And now we learn today that "America's Mayor" has two associates from Ukraine that are doing perp walks and taking great arrest photos all while "America's Lawyer" Bill Barr is meeting with "State Media's CEO" Rupert "Mr. Media Ethics" Murdoch to work on messaging about "him peach meant".
Nope, nothing here folks.
36
In a statement , our newly self appointed supreme leader told the world he faulted the Kurds for failing to assist America during the D Day Normandy Invasion on June 6 1944. You could not make this stuff up.
Personally , I miss Dr Strangelove.
48
Jack Nicholson could play Trump.
32
Now that Guiliani is directly implicated, you can expect Trump to deny knowing him. Rudy who ? Remember how he handled Michael Cohen the other "fixer"?
24
Ah, Ms Collins, nice article, but the Trumpster has been there for a while, if you know what I mean.
6
Trump is having a breakdown before our eyes, he should be removed. Is letting Turkey do as it wishes the result of blackmail or a payoff? Someday we will know.
22
In light of the revelations of arrests made by the F.B.I. of two "energy executives" associated with Trump's counsel, Rudy Guiliani, today, I have a feeling that we're going to see the whole White House of cards collapse very soon.
Yes, Mr. Trump is a nut case--and, he's president of the United States! But, hopefully, with this latest indictment of two men who seem to have ties all over the place, including Ukraine, it looks as though this investigation will lead straight to some in Congress and the White House, while further revealing possible nefarious dupes elsewhere who've attached themselves to the president thinking they were safe from being found out.
Watch as the man Ms. Collins describes crumbles before our very eyes and hopefully will face justice in the form of a full-blown impeachment while his law-breaking cronies (including his personal lawyer) get a full dose of our U.S. criminal justice system. Sad, but hopefully true.
24
Graham seems to be doing a lot of praying whenever he doesn't want to do anything substantive. Gun violence, the Kurds. Him and the neocons ought to be ashamed of themselves. He is not an innocent bystander. This is genocide! And they, as Trump's enablers, are culpable
26
Stable on alternate days possible, no longer. Genius dispatched swiftly. There are words in the DSM manuals for diagnosing psychological disorders but let's not go there. What we can all recognize a nervous breakdown a term handed down through generations. A general loss of control of one's faculties sort of like Trump now. Or, maybe like my old maid aunt he is addled. Yes, thrown into confusion.
7
Much talk about craziness, but no mention of the craziest thing of all: We have Kurds as allies in Northern Syria. Is there no trouble spot in the world we can stay away from? Takes one to know one? Seems only Trump is crazy enough to see the insanity of our never ending involvement in the Middle East. If we had never gone looking for trouble in Iraq, etc. etc. there would never have been an ISIS or Al Qaida. Eisenhower warned in vain.
7
He is not mentally ill per se. By that I mean that he doesn't have a delusional disorder, psychotic illness or bipolar disorder. And he doesn't appear to have a cognitive impairment though he certainly does not appear bright. He has a severe personality disorder. That's why he evokes so much anger in rational people. He lies with abandon, is cruel and is narcissistic. He believes he should never face negative consequences. But to equate his symptoms with those of the truly mentally ill is unfair to them. He is criminally responsible for what he does. Many of them are not when in the grip of their symptoms. They are treatable. He is not.
42
I wonder why more comments about Trumps mental health are not making the Opinion pages. That "he needs professional care because he is suffering " and "needs to be removed so he can get help and get well" or commentary along those lines would really get to the heart of the matter. That he has a serious need for the best mental health professionals is a reality.
It would be borrowing a page from Marrianne Williams, ie. kill 'em with compassion. I suggest throwing that firebomb from behind a nice thick bunker tho.
5
"In my great and unmatched wisdom..." where does this stuff come from?! Did Trump hire Kim Jung-un’s speech writer?
My husband keeps saying why don’t the Republicans use the impeachment inquiry as an opportunity to rid themselves of a colossal headache? They got their judges. Another Trump presidency would finish off the Republican party.
Oh well, he’s President!
12
Great column - but cuckoos don't have nests; they are predators on the nests of other birds. Hmmm.
8
Outrageous the Kurds weren't at Normandy! Remind me, where were the Trumps? Drumpfs? Kushners?
Has one member of the family ever served the country in uniform? This country.
Didn't think so.
25
DJT and Erogan conversion: Golly, I would love to read the transcript of that little chat. Pax, jb
5
If Mr Trump were one of my older relatives, I'd call a family conference to figure out how to protect him from himself.
32
Yes, the President, rarely guilty of understatement, branded Turkey's invasion of Northern Syria a "bad idea." To be fair though he later pointed out that the Kurds failed to join US armed forces as they stormed the beaches of Normandy in 1944, so why support them now? We owe them nothing, right?
As for our quivering, cowering US senators, who says they are not "miniature poodles" carrying the president's socks. Lindsey Graham may have called out the CIC's gratuitously induced disaster for our only true Middle Eastern ally, but he went on to pin the lion's share of blame on Turkey rather than the figure who precipitated the emerging catastrophe.
But who cares? The Kurds didn't help us win WW2. Let them eat cake!
20
Yes, thoughts and prayers to the Kurds from Lindsey Graham. Of course. We all know what happens next...
18
Sort of makes you long for the old days of Mitt Romney putting Seamus the dog in the crate and on the roof of the family station wagon, to drive to VT or someplace. .. someone needs to put Trump in a crate and strap HIM to the roof of his limousine, and drive it to a hospital for the criminally insane. He's totally unglued.
Barack Obama said it best; "uniquely unqualified for the presidency". How true.
36
Miniature poodles have more self-respect than Lindsay Graham and object to your characterization, Gail
31
In supporting the toad, the Republican Senators themselves are furthering violations to the Constitution and are acting treasonously. Maybe if someone were to tell them that they would also be accountable, they would start trying to peel themselves off this slimeball.
14
When is the last time an American president gave the green light to ethnic cleansing?
Perhaps it was Andrew Jackson, trump's favorite incidentally.
27
What the Truks Did for US During WWII
A big, fat, nothing.
Turkey worked very hard at convincing the Nazis and the US allies that they were neutral, not throwing their hat into the Allied ring until September 1954, just 2 months before the last battle and the declaration of total victory in Europe.
The Turks fired not a single shot during the War.
Just a reminder, Mr. President. I'm certain your great and all-capacious mind was fully aware of that fact.
Oh, and the Kurds? Members of the tribe DID fight alongside US troops, serving as part of Britian's colonial troops.
30
Is this the Matt Gaetz you speak of in this article. The man who speaks for djt??
https://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/lawmakers-talk-of-mug-shot-raises-questions-about-dui-arrest/2166023/
If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth.
And licking his feet.
3
"Let's give him a fair hearing, then commit him". Thank you Gabby Hays.
1
These 'mirror image' insults -- 'No, YOU'RE having a mental breakdown' -- were always quick to fly, spittle-flecked, from DT's mouth, even in the campaign. Collins is right -- for three years he's had his schoolyard bullies in Congress and the White House to back him up, no matter how detached from reality he became. Pretty soon it'll just be Giuliani. It will be hard to tell who is the mad king and who is the court jester.
8
Go after the coward Republicans who won't desert Trump. Ask them repeatedly what they think they are going to earn from staying with him.
6
Is there any reason to doubt Erdogan told Trump he’d burn his hotels to the ground if the US didn’t pull out of Syria?
8
"When the going gets weird, the weird get going."
Dr. Hunter S Thompson
8
The Donald will do whatever it takes to protect his towers in Turkey.
5
Well, the next thing you know, he’ll claim the Kurds weren’t there for the D-Day invasion. Oh, wait....
8
I wish he'd hurry up and stab his GOP allies in the back. It's just a matter of time. He started a small foray against Pence in connection with the Ukraine before realizing Pence might be the only thing giving some folks hesitancy about impeachment. Now the evangelicals (let's please not refer to them as "Christian") are shocked, just shocked, to discover he's not God's sick idea of an answer to their prayers after all. Are Moscow Mitch and Lapdog Lindsay paying attention??
14
I think this is where Belushi comes on the scene and exclaims...
"Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?"
6
What did Trump do at Normandy, Viet Nam, anywhere?
20
Sure he's offending GOP senators, but his m.o. has always been to confuse and defuse an existing problem by creating a new one. That his new move infuriates supporters only shows how desperate he is to change the topic. When he feels himself at risk, his sense of obligation to foreign allies--Kurds, Saudis, Israelis--goes out the window, since those devotions were never based on principle or loyalty, but only on what played with given audiences at a given time. I don't believe any theory of abnormal psychology anticipated a personality being evil, dumb, and infantile--yet also having animal shrewdness.
7
A) has he ever had one good idea?
B) he is not going nuts; he was nuts before his fraudulent election.
9
“There are different ways to bake the cake, depending on what sort of cake you want. Different flavoring, different temperatures, different ingredients yield different types of cake, and the president as the master baker is testing recipes and deciding what type of cake he wants.”
— a senior White House official, explaining President Donald Trump’s approach to impeachment to The Washington Post on Monday.
In Short: trump is a "master baker". ouchhh! mama!
2
A senator -- Graham -- says "pray" for the Kurds? What a cop out. The senate can actually do something!
8
It’s almost gotten to the point where I can’t read columns like this for entertainment anymore. The content, however entertaining, just raises my blood pressure. Oh, I long for the days of Mitt and his dog.
193
@Barb I couldn’t agree more. Trump’s lunacy is now terrifying to any sentient being. Earlier in Trump’s administration, before his insanity completely breached the veil of this “stable genius”, former FBI director Andrew McCabe told “60 Minutes” that Justice Department officials had discussed invoking the 25th Amendment to remove him from office. It seems past time to have more than just a discussion. Forget impeachment, consider involuntary commitment.
35
@Barb
I'm opposite. These "humorous" columns are more palatable than the "serious" ones.
5
I don’t believe that Trump is mentally unstable, that’s a vile insult to the genuinely mentally ill and incapacitated. If he was he could be pitied and receive treatment. Rather, I believe that his attitude is reflective of his of his pseudo aristocratic, bloody minded, class of privileged, wealthy, elites.
I am a union representative tasked with defending a membership under constant assault from people just like Trump, sharing the same derision, aloofness, and abandonment of rationality that responsibility in authority demands. An employee was recently fired for being late because Google Maps estimated the travel time from point A to B was shorter than the actual time it took him in heavy traffic. Another has been dismissed for absenteeism because the employer blithely refuses to accept medical documentation outlining her serious condition. In terms of corporate policy, employees are expected to work beyond the boundaries of fatigue into the realm of exhaustion. As train crews responsible for movement of ever more massive trains through heavily populated urban centres and environmentally vulnerable regions, the burden of official and unremitting, greed driven, insouciance without check bears down heavily.
Our society has been conquered and divided by the wilful butchery of common sense and traditional norms by which we previously existed. Trump, to an outsider, may be appear insane. To his cohorts he appears coolly brilliant, driving new precedents to embarrass us all.
18
Well done Ms. Collins! In the countless hours that the President of America spends in front of the television, I wonder if he ever watched Wag the Dog. The Syria withdrawal seems all too familiar. Create a crisis to distract from the issue of impeachment.
6
Thanks, Gail. You manage to find humor in the darkest of times.
3
The call between Trump and Erdogan was probably short and sweet. Trump was told that Turkey intends to finally rid the border of those pesky Kurds. And if Trump had any objections, it would be a real shame if something were to happen to those beautiful twin towers earning Trump millions.
7
The man's comments on D-Day and Normandy followed by the "so what" reaction to the emptying of prisons holding ISIS (Daesh) fighters simply confirm what most already know. He's an incompetent, corrupt, "reality TV" unqualified huckster and we are all captives to his ego and megalomania.
40 percent or so of our fellow Americans do not care, and many would welcome a dictatorship. An extreme statement? Nope, look around you at the diehard base of his supporters.
For them it is less about him and all about "sticking it" to the bi-coastal educated and well read types. It is about the "other" as well, in a case of demographic panic. The non-whites, the non-conforming in sexuality, culture, attitudes. A bunker mentality played like a violin by Trump and his team.
13
And where were the Kurds when we were securing the airports in the revolutionary war?
23
I'm not sure how reliable "Business Insider" is, but they wrote,
"In a phone call between President Donald Trump and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Sunday, the US president reportedly advised Turkey not to invade northeastern Syria and offered to resume sales of the US's fifth-generation aircraft, the Lockheed Martin F-35...Trump's purported offer to Erdogan marks a departure from the US's policy since July not to include Turkey in its flagship F-35 program. The US granted F-35 contracts to several allies, including the UK and South Korea, but took Turkey off that list when it purchased Russia's advanced S-400 air-defense systems."
"The F-35 cannot coexist with a Russian intelligence collection platform that will be used to learn about its advanced capabilities," the White House said in a statement at the time."
I don't want to succumb to a crazy conspiracy theory, but doesn't this seem a little treasonous? Like...lets throw this out while we throw the Kurds under the bus, either option is a win for Putin.
5
The Dada like logic of Donald Trump is stunning to witness. One of his rationals for abandoning the Kurds to slaughter by Turkey was because they didn't help us at Normandy. Whaaat! Did the fact that the Kurds were not a independent country,had no Navy, Airforce or Army ever cross his mind? Did he expect them to hop on their cattle and charge German tanks?
On Lindsey Graham the quote from a Politico article will not leave my mind.They described Graham as Trumps shinebox. Imagine Joe Pesci as Donald Trump shooting at Grahams feet as he brings Trump his scotch.
2
I guess when Kurds are seeking asylum in the US because they are in fear of their lives they will be denied entry because they didn't help in WWII among other things. 45 is a blight on mankind.
14
“Now we aren’t even free to change the subject”.
And this is what is killing us. Simply no respite from a president that terrorizes his citizens and the rest of the world as well.
7
What was easily predictable in 2016 is now a daily proven reality: the White House is occupied by an enemy.
13
Jesus wept!
(These people call themselves Christians? I recommend the gospels.)
Coals of fire, moneychangers in the temple, whited sepulchers.
All the deadly sins wrapped up in one vainglorious conman and all his punters, looting, exloiting, hurting, hating, murdering, and blaming victims.
Unpatriot central, that's the current GOP. The good ones have long since left, or blinded themselves to our hospitable planet's requirements for a continued humane humanistic future.
15
Is possible, no, this reckless and craziness may knock News Corp on way out. Last bulldoze?
1
I am an Australian. I am quite concerned. Australia has a long time alliance with USA. Is it going to be any use if tested, or will Trump throw us under the bus like he seems to do with other allies?
18
To Frank Carroll; as a fellow Australian we can always throw the Americans out of Pine Gap. Two can play the disloyalty game.
2
This is a set up. Allow our staunch ally Kurds to die en masse at the hands of Turks to give Lindsay Graham a scenario to criticize Trump, to provide the GOP a smoke screen on being Trump’s enabler on his impeachable offenses.
6
anyone else notice that Ivanka Trump gleefully tweeted yesterday about the opening of Trump Tower Istambul? and we wonder why he gave Erdogan the OK to destroy the Kurds? Seriously. Nothing like feeding our allies to the wolves while counting one's new millions. and there's nothing wrong with this?
46
Make America Great Again. America First I'm afraid not; what we are rapidly becoming is America Alone. Yes we will still have our nuclear toys but not for long.....take a good long look at "Him." Do you think he will be able to resist showing off, especially as he becomes more deranged every day due to the Impeachment Inquiry? He won't have a follow up thought along the lines of: No, that won't work; most will be dead and unable to appreciate the show and how long can I exist in my bunker?
This country is one of the most magnificent glorious experiments of all time. To think this lunatic might be the end us is unfathomable. To think enough people voted to put him in the Oval Office is even more unfathomable. Our Founding Fathers almost created the perfect document, They just never thought, and apparently neither did we, that enough of us would vote for a mentally ill, very UNstable NONgenius to take us down. The 25th Amendment is not appropriate here. We need(ed) an amendment that states an unhinged POTUS absolutely must be removed from the People's House as soon as he/she has told us they are a very stable genius as they put children in cages, don't you think?
30
Nothing like having the Great Destroyer and Obliterator for president. Starting look like a psychotic Wizard of Oz, or perhaps The Joker From Queens.
11
Ms. Collins, Gail, if I may. This is a superb piece. I laughed out loud several times. "ept." Only In-Ept in this kluge, for sure.
It is difficult to make fun of people, and Gaetz, and Graham, who both USED to be people, that are absurd to the point of... well the image in my head is a black hole UN-sucking everything into it. It's bizarro world 4D.
Let's get back to goat yoga, not goat rodeos.
6
I really do think the Democrats should warn Trump that if he goes after the children of his political rivals for possibly profiting from their association to a parent who is a VP or in some other position in the US government - then it’s open season into investigating Ivanka and Jared (as well as Trump Jr and Eric) to seeing how they’ve made business deals while on so-called diplomatic missions with or on behalf of Trump. As an example, only two years ago Ivanka went to India and was given the type of red carpet treatment usually reserved for world leaders or royalty. It’s not a coincidence the family has property and business dealings in India.
26
Gail: I love your sense of humor. It can have an edge without being hurtful.
These days , though, humor fails. Our Republic May be facing its most dangerous threat since the Civil War. As a New York celebrity, Donald J. Trump was funny, a caricature, a joke. As President , he’s a threat to our way of life and maybe even a threat to our lives.
He’s not laughable anymore. He’s in way over his head from a skills standpoint and, he’s likely mentally imbalanced.
The time for jokes , being witty and clever is over. I hope that the time for witticism will return, but it won’t happen with this guy and his crew running the Country.
313
@Patrick alexander, “this guy and his crew”, shouldn’t those words be replace with “the New York mob”.
