Does anyone recalls a 80's movie comedy depicting Vietnam vets flying about in a converted military plane but never landing whilst broadcasting their own pirate non toxic public news service.
These patriotic heroes are forced into confronting a presidential nominee who suspiciously wraps all required demographics in the stars and stripes but is clearly a threat to your democracy.
Most remarkably the villain was female version of you know who. This character's name was a white goods brand.
Just add a dress, high heels, more hairspray and you guys are living that movie. Spoiler alert finally the character was unmasked ( it was a bloke.)
9
I understand the comments that lambaste anonymous for not standing up and openly laying out the case for removing the carbon life form that has been illegally foisted on the office of POTUS. Perhaps anonymous is a DoD or NSC staff member that has the means to ensure that POTUS does not touch the nuclear button in one of POTUS’s fits of rage or instability or dementia. That would be a good reason for anonymous to stay on, and stay under cover.
18
Is this for real???!! Like it would be better AFTER the 2020 election ??? When Trump is gone (either in jail or retired) we WILL NOT CARE. We will need to spend the time and effort finding out all the horrible things that have been done since 2017 and reverse them to get back to base line normal.
>>>“I realize that writing this while the president is still in office is an extraordinary step,”
10
Are books like this actually read by those whom the author believes should read it. For most Democrats and liberals, it would be preaching to the converted. Will Republicans actually read it. Do they even care what Trump is doing to the presidency and this country, and it's stature abroad? Trump is about to be impeached. Does anybody believe the Republican majority it the Senate will convict him?
24
I find it very interesting that the commentators seem so definitive in their assessment of Anonymous - without reading the book in question. They seem to be making the author the target of their critiques, not the peculiar slant the reviewer takes - which is nasty indeed - nor the actual content and purpose of 'A Warning.'
Let's have some objectivity based on facts instead of a series of opinions asking to be taken for facts.
11
This book is like someone who penned a personal account of the sinking of the Titanic.
It did not matter to the 1300 victims nor the 600 survivors and this book does nothing to end the Trump Infamy except make money for the author.
Like we have not heard nor read this before.
15
Staying "Anonymus" while selling a book for $30.00 really doesn't feel right to me at all.
He/she may feel the need to remain Anonumus out of concern for family, after all there are a whole lot of unsavory (I'm being kind here) people involved in the swamp.
If Anomynus is on the level, but must remain Anomynus, then all proceeds of the book should go to a bonifide charity, preferably one that assists our military veterans and families.
You can't have it both ways.
12
"Crime, once exposed, has no refuge but in audacity."
-- Tacitus
Buckle your seatbelts, folks!
20
“Anonymous” has no integrity or moral courage. He has been complicit in all the crimes against nature and Humanity committed by the Trump cabal.
The best thing to do is not buy this collaborator’s “expose”.
The only thing he has really exposed is himself and all the Republican careerists who enable the madman at the helm.
M
18
I will get this book on my Kindle 19 Nov. I do not care that this is penned by an anonymous person. I have to read it myself as I have the Mueller Report. While the two have differences, this book will reveal a first hand account of being"in the room" with this despicable president.
13
The creed of Anonymous and today's GOP: "If you can't beat him, profit off him."
24
I am sorry. You are selling a book for profit about the inner machinations and failures of the Trump Govt. You might be wringing your hands and griping for change, but whatever you have written so far, you have done. For. PROFIT.
American legacy and ideals are at stake and here you are trying to make a quick dime on the misery and turmoil of this great nation.
And you wish to be lauded a hero? I am sorry sir, but shame on you.
True bravery would have a face. We only see opportunistic unapologetically unethical greed at work here.
If you wish to be taken seriously in any way, given your apparent high ranking position, forgo your profits and for once actually SERVE the people.
That is all.
18
Every sane person knows we elected a miscreant. The problem was that his opponent was not much better. The lesson is our government is broken. Time for people who care to get more involved, somehow.
5
I'm relieved that rump's attention will be on anonymous and not the whistleblower.
congressional gops must know most of what anonymous knows, maybe more.
Anonymous may have thought that people wouldn't believe him/her if they came forward as themselves.
40% of the country believes rump should be in office, so it's not a stretch.
This way there isn't any way to discredit their personal background. And there is far more interest.
I get it.
3
I find Anonymous wise to remain anonymous. In the current situation, ALL the power accrues to trump. For proof, all we need do is observe the congressional Republicans as they prostrate themselves at his feet and sacrifice their morality to his malignant narcissism or listen to that sycophantic speech Sessions made when he announced his candidacy for the Senate. As for many of the trump voters, they seethe with a rage that could easily erupt into fatal violence against the man or woman who has attacked their “god.”
During the American Revolution, the British complained because the Americans refused to march formations of their soldiers against formations of the British soldiers since that’s how battles are supposed to be fought. Instead, because the Americans were outnumbered, they did sneaky, unfair things like shooting at the columns of British soldiers from behind trees. When one side has superior numbers and firepower, guerrilla tactics win wars. (See also the North Vietnamese.)
6
Well, I am not paying bucks to read stuff I already know. Maybe a few years from now I can get it from the library, and it will refresh my unpleasant memories.
4
I consider myself an Independent but I have many friends who align with the Republican Party for a whole spectrum of different reasons. Politically and economically we have different perspectives but I know most of my Republican-oriented friends to be fine, caring and ethical people. I do not understand HOW they can be putting up and accepting the outrageous, irresponsible and intolerable behavior of the man who currently occupies the Oval Office. What has happened to this country? WAKE UP AMERICA! Donald Trump needs to be removed from office. I don't care if he is impeached or voted out of office. He needs to go. He does not represent the best interests and freedoms of anyone but himself. WAKE UP AMERICA!
23
Whatever his failings, I am happy to have a conservative Republican see the light and say so. We need everyone we can get in the resistance even if they don't pass various litmus tests. Bully for him or her.
5
If "Anonymous" truly believed in the analogy to the Flight 93 heroes to which s/he cites, wouldn't storming the cockpit of the oval office equate an effort at a 25th Amendment removal?
What's stopping them now from doing that even now?
18
Those who complain that anonymous should not be anonymous fail one consideration.
Anonymous remains anonymous likely because he fears for his life.
What does that say about our country. fail to
7
Perhaps a different perspective on "A Warning"might be engendered on the basis of a thought experiment that I have, in fact, performed on myself. Suppose there were a Democratic candidate for President with whom you agree on every significant policy issue the county might confront during that candidate's term. Suppose, also, though, that the candidate is as personally repulsive as Trump, every bit as unprincipled, every bit as as ignorant of the historic modes and effect of the workings of government, is equally mendacious, equally cruel, and equally destructive of the official and unofficial institutions and norms of democratic governance, and, for whom, like Trump, the only measure of the worth of any action, rule, policy or transaction is the effect it had on his own ego.
Would you vote for such a person? I would not. Presidential actions, as important as they may be, and often are, are reversible in the long term in a functioning democracy. But what would be left after the rein of my hypothetical "good guy" candidate might very well be uncorrectable. Mr. Anonymous, apparently, believes the same is in store for us in today's context. He has made highly debatable choices regarding the presentation of his thesis. But instead of being condemned, perhaps he should be celebrated for showing that there should be, and, in fact is, an ethical course for people of good conscience who are nonetheless unable to break free of the destructive embrace of far-right ideolgy.
4
If anonymous thinks s/he is helping well it's not working. How can s/he stand by and watch as our country titters on the brink of collapse? How can anonymous watch as trump throws away our nation's hard won, hard fought reputation with the world? How can anonymous let trump wipe his feet on our military, our good will, our beautiful forests and rivers everything Americans hold dear?
If anonymous loves this country as much as he claims then prove it. Please do something that matters. Your steps so far may have helped. But now you must be courageous. You can no longer contain the destruction. For the love of our nation come forward because it may be the only way to end this nightmare.
5
Look, this warning is not to Democrats or the many folks who have known for years that they would never elect or re-elect Trump. The warning is to those who still think that any Republican, even Trump, is a better choice than any Democrat. I have no problem with this kind of information being shared in many formats, whether it's a whistle-blower who identifies him/herself, former staffers who come out against Trump, administration officials who resign and go public, and this administration official who has not resigned (as far as we know) and who is remaining anonymous for now. It puts an interesting spin on things, and the sheer variety of methods of resisting Trump may make an impression that makes a difference.
3
Something about Anonymous strikes me as self-serving. Someone who wants to soothe their conscience and feel like a good person without giving up the perks of political success (and a lucrative book deal).
Without specific examples it is hard to see how this book adds anything to what we already know and what has been blindingly obvious for three years. It is hard to see the point of it.
2
The author states that anonymous pales in comparison to the whistleblower, but how does he know they are not the same person?
1
Maybe when no one else in the administration was stepping forward, it made sense to stay anonymous.
But now that so many people are speaking out and risking their safety and careers, a senior administration official such as anonymous could solidify their credibility by coming forward and testifying before the impeachment committee.
