Of course the best way for the press to set a more positive tone is if they stop providing free news coverage to the hater-in-chief, Donald J. Trump. Or if that's too heavy handed, then just eliminate coverage of hateful speech, which amounts to the same thing these days.
21
Well said Gail Collins! Trump is an abomination and we need to tell the world that America is better than this. November 6th we have a chance to right the ship.
Beautiful photograph by Adrees Latif to truthfully counter the hate, race-baiting, and fear-mongering spread by the white nationalist in the White House.
18
He could deny all and save face by resigning like Nixon. Then he can continue to build his harem in some golf palace hotel among those friendly Saudis - and tweet to his heart's content...
16
I’ve read many comments over the past few weeks that contain the phrase “Trump bashing.” It seems this is most often used in a negative context. That is, that “bashing” the president serves no positive purpose. It is only harmful.
Personally, I’m unclear just what constitutes Trump bashing.
Imagine that during a broadcast of a political rally the president speaks (apparently extemporaneously) for forty minutes.
During this time, President Trump:
- Makes ten statements that obviously appear to be erroneous, misleading or just plain lies.
- Says six different obviously self-aggrandizing things about his intelligence, accomplishments, business accumen...
- On seven occasions insults his political opponents — name calling, mockery, sexist remarks, etc.
Is it Trump bashing to point these things out, perhaps while showing video clips from the rally?
Is it Trump bashing to cite resource materials pointing out the truth in relation to the president’s questionable statements. Or to pose question about which other national politicians have bragged to an audience about their IQ and brain size...
If Trump bashing is harmful to the political process, how do we define it?
He’s so incredibly easy to criticize. What rules do we follow?
11
what does trump really mean by saying the country should unify. he surely does not mean that we should unite in a spirit of compromise. what he really means is that his critics should shut up and every one should climb on board his band wagon. forget that. trump as a unifying force is like more rain in texas right now. im with HRC in this. unifying behind trump would be like setting your house on fire because your neighbor is burning his house down.
13
This write-up about Trump's insanity, danger, and character indeed is 100% correct and also fun to read. But we have read all this for more than 2 years now so let's change the focus, talk about the real White Elephant in the room: America as a whole. The Presidential elections between Trump and Ms. Clinton was about a 50/50 toss-up (true Hillary won in total votes but by just a hair and Trump won by key votes in critical states but also by a hair) thus showing that the American voters then already just didn't get along. America then already was falling apart, poorly educated, and no mature judgment of what is true leadership. This country is rotten at the core, reminds me of a once beautiful oak tree in my backyard but then having to be cut down because it was dying. America is one sick puppy and for sure Trump knows how to take advantage of it. Good luck America.
7
Trump asked about who appointed the most judges. That goes beyond just Supreme Court justices. The president appoints all federal judges, so George Washington had an entire judiciary to fill. Fortunately, unbeknown to Washington, he made it impossible for Trump to beat him and claim bragging rights.
2
The most terrifying thing imaginable, was the ease of the empowerment of the ignorant, arrogant and greedy.
This will continue to spawn new leadership, to sow and reap discontent as the path to power as a result.
Common ground will always be greed. Enough stuff and enough free money. Only ever content if the economy is. The economy uber alles state of being. Can it be that that is really the only thing that made America great?
It seems so and as such is Americas greatest vulnerability to ultimate failure as there emerges a new world economic order, which places America second, not first.
While America plummets to new depths of lunacy on a daily basis the steady rise of the sun each day before America even wakes from it's dark slumber happens in the distant East.
If all there is to American is it's economy it's in danger of extinction as we know it.
Is Trump the the first painful frightening steps towards that? Or will it incite the flames of change and passion in a country towards equality and social justice.
We will see.
8
Didn't the Republicans just rush through and pass, according to Trump, a huge middle class tax cut? Buffett is in the middle class, isn't he?
1
Gail, I usually enjoy your columns, but seriously "Trump Gets Terrible"? Trump has been terrible all along, going back to the primaries, and if you talk to New Yorkers, many of them will tell you that Trump is a con man/scam artist, and has always been one. Now the biggest joke is on the whole country instead of just NYC. He pulled off the biggest con job and convinced people that he would be the best President ever in the history of the universe. People fell for it and are still falling for it. I'm scared every day by the President because he's unstable, lies, contradicts himself, threatens enemies and allies alike, foments hate, trashes our institutions. Even worse are the Republicans who control the rest of the government because they are not acting as a check on him. They know it is bad, but they refuse to act. At least during the 1970's the Republicans had a backbone when they realized how bad Nixon was. Trump makes Nixon look like an amateur.
Let's say that Trump has a psychotic break and that does it; he's removed from office and institutionalized. Then what? Pence takes over, and I'm just as terrified of Pence as I am of Trump, but for different reasons. And if you go down the chain of command, it doesn't get any better. Mr. Eliminate Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security Paul Ryan? That's bad too. Pompeo? Ugh. This Halloween tale has horrified this voter. What we desperately need is another Washington, Lincoln, FDR, all sadly lacking in the gov.
7
The poignant photo accompanying your column shows a forlorn young mother and her infant. Those are Middle Eastern terrorists, according to Trump.
9
This is our 1933 moment. It's worth trying to be funny but it's hard to do. Not only do we (Step 1) have to win back the House on Nov. 6 despite the gerrymandering, voter suppression, internet propaganda, Fox News propaganda and likely tampering attempts by the Russians and perhaps by the Republicans themselves, we then have to (Step 2) get through a two-month period during which Trump and the Republicans may - and in my opinion probably will -- attempt to deny and thwart the results, and prevent what we will hope will be the Democratic-majority House, elected in Step 1 above, from taking their seats. This country can still be saved. It's not a long shot but it's not a done deal and this is the last chance. There are a lot of obstacles and getting the vote out in a system without a level playing field is only one of them. I noticed on the Stacey Abrams website volunteer page that in addition to "knock on doors," "phone bank," "house a staffer," and "ride to the polls," there is also "voter/election protection." It reminded me that her campaign is partly about bringing black people out to vote in the Deep South, where, when I was young, that could be worth your life, whether you were a black voter or an active white partner. It's going to be close and the Trumps, McConnells, Chris Kobachs and Brian Kemps of this country are going to try every dirty trick in the book to stop it from happening. But we had better succeed.
21
Soberly -- people are fleeing El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala because these countries have descended into violent hellholes
https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/central-americas-violent-northern-triangle
What the USA can do about this isn't clear, but so far the results are obvious: getting worse.
4
@Lee Harrison
Maybe instead of sending active US Military troops to the Mexican Border we should think about policing these gangster regimes in Central America. That way these refugees from those nations could remain to reinvent Democracy and the rule of law. That's what restores safety from the monsterous daily violence currently rampaging through their streets.
This is never going to end without some outside intervention. We'll have an endless supply of Caravans heading towards our border. But hey, many of these refugees have much to contribute, as evidenced by the hard working legal (or not) immigrants.
3
Trump sends troops to secure the border.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/25/us/politics/trump-army-border-mexico....
Next, Trump sends troops to "secure" the Fake News outlets?
We are watching the decline in real time.
10
What's the difference.....unprotected cell phone or private e-mail server??????? Big difference to me....he's the president.
4
One commonly accepted attribute of leadership is taking responsibility for the consequences of one's behavior. Perpetually blaming others for his own endless malfeasance, President Trump is the direct antithesis of a leader.
Like a human wrecking ball, Trump is demolishing our country, shred by shred. All you playground patriots out there who still support him, I hope that you'll enjoy living in your nuclear-armed failed state.
Lock him up! Make him Manafort's cellmate.
14
John Kelly and John Bolton had a "profanity-laced argument"
Nonsense.
They had a cussout.
4
Please, sooner than later. Oh please.
1
Sorry you can't make me laugh at this Gail. It's too disgusting. The day after the election I'll either be celebrating or packing.
11
Time to sound the alarm, Gail, not to crack wise.
3
@Mostly Rational
Come on now, don't fuss at Gail. She is one of the few things that is helping me to make it through this morass of a presidency. Without her, I don't think I can make it.
Carry on Ms Collins!! "Crack wise" all you want. Please.
4
Sorry Gail, even you can't make any of this humorous.
1
Trump is like having Travis Bickle as POTUS !
In less than two weeks, the GOP will not only hold the House, they will expand their advantage in the Senate, and the upward surge of our exceptional country under the Trump agenda will continue apace. The left's proverbial diaper-soiling just gets worse week after week, and I for one couldn't possibly be happier to witness it.
1
It's gonna be hard to cheer me up, too.
Under Trump are his supporters, for whom I have a question: Do you think that the Russians approve of those bombs, and would more so had they detonated? Through the propaganda of crocodile tears, they would. And so would far too many Trumpsters.
There is a parallel between Trump supporters and Russians, or at least as expressed by Russia's government. They both hate western Liberalism. And I mean classical Liberalism: they would re-write the Enlightenment in thine own image and jazz it up with Christianity. State and church would merge and let authoritarianism—Fascism—ring!
Yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!
5
Figure you're referring to Herman Munster for name of middle class tax break; as in, "a huuuge tax break, a Munster tax break". Thanks Tiny.
1
I am on the left but what is this but yet another self-indulgent exercise in Trump-bashing? I thought this article was perhaps presenting something new until the paragraph after "...scarier and scarier", when the piece dissolves into a list of new (but not really new) snafus and mockery. I agree with all of it but that's not the point! This is flagrant pandering with no educational value and frankly its irresponsible. I can't help but think that despite the NYT's disgust for Trump, they benefit from the chaos he creates.
1
@Adam
Uh, what left do you subscribe to? Is this another way of "claiming" to be a liberal or just left of the very far right? There's Jim Crow segregation, the KKK, Lynch mobs, the John Birch Society, Hitler, Mussolini, Stalin, or the current cadre of Kim Jung Un, Xi Jinping and Valdimir Putin. Being left of this list of people and political systems isn't really being "on the left."
By the way trump does a great job of "bashing" himself. Nobody does it better in self-exposing his own flaws such as having never being able to have a serious relationship with the truth, consistent self-contradiction on every issue, a neverending ability to offend anything thoughtful, the ability to bring out the worst characteristics and behaviors in people. This last sentence refers to his encouragement and cheering a US Congressman to "body slam" a credentialed member of the free press from a highly regarded news organization. There are plenty of other examples. Pipebombs may be inspired by trump's speeches or not, but they are all targeted exclusively at high level Democrats. Two former Presidents, a Vice President, Sec. of State(and recent election opponent), former Attorney General, a couple of very prominent private citizens, a current Congresswoman, and a probable coming list of others. Hopefully no one actually gets blown apart.
But we're all still free to have and express our own opinions. God bless our Democracy: "as long as we still get to keep it."(Benjamin Franklin)
2
It sure didn't take long to forget about Khashoggi.
Who ???
Maybe MBS had the bombs planted to divert attention away from his cold blooded murder of Khashoggi. Yes, that's the ticket. This is far more believable than Limbaugh's idiotic democrats did it theory.
3
Sometimes words appear when you need them. From today’s Episcopal “Daily Office”.
Ecclesiasticus 10:1-18 (NRSV)
A wise magistrate educates his people, and the rule of an intelligent person is well ordered. As the people’s judge is, so are his officials; as the ruler of the city is, so are all its inhabitants. An undisciplined king ruins his people, but a city becomes fit to live in through the understanding of its rulers. The government of the earth is in the hand of the Lord, and over it he will raise up the right leader for the time.
Human success is in the hand of the Lord, and it is he who confers honor upon the lawgiver.Do not get angry with your neighbor for every injury, and do not resort to acts of insolence. Arrogance is hateful to the Lord and to mortals, and injustice is outrageous to both. Sovereignty passes from nation to nation on account of injustice and insolence and wealth. How can dust and ashes be proud? Even in life the human body decays. A long illness baffles the physician; the king of today will die tomorrow. For when one is dead he inherits maggots and vermin and worms. The beginning of human pride is to forsake the Lord; the heart has withdrawn from its Maker. For the beginning of pride is sin, and the one who clings to it pours out abominations. Therefore the Lord brings upon them unheard-of calamities, and destroys them completely. The Lord overthrows the thrones of rulers, and enthrones the lowly in their place.
I give the NYT Editorial staff praise for penning daily columns that give its struggling-with-Trump readers a forum for group therapy. I don't know if it's solving their depression, but it helps, it really, really helps.
2
You're not cheering me up, Gail, but thanks for trying. I will only be cheered up when Republicans reclaim their better angels and go back to the standards and principles of Eisenhower, Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln. Since Nixon the party has gone to hell and the Democrats have been like Sisyphus in their never ending fight for the common good. Will we ever work together again to help everyone, and to protect the environment, not just to help the rich, and businessmen? Probably not in my lifetime.
6
The bombing trial: “My President told me to do it.”
5
And he's going to pay for my defense.
3
"gets"?
Be it 6 years, 2 years, or soon, Trump will one day be gone from the oval office. "Out, damned spot!" He will not be silenced, but he will be without the microphone (iPhone) of the office of POTUS. Still, I wonder what Trump has wrought upon the office of POTUS. Can we restore dignity to our country? How much damage is irreparable?
3
When even Ms. Collins can’t get a real laugh into her column we sure are up s-creek without a paddle.
2
There a light at the end of the tunnel. Nov 6 is just around the corner. It is either daylight that we see, or it’s nighttime and there’s a train coming in our direction. We will know soon.
2
This wretched little man is the Seven Deadly Sins personified. Dante would have trouble deciding which circle of the Inferno to place him in. Yet, where are "christians?" With the notable exception of African American churches and ministers, most are either unabashedly, unquestioningly behind him, or, uncharacteristically for Christians, "non-judgemental;" i.e., engaging in moral relativity.
5
When I wonder about Erico Fermi's question about extraterrestrial intelligence, of which we see no sign, "Where Are They?," I think that they might stay Silent with an attitude like Gail's.
Us: "HEY! America is great again!"
Them: "Whatever."
Why is he able to blabber his rhetoric, inspiring hate and divisive racism with no consequences??? He incites fear ... and he is our president! He's merely a little man following in the footsteps of great men before him. He has no knowledge of governing....just entertaining and inciting. He has no knowledge of the history of our country...and he doesn't care. Enough is enough. Lock him up.
4
There’s something about “brown” people that scares our president. Except if your a Uber-Rich Saudi, then all the world’s just a glowing orb. The man will not leave peacefully.
3
The Greatest Clown Show on Earth is now appearing in the several buildings of the United States Government in Washington, District of Columbia. Come one, come all! See the Giant-Mouth Man of the Ages!
1
Well, you know, Gail, if you wish to be a 'hero' and 'savior' , first you have to set the stage. How do you create an atmosphere that the people have to be 'saved' from? Well first, you drum up a disaster . . .
Trump is finding out now, all actors do not take kindly to direction. He is batting his little slateboard clapper, . . . and nobody is listening.
2
Gail Collins once again answers the fire alarm by going to the burning building and telling some witty jokes.
Very, very scary. It's time to panic. Let's get hysterical.
2
Its obvious that the "bombs" and the "caravan" are Dem dirty work, just like the Kavanaugh accusers and professional protesters. Given how well the kavanaugh and Fauxahontas DNA test stunts have turned out for the Dems, I expect similar results with the "bombs" and the "caravan" stunts. BTW, who thinks Obama, etc. opens his own mail?
Regarding the poisoned atmosphere, The All The Fake News That Fits The False Narrative Times, Fake News CNN, etc. should look themselves in the mirror. Blaming Khasshoggi's death on Trump in yesterday's Fake News Times, for example, is Fake News at it absolute worst. Reap what you have sown, Fake News Times.
1
Gallows humor----bombs are being sent too Democrats and journalist by someone who is hard of hearing. When Trump endorsed "body slamming" someone heard that as "bomb slamming" and is just following orders.
1
As we near Halloween, our President is seeing ghosts and telling horror stories - problem is, his followers at his feet believe it as real. - Waiting for the flashlight under the chin...
4
The Democrats are having quite a run.
First, the fake Trump Russia collusion nonsense and the corruption of our government.
Followed up with the Kavanaugh fake sexual assault allegations.
The mobs led by trouble making white youth.
The contrived caravan of young adult male "asylum" seekers.
And perhaps even a contrived bomb scare.
Who wouldn't want people like that leading the country?
1
My last name is "Herman," and I object to anything connecting it to that monster, Trump, in any way whatsoever, even in jest.
I would suggest C -- Thing That Never Was.
2
Remember when Pakistan was "the crazy place"?
7
Never underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate...
6
I'm sure he blames his wife and then infant son for driving him into the arms of Stormy Daniels.
3
October 25, 2018
Entertainment governance is the new normal, and so who needs the Sopranos?
"Anthony 'Tony' Soprano Sr.: A wrong decision is better than indecision.
God spare us from interesting times....
JJA
3
And why haven’t ALL the former presidents agreed on the text of a joint statement?
Are we really that divided and willing to lose it all for the sake of...what ? Won’t their own physical and financial security disappear in the holocaust we’re heading toward.
Can they not see this?
7
Will it be Kent State all over again at the border? 800 troops should be protecting us from our enemies, not huddled masses yearning to be free.
6
" . . . . . . .“Who — who appointed the highest percentage of judges? No, no, no, it wasn’t Hillary Clinton. No, she didn’t make it, remember? She didn’t make it. No, you know who it is? You’ll never guess. It’s called George Washington. And we’re after George Washington. So, a very big thing, no, George Washington, why? Because he just started. He did 100 percent. Nobody’s ever going to break that record. Nobody’s ever going to break the record of George Washington.” . . . . . ."
That's the guy 40% of American's would follow over a cliff.
Thanks America.
10
It’s not “Trump bashing” to point out that transcripts of Don Trump’s extemporaneous speeches strongly suggest that he is a nitwit, verbally and otherwise. Is it?
2
@Bobby Clobber
Don IS verbally challenged, but he tries to make up for this shortcoming by speaking in public at least five times as much as he should, hoping to hit a complete coherent sentence once in a while. For the good of the country.
Did you ever hear him speak about his IQ and the size of his brain? At first, it just seems silly, but then, when you realize how serious he is, and see how unbelievably DAMAGED he is...
It’s enough to make you cry.
Donald is a special needs student trapped in an inappropriate elected office by a dysfunctional political party over which he had no control. If you dare to put yourself in his position, the nervous breakdown(s) Don’s suffered become more-or-less understandable.
That he hasn’t grabbed a bodyguard’s sidearm and committed suicide during the last two years is incredible.
So give the guy a break.
He’s dangerous. Ignorant. Hateful. Racist, sexist, irrational, pompous and spray-tanned, but when you consider how dehabilitatingly STUPID he is — Don’s other faults fade by comparison.
2
"who' gonna pay for the new tax cut?" yelled trump. "Canada" yelled the crowd...
2
Trump can't leave soon enough!
1
Trump follows the typical pattern for liars> You lie , you lie to cover a lie, you deflect responsibility , you blame something or someone else then switch to a new media catching event or story and many still buy it because that is how they too operate.
It is a puzzle inside a conundrum for me. How can rational, loyal American congressmen/ women continue to support this dog and pony show? I am deleting humanity one by one!
3
Take two Gail columns and call me in the morning. Best Medical advice, EVER. Seriously.
2
Well,
Vladimir Putin must be laughing so hard right now, I am sure that he taught his plan would take years to fully work, but just 2 years and it’s already destroying The USA.
5
trump has mined the terribleness in the American psyche and served it up on a platter to the deplorables, sometimes deplorable and ignorant who will vote for him. Truth is a large part wanting to hear truth. And trump's constituency doesn't care that the country is dragged down as long as their pet prejudices and vested interests are on his menu. Unmitigated by truth. And the right scapegoats are fingered.
Small government, evangelicals and the tunnel vision religious right, America Firsters, climate change and science deniers, trauma capitalists and 1%ers, racists, misogynists, social Darwinists, anti-regulators, the ignorant, mainstream media bashers... Add the agenda voters together and you get a truly toxic brew. The elements of fascism and totalitarianism in their corrosive infancy. It couldn't happen in America could it?
And then there are those who are the victims of this ugliness, who drink the trump/Fox/GoP kool aid and hear that it's THEIR fault--Democrats, people of color, the poor, immigrants... You need to be able to hate someone to make this work the way Trump and Putin do it.
"...everybody leaves..."? Fight back or last one out turn off the lights. That's our choice!
2
Nothing fails like Trump & prayer.
1
The stock market is lower than at the start of the year, the deficit spiked upward 21 percent this year, Trump applauded a man for attacking a journalist the same week as a reporter was murdered, and he is using the Nazi and fascist moniker "nationalist" to describe himself.
It's all too clear there aren't political sides anymore - this just comes down to right and wrong - and it's The RIGHT that's completely morally and fiscally wrong.
12
Herman. Definitely Herman.
I have seen a lot of commentary today about Trump's failure to lead, and lost opportunities to lead and you know what?
Sad to say, but Trump has instinctively gotten it right. Americans do not want to be led. A significant number of us do not want leaders. We want entertainers and we crave entertainment like an addict craves heroin.
So I ask, are you not entertained?
1
Surprised that nobody Democrat or Republican has asked the President to resign.
1
it is getting scarier and scarier and there's not much to relieve the anxiety and stress. I was willing to go along for four years of an administration I differed with - been there, done that, voiced my opinion and rough edges on all sides got worn away achieving some positions - but this is out and out ridiculous.
My wish for the NYTimes would be to interview as many in the senate as they can and ask - exactly what would it take for you to think 'We should do something about this because we can't go on like this.' How many lies, how many alliances broken, how much future environmental damage wreaked would it take?
For those in the practice of being in contact with your US reps, this becomes a big issue. You're not listening to our concerns. No one is out there saying - we need to stop this dismantling of our government agencies, our regulations, we need to protect our schools, keep people healthy and safe...
While some might say that the executive branch is in a world of crazy weirdness, I'm thinking that the state of the Congress is the major failure in our government. If the people aren't finding representation, through representatives who will take action - what are our chances of getting through this?
3
If you say that Trump's rhetoric is not responsible for these acts of terrorism, then you should also agree that Osama Bin Laden's rhetoric was not responsible for the 9/11 attacks.
7
Please call the people walking up from Central American by their rightful and respectful name: Asylum Seekers who are seeking safety for their lives and their children's live. Life. This could be painted in media as a much more beautiful picture: the most resilient mothers and fathers and children of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, among other countries, are making their own way up to unchartered territory for survival. Please NYTimes, please stop using the pejorative: "caravan".
7
Thank you for making me laugh. Indeed everyone does eventually leave. Even if the Donald manages to pull off another faked win in 2020, we are 1/4 of the way through this madness, folks, and we haven't nuked anybody yet!
1
Trump is being Trump. It's what he does. He is a monster. I blame him for a great deal of it, but most of my anger is reserved for those who knowingly enable this monster. The racists. The culture warriors. The cowards who drink in the fear-mongering. The evangelicals (especially them because they own this total hypicrisy). Am I being divisive? You bet. I will divide myself from and call out rank evil as long as I draw breath and walk this planet.
10
All things must pass. Trump will eventually be out of office but he will leaving an indelible stain on the Presidency. As impactions go this one is particularly painful and difficult on the nose.
2
I read your column because no matter how scary things get, I finish reading with a wry smile on my face. Things could always be worse. Thanks!
3
by the way, where in heaven's name, is robert mueller? either he has something or he doesn't. put up or go away, mr. mueller. i don't thing i can wait another week having to tolerate trump, he makes me retch. rather pence than trump. then we know we would get back into the white house in 2020. i'm so sick of all of this.
2
Trump can do much, much worse. Here are three possibilities.
1 When there's a large demonstration against him here in the USA, the National Guard may be ordered to fire to KILL, not to maim, and to keep on firing until all the people are down are gone. Picture the massacre shown in the film "Gandhi". Picture 1000+ dead, 3000+ injured.
