resilient system.
I don't like Trumps zaniness, but calm down, take a Xanax, and stop fantasizing based on emotion instead of reality. If this is the best a long time reporter can do, it makes me more concerned for the ability of the press to educate us than about what a president can do in the context of our remarkably resilient system.
Pity the poor nations whose people wish to bully vicariously through politicians.
We are at what could be the "beginning of the end" for rule-of-law liberal democracy in America and thus the world. The only remaining competing brand to rule-of-law liberal democracy is rule-of-man illiberal autocracy. So far, the latter is winning. Turkey, Hungary, Poland, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc. have all dismantled various human rights and press freedoms. Already authoritarian regimes like China have cracked down on "moderates."
Unfortunately, the deciding vote may be the global business sector. Unfortunate because their track record in standing up for rights in the countries, sorry "markets", in which they do business is terrible. Business schools have taught 3 generations of graduates that when it comes to whether or not to enable autocratic regimes, the guiding principle is amorality.
I fear we are headed toward global fascism.
If people
Unfortunately, the deciding vote may be the global business sector. Unfortunate because their track record in standing up for rights in the countries, sorry "markets", in which they do business is terrible. Business schools have taught 3 generations of graduates that when it comes to whether or not to enable autocratic regimes, the guiding principle is amorality.
I fear we are headed toward global fascism.
If people
2
The presentation of this article is fearmongering at its worst and not worthy of The New York Times. I didn't vote for Trump and I'm not a fan of Putin, but I'm not sure what this article offers except for pointing out that two world leaders share some personality traits--my goodness!--and goals such as eradicating terrorism and bolstering their country's economy. The author ominously applies Trump's campaign slogan to Russia, but I'm trying to understand how, even if Putin had used those words, that would indicate something dangerous for his country (how dare he try to improve its lot!) or point to a dangerous connection between the two leaders.
just look where Russian people were before Putin (in term of wealth) and where they are now. if Trump will be able to replicate that, many of American people will admire him, no matter what kind experience (tyranny or democracy) they had
Trump critics are approaching this in far too piecemeal a fashion….He needs to be denounced as a would be authoritarian who wants to destroy all rival centers of power--the FBI, CIA, free press….He is in the process. He does not mind about the bad press. He is being enabled by most Republicans and his supporters are not being covered as the strongman-loving cult members they actually are. We think we are defeating Trump because he is getting bad press-but this is not true. Day by day, he is dismantling our democracy. Tillerson, who knows nothing about the State Department, is pulling apart decades of expertise in that arm of government. This is horrifying. Melania reading the Lords Prayer at what seemed to be a John Birch Society revival meeting was a travesty. They are getting away with this because we are not demanding explicitly what we should: Trump's impeachment on multiple grounds. By the time we wake up, it may be too late. Do not underestimate their plan.
7
Another news story today discusses Sweden's bemused reaction to a line in Trump's campaign rally yesterday about "what happened just last night in Sweden." There was no terrorist incident or crime involving immigrants in Sweden that anyone there could remember. Once again, Trump was making up his own facts on the fly and using them to bolster his own and his audience's pre-existing prejudices. Putin may also manipulate the information that the public hears, but he is not so sloppily impulsive about inventing easily debunked claims -- he learned better in the KGB, which of course was masterful at "black propaganda." Let us be thankful for small mercies that Trump never worked in the KGB.
1
Our Putin? I do not think so. Even if there were truth in this it is a scare tactic. Do you really want the US to become an authoritarian state like Russia? Keep inciting distrust in our government and our president. Maybe at some point Trump will come to the conclusion I cannot win so I might as well commit the act I am accused. The author needs to stop the comparisons of this president and Vladimir Putin. There is no comparison. Putin is a killer and a thug. He eliminates his adversaries and steals from his people. He is a dictator and more in the mold of Adolph Hitler. The comparison is ludicrous. The author needs to uphold our government and its leaders. This country has had good and bad presidents in its past. We have survived and even prospered. We have a system in place for bad leaders and that is to vote them out of office or impeachment if necessary. Our Constitution and government has survived for over two hundred years. Hyperbole about Putin and our president is asinine and someone obviously wanting a cheap headline.
Poor Vladmir Putin! Does he have a wife like out Donald Trump? No ! He uses his women as a sex object . Repent Putin and make your future wife respectable so she can do what the Donald's wife did and recite the Lord's Pray in front of 10,000 people
WOW The coming of Rahab the Harlot and all the walls of Jericho fell
7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
WOW The coming of Rahab the Harlot and all the walls of Jericho fell
7-13 “The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense. This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:
Our Father in heaven,
Reveal who you are.
Set the world right;
Do what’s best—
as above, so below.
Keep us alive with three square meals.
Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.
Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil.
You’re in charge!
You can do anything you want!
You’re ablaze in beauty!
Yes. Yes. Yes.
Tensions between U.S. and Russia have been rising for several years. There are substantial economic and military imbalances, all favoring the U.S., in GDP ($2 trillion v $18 trillion), gross national Income ($253 billion v $10 trillion), revenues ($417 billion v $2.45 trillion), exports ($528 billion v $1.56 trillion), and annual defense expenditures ($46.6 billion v $581 billion). Trump’s bellicose nature and unpredictability may heighten the risk of political, economic and even military confrontation. The new dynamic is driven by Trump’s extreme narcissism compelling him to compete personally by taking advantage of U.S.’s national strengths.
1
The bromance between Mr Trump and Mr.Putin seems to have been more or less accepted by the white males that elected Mr. Trump.
A first impression could lead one to think of Russia as a stern but basically modern country, as evidenced by the sophisticated business dealings with Mr. Trump and his allies. However the white male cohort in the US, particularly those not having a college education, should take a second look before adopting Mr. Putin. His authoritarian rule, one referenced with favor by Mr. Trump, has resulted in a stunning fact. The males in Russia have a life expectancy of 67 years,compared with 79 years in the US. According to the Guardian, "Overall, a quarter of Russian men die before reaching 55, compared with 7% of men in the UK and about 10% in the United States."
An abundance of inexpensive vodka in Russia has, in my opinion, enabled its government to significantly reduce the expense of supporting those males who have passed the time when they could be of value in the military or factories. This is something our males should consider before supporting a president who models his future government on many of the same general principles as Mr. Putin.
A first impression could lead one to think of Russia as a stern but basically modern country, as evidenced by the sophisticated business dealings with Mr. Trump and his allies. However the white male cohort in the US, particularly those not having a college education, should take a second look before adopting Mr. Putin. His authoritarian rule, one referenced with favor by Mr. Trump, has resulted in a stunning fact. The males in Russia have a life expectancy of 67 years,compared with 79 years in the US. According to the Guardian, "Overall, a quarter of Russian men die before reaching 55, compared with 7% of men in the UK and about 10% in the United States."
An abundance of inexpensive vodka in Russia has, in my opinion, enabled its government to significantly reduce the expense of supporting those males who have passed the time when they could be of value in the military or factories. This is something our males should consider before supporting a president who models his future government on many of the same general principles as Mr. Putin.
1
time to move on- sooner, rather than later. probably better for don jon, too.
Remember the section of standardized tests that asked us to select, from among 3 or 4 choices, the one sentence that best reflected the meaning of a short essay? For "Our Putin" how about: How long will it be before we recognize DJT as the frightening (not entertaining) autocrat that he is becoming, and act on that recognition? We are being persuaded toward "strongman" governance long before there is any case to be made of that in our country.
Rick Perry, former governor of Texas, used similar tactics though of course on a smaller scale. Perry touted "job creation" as his main theme, going so far as to brag about how many jobs he "stole" from states like California. But behind the scenes he was using that to assemble a network of wealthy donors to fuel is campaign war chest and to amass an army of loyal underlings within Texas state government. He did this partly by doling out tax money, from his "Emerging Tech Fund," to companies that just so happened to be owned or run by major donors to his campaign (see link below). He also appointed wealthy donors to high positions within the government. These donors then hired loyal followers below them, spreading their tentacles and thus Perry's power throughout nooks and crannies of state government. A big side benefit of this, of course, was the ability to raise large sums of donations for the next campaign. It led to arrogance beyond anything I've seen, to a point where Perry actually declined to debate his opponent, Bill White, during the 2010 election for governor. And he won. How is that for democracy?
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-politics/2010/10/03/perry_s-tech-fu...
http://www.dallasnews.com/news/local-politics/2010/10/03/perry_s-tech-fu...
1
I lived next to the Soviet sector called East Berlin, and have no illusions about what life under Russian rule is about.
And unlike Mr. Trump, I have no doubts about what Vladimir Putin's intentions are, and the lengths he will go to in order to achieve them -- that is what makes their relationship, and ultimately, ours so dangerous.
While the outward appearances of their behaviours are different, their endgames remains the same, and now with the country effectively under one-party control, the pieces are in place for what may easily become not only a dictatorship, but a lifelong one.
Americans who cherish the freedom of living in a Democracy, have every reason to be afraid.
I know I am.
And unlike Mr. Trump, I have no doubts about what Vladimir Putin's intentions are, and the lengths he will go to in order to achieve them -- that is what makes their relationship, and ultimately, ours so dangerous.
While the outward appearances of their behaviours are different, their endgames remains the same, and now with the country effectively under one-party control, the pieces are in place for what may easily become not only a dictatorship, but a lifelong one.
Americans who cherish the freedom of living in a Democracy, have every reason to be afraid.
I know I am.
8
As a professional narrative analyst who has worked with the CIA, the NSA and the NRO among many others, I see a narrative forming in which President Trump may refuse to step down if he loses the next election.
I find this immensely disturbing, and I desperately hope I am wrong. But still, the narrative persists. If it is accurate, we must prepare now and we must not let this happen. To that end, I have created this collection of posts where I will track the emerging narrative to see if it strengthens, weakens, or alters its course.
Here is my initial narrative reasoning:
1. He is working hard to undermine voter's belief in the truthfulness of the press. A recent poll shows that more voters believe him than the media.
2. He is already sewing the seeds of disbelief in the fairness of the voting process, setting the stage to refute the next election results.
3. He passes off false information as truth, such as stating last week he had the highest electoral vote since Reagan.
4. He held a campaign rally yesterday, paid for by his campaign, because he officially filed to run again as soon as he was inaugurated.
5. When asked during the election if he would accept the results, he said he would - if he won.
Each of these, taken by itself, is no more than disturbing. But taken together, they form an emerging narrative pattern that can be analyzed as easily as any story. And this narrative suggests Trump intends to stay in office, even if he loses the next election.
I find this immensely disturbing, and I desperately hope I am wrong. But still, the narrative persists. If it is accurate, we must prepare now and we must not let this happen. To that end, I have created this collection of posts where I will track the emerging narrative to see if it strengthens, weakens, or alters its course.
Here is my initial narrative reasoning:
1. He is working hard to undermine voter's belief in the truthfulness of the press. A recent poll shows that more voters believe him than the media.
2. He is already sewing the seeds of disbelief in the fairness of the voting process, setting the stage to refute the next election results.
3. He passes off false information as truth, such as stating last week he had the highest electoral vote since Reagan.
4. He held a campaign rally yesterday, paid for by his campaign, because he officially filed to run again as soon as he was inaugurated.
5. When asked during the election if he would accept the results, he said he would - if he won.
Each of these, taken by itself, is no more than disturbing. But taken together, they form an emerging narrative pattern that can be analyzed as easily as any story. And this narrative suggests Trump intends to stay in office, even if he loses the next election.
9
The Russian people are a monotonous ethnic group. Finding a manipulation process for them based on history and earlier slave breeding programs is easy for Putin. We, the US citizens, are not a uniformly formed and manipulated population. Trump has found the method for controlling those with a desire to be serfs under an authoritarian dictator, but that group is not the majority. That is why his coup will fail. Most of us know he is a fool with a weak grasp of reality. Bannon and Miller are equally delusional.
2
The said thing is that Congress should be a check on an abusive president, and our current Congress is totally failing us. But I'm heartened to see the press and judiciary rally to save American democracy.
4
I worry about Mr. Trump's obvious attempts to consolidate power in what is essentially a one-party state, at least until the 2018 mid-term elections. Still, I wish for his good health because I think we would have more worries under a President Pence with the likely rending of the of the Establishment Clause and the 14th Amendment, and an eventual assault on personal freedoms.
1
I am Venezuelan and this is also the playbook used by Chavez and Maduro.....and to be clear....they were definitely influenced and some say funded, by Russia.
4
"We have a 229-year record of success with constitutional democracy that should long outlive the Trump era."
So many of the serious comparisons of Trump to various dictators (a long list could be inserted here) have a version of that stipulation embedded somewhere. Sadly, I have become more and more skeptical. The Trump cabal has undertaken the systematic destabilization of so many of the institutional protections that would be needed to "outlive" a Trump term: the print and broadcast media, the two-party system, Constitutional checks and balances by the three branches of government, and truth itself. Whether we see rabid neo-facism at his rallies or an oligarchical power grab, we now have a president who, by his own declaration, is the only one who can save America. Are we, as both individuals and institutions, strong enough to push back to save America for all of us?
So many of the serious comparisons of Trump to various dictators (a long list could be inserted here) have a version of that stipulation embedded somewhere. Sadly, I have become more and more skeptical. The Trump cabal has undertaken the systematic destabilization of so many of the institutional protections that would be needed to "outlive" a Trump term: the print and broadcast media, the two-party system, Constitutional checks and balances by the three branches of government, and truth itself. Whether we see rabid neo-facism at his rallies or an oligarchical power grab, we now have a president who, by his own declaration, is the only one who can save America. Are we, as both individuals and institutions, strong enough to push back to save America for all of us?
7
Putin has been in power for 17 years by means that are not always legitimate. If he believes that he alone can restore Russia to great power status, what are we to make of Trump? If we take Trump at his word, “I alone can fix it,” what does that mean for representative government under our Constitution?
In his business dealings, Trump has used the law as a set of tools to get his way. They were often inconveniences and occasionally obstacles to his will. But someone else was charged with upholding the law.
Trump is now in charge of the Executive Branch, with a compliant Republican majority in Congress, and soon to have a workable majority on the Supreme Court. Whether Trump can “fix it” is debatable, and he has already run into opposition. Should he suffer a real defeat, how will he react?
Who will protect the rule of law?
In his business dealings, Trump has used the law as a set of tools to get his way. They were often inconveniences and occasionally obstacles to his will. But someone else was charged with upholding the law.
Trump is now in charge of the Executive Branch, with a compliant Republican majority in Congress, and soon to have a workable majority on the Supreme Court. Whether Trump can “fix it” is debatable, and he has already run into opposition. Should he suffer a real defeat, how will he react?
Who will protect the rule of law?
3
Many of the pillars of our democracy have undergone drastic change in the past generation (historical media dealing with the internet and corporate consolidations, politicians becoming full-time fund raisers, public education failing to routinely attract the top of the graduating classes each year because of poor salaries), so it now seems likely that we were heading for a cataclysm of some kind. As a people we intuit some sort of discomfiting change going on; even as we watch our giant TV's in relative comfort. Perhaps this predisposes a portion of the electorate to Trump's dystopian view of the country.
We have become incredibly lazy. Rather than work hard to fix what is wrong, some of us have chosen to simply throw it all out and start over. We have disposables in our lives where previously we repaired things. Some of us seem ready to apply that approach to our system of government as well.
As always, there are things about our government and our way of life that could be better functioning or more just. But the answer is not to cut off our nose to spite our face. The answer is to have an appreciation for the idea that this country and its government have a built-in resiliency that is there for our use should be choose to do so. That is easier said than done; but it is easier done than not done. For if we do not work hard to save our country and its government we will have thrown away that for which millions have fought and died. Do not let that happen.
We have become incredibly lazy. Rather than work hard to fix what is wrong, some of us have chosen to simply throw it all out and start over. We have disposables in our lives where previously we repaired things. Some of us seem ready to apply that approach to our system of government as well.
As always, there are things about our government and our way of life that could be better functioning or more just. But the answer is not to cut off our nose to spite our face. The answer is to have an appreciation for the idea that this country and its government have a built-in resiliency that is there for our use should be choose to do so. That is easier said than done; but it is easier done than not done. For if we do not work hard to save our country and its government we will have thrown away that for which millions have fought and died. Do not let that happen.
3
He reminded me yesterday of the Japanese holdouts who hid out on Pacific Islands -- some of them for decades -- after World War II because they refused to surrender or didn’t know the war was over. Those men were widely respected and sympathized with when they came out of hiding. This time there will be a great clamor for him and his hangers-on to go back into hiding.
1
Donald Trump's presidency will be our first real experiment in how well the US is equipped to deal with the threat of dictatorship. The congress is weak and they want to push through an unpopular agenda for the rich. And, a large and vocal minority of people in the country are angry to the point of incoherence. Right now America is vulnerable to dictatorship and we have a man in the presidency who has all the qualities of a megalomaniac and he continues to stoke the hatreds of his followers. Hopefully the institutions that were developed to protect us will stand strong.
9
As I'm not American, I shouldn't be giving my opinion about an American President. But I feel too tempted to say that Putin is not so similar to Trump, as many people say. What both have in common is that they don't care about the results of their deeds on the economy of their respective countries. But Putin is an imperialist. He thinks that he makes Russia great by winning wars and conquering territories, while his people live lower and lower standards of living, the way the rulers of European nations thought more than a hundred years ago. He's extremely backward and so are his supporters. Trump's mistake is to think that proteccionism works, creates jobs, wealth and makes his country richer. He's also backward, but in a different way. If Trump doesn't change soon, his legacy will probably be to make China and maybe even India the most powerful economies of the world, with America being the third.
4
"Russian entanglements resulted in the quick dumping of the national security adviser, Michael T. Flynn"
This is one more example of the never ending misleading statements against Trump's administration made by the mainstream media. Although this statement is true, if you consider Flynn's phone call an "entanglement", there is no public evidence that Flynn said anything illegal or even improper to the Russian ambassador during that call. Yet I have read many mainstream media accounts that make it seem as if he had committed a form of treason for daring to suggest to the ambassador that Trump's administration -- which had openly said it wanted better ties with Russia than Obama had had -- might view the sanctions differently than Obama.
I personally find Trump's performance so far extremely sub-optimal, so much so that I have anxiety about the harm he might do to our country. But it does not help to have a mainstream media constantly making false or misleading statements against him in their anti-Trump media feeding frenzy. There are more than enough legitimate criticisms of him to be made for there to be any productive purpose in constantly making cheap shots against him, such as the misleading statement quoted above.
This is one more example of the never ending misleading statements against Trump's administration made by the mainstream media. Although this statement is true, if you consider Flynn's phone call an "entanglement", there is no public evidence that Flynn said anything illegal or even improper to the Russian ambassador during that call. Yet I have read many mainstream media accounts that make it seem as if he had committed a form of treason for daring to suggest to the ambassador that Trump's administration -- which had openly said it wanted better ties with Russia than Obama had had -- might view the sanctions differently than Obama.
I personally find Trump's performance so far extremely sub-optimal, so much so that I have anxiety about the harm he might do to our country. But it does not help to have a mainstream media constantly making false or misleading statements against him in their anti-Trump media feeding frenzy. There are more than enough legitimate criticisms of him to be made for there to be any productive purpose in constantly making cheap shots against him, such as the misleading statement quoted above.
2
I find it hopeful to contemplate that changes in national temperament are generational in nature. I see societal norms all around me that would have been unthinkable when I was growing up in the 50's. Multiculturalism is the norm for millennials. For gen-Xers, single parenthood and same-sex marriage are here to stay. For boomers, medicare and social security are the benchmarks. (I'm speaking generally, of course.) There is always resistance from older generations and the theologically hide-bound, but social change is codified by attrition. The old certainties are replaced by the new, with the more radical aspects falling by the wayside. The Russian zeitgeist has been tempered by a long history of authoritarian rule, so the Putin style is no doubt familiar, and in some ways comforting. Americans, on the other hand, reflect a tradition of independent action. Most of us don't sit and wait for orders, and most of us don't like being told what to do. Even the vocal supporters of Trump are displaying this trait (if in a somewhat bizarre manner). The question remains: is the Trump phenomenon a last cry of reactionary "traditionalists" or is it a harbinger of a generational shift. If the former, we can, with some relief, watch it disintegrate. If the latter – woe is us.