4
Now that this book will imminently be published, we can predict another flurry of activity to unmask the identity of Anonymous. We can expect another round of blogs and news media alleging the author's identity, tweets of "Treason!" and worse from Trump, amplified by the right wing media. In all likelihood, Anonymous will be outed. Why wait for this to happen? Better to control the narrative and go public on your own terms. It would show courage to match that of the public officials currently testifying in the impeachment inquiry. Going public now might be a wake-up call for all those Trump supporters out there, and move the needle in terms of public polling. Why take a chance on what disaster Trump might inflict upon us in the next 15 months, or that he might even be re-elected?
14
Most people whom I know who voted for Trump did so because he spoke their anger out loud, so they assumed he'd fix their problems. Of course, he's pretty much ignored or made those problems worse. For example, farmers have suffered due to his tariffs on China that caused a collapse in farm exports, particularly soybeans.
By now, anyone who is paying attention with even half an open mind knows that Trump is both a national security risk and a failure as president. He has caused tragedies both personal and national through his draconian immigration policies that have led to deaths of children in custody and anguish for parents and children separated by policy rather than need, some possibly forever.
Do we really need a watered-down warning to tell us not to vote for him again? I didn't vote for him the first time. Perhaps those who did will heed the warning, but many of them seem to still be on the disruption bandwagon with no thought as to what should emerge from that disruption.
31
It is a interesting point by this ghost writer, seemingly with adequate insight about Trump and his inadequacy as president if not as a human being, that it would better for the nation to ride Trump out during his term rather than remove him from office. But the other side of this is that Trump would not be held accountable for obstructing justice and, maybe worse, having committed treason, as long as he’s in office. This is plainly unacceptable. We are not a weak country and we can risk telling the truth. Impeachment, ie indictment, without Senate conviction becomes a mechanism of at least formal protest that goes into history books for future presidents to take note of.
16
This is further proof that the GOP has been following the Soviet playbook in governance for many years. Replace Soviet news with Faux and their misinformation tactics. Or the way the then Soviets handled Stalin when he became old and incompetent as per the recent movie called The death of Stalin. The GOP is the party of Putin and Murdoch and the sooner the public realizes it, the sooner we can get rid of the American Soviets.
22
I just find it amazing that Trump's crack team of investigators was able to find out that Obama wasn't born in the U.S. yet they're not able to figure out who 'anonymous' is, even with what one would assume is a ton of leads to go on.
Is anyone else tired of all the winning yet?
38
@Mikeweb There doesn't seem to be much effort on the part of trump's people to out Anonymous, a marked contrast to their work to out the whistleblower.
2
“Many reasonable people voted for Trump because they love their country, wanted to shake up the establishment, and felt that the alternative was worse,”
In hindsight, given the lying and ineptitude of the Trump administration, it is difficult to see Clinton as objectively a “worse” possibility or even that Trump voters are, by some definition, “reasonable.” That is unless what horrifies you is the prospect of America becoming less white.
Ironically, that prospect is unavoidable. Yet despite its inevitability, it shouldn’t frighten anyone, because American culture is a juggernaut that by the 2nd or 3rd generation converts nearly every immigrant. They become as American as anyone, and the color of their skin makes no difference whatsoever.
So perhaps it is the perceived loss of white privilege that scares some of us. Well if your privilege is of the nature that it could be lost, maybe you never really possessed it to begin with and were only temporarily pretending to possess some advantage. The American Dream has never completely lived up to its potential, but the dream is alive in its confident promise of a better life for all. If we lose faith in it, though, it will die.
His fans wave a lot of American flags at his rallies, but the simple act of buying the lies Trump is selling is another knife that shortens the life of that dream that has, and could continue, to make our country great.
15
I share the views of the author. Watching from Canada, it also looks as if 'anonymous' is similar to the gutless Republican lawmakers who wish to have it both ways, i.e. they want to remain in power, but they also want the appearance of having scruples. S/he should know by now that this impossible now; lives are being lost due to Trump's reckless decisions. In the final analysis, she or he is both enabling Trumpism and contributing to Trump's paranoia. All Republicans need to be voted out, and then subject to the rule of law regarding witness tampering, opstruction, etc.
15
Trump has huge campaign contributions from the 1% who got windfall money from his tax cuts. It is a case of the rich buying the election and buying the democracy. Disgusting and will not end well for the US.
21
It appears two-face has done Trump a favor, my telling us something we already know, too make a few dollars. Who else is going to come out with a great book about this administration. The author's time is now, stand up and face the music. I've already read the story, in The New York Times.
2
Anonymous is irrelevant. If people are not shocked by what Ambassador William Taylor reported under oath, then they sure won't care about this book.
20
I will buy and read this book only when the author comes out and shows some courage.
4
I know at least the commentariat here is “over” anonymous because nearly nobody has bothered to guess who it is.
I see that as a good sign. Keep focused on things that matter, not cowardly games.
5
I don't care who wrote it. Knowing would make no difference. What I find ominous and more important than the author's name is that it carries the same heavy thread that has been weaving its way around the nation and American ideals dividing the former and strangling the latter, since Trump took office. It highlights how fearful people are, how chaotic and out of control everything is, how fragile, vulnerable, broken and sick democratic ideals can become when infected by a populist leader whose message is one of divisiveness and winning is a zero sum game at great cost to the future well-being of all.
12
@angel98
The tactics you describe are those of fascist dictators. Read "How Fascism Works" by Jason Stanley. He lays it all out for you and makes the parallels between the trump and those dictators of the past obvious.
5
Trump hires totally dishonest people and makes them sign non-disclosure agreements.
When Trump comes across a totally honest person, he gets a restraining order.
4
When we consider what "senior officials" have been with the administration since the beginning, we are left with Stephen Miller, and Ivanka and Jared Kushner. The first name is highly improbable as Anonymous, but one of the last two, considering recent statements, seems not impossible.
1
You forgot KellyAnne....
2
@Martin Cohen: and Kellyanne Conway.
There's no Anonymous, only ways to make money. Anybody can write a book, call themselves senior Trump official, or CIA agent and give general information that we already know about. The motive? Sell books and make money...
6
Those forthright, honest men and women who gave their testimony to the Congressional investigative body regarding the Ukrainian extortion, are the true patriots and resisters. They walked with back straight and head held high knowing full well that their actions could (and have) cost them dearly.
I could not help but be reminded of the allied resistance/partisan movements of the Second World War. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistance_during_World_War_II
I won't be buying the Anonymous book.
8
Who benefits most from undermining Trump while continuing to enjoy the benefits of office and maybe being next in line...hmm... perhaps 'poison pen Pence'?
2
Any chance that "Anonymous" is the Whistle-Blower ?
or
Rudy G. ?
The Democrats need to nominate a slightly liberal
Midwesterner like Amy K.
That is all they have to do to win, and win easily.
Why they keep pushing quasi-Leftists like Warren and Bernie
and keep tearing down Biden baffles me and will many voters
though I would vote for W, B or B.
Where is the 25th Amendment when you need it ?
4
Democracy takes courage. While I understand the fear of dealing with Trump’s wrath, hiding behind a veil of anonymity considerably weakens the case. Are we to trust NYT implicitly that this person should be listened to simply because they allowed he/she to do an OpEd? No. Reveal yourself and let people decide whether you deserve to be listened to.
5
Perhaps trump will turn his focus to uncovering the cowardly anonymous (author) and lessen his despicable attacks against the lawful and brave anonymous (whistleblower).
it will be revealing to watch how he handles 2 anonymouses ganging up on him simultaneously.
The twittersphere awaits.
3
Anonymous and John Bolton...two of a kind. Both spineless cowards, afraid of their own shadows. If they were patriots, if they had any courage at all, they would put their names on their information and put it out in detail for the public to judge. Bah. Cowards just like most of the r's.
3
Honestly, if there is anybody on Earth who thought trump was remotely qualified,temperamentally, intellectually,emotionally then they are fools. Is this book revealing anything new? This is more redundant "revelations" . Listening to and watching our imbecile "president" during the primaries ,for just five minutes, was plenty enough time. The really horrifying fact is that the gop had nobody with the smarts or intestinal fortitude to beat him. They shriveled up like Constanza in the pool.
6
Patriots would not have resigned. They would have stayed on the scene and done what they could, a witness if nothing else, knowing trump would replace them with a corrupt lap dog.
2
What is the purpose of this book? Is it to clear the conscience of Anonymous? Is it to help Anonymous make a few extra bucks? Does A think s/he will somehow be seen as a hero/heroine. Anyone who doesn't listen to Fox News already knew what Trump was and is. Seventy years of history told us that Trump was a con man, a cheat, a liar, a braggart, and lazy. He has no empathy, no intellectual curiosity, no moral fiber. Trump is an empty shell with absolutely no idea what he and his gut instinct are doing. The Republican Party and Trump voters own this nightmare.