2 4,000 infants, toddlers, children, and teens are being held in tents in South Texas because they are "illegal immigrants". All of them could be burned alive inside those tents at the direction of Jeff Sessions, as directed by President Trump. Republicans in the House will sponsor a resolution praising Trump and Sessions for coming up with a "solution" for the immigration problem.
3 A weather disaster in the 48 states will be completely mismanaged. 2000+ will die instead of less than 20.
4 All liberal and Democratic commentators on TV and in national papers and magazines and on the internet -- about 10,000+ people altogether -- may be taken away to be held in some sort of jail "to protect" them from angry USA citizens.
2
1936....Remember it only took 4 years.
3
Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell are two of the most revolting figures ever to assault our American sense of decency and our democratic values. But wait, all is not doom and gloom.
Remember the circus, that fabulous source of entertainment for nearly 150 years across the American landscape? It's final demise only was announced a few short years ago. The good news, such as it is, is that we once again can revel in the magical world of fantasy mania between now and November 6 by attending just one of Donald Trump's rallies. And that jumbo jet that carts his rear quarters with their peculiar brand of nonsense is paid for by none other than all of us, the American taxpayers!
6
Trump will eventually go but this impaction is really painful and stinking the place up.
3
We have two distinct groups of people in the country today: 1/ those who seriously care about America and its future, and 2/ those who laugh at silly things like that and just want to get theirs before everyone else, together with the Tea Party types, who, in their thoughtless stupidity, want to tear down the very government that protects them.
4
At some point in time everybody does leave. Not soon enough in some cases. What a train wreck.
3
I umplugged several months ago. Except for a 20 minute NYT read, I don't listen to any news on TV, radio, no facebook (never did), no twitter (never did). It feels great. Ignorance is bliss!
1
@BWCA -- you can still paddle north into the Quetico too...
1
"This is getting scarier and scarier". Yes, and it's going to get worse if the American people don't stand up against the "making-stuff-up" Trump. The way Trump makes up serious stuff and accusations are very similar to the way dictators from other countries. The trend is very scary similar. A case in point is the Philippines during the Marcos era. I know because I lived through it during that time. Marcos started by getting the support of politicians (similar to the Republicans supporting Trump). Then went after the Philippine media by controlling TV/Radio station and censoring media (Trump continues to attack the media and Fox News is assisting Trump). Then Marcos scared the people with false facts when he said that the Philippines will be taken over by the communists (Trump tells the people that the illegal immigrants will destroy the country). Marcos also went after his critics and political enemies, most famous was Sen. Ninoy Aquino, who was later assassinated. (And now high profile critics of Trump were sent pipe bombs). I'm not saying that Trump sent the pipe bombs. He doesn't have to. With all his false talks will energize his deplorable base. That's all he needs to do.
YES, IT IS GOING TO GET MUCH MORE SCARIER. History tells us. The American people must not allow Trump to dictate what he wants. The people should pressure the Republicans in congress to do something because the Republicans are scared of Trump.
I fear for the our country and our democracy!
3
He really is a perfect storm president. The quantity of anger - almost more in search of a target than in reach of any plausible causation - is even today still breathtaking. With that kind of near-daily rhetoric, frankly the biggest surprise of the ongoing mail bomb saga is that someone didn't commit such an act sooner.
We can only truthfully begin to assess the damage toll to our institutions and the perhaps even worse harm to our social fabric when he finally, mercifully, leaves office. I pray for all of our sakes that this day comes soon.
16
He said judges, not justices, and in fact the GOP has appointed a scarily large number of federal judges who will be around for decades.
3
Oh Gail, what would we do without you to help us get through the day.
25
Sending your opponents pipe bombs is worse than yelling at people in restaurants. Lying about Khashoggi and Kavanaugh trumps anything the NYT, CNN or MSNBC reports.
14
Americans are living an absurdist nightmare designed to turn our society into the image of Donald Trump. You can speak through dog whistles and Trump is full of dog whistles. The first ones killed Heather Heyer and now his dog whistles are paying dividends through the attempted murder of his opponents. This man is not a joke although he is a joke. I don't trust him. Would we entrust our children's welfare to a mob boss? Would we trust it to a terrorist? This is Trump. I want him out.
12
All of these silly columns mean nothing as long as this budding tyrant is wielding power. WE MUST VOTE THEM OUT.
15
This:
"Guns in America"
http://www.time.com/guns-in-america/
1
“He’ll never improve.” Too bad the media and pundit class and Republicans kept assuring us that Trump would be a better president than the awful, stupid, petty evil liar we saw on the campaign trail and decades of business practices.
They kept pretending to see a pivot, or assure us that Trump would feel the weight of the office, or that it was all an act that Trump would just turn off at will, or that Congress would rein him in.
America did a lot of lying to itself because it wouldn’t believe that Trump would be as bad as he seemed. It is a great country, and it therefore assumed it couldn’t elevate a bad and incompetent person, that our process would weed out the awful, so Trump couldn’t be THAT bad.
Well, are we still lying to ourselves?
21
The majority of voters did not lie to themselves and consequently did not vote for Trump. No, the people that voted for him were either stupid and uninformed and typically vote against their own interests, or knew exactly what he would do: make them richer.
3
We get it Gail, you want to let in the 7000 poor immigrants....nice picture to elicit sympathy....sorry, none here.
And how is my haouse value going up 400k and my stiock Portfolio going up 26% “worse” exactly..
Please expand on how bad living here is when Americans are fully emptied and the world wants in.....
I’ll wait......
@Crossing Overhead
"I've got mine...", the American Dream.
3
@Crossing Overhead
For many of us the equity we have in our houses and the current value of our investments are small potatoes compared to the present state of American democracy.
As a boy growing up in Pittsburgh I was taught, “Loyalty above all else, except Honor.”
My beliefs concernin loyalty to my country doesn’t include ANY thoughts about equity or portfolios.
6
How did yesterday's market tank work out for you?
1
I really appreciate your attempt to "cheer me up." Unfortunately, despite your best efforts, your attempt did not produce the desired result. It's almost as tho things have gotten so dark outside by now, we're getting perilously close to the point of no return. Would that it were otherwise.
6
This latest episode is not funny...even Gail can't make it so. There's simply no way to make light of it, or to be sarcastic about it. I don't think I have lost my sense of humor, it's just that it's truly frightening and sickening.
7
Remember when we were all stunned at the "little hands" exchange between Rubio and Trump in the primary debates? Seems rather quaint now.
We've not even scratched the surface of his and the GOP's evil, their capacity for lies, cheating, and a disregard for the rule of law. They're just warming up. We've gone from "Lock Her Up" to "Blow Them Up." I guess the next step is to actually blow them up.
The press must be silenced and dissidents must be jailed or murdered in order for a dictatorship to flourish.
We are now in a life-or-death struggle to win back our country. At this rate, if the past two years is any indication, we need to be very afraid of the next two.
16
Just North of the border, from Toronto, this frightened and horrified Canadian is watching events unfolding in the US: an ever more polarized population coming close to an uncivil war. The only consolation is a long game: the senior, uneducated, male white evangelicals in rural regions are slowly fading out, according to all demographic studies, to be replaced by younger, better-educated men but especially women of all races who are getting rid of the shackles of ignorance. They will no longer be pawns in political games masterminded by paymasters such as the Kochs and others. Hope springs eternal but needs to be confirmed by political action.
8
I believe many people, including myself, want to see Trump removed from office, but removed peacefully. I fear now, given Trump's incendiary rhetoric, if he were removed from office he would incite his adoring followers to do far worse than sending pipe bombs, because at his very core, Trump is not a patriot, he is not a Republican. Trump is a nihilist, and if the Mueller investigation results in Trump's removal, Trump will embark on a scorched earth policy to take down everyone with him.
17
In a salute to Stormy Daniels, perhaps his tax cut should be named Tiny.
6
Trump does not 'get terrible'. He terrible and worse, but he does not get it.
3
"Things can get worse, and with him, they always do."
But they haven't done that, Gail.
Is the U.S. economy worse under Trump? Have the Islamic State's depredations become worse under Trump? Has Trump managed to implement improvements to NAFTA? Is he aggressively defending U.S. sovereignty and U.S. borders?
You're just being silly, aren't you?
@Raconteur
I guess better or worse depends on what side of the cage door you're on.
2
It's going to really hurt if the GOP maintains control over the House, Senate, and Trump gets re-elected for another four miserable years. It took the GOP a while to embrace it, but unfortunately, the lying, hate, and fear-mongering combo really works for the Republicans.
Somebody with popular appeal and impeccable honesty has to step up and show some leadership to strongly address Americans' fears of immigrants taking their jobs, set the record straight on the economic gains under the Democrats, and instill a plan for hope in the future. Ignoring those things and focusing on health care alone is just not going to get it done for the Democrats.
3
What is the deal with Florida anyway? The bombs might have come from Florida, the 911 terrorists spent a lot of time there. And I personally called the fbi to report a possible terrorist on a flight from Florida. No kidding, I might have saved the whole plane full of people. Quick thinking, an appeal to the humanity in us all (even terrorists) might have saved us. Oh this world is strange.
3
Will the civil war uniforms be Red and Blue? Maybe Nike and Under armor can bid for the contracts!
1
Right, all of a sudden with an election looming, an election that's not looking good for the Republicans, all of a sudden we're hearing about a middle class tax cut & that Medicare is going to stop over-paying for drugs.
Is there anybody in the entire country dumb enough to actually believe this stuff? I know there are plenty of Republicans, including rank and file ones, who will pretend to believe (will be curious to see how strongly they try to push it, I'm guessing not that strongly).
But will anyone be so pathetic as to actually believe it?
10
@Jack Toner
"But will anyone be so pathetic as to actually believe it?"
I WANT to say no, but then I remember the investigation into the Trump Foundation. With everything we know about Donald J. Trump, the man, just consider that there were an appreciable number of people willing to even entertain the notion that such a man was operating a legitimate, CHARITABLE foundation.
So would such a group of people also believe the rest? I don't know, but it can't be ruled out.
2
From the NYTime, Thomas Friedman.
Thank you Mr. Friedman and Thank you Ms. Collins. I, for one, couldn't get through my days without you.
"One day I hope the truth will be enough again. One day I hope great journalism will be enough again. But today only a lever of power — the House or the Senate — will make it so. Facts, science and truth — without power — are just leaves floating through the air in the age of Trump, scattering aimlessly without impact.
So, this year: No third party, no Green Party, no throwing up our hands and saying, “They’re all bad.” All of that’s for another day. For today, in these midterm elections, vote for a Democrat, canvass for a Democrat, raise money for a Democrat, drive someone else to a voting station to vote for a Democrat. It’s the only hope to make America America again.
Nothing else matters. Pass it on."
(Thomas L. Friedman, NYTimes, 10-24-18)
4
I was waiting to see who 45 would blame for dividing the country with lying and hate mongering. Of course, it would be the press.
Please keep up the pressure NYT, you and other free press outlets are all we've got now. Our GOP congress has drunk the cool-aide. All of us with a lick of sense need to vote as if our life depended on it, because it does.
7
Wait, what? Trump "gets" terrible? Gail, he's been there and beyond for quite a while now!
6
@Embroiderista
“Criminal” might be more apt.
Or “pathological.”
Personally, I prefer “treasonous.” It hits the nail directly on the head.
4
"Trump Gets Terrible"
Really?!
He has ALWAYS been terrible. And he is supported in his policies by powerful people who are equally so: Mitch McConnell, and his multitude of politically and corrupt and morally compromised minions. The Kochs. Sheldon Adelson. People who seem to have willingly surrendered their capacity for compassion, and who willfully deny the indisputable fact that we are all connected and dependent on one another in the most basic ways, in order to serve mammon, rather the holy spirit of love and mutual care.
4
I needed a good laugh this morning, and you supplied it. Thank you Gail Collins.
2
In Banana Republics, dictators and their supporters kill their enemies. We are now a Banana Republic.
8
“if the president goes totally batty” ? How much battier can he go?
10
‘From your lips to God’s ears” - “. . . at some point, everybody leaves”.
And, by the way, who the heck is paying for all of these campaign rallies?
3
At one point in Toronto we had a crack smoking, alcoholic Mayor that clearly couldn't function and the City Councillors stripped him of his powers (but not his title) and the City was run by the Deputy Mayor until the next election.
Th title was really all that mattered to the Mayor anyways, so it seemed to satisfy him.
Is there not some way, no matter which party controls Congress, to strip Trump of everything but the title? And let him keep living in the Dump as he calls the White House, and use Air Force One to go to his campaign rallies, but remove him from any actual governing, relinquish the power of the nuclear codes and remove him from foreign policy decisions. The U.S. and the World would be a better place, even with Pence and his Mommy / Wife in the West Wing.
5
Keep being snarky Gail, that's what you're good at. If and when the MSM and its readers' heads stop exploding, then I'll be worried. Until then, Trump is living rent-free there....and 60 million-plus of his supporters are happy for it.
1
You left out the following
Booming economy
Jobs For all
Law and order on border
Tax cuts
In other words everything the democrats seek to destroy It's clear which party deserves your vote
1
@obummer: What booming economy? What tax cuts? Do you call separating families "law and order on the border"? Jobs that don't pay a living wage. You live in a different U.S. I do. You didn't mention any of Donnie's appalling behaviors (of which there are many), I notice.
2
The economy seems more like a Ponzi scheme with the amount of debt that’s floating it.
The trade war. Wages. Inflation. Interest rates. Climate change. Student debt. Health care. Etc. how long is this sustainable?
2
"Everybody leaves" may include me -- if the Democrats don't make huge inroads on election day. I recall the recent NY Times obit of a man who left Germany the day before Kristallnacht who said something to the effect of "only the pessimists survived".
54
She is walking from Honduras to the US with an infant in her arms and flip-flops on her feet...I want to give her a hug...
58
I just read in a NYT article about Trump's cellphone use that he won't commit the secure phone's number to his memory and he complains to his aides that he doesn't have a number to give to his friends and members of Mar-a-Lago. Does it worry anybody else that Trump can't remember his own phone number?
17
@Linda
It also bothers me that he wants to hand it out to members.
10
We must all admit that President Trump has done a fantastic job, in every regard - From the economy, freedoms, ending the Obama-era racism, foreign affairs - In fact, everyone, even Democrats, are doing better with our President Trump.
Democrats shoot and almost kill a member of the GOP House leadership - they assault members of Congress at Democrats' direction in restaurants and at their homes, and all you've got is a reporter who was tackled after assaulting a Republican during a campaign? Really?
I know I'm expecting a lot from the party who can't figure out the difference between a man and a woman, but really, folks. Become human again. Be able to think for yourselves. It's refreshing.
1
@Matt Trump ended racism? He is a racist.
6
@Matt
We know the difference between a man and a woman. Do you?
There are many many many more incidence of violence from Trump supporters, and he is the one suggesting they use "second amendment solutions" and encouraging mobs to get violent.
"In a heavily armed nation of 325,000,000 people, it is frightening to think how many other folks could follow a similar path to violence if the United States continues on its current trajectory under its current leader. (The fact that Hodgkinson espoused liberal beliefs was a reminder that, in a febrile environment of hatred and animosity, it isn’t only right-wingers who can become unhinged.)"
"Keith Mines, a former member of the U.S. Special Forces who has extensive experience in countries wracked by violent internal conflicts, including El Salvador, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Identifying some of the precursors to such conflicts, Mines pointed to entrenched polarization, weakened political institutions, irresponsible political leadership, and the legitimization of violence. “We keep saying, ‘It can’t happen here,’ ” Mines said, “but then, holy smokes, it can.” On a day like this, we barely need reminding."
5
Please tell us much more about how president birther himself “ended” whatever it is you’re calling “Obama-era racism.”
1
Went to vote today. Politely refused the list of republicans running for office and told the lady offering me a list of democrats that I already had my sample ballot marked and that someone has to stand up in this county for common decency, and common sense. And no, I didn’t vote for the man who thinks wives should be “servant lovers”. I pray the Handmaids Tale doesn’t come true in Union County, NC
18
Thank you for not voting for the "servant lover" guy. If I hear that ad again.......
2
In keeping with the season and all, I think ZombieDon is a side of Trump as well. His dead eyes. His lack of brain. And he just keeps biting people like an anxious toddler. This was a bad bad week for sane people who have some modicum of fairness and kindness, some thoughtfulness and humor, and who like to feel relatively safe in their terribly imperfect and broken country.
12
He wants to be a dictator so badly, and his party enables him.
Do you now see why your vote is vital, of critical importance to our nation's well-being, our future? It is. Don't be dissuaded by those who want to undermine the process — VOTE. Each and every election is an opportunity to introduce better candidates into the stream. Does the rule of law and democracy matter to you? Now is the time to turn away from the frightening autocratic, divisive and nationalistic tendencies of the current administration by placing a sorely needed check on it. Don't stay home — vote!
9
Don't forget his go to reference for his comments, "people are saying".
12
@RichardHead
Which is like the saying, "you know what they say" my mom used to say that, I always meant to ask her, who is they.....
1
What does it mean about America that nearly half of the voters still support this appalling man?
21
Gail Collins tells us that "Trump gets terrible" again and this is nothing new, also "things can get worse"
Many of us agree, this is not new news.
Trump started his payload of falsehoods long before his nomination for president when he began questioning the citizenship of Barack Obama. He continued with the Cruz questions re the elder Cruz connection to the Kennedy assassination and on to Carly Fiorina's physical features.
All the falsehoods and dirty tricks- one after the other.
Trump's real character is well known. He is famous because of his faulty character yet he has his Base of supporters.
One would think, with his faulty past, Trump would have maybe a small base of supporters. Some odd types out of Jurassic Park or some place in the woods.
Surprise for America ! Trump's American Base of supporters got him elected President of The United States.
Not only That! There is a decent chance that he will be elected again!, and this is not Jurassic Park, this is America !
Cover of TIME asks "How Trumpism outlasts Trump".
"The strength of his support 2024, 2028, 2032.2036 ."
Trump is running this place, so his real BASE must be us !
The correct question to ask ourselves, "what has happened to America? What is going on here ? Who are we, Really ?"
M.W. Endres
8
If you think it is bad now just wait until after the mid term elections if the republicans retain their majority in U.S. House and Senate. We will then see Trump go nuclear. To prevent this debacle we must vote as if our future as a republic depends on it because it does.
If we do lose and the right wing thugs are shouting approval of this outcome then we can safely said "So this is how liberty dies . . . with thunderous applause"
10
I am waiting for him to tell his rally crowds that the Democrats sent the bombs to themselves to try to discredit him. You know this will happen, it is only a matter of how soon.
14
@steven23lexny the echo chamber has already making that noise. yes, we'll soon hear, "many people are saying," and "no one really knows."
Let's remember why DJT is 45: It's not that _more_ people voted for him in just three swing states; it happens that about 80,000 _fewer_ people simply didn't show up as expected to vote for HRC.
Let's correct that on November 6th, at least in the US House. That should give Mueller the vote of confidence to begin releasing irrefutable facts behind collusion between Russia and the DJT campaign and permit the release of DJT's tax returns showing how badly he has been compromised.
As for Trump's hardest-core supporters: We cannot help it if low information voters who rely on belief over fact choose that path. As it stands now, they're clustered in parts of the US that don't actually interface with reality very much.
Demographics don't lie: Today, cities and suburbs are where most real work is being done, as well as where most crucial decisions about civilization are being made. Therefore, DJT's followers can be safely dismissed with a Glenda-the-Good wave of the hand: "Ha ha ha! You have no power here. Begone!"
Vote 11/6. Tell your friends to vote. Get them to the polls, no matter how they plan to vote. Only then can we begin to put an end to this long national nightmare.
13
I love the Glenda the Good Witch quote. "Begone! Before someone drops THE House on you!"
3
@JCTeller
Washington state, has mail ballots, so you don't need a stamp, or go to the polls. I helped my 84 year old mother vote last night. She asked who are we voting for, I said, women democrats, that, and the continued tax on energy corporations and the refineries in this state for the cost of inspecting tanks at tank farms and for spill response.
We voted for stricter gun laws, by requiring stricter background checks, a waiting period, and fines and or criminal charges for not locking guns up when adults aren't home. In other words, you can keep you gun in the nightstand drawer, but when you go to work you would be required to lock it up. If someone steals it, or your kid accidentally kills the neighbor kid because they are playing with your gun. It also requires training for concealed weapons, and it raises the age limit to 21 for paramilitary weapons i.e. AR-15.
Naturally, the N.R.A. lobbied against it, using the usual trope, their mistake was calling me, telling me not to vote for it, and why (according to them). I told them I own guns, I'm a veteran, but I don't believe their garbage, about second amendment rights being taken away. I asked what happened to the N.R.A. I used to know, that stressed gun safety, hunting safety, proper shooting, techniques etc, and that I cancelled my 25 years with them....
5
“At some point everybody leaves.”
Except Trump. He ain’t leaving the White House till 2024, at the earliest.
2
@ADN - Guess again.
3
Watch Trump, lies and blame, then starts to sound almost normal only to turn around and spout lies and blame. Often in the space of a minute. This is classic Gaslighting technique.
8
Can we hope that he too will leave? That would give me more hope than wishing he'll stick to his less-awful, fact-free boasting.
5
God! How much longer can this go on?
8
Westerner: I ask that question everyday but especially on Sunday mornings in church.
3
The pipe bomb packages are truly scary! I live in a rural, red county and honestly believe if I put a “vote Blue” bumper sticker on my car or a similar sign in my yard that the Trumpers would target me for vandalism or worse. Please vote Blue on Nov. 6 and help return our nation to sanity.
19
Things are only bad in deBlasio land. The rest of the country is doing fine. Collins should get out more.
3
@Kizar Sozay
Looked at the stock market lately? I guess not!!
3
@Kizar Sozay
Really, in case you're not paying attention, or just don't know, 3 of 4 companies that are reporting their quarterly earnings, have misses of revenue. Which means that the tax windfall they had, shows up on their balance sheets as revenue, but in reality, their revenues are falling.....Oh, it's coming.....the Trump caused recession, now it's a question of how bad will it really be.
5
Remember that our guy Trump was reported as saying that the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was 'very poorly executed.'
Enough said.
8
One issue that gets me is the way the media doesn't press the Kashoggi case to the point of breaking off relations with Saudi Arabia.
The fact that the media is fine with cutting their reporters' fingers and hands off before killing them in a diplomatic facility, because the Saudi's buy a lot of stuff from our billionaires, tells you everything you need to know about what feeds distrust of the media.
4
Don't you think that's the president's job? How can the media break off relations with a country?
1
Glass half full, perhaps Trump, who was always terrible, is getting more obvious (yes, I know the polls are going the other way, but I don't believe 'em any more; watching polls is a waste of time).
Equating civil, fact-based reporting with hate speech and incitements to violence is grotesque. They are not the same.
If you call yourself "Christian" try the gospels. And whether or not you do, hurting people and ignoring our planetary necessities, treating some people as less than others, is flat out wrong. If your "god" encourages you to exclude and wall in your "wealth" or admire greed, exploitation, and trickleup, that's not spiritual, that's delusional. If there is a god, all religions point to community and caring for each other.
Also, we need free and fair elections, not cheating, exclusion, intimidation, and tricksiness to help the minority "win".
Babies need mothers and families and health care and a chance at education and employment. Fetuses are not isolated from humanity, and should not be worshipped to the exclusion of the living. All living creatures deserve life.
4
You are right, that hole has no bottom.
6
You know, Gail. This doesn't really help.
I know you mean well and all, and you're absolutely right in everything you say, but we're at the point where it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. We have a president* running hither and yon with a pair of sharp scissors.
How many bombs were sent this week? Ok, they didn't explode. Now.
The so-called leader of the proud boys - a knock-off of Hitler's Stormtroopers - is calling from more violence against those opposed to the president*.
The president* and others were fully supportive of the murder of an American green card holder and subsequent cover-up. And they will feel no shame now that the Saudis have admitted to premeditated murder.
And the MAGAs chant "lock her up."
And GOP leaders remain absolutely and irrevocably silent.