10
Thank-you, Gail, for helping us from pulling our hair out in rage and instead managing to find some bleak humour. You and Stephen Colbert are helping me keep my grip on sanity. On the bright side, when even Lindsey Graham goes from lap poodle to attack poodle, there may be hope.
20
I only truly hope that one day Trump's American political supporters get to feel the same sting when he abandons them as well, for personal profit or to save his own skin.
This man is a friend to nobody but himself.
22
@R Make no mistake. The 'stable genius' will backstab them with all the same guileless glee he, in his "great and unmatched wisdom", will be able to muster.
3
As with all things Trump, follow the money. Trump only does things in his self-interest.
16
Not to be a conspiracy monger, but previous displays of Republican cynicism make me wonder if Trump's decision on Syria wasn't calculated to give Republican senators cover. They get to look tough standing up to him about Syria so their silence on Ukraine/impeachment is less deafening.
16
In June 2016 the WSJ reported that Erdogan, offended by Trump’s anti-Muslim remarks on the campaign trail, threatened to removed Trump’s name from his Istanbul properties. You don’t think Trump didn’t remember that? He undoubtedly said, “Recep, don’t worry about a thing. Those US troops will be outta there in 10 minutes.” And what’s he have to lose? So a few GOP senators get upset. That’s hardly anything to be concerned about when Trump’s base couldn’t find Syria on a map with a guidedog.
16
Yesterday's Trump brain misfire: the Kurds were not with us in Normandy. Watch Mark Meadows' face standing behind Trump as he blabs nonsense.
With all the facial recognition software around, it would be helpful if we could click on a picture and reveal the name of every person standing behind Trump as a human prop while he rants and raves — White House events, South Lawn screaming matches, and MAGA rallies included.
17
Why would the U.S. president step aside and allow a brutal oligarch to attack and ravage one of America's staunchest defenders?
The answer to this too may be found in Trump's tax returns and an a deep examination of his business dealings.
Trump has major business interests in Turkey and also in Russia, which is an ally of Turkey.
The sheer inappropriateness and an assured backlash from even the GOP of Trump kowtowing to Erdogan makes one wonder what the Turkish dictator has on our president.
19
Trump does have a twin condo tower in Istanbul so it’s unlikely his threats to crash Turkey’s economy are real as that would hurt his bottom line. He probably sold out the Kurds to protect his Turkish business dealings and hand another win to both Turkey and Putin who has Russian troops in Syria and wants a Russian port on the Mediterranean Sea it can only get via Syria.
And why doesn’t anyone ever comment that on delaying sending weapons to Ukraine or not listening (in phone call) to any additional requests for weapons, Trump is helping his friend Putin in Ukraine or at least demonstrating he’s pro-Russia even if the rest of the US Government outside the executive branch is not.
10
@James J Erdogan probably now knows everything Putin knows about Trump, whether good, bad or ugly.
2
Brilliant, Gail!
Thanks for the smile.
10
Anyone else consider that the phone call to Erdogan may have been our Snowflake President asking for something from the Turkish Government (perhaps something below board?), but in return Snowflake needs to commence the withdrawal our troops? Admittedly, I know much less about this situation than probably most. Was this action a long-time coming policy move or is it possible this was a completely politically motivated?
Yes, this is cynical and speculatory but this administration has given us reason to ask such questions about its motives.
7
Trump rightly pointed out that the Kurds did not take part in D-Day. Nor were there any Kurds at Lexington or Concord or Bunker Hill. Nor did a single Kurd charge up San Juan Hill with Teddy Roosevelt. So Trump has a good point--right on top of his head! But what I wonder is when are his fanatical followers going to understand that they have hitched themselves to a wagon that is headed downhill faster than they can say "Charge!"
20
Mark, I love the parallel.........I'm also pretty sure that The Donald and Fred weren't on Omaha Beach either. Maybe Utah Beach.
3
The tax cuts and loading the Supreme Court were the endgame. The Court can't be changed, and the cuts have rewarded the wealthiest .01%ers very, very handsomely. As far as the GOP is concerned, whatever happens to Trump (or the USA) is incidental. Mission Accomplished.
14
It might well be the Trump prefers a Warren presidency to a Biden presidency, and that's why he's doing this.
There's a good case to be made, in my honest opinion, that Biden isn't capable of protecting this country from the incursion of the East. In fact, I don't even think he realizes there's a problem.
Some of the political signalling seems coherent when you look at it this way.
1
@Dave First thing first. After Biden he'll attack Warren. Who knows what story he will make up about her. These stories really are his greatest talent. And by the way, was Warren actually born in the United States?
5
There is much in this article that makes sense. Many of us are concerned about the state of our Presidency. Some may point out that the 2016 alternative was better, but I believe that we should hold our Presidency at a higher standard than the choice given in 2016. Corruption has multiple faces, including criminal, moral and ethical. Furthermore most of us, and especially those tilting the election scale, dislike the extremes whether on the right or on the left. Democrats seem to ignore both this and the 2016 elections outcome.... In other words, they need to come up with more electable candidates, or they may get Trump's re-election.
72
@Harry Of course we need candidates that have the knowledge of the issues and can educate the electorate and bring solutions down the middle. That could be D or R. Don't think it's too late for the R's to put up much better candidates to beat this Trump.
17
@Harry I am a Democrat and resent how it seems there are only three candidates--I like them but like others too. I am fearful that Democrats often seem too adept at snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.
25
@Harry The notion that Hillary or even Bernie were extremes is 1. something pushed by the Republican propaganda and media marketing machine and 2. are you saying Trump wasn't extreme? Was he considered "electable"? 3. What higher standard are you referring too?
Clinton was successfully maligned by the Republicans, and beaten up by some Democratics/liberals (including ones from this paper like Dowd), but if you look at her records and experience objectively she was well qualified. If you define corruption as criminal, moral and ethical (without specifics) then who among the current Democrats vying for our vote do you judge to be electable because they are not corrupt (because right now these are the only ones running)? Was Trump a centrist? I'm not sure about your criteria...
108
"If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth." Another great pooch analogy, Gail. We can assume that, if those were Mitt's socks, Graham would end up tied to the roof of the family car.
160
Republicans need to acknowledge that this man is not fit for this job. They would actually help themselves out at the ballot box if they piled on.
7
Is he ''going crazy" ? Well he really is long gone down that road -some time ago.More to the point is he going to drag the country with him down that dark dank hollow? Clearly a good number have taken the bait and are now firmly on his line.
Can they drag us all over the cliff with a Trump win in the next election? Well yes.
All the men who he makes secret deals with in spite of longstanding American policy, both right and left, all men who he has business dealing with- vlad, erdogan, saudi guy, kim jun un- among others, they all have something in common. And that thing is they are all dictators and killers.
And somehow he is able to keep on his merry way with impunity. It is a indication of just how far down the rabbit hole WE have drifted, not only about him.
We are down to just a few more chances here to right our ship. No one should underestimate the danger.
The Dems must cease all petty infighting right pronto like if they know what is good for them. If we can not pull it together we will be like people adrift in the middle of the sea, just praying God or someone happens by and throws us a lifeline.
7
I was once accused by a girlfriend's father of living in sin with her for sharing an apt. This man had two kids with his mistress and convinced his wife to let the mistress and kids live down the road in another house he owned. That's the kind of thinking that Trump excels at '"What I do is immaterial, what you do is paramount!"
12
“There are those that think ... " "Everybody is saying ..." "I'm hearing that ..." All examples of Mr. Trump stating something with no evidence, that he wants to be true. A search on "trump claims without evidence' (no quotes) returns 400 million hits.
He is only hearing the voices in his head.
10
Every one of these commenters need to phone (not email) their senators and representatives and share their views. I phoned mine and suggested they needed to look into the 25th Amendment. All three of mine are GOP, including the sycophant Steve Scalise. But I keep trying. Let them know loudly and clearly that this man is dangerous to the country. Do not give up! Say it respectfully, clearly, and concisely, but SAY IT!
16
Bless you Gail Collins and your ability to make even the most terrifying times at least a little brighter.
3
It's not just Trump, it's the insanity of his talking heads. Gail, maybe you can make us laugh about comments made last night about the persecution of Trump being "regicide".
Not only does Trump believe his own ramblings, but his followers see him as a king installed by God.
This is so gross I'm having trouble typing the words. Hope this will be funny some day.
7
Europeans are scratching their heads over Trump’s idiotic reference to the Kurds not helping us on D-Day. The “stable genius” never forgets a slight even if he has to make it up.
Is there any hope the Republicans will finally admit he is a danger to national security and world stability? The world wants to know.
Trump is the ostensible party leader, but we all know the real leader is Moscow Mitch (how much of 350,000k donated by Guiliani’s accomplices to Trump’s super pac went to Mitch?). Where is he on the abandonment of the Kurds?
The simplest way out is for the Republicans is to join the Democrats in demanding the release of documents and witnesses, especially since public opinion has turned towards impeachment.
History will not be kind to any of Trump’s enablers.
9
This is even too much for Dr. Hackenbush! Mental health professionals wanted, no experience needed.
6
Craziest thing is Trump hiring Trey Gowdy to defend the withholding of documents the House demanded via subpoena.
Gowdy tried to lynch Hillary for withholding documents without success. Gowdy does not understand what an impeachment inquiry is, and he is just looking to milk the cow of legal fees before the cow is slaughtered.
9
@LVG ,
Trey Gowdy is no ordinary ambulance chaser. He's an owner/operator of a fleet of crooked ambulances...!
After all, Jared runs his own crooked healthcare business and it is all on the up and up.
2
Yes, as many commenters have mentioned, Trump has forgotten the intrepid Kurdish commandos who parachuted in to help the Continental Army capture the British airports during the Revolutionary War. We could not have won without their critical assistance.
13
A thorough psychiatric exam would be even more helpful in this case than an Impeachment Inquiry. If Mitch, Lindsey, and a few others in the Senate would demand that Trump goes to a medical clinic under strict orders that it be done discreetly and get "a checkup", we could get to the bottom of ALL this chaos and spur-of-the-moment decision making by the "Commander-In-Chief".
I'm still not clear on why the military would even carry out his orders without clearing it through the Joint Chiefs and his Cabinet.
Of course his top advisors have all resigned, but why didn't they call him on this for the sake of our international reputation? He even said he misses Mattis (and probably several others he threw to the curb prematurely). He's suffering from dementia as well as a severe personality disorder and EVERYONE KNOWS IT ALREADY. So why are we sitting on our hands knowing his actual legitimacy is under question? The irony is that he needs all the help he can get just to hold down the Fort for a little while longer. Not that he deserves it, but when someone can't think straight and holds a position of authority, it spells disaster. The Republican Party has to take responsibility for this deranged individual no matter how distasteful it might be. Or- Well, I would like to see 90% or more of them replaced, but the time to address the potential consequences of his actions is growing short. C'mon GOP- It's time to go to work!
8
“There are those who think that I am a very stable genius” - yes, they speak to him all the time, but no one else hears their voices.
Good thing Turkey will be visiting in November. Trump is planning on pardoning them like his predecessors have done every year. Oh wait, was that the bird or the country? He’ll have to check with the silent voices in his head for direction. Imagine the turmoil if they ever start disagreeing with him.
15
If I were a guest of the Trump Towers, Istanbul, I’d check out immediately. If I were an employee there, I’d be seriously concerned about my safety.
11
Responding to Tom Q Minneapolis, MN: And I would add Donald Trump's infamous July 4th speech this summer recounting George Washington's crossing the Delaware River - which is forever captured and memorialized on YouTube - with all of his arrogantly flamboyant bluster and bombastic pomposity:
nytimes.com/2019/07/05/us/politics/trump-airports-revolutionary-war.html
I have this video saved on my cellphone as an appalling reminder of where we are as a country and understanding that we can never, ever again permit such a buffoon to occupy the Oval Office as President of the United States of America. It is my hope that impeachment of this incompetent (fill in the blank...your choice) will becomes a bi-partisan decision placing the future of this country over politics. We are standing at a crossroad in our democracy.
13
Kurds didn’t help at Normandy. And Trump couldn’t even visit Normandy, it was Raining.
Sad.
42
Another very funny column covering our potentially disastrous times. I shall, in the future, whenever I see the White House, make a point of singing, “Looking for ept in all the wrong places”.
7
I always knew he was a dreadful human being. I knew he was unfit for office and has very, very deep psychological issues. What I didn't realize, until recently, is that he is insane.
21
It turns out that early in Trump time in office there was a serious move to remove him for being unbalanced via the 25th Amendment but it failed because the Ass't Attorney General of the US wouldn't wear a recording device. But his craziness was on display on national TV!
10
There are two possible reasons why Trump's acquiesced to Erdogan's demand. One possibility is that he was complying with an order from Putin. The other is that suffering as he does from the delusion that he is a fierce alpha dog, when he actually meets the real thing he does what any ordinary dog would do, rolls over, shows his belly and complies with the bigger power. I lean towards the latter explanation as his fawning over the worst of the world's leaders , Kim Jung Il, Duerte, Putin bears out the theory.
14
I honestly believe that you are fundamentally underestimating the astonishing depth of Trump’s stupidity. Of course, there is a point at which stupidity turns into nuts.
2
"Getting stranger every day in every way"
To believe that he wasn't always like this is a leap of faith.
Have you heard Trump speak when he was supposedly "normal"?
Did he used to walk in on teenage girls in their dressing rooms?
Has he ever completed a coherent sentence?
Did he say that stuff on those Access Hollywood tapes?
Getting stranger every day?
Anyone else would be in jail for much of this stuff.
21
"If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey,” Trump reassured the nation."
He also says he's done it before. The only economy I've seen that he has worked to destroy is ours. The US economy is at risk because of him. Our allies, Our economy, our clean water, etc.
35
If the Republican majority in the senate is the only thing standing in the way of driving the unstable, "stable" genius from office then a clear message has been delivered to all Americans. Show up in great numbers at the polls in 2020 and unseat as many Senate Republican Trump enablers as possible. And of course, deny the genius himself another term.
20
And let us not forget Rep. Matt Gaetz and his indictment of Captain Kangaroo!
19
Trump is begging to be relieved of his responsibilities. His intellectual, emotional, spiritual and ethical impairments are dramatically destructive - and in some slight corner of his dark psyche a beam of light penetrates dimly but sufficiently - he realizes that he is not equipped to keep this show on the road any longer. He will never admit it openly, but indirectly he is asking for an escape, a rescue. The Congress must grant him an exit strategy, a way of saying "You're fired," by which he can preserve his ego and leave with a measure of self-respect. He is incapable of true self-examination; we cannot tolerate his abuse any longer.
28
If Donald Trump had ever watched the Wizard of OZ he'd know how "I, in my great and unmatched wisdom" sounded.
And he might have remembered that the fraud who uttered "I am the great and powerful OZ" was reduced to "pay no attention to that man behind be curtain" when he was uncovered as the coward and humbug he was.
17
OK Donald. Time to totally obliterate Turkey's economy, like you've done before. Or are you breaking that promise too?
15
trump is a traitor not only to our country but to our allies, the kurds, who have sacrificed so much. those who continue to support trump are complicit and will be regarded as complicit by history (and their grandchildren).
trump supporters (other than the wealthy, motivated by greed) apparently felt the desire to "give the finger" to the better educated among us. they should have begun regretting that decision long before now. they likely will suffer most.
16
His dementia grows. We should all fear for our country and its safety,
17
Thank you Gail. Another great column!
8
"Any daughter of Dick Cheney is going to be a person who can overlook a whole lot."
You won the internet today, Gail.
22
Can we quit referring to Erdogan as a "president?" He is, quite simply, a DICTATOR.
20
What's he doing rolling those ball bearings around, and who stole the ice cream?
4
An entertaining piece of journalism
1
I think you're being a little generous in your first question. It ought to read "how bad an idea is it?"
The Great Oz speaks: In my great and unmatched wisdom, and as a very stable genius, I find that the Kurds do not deserve our aid because they didn't help us on D-Day.
Yikes! Orderlies, get the strait jacket and prepare the rubber room. NOW! This man is completely off his rocker.
671
@JWT
Come to think of it, where were the Kurds during the American Revolution? Didn't see any Kurds joining the Union Forces during the Civil War either. Well, that's it. If they're not gonna help the US, in its greatest times of need, what good are they? ;)
73
@JWT : I can not thank you enough for your comment which made me laugh so hard I was crying - and every time I re-read it I start laughing again. I think I am so punch-drunk from this Trump insanity it was time for a huge laugh to have a moment's respite from the day to day nightmare of this Presidency.
19
Talk about stereotypes of mental illness! It's probably true that Trump is mentally ill, but can we talk about it without these stereotypes that demean sufferers everywhere?
3
Trump is never going to give in to the House Judiciary committee plain and simple. Adam Schiff who is told many outright lies to the American people, from his direct knowledge that the Mueller report held incriminating evidence with which to impeach the President to outright misquoting the transcript between the President and his Ukrainian counterpart, has no credibility and should be removed from his seat. The Presidents of both countries have said there was no quid pro quo but the Democrats would rather believe a whistleblower who they refuse to identify or allow to be questioned. Typical Democratic showboating which most people see through anyway.
Turkey and the Kurds have been fighting way before the US put troops in Syria to roust ISIS. That's been accomplished and now it's time to bring our 1,000 troops back home. Nothing wrong with that.
2
@Kurt Pickard Schiff didn’t misquote Trump. He paraphrased the “essence” of Trump’s message, and he explicitly explained that that was what he was doing, so that everyone listening knew that he wasn’t quoting.
Trump’s betrayal of the Kurds is horrific—literally for those Kurdish families currently under assault. We need to know what Trump got in return.
