This country is turning into a third world country- one where politics is based.on tribal affiliation. Countries like that are not successful and devolve into violent failed states. One party wants to exacerbate that and import millions of foreigners. They intend to steal political power from citizens through the census. They demonize, and dehumanize people, based on their race. They claim entire segments of the population are privileged and stole that privileged from others because they are racist. They have decided that illegal immigrants are more important that citizens. They oppose all and every attempt to enforce the law. I can no longer support the Democratic Party.
25
Before the last election there was a lot of talk of him being a demagogue. Not so much anymore, but I do wonder why. Because....isn't he? And is this not exactly how every historical genocide, holocaust, pogrom, and civil war has begun?
We should probably be doing more than clutching our pearls and planning to throw the blue lever next year, because I fear that whatever frenzy he is whipping up here is unlikely to go away, regardless of his re-election or defeat.
22
Good and decent Americans will reject this hate and divisiveness at the polls in 2020 and it will take decades for the trump republican party to restore any credibility back to their organization.
22
Anyone who has followed the GOP since Ronald Reagan cannot be surprised as to just how low this party has sunk. Although Reagan never put a target on the back of a political opponent as Trump has done with Omar, he did help the unleash the darker instincts of Republicans beginning with his visit to Mississippi’s Neshoba County where the three civil rights were killed to deliver a “states’ rights” speech in 1980. Then we endured the dirty tricks of Lee Atwater whose duplicity helped win the presidencies of Reagan and Bush I. With Gingrich as Speaker, the ethos of comity that had dominated the Legislative branch went away, causing scores of congresspeople to leave Congress and politics. Then came the duplicitous and anti-democratic Mitch McConnell who refused to recognize any obligation to work with the nation’s first black president. Anyone who still calls him-or herself a Republican should own that party’s despicable history, and the behavioral arc that has taken us to Trump and the precipice our country now faces. You’ve rationalized all’s of this for too long, and now here we are.
29
The US needs more people to think for their country. Trump's patriotism is as infantile as everything else about him.
71
I’m watching Fritz Lang’s silent masterpiece Metropolis as I sit here. The thematic phrase (probably mistranslated) is “The mediator between the brain and muscle must be the heart”.
I think perhaps our society’s leader is lacking a mediator.
7
Try watching Triumph of the Will.
7
Americans don't seem to realize that the level of aggressivity and vulgarity is already at a point of no return .
Where is it going to lead ?
If it starts like this 16 month before the elections , how is the level of violence going to be in Nov 2020 ?
And also the damaging symbolic destruction of all the false arguments and charlatan kind of logic.
9
Dear New York Times,
Trump always brags that he gets free airtime from the media and never has to pay for it. All Trump does is swamp the media, and to him negative coverage is better than no coverage. This is exhausting. How many articles are there about Trump today in the Times?
So help us out here. For every article about Trump, there needs to be an article about a Democratic candidate or some constructive project that runs counter to what Trump is doing.
Although I am a political junkie, I really know much more about Trump than I care to, and I know very little about who the Democratic candidates are, what they have done and want to do as leaders.
Human interest stories are always good to read. For example, yesterday on NPR I heard a story about how funny Amy Klobuchar is on the campaign trail; she has an interesting life story too.
So the Times print this story about Trump's disgusting rally; why not also have a story about Amy and how she handles the campaign trial so differently or maybe what positive projects and issues she has successfully championed?
Just a suggestion, but there is way too much free publicity for Trump, and not nearly enough coverage of the Democratic candidates and democratic issues. Since there are 20+ Democratic candidates, there should be plenty of material for the Times to write about.
I think it used to be called "equal time" in journalism. Please give it a try, and spare us from so much Trump.
45
My chest is tight and my stomach is in constant upset...I support the 4 representatives and am excited by their commitment to changing our country for the better...but I now fear for them...just reading accounts of the rallies chanting “send them back” makes me sick...I worried for Obama and his family for the entire 8 years and I fear even more for these ladies...they serve for the greater good and I thank them deeply for their service...
30
This guy just wants media coverage. Period. That and money is all he ever wanted, on printing this story only helps Trump. Someday, all media (except Fox and Friends, of course) should stop covering Trump. You don't have to cover every little thing, do you? No, you don't. I am currently living in a state which is so far behind the curve, you cannot see daylight! It may as well be a third world country, so help me. I cannot wait to move back toi the NY City area. God willing, I will do so next summer.
7
It's really very simple. We are being divided. Someone is trying to push the entire country into a civil war. It is surprising that they are succeeding.
The left is not able to handle Trump. He sends them into a paroxysm every time he does an outrageous thing. The real answer is to treat him like any other 2 year old. Totally irresponsible and unable to understand his actions.
WE need to grow up.
11
There is a persistent question that perplexes the political punditry: why does Trump resist expanding his appeal by touting a booming economy in favor of feeding red meat to his self limited “base”? It is not because he is ignorant of policy details; it is a calculated strategy.
Since the collapse of Trump’s career as a developer in reality he revived his persona as a reality tv faux executive and brander of his “name”. He is our salesman in chief; like successful salesman no matter what product he is peddling, the master hawker ( and con artist) knows that success is based on selling himself. Trump’s hate speech is his sales pitch intended to bond with his faithful. His defiance of polity and norms is intended to prove the bona fides of his rhetoric to his faithful. He has market tested the prejudices and fears of a targeted constituency , and is intent on retaining they’re trust.
He is well aware that today’s economic boom can come down to earth or worse before the election, due to causes beyond his control or even due to his flawed economic strategy. (thus he sets up the Fed’s Powell as fall guy).
Trump wants his base to be loyal him, regardless of the success or failure of his policies, or any deteriorating condition beyond his control.
Can he win re-election with a loyal base of about 35%? He has a strategy to do so, picking off targeted voters in specific jurisdictions.
The Dens must unite and craft their strategy.
5
I fear for the physical safety of the Congresswomen our so-called president is now targeting in his rally speeches. He seems to want someone to do them harm (in coded, but never-the-less clear words). Akin to "a-wink-and-a-nod".
Is there no limit, no bottom-of-the-barrel that the so-called president is free to exceed.
He has no self-control. He must be curbed by the electorate, or by Congress.
There will be additional consequences if he's not.
It could get bloody. We don't want blood on our hands because of inaction.
12
While our despicable president goes on his merry way and people on this board vent the most important issue is how the so-called squad's often amateurish rants plays in a handful of states as that will determine who rules. I can't imagine this not-so fab four will be anything but unwelcome in Middle America, especially in light of Trump's onslaught. Whether this will be outweighed by Trump being Trump is unclear in the context of who wins in 2020.
3
America, and my message is especially to all Trump supporters, the behavior of POTUS Trump is nothing but a pure diversion. This conduct is pure Trump behaving as he has always behaved from childhood through business owner: create chafe, make lots of noise and chaos, divert attention, and above all, NEVER address the issue.
But exactly what is Trump trying to hide?
The obvious is "No Successful Policy Initiatives". Under that umbrella falls almost every matter of fact ranging from national security, election interference by foreign powers, addressing immigration, economic growth, bulging national deficit ( $1T in an economy at full employment and growth), looming recession, climate change, rampant corruption in Trump's Cabinet and Oval Office, alienating allies to preserve national and international security. The list is longer.
But what I believe is the item which is driving Trump crazy and making him lose sleep is knowing that Jeffrey Epstein has NOT been granted bail, and Epstein is looking at a life prison sentence for child sex trafficking charges. Trump has already cut off Epstein - an Oval Office public statement. Epstein's only route for any court based leniency will force him to spill his history and association with Trump, and many other wealthy white males, to the SDNY. Herein lies the ghosts in Trump's closet - I suspect there are many of them.
AG Barr refused to recuse himself from this case. It's obvious, Trump FEARS the FACTS from Epstein's cooperation
7
Knowing Minnesota and the resolve the citizens of that state have I'd be willing to bet that all Trump will do is to send her back to US House of Representatives. She will probably be in the House long after Trump's just a bad memory.
5
Americans could re-learn a lot from the Hong Kong demonstrations. Being outraged and screaming at your computer in comments is not the path to resistance or being heard. We need to get outside and make our outrage heard, peacefully of course, and continue to pound away. Just saying, we are in an echo chamber here on NYT, and we won't be on the nightly news.
4
Trump succeeded in dominating the news headlines in 2016. He is heading into 2020 with the same winning strategy by spewing hate in a good imitation of hate radio talk show hosts. It's time to stop reacting to every outrage he utters with endless stories and columns. One story and perhaps a single column are enough.
Epithets of "racist" have lost their power to hurt him.
Instead, devote your reporting to the struggles of working Americans who are losing ground every day to the oligarchs who are overtaking our republic.
2
The aim is to start a race war. If he can rile up enough of his base he will declare martial law, cancel the election and take complete control.
3
Trump is using an excellent strategy of trying to tie the entire Democratic Party to four far left Congresswomen. What EVERY Democrat has to point out at every opportunity is that all four of them together represent less than 1% of the votes in the House of Representatives. They represent their respective Congressional districts and not the entire Democratic party.
2
Trump has zero record of accomplishment: he inherited the economy, and the “tax cut” benefited the wealthy at the expense of everyone else, and what meager benefits it provided are only temporary. Trump supporters’ attention span is too short for them to remember it expires in a few years, except for corporations.
So Trump goes full fascist/racist because he craftily intuits that’s what will make his low information, low value, low education base howl for him. It’s that simple.
Ignore the disgraceful peddling of concern for anti-Semitism. Within a month, if not sooner, the Republicans will be back to pushing anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, just like they did in 2016 and 2018 and will do for the 2020 campaign. Anti-semitism and racism are their tools.
There’s a reason the Pittsburgh and Poway and Christchurch and Charlottesville criminals repeated right-wing rhetoric verbatim as the justification for their atrocities.
5
Won’t be sending my kids to East Carolina University for an education. What was ECU thinking? Are they against the principles of a liberal democracy having Donald Trump hold a campaign rally to spread hate, racism, and lies?
11
Who are these people at these rallies. They are the real un Americans . They seem to forget what America is all about.
8
More and more trump is telling people that those who don't agree with him are anti-American. I don't agree with him on just about anything but I am more American than him. I don't confuse myself with the country which he usually does. I served in the military which he avoided. I pay taxes and he doesn't. I live among the people and he doesn't and never has.
He has never done anything for his country which many of us have. He has only served himself.
When he says he and the republicans are fighting socialism, let's be clear. They want to destroy social security and medicare, something many people in this country depend upon. The GOP house leader lies as much as he does, as does McConnell.
15
If a Slovenian says Americans aren't "being best" should she be told to leave?
20
Beautiful retort!!!
2
I woke to this news, in near tears. But don’t get me wrong. Just like the SQUAD, I am hardly defeated. I’m furious. True American patriots need to take back this country.
11
I don't understand why there is no outcry from his Evangelical Pastor supporters. He needs them to deliver the votes; they can afford to take a stand denouncing the morality of this pageant. They are supposed to disseminate the gospel of love and respect. Instead they stay silent in the midst of hate, bullying, and lies. Where are they? If they would speak out, this national shame would either stop or DT's political future would atrophy. But they don't. Is their religious righteousness so transactional?
15
@Lucent Retiree
Because those Evagelical Pastors are one issue voters. As long as Trump supports their issue (ie abortion), everything else is a go.
4
Donald Trump is a brilliant politician and until the Democrats realize that and start thinking politically instead of emotionally we are going to have a string of Republican presidents who follow the Trump playbook. Trump has used an arm of the Republican Party that controls a national cable news network to both publicize his every thought with a positive spin and to follow the ratings of each test slogan to see what works best. He has used these tools to hone an effective national communication campaign that has built a base so strong that he does not need the rest of the country, or the majority of voters, to win. His method is so brilliant, so tuned to modern media and sensibilities, that he is going to use the same method in 2020. We can see the predictable outlines of this approach already as “lock her up” has been updated to “send her back” in his crowds chants. It is telling that again he chooses a woman to be his arch competition and again uses the time tested smear of not being born here. As in 2016 it does not matter that any of his charges are true, only that they are memes that catch fire with his base. He is so confident in his approach that he is going to perform the same magic in 2020 even while the Democrats now know how that magic works.
No matter who the Dems pick to run in 2020 they will be painted as part of the Democratic “squad” of socialists who the base has been trained to hate. The Dems are already confused as this story repeats again. Sad.
3
He stirs up patriotism but refused to fight for his country.
He mocked a POW but refused to fight for his country.
His choice of weapons is an acerbic tongue but he could not pick up arms and fight for his country.
He cozies up to dictators and tyrants but refused to fight for his country.
He calls the press, "the enemy of the people," behind the walls of his gilded mansion, yet refused to appreciate our liberty and fight for his country.
He would prefer to put up a barrier to prevent the 'invaders' from entry, yet when he had the chance to actually engage he refused to fight for his country.
The truth at the core of this man is that he is a coward, and we collectively cannot refuse to fight for all our country stands for. It's time to punch the bully back and he'll fold as all bullies do.
134
@Coolhand
This is all so true. So urgent! So painful to see and hear.
Yes, he is a coward. The cowardly “lion-skin” bully, with a following he whips up.
This reminds me of the “Chronicles of Narnia” where a donkey is dressed with the skin of a Lion (and the true Lion, Allan, is a symbol for a Loving God). And what’s interesting is that those thrown into the “stable” are differentiated by whether they see it as a smelly stable or a heavenly realm - depending on their conscience, their values, their selflessness.
We are in the grip of a terrible battle, a battle for the Soul of this nation. A battle between those who are selflessly patriotic, believe in the wonderful welcoming of immigrants and celebrate the beautiful diversity here, the diversity of cultures and skin colors and religions and identities.
This is not an Apartheid Nation. It must not become one!
It is a time of reckoning. And we cannot wait.
11
These middle America chanters, are they the same people that go to a place of worship and actually understand why they are there? Do they have children? What kind of world do they want for their daughters? Do they look at their stock returns and think that earnings are the equivalent of a moral nation? How far back in their family tree do they have to go before they find a relative that came from another country?
I thought these were fairly easy questions to answer. Apparently not.
18
Every time I heard Trump attacking his rivals, I was filled with rage. Yesterday's rally in NC, and the crowd's reaction, "Send her home," deserves not only rage but labeling it; It is a pure manifestation of fascism.
P.S. Merriam Webster defines fascism as "a political philosophy, movement, or regime (such as that of the Fascisti) that exalts nation and often race above the individual and that stands for a centralized autocratic government headed by a dictatorial leader, severe economic and social regimentation, and forcible suppression of opposition."
7
Trump's behavior is not unpredictable. Rather, it's entirely predictable and appalling. I ask, referring to John Dean's testimony during Watergate, what can be even worse than "a cancer growing upon the presidency"?
2
It is obvious that by adding fuel to fire of racism and hate against minorities and those who oppose him, Trump has divided the country in order to win re-election next year. His tactic may win him the election, but it will harm the country for decades to come.
Therefore, the majority of Americans should uphold the American values and stop him from damaging America and the future of our children for his own personal gain.
6
Stephen King is right.
The arm bands are next.
8
Once again Republicans prove how un-american they really are. We heard all this back in the '60's when people were protesting the Viet Nam war - Love or Leave it, was the slogan then. Then, as now, it showed that some people, mainly republicans, cannot handle constructive criticism of the government or the President. In their small-minded world a person must follow the dictates of the Dear Leader above all else. In point of fact, those criticizing the government and the President are actually the ones who love their country the most, so much that they insist on pointing out the failings in order to make the country better. Republicans really don't care if our country fails - just as long as someone is lying to them that it is succeeding. For them it is all show. And Trump is their Ring Master, leading them to disaster.
4
it's time for every self identified republican who is uncomfortable with the behavior of this presidency to resign from the republican party and register as independent. you have the capability of reshaping the party into something you can stand by.
for the sake of your children please engage to stop this downward spiral.
5
Here's the country I want to leave: The country that places as its leader a man who presents as a decision point the absolute binary choices of love and hate. I could go on and on about language and stoking fears, fabricating truths, and a media landscape that amplifies him, but really what's most shocking is that there is a significant plurality of people who support him, his ideals and his leadership. It is shocking and utterly disheartening.
5
Why does Trump get to do this while he is a federal employee? Isn't it against the law to discriminate?
Why doesn't he gives us the infrastructure and health care he promised? I don't get how he can hold hateful campaign rallies on our dime when he should be working for us.
8
The choice is now being framed as racism versus socialism. It’s a false choice because while Trump is indeed basing his presidency and campaign on racism, the Democrats are not and have never bern socialists, not FDR nor Sanders. It’s just the same old red baiting from the ‘50’s. Democrats beed to stand up for working people. Sanders and Warren are doing this. AOC is just a distraction.
2
It seems that what Mr. President wants is plain and simple attention. I understand that his comments were derogatory and hurtful to immigrants and thus need strong condemnation, but that is all what he wants. He wants us to forget Democratic nomination and pay attention towards him. He knows that saying such derogatory remarks will draw media attention and like 2016 will only help him achieve his goal and not harm him that much. More media attention, higher concern from Democrats, bitter partisan fight, resulting most of the time into firmer and isolated Republican base. As such the best way to fight him is to not give him any media attention as that and that alone will concern a narcissistic man.
Watching the video of Trump speaking and the crowd chanting, “Send her back!” was frightening. But also interesting. Look at Trump’s face. Once the crown stars chanting, even he is not so sure. And behind him, camera right, there’s a woman who looks around, worried.
1
I am an American, Muslim convert. I was told to go back where I came from. I said I'm from NYC, and I don't want to go back there. I live here like you do and I'm happy here. I guess the person was shocked when I opened my mouth and she heard an American accent. At least I'm still alive.
86
It can happen here. It is happening here. Everyone should read Sinclair Lewis. His novel wasn't speculation, it was prophecy.
4
Too many journalists and too many readers are just too young (sorry, for the condescending truth) to put Trump's recent tome of "Go back to ..." or "If you don't like it here, leave" in its proper historical perspective. This is seen as racist by the youth today because everything is viewed under the prism of racism/racists etc. The fact is these statements harken back to the Vietnam War chants of the right who under the guise of patriotism told us who protested the war "If you don't like it here, if you don't love America- then leave." It had nothing to do with racism as all of us white long haired hippies could attest. It was simply the way to divide the anti-war part of society from the mostly older Republicans who supported the Vietnam War- probably the biggest mistake in the history of this country. To give Trump more energy and greater coverage by focusing on this very tired approach to divide Americans simply adds fuel to Trump and his ability to foment more discord. The fact is a majority of Americans are moderate to conservative and bitter criticism of the US is a non starter for most voters.
1
The media should seriously limit the coverage of Trump rallies. There are no real public policy discussions or proposals being made. The only "news" is Trumps playing to his supporters. The election should be about ideas, of which Trump is bereft. We've seen this movie over and over, and it's getting old. Trump won in part because of non-stop coverage of his antics. Please call his bluff and just put a note on page 6 that Trump held another rally, and no policy initiatives were announced. Stop giving racism and bigotry a national forum.
8
You really have to wonder about a President who has decided to obsess on four first term congresswomen who have one term ahead of them and may or may not even be re-elected.
In the meantime they are speaking out and trying to represent their various constituents which is what they were elected to do.
In the meantime these women are being subjected to death threats by President Trump’s irresponsible behavior. Totally inappropriate. The leader of the free world cannot lead his own country with civility.
5
All I get from this is that a surprising number of Americans lack emotional maturity and a moral compass.
Hopefully the decent majority will put and end to this 2020 for the sake of their children.
9
I was just saying this to my husband. We learned all this basic decency in high school! Trump has ‘mob’ rule. That’s why he admires Kim.
2
I wonder if this is how Germans felt in the 1930s. I wonder how many could feel the future and felt absolutely powerless to stop it.
8
Plenty.. abject fear.
1
the question isn't 'can that country still rule a world', rather what sort of a world will it turn out to be ...
1
the question isn't 'can that country still rule a world', rather what sort of a world will it turn out to be ...
How is Trump going to decide where to send these folks? Aren’t they US citizens?
1
While I can understand people who are tired of Omar--but I do not want her sent back. Omar is the gift that keeps on giving to the GOP--a priceless gift.
4
I hope Mueller is watching. I really hope Mueller is watching. I really hope Mueller is more candid than he has been, during his testimony. Unless his hands were tied by Barr (which is possible), he should have indicted (OLC or not). His conclusion, that he had no option, further emboldened this MONSTER. He made Trump above the law.
2
The thing to understand here is that his base does not, and will never, hold him accountable to actually accomplishing any of his stated goals. “Lock her up!” “Build the wall!” “Send them back!” are all just slogans, screamed in orgiastic unison. They unite them and confirm their zealotry.
his base does not care whether or not he does those things - he hasn’t yet, and it’s not changed their belief in him. They don’t care if he brings back manufacturing industries or jobs, whether he improves or destroys the economy or the environment, whether he brings about peace or gets our nation involved in another war. Nothing is going to deter them from voting for him. trump said he could walk out on Fifth Avenue and shoot someone dead - it wouldn’t matter to his base at all. All he has to do is keep spewing the hate and cultivating the fear. he will remain their champion.
That being the situation, then, it becomes the duty of the rest of us to unite in refuting this base and their idolatry of trump.
4
I have heard countless defenders of Trump stating what he said was not racist. I would tell them if they think telling someone to go back to the country they came from is not racist, then the next time at work they have a disagreement with an African American co-worker, tell them to "Go Back to Africa" and see if they can explain to HR how that is not racist.
6
Trump's rants veer more and more into the realm of domestic terrorism. It's long past time he be impeached.
4
His behavior has gone beyond infuriating to absolutely horrifying. I am truly afraid for our country.
4
The problem is not that HE wants to be a dictator.
The problem is that THEY want him to be a dictator.
Mitch will cheerfully support his bid to suspend 2020 elections if it means he can shape the entire US judiciary for the rest of his life. I dont think mcConnell wants to live in a democracy.
5
Here is a black, female Muslim immigrant from a country with all sorts of terrible problems who was elected to Congress. Instead of stating how wonderful the US is and providing her ideas to even make it better, she shreds it to pieces.
Of course she should not be sent back because she is an American citizen who has the right to stay here. Rather, she should just purchase a one-way ticket back to Somalia. Yes, I resent her tremendously, and Trump will make hay out of her - rightfully so.
5
That statement is about the most Un-American thing I’ve heard. Mandated state love. Should Republican congressman have left the US when Obama was President or is this a one way street?
4
I look at this thing and see somebody in complete and absolute control. He’s so different from what we’ve known that we don’t know how to begin to respond. So, why respond at all? He’s got his gang and we’ve got ours and we’re moving in different directions. Take the time to notice and try to “fight back” and it detracts from our mission. After watching the Nuremberg style displays of fake “love it or leave it”, it’s easy to forget that there are far, far more of us than there are of “them”. There were far more Germans absent from the Nuremberg rally’s than in attendance. Watch Pelosi! Don’t take the bait! Then, when the time comes in 474 days, and let’s hope that it still does, it will be our turn to show up and take care of business. We’ll never fully recover from this, but we can at least restore order and dignity...
75
You would think that since Trumpists have abandoned even the pretense of using racial dog whistles Trump's racism would disqualify him among the majority of the Republican Party and it's leadership; if only for it's long-term survival. Quite apart from the malignant nature of his base - and by "malignant" I mean virulent and infectious - it is because the term "facist" or "racist" no longer carries the onus it should have. It has been carelessly over-used to attack everything from an inartful phrase to a simple traffic ticket to denouncing libraries and scientific research. You can believe the latter examples are trumpeted on Fox News, right-wing web sites and radio for the instruction of its listeners.
