white supremacist are not clowns continued. In recent presidential elections, non whites voted for Bill Clinton, Obama and Hillary. It is very unlikely that a non-white majority will result in non whites voting for other non-whites in the future. Non-whites are a fragmented bloc. Blacks, hispanics, vietnamese, filipinos, asian indians and pakistanis, chinese and so on. A more likely future scenario is whites on one side voting for a republican candidate, and an alliance of whites and non-whites on the other, backing a democrat who may or may not be white. a white republican party, has further alienated blacks,hispanics and other non whites in recent years.
7
Hard to tell if the presidency is failing. The mainstream media has had a campaign from before day one to attack attrack attack and block out news. (This has been 10x their attacks on Reagan.) Look at the past week's news cycle. Trump defends freedom of speech - much of the left including the mainstream media continueously tries to shut it down - and the media falsely reported Trump defended Nazis. (The left who claim to love diversity has no tolerance for diversity of thought.)
P.S. Good thing to know that for so many black communities such as that in Baltimore the problems of poverty, violence (particulary black on black) drug addiction, etc..have been solved and the cities' Democratic leaders are working on the more pressing problem of statues of conferedate soildlers who have been dead ~ 150 years.
P.S. Good thing to know that for so many black communities such as that in Baltimore the problems of poverty, violence (particulary black on black) drug addiction, etc..have been solved and the cities' Democratic leaders are working on the more pressing problem of statues of conferedate soildlers who have been dead ~ 150 years.
18
Win elections.
If the Times reviews its input since the Bush Gore fiasco it will find it is a major reason republicans have been whipping democrats and when enough voters recoil to switch the democrats prove again how craven they are.
If the Times reviews its input since the Bush Gore fiasco it will find it is a major reason republicans have been whipping democrats and when enough voters recoil to switch the democrats prove again how craven they are.
7
Even if this was required reading for those who may still support this man, those folks might not get it: This is a terrible human being, whose energy comes not from his base but from his own mind, such as it is. It is time for those of us, on both sides of the mid-line of America, to agree to disagree but out of necessity for saving the union come to an agreement that this guy has got to go. And quickly. Getting nothing done is preferable to having this man in a leadership position, yet possessing few if any qualities of leadership we look for in a President.
36
Almost daily since taking office, and sometimes even hourly, Mr. Trump has managed to drag himself, the Presidency, and the Nation to new lows of contemptible behavior. Even as we imagine he can not possibly bring us any lower he manages at every turn to take us lower still.
Is there anything beyond the pale of human decency and integrity that Trump will not cross? If these past six months show us anything about Trump it is that we "ain't seen nothing yet", and for most of those who still support him if they haven't turned away from him by now then nothing he can do will ever turn them away. What we can expect is the more Trump finds himself isolated and cornered the more vile he will act.
Is there anything beyond the pale of human decency and integrity that Trump will not cross? If these past six months show us anything about Trump it is that we "ain't seen nothing yet", and for most of those who still support him if they haven't turned away from him by now then nothing he can do will ever turn them away. What we can expect is the more Trump finds himself isolated and cornered the more vile he will act.
17
Simply put, no leader of a liberal democratic society can have any truck or trade with Nazis or any group akin to them and maintain legitimacy. Nazis are the antithesis of liberals. There are no good Nazis. 6 million dead European jews should have already proven that beyond a doubt. To think that any American president could speak of decent Nazis or white supremacists in a news conference is simply bewildering...and heart breaking. Shame on you Mr. Trump. Shame.
28
White supremacists are not clowns. Some are thugs and criminals. Others are deluded. still others suffer from a siege mentality. But mostly white supremacism and racism has it's underlying politics and economics. The civil rights movement in the 1960s caused a political upheaval. Many whites felt uncomfortable and threatened, and switched their allegiance to the republican party. A Republican president Abraham Lincoln signed the act that emancipated non-whites(then black), but resistance from many whites continued with past segregation, lynchings, housing discrimination, incarceration,exclusion and poverty-and lately police brutality, voter disenfranchisement and suppression, xenophobia, and rallying around confederate statues and flags. Non-whites, excluded and unwelcome earlier, could migrate to the US after Democratic President Lyndon Johnson's 1965 act. America is now far more non-white, and many whites want an America only for whites. By 2050, whites will become a minority in America. Some whites fear they will then become powerless. Some whites also felt in recent years that blacks had become powerful, after Obama was elected. Trump harnessed the resulting white fear and resentment toward no whites. Some in the white elite wanted to dominate non-whites like their confederate ancestors and targeted Obama(the birther issue). Some republicans unrealistically argue that non-whites voting for non-whites is a form of bigotry on it's own. It is not supported by facts.
8
What is it costing? How much is this "experiment that didn't work" costing. Anyone keeping tabs on travel, security, et al for his family doing business on American dime? This insanity masquerading as a legitimate Presidency must be a fortune by now. Any website up?
25
Not fair! Those KKK and Nazi members who marched in Charlottesville were not invited to attend and comprised perhaps 10% of the full gathering. Our mainstream media possessed, apparently like you, of an almost psychiatric hatred of the president, quite naturally trained their cameras where it best supported the mindset of the multicultural left.
To oppose multiculturalism is evil? For 375 years, America was 90% white, performing brilliantly during most of that time. What other race could have done a better job of it? And what did we do to deserve such a precipitous demographic demotion?
I am one of those who cherish our waning white majority and who believes that a more allochthonous demographic is deleterious for America and must eventuate in a mutually hostile society in which no one ever again will be able to feel that he is "at home."
Empires are multicultural by definition and are almost always unhappy places. That this country is deliberately and unnecessarily re-engineering the American population in order to appease anti-white racists, (most of them also white) and the demands of big money interests represents perhaps the oddest example of majority self-hatred yet witnessed. I don't expect to see the emerging powers of Asia follow suit. A monocultural China of 1.4 billion Han Chinese might offer more competition than our increasingly fissiparous society requires.
To oppose multiculturalism is evil? For 375 years, America was 90% white, performing brilliantly during most of that time. What other race could have done a better job of it? And what did we do to deserve such a precipitous demographic demotion?
I am one of those who cherish our waning white majority and who believes that a more allochthonous demographic is deleterious for America and must eventuate in a mutually hostile society in which no one ever again will be able to feel that he is "at home."
Empires are multicultural by definition and are almost always unhappy places. That this country is deliberately and unnecessarily re-engineering the American population in order to appease anti-white racists, (most of them also white) and the demands of big money interests represents perhaps the oddest example of majority self-hatred yet witnessed. I don't expect to see the emerging powers of Asia follow suit. A monocultural China of 1.4 billion Han Chinese might offer more competition than our increasingly fissiparous society requires.
9
Trump is a bully. I voted for Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush. They were not perfect, but they were men of honor and decency. Trump is not. He is silly, shallow and stupid. He embarrasses us daily with his crazy tweets. I wish he would act like a president. Instead, he acts like a clown.
30
Trump is the failure of America! Welcome to the Age of China!
11
The question is, will the dictator Trump step down when voted out in 2020 or will his administration need to be removed through force of arms?
15
Prior to a 6:00AM radio interview this morning I did not know of Ruby Sales other than hearing the name.
Now I understand her accomplishments as a civil rights leader, her amazing insight, and her history of having her life saved by Jonathan Daniels taking the shotgun blast aimed at her in 1965 by an Alabama racist.
I listened and reviewed the transcript to see what she said about 'Empire'.
Four times Ruby Sales repeated the word 'Empire' as being the seminal problem:
"So that intimacy, which has been one of the greatest trigger-fingers of the empire, is to destroy intimacy, to destroy how we know each other."
"we became involved in policy, and we sent our children out into the empire without their armor on."
"I’m also talking about a religion that began during enslavement in the fields of America. It was a religion that offered an alternative view of God from the view of God that empire gave us."
"To talk about that in the heat of empire, to talk about God as a liberating God, has really been an important stopgap to save America from itself."
Even in Dr. King's 4/4/67 seminal Riverside "Beyond Vietnam" speech where he mentioned the greatest evil in the world as "imperialism", he did not indict this disguised global capitalist EMPIRE four times.
Trump is but another pompous faux-Emperor/president.
Our coming peaceful completion of America's "Revolution Against Empire" is not against any one man, but the cancer of Empire.
Now I understand her accomplishments as a civil rights leader, her amazing insight, and her history of having her life saved by Jonathan Daniels taking the shotgun blast aimed at her in 1965 by an Alabama racist.
I listened and reviewed the transcript to see what she said about 'Empire'.
Four times Ruby Sales repeated the word 'Empire' as being the seminal problem:
"So that intimacy, which has been one of the greatest trigger-fingers of the empire, is to destroy intimacy, to destroy how we know each other."
"we became involved in policy, and we sent our children out into the empire without their armor on."
"I’m also talking about a religion that began during enslavement in the fields of America. It was a religion that offered an alternative view of God from the view of God that empire gave us."
"To talk about that in the heat of empire, to talk about God as a liberating God, has really been an important stopgap to save America from itself."
Even in Dr. King's 4/4/67 seminal Riverside "Beyond Vietnam" speech where he mentioned the greatest evil in the world as "imperialism", he did not indict this disguised global capitalist EMPIRE four times.
Trump is but another pompous faux-Emperor/president.
Our coming peaceful completion of America's "Revolution Against Empire" is not against any one man, but the cancer of Empire.
11
Trump is the problem. The now silent, corrupt, hypocritical GOP Congress add to the problem by having not one criticism of this disastrous administration. McConnell&every republican he controlled denounced Obama,Obamacare, and McConnell choreographed the obstruction with his feeble "whatever Obama is for, we're against". McConnel's racism, ignorance, and abandonment of the American people allowed him to continue to lie about the ACA. But as people signed on, they finally got the help they needed. Yet even those who have coverage under the ACA AND voted for trump believed trump's lies he would produce something better than the ACA. The bigger horror is the GOP commitment to never raise taxes on wealthy or corporate donors. Infrastructure is crumbling because the lying GOP won't make the big guys pay taxes. Yet trump's ignorance fits into the GOP plan to defund the federal government and therefore democracy. Their lying battle cry "this,that,the other belongs with states' rights" is another way to destroy democracy. States run by GOP treat their constituents as peons. Which is the GOP end game. Rule by old, rich, white guys and everyone else becomes part of their feudal estate. There are too many totally ignorant republicans in office, McConnell & Ryan are the best examples of the worst people. Republican news is fox news and their staff of non-journalist, non-reporters poison the minds of the listeners. America is only great when it has intelligent leadership
12
During Trump's presidential campaign he acknowledged that his views were somewhat extreme but that he would pivot toward normalcy after the election. So should we be surprised that there has been no pivot? Perhaps Trump is unable to help himself so he relies on family and staff to moderate his views.
3
Trump is the afterbirth, of a 200 plus years gestation. We WILL recover.
5
Donald Trump was Electoral-Colleged to be president. Now in office, Trump thinks he is King and emulates the madness of King George the Third.
14
Thank you NY Times. This president has allowed his ego to dictate his direction and legacy which thus far has had a disastrous result. In addition to being his own worst enemy, how can he govern effectively when reputable people refuse to serve under him? He has not unified, as he said he would, but instead has divided this country more than any other president in recent history.
Also, as your editorial points out, he is proud that he is not "politically correct." One would have to wonder why, when being "pc" has brought to our collective conscience that it is wrong to stereotype, wrong to demean people, wrong to judge our fellow citizens based on their race, color, religion or gender preference. The good old boy network was not all it was cracked up to be and it is time this president recognizes this and much more. I highly doubt however, that he has the desire or the capacity to do so.
Also, as your editorial points out, he is proud that he is not "politically correct." One would have to wonder why, when being "pc" has brought to our collective conscience that it is wrong to stereotype, wrong to demean people, wrong to judge our fellow citizens based on their race, color, religion or gender preference. The good old boy network was not all it was cracked up to be and it is time this president recognizes this and much more. I highly doubt however, that he has the desire or the capacity to do so.
7
It's been in a free fall from day 1 of his presidency. And with each new day the consequences seem more tragic. There is no light at the end of the tunnel for our nation. Will he resign? Doubtful. Will he get impeached? Hope so. But the real question is how do we survive in the interim. The generals will prop him up. but the rest like Mnuchin, Cohn, Kushner, and some in his cabinet are inexperienced and have their own agenda. I put my faith in Mueller's team. Their findings may be the catalyst for Trump to resign. Until then we have to keep protesting in the streets and to a weak Congress.
16
By the same token one could argue Obama s presidency was a major fiasco.
8
Do you suppose it is as if a profound pestilence arises
de novo?
A vicious plutocratic inequity has been brewing here for some time.
Our socio-politicsl system is mired in corruption, a corruption which
cannot be mitigated by fascist demagogues or by financial apparatchiks.
There IS a climate crisis.
There iS a crisis of social justice.
de novo?
A vicious plutocratic inequity has been brewing here for some time.
Our socio-politicsl system is mired in corruption, a corruption which
cannot be mitigated by fascist demagogues or by financial apparatchiks.
There IS a climate crisis.
There iS a crisis of social justice.
8
Yes, Trump is a problem, and Republican legislator inaction is also a problem, but the cause is a largely unmodified 18th century form of government whose core feature is to cede power to rural states with entire populations of small to mid-sized cities.
So when you think of it as a system designed to keep slave owners happy, Trump makes a lot more sense. In fact all your retrograde policies make more sense that way.
America, democracy's trailing edge.
So when you think of it as a system designed to keep slave owners happy, Trump makes a lot more sense. In fact all your retrograde policies make more sense that way.
America, democracy's trailing edge.
11
And yet, the reaction from the GOP remains wan and craven. We still cannot count on the party of enablers to find the moral courage to get this poor excuse of a president out of office. Using email on a private server, that's treasonous to them. But giving credence to Nazis and the KKK? Mounting evidence that he and his administration worked with Russians to sway our election? That's just fine. This point in history is as much a black spot on the Republican party as it is on Trump. Joseph McCarthy is now viewed as a villain in American history. The same will be true for this White House, Ryan, McConnell and all the others who are turning the other cheek.
7
Trump is all about surfaces. He is the front man, the façade. Behind him and the vocal Republicans, in the shadows, the destructors he appointed to head critical departments, are dismantling the 'government of the people, for the people'. The key to unraveling laws and regulations is to defund the departments. Instead of something obvious that could be challenged, allocated fund are not being spent. Less well known initiatives are being erased, or corrupted; subtle changes that will accumulate to change the fabric of our lives. Rather than failing, Trump in his boisterous stupidity is succeeding in destroying long standing traditions, our national identity and our fragile hopes for the American Dream.
5
I like this line, "a nation led by a prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense." The only problem with this editorial is that you could actually write a book length scathing critique of Trump's personal defects. But the media and American people are also to blame. The birther allegations alone should have been a warning sign that Trump was a racist -- and I don't think we should split hairs between using racism to win an election and being a racist. Plus all the constant lying, tweeting insults, belief in conspiracy theories, the list goes on an on as to why this man is incompetent, as Sen. Bob Corker and others are beginning to openly state. As others have said too, his focus is always on self love, not love of country.
12
Remember the law of the Universe: everything depreciates, spreads out, cools, mixes. Trump is depreciating, spreading out, cooling and mixing -- Trump is in a state of decay, the period where the person melts before the body disintegrates. This is what happened to Ronald Reagan in his second term as president, it is not controversial, rude or inappropriate to mention it, and while the objective facts defining the phenomenon Reagan experience may be different that Trump's, the result is pretty much the same. Indeed, Reagan had a medical excuse for his behavior, and all along remained a gentleman. The same cannot yet be said for Trump with regard for his medical condition, but for sure we can say Trump is no gentleman.
8
Someone should ask Trump if he would equate the statues to the traitors in the Confederacy who tried to overthrow our government, which were essentially erected during Jim Crow as a way of fear and intimidation, in a similar way if the Germans started erecting statues of Hitler, Goering, Goebbels, Hess, Himmler, etc. as a way of celebrating their Nazi past and commemorate the Third Reich.
7
Republicans have a single-minded focus on one thing: protecting wealth and the privileges thereof. Trump will sign their bills, whether it be gutting health protections for the less well off or cutting taxes for the wealthy. Yet editorialists and the rest of the commentariat seem perplexed that Republicans will not repudiate this vulgar fool. It's actually an elementary amoral transactional alliance. It's just business to these guys. And that shouldn't perplex anybody.
13
Nope. He'd win by a larger margin today.
3
Nope.
He would not.
He would not.
8
Mr. Trump, who stole the presidency like a thief would steal a high priced, luxury car, had no idea how to drive it or appreciate it's inherent worth. He is in the process of driving the car off a cliff in a fit of frustration and childish pique.
15
Lee fought to preserve the "state right" to slavery in Virginia, which was important enough to him to commit treason. Period. Stop saying otherwise!
8
Once again the Times picks the low hanging fruit by finding Mr. Trump wanting and very dangerous. Duh. By this point, no one who matters thinks otherwise. What is needed is some actual leadership from the "weak kneed" Democrat establishment, the lazy ones including the Times who found Hillary so convenient. The germane question is, What should we do, other than pray that the convenient Mr. Mueller will walk on water and save us?
6
Thank you.
2
I wouldn't be so hard on the Democrats, who haven't even bothered to obstruct Trump in any tangible way --- with GOP majorities in both House and Senate --- and especially the Senate.
The Democrats haven't needed to do anything but sit back and eat popcorn while POTUS commits astonishingly vile antics, and the rest of the GOP mostly says, "hmm, that's probably not the way I would put it" or the common, "That's just POTUS being true to himself" --- without actually condemning him.
The only moment of Congressional unity came for the essentially unanimous Senate vote in favor of sanctioning Russia --- which Trump griped about even while signing because he was too cowardly to have his veto overridden.
Meanwhile, the Democrats have been rallying the troops not mearly *against* Trump but for 2018 and beyond, recruiting and identifying candidates, discovering and rediscovering existing candidates, and talking new policy rather than merely expending all their energy griping about Trump --- which, you have to admit, is pretty understandable.
The Democrats haven't needed to do anything but sit back and eat popcorn while POTUS commits astonishingly vile antics, and the rest of the GOP mostly says, "hmm, that's probably not the way I would put it" or the common, "That's just POTUS being true to himself" --- without actually condemning him.
The only moment of Congressional unity came for the essentially unanimous Senate vote in favor of sanctioning Russia --- which Trump griped about even while signing because he was too cowardly to have his veto overridden.
Meanwhile, the Democrats have been rallying the troops not mearly *against* Trump but for 2018 and beyond, recruiting and identifying candidates, discovering and rediscovering existing candidates, and talking new policy rather than merely expending all their energy griping about Trump --- which, you have to admit, is pretty understandable.
3
What you see as a failed presidency in Donald Trump there are those of us who see success. A robust economy, job creation, illegal immigration numbers are down, we have not had a terrorist attack under his watch just to name some of his positives since in office.
He is a conservative who is hated by liberals because he does not follow the liberal agenda they love. He outsmarted Hillary Clinton by winning the White House and they never predicted it. She spent a lot of money on her campaign and it did not get her very far.
I would rather have President Trump in office warts and all than a loser like Mrs. Clinton. He has not been perfect but he was a better choice than the Democrats. Obama divided the nation along racial lines and the reason we are experiencing the tension we have now. He only cared about coastal elites and neglected middle America. Mrs. Clinton would have been an extension of Obama. He was a socialist who wanted the rich to pay for those who wanted to get a free ride.
The articles keep spewing hate against President Trump which only spews hate on the right. He is not a racist and never has been. He has blacks and Jews in his administration which proves this point. He has a son in law, daughter and grandchildren who are Jewish. He has never indicated in any way he is racist. It is the media fueling the flames of hatred. It seems to be working to some degree but at some point it will backfire. You cannot fool all of us.
He is a conservative who is hated by liberals because he does not follow the liberal agenda they love. He outsmarted Hillary Clinton by winning the White House and they never predicted it. She spent a lot of money on her campaign and it did not get her very far.
I would rather have President Trump in office warts and all than a loser like Mrs. Clinton. He has not been perfect but he was a better choice than the Democrats. Obama divided the nation along racial lines and the reason we are experiencing the tension we have now. He only cared about coastal elites and neglected middle America. Mrs. Clinton would have been an extension of Obama. He was a socialist who wanted the rich to pay for those who wanted to get a free ride.
The articles keep spewing hate against President Trump which only spews hate on the right. He is not a racist and never has been. He has blacks and Jews in his administration which proves this point. He has a son in law, daughter and grandchildren who are Jewish. He has never indicated in any way he is racist. It is the media fueling the flames of hatred. It seems to be working to some degree but at some point it will backfire. You cannot fool all of us.
9
We all just witnessed a terrorist attack in Charlottesville.
1
"He has never indicated in any way he is racist." - Evidence Exhibit #1 I give you the Birther nonsense - that Donald Trump peddled to pave his way into politics. I won't even mention the legal judgements for housing discrimination, nor the Central Park 5. And at this point despite all of his most ardent supporters saying otherwise, no one is buying Trump's nor Your "I'm not a Racist" schtick any longer!
13
No terror attacks? March 2017 in New York, James Harris Jackson, stabs a black guy, he was going to do this to discourage interracial realtionships
Portland.
Charlottesville, VA.
those are just three I can name without any looking.
Portland.
Charlottesville, VA.
those are just three I can name without any looking.
5
Trump is worrying, but he'll be gone in three years or, very possibly, sooner.
It seems to me the REAL menace is the staggeringly large number of American citizens so ignorant, gullible, desperate, foolish, tribal, nihilistic, hateful and/or resentful they would:
a) ever vote for someone like Donald J. Trump for any elected office, especially POTUS, and...
b) continue to support him at this point.
After Trump is mercifully gone, even though a not immaterial number of Trump's oldest voters will in the next few years go to the big MAGA rally in the sky, Trump has activated the most horrifically unfit voting block in decades.
God help us!
It seems to me the REAL menace is the staggeringly large number of American citizens so ignorant, gullible, desperate, foolish, tribal, nihilistic, hateful and/or resentful they would:
a) ever vote for someone like Donald J. Trump for any elected office, especially POTUS, and...
b) continue to support him at this point.
After Trump is mercifully gone, even though a not immaterial number of Trump's oldest voters will in the next few years go to the big MAGA rally in the sky, Trump has activated the most horrifically unfit voting block in decades.
God help us!
10
The USA is deep in unknown territory.
2
Trump's words all seem defensive and reactive. His only mandate at this point is to placate his base. Trump has no mental capacity to execute his duties as president. He seems solely focused on survival in office, not governance. Any efforts to reign him in will merely trigger his self destructive rage. His credibility appears irreparably damaged with any humane and sensible voters. The focus on and concern about his voters is overrated. If he continues to incite violence in the streets we won't need any Russia investigation to remove him. The military and intelligence communities will likely resist if Trump tries to order a psychotic and unwarranted military strike. Post Trump, America will still have to deal with the issues of white supremacy and white privilege when whites are no longer the majority. Hopefully the past is not prologue.
Sadly, the Federal government is not functioning. Trump's lieutenants are dismantling their respective departments and Congress is gridlocked and dysfunctional. The absurd amount of attention paid to Trump's comportment is a tragic disservice to this country and the world. Trump is essentially the 'Wizard of Oz' and Toto just pulled the curtain aside and exposed him as a little, depraved, and demented old man with a bullhorn. The more he shows his true character, the quicker we can click our heels and make this bad dream disappear.
Sadly, the Federal government is not functioning. Trump's lieutenants are dismantling their respective departments and Congress is gridlocked and dysfunctional. The absurd amount of attention paid to Trump's comportment is a tragic disservice to this country and the world. Trump is essentially the 'Wizard of Oz' and Toto just pulled the curtain aside and exposed him as a little, depraved, and demented old man with a bullhorn. The more he shows his true character, the quicker we can click our heels and make this bad dream disappear.
11
The "progressive" media is showing desperation with these kind of hyperbolic editorials. Their continued attempts to destroy the Trump presidency are transparent and have no real substance. Get used to it guys Trump is going nowhere, and is likely to win the 2020 election.
9
Trump is going to have to accomplish more than excite his Nazi base to win in 2020, much less survive his current term.
12
So what "substance" does the Trump presidency have? What accomplishments does it haves that should be celebrated in the media, rather than criticized?
From all appearances its succeeding at nothing. So how is reporting that fact an attempt to destroy it?
Unless the public is even more unaware than we assume, this presidency will most likely destroy itself.
From all appearances its succeeding at nothing. So how is reporting that fact an attempt to destroy it?
Unless the public is even more unaware than we assume, this presidency will most likely destroy itself.
5
Not only did Trump win the nomination to the Republican Party against all odds, but he also won the presidency although short of the popular vote. There were capable candidates that were bypassed by the electorate. It shows this nation’s appetite for empty campaign promises and demagoguery. Trump cannot alone be blamed for his disastrous start in spite of all that has been commented and written about it. Close to 25 percent of the electorate still supports him no matter what. The Republican Party is ignoring his behavior... Trump has forgotten that our nation lost so many lives in fighting the Nazis in the Second World War. The blame falls on those that elected him. The moral fabric of this nation is falling apart.
11
Trump is not the threat to democracy or freedom. It is the left. Since before Trump even took office there were editorials bemoaning his election, democratic political hacks hacking at him, and calls for removing him from office. Nothing he has done warrants his removal -- the only problem the progressives have is that they disagree with him. Perfectly OK to disagree, but this behavior, combined with the suppression of free speech by the mid to far left is a real threat. And the "resistance" is simply dangerous.
This is an attempt by the left to disenfranchise those who voted for Trump. Nothing more. The issue of statues and memorials is one for debate, not a reason to remove someone from office. And Trump was right to call out the left as well as the alt.right for violence. As we have seen in Boston, antifa and their fellow travelers are bent on violence as a means of shutting up those they disagree with. The entire left seems to encourage this behavior because it furthers their agenda.
So other than the progressive hate of all things Trump (as well as the false diagnoses, the slanders, the conspiracy theories and the general bad behavior of the left) name one thing Trump has done that violates his oath of office or his constitutional powers. Not some hare brained theory either, although that's all I've heard from the left.
This is an attempt by the left to disenfranchise those who voted for Trump. Nothing more. The issue of statues and memorials is one for debate, not a reason to remove someone from office. And Trump was right to call out the left as well as the alt.right for violence. As we have seen in Boston, antifa and their fellow travelers are bent on violence as a means of shutting up those they disagree with. The entire left seems to encourage this behavior because it furthers their agenda.
So other than the progressive hate of all things Trump (as well as the false diagnoses, the slanders, the conspiracy theories and the general bad behavior of the left) name one thing Trump has done that violates his oath of office or his constitutional powers. Not some hare brained theory either, although that's all I've heard from the left.
8
OK, so Trump is a huge failure as president and leader. Now what? What are all of the legal, constitutional, or administrative actions that can be taken to remove this national embarrassment from office? Some are working on impeachment; others on the emolument clause or indictment for collusion. Good starts, but is there anything else? We need targeted, multifaceted, coordinated, and strategic efforts to stop the madness. The public needs a specific list of options, along with specific actions that can be taken by ordinary people. This to-do list will enable "we the people" to make the necessary change at the top.
9
We should not be thinking in terms of having to "control" or "rein in" a president's ignorant views and bizarre actions. We should be discussing his imminent removal by impeachment or the mechanisms outlined in the 25th Amendment.
The Republicans' avoidance of this shibboleth in the face of overwhelming evidence that we have an unstable, dangerous individual who is badly ill equipped to manage or deal with the stresses and nuances of his office and his corruption filled regime should be the subject of current impeachment proceedings.
The Republicans' avoidance of this shibboleth in the face of overwhelming evidence that we have an unstable, dangerous individual who is badly ill equipped to manage or deal with the stresses and nuances of his office and his corruption filled regime should be the subject of current impeachment proceedings.
7
A very well articulated and balanced editorial. Only one problem: It is not a "failing Trump Presidency" but a "Failed Trump Presidency."
Any of us who have a double digit IQ and a moral compass (thankfully, the majority of Americans) are patiently waiting for the nightmare of this Presidency to be over. And we knew, long before Trump got elected that this would be the worst Presidency in the history of America.
Any of us who have a double digit IQ and a moral compass (thankfully, the majority of Americans) are patiently waiting for the nightmare of this Presidency to be over. And we knew, long before Trump got elected that this would be the worst Presidency in the history of America.
15
One would be dreaming if they believed he might read this although doubtful he'd think any of this true.
I wonder which newspapers his aide clips from to put them in a folder for him read as he's requested.
I wonder which newspapers his aide clips from to put them in a folder for him read as he's requested.
4
This may be wishful thinking. But Donald Trump is a good politician. Irresponsibly blind to anything that doesn't revolve around his self aggrandizement, for sure--but he's demonstrated he can say and do anything to gain power. For him that was an end in itself (he would embrace any agenda for that purpose). So could he say anything and do anything to exit from power in the best self aggrandizing way possible? Could he prefer to distance himself from military, business and military leaders, and bring about his downfall, by upholding the abhorrent "principles" of his die hard base? That is, before his unprincipled reasons for impersonating a Russian proxy are further exposed, or his business dealings and conflicts are exposed? Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan may be "more catholic than the pope" here, thinking they can salvage an agenda about which Donald Trump doesn't care--much less now that he may be the one who understands better than anyone how he's painted himself into a corner.
2
I agree with everything written until you said "the legacy of Robert E. Lee..."
Let's face the facts. Secession by the Southern states had a lot going on in it. From issues with the tariff to issues of "domination" by one region over another" to yes, for others (and I'll assume, we've all read Stephen's statement that the Confederacy is about preserving slavery), in the end, Southerners rallied to defend "themselves" against what was perceived as Northern Aggression. Remember, slavery was legal in the North for a long time and in the 1850s Virginia nearly voted to outlaw it (as part of which Arlington reverted to Virginia to help on that vote--the wrong side of the vote). Robert E. Lee saw his obligation to his state as primary over his obligation to the Federal government. George Thomas saw that differently and was shunned by his Virginia family for the rest of his life. Secession was something Northern states had argued was possible earlier in the century and was clearly a point of ambiguity. However, when the matter as Lee said "was decided by the force of arms," Lee stood for total acceptance of everyone, regardless of race or creed. He did not sell out to people who wanted to use his name for commercial purposes. In the "peace," he rose and met the highest standards we have as a nation. Use of his symbol by the far right is something he would abhor. To associate him with them is just not right.
Let's face the facts. Secession by the Southern states had a lot going on in it. From issues with the tariff to issues of "domination" by one region over another" to yes, for others (and I'll assume, we've all read Stephen's statement that the Confederacy is about preserving slavery), in the end, Southerners rallied to defend "themselves" against what was perceived as Northern Aggression. Remember, slavery was legal in the North for a long time and in the 1850s Virginia nearly voted to outlaw it (as part of which Arlington reverted to Virginia to help on that vote--the wrong side of the vote). Robert E. Lee saw his obligation to his state as primary over his obligation to the Federal government. George Thomas saw that differently and was shunned by his Virginia family for the rest of his life. Secession was something Northern states had argued was possible earlier in the century and was clearly a point of ambiguity. However, when the matter as Lee said "was decided by the force of arms," Lee stood for total acceptance of everyone, regardless of race or creed. He did not sell out to people who wanted to use his name for commercial purposes. In the "peace," he rose and met the highest standards we have as a nation. Use of his symbol by the far right is something he would abhor. To associate him with them is just not right.
5
You need to read the following historical article on Robert E. Lee and slavery!
It's an eye opener!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/us/robert-e-lee-slaves.html
Far too many of us were taught what you posted -- about Lee's benevolence; his purported ambivalence or even abhorrence of slavery; his choosing Virginia out of loyalty (yet, loyalty to what?!); etc.
Alas, the reality is far less positive -- not simple to be sure -- but Lee never spoke out against the post-war atrocities or oppression of freed black slaves. His mistreatment of the slaves his wife inherited and who had been promised freedom is shocking.
Even Lee, though, felt that statues of Confederates and supporting the Confederacy were inappropriate -- that his side had lost; that slavery had been overturned; and the secessionist movement should be celebrated or honored!
It's an eye opener!
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/18/us/robert-e-lee-slaves.html
Far too many of us were taught what you posted -- about Lee's benevolence; his purported ambivalence or even abhorrence of slavery; his choosing Virginia out of loyalty (yet, loyalty to what?!); etc.
Alas, the reality is far less positive -- not simple to be sure -- but Lee never spoke out against the post-war atrocities or oppression of freed black slaves. His mistreatment of the slaves his wife inherited and who had been promised freedom is shocking.
Even Lee, though, felt that statues of Confederates and supporting the Confederacy were inappropriate -- that his side had lost; that slavery had been overturned; and the secessionist movement should be celebrated or honored!
4
Wrong. Lee fought to preserve Virginia's "state right" to slavery, which was important enough to him to commit treason. Period. Stop saying otherwise!
4
I also have some cold comfort that not very much has been accomplished. I don't like having to depend on some of his nominees, the courts and the actual Federal government employees to mitigate/ignore his "policies". I also fear any horrible Republican policies enacted if Preacher Pence or Ayn Rand Ryan succeed to the presidency.
I read some time ago that the Kaiser's government would not allow Grandpa Drumpf to return to Germany. It might be VERY interesting to discover why.
I read some time ago that the Kaiser's government would not allow Grandpa Drumpf to return to Germany. It might be VERY interesting to discover why.
5
Grandpa Drumpf was not allowed to return because he was a draft-dodger.
2
Failing? Change that to failed. Trump has made a mockery of the Presidency, lowering the office to levels that are incomprehensible. He hasn't been seen drowning kittens in the reflecting pool on the national mall, but give him time. When did you think you would see an American President with more empathy for Nazi sympathizers than for the other protestors? All the joint chiefs had to disavow his remarks defending the white supremacists. He has assaulted and insulted every branch of government, including the leaders of the GOP. Only his base support, that is so obtuse, doesn't see his failings. He is the candidate that never should have happened, but did.
Mercifully, his time in office will end, but he will leave us with a collective national hangover. He'll disappear to his Tower or to Mar-a-Lago, but like a family gathering that turned ugly, we'll have to face each other the day after. The things that were said and done cannot be forgotten, but good families can forgive and begin to mend. Let us hope his Republican enablers and the fumbling Democrats can unite and begin to lead. They shouldn't feel that when we finally see Donald in the rear view mirror, it's mission accomplished.
Mercifully, his time in office will end, but he will leave us with a collective national hangover. He'll disappear to his Tower or to Mar-a-Lago, but like a family gathering that turned ugly, we'll have to face each other the day after. The things that were said and done cannot be forgotten, but good families can forgive and begin to mend. Let us hope his Republican enablers and the fumbling Democrats can unite and begin to lead. They shouldn't feel that when we finally see Donald in the rear view mirror, it's mission accomplished.
7
My biggest worry about the free speech rallies and counter protests is the presence of armed right wing militias who are able to carry military grade weaponry in public. The say that they are there to provide security, from where I sit it looks more like intimidation. Whose side will they be on if the police are ever forced into a situation where the use of firearms is required?
8
They will be on the same side as the Brown Shirts were when Hitler was organizing to take over the German Parliament. They will be the armed goons who stood outside a building waiting for President Obama to exit. They will be defeated as Eisenhower defeated the Nazis, and George Marshall ushered in Western democratic principles. They are the fringe element all free societies have, angry and crazy, and now due to some misguided interpretation of the Second Amendment, armed. If I am correct, that Amendment was established so that militias could form and defend the country in case Britain decided to return to dominate her former colony. We need to look closely at our "right to bear arms" and where it has now led us. Individual arms to defend one's home? Or arms to attack an established administrative state, or legitimate government? The latter fuels these armed nuts.
2
What will be worse? These generals splitting with Trump and a civil war with the US military vs a kaleidoscope of rival militias? Or the generals sticking with him when he calls for martial law? Help me imagine a good outcome.
7
I still find it amazing and cowardly that the higher profile Jewish members in Trump's administration have chosen to stay silent or in a sense look the other way.
Steve Mnuchin came out with a statement reported in the NY Times here, regarding Charlottesville and President Trump's diatribe last week regarding the hate groups which comprised of Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, and KKK members.
Mr. Mnuchin in a statement on Saturday, stated “They have no defense from me, nor do they have any defense from the president or this administration.”
He continued, “While I find it hard to believe I should have to defend myself on this, or the president, I feel compelled to let you know that the president in no way, shape or form believes that neo-Nazi and other hate groups who endorse violence are equivalent to groups that demonstrate in peaceful and lawful ways.”
This may be how you feel, but anyone who watched Donald Trump's meltdown on Tuesday, knows he in fact was defending the hate groups and equating them with the anti-hate protesters, that's not even debatable; it seems to me that Mr. Mnuchin in his eagerness to serve Trump, has blinded himself to the actual words uttered by Trump......sad and shameful.
Steve Mnuchin came out with a statement reported in the NY Times here, regarding Charlottesville and President Trump's diatribe last week regarding the hate groups which comprised of Neo-Nazis, White Supremacists, and KKK members.
Mr. Mnuchin in a statement on Saturday, stated “They have no defense from me, nor do they have any defense from the president or this administration.”
He continued, “While I find it hard to believe I should have to defend myself on this, or the president, I feel compelled to let you know that the president in no way, shape or form believes that neo-Nazi and other hate groups who endorse violence are equivalent to groups that demonstrate in peaceful and lawful ways.”
This may be how you feel, but anyone who watched Donald Trump's meltdown on Tuesday, knows he in fact was defending the hate groups and equating them with the anti-hate protesters, that's not even debatable; it seems to me that Mr. Mnuchin in his eagerness to serve Trump, has blinded himself to the actual words uttered by Trump......sad and shameful.
11
Remember that Mnuchin is the guy who foreclosed on empty homes whose tenants could no longer afford to pay their mortgages due to the criminal sale of those mortgages to foreign banks. Those neighborhoods remain abandoned and weed strewn. Mnuchin could not find buyers for those empty houses. He just walked away from the damage he caused. He is a man without any more moral conscience than Trump. In fact, look at this Cabinet: Perry, the man who thought he was going to run an agency to find more oil? Or, the guy who sued the EPA numerous times in his battle to pollute the Gulf? Tillerson who owns drilling rights all over Russia and the Balkans, a long time buddy of the murderer, Putin? This a Cabinet literally to die for.
7
The Republican Party-yes, the entire party- used Trump as a shiny carnival toy that distorted reality to distract and seduce voters while they planned the vicious and cynical dismantling of social and environmental protections that have evolved over generations of bilateral compromise and consensus. Now, they are being consumed by the carnival barker's lies, perversions and unhinged, uncontrollable behavior. And, stunned by the monster they created and the exposure of their true moral values they are afraid to look into the mirror and admit that they are the monster and Trump is just the public expression of their inner selves. As too few Republicans have expressed, it is time to abandon the current Republican establishment and move on to a new, enlightened Republican Party that is again able to engage in civil society and civil discourse.
13
What's as disturbing as Trump's glaring lack of moral authority is the lack of sufficient outrage about it. Too many non and muted responses. Too many Trump supporters who blame the elites and the media. Too many politicians who are only in service to their own self-interest. Too much us against them. We're in the midst of an uncivil war.
12
Why do Trump supporters fail to see that character, or as here, the lack thereof, is destiny? That us why I think the comparison of Trump with General Lee, is inappropriate, for Lee as a man for all his mistakes and failings, was a man of great character. Lee was a gentleman; Trump is no gentleman.
4
There is wisdom in government incompetence, in bureaucracy. Efficiency can be extremely dangerous.
Another cause for hope is decentralization. Each community and city is having to confront our divisions at the local neighborhood level. Each of us can talk to family and friends to effect positive change.
We are woolly bear caterpillars curling up in balls in order to live another day.
Another cause for hope is decentralization. Each community and city is having to confront our divisions at the local neighborhood level. Each of us can talk to family and friends to effect positive change.
We are woolly bear caterpillars curling up in balls in order to live another day.
2
We have a tapestry of bad actors and Trump is certainly one of them who has been enabled and excused constantly for his inability to understand and do his duties as President. I'd like to hear more about a group called 'Council for National Policy' its membership, the foundations and non-profits aligned with it. Southern Poverty Law Center has presented some information on it and it looks like it feeds similar undermining democracy that Bannon and Trump have been selling the American people. Please do some investigations on this Council and turn the light on it for all to see what it is they stand for and what they're doing. Thanks.
4
The Republican leadership has proven again and again it will gain and hold power by any means possible. Many Americans have shown they would rather spew hatred than address their own perceived entitlement to a "certain way of life." Only time will tell if this unholy alliance will undermine the greatness of American democracy.
1
Mr. Trump is trying to control the destiny of the nation, which has strong checks and balances, and a public, unlike his employees in his businesses, under no obligation to obey his executive orders, by methods that were successful or largely successful to run his businesses.
In 7 months after his inauguration, Mr. Trump has not learned the difference between governing a large and complex country, guided by a sacred Constitution, written and unwritten, and by numerous statutory laws, passed by previous Congresses and signed by previous Presidents, and constantly monitored by the media and by the citizenry and also by the world, versus running his private businesses where he always had the final word.
No President actually has the final word. In the long run, it is the public who is sovereign and has the final word. He is merely their servant, yes their servant, not their boss. How long will it take him to comprehend that? That is an unanswered question.
I recall the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s wise statement in his first Independence Day speech in 2014: “I am not the ‘pradhan mantri’ (prime minister) but the ‘pradhan sevak’ (prime servant) of the nation. There is something about humility, his limits, and his duty to be learned by Mr. Trump from Mr. Modi.
In 7 months after his inauguration, Mr. Trump has not learned the difference between governing a large and complex country, guided by a sacred Constitution, written and unwritten, and by numerous statutory laws, passed by previous Congresses and signed by previous Presidents, and constantly monitored by the media and by the citizenry and also by the world, versus running his private businesses where he always had the final word.
No President actually has the final word. In the long run, it is the public who is sovereign and has the final word. He is merely their servant, yes their servant, not their boss. How long will it take him to comprehend that? That is an unanswered question.
I recall the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s wise statement in his first Independence Day speech in 2014: “I am not the ‘pradhan mantri’ (prime minister) but the ‘pradhan sevak’ (prime servant) of the nation. There is something about humility, his limits, and his duty to be learned by Mr. Trump from Mr. Modi.