917
@Kurt Pickard The conversation was transcribed and Trump allowed it to be seen. He was proud of what he said and thinks that it is ok to ask the president of a foriegn country to give Trump damaging evidence about a USA citizen.
228
Schiff said what Mueller said - there are multiple events of obstruction of justice but Mueller couldn’t pursue them because Trump is currently the president. Facts.
228
In fairness to trump we don't know the whole story...We don't know whether Putin played a role in trump's decision since the eventual outcome in Syria may lead to an increased Russian influence in the mideast. But what I don't really understand is the motivation of the Republican Senators who object to abandoning the Kurds and American military strategy etc. After all they haven't objected to crazy spending for the wall that is a public relations exercise. They haven't objected to inhumane treatment of migrant children and their. parents...they. haven't objected to rampant corruption in the trump entourage. They don't object to the trump agenda or lack of on climate change. Why does this particular issue...strike a chord with the GOP Senate....My best case explanation is that this foreign policy blunder is one that the trump base won't hold against the Senators who critique trump. Maybe someone else has a. better explanation. Bear in mind that I agree it was a morally repugnant thing to do and makes no political or military sense. But then that is par for the trump course.
605
@daniel a friedman The Evangelicals believe the scenario in the Middle East with Turkey attacking the Syrian Kurds will upset the path to Rapture because it jeopardizes the future of Israel.
As a result, Pat Robertson declared the other day that Trump's heavenly divined promotion to the White House is in jeopardy. The Republican Senators can hardly withstand a fallout of support from their Evangelical support base.
286
@daniel a friedman Fair? That word, used in conjunction with this current administration is obsolete.
44
Of course Putin was involved in the decision. What Trump gets out of it is that the kompromat that his buddy Vlad has on him remains out of the public eye.
81
Although I reassure myself (in the privacy of my thoughts) that before I retired I was a competent high school math teacher, I have no illusions that I am, or ever was, a Constitutional scholar. So I ask this question in the hope that some more knowledgable NYT reader will enlighten me.
Is there any way, perhaps using the 25th Amendment(?), that President Trump could be compelled to submit to a fair, impartial, non-partisan psychological examination by a team of psychiatrists?
The required courses in behavioral psychology I took in college in order to earn my teacher’s certification lead me to strongly suspect that, from a legal perspective, the president suffers from problems which cause him to be “an individual of diminished capacity.”
If this is the case, he should be getting psychiatric help, not declaring himself to be above the law, not clearly ignoring and defying that Constitution which he pledged to defend when he took his oath of office.
How do we protect our nation in the event that the Chief Executive becomes seriously unbalanced?
11
Of course, cuckoos don’t really have nests, except those they steal from other birds. Other than that, or maybe including the title, spot on.
2
There is a case for the belief that the sub-rosa behaviors of American leaders (for example Dick Cheney's machinations to jump start the Iraqi War) are far more insane, and far more consequential, than the super-rosa ravings of Donald Trump. Until the media, and all our political institutions, take this perspective into account, Trump will maintain his solid core of support throughout the country...
2
@GoldenPhoenixPublish Thank you. A perceptive comment free from extreme partisan fervor. There are many many examples of misconduct and errors of judgement with catastrophic consequences in recent decades, which evoked no such furious response from the media and the opposition parties .
I thought the "great and unmatched wisdom" quote was just my favorite columnist being funny. It's not. The Thing in the White House actually tweeted that. Someone with his "wisdom" would not be qualified to be a low-level manager in an average American company, and yet there he is in the Oval Office.
10
I remember when the curtain came down on Nixon he was whisked away to a hospital for treatment of blood clots and phlebitis. One could feel some sympathy for him.
For Trump it will be four point restraints and a spit hood.
7
Does anyone know how to invoke the 25th amendment?
5
"chairman Schiff is acting like a malicious Captain Kangaroo.”
I'm old enough to remember the TV show for children of that name, and the idea of a malicious Captain Kangaroo is deliciously absurd.
What does Mr. Gaetz think is the connection between a Kangaroo Court and Captain Kangaroo? One might as well confuse Nietzsche's Superman with Marvel Comics rather than DC Comics. A malicious Captain Kangaroo? LOL.
Mr. Gaetz is a comic book gone mad, just like the man he is defending.
8
It is so past time for the 25th Amendment or an Impeachment! This man is downright crazy and getting more mentally unstable by the day. Makes me wonder just what he has on the Republicans in Congress that refuse to see what is right in their faces!! I am beginning to think it might have something to do with trump promising them he will do away with Social Security and Medicare, and revamp those pesky Capital Gains taxes if they just keep quiet and get him voted back in. My thought is, backing trump right now as he goes more and more crazy every day isn't a wise choice! The American people see what is happening. And most of us are very concerned about our Democracy and our Constitution. We have 3 EQUAL branches of government for a reason.
8
It's really an act of treason on behalf of the GOP that they refuse to act in relation to Trump, when they certainly know what a threat he is to our country.
10
... "our president declared that House Intelligence Committee chairman Adam Schiff “had some kind of a mental breakdown.”
Ah, another of many projections from Trump. It's uncanny, the way the insults he levels at other people actually describe himself very well. As an example among many, he described Hillary as a "nasty woman" during the 2016 campaign. IMO Trump is not only nasty but criminal (separating children from their parents is child abuse IMO).
8
A challenge to the media (in alphabetical order) ABC, CBS, CNN, FOX, NBC, PBS, et al: Take a 24-hour break from political coverage.
7
The Kurds will not forget this and they are formidable fighters. Need I say more?
7
Thank you, Gail, for still finding at least some humor in a situation that seems to deteriorate daily.
2
If and when the Republicans decide this charade has reached the critical point, Trump will be forced to step down.
So what are the odds on the following?
1. The official excuse of severe mental health issues, precluding prosecution and allowing him to leave honorably.
2. Kicking and screaming and yelling, "It's not fair!"
3. Trump's real birth certificate is finally discovered and it turns out that he wasn't lying when he said he's Swedish.
7
Trump thinks threatening Turkey with economic devastation is equivalent to the genocidal massacre of an ethnic group.
Trump also seems to feel satisfaction that Europe is threatened by ISIS fighters released due to Trump's reckless actions.
7
This title gives Cuckoo's a bad name. When the President declares that he isn't worried about the potential release of ISIS prisoners because most are from Europe and they will just head back there, not to the U.S. you know that we truly have a nutcase at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Telling our NATO allies that their homeland safety is really not that important to the U.S. is probably not a great way to strengthen the alliance that has kept Europe safe since WWII. Abandoning our most reliable ally (The Kurds) in the Middle East to accommodate a dictator who is gravitating closer to Russia by the minute might not make sense to Senate Republicans. However the chance of them growing a spine and rediscovering their governing principals is remote at best. So here we all are after nearly 3 years of chaos wondering if the tinfoil hat crowd is ready to give the him 4 more years. Life is indeed strange.
6
Mic drop. Perfect op ed in my opinion. We just need MORE and MORE and MORE of this until it is the stuff of front page articles. One can love him or hate him; disagree or agree with him; but I cannot see how anyone who is paying attention to the real news can do anything other than profess him mentally unfit to sit as our President.
6
Another shameful day in America. There would have been no suppression of ISIS (they are not entirely gone) without the bravery and sacrifices of the Kurds. Trump has no loyalty or compassion for anyone but himself - he is also a weak leader, a loser. Erdogan rolled him like a log. While I think many Americans, myself included, are indeed tired of "endless wars", we also recognize there needs to be some coherent strategy implemented - and we leaving a very small number of advisors to protect the Kurds seemed reasonable at this point. What is going to happen when the ISIS criminals the Kurds have been holding are suddenly releaed - which could well happen. We have been instrumental in creating a humanitarian disaster, and betraying an Ally before the world. America, it's getting more and more difficult to hold up our heads before the world.
6
To be fair, he also has Jim Jordan. The man so intense that he can't take the time to put on a suit jacket.
If Jim Jordan's Suit Jacket isn't a Twitter handle, it should be:
Jim Jordan's Suit Jacket: Here I am. Day 963. Still hanging in the closet. Sigh.
7
Right on. We are not dealing with normalcy in this administration so need to follow the law, the Constitution, and do what is right. There has been overt lies and obstruction during this entire presidency, and 45 has admitted and shown copies of his illegal call. This abomination with the Kurds must be the final straw as only ISIS and Putin will be the beneficiaries. Our "word" has become meaningless and must be restored, through impeachment and voting democrat for all in Nov. 2020.
8
The remaining question is if he will be around long enough to be impeached or whether Pence, Pompeo, Barr, and the rest will invoke the 25th amendment to save their own hides from being brought to justice. His bizarre approach to foreign policy gives them ample justification to claim he is mentally unfit for office. Once Trump is out, there will be little political support for going after his henchmen.
115
@dansaperstein
It would be foolish to expect anything from Pence, Pompeo and Barr.
There are too many loonies here for a 25th amendment solution.
Action has to come from the Republican Senate but it's truly hard to find them because their lack of backbone has left nothing but gelatinous masses in their gilded chairs.
47
@dansaperstein Either of those would be outcomes I tremble with delight to imagine. But Im afraid Blanche White is closer to the mark.
17
@dansaperstein makes no sensed because after the cabinet declares him unfit, both houses of Congress would need to vote to remove by 2/3rds majority. The 25th amendment solution is much more difficult than impeachment.
6
Gail wrote: This from a fervid supporter. If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth.
I love that imagery, which makes me think that perhaps Graham should be compared to a house elf.
(Apologies to JKR and Harry Potter fans.)
7
What is needed is quick and decisive action. It's already been thought through enough already. Impeachment is a necessary moral choice, essential to maintaining world order and peace. However, impeachment will no doubt be a lengthy process and consideration should be given to relieving our President of his duties immediately.
5
Time for trained psychiatrists / psychologists to get before the mics and the the cameras
to make clear, in detail the mental instability of the man who holds
the highest office in the land.....
How does the President of one Nation invite the President of another Nation to overstep the legal borders of a third country.
Have we all gone mad?
Think about U.S. troops who would never abandon their brothers on the field willingly Think about the shame he has thrust on our
soldiers as they are commanded by an unstable mind, to abandon compatriots....never mind a Commander-in-chief with allegiances
only to his holdings and other business interests above the interests of the Country. Another unilateral
decision by one whose intellectual capacity is as near to zero as it can possibly get and whose emotional stability is even more worrisome.
11
When I was in college many decades ago I took a seminar class on modern European social thought. We read several of Freund's works and in one discussion a fellow student made a prescient remark. He said, "We have no vocabulary for discussing the irrational." This is the crux of the problem with Trump. We can report on his insane utterances, but we really cannot discuss them because they are so irrational. There is no logical way to discuss a decision to betray our allies just as there is no rational discussion for his reasons not to like LED lamps except that they make his skin look orange. Trump's ravings are those of a lunatic. It is futile to attempt to discuss them sanely in the real world.
By the way, LED lamps have a color temperature of 5000K which makes them slightly bluer than incandescent bulbs. Therefore, they would make his skin appear less orange.
9
In his tweet, Trump promised to "destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey," depending on the his "great and unmatched wisdom" determining that the Turkish action is "off limits." While the mad grandiosity of this statement is attention-grabbing, it's important to notice what he's saying. He hasn't announced a specific metric on which this decision would consider the limits of Turkish incursion into Syria. He's basically announcing that the destruction of the Turkish economy should be subject to the whims of the same man who green-lighted the Turkish operation without consulting any military advisers.
6
Aw, come on... everyone knows he's only kidding! It's a JOKE.
Lighten up! I'm sure we'll all be laughing about it for years, especially after all those ISIS prisoners the Kurds had on ice get loose and swarm throughout the region, and blow up a few cities or whatever.
You should be more like Marco Rubio and Jim Jordan - don't sweat the small stuff, and just let Trump be Trump. He's hilarious.
16
Is it any wonder that Donald Trump thinks he possesses "great and unmatched wisdom?" Or that he believes he is a "stable genius?"
Anyone would believe those things if they led the kind of life he has led, with absolutely zero consequences for behavior that is not only reprehensible from a moral and ethical viewpoint, but criminal.
He hasn't gotten away with murder (yet). So I guess we can rejoice for small victories.
I have often said that Donald Trump should play the lottery because he is the luckiest man on the planet. How could he not feel invincible? Untouchable? How could he not believe that normal rules do not apply to him. They never have.
10
@Len
Yes, he has gotten away with murder. He's responsible for what's happening to the Kurds. But then, they're not rich. They have nothing to trade but their lives and sacred honor. (Remember those words?) For Trump, it's all transactional.
But I believe in karma, that what you send out into the world returns to you. I look forward to the chickens coming home to roost. -- thegamesmenplay.com
8
@GG
You're right @GG. Trump does have blood on his hands. And here's to those chickens coming home. . . And the sooner the better.
2
Assuming that Trump is smart enough to dress himself in the morning, to tie his own tie and shoes, it’s difficult to believe his recent decisions are designed to get him reelected.
- The attempt to blackmail Ukrainian President Zelensky
- The eight-page manifesto declaring that he will defy the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution as he pleases
- Trump’s despicable abandonment of our valiant Kurdish allies
As unbalanced as he is, it seems impossible to believe Trump thinks these moves will strengthen his position.
I suspect there’s a very real chance that, in his own bizarre undignified way, the president is working toward throwing in the towel.
Trump holds an office for which he is absolutely unfit. He has been in over his head since 2016. His critics far outnumber his supporters. His “goto” strategies — lying, confusing, twisting words, abruptly changing his position, wearing down his adversaries — might have worked in the real estate business. They aren’t working very well at all for Trump, the president.
Is it so hard to believe that imagining four more years of constant failure, of constant inadequacy, would give Trump nightmares?
Trump’s egomania compels him to press on. Isn’t there a chance that he’s also given to some rational impulses which are telling him to get out?
If so, let us all encourage Mr. Trump to comply with those rational thoughts.
12
Sitting on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, I am totally bemused by Mr Trump's reaction to the fact that the wife of a US diplomat has been allowed to claim diplomatic immunity and leave the UK having killed someone by driving on the right hand side of the road contrary to UK law. Apparently he sees nothing odd about this and that these things happen!
I would like to know that, if I marry a UK diplomat, live in the US, and kill an American by driving on the left hand side of the road contrary to US law, will I be given diplomatic immunity and be permitted leave the US as soon as possible? Apparently these things happen too!
13
We had all heard of Trump many years before he ran for president and was a dubious person at best. When he ran for president during the primaries he showed his true colors yet somehow millions voted for him. It was obvious then that he was a bit "strange" yet now he is president of the United States. Acting crazy? I'm not surprised at all.
10
Seriously, who does this corrupt lunatic we call president and vaunts his “great and unmatched wisdom” think he is? The Wizard of Oz? Impeach him post haste and let the craven GOP invertebrates defending him suffer the wrath of the voters. Time for a showdown.
14
Senate Republicans have already shifted the blame: from Trump capitulating on the phone to Erdogan to the Turks being responsible for the invasion of Syria and threatening sanctions.
They of course refuse to look at the root cause: an inept, an unmoral, an unfit, an unhinged man in the Oval Office.
13
“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey,”
Obliterate the economy? What makes up an 'economy'? Millions of normal, average, everyday people. This is what trump thinks of all normal, average, everyday people. That goes for the normal, average, everyday people right here in the United States too. trump has done ABSOLUTELY NOTHING for the regular people of this country. Where is that fantastic healthcare or health insurance bill he promised? All he does is spew garbage.
11
Remember when Trump tweeted that Obama would start a war in Iran in order to get elected?
A stable genius would never forget about it.
7
Can we reasonably assume now that Representative Gaetz doesn't know who Captain Kangaroo is, thinking he's the Chief Judge of the Kangaroo Court? Using the Captain's name this way is as close to blasphemy as anything any Trump supporter has publicly stated to date.
7
Someone should inform trump the TURKEY declared war on the US in WW2, not the Kurds.
How long will it take before 11,000 more ISIS fighters are back on the battlefield?
"The enemy of my enemy is my friend".
3
@Stephen
Correction - Turkey was actually neutral until they knew which way the wind was blowing in 1945.
So there were no Turks at Normandy, either.
1
The Republicans fiddle while the US burns.
9
And what about those Kurds who didn’t show up on Normandy Beach? How come they didn’t help any in World War II? Yikes. He’s scary as in off his rocker.
10
We've all seen Jim Jones documentaries ..The same thing is happening in the White House- and within our country! How much more of this nonsense can we stomach? Shame on the GOP Congress! When all this is over they should be tried in the Hague.
Why can't the Democratic leadership buy a network hour and broadcast a Town Hall "Civics Lesson" -- Educate the American people exactly what is happening at this time in our history.
The GOP leadership would be forced to respond with their own show on FOX and I would love to see their rebuttal.
7
Humor in the face of the tragedy the Kurds are experiencing is fiddling while Rome burns.
You should be ashamed of yourself, Gail Collins.
I do not find anything funny about innocent people, our sole allies in the sordid mideast, being slaughtered because of Donald Trump's treachery and avarice.
4
Satire has long been used to shed serious light on important things. She is using humor but by no means is her technique making what she talks about frivolous. Although not satire exactly, I think she adeptly uses her sarcastic wit to point out the very serious nature of the situation.
7
Forget allusions oh grandeur (stable genius, “As president I can do anything”, “I alone can fix it”), Talk (at least 9 times publicly) of lifetime presidency, or third term president. “I as president, can neither be arrested or even investigated”.
We are entering the realm of messiah complex: “Chosen One”, “Great and Unmatched Wisdom”.
Even I, an agnostic English lezza,likely to be smitten by any gods as I enter a religious house, can recognise what was previously recognised heresy by God Botherers, recognise these are biblical references.