So for Trump supporters the term no longer has any content. Now that we need the full force of the word to describe what we are seeing it registers as nothing more than the ordinary back and forth of politics. It is because that is what it has become. When everything and everyone is racist no one is racist. So to name it doesn't shame them but oddly reinforces their belief in their own virtue and confirms the enmity of their political opponents. It is what happens when we abuse the language for ideological or political purposes and turn real and serious questions of racism into academic metaphysical inquiries. Once that happens then the discourse is vulnerable to the Trumps of the world.
We aren't going back to normal no matter who wins the White House in 2020.
2
Unfortunately, Hillary was right, many of these people are despicable. But let us remember that the same thing was said of those who protested the Vietnam war and those protesters turned out to be right. Loving America does not mean you have to agree with all its policies. Loving America means you care about it and want it to do the right thing. Unfortunately we are not doing the right thing in too many ways
4
This is a country built by immigrants and needs immigrants. Trump and his zealots are telling them that they are not welcome. They, and Trump with his trade wars, will set the country back in uncountable ways, and economically, too.
Fortunately, given his advanced age, we will not have to listen to his haranguing his successors about how they ruined his great economy.
5
“It was the latest sign that the president’s plan for winning a second term in office involves playing to racial and nationalist themes that shock the consciences of many Americans, but which seem to delight his most ardent supporters.”
I have a problem with “seem to.” How much more blatant would these people have to be before The Times could stop pretending that their feelings remain ambiguous? Note that it doesn’t say “seem to shock the consciences of many Americans.”
That his legions relish these statements is every bit as clear as that they shock many Americans’ consciences. Let’s not pretend that such an interpretation is contestable.
3
Ihlan Omar represents me and my family in the United States House of Representatives. We are proud to be her constituents. We are pleased at our great good fortune to be American citizens. We are now, more than any other time in our lives, aware that there is much work to be done if we want to continue to be "...the home of the free." We urge all of our sister and brother citizens to exert every possible effort to remove from elected and appointed office, for all time, every citizen who identifies as a member of the stunningly racist Republican party. Let "Send her back" be a siren call in your heart, urging you to donate your time ,voice, mind and money to support the non-Republican candidates in the coming 2020 federal and local elections. Let us wake up on November 4th of 2020 looking ahead to a Republican-free United States of America.
93
Watching the rally reminds me of movie depictions of the Coliseum, the Roman Emperor, and the mob chanting waiting for the Emperor to give thumbs down or up. I wonder if the press corps has the courage to ask him if he would like to see a civil war between his mob and the Democrats.
I said after he was elected that it was the first president elected by the media (before I knew what I know now!!!) so I hope they are more careful this time. The Democrats are not divided- they don't march in lockstep like the GOP.
3
Immigration law is clear.
A person is subject to revocation of naturalization if the person becomes a member of, or affiliated with, the Communist party, other totalitarian party, or terrorist organization within five years of his or her naturalization. In general, a person who is involved with such organizations cannot establish the naturalization requirements of having an attachment to the Constitution and of being well-disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States.
The fact that a person becomes involved with such an organization within five years after the date of naturalization is prima facie evidence that he or she concealed or willfully misrepresented material evidence that would have prevented the person’s naturalization.
https://www.uscis.gov/policy-manual/volume-12-part-l-chapter-2
2
I wake up every day thinking "How did this happen," still.
5
Nixon said, "Love it or leave it," back in the early seventies, in response to war protests, and then he had to resign....
3
Shades of “Triumph of the Will” .
2
Perhaps it's time for sports teams, concert planners and convention organizers to boycott any venue that hosts upcoming Trump Hatefests.
2
It's a paradox. By polarizing and dividing this great country deeper and deeper, spitting venom daily, the snake charmer is unifying his partisans in hatred. Very few things are as cohesive as hatred towards a "common enemy."
Yesterday it was the immigrants, now the legally elected congresswomen, tomorrow God only knows. Should he get reelected in 2020, there will be a severe problem with the word "United" in the "States of America."
1
Usually I’m just angry at DT.
This time, I’m in tears: ‘send her back’ and the Eric Garner outrage — I may have finally run out of words. Every breath I take is a political breath.
6
Hate, anger, fear , its what he will run on in 2020. He just needs victims and Hillary and Obama are gone but he's found a new group. What is frightening is to see that he is just the cheerleader its the angry frenzied crowd that is the energy that he is riding on.
So we "send them back". how does that create jobs, give health care, provide education? I wonder how many of these folks realize they are accomplishing nothing towards having a better life with this anger ?
2
Pelosi’s anger with the thoughtless “squad” was fully justified for by attacking Trump, they have endangered the Democratic Party and weakened Party chances in 2020. The four were dead wrong.
Trump will not now and in future use these 4 incautious and inexperienced woman to beat up the Democratic Party
3
Kevin McCarthy on tv gaslighting and denying the egregious hate speech at last night rally by Trump.
1
Trump is mad not because the squad are anti Americans as he claims them to be but because he takes their criticisms personally. This is one politician who cannot separate professional and personal life. Oh wait, he never had a professional life. This is not about someone “not being American” enough, this is his ballon sized ego.
41
Elites , are you not entertained?
Biden told Wall Street bankers the fundamentally nothing will change for them if he's elected.
Elites you will be entertained for four more years.
4
There's only one way to make America great again. Get a smart person in the driver's seat. We are headed for a wall.
4
I watched about 20 minutes of this despicable event, live online. The constant outright lies, the hatred, and those chants directed at Rep. Omar to "Send her back!" And the mocking of Spanish-language names, and all the rest, while the crowd almost vibrated while they shouted and sneered with approval. It was horrifying in its related appeals to bigotry and ignorance.
I'm not anxious to make the pat comparison to Hitler here (and Mussolini's rise may be the more accurate parallel), but -- as a history teacher for many years, I have often incorporated clips from Leni Riefenstahl's beautiful/wicked film "Triumph of the Will" about the 1933 Nuremberg rally, just after the Nazi's had seized power, and still years before Kristallnacht and the development of the "Final Solution" to exterminate Europe's Jews. The classroom discussions about the feelings the film generates - it's exciting, inspirational, glorious, even intoxicating, and as a result uniquely terrifying - helped students understand how the fascists built power. If you have never seen it, it's on Youtube. The comparisons are simply undeniable.
8
And these are my fellow citizens? Really?
6
I have a friend in NC. She is an American citizen, and her family has been here five generations (legally immigrated). She's 100% not white. I actually fear for her after reading about this disgusting rally. Am I being paranoid? I think not.
6
It may have started as a joke, something funny to say, but it's serious. This is a very bad situation promulgated by the Republican Party. They guy is out of control and they don't see a problem. What's sadder, is that these individuals thinking this way are allowed to reproduce.
4
Curious if the GOP is going to sit on their hands, mouths sewn shut, until the country is literally on fire?
5
Oh the President of the United States made a speech last night? Huh, I had no idea.
1
Thanks to Trump (as ever), our country has just reached a shameful new low point. What this spoiled monster gets away with boggles the mind.
5
Sadly, this is what I expect from Trump. He has been a braggart, a bully and a racist his entire life so the fact that he's dialing it up to 11 is no surprise at all. What truly shocks and saddens me are all of his supporters there who are casting aspirations on an elected congresswoman and calling for her expulsion from the country. We have reached the point in this failed experiment when the right to dissent against against a political leader is called treason. The political science major in me is both horrified and fascinated because we're seeing how a nation falls to fascism in real time. Only this time we have red hats instead of brown shirts.
4
Been saying that for two years. And here we are.
Only a matter of time before he found a replacement to Lock Her Up.
Civil unrest. Marshal law. Cancelled election.
It's coming folks.
4
Yeah Trump joins on unsubstantiated story about Ms. Omar marrying her brother for immigration purposes. Of course we know and it is substantiated that Trump said he would like to have sex with his own daughter. Well he gave her a job in administration for which she is totally unqualified for instead.
7
This type of stuff...and the omniprescence of money....and the gerrymandering....and the low voting/lack of civics etc.----Rome. Saying it with sadness.
4
Chant after me: “Vote Him Out”
7
After four years of this charlatan and the vitriol that spews from his mouth every single day, how can we possibly endure (best case scenario) another year and a half of this?
1
Hearing those hateful chants at djt's rally was more than chilling: it was terrifying...nightmarish...surreal.
I can accept that we occasionally elect a poor president, an incompetent one, a corrupt one, or even a morally reprehensible one once in a while. But to have one so overtly devoted to being/doing evil is.... What? How name it? Every word I come up with fails to characterize what's happening. Every time I search for an apt analogy, I fail. "The Night of the Living Dead"? A political "Jaws" in which the shark wins, though 3 millions sheriffs challenge it? "The Shining" in which Jack, the president, chases us all into the maze where our faith in the American way is killed or our humanity frozen to death? "The Exorcist" in which the Executive Office, the AG, and the Senate, carrying on the demon's work, sends the rest of us hurdling down the stairs to submission to wanna-be tyrant? Maybe the effect of this president* does not compare with the millions killed by communism or the Nazis (among others). Nonetheless, though the streets are not littered with dead bodies, we're witnessing the death of the noble ideas/ideals that underpin the American experiment. Dead souls litter our branches of government and rallies and cable TV and talk-radio shows. THE HORROR!
8
And yet the Dems can’t be bothered to impeach this president.
2
This is the new "Lock her up".
2
I do not think the comparison of Trump's rallies to pre-Nazi Germany is frivolous. I think it is correct. This is how an authoritarian fascist begins -- with a rallying cry and chant that is extraordinarily divisive, blaming, false, and emotionally charged.
I'm like hey, let's all go back. Germany, Ireland, England, Africa, France, Spain, South America, etc. won't take us!
So Democrats let's get united! Let's have some big rallies and get our own 'chant'.
And, NY times, I want some good investigative reporting about how those at Trump's rallies think -- what is their thinking. What about Democrats makes them even get close to believing they (we) will 'ruin' the country? The fact that it does not make sense and is emotionally rooted in fiery rhetoric points to Germany, pre Nazi.
5
It is high time to act for those who can effectively do something to preserve our constitution and our country, namely the Republicans in the Senate.
Where are you Mr. Graham? Where are you Mr. McConnell?
What is it going to take for you to recognize the Nuremberg rally we just witnessed for what it is? Are you so obsessed with your privileged title that you would let the country go down in flames?
What do you think will happen to that privileged position of yours if that happens? You will be discarded with the rest of the ashes.
Act now, before “now” becomes too late.
3
Do we not have laws against this kind of hate speech??
3
Only Trump's father was born in the US. Both of AOC's parents were US citizens. In case anybody needed any more proof of the idiocy of this fact-free administration.
4
This man is our president and those hate filled crowds are our fellow citizens ? Well.. what a shame!
5
Like the plurality of Americans, I am not affiliated with a political party, nor do I believe that Trump and Republicans are more racist and misogynist than Democrats … The NYT speaks for its demographic - wealthy, white, liberal Democrats - and avoids mentioning the liberals' plantation attitude toward people of color. Nothing will change until the elite feel threatened, and white liberal women, for example, accept that their racial privilege allows them to earn considerable more for the same types of work as women, and they start to share that privilege before it's taken away by force. White liberals need to be held accountable, and I think the country is heading in the right direction in the sense that all the divisiveness we see in the country is serving as a crucible to focus us on the truth and extent of racial injustice and the fears of our elites ...
Nancy Pelosi has spent a lifetime mastering the nuances of political manipulators. No question that Trump spews hatred and divisiveness....as did Hitler. It is ugly and painful to experience. However, being goaded into becoming a swamp-thing like Trump will not win votes but rather turn the Democrats into targets when Trump successfully plays the wounded victim of Democratic shaming. This game must be played carefully and strategically...as Pelosi knows. Likewise, the 'Squad' and the rest of the House members need to let Pelosi do her job rather than put on display the schism within the Democratic Party that seems to widen daily. Although I would take great pleasure in seeing this president suffer an embarrassing public impeachment, I have to believe that Pelosi has a better handle on how such a process might play out in the 2020 elections. It would be much more satisfying to skewer Trump and expose him for the clown that her is...probably not the smartest pathway to ousting his sorry and demented personage in the next election.
2
More distraction from the grifter in chief. Forget it. Ignore it. Eyes on the prize, White House and Congress, next year. Nov., '20. Not long. Are you registered to vote yet?
2
The divider in chief works his show ... “divide and conquer” ... he does that pretty well
2
How badly do you have to hate other people to supposedly love America?
6
"Send her back" "Lock her up" "Build the wall". Do you see a pattern?
6
@Chris - yep...three monosyllabic word sentences are all he can handle. Sigh.
1
@Chris
While I can understand people who are tired of Omar--but I do not want her sent back. Omar is the gift that keeps on giving to the GOP--a priceless gift.
1
First, they're called "trouble makers". Then they're told to "go somewhere else" if they don't like what's going on. Then they're labeled as "hate-filled extremists". Then they're accused of not being "real Americans". Eventually, they're "not even human". At which point the crowd roars "let's go get 'em!".
And who exactly are they referring to? Anyone that doesn't join them - that's who.
Hate is strong. Hate sells. Hate motivates. Hate convinces. Hate is as insidious as it is infectious. And hate is working better then most people ever thought is would in this country. Even Trump had no idea, in the beginning, how hate could make him a dictator for life.
"Lock her up!" becomes "Send her back!" becomes "Kick them out!" becomes "Get rid of them all!!!".
Another final solution to put the world to right, eh Mr. Trump? I can't think of anyone better suited to the job than you.
12
Heard this many times during Viet Nam, to my face and in the face of anyone who criticized the war. We were commies, cowards, traitors and America haters if we didn't want our country in Viet Nam. Apparently there were deplorables back in the 60's, too
9
Ilhan Omar's response to Trump's xenophobic, racist screed last nigh in North Carolina was a quote by Maya Angelou:
"You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise."
Representative Ilhan Omar is a far more patriotic, greater American, than the evil con man Donald Trump could ever dream of being.
16
Words matter. They can kill.
I fear President Trump's attacks on these four Congress women might get one of them killed by some nut case.
It is not okay to hate.
12
What a great image for our country: hate, racism, incompetence, ineptitude, disfunction, division, xenophobia, and with a clueless, narcissistic, corrupt head of state. How much longer can we survive before we’re considered a rogue state within the civilised world?
11
@Canewielder - Pretty sure at this point that we're already on the outside of our "allies" inner circle.
It is profoundly sad that the President doesn't seem to know either the Constitution or the Bible.
He vilifies a Muslim congresswoman, not knowing that Thomas Jefferson wrote that religious freedom was meant to include "... within the mantle of its protection, the Jew and the Gentile, the Christian and Mahometan [Muslim], the Hindoo [Hindu], and Infidel of every denomination."
Nor does the man who referenced "Two Corinthians" know or understand "Welcome the stranger..." https://sojo.net/22-bible-verses-welcoming-immigrants
6
Classy people.
8
I'm sure that his supporters don't care that repeating and supporting his racist tropes screams volumes about their own attitudes towards race. Notice that I stopped short of calling them all racists. That would be inflammatory language
3
But routine comparisons to Hitler, Nazis, concentration camps, etc. doesn’t incite violence, right?
6
Now; we will see - "Go Back" stickers on back of the pickups and may be open & direct message to all the people of color regardless of where they born;
"Go back to your country" in real day to day life.
I have already heard this in my cousin's business in TN, where his employee told be to go back to NJ in 2017 summer.
9
Trump is the un-American one. His hateful words go against what every US history textbook has taught — that we are a nation of immigrants and that is what makes us great.
10
I am from North Carolina and this display sickens me and many many others from this state.
17
To watch these rallies causes such despair. I would have never imagined that I would witness in my lifetime such unsavory behavior by my fellow Americans. These rallies seem to be modeled after the Jerry Springer show, with the audience ranting and screaming, demonstrating a lack of emotional or intellectual acumen. These people truly represent what can only be referred to as the 'ugly American'.
211
@rasweet
As a registered Republican, I am so ashamed.
I am changing my Party affiliation and voting Democrat because of this ugly ugly president.
41
@rasweet America has fallen so far; we will never recover. Rome fell; America falls.
11
@rasweet
The Jerry Springer show was not at all what I thought of as I watched it.
6
Mark my words, violence will follow if the republicans continue their silence.
I fear for Ms. Omars life.
12
"The (Republican party) should not become a constable of public opinion, but must dominate it. It must not become a servant of the masses, but their master.". AH
3
Our twisted and sick society is on world view and we can’t hide it with “that’s not who we really are” anymore. He’s the symptom. His enablers and cult following is the disease. History is not going to treat us well.
16
Trump's speeches are red-hot hate-speeches filled with distortions and lies. Then he turns everything upside down by falsely accusing his critics as non-patriotic and full of hate. He can only fool the uninformed.
By now, most Americans have made up their mind about him. His hate-rallies serve to keep his person-cult alive among his blind believers while hoping that his critics will splinter end destroy themselves by in-fighting. That will only work if people forget that this upcoming election will be about getting rid of the most corrupt and incompetent administration is US history to save our democracy and the soul of our country. Everything else is of secondary importance.
12
Trump whines and complains about so many people and things in the US that its time for us to "send him back."
7
And still his supporters deny he is a racist... you will hear them say things like he's just pandering to his base, oh if he continues I'll stop supporting him (so soon forgotten, until the next embarrassment will provoke them to say it, hollowly, once again). I don't know how he manages it, but he gets people to so easily forget his past actions and believe whatever expedient story he is spinning in the moment. It is disheartening to see that so many people are so easily duped, so easily manipulated.
5
This is out of control. Trump and his administration, Fox News and the bigoted 40% of our country (aka the new Republican party) are driving us into a civil war. Sad and shameful.
12
@Greg I would say it's the other way around, the militant left is picking fights and driving us into a civil war. The left has decided that it wants to fundamentally change the culture and character of this country by opening the borders and vilifying white men. And they've been spewing this rhetoric this with impunity, with no one standing up to them.
Notice that he doesn’t tell white politicians to go back to their countries. Hasn’t told Pelosi to return to Italy. Branding anyone who criticizes a leader sounds like we live in some third world dictatorship.
13
Trump is an all-out cover up. What is he covering? His own failure as a businessman, politician, student, husband, father, and person. In other words a total fraud.
16
Long since stated and agreed upon - Donald J. Trump is a smart (but not a "stable genius" by anyone's definition except his own), conniving, dangerous, malignant narcissist. And as difficult as it may be the best way to deal with him is to ignore and move away from his infantile, hate-imbued taunts. There is no greater effective intervention than to ignore a narcissist. So let his mindless, uninformed base throw flowers at his feet - the rest of us should see this for what it is, old fake news which should be discarded.
4
@Horseshoe Crab
Not a stable genius??
Certainly the jockeys at Churchill Downs think so.
He was always able to identify which horses had 4 legs.
And that was the "mane" thing.
2
Two new chants that we need to consider: 1) Send him back 2) Send them back ( all Republican congressmen/senators).
4
I recall reading a couple of articles recently that Trump was falling in his numbers and that he had been ignoring or hadn't stoked his alt-right base. Now suddenly he is full-on racist/white nationalist. Just sayin'.
11
Just imagine what the Republicans would have done if Obama did this......
10
"Deplorables." Hillary was absolutely right.
28
@Pasha 34
Yes. Hillary knows Trump. She tried to warn you all.
2
Looking past the shadow play: Trump and the Squad want the same thing, for the Squad to appear to be, and eventually to be, the face of the Democrats, as opposed to Nancy Pelosi, who doesn't. The point of Trump's move is to make it impossible for Pelosi to abandon the Squad, so she's stuck with them going forward. That's what this is about.
4
Whatever you or I might think of Trump it seems there is no denying that a substantial number of the USA populace is quite happy about his behavior and policies. Changing that is a rather difficult problem.
18
Remember what traumas happened across the country when Trump ratcheted up his devisive hateful rhetoric? Check out the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission website and how Trump refuses to obey the laws of Our land.
""Ethnic slurs and other verbal or physical conduct because of nationality are illegal if they are severe or pervasive and create an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment, interfere with work performance, or negatively affect job opportunities. Examples of potentially unlawful conduct include insults, taunting, or ethnic epithets, such as making fun of a person's foreign accent or comments like, "Go back to where you came from, " whether made by supervisors or by co-workers.""
https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/immigrants-facts.cfm
Trump when he trashes the Constitution and breaks the laws of Our Land, that is the undeniable definition of un-American...
1
If the GOP does not join Americans in condemning this inflammatory hateful rhetoric, and there is bloodshed, take names and vote them OUT.
2
@Jan Sand Happy, yes. That's why they voted as they did. But how "substantial" their numbers are TODAY might be questionable.
Undoubtedly, there are a substantial number who would vote to keep him in office (as opposed to "oh, heavens!" a woman); but "quite happy" may be going a bit far.
I truly believe the racial hate flood gate has been officially opened by trump, the Republicans, and most terrifying, by his so called 'base'. America is at no turning back point now for a foreseeable long period of time. We're further heading into a deep dark tunnel. As long as trump is allowed to continue his vicious and distorted presidential reality show, America will never be great again!
18
Trump is the first amateur we've had as president of the USA. But he's skilled at demagoguery so he goes with that.
9
@mungomunro "amateur"? that's okay.
We've had amateurs before. (W. Wilson, H. Truman, D. Eisenhower.)
But this demagoguery is more in line with that of Huey Long or Father Coughlin, and they were definitely not amateurs.
'Send her back! Send her back"
Donald Trump and his minions
Are escalating their attacks
On four Congresswomen who dared
To exercise their right to free speech?
What a country!
It's just my opinion
It's based on facts
I'm getting scared
Too scared to rhyme
Is it time
To impeach?
Might be fun, see?
6
A lot of Americans are feeling great despair and outrage. And the voices here are great; well written comments.
But I hope that behind all the uproar about Trump and his fascist ways, will come a strong desire and commitment to get away from our computer screens next year and work for a local congressman or senator who is trying to unseat a Republican enabler of the President (and that would be any Republican, holding any office at any level of government). Your $20 sent to crucial campaigns in close races around the country, when multiplied by hundreds of thousands can and will make a difference in Congress.
I am amazed at the great energy and frustration that is not harnessed and put to work. Friends of mine live in districts with Trump reps and do nothing but write about it on editorial pages (a start, but not a finish). Or talk among themselves on FB.
We need to be the Volunteers of America! Do something next year! Put our money where our mouths are. Find five competitive districts and send $20 to each one of them. And walk the walk, not just talk the talk unless you are manning a get out the vote phone. That's my plan.
It doesn't make a difference if you are in the solid red states. We need to fight them on every battlefield before it becomes devolves into a real battlefield... You know what I am talking about.
259
@Bill Cullen, Author
Silence is consent. Counter the lies with the truth. Ask people if they are registered to vote. Urge them to make sure their friends register.
Talk is talk, but action will be necessary to rid our Country of the rot in the White House.
Pay attention to Eldridge Cleaver's statement: "You either have to be part of the solution, or you are going to be part of the problem."
Do something. Embrace action. Encourage others to participate in their democracy. Our Country can survive this dark moment. Don't lose sight of the horizon. Sun will shine soon.
16
@Bill Cullen, Author Agreed!! I would add, the radical, racist, theocratic foundations of the modern Republican party and the Tea Party established their political base first through local elections at the town, county, and state levels. These have been very successful at both pushing through (or blocking) specific policies, and at developing a political class that could move into national politics. The time to research and support local and state races that support your values on education, reproductive health, the environment, criminal justice, and so much more is right now.
14
@Bill Cullen, Author
It wouldn't be surprising that the Koch brothers are deeply involved in all of this as they work to turn more and more states red. And remember when the Reds were something to be feared?
6
I find it disturbing that you simply call this allegation "unproved". As journalists you should be able to find the facts on this slur, and if the President is lying state that clearly.
From the article: "“There’s a lot of talk about the fact that she was married to her brother,” the president said, stating as fact something that is unproved."
11
@jnfr You mean just like in court where it's not enough for a defendant to deny the charges but must actually prove that he did not commit the crime?
Well, maybe in some countries, Jen, but certainly not here.