We are in uncharted territory. And my greatest fear is that GOTV will not be enough.
62
Mine as well. Nothing that's happening fills me with any confidence that this will be the case.
4
@Despair I don't even blame Donald Trump anymore. He is insane, he can't help himself. But I have to believe that some of our Republican senators had to see, feel, realize that Kavanaugh was unacceptable as a justice of the Supreme Court but not one spoke up, did the right thing. They had to know that they were saddling their constituents, the country, with this defective man for the next 40 years or so and didn't care enough to prevent it. Not a single one!
2
Look at the photo. If this woman is really a member of the caravan walking from Honduras to the US, she is doing so in a pair of flip-flops and with an infant. Just stop and imagine, people. Please. Then get off whatever partisan bandwagon you are currently riding and start to think of real solutions.
12
Sylvia, it has to be stated and restated that they are walking over 1,000 miles, carrying kids and in flip flops. How much energy and strength will they have left if they do make it?
9
@Sylvia
Point well made.
Fifteen years ago the GOP had a lot to say, but very few answers.
Today, they still have few answers, but are mostly silent.
Except for the incoherent ramblings of a truth-challenged commander-in-chief who has far too much to say, but what he says is nesrly always hateful, irrational and egomaniacal. Also, the Big Orange Prince of Lies can’t seem to grasp the diffence between campaigning for the presidency and BEING the POTUS. When an if he’ll ever begin to conduct himself like an American president is one more question to which the GOP has no answer.
For viable answers, to questions about impoverished people approaching our borders, asking for our assistance, look not to Trump and the GOP. When it comes to answers, they’re fresh out.
2
Gail - When did Donald Trump "get terrible?" He's always been terrible, from the moment he came down that escalator spouting poison about drug dealers and rapists.
3
Psychologists tell us that people will exert more effort to hold on to something that they've been given or won, than they would exert to provide the same thing for themselves. Remember what Trump did to stumble into presidential power? Now that he owns it, what will he do to keep it? We haven't seen the worst, not by a long shot. Imagine the most vile assault, the most farfetched lie, and you will see and hear things from his mouth that are far beyond. The only concrete act I can visualize easily is that he will commandeer the national cell phone warning system on Election Day: NATIONAL EMERGENCY. IMPENDING DEMOCRAT DISASTER! VOTE REPUBLICAN IMMEDIATELY! If Republicans retain control of House and Senate, the template for a political campaign, and subsequent governing, will change dramatically and the America that we were trying to become 2 years ago will disappear for a long time, at least a generation, maybe forever.
3
the right wing extremists are responsible for every single " besides 2 or 3 " trrorist murder/s since Trump took office. The most ironic example is Charlottsville when the so called left wing "mob" was terrorized by a right wing vehicle driven into that "mob" killing one and badly injuring 16 other American citizens using "speech" instead of murder weapons.
1
The strange thing about this Apocalypse is that you don't even notice it without the TV, radio or computer newspaper turned on. This can't be the same one Daniel predicted as he had never even heard of electricity.
1
W is even campaigning for the Republicans, which is WORSE than not speaking up against what Trump has done. It's tacitly supporting him.
2
Hi, Gail. -re: the caravan. If I had reason to believe that by walking from here to there without getting caught, I could improve my life chances immeasurably, I would attempt it, even if it was illegal. Most of us can understand that as human beings. But the organizingnof the 'caravan', is not in that category - illegal but something we can empathize with. It is, rather, an assault on American sovereignty, & it has to be stopped.
@Jenifer Wolf
An assault on american sovereignty? You are buying the trump cool aid. Do you ever wonder why our government wont come up with some common sense immigration reform? I have a reason for you. Its great to use the so called “immigration problem”during election season. Create fear. Us vs them. Rile up the hate. The real
problem to be outraged about is the politicians who refuse to create a reasonable pathway to citizenship. Maybe you came on the Mayflower but all my grandparents emigrated to this country for a better life and they were welcomed with open arms. Immigrants who became taxpaying citizens both built and fought for this country. The republicans are shameless in using this issue
to divide Americans to the point of mail bombs becoming the new norm. All in an effort to avoid talking about real issues like healthcare. Classic huckster moves.
2
What scares me, I think, most of all is the fact that Trump's insanity and incompetence have become a joke. Oh let's giggle at his latest rant. We should be taking this seriously considering the damage he is doing and can do to our country. He is not the latest stand up comic on late night TV. He is the president and wields way too much unchecked power.
7
I agree, Trump is terrible. But since the Democrats have become the man-hating women-only party, I will have to unfortunately abandon the Democrats and vote Republican in the midterms. I can't vote for a party that marginalizes and insults my entire gender.
It started with Hillary's campaign, where the rallies consisted of only women. In that case, I voted Green. Now, I don't even have that choice.
2
@No green checkmark
VOTE for the well being of your country-that is not on the republican platform. Sorry you feel so marginalized but maybe ask some female family members how they have felt in the past or even present. Maybe you will see that helping women is not "man-hating". And yes, Trump is "terrible" and will only get worse if the Republicans control Congress.
2
Herman is a great name for an imaginary tax cut that would decimate what's left of tax revenues.
Thanks for little chuckle on a dark, dark day.
2
You always nail it, Gail, but today I thank you for really making me laugh out loud. I needed it. We all need it!
I spent my career as a reporter and journalism prof. Writing about corporate crime, seeing executives get prosecuted and go to jail. It didn't stop the trend, though, and it got worse. But we kept going, until our newspapers ran out of resources to support that kind of work.
Though I'm retired, it still hurts very much to have my profession insulted by a lying, ignorant and undeserving president. I am filled with admiration for you and your colleagues for staying on the case. Please don't relent!
8
It makes you wonder if Trump lacking empathy and filled with venom would hesitate to order troops to fire on a crowd of civilians. Trump has lauded a politician who body slammed a reporter and encouraged his supporters to beat up protesters . The man has a nasty violent streak often found in dictators who do not hesitate to jail or kill their critics, these guys are Trump's heroes and role models. If the population and media would only adore him the way they do in North Korea Trump would experience Nirvana and beam his Joker style grin. The divider entertainer in chief will only get worse with time and if the Dems don't take back the House Trump will be emboldened to act crazier including war with Iran directed by Jared future Viceroy of Iran and in charge of oil revenue (taking a cut as he does with Saudi arms sales) .Trump is president but insists its up o the media to set the tone of the country by praising him and never questioning his wonderfulness. Calling Hannity Fox official brown nose.
1
@REBCO Really? It makes you wonder? It doesn’t make me wonder a bit. The only thing stopping him from ordering the troops to machine-gun women and babies, is a sneaking suspicion that they might not obey - or maybe even turn their asssult rifles on the monster giving the orders. But frankly, I don’t think he needs to worry. Plenty of them would be happy to murder toddlers on command. And 100% of his cult would cheer wildly, and rush in and bathe in the pools of blood. Especially the “Christians” among them. What a world, what a world.
1
His base must just love his brawling attitude as much as he does because they sure don't love facts. Or logic. Or reality.
I prefer to hang on to that tiny sliver of hope; it's a year when the electorate is engaged in the process. Messy and loud, it is democracy at work. I've worked on political campaigns most of my adult life and met with so much apathy outside the party regulars. Say what you will about the current onslaught of mud slinging, there's not much apathy.
That just has to be a good thing. We say we aren't talking to each other, and maybe a lot of it is past each other, but even so, it is dialogue and will hopefully eventually settle down and open the door to solutions.
I really need to believe that. In the future I am willing to have friends that are/were Trump supporters but not willing to talk to people who don't vote. It may be their right but they are too stupid to bother with. Trump's base may be misguided - in my own opinion, of course - but they are engaged in the process. (Exception: white supremacists have no message, only hate.) Their message to Washington's failure is worthy, the messenger not so much.
The country doesn’t trust the press. And for good reason. The reporting is biased. Deal with that and then, as Hillary put it, we can return to civility.
1
Trump's rhetoric will continue to escalate. Hard to believe, huh? Well, he has to keep upping the ante in order to remain shocking, and he has to remain shocking to get on TV every day. So be prepared! On the other hand, most of it is just talk. So many in the media should perhaps not be so eager to 'take the bait' every day? I'd like to hear more discussion of policies, and results (or lack thereof). I know he says bad things, as they say, that's 'not news'.
2
Gail, am I the only one who is waiting for the Democrats to do something? Do they even have a plan?
If there is please tell me.
47
@TW
If you examine the group behavior of the Republican senators and congessmen over the past two or three decades, the answer to your question, clearly rises to the surface.
The GOP has, for all intents and purposes, become the Party of No. Any solutions suggested by the Democrats are rejected out of hand. The 21st century GOP reasons that, by definition and source, all Democratic solutions are WRONG. They are unworkable and not worthy of consideration.
The Democrats must take control of one, or both, houses of congress before it makes any sense to offer solutions.
7
@TW "Do [the Democrats] even have a plan?"
How's this? "You know all those things Trump did by executive order to overturn his predecessor's accomplishments? We'll restore them, asap. And we'll appoint judges and justices who won't take us back to the 19th century."
Works for me.
9
The sad, pathetic Democratic Party will have to tell us directly, but it has been AWOL since 2010.
1
The featured young mother in your lead photo....she is walking from Central America through Mexico to the United States IN FLIP-FLOPS? Wow.
4
What gets more terrible is his announcement that he intends to send Army troops to the Mexican border.
To coincide with the midterm election, apparently.
Because people - unarmed with either guns or computers - present the most serious threat we have ever had.
The planned pipe bomb attacks, actaul attacks meant to kill and maim, even if unsuccessful, were apparently not worth mentioning again, since delivered to his enemies.
BTW, as a Dem and liberal, I am not for "open" borders, but for immigration reform and an explicit humanitarian policy to deal with such crises.
It just ain't funny.
18
"Keep this last little bit of hope. At some point, everyone leaves". The writer offers us this crumb, and at times, though it's no sermon on the mount fish and bread parallel, we all need to nibble off it as well.
In that thinking, should the House not be won, we can only hope there are no further changes in the Supreme Court until an actual political form of leverage can be achieved.
Another ray of hope is that the Senate re-elections of 2020 disparity will favor Dems rather than as is the case now. finally, by then Donald himself can surely be defeated factoring his own and accumulated "GOP" demerits.
Right? Pass me another crumb. I'm getting hungry again.
2
Politics has become so boring and predictable. My team vs. your team. Yawn. It is intellectually challenged nowadays.
1
Trump's middle class tax cut is just like his wall: made of hot air.
Also like his denuclearized Korea, his peace in the Middle East, his infrastructure plan, his beautiful healthcare.
Not fire and fury: sound and fury, signifying nothing.
Tomorrow, he'll get around to it. Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow...
All our yesterdays littered with broken promises.
Have I said it?
Trump's but a walking shadow, a poor player,
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage,
And then is heard no more. He is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
260
@DB -- the middle-class tax cut is real if you live someplace where taxes are low, don't have too many kids, and pay attention to what amounts to chickenfeed.
But for almost all the middle-class the story is flat wages, mild inflation, and housing costs rising much faster than inflation.
11
@Lee Harrison
and health care costs, and college tuition.
It's really pretty simple. When Republicans are in charge the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the rest of us work twice as hard to maintain a declining standard of living.
@DB
Thank you, DB. Shakespeare is the perfect commentator on Trump.
9
spanky, kelly and bolton deserve each other. We deserve to have none of them.
5
I cannot remember the last truthful thing this man said. He is a thug who promotes thuggery and body slamming while his supporters carry signs like "Fake Bombs, Fake News."
We have a crisis moment in this country with real bombs being mailed to former presidents and his political opponents and all he and his party can do is blame the media???
November 6th represents a chance to make a positive statement. Vote, people, vote.
16
Your comments and veiled attempt are not helpful Gail. All this mess needs to stop now. You're in a position to spread the word and lead the charge. Use it.
3
My middle class tax cut plan name suggestion is “Whacko” to reflect the origin of this plan and its creator.
Everything I learned and believed about my country is rapidly dissolving or being buried in a pile of self-serving dung. We need to vote (and work) for American Values (and not self-serving rhetoric and outcomes.)
8
Because I don't get to see the name(s) behind the headline on my browser until the next day, I try to guess which one it is that contains Gail Collins' byline each Thursday and Saturday. Nail 'em each week except for those sneaky days where her work isn't published.
1
I disagree it's getting scarier and scarier. To me the scariest thing Trump ever said was "I will totally accept the results of this great and historic presidential election, if I win." October 20th, 2016.
How any one who loves this great democratic republic could vote for a presidential candidate who said that, I'll never understand.
13
Mr. Trump seems to have a nearly uniform inability to be specific when he voices objections to, well, just about anything. Whether it was a trade agreement, the Affordable Heath Care Act, an environmental accord or FAKE NEWS, the president limits his criticism to “bad”, “terrible”, “a disgrace” and “the worst deal ever.”
If the president believes it’s time for the media to
“...set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and often time false attacks.”
Why doesn’t he provide specfic examples of the “false attacks” the media is guilty of making?
Mainstream media sources have claimed the president has told thousands of lies since taking office. I can’t remember the president countering a single one of these claims by proving that specific statements said to be false are, in fact, TRUE.
Why?
7
As time marches closer and closer to the election and the outcome of the Mueller investigation, the more dangerous and maniacal he gets. Just when we think his actions couldn't get any worse, guess what, it gets worse. We new for quite awhile that the closer we got to his potential losing this election, that it would only make him more dangerous than before. Yet, now that we're into the final round, we're still aghast at what we're witnessing and living through in our beloved America. Everyone must vote!
7
Things always get worse with trump huh? Like the job creation, unemployment, the GDP above 4% ,the application for medicare went down for the first since 2007.. Oh no wait.... all of those things have gotten better under the trump presidency. An for any of you who think the this is BO's economy. Please let me remind you BO himself said we would never see higher the 3% GDP and that in his 2014 budget he sated that low and slow growth of the economy was going the "the new normal". And remember those job he said were gone and not coming back... And what again was it going to take for new trade deals to happen? a magic wand was it?
3
@Deep sea Doc - A major construction project in my area has been postponed because of Trump's tariffs. There go the jobs it would have created. This is being played out all over the country.
It takes time to damage the US economy but rest assured Trump is off to a great start.
7
@Deep sea Doc
So I will wait and see when we have the figures on jobs created, as well as wages paid. The GDP figure you offered is real, but based upon second quarter growth, annualized, which assumes that that rate of growth would be consistent. We don't know yet.
Applications for Medicare are highly unlikely to have dropped because the number of people turning 65 is increasing, and there is a penalty for late application. Perhaps Medicaid applications dropped, but assessing what that means is complicated.
1
Everyone leaves, it's true, but when he goes -- and one way or another, he will -- he's not going anywhere, except, probably to his own television network (not that with Fox he needs one), and, no doubt, to more rallies. If he is around in 2020 and defeated at the polls, it doesn't mean he couldn't run again -- as a Republican or an Independent or a whatever. And because his idiocy, his antics, his lies, and his genius for getting attention sell papers and attract ratings, he will always be somewhere -- in the center of our awareness or on the periphery. The most depressing thing is that I may not outlive him, and even if I do, I suspect we will be treated to the spectacle of his corrupt and unqualified progeny inserting themselves into politics and our every day lives.
4
@Paul Barnes His life was unprepared for public scrutiny. Roger Stone just said he'll never turn on Trump. That's code for he's going to be indicted and has opened negotiations to tell all, another confidant to illegal activities. The public will follow his downfall like they follow his presidency, just more of the reality show. The Saudi's have bailed him out many times but with him under indictments that will stop. His kids? Yeah, right. None have anything other than a name that will soon mean nothing. (albeit not soon enough)
The imperative for impeachment grows daily, and exponentially it seems. Do we have to wait until he starts drooling, talking to himself in public appearances, replaces his Oval Office desk and chair with a gilded throne, and/or is countermanded by General Mattis regarding a flirtation with launching a nuclear strike?
2
I suppose all the columnists of NY times are very outstanding people who can tell common people like myself insightful observations. I have to say I am utterly disappointed and frankly, disgusted. Every day I read NY times hoping to see something clairvoyant, but time and time again all I see is just hateful remarks from the "elite", top of cream of the society. Since I am just an average person with average intelligence and an average family, let me just something none other than common sense: Why do we have to accommodate these people from central america? They are not immigrants! They are not people seeking asylum, they are just plain invaders trying to take advantage of the social welfare of the United States. We are a country of immigrants does not mean we welcome anyone who would likely vote for the democratic party when legalized! If you have someone knocking on your door, do you just invite him to be your family member? Reading the articles in the "opinion" column makes me think what these outstanding, knowledgeable, highly-achieved people really want to do is to brainwash people and make them believe garbage, and what they hide behind their beautiful, eloquent words, are completely evil faces.
1
The worst is not, as long as we can say, "This is the worst".
2
Trump is doing this all wrong.
He should offer asylum to all 5000 migrants, move them to the Upper East side and rich enclaves of Los Angeles, and spare us border states having to deal with it.
1
@Scott thats where they would end up anyway.
Trump is not getting worst, the media is. Your editorial accuses Trump about his future tax cuts,without knowing what exactly that will be. How about criticizing him about the number of Supreme Court nominations by him ( he meant to say in his first two years)not 8 years like Reagan. President Roosevelt actually added more justices partly by making the court bigger.
The immigrant illegal issue is a Federal matter. He is responsible for keeping our borders safe. Unless you have a Chrystal bowl you can’t possible know what he plans to do. Why are you criticizing him?
1
Politics has become so predictable and boring. It is my team vs. your team, it is intellectually challenged and just, boring. Yawn.
@Zach
I see our current democracy-threatening polarized political dilemma to be the worst crisis our country has faced since the Great Depression, possibly since the Civil War.
Zach, your comment appears to portray our current situation as mundane and boring. What would it take to pique your interest? Nuclear war?
6
Trump is a two edged sword, what he does do and what he doesn't do are equally destructive.
4
A simple thought from Martin Luther King:
"Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
6
Let me just fix something --
"Trump has gotten two, the same number as George HW Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. In fact, he would only have gotten one, had he not stolen one from Barack Obama. So now he and Obama are tied -- but there should definitely be an asterisk on Trump's two."
There -- that's better.
3
McConnell and Ryan, et al., by their deafening silence, have continued to enable this most grotesque man, our Commander in Chief.
11
Remember the good old days, when we had a REAL President??? Seems like decades ago, in Trump years.
Seriously.
27
Forgive Kelly, just think of it as the adult in charge of a pre-school with nuclear weapons. At least he doesn't tweet.
But while we all wait for the Trick or Treat (guess which it will turn out to be) the middle-class will be getting in their tax bag, don't forget the billions of dangerous people heading, at the speed of a slow walk, towards our border.
Gail, I'm recommending a second funny take, pardon the hijacking of the free press.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/huppke/ct-met-migrant-carava...
The White House is now busy concocting a defense for the soon to be revealed perpetrator(s) and their inevitable violent pro-Trump themed social media footprints.
3
Trump's saying "everyone leaves" is more interesting than it appears. It was recently reported that Trump gets tired or bored of people. While true, it is a slight misstatement. It is that at some point, people stop being narcissistic supply for Trump. That Trump is a narcissist has been said ad nauseum, but that does not make it any less true. Narcissism is in some ways like an addiction. A drug addict needs a supply of drugs. A narcissist needs a supply of people who make him feel superior or even superlative. That is called narcissistic supply. Like a quantity of drug will eventually run out, the amount of those feelings that any one person can supply eventually runs out. It is not that Trump becomes tired or bored of people, he no longer gets a narcissistic high from them. Trump does not hire people to do a good job; he hires people to satisfy his narcissism. Everything else is secondary.
2
The tumult surrounding Donald Trump and consequently, the country, is because the president is a sick man, completely incapable of focusing on anything but himself and his fluctuating list of fictitious "achievements". He has done the best things of anyone ever; he has done more things than anyone, ever. he knows more than anyone, ever. Yet he manages to somehow avoid responsibility for anything that goes wrong. His latest, blaming "media" for the terrorism visited upon the very enemies he has spent the last several years demonizing, should be a wake up call to the screaming mobs at his nightly revivals. He needs universal repudiation for his vicious and toxic presidency.
12
"To those cowards who seek to engage in these heinous acts in defense of an indefensible President and his conduct, I say this: We will not rest, we will not change and we will not be intimidated. This republic was not built by those without courage nor can it be saved in fear."
Micheal Avenatti on twitter 10-25- 2018
2
This feared and hated head of state dealt in vast amounts of real estate, created a centrally controlled, authoritarian state, and imposed military dominance. Many believe him to have been mentally ill. He was given to violent outbursts...
Guess who?
Is it Trump? Actually, it is Ivan the Terrible, who centralized and ruthlessly ruled the Russian state.
https://www.biography.com/people/ivan-the-terrible-9350679
From "Ivan the Terrible" (1533-1584) to "Trump the Terrible" (2016-???)
Happy Halloween
There is only one way now to get rid of Trump because the Republicans won't do it.
Trump has made the mid-year elections about him (what else?), so send a loud and clear message and Vote the Republicans out of office on Nov 6, 2018, and Trump out of office in 2020.
7
You can't cheer me up. I went to the same elementary/middle school as Trump, ten years behind. He is the ONLY student to be expelled from Kew Forest (Forest Hills, Queens) for stabbing his music teacher. Fred was on the board so he was offered reform school or military school - a punishment in the 60s. I've watched him fail upwards for almost fifty years.
I often go to Breitbart, Daily Caller and Infowars to see what kind of people support him. I've been doing this lurking since 2015. I got a pretty good line on the types of people who support him.
I'm 61. I figure I have 25 good years left. The unholy disaster Trump is catalyzing will not go away when he does. He opened the gate for American hatred to emerge. People who suffered the Great Recession and who are not doing well need someone to blame, otjer than their poor choices in life. So they are offered Mexican, Muslims, Jews and anyone darker than a paper bag. Yeah, it's the Mexican's fault, not your choice of partying all through college.
After much thought, I sold my NY and CT properties and moved to a mountain in beautiful Costa Rica. Best decision I ever made. I love my country. I served and offered my life for my country. But comparing the slow crumbling of America to the huge tech and infrastructure advances in China and Eastern Asia do not bode well for the USA.
It's not Trump. It's the half of the country that supports him.
13
@Bruce Forest WOW thank you for the comment.
2
Don't dig deeper. There's nothing there. trump is right on the surface crazy as a loon who's only spark of consistency is his insane hunger for power, which, when push comes to shove, will be his reliance on the mob he is gathering to keep him in power using anything at hand including violence.
If his minions lose the senate or house he will claim fraud and rigging. So what. Vote anyway. Just do it. Vote this madman out of power.
20
On a lighter note we could talk about Trumpolini's phone phoolishness. I understand that technology likely left him in the dust decades ago, but smart people have told him "don't use that iphone". I honestly feel sorry for the Russians and Chinese who have to listen to his drivel. Do you think they get hazardous duty pay? I least I can, and do, hit the mute button.
3
A certified banana republic, but "yes, we have no bananas."
5
The Trump administration is truly a three ring circus straight out of Dean Kuntz or Steven King featuring the mad 'genius' Trump himself. Here the lions eat the lion tamers, the clowns scare every child and insanity reigns. Meanwhile the crowds cheer then go back to eating their poison laced pop corn.
It is impossible to create bad enough metaphors and perhaps we should stop doing it, but the racket from the tent is almost impossible to ignore. Taking the high road gets almost no attention when the worst show on earth takes center stage.
9
It is time to call his remarks by their proper name:
confabulation
And please note that this is not a personality trait. Confabulation is a symptom.
There is something medically wrong with him, and 5 cents sez Dr. Ronny Jackson knows, or least suspects, what it is.
2
You always make me laugh out loud, and I think you for that.
3
This is all so depressing and I am not an American citizen.
7
A corollary to Murphy's Law which says that "if anything can go wrong it will" seems to apply. It says "things can get worse without limit".