Evangelicals: seriously? Your soul is in danger and you are the wrong side of history.
I don’t what is worse, a man who believes he is The Chosen One, or the man is attempting to convince his base of his god ordained authority?
There once lived another man who believed in his god ordained “providence”. How did that work out for his followers and the rest of the world?
Be careful cousins, this is only going to get worse
8
No amount of dramamine or prescription anti-emetics could protect against this president's ability to induce public vertigo.
To get down to his level , he's one colossal stupid-head.
And to live long enough to see a criticism of Trump by Representative Liz Cheney!? Wow, I think it may have been one of those shape-shifting aliens from Florida.
8
Homer Simpson would make a better Commander in Chief.
12
Spot on, Gail, and scary! Pity the Prez won't see this article.
5
Trump is deeply, deeply mentally ill and getting worse by the day.
I would love to get off this ride, but have a feeling it's not going to happen until it crashes.
10
Crazy will be defined by the evidence.
Is it crazy that the Democrats went nuts trying to rig the 2016 election?
Is it crazy that the Democrats cooked up Russian lies and tried to peddle them for three years in their attempted coup?
Is it crazy that the Democrats colluded with partisan “whistleblowers” to begin yet another attempt at removing Trump because they can’t beat him fairly and they don’t want the American people to know what they’ve done?
the MSM never really got themselves interested in finding facts and documents, nor were they distracted by letting evidence guide their investigation, and now they are left with their empty bags of hot DNC air.
Meanwhile, on the other hand, actual journalists are reaping the fruits of their hard work, with their pesky FOIA requests and all.
Not to mention Durham and Barr.
Would you bet your house on who the crazies will turn out to be?
Are you not even the least bit embarrassed?
I don’t think you know what the word evidence means.
The President is crazy? There's a plan for that.
Six syllables:
25th Amendment
5
"In my great and unmatched wisdom".....the wizard of oz?
3
Folks: I've said it, and many others have too, FOLLOW THE MONEY! Trump has Hotels in Turkey that he wants to keep, and maybe expand. Why is it, that every stupid decision he makes, benefits him & his family, somehow?? This man does not care one single heart beat about the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, or it's citizens, only his wealth....
7
And don't forget Gail that Ivanka was just on social media bragging about the recent opening of Trump Towers Istanbul! HMMMM!
4
Not only Matt Gaetz. He seems almost rational compared to Trump's other prime spokes-puppet Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Oh.). Have you gotten a load of this guy? His nose should be about 3 feet long.
Trump is doing his best to put a good orange face on everything, but he's scared. He probably isn't getting much sleep and going further off the rails each day. His father Fred had severe Alzheimer's and I've seen opinions from psychiatrists that Donald is showing signs of early-onset.
5
Stop the world...I want to get off!
2
The latest statement is that he doesn’t support the Kurds because they didn’t help us during WW two. This unstable genius is responsible for what will be a genocide.
4
The "unlimited wisdom" stuff is demented, too.
3
Well, baby boomers, you finally managed to do it.
It wasn't John Lennon, or Jim Morrison, or Abbie Hoffman, or Bob Dylan, or Gloria Steinam, or Casey Hayden who destroyed the system.
It was a racist, draft-dodging, misogynist, narcissistic, bankrupt failed businessman president working from the inside the White House who Managed to do it for you.
Who would have predicted THAT in 1968?
3
For some reason, every time Trump speaks I expect to hear Woody Woodpecker cackling into the microphone.
3
But Ms. Collins, if Lindsey Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, wouldn’t he be the one in a kennel lashed to the station wagon roof rack by now?
2
Trump should pull out of UN, NATO and similar "stupid" organizations and set up his own Top Chiefs group consisting only of genius dictators like himself. Like Putin, Kim, Xi and Erdogan.
1
Trump is a murderer...he has given a green light to bombings of villages and, let's not forget, Villagers and now seeing a negative response to his cruelty to Kurdish allies he says it is a 'bad idea'....the stable genius should have realized that it's cause and effect when all he wanted was a little diversion from Impeachment. The depth of the evil of his act is criminal.
7
@Ann Jordan
Bush the First also sold out the Kurds during his 'short and sanitary Gulf War 1', I can still see the TV news clips of an entire city (over a million people) fleeing into the mountains in the middle of the night. One desperate man, sheltering in a cave with his wife who had just (very) prematurely delivered triplets, begged someone to come see the babies 'before they die'.
4
Goat yoga and Captain Kangaroo courts, this reality show has jumped the shark...
1
Trump is very obviously mentally ill. What is shocking is that the Republican deep state is just fine with this mentally ill president.
VOTE BLUE ACROSS THE BOARD IN 2020.
10
As the Dismantling of the Administrative State continues, the trumps continue to scoop up money everywhere they go. Unbeknownst to MAGAs, that's why they are in the WH. The entire family and any momentary friends travel the world first class on the tax payer's dime. But no worries, trump supporters. You got that tax cut that gave you that extra 32 dollars a month, (although the cut expires after he secures his second regime term). Ivanka and Jared made 82 million last year while Daddy put the soy bean farmers out of business. And MAGAs! Don't forget that you are now free to inhale methane and there are chemicals now freely flowing into waterways and don't forget the asbestos. And you can insult black people out loud! So, while a mentally ill man calls word leaders and says 'perfect' stuff, you have participated in the deaths of babies and children while the trump family checks into 5 star hotels for a little relaxation. Well done.
9
Gail, I have always loved your columns. Your insights are always spot on, and your razor sharp wit has lightened my burdens many, many times.
But I can't laugh about this anymore. I didn't vote for him. I was amazed when he was nominated, and thought his candidacy would be a much-needed death blow to the GOP. I was gobsmacked when he won, and knew he'd be a disaster. I've been sickened but not surprised at the support he's gotten from GOP politicians who know better, but saw him as a useful idiot.
The damage he wreaks gets worse and worse. The only ray of hope I see is that he is his own worst enemy, this massive foul-up with Turkey and our Kurdish allies being the most recent example.
I heard Pat Robertson on the news state that Trump was in danger of "losing the mandate of heaven" (I'll pause while you set aside your morning coffee to throw up. I felt like it when I heard it), because our Kurdish allies have been protecting Christians, who will likely now get slaughtered.
His GOP enablers won't suddenly find integrity. We can only hope that Trump leaves them no choice but to abandon him. As you note, when the shameless Lindsey Graham stops licking Trump's boots long enough to criticize, you'd hope the worm had finally turned.
Oh and since you mention it, hey NY Times, how about some news about those millions Trump's kids have made?
Keep writing, Gail. I'm sure you'll make me laugh again another day. I know I'll need it.
6
Someone once said we can tell how crazy Trump is by how crazy he makes us. Very, very crazy.
5
Right on!
2
The moral weakling in the White House has indeed gone into total mental awol this time.
1) Trump shrugged off the likely escape of ISIS fighters from Kurdish prisons, essentially saying it is Europe's problem, not his. "Well, they're going to be escaping to Europe, that's where they want to go," Trump said. He added that "we have no soldiers in the area."
In Trump's hallucinations the twin towers are still standing full or people besides there is a big beautiful wall girding the US keeping even ISIS airplanes away.
2) Also Trump in his moral stupor downplayed the alliance with the Kurds, 11,000 of whom died fighting to help the US mission against ISIS.
The lunatic president actually said "They didn't help us in the second World War, they didn't help us with Normandy for example," In fact Turkey went to bed with the Nazi's in World War II. The German–Turkish Treaty of Friendship non-aggression pact was signed on 18 June 1941 in Ankara and went into effect on the same day.
Now Trump's pay back time to the Kurds who went to the mat fighting ISIS inhumanity, is to give Turkey the OK to decimate them.
The impeachment needs to be fast-tracked. All patriots in the Senate unite!
4
Deep down, I think DJT knows he should be in a concrete suite next to Madoff for stuff like lying incessantly--to everybody, tax evasion, money laundering, aiding a foreign enemy, and being a generally nasty person. Just for starters. But, his luck may be running thin. So, what does he do? Create more chaos! Move fast! Break things! Confuse! Disrupt! You know, just like always.
4
Gail Collins is the only person who makes living in these crazy times bearable.
1
On Gail, God bless you.
2
Where's Bret? HaHa.
1
HL Mencken: “As democracy is perfected, the office [of president] represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move towards a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.”
3
When Gail Gollins can no longer find humor
In the President's actions . . . This is serious.
1
Trump has no clue what "great and unmatched wisdom" is given that he is devoid of intelligence, wisdom and any moral compass, but is dishonest, incoherent and narcissistic. This presidential fraud is psychologically unfit to be in charge of anything but eating his lunch. No sane person wants this empty suit as president. The phrase lock him up comes to mind.
Eclectic Pragmatism — http://eclectic-pragmatist.tumblr.com/
Eclectic Pragmatist — https://medium.com/eclectic-pragmatism
1
Trump is clearly nuts, when he says the Kurds did not help us at Normandy!!! Well duh, neither did your buddies from Saudi Arabia, or lets face it a lot of people who lived a long ways away, this is a truly astonishing statement & shows that he has completely lost his mind.
4
@PeterB And you have to wonder what rocket scientist fed him that little tidbit to regurgitate, because undoubtedly he knows nothing about Normandy.
I really wish Senator Graham had read your “poodle” comment.
2
Gail, you know the new book, "The United States of Trump"?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
It's Bill O'Reilly's latest best seller. What a great title!
Trump has always been crazy for power and domination.
This is nothing new, but finally people are waking up to it!
Perhaps, if Trump is impeached and he resigns, change will come.
Maybe, a new wave of democracy will soon emerge, after Trump.
"Democracy is coming to the USA" (Democracy song, L.Cohen)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1
Think about this thought people Trump actually said “in my great unmatched wisdom” about himself. he has the ability to end the world as we know it at his finger tips. My fellow Americans this is not a movie or a Saturday night live skit, but real life!
2
Calling Lindsey Graham a miniature poodle is seriously demeaning ....to miniature poodles.
5
All sorts of fun things ahead!
Knowing the US is in such disarray, Russia may not pause at just marching on Eastern Ukraine, but the whole of it. Maybe take back Poland while they’re at it.
Iran will rub its hands together and plan simultaneous invasions of Saudi Arabia, and Israel. More oil, and high tech; what more could a hungry country want?!
ISIS..... well, I’m sure they have their flags stowed somewhere. They’ll spread back out across the M.E. and resurrect The Caliphate. Trump will call: “hi guys, good to see you back, sorry about the mess!”
The EU? Well, they’re toast. They will curl collectively into a fetal ball. Meanwhile, the British Isles will finally sink into the sea, never to be heard from again.
India and Pakistan, simultaneously trying to help Kashmir, will nuke each other in the process. The globe will have to prepare for a long, ten year winter without food, as a result. Yeah.
Have I missed anything? South America, Africa. Unspeakable civil wars, across both continents.
And China. Annex Taiwan, Japan, the Koreas, all of Southeast Asia. Come home to mama, it is your destiny.
The US is gone! Party on!
3
Erdogan reportedly, by phone, scolded President P.G. for not giving him a personal meeting while the UN was meeting in NYC. I take it Trump later realized his business interest in Turkey had to supersede a band of Arabs who could not help Trump Inc. financially and who didn't help us...fight the Nazis?
With Trump always follow the money!
2
Trump, is he daffy? Yes. Unhinged? Yes. A bully? Yes, too. An incompetent danger to our beloved America? Yes, definitely. A stable genius? Doubtful.
2
Spain had Joanna the Mad and Pedro the Cruel, Russia of course had Iwan the Terrible, I wonder what nickname will stick to this fine specimen of deranged authority? Any suggestions?
4
OK you rascally mischief-making Trump supporters. You’ve had your fun. You’ve made yourselves heard, you’ve made your permanent mark on history, you’ve made countless Libs quiver & shake. You have successfully thrown the baby out with the bathwater. You have triumphantly tossed a wrench into the usual workings of government. Everybody has heard you roar. Go you!
So, time to step back & really prove your power. Time to demonstrate royal mercy & clemency. Your naughty performing monkey, like even the best acts, is beginning to get stale. It’s time to throw him under the bus before he starts hurting you a lot more than he has hurt the Libs, the environmentalists and other whiners. You’ve stuck your tongue out at the government & brought it to its knees. It’s been a real rush. But noblesse oblige, folks – you may be royalty but don’t get too power hungry & end up killing the golden goose who gives you your Social Security & Medicare. You don’t want yours to be a Pyrrhic victory. It’s time to let that tired old monkey go.
1
As a friend said recently, trump could scream obscenities at a press conference, be found with child porn on his cell phone, shoot someone in broad daylight, etc, etc and his base would still stand by him. My question is to the rest of the country. What will you do come 2020?
4
This is indeed madness on a Caligulan scale. Trump has just stained the entire GOP with the blood of a Kurdish genocide and no tweet from Lindsey Graham or some other senatorial coward will be enough to absolve his enablers.
7
What will it take for Congressional Republicans to abandon Trump? A nuclear bomb directed at a group that angers him? His crawling about nude on the White House lawn? His snorting coke as he conducts a "chopper talk?"
Who knew insanity was so contagious?
5
So, here I explain it to you. Since Trump never does anything that doesn't benefits himself, he clearly needed something from the Turks. He needed the Khasoggy affair to be buried, why? Because the Saudis own him, they are his lenders and if they plug the plug....bye bye Trump empire...
So the phone call went approximately like this (hopefully we will have a transcript sooner or later, but not holding my breath):
"Erdogan, I need you to do me a favor if you want the US to let you go into Syria.....do you remember that guy taht was killed in The Saudi Embassy? that fake news journalist? Yes him...."
The rest can be imagined by anyone that reads any minimal news lately.
1
One can only hope that the military will hide the nuclear codes from him, that sane people in government will resist this mentally unfit madman.
2
It’ll be up to the Dems (again) to deal with a reconstituted ISIS.
DeVos’s brother is involved somewhere.
6
"I, in my great and unmatched wisdom...." Oh no! He's off his meds again.
4
GOAT YOGA? You mean that Trump has taken up goat yoga to calm himself down? Why would he need it anyway? He's a stable genius, right? In his own mind, that is. If Trump's disgraceful, lethal abandonment of the Kurdish fighters, trained by and loyal to the US, has got both Lindsey Graham and Lynn Cheyney voicing their disagreement publicly, it's proof that he's lost all contact with reality. They're two of Trump's most stalwart supporters. And they're crying out that he's made a horrible mistake? Trump's foreign policy looks like attack the US allies and embrace our enemies. As when he was clomping around like a gross klutz, holding the ceremonial sword given to him in Saudi Arabia. At least he wasn't wearing a do-rag on his head. Just his usual red hairy do-rag, that is. Hitler was reportedly apoplectic when he saw Charlie Chaplin's film, The Great Dictator. I urge the filming of a remake, the The Great Dictator 2.0 about Donald Trump! Either that or workshopping Chaplin's classic! Trump should enjoy it, right? After all, he's a very stable genius. And a very delusional one at that.
1
Oh yea, thanks for all of you Gary Johnson and Jill Stein voters who handed us this disaster called Trump. Oh those pesky emails.
4
There's someone now who makes Rudy Giuliani look sane and rational, and Matt Gaetz sound clever. And that's Joseph DiGenova, once a fierce prosecutor. Joe called the House's Constitutional power to Impeach "Regicide", as if the House Majority is planning to "assassinate" "King Donald", when Trump is NOT a monarch and Impeachment is a legal process that only includes ouster, not capital punishment.
"Clueless Joe" also called Impeachment "sedition" which is plotting a violent attack on the State. Apparently he hasn't read Art 1, Sect 2 Para 6 of the US Constitution:
"The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment."
He went even further (if that's even IMAGINABLE!) calling the whistle blowers acting totally legally under Federal Law "Suicide Bombers."
"Clueless Joe" said all this on Trump-adoring Laura Ingraham on Fox....yet Fox's OWN POLL now has 51% of Americans wanting Trump both Impeached AND convicted!!!!!
2
Yes, trump has descended into the cuckoo’s nest. Problem is that this unstable idiot has his fingers on the most destructive weapons on earth and manages the largest military the world has ever seen. Imagine what chaos he could invoke with his new found toys? Luckily, we have Russia’s leader commandant Putin looking over his shoulder and providing guidance and support, and holding him to account for his actions! Oh my, now I truly am frightened.
3
Why is anyone surprised? Trump has not changed a bit in the last decade, maybe getting more demented but he is the same old racist crazy trump New Yorkers have known for decades.
Why do you think he lost his home town in the presidential election, it’s because New Yorkers know what a fool he is.
4
When did he ever leave the Cuckoo’s Nest?
That man is nothing but smoke and mirrors; a sleazy, showman’s barker; a man-behind-the-curtain whose only ‘talent’ is misdirection. At least the Great Oz knew how to get Dorothy out of Oz.
3
It’s not trump. Trump is one mad man. It’s the mad maga hats, the hoards of them and their congressional cowards hiding behind an outsized Fox that keeps this mad murderer free so that thousands are now running for their lives. Not to mention the millions who will follow as the climate continues to collapse. Its not trump.
3
What kind of person refers to themselves as "unequal in wisdom?"
How delusional must one be to assert such a statement.
Only God Is Unequal in Wisdom.
2
Love the "Graham-as-miniature-poodle" image. Once again, Gail has managed to bring a belly laugh to this pitiful pot-luck of a Presidential administration.
1
Thank you, Gail Collins!
2
Good one, Gail.
1
Pipi, our poodle/pug cross wouldn't go near Senator Graham's socks if they were covered in chicken fat and cheese!
Heartbreak, again, for the Kurds...