When Trump spoke of the “hate-filled extremists who are constantly trying to tear our country down,” I thought he was referring to himself and his party.
25
I am proud to have voted for Ilhan. I will be proud to vote for her again. I voted early and was in a room with many US citizens that were of Somalian beginnings. The pride and joy in the room reminded me of my Irish kin when Kennedy was elected president.
23
I’ve been watching my country in horror, watching it lurch to a tipping point. The crowd last night—madness. I never thought we were the greatest people on earth, but I’m beginning to have doubts that we’re actually any good at all.
34
Perhaps our divided country would benefit from a week of no news coverage of Donald Trump. More anger is not going to settle our differences. And he makes me very, very angry.
14
@jaded And let him do everything behind our backs ? That's not jaded; that's foolish.
I’m not a huge fan of Rep. Omar, but I hope that she and the 3 other congresswomen use “Send Her Back to Congress” as their slogan during their 2020 re-election campaigns.
26
Trump's words are frightening, but what is even worse is the mob chanting in support of him. His supporters appear to blindly follow him no matter what. This is very scary. Americans need to wake up. We need to be better than this. Democracy needs independent thinking people who weigh the merits of policy and judge the issues based on what is good for the nation and to its people. I might not agree with some of the statements and ideas presented by the Squad, but I cannot accept the "go back" mentality. These congresswomen are already "back". They are citizens of the United States. Moreover, they were elected to serve in congress. They are our government.
13
Millions of people support Trump, but out of the 63 million who voted for him – many have been repulsed by his toxic rhetoric. My extended family is a case in point. Rather than expand his appeal, he’s shrinking it. If you didn’t vote for Trump in 2016, why vote for him now? Hillary was an uninspiring hangover candidate after Obama, but after the last 3 years – I’ll vote for ANYTHING... even a blue dishrag!
17
@M I think I agree with your POV. But, since I don't know anything about your extended family, I don't really know anything about your "case in point."
Trump is testing out themes for 2020. If something he says backfires, he just denies it and comes up with another distraction. His race baiting is a dangerous game, but it’s not a new gambit for him. We can expect more of it in the upcoming campaign. Although it is jarring to see his crowds chant Send Them Back, I believe this is a very limited segment of the voting population. The Dems should stick to the kitchen table issues and wrestle back a few swing states. It will be an ugly campaign but I believe the country, Dems and GOP, can survive and get things back on track in 2021.
3
@Tim " can survive and get things back on track in 2021." Yes, if the track is still there.
My representative is Ms Omar. She will be back in our district this weekend. I just volunteered to assist in any way possible with her security while she attends community meetings here. I never thought I would need to do something like this but I never thought I would have a president like this either.
Commentators speak of the possibility of one deranged person hearing the president's message and then act. The one deranged person is the one delivering it.
27
My representative is Ms Omar. She will be back in our district this weekend. I just volunteered to assist in any way possible with her security while she attends community meetings here. I never thought I would need to do something like this but I never thought I would have a president like this either.
Commentators speak of the possibility of one deranged person hearing the president's message and then act. The one deranged person is the one delivering it.
3
The more opinion writers focus on this Trump verbal act out and not his administrations deeply and seriously harmful actions. the more they give him the win. Also there is a type of sexism in play of the focus on the rhetoric of these four Democratic Socialist women, young and exotic of sorts, while ignoring the substantial works of the many other Congresswomen of a variety of ages, ethnicity, styles and sizes.
6
I know, of course, that Trump has never read the Constituin and that if he did, he would lack the ability to understand it, but the First Amendment reads:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The framers specifically protected the right of the people to "peaceably assembly and petition the government for a redress of grievances" which by definition does NOT mean, if you don't like it, leave.
That this is almost normal now is the most depressing part of all of this. I don't know how, or if, we can ever recover.
10
On the bright side: Trump's first campaign rally is against people who aren't actually running for President. This could mean he's scared of the actual candidates and is trying to slip in these 4 representatives as easier targets for his rabid base. If the media would only stop cooperating and start covering the actual candidates who are running against him. Right now people know more about 4 House freshmen than they do about Biden, Warren, Harris and Buttigieg.
7
There are a lot of companies looking to expand into NC, or have already. The place is booming in certain areas (hint: they are all democratic strongholds). I strongly suggest these companies reevaluate NC as a home. Unbelievable.
4
It’s good that you understand character counts. Start practicing it.
2
@Mathias Any company who wants hard working educated employees with innovative ideas is not looking in the crowd I saw last night. Might be good of you to understand what good character is! That was not exhibited at his maga rally, it does represent the N.C. Republican Party!
The Democratic Party needs to stop reacting to Trump’s rhetoric and concentrate on addressing the issues that middle class and low income Americans care about. Health care, education, the environment, infrastructure. They need to get inside the minds of the people that Hillary failed to touch last time around.
Most Americans see through Trump’s antics of deflect, deflect deflect. Good Americans see through Trump’s racism and bigotry and we do not want our country to become Trump’s world. Remember to vote in 2020. We need to protect America and our way of life.
3
Right. Democrats need to bow their heads, take the beating and focus on moderate solutions that republicans approve of.
@Lyndsey I love the way you refer to "good Americans." Are you really saying "people like me" without really saying it?
Ladies, if you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen ( paraphrase of Truman ). I mean it's a mistake to think that the Bronx, et al, are representative of the entire country.
2
@BD
I think these women have amply demonstrated that they can not only take the heat, they can dish it right back.
1
Why not "Vote Her Out!" "Vote Her Out!"?
Oh, that's right, it would be recognizing her legitimate power as a democratically elected representative of a congressional district.
4
Very scary. Contact your senators and House members urging them to take a strong and unequivocal stand against this attack on our democracy. They should be told that this is not a time for mild disagreements followed by attempts to deflect blame. We should insist that our elected representatives tell the president in no uncertain terms that he should stop.
2
Every day Trump takes steps to solidify his dictatorship. Soon ICE will be coming for Democrats. This civil war is coming. It can be fought now,, while Republicans control courts and Senate, or it can be fought when Trump refuses to leave office. It will be fought as there is no way forward at this point. China and Russia can pick up the pieces.
5
My representative is Ms Omar. She will be back in our district this weekend. I just volunteered to assist in any way possible with her security while she attends community meetings here. I never thought I would need to do something like this but I never thought I would have a president like this either.
Commentators speak of the possibility of one deranged person hearing the president's message and then act. The one deranged person is the one delivering it.
3
It's time for the press, and here in particular the Times, to report in full detail on these rallies, especially since the taxpayer is footing the bill. How many people, truly, attend these events? I would like a headcount.
Maybe some of these attendees could be interviewed. I wonder if they would give their names and answer some questions about why they back DJT and how they are doing in this economy etc.
And finally maybe some questions on why they chant "Send her back." I would be curious to know the state of their minds and if they know any basic civics or immigration laws or the fact that all the women are U.S citizens. Maybe these people would like to stand behind their words when questioned. Or not.
3
But is Trump correct about her immigration fraud? The Daily Mail presents quite a bit of evidence to show that in fact she did engage in a second marriage while still living with her first husband, and that all three subsequently lived together. That does deserve to be investigated.
2
I'm glad his attempt to counter Mueller didn't work, and that all this has come before his testimony. With all kinds of filth coming out all week, there's been little mention that he will get the longer testimony next week that is needed. The other day Trump did say "Bob Mueller is no friend of mine."
It's impossible Mueller isn't seeing all this, and the extra week may make the difference, although he's so determined to be pure himself, we just won't know. I just hope the questioning is skilled to the point of virtuosic.
Al Green's anticipation was fortunately killed, although as the article says it can be reopened in the future. I'm sure Nancy will go along with it when the math makes sense, but thus far it's at least allowing Mueller to clear things up (if he will.) I don't know how much it will change American minds, but television is definitely more effective than a gigantic report that most aren't going to read.
There are numerous politicians who want instant gratification, which won't work. Trump has to have it, and the Squad also has to have it, and who knows what trouble they still might make even after the resolution Tuesday. Before Trump's racist remarks, Omar was talking about 'power grabs' in the House. The worst thing is that Trump actually is not completely wrong about her.
There seems to be an unholy (and only half-conscious on the part of the Squad) alliance between Trump and the Squad, although Pelosi is holding up amazingly.
1
This man managed to evade military service FIVE times and actually said he got out of paying taxes because he’s “smart”. He’s using our country for his own benefit but he certainly doesn’t love it!
24
The four recently elected radical, self-promoting, Congresswomen, absent training and experience, advocate partisan, poorly thought out, quasi-Communist, collectivist changes in the economy and polity, wholesale legislative changes on a racial and sexual basis, antisemitic bigotry, and misguided overall foreign policy, put forward, by one of them, in the inappropriate language of sexual vituperation.
Their elections to office, which exemplifies the current and welcome increasing American openness to Congressional sexual and racial diversity, entitled them to speak in Congress, indeed under the Constitutional system by which they were elected. They have, together, however, just four votes in that body. They are not at all entitled by these votes, or by a claimed group identity, to deference. Their behavior will not increase their support.
They may find that while they may not be pressed electively to leave their country for one governed better in their regard, as in the Presidential hyperbole, they may be removed from their current positions, because of their behavior, in the forthcoming election, and specifically by those who were deceived into electing them.
6
So you think what happened in NC was ok?
1
The squad answers to Bone Spurs attacks shouldn’t be personal. That is the bait. Instead they should start publishing lists of all the things he has done to destroy the environment, health care, democracy, voting rights, human rights and the economy, yes the economy. We have the biggest deficit, biggest national debt and zero revenue , all these, reflection of all his bankruptcies. Don’t forget stagnant salaries, college debt, corruption of himself, his family and the administration. Add a discourse of hatred, ignorance,violence, misogyny, racism, and total disregard for the law. Remember his mantra is distract, distract, distract. Show the facts, repeat, repeat, repeat.
11
It seems that Trump, his supporters, and the GOP will only be satisfied when one of these elected officials is killed, or when the hate crimes against "the foreigners and the others" bloom.
11
Thomas Friedman gave the best advice to countering Trump's behavior. Stop fretting over how bad he is. Your tears make Trump and his hardcore supporters stronger.
Instead, every time he does or says something particularly outrageous at one of his rallies, set up a voter registration drive in that area targeting likely Democratic voters. Then work you tail off to get out the vote.
Most voters of color detest Trump and would like nothing more than to metaphorically punch his lights out as well as those of his sniveling enablers. We must push the need for overwhelming minority voting in 2020.
Yes, the Democratic candidates should use kitchen table issues to appeal to white moderates. But energizing black, brown and religious minority voters is the key to victory.
We need the Obama coalition on steroids.
7
It's getting to the point were I have no words to describe how sad this makes me... who are these trump supporters? Do they understand how wrong in so many ways they are? Are they in church on Sundays? I'm overwhelmed with this action.
9
Now is the time for the Democrat candidates to get their act together and by that I mean come together, united in common purpose, to defeat this menace.
No more wimpy raising of hands to support the currently unsupporatable leftist ideologies that have later to be back peddled.
No more cheap shots at each other to fleetingly bump poll numbers.
Every single one of them needs to put shoulder to wheel of the task at hand and contribute what they can and to support whoever rises to the top.
Trump is a master at taking advantage of every misstep his opponents make. The rancor between Pelosi and the squad gave the opening and the slogan he needed to win exactly the way he won before. He will use it and drive his crowd wild. Don't give in to the frenzy.
The Dems are going lose if they fight fire with fire now. Cooler heads must prevail. Trump will win all shouting matches. Present the now thoroughly frightened American middle with a calm and rational platform.
Win the election and then govern the way the people want to be governed.
Good luck. Your neighbors to the north are rooting for you.
4
The women he attacks are elected representatives , so it seems to me that in name calling he is in fact name calling all the constituents these women represent. His attacks are not personal, they are attacks on the people who elected these women to represent them. Why is it that none of the media have called him on this!
5
Ah yes, trump once again shows that he is a disgusting human being who happens to be our president. His vile behavior is reinforced by his followers. Voters have always been this way; the electoral process was dependent on electing officials who, to the greater degree, were responsible. Trump, and his Fox Noise, have violated that principle.
Trump's comments are explicitly intended to rouse the rabble, as in:
“'There’s a lot of talk about the fact that she was married to her brother,' the president said,"
trump and his followers share a tabloid mind.
As for North Carolina, its recent history has shown a push for education. Governors like Jim Hunt stimulated secondary schooling in the state. U.S. News ranks it 29th in 2019. It means that there is a probability that its voters will do the right thing in 2020, but that trump can still draw an NC crowd to listen to his foul, mendacious commentary.
Democracies depend on having educated electorates. In trump and his followers, we could be witnessing the downfall of our democracy
4
As a non-American, I look with despair at the USA. Trump himself is bad enough but the fact that he may even have a remote chance of being re-elected is astonishing. How did it get to this? Here we have someone that won't last till lunchtime in my country ruling the strongest nation on earth. This is a terrible indictment of the American people. Does Trump truly reflect in his crippled personsa the predominant character of the nation?
7
Trump is now firmly allied with George Wallace, Orval Faubus, James Eastland, Strom Thurmond and other heroes of white supremacy.
There is a right side of history and a wrong side. There is no middle.
3
Trump’s racists attacks are criminal. How can there be no legal recourse against hatred of such magnitude, by none other than the President of the US? It’s as if he’s shouting fire in a crowded theater. How long before someone gets hurt; and more importantly, what happens then?
Those who call him a “master manipulator” are acquiescing to Trump’s hatred and become complicit by dismissing it so effortlessly.
5
@Ted - Exactly. What Trump is doing is essentially yelling FIRE in a theater the size of the USA,with the megaphone of the Presidency. He is essentially instigating a civil war. I'm sorry, but I'm not being hyperbolic.
4
"Assistant District Attorney Will Hurst said the two Garmin co-workers were sitting in the bar's patio when Purinton confronted them. He asked them where they were from and how they got into the country." from Kansas City Star
The fraud in chief is inciting violence. It's the fringe crazies like in Olathe in 2017 above, one who murdered one and shot two others, mistaking two Indians for Muslims, and the list goes on to others who got fired up by this hate and took action. Real danger here to anyone in their midst. I blame trump.
Another issue:
There's a telling picture online of trump, Melania, Epstein, and Maxwell in a chummy pose from 2000. Whose agency brought the genius Melania here? The model who falsified her (vanished) webpage with a fake degree. Was this part of her entry decision? She wasn't a superstar on the runway we desperately needed here. I hear she overstayed until trump pulled strings. Model procurement was one of Epstein/Maxwell's gigs. I hate even considering all this, but the fraud's rhetoric pushes the issue. Liars all. Investigative reporters have at it, please.
Oh, and $139,000. Crime-ridden indeed.
So exhausted.
3
How soon until:
A) trump supporters at rallies start chanting "blood and soil"?
B) trump starts deporting citizens who complain about American policies?
4
It is difficult to comprehend how the democratic response to the Presidents "send her back" attacks could have been worse. It is almost like the democrats want the President re-elected by allowing him to continue to play the victim---treated worse than any president ever statement. Instead of responding to the issue democrats chase the shiny object.
White –yes white---democratic house members should all create a video---who they are---where they were born--how long their family has been in US---what district---the Trump policies they disagree with domestic and foreign----then ask the question "are u going to send me back"---"are u going to send us all back"---"does the farmer who disagrees with your China tariff policy get sent back?"---"or republicans who voiced opposition to your tweets get sent back?" –should Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan and the tea party republicans have been sent back by President Obama?---they disagreed with the President."
Do laws govern in America or is the decision in Trump world left to the president and the faithful at his rally. Is America now ancient Rome with a dictator seeking approval from the mob in determining life or death for the gladiator in Trump world?
Do American's want to live in a country where dissent is no longer tolerated?
2
This is ugly, and reminiscent of historical battles that our nation fought against and rejected in the past.
Ok independent voters. It's up to you.
Is this the leadership that you want for the country?
3
Look at those faces behind him. Hillary was right: They are deplorable.
12
I’ve been thinking of places to retire in the next few years, and North Carolina is now officially off the list. It never occurred to me before, but I’m now starting to think that I may have to consider alternatives outside of this country...
18
@John - if that's how you are thinking, the country won't miss you.
1
@DRS
You don't speak for me. I'll miss him - the brain drain is going to begin, and I for one do not relish the idea of living in an Idiocracy, and I can't afford to move.
1
Here is a poem for peace in regard to our President:
Grant me the serenity to accept the thing I cannot change,
the courage to change the things I can
And, the wisdom to know the difference.
Vote out our President in 2020 if he is unappetizing to you, otherwise, he is something you cannot change. Accept it.
3
These rallies are deeply troubling and feel like the President of the US is tossing gas on simmering nationalism and racism. With little to no rebuke from his party, I wonder how long we can go before a tipping point like actual violence against his targets in particular and in general. I like to think that he can win another election but these rallies make me sick to my stomach with concern.
129
@Hootin Annie
In reality.. this is a cult following.. and Trump loves being the center of attention.
I actually do not think it matters that much to him if he wins or loses in 2020.. as long as he has a solid cult following that he can continue to milk for attention, and money.
The only downside here is that when he is no longer president.. he will still be manipulating and hijacking press cycles... similar to how Sarah Palin did for several years after helping John McCain lose his run for president. But... as we can see.. all such cravings for attention eventually fade... as it has with Palin. This is where the shorter attention span of Americans can actually benefit in the long run where Trump is concerned.
12
@Chuck He wants desperately to win in 2020. It may be his only way to avoid, or at least postpone, being behind bars.
21
@Hootin Annie
We’ve already reached a tipping point, with right wing violence against Americans in temples, churches, stores, public streets and everywhere else. Trump followers are killing their fellow Americans with validation from the president.
11
Among Trump's complaints against the Congresswomen, "They keep telling us how to do things!"
Yeah, they are elected members of Congress, that is their job description. You are not a monarch.
18
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing man that he didn't exist. Donal Trump continues to unfurl his great trick before the eyes of an angst filled nation. It goes like this: "The battle for the soul of this great nation lies in the color of our skin. It lies in the altars of our worship. It doesn't lie in our common beliefs, hopes and dreams. The 'other' is the reason for your ills, and only I can save you."
It is the most un-American, un-patriotic thing I have ever heard. I am scared and ashamed of these events and those that will so predictably follow.
7
Do we have to continue to pretend Trump supporters aren't racists now? Do we have enough video evidence to admit that the whole "economic anxiety" thing wasn't their real motive?
11
It certainly looks like the Republican (trump) game plan is being trotted out very early. In our southwest Ohio district we recently had a woman, Nikki Foster, announce that she is going to run against our long time trump-apologist republican congressman. His first response was to describe her as a 'failed socialist'. However, the problem is that she is a former Iraqi veteran Air Force fighter pilot war hero. The backlash here was immediate and angry and the republicans quickly dropped that strategy. Looks like they decided that it will work if you are a woman of color. The race card will never go away with them. I am not wringing my hands though as long as 'the Squad' learns from this and learns how to respond. They need to realize that Nancy Pelosi can get under trump's skin and she has shown that she can jerk the jerk around. We have a long way to go.
11
I lived through the “love it or leave it” era as a long haired boy. Those days the “patriots” supported another criminal president, Nixon. Somehow people like me who protested the Vietnam war were “communists” and less than American. History has shown who was right and who were the criminals.
This country learns nothing.
20
@Paulie - sorry, but I don't look back at long haired hippies as having been right or commendable.
1
Not deplorable? These people are reveling in their racism, celebrating their bigotry, cheering their shared intolerance. President Bunker has made open hatred an American value, and these folks mind not one whit.
9
This man is chipping away at my personal soul and the soul of the US.
Being sickened by Trump is not enough. Please donate to the challengers of his enablers.
8
When Trump says they hate our country what he means by "our county" is a white Christian country that stills glorifies the confederacy. There are two Americas. Trump is leading the fight against multicultural America which he sees the squad representing. The squad ran for office to take on the establishment Democrats, not the Republicans. But if there is anything positive that can come out of Trump's unhinged racist rants against the squad and in effect against multiculturalism, it is for the squad and their follower to understand that the Republicans are far worse than the establishment Democrats and there is need for all those opposed to racism to unite against Trump and his racist supporters.
4
Yes, he's a racist. Let's ignore Trump for a while and focus--as he never does--on the issues, on what Americans not beguiled by race-baiting really want: education, health-care, a justice system, economic opportunity, and a viable plan to stop global environmental catastrophe.
3
When Trump says they hate our country what he means by "our county" is a white Christian country that stills glorifies the confederacy. There are two Americas. Trump is leading the fight against multicultural America which he sees the squad representing. The squad ran for office to take on the establishment Democrats, not the Republicans. But if there is anything positive that can come out of Trump's unhinged racist rants against the squad and in effect against multiculturalism, it is for the squad and their follower to understand that the Republicans are far worse than the establishment Democrats and there is need for all those opposed to racism to unite against Trump and his racist supporters.
1
This is unpresidential and highly dangerous language.
4
I watched the whole rally - there were not "Roars" of "send her back." At one point a group absolutely chanted that and Trump absolutely basked in it ... but your sub-headline is absolutely misleading. Trump is bad enough on his own - you do not need to exaggerate; when you do it just turns open-minded moderates against you.
1
Don't let the sacrifice on the beach of Normandy go in vain. "Vote him out"
2
Joy, oh joy, as Trump destroys the Republican chances for 2020.
1
The Walter Cronkite Republican recalls the words of President Abraham Lincoln: "you can fool some of the people all of the time".
2
It's interesting that during the 2016 campaign of "American carnage", that the constant criticizing of Obama, Democrats, and anyone not on board his train was OK to do. But God forbid you criticize Trump or his policies! That's anti-American!
About the only "good" I see from Trump's recent pronouncements is that I'm seeing folks that I've suspected, but not until recently confirmed, come out of the racist closets for who they are.
Sadly, it included some relatives. But now I know, and now I can more effectively defend my [Hispanic] children (who they love) against their ideals.
3
Dear trump voters:
Is this the “More Presidential” that you were talking about before the transition?
5
This is what we knew all along. MAGA means make America white again. Trump sounds like George Wallace and appeals to the same racist, xenophobic, anti-semitic sentiments. This Pandora's box of hate was opened with his ride down the escalator but had history in NY before that. Trump is a stew of hate and venom, ignorance and stupidity, but also a master con. There is always a new outrage to divert attention from the last one, usually a lapse in judgment or ethics. He stubbornly refuses to adhere to norms and the rule of law, ignoring subpoenas and enriching himself while in office. There is no bottom to his amorality, and he has normalized language and behaviour that is anathema in civil discourse.
As we watch the crowds chanting at his rallies, buoying him with their attention and enthusiasm, in his thrall and having their worst impulses encouraged and permitted, we wonder what is really at the heart of Americans. The damage that Trump is doing will take decades to repair both within the US and with its allies and the world at large. If he is reelected this hate will be as well rooted as it was in the 1950s. Perhaps it was there all along, just waiting to reappear with the permission of a demagogue. He is here. American exceptionalism indeed. It is shameful and disgusting but the Dems cannot engage on this. They will have to be disciplined and fight on healthcare and issues important to voters. Engaging is falling for Trump's play.
5
Wow. It sounds like nostalgia for era when minorities were told to go to back of the bus.
Disgusting that so many Republicans staying silent.
Senator Rob Portman: I expect you to speak out against this!
5
How inspiring for the rest of the world, a hate rally.
This morning I am ashamed for my country.
9
Trump’s actions violate the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) rights on workplace anti discrimination laws. In fact, there is an exact example of harassment due to accents, places of origin, nationality, etc. that gives the same rhetoric “Go back to where you came from” as being illegal. Plus he places the Congresswoman’s life in danger.
It’s a hostile work environment when you get death threats daily and Trump’s antagonistic rhetoric using his megaphone of twitter inflames that danger.