5
Good analysis of similar autocratic approaches of governance; but please do not perpetuate the White House story line that Flynn was forced to resign because he lied to Pence. The truth is that he got caught lying by the media and he took the fall for Trump's first of what will probably be many attempted cover-ups of nefariousness. If lying to the Veep was so bad, why didn't Trump let him know it when he was briefed by the intelligence agencies weeks before the story broke? A muzzled press is essential for autocrats to rule and why we should absolutely resist Trump's efforts to impose the Russian model here.
8
Like Putin, Trump is attempting to delegitimize anyone who stands in his way in implementing his authoritarian goals -- the media and the judiciary. Trump is brilliant at making enemies and distracting from issues that threaten him by changing the narrative to issues like "fake news", illegal voting, and the like.
It is absolutely imperative that we don't let it happen, that the media continues to report the real stories, holding him and the rest of the right-wing controlled government as accountable as one can. Unfortunately, the media may very well be our last line of defense against Trump and his Putin-like ambitions.
It is absolutely imperative that we don't let it happen, that the media continues to report the real stories, holding him and the rest of the right-wing controlled government as accountable as one can. Unfortunately, the media may very well be our last line of defense against Trump and his Putin-like ambitions.
3
Trump isn't America's Putin; he's America's Yeltsin. Remember Yeltsin? He was the alcoholic buffoon who took over Russia and was greeted with delight by ruling circles here. Yeltsin was the guy who attacked the Russian parliament with artillery. He was a laughingstock. And the U.S. did everything it could to keep Yeltsin in power, lending him Republican operatives to help with his reelection campaign.
Putin has long resented what Yeltsin did to both the Soviet Union and Russia. It must be delicious irony to him that he has helped to inflict a Yeltsin on America, which had helped inflict a Yeltsin on Russia.
Putin has long resented what Yeltsin did to both the Soviet Union and Russia. It must be delicious irony to him that he has helped to inflict a Yeltsin on America, which had helped inflict a Yeltsin on Russia.
Ms. Glasser ends a thought provoking op-ed with a sobering question: will American democracy survive?
It seems to me, to answer this question, we need to look beyond Trump to the 40 percent of America which represents the real threat to democracy. These are the people who sent Republicans to Washington to destroy it. They are upset that the majority of America has held sway in social, economic, environmental decision making. The minority demands its way over the will of the majority. To get their way they will break government. Nullify the Constitution, which created checks and balances, by sending their seditionists to Congress to rubber stamp proclamations of a fool and wannabe dictator.
A minority which is unhappy with the majority is prone to authoritarian government. So long as it is their king wielding power. This 40 percent does not believe in democracy. Our existential threat is this 40 percent which has taken control of all levers of our government.
It seems to me, to answer this question, we need to look beyond Trump to the 40 percent of America which represents the real threat to democracy. These are the people who sent Republicans to Washington to destroy it. They are upset that the majority of America has held sway in social, economic, environmental decision making. The minority demands its way over the will of the majority. To get their way they will break government. Nullify the Constitution, which created checks and balances, by sending their seditionists to Congress to rubber stamp proclamations of a fool and wannabe dictator.
A minority which is unhappy with the majority is prone to authoritarian government. So long as it is their king wielding power. This 40 percent does not believe in democracy. Our existential threat is this 40 percent which has taken control of all levers of our government.
5
Well written...and with Trump's win, truly segues with our continued "dumbing down" of America...e.g. FBook, Instagram viewing/influencing....which equates to the "Kraft cheese" mindset of his mass (typically white) segment followers.
And agree, big media outlets collude via its tentacles that extend/influence in our massive social media outlets.
Given where and how our U.S. economic structure is going, the key industry drivers are not supportive to "make America great again" from a blue collar standpoint, we'd have to limit goods/services with FAR less competition, because profit margins off higher American labor costs would have to give...
I DO agree that the excessive, overly paid comp plans of CEO's and other execs. of Fortune 500 co's needs to spiral down...because this gap which started in the Reagan '80's era, and increasingly wide with the lower rung of the ladder people...is truly part of the inflection point... of how Trump capitalized on our local and State level populations....with Obama, he didn't make the "local" citizen/politician trips....so these people felt blighted and needed to be heard...but the reality is we can't re-structure our economy to again be like the '70's.
And agree, big media outlets collude via its tentacles that extend/influence in our massive social media outlets.
Given where and how our U.S. economic structure is going, the key industry drivers are not supportive to "make America great again" from a blue collar standpoint, we'd have to limit goods/services with FAR less competition, because profit margins off higher American labor costs would have to give...
I DO agree that the excessive, overly paid comp plans of CEO's and other execs. of Fortune 500 co's needs to spiral down...because this gap which started in the Reagan '80's era, and increasingly wide with the lower rung of the ladder people...is truly part of the inflection point... of how Trump capitalized on our local and State level populations....with Obama, he didn't make the "local" citizen/politician trips....so these people felt blighted and needed to be heard...but the reality is we can't re-structure our economy to again be like the '70's.
3
Russia is a nation of 143 million people with an aging and shrinking ethnic Slavic Russian majority. America is a nation of 320 million with an aging and shrinking white majority. America's nominal annual GDP is 15x Russia's. America nominal annual military budget is 8x Russia's. Russia and America have 90% of world nukes. Trump has a big bad empire with bullets and cents.
Donald Trump is an ethnic sectarian half-German (grandfather) half-Scottish (mother) Protestant Aryan.
By contrast Vladimir Putin is an ethnic Slavic communist atheist. Just like the first and third Mrs. Trump.
Vladimir and Donald are blonde blue-eyed white men who prefer blonde blue -eyed white women.
Vladimir was naturally born poor in St. Petersburg and is a veteran of the Soviet KGB and Russian FSB. Putin is an experienced selected and elected political government veteran. Donald was naturally born a multimillionaire in New York City and has dodged any military or government service. Trump has managed a closely held real estate media entertainment secretive business.
Both men are white supremacist misogynist xenophobic hedonist heathen pagan sectarian bigots. Putin is a really tough amoral smart wise man. Trump is not. Putin is a thug. Trump is a pug.
Donald Trump is an ethnic sectarian half-German (grandfather) half-Scottish (mother) Protestant Aryan.
By contrast Vladimir Putin is an ethnic Slavic communist atheist. Just like the first and third Mrs. Trump.
Vladimir and Donald are blonde blue-eyed white men who prefer blonde blue -eyed white women.
Vladimir was naturally born poor in St. Petersburg and is a veteran of the Soviet KGB and Russian FSB. Putin is an experienced selected and elected political government veteran. Donald was naturally born a multimillionaire in New York City and has dodged any military or government service. Trump has managed a closely held real estate media entertainment secretive business.
Both men are white supremacist misogynist xenophobic hedonist heathen pagan sectarian bigots. Putin is a really tough amoral smart wise man. Trump is not. Putin is a thug. Trump is a pug.
5
What is even more alarming is the complete refusal on the part of Trump apologists and Republican politicians to face the reality that is Trump. Senator McCain and a few others have been brave enough to clearly state he is moving toward an authoritarian regime, but Ryan and McConnell (fatally compromised due to his wife's position on Trump's Cabinet) look past the incipient fascism, Russian ties, and dangers to America to their own party's ideological agenda.
Trump is somersaulting towards all of the trapping of fascism: hate mongering about minorities whom they blame for all problems whether they are Muslims or immigrants; attacks on the free press, civil servants, the intelligence agencies, whistle blowers, and any group that dares speak out or oppose the Fuhrer in training; and massive propaganda, fake news, and spin.
The Russian ties and continuous contact throughout the campaign between Trump staff members, supporters and Russian intelligence agencies are alarming. Trump knew about Flynn's conversation with Moscow because the acting attorney general told him. His response was to fire the acting attorney general.
Trump now is ignoring Russia's aggressive actions this past week - the firing of a missile, the spy ship off the coast of the United States, and the dangerous buzzing by Russian aircraft of an American destroyer.
What is in Trump's taxes? Is he being blackmailed by Russia for a sex tape or something else? Is there another Hanssen in the FBI?
Trump is somersaulting towards all of the trapping of fascism: hate mongering about minorities whom they blame for all problems whether they are Muslims or immigrants; attacks on the free press, civil servants, the intelligence agencies, whistle blowers, and any group that dares speak out or oppose the Fuhrer in training; and massive propaganda, fake news, and spin.
The Russian ties and continuous contact throughout the campaign between Trump staff members, supporters and Russian intelligence agencies are alarming. Trump knew about Flynn's conversation with Moscow because the acting attorney general told him. His response was to fire the acting attorney general.
Trump now is ignoring Russia's aggressive actions this past week - the firing of a missile, the spy ship off the coast of the United States, and the dangerous buzzing by Russian aircraft of an American destroyer.
What is in Trump's taxes? Is he being blackmailed by Russia for a sex tape or something else? Is there another Hanssen in the FBI?
8
Do not overlook one of Trump's promises that he will be "Putin America first." Of course he meant second, behind his wallet.
2
We can do nothing about Putin, but we don't have to indulge Trump's fantasies and hatreds.
If your local yokel GOP enabler wants to, then tell him he'll be out of a job in 2018.
If your local yokel GOP enabler wants to, then tell him he'll be out of a job in 2018.
6
Similarity of the every dictator (or want-to-be) is blaming foreigners as a cause of people's plight. The worst foreign country that Putin, Xi, Kim or Ayatollah blames is us, the honorable U.S. However, Trump, the want-to-be, blames China and Islamic countries for the plight of his supporters, namely his so-called "people" or "Americans" that do not include minorities. Instead he even blames minorities for being "lazy", stealing tax money or jobs of his supporters. In my short life here, I have never seen such an ugly President. However, I have seen some supporters as ugly as Trump in spite of the facts that most of them are warm and decent.
1
Franklin Roosevelt comes to mind as a President whose 4 election victories Alexander Trump may attempt to emulate!
1
President Fox is still in power to keep the Foxes in line and sign bills. The Republican Leadership needs Fox votes. The Republican Leadership is in charge. Cover them. They are making the policies. Tell us who, what, where, when, why.
1
Let's compare them on motives, means, and opportunities.
Motives: both seek personal wealth and a compliant apparently adoring constituency.
Means: vary between countries, but both act careless about crossing into illegal, unethical and unconstitutional modes.
Opportunities: Russians haven't had an economic recovery and they are going along with Putin's oligarch oil deals and other expansionist ventures. Trump is getting rolling on international business deals and national policies that repress dissent.
Motives: both seek personal wealth and a compliant apparently adoring constituency.
Means: vary between countries, but both act careless about crossing into illegal, unethical and unconstitutional modes.
Opportunities: Russians haven't had an economic recovery and they are going along with Putin's oligarch oil deals and other expansionist ventures. Trump is getting rolling on international business deals and national policies that repress dissent.
3
Congress must appoint bipartisan select committee and independent special counsel NOW to investigate Russiagate. And also stiffen their spines when it comes to pushing back against this administration's fascist tendencies like attacks on the press and judiciary. Is a tax cut REALLY worth leading our nation into fascism? If so, who ARE you people? Maybe all these old men think they'll be long gone before the atrocities start.
4
Since the election, I no longer surf the Times or Washington Post for free until my 10 stories run out. Now, my wife and I have subscribed to these two sources, we watch CNN, I check in on Fox (occasionally) and Slate, have a look at National Review and the Wall Street Journal to be informed. We have become card carrying members of the ACLU. The free press and our courts are the only protection we have from the whims of the "strong man" in the White House.
90
Here are a few things to consider why Trump respects Putin: After a newspaper wrote about Putin's divorce the office of that newspaper was suddenly closed and they were out of business. Reporters who critiqued him suddenly were executed. His political opponents were either brazenly executed just a short walk from the Kremlin. Or a former Russian spy of the Federal Security Service (formerly KGB) was poisoned with a cup of tea that had radioactive polonium-210. And most admirable Putin went from a low level KGB lieutenant making abound $35,000/year salary to a multi-billionaire with secret palaces. And he was never a businessman industrialist who made any products to earn that amount of money. Meanwhile Trump, at a rally in Melbourne, Florida yesterday told his supporters that he wants to see good state "Made in America" label. Meanwhile someone from Indonesia sent me a link to a video of one of Trump's clothing line made in Indonesia. More proof how loony his die hard supporters are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV8S9xPKQoQ&t=16s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CV8S9xPKQoQ&t=16s
2
Just over 100 Americans were killed by terrorists inside the US between 9/11 and 2014 (records avail). Note that this total includes people killed by white extremists. Another 350 or so were killed outside the US. Compare this with the 700 or so people in the US killed by lightning strikes (40/yr average). In 2015, toddlers playing with guns killed 15 people, while a Muslim American killed 5. Over 1 million Americans have been killed in the last 15 years with guns. Angry husbands with guns are a far greater threat to wives than terrorists. And yet we let a unstable demagogue with hidden, shady business connections all over the world threaten our basic freedoms and economic success with ill targeted, expensive police-state tactics. Putin has been applying the same tactics in Russia--and Trump is keen to emulate him.
2
And if the Republicans want to stop this, or redirect it toward a conservative democratic path, they can. Simple as -- offer reasonable proposals, get Democratic support, and vote them in. Trump cannot do bad things by himself.
1
This is more FAKE NEWS
The press will be dismantled and should be dismantled after the disgusting LIES told by so many in the crooked press about the MLK bust.
The first amendment doesn't apply to LIARS. See perjury, a bad offense
The press will be dismantled and should be dismantled after the disgusting LIES told by so many in the crooked press about the MLK bust.
The first amendment doesn't apply to LIARS. See perjury, a bad offense
Great article.
Thank you Ms. Glasser! Too easy to feel complacent here and say "it can never happen in America!" American voters must pay attention, read bona fide news instead of Facebook, listening to Fox News, Limbaugh, etc.
2
I am always struck by how successful it has been, historically speaking, to trump up fear in the populace and then justify repressive and violent measures in response to that fear. In other words, how so many so-called leaders have appealed to the inner coward that lurks in all of us instead of our moral and ethical courage. I have served in the military. I am not delusional. I know there are many threats out there in the world, but cowering behind a strong man who promises to protect us just makes un into a nation toadies, and to all appearances that is what Putin and perhaps Trump want -- a nation of cowering toadies, not free and independent people. I am not delusional, but I refuse to live in fear, and I especially refuse to live as anyone's toady. I hope I have the personal courage to live my own life freely, and the moral and ethical courage to stand up for others who want to live their lives, in pursuit of their own happiness.
3
I hope that someone with lots of time and lots of original and reliable sources at hand will find quotes by every Republican in Congress condemning each of the things Trump is doing and saying, as well as all their quotes condemning everything Putin is doing and saying and what he stands for. I wish we could be bombarded by such quotes every single day. I do not doubt for one moment that if any Democrat officeholder anywhere did and said the things that Trump is doing and saying, the Republicans would loudly condemn him or her immediately and set up investigations right and left.
3
A very interesting - and disturbing - article. Given Trump's autocratic beliefs and actions, it certainly makes sense that he would admire Putin and his dictatorial rule. "Only I can fix it", naturally follows. I only wonder when Trump starts professing admiration for other strongmen and regimes. My guess is it will soon be China since, not so coincidentally it just "surprisingly" approved the Trump trademark.
1
Later that same year you met Putin, without being a journalist, I had the chance to ask him a question.
After September 11th, the APEC meeting was held in Shanghai and I was as many others, shaken by the terrorist events in the US and, I had just made the decision to become an American citizen. It amazed me how on the other side of the world, many attendants to the event were not even close to the aftershock of the attack to the US.
Putin came to talk to a couple hundred corporate executives of the Asian-Pacific economies and did not mention his support to the Unites States initiatives to fight terrorism (now we know better), so when I had the chance, I asked him if he was going to support President Bush. His answer was a "no" in the form of "Russia will follow the initiatives of the UN"... He was detached.
Fifteen years later, Putin is very much attached to America's President and America's President might owe his job to Putin.
By the way, that was the first and last time I saw him, with other hundreds of people.
After September 11th, the APEC meeting was held in Shanghai and I was as many others, shaken by the terrorist events in the US and, I had just made the decision to become an American citizen. It amazed me how on the other side of the world, many attendants to the event were not even close to the aftershock of the attack to the US.
Putin came to talk to a couple hundred corporate executives of the Asian-Pacific economies and did not mention his support to the Unites States initiatives to fight terrorism (now we know better), so when I had the chance, I asked him if he was going to support President Bush. His answer was a "no" in the form of "Russia will follow the initiatives of the UN"... He was detached.
Fifteen years later, Putin is very much attached to America's President and America's President might owe his job to Putin.
By the way, that was the first and last time I saw him, with other hundreds of people.
I cannot help but think of this quote by President Abraham Lincoln regarding Mr. Trump: "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time".
We shall overcome!
We shall overcome!
1
Trump's style and approach reminds me of the descriptions told by grandparents, great aunts and great uncles about Mussolini even more than Putin. These are their stories, their impressions, I am not a historian. Mussolini was popular in small rural towns left behind by Italian royalty (like our 0.1% billionaires), and while he did improve infrastructure, the eventual cost was deadly. Jobs and income did not improve, and many Italians left the country, if they could, before bombs fell. Like Italy, struggling rural and small town folks are impressed with the Trump fantasy because of impatient desperation. Trump will deliver a meager carrot for an empty belly and fill some potholes, but he he will rob the nations coffers, and take away Big Bird for the kids. Republicans (save for brave, patriotic McCain) capitulate, as many Italians did back then. Replace these Republicans, do not rewrite a tragic history. We must win the hearts and minds of many who voted for the Trump fantasy with excellent local, young candidates for Congress. We want the same things: a raise, labor rights, health care, safe roads, great public schools. Trump wants none of this. Expose the truth. We are one.
5
Unlike Putin, Trump cannot legally rule by decree, even though he very clearly wishes he could. And he doesn't understand the role and responsibilities of his office, but sees himself as a reality Tv star, which is why he is obsessing over his ratings and picks feuds with critical media.
If he doesn't replace Bannon with an experienced ideologue who actually knows how to run a government, he won't achieve anything on his own accord. Instead, the political agenda will be run by Congress. That's what Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are counting on and that's why we'll see a lot of vouchering of government services but no infrastructure program but also not a genuine Muslim ban.
Putin, on the other hand, knew how to wield the awesome power of the Russian presidency to transform Russia in the way he wanted. Russia never had an independent judiciary or a tradition of the press as a loyal opposition. This is why Putin succeeded where Trump will fail.
If he doesn't replace Bannon with an experienced ideologue who actually knows how to run a government, he won't achieve anything on his own accord. Instead, the political agenda will be run by Congress. That's what Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are counting on and that's why we'll see a lot of vouchering of government services but no infrastructure program but also not a genuine Muslim ban.
Putin, on the other hand, knew how to wield the awesome power of the Russian presidency to transform Russia in the way he wanted. Russia never had an independent judiciary or a tradition of the press as a loyal opposition. This is why Putin succeeded where Trump will fail.
I may outlive the Trump years, but what about the legacy the young ones will inherit? It is tragic to see the destruction going on and to know that they will have a real mess to clean up. There was such hope during the Obama years. Will we ever see that again?
3
The Russians, i.e. Putin, are nothing if not patient, stoic, smart, devious and utterly without scruples. With only the last item in that list as the exception, Trump is none of these. And he believes he is in control.
America is in deep, deep trouble.
America is in deep, deep trouble.
3
Putin's Russia emerged from an ash heap if political and economic catastrophe. So did Hitler's Germany. So, for that matter, did Lenin's Soviet Union with the added humiliation of military reversals on the eastern front of WW1.
Today's America offers no such parallel. Our economy is fundamentally healthy, if sluggish. It is near full employment, even though much of the work offers only a fraction of the compensation of our former industrial economy. Thirty-plus million citizens have been freed from the spirit-sapping insecurity of catastrophic ill health.
Yet the nation chose an insubstantial demagogue as its president. Why? Who knows, but something is eating away at our national character, making us insular, angry, intolerant, violent and fearful, all the attributes contrary to what made America great in the first place.
Our politics of relentless partisan spite have doused the fiery national mood with kerosene, but the syndrome goes deeper than that. We had better figure it out or we risk Putinizing America by our own collective hand with no obviously external disaster as a cause.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
Today's America offers no such parallel. Our economy is fundamentally healthy, if sluggish. It is near full employment, even though much of the work offers only a fraction of the compensation of our former industrial economy. Thirty-plus million citizens have been freed from the spirit-sapping insecurity of catastrophic ill health.