4
Why is anybody surprised? In spite of memories of Zachary Taylor, Warren Harding, and George Bush Jr., America has elected simply the worst president in its history. Watching the zany film, "Idiocracy," one can see how we got to this troglodyte. Morons began to believe they could also sail the ship, so to speak. And be cook. And be navigator, etc etc., all the while having never studied or learned any of those professions or even thought about them other that to think, "I can do better than them!" We will pay an enormous price for this man's underserved hubris and self regard. His unfitness is so extremme I can not even find one thing to give him credit for anything that is good for me. It seems he only thinks of himself, and, compared to recent presidents, not even the citizens who elected him. Of course his "base" still believes, but when the invoice comes in and they realized they've been had, big time, only then will any anger, if at all, emerge. Remember the emperor's touting of his new clothes (he was completely naked but fooled into thinking he had on beautiful clothes by a deceiving but clever tailor), and how it took a little boy to state what the adults whould have known or seen. "The emperor has no clothes!"
5
Why is it so difficult for you liberals to admit Trump was right about Charlottesville VA - all sides were at fault. Include in that the mayor of the town, the idiot governor and, unfortunately, the local PD. Trump has never been racist and the NYT knows it. All this because an incompetent, crooked, untrustworthy candidate, Hillary Clinton, lost the election? Let's grow up now. The election is over and we need to get some things accomplished. The projected GDP being 4% should give some indication of how well things will go if you would all just let Trump do his job.
1
Don't agree at all with Phyllis, but glad she is sending in her comments.
1
Because who's at fault is not the right question. The question is which side advocates violence and the removal of people who are different from them. Failing to absolutely condemn their motives is the problem.
Why is THIS difficult to understand?
Why is THIS difficult to understand?
6
Wry is it difficult to agree with Pres. Trump: because hi is/was WRONG!
I was happy to see this richly-deserved criticism of the abysmal Trump presidency. The millions of ignorant and apathetic Americans who did not vote or voted for Trump, the malevolent Republican Party, and the should-have-been-discarded-years-ago Electoral College bear responsibility for this.
9
add those who voted to Gary or Jill, or wrote in bernie-- they share the blame for this debacle.
6
Bernie and his bots share a large responsibility for this cancer in the WH. Bernie used old debunked GOP lies about Hillary Clinton, an honest public servant for 26 years whose tax returns were open and public. She had no loans outstanding from Russian oligarchs, as does Trump. She had no failed businesses; she represented a foundation which has brought clean water, food and decent housing to many in West Africa. I blame Bernie, the Independent Socialist, who changed his politics to insert himself into the Democratic Party and brought in his naive protesters to the Party convention. He damaged an honest public servant; now he is out there with his dishonest anger and his predatory wife who destroyed a small Vermont university when she managed its financial affairs with self dealing land purchases. Bernie needs to go away; his followers need to either join the Democrats to unseat this dishonest fraud in the WH, or just shut up about their supposed "purity". Politics is the art of the possible; it is never "pure"; it is based on intelligent compromise. That is how an honest government works with 330 million people to deal with.
3
Trump's Presidency is failing? Maybe. Hope so. But, it won't fail until enough Republicans admit it has. Trump would win re-election, if the vote was held tomorrow. Democrats have to get cracking now, and groom a message and candidates who will stand up against the tidal wave of lies and alternative facts that will roll over the 2018 mid-terms. "A Better Deal" is not gonna cut it. Identity politics is not gonna cut it. Jobs. Healthcare for all. A living wage. Make the rich pay. Shout about those. Fix the small stuff quietly.
6
Trump Accomplishment: nothing.
Bannon: big white board with notes on it, big mouth, chaos. Accomplishment
nothing.
Nothing minus all the newsprint with reporters, even those in
the better main stream media, trying to prove they are 'insiders by printing
Bannon's every childish, self aggrandizing word. Incredible.
Bannon: big white board with notes on it, big mouth, chaos. Accomplishment
nothing.
Nothing minus all the newsprint with reporters, even those in
the better main stream media, trying to prove they are 'insiders by printing
Bannon's every childish, self aggrandizing word. Incredible.
3
Democrats cannot presume that Trump will self destruct and drag down the Republicans with him if they want to win back the Congress, statehouses, governorships, and the Presidency. This notion of diversity that caters to people's inclination to stick with tribes instead of to feel part of a large community with common is dogging the Democrats efforts to win elected offices and they just do not seem to get it. Black Lives Matter is a group that is founded upon the righteous indignation about racism and it's effects upon minorities, but the only thing that it intends or tries to do is shout out the rage about it. Basically, it does nothing to overcome the damage because it's too focused upon anger about the injustices suffered for four hundred years. Pro-choice groups consider pro-life groups to be mortal adversaries who cannot possibly have any common interests with which they can find cause to unite. Gun control advocates who are justifiably outraged by the gun violence consider all gun owners who have anything that they really abhor to be anything but future murderers and so believe that allowing any private citizens to own guns to be insane, make cooperation to make rational laws to make it easier to get guns from those who are more likely to misuse them impossible. We share a common future even if we are divided to the point of breaking up, and learning to accept different perspectives while appreciating common desires really is very important.
4
The Trumpian Republican party:
C owardly
O bliging
M inions
P atsies
L amb like
I gnominious
C raven
I gnoble
T ainted
C owardly
O bliging
M inions
P atsies
L amb like
I gnominious
C raven
I gnoble
T ainted
7
In its cogent editorial, the Times editorial board astutely notes that Trump is failing "the office" of the presidency. Certainly Trump has been the worst of presidents and has been failing "the office" and the nation. Yet Trump's haphazard and narcissistic run for the presidency made clear his lack of interest in actually governing this nation, thus it is important to qualify his failure. For Trump, the political has always been deeply personal. So in a sense, Trump is failing the nation but succeeding in achieving his only real goal in running for president -- that is, relentless self promotion.
Every day Trump is in office, he has the undivided attention of the nation. He can say almost whatever he wants, and he will get granular coverage of every word he speaks, and his endless stream of tweet nothings. If he gets bad press, he can rail at the "fake" media. And anyway, bad press for Trump has always been better than no press.
Everyday Trump is in office, his brand is constantly being promoted. Trump properties are constantly featured on front pages all over the country. International business leaders are lining up to do business with Trump Inc.
Every day Trump is president, he can use the office to schmooze with monarchs, dictators and business leaders throughout the world. This bit of networking will pay Trump Inc. great dividends in the future, if not now.
So yes, NYT, Trump is failing the office of the presidency, but Trump himself is not failing at all.
Every day Trump is in office, he has the undivided attention of the nation. He can say almost whatever he wants, and he will get granular coverage of every word he speaks, and his endless stream of tweet nothings. If he gets bad press, he can rail at the "fake" media. And anyway, bad press for Trump has always been better than no press.
Everyday Trump is in office, his brand is constantly being promoted. Trump properties are constantly featured on front pages all over the country. International business leaders are lining up to do business with Trump Inc.
Every day Trump is president, he can use the office to schmooze with monarchs, dictators and business leaders throughout the world. This bit of networking will pay Trump Inc. great dividends in the future, if not now.
So yes, NYT, Trump is failing the office of the presidency, but Trump himself is not failing at all.
36
Successfull branding ? Here in Canada the TRUMP name is coming down buildings.
That's what we Canadians call a "WIN"
.... and also progress
That's what we Canadians call a "WIN"
.... and also progress
4
Yes! And his cabinet and family are out to bleed the taxpayers of every cent they can while water, air, food, health, good jobs, infrastructure, our allies, all suffer.
4
Enough trump
2
By not ending this administration now, congress further invigorates the political extremists of all stripes.
Keep on the current track, Congress, and the majority of your constituents who espouse peaceful means to achieve reconciliation & sanity to our country will be stuck in the middle of an epic battle for control of this nation and will be forced to choose sides.
As Jim Hightower is so found of saying: "There's nothing in the middle of the road but a yellow & dead armadillos."
Do we want to come to that?
Keep on the current track, Congress, and the majority of your constituents who espouse peaceful means to achieve reconciliation & sanity to our country will be stuck in the middle of an epic battle for control of this nation and will be forced to choose sides.
As Jim Hightower is so found of saying: "There's nothing in the middle of the road but a yellow & dead armadillos."
Do we want to come to that?
3
Immediately after the election it was apparent that we were blessed with a couple of things: three (presumably) co-equal branches of government, and, in particular, federal judges -- many of whom were appointed by democrats --
who would undoubtedly serve as a check to this nitwit's nonsense.
7 months in, we can now add (and I can't believe i'm writing this) the military, who have shown that they do 'get it.' But make no mistake, all of us should be deeply concerned that we're relying, in part at least, on the virtue of military leaders to check this fraud. Only banana republics rely that heavily on military power. Or at least that's what i thought.
who would undoubtedly serve as a check to this nitwit's nonsense.
7 months in, we can now add (and I can't believe i'm writing this) the military, who have shown that they do 'get it.' But make no mistake, all of us should be deeply concerned that we're relying, in part at least, on the virtue of military leaders to check this fraud. Only banana republics rely that heavily on military power. Or at least that's what i thought.
5
Mr. Trump is trying to control the destiny of the nation, which has strong checks and balances, and a public, unlike his employees in his businesses, under no obligation to obey his executive orders, by methods that were successful or largely successful to run his businesses.
In 7 months after his inauguration, Mr. Trump has not learned the difference between governing a large and complex country, guided by a sacred Constitution, written and unwritten, and by numerous statutory laws, passed by previous Congresses and signed by previous Presidents, and constantly monitored by the media and by the citizenry and also by the world, versus running his private businesses where he always had the final word.
No President actually has the final word. In the long run, it is the public who is sovereign and has the final word. He is merely their servant, yes their servant, not their boss. How long will it take him to comprehend that? That is an unanswered question.
I recall the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s wise statement in his first Independence Day speech in 2014: “I am not the ‘pradhan mantri’ (prime minister) but the ‘pradhan sevak’ (prime servant) of the nation.” There is something about humility, his limits, and his duty to be learned by Mr. Trump from Mr. Modi.
In 7 months after his inauguration, Mr. Trump has not learned the difference between governing a large and complex country, guided by a sacred Constitution, written and unwritten, and by numerous statutory laws, passed by previous Congresses and signed by previous Presidents, and constantly monitored by the media and by the citizenry and also by the world, versus running his private businesses where he always had the final word.
No President actually has the final word. In the long run, it is the public who is sovereign and has the final word. He is merely their servant, yes their servant, not their boss. How long will it take him to comprehend that? That is an unanswered question.
I recall the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi’s wise statement in his first Independence Day speech in 2014: “I am not the ‘pradhan mantri’ (prime minister) but the ‘pradhan sevak’ (prime servant) of the nation.” There is something about humility, his limits, and his duty to be learned by Mr. Trump from Mr. Modi.
27
Best paragraph on this debate so far: "(Can)...these three...counter his worst instincts."
Three military leaders and a registered Democrat and Goldman Sachs' alumni in the Oval Office is a failure but an improvement over what went before. It is still, however, a repudiation of the agenda on which Trump was elected.
The eruption of this race debate combined with Oval Office disorder has completely upended the economic agenda that drove Trump's victory.
Now the people in control of the Oval Office - Cohn in particular - represent a viewpoint that is radically different, even opposite, to that winning agenda.
It is frustrating that the discussion now is about the President's attitudes towards race, and upsetting that it is apparently difficult for him to clearly state his support for the African-American community.
It would be very welcome to see this president do something - not say something - about the blatant racism in the justice system, particularly in police departments. Concrete steps to address this would be very, very welcome.
In the meantime, it's important not to give white supremacists any more weight than they deserve - which is not very much at all.
Unless there's a direct connection between white supremacy and the economic agenda that won Trump the election, really the best way to deal with white supremacists is just to ignore them.
They are not a threat.
Racism in the justice system is.
And the real story, the economy, remains untold.
Three military leaders and a registered Democrat and Goldman Sachs' alumni in the Oval Office is a failure but an improvement over what went before. It is still, however, a repudiation of the agenda on which Trump was elected.
The eruption of this race debate combined with Oval Office disorder has completely upended the economic agenda that drove Trump's victory.
Now the people in control of the Oval Office - Cohn in particular - represent a viewpoint that is radically different, even opposite, to that winning agenda.
It is frustrating that the discussion now is about the President's attitudes towards race, and upsetting that it is apparently difficult for him to clearly state his support for the African-American community.
It would be very welcome to see this president do something - not say something - about the blatant racism in the justice system, particularly in police departments. Concrete steps to address this would be very, very welcome.
In the meantime, it's important not to give white supremacists any more weight than they deserve - which is not very much at all.
Unless there's a direct connection between white supremacy and the economic agenda that won Trump the election, really the best way to deal with white supremacists is just to ignore them.
They are not a threat.
Racism in the justice system is.
And the real story, the economy, remains untold.
1
You think Ignoring the White Supremacists will solve the problem?No, we must speak out against them: "The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing."
The NYT editorial board is of course right about not expecting the Republican leadership to craft an "intervention" that forces Trump out of office. But that is the only way to get him out. Maybe Ivanka (the only child that Trump seems to listen too) can do it, but I doubt that also. Trump can still truly self-destruct by in fact "going visibly crazy" and triggering a mass revolt by his own cabinet and VP declaring him incompetent and invoking the 25th amendment. Or, and ironically the only realistic scenario, Trump for his own peculiar psychological reasons could choose by himself to resign (persecution complex, whatever -- I am thinking Janio Quadros in Brazil, 1961, where there is some similarity).
1
So, the question is still, "What remedies do Americans Have?". I was hoping, based on the headline of the article, that some would be offered, but, alas, just more hands-winging and having over past mistakes. Are those out only remedies?!
1
The Times has elsewhere discussed the "practical" means for his removal, but they're purely speculative -armchair strategizing- so long as the Republican Party shows no real will for an ousting.
1
It is important to remember that the National Command Authority runs from the president through the Secretary of Defense to the Combatant Commanders. GEN Mattis must give the command to the guys who actually own the forces to execute. With this president, that is very comforting.
2
In my opinion, it's more accurate to state that each day this president offers fresh proof that he is mentally unstable and psychologically abnormal. That's the fundamental reason for his failing presidency. And it's been there since day one and before. Mind Matters.
Even before he took the oath, many mental health professionals warned that this man may not be fit or competent for office. They questioned his ability to distinguish fact from fiction, his need for excessive admiration, his inability to handle criticism, callousness, a sense of entitlement, an inability to show concern for the feelings of others and so on. All of those are symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder that also causes one to be malignantly self-consumed.
Also, this disorder is resistant to change. Change requires self-awareness, introspection, and an ability to admit to having a problem, plus desire for change. This disorder which messes with the mind prevents those necessary for change traits and characteristics.
Thus, to continue expecting change from this man is as nonsensical as expecting someone with Alzheimer's to change. It doesn't change. It just get's worse.
Therefore, the focus should be on this man's state of mind due to a disorder he's not in control of and consider invoking the 25th Amendment before it's too late. To leave him in charge is like agreeing to allow drunk drivers behind the wheel placing in jeopardy anyone/anything that crosses their path.
Even before he took the oath, many mental health professionals warned that this man may not be fit or competent for office. They questioned his ability to distinguish fact from fiction, his need for excessive admiration, his inability to handle criticism, callousness, a sense of entitlement, an inability to show concern for the feelings of others and so on. All of those are symptoms of Narcissistic Personality Disorder that also causes one to be malignantly self-consumed.
Also, this disorder is resistant to change. Change requires self-awareness, introspection, and an ability to admit to having a problem, plus desire for change. This disorder which messes with the mind prevents those necessary for change traits and characteristics.
Thus, to continue expecting change from this man is as nonsensical as expecting someone with Alzheimer's to change. It doesn't change. It just get's worse.
Therefore, the focus should be on this man's state of mind due to a disorder he's not in control of and consider invoking the 25th Amendment before it's too late. To leave him in charge is like agreeing to allow drunk drivers behind the wheel placing in jeopardy anyone/anything that crosses their path.
5
BKW -- what credentials do you have as a mental health professional? And even if you do, how many hours have you spent with President Trump analyzing and assessing?
Just curious.
Just curious.
The Only Thing Necessary for the Triumph of Evil is that Good Men Do Nothing
1
With approval only from his limited base, Trump can win a primary but he can't win a general election. The GOP is really hosed. He does them no favors, and probably a lot of damage in 2018. Why do they stick with him? Wouldn't they rather have Pence?
Pence would be awful; he couldn't have won reelection as governor of Indiana, let alone President. But he would be controllable by the rest of the party and isn't an insane kleptocrat. We might see conservative policies enacted, though if the Dems can gain control of the House then the damage could be limited.
I still think Trump finds a way to claim victory and steps down. He must be tired. He has Mueller closing in on him and his family. He will now have Bannon throwing bombs from the sidelines, including at his daughter and Kushner. Their lives will be miserable. Seeing that Bannon is out of the White House but still influential will show him that he can quit and start a TV channel and still have an audience, which is what he really cares about.
Pence would be awful; he couldn't have won reelection as governor of Indiana, let alone President. But he would be controllable by the rest of the party and isn't an insane kleptocrat. We might see conservative policies enacted, though if the Dems can gain control of the House then the damage could be limited.
I still think Trump finds a way to claim victory and steps down. He must be tired. He has Mueller closing in on him and his family. He will now have Bannon throwing bombs from the sidelines, including at his daughter and Kushner. Their lives will be miserable. Seeing that Bannon is out of the White House but still influential will show him that he can quit and start a TV channel and still have an audience, which is what he really cares about.
1
Trump is wedded to his pardoning power now. He needs it to shut down Mueller's Russian interference investigation just as Bush 41 used it to shut down the investigation of the Iran-Contra conspirators.
2
The answer, to paraphrase David Brooks, is _more_ politics, of the sort maybe that only millennials can conceive. So I argue in my "The Joy of Politics," the book and the blog. The time has never been more urgent to retool our approach to civic education.
Mr. Trump has always been a grifter, but now we add uncontrollable anger and possible senility, with incompetents thrown in for good measure.
7
Of course the readers of the NYT for the most part are the choir the editorials preach to, the problem remains how to get the main stream GOP to speak out and not be terrorized by Trump's vicious tweets. When the GOP base starts to move away that could be a sign they the "courage" to speak up. So far our military leaders and biz leaders have come forward vs white supremacy and neo nazis' not a hard position to espouse. Trump clings to this 25% white nationalists as protection from his forced removal from his high office which he is obviously unfit to serve in. When Mueller uncovers the unsavory financial dealings of TRump and Kushner and some of his inner circle roll over to save themselves from prison as Nixon's aides did Trump will resign to keep this fate from hitting his family with scandal and or prison.
2
Criticism = disloyalty when the leader = the state.
2
TV pundits question: did trump lose his moral authority is so strange, did he ever had one, for god sake!!! We've been living with this despicable, unimaginable disaster feels like forever. What is it going to take? Aren't we losing moral authority as a country, as a people? Please let's end this nightmare ASAP!!!
4
Yes! Trump is a bully, like the 6th grade bully who shoved the smaller kids around in the playground. He is silly, shallow and stupid. I voted for Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, George H.W.Bush. None was perfect but they were decent men. Trump is not decent. I am mortified and horrified .
Steve Savage
Burlington, Vermont
Steve Savage
Burlington, Vermont
2
Reagan was the phoniest union president in the history of collective bargaining.
1
Without rehashing the NYT's coverage of the last campaign can I remind you that you are a little to the party.
1
Trump failed as President, and as decent human, long ago. Intellectually unprepared, incapable of comprehending information necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of office, uninterested in acquiring essential knowledge, unwilling to read, or even listen to others read intelligence, national security or policy reports, unless his name and compliments appear in each paragraph. Sycophants in the White House must present files of complimentary photos and news reports about him twice daily to assuage his defective ego, and foreign nations were advised to invent ways to compare him favorably to President Obama and remark on his electoral numbers to get any attention to the actual business of international affairs.
Now he has set loose the demons of his racism. his history of illegal discrimination and his KKK connections by calling neo-Nazis, the KKK and other white supremacists "fine people!" He repeatedly equated helmeted marchers brandishing lit torches, clubs and firearms, bearing swastikas, fascist symbols, chanting anti-Semitic, racist, Nazi and pro-Russia slogans (and using a car as a murder weapon), with those who gathered to protest hatred - and the contemptible ideas that 200,000+ Americans died to wipe from our planet.
GOPers in Congress have also failed us, but where is the moral compass of those who claim to be Christians and their leaders? They are more interested in earthly power than any hope of Heaven. No true Christian could support Trump. Jesus weeps.
Now he has set loose the demons of his racism. his history of illegal discrimination and his KKK connections by calling neo-Nazis, the KKK and other white supremacists "fine people!" He repeatedly equated helmeted marchers brandishing lit torches, clubs and firearms, bearing swastikas, fascist symbols, chanting anti-Semitic, racist, Nazi and pro-Russia slogans (and using a car as a murder weapon), with those who gathered to protest hatred - and the contemptible ideas that 200,000+ Americans died to wipe from our planet.
GOPers in Congress have also failed us, but where is the moral compass of those who claim to be Christians and their leaders? They are more interested in earthly power than any hope of Heaven. No true Christian could support Trump. Jesus weeps.
5
Con Man still selling that the Sun revolves around the Earth(Him). Enough! Congress? Where are you?
3
One critical aspect missing from this feature is the man chomping at the bit to succeed Trump is in lockstep -- no, make that goosestep -- with him. Christian conservative Mike Pence needs to be shackled to any racism, sexism, neo-Nazism and all insanity that he's been willing to support.
9
Amen, brother! Pence is complicit and his phony, holier-than-thou schtick is truly disturbing. It is really difficult to discern who is worse, Trump or Pence. Neither is a good choice for this country. Kudos to the handful of GOP senators and representatives who are speaking up after Trump's disgraceful comments about the Charlottesville tragedy. Sadly, the collective silence of the rest of the GOP in Congress and its leadership speaks volumes.
3
There are no statues of Nazi generals in Germany that I know of, in spite of the fact that they were probably quite nice to their family and friends.
Sadly, Our Fake So Called President has a base of support so entwined with KKK members and sympathizers, neo-nazis and anarchists that he is compelled to make excuses for evil men espousing evil plans and doing evil deeds. So sad.
Sadly, Our Fake So Called President has a base of support so entwined with KKK members and sympathizers, neo-nazis and anarchists that he is compelled to make excuses for evil men espousing evil plans and doing evil deeds. So sad.
6
the bottom line hasn't moved or changed:
donny dump is in no way fit to preside over anyone or anything.
no matter how much paint you put on a pig - it's still a pig.
donny dump is in no way fit to preside over anyone or anything.
no matter how much paint you put on a pig - it's still a pig.
4
You knew darn well he was a snake before you let him in.
4
Trump's an idiot, spitting into the wind as he rides us all into that windmill over there...and his sidekick, Sancho Pence-a, isn't much better!
6
Mnuchin as Trump apologist/defender, merely proves you can have the Yale degree, the Goldman partnership, the subsequent financial killings, and still be eager to prostitute yourself for imagined glory, couching your attempted self aggrandizement in "duty to country" mumbo jumbo. You are what you are. No veneer of title can change your essence.
8
There isn't enough money in the world to make a man out of Mnuchin.
4
The administration is incoherent.
5
Oh boy, I can just see Trumps next executive order:
"No home belonging to people of color shall sit higher or overlook the home of a white person."
"No home belonging to people of color shall sit higher or overlook the home of a white person."
3
I hate to be so cvalier as t say that we NEEDED this, and as I have said as well as others, the nation has been going to hell for a long time. The media push the "greatest" idea while those of us living in the real world know that the KKK and N-Ns live in every neighbor-hood (that is where all tose living on your block are memebrs of the KKK).
Both political parties hae abandoned the masses for their own gains and tossed us a few bones along the way. Now they must pay the piper for their midseeds. There is no sugarcoating this mess--it was created y BOTH parties, the GOP who are only interested in MONEY, and the DEMS who believe that they are solving all the social problems through legislation. Laws can provide equality buit not in spirit." I don't speed because of the fines, not because I don't like to drive fast" mentality. As a society we have not evoled much beyond out ancestors--oh yes, we have iphones, but that is NOT civility. You can't legislate NICE.
Both political parties hae abandoned the masses for their own gains and tossed us a few bones along the way. Now they must pay the piper for their midseeds. There is no sugarcoating this mess--it was created y BOTH parties, the GOP who are only interested in MONEY, and the DEMS who believe that they are solving all the social problems through legislation. Laws can provide equality buit not in spirit." I don't speed because of the fines, not because I don't like to drive fast" mentality. As a society we have not evoled much beyond out ancestors--oh yes, we have iphones, but that is NOT civility. You can't legislate NICE.
1
No, the USA did not "need this". What a ridiculous statement. What we need is citizens who are able to discern authentic, knowledgeable people from blowhard narcissistic fools who want to play at being POTUS to gratify their aggrandized sense of self.
2
Trump is where he is for two reasons.
- The relentless war on individual liberty, personal responsibility, and federalism, by the radical progressive left.
- The gargantuan failure of the elitist leadership of both political parties.
Whine all you want. He will probably be re-elected, because neither the socialists or the elitists are going to change their behavior, and both have been rejected.
His characterization of both sides at fault is also correct. Both the NAZI party and the radical Progressive left have common roots in European socialism, which is characterized by violent intolerance. Failing to condemn both is no worse than condemning one without the other.
2
What "radical progressive left?" Noam Chomsky? Bernie Sanders? The American Communist Party? Because if you're talking about Obama, Clinton, Pelosi, et al, your definition of what is "radical left" is part of the problem: mainstream American politics have moved so far to the right, the spectrum of debate so narrow, that many people actually think moderates are "radicals" and neo-Nazis are a legitimate "alternative." That there is even a national movement--embraced by political "leaders"--arguing the legitimacy of celebrating slavery is evidence of how far to the right we have gone; but explaining that to people like you is like explaining water to fish.
2
The first thing those of us opposed to trump must do is to prep the battlefield. We must first completely divorce ourselves from those who conflate the president with the presidency and we must do so as a patriotic imperative. We must cease entertaining the Orwellian rhetorical constructs that are epistemologically seeding the ground of totalitarianism. As such we must put anyone positing the admonition to not take the utterances of Big Brother literally but take them seriously in a straight jacket and dispatch them straight to Oceania. This we must also do to the promoters of the hideous fantasy that America succeeds if trump succeeds.
When these things are done we can then draw an unambiguous baseline from which to plot our long- term strategy free from the fallacy that the choices presented to us by trump are not starkly black and white.99
When these things are done we can then draw an unambiguous baseline from which to plot our long- term strategy free from the fallacy that the choices presented to us by trump are not starkly black and white.99
3
If we are going to proclaim this administration as a failure, then we first have to decide how we are going to measure that. If we look at the republicans' point of view, they are succeeding. ( not that I agree with any of it )
They STOLE a SCOTUS seat right out from under President Obama and Democrats, and were rewarded at the polls with majorities in both houses and the White House. For four years, they get to stack all benches with extreme right wing ideologues.
For four years they get to roll back all protections for people so that corporations or the like can run rampant and pollute. They can decide which laws to enforce, and if their is a challenge, can bring the full force of the government\law to bear with endless money, people and efforts.
For four years, they can make back room deals ( many of which we might not ever figure out or know about ) to enrich the ''family'' or backers. For four years it is just one big branding exercise.
For four years, there will be more and more changes to voting regulations and protections, so that even if people want to try and take THEIR country back, they will be shut and unable to.
A lot of things can happen in four years, but it is a given ( like breathing air ) that there will be tax cuts\tax amnesty for the rich , ( let alone several debt ceiling crisis scenarios ) that will cost the country ( you ) severely.
If republicans hold their majorities at the midterms, and 2020, then aye, it was a successful 4 years.
They STOLE a SCOTUS seat right out from under President Obama and Democrats, and were rewarded at the polls with majorities in both houses and the White House. For four years, they get to stack all benches with extreme right wing ideologues.
For four years they get to roll back all protections for people so that corporations or the like can run rampant and pollute. They can decide which laws to enforce, and if their is a challenge, can bring the full force of the government\law to bear with endless money, people and efforts.
For four years, they can make back room deals ( many of which we might not ever figure out or know about ) to enrich the ''family'' or backers. For four years it is just one big branding exercise.
For four years, there will be more and more changes to voting regulations and protections, so that even if people want to try and take THEIR country back, they will be shut and unable to.
A lot of things can happen in four years, but it is a given ( like breathing air ) that there will be tax cuts\tax amnesty for the rich , ( let alone several debt ceiling crisis scenarios ) that will cost the country ( you ) severely.
If republicans hold their majorities at the midterms, and 2020, then aye, it was a successful 4 years.
7
Sadly, I fear you are correct.
1
Character matters. Moral leadership matters. Trump has neither, to the downfall of the country and embarrassment of the US to the rest of the world.
None the less, this article ignores the devastation that is taking place among the exceptionally important agencies of government. While the headlines dwell on contemptible racial attitudes agencies that are central to the health and safety of Americans are being left to rot.
Back page stories about the DOE and EPA are a strong indicator of what is happening under this moronic president and his incompetent minions. Reductions in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and The NIH are planned.
Balanced reporting that includes more than just the emotionally charged issues is critical. Do people care if there is lead in their water? Or if radioactive material falls in the hands of terrorists? Or when the next big health crisis hits, will the CDC and NIH be ready to devise solutions? We can be sure if any items like those occur the populace will scream and question why there was no one there to provide solutions. But right now those capabilities are being allowed to decay by a pathologically narcissistic moron and his crew of incompetent morons.
None the less, this article ignores the devastation that is taking place among the exceptionally important agencies of government. While the headlines dwell on contemptible racial attitudes agencies that are central to the health and safety of Americans are being left to rot.
Back page stories about the DOE and EPA are a strong indicator of what is happening under this moronic president and his incompetent minions. Reductions in funding for the Centers for Disease Control and The NIH are planned.
Balanced reporting that includes more than just the emotionally charged issues is critical. Do people care if there is lead in their water? Or if radioactive material falls in the hands of terrorists? Or when the next big health crisis hits, will the CDC and NIH be ready to devise solutions? We can be sure if any items like those occur the populace will scream and question why there was no one there to provide solutions. But right now those capabilities are being allowed to decay by a pathologically narcissistic moron and his crew of incompetent morons.
8
I bet you've been waiting a long time to use the title of this editorial. You have earned it.
2
How will Trump deal with Islamist extremism when he can't deal with the "Christian" kind?
6
I love how all you guys are vying to the fakest of fake news
1
Gawd, I wish it were fake news.
8
"...Since the 1930s it has not typically been a challenge for an American leader to denounce Nazism...
If you're not going to read your own paper - at least read your own book reviews...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/books/review/those-angry-days-and-1940...
...doesn't make it right - but it was so
If you're not going to read your own paper - at least read your own book reviews...
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/28/books/review/those-angry-days-and-1940...
...doesn't make it right - but it was so
1
Although Pershing's pig blood exploit is allegedly a myth, I think it's a great strategy for how to deal with a group who behead innocent people and burn people alive in cages, and then believe that their own glorified death will earn them eternity with almost 4 score of virgins.
Bad bad president
what to do? what to do?
We should have a coup.
Hillary is better now. She will take over. Nancy Pelosi will help. She's been at work already. Get the New York Times and the Washington Post. They know the propaganda the most. We'll show the world what America would do if a Hitler tried to take over.
what to do? what to do?
We should have a coup.
Hillary is better now. She will take over. Nancy Pelosi will help. She's been at work already. Get the New York Times and the Washington Post. They know the propaganda the most. We'll show the world what America would do if a Hitler tried to take over.
Our Supreme Court must be racist.
They have decided, as Trump, that groups holding views outside the mainstream should be allowed to express those views without threat of violence from a triggered group of leftist rioters.
According to Liberals, everything about our country is racist.
We'll see how well Democrats' reliance on the race card plays out in the next election.
I suspect they will be shocked at the results of their attempts to label everyone else in the country racist.
They have decided, as Trump, that groups holding views outside the mainstream should be allowed to express those views without threat of violence from a triggered group of leftist rioters.
According to Liberals, everything about our country is racist.
We'll see how well Democrats' reliance on the race card plays out in the next election.
I suspect they will be shocked at the results of their attempts to label everyone else in the country racist.
3
I agree they should be able to express their views. But is it too much to expect that the POTUS doesn't support those views?
4
It is a sad day in America when a President needs to pander to his base of white supremacists, KKK members, and Neo-Nazis because he is doing so badly in the polls. Trump did not create the problems of racism and intolerance in America--but he is well on his way of making these problems worse.
Decades ago national leaders "winked" at powerful politicians and groups who were segregationist and white supremacists. The wink told them that these leaders would not stand up for justice and equality. Many thought those days were over but Trump is proving he can not only wink but also extend a helping hand.
Decades ago national leaders "winked" at powerful politicians and groups who were segregationist and white supremacists. The wink told them that these leaders would not stand up for justice and equality. Many thought those days were over but Trump is proving he can not only wink but also extend a helping hand.
3
Nobody is more delighted with the effect of Trump on the US than Vlad Putin.
1
Americans and especially those who voted for Trump tend to take things literally. That is why I suggest we change the name of the White House to something else.
Let's call it the presidential Palace or the people house or whatever represents American values best. A Black Man in the "White House" is something that Trump and his supporters have until now not accepted. The reason why Trump is on a mission to destroy whatever Mr. Obama has done.
Let's call it the presidential Palace or the people house or whatever represents American values best. A Black Man in the "White House" is something that Trump and his supporters have until now not accepted. The reason why Trump is on a mission to destroy whatever Mr. Obama has done.
4
Preaching to the choir. He's still in office and his supporters still adore and worship him. And the praise band plays on.
(Can't wait to see what McConnell and Ryan do when they get back from vaca. Their political posturing is gonna make any advanced level Yoga pose look easy.)
(Can't wait to see what McConnell and Ryan do when they get back from vaca. Their political posturing is gonna make any advanced level Yoga pose look easy.)
4
With the Republicans continue to support Trump, he will remain our President. If the voters who did not vote in 2016 do vote in 2018 and 2020, then Republicans who support Trump will lose, and then they will abandon him, and he will not be the Republican candidate in 2020. But inertia is a very difficult force to overcome when it comes to politics. Trump's complacency about Nazis, KKK, and white supremacists is not typical of average whites but having close relatives who trivialize racism and it's effects is very common. It's not likely to hurt his support significantly.
3
Another headline in today's NY Times: "Trump's Bad Week? To Supporters, It Went Just Fine." Supporters need to see clouds, love, life, and Trump from both sides now. Right now they are just stuck in the mud.
4
What I can't understand is why the New York Times editorial board does not explain how much of this disaster can be laid at he feet of Mitch McConnell who clearly hindered Congress from working with President Obama. In better times he would have been removed from office and changed with Sedition.
9
The first priority of every office holder is to be re-elected to that office or to be elected to the next higher office. It means that if the electorate insists that it's leaders are highly principled and determined to serve all fairly, we will have highly principled and fair minded elected officials. If people have stopped voting, then those who show up will dominate the body politic and our elected officials will clearly serve the interests of those who elected them. Today if one has enough money to spend one may manipulate the psychology of the electorate and present oneself as a charismatic figure that will find favor with those who bother to vote. Trump was elected by projecting a persona that was appealing to enough to win the Electoral College. Despite his loss of support, the erosion of his support does not seem to be so strong as to keep him from being re-elected. Republicans may not like Trump but they have and will give him their support because he will give them what they want. He is totally incompetent and likely too old to catch up with what he needs to know but he is still not lost enough Republicans to know that he is finished.
People should try to understand that suffering hundreds of years of slavery, Jim Crow, and being shut out of enjoying most of the most crucial benefits of American society and U.S. citizenship despite half a century of Civil Rights laws makes the history and persistence of unequal treatment impossible to view without pain.
People should try to understand that suffering hundreds of years of slavery, Jim Crow, and being shut out of enjoying most of the most crucial benefits of American society and U.S. citizenship despite half a century of Civil Rights laws makes the history and persistence of unequal treatment impossible to view without pain.
2
http://blog.dilbert.com/post/164297628606/how-to-know-youre-in-a-mass-hy...
Perfect description of the hysteria of the left.
Perfect description of the hysteria of the left.
1
I have two reactions to this editorial.
First, this editorial's assessment of President Trump is accurate. Congress should censure the president, before his shoot-from-the-hip approach leads to massive civil unrest, or perhaps a nuclear war.
Second, this article, the mainstream media, and the Democratic Party, hammer away relentlessly on the president and the Republican Party, with no small justification. The problem with this approach, is what is left out of the discussion. No responsibility is laid at the feet of the Democratic Party, which has so poorly managed its objectives and messaging - stemming from the corruption of large campaign donations - that it has lost much of its political power and risks becoming a semi-permanent minority party in most of the country.
The Democratic Party had a golden opportunity to retain the presidency last year. And it likely would have achieved that objective, if its presidential nominee had been Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, or Elizabeth Warren. Instead, the Democrats selected Hillary Clinton, a candidate heavily disapproved by a large plurality of the electorate. The combination of Clinton's high disapproval rating, her email server scandal and other scandals, her difficulty telling the truth, along with the illegal suppression of Sanders' candidacy by the DNC, were just enough weight to turn Clinton's campaign into an anchor and let Donald Trump into the White House.
First, this editorial's assessment of President Trump is accurate. Congress should censure the president, before his shoot-from-the-hip approach leads to massive civil unrest, or perhaps a nuclear war.
Second, this article, the mainstream media, and the Democratic Party, hammer away relentlessly on the president and the Republican Party, with no small justification. The problem with this approach, is what is left out of the discussion. No responsibility is laid at the feet of the Democratic Party, which has so poorly managed its objectives and messaging - stemming from the corruption of large campaign donations - that it has lost much of its political power and risks becoming a semi-permanent minority party in most of the country.
The Democratic Party had a golden opportunity to retain the presidency last year. And it likely would have achieved that objective, if its presidential nominee had been Bernie Sanders, Joe Biden, or Elizabeth Warren. Instead, the Democrats selected Hillary Clinton, a candidate heavily disapproved by a large plurality of the electorate. The combination of Clinton's high disapproval rating, her email server scandal and other scandals, her difficulty telling the truth, along with the illegal suppression of Sanders' candidacy by the DNC, were just enough weight to turn Clinton's campaign into an anchor and let Donald Trump into the White House.
11
The country heads from nasty partisanship as exemplified by Mitch McConnell to the bigoted fantasy land of Trump.
8
This country heads from the nasty class warfare started by Obama and Pelosi and reacted by electing Trump.
Remember the vitriol towards Mitt Romney? An awkward comment about "binders full of women" from probably the most decent man to run for president in decades.... just an awkward statement and he was excoriated as the devil.
I did not love Obama. Nothing to do with his skin color. Decent man? Sure. I think his ideas of wealth redistribution are a disaster and will take our country down long-term. Was he the devil? No. I just disagree strongly with many (not most, just many) of his ideas.
I cannot imagine hearing a typical democrat say anything nice about a perfectly reasonable Republican. Now you will chuckle and say there is no such thing. But that is because Democrats are convinced that their way is the only way. Listen to Schumer- "If they come around and do things our way we will work with them, otherwise we will obstruct."
The country is doomed by extremists on both ends. In that sense, Trump was right. There are 2 sides to why we are where we are. And both sides are wrong.
Remember the vitriol towards Mitt Romney? An awkward comment about "binders full of women" from probably the most decent man to run for president in decades.... just an awkward statement and he was excoriated as the devil.
I did not love Obama. Nothing to do with his skin color. Decent man? Sure. I think his ideas of wealth redistribution are a disaster and will take our country down long-term. Was he the devil? No. I just disagree strongly with many (not most, just many) of his ideas.
I cannot imagine hearing a typical democrat say anything nice about a perfectly reasonable Republican. Now you will chuckle and say there is no such thing. But that is because Democrats are convinced that their way is the only way. Listen to Schumer- "If they come around and do things our way we will work with them, otherwise we will obstruct."
The country is doomed by extremists on both ends. In that sense, Trump was right. There are 2 sides to why we are where we are. And both sides are wrong.
Mr. Trump may be failing but I don't agree with the title that the Trump Presidency is failing. On the contrary! Trump's Cabinet and other appointees are succeeding very well at destroying the federal protections for people and the environment enacted over decades. Scott Pruitt, Betsy DeVos, and others, most of them less well known, are hard at work worming their way through the structure of government, devouring regulations and enforcement, leaving huge holes in the structure through which their benefactors (and they themselves) will be gathering in more figurative gold and actual power at the expense of almost everyone who lives in or loves this country.
19
I have wondered over the last seven plus months how anyone can have respect for trump. This has really shaken my faith in human beings. Starting with his terrible taunting of the journalist who had a disability to his views on women, including his daughter, his denunciation of latinos and muslims,he obviously never had the morals and ethics to become president. It blows me away that republicans are just now realizing how bad he is. It was obvious from the start. I just don't get it.
35
Trump hypnotized them with the celebrity he earned reading scripts on "The Apprentice". The writers put every word that made it past the cutting room into the blundering idiot's mouth.
1
Michael correctly predicted that Trump would win and how he would do it in July of 2016, with no mention of the FBI or Russians. Don't just look at my reply, read the article.
https://michaelmoore.com/trumpwillwin/
I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I gave it to you straight last summer when I told you that Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee for president. And now I have even more awful, depressing news for you: Donald J. Trump is going to win in November. This wretched, ignorant, dangerous part-time clown and full time sociopath is going to be our next president. President Trump. Go ahead and say the words, ‘cause you’ll be saying them for the next four years: “PRESIDENT TRUMP.”
Never in my life have I wanted to be proven wrong more than I do right now.
I can see what you’re doing right now. You’re shaking your head wildly – “No, Mike, this won’t happen!” Unfortunately, you are living in a bubble that comes with an adjoining echo chamber where you and your friends are convinced the American people are not going to elect an idiot for president.