9
Trump is a con man. He's played the press and his gullible followers for years. He had to pay out 20 Millon $ for his real estate university scam. Wouldn't surprise me if Trump had someone write this book like his phony "The Art of the Deal" that should've been titled "The Art of a Con Man".
1
Who's going to buy that ho-hum book? What makes Anonymous thinks he has something to say that deserves the title. Mediocre, self-serving, already well-known observations don't deserve the nom de plume, which only a few deserve. Such as the whistleblower. On everybody else, it's just puffed-up cowardice.
2
I believe Kellyanne Conway is Anonymous .
Please reveal yourself Anonymous. We appreciate your duty to warn but that signal would be amplified by revealing your name and position within the government.
1
Jennifer, you know that Publius Decius Mus was eventually identified and went on to work in the Trump administration, right? His name is Michael Anton.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Anton
Anonymous, tell us something we DON'T know. And by the way, you are part of the problem, not the savior you imagine yourself to be. I can see how you would fit in with the Trump administration
2
“Anonymous”? What’s wrong, don’t you even have the guts to sign your hate mail?
I’ve received unsigned hate mail in the past. I read one or two lines and it goes in the trash.
“Anonymous” lacks the courage of his/her convictions– if the individual has any.
2
It’s Kellyanne. Gotta be.
1
Hey Anonymous, last time your excuse for staying in the Trump administration was to lean in on him with your "adult" friends. Now that's it's clear you and your friends serve no useful purpose than being his foot rest, what's your excuse for remaining there?
1
As a gay man, I live for gossip. I long for Saturday night when I go to the bar, get a fruity drink with umbrellas and non-chalantly (but quickly) make my way to the patio waiting for the words, "wait till you hear what happened...but you didn't hear it from me".
As soon as I hear, "you didn't hear it from me", I know that everything I am about to hear is nothing more than creative writing at its finest. Bits of truth interlaced with complete fabrications just plausible enough to believe but more than likely started by a jilted lover. And according to house rules, I must pass the info to someone else before they hear the gossip. The latest queen to hear the gossip is out of the game and is cutoff by the bartender and is now everyone's designated driver.
So when I see a book titled, "Wait till you hear what happened in the White House...but you didn't hear it from me", I just tingle in anticipation. I say look for a jilted gay lover in the Oval Office and that is your author. My money is on Mike Pence.
7
Any book written by "anonymous" should not be reviewed, never mind taken seriously. This is a sad joke. Get out from under you rain coat and come out if you are serious. But you are not.
1
At least half the people have no blinders and can see plainly that the emperor is butt-naked. It's obvious. The country has been talking about it forever. Announcing it now, as if it's a discovery, is vacuous.
But still our self-styled enlightened insider feels it necessary to publish a book proclaiming that the emperor is — wait for it — naked. Does Anonymous really think such a bare-it-all exposé will convince someone new?
Or is this just about selling a book? Clearly Anonymous didn't want to just publish it for free on the web. Why?
2
Ivanka, is that you?
1
I just canceled my pre-order of this book.
If Anon had real principals he would have renounced his Republican registration. Long ago.
11
Well, I'd go more with "election to start with at all", but, I'm good with, "re-election", too. Future historians will almost literally equate this President, and Homer Simpson, as in, "Will the harlequin in the third row please keep his voice down." Sigh.
4
Anonymous likes Trump’s policies but not Trump. So s/he and others stay to support some and thwart others. S/he not only seems to dislike Trump, but fear and loath him. So what’s in it for these people to keep them in the WH in service at the pleasure of the president? A warped sense of self? A duty to the GOP? Greed and love of power? Sounds like it could be anyone in there right now. Don’t have to dig too deep in the ‘state’ to find these people. They are on camera supporting Trump every day.
I have said from the beginning: Trump is a flawed individual in so many ways. I am even more disappointed as an American in the people who voted for him and continue to support him and prop him up in office. These people are perpetuating this Constitutional and international nightmare. To hide behind the name Anonymous? I will not be surprised to learn someday that Anonymous is actually more than one spineless power-hungry greedy self-serving person in the WH. That is who DT keeps around him.
11
Excellent review, Jennifer. Superbly argued and written.
Don't you think it would have been neat if your byline had been replaced by "Anonymous Reviewer."
4
By the end of this Review, we see the the reviewer is very much annoyed writing about a a book of no importance, a book that doesn’t add anything to the news (or debate) that we already know. So we do, we are very much annoyed reading this review and, wait a minute, by this time Mr Anonymous should also be very, but very much annoyed reading all this bad small comments from we, Readers. I’m triggered that Mr Anonymous told us he will donate this Warnings royalties to an institution promoting government transparency. Really? So annoying! I don’t believe this for one second. Can we please start being transparent NOW and ask the Publisher to inform us when/how much/where the book profits is being allocated? Bruno, Switzerland
1
Too bad whoever wrote “a warning” wasn’t able to see the warning loud and clear in 2016, like so many of the rest of us did.
24
As long as the author chooses to remain anonymous, his or her statements carry little credence.
7
Mr Anonymous seems determined to further consolidate his heroic journey into self delusion and somehow expect us to applaud and nod our heads in agreement, stunned by his gravitas. By mentioning what any decent and sane citizen can see in the plain light of day since days prior to the election he simply makes obvious that the big problem here is not Comrade Orange but the American voter. A mixture of illustrated "anonymous" gents lead an horde of trolls, resentful racists, bigots, ignoramuses and crooks-in-spirit who saw in the candidate a reflection of their nihilist values and putrefect ethos. That this fellow, this deep into our descent into self destruction, still believes he has something to say and believes it will exonerate him and those like him, spells the tragic and grotesque transformation of the republican party into a cancer destroying America. Go home Mr.Anonymous. Those of you, who should have known better, are the worst of all.
9
All the excerpts that have come out of this book certainly ring true to how the Trump White House functions. What we have is a profoundly ignorant con man who is barely literate running the United States. He is propped up by a swarm very unethical, completely amoral men and women who are themselves paid off by wealthy oligarchs and their bought lobbyists. Mulvaney, Pompeo and Barr are all complicit in Trump's deceit. Trump's entire Cabinet is composed of grifters and incompetent lap dogs. This is the worst government in US history.
14
Anonymous IS Mike Pence. Guaranteed!
3
The alternative was worse? The alternative was worse?!?!?! How anyone could seriously think that an experienced, qualified, informed and intellectually serious woman could in any way be worse than the barely sentient orange currently inhabiting the Oval makes me sick.
Anonymous can take his not so righteous indignation and choke on it.
28
@jennifer. Oh, Bravo! Thank you for your terrific comment.
4
“With you, all roads lead to Putin.”
The most accurate assessment of Trump by anyone to date. And the accuser, Nancy Pelosi, said that face-to-face, on the record for everyone to see.
Anyone can write an anonymous, tell-all book for their own personal enrichment. How typically Trumpian.
9
Don’t be Anonymous. Not heroic .
2
The fact that the last straw was the utter disrespect against Senator McCain, as opposed to the numerous crimes against humanity, is a good indication of how misguided and worthless Anon is, not as a government official, but as a human being.
13
duh
any sentient being knew that don the con would be an unmitigated disaster when he came down the (faux) gold escalator and ranted lies.
anyone who followed his career knew this was one more con.
14
What an obnoxious article. Focusing on the character of A person who might be a bit hypocritical instead of the real story-Trump. It’s people like you who focus on being “woke” who will cause Trump to be reelected
2
We (the readership of the NYT) are not the intended audience. All of this may be old news to us, but perhaps some non-NYT readers will find it convincing. Will I bother reading it? No. Do I really deep down respect the author? No.
5
Trump may have met his match in narcissism.
3
It’s very popular here to call Anonymous a ‘coward,’ usually by people who don’t attach their real names to their comments and hide behind pseudonyms. (My name, for the record, is Michael Bradley.)
But a coward? I liken the author to a sniper who hides to strike his target. Only Anonymous uses words, not bullets
2
Kelly Ann Conway anonymous
1
Boy. You sure told off Anonymous. I hesitate to imagine what the Times' evaluation of the "Articles of Impeachment" will be, altho I'm sure they just won't live up to the hype. Tough crowd.
2
No need whatsoever for this book. Anyone with an average IQ who has paid an average amount of attention to DT and what he has wrought knows we could go up in flames at any moment. His base, cult, what have you, would rather walk over hot coals than read anything truthful about their hero, the WILL BE DICTATOR in short order, especially if he is elected again. Yes, the lemmings are lined up behind him, just waiting for the signal to follow him happily off the cliff. Too bad they will drag the rest of us with them.
4
Anonymous is just another Republican coward. They are all cowards. Every single one of them. Instead of buying this book, I will donate $30 to Trump’s opponent and give the time spent reading to campaigning against the GOP. We must be rid of their efforts to destroy democracy.
14
Anonymous - When you add your name, I'll buy your book. You certainly validate your Republican bona fides by your pseudonym.
If you really want something to be done, you have to step out of the White House. The difference between you and the Ukrainian phone call whistleblower is the Oval Office has no Inspector General. It's all hands on deck.