Yet the nation chose an insubstantial demagogue as its president. Why? Who knows, but something is eating away at our national character, making us insular, angry, intolerant, violent and fearful, all the attributes contrary to what made America great in the first place.
Our politics of relentless partisan spite have doused the fiery national mood with kerosene, but the syndrome goes deeper than that. We had better figure it out or we risk Putinizing America by our own collective hand with no obviously external disaster as a cause.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
3
Apparently another common interest is oil. Rexe's old oil company holds the deeds to 11 million acres of Russian land for drilling rights. I think if all goes well between the two, sanctions will be lifted and the the oil and money will flow, somehow to both leaders. Tillerson will make those arrangements. Follow the money, David Frumm said way long ago.
4
I was in general agreement with your argument until I read about your journey into La La Land. 229 years of success? No slavery, no genocide, no Jim Crow, no Viet Nam war? You are part of the liberal problem. You choose your statements based on look and feel rather than facts. That's your fault and your problem. That is why you lost. You just can't make this stuff up!
Donald Trump lacks the calculating intelligence of Vladimir Putin. Trump responds at a subjective visceral level, detailed malice of forethought is not in his intellectual quiver. Just look at the current chaos cluster. His incipient fascism and psychological dysfunction becomes more apparent each day. The rally in Melbourne was a return to the political womb, where he could obtain the adulatory fix he craves. His solipsistic lack of awareness and growing fascistic tendencies will at somepoint precipitate a true Constitutional crisis. At that point, shameless partisan political hacks like Mitch McConnell and spineless self promoters like Paul Ryan must be swept aside, anf Republican's of real integrity must emerge to shut Trump down.
5
I think that there's a highly effective way to move people's minds in a way that exposes Trump for who he is and who he isn't. It's the movies. Certainly there's a wealth of interesting material, both words and deeds, that has spewed forth from that toxic brain of his.
Most of us who follow politics know how much DJT hates the "media". (Is the news media obligated to televise his campaign-style "events"?) He relies on their coverage to create maximum impact. But when it comes to negative coverage, he's quick to denounce it as "fake news". Well, isn't it time that Hollywood gets involved to expose our "Fake President" through some fictional account that mirrors the reality!?
Hollywood has shown that there's nothing like a good movie to move minds, bodies, and souls. People love a good movie that touches them in a meaningful way. And, boy, aren't we ready for a real humdinger of a movie?!
The recent SNL skits on MSNBC that have focused their hilarious satire on DJT have been absolutely restorative...a refreshing change in dealing with political coverage in a truly entertaining and engaging way. Well, I suggest that our creative minds and writers apply their talents to the "screenplay". It can be presented as fiction.
I'm not proposing that it necessarily be a comedy, although that is a distinct possibility as well. It can also be a serious treatment that parallels what we all are collectively experiencing as Trump's "shock and awe" approach to politics.
Most of us who follow politics know how much DJT hates the "media". (Is the news media obligated to televise his campaign-style "events"?) He relies on their coverage to create maximum impact. But when it comes to negative coverage, he's quick to denounce it as "fake news". Well, isn't it time that Hollywood gets involved to expose our "Fake President" through some fictional account that mirrors the reality!?
Hollywood has shown that there's nothing like a good movie to move minds, bodies, and souls. People love a good movie that touches them in a meaningful way. And, boy, aren't we ready for a real humdinger of a movie?!
The recent SNL skits on MSNBC that have focused their hilarious satire on DJT have been absolutely restorative...a refreshing change in dealing with political coverage in a truly entertaining and engaging way. Well, I suggest that our creative minds and writers apply their talents to the "screenplay". It can be presented as fiction.
I'm not proposing that it necessarily be a comedy, although that is a distinct possibility as well. It can also be a serious treatment that parallels what we all are collectively experiencing as Trump's "shock and awe" approach to politics.
2
Putin owns the largest oil company in Russia. He made a 500 Billion dollar deal with the CEO of Exxon Mobil. Obama put sanctions in place which stopped that deal. Russia then hacked into our government in order to get Trump elected. When the CIA told Congress this in September, Mitch McConnell refused to tell the American people, blackmailing Obama saying he would frame it as playing partisan Here are some facts : Decide for yourselves 1) Trump owes Blackstone/ Bayrock group $560 million dollars (one of his largest debtors and the primary reason he won't reveal his tax returns) 2) Blackstone is owned wholly by Russian billionaires, who owe their position to Putin and have made billions from their work with the Russian government. 3) Other companies that have borrowed from Blackstone have claimed that owing money to them is like owing to the Russian mob and while you owe them, they own you for many favors. 4) The Russian economy is badly faltering under the weight of its over-dependence on raw materials which as you know have plummeted in the last 2 years leaving the Russian economy scrambling to pay its debts. 5) Russia has an impetus to influence our election to ensure the per barrel oil prices are above $65 ( they are currently hovering around $50) 6) Russia can't affordably get at 80% of its oil reserves and reduce its per barrel cost to compete with America at $45 or Saudi Arabia at $39.
1
I am very worried about what the president and Putin have in common since in recent times communism and neo-fascism have merged and share the same aims. Goals these two leaders share highlight the affinity of the two men and include: their mutually authoritarian stance, their virulent hatred of any who disagree with them and their intense ardor to muzzle the media. These attitudes smack of the outmoded dictatorships of Mussolini and Hitler and are abhorrent. They represent the very things America bravely stood against in WWII. We must stand up again.
5
Authoritarians need boogey-men. Bin Laden served that purpose and killing him would of taken away his usefulness. Now IS serves that role quite well for them. IS says "your welcome!"
Keep the nation in fear by pointing at the evil with one hand, while the right hand is busy undoing all the progressive achievements of the last 70 years. Bye bye SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, civil rights, voting rights, clean skies, clean rivers, and do svidaniya to consumer protection from banks and healthcare.
Let us pay more attention to the dangerous policies being enacted instead of the outrageous, insane, comments that spew like clockwork from Trump when he finds his administration in the hot water du jour.
The aggressive lashing out is evidence enough of this man's instability, and after all the countless rants we should stop being surprised that at heart he wants to be Czar in Chief.
Keep the nation in fear by pointing at the evil with one hand, while the right hand is busy undoing all the progressive achievements of the last 70 years. Bye bye SSI, Medicare, Medicaid, civil rights, voting rights, clean skies, clean rivers, and do svidaniya to consumer protection from banks and healthcare.
Let us pay more attention to the dangerous policies being enacted instead of the outrageous, insane, comments that spew like clockwork from Trump when he finds his administration in the hot water du jour.
The aggressive lashing out is evidence enough of this man's instability, and after all the countless rants we should stop being surprised that at heart he wants to be Czar in Chief.
2
Senator McCain is 100% right in his assessment that the president's hatred of the press suggests dictatorship. I salute the Senator for his courageous stance. Hooray!
5
You people need to get over it. You lost. If America prefers Putin over Crooked Hillary, then he's going to be who we side with.
It's how democracy works. We VOTED for strong leaders who will take it to the bad judges and enemy media if necessary.
The amazing rally yesterday with hundreds of thousands was reminiscent of when America was great. My heart soared. The greatest Presidential moment since Reagan.
It's how democracy works. We VOTED for strong leaders who will take it to the bad judges and enemy media if necessary.
The amazing rally yesterday with hundreds of thousands was reminiscent of when America was great. My heart soared. The greatest Presidential moment since Reagan.
1
Great article. We still don't know how far Putin's meddling in our political arena went but the almost comic book ego manifestations (see Beowulf) so well illustrated in this article do seem to describe why Trump and Putin have expressed admiration for each other beyond the obvious ambitions of both to restore greatness and achieve a legacy of greatness for themselves. Neither seems to be very concerned with how many innocents will be hurt along the way.
2
Trump is not an intellect. He does, mostly, work from a core emotion charged by narcissism--not a world-view, but a Trump-view. I'm not sure Putin is any closer to being an intellect, but he is calculating and he was trained to be just that. The person Americans must keep their eye on is Bannon. He is an intellect and an ideologue and a very, very dangerous man. He whispers in Trump's ear and Trump is listening.
8
Baloney.
Drawing parallels between Putin and Trump is the game of a fool.
Putin is a cold, calculating, ruthless career apparatchik and a former intelligence officer, who longs for the days of the Soviet Union - not because he misses Leninism, but because he misses the ability to instill fear in the hearts of opposing nations.
Trump is a real estate huckster who was elected because the Republican voting base finally got sick of their own embedded elitists and dumped them, and, because only other option was Hillary Clinton, whose duplicity, elitism, influence peddling, and obvious scorn for the average American, made her presidency unthinkable to a very large number of both Democratic and Republican voters.
Trump may be unpleasant, but that's not an uncommon feature amongst New Yorkers.
3
Putin is the hand, Trump is the tool. That's it. Putin manipulates the tool, has for years, to get it into position where he can make some cuts with it.
3
Susan Glasser is right to worry over the striking parallels between the methods of these two cartoonishly anti hero-type 'leaders'. No, as Glasser points out, Trump's time in office will certainly not be the end of American democracy, but if Trump continues to follow along the dangerous path he's begun; fostering fears and sewing deep division among the people, he could well be the beginning of the end.
2
For all the hysteria that the Russians are coming, the media haven't really articulated what dangers Russia poses to the US. It is economically and militarily weak relative to the US except for its nuclear arsenal. People seem to never have received the news that Russia isn't the USSR and doesn't threaten the foundations of capitalist ideology anymore. Apparently, the politicians need to point to an external threat to deflect from internal problems, and the Democrats in particular are looking for an excuse for their spectacular loss.
The treat to the American Democracy is within. It is the political system that is corrupeted by money, promotes the dumbing down of the electorate by starving its education system from resources and talent, and clings to religion as a political tool.
The American foreign policy leaders blew an opportunity of a century to change the world for the better when the Soviet Union fell apart. As the author notes, the Russian people yearned to join the civilized world after being shackled down by communism. Instead, the American advisers taught that all that was needed for the transition was capitalism and some rich people. What emerged, not surprisingly, is the Republican dream state of one party and crony capitalism.
Russia today represents a mirror for the Republican vision. People should take a close look and then ask what really makes America great? Certainly not that.
The treat to the American Democracy is within. It is the political system that is corrupeted by money, promotes the dumbing down of the electorate by starving its education system from resources and talent, and clings to religion as a political tool.
The American foreign policy leaders blew an opportunity of a century to change the world for the better when the Soviet Union fell apart. As the author notes, the Russian people yearned to join the civilized world after being shackled down by communism. Instead, the American advisers taught that all that was needed for the transition was capitalism and some rich people. What emerged, not surprisingly, is the Republican dream state of one party and crony capitalism.
Russia today represents a mirror for the Republican vision. People should take a close look and then ask what really makes America great? Certainly not that.
2
Wait until Great Leader Trump starts to issue executive orders shutting down the press due to "lack of loyalty to the administration" or ICE agents begin to round up "political undesirables" to make America great again.
Then wait for the knock on the door in the middle of the night.
But by then it's too late and the hostile takeover of America
by Trump Inc will be complete. Trump will own America.
Then welcome to the new Trumpocracy---
government of the Trump, by the Trump and only for the Trump.
Americans simply cannot let that disaster happen.
Trump the Great American Despot?
Don't let the President hinder the checks and balances
that are in place---the press, the Courts and Congress.
Remember that a clear majority---54%---voted NOT TRUMP
and that 3 million more voters voted for Clinton rather than Trump.
Don't let a Putin wanabee get a start on his regime.
Then wait for the knock on the door in the middle of the night.
But by then it's too late and the hostile takeover of America
by Trump Inc will be complete. Trump will own America.
Then welcome to the new Trumpocracy---
government of the Trump, by the Trump and only for the Trump.
Americans simply cannot let that disaster happen.
Trump the Great American Despot?
Don't let the President hinder the checks and balances
that are in place---the press, the Courts and Congress.
Remember that a clear majority---54%---voted NOT TRUMP
and that 3 million more voters voted for Clinton rather than Trump.
Don't let a Putin wanabee get a start on his regime.
5
If it is true that Putin has silenced opposition journalists, then Trump seems to be following that lead also. Putin could use clandestine operatives for such heinous tasks. With no such "wet affairs" group at his disposal, Trump's statement that the press is "the enemy of the American people" might be a call to action for the American hate groups who view him as their leader to attack press outlets, the way that the magazine Charlie Hebdo was attacked by Muslim extremists in Paris. How ironic that our President, so concerned about radical Muslim extremists, appears to admire one of their tactics -- attacking the press.
4
One of the things Trump must admire about Putin is the scale and success of his kleptomania. Putin' stolen wealth in the 10's of $billions makes Trump feel inferior.
59
Yeah, it was so much better when the globalist neocons were looting Russia when Yeltsin was around.
Trump is not America's Putin. He seeks to emulate his Russian counterpart. But he is merely a buffoon and a laughing stock, not a Mephistopheles, that instils fear. Yet both Trump and Putin seem obsessed with satanic pride and dark ambitions. While Putin seeks to unite Russia one way or the other, Trump divides the country.
Americans need to ensure that Trump's attacks on media and judiciary won't erode the freedoms of press and the separation of powers. Trump hates mainstream media that are critical of him, because some outlets are powerful and known for serious journalism. He may be able to convince his supporters of "dishonest" media, but he will fail to impress the international viewers and readers.
Americans need to ensure that Trump's attacks on media and judiciary won't erode the freedoms of press and the separation of powers. Trump hates mainstream media that are critical of him, because some outlets are powerful and known for serious journalism. He may be able to convince his supporters of "dishonest" media, but he will fail to impress the international viewers and readers.
57
It's foolish not to fear Trump and the stupid masses that will follow him...
3
Another point reported but not discussed enough is the effort by right wing militias to join law enforcement. Look at how border patrol agents slow walked or temporarily ignored federal court orders to not implement the immigration ban. Look at the recent excesses of ICE. In any public resistance movement against authoritarianism, success depends to some degree on the security forces not being willing to engage in massive human rights abuses and lawlessness.
The right wing in this country is armed to the teeth and they are absolutely behind Trump. They consider the congressional leadership traitors. One could see scenarios where civil resistance become violent and bloody, leading to imposition of authoritarian edicts that ignore courts. This is a real possibility if the opposition to Trump continues to grow and prevents him from implementing his agenda.
The right wing in this country is armed to the teeth and they are absolutely behind Trump. They consider the congressional leadership traitors. One could see scenarios where civil resistance become violent and bloody, leading to imposition of authoritarian edicts that ignore courts. This is a real possibility if the opposition to Trump continues to grow and prevents him from implementing his agenda.
27
Steve,
You raise a number of points that haven't gotten enough attention. These are legitimate concerns. Thank you for speaking out.
You raise a number of points that haven't gotten enough attention. These are legitimate concerns. Thank you for speaking out.
2
The very best thing about Donald, and I don't say this lightly, is that he is 70 years old. 70. The average lifespan for a white American male is 77, give or take a couple of years, and even though he has the "best" of everything, including medical care, he's fat, tall, eats junk, sleeps erratically, has a hysterical personality, and his father had Alzheimer's. And then there's that constant sniffing.
Maybe his new-found fascination with religion has given him hope that in 17 years he will hold the same kind of power and riches that Mr Putin enjoys, but if I were him I wouldn't bank on it.
Maybe his new-found fascination with religion has given him hope that in 17 years he will hold the same kind of power and riches that Mr Putin enjoys, but if I were him I wouldn't bank on it.
20
I believe there are parallels between Trump and Putin. They both long for the past and their base does also. Putin for the days when Russia was a super power run by a all powerful leader nobody questioned, his followers the days when the state took care of them. Trump and his followers long for the days when white, male, Christians ran things and the rest knew their place. We are saved by term limits but it will be a horrible ride!!
13
It seems that economic conditions in Russia today mimic those before 1917 and the overthrow of the czar.
But a revolution would be impossible, given Putin's military arsenal.
But a revolution would be impossible, given Putin's military arsenal.
3
Trump in his rally-speech referred to the nation-state. This is new language.
A nation-state is a state whose citizens are homogenous and have a common descent and language. This is one of the things he has in common with Putin--they both want to purify their countries. We see that already here--the round-up non-Americans to make America pure and great again.
A nation-state is a state whose citizens are homogenous and have a common descent and language. This is one of the things he has in common with Putin--they both want to purify their countries. We see that already here--the round-up non-Americans to make America pure and great again.
31
No analysis of Trump should be considered without a discussion of how GOP tactics cleared the way for his rise to power. To be surprised at Trump you must refuse to see how the modern right has been laying the ground work that has led us to our current flirtation with fascism.
55
More hate filled drivel from bitter angry democrats still in denial over Mr. Trump's resounding victory. Get over it already.
4
No one is in denial dude!
Trump did not have RESOUNDING victory. As a democrat I would not have any trouble to accept a Republican president. My problem with Trump is that he is not a normal person. If you even ignore his criminal and sexual past, at present he is not behaving a normal person even, forget about presidential. He does not have even National Security Team which is the number one important in government. He is campaigning for 2020 presidential election now? He has to start governing. As a patriotic citizen we need a good president and good government. We do not need a Russian mole in and around Oval Office . Steve, put your country first above your love for Trump.
That word, "resounding," doesn't mean what you think it means. He lost the popular vote. He has NO mandate. How hard is that to understand?
1
Mr. Trump, having spent his life in a business environment as the absolute ruler, wants to see the same in governing a country, a nation. His style of ordering something done and declaring it a huge success while putting down his opponents as a disaster created a false aura of success. His failures are well documented but he rationalizes them as huge success stories. This narrative, which he controlled with absolute power is not a transferable skill to governing. We are all witnessing the failure of the method in hi executive orders, his cabinet appointees removing their names, and his news conferences where he attacks the journalists and the media as a whole.
He talks about "fake news" coming from the mainstream media while he and his team spew decidedly "fake news" like "things happening in Sweden" or "the killings in Atlanta" and many more. His appeal to a core group who support him unconditionally is a double edged sword and it will lose the sharp edge it seems to have and will start cutting him as he fails to deliver on his promises like "the wall" or "repeal and replace ACA." As he loses the support around the fringes of his core group, they will unravel.
Trump may be a replica of Putin, but America is not Russia with a very short experience with "democracy" and its institutions. The extraordinarily complex world seems to have a way to handle the despots or despot wannabes and pass them through its digestive system in time. Just control the short term damage.
He talks about "fake news" coming from the mainstream media while he and his team spew decidedly "fake news" like "things happening in Sweden" or "the killings in Atlanta" and many more. His appeal to a core group who support him unconditionally is a double edged sword and it will lose the sharp edge it seems to have and will start cutting him as he fails to deliver on his promises like "the wall" or "repeal and replace ACA." As he loses the support around the fringes of his core group, they will unravel.
Trump may be a replica of Putin, but America is not Russia with a very short experience with "democracy" and its institutions. The extraordinarily complex world seems to have a way to handle the despots or despot wannabes and pass them through its digestive system in time. Just control the short term damage.
14
Trump is different from Putin in that his caprice defeats his own intentions. Yet the real damage from the amazement as De Vos, Pruitt, and Price are put in charge of agencies they intend to destroy, the willful blindness of the GOP to perform minimal checks upon the President--all of this destroys our faith in our governing institutions for a great swath of the electorate. What we are finding is that our checks and balances are only as good as the collective will of our houses of Congress and the Judiciary. Yet their ability to be checks upon Presidential power (or even sheer ineptness) are constrained by their real personal desire to keep their jobs. As citizens we have no real power to recall Congressmen or the President; it's all concentrated in a Congress who now is unashamed to put Party loyalty above that they owe to the nation. Our only power is in voting and there too Congress is continuing its assault by systematic gerrymandering and restricting the ability to vote.
What worries me is not so much Trump, but a more determined and calculating President in the future after Trump has shown the way to take power.
What worries me is not so much Trump, but a more determined and calculating President in the future after Trump has shown the way to take power.
43
Much of America likes what Trump is doing and are not bothered about how he is doing it. The US has been primed to care only about ideology and not about structure and process. Belief in demoocracy is down and faith in autocracy is up.
Our Congress was voted in by people who want them to do (or not do) what they are doing. People have forgotten that what goes around, comes around. That when you (the universal you, not you personally) destroy the checks on power to get what you want, eventually you will have nothing to check the power of those who want to impose on you what you decidedly *don't* want.
People are understandably frustrated with the status quo. But it matters, when we upend it, that we don't destroy our own power to affect what comes after, by putting that power in the hands of autocrats.