2
There is so much happening that was once unthinkable. This is the man who boasted he could shoot someone in the middle of Fifth Avenue sans ramification. I am truly becoming concerned that this stable genius' - in his 'great and unmatched wisdom' - who literally has his finger hovering on the nuclear button will obliterate the world as we know it in a fit of pique.
How about this next “tweet” from THE best president ever:
Because of my unmatched wisdom and best ever experience the sewer system in NYC is running “nice”.
If anyone dare to miss around I will totally destroy it and have downtown Manhattan flooded with raw sewer.
I AM YOUR KING
KING DONALD THE FIRST
2
With times this insane, maybe it's time for the straight-jacket?
1
HELP!!!! Our country is going down the drain!
3
"Why would he bring up children making money abroad [when his] daughter and son-in-law have both been working for the White House while raking in tens of millions of dollars from their business dealings. Some came from the clothing Ivanka manufactured in places like … China.?"
Probably using the same line of thinking that got him to parade Bill Clinton's accusers in front of HRC during a candidates' debate. This from a man who was recorded on videotape bragging about crotch-grabbing, who's been married multiple times, cheated on those wives countless more times, and whose ex-wife accused him of rape.
What's frightening about this guy is that in his disturbed mind, whatever he does is "perfect," no matter how heinous, but anyone else, whether committing an infraction or following the letter of the law, is stupid, crazy, treasonous, and should be shot, hung, or both.
1
Trump is whacked out crazy. None of the Republicans want to point it out. They are all sitting on their hands with strange looks on their faces. But face it the president of the United States of America is Stone Cold nuts. It's time for the 25th Amendment. It's time for an impeachment. It's time to remove this nut job from the White House. Wake up
5
Dateline 2022: It has been determined that the three men who exploded a dirty nuclear device in downtown Chicago had been ISIS fighters in Syria and had escaped a Kurdish prison as the Turks were slaughtering the Kurds in 2019.
Anyone want to read this in a future edition of the NY Times?
2
Is he GOING nuts? Dude, he was there a long, long time ago.
1
I have just one problem with the article: It wasn't fair to "crazy" people. The crazy sometimes have an aptitude for genius and creativity, e.g. Van Goth, Kieth Moon, Allen Ginsberg
Trump has no interest in anything creative. He is actually a crass conformist to the tenth power. All he cares about is money and status.
Trump is simply wicked and abominably stupid.
1
Some people say he’s going crazy, I say he’s getting the hang of the job.
1
Trump is Loony. Graham is Loopy. Now there are Nine Dwarfs.
2
at the very least the Trump twin towers in Istanbul are safe!
3
Gail,
He is what he always was. He is a shameless, hollow individual, an in-your-face con man, fake tough guy, with no values who bamboozles his voters.
I have often read and heard - America is better than this. Not now.
2
Gail Collins has a genius for finding humor in the horror. But the underlying message here is unwavering: Trump is becoming increasingly grandiose. He's unhinged. He's dangerous. And while the pool of enthusiastic Republican lap dogs is declining, there's still Matt Gaetz, which is enough to make anyone wonder if there is intelligent life in the universe......other than in Gail's columns.
1
Keeping up with news these days is l like binge watching a tv series about how the USA was destroyed by aliens.
Pfft. This is your limp noodle for today? Democrats are so useless I guarantee the Republicans will make Adam Schiff step down from this committee chair because he is so anti Trump. Democrats are stupid like that. They take any advice from the evil people (aka Republicans).
And that is just the start. I can also guarantee that Trump and Republicans will dictate the entire "impeachment" inquiry. Democrats are so useless, I do not call myself a Democrat.
1
Trump is an irresponsible Cuckoo! Evict him as soon as possible.
That's why Trump calls it a "coup-coup."
President Roy Cohn. There you have it.
“If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth.”
This is why Gail Collins is the best in the business.
There are times when I wonder if this administration can become any more absurd, and if Ms Collins will have any new material about The Chosen One in the coming weeks...
Then I see this crispy-fresh news article posted by the NY Times:
" Trey Gowdy, the former South Carolina congressman who led the committee that investigated the terrorist attack on the American diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, that killed four Americans, will join President Trump’s legal team as an outside adviser. "
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/09/us/politics/trey-gowdy-trump-legal-team.html
Can't wait to see Giuliani and Gowdy crank up the crazy to eleven in a tag-team interview on FOX News Sunday........
2
Trump isn't nuts. He's creating chaos on purpose. Anything to avoid getting back to normal where a corrupt white supremacist nationalist scam artist like Trump would no longer be regarded as someone who should be sitting in the oval office.
1
This is why the Onoion has lost readership - the real news beats the Onion for sheer, dreadful-cum-hilarious awfulness every day. And worst of all it's the real news.
1
President Chernobyl melting down like the Atlanta Braves, only faster.
1
I understand from The New York Post that one of Trump's supporters said that the Democrats "are committing regicide."
Regicide -- wow. If it's true that Trump's fans think such a thing, then we are a nuttier country than even I have hitherto believed.
I have always felt sorry for George Washington's men freezing their feet off that winter in Valley Forge -- but now I really am heartsick.
Imagine, America shrugged off silly, sick King George and later helped rid the world of Adolf Hitler -- just to make a throne and pulpit for that crooked publicity hound, Donald Trump.
4
I love you Gail Collins
Is Trump moving to form a new axis powers of us, Russia, North Korea, Ukraine, Turkey, Brazil, Philippines, Poland, et al.? Bully for you, sir.
Oh...please ! Just how far must we descend into Lalaland before it becomes apparent that our leader is unhinged ??
Examine his facial expressions in the last few days, a countenance expected from an Irish leader about to be 'drawn and quartered' in the distant past.
This person has done as much damage to our sacred principles....as who ? No one ! He is UNMATCHED in the History of this Republic !!!
2
I have said it before and I say it again: Under no circumstances should Trump be given the courtesy of seeing US intelligence briefings after he is out of office.
I have no doubts that, to keep feeding his ego he will tweet out classified info to make him feel important, or worse, he will share info with Putin and other adversaries if they allow him to build a hotel in their countries.
2
At least we could laugh at Mitt Romney's dog strapped to the roof of his car. Those were the good old days.
There's nothing remotely funny about Donald Trump. My husband is terrified we're turning into Hitler's Germany and will keep thinking it can't happen here until it does and then it will be too late to get out.
3
ISIS rose under one republican
ISIS will rise again under the next
Watch a repeat of the GOP depression of 08
Americans are stupid
thank you
5
Trump has devolved back to 100% lizard brain, so his actions and tweets will become even more entertaining and dangerous. But that’s what happens when folks elect an incurious, ignorant carnival barker for president. Ignorant and stupid is a powerfully dangerous combination, and you can’t fix stupid.
5
Trump is an evil, unbalanced, dishonest, incompetent, unpredictable, self-serving traitor.
But to the Republicans, he is THEIR evil, unbalanced, dishonest, incompetent, unpredictable, self-serving traitor.
And that makes it all good. Until it isn't. This is already ugly, and it will get worse.
7
I see that the coo-coo Trey Gowdy has joined the Trump illegal team...no doubt to spring out of the White House coo-coo clock screaming "Benghazi, Benghazi" on the hour every hour.
7
It seems like driving Daffy Donald crazy is a short trip.
1
I feel that we have become so accustomed to his crazy rantings that it will take a serious blunder on Trump's part to awaken us from a "go along to get along" state of being. Will it cost us lives? The economy? His ignorance and allegiance to Putin has just put the lives of the Kurdish population at risk of annihilation. Why should we, as americans, assume he wouldn't do the same to us if it got him his long sought after hotel in Moscow?
282
@cece
Serious blunder?
His worse than serious blunders are beyond counting.
7
@cece
The Turks are killing Kurds right now with Trump’s approval. Isis warriors are waiting to escape and bring their war to Europe.
Putin is the winner and Trump is clearly working for him, not us.
19
Wow! New York Time columnist can say these things about our fearless leader and don’t need a DSM V to diagnose the patient. There are some other euphemisms that also work. 3 cards short of a full deck for starters. Lost his marbles or crazy as a loon and naturally, mad as a hatter.
The straightjacket express a natural endcap to this story? My Haldol is your Haldol, that’s what friends are for?
1
“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey,” Trump reassured the nation.
Genghis Con-man Trump destroyer of economies. Does it get any more whacked out than this folks?
In a New York minute!
Impeachment or a straight jacket anyone?
5
One word for Trump’s behavior: decompensation.
1
Oh, yeah, he's looking really cuckoo...look at those eyes.
A lot of stress and strain.
1
Trump’s genes originated in a pig stable. Just thought ‘d clear that up.
I can’t wait for the opening of the Trump Presidential Library. What I’m looking forward to seeing:
- The bird nest that occupied the space on top of his head
- The cancelled check that Mexico sent to pay for the wall
- A diploma from Trump University (Magna Cum Laude)
- The $2 check covering Don Jr.’s Boy Scout Membership Fee, paid by the Trump Foundation
- Eric’s college transcripts
- The Sharpie he used to sign the Act covering better, cheaper healthcare
- An empty KFC bucket
Thoughts?
5
Gail,
You’re a bright spot in a grim world.
The foreign policy moves by the president* even have the poodles barking up a storm. Will these poodles ever get past the yapping stage. If even enough diminutive poodles get serious- their pants cuff yanking antics could pull an orange, top heavy narcissist to the ground.
In my wildest nightmares I never dreamt that the U.S. would have a military coup....
1
Innocent people do not stonewall!
1
Crazy or not, he's also a Russian agent.
1
It’s okay Gail. Revenge will be taken on the Republican Party for this abomination they’ve inflicted on us. It will be taken by the young people of America. If you have teenagers as I do, you know what I’m talking about. They’ll be remembering President “Unmatched Wisdom” and voting accordingly, til at least 2080 on average. It’s not going to be a good century for the GOP, partly because of its failure to rein in the orange maniac in the White House.
2
The tragedy is that we now have someone who is seriously mentally disturbed controlling the nuclear codes.God help us.
1
Would't it be nice if the overwhelming majority of Americans woke up on November 3 2020 and impeached the entire Republican Party for aiding and abetting this impostor of a President who single-handedly flushed the nation, the Constitution, the Republican Party itself and the notion of objective truth down his personal toilet of psychological neediness, spite and ill will ?
Just 13 months before we can all eject little Donald Trump from his Presidential high chair where he spits out his food and throws his diapers around all day in fits of infantile rage.
Dump Trump: Make America Great Again
7
Calling Trump crazy is an insult to crazy people. We need a new word for such negligence and delusional impulses in a President. I lean toward whacko. Or maybe just whack.
I used to call him the limbo prez, how low can he go? But he went subterranean. Impeachment is too good for him. He deserves impaling.
Are we finally seeing the megalomaniac for what he is?
2
Did any sane person who watched the narcissistic reality TV star descend the escalator spewing racist taunts think that his presidency would end any other way? Why do Republicans hate America so much?
5
We always knew. When he ranted about imaginary "Mexican rapists" on day one, we were informed who he was.
Why didn't we listen?
3
Trump runs the executive branch with the frantic dissembling of a man cheating on his wife
So, Matt Gaetz thinks Adam Schiff is Captain Kangaroo. That's like calling him Mr. Rogers!
1
Near perfect ! …
Thank you.
But you miss two essential issues that could have been mentioned in a few words :
1) If Trump is clinically crazy (which I believe he is) he's also a useful idiot : thanks to him Republicans have rolled back many progressive regulations that stemmed from the 60's and helped USA improve social justice. They did more in 4 years than Republicans since Reagan.
2) American foreign policy has been a mess since Bush Jr. and Cheney. Trump's madness is making the world more messy than ever and this will have dire consequences for western democracies for a long time to come.
Trump is mad, and American home politics morphs into a circus…
But at a very heavy price for all, Americans citizens and "citizens of the world" as well.
2
@vincent7520
America's foreign policy has been a mess much longer than that and we all conveniently forget that the George HW Bush administration started the 1st Gulf War mess when April Glaspie advised Saddam Hussein that 'we have no interest in Iraq's border dispute with Kuwait'. (At least, until we did and used Iraq's sideways drilling incursion as an excuse to invade the country we had previously propped up in order to 'contain Iran'). It's all of a piece and unraveling any single thread leads to every other dropped stitch.
Many of our leaders are / have been mad. Dubya's expressed reason for taking out Saddam was that 'he tried to kill my Daddy'. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the (literally) heartlessly insane Dick Cheney was getting insanely rich off Halliburton contracts in Iraq.
The thing about The Donald is, he isn't 'normally' mad.
His madness is 'abnormal', which makes it intolerable.
1
Does trump even know what a Kurd is? Does he even know where these people live? (spoiler alert: Turkey - Syria - Iraq - Iran - Armenia). Does he understand that these brave people helped surpress (I do not want to use the word defeat) ISIS? Does he understand that allowing Turkey to massacre Kurds is only helping putin? Well, yes, he might understand that. Because trump is nothing more then the ultimate (best) putin poodle. And now that trump figure can also regard himself as an ottoman footrest.
1
Trump has obviously slipped down the rabbit hole of insanity. Stable genius? Not so much. The very fact that he is okay with Turkey wiping out the Kurds, bordering on genocide, shows his lack of loyalty to our allies and once again showing is love of dictators and autocrats. If stupidity was a plane, Trump would be a jet.
1
I want everybody to know that I knew better than to ever vote for Sen. Ron Johnson, the biggest Trump lapdog that there is!
1
I do wish this article had missed the mark. Sadly, it did not. Our President has definitely flown into the Cuckoo's Nest. Look no farther than Trump's recent claim that the Kurds do not deserve U.S. military protection because they never supported the U.S. at Normandy in WWII. It would appear that the more recent critical support against ISIS by the Kurds, who lost thousands of lives in this engagement and literally saved many U.S. lives as a result, means nothing to this malignant narcissist, our cuckoo president, Donald Trump. Cuckoo, Cuckoo, Cuckoo!!
1
I wish I could still think of any of this as funny. Can't, though. Tomorrow will always be worse than today. I am fairly imaginative, and yet things are invariably worse than I imagined they could be. Today, for example, we witnessed the beginning of a likely act of ethnic genocide, which was directly caused by Trump and directly facilitated by his spineless Republicans like Graham and McConnell. Trump and his Trumpies have decided to burn everything down if they cannot get what they want, under several disturbing premises, including: (a) white conservative people ought to be able to do whatever they want, whether or not it is illegal or unconstitutional; (b) it is, after all, their country; and (c) such white conservative people are the only real patriots.
1
To all you Christians out there who support Trump. You are standing behind a man who will bribe his way through the pearly gates and once inside will tell all the other residents God has no idea what he is doing and cites His letting Mother Theresa in as an example. "What a loser", Trump will bellow. "She only hung out with lepers and poor people". Elect me god and on day one I will cure leprosy and make the poor wealthy." And you follow him wherever he goes. I am surprised he doesn't sell bibles at his rallies. The King Donald version. He'd put the Gideons right out of business.
3
I'm particularly struck by Trump claiming the Kurds didn't storm the beaches at Normandy with us and thus we can leave them to be obliterated by Erdogan. It takes a lot to get Lindsey Graham to rouse himself from slumber, but this might do it. What a bunch of losers.
1
Gail, one of your all time "bests." But, then, you have some really good material to be working with.
Brilliant Ms. Collins with enough gems to keep me laughing and crying at the same time.
"If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth."
"there's no ept in this White House"
If not for you and Late night hosts we might not make it through this darkness.
Thank you
1
Gail,
Your description of Lindsey Graham is just perfect.
Yes Ms. Collins, Trump IS, WAS, and always will be CUCKOO. Was it genetic or environment that gave us Trump - either way, throw out those test tube and break the mold! Trump is a blend of Mr. Burns from the Simpsons, Ben Linus of LOST, and Joffrey in Thrones all in their worst moments, resulting in the worst human being in the Nations highest office. The "stable genius" is neither, and was elected AND supported by citizens who's thought processes are like those in the future distopian movie, "Idiocracy" on their worst day, along with the help of the EVILANDEVICALS who wish to impose "Christain" Sharia Law and bring about the Apocalypse now since God hasn't done it yet.
1
We need the transcripts of all phone calls to Erdogan and Putin.
1
"there is no apt in this White House," how apt.
Isn't it about time to prepare a padded cell for him? Well past time, actually.
It's the Kurds' own fault! They didn't help us out in WW 2 and they didn't help us out in Normandy!
1
When the Trumpers and cowardly GOP Reps. and Sens. eventually turn from their false god and face the people with hats in hands, we ought to meet them with pitchforks.
A clear and present danger. Every day he gets worse. Malignant narcissism turns to psychosis when he is forced to confront reality. He will never accept it, lashing out at all who try to force him. A psychotic break is where we are heading now and no one knows what he may do. Let's hope he only runs around naked on the White House roof threatening to jump. But he could just as easily send nukes to California.
2
Every move Trump makes is for his hotels.
When are they starting commercial flights to Mars?
What do you mean, "if" Lindsey Graham were a miniature poodle?
1
Erdogan is the most powerful man on earth. He has the proof on the tape of a dying and screaming journalist, which can bring down the dynasty so close to Kushners. He can get anything done from the WH.
Trump's comments regarding Kurd non-involvement on D-day is so outrageously stupid, it should make every American with a basic fundamental knowledge of the event cringe. Looked like the group behind him were either embarrassed to be there or about to break out laughing.
3
The GOP, out of cowardice and self-interest, is enabling a mentally ill president. Period. Full stop.
1
Trump never left the cuckoos nest. He wallows in the accumulating rubbish that he tosses out to smear those around him. That will ensure their "loyalty", as his minions must now go down with him.
Hmmmm...do we all need to gather around the Congress and yell DUMP TRUMP to remove his finger from the nuclear button. What Trump is doing to the US is beyond pathetic, beyond high crimes and misdemeanors; its treason by any other name by a president unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office and a Congress unable to recognize his disability.
