And, of course, let's not forget the in-laws.... From The New Yorker: "It is said by those close to Kushner that, if he fears anything, it is to repeat the experience of his father, Charles, who, in 2005, pleaded guilty to charges of making illegal campaign contributions and hiring a prostitute to entrap his brother-in-law, and spent fourteen months in an Alabama penitentiary."
Talk about marrying into a like-minded family...
Talk about marrying into a like-minded family...
137
What I find ironic is that DTJ claims that this is just how 'business is done.' It's not. Sure, companies do competitive analyses to secure an advantage and create strategies for their own marketing efforts. That is not the same at all as talking with a hostile foreign power to get questionably-sourced or illegally obtained info to discredit an opponent. It is NOT what is meant by legitimate opposition research. I worked in corporate marketing for 40+ years, 20 of them with a Fortune 500 corporation. There were rules for doing competitive research; and strict sanctions for violating those rules. Only in the Trump mafia family is this 'business as usual.'
149
So when is enough enough? So many ethical lines have been crossed, it seems to me someone (Congress) has the authority to impeach and send the man and family to jail. Crooked Trumps!
74
I do not agree with the premise of this article. i don't dispute the influence of family and social background on one's character, but it is not the only factor at play. it is a dangerous generalisation.
36
In other words, Trump's lack of a moral code makes other Republicans look good? Then why has the rest of the developed world solved healthcare and Republicans declare it such an intractable problem?
Healthcare is only difficult if you will not pay the taxes to support a single payer system that will negotiate costs effectively. That's where we are, and we will not get a decent system until we pay for it, or hell freezes over, whichever comes first.
Healthcare is only difficult if you will not pay the taxes to support a single payer system that will negotiate costs effectively. That's where we are, and we will not get a decent system until we pay for it, or hell freezes over, whichever comes first.
143
Mr. Brooks, ever the idealist, still believes that politicians and successful business people "have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive." Really? What planet has he been living on? Between the unbridled (and unpunished) crimes of the banks and Wall St. brokers, to the polluting industrial complex, to our largest export - weapons and war, this country has an overabundance of ethically challenged profit centers. Corruption and lack of any moral compass in our Congress makes meaningful reform on anything impossible. The Trumps are just the most blatant examples the ugliness that is the Ayn Rand mentality of "me first" and to hell with everyone else.
135
& how about the moral failure of nearly half the adult American population who despite the Hollywood Access tape choose to elect this vile human as United States president?
173
"...over the past few generations the Trump family has built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil...
David, fair and balanced - even more than your usual self...
You should consider moving to Fox...
David, fair and balanced - even more than your usual self...
You should consider moving to Fox...
6
Marines are loyal to each other because America's enemies might otherwise kill them.
Trumps are loyal to each other because honest Americans might otherwise jail them.
Sort of the same...Grampa Trump, congrats! Legacy, baby, legacy. You got it!
Trumps are loyal to each other because honest Americans might otherwise jail them.
Sort of the same...Grampa Trump, congrats! Legacy, baby, legacy. You got it!
49
In keeping with a family tradition of brothel and casinos ownership. Now for the country.
54
Just an astounding quote from the preface to The Art of War: ...prior to hostilities, secret agents separated the enemy's allies from him, ...including spreading false rumours, misinformation, to corrupt and subvert officials, to create and exacerbate discord, and nuture 5th columns.
Is treason going to pass Republican rule?
Is treason going to pass Republican rule?
43
Trumps father vs Obamas father . Trumps father vs Kennedys father . Trumps father vs Clintons father . Someone should take that idea and write a book .
12
Why do we never hear about DJT's mother -- was she 'morally bankrupt' too?
38
David, I don't think you're going to get invited to the White House Christmas party.
28
From "Honest Abe" Lincoln to "Most-People-Would-Have-Taken-That-Meeting" Trump ... I guess that explains why the GOP quit believing in evolution!
77
You are part of this moral bankruptcy Mr Brooks with your false equivalency. Mitch McConnell has no honor or patriotism, and you dance on democracy's grave.
34
"Moral obliviousness" wasn't that your posture on the Iraq quagmire rollout?
11
What moral code says that getting information on a political opponent is absolutely more immoral if it is from Russia but not if it is from Ukraine? Where was David Brooks calling out Obama when he whispered "Tell Vlad that I can do much more for him after the election...". ?
These high brow elitists who claim to profess what is "moral" is a joke because this is entirely political and David Brooks has been consistently on the wrong side of the political and moral fence at every turn since he supported the Iraq War.
Yes, was David Brooks' enthusiastic backing of the Iraq War moral? It killed and maimed tens of thousands of people for no reason. David, you have blood on your hands and you should think before you are so quick to judge others. Sometimes the most moral choice is to go against the Washington establishment and immoral to be with them as in times like the Iraq War, but you are too much of an establishment sheep ever to think such a thing.
Who appointed David Brooks of all people with such a history the high priest of morality?
These high brow elitists who claim to profess what is "moral" is a joke because this is entirely political and David Brooks has been consistently on the wrong side of the political and moral fence at every turn since he supported the Iraq War.
Yes, was David Brooks' enthusiastic backing of the Iraq War moral? It killed and maimed tens of thousands of people for no reason. David, you have blood on your hands and you should think before you are so quick to judge others. Sometimes the most moral choice is to go against the Washington establishment and immoral to be with them as in times like the Iraq War, but you are too much of an establishment sheep ever to think such a thing.
Who appointed David Brooks of all people with such a history the high priest of morality?
18
Great article. Yes, I do believe the Trump family's moral compass never points north. I am reading Nancy Isenberg's book "White Trash The 400 Year Untold History of Class in America" and she describes how our glorious Country was founded by rich, Anglo-Saxon, protestant men - and they want it back - now. Great read.
20
poor Donald Trump Jr. He didn't start the Iraq war, he didn't bomb Libya into chaos, he didn't waste 1 trillion dollars in military operations in the middle east, he didn't sent any soldiers to die.....but he had a meeting with somebody who supposedly had information on somebody that did some of the previous things (Hillary Clinton convinced Obama to bomb Libya into chaos).
David Brooks surely lost his own moral compass as did most of the so called "big media".
David Brooks surely lost his own moral compass as did most of the so called "big media".
11
This is why you can not replace the government service we ethic with the corporate profit me ethic. "Donald Trump" is not the solution to the problem. "Donald Trump" is the problem. Stephenadairvernon.blogspot.com
35
Trump's lack of morals and lack of decency does not explain what happened to the Republican party! Why do they follow this low life conman and allow him behave like an embarrassment to the US ? Why are they so afraid ? Will they follow like sheep over the cliff to the destruction of the GOP ? Where are the decent men and women in this party who will stand up and say ENOUGH ALREADY and get this Clown Show out of power ! PLEASE!
57
Deficiencies in Empathy and Conscience may be in great part "wired in" meaning actually brain characteristics which seem to be heritable. Sociopaths tend to breed same.
26
No internal qualities necessary to consider the possibility he could have done anything wrong. . . beyond an ethic of loyalty to one another, there is no attachment to any external moral truth or ethical code. Hummmm?? Looks like a mafia, smells like a mafia, is a mafia.
23
Bingo! I finally get it!
Thanks, Mr. Brooks.
Thanks, Mr. Brooks.
2
Sadly, it has become quite evident that the Trump family is representative of most Republicans, only the Trumps are more successful than most at committing fraud.
Long before the last election, the whole world knew the Trumps are moral roaches. Their fellow moral roaches voted for them anyway.
Long before the inauguration, the whole world knew the Trumps are fraudsters. Their fellow fraudsters in the the Senate, House and state governments enthusiastically jumped on the carnival caravan.
If every Trump were to disappear tonight, Republicans would remain the most morally depraved political party in American history.
Long before the last election, the whole world knew the Trumps are moral roaches. Their fellow moral roaches voted for them anyway.
Long before the inauguration, the whole world knew the Trumps are fraudsters. Their fellow fraudsters in the the Senate, House and state governments enthusiastically jumped on the carnival caravan.
If every Trump were to disappear tonight, Republicans would remain the most morally depraved political party in American history.
43
Even Don Corleone valued family.
11
Remember Leona Helmsley-"Only little people pay taxes." They're all from the same obscene mold.
50
One of your best columns, David. Thanks for this one.
8
When Eric Trump says they stick together, he does not include his uncle or his cousins - whom his father cut out of the family fortune. These people have the loyalties of slugs - they stick together because they're sticky not because they have any affection or morals.
We'll see how well they stick together when the subpoenas start coming.
We'll see how well they stick together when the subpoenas start coming.
29
"...appeared incapable of even entertaining any moral consideration." That's part of the definition of a sociopath. Like father, like son. Jared Kushner didn't fall far from the tree either.
24
The Trumps are predators. They do not waste pity on their prey. Trumps hunt money. They will do whatever is necessary to lay their hands on it. The principle of mutual benefit does not apply. The deer derives no benefit from being slaughtered and eaten by the hunter.
The Trumps are not beyond good and evil. They simply reject virtue in favor of self-enrichment. Such people occupy Wall Street and prey on the rest of us. Trump is conspicuous and flamboyant. He brings notoriety to selfish, bad behavior. Forget Ayb Rand. Drek ist Drek.
The Trumps are not beyond good and evil. They simply reject virtue in favor of self-enrichment. Such people occupy Wall Street and prey on the rest of us. Trump is conspicuous and flamboyant. He brings notoriety to selfish, bad behavior. Forget Ayb Rand. Drek ist Drek.
40
Shorter version: The day after Trump won the election, he was asked if he had any second thoughts about any of his hyperbolic, menacing, lying campaign rhetoric. The answer: "No. I won."
45
Yes the Trump family is like a Mafia family. But the real problem is the moral vacuum in the GOP!
"Healthcare" (aka tax cuts for the 2%) that will cause the death, suffering, and bankruptcy of thousands (millions?) of Americans. Extreme gerrymandering and kicking voters off the rolls to decrease votes against the GOP.
Knowing about but refusing to allow a bipartisan pre-election warning to the American people about Russian propaganda and cyber attacks on our election (and perhaps using Russian propaganda & resources in their own campaigns). (And do they know about and allow ongoing Russian propaganda directed at members of our military??!)
Denying climate change like the old "nicotine doesn't cause cancer" excuses while the planet slides over the cliff of habitability.
If that isn't a morass of immorality, I don't know what is!
"Healthcare" (aka tax cuts for the 2%) that will cause the death, suffering, and bankruptcy of thousands (millions?) of Americans. Extreme gerrymandering and kicking voters off the rolls to decrease votes against the GOP.
Knowing about but refusing to allow a bipartisan pre-election warning to the American people about Russian propaganda and cyber attacks on our election (and perhaps using Russian propaganda & resources in their own campaigns). (And do they know about and allow ongoing Russian propaganda directed at members of our military??!)
Denying climate change like the old "nicotine doesn't cause cancer" excuses while the planet slides over the cliff of habitability.
If that isn't a morass of immorality, I don't know what is!
35
These people act like they think. One of these days they are going to think like they act (Pascal).
5
There is a moral vacuum in the United States. The Donald was elected by the people.
26
The scandals will end when all of the Trumps get the smackdown that they richly deserve.
Jared Kushner knows what can happen when you play fast and loose. His father Charles went to jail after admitting to 18 counts of ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, tax evasion, and witness tampering. One would think that would put a fear of committing sunch crimes into Jared's head. Evidently not. He was equally willing to sit in a meeting wher the law prohibiting contributions of anything of value by a foreign national and prohibiting "knowingly soliciting, accepting or receiving" such contributions. See 11 CFR 110.20. Jared has no excuse. He has a law degree (but evidently, zero common sense).
The two of them are very well matched as brothers-in-law. They should end up wearing matching prison garb, for a lot longer than Charles Kushner's mere 14 months in prison.
Jared Kushner knows what can happen when you play fast and loose. His father Charles went to jail after admitting to 18 counts of ILLEGAL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS, tax evasion, and witness tampering. One would think that would put a fear of committing sunch crimes into Jared's head. Evidently not. He was equally willing to sit in a meeting wher the law prohibiting contributions of anything of value by a foreign national and prohibiting "knowingly soliciting, accepting or receiving" such contributions. See 11 CFR 110.20. Jared has no excuse. He has a law degree (but evidently, zero common sense).
The two of them are very well matched as brothers-in-law. They should end up wearing matching prison garb, for a lot longer than Charles Kushner's mere 14 months in prison.
21
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complimentary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive"
One of the most absurd statements I have read recently
One of the most absurd statements I have read recently
18
Dear Mr. Brooks, It took you a few months longer than the rest of us to come to the same conclusions. And PS: Brothels were common place in Seattle in the 19th Century. Nothing special about Donald Trump's grandfather in that regard.
6
People like Trump who are moral relativists are themselves evil. They cannot choose good or evil because they don't see the choice.
Now the evangelicals who support Trump and his clan supposedly hate moral relativism -- but they hold their nose and support Trump, pretending that they can somehow "compartmentalize" Trump's actions. The very thing they decried with Bill Clinton supporters (compartmentalization) is the thing they now endorse with Trump . . . because Hillary.
I pity these fools who still support Trump after all his lies, his gaffes, his clear unfitness for the job. They are blind to truth in their attempt to be loyal to a bogus Republican, a fake president. Deplorable.
Now the evangelicals who support Trump and his clan supposedly hate moral relativism -- but they hold their nose and support Trump, pretending that they can somehow "compartmentalize" Trump's actions. The very thing they decried with Bill Clinton supporters (compartmentalization) is the thing they now endorse with Trump . . . because Hillary.
I pity these fools who still support Trump after all his lies, his gaffes, his clear unfitness for the job. They are blind to truth in their attempt to be loyal to a bogus Republican, a fake president. Deplorable.
28
But wait, there's more! The "so-called president", upon meeting President Macron's wife, Brigitte, comments on her physique, saying: "You're in such good shape. She's in such good physical shape. Beautiful".
This woman is not his wife, his daughter, some casino employee, or even a beauty pageant contestant. His comments are DISGUSTING, INAPPROPRIATE, AND A PUT-DOWN TO ALL WOMEN ON THE PLANET.
This woman is not his wife, his daughter, some casino employee, or even a beauty pageant contestant. His comments are DISGUSTING, INAPPROPRIATE, AND A PUT-DOWN TO ALL WOMEN ON THE PLANET.
53
We should just call it what it is: a mob mentality. Any morality or ethics stop with the family. That's it. Not country. Not community. They'll sell out to anything and for anything that helps the family.
America elected a wanna-be mob boss for president. Notch another one for the flag-waving GOP, that will - again - go down in history as something less than the slogans suggested.
America elected a wanna-be mob boss for president. Notch another one for the flag-waving GOP, that will - again - go down in history as something less than the slogans suggested.
18
Avarice, ambition, revenge and licentiousness would break the strongest cords of our Constitution, as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
- John Adams
- John Adams
11
You could replace every instance of the word "Trump" with the word "GOP" and this article would be just as valid.
16
In my five decades I have typically been an optimist. But no more. Koch, Fox, and the Republican party have finally done it: ripped this country into two bitter enemies and corrupted our American values.
I am so tired of hearing "liberty" and "freedom" and "patriotism" and "individualism" all in the same sentence, spoken by someone who was born into privilege. Like my neighbor who daily complains to me about the horrible Dems who want to take away some "right" he has--like no "death tax" on his $11M inheritance. I've taken to hiding; it's either that or have a heart attack arguing with a Trump-like, moral vacuum.
We homo sapiens depend on each other--and this third rock from the sun--for life. But we're bound and determined to use our "freedom" to burn the house down for short-term profit.
The Trumps are just the poster children (truly, rotten children) for this Republican disease affecting our country. Let's bear in mind that the rural non-educated whites just joined this party of corruption; it's the older white moneyed capitalists (mostly men, obviously) who have been cultivating this Libertarian fertile soil for years with the perfect manure compost mix: 4 parts capitalist greed, 3 parts Fox/Infowars/Rush/etc. lies, and 2 parts evangelical fervor.
I never thought I'd see the day I would lose all hope, but I feel it coming.
I am so tired of hearing "liberty" and "freedom" and "patriotism" and "individualism" all in the same sentence, spoken by someone who was born into privilege. Like my neighbor who daily complains to me about the horrible Dems who want to take away some "right" he has--like no "death tax" on his $11M inheritance. I've taken to hiding; it's either that or have a heart attack arguing with a Trump-like, moral vacuum.
We homo sapiens depend on each other--and this third rock from the sun--for life. But we're bound and determined to use our "freedom" to burn the house down for short-term profit.
The Trumps are just the poster children (truly, rotten children) for this Republican disease affecting our country. Let's bear in mind that the rural non-educated whites just joined this party of corruption; it's the older white moneyed capitalists (mostly men, obviously) who have been cultivating this Libertarian fertile soil for years with the perfect manure compost mix: 4 parts capitalist greed, 3 parts Fox/Infowars/Rush/etc. lies, and 2 parts evangelical fervor.
I never thought I'd see the day I would lose all hope, but I feel it coming.
48
Kushner's father famously hired a prostitute to seduce his brother-in-law, recorded the encounter, then sent the tape to his sister. This is the stuff of Greek tragedy: the House of Trump = the House of Atreus. And also like Greek tragedy, the damage isn't limited to the family. It embroils the nation.
13
Modern day version of the Corleone crime family. Hey, they could be the Hollywood modern sequel of the God Father. Can't wait to see the movies that will be made. Not the first. If what I've read is correct the Kennedy family had a similar approach in the early days. Except JFK was no Trump fortunately.
13
This article by another renowned "righteous" Republican, Mr. Brooks, reminds of the movie "Awakenings" (Robin Williams & Robert De Niro).
The patient in that movie (Robert De Niro) was in a frozen (catatonic) state due to a genetic (or???) disorder; the patient came back "briefly" after a certain treatment (medication) by his doctor (Robin Williams).
Well .... The righteous Republicans, such as David Brooks, Jennifer Rubin, Charles Krauthammer, and George Will have also been in a "catatonic" state when Republicans used racism, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, .... HATE in Rustbelt, Rural and South to advance Wall Street agenda. Now, the rise of Trump has been their "medication" to bring them to say and/or act. Yet, they will eventually go back to their "catatonic' state ...
The patient in that movie (Robert De Niro) was in a frozen (catatonic) state due to a genetic (or???) disorder; the patient came back "briefly" after a certain treatment (medication) by his doctor (Robin Williams).
Well .... The righteous Republicans, such as David Brooks, Jennifer Rubin, Charles Krauthammer, and George Will have also been in a "catatonic" state when Republicans used racism, homophobia, xenophobia, misogyny, .... HATE in Rustbelt, Rural and South to advance Wall Street agenda. Now, the rise of Trump has been their "medication" to bring them to say and/or act. Yet, they will eventually go back to their "catatonic' state ...
9
Trans-generational psychopathology. Tragic. Lots of families fall victim to this without professional help. The Trump family illness has them all by the throat. I feel sorry for DJT,Sr.'s kids. They got caught in the trap and didn't know any better but they made the choice to ride along. Tragic.
6
Apart from his biological family, Trump now has a newly adopted political family. Moral and ethical codes are missing in both families, no less in the political family than in the Trumpian clan, the Kushners included. The new political family indeed may have reinforced their belief in the value of their modus operandi - keep playing and pushing your methodology as far as your reach permits. Why do you think Trump has designated Kushner Czar of everything in the government? Simple, this is to enable him to sniff out, locate and milk the moneymen the world over who may need a wink and nod from the Trump White House for their survival.
9
I think Mr. Brooks is premature--and perhaps completely erroneous-- in saying that "The Trumps have an ethnic of loyalty to one another." To date, Big Don has been fairly tepid in his defense of Little Don-- a defense that wasn't even offered until two days after the news broke about Little Don, Kushner, and Manafort meeting with Natalia Veselnitskaya. As the pressure mounts on Trump Jr., and Kushner and as new revelations break about the direct or even peripheral involvement of Don Sr., we will see whether the Trump ethnic of loyalty holds-- or whether each of these charlatans scrambles for immunity by throwing one another under the bus.
6
The moral problem is not with just Donald, Junior and the rest of trumpets but their supporters who not only forgive their consistently indecent behavior but embrace it.
10
What it is, is a systemic moral failing of Republicans and conservatives since Reagan. It is quite possible that if Reagan were here today he would be a conservative Democrat. The writing on the wall for Republicans is that their core is shrinking, fiscally conservative, Eisenhower and Reagan Republicans are gone. More people in the country prefer the safety nets, fair wages and regulations on businesses. Therefore, the Republicans like McConnell and Ryan had to open their tent to the soulless people like trump and his family, the bigots and the religious extremists.
I think they have overreached and the day of reckoning is coming.
I think they have overreached and the day of reckoning is coming.
5
"...over the past few generations the Trump family has built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil." Only if we allow it to continue -- otherwise there is nothing about the Trump family that is "beyond good and evil." They are ensnared in their behavior just like the rest of us -- and if we do our job, they'll be held to account; just like the rest of us.
5
This sounds a lot like the moral vacuum as professed by Ayn Rand. It seems our wealthy class has taken their playbook form Rand's. The end justifies the means is a philosophy of many a dictator, amoral capitalists and right wing conservatives.
1
I hope this isn't some new revelation to David Brooks. It's a good description of the basic Trump amorality (and that of the GOP as well), but a lot of us have known this for a long time. Speaking of the immoral and amoral, I'd like to see Mr. Brooks speak up about the "Better (haha) Health Bill" his party is trying to foist on innocent citizens.
2
Mr. Brooks has eloquently expresse the heart of this matter of why having DT as our president is so damaging. Americans, and in part, republicans, are being lead by a sociopath, a person without empathy for anyone except perhaps, for his immediate family. Our country, especially republicans, must move for his removal. Things could get so much worse.
1
The idea that business people have ethics, belies the fact, businesses that have ethics often make less money and therefore are more likely to fail. Therefore to be successful they often lack ethics, or have some market power that allows a mild level of ethics. That's something conservatives often fail to recognize. This is what we talk about when economist describe market failure. Or externalities, Brooks by not understanding this, has effectively a blind side. Trump uses unethical behaviour to make money, and the more unethical the more he makes, destroying those that are ethical. This is why government regulate markets, to reign in people like Trump. Not all business people are like this by any means. But every thing equal unethical wins.
4
I don’t think moral obliviousness is built in a day.
I agree. The moral obliviousness of the GOP has been building for decades.
I agree. The moral obliviousness of the GOP has been building for decades.
3
Thanks for another piece of the puzzle. I am struggling to understand how a man could have so many flaws; and so many acolytes. As a father and grandfather, it scares me that such people exist. Not just him, but the millions who identify with, support and defend him. With Trump as their role model, how can we trust any of them?
6
What you are describing is not unique to the Trumps. It is the modus operandi of the GOP and modern business. They have forgotten that the wealth of nations contained a social responsibility for the capitalist as well as a fiduciary responsibility. It is not all about getting rich, it is about building a better society for all. Trump is the ultimate, immoral GOP financier. He is a disgrace to our country. The same can be said about the money hungry GOP politicians that continue to support him.
2
Corporate life and business in general cannot be expected to be Moral. It is driven by the pursuit of profit- a fundamental incentive & guiding principle.
It is preposterously naive to expect a moral sensibility to be predominant in the Marketplace.
Governance, stewardship of the public good and American democracy is a wholly different domain.
The House of Trump stumbled into the Oval office and like a bull in a china shop- has caused chaos & damage. How much better for the sleazy aspects of Trump Inc to have landed- harmlessly - in The Apprentice...where fantasy preening & make-believe authority wrapped around pseudo-business games as an entertainment.
Roger Stone saw that TV Q could be slipped into politics, that any fame, notorious or clownish, could win elections. His world is also devoid of moral clarity.
The voters are left to implement values.
It is preposterously naive to expect a moral sensibility to be predominant in the Marketplace.
Governance, stewardship of the public good and American democracy is a wholly different domain.
The House of Trump stumbled into the Oval office and like a bull in a china shop- has caused chaos & damage. How much better for the sleazy aspects of Trump Inc to have landed- harmlessly - in The Apprentice...where fantasy preening & make-believe authority wrapped around pseudo-business games as an entertainment.
Roger Stone saw that TV Q could be slipped into politics, that any fame, notorious or clownish, could win elections. His world is also devoid of moral clarity.
The voters are left to implement values.
2
Mr. Brooks opines, "Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive."
On what evidence is this statement made?
On what evidence is this statement made?
This op-ed piece explains much about the Trump "moral vacuum." Now, an exploration of the "moral vacuum" apparent in the Republican-controlled House and Senate would be helpful. Specifically, what explains the justification for the cruelty so manifest in the Trumpcare legislation?
4
I find Mr. Brooks comments about Donald and Donald, Jr. morally empty...as in, "too bad, but probably not impeachable." There is circumstantial evidence Trump associates conspired to commit treason against the United States. That's not proven, obviously, but I'd like to see more genuine angst about the possibility by Mr. Brooks and the GOP in general.
So far, there's little of that.
So far, there's little of that.
3
No, Mr. Brooks. You have repeated many times that there is no there there in the Russian affair. Now you say that the central take away in the recent scandal involving Jr, Kushner, and Manaford is that the Trump family has built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil. No, Mr. Brooks, to the majority of Americans the central take-away is that there is now proof in writing, disclosed by Jr. himself, that the Trump campaign was willing and eager to collude with the Russian government to influence the election results.
No, Mr. Brooks, the strategy to paint Jr. as an innocent boy ("It’s just a greedy boy grabbing sweets") might work for the Trump base but not for most people.
No, Mr. Brooks, the strategy to paint Jr. as an innocent boy ("It’s just a greedy boy grabbing sweets") might work for the Trump base but not for most people.
4
More disturbing than the moral vacuum at the heart of Trump is the moral vacuum at the heart of 40% of Americans who have no problem with Trump's lies and scams or the further 10% who thought the incredibly pedestrian Clinton was actually as bad or worse.
7
A scathing indictment of our culture. We have gone off the rails. Cleansing ourselves and moving forward will not be easy.
3
If the reader needs any further explanation for this kind of antisocial behavior, simply (re)read any of Ayn Rand's socially dystopian fantasies. But do so very, very carefully: her logic is seductively impecable. She is absolutely correct in most of what she says. The only problem is that her "philosophy" is fatally damaged by her complete lack of compassion, religious consideration, patience, or recognition of human failure. She preaches a fatal message born of her hatred of the Communism she grew up in, and her philosophy leads to exactly what we are facing today.
2
Trump and cabinet are the latest Ayn Rand disciples. Selfishness to an extreme. Concepts like right, wrong, kindness, moral rectitude are for suckers. And like many that follow this philosophy, it often ends up in scandal and ruin. (Travis Kalanick being the latest example). Atlas Shrugged has done more damage to this nation than just about any novel ever written.
2
Brooks leaves both Trump's rampant personality disorder out of the mix and also the fact that Trump heads up what seems to be a typical mob Crime Family. And Brooks is simply just too nice about all those compromised Republicans who have put party goals over everything else, and think they are using Trump to advance their agenda, too late realizing that they have sold whatever souls they may have had and are now complicit in something both crazy and evil. It is probably too late for all of them when shortly the rubber will meet the road, and the indictments start.
4
"Donald Trump Jr is not malevolent"...no, he isn't intelligent enough and grew up in a family where money and "winning" were the only values on display. No wonder that this fiasco is the result. Too bad that the rest of the country will have to pay a heavy price for all this Trumpian "winning."
2
I come from a large Catholic family - many siblings, boomers all, varying levels of social and economic achievement, a couple of millionaires and a couple totally dependent on government transfer payments and family largesse.
I can safely tell you that most of my nephews and nieces, regardless of their parentage, have an acute sense of entitlement and dreadful lack of ethic. That Donnie Jr. should present with a paper thin morality is no surprise to me. He's in good company with my over-indulged spoiled kin.
The boomers kids are a bust. And quite annoying to be around.
I can safely tell you that most of my nephews and nieces, regardless of their parentage, have an acute sense of entitlement and dreadful lack of ethic. That Donnie Jr. should present with a paper thin morality is no surprise to me. He's in good company with my over-indulged spoiled kin.
The boomers kids are a bust. And quite annoying to be around.
2
The same moral vacuum also applies to all the Republican elected members of Congress some of whom at one point had criticized President Obama of failing to maintain the dignity of his office. Why? Because he was holding a cup of coffee as he saluted members of the armed forces as he stepped out of Air Force One. Now, what do we hear from these same guardians of the dignity of the Presidential Office..crickets! The hypocrisy is unfathomable.
7
Okay, that accounts for Trump. But, with their obsequious support of the president, how was a respect for ethical responsibility hammered out of so many other Republicans?
3
It takes generations to hammer ethical considerations out of a person's mind, says David Brooks. So much for the Trump family.
Now what about the Republican Party, which looks the other way and does nothing when it is in the position of responsibility in our system of checks and balances? Or was that system hammered out of Constitution, too?
Now what about the Republican Party, which looks the other way and does nothing when it is in the position of responsibility in our system of checks and balances? Or was that system hammered out of Constitution, too?
2
"You're in such good shape..." said the President of the United States upon meeting the First Lady of France. In the modern American workplace if a male employee said that to a female employee it would be considered highly inappropriate and out of line - and if repeated, would be considered subversive sexual harassment. But stepping away from the legal, let's consider the moral, the ethical, the APPROPRIATE - Trump's comment was incredibly chauvinistic, inappropriate, DATED (very 1950's) - and frankly, embarrassing to our nation. It was reminiscent of candidate Trumps comment in the trailer about the power of celebrity to exploit women. And now he's bringing it to the world stage. As a US citizen who pays taxes that pay his salary, the home where he and his family comfortably reside, that pay for security for Trump and his family, that pay for Air Force One - how dare he! I object.
3
Chilling that Trump described his son as a "high quality person." "High quality" describes products, not people. Ethics and integrity describe people. Evidently Trump passed his worldview to his sons and daughter.
The question that this piece makes me want to ask is whether Trump can be TAUGHT any sense of ethical responsibility or any code of "external moral truth". I suspect that the only way this would be possible is through prosecution--if it ever came to that.
But even then, you can still imagine Trump talking about "fake news" and a vast conspiracy against him, can't you?
No, I don't think we're wrong to conclude that he is incapable of learning anything new about ethics or morals. What a lot of the rest of us take for granted, in other words, simply may never compute to him.