Our Congress was voted in by people who want them to do (or not do) what they are doing. People have forgotten that what goes around, comes around. That when you (the universal you, not you personally) destroy the checks on power to get what you want, eventually you will have nothing to check the power of those who want to impose on you what you decidedly *don't* want.
People are understandably frustrated with the status quo. But it matters, when we upend it, that we don't destroy our own power to affect what comes after, by putting that power in the hands of autocrats.
1
As a citizen talking to other citizens, I can say (at least those I talk to) are thinking and saying these same things. I don't necessarily think our democratic institutions, however many decades they've been around, will stop Trump from consolidating power and doing some horrible things. Those institutions haven't stopped him yet. And if he refuses to follow legal precedent or a direct court prohibition, what do we do about it?
26
Trump may consolidate power and do terrible things (he is already) -- but don't underestimate the will of the American people to find a way to stop him.
We got rid of King George. We can get rid of a Dictator.
We got rid of King George. We can get rid of a Dictator.
1
"We have a 229-year record of success with constitutional democracy that should long outlive the Trump era." It should, but will it? it's up to the American people to answer that question. Are we strong enough, persistent enough and assertive enough to force our elected Federal representatives to do what must be done?
Impeach. Convict. Remove.
Impeach. Convict. Remove.
65
A piercing glance into the obvious is that Putin is playing Trump like a Charlie Daniel's fiddle: orchestration: "The Devil Went Down To Georgia". It is equally evident that Trump's behavior is predictable and therefore malleable. Trump's behavioral buttons stand out like a bullseye on a sitting duck or a fish in a barrel. The newest (Communist twist) is the good relations between China and Russia and Beijing punishment for Kim Jong-UN, the assassin, (cessation of coal purchases from Pyongyang). Russia, China and Donald Trump are cohorts in a big geopolitical game. Will China buy Kentucky coal...watch and learn.
13
Trump also governs much like Saddam Hussein whose leadership skills he explicitly praised in a 2016 N. Carolina campaign stop. Key similarities:
• Trusted family members in key positions
• Demand for absolute personal loyalty
• Amplified divisions between country factions
• Demonized and suppressed press
• Held rallies to stoke support
• Valued easily lying staffers like Baghdad Bob
• Sought absolute control
• Consumed with building personal wealth
Congress must resolve not to let similar DESPOTIC RULE take hold here.
• Trusted family members in key positions
• Demand for absolute personal loyalty
• Amplified divisions between country factions
• Demonized and suppressed press
• Held rallies to stoke support
• Valued easily lying staffers like Baghdad Bob
• Sought absolute control
• Consumed with building personal wealth
Congress must resolve not to let similar DESPOTIC RULE take hold here.
106
Jack - Unfortunately, Congress has become part of the despotic rule because of its moral apathy. Our only hope is that the New York Times or Washington Post uncovers a smoking gun that will put Trump Inc. out of business.
3
Someone is fixing European and Asian governments using criminal investigations to knock off moderate leaders one by one. It's no coincidence.
13
Another similarity between Putin's Russia and Trump's America --- creeping anti-Semitism.
66
Well, much as I personally dislike Putin and his kleptocracy, I have to admit that his reign was as free from antisemitism as any in Russian history. He is surrounded by Jews, he lets people practice Judaism, he has good relations with Israel and so on. It is true. Ther eis a lot to dislike about Vladimir Putin but not antisemitism. Sad truth
1
You can blame anti-immigration on him and maybe even racism, but not that. He loves Israel and would go to the mat for them. http://jewishbusinessnews.com/2016/11/21/donald-trumps-failed-israeli-bu...
Another Trump is Putin, Trump is Hitler, Trump is Stailin, Trump is Pol Pot screed.
Yawn. Seriously. You hysterical folks need to stop being so lazy and come up with a new lame partisan attack. This one is pretty well played out and it was pretty well played out when conservatives were doing the same to Obama.
Yawn. Seriously. You hysterical folks need to stop being so lazy and come up with a new lame partisan attack. This one is pretty well played out and it was pretty well played out when conservatives were doing the same to Obama.
7
Mike -- or is it Boris in Valdistock --
A screed is an essay filled with inflammatory prose designed to whip up public anger about a perceived wrong. Often fact free -- or filled with misleading or false information – they are (sadly) a familiar feature of internet communication: and (more sadly) several recent political rallies and press conferences.
The measured, cool style of Glasser, as well its scrupulous reportage make it an argumentative essay.
To characterize it as a screed is to use an inflammatory word designed to whip public anger about a perceived wrong. . . . .
A screed is an essay filled with inflammatory prose designed to whip up public anger about a perceived wrong. Often fact free -- or filled with misleading or false information – they are (sadly) a familiar feature of internet communication: and (more sadly) several recent political rallies and press conferences.
The measured, cool style of Glasser, as well its scrupulous reportage make it an argumentative essay.
To characterize it as a screed is to use an inflammatory word designed to whip public anger about a perceived wrong. . . . .
1
If you re-read the article it discusses the tragedy of the fact the Russians have never known democracy and only had a brief taste of it when the soviet State collapsed before descending back into Putin's authoritarianism. Democracy is a fragile construct that must be defended by an informed, responsible and engaged citizenry. Be the cult member discussed in this article at your own peril. YOUR freedom is o the line.
2
I assume that you are using hypperbole to make your point. Nevertheless, I mostly disagree with it.
Trump and Putin generated these comparisons with, and links to, each other by their own words and actions. Which, btw, they don't even bother to hide.
False equivalence is becoming the scourage of political debates these days, on both sides of the political spectrum. I say we all abandon it; doing so would make for more meaningful conversations on vital issues.
That said, I agree that there is an over he top element to *some* reaction to Donald Trump's presidency. However, this article is not in that category. Dismissing its observations is a mistake, and potentially, a big one.
Trump and Putin generated these comparisons with, and links to, each other by their own words and actions. Which, btw, they don't even bother to hide.
False equivalence is becoming the scourage of political debates these days, on both sides of the political spectrum. I say we all abandon it; doing so would make for more meaningful conversations on vital issues.
That said, I agree that there is an over he top element to *some* reaction to Donald Trump's presidency. However, this article is not in that category. Dismissing its observations is a mistake, and potentially, a big one.
1
The bigger problem I think we have is the GOP-led Congress. Both Trump and the GOP more resemble a cult-like leader and a cult. Their supporters do not ever question them, and in fact, what gives them energy is both the GOP and Trump's tactic of presenting a paranoid world view: It's them against us. The GOP has made very clear for 40 years now that it considers American Democrats to be their main enemy - yes, enemy. Trump does the same using the press, even saying the press is the enemy of the people. But their supporters not only don't grasp the danger of that, but it is that very cultish rhetoric that draws them to both. They question nothing, just repeat the bus phrases given to them, like "Fake News", and "Snowflakes" (both ironies, considering the Breitbart invasion of the WH and the very thin-skin of our so-called president). But, being lowly cult members, they don't question whether those things make sense. they just repeat them. The scary thing is, we all know how hard it is to break people of that cult-like mentality. The GOP has been massaging it for decades, and Trump is a consequence.
86
I've switched parties over this fiasco and am now a proud democrat! Great going GOP...and I've been pretty generous in my time and fundraising...happy to redirect to much more level headed party...
2
There is probably not a single assertion of fact in the column by Susan Glasser which is untrue. She tells what we already had learned, but may have forgotten, about Vladimir Putin over the past 17 years.
The problem is the suggestion that Donald Trump’s love of authoritarian government is the sole source of his admiration for Vladimir Putin and that – and this is the erroneous part – we should not be concerned about a conspiracy to bend America to the will and interests of Russia.
Putin is using one of the oldest, most effective devices of spy craft. He is hiding the truth in plain sight.
We need to press for a full, frank investigation of President Trump’s loyalties and lapses.
The problem is the suggestion that Donald Trump’s love of authoritarian government is the sole source of his admiration for Vladimir Putin and that – and this is the erroneous part – we should not be concerned about a conspiracy to bend America to the will and interests of Russia.
Putin is using one of the oldest, most effective devices of spy craft. He is hiding the truth in plain sight.
We need to press for a full, frank investigation of President Trump’s loyalties and lapses.
188
I don't see that our counterbalancing institutions are robust: the Republican congress holds the keys to legislation and has been complicit with his hastily conceived but destructive directives, nearly all cabinet appointees share his kleptocratic vision, and the Supreme Court will soon be weighted towards the interests of the businessman.
11
Trump and Putin are not isolated cases, but rather are examples of a broad trend toward populist/nationalist traditionalism across many democracies or semi-democracies. Trump's outlook and messianic anti-foreigner, anti-elite and anti-trade stance can be found in Orban's Hungary, Erdogan's Turkey, Kaczynski's Poland, and among Brexit supporters in the UK (Farage being a case in point.) Contenders for power embracing this view include of course Marine Le Pen as well.
11
No, considering all that has come out about Trump (and GOP collaborators), Trump is our putain (French--until recently impolite usage--for prostitute).
3
"Who would have thought that, 17 years later, the question is not about Russia’s no-longer-existing democracy, but America’s?"
This last sentence is puzzling. A writer keeps her job and her income by producing sentences and text that her boss deems good enough to attract readers. The article is inflated with vocabulary to amplify, inflate, exaggerate the impact of whatever she has to say, and to instill subtle fear. We all think, "yea, she's right, No doubt, Trump is Putin's puppet." (A lovely phrase, by the way, its coiner must feel very smug and proud about it.)
But honestly, what does this last sentence signify?. She constructs a phrase stating that Russia's democracry is "no-longer-existing", based on her 17 years of observation of Russia. In the same breath, she uses this base as a jumping-board to "question" whether America, too, is threatened with a "no-longer-existing democracy", based on her observation of, not even Trump's activity in his first month of presidency", but Trump's character through the records, and his feelings of admiration and "apparent affinity" for Putin. Note the vital journalistic "apparent" qualifier.
Yes, there's so much "apparent" when comparing Putin and Trump. She misses one aspect, though, that both their names have five letters, and that they have more in common (THREE letters out of five). And so, their policies too, of Doing things, rather than just Arguing about them, may show more common features. This is the Art of Writing.
This last sentence is puzzling. A writer keeps her job and her income by producing sentences and text that her boss deems good enough to attract readers. The article is inflated with vocabulary to amplify, inflate, exaggerate the impact of whatever she has to say, and to instill subtle fear. We all think, "yea, she's right, No doubt, Trump is Putin's puppet." (A lovely phrase, by the way, its coiner must feel very smug and proud about it.)
But honestly, what does this last sentence signify?. She constructs a phrase stating that Russia's democracry is "no-longer-existing", based on her 17 years of observation of Russia. In the same breath, she uses this base as a jumping-board to "question" whether America, too, is threatened with a "no-longer-existing democracy", based on her observation of, not even Trump's activity in his first month of presidency", but Trump's character through the records, and his feelings of admiration and "apparent affinity" for Putin. Note the vital journalistic "apparent" qualifier.
Yes, there's so much "apparent" when comparing Putin and Trump. She misses one aspect, though, that both their names have five letters, and that they have more in common (THREE letters out of five). And so, their policies too, of Doing things, rather than just Arguing about them, may show more common features. This is the Art of Writing.
Here is an alternate perspective to one by Ms. Susan Glasser, with no claims to which is more real!
The context of Prez Putin's fight against Islamic terror is rational and related to his effort for an Asiatic expansion to regain economic relationship and influence over CIS states. Effort there is to insure secular and scientific governance, not be destabilized by Afghanistan like situation. Those regions were unsettled by reckless machinations during Cold war, and pitted Russia against old US policies, which were sensibly set aside by Prez Bush. This led to Arab spring. Russian help on supply route to Afghanistan when Pakistan access was blocked, consistent with this policy.
However, geo-political interests of safeguarding Sixth fleet caused brutal suppression at Bahrain, crackdown at Egypt, Saudi intervention in Yemen, and instability in Ukraine. This led to Russian Crimea for safeguarding their Black Sea fleet. Russian hiatus with Prez Obama were based on rational ground.
Under President Trump there could be a sound approach for stabilizing the limited gains of Arab Spring and fortifying secular governance, and even bring back democracy in those destabilized regions. A policy consensus with Russia, founded on according legitimacy to their historical striving for fostering secular-left polity and their acceptance of US effort for market based economic order, is now feasible, and hopefully shall be achieved.
The context of Prez Putin's fight against Islamic terror is rational and related to his effort for an Asiatic expansion to regain economic relationship and influence over CIS states. Effort there is to insure secular and scientific governance, not be destabilized by Afghanistan like situation. Those regions were unsettled by reckless machinations during Cold war, and pitted Russia against old US policies, which were sensibly set aside by Prez Bush. This led to Arab spring. Russian help on supply route to Afghanistan when Pakistan access was blocked, consistent with this policy.
However, geo-political interests of safeguarding Sixth fleet caused brutal suppression at Bahrain, crackdown at Egypt, Saudi intervention in Yemen, and instability in Ukraine. This led to Russian Crimea for safeguarding their Black Sea fleet. Russian hiatus with Prez Obama were based on rational ground.
Under President Trump there could be a sound approach for stabilizing the limited gains of Arab Spring and fortifying secular governance, and even bring back democracy in those destabilized regions. A policy consensus with Russia, founded on according legitimacy to their historical striving for fostering secular-left polity and their acceptance of US effort for market based economic order, is now feasible, and hopefully shall be achieved.
I worry most about Trump's slavishly devoted supporters most of whom appear to be under informed and impressed by this blow hard autocrat who himself seems under informed and surrounded by many incompetents with personal agendas.
16
I take it we should all start taking Russian lessons.
2
Only if you plan not to RESIST.
I agree that American democracy dies if Trump's White House lives.
But he can survive thanks to the devotion his voters show him. If the election were held again, he most likely would win again.
He can survive thanks to the treacherous nature of the national Republican Party, people who are bossed by the super rich, to do one thing, steal from the poor and give to the very rich.
He can survive thanks to the fact that Comey is still running the FBI, and he is the one most responsible for Trump's surge.
He can survive because he is, I am convinced, a Russian agent and wholly without morals, willing to blow his dog whistles to his followers.
He can survive because the world wide network of terrorists need attention just as he does, so they can just kill a few Americans at a religious or sports gathering and like W., he will be a wartime President.
Hope he doesn't survive as President, but instead flies off like Nixon. Hard to impeach a President when his Republican party owns Congress and they are gutless, owned by the superrich.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
But he can survive thanks to the devotion his voters show him. If the election were held again, he most likely would win again.
He can survive thanks to the treacherous nature of the national Republican Party, people who are bossed by the super rich, to do one thing, steal from the poor and give to the very rich.
He can survive thanks to the fact that Comey is still running the FBI, and he is the one most responsible for Trump's surge.
He can survive because he is, I am convinced, a Russian agent and wholly without morals, willing to blow his dog whistles to his followers.
He can survive because the world wide network of terrorists need attention just as he does, so they can just kill a few Americans at a religious or sports gathering and like W., he will be a wartime President.
Hope he doesn't survive as President, but instead flies off like Nixon. Hard to impeach a President when his Republican party owns Congress and they are gutless, owned by the superrich.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
14
Neither Putin nor Trump are not to blame for the problems of Russia or the United States. These problems arose before them. To accuse them in this problems is stupid.
Putin defends and protects Russia's national interests. What's bad about it?
Yes, you do not like it at all ...
Putin defends and protects Russia's national interests. What's bad about it?
Yes, you do not like it at all ...
1
Putin is a savage murderer. If you don't like Trump that is fine but this comparison is the cheapest of cheap shots.
2
Perhaps, but Putin has had 17 years to reach this point, Trump, mere weeks, give him a chance. He'll get there. Or not if we are lucky.
Cheap shot? nonsense.
Putin and Trump are alike in so many ways that a comparison of all the congruent points and curves yield frightening results. Trump a murderer? Would he destroy a person? a family? to get his way? Of course he would. He has many, many times.
He is a serial bankrupt for heaven's sake.
That also makes him a thief - Yes, of course, all legal but a thief nevertheless.
He is a liar - pure and simple. If you haven't noticed that, IDC, you are willfully deaf and blind. That he is a liar makes him completely untrustworthy. Are you going to believe the oaths the swears? Of course not.
He is as serious a problem for our Constitution as has existed at any time in our nation's history.
He is immoral.
When he gropes your wife or your daughter or your granddaughter. what are you going to do? complain? To whom?
Best call those Republican Senators you voted for and ask them to kindly impeach Trump. Hopefully yours have a moral compass, a spine, and courage.
Even so, the bigger problem is magnitude of the people who revel in supporting this fascist. Are they simply ignorant? immoral? or weak-minded?
Putin and Trump are alike in so many ways that a comparison of all the congruent points and curves yield frightening results. Trump a murderer? Would he destroy a person? a family? to get his way? Of course he would. He has many, many times.
He is a serial bankrupt for heaven's sake.
That also makes him a thief - Yes, of course, all legal but a thief nevertheless.
He is a liar - pure and simple. If you haven't noticed that, IDC, you are willfully deaf and blind. That he is a liar makes him completely untrustworthy. Are you going to believe the oaths the swears? Of course not.
He is as serious a problem for our Constitution as has existed at any time in our nation's history.
He is immoral.
When he gropes your wife or your daughter or your granddaughter. what are you going to do? complain? To whom?
Best call those Republican Senators you voted for and ask them to kindly impeach Trump. Hopefully yours have a moral compass, a spine, and courage.
Even so, the bigger problem is magnitude of the people who revel in supporting this fascist. Are they simply ignorant? immoral? or weak-minded?
2
That would have been quite easy for Trump to say in his interview with Bill O'Reilly before the Super Bowl. Why didn't he?
Again and again I hear people place their hope upon institutions, but these institutions rely upon the human beings in them having the courage to put country above party and personal interest. At the same time, we have about 40% of the country enthralled with a.would be strong man. I am not sanguine at all about the prospects that our institutions are going to hold by themselves. As we saw during the women's march and the reaction to the immigration ban, the 60% of Americans who do not agree are going to have to stand firm. But how long can that continue when republican state governments are proposing laws that make it ok for drivers to run over protestors - if it wasn't intentional?
We live in very dangerous times, much more dangerous than pundits and analysts perhaps realize. I don't blame them - who could imagine it happening here? But it is and if we don't hang together we will hang separately.
We live in very dangerous times, much more dangerous than pundits and analysts perhaps realize. I don't blame them - who could imagine it happening here? But it is and if we don't hang together we will hang separately.
16
Please cite where lawmakers made it legal to run over protesters. I missed that.
Anyone learning Russian???
3
The REPUBLICAN President Trump (Bannon) is unnervingly committed to filtered news like the Russian President Putin. I wish someone would ask them if they feel that the leaks that led to NIxon's demise were unpatriotic. I'm afraid they would say "Yes". The REPUBLICAN President Trump (Bannon) needs to grow up and deal with the reality of a free press that is committed to truth. I don't think THe REPUBLICAN President Trump (Bannon) will ever be able to shake the nuisance of the free press...thank GOD!
9
We lived through Obama's Reset Button and his do nothing policies in the Middle East- or I guess we in the USA did and at least 500,000 Syrians didn't nor did many other Middle Eastern peoples or Ukranians killed when Obama golfed while ISIS hacked and marched and Putin snatched Crimea. It was McCain who said we had to step it up against Russia when it grabbed Osetia and marched into Georgia. This paper dismissed McCain and Romney as fools. Now that Trump won, his failure to start a war with Putin is frightening? The last 8 years have been frightening down to government mandates of who goes to the bathroom where. Freedom is back with President Trump.
1
At least we haven't had to view Trump with his shirt off yet.
39
What a relief! .... The thought of him in a bathrobe was disturbing enough.
1
Trump following is cult-like. It appears they are prepared to drink the Kool Aid for their "Dear Leader."
18
Trump aspires to be the leading strong man in his own fantasy. His narcissism is of epic proportion. That his governing style mimics the most despised autocrats is no surprise. So far he has only called the press the enemy and unlike Putin he has not resorted to doing physical harm to his enemies.... yet !
15
Some the greats of the 4th Estate: John P. Zenger, Joseph Pulitzer, Edward R. Murrow, Huntley & Brinkley, Walter Cronkite, Tom Brokaw, Daniel Ellsberg, Woodward & Bernstein, Dan Rather, Maureen Dowd, Jim Lehrer, Wolf Blitzer, ...where would we be without them? Gather POTUS spends his time reading the National Enquirer! Pls., for those reasonable Reps. out there, like the admirable Sen. John McCain, start waking up to this 'conman'!