"There's no ept in the White House."
Hilarious.
Trump never has and never will keep his finger off the self-destruct button - but he is not taking the United States down with him. It is time to impeach Trump - and the Southern District of New York will be waiting to prosecute him as he leaves the White House. It's a long time coming.
1
Flies into the cuckoo’s nest? Hell’s bells, he was born in it!
folks keep wondering when the heck to republicans will wake up....Well they just hit the snooze button again and are back to their fairyland of border walls and white americans
1
rasPutin is the Cuckoo that is calling the shots. Are there any doubts?
1
In your guts, you know he's nuts!
2
When your head of state starts talking like a science fiction maniac and you do nothing... its on you
1
This maniac,poseur as a president, is nothing more than a 21st Century Caligula.
1
Wow. I hope that we never need local allies or local cooperation from anyone in that region of the world ever ever ever again.
2
With each of Trump's crazy actions, too many Americans, not to mention the Senate Republicans, somehow convince themselves it can't get any crazier. But Trump has never failed to surprise us with yet another surprise.
Just in the past week he has abandoned the Kurds, who were our most important ally in fighting ISIS, to Erdogan's not-so-tender mercies and he has thrown our Constitution into the waste basket with his no cooperation stance on the impeachment inquiry. I can't even keep up with the surprises anymore. They're hitting with almost daily frequency and each one somehow tops the previous ones.
With Trump, we can always expect surprises and, so far, they've all been unpleasant. The surprise I'd like to see is about 20 GOP senators write a joint letter to Nancy Pelosi asking her "why is it taking so long??"
3
Decades ago a friend wrote (I don't remember the exact words} We win the verbal battle they win the social battle.
2
I’m thinking the day Trump dies will be declared a national holiday.
The only ones not celebrating will be Matt Gaetz and Jim Jordan.
4
How could the white house release their incriminating memo of the extortion phone call with the Ukrainian president and think "it's cool"? We don't need anything else but proof trump was delaying congressionally appropriated funds to add pressure. It's abuse of office plain and simple. And it is always putin who benefits.
2
Where were all these objecting voices when Mr. Trump supported Netanyahu's attacks on Gaza? shooting of unarmed demonstrators over the border fence? unilaterally moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem? building more "Jewish Settlements" on occupied Palestinian territory? annexing the Golan Heights? proposing to annex almost 1/3 of the West Bank Occupied Territory? All outrageous, crazy stuff that Netanyahu did and Trump enthusiastically supported.
2
So what if Trump is impeached, convicted of his crimes and has to leave the White House? The incoming president Mike Pence will just pardon ex-President Trump for whatever wrongdoing he committed while in office.
@sharon5101 I doubt it. Pence won't have to answer to Trump at that point.and he'll believe he'd been "appointed by god" or whatever.
1
Trump is running circles around the stodgy Democrats on this impeachment process. The Democrats could negotiate an end to impeachment efforts in exchange for the protection of the Kurds. Democrats aren't going to benefit from the impeachment process, and this gives them a way out by doing something good. The betrayal of the Kurds is an act of mass murder that is more important than impeachment.
1
Better yet the Dems. should negotiate the resignation of the president.
1
Ah, Gail, you are always right on the money and in the best way.
Personally, I was most offended by the Republican toadies this week claiming that Trump's threats should not be taken seriously: "Come on, he's just joking. He's just trying to spin up the press."
He's the President of the United States! And the best he can do is joke around about serious matters.
Of course, he wasn't joking, but he WAS talking like madman and the toadies were hoping nobody noticed.
We noticed.
"I, in my great and unmatched wisdom... My stable genius... "
Who could possibly argue with that? Let me try:
A plane is crashing, with three people on board: Trump, a Vicar and a young man. Only two parachutes between them.
Trump grabs a parachute saying he is the "smartest man in the world" and must be saved. He exits the plane.
Vicar to the young man: "Son, take the last parachute. I have lived a long life and yours is just beginning."
Young man to the Vicar: "Don't worry, sir. We still have two parachutes. The smartest man in the world just took my backpack."
2
So we now have our first historical data point in testing the "Madman Theory": This Madman is a pushover. This suggests that, if the Madman is driven by self-regard, greed, and fear, rather than an ideology greater than himself, he will always back down, because he values his own survival above anything else.
Did Trump really say this “If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off-limits I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey”?
"In my great and unmatched wisdom" would indicate a state of mind that is not so much unhinged just plain crazy.
2
@Dave Steffe : why is it that the president of the U S. Gets away with everything we’ve seen and heard ( so far. But wait, it’s not over yet) while a much much tamer and level headed behavior would, without a doubt, get him out of any respectable mid level corporation?! Are we really missing something here ?!
1
@Dave Steffe : why is it that the president of the U S. Gets away with everything we’ve seen and heard ( so far. But wait, it’s not over yet) while a much much tamer and level headed behavior would, without a doubt, get him out of any respectable mid level corporation?! Are we really missing something here ?!
The enemy of our enemies is our friend. Can we really afford to add the Kurds to our growing list of enemies?
1
Mr Trump sees no reason why a US diplomat's wife should not be able to claim diplomatic immunity and leave the UK on the first available flight having just killed someone whilst driving on the right hand side of the road contrary to the laws of the UK. Does this now mean that, when I visit the US, I am perfectly free to kill people on US roads as long as I am driving on the left hand side of the road contrary to the laws of the US and as long as I am married to a UK diplomat? Answers please!
2
@Sperafucile : you asked- I’m trying to answer: in the US, politicians run the show. Luckily for them they have the constitution behind them to be forever interpreted ( what did its writers really mean by this or that ?!). Right now NANCY is trying out her talents interpreting the Constitution. Based on the letter pat Cipollone sent to her yesterday from the WH, we’re up for a very bumpy road interpreting our constitution.
One would only wonder: if they came back for a visit, what would the writers of the Constitution say to the kangaroo show going on ?!
Four words: 40 percent approval rating.
@MRod : that’s way too much !
1
RE: Trump's abrupt and unapologetic abandonment of the Kurds, this editorial cartoon, echoing the raising of the American flag by Marines on Okinawa's Mt. Suribachi, by Steve Breen of the San Diego Union-Tribune says more than both volumes of the OED combined.
https://www.gocomics.com/stevebreen/2019/10/10
Never having served in the military, Trump cannot, of course, be expected to have the slightest inkling of the bond that forms between men of two backgrounds and cultures when they are fighting for a common, and good, cause.
Sad.
1
Thank you Gail for making me laugh in the face of the catastrophe to our democracy that is Donald Trump.
You know, I am amused at how republicans would react, if President Hillary Clinton, President Elizabeth Warren or Rep. Cortez said, verbatim:
"“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey,”
Like, without consulting anyone but the President of Turkey, the odious and despotic Erdogan! There aren't enough emojis in the world to express the republicans' outrage.
trump has gone straight from real estate mob-boss to president to king to god in only 3 years, with the help of power-mad republicans (thanks, Moscow Mitch) and a cult base that forgot EVERY SINGLE STANDARD to which they held the last president.
I'll go out on a limb and conclude that trump's happy followers are happy exactly because they get to be the Bart Simpsons of America, great fans of Krusty the Klown's 'show'. They get to moon those who disagree, skateboard rudely through the halls of Congress, shrug when disciplined, all that fun stuff that most of us outgrew by middle school. So they like trump's 'style' a lot.
My heart breaks for our betrayal of the Kurds, so that trump/Erdogan can cut a real estate deal for trump tower Istanbul. When will you have enough of this immature, destructive little boy, republicans?
You've had 3 years. Hold your president accountable!!
5
@deb : Americans ( usually) are critical of the outrageousness going on in other countries.
They seem to forget that here is the one place about which a book was written with the title:” only in America “.
I'd say "delusions of normalcy" better describe this potus. And to the people who support him I suggest they become familiar with US Constitution.
1
The Kurds have guns. They will fend for themselves. Imagine what Trump and the GOP will do to the rest of us when we become an inconvenience. Can't wait for that march on the cuckoo's nest.
1
The vision of Graham as a "miniature poodle" at Trump's heels is the funniest thing in this whole nightmare. I hope the cartoonists pick up on this one.
3
Given Trump's decision making capriciousness one quietly wonders if he's guided by a Magic 8 ball and not just his encyclopedic ignorance.
1
Gail, I love you! You are one of the most brilliant writers for the NYT. Please continue in your wisdom and speaking truth to power. Hugs jrm
@John Marus : without a doubt, Gail is the best depicting the farce taking place in America!
Yours is the first column I have read since this sordid Ukraine affair broke which treats the matter as Shakespeare would have. Even in his tragedies he managed some humor.
This guy we call our president is of course in doing a great pile of distraction as an entertainer these days because he cannot stay in "power" much longer with the casual way he tries to run the country. And with the regular daily corruption.
Would you not guess that he will flame out soon? This whole show is starting to get very boring and wasteful.
Wait America - you haven't heard the end of it. What's next on the Trump Agenda. Why it's a Presidential Declaration of Martial Law.
Just think of the benefits. No more impeachment inquiry. No more "false reporting" or fake news. No more Congressional inquiries (no more Congress). You could lock her up! You could force Mexico to build the wall.
All your promises could come true. Come on Mister President, it's time to put the cart before the horse and get the job done. Remember your campaign promises? You could do them ALL.
It is very unfortunate that the president is not required to receive an annual mental evaluation wit the results made public.
3
Hilarious, as well as dead-on, Gail Collins' column had me running to my wife to recite "best line" after "best line." Gail is to op-ed what Herblock was to cartoons: a heart of gold and a devilish sense of the ridiculous: "we’ve known for a long time there’s no ept in this White House" and "If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one ttrotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth." But I loved "Rudy Giuliani, the talking head whose TV appearances can terrify toddlers". And I can't resist repeating " This isn’t just a guy who makes stupid decisions. It’s a guy who’s off his rocker."
I feel like a kid at his first cruise sip dessert buffet: "All that? For me? Gee, thanks,."
1
@ stu freeman There we’re more Americans fighting at Normandy than there were Drumpfs.
1
Trump is not "crazy", he is psychotic. What he says and does fits perfectly with a person who is psychotic. The delusions, the paranoia, the uncontrolled-ness of his anger and lashing out, etc. are all evidence of a person suffering from mental illness.
What is so disturbing to me is that we view his mental illnesses through the prism of party politics when judging his language and behavior, and as a result, are missing the point that because he is mentally ill, he is a clear and present danger to us all, regardless of our individual politics.
3
Our system is desperate for repair.The most glaring need is the
Presidency.The things this kook has done because ,no one can stop him, is now out there for all to see.You would think he is
A King with unlimited power to do all things.There was one in France with a queen who famously said ‘let them eat cake’.The people finally brought a very large ,sharp blade, and ended
Their absolute power.
1
"If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he'd be the one
trotting along, carrying the master's GOLF BALL in his
mouth."
1
Donald Trump is not 'going nuts'. He's been there for a long long time.
The day is fast coming when the rats (McConnell et al) will desert the ship. Trump is springing leaks all over the place. When he goes down I hope the worst Republicans join him.
3
I'm looking forward to the day when the White House waitress brings the President's breakfast and finds the room empty because he's skipped to Argentina.
2
Is there no one, no country, able to hold this lunatic to account? The world is threatened.
1
It is shameful that he remains in office and each day brings a new level of shame, disgust and fear. Our country is in the hands of a mentally ill man who doesn't read, doesn't listen, cannot think, cannot function as a president must.
The Republicans - all of them - are enabling this. Make them pay. Vote them out (if we ever have a free and fair election again), throw them out of your families if you have to.
People like Susan Collins make me sick to my stomach. Literally. People like her who are 'disappointed' with the president and then go somewhere to hide. Who find his unfit behavior 'troubling'. Who are these people? How do they live with themselves? Their minds must have to do Olympic gymnastic moves to rationalize this man's unfit behavior as 'troubling' but then do nothing about it. I despise them all for what they are doing to this country.
He is unfit. He is mentally ill. He has the nuclear codes. He is unstable. And yet the Republicans, who could remove him in an instant and have the slithery Mike Pence as president (though he knows a lot about everything and we know he does and he should also go) will not do so. Why not? What are they afraid of? A tweet. That's it. This unfit man might start tweeting at them. Well, boo hoo. Grow a spine and do the right thing.
Get rid of him. Now.
4
President Trump is hardly getting "stranger" every day; he is getting ever more grotesquely and dysfunctionally pathological. He now justifies his gratuitous abandonment of the Kurds to their grisly death and dismemberment by blaming them for failing to join us in storming the beaches of Normandy. Say what?
What's the response to such profound idiocy? Seth and Stephen, our broken hearts turn to you.
If the president were not the very antithesis of mirth, he'd be the world's most celebrated stand-up comedian.
2
If Trump was crazy then he would not be morally responsible for his actions. He is not crazy. He is evil, pure and simple.
3
It's not a cuckoo's nest it's OZ.
"Some people without brains do an awful log of talking, don't you think."
"It is such an uncomfortable feeling to know one is a fool."
"I am OZ the Great and Terrible"
Yep, we're in OZ without Dorothy.
1
I think that every time Trump appears in public, whether getting off his helicopter, heading to one of his endless propaganda rallied or just standing in front of the White House, there should be a band there or the just the journalists singing accapella Napoleon XIV’s song “There’s coming to TAke Me Away.”
Some of the lyrics are:
And they’re coming to take me away Ha-haa
They’re coming to take me away ho ho hee hee ha ha
To the funny farm
Trump absolutely hates to be laughed at. Maybe hearing this song over and over would be the straw that finally broke the camel’s back. He would start howling at the moon. Trump, from some place far away from the White House, would say, like all corrupt Republican politicians, that is is henceforth resigning to spend “more time with my family.” Most Americans and the rest of the world except his cult base, Putin and Melania, would rejoice.
1
With this latest example of presidential delusion,We are all sitting out here waiting to see if Senate Republicans will finally decide to stand up and be counted. Such timidity.
2
Let's be careful using broad group names. It comes down to individuals whose vision for this country's betterment is non existent. They need to be called out, as by Ms. Collins today, as self centered corrupt people whose backgrounds second the motion. These are the ones that have to be voted out. It is a wasteful trying to implicate a whole group and usually there are always exceptions to point to.
Rep Jim Jordan and ex-senator Blount think the President is just fooling around with his statements asking China and Ukraine to investigate the Bidens. If they think so even though it doesn't hold water, then let's impeach the President for fooling around too much and not paying attention to the people's interest.
3
Trump stiffed the Kurds just as he stiffed his contractors. Is there any surprise here? Shouldn't be.
We are dealing with a man who is really a boy emotionally, who had money all his life, treated others as he wished with no consequences for his behavior. The Congress is the first to hold him account for anything and he is trying his best to distract (throwing the Kurds under the bus) but it is imperative Congress keep up the pressure. Send the Federal Marshals or the Sergeant at arms and immediately arrest the no-show witnesses and drag them to the committee room. I suspect this will only have to happen a couple of times before the WH complies.
Impeachment is inevitable in the House. The more violations the committees expose, the more the GOP members of both house and senate wil have to answer for; at the time of their vote and Nov 5, 2020
4
Trump stiffed the Kurds just as he stiffed his contractors. Is there any surprise here? Shouldn't be.
We are dealing with a man who is really a boy emotionally, who had money all his life, treated others as he wished with no consequences for his behavior. The Congress is the first to hold him account for anything and he is trying his best to distract (throwing the Kurds under the bus) but it is imperative Congress keep up the pressure. Send the Federal Marshals or the Sergeant at arms and immediately arrest the no-show witnesses and drag them to the committee room. I suspect this will only have to happen a couple of times before the WH complies.
Impeachment is inevitable in the House. The more violations the committees expose, the more the GOP members of both house and senate wil have to answer for; at the time of their vote and Nov 5, 2020
1
Is there any sentient American who can in any way be astonished at Trump's deviance from reason? Lately he is in favor of incandescent light bulbs because he thinks the newer, less energy consuming bulbs make him look orange. His cosmetics make him look orange. He says that cars in California are so lightweight that their paper thin shells are dangerous in crashes. In fact they have the same car bodies sold everywhere else in the US. Who knows where he gets his ideas? We do know that he doesn't read. He doesn't listen -- unless it is to the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity. So is there any reason to believe that his foreign policy acts will be thought through? I'll bet President Erdogan of Turkey was trembling when Trump threatened to "obliterate" the Turkish economy.
10
spanky is a clear and present danger to this country and the world. VOTE DEMOCRATIC
8
How many Trumps served at the beaches of Normandy? (Serving on the Nazi side doesn't count.)
14
Trump is a cornered rat.
6
Donald Trump is as crazy as a bedbug. He has the nuclear codes, and is well past stupid enough to use them.
What are we waiting for? Absolute disaster?
5
I agree with Liz Cheney. Guess hell has frozen over.
10
I still pity the poor Marine who has to salute this sack-o-bones-spurs every time he gets off the plane.
12
Cuckoo? More likely Dodo bird. Flightless, Stupid, and extinct. Please proceed, GOP.
4
Thank you, Great Editorial
The only thing missing but implicit is the thank's to G*d that we are all still alive, not ashes in a nuclear dustheap.
6
But his numbers hold fast. Americans seemingly love his crazy. While there have been many in the past, we have reached a low point in American politics. An acknowledged mentally and intellectually egomaniac in the White House who commits blunder after blunder, attacks our friends and sucks up to our enemies, yet continues to hold the support of half of America. Could racial animosity have anything to do with this mess?
5
Most of Trump's cabinet would rather resign than enforce the 25th Amendment. That's why the 25th amendment doesn't work.