……Minnesota is one of the smartest states in the country. It is also filled with people who have a dark sense of humor — and voting for Ventura was their version of a good practical joke on a sick political system. This is going to happen again with Trump.
https://michaelmoore.com/trumpwillwin/
I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I gave it to you straight last summer when I told you that Donald Trump would be the Republican nominee for president. And now I have even more awful, depressing news for you: Donald J. Trump is going to win in November. This wretched, ignorant, dangerous part-time clown and full time sociopath is going to be our next president. President Trump. Go ahead and say the words, ‘cause you’ll be saying them for the next four years: “PRESIDENT TRUMP.”
Never in my life have I wanted to be proven wrong more than I do right now.
I can see what you’re doing right now. You’re shaking your head wildly – “No, Mike, this won’t happen!” Unfortunately, you are living in a bubble that comes with an adjoining echo chamber where you and your friends are convinced the American people are not going to elect an idiot for president.
……Minnesota is one of the smartest states in the country. It is also filled with people who have a dark sense of humor — and voting for Ventura was their version of a good practical joke on a sick political system. This is going to happen again with Trump.
2
Ask my boss. He seems to hang onto this fantasy that we as Americans should follow this Man-Child blindly and with the utmost conviction even though he is destroying this great country that many Americans died defending. The worm eats away at the core making the apple rotten...
1
Trump whips up a tornado of mendacity and malevolence around himself as he moves through the social, political and economic landscape we all inhabit. Everybody gets hit by the flying debris. To Trump, winning is wiping out the landscape, scattering all that we have built through generations. His base voted for him to 'blow things up' and 'drain the swamp.'
This is what winning looks like to Trump, and surely this is what we feared when he got elected.
This is what winning looks like to Trump, and surely this is what we feared when he got elected.
9
"Until Trump’s comments, few critics seemed to identify the larger relationship the alt-right sees between its beliefs and the ideals of the American founders."
The above quote from "What White Nationalism gets from American History" in today's Op-Ed's reflects the ugly truth about our nation that relentlessly manages to hide in plain sight because it's deemed too ugly and destructive to confront.
The horrible truth about the founding of our nation that nobody dare speak is that yes, these alt-right confederate apologists are just as plausibly aligned with our "founding fathers" if not more so than "mainstreamed" people who have openly disavowed our disgraceful heritage of slavery and open bigotry.
Founding fathers like Washington & Jefferson are spoke of and revered not unlike corporeal gods of a sort, immortalized in statue for the ages, yet they were both unapologetic slave holders.
The "all men are created equal" really meant "all white men".
A question now being asked, and it's not a stupid one, is "should their statues be taken down, too"?
I don't have any problem at all with it, although that very idea would likely induce semi-permanent apoplexy among oh, probably just about everybody.
I've never been able to square the uncritical reverence we have for the founders in the cold light of what these men really represented.
Maybe it is finally time to reexamine them, too.
Scary, I know.
The above quote from "What White Nationalism gets from American History" in today's Op-Ed's reflects the ugly truth about our nation that relentlessly manages to hide in plain sight because it's deemed too ugly and destructive to confront.
The horrible truth about the founding of our nation that nobody dare speak is that yes, these alt-right confederate apologists are just as plausibly aligned with our "founding fathers" if not more so than "mainstreamed" people who have openly disavowed our disgraceful heritage of slavery and open bigotry.
Founding fathers like Washington & Jefferson are spoke of and revered not unlike corporeal gods of a sort, immortalized in statue for the ages, yet they were both unapologetic slave holders.
The "all men are created equal" really meant "all white men".
A question now being asked, and it's not a stupid one, is "should their statues be taken down, too"?
I don't have any problem at all with it, although that very idea would likely induce semi-permanent apoplexy among oh, probably just about everybody.
I've never been able to square the uncritical reverence we have for the founders in the cold light of what these men really represented.
Maybe it is finally time to reexamine them, too.
Scary, I know.
3
Today's liberals are the Benjamin Franklins of the American Revolution.
3
The Trump presidency can be summed up by the pithy statement:
Trump presidency tweeters on the edge.
Trump presidency tweeters on the edge.
11
It's hard for me to imagine how Trump supporters feel about Trump except to think how I felt about Obama as our President. I felt proud of our country. I felt optimistic about our future. I felt our country was in good hands even during the many crises that arose because I trusted his moral judgement even when I questioned his political expertise. He was thoughtful. He listened to many voices but especially to those voices that hadn't been heard as often in Washington. Isn't that what Trump supporters feel now that their man is in the White House?
So what is the difference? How is it that I feel that this president is an existential threat to our country? Is that how many white voters felt under our first black president? Their values and lives threatened by the color of a president's skin, blaming him for all our problems? Is this what a Trump presidency is? A white, nationalist backlash to the election of President Obama? In my mind, the events in Charlottesville and Trump's behavior confirm it. He won by capitalizing on fear and divisiveness, with name-calling and lies, appealing to the base of his base, stoking the flames on the Nazi/KKK torches that appeared on the grounds of the University of Virginia.
Now I look for moral leadership elsewhere to arise. It's not clear to me when or from where but just because the path is not yet clear is no reason to abandon the dream that Martin Luther King marched and died for. We must keep the faith.
So what is the difference? How is it that I feel that this president is an existential threat to our country? Is that how many white voters felt under our first black president? Their values and lives threatened by the color of a president's skin, blaming him for all our problems? Is this what a Trump presidency is? A white, nationalist backlash to the election of President Obama? In my mind, the events in Charlottesville and Trump's behavior confirm it. He won by capitalizing on fear and divisiveness, with name-calling and lies, appealing to the base of his base, stoking the flames on the Nazi/KKK torches that appeared on the grounds of the University of Virginia.
Now I look for moral leadership elsewhere to arise. It's not clear to me when or from where but just because the path is not yet clear is no reason to abandon the dream that Martin Luther King marched and died for. We must keep the faith.
9
The difference is measured in the time Obama spent pondering every word before he said it.
2
The initial sentence should read, "with each day, President Trump offers fresh proof that he is failing the office that SOME Americans entrusted to him." I certainly wasn't one of those. Meanwhile, anyone with half a brain could predict this disaster with frightening accuracy and many did - Hillary Clinton was but one of them. Trump's disregard for humanity, his greed, and his ruthless ambition are merely symptoms of a society that rewards exactly those qualities. Is it "sane" that so many business leaders initially supported him? Even Hillary and Bill were "friends" or at least acquaintances before the election. Many throw stones at the bedraggled populace that constitute "the base," but what about those with choices? Why would anyone with some wherewithal even want to talk to this guy, much less vote for him? Unfortunately we now reap what we agreed to sow - the seeds of unbridled capitalism. The bloated chicken has come home to roost. We could have had it very differently, but American greed won.. Now suffer until he's gone.
7
The media gave Trump full rein during the primaries and the general election, overshadowing the few decent Republican contenders and a most qualified, if seriously wounded, Democratic candidate.
4
As an observing Canadian who cares a lot about the USA, can somebody tell me why Trump is still in the White House when it's perfectly clear that he has broken the oath he swore when he took office? He is not protecting America from the domestic dangers embodied in White Supremacists (read Naziis). Just for one example. The Prime Ministers of the UK and Canada would have been subjected to votes of non confidence, and lost, if they behaved as Trump flagrantly does by disregarding his oath of office. Why are all the experts on the Constitution staying so silent? Why are they not demanding impeachment on the ground of
breaking his Official Oath?
breaking his Official Oath?
9
The US founders threw out the whole concept of parliamentary democracy in a misbegotten effort to suppress politics altogether.
1
Mr. Trump must go. Period. It's time. He's had enough chances and has failed every test of leadership. He must be removed.
8
When I read articles such as this, I become angry and energized. I want to do something. What I invariably do is to try and contact by email every republican congressional member I can gain access to, and implore them to act.
Have you tried contacting a congressional member by simple email? They have effectively walled themselves off from the public. If you are able to somehow navigate the gauntlet of their website, they make it perfectly clear they are only interested in hearing from residents of their state and district. Their websites are very effective in shutting down any attempt to sneak past the gate. If you cannot enter a local address, phone number and zip code, you get kicked to the curb.
These congressional members are not there to listen to you. They do not want to hear from you. Now, if they were only getting paid by their constituents, that might be okay, but they are getting funded by all of us. In my book, if you take my money, you are obliged to hear what I have to say.
Aside from the giant Trump sized elephant in the room, I encourage folks to contact congressional members and encourage them to provide open lines of communications to hear from all Americans, regardless of where we reside. Get their heads out of the sand and see what the country is saying, or stop taking our money!
Have you tried contacting a congressional member by simple email? They have effectively walled themselves off from the public. If you are able to somehow navigate the gauntlet of their website, they make it perfectly clear they are only interested in hearing from residents of their state and district. Their websites are very effective in shutting down any attempt to sneak past the gate. If you cannot enter a local address, phone number and zip code, you get kicked to the curb.
These congressional members are not there to listen to you. They do not want to hear from you. Now, if they were only getting paid by their constituents, that might be okay, but they are getting funded by all of us. In my book, if you take my money, you are obliged to hear what I have to say.
Aside from the giant Trump sized elephant in the room, I encourage folks to contact congressional members and encourage them to provide open lines of communications to hear from all Americans, regardless of where we reside. Get their heads out of the sand and see what the country is saying, or stop taking our money!
8
If' you're not a voter in their district, they could not care less what you write to them.
1
During Mr Obama eight years in office, there was not one day, without congressional Republicans being on record saying that Mr. Obama mission was to destroy America and that everything should be done to stop him.
McConnell and the Republican leadership are on record vying to make Mr. Obama a one term president.
What was President Obama guilty of? He was guilty of being a Black Man in the "White House".
For the last 7 months, we have a president who is actually destroying America. What has McConnell or Ryan done or said? Nothing.
For 8 years we heard from Republicans how Obama was mistreating our allies (Saudi Arabia etc..), yet Republicans have nothing to say when Trump goes after our true allies ( Germany, France, G.B, etc...). These Republicans want that President to be successful.
The problem is not Trump. The system is rotten to the core. When history will be written about America decline, the image of Mr. Trump in his golden penthouse will fit perfectly well with what caused the downfall of this great country.
McConnell and the Republican leadership are on record vying to make Mr. Obama a one term president.
What was President Obama guilty of? He was guilty of being a Black Man in the "White House".
For the last 7 months, we have a president who is actually destroying America. What has McConnell or Ryan done or said? Nothing.
For 8 years we heard from Republicans how Obama was mistreating our allies (Saudi Arabia etc..), yet Republicans have nothing to say when Trump goes after our true allies ( Germany, France, G.B, etc...). These Republicans want that President to be successful.
The problem is not Trump. The system is rotten to the core. When history will be written about America decline, the image of Mr. Trump in his golden penthouse will fit perfectly well with what caused the downfall of this great country.
12
Republicans just have to tell him he's "bankrupt" (morally, intellectually, administratively, politically). That's a word he's very familiar with. It's time to liquidate his failed administration and appoint Pence as administrator to preserve any residual value of the Republican brand.
2
And Pence is quietly waiting to become the next president. The GOP can't wait to rally behind him and let them accomplish their destructive agenda.
8
It's amazing that Gallup has Trump with 79% approval among Republicans. This shows who the Republicans really are, the white Christian party brainwashed by Fox News into voting against their own economic interests. The few minorities that vote for them are simply dupes sold on the Reagan brand.
Tax cuts for the rich don't help you, my friends. If you're really upset at "The Establishment" then raise their taxes. Nor will taking health insurance away from 20 million people help you. Nor will cutting $100 billion in educational assistance over 10 years, as Trump's budget proposes.
Monthly job creation under Trump is slightly below Obama's 2016 level and well below Obama's 2011-2016 average. And the S&P 500? Up 22% under Obama in his first six months, versus about 9% under Trump. This should surprise no one, as growth in GDP, stock market, and job creation are all higher under Democratic Presidents since WW2.
Trump was simply the far inferior choice to Clinton. Learn from your mistake my Republican friends so we get the Democrats back in power, who proved they could govern, by passing stimulus when we needed it, moderate banking regulation, and yes, Obamacare, which is based on a conservative model back when conservative policy wonks were rational and evidence-based.
Tax cuts for the rich don't help you, my friends. If you're really upset at "The Establishment" then raise their taxes. Nor will taking health insurance away from 20 million people help you. Nor will cutting $100 billion in educational assistance over 10 years, as Trump's budget proposes.
Monthly job creation under Trump is slightly below Obama's 2016 level and well below Obama's 2011-2016 average. And the S&P 500? Up 22% under Obama in his first six months, versus about 9% under Trump. This should surprise no one, as growth in GDP, stock market, and job creation are all higher under Democratic Presidents since WW2.
Trump was simply the far inferior choice to Clinton. Learn from your mistake my Republican friends so we get the Democrats back in power, who proved they could govern, by passing stimulus when we needed it, moderate banking regulation, and yes, Obamacare, which is based on a conservative model back when conservative policy wonks were rational and evidence-based.
11
Let us hope he resigns sooner rather than later.
2
It is amazing to me that Congressional Republicans are doing nothing. Imagine the plaudits that would rain down on them if they were to find the testicular fortitude to remove him from office. Of course, Pence would then be President. Pence who, although not crazy, is likely to actually be effective in advancing the extreme conservative agenda. Not exactly a win-win. What a tangled web we have woven for ourselves.
11
The problem, though, is that Republicans in Congress don't care about plaudits, they care about votes. And most of their voters are happy with Trump.
One thing that might help is to stop, beginning with the NYT, the 24/7 war against our President. The vitriol expressed is amazing and sickening. What is it accomplishing expect to tear our country apart? Not smart.
3
I wish you (or anyone in your party) had been disturbed by the vitriol the Republican press used, every single day, against the courage and intelligence of President Obama, while he and the Democratic Party rescued this nation from a near Depression and opened this nation's health care to millions more American citizens.
We will not forget that Obama's presidency was filled with amazing feats of bravery and generosity toward the American people... while every single day, day in and day out, Republicans slandered, libeled, and lied about him.
We will not forget that Obama's presidency was filled with amazing feats of bravery and generosity toward the American people... while every single day, day in and day out, Republicans slandered, libeled, and lied about him.
3
But an 8-year effort to hinder Obama, including the outrageous birther movement, worked just fine. Good for the goose?
1
1truenorth, what do you propose? How can the NYT report the news without it seeming like they're attacking Trump? Everything he does and says is wrong, dangerous, and/or stupid. It's not actually vitriol if it's true.
1
>>Is it fair to place any hope in the Republican Party, in particular its congressional leadership?
Nope. And Nope.
50 years of gops and various iterations of the Southern strategy prepared the ground for this... this... person. I have my doubts that he is even human, this, as you put it "prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense" - which sounds to me as good as any a definition of the anti-Christ...
As for the gop 'leadership'... well, their so-called leaders are craven, spineless, and most of all, silent. They're hedging, waiting to see which way the nation crumbles, in the hope that they'll come out on the right side. Well, guess what, gop 'leadership', it's too late. You, like your feckless leader will come out on the wrong side, no matter how this ends. And it well end badly.
Nope. And Nope.
50 years of gops and various iterations of the Southern strategy prepared the ground for this... this... person. I have my doubts that he is even human, this, as you put it "prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense" - which sounds to me as good as any a definition of the anti-Christ...
As for the gop 'leadership'... well, their so-called leaders are craven, spineless, and most of all, silent. They're hedging, waiting to see which way the nation crumbles, in the hope that they'll come out on the right side. Well, guess what, gop 'leadership', it's too late. You, like your feckless leader will come out on the wrong side, no matter how this ends. And it well end badly.
7
This administration is an abomination and a stain on our great nation. Trump is morally, ethically and intellectually incapable of leading the United States.
10
The truest sense of whether a media organization is able to understand the world around it is its editorial page. Here, on a day when the New York Times seemed to recognize that there might indeed by more than one side to the violence in Charlottesville and elsewhere since the election of Donald Trump, when there is an article published on the corrosive influence of Antifa, here is yet another elitist, over-the-top screed bemoaning "the rolling disaster" of this Presidency.
The New York Times editorial staff cannot fathom that the health care plan rammed through Congress by the Obama administration does not satisfy a large number of Americans. They cannot understand that the failure to address illegal immigration for more than 20 years was in large measure the impetus for voters to go to the polls to vote for Donald Trump to put up a wall on the Mexican border, to significantly reduce the flow of people across the border illegally, and to work to address the numbers of illegals in the US.
They criticize the people who voted for Trump as imbalanced and unable to see the correct path forward.
The New York Times editorial staff cannot fathom that the health care plan rammed through Congress by the Obama administration does not satisfy a large number of Americans. They cannot understand that the failure to address illegal immigration for more than 20 years was in large measure the impetus for voters to go to the polls to vote for Donald Trump to put up a wall on the Mexican border, to significantly reduce the flow of people across the border illegally, and to work to address the numbers of illegals in the US.
They criticize the people who voted for Trump as imbalanced and unable to see the correct path forward.
1
The lights have been turned off in the shining city on the hill.
9
The hill has become a pit, I'm afraid, and peering down into it all you'll see are the dying embers of a democracy totally consumed by the fires of right-wing hell.
1
Your narrative that Trump somehow did not denounce the white supremacists enough, therefore he must be a white supremacist is not believable to the majority of Americans.
This is seen a simply as one more Democrat effort to label any opposition as racist - seemingly the only strategy they have left.
The truth is that there were two groups that engaged in violence towards each other. Trump rightfully stated this. Politically incorrect? Perhaps. How many Americans believe, as you do, that only one of those groups should be called out for their actions?
The Democrats make a huge mistake in believing that Antifa rioters will convince anyone of the righteousness of the Democrat cause.
The Supreme Court has ruled that free speech rights of all groups must be respected. Your suggestion that Trump should deny some Americans their rights just to appease a triggered group of violent thugs is anti-American.
This is seen a simply as one more Democrat effort to label any opposition as racist - seemingly the only strategy they have left.
The truth is that there were two groups that engaged in violence towards each other. Trump rightfully stated this. Politically incorrect? Perhaps. How many Americans believe, as you do, that only one of those groups should be called out for their actions?
The Democrats make a huge mistake in believing that Antifa rioters will convince anyone of the righteousness of the Democrat cause.
The Supreme Court has ruled that free speech rights of all groups must be respected. Your suggestion that Trump should deny some Americans their rights just to appease a triggered group of violent thugs is anti-American.
2
He lacks any redeeming qualities. He is a vacuum.
6
America's demons are still heroes to the neoconfederacy.
Ask in your polling of those 25% for whom Trump can do no wrong, if they would support the idea of a redstate secession.
It would not be surprising if that same 25% wants its own country, with its own facts, its own traditions & its own historical heroes.
Now that slavery has been abolished, & we no longer need southern cotton, & the South is becoming literally too hot for anyone but red-state southerners who insist that it's God's will for them to make it yet hotter, ask them if they want some states of their own, ask them if we give them Alabama & Mississippi & let them keep their confederate monuments & their Trump, if they'd finally leave the USA to progress.
Ask in your polling of those 25% for whom Trump can do no wrong, if they would support the idea of a redstate secession.
It would not be surprising if that same 25% wants its own country, with its own facts, its own traditions & its own historical heroes.
Now that slavery has been abolished, & we no longer need southern cotton, & the South is becoming literally too hot for anyone but red-state southerners who insist that it's God's will for them to make it yet hotter, ask them if they want some states of their own, ask them if we give them Alabama & Mississippi & let them keep their confederate monuments & their Trump, if they'd finally leave the USA to progress.
7
Thank you, NY Times, for this succinct and profoundly insightful evaluation of the #45 presidency, and an explanation of exactly who and why Trump is. The deep shame brought upon us citizens increases daily with this traitor to the constitution and all that it embodies still in the White House. #45 is an evil man at heart and in fact. Censure and Impeachment are nowhere near what he and his enablers deserve for destroying our country.
5
Mr. Trump, have you no shame, no decency? Trump - censure, impeach and remove!
5
Good editorial, but what is the solution? I doubt it's the first time we've had a president who couldn't score 100 on a fairly-administered Stanford-Binet IQ test. He's too dumb to know how dumb he is. We can't promote him, and the people whose votes would be needed to impeach him are about as smart and educated as he is. We can't trade him for, say, Robert Mugabe and a despot to be named later. I can't bear the thought of a Pence presidency. I live about an hour's drive from Windsor, Ontario, and it beckons me more and more each day. Eh.
7
What president was more stupid than the present lummox place-holding that office?
2
None of this is new - it has been true, and obviously since January. I weary of reading the NYT and thinking that I'm seeing yesterday's news, and editorials
"Is it fair to place any hope in the Republican part, particularly in its Congressional leadership...?"
No; garbage in, garbage out!
No; garbage in, garbage out!
4
You have to give it to the New York Times. Since Trump started the election campaign, and then won, the NYT has done everything in it's power to bring down this President.
What will be interesting is the "cause and effect" factor, I believe miscalculated. Once you set a precedent for this type of behavior, actively doing everything possible to discredit someone, you then find it happening in earnest to whom you support in the future.
When a Democrat next wins the White House, you will find overzealous activism on the part of the right-wing, Republican side. And, of course, the NYTimes will denounce "this type of activism." Of course, the Democrats own, through straight out $$ from lobbying media, education, and legal so it could be muted. However, let's pray this Democrat that wins is "squeaky clean" because their life will be ripped apart from birth to forward.
Let the festivities begin!!
What will be interesting is the "cause and effect" factor, I believe miscalculated. Once you set a precedent for this type of behavior, actively doing everything possible to discredit someone, you then find it happening in earnest to whom you support in the future.
When a Democrat next wins the White House, you will find overzealous activism on the part of the right-wing, Republican side. And, of course, the NYTimes will denounce "this type of activism." Of course, the Democrats own, through straight out $$ from lobbying media, education, and legal so it could be muted. However, let's pray this Democrat that wins is "squeaky clean" because their life will be ripped apart from birth to forward.
Let the festivities begin!!
2
Had the media not made such a circus of Confederate statues, trans gender bathrooms, "sexist" jokes, the list never ends, these issues would stay the non issues that most should be.
I see no difference between a white guy who hates non whites and the black criminals I chased and got the items back stolen from my car. Both hate each other and me. A thousand years from now this will be the same.
You don't read Trump's mind and don't know what he's thinking. Trump doesn't have time to comment on every inane issue that somebody with nothing better to do thinks is dooming the universe.
Hopefully these unimportant stories will leave the headlines by next week. President Trump can keep working on being president.
I see no difference between a white guy who hates non whites and the black criminals I chased and got the items back stolen from my car. Both hate each other and me. A thousand years from now this will be the same.
You don't read Trump's mind and don't know what he's thinking. Trump doesn't have time to comment on every inane issue that somebody with nothing better to do thinks is dooming the universe.
Hopefully these unimportant stories will leave the headlines by next week. President Trump can keep working on being president.
3
I usually read the comments on the NYT and WP to gauge the public reaction to the latest Trump-show episode. It's become a way of taking the national temperature, like checking the day's weather. But sometimes there's a comment that really sticks with me. Someone made the observation on another piece that an American died on American soil fighting Nazis. In 2017. That really brought it home for me.
6
Failing?
Surely you mean failed.
Surely you mean failed.
5
We all know the only ones in power to remove this abomination is the Republican Party that fathered him and the Republican congress has forgotten how to govern but merely to hold on to power.
5
All they can do is beg for more money from their pollutocratic masters.
1
Prediction. Kelly is gone by Halloween. Won't matter how or why...
And with that will come the Dark Ages. 3 years of a toxic WH like we've never seen or imagined.
And with that will come the Dark Ages. 3 years of a toxic WH like we've never seen or imagined.
6
Of course, it's not just Trump who's failing. The House And Senate, both controlled by Republicans, have been virtually paralyzed -- the most notable legislation they've passed is probably the sanctions bill, created to constrain the president.
7
When the Trump administration is finally over, the losses will be immeasurable. In just a week, Secretary of the Interior, Zinke, will make his recommendations to the president about the fate of more than 2 dozen national monuments. Old growth forests, vistas of incomparable beauty, water resources -- may be opened for private profit, or sold off to the highest bidder. And Zinke is not right now gathering the opinions of American citizens -- he is vacationing in the Mediterranean.
10
Thanks to today’s NY Times “Trumps Bad week? To Supporters It Went Fine.” That article makes the point that that editorial content like this appears strident, condescending, and most importantly irrelevant to their lives and the life of the nation as some know it. Trump was frank, may be too frank, about the proven fact some on the left did engage in violence, perhaps aggravated, but nevertheless they pushed and shoved hard. The upper middle-class pundits and economic elite can appear snotty to the economic bottom half of the society. No wonder they hope Trump gives them the finger.
In my view, the nation’s focus on continuing racial injustices and Trumpisms distracts from what I consider this century dominant issue, the continued economic destruction of the middle/working class by the top .01 percent. The Democrats stood by as the superrich plundered this nations resources, and created many in stressed classes who still have hope for Trump. Bill Clinton deliberately snubbed the working class and people like the Reverend Jesse Jackson thinking they had no place to go. They tragically became Trump Republicans. What is most important now is taking power back from the ultra rich and restoring our democracy. The Koch Bro et al love liberal intellectuals giving the cover of night to their activities. Reduce the economic exploitation by the ultra rich and you more effectively reduce Trump.
In my view, the nation’s focus on continuing racial injustices and Trumpisms distracts from what I consider this century dominant issue, the continued economic destruction of the middle/working class by the top .01 percent. The Democrats stood by as the superrich plundered this nations resources, and created many in stressed classes who still have hope for Trump. Bill Clinton deliberately snubbed the working class and people like the Reverend Jesse Jackson thinking they had no place to go. They tragically became Trump Republicans. What is most important now is taking power back from the ultra rich and restoring our democracy. The Koch Bro et al love liberal intellectuals giving the cover of night to their activities. Reduce the economic exploitation by the ultra rich and you more effectively reduce Trump.
7
The Trump presidency was a failed experiment thrust upon us by the myopic minority who willingly got caught up in the quagmire of alternative facts and blatant lies spun by a master of nonsensical bombast and ridicule. The time was ripe with reality tv and the antithesis of political correctness, and so they threw their votes in largely based on sound bites. Trump stoked a fire in the provincial hearts of his base who would rather shoot themselves in the other foot than to admit their misgivings that the experiment has run afoul of even their predictions. Make no mistake, he who is bereft of logic or empathy, and can't even pretend to disavow Nazism, nor uphold the basic values of our country was never one of you, and will never be one for us.
85
Excellent! Thanks.
1
I agree that Trump is a racist ogre. I detest Trump who is a demagogue. But your depiction at the end of Robert E Lee , a true Southern Gentleman, as an ogre is wrong. Lee wrote his wife before the war that slavery was a moral and practical evil. At St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond after the War he knelt beside a black man at the Communion rail when no one else would. He eschewed Confederate symbols after the war, telling one widow to put the confederate flag away, and as President of Washington College advocated binding up the Nation's wounds as he made it into a national university. He was a good and decent man., something Trump could never be. Your comparison of them is entirely inaccurate and inappropriate. General Lee is Trump's opposite. Robert P Wise, Jackson, Mississippi
2
Lee may or may not have been a wonderful man in his personal life, but it is an undeniable fact that he took up arms against his country to defend the immoral institution of slavery and preserve a White supremacist society. The editorial, I'm afraid is correct. Lincoln's legacy is that of emancipation. Lee's is that of resistance to emancipation. Lincoln indeed represents America's better angels. Lee, whatever his character, unfortunately sided with America's demons and his legacy is therefore with them.
He committed Treason and his life's work is the killing of hundreds of thousand US Soldiers.
At least Lee didn't paint war as some kind of glorious activity after getting beaten at it.
1
I find the Image at the top of your Editorial to be beyond the pale.
As for "Nixon's Southern Strategy" it did not originate with Nixon,
and since the Deep South went for Wallace in 1968,
and since Nixon could have won in 1972 without the South,
you overplay its importance.
The reality is - as Lyndon B. Johnson said after the passing of
the Civil Rights Bills - the Democrats have lost the South.
The question is why Trump won and why, though the Progressives
and Liberals think otherwise, the public has not marched on Washington. D.C., and demanded that Trump resign.
Trump's "incompetencies" are similar to Truman's and JFK's when they
also found themselves un-prepared to be President.
Truman was denounced by his fellow Democrats,
one who even proposed that Truman nominate a new Secretary of State
and then resign as President so the new man could effectively run the
country. Trump has so far not had the "Bay of Pigs" fiasco and has not
led the country into a "Cuban Missile Crisis".
As others have pointed out - Obama for all his alleged competency
really did not do much to improve America - Racial Tensions increased,
the 1 % became even wealthier, School Segregation increased,
the Immigration Crisis was not resolved, North Korea only added to its
Nuclear inventory and an angry America elected Donald Trump to
be its President.
Removing Trump is not going to solve the problems
that lie beneath the elitist mineral waters that the
Editorialist alone drink from.
As for "Nixon's Southern Strategy" it did not originate with Nixon,
and since the Deep South went for Wallace in 1968,
and since Nixon could have won in 1972 without the South,
you overplay its importance.
The reality is - as Lyndon B. Johnson said after the passing of
the Civil Rights Bills - the Democrats have lost the South.
The question is why Trump won and why, though the Progressives
and Liberals think otherwise, the public has not marched on Washington. D.C., and demanded that Trump resign.
Trump's "incompetencies" are similar to Truman's and JFK's when they
also found themselves un-prepared to be President.
Truman was denounced by his fellow Democrats,
one who even proposed that Truman nominate a new Secretary of State
and then resign as President so the new man could effectively run the
country. Trump has so far not had the "Bay of Pigs" fiasco and has not
led the country into a "Cuban Missile Crisis".
As others have pointed out - Obama for all his alleged competency
really did not do much to improve America - Racial Tensions increased,
the 1 % became even wealthier, School Segregation increased,
the Immigration Crisis was not resolved, North Korea only added to its
Nuclear inventory and an angry America elected Donald Trump to
be its President.
Removing Trump is not going to solve the problems
that lie beneath the elitist mineral waters that the
Editorialist alone drink from.
4
Well put! The Trump presidency looks like a drunk driver weaving across the moral and political lane lines. Those who love him see a maverick, those who despise him see a reckless menace. The rest wait with apprehension for the sound of inevitable disaster, and try to distance themselves, perhaps exiting from the highway altogether onto a quieter side road.
4
A maverick cow often proves to have mad cow disease.
1
Isn't it time to truly take seriously the threat Trump presents to not only American values and our way of life, but also to our very existence? Intellectuals, world and business leaders and common folk raise alarms, express disdain and wring their hands, while Trump continues to dissemble before our very eyes, revealing his cruel and monstrous vision of America. If there are no true heroes in Washington, must we meekly await divine intervention to rescue our democracy? Some may believe that Trump is America's punishment for past sins, but if he succeeds, all will be punished. Congress must acknowledge this significant crisis, put politics aside and act. Now would be good.
4
Trump's enablers believe that God intervened to produce the miraculous victory actually pulled off by Vlad Putin.
2
The conclusion is simple. He must be removed,
one way or the other.
one way or the other.
4
Mr. Trump’s worst instincts can neither be controlled, nor can they be moderated - by anyone. As leader of this (already) great nation, that makes Mr. Trump a singularly dangerous individual for every American man, woman, and child.
One can only hope that, as in all families, relatives may be moved to step in to save one of their own from being hurt, or from hurting others...and this is where, for the Trump family, it becomes dicey. Stopping a beloved family member from hurting himself is easy; we all do it. On the other hand, stopping a beloved family member from hurting others takes stronger backbone on the part of the larger family.
It is time - NOW - for Mr. Trump's wife, sons, daughters, children-in-law, and grandchildren to see the writing on the wall. One way or another, Mr. Trump has already begun to suffer what will surely be a historic and catastrophic fall...but the Trump family needs to see clearly that it is both selfish and unnecessary for the remainder of the nation, and the remainder of mankind, to be victimized by what is nothing more than this man's blind ambition and limitless vanity.
One can only hope that, as in all families, relatives may be moved to step in to save one of their own from being hurt, or from hurting others...and this is where, for the Trump family, it becomes dicey. Stopping a beloved family member from hurting himself is easy; we all do it. On the other hand, stopping a beloved family member from hurting others takes stronger backbone on the part of the larger family.
It is time - NOW - for Mr. Trump's wife, sons, daughters, children-in-law, and grandchildren to see the writing on the wall. One way or another, Mr. Trump has already begun to suffer what will surely be a historic and catastrophic fall...but the Trump family needs to see clearly that it is both selfish and unnecessary for the remainder of the nation, and the remainder of mankind, to be victimized by what is nothing more than this man's blind ambition and limitless vanity.
4
Weirdly, things are looking up because more than just anti-Trump people are waking up to reality. Those pro-Trump people who are not white supremacists who voted for him mistakenly believeing he offered something new and better, are waking up. This is a good thing because they won't be there to vote him in a second time. His once-business friends, won't be there to support him. The people who voted for him and are now mortified, they won't do it a second time. The only ones left will be the haters. His core group. The ones who want to bring the darkness. And the rest of us, we'll be in the streets like the good folks of Boston. I may be a Pollyanna but yesterday was one of the first time in months, watching the news was not a depressing experience. There is hope. Let's be loud, America. But peaceful.
4
"This, in essence, is where we are now: a nation led by a prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense."
Point well taken but why did you wait until the was elected President? Where was the outrage when he campaigned?
"Is it fair to place any hope in the Republican Party, in particular its congressional leadership? For reasons of ineptitude and ideological complicity, the party’s leaders did almost nothing to counter the Trump phenomenon, nor did they seek in any sustained fashion to temper his worst excesses, beginning with his false claims about President Barack Obama’s birth and proceeding onward through his demagogic Inaugural Address."
The Republicans are no better than Trump so of course they won't act.
Point well taken but why did you wait until the was elected President? Where was the outrage when he campaigned?
"Is it fair to place any hope in the Republican Party, in particular its congressional leadership? For reasons of ineptitude and ideological complicity, the party’s leaders did almost nothing to counter the Trump phenomenon, nor did they seek in any sustained fashion to temper his worst excesses, beginning with his false claims about President Barack Obama’s birth and proceeding onward through his demagogic Inaugural Address."
The Republicans are no better than Trump so of course they won't act.
4
When 5 dallas police officers were murdered, Obama condemned it but at the same time talked about institutional bias against people of color. Almost justifying or explaining away why a horrible, senseless tragedy happened. Trump did the same thing, just not so eloquently.
Our country is horribly divided, and I put a lot of the blame on Obama for fanning the flames when he was in the ultimate position to solve the problem. And now, we have the politically correct police running around and removing historical statues because they might offend people. Where does this stop? When are we going to get past symbolism and really look at the content of peoples' character as a truly great leader once said?
People need to look at the forces that brought us Trump. They emanate from the left wing position that they are correct about everything. Trump was a rebuke. I remember the horror from the left when Romney talked about "binders full of women" and how HORRIBLE a person he was because of that, which was at worst an awkward comment from a man who by anyone's standard is a good, decent person. I bet you wish he was president now! But liberals will just attack anything that is not lock-step on their side. Unfortunate.
Our country is horribly divided, and I put a lot of the blame on Obama for fanning the flames when he was in the ultimate position to solve the problem. And now, we have the politically correct police running around and removing historical statues because they might offend people. Where does this stop? When are we going to get past symbolism and really look at the content of peoples' character as a truly great leader once said?
People need to look at the forces that brought us Trump. They emanate from the left wing position that they are correct about everything. Trump was a rebuke. I remember the horror from the left when Romney talked about "binders full of women" and how HORRIBLE a person he was because of that, which was at worst an awkward comment from a man who by anyone's standard is a good, decent person. I bet you wish he was president now! But liberals will just attack anything that is not lock-step on their side. Unfortunate.
3
The biggest problem is the morally worthless Republican Congress. I would be content to see Trump wither in the wind until 2020 if Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan and the others of their ilk would be tossed onto the unemployment line. The 35% that support Trump to the bitter dregs, along with these dregs in Congress, are the real problem in America, as they cast their votes. When 1/3 of the country votes as this block does, in an electoral system like we have, disasterous government can be the only result.
2
Well Trumps equivocation is part of the American tradition to accept all sides of an argument. Something liberals have been arguing for a long time. And lets face it, at heart, in his core,Trump is more Left in his personal mores, then he is right. So in some perverse way he saw his equivocation as the right argument to make.
"Hey there are good people there too." Yes, there are. Just like there are good dads and sons in any organized crime syndicate. But we don't excuse their crimes over those familial good deeds.
Trump doesnt think in nuance. Probably cant define it. He's all about what sounds good to him in his head at that moment. In fact, he clearly has a limited memory about what he says. As he's been called on things he's said, and denies ever saying them.
Look, the Trumplodites got what they wanted in a president. Someone who thinks and evaluates life and various important issues - just like they do. Poorly. On the fly, and with little, if any investigation. And they are not going to be swayed by editorials, because not even the glaring faults, the defined fault-lines of the man are doing it.
They think Trump possesses magical powers...because so does he!
Trump will undo himself. Aided, we can only hope, with some bombshells coming from his ousted former "friends". Bannon's pot-shots will loosen up the others. And of course the FBI, etc investigations.
"Hey there are good people there too." Yes, there are. Just like there are good dads and sons in any organized crime syndicate. But we don't excuse their crimes over those familial good deeds.
Trump doesnt think in nuance. Probably cant define it. He's all about what sounds good to him in his head at that moment. In fact, he clearly has a limited memory about what he says. As he's been called on things he's said, and denies ever saying them.
Look, the Trumplodites got what they wanted in a president. Someone who thinks and evaluates life and various important issues - just like they do. Poorly. On the fly, and with little, if any investigation. And they are not going to be swayed by editorials, because not even the glaring faults, the defined fault-lines of the man are doing it.
They think Trump possesses magical powers...because so does he!
Trump will undo himself. Aided, we can only hope, with some bombshells coming from his ousted former "friends". Bannon's pot-shots will loosen up the others. And of course the FBI, etc investigations.
1
First disabuse yourself of the notion that the Republican leadership will cause Trump to mend his ways. Mcconnell and Ryan are too ensconced in their powerful positions to face Trump and turn him aside. At the moment, as ridiculous as it sounds, armed rebellion seems to be the only course open to those Americans who want this sociopath removed from office. The cowardly Congress, in Republican hands, will do nothing.
1
The constitution definitely provides a way to resolve this ever increasing crisis that we find ouselves in. It's the 25th ammendment. It allows for the removal of a president who is no longer fit to fulfill the duties of the office. We can only h hope that we have leaders with sufficient fortitude and fidelity to the nation to take the steps needed to end this nightmare before it's too late.
1
The NYT writes that Donald Trump's most recent defense of white supremacy has "...raised as never before profound doubts about his moral compass,..." That is hard to take for anyone who has heard of, watched, or has listened to Donald Trump for decades.
What doubts, profound or not? What moral compass? How can anyone have any doubts about who this miserable person is?
Donald Trump has always been a grotesque, bottom-of-the-barrel character, who was able to act however he wanted in the private sector. Now he simply is empowered by the bigger stage he has been given by a public and a political system that seem to not take seriously the responsibility of understanding who our potential and current representatives in government are and what their role is in continuing to create a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
We should not be surprised at the words and actions of Donald Trump. It should have been obvious to all what was coming.
Now, we must engage in correcting our inattention to building the dream of a greater nation. We have allowed a large step backward in creating a nation once admired by people around the world. Do we have the strength and wit as individuals and a nation to regain our stride in bettering human existence now and into the future?
What doubts, profound or not? What moral compass? How can anyone have any doubts about who this miserable person is?
Donald Trump has always been a grotesque, bottom-of-the-barrel character, who was able to act however he wanted in the private sector. Now he simply is empowered by the bigger stage he has been given by a public and a political system that seem to not take seriously the responsibility of understanding who our potential and current representatives in government are and what their role is in continuing to create a government of the people, by the people, for the people.
We should not be surprised at the words and actions of Donald Trump. It should have been obvious to all what was coming.
Now, we must engage in correcting our inattention to building the dream of a greater nation. We have allowed a large step backward in creating a nation once admired by people around the world. Do we have the strength and wit as individuals and a nation to regain our stride in bettering human existence now and into the future?
1
A 35 percent approval rating still means over 100 million people think Trump is doing a good job. Not good news.
3
Total farce. It's a charade. He has no agenda, no Administration, no mandate. His daughter and son-in-law are propping him up. America looks foolish and Congress too weak to make Democracy work. Nobody knows what will happen next. Total mayhem
4
"failing the office that Americans entrusted to him"
Actually, 3 Midwestern States, based on very slim voter margins, allowed the Electoral College to disregard the popular vote and all the evidence that he was Unfit for Office.
Today comes polling: The same 3 states give Trump only mid-30% favorability, with over 50% of voters unfavorable. Not only that, in these same 3 states, the same mid-30% report they are "proud" he is president, while 2/3 of voters in each of these same states are embarrassed he is president.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/20/trump-pennsylvania-michigan-wis...
It's clear he has failed.
As someone residing in one of these midwestern states, I'm calling for his resignation or his impeachment.
As a retired clinical psychologist, I'd also recommend his lifelong residence under psychiatric care. He's not going to change. And he's a danger to our national security. He already knows too much. And he can't keep his mouth shut. Or his finger from Twitter. We need him removed from the White House. Under guard. Prevented from communicating with the media in any form.
Actually, 3 Midwestern States, based on very slim voter margins, allowed the Electoral College to disregard the popular vote and all the evidence that he was Unfit for Office.
Today comes polling: The same 3 states give Trump only mid-30% favorability, with over 50% of voters unfavorable. Not only that, in these same 3 states, the same mid-30% report they are "proud" he is president, while 2/3 of voters in each of these same states are embarrassed he is president.
http://www.politico.com/story/2017/08/20/trump-pennsylvania-michigan-wis...
It's clear he has failed.
As someone residing in one of these midwestern states, I'm calling for his resignation or his impeachment.
As a retired clinical psychologist, I'd also recommend his lifelong residence under psychiatric care. He's not going to change. And he's a danger to our national security. He already knows too much. And he can't keep his mouth shut. Or his finger from Twitter. We need him removed from the White House. Under guard. Prevented from communicating with the media in any form.
2
Trump is ugly inside. Everything he "touches" becomes ugly. He cannot even give a little speech to the Boy Scouts without making it ugly: in that one speech alone how many ugly personal traits did he display? Quite a significant number. Did he say any single thing that wasn't in service to him and his inner demons? No.