4
It sounds like the author drank a half a cup of Trump Kool-Aid and now regrets it. He still has enough of his rational mind to not be totally on board the speeding Trump Crazy Train and is just hanging on, watching the oncoming Reality Train ahead, and doesn't have the courage to jump off yet.
5
This is not a book review. It is an author castigation.
1
The notions that in 2016, "the alternative [a woman] was worse" and that "Obama was out of touch with the mainstream [white America]" speak for themselves. This person made a bargain with the devil and is now trying to crawl out of the hole he dug himself, and the rest of us, into. How pathetic.
12
Wonder how much money the author paid for his or her government appointment.
1
What are you so afraid of, anonymous? Are you afraid 45 will have you killed? Are you afraid of losing your power? Are you afraid of being deprived of the ability to make millions? Are you afraid he will blow us all up? I have always thought emotional fear was behind republican ideology and you prove that armchair hypothesis to me. Why can't you do the honorable thing and help the democratic experiment survive?
7
Bet it's Ivanka and this is how she sleeps at night.
I have a theory—-could all this be planted by Trump? Trump supporters have no rational basis for being supporters, and do not care one iota about the facts that may appear in this book. It is a Jamestown style cult. Conversely, the people who will read this book are already fully aware of the fact that Trump is a corrupt idiot, and probably on the hook by Putin. But note how the CONSTANT drumbeat of Trump today is that he is some kind of victim. This book plays perfectly well to that narrative —to solidify his cult.
Maybe the NYT editorial and the book are plants by the marmalade Mussolini. It all lines up. Regardless of whether it is a plant, the book will do nothing but solidify the cult.
1
Kellyanne Conway is a master spin doctor...
Anonymous is the self-appointed, unelected guardian of whom? This wholly unfit president? His job in the government? What service is he performing? How we should get rid of this monster for whom anonymous plays baby doc Frankenstein? The publication of this book only adds to the absurdity. Thanks but no thanks for your help and your deep lack of insight.
2
We The People voted for Mrs Clinton by 3,000,000 more ballots.
republicans in the electoral college overturned the election.
republicans ignored that we have a Government Of The People, they appointed their loser, a pathological lying Madman who does not represent America. Totally illegitimate, he disgraces America day after day. No doubt, to Putin's delight.
9
So, anything new, Anonymous?
1
Ma’am,
I don’t know which is more disingenuous : the anonymous author or the New York Times! Has American professional integrity actually fallen so low? I too cry for my beloved country.
Other readers have already commented on the failure of the party leaders of our President to condemn his words and behavior. These same “leaders” have then excused his behavior — supporting his insults of other countries’ officials, his abandonment of allies, his empty boasts of our commitment to defend the principles on which our country was founded, etc. — while claiming allegiance to authentic conservatism. Silence and enablement by party officials, as well as anonymous administration officials justified as “realpolitik”, in the face of our President’s active efforts to erode American democracy are equally worthy of public condemnation.
Now the Times reviews an anonymously published book by the same anonymous op-ed contributor the paper previously published. The paper sees fit to preserve the author’s anonymity, having only recently published qualifying details of a courageous whistleblower’s identity weeks earlier. I know — you had a scoop to print and you were so concerned about the public’s “right to know .” So much for American journalistic integrity.
May God truly save America from herself!
Sincerely,
Andrew Swan, PhD
1
I know the Times meant well when they fathered Anonymous, but know they’ll just have to accept the lifetime of challenges arising from the birth of a special needs child and own them.
Yet another of the gutless wonders who have deluded themselves into thinking they are brave. I'll be impressed when they publish not in the New York Times but in the Washington Examiner. Talk about it not on MSNBC but on Fox. I dare you!
WE know he must not be re-relected. We've know that for three years now. What anon seems not to realize is that not only should Donald Trump not be re-elected, but every stinking one of his ratpublican enablers must go down in defeat too!
For a start donate to the campaign of Amy McGrath! https://amymcgrath.com - running against Moscow Mitch.
6
This is to Anonymous:. At first I heralded you (and the gang) staying so you all could try to put the brakes on an out-of-control POTUS. But you didn't because he's insane, a psychotic despot can't be stopped. Therefore it is time for you to put on your big boy/big girl pants and step forward, speak out...all of you tell the country what's really happening. No more hiding .... Have Courage. T.S. Eliot quote: "It is only the trying, the rest is none of our business."
You have to out yourselves and let the rest happen the way it is going to happen.
5
Trump, Republicans, Evangelicals and a minority of Americans have not failed, they have been revealed.
Because, as historian Robert Caro says: "Power Reveals Character."
51 years ago I went to Germany with my professor Elsa Sherwen, who had escaped her homeland in time to save her own life, but not her husband's.
She showed me once smashed windows from Kristalnacht, we walked past endless "unbekannt soldat" grave markers, saw Brecht plays. And I kept wondering: These people seem normal, what drove them crazy?
Because, if these people had chosen Hitler, anybody could.
How had it happened?
I learned that WW1 and hyper-inflation had wiped out the middle class TWICE, making them dry tinder for a psychopath.
Since then I've witnessed lies, money, and stupidity drain our character and enable our first psychopathic president.
The big question now: Can we bounce back before we destroy not only ourselves, but the planet, too?
16
Anonymous needed a couple years to finally come to the realization that the man he served is a corrupt buffoon?
I'll save my 30 bucks and wait until it comes out in paperback, so I can ignore that publication, too.
This is a tale told by idiots.
7
It's curious, maybe, appropriate, that the person who wrote the anti-Clinton article with the pseudonym Publics Decius Mus should have chosen for his last name the Latin word for RAT (Mus).
@Frank Casa He has a sense of humor?
No interest in anything this anonymous has to say. This one emboldens the typical white American that excuses racism and puts party above country with the silly excuse that they know better.
3
Whether the author anonymous gives his name or not really isn't the point. The point is we have a dangerously imbalanced idiot in the white house. And we have the worst of our citizenry worshiping him. People that believe racism is healthy for them and their offspring. People who think women, LGBTQ, minorities are only worthy of second class citizenship. People who want to impose their religion (I'm looking at you, you crazy evangelicals) on everyone and everything. If these people want to live under a dictatorship, I say let them move. I'm sure Florida Man can point them to one of his favorite dictators.
7
Should we presume that Anonymous has reached out to the Congress so he can testify during the impeachment inquiry? Of course not. No integrity, no courage. But an entertaining, “scary” book for offended elites. The author, the publisher, and the NYT should stop this drivel.
5
Whatever "senior official" means,it is an empty title; might as well be "door man" or "butler" for all the weight that job description might carry.
A true "senior" (such as a SES title would convey) manager would have both the guts to self-identity and to openly quit the job rather than cower behind his anonymous cover.
^^^ above action would at least convey some courage of conviction and perhaps even add some verifiable illumination to his/her reporting.
ijs
2
So far, no one, especially one who has a record of virtuous, honorable, dedicated service this country,has been able to convince the House and Senate Republicans to cease their support of Trump, who has no record of virtue, honor, or dedication to anyone, let alone his country: he ransacked "foundation," his tax cuts are adding a trillion dollar debt, he dodged the draft, he cheated on all of his wives, he is a known liar, he has abandoned our allies (including but not limited to the Kurds, NATO, the Ukraine), sucked up to our enemies (Russia, e.g.) and supported the likes of a murderous Saudi Prince, the indicted Netanyahu, the murderous, deceiving North Korean dictator, and on and on. There is only one conclusion: Republicans admire Donald Trump's self-serving abnormality. Formerly the party championing personal responsibility, religious and family values and fiscal responsibility, the Republican party now champions irresponsibility, armorality, and self-dealing.
8
Trump is unfit for Office.
There are no words that can justify his performance, Trump's obvious ignorance, incompetence, corruption, amorality, and greed.
The defenders look like morons.
6
This person is the definition of a self serving coward.
They are all about themselves, not the country. They provide no facts so that nothing can be traced to them, and so therefore nothing can be done.
They have less principles than a slave holder who said slavery was wrong, but couldn’t be gotten rid of yet. And at least those people sometimes had the honesty of stating it publicly.
If you are part of this administration, working with it, you are aiding and helping Trump. You are complicit, and no amount of self serving writing is going to change that.
If you want to be decent, get out and talk to Congress. Otherwise you are scum in the swamp and nothing more.
3
This anonymous writer is a coward. If he or she thinks it’s that serious that Trump should not be re-elected then step forward and do what is right. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. This person wants to come out years later and tell people what a great service they did in helping Trump not get re-elected but would if Trump does win in 2020? The real patriots are the public servants coming forward now and telling their story.
468
@James Lee
I see no reference to anonymity in the definition of patriot ...
pa·tri·ot /ˈpātrēət/ noun
a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors.