And this will become particularly dangerous if he can challenge and overcome the checks and balances that reigned in previous presidents.
One wonders if when push comes to shove he may be able to defy all constitutional restraints.
For all his flaws and mistakes, remember that Richard Nixon didn't contest the 1960 election, and resigned the presidency when faced with damning evidence against him.
Can anyone imagine Trump being willing to do either of these things?
But even then, you can still imagine Trump talking about "fake news" and a vast conspiracy against him, can't you?
No, I don't think we're wrong to conclude that he is incapable of learning anything new about ethics or morals. What a lot of the rest of us take for granted, in other words, simply may never compute to him.
And this will become particularly dangerous if he can challenge and overcome the checks and balances that reigned in previous presidents.
One wonders if when push comes to shove he may be able to defy all constitutional restraints.
For all his flaws and mistakes, remember that Richard Nixon didn't contest the 1960 election, and resigned the presidency when faced with damning evidence against him.
Can anyone imagine Trump being willing to do either of these things?
1
My concern is not about the Trump family per se. There are always people with no moral compass. My concern is with the millions who support Donald Trump. Where is THEIR moral compass?
2
Brooks writes, "Their [House of Trump] scandals may not build to anything impeachable, but..."
If the so-called president had a "(D)" after his name and all of the things that we know about had occurred during the Newt's term in the mid-nineties, he would already be impeached and awaiting trial in the Senate.
If the so-called president had a "(D)" after his name and all of the things that we know about had occurred during the Newt's term in the mid-nineties, he would already be impeached and awaiting trial in the Senate.
2
Stop separating Trump from the GOP like they have different moral standards. Ryan and McConnell are there day in day out supporting Trump. Same thing for Fox News. Same thing for Republicans who voted for Trump. Let's not pretend that any of these people have a moral standing. The GOP has been using "dog whistles" for decades. "Dog Whistles" are nothing but hidden racist messaging.
3
I give a big "thank you" to all the people commenting here on Brooks' nerve to question morality in people who have been spawned in part by his very support of Republicans all along. Their mantra has always been "greed is good," as they've been dedicated to ruthless domination--not just competition. Now they've turned into radical extremists in that regard, believing in the attribution to Lenin (ironically)--with the major substitution of one word--whereby anything which furthers the cause of capitalism is good. (Capitalism substituted for communism.) Hey Mr. Brooks, you're closing that barn door way too late.
1
"The Donald Trump Jr. we see through the Russia scandal story is not malevolent: He seems to be simply oblivious to the idea that ethical concerns could possibly play a role in everyday life."
The malevolent use obliviousness as an alibi. Obliviousness is the mental version of "being somewhere else" when the crime is perpetrated.
Obliviousness is a lie. Donald Jr. was and is fully aware that he did something wrong. He doesn't disclose pertinent information while pretending to be transparent. Donald J. knows too.
Whatever happened to the Republican talking point of personal responsibility. This is the equivalent of a blame-daddy-for-my-behavior apology. Please.
The malevolent use obliviousness as an alibi. Obliviousness is the mental version of "being somewhere else" when the crime is perpetrated.
Obliviousness is a lie. Donald Jr. was and is fully aware that he did something wrong. He doesn't disclose pertinent information while pretending to be transparent. Donald J. knows too.
Whatever happened to the Republican talking point of personal responsibility. This is the equivalent of a blame-daddy-for-my-behavior apology. Please.
2
At last someone in the (Fake News) media has drilled down to the truth: America does not have an economic crisis, nor an environmental crisis, nor a political crisis. All these problems are manifestations of a deeper MORAL crisis. Trump's only claim to be qualified for President was that he is a "successful businessman". [ D.T.: "I'm beautiful because I'm rich." ] But naked capitalism is Amoral [ = moral considerations are neither relevant or to be included - by law. ] This is the world that all the Trumps have inhabited for generations. As long as someone - anyone, anywhere - is making money, that's the highest conduct to be expected and to which we all should and must aspire. And the GOP has been the Defender-in-Chief of that philosophy for my entire 70-year lifetime. But predatory capitalism is bio-cidal, and so the conceptually-bankrupt Republican paradigm has hit the wall. This is why 'running the government like a business' is exactly the WRONG idea. Trump, McConnell, Ryan, Price, The Supremes, Zinke, Mulvaney et al have no Alternative, so it's time to Stay-the-Course, double-down, and blame The Other. We've been warned (by a Palestinian carpenter): "The LOVE OF money is the root of all evil."
16
Yes, this is virtue theory, from ethics 101. The problem with it is that it relieves Trump of and Trump Jr. of any real moral responsibility, essentially saying "their environment made them do it!"
8
More proof, if any more were needed, that money may buy many things, but it cannot buy class.
20
I fear I am witnessing the moral decline of America - every day a steady drip, drip, drip of messy dealings without any inkling of acknowledging, or understanding, right and wrong. What kind of modelling is the Trump family demonstrating? This could have serious consequences for the moral fabric of America.
27
Eric Trump said members of his family always support each other. Then the whole Trump family can go to prison together.
42
Linda, the problem is families like the Trumps have gotten away with a lot just because they are wealthy. The system is rigged in favor of the wealthy. They have highly paid lawyers, accountants, tax lawyers, protecting them and folks like the Trumps and Kushners. They have gotten this far because the system allows them to flourish. Perhaps the election of Trump is itself an eye opener to expose what goes on in our country.
2
As much as over decades I have come to genuinely respect and admire Mr Brooks - and in a much briefer period, to abjure PT - the sweeping conclusion Mr B comes to here - that over generations the Trumps have become "non-moral" - seems to me to require way more than these anecdotal references to the forbears' business history, to be plausibly supported.
Also, helpful if not required are documented comparisons with similarly successful immigrant families, who separately came to the same, and diametrically opposed, moral positions. Mr B's opinion here seems at best a hypothesis, which while pertinently tested during candidate selection by Republicans and during the campaign, became at most something for historians to develop by PT's election.
Also, helpful if not required are documented comparisons with similarly successful immigrant families, who separately came to the same, and diametrically opposed, moral positions. Mr B's opinion here seems at best a hypothesis, which while pertinently tested during candidate selection by Republicans and during the campaign, became at most something for historians to develop by PT's election.
4
Sadly, Mr. Brooks, the moral vacuum extends way beyond the House of Trump, or he would not be President.
70
As an immigrant from Germany I've been consistently astounded for the past 16 years at the level of political discourse in this country. There's way too much focus on personalities, identity politics, wedge issues, and ideology. There's very little focus on political solutions for real life problems. The problem at the core of this is the 2-party system. A political cartel that is to a large extent uncompetitive at this point and needs to be broken up by a democratic movement of national unity. It's been done before in other countries and it's way overdue in this country.
65
"A political cartel that is to a large extent uncompetitive at this point and needs to be broken up by a democratic movement of national unity."
Cartel members cooperate by definition, so that is nonsense. And what is "a democratic movement of national unity"?
Cartel members cooperate by definition, so that is nonsense. And what is "a democratic movement of national unity"?
Spot on! This is the great dilemma, along with an electorate that buys into the culture. Where is our Nation's moral leadership?
13
Look at the utter inanity of the programming on many cable and network channels- mindless so-called reality tripe, with casts of people whose goal is to become a celebrity. Add talk shows that appeal to the basest human instincts, talk radio charlatans such as Alex Jones.
Trump is a reflection of a debased popular culture.
Trump is a reflection of a debased popular culture.
Moral vacuum in the GOP.
29
Great article, not telling the truth is an epidemic that surrounds the globe from Assad to Catholic Church from Dr's to Korea from husbands to wives and from foreign countries to our military from climate to sea levels. Human beings need to say, see, and honor the truth
8
Naked capitalism?
Which candidate collected millions from hedge fund managers and investment bankers?
They probably were less contributions and more protection money.
Which candidate was issuing waivers to foreign companies that were simultaneously making contributions to her foundation? That's bribery and racketeering.
Which candidate collected millions from hedge fund managers and investment bankers?
They probably were less contributions and more protection money.
Which candidate was issuing waivers to foreign companies that were simultaneously making contributions to her foundation? That's bribery and racketeering.
4
Nice tries. False equivalence, about what we've come to expect.
3
I look forward to Brooks' family biographies of Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, Ted Cruz, William Sessions, Steve Bannon, Kellyeanne Conway, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Sean Spicer, Steve Mnuchin, Wilbur Ross, Betsy DeVos, Michael Flynn, Tom Cotton, Jim Inhofe, Mike Lee, --well, that would be a start. Because it is darn hard to understand how one can lie, cheat and steal quite as effortlessly as they all do.
72
The devil made them do it.
Just ask the Clinton cabinet which backed up his denials about Monica.
2
"Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" has not place in the Trump family or in the modern Conservative movement, and yet they still call themselves Christians. Unbelievable.
63
I don't know that there's a normal human yearning for goodness and kindness, I think most of us are a mix of good and bad, kind and uncaring, but it seems the Trumps fall short on the good-kind side of the scale.
13
The GOP proposal is not a health plan but a massive transfer of Wealth from the poor to the already rich. It also fulfills the long time dream of GOP leaders to eliminate federal entitlement programs as a right to a privilege. Is Social Security next?
Who will be accountable for the projected deaths for the lack of needed health care access (One estimate is 2500 during the first years of this program.) ? If this occurs, should an independent tribunal or other investigative body be set up to pinpoint responsibility and possible punishment? Would this be a form of genocide of lower income citizens? Perhaps viewed by some in the GOP as a new form of voter suppression by eliminating a segment of the population who they have characterized as "takers" and currently or future Democratic voters. One has to wonder where the proponents of this approach to health care get their moral compass from!
Who will be accountable for the projected deaths for the lack of needed health care access (One estimate is 2500 during the first years of this program.) ? If this occurs, should an independent tribunal or other investigative body be set up to pinpoint responsibility and possible punishment? Would this be a form of genocide of lower income citizens? Perhaps viewed by some in the GOP as a new form of voter suppression by eliminating a segment of the population who they have characterized as "takers" and currently or future Democratic voters. One has to wonder where the proponents of this approach to health care get their moral compass from!
28
American decency and honor is a legend born in the 1930s and 1940s.
USA won the lottery in WW2: modern industrial civilization was largely wiped out, except in the USA. Americans were happy to accept credit for a rôle of superhero, disproportionate to the services rendered, following a worldwide family feud and attempted suicide.
Twain's renderings of US culture and civilization are much more accurate, I suspect. President Trump and clan fit right in.
USA won the lottery in WW2: modern industrial civilization was largely wiped out, except in the USA. Americans were happy to accept credit for a rôle of superhero, disproportionate to the services rendered, following a worldwide family feud and attempted suicide.
Twain's renderings of US culture and civilization are much more accurate, I suspect. President Trump and clan fit right in.
24
That the House of Trump survives and thrives despite all the scandals is only a symptom of the disease that has corrupted the entire GOP. Who among the GOP is taking a stand, putting country before the party and saying this is NOT acceptable? To the modern day GOP, the ends justify the means. Supreme Court by any means, ACA repeal by any means, tax cuts by any means. Mr. Brooks the rot runs very deep and so does my horror at the path we are on...some acts cause irreversible damage and time is not on our side.
42
I think you've expressd yhis perfectly. Thank you.
The Trumps think of themselves as some kind of ruling power. That's why they connect so well with the Saudi's and others of that ilk. Well, there is no room for them here. Go back to your ivory tower; borrow more money from your Russian friends; lie and cheat workers out of their wages; sue poor people for back rent in your slum apartments (Kushner); and how many other immoral business practices do you all engage in? Junior is not a boy, at least age-wise. Now his brain is another matter. But look at who Jr. has to emulate. A man-child who lies more than he tells the truth with a vocabulary of about 10 words. People are questioning Kushner's security clearance. What about the man-child's security clearance? How much damage is he going to do against America and 'we the people'? With his inability to think before he tweets one has to wonder.
23
Blaming the corruption in the GOP on the Trump's is too lazy. It goes far beyond that. Jerry Falwell used to brag about hijacking evangelical Christianity and turning it into a political movement. Were he around today, he could brag about hi-jacking the republican party and infecting it with the venom, spite, and hypocrisy that is the trademark of his denomination. The problem goes far deeper than the Trumps and feeds on the worst instincts of the human race.
28
Trumps act no differently than every crime family. Loyalty (until even that is at risk) to the "family". Every other moral is subject to expediency.
18
And DJT Jr is the Fredo of his family.
1
vcbowie, has almost all of the bombs on target and I agree with the arguments put forth. We have in just a mere 55 years denigrated our national standard of seeking to be a just and moral exemplar to the world community.
It is important to remember though, that the English common law from which our justice system sprung had the same values of protecting private property to the exclusion of civic principle. These beliefs and abusive behaviors have been dormant, not gone.
We are too rich a country to sponsor "stupid wars" on a phantom credit card while failing to protect the health of our citizens. Any middle class family can slide into a poverty cycle thus needing medicaid after a serious injury, the contraction of a chronic disease or other income interruption.
Selfishness has not been a trait of the American people, until now, when the Trumptards glorify a crass, amoral leader. This is not your father's Republican Party, nor should it be yours.
It is important to remember though, that the English common law from which our justice system sprung had the same values of protecting private property to the exclusion of civic principle. These beliefs and abusive behaviors have been dormant, not gone.
We are too rich a country to sponsor "stupid wars" on a phantom credit card while failing to protect the health of our citizens. Any middle class family can slide into a poverty cycle thus needing medicaid after a serious injury, the contraction of a chronic disease or other income interruption.
Selfishness has not been a trait of the American people, until now, when the Trumptards glorify a crass, amoral leader. This is not your father's Republican Party, nor should it be yours.
22
"They can’t stand that we are extremely close and will ALWAYS support each other,” Eric Trump tweeted this week. Actually, what we can't stand is that your greed and lack of morals result in Americans dying for lack of health care, dirty air, and lead in the water, refugees dying because of your bigotry, and the planet being made uninhabitable so you can make a quick buck.
56
The Trumps do anything to get ahead and stay ahead in business.
The New York Times will write anything that sells newspapers.
What's the difference?
The New York Times will write anything that sells newspapers.
What's the difference?
2
One is a source of lies and the other efforts to verify it's info. Biggest difference.
16
Thanks. Was hoping someone would say "the difference is that one tells the truth and the other lies" so I could laugh out loud.
When you mix an untreatable personality disorder with equal portions of misogeny, xenophobia and white supremacy, add coating of Old Testament Christian "theology" one gets a toxic aphrodisiac. Stop hoping that things will change and that he and his progeny will "grow into their roles". DT will never make a self confessed error. My only question as the investigation goes forward is whether he will throw any of his progeny under the bus.
23
I would very much enjoy having dinner with David Brooks. I'll pay.
3
Excellent piece! But don't forget, David Brooks, that greed, corruption, ambition and a very flexible moral code are the hallmarks of immigrants who want to get ahead in their new country at any costs.
3
What a stereotyping, patronizing comment about immigrants!
Most work hard, struggle mightily, play by the rules, get education, pay taxes, and are productive members of the society.
Don't taint them with Trump's character flaws!
Most work hard, struggle mightily, play by the rules, get education, pay taxes, and are productive members of the society.
Don't taint them with Trump's character flaws!
3
"The Trumps have an ethic of loyalty to one another. “They can’t stand that we are extremely close and will ALWAYS support each other,” Eric Trump tweeted this week. But beyond that there is no attachment to any external moral truth or ethical code."
This well describes a mob family like the Gotti family in NYC. No wonder Putin seems to speak the same rat-a-tat-tat language.
This well describes a mob family like the Gotti family in NYC. No wonder Putin seems to speak the same rat-a-tat-tat language.
18
But unlike the Trump Family, the Gottis and other members of the Mafia are actually smart and also have a sense of honor,
1
I used to tell proudly to the people of my country I immigrated from that there is no corruption in US.
It took me 40 years to find out that is so because corruption is legalized in US
It took me 40 years to find out that is so because corruption is legalized in US
18
I'm reluctant to follow the geneological family tree of ethical behavior described by Mr. Brooks. Throughout US history there have been 'robber barons' and one would be wise to not try to trace the family ethical lineage too closely. To be sure, there are maternal lineages at work as well. Glib moral response might be generational, stylistic, etc. It just makes me uneasy to lay out a paternal geneology, absent any reference to religious influences at all, and find the scions guilty of moral obtuseness. Let's get back to community values, at least.
4
Here is a question for David Brooks;
What does 'caveat emptor' mean; and does 'caveat emptor' mean
Anything at All...as far as the US Constitution is concerned.
My view 'caveat emptor' means....in business when you the investor take
a chance on a business investment then ...beware of all the juggernauts ahead.
However: 'caveat emptor' is not part of our US Constitution ...the voter should
not have to worry that the TRUTH may not be told or that HALF TRUTHS are
part of a business GAME.
The US Constitution DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ...RULES as our laissez-faire
ethics for business.
The US Constitution is RIGID with RULES...so...David Brooks
please ....go back to your illogical syllogism...and revise ...because you
make no sense...or possibly you are making nonsense....revise...and consent
to do so....Thank you...!!!
What does 'caveat emptor' mean; and does 'caveat emptor' mean
Anything at All...as far as the US Constitution is concerned.
My view 'caveat emptor' means....in business when you the investor take
a chance on a business investment then ...beware of all the juggernauts ahead.
However: 'caveat emptor' is not part of our US Constitution ...the voter should
not have to worry that the TRUTH may not be told or that HALF TRUTHS are
part of a business GAME.
The US Constitution DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME ...RULES as our laissez-faire
ethics for business.
The US Constitution is RIGID with RULES...so...David Brooks
please ....go back to your illogical syllogism...and revise ...because you
make no sense...or possibly you are making nonsense....revise...and consent
to do so....Thank you...!!!
Feathering his nest with Trump is Pence, a Catholic who should know better. The Pope does not like Trump because he was smart to see through that grinning fake presidential smile that covers for an indifference to world health and starving children.
Shame on Pence. He should get himself off to confession. It is no longer fashionable to be a fascist.
Shame on Pence. He should get himself off to confession. It is no longer fashionable to be a fascist.
23
Evangelical, former Roman Catholic.
3
David Brooks: enabler.
7
The Trump boys should spend more time in Africa killing endangered animals and posing for photos.
3
Or vice versa. Go animals!!!
1
Ethics are for Chumps.
It might as well be the new national motto.
It might as well be the new national motto.
11
Your final point is correct, Mr. Brooks. The scandals will go one. Good people can become bad. That happens. But bad people do not become good. It's a law of nature. The Trumps are a finished, irreversible, unapologetically immoral product. Expect more of the same.
12
It's senior who is morally bankrupt. Jr is a simpleton product of senior
3
The scandal is that the self righteous David Brooks admits that nothing remotely impeachable has occurred nor have any crimes been committed but he still wastes his ink on trashing the President, his beloved son, and his dead father who is not around to defend himself. The democrats have become an unhinged party of hate, corruption and fake scandals. Mr. Brooks could never bring himself to them accountable. But the Republicans? Of course. They must be ethically pure. Poppycock. Anything short of a crime to defeat these dastardly democrats is fair game.
5
Plenty to impeach already. Impeachment is a political act that this immoral, cowardly congress will not take untill they are voted out of office. Must be tough time to be a republican, all power and so little respect.
1
Impeachment is a political, not criminal, process. On the other hand, I'm betting that a whole lot of indictments will come from the investigations. Of course, some of those indicted might choose to tell all rather than take the blame by themselves.
1
Can you please make your argument without labeling or calling someone a name
2
Shakespeare? Puzo? A little bit of both? This ongoing saga has a bit of something for everyone. Since I am basically illiterate and only understand the works of Ayn Rand, I shall wait for the movie. Will an IMAX screen be large enough to hold the Trump brand?
Although, it will be difficult to suspend disbelief if the screenwriters use the same names. What if Don Jr. is not trying to please his philandering father, but rather honor the memory of his grandfather and great grandfather as you mention here? Their names being German for Frederico which is formal for Fredo. Will Trump Jr. embrace the essence of his bloodline, break the Omerta and bring down the current Don of New York? Stay tuned...
Although, it will be difficult to suspend disbelief if the screenwriters use the same names. What if Don Jr. is not trying to please his philandering father, but rather honor the memory of his grandfather and great grandfather as you mention here? Their names being German for Frederico which is formal for Fredo. Will Trump Jr. embrace the essence of his bloodline, break the Omerta and bring down the current Don of New York? Stay tuned...
5
This column reminds me of Claude Rains being shocked, shocked that there was gambling going on in Humphrey Bogart's club in "Casablanca". This moral bankruptcy is not limited to the Trump family. It is endemic to the GOP and has been since the 1950s with Nixon tarring his Congressional opponent as a Communist sympathizer. The GOP has been playing bait and switch with voters since then, using dog whistle politics that appeal to racism, xenophobia, hyper-religiosity and more to win elections, and then carrying forward with policies that benefit corporate America and the wealthy to the detriment of these very voters. For GOP gurus such as Roy Cohn, Lee Atwater, Karl Rove there was no strategy too dirty to employ to win. And now we have Trump and his camarilla (thanks Charles Blow for that word) displaying no ethics and seemingly untouchable thanks to their enablers in Congress and the Senate. They do not skirt ethical standards and transperancy, they completely disregard them in self-dealing such has never been seen in the White House. Truth is false news. Lies are alternate facts. The GOP supports this all to remain in power and sold out when they allowed Trump to be nominated and supported his election campaign. Here is more news: the Emperor is naked. How long will it take to expose all of the lies and scheming and possible criminality of this regime? How long will Americans endure it? When will the GOP and Trumpites finally take steps to rid the country of this crew?
26
And LBJ was just so ethical.
2
Swindlers. Draft-dodgers. Pimps. But other than that, great.
16
Generation after generation of sociopaths....
Poor things just can't help themselves......
Rubbish!
Poor things just can't help themselves......
Rubbish!
7
David, to paraphrase a quote from the "The Great Gatsby": "They were careless people (these Trumps)--they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money of their vast carelessness, or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made."
17
Actually Trump cleaned up the mess made by New York City and got the ice rink in Central Park up and running.
1
Perfect description of the Kennedy's, Kevin. Thanks.
2
Didn't the Kennedy family make its money in illegal whisky and stock swindles.
3
Very true. How RFK became such a compassionate, ethical politico is truly remarkable. why we should not hold children as doomed by their ancestors.
Turns out they didn't. The author of Prohibition said he heard that but he couldn't find any evidence before a slam piece in the 1970s.
Joe Kennedy made his money on Wall Street and then in Hollywood on the money man side.
Joe Kennedy made his money on Wall Street and then in Hollywood on the money man side.
1
What does that have to do with this? DTJ broke the law. Just because there have been swindlers doesn't excuse present and future swindlers.
1
Many Republican readers look forward to the next wave of "honorable" presidential candidates such as John Kasich. Best to investigate before you leap as he I'm afraid is of the same cloth: https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2015/04/john-kasich-2016/39...
1
“That’s what we do in business,” in this context, begins to sound more like the warrior code of Conan the Barbarian - "Crush your enemies." It doesn't matter who or what you hurt, so long as you make money and win.
When President Trump said, “The fundamental question of our time is whether the west has the will to survive ... Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?” he could have been speaking of the "wolves of Wall Street" as much as any foreign enemy.
The oath of office requires protection of our country from all enemies "foreign and domestic." Colluding with a foreign enemy for domestic political advantage not only violates the spirit of that oath, but is by itself a self-serving act of betrayal, not business as usual.
If we tolerate the Law of the Jungle as the standard for doing business, then we have no civilization. We have only the barbarians within ruling us.
When President Trump said, “The fundamental question of our time is whether the west has the will to survive ... Do we have the desire and the courage to preserve our civilization in the face of those who would subvert and destroy it?” he could have been speaking of the "wolves of Wall Street" as much as any foreign enemy.
The oath of office requires protection of our country from all enemies "foreign and domestic." Colluding with a foreign enemy for domestic political advantage not only violates the spirit of that oath, but is by itself a self-serving act of betrayal, not business as usual.
If we tolerate the Law of the Jungle as the standard for doing business, then we have no civilization. We have only the barbarians within ruling us.
11
most enlightening and spot on column...I wish Maureen dowd wrote this succinctly....not only did the column expose and undress the trumps....it drew an abundance of well articulated, passionately expressed POV's that actually provide hope that the trump-induced national malaise is localized and is perhaps diminishing...there is not much hope that hard core g.o.p. kool aid drinkers will change...but maybe a few semi-educated, marginally aware "independents" might take note of the state of the union and decide a change of course might be helpful...
2
"... to live outside the law you must be honest".
- Bob Dylan
Laws exist for the dishonest. Donald Trump Jr., like his father, is dishonest. Indeed, in both of them it's pathological. We can, as David Brooks attempts to do here, analyze the whys and wherefores, but so what? If he broke the law he should be punished. If not, we'll just have to accept the fact that a majority of the electoral college saw fit to install these morally and ethically challenged thugs in the White House.
- Bob Dylan
Laws exist for the dishonest. Donald Trump Jr., like his father, is dishonest. Indeed, in both of them it's pathological. We can, as David Brooks attempts to do here, analyze the whys and wherefores, but so what? If he broke the law he should be punished. If not, we'll just have to accept the fact that a majority of the electoral college saw fit to install these morally and ethically challenged thugs in the White House.
8
It's too late to be just a passive observer David.
7
How about the sins of Democratic Party and their liberal cohorts - to many to list here - but quite real- which are absent from any discussion on these pages.. which basically amounts to propaganda of the lowest form.. the average deplorable - although beyond redemption can pick up on the sugary hypocrisy...
Which brings me to the question - how about the moral decay of the supposedly objective media.. which will inevitable lead to the credibility decay of an objective media and then later to the financial decay.. keep up the good work..
Which brings me to the question - how about the moral decay of the supposedly objective media.. which will inevitable lead to the credibility decay of an objective media and then later to the financial decay.. keep up the good work..
2
I don't know. I share the Trump fatigue, but nonetheless the two sons (Don Jr. and Eric) strike me as fundamentally normal and OK. I've watched all their interviews and I don't ascribe any indecency to them.
2
You think it's fundamentally normal to take secret meetings with foreign officials with the express intention of interfering with a US election?
Really?
They strike me as sycophants who still absolutely mirror Daddy because they can't go out on their own without his permission. Not the way men in their 30s are supposed to behave in a decent and normal family.
Really?
They strike me as sycophants who still absolutely mirror Daddy because they can't go out on their own without his permission. Not the way men in their 30s are supposed to behave in a decent and normal family.
1
...and, why are we being saddled with the cast of a REALITY TELEVISION SHOW at the top levels of our government???? a reflection of ourselves. when the deciding electorste watches The Apprentice and Maury, and the smart people just sit there and do nothing but theorize. will someone please make the effort to run for office and run this country?
1
It actually sounds like they were morally bankrupt from the beginning.
5
You go through a red light and cause a traffic accident. Do you say, "Wow, that was my fault. The light was red. I wasn't paying attention." Or do you you say, "Well that was not my fault. The light was green in the sense that no one can prove that it was red and I have the best lawyers."
9
"Their scandals may not build to anything impeachable"
They are already impeachable. They are simply not going to be impeached by the current Republican leaders who have also collectively lost their sense of decency, honor, and higher duty to country.
Ultimately, We the People will have to make changes or we are all doomed.
They are already impeachable. They are simply not going to be impeached by the current Republican leaders who have also collectively lost their sense of decency, honor, and higher duty to country.
Ultimately, We the People will have to make changes or we are all doomed.
13
There is a poisonous blend of the White House Trumps and this Republican Congress which will probably take the nation down. The democracy itself is hanging on by a thread, I fear.
Voter suppression laws once again appear out of the muck throughout the nation; McConnell virtually steals a Supreme Court seat while absolutely straight faced lying as to why he's did it.The Russian government is now woven into the fabric of our electoral process and not a soul on Capital Hill or the West Wing is doing anything about it. Thanks to gerrymandering on an industrial strength scale, congressional seats are as safe as a job at the post office.
Our politics is virtually awash in money coming from all points of the compass and from every large coroporation, group, and individual with an agenda and a fat wallet. The AM airwaves, nominally owned by the public, stirs a pot of political goo thanks to the dispensing of a law proscribing fairness on broadcasting of poliotical viewpoints.
Trump and his wrecking crew of corrupt relatives and hangers-on are the natrual result of 50 or more years of constant tearing down of our basic values; our understanding of how the process should work.
The Trumps are to politics what Rosemary's baby is to pro life: a scourge. And our leaders do nothing, mute and stuck on top dead center.
Voter suppression laws once again appear out of the muck throughout the nation; McConnell virtually steals a Supreme Court seat while absolutely straight faced lying as to why he's did it.The Russian government is now woven into the fabric of our electoral process and not a soul on Capital Hill or the West Wing is doing anything about it. Thanks to gerrymandering on an industrial strength scale, congressional seats are as safe as a job at the post office.
Our politics is virtually awash in money coming from all points of the compass and from every large coroporation, group, and individual with an agenda and a fat wallet. The AM airwaves, nominally owned by the public, stirs a pot of political goo thanks to the dispensing of a law proscribing fairness on broadcasting of poliotical viewpoints.
Trump and his wrecking crew of corrupt relatives and hangers-on are the natrual result of 50 or more years of constant tearing down of our basic values; our understanding of how the process should work.
The Trumps are to politics what Rosemary's baby is to pro life: a scourge. And our leaders do nothing, mute and stuck on top dead center.
6
Voter suppression is part of the corrupting influence of oligarchs like the Koch bro., Mercer, Adelsen, etc. These few individuals are the puppeteers running the an entire party.
1
What about this generations-long moral decay isn't in line with neo-liberalism in its purest form? Or American conservatism in general, in which the only objects of concern beyond oneself are fetuses? Brooks' fantasy to play the role of some kind of post-Allan Bloom Burkean for America are not only silly - they are dangerous. It is milquetoast ideologies like Brooks working with opportunists like the Republican congress (and the political failure of many more milquetoasts known as Democrats) that gave us Trump.
2
Lotta empty skulls, too.
3
It scares me that millions of Americans see nothing wrong with this fake president and his family. They applaud serial lying, greed, corruption, conflicts of interest, cheating on taxes, welching on business partners, misogyny, denial of science, poisoning of our planet, even treason if it helped put their despicable poster boy in the White House. It scares me that once respectable generals have become shills for this cesspool. And it scares me that Congress won't do anything about it. What will it take to restore that shining city on the hill?