Harassment Based on National Origin
Ethnic slurs and other verbal or physical conduct because of nationality are illegal if they are severe or pervasive and create an intimidating, hostile or offensive working environment, interfere with work performance, or negatively affect job opportunities. Examples of potentially unlawful conduct include insults, taunting, or ethnic epithets, such as making fun of a person's foreign accent or comments like, "Go back to where you came from, " whether made by supervisors or by co-workers.
https://www.eeoc.gov/eeoc/publications/immigrants-facts.cfm
8
Mr. Trump's words and behavior sadden and disgust me. His tirade last night is / was unacceptable. I am done. He needs to be removed from office. I will work tirelessly to insure that he is NOT reelected.
6
Every time I think he and his base can't horrify me any more than they have, he sinks lower. I hope he is willing to lend out some members of his Secret Service, because those four women now need several body guards 24/7. We are dealing with a mad man and his violent, ignorant base which he has just riled up into a frenzy.
2
A common thing you'll hear from some people is them arguing that immigrants and refugees shouldn't be coming here, they should be trying to 'fix' the countries they're from.
And then out of the other side of their mouth they'll tell anyone who's trying to fix problems here in this country that should sit down and shut up or leave.
Frankly, to any Republicans out there who are still spouting out that "He's your President too!" line, he's not. He has now repeatedly parroted what the worst people among you have always said, that a huge chunk of the country isn't welcome, and should go. He is not my president. He is actively, proudly, viciously, only yours.
5
Trump is a demagogue who would readily engage in ethnic cleansing if he had the chance, with all the horror and destruction it would bring. It all begins with the leader who voices anti-minority hatred and goes from there to incite the mobs and use the state apparatus to kill. We have been here before many times. Jewish and Christian leaders know this well. I am sad that they are so silent now
8
I am not sure what is more frightening/disturbing: 1) Trump inciting an audience into becoming a rabid mob resembling the white supremacist/Nazi rallies or 2) that the GOP leadership continues to allow Trumpism to rampage unencumbered by any moral restraint.
Favreau is correct: it is chilling and horrifying.
8
Trump's racist diatribe and blatant lies against minorities and those who oppose him is well documented. What is despicable is the fact that his supporters and the GOP leadership turn their blind eyes and deaf ears to his blatant lies and hateful speeches. Therefore, they are as guilty as Trump in promoting hate and fear mongering against minorities, women, and those who oppose Trump.
7
The MAGA crowd are one of the main reasons America is not "great."
32
@Gustav Aschenbach - says someone from a perennially dysfunctional and near bankrupt country with a demagogue leading it.
1
@DRS You react in true MAGA spirit. I'm from L.A., look up the moniker, it's a literary allusion.
1
Those Congressional reps were elected by solid majorities in their districts. Trump can’t say the same, he’s a fraud and a pretender.
27
About the accusations that Trump is a racist because he said that the " Squad " should leave the USA, and that his listeners are racists because they chanted " Send her back " ( referring to Representative Omar). I watched MSNBC just now, and the commentators are beside themselves over how racists Trump and the Trumpists are. Just one consideration : Trump was talking about four specific people , not the race or religion they belong to ( are you a racist if you say that a thief should be in jail, if the thief is of a race different of your own? ) And if you still think his comment is racist, what would you call someone who said that all Muslim ( or black, or whatever) should go back home? This argument has nothing to do with the content of his statement ( personally, Ithink it i distasteful).
4
Racism is always about specific people, people who, in view of racists, forgot their place. In this case, women of color clearly forgot their place. How dare they criticize policies, how dare they criticize white man! Trump criticized America right and left, but he didn't think he should move to another country, but God forbid, women of color start to do so, they should be send somewhere even although they were born in this countries, and have exactly same rights as Trump. That is what is eating him.
6
You think Trump’s never said anything specifically against Muslims or Mexicans or black people?
Good grief.
8
Really? Would you say that to a white person? And why wouldn’t you? Because you somehow think they are automatically citizens. That is fundamentally racism. Your definition isn’t substantiated & your rationale is flawed overly biased on your white opinion.
Because of the color of their skin, he says “go back” to their home. It’s a white nationalistic mentality & phrase.
Get it?
It illustrates Donald’s ineptitude of our government still. All Reps need to be citizens & they were elected overwhelmingly to office.
1
Trump never understood that respect has to be deserved.
8
By attacking the president personally the “Squad,” especially egocentic and temperamental AOC have only egged Trump on.
Insignificant as the four are they are little more than flies in the hot oil of Trump’s Rage but they have instead severely damaged the chances of Democratic victory in 2020, by ramping up Trump’s fascist base.
They should have listened to Pelosi instead of throwing themselves into Trump’s fire for now he will use them over and over to insure his re-election.
6
@Grandma The Democrats need to get their people to the polls. Trumps base is only in the 30% range and the reason he won is because half of American stayed home in 2016.
Sorry but by not calling him out, people allow him to keep making these idiotic statements that in many other countries would have him censured by Parliament or in deep water.
3
@Grandma
Wow! You’re blaming four progressive congresswomen who want to see the country’s live up to its creed for Trump’s tirades and racism?!
You have it exactly backwards. Plus, they never vilified him in this way; they decried his *policies*, which are horrific and un-American.
If any Democrat should be taken to task, it’s Pelodi for disparaging then for months and not realizing how crucial progressives are to removing Trump.
But even that ire would be misplaced.
The problem is Trump. His racism, his authoritarianism, his hate, his undermining of democracy, and his un-American intolerable attitude, policies, actions, and diatribes.
Those who still support him and shout out slurs at his rallies are racists and deplorables. They should be ashamed to call themselves Christian and Americans. Jesus would be weeping were he here.
The conduct of the POTUS and the mob screaming "send her back" at the campaign rally is damaging to the image and reputation of the US and the Republican party. It is true that the naturalized congresswoman from Somalia has publically made statements against Jews and Israel that promote hate no less than the "tweets" of the POTUS.
3
@BJM I'm still not convinced being "anti Israel" is being un-American.
2
It isn’t. It’s free speech. FYI: Trump criticizes many American allies.
@Chigirl
I agree - being American does not mean automatically supporting Israel.
Personally, I'm tired of catering to people who still believe in "religious"superstitions of Judaism - and also Christianity and Islam too.
1
I'm from Germany, we know this chant, we know where this road leads to ...
38
The Two-Minute Hate of Orwell's 1984 comes to life in the United States.
15
I think Trump will win 2020.
Thomas Friedman had it right yesterday.
8
@Jozel If you don't want him to win, organize, get people registered to vote and drive them to the polls. There are more of us then the Trump cult BUT they have to vote.
I think for the first time I'm beginning to understand what regular Germans experienced in the early 1930's with the beginnings of the Nazis and the takeover of their government by right-wing extremist. From what I've read, they initially didn't take them seriously, they were so outrageous. But by the time they realized the danger it was too late. What's really worrisome is just like then you have a very weak and incompetent opposition (the Democrats in this case) who have tried appeasement (working across the aisle/compromise) while getting steamrolled by a very ardent and focused party. Of course, the other similarity being that while one gained strength by exploiting the economic dissatisfaction and the betrayal by the establishment for causing the Great Depression, we again have a very similar phenomenon in this case where the economic betrayal by the establishment gave us the Great Recession and where 99% of the recovery went to the 1% under a neoliberal president and a corrupt political class.
Weak Democratic leadership starting with Obama and continuing with Pelosi and Schumer has created a vacuum to allow Trump to exploit deep seated distrust of our institutions and like in 1930's Germany, tap into a racist, xenophobic malignancy that has always exist just beneath our surface but kept in check by a strong and broad middle class. A middle class that has now been hollowed out by neoliberal and supply-side economic policies, pushed by both political parties.
13
So... this is Obama’s fault? Republicans need to start to taking responsibility for their own behavior.
1
@FXQ Obama wasn't perfect but he had a tightrope to walk, much like Jackie Robinson in baseball. He had to be better, smarter and calmer than most so not to be labeled "The Angry Black Man". While he could have done more, he laid the foundation for the "great economy" that Trump seems determined to blow up.
2
@Martini
Look, I voted for the guy, twice, waiting for the hope and change he so eloquently always talked about but never had the interest in fighting for; Constantly let down by his milquetoast leadership and neoliberal policies. So yes, I do hold him responsible, in large measure, for allowing Trump and the Republicans to follow him.
Disgusting. It should never happen again.
7
It's always a woman when he comes up with his little 3 word ditties. His face in this picture says it all. No vocabulary.
13
*sigh*
Oh, Dad.
- Ivanka, Empowering Women Everywhere
15
Mitt Romney, you have everything to lose by your silence, and everything to gain by speaking out.
12
I think the NYT and other media are going to have to be more circumspect with the wording of their headlines. Otherwise, they serve as a repetitive bullhorn for administration propaganda.
Somebody’s going to get hurt. Next they’ll bust Terry Nichols out of prison and put him in charge of their ‘citizen army.’
7
I wonder if people of color will be able to get past the people of the basket to vote in 2020....?
2
They are chanting "Send HER back," not "Send THEM back." Just like they chanted "Lock HER up." So why is everyone only focusing on "racism" and America's history of white supremacy and not ALSO talking about misogyny and America's history of male supremacy? We blame the half of white women who voted for Trump, while we consistently deny or ignore the history of all the reasons all women of all colors should vote against him. Why would those women see danger in Trump if we don't talk about our history of male supremacy by all men towards women of their OWN race? Blacks vote together because they understand their history of oppression. Because we talk about it. Over and over. As we should. Most people don't even use the term "male supremacist." Yet until this year, it was legal to rape your wife in Minnesota. Wanna flip the electorate? Start talking about America's history of male supremacy. Start shifting female voters.
7
I'm becoming increasingly concerned for the safety of the four Representatives, especially Omar and AOC. If some conspiracy-addled wingnut is willing to storm a pizza parlor because a right-winger has convinced him Hillary is running a child sex slave ring out of the basement, I shudder to think what a brainless Trump supporter might do, given the past explicit reassurance that Trump would pay the legal fees of anyone beating up protestors at his rallies.
10
Today, I am embarrassed to say I call North Carolina home.
14
@Geo Joe Only good thing is that many Mid-Atlantic people from DC and PA are moving down there for work and cost of living. I have no doubts that NC will become a purple state like Virginia in another decade.
1
We know not everyone in NC is like those people. Thanks for your comment.
Fascism is at the door.
The ennemy is not foreign, 'he is within'.
The GOP appears ready to drink the poison to the last drop.
Democracy may already be hanging by a thread.
Please stop this nightmare!
13
New low....how low can they go?
5
As others have said, we know where this is going.
2
Well it seems that Trump's opponent for the 2020 election has been chosen and it's the "Squad". He is going to be running hard against them from now until next November. And I'm sure he's very happy about that.
Unfortunately it means that whoever is the actual Democratic candidate will also be running against the "Squad". I don't think they will be quite as happy about it.
Congratulations are in order. These four women came to Washington demanding power and the right to be heard and they have succeed. So much so that their four (4 as in I can count them on one hand) votes may very well be the only ones cast that will affect the outcome of the next election.
I just don't understand why they are working so hard to hand Trump another four years. It's baffling to me.
4
@BC
Blame the women!
Blame the women of color!
Blame the progressive women!
Tell them to shut up! (Or, go back where they came from!)
How dare they voice their concerns about xenophobic, misogynistic policies and statements?!
Make them sit in the back of the bus and be quiet.
Take away their right to vote, too!
Oh my gosh! They’re willing to speak out against separating children and parents! They’re willing to decry the out of control, violent Border Patrol and ICE. They’re proposing a framework for addressing the climate crisis and rampant economic inequality. Even worse, they’re calling for impeachment of an out of control president who is undermining democracy, presiding over the worst corruption in history, and defying the Constitution.
HOW DARE THEY!
It’s all their fault if Trump gets re-elected. We should all just shut up, ignore his malfeasance and criminality, let mistreatment of immigrants run wild, and tolerate Trump’s corruption. Because if we try to stop him, if we speak out against him, he might win again!
What kind of bizarre thinking is that?! I’m no fan of Biden, but his favorite saying, “That’s a bunch of malarkey” applies here in spades.
1
@Marsha Pembroke
Marsha it is exactly that kind of hysteria that will lose us this election. I said none of that so take a breath.
Being young, progressive women of color does not elevate them above criticism. On many issues I agree with them but their political naivete and yes, their egos, are playing right into the Republican's hands.
The brash, go it alone schtick is fine for Providence but it doesn't play in Peoria and that is exactly where this election will be won or lost.
Malarkey indeed.
1
The yield curve has inverted. Historically that means a recession looms. If the economy tanks so will Trump.
8
To all the Trump supporters claiming it's not racist to tell a person of color to 'go back where they came from,' if you're an employed professional I dare you to go tell your nearest colleague of color to "go back where you came from." Do it. Right now. If it's not racist, there shouldn't be any problem.
25
If my nearest colleague had emigrated from a chaotic and violent country like Somalia and was lecturing me about civil rights in the US, yes, I just might get defensive and suggest they direct their scorn at their country of origin. Right or wrong, it would have nothing to do with race.
@Aaron
That might not be wise, but racist? Depends on context. If the nearest colleague were constantly disparaging the US, it might be entirely appropriate.
1
We know that the POTUS hates unflattering interviews. But I want him grilled -- certainly not by FOX News, but by some media outlet willing to hold his feet to the fire on his policies. I want to see him try and coherently explain any of his policies. I want him to try and justify why what he says is not racism; why it is not devisive; and why he feels he is not placing these Congresswomen's lives in danger. I want him to explain why his vicious language should not be held to account to workplace law against defamation, slander, and racist statements.
I want him exposed as the gutless individual that he is, much as McCarthy was eventually exposed, and crumbled.
What is going on under his watch is inexcusable. It is un-American. For a crowd that was comprised mainly of immigrant children (how many Native Americans were there, ha?) to chant 'send her back' chills me to the bone: it could apply to anyone fingered by mob rule. This is beyond blissful ignorance; this is hate in action.
This is not leadership. While these rallies have been compared to Nazi rallies before, the line has most certainly been crossed. I do not want my tax dollars to go to these events.
12
@Six Minutes Remaining He will never go on an unfriendly network or journalist(Chuck Todd doesn't count) because he can't explain or remember anything. If you read the transcripts to interviews, he comes across as highly ADD, bouncing from one topic to another, not going into detail on any policy and generally sounding like the town drunk giving a speech.
His ticks, mis-pronouncing words and brain freeze all point to dementia. It's going to be worse in 2 years.
1
God loves a sinner, so if Congresswomen Omar were to say I'm sorry for many of the things I have said, the words escaped me and I did not come to the US to "semer la cizanie,to"spread discord," but to contribute to the commonweal of the country which accorded me succor, saved my life, and as Ella Fitzgerald sang in that hit tune of hers, "What can I say after I say I'm sorry. "I truly am regretful, and if PM Netanyahu were to permit it, I would love to visit Israel,get to know its people who made the desert bloom, and appreciate the contribution which they have made to the world."I was very stupid to have said made those accusations which r attributed to me, and I ask for your understanding:"Comprendre c'est tout pardonner!"This is the only way I see for the Congresswoman to regain her credibility as a good, patriotic, assimilated American!"She's really in it now, isn't she , and only with a complete turn around will she save her reputation and career. As my attorney, John Dalton was wont to say, "You can't beat City Hall!
@Alexander Harrison
As a Canadian, I would never accuse another Canadian of being unpatriotic or unassimilated because they happen to hold views about Israel -- or anything else, for that matter -- contrary to mine. That is so basic a tenet of a healthy, functioning democracy as to be not worth mentioning.
What does it of this issue, and of America, that I had to mention it?
2
Trump has just given every white supremacist and their movements full support in attacking the rights of the "others". Racism and bigotry are now OK. The President of the USA says so. Let's not only keep "them" out, let's get rid of the "ones" here that "hate" our country.
Fascism anyone?
12
When Republican show you just how racist they are, believe them.
25
I don't agree with a lot of Rep. Omar says, but did anybody note the sad, ridiculous contradiction of Trump denouncing Rep. Omar as an anti-Semite to an audience of predominately white "Jews will not replace us" nationalists?
Sorry, without apology, I say that the deplorables are not only deplorable, they are plain stupid and salivate on cue no matter the illogic. Oh, I am not supposed to say they are "stupid." That is elitist. But I am beyond trying to "understand" their "fears" that they are being "replaced" when they cannot be bothered for one minute to get out from under the Confederate flag they wrap themselves in to see the fear and discomfort their hatred creates in others. Oh boo-fricking-hoo for them.
If my dislike of their nativism is elitist then I proudly am an elitist. But what racists call elitist is really humanist and I am even more than proud to be that. Time to take back the word elitist and make it equate it with fact, science, education, excellence, equality. morality and humanity. Rather an elitist than a no-nothing. I'm so in.
No use in trying to change minds in the next year. This hate runs too deep. Dems need to register more voters and spend extraordinary dollars getting out the vote.
23
To characterize Trump's pronouncements as racist and divisive only further incites his base, who are quite content to be on the "white side" of the division they promote.
No, Trump and his ilk are "un-American."
"America" means all of us, in our messy diversity whether racial, economic or religious. To be "American" is to be counted among the "e pluribus" that together comprise the "unum." By identifying solely with the decreasing fraction of white citizens in our country, Trump and his base have separated themselves, and become "un-American."
9
When I was a young person the Democratic party in the North was the party that fought for the average person. It was in favor of a living wage, a safe working place, voting rights. The Republican party was in favor of management. The Democratic party in the South was the party of racism. Now the Republican party has taken over racism. Trump is very popular with working people. It is astonishing how strongly racist many working people are. The Secretary of labor is against unions, a minimum wage, and abolishing safety laws governing the work place.
5
From last week to this week -- he tweets, the Dems get triggered and those perceived in the tweet attack hold a press forum, then they hold a House vote to call him a racist (we knew this before he was elected), then they tweet that he's a distraction and that we should focus on legislative priorities (this should always be the focus, not his tweets), and then he has a rally where he on camera now blatantly calls out one member of Congress in a cannot-deny xenophobic manner. The video of the press rally should have led to the House vote, not his tweets, but he just keeps stepping it up, one past them and now what? Hold another House vote? This has been going on since day 1 of his presidency. Why are we still spiraling with him?
2
People in the comments section here are still not getting it. There is a vast divide in experience and sensitivity to what the word racist means and there are plenty - Plenty - of people of color who agree with Trump. NYT should talk to them to try to bridge this false divide. The fact is, yes Trump is using the squad in political maneuvering, and the same time he is sincere. I graduated college recently and I have worked in tech - education today and liberal industries teach extreme sensitivity toward all matters racial, acceptance of the white privilege idea that states all whites people by default are white supremacists who must repent through guilt etc. this is defacto in today’s liberal and progressive circles but the middle of the country, and an older generation genuinely don’t understand that. Additionally, people in the Times comment section are so sure that everyone else is racist or xenophobic and it’s really not true. If you live in a small town in the middle of the country, as I do, you will see all races at the chirp and farmer’s markets etc and the community so happy to embrace them. In the town I live in in small town Ohio there is a trans woman selling birdhouses every week. Completely welcomed by the community. Conservatives understand identity politics such as Pressley’s recent comment to be the real racism. There is a total impasse on the race conversation in this country right now. Both sides guilty of generalization and exaggeration of the other’s POV
6
If you don’t love your government, change it. I always thought that was the American way—what sparked our democratic experiment at the founding of this country. Nothing could be more anti-American than telling those who dissent to “get out.” Trump and his ilk seem to have forgotten.
7
@Rachel It reminds me of the old GOP adage to the anti-war protestors. America love it or leave it.
1
This whole thing is silly. What the Dems need is a different set of faces on TV; someone who served in the military as an immigrant unlike Don the con "Spur bones" Trump. A Democratic Will Hurd.
Ilhan's statements are not defensible - the Democrats should disavow them and Ilhan too. We can defend her right to be here (like Melania's right to be here). But Democrats should not defend her positions or her statements.
The other three ladies are all born here; like Trump who had an immigrant mother (white in his case though). Even Trump would not dare suggest US born kids of legal immigrants be sent home. He and his four kids would be on that list (at the very top?).
Let's focus on issues of healthcare, wage equity, infrastructure, climate change and other 3AM issues people relate too. Trump is focusing on third tier issues to rile up his base.
The Dems need to forcefully do the opposite.
Demand a budget deal that favors the people not corporations - cut defense by $100 billion; increase domestic budget by $50 billion, put an $1 trillion infrastructure deal on the table. No debt limit raise till these budget demands are met.
Instead Nancy Pelosi is timidly agreeing to Republican demands on things that matter and kow-towing to these four Congresswomen on these silly issues.
It’s far from “silly”!
@Rudran those women you speak of are part of the people driving the policies you so believe need to be discussed. Familiarize yourself with them, not the bluster created by the president, and you will see as much.
1
So it’s always a her that Trump supporters want to send back or lock up.
8
He actually said this, in a speech, at an event .... and people are thrilled. If this doesn't wake up his "oh he just says things" supporters, nothing will. I think nothing will because they are wide awake and loving this. “There’s a lot of talk about the fact that she was married to her brother,” the president said, stating as fact something that is unproved. “I know nothing about it,” he said, adding that “I’m sure that somebody would be looking at that.”
4
It’s the same way he got birtherism started. “People in Hawaii looking into it.”
You have a demagogue in the white house. What's the definition of a demagogue? "a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument".
What will it take for the American people to see this? Who knows. 43% of your country seem to be condoning it.
Western democracy is at risk in some many places, it's just becoming frightening.
7
Trump is charismatic, for better or worse, and that crowd at that rally was mesmerized.
I wonder how many were there just out of curiosity to see this crazy famous person who ended up prez, and how many were actual supporters.
I saw several skeptical blank stares in that crowd. And what I’d call ‘rubber-neckers’ at a train wreck.
3
“We just received an overwhelming vote against impeachment, and that is the end of it,”
And there it is, Speaker Pelosi has this and in all likelihood many more to point to in her effort to stay clear of House impeachment proceedings. A central question now is can House Democrats aching to submit articles of impeachment see an alternative path to winning more House seats in 2020 or follow through on their impulse to impeach DJT? Each submission provides DJT with tag lines in the NY Times and another distraction from the failed chaotic administration that he is singly responsible for.
A stadium full of the panicked white majority whipped into a frenzy of fear by their savior. The people they mistakenly want to send home are the future leaders of this country and they are apoplectic at the suggestion. They are willing to sacrifice just about anything (including their humanity) in an attempt to head off the inevitable. Truly frightening.
4
"Send her back" is Trump's rallying cry for 2020. . . not so different from "Lock her up". It might be much smarter to let him rant without acknowledging his comments and instead, run on a positive platform of what the Democrats will do when elected. If you continually feed off his rants, you are feeding him and his base.
4
Omar is now the #1 GOP villain on the left.
And maybe she deserves it. Her statements about 9/11 were deplorable.
6
I can love my country and still try to improve it! For instance, I think it's a good idea to remove a president who is destroying the US by doing anything he can to stay in power.
8
Omar has already been caught for violating campaign finance rules. But the story about her having two husbands, one of which is her brother, is pretty fascinating. Is this what the voters want?
7
@Jackson Rudy Giuliani married his cousin, Trump has three wives, assaulted one of them, cheated on all three. Is this what the voters want?
@Jackson
Please provide some evidence to back up your statements.
Growing up in liberal NYC area in the 60s and 70s, i thought America was on the road to enlightenment. Civil rights, women's rights, even gay rights were moving forward.
I would never have thought we'd get a president like Trump. He is tearing at the fabric of our democracy. He has been divisive when we need to work together to combat the existential threat of climate change.
Yes he should be impeached. But that might be more of a feel-goid exercise than a solution. We need to vote in 2020 like our lives and our children's lives and our grandchildren's lives depend on it.