25
@James Lee -- now that there is an actual impeachment investigation, which is uncovering ample actual evidence of actual impeachable offenses, the courageous and moral thing for "Anonymous" to do would be to resign his position, and voluntarily testify as to what he has seen. When he wrote his initial essay, it was plausible hope that an internal bulwark of sanity could forestall the worst of Trump's instincts, self-dealing, and incompetence. We have seen by all the evidence and testimony presented so far in the impeachment investigation that that hope was mistaken. The remaining moral and constitutional necessity now for true "conservatives" is to resign, testify, and do what a citizen's duty to the constitution and the nation's future requires. Step forward, "Anonymous", out of the shadows and into history.
45
@James Lee Wrong! It is important that thoughtful people stay in the Trump gov't and work hard to limit the damage.
Let's say all such folks did resign, and then, on a whim, Trump decides to drop the bomb somewhere. I want lots of people in the government to stand up and shout "NO!" against Trump.... and refuse to obey him.
I'd be perfectly willing that all these folks resign about a week before the 2020 election.... and said why. That would torpedo Trump's re-election bid for sure!
21
Anonymous is just another republican partisan flabbergasted that he has been taken in by a con man. I mean, good grief, during the 2016 campaign the president mocked a family whose son gave his life for this country! Did republicans get a clue then? They have been nothing more than a swamp of wishful thinking and justifications ever since. The Republican party deserves nothing more than the dustbin of irrelevance for two generations.
25
@Frank In addition, anonymous is just another republican who voted for trump after the Access Hollywood tape proved him to be a groper. And he remained a republican after it was proven that he lied about his relationship with Stormy Daniels. And he remained a republican after many sources counted his lies to be more than 12,000. What kind of republican chooses to support someone who lies, and cheats, and gropes women? Anonymous is that kind of republican.
4
The Times makes the term "December project" sound secretive and mysterious: "The book’s publisher and agents apparently referred to the manuscript as the 'December Project,' . . ." But that's because the publisher, Twelve Books, started out in 2007 with a "less is more" philosophy of publishing only one book each month. If they still operate that way (I don't know that for sure), it would make perfect sense for them to have referred to "A Warning" as "the December project."
6
Just another person seeking to profit from his proximity to Trump. Disgusting opportunists all. A real patriot would speak openly and provide specifics. A real patriot would risk public criticism and exclusion from his dyed-in-the-wool conservative friends. This person loves his own little charmed Federalist Society life to actually help this country. Other people who love this country and are dedicated to making it better risk jail in their efforts. He won’t even risk being cast out from Trump’s orbit.
16
I have grown tired of the interminable focus on whether Anonymous reveals their name.
This is akin to critiquing the color of the flight suit that George W. Bush wore as he stood on the flight deck and announced “Mission Accomplished.”
We are standing before the risk of the ruin of our American republic.
If what it takes to communicate the singular risk of Donald Trump is a senior official, in the Administration, communicating this risk in anonymous fashion, that is a singularly valuable contribution.
Freud spoke of the narcissism of small differences.
We are at the risk of arming our circular firing squad to the end of the conclusion of our democratic Republic.
There is one goal. Unite on this:
The removal of Donald Trump.
After this, we can turn to the task of repairing our nation.
Thank you, Anonymous.
6
This person is a complicit coward.
14
Anonymous = Kellyanne Conway. QED
5
This is a nice review. It really contextualizes the writer and his or her audience effectively.
It’s not a book for the general public. It’s a book for (secretly) conflicted republicans. The author’s anonymity is symbolic of the silence, cowardice, and conflicted impulses of the entire Republican Party.
But we have to hope that many republicans are having this kind of stirring of conscience, even if it really doesn’t go far enough, if it’s hidden and unsaid, and fails to recognize how the Republican Party has made trump, his policies, and behaviors possible. Despite all that, I have to hope some republicans actually find a sense of decency and honor and express it in the voting booth even if they can’t say it out loud.
13
But it’s so much worse than the broad irony that this reviewer thinks is adequate to the occasion of this book coming out. Connect the dots that the author doesn’t - to be Republican literally means to be without an ethical compass, and sadly the Dems were not much better until Trump inadvertently lit a fire under them. You can have recognized the danger that Trump posed when he ran, and still have thought that Hilary Clinton was not much better in terms of addressing the needs of the great majority of Americans.
4
@SPK: Trump's mean streak is a mile wide and a kilometer deep. Hillary doesn't have that in her.
19
If Anonymous wishes to remain anonymous yet effect change, file a whistleblower report, and go before the House Intelligence subcommittee.
Anyone who criticizes the Trump administration should have their personal safety and the lives of their loved ones protected. That said, anonymity for notoriety's sake is sorely insufficient to combat the threat that is Trump, his administration, and the Republican party. The best dissidents of the 20th century were not the anonymous ones.
Last, but not least, Trump's base loathes the NYTimes and all it stands for. It reviles and ignores it as much as possible. If Anonymous cares, Anonymous's publisher needs to spread the word to places where publishers and book tours typically don't go.
14
@Laura A: Many people come here to write how terrible the Times is.
3
just who would buy such a book?
6
I read "The Flight 93 Election" article referenced in the book review. It was written by Publius Decius Mus (the pseudonym for Michael Anton) and published in the Claremont Review of Books. The piece is well-written by an obviously intelligent man -- with at least one immense blind spot.
He credits Trump with addressing "the fundamental issues of our time—or, more importantly ...(connecting) them... trade ... war... (and) immigration." He goes on to say that "only Trump-the-alleged-buffoon not merely saw all three and their essential connectivity, but was able to win on them."
Maybe, but how about this: Trump-the-certified-buffoon acted not from keen conservative insight but from (1) a misunderstanding of trade economics, (2) an idea that war is transactional (e.g., every nation, including our NATO allies, need to pay more for American protection), and (3) deep prejudice against immigrants of color (note his record as a developer, the Central Park Five, and birther-ism). All these opinions bubble up from the "gut" of the "stable genius." For most of the rest of us, the "gut" is the last stop before expelling the bad stuff.
The US approach to the issues of trade, endless war, and immigration are all in need of repair. But Trump is no Mr. Fix-it.
18
Is it too much of a stretch to think that "Anonymous" could be Kellyanne Conway?
One whose obsequious behavior has continued to be at fever pitch regarding the president—the president would never think: "Kellyanne." She could certainly write a tell-all about the president. And her husband, George Conway, who has shown his "distain" (to put it mildly) for anything Trump would make the perfect editor for her book. It certainly would make the Kellyanne vs George, and vice versa, narrative make sense for once—anyone with me?
7
@John Graham 100% my thought. Speculation, but makes perfect sense. A collaborative effort, both then and now.
2
@Chris ...And in the future—ie Carville and Matalin. The couple I first saw together at a popular DC restaurant called Germaine's in Georgetown. It was before they were to become a political phenom.
2
Thanks, Jennifer Szalai and NYT, for this thought-provoking review and for putting the forthcoming book into a non-partisan context.
6
As a TV man, Trump understands that the printed word isn't as powerful as flickering images. That's why he's so freaked out about the hearings next week and beyond.
6
It boggles my mind how there can still be people considering voting for Trump if the don’t get the democratic candidate they want. How can this be? It terrifies me every day that there is a chance that criminal could be re-elected. The author of this book so wrongly states President Obama was out of touch with the citizens of this country. How can there be any comparison? How can there be people who believe this. It’s terrifying.
26
In most cases I would usually side with a writer having to disclose their identity, however, in this case, you need to look at two things, first the security of this person, Donald Trump has no problem in maligning someone's character as well as enticing violence, we have seen this before, and honestly should more hate crimes continue and they are able to attach it to the rhetoric of both Trump, his administration and some Republican Representative either congressmen or senators then they may find themselves in legal jeopardy. Second, comments stating that this person should therefore no longer be in or around this President, is simply astounding as we know not how many times this person may have intervened and been able to "quash" unsatisfactory behavior on the part of a rogue President, I am interested in what is said, I find some of the language flamboyant which is often purposeful in order to sell a book, no different than Don Jr.'s latest book or Trump's many books in which he has never been the writer, most of his accounts he has boasted about, but we now see where much was "hyperbole" on his part. At the end of the day articles, even here, are written in part to capture an audience and let the reader decide truth or false.
2
In the short term, for the election. this book will make no difference. The Trump movement, both among his voters and his enablers in the government, is a cult of personality. Trump saw that before anyone else, when he said that he could shoot someone on Fifth Ave. and not lose any support. So having Anonymous decry Trump's failure to put the flag at half staff for John McCain isn't going to move his base one centimeter. Trump overtly denigrated McCain's service while the senator was alive, and the entire Republican party has given him a free pass for it, in so doing making it the new normal. Even McCain's erstwhile "best friend," Lindsey Graham, promptly turned into a lap dog frisking at the Great Leader's heels. Trump's political and media thugs are now going to work on Col. Vinman, another brave and decorated soldier who put his life on the line for this country, just because he started life as an immigrant. Meanwhile, Republican Congressmen and Senators are, in effect, on their feet applauding and fawning before this grotesque caricature of a president and a human being.
