The NYT is a good newspaper and this is an example of that; another excellent article. But commenting here is a waste of time. Because it almost impossible to get past the moderator. Unless you write a bland few lines designed to insult absolutely no-one. Like muzak is for an elevator; musical wallpaper. Problem with that is; almost every liberal - including myself - is at the boiling point with this Trump administration and with the GOP as a whole. But when you then call the situation as it is, in a response to an article, will sometimes require one to revert to harsh words (and I am NOT talking the four-letter stuff here.) It appears that this is okay for the NYT authors that are on the payroll, but not for us, the readers. And that is VERY disappointing behavior from an otherwise good newspaper.
Atta boy Mr. Stevens. Great piece.
It is challenging to find in you a right wing conservative who is very intelligent.
What makes you great, is that you separate yourself from those in your group who are traitors to their country for the sake of power and profit.
It is challenging to find in you a right wing conservative who is very intelligent.
What makes you great, is that you separate yourself from those in your group who are traitors to their country for the sake of power and profit.
1
Really? "that most conservative of concepts:character." Might I suggest that character doesn't have a political affiliation nor have I ever experienced it as an abstraction.
2
Becoming human is hard.
Constructing a durable, productive, and pleasing moral and intellectual center is the result only of a sustained focus spread over many years, a million moments of reacting to ever-shifting gusts of chance and the flotsam of living. And out of the seemingly disconnected stream of random tediousness and drama, must emerge the clear outlines of a person, a mind, an persistent set of moral propositions.
This can be done, has been done; it's presence is unmistakeable and welcome after it has been done. Or it can be left undone. That too gradually but surely becomes clear to to a discerning eye.
Donald Trump's privilege, his early indoctrination in a me-first zero-sum-game model of living has mostly denied him a real chance to become human. The feedback loop of consequence and reward was, for him, wrong from the beginning, and never changed.
He is an entirely logical product of a certain set of ideas and patterns. He is what he is. And what he is should have been clear for decades, certainly in the last two years. The fact that enough Americans chose to engage in deliberate blindness and moral and intellectual "dumbing down" of a colossal magnitude in voting for him says a great deal about who we are.
Trump is a mirror. Few Americans were more horrified to watch this train career wildly down the tracks than me, but I do not wish to see the Trump gone anytime soon. We haven't looked deeply enough into that mirror yet. We might forget.
Constructing a durable, productive, and pleasing moral and intellectual center is the result only of a sustained focus spread over many years, a million moments of reacting to ever-shifting gusts of chance and the flotsam of living. And out of the seemingly disconnected stream of random tediousness and drama, must emerge the clear outlines of a person, a mind, an persistent set of moral propositions.
This can be done, has been done; it's presence is unmistakeable and welcome after it has been done. Or it can be left undone. That too gradually but surely becomes clear to to a discerning eye.
Donald Trump's privilege, his early indoctrination in a me-first zero-sum-game model of living has mostly denied him a real chance to become human. The feedback loop of consequence and reward was, for him, wrong from the beginning, and never changed.
He is an entirely logical product of a certain set of ideas and patterns. He is what he is. And what he is should have been clear for decades, certainly in the last two years. The fact that enough Americans chose to engage in deliberate blindness and moral and intellectual "dumbing down" of a colossal magnitude in voting for him says a great deal about who we are.
Trump is a mirror. Few Americans were more horrified to watch this train career wildly down the tracks than me, but I do not wish to see the Trump gone anytime soon. We haven't looked deeply enough into that mirror yet. We might forget.
14
Statistics put the bulk of America, riding high toward the mid-point of the bell curve. But those heroes, the ones who knew they were going down, and decided to take the terrorists with them--before they turned toward their assumed goal--are surely in that far, far end--the Heaven's end of that curve. Those people kept their heads, when a normal person would not have.
The real question today, is to think of those members of the Trump Republican Party. Will they let Donald, who appears intense to destroy America going to let him take them along, as he also makes the disastrous turn?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
The real question today, is to think of those members of the Trump Republican Party. Will they let Donald, who appears intense to destroy America going to let him take them along, as he also makes the disastrous turn?
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
1
/Hillary, for all her flaws/
Just couldn't pass it up, could you?
Just couldn't pass it up, could you?
9
One sentence Trump will never utter: "If I’ve lost Stephens, I’ve lost [fill in the blank].
Welcome to the NY Times.
Welcome to the NY Times.
1
Commenter Phyliss Dalmatian wrote, "At this point, the best that I can hope for, is that Donald takes the opportunity of his foreign trip, to defect. To Russia. Seriously."
My reply: To Russia with love. xoxoxo
My reply: To Russia with love. xoxoxo
14
How about the Hindenberg, Republican friends? Oh the humanity...
Trump is not worthy to carry Jimmy Carters jock strap. Carter had and has more character than what passes for most conservatives today, especially those that voted for trump. If anything defines them today it is misplaced anger and ignorance. We must now live with the product of their anger and ignorance, trump the imbecile if he survives or a religious zealot and hate monger Pence if he doesn't. Thanks for screwing up America.
19
The Democrats in this Country are so in the dark about the truth since the News people have no intint on telling the truth. They have ;ied for so long that I think some even believe there lies. They come up with stories that are not even close to being correct that it is funny in a way but it is also VERY Damaging. The biggest problem is that there is a part of the citizens that only listen to this cesspool for there news. We just had the most incompitant bunch of politicians in history in the white house ,including the POTUS and his wife, The secretary of state, The Director of the FBI,the Director of the IRS and so on and so on. President ELECT Trump should take every one of them to court and have the gallows in wait for them. The Country needs to bring back the Death penalty for Tyranny ! That would stop a small few. He should also take some News Media personal to court for disclosing secrets and confidential information. They hide behind the First Amendment as if it is a Cloak of Truth. HA ! The Media in this Country has turned into a Circus with the Democrat Party as Ring Leader. Mrs Pelosi has for far tro long hide in Congress and played a Major roll as Ring Master. I pitty her Husband, he must have terrible nightmares being married to this woman.
2
Not even a very good try. Trump is going down, he is a pathological liar.
5
I understand the author is upset, and rightfully so with the Trump Presidency. But that does not open the door to start criticizing all conservatives. Not all conservatives support the Administration. Very broad criticism.
2
Ha! Only 84%. Good enough for me to indict the whole lot.
You guys are gonna put All Her Flaws on her tombstone. At least you've come around to acknowledging that she might be better than this clown.
12
The author writes:
"That is the Trump reality. A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers. Who could have seen that one coming?"
Is he kidding???
"That is the Trump reality. A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers. Who could have seen that one coming?"
Is he kidding???
9
Gee. who could have guessed this outcome? A snake oil salesman with an ego bigger than all outdoors who thinks the world revolves about him, no government experience, in fact no experience except in the business daddy left him, a liar and a cheat as president of the USA, who could have guessed indeed?
20
A businessman not experienced as a politician, with just 4 months in the hot seat to get used to it has stumbled, as all new presidents do, and Democrats are certain the very sky has fallen. We are not merely concerned, we are truly and very afraid; the very country is at risk; checks and balances no longer work and the end is nigh; the other 2 branches are feckless and toothless. It is the endtimes.
I see no difference between Democrat and Republican hatred and hyperbole. He won, like it or not, and I don't. Give him a chance, unlike the Republicans who rooted for Obama's collapse.
The other party is NOT a mortal enemy but has a different approach to the same general goals you do. Family, jobs, security, happiness.
If you want comity, go to middle ground and keep reaching out. Stop with the agita and angst. It is fun and diverting to play these what-ifs, but these editorials are poisonous and rev people to hysteria.
More light , less heat, NYT!
I see no difference between Democrat and Republican hatred and hyperbole. He won, like it or not, and I don't. Give him a chance, unlike the Republicans who rooted for Obama's collapse.
The other party is NOT a mortal enemy but has a different approach to the same general goals you do. Family, jobs, security, happiness.
If you want comity, go to middle ground and keep reaching out. Stop with the agita and angst. It is fun and diverting to play these what-ifs, but these editorials are poisonous and rev people to hysteria.
More light , less heat, NYT!
5
It isnt the NY Times that is causing the heat - it is the person sitting in the oval office.
17
You need to pay more attention. The Dems and Repubs are emphatically not the same. I worry for your analytical skills.
4
Is anyone else offended by the reference to Flight 93? What a horrible day that was; what a frightening time. How could having a refined, educated, thoughtful man in the White House drive so many people around the bend to the point where they thought our way of life was in danger. Is our way of life so fragile that it would be better to have a crass, crude, uneducated, and selfish brat in the White House? Because of immigration and gay marriage and clean air laws? What is so scary about those things? I heard today that the Saudis will welcome our toddler in chief in spite of every horrible thing he has ever said about them or their country because anything is better than Barack Obama. I don't get that argument - I will never get it.
17
It is in the worst of taste to use Flight 93 as an analogy for anything. The actions of those people on that fateful day stand alone in honor and always will. Nothing else need me said or added or embellished.
This article is offensive.
This article is offensive.
6
Hey Joe the author of this article didn't use Flight 93 as an analogy. This author was writing about an article that used Flight 93 as an analogy. This author then took the first author's analogy and turned it on it's heel. Correcting it, if you will. No need to be offended by this article.
8
Bret,
I (enjoyed?) your phrase "descended on a hapless White House staff like a superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo," almost as well as Dan Rather's "dumpster fire of an administration."
Unfortunately, I fear that we find ourselves not aboard UA 93, but rather Malaysia Air 370, with a captain flying us helplessly up into the ether, ascending ever higher. And only a bit of flotsam on a distant shore will ever tell the tale.
I just cannot shake this sense of foreboding, that our selfishness, greed, stupidity and divisiveness, for which I principally blame the rentier class and come to fruition in this administration, will cause the president of the immortals to weigh in on "American Exceptionalism."
I (enjoyed?) your phrase "descended on a hapless White House staff like a superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo," almost as well as Dan Rather's "dumpster fire of an administration."
Unfortunately, I fear that we find ourselves not aboard UA 93, but rather Malaysia Air 370, with a captain flying us helplessly up into the ether, ascending ever higher. And only a bit of flotsam on a distant shore will ever tell the tale.
I just cannot shake this sense of foreboding, that our selfishness, greed, stupidity and divisiveness, for which I principally blame the rentier class and come to fruition in this administration, will cause the president of the immortals to weigh in on "American Exceptionalism."
7
I want Trump impeached right now. I want Mike Pence.
He is well practiced in DC politics and can get all his programs passed with ease in an all R gov't. He is very smooth like Reagan as a former talk show host and will impress and be an able convincer. He will work effectively with allies unlike Trump.
He is anti-woman, anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-worker, anti-union, anti-Muslim, pro-corporation, hyper-religious and hyper-military.
What Trump can't accomplish in destroying progressive America, impeachment and then imposing Pence will.
Liberals: have you lose your very minds?? Let Trump twist slowly, slowly and become a sideshow distraction. Do not cut off your nose to spite your face. Stop w the impeachment talk!! You don't know BAD until you know Pence.
He is well practiced in DC politics and can get all his programs passed with ease in an all R gov't. He is very smooth like Reagan as a former talk show host and will impress and be an able convincer. He will work effectively with allies unlike Trump.
He is anti-woman, anti-gay, anti-trans, anti-worker, anti-union, anti-Muslim, pro-corporation, hyper-religious and hyper-military.
What Trump can't accomplish in destroying progressive America, impeachment and then imposing Pence will.
Liberals: have you lose your very minds?? Let Trump twist slowly, slowly and become a sideshow distraction. Do not cut off your nose to spite your face. Stop w the impeachment talk!! You don't know BAD until you know Pence.
8
Your response is beyond brilliant and how the NY TIMES could fail to make it a NY TIMES pick is beyond my comprehension.
B R A V O !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
B R A V O !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FLIGHT 93 As a metaphor for the US government is pretty dim witted to me. The governance of more than 320 million people must be more complex than a flight of a few hundred people by many orders of magnitude. Trump represents the greatest existential crisis for the US since the Civil War. His breathtakingly ability to put a wrecking ball to anything and everything, though joyless and insulted by people objecting to his apocalyptic presidency. It is not Flight 93, but Trump who will crash again. He's had many businesses go bust, declared 4 bankruptcies and is notorious for ripping off employees, consultants, contractors, builders and students (at Trump University). How anybody with half a brain could think that Trump was safe is beyond me. How anyone could believe that he had anything at all to offer the US other than his greed and criminal mind, strains credibility. He'll do us all a big favor by claiming illness so he can invoke the 25th Amendment. Here today, gone tomorrow. Couldn't happen soon enough for me!
5
I would offer a different flight analogy than Mr. Anton's or some of the commenters here, who admittedly know more about flying than I do. I recognize events would not play out this way in real life.
Suppose an airliner is scheduled to depart Sydney for Los Angeles nonstop, but a weather report indicates that Los Angeles is likely to be in the throes of a violent storm when the plane is expected to arrive. Both the crew and the passengers, for their own various reasons, however, are determined to depart. Mid way across the Pacific word comes that conditions are developing as expected, and diversion to Honolulu is recommended. Again, crew and passengers decide to press on. As the plane nears Los Angeles, conditions are as predicted, and the dwindling fuel supply now precludes diverting elsewhere.
Thus, the plane must land, despite the hazardous conditions. It's going to be a bumpy ride, and if people get airsick, that's too bad. Passengers have to stay in their seats, and if they need to use the restroom, that's too bad too.
Circling endlessly to avoid the discomfort is not an option.
As Mr. Stephens says, "Who could have seen that one coming?" They all could have; they just didn't want to. As with this crew and passengers, so too with Republican politicians and voters.
Suppose an airliner is scheduled to depart Sydney for Los Angeles nonstop, but a weather report indicates that Los Angeles is likely to be in the throes of a violent storm when the plane is expected to arrive. Both the crew and the passengers, for their own various reasons, however, are determined to depart. Mid way across the Pacific word comes that conditions are developing as expected, and diversion to Honolulu is recommended. Again, crew and passengers decide to press on. As the plane nears Los Angeles, conditions are as predicted, and the dwindling fuel supply now precludes diverting elsewhere.
Thus, the plane must land, despite the hazardous conditions. It's going to be a bumpy ride, and if people get airsick, that's too bad. Passengers have to stay in their seats, and if they need to use the restroom, that's too bad too.
Circling endlessly to avoid the discomfort is not an option.
As Mr. Stephens says, "Who could have seen that one coming?" They all could have; they just didn't want to. As with this crew and passengers, so too with Republican politicians and voters.
4
Call me wacko or fascist, but I'm waiting to see one newspaper or TV report indicting Trump that isn't based on unnamed sources or supposed insider leaks. Not one real fact has emerged to substantiate anything. And what is most disheartening is that the media has given up any vestige of responsibility, abandoning that good old standby "allegedly" and stating all allegations as fact. Name a source, give me something in writing -- anything. So far, it is the Democrats and their handmaidens in the press pushing the "resistance" who are in fact running this witch hunt.
2
Susan, most sources will speak and share only with the condition of anonymity. Sometimes their jobs, family, and personal safety require that their names aren't printed or revealed. In the case of a major player, i.e. this president, they have to remain annonymous.
You mean like Trump names his "sources" and uses real facts?
1
They will apologize if need be when we get one from trump and "conservatives" on Hillary's emails and calls of "Criminal, lock her up ". Conservatives, you have no shame.
2
Trump is taking the country into a "controlled descent into terrain" thanks to delusional people like Anton and Coulter.
4
Thank you, Mr. Stephens. I heard Michael Anton still pushing this nonsense on the radio recently. You wrote, "To imply, as Anton did, that Barack Obama, for all his shortcomings, was Ziad Jarrah, Flight 93’s lead hijacker, is vile. To suppose that we’d all be dead if Hillary Clinton, for all her flaws, had been elected is hallucinatory."
(That's from paragraphs 14 and 15, 3rd and 4th from the end. Your editor should have moved them up to positions 4 and 5.)
Sadly, I believe "unhinged" describes both the Conservative movement and the Republican party. They are overlapping, but different, and they, both, control the government of our nation and most states. It took years to brew this disaster, and it will take more to fix it, if we can. We will not be dead if we don't fix it, but we will have walked away from a precious inheritance if we fail.
(That's from paragraphs 14 and 15, 3rd and 4th from the end. Your editor should have moved them up to positions 4 and 5.)
Sadly, I believe "unhinged" describes both the Conservative movement and the Republican party. They are overlapping, but different, and they, both, control the government of our nation and most states. It took years to brew this disaster, and it will take more to fix it, if we can. We will not be dead if we don't fix it, but we will have walked away from a precious inheritance if we fail.
5
No. It's the maiden voyage of the Titanic. HE is both the ship, AND his own iceberg. Bigly.
4
I don't think that additional notes, letters or whatever are necessary anymore. We have exhausted the well of hatetred, indifference and disfavor and no more need to be, or can be, said.
Misogynist and whoremonger are merely words and cannot delineate the essence, the pith and pity of this fantasy.
Why is too late,
When is there to see.
Now is the time!
NOW is the time.
JP
Misogynist and whoremonger are merely words and cannot delineate the essence, the pith and pity of this fantasy.
Why is too late,
When is there to see.
Now is the time!
NOW is the time.
JP
1
Setting aside the disrespect of making Flight 93 analogies, if one wants to consider taking action with uncertain benefit in order to avert certain disaster, then the Republican Primary was clearly that time.
With a large field splitting the vote and Trump amassing votes, party elders had ample opportunity to denounce his candidacy, even if it led to the uncertainty of a nominee with a poorer chance against Clinton. But their silence ensured the certain disaster, for the soul of their party and for the country.
With a large field splitting the vote and Trump amassing votes, party elders had ample opportunity to denounce his candidacy, even if it led to the uncertainty of a nominee with a poorer chance against Clinton. But their silence ensured the certain disaster, for the soul of their party and for the country.
11
Mr. Stephens, the cockpit is occupied and flying in a dangerous direction. The fallacy is in assuming Trump is the pilot with the control. In truth, the cockpit is full of tens of millions of voters for the Republican Party that have spent decades voting against their own interests. It's crowded, angry, and totally untrained to fly a plane - but they insist it must be they alone who are in charge.
8
The fact that there is a sufficient number of people who believe Mr Trump spoke the truth combined with another fraction of those who wouldn't have a woman outside the kitchen should be the real concern. He hasn't stepped out of character throughout his life and we bought what we saw which as it turns out is all there is to see. Blaming him for his actions which have always been clear is is no different than a bath in obviously dirty water.
As children we had little or no choice as to what we were exposed and therefore most of us were taught to accept whatever we were told by our ministers and among those things was an all knowing god. Politicians from our nation's inception have utilized this acceptance of a divine being to emphasize their own character because most of us have taken that message to heart.
Do we deny our upbringing? Do we even question the validity of this ongoing education?
Mr Trump is no accident rather the result of some among us who realized and exploited all the weaknesses of truth and all the strength of lies to gain the wealth which raw power can often bring.
Much like the show Mr Trump put on for the benefit of the audience of professional wrestling, people stood and cheered in public, unashamed of their ridiculous pose for those whose only object was money.
There can be and are many reasons why we are in this pickle, but being sold a bill of goods at birth and still paying for it has to be one.
As children we had little or no choice as to what we were exposed and therefore most of us were taught to accept whatever we were told by our ministers and among those things was an all knowing god. Politicians from our nation's inception have utilized this acceptance of a divine being to emphasize their own character because most of us have taken that message to heart.
Do we deny our upbringing? Do we even question the validity of this ongoing education?
Mr Trump is no accident rather the result of some among us who realized and exploited all the weaknesses of truth and all the strength of lies to gain the wealth which raw power can often bring.
Much like the show Mr Trump put on for the benefit of the audience of professional wrestling, people stood and cheered in public, unashamed of their ridiculous pose for those whose only object was money.
There can be and are many reasons why we are in this pickle, but being sold a bill of goods at birth and still paying for it has to be one.
6
Since the far right has decided that actual facts don't matter, they stopped looking at reality and only wanted to see what made them feel good about themselves. Big mistake. Yuge.
4
Both Trump and Hilary had underwater approval poll numbers before the election.
For people holding their nose, a strong incentive to vote for Trump was the escape hatch of impeachment.
So, what crime do we charge him with?
Being Donald Trump.
For people holding their nose, a strong incentive to vote for Trump was the escape hatch of impeachment.
So, what crime do we charge him with?
Being Donald Trump.
The Flight 93 metaphor doesn't apply and blithely dismisses the lives of the good and decent people who died that day.
There is no "conservative movement." It has merely become a living fig leaf to cover the economic corruption that has been these United States for the better part of a generation and a half. During that time millions have lost good manufacturing jobs while an infinitesimal sliver of society enriched themselves at their expense.
The garroting of the country's democracy was completed by the .1%'s political hacks when they successfully gerrymandered a virtually safe Republican majority in the House. So now while millions more vote for Democratic Congressional candidates, a Republican majority passes legislation.
The country is now virtually morally bankrupt. Witness its obsession with celebrities. Its multimillionaire athletic court jestors, and their gated communities. Only money is good. There is no sense of community and a commonality of interests.
Trump is the country's living exclamation point. He told voters, for once, openly, that they had gotten the short end of the stick. His base never realized that he was in fact one of the ones doing it to them.
In the propagandized country, up is down, black is white, and a black sheriff set to be hired at "Homeland Security," declares the Ferguson protestors a bunch of malcontents.
This must be, has to be the darkness that comes before the dawn.
Doesn't it?
There is no "conservative movement." It has merely become a living fig leaf to cover the economic corruption that has been these United States for the better part of a generation and a half. During that time millions have lost good manufacturing jobs while an infinitesimal sliver of society enriched themselves at their expense.
The garroting of the country's democracy was completed by the .1%'s political hacks when they successfully gerrymandered a virtually safe Republican majority in the House. So now while millions more vote for Democratic Congressional candidates, a Republican majority passes legislation.
The country is now virtually morally bankrupt. Witness its obsession with celebrities. Its multimillionaire athletic court jestors, and their gated communities. Only money is good. There is no sense of community and a commonality of interests.
Trump is the country's living exclamation point. He told voters, for once, openly, that they had gotten the short end of the stick. His base never realized that he was in fact one of the ones doing it to them.
In the propagandized country, up is down, black is white, and a black sheriff set to be hired at "Homeland Security," declares the Ferguson protestors a bunch of malcontents.
This must be, has to be the darkness that comes before the dawn.
Doesn't it?
8
To describe President Trump as irrepressible is a poor choice, irresponsible might be more to the point
1
My reaction to that adjective was that the word 'reprehensible' would have been far more descriptive of Trump's character.
Yes, but what about who will replace Trump? Pence is just as foul as that clown who is pretending to be president.
1
Trump might have lost Anne Coulter, but he certainly hasn't lost angry (white) America, they are out there finding every excuse and rationalization about "their Donny", claiming this is a liberal witch hunt, how Trump has done nothing wrong, how he will show everyone just how great a president he is, how he is 'one of us', ie that a spoiled, rich, immature man is part of "Forgotten America" as they see themselves. They could catch Trump being literally blackmailed, they can catch him stealing the white house silverware, they could catch him deliberately doing things to aid Russia, using the office of the president to literally bring wealth to his family, and it wouldn't matter to them, they have their man and that is it. I think they know they voted for and have continually supported what likely will be our worst president and can't admit it, becauuse in doing so (in their eyes) it would be admitting that those who see them as ill educated, bigoted, angry people who fell for a snake oil salesman, were right.
5
It looks like there are a few vacancies at FoxNews. Maybe Mr. Stephens should apply and free up this space for a serious thinker?
2
Nice piece.
I am struck by surveys coming out today that Trump's supporters (shut up, Bernie! You've done enough harm!) are actually racists and White Supremicists--not just nice working people who are economically challenged. Yeah. Some of us knew that. And they aren't too bright, many of them, either. But their main motivators are fear and hatred and envy. They even envy other working people--especially immigrants who are willing to work so hard for so little because businesses can exploit them. And now Trump is deporting mothers and children and fathers...and dumb white people are still addicted and drunk and not doing so well.
Sad.
I am struck by surveys coming out today that Trump's supporters (shut up, Bernie! You've done enough harm!) are actually racists and White Supremicists--not just nice working people who are economically challenged. Yeah. Some of us knew that. And they aren't too bright, many of them, either. But their main motivators are fear and hatred and envy. They even envy other working people--especially immigrants who are willing to work so hard for so little because businesses can exploit them. And now Trump is deporting mothers and children and fathers...and dumb white people are still addicted and drunk and not doing so well.
Sad.
5
The whole idea of a "Flight 93 Election" framed as by Michael Anton is offensive beyond belief, in addition to being completely delusional. It is particularly offensive considering that it was under the last Republican administration that Flight 93 happened as part of 9/11.
Lest we forget, the last Republican administration gave us the largest and most successful terrorist attack on our soil in history, the most idiotic foreign policy decision (Invading Iraq) at least since Vietnam, the most inept federal response to a natural disaster ever (Katrina and New Orleans), and pretty much destroyed our country's economy, along with that of much of the world.
Lest we forget, that incredible mess had to be cleaned up by a Democratic administration, just as a Democratic administration had to clean up after Herbert Hoover.
Unbelievably delusional, just like Trump supporters. Just like Trump himself.
Lest we forget, the last Republican administration gave us the largest and most successful terrorist attack on our soil in history, the most idiotic foreign policy decision (Invading Iraq) at least since Vietnam, the most inept federal response to a natural disaster ever (Katrina and New Orleans), and pretty much destroyed our country's economy, along with that of much of the world.
Lest we forget, that incredible mess had to be cleaned up by a Democratic administration, just as a Democratic administration had to clean up after Herbert Hoover.
Unbelievably delusional, just like Trump supporters. Just like Trump himself.
22
Just a thought to share: for all the wealth of your country, the power it projects and the democracy it repeatedly asserts to be the "light on the hill", the sad saga of the Trump presidency and its effect on the world highlights the single biggest flaw in the system of government devised by your founding fathers: you can't get rid of a dud head of state. Had your founders elected to retain the consititutional monarchy/parliamentary system of government (UK, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, etc), you could have given this clown the boot months ago, for no incompetent survives a parliamentary party leadership for very long. With our head of state (HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented by Governors General) basically a figurehead who can do little if any damage (she can only advise, caution and recommend), Prime Ministers have much less opportunity to destroy a nation in the style of Donald Trump. Perhaps your congressional leaders could seek readmission to the Commonweath, who would undoubtedly grant it, then HM (whose advice is usually courteously followed) could recommend to Congress that Trump be sacked.
Methinks the law of unintended consequences has several applications here.
Well, it's a thought, isn't it
Methinks the law of unintended consequences has several applications here.
Well, it's a thought, isn't it
4
Brian, our Founding Fathers did leave a way from a scenario like this. Incipient dictatorship, either by 1 man or a committee. They had already had to do the same thing, for us to be Free today. They risked their lives, fortunes & sacred honor. Honor means almost nothing anymore, at least to those who are working overtime to destroy the Country. They break oaths like kids break peanut brittle. What is this way they left us?In the Declaration of Independence it says We the People are Obligated to REVOLT, in this situation. Then in the Constitution they give us the means: the second half of the second Amendment says we may form non governmental militia. The first half is just window dressing, they couldn't visualize a country where all grown men didn't have a gun, often more than one, to be used by the wife & mother of his children. Cost then was the only impediment.So, we form the Citizens' Army, we march toward DC. Any of his 'base' who get between DC & us, we remove, & keep going. The Citizens' Army is today's version of the Minute Men of Concord & Lexington. I live near there. My town received a Minute Man statue, as did all towns who responded to the call that fateful day. The original full size is still there on the Lexington Green.Our we too cowardly to stand up for our rights, our needs, our Country? Do we care more for our comfort, money, & sloth than we do for our fellow citizens, all Americans? Not just those of pale skin, built in laziness, & uncaring need to take.
Seems like the Flight 93 analogy is now more relevant than ever, with Trump in the cockpit.
4
There were a few, if few, principled Conservatives, who plainly saw what a Trump presidency would mean and spoke up against him. But to say that his defective intellect and dysfunctional administration is a fact finally visible even to his most ardent admirers is a conclusion that the polls do not yet support. Trump is just a symptom of a deeper rot that pervades the body politic and will persist long after Trump is gone. The only thing that can save this Republic are smarter voters and I am not holding my breath.
6
Donald Trump is an expert at winning. He knows how to do whatever is necessary to win. He has fought 3500 lawsuits. He won all the nominations. He won the election. Why should he not win this time too.
Because enough men and women of good will will see to it that ineptitude will not stand
1
Sounds as if that essay could have also been authored by the chief White House alt-right "fanatic", Bannon. Who knew that "character might be destiny"? Do you jest Mr. Stephens? Are you serious? How about those relatively rare, candid Republicans who, some time ago, went on the record and rejected the very idea of Trump as the party's candidate, let alone the utter horror of a possible Trump Presidency. Some, like George Will, even resigned from the party in disgust.
Despite a wide and deep reprehensible past, including his guiding ethos that the truth is but a mere commodity, the vast majority of Republicans greedily made their Faustian Bargain with Trump. That plane did "land on the White House after all". But then their commandeered plane and White House soon collapsed, unable to bear the weight of all that leaden, human baggage.
Just one question, sir, in closing. Were you, like the enablers Coulter, et al, a cockpit-charger on the plane or its brave defender against a hostile takeover?
Despite a wide and deep reprehensible past, including his guiding ethos that the truth is but a mere commodity, the vast majority of Republicans greedily made their Faustian Bargain with Trump. That plane did "land on the White House after all". But then their commandeered plane and White House soon collapsed, unable to bear the weight of all that leaden, human baggage.
Just one question, sir, in closing. Were you, like the enablers Coulter, et al, a cockpit-charger on the plane or its brave defender against a hostile takeover?
1
Stephens' analysis is right on the money. Only Anton's hysterical hyperbole or Bannon's apocryphal phantasmagoria would try to justify "blowing up" the democracy and Constitution of the United States. Since the end of the Second World War, the US has been the undisputed, albeit flawed, leader of the free world. And that is precisely why we have been targeted by murderous, venal kleptocrats like Putin, global anarchists of all stripes and rationalizing cheerleaders like Anton and Bannon.
5
If the problem were only our cretinous president and those who thought he was the answer to America's problems, I'd agree with the heinous analogy to Flight 93 to explain his capturing of the White House.
But the problem extends to the "policies" he is willing to sign into law. Republicans might have breathed a sigh of relief when the House passed on to the Senate its Repeal and Replace bill that only 17% of Americans approve. And what will Americans say about the inchoate tax proposal that Trump's team coughed up to substantiate his claim he had a wonderful tax plan? I welcome the cooling off that the Mueller appointment as Special Counsel provides. It will allow Americans to focus on the flight plan the rest of the Trump/Ryan/McConnell crew has in mind for America. Maybe the Flight 93 analogy is appropriate with one change: it's Trump/Ryan/McConnell that are in the cockpit and its up to the rest of us to make sure they do not reach their targets.
But the problem extends to the "policies" he is willing to sign into law. Republicans might have breathed a sigh of relief when the House passed on to the Senate its Repeal and Replace bill that only 17% of Americans approve. And what will Americans say about the inchoate tax proposal that Trump's team coughed up to substantiate his claim he had a wonderful tax plan? I welcome the cooling off that the Mueller appointment as Special Counsel provides. It will allow Americans to focus on the flight plan the rest of the Trump/Ryan/McConnell crew has in mind for America. Maybe the Flight 93 analogy is appropriate with one change: it's Trump/Ryan/McConnell that are in the cockpit and its up to the rest of us to make sure they do not reach their targets.
9
Bret you are right about Trump. But it is up to the Republicans in Congress who govern by passing legislation that will have to do the right thing for voters. Else THEY will be the hijackers of Flight 93. They are supposed to adhere to Trump's promise AFTER he was sworn in and make sure he keeps it:
"For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America.
This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people."
Congress should know better. The Republicans in charge are playing the same old games, and it THEY who will decide the fate of the Republican party.
"For too long, a small group in our nation’s Capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost. Washington flourished – but the people did not share in its wealth.
Politicians prospered – but the jobs left, and the factories closed. The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country. Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs; and while they celebrated in our nation’s Capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land.
That all changes – starting right here, and right now, because this moment is your moment: it belongs to you. It belongs to everyone gathered here today and everyone watching all across America.
This is your day. This is your celebration. And this, the United States of America, is your country. What truly matters is not which party controls our government, but whether our government is controlled by the people."
Congress should know better. The Republicans in charge are playing the same old games, and it THEY who will decide the fate of the Republican party.
Knowing what I know now about the Trump presidency and knowing the National course Team Clinton (had they won) would have set upon, it's still remains an easy call. I would go with Trump any day.
1
Yes, it is a jaw drop to read Ann Coulter's remarks about Trump. But it gets even better by reading Karl Rove's repeated criticism of Trump in the WSJ. The Trump base listens to the conservative pundits more than they listen to Trump. When talk radio starts criticizing Trump then his days are numbered.
3
But at least we don't have to worry about global climate change, right, Bret?