5
No president who says that political opponents "hate our country and want to destroy it" is fit for any public office. No party who doesn't immediately condemn this kind of talk is fit to run candidates for public office. It really is that simple, our democracy relies on certain civic duties and assumptions. No government "of the people" can survive for long when the "factions" that the Father of our Country, George Washington, warned us about in his farewell address don't grant each other the assumption of patriotism and love of country. The GOP has for three decades pushed this lie, that Democrats and "liberals" hate the U.S. and want to destroy it. No patriotic U.S. citizen can support such talk. This is a bright line for all parties.
5
President Trump continues to prove he is a brilliant politician. The Dems underestimated him in 2016. Will they underestimate him again in 2020?
2
I trace most of this back to the failure of Reconstruction. The South lost the war, but the ideas that motivated The Cause have lived on and only gained strength. To win the battle of ideas we need to destroy the foundations of the GOP/Neoconfederates that keep this movement alive.
2
Democrats need to pull together because Donald Trump is attempting to keep up the relentless barrage of chaotic Tweets to keep all of you divided with in-party fighting. Members of the House of Representatives need to learn very quickly to stop reacting to every Twitter jab Donald Trump posts ---which is done deliberately to create chaos and throw everyone off message -please - just go about the business at hand - which is to follow Mueller's statement: "If we had had confidence that the president clearly did not commit a crime, we would have said so..."
2
The New York Times is doing exactly what it did leading up to the 2016 election: avoiding condemnation of the intolerable, thereby lending it credence. The outsized coverage of "The Squad", "AOC", and Trump which dwarfs everything else - even the crisis at the border and what is being done about it - is exactly the type of thing that got us here in the first place. Focus on spectacle that marginalizes everything else - it's time to change the paper's approach and focus on what's real, not constructed.
6
This latest quote by Trump fanatics reminds me of the troubled days during the Vietnam War when cars sported bumper stickers that read, "America: Love It or Leave It." Then as now, that thought represents a total lack of understanding of the role that citizens are supposed to exercise in a representative democracy. We all have a duty to question the policies and actions of our government, to keep the Powers that Be aware that the people are watching them and willing to oppose actions that are seen as detrimental to our nation. If the United States is to survive we cannot allow our elected (and unelected) leaders simply tell us what's best for us.
24
Both Conway and Trump think they are the country. They are the ones despised. And for very good reason.
The rage, the bitterness, the displaced fury. We are in deep trouble.
25
"At Rally, President Accuses Liberal Critics of Seeking the Nation’s ‘Destruction’"
That headline should be
"At Rally, President Foments Societal Division, Seeking the Nation’s ‘Destruction’"
It is clear that trump does not intend to govern for all the people, basically because he only cares about himself, and is intent on using a segment of the American people to hold on to power for himself.
It is clear that trump has no respect for the oath of office that he took on January 20, 2017, which requires him to "faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of [his] Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." ("Constitution? What Constitution?")
Whenever he speaks positively about any portion of the government, he uses the term "my", as in:
"My Attorney General ..."
"My judges ..."
"My generals ..."
He does not OWN the US Government. The people own the government.
Democrats would be wise to point that out from time to time, especially in his presence.
It would also be a good idea to ask him, to his face: "Do you want to be a dictator?"
His reaction might be telling, and disqualifying.
26
Trump's behavior regarding these Democratic Congresswomen, particularly Ms. Omar, is dreadful and wrong because it is a president "punching down" at idealistic young people with relatively little power. But who set the stage for all this? For many years, Democrats have accused everyone who disagrees with them as racist or evil. They have accused a Republican president of being a Russian plant and when that is disproved offer nothing in the way of apologies. The bullying and hateful actions of Trump in this instance are the product of hateful and bullying actions by Democrats for a very long time. It is time for mutual introspection by both Democrats and Republicans. Democracy is a fragile flower, we cannot go on like this.
10
“Greed is an imperfection that defiles the mind; hate is an imperfection that defiles the mind; delusion is an imperfection that defiles the mind.”~ Buddha
By this quote from Buddha, trump has got to have one of the most imperfect, defiled minds around.
8
The world is watching. I can’t believe that this is America in the 22nd century.
6
I fear for our democracy.
Meanwhile Trumps MAGA tariffs have destroyed some many heartland American farmers.
The most frightening part is crowds laughing and cheering as if this is part of our American values.
Does the President really get to tell us who to Hate.
What a sad sad day for our country.
18
@zcaley the farmers who voted for him deserve to go bankrupt. they knew exactly what they were getting into. they made a choice, and ignorance was one of them. the only thing i can feel sorry for in their situation is that other americans who didn't choice ignorance and hatred are affected by higher prices.
4
This has been going on for quite a while. It was unpatriotic to oppose the Vietnam war back in the 60's. It has always been the "last refuge of the scoundrel" (Edmund Burke) to ring the patriot bell when policy arguments are lost. When it comes to immigration Trump's supporters actually think that a wall will solve the problems at the border. You cannot convince them with rational arguments that this is the case. Instead, they accuse you of being for "open borders" as well as being not patriotic. It's particularly ironic for those of us who actually served in the military to see this draft dodger wave the flag.
7
Aldous Huxley, 1956, post-WW2 analysis of extreme nationalism, Brave New World Revisited, on demagogues:
"The demagogic propagandist must be consistently dogmatic. All his statements are made without qualification. There are no grays in his picture of the world; everything is either diabolically black or celestially white...He must never admit that he might be wrong or that people with a different point of view might be even partially right. Opponents should not be argued with; they should be attacked, shouted down..."
11
All Trump has is the victim card. He hasn't any accomplishments to run on. Deny, deflect, denounce is the GOPS usual M.O. No surprises there..
8
The Constitution discriminates on the basis of national origin. It needs to be amended so that Ilhan Omar can run for President.
2
The Constitution discriminates on the basis of national origin. It needs to be amended so that Ilhan Omar can run for President.
3
The normalisation of fascist rhetoric by Trump is a deeply disturbing. However, democrats would be making a mistake to fight the election on the terrain defined by Trump. Yes, call out his racism by all means, but focus on the extensive and systemic corruption of the Trump administration, the disastrous consequences of its dismantling of environmental protection measures and capacity and the capture of the republic by a narrow criminal elite. Focus on economic justice and the Green New Deal, minimum wage, Medicare for all, free college tuition and equitable access to education regardless of race, class and gender.
7
Interesting, isn't it, how Trump needs a female to be his enemy and vilify to the crowds? "Lock her up!" "Send her back!"
I think this is a crucial aspect of Trump's rhetoric: it works best when leveled toward a woman - i.e., it's sexist at its core.
And of course at some level sexism is a fear of women - fear of accepting them as full human beings, fear of being judged by them, fear or being inferior to them, male fear of their own vulnerability both sexually and emotionally, which women represent. . .
These are ideas we could discuss as a society.
But unfortunately our society has chosen not to be an intelligent, contemplative, compassionate society. We've chosen to be a materialistic, immature, anti-intellectual society. We worship shallow, wealthy people like Jeffrey Epstein and Donald Trump and Betsy DeVos and Wilbur Ross (these are the types of people we allow to become rich), and we idolize people based on their looks - movie stars and models occupy the highest tier in our society.
Our culture encourages shallow, angry, uneducated discourse - - we actually *monetize* this type of discourse; and Facebook and Fox News and Google/Youtube profit from it.
16
If Trump's supporters could just stop and think, they'd see that the Congresswoman he is attacking are just doing what he did with his campaign of Make America Great Again. They are outlining proiblems they see with laws and/or policies in their country and talking about policies they think will correct those problems. This is exactly what Trump did with his American Carnage line in his inaugural address and what he said over and over during his campaign. The only real difference is the Congresswoman have ideas to fix their perceived problems and all Trump had, or has, is the belief that only he can fix the problem Only he can get the "best people" into government. Clearly he has failed. I mean he can't even keep his administration staffed.
5
Trump has a point, it's America, love it or leave it. We're still a country that's about 73% white and the left/liberals/progressives are really good at making me feel like a stranger in my own country. And I'm a centrist Republican.
While Trump falls short on some American values, I like that he's an unashamed promoter or American business and commerce and interests. I believe you got to vote your pocket book.
As to AOC, she has some ideas about the green economy, but Tom Friedman outlines them more clearly, and in a more accessible way. AOC is just a social-media queen and that yappy high school know-it-all. As for Omar, if the Minneapolis Star article is true, she's in trouble and should at least come clean. Hell, even President Obama (who I voted for twice) released his birth certificate!
9
@Thomas Penn in Seattle “While Trump falls short on some American values,”
You sir, have a talent for understatement that is positively Victorian.
4
@Thomas Penn in Seattle Do you feel the same way about Trump releasing his tax returns?
1
@MBL
At this point, his tax returns won't show much that we don't already suspect. It's certainly the relationships behind the numbers; NY banks haven't loaned money to DT in a generation and the rest is 3rd rate banks and second rate countries doing the financing; but until people storm the White House to see them, all we can do is complain.
If you are an approval addict, your behaviour is as easy to control as that of any other junkie. All a manipulator need do is a simple two-step process: Give you what you crave, and then threaten to take it away. Every drug dealer in the world plays this game.
― Harriet B. Braiker
Look behind Trump. There are clever manipulators pulling his strings. After he and his enablers are removed in 2020 (fingers crossed), it will be like the Labors of Hercules - cleaning the Augean Stables - to disinfect Capitol Hill.
3
Ilhan Omar is an anti-Semite (therefore a racist) and her love for the United States is definitely questionable due to her comments regarding 9/11.
The red line has been drawn: if you hate the United States, as it seems that she does, it is imperative to know who let her into the US and allowed her to become a citizen. If you hate the United States, you should not be allowed in. If you love the United States and follow the legal path, you are more than welcome.
AOC and Pressley are great and a much needed fresh voice in Congress, however the rest of the squad have revealed their true nature for all of America to see. If Democrats want to regain the Presidency, they better start calling them out for what they are, and fast.
5
I believe that this line of thought is a very dangerous one. The Congresswoman came to the US at age 17 and I find it hard to believe that someone who hates our country would want to run for Congress. She may be controversial, she may say things that you or I disagree with but in our republic our obligation is to listen, state our objection to the policy if we wish, form our own informed opinions and vote. She needs to be respected as a Representative of Congress just as the President does as a representative of his or her office. This “game” of name calling and shouting slogans is not a winning strategy for the democrats or for our nation and only plays into the hands of Trump and the extreme right. If we are discussing one Congresswomen then we are not discussing healthcare policy, climate change, inequality, Social Security or any of the real problems we face. We have many things that we can disagree about, but casting each other as villains who hate America is the slippery slope to violence. Extreme opinions are part of the deal in a democratic society, they should be “fought” in the realm of ideas and not in the realm of personalities. We must not dehumanize each other over political viewpoints. That does not end well. Remember 1968 or the Weimar Republic. Democracy can die, the first step is to name internal enemies of the state.
1
We now know that we elected George Wallace.
7
Where is the Republican National Committee. Where is Sen McConnell, Sen Graham, Rudy Guilliani (sp,), presidential advisors, cabinet members. You are all intelligent people. They know history, ours and world history.
Evangelicals. Believers in ‘love one another as I have loved you’.
You know what this man is. No amount of excuses, parsing, delight in contrarian gotchas, judgeships, tax breaks should justify what this man is saying.
You must speak out.
7
This madman Is pushing our Country towards Civil War.
12
He needs an enemy. He needs drama. He needs to feel angry. And, it works best for him if he can drag his cult along with him. LOCK HIM UP!
10
@ChesBay--I forgot to mention the thing he needs the most. ATTENTION. Such low self esteem, and rightly so.
2
We all know Trump is a raging inferno but you don’t fight this fire with another fire.
Trump is the President and has the upper hand. AOC has bit off more than she can chew with her sassy talk and is definitely no match for him. Furthermore she is damaging her own party for he is manipulating her for his nasty purposes by using her hot temper against her.
She should cool it and wait. She should take her cue from Pelosi.
5
What irony- “love it or leave it” was the cry against draft dodgers during the Vietnam war- now a cry by draft-dodgin donald. Why haven’t the dems recognized and used this?
8
The Democratic Party needs to get it together to fight this "I know you are, but what am I" bully with strength, substance and clarity. Stop taking Trump's identity bait and amplifying his hate language for him. We all know that he's a vile, immoral, hypocritical liar, and his hard-core supporters don't care. Target his policy failures, broken promises and income inequality. There's plenty of fodder there.
6
He’s a phony. Playing us. Let him spin.
5
"Send her back!" sounds just like "Lock her up!" doesn't it?
2
And the Republicans in Congress are stunning Profiles of Cowardice.
11
God, I hate to say this, as a left-of-center liberal. But Trump outsmarted Hillary in 2016 and he's outsmarting the Dems now. What he's saying is resonating with a majority of American (white) people, who are an overwhelming majority of likely voters in 2010.
Meanwhile, the Dems are wringing their hands over racist statements, with CNN and MSNBC endlessly regurgitating it. Okay, he's a racist. So now what? What good will it do to get every member of the ACLU to vote for the democrat in 2020? There aren't enough of them!
The Dems better wake up soon or it's "Hello Donald" for a second term!
232
@cep
When someone is peddling hate, and the when buyer is more than willing to receive it and nurture it,
there is no policy or political message that will counteract that odious transaction.
Those Whites who are susceptible to or are embracing Trump's racism are lost to the Democratic party. Their hearts are hardened.
The Democrats need to find the apathetic voter or citizen who is too busy surviving because of society's institutional inequalities and convince them that they can change their conditions by voting for political change.
77
@cep
Trump already won. All this airtime being devoted to talk of reparations, free healthcare for illegal immigrants, eliminate private health insurance, free college and debt forgiveness... These are not policies born of pragmatism. They are desperate appeals to utopian fantasies, and most voters see right through them.
31
@cep
My husband and I are white and therefore privileged. We abhor everything Trump and his minions stand for. Neither of us will vote for any Republican in 2020, and that includes Sen. Cory Gardner, a fool if there ever was one. We've donated small amounts to ACT BLUE, and will do so again after the next two nights of Democratic debates.
But we WILL vote, and that's all that's crucial at this point...
24
An American president preaching hate a nd fear. how low we have fallen.
4
Trump's motto." Unleash the hounds!"
1
He needs a new "lock her up" to rally his base and spread misogyny, and in this case, racism too.
7
The truth has been exposed.
“The enemy, of our enemy, is within ourselves.” Trump red state base! Mr. President, What will be next? Declare martial law and cancel the 2020 election. Wouldn’t put it past you. You are playing with fire and putting our great country, you swore to protect, in grave danger for your own selfish reasons: Protect Donald J. Trump at all costs, including ripping America apart. A normal POTUS would seek re-election on the merits of their record. You have none, so it appears you are inciting violence at your rallies. It honestly looked like a rally of the 1930’s where hate was abound in the crowd.
You broke it, You will own it. You are a disgrace!
6
This "president" needs to be brought down. By any [legal] means.
6
"As his raucous audience booed repeatedly at his mentions of the women, the atmosphere had echoes of a pro-wrestling match at which the crowd thrills in its collective disdain for the villain of the moment."
And the villain of the moment is always a woman. Racism is playing well for the Republicans, but misogyny is the defining characteristic of Trump. And America loves to hate a woman.
To Trump, any woman with power needs to be "locked up," "sent back," "there needs to be punishment," and women's only use, from his serial wives to serial assault victims, is to grab them by their genitals, as Trump has said openly. He shows us who he is every day, it's all out in the open.
I am so proud of my rep for MA district 7, Ayanna Pressley, and I will stand by her in the face of hate.
Who's side are you on?
13
The Squad obviously connects with millennials because of their youth and diversity. IMO, the most productive use of their notoriety is to fan out and hold "voter-registration" rallies for the next year in mid-west states that went for Trump in 2016, such as Pennsylvania, Ohio, Wisconsin and Minnesota. Their message can simply be, "we will whole-heartedly support the Democratic candidate, whoever s/he is, the fate of your future and our country is at stake." These are states that the Democrats can take back, but the left-leaning youth will only have their votes counted if they are registered and actually get out to vote.
Moreover, the Squad showing up with a focused purpose in these battleground states will aggravate and bait Trump into making more and more incendiary/racist comments, which also will make clear the stakes if he is allowed another 4 years.
11
We could start by sending back folks of English/Irish/Scots extraction (my clan).
The we could send back Germans. Swedes, Norwegians and Danes.
Then Chinese and Japanese
Then South Asians
Then Pacific Islanders.
When only Native Americans were left, they could send themselves back to Mongolia.
At which point we could say, with some justification, that we had made America great again.
11
Stoking hatred. Irresponsible on a deathly level. It’s truly frightening that this is our POTUS.
14
Funny when the carnival barker also is our biggest animal in the circus
4
We need to watch when trump comes up with rather new accusations of the other side. In the past we have only seen such things to be a hidden card, intent he's carrying around in his back pocket.
This latest, that liberals are seeking the destruction of the country can in much of what trump does indicate that he's seeking the destruction of the country.
4
I wish the Times had given the number of people in Trump's crowd at the rally. That would have been useful information. The numbers are important.
4
Well, this much is clear: we are at full-on authoritarianism. We’re all clear and on the same page now, right?
10
Walking around Pittsburgh over July 4 weekend (Pirates game, public pools, etc.) I saw a lot of people wearing t shirts with similar "America: love it or leave it" messages (e.g., "Stomp on this flag, I'll stomp on you"). I bet there were many similar shirts at Trump's 4th of July event in DC, and I also bet this is how he came up with his latest rhetorical theme.
2
Here is the reality of this situation: Between 1941 and 1933, America was economically insecure because of the Great Depression and there were people - very wealthy people - who took advantage of a national climate of ignorance, xenophobic insecurity, and skepticism. These people who took advantage were racists. They promoted isolationism, racism, antisemitism, and fed the insecurities. That was their pitch.
They even chanted the slogan "America First!" which was purposely given racist overtones.
During that time, the United States had no coherent immigration policy that could take in refugees. Those fleeing persecution and seeking asylum in our country were met with a deliberately arduous process and strict quotas.
Many escaped and made it to this country. But also, many could not get in. They were sent back to occupied territory in Europe and a lot of them died.
We as a nation fought against such policies during World War II.
Our nation is debased and disgraced by Trump's policies.
(No wonder Putin wanted him elected.)
9
Jbugko - exactly. Now, when a future American President objects to Russian bad behavior in the world, Putin can point to our bad behavior and say we are no better. The America my father fought for was often a beacon to the world and, although we sometimes stumbled, it is what we aspired to. I am afraid this is no longer the case.
Trump is the first president in my lifetime who doesn’t have a single positive virtue....not one....and he’s the face of our nation. His presidency makes the minutes seem like hours.
28
Both dems and reps whine and complain about issues and challenges facing America, but only one of them calls the other anti-American for doing so. We all know which one that is. What has happened to the Republican party? I realize many Democratic proposed policies are bizarre and silly, but to stoop to the level of telling people to go back to where they came from and saying they hate America is a new low.
5
Since I and almost everyone I know and love lives here, and considering I have been here all my life and don't really have anyplace else to go, I would actually really prefer not to see this country's destruction. Trump's on the other hand...well, I will take great pleasure and feel much joy at the Racist-in-Chief's destruction. May it come sooner rather than later.
7
When Sarah Palin put cross-hair illustrations on Congress people on her web site, Gabby Giffords got shot in the head. There were not consequences for Republican strategists.
We cannot allow, condone, or ignore calls for violence. We have a President who is inciting violence against women -- always against women -- and people of color. There must be consequences, there must be accountability, sooner rather than later.
18
Are there enough millennials, minorities, and other decent, responsible Americans that are willing to vote and outweigh this evil?
Anyone, ANYONE who does not vote this time will be stained irrevocably with blood on their hands.
Those that choose not to vote in 2016 gave us Trump. That was a terrible mistake that we all are paying for.
But, if they choose not vote in 2020, then it is no longer a mistake. It should be considered criminal act of treason against the United States of America and the world.
7
@organic farmer
so vote democratic or go to jail?? sounds authoritarian.
The Corporate wing of the Democrat party tell us our democracy depends on winning in 2020 but they refuse to vote for a progressive.
Makes you wonder doesn't it?
Maybe they like all the wealth going to the top but they just like Trump.
2
Well, it’s true. The Democratic Party has transformed into a cult of repudiating and dismantling America’s historic core. They are triggered by the flag, have issues with the nation’s borders, campaign to topple down monuments and statues, resent the founders and framers, etc. etc.
6
@Amos
You're wrong. But perhaps you could explain what America's "historic core" is. Does it include slavery? Condemning "witches"? Sending cavalry to attack and destroy Native Americans? If those are what you believe are "core", then yes, the Democratic party repudiates those ideals.
6
@Amos - on the contrary, the only ones dismantling America’s core values are Trump, his supporters, and his GOP enablers.
The four fresh-women congresswomen have made rookie mistakes by confusing rhetoric with political power and thus have weakened the Democrat's opposition. Pres. Trump couldn't be happier with the material. The return of the love-it-or-leave-it denunciation of decent is ages old and still works. Liberals seem to be flummoxed, still by the power of personality. Sadly, the only one Dems have is/Bernie and they destroyed it. (hint for dummies: he's not a real socialist)
3
The Trump presidency is a test. A test of our nation as much as WW II (maybe not as much as the Civil War, though). It is an MRI of the American Soul. We have, for decades, put forth a facia of diversity, pluralism, tolerance and a value-based society. We've preached incessantly to other countries from our self-made bully pulpit. Now the world recognizes what lies beneath. As an MRI detects cancers unseen, so Trump reveals the extent of our bigotry, greed, fear, and racism. If we are to be judged by history as a great nation we MUST address this. The time to fix this problem is NOW. The place to begin...is in the mirror.
11
Has a Canadian I do not understand why so many people support Trump I wonder what kind of education those people received. I am glad that i Never accepted to live and work in the State
8
Congratulations on where you were born - you’re really doing the hard work
3
The Democrat’s error here was in engaging in taunts with our schoolyard bully of a president.
His strategy is clearly to focus the knee jerk adulation of his base supporters on whatever hot button phrase he wants to tweet, no matter how insipid or devoid of meaning his tantrum-like outbursts are.
The wrestling match metaphor is dead on - Trump will keep putting the black hat on whoever comes forward to jump in the ring with him.
I almost wish Twitter would simply go dark for a while and deprive both sides of their internet oxygen, to keep these arsonists from continuing to try to burn down the house.
3
Whenever Trump, at his Nuremberg-styled rallies, excoriates his adversaries — this time invoking the phrase "hate-fill extremists," "dangerous, militant" and "a force for evil," he is actually describing himself, but deflecting the attention toward the opposition. His hate-filled pablum is so vile and destructive, yet apparently 36% of America is eager and willing to ingest it. He is inciting outright civil war, and he won't be happy until minorities take to the streets and he gives the order to quash the protests by any mens possible. This is beyond disturbing; it really portends the end of Democracy. Thanks, GOP, for sitting back and chortling while America burns.
15
It's pretty clear who hates America, along with everything our nation represents and which generations have given their lives to defend. And it's not the Squad.
14
We don't have a president. We have a Grand Wizard. The Republican Party, the one of Lincoln, is now more like the party of George LINCOLN Rockwell. That is something they will have to hang their hats on for a long time.
15
Everyone should read the Minnesota Star Tribune article this NYT story links to. It is quite detailed and, suffice it to say, there is something not quite right about Rep Omar's past.
3
@Richard - unlike Trump’s sordid past, right?
Let’s not forget that Maureen Dowd and Nancy Pelosi started this ball rolling. On purpose. I suspect the one knew exactly what she was doing and where it would very quickly lead. The other is out of her depth and can no longer lead anyone or anything anywhere. They both should be ashamed of themselves, but that’s a sentiment from another century.