18
Reading this review makes me all the more appreciative of The Whistleblower, who mustered the courage that Anonymous doesn't even realize is needed and who trusted in our government's institutions and, indeed, the Constitution that undergirds them while Anonymous intentionally or not works to undermine the public's faith in our government and its institutions.
Thank you, Whistleblower, for your service -- and, in my petty way, your timing. I'm so glad your September complaint preceded this book's November release and rendered it all the more ho-hum.
12
Yes, the personal style of man in office is the least of the trouble. The deregulation, the environmental policy, the insane tax cutting for the ultra wealthy, the encouragement of racist divisions- these are the real problems with his Administration, But they are what any Republican President would have done.
( There are some good things about him- he has resisted calls to war. This is important. Also, he has questioned absurd budget items like the $2 billion plus Air Force One. He has questioned other terrible expenditures and unfair initiatives).
But perhaps this review is too negative. A Warning shows that the Republican monolith is not as solid as it tries to appear. Some of them seem aware that the Man will take a toll on the Party’s credibility, from which, like Nixon, it will be some years to recover.
2
Anonymous goes in the same category as those who will not testify. End of discussion.
I put my real name and location in any comment I write. Sure I worry about exposing myself to any sort of physical attack. But to hide my opinion under a cloak of anonymity dramatically reduces the value of that opinion.
15
As much as I disapprove of Trump I am not a fan of normalizing what amounts to an anonymous form of unsubstantiated journalism.
It's far different then a whistle-blower in a federal agency who follows protocol to report concerns and the credibility of that concern is then substantiated by an independent Inspector General who then forwards it up for further investigation.
Whether or not Anonymous is still within the administration is not important in my opinion as he or she clearly has no influence over stabilizing Trump's behavior. At this stage the continued anonymity is cowardly at worst, useless at best and does not functionally serve democracy.
And by the way, who out there needed just one more warning in order recognize Trump's unfitness for office?
6
2 of 3 branches of our government are broken. The 3rd branch may be too. The gift this so-called President has given us is the full reveal of the GOP’s corruption. We must focus on Mitch McConnell who has been hiding out for quite awhile. He and his lackeys are enabling the woefully-lacking President. I hope the book speaks to this bigger problem too.
13
The good news is that the publishing of this book will drive Trump even crazier, perhaps leading to even more fodder for impeachment.
The bad news is that the publishing of this book will drive Trump even crazier, perhaps leading to actions more dangerous to the Republic than those he's already perpetrated.
17
I’m from the day when newspapers balked at using anonymous people as main sources in published articles. (No, I don’t include Mark Felt here; he gave leads to Woodward and Bernstein that were tracked down and confirmed through other sources.) For me, it’s the same with books. I can’t get behind anything written and published by someone who doesn’t have the courage to come forth and make his or her case openly. That’s what we need to bring down Trump — men and women who are willing to take the risk for their country by stepping up and speaking out. Rest assured, they would find much support from many of us.
But, just like with Joe Klein and “Primary Colors,” also published anonymously, the identity of this author will most likely be sussed out in due time anyway. Stay tuned.
9
The line in this review that sticks in my mind is that Republicans believed that Trump would rise to the office. Instead what has happened is that Republicans have sunk to Trump's level.
29
After reading this article, I have to wonder just what is this person's agenda? It doesn't sound to me, from the review, that this person is telling us anything we don't already know. The original "Anonymous" op-ed was published over a year ago and it was stated that this person was a "current" high-ranking public official. Given time to write a book and that it apparently contains nothing new, I have to assume this person is no longer one of the adults in the room because taking care of a baby is a full-time job. Believe me, I am no defender of Trump, but neither am I a sucker to pay for what I already know and have known for years. This isn't even a Deep Throat thing. This is an "I have an axe to grind" thing, in that this person was either fired or resigned. Maybe it is nothing more than a open letter to this person's fellow Republicans, in which case I'm all for it and they can spend their money on this book. They are the ones who need to be educated.
5
Dear NYTimes commenters... I'm at odds with many of the comments posted on this article. Whereas many of you have made some pretty nasty remarks about "Anonymous," I have a completely different take. H/she stuck around to manage the chaos from within. Without Anonymous, would we have a whistle blower? An adult in the room? A source that provides the ammunition to defeat this despicable human being who occupies the oval office? I don't think so. There's a saying, keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Let's do what it takes to bring this country together again. Let's not bite the hand that is helping to feed us.
12
I totally agree with your take on this issue. People are snarky because the author isn’t outing him or herself but perhaps that is how more info will be forthcoming. Seems a bit shortsighted to point fingers when they themselves are not involved.
2
The only folks who will read this book are already anti-Trump. As such, this seems a ploy to get them drop the impeachment process which may be our one and only chance to lawfully remove Trump from power. Counting on there even being elections in 2020 (much less fair elections) if Trump is still in power seems like a sucker's bet Republicans would love for Democrats to take.
Anonymous is a horrible person who wasn't bothered by Trump's worst moral outages. Do not trust them, do not support them, do not buy their book. Support the lawful impeachment to save our democracy.
3
I fully endorse remaining anonymous. I was a whistleblower. Stepping forward was the biggest mistake of my life. I would never do it again. Not worth it...ever...for any reason.
9
@Ray
I’m sorry your life was upended by coming forward. Doing the right thing shouldn’t bring that kind of blowback.
4
My theory is that Trump has so many supporters in the Republican Party because they all share some of his characteristics, and they want to be able to point to someone who is demonstrably much worse. They are wasting their opportunity to HELP their fellow Americans, most of whom are decent people, to cover for one utterly despicable person, all for their own little selfish ends. They are all failing at what they swore they would do. It's a shame their voters expect and enable that behavior. Sycophants do not solve problems!
6
"Anonymous'" credibility is suspect at this point, if they have not left the administration nor become outwardly and publicly critical of Trump. I take this work, as whining.
3
Most Americans believe that they can do whatever they wish because the constitution gives them permission....no matter if what they do is moral or immoral, decent or indecent, or right or wrong. With this kind of total freedom the future will have no need of prisons, law enforcement agencies, nor law books. Why? Because if the law allows you to do what you want, then there is no wrong you can do.
Blessed are those who do not see yet believe. To those who believe in His name: who are born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
Everyone who has voted Republican any time in the past 40 years owes us an explanation for why they supported the main thrust of Republican rule, which has been:
To shift tens of trillions of dollars of wealth (and more importantly, political power) out of the larger economy and into the private world of the richest 10,000 families (=0.01%).
Why did you do that? What were you hoping to accomplish? Do you still aspire to a nation controlled by 0.01% of its people? If not, how do you propose to repair the damage you've done.
Trump is a rouge pawn in this operation, and it will continue after his exit. He is a crisis within a much larger crisis and like the little dutch boy we've got to stick our thumb in the dike. But eventually the whole thing is coming down.
11
“A Warning,” then, is just that: a warning, for those who need it, that electing Mr. Trump to a second term would be courting disaster."
The folks who have always known this never voted for Trump in the first place.
I doubt a substantial percentage of Republicans are wavering and on the fence as to whether they will support and vote for Trump in 2020.
Actually, I don't think this book will make a bit of difference in the minds of most Republicans. They probably view it as another swipe at "their president".
I think the only redeeming quality of this book is that the author "announced a plan to donate a portion of the royalties to “nonprofit organizations that focus on government accountability."
I certainly hope he or she will follow through and do just that - donate a portion of the royalties.
At least there would be some tangible positives from the efforts made in writing it.
8
I am a sucker for this sort of thing, so I will place a hold at my local library and wait patiently until next month (next year?) to take a look.
But seriously, referring to voters who considered Hillary Clinton a worse alternative than Trump in 2016, the author calls said voters "reasonable"?
Whatever fine traits the author may possess, judgment is not one of them.
18
Anonymous deserves to stay that way. This isn't Cheers. Nobody wants to know his name. He is, by his own admission, a nobody. (Or she. Makes no difference.)
2
Why read, believe, or publish anything by Anonymous?
4
Is it blah, blah, blah-- or yadda, yadda, yadda? Donald Trump will be re-elected unless democrats nominate someone whom people will vote for. Not a socialist. Not a communist. Not someone who wishes to offer the victim label to every group they can in order to expand government payouts. It's. That. Simple.
6
The fool voted for Trump. 'Nuff said.
13
Flaming stick of something but not dynamite.
4
Who knew Pence could write...
11
John -- Classic!
3
Sorry if I’m slow but is this individual still in the government and making these noises to get some mayo on the side ?
4
Profiles in Courage!
2
Can we dispense with the equivalent gender pronouns? Does anyone really have any doubt the senior official in question is anything but a white male? The list of alternatives is desperately thin. Prove me wrong but I highly doubt we're talking about a "she." Plain probability suggests otherwise. We should probably quit the pleasantries.