3
Bret Stephen's analogy with Flight 93 is spot on and frightening. The appointment of Mueller was a step in the right direction but just like a horror flick at just a few minutes in there are still numerous possibilities for it all to still go horribly wrong. It will not safe until the hijackers are thrown out of the Congress and Senate.
1
With the cat named Treason well out of the bag, and nearly the entire GOP leadershpi implicated it is very much time for the decent people of the US to charge the proverbial cockpit and save the last century of economic and social progress. The GOP must be extirpated from every seat of power (national and state) and never allowed near them again.
6
Anyone too dimwitted to not have seen the wreck coming won't really care where we are now or where we are headed. Many of my right wing associates are still making excuses and reminiscing about how much worse it would be if HRC would have been elected instead. Simply ludicrous.
12
The U.S. has been a nation of contradictions for it's entire history but somehow despite all attempts to follow tangents into lawlessness and tyranny by powerful people it always finds it's way back to it's basis as a government of laws and to it's visionary principle that all men are created equal and endowed with life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Just when it seemed that Nixon was going to establish the Presidency as a quasi-imperial role, the Congress stopped him and so did the Supreme Court. Just as Trump was attempting to rule rather than to serve as President, the Executive Branch turns an investigation he wanted to go away over to an independent investigator and the Congress is proceeding with investigations concerning allegations of conduct that could reveal the President's conduct as improper if not illegal. Whether Trump is forced to leave office or not, he's being forced to understand that he shares the power to govern and if he wants to get anywhere he's going to stop acting as he has.
3
He does not understand mor will he ever
1
Great article, Bret. Except, "Who could have seen that one coming? "
Uh, I believe the answer is everyone who voted for Hillary saw this terror coming!
Uh, I believe the answer is everyone who voted for Hillary saw this terror coming!
19
The legend of Flight 93 will endure because it's one of those times when against hope people refused to accept the inevitability of their deaths and by doing so foiled the plans of people determined to murder innocent people. Likening two well meaning people to the hijackers because they had liberal policies rather than conservatives ones reflected a real fear that liberal policies would deprive them of something that would amount to murdering them -- crazy. We live in a state where policies that work tend to become accepted and those that do not tend to be replaced, so no conservative nor liberal can rationally think that the policies that they do or do not like will result in life or death outcomes. In any case, conservatives were convinced that Trump was making bargain with them to govern conservatively even though he never seemed to have an central core of convictions in his whole life, so the entire thesis of the "The Flight 93 Election" was off the wall, a fleeting but unexamined notion, at best.
4
As the editorial notes, to compare Trump to Mr. Bingham is absolutely vile and shows the detachment from reality of the hard right.
As in "return of the Jedi" , we must not let anger destroy us. Both candidates for the 2016 presidential election were flawed narcissists. HRC should have been campaigning in the states that unexpectedly went for Trump. instead of fundrasing in the Hamptons.
Lets learn from our mistakes and retake COngress in 2018
As in "return of the Jedi" , we must not let anger destroy us. Both candidates for the 2016 presidential election were flawed narcissists. HRC should have been campaigning in the states that unexpectedly went for Trump. instead of fundrasing in the Hamptons.
Lets learn from our mistakes and retake COngress in 2018
Caligula, Claudius, then Nero, I meant to say.
1
"Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?"
A majority of American voters, sir.
A majority of American voters, sir.
16
I think he's asking it like "Who knew ...?" sorta tongue in cheek That's how I took it at any rate.
Really strong column. You are a very nice addition to the NYT. Conservative, yet rationale. Trump has to be the gift that keeps on giving for late night comics. But sadly, he is the official leader of our executive branch. For now. It seems that the GOP is starting to see light.
3
The fanatical thinking among Republicans has been part and parcel of the Republican party for quite some time and has recently been gaining strength for quite a while. Was there ever really a Democratic counterpart to the John Birch society, the birtherss, the 2nd amendment fanatics, the climate science deniers? Really? People like Bruce Bartlett realized the Republican party had gone off it's rocker a while ago. Furthermore, Republicans have been advocating for creating their own reality for a while now, and Trump is the perfect expression of that.
9
I think some on the right would reply that the left wing analogs would include things like the safe space/micro aggression hypersensitivity to "harmful" speech seen on some college campuses, regulations that require translations into 15 languages for limited English proficient health care subscribers, some types of environmental activism. I don't see these as valid equivalents, though. Birtherism is rank propaganda from the book of Goebbels (say the same lie over and over); 2nd amendment rights, as often now expressed (and as created by the Heller case) brooks no compromise whatsoever -- an essentially unreasonable stance; climate deniers are dishonest in their steadfast refusal to consider the wealth of evidence gathered and analyzed by 95% of the legit scientific community (as opposed to paid corporate shills); and the Birch Society were certifiable paranoids.
1
"Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?" Everyone that wasn't conning themselves saw that coming. Everyone not still conning themselves sees it now. The cognitive dissonance in Trump supporters is reaching fever pitch.
I used to despise Donald Trump, now I suspect the man is suffering from dementia. It's time to convene a panel of mental health professionals to examine him and invoke Article 25 of the Constitution if he is found unable to carry out the duties of his office.
I used to despise Donald Trump, now I suspect the man is suffering from dementia. It's time to convene a panel of mental health professionals to examine him and invoke Article 25 of the Constitution if he is found unable to carry out the duties of his office.
6
wow, hard to argue against any of this.
3
Don't blame Trump so much as his Republican enablers.
They knew he was a documented compulsive liar. Had zero experience running anything - other than running real estate into repeated bankrupcy. Knew he was mentally unhinged - narcisstic and childlike.
Yet, the Republicans backed him 100%, and still do. They bear the responsiblity of getting a clown elected, and have tarnished their brand for decades. In there is any justice they will not hold another national office of importance until they flush out the current crop that puts party above country.
God help the United States of America.
They knew he was a documented compulsive liar. Had zero experience running anything - other than running real estate into repeated bankrupcy. Knew he was mentally unhinged - narcisstic and childlike.
Yet, the Republicans backed him 100%, and still do. They bear the responsiblity of getting a clown elected, and have tarnished their brand for decades. In there is any justice they will not hold another national office of importance until they flush out the current crop that puts party above country.
God help the United States of America.
15
Yesterday on Facebook I received a motivation of a comment posted by an acquaintance of mine ( a Facebook "friend") on a news site that was spouting some right wing wacko (by my definition) "news" claiming all sorts of criminal acts that could be attributed to President Obama and Hillary Clinton. Now normally I wouldn't bother wasting my time looking at this kind of trash but since my friend had commented on it I was curious to see what his reaction was. Suffice ton say I was stunned at the vituperation in his comments, supporting every harebrained idea proposed in the article. This person is not some character living in tent out in the woods. He's a college graduate, literate and generally thoughtful with a long career behind him in the financial services industry.
I read some of the other comments (there were over six hundred and I only got through about four or five before I couldn't take any more) and I have come to believe that there is a base of Trump supporters who will stand behind him no matter how bad this gets. My take is that if Trump is forced from office by Congress or the courts, the Trump base will not be reconciled to his demise. I'm a lifelong Republican who didn't vote for Trump because I believed then as now that he is manifestly unsuited to be President. I can't even begin to understand the reasons why so many people believe Trump is the answer to our problems but I'm convinced that they will fight for him to the bitter end and beyond.
I read some of the other comments (there were over six hundred and I only got through about four or five before I couldn't take any more) and I have come to believe that there is a base of Trump supporters who will stand behind him no matter how bad this gets. My take is that if Trump is forced from office by Congress or the courts, the Trump base will not be reconciled to his demise. I'm a lifelong Republican who didn't vote for Trump because I believed then as now that he is manifestly unsuited to be President. I can't even begin to understand the reasons why so many people believe Trump is the answer to our problems but I'm convinced that they will fight for him to the bitter end and beyond.
9
I fear you are right.
2
If you want to understand the complete moral and intellectual (but not financial) bankruptcy of the current Republican party, look no further than the Citizens United decision that allowed the wholesale purchase and takeover of the party by dark money -- big donors like the Mercers and the Kochs.
11
Flight 93's destination was San Francisco. One may reasonably conclude that the majority of the passengers were in fact liberals, indeed the sort of liberals that Bill Clinton (disparagingly) referred to as "San Francisco liberals". Anton highjacked that airplane with his essay as surely as Jarrah highjacked it with his box-cutter.
2
Your understanding of “character” is your understanding, and there’re those who share it. (Others would see that as the behavior of an avoidant personality, but that’s probably unfair.) If you start from the assumption that life is messy and difficult, character is about how you respond. I don’t what “destiny” you speak of, but the religious traditions I’m familiar with don’t counsel giving in to it.
One of the worst downsides of Trump is not only the obvious damage he does to the nation, but that he makes mediocre Democrats look much better than they are.
The Dems wear halos by comparison. But we still need representation for our taxation from both parties.
The Dems need billions to beat the Gop. Where will they get it? From the usual billionaire donors who keep policy within the limits they set for their advantage in taxes and regulations.
As the country pulls back from the abyss of Trump, Dems are still dependent to run for office on elite special interests. While we’re asserting the ‘Rule of Law’ to protect against the Trump coup, it’s past time to reassert rule of law to protect us from big money priorities dominating our politics and elections.
The Dems wear halos by comparison. But we still need representation for our taxation from both parties.
The Dems need billions to beat the Gop. Where will they get it? From the usual billionaire donors who keep policy within the limits they set for their advantage in taxes and regulations.
As the country pulls back from the abyss of Trump, Dems are still dependent to run for office on elite special interests. While we’re asserting the ‘Rule of Law’ to protect against the Trump coup, it’s past time to reassert rule of law to protect us from big money priorities dominating our politics and elections.
2
Deciding that you are like the passengers on Flight 93 with their courage is insulting and is for other people to decide, not a political "narrative" to be thrown around by the GOP.
George Bush used to float out there that he was possibly Winston Churchill or Lincoln. Trump has the habit of squinting and frowning and trying to pose for pictures in ala WWII Churchill, according to reports from the press.
He has the poser part right. Most people are pegging him closer to one of the Lucha Libre fake fighters in the ring.
George Bush used to float out there that he was possibly Winston Churchill or Lincoln. Trump has the habit of squinting and frowning and trying to pose for pictures in ala WWII Churchill, according to reports from the press.
He has the poser part right. Most people are pegging him closer to one of the Lucha Libre fake fighters in the ring.
4
a lot like old Benito, who looks incredibly clownish in the old newsreels
Nicely reasoned opinion responded to by Democrats who still insist their party is not as bad. Hence, Trump. Folks, unless we all accept that we need to rein in the presidents we like, we will never be able to rein in the presidents we don't like. I would argue both parties must do some serious soul searching before they can be taken seriously again.
1
This is a lot like the "all politicians are the same" nonsense I'd get from some when I expressed my consternation at the Trump candidacy last year. It was absurdly obvious that Trump would be a disastrous president (am I taking crazy pills here?), for the obvious reasons stated in the article. Lumping Trump in with "the typical politician" is an indicator that the lumpor has failed to exercise any reasonable judgment.
1
Or another analogy: the plane is in danger of crashing, and a belligerent 12 year old runs up the aisle to take control. One of the flight attendants actually has experience flying smaller aircraft, but the child pushes her out of the way, knowing that only his small hands on the--um, whatever that thing is that steers the plane--can save the day.
12
Love the "superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo -- very descriptive.
3
And here I only took Geology 101 to satisfy a science elective.
1
Yeh well good luck thinking that the American public will rise to that which would be the equilvilent of the actual flt 93. In our case raising and manning the barricades against the mental and physical pervert in the WH. There were no barricades when Jr. Bush the the Supremes stole one election. And thousands of Florida votes were ordered not counted.There were non when several million Americans had ther votes stolen in past November.Every day where are the American victims? Sitting in front of tv watching the lastest chapter in the continuing saga of Donnie T, The nation destroyer. The idea that Donnie T is in fact A "Manchurian Candidate", chosen by Mr Putin seems a bit delusional and beyond reality but most tv is zactly that but count the millions who live each day for their daily dose of tv vomit.Donnie T may live his future behind the fantasy walls at Mar a Lago But guys look at who may succeed him.Pence? a homophobe,Paul Ryan who would let the ill die while he continues unto his death with his fed pension of his annual salary and paid health care
6
It's a good editorial and no one can challenge your vocabulary.What were the causes of a Trumpvoter turn out.
The high finance housing bubble,the big banks loans,Wall Street greed,and
Greenspans Federal reserve decisions based on Ayn Rand discredited novels.
Let me add here Our house speaker is a follower of Rand.Any prayers you care to offer at this point would be a good idea.
Homes were lost by the millions,jobs were lost by the million ,the middle class began to disappear.Obama did his best but Wall Street firms were fined congress did not hold to account one bank, or bank director.
Do you know what a CDO is, a derivative ?Basic greed almost destroyed us and those who wanted someone held responsible got screwed ,those people voted for Trump.He is one more corrupt idiot to promise unearned gifts and and be a leader like others who only want to line his pockets with our money.
May the obstructionist Republican Party crash and burn for keeping so much of
Obamas attempt to help from reaching our country.
The high finance housing bubble,the big banks loans,Wall Street greed,and
Greenspans Federal reserve decisions based on Ayn Rand discredited novels.
Let me add here Our house speaker is a follower of Rand.Any prayers you care to offer at this point would be a good idea.
Homes were lost by the millions,jobs were lost by the million ,the middle class began to disappear.Obama did his best but Wall Street firms were fined congress did not hold to account one bank, or bank director.
Do you know what a CDO is, a derivative ?Basic greed almost destroyed us and those who wanted someone held responsible got screwed ,those people voted for Trump.He is one more corrupt idiot to promise unearned gifts and and be a leader like others who only want to line his pockets with our money.
May the obstructionist Republican Party crash and burn for keeping so much of
Obamas attempt to help from reaching our country.
9
". . . Rand.Any . . ." = Ayn Rand
When James Bennett announced the hiring of Bret Stephens, he assured us The Editorial Board was setting a new course that would include more diverse viewpoints.
Well, James, it would seem that you need a new compass. If this article is any indication, your old compass still points in only one direction. Due far left.
Bashing Trump, even with pointy headed references to obscure articles in more obscure academic journals, is nothing new at The Times.
And, Coulter is just another extreme wacko chasing headlines. Why not hire her? She'd be a perfect fit on the Op-Ed Page.
Well, James, it would seem that you need a new compass. If this article is any indication, your old compass still points in only one direction. Due far left.
Bashing Trump, even with pointy headed references to obscure articles in more obscure academic journals, is nothing new at The Times.
And, Coulter is just another extreme wacko chasing headlines. Why not hire her? She'd be a perfect fit on the Op-Ed Page.
1
Bret Stephens is simply one of the most outstanding public intellectuals writing today, and the Times was wise to bring him on board.
4
Bret says...." “A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration,”......
This makes the the Times's new conservative columnist from WSJ editiorial board look like the defender of we the people against our 'internal enemy' Tsar Trump the Terrible.
But Bret and the other Gop boosters on the op ed page just want a more sane, FUNCTIONAL RIGHT WINGER in the White House. The Gop is a rw party. He wants an administration that functions smoothly to maintain the corporate dominance of our govt, lawmaking, and media. And does it without insulting and offending.
This makes the the Times's new conservative columnist from WSJ editiorial board look like the defender of we the people against our 'internal enemy' Tsar Trump the Terrible.
But Bret and the other Gop boosters on the op ed page just want a more sane, FUNCTIONAL RIGHT WINGER in the White House. The Gop is a rw party. He wants an administration that functions smoothly to maintain the corporate dominance of our govt, lawmaking, and media. And does it without insulting and offending.
5
"...deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration..."
And yet, Trump won 62,979,879 votes. How could so many people be that blind? It's baffling. I thought Trump would be bad, maybe kind of a mediocrity. In my wildest imagination, I didn't think he'd be this bad.
And yet, Trump won 62,979,879 votes. How could so many people be that blind? It's baffling. I thought Trump would be bad, maybe kind of a mediocrity. In my wildest imagination, I didn't think he'd be this bad.
5
Sorry Bret, but if a casual perusal of online "conservative" and "pro-Trump" reading material is any guide, your premise that these last ten days have finally removed the scales from the eyes of Trumpian Kool-Aid drinkers is flawed to the point of collapse. These people will not be swayed by fact or reason. They will stand by their man to the bitter end, and any action taken by the sane amongst us to mitigate Trump's damage will always be interpreted as "proof" that the "globalists"/"elites"/"Rothschild's" are trying to harm their precious God-Emperor, and halt the draining of the "swamp".
5
It was not fascists who gained the reputation of putting their family into government that was kings and viscounts and emperors.
Fascists were the guys who were put into government by the industries, the military and paid for press. The kind of people we now see running our government, from Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell to t rump/Pence.
The republican party as it now exists wouldn't were it not for the angry, the fearful, and the hateful.
That is the legacy of Reagan and Ailes.
By the by, of all the presidents this nation has produced these last 50 years to closest we can get to a man with Christlike qualities (and we know that republicans like to pretend they worship Christ) was Jimmy Carter. The second closest we get was Barack Obama.
I can't think of a Christlike thing any republican president has done in my lifetime.
Fascists were the guys who were put into government by the industries, the military and paid for press. The kind of people we now see running our government, from Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell to t rump/Pence.
The republican party as it now exists wouldn't were it not for the angry, the fearful, and the hateful.
That is the legacy of Reagan and Ailes.
By the by, of all the presidents this nation has produced these last 50 years to closest we can get to a man with Christlike qualities (and we know that republicans like to pretend they worship Christ) was Jimmy Carter. The second closest we get was Barack Obama.
I can't think of a Christlike thing any republican president has done in my lifetime.
11
"The job requires — and exposes — that most conservative of concepts: character. And if we’ve learned anything about Trump, it’s that his character isn’t just bad. It’s irrepressible."
How is it possible that 46% of the country didn't care that outside of Mr. Trump's family, there was not a single person that was willing to stand up during his campaign and vouch for his character, and a parade of people who were willing to go on the record about his lack thereof. His dishonesty, shallowness, callousness, laziness, selfishness, obsessive vanity, and disdain for any form of preparation has been proudly on display for years.
Irrepressible? You bet. What you see is and has always been the real Donald Trump.
How is it possible that 46% of the country didn't care that outside of Mr. Trump's family, there was not a single person that was willing to stand up during his campaign and vouch for his character, and a parade of people who were willing to go on the record about his lack thereof. His dishonesty, shallowness, callousness, laziness, selfishness, obsessive vanity, and disdain for any form of preparation has been proudly on display for years.
Irrepressible? You bet. What you see is and has always been the real Donald Trump.
8
Dear Mr. Stephens:
First of all, welcome to the Times. I must admit I was not familiar with your work at the Journal, but as a lifetime addict-reader of the Times, I am happy to find your work here. Second, and to the point, let's call off Chicken-Little Sky-is-Falling melodrama. America is not Flight 93 and Trump is not a hijacker or a heroic passenger, because metaphors only capture a tiny fragment of the truth. Your point that Trump can't back off from the nitty-gritty of leadership is more to the point, because the reality is that a President has immense power to do stuff, and Trump is astonishingly busy.
For all the horrible choices and actions he has taken lately, he is not entirely stupid as you suggested in your recent column, "How Trump May Save the Republic." And it does seem that at least 5% or more of his actions are not entirely despicable.
In conclusion, welcome to the Times, it's a pleasure, have a nice day.
First of all, welcome to the Times. I must admit I was not familiar with your work at the Journal, but as a lifetime addict-reader of the Times, I am happy to find your work here. Second, and to the point, let's call off Chicken-Little Sky-is-Falling melodrama. America is not Flight 93 and Trump is not a hijacker or a heroic passenger, because metaphors only capture a tiny fragment of the truth. Your point that Trump can't back off from the nitty-gritty of leadership is more to the point, because the reality is that a President has immense power to do stuff, and Trump is astonishingly busy.
For all the horrible choices and actions he has taken lately, he is not entirely stupid as you suggested in your recent column, "How Trump May Save the Republic." And it does seem that at least 5% or more of his actions are not entirely despicable.
In conclusion, welcome to the Times, it's a pleasure, have a nice day.
2
I see the Flight 93 analogy. Trump and his cohorts (GOP) have hijacked the USA and are intent on destroying it. All good Americans must to their best to rush the governemnt cockpit and vote out the Republicans. The fate of the country rests on American's love of country. If the GOP prevails in the next election, the country is lost.
5
The heroes on flight 93 gave up their lives to prevent the hijacking pilots from causing vastly more damage than simply killing all aboard. If only someone in the white house had the same courage. Not likely, since all of Trump's sycophants are cowards.
Now don't get the wrong idea - of course I'm only speaking metaphorically. If anyone with access to the president is actually reading this comment, please look up metaphorically in a dictionary before doing something rash - but make sure it's a recent one, as I just invented the word last year.
Now don't get the wrong idea - of course I'm only speaking metaphorically. If anyone with access to the president is actually reading this comment, please look up metaphorically in a dictionary before doing something rash - but make sure it's a recent one, as I just invented the word last year.
3
Whatever the opinion and/or content, I must admit that Mr. Stephens is a very talented writer. I'm enjoying his command of language and crafting of sentences that are both dense in content, but easy to read and completely comprehensible.
2
Comparing the state of our union at the end of President Obama's 8 year term to "Flight 93" is ridiculous if not insulting. I don't have the energy to even confront that. As for our president, for those of us who look at Trump and only see a farce, it seems like absurdity that he still has people who support him at this point. So to the people who do I suggest they consider this: Donald Trump hasn't done much of any thinking about making America great again, but he's done a lot of thinking about being the guy who makes America great again. If you are not able to understand the difference, you likely still support him.
54
Not sure if thinking is the right word to use with Trump. I don't see him thinking at all.
2
Sadly for you Yanks, once Trump goes you will then find yourself living in a repressive Christian Theocracy run by Pence. It will look like the Christian version of Iran or Saudi Arabia. You will have Pence and Rev Falwell (the Chrisitan equivalent of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) driving the same repressive/regressive social policies that you will see in Iran if Ebrahim Raisi is elected president.
So, beware of what you wish for. It looks like you will be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
So, beware of what you wish for. It looks like you will be jumping out of the frying pan into the fire.
14
"A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers. Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?” -- Bret Stephens
In answer to your questions, Bret: A majority of the Americans who voted in the 2016 Presidential election saw “that one coming” and "knew that character might be destiny”.
In answer to your questions, Bret: A majority of the Americans who voted in the 2016 Presidential election saw “that one coming” and "knew that character might be destiny”.
8
Trump rewarded Anton for elevating him to the level of a super hero. We'll see how well Anton shields him from the Kryptonite that Trump has unleashed on himself.
2
So Mr. Anton and Sebastian Gorka are still lurking around the White House, sending out resumes on the side? Maybe they are talking about alpha males. If the Donald had been on Flight 93, he probably would have been under the seat, on his cellphone, whining about life being unfair. That anybody thought this guy was the answer is utterly incomprehensible.
6
Mr. Stephens, you supported republicans. You enabled them. YOUR party infected us with trump.
YOU are to blame. Quit lying and deflecting.
YOU are to blame. Quit lying and deflecting.
6
Now that the POTUS is a wounded animal, and probably blackmailed by the Russians, get ready for a rough ride.
Trump is - at this very moment - more dangerous than ever to our democracy, as he knows the truth will be discovered, and that he will possibly go to jail after his Presidency ends.
Im addition to the likelihood that Trump will fire Mueller, look for a Reichstag fire, a manufactured terrorist event, martial law and possibly a military coup attempt.
Trump is a freak, AND a thug, and this investigation will likely take a long time. We all need to keep our eyes open, and hope we have luck on our side as the removal machinations slowly commence.
Trump is - at this very moment - more dangerous than ever to our democracy, as he knows the truth will be discovered, and that he will possibly go to jail after his Presidency ends.
Im addition to the likelihood that Trump will fire Mueller, look for a Reichstag fire, a manufactured terrorist event, martial law and possibly a military coup attempt.
Trump is a freak, AND a thug, and this investigation will likely take a long time. We all need to keep our eyes open, and hope we have luck on our side as the removal machinations slowly commence.
8
To the extent that all the congressional oversight committees have to be reshuffled to replace the people only willing to investigate Hillary, this isn't such a bad thing long term. Short term it's still an impressive measure of the frustration of people willing to crash the government rather than continue to be ignored. The thing, for them, is that what Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell selling, in terms of catering to plutocrats of whatever nationality, is not actually what they want.
1
As others have pointed out, the analogy of rushing the cockpit on flight 93 isn’t right. It’s more like a ship at sea on which a handful of people disagree with the course set by the captain and are able to convince half the passengers (a little less than half?) to turn the ship over to an adolescent pyromaniac.
Much of Trump's hardcore base is not going to be swayed by any pundit. Not Savage or Ann Coulter or anyone else. My impression is that this group tends to share iterations of long-perceived truisms about the establishment elites, liberalism and white hegemony. They represent about 15% of the US population. These people have experienced a political serendipity beyond anything in recent memory, and will cling to Trump's presidency with the ardor of a wallflower awakened to perverse infatuation.
2
This isn't a precipice, and it isn't a "course for destruction" either. Its simply free-market capitalism meeting new globalization technologies. And its producing the same inequalities and uncertainties EVERYWHERE.
To blame ANY politician for "plotting a course of destruction" is to give them way too much credit.
So, if we are to assume that very little can be done to stop the progress of global capitalism--and I think we're right to assume this--then the only thing governments can try and do is find ways to skim off some of the profits and put them into programs that protect ordinary people from devastation.
But how do you tell "angry white guy" in every Western country that he's probably NOT going to have a middle class lifestyle or do better than his parent's did, but that we CAN create a decent health care system for him, and the ability to retire with at least some dignity? This is the political dilemma of our times.
And its an even bigger dilemma here in America, since our "angry white guy" seems to think that the entire purpose of America is to give him the freedom to pursue wealth, regardless of how it affects anyone else.
"Trying to be happy with less" is a phrase that describes what a lot of us are doing today, but its hardly an effective campaign slogan!
To blame ANY politician for "plotting a course of destruction" is to give them way too much credit.
So, if we are to assume that very little can be done to stop the progress of global capitalism--and I think we're right to assume this--then the only thing governments can try and do is find ways to skim off some of the profits and put them into programs that protect ordinary people from devastation.
But how do you tell "angry white guy" in every Western country that he's probably NOT going to have a middle class lifestyle or do better than his parent's did, but that we CAN create a decent health care system for him, and the ability to retire with at least some dignity? This is the political dilemma of our times.
And its an even bigger dilemma here in America, since our "angry white guy" seems to think that the entire purpose of America is to give him the freedom to pursue wealth, regardless of how it affects anyone else.
"Trying to be happy with less" is a phrase that describes what a lot of us are doing today, but its hardly an effective campaign slogan!
2
"The Flight 83" analogy is an excellent example of the horrifically hyperbolic narrative that has a cult-like death grip on the right. That narrative, through the relentless framing campaign started by Newt Gingrich in the 90's and carried on by the right-wing media, especially Fox News, has succeeded in delegitimizing anything left Mussolini.
Leaving "American" meaning a one party state.
If it's illegitimate and un-American, it's not an option. So when the Republican base realized it had been betrayed by the Republican establishment, Donald Trump was the only choice in the crazy, clown car of Republican candidates. He promised them everything they wanted to hear.
But they are being betrayed again, as expected by anyone outside the Jim Jones bubble of Breitbart and Info-Wars, because not betraying them would mean providing programs and services that would actually help them and there are no such programs or services that aren't, right now, viewed as left leaning.
The right's plans for Social Security, Medicare, health care, raising the retirement age, etc., all justified by warnings about the deficit and the economy are going to make their lives miserable. Proposing enormous tax cuts for the wealthy at the same time doesn't seem to shake the cult-like conditioning that has the Republican base acting like stimulus-response automatons who can only utter, "But Hillary!"
You can’t argue with those who in need of a deprogrammer. That's a bigger problem than Trump.
Leaving "American" meaning a one party state.
If it's illegitimate and un-American, it's not an option. So when the Republican base realized it had been betrayed by the Republican establishment, Donald Trump was the only choice in the crazy, clown car of Republican candidates. He promised them everything they wanted to hear.
But they are being betrayed again, as expected by anyone outside the Jim Jones bubble of Breitbart and Info-Wars, because not betraying them would mean providing programs and services that would actually help them and there are no such programs or services that aren't, right now, viewed as left leaning.
The right's plans for Social Security, Medicare, health care, raising the retirement age, etc., all justified by warnings about the deficit and the economy are going to make their lives miserable. Proposing enormous tax cuts for the wealthy at the same time doesn't seem to shake the cult-like conditioning that has the Republican base acting like stimulus-response automatons who can only utter, "But Hillary!"
You can’t argue with those who in need of a deprogrammer. That's a bigger problem than Trump.
3
Pretty much an information-free article. All I got out of this was that Ann Coulter is now on the fence about the merits of Trump.
5
I have to say, this is very on point and powerful, and this is coming from someone who was very skeptical that the Times hired a climate change "agnostic". This is a principled and honorable and patriotic take from the conservative side of the aisle, Mr. Stephens. If more on the GOP side had such a principled take, we would not be in the spiralling abyss of Trump-generated malevolent madness we are currently witness to.
2
Just like evangelicals lost all moral credibility when they enthusiastically endorsed a candidate who went against every family value that they had espoused; conservatives have lost the right to cast themselves as patriots who are the sole defenders of democracy.
In turning a blind eye to Trump's many failures and his connections to the Russians they've given up any moral superiority they thought they had. The disapprobation of most of the GOP and people like Dinesh D'Souza (author of The Enemy Within) and Ann Coulter (author of Treason) on the Russia connection is telling; their silence now makes them complicit and any future arguments or criticisms they make on patriotism are hollow.
In turning a blind eye to Trump's many failures and his connections to the Russians they've given up any moral superiority they thought they had. The disapprobation of most of the GOP and people like Dinesh D'Souza (author of The Enemy Within) and Ann Coulter (author of Treason) on the Russia connection is telling; their silence now makes them complicit and any future arguments or criticisms they make on patriotism are hollow.
2
And one look through the comments on Breitbart show that there is still such a virulent strain of anger and detachment from critical thinking that the article 'Flight 93' is still playing out in the minds of the american extremists.
2
In a very real way, I guess Obama's election made these people crazy. His re-election turned them all into nihilists. In my several serious conversations with anti-Hillary voters, I keep coming back to Nihilism. It's scary stuff. The equivalent of radical religious extremism/fundamentalism. These people are uninformed and dangerous. Add the Christian Dominionists, radical anti-abortionists, and gun nuts into the mix, and it seems we have spawned a whole faction of future Oklahoma City bombers. I hope SPLC and FBI are doing their jobs well. These people are potential domestic terrorists.
2
You eventually get EXACTLY what you vote for. This disaster has been in the making for a very long time. Lesson learned??? I doubt it, I live in Kansas. Courtesy of Brownback and his minions, it's been Trumped for years. NOT a model for any state. A third world cesspool, on the prairie.
But according to the GOP: " the sun is shining on Kansas". Sure, if that sun is a exploding nova. Seriously.
But according to the GOP: " the sun is shining on Kansas". Sure, if that sun is a exploding nova. Seriously.
9
Maybe if everyday we point out how foolish he is he'll quit. Maybe if we stop laughing at Alec Baldwin on Saturday night, he'll quit. No that's too easy, I stayed awake and he puts me to sleep. Maybe if we find one selfless Statesperson from either party and have that person speak sense everyday, he'll quit. No, we'll find something in their closet. Maybe if we create a middle ground between 'liberal' and 'conservative', we'll admit we are in that category. Then when we are recovering from the beatings, he'll quit. Maybe if we ignore him, he'll quit. We were told for 20 years he had no real money. Let's give him some so he will quit. That's it; Let's pay him to quit.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. "To imply ... that Barack Obama ... was Ziad Jarrah, Flight 93’s lead hijacker, is vile. To suppose that we’d all be dead if Hillary Clinton... had been elected is hallucinatory."
I did not expect that someone who came from the Wall Street Journal would see these things so clearly (i.e. the way I do), and be appropriately harsh on what's been going on. It gives me heart that maybe we can salvage something from this wreck, after all. (Also -- "pyroclastic flow"? Great image!)
I did not expect that someone who came from the Wall Street Journal would see these things so clearly (i.e. the way I do), and be appropriately harsh on what's been going on. It gives me heart that maybe we can salvage something from this wreck, after all. (Also -- "pyroclastic flow"? Great image!)
1
Pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo. A deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration. Why Mr. Stephens! You do love your alliteration! I do too, especially when they are used to express ideas as apt at they are here. Later on you fear that the conservative movement has become unhinged. I've been thinking that for some time, and I suspect that in part it is because groups and movements such as the KKK, the NRA, the Tea Party, the fascist fringe (I keep hoping it is a fringe but increasingly am not sure), the racists, the sexists, and the like have taken over the driver's seat. But I think credit must also go to the man the conservative movement has chosen, for now, as its leader. When you embrace someone covered with filth, you can't help but come away dirty.