2
The issue isn’t whether or not Trump is racist. The problem is that Trump doesn’t care and is more than willing to encourage racism if he thinks it will help him get re-elected. He gives racists the chance to say “He’s my guy!”
This is all a game, a new show for Trump.
Send Trump back to the reality show he came from.
7
Everyone knows that the only way to put a bully in check is to stand up to them. So far the Democrats have left these four women out on a limb.
Yes, there was the racism resolution, but Trump needs someone who can match him tweet for tweet, press comment for press comment. He needs someone to get in his face and remind him of his "I grab them by the P" comment.
He needs someone who can re-tell the Cohen story and say "I don't know how Trump'd wife and family got here. Maybe someone should look into it."
He needs someone who can call him out. He's a fake billionaire who ran a fake university who claims buildings he never built and who probably filed fake tax returns.
One doesn't have to get nasty as Trump does to do this. The facts are there. They just bear repeating agains and again until he can't avoid them.
But this requires a level of fire that the dem's never seem to have.
6
Democratic congress has emboldened this ugliest of Americans, Trump, with their refusal to bring impeachment proceedings. As the camel in the story goes from his nose in the tent to removing its rightful owner, this man, who knows no limits to his affront to our civility; who knows no limits to curtailing our rights and unity as a people, our constitution and its laws, or our inherent belief that our nation was built on diversity and we relegated his type of leadership to the dustbin of history when we vanquished the evils of men such as Trump in the megalomaniacs of the mid 20th century, must, by all means, be relegated to the same dustbin. Impeachment proceedings now, before this dangerous narcissist destroys our world.
1
If Trump was not an American President, he might be denied entry into some European countries because of his inflammatory hate speech
9
This is what it means to be deplorable. Hillary has been right all along of course.
12
Do not be distracted by the rhetoric about Israel. The Jewish community needs to see this for what it is and call Trump out.
Never again.
8
The "send her back" chant lacked spontaneity and seemed rather rehearsed in its vocal unity. This is abject racism ineptly disguised as campaign strategy.
5
This was nothing less than the President of the United States leading a white nationalist rally. Anybody registered or voting as a Republican has to decide which way to go as there is no middle ground anymore.
12
I'm starting to see inquiries about weaponized ticks and wondering if any relation to weaponized Trump? Both extremely harmful...
" “hate-filled extremists who are constantly trying to tear our country down.”"
Thus says the terrorist who shut down the country for a month as an extortion tactic. We're just lucky that the US was resilient enough to survive his attack.
And I bet the Democrats are going to be too disorganized to connect the dots and make this case to the voters.
5
I will admit that I read only the first two paragraphs of this piece, deciding that the anger generated by it isn't worth the risk to my health.
President Trump is playing from the classic playbook of autocracy by equating opposition to him and his chaotically demeaning impulses to treachery against the Republic. This tactic worked well, for a time, for Joseph McCarthy, but the damage to the country was permanent.
While I'm not on-board with all things "squad," I understand that these four representatives love their (and my, and our) country deeply enough to attempt improving it. They are not mindlessly and cruelly ripping it to shreds in spitefully racist bile.
If there are traitors in this ugly little pageant, they aren't the four "squad" members. (When will the president start labeling them as "terrorists?") They would be the Russian puppets who control this balefully criminal administration.
7
His hate knows no boundaries and can best be categorized as bigoted, racist, xenophobic and misogynistic. Even more despicable is that after two and half years, after his followers have seen what he is, seen him daily Tweet out hate, act out hate and base his entire policy on different variations of hate, they continue to support him. Apparently, they are him and he is them. I know they attempt to cloak their bigotry, racism, xenophobia and misogynistic beliefs behind their own stated reason for voting for him and accepting his behaviors, but the fact of the matter is that these people, our fellow citizens and neighbors, clergy, business people and elected officials, are in fact bigoted, racist, xenophobic and misogynistic.
7
The theologian Karl Rainer described God as the Wholly Other. I was reminded of this as I watched the hate spewing from Trump and his rally supporters chanting vitriolic “Send her back.” It was such an act of blasphemy. Pure evil.
2
Like most autocratic dictators,Trump sees himself as the living embodiment of the United States. Therefore, if you want him removed from power you are "seeking the nation's destruction." For the sane people that still exist among us, however, having a hopelessly corrupt, undeniably racist, autocratic dictator as president of the United States is destroying the nation.
405
@wildwest
This tactic goes back at least as far as 18th century France, with Louix XIV's "L'État, c'est moi." (I am the state.)
16
@wildwest
The problem with removing Trump is that if he were forced out,-we'd have Pence as a replacement who may be able to use his position to stay in office for two more terms. Better and cheaper in the long run, to vote both out of office.
14
@wildwest
Exactly, like GM, Trump thinks that he is America, and that opposing Trump is treason.
That is an unconstitutional reason to accuse the FBI of a coup, but that is what Trump keeps doing.
It is Trump ignoring the Constitution while the FBI struggles to follow it against Trump's obstructions.
List, name, and explain Trump's High Crimes.
Taking about impeachment before you talk about High Crimes is like making a banana spilt without ice cream or bananas.
Trump accuses others of his crimes.
14
Unfortunately, this country is headed towards a civil war and it’s going to be real ugly in some places. God help us all!
2
Lest we all forget, send him back! He’s a child of an immigrant and two of his wives were from foreign countries, present one included. Oops, but she’s now an expedited American citizen, just like Congresswoman Ilham, but not quite. The congresswoman earned her citizenship the hard way.
6
No one’s going to gag this president. Far from it, people like Rep Omar and AOC just keep enlarging his platform and the number of voters leaning in his direction. Never mind that AOC was born here, or that Melania herself is an immigrant. “Send them back “ is the new “lock her up”, and America’s Democrats are going to be stunned at how effective three syllables can be. Why on earth would GOP legislators want to silence Trump? His ignorance of how to truly govern, his disregard for the rule of law, and his genuine bully approach are just what they need to gerrymander their way to permanence. The Revolution may be coming, but not in 2020. The Squad is strengthening the white supremacists and nationalists, who follow Pied Piper Trump. Our freedoms will erode, bit by bit. People of Queens: can you see how AOC is helping to accomplish the opposite of what you need?
1
Liberia was founded by liberated slaves "sent back" because they were wanted only for their labor.
This hatred and vitriol will result in tragedy.
4
It already has...Pittsburgh? And there are other examples.
Very good. The 4 horse women of the apocalypse are a poisonous traitors bunch that reflect what the Demos really want. Trump's tweets and rhetoric regarding the Squad is a brilliant strategic move. In 2020 Trump and the GOP will be viewed as the saviors of the country from the ideology of a bunch of far-left communists antisemic, racist and anti-American Demos. He will win in a landslide not only caring his strong tens of millions of supporters but a lot of centrists and undecided who oppose the USA being swamped by uneducated migrants or bullied by enemy countries such as Iran and China. The Economic Boom will be the icing on the cake. The Leftist can already close shop or wait for a humiliating defeat 2020. In any case, the ideology of the Demos Squad ensures that the USA will be a Strong Republic for a long long time
2
@lieberma Interesting how Trump ist shifting the rethoric from "socialist" to "communist", and people are following him. Makes me wonder: What will feed his base after "communist" has worn off. That is the biggest danger of populism: it always calls for new extremes, until everything goes up in flames. We have seen that in Germany.
1
Trump should understand that an American speaking out against him, his administration, or its policies, is not Anti American.
No more than an Israeli citizen speaking out against their governments policies toward the Palestinians would be considered Anti Semitic.
That been said a sitting President telling elected members of Congress ' to go back where you came from ' using language that any reasonable person would consider to be hateful and racist , is totally out of orde and unbecoming of the office he holds.
162
@Brit. You lost me at “Trump should understand...”. Sad.
19
@Nancy H Point taken.
11
@Brit: Dems have to move past explaining why trump is bad. We have to vote.
We all know that:
"using language that any reasonable person would consider to be hateful and racist , is totally out of orde[r] and unbecoming of the office he holds."
It's time to act.
9
I am an elderly, white, Atheist, feminist who feels better represented by Ilhan Omar, Rashida Talib, Ayanna Pressley and AOC, than I do by all the rest of the Congress put together.
378
@Lee: Atheists are the least trusted people in US politics. One must express fear of post-mortal retribution for one's sins to be judged trustworthy by a majority of the US public.
14
@Lee So, to correct Nancy Pelosi, in addition to their own 4 votes, they also have the surging elderly, white, atheist, feminist vote as well.
3
@Steve Bolger: Well, if one follows trump, he's covered. trump *is* god. Problem solved. A vote for trump includes admittance into the hereafter (to the pleasurable climes therein, of course).
Watching the N.C. crowd react to Trump's incendiary language with chants of "send her home" chillingly brought back video images of the taunts and hateful expressions of whites gathered outside of Little Rock high school to verbally pelt the brave children who only wanted to receive an education.
I cannot believe we are reliving such disgraceful, dangerous behavior as I approach my 75th birthday.
539
@GMK
I know. It’s chilling and just incomprehensible to me that anyone with a soul could join in with him. It seems like what a Klan rally would be like every time he “campaigns”.
32
@GMK and I doubt any of these people will shrink in shame when these dark days are over and the hypocrisy and pure hate is revealed to all. They're so proud of their racism.
20
@GMK
I wish that I could click the "Recommend" link ten times instead of only once.
12
If I was a Somali living in the Us I would like to have a different face to my community than Omar the ungrateful
3
GDK - but you are not Somali but an American. And I am an American with roots going back to 1683 and I am ashamed of what my country has become. I don’t hate America. I hate this President and I am saddened when I see rallies like this one. It brought to mind the Nuremberg rallies. All that was missing was Leni Riefenstahl filming it.
When fascism comes to the US, it will creep in on patriotic feet wearing a MAGA hat and shouting “deport her” and “lock her up.”
7
What is ungrateful about her? I may not agree with everything she says or believes in. In fact, I do take issue with some of the “squad” policies. But how is this any different from the ride of the Tea Party challenging Republican orthodoxy and demanding change that both parties in their minds failed to deliver. I had issues with them to. But, Ilhan Omar was a duly elected member of the House of Representatives who has taken an oath to uphold the Constitution just as people like Michele Bachman, Louie Gohmert, and yes even Rep (and white nationalist) Steve King. You don’t like their policies? Fine, let’s discuss and debate the merits - like the good old days. I would love to see a day where a hardliner like Steve King and AOC could be in the same room actually trying to hammer out policy_ to make this country better. They could not agree on whether to recognize Mothers Day. Sad
Shame on the citizens of Greenville who attended this rally....
17
What a nightmare. Pure evil. He has stoked and is making acceptable the worst in humankind. His words and actions are a poisonous contagion. It's imperative that Democrats win the Presidency and the Senate in 2020, and he will not go quietly. I fear that Democrats and people of conscience will buckle and shut down in the face of this. Love. Be pure and good. Speak out. Lies take the elevator but the truth gets to the top eventually.
10
Fascinating how, when Trump attacks others, he is describing himself. Literally. A “hate filled extremist who is constantly tearing the country down”. That is who he is.
24
As usual, Trump projects onto others what he himself is guilty of. When he accuses “the squad” of being hate-filled extremists who hate our country, he is actually describing himself. The people at his cult rallies will keep shouting “Send Them Home!” — the rest of us need to apply that phrase to the most un-American, mentally unfit President in history. Everyone, including the media, needs to stop mincing words. His disgusting racism is the tip of the iceberg.
15
Trump's hate filled rallies are the ugliest thing I've ever seen in American politics. We are in deep trouble as he is literally pushing very confused people into acts of extreme violence. Calmer and wiser minds are not prevailing.
18
"There is menace in the blood shout of the crowds."
The American "sickness" had been localized in the person of George Wallace, the "ablest demagogue of our time, with a voice of venom and a gut knowledge of the prejudices of the low-income class."
---Richard Strout writing in the New Republic about a 1968 Wallace rally
8
Look at that photo: the fists-up pose is a threat. If I was confronted with this joker in the real-world I believe I would have to "stand my ground."
12
Branding is just name calling. Is that a winner?
2
Im not surprised we have ignorant bigoted people in our country that Trump appeals to, I am surprised how easily he hijacked a one of two major politcal parties.
13
This is a battle for the soul of America.
Vote in 2020!
11
What planet is he on? I guess one where "everyone is talking about Trump University." Sad!
4
None are so blind as those that will not see. Trump's supporters don't see that his unhinged mental state is leading the country down a very dangerous path... He is the ugly un-American in our midst. He is the person who has no concern for democracy -- if he were made king he wouldn't object (as George Washington would have done).
14
The most powerful weapon the Democrats have is
Children in Cages.Trump must take this away from the Democrats if he hopes to regain the White House.He should put this children in Mar Logo, until they can be united with their Parents.Lets stop this fiasco, and stop using children as pawns.The Democrats are as guilty as Trump.
1
Bread and circus.
3
I encourage folks to read William Shirer's Berlin Diary to understand to insidiousness of tRump's rhetoric.
11
Immigrants have been peopling this continent for over 400 years,
so if someone does not want to live among immigrants---they are the ones who should leave.
9
He’s confusing the nation with himself. I want to destroy him and his enablers, thus PRESERVING the nation.
11
Seeing the cheering, frenzied, adoring crowd reminded me of the film clips from the thirties. Where has the America I have admired and seen grow from the ugly Jim Crow days gone?
A strutting, smirking leader encouraging chants of 'Send her back' encapsulates our descent into a nether world of evil.
Vote!
11
As ever, the NYT appears oblivious to the tone of its reporting on Donald Trump and how the simpering anger so implicit in its tone has probably done more to alienate the folks who voted for him rather than bring them around to its thinking. Which is a real shame.
1
Somehow, I just know that you can’t point precisely at an example of this, “simpering anger,” and show why exactly it’s there.
Nice phrase, though. Nice hint that the writers are girly-men.
But speaking of simpering anger, why is it that none of you guys ever ask Rush, or Beck, or Hannity, or any of the long, long list of right-wing media, to take it down a few notches?
Or Trump: why’s he okay?
5
@Josh It wasn't the "NYT" who was chanting "send her home" last night as the President of the United States approvingly looked on. Also, nobody believes Trump's supporters can be "brought around" to a different view by use of a rational argument or any other type of reasoning. The 2020 election will be a war of numbers and turn entirely on Dems being able and willing to support the eventual candidate, and see the stakes as high enough to turn out to vote.
4
@Josh. Decent people get angry at the kind of performance Trump put on last night, Decent publications don’t try to normalize what happened at that rally. Decent publications don’t attempt to make Trump appear to be a president who cares for the citizens of the country. And by now, decent people don’t vote Trump.
3
Conservatives have sometimes talked ominously about an armed conflict with liberals. The anger is real, but I have tended to think that most of the "to the barricades!" talk is just bluster. But Trump acts as an accelerant. He seems determined to provoke actual fighting with claims like the one in the headline of this story -- that liberal critics seek the nation's destruction. Those are fighting words and he knows it. And he knows that such words to his base will be as raw meat to hungry dogs. As long as such rhetoric helps him with his most fervent supporters, he'll keep spouting it without regard for how it makes the country even more dangerously polarized and violent.
The comparisons to 1930s Germany go only so far, and should be made only with caution, but: The spasms of street violence between Trump nationalists and anti-Trump antifa types is chillingly similar to the violence between armed Nazi brownshirts and armed gangs of pro-Weimar trade unionists in 1931 and 1932. Either through malevolent determination or self-absorbed obliviousness, Trump is making it worse. Though for different reasons than the "I want my country back" nationalists who spout about violence, I am coming round to the view that they might be right: It is foolishly naive for people like David Brooks to think that national reconciliation is going to happen. Not solely because of Trump but with a big assist from Trump, this will end in blood.
229
@Katz At least let's make it Trumps blood.
4
@Katz
Totally agree. I have been thinking this for quite a while. It will come down to those who subscribe to his doctrine will carry burning torches, guns and will use them. As we inch towards 2020 and getting rid of him, that anger will increase, and they will be on the streets; they will attack anyone who is not of their color or even speech, and there will be blood.
The problem will be that he will not admonish his tribe but will state the other person was at fault. We are moving into dangerous times, and no protection.
4
If Trump said any of these things in an office, this is an immediate trip to HR and probably dismissal. If he said this in the streets he gets punched in the face. So he and his minions say this at a rally. Such a bullly/chicken hybrid. “Send her back.” We need to send them all back to their miserable, hateful lives and Trump back to his bankrupt casinos,
15
When the crowd in Greenville bellowed "Send her back", were they referring to Omar or Melania?
11
And Melania’s family! They were just naturalized.
3
The closer we get to the election, and the more desperate this grifter gets about being evicted and facing justice, the more extreme and vitriolic his vomit spouting will become. And the more dangerous will be the people who support him and his sad ideas. I have no answer beyond stand firm and VOTE!!
16
This total war can only end with the destruction of modern liberalism. This insidious ideology must end if America is to survive.
Oh boy.
Because there goes, oh, i dunno, the Constitution.
Of course, I shouldn’t be surprised that the people who come up with this kind of drivel are absolutely clueless about the ideas that founded America.
Good job they’re going to lose.
4
@Greg. What do plan to replace it with?
No president in modern history has done more to undermine American Democracy and its institutions than Trump. It’s one thing to disagree, but it’s another to say someone ‘hates’ America and call for them to leave. Trump is playing a very dangerous game whether he knows it or not. Free speech is a fundamental right. If Trump, and his supporters, are successful the US will be on a path to becoming a totalitarian state...
9
@Dersh
I don't think he knows or cares. In most respects, he really is as ignorant and superficial as he appears. He does have the clever instincts of a con artist and a real knack for showmanship. The real shame belongs to many Republicans who do know better, especially in the Senate, and I'm afraid that totalitarianism would be fine with them, as long as they are in charge.
6
I agree with all the comments saying how chilling the rally was --and how evocative of 1930's Germany. I won't belabor the point, which has been so well-made by others. I want to talk about something more subtle. This point will strike many as trivial. But I have been a trial lawyer for over 35 years, and I understand that the way you frame your message is as important as its content.
I think that the real media are consistently framing their stories the wrong way. There is a perfect example in this article.
The article describes an investigation by a Minnesota newspaper into an allegation that Omar married her brother for unspecified "immigration benefits". It says that the Minnesota paper "could not substantiate" the claim. That wording leaves open the possibility that there is evidence to substantiate it; it just hasn't been found yet. In at least one of the comments posted below, a reader says that Omar is now obliged to explain b/c the evidence isn't clear. The sloppy reporting allows that response. I couldn't prove that I was never married to my brother. But I never, ever was.
There was no reason to bring up the claim in this article. It has nothing to do with the topic, which is the racism displayed at the recent Trump rally. If it needs to be mentioned in some other article, the proper way to describe it would be, "A blogger made an unsubstantiated claim with no evidence to support it."
The real media need to be smarter.
23
Trump, whatever else you may call him, possesses an instinctive grasp of group psychology and quite subtle, however crudely expressed.
I say to the Democrats nominate a candidate who can perform power and who can take a punch and a joke and who can fight back; there are many good psychologists and even sociologists out there: Goffman, for instance, or Wilfred Bion.
Just like wrestling is a science, this election is a kind of science: it'll take more than being right and being good and on the right side.
The Republicans have been waging an insurgency- use psychological principles to stage a counterinsurgency.
There are experts to help and assist and they're mostly liberal
5
Something the "squad" can reflex on. We start our life trying to change the world and as we grow the world changes us.
You've gone too far this time.
But I'm dancing on the Valentine.
I tell you somebody's fooling around,
with my chances on the danger line.
Why don't you use it?
Try not to bruise it!
Buy time, don't lose it.
@MrBeagle: Nobody knows anything about their circumstances at birth.
I was in high school during the Vietnam War and I clearly remember a huge billboard in my east coast town with a humongous American flag image, which said "Love it or Leave it." We got through that. We will get through this too. Let's not let Trump control the dialogue. Let's find out what he's distracting us from. Much of his lying is motivated by fear.
6
I always suspected that while Trump railed on about illegal immigrants his (and Stephen Miller's) real desire is to send away all dark skinned immigrants including those that came here legally. I don't know what kind of country this has become. I am the dark skinned son of dark skinned immigrants who came to this country legally and became citizens a long time ago. I live in one of North Carolina's larger cities and I am scared to death of entering any of the states rural communities. When I drive to the beaches or the mountains in North Carolina I no longer stop at any of the small towns along the way or take any of the smaller roads to avoid traffic. The cities and the highway are the only places I can feel safe these days. America has become so un-American.
11
@rs
Republicans are a party that is white. Instead of trying to embrace the votes of non-whites they have denounced them and chosen racial voter suppression. Yes they intend to either remove and or silence representation. This is exactly what they are DOING right now.
@rs I have a mixed race relative married to a refugee from Southeast Asia. They like to travel with their two children and every time they leave the country I am afraid they will not be allowed back in without a hassle at the border
1
But statistically, it's the urban centers that are a far greater danger to you than rural areas or small towns. Look at violence and homicide rates, including for people if color. It's in cities not so much small towns, suburbs of rural areas. And look at who the perpetrators are as well.
In other words, your fears do not correspond to empirical reality.
What Trump is doing is not merely rhetorical excess but is also creating conditions for violence. In the long and dismal history of incitement to violence, so far, two preconditions are being met. One is "authorization" where someone in authority gives permission, license, encouragement indirectly or directly sanctioning it. A second condition is "objectification" or "dehumanization." The persons who are the targets are reduced to some uni-dimensional status like "communist" "force for evil" Al Qaeda sympathizer" so their humanity is stripped away and any moral obligation to them is minimized. Military training does this systematically, and (one can argue) for justifiable reasons in readying soldiers for combat. Here, it is a malevolent wannabe autocrat hoping to visit revenge on four women of color who criticized him.
7
The good and decent people of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin and Florida will not tolerate this. Put your heart and soul into the 2020 campaign and he will be soundly defeated.
3
@Frank Roseavelt
I sure hope so. The republicans I meet in California are totally deluded. They simply repeat his lies and claim everyone lies to justify it.
1
I like how everyone keeps claiming they are “shocked” by Trumps rhetoric. It’s ironic. You are not shocked. We have heard this all before a thousand times. Am I the only person who grew up in the Reagan 80s?
5
Having succeeded in attacking and imprisoning immigrants of color, Trump is setting the stage for his next attack.
How long before Trump and his lapdog,William Barr, start imprisoning political enemies?
We’re almost there.
7
More projection! For the majority of us, the pres. is the one destroying and dividing the U.S.
We must vote in massive numbers to destroy this plague or we will go further down the trail of destruction!
6
Just like the donald during Obama's presidency. But of course they can't see that of their savior.
And I am asked why I end friendships with these people.
7
He's also neutralizing the voices in the Republican Party - the RNC and some of the elected - that are urging moderation. When Trumps does these rallies, and energizes his crowds with these remarks, he is also proving to his Republican critics that THIS is the way to victory. So get in line, or shut up and get out of the way.
(As a moderate midwesterner and former Republican voter I see a party in flames.)
3
Trump will next issue an executive order for a new cabinet position:
Secretary of Anger.
He fills that position himself as he continues his hate speech. Civilization is going, going, gone goodbye...
2
@glennmr
That would be Stephen Miller. Mike Mulvaney fits as well. In fact the administration is one if corruption and insidious malice.
1
Typical GOP tripe... ridiculous fear-mongering, race baiting, etc.
In the mean time, they enact policies that strip away protections of citizens, sell our public lands to private corps for pennies on the dollar, enable more pollution to water and air, transfer wealth from the many to the few, hobble social safety nets, attempt to cement their power through gerrymandering and ridiculous voter ID laws, inject their "morality" into our bedrooms and private lives, enable "God-fearing Christians" to legally justify their intolerance, condoning foreign governments meddling in our elections...