As my very elderly Pa says of him: "he's wrong-headed".
As my very elderly Pa says of him: "he's wrong-headed".
5
You ask, "Heading into an election year, is [standing by Donald Trump] where Mr. McConnell and Mr. Ryan want to be?" To which I respond, short of immediate removal from office, Republicans standing by Trump is the best possible outcome.
Come November 2018, a Democratic sweep of the House and Senate on a wave of revulsion against this extremism will bring immediate impeachment hearings and serious pursuit of all those complicit in the corporate and treasonous crimes of this administration that I will expect to be uncovered.
By all means, Messrs. Ryan and McConnell, do stand by your flaming cross president so that Americans can well and truly drain the swamp in the mid-terms and take you with them while they're at it.
Come November 2018, a Democratic sweep of the House and Senate on a wave of revulsion against this extremism will bring immediate impeachment hearings and serious pursuit of all those complicit in the corporate and treasonous crimes of this administration that I will expect to be uncovered.
By all means, Messrs. Ryan and McConnell, do stand by your flaming cross president so that Americans can well and truly drain the swamp in the mid-terms and take you with them while they're at it.
2
Trump has done one good thing: he inadvertently galvanized masses of people to protest against hate in Boston, Berlin and elsewhere.
5
I noticed how many Republican leaders and members of Congress have stood up in past few days to condemn his remarks. Apparently for a Republican politician, waiting to know which way the wind is blowing is more important than knowing the difference between right and wrong.
7
The editors of the NYT only now express “profound doubts” about Trump’s moral compass? What an extraordinary statement when, throughout the primaries, this dreadful man demonstrated his complete absence of any moral compass. His entire life as been directed by centripetal forces: for Trump, to Trump. Nothing else mattered, nothing else matters now. This is why he will not resign, because retreat is antithetical to his very persona. And this is why he may, very likely, place reliance on racial discord and the support of those he has always favored to maintain his presidency and, quite possible, an autocracy that few can yet imagine. But all the signs are there, the most obvious of which is his hatred of Obama, not because of Obama’s politics but because of Obama’s color. Racism and the love of absolute power is what fuels Mr. Trump. And it is what may very well bring about the destruction of democracy as we know it here in this country.
13
Dear Steven Mnuchin,
By standing next to Mr. Trump during his press conference last Tuesday, you were complicit in supporting his statements. Through your written response to your Yale classmates, you doubled down on your unconditional support for Mr. Trump's world view, beyond your purview as Treasury Secretary.
You are on the wrong side of history. You are clinging to a sinking ship. Your reputation and future career will be forever tarnished. And for what? A few tax cuts and some deregulation?
By standing next to Mr. Trump during his press conference last Tuesday, you were complicit in supporting his statements. Through your written response to your Yale classmates, you doubled down on your unconditional support for Mr. Trump's world view, beyond your purview as Treasury Secretary.
You are on the wrong side of history. You are clinging to a sinking ship. Your reputation and future career will be forever tarnished. And for what? A few tax cuts and some deregulation?
8
With respect to Trump's news conference my impression was, above all that it was what most of his statements are, incoherent. He condemned on one hand and excused on the other. This is a fundamental part of Trump's behaviour. His manner seems aggressive at times but what he says apart from the delivery seems more like someone who is desperate to be liked. He offends the far right and then backtracks and says there were "good people" among them. The news conference wasn't the arch-evil Trump taking up the Nazi banner. It was the muddled, needy Trump not wanting to alienate the people that support him. He doesn't really care why they support him or what he has to say to keep their support. In everything he does or says there is that underlying motive. When he says he puts no one on a "moral plane" he speaks the truth because morality is irrelevant to him. It is all about who praised him, who complimented him, who loved him. This is why he can say things like "Putin said some nice things about me". That's what he hears. The nice things and the bad things that are said of him. Say nice things and you're in. Say bad things you're out.
7
This op-ed is less trenchant analysis and more self-congratulation. Correspondingly Team Trump is less the problem and more merely a notably crusty excrescence in the DC cesspool.
You say, "There are some signs that our democratic system is working to contain Mr. Trump." Not really. Truth be told, Trump is the system and there is nothing very democratic about it - at all.
Trump embodies the naked opportunism that drives the system. All for one and one for... one. The irony is that with Bannon's cover he got himself elected based on the fraud of standing for something grander than himself.
That's what makes the man more dangerous than any one dimensional, dunderhead, dime store racist. He's what ever he thinks he has to be whenever he thinks he needs to be that. He's a political chameleon of a distinctly flexible, resilient, and slimy species.
But that is nothing new in American politics. It's the essence of American politics. And to crow about corralling Trump under the circumstances is an invocation in the style of Hamlet's mother, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
As for Bannon? He's exhausted only one of his nine lives. He's returned to the fold of Breitbart with the distinct advantage of being a living martyr and will continue to be feted by the fetid (the Mercers and others).
You say, "There are some signs that our democratic system is working to contain Mr. Trump." Not really. Truth be told, Trump is the system and there is nothing very democratic about it - at all.
Trump embodies the naked opportunism that drives the system. All for one and one for... one. The irony is that with Bannon's cover he got himself elected based on the fraud of standing for something grander than himself.
That's what makes the man more dangerous than any one dimensional, dunderhead, dime store racist. He's what ever he thinks he has to be whenever he thinks he needs to be that. He's a political chameleon of a distinctly flexible, resilient, and slimy species.
But that is nothing new in American politics. It's the essence of American politics. And to crow about corralling Trump under the circumstances is an invocation in the style of Hamlet's mother, "The lady doth protest too much, methinks."
As for Bannon? He's exhausted only one of his nine lives. He's returned to the fold of Breitbart with the distinct advantage of being a living martyr and will continue to be feted by the fetid (the Mercers and others).
37
When early on in this editorial I see phrases and references to Trump such as "the office that Americans entrusted to him" and "raised as never before profound doubts about his moral compass, his grasp of the obligations of his office and his fitness to occupy it,' the light goes on immediately, to wit, the NYTimes does not fully recognize the grave danger that Trump represents to the United States and even the world. Most Americans did not entrust anything to this illegitimate president and rather than profound doubts, most of us possessed certain knowledge even before the election that Trump was not capable or worthy of any office of responsibility. In short, Trump needs to be removed from the office of the presidency NOW!!!
8
There are Americans who descend from Japanese who fought against the United States in World War II. Indeed, Captain Mitsuo Fuchida the Japanese leader of the first flight of airplanes that attacked Pearl Harbor attained a green card and spent years in the U. S.
What if Japanese Americans of such heritage from, let’s say Hawaii, erected or wanted to erect statues of Emperor Hirohito or the infamous General Hideki Tojo? Would President Trump defend fringe groups defending statues of those men and one of Captain Fuchida who became a Christian missionary and spent years in the United States? What if that demonstration were near the USS Arizona Memorial where the remains of more than a thousand American victims of the Pearl Harbor bombing are entombed?
Could he hold up the honorable religious conversion of Captain Fuchida as sufficient reason to make a statement such as “There were good people on both sides?”
We won’t even deal with flying, at such a demonstration, the Japanese flag that was emblazoned on those attacking planes.
What if Japanese Americans of such heritage from, let’s say Hawaii, erected or wanted to erect statues of Emperor Hirohito or the infamous General Hideki Tojo? Would President Trump defend fringe groups defending statues of those men and one of Captain Fuchida who became a Christian missionary and spent years in the United States? What if that demonstration were near the USS Arizona Memorial where the remains of more than a thousand American victims of the Pearl Harbor bombing are entombed?
Could he hold up the honorable religious conversion of Captain Fuchida as sufficient reason to make a statement such as “There were good people on both sides?”
We won’t even deal with flying, at such a demonstration, the Japanese flag that was emblazoned on those attacking planes.
3
The GOP Congress is really enjoying their vacations. They have never felt so relieved to have the "cover" of being away on vacation so that they can spinelessly Not talk about Trump. Come September, they will be back to work without a whimper about Trump.
That is the real problem. Trump as Disaster is not new just something that has to be 'handled'. The great danger is the complicity of the GOP with Trump. They are fine with a denuded State Department. They are fine with wiping out affordable health care. They are completely okay with destruction of all environmental protections. The GOP wants public tax dollars for private (religious) schools.
Trump is the racist monster howling on top of the Empire State Building. And what a show he gives!
Trump out and we get what? More Jeff Sessions pushing to marginalize, disenfranchise and lock up any person of color?
Yesterday the good people of Boston gave our country a glimmer of hope.
Voting OUT the rot is the best remedy that we have.
That is the real problem. Trump as Disaster is not new just something that has to be 'handled'. The great danger is the complicity of the GOP with Trump. They are fine with a denuded State Department. They are fine with wiping out affordable health care. They are completely okay with destruction of all environmental protections. The GOP wants public tax dollars for private (religious) schools.
Trump is the racist monster howling on top of the Empire State Building. And what a show he gives!
Trump out and we get what? More Jeff Sessions pushing to marginalize, disenfranchise and lock up any person of color?
Yesterday the good people of Boston gave our country a glimmer of hope.
Voting OUT the rot is the best remedy that we have.
5
A recent poll showed that 67% of republicans approved of Trumps response to Charlottesville. I think it is time to admit major swaths of the population are racist and bigoted with extreme prejudice against minorities and women. Action must start at the school level to teach kids the virtues of tolerance and acceptance. I see it as a failing of the education system.
8
I just watched Santorum refuse to condemn Trump and racism, and pretend racism isn't an issue for Republicans. His discomfort was palpable.
No moral compass. Those who pretend to some kind of evangelical or Christian morality are the worst. The hoods are off. Sexism was obscene during the Trump campaign with all the obscene signs and the gross crudeness, reflecting Trump's sexual assaults on women and his own mistreatment of women.
At this point, I see Trump and all his supporters simply as evil. I don't care if they are uneducated or whatever. They have had several months to improve the situation, regret their choice, but they dig deeper into bigotry and hate every day.
No moral compass. Those who pretend to some kind of evangelical or Christian morality are the worst. The hoods are off. Sexism was obscene during the Trump campaign with all the obscene signs and the gross crudeness, reflecting Trump's sexual assaults on women and his own mistreatment of women.
At this point, I see Trump and all his supporters simply as evil. I don't care if they are uneducated or whatever. They have had several months to improve the situation, regret their choice, but they dig deeper into bigotry and hate every day.
6
Trump is the anti-president, the black matter of American democracy. Everything he touches turns toxic, and the strongest values of America are thrown in the trash. But around him, he has assembled equally destructive people and licensed them to continue to deliberately destroy their departments: the State Department is hollowed out with thousands of experienced knowledgeable diplomatic staff thrown away and important divisions closed. The Justice Department under Sessions no longer defends equal rights except for aggrieved white people, and returns to failed, racist policies of the past. The Department of Education is trying to destroy public education, important in this country since the 17th century. Kelly at Homeland Security discriminated against Muslims and Hispanics on a broad scale.
Voter suppression is being nationalized through the White House and with the help of the Justice Department.
Total eclipse of American brightness by evil. Vote, protest, resist.
Voter suppression is being nationalized through the White House and with the help of the Justice Department.
Total eclipse of American brightness by evil. Vote, protest, resist.
7
It's only been 7 months. You ain't seen nothin' yet.
1
Under Trump's influence, while campaigning for the presidency and since become president, Americans have been damaged. Formerly, we expected our leaders to think straight and to laugh off Twitter. Democracy doesn't function without a lot of individual consciences being willing to say NO when the crowd is saying YES or YES when the crowd is saying NO. Neo-Nazis and those domestic terrorists aren't our friends. They seek to disrupt the American way of life which is a life dedicated to the rights of the individuals, not just the property owners. We in America have to do the hardest thing: admit we were wrong to elect Trump. A president who never laughs and never admits he's wrong is a dangerous influence on a country that was created out of noblest of political ideals.
5
Failing? How about failed. He makes James Buchanan look successful.
4
Animated by their unshakeable belief that the media and the "elites" look down in them, Trump's hardcore supporters - over a third of the nation - say there is nothing he can do that would turn them against him. Nothing. One retired fellow from Minnesota sums this up nicely in a Times article today by likening Trump to a nerd who can approach the jock/cheerleader table and put the snotty kids in their place on behalf of the other nerds and losers. A retired guy still stuck in the dynamics of his high school days. A retired guy so naive he somehow thinks Trump could ever have been a nerd. I suppose he would say I am looking down on him, confirming his inferiority complex. But what else to say about a 60-plus year old man who can excuse going soft on Nazism because of his hope that the great man will stick it in the eye of the popular kids back in high school?
7
The CEO's that resigned from various councils are an absolute disgrace. Who else could speak with force to power better than they. Highly paid cowards one and all.
1
Let's hope for three more years of failure of Republican initiatives rather than Pence in the Oval Office. The first helps avoid damage, the latter puts a self righteous pinhead in charge.
As for Paul Ryan and his fellows, they can't afford to alienate Trump's base, so expect more craven avoidance.
Our only real hope is 2018. Keep faith in our system. Remember (if you're as old as I am, at least), we once had 58,000 needlessly killed in Vietnam and crooks in our White House and still came out of it.
As for our extremist crazies, they've always been around and aren't going away. We'll need to find better ways to deal with them.
One final note: push for gun laws and hope that delusional, steroid pumped nuts in camo and bearing military style weapons are kept off our streets during highly charged demonstrations. Is that really too much to ask for?
As for Paul Ryan and his fellows, they can't afford to alienate Trump's base, so expect more craven avoidance.
Our only real hope is 2018. Keep faith in our system. Remember (if you're as old as I am, at least), we once had 58,000 needlessly killed in Vietnam and crooks in our White House and still came out of it.
As for our extremist crazies, they've always been around and aren't going away. We'll need to find better ways to deal with them.
One final note: push for gun laws and hope that delusional, steroid pumped nuts in camo and bearing military style weapons are kept off our streets during highly charged demonstrations. Is that really too much to ask for?
4
Trump is hardly failing. In fact, the more liberal media attack him the stronger his base grows. Please keep it up.
No one shoud be surprised.During the campaign Trump stressed that this was the last chance to take our country back. An obvious appeal to white supremists and their sympathizers. Where was the moral outrage before the election? Where were the editorial voices across the country against this repugnant and UnAmerican objective. Trump emboldened the pathetic white supremists. He has given them political legitimacy.He has disgraced the office of the president.ENOUGH!
5
They knew what they were voting for and yet, they did it anyway. As the saying goes, "You can't fix stupid", voters or presidents.
4
Whatever happened to "the land of the free and the home of the brave"?
Just wanted to mention since no one else has that Trump is following a family tradition. His father was arrested in a KKK march in the late 20's.
Not to over psychoanalyze this clown, but even though Fred is dead, Donald is still trying to get his father's approval. Obviously, he tried tried and wasn't successful. He was shipped off to military school as an adolescent. He must have been one heck of a thorn in his father's side.
Not to over psychoanalyze this clown, but even though Fred is dead, Donald is still trying to get his father's approval. Obviously, he tried tried and wasn't successful. He was shipped off to military school as an adolescent. He must have been one heck of a thorn in his father's side.
5
Though his father apparently did bribe Penn so dopey Donald could transfer from Fordham to Penn (Wharton), just as Donald later did for his kids.
2
"The pest of society is egotists." Emerson, on "Culture"
Correct diagnosis of a medical condition lacking any known treatment, severe 'narcissism', a position of power that 'racist' Trump chose to abuse over, and over, again. To our detriment. We have a vulgar bully and extreme liar submerged in a stinky swamp of his own making, and fully supported (thus far) by a compliant and morally corrupt republican party, plus it's loudspeaker's propaganda source, Fox Noise. Are we going to remain complicit by continuing to lend support to a runaway clown intent in destroying any vestiges of civility?
3
Every American needs to be aware that this intentional chaos is a tactic used by Fascists and by this administration. He is doing it on purpose. Trump will continue scattering these highly divisive social issues upon us, as it serves him in 2 ways:
1. upsetting liberals to the point of public protest- this is what his base feeds on
2. distracting public attention while tearing down pillars of our democracy when no one is watching... like healthcare, social security, immigrant rights, civil rights, the list goes on....
Keep you eye on the ball, folks. Don't allow this tactic to succeed.
1. upsetting liberals to the point of public protest- this is what his base feeds on
2. distracting public attention while tearing down pillars of our democracy when no one is watching... like healthcare, social security, immigrant rights, civil rights, the list goes on....
Keep you eye on the ball, folks. Don't allow this tactic to succeed.
6
He won't be remembered as "the worst president we've ever had"- he won't even be remembered as a real president.
5
Here is the closing sentence (to an otherwise fine article by the Editorial Board) that somehow seems to have been omitted: "The time has come for this President to resign, or to be removed from office by Constitutional means."
6
Time to hunker down. Isolate, contain, resist and ignore as much as possible.
2
Vote for no Republican, for any office, until Trump is gone.
6
The problem for Republican politicians is that only a minority of all American voters, but an overwhelming majority of Republican voters, still support Donald Trump. They do not want to split the party and provoke retaliation from Trump and the right-wing claque which gives him a free pass - Fox News, Hannity, Limbaugh, Alex Jones of Infowars, and presumably Breitbart led by the freshly released Bannon. Perhaps they secretly hope Trump will destroy himself with his aberrant behavior, tantrums, and instability even at the cost of damage to America. The time is coming when the rest of America, not in the grip of these political calculations, must take steps to free itself of this fake president.
2
Trump's Miss America pageants have the runner up step in if the winner is unable to fulfill her responsibilities.
We need the same rule here, now. We need Pres. Clinton, and she deserves it. Shame on the Electoral College. I don't believe for a second they didn't know Trump was not fit to be president. What a huge mess they created; Iraq war is considered the biggest foreign policy blunder in US history. I think it is safe to assume that giving Donald Trump the presidency, with a Christian Sharia loon next in line, was the biggest domestic blunder in US history. And those two things have happened in consecutive Republican administrations.
Get a clue, EC and American voters!
We need the same rule here, now. We need Pres. Clinton, and she deserves it. Shame on the Electoral College. I don't believe for a second they didn't know Trump was not fit to be president. What a huge mess they created; Iraq war is considered the biggest foreign policy blunder in US history. I think it is safe to assume that giving Donald Trump the presidency, with a Christian Sharia loon next in line, was the biggest domestic blunder in US history. And those two things have happened in consecutive Republican administrations.
Get a clue, EC and American voters!
4
Republicans in Congress are just responding to 80+% of their constituents. (Exceptions, two independent thinking women and a senior male Senator who just learned he has cancer).
Those constituents get their information and affirmation from Fox News, as does the President. Whoever actually runs Fox is the engineer on this death train of lies.
There is simple cause and effect...In answer to the question of how Macron beat back the neo-Fascists in France, a French analyst simply said "We don't have Fox News". Can we put attention where it belongs? The cause of all this is hiding in plain sight.
Those constituents get their information and affirmation from Fox News, as does the President. Whoever actually runs Fox is the engineer on this death train of lies.
There is simple cause and effect...In answer to the question of how Macron beat back the neo-Fascists in France, a French analyst simply said "We don't have Fox News". Can we put attention where it belongs? The cause of all this is hiding in plain sight.
3
It is time to invoke the 25th Amendment on Trump. How much more damage are we waiting for? Until Kim Jung-Un attacked Guam?
4
All this, and meanwhile, back at the ranch, Mueller keeps grinding away. Tick tock, tick tock.
The front page link to this editorial asks, "... what remedies do Americans have?" Most of us ask ourselves this question every day as we recall what has already transpired and then confront each day's new and appalling crisis.
Many of us are doing everything we can think of, everything we are capable of. But it feels like too little.
This week the president spoke out in support of neo-Nazis and supremacists. Congressional Republicans are still doing nothing to check the executive branch. In fact, they are enabling him. What remedies to Americans have?
Yes, this paper and the other remnants of the free press are doing a remarkable job, even though they have been financially decimated by Google, Facebook and the like.
Nevertheless, this editorial does not suggest any remedies at all. What remedies do Americans have?
Many of us are doing everything we can think of, everything we are capable of. But it feels like too little.
This week the president spoke out in support of neo-Nazis and supremacists. Congressional Republicans are still doing nothing to check the executive branch. In fact, they are enabling him. What remedies to Americans have?
Yes, this paper and the other remnants of the free press are doing a remarkable job, even though they have been financially decimated by Google, Facebook and the like.
Nevertheless, this editorial does not suggest any remedies at all. What remedies do Americans have?
1
Where are the Republicans? Silence is consent!
2
You write that Trump intended to rebuke "politically correct forces that he thinks are trying to topple him." Whether he formulates the opposition to him in that way or not, the rest of us need not accept such a blurring of terms. This is not about political correctness.
Some examples of political correctness are stigmatizing the word "lady", stigmatizing religion, and, if not quite in the same breath, stigmatizing any suggestion that Islamist terrorism is to some extent due to problems with the religion of Islam.
Expecting the President of the United States to condemn hate speech and bigotry unequivocally is not political correctness. It needs no name at all, because it's elemental to both decency and democracy.
Some examples of political correctness are stigmatizing the word "lady", stigmatizing religion, and, if not quite in the same breath, stigmatizing any suggestion that Islamist terrorism is to some extent due to problems with the religion of Islam.
Expecting the President of the United States to condemn hate speech and bigotry unequivocally is not political correctness. It needs no name at all, because it's elemental to both decency and democracy.
11
Did I miss Trump's apology to Obama and the nation for his vile birther lies? That would be a good start but not in Trump's character to do... tragic and pathetic. POTUS Trump is beyond unfit, he is harming the country with his greed, toxic nature, and mile high ego.
8
And it's that dance with demons that may be the tipping point of the Trump Administration's ultimate demise. Yet he's been a canny shape-shifter when cornered. As he did with the unfounded claim last March that President Obama "tapped his wires" in Trump Tower, Trump relies on incidents like his sideways embrace of neo-Nazism to simply dissipate into the ether of time and evolving news cycles. That can't be allowed to happen this time with white supremacy. Richard Nixon once said "People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook." With the current administration, people not only have to know whether their President is racist, but also whether he is allied with people who are racist. There should be no ambiguity when the nation's moral standing at home and abroad is on the line.
4
I'm a lifelong Democrat who would never have believed that Trump could become president of the country I love. Having said that, this is a democracy, stop subverting. He is the president and will continue to be so until at least 2020. Stop casting everything he does and says in the worst possible light as though you can see into his heart. Yes, we can resist and mitigate his actions. There are other levers of power to be used in this country for damage control. This is not the first time a man elected president has proven unworthy of the office , and it won't be the last. You either believe that the will of the people is Paramount and should never be subverted, or you are just as much a threat to the rule of law and preeminence of the Constitution as is President Trump.
2
How does a popular vote trouncing in the millions amount to "the will of the people" in any reasonable sense? He won by a foible of 18th-century rigamarole. A lifelong Democrat wouldn't be rushing to call that a mandate.
2
The will of the people was Hillary Clinton. A fact that has infuriated this small small man. No one is suggesting anything but constitutional means to get rid of this gaping hole where the president should be. And to pretend this ignorant buffoon presents anything but a danger to our economy, security, and stability, is to cultivate a greater lie ... that he can pivot or become presidential or somehow not continue to make things worse day by day.
3
It is an unspoken truth that white supremacy and its entitled privileges are the undercurrent interwoven in America's white Christian culture. This demon, as this editorial calls it, has been barely contained and suppressed in the last 40-50 years and often reared its ugly head by the Republicans in order to win white votes. Liberal Americans and the mainstream press don't want to talk about it because they pretend to believe that with the passing of the civil rights legislation America has moved far away from this demon. Nothing could be further than the truth. Trump is the beneficiary of this demon by nakedly and shamelessly exploiting it. He is just fanning this desperate flame emanating from this demon. There is nothing beautiful or cultural about a history of slavery and secessionist and the statues that honor it. America needs to confront its ugly past and completely excises it by removing the sights and physical objects representing it so that American culture could evolve into its professed values.
3
Yes.
In trying to deal with my despair and anger over the Trump presidency, I asked myself if there was anything positive in this whole sorry mess. Yes, the positive is that the dark underbelly of America has been exposed, particularly racism. America squandered the huge opportunity of emerging from the second World War unscathed. How did America use its rising wealth and prosperity, and its position as a world leader? It seems it only unleashed the worst predatory capitalism the world has ever seen.
By going along with the ideology that the poor and the sick do not have to be looked after, that paying taxes is bad, that money does not need to be spent on education, that "socialism" is bad, that a huge military complex will ensure America's place in the world, Americans have allowed a nasty brutish society to be created. Are we really surprised that the end product is Donald Trump?
I'm grateful for the last few months. It shows the work that needs to be done. Start looking at what other countries in the world have done. Borrow the best of their ideas. Begin with giving up the idea of American superiority. And for God's sake, vote. Own your democracy.
By going along with the ideology that the poor and the sick do not have to be looked after, that paying taxes is bad, that money does not need to be spent on education, that "socialism" is bad, that a huge military complex will ensure America's place in the world, Americans have allowed a nasty brutish society to be created. Are we really surprised that the end product is Donald Trump?
I'm grateful for the last few months. It shows the work that needs to be done. Start looking at what other countries in the world have done. Borrow the best of their ideas. Begin with giving up the idea of American superiority. And for God's sake, vote. Own your democracy.
2
I agree with you about Trump. However he does not stand alone. The GOP, from top to bottom is filled with moral incompetents who are also lacking in leadership abilities. Trump is a newbie; Mitch McConnell and Ryan are old hands. This is nothing new - it is that only now has this infection reached POTUS. For too long, taxes are skewed, opportunity is more gone than knocking, Wall St laughs/cries all the way to the bank and Congress has abandoned ship.
Where are the Democrats? Still trying to find their elbows. Unfortunately.
Where are the Democrats? Still trying to find their elbows. Unfortunately.
1
Simply put, Trump's pathological daily-tweeting should be enough to bounce him from office. PS, he was already off the rails day one.
4
One of the best things Americans do is question the status quo. The "Times" states that "there is nothing typical about this president;". Thank God. That is why we elected him. By November of 2016 Americans were tired of typicality. We had endured 16 years of failed, bland, plain-vanilla government under Bush and Obama. We were promised 4 to 8 more years of that same plain-vanilla corporate establishment government if we elected Obama's hand-picked heiress -- Mrs. Clinton.
Americans did not want to return to the old eight years of the soap-opera Clinton Administration starring both Bill and Hillary. We had been there, seen that, done that. By Election Day, 2016, Americans were more than ready, willing and able to throw the dice and place a bet on a maverick casino owner.
The Times is sore because its hand-picked candidate, Mrs. Clinton not only did not win the Election --she lost the Election and a lot more. President Trump was very clear as a candidate that he would not be a typical President. The voters voted and we got what we wanted. As "Rummy" once said, "Democracy is messy." We have been involved in other messes in other nations and have often failed in our mission. Now we have our own democracy mess to deal with. The worm has turned; the chickens have come home to roost. It is now time for us to do our own nation building in our own nation. The overseas returns have not been good. They may be a portent of what we see now happening in America.
Americans did not want to return to the old eight years of the soap-opera Clinton Administration starring both Bill and Hillary. We had been there, seen that, done that. By Election Day, 2016, Americans were more than ready, willing and able to throw the dice and place a bet on a maverick casino owner.
The Times is sore because its hand-picked candidate, Mrs. Clinton not only did not win the Election --she lost the Election and a lot more. President Trump was very clear as a candidate that he would not be a typical President. The voters voted and we got what we wanted. As "Rummy" once said, "Democracy is messy." We have been involved in other messes in other nations and have often failed in our mission. Now we have our own democracy mess to deal with. The worm has turned; the chickens have come home to roost. It is now time for us to do our own nation building in our own nation. The overseas returns have not been good. They may be a portent of what we see now happening in America.
4
You got what you wanted, the majority of the country didn't.
Trump will soon be whisked off the stage. The oligarchy have had it with him. Turns out he's no good for business. The Koch brothers are now training VP Pence to take center stage. Once trained, the new Pence will still be a hard right goy/guy but will be kinder and gentler. He will not bring us a theocracy . Even so, the empire will continue to decline as the economy becomes more and more centered around financialization.
2
A wise man once told me: "you don't bring a boy to do a man's job". Never has this been more obvious than now.
1
Regarding another article interviewing those who still support Trump, justifying evil, incompetence, failed leadership, and stupidity is nothing new. From the beginning of time standing for truth and goodness has never had the support of 100% of people. Please continue to state the truth and refrain from interviewing those who deny it.
45 is himself a demon that is mentally ill. He has brought to light the weakness of congress as a co equal branch of government. Congress ruled by Republicans are cowards afraid of 45s supposed base and so they do its bidding by suppressing voters to insure their slots. I have watched with mine own eyes men of every color, religion and sexual orientation surrender their lives for a country who’s current leader abdicated his duty with a lie about his heel but even more vile thinks them less worthy of citizenship in the HOME OF THE BRAVE. The U.S.A. and the world are thirsty for a woman or man of intellect and integrity to step into the breech and correct the abonimable course we are on. I pray whomever that may be rises soon.
"You are either part of the solution or you are part of the problem."
"Silence gives consent."
These two sentences apply not just to Trump and those who marched in that Whites Only in America, tiki light carrying group, but it applies to everyone sitting on the sidelines pretending this is awful but remaining silent when the racist or bigoted joke is told or other petty happenings occur.
Trump said that there were many in that marching group who were good people only intent on trying to keep a statue intact. Good people with good intentions never, for any reason, follow in the footsteps of people carrying swastikas and shouting epithets against Jews while pretending they don't agree with what is going on.
"Silence gives consent."
These two sentences apply not just to Trump and those who marched in that Whites Only in America, tiki light carrying group, but it applies to everyone sitting on the sidelines pretending this is awful but remaining silent when the racist or bigoted joke is told or other petty happenings occur.
Trump said that there were many in that marching group who were good people only intent on trying to keep a statue intact. Good people with good intentions never, for any reason, follow in the footsteps of people carrying swastikas and shouting epithets against Jews while pretending they don't agree with what is going on.
Trump is and revealed himself early to be a threat to American democracy. It baffles me how anyone failed to realize this even before his "Mexicans are rapists" campaign announcement, let alone after. His contempt for our institutions was evident, his destructive impulses of the truth, law, and language itself were obvious, his utter disrespect for women, blacks, the poor, Muslims, and anyone who disagrees with him was clear. How could anyone have been fooled? I think they now claim to be as cover for their own moral degenerateness -- I don't believe them and think they must fundamentally share Trump's views, to my astonishment.
1
You're still missing the point.
Race is your obsession, not the electorate's, and you're indulging your own preferences and prejudices at the expense of understanding what's really going on.
Trump didn't win because of race. He certainly didn't win because of white supremacy.
Trump won because of the economy.
Surely you realise this?
If not, then you need to wake up, because the fall is going to be ugly.
Race is your obsession, not the electorate's, and you're indulging your own preferences and prejudices at the expense of understanding what's really going on.
Trump didn't win because of race. He certainly didn't win because of white supremacy.
Trump won because of the economy.
Surely you realise this?
If not, then you need to wake up, because the fall is going to be ugly.
He won because those who voted for him didn't have a clue about "the economy."
Trump and his entourage of scoundrels have so far scuttled the Republican agenda and bogged down in the cycle of constant revision and clean up of their own ineptitude. This is only after the first eight months of his term. They haven't been able to handle catastrophes of their own making. There will be real catastrophes in the near future. Times that call for real leadership and sound decisions. The real failure of the Trump era has yet to play out. It will be no solace to any of us that the minority who put him in control is today reveling in the bombast of a man who tomorrow may well take us all down with him when the real test happens.
Yes, Donald Trump has provided a platform for the Far Right and Fringe Groups. I would however like to point out that through his reactionary stances on race and American history Trump also has helped point out to the majority of Americans just how far we have come in the past 75 years in assuring that the Dream of the Founding Fathers declaration that in their new Republic, "All Men are Created Equal" would eventually be realized.
The backlash to Trump's equivocations over the legitimacy and niceties of the White Supremacists involved in the recent violence in Virginia has been broad and very deep and seems to have transcended political affiliation, economic status, race and even history of active military service; something, in fact, that not even the most heart felt or intellectually reasonable exhortations of our first Black President, Barrack Obama, was able to pull off effectively during his eight years in office.
So, yes perhaps this is an example of how sometimes it is necessary for an individual ,or even a nation, to be threatened with the withdrawal of something vital in their lives (like health, like the presence of a close family member,-yes, like peace or our Freedoms) for us to remember what we stand to lose if we don't fight to maintain those vital elements we hold precious. For a lesson like this, perhaps its worth thanking even a fool like Donald Trump.
The backlash to Trump's equivocations over the legitimacy and niceties of the White Supremacists involved in the recent violence in Virginia has been broad and very deep and seems to have transcended political affiliation, economic status, race and even history of active military service; something, in fact, that not even the most heart felt or intellectually reasonable exhortations of our first Black President, Barrack Obama, was able to pull off effectively during his eight years in office.
So, yes perhaps this is an example of how sometimes it is necessary for an individual ,or even a nation, to be threatened with the withdrawal of something vital in their lives (like health, like the presence of a close family member,-yes, like peace or our Freedoms) for us to remember what we stand to lose if we don't fight to maintain those vital elements we hold precious. For a lesson like this, perhaps its worth thanking even a fool like Donald Trump.
Aside from the constant drumbeat of Trump's ineptitude, moral and human failings, I have yet to see any true counter vision and policy by the Democratic Party. Like it or not, the constant Trump Trump Trump focus of the media has completely drowned out any content discussion of views, visions, and ideas that any party might have and propose. We have fallen into the trap of reaction to stimulus - shiny, bright, loud, jarring, all that attracts attention and we humans are programmed to react to. Where are the thoughtful analyses not associated with that nanosecond long, bright shiny news morsel we are reacting to? I fear the democratic party is dooming itself and sinking also into irrelevance by reacting to the shiny thing that is Trump all the time.
1
So, what are we going to do about people? We have a moral obligation to the future generations of this country to demonstrate that an enormous aspect of American History was founded on the backs of slaves. With that, we as a country have a duty to recognize this fact as an abhorrent past that we have yet to escape fully. In rejecting this president and his followers, we show future generations that we hold empathy in our hearts for those who have suffered and continue to suffer injustice. True injustice. The only way we can sow a more intellectual and empathetic future is to crush the bigotry and hatred that is being given its "close up". The best way to do this, is in the voting booth. Violence is never the answer. We must stay vigilant of voter suppression and other shady tactics by the DOJ. We must, as a people demonstrate to our future generations, and the world, that we are a country founded on tolerance and intellectuality, that has the capability of being empathetic to those who's advantage in life has been less than our own. Vote for the candidates that can bring people together, not tear them apart.
The Republicans demonstrated their sick calculus with the vote on their so called health care bill: nearly half were willing to vote in favor of a bill that they all agreed should not become law, which was also what the House had done weeks before that. Never mind the millions who would suffer, this was to be a win for their president.
To ordinary people held accountable for their actions every day of the week, this is completely incomprehensible. Just like the phenomenon of Mitch and Paul looking at the camera every day and lying directly and forthrightly to all of us. Just like the stolen supreme court seat. On and on.
This is what dark money and gerrymandering have brought us to. The path out will have to be blazed by normal, honest citizens. Can we do it?
To ordinary people held accountable for their actions every day of the week, this is completely incomprehensible. Just like the phenomenon of Mitch and Paul looking at the camera every day and lying directly and forthrightly to all of us. Just like the stolen supreme court seat. On and on.
This is what dark money and gerrymandering have brought us to. The path out will have to be blazed by normal, honest citizens. Can we do it?
1
What Trump has done, in addition to his many ignorant claims and actions, is portray in all its shadows a political party that has no back bone, guts or ethical substance. To those of us who once looked to the Grand Old Party as our political base it is a sad and a painful sight.
This editorial nailed it. But what keeps me up at night is Trump's steadfast supporters. I don't understand why such a high percentage of Republicans still believe in this man. It already seems out the window that he will bring jobs back for those struggling workers throughout the country, most especially in the Mid West. He cares more about Wall Street. Is it the ACA? Many of its fiercest supporters have become the very people who voted this wretch into office. Or is it the so-called Christian Right who will fight for the unborn at the expense of the living? I find myself resisting this thought, but it keeps on raising its ugly head: It seems to be a pervasive, and invasive, bigotry toward all people not white, Christian, or "straight." This hate for the "other" is spewed through words and revealed through actions by the occupant of the most powerful position in the world...a man destined for infamy. A so-called man named Trump.
3
"He chose to summon not America’s better angels, but its demons." Medieval language evoking Hillary's quixotic, "I stand between you and the Apocalypse." Well, one way or another, (a phrase used by Republicans when they rammed through the appointment of Gorsuch to the Supreme Court) the Apocalypse may be coming. In Medieval times eclipses were associated with the end of the world and it just happens that an eclipse of the sun is coming on Monday Aug. 21. Called by some "The Great American Eclipse," it would provide a memorable moment for the resignation of the man who has eclipsed America's ideals and greatness. They could go out together.
"It is whether they will continue to follow a standard-bearer who is alienating most of the country by embracing extremists."
That one quarter of voters who love Mr. Trump love him in part because he is alienating most of the country by embracing extremists. He's finally letting their inner ids--rabidly xenophobic, incorrigibly racist, hidebound, selfish, angry and mean--for so long constrained and shackled by the more decent portions of the GOP, to come out and play. It was even worse when a black man became the leader of America--this inflamed their sense of racial grievance to fever pitch, and they became unhinged, that this happened. Now they're lapping it up, that he's giving them permission to let their ids out, to get their revenge on a nation that had the temerity to foist on them a black man as leader. It is their catharsis.
It's alarming and infuriating and depressing, but this is also a totally obvious and logical conclusion to what the GOP opted to do with its "Southern Strategy" in the late 1960s--embrace the racists who despised the civil rights movement and get them to the polls through dog-whistles. In the past 30 years, the conservative echo chamber media, as it radicalized further and further, made it more and more likely that the "dog-whistle mask" was going to be ripped right off by an unscrupulous, sociopathic man who wouldn't care a white about the consequences of playing with this fire.
We have now found that man and he has ripped that mask off.
That one quarter of voters who love Mr. Trump love him in part because he is alienating most of the country by embracing extremists. He's finally letting their inner ids--rabidly xenophobic, incorrigibly racist, hidebound, selfish, angry and mean--for so long constrained and shackled by the more decent portions of the GOP, to come out and play. It was even worse when a black man became the leader of America--this inflamed their sense of racial grievance to fever pitch, and they became unhinged, that this happened. Now they're lapping it up, that he's giving them permission to let their ids out, to get their revenge on a nation that had the temerity to foist on them a black man as leader. It is their catharsis.
It's alarming and infuriating and depressing, but this is also a totally obvious and logical conclusion to what the GOP opted to do with its "Southern Strategy" in the late 1960s--embrace the racists who despised the civil rights movement and get them to the polls through dog-whistles. In the past 30 years, the conservative echo chamber media, as it radicalized further and further, made it more and more likely that the "dog-whistle mask" was going to be ripped right off by an unscrupulous, sociopathic man who wouldn't care a white about the consequences of playing with this fire.
We have now found that man and he has ripped that mask off.
1
The combination of Generals Mattis, Kelly, and McMaster being elevated (thankfully) to high positions in this administration, along with the unprecedented flurry of anti-racist affirmation statements by the Joint Chiefs, is curiously similar to the phenomenon of military staffs having to take the reigns of government in Third World nations when inept or corrupt civilians drive their nations into ruin.
We can hope that Congress or the rest of the Executive Branch acts before anything similar becomes necessary here....but for the first time in our nation's modern history, it's possible the military solution could actually be needed. Wow.
We can hope that Congress or the rest of the Executive Branch acts before anything similar becomes necessary here....but for the first time in our nation's modern history, it's possible the military solution could actually be needed. Wow.
NYT Editorial: "With each day, President Trump offers fresh proof that he is failing the office that Americans entrusted to him."
Reality: "With each day, President Trump offers fresh proof that he is failing the office that he assumed after squeaking by in one of the weakest Electoral College wins in history while losing the popular vote by 3 million."
Reality: "With each day, President Trump offers fresh proof that he is failing the office that he assumed after squeaking by in one of the weakest Electoral College wins in history while losing the popular vote by 3 million."
2
Some seem to want to be believe in Trump so much they are continually hoping some little personnel change can save your republic by somehow containing this unstable president. Maybe Ivanka and Jared? McMaster? Melanie and Barron? Last week it was General Kelly. Now it's Barron departed. These perpetual hopefuls living in denial remind me of battered wives. They simply cannot believe Trump is where the problems lie and no matter who he hires or fires Trump will continue to hurtle along of the rails.
Admit you made a mistake electing Trump and stop enabling him. Things are only going to get worse, there is no way he'll complete his term. We all know it. All that it is left to determine is how much damage he will be allowed to do first. The longer you leave him in office the worse the damage will be to the electorate, to democracy, to institutions, to the presidency itself.
Admit you made a mistake electing Trump and stop enabling him. Things are only going to get worse, there is no way he'll complete his term. We all know it. All that it is left to determine is how much damage he will be allowed to do first. The longer you leave him in office the worse the damage will be to the electorate, to democracy, to institutions, to the presidency itself.
3
This indeed is a bizarre world that we live in. I know from early June when I saw him glide down the escalator that we were in for a surprise. And I knew it was all over, around 9:30 PM on November 8, 2016 when NBC would not remove their prediction that Indiana goes for Trump. But truly, you can't make any of this stuff up.
1
As a Canadian, this reader living just to the north of Vermont, obviously had no vote but remembers suffering a sinking feeling upon Bernie's announcement from the banks of Lake Champlain that he was challenging Hillary for the Democratic nomination. What? Way worse than Trump's announcement, this was the same perfect being the enemy of the good that had 'progressives' supporting Nadar and give the world George W Bush, 9/11, the war in Iraq, global financial meltdown. Now, following eight years of Obama's course correcting 'progressives' predictably supported Bernie's and have given the world Trump. 'Progressives' need to stop pretending they care about anything but protecting their indestructible sense of moral superiority. How do they sleep at night?
And Pence is worse than Trump, even comparing Trump to T. Roosevelt, a great conservationist. Trump is trying to roll-back numerous conservation issues through his accomplice Zinke at the Department of Interior, antithetical to Roosevelt.