3
The Conservative movement in the US had become small, overtaken by horrible greed, lack of respect for tradition and for institutions. These people may label themselves Conservative but their behavior says otherwise. They supported Trump and his version of fascism in their dream to have the already wealthy squeeze the less well off for even more riches while they ally with those who would "Christianize" the country and brutalize the darker-skinned in a desire to reverse demographic trends.
Anyone who still believes that Trump can become "presidential" is deluded and/or woefully ignorant. Unfortunately for this country, the latter group apparently makes up most of the base of the GOP. The notion of a sexual predator in the White House did not make them turn away.
As for those values that we are supposedly losing, much of that is related to racism, sexism and a blind disregard for the belief that a democracy must have some rational level of economic and social equality to survive.
However, Pence shares much that Trump preaches, and it bewildering to me why anyone believes having Pence as president with Paul Ryan and McConnell still in control of the House and Senate would be an improvement. We would not see the Tweeting, but the legislation passed under those three would be horrific.
As for those values that we are supposedly losing, much of that is related to racism, sexism and a blind disregard for the belief that a democracy must have some rational level of economic and social equality to survive.
However, Pence shares much that Trump preaches, and it bewildering to me why anyone believes having Pence as president with Paul Ryan and McConnell still in control of the House and Senate would be an improvement. We would not see the Tweeting, but the legislation passed under those three would be horrific.
1
It's not only the conservative movement that has become unhinged, it is the entire Republican Party, one of only two major parties in our country if I am not mistaken, and it is now a fact-free quasi-religion rather than a party.
This is not new. Goldwater was overtly unhinged, but Reagan had the time to figure out how to present his unhinged views in a genial and humorous manner (he was an actor after all), and Reagan's approach was the worst thing that could have happened to our country until Roger Ailes took it to a whole new level. Welfare queens, axis of evil, tax cuts and deregulation, government is the problem, Medicare is a horrible idea (unless the right people get it), education is overrated -- these are all the memes that Reagan implanted in our heads, and there they remain to this day.
This is not new. Goldwater was overtly unhinged, but Reagan had the time to figure out how to present his unhinged views in a genial and humorous manner (he was an actor after all), and Reagan's approach was the worst thing that could have happened to our country until Roger Ailes took it to a whole new level. Welfare queens, axis of evil, tax cuts and deregulation, government is the problem, Medicare is a horrible idea (unless the right people get it), education is overrated -- these are all the memes that Reagan implanted in our heads, and there they remain to this day.
5
Although Hitler and his Nazis have been dragged into way too many analogies, the alt right's dark fantasy of what ails America comes right from the pages of Mein Kampf.
2
Stevens tosses off such gems as: "... a superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo." Apt, and so far no volcano has been impeached and convicted. Forces of nature hold legal niceties in little regard.
"Be careful what you wish for - you just might get it."
Words the GOP leaders and pundits should have tatooed on their pointy foreheads.
Words the GOP leaders and pundits should have tatooed on their pointy foreheads.
1
Does Donald understand any of this? There is no evidence that he does. He seems to believe he is doing fine -- great, even -- but the media is out to get him.
If he is that delusional, then I agree with Ross Douthit: 25A, and soon.
If he is that delusional, then I agree with Ross Douthit: 25A, and soon.
3
Castor Oil was/is a popular remedy for purging a poisoned system.
From my experience on both sides of the Mason Dixon line it was more popular in the South. Like a high school football practice in 100 degree heat it is considered healthy to puke and hopefully you don't die from it.
From my experience on both sides of the Mason Dixon line it was more popular in the South. Like a high school football practice in 100 degree heat it is considered healthy to puke and hopefully you don't die from it.
1
Even as the scales fall from the eyes of conservatives like Mr. Stephens and they wake up to the disaster that is the Trump presidency, they continue to take pot-shots at Democrats. Mr. Obama was a first-rate president who took over a country and economy that had been ravaged by greedy Republicans, most notably W. Mr. Obama was like a parent who returns home after a trip to find his idiot son has had a blow-out party that wrecked the house. He then turned things around and was a president that thinking Americans were proud of and thankful for. As for Mrs. Clinton, her "flaws" were so minor as to be laughable, yet the Republicans, by bombarding their low-information voters with endless, groundless accusations and hearings, convinced the gullible that she is the female Satan. Trump, and his circle of Republican enablers like McConnell and Uriah Heep - sorry, Paul Ryan, are in a league of their own when it comes to greedy, ruthless incompetence. George W. Bush can breath easier as he's no longer the worst president in history.
2
I don't agree with Bret about much, but we are both never-Trumpers. But being never-Trumpers, we need to acknowledge we don't "get" his appeal to his base, we cannot channel it.
Bret goes through a selection of right-wing talking heads dumping on Trump, and it is easy for any of the 'nattering nabobs of negativism' to agree, but it misses the point as badly as any political theorist trying to critique the tail end of "Jersey Shore."
People watch reality show for the kafabe; it's not a bug, it's the big feature. Trump is the kafabe president -- he has given his people the vicarious pleasure of imagining being Trump: You're a rich mean white guy! Even though you are dumber than burnt toast you are President and can say rude stupid things to anybody! Millions of women voted for you after they saw "grab them by the ____ ."
All Trump's supporters have wanted is "make splodey heads splode."
Trump getting impeached is like the ultimate bummer to Trump's people. It's reality intruding on reality show. It's like the repo man came to take your shiny new pickup away, 'cuz you didn't make the payments.
They are going to be really, really angry ... until they get their next vicarious relief from reality. Is that going to be meaner and dumber than Trump? Neither Bret nor I can guess ... but we can fear.
Bret goes through a selection of right-wing talking heads dumping on Trump, and it is easy for any of the 'nattering nabobs of negativism' to agree, but it misses the point as badly as any political theorist trying to critique the tail end of "Jersey Shore."
People watch reality show for the kafabe; it's not a bug, it's the big feature. Trump is the kafabe president -- he has given his people the vicarious pleasure of imagining being Trump: You're a rich mean white guy! Even though you are dumber than burnt toast you are President and can say rude stupid things to anybody! Millions of women voted for you after they saw "grab them by the ____ ."
All Trump's supporters have wanted is "make splodey heads splode."
Trump getting impeached is like the ultimate bummer to Trump's people. It's reality intruding on reality show. It's like the repo man came to take your shiny new pickup away, 'cuz you didn't make the payments.
They are going to be really, really angry ... until they get their next vicarious relief from reality. Is that going to be meaner and dumber than Trump? Neither Bret nor I can guess ... but we can fear.
1
Bret Stephens just exposed his colossal ignorance by "thinking" that Trump has "lost Ann Coulter". Stephens quotes Coulter, but Stephens is so utterly clueless about Ann Coulter that Stephens doesn't realize that what Coulter said was tongue-in-cheek. Is this the first time that Stephens has ever read something said or written by Ann Coulter?
2
When you have millions of American voters who get all of their "news" from Fox, talk radio, Limbaugh, etc.etc. what do you expect but a catastrophe like Trump,
and the GOP Congress that supports him in order to retain their power! And Coulter who makes a living on being outrageous! Follow the money - stop tuning in to these people. If they can't make millions spouting right-wing extremism paranoia, they will stop - at least for the most part.
In reading about Roger Ailes' death this morning, it was said he did more for the news business than anyone else, and more to divide the country than anyone else! Why did we ever grant citizenship to Murdoch?
Thanks, NYT, for allowing me to let off just a tiny portion of steam this morning.
I'll be 84 next month and too much pent up steam can be life threatening.
and the GOP Congress that supports him in order to retain their power! And Coulter who makes a living on being outrageous! Follow the money - stop tuning in to these people. If they can't make millions spouting right-wing extremism paranoia, they will stop - at least for the most part.
In reading about Roger Ailes' death this morning, it was said he did more for the news business than anyone else, and more to divide the country than anyone else! Why did we ever grant citizenship to Murdoch?
Thanks, NYT, for allowing me to let off just a tiny portion of steam this morning.
I'll be 84 next month and too much pent up steam can be life threatening.
6
This in a nutshell "a man who has sacrificed nothing in his life for anyone or anything" is what I don't understand about Trump supporters. Trump is a man who has spent is entire life trying to enrich himself and his family now cares about one else.
4
Mr. Stephens,
Using Flight 93, as a metaphor for this abomination called an "administration " is deplorable! Sir, the Americans on Flight 93, were victims, they didn't choose their fate!
Donald and his cronies choose to lie, to spread those lies near and far! And to attempt to obstruct justice by firing Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, James Comey! This, Mr. Stephens, shows utter disrespect for our three branches of government.
By the way, a man of character, Donald Trump is not! Nor do I see any other Republican as people of character! Their strategy of hate, lies and division is abhorrent!
Using Flight 93, as a metaphor for this abomination called an "administration " is deplorable! Sir, the Americans on Flight 93, were victims, they didn't choose their fate!
Donald and his cronies choose to lie, to spread those lies near and far! And to attempt to obstruct justice by firing Sally Yates, Preet Bharara, James Comey! This, Mr. Stephens, shows utter disrespect for our three branches of government.
By the way, a man of character, Donald Trump is not! Nor do I see any other Republican as people of character! Their strategy of hate, lies and division is abhorrent!
4
"Maybe 2016 was the Flight 93 election, or something like it. Maybe the pilots are dead. Maybe the passengers failed to storm the cockpit. Maybe the hijackers reached their target by landing on the White House after all."
Maybe this column makes no sense.
Maybe this column makes no sense.
1
"Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?" Huh? Gee, everyone saw that Trump's character was awful, but those who voted for him had equally awful characters. Racist and angry white men and the weird women who enable them have a lot of work to do on themselves before the Trump effect is obliterated.
5
Comparing Jimmy Carter to Trump in any way is like comparing Mother Theresa to Benito Mussolini.
102
So Barack Obama was such a terrible president that we were having a "flight 93" moment in 2016? Reflect on that, Iand think the nihilism and simple racial undertones of this silly propagandist will become obvious.
2
All of these comparisons to the bravery of those who fought back against the murderous hijackers on Flight 93 are spurious, self-serving, sensationalist, and shameful.
2
love it
Yes the liberals deliberately set Flight 93 on a path to crash. That's why they call it fiction.
"who knew that character might become destiny" Really? You have discovered what everyone already knew and write for the New York Times? Here's a heads-up for you: The earth is round.
1
"It would have descended on a hapless White House staff like a superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo."
Welcome to the NYT Mr Stephens! I'll read anyone who can turn a phrase like that.
Welcome to the NYT Mr Stephens! I'll read anyone who can turn a phrase like that.
1
If any entity can be compared to a hijacked Flight 93, it is the American people. Once the ideological extremists in Congress have stripped healthcare from millions of people, damaged or destroyed the EPA, State/Justice/Education/Health & Human Services departments, and delivered major tax cuts to those who don't need them, we will indeed be living the worst aspects of the 1950s, not the best. And with diminished freedoms as the Ministry of Truth in the White House eludes responsibility for its lies.
What will trickle down from all this is a further decline in our middle class, an economy struggling to compete with a 21st century China, and a diminished role in the world despite our expensive, overwhelming military superiority.
So who should be organizing to rush the cockpit before we crash?
What will trickle down from all this is a further decline in our middle class, an economy struggling to compete with a 21st century China, and a diminished role in the world despite our expensive, overwhelming military superiority.
So who should be organizing to rush the cockpit before we crash?
3
presidental Pinatubo?
OY such alliteration!
OY such alliteration!
2
I have tried to share info about how disastrous Trump policies and actions are and get "Fake News" in response. Trump supporters keep saying Trump tells it like it is, then say he doesn't mean exactly what he says. Then refuse to believe reports from the CBO,IRS,EPA,NOAA,FBI,DOD, or the NYT,ABC,CBS,NBC and now they are doubting FOX and CNN because they besmirch Trump. Our voting public is split between left and right with one side having no faith in our institutions and unfortunately they are also the heavily armed side. Will Trump the Republican lead us as well and eloquently as that other unified of the State Lincoln?
1
Trump could start world war III and his supporters would cheer him on. Maybe if they lose their health insurance they will wake up. But I doubt it.
5
Why is it only now that we see Trump in action that Bret Stephens criticizing attacks on Obama and Clinton that were and are hallucinatory?
1
Listening to Trump tell Lester Holt that this "Rusherr' story is made up' reminded me think of a playground bully confronted by a teacher to explain the blood on his hands. He's a psychopathic child and has more in common with Kim Jong Un than with any past presidents. He's mentally ill, unfit, and his narcissistic raging victimhood makes him a growing danger to the world. We need to be rid of him as soon as possible, even at the risk of having one of his criminal accomplices in the white house.
4
"It's very, very difficult to fix stupid."
Reminds me of a line I've used for over forty years.
"I can teach ignorant all day long, no problem.
It's impossible to teach stupid."
Like my 1st grade teacher used to say:
"Stupid is as stupid does".
Always look forward to reading your comments. Thanks!
Reminds me of a line I've used for over forty years.
"I can teach ignorant all day long, no problem.
It's impossible to teach stupid."
Like my 1st grade teacher used to say:
"Stupid is as stupid does".
Always look forward to reading your comments. Thanks!
3
The 4th Revolution of the United States of America:
The First Revolution: After decades of living under British rule, force gathers and the American colony revolts, creating the US.
The Second Revolution: After decades of allowable slavery the US fights itself. After a Civil War, a new US is born, slavery is abolished.
The Third Revolution: Following a Great Depression, WWII turns the US from an agrarian economy to a highly efficent military/industrial/manufacturing economy, social security becomes the law of the land, guaranteeing a pension for retirees.
The Fourth Revolution: As a culmination, the US elects a black President. He presides over a giant world stage as the leader of the free world. He commands the greastest Super Power in history (militarily.) Domestically, he's re-arranging the pieces, elements of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Revolutions are being reformed, adjusted, absorbed.
The 1st built the framework: The US Constitution
The 2nd expanded the framework to make ALL citizens "free."
The 3rd created the economic juggernaght that built a middle class of citizens.
The 4th is leading us to a new destination. An unknown destion.
All 4 were created by the citizens of the US. Citizen Washington and the revolutionary army, Citizen Lincoln and the "bluecoats.". Citizen Roosevelt, Rosie the Riveter, the RedTails, Citizen Trump and .......
The future is in the hands of the citizens of the United States of America.
The First Revolution: After decades of living under British rule, force gathers and the American colony revolts, creating the US.
The Second Revolution: After decades of allowable slavery the US fights itself. After a Civil War, a new US is born, slavery is abolished.
The Third Revolution: Following a Great Depression, WWII turns the US from an agrarian economy to a highly efficent military/industrial/manufacturing economy, social security becomes the law of the land, guaranteeing a pension for retirees.
The Fourth Revolution: As a culmination, the US elects a black President. He presides over a giant world stage as the leader of the free world. He commands the greastest Super Power in history (militarily.) Domestically, he's re-arranging the pieces, elements of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Revolutions are being reformed, adjusted, absorbed.
The 1st built the framework: The US Constitution
The 2nd expanded the framework to make ALL citizens "free."
The 3rd created the economic juggernaght that built a middle class of citizens.
The 4th is leading us to a new destination. An unknown destion.
All 4 were created by the citizens of the US. Citizen Washington and the revolutionary army, Citizen Lincoln and the "bluecoats.". Citizen Roosevelt, Rosie the Riveter, the RedTails, Citizen Trump and .......
The future is in the hands of the citizens of the United States of America.
2
But our Framers were truly brilliant. They provided for a peaceful, bloodless revolution every four years. We've had 'em every 4 years. This, too, shall pass. Remain calm.
Only screwy lunatics talk/write this way, and believe this stuff. If ever I would draw such an analogy, it would be this administration, headed for the ground, with few, if any, survivors.
3
"And if we’ve learned anything about Trump, it’s that his character isn’t just bad. It’s irrepressible." Even worse, it's irredeemable.
4
Invigorating writing -- I can only compare to Safire in his heyday. Raises the bar for the NYT editorial page.
2
Is it not possible that the hysterical blunderbussing/anonymously sourced allegations against the President are just as hallucinatory as claiming that President Obama and Her Majesty, HRC, had hijacked America?
I guess that's just as possible as clicking your heels together and winding up back home in Kansas.
4
Well in the Real World, Mike Flynn did real things with the Russians, got caught in real lies, got hired anyway, fired anyway, and then told actual verifiable lies about it. There is nothing "alleged" about the facts.
Not liking Obama or Clinton is not a pass to be delusional.
Not liking Obama or Clinton is not a pass to be delusional.
4
The cranky, racist, old, uneducated white men who are Trump's base fear the loss of political power. They will never, ever, admit they were duped by a New York con man.
6
You hypothesize that this insecure man child degenerate can somehow reset himself when faced with overwhelming obstacles. Trump is a 4th grade sociopath who never desired the office in the first place. As your colleague Bruni effortlessly put it, "Trump doesn't want to be President. He wants to be called President." There is no turn around for this 3rd rate con man and his family of grifters. The real horror show here is the feckless, disgusting Republican Congress and how they continue to whistle past the train wreck they helped manage. Shame on Ryan and this self-involved Caddyshack club of losers for letting it happen
5
Absolutely nothing about this train wreck of an administration is surprising. This miserable 118 days fits the definition of shocking, but not surprising.
The people who voted for Trump are to blame. This disaster was 100% foreseen by every newspaper in the country. USA Today, which had never endorsed a candidate, endorsed HRC. And all of these publications said basically the same thing: Trump is unfit. Don't do this. It's going to be really bad.
But people voted for him anyway. Trump is a mentally defective unhinged narcissist. What's their excuse?
The people who voted for Trump are to blame. This disaster was 100% foreseen by every newspaper in the country. USA Today, which had never endorsed a candidate, endorsed HRC. And all of these publications said basically the same thing: Trump is unfit. Don't do this. It's going to be really bad.
But people voted for him anyway. Trump is a mentally defective unhinged narcissist. What's their excuse?
9
Thoughtful and thought provoking article. The biggest question to me is what to do about Trump, since Pence and Ryan have been co-conspirators of the Trump regime. In addition, Pence's views on the world are definitely limited, and Ryan's are only clear in the area of lowering health care costs. In short, one must question whether either should be considered as suitable for the presidency.
2
Another faux-conservative claiming Burke as his forebear.
In this day and age, Burke would have been against the globalists, since globalism is le produit de France. You can trace it back through the Common Market (French Idea) through Marx's utopian socialism (via St. Simon and Fourier), to the French Revolution.
In this day and age, Burke would have been against the globalists, since globalism is le produit de France. You can trace it back through the Common Market (French Idea) through Marx's utopian socialism (via St. Simon and Fourier), to the French Revolution.
We should thank Mr. Stephens for giving publicity to a loony right wing article that in all probability was only read by its author, his close relatives and Mr. Stephens himself.
3
Unfortunately it was quite influential on the right, and the rest of us need to know that.
3
Equating Trump's "loss" of craven carnival barker Ann Coulter with LBJ's Vietnam era "loss" of the most trusted man in America Walter Cronkite is about as "unhinged" as a columnist can get.
5
Thank you for saying what needs to be said. Often.
Where were all of the so-called "rational conservatives" when the Republican Party started enabling extremists, kowtowing to the purveyors of right wing propaganda? Where was the Republican Establishment when extremist lies were unanswered, racism was enabled, xenophobia encouraged, and sexism winked at? Where were you when they trashed our government, demonized liberals, fostered division, and peddled their conspiracy theories?
You were silent. You were acquiescent. You were willing recipients of the votes, readers, viewers, business, and money the extremist right sent you.
Only now do a few of you speak up. Only now do you tell the truth. Only now do you repudiate the liars, the hatemongers, the destroyers. Only now, when the monster that you helped create turns on you. Better late than never? I hope so.
The passengers of Flight 93 sacrificed their lives to save others. They died for their country. They were ordinary people who did an were extraordinarily heroic deed. They put everyone associated with the Trump campaign, the Republican Party that enabled it, and their support systems in business, academia, the press, tv, and social media, etc. to shame.
.
Where were all of the so-called "rational conservatives" when the Republican Party started enabling extremists, kowtowing to the purveyors of right wing propaganda? Where was the Republican Establishment when extremist lies were unanswered, racism was enabled, xenophobia encouraged, and sexism winked at? Where were you when they trashed our government, demonized liberals, fostered division, and peddled their conspiracy theories?
You were silent. You were acquiescent. You were willing recipients of the votes, readers, viewers, business, and money the extremist right sent you.
Only now do a few of you speak up. Only now do you tell the truth. Only now do you repudiate the liars, the hatemongers, the destroyers. Only now, when the monster that you helped create turns on you. Better late than never? I hope so.
The passengers of Flight 93 sacrificed their lives to save others. They died for their country. They were ordinary people who did an were extraordinarily heroic deed. They put everyone associated with the Trump campaign, the Republican Party that enabled it, and their support systems in business, academia, the press, tv, and social media, etc. to shame.
.
2
Thank you Mr. Stephens.
Now if you could only rally the Republican leadership in Congress to realize that the Trump White House is Flight 93 and to put country over party you would be a true American hero.
Now if you could only rally the Republican leadership in Congress to realize that the Trump White House is Flight 93 and to put country over party you would be a true American hero.
2
An analogy. An acquaintance tried to allay my concerns by comparing our country to a great ocean liner. It may vary its course slightly to right and left but continues to its destination. He fell silent when I reminded him that the great unsinkable ocean liner Titanic hit an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sunk carrying most of its passengers to their death.
2
An ancient Indian saying used by both Gandhi and Thatcher
Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
Greek philosophy voiced a similar sentiment - A man's character is his destiny
Watch your thoughts for they become words.
Watch your words for they become actions.
Watch your actions for they become habits.
Watch your habits for they become your character.
And watch your character for it becomes your destiny.
Greek philosophy voiced a similar sentiment - A man's character is his destiny
7
This Republican party swore an oath to take down Obama the night he was inaugurated. This was a despicable act and has led directly to this moment. I understand the thinking of people who don't support democracy and believe only those who are successful can run the country. And of course they measure success by how much money they can amass. Democracy requires the active engagement of the people. We seemed to have turned our back on that engagement. We stopped being civically involved, caring about our communities and each other and one party (Republicans) actively worked toward denying many people access to the ballot. Hopefully what is happening now is a wake up call to all of us and not the beginning of the end of democracy in America.
6
My brief take is that Flight 93 (bless them) is our country, and that Trump and the Repubs (w oligarch funding) have hijacked it. Bob Mueller may have to channel Todd Beamer and get to the cockpit before it all goes down. But then, if it turns out they are all hijackers (including Pence - even though he is just along for the ride), who flies the plane?
2
Is anyone else offended by the Flight 93 reference?
11
I'm offended by the nobody who wrote it on a whim that his machismos was more inportant than the the welfare of his country.
2
No
That story seems loaded with delusional drivel. 45 the moral heir of Flight 93's heroes? Rolling Stone's Mike Taibbi had 45 nailed months ago as "a man who would eat a baby in a lifeboat." And the author works at the White House? Truly a "Ship of Fools".
7
I'm willing to accept that large portions of the American electorate feel disappointed, ignored, and overlooked. Even some of my extended family back in the Midwest (no rabid conservatives) felt abandoned by the Democrats when they're jobs went overseas. Hell: moving to Europe to be closer to my daughters was made easier because *I* was about to be laid off in favour of underpaid Indians working for Infosys.
I might even be able to understand anger. But Trumps blind followers aren't just angry. They're dangerously violent. I look forward to Trump's removal, but there are some ugly, ugly days ahead of the USA. I am grateful that circumstances have led me away here to Europe, where I will finish my career and enjoy retirement with my grandkids.
I might even be able to understand anger. But Trumps blind followers aren't just angry. They're dangerously violent. I look forward to Trump's removal, but there are some ugly, ugly days ahead of the USA. I am grateful that circumstances have led me away here to Europe, where I will finish my career and enjoy retirement with my grandkids.
5
Stupidity is like dung in that it eventually floats to the top for all to see. The false premises upon which the right/conservatives base their positions implode in time because they make no sense or in other words, are stupid, having their origin in irrational, usually hateful, ideas. Benedict Donald is smarter than the people that voted for him because he knew enough to exploit their stupidity. However, he must fall and RUSSIAGATE must be PROSECUTED!
1
Nice way showing how conservatives have created a phantom world out of their twisted minds in order to fit their imaginary narratives while in fact missed reality by a millinium of miles. Their brains has become a hindrance to humanity's well being.
2
Trump is the Don Rickles of politics. Always an equal opportunity offender. The difference being that mr rickles was smart and loving. Mr trump is - well- a boil on the buttocks of America. My apologies to Don Rickles.
2
"... Barack Obama, for all his shortcomings ..." You had to throw the several, actual conservative readers that bone, eh Bret-e?
My biggest problem with Mr. Obama, his character revealed over eight capable years, is that he can't be President, ever again.
4
Oh Mr. Stephens! That was--masterly. Thank you.
I have a lot of conservative bones in my body. Mr. Obama has said things--and espoused causes--I cannot believe in. Mrs. Clinton has done the same. So it goes.
But the present-day conservatives--oh my! I am struck--again and again--by the nastiness. The name--calling. The opprobrious little epithets Mr. Trump (and his followers) are always applying to people they don't like. "Crooked Hilary!" "Cryin' Chuck Schumer!" On and on they go. It sickens one.
That about Flight 93! I never heard that before. Obscene! Such a comparison is obscene. I am shocked.
A Roman name, you said? Recall what happened to the Roman republic. Caelius (one Roman) writing a letter to Cicero (another Roman)--oh, in the early 40's B.C.--describes a meeting with the now-triumphant Julius Caesar. He was shocked.
"The bitterness of my enemies!" exclaimed Caesar. "The implacable, inexorable hatred of my enemies! The die-in-the-last-ditch old guard! The men who forced my hand! Drove me to make war on the Senate-and then defeat the armies that Senate raised against me."
"That which I greatly feared," says Job (Old Testament) "came upon me." Food for thought, you conservatives. You implacable, never-say-die conservatives! Lest you bring about the very calamity you profess to dread. The demise of democracy in America.
Flight 93, you say? Give it a rest, guys. Give it a rest.
I have a lot of conservative bones in my body. Mr. Obama has said things--and espoused causes--I cannot believe in. Mrs. Clinton has done the same. So it goes.
But the present-day conservatives--oh my! I am struck--again and again--by the nastiness. The name--calling. The opprobrious little epithets Mr. Trump (and his followers) are always applying to people they don't like. "Crooked Hilary!" "Cryin' Chuck Schumer!" On and on they go. It sickens one.
That about Flight 93! I never heard that before. Obscene! Such a comparison is obscene. I am shocked.
A Roman name, you said? Recall what happened to the Roman republic. Caelius (one Roman) writing a letter to Cicero (another Roman)--oh, in the early 40's B.C.--describes a meeting with the now-triumphant Julius Caesar. He was shocked.
"The bitterness of my enemies!" exclaimed Caesar. "The implacable, inexorable hatred of my enemies! The die-in-the-last-ditch old guard! The men who forced my hand! Drove me to make war on the Senate-and then defeat the armies that Senate raised against me."
"That which I greatly feared," says Job (Old Testament) "came upon me." Food for thought, you conservatives. You implacable, never-say-die conservatives! Lest you bring about the very calamity you profess to dread. The demise of democracy in America.
Flight 93, you say? Give it a rest, guys. Give it a rest.
55
But, but...her emails!
7
But wait a minute. WHO let the terrorists board flight 93? The russians have succeeded in demonstrating that our system is broken. Our (lack of)education, the litany from well meaning leaders, the constant brain washing from the apprentice Goebbels on radio, on TV, on tweeter produced a culture prone to group think. I do not plan to read the flight 93 election essay, I will finish reading "Thank you for being late" instead. Good to have you on board today Mr. Mueller. I'm ready Sir, let's roll!
3
Getting rid of Trump doesn't undo the reason he was elected in the first place -- blue-collar Americans had lost faith in the Democratic party. Unless the Democrats move strongly to the left, and remain there, there is little hope for changing this country's direction.
1
Do you think that the fans of Putin, including Trump, are aware that Putin is utterly opposed, not just to the First Amendment, but to the Second Amendment. There are no guns in private hands in Russia.
4
The writer points out that no staff, good or bad, can control his political destruction-- of himself and those under him. Pyroclastic flow indeed. When will the Republican Congress figure this out? Too late, I hope. They deserve no less.
4
Great essay.
Awesome closing line.
Thank you for letting us know that even the Vitriol Queen, Ann Coulter (who I refuse to read because of her lack of critical thinking), has begun to see what the rest of us know: for all her hate and slander and blather, Obama was the kind of president that brought character to the office. His shoes would be hard for anyone to fill. The contrast of Obama with our current resident of the WH is stark, frightening, and all of us seem on the edge of losing our country.
Awesome closing line.
Thank you for letting us know that even the Vitriol Queen, Ann Coulter (who I refuse to read because of her lack of critical thinking), has begun to see what the rest of us know: for all her hate and slander and blather, Obama was the kind of president that brought character to the office. His shoes would be hard for anyone to fill. The contrast of Obama with our current resident of the WH is stark, frightening, and all of us seem on the edge of losing our country.
6
With a single sentence, Stephens has silenced his critics and given us the best description of Trump yet written: A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration.
5
"And if we’ve learned anything about Trump, it’s that his character isn’t just bad. It’s irrepressible."
Actually "reprehensible"
Actually "reprehensible"
8
I didn't read the previous, controversial Stephans essay that caused NYT readers to cancel their subscriptions, a fact, in itself, which I find remarkably small and narrow-minded of people who claim to be better.
But I read this one to the last word. I found it one of the more creative, non-formulaic (Krugman, Dowd, Collins seem to be in a pretty tired rut) opinions in the NYT and a worthy addition to its readers' gestalt, of which far too many seem to have far too limited a scope.
The Flight 93 analogy is both apt, and, Stephens rightly points out, misses the mark in many, non-trivial ways regarding the nation and the Trump character.
It is also self-analytical of the conservative movement, something I find the columnists I mentioned above incapable of being regarding their chosen party's and politicians' actions and principles.
Now, NYT needs to put a populist columnist in the rota, or risk being on the wrong side of history.
But I read this one to the last word. I found it one of the more creative, non-formulaic (Krugman, Dowd, Collins seem to be in a pretty tired rut) opinions in the NYT and a worthy addition to its readers' gestalt, of which far too many seem to have far too limited a scope.
The Flight 93 analogy is both apt, and, Stephens rightly points out, misses the mark in many, non-trivial ways regarding the nation and the Trump character.
It is also self-analytical of the conservative movement, something I find the columnists I mentioned above incapable of being regarding their chosen party's and politicians' actions and principles.
Now, NYT needs to put a populist columnist in the rota, or risk being on the wrong side of history.
Bret:
To Quote you:
"To reread “The Flight 93 Election” today is to understand what has gone wrong not only with the Trump presidency, but also with so much of the conservative movement writ large. In a word, it’s become unhinged."
Many former members of the Republican party have known this for a long, long time and most of us have become Independents. Where have YOU been? Those left trying to find some sort of saneness to the party are just enablers and lemmings because the word Republican is attached to it.
Wake up!
To Quote you:
"To reread “The Flight 93 Election” today is to understand what has gone wrong not only with the Trump presidency, but also with so much of the conservative movement writ large. In a word, it’s become unhinged."
Many former members of the Republican party have known this for a long, long time and most of us have become Independents. Where have YOU been? Those left trying to find some sort of saneness to the party are just enablers and lemmings because the word Republican is attached to it.
Wake up!
3
At this point, the best that I can hope for, is that Donald takes the opportunity of his foreign trip, to defect. To Russia. Seriously.
11
no surprises, reagan was a "white hat" he played good guys, even using some of their lines in his presidency...trump wore the "black hat," the "you're fired!" bully...so we gave reagan the oscar he never won and trump, the razzie, if you will, a comeuppance, for his deeds.
2
Oh come on!
We have had a irreversible shift here in the electorate; the change is about as significant as that triggered by the internal combustion engine and the internet. Democrats, like horse drawn buggies, mom and pop stores, and ice-delivery vehicles did not return like a pendulum; they went away. Because their message of peace and love does not resonate, and they cannot adapt.
Adapt to what?
The new psychosocial, economic, and political order. Americans have largely become arrogant, self-satisfied, hate filled free loaders across party lines. America needs foreign talent to pick fruit, pack meat, program computers, start new industry, and work as engineers and scientists. I could understand immigrants complaining about locals, but this? Did democrats think that the high suicide rate among middle aged whites, epidemic of drugs and meth labs, broken families, and escalating debt were signals for them to appeal to the better angels of people's souls? Their most compelling answer has been "free healthcare" and "free education."
A population this far gone just wants some big bully to plain crush everyone they hate (Muslims, browns, blacks, non-Christians).
Trump is riding the nihilistic, self-destructive wave of fear and loathing that has become America. Democrats have come to define public whining and expression of disbelief as a strategy. Nope, the pendulum isn't swinging their way, nor toward a better future.
You have nothing to fear Donald.