9
We are one Islamist terrorist attack in the US away from a State of Emergency and the suspension of Habeas Corpus. By demonising the Judiciary when it opposed his muslim ban, and the press for standing up to him, Trump has set his targets.
Sadly, the security aoparatus set in place after 9/11 is easily updated and with Bannon whispering in Trumps ear we do need to be worried.
Sadly, the security aoparatus set in place after 9/11 is easily updated and with Bannon whispering in Trumps ear we do need to be worried.
17
Unpopular leaders know that blaming everything on a foreign foe takes the heat off of them. It often leads to war, which unites the country behind the lying leader but at the cost of murdering millions of innocent people.
The latest example is George W Bush's invasion of Iraq, a country that had done nothing significant to harm us. Bush and his criminal associates Cheney and Rice manipulated us into killing millions of civilian Iraqis and thousands of American military people, all to prevent the American public from questioning their goals. Those goals were to increase their personal wealth, a subject almost unmentioned in the flood of documentation of what they did and when. But WHY is more important. Watch aoeGenesis7 on YouTube for more.
Winston Churchill Hermann Goering, George Orwell and many others have described the process. THAT is what we have to fear from Trump. Incompetent government is not uncommon and America could survive it. But turning America into a Nazi nation would do to us what WWII did to Germany. To begin with, ten percent of Germany's population both male and female died in the war.
Watch Comedy Party Platform on YouTube to see what is needed (2 min 9 sec). Whistle blowers should be protected, journalist's sources should be protected, free speecha dn the American Way are more important than making America 'great'. We ARE great, but only BECAUSE of or freedom of speech and of political action. Thanks. [email protected]
The latest example is George W Bush's invasion of Iraq, a country that had done nothing significant to harm us. Bush and his criminal associates Cheney and Rice manipulated us into killing millions of civilian Iraqis and thousands of American military people, all to prevent the American public from questioning their goals. Those goals were to increase their personal wealth, a subject almost unmentioned in the flood of documentation of what they did and when. But WHY is more important. Watch aoeGenesis7 on YouTube for more.
Winston Churchill Hermann Goering, George Orwell and many others have described the process. THAT is what we have to fear from Trump. Incompetent government is not uncommon and America could survive it. But turning America into a Nazi nation would do to us what WWII did to Germany. To begin with, ten percent of Germany's population both male and female died in the war.
Watch Comedy Party Platform on YouTube to see what is needed (2 min 9 sec). Whistle blowers should be protected, journalist's sources should be protected, free speecha dn the American Way are more important than making America 'great'. We ARE great, but only BECAUSE of or freedom of speech and of political action. Thanks. [email protected]
8
This is a time for Americans to experience the empowerment of their democracy. Much like being in a bad relationship, it is the process of breaking emotional denial, seeing the partner clearly and taking steps to move away and move on.
Activism is a healthy expression of that change. America is our collective mind and spirit.
We need to claim the power or our beautiful foundation.
Activism is a healthy expression of that change. America is our collective mind and spirit.
We need to claim the power or our beautiful foundation.
9
So Putin and Trump are both autocratic and brook no dissent. Tell us something we don't know. Let's see if Trump succeeds in crushing all centers of opposition the way his man-crush did in Russia. About 60% of American voters have other thoughts. Resist.
10
Gven what we already know and see about how and why trump's has risen to power and now works to cement and extend his power further, I have concluded that unless trump is quickly stopped and his supporters won over, the only hope of saving America, will be through a civil war by any other name. Trump has betrayed and damaged America and the American people gravely. His supporters have reluctantly succumbed to or joyfully embraced his personality cult. They have become addicted to his drug of alt-everything (facts, reality, logic, math, nationalism, personal values, and national values, patriotism, mythology). His perversions of and attacks on our government, press, religions, melting-pot, cultures, allies, treaties, history and economy are accruing serious and lasting damage. His new "re-election rallies", and his new slogans about the press and courts, will lead to increased radicalization of his supporters, including supporters with guns. This is bleek, insidious, nefarious and clever as sin. Our enemies, Russia and ISIS included, are winning. America is desperate for heroes, wise leaders and real patriots to come together and prevent further catastrophe.
12
I am currently reading WINTER IS COMING by Gary Kasparov, published in 2015 about the rise to power of Vladimir Putin. Barely into my read, similarities hit me about the current Trump administration, so far, and how Putin rose to prominence and has gained strength. Censorship of the media runs paramount in the similarity between the two. John McCain recently brought up this same analogy. Of course, supporters of President Trump brushed him off as a senile old fool that now knows no better. Time will tell if the NYT, McCain and even Kasparov, though he wrote his book before Trump even announced his Presidential run, are correct.
7
With the projected legislation of the Republicans and Trump's actions, rather than words, I think the old adage of "Be careful what you wish for...". Every indication seems to be that the rich will get richer and the poor and middle class left in their dust as social programs are defended and/or eliminated.
Have you noticed the change in the decor of the White House when there is press conference? Gone are the patriotic blue drapes and dignity of the White House, replaced by Putin-like gilt and gold damask drapes. Crystal candelabras its on gilt columns -- all much more fitting of a dictator or king -- and a striking reminder of the way the current minority elected President seems to view himself.
With the Republican Congress usurping their purpose in our checks and balances government, and with the next Supremem Court nominee, I fear that we are seeing the demise of our democracy as we know it.
Even the rallying of the proletariat around an outside foe smacks of the Putin regime and looking back to Greece's final days, the way the Peloponnesian Wars were used to distract from the failures of the government.
Luckily, America does not yet have martial law and hopefully at the next election we will be able to change the composition of Congress if we see things going in the wrong direction. The question is, do we have enough time to wait for that to happen.
Have you noticed the change in the decor of the White House when there is press conference? Gone are the patriotic blue drapes and dignity of the White House, replaced by Putin-like gilt and gold damask drapes. Crystal candelabras its on gilt columns -- all much more fitting of a dictator or king -- and a striking reminder of the way the current minority elected President seems to view himself.
With the Republican Congress usurping their purpose in our checks and balances government, and with the next Supremem Court nominee, I fear that we are seeing the demise of our democracy as we know it.
Even the rallying of the proletariat around an outside foe smacks of the Putin regime and looking back to Greece's final days, the way the Peloponnesian Wars were used to distract from the failures of the government.
Luckily, America does not yet have martial law and hopefully at the next election we will be able to change the composition of Congress if we see things going in the wrong direction. The question is, do we have enough time to wait for that to happen.
13
David Berg, it is very disappointing to note that I was only the second to "Recommend" your perceptive comment. Trump is blitzkrieging America.
"It can't happen here?" Oh yes it can.
"It can't happen here?" Oh yes it can.
1
When Richard Nixon was president, I was already married-with-children. Like our parents, we were raised to respect the person, not just the office. Every day, we watched the evening news and refused to believe that Nixon was not telling the truth. When he told us, “I am not a crook!” there was no doubt in our minds that he was innocent. We were the “innocent” ones. The comparison of going through the stages of grief is not too dramatic to describe how we felt when, little by little, it was made clear to us that Nixon was, indeed, guilty. From that point on, we still respect the office, but do not hesitate to suspect the person in that office.
Decades later, we have a president who was “suspect” during the campaign and has proven himself, beyond suspicion, to be unfit for the office. The frustration every day, now, is watching Donald Trump during these (only!) four weeks of his presidency, being lied to by his advisors, blindly repeating the lies, and berating anyone for questioning or challenging him. The Press is doing a very good job at fact-checking Trump’s statements; we depend upon them more now than during Nixon’s terms. Congress should be the primary fact-checkers, but will not stand up and do the right thing. History will record how the Republicans failed to progress our country before Trump, and how they failed to protect our country against Donald Trump.
Decades later, we have a president who was “suspect” during the campaign and has proven himself, beyond suspicion, to be unfit for the office. The frustration every day, now, is watching Donald Trump during these (only!) four weeks of his presidency, being lied to by his advisors, blindly repeating the lies, and berating anyone for questioning or challenging him. The Press is doing a very good job at fact-checking Trump’s statements; we depend upon them more now than during Nixon’s terms. Congress should be the primary fact-checkers, but will not stand up and do the right thing. History will record how the Republicans failed to progress our country before Trump, and how they failed to protect our country against Donald Trump.
18
You wonder how long it will take the Progressives to realize that Trump has gotten them into a rope a dope situation.
While they waste their time on gibberish like this article, he has advanced his agenda amazingly in the first month
He has proposed a Supreme Court nominee who will get approved, he will get every one of his cabinet nominees approved ( who agree with his agenda,) he is systematically taking apart the Obama legacy, he is winning over the unions, he has ingratiated himself to the coal miners.
And all this time the Progressives portray to the public a paranoid oil of vitriol, headed by the scowling faces of Pelosi, Shumer, Lewis, and Warren.
Keep it up Progressives DT just loves it.
While they waste their time on gibberish like this article, he has advanced his agenda amazingly in the first month
He has proposed a Supreme Court nominee who will get approved, he will get every one of his cabinet nominees approved ( who agree with his agenda,) he is systematically taking apart the Obama legacy, he is winning over the unions, he has ingratiated himself to the coal miners.
And all this time the Progressives portray to the public a paranoid oil of vitriol, headed by the scowling faces of Pelosi, Shumer, Lewis, and Warren.
Keep it up Progressives DT just loves it.
5
Pay attention to Bannon. Puzder failed because Bannon didn't support him. He is making his moves in the dark while all of you follow the Trump show which is meaningless.
yes, with Republicans controlling all three branches of government, there is little to stop Trump or the Republican agenda. What that means for us is tax dollars and services moved from the middle classes and the poor to the super rich. Don't kid yourself that Trump and the Republicans are going to help America. Their prime concern is getting the most, giving the least.
Did you ever wonder why the Republicans are so against Obamacare? There is one reason only: money. Obamacare requires the super rich to pay an additional 4.5% in taxes - this is what the Republicans want to remove. The rest, they don't care about. This is my prediction. Watch and see how it plays out.
Did you ever wonder why the Republicans are so against Obamacare? There is one reason only: money. Obamacare requires the super rich to pay an additional 4.5% in taxes - this is what the Republicans want to remove. The rest, they don't care about. This is my prediction. Watch and see how it plays out.
2
A strange way to end an interesting column. Trump the businessman is learning, the hard way is some cases, the we, the U.S. is a country of checks and balances. No fears over that. I remember the massacre that occurred, of school children, by the Chech terrorists, it was horrible. I remember Russia under the "Soviets". Much worse than today by far. Russia is evolving. Managing Russians evolution and our re-vitalization will take several decades and open conflict is not an option. As for President Trump, start to worry when you see him walking around shirtless, or riding a horse.
Trump's deeds and behavior reveal how correct his adversaries --domestically and internationally -- are about him being unfit/unprepared to govern America. A con man in the words of Michael Bloomberg.
Trump's voting base, however, thinks he is doing exactly what they expect him to do. Namely, to shake up the political establishment in Washington DC. In other words, an American version of regime change.
Unless Trump does something stupid to provoke impeachment, Americans and the world will have to put up with an unpredictable/authoritarian president with no respect for institutions and individuals. The next four years will be the longest ones in modern American/world history.
Trump's voting base, however, thinks he is doing exactly what they expect him to do. Namely, to shake up the political establishment in Washington DC. In other words, an American version of regime change.
Unless Trump does something stupid to provoke impeachment, Americans and the world will have to put up with an unpredictable/authoritarian president with no respect for institutions and individuals. The next four years will be the longest ones in modern American/world history.
9
"Both Mr. Trump’s rhetoric and actions as president bear more than a passing resemblance to those of Mr. Putin during his first years consolidating power."
Would you not agree that Mr Putin had a much more difficult job ahead of him than does Trump? Putin had to clean up after the Clinton/Yeltsin/IMF looting, while all Trump has to do is sign whatever the GOP puts in front of him while continuing to make deals on the side.
Would you not agree that Mr Putin had a much more difficult job ahead of him than does Trump? Putin had to clean up after the Clinton/Yeltsin/IMF looting, while all Trump has to do is sign whatever the GOP puts in front of him while continuing to make deals on the side.
4
Trump sees himself as the Master and others as Apprentices. The truth seems to be that Putin is the Master and Trump is the Apprentice.
We indeed have a constitutional crisis. The struggle is not over politics, but5 over power. Will the radical Republicans impose their will on the majority of Americans and make it extremely difficult to change polices by consolidating their power all three branches of government, the press, and the economy?
Conservatives are demonstrating a devastating hypocrisy when they refuse to oppose power grabs of the Republicans over the years. We need two responsible political parties, but we have only one. People cannot stand for the Constitution only when it seems to favor their interests.
We indeed have a constitutional crisis. The struggle is not over politics, but5 over power. Will the radical Republicans impose their will on the majority of Americans and make it extremely difficult to change polices by consolidating their power all three branches of government, the press, and the economy?
Conservatives are demonstrating a devastating hypocrisy when they refuse to oppose power grabs of the Republicans over the years. We need two responsible political parties, but we have only one. People cannot stand for the Constitution only when it seems to favor their interests.
9
The media and the Democrats have missed this vital point. Talk of treason and conspiring with Putin is unsubstantiated nonsense. Our relations with Russia have gone from hostile to reset over and over again since he took power. Liberals are confused by the fact that Obama was hostile and Trump is in reset. But that is business as usual.
From day one, Putin has been a demagogue. That is what Trump aspires to. They are indeed very similar. That the media and the Democrats have labelled Trump as evil is a sign that they don't understand. The problem with Trump is demagoguery, a word never used by those who think they understand why Trump is dangerous.
From day one, Putin has been a demagogue. That is what Trump aspires to. They are indeed very similar. That the media and the Democrats have labelled Trump as evil is a sign that they don't understand. The problem with Trump is demagoguery, a word never used by those who think they understand why Trump is dangerous.
1
You don't understand that Steve Bannon is running the show. He and Putin are both working in Europe to undermine the democracies there and to get rid of NATO.
2
I find the "liberals don't get it" mantra from conservatives disingenuous. Let's call it what it is. Conservatives are in power through lies and manipulation, not because of policy ideas and feeling the mysterious pulse of the people that liberals are blind to. They try to legitimize gerrymandering-which, karmically, Democrats invented- and blatant voter suppression by calling it a national mandate. Nonsense.
Let's forget about talk of treason. There does, however, seem to be ample evidence of contact between Trump's team and Russian operatives during this election cycle. But the Russians didn't give Trump his victory, the lie of voter fraud and the subsequent suppression of voting rights did.
The constant harangue of "liberals don't understand how angry we really are" is also nonsense. Anyone who has listened to Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, forget Alex Jones, et al, has a good understanding of conservative rage. The problem is what you did with that rage. Tell me you watched Trump's press conference and came away feeling he is fit to serve as president. This isn't a reset, it is a looming national catastrophe.
Let's forget about talk of treason. There does, however, seem to be ample evidence of contact between Trump's team and Russian operatives during this election cycle. But the Russians didn't give Trump his victory, the lie of voter fraud and the subsequent suppression of voting rights did.
The constant harangue of "liberals don't understand how angry we really are" is also nonsense. Anyone who has listened to Limbaugh, Hannity, Coulter, forget Alex Jones, et al, has a good understanding of conservative rage. The problem is what you did with that rage. Tell me you watched Trump's press conference and came away feeling he is fit to serve as president. This isn't a reset, it is a looming national catastrophe.
3
Donald Trump did not conjure out of thin air the anti-Muslim hysteria that so poisons Western societies -- nor did Putin. In fact, the U.S. has been on an anti-Islamic killing spree since the early 1990s, when Harvard poli-sci prof and White House advisor Samuel Huntington published his "Clash of Civilizations," claiming that the conflict between "the West" and "Islam" will define the 21st century. In rhetoric that has been gathering steam ever since, Americans have been told that "in order to keep us safe" we need to bomb Muslim nations and send our troops to fight Islamic terrorists in nations around the world -- altho' primarily in those nations with abundant energy resources. What George Orwell called "double-think" oozes from Susan Glasser's prose.
4
When you look at TeamTrump, you realize that Stephen Miller is the love child of Roy Cohn and Vladimir Putin.
17
I highly recommend Anne Garrels' book "Inside Putin Country " for a better understanding of the realities of modern Russia under Putin. She reports over an extensive period about life in Chelyabinsk, a rust-belt city far from Moscow and more typical of the lives of average citizens. She writes continually of residents who, in the wake of Communism's collapse set out to form small businesses, only to find that as soon as they start to become successful, shadowy members of the local "Mafia" (police, local politicians, faceless regional bureaucrats-often combinations of them) suddenly appear and either become "partners" or simply force the owners out.
today's Times includes an all too common tale of rural poverty, trying to scratch out a living in today's strained and mismanaged Russian economy and the mounting problems of drugs, alcohol (some of it deadly black market rotgut) and joblessness, despair and hopelessness. As a result, Russians suffer poor health and shorter lifespans. And yet, as so often through Russian history, Russian people view their leader as a great czar who would make things right if he only knew what was going on. Sadly many of Mr. Trump's supporters seem already to be adopting similar delusional beliefs
40 years ago, Hedrick Smith wrote "The Russians" as a chronicle of life under the final decades of communism. Tragically for Russians, leaders have changed, but little else has.
today's Times includes an all too common tale of rural poverty, trying to scratch out a living in today's strained and mismanaged Russian economy and the mounting problems of drugs, alcohol (some of it deadly black market rotgut) and joblessness, despair and hopelessness. As a result, Russians suffer poor health and shorter lifespans. And yet, as so often through Russian history, Russian people view their leader as a great czar who would make things right if he only knew what was going on. Sadly many of Mr. Trump's supporters seem already to be adopting similar delusional beliefs
40 years ago, Hedrick Smith wrote "The Russians" as a chronicle of life under the final decades of communism. Tragically for Russians, leaders have changed, but little else has.
102
but it did change. if before Russians had stability and social guarantees by the Government, it is gone now. Perestroyka brought chaos and catastrophic economical decline. I doubt that Russian don" t see the changes under different Governments. I suspect changes in Russia are much more noticable than in America
1
Putin is prosecuting a disinformation and cyber war on the West while we seem to be asleep at the wheel, distracted by Trump's entertainments and destructive domestic policy pronouncements.
10
Americans would be well advised to keep an eye on what's going on with the European elections this year.
There are already signs of Russian cyber-activity being reported by the Foreign Press.
There are already signs of Russian cyber-activity being reported by the Foreign Press.
2
Trump’s so-called “2020 campaign rally” in February 2017 barely a month into his first term demonstrates either the sheer insecurities of the man or the cravings for adulation that he so desires? This is another tactic that autocrats deploy when they sense that major national and government institutions, such as academia, the media, the judiciary, the intelligence agencies, etc. are against you – they appeal to the proletariat and nationalism, which they claim to be upholding while all those powerful institutions are demeaning.
For Putin, the sliding to autocracy was easy because Russia previously existed as a totalitarian state under the umbrella of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for over 70 years. But as Ms. Glasser points out, “We have a 229-year record of success with constitutional democracy…” so Trump’s tapping the proletariat for sympathy is not going to upend the bedrock principles of our republic. Putin and Trump maybe similar in many respects, but the nations they lead could not be more dissimilar in their history and what they represent to the rest of the world. In the United States, while presidential power might truly be derived from the people, two other co-equal branches of government, the legislative and the judicial, also keep it in check.
So the co-equal branches will emphatically respond to any questions about America’s democracy, if the imperial tendencies of President Trump breach its constitutional boundaries.
For Putin, the sliding to autocracy was easy because Russia previously existed as a totalitarian state under the umbrella of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics for over 70 years. But as Ms. Glasser points out, “We have a 229-year record of success with constitutional democracy…” so Trump’s tapping the proletariat for sympathy is not going to upend the bedrock principles of our republic. Putin and Trump maybe similar in many respects, but the nations they lead could not be more dissimilar in their history and what they represent to the rest of the world. In the United States, while presidential power might truly be derived from the people, two other co-equal branches of government, the legislative and the judicial, also keep it in check.
So the co-equal branches will emphatically respond to any questions about America’s democracy, if the imperial tendencies of President Trump breach its constitutional boundaries.