1
The steady stream of articles lamenting the awfulness of Trump is getting less and less helpful. Readers of this paper by and large know that by now. Venting accomplished nothing.
The question is, what can we do about it? That's where the focus needs to be now. What's going to get Tru
The question is, what can we do about it? That's where the focus needs to be now. What's going to get Tru
With Pence and Ryan waiting in the wings, not much hope
Both this editorial and Bret Stephens's excellent piece yesterday deal with the relationship between deficient character and lack of truthfulness. The latter presumably arises from the former, but lying, in its turn, can further corrode character, creating a vicious cycle . Even if the deficient character comes first, the lying reveals it. Stephens offered a number of reasons Trump failed the smell test, but "Above all, you could smell it in Trump's indifference to truth."
Trump is beyond salvage; the question is the GOP leadership. The Editorial Board's pessimism is well founded, but the vote on sanctions against Russia, along with Leader McConnell's refusal to formally adjourn the Senate over the break, offers some hope. What the leadership needs to understand is this: If the emperor has no clothes, it is because pulling on the thread of one lie in his raiment unravels the fabric of them all. The same applies to them. They can't expect to be believed about Nazis while lying about climate change. They can't lie about race relations and expect people to swallow snake oil about health care, taxes, or financial deregulation. It is all connected. They can choose the truth or their donors. The choice is inescapable, and they are starting to realize it.
Trump is beyond salvage; the question is the GOP leadership. The Editorial Board's pessimism is well founded, but the vote on sanctions against Russia, along with Leader McConnell's refusal to formally adjourn the Senate over the break, offers some hope. What the leadership needs to understand is this: If the emperor has no clothes, it is because pulling on the thread of one lie in his raiment unravels the fabric of them all. The same applies to them. They can't expect to be believed about Nazis while lying about climate change. They can't lie about race relations and expect people to swallow snake oil about health care, taxes, or financial deregulation. It is all connected. They can choose the truth or their donors. The choice is inescapable, and they are starting to realize it.
President Trump is doing a brilliant job through his psychopathic behavior act to distract the American public from the destruction being wrought by his incompetent cabinet members. Energy, environment, education, health care, publicly owned land are all being devastated as we are diverted form paying attention by the circus in the White House. Sadly, TNYT has abetted this disaster by paying more attention to the clown-nutcase's tweets and antics than the real undermining of basic foundations of the country.
Trump is a mirror, nothing more or less.
Work on repairing the society that he is reflecting.
Work on repairing the society that he is reflecting.
1
What took you guys so long to put out this editorial?
The pre-election speeches and paranoia claims, the counting of the inauguration crowd. The approval of the vile hatred of the sick and poor in the proposed Health Care act.
No normal human would act that way. Except for the Republicans in Congress, of course, but then they are handsomely paid to.
The pre-election speeches and paranoia claims, the counting of the inauguration crowd. The approval of the vile hatred of the sick and poor in the proposed Health Care act.
No normal human would act that way. Except for the Republicans in Congress, of course, but then they are handsomely paid to.
1
Trump the human being is repugnant, and Trumpian rhetoric is despicable, but neither the man nor the message is vanishing anytime soon. In reality, both may grow even more strident in the days ahead as Bannon leaves his relatively silenced position in the White House and takes up his "weapons" at Breitbart, financed by the Mercedes. The Republicans will continue to fret, saddled with this leader of their party whom most reject in principle. Jefferson once called slavery the wolf held by the ears- you can neither hold him nor let him go. Trump is their wolf. The country is actually strengthened by these character tests- consider the thousands who take to the streets on hot summer days and nights to protest white supremacy and klansmen. Trump arrives in Phoenix this week for a huge rally with his base, and the usual crowd of nut jobs will fill the arena while outside Raul Grijalva will lead a protest service,and a prayer vigil beginning in a Protestant church and ending in front of the Catholic cathedral is planned as well. There is great hope in these troubled times, and we owe a debt of gratitude to the free press keeping us informed and energized. This dark time will pass.
1
Trump is unfit to be the U.S President. Until Republicans start talking about impeachment, I don't really care what they have to say.
The President sympathized with White Supremacists at a news conference. What is the breaking point for Republicans to remove him from office? How low does this country have to go into the gutter with this moral failure in the White House?
It simply amazes me to hear people on TV who think some new responsible Trump is going to show up. We have teleprompter Trump and the real Trump. The real Trump showed up on Tuesday, just like he did many times during the campaign.
The President sympathized with White Supremacists at a news conference. What is the breaking point for Republicans to remove him from office? How low does this country have to go into the gutter with this moral failure in the White House?
It simply amazes me to hear people on TV who think some new responsible Trump is going to show up. We have teleprompter Trump and the real Trump. The real Trump showed up on Tuesday, just like he did many times during the campaign.
"It thus seems beyond unlikely that Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, or Paul Ryan, the weak-kneed speaker of the House, would entertain any thought of strong action, like censure."
Still, there is no reason that EACH and EVERY Democrat and Independent can't sign their own Censure, if only for the "record."
Still, there is no reason that EACH and EVERY Democrat and Independent can't sign their own Censure, if only for the "record."
Everyone who has played a part in driving America into the ditch hates Trump.
Trump must be doing something right.
Trump must be doing something right.
The Republican Party has sold its soul to the devil. It began a long time ago, trading principles for power. They began their deal with the devil when they collaborated to paralyze the Obama government on a number of fronts — which of course meant sacrificing the good of the country in order to hamstring the opposition party. This refusal to cooperate with the black president exuded racial prejudice. It began to appear that they wanted to teach Americans never to vote for a black president again, and that there was no further use to voting for Democrats. The very worst of this was their besotted refusal of a hearing for President Obama's Supreme Court nominee. Republicans thus perfected power through obstructionism, to the severe detriment of the country. This made them fit for a President who truly represented their moral bankruptcy — Donald Trump. While I greatly appreciate those Republican champions who have stood up against Trump, the collaborative silence from the rest of them is deafening.
1
Bill Clinton spent his first two years in office treading water, mired in controversy and investigations. It wasn't until Oklahoma City that he got his act together.
A "failing" Trump presidency will no doubt generate clicks and likes by the readership of the Times, but it betrays this paper's hubris and wishful thinking, as did the Times' meter did predicting a 90% chance of Mrs. Clinton being elected President last November.
Trump still has plenty of time to get in shape and blow up the establishment and bureaucracy, as his voters expect for him to do.
A "failing" Trump presidency will no doubt generate clicks and likes by the readership of the Times, but it betrays this paper's hubris and wishful thinking, as did the Times' meter did predicting a 90% chance of Mrs. Clinton being elected President last November.
Trump still has plenty of time to get in shape and blow up the establishment and bureaucracy, as his voters expect for him to do.
Step 1 - Through all GOP members out of government. If they have behaved, we would not be talking remedies. They're the remedies, they just don't want to act.
Step 2 - Make language arts and critical thinking a mandatory(a better & equal education for all Americans across state lines) for all Americans
Step 3- Hate and unverified lies must end you in jail
Step 4- Just as we did in Germany, ban and remove all Confederate symbols and make it a crime to use it.
Step 5- Void 2016 election and redo, starting with de-judge Gorsuch.
...
Step 2 - Make language arts and critical thinking a mandatory(a better & equal education for all Americans across state lines) for all Americans
Step 3- Hate and unverified lies must end you in jail
Step 4- Just as we did in Germany, ban and remove all Confederate symbols and make it a crime to use it.
Step 5- Void 2016 election and redo, starting with de-judge Gorsuch.
...
All the commentary of the New York Times and other media organizations seems to miss the essential import of the Trump mess: it's a sign that the population is not being governed well. Let me try that from a different angle: Nazi Germany became Nazi Germany because of a leader and political and economic situations. If you believe in something like human chemistry, the beaker has to have two ingredients. If you believe in human phenomenon repeats regardless of details, if it wasn't Trump it would be someone else. The right human comes to the front to meet the enzyme--just by random chance and time.
Maybe a shock and awe will get the job done. What happens instead of the country being turned off by Trump and his attitude toward alt-Right, they become more and more turned on to it. Could it just be that "yes" some are shocked and horrified by Trump's rightest leanings and some are being drawn in towards it. It might just be the beaker is more full of pro-extreme right leaning people than is realized. The existence of participants in Charlottesville gives some indication of the economic anxiety. What happens if continues and increases. What happens if the TrumpCare passes, a tax break for the rich passes, and wages continue to stagnate and even recede?
I contend that in these circumstances, even if Trump resigns, is impeached, or stays in office, the catalysts remain in the beaker. The US becomes a modern Nazi Germany. The ingredients have must be changed, and now.
Maybe a shock and awe will get the job done. What happens instead of the country being turned off by Trump and his attitude toward alt-Right, they become more and more turned on to it. Could it just be that "yes" some are shocked and horrified by Trump's rightest leanings and some are being drawn in towards it. It might just be the beaker is more full of pro-extreme right leaning people than is realized. The existence of participants in Charlottesville gives some indication of the economic anxiety. What happens if continues and increases. What happens if the TrumpCare passes, a tax break for the rich passes, and wages continue to stagnate and even recede?
I contend that in these circumstances, even if Trump resigns, is impeached, or stays in office, the catalysts remain in the beaker. The US becomes a modern Nazi Germany. The ingredients have must be changed, and now.
1
This week, our underachieving president has actually forced members of his own administration, the Congress, Big Business, and masses of ordinary citizens to forcefully identify his errors and to confine him to the dunce's corner. There he stares at his keyboard an attempts to find some new combination of mistaken words that won't get him bounced into solitary confinement or impeachment.
Our mother country resolved this derelict-leader problem many times over the centuries by simply deposing the king. But this is how the democracy we evolved into is supposed to respond to a leader who does not reflect the values or the thinking of his country.
Our mother country resolved this derelict-leader problem many times over the centuries by simply deposing the king. But this is how the democracy we evolved into is supposed to respond to a leader who does not reflect the values or the thinking of his country.
Many, many, many Americans are racist, not too bright, etc. look at the rate of processed food advocates & that 70% of adults are on prescription drugs, think of their interests, football, baseball, soccer, the internet, the latest iPhone, etc. & then think of glaciers melting, global warming, obesity, pre-diabetes, diabetes and a few hundred other diseases that have been 'created' by our moronic choice, Donald Trump being one of them. He's popular because he's as goofy as the people who voted for him. Anybody with any sense would never vote for this clown, but there are so many who buy into orange hair, rants and raving, bluster, & idiocy and like Hippies used to say, "I don't care what anyone says about me as long as they keep saying something." (or similar thoughts if thoughts can be used in such a circumstance) We have a national problem, one connected to our people, we don't get it, we're too toxic to understand what's happening and a reality so frightening only insane people would allow it, & we're allowing it & even encouraging it. This Trump thing is only a symptom of our mental problems & if anyone says we have none that person has a mental problem brought on by our physiology. We're sick & manipulated (we can't be anything else since we eat according to addictions that industry uses to make a profit) daily. How can anyone not see the harm of what we're doing & 95% of us are doing it every day. Clean up our physiologies & we'll regain our sanity. Will we? No.
No more hand wringing. Trump is a cancer that is killing us. We need to organize a mass movement calling for Trump's resignation. Marches every Saturday throughout the US with one message-- Resign.
3
The imminently decent and steady influence of the military through all this should, to people guided by evidence and reason, enhance the standing of our military as genuine protectors of our nation.
And despite the clown show radiating from the Oval Office, the Nation carries on.
And despite the clown show radiating from the Oval Office, the Nation carries on.
I agree with Boston Brave. Trump would save us a great deal of time and energy and, perhaps, redeem himself a bit, if he would simply resign. It seems the wisest, least expensive, and most expedient solution to our problem. Unfortunately, given his performance to date, it is doubtful that he will go for it; he likes the spotlight, chaos, and drama.
So—do we start impeachment proceedings or wait for the various investigations to prove beyond any doubt that Trump is not fit for office? I'm fine with impeachment, only because the investigations seem to pull surprises out of the box weekly and could go on forever. Also, I'm relatively sure there will be criminal charges, so if he's out of office, he can be imprisoned.
Doubtless, we need to do away with the Electoral College. I think our founding fathers did wonderful work in setting-up our government, but they couldn't have foreseen the rapid modes of communication we have today. I think they would agree that the Electoral College has become a hindrance to the electoral process.
Lastly, I think we will have to eat a whole lot of crow and somehow let those we share this planet with know that we recognize that we made an enormous mistake and are working to rectify it, so that some day we may again hold our heads high when we say we are Americans.
So—do we start impeachment proceedings or wait for the various investigations to prove beyond any doubt that Trump is not fit for office? I'm fine with impeachment, only because the investigations seem to pull surprises out of the box weekly and could go on forever. Also, I'm relatively sure there will be criminal charges, so if he's out of office, he can be imprisoned.
Doubtless, we need to do away with the Electoral College. I think our founding fathers did wonderful work in setting-up our government, but they couldn't have foreseen the rapid modes of communication we have today. I think they would agree that the Electoral College has become a hindrance to the electoral process.
Lastly, I think we will have to eat a whole lot of crow and somehow let those we share this planet with know that we recognize that we made an enormous mistake and are working to rectify it, so that some day we may again hold our heads high when we say we are Americans.
1
Unfortunately the US I not a multiparty parliamentary form of government, so we can't just all for another election because of a crisis of leadership. Moreover, a multiparty would much better represent our ever growing diverse citizenry.
1
The beauty of multi-party democracy is to bring the negotiation of coalitions into public view.
2
Trump is the symptom, not the cause of manifest failings in American society today. Remember the time when making advances in the treatment of smoking related cancer caught the headlines more than making decisions to limit the causes with arguments about freedom of choice ?
Trump will be laid low eventually by his own hand and we can all celebrate a pyrrhic victory of some sort. But until the causes of his ascendancy are addressed nothing will have changed for those for whom life is unfair as a result of societal decisions that use arguments masquerading as freedom of choice above our responsibility to our fellow human beings and the wider world.
What does it say about America when it elects the likes of Donald Trump to the highest office in the political world ? By all means bring down this messenger but to do so with examining what made him possible is groundhog day.
Trump will be laid low eventually by his own hand and we can all celebrate a pyrrhic victory of some sort. But until the causes of his ascendancy are addressed nothing will have changed for those for whom life is unfair as a result of societal decisions that use arguments masquerading as freedom of choice above our responsibility to our fellow human beings and the wider world.
What does it say about America when it elects the likes of Donald Trump to the highest office in the political world ? By all means bring down this messenger but to do so with examining what made him possible is groundhog day.
6
He's like a child with a personality disorder who's off his medication running around all out of control. But this big boy, at the same time that he's thowing tantrums and trying to taunt us with his outrageousness, is putting into effect some very scary policies. Yet, as you say, it's America that elected him and that says some very frightening things about us.
I'm not sure what the alternative might be - if Pence becomes president, a lot of policies from the Republican agenda will become law - from repealing the ACA to the privatization of Medicare, drastic cuts to Social Security, bounteous tax cuts for the wealthy, dismantling the EPA, commercialization of the National Parks, getting rid of Public Broadcasting, trashing of public education - and the list goes on.
And they would likely start a war or two along the way.
Pence is in step with the Republican leadership of Congress and the damage they could do together is enormous.
Maybe keeping a bumbling half-wit in the Oval Office isn't that bad an idea...
And they would likely start a war or two along the way.
Pence is in step with the Republican leadership of Congress and the damage they could do together is enormous.
Maybe keeping a bumbling half-wit in the Oval Office isn't that bad an idea...
5
Not a reply but an endorsement of your comment. Trump's departure would rid us of the most current symptom but the circumstances leading to his arrival are still ever present and those fostering have little or no self-awareness of their role in maintaining these circumstances. The common good is not the sum total of endless numbers of zero-sum political encounters.
1
Not to mention the fact that the distraction this dunderhead creates is harmful and distracting us in many personal ways totally unrelatead to any of his his policies and "executive orders" (I guess he's using these to substitute for the legislation he's failing to enact). One of my mid-year resolutions is to pay less attention to him and his antics and more attention to me. I think it's amazing we've managed to elect a president who is not only destructive to the country, but manages to give many of us daily headaches.
I think any pleas for change/legislation should be directed to the Democrats. Also, time for some states to start thinking about a peaceful secession (New York, California, et al) so they can have the country their citizens want and deserve.
I think any pleas for change/legislation should be directed to the Democrats. Also, time for some states to start thinking about a peaceful secession (New York, California, et al) so they can have the country their citizens want and deserve.
Trump needs to be removed and Pence will have the same forces opposing him when he ascends to the presidency; there seems to be only one exit...
' .. prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense.'
I keep going back to Bush junior. Many of us liberals thought he was not 'informed enough' about geopolitics and Cheney et al just used him to do their bidding.
But even while he was the president, none of us ever thought of him as 'not a decent guy' Just the opposite - I personally thought he was a very decent person.
And now, we have a man from the Qatar (or some variation of it). Compared to him, Bush was a saint. To make that point, may be Bush should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, just for having been a president of the most powerful country and who was simultaneously a decent person himself.
I guess a sainthood for him from the Pope is not a possibility, or is it?
I keep going back to Bush junior. Many of us liberals thought he was not 'informed enough' about geopolitics and Cheney et al just used him to do their bidding.
But even while he was the president, none of us ever thought of him as 'not a decent guy' Just the opposite - I personally thought he was a very decent person.
And now, we have a man from the Qatar (or some variation of it). Compared to him, Bush was a saint. To make that point, may be Bush should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, just for having been a president of the most powerful country and who was simultaneously a decent person himself.
I guess a sainthood for him from the Pope is not a possibility, or is it?
5
A "nation led by a prince of discord"?
More like an uncooth bum.
More like an uncooth bum.
9
The Trump presidency is not simply failing; it has failed. Nothing Donald Trump conceivably could do in the next three and a half years will compensate for the damage already done to America's reputation or stifle the white racists he has empowered. Congressional censure is not enough. He must be impeached.
14
The team of the Republicans is not their country. It's their party. Republicans will do everything to make their "team" win even if it involves gerrymandering, voter suppression, appealing to neo-nazi's or closing of polling stations.
12
Vote!!!!
10
President Trump has hardly embraced extremists. As usual the NYT is sloppy with facts, exaggerates the negative while minimizing the positive. Sure most of you, the NYT readership, are in agreement, but just as you bellow that other members of the GOP and public - including the undersigned ostensibly - have a moral duty to speak out, we counter that you, the NYT readers, have a moral duty to quit running like lemmings off the ledge of hysteria and distorted reality that this sort of mad conniption-earing creates. The Trump presidency is failing to the same degree that Democrats and liberals are failing at fact-based reason. I condemn neo-nazism and white supremacy, and don't believe for a second that Trump supports the same "clowns," try as hard as the NYT might to puff into that party balloon, since it would plainly work to its and your political advantage.
6
Well said.
2
Mr Wilson, just as it works to your advantage to deny that the president does not enjoy the support of the worst of his base? When he says that people marching under a Nazi flag are abhorrent and that their beliefs against people of color and Jews are not not only anti-American but anti-human, then maybe I will think he has any morals and sense of decency. Until then he will continue in the role of head clown.
Russ
Just look at Trump's lengthy history of bigotry.
1970s - discrimination by NOT renting to blacks
1980s - Central Park 5 (black and Hispanic teens who were railroaded) - trump advocated the death penalty for these innocent kids and took out full page ads in all the NY newspapers
Birther in Chief who admitted in 2016 that Obama was born in the US
Bigot who tried to marginalizee Mexicans, Muslims, immigrants during the election and who retweeted many Anti-Semitic tweets
The list is longer than your arm.
Trump is a bigot.
Just look at Trump's lengthy history of bigotry.
1970s - discrimination by NOT renting to blacks
1980s - Central Park 5 (black and Hispanic teens who were railroaded) - trump advocated the death penalty for these innocent kids and took out full page ads in all the NY newspapers
Birther in Chief who admitted in 2016 that Obama was born in the US
Bigot who tried to marginalizee Mexicans, Muslims, immigrants during the election and who retweeted many Anti-Semitic tweets
The list is longer than your arm.
Trump is a bigot.
Cowards. The low-life's who march under a Nazi flag to the Oval Office. The silent senators, congressmen and representatives who snivel for votes and cast their morals aside, cowards. The hate marchers in Charlottesville had cowards armed to the teeth 'protecting' them from unarmed counter protesters, just like Nazi Germany. Our president stood up for cowards and fascists and wasn't dismayed when they praised him for it. He was wrong, his supporters are wrong, and anyone who marches under a Nazi flag is a coward and a threat to our country.
6
Hee hee! Right, the Trump administration is failing, and the NYT is succeeding in demonstrating that it clearly doesn't know what either word means. I predict this paper will either fold or become some billionaire's vanity project before Trump is out of office. And nobody will care.
2
Trump is the symptom...Since 9/11, America has been gripped by the disease of fear, uncertainty, and utter impotence in dealing with real crisis......We need to blame everybody else, from Muslims, to sick children, to Ebola, to whatever the new enemy of the week is...We live in constant terror and our lack of courage gave us this shallow, empty old man......."Land of the Brave and Home of the Free", is being replaced by mosque vandalism, Nazi flags, and a Nurse in Maine being terrorized for coming home from treating Ebola cases in Africa.....We need to look in the mirror and see if we even have a reflection left.
We should hunker down and fix ourselves and work very hard to remember that bravery, dignity and integrity do matter. The world is waiting for us to cure this cancer we have willingly allowed to fester inside us....
We should hunker down and fix ourselves and work very hard to remember that bravery, dignity and integrity do matter. The world is waiting for us to cure this cancer we have willingly allowed to fester inside us....
5
Trump's response to the horrific events in C-Ville should be the last straw. I am unimpressed with Congress' lackluster condemnation on both sides of the aisle. At the very least, it warrants censorship. I intend to contact Senators Warren and Kaine, and let them know how deeply disappointed I am. This "attack" is not going to simply be swept away with the next news cycle. It's far too important. This cuts into the very fabric of our society, a democratic society, a generally peaceful society where we welcome diversity. It endangers our communities, and terrorizes specific groups within our communities. Make no mistake, the residents of Charlottesville, particularly Jewish and African Americans, feared for their safety and lives. I don't care how many times this administration rearranges the deck furniture, the damage is done, and until we cut the head off the serpent, nothing is going to change. Now that Trump has given the KKK, Neo-Nazis, and White Supremacist safe haven, they will continue metastasize unless we find a way to send them immediately back to the fringe.
To borrow from Mr. Dangerfield, "take your president, please".
3
Take that Tuesday news conference away and things might be a lot better for Trump. Nah....that's too easy.
Simple call counter to Trump's - Hate aint Great.
1
As offered by my b-i-l...."Just for what it's worth, many of the Confederate statues throughout the South were not put up until the 1920's when the KKK was so powerful that they almost elected a president. .... The statues do represent historical figures, but they are really just propaganda, not heritage. I think it is important to have some reminders of the evil of slavery, such as we do with Holocaust centers, etc., but not to honor people who tried to split an entire nation in order to preserve a "way of life" that involved slavery, bigotry, and, by the way, rampant anti-Catholicism."
5
Well the 'rolling disaster of this presidency' while accelerating downward, still has almost 70% of Republican voters in its thrall. They think he's had a pretty good week. So you have to take all that into account if you are a Republican with an instinct for self preservation. You can't jump ship just because the president says another stupid thing. He does that all the time and nothing much happens.
You're in a pickle. The president has obviously and profoundly come unhinged. Some of the rats are leaving the sinking ship, jumping into shark infested waters hoping lifeboats are on the way. What to do?
There are few heroes among you. You all made that pact with the devil and even now hedge your bets. The man at the helm may have lost whatever there was of his tiny mind, but you still might get tax cuts for the wealthy, might yet steal health care from the poor to pay for them, might still rape the environment for immense profit, rollback human rights to name just a few.
I don't hold out much hope. Mueller will present Trump with evidence that will destroy him, offer pardon if he resigns. Pence will take over. Agenda will be implemented, the top right hand corner of the front page will shrivel to nothing much of anything ... waiting for a miracle from the Democrats.
You're in a pickle. The president has obviously and profoundly come unhinged. Some of the rats are leaving the sinking ship, jumping into shark infested waters hoping lifeboats are on the way. What to do?
There are few heroes among you. You all made that pact with the devil and even now hedge your bets. The man at the helm may have lost whatever there was of his tiny mind, but you still might get tax cuts for the wealthy, might yet steal health care from the poor to pay for them, might still rape the environment for immense profit, rollback human rights to name just a few.
I don't hold out much hope. Mueller will present Trump with evidence that will destroy him, offer pardon if he resigns. Pence will take over. Agenda will be implemented, the top right hand corner of the front page will shrivel to nothing much of anything ... waiting for a miracle from the Democrats.
1
At this point, there is no more wonder or shock by Trump's behavior. Who we see is who he is. There is no possibility of him modifying his behavior anymore than there is of his supporters modifying their's.
Trump and his supporters are in a cult-like pact which feeds on itself and is part and parcel of the reality the rest of us live in. Nothing Trump's cult does should surprise us because the heart of darkness they share can't lead anywhere any of us would prefer to go.
The best society can do now is to "check" Trump and his nazi, fascist supporters at every turn, every day if necessary. The battle, and it is a battle, is for the soul of the Country. What type of society will we choose to be? Do we permit the fear and resentment of the so called "oppressed" white majority rule, based on confederate principles anchored in the past, or do we continue to grow based on
the belief all people who live here should have the same unobstructed opportunities.
Resentful white people can't be permitted to to obstruct the path for everyone else, including other white people. The world is ever changing, and while Trump and his supporters may slow it down, but they won't stop it. The politics of resentment, fear, and rage is an acute exacerbation of the change process. The "treatment" for it is steady, firm opposition and mobilizing rationality at the polls.
Trump and his supporters are in a cult-like pact which feeds on itself and is part and parcel of the reality the rest of us live in. Nothing Trump's cult does should surprise us because the heart of darkness they share can't lead anywhere any of us would prefer to go.
The best society can do now is to "check" Trump and his nazi, fascist supporters at every turn, every day if necessary. The battle, and it is a battle, is for the soul of the Country. What type of society will we choose to be? Do we permit the fear and resentment of the so called "oppressed" white majority rule, based on confederate principles anchored in the past, or do we continue to grow based on
the belief all people who live here should have the same unobstructed opportunities.
Resentful white people can't be permitted to to obstruct the path for everyone else, including other white people. The world is ever changing, and while Trump and his supporters may slow it down, but they won't stop it. The politics of resentment, fear, and rage is an acute exacerbation of the change process. The "treatment" for it is steady, firm opposition and mobilizing rationality at the polls.
5
This was a brilliant, almost fully comprehensive, critique of the Trump presidency. Kudos to the editors.
However, it did not delve into the more terrifying aspects of this presidency which are that Mr. Trump has serious cognitive issues ---- odd logic, simple vocabulary, erraticism, obsessiveness, volatility, confused wanderings, incoherent sentences, poor comprehension, poor judgment, impulsivity, rambling thoughts, non sequiturs, paranoia, repetitiveness, repeated lying, forgetfulness and attention deficit.
Anyone who has seen a loved one decline into senility can spot these early signs. This is likely why Ivanka and Jared are in the White House.
His underlying narcissism, racism, vindictiveness and authoritarianism added to his dementia are a frightening mix in a president --- a person with the power to start a nuclear holocaust. Besides our democracy, we and the entire world are in deep danger.
How much more damage will be done by Trump before GOP leaders summon the moral courage to act in the best interests of the country and the world?
However, it did not delve into the more terrifying aspects of this presidency which are that Mr. Trump has serious cognitive issues ---- odd logic, simple vocabulary, erraticism, obsessiveness, volatility, confused wanderings, incoherent sentences, poor comprehension, poor judgment, impulsivity, rambling thoughts, non sequiturs, paranoia, repetitiveness, repeated lying, forgetfulness and attention deficit.
Anyone who has seen a loved one decline into senility can spot these early signs. This is likely why Ivanka and Jared are in the White House.
His underlying narcissism, racism, vindictiveness and authoritarianism added to his dementia are a frightening mix in a president --- a person with the power to start a nuclear holocaust. Besides our democracy, we and the entire world are in deep danger.
How much more damage will be done by Trump before GOP leaders summon the moral courage to act in the best interests of the country and the world?
7
Absolutely!!! I've been saying for months now all the signs you mention point to Trump exhibits full-on dementia.
If one looks at his interviews from 20 yrs ago, the verbal and cognitive decline he exhibits today is striking.
Very scary situation indeed, heck, when my mother exhibited less signs of dementia she wasn't even allowed to drive a car anymore, no less run the 'most powerful nation on earth' have a finger on the nuclear button!!!
God help us.
If one looks at his interviews from 20 yrs ago, the verbal and cognitive decline he exhibits today is striking.
Very scary situation indeed, heck, when my mother exhibited less signs of dementia she wasn't even allowed to drive a car anymore, no less run the 'most powerful nation on earth' have a finger on the nuclear button!!!
God help us.
If the Congressional Republicans and their donor/puppet-masters refuse to act, what'll it take - a National Strike?
Hmmmmm ...
2
There is no doubt that President Trump is “volatile” and could do a much better job. But an important question is: is the liberal media factually describing what is happening, which is its job, or is the media making things worse by biased reporting, with exaggerated, and sometimes frankly false headlines and statements.
Here are several examples.
Several weeks ago, the Times published an article describing a Justice Dept. personnel memo; which led with a sentence indicating the DOJ’s object was a new investigation to protect “whites.” Much of the liberal media followed this theme, an example of “pack journalism.” In fact, it appears the DOJ was re-opening an old investigation regarding potential discrimination against Asian-Americans.
A few days ago, the Times published an opinion piece, the thesis of which was that free speech should be restricted, which claimed that “states are considering laws that forgive motorists who drive into protesters.” I doubt this is true, and given the tragedy in Charlottesville, it is an inflammatory claim.
The Times has frequently reported that Trump “defended” white supremacists and neo-Nazis. But did he? Trump failed to disavow these groups, a major failure of judgement. But did he “defend” them, which implies endorsing them, or did he simply say that both sides shared blame in the recent violence? Judging from videos of the illegal and dangerous mob vandalism in Durham, there really is blame due on both sides.
Here are several examples.
Several weeks ago, the Times published an article describing a Justice Dept. personnel memo; which led with a sentence indicating the DOJ’s object was a new investigation to protect “whites.” Much of the liberal media followed this theme, an example of “pack journalism.” In fact, it appears the DOJ was re-opening an old investigation regarding potential discrimination against Asian-Americans.
A few days ago, the Times published an opinion piece, the thesis of which was that free speech should be restricted, which claimed that “states are considering laws that forgive motorists who drive into protesters.” I doubt this is true, and given the tragedy in Charlottesville, it is an inflammatory claim.
The Times has frequently reported that Trump “defended” white supremacists and neo-Nazis. But did he? Trump failed to disavow these groups, a major failure of judgement. But did he “defend” them, which implies endorsing them, or did he simply say that both sides shared blame in the recent violence? Judging from videos of the illegal and dangerous mob vandalism in Durham, there really is blame due on both sides.
2
Where were the "fine people" Trump was referring to at the Friday night racist Tiki Torch march? Going on the offensive kind of violence should never be condoned, but what about self defense against violence being done to yourself or others? I think we really need to separate the two as being totally different.
In his role as president he is a complete failure.
In his role as useful idiot for the GOP he shines every day.
Any of his tweets causes a Pavlovian reaction of the media, stunned politicians, people all over the world, and of course his base. Meanwhile, the deconstruction work furtively continues. Unless the collusion investigation yields sound proof, there is very little hope to get rid of him early.
In his role as useful idiot for the GOP he shines every day.
Any of his tweets causes a Pavlovian reaction of the media, stunned politicians, people all over the world, and of course his base. Meanwhile, the deconstruction work furtively continues. Unless the collusion investigation yields sound proof, there is very little hope to get rid of him early.
5
Trump is the president of Republican party and Republicans. Without their cultural and operational support, Trump can't stay in power more than a few days. Alt-right, nazis, etc. are just distractions designed for non-Trump supporters. Don't waste your time to analyze Trump's stances. Focus on Republican economic and ideological agenda which is happening as we speak.
3
We must remove this president from office in order to remove his appointments from running their departments to the detriment and perhaps even destruction of the United States. The military has quietly surrounded and disarmed Trump from a lot of egregious behavior which he and Steve Bannon intended to carry out. But his appointments remain as destruction, vicious, greedy idiots and traitors to common decency and common sense. It's time to wind this charade down. If the Republican Party wants a future in the United States it needs to identify 50% of its members who will vote with Demorats to remove Trump from office. Trump has already committed in public enough high crimes and misdemeanors to justify his removal. I fault democrats life Congressman Schiff of California for saying be patient, let the investigation take its course. That has to do solely with Russian collaboration and or collusion in our election and is almost irreleant. Congressman Shiff is naive in the extreme - what the EPA alone is doing is destroying our national parks and speeding up global warming. That is a crime against humanity and nature - what's worse than that?
3
At least in Germanic countries when Nazism is discussed most people (especially older ones) know what they are passionately referring to. Not so here. People in these forums are highly opinionated and truly clueless about Nazis. After living in these countries for two decades, I'm still trying to understand the conditions and mentality that resulted in Nazism. One thing for sure, the right wing fringe in question in America are NOT Nazis (even if they pretend to be.) These tiny, loose groups of flagrantly anti-social individuals seem to be used by our far more organized, media establishment to catalyze public opinion in a particular direction that happens to consolidate their own, unelected position of power - and this is more Goebbels-like and troublesome, to me.
I believe that everyone participating in forums, like this one, should be able to present and defend the opposing side's views - just like for a high school debate class. It should be a prerequisite! The commenters here are SO far from this - and I believe this is the result of editorial decisions, like the highly controllable, self-reinforcing format of this electronic forum.
I believe that everyone participating in forums, like this one, should be able to present and defend the opposing side's views - just like for a high school debate class. It should be a prerequisite! The commenters here are SO far from this - and I believe this is the result of editorial decisions, like the highly controllable, self-reinforcing format of this electronic forum.
2
This is not going to end well.
3
there are no good nazis. the president's inability to say that makes him unfit to serve. impeach now.
2
American people expect Trump to sing "Stand by Me".
Instead he sing "Stand by Klan".
Instead he sing "Stand by Klan".
1
Try to hold on until Trump destroys the GOP.
He's almost there, not far to go.
Just look at all their cowards who fear losing the racist vote.
He's almost there, not far to go.
Just look at all their cowards who fear losing the racist vote.
1
"The Failed Trump Presidency." There, I fixed it for you.
2
Unless we discover serious effects of Russian voter tampering or republican voter suppression through gerrymandering, voter restrictions, etc. our country is left with the profound conclusion that a large enough group of voters have brought this series of unfortunate, dangerous events to into being. This is a disaster that can happen again if our system of political campaigns and elections continue in the manner of 2016. Too many voters appear vulnerable to the powerful propagandist onslaught of our balkanized media. This is a pandora's box that will be hard to close.
The title "The Failing Trump Presidency" makes a false assumption, that there was success before failure. Trump was a failure before he became president!
Sadly, many people were fooled by the chief fool!
Sadly, many people were fooled by the chief fool!
2
"We should take the keys from dad. He shouldn't be driving anymore."
"He stopped driving at night and only takes mom to the grocery store. He drives around the neighborhood, nowhere else. None of his friends are around anymore and he needs to do something with his time."
Headline: "AMERICAN CARNAGE - Local Man Crashes into Grocery Store; Shoppers Injured - Police Say He Should Not Have Been Behind the Wheel"
The GOP and his family need to take away trump's keys. And Twitter account. Now.
"He stopped driving at night and only takes mom to the grocery store. He drives around the neighborhood, nowhere else. None of his friends are around anymore and he needs to do something with his time."
Headline: "AMERICAN CARNAGE - Local Man Crashes into Grocery Store; Shoppers Injured - Police Say He Should Not Have Been Behind the Wheel"
The GOP and his family need to take away trump's keys. And Twitter account. Now.
2
We wouldn't be in this abysmal place in 2017 - in our embarrassing country that is more destructive than constructive with respect to anything that matters to the majority of ordinary Americans - were it not for Fox News (launched 1996) and Citizens United v FEC (2010). Dark money ruins minds and is digging deeper. It feels futile to fight behemoths, but I'm going to try.
3
I couldn't agree more about Fox News. I've thought so for many years. Go back to the early days of that network and its raving, raging key players like Rush Limbaugh, and you can trace the beginning of the Dumbing Down of America. I believe this network is to blame for much of the mindset that took hold, grew, and eventually elected a total dingbat to the White House.
1
Even better than Citizen's United, you should consider fighting Democratic Party rules for closed and semi-closed primaries that exclude many Independents and others from voting for Democrats - especially those that are popular across the country, but may not be party favorites. Bernie would be president now, instead of Trump!
Also, you might consider pushing for 'pre-election and election day media silence'. If the mainstream media lost its role as "kingmaker" to our elections we would see more non-establishment candidates AND western time zone states, which are heavily Democratic, could actually participate in the election process. Check out this link: http://aceproject.org/epic-en/CDMap?question=ME062
Also, you might consider pushing for 'pre-election and election day media silence'. If the mainstream media lost its role as "kingmaker" to our elections we would see more non-establishment candidates AND western time zone states, which are heavily Democratic, could actually participate in the election process. Check out this link: http://aceproject.org/epic-en/CDMap?question=ME062
1
The Republican Party suffers from a gross lack of principled leaders and Congressional representatives. While I don't agree with some of their policies, I admire their sense of duty and sense of right and wrong on the following list. They include Ohio Governor John Kasich, Senators Mc Cain, Flake, Collins, Murkowski and, sadly, few others.
In the end, the GOP put this dictator wannabe in power and they are responsible for removing him from office as to wait for the next election would be disastrous. A little over 19% of the total population of this country elected Trump. Germany never gave Hitler, or his party, a popular vote victory either. We know the consequences of that outcome.
Trump is, and has been, concerned only with himself. He is amoral and without regret for the millions upon millions of investor dollars he has lost through bankruptcy filings. He continue to ignore the norms of civilized behavior. Nothing will change him; he must be removed from office via the 25th amendment or impeachment/trial. The future of our democracy is at grave risk.
In the end, the GOP put this dictator wannabe in power and they are responsible for removing him from office as to wait for the next election would be disastrous. A little over 19% of the total population of this country elected Trump. Germany never gave Hitler, or his party, a popular vote victory either. We know the consequences of that outcome.
Trump is, and has been, concerned only with himself. He is amoral and without regret for the millions upon millions of investor dollars he has lost through bankruptcy filings. He continue to ignore the norms of civilized behavior. Nothing will change him; he must be removed from office via the 25th amendment or impeachment/trial. The future of our democracy is at grave risk.
3
Seems I've read this before.
Sixty-two percent of respondents to an NPR/PBS Newshour/Marist University poll conducted after the violence in Charlottesville said that statues honoring leaders of the Confederacy should remain standing as historical symbols rather than be removed.
Many of those among the Charlottesville demonstrators were decent people who supported keeping the Lee statue. That's what Trump said. Those who think Trump was supporting Nazis are out of touch with reality. That includes the Editorial Board.
Many of those among the Charlottesville demonstrators were decent people who supported keeping the Lee statue. That's what Trump said. Those who think Trump was supporting Nazis are out of touch with reality. That includes the Editorial Board.
1
You sound like the Germans who said: "my parents were members of the Nazi party, but they didn't burn anything up. They just attended the meetings."
Honestly, can you hear yourselves? "I only threw one bottle thru a window while the crowd around me killed. And I only threw it cuz I don't like that business!" You hang with Nazis and the KKK, you're going to get what you get. We draw the line here, 'fine people'.
Honestly, can you hear yourselves? "I only threw one bottle thru a window while the crowd around me killed. And I only threw it cuz I don't like that business!" You hang with Nazis and the KKK, you're going to get what you get. We draw the line here, 'fine people'.
The rabbis of the Mishnah stated: The face of the generation will be like the face of a dog (Mishnah Sotah 9:15) or in other words, you get what you and your generation deserve (and sorry for the non-pc attitude to canines here ).
You elected him.
You elected him.
1
a core problem, illustrated by the article in this issue, "to supporters, Trump's bad week seems just fine," is Trump approval base of 35% represents real americans who support his crazy antics and policies. Disproportionately republicans, 70% of whom approve of Trump's performance, it traps the republican party in fealty to ignorant people and bigoted people (not all of whom are the same).
So, at the office, I've run into one person who's said the EPA is evil, and all their regulations need to be dismantled, another who said Trump's view that both sides in Charlottesville were equally to blame was right on. That you had leftists with baseball bats itching for a fight with Nazis. and only the 'mainstream media' distorted the reality. I don't think he saw the video of the protesters shouting at the white supremacists (some of the protesters were wearing helmets, others chains) who were chanting 'Jews will not replace us' and other odious themes. I don't think the 'antifas' have the right approach and in some cases they may have been violent - something inexcusable - but I didn't see any "very fine people" among the white supremacist paraders last saturday. And 35% of americans do.
So, at the office, I've run into one person who's said the EPA is evil, and all their regulations need to be dismantled, another who said Trump's view that both sides in Charlottesville were equally to blame was right on. That you had leftists with baseball bats itching for a fight with Nazis. and only the 'mainstream media' distorted the reality. I don't think he saw the video of the protesters shouting at the white supremacists (some of the protesters were wearing helmets, others chains) who were chanting 'Jews will not replace us' and other odious themes. I don't think the 'antifas' have the right approach and in some cases they may have been violent - something inexcusable - but I didn't see any "very fine people" among the white supremacist paraders last saturday. And 35% of americans do.
Apparently Rohrabacher has been to see Assange along with Charles Johnson, the cast of flotsum and jetsam never ends (ON OUR TAX DOLLAR). Trump is a traitor, there are no other words. He's been laundering money for Putin for years, the whole world knows it. He belongs in prison not in the white house.
If you have a conscious, you know it too.
If you have a conscious, you know it too.