Kalidam
We have had a irreversible shift here in the electorate; the change is about as significant as that triggered by the internal combustion engine and the internet. Democrats, like horse drawn buggies, mom and pop stores, and ice-delivery vehicles did not return like a pendulum; they went away. Because their message of peace and love does not resonate, and they cannot adapt.
Adapt to what?
The new psychosocial, economic, and political order. Americans have largely become arrogant, self-satisfied, hate filled free loaders across party lines. America needs foreign talent to pick fruit, pack meat, program computers, start new industry, and work as engineers and scientists. I could understand immigrants complaining about locals, but this? Did democrats think that the high suicide rate among middle aged whites, epidemic of drugs and meth labs, broken families, and escalating debt were signals for them to appeal to the better angels of people's souls? Their most compelling answer has been "free healthcare" and "free education."
A population this far gone just wants some big bully to plain crush everyone they hate (Muslims, browns, blacks, non-Christians).
Trump is riding the nihilistic, self-destructive wave of fear and loathing that has become America. Democrats have come to define public whining and expression of disbelief as a strategy. Nope, the pendulum isn't swinging their way, nor toward a better future.
You have nothing to fear Donald.
Kalidam
3
"that most conservative of concepts: character." This is one of the things that infuriates me about conservatives -- along with their "irrepressible" drive (to borrow Stephens' word) to put making the rich richer above all else, including country. The smug self rightiousness that, somehow, "character" is a "conservative concept." Then what, exactly, has this liberal been teaching his sons for the past 25 years: chopped liver? Since this is a family newspaper, any number of epithets that leap to my lips will have to be swallowed back. So I'll simply say: Hey Mr. Stephens: Bad on you.
3
Wow. Well said, sir, and it took some nerve to say it.
Wait. Hold up. Conservatives voted for Trump. He is what conservatives elected. Republicans chose him as the standard bearer for your party! No one forced Republicans to back this sick joke of a human. Too many of my conservative Republican friends were willing to go along with this basket case in order to push slashing environmental regulations and repealing the ACA. You guys are responsible for Frankentrump. There isn't any wiggling out of this one. Own it.
8
The bullying left who wants big government, socialism, illegal immigration and wealth redistribution. The rest of us do not and we won.
You folks just can't stop with the socialism rant, among the other nonsense. Make sure you object at the next corporate bailout.
5
Tell me Jan just what did you "win" besides a clown in the WH that brought us a circus??
4
Please restate your post without barn-sized brushstrokes of boilerplate.
The election was won by a minority vote. The majority has no obligation to stand by and watch Trump burn the place down.
The election was won by a minority vote. The majority has no obligation to stand by and watch Trump burn the place down.
Has Mr. Anton even been to the Flight 93 memorial? I doubt it. He wouldn't dare make that analogy if he had.
3
Actually, nothing has "gone wrong" with the Trump presidency. It was wrong before it even started. His whole campaign was unhinged, with the help of Russian hackers.
Lock her up? No, lock him up.
Lock her up? No, lock him up.
5
I live in a conservative small town. I have no problem with reality based conservative people but have watched in the last decades as they become harder and harder to find. My Republican friends are brainwashed starting with Rush and consuming hours of Fox News and InfoWars. It might as well be a cult not a political party. Anything that contradicts what they are hearing by right wing media is a liberal lie.
I hope what we are seeing will break some of the spell but doubt it. Nothing seems to pierce the alternative reality. It is disturbing and we see the results in this election where we elected a make your own reality president. The money that rolls in from this type of political media is too potent. It is not that Fox has a conservative bias. It is that they have no respect for facts and truth and we are all paying the price.
I hope what we are seeing will break some of the spell but doubt it. Nothing seems to pierce the alternative reality. It is disturbing and we see the results in this election where we elected a make your own reality president. The money that rolls in from this type of political media is too potent. It is not that Fox has a conservative bias. It is that they have no respect for facts and truth and we are all paying the price.
2
I had the same experience knocking on doors during the campaign. It was immediately clear that the Republican answering the door lived in an unshakable world of alternative facts insulated from counter facts by a conviction of left-wing conspiracies. Mostly straight from Fox News. Kellyanne Conway was a paragon of clarity and open-mindedness by comparison.
2
Or to paraphrase an old drug commercial:
"I'm not a real president. I just play one on tv."
"I'm not a real president. I just play one on tv."
4
Erdogen's Turkish thugs kicking protesters during a peaceful demonstration while Trumpey said he was "honored" to have a dictator as a guest in the White House shows us what our President really wants. If it were possible, Trump would have his own Fight Club doing the same to journalists.
Morning Joe had an excellent discussion about how Trump, for the last 40 plus years, has created his own version of reality in a tower where he lives and works, with family loyalists complimenting him at every turn. If he had had the slightest idea of how our Democracy operates, he would have never sought this job. But in his warped reality, he thought he would be king.
Morning Joe had an excellent discussion about how Trump, for the last 40 plus years, has created his own version of reality in a tower where he lives and works, with family loyalists complimenting him at every turn. If he had had the slightest idea of how our Democracy operates, he would have never sought this job. But in his warped reality, he thought he would be king.
3
"Maybe the hijackers reached their target by landing on the White House after all."
And the modern form of the Republican Party built the runway lights. It started with Reagan's "government isn't the solution, it's the problem" trope, which was later heavily fertilized by Newt Gingrich's "Republicans weren't elected to compromise with Democrats" manure on the slopes of Capitol Hill.
The GOP is the party of "hate your government." It's the Timothy McVeigh party. Top advisor to Trump Steve Bannon says to blow it all up (google "bannon blow it up" and see what you get). It's the party of the "survivalists" and the new, dopey thing call "sovereign citizens." The word "Washington" was a pejorative throughout the Republican nomination process, indicting only the Republicans themselves and their majorities in Congress, the party of no, the obstructionists. Their self-fulfilling prophecy that government is evil was particularly easy to manage under a black president because, yes, they also are the party of white supremacy.
Republicans are the very politicians Trump described in his historically awful inaugural address as having come to Washington to get rich doing nothing (read the transcript). I see the Capitol every day, where dozens and dozens of taxpayer financed Suburbans wait outside to ferry politicians home except on Fridays, when the taxpayers pay to fly them home out of DCA. They can see the White House out the window, now in the metaphorical flames that they ignited.
And the modern form of the Republican Party built the runway lights. It started with Reagan's "government isn't the solution, it's the problem" trope, which was later heavily fertilized by Newt Gingrich's "Republicans weren't elected to compromise with Democrats" manure on the slopes of Capitol Hill.
The GOP is the party of "hate your government." It's the Timothy McVeigh party. Top advisor to Trump Steve Bannon says to blow it all up (google "bannon blow it up" and see what you get). It's the party of the "survivalists" and the new, dopey thing call "sovereign citizens." The word "Washington" was a pejorative throughout the Republican nomination process, indicting only the Republicans themselves and their majorities in Congress, the party of no, the obstructionists. Their self-fulfilling prophecy that government is evil was particularly easy to manage under a black president because, yes, they also are the party of white supremacy.
Republicans are the very politicians Trump described in his historically awful inaugural address as having come to Washington to get rich doing nothing (read the transcript). I see the Capitol every day, where dozens and dozens of taxpayer financed Suburbans wait outside to ferry politicians home except on Fridays, when the taxpayers pay to fly them home out of DCA. They can see the White House out the window, now in the metaphorical flames that they ignited.
4
Well, Bret, you had me reading..if only to understand the situation from the right's POV. Then you decided to off-handedly (or was it?) designate character as "that most conservative of concepts".
Sorry sir. You can't have that one to yourself. That's a personal trait which has nothing to do with Rs or Ds.
And, by the way, in surveying the current political landscape, it has been most decidedly lacking on the R side as of late (you can google "spineless").
So, if conservatives in fact have character, let's start seeing it.
Sorry sir. You can't have that one to yourself. That's a personal trait which has nothing to do with Rs or Ds.
And, by the way, in surveying the current political landscape, it has been most decidedly lacking on the R side as of late (you can google "spineless").
So, if conservatives in fact have character, let's start seeing it.
3
"And if we’ve learned anything about Trump, it’s that his character isn’t just bad. It’s irrepressible."
"Irrepressible" is the wrong word. "Deplorable" (after Hillary Clinton) or "despicable" or "reprehesible" or "disgustng" or just plain old "pathological" would have fit better. "Irrepressible" might be more appropriate for describing Robin Williams than Mr. Trump.
"Irrepressible" is the wrong word. "Deplorable" (after Hillary Clinton) or "despicable" or "reprehesible" or "disgustng" or just plain old "pathological" would have fit better. "Irrepressible" might be more appropriate for describing Robin Williams than Mr. Trump.
1
As long as there are individuals like Limbaugh, Laura Ingram and Alex Jones and organizations like Fox News with Hannity and Carlson who are willing to sacrifice truth and decency in the pursuit of money as they disseminate lies like Obama is not an American citizen and Clinton is a criminal, there will be support for trump.
4
Sorry, but I very much doubt that Trump supporters will suddenly "see the light" and learn to love the globalists and Democrats who have been insulting them non stop for the past 8 years. They may suspect that Trump is a target not because of supposed collusion with those evil Russians, but because he was the ONLY politician in EITHER party to so much as acknowledge the existence of a white working class, and to admit that they have problems. The media will now spend the next 4 years obsessing about every error Trump or any member of his family makes, unless of course they get rid of him sooner. If they do rid the country of Trump, they will turn their eyes towards Pence and his family. (Liberals have already registered their disapproval of his marriage.) And working class people in fly over country will be forgotten and ignored once again.
3
Nice column. Until I was instructed that character is defined as "that most conservative of concepts." Lavishing tax breaks on the rich, depriving millions of healthcare, demonizing immigrants and denying climate change defines "character?" Take a look at what "character" has done to Kansas.
10
"Maybe the hijackers reached their target by landing on the White House after all."
Considering the wide-ranging and ongoing repercussions of the 911 hijacking, this final sentence of Bart Stephens' rings completely true.
Without the al Qaeda plot to hijack planes, kill innocent civilians and terrorize the world, there would have been no Afghanistan or Iraq invasions, probably no Arab Spring and no Syrian revolution. No insanely annoying over-the-top airline protocols and no militarized police forces armed to the hilt.
No candidate would have made the threat of terrorism via immigration a campaign centerpiece -- in Gore v. Bush 2000, terrorism was barely mentioned. Today terrorism is a constant subtext if not the leading lady of political strategy.
Putin et al may have manipulated enough voters to sway the election in Trump's favor but al Qaeda's destruction of the World Trade Center incited a fear that continues to motivate -- and subjugate -- a citizenry held captive to fear and a people ripe for Trump's well-oiled demagoguery.
Considering the wide-ranging and ongoing repercussions of the 911 hijacking, this final sentence of Bart Stephens' rings completely true.
Without the al Qaeda plot to hijack planes, kill innocent civilians and terrorize the world, there would have been no Afghanistan or Iraq invasions, probably no Arab Spring and no Syrian revolution. No insanely annoying over-the-top airline protocols and no militarized police forces armed to the hilt.
No candidate would have made the threat of terrorism via immigration a campaign centerpiece -- in Gore v. Bush 2000, terrorism was barely mentioned. Today terrorism is a constant subtext if not the leading lady of political strategy.
Putin et al may have manipulated enough voters to sway the election in Trump's favor but al Qaeda's destruction of the World Trade Center incited a fear that continues to motivate -- and subjugate -- a citizenry held captive to fear and a people ripe for Trump's well-oiled demagoguery.
9
Well said. Your ending is brilliant. Perhaps civil war is their ultimate goal? They are getting closer by the day.
4
"A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers. Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?"
Anyone with an IQ above room temperature?
Those of us who supported and campaigned for and voted for Hilary Clinton warned anyone who would listen (which were only the other Clinton supporters) exactly what his presidency would be like. You only need look at his life prior to this point in time. Birtherism, multiple divorces, bankruptcies, lawsuits. Bully and bluster and braggadocio.
What those OUTSIDE the conservative industrial complex must understand is this:
The sources that led you to believe that Donald Trump was the better choice in the election are the same exact sources that have slandered Hilary Clinton, and before her Barrack Obama, and before him Nancy Pelosi, and before her Bill Clinton.
The failure of the Trump presidency reveals the falseness of conservative ideology.
It was only ever about tax cuts for the wealthy and upward redistribution of wealth. That is the whole of Movement Conservatism.
Anyone with an IQ above room temperature?
Those of us who supported and campaigned for and voted for Hilary Clinton warned anyone who would listen (which were only the other Clinton supporters) exactly what his presidency would be like. You only need look at his life prior to this point in time. Birtherism, multiple divorces, bankruptcies, lawsuits. Bully and bluster and braggadocio.
What those OUTSIDE the conservative industrial complex must understand is this:
The sources that led you to believe that Donald Trump was the better choice in the election are the same exact sources that have slandered Hilary Clinton, and before her Barrack Obama, and before him Nancy Pelosi, and before her Bill Clinton.
The failure of the Trump presidency reveals the falseness of conservative ideology.
It was only ever about tax cuts for the wealthy and upward redistribution of wealth. That is the whole of Movement Conservatism.
11
"That is the Trump reality. A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers. Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?"
About sixty-five million saw it coming. Where were you, Mr. Stephens.
About sixty-five million saw it coming. Where were you, Mr. Stephens.
6
So how do you replace the 40 million Republican voters who believe that Trump is the President they've been dreaming of all their lives?
Your party has spent the past 40 years self-selecting to become what it is, do what it does, defend what it defends, and glorify what it glorifies.
Your party has spent the past 40 years self-selecting to become what it is, do what it does, defend what it defends, and glorify what it glorifies.
5
Equating anything political with the horror experienced by the victims of Flt 93 and their families is obscene.
8
Thank you! It is obscene!
3
I can't help but keep thinking that we are having the wrong conversation altogether. Yes, I understand the need to address the outrageous behavior from the administration and to investigate the election interference from Russia, but the larger issue, to me, is "Oz" behind the curtain. The levers are being pulled by a few wealthy individuals who are creating foundations and super PAC's and pumping in incredible amounts of money to control every aspect of our political process. Someone is funding the efforts to gerrymander districts, to file lawsuits (Shelby Co, AL) that result in Supreme Court decisions like the one that gutted the Voting Rights Act, and now the programs that state AG's (Republicans) are using to disenfranchise minority voters (unlawfully removing millions of "Johnson's and Hernandez's" from the voting roles. We have to address this, too!
5
Trump revealed himself fully during the campaign. Anyone who watched him mock a disabled reporter, who heard the Access Hollywood tapes, or who watched him threaten to use government power to "lock up" a political opponent was fully forewarned. How could anyone of sound mind miss these signs? How could anyone of sound mind not have predicted that Trump couldn't handle the job of president?
That said, I do feel that the 2016 election woke us all up to a sad reality about this country. It has careened for years toward an oligarchy and autocracy where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The power of money in this culture made it unlikely--probably impossible--for our "leaders" to fully acknowledge the sorry state of civic life in the U.S. to do anything substantive about it. This country is not alone in suffering under this curse. But at last we see what it has made of too many of our fellow citizens--desperate victims willing to grasp at any possible salvation. Of course the saddest irony of all is that Trump has stacked his government with billionaires and ant-populists whose only goal is to further entrench the status quo (or return to a version of it whose erosion the embattled victims found terrifying, as the remnants of that old order were all they had left). This crisis will not go away, but at least it is visible, and Trump is its symptom. Getting rid of him is necessary, but far from a cure.
That said, I do feel that the 2016 election woke us all up to a sad reality about this country. It has careened for years toward an oligarchy and autocracy where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. The power of money in this culture made it unlikely--probably impossible--for our "leaders" to fully acknowledge the sorry state of civic life in the U.S. to do anything substantive about it. This country is not alone in suffering under this curse. But at last we see what it has made of too many of our fellow citizens--desperate victims willing to grasp at any possible salvation. Of course the saddest irony of all is that Trump has stacked his government with billionaires and ant-populists whose only goal is to further entrench the status quo (or return to a version of it whose erosion the embattled victims found terrifying, as the remnants of that old order were all they had left). This crisis will not go away, but at least it is visible, and Trump is its symptom. Getting rid of him is necessary, but far from a cure.
4
Let's say that The President leaves office - whether through resignation, impeachment, or the 25th amendment. Then what happens? I think the GOP needs to do some real soul-searching. Because if he does leave office, how do you think people like Ted Nugent will react? I don't think they'll gently go away. Instead, Fox and talk radio will claim (no matter what the real cause) that Trump's leaving is the fault of (choose one or many) media Bias, a vast, left-wing conspiracy, traitors, not 'real Americans', or a suspicious foreign power. It will be up to the GOP to recognize that their President has left office for legitimate reasons, and that it is up to his fans to support whomever takes his place in the Oval Office. Sadly, I can't see that happening. What follows (and it will be messy) will be at their feet.
4
The single most important point you made was that conservatives have become unhinged. I couldn't agree more! While claiming that "character" is destiny, they continue to elect men and woman with little or none, and which has now brought us Trump. I have observed them destroy trust in government, the courts and now the press. Only the military has remained untouchable...for now. One only needs to recall how McCarthy even went after Eisenhower and the military during his rants and accusations. Conservatives used to stand for something but now resemble little more than chaos, against everything except for fear and greed.
3
Michael Anton's comparison of Trump to the hero of Flight 93 is grotesque. To be a hero you have to be a person of principle, and Trump is certainly not a man of principle. He is the man who would grab the only parachute available on a doomed flight to save himself without a thought of anyone else. The mantle of the office of the presidency has only served to magnify his paranoia and narcissism and now he has lost a good deal of control with the appointment of a Special Prosecutor.
Our ship of state is being helmed by someone who never had the skills to captain a ship and the crew, (his cabinet appointees), are a hodgepodge of unqualified misfits who should never have been allowed anywhere near that ship. Now some of the well healed passengers who signed up for a pleasure cruise are manning the lifeboats as the ship reels out of control.
Like the majority of voters in this country, I didn't sign up for this disastrous wreck of an administration, but now just like those passengers on the ill-fated Flight 93, there is little we can do. We are all along for the ride.
Our ship of state is being helmed by someone who never had the skills to captain a ship and the crew, (his cabinet appointees), are a hodgepodge of unqualified misfits who should never have been allowed anywhere near that ship. Now some of the well healed passengers who signed up for a pleasure cruise are manning the lifeboats as the ship reels out of control.
Like the majority of voters in this country, I didn't sign up for this disastrous wreck of an administration, but now just like those passengers on the ill-fated Flight 93, there is little we can do. We are all along for the ride.
4
Yes the Republicans are afraid of their base and Trump supporters. They don't want to be primaried and lose before they get to the general election. If these investigations are still going on through the midterms, Republicans won't have to worry about surviving the general especially with an aroused Democratic base.
They have made a deal with the devil and now hope the country will forget about it by 2018...at this rate the election will be a choice between Moscow on the Potomac and preserving our democracy.
They have made a deal with the devil and now hope the country will forget about it by 2018...at this rate the election will be a choice between Moscow on the Potomac and preserving our democracy.
5
The situation for our country is not a good one. Trump is a dangerously incompetent president. Removing him from office is the only sensible thing to do. The stagnation, damage, and chaos from the process of removing him will not be positive. The people in line to replace the president are not excellent public servants. Pence was a widely despised governor even among Republicans in very Republican Indiana. Paul Ryan, as we have seen recently with his ridiculous health care bill, is no great intellect or leader and seems to care only for his rich "family" of Republican politicians.
The only thing that will be uplifting about this situation is that if we can remove Trump from office it will show that our country is not wildly out of control. It will prove we can fix an unacceptable and dangerous situation. If we cannot, however, remove a president from office that is so clearly unfit and incompetent then our country is failing. If there was ever a time to use the 25th amendment it is now.
The only thing that will be uplifting about this situation is that if we can remove Trump from office it will show that our country is not wildly out of control. It will prove we can fix an unacceptable and dangerous situation. If we cannot, however, remove a president from office that is so clearly unfit and incompetent then our country is failing. If there was ever a time to use the 25th amendment it is now.
2
We've opened the presidential piñata only to discover -- it's empty. Why are so many conservatives surprised and disappointed to discover that Trump is nothing but empty calories. Just look at his track record. His business "empire" is built on false and broken promises. Just ask his investors, contractors, partners, banks and employees. Trump concocts fanciful stories of his business acumen and successes. In his words, anything he touches is the biggest, the best, the greatest -- pick your superlative. But they -- and now his disappointed supporters -- discover Trump is merely a con man in an expensive suit. Next time you conservatives vote, closely inspect the product. You may discover something called the ugly truth.
3
Loving Bret Stephens work. Great writing. So glad to see this addition to the Times.
1
Stephens is right about Trump and Anton. What he left out is the back story: we have Trump because we have today's GOP.
The nature of that travesty is seen clearly in McConnell's comment that he'd like things to settle down in the White House so he can get on with giving his paymasters what they pay him for:
- tax cuts for the already wealthy,
- deregulation of banking that sees us as chumps, not customers,
- unwinding health care (because its our own fault if we get sick),
- voter suppression, the jewel in the crown.
Stephens isn't a fool but he won't face up to the moral decay and utter corruption of the GOP. We didn't get here by accident.
The nature of that travesty is seen clearly in McConnell's comment that he'd like things to settle down in the White House so he can get on with giving his paymasters what they pay him for:
- tax cuts for the already wealthy,
- deregulation of banking that sees us as chumps, not customers,
- unwinding health care (because its our own fault if we get sick),
- voter suppression, the jewel in the crown.
Stephens isn't a fool but he won't face up to the moral decay and utter corruption of the GOP. We didn't get here by accident.
7
Bret .... thanks for joining the NYT. I like your voice & style. Count me as a fan. Write more often.
1
"Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?"
Only anyone that even paid scant attention to this immature, insecure, uninformed so-called President knew that he did not have the wherewithal for this office and that something like this would happen.
Feigning ignorance of Trump's shortcomings does not give you cover.
Only anyone that even paid scant attention to this immature, insecure, uninformed so-called President knew that he did not have the wherewithal for this office and that something like this would happen.
Feigning ignorance of Trump's shortcomings does not give you cover.
3
We knew all along the nature of Trump's character. No surprises here at all. The only question is how much damage he does on his way down.
3
I am seventy years old -- the same as Mr. Trump. My net worth wouldn't even approach rounding error on the balance sheet of any of his several hundred LLCs. However, I have re-invented myself several times in my life, re-educating when needed and revising my world view and my politics as I have sought to become better -- whatever "better" meant to me.
Donald Trump fixed his personality and his worldview when he assumed the mantle of bully in military school -- he hasn't shown much interest in changing his core being over the years and is now a bully in the White House -- he has, in fact, given an all new meaning to the phrase "Bully Pulpit." He is, however, a chameleon. As Kipling wrote, he can "meet with both success and failure and treat those two imposters just the same." Trump treats the results of every action he takes as a success; if the project fails, the failure was always someone else's fault.
As for the willing sycophants that surround him, like Anton, there is more "Red Badge of Courage" about them than Flight 93.
Donald Trump fixed his personality and his worldview when he assumed the mantle of bully in military school -- he hasn't shown much interest in changing his core being over the years and is now a bully in the White House -- he has, in fact, given an all new meaning to the phrase "Bully Pulpit." He is, however, a chameleon. As Kipling wrote, he can "meet with both success and failure and treat those two imposters just the same." Trump treats the results of every action he takes as a success; if the project fails, the failure was always someone else's fault.
As for the willing sycophants that surround him, like Anton, there is more "Red Badge of Courage" about them than Flight 93.
3
Bret Stephens continues to prove that "principled conservative" is not an oxymoron. This is a superb column that shows the way back through reason and a willingness to confront the unhinged on both political flanks.
1
"And if we’ve learned anything about Trump, it’s that his character isn’t just bad. It’s irrepressible." Its a great line but substitute "reprehensible" for irrepressible and perhaps this statement begins to approach the reality.
Regarding the idea that Trump losing Ann Coulter means losing America: the invariably belligerent Coulter is always yelling about the "American People" - usually associated with the phrase - not tolerating this, that or the other thing. Ann Coulter is not the ultimate spokesperson for the American People except in her own mind.
I would suggest that among the things that the American People can barely tolerate there lies Ann Coulter and I do mean lie.
Regarding the idea that Trump losing Ann Coulter means losing America: the invariably belligerent Coulter is always yelling about the "American People" - usually associated with the phrase - not tolerating this, that or the other thing. Ann Coulter is not the ultimate spokesperson for the American People except in her own mind.
I would suggest that among the things that the American People can barely tolerate there lies Ann Coulter and I do mean lie.
2
Thank you for your piece, alliteration and wordplay aside, which is arguably how conservatives should view today's political landscape. A word of caution however, character, it turns out, is the most liberal of traits.
Trump is never going to pivot and become presidential. I keep hearing the press express that wish, but it's never going to happen. 70 years old and what you see is what you get, a man child not suited for the office he holds.
3
It's not like Trump's vile flaws weren't apparent to all during the campaign. Certainly the passengers who boarded Flight 93 did not collectively possess a death wish. They didn't plan a mass suicide. Can that be said for the voters we have to "thank" for the fine mess they got us into? There have been dozens of analyses of the makeup and motivation of the Trump voter. Amazingly, the common trait among them was their applauding every personality and intellectual flaw that Trump proudly displayed . Their vote can only be attributed to cynicism about politics. Suicidal cynicism was not a disease which afflicted the passengers of Fligt 93.
Stephens wants a return to Republican normalcy: the era in which we comforted the comfortable; the state and big business in collusion to assist the comfortable; and the people in pews on Sundays to pray for their betters. In other words, a return to the era of JP Morgan.
1
Good for Bret Stephens! This article goes straight to the dark truth. American politics, primarily in the form of the GOP, both its leadership and its ground operation, has been hijacked by an apocalyptic syndicate operating outside of civil society -- what Paul Ryan accurately self-describes as a secret, subversive "family."
2
Yet somehow 80-85% of Republicans think Mr. Trump is doing a good job. Care to explain that, Mr. Stephens?
5
Bravo Bret Stephens! And as character truly is destiny, the nation awaits the appearance of character from the ruling Republican majority in the equally dysfunctional House and Senate. Dysfunction, incompetence, corruption and sleaze are most definitely not "conservative" values.
1
Flight 93 was scary, right? At least in theory. But here we are looking at reality, and 'it ain't nice'. But did you expect a flowering garden when a 'bull in a china shop' is around, a brute trampling the flowers, delicate as they are when representing our democracy? When loyalty (witness the smallish close-minded Sessions) is valued more than competency on the job, and being of service to the country? Where Trump's corrupted ways are tolerated as a matter of course? Something must give, especially when we see the cracking at the seams. No wonder some honorable folks are calling this the "illegitimate" presidency.
2
Excellent essay. It says it all. Trump is just the collection of the Republican party's sins, that have been gathering and spawning for decades. Ann Coulter helped to create an environment in which he could be elected. It took a president who is so....I don't even know what the word is...let's just say dysfunctional...for her to realize what was happening here? Right. I think Noam Chomsky was right about the Republican party.
2
O.K., smart guy Mr. Stephens. Nice op-ed. How about some suggestions to fix it? I know that the Democratic Party has had lots of suggestions and would have gladly entered debates about them and probably would accept some compromise. But now that the plane is in a nose-dive right into the heart of the Republic, what do you propose we do? I for one, don't want to see Mike Pence ascend to the Presidency. He's as slimy as Trump and more devious. Same with Paul Ryan, an invertebrate. Our only hope is to remove as many Republicans in 2018 as we can and hope that if Democrats win back the House we'd have some real courageous Republicans that would be rational and try to compromise on big, weighty issues. But I'd still like to hear your suggestions. It's so easy to condemn.
2
Thank you for an excellent editorial. The reactionary right does love aviation metaphors. One Facebook meme that would occasionally appear in my newsfeed warned that it is dangerous to "want the president to fail," since he was the pilot of an airplane in which all of us are passengers. Of course, the metaphor is misleading since it implies that we are completely at the mercy of our leader, which is not the case in our system of governmet. But to play along: Even Trump's most ardent supporters actually would never board a plane that piloted by someone who not only had no knowledge and no experience of flying, but also viewed the entire aviation system as some kind of conspiracy, while asserting that the physics that keep a plane airborne is a hoax. The incompetence of this pilot would be overwhelming self-evident--no sane person would take the risk.
4
Perhaps a better term than conservative is warranted- I suggest anti-progressive. It is no surprise to me that the "conservative" media keep anti-progressive propaganda flowing, because anti-progressives are their audience. These people want to return to the good old days when they didn't have to compete with people who are willing to work and study to get ahead, particularly people who don't look like them. These are people who elect the political reptiles who give themselves great health care but don't feel the need for even a trickle-down version for the common man, who want billionaires sons to become hereditary billionaires by eliminating the inheritance tax, who don't believe in overtime pay, etc. but are happy to keep the coal mines open for them. Face it, about 40% of the US voting population can't tell which side their bread is buttered on.
2
"The job requires — and exposes — that most conservative of concepts: character. "
It is interesting, given all the conservative talk of "character," that so many of them are so utterly incapable of recognizing it in practice. There's the example of Trump of course. But there is also Barack Obama, a man who by virtually any definition of character, manifests that quality in abundance. Somehow I seem to remember a rather different estimation of Obama's character flowing from the lips and keyboards of conservatives.
It is interesting, given all the conservative talk of "character," that so many of them are so utterly incapable of recognizing it in practice. There's the example of Trump of course. But there is also Barack Obama, a man who by virtually any definition of character, manifests that quality in abundance. Somehow I seem to remember a rather different estimation of Obama's character flowing from the lips and keyboards of conservatives.
4
... and the keyboards of those so-called conservatives were alive calling for President Obama's birth certificate hoping it would prove he was born in ... ? Ask Donald Trump where the 44th President was born and you'll get two conflicting answers plus a demonstration of political illiteracy.
Anton imagined a smart and able pilot to guide the plane to reform those problems that Trump himself highlighted in his campaign, the gridlock in a swamp filled Washington that left many American out in the cold. Were Trump and wise and able pilot he would have governed as a populist and a unifier to properly assess the path of his flight and landing. He would used his influence to create bi partisan approaches to healthcare, tax reform, and infrastructure. Instead he co-piloted with Pence and allowed the far right to take over the cockpit, thinking this Faustian deal would make him the adulated hero he's always dreamed of being. Instead he jumped on the right's Repeal and Replace outdated, partisan mantra, attacked the Democrats he needed to work with, filled his cabinet with Goldman Sach's pirates and doomsday pilots like Sessions, Price, Pruitt, Perry et al. Many knew that Trump was like Alec Baldwin in the commercial in which he says he could fly a plane because he's played a pilot in the movies. Well, he's a 70 year old spoiled child steering the plane into turbulent storms.
2
A few days back, the Times ran an article on how few Americans could locate North Korea on a map: just under forty percent. However, the wrong guesses seemed to cluster in certain parts of the globe: central India, the Persian Gulf, the Vietnam coast, Indonesia and so on. The majority of Americans have systemically false pictures of where things are in the physical world.
It is surprising, then, that so many Americans have difficulty in understanding their own country?
It is surprising, then, that so many Americans have difficulty in understanding their own country?
2
I agree with every word Bret wrote.
Unfortunately there are still tens of millions of voters who think Trump and they are winning.
His latest approval polls, released this week, were breathlessly reported as '. . sinking to 38%'.
What?
That's up 2% from the previous 36%, which was down from 37% which was up from 35%.
We've got to stop bearing any truck in these polls. His numbers are holding around 40%. That's all we know for sure.
And he and the GOP are happy with that. It puts him within reach of 51% in a general election, which he has proved can be won with only 46% of the vote if properly arrayed.
Unfortunately there are still tens of millions of voters who think Trump and they are winning.
His latest approval polls, released this week, were breathlessly reported as '. . sinking to 38%'.
What?
That's up 2% from the previous 36%, which was down from 37% which was up from 35%.
We've got to stop bearing any truck in these polls. His numbers are holding around 40%. That's all we know for sure.
And he and the GOP are happy with that. It puts him within reach of 51% in a general election, which he has proved can be won with only 46% of the vote if properly arrayed.
2
Trump is going to pivot hard right which understands that he is their best hope for their extreme legislative agenda. They are protected by their gerrymandered districts. Bannon will re-emerge as a force.
But the Republicans should not take comfort: Trump's nomination was no less a repudiation of the Republican party than his election was a Repudiation of the Democratic party. Trump may well take down his own party.
But the Republicans should not take comfort: Trump's nomination was no less a repudiation of the Republican party than his election was a Repudiation of the Democratic party. Trump may well take down his own party.
5
Wow! Pyroclastic Pinatubo? Where did Mr. Stephens come up with that one? I'm impressed but it's not a phrase you hear, well, pretty much anywhere. Otherwise, I think the opinion is a grim but largely accurate assessment.
I find it strange to think that our youngest voters today were only 2 or 3 years old on 9/11. You wonder how the event and subsequent events shaped their developmental psyche. Would a typical 18 year old today even fully understand a reference to Flight 93?