All the while, they put on a show of faux patriotism by wrapping their bodies in the American flag and scapegoating those not like them or outright declaring dissenters as "enemies" or unpatriotic. As if the GOP somehow owns the mantle and stewardship of our nation...
We are very sad and desperate times... for the first time in my 57 years, I am truly afraid that our nation will not survive. We are already in a civil war; the GOP is winning...
9
Look - the squad is outrageous - I am also appalled by the communities that voted for these communists - that the rest of the country is reacting strongly to their communist/socialist ideas should not be surprising - they are advocating what the country fought against for 50 years . Further, what are the Democrat doing accepting these communists into their party? Is there no such thing as too far left for the Democrats? Have you no shame?
@SAL Please look up the definition of communist, since it is not what these women are. I find your last quote quite ironic as Trump is just a richer version of McCarthy.
4
@SAL
What’s a communist SAL?
And these women are true patriots standing up to the malice and brutality of people such as yourself. I hope we have an army this next election!
When you use the words communism to define fair wages, education, health care, ending donor corruption and climate response you aren’t here for a dialog. You’re here to spread viciousness and cruelty.
I hope your anger is the destruction of the Republican Party.
4
This will likely induce maniacs to physically threaten Omar and the other 3 Representatives.... Aren't there court injunctions against public hate speech that causes those sort of threats???
7
Its the same as a WWE Smack DownThe script is always the same. The heroes and villians are easily identifiable.The audience is always knows its part. Why bother covering this boring, predictable event. Its "Idiocracy."
3
The destruction of the Republican Party falls directly on the heads of the Republican Party. Instead of standing up t these bullying tactics, these sick childish tactics, they cower, they sidle up to the highest ranking member of their party like a bunch of sycophant sheep. Their morals and values have fallen into the abyss of trump’s cesspool of depravity. Today’s Republican Party in no way resembles the party of the past, they have sold their souls to the devil.
9
It was a sad day for America when Trump managed to get himself elected POTUS.
Unless the Democrats quit self-imploding we will have 4 more years of this guy(maybe even more if he manages to enslave congress and get himself proclaimed president for life).
Any casual observer realizes quickly what a dirty rotten scoundrel Trump is.
But my question is what is WRONG with these people who attend these wacky beer-parties that Trump throws every week or so?
Am I wrong or is it time to leave the USA for the sanity of Canada?
Sick of Trump and Depressed it would appear the answer is yes.
5
@Joe kostas I know many young people who are choosing to attend college and graduate school in Europe. If I could, I would leave in a heartbeat as this is not the America I know or want. I'm just glad my Republican grandparents are not alive as they would be horrified what happened to their party.
3
Remember when Trump said he could shoot someone on 5th Ave. and his voters would still love him. He blatantly called his supporters suckers yet they are too ignorant to see it or are proud of it.
13
These people are what a cult looks like. No critical thinking skills among any of them. Keep them ignorant. That's what Trump does. These people are more dangerous than the lies that spew out of Trump.
22
Please let this sink in: What it means to be American is to be able to embrace our differences. Are you an American?
10
@Ms M.
Ask Trump and his supporters that question, because they're the ones insulting, threatening and spreading lies about everybody who doesn't agree with them.They're not particularly keen on the call to "embrace our differences."
The levels of vitriol and hatred aired at the rally Trump held last night in North Carolina reached those displayed at the Nazi Nuremberg rallies of the late 1920's and 1930's.
I'd ask anyone who still claims adherence to the Republican Party -- do you really wish to follow Donald Trump down this dark road? The ugliness that he feeds on and spews is growing; the hatred that he ramps up will break out in horrifying new ways and some of those ways may be lethal. You can choose to go another way, but the window of opportunity for your choice is rapidly closing.
In the name of all that is decent, Republicans: come to your senses! If the United States of America becomes the twisted, dishonest, repressive and racist society that Trump wishes it to become, what can you possibly say; what excuses will you offer in your defense?
13
@Jimbo Sadly, I have a number of GOP friends who don't like his remarks but say he's doing a great job on policy. One told me he didn't have to like the guy to vote for him. I don't understand it at all. I do know that once Trump leaves office, they will all disavow liking him or voting for him like GWB.
1
@Tardisgal
I wonder if they will keep making excuses as blood is shed. I don’t see how we make it through another year without violence. We have already had quite a bit of hate crime.
He is attacking everything liberal and diversity. This is the rise of fascism. How do we derail it?
1
And all the while McConnell smiles.........
6
Trump bleeds ketchup from stage stigmata. The sadomasochism of it all intensifies every day.
I seek enforcement of "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion". Washington is a snake-pit of charlatans for want of it.
3
Trump is just who we thought he was, a bigot and racist. Nothing new here. He is no longer using the dog whistle, he’s blowing his own horn now for his base to hear loud and clear.
8
Last nights rally marks a new low in Trumps attempt to make our country in his racist and misogynistic view.
6
Sick, sick, sick. Not Trump, he’s past sick, he’s just plain disgusting. The mobs that cheer him are sick.
This is not the country I love. And no, I not going back to country from “which I came”. This is my country! Those people live in a hateful place I don’t recognize.
8
Donald Trump is a tyrant, a lawless tyrant.
He's destroying our democracy, he's destroying our society.
No one can harbor any doubts anymore.
He's a tyrant.
10
He's found his hateful stride. Now we have to listen to this abomination until the election. Disgusting, he's simply disgusting.
4
What makes reading articles like this even worse is that none of the Democrats have any response other than being offended which is exaaaaaactly what Trump wants. He will get re-elected campaigning like this, and with Democrats responding the way they have so far.
Democrats, it's not hard. OWN Democratic Socialism! When Trump is attacking socialism to his fans, he's really saying he'll take away their social security, take away their veterans benefits, take away their Medicare, take away education for their grandkids. The list goes on and on. These are all examples of SOCIALISM and yes, the Republicans and especially Donald Trump want to cancel each and every one.
When the Republicans say Make America Great Again, he's not talking about the 1950s (an era suffused with socialist programs and progressive policies). He's talking about the 1870s—a great time for business owners but not for the vast majority of Americans.
7
Trump is always insulting people while hiding behind his bodyguards.
Another reason to impeach him. He shouldn't be able to take them home with him once he gets removed from office.
6
Does anyone think that all these outrageous things that President Trump says, are an attempt to be funny? Being an ahistorical figure, he really doesn’t know how a President should act! Perhaps a number of his supporters don’t take him seriously, and since many of them too, are historically clueless, they think his otherwise insults to democratic order are benign!
2
The GOP has become a force for evil over the past 40 years. Deregulation of Wall Street led to the S&L scandal and, far worse, Bush's Great Recession. Obama cleans up the mess, but those poisoned by Fox Propaganda don't care. The GOP was in favor of the ACA (Romney Care) until Obama proposed it. Instead of working with Democrats to strengthen the law and lower costs, they cried "repeal and replace" for 8 years. What was their replacement? Tax cuts for the rich and the loss of coverage for 20-30 million.
The GOP controlled government but only passed a massive tax cut for the wealthiest. No infrastructure (which they obstructed under Obama), no investment in new/green technologies, no strengthening of Social Security, no immigration bill.
Trump is unfit for an office that Putin helped him win. He attacks NATO, while praising dictators. He legitimized Kim, while getting nothing in return. The planet is at grave risk, and the Baby King rolls back environmental protections. He is a cancer on the nation. He is a criminal whose financial dealings will eventually land him in jail. We will be cleaning up his messes for a generation or more.
10
How crazy is it that the President of the United States can accuse anyone who criticizes or disagrees with him as attempting to 'destroy the nation?' You have to give the current president credit for one thing: his endlessly creative talent for finding ever new and different ways to drag the office of the presidency into the mud.
As it says in Deuteronomy, 'his foot shall slip in time.'
6
I’m not a religious guy, but I know the so-called president has the support of the religious right (despite his obvious disqualifiers, which have gotten overlooked for some reason). So at times like this I find myself wondering if they do not recognize this devil that they themselves have described for the rest of us to be on the lookout for. Hey! Wake up! He’s right there!
10
Trump has made it clear that he is running on racism.
Democrats need to hammer home that anyone who votes for Trump is supporting racism.
Racism is not something one can dabble in like art.
It paints and taints the soul.
5
It's a pity the crowds don't shout "For shame!" to that man in the White House when he says those things to his base followers at a public rally.
6
Some of the people in the background behind Dear Leader looked uncomfortable and silent when that chant was going on. I wonder what they were doing at that rally.
2
If there was any doubt as to whether he is a racist, Trump erased that with his latest hate-fest in North Carolina. It sickens me to hear the crowd chant "Send her back" while Trump tells them lies upon lies. Lest silence be taken as a sign of tacit approval, we must march onto the White House to demonstrate our outrage. This is not the United States that I know and love. Trump is trashing freedom of speech and equal justice under the rule of law. We must take America back - back to sanity before it is too late.
9
I lived in Ohio during Dubya's presidency. In the wake of the invasion of Iraq, there were those (myself included) who thought it was a terrible mistake. A coworker at the time, and an Ohio native treated my opinion as if it were the "8th Deadly Sin" - "it's unpatriotic to disagree with our POTUS during wartime..." said my coworker. I responded a bit sharply, "You just don't get it, do you? This is still America, and in America, you have the right to criticize your government, if you feel something is wrong...even the POTUS.."
What my coworker believed, is pretty much what the typical Trump supporter believes, albeit with equal parts willful or true ignorance, and gullibility.
I also remember another bumper sticker slogan of the Nixon era; " My Country...Right, or Wrong."
Too bad Trump's sheeple may not be familiar with that one; and that the last word fits both them, and Trump, to a "T."
3
So we should send Mrs. Trump and Mrs. McConnell "back" as well? I imagine native Americans would like to send us all "back" at this point.
6
Trump’s chilling and xenophobic strategy is straight from the communist party propaganda handbook where the great/dear leader “re-educates” the opposition using threats of fear and relocation. The chant “send her back” was not spur of the moment, it was intentional.
Lindsay Graham was confused, the squad is not communist. But we should be very concerned that the silence-is-consent GOP is doing nothing to uphold and protect our democracy. Instead, it seems good with relocating elected members of Congress.
5
“Lock her up” didn’t work, Hillary is fine and safe, no proof of any wrongdoing whatsoever.
So Trump needed to find another target to bully and degrade with “send her back”.
1
He deliberately mispronounced Occasio’s name as O-Kay-zio. He reminded me of the corrupt senator in Godfather Pt. 2 when he deliberately mispronounced Corleone’s name as Cor-Lee-OH-Nee. It goes over with the locals well.
1
Looking past the shadow play: Trump and the Squad want the same thing, for the Squad to appear to be, and eventually to be, the face of the Democrats, as opposed to Nancy Pelosi, who doesn't. The point of Trump's move is to make it impossible for Pelosi to abandon the Squad, so she's stuck with them going forward. That's what this is about.
3
Pelosi pointed it out pretty clearly. The squad has 4 votes, and that’s not enough power to drive anything.
1
@Bob Acker: The four women have been very measured in their reactions to Trump’s outrageous racist and scurrilous provocations, and if they keep that up, the only thing Trump will achieve is that he united the Democrats in support of their nominee, whoever he or she turns out to be. Trump makes it starkly clear that the choice in 2020 is between fascism and democracy.
4
@devilsadvocate: except to drive trumps campaign rhetoric.
Trump's base is ruled by fear.
Fear of the other. Fear of changing world around them. Fear of being outpaced by more qualified foreigners. Fear of being made irrelevant.
This fear has driven them to embrace a man who plays into these fears at an easy-to-understand "tag line" level.
They don't have to think. They don't have to make hard decisions. They just have to chant and feel good about themselves that THEY aren't the bad guys...everyone else is.
I hope I don't have to explain to my son is 20 years that I was one of the "good Americans"
12
Last night was historic. Appearing on stage for the first of what will be, all too many nights, we got the resurrected Huey Long, Charles Coughlin, and Joe McCarthy...three in one...the unholy trinity. All that was missing were the tiki torches...
31
@JRB
And the pitchforks.
5
Tiki torches might be of foreign dissent. Careful.
2
Why did you watch it? Admit it. Trump is the ringmaster.
Trump will win again...mark my words. I think the winds of change are in place and the fate of Americans rest with Trump. Trump just has to win a few states and Putin I’m sure in collaboration with Trump will make it happen. Trump needs to win Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania again and it’s over. The American election isn’t about campaigning to the people. It’s campaigning to swing states who decide the fate of America. North Dakota and Kentucky will decide how people in New York and California should be governed.
9
@James Well then perhaps NY and CA should stop giving our hard earned tax money to states like KY where McConnell who after 34+ YEARS taking up space in the senate his state still ranks 45th in education. Yep those repubs sure do great work for their constituents don't they?
7
@James: and thus the time has come for the u.s.a. to cease to exist, break up into the separate countries that it is. end it.
Omar says ““Send her back!” was “one of the most chilling and horrifying things I’ve ever seen in politics.”” - a woman who married her brother to stay in this country and is now in Congress is way more horrifying. Trump may be out of his mind, but he is correct in his intention to keep socialism out of America.
4
Sure - keep out socialism. Get rid of Medicaid, Medicare, Veterans’ benefits, support for victims of crime, public schools, food stamps etc etc. Those are all socialist ideas. Trump has fooled the sheep into thinking socialism is a bad scary thing.
No proof that Ilhan Omar married her brother. Trump says so but we know he lies more than a rug. You say she did “in order to stay in the country and is now a senator” and that it is “more horrifying” than “send her back” chants. Is there something wrong and horrifying about wanting to stay in your country? Wrong and horrifying about wanting to serve it as senator?
5
@Tom Yates
Right wing rumors that Rep. Omar married her brother are specious and have no factual or evidentiary substantiation. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ilhan-omar-marry-brother/
However, there are many credible allegations, and an admission by Trump, that he is a sexual predator. It is also on the record that he has engaged on lies and distortion that are racist - birther lies about Obama, Central Park Five and on an on. Disturbing, indeed.
4
If Trump’s intention is to keep socialism out of America, is he planning to eliminate Social Security, Medicare, farm subsidies, et al.? Trump’s guiding “ism” isn’t socialism. It’s racism.
4
I fear we may look back on the failure to impeach in a timely fashion as a huge strategic mistake. Trump has now become quite comfortable in his office. He is obviously having fun on his ultimate reality show. Impeachment would have given Dems the opportunity to force the production of evidence of his malfeasance and crimes. That opportunity appears to fade with every passing day. Trump in effect is a king. He answers to no one, certainly not to the cowardly leadership of the Democratic Party. Behold King Maga.
3
The founding fathers' "balance of power" is at horrible risk. Imagine it's the 1950s, Joseph McCarthy is in the Senate, and, instead of Eisenhower. Trump. Those liberal congresswomen, while meaning well, provide Trump dangerous ammunition.
5
@C: The "balance" you cite was accommodation to state-optional liberty to enslave. There is nothing sacred about it.
It was obvious to anyone who saw the TV clips of Trump’s rally that he was surrounded by a large group of Secret Service agents. They were there to protect him while he exercised his freedom of speech and to protect him from any consequences.Who is protecting members of Congress he hurls insults at and weaves into his lies about patriotism?Does he want one of his supporters who is deranged to harm these women? He is a citizen and has freedom of speech-what about members of Congress?!His behavior is now beyond deplorable-it is dangerous and a threat to people-you do not yell “fire” in a crowded theater!
13
"...love it or leave"...Now that's original. It should be on the the list of things that turn 50 this year. A classic response directed toward any anti-war protestor, student activist, civil rights defender, etc. from the late 60's and early 70's.
Trumpsters reliving the "glory days"; except most weren't even alive then.
5
@Pavel: Trump should be an expert in what causes people to migrate by now.
Paradoxically, all the while Trump and his supporters are advocating “sending people back where they came from,” it is they who have sadly, as the old joke has it, made America a good place to be from.
Here we go again. This isn't just a repeat of 2016 rallies with cries of "Lock her up!" -- it's far more sinister in a way that resembles the mass-hysteria at Nuremberg.
It's hard not to see the similarities.
And impossible not to foresee the outcome.
31
Send her back! Love it or leave it! He has brought back all the bigoted slogans of 60’s America and given them new life. Then you have Buttigieg, the new Adlai E. Stevenson, speaking like a professor. The only ones who can match Trump with their gift for attracting media attention are the infamous Four, who in their own way are as bad as he, but all they are doing is diminishing the Democratic Party regulars like Pelosi who already seem resigned to a second term for Trump and are even arranging for it. In recent memory there has never been such a weak opposition party when the only ones who can get their message out are a bunch of undisciplined obnoxious freshmen.
6
Resorting to false equivalency is intellectually lazy, at best.
@Edwardp: The Democratic Party doesn't even unite in agreement that the public sector of a mixed economy is inherently socialistic, and only those who understand that are competent to manage it.
In 1918 prominent labor activist Eugene V. Debs said: No wonder Jackson said that “Patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels.” For in every age it has been the tyrant, who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both.
If this is the performance Trump is engaging in now, over a year from the election, it is hard to imagine what is coming next. It is horrifying to imagine, sickening to imagine.
Meanwhile, while this parody of a president ponces around performing, there are people in place behind the scenes who are actually doing a different, but equal harm to the country with their decisions and rewinding of legislation, regulations and norms.
Trump is a useful puppet and I fear the behind the scenes manipulators more than him. They have wound him up and set him going. It is a government of festering right wing haters and plotters far cleverer and more strategic than the pathetic orange front man. Are there no Republicans brave enough or patriotic enough to take a stand?
17
@youcanneverdomerely1thing - Actually it was Samuel Johnson who said that.
2
@youcanneverdomerely1thing: I will never understand how Supreme Court Justice Stevens reasoned his way to finding mandatory flag idolatry constitutional in the US.
1
@youcanneverdomerely1thing There are no Republicans brave enough or patriotic enough to take a stand. They’re all in on the scam.
1
Since the media refuse not to report the outrageous and vile comments of our president ... which, his being “ours,” cannot be denied ... we should listen fully to every single vile word he endlessly spews, and profitably suffer the disgust of what is on our hands. Through him we are now a disgraced nation, a condition in my view never to be trivialized or ridiculed. He, as presiding officer after all, re-presents all of us. Should he be re-elected, this would be a sign and symbol of what makes us presently as a nation affirmingly proud of disgrace, not as a label but as substantive reality. Regrettably, that is where Trump has led us; and that is what is yet at stake ... America’s soul.
7
Watching Trump’s performance at his rallies, in the Oval Office, and in his private life, I’ve decided that the purest form of beauty is a man or woman of integrity, decency, honesty, compassion, and courage. I used to think I found that beauty in nature, but nature achieves it naturally. It takes vision and dedication to achieve the purest form. Trump’s rallies are like a square dance of pompous hate, with Trump as the caller. The damage he’s doing to this nation is immense.
23
trump has finally gone too far and it ill cost him the election. I know ppl who were fine with "Lock her up" who have a real problem with "Send her back".
11
@Nate. Couldn't disagree with you more. I agree with the spirit of what you say but Nate, I write this from a town on our immensely beautiful coast and in the Motel I'm staying at now are several tourists. Mostly out of state tourists. People from Idaho, Kentucky, and so on. Trust me, they are all Trump supporters. The two couples on Harleys from Idaho, when they step out to smoke are saying the lamest things about the Squad and too bad they're in a Blue State spending their money, etc. No joke. I can hear all their lame, not concealed contempt.
Manhattan is pretty dang insulated. There is a whole big country beyond there where every bit of hateful garbage this man spews is swallowed hook, line and sinker.
3
@Nate i could not agree more
i know i know, his support among his base is stronger than ever, duh, they relish his vile rhetoric
anyone who held their nose and voted for him will not do it again, see midterms
it will be a bigger landslide and i simply cannot wait for that to happen
1
@Clearwater
Manhattan is not insulated. Idaho may be. Of the four women singled out by President Trump, one is from Michigan, one from Minnesota, one from Massachusetts and one from New York (but not Manhattan). The GOP in Minnesota an in Michigan have distanced themselves from Trump -- he isn't doing to win those states again.
1
Most people know the story of Anne Frank but few know about her father, Otto. And while the Frank's and their spice store was located in The Netherlands (and most assumed they were Dutch), the Franks were in fact Germans, but left Germany out fear of the country's rising anti-semitism. Astonishingly Otto was a soldier in the German army during WWI and received a field promotion to lieutenant.
Yet some 20 years later he (and his family) somehow were then transformed into an enemy of the people of Germany.
12
Do the Trump supporters who chanted 'Send them back' know what they are saying? These duly elected representatives are American citizens who are speaking their mind about their perception of things they believe need improving here. They claim that citizenship as regards to immigrants is what allows us to be here legally. When they chant this obscene slogan they reveal the true racist roots. Their reactions to people at our southern border was never about legality only racism. Even our partisan Supreme Court would hopefully acknowledge their right to speak. And these Trump slogans just as with Clinton's 'Lock her up' was vigilante hate speech. Trump has found that he can say and possibly do anything under the umbrella of the first amendment, but anyone else expressing other than pure love for him makes them a target for deportation or worse. Shades of Germany 1030's style.
10
Come on AOC: the line write themselves. "thank you Mr President, I WILL go back to where I came from. I came from NY and I will go back there this week end and remind them to vote against you in 2020."
13
@Donna
AOC did say that in the press conference. She said she would go back to the Bronx and work for her constituents.
2
Below is pulled from the article:
"In recent days, similar comments by Mr. Trump have been met with repugnance across the country."
But I simply do not believe that, fully. Yes, I and many other progressives are sickened by what Trump said, tweets, re-says and re-tweets but according to a lot of people and many polls he still has a lot of support when he spews this hate. And it may be growing.
I'd be almost certain this is a winning strategy for Trump. He found the weakest achilles heal of the Democratic Party and he's locked his jaw on it with all he's got.
11
No one should think that this is just a “fun” chant confined to Trump rallies.
Trump’s tweets have given life to “go back where you came from” and the green light is on, it’s now ok for racial confrontation and open hatred.
I witnessed it yesterday in a parking lot. It’s no wonder that my friends who do not have white skin are extremely concerned about being harassed or even attacked. More than ever.
Trump may be proud of spreading hate, but this latest provocation is dangerous and beyond reckless.
13
The fact that some 50% of the voters are pro-Trump and the other 50% are social/democrats selecting their favorite candidate out of 20 options .
The NYT really should focus on this scary issue, rather than constantly criticizing the "Trump" side. Report the news in an objective way - don't take sides.
3
@rudolf
They haven't taken sides. You are projecting.
3
@rudolf - 50% of voters ARE NOT pro-Trump. Trump's approval rating is in the low 40's.
2
"Tonight, we renew our resolve to never let our country be ruled by the likes of this 'so-called' president ever again." His attacking, bullying and name calling is shameful. His most corrupt administration in history is pitifully weak and even though they had great wealth and power, were only able to give themselves 'welfare' in a tax cut, that they neither qualified for nor needed. "I have a suggestion for the hate-filled extremists (including our 'so-called' president) who are (is) trying to tear our country down (apart)....Let them (him) leave, if they (Trump) doesn't love it, let him leave." He, obviously, doesn't love America or Americans. He prefers authoritarian run countries, with his pals - Putin and Salmon. He doesn't care for most Americans including anyone of color (unless they are very rich and support him), most women who are educated and know him for the fool he is, and anyone who isn't a fan of him. This rally was a rallying cry to ALL AMERICANS! We are not Germany in the 1930's attempting to rid our country of the undesirables. Why would Trump get to decide who is undesirable? Do we have a dictatorship now? He is already deporting who he deems undesirable? What makes anyone think, that soon it might not be you? Justice must ' run down like an overflowing stream" to clear our and clean out this swamp or cesspool. The day of reckoning must come or we no longer have a democracy. Please good people, do all you can, while you can.