1
President Trump equates perseverance with history, which gives a gloss of legitimacy to the abhorrent. I read this quote in a review of John Quincy Adams' diaries, from a conversation with Senator John Calhoun, leader of pro-slavery forces, that occurred in March 1820. Quincy had already observed that, during the Constitutional Convention, the delegates from southern states promised to abolish slavery but had simply failed to do so.
The core syllogism that black people are not fully human never really changes, but neither does the grace afforded those who would simply resolve to change their own heart and watch the mind follow.
Adams is walking with John Calhoun, leading voice of the pro-slavery interests. Adams makes it clear he likes Calhoun while disagreeing with him and knows him to be a first-rate intellect, which is why they are having this conversation:
Calhoun, who was from South Carolina, told him "In the Southern Country whenever [the principles of the Declaration of Independence] are mentioned they are always understood as applying only to white men. Slavery...was the best guarantee to equality among the whites.
"...Slave holders...look down upon the simplicity of a yankey's manner because he has no habits of overbearing like theirs, and cannot treat negroes like dogs."
Let me be clear, I find Calhoun's arguments to be repugnant, but his willingness to be honest useful.
The core syllogism that black people are not fully human never really changes, but neither does the grace afforded those who would simply resolve to change their own heart and watch the mind follow.
Adams is walking with John Calhoun, leading voice of the pro-slavery interests. Adams makes it clear he likes Calhoun while disagreeing with him and knows him to be a first-rate intellect, which is why they are having this conversation:
Calhoun, who was from South Carolina, told him "In the Southern Country whenever [the principles of the Declaration of Independence] are mentioned they are always understood as applying only to white men. Slavery...was the best guarantee to equality among the whites.
"...Slave holders...look down upon the simplicity of a yankey's manner because he has no habits of overbearing like theirs, and cannot treat negroes like dogs."
Let me be clear, I find Calhoun's arguments to be repugnant, but his willingness to be honest useful.
2
The divider in chief or the captain of chaos (and he loves it).
Trump is our Milli Vanilli president. GIrl, you know it's true.
3
1
The title of the editorial has a bit of irony to it. Trump has called everyone else failing. "The failing New York Times ..." Projection is defense that can come back to bite you. Mr. Trump is bitten by his own words and works.
1
Has anyone noticed that none of his children have been seen nor heard from in over a week? Nada, zilch, nothing......
1
The editorial quite properly focuses on Trump's efforts to use his office as a weapon to attack anyone who criticizes him or opposes any part of his chaotic agenda, even if the critics belong to his own political party. Instead of serving as a symbol of unity in times of crisis, Trump actually promotes conflict in order to remain at the center of public attention.
But a second activity of Trump, which also debases the presidency and contributes to the failure of his administration, involves his effort to convert the Oval Office into a marketplace where he can hawk his products to those seeking influence with the federal government. Thus, at the end of his press conference on Tuesday, in which he had given aid and comfort to Nazis and Kluxers, Trump reminded the flabbergasted reporters that he had a winery in Charlottesville. All he omitted, to complete this surreal picture of the huckster president, was an offer of free drinks all around.
No one can accuse our president of a lack of transparency. He never misses an opportunity to make his priorities clear.
But a second activity of Trump, which also debases the presidency and contributes to the failure of his administration, involves his effort to convert the Oval Office into a marketplace where he can hawk his products to those seeking influence with the federal government. Thus, at the end of his press conference on Tuesday, in which he had given aid and comfort to Nazis and Kluxers, Trump reminded the flabbergasted reporters that he had a winery in Charlottesville. All he omitted, to complete this surreal picture of the huckster president, was an offer of free drinks all around.
No one can accuse our president of a lack of transparency. He never misses an opportunity to make his priorities clear.
2
Mainstream Americans are better in every way than their useless, incompetent president.
What options do Americans have? Not many, at least until after the 2018 election.
Did you not see the protest marches? Google "resist". You live on Long Island! There are many nonviolent options. Voting in 2018 is important, but get busy between now and then.
Otherwise, you're just whining.
Otherwise, you're just whining.
Lots of high-fives in the halls of the Kremlin, and the trailer parks & country clubs of the U.S. Such strange bedfellows! "Sad!"
3
Putin's older brother died as a child in the Nazi siege of Leningrad. I can just imagine Putin hearing this nonsense about how there are two sides there. For the Soviet peoples this was about their most basic survival. You don't try to be even-handed about Nazism with Russians who lost their families in the war.
4
The Black Lives Matter thugs attacked the Nazis. (check the news videos.) Sorry but even Nazis are entitled to freedom speech.
1
I'm sorry that Putin's brother died in the Nazi siege. I don't know his views on racism - and I don't really care because the fact still remains that Putin has done an excellent job of subverting American politics with his overt - and covert - support of donald trump.
Trump's ignorant, self-aggrandizing, preening relationship with his generals is frighteningly reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Let's hope our generals are better and braver people than Hitler's generals were.
4
Hillary won the popular vote by more than 3 million. Nevertheless, a clearly incompetent TV clown, Donald Trump was put in the Oval Office. Trump is a symptom of our broken, corrupt electoral system.
Donald Trump is following the dictator's playbook: racial hater-mongering, xenophobia, complete disregard for the law, attacking the media as liars for reporting the truth. There is nothing new here it has all been tried and done before. The Anne Frank Center has even compared Trump's behavior to that of Adolf Hitler. The ultra wealthy right wing extremists- Kochs, Mercers, Murdochs.... who have taken over our country through control of Congress and the White House are happy to have Trump use straight out racism to attract the voting base they desperately need to stay in power.
The critical lesson we learned from the last election, despite Comey, the Russians, and massive voter suppression in Republican-run states is that forty million voters didn't bother going to the polls, To remove the threat to our democracy we must remove Trump and the Republican Party from control of our government and the GOP=distorted electoral process. This means turning out the vote starting in 2018.
Donald Trump is following the dictator's playbook: racial hater-mongering, xenophobia, complete disregard for the law, attacking the media as liars for reporting the truth. There is nothing new here it has all been tried and done before. The Anne Frank Center has even compared Trump's behavior to that of Adolf Hitler. The ultra wealthy right wing extremists- Kochs, Mercers, Murdochs.... who have taken over our country through control of Congress and the White House are happy to have Trump use straight out racism to attract the voting base they desperately need to stay in power.
The critical lesson we learned from the last election, despite Comey, the Russians, and massive voter suppression in Republican-run states is that forty million voters didn't bother going to the polls, To remove the threat to our democracy we must remove Trump and the Republican Party from control of our government and the GOP=distorted electoral process. This means turning out the vote starting in 2018.
7
Yes- the Republicans are the problem. Let's bring back Obama and his lectures to us that worsened the racial divide, or Hiliary who is above the law, and Bernie and Liz who are modern day Robin Hoods who will take everything from those who earn it and give it to those who do not.
Please. What we need is moderation.
Please. What we need is moderation.
A famous conservative once said: "Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue". He was right for once in his life.
1
This "President" does not know enough to Care or care enough to Know.
His chronic fabricating and blatant Lying are simply initial symptoms of
Sociopathic Personality Disorder. Either He is deserving of Treatment....
or We, the People Are
His chronic fabricating and blatant Lying are simply initial symptoms of
Sociopathic Personality Disorder. Either He is deserving of Treatment....
or We, the People Are
The contingent of powers that be is already gathering to go to the oval office and demand "Go." Believe it. Pence is also a fascist moron, but he's quiet. When that's done, the Democrats can start looking for more dirt on Pence, of a piece with his paying his mortgage out of his campaign funds. I'm sure he intended to pay his taxes on that even before he was caught. Right. He's as dirty as any of them. The right rocks just need to be flipped over. Start flipping, because Mr. Christian is on deck.
Pence's silence has been deafening, but you're right -- he's just as bad -- if not worse (if that's even possible) than dirty donnie. Not sure if there has ever been a precedent for this, where both prez AND vice-prez are toxic.
Nixon-Agnew were a toxic duo.
It seems we have become a "banana republic". Thank God that our generals, educated in the military and fine universities, appear to be loyal to the nation. Hopefully they will buffer this ignorant psychopath until impeachment. We still need republicans loyal to their country instead of their party.
3
Why such a limp headline? The Trump presidency is not simply "failing"; it is in its death throes. It crossed over the line last week into clear focus as to what it truly is (& perhaps always was under this man): namely, a chaotic, pathetic, already vacated office by a corrupt nationalist bigot not too far removed from his German Hitlerian heritage.
From a longer range perspective, the office of the US Presidency has been dragged, gasping, into the gutter. It remains to be seen how Americans will solve the problem they have created for themselves, their allies & the rest of the globe - this problem, which has now been described over & over, thanks to an attentive media. Now though, let's be as just as attentive to solutions, options & choices.
From a longer range perspective, the office of the US Presidency has been dragged, gasping, into the gutter. It remains to be seen how Americans will solve the problem they have created for themselves, their allies & the rest of the globe - this problem, which has now been described over & over, thanks to an attentive media. Now though, let's be as just as attentive to solutions, options & choices.
1
Don't hold your breath. GOP senators and those in Congress have been loud in their criticism of donnie's words. But they've been deafeningly SILENT about the word "impeachment". Cockroaches still rule in D.C.
Just because yesterday's anti-fascist demonstrations went well and the Times editorial writers are at their most eloquent, we defenders of American values should not let our guard down. If we are lulled into complacency, we may not hear the cry of a Paul Revere of our time, "The nazis are coming, the nazis are coming."
3
Stop for a moment. Has there ever been an editorial like this in the NY Times before? Such a commentary on the president of the United States? Mr Trump, gain an iota of respect, admit you're the wrong man for the job and kindly resign.
4
Ha! Like THAT'S going to happen! He'll have to be dragged out, screaming obscenities.
Donald J. Trump certainly undermines the theory of White Supremacy.
7
The only work being done in this administration is by those trying to contain and control this unfit and uneducated person in the White House from destroying us all physically and destroying America as a leader.
2
Mr. Trump is not failing. He has failed. The tense is important. His short term in office has been nothing but turmoil for the nation. He is no leader; he is a bully and a braggart. We do not allow Nazis to parade our streets. Mr. Trump should have known that simple fact and filled his announcement with condemnation. Instead he pandered to his "base"; the Nazis and bigots of our world. Mr. Trump does not lead Americans anywhere. He has failed.
2
Racism, hatred, cruelty, and corruption are all revealed by Donald Trump as the Republican policy of governance. Neo-Nazis, Klan, alt-right have long been the GOP equal to the Democrats and to Liberals. The opponents to Nazis are not "alt-left" but Americans who fought with our allies to crush Nazism and all it encompasses. The false equivalence of Nazis and liberals made by Trump enables Americans to see the shallow stupidity of the GOP. World War II was not a battle against our equals, it was a battle for humanity. Nazis can't be compared to civil rights demonstrators nor can they be guaranteed the rights of our democracy because the Nazi agenda is to destroy democracy. Trump does not understand democracy and cannot recognize the clear threat that Nazis and the KKK represent. He is not intelligent enough, does not have the character or morality to perceive his role in office or who the enemies of our country and our democracy. When the "camouflage" is torn away it's not just Trump who stands naked, but the GOP.
1
Good piece. He is going to bring down the disgraceful, cowardly and hateful GOP with him.
1
"...Pershing...[killed] dozens of... [filipino muslims] with bullets dipped in pigs’ blood, a strategy Mr. Trump thinks worthy of emulation." 220,000 filipinos died fighting for their independence after the U.S. claimed ownership of their lands. The filipinos were guerrilla fighters: they had a habit of attacking the American soldiers and then melting into the jungle before reinforcements arrived. So the Americans burnt their crops and watched their women and children starve, and that's where most of the casualty count came from. Having perfected this strategy on the American Indians, Pershing brought it to the Philippines.
The President is supposed to be combating terrorism, not embracing it.
The President is supposed to be combating terrorism, not embracing it.
1
This editorial was so well written. Clear, simple with passion.
I don't know what it will take to find a shred of moral fiber in Ryan, McConnell and their ilk. If Nazi's don't do it I don't think anything can.
My dad's health and well-being were lost ww2. He struggled with undiagnosed PSTD and depression for most of his life. That is what he gave and what our family gave to our country. These legislators are spitting on his grave. I despise them.
I don't know what it will take to find a shred of moral fiber in Ryan, McConnell and their ilk. If Nazi's don't do it I don't think anything can.
My dad's health and well-being were lost ww2. He struggled with undiagnosed PSTD and depression for most of his life. That is what he gave and what our family gave to our country. These legislators are spitting on his grave. I despise them.
11
Really? Do you know this statement is true or simply want it to be true, "urged by some of his advisers and family members to summon the majesty and moral authority of the presidency to heal the wounds of last weekend’s neo-Nazi violence in Charlottesville?" Its time to stop excusing anyone associated with this presidency. To me it's clear, Gen. Kelly, Hr McMasters, Ivanka and Jared, Gary Cohen, and the whole corrupt lot of them suffer from Carmella Soprano syndrome. In the HBO show Carmella didn't' commit the crimes, but she willfully feigned ignorance of what Tony did, and she sure as hell knew Tony was a crime boss who was up to no good. She lavishly lived off his ill gotten gains.
The non family members involved in this presidency should be ashamed of themselves for empowering this mad president. At least Ivanka and Jared are well paid for casting a blind eye on Trumps grosser behaviors. The rest of the cabinet members should not be excused of bad intent.
The non family members involved in this presidency should be ashamed of themselves for empowering this mad president. At least Ivanka and Jared are well paid for casting a blind eye on Trumps grosser behaviors. The rest of the cabinet members should not be excused of bad intent.
5
Hard to tell if the presidency is failing. The mainstream media has had a campaign from before day one to attack attrack attack and block out news. (This has been 10x their attacks on Reagan.) Look at the past week's news cycle. Trump condemed violence and defended freedom of speech - much of the left including the mainstream media continueously tries to shut it down - and the media falsely reported Trump defended Nazis. (The left who claim to love diversity has no tolerance for diversity of thought.)
P.S. Good thing to know that for so many black communities such as that in Baltimore the problems of poverty, violence (particulary black on black) drug addiction, etc..have been solved and the cities' Democratic leaders are working on the more pressing problem of statues of confederate soldiers who have been dead ~ 150 years.
P.S. Good thing to know that for so many black communities such as that in Baltimore the problems of poverty, violence (particulary black on black) drug addiction, etc..have been solved and the cities' Democratic leaders are working on the more pressing problem of statues of confederate soldiers who have been dead ~ 150 years.
1
Oh for heavens sake. How anyone could think that "the mainstream media" has been any harder on Ronald Reagan or Donald Trump than they were on Bill Clinton is beyond me. And they were by and large fair to Obama, which was a relief considering what the far right did to him--Donald Trump fueling the ridiculous birther lie right from the start. Donald Trump deserves every insult he gets.
OK, NYT .... Now that you've vented and ranted, recapitulating what's painfully obvious for the most part, what are you going to do about it? Where is your call to action?
Where is your commitment to act for change -- especially in the absence of any likely action coming from the McConnell & Ryan camps in the DC Swamp de Lobbyists?
With Bannon going back to Breitbart to further mobilize his anti-American agenda, might it not be time for the NYT to launch a pre-emptive counter-offensive?
What resources are you willing to commit to overturn the Trump/Pence/McConnell/Ryan "crimes" (both moral and legal) against the USA?
Where is your commitment to act for change -- especially in the absence of any likely action coming from the McConnell & Ryan camps in the DC Swamp de Lobbyists?
With Bannon going back to Breitbart to further mobilize his anti-American agenda, might it not be time for the NYT to launch a pre-emptive counter-offensive?
What resources are you willing to commit to overturn the Trump/Pence/McConnell/Ryan "crimes" (both moral and legal) against the USA?
2
Most of the writers and the editorial here see Trump defending Nazism. But in a way he represents that movement, which full title ran Nationalsozialistische Deutsche Arbieter Partei, i.e. the National Socialist German Worker's Party.
Switch the idea to the US, and you get an political ideology based in 1) jobs for the working classes coupled with 2) nationalism based on racial solidarity (specifically whites excluding others—the socialism in the title is not economic in the sense we usually mean). For German Nazi's the exclusion aimed mainly at Jews (with other "races" thrown in); in the Trump's version it's Latinos and blacks.
What then in "America First" and an appeal to white working-class American's whose jobs were "taken" by Wall Street doesn't fit? I think it too extreme to say that Trump expressed clearly in his campaign and expresses now a mild form of Nazism.
Switch the idea to the US, and you get an political ideology based in 1) jobs for the working classes coupled with 2) nationalism based on racial solidarity (specifically whites excluding others—the socialism in the title is not economic in the sense we usually mean). For German Nazi's the exclusion aimed mainly at Jews (with other "races" thrown in); in the Trump's version it's Latinos and blacks.
What then in "America First" and an appeal to white working-class American's whose jobs were "taken" by Wall Street doesn't fit? I think it too extreme to say that Trump expressed clearly in his campaign and expresses now a mild form of Nazism.
3
Everything trump has done or said has to be taken in context of his innuendo and denials about his white supremacy leanings as he demonized black people, Obama, Mexicans, Muslims, poor people, old people, women, environmentalists, earth savers, his own party if they don't agree with everything he says and anyone with half a brain. Now he appears to have progressed eventually to shooting himself in the foot claiming....My toe will do wonders for me laying over there all bloody. It's all "your" fault you know.
3
We know Trump is an idiot- The question is what are the Democrats going to do about it in 2018 and 2020?
Everyone PLEASE- pay heed to what Bannon said the other day:
“the longer they talk about identity politics, I got ’em. I want them to talk about racism every day. If the left is focused on race and identity, and we go with economic nationalism, we can crush the Democrats.”
Like it or not he's right!
So DNC, Pelosi, Schumer et al-- You'd better come up with a unified, simple platform and get the message out! You are running out of time! Farm to table food for the homeless, free college for undocumented immigrants and better movie roles for Transgender actors are noble concerns- but will not win elections.. not this time.
If you are serious about winning- then campaign like Republicans! It's your only hope.
Everyone PLEASE- pay heed to what Bannon said the other day:
“the longer they talk about identity politics, I got ’em. I want them to talk about racism every day. If the left is focused on race and identity, and we go with economic nationalism, we can crush the Democrats.”
Like it or not he's right!
So DNC, Pelosi, Schumer et al-- You'd better come up with a unified, simple platform and get the message out! You are running out of time! Farm to table food for the homeless, free college for undocumented immigrants and better movie roles for Transgender actors are noble concerns- but will not win elections.. not this time.
If you are serious about winning- then campaign like Republicans! It's your only hope.
5
This may be a theory odder than some of the insane garbage that has poured out of Trump’s mouth, but I’ve wondered ……
Trump has always been a phony windbag but his tilt towards overt racism and fundamental Christianity seems relatively new. His father was associated with the KKK. His daughter married a Jew. She was always his special pet, and losing her to another man must have been hard. I’ve wondered if her change of faith and his loss of control disturbed him in a deep way that he has never acknowledged, even to himself, but now it’s coming out in his actions.
Or maybe a loose cannon has just gotten crazier with age.
Trump has always been a phony windbag but his tilt towards overt racism and fundamental Christianity seems relatively new. His father was associated with the KKK. His daughter married a Jew. She was always his special pet, and losing her to another man must have been hard. I’ve wondered if her change of faith and his loss of control disturbed him in a deep way that he has never acknowledged, even to himself, but now it’s coming out in his actions.
Or maybe a loose cannon has just gotten crazier with age.
1
Donald Trump needs to resign!
He won't!
Mueller is our only hope!!!'
He won't!
Mueller is our only hope!!!'
1
Trump is counting on more, jobs, jobs, jobs and other good news.
My fear is that if the economy continues to improve, Trump will be unstoppable. If the stock market and other indicators drop sharply enough. then Trump might be stopped. Money talks...
It's the economy, stupid!
==================
My fear is that if the economy continues to improve, Trump will be unstoppable. If the stock market and other indicators drop sharply enough. then Trump might be stopped. Money talks...
It's the economy, stupid!
==================
1
It's the economy. Yes and no. It's frightening to know that Hitler was very successful in bringing down unemployment for the Germans at the beginning. The fascist had some initial economic success.
Economy heating up, North Korea cooling off. China working with us, Russia staying quiet. Not too bad, unless you read this paper; then, prepare for the apocalypse!
Trump is directly responsible for the popularization of hate speech and acts. "I'd like to punch him in the face..." "You know what they used to do to guys like that…? They'd be carried out on a stretcher, folks." "…If she gets to pick her judges, nothing you can do, folks…Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is.” "I know nothing about David Duke. I know nothing about white supremacists." Mussolini retweets. "Have I been a good messenger?"
The guy is a global menace. We've got to get him out of office. Last week he dared North Korea to start a nuclear war. Once he pushes the red button, "...nothing you can do, folks...Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is."
Who are the Americans who thought it’d be funny to burn down our house?
The guy is a global menace. We've got to get him out of office. Last week he dared North Korea to start a nuclear war. Once he pushes the red button, "...nothing you can do, folks...Although the Second Amendment people, maybe there is."
Who are the Americans who thought it’d be funny to burn down our house?
2
Because Boston does not allow open carry of weapons, you saw a diminished "Free Speech" group of protestors who needed their militia to parade with them so that they can utter hate speech. Without Trump at front and center, these Neo-Nazis and KKK would run away like rats abandoning a sinking ship.
Boston would no more allow these scoundrels to take over our streets than we allowed the British to tax us without representation. Massachusetts is the state where our independence is rooted; Trump knows not to have a rally here. Boston Strong means that we have zero tolerance for bigotry.
Boston would no more allow these scoundrels to take over our streets than we allowed the British to tax us without representation. Massachusetts is the state where our independence is rooted; Trump knows not to have a rally here. Boston Strong means that we have zero tolerance for bigotry.
7
Whoa thar, NYT's.
Mr. Trump never would have set foot on Pennsylvania Avenue, if not for the NYT's obsession with Senator Clinton's technology lapses.
At the end of the day, many adults over 50 have challenges with servers, networks, and why Adobe software needs to update every 45 minutes.
Mr. Trump never would have set foot on Pennsylvania Avenue, if not for the NYT's obsession with Senator Clinton's technology lapses.
At the end of the day, many adults over 50 have challenges with servers, networks, and why Adobe software needs to update every 45 minutes.
4
Trump is a failure as a businessman and as our president. He's not representing us, not allowing any work to get done, and he's not changing or maturing into the role. However, this country ought to have known better because we had one acting president: Ronald Reagan. Trump makes W and Reagan look like geniuses. The GOP will not do a thing unless Trump starts to endanger their chances of being re-elected or hanging onto the majority they have in Congress. And by then it will probably be too late.
I lost my job because of Trump. Others have or will. He's cutting funding or allowing the cutting of funds that keep people employed, help working Americans, and might help the country as it progresses through the 21st century. But the GOP is too in love with power to see that. Or they are too ignorant about how the rest of us live or worse, too self involved to care.
We are living in a post democratic country. By that I mean a country where our votes mean nothing and our voices mean nothing. But we did it to ourselves when we didn't vote, when we voted for who looked good versus who was competent, and when we decided that a blowhard would be a better president than a former senator, secretary of state, First Lady, and a widely praised hard worker whose name was Clinton. At least the GOP can't blame Clinton for the mess Trump and they have made together.
I lost my job because of Trump. Others have or will. He's cutting funding or allowing the cutting of funds that keep people employed, help working Americans, and might help the country as it progresses through the 21st century. But the GOP is too in love with power to see that. Or they are too ignorant about how the rest of us live or worse, too self involved to care.
We are living in a post democratic country. By that I mean a country where our votes mean nothing and our voices mean nothing. But we did it to ourselves when we didn't vote, when we voted for who looked good versus who was competent, and when we decided that a blowhard would be a better president than a former senator, secretary of state, First Lady, and a widely praised hard worker whose name was Clinton. At least the GOP can't blame Clinton for the mess Trump and they have made together.
4
Let's say we could create an all-white sector of the US, and anyone wanting to live in there could do so. Assume that this sector has all the material goods and services we have in the rest of the country. How would life be better in that situation? What could a Nazi have there that he can't have in our current, diverse, tolerant society?
This man is the man Vladimir wants in the place that he currently occupies. Vladimir wants the disruption of our institutions, traditions, and government, to make Russia great again, a world power. Watch the events from the point of view that Vladimir wants whatever is happening and it is quite clear that the investigation will show treason by this man, because he is an idiot in the true sense of the ancient Greeks. He seeks to satisfy himself without regard for community.
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
PROSECUTE RUSSIAGATE!
2
The failings of President Donald J. Trump go way beyond his misanthropy and wretchedness... has exposed how morally bankrupt/corrupt some U.S. citizens and our political systems are.
Donald Trump supporters elected him to make "America Great" again for them. Mr. Trump's candidacy was never about raising all boats, as David Duke reminded him in a tweet after Charlottesville's Neo-Nazi violent protest.
Donald Trump supporters elected him to make "America Great" again for them. Mr. Trump's candidacy was never about raising all boats, as David Duke reminded him in a tweet after Charlottesville's Neo-Nazi violent protest.
Flailing. There, fixed it for you.
3
Is there anything you've learned from your role in the Iraq invasion, in your role in the last election where you gave Trump wall to wall coverage, gave Sanders barely a mention and where even your support for Clinton was subsumed to your constant click bait pandering.
2
It would help if we could do something to define what words mean. What does Nazi mean? What makes something fascist? What is socialism? What is communism? And what do liberals and conservatives stand for?
At this point, those words have hidden meanings and those meanings confuse issues.
At this point, those words have hidden meanings and those meanings confuse issues.
Just get rid of him! Fire him! Impeach him ASAP!
No more words. Time for action!
No more words. Time for action!
3
PSYCHOPATHOLOGY 101: Psychopaths like Trump have only one M.O. Create chaos in support of their desire to harm others. They get away with it for a variety of reasons having to do with the fact that most of us live by a moral code. Since they have no ho or code, ours can be messed with for quite a long time. But psychopaths don't know enough to quit while they are ahead. Eventually they go too far, such as Trump's support of those "fine" Nazis. Why do they not see that this strategy will fail? Because they crave the thrill of emotionally torturing others. Like the scorpion of the Aesop fable.
1
After eight years of being enraged by the fact that a black man became president, his supporters will continue to make excuses and ignore his failures as long as he continues to be white.
And the fact that he has now shown himself to be a white suprematist sympathizer is an added bonus in their twisted minds.
And the fact that he has now shown himself to be a white suprematist sympathizer is an added bonus in their twisted minds.
2
You don't treat a growing cancer with herbal medicine, aspirin or other drugs to remove a headache, you surgically cut it out. It is time the Trump cancer is removed from the nation' s body. He MUST be impeached and voted out of office. HEAR THIS SPINELESS REPUBLICANS!!!!
5
Just who does this chump think he is? The President?
1
He _is_ the president.
He thinks he's king.
He thinks he's king.
3
I disagree with everything TRump has done but that does not mean his presidency has failed.
He put an ultra conservative [Gorsuch] on the Court.
He appointed DeVos as Secy of Education whose goal is to destroy public education.
He appointed Pruit as EPA administrator. Pruitt is acting to gut environmental regulations. People will have the freedom to breathe dirtier air and water while companies will make higher profits because they will not have to pay for pollution controls.
He has appointed Price as HHS SEcy whose goal is to destroy Medicare Medicaid and Social Security.
Trump's economic advisor, Cohn, does not believe that financial advisors should have the obligation to put their clients' interest first above the advisors' commissions.
Again distinguish between whether you agree with Trump's agenda from what damage he has done.
His supporters agree with agenda and believe on those grounds that his presidency has been successful.
So what if he defends KKK / Nazi's.
That is a small price to pay to enact Trump's diseased agenda.
He put an ultra conservative [Gorsuch] on the Court.
He appointed DeVos as Secy of Education whose goal is to destroy public education.
He appointed Pruit as EPA administrator. Pruitt is acting to gut environmental regulations. People will have the freedom to breathe dirtier air and water while companies will make higher profits because they will not have to pay for pollution controls.
He has appointed Price as HHS SEcy whose goal is to destroy Medicare Medicaid and Social Security.
Trump's economic advisor, Cohn, does not believe that financial advisors should have the obligation to put their clients' interest first above the advisors' commissions.
Again distinguish between whether you agree with Trump's agenda from what damage he has done.
His supporters agree with agenda and believe on those grounds that his presidency has been successful.
So what if he defends KKK / Nazi's.
That is a small price to pay to enact Trump's diseased agenda.
2
There will always be a few who support the kind of behavior Trump is exhibiting. Even Hitler, Papa Doc, Mussolini, Stalin, and others had followers til the bitter end. How long must we wait? Republicans must be more outraged at his gall to think of starting to fund a re-election campaign in light of his egregious behavior. Let's see more outrage. Stop being spineless.
4
After Trump planted his flag behind the Nazi wannabes in Charlottesville, everyone knows what the Trump brand stands for. Editorial commentary helps get the word out to people who care, but Trump doesn't care about that. Trump only care about himself, his business, and his ratings. Its time to hammer him with a message that he and his family fear and understand. If you do not want a president who backs Nazi wannabes, boycott Trump branded properties, hotels, businesses and products until he resigns or is removed from office.
5
I don't see where he is falling other than in the New York Times.
2
Read today's opinion piece by Derek Black, godson of David Duke.
Trump is failing America, Big Time.
Trump is failing America, Big Time.
Corporate CEO's quitting Trumps councils is not enough! Put your money where your mouth is! Boycott Trumps enablers-FOX NEWS, Sinclair Media, Breitbart. Pull all your advertising dollars and redistribute to other networks including CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC.
Trump donors shameful.
Sheldon Adelson how can you condone a President who compares white supremacists marching with nazi flags with those who stand up and protest against them.
Murdoch's son donating to anti defamation league not enough! How about real fair and balanced reporting rather then propaganda network that supports Altright agenda! Your network does not challenge hate in a "fair and balanced " fashion - 99.9% Trump propaganda.
Trump donors shameful.
Sheldon Adelson how can you condone a President who compares white supremacists marching with nazi flags with those who stand up and protest against them.
Murdoch's son donating to anti defamation league not enough! How about real fair and balanced reporting rather then propaganda network that supports Altright agenda! Your network does not challenge hate in a "fair and balanced " fashion - 99.9% Trump propaganda.
3
Archie Bunker as President.
1
A look at Trump's record in business reveals a number of failures that were either bailed out by bankruptcy, takeover or more loans to shore up a failure in the making. He, aided by his mentor Roy Cohn, have a history of disparaging anyone that gets in their way. Trump loves adulation and will tamp down criticism in any way possible, legal or not.
We are at a crossroads in this country. Do the majority of us who repudiate all that Trump and the Republicans come out and vote or do we sit idly by while our rights are taken away along with privacy, moral compass and more. Let's face it. The GOP is a minority party bent on pushing a rotten agenda on a majority.
It can't happen, you say. It did in Germany where a majority of citizens never voted for the Nazi Party. We have a chance to right our own ship of state by at least trying to amend the Constitution to mandate Presidential elections by popular vote and by ending gerrymandering of the House. Above all, vote these people out.
We are at a crossroads in this country. Do the majority of us who repudiate all that Trump and the Republicans come out and vote or do we sit idly by while our rights are taken away along with privacy, moral compass and more. Let's face it. The GOP is a minority party bent on pushing a rotten agenda on a majority.
It can't happen, you say. It did in Germany where a majority of citizens never voted for the Nazi Party. We have a chance to right our own ship of state by at least trying to amend the Constitution to mandate Presidential elections by popular vote and by ending gerrymandering of the House. Above all, vote these people out.
2
If you read up on Roy Cohn, whom another lawyer said," you knew when you were in his presence, you were in the presence of pure evil," that tells you quite a bit about this President, who spent many years of his life with Roy Cohn, learning how to manipulate and threaten people President Trump's DNA by fate, male born with lots of testosterone, the fourth child, who by then, probably didn't receive much attention, and if he was born with ADHD, he was all over the place. After bankruptcies, and a lucky show, "The Apprentice," fate threw him into the White House, and here we are!
2
Fate didn't throw Trump into office- Republicans and uneducated white poor class did.
No, it was the electoral college, that should of been voted out after the Bush-Gore election debacle, as that would of been the time, especially during the beginning of the Iraq war with George Bush, as the Congress and states probably could of gotten the numbers to abolish it. President Carter sent a letter to congress to allow it to be voted on by direct vote by the voters. Doubtful that would happen now, as the Democrats would win and be elected by the popular vote and Republicans by the electoral college in any future Presidential election.
1
He's a congenital liar and no one can trust a man who lies just about every time he opens his mouth, not our allies, not our enemies, not the people of the United States. That in itself is reason enough to get rid of him.
Bill Clinton was impeached for telling one lie about his own personal sex life that had nothing to do with the stability and safety of our country. Trump lies all day every day, is inciting violence, is standing up for Nazis, who is a racist and a bigot, who can never acknowledge he's made a mistake, has absolutely no idea what he's doing, wants and does try to make money off the presidency and yet the cowards who call themselves Republicans will do nothing because they fear the right wing base.
I am beyond disgusted. If he had any grace at all in him he would resign. If his wife and children loved him, they'd make him resign. Oh, but that's right - no one can make Trump do the right thing, ever.
He's way beyond deplorable. He's irredeemable. What a terrible mess.
Bill Clinton was impeached for telling one lie about his own personal sex life that had nothing to do with the stability and safety of our country. Trump lies all day every day, is inciting violence, is standing up for Nazis, who is a racist and a bigot, who can never acknowledge he's made a mistake, has absolutely no idea what he's doing, wants and does try to make money off the presidency and yet the cowards who call themselves Republicans will do nothing because they fear the right wing base.
I am beyond disgusted. If he had any grace at all in him he would resign. If his wife and children loved him, they'd make him resign. Oh, but that's right - no one can make Trump do the right thing, ever.
He's way beyond deplorable. He's irredeemable. What a terrible mess.
3
I'm surprised that the Times would separate the legacies of Lincoln and Lee, both of whom worked so hard to reunify the country after the war's end, and even more so that it would lump Lee, who was an eminently thoughtful and honorable man, with Mr. Trump. Lee was offered command of the Union forces but could not bring himself to wage war on his home in Virginia and on his family and neighbors. After the war, he gave the rest of his brief life-- as did Lincoln-- to rebuilding unity within this country. To equate his legacy with that of someone who appears to take delight in sowing discord is a smear Lee does not deserve.
2
Being an armed traitor to the national government founded in Philadelphia and in operation for nearly 100 years qualifies as "honorable"?
Virginia had seceded when Lee, who lived in Virginia and all of whose family was there, was offered command of the union troops. He was not a traitor, and he was eminently honorable. I hope you may never have to face the kinds of decisions he did.
Mr. Trump will not change. Congress will not confront Trump. McConnell and Ryan are morally compromised and political cowards. Our only hope lies with the source of the problem: Trump supporters. The media reports that support among Trump's base is declining. This is wishful thinking. The depressing truth is that over 80% of Republicans still support Trump. This is shocking. And depressingly, his approval has actually increased since Tuesday's rant. Only when the base gets beyond the appeal of Trump's "straight talk" and realizes that he is actually loser -- and I use that term not in a derogatory way, but in a literal way, meaning Mr. Trump is a political lame duck and incapable of achieving any meaningful victories - will Mr. Trump's support begin to decline. Sadly, for this country that may take a very long time.
3
Thank you, Walter for sharing the link -
'today, by the son of a white supremacist, the founder of Stromfront, who identifies the tactics of white supremacists to gain the mainstream, given cover by Trump [https://nyti.ms/2vO5c11] -'
Because you shared this link - I read the op-ed and shared it with many of my friends and family.
Everyone should read this above op-ed -
'today, by the son of a white supremacist, the founder of Stromfront, who identifies the tactics of white supremacists to gain the mainstream, given cover by Trump [https://nyti.ms/2vO5c11] -'
Because you shared this link - I read the op-ed and shared it with many of my friends and family.
Everyone should read this above op-ed -
1
"With each day, President Trump offers fresh proof that he is failing the office that Americans entrusted to him."
Please don't use the collective form of the word "American". Over half of the "Americans" voted against Trump, so they weren't the ones who "entrusted" the country to him. He is their President in name only, certainly not in philosophy or character.
To see who thought they were entrusting America to Trump, look at those who voted for him. Half of them are his incorrigible base, who will never see the light about how grievous their error was in voting for him. The other half of his votes came from people who are now thinking that, just maybe, they made a mistake in believing his lies.
If an election were somehow possible today and he ran, Trump would be crushed by almost any other candidate, including Hillary. America does not "entrust" the welfare of their country to Trump any more than he represents the better values of the country itself.
Trump is imploding before our eyes. It is thanks to those who voted for him who put America in the existential morass it is in now. If they have even a grain of respect for the country, they need to find a way to get him out of office. If they let the monstrosity of the Trump administration continue, then the collapse of history's greatest democracy will be on THEIR shoulders.
Please don't use the collective form of the word "American". Over half of the "Americans" voted against Trump, so they weren't the ones who "entrusted" the country to him. He is their President in name only, certainly not in philosophy or character.
To see who thought they were entrusting America to Trump, look at those who voted for him. Half of them are his incorrigible base, who will never see the light about how grievous their error was in voting for him. The other half of his votes came from people who are now thinking that, just maybe, they made a mistake in believing his lies.
If an election were somehow possible today and he ran, Trump would be crushed by almost any other candidate, including Hillary. America does not "entrust" the welfare of their country to Trump any more than he represents the better values of the country itself.
Trump is imploding before our eyes. It is thanks to those who voted for him who put America in the existential morass it is in now. If they have even a grain of respect for the country, they need to find a way to get him out of office. If they let the monstrosity of the Trump administration continue, then the collapse of history's greatest democracy will be on THEIR shoulders.
4
I hope he continues on his current insane path until he resigns. Plenty of damage is being done by his woefully unqualified hires and appointees.
2
He's a narcissist- he'll never resign because he's never wrong, only wronged, in his twisted mind.
2
I am reminded of all of the Trump supporters who were constantly praising him for not being politically corrrct - and for telling it like it is.
I've decided that Trump is merely a reflection of their version of reality. He is a symptom of them.
I've decided that Trump is merely a reflection of their version of reality. He is a symptom of them.
4
Said a different way: more than one quarter of Americans can't think of anything the President can do to shake their support. That's a horrifying thought. You can't think of one single thing Trump could do to lose your support? What if Trump started sexting dirty pictures to your juvenile children? Twenty five percent of Americans say: No problem. What a strange world we live in.
1
Most Americans really like the pig blood story and agree that is the way to solve things. No mercy, just kill them all. Its just that when it comes down to it, it will be hard to know who 'them' actually are.
In schools we should study the french revolution, read animal farm and start bringing ethics into mainstream thought. AI is happening, we better find out what ethics we want it to give to it, the way its looking, we will not survive.
In schools we should study the french revolution, read animal farm and start bringing ethics into mainstream thought. AI is happening, we better find out what ethics we want it to give to it, the way its looking, we will not survive.
In families, the man who abuses is well known; as is his equating his victims’ attempt for dialogue with his violence; and as are his attacks of anyone in the family or community who does not remain quiet. Some who remain quiet are just happy he’s not assaulting them and some think it’s their also right as men. With trump’s history, here his lack of a moral compass is glaring.
As any family knows, in abuse-silence the family is destroyed. Unless the GOP and christian leaders begin to denounce the stream of false equivalences & act to unite our fellow citizens, our democracy is in great danger.
As any family knows, in abuse-silence the family is destroyed. Unless the GOP and christian leaders begin to denounce the stream of false equivalences & act to unite our fellow citizens, our democracy is in great danger.
2
Yet according to another article in this newspaper, his supporters believe he's doing just fine.
Until we all truly understand his appeal, our Republic will continue to fracture.
Until we all truly understand his appeal, our Republic will continue to fracture.
2
Sadly, his appeal is all too clear. These folks are largely ignorant albeit entitled and can be easily led to blame others for their lit in life. His other supporters are complicit in the above all the while telling themselves they are Christians. The honest truth is---many Americans have lost their moral compass and Trump is an example of that. Zero hope those folks will change. We have to fight. #resist
Nothing calls forth America's angels like demonizing who we are. Trump has become the tool that turns the big wheel of advancing civilization.
United we stand!
United we stand!
3
The editorial mentions that Trump's incompetence has thankfully preserved our Affordable Care Act. But the nuanced reality is that its survival hangs by a thread and has strong support in the GOP. If Senator Menendez (Dem-NJ) loses his seat and is replaced by a Republican senator, millions of Americans could very well lose their health insurance.
Let's not forget how close we are to the suffering the ills of Trump's political agenda, incompetent or not.
Let's not forget how close we are to the suffering the ills of Trump's political agenda, incompetent or not.
2
There were times following Trump's descent of the golden escalator when I really did feel that I was being unfair to him, that my visceral distaste for his persona was getting in the way of assessing his potential as a national leader. I tried to look past his compulsive narcissism to see what so many of his believers saw in him. I tried to tell myself that the awesome burden of the presidency would steady him, that he would choose "the best people" to advise and guide him. I tried to confine my growing horror and dread to those hours in the middle of the night when things seem most bleak. I realize now that what I instinctively knew all along was what we have, a weak, incompetent, insecure, bellicose little psychopath with possible dementia who is in it for the adulation but has no interest in the job itself. God help us.
3
The Republican Party cares about one thing and one thing only - maintaining power. They have no moral compass. They have proven this beyond all shadow of a doubt by foisting increasingly incompetent candidates on us to deflect attention from their subservience to the hateful, greedy economic elite that fund them. The propaganda arms of this oligarchy keep the lies flowing to a public unequipped to discern anything close to reality. Until this entire order is destroyed, it will continue to patch itself up and oppress the citizens of this once great nation.
4
While this is framed as an editorial, I would guess many, many Americans see this as simple fact. The description of Trump as “a prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense” could not be more eloquently or accurately stated. I worry about the time I spend reading about the whirlpool of events which seems to intensify daily. But these are abnormal and treacherous times, reflecting the freakish man who demeans the White House, and to not search for a hard lesson would be a betrayal of our democracy and an acquiescence to ignorance and immorality.
I find hope in the thousands who marched to face-down the social misfits expounding racism and Nazism, encouraged by Trump to rise from the mud. I find hope in business leaders showing conscience. I find hope in the special counsel’s investigation being conducted in a world once familiar, of professionalism and logic. I find hope in reporters who grind away respecting journalistic ethics, and are not profiting as propagandists.