Based on my limited experience with young adults, I'm not entirely sure. I feel like Anton's message might resonate but not from a place of understanding. More likely, the reaction would come from youthful impulse to exercise autonomy. Rebellion for the sake of rebellion.
Personally, as an eye witness to 9/11, I wish I could forget. That's not happening though. In which case, I find anyone that manipulates the event for political analogy reprehensible. You might as well do a photo-op spitting on victims graves. That's how distasteful I find the gesture.
I find it strange to think that our youngest voters today were only 2 or 3 years old on 9/11. You wonder how the event and subsequent events shaped their developmental psyche. Would a typical 18 year old today even fully understand a reference to Flight 93?
Based on my limited experience with young adults, I'm not entirely sure. I feel like Anton's message might resonate but not from a place of understanding. More likely, the reaction would come from youthful impulse to exercise autonomy. Rebellion for the sake of rebellion.
Personally, as an eye witness to 9/11, I wish I could forget. That's not happening though. In which case, I find anyone that manipulates the event for political analogy reprehensible. You might as well do a photo-op spitting on victims graves. That's how distasteful I find the gesture.
5
I find this article repulsive; the Mapplethorpe of writings.
1
Excellent essay, Mr. Stephens. Your comparison of our country's wellbeing, as it weaves and dives, rudderless, to Mr. Anton's shameful essay, is well stated. We know there are still men and women of good character and courage in positions to inform the rest of us of the daily hijacking of our beloved democracy in order to give us the chance to right the ship before it is too late.
Will our legislators and citizens of good character and courage band together to save us all? Let all of us on this ride hope and pray that it is so.
Will our legislators and citizens of good character and courage band together to save us all? Let all of us on this ride hope and pray that it is so.
2
Right on!
Was the 2016 election the equivalent of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon with his victorious legions into the heart of Rome that ended the Republic? Of course not. No Trump has ever worn a military uniform nor done any humanitarian service. Trump is no Julius nor Augustus Caesar.
Trump is closer to Tiberius, Caligula and Nero of Ancient Rome and Cesare Borgia of Florence and Benito Mussolini in modern Italy. A moral degenerate by nature and nurture.
Whether or not America was on the precipice before the election with the 'selection' of Trump the looming peril is real.
Was the 2016 election the equivalent of Julius Caesar crossing the Rubicon with his victorious legions into the heart of Rome that ended the Republic? Of course not. No Trump has ever worn a military uniform nor done any humanitarian service. Trump is no Julius nor Augustus Caesar.
Trump is closer to Tiberius, Caligula and Nero of Ancient Rome and Cesare Borgia of Florence and Benito Mussolini in modern Italy. A moral degenerate by nature and nurture.
Whether or not America was on the precipice before the election with the 'selection' of Trump the looming peril is real.
3
Trump won’t change. Oh, he may mouth platitudes for a time, but a 70-year-old-man (nearly 71) doesn’t change his basic persona. But that’s irrelevant, because unless Mueller finds a smoking gun (VERY unlikely), Trump will be our president for four years and quite possibly for eight. Congress eventually will develop a modus vivendi with him and he will with them; and things will get done. He also will continue to exercise the very considerable power in which we clothe a president. But things finally getting done again primarily is why Trump was elected. And those things, absent any engagement by Democrats so completely focused on destroying him that they’ve forgotten how to get useful things done, won’t influence events in any way. Those who elected them may as well not have bothered to vote.
Many of those of us who support Trump don’t do it because we believe him capable of changing into something LESS “irrepressible”. We support him because an HRC alternative would have condemned us to four MORE years of bootless governance. We needed something tectonic to shake things up, and Trump’s persona simply is the price we must pay for being foolish enough to have gotten ourselves into this fix over many years now – a fix Trump didn’t invent.
So, suck it up, America. A governance as fouled up as ours isn’t shocked back into effectiveness by the likes of HRC – and certainly not by a President Pence if Dems succeed at destroying Trump. This was never going to be easy.
Many of those of us who support Trump don’t do it because we believe him capable of changing into something LESS “irrepressible”. We support him because an HRC alternative would have condemned us to four MORE years of bootless governance. We needed something tectonic to shake things up, and Trump’s persona simply is the price we must pay for being foolish enough to have gotten ourselves into this fix over many years now – a fix Trump didn’t invent.
So, suck it up, America. A governance as fouled up as ours isn’t shocked back into effectiveness by the likes of HRC – and certainly not by a President Pence if Dems succeed at destroying Trump. This was never going to be easy.
1
Translation: you voted in a man of no conscience and "no foundational knowledge" as David Brooks said, of the way our government works.
There are consequences for all for this form of throwing away the responsibility of being a citizen. You responsibility was not to install someone to tear everything up- you made that part up.
There are consequences for all for this form of throwing away the responsibility of being a citizen. You responsibility was not to install someone to tear everything up- you made that part up.
1
Whew, thanks Mr. Luettgen. 37 comments before yours, a guy Bill said to Bret, 'Your party has spent the past 40 years self-selecting to become what it is, do what it does, defend what it defends, and glorify what it glorifies..' I LOL'ed at that, since he's also describing the Democrat party, a product of self-selecting to become what it is, do what it does, defend what it defends, glorify what it glorifies -- mostly identity politics. One could use stronger words than Bill, but he does aptly describe the m.o. of both parties.
Comments back to Bret in his WSJ days were much more diverse across the spectrum. I doubt he reads these 319+ comments but he should just to see that 99% of them are far left and alt left people who despise the Americans who don't vote like them. Pretty sad state, this civil war here as this hatred of the 'other' completely usurps all support for the country's ability to get useful things done as you say - jobs, infrastructure... to benefit both left and right. And woe be the USA when it has to pull together to face an international crisis that threatens all of us -- ain't gonna happen.
Comments back to Bret in his WSJ days were much more diverse across the spectrum. I doubt he reads these 319+ comments but he should just to see that 99% of them are far left and alt left people who despise the Americans who don't vote like them. Pretty sad state, this civil war here as this hatred of the 'other' completely usurps all support for the country's ability to get useful things done as you say - jobs, infrastructure... to benefit both left and right. And woe be the USA when it has to pull together to face an international crisis that threatens all of us -- ain't gonna happen.
1
So you are saying that the broad Republican certainty that HIllary and Obama were taking America down the drain could not, in this supreme state of wisdom, come up with a Presidential candidate who was even remotely prepared and competent to restore the America you have in mind. How does this latter incompetency reflect on your supposed competency to know what is right for America?
Imagine where we, and he, would be if his first acts as president were to re-nominate Merrick Garland and get the country moving on infrastructure. The greatest opportunity ever, squandered. Sad.
8
Well done. Your writing is excellent.
2
In the second paragraph of The Flight 93 Election you have this:
"a Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto" -- the right metaphor, the wrong candidate. A sincere query to a Trump voter is this: articulate the ACTION that Trump had taken that supported a working person, not rhetoric, but action.
"a Hillary Clinton presidency is Russian Roulette with a semi-auto" -- the right metaphor, the wrong candidate. A sincere query to a Trump voter is this: articulate the ACTION that Trump had taken that supported a working person, not rhetoric, but action.
5
The story is obviously backward.
The truth of the matter is that it's the 65,844,954 (48.2% of the popular vote) who voted for Clinton, more than any other losing president in history (so there, Donald), that need to storm the cockpit, before he and his to his 62,979,879 (46.1% of the popular vote) crash us into the earth at high speed.
The truth of the matter is that it's the 65,844,954 (48.2% of the popular vote) who voted for Clinton, more than any other losing president in history (so there, Donald), that need to storm the cockpit, before he and his to his 62,979,879 (46.1% of the popular vote) crash us into the earth at high speed.
16
Truth of the matter is that it turned out that 48.2% of us were correct in judging this man to be unqualified for the office, correct in assessing that his past of bad business practices, abuse of employees and customers, sexual abuse of women, personality dysfunction, and predeliction for lying, lying, and then lying to explain his lies, likely meant that he was exactly who that past indicated.
The 46.1% that voted for him deserve representation they feel best, but folks, in this matter you are very sorely wrong in your judgement. There may be reasons you are, given the propaganda machine put together by some very shady Americans over the decades since Joe McCarthy, but you are, nevertheless, wrong.
Trump is not suited to be president of the United States.
The 46.1% that voted for him deserve representation they feel best, but folks, in this matter you are very sorely wrong in your judgement. There may be reasons you are, given the propaganda machine put together by some very shady Americans over the decades since Joe McCarthy, but you are, nevertheless, wrong.
Trump is not suited to be president of the United States.
20
Our wannabe tyrant is full of self-pity for the mess he's busy making of our country.
Clueless and greedy, incurious and stupid, the man blunders from hatred to destroying common property to enabling kleptocrats to endangering us all.
So horrible, it's hard to believe this is my country. Every time I hear of new threats and violence to people who look different, I see people encouraged to reach for the lowest part of their potential. But there are few life forms as low as self-worshipping Trump.
Clueless and greedy, incurious and stupid, the man blunders from hatred to destroying common property to enabling kleptocrats to endangering us all.
So horrible, it's hard to believe this is my country. Every time I hear of new threats and violence to people who look different, I see people encouraged to reach for the lowest part of their potential. But there are few life forms as low as self-worshipping Trump.
47
Conservatives think that protecting the rights of people, helping the poor, providing health care for the elderly, having the super rich do without a tiny amount of money that they don't need and wouldn't miss, not going saber rattling all over the world, protecting water and air is taking the country to destruction. If these measures are wrong, do, we accept that their opposite will make the country strong? Limiting rights, ignoring the poor and the sick, increasing the wealth of the rich, spend treasure and lives in wars, polluting air and water. Is what they really want? And do they actually think that state politicians are Simon pure, fully dedicated to the improvement of fellow-citizens, without a hint of scandal or corruption? Tell me where this political Camelot is: is it Texas, Alabama, Kansas, Missouri or maybe the home of that sterling politician McConnell, where life-expectancy is 20 years below national average.
54
Spot on.
1
As Douglas MacArthur said: “There is no security on this earth; there is only opportunity.”
The world is what we make of it.
The world is what we make of it.
1
Baaa loney. Donald Trump's world is being destroyed by common sense.
The people that should be charging the cockpit are the talking heads of the GOP. They are the ones that need to break it to their base that the clownish Donald Trump will actually PREVENT any of their supposed agenda from being passed.
Get Fox news on the line and start creating a story line that reflects reality.
Get Fox news on the line and start creating a story line that reflects reality.
11
The Greedy Orwellian Perverted Party is happy to put the plane on autopilot and spend their time building sand castles -- using $100 bills instead of sand -- in the cabin and taking food from the babies and gulping it down themselves until the plane runs out of fuel and crashes. Not realizing that the fact the plane is still airborne means it will not always remain that way and that their mountains of money won't be of any use to the dead.
All this time I thought Flight 93 was about self-sacrifice for the greater good.
The larger context is that there are large social and economic changes affecting us faster than our data systems can interpret the change.
The Housing Bubble destroyed trillions in wealth and jobs, leaving millions unemployed and uncounted.
Focusing on HRC and DJT misses the substantive issues.
The larger context is that there are large social and economic changes affecting us faster than our data systems can interpret the change.
The Housing Bubble destroyed trillions in wealth and jobs, leaving millions unemployed and uncounted.
Focusing on HRC and DJT misses the substantive issues.
7
Yes. We must attend to both the acute problems and the chronic.
2
Although reading anti-Trump conservatives is fun, Stephens misses entirely the metaphorical meaning of Anton's Flight 93. What was about to be lost was not literal America, but America where being white and male made you special. This America barely survived a black man whose Cabinet and senior appointees looked like America, and might have perished under Clinton. Trump, on the other hand, stands as a monument to what being white, male, and wealthy by inheritance means, not to mention the all-white and nearly all-male Republican leadership best seen celebrating the repeal of Obamacare. Like the Confederate monuments to which it is linked by who its supporters are, the sooner the traitorous Trump monument is toppled, the better.
28
Spot on.
The right wing has put a mentally unstable Narcissist in the White House, and they seem to be fine with it.
Who would have thought that dismantling healthcare, destroying our environment and tax breaks for the rich would be the least of our worries?
Let's hope and pray Mr. Trump doesn't start the next World War to feed his fragile ego.
Who would have thought that dismantling healthcare, destroying our environment and tax breaks for the rich would be the least of our worries?
Let's hope and pray Mr. Trump doesn't start the next World War to feed his fragile ego.
18
"It is the mark of every millenarian fanatic to assume that the world stands on the verge of a precipice, and that only radical or violent action can save it. That’s the premise of Anton’s essay." In reference to climate change, however, the world needs more fanatics. Reasonableness here is not adult.
6
I'm glad someone said it "a pretend real estate tycoon"........that's Trump in a nut shell. He's like an old western movie set where the facades are held up by 2 x 4s. Any business Trump was truly involved with went bankrupt. But Americans love characters versus substance. Unfortunately you can't script the presidency, and Trump is steadily being exposed.....as the greatest con artist of all time.
I wonder how the families of those who were killed on Flight 93 on that horrible day would feel about this absurd narrative. To the family of Todd Beamer, all I am able to say after reading this column is that I am deeply sorry.
17
The hijackers, the Republicans, did indeed reach the White House, and they planted a time bomb bomb there. How silly of them. They thought they could escape unscathed before it went off. Not from this weapon of mass destruction they won't.
13
It is not just Trump and his staff that needs to go away. It is also the members of the Cabinet and all of the Republican leaders. They all are responsible for this nightmare that has been unfolding. In addition, the Congress and Senate have been the true obstructionists for the last 10 years. They have prevented our country from moving forward with their horrible idea of what makes America Great. Their hatred of Obama and their votes to obstruct anything he proposed is a disgrace. None of them care for the country. Their only concern appears to be keeping their jobs. plus of course, taking care of their pocketbooks and connections to big time donors.
39
Telling it like it is--thank you Mr. Stephens! That black cloud that has been following me around for the last four months just may be dissipating.
2
The "Flight 93 Election" may tend to seem "preposterous" to liberals and even to establishment elites who call themselves "conservative" or "republican". But the term is probably quite useful for describing the resentments, fears, fantasies, and hopes of the conservative base who have good reason to hold the establishment and both parties in contempt.
1
Yes, the term has been useful - as a con. It doesn't describe the resentments, fears, fantasies and hopes of the vulnerable population, rightfully angry at privileged, self-serving politicians who ignore their plight; it is just the latest line in a narrative that has been used for decades by the right wing prooaganda machine to whip up their fears and resentments in order to exploit them and prey on their fantasies and hopes as a means of achieving political power.
Donald Trump was never the answer to their prayers. His outsider status had nothing to do with anti-elitism; he's a poster child for elitism. His outsider status was a function of his peculiar combination of incompetence, narcissism, self-promotion, and blindness to the consequences of his words and actions.
This past election wasn't an act of self-sacrifice to save a nation; it was a nation shooting itself in an artery to cure itself of cancer. Not only is the cancer that is eating at our political system still there, the life blood of our nation is spilling out on the floor.
We won't cure the corruption and dysfunction of our political system by taking the Trump wrecking ball to it, we'll only deprive ourselves of the very means we have to cure what ails it and make it healthy, productive, and responsive to the people again - democracy, the rule of law, and a common commitment to public service.
Donald Trump was never the answer to their prayers. His outsider status had nothing to do with anti-elitism; he's a poster child for elitism. His outsider status was a function of his peculiar combination of incompetence, narcissism, self-promotion, and blindness to the consequences of his words and actions.
This past election wasn't an act of self-sacrifice to save a nation; it was a nation shooting itself in an artery to cure itself of cancer. Not only is the cancer that is eating at our political system still there, the life blood of our nation is spilling out on the floor.
We won't cure the corruption and dysfunction of our political system by taking the Trump wrecking ball to it, we'll only deprive ourselves of the very means we have to cure what ails it and make it healthy, productive, and responsive to the people again - democracy, the rule of law, and a common commitment to public service.
1
The problem is that the conservative base resentments, fears, fantasies and hopes are based on pure lies. Holding "establishment" in contempt doesn't do anything for them. Cut their exposure to lying propaganda of fox, rush, levin, jones, etc and they feel better already.
2
What exactly are or have been the fears, fantasies and hopes of the conservative base that have been so cruelly ignored? What is all the grueling suffering and injustice that they have been subjected to? I just don't see it!
2
I put the over under on Trump's resignation at July 4th. He will quit because he doesn't have the character or ability to improve and humble himself. Much easier to make up some fake excuse and go play golf.
3
The interesting thing in latest news report is how the silent running Kushner appears to be one of those most in a panic, urging Trump into ever more-disastrous action. Apparently the convicted criminal father was more of a role model for the son than we were led to believe, whose silent-running, paid his way into Harvard veneer of respectability is slipping badly as the heat turns up.
His "most ardent admirers" may be starting to know it, but they will never admit it. Fraud is the most under reported crime in America and for good reason. Who will admit they've been conned? Fraud is usually noted only when it can't be hidden, when someone in the family notices (Daddy's bank account is empty or Grandma lost the farm). Anyone who has been conned knows they will be laughed at ("how could you have been so stupid?") and so they keep quiet or they truly believe that if they just had sent one more payment, all would have been well. Trump-supporters are classic examples of victims of fraud.
9
The Alt Right is insane. One of their poster children – Alex Jones – is regularly seen apologizing and paying settlements for running his mouth and spreading nonsense.
Rational America will be embroiled with these kooks until Trump is gone, and even after. He has allied himself with dangerous fringe elements, both in his supporters and in his administration, for whom facts matter not a wit.
These crazies have a deranged world view.
At least with the appointment of such a stellar character as Mueller, the founding fathers are no longer spinning in their graves.
Good thing too. So many of our decent and thoughtful leaders of the past were spinning in their graves at the madness in the oval, that I feared the planet would be thrown out of orbit.
Rational America will be embroiled with these kooks until Trump is gone, and even after. He has allied himself with dangerous fringe elements, both in his supporters and in his administration, for whom facts matter not a wit.
These crazies have a deranged world view.
At least with the appointment of such a stellar character as Mueller, the founding fathers are no longer spinning in their graves.
Good thing too. So many of our decent and thoughtful leaders of the past were spinning in their graves at the madness in the oval, that I feared the planet would be thrown out of orbit.
8
The hijackers did win. Today we are less free and look at who we put in the presidency. America in disarray is what they wanted and they got it. They were zealots who gave up their lives and so hold life as expendable so if Trump hits the nuclear button, tries to, or just talks about it so that our allies become mistrustful of us, they have won big. Citizens United and the Patriot Act are all to the benefit of the hijackers. These laws were victories for them. We have given up our freedom and our democracy to them. We have given up our economy to them. We have given up our way of life to them. We have given our all to the hijackers who get nothing but pleasure out of our sacrificing our democracy, our friendships, and our economy to their fear mongering. Trump is just the icing on the cake.
11
Amen.
The 2016 election offered two remarkably iffy candidates, still metaphor used is drastic and all I can say is it serves a purpose. So lend me, Metaphor Man II, some ears, a certain President became known as an unrestrained Tweeter, this lack of restraint in a prominent leader is not unparalleled, we can only hope the current one soon comes to his bitter weeping.
Given the caliber of the negatives of both major candidates, we didn't necessarily loose, depending on how we fare with our new Court in this I liken this election to a referendum on direction. And direction let's admit sways voters.
The metaphor I hope brings forth something of value, I'll pledge I'll spend some some more time with the comments. It brings to mind so much, for one I remember the scrawled messages underfoot in Union Square, which actually seemed to matter as I was there to read the night in question. I suggest that if there is a video tape the current President might read be encouraged, I do hope someone us encouraging him, it is a good thing. The other thing that comes to mind is one singer song writer's artistic take Neil questions in song: "How did it get this bad," or something to that effect , how indeed.
Given the caliber of the negatives of both major candidates, we didn't necessarily loose, depending on how we fare with our new Court in this I liken this election to a referendum on direction. And direction let's admit sways voters.
The metaphor I hope brings forth something of value, I'll pledge I'll spend some some more time with the comments. It brings to mind so much, for one I remember the scrawled messages underfoot in Union Square, which actually seemed to matter as I was there to read the night in question. I suggest that if there is a video tape the current President might read be encouraged, I do hope someone us encouraging him, it is a good thing. The other thing that comes to mind is one singer song writer's artistic take Neil questions in song: "How did it get this bad," or something to that effect , how indeed.
"(Trump) runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers." - Sadly, I believe that Trump's most ardent admirers are still admiring . . . just look at the reception he received yesterday at the USCG ceremony.
6
Todd Beamer was a friend of mine. He would meet with friends at a diner one morning each week to discuss the Bible and how to be a better man, husband, father, citizen... He was a sinner, like us all, but not by much.
To read that Mr. Anton considers himself the "political equivalent" of Todd is obscene.
To read that Mr. Anton considers himself the "political equivalent" of Todd is obscene.
22
Oh, they indeed landed on the White House. But I'm thinking of Mavis Staples singing with Arcade Fire. "I give you power. I can take it away. -- Watch me."
4
As Disco Duck ended the Disco Era, Donald Trump will end the Conservative Era.
Republicstan has nothing for a large part of their base, and they have provided a most excellent petri dish for the likes of Orange Caligula. The fact that it took this long for them to come around casts a strong light on their delusion.
Republicstan has nothing for a large part of their base, and they have provided a most excellent petri dish for the likes of Orange Caligula. The fact that it took this long for them to come around casts a strong light on their delusion.
4
We are not out of this by a long shot and as the noose tightens around trump so does his itchy trigger finger inch closer to a possible confrontation with maybe Korea or someone else. It doesn't really matter, Trump will take us down one way or another.
Shout outs to Ann Coulter, Fox News and all the conservative minions who helped poison and sour 30% of our population with the garbage you spewed for more tv time,book sales, and radio airplay.
How any reasonable person could have voted for trump is beyond disbelief. What I wouldn't give to have another conversation with that arrogant dentist I sat next to at Christmas time wedding who was giddy with joy that things were finally going to change. They're going to change all right and let's hope there are enough Coulter books for the Trump trolls to burn to keep warm. Winter is coming and let's hope it's not a nuclear one.
Shout outs to Ann Coulter, Fox News and all the conservative minions who helped poison and sour 30% of our population with the garbage you spewed for more tv time,book sales, and radio airplay.
How any reasonable person could have voted for trump is beyond disbelief. What I wouldn't give to have another conversation with that arrogant dentist I sat next to at Christmas time wedding who was giddy with joy that things were finally going to change. They're going to change all right and let's hope there are enough Coulter books for the Trump trolls to burn to keep warm. Winter is coming and let's hope it's not a nuclear one.
9
"Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?"
I hope you are being factious because lots of us saw this one coming from far off. David Brooks wonderful article about Trump the child-in-chief also noted that good minds were putting energy into analyzing what has turned out to be a rather empty brain. It makes me wonder about y'all who are paid to give opinions and do analysis. We ordinary mortals could see him for what he was months ago; most of us did not buy into the "hope" that he would change or mature or grow into the job. Maybe you all need to get out more.
I hope you are being factious because lots of us saw this one coming from far off. David Brooks wonderful article about Trump the child-in-chief also noted that good minds were putting energy into analyzing what has turned out to be a rather empty brain. It makes me wonder about y'all who are paid to give opinions and do analysis. We ordinary mortals could see him for what he was months ago; most of us did not buy into the "hope" that he would change or mature or grow into the job. Maybe you all need to get out more.
18
Anton sounds like he could make some money writing dystopian novels for the teenage market.
There is something juvenile about railing against the Corrupt Establishment, the System, the "Man" and then electing a man who embodies the Corrupt Establishment on the hope that the leopard will change spots and bring the Establishment that nurtured him down. And that if he fails he will have so damaged the System that it will be destroyed and something wonderful will rise from the ashes.
Only those who failed World History could propose such fantasy. What rises from destruction and chaos is autocracy. And countless deaths along the way.
Before you start on the flight path, you need to understand the destination and how to arrive with plane intact.
There is something juvenile about railing against the Corrupt Establishment, the System, the "Man" and then electing a man who embodies the Corrupt Establishment on the hope that the leopard will change spots and bring the Establishment that nurtured him down. And that if he fails he will have so damaged the System that it will be destroyed and something wonderful will rise from the ashes.
Only those who failed World History could propose such fantasy. What rises from destruction and chaos is autocracy. And countless deaths along the way.
Before you start on the flight path, you need to understand the destination and how to arrive with plane intact.
4
The problem isn't people who *fail* history. The problem who have no interest in learning about it in the first.
But then for us to know this is the problem, more people would have to ADMIT they have no interest in learning.
Trump is in denial of his own ignorance, and apparently so are multitudes of his supporters. And I'm afraid we're already on the flight path.
But then for us to know this is the problem, more people would have to ADMIT they have no interest in learning.
Trump is in denial of his own ignorance, and apparently so are multitudes of his supporters. And I'm afraid we're already on the flight path.
Republicans have indeed become unhinged. Unfortunately, Stephens played a not insignificant role in this as anyone who has been a regular reader of the WSJ would know. Has the light bulb come on or is it the source of the paycheck? Probably a bit of both. Of course what he says is true. Character is the all important constituent in the make up of any president although other qualities are required. In Trump we do indeed have a man with a deformed personality and defective intellect and he's still being shielded by large elements of the so called patriotic Republican party.
6
Catchy title, the "Flight 93 Election." It poses destruction, chaos and anarchy as genuine heroics.
But chaos is not heroic. We are doing nothing to solve the basic problems that technology, global demographics and giant corporate consolidation have brought us. We haven't brought back family farms or small farm towns; we haven't restored factories to dying small cities; all those companies bought up, split up and sold for parts are still defunct. And will still be defunct no matter who is president.
The only similarity our present Administration had to Flight 93 is that it surely is crashing and burning. But the people who are charging the cockpit are not trying to save anybody like they did on the real Flight 93- they are trying to crash and burn. An they are taking everyone down with them.
But chaos is not heroic. We are doing nothing to solve the basic problems that technology, global demographics and giant corporate consolidation have brought us. We haven't brought back family farms or small farm towns; we haven't restored factories to dying small cities; all those companies bought up, split up and sold for parts are still defunct. And will still be defunct no matter who is president.
The only similarity our present Administration had to Flight 93 is that it surely is crashing and burning. But the people who are charging the cockpit are not trying to save anybody like they did on the real Flight 93- they are trying to crash and burn. An they are taking everyone down with them.
5
Here is a question the pollsters should ask: "Would you be in favor or opposed to Congress and the Supreme Court being suspended for 1 year thereby allowing President Trump to enact any law he thought necessary". I think this question would get a yes from at least 20 percent of the American people. Do you think this is inconceivable. Well a President Trump was inconceivable less than 2 years ago.
3
If the US does not come together to heal its wounds and solve our problems instead of being polarized over Trump and his agenda, we are truly doomed.
3
Something like 1/5 of the country genuinely believes that all of the federal government's functions should be destroyed with the exception of the military. The US isn't going to "come together" any time soon until that faction is either marginalized or changes its mind. Our winner take all election system combined with the rule of the minority in our houses of Congress enables them to keep a large enough influence that their vote is necessary for any meaningful legislation - which basically means no one gets what they want.
The only way out of this is a brute force (i.e. the 80% vs. the 20%) restructuring of our election process which makes it difficult for extremists to win. Sure, they'll claim your enemy (whichever party they happen to be from) will benefit but what you should focus on is that they will lose. Your real representative isn't someone who promises to toe the party line; it is someone who, like you, holds a diverse set of opinions that don't easily fit into one of the parties. The fact that the party line is the same in Kansas or California as it is in upstate NY or Washington is absurd and we should do everything we can to eliminate that idea.
The only way out of this is a brute force (i.e. the 80% vs. the 20%) restructuring of our election process which makes it difficult for extremists to win. Sure, they'll claim your enemy (whichever party they happen to be from) will benefit but what you should focus on is that they will lose. Your real representative isn't someone who promises to toe the party line; it is someone who, like you, holds a diverse set of opinions that don't easily fit into one of the parties. The fact that the party line is the same in Kansas or California as it is in upstate NY or Washington is absurd and we should do everything we can to eliminate that idea.
@ Chris Devereaux:
"But there are still plenty of government actors ignoring the consequences of ... actively sabotaging Trump's agenda with leak after leak after leak."
Mr. Devereaux, you have missed the point, even of your own essay. The whole problem is that there is something to leak in the first place.
To re-use the metaphor of Mr. Stephens, perhaps these "government actors" see themselves as the passengers on Flight 93, and see exposing the perfidy of this administration as the only chance for survival.
I re-use the metaphor with the caution other commenters have expressed, with due respect for the real passengers and families on Flight 93.
"But there are still plenty of government actors ignoring the consequences of ... actively sabotaging Trump's agenda with leak after leak after leak."
Mr. Devereaux, you have missed the point, even of your own essay. The whole problem is that there is something to leak in the first place.
To re-use the metaphor of Mr. Stephens, perhaps these "government actors" see themselves as the passengers on Flight 93, and see exposing the perfidy of this administration as the only chance for survival.
I re-use the metaphor with the caution other commenters have expressed, with due respect for the real passengers and families on Flight 93.
Mr. Trump's "promise" was a virtual Rorschach for Republicans and those disaffected with "business as usual" in Washington, who wanted to see what they wanted to see in his promises. And while there is ample invective pointed at those who voted for him, to be fair many who were not impressed with the man hoped that some of the policies he occasionally articulated with some consistency might be implemented. As the narrative of POTUS being a hard-charming, no-nonsense CEO has transformed into a story of, at best, a CEO well over his head, it's clear that no part of his agenda, whatever it was, will ever be accomplished. Both parties seem inept at this point - Republicans impotent and Democrats fomenting dissent in the service of the 2018 elections. America needs more adults, not politicians.
2
What is this fascination conservatives have with ideological fiction? Whether it's Ayn Rand or "The Turner Diaries," they seem incapable of recognizing that the authors' fantasies are not viable realities.
3
Trump in the White House is a reflection of how incompetent both political parties have become. It is reflected in the GOP primary as no one could beat him, and on part of the Democrats by their historic string of losses since Obama was in office in addition to not being able to win the White House. Couldn't even beat Trump. Everyone who regrets the current situation needs to look in the mirror and ponder their role in bringing about the current situation, especially the Democrats as has been going on for so long as they gone form loss to loss.
It appears that both parties forgot what is required to govern diverse country as they have engaged in ever more bitter cultural wars, and as a result left the country open for someone like Trump. We get the government that we deserve, and so far it appears that we may bring even worse upon ourselves.
It appears that both parties forgot what is required to govern diverse country as they have engaged in ever more bitter cultural wars, and as a result left the country open for someone like Trump. We get the government that we deserve, and so far it appears that we may bring even worse upon ourselves.
1
Blasphemy! The Democratic party is the RIGHT one, and cares about YOU!
Happily I was not previously aware of that particularly horrible comparison that politicized the heroism of true patriots, but I am gleeful at Coulter and others turning against Trump. During the Terror of the French Revolution, eventually the most bloodthirsty of the revolutionaries started to turn on each other. It's hard to maintain your zealotry and extremism when you might be the next martyr.
Republicans should take to heart the words of Marcus Aurelius: "The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
Republicans should take to heart the words of Marcus Aurelius: "The object of life is not to be on the side of the majority but to escape finding oneself in the ranks of the insane."
6
Well, that was sobering. But thank you, Mr. Stephens. I'm rapidly warming to your columns.
4
I don't know how conservative legislators sleep at night knowing that if their voters had chosen almost any Republican candidate other than Mr. Trump (with a few exceptions)--and having a majority in both houses to boot--they'd be sailing along right now, cutting taxes on the rich, repealing Obamacare, kicking freeloaders off the dole, slashing regulations, folding up the safety nets, scoffing science, banning Planned Parenthood, barring refugees... all that stuff, without a hitch. Instead, they got themselves a huge liability. They must know they had it in the palm of their hands and blew it.
7
Thank you for this essay. It is so long overdue. It is time for reasonable and well-articulated scorn to be aimed at America's loonies on the right. But let us not forget why this happened. This may come off as conspiracy theory, but is all backed by documentation by sane and responsible authors.
In the Politics of Money, the late Elizabeth Drew pointed out a disturbing 1980's trend: the GOP was spending a lopsided amount of money on elections. Bi-partisan efforts were made in Congress to limit this (McCain Feingold). They failed. The Clintons fully embraced going toe to toe on financing and joined the GOP in selling out to Wall Street (and making the 2008 crash inevitable). The GOP, realizing they were pushing a minority agenda, used anger and paranoia, plus law and order to move working class whites away from the left-center. Scalia and company equated money with free speech.
We have lost our democracy in every way but by the shell of its form. The press has been bullied into a false equality by the right allowing the lunatics to believe they deserve equal standing through "balanced" coverage to the point that the world is upside down and serious journalism must be false.
We need to reclaim normalcy and stop letting our crazy family members dominate every family gathering that is our electoral process. We could start by stanching the flow of private money that has unbalanced our discourse and undermined our democracy. We need to push back with high-minded scorn.