4
Trump knows that he authors reality for ⅓ of the country. Why should he be reticent? He knows it, why do we continue to be upset.
1
What do you mean, "if the president goes totally batty"? I thought you were paying attention this week! If this isn't already "batty," I shudder to think what we may be in for next. (okay, yes, truth be told, I am in constant shudder mode these days)
4
I want to defend John Kelly. Can you imagine working with a group of partisan hacks who believe their own lies? Being surrounded by that much ineptitude, after coming out of the Army? Say what you will about the Army, at least they have a chain of command. So go easy on him, he is exhausted, because like the rest of us Trump fatigue is exhausting.
1
During a terror attack that continues today, Trump's been tweeting his focus on fake news, false claims/complaints about Democrats (who were targeted by terrorists), and his personal cellphone.
How can he not have responsibility in this terror situation---he's absolutely singled out ---and vilified ---the very persons targeted.
Secondly, since October 1st the stock market has dropped nearly 2,000 points, wiping out $2 trillion in value. All gains pretty much gone for 2018...
Imagine how Trump and Republicans would be maligning President Obama on any of this!
6
Hillary was wrong about a lot of things, but she was right about one: deplorable.
7
Jennifer Rubin hasn't quite digested the fact that Trump will always and only get worse. Maybe give her a nudge?
1
NYT staff: Do you have any data about how many op-eds you've published about Trump in his first two years compared to how many you wrote about Obama during the corresponding timeframe in his presidency?
It's not that this article is wrong, it's just that we've seen a million like it. Anyone who has kept up with news and political opinions for the last two years could probably have written a pretty good approximation of the arguments laid out here. Thesis: Trump's a deceitful egomaniac who riles people up and preys on their fears at the expense of poor people/POC/women. This piece contributes very little to the public discourse. In fact, it detracts from the public discourse, because it takes focus off of pieces that are about real action, or real legislative issues, or actual strategies for fixing problems.
Where this editorial and others like it do succeed is in drawing tons of readers and commenters. To borrow a phrase from Gail Collins, these articles successfully "whip [the] audience into rage." Or they placate us by appealing to our sense of moral superiority. They provide an easily digested catharsis so that we can go back to our lives without really doing anything about the problem. Enough, please.
2
@Tom Ryan Not enough. We need columnists like Gail to keep us up on what's going on and read different viewpoints, Gail injects humor, Brooks gives us a moderate Republican viewpoint, Kristoff gives us cheer, we can overcome all evil. I like reading the comments with the recommendations and the replies. I learn a lot. It's like talking back and forth to our country and to the world. Not enough. Never. double please.
4
@Nightwood
Thank you for saying what I (and I bet lots of NYTimes readers) believe--that reading the comments to articles and editorials makes me feel connected. It is, as you said, "like talking back and forth to our country and to the world." I gain so much comfort from knowing I am not alone in feeling fear and shame about the current administration. And I get an even better feeling from reading wise or hopeful comments here.
2
@TinyBlueDot
Well said, TBD.
I strongly relate to what you wrote. Well said.
Living alone, with the news of the day being SO disturbing, I depend on these comments to feel I’m still involved in a way that matters.
My canine companions are a great comfort and so are all of you folks. Thanks!
1
"All we can do is hope he sticks to his less dangerous form of awfulness." Even that is not enough any more. Trump just continues saying whatever he pleases, despite the truth, and his empty-headed minions and base eat it up. I guess they need something to fill their heads, after all.
I seldom write such strong words, but it is difficult to contain my anger at these newest assaults on migrants who are fleeing violent and seeking asylum. We really have forgotten what we stand for--at least, the right has.
2
Children who have regular tantrums are often seeking attention. Our constant negative attention to 45s tantrums, outbursts and outrages elicits more of the same. Even children think negative attention is better than no attention. Starve the beast, he’s had enough attention!
4
I think you need to return to nine as the number of justices nominated by FDR. According to the Supreme Court's own website, FDR appointed one chief justice, Harlan Fiske Stone, and eight associate justices. https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/members_text.aspx
I think it is hilarious that despite Trump's first tax cuts going over about as well as a pie to the face, he decides the best way to garner more votes is to promise tax cuts again.
The Trump Way: if you fail, redo the exact same thing so you can fail again.
3
it is no surprise that the conservatives have resorted to bombs. these are the people who have used similar methods on abortion clinics and who have murdered doctors. Trump with his exhortations of violence is responsible for this becoming more common.
4
Once again I must pick the veracity and determination of the commenters over that of the writer of the opinion piece. Though it should not be completely incumbent on the press alone to state the truth in all of its horror. It is wonderful that people have a voice and that they continue to offer criticisms of the present administration with great vigour. All of your voices together are your only hope.
2
By whom, how is this individual to be kicked out of the W House? There is no more irony, no more laughs regarding the brutalities proffered constantly by this individual with the approval of his "herd." His speeches, besides being a nonsense, there were/are always polemic (from Greek, war), never dialogue (from Greek through knowledge, logos). By the way, his speeches are "crafted" by someone else, of course, by a speech writer who knows perfectly well how to carry out a "psychological warfare" campaign based on stirring emotions and cancelling all information based on knowledge and respect for his audience, treated as no more than herd. He is the ventriloquist while the individual sitting in the White House is just the dummy.
1
Bolder and more confident, if that is possible. Trump has grown into the Presidency in a perverse way. He likes the power, enjoys the chaos he creates, nothing sticks to him and he is looking ahead. Who, where, is the Democrat who can trump Trump?
5
The photo at the head of the column (like so many of the photos and videos of the caravan) is heartbreaking.
Here is a young woman holding a very young baby resting next to her backpack. All she has on her feet are cheap thong flip flops.
There is no evidence that she has a stroller or cart or the hat and clothes she and her baby need for a 1,000 mile trek to reach the American border.
She is clearly not a ISIS terrorist (sponsored by Democrats), or an "unknown Middle Easterner" or a "bad person" or a "hardened criminal."
What she clearly is, is a young mother with a baby desperately fleeing the terror and oppression in her Latin American home country, probably Honduras.
We as a country that claims to welcome the tired, and the poor "huddled masses yearning to breathe free" should give prompt refuge to these desperate asylum seekers, not slander them with false vilifications and threaten to block their access to our country by sending troops to our southern border.
Instead as a country we should continue to say, "Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!"
8
The trouble with "normal" is it always gets worse.
1
Very convincing, call for calm while ratcheting up the insults. Makes sense to me.
5
Among Trump's many flaws and gross failings is his refusal to use his unique access to all manner of intelligence information.
He could actually speak with complete authority if he would read daily intelligence briefings and consult with his many national security chiefs.
Instead he just parrots Fox, makes up stuff or incessantly lies.
This is a man who opts to be ignorant, which is quite remarkable for anyone, let alone a president.
But there is a very good reason he goes this route.
His fabricated reality best fits his twisted and divisive political agenda.
Were he to consult authoritative government intelligence sources, for instance, he would find that there is no evidence that the poor folks trekking north included dangerous people.
He loves the lie and hates the truth.
3
As per his threats, I am waiting to see if our "Commander in Chief" directly orders American soldiers to fire on the unarmed women and children who will attempt to cross the border with the caravan currently headed our way.
Trump is excellent at gas-bagging and issuing thunderous threats before a wildly applauding audience, but he couldn't pull together the courage to fire Omarosa to her face. And I'm not sure even a four-star general will obey the orders that the so-called president loves to bloviate about during his ego-stroking campaign rallies.
The next two weeks will be among the most interesting America has ever endured. But I believe a nation built on the backs of immigrants will do the right thing and welcome these tired, desperate, poor people into it. America has always known how to deal with tyrants and bullies. The ugly rhetoric of greed coming out of the Oval Office won't change that.
Donald Trump and his enablers will be brought down by their own words and actions, as long as we hold them accountable. VOTE THEM OUT ON 11/6!!
4
Funny, Gail, how many of your readers have thought that's what's happening with you. Things can get worse in your columns, and sure enough, they do.
Yes, we need a better immigration policy. No, and we're guessing of course, you don't want immigrants in your backyard or on your patio, do you? Would you clothe and feed them? Would you teach them English and how to earn their citizenship?
In short, do your liberal critiques center on what conservatives should do, but not what liberals often do....leave it to the government to do it.
Hardly a corporal work of mercy or helping a beaten man from a ditch when you can pick up your cell and dial 911.
1
A RealAmerican™ doesn't rely on government to do for him what he can do himself.
Round up those guns and drive yourself to the Canadian border. Now, Wobie.
"All we can do is hope he sticks to his less dangerous form of awfulness."
No, Gail, and you know this: We can and must continue to speak out against the hatred and lie, and VOTE.
3
Except, as Bill Maher often points out, Trump may very well refuse to leave if beaten in 2020, or impeached before that, and create the Biggest American Crisis ever . At this point this is almost a certainty in my mind. Sorry, I'm a half keg empty kind of person.
3
If the donald (president trump) were anyone else and said the things he does, there would be a number of white coated gentleman with butterfly nets and a very long sleeved jacket pouncing on him right about now. He is a danger to himself and others.
Upon a full diagnostic mental health screening, the results would likely have him placed in an institution for an undeterminable amount of time for a complete psychiatric anaysis. His bank accounts would be frozen and come under a Guardianship appointed by a mental health Court's review.
This isn't just about his pathological dishonesty, but the history of the lives he's already damaged and those of the near and long term future. This is all about his "Words and Deeds." He practices complete deception, causes mental anguish, even physical harm by encouragement in cheering a US Congressman to "body slam" a credentialed member of the press. This isn't the first time that a person has been cheered on by mr. trump to physically attack a bystander- protester at one of his rallies.
Now we are in the midst a storm of pipebombs being mailed or hand delivered to an impressive list of his critics. These include two former presidents, a former vice president, a former secretary of state (who was a senator and his most recent political opponent). Two prominient civilian activists and a major 24hr news service have also been targeted.
No one is above the law regardless of mental health issues,including a US president.
3
@C. Coffey
Agree. If it were anyone else, his FAMILY would be concerned and would be looking into protecting themselves, him, and . . . duh . . . the COUNTRY.
3
The Trump statement "I could shoot someone on 5th Avenue and not lose any votes" has now been replaced by "Trump could be caught on videotape handing America's top military secrets to Russia and still not have any Republican votes for impeachment".
The most disappointing aspect was that reporters on television interviewing Republicans who said they believed that something happened to Dr. Ford, not asking if the Republicans could come up with any possible scenario where Dr. Ford correctly identified the date and place as well as the four males there, before it was known that Kavanaugh’s diary/calendar unambiguously puts Kavanaugh and three people Ford identified as being there in the same house on July 1, 1982. Ford’s description of the interior of Gaudette’s house in Rockville, MD exactly matches that of the actual house, which still exists.
Ford's knowledge of who was there and Kavanaugh's denial that he was there, would be enough to convict Kavanaugh in any criminal court if he denied being there at the time. Any trained law enforcement officer knows this, as does anyone who has seen a police program on TV.
There are some very interesting aspects of this case regarding how victims of sexual assault are treated and reproductive rights. However, unfortunately every word said or printed about those aspects draws attention away from the fact that the 1982 diary/calendar proves that Ford has identified the correct people.
2
Every time friends of mine talk about how Trump is being criticized by “fake news,” I ask them to tell me, specifically, what article has been published that has been proven to be false. They cannot name any. The best they can do is to point to errors, but, in most cases, the news source has acknowledged the error and has issued a retraction, something that Trump, his enablers in Congress, or Fox pundits never do.
Whenever a Trump supporter makes a statement you believe to be false, ask for specifics. It works wonders. They likely will not change their minds, because Trumpistas do not live in a world of facts, but it does give them a little pause.
7
Yes, when you ask someone to explain and look give examples, do it in a kind manner so that they feel embarrassed, not angry.
2
Gail, I love your columns. But the terrorist events of yesterday and now more devices discovered today, are not funny. I’m also weary of late night talk shows making light of the national tragedy that is Pres. tRump. We need a national intervention on Nov. 6 to prevent tRump’s candidates from winning. VOTE them out!
2
I really hate to say this but even if the Democrats took the house, senate, and eventually the white house, I have a hard time believing things would change very much. As of late we have been hearing the sounds of democrats who have been major players in the Wall Street loving democratic party of the last 3 decades. Joe Biden is back and Hillary is beginning to show up here and there. The DNC and DCCC haven't really changed very much at all and they still hold the reins of power on the left. If we are going to ever make any kind of real change we need those scary social democrats to win and bring forth others to run who are of the same mindset. Oh wait! I was dreaming there for a second...sorry.
1
Gail, the tax cut's name is Harvey, like the imaginary character from "Arsenic and Old Lace".
On a more serious note, I worry that the disinformation machine will do their best to discredit the police if the perp who sent the pipe bombs is ever caught. I worry that copy-cat bombers will send bombs to other critics of Tax-Cheat Trump. I worry that one of them will succeed.
Love the framing of this piece-" Terrible week." to "...everybody leaves"-- Time is truly the friendly consolation prize for the many citizens that aren't winning on the game show we inhabit. Meanwhile, we the people have the Beatitudes , late night talk show hosts, a few ex presidents, children, art and Gail Collins to hold on to.
1
I got angry at the tone of this piece, the "Trump will be Trump" attitude implying that we should just ignore what he's saying an doing, he's just being Trump hear de har har har.
Tell it to the people who received those pipe bombs, and thank God none of them exploded, and don't write "whaddaya gonna do?" type pieces because they are meaningless.
Trump may be the last nail in the coffin of Pax Americana.
1
Trump is a seriously deranged man who is bringing us closer to dictatorship every day. Much of the country either ignores this or apparently doesn't mind.
Independents and Republicans who want to see the world's most important democracy remain a democracy must get everyone they know to vote Blue on November 6th.
This is not a dress rehearsal.
3
Yes, at some point everybody leaves. And the sooner the current group of radicals leave the better. This just can't go on this way.
What President whines about the media when they've just been attacked with a deadly device?
What kind of President whines about the free press reporting on the insanity in the White House created by the White House?
Everything is always someone else's fault. It's surreal.
81
I think Trump is terrible because he reflects American stupidity.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yes, Trump does crazy, dangerous things, all the time.
But Democrats are too passive and rambling, on and on.
Perhaps the pipe-bomb insanity will wake America up,
and Democrats will take the House and drive Trump out of office.
Trump flashes his OK sign, and Democrats ramble on and on.
Perhaps Democrats could show OK signs with both hands,
to suggest the insanity of Trump, to win the House in 2018.
1
When John Bolton was in Moscow a couple of days ago, I was watching Donald Trump do another of his Marine 1 Q&A's with the press (watch out for those chopper blades, sir) and he referred to the head of the NSC as 'Michael Bolton.'
5
When Trump demands the press stop the "negativity" and "fake news" he means any factual reporting that points out his lies and false claims, and false achievements.
7
A day without Trump getting Terrible is like a day without, well, Trump. Silly that we thought only totalitarian dictators, not an American president, would ever hold public rallies to stoke fear of other citizens, attack the free press, and vilify, mock, and dehumanize any who disagree with him. Bombs were just sent to Trump’s most vilified targets. Who would have guessed? Terrible Trump is also bragging about putting children in internment camps again, because it was "huge" the first time around.
Trump's attacks on the press are so consistent it's hard to keep up. It's easy to forget that on just one day this past August Trump labeled the news media "the opposition party," attacked it again as the "fake news media," because 350 newspapers wrote editorials supporting the First Amendment.
Only a few things Trump said to massive cheering crowds at a recent rally for the midterms:
"A vote for the Democrats in November is a vote to let MS-13 run wild in our communities." And,
"Democrats want anarchy, they really do, and they don't know who they're playing with, folks." And,
"The laws are so corrupt, they are so corrupt." And,
"They hate your guts." (Meaning everyone but Trump supporters).
Former Vice President Joe Biden responded in alarm that Trump was "shredding American values." It was accurate, fair, and incredibly restrained. You have to push Joe Biden really hard before he even goes that far, yet there were plenty of attacks on Biden for being unfair. (Sigh).
4
Such an elegant spokesman - always impressed by his eloquent delivery. Trump’s oratory always makes me think of “Jimmy Two Times” from the movie Goodfellas, “who got that nickname because he said everything twice.” Jimmy Two Times : I'm gonna go get the papers, get the papers...
1
Noting Trump's (evidence-free) claim that terrorists are in the caravan, a friend suggested someone Photoshop a picture of the Saudi Prince into the crowd.
2
I'm waiting for the Mar-a-Lago members to rise up and heckle him at dinner. Or record his dinner conversations. Or refuse to pay their dues. Come on rich Republicans, join our protests.
1
I don't think Trump is ever going to leave the White House. He will probably die in office and prior to his death change its name to Trump's Tomb. "The man who stayed in the former White House longer than any president."
1
"Trump Gets Terrible" and he will only get worse. He lowers the bar again and again and again. We're shock-proof at this point when two former US Presidents and a former US Vice-Presidents are attacked and the Republicans and Trump treat it as "fake News" and business as usual. Welcome to 'Murica!
6
"Gets" terrible?
5
Ahhhhh, V O T E !
7
Trump motto: Make it worse.
5
"At some point everybody leaves." Probably the best double entendre I've heard in ages, especially with regard to that person.
Unfortunately, some folks overstay their welcome at the party, cause a disturbance, and the police need to be called in to deal with the situation.
7
"And — wait! In actual reality, Trump is not after George Washington. "
Gail, I wish you'd stop reminding us that we're at the point where it's necessary to qualify reality - 'actual' versus another kind that it's so discouraging to have to contemplate.
2
There is no tax plan. Trump rallies are simply his version of focus groups, designed to help him gauge which ideas are drawing the biggest applause. Like any good con-man he constantly seeks to tell people what they want to hear, which leads them to believe they are being listened to.
Republicans may shake their heads and gnash their teeth in private, but as long as he delivers the votes, they will do nothing to contradict him. They know that ultimately whatever legislation they do come up with, Trump will market it as if it had been the intention all along and declare mission accomplished.
They reality is that Republicans believe it is their duty to remain firm in their resolve to weaken the safety net, which according to them is "out of control", and not let the reality or stories of suffering get in their way. Much like Hoover, who was willing to use the US Army to disperse destitute WWI war veterans, who had come to DC to protest and demand that the gov't help them.
Unlike Hoover, they are more concerned about the optics, and this is where Trump is useful. He is their master promoter and the only thing he cares about is succeeding.
12
During the rally tour, the preferable making-stuff-up Trump also announced “a very major tax cut” just for middle-income people, which would be passed before Nov. 1, or after the election, or “next week,” depending on when you were listening.
I'm looking forward to the diminution and eventual exit of Trump--next week, before Nov. 1, or after the election. It doesn't matter. Whenever it happens, I and a majority of Americans will be so elated.
11
The cruelty is the point. The lies are the point. And with Trump, the country can always be plunged even lower. This destruction of America has to end soon.
34
He is itching to create a "national emergency"--a phrase he has already used in connection with the Honduran refugees--in order to issue a presidential decree curtailing certain civil liberties and declaring a form of martial law. (He has already stated that "the military is ready.")
Once his Reichstag Fire Decree goes into effect, he can suspend the midterm elections, thereby ending the Democrat threat to retake the House. Because, for him, a Democratic-run House would mean one thing and one thing only: his tax returns might get subpoenaed.
That is his greatest fear, and he will stop at nothing to make it go away.
20
The most difficult part of the gump presidency is how to maintain one's faith and love of our country.
18
Truer words; ... "This is getting scarier and scarier".
12
@willw, yes! And what WILL we do if Democrats don't take back the House, as someone else here has asked, in November. Too awful to contemplate. We may not have a country left to save.
1
Anyone who has listened to Trump over the last 3 years knows that he rarely completes a declarative sentence. His English is barely third grade level. Combine that with the evident inability to remember his many lies, and what you're left with is a bully, bent on "entertaining" the adoring fans who attend his rallies. The sooner the clown leaves the stage, the better for America. It will take decades to repair all of the Trumpian damage to America's reputation as a freedom-loving land that welcomes the tired, the poor, the hungry.
29
God please let trump and pence leave, today.
22
The Trump presidency: a foul administration of incivility and negativity.
24
Well, we know he doesn't have a speech writer.
9
Speech writer? The man doesn’t have SPEECH.
1
Oh yeah, "...announced 'a very major tax cut' just for middle-income people..." and I have a bridge to sell.
16
But do they really? Mr. Trump said he thought "President for Life" sounded like a good idea.
4
Herman!!! So funny.
2
Mr. President, kindly point out a few of the lies, false attacks or negativity from the media. Your daily lies are quantifiable. The media, not so much.
22
Trump is insane, period!
12
Who knew fascism was this funny?
5
Gail, if you are scared, I am REALLY scared!
8
So, the border patrol agent, who is one thousand miles away from the caravan, has spotted the “middle easterners.” That’s the best sighting since Sarah Palin saw Russia from her house. “Eyes of an eagle.”
28
I feel like some clever soul with access to video footage of past presidents needs to assemble a series of presidential addresses. Just small segments, mere paragraphs, of FDR, of Kennedy, of Carter, of Reagan, of Clinton, of Bush, of Obama. (Forgive my omission of any personal favorites), speaking eloquently, moderately, thoughtfully. And then tack on any one of the current occupant of the White House's absolutely incoherent ramblings and rantings to show us all how much the office of the presidency has diminished under Trump's idiotic "leadership."
16
And when this clever soul is ready to release the product, I'll buy the first copy!
3
It just gets worse. You know it is bad when you read the "Trump news" and sit back and wish George W was president again. (And I could not stand "W")
Dole, Dukakis, McCain, Bush I, my uncle Joe, Anybody but Trump.
For a country that is supposed to be the "shining light on a hill", I would say not only the light has been extinguished, but the hill flattened and we're digging a hole deeper than a "oil fracking" well.
For our own sake and the sake of this country, Vote Democratic in November.
24
There is a wave of insanity sweeping the world. America is the sick man of the West and and the disease an inexplicable rage fuelled by a virus named Trump. When the lunacy of Trump and his mindless followers have had their day, MAGA will take on a significance none would have imagined. By then, of course, if may be too late. Georges Clemenceau once said, "America is the only nation in history which, miraculously, has gone directly from barbarism to degeneracy without the usual interval of civilization." He may have been on to something after all.
9
Ms. Collins's column is a modern-day illustration of one of my favorite lines from Shakespeare: "The worst is not so long as we can say 'this is the worst.'" (King Lear, Act IV, Scene 1)
5
Speaking of Trump's rallies; who's paying for this stuff? The king flies in on the (his, in his mind) Presidential 747 (kingly impressions are important you know) at a gazillion dollars per mile and....who's paying for this stuff?
24
Nah. "Rico" rather than "Rocco". "Mother of Mercy, is this the end of RICO the Tax Cut?" Or if you like Os in your nicknames, "Rococo" is best.
Is it even possible that what we have to do is ...Stop worrying and learn to love the bomb?
Terrible headline. Trump has ALWAYS been terrible. This is not a recent development.
9
This is Toad’s Wild Ride. We are subjected everyday to his mind salad. I now understand the reaction of the delegates at the United Nations. When he opened his mouth they all laughed. What else can you do, really?
4
Ms. Collins writes: "He’ll never improve. All we can do is hope he sticks to his less dangerous form of awfulness."
This is almost exactly what I told my wife late last evening, only the second part I didn't consider. He will not change nor will he improve. He is addicted to those rallies. Although he doesn't drink and I'm certain he doesn't do drugs but the high he experiences from "whipping up the crowd" at these hatefests cannot be duplicated with alcohol, drugs, a good golf score or anything else.
He needs his excoriated demons like the Clintons, George Soros, President (!) Obama, and others.
8
If you think Trump allies are not encouraging that caravan from Central America so he can put on a show just before the midterms, I have a bridge to Brooklyn to sell you.
Will Democrats fall for it all? Will we?