But I can’t hold back this anxiety that each day Trump continues as president rips us further apart from each other and from any good our country may represent. I tell myself in any population a certain percentage are going to be fascists and racial supremacists. But that should give no comfort, and it doesn’t. In my sixty-plus years, I have never felt such despair about the direction we are heading. We will not survive four years of this. Something must change, and soon.
I find hope in the thousands who marched to face-down the social misfits expounding racism and Nazism, encouraged by Trump to rise from the mud. I find hope in business leaders showing conscience. I find hope in the special counsel’s investigation being conducted in a world once familiar, of professionalism and logic. I find hope in reporters who grind away respecting journalistic ethics, and are not profiting as propagandists.
But I can’t hold back this anxiety that each day Trump continues as president rips us further apart from each other and from any good our country may represent. I tell myself in any population a certain percentage are going to be fascists and racial supremacists. But that should give no comfort, and it doesn’t. In my sixty-plus years, I have never felt such despair about the direction we are heading. We will not survive four years of this. Something must change, and soon.
6
Yet, 75 to 80% of the Republicans continue to support him!
2
America needs to get used to Trump failing. He has done that all his life. Bankrupt business are his speciality. Daddy's personal fortune and Putin's laundered money are his life support systems.
He seeks to accomplish nothing- that being the goal of the Republican party, and to deminish America at home and abroad, that being the Putin mission. So far he is winning.
He seeks to accomplish nothing- that being the goal of the Republican party, and to deminish America at home and abroad, that being the Putin mission. So far he is winning.
1
When my father sat my brother and me down for the sex life run-through, after reviewing the basics which we mostly had already gathered from hints and giggles out in the streets, he closed by saying one thing which has served me very well for the past 45 years. "Look, the older boys and young men you run into are going to say all kinds of things, mostly bragging and exaggerating and lying. So, just take all that for what it is, keep your eyes open and see things for yourself. Don't believe everything you hear."
I never forgot that basic message.
Trump? I first was aware of him 30 years ago when he was divorcing Ivana, bankrupting airlines and casinos, decorating his home in gold. Wrote him off as garish, a bore, not even entertaining.
Run for president? Wrote him off the day he announced. Publicity hound fake.
So, don't people have any basic common sense anymore? Even if you like all that wrestler-mania barking, what happened to your sense of smell? Trump voters, have you lost your street smarts, what you knew already when you were about 13?
I never forgot that basic message.
Trump? I first was aware of him 30 years ago when he was divorcing Ivana, bankrupting airlines and casinos, decorating his home in gold. Wrote him off as garish, a bore, not even entertaining.
Run for president? Wrote him off the day he announced. Publicity hound fake.
So, don't people have any basic common sense anymore? Even if you like all that wrestler-mania barking, what happened to your sense of smell? Trump voters, have you lost your street smarts, what you knew already when you were about 13?
2
Weak-kneed, vascillating, anti-Constitutional as they are, it is amazing how McConnell and Ryan have blended into the woodwork in the past two weeks.
And how their respective chambers have allowed that to pass as "leadership" in this divisive, dangerous time.
And how their respective chambers have allowed that to pass as "leadership" in this divisive, dangerous time.
1
Decent Republicans must unite and lead the way. Surely you are out there somewhere.
The GOP must recognize/accept that Trump is a disaster in need of solution by way of his resignation by any route possible.
All GOP leaders can end the ongoing deceptive/dangerous/ damaging Trump actions/attitudes in more than one venue.
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 now able to look down the road. It is this failing that has put them and us in our current untenable position.
May the GOP and its best leaders note 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 the GOP can support with dignity.
Take this wise/practical course of action ASAP.
Time is obviously of the essence, given current events.
The behavior of the House of Trump is NOT normal - apply the label of abnormal to all.
Avoid applying the same label also to the GOP leadership.
Senators Graham, McCain + many others must lead the way.
Take a strong stand. Solve the problem. Now.
The GOP must recognize/accept that Trump is a disaster in need of solution by way of his resignation by any route possible.
All GOP leaders can end the ongoing deceptive/dangerous/ damaging Trump actions/attitudes in more than one venue.
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 now able to look down the road. It is this failing that has put them and us in our current untenable position.
May the GOP and its best leaders note 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 the GOP can support with dignity.
Take this wise/practical course of action ASAP.
Time is obviously of the essence, given current events.
The behavior of the House of Trump is NOT normal - apply the label of abnormal to all.
Avoid applying the same label also to the GOP leadership.
Senators Graham, McCain + many others must lead the way.
Take a strong stand. Solve the problem. Now.
1
I salute the person, whoever you may be, who has given a Recommend to my comment above.
I have made this essentially conciliatory comment many, many times and it has been on the whole ignored and unaccepted - a true orphan indeed.
Ignored even by the NYT group that reviews comments - a middle of the road comment that cannot be classified simply as either pro or con and thus not within their guidelines, I must conclude.
It is a test for this largely democratic, progressive group that contributes in this forum. and it has been unaccepted repeatedly.
I am a strong Democrat since 1980 when I came to realize that the Reagan/Bush Administration was bankrupting the country - in more ways than one. (Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, "W", Cheney, Rumsfeld, NeoCons. and last but not least Willie Horton.)
I support economic and social justice and the Common Good.
I vote accordingly for Democrats and I supported either Bernie or Hillary.
Why is it that appealing to the better angels/nature of the Republicans/GOP receives such short shrift.
We can only succeed if we unite and save ourselves from the obviously deranged menace currently in the Oval Office.
We have no other choice.
I welcome any and all evaluations of this comment. Please advise.
Now or later, because I assume I will have ample opportunity to submit the comment again in the days ahead.
Thank you for your input - whatever it may be.
I have made this essentially conciliatory comment many, many times and it has been on the whole ignored and unaccepted - a true orphan indeed.
Ignored even by the NYT group that reviews comments - a middle of the road comment that cannot be classified simply as either pro or con and thus not within their guidelines, I must conclude.
It is a test for this largely democratic, progressive group that contributes in this forum. and it has been unaccepted repeatedly.
I am a strong Democrat since 1980 when I came to realize that the Reagan/Bush Administration was bankrupting the country - in more ways than one. (Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, "W", Cheney, Rumsfeld, NeoCons. and last but not least Willie Horton.)
I support economic and social justice and the Common Good.
I vote accordingly for Democrats and I supported either Bernie or Hillary.
Why is it that appealing to the better angels/nature of the Republicans/GOP receives such short shrift.
We can only succeed if we unite and save ourselves from the obviously deranged menace currently in the Oval Office.
We have no other choice.
I welcome any and all evaluations of this comment. Please advise.
Now or later, because I assume I will have ample opportunity to submit the comment again in the days ahead.
Thank you for your input - whatever it may be.
Barack Obama's approval ratings are very close to being the inverse of Trump's approval ratings. Where were all those voters last November? Are there substantial numbers of people in this country who want Trump in office not because they trust and support him, but because he proves their point? That is a very dangerous strategy. I hope we can survive it.
This is a devastating piece, although I do not doubt its conclusions. The problem with hopelessness, however, is that it fosters desperation. I would like to read something about actions that individual Americans can take to preserve our nation and enhance our democracy (beyond waiting to vote in 2018 or 2020). Not just because I think we all need hope, but because I genuinely believe that we are powerful, as individual citizens. Look at Boston, yesterday!
I believe that its time to quit assigning blame and making excuses and just...all take a look at ourselves and what actions we can actually take.
For example, I believe that it is past time for Conservatives who oppose Trump to make a choice. If the forces that brought us Trump have no place in the GOP, time to forcefully declare that and put position and policy behind it, from the GOP platform down to college Republicans. Personally, I don't think that is possible. If not, it is time for Trump-opposing Conservatives to accept that and leave the GOP. Start a new party, join the Democrats, run as independents, whatever. Just do something! What are you waiting for? This is killing America.
I also think that liberals and Trump-opposers need to start thinking about how we are going to welcome Trump-defectors and wafflers into our fold. The hypocrisy feels agonizing, yes, but how else are we going to get through this?
We are all responsible. Now what?
I believe that its time to quit assigning blame and making excuses and just...all take a look at ourselves and what actions we can actually take.
For example, I believe that it is past time for Conservatives who oppose Trump to make a choice. If the forces that brought us Trump have no place in the GOP, time to forcefully declare that and put position and policy behind it, from the GOP platform down to college Republicans. Personally, I don't think that is possible. If not, it is time for Trump-opposing Conservatives to accept that and leave the GOP. Start a new party, join the Democrats, run as independents, whatever. Just do something! What are you waiting for? This is killing America.
I also think that liberals and Trump-opposers need to start thinking about how we are going to welcome Trump-defectors and wafflers into our fold. The hypocrisy feels agonizing, yes, but how else are we going to get through this?
We are all responsible. Now what?
60
We are now in the realm of "FIVE DAYS IN MAY"... except we're rooting for the generals! Burt Lancaster needs to come out of the "If you build it they will come" cornfields and get his uniform on and get on national TV!
Ship USA - The Captain is not on the Bridge
p.s. He is busy playing golf
p.s. He is busy playing golf
3
Trump needs to start thinking if the Trump brand will survive his presidency. If people keep boycotting his buildings and resorts, who's he going to license his name to when no one wants it? He needs to realize pretty soon that the only way to save his brand and Ivanka's and Jared's (he'll never get a bailout for 666 now) is to resign magnanimously and try to save his business. He might then get a reprieve from going down in history as the demon Nazi sympathizer president. Otherwise, everytime he opens his mouth things can only get worse for him. Boy, I can't wait for that Phoenix rally. I don't understand why no one on his staff is telling him he's about to enter Nuremberg analogy territory! Or maybe they do, and they all want him to corner the market on rope.
2
Once again the big question is how come 1/3 of the country still supports Trump? Most modern Western nations show very little Nazi tendencies yet it is quite rampant in the US. Southern whites are still very much meshed in a battle they lost more than 150 years ago. If you listen to some of the right wing talk show hosts, you would think that segregation was good not bad. Slavery was good and necessary for "educating" Africans into white society. Lee is depicted as a devout Christian who only fought to save his home State. Truth is false and the world is upside down in their world. Fox news is still spewing hatred towards those who question Trump. Finally the GOP is proving without a doubt that it is the party of and for racists. Trump is not destroying America, wayward Americans are destroying their own country. Trump is just the conduit to move this on a roll.
5
Why do 1/3 of Americans still support Trump? Because they listen to and watch JUST Fox news, or add Breitbart to it. Not only are they voluntarily uninformed, but they voted for this conman, so they can't stop supporting him or they'd have to admit they were conned. Add to it their churches are anointing Trump as the second coming of Jesus. With lies being spouted every single minute by the far-right media and evangelical pastors, these people will never stop believing in Trump, even if he ends up in prison.
ok, for openers, a check of the rhetoric and tactics of the discontent, (those who find trump wanting in every way, statues of anyone and anything offensive or essential, free speech limited by their own hoizons, etc.) as seen and heard on tv demonstrates no qualification for such moral certainty, no talent for civil discourse, no cause for their assumption of "supremacy."
in fairness it must be said that this "average american" (tagged as incapable of grasp at the level of cable sofa wizards) could be wrong and evidence of moral distinction is hiding somewhere in the guns and clubs, shields, body armour, black masks, shouts and appetite for violence that mobs tote to "protests" and (ahem) "counterprotests."
if so, its also possible to mistake the intolerance for free inquiry and exchange that has taken over the original safe space (for said inquiry), our colleges and universities, for scholarship, critical acuity and discovery.
so, let's just clean house and start over...down with all the statues, rushmore asap, and their residue, close national parks, the gift of nasty old teddy roosevelt, and drill for oil as the creator intended, smash the marble tributes to jefferson and washinton, franklin, (slave owners like robert e. lee), and maybe first, columbus himself, whose abuse of original tribes set the standard for our eventual founding genocide, the destruction of original tribes and incarceration of its survivors that we still have trouble admitting.
o frabjous day!
in fairness it must be said that this "average american" (tagged as incapable of grasp at the level of cable sofa wizards) could be wrong and evidence of moral distinction is hiding somewhere in the guns and clubs, shields, body armour, black masks, shouts and appetite for violence that mobs tote to "protests" and (ahem) "counterprotests."
if so, its also possible to mistake the intolerance for free inquiry and exchange that has taken over the original safe space (for said inquiry), our colleges and universities, for scholarship, critical acuity and discovery.
so, let's just clean house and start over...down with all the statues, rushmore asap, and their residue, close national parks, the gift of nasty old teddy roosevelt, and drill for oil as the creator intended, smash the marble tributes to jefferson and washinton, franklin, (slave owners like robert e. lee), and maybe first, columbus himself, whose abuse of original tribes set the standard for our eventual founding genocide, the destruction of original tribes and incarceration of its survivors that we still have trouble admitting.
o frabjous day!
1
When the NYT publishes an editorial that notes that we are "relying on three current and former generals — John Kelly, the new White House chief of staff; H. R. McMaster, the national security adviser; and Jim Mattis, the secretary of defense — to stop Mr. Trump from going completely off the rails", then we are no longer facing a " Failing Trump Presidency".
We are facing a FAILED Trump Presidency.
Mr. Trump is unfit to be President. We are indeed "a nation led by a prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense."
Mr. Trump's worst instincts cannot be controlled or moderated. He simply goes off the rails. He cannot control his emotions, his rage, his contempt and his discontent with anyone who opposes him.
We must also condemn the Republican Party for the greatly subdued condemnation of Trump and in to many cases there silence and submission. Being in power is more important than having a rational President. Republicans are embracing and supporting the chaos of Trump. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan should be ashamed and embarrassed but they are not. They are afraid.
If yesterday's demonstrations especially in Boston are representative of the feelings and views of the great majority of the American people then Mr. Trump's presidency is doomed. Hopefully the demonstrations will continue and the voice of all Americans will be heard.
Trump must go. End this travesty. Trump has failed. We must not.
We are facing a FAILED Trump Presidency.
Mr. Trump is unfit to be President. We are indeed "a nation led by a prince of discord who seems divorced from decency and common sense."
Mr. Trump's worst instincts cannot be controlled or moderated. He simply goes off the rails. He cannot control his emotions, his rage, his contempt and his discontent with anyone who opposes him.
We must also condemn the Republican Party for the greatly subdued condemnation of Trump and in to many cases there silence and submission. Being in power is more important than having a rational President. Republicans are embracing and supporting the chaos of Trump. Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan should be ashamed and embarrassed but they are not. They are afraid.
If yesterday's demonstrations especially in Boston are representative of the feelings and views of the great majority of the American people then Mr. Trump's presidency is doomed. Hopefully the demonstrations will continue and the voice of all Americans will be heard.
Trump must go. End this travesty. Trump has failed. We must not.
6
I'm truly looking forward to leaving this country.
We all know about the spineless leadership of the Republican Party, but McMaster was a surprise. After his appointment I read his book "Dereliction of Duty" that describes the military leadership's total caving to political decisions that they knew to be false. Now I see him on interviews waffling questions and refusing to criticize Trump, even as it obvious that he is borderline insane (or beyond borderline). Please, General McMaster, reread your own book and then look in the mirror.
JD
JD
2
The questions remains as to what legacy this president leaves our country and how long will it take for us to recover. As this important editorial states that may rely on the courage of current Republican leaders. This president has ripped apart any hope of unity among the parties, within his own party and now among the citizens of our country. With the exception of that "love is blind" minority who believe he can do no wrong, this president is far from what this country needs and deserves. At best he is an inept egoist. At worst, something far more nefarious.
2
The best possible solution would be for Trump to decide that he has had enough, that Washington will never recognize, or more importantly, give credit to his brilliance, he would have more influence outside the White House, therefore he will resign.
The two other possibilities, Article 25 or Impeachment, are not only unlikely given our feckless government, but they would tear the nation apart.
Any of these three will make Pence President. There will still be a right wing agenda at the White House, but it will be supremely important for the nation to work together to heal the damage done by the Trump Presidency.
The Times must help lead the way. It will mean supporting some things that they find objectionable, but healing is critical. It is also a justifiable penance for the $ Millions in free publicity which the NYT provided to Trump's campaign. You helped elect him, you have to help clean up the mess he will leave.
The two other possibilities, Article 25 or Impeachment, are not only unlikely given our feckless government, but they would tear the nation apart.
Any of these three will make Pence President. There will still be a right wing agenda at the White House, but it will be supremely important for the nation to work together to heal the damage done by the Trump Presidency.
The Times must help lead the way. It will mean supporting some things that they find objectionable, but healing is critical. It is also a justifiable penance for the $ Millions in free publicity which the NYT provided to Trump's campaign. You helped elect him, you have to help clean up the mess he will leave.
1
What if we started a 'Go Fund Me' campaign to buy him out? Payable the day after he leaves Washington, with the condition he never, ever returns.
Wow, I was agreeing with your comment until you got to the part that we should all support President Pence's far-right agenda. Why? If the goals of the far-right are wrong, which I believe they most assuredly are, then we should all unite against them! And against this hapless, gutless GOP! Most of them know Trump is absolutely incapable of being President, but they're too weak to stand up, say so, and remove him from office. They apparently believe that tax cuts for the rich are more important than the safety of American citizens or the continuation of our democracy.
To summarize: we must hope that three generals will hang in there and perform a job they are not intended to perform. We are similarly hoping that another set of largely unqualified, in-way-over-their-heads, members of the administration don't bail (Sessions, Mnuchin, Tillerson, etc.) based on a rationale that their replacements will be worse. (There is a worse AG out there?). Then there is the fantasy that the children can convince their father to not hate gay people, immigrants, Jews, and black people (those kids must be great people to be so brave). And finally, as a solution, we are counting on elected Republicans to put their own interests (re-election) above those of the country.
1
But I really fear a Pres. Pence. The best comment, I think, ever was from a reader who recently said, pardon me if I don't have it verbatim, "That place between the rock and the hard place looks like Heaven."
"Newman!" Yep, it was Bannon all along...the leaker. Proof of that is the absence of "breaking leaks" on the Rachel Maddow show accompanied by a proud New York Times or WAPO reporter explaining the leak. I find myself now tuning into my favorite cable news shows to see in their opening remarks if they have something good on Trump. But, even Lawrence is hard pressed lately to bring up the emotion it takes for him to keep his "West Wing" saga's going. Yep, Bannon has all the inside stuff and without his leaks, the main stream media will have to monitor and, indeed, quote Breitbart. But, one thing remains and will continue to remain ... his supporters will embrace Trump no matter what Trump says or does. Jerry always knew it was Newman, but that doesn't matter now.
Prince of discord ? It is way too kind to call him Prince of anything. Trump is a total fraud who is posing a serious threat to our national security.
3
My preferred salutation for President Trump was Failing Don, an allusion to the patriarchal family business he built, his mobster like business tactics and of course his utter incompetence. Not any more: Failed Don will replace it, there is no more failing at this point, because he has failed in the office he was elected to: administrative, political and moral failure.
2
Your essay spelled out , I think, a good case for censure, resignation or impeachment so I was disappointed that you did not conclude with such a recommendation. There sadly is no respected institution, including congress, that is willing to start the process to remove this cancer from our country. With 3 years to go, I am terrified.
1
Mr. Trump was never fit to be president, but now that he is, every citizen should work to minimize the damage. There is no choice but for us all to become more involved and committed citizens, and to not remain apathetic.
1
The last paragraph of this fine piece states that Trump made a decision that had any logic to it whatsoever. I don't think his mind is capable of understanding exactly what he is doing in terms of the history of this country; he operates from simple malice.
1
Donald Trump is not the problem. He is but the symptom of a much deeper and more dangerous problem in America: the rise of a reactionary ideal based upon myth, conspiracy thinking, denial of fact, and magical thinking. Perhaps as a reaction to the fear bred by the social upheaval that began in the 60s and flamed by hate radio, openly biased news outlets, professional internet propaganda, and now the acceptance of openly “fake news” we have seen an ever increasing shift into a world of fantisy for many Americans. From “Law and Order-I am not a crook” Nixon to “government is the problem-supply side-Iran Contra-Reagan” to “WMD Iraq-New Economy-bust-Bush” to “Our primary goal is to see that the Obama administration fails” we have seen a consistent succession of failure of governance from the Republican Party leaders. Their one great success has been in convincing so many Americans to vote against their own interests and that is the greatest danger facing America today.
3
"Heading into an election year, is that where Mr. McConnell and Mr. Ryan want to be?"
As things are, what claim can they make they are even able to determine what's in their own best interest, let alone the country's?
As things are, what claim can they make they are even able to determine what's in their own best interest, let alone the country's?
Where are the voices of all the religions in this country? I'm waiting to hear from Christian Catholic, Episcopal, mainstream Protestants, Evangelicals - I've seen very little action here. I know rank and file religious are in the movements opposing right extremism, but where are the organizations? They were at the forefront of the civil rights movement.
6
You are off base on the generals ... they are doing their best to keep things stable within the chaos that is Donald Trump's presidency. They took an oath to support and defent the constitution, not the presidency. But, then I rather doubt that anyone who was involved with putting this editorial together has experienced military service.
Recipe for a successful Trump presidency:
1. Take away his phone for the rest of his time in office. No more tweets, period.
2. Send him back to school, starting with Pre-K, so he can learn: (a) to play nicely with others; (b) to read for information; (c) some history; (d) enough science to know man-made climate change is real.
3. Make him become a boy scout so he can see "adult leadership" in action and learn a set of ethics.
The advantages of my idea are that while Trump is doing this, he'll be out of the public eye and can't further disgrace his office and the country, and also, by the time he finishes my program and graduates from high school, his term, even if eight years, will be long over.
1. Take away his phone for the rest of his time in office. No more tweets, period.
2. Send him back to school, starting with Pre-K, so he can learn: (a) to play nicely with others; (b) to read for information; (c) some history; (d) enough science to know man-made climate change is real.
3. Make him become a boy scout so he can see "adult leadership" in action and learn a set of ethics.
The advantages of my idea are that while Trump is doing this, he'll be out of the public eye and can't further disgrace his office and the country, and also, by the time he finishes my program and graduates from high school, his term, even if eight years, will be long over.
1
What enables Trump to influence his supporters are the extremist media personalities who purposefully stir up the Trump base so that they keep getting paid large salaries. They are rabble rousers ultimately for their own bottom lines and they know it. Our First Amendement protects them, but they should feel ashamed of themselves.
1
The best $15 I spend each month. Go get him!
2
Ah, that we could have a do-over!
So much of what transpired over the last week, and since djt took office is about morality and decency. It is undisputable that our Dear Leader is neither.
However, there is a man in the offices of the Supreme Court, Justice Gorsuch, who if not a moral and decent person himself, he knows that the foundations of Law are based on just that.
I would urge that Justice to do some serious soul searching and resign from the Court, on the condition that Merrick Garland be given the seat that he was (even if unwittingly) complicit in stealing.
That would be a perfect companion act to coincide with the removal of djt from the presidency.
So much of what transpired over the last week, and since djt took office is about morality and decency. It is undisputable that our Dear Leader is neither.
However, there is a man in the offices of the Supreme Court, Justice Gorsuch, who if not a moral and decent person himself, he knows that the foundations of Law are based on just that.
I would urge that Justice to do some serious soul searching and resign from the Court, on the condition that Merrick Garland be given the seat that he was (even if unwittingly) complicit in stealing.
That would be a perfect companion act to coincide with the removal of djt from the presidency.
5
The thing is, many, many people saw that Donald Trump was immoral and deliberately courted those who held such beliefs during his campaign once he saw the types of responses he was getting. He clearly identified his base mostly by their responses to immigration, to mis-characterized Muslims as generally representing a terrorist threat, to mis-characterized Mexicans as bringing drugs and violence into the country while ignoring Americans who are buying and using the drugs in large numbers that only a small percentage of Mexicans traffic in, to protestors, some black, at his rallies against whom Trump carefully orchestrated the crowds to target with ugly behavior, and to the media covering his ralliess against whom Trump also orchestrated denigration and abuse.
Combine all of that behavior and speech clearly on display for more than a year during the campaign with Trump's documented history of racist practices, public behavior in at least one instance (Central Park Five), and practices towards his casino employees (by whom he was sued in NJ and lost) and his documented misogyny and alleged abusive behavior, you have one of the clearest portraits of an immoral and unfit person to have run for president of the US as I have ever seen.
It did not take Charlottesville or the past 7 months in office for many people to recognize not only the immoral characteristics of the man but also his general unpreparedness, thoughtlessness, fragile and magnified ego, and vindictiveness.
Combine all of that behavior and speech clearly on display for more than a year during the campaign with Trump's documented history of racist practices, public behavior in at least one instance (Central Park Five), and practices towards his casino employees (by whom he was sued in NJ and lost) and his documented misogyny and alleged abusive behavior, you have one of the clearest portraits of an immoral and unfit person to have run for president of the US as I have ever seen.
It did not take Charlottesville or the past 7 months in office for many people to recognize not only the immoral characteristics of the man but also his general unpreparedness, thoughtlessness, fragile and magnified ego, and vindictiveness.
2
We have reached a point where it is nothing short of criminal negligence, dereliction of duty, and treasonous failure to govern if congress does not impeach this menace and remove him from office. And still we hear people like Ohio's John Kasich saying things like "we're rooting for the president to get it together." He is not going to get it together. Not today, not tomorrow or next week, not ever. We are on the brink of disaster. The only rooting to be done here is uprooting. John Kelly, Mitch McConnall, John Ryan -- do your jobs, unless you want to go down in history as gigantic failures. There is no honor to be had here, and nothing to gain except well earned blame for allowing and supporting a catastrophic episode in the country's history.
6
Mr.Jolly said it best "trump has an open sore instead of a soul".Be vigilant of everything this dreadful man touches whilst in office.
1
Oh, I wouldn't make too much of it. Trump's White House is simply following the four stages of group development: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Peforming. I would say they are entering teh Norming stage. Be patient.
1
If the myth of "race" is a weed in the garden, racism doesn't have to actively feed the weeds, it can also abdicate responsibility until the weeds suffocate the healthy plants.
Our president has revealed that he is unable to distinguish weeds. He has exposed to the Nation a deep flaw in the ecology of his mind. He seems to need a psychiatrist and an education.
Consequently. the president cannot reclaim "moral authority," not within the span of this presidency. Its too late.
Our president has revealed that he is unable to distinguish weeds. He has exposed to the Nation a deep flaw in the ecology of his mind. He seems to need a psychiatrist and an education.
Consequently. the president cannot reclaim "moral authority," not within the span of this presidency. Its too late.
Trump shills and a declining number of those still faithful to him pile higher and higher onto the damage Trump does to himself in massive alienation of the American people with his hostile tweets and public rants he drifts into. It all serves to make him more and more repugnant both night and day and at home and away. Harry Truman’s advise escapes the, “When you go yourself in a hole it is a good idea to stop digging.”
1
A day late, a ruble short. Step up, call for his resignation. GOP: make him a deal he can't refuse: resign, or face impeachment. Seriously.
6
R.Corker,Republican Senator, said that D.Trump has not the poise and competence to be a president. Apparently forty-fifth president of the USA is a man with pathological conceit: he is a centre of world. Fortunately only by words.
This striking feature in his character is incorrigible. That's why he behaves as bull in china chop in inernational and home policies and with the members of administration. He feels as if is a participant of the miss universe contest but not as judge, to deep regret.
This striking feature in his character is incorrigible. That's why he behaves as bull in china chop in inernational and home policies and with the members of administration. He feels as if is a participant of the miss universe contest but not as judge, to deep regret.
1
Come on.... he ran on a promise to tear us apart.
He is succeeding!
Your (and my) measure of failure is not his.
Drop the outrage and address the urgency of stopping this coup.
He is succeeding!
Your (and my) measure of failure is not his.
Drop the outrage and address the urgency of stopping this coup.
1
How much longer must we suffer this horrible man? He hasn't stopped at anything so far. Will you politicians wait until he pushes THAT BUTTON?
2
The disaster that was Vietnam for three presidents was captured in David Halberstam's book, "The Best and the Brightest". For Trump, that accounting should be called "The Worst and the Stupidest".
2
I agree with this strong statement from the Editorial Board.
Trump has mass-hypnotized a group of followers who will follow him anywhere, even off a cliff. These people are truly dangerous. Despite Trump's recent attempt to pivot from his message of division and discord, he has succeeded in his effort to tear our nation asunder in order to service his relentless ego.
Our democracy is at a crossroads. It's the Republican Party's responsibility to try to heal it. They are the ones who nominated Donald Trump from a field of far more qualified candidates. Their Right Wing media echoes Trump's recalcitrant tale of a deviant America and makes money from his prevarications.
It is they who naïvely fell for Trump's devious promise to, "make America great again".
Trump has mass-hypnotized a group of followers who will follow him anywhere, even off a cliff. These people are truly dangerous. Despite Trump's recent attempt to pivot from his message of division and discord, he has succeeded in his effort to tear our nation asunder in order to service his relentless ego.
Our democracy is at a crossroads. It's the Republican Party's responsibility to try to heal it. They are the ones who nominated Donald Trump from a field of far more qualified candidates. Their Right Wing media echoes Trump's recalcitrant tale of a deviant America and makes money from his prevarications.
It is they who naïvely fell for Trump's devious promise to, "make America great again".
4
The whole field of Republican candidates were juveniles claiming pull with God.
"The Failing Trump Presidency?"
What you don't seem to realize is that for many of us the Trump Presidency was a success the moment he defeated Hillary.
What you don't seem to realize is that for many of us the Trump Presidency was a success the moment he defeated Hillary.
2
There's no dragging Trump away from the fringes.
He has dug in and he's well aware that he could shoot someone on 5th Ave. and not lose one supporter. Even after Trump's vile remarks defending hate groups, 80% of ALL Republicans approved of his response. Moderate Republican Senators and Congressmen are well aware of this.
And the GOP leadership will continue to wring their hands and offer half-hearted "concerns" about Trump, but insist they support his agenda and we need this tax cut!
Many of us don't just blame Trump for his disastrous Presidency, the lack of courage from the GOP renders the party as complicit and as enablers.
He has dug in and he's well aware that he could shoot someone on 5th Ave. and not lose one supporter. Even after Trump's vile remarks defending hate groups, 80% of ALL Republicans approved of his response. Moderate Republican Senators and Congressmen are well aware of this.
And the GOP leadership will continue to wring their hands and offer half-hearted "concerns" about Trump, but insist they support his agenda and we need this tax cut!
Many of us don't just blame Trump for his disastrous Presidency, the lack of courage from the GOP renders the party as complicit and as enablers.
7
I didn't vote for either Trump or Clinton. I support Trump's approach to immigration and the many work visas (i.e., H-1b, L-1, B-1, J-1). What I find annoying is that Trump's stupidity and incompetence and endless vituperation are damaging the ability to get a solution on these issues.
1
If you didn't vote you can't expect a solution to anything that bugs you.
My thanks to the good people in government, at all levels. Keep the faith and get us through these bizarre times.
Mr. Trump, resign for health reasons. Or any reason.
Mr. Trump, resign for health reasons. Or any reason.
3
It is time for McConnell to take a stand and bring the Senate along with him, or his career as a brilliant statesman will be lost in history books under a simple heading "Enabler".
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill are looking down and shaking their heads....
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill are looking down and shaking their heads....
1
So why is anyone surprised? This is the same Trump who ran as a racist "birther" and won on the four "M's" (Mexico, Muslims, Misogyny, and Money). America owns him because our electoral and political system is failing. The electoral system was hacked literally and figuratively. It is besieged by financial corruption, gerrymandering and voter supression. We must admit that the election of Trump is OUR American failure and take the vital steps to correct it...or we'll soon have another "Trump" in the White House and our political system will continue to fail.
2
Suggest MSM cut him some slack to allow the fabrication of one cosmetic victory for the WH. Simultaneously provide cover for the negotiation with Pence element of succession replete with pardons, future property concessions, and security benefits( pension to be donated).
Thus, DJT can claim " victory" , an eternally debatable place in history and return to his cocoon of syncopants and reality " deals". This might turn out to be a win-win for the USA-- the end of the Clinton Crime Corporation and a hiatus to prepare for a serious presidential election in 2020 with core issues and qualified candidates for a change.
Thus, DJT can claim " victory" , an eternally debatable place in history and return to his cocoon of syncopants and reality " deals". This might turn out to be a win-win for the USA-- the end of the Clinton Crime Corporation and a hiatus to prepare for a serious presidential election in 2020 with core issues and qualified candidates for a change.
1
For years I heard and read that politicians, all politicians were corrupt and incompetent. Worst of all were the Washington politicians. Well, we now have a non-politician and a non-Washingtonian who turns out to be the worst sleazeball of all time. Beware of getting what you wish for.
He has proven himself in self-aggrandizement and, sadly for us, in nothing else.
In a democracy, heading a government is a service job, not a power grab.
He has proven himself in self-aggrandizement and, sadly for us, in nothing else.
In a democracy, heading a government is a service job, not a power grab.
3
When Trump gets angry he is like a petulant child and breaks all of his toys.
Does he see this country as one of his toys? What a dangerous example of a failed human being in every possible way.
Does he see this country as one of his toys? What a dangerous example of a failed human being in every possible way.
2
Failing? Trump is not trying. He is not engaged in any policy or action to do with the Presidency.
The great con-man, grifter and fraud spends more time on his businesses than he does as president.
He is an total failure - we have all been Trumped.
This is so much worse than I though it could be.
The great con-man, grifter and fraud spends more time on his businesses than he does as president.
He is an total failure - we have all been Trumped.
This is so much worse than I though it could be.
3
You may be right, but you got to be fair. Trump didn't really mean what he said, because he never really says what he means.... and that of course is why he is presidency is doomed to failure.
1
It matters not whether we are "heading into an election year". The "President" is mad. He's unhinged- he cannot grasp the gravity of the situations that are happening in our country and our world. When the head of state can only "tweet" 6th-grade level taunts and go to "Thank you rallies", he should be fired because he is not doing his job. The man is a fraud.
3
The editorial says it all - well done!
The only problem is that once Trump goes we have Pence - a blatant religious ideologue who is readying to take over. He will be more competent to further the Republicans' appalling agenda, which is even more frightening. The only hope is that the Republican brand has been damaged for a decade or two by the vile man/child and those who have propped him up.
The only problem is that once Trump goes we have Pence - a blatant religious ideologue who is readying to take over. He will be more competent to further the Republicans' appalling agenda, which is even more frightening. The only hope is that the Republican brand has been damaged for a decade or two by the vile man/child and those who have propped him up.
3
Trump's incompetence and coarse modes appeal to those who do not feel heard nor supported. He acts as though he were one of them. Thus, they feel understood and represented. Yet, he ultimately betrays them to serve only himself and the uber class.
Every demagogue voices the savagery of the mob. They scapegoat the racially, ethnically and religiously different. Trump gained power not to help the disadvantaged but to serve the needs of the elite and his never satiated greed and grandiosity.
Trump manifests our National polarization yet we must face and address the real sources of our discord, socioeconomic stratification and the emergence of an impregnable uber class, the 1/2%rs who wish no taxes nor any responsibility for our Nation and so hide behind ideology.
Politicians win by defaming their opponents rather than enunciating that we are ALL in this morass together. Trump's primitive modes voice the inarticulate rage of the excluded. Trump scapegoats to win votes but not to solve problems. The wealthy win. The poor attack each other.
We need to say clearly that blacks, Jews and immigrants are NOT the source of the problems they face but are the victims. Polarization and demonization will not do. The marginalized upon whom Trump relies and to whom he speaks must be included, understood and helped in ways that actually meet their needs.
Attacks on climate change benefits fossil fuel giants not us. 'We the people' deserve a real leader who represents ALL of us.
Every demagogue voices the savagery of the mob. They scapegoat the racially, ethnically and religiously different. Trump gained power not to help the disadvantaged but to serve the needs of the elite and his never satiated greed and grandiosity.
Trump manifests our National polarization yet we must face and address the real sources of our discord, socioeconomic stratification and the emergence of an impregnable uber class, the 1/2%rs who wish no taxes nor any responsibility for our Nation and so hide behind ideology.
Politicians win by defaming their opponents rather than enunciating that we are ALL in this morass together. Trump's primitive modes voice the inarticulate rage of the excluded. Trump scapegoats to win votes but not to solve problems. The wealthy win. The poor attack each other.
We need to say clearly that blacks, Jews and immigrants are NOT the source of the problems they face but are the victims. Polarization and demonization will not do. The marginalized upon whom Trump relies and to whom he speaks must be included, understood and helped in ways that actually meet their needs.
Attacks on climate change benefits fossil fuel giants not us. 'We the people' deserve a real leader who represents ALL of us.
105
Can we please dispense with this media generated myth that the CEO's who quit Trump's advisory boards did so out of their patriotism and personal hatred for racism and bigotry to stand up to Trump and his ill advised supporting statements of the fascists in Virginia? One of them did. Kenneth Frazier the CEO of Merck. He was the first to step down and I believe did so for personal and ethical reasons, not business interests. The others (to their credit) followed but it was Frazier (who happens to be African American) who led the way. Did the other CEO's, like Mr. Frazier, do so because of their personal commitment to diversity and for ethical and moral reasons? Perhaps, but the main reason they quit Trump's business panels is the outcry from their customers and shareholders. These CEO's not named Frazier didn't stand up to Trump by resigning from these committees. They reacted to the outrage of their customers and shareholders and did what was necessary for their bottom line. Only Mr. Frazier can truly be held as a hero to civil rights, diversity, and American moral standards as a reaction to Trump and what happened in Virginia.
87
That just means that we as consumers and customers need to keep the pressure on regarding many issues, including and importantly labor rights and the environment
4
So true. The only time the "majority" matters in this nation is when the corporate elite determine that their particular majority of consumers won't like their public positions and so defer to their consumers' demands. Not so with our representative government. Majority matters not a whit!
Although I gave you a thumbs up on your comment, let's not forget that Frazier represents one of the top three vilest industries in the world. An industry without a moral compass that deceives customers and drives up the cost of health care only to keep its shareholders satisfied is hardly a role model, notwithstanding any public action on the part of a CEO.
On August 17 the Times published an op-ed piece by Julius Krein in which he announced that he had finally lost faith in Trump. He then went on to enumerate all the reasons why he'd initially voted for him. If a seemingly sane and rational Republican like Krein was so easily deluded into voting for a know-nothing charlatan, how likely is it that less informed Trump supporters will ever see the light when it comes to the monstrous failings of this man?
It doesn't bode well for the future of the country. If we survive Trump, who might those deluded voters turn to next? What we're suffering from in this country is an intellectual crisis--a large portion of the population seems unable to reason rationally. This applies even to seemingly sane and informed voters like Krein.
It doesn't bode well for the future of the country. If we survive Trump, who might those deluded voters turn to next? What we're suffering from in this country is an intellectual crisis--a large portion of the population seems unable to reason rationally. This applies even to seemingly sane and informed voters like Krein.
7
No single living individual has benefited more from the wishful thinking of naifs than Donald Trump.
1
It's imperative that the nuclear football--the briefcase that would enable Trump to use the codes to initiate a nuclear strike--be removed from his control. This man has crossed every red line that we once thought would contain him. Why, then, would he stop at the line of using nuclear weapons? Let's not continue to be surprised after the fact. Trump is emotionally dysregulated. He has no concept of proportionate response. While "fire and fury" almost certainly has a pleasant ring for him, I honestly don't believe he has any idea of what such pleasing alliteration signifies. It's all so abstract, so far away. He doesn't understand concepts of empathy, of service, of "the common good." He viscerally distrusts notions of kindness and compassion. These are the characteristics of a sociopath. If Trump sees advantage to himself in doing a thing, he will do it. Remove the nuclear option immediately.
5
Trump is the result, not the cause. Between Palin, W., and Trump, about half the voters have signaled that they're fine with stupid, as long as they have their egos stroked. Being told they're "real Americans" is what counts. Not facts, not equality, not civility. Because changing with the times is hard, while bigotry and platitudes are easy.
This is not going away with Trump. There will be more Trumps in office, probably a lot more. We'd better get used to it.
This is not going away with Trump. There will be more Trumps in office, probably a lot more. We'd better get used to it.
4
Start putting pressure on the reps. in Congress to censure him for his worst bigoted tweets, actions.
If he doesn't listen, impeach him.
If he doesn't listen, impeach him.
5
"It thus seems beyond unlikely that Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, or Paul Ryan, the weak-kneed speaker of the House, would entertain any thought of strong action, like censure." Yet you will not acknowledge that these two men and their devotion to their party are responsible for this man being in office in the first place? All they ask of a president is to be of their party. Character, honesty, intelligence and concern for the American people are not a requirement. Until elected officials put their country ahead of their party, Trump and his kind will continue this absurd, immoral, illegal, and self-centered domination of our political process. McConnell and Ryan must go at the same time as Trump, or we will simply have to live with another incompetent president.
3
Trump has been riding on the coat tails of the Obama economy, which was still accelerating when he took office. As soon as the Obama economic momentum runs out and we begin to live under the affects of the Trump economy or the natural economic cycle of recession kicks in, thing will really get ugly for President Trump. The government can only run itself for so long, eventually the ability to govern determines everything and so far Trump has proven he doesn't even understand the concept.
3
If Trump was a good politician, he would have blamed only white supremacists for all violence in Virginia and he would have done it in the loudest voice. Most Americans assign some blame to alt-left who engaged in violence as Trump did. We understand what MSM and "fake news" are doing their best to shake people's support for Trump. They peddle in fake news, false stories and exaggerations to discredit him. Trump is an unPC president and says things the way other politicians would not dare to say. That is not moral failure, but moral courage, the way ACLU defends in some situations including in Virginia. These same people who claim to have moral superiority fail the smell test. They failed to criticize a president who called radical Islamic terrorism as "work place violence " or "man made disasters" and still refuses to condemn them calling out their name. How many democrats are willing to do that? And why?
1
Just wondering, Al, if you have some method for identifying "radical Islamic terrorists"?
Some way of telling them apart from non-radical terrorists, or non-Islamic terrorists, or Islamic people who are not terrorists.
Also kind of wondering if you have evidence that calling names increases safety or efficacy of control?