In the Politics of Money, the late Elizabeth Drew pointed out a disturbing 1980's trend: the GOP was spending a lopsided amount of money on elections. Bi-partisan efforts were made in Congress to limit this (McCain Feingold). They failed. The Clintons fully embraced going toe to toe on financing and joined the GOP in selling out to Wall Street (and making the 2008 crash inevitable). The GOP, realizing they were pushing a minority agenda, used anger and paranoia, plus law and order to move working class whites away from the left-center. Scalia and company equated money with free speech.
We have lost our democracy in every way but by the shell of its form. The press has been bullied into a false equality by the right allowing the lunatics to believe they deserve equal standing through "balanced" coverage to the point that the world is upside down and serious journalism must be false.
We need to reclaim normalcy and stop letting our crazy family members dominate every family gathering that is our electoral process. We could start by stanching the flow of private money that has unbalanced our discourse and undermined our democracy. We need to push back with high-minded scorn.
5
What conservative movement? Thirty years ago conservatives decided that deficits and debt don't matter. Imperial overstretch in the Middle East was the product of Republican (conservative) administrations. Government surveillance of the citizenry was ramped up under conservatives. Overarching federal programs like Medicare Part D and No Child Left Behind were enacted under a supposedly conservative president -- and of course neither initiative was paid for, except through borrowing.
Conservatism reached its nadir when its adherents embraced the Trump campaign with its lies, racism, and misogyny. A few principled conservatives stood apart, but for the most part "movement" conservatives were happy with Trump the candidate and delighted when he won the election.
Conservatism today has been reduced to cutting taxes for the one percent and maintaining white supremacy. True conservative principles have been abandoned in favor of Mammon and repression. A mostly proud tradition going back over 200 years has been reduced to a hellish parody of itself.
Conservatism reached its nadir when its adherents embraced the Trump campaign with its lies, racism, and misogyny. A few principled conservatives stood apart, but for the most part "movement" conservatives were happy with Trump the candidate and delighted when he won the election.
Conservatism today has been reduced to cutting taxes for the one percent and maintaining white supremacy. True conservative principles have been abandoned in favor of Mammon and repression. A mostly proud tradition going back over 200 years has been reduced to a hellish parody of itself.
3
I applaud this article.
One nit, we all saw this coming, even those that voted for him.
One nit, we all saw this coming, even those that voted for him.
1
It's a sad moment to read this essay. As it turns out, a majority of voters knew that Hillary, for all her flaws, would've been a steady hand. Stephens implies that we were all hoodwinked. The majority were not.
And many people, especially New Yorkers like me who've known Trump for decades as a municipal joke, never thought he had a single brain cell capable of discharging presidential duties.
Reagan, the Conservative god, may have been a nitwit, but he did have solid convictions.
And many people, especially New Yorkers like me who've known Trump for decades as a municipal joke, never thought he had a single brain cell capable of discharging presidential duties.
Reagan, the Conservative god, may have been a nitwit, but he did have solid convictions.
5
A local TV station started a poll today asking whether, after the week's events, people approved of Trump more, less, or never approved. Unbelievably, 75% approved of him more, 25% never approved. None voted for the middle options. It's really crazy!
Exactly right Mr. Stephens. But where are the opposing Democrats? Who in the party is telling those red state populists that the repeal of Obamacare is fundamentally a tax cut for the wealthy? Is there an elected progressive who is explaining to those GOP supporters how our president just compromised Israel, our closest ally in the mid-east? Where is the blue voice that's clearly explaining to mid America the danger Russia represents and why they are not our friend. Who is the spokesperson for Democrats offering a compelling altenative vision of America to independent voters? President Trump is a grave threat to the future of this country. President Pence is not the solution.
2
The conservative movement became "unhinged" long before Trump. The real difference here is Trump realized people had figured out the respectable exteriors of Republican candidates were hollow suits. And he knew conservative voters had only two issues, abortion (Roe vs Wade) and taxes (cut them). Republicans will permit endless corruption in service to stacking the Supreme Court and cutting taxes on the wealthy. The only thing new here is Trump's refusal to pretend otherwise.
2
How are liberal voters' issues any different? From HRC's DNC co-host Cecile Richards, to promising to repeal the Hyde Amendment, to a womens' march that excluded pro-life women, it's evident that the only womens' "right" being fought for is continued abortion on demand.
The theory that the election of President Trump was an irrational, hysterical, "saving attempt" response by Americans, premised on the conception that America is in serious political and economic trouble, in fact perhaps doomed like an aircraft having been taken over by terrorists (the conventional political establishment of course the "terrorists"), when in actuality America is not in serious trouble and it is rather the Trump administration which can be compared to the hijacking of a plane?
I would agree that the election of Trump was an irrational, hysterical, saving attempt response by Americans to the perception that America is in political and economic trouble (national decline in general), but I would not say people are wrong in their perception that America is in trouble--in fact the behavior mental and physical of the political establishment, whether Republican or Democratic, proves America is in trouble.
Let's just run down a list of mental and behavior traits that psychologists/social scientists can point out showing that even the most stable and established of political/economic conventions in the U.S. point to the U.S. being perceived as in trouble: Constant loyalty pledges; paranoia about treachery; secrecy; increased surveillance and control; protocol; extremely careful and simplistic language; barrage after barrage of institutional procedure; outright attempts to purchase people; control of media...Kind of like being on a plane hijacked or not...
I would agree that the election of Trump was an irrational, hysterical, saving attempt response by Americans to the perception that America is in political and economic trouble (national decline in general), but I would not say people are wrong in their perception that America is in trouble--in fact the behavior mental and physical of the political establishment, whether Republican or Democratic, proves America is in trouble.
Let's just run down a list of mental and behavior traits that psychologists/social scientists can point out showing that even the most stable and established of political/economic conventions in the U.S. point to the U.S. being perceived as in trouble: Constant loyalty pledges; paranoia about treachery; secrecy; increased surveillance and control; protocol; extremely careful and simplistic language; barrage after barrage of institutional procedure; outright attempts to purchase people; control of media...Kind of like being on a plane hijacked or not...
2
America has knowingly voted for a dictatorship regime. Just like Russia and China, this comes with persecutions for journalists, disinformation, and state violence. Democracy is weak, therefore passe'.
And since dictatorships have many more powers than democracies, it's not going away any time soon. For the next 20 years, republicans will be winning. It's important to understand what this regime entails, get used to it, and survive.
And since dictatorships have many more powers than democracies, it's not going away any time soon. For the next 20 years, republicans will be winning. It's important to understand what this regime entails, get used to it, and survive.
1
So glad to see Bret Stephens at The Times. He was an insightful, brave presence at the WSJ -- one of the few reasons, along with its books coverage, that I subscribed to the Journal --, a welcome addition to the voices at The Times, and a worthy heir to the likes of William Safire.
Aren't we being a bit too hard on Donald Trump? Didn't the people decide they wanted to drain the swamp and have a successful business man run the country and make it great again? Well isn't that what is happening?
Once drained, the swamp had to be refilled, restocked - a law of successful business - according to Donald Trump. Donald Trump is running the USA as he ran his casinos...only there is not court to hear the bankruptcy of our morals and ethics. As to making America great again - that can still be a true statement - just as soon as Donald Trump has left the White House and we call an exterminator in to treat it.
Once drained, the swamp had to be refilled, restocked - a law of successful business - according to Donald Trump. Donald Trump is running the USA as he ran his casinos...only there is not court to hear the bankruptcy of our morals and ethics. As to making America great again - that can still be a true statement - just as soon as Donald Trump has left the White House and we call an exterminator in to treat it.
2
Every day that passes, the danger mounts. Our enemies will see we have no leader and do as they wish. Trump drifts further and further from reality, as their loyal amateurs and horrified professionals simultaneously try to steer the ship while concealing the fact that the captain is totally mad.
2
When I initially read the title of this essay and the first paragraph with the charging-the-cockpit metaphor I genuinely thought the author was referring to Trump in the cockpit - not as the hero trying to prevent the crash.
2
Trump's hardcore supporters live in an alternate reality based on alternate facts. They are also a critical component of the constituents many House Republicans will face in 2018. Those House members who privately don't wear tinfoil hats understand that Trump is a problem, but doing something about it means political suicide. Don't expect them to charge the cockpit.
2
How offensive that someone feels that they can use the memory of flite 93 in this fashion. maybe in 50 years it can be used metaphorically like this. but not now. too soon.
2
"The job requires one of the most important characters of the conservatives:character " Haha! For the current leaders in Congress and character- No, it is money and power. Not humanity!
1
Why are the powers that be not looking to remove Trump using the 25th amendment. We are all aware that reknown psychiatrists have indicated he has every trait that makes him unfit to be president. We don't need to prove obstruction. We just need the courage of our Congress to recognize there is no way to put lipstick on a pig without ruining their own moral character and more importantly our democracy
Mr. Stephens, I don't know what your politics are, and I don't know whether following the mention of Obama with "for all his shortcomings" was reflexive, or a bone to the right wing. But, Obama was *brilliant,* and it does not require the ineptitude and indecency of the current occupier of the Presidency to appreciate that.
2
Thanks for the laugh.
Maybe the Trump presidency is like Flight 93, but perhaps it's just a huge distraction from the true political crisis in the United States- another opportunity for entrenched interests to continue their economic control of our nation, by indicating someone like Trump is the only alternative to what we are currently stuck with.
The reason such a terrible candidate had any chance to become president is because so many Americans see the cynicism of our current politics and are either susceptible to demagogues like Trump or have lost the motivation to even vote.
I fight the urge to give up on a country that has become so utterly inefficient and corrupted by special interests that we spend almost twice as much per citizen as our northern neighbors on health care and still leave millions uncovered and corporations like GM, that lose the ability to compete globally because of these costs, fail to stand up against this travesty. Why is that? Have the CEO's given up on our system as well?
This is only the tip of the iceberg, although it represents well over a trillion a year in losses due to the corruption of our government. There's no reason to believe our defense, education and justice system spending is any more efficient.
Maybe not Flight 93, but America is clearly an empire deep in decline currently distracted by a dangerous buffoon. My only hope is that if his presidency blows up we can get to the hard work of saving our country from our dysfunctional government.
The reason such a terrible candidate had any chance to become president is because so many Americans see the cynicism of our current politics and are either susceptible to demagogues like Trump or have lost the motivation to even vote.
I fight the urge to give up on a country that has become so utterly inefficient and corrupted by special interests that we spend almost twice as much per citizen as our northern neighbors on health care and still leave millions uncovered and corporations like GM, that lose the ability to compete globally because of these costs, fail to stand up against this travesty. Why is that? Have the CEO's given up on our system as well?
This is only the tip of the iceberg, although it represents well over a trillion a year in losses due to the corruption of our government. There's no reason to believe our defense, education and justice system spending is any more efficient.
Maybe not Flight 93, but America is clearly an empire deep in decline currently distracted by a dangerous buffoon. My only hope is that if his presidency blows up we can get to the hard work of saving our country from our dysfunctional government.
9
Fair and well-reasoned, but my belief is that in the next 2-4 years, our aircraft will yaw hard left, and further decline in the name of progressivism. Different ideology, same blind mob.
We know what happened to Flight 93. It crashed right into the ground in rural Pennsylvania. The current White House has this much in common: it's in a nose dive and is unlikely to right itself without outside intervention. Would that it were just the White House that gets smashed into a million pieces. Before he's done, Trump and his cronies might just take the nation, possibly the entire world, down with them. That's the scary part.
6
There have been, in the past, good conservative critiques of liberalism (e.g. that the far left sometimes defends hideous "cultural" practices). But those good critiques are ultimately based on Enlightenment principles, as is true liberalism. The reason today's right-wing panic about liberals tracks so badly onto reality is that it's just an anti-Enlightenment rage--a rage originating in the visceral distaste for uppity women and minorities, sanctified by St. Donald, then occasionally clothed in good conservative critiques for the appearance of respectability.
I wish people understood evolutionary history more. It's no surprise that many intelligent people (and most stupid people) will revolt against the idea of a woman(!) taking command of the most powerful nation on Earth for 4 years. It's unnatural--which in my opinion is in its favor, because human nature is pretty bad. And after 8 years of being led by a black man, lots of white people wanted to revert to the "norm" with their own race on top. These are pathetic but predictable instincts.
The media has barely addressed these instincts--especially the sexism. But addressing them forthrightly, without using jargon like "privilege" and without neglecting our truly admirable progress over time, will help this anti-Enlightenment tide recede much sooner.
I wish people understood evolutionary history more. It's no surprise that many intelligent people (and most stupid people) will revolt against the idea of a woman(!) taking command of the most powerful nation on Earth for 4 years. It's unnatural--which in my opinion is in its favor, because human nature is pretty bad. And after 8 years of being led by a black man, lots of white people wanted to revert to the "norm" with their own race on top. These are pathetic but predictable instincts.
The media has barely addressed these instincts--especially the sexism. But addressing them forthrightly, without using jargon like "privilege" and without neglecting our truly admirable progress over time, will help this anti-Enlightenment tide recede much sooner.
10
Silly; isn't Hillary part of the white, privileged establishment?
The conservative movement has indeed become unhinged. It's almost symmetrical, like the expected result of a mathematical equation, that conservatives would install an unhinged pretender, absolutely disconnected from reality, as their choice for president. Conservatives now value ideology over truth.
4
Even if Trump were to resign, get impeached, whatever, has anyone considered what his post-presidential behaviour will be like? What would an angry, thin-skinned, mean-spirited billionaire do with all that extra time and with all of those die-hard fans of his? Expect more divisiveness, more chaos and more trolling and a public, who, with the encouragement of Jones and other conspiracy-toting nutbags, will be only too willing to go along for delusional trip.
5
I'm envisioning Potus in an airplane story also, only he is playing the John Lithgow passenger in the Twilight Zone remake, losing his mind while the beast on the wing represents his failure and impending downfall.
Coming this week to theatres everywhere.
Coming this week to theatres everywhere.
3
Who could have seen that one coming? But of course character is destiny. Stephens sounds rather naive for a WSJ editorial writer.
Here's a NYT headline from back in June 2016:
“Donald Trump Could Threaten U.S. Rule of Law, Scholars Say” And that included conservatives, quoted in article. Read it and weep.
…. “ Trump’s blustery attacks on the press, complaints about the judicial system and bold claims of presidential power collectively sketch out a constitutional worldview that shows contempt for the First Amendment, the separation of powers and the rule of law, legal experts across the political spectrum say.”
Yup, contempt is the word. He is fulfilling those predictions.
Now Savage, Podhoretz, Coulter--- all the rw extremists are coming out of the woodwork to trash Trump desperately. Showing their character.
They’re doubling down to bash Trump lest the Democrats get all the advantage from this atrocious presidency. The Dems are looking pretty good for 2018. And if they correct their mistakes, and get a decent candidate for 2020, watch out.
And watch the Gop and their pundit excuse makers vilify Trump heartily, in lurid prose, like ‘deformed personality’.
Here's a NYT headline from back in June 2016:
“Donald Trump Could Threaten U.S. Rule of Law, Scholars Say” And that included conservatives, quoted in article. Read it and weep.
…. “ Trump’s blustery attacks on the press, complaints about the judicial system and bold claims of presidential power collectively sketch out a constitutional worldview that shows contempt for the First Amendment, the separation of powers and the rule of law, legal experts across the political spectrum say.”
Yup, contempt is the word. He is fulfilling those predictions.
Now Savage, Podhoretz, Coulter--- all the rw extremists are coming out of the woodwork to trash Trump desperately. Showing their character.
They’re doubling down to bash Trump lest the Democrats get all the advantage from this atrocious presidency. The Dems are looking pretty good for 2018. And if they correct their mistakes, and get a decent candidate for 2020, watch out.
And watch the Gop and their pundit excuse makers vilify Trump heartily, in lurid prose, like ‘deformed personality’.
5
Bret Stevens, an ardent never-Trumper, does say: "A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration."
But I would differ that this constitutes "hearty vilifying" by Bret's standards. Remember Bret calling all climate scientists "a sick-souled religion" and "closet Stalinists?"
Bret truly hates climate scientists. He merely looks down his nose at Trump.
But I would differ that this constitutes "hearty vilifying" by Bret's standards. Remember Bret calling all climate scientists "a sick-souled religion" and "closet Stalinists?"
Bret truly hates climate scientists. He merely looks down his nose at Trump.
1
Michael Anton is just another Bannon style propagandist. One who Bannon has characterized as having a: "very precise understanding of the processes of communications,”... Bannon was quoted as saying that it was "rare in Washington or New York to have a "comms person who is also a deep intellect " (from The Atlantic, 3/24/17).
The real news with this story then is that in Anton we have not only a serious critic of men's fashion but a well-trained corporate propagandist (a "comms person" veteran of Citibank and Blackwater) schooled in engineering public opinion whatever the masquerade. This round as a nationalist populist. He is an entertainer who now has less of a bit part than formerly.
Still, we're definitely crashing. But even with Trump crashed the corporations and paleocons still get what they wanted, with or without him: the Supreme Court, pro-corporate all-you-can-eat tax breaks, coal in the streams, etc.
Why is it that, as we topple back to 2008 or much worse, the people really flying the plane, while also rushing the cockpit, and who are now preparing for the pickings in the aftermath were/are the same Goldman-Sachs, Citibank, Blackwater, Exxon-Mobil, etc., crew? The same people who unsurprisingly now populate Trump's cabinet. With lead actors being replaceable, how does this crew of swamp things keep reappearing over the years playing all the support roles?
The real news with this story then is that in Anton we have not only a serious critic of men's fashion but a well-trained corporate propagandist (a "comms person" veteran of Citibank and Blackwater) schooled in engineering public opinion whatever the masquerade. This round as a nationalist populist. He is an entertainer who now has less of a bit part than formerly.
Still, we're definitely crashing. But even with Trump crashed the corporations and paleocons still get what they wanted, with or without him: the Supreme Court, pro-corporate all-you-can-eat tax breaks, coal in the streams, etc.
Why is it that, as we topple back to 2008 or much worse, the people really flying the plane, while also rushing the cockpit, and who are now preparing for the pickings in the aftermath were/are the same Goldman-Sachs, Citibank, Blackwater, Exxon-Mobil, etc., crew? The same people who unsurprisingly now populate Trump's cabinet. With lead actors being replaceable, how does this crew of swamp things keep reappearing over the years playing all the support roles?
5
Except that apparently, most of Trump's supporters don't have buyer's remorse at all. Even those who see recent events as troublesome blame liberals and the media. And, reportedly, many of the Coast Guard graduates cheered him. I don't claim to understand it, though I'm trying. In any case, though, weird as it is, it's inaccurate to say that his most passionate supporters are turning against him, because they're not. At least not yet.
4
Your new pilot -- the one you installed in the cockpit after you rushed it -- keeps saying endlessly that "I'm so smart!"
Yeah, right. So mind-blowingly smart that he fired the FBI director to stop an impeachment threat -- and thereby probably quadrupled the odds that he'll be impeached by triggering the appointment of a special prosecutor. Yikes!!!
Positively brilliant!!! Next time it might be a good idea to make sure the NEW pilot you install at least knows how to fly the plane.
Yeah, right. So mind-blowingly smart that he fired the FBI director to stop an impeachment threat -- and thereby probably quadrupled the odds that he'll be impeached by triggering the appointment of a special prosecutor. Yikes!!!
Positively brilliant!!! Next time it might be a good idea to make sure the NEW pilot you install at least knows how to fly the plane.
4
Trump is president because the GOP and the right HATED President Obama from day one, in fact even before he took office. They, and trump, wasted no time spreading lies and freezing the government. The right could not stand the idea that a non white man, and then a women could ever be president. Trump ran for office to get lots of free press and then, surprise, he won. There was never any surprise what kind of person he is, the surprise is how people could still vote for him after the Access Hollywood Tape, its SAD, VERY SAD!!!!
8
Then why didn't Kasich, Cruz, or some other non-black GOP candidate win? I think we all could have lived with a moderate like Kasich. If it was backlash against Obama, how did Romney, who would have been worlds better than Trump, lose so badly?
It should be a clear cause for alarm when people say they want to "blow it up" but they can't say exactly what it is they want to blow up.
4
In penance, on behalf of all republicans who allowed, encouraged, and benefited from, the ever-growing conspiracy world of the right (and long before trump came alone)...you should not have a coveted spot with the NYT until you have made atonement by taking on, calling out, taking a job at Fox News and doing some serious truth-telling over those airwaves. The mass of people who need to hear from you, aren't. Perhaps Fox would give you O'Reilly's spot, and you could pick a couple of conspiracy theories each evening and thoroughly debunk them. True public service by the right would be a wonder to behold.
4
Of course it's likely that Anton misjudged Trump, but in fairness, this is not an accurate account of Anton's article. For one, he never implies a comparison of President Obama with a 9/11 hijacker. (That doesn't even make sense metaphorically -- the piece is directed against Clinton.) This is a smear to associate Anton with Birtherism, which is entirely unjustified.
More significantly, Trump's apparent failure to effect reform -- badly needed reform -- in no way disproves Anton's main contention that the republic is in very bad shape. President Trump and the constant and not always fair opposition that feeds his madness have obviously exacerbated the situation. But that should not be allowed to obscure the fact that the country was already in crisis and its institutions failing so badly that they had largely lost their democratic authority.
More significantly, Trump's apparent failure to effect reform -- badly needed reform -- in no way disproves Anton's main contention that the republic is in very bad shape. President Trump and the constant and not always fair opposition that feeds his madness have obviously exacerbated the situation. But that should not be allowed to obscure the fact that the country was already in crisis and its institutions failing so badly that they had largely lost their democratic authority.
11
Oxymoron par excellence: in the same sentence one criticizes the "unfair" opposition and concedes Trump's "madness"
1
Crisis? Agreed. However, it is a direct result of incremental starvation from the continuing sequester (which we have so normalized that we don't even talk about it anymore) and constant budget cuts to vital services, exacerbated by the man without boundaries or morality that the Republicans put in the WH.
No organism survives in a state of wellness when it is denied sustenance. The country has become anorexic. As in human beings, vital organs are affected and cannot function well. The IRS is subject to budget cuts, for example, to prevent it from collecting taxes on those individuals and entities that believe they are too special to be taxed. Vital infrastructure is allowed to fall so far into disrepair that it becomes dangerous, as in the bridge collapse a couple of years ago. The country looks like Russia with weeds growing in parks and public spaces. Neglect is all around us. While at the same time, the miliary-industrial cabal continues to party like its 1965 and millionaires become billionaires by adding nothing of value, just like Trump.
There is no money! Hogwash. It goes to enrich the rich through tax avoidance, off-shoring, subsidies to hugely profitable corporations, tax cuts, and corporate fraud that is rarely detected or lightly punished.
As long as our government remains in the hands of the Republican party, which is a front organization for the libertarian Mafia, we will not recover. We must rid ourselves of them or perish.
No organism survives in a state of wellness when it is denied sustenance. The country has become anorexic. As in human beings, vital organs are affected and cannot function well. The IRS is subject to budget cuts, for example, to prevent it from collecting taxes on those individuals and entities that believe they are too special to be taxed. Vital infrastructure is allowed to fall so far into disrepair that it becomes dangerous, as in the bridge collapse a couple of years ago. The country looks like Russia with weeds growing in parks and public spaces. Neglect is all around us. While at the same time, the miliary-industrial cabal continues to party like its 1965 and millionaires become billionaires by adding nothing of value, just like Trump.
There is no money! Hogwash. It goes to enrich the rich through tax avoidance, off-shoring, subsidies to hugely profitable corporations, tax cuts, and corporate fraud that is rarely detected or lightly punished.
As long as our government remains in the hands of the Republican party, which is a front organization for the libertarian Mafia, we will not recover. We must rid ourselves of them or perish.
2
In crisis. Really? You're proving the author's point quite nicely.
1
To follow the nonsensical logic of Anton's metaphor, the country didn't get a Todd Beamer, even though the plane had recovered and stabilized from a serious loss of altitude anyway. No, we got an entitled, pseudopopulist-billionaire-misogynist in first class who was drunk and hitting on any woman within reach. And now after today's pitiful speech, apparently we can add 'persecution complex' to the growing list of personality disorders that grace the daily news cycle.
The fact that the conservative establishment compares Trump to Jimmy Carter suggests they're still deluded and short on historical perspective. Carter tried to communicate some uncomfortable truths. Trump simply rode a wave of toxic rhetoric that doubled as press catnip.
And here we are. The least the press can do at this point is convince Trump that he should drag this out as long as possible, and fight to keep Sessions. So sad.
The fact that the conservative establishment compares Trump to Jimmy Carter suggests they're still deluded and short on historical perspective. Carter tried to communicate some uncomfortable truths. Trump simply rode a wave of toxic rhetoric that doubled as press catnip.
And here we are. The least the press can do at this point is convince Trump that he should drag this out as long as possible, and fight to keep Sessions. So sad.
102
Mr. Stephens, the problem is that the GOP must impeach him to regain control of the cockpit. And Ryan and McConnell, who have shown themselves to be men of little character, remain firmly planted in their seats. There is no one in leadership of the GOP yet uttering the famous words of Flight 93 lore: "Let's roll."
190
I really resent comparing the republican "famous" to real heroes.
Any pilot could have spotted the flaw in Mr. Anton's analogy quite readily. Flying isn't an innately difficult thing, but it does take a measure of knowledge, learning and practice. Pretty much anyone can learn how to land a large jet, but one can't learn it on the spot.
Just as flying takes a knowledge base regarding aerodynamics, meteorology, aviation navigation, aircraft systems and similar topics, the Presidency requires a knowledge base of history, economics, law, government, foreign policy and similar topics.
We have thrown a man with no knowledge of the required topics and no prior experience and are somehow surprised that the jet of state is nose down with the alarms going off warning us of an excessive descent rate and approaching terrain. The whole project was wildly irresponsible and the outcome wholly predictable.
It's time for us to "charge the cockpit" ourselves and put someone in the pilot's seat who knows how to fly the plane. It doesn't have to be Chuck Yeager, but we definitely need someone who can at least read an altimeter.
Just as flying takes a knowledge base regarding aerodynamics, meteorology, aviation navigation, aircraft systems and similar topics, the Presidency requires a knowledge base of history, economics, law, government, foreign policy and similar topics.
We have thrown a man with no knowledge of the required topics and no prior experience and are somehow surprised that the jet of state is nose down with the alarms going off warning us of an excessive descent rate and approaching terrain. The whole project was wildly irresponsible and the outcome wholly predictable.
It's time for us to "charge the cockpit" ourselves and put someone in the pilot's seat who knows how to fly the plane. It doesn't have to be Chuck Yeager, but we definitely need someone who can at least read an altimeter.
266
Matt -- I got my commercial and CFI pilot licenses at age 19 and I am now 66, and I am still flying, still current, still a CFI. I started out on a career in aviation, decided it wasn't a way I wanted to make my living, went back to grad school and am now finishing up a career as a scientist. From this perspective I want to tell you something: flying is unforgivingly hard.
There is a huge difference between a bad day at my desk or in the lab, and a bad day flying ... it is captured by the sardonic pilot's expression: "that will ruin your whole day" ... and you'll have no more.
There is a better flying analogy for Trump: it does happen rarely that Darwin-award candidates take unattended airplanes for joy-rides; sometimes those with no training at all -- thinking "how tough can it be?"
Planes are much easier to take off than land -- every one of these I know of who got the airplane into the air died.
Conversely it is not so rare in small airplanes for someone not a trained pilot to end up at the controls in flight -- often their spouse just went unconscious. It is surprising how many of these have a happy ending because: they know a few basics starting with how to use the radio, they don't panic, they follow instructions, and they can be "talked down."
The problem here is that even if Trump is removed from the controls, you've got Pence. Pence doesn't know how to fly the airplane either, he's just not Darwin-award reckless. Who does Pence radio?
There is a huge difference between a bad day at my desk or in the lab, and a bad day flying ... it is captured by the sardonic pilot's expression: "that will ruin your whole day" ... and you'll have no more.
There is a better flying analogy for Trump: it does happen rarely that Darwin-award candidates take unattended airplanes for joy-rides; sometimes those with no training at all -- thinking "how tough can it be?"
Planes are much easier to take off than land -- every one of these I know of who got the airplane into the air died.
Conversely it is not so rare in small airplanes for someone not a trained pilot to end up at the controls in flight -- often their spouse just went unconscious. It is surprising how many of these have a happy ending because: they know a few basics starting with how to use the radio, they don't panic, they follow instructions, and they can be "talked down."
The problem here is that even if Trump is removed from the controls, you've got Pence. Pence doesn't know how to fly the airplane either, he's just not Darwin-award reckless. Who does Pence radio?
61
Perfect. Great Comment.
1
Spot on. He is only a human. Has his strengths and weaknesses. But he is totally unqualified for the job. It was very obvious from the beginning. You might have a really decent drinking buddy at the corner pub, but if he is not an electrician, you will not hire him to rewire your house, regardless what a great guy he is.
Yet, "da People" still hired him.
So, who is to blame?
Yet, "da People" still hired him.
So, who is to blame?
1
Of course it was a Flight 93 election, and of course the passengers lost. The only remaining question is whether the metaphor will apply to the world, the U.S., or "only" the GOP.
6
The more I read of you, Bret Stephens, the more I like reading you. And I'm a liberal (who welcomes smart conservative writers to the Times, my favorite way to access the news).
Welcome!
Welcome!
5
Even hinting that Ann Coulter is the somewhat rational adult for the unhinged is giving her too much respect
9
"It’s also the kind of thinking that has inspired extremists from time immemorial, including the people who grabbed the planes on 9/11."
Exactly. And similarly, the Republican party today has striking similarities to extremist movements and governments like the Taliban, the Saudi royals and the tyrannical mullahs in Iran--all obsessions at Fox news and friends. Take Mikey Pence. The man can't dine with women at night if his wife isn't present. Straight out of the taliban playbook. The only reason why it seems less appalling to most Americans is because mikey is a white guy in a suit.
Okay, the Republicans aren't stoning women for adultery or "chopping off heads," as donny likes to say, but start worrying. They are getting there.
Exactly. And similarly, the Republican party today has striking similarities to extremist movements and governments like the Taliban, the Saudi royals and the tyrannical mullahs in Iran--all obsessions at Fox news and friends. Take Mikey Pence. The man can't dine with women at night if his wife isn't present. Straight out of the taliban playbook. The only reason why it seems less appalling to most Americans is because mikey is a white guy in a suit.
Okay, the Republicans aren't stoning women for adultery or "chopping off heads," as donny likes to say, but start worrying. They are getting there.
7
We are in a Flight 93 scenario today, even though no Presidential election is scheduled until 2020. Will we stand idly by as Trump flies us into the Statue of Liberty?
3
"Who could have seen that one coming?" The majority of voters who voted for a Democrat. Trump's warped character and limited intellect have been on display for a long time.
8
OK, fair enough -- except for the final paragraph, which makes no sense at all, this is a pretty even-handed offering by the NYT's new columnist.
Right, who could have seen this coming?
17
Like, who knew healthcare could be so complicated? Please! Many saw it coming. (The ones with no blinders on.)
1
Melanie has. She knows her husband well. That's why she has not bothered to move to D.C. All that packing for what ?
1
Stephens should not ignore the salient fact that the election plane was an Aeroflot Kremlin Special flight, guided by Vlad Putin.
39
There's no shame in jumping ship and sharing your story. I know I would. I'd be in the midst of a nervous breakdown! However, doesn't Trump require his "people" to sign non-disclosure agreements? Wouldn't he sic his lawyers on them? In any case, I would definitely extricate myself from that nightmare.
10
Yes, they sign such agreements. But what would be the penalty for breaking that agreement if DT is impeached, or jailed? What judge or jury would fine such people?
Regarding Trump and non-disclosure agreements: I'm pretty sure any NDAs required of White House staff would be non-enforceable. Think about it: they're paid with taxpayer money. They're not his personal staff--they'ultimately "belong" to the American public. I never read these post White House memoirs, but in this case, I might indulge a few.
I had the pleasure of never having seen Anton's essay - you rightly allude to the "lurid" imagination and "vile" content.
Highlight: "Yes, Trump is worse than imperfect. So what?".
We know now, don't we?
Anton's has the merit of making certain storylines perfectly clear; for example: foreigners must be kept out because they have no taste for liberty and often support Democrats, which is un-American.
Your last paragraph says 'Maybe'. Why 'maybe'? The (lunatic) thesis of Anton's essay is that the Republic is about to crash and we have to get Trump into the White House cockpit to save it.
Now Trump is there and all the passengers with a window seat are screaming.
Highlight: "Yes, Trump is worse than imperfect. So what?".
We know now, don't we?
Anton's has the merit of making certain storylines perfectly clear; for example: foreigners must be kept out because they have no taste for liberty and often support Democrats, which is un-American.
Your last paragraph says 'Maybe'. Why 'maybe'? The (lunatic) thesis of Anton's essay is that the Republic is about to crash and we have to get Trump into the White House cockpit to save it.
Now Trump is there and all the passengers with a window seat are screaming.
39
Since you cite a 'Roman' source, and Pence is VP, it may be worth remembering that when the Romans got rid of Caligula they got Nero.