4
This is the way the world ends. Not with a bang, but a whimper - from a stable genius with great and unmatched wisdom.
Sorry for the appropriation Mr. Eliot: it just seemed appropriate...
9
This is what you get when the President's advisors are the voices in his head.
Fasten your seat belts, it's going to be a Trumpy flight.
27
Odd how what Trump calls a 'bad idea,' Turkey invading Syria to wipe out our allies the Kurds, Erdogan is now saying was all discussed in detail with Trump, and agreed to. I wonder if the White House would be kind enough to release the transcript of that chit chat Donald had with Erdogan last Sunday?
30
Odd how what Trump calls a 'bad idea,' Turkey invading Syria to wipe out our allies the Kurds, Erdogan is now saying was all discussed in detail with Trump, and agreed to. I wonder if the White House would be kind enough to release the transcript of that chit chat Donald had with Erdogan last Sunday?
When are the grown-ups coming home?
11
"If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth."
How very charitable of you, Gail. I have been having much baser images of Lindsey Graham's creepy actions regarding Trump. I think Trump mentioned something on that Access Hollywood tape.
16
Just the title of this article alone was worth the price of admission.
6
Sad when satire can't amuse.
9
It’s no longer satirical, sadly.
2
Trumpigula continues to wig out, evermore crazy every day.
I'm surprised that, like his historical mirror image Caligula (Gauis Ceasar), he hasn't appointed his teenage son to the Senate yet. I mean, Caligula appointed his favorite horse to the Roman Senate (or so some of Roman history tells us, it could be a deliberate smear, but from all existing accounts, Caligula was nuts) so why wouldn't Trump appoint Baron as "Senator from The White House," or something along those lines? Or both Ivanka & Baron, just to keep the number even. They are the best Senators imaginable, super qualified, ready for action.
5
"that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom..." Pure crazy talk.
17
Let's not give Trump any ideas about pleading insanity to his treasonous actions.
9
@stefanie The wise man doth knoweth that he is but a fool; the crazy man doth believeth that he posses unmatched wisdom.
2
The Kurds have no country and therefore no place for a Trump hotel/money laundering operation.
23
"I, in my great and unmatched wisdom". That's right up there with "stable genius". That's right up there with commissioning a painting of yourself, then paying for it with your Foundations funds. Who DOES that, asked Hillary? The great and powerful and omniscient Wizard of Oz. Who, it was revealed, was the man behind the curtain. Toto, pull back that curtain!
15
Million Citizen March - descend upon the Capital. Demand the Senate climb out from underneath their beds and support the House in trying to preserve what’s left of our country. Do I have your support? Can we join up like those in Selma did?
28
Similar to suicide by cop, this is a planned exit. Firing oneself by proxy.
1
Trump's decision to abandon our Kurdish allies and give Erdogan's army a green light to invade Northern Syria, makes him an accessory to murder, and is war crime material. Innocent men, women, and children, are now dead. and thousands are in flight , because of Donald Trump. When he then attempts to justify that heinous act by surreally asserting that the Kurds didn't help us at " Normandy", his rancid, and now lethal ignorance, is once again on display. How much longer will his craven, spineless, and mendacious Republican sycophants continue to enable him?
21
I'm just waiting for the final crackup, in which a now completely deranged Trump is forcibly taken out of the oval office in he midst of an agitated, incoherent rant about his unlimited executive powers. it will be worth the wait.
14
When will you guys realise that your mighty, great Democracy (always capital, as there is little that you guys love more than a capital) is over? The American people and the American institutions have been hostages of a bunch of deranged billionaires and of those evil, sinister Evangelicals for years and years - and, now, they won. Deal with it and move on.
11
@Radical Non Sleeper Sounds like somebody is still upset about England losing the American revolution.
1
Meanwhile Kurdish women and children have fled their bombed and shelled homes to a nearby abandoned American base perhaps hoping this will protect them.
Will they be slaughtered or treated like Yazidis women?
9
@Mark Johnson Or put into cages?
1
Well, America, 62 million of you voted for a reality show. A "reality show" is usually not based on actual reality and is more akin to entertainment. If anyone finds this entertaining, see your doctor right away. 65 million of us are not amused.
21
Donald Trump appears to be either a borderline psychotic or a clear and intentionally malevolent danger to our national security. In either case it’s time for America to wake up and understand that this man needs to be removed from office by any legal means available .
13
Looks more like end stage syphillis. His nose, growing at an incredible rate, is likely to fall off any day now.
1
I thought the whole Brexit craziness over here was bad enough but what is happening in the USA beats it hands down! The awful thing is that with your current man in charge nothing is going to get any better but much, much worse—craziness if not treated always does. That means, like the Kurds are now finding out, not only will Americans suffer but we all will. A mad president is a bad president.
10
Some questions re your "Trump Flies Into the Cuckoo's Nest" column today, Gail Collins:
Will Donald Trump's great Ozian demented delusions of grandeur affect his bizarre relationship with his Congressional supporters and loyalists? What will outrage the Republican Party enough for them to call for the impeachment of our unfit 45th president? What will it take for Lindsey Graham to do his weathervane thing and swing against his golfing pal? Aren't we all waiting for the Big Crackup of our crazy president? And the tragic old joke about Turkey after President Trump's terrible foreign policy mistake has come round again: "Why did the Turkish Army stay out of Syria? There were curds in their whey".
4
When our clearly insane POTUS comes down to killing people (tho not quite on 5th Avenue yet) it is astounding to realize that we have no legal recourse available to us as a Nation that does
not involve years of footdragging.
When this seriously mentally and emotionally incompetent individual is finally removed (even if that takes the loyal members of our Military) we need to do some *serious re-structuring of the rules under which this country operates.
6
Prediction: Lindsey Graham and Mark Esper will come to heel to Trump by morning.
1
@Sarah D.
Sen. Graham relies on the huge US military presence in S. Carolina as his base. Trump's action is repugnant to all who fought arm-in-arm with the Kurds, and backing down on this will cost him votes and support. He's painted into a corner on this issue.
2
@Kenny B Good point, thank you.
The chances of Republicans abandoning Trump rise every day but what is certain is that a sizable chunk of this country will believe anything this charlatan says.
Don’t forget that not one Republican legislator backed Trump when he first ran - they jumped on board when he won the plurality over a less than scintillating field. If public opinion goes against him those same people who jumped on the bus will gladly jump off. It’s not like the Republican Senators don’t recognize that he is a buffoon; however, he has been a useful one to them for a while now. That utility is nearing the end of its useful life and I don’t think there is a much of a market for discredited buffoons who are creating foreign policy nightmares (Syria) right in front of the world’s eyes this very second.
PS: This quote is worth keeping around for future use. “If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth.” Lol
4
Using his own "logic", since Trump didn't help the US in Vietnam, can we now impeach, convict, and throw him to the states to further prosecute and imprison? If only we still treated traitors like we used to in the old days........
10
Impeach and convict Trump and arrest him for tax evasion and fraud and toss Turkey out of NATO and embargo all trade and auction off all of the Trump family owned property in Turkey. Arm Ukraine to the teeth with rockets, tanks and American advisers.
2
A small fraction of the comments indicate a cowardly fear that we have to worry about some sort nasty unrest from the mindless trump supporters if 'the Donald' is impeached or not reelected. This is just simply the kind of cowardly stupidity that autocrats love. But dears, be assured, this nation is not going be intimidated by trump and whatever fanatical supporters his raving might muster. When he goes, by impeachment or losing the 2020 election or by the 25th amendment to the Constitution, he will be gone.
5
As far as Liz Cheney is concerned, Trump could double-cross the Kurds and anybody else he wanted and she'd still support him. Liz' reason to live is oil and gas extraction just like her pap.
Thus, a mentally unbalanced President stays in office because he has outsourced his policies to the far right. As long as he does that, this Republican controlled Senate will not send him packing. That will be up to the people Nov 2020.
6
Please he’s been nesting for three years.
2
I'm baffled by my own countrymen/women.
Americans still don't seem appropriately horrified over trump's "great and unmatched wisdom."
We still seem to be normalizing this "very stable genius."
Are we really this drugged up and desensitized and "exhausted" -defeated by this trumpian strategy - to be outraged by this insanity?
When will Senate Republicans begin to feel politically threaded by trump? When will the massive street demonstrations start?
I agree trump's behavior will continue to degenerate. What will it take for us to stop it?
7
Don't worry, Gail. The Republican Party will ensure that the stable genius will be re-elected
1
“they [ the Kurds] didn’t help us in the Second World War, they didn’t help us in Normandy" and were only interested in fighting for “their land.” --Trump's latest rant [Washington Post].
The world would be doubled over in laughter if this lunatic didn't have the ability to destroy us all.
Get him the treatment he needs!
11
And so we learn that Turkish rug-trading tactics are superior to Trump's deal making skills. Trump would have to be one of the loneliest people on the planet - surrounded by sycophants, incompetents and aggressive opportunists - and not a wise or brave soul among them. Too bad he never realized the danger when sitting on the throne below The Sword of Damocles.
2
Trump's downfall will be his continuous self-promotion.
"you cant fool all the people all of the time"
I realize its difficult to watch but that's precisely the point. Eventually his supporters will be so embarrassed they will be left with no option but to desert him.
2
Republicans (Trump Republicans) will eventually face the consequences of blind support for a person like Trump. Never forget their treason. Their treason will follow them to their graves. Never forget.
2
Yup, Trump is barking mad, mad as a hatter, and we are witnessing the slow unraveling of this miserable human being. But Gail, thanks for the cheer-up; Lindsey Graham as a poodle had me laughing. Imagining the current players in the White House as different dog breeds offers hours of entertainment in an otherwise seriously demoralizing situation.
5
“If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth.”
Thank you so much for this visual. It made my night. :) Now, when I hear him speak in that annoying voice of his, I will never not think of a little poodle with hair bows on both ears...
9
Trump's latest "bad idea"--to pull American troops out of Syria--is not totally insane on his part. It's his way to distract voterse from the impeachment inquiry, which is a very good idea. Meanwhile, this unfit president has constructed an Orwellian universe in which black is white. It's probably best to accept the opposite of everything he says and move on with a chuckle.
2
Lindsey Graham is definitely a poodle, but Matt Getz and Donald Trump are no Captain Kangaroos. The Republicans hate the constitution as much as they hate democrats. Eventually there won’t be elections anymore. They’ll just elect an emperor.
3
“If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey,”
This is what it's come to. Trump models the great and powerful Oz to invoke legitimate authority
6
In no uncertain terms, Donald Trump is suffering from multiple personality disorders and/or dementia. Donald Trump is unfit for the most important and powerful job in America. It is way past time to invoke the 25th Amendment.
7
“Follow the money.” Good advice from “Deep Throat.” Trump’s tax returns might hold the secret “why” Trump defends Putin.
2
To think we used to laugh at the Romans and their crazy emperor (Caligula) who had his favorite horse made a Senator. That seems relatively sane and harmless at this point. But then Caligula was also said to have texted, I mean fiddled, while Rome burned.
3
You got your crazy Roman emperors mixed up. It was Nero who fiddled while Rome burned.
Why is no one saying what Trump is: A Russian Agent under the direct control of Putin!
6
We are living in a real life recreation of "The Shining." Substitute trump for Jack Torrance and the White House for the Overlook Hotel. Except that Jack appeared more sane at the end of the movie than trump does now.
1
"...there’s no ept in this White House."
Thank you Gail, this is today's new bumper sticker.
5
Interesting to see I'm not the only one who thinks of Graham as a poodle.
2
Let's see now:
Trump in his time has abandoned and left in the lurch two wives, numerous girlfriends and porn stars, thousands of migrant families on our borders, many of our most important allies, almost all of his campaign promises, Atlantic City, Trump University, many farmers and veterans, millions of Americans in need of health care, his charitable foundation, his creditors, numerous banks and 60 percent of the country.
Now he has abandoned the Kurds, who today -- despite all their courageous help to this country -- find themselves in some very good company.
9
Odd how what Trump calls a 'bad idea,' Turkey invading Syria to wipe out our allies the Kurds, Erdogan is now saying was all discussed in detail with Trump, and agreed to. I wonder if the White House would be kind enough to release the transcript of that chit chat Donald had with his pal Erdogan last Sunday?
5
In our great and unmatched wisdom, the people of the United States elected this man as President. Who’s crazier?
6
We’re finally entering the stages of America, Naked to the World?
At least I hope not. Was this new shiny America the actual brand the whole time, simply awaiting the arrival of A Stable Genius to unmask the best ever of the best ever, ever? This America is the real deal?
Or am I reading too much into the fake NY Times/CNN/Washington Post news that despite my best efforts to seek otherwise, is the most accurate, extensively researched and professionally produced reporting I can find anywhere in the world today...
Or am I going nuts and just won’t admit it? Surely the most insane democracy anywhere right now is not the United States of America?
C’mon, really? This is a setup, right? Y’all are playing me for the biggest gotcha ever, yes?!
No way this is America. C’mon let’s move on please. Not funny any more...
5
I worry less about his control of the nuclear weapons than I do about his control of Republicans.
3
How about an investigation into just how Ivanka got the trademark from China - on voting machines!
3
History doesn't really assure us that Nero got what he deserved for throwing all his subjects under the bus. He seems to have escaped unscathed, except that he appears to have checked out at a fairly young age. In Trump's case he has already survived almost everything that "well-meaning" and fair opponents can throw at him. His Teflon coating just helps him slide on by with no comeuppance, and his guardian demon, Roy Cohn, seems to be pulling some powerful strings from down there.
1
Ms Collins writes: “Most Republicans are curled up under their beds, quivering.”
Indeed, here in Maine, Senator Susan Collins, certain to face a formidable Democrat in 2020, attempts to placate the MAGA (Make America Gag Again) Trumpites, while seeking to gather support from other, more sentient citizens. Senator Collins can’t have it both ways and the odds are growing that she will not carry middle-of-the-road voters. I have voted for this pro-choice Senator several times. Today, I wouldn’t vote for any Republican for dog catcher, let alone high public office. It all rightly centers on our insane President and his acolytes. Trump and anyone who supports him must be removed
12
Our president's apologists would have us sacrifice the rule of law. We have seen this movie before. Robert Bolt's towering screenplay from 53 years ago based on the life and death of Sir Thomas More now 484 years ago summed it up in this exchange with his soon-to-be son-in-law:
"William Roper: So, now you give the Devil the benefit of law!
Sir Thomas More: Yes! What would you do? Cut a great road through the law to get after the Devil?
William Roper: Yes, I'd cut down every law in England to do that!
Sir Thomas More: Oh? And when the last law was down, and the Devil turned 'round on you, where would you hide, Roper, the laws all being flat? This country is planted thick with laws, from coast to coast, Man's laws, not God's! And if you cut them down, and you're just the man to do it, do you really think you could stand upright in the winds that would blow then? Yes, I'd give the Devil benefit of law, for my own safety's sake!"
Allowing an executive to be above the law gives all law breakers the strong argument to deny the law's reach to their actions, for if our leader is lawless, how can others be held to any other law?
My question for all our president's sycophants and especially his lawyers is this: Why do lawyers want to cashier the very thing they swore to first uphold, the law?
Your response, Mr. Cipollone? AG Barr? Sen. Graham? Anyone?
4
Gail's incisive, snarky wit is lost on me at such a perilous time in our country. This op/ed , as with most her other ones, doesn't pull any punches in exposing the absurdity, indeed the idiocy of our crass, delusional and narcissistic "president". He, along with the majority of republican big wigs who back him up, are determined to destroy our democracy.
Gail hits the bull's-eye once again, but I can't laugh anymore. If what is happening now doesn't constitute a constitutional crisis, then what does?
2
Also want to give a shout out to Amy Haskins as she asks Sen Joni Ernst “where do you draw the line” on Trump.
4
It took you three years to notice this?
"If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth."
This image will not leave my brain no matter how hard I try.
1
Hi Gail, remember the day after his election you told Brian Lehrer of NPR that trump isn’t sick?? I knew even then years u were mistaken!
2
Just the other day the NYT and WaPo printed photos of our allies, civilian Kurds marching in their neighborhood for peace and protection; old and young men, women and teen girls, and little kids. These people have helped us and helped protect us from ISIS. They are our friends! It is beyond awful to realize that already the Turkish army has been dropping bombs in these same neighborhoods.
And for what? Ultimately, for Erdogan's and Putin's pleasure and at their request. And who would initiate this opportunity to slaughter our allies? Believe it or not, the President of the United States. Our president! How can this not be a nightmare? GOP Senators, where are you? How can you stand it, your own lack of humanity?
6
"...fervid supporter..."?
Yes, that's how Graham seems to you, even during his frequent excoriations of the president, which I always support. In fact, I'm one of Trump's opponents.
But you're a fervid opponent, no more interesting than a metronome. That's why I stopped reading you a year and a half ago. I come back to find you still just exactly as enlightened as Senator Graham.
If you can't do better than Lindsey Graham, why not work for his re-election?
And how about his mad-whack statement that it's okay to abandon the Kurds because they weren't there for us at Normandy? The thing is the guy isn't even drunk when he says this cuckoo stuff. At least Nixon had that as an excuse when he was talking to statues while wandering around the hallways in his bathrobe.
8
The northern Syria debacle was evidently intended as a birthday gift for Putin, even tho Erdogan made the phone call nailing it: Monday was Vladimir's 67th birthday. What a coincidence.
1
"Even China found that loony, a high standard for a country that can’t even manage to have a reasonable relationship with basketball teams."
You've not forgotten the "kneeling" war? I know, it seems like many years ago...