11
Sounds like David Brooks is describing a family of sociopaths. Look it up.
3
"There is just naked capitalism."
And the totally unclothed bodies of the Emperor and his immediate family – not a pretty sight, even with Ivanka in the picture.
And the totally unclothed bodies of the Emperor and his immediate family – not a pretty sight, even with Ivanka in the picture.
1
You know, the more I think about this op piece the madder it get. What incredible nonsense! How petty and arrogant of the the writer and the NYT to insult an entire family to spin a false narrative about our President and his son. Where is your decency and civility?
1
You know, the more I think about your opinion the harder I am laughing at it.
Your viewpoint is that Donald T. Trump is an honest, trustworthy, ethical, decent human being who treats people and our national institutions with respect and humility? Only everything he has ever said and done during his entire low life is clear evidence of exactly the opposite. Civil is exactly what he is not.
Your viewpoint is that Donald T. Trump is an honest, trustworthy, ethical, decent human being who treats people and our national institutions with respect and humility? Only everything he has ever said and done during his entire low life is clear evidence of exactly the opposite. Civil is exactly what he is not.
1
If you are swallowing and supporting the ACTUALLY false narrative spewing day after day from this administration and its surrogates, then the only answer to your question is "Where is yours?"
1
When people lie routinely, as freely as they breathe, they lose the actual ability to distinguish truth first from embellishment, then from fabrication, and ultimately from outright lying. Donald Trump was born into and raised by a family of liars. He has been lying for 7 decades. It is the actual consciousness he resides in. Likewise, his family have absorbed this tendency, and he attracts to himself business associates made from the same mold.
Even early-career hires straight out of university who go to work for federal executive agencies learn immediately about basic and fundamental government ethics. What this dumpster fire administration is doing is light years beyond the worst thing any Clinton or Obama ever did while running for office or serving in elected or appointed positions. The whole lot of the Trumps and their surrogates are complicit.
Even early-career hires straight out of university who go to work for federal executive agencies learn immediately about basic and fundamental government ethics. What this dumpster fire administration is doing is light years beyond the worst thing any Clinton or Obama ever did while running for office or serving in elected or appointed positions. The whole lot of the Trumps and their surrogates are complicit.
4
He's not doing it alone. The entire Republican party has enabled him into this position and they have to either fix it or get voted out.
1
The house that Trump built is crumbling. It's just a matter of time before the wrecking ball of Mueller's investigation destroys it. Not sure what planet Mr.Brooks lives on but to say Don Jr. is not malevolent is risible. He is like his father, arrogant, smug, a pathological liar, avaricious, immoral and dumb. And the same could be said about Kushner. They are only a slicker, better educated version of their parents just like in the Godfather. Trump is the don and he's trying to create a plutocracy. But in reality it is a kleptocracy. They will eventually eat the humble pie.
6
Ironic that the NYT would print an article about ethics and morality. Is not this the paper that supported Hillary Clinton? Is not this the paper that supported the DNC? Did not Obama lie to the American people about keeping your doctor and insurance provider in addition to lying about Bengazi, the IRS targeting conservatives, fast and furious, etc?
My point is not that all Democrats are morally corrupt and all Republicans are angelic...but rather that neither political party seems to have ethics or high morals as their hallmark in this day and age.
My point is not that all Democrats are morally corrupt and all Republicans are angelic...but rather that neither political party seems to have ethics or high morals as their hallmark in this day and age.
3
Psychobabble entirely worthy of Mr. Brooks.
1
The entire Trump tribe is a cauldron of morally bankrupt sleaze
4
When I think of the Trump family, I think of despotic and horrible leaders with family like Idi Amin. There are no excuses for families of that ilk. They are a blight to humanity and when in positions of power do great harm. This family needs to be deposed and soon. Please don't make excuses for them, Mr. Brooks.
3
In many cultures that inhabit this planet, there is a moral understanding that over-accumulation of material wealth is a mental illness. In America it has been turned into a religion. That pretty much says it all.
I can almost agree with your assertion that Pumpkinhead isn't malevolent--except for his love of despots and dictators, military parades, and constant demeaning of select groups and cultures.
Sadly, Mr. Brooks, you have precious little credibility in the excoriation of right-wing evils, having been an eager proponent of most of them throughout your career. I know you understand history, and that you recognize not only the value, but the necessity, of distancing yourself from this clear re-emergence of fascism, lest you be lumped in with the other collaborators when it''s all over, but I also think there are too many who see the same things I do for you to get away with it. If you really want to rehabilitate yourself, start by convincing "the base" that they made an historic mistake in supporting ALL of these con men hiding behind the label of "conservative", or "evangelical", or "libertarian"--basically, Republicans--and that in the future they should learn to gather information from varied sources, particularly those they disagree with, and follow the evidence to whatever conclusion emerges. Not the other way around, which is part and parcel of the right-wing mindset, i.e., start with what you want to believe, then search for something to "prove" it.
I can almost agree with your assertion that Pumpkinhead isn't malevolent--except for his love of despots and dictators, military parades, and constant demeaning of select groups and cultures.
Sadly, Mr. Brooks, you have precious little credibility in the excoriation of right-wing evils, having been an eager proponent of most of them throughout your career. I know you understand history, and that you recognize not only the value, but the necessity, of distancing yourself from this clear re-emergence of fascism, lest you be lumped in with the other collaborators when it''s all over, but I also think there are too many who see the same things I do for you to get away with it. If you really want to rehabilitate yourself, start by convincing "the base" that they made an historic mistake in supporting ALL of these con men hiding behind the label of "conservative", or "evangelical", or "libertarian"--basically, Republicans--and that in the future they should learn to gather information from varied sources, particularly those they disagree with, and follow the evidence to whatever conclusion emerges. Not the other way around, which is part and parcel of the right-wing mindset, i.e., start with what you want to believe, then search for something to "prove" it.
7
It seems that David Brooks is almost always just a bit off from getting it right.
There were many objecting comments to his 'How We Are Ruining America' column, and now this forgetting to discuss Congress' Republican majority and the lack of anything ethical or moral coming from those people.
Have a look at the first Readers' Pick comment here which has received 3701 recommends. In two paragraphs the moral vacuum of the GOP is nicely outlined. Why has David Brooks not discussed that vacuum which probably matches the depth of a black hole?
There were many objecting comments to his 'How We Are Ruining America' column, and now this forgetting to discuss Congress' Republican majority and the lack of anything ethical or moral coming from those people.
Have a look at the first Readers' Pick comment here which has received 3701 recommends. In two paragraphs the moral vacuum of the GOP is nicely outlined. Why has David Brooks not discussed that vacuum which probably matches the depth of a black hole?
5
Also, almost verbatim, a nice description of one Joseph Kennedy and his brood.
Though as a RINO, Mr. Brooks is likely oblivious to that irony. Most RINO's worship the Kennedy's.
Though as a RINO, Mr. Brooks is likely oblivious to that irony. Most RINO's worship the Kennedy's.
1
Mr. Spock's head would explode if exposed to your illogical reasoning.
Here is your argument:
Joseph Kennedy and his family were immoral.
David Brooks is a RINO.
RINO's worship the Kennedys.
Therefore, David Brooks has no valid right to assert that Donald Trump and his family are immoral.
Here is your argument:
Joseph Kennedy and his family were immoral.
David Brooks is a RINO.
RINO's worship the Kennedys.
Therefore, David Brooks has no valid right to assert that Donald Trump and his family are immoral.
David, you write "Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive." I'm not sure that's true -- the capitalist system is very much a win-lose system and adversarial, like the legal system. In the legal system, the contest is refereed by a judge and the rules of litigation. In the capitalist system we use statutes and regulations --
acts of government -- to cabin the rapaciousness of unbridled competition. The Trumps are just a more "pure" form of capitalist game player, but playing now in an arena -- politics -- where there are fewer rules beyond the criminal statutes.
acts of government -- to cabin the rapaciousness of unbridled competition. The Trumps are just a more "pure" form of capitalist game player, but playing now in an arena -- politics -- where there are fewer rules beyond the criminal statutes.
1
I'm an amateur genealogist. If there's one thing I can say with absolute certainty, it's that Mr. Brooks is spot on with his thesis here. As anyone who has spent years - before AND since the advent of the Internet era - tracking down the flotsam and jetsam of their family history can tell you, it's that family traits are the result of a set of genetic and learned characteristics passed down through the ages. Once you've seen what even a hobbyist like myself has seen, you don't even get in a conversation anymore with anyone who would dismiss this hard, cold fact that governs who each one of us is as a human being. The Trump family tree tells this tale as clearly as it can be told.
3
Grandfather Trump came from the Pfalz, near Speyer where former Chancellor Helmut Kohl was buried. Because he already had American citizenship, when he returned to the homeland shortly before the outbreak of World War I, he was deported (the irony) and took his german sweetheart back to the U.S. Were it not for this stroke of fate, he would have remained in germany. Sigh.
No body needs you Mr Brooks to defend Trump Jr's behavior.
Why don't you simply state all the Trump's are crooks, out to grab
anything legally or illegally. It is that simple.
Why don't you simply state all the Trump's are crooks, out to grab
anything legally or illegally. It is that simple.
3
Gwenda Blair is not a "family historian." She's a writer who is an expert on the Clown in Chief.
1
Mr. Brooks. These are stupid, selfish people who were brought up and believe in the evil creed of winning at all costs, no matter how or what exactly the win is. When a fake real estate tycoon pretends to play dress up president, the nation is in a very dangerous state. Please don't try to analyze the ego and stupidly. We need to get rid of them, with or without the aid of a cowardly Republican congress
5
While you are not necessarily wrong, Trump is a Political Neophite, the real problems are with many of the American people, when a Country becomes over-populated, as we are, things start to go down the tubes, morals, ethics and consideration for others!
Interesting that this "moral vacuum" that describes the behavior of our whole contemporary 1%, particularly the completely amoral elite population of New York City (including the NT Times editors and their stable of journalist propagandists for our business/banker elites) and their organized crime housing securities Ponzi scheme against all who they consider 'lesser tribes' that culminated in the 2008 economic crash is only evoked to act holier than thou about the Trumps. The Clinton's and Gore were up to their necks in identical dealings that apparently were thought to be "business as usual" and often spun to be highly moral by the Leftist and democrat party pundits. For example today's "Oh my God!" headline hysterics over the fact that the Trump woman's clothing lines are made by slave workers in China or some equally nasty dictatorship sewer of a nation is the height of hypocrisy after decades of our NY business elites claiming sainthood because they have "Lifted millions out of poverty!" by outsourcing jobs that Americans need out of the USA.
1
They just sound like typical republicans. Party first.
2
This is a completely selfish remark -- it's that I would like someone to reassure me, to tell me when and how the sun will go down on the Trumps and when I can stop feeling appalled and depressed, as I HAVE felt for the last two years! I am a Holocaust survivor -- I have often thought, thinking of Anne Frank, that but for America and American intervention, her fate might well have been mine. But now the America that saved me is becoming more like the dictatorship from which I escaped. Say something hopeful, somebody!
5
I've known about the Trump bordello story and agree that this seedy legacy has likely flavored the morality of future Trump generations. Children do not get to pick their parents, but I've been struck that none of Donald Sr.'s children have ventured into medicine, literature, art, technology or science, but have chosen to participate in the family business with its undertones of money-laundering and corruption. The family is crass. Ivanka's tweet telling how to buy her dress after her convention speech was all I needed to reinforce my opinion.
4
We don't demand morals in our own homes (free sex, free drugs, free violence, disrespect in schools, divorce, abortion, shame religion), how can we expect morals in government. The liberals can't have it both ways.
You forgot to mention the authoritarian ubermench aspect of German cultrure or the song possibility of sociopathy in this particular family.
2
David Brooks states that 'It takes generations to hammer ethical considerations out of a person’s mind and to replace them entirely with the ruthless logic of winning and losing;' Later, he speaks of Eric Trump's claim of familial loyalty. Don't believe Eric. The ruthless logic of winning and losing will always win over any ties these people have to fidelity; certainly that instinct -
survival - will occur once the disinfecting odor of a jail cell hits their noses. The only question I have is who will crack first. My wife is betting on Jared. Maybe...he's not blood. And then what will Jared's wife do? Daddy's best little trophy will be very upset. And then comes her test of loyalty...will she cleave to daddy dearest or to her lying husband. But I'm betting on Jr. When dad divorced junior's mom (I wanta better deal, Invana), Junior didn't talk to dad for more than a year. Somehow Junior traded the possibility of inheriting brains for the 'winning at all cost' Trump gene. Have we ever seen stupidity so on display as we have since this horde descended upon our national scene? Some sage said that you get the government you deserve. My poor country. We never deserved this.
survival - will occur once the disinfecting odor of a jail cell hits their noses. The only question I have is who will crack first. My wife is betting on Jared. Maybe...he's not blood. And then what will Jared's wife do? Daddy's best little trophy will be very upset. And then comes her test of loyalty...will she cleave to daddy dearest or to her lying husband. But I'm betting on Jr. When dad divorced junior's mom (I wanta better deal, Invana), Junior didn't talk to dad for more than a year. Somehow Junior traded the possibility of inheriting brains for the 'winning at all cost' Trump gene. Have we ever seen stupidity so on display as we have since this horde descended upon our national scene? Some sage said that you get the government you deserve. My poor country. We never deserved this.
3
Good essay as far as it goes. You succeeded, in my mind, in establishing why DTJ cannot distinguish right from wrong. But what confuses me is this: The law that DTJ broke is very clear and easy to understand. Reading it and understanding it requires no morals. In essence, it says that a foreign country cannot give gifts, money, or information to your side in a political campaign. DTJ broke the law. Period. His own e-mails tell the story. There's no spin involved. Why don't right wing supporters see that?
3
What law? Information? Is it give or is it take? I sense some confusion on your part ...
1
Speaking of moral vacuums, how is it that this newspaper only finds moral vacuums outside the Democrat party? Has it relentlessly criticized Hillary Clinton for having accepted from a nationally televised debate monitor, Donna Brazille, the debate questions in advance? Has it even discussed the connections between the company that was involved with the Democrats in putting out the fake dossier against Trump and the Russian lawyer who met with Trump , Jr.?
Where is the relentless coverage of the $124 million in "donations" that were dropped into the Clinton Foundation. by Russian oligarchs after she approved the sale of our uranium--one fifth of our total supply--to that horrid country-- Russia? Where is there even mention that state secrets--US state secrets--containing highly classified material, were easily available to Russia and other hostile states while millions in donations poured into the Foundation and into hubby Bill's pockets? Did you even inform your readers that Lynch, when AG, ordered Comet not to disclose to the public that Hillary was under investigation and that he was to substitute the term "matter" for "investigation"? Did you not consult legal experts--unbiased experts--who could tell your journalists that Comey misinterpreted clear statutory language in his July 5th testimony, when he said that, yes, Hillary did all those terrivle things, but she didn't "intend" to, and the statutes require intent, and so there should be no indictment?
Where is the relentless coverage of the $124 million in "donations" that were dropped into the Clinton Foundation. by Russian oligarchs after she approved the sale of our uranium--one fifth of our total supply--to that horrid country-- Russia? Where is there even mention that state secrets--US state secrets--containing highly classified material, were easily available to Russia and other hostile states while millions in donations poured into the Foundation and into hubby Bill's pockets? Did you even inform your readers that Lynch, when AG, ordered Comet not to disclose to the public that Hillary was under investigation and that he was to substitute the term "matter" for "investigation"? Did you not consult legal experts--unbiased experts--who could tell your journalists that Comey misinterpreted clear statutory language in his July 5th testimony, when he said that, yes, Hillary did all those terrivle things, but she didn't "intend" to, and the statutes require intent, and so there should be no indictment?
1
Oxford96, you ask in vain. These people ARE the Democratic Party, why would they report on their own misdeeds?
1
So, a Republican thoroughbred in other words.
This column could have been written anytime in the last thirty years. Your party nominated this sleazy grifter anyway.
1
Brooks, how about you just go eat some Mexican food so you can slum it like the rest of uneducated America that elected Trump.
1
Ah another utterly ridiculous piece by David Brooks. You act like Donald Jr is somehow worse or dumber than his father when he's just a chop off the old block.
"The Trumps have an ethic of loyalty to one another."
Like the loyalty Eric Trump's father showed to his (Eric's) mother?
Like the loyalty Eric Trump's father showed to his (Eric's) mother?
4
"It takes generations to hammer ethical considerations out of a person’s mind and to replace them entirely with the ruthless logic of winning and losing; to take the normal human yearning to be good and replace it with a single-minded desire for material conquest; to take the normal human instinct for kindness and replace it with a law-of-the-jungle mentality."
This is a very interesting paragraph. If you define this as moral failing then it seems to me the entire basis of the modern Republican party is a moral failure because you just accurately described Ayn Rand's philosophy.
Well done Mr Brooks in showing that the entire Republican party exists in a moral vaccuum!
This is a very interesting paragraph. If you define this as moral failing then it seems to me the entire basis of the modern Republican party is a moral failure because you just accurately described Ayn Rand's philosophy.
Well done Mr Brooks in showing that the entire Republican party exists in a moral vaccuum!
3
This was the grandfather who sold steel or something to the Nazis no? Explains a lot.
1
David Brooks ever since you left your wife for your young research assistant, your moral gravitas has faded in my eyes.. I know this won't get printed but I want you to know.
2
The President of the United States family motto could be something like, morality is for suckers, and the only ethics that exists are the ones that serve us.
1
When your father's mentor was an odious malignancy like Roy Cohn, there really isn't anything to be surprised about with Don Jr.
3
One moment stands above all, illustrating trump's utter lack of morality and human decency. That's when he childishly and ferociously mocked a disabled reporter at one of his rabble-rousing rally.
The crowd cheered.
trump was pleased.
The crowd cheered.
trump was pleased.
7
It seems impossible to accept that Trump Jr. didn't think to mention to Trump Sr. this meeting with Russian(s) even after what happened with all those others who had claimed forgetting such meetings and the public's reactions to them. A simple, "Hey Dad", Jared and Manafort were at this meeting with a Russian and haven't documented it, could this be a problem?" This would seem to be normal for such a close knit family, wouldn't it?
1
What you are describing is a psychopath.
7
Basically, this family and everyone in it has never had an ounce of ethics or morals. Not in business, personal life and it also appears, in politics.
Win at all costs. If that means discrimination, lying, money laundering or selling out your own country, nothing can get in your way.
This will not change and one can only hope, their venture into the White House will be the nail in these thieves coffins. However, I doubt it.
I do believe their history of money laundering will be exposed in this scandal and it will take them down. I still doubt w will see them perp-walked but instead resigning to stay out of jail.
The most amazing thing of all this is how the most religious among us could believe in this den of thieves.
Mind blowing.
Win at all costs. If that means discrimination, lying, money laundering or selling out your own country, nothing can get in your way.
This will not change and one can only hope, their venture into the White House will be the nail in these thieves coffins. However, I doubt it.
I do believe their history of money laundering will be exposed in this scandal and it will take them down. I still doubt w will see them perp-walked but instead resigning to stay out of jail.
The most amazing thing of all this is how the most religious among us could believe in this den of thieves.
Mind blowing.
5
Mr. Brooks seems shocked at this moral vacuum in the House of Trump. I'm wondering if he lives under a rock.
There is a moral vacuum in the House of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln aka America.
Just look at what we look at. Has Mr. Brooks seen TV lately? Housewives, Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo, Big Brother and a whole slew of base and vile behavior is glorified and monetized on a daily basis.
Trump and his kin fit right in.
I teach young children singing. In trying to find suitable pop music this last semester I had to completely disregard the top songs on iTunes. Lyrically vulgar and filled with expletives, they were too vile for me to teach. But the kids know them anyway as lack of parental attention is rampant.
Growing up in this country was very different when I was younger. There now seems to be a pervasive lack of shame and good taste. Couple that with the exaltation of bad behavior and we have the United States of American Dysfunction vividly on display in the portrait of the first family.
There is a moral vacuum in the House of Washington, Jefferson and Lincoln aka America.
Just look at what we look at. Has Mr. Brooks seen TV lately? Housewives, Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo, Big Brother and a whole slew of base and vile behavior is glorified and monetized on a daily basis.
Trump and his kin fit right in.
I teach young children singing. In trying to find suitable pop music this last semester I had to completely disregard the top songs on iTunes. Lyrically vulgar and filled with expletives, they were too vile for me to teach. But the kids know them anyway as lack of parental attention is rampant.
Growing up in this country was very different when I was younger. There now seems to be a pervasive lack of shame and good taste. Couple that with the exaltation of bad behavior and we have the United States of American Dysfunction vividly on display in the portrait of the first family.
5
As long as we are talking about morality, Why didn't you include Bill Clinton who practiced his morality in the Oval room closet. Or lets talk about Old Man Kennedy who made his fortune bootlegging booze. He also was a notorious woman chaser as were his children. You got your cheap shot in David hope you are now feeling better.
1
But what kind of sandwiches would he choose? Does he even know what capocollo is?
2
Soon, Trump will announce that he's resigning, "to spend more time with the family"... In prison.
1
You're spending an inordinate amount of time trying to spark a flame out of the Russian interaction. There's nothing there. If we take a longer view, the Clinton email, the Clinton Uranium deal, the Clinton lobbing Foundation, Obama's approving the NSA to hack into press the public emails, much worse stuff. Can we please get back to governing.
If this President is focused on making healthcare no longer a budget-buster, creating jobs, improving our stock market, making NATO pay more, ending this ceaseless discrimination against Christians, and fixing immigration instead of this unmanageable flood. Let's give him a chance. It's like spackling a house, give him a swim at stabilizing the home.
What a concept.
If this President is focused on making healthcare no longer a budget-buster, creating jobs, improving our stock market, making NATO pay more, ending this ceaseless discrimination against Christians, and fixing immigration instead of this unmanageable flood. Let's give him a chance. It's like spackling a house, give him a swim at stabilizing the home.
What a concept.
There's nothing there?? What world do you live in? The law makes it illegal for a foreign national to directly or indirectly make a “contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation” relating to an election. That's exactly what he HIMSELF admitted doing. Its not legalese, or the New York Times. Its DTJ himself, and its pretty clear.
Maybe he just did not grow up feeling comfortable eating a sandwich with cappacuolo
3
And don't forget Trump's two "distinguished" lawyers, Kasowitz & Sekulow. Two classy guys who represent a classy family.
Insightful column. This family of amoral grifters long ago consented to being a tool of Russian mobsters and oligarchs. See this article in The New Republic:
https://newrepublic.com/article/143586/trumps-russian-laundromat-trump-t...
https://newrepublic.com/article/143586/trumps-russian-laundromat-trump-t...
1
Plants that have been growing from deceits and lies will not change by warm winds or plenty of loving water.
Thank you for an informative and perceptive column about the Trump family's transcendence of ethical concerns, Mr. Brooks.
Regarding most of the top comments on this column: while I agree that most GOP reps are much too accepting of Trump's moral vacuity and rapidly abandoning their own moral sense, I sure wish that Times readers inclined to blame the GOP exclusively would please take note that the execs in Hollywood, most of whom are Democratic, helped deliver our nation into "reality show" culture. The norms that were and are valorized on who's like Survivor and The Apprentice are crude, selfish, and hedonistic. Plenty of Dems were and are involved in building that culture.
Regarding most of the top comments on this column: while I agree that most GOP reps are much too accepting of Trump's moral vacuity and rapidly abandoning their own moral sense, I sure wish that Times readers inclined to blame the GOP exclusively would please take note that the execs in Hollywood, most of whom are Democratic, helped deliver our nation into "reality show" culture. The norms that were and are valorized on who's like Survivor and The Apprentice are crude, selfish, and hedonistic. Plenty of Dems were and are involved in building that culture.
2
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive."
Oh, really? What about the dozens of Republican senators and representatives who want to pass a bill that will deprive 22 million (or more) Americans of affordable healthcare insurance? What is THEIR moral code? Evangelical Christianity ("to him who has, more shall be given")? It seems identical to that of the egregious Trump family: MONEY ISN'T JUST THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUE, IT'S THE ONLY VALUE.
Oh, really? What about the dozens of Republican senators and representatives who want to pass a bill that will deprive 22 million (or more) Americans of affordable healthcare insurance? What is THEIR moral code? Evangelical Christianity ("to him who has, more shall be given")? It seems identical to that of the egregious Trump family: MONEY ISN'T JUST THE MOST IMPORTANT VALUE, IT'S THE ONLY VALUE.
10
Great point!
Jennifer Rubin has trumped (pun intended) David Brooks on the root cause of this problem.
Congress is failing to manage Trump, because of Trump's enablers: McConnell, Ryan, Grassley, Cotton, and other.
Barry Goldwater looks like a moderate compared to many of today's GOP senators. The GOP in the House is even worse.
Jennifer Rubin has trumped (pun intended) David Brooks on the root cause of this problem.
Congress is failing to manage Trump, because of Trump's enablers: McConnell, Ryan, Grassley, Cotton, and other.
Barry Goldwater looks like a moderate compared to many of today's GOP senators. The GOP in the House is even worse.
1
Trump and his family exhibit little concern over ethics nor concern about upholding any standards of fairness and common decency where the community in which they live and work does not present any serious obstacles to their getting what they desire if they disregard them. It's a real amoral kind of conduct, a way of living without morality. The weakness in living this way is that there is no security in this kind way of living if one loses one's material wealth, because all social interactions depend upon it. One has sacrificed all perceptions of reliability and trustworthiness, and the confidence in one that these perceptions assure.
5
The Trumps and practically everyone associated with them are moral midgets and callous Machiavellians. The hypocrisy of the evangelicals and religious right is apparent to everyone who is not stained by their lies, greed, and unencumbered excesses.
6
This op-ed writer's opinion is founded on the base hypothesis: "..Trump family has built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil."
Yet, nothing is written about this yuge irony: a good percentage of the Trump base identifies themselves as the so-called moral majority. So, how can they be fiercely loyal to a leader that presumeably builds a culture beyond good and evil?
The real answer is: the so-called moral majority does exist, a world of good and evil does exist, and if the Trump family does delude themselves over generations as to whether good/evil exists (as writer suggests), then they are even more pitiful human beings than just what their history of actions potrays.
The writer seems to be explaining away Don Jr's incomprehensible stupidity with the "That's just naked capitalism" argument.
"Real worlders" will probably stick to more concrete philosophy: People get caught, people go to jail, and a rich family that does stupid deals with shady characters is certainly not immune, no matter how many lawyers they hire.
Yet, nothing is written about this yuge irony: a good percentage of the Trump base identifies themselves as the so-called moral majority. So, how can they be fiercely loyal to a leader that presumeably builds a culture beyond good and evil?
The real answer is: the so-called moral majority does exist, a world of good and evil does exist, and if the Trump family does delude themselves over generations as to whether good/evil exists (as writer suggests), then they are even more pitiful human beings than just what their history of actions potrays.
The writer seems to be explaining away Don Jr's incomprehensible stupidity with the "That's just naked capitalism" argument.
"Real worlders" will probably stick to more concrete philosophy: People get caught, people go to jail, and a rich family that does stupid deals with shady characters is certainly not immune, no matter how many lawyers they hire.
4
And yet, the Christian Conservatives are in bed for the long haul with this thrice married, false prophet, Instigator in Chief. The version of the Bible they read must be published by Playboy.
6
More likely MAD magazine.
1
Huh. Good thing you worked so diligently to enable a Trump presidency.
Own it dude.
Own it dude.
7
tubs: As much as I often don't agree with David Brooks, he was early on a critic of Donald Trump and always clear that Trump was unqualified to be President. You are painting all conservatives with a broad brush that many do not deserve. The people who were appalled by Trump and later accepted and supported him are hypocrites. Brooks is not one of those people.
2
You continue to focus on and document what is wrong, in various ways, with a single or familial THEM.Please consider using your skills and abilities to suggest, address, what permits, enables, reinforces US, in our diverse roles, identities, levels and qualities of internal and external resources to facilitate the ummenschlichkeit from occurring and continuing, and not contributing to making needed changes, as best as any of us could. individually as well as together.Documenting-for-decency can all too easily become an indecent cop-out. Descriptions, whatever their validity, are not necessarily helpful explanations for understanding.Answers, however factual, to be increasingly helpful should stimulate further relevant questions which need to be raised. There is a quest in every question. At least in English! Consider, as you write,create, and opinionate to frame in terms of: and in addition, and not in the binary banality of either/or.
How about the moral compass of the Kushner family while we're at it. Charles Kushner spent years in prison for fraud, campaign finance violations and, wait for it, installing a video camera in a hotel room to set up and retaliate against his own sister's husband's encounter with a prostititue he hired. Lovely.
9
You've got to be taught
To lie and hate
You've got to be taught to
abuse women and steal
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught....
(Apologies to Oscar Hammerstein II)
To lie and hate
You've got to be taught to
abuse women and steal
It's got to be drummed
In your dear little ear
You've got to be carefully taught....
(Apologies to Oscar Hammerstein II)
7
So the family evolved from pimp, to slumlord to the current short-fingered, orange vulgarian. Maybe "evolved" is the wrong word.
9
Devolved. And, I agree.
2
The problem is that religion has been utterly discredited. When the religious right is willing to kill women and children, and punish the poor, and is far more interested in making false accusations about others, and not looking at themselves, they get exactly the credibility on moral issues they deserve: NONE.
Our Catholic Bishops are in open revolt with the teachings of Christ reinforced by the current Pope. Support for pedophile priests is still ongoing (if reduced). The American Catholic Church should be looking inward, not slinging bricks at others.
The American Evangelical movement is worse, supporting the very worst actors in American politics, and supporting a party Hell bent on making the lives of most Americans worse, cannot be considered "Christian", and directly contradicts the teachings of Christ.
It is small wonder that church attendance is dropping. The witness bearing Christians seem to have forgotten that Christ's teachings should be lived before accusing others of wrongdoing.
We would do better to be guided by two things: objective facts and beliefs such as the actual teachings of Christ about the need to help those around us to live their lives as we would like to live our own.
The consequences for good governance of using selfishness and contempt of others as our "moral" guide should be obvious. Republicans and Trump show what happens when greed guides.
Our Catholic Bishops are in open revolt with the teachings of Christ reinforced by the current Pope. Support for pedophile priests is still ongoing (if reduced). The American Catholic Church should be looking inward, not slinging bricks at others.