4
The gutter politics of name-calling (e.g. The outright McCarthyism of using the “communist” label for opponents) will work until it does not. It is obviously working for a vocal minority who will certainly vote next year. Unless Democrats add and talk about sane immigration policy reform as well as expanded access to health insurance, a living wage, clean air and water and the like, the haters will very likely get more people out to vote.
6
Once again Trump is accusing other of what he is doing. He is causing divisions in our country by his racist rhetoric, aggravating a crisis on our border by the cruel treatment of asylum seekers.
Trump is a force for evil along with Mitch McConnell and other republican enablers. All they want is to stay in power. They do not love our country all they love is their power.
I hope people get out and VOTE otherwise this country will be in deep trouble. We need to get rid of Trump and Mitch.
6
Taxpayers are paying for this rally where the President incites the crowd with his racist, misogynistic, and illegal (according to the EEOC) statements against Representative Ilhan Omar. This rhetoric from the President has gone beyond outrage into the realm of dangerously inciting violence against members of congress. Here's a investigation idea for the House: where is the funding for these rally's coming from? If it's not coming from Trump's campaign, it should be a campaign violation.
4
I've never met a Trump supporter nor seen a red hat in real life. No one I know supports the Republican agenda.
I see these cartoon rallies with TwoScoops and don't believe these are my fellow Americans. I believe this is all staged for the media and the media is passively acquiescing because it's model can't handle disinformation. The media thrives on conflict and resolution and eyeball clicks. And that drives them to betray us.
3
No, these people are for real. They are my former and present co-workers and my former friends and they are everywhere here in Alabama.
12
Come to Ohio. They exist.
6
@Benjy Chord please if possible get out and meet people outside your social circle, neighborhood, city, region. I live in Massachusetts, even I have met Trump supporters. Please watch a few minutes of Fox news to gain another perspective.
3
I have this fantasy. Trump says something inappropriate, divisive, racist, misogynistic... And the press does not report it. A big vacuum of silence envelops him and he looks around confused... "Kellyanne...", he babbles while drawing squares in the air with his hands. "The media says nothing on what I said in [last rally]/ about [who knows, just anyone] yesterday! How is it possible!? Now what?" Kellyanne is also confused. The plan is normally to double down and say something just as outrageous. What if they do not report on her either? They both look out the window, where the press is waiting in the Rose Garden. They notice there are significantly less correspondents than usual and they look at each other uncomfortably. Kellyanne wonders if the media has finally wised up and if they need to think of a new strategy to always be talked about. "Good luck on that one", she thinks while they go to meet the press.
The climax comes when I picture Trump, increasingly nervous as no one in the Rose Garden asks him about his latest outrage/ maneuver to dominate the conversation and/ or distract from his latest failure. He looks around, increasingly sweaty and finally he cannot take it anymore and says "Aren't you going to...?"
When are we going to finally get it? This is a reprise of 2016: he had nothing to say, but you would not hear about anyone else. The consequence of that mistake, we live it everyday. Are we really going for seconds? I fear we are.
11
trump and his 'ardent followers' are a threat to America , and people opposed to trump and his racism need to start showing up at his rallies and voicing their opinions. Yes, it will be dangerous. But if his hate-filled rhetoric continues without being checked or even publicly questioned, it will continue to poison a widening circle of Americans. If we cannot defend our country and its ideals by standing up to racist taunts at public rallies, we have already lost the battle.
2
Reality TV gone amok. That is what we have, a reality show candidate elected and a subset of supporters who find this entertaining and mindlessly follow along.
3
Agreed. When he says “our” country, he means the country that rallies this crowd up, the anger-filled, hatred-filled country that he defines with this crowd in his monstrous speeches. It’s the reality show country that this crowd wants to believe in. It’s the one they can be excited about. It is their country.
It’s just not mine.
2
This is not even close to being new. If anybody listened to major right-wing radio or Fox prime time, you'd have heard a thousand times by now that "The dems want to destroy you and America."
Rush Limbaugh even has a special way of sneering out the word "democrats" to make them sound like the ultimate villain.
Trump always gets the heat on these statements, but he's just recycling other people's garbage. That's why it resonates so well with that crowd, they've been hearing it for years already and Trump just affirms it.
8
@Mark
I think Donald's platform of hate would be on pretty shaky ground if not for the support of people like Rush and Fox news. They laid the foundation he stands on and he would be nothing without them.
3
Trump has found a winning strategy and the Democrats have no antidote for his poison. White America is steeped in privilege, segregation, and implicit bias against black and brown skinned people. White flight, redlining, and defacto white only communities all demonstrate that when push comes to shove, white Americans will act to hold onto that vision of what makes America great.
2
Hold on. That’s a very broad brush you’re using.
A great many NYT readers and many anti-Trump commenters here are white, you can be sure. Many white people must have voted for Hillary Clinton, and Obama before her, else she never would got 60 million votes.
Racism is not new, as you know, neither as sentiment nor as policy. Strom Thurman and George Wallace are good examples. Trump is only the latest incarnation.
Don’t give up on the country because of the Yahoos at Trump rallies. And please don’t decide that minority represents everyone.
2
@Jack Anyone in a privileged position would fight to keep it. That is why revolutions occur.
2
Donald Trump has indeed earned his place in history - he now surpasses Benedict Arnold as the person whose name is synonymous with TRAITOR - by his remarks, he betrays all American citizens and values.
Texas textbook publishers - you have some editing to do.
3
Those 4 Democratic inexperienced and overly aggressive congresswomen have already caused grievous problems for the Democratic Party. I hope they have learned their lesson before they do more damage.
They have little authority whatever and should keep quiet and let older and wiser Democratic Congressmen do their job instead of provoking white supremacist, as happened at the recent rally.
Shame on Trump and shame too on the squad. They have foolishly let Trump use them for his ill-gotten gains.
4
You read his comments and your blood pressure rises. Your disgust boils. It is hard to focus but focus you must. Because, now, he is taking the next step, the one we all feared but hoped would not come. “Anyone who would vote for ANY (emphasis mine) Democrat in 2020 is voting for....the destruction of our country.” He potentially laying the predicate for claiming voting against Trump is a treasonous act. The danger continues to rise.
6
Well gosh, I guess Trump supporters ARE deplorable.
14
“hate-filled extremists who are constantly trying to tear our country down.”
Yes, he is right. And that hate filled extremist is Donald Trump.
7
Once Trump is done with going after the immigrants, who's next?
9
@e. collins, ILLEGAL immigrants, as well as asylum seekers whose claims have been denied, not all immigrants.
1
The words of Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller in 1945:
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
2
@e. collins
“...then they came for me.”
We don't hate our country. We love our country. We hate what you and the Republican party are doing to it.
11
Nothing like a platform of racism, hate and lies to really show you what some so called “patriots” stand for.
4
Unfortunately this is how I feel about the rally - "and the idiots believe him".
Is it more "American" to stand up for ones beliefs or to run away to some foreign country? Let's ask the boys who ran to Canada during Vietnam.
So glad I didn’t send my kid to Furman University
For further context, see: late 930's Germany.
7
Those of us old enough to remember the Nixon years will recall his attack on anti-war protesters with the statement "Love it or leave it." Pursuing an increasingly unpopular war, Nixon attempted to make opponents of the war enemies of the nation. This tactic actually worked for a while. But at that time, as contentious as these debates were, there was a kind of lightness and humor not seen today. In the late 60s, the "love it or leave it" slogan became the bumper sticker "love it or leaf it," a reference to then plant that is now legal in several states. Today, the tone is more heated and lacks the possibility for humor. Trump is taking Nixon's playbook and doubling down on it to stir up his base more than Nixon ever did. The times have really changed, and not for the better.
4
There's a very definite trend in our country for the government to run every aspect of our life. This has caused a significant rise in extremists on both sides of the aisle. Additionally, wealthy extremists have dominated many print-media organizations . . . again on both sides of the aisle.
Any person who believes that a 55% to 40% majority on social issues should crush that substantial minority . . . are the very people who are dividing our country.
During the last Presidential election, there were few bumper stickers here in Denver for either Trump or Clinton. To me, that showed that regardless who won the election . . . neither the Democrat nor the Republican leadership were in synch with typical Americans who are far more centrist than our party leaders.
Ways to force more American centrist legislation include: 1) Changing Congressional rule so that a 66 majority is required to pass legislative bills, 2) Change Congress rules that allows Omnibus legislation, and 3) For members of both parties to vote to reject Presidential Orders.
Remember: American "values" do in fact include "compromise".
2
Here we go again. Trump continues to use outrageous statements and actions to successfully distract us from the policy issues that could sway swing voters: namely, a steeply progressive tax plan to reduce extreme inequality, and that would pay for low cost high quality healthcare, (great for individuals and businesses), tuition free, high quality, life long, public education and job training (coordinated with employers), and for the abundance of jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities that carefully planned, large, national, projects would create.
Yes, there are even more important issues involving our would be dictator, but, sadly, emphasizing them will not win the crucial votes needed in the defining election of our lives. Swing voters are understandably more concerned about their personal economic problems than global warming, asylum seekers, immigration, honest voting, racism, presidential lies , Russian agents, Trump’s corrupt administration and obvious “collusion”, and, most dangerously, the Trump administration’s refusal to obey congressional subpoenas and court orders.
May the Democrats convince the voters in November, 2020, to save us all.
3
I am an immigrant. Before I was born and while I was a child the country of my birth persecuted, forced to emigrate, locked up, and eventually murdered 11 million people, all "enemies of the people", be it for political, religious or racial reasons, and unleashed a disastrous world war. As a teenager I chose to live in a country where "it couldn't happen here", the United States of Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy. When the time came I volunteered to serve three years in the US Army to defend, preserve and protect the values and virtues codified in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Looking at America today as an 80 year old veteran I feel betrayed. "Love it or leave it." I heard this for the first time when I opposed the Vietnam War. I am hearing it again today. I will leave in the foreseeable future, of natural causes. But until then I will do my best to expose, identify and condemn all who are so evil to destroy the country of my choice.
20
As a democrat, I can tell you what I want and what I believe that our newly elected representatives support:
- Government regulation that provides the checks and balances to private and corporate power
- Fair taxation
- A health care system that serves all Americans
- Regulation that insures clean water, clean air, safe working conditions, and an livable environment for my grandchildren
- Freedom from religion (yes, the abortion debate is a religious debate as much as it is a privacy issue)
- A strong and vibrant public educational system
- Advanced training and education at a reasonable price that insures Americans can be gainfully employed
- Rising “real wages”
- Jobs that pay a living wage (people shouldn’t have to work three jobs to just barely survive)
- Equal pay for equal work (we’ve lost the concept of a 40 hour work week)
- A basic public infrastructure that benefits all Americans (roads, bridges, parks, water, sewer, etc.)
- A position of leadership in the world that involves diplomacy and not just a bigger bomb (The last 15+ years of war hasn’t improved our world at all.)
- Immigration reform that doesn’t treat those seeking asylum as war criminals (no wait, we treat war criminals better)
- Foreign policies that don’t create the immigration crises that exist at our Southern border and across the world.
- Recognition that there is strength in diversity
How could anyone not want an America that incorporates all of the above?
13
Thanks for this rally and your advice Trump, you have inspired me, I don't love your, or your supporters America, so, I will leave it. I Returned to U.S. two years ago and have regretted that decision. The most popular articles on a market page today were , foreign investment in U.S. realestat has dropped 38%, and, 5 places to retire outside the U.S for 30 K a year, I don't think i am the only one making plans. Will the last person to leave please turn off the lights?
6
Is it just me, or does Trump attract the lowest common denominator of our current society? I know that from my group of acquaintances that the ones who support Trump, or even just Republican stances, seem to be the least educated and least worldly. They have trouble seeing the bigger picture on most issues. Would I be stepping out of line if I assumed that this whole subset of America has been created as a result of our pitifully funded, failing education system? Food for thought.
12
Wonderment as to "Who are these people that spew back Trump prompts?|
These are made for TV news events, orchestrated by Trump campaign staff. The audiences are specially selected & contain a seeding of trained hard-core Trump loyalists, some of whom, especially those of color, travel the circuit from event to event.
It's reality TV folks. Nothing real about it, and that's a fact.
4
Until this "president" I always had reasonable faith in our governments checks and balance system. Donald Trump has decimated that concept. We are sliding down a slippery slope very fast.
8
He says, "They don't love our country"? But does he? How can he speak with such animosity and outright hate about people with different opinions from his own--who happen to be elected members of Congress--and stoke so much division while in the same breath claiming that he "loves our country"? Is he aware that nearly half of our country's voters are registered Democrats? (It's my understanding that registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans nationwide by a handful of percentage points.) So how, in this twisted view, does hating half the country qualify as love? From his golden tower, country club existence where it seems permissible to assume that you can get whatever you want simply by being white, male, and loudest and most abrasive in the room I guess he figures that he can define the "country" as just this narrow swath of people who take pleasure in demonizing others. That's not my country. My country is welcoming, diverse, defined by kindness and open-mindedness, valuing of intelligence and hard work, resilient, and hopeful for a better future for every single person in it. He may be the official representative of my country right now, but he doesn't love the country I know and love. Not even a little bit.
10
“How can he speak with such animosity and outright hate about people with different opinions from his own-”
Maybe he learned how by reading what NYT readers say about Republicans?
1
We have to stop dissecting trumps every word and action. This far into his term, all Americans know who he is. Those that adore him will not change their mind. Instead, create a running page and call it something like "What Trump's Been Up To Instead of Healthcare or Infrastructure" and keep a list of his tweets, gripes and other nonsense, categorized by date and hour. Then run headline stories on the Democratic candidates, their plans should they win office, their past experience and successes, etc. Force the Democrats to show substance and the best candidate should surface. Give the voter someone to vote for, not just someone to vote against. Oh, and for pete's sake, the best candidate does not have radical left ideas. When you veer off the road to the right, you don't want to over correct and go too far left. We've got to keep it moderate.
1
The man does not have a racist bone in his body.
In fact, all he does is promote Rep. Omar as his poster child for the Democratic party.
What could be more inclusive than that?
The Dems, of course, have responded in their typically coherent way and are well on their way of forming a coalition with CNN and CSPAN to formulate a way to lose the 2020 election.
1
The advantage that Trump had in the 2016 election is now his biggest disadvantage...his governing record. He will need to defend it every day until 3 November 2020.
1
You would think after all this time, this history of dealing with racism in this country, that I would know how to react to what was on display at that rally but I don’t. I’m speechless. I don’t know what I’d say faced with that hatred. All I can think to do right now is to send $20 to rep Omar.
2
Trump and the Republicans are simply bringing this country to the brink of a civil war. All this to the benefit of some foreign power.
5
And he has the enthusiastic support of Wall Street and virtually every major corporation in America. 'Nuff said.
So, it is now considered anti-American to oppose separating children from their families, raising the minimum wage, and combating climate change with a Green New Deal.
Trump's base will believe anything he tells them. This blind acceptance is rooted in years of Rush Limbaugh's hate mongering to millions, where his devotees proudly called themselves "ditto heads" signaling their similar unthinking endorsement of whatever he said.
Will this stand? And will Democrats unite, articulate a clear and compassionate progressive vision -- and effectively put this two-bit demagogue in his place?
4
If you find this attack on these women as repugnant as I do, know this: Trump is using these left-leaning congresswomen to paint with a broad brush the entire Democratic party this election cycle. Trump is turning their idealism into an effective political weapon to influence his unsophisticated, naive political base. Will it work? Only if there is a low voter turnout with Trump's approval rating hovering slightly above 40 percent. Trust me on this. Trump using his brand of character assassination will have Ilan Omar with his brand of character assassination in the minds of his constituents looking like Osama bin Laden's sister by the time we go to the polls in November 2020. Only a massive turnout will prevent Trump from being re-elected. VOTE BLUE NO MATTER WHO IN 2020.
5
Not trying to push Godwin's law here, but I'm reading Andrew Robert's "The Storm of War" (for the second time) and the parallels between 1930's Germany and our current administration are frightening.
5
Let me just say this to our Democratic leaders: if I were a voter who went out for Obama and then this polar opposite, I would not be persuaded to return to the D side based on their inability to stand up to him in any way.
His rhetoric now is incendiary to the point of dangerous. And their response Is lukewarm and ineffectual.
If a president ever should be impeached, this one is the most deserving in our history.
3
Someone is going to get killed. Just wait and see.
11
They have already. Heather Heyer.
6
@Tracy Klinesteker This has already happened. The murders of the worshippers in Pittsburgh were the direct result of his xenophobic platform.
A Secret Service detail should be assigned to these four Congresswomen
4
@Krishna Myneni
You're right. Thank you for the reminder.
2
even better than the weekend golf trips is the fact that we democrats pay for these rallies.
5
I can't help but wonder what John McCain would say if 'send her back' or 'lock her up' was chanted at one of his rallys.
4
Amazing !
70 + year old POTUS going into a food (& worse) fight with a freshman congresswoman. He will raise her standing amongst all but the GOP & his base dramatically if she responds with restraint and a constructive message. She certainly has an audience now.
4
The cities and states he vilifies represent over 40 percent of the US GDP by conservative estimates. Without them the US would rank behind China in GDP. California and New York give more to red states then they get in return. Maybe these states should enter into an economic compact in addition to their AGs legal efforts, and start a coordinated effort to push for coherent and humane policies.
4
Cool, so these people are all terrible, too.
5
Trump is the one who hates our nation. He's selling it to Russia
17
The shadow of Fascism hovered Greenville last night. The spectacle of angry people goaded to revenge by a political charlatan could not be clearer.
Fascism gets its energy and is built upon the inchoate resentment of people which is exploited by unscrupulous politicians. And the basic tool is the fashioning of an internal enemy who is dedicated to the debasement and destruction of the country. The internal enemy who is inherently alien to the good and patriotic citizens.
And all of this energy is directed by someone who promises them a vision of renewal and greatness if only they would follow him.
The symptoms are there: the arrogation of authority, the refusal to obey established rules of political conduct, the negation of responsibility of other parts of government, the inciting of masses, the accusations of treason, the need to get rid of the disturbing elements. Only the Constitution stands in the way and the Supreme Court needs, at this desperate moment, to re-affirm the rights given to the Congress and the obligation of the Executive to follow them. If this Court allows the presidential rejection of this constitutional mandate, the road to political perdition is wide open
24
I will never get over my disgust and disbelief that one person - Donald Trump- could be so relentlessly virulent. It would be fascinating if it weren't so horrifying and calamitous. Normal people do not behave like this. Normal people do not intentionally seek out the lines of decency and do everything in their power to obliterate them and push into even worse, even more bigoted, and even more violent territory. This is not normal, it is pathological, and I will not become numb, as much as Trump and the Republican party would like that to happen.
I am sickened and outraged that the highest offices in our land openly broadcast bigotry, racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia, and unrelenting sadism and greed. I'm sickened that there are apparently a good number of Americans who support and cheer this on, even if they are nothing but a highly vocal minority. Never forget that the majority of the American people find this as abhorrent as I do. Most people do not support Trump. Most people do not support the Republican party.
30
Well...he's not wrong.
When the Face of the Democrat Party has her chief of staff acknowledge the GND is all about destroying capitalism and replacing it with socialism....that's all you need to know.
And it's not me who says she;'s the Face of the Democrat Party.
That's verbatim from the Chairman of the Democrat National Committee; Tom Perez.
You know..the guy who makes all decisions about who is who amongst Democrat Party leadership.
That guy...declared AOC the Face of the Democrat Party.
Why we have to constantly remind Democrats of their own decisions and their own words is beyond me.
6
@Erica Smythe Many of the world's countries embrace "socialism". Scandinavia which has topped charts of happiest countries has a government that practices socialism which is just a view to protect all of its citizens. It is only here in American where socialism is equated with Communism.
3
@EricaSymthe
I had to look that up. You’ve misquoted Tom Perez. He called AOC “the future of the party” and was referring to her age/generation having different priorities than Boomers. She isn’t the face of the party...but a vanguard of the millennial generation taking over for Boomers.
This is just aging. It’s not some crazy take over by Democratic socialists. Most of the presidential candidates aren’t socialist.
1
@Erica Smythe
No, he’s wrong.
1
When fascism comes to America it will be wrapped in the flag and carrying the cross.
Lewis Sinclair
30
@Robert Westwind The Cross of Christ has NOTHING to do with fascism, sir, or with any other earthly ideology. It is highly offensive to this Deacon of the Eastern Orthodox Church that our faith is in any way linked with the disturbing and frightening display being put on by the current occupant of the White House and his mobs. True, authentic Christianity is as far from their beliefs and behavior as the sun is from Pluto. They are diametrically opposed.
@Robert Westwind
That's Sinclair Lewis. According to Snopes and the Sinclair Lewis Society, there is no record of Lewis ever saying or writing that.
On the contrary: using a "vicious expletive" when referring to "president" Trump demonstrates a passionate love of country.
8
Only one way for Joe Public to make a change - VOTE. Vote for local reps that are speaking truth to power. Vote for your State Reps that are speaking truth to power. Vote for your Federal Reps that are speaking truth to power. Vote for your Presidential Reps that are speaking truth to power. If they are blowing hot air, then sort it out in your mind or do some objective research. The power is still within the people, but people have to get involved by doing to some homework to evaluate each candidate. Unfortunately, in 2016 the Dems promoted a candidate that was not salable ( though perhaps very qualified ). The future is arriving soon and so people need to go out and vote their choice - this is the only power that Joe Public has. Too many people just don’t really care and would rather watch the latest water-cooler TV show or sports events. We are becoming lazy, hatefilled victims - please get involved by VOTING. Voting should be mandatory and should be held on a VOTE-Holiday ( day off from work ). We don’t need all these public holidays - just change one to the VOTING Day.
7
@Scooter: James Comey's stunt with Anthony Wiener's computer was a bloodless assassination.
No actually, Mr. President, it is not the nation that is a force for evil. It is you and those who follow you are complicit. A fish rots from the head and, with you as its leader, the GOP has rotted to its core.
14
Dems are mindlessly giving Trump the megaphone by elevating The Squad. Only they are as divisive as Trump. Dems must return to real issues and t-up an electible candidate.
4
Clearly what Trump accuses others of desiring, is what he seeks for himself - The President who "Makes America Great Again" by destroying it.
That achievement will "go down in History"!
3
In my opinion, the sympathy for Omar expressed in this article is undue, when she has repeatedly shown herself to be a ribald anti-Semite as well as someone who is problematically subversive with the respect to the country she purports to serve. And while Trump's tweet was inappropriate for a sitting president, one might wonder if it really is any worse than the vitriol persistently coming from the far left. AOC's abuse of the memory of the Holocaust last week is enormously troubling, and arguably even more deleterious than Trump's latest comments. It's hard for me to go along fully with this righteous indignation when it's repeatedly presented in such an unbalanced manner.
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@David: Religion does not belong in public policy. There is no value or worth to beliefs held without substantiation.
2
James Buchanan was the last pre-civil war president. He supported the Dred Scott decision, pronounced by the Supreme Court stating that not a single person of African ancestry could claim citizenship of the United States.
He supported also the Lecompton Constitution of Kansas, excluding African-Americans (called "blacks")from the bill of rights.
President Trump is much worse than Buchanan. What havoc he will bring to the country is difficult to predict, but the situation is starting to boil over, that's for sure.
5
According to the Speaker of Corporations, Nancy Pelosi, there is no reason to impeach Trump. I wonder what it will take?
3
trump loves media attention. Can't we have a trump boycott? The media should ignore him. People should turn off the TV when he comes on, and not write articles about him, and refrain from reading his tweets. The media should stop showing his face. Maybe they could photo shop a smiley on his head instead.
I agree that the media should stop putting rally stories under Top Stories. Or they shouldn't cover rallies at all. Or leave it to scandal sheets. Who wants to read about this anyway? Trumpists?
4
I was a teenager working in Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign in 1968.
There was a lot of weird scary unhinged talk in those days.
I remember how that turned out.
This feels like that.
7