1
"Delusion of grandeur" is just a polite way of saying he's "nuts" which is to say he suffers for a mental illness, and not a "breakdown," formerly know by the "word wealth" name of "megalomania," but now renamed by the America Psychiatric Association as "Narcissistic Personality Disorder." As the pressure mounts this mental instability becomes more and more evident. So, we can add to the lunacy Trump's most recent bon mot that since the Kurds didn't participate with us in the Normandy invasion in World War II, we can betray them and allow Turkey, the great practitioners of mass murder, now euphemistically called "ethnic cleansing," to dispose of the Kurds as they did with the Armenians before them. Of course, as a previous dictator, Slobodan Milosevic, found out this is a "crime against humanity" that can get you hauled before the World Court and convicted if not impeached. But, perhaps the "insanity defense" will save him.
4
MR. Trump is looking much better now that he told the Democrats in the House of Representatives to take a hike. He has taken some of our soldiers out of harms way. He is in charge and showing the country who is nuts.
I will not be able to look at despicable Lindsey Graham again without picturing him as a toy poodle carrying Trump's socks. Thank you for that Ms Collins. It helps ease the rage and disgust that wells inside me every time I see Senator Graham restate and elaborate on every lie and transgression this President offers so he may remain "relevant".
2
The real stable genius...Mr. Ed (from the 1960's sitcom).
"A horse is a horse, of course, of course, and no one can talk to a horse, of course." That is, of course, unless the horse is the famous Mister Ed."
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLlE14faSms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LND1PypBnrU
The solution to this mess is simple: Melania should take his phone away and ground him for fifteen months.
1
Put this column in any anthology on the "Age of Trump" (assuming reading, books and anything else survives)
DT's decision to suddenly pull support for the Kurds and give Turkey the go ahead to invade northern Syria seems bizarre even for him. Unless, of course there was some "deal" brokered between him and his soul mate, Erdogan. Would be interesting to see transcripts of recent calls between the two. Can't wait for the next "whistle" to "blow."
1
It is thought that our planet has, maybe, 15 years left and you worry about Trump?
Do we still have any “adult” in the White House?
Or any moral voice in the GOP?
Senator McCain, we miss you.
3
I'm somehow reminded of the explanation given by a future historian in "Sleeper" for the demise of civilizatio: "You see, there was this guy named 'Albert Shankar' and he got hold of a nuclear weapon ...".
Trump's utterances and actions have become so dangerous that it would be irresponsible not to remove him and his family out of the White House. Listen to the President's comments to the presss. He is irrational, blathering, dishonest, malignant and ignorant. Every congressman and woman need only ask this question: My country or Trump?
4
It's getting close to Wag The Dog time.
1
Gail, only Trump could have me in agreement with Liz Cheney, the Frankenstein like spawn of the “ alleged “ War Criminal. And,
Lindsey Graham dreams of being a Poodle, the pampered pet of a Palm Beach Socialite that lunches, shops and Spas.
Since we’re both Ohio Gals, I’ll offer this : Trump will Resign, by the New Year. He’ll finally make a big, beautiful Deal, the deal of a lifetime. Let him keep his ill-gotten gains, and just go away. Far away. St. Petersburg looks nice. Russia, not Florida.
2
"If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he'd be the one trotting along, carrying the master's socks in his mouth."
As pathetic as Graham, Jordan, Gaetz, et. al, appear today as they bow to their master, imagine how ridiculous they will appear from an historical perspective. I don't believe they possess the self-respect or awareness to adjust their behavior. It is extremely irrational and debasing on their part...and damaging to the American ideal.
1
This is funny only if I am simultaneously thinking: Trump is doomed.
When is somebody in the corridors of power in either party going to have the guts to say Trump is mentally coming apart at the seams. His rants and tweets are getting more outrageous and less sane every day. Only someone who is clearly now delusional and not in control of reality can spew the growing paranoid ravings coming out of the White House every day now. Perhaps Americans are unwilling or unable to admit it; but Trump is clearly psychologically unhinged. It is not only unnerving to read his poison every day; it represents a clear and present danger to both the U.S. and the world. But the sycophants will never admit what is so obvious to the whole world.
4
The President's team is now down to the best that the bottom of the barrel has to offer. The bunker mentality is setting in. Their leader is in peril along with the credibility they left behind when they declared their fealty to the chosen one. This is not the beginning of the end nor the end to the beginning. This is life according to Trump. To quote one of the great editorial writers for the NYT, "Impeach the sucker." Let Mikie do it.
1
I'm no Trump apologist, though I am shocked that the Times would use words like "cuckoo," "strange," and "nuts," to describe what this column posits is true mental illness. You can insult Trump all you want without propagating stigma against innocent people who suffer with mental health issues.
"...acting like a malicious Captain Kangaroo.”
I'm offended on behalf of the late Bob Keeshan.
8
It really doesn’t matter what Trump does, shoot someone on 5th ave., slaughter Kurds, it’s all OK. And those terrorists that are going to escape, they aren’t coming here, they’re going to Europe - Trump said so, with glee, I might add. European leaders don’t like him and he doesn’t like them so it all works out for the best.
Meanwhile, with all their objections to Trump blindsiding the Kurds, will Graham or Cheney actually oppose Trump? Hard to believe how much slime Republican politicians can tolerate.
How patiently they listen and obey intolerant Trump.
5
He has the launch codes.
Ms. Collins great written article .I am still laughing about you calling Sen.Graham a poodle carrying his masters socks in his mouth .Graham did a complete 180 after trashing Trump hundreds of times .I guess a round of golf & $800,000 he received from Russia changed his mind.
1
Gail, Thanksgiving is a little over a month away. We're going to have a Congress and a White House filled to the brim with turkeys.
1
Nuts. Off the Wall. Wacky. Loony. Crazy. This is how we describe people who are eccentric and unusual. Sometimes, when we use those descriptive words, we’re being humorous.
Trump is seriously mentally ill. He’s dangerous at this point because he has no one reining him in. There are no adults in the room. He has unfettered power. He has the nuclear codes. It’s not funny anymore, if it ever was. We should all be very scared.
5
Donald Trump is like an uber-toddler having an epic, escalating temper tantrum who needs a time-out...forever.
But yeah, he's clearly compromised and crazy.
Good piece, Gail.
2
So called “green” party voters: you own this.
4
If the founding fathers were around today Trump would call them traitors and tell them to go back where they came from.
2
Mr Trump's unraveling mental status is no joke. It seems to me he may be entering the psychotic realm. He already had a paranoid personality, with delusions. The latter are taking over his "reality testing." He should have a psychiatric exam.
4
@ellen luborsky
Yeah, good luck with that. Unless Congress can mandate it somehow or he is put on a 'psychiatric hold' there is no way that is happening, unfortunately.
I do however think that if we have learned nothing from Trump, it is the need to have 'qualifying requirements' for anyone applying for the job of president: independent medical and physical tests, history/constitutional process exams and release of ALL financial records with agreement to divest of all financial interests, at the very least.
1
Welcome to the Upside Down. Trump is dirty
and he thnks everyone else is. He always
accuses others of what he himself does and has
done.
The calls to Moscow Mitch to keep Rs loyal
shows he knows he is in deep trouble
and name calling won't cut it.
Pelosi has his number.
2
If Trump was your dad, helping "run" your business with his "great and unmatched wisdom," you'd can him in a New York minute. Congress should do the same to Trump. Impeach. Convict. Put Pence in as lame duck. So what, he'll be utterly crippled. Move on to the 2020 election.
1
This is bizarro world where up is down and square is round. The article was funny, then I realized it is our reality. I hope a Republican can grow a spine soon before this stable genius with unmatched wisdom drives us all off a cliff.
2
Anyone who has studied mythology is familiar with the Lord of Misrule, a mock king who ruled during the feast of Saturnalia. Who knew we would be so stupid as to actually elect him president? The good news is that he was sacrificed at the end of his reign.
2
This is the U.S.S. America going down with Capt. Ahab at the helm. There is no rhyme nor reason for abandoning our Kurdish allies with a Sunday phone call giving them no time to prepare for a Turkish onslaught. Those rumored Russian tapes with Trump and prostitutes have to be real. Or else the leader of the free world truly is a madman.
3
The president is mentally ill and ridiculing him is reprehensible, just as it was reprehensible of him to ridicule the handicapped reporter. This is serious. He must be removed from office as quickly as possible before he makes more indefensible decisions like withdrawing support for the the Syrian Kurds and to stop him from further demeaning the office of the president.
1
Trump is a joke but it’s not funny.
Gail, you should not insult poodles and upset dog owners by comparing a dog to a Republican Senator. Dogs have spines, and when abused will actually growl and bark and fight back. Republican Senators, when abused, just roll over with their tongues hanging out, and beg for a treat.
Sure Trump is nutso. It was clear from the beginning of his campaign that he was grossly unqualified and incapable of being president; of actually -doing- the job. What has happened instead is that, with nobody enforcing any limits to what Trump can believe, he has run off the rails entirely. Nutso is probably to nice a way to describe it, but I'm not up on my psychological terms. "Megalomaniac malignant narcissism"? "Sociopathy"? "Totally whack-o nut job"? All seem to be accurate diagnoses, given the exhibited behaviors.
4
We have a mentally unstable psychopath in the white house, destroying American credibility around the world. The Kurds, our only real ally in the middle east, are now offered up for slaughter to out good friends, Turkey (which, by the way, did nothing to defeat ISIS). The Republicans scramble for cover, offering "thoughts and prayers" for the Kurdish victims of Turkish genocide.
And we still have 52 US Senators (all Republican) that defend this president. This is right out of a Steven King novel.
5
Can Congress DEMAND that President Trump submit to a psychiatric evaluation? If not, let’s enact legislation giving it the power to do so. STAT.
4
Look on the bright side. This is a golden opportunity for the NRA to prove that it is serious about public guns being used to protect us from authoritarian leaders. And if they don't act, we can finally conclude that they're just the Republican brown shirts.
Thank you Gail for including those links in your column!
Giving Trump 2 billion dollars worth of free airtime in 2015 and 2016, to cover his daily inanity, was a really bad idea. Allowing this misfit to invade the public airways and massacre his opponents with his insane personal attacks on them and their families really crossed a red line. All of Trump's future sycophants were outraged. Outraged!
Now, well Trumped, its just another day between gold outings and chuckles in the locker room. Trump got one thing right about his 2016 primary opponents: weak!
Republicans, you been grabbed. Amazing how Republican "makers" just keep on taking. Access D.C., the moral disease.
1
If this were a restaurant or a nice place to stay, it would be four star ⭐️
1
There may come a time when either trump makes such a bad decision that we have a full on national disaster, or we will continue limping along as an injured and pathetic country. If Americans cared about what happens in the rest of the world, this terrible decision to throw the Kurds under the bus in order to enrich trump's business interests with the Turkish elite might be that disastrous event.
However, as long as the Republican party continues to normalize and accept the most insane and greedy behavior by trump, the majority of Americans will be forced to continue watching the daily train wreck. Where do these venal Republicans think this is going? Do they really think they will walk away with clean hands and a pure heart after enabling and encouraging the most racist, cruel, xenophobic and insane wanna-be fascist in American history?
2
A social worker friend of mine once told me that, when narcissists are pushed to the brink, the break with narcissism is psychosis. Donald Trump is beginning to show signs of psychosis, at least to this layperson. His "...great and unmatched wisdom" comment, followed by his rationalizing the slaughter of Kurds because "they didn't help us in Normandy", not to mention that he's okay with a reprisal of ISIS because they'll "go do Europe", only lend credence to what appears to be wheels coming off a bus. The US president is nuts, and 60 million Americans adore him for it.
6
Walking my dog this afternoon. He spotted a cat and lunged. I hauled on his leash, much to his frustration. The cat glanced up, showed no apparent concern, and then barfed on the lawn.
Trump has slipped his leash and the Republicans, who should have barfed him out of office months ago, are bellies up and begging for more abuse. The man is a cancer on the body politic.
4
At least Matt Gaetz didn't strap his dog to the roof of his car for a 12 hour trip.
1
Trump: “If Turkey does anything that I, in my great and unmatched wisdom, consider to be off limits I will totally destroy and obliterate the economy of Turkey,”
Does the MAGA crowd need more evidence than this frightening declaration by the man who made the white house a cukoo's nest?
4
I cannot shake the feeling that future hisorians will be pner to Tump than to the McConnells and the Pompeos. A fool who thought of himself as a genius, Trump could not help himself. What is the excuse the enablers have?
1
I heard the Women’s March is hosting impeachment demonstrations this Sunday, Oct 13. Anybody have any good suggestions for a sign?
2
just as he gave mohammed bin salman the green light to proceed he now gave it to erdogan... that he has private interests in both countries is really just a coincidence...
4
A "stable genius" is one who knows when to feed the horses.
“My great and unmatched wisdom”? Who is he? The Wizard of Oz? (And those of us who read the story know that the Wizard was a snake oil selling peddler- SAD!)!
3
Only one thing explains Trump: the lights are on but no one is home.
Ms. Collins wrote:
"If Graham were, say, a miniature poodle, he’d be the one trotting along, carrying the master’s socks in his mouth."
Perfect.
Unfortunately.
1
Gail, your wit is always welcome, but I'm finding this whole affair less and less funny.
The clown is destroying America.
It is past the time when the NYT should be calling for Tchump's resignation. Every member of Congress, every governor, every state legislator, every religious leader, and every leader of industry
should be screaming for him to resign.
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@michael z
...and all american citizens too!!! where are they??
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Gail, Your delightful essays always lighten the load of the daily grind of depressing political news. I thought we might have the Foreign Relations Committee hire attorney Hillary Clinton to lead the inquisition of Mr. Pompeo in the Presidential impeachment hearings . That would be great pay for TV !
THE 25th AMMENDMENT EXISTS FOR SUCH A SITUATION.
The man is delusional as well as incompetent, corrupt, and
mendacious.
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Name me one cabinet member who has the guts to enforce the 25th amendment.
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Trump and his enablers all seem to have issues. Watching Trump,the GOP..like Gowdy,Jordan and Gaetz ...they all seem angry and diabolical. Watching Barr and Lewandowski was like watching truants in the Principals office. It all began when we became so desensitized to Trump's Bizzare Ranting ...many of us decided to Elect Him. It all started with..Crooked Hillary,Low Energy Jeb...It's all Locker Room Talk..Lock Her Up....blah blah blah. Rather than calling him out the GOP, Fox and the MAGA Rally People have endorsed him and for the most part have backed his rhetoric in spite of his obvious mental challenges. Trump's not the only one with issues. Too many American Voters are troubled as well.His ranting should have disqualified him from ever getting out of the Primaries much less Elected. A commenter recently said they wake up every morning and can't believe Trump is President. I agree but I also can't believe so many of us ..including some very intelligent well educated people...Voted for and still support the Worst President in American History. Our Democracy has struggled enough!! Impeachment is our only option for survival! Like Nurse Ratched said in One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest...It's Medication Time !!
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Finally, Gail! Don't hold back. Say it like it is. Yes, crazy. Scary crazy, Dead crazy if you're a Kurd. Confusing. Disloyal. Unknowing. Impulsive. I try to imagine Trump in a civics class in high school, in the military high school. Can't. Or taking government in college. Can't. Working on an election. Nope. Holding any office but president. Now there it is, our great and large mistake for the last election. Could he pass the citizenship test immigrants must take? I doubt it. His grandiosity is now reaching heights unimagined. Yes, into the Cuckoo's Nest he flies.
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He looks hunted in that picture. Probably like when he knows Melania has Found Out again. My sneaking suspicion, though, is that the ensuing punishment is what it's all about for him. Let's oblige.
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A. Crazy Trump WANTS to be impeached or
B. Crazy Trump plans to create a situation where he can resign...
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Dear Mr. Churchill, We regret to inform you that the USA will be withdrawing our troops from France. I just got off the phone with Adolf and he promised he only is trying to drive out that pesky ethnic group with their strange religion, customs and a generational need for their own state. He sounded so forceful and powerful and said he won’t invade England! And France? Well, I only like countries that haven’t been captured. I know we fought well together but the owners and advisors on my state tv say Congress is not happy with my Divine right and I must bring my troops home to stop an appending coup. And let’s be honest this war is a bad idea. After all, you were fighting us at Concord and Lexington and don’t get me started on that 1812 thing. Hey maybe after this thing is straightened out by Russia and Japan we can meet in Berlin. I have a couple of nice hotels there you might enjoy. I’ll give you my Trump discount. Your trusted forever ally, King Don.
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I waken at night when there is a loud noise wondering I I just heard the distant sound of a nuclear explosion. Trump could kill us all by causing WWIII. We collectively are rather nuts to have put our lives and our children's lives at the mercy of the whims of a madman. Impeachment cannot happen fast enough. That is Why I think Pelosi should speed it up by holding a House vote thereby making Trump's unconstitutional objections moot. Vote and speed up to full steam ahead.
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25th - surely it is time
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Trump Tower, Istanbul, is reason enough for this madman to do what he does. Impeach him or jail him it won’t matter. Post Trump will use the relationships he is building to further enrich his family and pilot fish.
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Trump is mentally unsound. Nevertheless, I think he was speaking tongue-in-cheek when he boasted of his great and unmatched wisdom. Even Trump wouldn’t say that about himself in those words. But the Normandy tweet is another matter entirely. That’s just weird, and nonsensical, and out in left field. His reasoning power is disintegrating.
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The stuff that comes out of that guy's mouth will make the most surreal, horrorshow of an opera very soon. Philip Glass, John Adams, get on it!
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I just heard Trump say on TV that the Kurds did not help us at Normandy so why should I help them now !!!
Even SNL could not top that.
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Trump’s abandonment of the Kurds to probable genocide reaffirms that Putin won the 2016 election.
Republicans who continue to support Trump will live in infamy.
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