Because it really sounds kind of silly, on the same level as 'Freedom Fries' and the powerful conviction that politicians who don't ruin their best suit with little American flag pin holes are traitors.
Some way of telling them apart from non-radical terrorists, or non-Islamic terrorists, or Islamic people who are not terrorists.
Also kind of wondering if you have evidence that calling names increases safety or efficacy of control?
Because it really sounds kind of silly, on the same level as 'Freedom Fries' and the powerful conviction that politicians who don't ruin their best suit with little American flag pin holes are traitors.
This country deserves Trump. Trump never bothered to even tried show that he is better human being than what he was/is doing and saying. So, if people are dismayed, well, they ought to be dismayed at those who voted for him (we tend not to blame voters as they might be lied to or deceived, not sure if this would give voters immunity of blame or some of the blame in the case of Trump). You get what you vote for, and elections have consequences, this one, I fear will have devastating and everlasting impact on this nation and its future. When someone praises Putin as a good/strong leader and has long history of scamming people, misogyny, racism, and displaying irrational tendencies and childish behavior, well, it is not going to get better when you are at the age of 71 (one may excuse it on early onset dementia if it was not for the long history of this man). There is a price to pay, and we ought to be ready and willing to pay the price instead of hoping (or otherwise complaining) that the president will mature or the generals around him are able to control him. This is a lose-lose proposition and before we lose our souls, we need to do some serious soul searching as a nation and be ready to admit our sins, flaws, and mistakes. Otherwise, we deserve Trump as he is!
2
It is less likely that Trump will resign than that he has a complete mental breakdown on TV and no one will know it because it will look no different than his usual behavior and language.
2
The evidence is in. We need a divorce from this man as the relationship has become abusive. We need the divorce lawyers on the scene.
2
The only real mystery is how anybody could possibly be surprised that Donald Trump continues to be the boorish, dishonest, cynical, ignorant sociopath he has obviously been for decades. It takes a truly ignorant voting public to allow such a man to become President. This is the problem that must be solved, even if and when we are fortunate enough to be rid of the Donald.
2
You put it succinctly: the man quite obviously lacks any sense of decency and any measure of common sense. This being the case, will the spineless creatures within the Beltway ever summon up the courage to say "Enough is Enough?"
1
Brilliant summation. And "weak-kneed" Paul Ryan and McConnell are co-conspirators, as far as I'm concerned. And speaking of co-conspirators, was that not amazing when McConnell's wife, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao stated after Trump's tirade, "I stand by my man...both of them." What??
I almost hope Trump stays in office until Mueller and his team reach their incontestable conclusions, and we will experience the joy of seeing a trail of Trump staffers with their boss, being marched off to prison. If he leaves before Mueller's final findings, he might be permitted to slither into the sunset instead of taking his medicine. But boy howdy he is doing so much damage in the meantime (emphasis on "mean"). What a dilemma.
I almost hope Trump stays in office until Mueller and his team reach their incontestable conclusions, and we will experience the joy of seeing a trail of Trump staffers with their boss, being marched off to prison. If he leaves before Mueller's final findings, he might be permitted to slither into the sunset instead of taking his medicine. But boy howdy he is doing so much damage in the meantime (emphasis on "mean"). What a dilemma.
3
There will be little remedy until Citizens United is overturned, and there will be little remedy without a change in Congressional leadership. Who controls those who make decisions? Who supports their campaigns? What hope is there that we will have some relief from media control by the wealthy, a shadow government that ensures "their guys" are placed in pivotal elected seats throughout local, state and national government? This is the real news. Only one Senatorial seat needs to be changed in a Republican controlled state (such as New Jersey) for the Senate to shift, and the Trump Presidency will achieve even greater success in promoting their regressive agenda. The media is clueless, as Trump plays them all. The next great success of the Trump Presidency: he has yet to release his taxes.
1
"There are some signs that our democratic system is working to contain Mr. Trump."
Americans, and, indeed, all citizens around the world who treasure democracy and freedom, should take comfort in this observation. When the temptation to believe our democratic system is failing becomes overwhelming, we must hang onto our convictions and know that our system has strengths that we haven't even seen yet.
Americans, and, indeed, all citizens around the world who treasure democracy and freedom, should take comfort in this observation. When the temptation to believe our democratic system is failing becomes overwhelming, we must hang onto our convictions and know that our system has strengths that we haven't even seen yet.
2
In a truly democratic system, with a 75% disapproval rating, he would be swiftly voted out of office. Case closed.
In the developed world, among democracies, only in the US would such a pathetic (pathological) & dangerous figure be permitted to occupy such a prestigious & powerful seat in office. He will not be easily dislodged &, unless he resigns, Corporate America will continue to have its way with ordinary folk.
No, Greek Goddess, "all citizens around the world" certainly do NOT take comfort in such an undemocratic system as yours - in fact, we are endangered by it. In fact, you could learn a great deal from all the rest of us in the First world who actually do democracy in their Governments.
In the developed world, among democracies, only in the US would such a pathetic (pathological) & dangerous figure be permitted to occupy such a prestigious & powerful seat in office. He will not be easily dislodged &, unless he resigns, Corporate America will continue to have its way with ordinary folk.
No, Greek Goddess, "all citizens around the world" certainly do NOT take comfort in such an undemocratic system as yours - in fact, we are endangered by it. In fact, you could learn a great deal from all the rest of us in the First world who actually do democracy in their Governments.
1
Thanks to today’s NY Times “Trump’s Bad Week? To Supporters, It Went Just Fine.” While I have in the past found NY Times editorial comments to measured, the article makes the points that that editorial content like this appears strident, condescending, and most importantly irrelevant to their lives and the life of the nation as they know it. Trump was just a little to frank about the proven fact so on the left did engage in violence, perhaps aggravated, but never the less pushing and shoving, etc.
While I appreciate the nations focus on continuing racial injustices, it distracts from what I consider is the centuries dominant issue, the continued economic destruction of the middle/working class by the top .01 percent. The Democrats stood by as the rich plundered this nations resources, and created the stressed classes who still have hope for Trump. What is most important is taking power back from the ultrarich and restoring our democracy. The Koch Broth, et al, love liberal intellectuals giving the cover of night to their activities.
While I appreciate the nations focus on continuing racial injustices, it distracts from what I consider is the centuries dominant issue, the continued economic destruction of the middle/working class by the top .01 percent. The Democrats stood by as the rich plundered this nations resources, and created the stressed classes who still have hope for Trump. What is most important is taking power back from the ultrarich and restoring our democracy. The Koch Broth, et al, love liberal intellectuals giving the cover of night to their activities.
33
Except that the Republicans did the same. So your point is moot. By the way, the Koch Brothers funded Republicans, not Democrats.
2
Coverstory, it's easy to consider "distractions" any injustices that do not personally affect you. For those who ARE personally affected, race and/or gender are not mere distractions but, rather, the single biggest determinants of our economic futures. White men did very well in the 1950's and 1960's, even while the educational, career and earning opportunities for others remained outrageously limited. And for women, control over their reproductive future underlies virtually all opportunities to advancement.
You have got it backwards -- your economic justice depends on unity -- I.e., on making racial and gender justice essential rather than considering it it an irrelevant "distraction" from your economic needs. Until white men find common cause with the rest of us, fighting for us even as we fight for you, the plutocrats will continue to divide, co-opt and defeat all of us.
You have got it backwards -- your economic justice depends on unity -- I.e., on making racial and gender justice essential rather than considering it it an irrelevant "distraction" from your economic needs. Until white men find common cause with the rest of us, fighting for us even as we fight for you, the plutocrats will continue to divide, co-opt and defeat all of us.
3
"While I appreciate the nations focus on continuing racial injustices, it distracts from what I consider is the centuries dominant issue, the continued economic destruction of the middle/working class by the top .01 percent."
BOTH issues are important to correct if we ever want equality, peace, and justice. The Democrats have to also learn that crony capitalism is toxic. TOXIC! Unfortunately, the means by which any of these politicians, -- republican, Democrat, or any other -- get elected is, in great part, through crony capitalism. The system stinks. And we will NEVER be able to do away with corruption and stupidity. I read something funny, and also sad, the other day: "You cannot fix stupid, even with duct tape!" Stupidity abounds! And as long as there have been humans there has been corruption. All the good things about humanity, as well as all the bad, unbearable, intolerable, evil things about humanity will always be with us. Which doesn't mean that we should not strive to correct the bad, but I think ALL these traits are indelibly woven into the fabric of our various genetics. Some have good character, and others have bad character. A fact of life. But we CAN make big money in politics ILLEGAL. WE HAVE TO.
BOTH issues are important to correct if we ever want equality, peace, and justice. The Democrats have to also learn that crony capitalism is toxic. TOXIC! Unfortunately, the means by which any of these politicians, -- republican, Democrat, or any other -- get elected is, in great part, through crony capitalism. The system stinks. And we will NEVER be able to do away with corruption and stupidity. I read something funny, and also sad, the other day: "You cannot fix stupid, even with duct tape!" Stupidity abounds! And as long as there have been humans there has been corruption. All the good things about humanity, as well as all the bad, unbearable, intolerable, evil things about humanity will always be with us. Which doesn't mean that we should not strive to correct the bad, but I think ALL these traits are indelibly woven into the fabric of our various genetics. Some have good character, and others have bad character. A fact of life. But we CAN make big money in politics ILLEGAL. WE HAVE TO.
1
The Editorial Board should gather up their marbles and go home. Clinton lost. Get over it. Stock market up over 20% in less than one year. That has not happened in the last decade. Unemployment is down, Companies are opening plants to produce product in the US. Time to switch the dialogue. Major issue is term limits in Congress. Too many career politicians that are happy to toe the line, collect a government paycheck and benefits, and do little independent thinking and acting. Got to shake up that bunch and increase their productivity.
3
And the US dollar is down about the same 20%. So, in a global sense, even the stock market gains you tout are illusory.
1
RCS
You are aware, aren't you, that that 20% increase in stock values is terrifyingly temporary? And that it is of little benefit to people who could really use the help?
That the majority of those new jobs were slated to come here before Mr. Obama left office?
That much of the increase in employment is due to the globalization you-all hate and blame on Democrats?
More important, you are aware that your President has undermined or destroyed many of our most important trading relationships and encouraged our best customers to find more reliable, less greedy sources for the goods they buy? That one will be coming home to roost in short order.
You are aware, aren't you, that that 20% increase in stock values is terrifyingly temporary? And that it is of little benefit to people who could really use the help?
That the majority of those new jobs were slated to come here before Mr. Obama left office?
That much of the increase in employment is due to the globalization you-all hate and blame on Democrats?
More important, you are aware that your President has undermined or destroyed many of our most important trading relationships and encouraged our best customers to find more reliable, less greedy sources for the goods they buy? That one will be coming home to roost in short order.
1
Are Trump's ties and Ivanka's shoes among the product now being manufactured in the States?
Providing we get it right on 2018 and 2020, is there a silver lining in some of this? Have we exposed the potential abusive power of the executive branch? Will a sensible (yea, I'll go there) bipartisan congress to revisit and align where needed? The 2yr/4yr time frame ahead seems daunting for us living through this nightmare, but for our children and our children's children, perhaps some good can come of this? Who knows..
"But Mr. Trump has now made that subtext his text. "
Excellent observation and precisely the reason "weak-kneed" Speaker Ryan and colleague McConnell have done little to stop him -- he's simply fulfilling the GOP agenda but this time with the curtain lifted.
Excellent observation and precisely the reason "weak-kneed" Speaker Ryan and colleague McConnell have done little to stop him -- he's simply fulfilling the GOP agenda but this time with the curtain lifted.
3
While we all condemn Trump for the music he fiddles, we need to stay focused on the fact that Rome is burning. Government is essential to our country and to our economy. While there has long been republican talk of starving the government, Trump's profound neglect for the institutions and operations of the executive branch poses a serious threat the day to day ability of the government to function.
2
Trump still has to deliver on his promises - not the ones he 'articulated' to the 'People' - I mean the ones he made to the wealthy donors behind closed doors. They invested heavily in this clown and are now anxiously awaiting their return on this most ill-considered of investments.
3
Trump is failing? Was it ever fair to think that he might succeed? Trump the man whose world view is based on lies and conspiracy theories. A man whose policies consist merely of word salad sprinkled with "beautiful" and "the best". A man who would rather be golfing and tweeting from one of his many resorts rather than leading from the White House. A liar, an untrustworthy and unpredictable ally. A man so thin skinned that even the slightest criticism sends him into a twitter rage. A man who has fired almost everyone around him and find new adversaries on a daily basis. A man who sees many sides and consistently chooses the wrong one. No these aren't the traits of someone destined to succeed.
Without a doubt the most over used and superficial phrase used in these situations is that of,”…to heal the wounds….”
Seems instead that the wounds just fester on all the more despite the lofty remarks of the moment.
In this case, President Trump may well have left-handedly and quite inadvertently caused throngs of Americans to stand up in loud indignation for the moral obverse of what the President seemed to immorally condone about the confrontations in Charlottesville.
The notion here that the solution to the Trump disaster is some form of organic democratic containment, or that censure is out of the question, misses the moral mark. Add into this grab bag this suggestion: “But it’s fair to ask: Purely as a matter of political self-preservation, wouldn’t a concerted effort to drag Mr. Trump away from the fringes make sense?”
The Times is doing here what seems the prevailing inclination — to rightly pummel Trump for outrageous actions and speech and then avoid at all costs the outright assertion that Donald Trump is monumentally unpresidential and incompetent to hold the highest office in the land, and therefore should be censured.
Seems instead that the wounds just fester on all the more despite the lofty remarks of the moment.
In this case, President Trump may well have left-handedly and quite inadvertently caused throngs of Americans to stand up in loud indignation for the moral obverse of what the President seemed to immorally condone about the confrontations in Charlottesville.
The notion here that the solution to the Trump disaster is some form of organic democratic containment, or that censure is out of the question, misses the moral mark. Add into this grab bag this suggestion: “But it’s fair to ask: Purely as a matter of political self-preservation, wouldn’t a concerted effort to drag Mr. Trump away from the fringes make sense?”
The Times is doing here what seems the prevailing inclination — to rightly pummel Trump for outrageous actions and speech and then avoid at all costs the outright assertion that Donald Trump is monumentally unpresidential and incompetent to hold the highest office in the land, and therefore should be censured.
"[H]e chose instead to deliver a defense of white supremacists that raised as never before profound doubts about his moral compass, his grasp of the obligations of his office and his fitness to occupy it."
The one element of this editorial that I think isn't spot on: "as never before." There's always been a dark, straight line leading here (and to his many other disasters to date, and to who knows what new catastrophes beyond) from each of: The sexual assaults, admitted on the bus. The goading of rally attendees to put dissenters "on stretchers." The statement that he found his daughter sexually attractive enough to date but for the inconvenient familial tie. The business practices, including defrauding aspiring real estate students; stiffing hard-working contractors; and playing repeated slippery games with investors that left them holding big, bankrupt bags of dirt while he slipped out with enough cash in his pocket for many more meals at "21." The mocking of a disabled reporter.
And to those who'd still insist (breathtakingly) that those are all "style" and not germane to the Presidency, I'd ask what single, even tiny thing has he done in eight months on the job to demonstrate that he's capable of more than putting on a suit each day, getting on and off the big plane, sitting in meetings, making public appearances with his jaw set in (I'd bet a mirror-practiced) scowl of gravitas, and of course furiously tweeting at 2am?
He has wasted our time for far too long already.
The one element of this editorial that I think isn't spot on: "as never before." There's always been a dark, straight line leading here (and to his many other disasters to date, and to who knows what new catastrophes beyond) from each of: The sexual assaults, admitted on the bus. The goading of rally attendees to put dissenters "on stretchers." The statement that he found his daughter sexually attractive enough to date but for the inconvenient familial tie. The business practices, including defrauding aspiring real estate students; stiffing hard-working contractors; and playing repeated slippery games with investors that left them holding big, bankrupt bags of dirt while he slipped out with enough cash in his pocket for many more meals at "21." The mocking of a disabled reporter.
And to those who'd still insist (breathtakingly) that those are all "style" and not germane to the Presidency, I'd ask what single, even tiny thing has he done in eight months on the job to demonstrate that he's capable of more than putting on a suit each day, getting on and off the big plane, sitting in meetings, making public appearances with his jaw set in (I'd bet a mirror-practiced) scowl of gravitas, and of course furiously tweeting at 2am?
He has wasted our time for far too long already.
1
I'm glad to see that the Democrats are finally getting around to proposing a Resolution of Censure in the House. It is the one way to get Republicans on record as being for or against the lies, reprehensible behavior, and unfitness of the President. The resolution ought to call for the President's resignation. Are there any Republicans who think Mike Pence isn't the better option for their agenda? Or would they prefer to campaign while dragging around the stinking pile of garbage Trump has handed them?
If I were a Republican Pol, running for office, it would be far easier to defend coming to the conclusion --allbeit at the eleventh hour--that the country is better off without Trump.
If I were a Republican Pol, running for office, it would be far easier to defend coming to the conclusion --allbeit at the eleventh hour--that the country is better off without Trump.
Very well said ... restrained and balanced. We no longer need to demonize or ridicule Trump. We need to remove him.
3
I can't help but wonder if tomorrow's solar eclipse represents a metaphor for our democracy, hoping that the three minutes will surely pass letting the light shine again on our country.
2
Great editorial. But what about withholding federal funding for the ACA? Will Congress stop him? Here come the two of the most wrong headed leaders in history, Ryan and McConnell, to save the day. Right! Your correct, their ineptitude and refusal to overcome their ideologies doesn't look to a rational outcome in anything Congress does. They continue to pander to the man-child. The birther fiasco should have warned more Americans of the mentality of Trump. Was he always 'on the fringe' as you say, or was he rational at one time? I don't think so. As you age your ability to change becomes more difficult and you have to want to do it. Trump is too egotistical, narcissistic and such a world class liar that he needs constant reinforcement that he is 'wonderful'. This is what the sycophants are for. Will the real women and men step forward and reign this fool in!?
The best strategy is to offer Trump a face-saving exit - his resignation on health grounds etc. A forceful removal from office would only serve his diehard supporters as a conspiracy theory that he has always touted.
Perhaps the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller can find something that could be used as a leverage to force Trump to resign. I doubt if he really enjoys remaining in office.
Perhaps the Special Counsel, Robert Mueller can find something that could be used as a leverage to force Trump to resign. I doubt if he really enjoys remaining in office.
3
As a citizen, I am doing my part in "...working to contain Mr. Trump..." using our democratic system of free speech, free assembly and representative government.
With bated breath I am vigilantly monitoring the other components of our democratic system hoping that they will be strong enough to withstand the onslaught of this presidency.
So far the democratic system seems to be holding but given the lack of support of the republicans in Congress and the ostensible need to endure until at least 2020, I am like Senator Susan Collins of Main, "very worried."
With bated breath I am vigilantly monitoring the other components of our democratic system hoping that they will be strong enough to withstand the onslaught of this presidency.
So far the democratic system seems to be holding but given the lack of support of the republicans in Congress and the ostensible need to endure until at least 2020, I am like Senator Susan Collins of Main, "very worried."
1
In " deciding to abandon the legacy of Lincoln" Donald Trump may have embraced the legacy of Robert E. Lee. Perhaps. More to the point however is the fact that he's simply following the same playbook the GOP has been using since at least 1968. Lest we forget, George H.W. Bush rode into the White House on the back of the divisive tactics and bigotry articulated by Lee Atwater and before that Ronald Reagan kicked off his presidential run in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Whether Trump is more honest than his Republican predecessors and fellow-travelers I don't know. What I do know is that in many ways he is not unique: he is the logical conclusion of a party that has maintained its political position by appealing to worst elements in American society for the past half-century
2
We have a president who is sick in the head, supported by his cowardly party and rabid, hate-fueled zealots of his base. It will take courageous Republican members of Congress to remove this unwholesome fellow from office, either by impeachment or as provided under the 25th amendment. We observe our Congress and its test of patriotism.
2
Donald Trump was an imcompetent creep when he was being celebrated as a luxury tycoon in the late '80s and early '90s, he was an incompetent creep when NBC foisted him on us again by making him a game show host, and he remains an incompetent creep today, regardless of whatever conciliatory gestures he makes.
Lots of Americans, college-educated or not, are perfectly willing to be led by incompetent creeps as long as they say what we want to hear, but not and never me. We should have all known his true nature decades ago, but too many of us chose to be fascinated with him instead. Ugh.
Lots of Americans, college-educated or not, are perfectly willing to be led by incompetent creeps as long as they say what we want to hear, but not and never me. We should have all known his true nature decades ago, but too many of us chose to be fascinated with him instead. Ugh.
5
I want Trump to fail. That doesn't mean America will fail as a result. Trump may be President---although I would like an audit of the Electoral College results. I question the validity of the Electoral College results. That is something the FBI should investigate. There indeed was voter fraud during the 2016 election. But it was in Trump's favor. The Electoral College would be an easy place for the Russians to tamper directly with the vote.
I want Trump to fail because Trump is not America and does not represent true American values. Trump has no moral compass and no ethics. Trump only cares about the bottom line---about getting results. Trump will do and say anything to get results. For Trump anything goes. The end justifies the means. A very dangerous attitude for the President of the United States to have. A very dangerous and unsafe attitude for the CEO of the most powerful nation in the world. Imagine a spoiled two year old brat with nuclear weapons in his toy box.
Trump doesn't care about anybody but himself. Trump only wants more attention and more adulation. Trump doesn't give a hoot about America.
Trump only cares about himself. Trump is a failure as President a disaster and a disgrace. Trump should resign at once and let someone who knows what they are doing take over. Pence presents his own problems but at least is more predictable more and stable.
I want Trump to fail because Trump is not America and does not represent true American values. Trump has no moral compass and no ethics. Trump only cares about the bottom line---about getting results. Trump will do and say anything to get results. For Trump anything goes. The end justifies the means. A very dangerous attitude for the President of the United States to have. A very dangerous and unsafe attitude for the CEO of the most powerful nation in the world. Imagine a spoiled two year old brat with nuclear weapons in his toy box.
Trump doesn't care about anybody but himself. Trump only wants more attention and more adulation. Trump doesn't give a hoot about America.
Trump only cares about himself. Trump is a failure as President a disaster and a disgrace. Trump should resign at once and let someone who knows what they are doing take over. Pence presents his own problems but at least is more predictable more and stable.
4
Donald Trump has used the "bully pulpit" of the presidency to give a full-throated defense of white supremacism. But the tepid tone of those few Republican members of Congress, who have spoken out against this vileness and their continued support of voter suppression efforts makes me question their sincerity. To my mind they are not stating that Trump is wrong, only that he is being too obvious. They are not telling him to stop, only to lower his voice. In the end, they are only telling the president to put down his bullhorn and pick up the racist dog whistle that that they have been silently and successfully blowing for decades.
144
So Trump gave a "full-throated defense of white supremacism"?
Sorry, NO. And don't put words in his mouth.
I am worried that our common perception of reality is becoming unglued.
Sorry, NO. And don't put words in his mouth.
I am worried that our common perception of reality is becoming unglued.
I've been comforting myself since the inauguration with the belief that Trump would be out by Christmas. I figured he would dig himself into an abyss. Listen, folks, he's giving us all the opportunity we could want. It will continue to be some work, but I sincerely think we could get him out if we would only take our many advantages. With any luck, our efforts would give some pause to the remaining Republicans between now and 2018, when we'll have the opportunity to dump them all.
Wouldn't it be good if we could impeach them all!? The founding fathers (bless them) forgot to consider the possibility that a whole party might go criminally awry.
Wouldn't it be good if we could impeach them all!? The founding fathers (bless them) forgot to consider the possibility that a whole party might go criminally awry.
3
It's not a failed presidency as much as a failed electorate.
The fact that roughly a third of the public continues to endorse this man despite his blatantly obvious monumental shortcomings is a national embarrassment.
The fact that roughly a third of the public continues to endorse this man despite his blatantly obvious monumental shortcomings is a national embarrassment.
10
The Challenge facing the American People needs to focus on the realization that we currently have a President who has no interest in serving the American People - Republicans or Democrats. We have a leader who is interested in serving himself, his bank accounts and the the bank accounts of a host of oligarchs who are driven my insatiable greed. Meanwhile, most of our Senators and Congressional Leaders stand by and pathetically shrug their shoulders and remain silent. A huge travesty of this political mess centers on the growing reality that Trump and his political organization and Fox News conned, lied and manipulated the fear and anxiety of many Americans to gain Mr. Trump's access to the White House. Trump never had any intention of serving the American People or Making America Great Again. He serves himself. Unless Mr. Trump is removed from power (along with many of his cronies and partners in this crime) the American People and our democratic principals will be decimated. I pray that WE THE PEOPLE wake up and realize that Mr. Trump will not go quietly. He is and will continue to allow many American institutions and initiatives to implode to get his way... including health care, environmental and scientific research, civil rights and freedom of speech. Trump will use any and all the insidious tactics he has in his tool chest to get his way and he will not go quietly into the night.
3
Too many anti-depressant prescriptions have been written since Trump assumed the office of the presidency.
What needs to be written are postcards mailed to senators and congressmen/women telling them over and over if need be, the equivalent of "I am your constituent, I vote, and I am outraged by Trump. For the time being, vote to censure him. When Mr. Mueller's report is issued, we can follow up with what needs to be done."
Call or write your senators and congressmen/women. They all keep a log of every phone call they get and they all agree on one thing -- they hate to hear from angry constituents and they are ALWAYS counting votes.
Make your vote count.
What needs to be written are postcards mailed to senators and congressmen/women telling them over and over if need be, the equivalent of "I am your constituent, I vote, and I am outraged by Trump. For the time being, vote to censure him. When Mr. Mueller's report is issued, we can follow up with what needs to be done."
Call or write your senators and congressmen/women. They all keep a log of every phone call they get and they all agree on one thing -- they hate to hear from angry constituents and they are ALWAYS counting votes.
Make your vote count.
3
Trump was elected president under the existing laws of the US, even though his opponent got millions more of the popular vote than he did. The existence of the electoral college is responsible for this absurdity and it should be abolished.
The Constitution is broken and desperately needs to be fixed and updated before it becomes so obsolete that it leads to the destruction of the US.
The Constitution is broken and desperately needs to be fixed and updated before it becomes so obsolete that it leads to the destruction of the US.
1
In a perverse way, we are lucky that the first Trumpist to hold the office is a lazy and incompetent buffoon. Bad as he is, he is less worrisome than a chief executive who holds the same noxious attitudes as he does -- a winning political calculation, BTW -- and political savvy to see his vile policies through. In a way, Trump illuminated the dark heart of American policies. Many voters do not approve of democracy and its messiness nor do they require a leader with personal morality so long as that leader can validate their own prejudices. Trump has overturned a rock; beware of the skilled politico who will ride this wave to office. Trump should never have gotten this far. But now that he has, it is up to decent Americans to make sure that he is kept in check and that the next Trumpist candidate never makes it out of a primary election.
2
I've read many good articles about Trump, but this is the best. Well done! And please keep it up. My reading of Trump is that however belligerent he becomes when confronted with his failings, he is ultimately pretty thin-skinned, and enough criticism will finally prompt him to just want to take his ball and go home.
Why still getting agitated by this president ?
What really should concern everyone is, who will replace him.
Because there is a good chance to get out of the pan and into the fire.
Just give some names of decent and able politicians with a real chance.
What really should concern everyone is, who will replace him.
Because there is a good chance to get out of the pan and into the fire.
Just give some names of decent and able politicians with a real chance.
1
Trump lauded the police during the Boston protests.
What he's really doing, is grooming them for his dirty work.
If Trump was truly supportive of the police, he'd be working on banning assault weapons which are readily available to the general public.
These dangerous weapons should only be for police and soldiers.
What he's really doing, is grooming them for his dirty work.
If Trump was truly supportive of the police, he'd be working on banning assault weapons which are readily available to the general public.
These dangerous weapons should only be for police and soldiers.
2
Listen to yourselves, if that's possible, in this echo chimer of opinion. Declare the Trump Presidency "failing" or "failed", talk of "getting rid" of him. By actual voting, the same way he was legally elected, or by some other contrived or nefarious means?? The electoral approach didn't work so well the first time and the coronation was disrupted. Once we admit that this faux outrage is all about that, we can have an honest discussion. The voting part may be too hard, or much effort, so lets hope for some indictment by Mueller?
1
Kasich: "We're rooting for Trump to get it together."
So much for Republican leadership.
So much for Republican leadership.
3
Today, Sunday, I can only hope evangelical preachers shamble grief stricken to their pulpits to denounce the plague of bigotry and racism that the interloper in the White House has endorsed. Jerry Falwell have your better angels lifted you off your tower of babble and inspired you with love for the Brotherhood of Man?
3
Stop kvetching and kvelling and support voter registration and get out the vote drives where ever and when ever you can.
Talk to family and friends in red states and urge them to help.
And keep up the conversation and encouragement.
The inglorious footwork has to be done for our nation to continue and if you can help with that so much the better.
Throw out the people who vote the trump agenda.
There is no such thing as trump light or a good nazi.
Talk to family and friends in red states and urge them to help.
And keep up the conversation and encouragement.
The inglorious footwork has to be done for our nation to continue and if you can help with that so much the better.
Throw out the people who vote the trump agenda.
There is no such thing as trump light or a good nazi.
3
The good news is the GOP have shown themselves to be utterly craven, completely devoted to tax cuts and literally nothing else. (Repealing the ACA was supposed to be their stealth tax cut before the real one.) Coupled as they now snugly are with the Nazi wing of American life, I am not sure how they survive as a party. In Boston there were fewer than 100 of their ilk, and 40,000 Americans who value pluralism, and pay their taxes to enable our civilization there to out-sing, as well as outnumber, them. I am hopeful.
7
The damage trump is doing to our country is a disaster and a tragedy of historic proportions. It will take an enormous effort by his successor to repair it, assuming that person is not cut from the same awful mould. But however long it takes, some day we will recover!
3
That the New York Times has to write this is more evidence of how awful things are in this presidency. Who would have thought that it would be necessary to castigate a sitting president to this extent. Thankful to the NYT for spelling this out, along with the dangers of the generals and the failings of the Republicans. If only the president would resign. If only the Congress would impeach him and convict him.
6
NO. Do some research--even just a little--about Mike Pence. We're better off limping to 2020 with Trump than suffering worse long terms damage with Pence/McConnell/Ryan.
Believe me, I'm no Trump supporter, but this piece is not an act of courage by the Times. They have been raking in the dough by becoming one of the most outspoken critics of Trump. Making Trump look bad for every conceivable reason is simply good for business.
1
The Trump presidency is failing only because of the opposition from the opposition party and other Republicans, who are Republican in name only (RINOs). I voted for Trump and do not regret my vote. There is no way I could have voted for his opponent; HRC offered nothing to me and other Americans, she spoke only to her constituency of "identities" who represent a vision of America with which I disagree. The direction she would have taken the nation is not what was originally intended by the Founders. I would not be proud to say I voted for HRC because my vote would have lumped me with misfits. I am not a misfit, nor are the other Americans who voted for Trump. I support the President, I support Trump.
1
Also do you support the white supremacists and would your support change if Trump killed someone on the street? There are diehard Trump supporters who are fully engaged with the most evil side of him. This is what caused Nazism and Fascism and all their evil. Trump supporters when they look in mirrors see swastikas and Confederate flags and other symbols of absolute evil.
2
@SMB,
As I said I do not want to be associated with the supporters of Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election. Let's leave it at that. Thank you.
As I said I do not want to be associated with the supporters of Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election. Let's leave it at that. Thank you.
"...he chose instead to deliver a defense of white supremacists that raised as never before profound doubts about his moral compass, his grasp of the obligations of his office and his fitness to occupy it."
Not to mention his profoundly poor grasp of facts and a total aversion to telling the truth.
Not to mention his profoundly poor grasp of facts and a total aversion to telling the truth.
5
What did one expect from a man who has never held public office? He has zero comprehension of what it means to govern "in the public interest." Failing presidency, indeed.
2
The Trump presidency is certainly a disaster but be careful of what you wish for. I am more scared of a Pence presidency combined with a Republican controlled House and Senate.
4
Yes yes yes. Trump's worse in the short run; Pence is worse in the long run.
1
Forget about the President. It's his diehard supporters who are the real problem. He was unqualified to serve the country due to his character deficiencies before he even announced his candidacy. He hasn't gotten any worse since then, his supporters have simply always been in denial of reality. How is a democracy supposed to continue functioning when a large minority of it's citizens refuse to base their decisions on facts over "feelings?"
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Trump validates the MOs of his diehards.
Yeah, that's rich, isn't it? The same Republicans who lambasted Ciinton for his lack of character happily signed on to THIS?
Good editorial; bad title. We The People have failed to remind ourselves that each and every generation must try to carry on the work of becoming "The Greatest Generation." (Thank you, Tom Brokaw!) Right now, we are the worst generation -- because we already recognize that we need to press the reset button. Politics as usual, is not the issue. Our species is. The planet-wide issues that we may soon face, from pandemics, to famine, to war, to climate change, will not care whether we have figured things out. So, fellow homo sapiens, let's get ready the next big one and forget that fool in the oval office.
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I always wonder if the folks who support Trump are persuaded by what he says, does and promises or if they support him because his thinking simply aligns with theirs. Being a proud bigot and not just the expression of bigoted ideas, to my way of thinking, is disqualifying for public office. A troubling conclusion that this presidency has led me to accept is that being a bigot is no big deal and that is not something I ever thought would come to characterize the United States.
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He gave all the deplorables permission to be the bigots they are.
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Excellent analysis !! But the real problem is Ryan and McConnell as they continue to put Trump and party ahead of country. It is imperative that the nation rollover this triumverate of bigotry and inefficiency in order to move the country forward.It would seem the only hope we have (other than resignation of Trump) is to keep resisting and focus on the 2018 elections.The country cannot afford ,in many ways, to allow this incompetency and the disloyalty of this self-interested threesome to continue
in power.Our children's and grandchildren's future is at stake and while it looks bleak at this point ,this is the United States of America after all,and
our faith in overcoming these traitors must be non-failing.It's up to us to do the right thing and our founders have given us the options to do so !!
in power.Our children's and grandchildren's future is at stake and while it looks bleak at this point ,this is the United States of America after all,and
our faith in overcoming these traitors must be non-failing.It's up to us to do the right thing and our founders have given us the options to do so !!
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I'm afraid we are like the parent hoping beyond hope that our child will at some point mature and start doing their homework. It ain't gonna happen. Those that support Trump, and I'm not talking about the political hypocrites, have always believed he was a racist. That was part of the attraction. They don't care because it doesn't adversely affect them. Stop waiting for his support to erode any further, it's not going to. The support is not based on reason, it's instinctual. It's just unfortunate that their instincts are wrong. Police and fireman overwhelmingly support the Republican Party. Every cop and fireman is in a union and gets a pension. The Republican Party hates both concepts but since cops and fireman know that no politician will ever touch their union or their pension, it's okay to vote republican. See, it's all about me, all the time. They wrap it in the flag and community but if you want to understand what is going on just think selfish. And, it may not even be reality, but it's a perceived selfishness, like I'm part of that club: think Joe the Plumber.
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I am utterly astounded at the number of Republicans who bawl about taxation when their whole income derives from public spending.
What makes the US so stupid?
What makes the US so stupid?
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What can Americans do ? Wait out 3.5 years and hope that the next time will be better. The failing presidency's durability is defined by:
1. It is unfazed by the power of reasoning and factual analysis that the mainstream media has tirelessly engaged in for so many months
2. A core base of say 25 to 30 % who are unwilling to let go still liking to believe that their version of the promised utopia is possible. The vermin who showed up last week at Charlottesville are a minuscule but noisy part of this group.
3. A much larger group say 40% actually believe that there is a media and DC establishment effort to undermine the Trump presidency negating his "victory"
So anti Trump vitriol merely cements their belief even more
4. Finally we have the Republicans who seem unwilling or incapable or both to take charge
For the Democrats this is a great political opportunity but they seem not to have grasped it! Voluntary resignation or impeachment are the only options available to save the presidency
1. It is unfazed by the power of reasoning and factual analysis that the mainstream media has tirelessly engaged in for so many months
2. A core base of say 25 to 30 % who are unwilling to let go still liking to believe that their version of the promised utopia is possible. The vermin who showed up last week at Charlottesville are a minuscule but noisy part of this group.
3. A much larger group say 40% actually believe that there is a media and DC establishment effort to undermine the Trump presidency negating his "victory"
So anti Trump vitriol merely cements their belief even more
4. Finally we have the Republicans who seem unwilling or incapable or both to take charge
For the Democrats this is a great political opportunity but they seem not to have grasped it! Voluntary resignation or impeachment are the only options available to save the presidency
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In a unified government such as we now have, the minority party lacks the power to do what you recommend. The power to impeach or remove the president is int the hands of Mitch and Paul, and they won't do it because they share the same deplorable base as Trump's. And he will NEVER resign because he will never have as much power (and public adulation) as he has in this job. The answer is for the Dems to take back at least one branch of Congress in 2018 and the WH in 2020. That's a tall order for the Dems, who find new ways to lose all the time.
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The lies add up. The scurrilous behavior goes on and on. We are in the hands of the worst, and most dangerous president ever. Each day we are informed of this in one way or another, this editorial an addition. It is well and good that we know just how despicable a mess we have fallen into, but, in my mind, with an eye on the future, we must devote, along along with adverse comment, a positive message for the future, our only hope to wrest command from he that controls the fate of our country for the next three-and-a-half years. We must emphasize a positive agenda, a future view of our nation that includes government health care, stricter control of irresponsible (again !) banking system, free state college tuition and a nationwide, minimum wage of $15. The rant against a devious politician is the mode of behavior on both sides and does not mean much to the outcome of an election. The positive agenda stated, on the other hand, will do much to win back those who had lost faith in the Democratic party because of their neglect over the past thirty years.
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It has long been said that in time of crisis, the American voter would select the leader that they needed to lead them past that crisis.
Since the "Crisis of Trump" is one of our own making, and since the Election of 2020 is still so far off, I hope the Election of 2018 is one where the voters overwhelmingly select several good leaders who will find enough cause to oust Trump. Surely two years of the groveling Pence as he replaces Trump would be preferable to letting Trump continue his destructive reign of incompetency. And hopefully Ryan will be voted out of office in the 2018 election.
Since the "Crisis of Trump" is one of our own making, and since the Election of 2020 is still so far off, I hope the Election of 2018 is one where the voters overwhelmingly select several good leaders who will find enough cause to oust Trump. Surely two years of the groveling Pence as he replaces Trump would be preferable to letting Trump continue his destructive reign of incompetency. And hopefully Ryan will be voted out of office in the 2018 election.
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No. Read just a little about Mike Pence and you'll see that we ARE better off with Trump until 2020 and then voting both of them out than letting Mike Pence sit in the Big Chair for any length of time. Pence/McConnell/Ryan will work hard together to effectuate their terrible, religion-infused agenda, whereas now Mitch and Paul spend all their time babysitting the president.
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Betsy, Pence was my Congressman until he became my governor in 2012. I know a lot more than you do about Mikey. His religious crusade is more of a ploy to get votes from the evangelicals, period.
I don't have to read about Pence... I've followed him since his first campaign, his radio show in Indy, his travels to other states and other lands. Two years of Pence as President would not be my preference, but he's just another calculating politician, more like we are used to. He's not nuts like our current Mr. President, which is my only recommendation for Pence.
I don't have to read about Pence... I've followed him since his first campaign, his radio show in Indy, his travels to other states and other lands. Two years of Pence as President would not be my preference, but he's just another calculating politician, more like we are used to. He's not nuts like our current Mr. President, which is my only recommendation for Pence.
And yet the right continues the drumbeat: Trump is the most effective president after 200 days than any other; he is the subject of a witch hunt; he'd be getting even more done if it weren't for the unprecedented persecution from the "fake news" media; the "alt-left" (whatever that is) is the cause of the trouble in Charlottesville and elsewhere. These people don't care if Trump continues to speak to the worst demons of our nature. Like their hero, they only care about winning. Wrong and right are irrelevant.
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There is a problem with how we elect our leaders. That is what needs to be discussed. The typical American does not have the time or desire to truly research each candidate thoroughly and we, as humans, are too prejudiced by our immediate cultural circle, acceptance of candidate lies and knee-jerk emotions to be able to embrace the myriad intellectual nuances of issues. IT DOESNT WORK. Someone for god's sake please come up with a better solution. Trump never should have happened.
I think computers are the future of leadership. AI sociology and governance will do a far, far better job of enabling human flourishing, saving the planet and avoiding war.
Let's get to work. Before the nukes start flying and oceans drown us all.
I think computers are the future of leadership. AI sociology and governance will do a far, far better job of enabling human flourishing, saving the planet and avoiding war.
Let's get to work. Before the nukes start flying and oceans drown us all.
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While I've been saying here for months that Trump is infinitely worse than my wildest expectations, sadly we will not be able to rid ourselves of him until things actually get substantially worse. It looks like we're going to need an economic catastrophe the size of the Great Recession to get voters to put another Democrat in the WH. Even then, most Republican voters will still vote for their current Republican representatives in Congress because, as all the studies show, people may hate Congress but they like their own elected officials. Add to this the gerrymandering and voter suppression efforts the likes of which we've never seen before, the razor-thin number of competitive seats in the House, and the 24 seats the Democrats must defend in the Senate, and you're left with some long odds of steering the Titanic away from the iceberg.
My advice to the hand-wringers in this space: regularly spend some of your weekend time canvassing and getting out the vote for good down-ballot Democratic candidates.
My advice to the hand-wringers in this space: regularly spend some of your weekend time canvassing and getting out the vote for good down-ballot Democratic candidates.
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The stock market may just stop levitating when it looks down.
Just one small point in an otherwise fine (albeit hair-raising) editorial: the failed healthcare bill was not Trump's in any way. It belongs fully to the GOP, and the nation was spared thanks only to a tiny handful of reasonable GOP Senators.
It's important not to pretend this is Trump against the world; the Republicans still own the problem, and (ironically) Trump is in certain ways stifling the GOP agenda.
It's important not to pretend this is Trump against the world; the Republicans still own the problem, and (ironically) Trump is in certain ways stifling the GOP agenda.
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