2
Does no one remember President Obama complaining about crazy "talk radio" and Fox News and warning the GOP to stop listening to Rush Limbaugh? He complained about these outlets all the time because they opposed his agenda. The majority of the "smart" media is composed of journalists, who are more than 90% "Liberal" or Democrats. So now Trump is whinging about them. What's the difference?
The difference is President Obama admonished more gracefully, he "instructed" the press (and the judiciary) more articulately, and perhaps most importantly did most of it behind the scenes. But the idea that he did not criticize his critics in the media nor energetically manipulate the narrative s is silly. I recall many respected journalists, writing in honest moments, that the Obama White House was one of the least transparent and most controlling in dealing with the press in recent memory. It wasn't that long ago, has everyone already forgotten?
The difference is President Obama admonished more gracefully, he "instructed" the press (and the judiciary) more articulately, and perhaps most importantly did most of it behind the scenes. But the idea that he did not criticize his critics in the media nor energetically manipulate the narrative s is silly. I recall many respected journalists, writing in honest moments, that the Obama White House was one of the least transparent and most controlling in dealing with the press in recent memory. It wasn't that long ago, has everyone already forgotten?
1
A discussion of Putin and Trump with no mention of the almighty dollar or the almighty ruble as the case may be? Putin may well be the world's richest person as some reports have his wealth at greater than $100 billion. Corruption in Russia is so great that it has been called a kleptocracy by Newsweek or a country led by criminals. The U.S. view of Putin is that of a power mad oligarch with the emphasis on power. If Trump is thought of in these terms, a more correct view of him as an oligarch should put primacy on his interest in accumulation of money by whatever means possible. This is becoming increasingly evident in less than one month of his presidency.
7
Ms. Glasser, you're a nice writer, and I'm sure your perceptions are to be taken seriously, given your included CV here. But to you, Americans (as ''readers'') ''shouldn't worry too much about whether Trump and the Russian leader are working together''. And 5 paragraphs later you blow past the news last week that Trump campaign aids (as ''associates'') were in touch with Russian intelligence before the election (as in, the United States Presidential election).
I sincerely hope now, after the publication of your book and this opinion piece that you can see within yourself the opportunity, with your vast Soviet experience, to become one of the premier investigative journalists to uncover the truth (as ''facts'') about this unusual, manipulated election, having the quite opposite result which modern voter polling had predicted. Now that would be a book even I would buy.
I sincerely hope now, after the publication of your book and this opinion piece that you can see within yourself the opportunity, with your vast Soviet experience, to become one of the premier investigative journalists to uncover the truth (as ''facts'') about this unusual, manipulated election, having the quite opposite result which modern voter polling had predicted. Now that would be a book even I would buy.
2
Fearless Leader Vladimir will have our Republican congressmen eating out of his hand over President's Day Weekend!
All patriotic voters who gave Mr. Trump the Oval Office will be awarded the Russian Medal of Freedom.
Soon school children in South Carolina and Wisconsin will sing the Russian National Anthem before their Soviet Union studies.
All patriotic voters who gave Mr. Trump the Oval Office will be awarded the Russian Medal of Freedom.
Soon school children in South Carolina and Wisconsin will sing the Russian National Anthem before their Soviet Union studies.
3
Trump admires Putin because he admires authority, whether it is a totalitarian dictatorship, autocratic regime, or anything else where the leader's will is a command. May-be this admiration for authority goes back to Trump's days at his military school for troubled teenagers, or to his father, but Trump doesn't have much respect for differences in opinions or compromise because to overcome his low level of intelligence he had to persuade himself that he has "great common sense" and therefore, he's always right and everyone else is wrong. In a free world, the king will be exposed as naked in a few days, but in a totalitarian regime fear keeps the opponents quiet. Trump would prefer to have the opposition and media "shut up". Daily confirmations of his imbecility and may be mental issues should be swept under the rug quickly. I am sure that Putin feels nothing but contempt and disdain for Trump, but Trump is playing into his hands, so as any astute political leader, he will not violate the diplomatic protocol.
8
There is a huge difference between Trump and Putin. Putin came to power after years of instability and brought stability. On the other hand, Trump was elected after economical stabilization and brought chaos. If he will be dictator, he will be short-lived, because long-term dictators usually offer stability in exchange for curtailing of freedom
5
The bottom has fallen out of American institutions and public life. The engines of economic prosperity on the west coast and new york are disengaged from the rest of the country's landmass. Everyone knows tax money is wasted, congress represents the lobbyists, the armed forces have lost their last two wars and are wasteful bureaucracies, the health sector is predatory, no one knows how they will retire after the 2008 crash, no one knows how they will pay their student debt with $10 an hour jobs, no one knows how they will keep drugs and predators from their children while both parents have to work long hours, no one knows anyone really outside of their race and class, the universities are corrupt and overrated, the corporations are large oligopolies, the rich - the only ones living a half-decent life - would skip town in a heartbeat and leave the country. A Putin-like person was bound to find their place in this climate. Bannon-Trump have a vision of the US territory much like Putin has of the Russian Federation: ethnic Russians and the orthodox christian religion on top of a ladder of socio-political violence there; ethnic Europeans and evangelical christians on top of a ladder of socio-political economic violence here. Mr. Trump promises liberty and prosperity for his constituents, Euro-christian America, who come first and only first. My only surprise was he came to power so quickly; I'd expected that but not before a term or two of Mrs. Clinton.
4
Persuasive parellel.
I respect Susan Glaser as one of the finest foreign policy analysts in Washington. Her grasp of Putin is matched by no one else except the brilliant Russian scholars at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson Center. Glaser's prior writings on Russia were so well-informed that they are now being mined by contemporary historians of Russia as "primary sources."
But is it really fair to use the headline "Our Putin"? (I doubt that Susan Glaser wrote this headline. I know that the NYT has its own headline writers.)
Putin was a highly effective KGB agent, 24/7, 365 days a year, all his professional life, rising to become head of the powerful FSB, the successor of the KGB.
Putin cannot see the world except through his KGB lens, which is clouded by the taken-for-granted values, assumptions, and beliefs of an institution that sees itself as the patriotic and indispensable savior of Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Trump, in contrast, sees the world through the lens of the American Dream: anyone can succeed in America, whatever their national origin, race or religion. Trump uses the English language too loosely, in a way that endears him to many ordinary American who speak like him and feel that the Washington elites have abandoned them. But Trump knows the meaning of the U.S. Constitution, and will not violate it knowingly, even though he incorrectly calls media reports about him "fake news."
Trump is not "Our Putin."
Trump is "Our Trump."
But is it really fair to use the headline "Our Putin"? (I doubt that Susan Glaser wrote this headline. I know that the NYT has its own headline writers.)
Putin was a highly effective KGB agent, 24/7, 365 days a year, all his professional life, rising to become head of the powerful FSB, the successor of the KGB.
Putin cannot see the world except through his KGB lens, which is clouded by the taken-for-granted values, assumptions, and beliefs of an institution that sees itself as the patriotic and indispensable savior of Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Trump, in contrast, sees the world through the lens of the American Dream: anyone can succeed in America, whatever their national origin, race or religion. Trump uses the English language too loosely, in a way that endears him to many ordinary American who speak like him and feel that the Washington elites have abandoned them. But Trump knows the meaning of the U.S. Constitution, and will not violate it knowingly, even though he incorrectly calls media reports about him "fake news."
Trump is not "Our Putin."
Trump is "Our Trump."
3
Let me remind you first that more than 85% of the population of Russia support the Russian President Vladimir Putin. After a national referendum in Crimea on joining Russia, this percentage has risen. You do not know at all about Russia. You do not know the nature of Russian or know quite small.
Yes, Russia is still weak after 90s. But thanks to the Russia president people in Russia began to live better. No more corrupt businessmen who sold everything for a song to you, to the West.
Yes, Mr. Trump something like Putin. What is wrong if he wants to change America better? To make it better for all Americans, those who works in the factories simple workers. And not only for people from Harvard and Yale universities.
What's wrong with it? Trump says the right things. I think it's very good that is Mr. Trump became US president.
Yes, Russia is still weak after 90s. But thanks to the Russia president people in Russia began to live better. No more corrupt businessmen who sold everything for a song to you, to the West.
Yes, Mr. Trump something like Putin. What is wrong if he wants to change America better? To make it better for all Americans, those who works in the factories simple workers. And not only for people from Harvard and Yale universities.
What's wrong with it? Trump says the right things. I think it's very good that is Mr. Trump became US president.
1
With all due respect, you do not know much about the United States of America either -- because if you did, you'd know that there is a very significant Russian population in this country (especially here, in New York City), and we are not as ignorant about Russia as you seem to think.
Another thing.
Russia isn't exactly a Democracy. So it's hardly surprising that Putin has 85% of the population's support.
His use of Nationalism is useful in distracting the Russian people from the effects of the sanctions that are now in place, and his strangle-hold on the media insures that you don't know more than he wants you to.
You may think it's good Trump is president. But then again, you don't have all the facts.
Another thing.
Russia isn't exactly a Democracy. So it's hardly surprising that Putin has 85% of the population's support.
His use of Nationalism is useful in distracting the Russian people from the effects of the sanctions that are now in place, and his strangle-hold on the media insures that you don't know more than he wants you to.
You may think it's good Trump is president. But then again, you don't have all the facts.
4
After the (thwarted) apartment house bombing in Ryazan in 1999 it was already hard to have any illusions about the nature of Putin's regime:
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2012/11/22/finally-we-know-about-moscow-...
David Satter (Darkness at Dawn: The Rise of the Russian Criminal State. Yale University Press) already covered this extensively in 2003.
So what's the mystery?
http://www.nybooks.com/articles/2012/11/22/finally-we-know-about-moscow-...
David Satter (Darkness at Dawn: The Rise of the Russian Criminal State. Yale University Press) already covered this extensively in 2003.
So what's the mystery?
5
Parallelomania is usually a a problem of scholars, or potential scholars, in the Humanities who tend to see parallel phenomena in places and events that most people would fail to see them or any connection or parallel phenomena. The envelope can be pushed, to use an over-used idiom, on limitless matters of literature, philosophy, history and the like. No real damage if the comparison proves to be absurd, perhaps beyond wasting time.
What might work in the study of history, and even be called "theory" is often overdoing it in politics. The ex-KGB Russian leader, ruthless and lacking most boundaries common even in US Trumpian politics, has very little in common with Mr. Trump.
When (God forbid) CNN reporters and other colleagues start to disappear or suffer "accidents" , then worry.
What might work in the study of history, and even be called "theory" is often overdoing it in politics. The ex-KGB Russian leader, ruthless and lacking most boundaries common even in US Trumpian politics, has very little in common with Mr. Trump.
When (God forbid) CNN reporters and other colleagues start to disappear or suffer "accidents" , then worry.
5
If Potus could emulate Putin the way he wishes he could, he would be many billions of dollars richer while liberal American billionaires would be hanging out at Guantanamo penniless.
If only I could, he wistfully fantasizes.
If only I could, he wistfully fantasizes.
3
This may yet be on the horizon. Koch brothers and company may rue the day they aided (congress, not Trump) in this situation. Trump is not exactly the libertarian they wanted.
Putin's work is done here. We are a divided weakened nation, factionalized at the highest levels of government and the intelligence services.
Now Vladimir Inc. can concentrate on his personal
finances vis a vis Trump and his coterie of greedsters like Murdock, Kushner, Ivanka et al.
His political work is done.
Now Vladimir Inc. can concentrate on his personal
finances vis a vis Trump and his coterie of greedsters like Murdock, Kushner, Ivanka et al.
His political work is done.
12
It has been said that Vladimir Putin is, in fact, the richest man in the world, with an estimated net worth of $200 Billion, or as much as the next three richest, combined.
THAT is what Trump wants to emulate...to finally, really be a billionaire.
THAT is what Trump wants to emulate...to finally, really be a billionaire.
11
This may very well be the most honest and brilliant dilenation of Putin yet. Trump wants a mirror of brilliance and eternal youth. Putin wants everything else. Both men are billionaires of nuevo riche. Both have no souls. Both are old men who latch on to a world they can no longer grasp
3
The Imperial Presidency is what it is already, after a month in office. It's almost as if Putin made a deal with Trump: ignore what I do and I'll teach you how to run an oligarchy. And Trump said yes.
And we have no confidence that this out-of-control congress, more bent on destroying the ACA, Medicaid, then Medicare and Social Security, has the time or inclination to do anything to stop him. After all, with these people, it's always been party before country.
And we have no confidence that this out-of-control congress, more bent on destroying the ACA, Medicaid, then Medicare and Social Security, has the time or inclination to do anything to stop him. After all, with these people, it's always been party before country.
10
Illuminating writing by Susan Glasser. Putin emerged from a failed communism, as Susan reminds us, and Trump takes us down the fascist path of a strongman who Tweets prevarication and insult with which his followers are enamored.
I had a Russian history course in college from a recognized student of Russian culture. It made me cautious about Russia's transition to some form of democracy; Russian totalitarianism has deep roots. It was hard for Kerensky, for example, or impossible for him, to establish a democratic norm. WW I was certainly a problem; maybe incipient democracies do best with some isolation from tumultuous world affairs.
In times of perceived, or invented, upheaval, the lesser educated turn to that strong man who simplifies thought. Here comes Trump to redefine our democracy under the last four presidents as failed, and then makes himself out to be the solution. I know people who waited in line to hear Trump last week. None can make a clear argument why they like him. For Trump people it's not politics, it's psychology. It's not reason, it's entertainment.
Someone like Putin can draw on a Russian nationalism that really was a basis for Soviet communism. It makes some Russians feel good about themselves, again, psychological rather than rational democratic politics.
Trump needs a dumb electorate because, as Susan reminds us, we have no history of totalitarianism. So Trump invents a fake past for his followers. We have a rough road ahead of us.
I had a Russian history course in college from a recognized student of Russian culture. It made me cautious about Russia's transition to some form of democracy; Russian totalitarianism has deep roots. It was hard for Kerensky, for example, or impossible for him, to establish a democratic norm. WW I was certainly a problem; maybe incipient democracies do best with some isolation from tumultuous world affairs.
In times of perceived, or invented, upheaval, the lesser educated turn to that strong man who simplifies thought. Here comes Trump to redefine our democracy under the last four presidents as failed, and then makes himself out to be the solution. I know people who waited in line to hear Trump last week. None can make a clear argument why they like him. For Trump people it's not politics, it's psychology. It's not reason, it's entertainment.
Someone like Putin can draw on a Russian nationalism that really was a basis for Soviet communism. It makes some Russians feel good about themselves, again, psychological rather than rational democratic politics.
Trump needs a dumb electorate because, as Susan reminds us, we have no history of totalitarianism. So Trump invents a fake past for his followers. We have a rough road ahead of us.
8
An article published in a UK paper left me with the sense that others throughout the world see Trump for the incompetent buffoon he is. There is a great deal of worry about his lack of intellectual capacity and his unwillingness to do the work to get up to speed on important issues. There are significant questions reverberating throughout the world, as in the US, about the possibility of psychiatric or even cognitive impairment. While Americans worry, Trump is parading in front of a group of paid fans in Florida (I saw the ad - either cash or merchandise.) At taxpayer expense, just as we are stuck with expenses in the millions of dollars already for his god-awful family.
There are a number of reasons to worry. The GOP has failed the American people by blocking a thorough independent investigation into Trump's conflicts. The author makes the point that we have more to worry about with respect to his insane egocentric admiration for the ways of a strongman despot. His attempts to reshape reality are characteristic of fascist leaders throughout history.
Trump does not seem very bright, unlike Putin. He's driven by distorted psychological needs and he has no insight or ability to control his reactions. His supporters are delusional, a result of the extent to which they've become invested in the idea of a "strong man," on their side, after years of feeling impotent. There's no good way to spin this story. We appear headed for disaster of one sort or another.
There are a number of reasons to worry. The GOP has failed the American people by blocking a thorough independent investigation into Trump's conflicts. The author makes the point that we have more to worry about with respect to his insane egocentric admiration for the ways of a strongman despot. His attempts to reshape reality are characteristic of fascist leaders throughout history.
Trump does not seem very bright, unlike Putin. He's driven by distorted psychological needs and he has no insight or ability to control his reactions. His supporters are delusional, a result of the extent to which they've become invested in the idea of a "strong man," on their side, after years of feeling impotent. There's no good way to spin this story. We appear headed for disaster of one sort or another.
240
Sorry to inform you Susie but your are already in the middle of a disaster but are heading towards the most fatal one, the end of your democracy and the rule of law if your fellow citizens and your free press don't resist the insanity of the orange one and his minions. The struggle you are currently in could be as monumental as your struggle for Independence 240 years ago. I hope for your sake and the rest of us that patriotic decent Americans like yourself stand up to this tyrant.
3
As a Canadian, it is heartbreaking to see and hear what is happening to the U.S. It seems that Trump is intent on discrediting civil institutions every day. For days on end now he rants about the media and how they have a sinister agenda which does not serve the American people. He goes after the judiciary, intelligence agents, civil bureauceats.
He belittles the opposition party and even members of his own party who speak out against his values. Unlike Putin, he can't muzzle or stop the negative headlines so he disparages civil society in some shape or form every single day. Unlike Putin's Russia the US Congress has immense power to curb Trump- his policies and his legislative agenda. I wonder when it will get so bad that the U.S. Congress will have to intervene in some way. America has never been a autocratic society and hopefully the strong, independent civil institutions it has built over the decades will protect and keep its people safe. America should be proud of and celebrate its strong civic institutions and never take them for granted or be complacent about them. They are what prevents a democracy from spiralling into a autocracy.
He belittles the opposition party and even members of his own party who speak out against his values. Unlike Putin, he can't muzzle or stop the negative headlines so he disparages civil society in some shape or form every single day. Unlike Putin's Russia the US Congress has immense power to curb Trump- his policies and his legislative agenda. I wonder when it will get so bad that the U.S. Congress will have to intervene in some way. America has never been a autocratic society and hopefully the strong, independent civil institutions it has built over the decades will protect and keep its people safe. America should be proud of and celebrate its strong civic institutions and never take them for granted or be complacent about them. They are what prevents a democracy from spiralling into a autocracy.
179
I hate to sound like a broken record (remember records?) but it's the willful ignorance of much of the American people's fault. The Republican's hoodwinked them since Saint Ronald of the Rose Colored Glasses gave the venal elements of the GOP the okay to plunder the public trough that started it all. The vacuum left after decency disappeared was filled by venality.
It's a right to be ignorant in this country and too many exercised that right. There is also an underbelly of bigotry and religious zealotry running through our culture and it's finally, unashamedly, taking the spotlight, thanks in no small part to the GOP, a party that never saw a bottom feeder it didn't like.
Trump? He's the Republican's fool, just as we became the Republican's fools. The "bosses" will dump him in a heartbeat the minute he becomes a liability to their hold on power; however, how do we dump the Republican Party?
It's a right to be ignorant in this country and too many exercised that right. There is also an underbelly of bigotry and religious zealotry running through our culture and it's finally, unashamedly, taking the spotlight, thanks in no small part to the GOP, a party that never saw a bottom feeder it didn't like.
Trump? He's the Republican's fool, just as we became the Republican's fools. The "bosses" will dump him in a heartbeat the minute he becomes a liability to their hold on power; however, how do we dump the Republican Party?
1
Contrary to the author, I'm most worried about whether Trump has or had ties to Russia before the election, and I hope Congressional investigations get to the bottom of that.
I'm also concerned about what the intelligence agencies are doing. After the Flynn disclosures it is clear that any conversation a US citizen has with a foreign diplomat may be recorded, and I suspect any conversation with any foreign citizen may be recorded by the NSA or other intelligence agencies. Does anyone besides me worry about that?
I'm also concerned about what the intelligence agencies are doing. After the Flynn disclosures it is clear that any conversation a US citizen has with a foreign diplomat may be recorded, and I suspect any conversation with any foreign citizen may be recorded by the NSA or other intelligence agencies. Does anyone besides me worry about that?
34
That's a fair question, a fair warning about foreign intelligence agencies, but I must confess that it cheered me up to read that snoops in the Baltic states, which justifiably fear Russia, have also been tracking these Russia-US phone conversations.
In 2007, I was outraged by news that our Justice Department had served 142,000 Americans with National Security Letters. NSLs proliferated after the Patriot Act, after 9/11. These legal instruments demanded that citizens (librarians, ISPs, all of Vegas) hand over confidential information about their clients. An NSL came equipped with a lifelong gag order, so anybody who received one couldn't mention it, ever. To tell was a felony.