586
Actually, no. They got Caligula's Uncle Claudius, who invaded and conquered Brittania. Then came Nero.
Not trying to be a scold or pedant here, but if The Times' editor's gave you a pick...
Not trying to be a scold or pedant here, but if The Times' editor's gave you a pick...
28
Actually they got Claudius, who wasn't bad. After him the Nero disaster.
2
In fact, they got Claudius, who studied Etruscan and wrote history. Alas, Pence is no Claudius.
2
People seem to underestimate the number of people who voted for this explicitly.
They knew Trump was a maniac and would blow up and they couldn't wait to unleash him because it was the biggest troll in history.
They knew Trump was a maniac and would blow up and they couldn't wait to unleash him because it was the biggest troll in history.
46
The Murdoch clan's right-wing media empire, willingly assisted by fatuous home-grown intellectual thugs (Hannity, Limbaugh, Coulter, Beck and the Sinclair Group), have finally weaponized voter ignorance. Sarah Palin was the test firing, and Trump is the "mother of all bombs". So far.
The only question is whether the U.S. can survive, intact, the GOP's parasitic transformation.
The only question is whether the U.S. can survive, intact, the GOP's parasitic transformation.
132
Outstanding analogy ...kudos!!
I whole heartedly agree... Murdoch/Foxnews media empire is as bad for America, for democracy, for truth, for fairness as the Russians! Who is going to stop Foxnews? It should be illegal for television "news" to knowingly lie and to promote hatred and violence toward others.
The German's have a word for almost every occasion. "Fremdscham"--the experience of vicarious embarrassment due to the words and actions of the shameless and/or unaware--is so appropriate within this Age of Trump.
Fremdscham must have possessed many a soul among the parents and friends of graduates at the Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony. The newly minted ensigns themselves must have longed for the day when "Trump tawdry" merely designated an architectural style and an approach to interior decorating.
Fremdscham must have possessed many a soul among the parents and friends of graduates at the Coast Guard Academy commencement ceremony. The newly minted ensigns themselves must have longed for the day when "Trump tawdry" merely designated an architectural style and an approach to interior decorating.
34
I don't think anyone on either side of the great political divide is prepared for the inevitable crash of "Flight 93", certainly 45 will not go willingly or quietly. The tragedy has always been that so many Americans believed in him and still do. At this moment the pied pipers of the alt right are stirring up the base for what they insist is an impending coup de etat. Buckle your seat belts.
276
It may be somewhat clearer from this article, and to appreciate, how the writer moved with such seamless ease and naturalness from the WSJ to the NYT: an obsession with the 911 narrative and an eagerness, or dedication, to exploit the public emotional complex.
6
Maybe because he is a good writer and both the WSJ and NYT are quality newspapers.
Donald Trump has no character, all he has is self. Character implies making a choice. Trump's solipsistic lens incarcerates his world view and precludes any awareness beyond his own narcissism. This will be evidenced once again in his forth coming trip. It is inevitable that he will be involved in some egregious blunder despite all attempts to cater to his non existent attention span and policy ignorance.
14
I love to drink conservative tears. Trump is the culmination of GOP Big Money harnessing lower middle class white resentment. Burn, baby, burn.
22
So Mr. Stephens, what do we do? How do we reach and deprogram the 30% of our population who have been sucked whole into the cult of Trump? Many of them simply followed increasingly misleading rhetoric from conservatives to its logical conclusion. They will need to understand they were misled, and not just by Trump.
Others are so desperate for a way to reverse slipping out of the middle class that they put their trust in the only candidate that gave them any hope. They will need to have that hope revived, and fulfilled - which is not going to happen by Republican-style austerity.
For the good of the country, the fiscally conservative wing of the GOP is going to have to share - both the Blame and the Wealth.
Others are so desperate for a way to reverse slipping out of the middle class that they put their trust in the only candidate that gave them any hope. They will need to have that hope revived, and fulfilled - which is not going to happen by Republican-style austerity.
For the good of the country, the fiscally conservative wing of the GOP is going to have to share - both the Blame and the Wealth.
26
Actually, GB, I seem to recall a "fringe" candidate on the Democratic side who spoke to desperate citizens facing a fall from the middle class. He never gained real traction within the Party or the columnists for this paper, however. I believe he was a Senator representing the Socialist Party but conferencing with the Dems. Just sayin..........
Yet in the twisted minds of some Trump supporters - a world in which middle age white males are not assigned a superior position by virtue of race and gender is a fate worse than death.
This psychology of privilege is critical to understanding their apocalyptic world view.
This psychology of privilege is critical to understanding their apocalyptic world view.
17
Do you truly think that a middle age working class white guy who wants his job at the plant back and decent prospects for his kids is panting after privilege as if he were the descendant of slaveholding planters? If he suspects he's been sold down the river, it's not the slave holders he's subconsciously identifying with. Of course, if he's the descendant of slave overseers and wants that kind of pecking order back, with him in an advantaged position, I've got no sympathy for him.
I have an alternative proposition for you, though. The left's neurolinguistic addiction to the use of the term "white male" as both a snarl word and as a term the logic of which is central to so much of their analysis of what ails us has kept the left from effectively doing its job by leavening individualism with some good old fashioned community values.
See if you can give up thinking in terms of "white males" for a month while you write an essay on how tending to matters where we naturally need to come together as a community, like arranging for child care and education or fiscally responsible insurance, helps us all succeed as free individuals while we're going about our business.
My guess is the second part will be easy once you get into it. I'll bet the first part is hard - it's a neurolinguistic addiction.
I have an alternative proposition for you, though. The left's neurolinguistic addiction to the use of the term "white male" as both a snarl word and as a term the logic of which is central to so much of their analysis of what ails us has kept the left from effectively doing its job by leavening individualism with some good old fashioned community values.
See if you can give up thinking in terms of "white males" for a month while you write an essay on how tending to matters where we naturally need to come together as a community, like arranging for child care and education or fiscally responsible insurance, helps us all succeed as free individuals while we're going about our business.
My guess is the second part will be easy once you get into it. I'll bet the first part is hard - it's a neurolinguistic addiction.
2
Said another way, Trump has been an imposter businessman, an imposter billionaire, an imposter husband, and now, an imposter president.
But, one must admit that he has fantastic selling skills to pull off this lifetime stunt. It's unfortunate that he couldn't put them to better use.
But, one must admit that he has fantastic selling skills to pull off this lifetime stunt. It's unfortunate that he couldn't put them to better use.
18
When win at all costs becomes your party's bread and butter, those costs will eventually come full circle and consume your own party as well. That's exactly what we see with today's Republican Party; now self-consuming because winning is all that counts.
16
Really interesting column and thanks for the posting of the title of Anton's article because it gets into the heads of the thought leaders behind the Trump presidency beyond some of the more obvious ones like Steve Brannon.
When talk radio hosts like Ann Coulter, Michael Savage and others spew their hate to the base of Trump's supporters and now we find them to be critical of his incoherent administrative team, the end could be nearing For Trump as his poll numbers continue their decline.
Instead of a heroic travesty depicting the Trump like Todd Beamer and the other heroes of Flight 93, this is more like rats jumping off the ship.
When talk radio hosts like Ann Coulter, Michael Savage and others spew their hate to the base of Trump's supporters and now we find them to be critical of his incoherent administrative team, the end could be nearing For Trump as his poll numbers continue their decline.
Instead of a heroic travesty depicting the Trump like Todd Beamer and the other heroes of Flight 93, this is more like rats jumping off the ship.
12
Beautiful! 2018. Read. Boil. Register. Vote.
5
"deformed?" "defective?" Well chosen words! It is the language of Shakespeare after all!
3
Elsewhere in these opinion columns Trump has been called the Dunning-Kruger President, and correctly so. The man is too stupid to recognize his incompetence, and too emotionally fragile to accept it if pointed out by those that would aid his interests. The latter part is the true shame for all of us.
If Trump was only mature enough to accept his deficiencies, it might be possible for some form of detente to emerge between his critics and his administration. If it was well (if quietly) known that all he did was read his lines from the teleprompter or rare occasion, and sign what was put in front of him after emerging from his Cabinet, perhaps some peace could be reached. Washington and the press corps would of course be aware of the situation, but to preserve the dignity of the office, the political pressure would be directed at the Secretaries, appointees, and senior congressional leadership that would be running the White House in a form of committee.
Of course, if you can get a plurality of the Cabinet and Congress onboard, just invoke the 25th Amendment powers and be done with it. Sure, you'll get shellacked in the midterms, but it's not like that's not going to happen anyway. Perhaps a President Pence could calm the waters by 2020.
If Trump was only mature enough to accept his deficiencies, it might be possible for some form of detente to emerge between his critics and his administration. If it was well (if quietly) known that all he did was read his lines from the teleprompter or rare occasion, and sign what was put in front of him after emerging from his Cabinet, perhaps some peace could be reached. Washington and the press corps would of course be aware of the situation, but to preserve the dignity of the office, the political pressure would be directed at the Secretaries, appointees, and senior congressional leadership that would be running the White House in a form of committee.
Of course, if you can get a plurality of the Cabinet and Congress onboard, just invoke the 25th Amendment powers and be done with it. Sure, you'll get shellacked in the midterms, but it's not like that's not going to happen anyway. Perhaps a President Pence could calm the waters by 2020.
66
No calm waters if health insurance is denied those who cant afford it so the super rich get tax cuts, Planned Parenthood is villified and defunded while abortion services and contraception availability ended, public education undermined in favor of for-profit schools, prison sentences extended for nonviolent drug crimes, the Constitution wall between state and church disassembled, police remain militarized, Armed Forces budgets inflated, infrastructure maintenance ignored, net neutrality squandered, Russia embraced as democracy's friend, bigotry is condoned and science denied.
1
No. I would not trust a president Pence either.
2
Please don't put the words President and Pence together. Pence was running the transition when Flynn informed them he was being investigated by the fbi, yet he claims ignorance. If he was ignorant of this, he is a poor leader, if not, he is a traitor. Either way, please don't put his name with the word President.
1
...who knew that president was so hard..?
8
Hilarious......the answer: everyone except Trump!!
It is really much too easy to blame him. He is everything and worse that he author changes him with being. The overweening truth is that American Liberalism, at least in the neo-liberal "Let's not be too tough on banks," "Corporations will make us all wealthy," You don't really need to send your kids to college" form.
The left could have done better. It's admittedly tough when the right has all of the money in the world and the left only has a lot. Ultimately, the left lost its way. Liberal reform in this country has been about making promises to struggling families then fighting to the point of getting bloody to keep those promises. Hillary and her team were just not up to the level of "mean and tough" that Donald and Mike required.
In the end I am not clear that Mike Pence will be an improvement. I want an Americaback that offers incremental reform---great schools, Heath care
And an infrastructure that supports economic growth. Really---it is possible.
The left could have done better. It's admittedly tough when the right has all of the money in the world and the left only has a lot. Ultimately, the left lost its way. Liberal reform in this country has been about making promises to struggling families then fighting to the point of getting bloody to keep those promises. Hillary and her team were just not up to the level of "mean and tough" that Donald and Mike required.
In the end I am not clear that Mike Pence will be an improvement. I want an Americaback that offers incremental reform---great schools, Heath care
And an infrastructure that supports economic growth. Really---it is possible.
9
Not in the current environment...
Where were you when right-wing talk radio and Fox News were planting the seeds of this insanity in recent decades?
21
I don't understand why anybody thinks anything is going to happen. There would need to be the political will in Congress to start the impeachment or 25th Amendment balls rolling, and the party in power has already made it abundantly clear that there is nothing --- nothing --- he can do that will make that happen.
10
I read Publius's (Anton's) "Flight 93" article and the counter-commentary it provoked at the time, and found it more intriguing than infuriating. Intriguing, because an evidently smart (if cowardly anonymous) conservative self-appointed to make the leading intellectual case for Trump was FORCED to adopt such an extreme premise--that America was a doomed jet piloted by extreme terrorist-liberals, such that a suicidal storming of the cockpit to hand control to a raving unqualified demagogue was, in fact, the only rational option. As Stephens says, such apocalyptic type-casting of the left by the current right is commonplace, but, I suspect, was nevertheless a carefully considered strategic choice by Publius. Would he have been forced onto such a risibly-indefensible ledge to argue for Romney, McCain, or even Bush II? His argument unwittingly conceded what an unprecedentedly disastrous choice Trump was.
(Having said that, flipping his argument to cast Trump & Co. as the 9/11 high jackers isn't exactly taking the high road.)
(Having said that, flipping his argument to cast Trump & Co. as the 9/11 high jackers isn't exactly taking the high road.)
88
Comparing the lurid Trump saga to the tragedy of United Airlines Flight 93 is skating on thin ice, but I trust that everyone will appreciate the seriousness of the message and the rough aptness of the metaphor.
Brett, this is your best work for the Times to date. When the present danger is past (a danger, I fear, not limited to that posed by the Republican in the Oval Office), conservatives and liberals can step apart again and return to checking and balancing each other's thinking in forums like this op-ed section. We can all look forward to that time as much as we appreciate your taking this stand now.
Brett, this is your best work for the Times to date. When the present danger is past (a danger, I fear, not limited to that posed by the Republican in the Oval Office), conservatives and liberals can step apart again and return to checking and balancing each other's thinking in forums like this op-ed section. We can all look forward to that time as much as we appreciate your taking this stand now.
"like a superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo"
Florid political hyperbole, except I would have used "presidential Trumpatubo, though that might have been too much.
Florid political hyperbole, except I would have used "presidential Trumpatubo, though that might have been too much.
"To imply, as Anton did, that Barack Obama, for all his shortcomings, was Ziad Jarrah, Flight 93’s lead hijacker, is vile. To suppose that we’d all be dead if Hillary Clinton, for all her flaws, had been elected is hallucinatory. To argue that the United States, for all its problems, was the equivalent of a doomed aircraft is absurd. To suggest that Donald Trump, a man who has sacrificed nothing in his life for anyone or anything, is the worthy moral heir to the Flight 93 passengers is a travesty."
A powerful paragraph -- from a neocon nonetheless. This keeps my faith in America's ability to redeem herself after the travesty of 2016 alive. Thank you for coming down on the side of Truth and for rejecting the falsehoods that feed Republican bigotry and other fascist proclivities.
A powerful paragraph -- from a neocon nonetheless. This keeps my faith in America's ability to redeem herself after the travesty of 2016 alive. Thank you for coming down on the side of Truth and for rejecting the falsehoods that feed Republican bigotry and other fascist proclivities.
11
Please be quiet about Hillary Clinton's "flaws". What are they? She had a private email server? We all know that was fake outrage. It has been shown the republicans have no moral authority and their agenda is cruel and heartless.
15
Mike Pence, as governor, had a private email service. He placed messages thought to be secret by his state, Indiana, on that service. So reported the Indianapolis newspaper. You can look it up.
1
We clearly need new voter ID laws. Allowing people to vote whose only desire is to shred our beautiful Republic, tear down its traditions of honesty, our belief in the law, and our belief in each other, is the worst thing for us.
How would we do this? Show them a picture of Himler, and if they smile, they can't vote.
How would we do this? Show them a picture of Himler, and if they smile, they can't vote.
5
Well said. But to whom? Almost everyone who reads the Times did not vote for Trump, except maybe Maureen, silly girl. It seems to me that the Trump supporters are at heart anarchists, although most of them probably don[t know what that means. Their ideal state is Somalia - no government and open carry!
You have to persuade your fellow conservatives to join up for the duration of the fight to bring this moron king down. Yet there is no evidence of that, not on any scale. They will stick with him as long as they can extract some of the goodies that they want. Democracy be damned - they want tax cuts.
You have to persuade your fellow conservatives to join up for the duration of the fight to bring this moron king down. Yet there is no evidence of that, not on any scale. They will stick with him as long as they can extract some of the goodies that they want. Democracy be damned - they want tax cuts.
6
a beautiful piece.
"That is the Trump reality. A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers. "
Truer words were never written.
Truer words were never written.
5
Where were you, Bret Stephens, and your former employer, The Wall Street Journal, for the past 15 years as the Republican party became, in your words, "unhinged." An entire political party does not become unhinged in a single presidential election season. It takes years of actions, and more importantly, in-actions, by many members of that party that allow it to unhinge.
So, I ask you Bret Stephens, how many Democrats did you endorse in your columns at the Wall Street Journal? Did you ever write a column sharply condemning the characterization of President Obama as not born in America? How many articles did you write condemning the Republican's open racism and misogyny? How many articles did you write critical of the NRA? How many columns did you write decrying the regular propaganda and lying that goes on at Fox News? Did you fight back as all the elements of conservative media, conservative congresspeople, and ALEC attacked the science behind vaccines, climate change, etc? Did you vote for John McCain and his utterly unhinged VP candidate, Sarah Palin? Have you done anything to stand in the way of the insanity that your former employer either endorsed or ignored?
I suspect I know the answer to all of those questions. However, it would be nice to see you honestly discuss your complicity in all of this.
So, I ask you Bret Stephens, how many Democrats did you endorse in your columns at the Wall Street Journal? Did you ever write a column sharply condemning the characterization of President Obama as not born in America? How many articles did you write condemning the Republican's open racism and misogyny? How many articles did you write critical of the NRA? How many columns did you write decrying the regular propaganda and lying that goes on at Fox News? Did you fight back as all the elements of conservative media, conservative congresspeople, and ALEC attacked the science behind vaccines, climate change, etc? Did you vote for John McCain and his utterly unhinged VP candidate, Sarah Palin? Have you done anything to stand in the way of the insanity that your former employer either endorsed or ignored?
I suspect I know the answer to all of those questions. However, it would be nice to see you honestly discuss your complicity in all of this.
49
Trump and the Republicans are the hijackers. It's the rest of us that have to storm Washington to save the country. Let's roll.
9
The title of your article is tasteless. Have some sense man.
3
The problem is, Flight 93 leaves on the hour, ever hour, and has for over 200 years.
The only meaningful question is, who is going to be aboard?
The only meaningful question is, who is going to be aboard?
Sorry President Trump does not fit the liberal pundits expectation of what a president should be. Get used to it.
1
I am an Independent who followed you in the WSJ. I didn't always agree with you, but I admired your clarity of thought and skillful writing. I'm delighted that you're with the Times, and this piece is just a gem.
1
Spare me the baloney. Trump is a serial liar and reprobate. His narcism is rampant. He is not interested in the welfare of the nation, but his own sullied reputation. Hopefully, he will be gone by summer or early fall. Why any one continues to work in the White House is a mystery. Why anyone continues to support him or give him the benefit of the doubt is a wonder. The sweater unravelled weeks ago.
383
We might want to keep in mind the words of Mitch McConnell, recently, complaining about the "drama" keeping them from "moving forward with our agenda" . For the first time, a sort-of reason to keep the Orange One in the WH till the 2018 elections. There are two more: Mike Pence, and Paul Ryan.
Don't know about y'all, but I'm not sure which is worse. Firing squad or noose? What a choice.
Don't know about y'all, but I'm not sure which is worse. Firing squad or noose? What a choice.
"It would have descended on a hapless White House staff like a superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo." Wha-ha! Beautiful writing Mr. Stephens! That line alone is worth the price of the paper today.
4
As a third-generation native of Southern California, I grew up when the state went solidly for Nixon, Reagan, Bob "B-1" Dornan and many like them (for a surviving specimen, see Duncan Hunter)
I have close family who feel just the same way about Trump as those voters did. This article is exactly right. There is no argument that will persuade these folks, contrary to wise words of Jacob Bronowski, to consider the possibility that "they might be mistaken" about this president.
Trump's impeachment, conviction, and removal from office, as well as the removal of his enablers, is the only solution.
I have close family who feel just the same way about Trump as those voters did. This article is exactly right. There is no argument that will persuade these folks, contrary to wise words of Jacob Bronowski, to consider the possibility that "they might be mistaken" about this president.
Trump's impeachment, conviction, and removal from office, as well as the removal of his enablers, is the only solution.
329
suidas,
You make a good list of what I call the political game of 'rightwing leapfrog' the GOP has been playing since RR.
Keeping this short, it has finally arrived at the TeaParty and POTUS Trump.
But if the past is any indicator, the total failure of Trump will not lead to a pull back from the fevered rush. There will be yet another leap to the right, this time perhaps producing candidate Alex Jones? Steve Bannon? We can't say 'it ain't possible' anymore, can we?
We have the likes of Ryan and McConnell to throw out a thanks to, also, for this mess. They seem weirdly relaxed by this whole s_cake they helped bake.
You make a good list of what I call the political game of 'rightwing leapfrog' the GOP has been playing since RR.
Keeping this short, it has finally arrived at the TeaParty and POTUS Trump.
But if the past is any indicator, the total failure of Trump will not lead to a pull back from the fevered rush. There will be yet another leap to the right, this time perhaps producing candidate Alex Jones? Steve Bannon? We can't say 'it ain't possible' anymore, can we?
We have the likes of Ryan and McConnell to throw out a thanks to, also, for this mess. They seem weirdly relaxed by this whole s_cake they helped bake.
Well, they'll think that Soros is behind some grim conspiracy against Trump, maybe controlling his so-called mind, or hacking his Tweets. Trump voters are morally void. I've just written them off as either so filled with mindless hatred, or so stupid, that they're not worth thinking about anymore. I used to try to argue with them, but who cares?
This may be the best piece of work I've read on Don the Con. His wildly erratic acts and pretensions failed to warn off the central base of the Republican Party, and he was successful only because that enormous center is composed of former frat boys, narcissists and left-overs from Young Americans for Freedom. They see themselves in their fake President and will only insist his failure was the result of those damned you-name-'ems. The GOP is the walking dead.
"A man with a deformed personality and a defective intellect runs a dysfunctional administration — a fact finally visible even to its most ardent admirers"
I don't think it's reasonable to share the optimism of that last clause. Most of his voters knew, at some level, they were voting for gross incompetence. And they show no sign of regret.
I don't think it's reasonable to share the optimism of that last clause. Most of his voters knew, at some level, they were voting for gross incompetence. And they show no sign of regret.
7
Trump is America,he is innocent believer as was the quiet american in Graham Greene novel ,noble ideals resulting in chaos,poor poor america.
"...(L)ike a superheated pyroclastic flow from a presidential Pinatubo...." Dude, I may not agree with much of what you say, but I LOVE the way you say it!
1
Yep, and maybe, as that hero, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. said "in error," we really did shoot down Flight 93, just the way, in the last election, with its dismal choices, America shot down itself.
1
Climate "skepticism" is just another dodgy way to be stupid. Please, no more climate "skepticism." GLOBAL WARMING is a full frontal disaster. Let's talk like adults about how to deal with it.
4
Trumpists are still manning the barricades. There is nothing more mortifying than being shown a fool so we can expect a furious defense of the indefensible. Stormy weather is all we can count on in the months ahead, let us hope US institutions are strong enough to survive with only minor damage.
5
That's one fine essay. The author picked up a metaphor that was historically well-used for a particular way of thinking, flipped it around with the information we've learned about how things have unfolded so far, and landed it again with a reconfigured and appropriate meaning. Of course, the figurative 'Flight 93' is still in the air, the cockpit got stormed, and the misfit whose currently flying it needs to be removed. Sometimes you can wait for the shift to be over and the next pilot's shift to start. Not this time. The cockpit needs to be stormed again.
12
Trump does have character flaws that Mr. Stephens eloquently lays them bare here.
However, even in these depths of crisis, the method and regular timing of the assault against the Trump White House leave much to the imagination. Whether right or wrong, it clear to Trump supporters and even unbiased onlookers that there is an anti-Trump machinery at work to undermine this administration.
The Democrats lost 2016, and they lost badly. But there are still plenty of government actors ignoring the consequences of that election and actively sabotaging Trump's agenda with leak after leak after leak. To deny that is to deny reality and marks the height of hypocrisy
However, even in these depths of crisis, the method and regular timing of the assault against the Trump White House leave much to the imagination. Whether right or wrong, it clear to Trump supporters and even unbiased onlookers that there is an anti-Trump machinery at work to undermine this administration.
The Democrats lost 2016, and they lost badly. But there are still plenty of government actors ignoring the consequences of that election and actively sabotaging Trump's agenda with leak after leak after leak. To deny that is to deny reality and marks the height of hypocrisy
3
Many of those leaks are in all likelihood coming from Trump's own people. (See Frank Bruni's piece of a couple of days ago.) As for the "anti-Trump machinery," it's being fueled by Trump's own fecklessness, incompetence, and (possibly) wrongdoing. It's also being powered by the President's willingness to publicly humiliate and denigrate the people who work for him, which is probably why his minions are so eager to undercut him.
The GOP spent eight years undermining Obama and obstructing him in just about every way. They forced filibusters and they refused to fill vacant judicial positions (most particularly an empty Supreme Court seat). And through it all the right wing scream machine insisted that Obama a) wasn't actually born in the US; b) was a Muslim; c) was in fact the devil incarnate. Now they're screaming bloody murder when the Democrats and liberals are doing the same thing. If that isn't hypocrisy, I don't know what is.
The GOP spent eight years undermining Obama and obstructing him in just about every way. They forced filibusters and they refused to fill vacant judicial positions (most particularly an empty Supreme Court seat). And through it all the right wing scream machine insisted that Obama a) wasn't actually born in the US; b) was a Muslim; c) was in fact the devil incarnate. Now they're screaming bloody murder when the Democrats and liberals are doing the same thing. If that isn't hypocrisy, I don't know what is.
I disagree. The Democrats won a plurality of more than 2.5 million votes. They made strategic errors and fielded a candidate who turned out to be ill equipped to fend off the sort of ridiculous assertions and character assassination that this assay attributes to Michael Anton. Now we are watching a disaster unfold. Sure, there remain competent, public-minded career civil servants in federal departments who are trying to prevent the plane from crashing. To do so they must try to slow or prevent implementation of unconstitutional, ill-conceived, and potentially disasterous instructions from the top. (Sally Yates and Jim Comey are two examples of such people). I see no hypocrisy in such behavior. There have been calls for such people to just quit - indeed, many have - but the country would be worse off if all of them did so.
What is Trump's agenda?
How does that agenda relate to his campaign promises?
Are there specific examples of how that agenda is being sabotaged by leaks?
Are there ways to compare and contrast the anti-Trump machinery at work to undermine Trump's administration with the anti-Obama machinery at work to undermine Obama's administration characterized by (1) McConnell's famous remark about working towards a one term presidency; (2) the unprecedented use of the senate filibuster, especially during the first two years of the Obama presidency; and (3) using the success of the constant use of the filibuster to tell the American people that the Democrats couldn't succeed even when they held the presidency and the Congress?
How does that agenda relate to his campaign promises?
Are there specific examples of how that agenda is being sabotaged by leaks?
Are there ways to compare and contrast the anti-Trump machinery at work to undermine Trump's administration with the anti-Obama machinery at work to undermine Obama's administration characterized by (1) McConnell's famous remark about working towards a one term presidency; (2) the unprecedented use of the senate filibuster, especially during the first two years of the Obama presidency; and (3) using the success of the constant use of the filibuster to tell the American people that the Democrats couldn't succeed even when they held the presidency and the Congress?
Character is a large proposition. Maybe impossible to define though possible to recognize. I think of character as a quality I want my children to encounter and appreciate. I would have loved if they had met and spent some time with Mr. Cronkite. I don't want them in the same county as Ms. Coulter.
22
I hope the actual Flight 93 families sue this Michael Anton for co-opting their family members' memories and reputations.
Everything Mr. Trump or his administration touches becomes befouled. Is nothing sacred?
Everything Mr. Trump or his administration touches becomes befouled. Is nothing sacred?
26
The GOP has become the 19th century opium den where crackpots are writing garbage like Flight 93 and whining billionaires spend their elder years trying to take away working people's healthcare. It is the ultimate simulacrum, a collection of old males lost in lies about their fathomless greed actually being a form of love of country. Weeping about embryos, feeling stung that no one appreciates them enough. It really IS the End Time- for them, not America.
30
A more appropriate line for the Trump Administration might be "Let's fool."
5
The Republicans indeed became the hijackers when they announced their goal of doing everything in their power to thwart Obama in every way possible, even if that meant closing the government and missing debt payments, among other schemes. The Republican Party's motto has become, "If we can't fly the airplane, we'll destroy it." And here we are.
38
It's more like Germanwings Flight 9525 that pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew into a mountain. Trump has been handed an economy and world situation that was much improved after Obama's efforts, yet Trump is harming us all with his chaotic behavior and decisions.
206
His behavior may seem chaotic, but it is less so when you understand the motives of people who are behind Trump. Putin wants the US crippled. Bannon and the Norquist crowd want to send us back to the social and economic 1700s. They know very well the tune Trump dances to, because they wrote it.
"To suggest that Donald Trump, a man who has sacrificed nothing in his life for anyone or anything, is the worthy moral heir to the Flight 93 passengers is...
"DISGUSTING."
Not travesty, which is a weak and pseudo-intellectual word. I normally do not like the word "disgusting," but it applies here. Much stronger language comes to mind, but it would not go over well here. So I confine myself to "disgusting."
"DISGUSTING."
Not travesty, which is a weak and pseudo-intellectual word. I normally do not like the word "disgusting," but it applies here. Much stronger language comes to mind, but it would not go over well here. So I confine myself to "disgusting."
12
Flight 93 should not be used as a metaphor for anything, especially nothing political, by anyone, ever. May those poor souls and heroes rest in peace.
18
Setting aside the fact that I (still) generally find 9/11 metaphors & analogies offensive or inappropriate (call me sentimental), what amazes me is the fact that right-wingers (Mr. Stephens included?) don't even understand the moral of the story of Flight 93. The passengers didn't do it because they were trying to save themselves or because they thought there was some hope of survival. They did it to save others.
There's certainly something fundamentally different about our sides of the political and human spectrum, isn't there, Mr. Stephens? (And by the way, Hillary Clinton remains one the most qualified Americans to ever seek the presidency, even if she'll never land in the Oval Office.)
There's certainly something fundamentally different about our sides of the political and human spectrum, isn't there, Mr. Stephens? (And by the way, Hillary Clinton remains one the most qualified Americans to ever seek the presidency, even if she'll never land in the Oval Office.)
44
Liberals think character matters. And if conservatives do, how'd the GOP nominate someone like Trump?
22
I haven’t read Michael Anton’s “Flight 93 Election” essay but in reading Bret Stephens’ synopsis of it makes me wonder how could Trump give this doomsday cultist “a senior job in the White House?”
Mr. Stephens writes, “As for Donald Trump, Anton implied that he was the political equivalent of Todd Beamer, the heroic passenger who cried “Let’s Roll” in a desperate bid for salvation.” Did Mr. Anton not know what happened to Flight 93 despite Todd Beamer’s heroic efforts? Was Anton presciently implying that Trump is going to similarly bring down the American republic – Anton’s metaphor for Flight 93?
Trump has clearly surrounded himself with some strange individuals and even if there aren’t any weirdoes in his cabinet, the very fact that some inhabit the West Wing is a scary proposition. Let’s pray that special counsel Robert Mueller’s efforts to save the American republic results in a cleansing of these strange inhabitants from the Trump White House.
Mr. Stephens writes, “As for Donald Trump, Anton implied that he was the political equivalent of Todd Beamer, the heroic passenger who cried “Let’s Roll” in a desperate bid for salvation.” Did Mr. Anton not know what happened to Flight 93 despite Todd Beamer’s heroic efforts? Was Anton presciently implying that Trump is going to similarly bring down the American republic – Anton’s metaphor for Flight 93?
Trump has clearly surrounded himself with some strange individuals and even if there aren’t any weirdoes in his cabinet, the very fact that some inhabit the West Wing is a scary proposition. Let’s pray that special counsel Robert Mueller’s efforts to save the American republic results in a cleansing of these strange inhabitants from the Trump White House.
219
JN,
Indeed, Trump, his team, and his ardent base are insanely nihilistic. They see crashing the plane as success.
Indeed, Trump, his team, and his ardent base are insanely nihilistic. They see crashing the plane as success.
It's funny. I saw ultra conservative Senator Ben Sasse on PBS last night, plugging his book about how parents no longer raise their children to be responsible adults. Has he looked around at the members of his party lately?
Artiscon3,
I also saw that interview with Ben Sasse. Rather than an ultraconservative, he is what is being put forth as a 'moderate voice' among Republicans. Yeah, a moderate. Shudder...
I also saw that interview with Ben Sasse. Rather than an ultraconservative, he is what is being put forth as a 'moderate voice' among Republicans. Yeah, a moderate. Shudder...
It says something that all of the Times conservative columnists have come out critically against a man-boy president who is unwilling to even be interested in governing, and cares more about being perceived as an all knowing leader who is under unjust attack. His base still loves him because he is taking on the establishment, but almost everyone else has now started to worry for the sake and security of the country. As much as the ideas that Pence holds dear, which are abhorrent to many of us, I would rather have an adult in the White House, and sooner than later. But, as Tom Friedman so well pointed out today, we need a change of leadership in at least the House or Senate so some of the policies that Trump's appointees now are intent on putting in place, don't occur. Get with it independents and Democrats, and go out and run-and address those folks who feel government has nothing for them.