5
When e history is written down the road the number of people who will admit to supporting and voting for Trump will be few and far between
6
To Anonymous, you have zero credibility hiding in the shadows. Come forth into the light,reveal your identity and resign. Then perhaps I’ll admire courage.
4
This author has no cred. Now he tells us Individual #1 is unfit. Duh. Trump U, the tapes, the bankrupcies, the lying, the mocking of a Goldstar family, and, well you get the point that it was all there.
The tax cut did nothing for biz investment but run up drficits. This is a win? Right wing judges? The only thing protecting us is check and balance and you just watch the rulings from Cav and Gorsuch.
This author thinks they are a hero. They are not. They are merely confused.....
6
“Anonymous,” whose book will have a first printing of 500,000 copies.
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/01/us/politics/trump-anonymous-author-book.html?module=inline
A WARNING
By Anonymous
272 pages. Twelve. $30.
Let's see ($30 x 500,000)...someone stands to make a cool $15 million in just the "first printing".
But remember...this book is about "Saving Democracy".
What a joke.
4
I think the author is Jeff Sessions
Suzy -- I think it's the Koch brothers...
3
From this distance here in the South Pacific, the goings-on in Washington seem all the more surreal and the country damaged. We are graced with a sane Prime Minister who does "not understand the United States." Having been born there half a century ago, I must agree; I do not recognise the country of my birth, the place where I listened to and participated in family discussions about politics at the dinner table; gained the 18 year old vote (yes, true) and campaigned door to door for candidates who both won and lost. I watched one president's election at a midwestern courthouse, the numbers rising on the chalkboard all night. This 'president' takes and does not give; he makes mournfully bad decisions against the good of the whole world and no one, not even anonymously, stops him. Please, please vote. I know I will.
13
My late and much missed dad would say: Don't write anything you wouldn't sign your name to.
This book and the editorial seem like a stunt or a trick. I was surprised the New York Times would have condoned an anonymous op-ed. Is that journalism?
Republicans who cannot support a suboptimal president privately should stop supporting him publicly. We must shoot for integrity.
All of us need to get off tv and social media and converse in search of common ground with people with both similar and different views from our own.
People are so much more nuanced and complex in their backgrounds, identities, circumstances, and views than the labels "republican" and "democrat" would suggest.
The common ground exists:
I think most of us are heading towards it now. We can all expect to have to compromise with one another.
So both "moderates" and "progressives" as well as "liberals" and "conservatives" should relax and vote for a qualified, experienced candidate with demonstrated smarts and character.
We have several good choices for President and for our other elected representatives, and we should still have a few remaining checks and balances in place.
Per Dr King:
“Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
Read, Pray, Vote.
5
You veut forgotten the Trump made invasion of locusts. ..
He does what people have elected him to do and in one or five years he will be gone anyway.
Just be patient and stop conspiracy: They will all resign. .. really...
1
Prior to the election I was a Never Trumper because i did not trust that Trump would do what he said. I did not trust the former New York Democrat, the thrice married man, or the vulgar combatant. However, this President proved me wrong! He has my full support.
I have both a JD and an MBA so skip the uneducated white nonsense. Trump is finally doing to Dems and the MSM what has been done to Conservatives and Republicans for decades. Remember, when they said Reagan would start WWIII? That George H. (WWII fighter pilot, CIA Director) was a weakling? George W. was a racist? Republicans thought it was beneath the dignity to fight like Dems. Well, that got us Obama (thanks McCain and Romney)! Dems and their continued attack on our historical principles if not changed is eventually going to lead to bloodshed. I do not advocate violence and listen to the other side (subscribe to this partisan paper, watch MSNBC & CNN), but it is getting harder to tolerate the Left.
1
So you feel like you're even now? Can we get On with it?
1
I wouldn’t exactly call a JD or MBA a well-rounded and expansive education.
All you really express here is resentment politics and demonstrate contempt for civil rights struggles.
Contrary to your version, our historical principles are a matter of striving for justice and opportunity for all Americans. That includes resisting racism, fighting poverty, fighting sexism and homophobia so that all Americans are given opportunities.
If you support trump more now than ever, it’s clear that what you support is an exclusionary America with clear racial, religious, and sexual castes. Same as it ever was for your party.
5
Why were Repubs okey-dokey with Hillary emails being published by an anonymous hacker, but a book being published by an anonymous Trump staffer is an affront to justice?
18
Perhaps there is a good reason remain in the White House, have strong feelings that keep building up with a need to speak out. Someone like a Jared Kuchner can't really say anything or quit. What if it's someone in that narrow category?
This is exactly how I felt when I heard about this book. By remaining anonymous, the author has forfeited any right to have his observations taken seriously. Trump's supporters will dismiss it as bogus.
2
Good heavens: Senior officials considered resigning en masse, but instead...
What? They just remained silent? Nah, more likely they parroted support for the prez, like other Republicans.
And not a word on the clear Russian slant of the whole operation.
Buncha cowards. Are we supposed to be impressed at how silent they are?
13
The author of the book, A Warning
Is telling us how much he’s mourning
The plight of the White House
While acting like a mouse
Not the revolt he should be forming
6
Donald wrote it. With a ghostwriter, of course.
2
db2 -- In other words, the ghostwriter wrote the whole thing....
1
"Anonymous" is a coward. He/she is trying to have it both ways. The expression "put up or shut up" comes to mind. He/she needs to come forward publicly and resign.
4
Well it looks like this book will just serve as another doorstop for those who purchased it.
1
Anonymous has told us nothing we don’t already know, although it’s fun to read or hear excerpts from the book. This is book a “get out of jail free” card.
Donating a portion of book proceeds? After the debacle that is the trump presidency, with help from anonymous and his equally wispish cohort, proceeds should be a down payment on a refund to the millions of U.S. citizens whose votes were cancelled on a faulty technicality, leaving us to cope with an equally faulty humanoid aimed at world domination. Psychotics, like Trump, thrive on their inner fantasy world; they seem to sense their own flaws but hastily attribute them to others. You helped fulfill that fantasy, Anonymous. You don’t deserve to benefit from it. By the way, I hope you are Melania.
1
Time to start working on the 2020 election effort. My first task at Thanksgiving will be to encourage every friend and family member NOT TO BUY THIS BOOK.
The author is an arrogant coward, first telling us in the Op-Ed to trust the “adults” who surround Trump and then writing another tell all book to report he might have been mistaken.
Sorry but the real adults figured this out many years before the Trump campaign and election.
2
Just Kellyanne Conway coveting all bases for post trump era.
4
Just because it's self serving previously reported slop from someone who was craven enough to work in this White House doesn't mean it's untrue.
3
My only question to “anonymous” is what took you so long to ascertain what the majority of Americans knew before the 2016 election: that Trump is a despicable, lying conman? Why did you need to actually work with Trump to understand this given Trump has ALWAYS been a lying conman? People like “anonymous” don't seem to be the brightest tools in the toolshed. But then again, it is better to admit you fell for Trumps con and even write a book about it vs. continually falling for Trumps con like his rabid cult continues to do so. Welcome to the resistance “anonymous.” Better late then never!
5
Thank you for saving me having to waste my time reading this book. This person seems to have a "saviour" complex but is a coward who offers Trump another distraction to get us off track. What a crock.
7
I heard parts of this book being read on Rachael Maddow's program yesterday
It struck me as providing more clarity into how dysfunctional Trump is.
The complaints about the author being anonymous fail to consider that if she/he were outed that would in itself be dangerous for, not only the author, but the country as Trump would, without doubt, become obsessed with finding out who the "steady state" people are.
With Trump's proclivity for malicious attack, it is scary to the max to think that he would expend most of his energy going after the people that have helped to keep him somewhat within the bounds of cogent, though often unreasonable ideas and actions. In other words all HELL
would break out to the point of God save the country and the world!
3
I don't take anyone's opinion seriously if they thought there was a chance in Hell that Trump would be a better President than Hillary Clinton. Or who even despised her more than they despised him. They were just not paying attention and/or were enthralled by right-wing conspiracies promoted by Fox News, hate radio, and Vladimir Putin.
30
"Anonymous has seen disturbing things. Anonymous has heard disturbing things. You, the reader, will already recognize most of what Anonymous has seen and heard as revealed in this book if you have been paying any attention to the news. Did you know that the president isn’t much of a reader? That he’s inordinately fond of autocrats? That 'he stumbles, slurs, gets confused, is easily irritated, and has trouble synthesizing information'?"
Trump seems to be knee-deep or more into some very real dementia.
13
Thank you!--$30 saved.
3
The review plays right into the hands of Trump supporters who say that anything negative about Trump is a lie. But as much as the books exposes the weaknesses and cowardliness of Anonymous (and many people in the administration) it also reveals that even cowardly toadies feel compelled to speak up. Yes--a jerk who stays on in the White House even after horrific events--wrote this book. That's how bad the situation is. Why didn't the NYT take a moment to focus on that?
4
The case against re-election, eh? Duh!