7
You can't cheer me up. Even if everyone leaves, there will always be another sycophant to replace him or her. As many others have said, Trump does not scare or depress me. I am unable to cope with the fact that nearly one-half of American voters support him and applaud his policies. Trump's racist, sexist, homophobic, science-denying, demagogue supporting, freedom denying and fake religious positions reflect the beliefs of an unbelievable number of Americans. This is not how I pictured America. Trump may lose, but what can be done about the nearly 50% of Americans that will remain?
411
@Disillusioned. I am moving to the Greek islands to read novels and gaze ot the sea
3
@Disillusioned Relax, Germany made it through this stage, and so will we - and maybe be 'all growed up' in the process. It's about time . . .
2
@Disillusioned Well, I think it was Trump - the "blip" -leaving that was intended to cheer you up. Small comfort in dark times since, as you write, almost half of American voters who took the time to vote voted for him
2
The alacrity with which Trump spoke and the instant attention endowed upon him by the media would make you think the whole series of events is all about Trump.
Maybe we could hear a word or two from the victims before we have to stomach the phony apologia of the guy in the White House.
5
Why are Obamas and Clintons not going on rallies to shore support for Dems and clear up misconceptions with strong rhetoric? I will admire Trump for his survival instincts. The rest are Dodo’s.
2
Thank you, Gail. Hard to believe this nightmare is actually reality.
11
I wish there was a way we could see less of Trump's rallies. Just about every night, we have to hear his disgusting , hate-filled
rhetoric that appears to inspire his crazy crowd of what nots.
This could reduce the chaos we all see and feel - I know the press
needs to report on him, but it' s too much, too upsetting and too
inspiring to so many of these scary fans. Give us all a break!
14
@pkay, sometimes I just need to turn it off. I want to know what's happening, but some days it is just overwhelming. The negativity and hate seem to keep building. I desperately wish Trump would just go away, go back to real estate so we could wake from this nightmare.
1
Wouldn't have to be a total blackout either. In bridge, it only takes 3 notrump to make game.
1
Regarding the rate of successful SCOTUS appointments, perhaps Trump, in his usual incoherent manner, was alluding to his rate in the first 2 years of his presidency and how that stacked up against other presidents in a similar time period?
Not that I think Trump came up with such a calculation himself, he just parrots things his supporters tell him. But perhaps that's where the statistic originated.
1
It's time to stop talking about Trump, Trump, Trump. He's a psychopath who isn't going to change, certainly not because of something published in a NY Times OpEd column.
The deafening silence of congressional Republicans, however, is quite another matter. One hopes their day of reckoning is coming in a couple of weeks.
25
I'm disappointed, Gail, that Leona (Helmsley), wasn't a choice as a good name for a tax cut, considering you have written about Queen Leona in the past (https://nyti.ms/2AqL5Zc). The Pinnochio would have been my second choice.
2
Well … he probably didn’t mean “unify”. He’s not noted for effective word selection. He probably meant: “Folks, let’s pretend we’re not animals, and not shoot Republicans on baseball fields or send pipe bombs to the unchained, potted liberati.” I still believe the FBI should be looking closely at Montana – interesting people seem to live in A-Frames there or pretty close.
But Gail should maintain some historical perspective. The likelihood is high that once he’s re-elected, Trump will get to nominate at least two MORE Supreme Court justices, to replace Ruther Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, both of whom likely will FINALLY tire of waiting around for a Democratic president and Senate.
And John Bolton, whose walrus mustache color FINALLY has begun to match his hair, is becoming less “freaky” with every whitened follicle.
Everybody leaves, sometimes in a flash, sometimes painfully over time. But you can bet that Trump won’t leave at all – not willingly. Our undivided Republican Congress is talking about finally repealing the 22nd Amendment that limits a president to two terms, and Trump will be able to plague Democrats until he finally succumbs to that ultimate dirt nap, as FDR did to Republicans.
Something for Gail to look forward to. But, then ... consider Montana.
2
@Richard Luettgen I thought your tongue was firmly in cheek until I read this:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/white-house/lawmakers-slow-to-re...
Apparently Steny Hoyer agrees with you.
1
@Mister Mxyzptlk
Actually, my tongue is usually firmly in cheek with Gail, and definitely here. The only good policy reason I can think of for repealing the two-term presidential limit is that it makes a second-term president perforce a lame duck with regard to SOME of the means at his or her disposal to terrify domestic political adversaries.
But we all get phenomenally less attractive with age; and Trump, who didn't start as any spring chicken, already is pretty far along that road as it is. Besides, how long could the American people put up with the sight of that road-kill on his head becoming shabbier and more mouse-eaten with time?
@Richard Luettgen
The most freaky thing is that there are NYT readers who actually admire Trump. They have no excuses other than hating America.
2
Ms. Collins, you did cheer me up; thank you. Now, could you piggyback on the article about Trump's iPhone security and give us a day in the life of the sad Russian spy who has to watch Trump through his selfie camera? I might choke on my oatmeal, but that’s ok.
163
@Lois Werner-Gallegos
Andy Borowitz covered the spy angle just this morning in the New Yorker:
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/borowitz-report/spies-eavesdropping-on-t...
1
Thanks, Ms Collins for the image of Trump chatting with lonely Border Patrol officers in the middle of the night. So much better than calling heads of state and threatening more trade wars.
The whole concept of US voters (Fox viewers only) being terrified of a "caravan" of asylum seekers and refugees from violence and internal political struggles approaching our borders that Trump and the Republican Congress have been in charge of for nearly two years. Why should the country with the most powerful military in the world and an enhanced, expensive Border Patrol be afraid of tired, hungry people who are walking over a thousand miles towards safety? What doesn't Trump and his party find to fear?
It is karma that the markets are heading to a "correction" just before the midterms due in large part to "uncertainty" about Trump future trade "wars" which to date have produced only confusion and chaos. We have seen that before with Trump's first attempt to ban Muslims from entering the US as refugees or legal immigrants. I remember the crowded airports and the government officials caught off guard by another poorly thought-out and incompetently implemented Trump policy.
I believe the 2018 stock market gains have been wiped out as of today's losses. Just one more reason to vote Democratic on Nov. 6.
651
@sdexp
According to Forbes.com, of the 50 richest families, 28 support Republicans and 7 support Democrats.
1
@Lynda There are many similarities between the populist surge that resulted in Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. In both cases, populists falsely claimed that trade agreements had harmed their countries. Trump echoed the anti-free trade and anti-NAFTA arguments, that previously had been mainly the domain of anti-business leftists, such as by Bernie Sanders.
Already, we are seeing the effects of the inevitable responses to tariffs. Not only were Trump's assertions that "trade wars are easy to win" fallacious, but the country that instigates a trade war is always by far the biggest loser. The retaliating nations always have a tremendous advantage over those instigating protectionism. This can be easily seen with the tariffs on steel and aluminum that increase the costs of every product made in the US that uses those metals. Thus, American consumers and producers are already net losers from these ill-advised protectionist tariffs, even before any retaliation. These tariffs increase consumer prices and make products produced in the US less competitive, relative to those manufactured goods made outside the country using steel and aluminum priced at the world market, rather than the artificially propped-up US and aluminum steel markets.
As Trump discovered when a retaliatory tariff was put on US motorcycles by the EU, which will not raise any costs on any EU producers or for anyone in the EU except for buyers of motorcycles.." https://seekingalpha.com/article/4205253
11
@sdexp I understand the anger but it is misplaced. I live in California and in the 1970's we passed Proposition 13 which sharply reduced property taxes. This cut the state's income by half. While it did help property owners it decimated all the other things that the state pays for like schools, infrastructure and social services. Our state taxes have constantly risen to partially compensate for that loss. Conservatives here like to say that all our problems are due to "the illegals" but many of the issues with schools and social services are due to ill conceived tax cuts.
This White, middle aged, middle class, college educated, gun owning, Army veteran Republican male is voting against the Republicans all the way down the ballot. For the first time and hopefully the last time. And I want my fellow conservatives at the WSJ to know it.
My message to them is: Wake Up.
609
@Drew This female, pro-choice, pro-immigrant, never-voted-GOP liberal is glad to hear that. And eager to tell you that I would vote for some effective, realistic way to control migration south of the border. I'd trade some limitations on abortion for guarantees of effective sex ed and easy access to all forms of birth control. I am curious and hopeful about the outcome of the trade war. Not all of us are welded to our tribal bandwagons.
19
Thank you, @Drew. You're an inspiration.
9
@Drew Thanks! (I mean it). Your vote will cancel out that of the gay man who commented in a column earlier this week that he will vote Rep instead of Dem in this election because he doesn't like being lumped in with all the men accused in MeToo. 45 did this by pitting the sexes against each other (what's left?). More terrible stuff.
8
I’m a Wisconsinite and ashamed of the Trump supporters at the Wisconsin rally last night.
Leah Vukmir encouraged anti Clinton chanting which is pretty remarkable in a day of threatened bomb violence. She grinned like a kindergartner who just found a cookie in her pocket instead of pleading for peace among the crowd when they chanted “lock her up!”
Remember when John Mc Cain took the microphone from the elderly woman who called Barack Obama a Muslim? He said “no ma’am” and called for unity and respect.
Leah Vukmir had the prime opportunity to say “today we are all Americans and no matter our differences we will not tolerate violence. We need to honor peace and dignity. And that starts right here tonight.” But no, she grinned like a Chessie cat, and encouraged the crowd. And by the way, Mr. Trump, the polls are not close with Vukmir and Tammy Baldwin, so stop the lies.
I’m a nurse, and I’m embarrassed and ashamed Leah Vukmir calls herself a nurse over and over. I see her as cruel and ruthless, unlike any other nurse I’ve known or worked with in my long career. She uses the profession to push her facade and that angers myself and my colleagues. We’re not pawns, our profession is not to be “used” as a political pawn, not by Leah Vukmir nor anyone else.
It was a Wisconsin circus here last night. It was a typical Trump show. Nothing stops them, not even potential terror.
Step right up!
600
@MIMA
I fully agree. Trump doesn't hold rallies so much as hold contests to see how far he can push his worshipers into putting their full belief in the irrational, their full hatred against the innocent, and their hysterics against the harmless.
18
Please email these comments to as many Wisconsin newspapers and media outlets as you possibly can. People who stayed home need to see your comments so we know what really happened, particularly comments about Leah Vukmir who scares me. We cannot lose Tammy Baldwin. Thank you both for attending this hideous event and for so honestly and promptly sharing your experience and describing the horrors.
25
@MIMA Well written. Thank you.
6
I only need one word.
Impeach.
8
What is an American president supposed to do when the entire civilized world knows that there is something very abnormal about him, and the only point of argument is whether he’s a ridiculous, unhinged idiot or a dangerous, raving psychopath?
What happens when the president knows this is how he is regarded by intelligent people across America and around the world?
What does the president do when he comes to realize that there actually is something very wrong with him?
The answer to all three of those questions, in the frantic mind of Donald Trump, is to just keep talking and hope you can retrieve the brilliant train of thought you just lost.
The cheers at the pep rallies help. The crowd knows what he is trying to say, even if he does not.
10
There's a third possibility. Two words: personal Vietnam.
I think by now it should be evident that this President represents an unfamiliar America that a good chunk of the American public wants. It is an America we were not brought up with and resembles governments we had previously been at odds with. The moral questions that arise because of Trump are as divisive as those that were asked before the civil war. We are a divided country and this is not business as usual, it's a fight for the soul of the American way.
15
We are far from plumbing the the depths of the Donald Trump presidency. With the fast approaching mid-terms, there will be a raging torrent lies and taunts right up to the wire. Fasten your seatbelts.
8
The media is always staying “this too shall pass” and reflecting on how great it will be when trump is gone. Am I the only one who thinks trump will not leave, even if he is impeached or voted out? I really think he will change the law so he can stay, or just NOT LEAVE when it comes time. Who will make sure he goes? Not republicans, not the military.
13
From day one when he ranted about imaginary "Mexican rapists," Trump has remained true to form.
The mystery and wonder is why so many followed him over the sociopathic cliff.
14
Listen to young people. They have hopes and dreams. The future is theirs.
7
Just make sure you vote AND do something to encourage potential non-voters with you.
7
Until we can get a Democratic House majority, our democracy has one foot on a banana peel and one foot in the grave. Let's just hope the Mid-term Elections results don't get hacked by our borscht eating buddies in the basement of the Kremlin.
9
Laughter is the best medicine, thank you. However, medicine does not work on maladies for which there are no cures.
4
Trump might leave but he has established a new definition of what it means to be a citizen. Be ignorant, trust your prejudice and let some guy on the internet tell you what is going on. Many Americans will wake up to learn Hilary, Barack and George Soros sent bombs to the White House via Amazon. In my state, representative Keith Ellison who is running for Attorney General is losing to Doug Wardlaw. Over 50% of Minnesotans have no idea who Wardlaw is, but they know Ellison is black and a Muslim and was accused of abusing an ex-girlfriend days before the primary. The same people found they felt Brett Kavanaugh’s denials believable because he looks so believable and the internet said... Trump has established protecting democracy is his job, your job is to be entertained.
12
lol at the last line. thanks gail.
2
A country at war with itself. I'm tired of all the winning, Putin's winning that is.
6
Most Americans don't find Trump believable. But most prefer him to the media. The media continually attacks Trump's credibility, taking whatever he says to heart.
But much of what Trump says is tongue in cheek. And so the media comes off as humorless. That it still is outraged over Trump's counting of his inauguration crowd is nothing short of inane.
@michjas The reaction of much of our country has sunken to a reality television show level. What you call "tongue in cheek" is actually just standard operating procedure for Trump, who hasn't really had to deal with being a fully mature adult thus far in his life, and is doubling down on his entitlement. Given the fantasy world that half our country lives in, it makes sense that they would be bothered more by the media pointing out that the circus has taken over what should be reality.
3
@michjas
It is inane to think that “most” of what Trump says is tongue-in-cheek. What part isn’t?
2
Whaat keeps me awake a night isn't the realization that "everyone leaves."
Rather, I don't sleep for the terror I experience because no one ever "checks in."
2
There is absolutely nothing funny, or mildly entertaining about Donald Trump, and a column like this struggles. Everybody around me, who still has a normal, functioning brain, is either very scared, dismayed, or extremely angry. Living through this pervese, malignant, mendacious, despicable, racist Trump administration is vomit inducive.
22
what writers don't seem to address, is it's not Donald Trump's fault. He has been this way forever. It's the people that are so easily persuaded. And what do you think is going to happen when you know what hits the fan?! Just as the Richard Nixon lovers reacted when he resigned. Just like Bill Clinton lovers reacted when he was being impeached.
Deny deny deny and it's a Witch Hunt and a conspiracy against their beloved.
The only thing now is most all of these haters have guns and bullets and don't seem to care if they kill or harm their brother or Neighbors Etc.
7
Gail, perhaps your editors write the headlines, but I have a real problem with "Trump GETS Terrible" because it implies that this is a recent development.
11
May I make a suggestion to the media? Please display more pictures like the one above and relate the story of the caravan in pictures. I am over 70. This is one of those pictures that would stay in my memory for a long, long time. I need to see and feel others' pain to feel human.
Puleeze .......Media Sir and Madam.
5
That last bit of hope, positively Shakesperean: Exeunt Omnes.
3
Let's be more Shakespearean: "pursued by a bear".
Thanks for trying, Gail, but no, you didn't cheer me up.
I know that history is cyclical, and that this too shall pass. I even recognize that the arc of history does bend -- with excruciating slowness -- toward justice. But at 76, I don't have time to wait for the next turn in the cycle. This is it. Human nature, not quite at its nadir, but getting there.
299
@Ellen Valle
History is NOT cyclical. We cannot just wait for this to pass. Assuming so will allow things to continue. The arc of history is bent by whoever pushes at it harder. And the side of injustice, cruelty and violence is pushing pretty hard right now. If you support civility, compassion, community, peace and justice, you (we) need to DO something, not wait.
12
@Ellen Valle
According to Plato, Tyranny follow Democracy...
So, the tax cuts Congress passed late last year were not for the middle class?That's what they all told us. Clearly, if the middle class now needs a tax cut, the earlier one was only for corporations and the rich. Hmmm. What a surprise. Don't hold your breath middle class.
12
Gail, I love you! Your wit is extraordinary. How you manage to speak the truth so simply but with such profound humor. Only you can make me laugh in these difficult times when too often I weep.
From the tone of her column, you’d think Gail were talking about glitter bombs.
> We want the Donald Trump who yowls about wildly overestimated crowd sizes and nonexistent achievements.
No, we don’t. Not even facetiously.
2
Everyone leaves? Not soon enough
2
So depressed that around 46% of Americans support him. Some are brainwashed.
Some are not.
I don't know how to live.
14
Good article. All is abnormal in Trump's fantasy of make believe goblins all dressed-up as reporters traveling in a caravan with Middle Easterners. Surely, Trump's base appreciates all of Trump's factless drooling drivel Got to have them feeling Supreme, Trump muses.
1
"All we can do is hope he sticks to his less dangerous form of awfulness."
Part of the pleasure of reading Gail, even in these times, is her felicity of language. I feel with the composition of the above phrase she had introduced us to a whole new quantifier never seen or heard before, but now urgently necessary in the Time of Trump.
Less Dangerous Forms of Awfulness:
Trump's hair; Trump's mispronunciation of simple English words; Trump's comportment, both personal and social; Trump's physical appearance; Trump's tone of voice; Trump's normal level of boorishness--it's one thing to be the kind of man who rob's others of their own company without providing anything in return; it's quite another to do so to an entire nation (if not the world).
I could go on (and on), but EOD has never been part of my MOS. That falls into the More Dangerous Forms of Awfulness category.
5
"Wait until you see what happens over the next couple of weeks," he told the Wisconsin crowd, in one of the more ominous moments of the night. "you are going to see a very secure border. Very secure. You just watch. The military is ready. They're all set."
Perhaps my imagination is running away with me, but I am picturing a horrible bloodbath at the border when the refugees reach their goal. This may be just more of Trump's braggadocio, but in my mind's eye I see the military gunning down men, women and children who have trekked for weeks hoping to find safety and a better life. The irony is heartbreaking to contemplate.
14
"Trump gets terrible, things can get worse...they always do" the new US motto, soon to appear on our currency. A new motto we can believe in, to replace the specious "In God We Trust" ('cause who thought God would do Trump to us?!).
"Trump gets terrible" will soothe our collective depression by reminding us life may not be fair but it's not (yet) as bad as it will get, so enjoy the terrible while it lasts.
"Things can get worse...they always do" reminds us not to expect any improvement 'cause it's not going to get better, it's only going to get worse (we allowed Trump to get into the White House, do we deserve better?).
Yes, the new motto is depressing...but it could be worse...
BTW, the answer to today's pop quiz ("What do you think would be a good name for Trump’s tax cut?") is...
D) Bigly Fake Tax Cut for Fools
11
I'm wondering, since I haven't listened to the actual boast, if Trump meant all federal judges and not just Supreme Court justices. And, if this is the case, we can thank Mitch McConnell for holding up the works for so long under President Obama that the gusher now is more than it should be.
When people tell me their 'own' Republican is moderate and correct on the issues, they aren't seeing the real picture: a vote for your moderate gopper is a vote for McConnell or for whatever travesty of a human being replaces Paul Ryan. If they are part of the Republican caucus, they are part of the problem. If you vote for them, so are you.
16
Thanks, Gail: this too (Trump) shall pass. It will be like the day after a massive hurricane, but sooner or later it will end. The problem is the short memory of the electorate. Do you remember the messes Bush father and son made of the economy? and what Clinton and Obama did to set things right? And how United Statesians (not "Americans" because the Hondurans walking north are "Americans," too: Central Americans) showed their gratitude by voting Republican?
Anyway, here's a shocker: "Megyn Kelly’s ‘Blackface’ Remarks Lead to Rift With NBC" (Times headline this morning). Whoddathunkit? Did anyone at NBC ever watch her while she was at Fox? Did they think it was all an act? Perhaps NBC leadership should watch those Seinfeld reruns where Jerry and George relive the process by which tv shows get on the air. Very sad.
9
NBC broke in to early PM programming to bring us the first lady relaying the bombing news while our magnificent leader who set off the hatred stood on the sidelines. Are there any patriots left party in the republican party who can rein in this destroyer of democracy.
8
Gail's correct, he is getting worse. I suspect it's part of his personality disorder. He needs to escalate to get the same fix. You can see he is no longer afraid that he will be stopped or that the Russia investigation will be a problem... no matter what they find. Criminal tax matters, no problem. Sexual crimes... nope... solved. Kavanaugh solves everything. "Cruel is cool"... says everything.
15
When you lie down with dogs, you might wind up with fleas - or other kinds of vermin.
The Republicans took a deep breath after the 2016 elections, and decided to embrace Donald J. Trump, for better or worse. They got their tax cuts, they got their Supreme Court judges, they got their way with no government oversight. They got the most corrupt administration in modern American history.
The bill is coming due. The monster is out of the cage; the well has been poisoned. Trump thinks he can get away with anything - he said it himself - so its foolish to expect him to moderate. His believers are starting to act on the words of their leader. Elected Republicans like their campaign money too much to reign in the madness, so the only hope is the ballot box.
The 2018 midterms may decide whether America takes a right turn into Fascism, or sets about the task of repairing the damage done.
Vote and encourage others to vote - for Democrats.
519
@The Observer
Trump's rallies are just him holding contests to see how far he can push his gullible worshipers into believing the unbelievable.
2
@The Observer
Now there are four horsemen riding our country and he is Our leader, and what shall we call him?
@The Observer what makes you so insightful? Dems elected Trump, too, by sending worse presidential candidate. change yourself.
2
Can Trump leave?
I suggest resignation. Hopefully the voters will throw his Republican enablers out of office.
Then it is mandatory that impeachment hearings proceed and Justice is served by indicting him for trespassing the White House with his indecency, dishonor, and numerous crimes!
He is a fraud, but the most authentic deplorable.
A stain on our history and ideals and the office of President!
3
A week so horrible that not even Gail Collins could find humor in it. But I still enjoy how you share the "Ugggh!".
1
" At some point everybody leaves.”
If true, proof that a just and beneficent God exists.
3
It's pretty sad when I realize we don't have to worry about the current supreme court judges rulings affecting us for the next 30 years - climate change will have an impact on policy and the human species in 10 -20 years.
2
I am terrified that he will stop or invalidate the upcoming election.
1
Trump went totally batty some time ago; he cannot even maintain a fiction of being "sort of a president." It is indeed some consolation that "at some point everybody leaves."
The question is when, and how .... and what remains?
You have to ruin an an otherwise great article by making fun of the name Rocco. That was my father's name and he was taunted for it during most of his youth in Greenwich Village as a first generation American when Italians were as appreciated by most citizens as Hondurans are today. What was your point about Rocco?
There is no history of things ending well for an authoritarian ruler like this.
There will be terrible damage. There already has been.
But Trump is heading down a painful path.
2
The stock market is going down; so too, perhaps, trump’s fortunes.
1
Yes Trump goads the media and almost anyone else that doesn't stroke his ego daily. In spite of that, his point on the media has some merit. It is possible for the media to be critical, to point out the outright lying and twisting of the truth without becoming the news themselves. I am old enough the adversarial relationship between Agnew & Nixon and the media but I I think the reporters and pundits of that era maintained a level of detachment and professionalism that is lacking today and they were still able to educate the public regarding the illegal actions of that presidency. As long as the traditional media leads with their partisan opinions, whether its Fox or MSNBC, the public will embrace non-traditional news outlets because they don't see much of a difference between old and new media. I don't care that Jeff Zucker and Trump don't like each other, I expect CNN to report the news and separate fact from opinion.
2
@Mister Mxyzptlk Reporting on such a divisive, incompetent man in such a critical position makes it impossible to appear neutral. I do not see CNN making anything up, but they will be "damned if they do and damned if they don't" call him out on his reckless behavior. And for the record, Fox and MSNBC are not equivalent in their honesty and opinions in reporting.