The American Evangelical movement is worse, supporting the very worst actors in American politics, and supporting a party Hell bent on making the lives of most Americans worse, cannot be considered "Christian", and directly contradicts the teachings of Christ.
It is small wonder that church attendance is dropping. The witness bearing Christians seem to have forgotten that Christ's teachings should be lived before accusing others of wrongdoing.
We would do better to be guided by two things: objective facts and beliefs such as the actual teachings of Christ about the need to help those around us to live their lives as we would like to live our own.
The consequences for good governance of using selfishness and contempt of others as our "moral" guide should be obvious. Republicans and Trump show what happens when greed guides.
8
I believe that at his Paris news conference, Trump said something to the effect that, most people would have taken that meeting. No Trump, only inexperienced, arrogant idiots would have taken that meeting. Even the most corrupt politician would have run to the FBI with the first email. Did these fools actually think they would get something from the Russians with no strings attached? Are that stupid? Not one of them could foresee the inevitable phone call,"Remember that meeting with us, the one you forgot to disclose?"
I believe that Putin's primary objective wasn't to get a lazy, ignorant, and incompetent puppet into the Oval Office; that's just been icing on the cake for him. His primary objective was to engender the political chaos we're now experiencing. It would not surprise me one bit if the Russian government proved to be the source of these never ending "leaks."
I believe that Putin's primary objective wasn't to get a lazy, ignorant, and incompetent puppet into the Oval Office; that's just been icing on the cake for him. His primary objective was to engender the political chaos we're now experiencing. It would not surprise me one bit if the Russian government proved to be the source of these never ending "leaks."
13
Well done, well done, Excellent Son. Not to worry about the latest “fake news.” Haven’t heard? Why, just the name of that other person present at the meeting with Ms Veselnitskaya. You know. The guy who translated for her. That Russian-American lobbyist and former Soviet counter intelligence officer, Rinat Akmetshin. Great guy! But, completely understandable. Impossible to remember everyone at such a YUGE gathering. Be proud! You're well on your way to reaching dear ole pop's level! Be grateful. No one’s connected the dots YET about that little Justice Dept. “arrangement” in May for Ms Veselnitskaya's client. You know. The $6 million “fine” (wink, wink) on the $230 million we laundered for him in the family real estate holdings. Remember. ALL for the family!
6
Morality and decency is oxymoronic to Republicans and RW Conservatives.
6
Trump and his offspring are the real life "bad seed". David is absolute correct in his observations. Sad that Trump was able to ever reproduce and prolifically at that.
3
The House of Trump was built on an ethos devoid of any moral compass so that when anyone of them are confronted with any opportunity for immediate gratification, no matter who else it may harm, even their own nation, perhaps even the entire world, there is absolutely no pause, no moral sniff test -- if it works for a Trump, it is the only reasonable action. We now see the 4th generation of bad apples didn't fall far from their rotten family tree.
The more horrifying truth is were it not for the sociopathy of so many others, Donald Trump Sr. would still be a shyster celebrity hustler of no historical consequence. Senior is dishonest, cruel, greedy, impulsive, reckless, intellectually shallow and thoroughly self-satisfied. Yet he is president of the United States -- without ever having held any political office or making any significant contribution worthy of even limited admiration.
Casting aside the Dumbing Down of America and covert acts of war perpetrated by Russia, the ugly truth is this: the Trump Family would not be in the WH were it not for Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican leadership. When McConnell & cohort made the decision to cry "foul" if President Obama revealed what was then known about Russia's cyber war because Russia's actions were appearing to help Trump secure the WH, they all sold their souls -- and with that sale went democracy as we once knew it.
The more horrifying truth is were it not for the sociopathy of so many others, Donald Trump Sr. would still be a shyster celebrity hustler of no historical consequence. Senior is dishonest, cruel, greedy, impulsive, reckless, intellectually shallow and thoroughly self-satisfied. Yet he is president of the United States -- without ever having held any political office or making any significant contribution worthy of even limited admiration.
Casting aside the Dumbing Down of America and covert acts of war perpetrated by Russia, the ugly truth is this: the Trump Family would not be in the WH were it not for Mitch McConnell and the rest of the Republican leadership. When McConnell & cohort made the decision to cry "foul" if President Obama revealed what was then known about Russia's cyber war because Russia's actions were appearing to help Trump secure the WH, they all sold their souls -- and with that sale went democracy as we once knew it.
11
Of course Trump and his family's scandals are impeachable, if the immoral GOP party had the moral sense of doing right by the country, which they clearly don't. This renders your argument ridiculous; are all of the GOPs from equally immoral backgrounds as the House of Trump? Are the three million less Americans who voted for this scoundrel and these immoral policies from long lines of immigrant dreck like Frederick Trump, the racist landlord?
4
I agree. If Clinton could be impeached for lying about a B.J., what is so difficult about impeaching Trump for lying about everything? Impeachment is political. It doesn't require specific law breaking. High crimes and misdemeanors will do, and those are whatever the Congress says they are.
3
All this psychoanalizing this bunch of craven rogues is to normalize them by blaming their ancestors. Enough of this 'theycan't help it, they were raised this way'!
They know right from wrong, but choose to do wrong. What their ancestors have passed on is providing them the protection of money to get away with doing wrong.
An article like this distracts from what common sense tells us . This growing list of those involved with Trump's election who had ties with Russia, now including his son and his daughter's husband reveals what is becoming blatantly ckear. Trump, and others close to his campaign, colluded with Russia to interfere with the American presidential election in order to put him in the White House.
It will be interesting to see whether the special prosecutor will find their actions merely morally lacking or legally wrong.
They know right from wrong, but choose to do wrong. What their ancestors have passed on is providing them the protection of money to get away with doing wrong.
An article like this distracts from what common sense tells us . This growing list of those involved with Trump's election who had ties with Russia, now including his son and his daughter's husband reveals what is becoming blatantly ckear. Trump, and others close to his campaign, colluded with Russia to interfere with the American presidential election in order to put him in the White House.
It will be interesting to see whether the special prosecutor will find their actions merely morally lacking or legally wrong.
5
Memma, I don't believe these people do know right from wrong, just as they seem unable to distinguish fact from fiction.
There is a black hole at the core of each and every one of them where empathy lives in ordinary, decent people. Empathy is at the root of conscience and morality - it is the thing that holds us back when antisocial behavior beckons.
Without empathy, the Trumps and their deranged entourage are essentially amoral - they have the same moral vacuum seen in serial killers, child molesters, mass murderers. The consequences of their actions, the simple concept of cause and effect, fail to restrain them from doing evil, because there is no evil. There is only what gratifies The Trump.
The pathology in Trump World is merely a variation on a theme: it manifests as an insatiable hunger for money and power, to notch a 'win,' even if it means suffering for millions of others, or the end of American democracy as we know it. Everyone else on the planet, rich or poor, white, black or brown, all are merely pawns on a chessboard.
People like KellyAnne Conway are like the obedient Nazi soldiers in this amoral world: their job is also to 'win,' without regard to what is good, true, right, wrong, moral or not. Whatever manipulation of reality is required to obtain the desired result - a 'win' - it shall be done, with gusto and with a smile.
Jimmy Carter was a President at one end of the moral spectrum. Donald Trump, his family and his 'surrogates' are at the other.
There is a black hole at the core of each and every one of them where empathy lives in ordinary, decent people. Empathy is at the root of conscience and morality - it is the thing that holds us back when antisocial behavior beckons.
Without empathy, the Trumps and their deranged entourage are essentially amoral - they have the same moral vacuum seen in serial killers, child molesters, mass murderers. The consequences of their actions, the simple concept of cause and effect, fail to restrain them from doing evil, because there is no evil. There is only what gratifies The Trump.
The pathology in Trump World is merely a variation on a theme: it manifests as an insatiable hunger for money and power, to notch a 'win,' even if it means suffering for millions of others, or the end of American democracy as we know it. Everyone else on the planet, rich or poor, white, black or brown, all are merely pawns on a chessboard.
People like KellyAnne Conway are like the obedient Nazi soldiers in this amoral world: their job is also to 'win,' without regard to what is good, true, right, wrong, moral or not. Whatever manipulation of reality is required to obtain the desired result - a 'win' - it shall be done, with gusto and with a smile.
Jimmy Carter was a President at one end of the moral spectrum. Donald Trump, his family and his 'surrogates' are at the other.
2
Ethics in the Conman's family? Hilarious! Conman Jr. proudly shoots rare animals so he can hang their heads on his walls. My suggestion is to send this macho man to Syria where he can put his shooting skills to use to serve our country.
6
Is this an attempt by Mr. Brooks to gain some reader's respect after that ugly article last week?
3
Your political party supports this, Mr. Brooks! Put up or shut up!
4
Working on genealogy for forty-five years certainly bears this out....
Family moral core goes on for generations, they seem to have the Aryn Rand concept. Huffington family another example of the Trumps means justify the end!
Family moral core goes on for generations, they seem to have the Aryn Rand concept. Huffington family another example of the Trumps means justify the end!
I've decided I have to find a different way to make people understand. (Writing in the NYTimes doesn't seem to be taking me where I'm going). Last night I was parked next to a car outside of the local WalMart with a infant screaming his head off. The parents did not attend to the baby once, but took their old sweet time packing the groceries in the car. Deplorable, yes. But, when I look for reasons, I keep coming up with the negligence of both parties in Washington -- education and lack of minimum wage. I finally said to the father, "I think someone is hungry." "Ya," he says, "we'll feed him when we get home." And off they drove in 90 degree heat with no a/c.
2
Imagine if this were a Democrat family. The howls and calls for "Lock them up!" would be fast and loud. The republican party will go down in history as enabling this corrupt family as they rape the country.
9
The President is the country's Chief Priest, our Pontifex Maximus. If he is virtuous, we benefit; if not we suffer.
1
This is La Cosa Trumpsta. Is it any wonder that Junior DiJiTs engaged a mob lawyer for his defense?
6
GOP never should have let him run on their ticket. This family is as morally and ethically bankrupt as the Sopranos - right down to the pretty blonde girls.
5
David Brooks!! Are you Miele or Electolux?
4
I find myself getting more and more depressed by this family of grifters. Reading today that trump oogled Mrs. Macon and told both her and her husband that she kept herself in great shape only shows him reverting to his younger self of abusing women by his inappropriate sleazy behavior. The story notes that Mrs. Macon grabbed Mrs. Trump's arm and stepped back.
How absolutely sad for us.
How absolutely sad for us.
7
"That’s what we do in business" - Donald Jr.
"Most people would have taken that meeting" - Donald Sr.
Jane Jacobs wrote the hugely influential Death and Life of Great American Cities, which some readers may know.
She also wrote Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics. This book discusses the tension between two ethical systems increasingly confused -- the ethical system at work in government/politics and the ethical systems at work in business.
Jacobs points out that business people routinely leave one company for another, whereas people who switch sides, by working for one government and then another, often go to jail (if caught).
The argument -- that different ethical systems pertain, in government and in business -- is something we should examine.
The idea that our government should be run like a business is popular. Yet it contrast with the traditional view in some countries, that, if a family has a history in commerce, its members should not serve in government -- because governments have a purpose that business people, focused as they are on making money, are ill-equipped to appreciate and honor.
"Most people would have taken that meeting" - Donald Sr.
Jane Jacobs wrote the hugely influential Death and Life of Great American Cities, which some readers may know.
She also wrote Systems of Survival: A Dialogue on the Moral Foundations of Commerce and Politics. This book discusses the tension between two ethical systems increasingly confused -- the ethical system at work in government/politics and the ethical systems at work in business.
Jacobs points out that business people routinely leave one company for another, whereas people who switch sides, by working for one government and then another, often go to jail (if caught).
The argument -- that different ethical systems pertain, in government and in business -- is something we should examine.
The idea that our government should be run like a business is popular. Yet it contrast with the traditional view in some countries, that, if a family has a history in commerce, its members should not serve in government -- because governments have a purpose that business people, focused as they are on making money, are ill-equipped to appreciate and honor.
2
David
You missed your true calling...the priesthood :)
You missed your true calling...the priesthood :)
1
If the Russia scandal doesn't bring down this administration and result in the incarceration of Donald Junior and/or Jared Kushner, then all of this moral judgment about the Trump family is a waste of time. I don't care about the Trumps; I only care about what they are doing to this country and how they can be stopped. The Trumps, most of the cabinet, and many of the Republicans in Congress do not care about our moral judgment unless it starts to interfere with their power to enrich themselves and their supporters at everyone else's expense.
We know that Donald Trump, Donald Junior, and Jared Kushner are amoral - they cannot see or absolutely do not care about fairness, truth, or the welfare of people or the planet. (I disagree with David Brooks, who always goes easy on his beloved Republican party -- it most definitely IS malevolence.) But our system of government should have sufficient checks and balances to thwart the malevolence of the Trump administration.
I am reminded of the often-quoted Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to stand back and do nothing.” At this point, I would categorize the Republican Congress as either malevolent as well or, if I'm being generous, as Burke's "good men standing back and doing nothing." Either way, evil is being allowed to flourish.
We know that Donald Trump, Donald Junior, and Jared Kushner are amoral - they cannot see or absolutely do not care about fairness, truth, or the welfare of people or the planet. (I disagree with David Brooks, who always goes easy on his beloved Republican party -- it most definitely IS malevolence.) But our system of government should have sufficient checks and balances to thwart the malevolence of the Trump administration.
I am reminded of the often-quoted Edmund Burke: “All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to stand back and do nothing.” At this point, I would categorize the Republican Congress as either malevolent as well or, if I'm being generous, as Burke's "good men standing back and doing nothing." Either way, evil is being allowed to flourish.
12
I've enjoyed Mr. Brooks columns lately but disagree that generations of moral turpitude is necessary to shape a selfish, over completive, cultural and civic miscreant. One generation is all it takes has been my observation.
If a youth, through parental abandon or non-direction falls into the decrepitude of self beyond any other consideration, it is often their peer group and those values that become an over-riding contribution to moral character and appreciation.
Look at various gangs. There, members didn't uniformly have generations of greedy selfish parents. They often learned their anti-social behavior on their own through the conditions they were raised with.
Additionally, loyalty per se is often tribal and frequently has little to do with family values. Mr. Brooks column is good, but all he has to do is recount the Trump families dodgy family history----and that could be as much an effect of nature rather than nurture. Bad genes is as likely as bad rearing.
I vote for a family history of inherently selfish ancestors.
If a youth, through parental abandon or non-direction falls into the decrepitude of self beyond any other consideration, it is often their peer group and those values that become an over-riding contribution to moral character and appreciation.
Look at various gangs. There, members didn't uniformly have generations of greedy selfish parents. They often learned their anti-social behavior on their own through the conditions they were raised with.
Additionally, loyalty per se is often tribal and frequently has little to do with family values. Mr. Brooks column is good, but all he has to do is recount the Trump families dodgy family history----and that could be as much an effect of nature rather than nurture. Bad genes is as likely as bad rearing.
I vote for a family history of inherently selfish ancestors.
4
Oh no! Successful business people come with a built-in "moral code?" Then where did the Peoples United corporate cash agenda come from? Sprung dull-blown from the head of Scalia? Republican donors and their successful money have not pursued any discernible moral code over the past half century. The current agenda is solid contemporary Republican mainstream. Sorry to burst your bubble.
3
PBS recently interviewed experienced Republican and Democratic election consultants. When asked about receiving information from a hostile government they seemed to say they wouldn't do it. The reasoning seemed to be mostly because it could possibly be a trap. Don Jr. and team's mistake was being inexperienced at politics. I think the process on both sides is very ugly. I do admit I can't stand the current president.
5
I feel that a lot of Trump supporters have no problem with Don Jr's unconsciousness about ethical behavior or lack thereof. I'm not sure if it is because they are unethical themselves (which I actually doubt) or if it is because they like being contrary. Senate and House Republicans should know better - - in fact, they are worse than the Trumps since they presumably had more principles than any person in the Trump clan.
5
Trump Sr.'s sister is a highly respected judge. How did that happen?
1
Recessive genes.
3
What you have described here is the morals of capitalism, and you could replace the word Trump with any Libertarian. It is unclear whether Libertarianism is an idealistic theory, or a cynical justification. I suspect the latter.
Traditionally morality has been provided by religion. The decline in religion has led to the rise in the worship of the golden calf.
Traditionally morality has been provided by religion. The decline in religion has led to the rise in the worship of the golden calf.
2
There is no shortage of religion in this country, just an shortage of adherence to religious tenets and mores. The party of religion, at least of fundamental Christianity, is aligned with the amoral libertarians and worship of gold. I submit that today's religion is the problem, not the answer.
2
Would be interesting to see brain scans of the clan: do zones of moral conscience ever light up?
3
I am no fan of the Trumps, but this is a bridge too far. You can not ascribe the sins of the father to the son. Each person in America has an opportunity to do their best, make mistakes, and move on...Eric Trump's behavior is his and his alone. In America, we do not say, his father was a scoundrel and therefore the son is one too. Often, the opposite is the case. Thus, I disagree respectfully with the premise of Mr. Brooks article.
"You’d think there would be some sense of embarrassment at having been caught lying so blatantly."
No, I don't think so. With most people, that's a reasonable assumption, but not here. Utterly impervious in his amorality, Trump Jr is exactly like his father. Has he ever done anything to lead you to expect otherwise?
No, I don't think so. With most people, that's a reasonable assumption, but not here. Utterly impervious in his amorality, Trump Jr is exactly like his father. Has he ever done anything to lead you to expect otherwise?
6
Many ascribe the spiritual decline of aMErica to the Reagan era characterized by the valuing of corporate and individual greed over the collective interests protected from the New Deal thru the Great Society. Ironically the Christians Right has gone along for the ride. Trump represents this narcissistic god in gross and hyperbolic way and maintains the support of the faux Christians. Note the impervious reaction of his base to the sins of collusion with Russian oligarchs. If I were the Democrats I wouldn't think hiding in the center is such a good idea for 2018. It's a fight to preserve the true Judeo-Christian spirit and the fall of Trump as thunderous as Saddam's crashing statute is what our culture needs.
5
In the house of Trump are many mansions. And folks like Mr. Brooks are longtime residents in their proper places.
2
As others have commented, the election of Trump is a symptom not a cause. Trump is the product of the moral implosion in the GOP.
There were a handful of full throated condemnations of Trump when it mattered. To his credit, Mitt Romney made clear that Trump was a fraud. But such warnings went unheeded. Why? Mitt Romney (of all people) is regarded by the GOP base as too liberal.
I would add that the problem with Trump Sr. goes well beyond a lack of ethics. This lack of ethics is of course fundamentally disqualifying but the greater danger to America and the world is his mental state.
Mafia Don is a megalomaniac. He is delusional and completely divorced from reality. He doesn't believe the "whole Russia thing" is a hoax because he has no ethics. He believes it is a hoax because he lives in an alternative universe. Donald Trump is not mentally or emotionally fit for office.
As the Mueller investigations unfolds and rats in the Whitehouse seek to save themselves, the Whitehouse is going to turn into a water park with enough leaks to keep armies of journalists busy. Trump will face ever greater pressure as the walls begin to close in around him. That stress is going to push an already unstable man to the breaking point.
Men like General Mattis need to prepare plans now for how we are going to handle this situation. This is completely new territory from a Constitutional and national security standpoint.
There were a handful of full throated condemnations of Trump when it mattered. To his credit, Mitt Romney made clear that Trump was a fraud. But such warnings went unheeded. Why? Mitt Romney (of all people) is regarded by the GOP base as too liberal.
I would add that the problem with Trump Sr. goes well beyond a lack of ethics. This lack of ethics is of course fundamentally disqualifying but the greater danger to America and the world is his mental state.
Mafia Don is a megalomaniac. He is delusional and completely divorced from reality. He doesn't believe the "whole Russia thing" is a hoax because he has no ethics. He believes it is a hoax because he lives in an alternative universe. Donald Trump is not mentally or emotionally fit for office.
As the Mueller investigations unfolds and rats in the Whitehouse seek to save themselves, the Whitehouse is going to turn into a water park with enough leaks to keep armies of journalists busy. Trump will face ever greater pressure as the walls begin to close in around him. That stress is going to push an already unstable man to the breaking point.
Men like General Mattis need to prepare plans now for how we are going to handle this situation. This is completely new territory from a Constitutional and national security standpoint.
7
Mr. Brooks's column is deeply troubling. For decades I have believed in the notion that "normal human instinct" is indeed "for kindness" rather than "a law-of-the-jungle mentality." As I see the drift of our country and much of the rest of the world, I now wonder if the natural isn't the other way around.
I hope not for the sake of my children, grand children and everyone in their respective generations to reverse the damage that my generation has hammered "ethical considerations out of" a nation's spirit and replaced "them entirely with the ruthless logic of winning and losing."
Seeing my grandchildren up-close, I'm a hopeful old curmudgeon and will do all I can to urge them, collectively, to take the reins of their own futures.
I hope not for the sake of my children, grand children and everyone in their respective generations to reverse the damage that my generation has hammered "ethical considerations out of" a nation's spirit and replaced "them entirely with the ruthless logic of winning and losing."
Seeing my grandchildren up-close, I'm a hopeful old curmudgeon and will do all I can to urge them, collectively, to take the reins of their own futures.
4
Well, it may come down to: Donald Jr. vs. Kushner.
Who will Trump throw under the bus?
Who will Trump throw under the bus?
2
Junior. HE would not dare to incur the wrath of Princess Ivanka.
2
Constraints reduce opportunities for actions. It's perfectly rational to ignore ethical and moral considerations where they inhibit taking advantage of ways of making money where the community is uninterested in upholding. In the case of the Grandfather's business ventures in the Northwest, the frontier-Gold Rush circumstances where the population of single males was huge, providing housing with liquor, gaming, and prostitution was condoned and so lack of ethics and morality enabled him to prosper. The father's win at any cost was condoned in in New York, and so his lack of constraints in that respect also enabled him to prosper. What we see in these men and their descendants is a determination to get what they want uninhibited by any concepts of higher purpose beyond their material aspirations, not following any kind of rules of conduct that contribute to a social environment which will sustain a good life beyond what can be bought with money -- base selfishness without any awareness of enlightened self interest.
1
The moral vacuum is drastically played down in Brooks's piece. In the Trump family, it was fully developed at least two generations before Don Jr.
But more importantly, it is the entire Republican party that has had no moral compass for a generation. Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and a host of other "leaders" have long ago made clear that their loyalty is only to the party, its donors, and their grasp on power. It is only more conspicuous now that they turn a blind eye to the Trump depredations
But more importantly, it is the entire Republican party that has had no moral compass for a generation. Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and a host of other "leaders" have long ago made clear that their loyalty is only to the party, its donors, and their grasp on power. It is only more conspicuous now that they turn a blind eye to the Trump depredations
9
But isn't that the greed is good ethos? That all matters is increasing shareholder value? So when you run government like a business, ethics is a cost that adds no value, especially when you insist on cost-benefit analysis that externalizes any benefit that you can't put a dollar figure on. So the moral bankruptcy of the financial world is finally seeing the light of day in government. Some of us are not surprised.
6
"...but the scandals will never end." At some point federal law and conviction for perjury will surely overtake a Trump. It seems inevetable.
1
While I agree with every moral and legal condemnation that has been hurled at Trump Jr and Sr, your statement that it takes "generations to hammer" ethics out of a person is a misguided attempt to draw a too slick parallel to Frederick.
The grandfather may or may not have been ethically challenged, but your statement about generations sounds terribly close to visiting the sins of the father on the sons. Are we going to cast aspersions on Richard Nixon's grandfather? on Bill Clinton's? Do we need to keep an eye out on OJ's children? or Bernie Madoff's grandkids?
The grandfather may or may not have been ethically challenged, but your statement about generations sounds terribly close to visiting the sins of the father on the sons. Are we going to cast aspersions on Richard Nixon's grandfather? on Bill Clinton's? Do we need to keep an eye out on OJ's children? or Bernie Madoff's grandkids?
5
We knew, or should have known, all this but still millions voted for him and millions did not vote at all, and still don't care. What does this say about us?
The decline of the United States continues and the Fall approaches
The decline of the United States continues and the Fall approaches
12
You are back David ! Good to read you again.
Please stay on top of the drip-drip-drip. The push to get rid of Trump & his GOP abettors must continue without stopping until they are gone.
Please stay on top of the drip-drip-drip. The push to get rid of Trump & his GOP abettors must continue without stopping until they are gone.
11
David didn't say anything about the GOP "abettors." In fact, when he cannot write about yet another Trump abomination (which is getting harder to do as they come ever more frequently), he writes ethereal philosophical pieces. Nary a word about the party for whom he shills. Sad.
2
Mr. Brooks latest article ends up being indistinguishable from 100’s (or 1000s) written on the character of Pres Trump and his complete lack of any traits to have the job he holds.
To me the reporting should now focus on two different topics: the actual damage his policies and actions are having and the people who continue to enable him with dissembling of their own. Trump is a hollow tree ready to fall when you take away the hypocritical and self-serving supporters.
To me the reporting should now focus on two different topics: the actual damage his policies and actions are having and the people who continue to enable him with dissembling of their own. Trump is a hollow tree ready to fall when you take away the hypocritical and self-serving supporters.
13
Amen....!!
Before Ronald Reagan children when asked "what they wanted to be" responded in pretty traditional ways. Doctor, lawyer, athlete, movie star, etc.
After Reagan the answer became "rich" and that has never changed. The Reagans codified greed as the highest value in the country and for their party.
Junior is just the latest Republican to ditch any kind of moral behavior in pursuit of money. That's what the party stands for now, greed, plain and simple. Nothing more. Power is just the most efficient means to that end. Are the Bushes or Romney any different? Perhaps a bit more sophisticated but the goal is always the same.
When viewed through this lens everything the Trumps do is simply the logical result of that goal. Money is everything and it's clear now that it doesn't matter how one gets it at all.
The rest is just noise.
After Reagan the answer became "rich" and that has never changed. The Reagans codified greed as the highest value in the country and for their party.
Junior is just the latest Republican to ditch any kind of moral behavior in pursuit of money. That's what the party stands for now, greed, plain and simple. Nothing more. Power is just the most efficient means to that end. Are the Bushes or Romney any different? Perhaps a bit more sophisticated but the goal is always the same.
When viewed through this lens everything the Trumps do is simply the logical result of that goal. Money is everything and it's clear now that it doesn't matter how one gets it at all.
The rest is just noise.
17
So, DJT, Jr.'s moral vaccuum is due to his, what - upbringing? Family history? Genes? Socio-economic level? Unlike poor folks, who, according to Mr. Brook's Republican Party, are poor because they are lazy, or lacking ambition, or God does not favor *them* because, you know . . . poor.
Where is the GOP's vaunted "individual responsibility" with regard to Junior?
Where is the GOP's vaunted "individual responsibility" with regard to Junior?
16
And this is the guy our Country voted in for President. What does that say about so many of our Countrymen? Tragic.
11
The Republican party in their actions are more than willing to dismiss,trample and scorn any morality that interferes with their service to their mega donors. Their treatment of the least of the least among us is clear evidence of their lack of moral courage
6
This doesn't describe capitalism - naked or otherwise. Capitalism is the philosophy that production in excess of consumption (which traditionally generated "capital") has rights and responsibilities just as though it were the very labor and energy that produced it.
This describes a family that would fit right in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany or any other morally corrupt society. Mario Puzo could have written a book about the Trumps - the Corleones without violence. The fact that they have become mainstream is an indictment of our country, as much - if not more - than the Trumps.
This describes a family that would fit right in the Soviet Union, Nazi Germany or any other morally corrupt society. Mario Puzo could have written a book about the Trumps - the Corleones without violence. The fact that they have become mainstream is an indictment of our country, as much - if not more - than the Trumps.
8
DT through decades of swindling thousands of investors, tenants, vendors and contractors has indeed committed violence, especially against those who had their business fail.
1
The House of Trump exhibits a sickness common among those enveloped in moral degeneration; they cannot trust their friends. What friends?
8
David - Excellent! Your evaluation moves beyond narcissism (a personality disorder) to a more robust "environmental" discussion: The effects of a skewed, insular upbringing. That explains Ivanka's otherwise puzzling statement that she couldn't understand the reason for all the criticism and hate of her father. It also explains we should stop looking for the voice of reason from ANYONE in the House of Trump.
Now an important question: What does this mean about his followers? With the House of Trump's flaws visible for all, why do Trump supporters view those immoral and unethical statements and actions as acceptable or, worse, desirable?
Now an important question: What does this mean about his followers? With the House of Trump's flaws visible for all, why do Trump supporters view those immoral and unethical statements and actions as acceptable or, worse, desirable?
3
Brooks' description of Donald Jr. as the evolutionary result of his great-grandfather, grandfather and father narrowing their capacity to simultaneously juggle ethics and ambition until the former disappears is interesting.
And familiar. Political historians are saying the same thing about the President and the Republican Party. He is the spawn of the GOP's eroding honor and decency.
And familiar. Political historians are saying the same thing about the President and the Republican Party. He is the spawn of the GOP's eroding honor and decency.
2
This is an amazing column and cuts to the quick to reveal, at the very foundation, what has been wrong, what is wrong and what will always be wrong with Donald Trump's presidency. Too bad all Americans will not read it. I agree with David. Nothing much will likely come of it. But, it also reveals that some Americans abandoned the ideals of our country when they voted for Donald Trump in 2016. Not his father, not Donald Trump himself and, we now know, not his children either have ever done anything of any significance except grab for themselves. They are completely hollowed out people. Thanks for writing this David.
4
Don would make a great mafia boss, he has all the qualities required. But that is nothing new. How long do we want to ruminate on what we all have known for years: Don is a pathological liar, a narcissist, a scrupulous business man, a buffoon, unfit for the elected office he beholds. We can stop analyzing him, it's really not that hard. He needs to be removed from office, that's the hard part the political system has to wrestle and follow through with.
5
'Donald Trump’s grandfather Friedrich emigrated to the United States when he was 16, in 1885. '
Where did I see that the Trump family originated in Qatar (or, as we Americans like to call it, Gatar, or something like that).
Can that be true?
Where did I see that the Trump family originated in Qatar (or, as we Americans like to call it, Gatar, or something like that).
Can that be true?
1
Huh? Come again?
Whether in business or politics, the main thing is to satisfy as many people as possible.