12
Never heard of this either before now ... and it just sickens me.
How disrespectful to the real people who died on Flight 93.
Is there really no place to which people won't go for some notoriety, no place too low to stoop?
As if the last two years haven't informed me, or even just the last 6 months, but apparently the answer is no.
Awful.
How disrespectful to the real people who died on Flight 93.
Is there really no place to which people won't go for some notoriety, no place too low to stoop?
As if the last two years haven't informed me, or even just the last 6 months, but apparently the answer is no.
Awful.
7
Why do you even take “The Flight 93 Election” by Michael Anton the least bit seriously? It's a pile on nutcase garbage and doesn't even deserve discussion. Yes it's obvious that the conservative movement has gone off the rails, but one doesn't need this as the evidence for it.
7
We can and should reject Trump from the cockpit of the Oval Office on the grounds that he is mentally unbalanced and consequently disruptive to the safety of the nation. Even if there was no quid pro quo with the Russians, Trump remains dangerously demented as his daily behavior demonstrates.
But getting rid of Trump as the lead actor does not close down our national horror show: The American Civil War, The Sequel. The country is bitterly divided and becoming increasingly so, and I see no movement toward bridging this chasm of very real hatred.
The United States is in the process of becoming a failed political state as red-state and blue-state regions begin dividing up and challenging their cooperation with the federal government, as is currently underway. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
But getting rid of Trump as the lead actor does not close down our national horror show: The American Civil War, The Sequel. The country is bitterly divided and becoming increasingly so, and I see no movement toward bridging this chasm of very real hatred.
The United States is in the process of becoming a failed political state as red-state and blue-state regions begin dividing up and challenging their cooperation with the federal government, as is currently underway. A house divided against itself cannot stand.
13
The metaphor of flight is an apt one in the case of Trump. During the campaign, I would pose this question to anyone who would receive it: Would you like to fly on a 747 to Paris with a pilot who had only previously flown a Piper Cub, a very small, single engine plane? The answer: NO! Why then would you turn over your national government and the direction of the nation to a business person who had been sued more than 500 times, who went bankrupt six times, who once headed a single publicly traded company that lost one billion dollars in value and fired Trump as head of it? What in-coming president has ever had to pay 25 million dollars just before taking office to make a business problem (Trump "University") go away?
For decades, Republicans have been lecturing America about how "character counts", saying that their candidates have character and those of the Democrats don't. They ran down Democrats Carter, Clinton and Obama as unfit. Oh, dear. In comparison to Trump, those three were superbly qualified. Two had served as governors of states, one had served in state and national government but, more importantly, all of them tried mightily to rise to the challenges and, with a notable failure, to honor and respect the presidency.
It turns out the Republicans didn't mean it, any more than they actually care about the national debt. Character counts only when a Democrat is involved. So, here we are, headed to Paris with a pilot who doesn't have a clue.
For decades, Republicans have been lecturing America about how "character counts", saying that their candidates have character and those of the Democrats don't. They ran down Democrats Carter, Clinton and Obama as unfit. Oh, dear. In comparison to Trump, those three were superbly qualified. Two had served as governors of states, one had served in state and national government but, more importantly, all of them tried mightily to rise to the challenges and, with a notable failure, to honor and respect the presidency.
It turns out the Republicans didn't mean it, any more than they actually care about the national debt. Character counts only when a Democrat is involved. So, here we are, headed to Paris with a pilot who doesn't have a clue.
75
The reality:
For Trump supporters only 2 things matter:
1. He's not Barack Obama.
2. He's not Hillary Clinton
Nothing else matters.
For Congressional conservatives/reactionaries/Republicans only 2 thing matters:
1. Trump will sign whatever "legislation" they might pass.
2. Trump will appoint conservatives judges.
Again, nothing else matters.
Elections have consequences and voters, sometimes, do indeed get what they voted for. POTUS Trump is no different than Candidate Trump...
For Trump supporters only 2 things matter:
1. He's not Barack Obama.
2. He's not Hillary Clinton
Nothing else matters.
For Congressional conservatives/reactionaries/Republicans only 2 thing matters:
1. Trump will sign whatever "legislation" they might pass.
2. Trump will appoint conservatives judges.
Again, nothing else matters.
Elections have consequences and voters, sometimes, do indeed get what they voted for. POTUS Trump is no different than Candidate Trump...
183
There may be more to the election of Donald Trump than this...but not much more.
"All his shortcomings." What shortcomings did President Obama have? He made some unwise decisions. But, intelligent, measured, adult. See, dude, you and your ilk helped to create Trump. And, your still doing it. He's your Frankenstein. Enjoy him.
142
The Donald Trump of Michael Anton's imagination turns out to be less skilled than Karen Black in Airport 1975, and the airship of state is barely maintaining altitude. But should anyone be surprised?
"Now the hope of the president's dismayed supporters is that this moment of near-political bankruptcy will lead to a reinvention and a turnaround." People who keep awaiting a Trump reinvention are doomed to disappointment. He failed to deliver his first anticipated reinvention after the Republican National Convention by not adopting the gravitas of a party nominee. He failed to deliver his second after the election by not moving beyond the race and behaving like president-elect. And he failed to deliver his third by not forging an identity as leader of ALL the people and governing accordingly.
Trump doesn't reinvent because what we see of him is all there is. Some Trump supporters will always say he can do no wrong. But those who feel underwhelmed or betrayed by his job performance would be well-served to remember the wisdom of John Updike, who said "...people are incorrigibly themselves."
It is not within Trump to reinvent, develop, evolve or find
"Now the hope of the president's dismayed supporters is that this moment of near-political bankruptcy will lead to a reinvention and a turnaround." People who keep awaiting a Trump reinvention are doomed to disappointment. He failed to deliver his first anticipated reinvention after the Republican National Convention by not adopting the gravitas of a party nominee. He failed to deliver his second after the election by not moving beyond the race and behaving like president-elect. And he failed to deliver his third by not forging an identity as leader of ALL the people and governing accordingly.
Trump doesn't reinvent because what we see of him is all there is. Some Trump supporters will always say he can do no wrong. But those who feel underwhelmed or betrayed by his job performance would be well-served to remember the wisdom of John Updike, who said "...people are incorrigibly themselves."
It is not within Trump to reinvent, develop, evolve or find
422
Sure he reinvents himself -- for the worse, every time.
I am worried about the Republican Party and the Republican base. When Noam Chomsky called the Republican Party the most dangerous organization in the world, I heard him loud and clear. I hold out hope that John McCain at last decides to resurrect the hero within. All other Republicans are worthless when it comes to the truth. I think McCain wants to do the right thing... come clean, and challenge the Republican Party to a game of Honesty. There is still time for McCain to be "our president."
In my imagination, the 2016 election is null and void. Trump is gone, and so are Pence and Gorsuch. In my imagination I am experimenting with a John McCain/Hillary Clinton Administration. They should just announce it, right now, tomorrow, and begin to form their cabinet.
The Trump thing? We get it. In the Reagan era the Republican Party moved to the dark side. Trump is the culmination of 35 years of trickle-down economics. Trump is the culmination of party over country. Trump is the culmination of money over humanity.
Once again Big Money has contaminated our American government. In the last 100 years only Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt had the courage to stand up to Big Money.
McCain/Clinton 2017
In my imagination, the 2016 election is null and void. Trump is gone, and so are Pence and Gorsuch. In my imagination I am experimenting with a John McCain/Hillary Clinton Administration. They should just announce it, right now, tomorrow, and begin to form their cabinet.
The Trump thing? We get it. In the Reagan era the Republican Party moved to the dark side. Trump is the culmination of 35 years of trickle-down economics. Trump is the culmination of party over country. Trump is the culmination of money over humanity.
Once again Big Money has contaminated our American government. In the last 100 years only Teddy Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt had the courage to stand up to Big Money.
McCain/Clinton 2017
15
You mean the McCain of McCain/Palin? Sarah Palin's running mate? No thank you; that one act permanently disqualifies him from consideration.
1
Or, to quote Wallace Stevens, "The world is ugly, and the people are sad." If Hillary Clinton had won the electoral college, the status quo would have continued with small steps in the right direction - but then she would've had to work with an obstructionist congress. Any steps she would've taken to improve the lives of the ever-diminishing middle class would have resulted in failure. Maybe it's better to have someone as brilliantly incompetent as Trump in office. I can't think of a better person to show all those Americans who voted for him what they have now lost.
25
But unfortunately, they will not see it as the failure of their president, but as further proof of the conspiracy against them.
that very thought has crossed my mind many a time during these past 4 months
This is a thought that has crossed my mind many a time in the last four months, nightmarish as they have been.
Trump isn't done yet, far from it. His supporters are legion, and they'll love him even if he shoots somebody on Fifth Ave. They're desperate people, and the defection of a few talking heads isn't going to change them. I think this investigation will take a lot of time, and DJT will be out there selling himself as the sole bastion against "the liberals" the NYT, etc.We'll have to send in a dozen Abrams tanks to dislodge him. No kidding.
What I do see happening is that he's lost significant support in Congress, and with fewer allies there, his whole tax cut program is in jeopardy. The very rich usually get what they want, and if DJT is in the way, goodbye, and blame it on Obama. Just you wait. President Pence will get that suckah passed in a heartbeat. The more things change.....
What I do see happening is that he's lost significant support in Congress, and with fewer allies there, his whole tax cut program is in jeopardy. The very rich usually get what they want, and if DJT is in the way, goodbye, and blame it on Obama. Just you wait. President Pence will get that suckah passed in a heartbeat. The more things change.....
9
The highjacking of the government and the granting of the presidency to an insecure, self-centered, mean-spirited dolt was the result of multiple factors:
1. The brainwashing of a large segment of the population by right wing plutarchs, who could deduct, as advertising, their sponsorship of right-wing extremist talk shows;
2. A news establishment that consistently gave equal time to fake claims, and who came only late to even partially calling a lie a lie.
3. An educational establishment that has demphasized development of critical thinking skills.
4 A political party establishment that is more focused on raising money and capturing political jobs than in educating the public as to the iussues;
5. A population that has increasingly taken pride in distancing itself from politics and that is not actually holding its government and political leaders to account for their actions and inactions.
6. The politicans and legislators appear to be immune from shame, thus incouraging themselves to lie, cheat and harm without shame.
Regardless of the how Trump meets his political end, there needs to be substantial reform across the social, political, economic and educational landscape if our Country is avoid individual and government political dysfunction.
1. The brainwashing of a large segment of the population by right wing plutarchs, who could deduct, as advertising, their sponsorship of right-wing extremist talk shows;
2. A news establishment that consistently gave equal time to fake claims, and who came only late to even partially calling a lie a lie.
3. An educational establishment that has demphasized development of critical thinking skills.
4 A political party establishment that is more focused on raising money and capturing political jobs than in educating the public as to the iussues;
5. A population that has increasingly taken pride in distancing itself from politics and that is not actually holding its government and political leaders to account for their actions and inactions.
6. The politicans and legislators appear to be immune from shame, thus incouraging themselves to lie, cheat and harm without shame.
Regardless of the how Trump meets his political end, there needs to be substantial reform across the social, political, economic and educational landscape if our Country is avoid individual and government political dysfunction.
43
I would only caution about your criticism of the "educational establishment." While it's true that critical thinking (and much else that ought to be taught) has been deemphasized, this has been the result more of political requirements forced upon educators than of the educators' own failings. They are a dedicated and undervalued group of heroes.
1
I haven't read that inane essay nor do I intend to, but what exactly was that "certain death" if the cockpit was not stormed? That Obama got us out of the worst crisis since the Great Depression?
59
Or that President Obama didn't start two unwinnable wars? Or that, having started for them, he didn't budget for them? Or that, in addition to not starting two unwinnable wars and not budgeting for them, he then proceeded not to bust a balanced budget by granting two enormous tax cuts for people who didn't need them?
2
A better name might be the "tire-biter" election. The dog pack finally caught a car. The pack leader is admiring his reflection in a hubcap, the rest of the pack is fighting over what to do, and the car is about to drive off.
31
So - if Trump is removed from office, and if it is shown that he colluded with the Russians to help him win in the first place - can we get rid of Gorsuch and replace him with Garland?
52
Memo to Bret Stephens: Stop reading the Claremont Review of Books. You really can do a better job of taking apart Donald Trump, and you have, than centering your latest pitch around an essay that was the product of a “lurid imagination” of its author.
Kenny Rogers sang, “Son, you’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” Stephens was never one to hold ‘em when it came to Donald Trump so the Rogers advice doesn’t apply to him. It does apply to others who are in fact folding, and with good reason. Donald Trump has shot himself in the foot too many times to govern effectively, and this is quite apart from the concerted effort of the Democrats and the liberal media to destroy his presidency. Trump may enjoy the sturm und drang that has surrounded his time in the White House. The result, however, has been an administration that is the gang that couldn’t shoot straight. Enough is enough. It would be nice if Trump resigned and Vice-President Pence became president. Cue another song, “But I can dream, can’t I.”
Kenny Rogers sang, “Son, you’ve got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em.” Stephens was never one to hold ‘em when it came to Donald Trump so the Rogers advice doesn’t apply to him. It does apply to others who are in fact folding, and with good reason. Donald Trump has shot himself in the foot too many times to govern effectively, and this is quite apart from the concerted effort of the Democrats and the liberal media to destroy his presidency. Trump may enjoy the sturm und drang that has surrounded his time in the White House. The result, however, has been an administration that is the gang that couldn’t shoot straight. Enough is enough. It would be nice if Trump resigned and Vice-President Pence became president. Cue another song, “But I can dream, can’t I.”
1
Birther movement. Any time someone talks about liberal media undermining Trump I will type those two words.
Then there's Mitch McConnell's "this presidency must fail" attitude. But, of course, Mr. McConnell is not a member of the liberal media.
Look in the mirror.
Then there's Mitch McConnell's "this presidency must fail" attitude. But, of course, Mr. McConnell is not a member of the liberal media.
Look in the mirror.
Trump is more like Dr Rumack ( Leslie Neilson ) or Steve McCroskey ( Lloyd Bridges ) of the movie Airplane than Todd Beamer , the hero of Flight 93 !!
5
Ann Coulter and Michael Savage turning on Trump is nothing more than an example of bubonic plague infested rats leaving a sinking ship.
38
62,985,106 lost and bamboozled American souls demanded a nationwide expansion of the bankrupt Trump University, confident that massive consumer fraud and flushing your vote down a golden Trump toilet was the solution to the nation's problems....and America's national IQ collapsed right into the Trump sinkhole.
A nation of morons demanded a White-Moron-in-Chief who would put those damn educated people in their place and validate the wisdom of Napoleon Bonaparte:
"In politics stupidity is not a handicap."
"I am your (idiotic) voice" campaigned Donald Trump, and tens of millions of idiots responded to his political mating call.
It's very, very difficult to fix stupid.
We're going to need a bigger special education class.
A nation of morons demanded a White-Moron-in-Chief who would put those damn educated people in their place and validate the wisdom of Napoleon Bonaparte:
"In politics stupidity is not a handicap."
"I am your (idiotic) voice" campaigned Donald Trump, and tens of millions of idiots responded to his political mating call.
It's very, very difficult to fix stupid.
We're going to need a bigger special education class.
273
There is no cure for stupid....period. Ignorance can evolve into a more enlightened point of view, but stupid is as stupid does!
4
If only those in my son's special education class were in charge. Then we would see love, grace, and acceptance modeled in our leadership.
3
More than that, we're going to need a working public education system. Because the one we have is broken, and Republicans in power is the result. Republicans recognize this -- that's why Betsy DeVos is Secretary of Education -- to ensure that no child in the public system has a chance to become a thoughtful citizen, just a worker drone.
Full disclosure: I'm not a big fan of Republicans, especially those who worship at the altar of Ayn Rand.
Full disclosure: I'm not a big fan of Republicans, especially those who worship at the altar of Ayn Rand.
2
I agree with this essay, Mr. Stephens.
Hillary Clinton was not a strong candidate, but-- unlike Donald Trump-- she was fit for the presidency.
Question: did you make an endorsement in 2014, and are you still satisfied with your recommendation?
Hillary Clinton was not a strong candidate, but-- unlike Donald Trump-- she was fit for the presidency.
Question: did you make an endorsement in 2014, and are you still satisfied with your recommendation?
94
Having been one of the "antis" when I learned about the Times hiring you, Bret, I have to say your writing is on a par with David Frum's as a conservative critic of trump.
And you admit that “so much of the conservative movement writ large” has become unhinged. You and Frum are far from alone among conservatives outside Congress. However, it’s a different story in Congress, where the unhinged contingent comprises almost 100% of the Republican Party and has cowed its few remaining members into a mode of the mildest complaint. That's no surprise because, his personality quirks apart, he is a leader in the Republican Party’s image. Take trump out of the equation and the conservative movement is still unhinged. That’s a problem that will catch up with the Republicans, gerrymandering and voter suppression notwithstanding.
And you admit that “so much of the conservative movement writ large” has become unhinged. You and Frum are far from alone among conservatives outside Congress. However, it’s a different story in Congress, where the unhinged contingent comprises almost 100% of the Republican Party and has cowed its few remaining members into a mode of the mildest complaint. That's no surprise because, his personality quirks apart, he is a leader in the Republican Party’s image. Take trump out of the equation and the conservative movement is still unhinged. That’s a problem that will catch up with the Republicans, gerrymandering and voter suppression notwithstanding.
409
...and the Republican party 'image', represented by the Tea Party and the Freedom Caucus, is the result of deliberate demographic manipulation (gerrymandering) for the purpose of identifying and corralling reliable voters, that elect 'reliable' members of Congress, that arrive with an entirely different sense of prioritizing values, beliefs, knowledge, or what constitutes virtue, than those who--at least nominally--seek public service from a desire to exercise knowledge gained through education and experience.
They come from districts where a party is speaking to itself, because the district maps have drawn in more like-minded voters than a variety of voters. With negligible opposition, the primaries for a House seat become more important than the election. And when like-minded people agree on policy, then competing in a primary becomes an argument of authenticity, of purity, and compromise with the opposition in Washington becomes a contamination denied at all costs during a campaign. That's how we get government shutdowns, political blackmail and, knowing the party had his back, Sen. Mitch McConnell denying the Senate its duty to exercise consent on a SCOTUS nominee. This is a political ruthlessness new to American history.
And it has arrived as an inadvertent side effect of a desire to win elections for the sake of power and purity instead of rational, and considered, policy debated in public with a loyal opposition. In the gerrymander, the purpose of politics is gone.
They come from districts where a party is speaking to itself, because the district maps have drawn in more like-minded voters than a variety of voters. With negligible opposition, the primaries for a House seat become more important than the election. And when like-minded people agree on policy, then competing in a primary becomes an argument of authenticity, of purity, and compromise with the opposition in Washington becomes a contamination denied at all costs during a campaign. That's how we get government shutdowns, political blackmail and, knowing the party had his back, Sen. Mitch McConnell denying the Senate its duty to exercise consent on a SCOTUS nominee. This is a political ruthlessness new to American history.
And it has arrived as an inadvertent side effect of a desire to win elections for the sake of power and purity instead of rational, and considered, policy debated in public with a loyal opposition. In the gerrymander, the purpose of politics is gone.
1
I agree, and I don't believe that Mr. Stephens would disagree: the conservative movement is completely unhinged. Mr. Stephens seems to be a principled conservative -- and I would say he's the exception that proves the rule. The rest have no goal but to tear down the government, and with it our civilized society.
2
We already lived through flight 93. It was called Watergate. I was a teenage boy during that catastrophe. Let me tell you, I was scared. Everyone was scared. We were glued to our TV's and radios. We poured over the newspapers. We all felt that the nation truly was at the precipice. But the cavalry came to the rescue. Horses charging, trumpets blaring and swords swinging. The cavalry was the rule of law.
After the great battle and the dictator was taken down, we all exclaimed, "The system worked!" See, our system protects us against those who would undermine it for their own gain. Even if that someone was the President!
Fastforward to today. I am once again afraid. Where is the cavalry? Do we even have a cavalry anymore?
I'm not sure for this reason. We are a nation of laws and laws are nothing but words. If words can mean anything, then our laws mean nothing. That's why I'm scared.
The Republicans are in charge. Time and time again, they have demonstrated that words mean whatever you want them to mean, which means they mean nothing. Those words are the foundation of the rule of law.
Will enough people in Congress saddle up and ride to the rescue? Or will they go along and passively participate in our demise, solely for political power?
Those few are like the brave souls who tried to save flight 93. Will they assume the personal risk to save all? That remains to be seen, which is the source of my fear.
After the great battle and the dictator was taken down, we all exclaimed, "The system worked!" See, our system protects us against those who would undermine it for their own gain. Even if that someone was the President!
Fastforward to today. I am once again afraid. Where is the cavalry? Do we even have a cavalry anymore?
I'm not sure for this reason. We are a nation of laws and laws are nothing but words. If words can mean anything, then our laws mean nothing. That's why I'm scared.
The Republicans are in charge. Time and time again, they have demonstrated that words mean whatever you want them to mean, which means they mean nothing. Those words are the foundation of the rule of law.
Will enough people in Congress saddle up and ride to the rescue? Or will they go along and passively participate in our demise, solely for political power?
Those few are like the brave souls who tried to save flight 93. Will they assume the personal risk to save all? That remains to be seen, which is the source of my fear.
657
Don't forget that Nixon was pardoned by Ford. The cavalry didn't achieve all that much.
1
The system worked? Is that why the GOP held the White House for three of the next four administrations?
We need a wholesale repudiation of the party.
We need a wholesale repudiation of the party.
2
Well said!
1
Ms Coulter, with snake venom antidote in every word is displeased, oh my!
This is serious.
This is serious.
106
"Who could have seen that one coming? Who knew that character might be destiny?"
I get that Stephens posits these questions in jest, yet I'm still - six months later - gobsmacked by the fact that the American electorate did not see such an obvious wreck coming. Trump's vile character, his personality disorder, and his utter ineptitude were plain as day to anyone with a modicum of sense.
In addition, the American electorate put in place a Congress that made one of its goals taking health insurance away from millions. In Missouri, the elected legislature just passed a bill LOWERING the minimum wage.
It is amazing to me that an electorate would make such stupefyingly self-harming decisions. And yet here we are. The movie Idiocracy doesn't begin to convey it. I find myself swaying between despair for those affected by this debacle, and indifference toward a people who would willingly walk off a cliff. We're in a period of precipitous dumbed-down decline, and I fear that it will remain that way for generations. This country has made a mess of itself.
I get that Stephens posits these questions in jest, yet I'm still - six months later - gobsmacked by the fact that the American electorate did not see such an obvious wreck coming. Trump's vile character, his personality disorder, and his utter ineptitude were plain as day to anyone with a modicum of sense.
In addition, the American electorate put in place a Congress that made one of its goals taking health insurance away from millions. In Missouri, the elected legislature just passed a bill LOWERING the minimum wage.
It is amazing to me that an electorate would make such stupefyingly self-harming decisions. And yet here we are. The movie Idiocracy doesn't begin to convey it. I find myself swaying between despair for those affected by this debacle, and indifference toward a people who would willingly walk off a cliff. We're in a period of precipitous dumbed-down decline, and I fear that it will remain that way for generations. This country has made a mess of itself.
731
Might not help but 3 million more votes went to Hillary than to Bozo. The Electoral College didn't work as planned and the Congressional districts have been grossly gerrymandered in many states as well, thus discounting the votes of less reactionary people and enabling those most angry. The lesson is basic: Democrats have to show up and vote, especially during a census year. Next go round: 2020.
3
So "gobsmacked" is the word I have been looking for since election night to describe how I felt. Thanks @Vin NYC!
1
And here in Arizona they just passed a law supported by that conservative up and comer Doug Ducey that removes the requirement that teachers have teaching certificates. Our fair state, the one with the lowest teacher salaries in the nation, can now drive those salaries down even further because anybody can call themselves qualified to teach. And they declared victory because they increased teacher salaries in the state budget by 1%.
1
Trump may have lost Coulter, but he hasn't lost his base. Eighty-four percent of Republicans support him. Another article in this very paper says so.
The deplorable will stick with Trump no matter what. They will go down with the ship, savoring Trump's angry tweets, railing against the press and the edtablishment. Sad.
The deplorable will stick with Trump no matter what. They will go down with the ship, savoring Trump's angry tweets, railing against the press and the edtablishment. Sad.
227
I keep wondering, if the Trump administration is found guilty of colluding with Putin to throw the election and helping him become President, not an illegal election? If so Pence and all republicans were elected illegally and cannot serve. We should have a new election. How does the Constitution work in the case of a nationwide election that was fixed?
3
"Eighty-four percent of Republicans support him."
What a funny coincidence; that's Bret Stephens' party, too!
What a funny coincidence; that's Bret Stephens' party, too!
2
@Eric: 84 percent say they support him, but I bet in their minds many are growing disgusted and will eventually jump ship if they haven't already. In our adversarial, partisan culture, saying you support the team is required. What you know and feel privately is something else.
There always was only one deplorable.
60
And to equate Ann Coulter with Walter Cronkite is ridiculous.
357
The equation is that Coulter equates to a certain portion of the conservative intelligentsia in the same way Cronkite equated to Middle America.
8
He's equating Ann Coulter's dominance on the far right's with Cronkite's strong position among rational people.
So yes, it makes complete sense to compare them in that light.
So yes, it makes complete sense to compare them in that light.
7
I don't think he is equating her with Conkrite. Coulter is merely the canary in the coal mine with regard to Trump.
3
I never heard of this book and have no desire to read it since hearing of it here. Besides finding out what NOT to read, what is the point of this piece? Trump administration is crashing. Yes. Coulter has defected because DT hasn't built the wall, or delivered the big tax cut, or thrown millions off of health insurance. His big crime is he isn't bad enough quick enough. The real scandal is at FOX, the GOP and their think tanks and above all the electorate.
305
I had the same response as you, Mary. But the part of the piece that stuck with me is that the author of "The Flight 93 Election" is someone who now "serves" us in a senior job in the White House.
2
And yet...
If you speak to the man in the street conservative, you still get the whatabouts--Benghazi, Hillary;s server, whatever.
How are we supposed to square the fact that about 30% of this country literally sees the world in dark, conspiratorial tones and is completely convinced that the other 70% (or so) is completely nuts?
If you speak to the man in the street conservative, you still get the whatabouts--Benghazi, Hillary;s server, whatever.
How are we supposed to square the fact that about 30% of this country literally sees the world in dark, conspiratorial tones and is completely convinced that the other 70% (or so) is completely nuts?
371
@Lkf
We can't, and we don't try. The true hard core have always been with us. They were there for Goldwater in '64, they supported McCarthy in '52. What we NEED to do is stop allowing politicians to identify these people and put them all into the same district that allow them elect one of their own to go to Washington and stand in front television cameras spouting the kind of nonsense we used to walk by on street corners! The berzerkers were empowered for their voting reliability, and not their intellectual abilities. The GOP saw them as voters. They forgot to think about what would happen when those voters decided they wanted to participate, and what the nature of that participation would be when you've eliminated the loyal opposition by drawing them out of a district. It's just a party talking itself into a deep, dark, hole. As absurd as one hand clapping.
We can't, and we don't try. The true hard core have always been with us. They were there for Goldwater in '64, they supported McCarthy in '52. What we NEED to do is stop allowing politicians to identify these people and put them all into the same district that allow them elect one of their own to go to Washington and stand in front television cameras spouting the kind of nonsense we used to walk by on street corners! The berzerkers were empowered for their voting reliability, and not their intellectual abilities. The GOP saw them as voters. They forgot to think about what would happen when those voters decided they wanted to participate, and what the nature of that participation would be when you've eliminated the loyal opposition by drawing them out of a district. It's just a party talking itself into a deep, dark, hole. As absurd as one hand clapping.
3
It is about the same split on believing in UFOs and probably a large overlap as well. We do not need their support. They are the minority. We need the less involved independents to step up to the plate.
You can't. Ignorant is ignorant is ignorant.
I missed "The Flight 93 Election," and glad I did -- I would probably have gone ballistic if I had read it! Fast forward to today, the rational majority of voters who did NOT vote for Trump based on just the fears Mr. Stephens writes of regarding Trump's fatally flawed character, are nearly daily being proven right, and those who voted for Trump (and those who, despite all evidence, continue to invest blind faith in him as some kind of "common man Savior"), are being non-stop pummeled with the knowledge that they were very very wrong. They may be experiencing epic episodes of cognitive dissonance and denial, but as this continues, the Michael Anton type will fade into the sunset of history (hopefully flushed permanently down the nearest sewer), where they belong.
87
I'm glad Mr. Stephens recognizes that the conservative movement has become unhinged. How much worse can it get? (That's not a rhetorical question. I'm asking seriously, because I see no reason to think the movement will ever see the error of its ways and reform.)
145
Mr. Stephens, I know you were one of the establishment conservatives who came out early and forcefully against Trump. But you must admit that your party needs to do some serious soul searching if it ever hopes to be taken seriously again. Democrats are certainly nowhere near perfect, but at least they don't nominate crazy people to lead their party and then 'enable' him when he says and does the most outrageous, un-presidential things. The Republican Party lost me for good when their president invaded Iraq, and Trump proved me right.
783
They won't. They'll continue to use trickery, cheating, lying and hyperbole to inflame their listeners/viewers/constituents. They know no other way. They have no ideas other than abolish the very government who pays their salary and give tax breaks to the enormously wealthy.
3
The GOP is losing lots of us for another betrayal of American democracy: their relentless attempts to suppress and stifle voter registration and voting, especially by those likely to vote Democratic.
4
Ahhh, how soon we forget. While the Republican Party in its wisdom nominated Donald Trump, what choice did they really have? Ted Cruz was 1st runner up! What a great set of choices. Mainstream-right-down-the-middle ... ... not. And John Kasic couldn't muster 10% of the Republican base outside of Ohio where he has done an outstanding job. Did anyone see him on CNN at the Town Hall broadcast Tuesday night? He was terrific -- exactly what we need if you lean Conservative.
So, here we are ... non-establishmentarianism so-called leadership. How's that going so far?
So, here we are ... non-establishmentarianism so-called leadership. How's that going so far?
39
Maybe I will get my wish: Trump is so bad that the entire GOP must be declared treasonous and removed from all levels of office. That will include Gorsuch, not a legitimate SCOTUS member.
Otherwise, we still have Pence and his theocratic minions trying to destroy the country. And we slouch instead of rush towards 3rd world status with a nu-ku-lar war thrown in for fun.
Feel free to reread "Animal Farm" - or Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's "August 1914." The first envisions us becoming the same as Russia (how timely!). The second says that things must go far beyond bad - they must become impossible to survive. Only then will the Trumpanzees realize they have been duped into supporting treason.
Otherwise, we still have Pence and his theocratic minions trying to destroy the country. And we slouch instead of rush towards 3rd world status with a nu-ku-lar war thrown in for fun.
Feel free to reread "Animal Farm" - or Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's "August 1914." The first envisions us becoming the same as Russia (how timely!). The second says that things must go far beyond bad - they must become impossible to survive. Only then will the Trumpanzees realize they have been duped into supporting treason.
248
Comments like this are why some people on the other side viewed 2016 as a "Flight 93 Election".
"Animal Farm" is an apt novel to reference. The pigs talked a good game about "equality" and how evil Farmer Jones was - but what they really wanted was power.
That is what (conciously or not) a lot of Trump voters saw in Hillary: a Napolean figure who talked about equality but in her heart just wanted power.
"Animal Farm" is an apt novel to reference. The pigs talked a good game about "equality" and how evil Farmer Jones was - but what they really wanted was power.
That is what (conciously or not) a lot of Trump voters saw in Hillary: a Napolean figure who talked about equality but in her heart just wanted power.
4
You are wishing for an attempted coup, which would be the start of a civil war in this country. That is far more treasonous than anything Trump will ever be accused of.
1
Anton reversed it. As your last paragraph makes clear, Trump is the untrustworthy evil pilot, too loyal either too himself or an outside power, and we are the unwilling passengers.
74
The leakers are rushing the cockpit daily...
1
So, tell us, Mr Stephens, when is the "conservative" media going to stop working to convince my right-wing friends that this idiot is merely the victim of an orchestrated liberal assault? When is daytime radio going to bring some dim realization to middle America that its "all-hate, all-the-time" has delivered us a calamity?
1008
The questions are good but the part about, "so, tell us Mr. Stephens," doesn't make sense. The behavior of the "conservative media" is not his responsibility.
2
"The behavior of the "conservative media" is not his responsibility."
Mr. Stephens is a member of the conservative media.
Mr. Stephens is a member of the conservative media.
1
Mr Stephens: The editorial page of today's WSJ, your former employer, is exhibit A to your question. As the GOP swirls down the drain the conservative media is still whining about the liberal conspiracy to get Trump ("The Special Counsel Mistake" and "Why Didn't the former FBI director resign in February").
I wanted to throw it against the wall. They'll never ever get it.
I wanted to throw it against the wall. They'll never ever get it.