Trump has done some truly terrible things since being elected. Things which threaten people's lives and our republican form of government.
So this may seem trite, but as a Constitutional law expert, listening to this petty thug use his name next to that of George Washington disgusts me.
Trump is doing everything within his abused power to become an autocratic dictator. Washington, had he wanted, could have easily become that dictator but chose not to.
After defeating the British, General Washington could have done what military leaders like Cesar, Cromwell and Napoleon did: usurp power. Instead, Washington disbanded his troops and surrendered his sword to Congress.
As president, he believed two terms were all that were justified and stepped aside - setting an important norm that was observed for the next 150 years.
Anybody out there think that were it not for the 22nd Amendment Trump would step aside? Ever?
4
Gail, Sadly, if you look at all federal court appointments and not just SCOTUS, Trump may well be second only to George Washington.
Why don't we call Trump's new tax proposal "The bill you should have signed the first time." Or perhaps, "The populist dream infinitely deferred." Anyway, there's no point in fact checking Trump anymore. He's so divorced from honesty I'd rather get my news from Pedro Luca. We could honestly save money if we checked for true statements instead of lies. That sounds like it might be true; should we check?
As for the caravan, you'd think Hannibal was at the gate from Trump's rhetoric. First, it's seven thousand people. Do you know what seven thousand people look like? That's the crowd size at a prospect park concert. New York doesn't seem to notice where they went after the show.
Second, walking through Mexico is the rough equivalent of hiking the Appalachian Trail. Do you know the success rate for AT thru-hikers? About one in four. Either through boredom or repetitive stress injuries, three quarters of the population drops out each year. That would make the immigrant population a little less than 2,000 by the time the caravan reaches the border. That's about half the number of people who visit the National Zoo on a given day. What are Republicans so worried about?
Back to the first point, we need truth checkers.
3
So much outright illegal activity by Trump, his administration, and his family and associates. The deal, when it comes, will probably be that he just resigns, but State prosecutors will probably not go along.
Meanwhile we are not being told the status of his chief enablers in this election like Nunes. Just on Kavanaugh and women's healthcare, are women planning on voting for any of them?
What is being done to welcome the new immigrants from Central America. Can we be assured that their children will not be stolen at the border by Trump and his henchmen? Kidnapping is a crime.
2
Oh, Gail - what would we do without you to keep things real?
Your last line had me laughing and crying at the same time. No small feat these days, I tell you. Mostly it's crying. Or laughing maniacally at absurd moments of comic relief.
Thank you for holding my sanity together - even if briefly.
1
Gail, You are the best! Thank you for adding some levity to the 'Terrible Trump'. I just wish he was like Humpty Dumpty and would fall off the "wall" breaking into pieces. The "caravan" is made up of people who have been terribly mistreated in their countries. The 'cruel-is-cool Trump rants' about the immigrants as if they were somebody else he could punch in the gut. Plus, it seems like we are being treated the same way by Trump as the dictators in South America treat their people. He just hasn't appeared clearly as the rogue he is to some people.
Talking about John Kelly and his anger, how could he have any other feeling! He IS the 'not-insane person.' He is reacting to the insanity around him.
2
Trump could not just say that we need to remain civil in our political competition, he had to pretend that his own vitriol was not a problem, it was the media’s terrible behavior. I guess that means he’s going to continue with the anger and fear raising talk.
5
The origin of the statement is uncertain, but the message is apt:
"Those whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad."
1
It's articles like this one that justifies Trump's claim that the media is inflammatory. Your anti-Trump sentiment is quite prejudiced. It undermines the objectivity that should always be manifest in fair journalist reporting and was formerly manifest in NYTimes reporting years ago.
Regarding appointments of judges, Trump was referring to all judicial appointments, not just Supreme Court appointments.
Regarding the caravan, he is correct in questioning how such a large troupe of thousands was organized and who is amongst them. You cannot say with any degree of certainty that there are no criminal characters in there. The majority of Americans are very alarmed that so many people are about to crash the border. What they are doing is illegal.
Regarding these bombing incidents, sadly, the NYTimes, MSNBC and CNN are weaponizing these incidents against Trump and Republicans. No doubt, whoever is behind them has been politically incentivized. But was it by Trump's rhetoric or was it by the hostile statements made by Maxine Waters or by the ever-increasing mob actions of individuals harassing Republican government officials in public places?
It’s not just the words of President Trump. Many Democrats are also complicit and that should be recognized rather than ignored by journalists like you who find fault with anything our president says or does..
2
@MCH : "Your anti-Trump sentiment is quite prejudiced. It undermines the objectivity that should always be manifest in fair journalist reporting and was formerly manifest in NYTimes reporting years ago."
Gail Collins is not writing as a reporter; she is a columnist whose very job is to write her opinion. See, e.g., the title of this page, "Opinion." That you may disagree with her opinion neither invalidates it nor renders it unfit to be printed in this newspaper.
@John Musarra Sorry, reporting masquerading as opinion is still reporting.
"When you’re down and out, keep that last little bit in mind. At some point everybody leaves."
I can't wait for at least one person to leave. . . . And two, if you count Pence.
2
How about the economy? Has it gotten worse under Trump?
@tkivlan
Yes it has. Do the math. Market returns are only one component of the economy. Look at the overall picture including the national debt and wealth disparities.
But more importantly our societal cohesion has gotten worse, and our constitutional democracy is significantly worse. Separation of powers? So 18th century ....
3
Be optimistic. Trump will drop the Dow-Jones another few thousand points next year, the trade war will take its bite out Midwestern ag economies, the Mueller investigation will provide details of collusion and conspiracy with the Russians by the Trump 2016 Campaign, and much more is coming.
While a third of our voters are too deep into the Trump Cult (Mob) to notice, the rest of the population will. Trump will be recognized for the Fake he is and his performance will set the stage for the next President (likely a smart woman) to go down in history not only as the first woman but someone rated among the best of Presidents simply by restoring dignity and intelligence to the Office.
I'm still waiting for The Wall that Trump promised me. Promised! Why the delay? It isn't for lack of money because Mexico is going to pay -- and Trump turned down a Democrati-supported bill that had $30 billion in Wall-dollars. How can I explain this to myself? Maybe it is because so many people are distracting Trump with other problems. Yeah, that's it.
2
Gail Collins used to be funny. Her barbs against Trump are still on point but I am done laughing. It is a catastrophe that this person is president and even more of a catastrophe that so many Americans are in thrall to his bile and his incompetence. I am sorry, Ms. Collins, but there is no longer any room for humor in this lead-up to the election where, apparently, a lot of people just cannot bring themselves to vote at all, not to mention to vote in the national interest.
1
Thank you Ms. Collins for the humor about our humorless president. Each day since inauguration has delivered worse horror from Trump. His grudging delivery of the scripted WH speech yesterday encouraging unity earlier in the day was predictably followed by his evening rally comments attacking the press and righteous morality of his opponents. He relishes the crowd response to his attacks on his enemies so he will just get worse and the lies will get bigger. Not at all unlike his denial that the Saudi prince had any foreknowledge of the murder their embasy in Turkey. We can only hope that the dotard leaves in two years or less.
4
Please, Gail, don't insult my grandfather, Herman. He was a fine teacher and beloved school principal, serving his students and community well. Thank you !
I too would go for Herman. It sounds like a name that once was popular and now is only used for dogs. Trump likes to call women dogs, which Gail knows about, so it fitting that the name be used for a bogus attempt from Trump to touch base with the reality that the tax "cuts" were not for the voters.
Gail, I love your writing, and I'm a connoisseur (OK, a gourmand) of humor, and especially political humor. But at this point, maybe just today, I'm beginning to lose my perspective and sense of humor, and don't know whether to cry or rage. Probably it will be both. The vicious criminal occupying the White House and his henchmen and enablers need to go, and soon.
2
Words can lead to violence and today's assassination attempts shows that. All the GOP knows how to do is gin up FEAR.
They can't run on the tax cuts for the wealthy, they can't run on trying to get rid of the ACA and the pre-existing conditions clauses, they certainly can't take any sort of higher moral ground with him as their leader, so what do they do?
They try their best (with the eager assistance of FOX "News") to frighten people about the 6,000 person group of poor, indigent people looking for a better life. I thought we had the most powerful military than the next ten countries combined! Even if they were dangerous, couldn't we destroy them in one fell swoop if we chose to?
I am so, so sad at what's being done to our country. We made so much progress under Obama. This is all a reaction to him, his color and his policies. I hope the pendulum is swinging in the other direction -- and hard.
Vote! Your future depends upon it.
1
A person with an ounce of kindness and a civil manner would be much safer and less likely to encounter rude behavior or evil doers in the caravan of 7500 latin american immigrants than a person attending a Trump rally, any Trump rally.
6
How many times has Trump promised over the years that something will happen soon? It never does?
Why haven't any of his worshipers figures this out by now?
1
Dear Gail, today even your column cannot ease the feeling of dread that has taken over me in anticipation of Tuesday the 6th. The absurdity of Trump and his cult is so unprecendented that there is no unthinkable left. The (formerly) unthinkable, namely political chaos and widespread civil unrest in America seems likely to occur post Nov 6. After all, what happens to a ship with an erratic and irresponsible captain? It sinks.
''You get the impression that in the still of the night when everybody else is asleep and he can’t think of anything to twitter, he calls up the border police and chats about their day.''
Ask the Chinese and Russians who are tapping his insecure I phone for copies of the transcripts. Perhaps our own agencies and some random person in their mother's basement has them too. Certainly Mr. Mueller.
2
The GOP leaders will never get old, will never get sick will live a perfect life... With that being stated the hate that engulfs them is of their own making. No one believes anything the GOP states and the real Americans just need to go out and VOTE. VOTE these very un -Americans out of office and take our country back from the haters.
The world deserves a better life than these haters are delivering because like Justice Sandra Day O'Conner we will all need extensive medical care no matter our age so lets get busy doing the right things in life vs being evil. If their is history being recorded the unamerican will be documented on the wrong side of history
The GOP needs to realize that they need to step up as human beings and do the right thing.
1
He is so addicted to the cheers and laughter from his rally attendees that he can't stop himself. There is nothing bigger or more important to Donald J. Trump than Donald J. Trump. Not America, not democracy, certainly not Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama or Joe Biden. It's all about him and his formula for "success". He's the one who should be wearing Melania's jacket. Those are his sentiments, exactly.
1
Even Leftists have admitted that Trump has already come through on the majority of his promises in only two years.
Gail needs to just sit down and contemplate what it means to be wrong 100% of the time.
Here in Texas we have our own version of the Trump follies, featuring our three statewide elected officials, ably backed up by Senator 'televangelist' Cruz (aka 'lyin Ted'). Abbot, Patrick and Paxton have been flooding the airwaves with commercials depicting Texas as under attack by evil aliens from south of the border. Governor Abbott, borrowing a page from Trump's tattered playbook (consisting, I assume, mainly of pictures rather than words), has claimed that gang members predominate among these invaders, but that, thanks to him, "thousands" of them now reside in Texas prisons.
Watching the commercials of these three circus clowns, it is not clear whether we should feel frightened or reassured. The message seems garbled, as in the case of Trump, who, after two years in office, with GOP majorities in both houses of Congress, is still promising that he will make America great again. When do we get to start feeling tired because we are winning so much?
1
@James Lee
So true! I’m not sure what I’m supposed to be afraid of!?!
This whole caravan situation is the latest manifestation of the US's failure to pass any meaningful immigration reform. The Republicans are in charge of everything. I understand how Trump would use his mo to blame Democrats, but can most Republicans actually not realize how ridiculous their arguments are. Most people realize that these are poor, desperate people, but we have a whole hemisphere. Is there no one who can organize or think of a resolution such as getting other countries to open their borders to people looking for a better life? What about Peru, Martinique, Chile? What about trying to help in those countries where people feel they must leave to survive? Even if we admit all 7000 in this caravan, what about the next? At some point, we have to try something intelligent.
1
Gail, This is as scary as it gets.What if the bombs had detonated yesterday and killed or injured people!Fortunately the people to whom they were addressed are protected from their own mail ,but any number of people handling the packages could have been killed or maimed.This is political terrorism and deserves solemn reflection.Perhaps we have seen so many mass and school shootings that we are inured to death and destruction.I hope not but unless the White House is Terrified at this turn of events, we will have to conclude that a safe America means nothing to them.
8
You state John Kelly is supposed to protect us "if the president goes totally batty". Ms. Collins, when would you have Kelly act? Trump is already totally batty with a seemingly endless lahar of lies from his pyroclastic eruptions.
Republicans are about as eager and effective a check on Mr. Trump as Hawaiians are eager to stand in front of Kilauea's lava flows and stop them with their bodies.
3
Thanks, Gail. I don't know how you do it. I 'm feeling pretty low this morning over the state of our country and I didn't think anything could lift me out of this you-know-who induced morass but you did. Keep writing. We need you now as never before,
I was up watching Morning Joe where media marketing guru Donny Deutsch revealed an ad his agency helped the DNC produce involving kids.
As a followup ad, I propose kids reciting the following pledge of allegiance.
"I pledge allegiance to the lies, hate and greed of Trumps Divided States of America. And to the Republicans that silently stand, as our One Nation, under Trump, is ripping our Union and Liberty apart."
1
An apt description of a Trump rally is a Revival Meeting. That referrence would underscore the political legitimacy since they never address issues rather are ramblings to extract votes and purchase merchandise.
Trump is the Elmer Gantry of the political arena. He speaks simply. His gestures, especially the arms extended palms showing in order to give the illusion of embracing his congregation, are intentional in order to prevent boredom.. His voice inflections, variety between a little lower than louder, little slower than faster, pauses and repeating words and phrases as fillers are also used by Evangelical ministers. He was most likely coached by them as an effective and familiar way to communicate with that element of his base.
Elmer Gantry was a philanderer and con man.
Trump is no Burt Lancaster but he is effected in his role of Preacher in Chief to his congregation.
6
@rhdelp I see Trump's rallies as WWF events and I would wager that most attendees are big fans of this "sport" that includes a lot of sneaky moves, name calling and over the top drama...just like Trump. remember he did participate in a match in 2007. If only he had stayed with wrestling.
2
I forgot to mention that a disturbance in the Atlantic has been upgraded from a 30% chance of forming a cyclone to a 40% chance from this morning to the afternoon.
Wanna bet that Trump will blame Obama if it strikes land as a hurricane?
My answer to Gail’s Pop Quiz: What do you think would be a good name for Trump’s tax cut?
D: Middle Class Mirage (which is a fancier answer than C: Thing That Never Was)
Also, this “months-in-the-making” middle class tax cut is an illusion that will mysteriously disappear on November 7, even before Congress is back in session to witness said mirage.
2
Donald Trump is a fear monger. It is the only human emotion he knows how to exploit. Not joy. Not empathy. Not sadness. Only fear. But I think his singular, obsessive focus on fear will backfire. Truth is, the great majority of Americans know in their heart of hearts that this country was not built by people who were afraid, but rather by people from all over the planet who came here - many fleeing tyranny and oppression - to build something new, embracing change and diversity. Courage, confidence and enterprise built this country. Not fear.
2
Gail, you are missing the root cause of the problem: the media not just reporting his lies as news stories but replaying them on a 24/7 loop, analyzing them, debating them.
Does the media industry know when it debates, analyzes and repeats lies then it is a propaganda industry?
And the band played on...
Sigh
Or as people sometimes say, “Everybody talks about the weather, but nobody does anything about it.”
2
Gail, want to cheer me up and make my day - opine about the mad bomber when, not if, he/she is caught being led out in a traditional perp walk wearing a red MAGA hat.
This will accomplish two important things. First, it will let us know the FBI et.al. law enforcement is not broken. Second, it will establish fact - yes, I know a challenging media event - that should send a message that words and tone do matter. It will not change our non-apologetic POTUS, but it will cheer up a bunch of us, at least for a fleeting moment.
1
The carnival barker inciting the children of the corn. Quite the spectacle as he, the chief racist and father of rioting, blames the media for the pipe bombs and all other forms of violence (well, one could blame the comedians at Trump's favorite comedy channel for some of the violence).
But, Trump has little time, or intelligence, to realize he is quite possibly one of the most ineffective policy changers this country has seen, including those short-lived administrations such as William Henry Harrison (31 days).
Trump does keep us entertained with his incoherent babbling (to our ears, dog whistling in his supporters ears) and failure to see who the bad messenger is.
I tell you, Gail, I'm to the point of believing the Russians did do us in--visiting the scourge of Trump on us, that is. Optimist that I am, I've found it difficult to believe enough Americans could be manipulated to elect the worst possible person as president. Putin is achieving his goals of undermining and dividing our country beyond his wildest hopes. And his side of the divide is the dark side, always. We must stand up and vote starting in November not simply in opposition to Trump but in defiance of Putin.
Why should we have to wait until trump leaves. Let us oust the Republicans who enable him first and then start working on trump.
2
Thank you for that last line. It gives me hope.
In other comments I wrote about my fear something may go wrong when the caravan reaches our border. I was worried about tempers flaring and a member of our military start shooting. After reading his remarks, "The military is ready." My fears have not lessened. Yes, we are going to see a very secure border after a few people in the caravan are shot. Maybe one of them will be a small child. Who knows? Who cares? The president doesn't.
2
In a democracy you generally get the government you deserve. For many Americans it was anyone but Hillary and Trump stumbled in. For almost two years Americans have watched Trump abandon truth. Non stop lying. Insult women. Abuse minorities. Enrich the rich. Alienate long time allies. Heap praise on long time enemies. And despoil the White House. If the majority of Americans do not reject the Trump government on Nov 6 then they get the government they deserve.No complaints after the count.
2
Not to sound pessimistic, but if the Republicans stay in power after the election and if the caravan arrives at the US-Mexican border in mid-November, I half-expect that Trump will call in the military and give them orders to shoot to kill. Women, children, babies, men, whoever. And who's going to stop him? Certainly not the spineless and complicit GOP or the Trumpeteers.
2
A tongue in cheek funny column. Unfortunately we elected this dolt as our President. In the year after radically cutting corporate taxes, corporations are reporting substantial growth in profits- largely due to the corporate rate tax cuts. Next year when the new tax rates will become the norm, profits are expected to grow 5% which is far less than they grew under Obama. Obama cut the deficit in half during his term and Trump has doubled it in the two years he has been in office.
Trump and his fellow Republicans are ruining Obamacare and claiming it was flawed to begin with; yet poor citizens need it. GOP leaders are lying about being in favor of keeping coverage available for pre-existing conditions and are hiding the fact that they have field suit to allow insurers to NOT pay claims involving pre-existing conditions.
Republicans are depending on dumb citizens to vote in a way that is opposite of their needs. That is what happened in 2016 and is very likely to happen again in a few weeks. As Pogo said "we have met the enemy and they is us."
1
Riddle me this - why do so many of Trump's followers profess to be good Christians and yet they have or show no mercy toward a group of poverty stricken people trying to make their way to the US and a better life? I heard a talking head on MSNBC today say people cannot be "evil." I disagree. Years ago, I watched the film adaptation of Equus. Richard Burton was questioning Joan Plowright's character about God, and she replied "If you believe in God, then you must believe in the Devil - its a true thing." Why can't these good Christians see that Trump & Co. are evil - in words and deeds, and what's happening in the world right now is the work of the Devil. And it's up to them to turn away from evil and embrace love, compassion, and empathy - for immigrants, members of the press, and the victims of genocide in Yemen. God is testing you, Trump supporters. He/She is watching you.
4
I recall with considerable admiration the public relations skills of Dr. Ronny Jackson, Trump’s previous White House physician, in pronouncing him mentally fit-as-a-fiddle on the basis of his 100% score on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment, a diagnosis which at the time was greatly ridiculed, but is now widely recognized in medical circles as proof-positive that it is not-only-possible, but extremely easy to make fools of all of Trump’s supporters all-of-the-time.
4
Trump leaving just cannot come too soon! What worries me and the world is what he is going to leave behind.
2
Would anybody be surprised if these bomb scares were perpetrated by a member of Trump Inc?
That none have exploded tells us that they are meant as a threat of what may come if the sounds of silence do not commence shortly.
This sorry excuse for a human being is incapable of diffusing this dangerous turn in his reality show.
I once thought that armed insurrection in the USA was impossible. We may be witnessing the beginning of just that.
1
A middle class tax cut announced right before the election? You'd think Trump has already cornered the market in gullible voters.
9
@PJ
They'll narrow the definition of middle class to make it work.
1% sounds about right.
3
Then (1861-1865) and Now:
Civil War Culture War
Slave markets Children sold off in migrant camps
Confederacy Neo-confederacy
Confederate States Solid South Conservative States
Union Forces Deep State
Slaves Minorities and immigrants
Old Time Religion Evangelicals
States Rights Lost Cause revisionism
Southern Slave States Southern Slave States redux
Nothing has changed but the labels. Slave State Neo-confederates have kept fighting since Appomattox, and unless and until the rest of our citizens recognize the Neo-Confederates for what they really are, our responses will not address the problem at hand.
3
Maybe right-wing billionaires are paying crisis actors to march north in the caravan to help Republicans in the mid-terms. I mean, it's no crazier than thinking Democrats sent the bombs, is it? We live in down-is-up, in-is-out land.
4
Trump, and the pipe bombs, are just the inevitable result of over 30 years of GOP sermons of hate and fear, beginning in the Reagan administration with Lee Atwater and leading directly to this moment, and to Trump.
The GOP's decades of hate-mongering sermons have worked.
Those who say "Trump is really a Democrat" fail to acknowledge that it is not the Democratic Party, but the GOP, that nominated him, and it is the GOP Congress that continues to either cheer him on or, at best, sit silently by and give their tacit approval of this loathsome horror of a human being.
4
If the run up to the mid-terms has pushed Trump to a state as deranged as he has been this week, the endless re-election campaign that started the moment he took office will eventually push him completely over the edge. America has never had to answer the question of how mentally unsound is too unhinged to be President of the United States. Having to answer that question could not be good for the democratic enterprise.
1
"Donald Trump was on the road trying to rev up the country against a pitiful caravan of poor people struggling through Mexico." The question I ask is why it is a compassionate person like you doesn't devote your time to helping these desperate people instead of sitting on the sidelines giggling at the foolish behavior of those with responsibility. I mean, if the desperately poor can afford to take off the month for a hike across Latin America, surely a renowned intellectual like yourself could head down to offer assistance, say, English lessons around the camp fire, care packages, baby-sitting, or possibly donations for desperados? The tone of this piece suggests to me that you are having the time of your life while people in need go hungry.
@David -
As my Momma used to say: "Jest remember every time you go pointing your finger at someone, you got three fingers pointing back at yerself."
Some people have extraordinary skills. Especially valuable these days are those of us who speak truth to power and shout it from the rooftops, like Gail Collins and others at the NYT.
Trump's announcement of a big middle class tax cut (that BTW the Republicans would never pass in 1.5 trillion years) is a reminder to the middle class (more like a giant middle finger reminder) that the 1.5 trillion dollar tax cut that Trump and his toady Republicans in Congress did pass, unfortunately, did not include the middle class.
When will the middle class wake up and realize that with Trump and the GOP they are not at the table - they are on the menu.
4
If the mid-term voter turnout continues to be low , we are doomed. I don't blame Trump or McConnell or all the other Republican sycophants who put party over country. I blame the silent majority.
He wants people to unify around HIM, around his permanent dictatorship here in the US, to be followed by Ivanka as our very own Eva Peron. Dissent from Trump worship will not be tolerated.
1
It is generally accepted that one does not cry ''fire'' in a crowded theater. It is not considered an infringement on free speech to prevent that.
Similarly, one does not incite to riot, encourage body slamming, punch him in the face and the other actions Trump urges his followers to do.
Twitter, close down his account. Do it now before there is more damage. You are not impeding his speech, you are doing your best to protect America from this disastrous insane man who has no concept of decency or democracy..