1
I'd save some considerable blame for our business culture. We have daily examples of very large companies going wrong: Uber, Wells Fargo Bank, Volkswagen, Takata, etc.
The business climate that made greed good puts the stock price above the welfare of other stakeholders and the community -- a practice that is often ruinous for the long-term future of the company and the nation. But the CEO gets a big bonus anyway.
It is our totalitarian capitalist climate that informs Donald Trump, pere e fils. They want deregulation when it's clear we need more stringent operating rules and higher taxes for co-existing in a safe, rich, stable nation and a sustaining global economic market.
The Trumps have been startled by the expectation of ethics and transparency in government.
The business climate that made greed good puts the stock price above the welfare of other stakeholders and the community -- a practice that is often ruinous for the long-term future of the company and the nation. But the CEO gets a big bonus anyway.
It is our totalitarian capitalist climate that informs Donald Trump, pere e fils. They want deregulation when it's clear we need more stringent operating rules and higher taxes for co-existing in a safe, rich, stable nation and a sustaining global economic market.
The Trumps have been startled by the expectation of ethics and transparency in government.
7
At the circus, a tiny car drives into the center ring. We all watch, laughing and amazed at the number of clowns emerging from the vehicle. Meanwhile, roustabouts are setting up the wild animal cage in ring 3, but we don't notice. In a Broadway musical, a funny solo, duet or dance number is performed in front of the curtain while the stagehands change the sets. Today, we are mesmerized by the antics of a bunch of con men covered 24-7 by newspapers, TV and Internet while the administration promulgates rules to destroy the rivers and oceans, pollute the air and land, open the National parks to extraction industries, and kill as many species as possible while we look the other way. Congress and the courts cooperate whenever they think we are not paying attention. Focus! Let Robert Mueller do his job, and report on all the other stuff that is happening to our natural world and health while the scene stealers have your attention.
9
a few op- ads ago I called Mr. Brooks on his piece essentially minimizing the unprecedented, across the board damage trump's election and its aftermath has inflicted on the country ( and the world).
here however, Brooks is ( welcome)back to what he does so very well : exposing the trumps for the empty, banal, uninspiring, harmful shells that they are.
Mr. Brooks makes it much easier to see through their true, corrupt images and the state of the ( political) reality in the US today.
thanks david. keep up your good work !
here however, Brooks is ( welcome)back to what he does so very well : exposing the trumps for the empty, banal, uninspiring, harmful shells that they are.
Mr. Brooks makes it much easier to see through their true, corrupt images and the state of the ( political) reality in the US today.
thanks david. keep up your good work !
1
Ah, that's the trick: "look here at those immoral Trumps" while the party of greed for the rich strips the country bare. That's David's contribution: distraction.
Quite right. The scandals won't end David. Can't change such an imbedded personality. The public might vote for him but they don't think like him. You'll work it out. I love your country, and politics, and I'm firmly neither Rep or Dem, but your like my eternally doomed Tigers football club. I stop paying attention halfway through the season 'cause it's too painful to watch. And you're not even halfway there yet. Sort it out.
No art, No deals.
No art, No deals.
2
Thank you Mr. Brooks.
It is anguishing enough to have a corrupt president, but to realize that so many Americans are just fine with it, is crushing.
This is not the country that I grew up in.
It is anguishing enough to have a corrupt president, but to realize that so many Americans are just fine with it, is crushing.
This is not the country that I grew up in.
5
"naked capitalism" --nah, naked cronyism! Naked capitalism suggests you would pay your bills and that you would follow on your own contracts.
1
In sum: For the Trumps winning isn't everything, it's the only thing. Donald Trump would be a pathetic human being if he were not in the world's most powerful position. Every day I wake up and realize that this nightmare is real.
4
Hello David: it is exhausting, morally, to read your pontifications, week after week, after years of your support for the Republican party, and the conservative agenda, which allowed and encouraged the Trumps. Your colleague, Paul Krugman, best said this before the election, during the primary season: the only difference between Trump and the rest of them (including most of the GOP "leaders" and candidates) is manners. They are all like this now. It is sad that the Republican party has become the refuge of thugs and scoundrels: even if I have not agreed with Republicans over my the course of my life (and my family's life as Democrats and liberals, who believed in maintaining a moral compass) there used to be many issues on which we could agree to disagree. Why couldn't you wake up to this earlier? Where were you? Please stop preaching to the rest of us, who have been here a long, long time. New Yorkers knew all about the Trumps. That's why we didn't vote for him. Everything we thought would happen, is happening. I take no pleasure in that.
8
Mr. Brooks, this attitude, philosophy, is NOT just a defect attributable to the trumps, it is etched into the very fabric of humans. It might make many of us feel better and morally superior to believe this behavior is an aberration but it is, essentially, standard operating procedure. Man's first and foremost instinct is to survive and ,in modern days, to thrive;it is in how we define thrive that the "vacuum" starts to create our universal conundrum. In a nutshell, it is the "keeping up with the Jones's" syndrome. Rationalizing behaviors with the thoughts of..."I am taking care of my family...." has lead to many ,many false equivalents. The trumps ,although on a bigger stage, are us: the poachers,the backstabbers,robber barons, the coal company foremen, the non-profit executives ,etal. We ARE the trumps.
2
More historical determinism and moral preening from David Brooks (yet again). Mr. Brooks, will you please stop the pretense and admit you are a progressive?
David: I think the word you're looking for is sociopath.
6
The stock market just hit another record high. Seem that the love a guy in office that put American first.
1
Blaming the ancestors is a tactic used by racists and fascists. Brooks should read up on the genetic fallacy.
2
The article states that the family is bound by loyalty. Is it loyalty or material considerations? Money, influence, ensuring your siblings keep mum on your involvements by keeping mum on theirs...
It is not obliviousness, it is arrogance. Having lived their entire lives within an expensive protective bubble of attorneys and enablers, that protects them from any repercussions for their arrogance, these alt-right snowflakes whine and complain whenever they sense someone might consider limiting their entitlements to the level of the "little people." They are so arrogant they lie fluently, frequently and effortlessly.
2
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive."
Generally, the presence or lack of of this wished for "complementary" moral code is directly proportionate to the level of their greed and ambition. It is totally absent but cleverly disguised in more than a few of the so called .01%
There is no such ting as a vacuum, moral or any other kind. . Space is always full of energy. When "moral" energy, (a better more scientific word would be coherence, or harmony, or equilibrium) is not present, then Chaos or or what appears as "evil" or retrogression or devolution fills the space.
Unquenchable Striving for the Common Good and General Welfare is not driven by greed and ambition. It is driven by selfless concern for Truth, or Justice, or Beauty, or the absolute need to understand what is going on in Cosmos. This is what drives our Heroes, our artists, our poets and musicians, and our Scientists. Individuals who give their lives for Truth rather than "Filthy Lucre". Individuals like Einstein and ...what follows would be a book long list of those who have made the Planet what it is. there would be very few "business" men in the List
Generally, the presence or lack of of this wished for "complementary" moral code is directly proportionate to the level of their greed and ambition. It is totally absent but cleverly disguised in more than a few of the so called .01%
There is no such ting as a vacuum, moral or any other kind. . Space is always full of energy. When "moral" energy, (a better more scientific word would be coherence, or harmony, or equilibrium) is not present, then Chaos or or what appears as "evil" or retrogression or devolution fills the space.
Unquenchable Striving for the Common Good and General Welfare is not driven by greed and ambition. It is driven by selfless concern for Truth, or Justice, or Beauty, or the absolute need to understand what is going on in Cosmos. This is what drives our Heroes, our artists, our poets and musicians, and our Scientists. Individuals who give their lives for Truth rather than "Filthy Lucre". Individuals like Einstein and ...what follows would be a book long list of those who have made the Planet what it is. there would be very few "business" men in the List
1
One more comment. Searching thru a guy's ancestors to prove he has no morals. Really? Brooks has joined the media coup d'etat. David has a list.
1
Mr. Brooks is grasping at a mighty thin lifeline, in my view, closer to gossamer or less, in his conclusion.
Mr. Brooks: collusion is one avenue (can you spell Jared Kushner?), obstruction of justice (DJT) another. Then there's the money-laundering issue involving the whole clan.
I'd love to know how Mr. Mueller views the approach to these angles, the synergy between them, and how to build and present a case on any or all of them.
When he does, Mr. Brooks will write another column of self-discovery.
Mr. Brooks: collusion is one avenue (can you spell Jared Kushner?), obstruction of justice (DJT) another. Then there's the money-laundering issue involving the whole clan.
I'd love to know how Mr. Mueller views the approach to these angles, the synergy between them, and how to build and present a case on any or all of them.
When he does, Mr. Brooks will write another column of self-discovery.
I am not a Trump supporter; he was for me the 16th choice in the Republican field. That said, I have a good friend who worked closely with and supervised Donald Jr for several years many years earlier. I was surprised to learn from my friend that Jr. was a good worker, never shirking a chore that was "below" him. Jr worked under my friend in those days, he was early in the Trump Organization--my friend said he was a good kid, not like the silver spoon crowd. He was always respectful and good to be around. The stories that Jr has no moral compass would surprise my friend.
But years pass, he may have changed. The sins of the grandfather Fred have nothing to do with it. Jr may have morphed over the years as he rose up the ladder; it didn't take generations. Was a deal hatched to destroy Clinton with DNC emails between the Russians and Trump? Or were the Russians playing one camp against the other, to stir up this poisonous stew we now find ourselves in? Maybe the plan was to cause the USA to have its house divided--we know what happens to a house divided against itself.
But years pass, he may have changed. The sins of the grandfather Fred have nothing to do with it. Jr may have morphed over the years as he rose up the ladder; it didn't take generations. Was a deal hatched to destroy Clinton with DNC emails between the Russians and Trump? Or were the Russians playing one camp against the other, to stir up this poisonous stew we now find ourselves in? Maybe the plan was to cause the USA to have its house divided--we know what happens to a house divided against itself.
87
Thank you matteo for this information of when Junior was younger. For whatever it's worth, I think it helps balance a very skewed picture. You also raised some excellent questions as to Russia's potential motives against the U.S. I found your overall comment very insightful and food for thought. Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts.
1
Matteo:
Your attempt at false equivalency is sickening. The Right-wing long ago decided that it and its racist, sexist, homophobic, and existentially anti-intellectual adherents alone had the rightful monopoly of power. One need not look to Gingrich's supremely demagogic and vulgarly dishonest "Contract with [on] America" materials urging Republican candidates to define any and all liberal dissenters as "traitors," "immoral," "un-American," etc.
It was the Right-winger Joe McCarthy who paved the way for the Right-wing and its Republican Party to become the "movement" and "politics" that indeed, "At long last" has about in it "left no sense of decency."
Your attempt at false equivalency is sickening. The Right-wing long ago decided that it and its racist, sexist, homophobic, and existentially anti-intellectual adherents alone had the rightful monopoly of power. One need not look to Gingrich's supremely demagogic and vulgarly dishonest "Contract with [on] America" materials urging Republican candidates to define any and all liberal dissenters as "traitors," "immoral," "un-American," etc.
It was the Right-winger Joe McCarthy who paved the way for the Right-wing and its Republican Party to become the "movement" and "politics" that indeed, "At long last" has about in it "left no sense of decency."
Don Jr.'s face says a lot. I can't claim to be a master at reading faces, but what I see here is a person who is sincerely bewildered but trying to look brave. I very much doubt that he can have any idea of what is going on or the disaster that his family is is careening toward.
1
Additional lies-
Here is some 'breaking news' reported on http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/russian-lawyer...
that you might have missed:
"Former Soviet Counterintelligence Officer at Meeting With Donald Trump Jr. and Russian Lawyer."
There was an additional person at the meeting that the"transparent" junior don forgot to report.
Here is some 'breaking news' reported on http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/russian-lawyer...
that you might have missed:
"Former Soviet Counterintelligence Officer at Meeting With Donald Trump Jr. and Russian Lawyer."
There was an additional person at the meeting that the"transparent" junior don forgot to report.
7
It took a few generations of the House of Trump, in other words, to produce Donald Jr.
And it took a few generations to produce the contemptible Republican party which, quite similarly, has no moral compass or compassion that enables him and his father and the whole greedy clan.
Sadly, I don't see any rays of hope looking down the Republican line of craven politicians whose raison d'être is to hole office, accumulate power, and make money for themselves and their friends.
And it took a few generations to produce the contemptible Republican party which, quite similarly, has no moral compass or compassion that enables him and his father and the whole greedy clan.
Sadly, I don't see any rays of hope looking down the Republican line of craven politicians whose raison d'être is to hole office, accumulate power, and make money for themselves and their friends.
5
While I agree that Donald Jr never thought of the ethical consequences, I do believe that he hoped that the information was true and purposely wanted Kushner and Manafort at the meeting. What better reason then to make his father impotent, something he has wanted to do since he was 14. Taking info directly from the Russians and using it would bring the house of cards collapsing and hopefully Don Jr would be left in charge. When ethics are not a consideration, taking down family members is as easy as ordering from Amazon.
Donald Trump’s supporters knew he was morally bankrupt when they voted for him. He proved it with his own words and actions. I will never understand how so many people believed, and continue to believe, that someone as juvenile, ignorant, and belligerent is qualified or suited to be the leader of our great country. And how can we remain a great country when that is true? Putin’s victory was not just saddling the United States with an inept leader, it was demonstrating to the world that democracy can be hazardous to a nation's international standing. That, I believe, was the true aim of Russian interference in 2016.
6
Its a bit disturbing to me that Mr. Brooks identifies the problem - a generational lack of empathy or moral compass that culminates in Trump Jr - but delivers his rebuke in such gentle terms. Once again the entitled rich white guy gets a generous dose of understanding, and an excuse of sorts: "he can't help it, it's the way he grew up." Oh, and don't expect him to be held to account, because Brooks has assured us this is nothing impeachable.
2
Trump is an uninhibited ham actor, who generally illustrates his points with the crudest sort of misogynist and gross humor. Seemingly capable of extraordinary candor, and in his eyes no doubt notably honest, he also appears much the gambling expert in calculated bluffing. It is often hard to distinguish when Trump is in his own eyes voicing real conviction and when he is merely, bluffing.
Trump is not “crazy,” but he is highly phobic and unstable as to be quite vulnerable to certain kinds of psychological pressure. The outstanding phobic elements in his personality are his hunger for power and his need for the recognition and adulation of his “party.”
Trump has a constant need to rebel, to find an adversary, and to extend his personal power by dismissing authority. Whenever there’s a disruption to his ego by criticism, he becomes so emotionally unhinged as to seemingly lose to some degree his contact with reality. Trump’s egoism is his Achilles heel.
I could go on, but why—Of course, there’s a moral vacuum, simply describing his personality proves that!
Trump is not “crazy,” but he is highly phobic and unstable as to be quite vulnerable to certain kinds of psychological pressure. The outstanding phobic elements in his personality are his hunger for power and his need for the recognition and adulation of his “party.”
Trump has a constant need to rebel, to find an adversary, and to extend his personal power by dismissing authority. Whenever there’s a disruption to his ego by criticism, he becomes so emotionally unhinged as to seemingly lose to some degree his contact with reality. Trump’s egoism is his Achilles heel.
I could go on, but why—Of course, there’s a moral vacuum, simply describing his personality proves that!
1
Could it be that after years of financialy associated contacts of dubious legality with various corrupt Russians, Azeris and Kazakhs the current President has inadvertently become a Russian asset?
1
"Successful business people ... generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive." Not sure about that assumption, at least here in the "the business of America is business" world. Seems to be a higher than worldly average of sociopaths turn up in corporate management. If the Trumps were outliers how come we have almost an entire political party that appears to be OK with Trump and that political party was hired by big moneyed interests to advance their interests. Br. Brooks, I fear, is either naive or disinterested in reality.
1
Eric Trump's tweet is bizarre, but summarizes the Trump clan's view that it's them against the world. Eric, being extremely close does not mean you don't have and adhere to rules and morals. Eric, supporting each other does not mean condoning bad or illegal behavior. Eric, it's time you learn that blind loyalty benefits no one.
1
Having worked around the very, very, wealthy off and on n my adult years there is an unspoken dynamic that seems to be in place with them most of the time. Most of them feel that because people cater to them and they are held up to be the most important people in almost any situation they find themselves in, that they get to decide what the rules are. If they get into any trouble they have learned how to game the system so as to never really feel any direct result of there actions. They buy there way out. They file for numerous bankruptcies. They hire attorneys to stall and delay until the opposite side either settles or simply walks away because they cannot afford to fight them. They believe because of their power, money, status, and unchecked behavior they really are above the law. The laws of decency, morality, ethics, and basic civil behavior mean little to nothing for many of them. Are there exceptions? Yes. Are all or most of them evil? No. Having said that their deplorable actions are much more prevalent than the vast majority of the population will ever know.
6
Alas, I doubt Trump-supporters read NYT, and, specifically, essays by Mr. Brooks.
But even if they did and digested it, they would still say, 'yea, he is my man'.
Sad.
But even if they did and digested it, they would still say, 'yea, he is my man'.
Sad.
5
Don't believe the hype! If the Trumps can't tell right from wrong, why'd they lie repeatedly to hide the crime? They're well aware of moral norms; they just run towards immorality.
1
I remember very clearly that in at least one of the presidential debates, Trump talked about how politics in our country are corrupt. He was right, and it seems that he's going to prove it by being the most corrupt ever. This moral void, where everything that benefits Trump is good and everything that harms Trump is bad, makes him infinitely corruptible. It means that no matter one's interests (whether they help or hurt the country) one only need to offer support for Trump himself and one will receive in return whatever one desires.
1
What you describe is a family of sociopaths. They are dangerously capable of anything and a very special case. However, I agree that in general the common good has lost precious ground to individualism and predatory capitalism.
1
Actually individualism has lost ground to an idiotic collectivism but we're correcting a dangerous 19th century Marxist mistake by returning to American values.
"It takes generations to hammer ethical considerations out of a person’s mind..."
So virtue or the lack of it is a product of inheritance, and can be passed on as a family trait? I thought this view went out of style with the Age of Reason.
So virtue or the lack of it is a product of inheritance, and can be passed on as a family trait? I thought this view went out of style with the Age of Reason.
1
what has taken you so long, Mr. Brooks? You have deflected true probing for so many months. And remained so lukewarm in the face of Trump's alarming practices.
David, does this analysis apply to Ivanka?
Absolutely. The whole gang cannot escape the family poison.
Agreed. But where is the outrage at this corrupt immoral administration and the GOP congress? This would never have gone this far without significant uprising and upheaval as took place during the Watergate scandal. I am depressed and disgusted with the current administration and by my fellow citizens who do nothing, like sheep. Where can we start? David, devote your columns to the restoration of decency and where the common citizen can get involved.
2
Family motto: All for Trump and Trump for himself...
A Genealogy of Morals of the Trump Clan. Excellent, excellent, excellent. Such great insights here, demonstrating again why you are the master.
Tree. Apple.
2
Wrong. What we see through junior is hubris which will lead to nemesis.
The shoes are dropping so hard and fast that we will buried in them!
We are still in Cardinal Richelieu's Age of Reason. America has neoliberalism, as its dominant ideology. Neither has a moral imperative. The Trumps are quintessentially American and rather than being evil they are simply and most effectively banal.
2
Hazak, Hazak, V'nitkhazek!
1
While a agree with most of the comments about the moral bankruptcy of the Republican party, I fear the issue is far more broad and much less political. The story that Mr. Brooks outlines could be the story of, not only our republican party, but our modern society as a whole. Politics is politics and by definition not honest. Both Republicans and Democrats are stained by this.
My real concerns is that for the last several decades we have increasingly seen the "win at all costs" mentality take over and serve as its own justification for actions in life.. I don't think there is a millionaire/ billionaire out there who hasn't been compromised ethically (i'm glad to be proven wrong). The reality is that in a civil and fair society you can't have the kind of personal amassing of wealth and resources that we see today and saw at the turn of the century (1800-1900) without ethically bending or outright breaking the law. While we don't see the impact of the privileged few benefiting at the expense of others as starkly as we did in the days of hard factory labor in this country, we have been slowly eroding the social contract that establishes fairness and instead celebrate the achievement of wealth (or political agenda) as an end in itself.
If no accountability comes from the actions of the Trump administration (and others on these matters), I fear it only makes these kind of actions that much more justifiable in our society. If not the highest office in the country, then who?
My real concerns is that for the last several decades we have increasingly seen the "win at all costs" mentality take over and serve as its own justification for actions in life.. I don't think there is a millionaire/ billionaire out there who hasn't been compromised ethically (i'm glad to be proven wrong). The reality is that in a civil and fair society you can't have the kind of personal amassing of wealth and resources that we see today and saw at the turn of the century (1800-1900) without ethically bending or outright breaking the law. While we don't see the impact of the privileged few benefiting at the expense of others as starkly as we did in the days of hard factory labor in this country, we have been slowly eroding the social contract that establishes fairness and instead celebrate the achievement of wealth (or political agenda) as an end in itself.
If no accountability comes from the actions of the Trump administration (and others on these matters), I fear it only makes these kind of actions that much more justifiable in our society. If not the highest office in the country, then who?
1
The moral vacuum isn't confined to the Trump Morons. Look no further than the Congress and Senate leadership to find the enablers.
2
So Trump os the grandson of a draft dodging,whoremaster. Chop off the old block!
2
The generations-long family ethic of amorality is enhanced in the President by his having the despicable Roy Cohn as his mentor. That's the spoiled icing on the fruitcake.
2
when trump made that proclamation . .
( i love the undereducated )
it seemed laughable to us.
so transparent a statement . .
totally revolting in it's snivelling,
patronizing, insincerity.
yet.
i think . .
to the ears of an uneducated person . .
it must have been much more flattering than
we could have imagined.
they KNOW they are uneducated.
so . .
they KNOW that . . for the first time . .
someone is actually speaking to them.
it must have appealed to their sense of pride
and dignity in themselves.
Today he said :
"France is our oldest ally. Not a lot of people know that"
similar to his :
"Lincoln was a Republican. Not a lot of people know that"
He knows who is base is.
His base is uneducated and he knows it and they know it.
What they DON'T know is that they are also DUMB.
Too dumb to know that he doesn't give a damn about them.
( i love the undereducated )
it seemed laughable to us.
so transparent a statement . .
totally revolting in it's snivelling,
patronizing, insincerity.
yet.
i think . .
to the ears of an uneducated person . .
it must have been much more flattering than
we could have imagined.
they KNOW they are uneducated.
so . .
they KNOW that . . for the first time . .
someone is actually speaking to them.
it must have appealed to their sense of pride
and dignity in themselves.
Today he said :
"France is our oldest ally. Not a lot of people know that"
similar to his :
"Lincoln was a Republican. Not a lot of people know that"
He knows who is base is.
His base is uneducated and he knows it and they know it.
What they DON'T know is that they are also DUMB.
Too dumb to know that he doesn't give a damn about them.
7
Like it or not, Donald Trump is our President.
We elected him.
Rather than continue to rage on about how unethical and immoral he and his family are, wouldn't it be more constructive to mull over how we got here?
It isn't some wild coincidence that Trump got elected.
1. Allow good living wage manufacturing jobs to get sent willy nilly to slave wage labor countries so the owners and managers of these companies can pocket the labor cost savings?
Check.
2. Allow an unfettered, unchecked, and unregulated rise of a lobbyist class in DC who serves guess which masters? Yep, the same folks that sent those jobs overseas and who have some extra dough rolling around in the till.
Check.
3. Allow the titans of Wall Street to commit mortgage backed securities fraud for decades and don't even attempt to charge anyone, to say nothing of send any of them to prison?
Check.
4. Make no attempt to address the needs of the folks who at one time made up a thriving American middle class. They sink ever lower economically, and become radicalized by Fox News as it spews daily lies about anything progressive.
Check.
5. Ensure that single payer healthcare, something the majority of the country desperately needs, gets shuffled off to the slaughterhouse while President Obama looks the other way instead of taking that fight to the country?
Check.
Is it any wonder that 60 million Americans voted for this Grifter?
He told voters they'd gotten screwed and offered to help.
We elected him.
Rather than continue to rage on about how unethical and immoral he and his family are, wouldn't it be more constructive to mull over how we got here?
It isn't some wild coincidence that Trump got elected.
1. Allow good living wage manufacturing jobs to get sent willy nilly to slave wage labor countries so the owners and managers of these companies can pocket the labor cost savings?
Check.
2. Allow an unfettered, unchecked, and unregulated rise of a lobbyist class in DC who serves guess which masters? Yep, the same folks that sent those jobs overseas and who have some extra dough rolling around in the till.
Check.
3. Allow the titans of Wall Street to commit mortgage backed securities fraud for decades and don't even attempt to charge anyone, to say nothing of send any of them to prison?
Check.
4. Make no attempt to address the needs of the folks who at one time made up a thriving American middle class. They sink ever lower economically, and become radicalized by Fox News as it spews daily lies about anything progressive.
Check.
5. Ensure that single payer healthcare, something the majority of the country desperately needs, gets shuffled off to the slaughterhouse while President Obama looks the other way instead of taking that fight to the country?
Check.
Is it any wonder that 60 million Americans voted for this Grifter?
He told voters they'd gotten screwed and offered to help.
1
Unless one is a moron or a Russian, Don Jr absolutely showed malevolence in his actions: to be WILLING (let alone likely) to collude with an enemy of the state to manipulate a U.S. election -- one of the basics of our democracy -- is a morally repugnant act. To undermine this country in the name of a fraudulent win and a back room deal with the enemy state is malevolent. Let's all check our moral compasses here. The Republican party of today is no longer comprised of patriots and you are showing your contemporary Republican stripes if you think Jr's actions weren't malevolent.
4
Brooks once again attempts to deflect all criticism away from Republicans. To him, all that is evil with the right is owned by Trump and his hideous family. But Trump is a symptom of a greater Republican disease. Hate arising from sanctimony, the classic recipe that allowed slavery to emerge from a religious society, which allows the wealthy to justify greed with Randian nonsense economics, and which allows polluters to damn their grandchildren with their carbon emissions.
Trump and family are the worst of the worst, but they are not unique. The same cold blood runs in the veins of those who would kick people out of nursing homes to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. That is to say, most Republicans.
Brooks attempts to protect Trump's Republican friends and their gains with his ridiculous and unsupported assertion that impeachable offenses were not committed. He wishes to keep his side's gains from Russian interference. It sounds like he and Trump's side may succeed on this count. But that doesn't make it any more right than Trump's grandfather's ethics.
Trump and family are the worst of the worst, but they are not unique. The same cold blood runs in the veins of those who would kick people out of nursing homes to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy. That is to say, most Republicans.
Brooks attempts to protect Trump's Republican friends and their gains with his ridiculous and unsupported assertion that impeachable offenses were not committed. He wishes to keep his side's gains from Russian interference. It sounds like he and Trump's side may succeed on this count. But that doesn't make it any more right than Trump's grandfather's ethics.
3
I cannot wait for the Coen Brothers film version of this saga. The Big Amoral Dummkopfsky. Other titles?
1
"The Great Downward Leap."
1
Isn't "moral vacuum" is another term for "amoral"? And, hey, get a load of how "in shape" French First Lady Brigitte Macron is! Hubba-hubba! (Grabba-grabba?)
1
The drip, drip, drip of bad news for President Trump and his enablers that is currently taking place is quite encouraging.
But ….
I still would like to see President Trump diligently pursued under the provisions of the Mann Act, AKA, the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant Act.
Short of provoking him and his enablers into attacking Mexico and Canada, anything that can be done to prevent his “wretched hive of scum and villainy” from pursuing their normal political activities will be good news for this country and the world.
--- With Thanks To Star Wars.
But ….
I still would like to see President Trump diligently pursued under the provisions of the Mann Act, AKA, the Miss Universe Beauty Pageant Act.
Short of provoking him and his enablers into attacking Mexico and Canada, anything that can be done to prevent his “wretched hive of scum and villainy” from pursuing their normal political activities will be good news for this country and the world.
--- With Thanks To Star Wars.
3
obey the group and be loyal. "beyond that there is no attachment to any external moral truth or ethical code. there is just naked capitalism". this little nugget of "revelation" that you espouse is not one to us. and it doesn't apply to just the trumps, it applies to the republican leadership and their capitalist backers. and i'm a fan of capitalism, regulated and taxed of course. so david, this little nugget isn't about just the trumps, it's about the republikan party, leaders and backers and how they've used their bag of knee jerk social response media tricks, their purported support of freedom (you have the freedom not to buy the non-affordable health care and , like, die, and without pesky death panels), truth obfuscation/reversal (simplify: lying), christian "religion" tie in, and billions of hidden pac money (from an extremely small number of extremely wealthy donors) to lead their uneducated sheeple to the slaughter (literally, with their current "health care" notlessness). it took trump to get you to say this about repubs? start telling the larger truth about the repub party that you're a member of. stop blathering about italian sandwich language and start pouring light on these cock roaches. unless you're a fellow traveler, enabler with no moral compass like gingrich who tosses out his old wife for his young researcher.
2
More NYT unhinged malarkey! Your faulty reasoning of monarchistic governance by inheritance is anti American and better suited to the Middle East. Time for a vacation, Mr. Brooks and Mr. Blow? Dare I suggest gay Paree?
1
In addition to this amoral family, we now have the GOP in Congress continuing to support Trumpism. Is there anyone in the GOP Congress who will stand up and say "I'm mad as hell and won't take it anymore!"
2
I'm delighted that Trumps are loyal to each other,supporting the boy Trumps
Belief in take all you can get anyway you can.Ethics?Forget it.What money does
moral behavior get you.Its the deal, criminal,underhanded,with the hidden
Penalty that counts.Winning the Presidents office,no problem.They had Russia drooling at the thought of their man in the White House.,now he's there.
Trump, a pathological lier,without conscience,surrounded by sycophant,ready to defend and obscure his act,yes loyalty is vital to the sucess of every scum
Who claims to want to "help the country".
Belief in take all you can get anyway you can.Ethics?Forget it.What money does
moral behavior get you.Its the deal, criminal,underhanded,with the hidden
Penalty that counts.Winning the Presidents office,no problem.They had Russia drooling at the thought of their man in the White House.,now he's there.
Trump, a pathological lier,without conscience,surrounded by sycophant,ready to defend and obscure his act,yes loyalty is vital to the sucess of every scum
Who claims to want to "help the country".