Only five Americans (out of 142,000) Just Said No to their NSLs ... four Connecticut librarians and one New York Internet Service Provider.
I admire those five resolute people. I am also grateful to intelligence snoops in the Baltics and Europe. There is no excuse for my inconsistencies. I despise J. Edgar Hoover. Admire the Navajo Code Talkers. All spies.
Spying is, apparently, a team sport.
In 2007, I was outraged by news that our Justice Department had served 142,000 Americans with National Security Letters. NSLs proliferated after the Patriot Act, after 9/11. These legal instruments demanded that citizens (librarians, ISPs, all of Vegas) hand over confidential information about their clients. An NSL came equipped with a lifelong gag order, so anybody who received one couldn't mention it, ever. To tell was a felony.
Only five Americans (out of 142,000) Just Said No to their NSLs ... four Connecticut librarians and one New York Internet Service Provider.
I admire those five resolute people. I am also grateful to intelligence snoops in the Baltics and Europe. There is no excuse for my inconsistencies. I despise J. Edgar Hoover. Admire the Navajo Code Talkers. All spies.
Spying is, apparently, a team sport.
1
Trump - who lies all the time - says that he has no business interests or ties to Russia. Trump Junior has said just the opposite.
2
"America is not burdened with the history of tyranny and totalitarianism that haunts Russia."
What I've always wondered is who did all the dirty work for Stalin - and how. After all, there was nothing distinctly Russian about their behavior; they were all humans - just like us. Hannah Arendt has done the best work in this area, but there's also Phillip Zimbardo, Stanley Milgram, Tim Snyder, Daniel Goldhagen, and a few others.
So - look around you. 35-40% of the country who detested Pres. Obama and are now worshipping at Donald's altar - these are the people who would be rounding up the villages, driving the trains, beating and killing dissidents, and running the gulags. I still don't know how they would do this - that is, how they could live with themselves - but at least Donald has helped to show us who they are.
What I've always wondered is who did all the dirty work for Stalin - and how. After all, there was nothing distinctly Russian about their behavior; they were all humans - just like us. Hannah Arendt has done the best work in this area, but there's also Phillip Zimbardo, Stanley Milgram, Tim Snyder, Daniel Goldhagen, and a few others.
So - look around you. 35-40% of the country who detested Pres. Obama and are now worshipping at Donald's altar - these are the people who would be rounding up the villages, driving the trains, beating and killing dissidents, and running the gulags. I still don't know how they would do this - that is, how they could live with themselves - but at least Donald has helped to show us who they are.
68
The Trump voters I know wouldn't do it--because it would mean that they would have to get off their butts.
1
Tell us more Ken. No hints...you pull your punches....name names.
1
Mr. Levy,
You're absolutely right. With some sixty million armed Americans (at least) doing Trump's bidding, we absolutely cannot rely on the "inherent goodness" of the American people. Instead of asking what lengths Trump would go to, to install his authoritarian regime, we should be now be asking ourselves very seriously what his followers would do in his service. Given his vicious, foaming supporters, rounding up their fellow citizens is very much a possibly.
You're absolutely right. With some sixty million armed Americans (at least) doing Trump's bidding, we absolutely cannot rely on the "inherent goodness" of the American people. Instead of asking what lengths Trump would go to, to install his authoritarian regime, we should be now be asking ourselves very seriously what his followers would do in his service. Given his vicious, foaming supporters, rounding up their fellow citizens is very much a possibly.
2
Putin and trump. Stalin and bozo the clown.
7
Unlike Trump, Putin follows the Obama principle of not actually calling it "Islamic Terrorism."
His reasons are different, however. Many of the former Soviet territories contain millions of Muslims, and Putin wants to eventually annex them. It wouldn't do to have Russians hate Muslims for being Muslims when they will be expected to embrace them as brothers and sisters in the near future.
Also, how could he justify selling billions of dollars worth of weapons to arm Iran in their continued fight against Israel if he claimed to be fighting a war against Islam?
People who think peace is possible with Putin are just too passive to put up a fight. Or they're on his side. Whichever, peace is impossible when you are talking about a murderous arms-dealing warlord. Peace with such a person equals death.
His reasons are different, however. Many of the former Soviet territories contain millions of Muslims, and Putin wants to eventually annex them. It wouldn't do to have Russians hate Muslims for being Muslims when they will be expected to embrace them as brothers and sisters in the near future.
Also, how could he justify selling billions of dollars worth of weapons to arm Iran in their continued fight against Israel if he claimed to be fighting a war against Islam?
People who think peace is possible with Putin are just too passive to put up a fight. Or they're on his side. Whichever, peace is impossible when you are talking about a murderous arms-dealing warlord. Peace with such a person equals death.
8
You have expressed my deepest fear about where America is heading under Trump's presidency.
16
Trump is mentally ill.....discover this fact first: sic. recent Letter to Editors of
the NYTImes from eminent US psychiatrists...(last week)..
Putin : is a despot....
Trump is mentally...and...therefore there only a comparison of a brutal despot
(Putin) whose actions of despotism are misread by Trump to be a hero..
Trump is mentally ill...and should be removed from office...sic. read the
recent Letter to the Editors of the NYTimes by these psychiatrists...
The FACTS...must come out...forget this egregious and dangerous "spin"
you have written.
the NYTImes from eminent US psychiatrists...(last week)..
Putin : is a despot....
Trump is mentally...and...therefore there only a comparison of a brutal despot
(Putin) whose actions of despotism are misread by Trump to be a hero..
Trump is mentally ill...and should be removed from office...sic. read the
recent Letter to the Editors of the NYTimes by these psychiatrists...
The FACTS...must come out...forget this egregious and dangerous "spin"
you have written.
4
There is no shortage of strongmen in the world. Trump could look to Africa, South America, the Middle East, among others to find a leader in the mold of Putin. But he doesn't.
Trump has, from the first, singled out Putin as his ideal. Trump has hardly a kind word for anyone besides himself and his family, yet he gushes about Putin.
Trump talks about restoring some supposed long-lost glory for America, but he will debase this nation if it makes Putin look good. When Trump was questioned about the blood on Putin's hands, he dismissed it by saying "there are a lot of killers," and then shamed the US by asking, "you think we're so innocent?"
So, yes, I do still worry about the explicit Trump/Putin connection. This is deeper than shared ideology. This is our nation's integrity.
Trump has, from the first, singled out Putin as his ideal. Trump has hardly a kind word for anyone besides himself and his family, yet he gushes about Putin.
Trump talks about restoring some supposed long-lost glory for America, but he will debase this nation if it makes Putin look good. When Trump was questioned about the blood on Putin's hands, he dismissed it by saying "there are a lot of killers," and then shamed the US by asking, "you think we're so innocent?"
So, yes, I do still worry about the explicit Trump/Putin connection. This is deeper than shared ideology. This is our nation's integrity.
12
Trump's characterization of the U.S. as not so "innocent" was valid, although as is typically (always?) the case when he says something accurate, it's either for the wrong reasons or just by chance. We need look no further than our history of attempts to manipulate elections, destabilize democratically-elected governments, sponsor and support coups, authoritarianism, and government by death squads, etc. in Latin American and Caribbean countries -- and, before we took up war by proxies, our outright invasion and occupation of many -- to understand how such a statement could be justified. To acknowledge these aspects of our history is not to "shame" the U.S., although Trump has neither the depth nor the subtlety to understand this. John McCain, who deserves praise for the integrity with which he continues to criticize Trump (unlike his craven colleagues), unfortunately continued to evoke the mythology of American exceptionalism when he quoted Reagan's "shining beacon on the hill" remark, made when his administration had dealt illegally with our arch-enemies in Iran to arm the Contras, whose attempts to overthrow the Government of Nicaragua they were illegally sponsoring. Arilel Dorfman much more eloquently reminded (or informed) readers of this history, particularly re. Chile in 1973, in a recent NYT op-ed, adding that none of it justified Russian meddling in our elections -- nor does honesty about our own history dispel the danger that Trump poses!
The relationship between Trump and Putin?
Probably the most interesting comparison to be made between the two men has little of the personal, private about it, which means any layman can make this analysis, does not require "inside" knowledge. Taking the broad picture not only is there an important relationship between Trump and Putin but between the entire right wing in America for years and Putin.
It is commonly said the U.S. won the cold war against Russia, that the U.S., particularly under right wing Reagan, turned up the heat on the Russians (caused them economic problems) and brought the left wing Soviet Union down. Well, there we have a right wing process with everything from capitalism to espionage to propaganda to military might collapsing a left wing process. Now enter Putin: He managed, controlled, minimized damage of the collapse of the left wing Soviet Union. The U.S. worked to cause such a collapse and Putin controlled the collapse of a left wing entity.
So you can see why the U.S. regardless of Trump would take an extreme interest in Putin because between the U.S. and Putin extremely valuable information exists on how to open a state leftward, control such a process, then how to collapse such a process and manage the collapse of such...
This is critical in our world which has nations oscillating between authoritarianism/nationalism and problems of too porous borders, weakening nationality and left wing trends. Knowledge of how to open/close a state.
Probably the most interesting comparison to be made between the two men has little of the personal, private about it, which means any layman can make this analysis, does not require "inside" knowledge. Taking the broad picture not only is there an important relationship between Trump and Putin but between the entire right wing in America for years and Putin.
It is commonly said the U.S. won the cold war against Russia, that the U.S., particularly under right wing Reagan, turned up the heat on the Russians (caused them economic problems) and brought the left wing Soviet Union down. Well, there we have a right wing process with everything from capitalism to espionage to propaganda to military might collapsing a left wing process. Now enter Putin: He managed, controlled, minimized damage of the collapse of the left wing Soviet Union. The U.S. worked to cause such a collapse and Putin controlled the collapse of a left wing entity.
So you can see why the U.S. regardless of Trump would take an extreme interest in Putin because between the U.S. and Putin extremely valuable information exists on how to open a state leftward, control such a process, then how to collapse such a process and manage the collapse of such...
This is critical in our world which has nations oscillating between authoritarianism/nationalism and problems of too porous borders, weakening nationality and left wing trends. Knowledge of how to open/close a state.
1
Putin spent his first year discrediting the media in order to have all information flow through his outlets. Every time Trump sees something he doesn't like, he proceeds to discredit it as "fake news." If that continues, we may end up with state controlled Fox News and an obliteration of our cherished first amendment.
32
A person as impulsive as Trump can be played.
Franklin Roosevelt used Hitler's personality to play him. William Schirer in "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" describes and incident where Roosevelt tweaked the Fuehrer with an innocent letter regarding the latter's intentions. This was the response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQpInuRECoY .
Roosevelt knew that he needed to mobilize American public opinion against the Nazis. Hitler's tirade insulted the American people.
Franklin Roosevelt used Hitler's personality to play him. William Schirer in "The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich" describes and incident where Roosevelt tweaked the Fuehrer with an innocent letter regarding the latter's intentions. This was the response: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQpInuRECoY .
Roosevelt knew that he needed to mobilize American public opinion against the Nazis. Hitler's tirade insulted the American people.
7
Thank you for this column. These are details most of us wouldn't have known of " history repeating. ".
9
Jean--If only dumpster trumpsters would read it.
1
I guess it's only a matter of time until the Times will be full of stories saying Putin, bad as he is, is still better than Trump. Why do I even subscribe to this paper?
Why you subscribe to this paper is something you will have to answer for yourself.
In the meantime, I'm just grateful we still have Freedom of the Press in this country ... because at this rate, it's hard to tell how long that will last.
In the meantime, I'm just grateful we still have Freedom of the Press in this country ... because at this rate, it's hard to tell how long that will last.
1
Fear, fueled by baseless conspiracy theories, have long been a part of the American psyche. Just this century, to make a very short list of the more nonsensical ones, we have obsessed about FEMA detention camps, 9-11 being an inside job, and a child porn ring at a pizza parlor run by the Clintons. The people I know, who are prone towards these outlandish fantasies, are now supporters of Donald Trump. The unimaginable irony is that when the possibility of a real conspiracy stands directly in front of them, i.e. Trump/Putin, they are not able to engage.
Trump is a symptom of a collective American illness. He is with us because he is very much a part of us. I suspect this nation has some hard lessons to learn. We might as well get on with it.
Trump is a symptom of a collective American illness. He is with us because he is very much a part of us. I suspect this nation has some hard lessons to learn. We might as well get on with it.
7
When I look into Putin's eyes, I don't see a soul. I see ice-water. It is frightening to think that the thuggish Putin might be Trump's role-model. But it is difficult to think otherwise after Dangerous Donald's constant lies and attacks on a free press. Meanwhile, the Kremlin probably regards Trump as their 'useful idiot.'
Be afraid, be very afraid.
Be afraid, be very afraid.
9
Donald Trump has told us and shown us exactly who he is and how he functions, and both are intolerable to the idea of a vital, functioning democratic republic. He must, simply must, be put out of office in the 2020 election, if in fact he is still in office.
As a country, we sat back and said Trump would never win the GOP nomination. Then we sat back and watched him lose each of three debates with Hillary Clinton, each time making a bigger fool of himself. We sat back, secure in our knowledge that he couldn't possibly win the general election.
We no longer have the luxury of telling ourselves that a fascist takeover can't happen here. We've put a fascist in the White House, and tens of millions of Americans are just fine with that.
Right now there are more of us who hate and loathe Mr. Trump than there are those who support him, but that may change. We must remember what our country stands for and fight to keep it.
As a country, we sat back and said Trump would never win the GOP nomination. Then we sat back and watched him lose each of three debates with Hillary Clinton, each time making a bigger fool of himself. We sat back, secure in our knowledge that he couldn't possibly win the general election.
We no longer have the luxury of telling ourselves that a fascist takeover can't happen here. We've put a fascist in the White House, and tens of millions of Americans are just fine with that.
Right now there are more of us who hate and loathe Mr. Trump than there are those who support him, but that may change. We must remember what our country stands for and fight to keep it.
22
Ms. Glasser, I think one of the great differences between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin is that the latter was always an apparatchik, an "obscure K. G. B. lieutenant colonel," as you write, but nevertheless, a member of the establishment, the Communist party, and therefore, a functionary. He was always wedded to the concept of a strong nation-state, the lifeline of his life. Trump, on the other hand, cares nothing for detail, just results. He did business with those who could help him; he had no ideology except greed. The question is how did this pronounced authoritarian streak become part of his public make-up and why does it resonate with so many American voters? Voters, one might add, who would rebel if their freedoms were curbed or confiscated.
Trump isn't a consummate actor; Putin is--and he doesn't have to be. He is supreme in Russia and has no rival. The new American president, on the other hand, seems to have taken up the worst of American impulses as he gained traction in the early GOP primaries. His newness, perhaps, lit a fire under those at his rallies who thirsted for a change from the "normal" GOP type--Jeb? Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum--the usual "losers." Trump, misinterpreting his primary results, wildly took up traits that would have repelled normal Americans, but sautéed into some weird product known as Trump-speak, gained currency, with media docility, and: voilà! the authoritarian.
Trump isn't a consummate actor; Putin is--and he doesn't have to be. He is supreme in Russia and has no rival. The new American president, on the other hand, seems to have taken up the worst of American impulses as he gained traction in the early GOP primaries. His newness, perhaps, lit a fire under those at his rallies who thirsted for a change from the "normal" GOP type--Jeb? Bush, Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, Lindsey Graham, Mike Huckabee, Rand Paul, Rick Perry, Rick Santorum--the usual "losers." Trump, misinterpreting his primary results, wildly took up traits that would have repelled normal Americans, but sautéed into some weird product known as Trump-speak, gained currency, with media docility, and: voilà! the authoritarian.
11
Corporal Hitler, Lt. Col. Putin, and cadet Trump all emerged from the same political cesspool. All three obsessed over restoration of greatness, resorted to the "Big Lie", and engaged in scapegoating of minorities.
All three possess the personality traits of "the Dark Triad": Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. Ms. Glasser is correct in suggesting that America must worry what Tsar Putin, and Sir Liesalot (being Canadian I must be polite) have in common. They are kindred spirits.
While Sir Liesalot admires Putin, Putin views him only as a potential "useful idiot", to be manipulated for the sake of the interests of keeping the Russian kleptocratic regime in power. Sir Liesalot has shown in a very short time that kleptocracy may be coming to America. Self-interest of Sir Liesalot and his family is also a factor in his admiration for Russia's new Tsar, as "Kompromat" and business interests may also be in play.
While Ms. Glasser is correct that America "has robust counterbalancing institutions, particularly an independent press and judiciary", the Legislative Branch of government must support these institutions. To date the Republican controlled Congress is putting party before country, and both the press and judiciary need to remind them of their constitutional duty to protect and defend American democracy.
Both Putin and Sir Liesalot adhere to the view that "L'etat c'est moi" and all Americans must remind Sir Liesalot that he is wrong.
All three possess the personality traits of "the Dark Triad": Narcissism, Machiavellianism, and Psychopathy. Ms. Glasser is correct in suggesting that America must worry what Tsar Putin, and Sir Liesalot (being Canadian I must be polite) have in common. They are kindred spirits.
While Sir Liesalot admires Putin, Putin views him only as a potential "useful idiot", to be manipulated for the sake of the interests of keeping the Russian kleptocratic regime in power. Sir Liesalot has shown in a very short time that kleptocracy may be coming to America. Self-interest of Sir Liesalot and his family is also a factor in his admiration for Russia's new Tsar, as "Kompromat" and business interests may also be in play.
While Ms. Glasser is correct that America "has robust counterbalancing institutions, particularly an independent press and judiciary", the Legislative Branch of government must support these institutions. To date the Republican controlled Congress is putting party before country, and both the press and judiciary need to remind them of their constitutional duty to protect and defend American democracy.
Both Putin and Sir Liesalot adhere to the view that "L'etat c'est moi" and all Americans must remind Sir Liesalot that he is wrong.
10
We need to STOP talking about Trump and Putin, except in reference to the Russia-gate situation.
Without Congress supporting him, Trump is without a lot of power. Our Senators and Representatives are the biggest problem that this country has.
Therefore, the focus needs to be on the "Republican Administration", rather than the "Trump Administration".
Trump's issues and wild episodes of acting out are not unimportant, but the much larger problems in this country reside with gerrymandering districts and poor service to the people in Congress.
"Republican Administration."
Without Congress supporting him, Trump is without a lot of power. Our Senators and Representatives are the biggest problem that this country has.
Therefore, the focus needs to be on the "Republican Administration", rather than the "Trump Administration".
Trump's issues and wild episodes of acting out are not unimportant, but the much larger problems in this country reside with gerrymandering districts and poor service to the people in Congress.
"Republican Administration."
8
Despite our 229 year record of a constitutional democracy, after one month of Trump as electoral college president, the Grand Old Party is acting more like the KGB in protecting Trump no matter if he commits treason or wants to silence the Press, denigrate the Intelligence Services or gives away state secrets dining while reacting to the North Koreans' missile launch. Why is he and Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan all so quiet about Putin's breach of a treaty when he set off a missile, a provocative act, that demanded a response from our so called leaders? The G.O.P. Or G.R.U. are the grim reapers holding their scythes over our natural resources, our healthcare, our established alliances for the last seventy years, hacking all down including immigrants, all for power. They are all mirror images of Putin's Kremlin, and Kellyanne Conway and Sean Spicer are Pravda. Where is the Voice of America?
152
Right, for Conway and Spicer, there is no pravda in Pravda.
2
I think the author is right.
Trump is such a babbling brook that, while he expresses himself s true intentions, there is so much word salad clutter that it is hard to pan out the gold nuggets. But his words are aligning with his actions.
Trump admires and wants to emulate strong men leaders like Putin, Duterte and the North Korean dictator. Trump employs the language and actions of dictators. He has no love for democracy nor for American values.
It may be that Putin and The FSB have compromised or brainwashed Trump. It almost doesn't matter because Trump would likely be on the same page regardless.
What is equally worrisome are the many (but, by no means, all) who are willing to sacrifice American values for fleeting economic and "homeland" security. The sad reality for the NRA supporters is that they are more likely to lose their guns to Trump than to Obama.
Trump is such a babbling brook that, while he expresses himself s true intentions, there is so much word salad clutter that it is hard to pan out the gold nuggets. But his words are aligning with his actions.
Trump admires and wants to emulate strong men leaders like Putin, Duterte and the North Korean dictator. Trump employs the language and actions of dictators. He has no love for democracy nor for American values.