6
Unimpressive column. What's the point? Neither Republicans nor Democrats get it. The big but dying middle-class made this country - they get it. Politicians and corporations are one in the same, using the middle-class as slave-labor while both consolidate their own power and money. It truly does not matter who is in office, unfortunately.
"At some point everybody leaves."
Well we can be sure of one thing and that is that Trump has taken leave of his senses.
Obviously the man is deranged and this fact shows more and more in all of his public appearances and in all of his many verbal and tweeter utterances.
Trump is continually incoherent and is incapable of any and all logical thinking patterns.
Tweeter Trump so reveals himself to the nation and to the world at large.
He proves himself on a continual basis to be a sociopath.
Definition from wikipedia:
"A sociopath can be defined as a person who has Antisocial Personality Disorder.
This disorder is characterized by a disregard for the feelings of others, a lack of remorse or shame, manipulative behavior, unchecked egocentricity, and the ability to lie in order to achieve one's goals."
Surely the 25th Amendment should be brought into play and the sooner the better ......
For the good of our nation and for the world at large.
Trump is a walking, talking "high crime and misdemeanor".
Vote so that we may remove him from office by way of a strong House of Representatives totally controlled by the Democratic Party.
"At some point everybody leaves."
And so must the House Republicans at long last take their well-deserved leave of absence.
2
Where is Mueller? If there is an October surprise it should be noted that it is the 25th already. At worst the man must be distracted by nonsense to keep the days rolling by. Two more years, say it to yourself every day.
“Asked about details of his [very great stable genius tax-cut] plan — like who would count as a middle-income person — Trump said they’d be coming ‘sometime just prior, I would say, to November.’”
Let’s not forget that in January 2017, before his inauguration, Donald Trump swore he had developed a complex healhcare plan that would save everybody money and cover every American citizen. It was in one of his pockets, someplace, but he couldn’t quite find the pocket. (Blame Melania?) Or maybe it was locked in his stable genius brain. But he couldn’t find that either.
It’s hard to remember all these Trump lies. It’s like sitting down to remember horrible meals.
Yes. Let it be over. Please please. Please.
10
When do we get to elect a President of the United States? We haven't had one since President Obama left office. Oh, how I miss having competent, serious, educated adults in office!
13
The scariest phrase from this piece is "All we can do is hope..."
1
It’s going to be a bit rough for Trump and company to implement that middle-class tax cut. Our national population is 325.7 million. As you suggest, finding who that person is, Herman, Rocco or Vladimir Putin will require nearly all our government resources.
If you believe the old adage, that you learn from your mistakes, both he and Jared should be geniuses by now. We’ve all been witness to Trump’s mental acuity. He knows things that other people can’t see, smell, touch or hear. Wow!
He did show some compassion to our previous leaders, the targets of some mad bomber or group of bombers. Melania delivered the address. The big kid then hugged and kissed his wife. Life is getting better.
1
Gail,
Thanks for featuring the resting mother and child photograph with your column. I can't imagine how we could separate this baby from its mother when they make it to the border. It is a Christmas story that we will not forget. I hope the Times will keep track of her and give your readers a report on her treatment at the border.
“Wait until you see what happens over the next couple of weeks,” he told the Wisconsin crowd, in one of the more ominous moments of the night. “You are going to see a very secure border. Very secure. You just watch. The military is ready. They’re all set.”
You can't make this up.
3
At this point, less than one month before the midterms, there is no longer a standard for the cruelty and hatred that has been espoused by Donald Trump. He outdoes himself nearly every day with his racist, xenophobic, misogynistic and anti-LGBT rhetoric. I reject the belief that his supporters are just like him and share all of his atrocious stances. I have Republican friends and they are wonderful, kind and sociable people. And they agree that he does not represent the GOP. Republicans who disagree with Trump’s actions need to do a better job standing up to him. Ben Sasse delivers reasonable criticisms of Trump all the time but rarely any action to counter Trump’s moves. Jeff Flake and John McCain were largely pretty good at opposing Trump on certain levels. But McCain is sadly no longer with us and Flake bowed to the Commander-in-Chief’s pressure with Kavanaugh. If Republicans don’t want a catastrophe in November, then to them I suggest that they defend their values and views against this selfish maniac who seeks to define America and the GOP with his own wretched opinions and behavior.
Great article. Really enjoyed the leaving part at the end. Good job Gail.
I'm so tired of reading Op/Eds in the NYT where people say the "President" is getting terrible, or that there's a line that even he may cross, or that things have reached a worse point than before. Of course they have! Stop expecting things to get better with this person! We passed terrible years ago! People have to see this situation for what it is - the fall of the United States as we have known it all of our lives. We are past the pojnt of no return. Start stocking food and water and brace yourselves. It will get worse.
To put it more plainly, the president of the United States is picking the targets for terrorists.
Every sentient being in the US knows he is doing this by singling them out for hate, derision and blame for all sorts of imagined evils.
Words have consequences, though trump has managed for his entire life to evade consequences.
Enough of whitewashing the issue with the blanket term 'political.'
It is time to call out trump in no uncertain terms for the harm he is inflicting upon the country.
It is time to call out the sheer hypocrisy of saying "It is time for the country to unify" when he is dividing it with his rhetoric every single day, and in the most inflammatory terms possible.
trump cannot condemn the bomb attacks as "despicable acts" without being held to account for his despicable words, which have obviously called them forth.
11
@Doug Keller - excellent comment!
3
We do not yet know the bomber or his motives, although Limbaugh, Coulter and others have wasted no time in shouting "false flag" without a scintilla of evidence.
Regardless of who it is or what the motives are, it is incontestable that these specific people were chosen as targets because trump has singled them out for scorn.
trump is responsible for both the noxious climate and for the specifics.
The key word here is "responsibility." Not 'blame.'
Responsibility.
2
Why can't law enforcement cite Trump for inciting riots? I'm serious. Can't he be charged with a crime?
2
Still, talk to my Trump supporter neighbors and they see nothing strange about Trump's behavior---he is defying the laws of nature. The more unhinged he becomes the more rationale my neighbors think he is.
3
There is only one thing that DJT cares about: How often is his NAME mentioned in the media, whether positive or negative. An easy task for his pathology, coupled with the media dynamic
The dilemma for the responsible media, even the "A List", is that the NAME at issue yields readers and ratings, and hence PROFITS. In short, the media (whether Fox or Fake News) is being played like Nero's fiddle.
The solution is to substitute "POTUS" for the DJT name. The news will still be covered, and at the same time DJT will melt down. This I can tell you, believe me.
DJT will become truly unhinged, that his true egocentric motivation has been revealed (unlike his hidden tax returns and failed ventures), and we will witness a childish temper tantrum that will be the most tremendous in history. That I can tell you. Believe me!!
"POTUS" buries "Trump".
Karma! This will be a scene even his rural and wealthy clique will be unable to swallow. That I can tell you. Believe me. Believe me!
3
How I wish we could go back to stories about a dog strapped to the top of a car. Wouldn't it be nice to read about a president and vice-president having a beer behind the White House trying to resolve an issue between two parties? Or how about a president getting into a little trouble by giving a shoulder rub to a foreign head of state? I remember when it was a big story that a president threw up at a state dinner.
My, how times have changed. Correction: My, how times have been rendered completely unimaginable.
2
I truly believe that shutting Twitter down completely would solve 80% of our Trump problem. He violates their user standards several times each day anyway. And in general, it adds no value to our society whatsoever. Shut it down.
3
Clearly, Trump's hateful and divisive rhetoric is responsible for brewing all kinds of discord in our country. Not only is Trump incapable of governing in a manner that takes us forward, he appears to be planting the seeds of national turmoil to such a degree that Putin must be smiling from ear-to-ear. The man is completely self-obsessed, more concerned about his public "image" than he is about substance. He clearly lacks the intelligence to lead us forward. Quite the contrary, he's taking us backward, reversing much of the progress the country has made in terms of societal issues.
I look forward to his impeachment.
2
Every day we witness Trump's bizarre behavior. Now he blames the media for the bombs sent to his political opponents. At his rallies, he takes delight in the chant "lock her up." He fails to understand that he took an oath to support and defend the Constitution, which also includes the Bill of Rights.
My opinion is that he is mentally unfit to be president.
1
I suggest D) Harvey. I think that may date me.
1
There is really no mystery. What do people expect when you have someone like trump in the presidency, who should have never been elected ( he was selected) in the first place? Trump bears significant responsibility for any and all violence against the media, democrats, or any of the public figures he has slandered, demeaned, lied about, and smeared, relentlessly. Trump has given voice to the most extreme and unstable elements in the US. He never stops at his "hate rallies" with his foul mouth and trough of swill he spews into the crowd..
3
There are no Middle Easterners, whatever that means, in the caravan. Why would there be? All the Islamist terrorist in this country have been American born, many of them converts, and those in the country legally. But this nonsense obscures the real issue. What will you do with these people? Let them in? While qualified Ph.Ds are languishing in legal limbo, you want to let in a bunch of people whose only qualification is the ability to breed and the cowardice in abandoning their own country instead of fighting for it? I am a legal immigrant, and this makes my blood boil. No legal immigrant will vote for a party that advocates open borders.
No one is advocating for Open Borders, whatever that means. Your choice of words (ability to breed and cowardice) is stunning in its ignorance, if not racism.
Yes, the immigration system is terribly broken and has been for years. The last bipartisan attempt to reform the system failed in 2006 when 43 and McCain couldn’t keep the “security only” faction of the GOP focused long enough on the real purpose of effective immigration policy — expanding the work force and society with fervently needed work skills at all levels of the economy.
1
And he blamed the Democrats for starting the caravan, (conveniently for him right before the mid-terms,) when in fact it was Russians and Republicans, working together on Facebook and Twitter! No, I don’t have proof, but eveyone’s been saying that, and obviously it’s true.
WHO IS PAYING THE COST OF ALL TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN TRIPS AROUND THE COUNTRY? The cost to American tax payers is enormous and with the Republican tax cut, it is pushing up the deficit daily. The Republican Party should pay for this use of government transportation for campaigning or cut his funds and make him stay in the White House and do his job. Democrats, VOTE and bring the country back to a legitimate democratic reality.
4
"This is getting scarier and scarier" - Yes, it really is. Although any given day's news can be regarded with horror, amusement, or some combination thereof, when you take the whole thing (or even just the past week) in total, it's actually completely terrifying. What if the Democrats DON'T win at least the House? Then what do we do? All I can think of (since I'm too old to emigrate) is just to hunker down here on the north coast of Oregon, and unplug my TV.
883
@Margaret I'm a little nervous that if the democrats do win just the house, Congress will be totally paralyzed - good for the short term, but it will be something Trump can work people up on and get himself re-elected with a full republicans congress in 2020. The best defense is to make sure that every single democrat-leaning voter in the USA votes in every single election forever.
56
@margaret "the north coast of Oregon", what a beautiful place to live. But do not unplug your TV, you won't know when the "Zombie Apocalypse" is coming which should be shortly after the Republicans maintaining the complete control of Congress.
20
@margaret My ex has a nice 2 bedroom house in Puerto Nuevo, Baja, for $400 per month. It's 100 yards from the beach and there's a nice, rustic restaurant just up the hill with a great Mexican shrimp cocktail on the menu. I doubt you're too old.
20
It's not just Trump getting terrible, it's these cowardly other Republicans, Republicans who have been bullied into submission by the biggest bully of all.
Be Best, indeed.
Why isn't W Bush speaking out?
I guess he's too exhausted from making all those phone calls to Susan Collins on behalf of poor, beleaguered Brett Kavanaugh.
Where is the outraged Ted Cruz?
You know, the guy who called Trump a "sniveling coward."
And then we have the courageous Ann Coulter and the very brave Rush Limbaugh rushing to blame the Democrats for the pipe bombs that appeared today, saying it was a false flag planted by Democrats.
What a terrible thing they are doing to our society.
They are literally going to destroy the America they allegedly love, in order to save her, not from Russians, but from Democrats.
Madness.
1726
@V, I think it's perfectly plain by now that Republicans really wanted everything Trump brings. They lack character and decency; courage really isn't part of the equation.
60
@V
I have already seen pictures taken at those awful Trump rallies where several of those in attendance were wearing T-shirts with the message "I'd rather be a Russian than a Democrat. " That insults and demeans the majority of those who even declare their attachment to one party or the other. It includes me, who has not missed voting in an election since I was 21 (that was the age then.) I am now 75, served in the Navy during the Vietnam era, and will continue to vote in every election until..... you know.
42
@V Republican silence is now the expectation in the face of Trumpian outrages, so why would we think that any of them would speak out on the MAGAbomber?
20
My thought yesterday was "this is bottomless."
My prediction for the next step is Republican spinmeisters will say that the bombs were crudely made and therefore presented no real threat. Therefore, according to Republican logic, the bombs are not the problem. The real problems, according to them, are Social Security and Medicare. If we cut the social safety net, all will be well.
Wait and see.
16
It is clear by now that people still supporting Trump are suffering from a psychological precondition. Their chances for treatment hinge on preservation of the Affordable Care Act, and that means voting Democratic in the midterms.
20
@Caroline Miles - Trump supporters at his rallies
probably don't suffer from diabetes, heart disease,
cancer etc. Why would they worry about pre-
existing health conditions?
That is weird about Trump chatting with border patrol agents. Does he know that the Border Patrol Association endorsed Montana Senator Jon Tester? But then, it seems like just about everything is weird about Trump. And cruel.
Please vote everybody. Please vote.
24
@Anne
Which border control agents? The group just crossed into Mexico from their southern border. They're still hundreds of miles from the US border.
1
Fascism has arrived in America, today, with targeting of the opposition. Fueled by Fox, encouraged by McConnell and led by Trump. Democracy died today.
23
I liked it better when we had a President who was insightful, not inciteful.
985
@Steve
Agree, but, alas, he's moved beyond inciteful to incendiary.
11
@Steve: Good one!
3
@Steve. Love this! We also want to keep to not letting him incite us to similar, but be insightful in our responses to all the craziness!
1
Of course Kelly yells a lot. He must feel like he is in the twilight zone. Two years ago he thought he was serving his country by taking the job and now he is supporting a mad man fascist. It is simply unreal that anyone can support Trump. Why does anyone support a racist, sexist, xenophobe who constantly lies?
19
@Anthony - Kelly is a racist and a liar. Like everyone in Trump's circle he's a self serving jerk.
1
I've no doubt Trump's "poorly educated" low information followers are already blowing this entire bomb situation off as the work, somehow, of "the libs". It took about 12 seconds for them to start yelling "false flag" when it was just Mr.Soros (that we knew of) who had received a an explosive device with such insightful comments as "rich people don't have mailboxes so he couldn't have gotten a letter -bomb". You can't talk sense to some people. It reminds me of the playground bully grabbing the smaller kid's hand to smack him with while saying "stop hitting yourself!"
18
Trump and Jared will not leave until they are voted out of the White House. And that won't happen unless the Democrats can field a credible ticket and find a strong, unifying message. Of the potential candidates that are most frequently mentioned, I worry that they are either too old, too polarizing or too untested to win. And the message has got to be a lot more energizing than "Medicare for all." With the 2020 election just around the corner, it's time for the Democrats to get organized.
31
@Carol The message should be "pre-existing conditions" .....All Americans have pre-existing conditions and republicans want to take away what is left of the affordable care act. This alone should wake people up to vote all republicans out. Talk about "too polarizing" trump is not exactly a unifier and he is already too old and corrupt to are anywhere but a golf course.
2
@Carol
I've been wringing my hands for what feels like all of my political lifetime (I'm 57; cast my first ballot at 18) for the Dems to concentrate on building deep benches of talent at every level--city/county, state, federal, general activism. So I hear Carol's exasperation with the seemingly narrow field of choices.
But a new generation is rising in these midterms. The blue wave of women Dems running for Congress. Bright, hardworking Senatorial lights like Kamala Harris (CA) and Chris Murphy (CT). Gubernatorial candidates like Stacey Abrams in GA and Andrew Gillum in FL.
So, we voters have to be strategic. Let's debate issues, let's press for policy specificity, yes; but let's not insist on messianic perfection from Democratic candidates. Don't get gaslighted--ever again!--by the purist "I-won't-vote-for-the-lesser-of-two-evils" (il)logic.
Wherever you live, show up to the polls and VOTE DEMOCRATIC. The ship of state is sinking fast and it's our duty and responsibility as citizens to buoy it up!
4
@Carol. Absolutely! Love Biden, love Warren, love Booker, but they are too old school to appropriately deal with the current crisis. What about that young Kennedy? What about Kirsten Sinema! The English Royals are showing us the way.
1
This column is the first I can remember when you couldn't make me laugh. Vote, people, please vote.
39
I giggled. Laugh, laugh. find humor, hunt for it. Trumps weapon is fear. Humor deflates the power of fear. Im encouraged because i know as long as God sits on the throne, Trump is an ant who's arms are too short to box with God.
Voting early
This seems to be a common theme to Republican candidates this year. In the 5th Congressional district here in eastern Washington, our republican congressperson, AFTER 14 YEARS IN OFFICE, is running entirely on negative TV ads and an ONE ad that touts her support for increasing hydropower in the 2018 ‘Clean Air Act” supposed being “seriously’ considered by Congress. I am still waiting to hear about all the positive things she has done and all her great legislative feats.
12
"Everybody leaves." And as the psychiatric nurse said: "All bleeding eventually stops."
29
All bleeding stops.... either by healing or demise.
@Percy Sick but true!! I'm a little ashamed but I can't help but laugh at that one...
When he tells you there is a middle income tax cut coming next week, what he is really saying is that I haven’t done anything real to help average Americans so I need to make something up. He’s had two years to do things he could boast about and he stands there campaigning on stuff he hasn’t even done. Even Trump knows that he’s done nothing to help the people at those rallies.
66
@Baldwin.......but they think he has because he tells them so.
2
If Gail Collins is scared, then I’m scared too.
45
I've been curious about the comment that the Border Patrol knows about all the terrorists in the caravan from, you know, Boogiemanland (the Middle East). The part that's curious is that the border is still 1,000 miles away from the caravan. Have reporters said anything about an advance team of Border Patrol checking passports in the carvan's midst. Inquiring minds want to know!
39
@David Stevens
Great observation!!
1
Putin thinks that the United States is no longer a superpower. He's probably right. Superpowers aren't led by incompetent kooks.
105
@Clark Landrum Putin has definitely had a good return on his investment
1
Ironically the Trumpers most outraged against brown immigrants are the ones who States hardly have any.
45
Trumps mantra is cheerlead. Truth, integrity and analysis play no role in his character or his approach. If it sounds good, then say it. We have a POTUS who is the proverbial guy at the diner counter who is randiomly blathering out loud in an effort to get the attention of the waitress. Muslims among the caravan, pending tax cut for the middle class - sure, go for it. The mic is on, the crowd is cheering. Give Trump the pom-poms, pull the string and let’s hear what drivel comes next.
29
@tgeis If trump was your neighbor you would have one conversation with him then never talk to him again..You would just nod and wave as you pulled out of your driveway but always be too busy to talk of listen to the insanity.
1
The swamp is overflowing with incompetents and other assorted uninformed family members. I remember when he first came on the scene and we said it couldn't get any worse..... well that was a pipe dream.
With one or two exceptions, the entire republican party doesn't have one spine between them to stand up to "t". They all seem to be afraid of him. He's just a know-nothing, do nothing dangerous clown who has brought our country down into the gutter. How about, "lock him up".
59
@Sari
It's worse than that. They're thrilled with their tax cuts and "Federalist" repressive Supreme Court. They're thrilled with getting rid of "those people" as fast as possible. Fetuses over mothers and families. Health care only for the rich (see getting rid of "those people").
Don't exempt Republicans as "spineless". They had plenty of spine resisting Obama. They like the program.
79
"Those who can make you believe absurdities, can make you commit atrocities." –Voltaire
202
@S.E. G.
Another Voltaire truism: “The comfort of the rich depends upon an abundant supply of the poor.”
7
"When you’re down and out, keep that last little bit in mind. At some point everybody leaves."
This is quite a statement and commentary on how ineffective or useless resistance/action has been. Our system and it's culture have come to a point where we are so split apart and not working for the whole, never mind the good of the planet at this critical time. We are so divided. Yet one side, the GOP, has so veered off anything that resembles our foundations and ideals and worked to roll back what progress we have worked so hard for since the Revolution and the Civil War (maybe not over) that the other side must hold some line of resistance at least deep down in the heart with the consolation that at some point this "plague" will end, like the Camus novel. The plague will wear itself out, be self limiting. But whether or not, and it is not certain how long if so, what an assessment of the state we are in where we are so paralyzed, the failing checks.
22
Gail you are the best, and you did cheer me up!!! Yes, let's hope he leaves and it can't be too soon! Just make sure you don't leave!
19
So the chickens have finally come home to roost, as the old saying has it. I wonder where all the people are who said, two years ago, "Just wait until he gets into office...he'll grow into the position...he's just saying what he feels he needs to say in order to get elected..." Yes, where are they, and what are they saying now?
32
@LRP. What they are saying is that they finally have someone on their side. What they are saying is that Trump keeps his promises. And what they are saying is that God works in mysterious ways. What I am wondering is why our Democratic Congressmen and women are apparently unwilling to stand up and point out, day after day, that this emperor has no clothes. They, like the spineless Republicans, are so invested in their political careers that they are unwilling to risk losing their jobs, which is one thing I admire about my Senator, Jeff Flake.
@LRP
And I have also been wondering about all those who "just couldn't vote" - no Bernie, no vote. Just couldn't vote for the "lesser of 2 evils" because Hillary was basically as bad as dt. Really? How do you feel now and do you own up to your culpability in this fiasco(there really is no word to describe where we are now). I know, as Gail says, that someday he will be gone but the legacy lives on and the hatred that has been exposed for all the world to see is strengthened, empowered and not going away. The fall of the Roman Empire.
1
''...Trump has gotten two, the same number as George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama.''
Correction
Trump has gotten ONE. The other one was stolen by republicans who just ignored the Constitutionally guaranteed pick by President Obama and Democrats.
So actually this President has gotten one, (where he appointed an accused sex offender) and President Obama got three.
Glad to be of help.
96
it's exactly as if America elected John Gotti (undead version) in 2016. The Family takes care of us. If you are intensely loyal, you may become a Made Man. Political enemies will be dealt with. Meanwhile, lots of free fireworks and all the barbecue you can eat for the entire neighborhood on July 4th !
22
Fact: He has generated more explosive devices to critics than any other American President.
34
Gets terrible?
He has been terrible, probably since he was two.
He only just gets more terrible or is it terribler?
Once again, there really is nothing to laugh about in regards to this man, he is delusional, separated from reality, and dangerous.
37
@mjbarr
What is even more terrible is that 44% of Americans LIKE him.
Trump's flaws have no floor.
33
Here’s a terrible thought: six more years of Donald Trump. If you want change, and don’t vote, it could happen here. Wake up. Speak up. Before it’s too late.
58
Trump is a constant reminder of how many psychiatrists it takes to change a light bulb: first of all, the light bulb really has to want to change.
28
"Everybody leaves."
In Trump world, disappearances can be deliberate and sinister. Immigrant children and Dreamers. Silenced and intimidated victims of sexual abuse. Purged government officials not loyal to Trump. Fired FBI and law enforcement agents. Patriots, transgender troops, and scientists--all gone.
Yesterday there were serious attempts to assassinate the last two Democratic presidents of the United States of America, a former AG, the former director of the CIA, the former Secretary of State, two Democratic representatives, a Democratic donor and Holocaust survivor, and CNN reporters. Only vigilance and good security prevented mass murder and carnage.
These are not political targets: they are national ones. This was a serious attempt to destabilize the country by wiping out not just the leaders of the opposition party but also American government leaders and democratic institutions. All are on Trump's lengthy enemies list.
Trump and his supporters blame the media? Blame Democrats?
Everybody leaves. What ruins and devastation are left behind? Can democracy survive?
Please vote on Nov. 6th against all Republicans. Make them leave.