1
For a moment, set aside narcissism, racism, stupidity, absence of attention span. We elected somebody who cares about nothing so much as piling on personal wealth, everything and everybody else be damned, and succeeding generations had the same beat into them. Millionaire wannabes never will understand why that is not in the best interest of the country.
1
Ethics and Morals aren't simply missing, they are being destroyed by this Administration -- like light being sucked into a black hole.
3
Ronald Reagan's tenure was the breakwater that produced, promoted and that has now crescendoed into the republican's mantra "damn the torpedoes, profit first"
1
The real concern the country should address is how this family became America's responsibility. I am sure there are other rich American families without consciences. What used to be the beauty of America was that members of those families did not become American presidents. Sure, it is quite likely that every human being has some failings. However, the type of moral degeneration openly displayed by Mr. Trump used to be sufficient reason to keep a politician from becoming the US president. How did the country come to this? For me, this is the most relevant question that our leaders and all Americans need to address.
2
The republicans are mad at us for twice electing President Obama. The moral degeneration has increased in this country, since the repubs encouraged a large segment of the population, of all political pursuations, to be racist and misogenist. There has been a loosening of tolerance for anyone different. I extend this to how not only Blacks are treated, but also Hispanics, Asians, and Native Tribes.
1
Re: "He [Donald Trump Jr.] seems to be simply oblivious to the idea that ethical concerns could possibly play a role in everyday life.
The photo of him and his brother Eric holding their trophy leopard is a perfect pictorial depiction of his ethical obliviousness.
Due to American trophy hunters the African leopard may soon (or already is) endangered.
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2016/11/african-leopard...
The photo of him and his brother Eric holding their trophy leopard is a perfect pictorial depiction of his ethical obliviousness.
Due to American trophy hunters the African leopard may soon (or already is) endangered.
http://www.humanesociety.org/news/press_releases/2016/11/african-leopard...
2
I'm not convinced that all, or even most, "successful businesspeople" have moral compasses that prevent them from behaving badly. And anyway, even if there are only a few amoral actors, they can do a lot of damage – in business and in politics. This is why, in both spheres, we need strong rules and enforcement mechanisms – to make sure that individual aspirations do not trample the collective good. Unfortunately, the Trump clan would like to eradicate all such social control – at least as it applies to them.
13
Fine article, but I would take issue with one minor point, where Mr. Brooks writes,"It takes generations to hammer ethical considerations out of a person’s mind".
I don't believe that ethics and morality are instinctive human traits; they are learned ones. Unless they are nurtured, children never acquire them.
The Donald comes up well short short on morality and ethics, so its no surprise that he never nurtured these traits in his sons.
I don't believe that ethics and morality are instinctive human traits; they are learned ones. Unless they are nurtured, children never acquire them.
The Donald comes up well short short on morality and ethics, so its no surprise that he never nurtured these traits in his sons.
7
What I fear most is that we all become so inured of egregious self serving behavior and lose our ambition to fight collectively and daily for what is right and oppose at every level the daily display of amorality by the administration. Daily outrage becomes exhausting I hope we can maintain our cool and oppose on a critical level this pre eminent thwarting of the foundations of our democracy and who it is supposed to serve.
12
Love money, use people. Use money, love people. Every day, every dollar and every deception prove the Trump Kingdom loves money and uses people. For them, the end always justifies the means. As much as I try, I can't seem to find one redeeming quality among the lot.
19
I can't disagree with anything you write here, but you miss one very important aspect relative to what you think is Jr.'s non-malevolence. It's not just that he "seems to be simply oblivious to the idea that ethical concerns could possibly play a role in everyday life." The fact that he denies, then lies, then lies about the lies, about meeting with representatives of a hostile power suggests that he does recognize that there's an ethical right and an ethical wrong, just not that they could possibly play a role in HIS OWN everyday life. Apparently he expects that the rest of us are governed by these concerns.
19
He made two statements, both true. Do you even know the definition of what a lie is?
I would add "time for some traffic problems in Ft. Lee" to the ethically bankrupt quote Hall of Fame.
4
The Trumps have one ethical rule: don't do things that will land you in jail. Anything that is legal is okay. Other ethics do not compute. If you say to our President, "What you are doing is technically legal but is unethical," he does not understand what you are talking about.
13
"don't do things that will land you in jail" So far....
But Jr has now, indeed, been caught doing something that could land someone in jail. Perhaps not himself (unless he can help but lie when testifying to a Senate committee), but certainly young Jared is now increasing at risk.
By basically pleading ignorance for Trump Jr. and his family, Brooks twice lets them off the hook, the way so many people have, and practically gives them permission continue wreaking havoc.
First, he says Trump, Jr.'s "not malevolent: He seems to be simply oblivious to the idea that ethical concerns could possibly play a role in everyday life."
If he were seven, you could say he's not a bad kid, he just doesn't know better. You can't use that same excuse for the adult son of a billionaire who takes on a top-tier role in a Presidential campaign without understanding government, law, history, ethics and other topics related to his responsibilities. In other words, thinking you know everything as you seek to gain power is malevolence.
Second, Brooks says "the Trump family has built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil." They think loyalty to each other no matter how much it hurts others is good. They think anything that gets in their way (women who say no, decency, a free press) is evil. They are certainly not "beyond good and evil," they just have a selfish, warped view of morality. It's time people stop giving them a pass, making excuses, viewing them on a sliding scale.
No one should be held more accountable for their behavior than a family that has billions of dollars, educations from elite schools, and every possible resource at their fingertips.
First, he says Trump, Jr.'s "not malevolent: He seems to be simply oblivious to the idea that ethical concerns could possibly play a role in everyday life."
If he were seven, you could say he's not a bad kid, he just doesn't know better. You can't use that same excuse for the adult son of a billionaire who takes on a top-tier role in a Presidential campaign without understanding government, law, history, ethics and other topics related to his responsibilities. In other words, thinking you know everything as you seek to gain power is malevolence.
Second, Brooks says "the Trump family has built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil." They think loyalty to each other no matter how much it hurts others is good. They think anything that gets in their way (women who say no, decency, a free press) is evil. They are certainly not "beyond good and evil," they just have a selfish, warped view of morality. It's time people stop giving them a pass, making excuses, viewing them on a sliding scale.
No one should be held more accountable for their behavior than a family that has billions of dollars, educations from elite schools, and every possible resource at their fingertips.
18
You don't understand Brooks' column. This is the strongest moral indictment against the Trumps that can be made. Over generations this family has evolved into a pure culture of amorality such that they lack any sense of how amoral they are. This evolution excuses nothing. The problem is that a substantial portion of the American electorate does not understand or does not care how amoral they are. They too seem to lack any moral compass.
A case of moral outrage? All too easy and not effective. David Brooks can write up a storm, but the Country continues to go around on a grim Hamster-Wheel.
Are you on the computer, asks an elderly acquaintance. Are you glued to the T.V., I retort, (he is addicted to Fox News) and we both laugh. It is raining. 'Irish weather', I tell him, 'good for the gardens and the Farmland, but no golf for you'.
No more scandals and intrigue, not in this lifetime. The Trump Empire was in shambles before the Great Recession. If ever there was a dullard, it is this president. What I did not tell my acquaintance, a Trump supporter, is that I am revisiting 'Tomorrow', listening to a young nightingale who died of cancer before age 11. Watching 'Goodbye, My Children', based on what happened when Louis Malle was at school in France and the Nazis rounded up some Jewish children who died in a concentration camp. 'Forbidden Games', where children try to come to terms with war.
America is not a House of Cards. We The People are not gambling our Country away. Surrounded by Republicans this summer, we care about each other. Our pockets may be shallow of coins, we may have a different point of view when it comes to politics and religion, but in the end we remain united and rooted in humanity. Americans first, and Trump and his offspring can remain as loyal to each other as they wish.
Let us take back our Country from this Family, harmful to us in many ways, and Rebuild America.
Are you on the computer, asks an elderly acquaintance. Are you glued to the T.V., I retort, (he is addicted to Fox News) and we both laugh. It is raining. 'Irish weather', I tell him, 'good for the gardens and the Farmland, but no golf for you'.
No more scandals and intrigue, not in this lifetime. The Trump Empire was in shambles before the Great Recession. If ever there was a dullard, it is this president. What I did not tell my acquaintance, a Trump supporter, is that I am revisiting 'Tomorrow', listening to a young nightingale who died of cancer before age 11. Watching 'Goodbye, My Children', based on what happened when Louis Malle was at school in France and the Nazis rounded up some Jewish children who died in a concentration camp. 'Forbidden Games', where children try to come to terms with war.
America is not a House of Cards. We The People are not gambling our Country away. Surrounded by Republicans this summer, we care about each other. Our pockets may be shallow of coins, we may have a different point of view when it comes to politics and religion, but in the end we remain united and rooted in humanity. Americans first, and Trump and his offspring can remain as loyal to each other as they wish.
Let us take back our Country from this Family, harmful to us in many ways, and Rebuild America.
4
I have had it with these snakes on this plane.
7
The current moral vacuum brought to us by the Republicans is less odious if one remembers that Trump is only alone on the American political stage due to the momentary lack of any new Democratic leader of talent, discipline, and ethical awareness to appear. We need an American Nelson Mandela ASAP - male or female, black, white, dusky, sir, madam or trans. Above all EDUCATED. Call home! You can reverse the charges.
5
Thank you Mr. Brooks for informing me of the Trump family history. Some people have NO SHAME, and there might be a genetic basis for the generational lack of morality in the Trumps. The problem I have is not with one family's shamelessness, the problem is our election of Trump to the Presidency. Clearly, the GOP was not and is still not concerned with the Trumps total lack of moral values. How can we make America WHOLE again? Is this the beginning of the end of the shining city on the hill?
5
At the age of 23, I filled out the security clearance form for a Secret clearance so I was able to work my new job as an engineer and researcher in the aeronautics industry, utilizing a grant from Reagan’s Department of Defense. The form was long and laborous, and the instructions were quite clear that all information needed to be filled out completely without omission, and failure to do so would mean legal consequences. I labored over it seriously, and wondered if I should include my distant relatives in Eastern European countries, despite the fact that I nor my family members here in the USA had never met or spoke to them. When my friends from school got their MBAs and started working in the finance industry at the age of 25, they knew that they had to follow rules of the industry, and studied and behaved appropriately. For anyone to describe the Trump “kids” and Jared Kushner as young inexperienced men and women is more than an insult to all of us who do the proper and lawful and eithical thing, and take our positions seriously. This country is disgusting to me, at this point. I cry for all the people who do the right thing and are treatedbadly, and have such contempt for anyone who can sympathize with Trump and his ilk, who are given every advantage since birth and still behave corruptly and with such scorn for those who actually have respect for process and propriety.
34
The First Family or the Worst Family? Arrogant, entitled, immoral and unethical are all learned behaviors from a parental role model. The "everyone does it" defense of unethical and criminal behavior speaks volumes about the character of anyone who utters it.
Furthermore, we are all supposed to believe that Donald Trump Sr. knew nothing about these email exchanges and the planned meeting in Trump Tower to collect damaging information on his political opponent, Hillary Clinton? Donald Trump Sr. knew nothing about this meeting arranged by Donald Trump's British friend, Goldstone which was held between a Russian lawyer (possessing Russian government intelligence on Clinton) and arguably three of the most important personal relationships in his life, his son Donald Trump Jr., his son-in-law, Jared Kushner and his then campaign manager, Paul Manafort who is also a lawyer political consultant and lobbyist? Just more crooked Trump family lies.
Furthermore, we are all supposed to believe that Donald Trump Sr. knew nothing about these email exchanges and the planned meeting in Trump Tower to collect damaging information on his political opponent, Hillary Clinton? Donald Trump Sr. knew nothing about this meeting arranged by Donald Trump's British friend, Goldstone which was held between a Russian lawyer (possessing Russian government intelligence on Clinton) and arguably three of the most important personal relationships in his life, his son Donald Trump Jr., his son-in-law, Jared Kushner and his then campaign manager, Paul Manafort who is also a lawyer political consultant and lobbyist? Just more crooked Trump family lies.
10
One is tempted to wonder what may be next in the Trump/GOP conspiracy to take over America. Burn the Capitol perhaps, and pin it on the liberals?
3
This is very curious. A sort of mamby-pamby defense of the Trump's true venality and criminality. What shocks me most is that you can author this 7 or 8 months after Donald Trump invited to the debate with HRC President Clinton's former mistresses. If it was not clear then what kind of family the Trumps are you simply were not paying attention. David, I hate to say it but you are just another Republican enabler and apologist.
9
Mr. Brooks is merely trying to explain this behavior (which I find interesting because I have troulbe understanding how people can be as morally bankrupt as the Trumps), not defend it. If you read his column regularly, you would know he is neither enabler nor apologist for the Trumps.
Oh, come on, David.
Are you trying to tell us that the Clinton NEVER grabbed onto a potentially damaging story of one of their political opponents?
This presumption of yours, and your now legendary article about taking your less-educated friend to lunch, is putting you squarely in the "out-og-touch" category, far more out of touch than those who you insult with your elitism.
Are you trying to tell us that the Clinton NEVER grabbed onto a potentially damaging story of one of their political opponents?
This presumption of yours, and your now legendary article about taking your less-educated friend to lunch, is putting you squarely in the "out-og-touch" category, far more out of touch than those who you insult with your elitism.
5
Bill Gates is a successful business person. Man, do he and his wife ever have a moral code, for which they will long be remembered when the word "Microsoft" will have to be explained in a footnote. So very unlike the amoral Trumps.
18
The conservative intelligentsia helped get him elected. Yes, you. So, stop complaining.
4
Two littles words, Sir: I'm Sorry.
3
Mr. Brooks, I'm so tired of you announcing the obvious as if it requires your byline as proof. Is it really news to anyone that the House of Trump is amoral?Where were you while the Republican party was losing its moral compass? Wouldn't you give anything to have Obama back right now?
11
Mr. Brooks, you've been an apologist for the awful GOP policies for years. What did you expect? This is not a sudden decline in morals since Trump was elected. GOP has been heading down this appalling road for years.
9
"...the Trump family has built an enveloping culture that is beyond good and evil." I ask you, Mr. Brooks, what can possibly be beyond good and evil?
6
Didn't the election show that Hillary had a bigger issue with "moral obliviousness"?
3
In the Watergate scandal, people went to jail, in many cases not for committing a specific crime, but for lyiing during ensuing investigations (perjury) or covering it up (obstruction of justice).
We may be a ways out from the end of the story here. People may, as in Watergate, find themselves dining on prison cuisine. Rest assured, though, none will admit guilt, except as a value when negotiating a plea bargain, or express remorse, unless it helps sell their resultant memoirs.
We may be a ways out from the end of the story here. People may, as in Watergate, find themselves dining on prison cuisine. Rest assured, though, none will admit guilt, except as a value when negotiating a plea bargain, or express remorse, unless it helps sell their resultant memoirs.
6
i was with you right up until the end when you say "but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive."
2
David Brooks owes an apology to all of those who pointed out that his values were skewed. The GOP has been a moral and intellectual void filled with only greed, hypocrisy, self-interest and cruelty.
The GOP is not a valid political party. It is a band of mobsters spread through out the country. In every state and town its members should be indicted and the party disbanded. The GOP is happily destroying the U.S. in order to satisfy its wealthy masters. If they succeed they will be disappointed in the end as their wealth masters will feed them to the dogs.
The GOP is not a valid political party. It is a band of mobsters spread through out the country. In every state and town its members should be indicted and the party disbanded. The GOP is happily destroying the U.S. in order to satisfy its wealthy masters. If they succeed they will be disappointed in the end as their wealth masters will feed them to the dogs.
6
it's not capitalism. it's greed. they aren't concerned with building a business that gives value to its customers. they're thieves in the night nothing more.
5
Next we're going to be hearing calls to redirect the entire CDC budget to development of a "beautiful" vaccine to prevent affluenza.
1
We bankruptcy lawyers dream of a unicorn known as "The honest, but unfortunate debtor." Donald the Elder burned his creditors with five different bankruptcies. When asked about this during the campaign he said it was a normal part of doing business. Yes, it is normal in the Trump family. For most of the rest of the people who get business done in this country five bankruptcies are a clear indication of depravity. I would not loan anyone from this family enough money to buy a used car. I can't believe we elected one of them President.
14
The Trumps have an ethic of loyalty to one another....But beyond that there is no attachment to any external moral truth or ethical code.
Stay tuned, David. The selling out will begin very soon. “That’s what we do in business,” . My guess is that the first one to go under the bus will be Junior. It would normally be Jared, but Donald is more attached to Ivanka.
Stay tuned, David. The selling out will begin very soon. “That’s what we do in business,” . My guess is that the first one to go under the bus will be Junior. It would normally be Jared, but Donald is more attached to Ivanka.
6
This interesting essay could be summed up by the phrase: The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
1
Brilliant and heartbreaking -Thanks!
Not one article or clarifying commentary conjured from the depths of the Times' vast wealth of insight and clarity will ever reach the people who installed these monstors at the head of our political system.
They have their own news network - blogs and social media support systems -religious demigogues and maniacal broadcasters ALL reinforcing a growing tsunami of absurdity and hate and general dystopia.
All we can do is hunker down behind our blue state progressive fire walls and watch them destroy themselves along with their trapped. victims.
Not one article or clarifying commentary conjured from the depths of the Times' vast wealth of insight and clarity will ever reach the people who installed these monstors at the head of our political system.
They have their own news network - blogs and social media support systems -religious demigogues and maniacal broadcasters ALL reinforcing a growing tsunami of absurdity and hate and general dystopia.
All we can do is hunker down behind our blue state progressive fire walls and watch them destroy themselves along with their trapped. victims.
1
Also reminds me of the people behind the housing bubble so perfectly described in "The Big Short". These people operate in a win win race that never seems to involve morals or ethics or even laws. It is always self centered, with no thought at all about the consequences of their actions on their fellow countrymen. Then the GOP has the gall to spew hateful rhetoric about poor people being on some sort of gravy train? Disgusting.
5
The lack of attachment "to any external moral truth or ethical code" is very close to being applied to most of Congress on the "right" side of the aisle. ...and I fear for our country.
1
This essay assumes that there ever was anything but moral obliviousness in Trump. He's always been devoid of morality, ethics, truth, competence, empathy. Almost worse is that he is completely devoid of a sense of humor.
And it's all Obama's fault.
And it's all Obama's fault.
1
Max Weber's The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism is a study of the relationship between the ethics of ascetic Protestantism and the emergence of the spirit of modern capitalism. It is one of the early master works of Sociology. We may extrapolate from Weber's work to the following: it was the fortuitous combination of free market capitalism with the ethical and moral constraints coming from a living religion which made for a humane capitalist economy in America from our birth as a nation to the last thirty years and was integral to our amazing success as a country. However with the rise of secularism and the decline of a living religious faith on the part of most people including those who claim to be Christians, these checks and balances on unfettered Randian Capitalism have been dissolving to the point of near disappearance.
Face it, when Jerry Falwell J. can rationalize the support of the fundamentalist religious right with a godless heathen like Trump they have in effect confessed beyond their stunning hypocrisy to their effective death as a true and living religious faith. It will take a reanimation of morals and ethics from our largely secular position today if our capitalism is to be reigned in and not destroy us.
Face it, when Jerry Falwell J. can rationalize the support of the fundamentalist religious right with a godless heathen like Trump they have in effect confessed beyond their stunning hypocrisy to their effective death as a true and living religious faith. It will take a reanimation of morals and ethics from our largely secular position today if our capitalism is to be reigned in and not destroy us.
3
Trump is a festering symptom of the corrupt political system that elected him and an immoral Republican Party that suppresses fundamental democracy - one man, one vote..
4
What's new is Trump can't control the news cycle. The latest revelations--absolutely damaging. These OMG moments just don't stop.
Current positives? There's an independent special prosecutor and recused Justice Dept. chief.
Revelations? Well sourced. And the son confirms the story. A bombshell Times cover of Don Jr. sitting in every doctor's office in America reads "red handed."
On thin ice, the president isn't able to lift the sanctions on Russia to reward it for collusion, and remains under a galaxy-sized microscope.
Jared Kushner talked Trump Sr. into firing the FBI Director--and it's been downhill since. Trump's smaller base might not care, but independents peal off, and more Republicans express outrage: someone's already coined the phrase "GOPocolypse."
Even the James Bond spy series never came up with a scenario such as this.
Current positives? There's an independent special prosecutor and recused Justice Dept. chief.
Revelations? Well sourced. And the son confirms the story. A bombshell Times cover of Don Jr. sitting in every doctor's office in America reads "red handed."
On thin ice, the president isn't able to lift the sanctions on Russia to reward it for collusion, and remains under a galaxy-sized microscope.
Jared Kushner talked Trump Sr. into firing the FBI Director--and it's been downhill since. Trump's smaller base might not care, but independents peal off, and more Republicans express outrage: someone's already coined the phrase "GOPocolypse."
Even the James Bond spy series never came up with a scenario such as this.
1
The conversations of Rod Blagoievich come to mind. It would be surprising if some one in Trump Tower hadn't also recognized how "… golden" the Presidency could be.
The Borgias are alive and well and living on the banks of the Potomac.
3
Old Friedrich was right about competition, “He thought competition made you sharper.” What he didn't know was, THE HIGHEST FORM OF COMPETITION IS COOPERATION. Growth and development is a game of leapfrog, not killing your opponent.
2
I remember when republicans and so-called patriots railed against protesters of the Vietnam War for being unpatriotic and treasonous when our country was fighting against the spread of communism in the Far East. You ask, what country wanted to spread communism? Well, here it is, none other than our arch enemy back then, Russia. Surprised? Don’t be. Remember the slogan pro-war democrats, republicans, and the citizenry said to those war protesters, “love it or leave it”. Meaning, of course, the USA.
My goodness, has the worm turned since then. Now, those pro-Vietnam War advocates embrace Putin’s Russia. It’s not like democracy has taken hold at the Kremlin since then. The Russia of today is no different than the Russia of yesteryear. It may be worse. Putin, the man that Trump identifies with, is a strong-armed, authoritarian and people who publicly speak against him and his reign simply disappear without a trace. Pretty disturbing don’t you think?
However, the GOP, Trump, his family, and Trump’s sycophants can’t enough of Putin and his authoritarian ways.
Folks, our country is big, big trouble. In Washington, the GOP doesn’t care, and the Democrats have lost their voice. Pathetic!
Like during the Vietnam War, people have to take to the streets, particularly Washington, and take our country back from Trump and his enablers. Vote in 2018 as if our country’s democracy is at stake. Because it is.
My goodness, has the worm turned since then. Now, those pro-Vietnam War advocates embrace Putin’s Russia. It’s not like democracy has taken hold at the Kremlin since then. The Russia of today is no different than the Russia of yesteryear. It may be worse. Putin, the man that Trump identifies with, is a strong-armed, authoritarian and people who publicly speak against him and his reign simply disappear without a trace. Pretty disturbing don’t you think?
However, the GOP, Trump, his family, and Trump’s sycophants can’t enough of Putin and his authoritarian ways.
Folks, our country is big, big trouble. In Washington, the GOP doesn’t care, and the Democrats have lost their voice. Pathetic!
Like during the Vietnam War, people have to take to the streets, particularly Washington, and take our country back from Trump and his enablers. Vote in 2018 as if our country’s democracy is at stake. Because it is.
3
The Trump family and its attendant acolytes are at their core immoral.
They believe that any lie or illegal act that elevates them, even momentarily, is worth telling and or doing. It is no less than an administration of sociopaths that lies whenever its lips or fingers are moving.
They believe that any lie or illegal act that elevates them, even momentarily, is worth telling and or doing. It is no less than an administration of sociopaths that lies whenever its lips or fingers are moving.
2
David Brooks has been a moral black hole for the past 16 years, the bad policy of the Bush administration and the Republican bad treatment of the Obama administration's good policy.
1
Nice piece--well considered.
1
The entire election was a referendum between a society and a government that cares about people and a lawless, dog eat dog every man for himself barbarism, for anyone who was paying attention. The Democratic Party threw out that plank when they went for Hillary over Bernie Sanders, and the majority of the electorate put less thought into their vote than the outcome of "The Bachelor."
Not to put too fine a point on it, but the choice last November was one bunch of grifters or the other...Rapidly approaching the end of civilization as we know it.
Someone without remorse or guilt would be considered a sociopath by the common definition. It appears we have such a person as President and he is someone whose grandfather, father, and perhaps several children fit the same profile. The corporate world has been called sociopathic where winning at any cost, regardless of the dictates of rules and laws, is too often a norm. DJT plays by his own rules, rituals, and norms, another trait of sociopathy.
1
Trump is not the problem; the party that supports him, the party that thrives on ignorance and bigotry, is.
2
Mr. Brooks,
I enjoyed your article very much. I'm positive that our so-called president would label it "Fake News!". That poor excuse for a man has no shame!
Thanks,
Jack
I enjoyed your article very much. I'm positive that our so-called president would label it "Fake News!". That poor excuse for a man has no shame!
Thanks,
Jack
2
When both your father and grandfather never learned to love their children as individuals but rather exploited them for their own needs...and if your father has an incestuous thing for your sister, you're likely to jump at the first chance to please him. Dysfunctional family dynamics always "trumps" morality.
3
As usual, David Brooks, you have put your finger right on the heart of the matter. The Trumps have a lot in common with Vladimir Putin.
hit the nail on the head
Trump is Tony Soprano, without the intelligence and charm. Seriously.
3
Once again, we have the hypocritically politically correct crowd on display here in full force. While I enjoyed the NYT's version of Trump family history, where is the "Opinion" piece on the Clintons, the Clinton Foundation etc? The holier than thou sanctimoniousness of the crowd here is reminiscent of the unbalanced attitude of the elitests who caused the Democratic party to lose the last presidential election.
They have no compunctions about lying, former Soviet intelligence officer was also at the meeting with Don jr. :Rinat Akhmetshin, the former Soviet intelligence officer who attended a June 2016 meeting with Donald Trump Jr. and a Kremlin-connected Russian lawyer...From Axios
Mr. Brooks
The time has come for you to abandon your scripted pose of a dispassionate, objective deep thinker. We have a bunch of vicious nihilists leading this country. Greedy, immoral, heedless of the destruction they are causing, their behavior is monstrous by any definition.
Declare yourself, Sir. Or you will bear their stain for the rest of your life.
The time has come for you to abandon your scripted pose of a dispassionate, objective deep thinker. We have a bunch of vicious nihilists leading this country. Greedy, immoral, heedless of the destruction they are causing, their behavior is monstrous by any definition.
Declare yourself, Sir. Or you will bear their stain for the rest of your life.
Well then if this is the case, then it's the repulican party's history that has led to this moment
"I stand for nothing." Trump actually said this. I knew when I read it that it was true....now perhaps, others will begin to understand the alien-President.
9
The moral vacuum applies to the lion's share of today's radical GOP. They claim to hate deficits, yet repeatedly slash revenues with massive tax cuts for the wealthiest. Trickle-down has never worked. They refuse to close tax loopholes, while citing the deficit as cause to devastate the safety net. They raise military spending without cause, while slashing medicaid. They hate the regulations that seek to protect the environment and keep Wall Street speculators from once again bringing down the economy. Today's GOP is intellectually and ethically bankrupt. There are no fresh ideas and no leaders emerging to guide the GOP to responsible policies. Thus, it is exasperating to see Brooks once again miss the larger picture. The greatest threat facing America today is the Republican party.
17
They raise military spending without raising enlisted wages a penny, & raising the time spent in grade before you can take the exam for the next grade. Leaving the enlisted earning so little their families can qualify for food stamps & other welfare. Then keep transferring them so it doesn't become noticing, as they have to be in a state a certain length of time before they can get welfare.
Oh, don't say wives should get jobs. No one will hire them. Why? Because, your told, you will move in a couple years so it's not worth training you. Why will you move? Because your husband (usually) gets transferred. And they wonder why more & more of those in the Army are not reenlisting. When you voluntarily enlist you plan to stay in to qualify for a pension & learn skills that will be useable in the civilian world. It's been that way in the other services all along, they have always been completely voluntary, in just the Army is it new. They aren't getting enlistments they need. So the National Guards are getting multiple deployments, & are paid less. Sneaky. The other name for republicans.
Oh, don't say wives should get jobs. No one will hire them. Why? Because, your told, you will move in a couple years so it's not worth training you. Why will you move? Because your husband (usually) gets transferred. And they wonder why more & more of those in the Army are not reenlisting. When you voluntarily enlist you plan to stay in to qualify for a pension & learn skills that will be useable in the civilian world. It's been that way in the other services all along, they have always been completely voluntary, in just the Army is it new. They aren't getting enlistments they need. So the National Guards are getting multiple deployments, & are paid less. Sneaky. The other name for republicans.
We, the American people get the government we deserve. Too many of us are complacent and uniformed. We allow politicians to accept large donations from action groups and lobbyists without any demanding accountability and then wonder why our government is preoccupied with helping the wealthy become even wealthier. The Supreme Court, with its ruling that money is free speech, has ensured that our elections are not going to give the middle-class and poor an equal voice.
This country is slipping away from its foundations and we need to resist in every way this current disaster of Trump and his minions and long range moderates and centrists, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, need to stand up and get informed and vote in 2018.
This country is slipping away from its foundations and we need to resist in every way this current disaster of Trump and his minions and long range moderates and centrists, Republicans, Democrats and Independents, need to stand up and get informed and vote in 2018.
10
2018 probably too late. If 'he' allows them, 'he' will declare no one may announce winners until after 'he' does. Then only using 'his' numbers. Now what are the chances 'he' will give an accurate count? Of course 'he' could just declare a state of emergency, declare martial law, suspend the Constitution & suspend all elections. That is all things 'he' could have done with minimal work by 'him'. Then it will be too late to take the appropriate action. Organize the Citizens' Army, arm ourselves, & march to DC to arrest the regime, & congress for High Treason. Then after the hangings, that being the only sentence for High Treason, we can sit as Congress Pro Tem, & fix somethings. To bring this country to actually be a country, not a bunch of quibbling childlike states. Laws the same in all of the country. No more states rights. All national elected officials elected nationally, not by state or district. A civics exam, you get one try at, which will give anyone the right to vote. First year everyone who wants to vote takes it, after that seniors in High School. No do overs. One mistaken answer & you fail. Closed book. So, take & listen at a 2 day course. Only way to be disenfranchised is to be convicted of voter fraud. Then you never vote again, or run for office. With the new National ID card it will be impossible to be a voter when not a citizen. Swipe able card will give you a vote from wherever you are. Swipe, your ballot pops up even in another state, vote.