It may be that Putin and The FSB have compromised or brainwashed Trump. It almost doesn't matter because Trump would likely be on the same page regardless.
What is equally worrisome are the many (but, by no means, all) who are willing to sacrifice American values for fleeting economic and "homeland" security. The sad reality for the NRA supporters is that they are more likely to lose their guns to Trump than to Obama.
8
Trump obviously would like to be in control of the US as Putin is of Russia but he faces much more formidable obstacles, not the least of which is his own temperament. Trump is impulsive and unable to think long term, unlike Putin who is cold and methodical. One thing Trump and Putin have in common, besides the desire to dominate, is understanding their constituencies need to express their frustration with their position in the world. The difference is that Putin's is accepted by the majority of Russians, Trump definitely speaks for a minority that is losing influence.
37
Putin needs much stronger oil prices to allay the glut caused by Iran's reentry into the market coupled with the ancillary pressure exerted by natural gas as a substitute for big oil. The only way to really effect this is to cause a war with Iran and embroil the Gulf States, disrupting delivery and spiking oil markets. This is a path that Trump seems determined to follow, first appointing Rex Tillerson from Exxon-Mobile, then provoking confrontations with Iran. Trump's provocative and carelessly alienating comments that we "should grab Iraq's oil as repayment" and similar pronouncements coupled with his attempts at a "Muslim Ban" clearly follow this recipe for disaster as well.
Trump is an ADD amalgam of cranky immature impulse control problems augmented by narcissism and boredom. Yes, he would like to be king. But the key to understanding his pattern of otherwise stupid and contradictory actions and statements is to understand how in the end they are designed to further and pursue Putin's interests for restoring Russia from the damage it has suffered from sanctions imposed upon it from NATO for its Ukrainian aggression and threats to its former Baltic slave states.
Trump is an ADD amalgam of cranky immature impulse control problems augmented by narcissism and boredom. Yes, he would like to be king. But the key to understanding his pattern of otherwise stupid and contradictory actions and statements is to understand how in the end they are designed to further and pursue Putin's interests for restoring Russia from the damage it has suffered from sanctions imposed upon it from NATO for its Ukrainian aggression and threats to its former Baltic slave states.
3
We are stuck with our new czar for a minimum of 4 years, no more than 8, and maybe less if Donald does something outrageous enough to suffer impeachment and conviction.
Poor Russia, on the other hand, appears to have Vlad for much longer.
Our saving grace is our Republic, and the Constitution, if we can keep it.
Poor Russia, on the other hand, appears to have Vlad for much longer.
Our saving grace is our Republic, and the Constitution, if we can keep it.
138
Why do you suppose it's only for eight years max? All those happy followers who think that this month shows that Trump can do no wrong, plus all the loyal Republicans, plus manipulation of the media and electoral votes, and we may have Trumpians for the indefinite future, all pretending to be democratic, like the Putinians.
Let me put this more explicitly. Think of these issues as much more systemic than personal, with democracy as the football. It's not the quarterback, it's the team, and the fans.
Let me put this more explicitly. Think of these issues as much more systemic than personal, with democracy as the football. It's not the quarterback, it's the team, and the fans.
Kevin, I hope you're right that at most we'll have to stomach 8 years of Trump, but I can easily picture republicans starting to agitate for the repeal of the 22nd amendment which sets term limits for the president. As long as a republican is in the white house, of course. And they'll say it's for the "safety of the country".
1
Trump is an authoritarian by nature, experience and worldview. I want, I need, I get. In his world there are no rules. He has lawyers to circumvent the rules. He takes what he can get away with. If he can use other people's money for his gain at their loss, he will. Winning is all that matters and he will do anything he can to win.
He is essentially a dictator of his own world. He did create that world and I give him credit for that. But now, he is in charge of our world, the governmental world and the two don't fit. But they do for some.
His supporters want an authoritarian in charge. They dismiss the associated problems and loss of freedom because they have no confidence in our system. So they trade corruption for dictatorship. Not a wise choice. Neither is acceptable. That's why Bernie had so much support. He provided an alternative to corruption, but without the dictatorship part.
Trump consolidates his power by trashing the system and especially the press, whom he claims is complicit in the corruption. The press is our only tool to fight corruption.
Trump's rise to power was very skillful for someone with the mind of child. He is being guided by others, most likely Bannon, Conway, and others in his inner circle.
The entire Trump experience was a well orchestrated plan to take over the nation by ultra nationalists who found their frontman. And, they duped nearly half of the voting electorate to buy it. Putin just kills people.
He is essentially a dictator of his own world. He did create that world and I give him credit for that. But now, he is in charge of our world, the governmental world and the two don't fit. But they do for some.
His supporters want an authoritarian in charge. They dismiss the associated problems and loss of freedom because they have no confidence in our system. So they trade corruption for dictatorship. Not a wise choice. Neither is acceptable. That's why Bernie had so much support. He provided an alternative to corruption, but without the dictatorship part.
Trump consolidates his power by trashing the system and especially the press, whom he claims is complicit in the corruption. The press is our only tool to fight corruption.
Trump's rise to power was very skillful for someone with the mind of child. He is being guided by others, most likely Bannon, Conway, and others in his inner circle.
The entire Trump experience was a well orchestrated plan to take over the nation by ultra nationalists who found their frontman. And, they duped nearly half of the voting electorate to buy it. Putin just kills people.
270
Secretary Clinton also offered an alternative to corruption without the dictatorship part. The lies which were told about her led to Trump's election. As you point out, the electorate was duped.
2
As Commander-in-Chief Trump is responsible for killing 25 civilians in Yemen, including women and children, as well as a Navy SEAL. He will kill others. He is no laughing matter, despite the hijinks on late night comedy shows.
2
Saint Bernie's shameful slurs against Hillary Clinton paved the way for Trump. The ignorant left championed a one-issue old man instead of an extremely competent younger woman, and thus helped Trump get elected. The fantasy that Bernie could have beat Trump is just that, a fantasy. Bernie was an extremely target-rich environment, and Trump would have had no problem defining and dismissing him. I firmly believe that if Sanders hadn't run such a long, divisive campaign, we would not now be dealing with a President Donald J. Trump.
1
You asked him about the brutal war against separatists in the southern province of Chechnya. His long answer makes lot of sense even today, many years later. I live in Boston and I have not forgotten the Boston marathon bombing of April 2013 committed by two Islamic radicals from Chechnya. Putin's long answer sounds true even today. It sounds familiar, He had to attack in Chechnya to keep the rest of Russia safe and we did the same thing in Afghanistan. It is not making Russia or America great again but making our countries safe again.
9
Ultimately Putin solved the Chechen problem by buying the leaders of the rebels and imposing them as petty dictators. Never a long term solution.
11
Padman: And what was your reaction when Timothy McVeigh, a white, non-Islamic, raised Catholic, bombed the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people! Since 9/11 U.S. non-Muslim white supremacists have killed more U.S. citizens than Islamic terrorists. We need to keep perspective!
3
Of course, those two Chechen brothers came from a family radicalized in large part because of the brutality or Russian actions in Chechnya, which was marked by massive crimes against humanity and mass atrocity, and who were themselves radicalized by their perception that the U.S. was following in Russia's footsteps in pursuing a vicious campaign against all Muslims everywhere.
1
Yes. Another point is that both Putin and Trump have a Teflon quality to them, at least when it comes to their supporters. Today's front page article on tainted Vodka in Russia notes that the people blame others for Russia's problems, but not Putin himself. The latter blames foreigners. Trump, too, always blames others.
Likewise, Trump's base hears and sees what the rest of us do, but dismisses it (often buying into the growing notion among them that they get 'the truth' only from Trump himself since the media is 'the enemy').
As to the strongman/savior notion - Trump's self-image dovetailed nicely with a segment of the right-wing, which for years has written admiring of Putin while deriding Obama's focus on diplomacy & collaboration as "weak."
Likewise, Trump's base hears and sees what the rest of us do, but dismisses it (often buying into the growing notion among them that they get 'the truth' only from Trump himself since the media is 'the enemy').
As to the strongman/savior notion - Trump's self-image dovetailed nicely with a segment of the right-wing, which for years has written admiring of Putin while deriding Obama's focus on diplomacy & collaboration as "weak."
193
I've got some news for folks. Our "Putin" is an old man. He will not be active in politics in 8 years. I highly doubt after 4 ears. Steve Bannon is the one to watch. He has no subtlety. He does like the dark arts, as does Putin, but we'll just have to see how this all ends. The greater concern is the control of everything by the uber wealthy. This is the real story. They, not Donald Trump, are in charge. This is not going to change any time soon. Trump is just their puppet.
1
That 'Obama's focus on diplomacy & collaboration' is so untrue when you consider the wars he has restarted (Iraq & Afghanistan) and the new ones in Libya, Yemen, Somalia and others. Those wars has created the mass refugees flooding Europe and wanting to come here separated luckily for us by the Atlantic ocean. Do you disagree we can't have open borders or that we can't keep offshoring and outsourcing our high tech jobs to cheaper markets?. Go onto the trade deals which encourage companies leaving?.
Why would people blame Putin for. deaths of the people who drunk the product made by a private company and with label 'do not drink"? It is like blame American Presidents for deaths from drug overdose or from guns
1
Fascinating article--both the similarities and the goals. The key difference the author identified , however, is in temperament: one controlled and calculating, the other with similar beliefs but possessing. an impulsive, almost lunatic narcissism that blinds him to reality.
I question however the sanguine dismissal of Trumps ability to push through democratic norms and laws. hasn't he already done that? I mean he's consistently been able to refuse presidential norms on release of his taxes, financial ethics and conflicts of interest. Experts point out the laws he is breaking, but Congress refuses to check him.
Yes we have 3 branches of government, but if one is complicit to the point of condoning non democratic behavior in return for policies favoring the privileged class, the impact is the same as if Trump has unfettered power.
I don't know how far Trump can go, but so far he reminds me of the frog in boiling water: is our tolerance for Trump's authoritarian words and deeds so gradual that at some point our democracy will be killed by our own complacency?
.
I question however the sanguine dismissal of Trumps ability to push through democratic norms and laws. hasn't he already done that? I mean he's consistently been able to refuse presidential norms on release of his taxes, financial ethics and conflicts of interest. Experts point out the laws he is breaking, but Congress refuses to check him.
Yes we have 3 branches of government, but if one is complicit to the point of condoning non democratic behavior in return for policies favoring the privileged class, the impact is the same as if Trump has unfettered power.
I don't know how far Trump can go, but so far he reminds me of the frog in boiling water: is our tolerance for Trump's authoritarian words and deeds so gradual that at some point our democracy will be killed by our own complacency?
.
455
Or as Charles McGrath points out, in part, in today's NYT Bookends, about Huxley's "Brave New World":
"The system entails a certain Trump-like suspicion of science and dismissal of history, but that’s a price the inhabitants of Huxley’s world happily pay. They don’t mourn their lost liberty, the way Orwell’s Winston Smith does; they don’t even know it’s gone."
"The system entails a certain Trump-like suspicion of science and dismissal of history, but that’s a price the inhabitants of Huxley’s world happily pay. They don’t mourn their lost liberty, the way Orwell’s Winston Smith does; they don’t even know it’s gone."
4
Our country will be killed by the 1% who don't care what happens as long as they get the money. Trump represents his class perfectly; it is all about ME.
2
I like the frog in the boiling water analogy, but there's also exhaustion by daily outrage. Most of us have lives outside of being watchdogs on this presidency. It becomes all consuming, and at some point you have to look away. I worry about people becoming frustrated and complacent due to feelings of powerlessness. It's deeply concerning that there's no indication so far that a Republican controlled Congress will do their job and provide a check on executive power.
4
"The warnings, some of them downright panic-inducing, that the country is not safe -- and we must go to war"
That is the anti-Trump line, too. It even includes demands for foreign confrontations, and condemns failure of will to go to war as in Syria and Ukraine.
Even this article is that we need to panic that we are losing our country, the sky is falling, the Russians are coming, and even if they're not they are here now in the White House. And he is constantly diagnosed as clinically insane.
That is the anti-Trump line, too. It even includes demands for foreign confrontations, and condemns failure of will to go to war as in Syria and Ukraine.
Even this article is that we need to panic that we are losing our country, the sky is falling, the Russians are coming, and even if they're not they are here now in the White House. And he is constantly diagnosed as clinically insane.
35
"... must go to war with Islamic extremists because they are threatening our way of life" is how the sentence ended. Defeating, no "destroying," ISIS is one of Donald Trump's stated goals.
His "secret plan" has yet to be rolled out. Do you think it involves talking with them about biblical values? I don't. Wait until the next terrorist atrocity and see how firmly Donald Trump commits to his stated policy of non-intervention.
If your support of Donald Trump is based on his squishy anti-war rhetoric, you backed the wrong horse.
His "secret plan" has yet to be rolled out. Do you think it involves talking with them about biblical values? I don't. Wait until the next terrorist atrocity and see how firmly Donald Trump commits to his stated policy of non-intervention.
If your support of Donald Trump is based on his squishy anti-war rhetoric, you backed the wrong horse.
34
On one side, warnings, panic and call to arms originate from trump, along with hatred and endless lies.
On the other side, more than half of America--the ones that know what the Constitution and Bill of Rights say, what the facts actually are, who hope for peaceful protests, who love rather than hate, who care rather than scare, who know who are national allies and enemies are--know what being an American has and continues to mean, what the Statue of Liberty is about...Man, please learn up.
On the other side, more than half of America--the ones that know what the Constitution and Bill of Rights say, what the facts actually are, who hope for peaceful protests, who love rather than hate, who care rather than scare, who know who are national allies and enemies are--know what being an American has and continues to mean, what the Statue of Liberty is about...Man, please learn up.
7
Oh Putin is much smarter
And Donald is a dope
Putin's malign, malicious,
Donald makes you lose hope.
Both have thumbs on the button
Pandora's Box l loose,
Putin would weigh the damage
Trump? Narcissitic Goose.
So Donald is our Putin?
Such luck is not our lot
We haven't got a Putin
Brain? Don hasn't a jot!
And Donald is a dope
Putin's malign, malicious,
Donald makes you lose hope.
Both have thumbs on the button
Pandora's Box l loose,
Putin would weigh the damage
Trump? Narcissitic Goose.
So Donald is our Putin?
Such luck is not our lot
We haven't got a Putin
Brain? Don hasn't a jot!
199
Larry, I have missed you. Keep it up!
2
I like Putin’s query about alternative approaches to the Islamists (“What do you suggest we should do? Talk with them about biblical values?”) Shows a keen eye for the real point, not the merely Kumbaya one.
So, after over 15 years, we may be back to Russia and America combining to jointly go after these bananas, and it has to await the election of Donald Trump to get that far back to reality.
“The media-bashing and outrageous statements. The attacks on rival power centers, whether stubborn federal judges or corporations refusing to get in line. The warnings, some of them downright panic-inducing, that the country is not safe — and we must go to war with Islamic extremists because they are threatening our way of life.”
It’s true that Obama did and was none of that. Then, look at America and look at the world. Look at bootless, frozen politics for six of his eight years, while the first two created divisions that still exist and are at a pitch not seen since our civil war. There’s something to be said, if your objective is to actually DO something, NOT to be Obama but be Trump – someone who by WHATEVER lawful means compels action, gets things DONE.
Putin gets things done, too. But, then, it’s easier to do that in Russia; and there’s the difference in WHAT he gets done and what Trump seeks to do, what he promised to do in his campaign and shows every resolve of actually doing. Comparing the two apart from superficial management styles is absurd ... and offensive.
So, after over 15 years, we may be back to Russia and America combining to jointly go after these bananas, and it has to await the election of Donald Trump to get that far back to reality.
“The media-bashing and outrageous statements. The attacks on rival power centers, whether stubborn federal judges or corporations refusing to get in line. The warnings, some of them downright panic-inducing, that the country is not safe — and we must go to war with Islamic extremists because they are threatening our way of life.”
It’s true that Obama did and was none of that. Then, look at America and look at the world. Look at bootless, frozen politics for six of his eight years, while the first two created divisions that still exist and are at a pitch not seen since our civil war. There’s something to be said, if your objective is to actually DO something, NOT to be Obama but be Trump – someone who by WHATEVER lawful means compels action, gets things DONE.
Putin gets things done, too. But, then, it’s easier to do that in Russia; and there’s the difference in WHAT he gets done and what Trump seeks to do, what he promised to do in his campaign and shows every resolve of actually doing. Comparing the two apart from superficial management styles is absurd ... and offensive.
14
Richard - You used to write interesting things that showed an understanding of reality from a different perspective. Since Trump has taken office you have bent yourself into a pretzel to rationalize his actions and cast them in a positive light. Your ability to write and think clearly have been badly damaged as a consequence.
28
Richie Rich, it is stupendous mendacity on your part to blame Obama when the Republican leadership met on inauguration night 2009 to indulge in an unprecedented level of obstructionism, even if the world economy was to collapse. Just recently, George Voinovich, former Ohio $enator, who attended the dinner, said, "we were told, if Obama was for it, we had to be against it."
As Garry Trudeau once said of Poppy Bush, "he put his manhood in a blind trust." All of those Republicans who always saw Ru$$ia as the enemy now go along blindly, and have also dropped their manhoods in a blind trust.
Today, frustrated with his incompetence at governance, Trump held his first "campaign rally" for 2020. It is the only milieu in which his ego can be satisfied for even an hour. And that is the beginning and the end of his interest.
As Garry Trudeau once said of Poppy Bush, "he put his manhood in a blind trust." All of those Republicans who always saw Ru$$ia as the enemy now go along blindly, and have also dropped their manhoods in a blind trust.
Today, frustrated with his incompetence at governance, Trump held his first "campaign rally" for 2020. It is the only milieu in which his ego can be satisfied for even an hour. And that is the beginning and the end of his interest.
23
I think that the flaw in your reasoning lies in the delusion that Trump seeks to do anything. I know he promised a bunch of nonsense and people actually believed him, but his only interest in running for Presidency was to satisfy his own insatiable ego. As a wealthy person, he was never interested in public welfare, in public policy, even in charitable activities. Running for president was a game to him to see how far he could get by insulting and brow beating his opponents. None of his proposals hold any water, and there is still nothing concrete on the table other than mass hysteria that he has created, just verbal venom that he is spreading denigrating minorities and our allies. The threat of terrorists coming from Syria is miniscule, he can certainly further limit or restrict immigration, but he was to do it in accordance with due process. He's indifferent to the institutions carefully nurtured over hundreds of years to maintain the delicate process of democracy, because he's indifferent to the American people, it is all about him. He will not be able to bring jobs to America. Instead of spewing out nonsense about reviving coal mines, reducing regulations on carbon emissions, etc, he needs to buckle down and come up with a viable job growth plan, but he won't do that; it's too much work for his lame brain and his incompetent and ignorant administration. So he will look for scapegoats, be they Muslims or Mexicans, until civil unrest becomes a real issue here.
130
One of the balances to the "imperial presidency" is supposed to be a free and independent press, but media consolidation has been a big story for at least a couple of decades. There are just a small number of major newspaper-publishing firms, and not so many firms in broadcast news. And they are all corporate and have a corporate-friendly point of view that seems to accommodate legislation that benefits the very rich, the major shareholders and so forth, and disparage the interests of low-income Americans and organized labor. There tends to be a class-war point of view in what print and broadcast media often say, not explicit, but in failure to cover issues of poverty, legal issues that generate poverty, etc.
284
Um, their are many publications/sites/podcasts that address those issues. The New York Times among them. The problem isn't consolidation, not even about political values per say. It's about profit over country. It's about a failed education system that doesn't make students learn. live and breath the Constitution, Bill of Rights, or how and why to read a newspaper or watch tv critically, it's about treating other cultures as "alternative interesting" rather than how to relate to our neighbors. It's also about laziness, personal and civic irresponsibility and buy stuff rather than helping people.
4
Good points Toast...With Murdoch as bff to Jared Kushner, the plot only thickens.
1
I don't know if a consolidated press is an issue at all, more the opposite. Sure we have fewer smaller to mid sized newspapers, and news magazines than 40-50 years ago, but cable choices and the internet have exploded in the past 20 years. And now we have heavily biased news coverage and fake news, while bloggers with no credentials or interest in fact checking printing up unsubstantiated information.
1
Good. We can't wait till Trump does the same.