69
Oooh! "Everybody leaves." Oooh! Yes and when will it be your turn, Mr. T? Please make it soon, won't you? Your fans will understand, after all they love you no matter what you do or say. So I'm not holding my breath but just taking little sips because the air is so polluted with your grand proclamations but I'm hoping it will be soon! Any time now ... waiting ... tick tock...
16
Is no one concerned that Trump’s favoritie targets received bombs? A plot out of a third world country. He’s not governing — he’s on a permanent hate fueled election campaign. It was once Muslims, now it’s Democrats.
57
@Barbarra
"Is no one concerned that Trump’s favoritie targets received bombs? "
Worse - fox news and Trump supporters are saying that the bombs were sent by democrats. Not only are they nor concerned, they will use this to further their support for Trump
2
Trump could not resist playing the demagogue and demonizing Democrats and the media, again. He’s fixated upon driving the fear and anger deeply to assure that his supporters will vote. If he sets off another homicidal person, ce la guerre. Always attack, never let up. Meanwhile his peanut gallery chats, “lock her up”, about Hillary, one of the people sent a bomb. Nothing can stop this crazy group of people.
36
@Casual Observer: Geez! Hillary sent it to herself, don't you know that? Just to make Trump look bad. Get with the program, CO!
(snark)
1
I’m confused about how people from the Middle East sneak into to Central America to join a foot parade of people marching to the US. Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just float to Florida after landing in Haiti and sneak in that way? Trump definitely has no chance of a career as a fiction writer.
31
@Llewis - I wish a reporter would ask him that question.
1
We don’t need a liar in the White House .
We don’t need a man in the White House who degrades and mistreats women on a routine basis.
We don’t need a man in the White House who will not take responsibility for his divisive and negative rhetoric which has in just under two years created all kinds of misery in this country .
We don’t need a man in the White House who is incapable of even the most basic civility.
And we definitely don’t need a man in the White House who undermines the credibility of the Press on a daily basis.
We certainly don’t need a man like Donald Trump to continue ripping apart the foundations of our democracy .
48
Anyone could have seen all of this coming, if they had watched the Comedy Central Trump Roast a few years back.
18
"All we can do is hope he sticks to his less dangerous form of awfulness."
I just want to know - which form is this one?
20
A madman leads Washington's GOP circus maximus. Who feels safe and secure now that the violence is beginning to erupt? You could always sense that something bad was inevitable. For the sake of America's future, please get out to the polls and do some housecleaning.
33
C) Thing That Never Was
Thank you for giving me the biggest laugh of the last two years.
10
Why is the woman in the photo at the top of this column smiling?
1
@Thomas She’s not really smiling.
Just when you think it can’t get any worse, the nightmare of the Trump presidency does get worse. Witness Trump at his rally tonight after a day of discovery of pipe bombs sent to prominent Democrats, including two past Presidents. I wish someone would wake me up from this nightmare, but the only saviors are ourselves.
Vote Democratic on November 6!
34
Lest we forget, he said last week that the National Guard were not the real military and that he was sending the real military to the border. This means either breaking the law (Posse Comitatus Act) or invoking Martial Law, neither of which will happen. Of course, 99% of "his people" don't know what one is and what the other means, so they along with it.
32
"At some point everybody leaves." When does Trump leave? I have fictional scenarios in which it could be before year end, maybe next spring, or in 2020, or 2024. The fiction goes like this: in the midterms, the Dems take the House, but not the Senate. Immediately after election Mueller produces a smoking gun that indicts everyone in sight -- Eric, Don Jr., Jared, for conspiracy, tax fraud, and obstruction. Trump is an unindicted co-conspirator. Even Mike Pence is named for obstruction in handling Flynn's lying about Russian sanctions. Trump pardons everyone, including himself. At this point he loses GOP Senate support to the extent that he (and Pence) could be convicted of impeachment. Now what happens?
A) He yields to the GOP senators and resigns before year end so the Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican will be the next president.
B)He toughs it out, risking that both he and Pence will go, leaving the presidency to Nancy Pelosi, the new House Speaker.
If (B), either we have Nancy Pelosi as the new President, or we have Trump (if not convicted by the Senate) or we have Pence (if Trump is convicted and Pence is not).
I think that a fictional novel with this plot will sell in the millions, if only I can publish it before Nov. 6.
If you want to know the ending, remember that "everyone leaves," and hope for the best.
14
Our Fearless Leader has officially jumped the shark. He, Fox News, and the Republican party have finally motivated some nut to send real bombs to his adversaries. It was only a matter of time. Folks - this is beyond real. Vote these people out of office NOW - unless you want to live in a suburb of Moscow.
39
I love Gail Collin's columns. I so missed her this summer. This one is why. And this one is making me cry--cry for our country and cry for my children's future. How did we get to this level of terribleness?
On Sunday, John Lewis is marching in Houston. This morning we told our ten and six year-old sons about the brutality Mr. Lewis experienced, why he took up the non-violent marches, and how the oppression he fought is still present today so they could understand why we were are joining this march and are working to GOTV because the terrible just doesn't go away with time it requires effort on the part of good people.
33
I think Trump was just trying to give his mentor, George Washington, a few minutes of publicity. If it wasn't for George and his fellow "Fathers" coming up with that odd contraption, the Electoral College, Trump would still be rooting around for Obama's real birth certificate, instead of dragging the USA to the "used country" bazaar.
28
He plays to his base who are some of the bases people on the planet. As many have said before he is an empty, cypher who needs the crowd to fill him up. It will only get worse until he is checked.The only fear we have is the fear of dump. Apologies to FDR.
15
WHEN trump goes totally batty? I think we passed that point a long time ago.
26
You can't scare mothers into not doing anything they can to protect their children. You can't scare families into not trying to give their children a better life. The fact that Trump doesn't understand this tells you everything you need to know about the man's humanity, or lack thereof.
23
Trump focuses on the caravan and immigration because they fire up his base. He needs votes for his congressional enablers so he can grab more power and money for himself. He cares about no one else. That is why he is not worried about other issues like health care, education, and infrastructure. These will not help him with his personal crusade, which is to help one person: Trump.
If Trump and his GOP are so bad -- and they are -- why aren't Democrats ahead by wide margins, everywhere? We are two weeks out from the midterms, and it looks like the GOP will expand its majority in the Senate and Democrats will make modest gains in the House (in line with historical norms). What is going on?
Is it hacking by Russians and Chinese, attacks on electronic voting machines? Gerrymandering and voter suppression? It can't be since we haven't voted yet. There are only polls. Is it social media? Fake news? The Koch brothers? Can't Democrats answer in kind in these areas? What is going on?
The economy and jobs are hot. The stock market still is. No more North Korean missiles. No new wars. Impeachment will be a long shot.
When the dust settles after the election, we should be spending a great deal of time asking ourselves about what to do next. The 2020 election is right around the corner. If Democrats largely just obstruct in the House for the next two years while Trump and the GOP-led Senate continue to pack the courts, we will be in even more trouble.
A lot more.
13
The headline should read “Trump continues to be scary with his lies”. Trump has used his tweets and rallies to spread lies and increase the number of his supporters. I’d like the press to come up with a way to not feed his ego. Maybe not report his lies? It’s no longer “news”.
12
In 2016 we all believe it does not represented what your country is...set it right in November! A clear message to the world that the USA stands for its valors and democratic way of life.Yes, you can.Best
11
Trump may have only appointed two SCOTUS justices thus far but let's remember how many other lifetime-appointment federal judicial positions were vacant at the end of Obama's tenure (thanks to that obstructor-in-chief, Mitch McConnell). Trump has been stocking those positions with conservative jurists that will be his bulwark in any future litigation.
16
Oh Gail, please write every day between now and the midterms; yours are the only words that make me smile. Thank you !!!!
9
God help us.
15
@Catalina
The Lord helps those who help themselves.
I've been observing people around and about for the past 8 months. The percentage of psychopaths in the US population was decreed 30% prior to this current heart breaking situation. Wonder how big is 45's base? This situation is surreal. At age 11, I declared 1968 to be the worst year ever. I never thought we'd become so corrupt, unable to rid our country of a barbaric despot, to see so many persons just seething with hate. Looking for it! I helped at a candidate forum, have done so for 12 years. It was civil, polite, and quiet before. Now? I've not been around supporters in this number until quite recently. To me, they are as the zombies in movies- following the liar without question, all the way to the cliff of a trash dump. It was surreal: one man enquired "which side is mine?" Uh, none? They all seemed to come in great packs, dressed outrageously over the top with red/white/blue, hats, sparkles, all sorts of made up costumes. Talking loudly, passing us by as if we in regular clothing were invisible, except when desiring to complain. It was like watching a circus parade tumble by, craven characters loudly speaking in un-known language, hostile, not seeing anyone but their selves. I felt I was having an out of body experience! SO bizarre. SO completely unaware of facts, truths. These are the groupies of hate, bitterness, bigotry. Prosperity christians. I pray our nation escapes this minority, clutching their lies, giving their personal power away. Kindness NOW.
30
Gail, as a great admirer of your writing I must tell you that of late I have a bitter taste in my mouth upon reading your work. It is still of the highest standard. But it doesn't seem to alleviate my angst over the current state of affairs in the U.S. How can we gloss over the "body slam" remark or much worse, the arrival of pipe bombs to the addresses of Trump critics? The country, to my thinking, has tilted irreversibly to authoritarianism and fascism. I am at that point of despair that you describe as "down and out". At the point that "everybody leaves" (Trump), it may well be too late. The U.S. will have a next to impossible task in re-building what has been destroyed.
432
@tagger. Not irreversibly. Nothing is irreversible, except perhaps global warming.
10
@tagger
Don't despair.
The pendulum will swing slowly back to the middle, where it blongs.
The old wrinklies ( as the Brits call them ) like McConnell, Grassley et al will be dead soon and replaced by less entrenched greedy, self-serving partisanship type people.
Just be grateful too that we are rid of Paul Ryan who was a champion of cuts to Medicare and Social Security.
Be grateful too that Bush never got his ill thought out idea of privatizing Medicare and Social Security.
I must admit though that the crazed individuals who sent pipe bombs are home grown TERRORISTS and fertized with Trump's verbal manure.
HE should be tried as a terrorist too.
12
@tagger
I would not look to pundits, no matter their writing skills, to alleviate the country's general anxiety. That is going to be up to voters and eventually exerting better editorial control over social media, platforms that can misinform and distort faster than ever before. Whatever the problems with radio or TV, they did not have this sort of reach. It will be up to voters to put someone responsible in the White House, and finding ways to push Congress to work together on any number of national problems beyond partisan theologies used to amplify the excitement of the base.
6
Gail,
In your columns, please ask everyone to vote Democratic in the mid terms
12
Trump's endless Nuremberg-lite "rallies" are one non-stop torrent of hatred, bile and invective against ANYONE who isn't a "True Believer" in the Gospel According to Trump. Democrats and liberals (who are all scheming "socialists"), immigrants, people of color, the press, "the educated" - all are castigated by Trump as "enemies of the people" (or worse).
And now Trump has the unmitigated gall to suggest that it is the sole duty of the press to, “set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative and often time false attacks.”
It's just barely conceivable that somewhere out in the wilderness there might be one last American evangelical left to reply:
"You hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of your own eye, and then shall you see clearly to pull out the mote that is in your brother's eye."
- Luke 6:42
Too bad there will be no other American evangelicals who will ever hear or acknowledge this scriptural admonition. They've all forsaken their Bibles for 30 pieces of silver.
41
" ... [Trump] demanded that the media 'set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility ... ' " And he said that with a straight face? "Donald Trump on protester: 'I'd like to punch him in the face' ", "President Donald Trump ... praised a congressman’s past assault on a reporter", " [Trump] told audience members he would pay their legal fees if they engaged in violence against protesters", " 'Get him out,' he said of a protester ... 'If you [hurt him], I'll defend you in court. Don't worry about it' ", " ... Federal Judge David Hale ... said there was sufficient evidence that the protesters' injuries were a 'direct and proximate result' of Trump's comments ... ", " 'When [police] put somebody in the car and you’re protecting their head ... You can take the hand away, OK?' ", etc., etc. Among his many personality disorders, our POTUS is a shameless hypocrite.
26
99.99% of us, Republicans and Democrats, are descended from immigrants: slaves, convicts, poor peasants, etc. Very few people came here leaving behind a castle and a title. They came because they were desperate and the risk of coming was outweighed by the risk of staying. This is what is happening in large parts of the world today. The Central Americans are just the most visible. It is time for a realistic immigration policy, but the Republicans and Trump prefer their racist rhetoric. It is a sad time to be an American.
54
Whenever you print any of Trump's rants in full what is striking is how absolutely incoherent and desultory they are. One shudders to think how the scrambled mind behind them would deal with a real crisis unfolding in real time where information had to be absorbed and processed carefully before taking action. A Commander-in-Chief must be able to discern and provide clarity in chaos, the exact opposite of how this President's mind works.
64
@mark
Right you are!
Although the word desultory may be correct, philippic is more Trump's style.
Remember Simon and Garfunkle's A Simple Desultory Philippic?
His rallies ( WHY are taxpayers paying for these ) are rants, tirades and vicious attacks on anyone he deems his enemy. Just happens that includes anyone not fawning ( dare I say slobbering ) on him in person or in the press.
And where has that gotten us? Pipe bombs sent to his main focuses of hatred. His fans are crazed zealots.
He and they must be stopped.
VOTE DEMOCRAT on November 6th.
Save our country from the craziness and greed.
The problem is not Trump. The problem is the Divided States of America. And your not going to cure that problem with an election.
8
The people in this country only seem to come together when something really bad happens. Immediately after 9/11 almost everyone was both courteous and caring. Same thing after Hurricane Ike blew through Texas. Sadly after a few months down the road everyone was back to normal. Trump is just the symbol of how much hate and anger is out there.
@Canuck Absolutely no one more committed to division than trump. He stokes it, feeds on it, relies on it.
1
And when Trump leaves, do you know who will still be here?
Trump voters, that's who.
It may occur to some of us that it isn't possible to have a democracy when an increasingly large percentage of us have lost our minds.
60
@Lkf More to the point, Fox News will still be here, along with Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, Laura Ingraham, and a whole slew of demagogues who have found that there's a good living to be made by encouraging self-pitying rage and race baiting.
3
@Lkf
Sure, they'll still be here but neutralized without a charismatic cult leader like Trump.
Who's going to take over? Pence, the wet noodle of a personality. He's equally crazy and dangerous in his own way, but he's not feared like Trump is.
All I Can say is This too shall pass. Just hope it's sooner than later. :-)
1
@Susan Wood You forgot Hannity who, in his uniquely oleaginous way is by far the worst of them.
I would name this tax cut proposal Monte, named for that most honest of games "Three Card Monte"....
20
@Peter
Let's expose the 3 card Monte and call it The Full Monty.
It's corruption and greed at play here. Let's end it.
Trump doesn't care about the correctness of his speech; nor does his base. He only cares about his power. This man has no difficulty w violence in this country or any other. What others do in behalf of his rants are not his problem. Every day we see something next as it escalates and he promptly moves to stir the pot. While America has turned into a sideshow, a series on prime, it feels like free falling.
25
I know writers such as Ms. Collins want to provide some much needed humor in these times. But I'm in my sixties, and I can honestly say Trump and those who support him are the biggest threat to our nation since the Civil War.
And Trump and his racist base will not stop until we are all silenced. They know we won't fight back. Instead, we'll continue with the hand wringing and content ourselves with clever, humorous essays such as one.
And this is precisely why we on the left are where we are right now. Because we will not fight -- yes, I said fight, for what we believe in. We continue this pointless exercise of "reaching out" to Trump voters, of trying to have a "dialogue". Trump voters want to reach out? To compromise? I could much easier train my dog to be a theoretical physicist.
Trump is where he is, and his racist, rabid base are where they are, because we on the left haven't stood up to them. Haven't stood OUR ground. Haven't fought to retain the Constitutional rights so many of us fought for, died for, decades ago.
To recap: We've gone from rallies in which Trump and his voters spew racist filth, to Trump telling us that the KKK an neo-Nazis are some very fine people, to seven bombs placed at seven different locations where Democratic leaders are located.
We were told to "understand" Trump voters. Well, I understand them quite well. They're as ignorant, and vicious, and racist as their president. And I will fight back.
121
@Donegal
A person like Trump who doesn't know any history, in this case American history, has no idea of what the Civil War did to this nation, nor how the irreconcilable divisions in political beliefs back then brought the country step by step into a conflict that could have ended the United States. He exploits the old rifts, ripping off scar tissue, and encouraging those who had been rightfully marginalized because they do not accept the Constitution, the Bill of Rights or rule of law.
Not all of those who voted for him are in this group, but those promoting hatred are the loudest in his camp.
It's a narcissism that has no outer limits: he is more important than the country.
9
@Donegal The true tragedy is that this rabid racist xenophobic (white) base is (I hope, anyway) not a majority; Trump was elected because many otherwise "sane" voters chose him over Clinton, for a variety of reasons which have little if anything to do with political fitness for the office in question.
It's shocking that many voters couldn't perceive that he was a reality-challenged racist, misogynistic, bombastic demagogue or, worse, saw that but voted for him anyway.
An informed electorate is the foundation of democracy. An uninformed electorate is a drag, since the uninformed can be misled. But a *misinformed* electorate is truly toxic.
Conservatives like George Will are now telling Republicans to vote Democratic. They want their party back, and the only way is for the Tea Party/Trump candidates to start losing, and continue to lose. Unfortunately for them, most Republicans are not Conservatives; they're Republicans, and they vote Republican regardless of the issues or merits of the candidate.
The true failing of liberals, and citizens at large, is not to aggressively act to root out the racism which underlies so much activity in this country. As the South repudiated the agreement ending the Civil War, they also repudiated the Civil Rights Act, and the rest of the country let them do it.
Now we face the consequences.
4
@Donegal What actual methods are you going to use to fight back? Your rhetoric is a good sound bite, but with a morally bankrupt, crazy president, a cheating, lying congress and Russians running interference for all, not to mention the full support of the 1%, I would be hard pressed to blame it all on the Dems not fighting. In fact, that concept could be one of their sound bites-
1
In what will be one of the most played games after the lottery welcome to "Name That Tax Cut". Anyone can enter and you can enter as many times as you want until the comments section closes. Don't be shy. Let's get those servers whirling. Keep it clean. I will start the ball rolling.
Entry 1) "The Great Now You See It, Now You Don't Tax Cut" Entry 2) "The Great Don't Hold Your Breath Tax Cut" Entry 3) "The Great Oops Did I Say Middle Class? I Meant Upper Middle Class Tax Cut"
14
Don’t name it Herman—call it Hermano! CDS
5
The “president” sets the National tone, in this case much the same tone as the Chancellor of Germany did between 1933 and 1945. Schickelgruber, of course, didn’t avoid serving his country with fake bone spurs or inherit massive wealth and commit tax fraud from the age of three, so he is morally ahead of the “president” on those points. He also genuinely won at least one election, and not with Russian help. Good grief, it’s sad that a supposed US president could be compared unfavorably but accurately to Austria’s worst scion.
29
"We’ve been hearing a lot lately about Kelly’s temper. This is sort of disturbing, since he’s supposed to be one of the not-insane people in the administration who will keep a lid on things if the president goes totally batty."
Face it Gail, there are no "not-insane people". There never were.
14
Please vote
My wife and I voted yesterday because our state has early voting. Straight Democratic ticket.
Our god-awful Governor Rick Scot is running for the Senate against incumbent Senator Nelson.
The god-awful Rick DeSantis is running against Andrew Gillum for Governor. DeSantis’s TV ads say he will represent Florida from Apopka to Panama City, which are our “Deep South” locales. Guess he’s not going to represent the millions of citizens elsewhere in the State, like Miami, Tampa, Palm Beach, Orlando, etc.
Please vote.
Your vote, even though it’s just one vote, really, really matters.
V-O-T-E!
81
I know you try. And usually you're very funny. But all I want to do is cry.
52
We have grown colder and crueler as a Nation in the past few decades.
10
@Jay, some have and some haven't. Those who haven't need to gird our loins and fight for decency and mercy while and where--and as hard as-- we can. Because you're right that cruelty is in the ascendancy now.
14
@Jay, The Third World is an area of vast and growing misery. It is in our interest to keep those people out.
To me, the chants of "Lock Her Up" after the Times story about his iPhone habits are beyond hypocrisy; he doesn't even understand that he is doing anything wrong. This imbecile needs to resign and go somewhere we don't have an extradition treaty with.
65
"When you’re down and out, keep that last little bit in mind. At some point everybody leaves."
I've been down and out since November, 2016, and now 75 years old. What a God awful way to spend your Golden years, it's more like death by a thousand cuts.
Something tells me even after he leaves, the stench will be with us for years and years to come.
102
@cherrylog754
IF he leaves. That is my greatest fear. I can’t see him being willing to give up this power. I can see him finding some way to cancel the 2020 and 2024 elections and declare himself “President for life.” This is why we must bring checks and balances back with this upcoming election! VOTE as if our democracy depends on it!
5
@cherrylog754
Oh dear, I so agree with you! When Trump won, my first thought was "Will I live to see him out of office? What a sad, terrible time for our children. The economy is great but people are so angry. What is wrong with us?
1
@cherrylog754
My heart breaks for and with you. We have to stay strong and work hard for those that follow us.
2
How bad are things, when even Gail Collins sounds (despite her valiant attempt at humor) mostly sad and anxious? Pretty bad. Pretty bad.
18
HIS barrel is truly bottomless.
Seriously.
16
The economy is roaring. That's bad for everyone. Young people don't vote, because they don't need healthcare. Well, not for another 50 years, anyway. That's really bad for progressives. There is a an invasion force headed our way, from Central America. That's bad for the White privileged class.
Trump has 3 or 4 rallies a week. That's scary bad. With that, Trump sucks all of the oxygen out of the media. Trying to scare Americans to vote against him, the MSM, quotes him nearly verbatim, where they would otherwise note even report on him. Now, that's terrible.
2
@Mike--young people won't need health care for 50 years? What? And an invasion, you say? Incoherence is the coin of the right, I know. But sanity still exists in some places, and I'd suggest you visit those places more often, Mike. So when you do have to face the facts about what Trump is, and the damage he's done to you as well as the rest of us, it won't be such a shock.
17
@jb The average millennial will fall into a catatonic state, if you talked about health care and health care policy. 10 out of 100 might get it. Not so much, the rest.
As an example, I was a teenager when the "Pentagon Papers" came out. Everybody on tv was talking about it. It was in all of the print media. I tried to learn about it, but, after 5 minutes, it became one big blur. I wasn't stupid, but, I knew nothing about all of the ancillary issues that made up the story. At the time, all I knew was Nixon bad, NYT good. And, NYT bad.
So, the average millennial today probably has no grasp of "healthcare", especially if they have no health issues. They aren't stupid, they just haven't matured enough to have empathy for people that need a lot of health care.
Health care is still a good topic for the Democrats, because old people need a lot of health care. And they vote.
Apropos Trump's abilities to do anything well: just caught a Hillary line from, I guess, the 2016 debates. "Donald has written many books, and most of them end with "Chapter 11". Let's have more of that wit.
Gail Collins is doing fine.
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To quote Oscar Wilde (probably misquote in truth), Everyone brings pleasure. Some when they arrive; some when they leave.
Can we have a national day of celebration when he leaves - by whatever means possible? Can it be followed by a day of contrition when we embrace each other and ask forgiveness for having shut our hearts to one another?
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God help us.
What can we do if the Democrats don't at least take the House?
Where can we go?
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So by proposing a middle class tax cut, is he saying that his first tax cut didn't do much for the middle class?
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Middle Easterners in a caravan from Honduras? That’s fairly impressive, considering the Middle East is in Western Asia.
And Jim Mattis is not a Democrat. There is a difference between those who comprehend the toll of war, and those who do not. Donald Trump does not.
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