The really interesting question is whether the Russians, having helped Trump get elected, are now using leaks and other subterfuge to help undermine his presidency and thereby further weaken the United States.
Perhaps Putin favored Trump not only because Putin had a grudge against HLC, but because he saw him as a weak and ineffective leader whose antics, vulnerability, and inexperience would reduce the power, credibility, and political effectiveness of the American government, thereby creating further opportunities for Russia to undermine the US.
Let's hope Mr. Mueller, the Special Counsel, is looking into this possibility.
Perhaps Putin favored Trump not only because Putin had a grudge against HLC, but because he saw him as a weak and ineffective leader whose antics, vulnerability, and inexperience would reduce the power, credibility, and political effectiveness of the American government, thereby creating further opportunities for Russia to undermine the US.
Let's hope Mr. Mueller, the Special Counsel, is looking into this possibility.
10
When revelations about Donald Trump Jr's meeting with the Russian lawyer, Natalia Veselnitskaya, came to light, I was reminded of The Hill School which we were both fortunate enough to attend but at different times. The school's motto, "Whatsoever Things Are True", is an excerpt from the Bible. Here's the passage it was taken from:
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
We were at The Hill to get an education - but at a higher level the school's aim was to instill a moral compass in each of us. Apparently, in Donald Jr's case the lessen didn't take. It also indicates that parents, more than schools, influence the kind of people we grow up to be.
At this stage we don't know the extent to which Donald Trump Jr. and the rest of his family may have collaborated with the Russians to influence the election but the evidence is now clear that they were willing to do so.
Sometimes people do things that define them for the rest of their lives. If there was collusion, it would be an unforgivable sin, an impenetrable stain, that would define the Trumps for the rest of their lives.
I hope justice will be done.
"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
"Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you."
We were at The Hill to get an education - but at a higher level the school's aim was to instill a moral compass in each of us. Apparently, in Donald Jr's case the lessen didn't take. It also indicates that parents, more than schools, influence the kind of people we grow up to be.
At this stage we don't know the extent to which Donald Trump Jr. and the rest of his family may have collaborated with the Russians to influence the election but the evidence is now clear that they were willing to do so.
Sometimes people do things that define them for the rest of their lives. If there was collusion, it would be an unforgivable sin, an impenetrable stain, that would define the Trumps for the rest of their lives.
I hope justice will be done.
12
Your history of the family is that of many "royal" bloodlines throughout history. Alexander the Great, followed by Zander the Incompetent, followed by Alex the Idiot. It is not just the in-breeding among the privileged, it is the difference between having fought your way to the top and being born with money and the illusion that you are "better" than others and need no outside education, influence or ideas.
When it comes to the Trumps, not only has the bloodline thinned to the consistency of water, all that remains is the dishonesty and corruption at the core of the family's only real goal - building a Trump-branded empire that glorifies themselves and raises no one else.
When it comes to the Trumps, not only has the bloodline thinned to the consistency of water, all that remains is the dishonesty and corruption at the core of the family's only real goal - building a Trump-branded empire that glorifies themselves and raises no one else.
12
Mr. Trump is the leader of YOUR party, Mr. Brooks.
10
Someone told me recently that to be successful in modern republican politics, one needs to be "cruel, greedy, and ignorant." That pretty much sums up the trump clan.
That is also a terrible way to go through life.
That is also a terrible way to go through life.
19
So, David, did you not know this family's history before you started spouting off " there is no there there"? Your neck must be in excruciating pain whipping back and forth with your changing stories about the Trump clan.
7
Newspaper accounts of Fred Trumps activities indicate that he was arrested at the KKK rally in Queens. His name and address are recorded in several newspaper accounts of the event.
One can only imagine the conversations at the Trump dinner table as he was growing up. This combined with not wanting to rent to minorities and a host of other indiscretions by the TRUMP family. This is institutionalized racism at its core.
The sooner we rid this country of this pathetic president the better off we will be.
One can only imagine the conversations at the Trump dinner table as he was growing up. This combined with not wanting to rent to minorities and a host of other indiscretions by the TRUMP family. This is institutionalized racism at its core.
The sooner we rid this country of this pathetic president the better off we will be.
21
I wish we would all stop calling Trump, “The Donald” as if was a “Don.” Calling him that is an insult to all mafia bosses.
3
I just read the "Conversation With The President" notes from Air Force One enroute to Paris.
Trump speech and thought patterns as well as his vocabulary mirror those of a Beaver Cleaver re-run. The only items missing were a few "Gee Wally...ies".
God help us!
Trump speech and thought patterns as well as his vocabulary mirror those of a Beaver Cleaver re-run. The only items missing were a few "Gee Wally...ies".
God help us!
7
Reading this spot on piece made me even more disheartened, depressed and so resentful. When the Obama family was in the White House there was nary a dirty smell emanating from that worthy house. Now it's not a "white " house any longer. Amoral and malevolent grifters without an ounce of refinement or dignity are wallowing in the filth of their own making. How dare they ? They could care less about me and you.
23
Good going, Cath!
Kinda convenient, David, how you skip over Donald J. Trump in this narrative.
7
Thank you, Mr. Brooks for this insightful column. The Trumps are not only morally vacuous but also completely shameless and very proud of themselves. We are living in a time that I really never saw coming, when naked greed coupled with moral bankruptcy rule the highest position in the land and no one in the GOP power positions gives a damn. Their deafening silence speaks volumes and I fear that our civilization is steadfastly on the decline. In their complicity, McConnell and Ryan are in my opinion worse than any member of the Trump family.
12
Then there are the self-dealing at multiple Trump charities. Involving Eric and Donald Sr. It's beyond just high pay checks.
These are our leaders now.
These are our leaders now.
5
"The Donald Trump Jr. we see through the Russia scandal story is not malevolent: He seems to be simply oblivious to the idea that ethical concerns could possibly play a role in everyday life." Time and accruing evidence will eventually show how "malevolent" Trump and Co. turn out to be. However, unless they are Grade B "Batman" villains, the criterion of "malevolence" seems irrelevant to me. More important are criteria such as "corrupt," "unethical," and "incompetent." Mr. Brooks has underplayed the seriousness of the "Russia scandal" for months, and I think he continues to err in underestimating both its seriousness and the magnitude of the "cancer growing on the White House."
5
"There is just naked capitalism."
You've said it, Mr. Brooks. It is the capitalism practiced and extolled in the US that produced the House of Trump, the modern Republican Party, the greedy corporations and the ultra-rich who agitate for tax cuts and profit at the expense of working Americans.
You've said it, Mr. Brooks. It is the capitalism practiced and extolled in the US that produced the House of Trump, the modern Republican Party, the greedy corporations and the ultra-rich who agitate for tax cuts and profit at the expense of working Americans.
5
How many people like Trump or McConnell or Rand Paul, or Ted Cruz exist in our own communities? What games are they playing every day that create hardships for others? Why do we keep letting them do so?
The Trumps are not an aberration, but are the very public faces of what we continue to ignore within our own cities and towns. The election simply picked the scab off wounds we've had all along.
The Trumps are not an aberration, but are the very public faces of what we continue to ignore within our own cities and towns. The election simply picked the scab off wounds we've had all along.
5
It seems to me that your constitution derives its political relevance from first having been drafted as a moral document. In his column, Mr. Brooks is eloquent in his depiction of the vapid morality of Donald Jr. and, by extension, Donald Sr. That either of these cratered and morally oblivious characters (decidedly lacking in character) were able to come this close to your country's most sacred secular document suggests that there is a hole in a fence somewhere through which they have slinked that is in desperate need of mending.
Given that the world still looks to your country for leadership, both political and moral, I very much hope that someone can fix that hole before your next president is elected.
Given that the world still looks to your country for leadership, both political and moral, I very much hope that someone can fix that hole before your next president is elected.
6
Was David recouping his familial origins in he close of his first paragraph?
The most socially appropriate trade for people in those gold-rush days was probably that of an innkeeper or hotel owner. Congrats to the Trump family for going to the high ground again.
The real lesson today from our harsh judge of other people Brooks is that only he and his fellow social elites are pure enough to decide who should do what in their lives.
In this rather undistinguished essay today, David walks really close to the old Soviet bureaucracy that assigned people their jobs for the good of he centrally-planned state.
''People working every day of the week just to get their financial solvency established? Ewww, how icky!'' must have been the original title of today's Trump-attack.
The most socially appropriate trade for people in those gold-rush days was probably that of an innkeeper or hotel owner. Congrats to the Trump family for going to the high ground again.
The real lesson today from our harsh judge of other people Brooks is that only he and his fellow social elites are pure enough to decide who should do what in their lives.
In this rather undistinguished essay today, David walks really close to the old Soviet bureaucracy that assigned people their jobs for the good of he centrally-planned state.
''People working every day of the week just to get their financial solvency established? Ewww, how icky!'' must have been the original title of today's Trump-attack.
for L'Osservatore: Brooks is a Republican like you! So what are you talking about? You have a hook up with crooked People that Brooks doesn't share. Many Republicans think Trump is the LOW ground, lowest of low. I do. Maybe you are a millionaire but we aren't. We need health insurance and freedom from repression. Forget us.
Hence the absurd and dangerous conclusion of Ronald Reagan's four decades of unregulated capitalism.
8
"There is just naked capitalism."
Marx coined "capitalism"--naming an ideology. "Ideology" was coined by Antoine Louis Claude Destutt--French revolutionary era-- to name a "logy"--the study of ideas--based on Locke--the ideological force behind Madison, the US Constitution and Bill of rights.
"Ideology" has come to mean a system of ideas about (a) reality, (b) ideality and how to get from a to b. Generally it's a value system; usually a political value system.
Destutt and Locke were also free [from government] marketers. But that was when government regulation meant lining the pockets of the aristocracy. Marx was an economic democrat--regulation could be aimed at the "commonwealth"--an idea so American it names a few of the original states--as in The Commonwealths of Massachusetts, Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania. Public works and services are the common-wealth--as opposed to private wealth.
"Private enterprise" is a paradox--ranging from small business to mega corporations--publicly--stockholder owned. These are really polities. Owning 10% is a controlling interest--creating corporate-lords to replace land-lords. Corporate capitalism is feudalism updated--including divine-right mythology and lower-life as vassals and serfs
"Naked Capitalism" sees the emperor's clothes: they think our duty is serving them. Their right is lording it over us.
It's a cultural pathology. Republican politicians are the vassal-knights of 10%. Kickbacks are how wealth oozes down.
Marx coined "capitalism"--naming an ideology. "Ideology" was coined by Antoine Louis Claude Destutt--French revolutionary era-- to name a "logy"--the study of ideas--based on Locke--the ideological force behind Madison, the US Constitution and Bill of rights.
"Ideology" has come to mean a system of ideas about (a) reality, (b) ideality and how to get from a to b. Generally it's a value system; usually a political value system.
Destutt and Locke were also free [from government] marketers. But that was when government regulation meant lining the pockets of the aristocracy. Marx was an economic democrat--regulation could be aimed at the "commonwealth"--an idea so American it names a few of the original states--as in The Commonwealths of Massachusetts, Virginia, Kentucky, Pennsylvania. Public works and services are the common-wealth--as opposed to private wealth.
"Private enterprise" is a paradox--ranging from small business to mega corporations--publicly--stockholder owned. These are really polities. Owning 10% is a controlling interest--creating corporate-lords to replace land-lords. Corporate capitalism is feudalism updated--including divine-right mythology and lower-life as vassals and serfs
"Naked Capitalism" sees the emperor's clothes: they think our duty is serving them. Their right is lording it over us.
It's a cultural pathology. Republican politicians are the vassal-knights of 10%. Kickbacks are how wealth oozes down.
5
Gee, you'd think "Christian" conservatives would recognize these qualities for what they are...or maybe not.
2
Aesop wrote, "We hang petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." Funny, how little has changed.
14
That Donald Trump and his adult sons are arrogant, dishonest, despicable, unethical and immoral men is something on which at least half or more of Americans would agree, but more importantly, what does this say about those Americans who enthusiastically voted for Trump and continue to rally around?
The ethics code of the Trump family can essentially be summed up by Donald Trump Sr.'s defense of Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer to collect damaging information on Hillary Clinton from the Russian government, when he said that most people would have done the same thing during a diplomatic visit to France. Yes, most self-serving criminals would have probably attended this meeting in spite of a known enemy government of America clearly identified as the source. No, the majority of Americans, whether holding positions in government elected office or not, have a moral and ethical compass which would have stopped them from attending this meeting and would have compelled them to report the incident to Federal authorities.
Continuing the theme of moral vacuum in the house of Trump: the highly inappropriate and cringe-worthy compliment by our Lothario-In-Chief of French President Macron's wife being in "such good shape" only underscores Trump's total lack of diplomatic skills while burnishing his overall sexual predator creepiness reputation.
The ethics code of the Trump family can essentially be summed up by Donald Trump Sr.'s defense of Jr.'s meeting with a Russian lawyer to collect damaging information on Hillary Clinton from the Russian government, when he said that most people would have done the same thing during a diplomatic visit to France. Yes, most self-serving criminals would have probably attended this meeting in spite of a known enemy government of America clearly identified as the source. No, the majority of Americans, whether holding positions in government elected office or not, have a moral and ethical compass which would have stopped them from attending this meeting and would have compelled them to report the incident to Federal authorities.
Continuing the theme of moral vacuum in the house of Trump: the highly inappropriate and cringe-worthy compliment by our Lothario-In-Chief of French President Macron's wife being in "such good shape" only underscores Trump's total lack of diplomatic skills while burnishing his overall sexual predator creepiness reputation.
12
The Trump family sound very much like New York real estate developers rather than politicians...oh, wait....
4
The Trumps and Shkrelis of the world are the biggest threat to our civil society due to their greed and lack or morals/ethics. These are the type of individuals that need to be locked up for the betterment of us all.
4
Boy, the "I took the lady to a fancy deli" was one of Brooks worst columns in recent memory but today's, "house of Trump" is one of his best. If only the Mets could bounce back like this.
1
Mr. Brooks wrote "There is just naked capitalism." Who but the naked capitalist billionaires control the Republican party and now America?
3
While this analysis seems on the money (pun intended), it doesn't explain how so many people who call themselves "Christian" voted for this charlatan. Where was their ethical compasses? Where were their moral values? They knew and understood exactly who 45 was and voted for him anyway.
2
Brooks says the Trump family has built a culture beyond good and evil...? beyond good maybe, but not beyond evil...nasty self serving arrogance is evil....yes, humanity has been bred out of the Trumps....they are all soul less piranhas.
4
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive." Really? Sure, and it's government, not the private sector, that is the site of endless inefficiencies. (Ever call Time Warner / Spectrum or Name Your Mega-Corporation to resolve a problem?) And it's somehow morally defensible that even "good capitalists" like Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are somehow allowed to accumulate personal net worths of $60 billion each? Yes, if only everything could just be deregulated, the strong core ethical values of all those good businessmen out there (mostly men) would come to the fore! It's long past time to deconstruct not the "administrative state," but the mythology of the benefits of unfettered capital accumulation by a few individuals all over the planet, which is beyond obscene.
2
"Amoral familism." That is the social science term used to describe an ethic that reaches no further than immediate kin. Trump puts it well: “They can’t stand that we are extremely close and will ALWAYS support each other”. In its classic form amoral familism is found in peasant villages burdened with economic privation, and the mafia. Today we find it in the White house.
403
Trump has always been shallow and corrupt. He started out in NYC cheating and paying important people to cut corners for him. He did everything in NYC to make him look like a powerful person like paying Hillary and Bill to attend his wedding. Look at this track record of bankruptcies! He's a con and a fraud.
Trump and his 3 oldest children are birds of a feather. They learned what they know from their father and seem pretty proud of it. Trump's the corrupt Wizard behind the curtain manipulating people and things trying to make everyone believe something that's not real and some voters fell for it.
His 3 oldest children either have these corrupt traits in their DNA or they believe their survival depends on daddy succeeding for them to succeed. They've never worked for anyone else and would never have obtained their wealth without him. It's like a mob family IMO. You do what you have to do to protect the Don.
Trump and his 3 oldest children are birds of a feather. They learned what they know from their father and seem pretty proud of it. Trump's the corrupt Wizard behind the curtain manipulating people and things trying to make everyone believe something that's not real and some voters fell for it.
His 3 oldest children either have these corrupt traits in their DNA or they believe their survival depends on daddy succeeding for them to succeed. They've never worked for anyone else and would never have obtained their wealth without him. It's like a mob family IMO. You do what you have to do to protect the Don.
4
Interesting piece, Mr. Brooks.
Question: do the enabling members of the GOP have a "complementary moral code"?
Since you're concerned with questions of moarlity, perhaps it's time for you to come on over to the other side.
Question: do the enabling members of the GOP have a "complementary moral code"?
Since you're concerned with questions of moarlity, perhaps it's time for you to come on over to the other side.
5
The entire Republican party is morally bankrupt, and now has a standard-bearer who reflects their true values.
3
"Moral Vacuum in the House of Trump"?
More needlessly-abstract, semi-exculpatory claptrap?
"Moral Vacuum"?
How about "utter corruption," "blatant criminality," "or simply "immoral and criminal"?
A crook is a CROOK, not some lab-rat made in an artificial "moral vacuum" by some mad scientist!
And all the Trump family history is irrelevant and meant to obscure the ONGOING criminality! Would you natter on about the troubled family history of a mass-criminal who somehow escaped being arrested, as some sort of exculpatory "context"? So why do that with Trump.
More needlessly-abstract, semi-exculpatory claptrap?
"Moral Vacuum"?
How about "utter corruption," "blatant criminality," "or simply "immoral and criminal"?
A crook is a CROOK, not some lab-rat made in an artificial "moral vacuum" by some mad scientist!
And all the Trump family history is irrelevant and meant to obscure the ONGOING criminality! Would you natter on about the troubled family history of a mass-criminal who somehow escaped being arrested, as some sort of exculpatory "context"? So why do that with Trump.
3
Trump's father sounds like the typical successful businessman of his era. Yawn.
Mr. Brooks,
Why do you think that humans yearn to be good and that kindness is a normal human instinct?
Why do you think that humans yearn to be good and that kindness is a normal human instinct?
Fascism IS a moral vacuum and that's what we have now, not just in Trump's family but in the WH and in the closed -mouth Republican Congress. Government policy under these evil people is aimed at bending the populace to their narrow undemocratic will. It involves efforts to suppress free expression, patriarchal suppression of women's rights, suppression of the vote and racial and religious discrimination in the name of a false God that is money and not Christianity in any true sense of the word. Lies, corruption, betrayal or any means to meet their ends is sacred since they are the RIGHT--too far right to be Americans. But then one wonders if these men are actually Americans anymore?? Doesn't look like it.
3
Sociopaths. Again, read 'The Sociopath Next Door' and pay particular attention to the character 'Skip' - Trumps incarnate. And David, your column is 'spot on' today; just look at these guys - the 1,000 yard stares, the complete lack of remorse. The Trumps and especially Kushner are stimulated by hurting others. Is it Eric or Donald Jr. who shot and killed mating prairie dogs just for fun. Eric Harris' personality (Columbine) comes to mind. Sadly, can you imagine the abuse that Donald Sr. suffered from his father? And, Trump's brother died from alcoholism; I know the kind of abuse that brings a child to alcoholism so severe there's just no way out. Ivanka and Donald Sr. have this C.W. Post/Merriweather Post relationship where the daughter is canonized and worshiped in an almost prurient, and definitely creepy manner where the mother/wife is treated like garbage. This is one disordered family.
5
The Republican party and its enablers are the embodiment of the "moral vacuum" and have been for decades. Donald Trump is the spawn of their racist, sexist, war on the poor and middle class policies. So spare us your pretend outrage. You don't have to go into Trump's genealogy to explain the moral vacuum--just look in the mirror.
2
Just the other day, attorney general Sessions spoke to a right wing group about the "attack on religion." Which religion? Was it Jewry or Muslims, the two minority groups that are most often defamed? No, he was talking about Christians--the majority religion in America that includes most of us! When were we attacked and by whom?
Baloney, he said those words to intimidate voters, to force their acceptance of his alt-rt suppressive government policies by instilling fear. Don't believe that manipulative liar. We Christians are doing just fine. We are definitely not under attack SAVE by our own government.
Baloney, he said those words to intimidate voters, to force their acceptance of his alt-rt suppressive government policies by instilling fear. Don't believe that manipulative liar. We Christians are doing just fine. We are definitely not under attack SAVE by our own government.
6
The Trump's are grifters and scammers. It's what they do.
3
So the grandfather got himself kicked out of Germany for not fulfilling his military obligations. What a surprise.
1
Mr Trump Jr:: "You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”
It would seem not.
It would seem not.
1
Nepotism at its best!
1
There is absolutely nothing to admire about the Trump family, they lie cheat to achieve what they want, and have absolutely not one ounce of empathy for anything...yuck! The saddest thing about it all, the country..what will happen to our beloved country with these cheats at the helm!!
3
When I saw him swinging the tail of an elephant he had killed,I knew there was a problem there. Then I saw a picture,with his brother,of a cheetah they had killed.They were both smiling. These type of people are not who you want making decisions about your future. The 2 sons are blessed as quality people by their father,President Trump. Do you call your son a quality person? Strange description. Donald Jr.? Ethics? Honesty? Morality? That's for the little people.
387
SARSS - I agree 1000%. Don Jr. and Eric. Despicable. Deplorable. Boys. Raised just as their father wanted them to be.
I thought it was the trunk of the elephant. Big men, eh? Used automatic weapons to kill these endangered, intelligent animals. Horrific.
2
I honestly believe that if Trump Jr. were asked, in conversation, what he'd call the man who killed the last living elephant, he'd say, "the WINNER!"
When he was criticized for his kill, he defended himself by saying, "I'm a hunter." No, Don boy, you're not. You're a looter.
When he was criticized for his kill, he defended himself by saying, "I'm a hunter." No, Don boy, you're not. You're a looter.
I have to take exception to Mr. Brook's comment that the Trump family has "an ETHIC of loyalty to one another". I think that is a misuse of the term, ethic, which references existence of a moral code. Their behavior reminds me of a gopher colony, all cozy and familial, until one is run over by a car and the rest of the clan drags the hapless victim under a porch and consumes it. I believe the cannibalism is about to begin.
7
interesting way to sidestep the issue of treason, which is at the heart of this piece. It would appear the family has avoided any participation in national service (no matter what country), like the plague. That's not "just naked capitalism", it's an attempt to avoid any sense of debt to the very governments that have made these capitalist opportunities available. Taxes? Not on my watch! Military service? Let's get out of the country! This defiant refusal to acknowledge any allegiance to country has also been a family trait, passed down over the generations. The irony of having a draft dodger in the WH is unending and incredible.
6
Well, finally.
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive."
If you say so, David.
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive."
If you say so, David.
2
Let's not fool ourselves. No individual, corporation, church or government with a genuine ethical or moral compass, amasses that much power or wealth.
3
Lying seems to be the entire Trump family resting position. During the election he said "Believe me". And now, I do. I believe his words are lies, I believe his lies are deliberate and easy, and I believe he believes his lies are lies (but it's ok because he prays them away in the oval office).
I should have stopped at 'resting position'...
I should have stopped at 'resting position'...
2
Why wasn't the title to this piece 'Moral Vacuum in the House of the Republican Party," just replace the Trumps with Republican Party. You write, "But beyond that there is no attachment to any external moral truth or ethical code. There is just naked capitalism." Sounds like the Republicans to me.
4
“Everyone does it”
I am reminded of our mother’s admonition when confronted with this whine.
If everyone is lined up to jump off a cliff, to certain death, would you be one of them? We as a society are poised at the edge of this very cliff.
I am reminded of our mother’s admonition when confronted with this whine.
If everyone is lined up to jump off a cliff, to certain death, would you be one of them? We as a society are poised at the edge of this very cliff.
2
Thanks, Mr. Brooks, for this clear description of the modelling of all children in their psychological development.
As for the Trumps, it's as though we're collectively watching the Titanic sinking... as if sitting in a movie theatre, in the dark, passive & impotent, watching an alternative reality which really DID happen & also really IS happening now. Sadly, it will be some time yet before it is all well & truly over.
As for the Trumps, it's as though we're collectively watching the Titanic sinking... as if sitting in a movie theatre, in the dark, passive & impotent, watching an alternative reality which really DID happen & also really IS happening now. Sadly, it will be some time yet before it is all well & truly over.
2
The political value of exposing Trump lies via his son and cronies makes the exercise worthwhile. They must all be subpoenaed, including Don Sr. However, people relishing their appearances at investigations are forgetting a few things: 1- The junior Don, raised in the senior's orbit, can't tell the truth from the un-truth. 2- He's been promised a pardon by his mentor. So he doesn't think he NEEDS to tell the truth. He is that shallow to allow this to go forward -- lie and lie again for the firm. As for the word "oath" it might as well be Oaf in his case. Despite all this, issue the subpoenas.
2
Don't excuse this behavior, Mr. Brooks. This column is no different than the various sycophants over the past week implying that Trump Jr. was just a mixed up little boy who didn't know any better. That's nonsense.
Yes, he was gleeful about it, and yes, the Trump family is utterly devoid of any and all morals and ethics. This behavior, however, was absolutely malevolent. It was executed with the expectation that the information Trump would receive from the Russians would be useful in attacking and damaging Hillary Clinton. That is malevolent.
The entire Trump campaign and administration has been an unparalleled force of malevolence. This goes well beyond greed, or a lack of ethics. This is an attempt to destroy the integrity of our electoral process, and the workings of our government itself. Worse, it was done with the express assistance of a hostile foreign power.
That's not "what you do in business". That's what criminals and traitors do.
Yes, he was gleeful about it, and yes, the Trump family is utterly devoid of any and all morals and ethics. This behavior, however, was absolutely malevolent. It was executed with the expectation that the information Trump would receive from the Russians would be useful in attacking and damaging Hillary Clinton. That is malevolent.
The entire Trump campaign and administration has been an unparalleled force of malevolence. This goes well beyond greed, or a lack of ethics. This is an attempt to destroy the integrity of our electoral process, and the workings of our government itself. Worse, it was done with the express assistance of a hostile foreign power.
That's not "what you do in business". That's what criminals and traitors do.
8
What you have in trump is a unique meeting of ignorance and arrogance. He thinks that ordinary considerations that apply to others don't apply to him and thinks that he knows everything when he is actually quite ignorant of basic and generally known information, such as how government works.
What trump is good at is branding himself and PR. He claims to be a businessman, but if you are going to be successful in business over the long term, you at least need to pretend to be honest and follow contracts and agreements. It is hard to do business if everyone you deal with thinks that you are planning to cheat them. It became widely known that trump stiffed contractors, did not repay loans, and did not live up to agreements. Some people think that is why trump likes the Russians. They are the only one who will still lend him any money.
Donald had the good fortune to get into entertainment and "The Apprentice." Many of the people who saw Donald on "The Apprentice" did not know that it was intended to be entertainment. In fact many of the people viewing the program do not know when reality ends and entertainment begins. They like trump because he hates the people they hate and he lives like they would live if they were rich.
Donald has been quit successful but would I advise anyone to imitate Trump to be successful in life. No. If I had a child growing up I would encourage him/her to be honest, considerate of others, to always tell the truth.
What trump is good at is branding himself and PR. He claims to be a businessman, but if you are going to be successful in business over the long term, you at least need to pretend to be honest and follow contracts and agreements. It is hard to do business if everyone you deal with thinks that you are planning to cheat them. It became widely known that trump stiffed contractors, did not repay loans, and did not live up to agreements. Some people think that is why trump likes the Russians. They are the only one who will still lend him any money.
Donald had the good fortune to get into entertainment and "The Apprentice." Many of the people who saw Donald on "The Apprentice" did not know that it was intended to be entertainment. In fact many of the people viewing the program do not know when reality ends and entertainment begins. They like trump because he hates the people they hate and he lives like they would live if they were rich.
Donald has been quit successful but would I advise anyone to imitate Trump to be successful in life. No. If I had a child growing up I would encourage him/her to be honest, considerate of others, to always tell the truth.
2
Brooks writes: I repeat this history because I don’t think moral obliviousness is built in a day. It takes generations to hammer ethical considerations out of a person’s mind and to replace them entirely with the ruthless logic of winning and losing"
His mistake is that he applies this logic just to the Trump family.
He should also apply it to the current Republican party - which has now for almost 50 years been hammering ethical considerations out of its candidates for congress. It is obsessed with winning and losing, refusing to pass any legislation from Obama.
His party exhibits the same characteristics he now derides in Trump, when Trump is the quintessential Republican.
His mistake is that he applies this logic just to the Trump family.
He should also apply it to the current Republican party - which has now for almost 50 years been hammering ethical considerations out of its candidates for congress. It is obsessed with winning and losing, refusing to pass any legislation from Obama.
His party exhibits the same characteristics he now derides in Trump, when Trump is the quintessential Republican.
6
Mr. Brooks for being social science writer this column shows how you have and still manage not to do a mea culpa on your own beliefs that have placed you so center at the gop, the private property takes all wins against anything but the military.
Your writing is based on the fallacy that it takes generations to build the evil in the trump family. This is nonsense. Each life is responsible for developing their own value system. So each trump generation has made their own decision of values they believe. As you probable know, studies have shown that in the first few years of life that being raised in an oppressive family or progressive show that the child imposes a large part of regressive behavior from their own self-life independent of their environment.
The paragraph that you state the revelation of the week isn't that this may bring about impeachment but that the trumps live beyond good and evil is short sighted and another exposure of your inability to face your conscience straight on.
The true logic of your statement is that trumps are not beyond the effects and consequences of good and evil. Their are checks and balances, laws and ethical-moral standards to hold them accountable. Indictments from Mueller have a great chance of trump losing all authority as president and, in the end, he will resign.
Your writing is based on the fallacy that it takes generations to build the evil in the trump family. This is nonsense. Each life is responsible for developing their own value system. So each trump generation has made their own decision of values they believe. As you probable know, studies have shown that in the first few years of life that being raised in an oppressive family or progressive show that the child imposes a large part of regressive behavior from their own self-life independent of their environment.
The paragraph that you state the revelation of the week isn't that this may bring about impeachment but that the trumps live beyond good and evil is short sighted and another exposure of your inability to face your conscience straight on.
The true logic of your statement is that trumps are not beyond the effects and consequences of good and evil. Their are checks and balances, laws and ethical-moral standards to hold them accountable. Indictments from Mueller have a great chance of trump losing all authority as president and, in the end, he will resign.
1
This is a lineage of fathers, who in families like this where the father is absent all of the time, have very little to do with character-formation. By focussing on them, one is at some level encouraging the ostensibly wholly malevolent chain; linking oneself to it.
I guess we so want to believe our earlier forefathers were so virtuous that we easily glide over a made presumption that it is the present, not the past, that is somehow closer to red in tooth and claw. I don't believe it. Trump came out of a heritage of fairly unloved people passing on their scant love to their children, making them into narcissists, children of fundamental deprivation, one only mistakably could come to more to hate than to feel sorry for (his ability to at one point amiably affiliate with the Clintons, suggests to me he's probably more emotionally evolved than his predecessors were.. he could get in the groove, count amongst his emotional betters, for awhile at least).
I think he understands his deprivation, and it's why he's GENUINELY committed to prioritize the nation as mother, to make societal sacrifices to her, and war against those he knows actually had it in them to move outside societal hems, concepts like good and evil, good children-bad children stuff -- that is, on progressives, progressive culture.
I guess we so want to believe our earlier forefathers were so virtuous that we easily glide over a made presumption that it is the present, not the past, that is somehow closer to red in tooth and claw. I don't believe it. Trump came out of a heritage of fairly unloved people passing on their scant love to their children, making them into narcissists, children of fundamental deprivation, one only mistakably could come to more to hate than to feel sorry for (his ability to at one point amiably affiliate with the Clintons, suggests to me he's probably more emotionally evolved than his predecessors were.. he could get in the groove, count amongst his emotional betters, for awhile at least).
I think he understands his deprivation, and it's why he's GENUINELY committed to prioritize the nation as mother, to make societal sacrifices to her, and war against those he knows actually had it in them to move outside societal hems, concepts like good and evil, good children-bad children stuff -- that is, on progressives, progressive culture.
"prioritize the nation as mother"?
Trump despises women and, one gathers, despised his mother, as "weak." His father was powerful and power is Trump's only compass.
Trump despises women and, one gathers, despised his mother, as "weak." His father was powerful and power is Trump's only compass.
1
They are crooks plain and simple. But they are not worried because if the law finally catches up with them, President Trump will issue a pardon. He won't care what the country thinks. He'll just do it.
When he does, can we consider that abuse of power?
When he does, can we consider that abuse of power?
Donald Trump believes that most people in Donald Trump, Jr.'s situation would have done the same thing. Would he? Did he?
Would they? Would they have, say, 30 years ago? 20? 10? 5? Now? Would most people really be meeting with Russians to get dirt on their family's political opponents - and loving it?
If not, what possessed this country to elect a man as our leader who would think that most people would? What would possess us to reelect him (and his party, for that matter)?
If so, what kind of people are we to condone self-serving, unprincipled behavior helping a foreign power undermine our system of government?
Who *are* we?
Would they? Would they have, say, 30 years ago? 20? 10? 5? Now? Would most people really be meeting with Russians to get dirt on their family's political opponents - and loving it?
If not, what possessed this country to elect a man as our leader who would think that most people would? What would possess us to reelect him (and his party, for that matter)?
If so, what kind of people are we to condone self-serving, unprincipled behavior helping a foreign power undermine our system of government?
Who *are* we?
2
How does this story of the Trumps' moral vacuity not parallel the character, values, and actions of the modern Republican Party? How does one otherwise explain the Republican wealthcare bill that may well pass? Republican ethics are Trump ethics ---and that David Brooks fails to make _this_ equation is an part of his own ethical malaise.
2
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive."
What a quaint anachronism, Mr. Brooks! Unbridled, unchecked greed and ambition are destroying our nation!
What a quaint anachronism, Mr. Brooks! Unbridled, unchecked greed and ambition are destroying our nation!
1
We knew all this before Donald Trump was elected president, and yet over 62 million Republicans voted for him anyway. There will always be a Donald Trump out there, groveling for dollars and trampling on human decency. The real problem is the political power of an organization that shares his moral universe of Birtherism, dishonesty, misogyny, and a religious devotion to the divinity of money.
2
“…to take the normal human yearning to be good and replace it with a single-minded desire for material conquest; to take the normal human instinct for kindness and replace it with a law-of-the-jungle mentality.”
Or is it the other way around? Do we have to learn to be good, or learn to be bad? Do we start with empathy, or self-interest? Do we build up to Donald Trump, or down from him? Have Trump supporters regressed to a primitive psychology, or have they “progressed” to that same primitive psychology? Is our view of optimistic, or cynical? On which side does the naïveté lie?
David Brooks is an optimist.
I hope he is right.
I fear he is wrong.
Or is it the other way around? Do we have to learn to be good, or learn to be bad? Do we start with empathy, or self-interest? Do we build up to Donald Trump, or down from him? Have Trump supporters regressed to a primitive psychology, or have they “progressed” to that same primitive psychology? Is our view of optimistic, or cynical? On which side does the naïveté lie?
David Brooks is an optimist.
I hope he is right.
I fear he is wrong.
I'm sorry but he is malevolent. No qualms about doing things that hurt others is malevolence.
1
David, your illuminating column and Roger Cohens beautiful tribute to his father in today's Times reenforces the old adage that "the fruit doesn't fall far from the tree".
Trump's winning at all costs will leave the US financially and morally bankrupt - a shallow victory indeed.
1
If collusion with a hostile foreign power, attempts to cover that up, and obstruction of justice haven't risen to the level of impeachable offenses in your eyes, Mr. Brooks, then what. in God's name, DOES?
1
C'mon, David. Say it. You were WRONG about collusion. You still want to downplay Russia. Yes, the Trump's are amoral. As Claude Rains might say, "I can't believe there are no values in this White House!". What a shock. Beyond good and evil is evil, which clearly appears to extend to a deep entanglement with Russia in illegally throwing our presidential election.
2
Earlier I posted that Brooks did not mention that Trump's father made his fortune from government housing programs. I was wrong.
It was mentioned, but in a follow up paragraph after you write that he made his fortune in housing. I guess I am so angry about the unfairness of how many have made their wealth, that I jumped the gun.
The anger has grown since Trump and the gang of greedy Republicans have championed selfishness and capture of government for their own enrichment, at the expense and suffering of the American people.
Still waiting for you to get angry, Mr. Brooks.
It was mentioned, but in a follow up paragraph after you write that he made his fortune in housing. I guess I am so angry about the unfairness of how many have made their wealth, that I jumped the gun.
The anger has grown since Trump and the gang of greedy Republicans have championed selfishness and capture of government for their own enrichment, at the expense and suffering of the American people.
Still waiting for you to get angry, Mr. Brooks.
1
When I first saw the headline, I thought Brooks was talking about his friends in Congress. The headline could have easily have read "Moral Vavuum in the House of Representatives." Of course, Brooks could have been referring to his own house where he went Hillary bashing instead of pleading with Americans to not vote for the one who is now the leader of his party.
1
How 'bout it Mr. Brooks, when is the Republican Party going to step up to their moral code, the one somewhere out there, Christian, Constitutional? - "Assume a virtue, if you have it not."
1
People who haven't seen through Trump by now are blinder than bats and dumber than rocks.
My opinion of Macron has fallen mightily lately.
My opinion of Macron has fallen mightily lately.
1
Don't underestimate Macron. He is smart and has read Trump a mile away. He suffers no fools. Just see his handshake at the summit. Getting his message across.....!
Dwight Eisenhower once said If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and that is moral, then it is not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power.
It appears this administration and those related to it lack any moral ethos. It's defense is "why is everyone else held to the same standard"--when "everyone" else did not commit the offense nor proper the lie.
Like his grandfather and his father before him, it matters not the affect on others as long as he considers it a "win".
This then extends to those within the Republican Party who will not speak out nor come to grips that something, a lot of something, is just not right in the current administration.
I will leave this to others to decide if this is a fear or retaliation by Trumps base or is it a "conspiracy to seize power.
It appears this administration and those related to it lack any moral ethos. It's defense is "why is everyone else held to the same standard"--when "everyone" else did not commit the offense nor proper the lie.
Like his grandfather and his father before him, it matters not the affect on others as long as he considers it a "win".
This then extends to those within the Republican Party who will not speak out nor come to grips that something, a lot of something, is just not right in the current administration.
I will leave this to others to decide if this is a fear or retaliation by Trumps base or is it a "conspiracy to seize power.
1
The acquiescence of the Republican party as our nation is dragged through this humiliating ordeal is contemptible. The United States' reputation around the world is damaged and diminished, likely beyond repair. Congress stands silent, except for the vigorous efforts to deny million access to health care.
5
I am less concerned about the loss of moral compass for the Trumps. Anybody who watched the campaign saw that the family was going to transgress any and all norms to attain power. I am more concerned about Trump supporters, who, seeing this distilled, aberrant, cut-throat behavior modeled to perfection, seem to be "all in" no matter what is uncovered. Again, his base of supporters, that are counted in millions of Americans, believe this news thread to be a lie told by a lying media, and that the Trumps are telling a righteous truth: witch hunt. That is the nut to crack in the national dialogue.
541
That "base" of Trump supporters has been cultivated, raised in, taught by right wing media, churches, "think" tanks, and politicians to doubt truths and to feel rage at the right's targets for nearly half a century now, encompassing generations of people. Bypassed by liberals, captured by the right, they could have been different,
A similar demographic of small business people and struggling workers was, in a previous era, cultivated and taught by a Roosevelt coalition of politicians, unions, religious, intellectuals, and radical activists to enlarge their horizons, learn about the deep connections between different groups of people, confront poverty and economic depression, and join other nations in confronting the fascist powers expanding on several continents.
A similar demographic of small business people and struggling workers was, in a previous era, cultivated and taught by a Roosevelt coalition of politicians, unions, religious, intellectuals, and radical activists to enlarge their horizons, learn about the deep connections between different groups of people, confront poverty and economic depression, and join other nations in confronting the fascist powers expanding on several continents.
1
My abiding fear is what happens to us when the truth comes out. If, after 40 years of post-Fairness Doctrine "news," we are not able to stipulate to the most basic facts of what's happened at the highest levels of our government, how do we address and move past the problems? There's a very persistent floor of 36 - 40% of voters who approve of Trump, today. This group appears able and willing to overlook any misdeeds, and many of them forthrightly say it's because Democrats are elites who talk down to them. When we get to the point where evidence of wrongdoing is presented and rejected by that many Americans, what are we left with? An angry group that wants Trump and all of his enablers, including those in congress, dislodged from power, and another angry group that regularly announces its willingness to use 2A solutions in order to protect them. Is it possible for us to avoid civil war in these circumstances?
We should have seen it coming. Look how popular The Apprentice was.
A quote from Jennifer Rubin in today's Washington Post summarizes the essential problem:
"Republicans’ willingness to accept even national betrayal — that’s what Trump Jr. was willing to undertake, after all — will disgrace the party and its leaders for years, if not permanently. It is a party no longer capable of defending our national interests and Constitution from foreign enemies."
"Republicans’ willingness to accept even national betrayal — that’s what Trump Jr. was willing to undertake, after all — will disgrace the party and its leaders for years, if not permanently. It is a party no longer capable of defending our national interests and Constitution from foreign enemies."
7
The emails & meeting are bad enough, but what should be investigated is the more revealing clause "This is obviously very high level and sensitive information, but is part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." It sounds as though this offer of assistance was going on for some time and all Trump's people knew that Russia would help whenever it could, and would be
accepting of anything, even from an enemy of our country.
accepting of anything, even from an enemy of our country.
3
Some people have ascribed the Trump family's behavior to the general moral decline in our society, and I believe that's part of it. But even accepting that premise cannot explain this kind of pathological behavior. This type of behavior is taught, ingrained and burned into them. It's clear from Mr. Brooks' brief but telling family history, if the Trump's were ever familiar with the concept of "ethics" in business or in life, they discarded all notions of it a few generations ago.
2
We lose sight of the problem - Americans are individuals first and party members, Republicans, Democrats, only second. It is individuals; fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, our partners in this incredible experiment of democracy, who are choosing a lower ethical road. It is our neighbors that deem moral character less important than fantastical promises of a better life, education less profound than entertainment, civic responsibility less interesting than civic rights. Donald, Mitch, and Paul are not the cause of our failures as a nation, they are the sad manifestation of our moral failures as individuals. They lead us in a direction that we have already chosen.
3
Brooks assuming successful business people have z moral compass reminds me of Greenspan's total amazement that bankers would act as they did in the run up to 2008. Gordon Gecko is still the character most emulated on Wall Street. How did Brooks forget the Ford Pinto calculations as to the cost of the deaths they were sure would happen. That is the epitome of American Corporations.
3
"Successful business people, like successful politicians, are very ambitious, but they generally have some complementary moral code that checks their greed and channels their drive." He doesn't assume "z moral compass."
All of this could have been avoided if there were rules to audit a candidates business and display tax returns
The Trumps have been brand ambassadors for foreign money for more than a decade. It will all come out at some point.
What I didn't see coming was the the complete abdication of duty and engagement. He will sign anything and has allowed the evangelicals full sharia reign
It is all much worse than I ever imagined and will take decades to clean up
The Trumps have been brand ambassadors for foreign money for more than a decade. It will all come out at some point.
What I didn't see coming was the the complete abdication of duty and engagement. He will sign anything and has allowed the evangelicals full sharia reign
It is all much worse than I ever imagined and will take decades to clean up
7
The moral vacuum is not limited to the House of Trump, but a generational decay in the overall US conservative outlook that has been largely authored by the Republican Congress, who seem to be oblivious of all the Trump follies ranging from business, social values to politics. So blame whom but thyself for electing such personality to lead USA, who might finish his time at 2024 and make ways for his heirs to accede later!!
1
Just as Donald Jr. is the product of generations of amoral family values, the Trump presidency is the culmination of a political party's repeated abdication of all sense of obligation to anyone or anything other than the wealthy and powerful elite.(All the while feigning concern for the salt-of-the-earth folks in flyover country.)
9
The Trumps present a stark contrast to the Bushes, or at least the generation of George the Elder. I am currently in the middle of Jon Meacham's excellent biography of George H. W. Bush, in which he is presented at the polar opposite of the Trumps. Even George W., for all the faults and failings he had as president, is not the cutthroat individual that Donald Trump Sr. and Jr. and, unlike the Trumps, is part of a family that goes back to the earliest days of this country. Winning was everything, but it was tempered by the scriptural teaching of "to whom much is given, from whom much shall be expected." The Trumps seem to have turned that into "to whom much is given, from whom almost nothing shall be expected."
4
His grandfather was (maybe) a pimp and avoided military service, and his father was a jerk. This is an attack on the President by attacking his family origin.
We've gone from guilty by association to guilt by blood line.
We've gone from guilty by association to guilt by blood line.
2
You apparently don't understand the profound influence of family (especially recent ancestors) on individuals. We are not born into a void.
Do you really think that the GOP that you championed for many years is any different. You helped create Trump and now you act like you had nothing to do with it. Still awaiting tha mea culpa Davie.
12
“There is this mental frame of mind when you feel like you are at the top,” Keltner said. “You think you are above the law, you think you can get away with stuff and you won’t have to deal with the consequences. That’s what that study demonstrates.”
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wealthy-people-ethical/story?id=23758468
"So what you're saying, in some ways, is that we are empathetic to others in part because that's useful to us. We lack power in many situations, and being empathetic and being aware of others allows us to navigate our social worlds effectively. But when we perceive ourselves having power and privilege, in some ways, we don't need to depend as much as we do on others. We don't need to reach out to others, and so those networks shut down."
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=492305430
""The most relevant thing is whether this president, by his recent course of action, on top of his violations of the foreign corruption or emoluments clause, this president has shown that he cannot be trusted to remain within the law," Tribe said."
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/333340-harvard-professor-trum...
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wealthy-people-ethical/story?id=23758468
"So what you're saying, in some ways, is that we are empathetic to others in part because that's useful to us. We lack power in many situations, and being empathetic and being aware of others allows us to navigate our social worlds effectively. But when we perceive ourselves having power and privilege, in some ways, we don't need to depend as much as we do on others. We don't need to reach out to others, and so those networks shut down."
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=492305430
""The most relevant thing is whether this president, by his recent course of action, on top of his violations of the foreign corruption or emoluments clause, this president has shown that he cannot be trusted to remain within the law," Tribe said."
http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/333340-harvard-professor-trum...
4
Do liberals really want another Cold War with Russia?
Maybe they or their children can fight another Korea and Vietnam.
I went to Iraq on the basis of nonexistent WMD. The same 17 intelligence agencies told W they were sure Saddam had WMD. Hillary supported W.
Maybe they or their children can fight another Korea and Vietnam.
I went to Iraq on the basis of nonexistent WMD. The same 17 intelligence agencies told W they were sure Saddam had WMD. Hillary supported W.
1
You're lying when you say Hillary supporter W she did not.
She supported giving W the power of inspections to find WM D's. It was W that exploited that.
And many people knew or had grave doubts that a Iraq had WMDs including the intelligence agencies which W twisted.
Check your facts. Of course as a Republican I'm sure facts don't matter right?
She supported giving W the power of inspections to find WM D's. It was W that exploited that.
And many people knew or had grave doubts that a Iraq had WMDs including the intelligence agencies which W twisted.
Check your facts. Of course as a Republican I'm sure facts don't matter right?
2
They're Ayn Rand fans, as noted in the article focusing on Travis Kalanick:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/13/business/ayn-rand-business-politics-u...
You probably knew some of them in high school or university, but with luck only a few since then. Even Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute is offended. He said Kalanick "…took superficial inspiration from her ideas and used her philosophy to justify his obnoxiousness.”
Keep your eyes open. There's probably one pulling into a handicapped parking spot or sneaking his Escalade into the HOV lane.
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/13/business/ayn-rand-business-politics-u...
You probably knew some of them in high school or university, but with luck only a few since then. Even Yaron Brook of the Ayn Rand Institute is offended. He said Kalanick "…took superficial inspiration from her ideas and used her philosophy to justify his obnoxiousness.”
Keep your eyes open. There's probably one pulling into a handicapped parking spot or sneaking his Escalade into the HOV lane.
4
No wonder Jared Kushner was welcomed into the family.
And where's he in this article, David? You know -- the guy that forgot he met with the Russians on his security clearance form? No place in this article?
And where's he in this article, David? You know -- the guy that forgot he met with the Russians on his security clearance form? No place in this article?
5
He won 9 months ago!!!!!!
Get over it
We are not responsible for our ancestors
Get over it
We are not responsible for our ancestors
No, our ancestors are responsible for what we have become. But that doesn't change the fact that this sorry excuse for a man should not hold this much power.
1
Don't know that the deplorable's are responsible for anything!
We could transfer them all to Russia if they like Putin and Trump so much.
We could transfer them all to Russia if they like Putin and Trump so much.
Whether you know it or not, (apparently you do not), your ancestors have tremendous influence over who you are. Genetically and psychologically. Make no mistake about it.
As a child in the Deep South during the 1960s, and one involved in athletics, this saying was often spoken and often printed out for locker rooms: "Winners never cheat, and cheaters never win."
And while most of us see the Trumps as laughing all the way to the bank about how they are cheating the presidency to enrich themselves, in the end they won't be winners.
A death bed scene is lonely with only only bags of money surrounding it.
Or the people who want that money surrounding it.
And while most of us see the Trumps as laughing all the way to the bank about how they are cheating the presidency to enrich themselves, in the end they won't be winners.
A death bed scene is lonely with only only bags of money surrounding it.
Or the people who want that money surrounding it.
4
Moral vacuum? More like a black hole. Indeed, parents are the first teachers in a child's life. But, it is not just the Trump's lack of character or moral turpitude.
It is the win at all cost economy begun by Saint Reagan which has allowed
dynasties like the Trumps to thrive in spite of their ineptitude. From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, businessmen rake in millions at the expense of cheap labor, price-gouged consumers and honest taxpayers. I fear Donald Jr. is a sad example of how his generation defines success. At any cost, most likely ours.
It is the win at all cost economy begun by Saint Reagan which has allowed
dynasties like the Trumps to thrive in spite of their ineptitude. From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, businessmen rake in millions at the expense of cheap labor, price-gouged consumers and honest taxpayers. I fear Donald Jr. is a sad example of how his generation defines success. At any cost, most likely ours.
16
No one in the Trump family has ever been convicted on any crime or spent a day in jail. To blatantly represent that the Trump family lacks moral character is nothing short of slander. Achieving success was once admired in this country, but now the left sees only sin were virture stood. What is even more astonishing is the increable hypocritcy of the left on moral issues. If conservvatives think differently on an issue, such as healthcare or taxes, they are branded as racists, or fascists, or called some other derogatory term so that their right to free speach can be ignored and be shouted down. The left no longer offers others an honest forum to debate the truth and this opinion piece is symptomatic of an insidious corruption of truth that the press as willingly accepted in order to damage the President and his supports. The New York Times and CNN conduct a daily and coordinated campaign of "connecting the dots" and using circumstantial facts to publish "breaking news" allegations and "...at last the other shoe has dropped" judgments. And when these insubstantial stories quickly fade they resort to writing opinion pieces like this one that are nothing more that personal attacks and slander.
Oh dear. "To blatantly represent that the Trump family lacks moral character is nothing short of slander." The Trump family has been on public display for many years, and their lack of morals is plain to see. That no one in the family has yet been convicted of a crime is a pretty weak test for character.
If you want to leave the rest of the family out of it, fine. Mr. Trump is demonstrably a serial liar, philanderer and grifter. Most immoral.
If you want to leave the rest of the family out of it, fine. Mr. Trump is demonstrably a serial liar, philanderer and grifter. Most immoral.
Clearly this writer has never been on the other side of a contract with a Trump organization. Moral equivalency works both ways.
You're right they haven't spent a day in jail. Yet!
David, are you going to acknowledge that collusion with Russia existed and exists in the Trump administration? Trump and family will soon discover that money is their ONLY value, they will turn on each other, just as Kushner's father turned on his family. Hopefully, they will go to jail like Kushner's father, too. And, they want the RNC donations to pay for the family's legal defense.
6
Question:
How do we rid ourselves of the "Moral Vacuum" exemplified by the House of Trump and by extension the GOP.
Decent GOP members must lead the way.
The GOP should recognize/accept that Trump is a disaster in need solution by way of Trump's resignation by any route possible.
GOP, RNC, and all leaders can end the ongoing deceptive/dangerous/ damaging Trump actions.
They must focus on the 2020 election with 20/20 eyesight.
Trump damages the country, its citizens, and also the GOP.
He has a low approval rating and is a world-wide embarrassment.
Is the GOP able to look down the road, altho it is this failing that has put them and us in our current untenable position.
May the GOP and its best leaders consider the following:
Do not become an enabler of the Trump dictatorial juggernaut.
Fall on your sword - with grace, sincerity, decency, and dignity.
You will be the better for it, as will we all.
By your patriotic action the GOP and the country you save will be your own. Spare us from any further embarrassment in the world's eyes.
Make this necessary sacrifice NOW.
Prepare for a worthwhile/reasonable campaign in 2020 with a decent/ honest candidate that the GOP can support with dignity.
Take this wise/practical course of action ASAP.
Time is obviously of the essence.
The behavior of the House of Trump is NOT normal - apply the label of abnormal to all.
Avoid applying this same label to the GOP leadership as well.
Senators Graham, McCain + others must lead the way.
How do we rid ourselves of the "Moral Vacuum" exemplified by the House of Trump and by extension the GOP.
Decent GOP members must lead the way.
The GOP should recognize/accept that Trump is a disaster in need solution by way of Trump's resignation by any route possible.
GOP, RNC, and all leaders can end the ongoing deceptive/dangerous/ damaging Trump actions.
They must focus on the 2020 election with 20/20 eyesight.
Trump damages the country, its citizens, and also the GOP.
He has a low approval rating and is a world-wide embarrassment.
Is the GOP able to look down the road, altho it is this failing that has put them and us in our current untenable position.
May the GOP and its best leaders consider the following:
Do not become an enabler of the Trump dictatorial juggernaut.
Fall on your sword - with grace, sincerity, decency, and dignity.
You will be the better for it, as will we all.
By your patriotic action the GOP and the country you save will be your own. Spare us from any further embarrassment in the world's eyes.
Make this necessary sacrifice NOW.
Prepare for a worthwhile/reasonable campaign in 2020 with a decent/ honest candidate that the GOP can support with dignity.
Take this wise/practical course of action ASAP.
Time is obviously of the essence.
The behavior of the House of Trump is NOT normal - apply the label of abnormal to all.
Avoid applying this same label to the GOP leadership as well.
Senators Graham, McCain + others must lead the way.
3
Any cognizant, honest person, having a willingness and or courage to admit, that all of us in small or large fashion has a bit of deceitfulness to our character. This flaw can be mildly idiosyncratic, not causing much harm or in some individuals, causes devastation.
Other than donald's education in a military school then at university, his PRIMARY education was to learn how to take advantage of the human flaws of others to foster his own success, learned both from his father and his mentor Roy Cohn, the Darth Vader in the world of law. Controversial yes but in the business world to donald just another day at the office. A philosophy surely passed on to his children. If deceit assures success, by all means use it to your advantage.
donald applied that same strategy in fostering his move to politics, during the campaigning and now in the Oval office. Count the lies of this man, starting with his crusade of Obama,s place of birth. Just from that day in particular to the present, exposes a man suffering significant psychotic disorders that could, (check could), will cause grave harm to this nations democracy if not continued challenging of donald by the press. The GOP cannot sit on the sidelines watching this destruction to go on.
Other than donald's education in a military school then at university, his PRIMARY education was to learn how to take advantage of the human flaws of others to foster his own success, learned both from his father and his mentor Roy Cohn, the Darth Vader in the world of law. Controversial yes but in the business world to donald just another day at the office. A philosophy surely passed on to his children. If deceit assures success, by all means use it to your advantage.
donald applied that same strategy in fostering his move to politics, during the campaigning and now in the Oval office. Count the lies of this man, starting with his crusade of Obama,s place of birth. Just from that day in particular to the present, exposes a man suffering significant psychotic disorders that could, (check could), will cause grave harm to this nations democracy if not continued challenging of donald by the press. The GOP cannot sit on the sidelines watching this destruction to go on.
7
Mr. Brooks - Don't leave out the fact that Trump's father made his fortune from federal government contracts to build housing after WWII.
The same government that helped him get rich denied Black people the ability to get FHA mortgages.
The American Way.
The same federal government, through its Congressional representatives, now permits this totally corrupt and unqualified liar, con, and cheat to remain in his position.
The same government that helped him get rich denied Black people the ability to get FHA mortgages.
The American Way.
The same federal government, through its Congressional representatives, now permits this totally corrupt and unqualified liar, con, and cheat to remain in his position.
9
Borgias and Medicis had an ethic of loyalty to one another also. Until they didn't.
6
As Basil Fawlty would say, "I think you've got something there." My one quibble (and it is a major quibble) is with your assertion at the end that most successful business people have some ethical compass that acts as a check on their greed. Funny, I hadn't noticed it. Yes there are Warren Buffetts, but he appears to be the exception. Robber barons ruled the turn of the last century and they rule this era as well, their greed unchecked by any consideration of decency. What, after all, is "decent" about buying members of Congress to pass laws that favor billionaires acquiring additional billions? The entire system is rigged and you know it. Let's stop pretending there's any decency at play in our modern plutocracy.
5
We didn't need this scandal to confirm what you are positing here. It was already evident BEFORE the election. The more frightening thing is that it didn't matter to the voters in the swing state. The real problem in our country is the Electoral College. It needs to be abolished, or we will continue to suffer the tyranny of the minority.
6
The Electoral College was created precisely to check tyranny of the majority upon the minority. It appears to have worked.
Let's not forget about the House of Kushner. Although for most of us it appears to only be in a two generation morass of moral decay, there's an opportunity here for you, Mr. Brooks, to do some family digging. I'm waiting for the unsurprising news that precious Jared was recruited as a Russian spy and has been functioning as a White House mole: multiple meetings with scores of Russians; undisclosed contacts with Russians on security vetting forms; back channel Russian communication attempts; the grave need for financing to support the family business. Anything is possible with this crowd. Assume nothing.
5
Imagine, with the family history that surrounds him, how Trump, Jr. grew up in the shadow of Pop and Grandfather Fred. OMG, he must have been thinking at the time of the call, "Yes, I can do something to please my father!"
4
Undergone an ethical bypass surgery at birth.
2
The Trump Family and Trump Supporter Ideology:
Rules are for suckers.
Might makes right.
There’s a sucker born every minute.
Money is the measure of success.
He who has the money rules.
My way or the highway.
Women, know your place and stay there.
Indians and blacks were conquered because they are genetically inferior.
Only inferior people thing I’m arrogant.
I am the BOSS.
The poor are useless and helping them is a waste of money.
Make America great again.
Rules are for suckers.
Might makes right.
There’s a sucker born every minute.
Money is the measure of success.
He who has the money rules.
My way or the highway.
Women, know your place and stay there.
Indians and blacks were conquered because they are genetically inferior.
Only inferior people thing I’m arrogant.
I am the BOSS.
The poor are useless and helping them is a waste of money.
Make America great again.
8
Republican politicians have been low and dirty for a longtime.
6
We need a functioning government. As long as those who demand that their party function as a dictatorship, beholden only to the wealthy, the government will remain deadlocked.
It's time for moderate Republicans to step up and create a separate party and leave the morally challenged right wingers behind.
It's time for moderate Republicans to step up and create a separate party and leave the morally challenged right wingers behind.
3
The Republicans may fail to impeach Trump for a consistent pattern of illegal and moral 'lapses'. But, if the Democrats take control of the House in 2018 (which is becoming increasingly possible), they will impeach Trump, for sure (to use a Trump expression - "on the first day").
4
Crooked Trumps
6
Just one more episode from the lives of Sonny, Fredo and Connie - er, excuse me - Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka. But what I want to know is where's Michael?
1
Anthony Weiner
Elliott Spitzer
Jim McGreevey
Sheldon Silver
Rob Blagoyavich
Now, David what's that about Trump?