I haven't read the book and I won't. The case against re-election was made by Lt. Col Vindeman, a real patriot willing to put his good name (and life) on the line in the service of truth and Country. Read his testimony instead. "Anonymous" can't stand on the same ground and doesn't deserve an audience.
Anonymous, you can't improve the Trump situation from the inside. Trump is running a cult; working in it won't change anything. It just gets eu de trump all over you.
13
@Some Dude
Oh, and by the way, Anonymous and other Trumpinistas, eu de trump won't wash off after he's gone. If you chose to dis-serve your country by assisting Trump, your political and government carers will suffer permanent tarnish. That means you, Presidential hopefuls Mike Pompeo and Pence. Stinky.
2
This is a nonsense review. Apparently, the reviewer doesn't think a republican is qualified to comment on the failures of the Trump presidency. And it's tiresome to read Szalai's view that the last straw wasn't (here come the progressive talking points!) the situation in Charlottesville, or the border problems..but the slam on John McCain. You know, that was Anonymous's last straw...it may not have been what Jennifer Szalai would have preferred for a last straw, but does mean it's not legitimate? Not to Szalai...she wants Anonymous's critique of Trump to line up with her own critique And her critique appears to be that of a progressive liberal.
I think the point of the review isn't what the breaking point was, but that anonymous claims to be appalled by the very real danger Trump presents to our country, but refuses to actually try to protect our country and our democracy by claiming Whistle-blower protection and presenting factual, actionable evidence. Instead he offers pointless vagueries in a (failed) effort to separate himself in complicity. My take away from the "breaking point" comments is that even Republicans critical of Trump fail to be affected by his immorality, cruelty and bigotry.
5
We may find that the most shocking thing about "Warning" is the author.
3
Red herring.
1
Nothing to sell here - move along.
Just the cowardly grumblings of a George Bush style Never Trumper. We've been hearing this kind of fake news for years now.
The author is inspired by the courage of the United flight 93 passengers who paid with their lives.
Coming out would not cost this author his life, he would not be tortured in a black site, his family would not murdered.
He would suffer no consequences except cold shoulders at the country club.
Yet despite this, Anonymous remains what he was while he served: a coward.
6
He. ....or she.
1
"everything in the text of “A Warning” suggests a dyed-in-the-wool establishment Republican."
This is undoubtably why he/she stayed past Charlottesville rather than resigning in protest, but also why the person remained anonymous.
If Trump's presidency, GOP lawmakers' reticence to his presidency, this author's refusal to become public don't lead to the collapse of voter support for Republican lawmakers, American democracy is truly in trouble, not just because of the true banality of Republican political positions, but because of the inability of Americans to recognize and distinguish between individuals with integrity and individuals who cling to an ideology with none.
If American voters cannot recognize the difference after all that Trump and GOP have done up to this point, we are a nation of citizens who truly do not deserve to have a democracy.
6
If a Senior Trump Administration Official discovers such egregious issues to the point of writing a column AND a book in hopes to illuminate, change and/or stop them, then the credibility of those claims starts with the author name.
I would hope this author cared more about the welfare of this country than his or her own career.
The information in this book only HELPS Trump and the Republicans rather than discredits or hurts them.
As my mother used to say, "in for a dime, in for a dollar."
4
I look forward to reading the book. It is a unique project from one who has witnessed the behind the scenes of a Presidency cloaked in secrets. It may be gutless as people have said, a tell all from an anonymous writer, but consider the dramatic circumstances within this West Wing.
The situation for America is dangerous by any Presidential comparison throughout history. Imagine the horror White House officials and aides witness each day. The recklessness and incompetence coming from this man with so much power. Remaining in place as a witness for the country's sake may be an act of heroism. Surveillance and guardianship appears to be a requirement for this President.
It isn't over yet. This lawless President subverts the Constitution every single day. Ignoring subpoenas and blocking witnesses from testifying. Trump has no defense because he is guilty. This is who he is. Just yesterday another law suit was settled. A court order to pay $2 million for abuse of the fraudulent Trump Charity is just business as usual.
These are not usual times. I am all for anything that can shine a little light into the people's White House.
1
I disagree with all of the commenters here that say Anonymous is weak, ineffective, disingenuous, etc. for remaining anonymous. I would counter that to reveal their name is to threaten their own life. Look at all Trump and his people are doing to try to out the Whistleblower. That person is anonymous too. And with good reason.
If you object to the fact that the book is anonymous, don’t buy it or read it. But this document, even just the little bit we heard on Rachel last night, is serving a valuable purpose. I thank Anonymous for writing it, and I do hope he or she will continue to do what they can to help defeat Trump in the 2020 election.
2
I certainly hope that Anonymous is sure to send several free copies of this book to the folks over at Fox News. It doesn't do much good appealing to NYT or WaPo types; we already know how disastrous this is.
Anonymous could be a lot more helpful if he/she starts opening up to what must be many, many gop friends, and convince them that, after all they did to give birth to trumpism over the years, since the genesis of the Southern Strategy, they are the ones who will have to bring this all down. Even at their own peril.
I love how whenever the gops mess up the country, the economy, our international standing, they always come crawling to the Dems to bail them out. I've got news for them: this one is on you. You all have stonewalled, lied and cheated your way into this miserable corner, taking the rest of us with you. Nancy Pelosi and the rest of us are doing our level best to work within the Republican's own rigged system, but it's not looking too good.
Do your jobs.
7
I think my time is better spent reading the testimonies released from the closed door hearings, words of identified speakers. Forget the opinion pieces citing unnamed sources; focus on the quotes in their natural context!
Nobody needs these stories anymore. Trump long ago proved that he performs in the manner described. The more important consideration is that there are specific charges being brought against Trump and the potential of bringing many others. We have arrived at a stage of pragmatic action and are making some progress.
5
The sound you hear is me flushing this coward's book down the drain. Step up, loudly claim you were wrong in supporting the GOP, this president, and say why. Short of that, keep it to yourself and move on because you are not adding anything to the conversation. BTW, contrary to what you may believe, your anonymity takes the wind out of your sails.
16
They are cowards. If people witness an injustice or an act, in this case multiple acts of malfeasance and they don’t act upon it, it’s because they are themselves flawed, terrified and unwilling to take responsibility for the ongoing trajectory of disaster. Cowards. The current tyrant in the WH must be impeached and eventually served justice. No worries about our disunion in going forward with impeachment. We are already there and have been for many months.
9
Methinks this Anonymous doth protest too much. Could he/she be looking for a justification to stay even while knowing what a treasonous buffoon he/she works for?
There are very few senior officials left from 2 years ago, which doesn't make it very hard to guess who Anonymous is. This person seems to be placing bets on both outcomes so that he/she may come up roses whatever happens. As with everything else in the White House, that involves absolutely no honor or integrity.
3
This is a history lesson. Every villainous tyrant is surrounded by sycophantic enablers. We're getting to see what that looks like in real time.
11
I am of two minds on the anonymity of this author. On one hand, I say let people do what they can do, even if it is not the ideal solution. We have learned of the dysfunction of the Trump administration from many sources, including retiring Republican politicians who spoke up, this author, the whistleblower, and anonymous sources who are quoted in the papers and on TV every day. On the other hand, the State Department and NSC employees who are stepping up publicly to speak truth to power are getting viciously attacked. The anonymous sources may not owe us more than they are giving us, but they should think about supporting their colleagues who have bravely stepped forward to testify. Trump may be able to attack some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but he can't attack all of the people all of the time.
2
Obviously a waste of time and $30. We'll see this one in the half-price bin next week. Clearly there's nothing new to see here.
2
It would be just like Trump if he himself penned the tome (or had someone ghost-write it for him, more likely — someone with a vocabulary of more than a few hundred words), just to drum up more drama. He knows he's a substandard fraud; he's just having a riot being the world's least articulate wrecking ball.
Well, Anonymous, I understand why you do not want to reveal your name, but maybe you can learn from a man who got destroyed by your President and his followers, but still had the courage to stand by his values: Colin Kaepernick.
Remember what he said? “Believe in something. Even if it means sacrificing everything”.
So put the nation’s interest above yours or that of the GOP and reveal yourself. That would make the case of your your op-ed and book a lot stronger. Because if you do not stick to your values when they are being tested, they are not values but hobbies.
18
After watching Rachel Maddow's bombshell, breaking "Anonymous" news last night, another of her tedious spin-offs of "books on tape" (with her, you get to see the words and simultaneously hear her mellifluous recitation. Rach: please rethink this demeaning device - we can read) and this balloon-popping review, I'm quite convinced I could have written a similar clarion call and be a lot richer for it. I would have disguised myself as a "senior American old person with half a brain" and purchased a Sicilian villa to escape the madness that I've described. Thanks, Anonymous, for nothin' - you have no moral credibility. And, by the way, unlike you, I detested Trump before day one of the apocalypse - I never had ANY hope that he'd do anything other than serve himself. Sorry, bub, an emphatic No Sale.
2
The author is the only official Trump can’t fire: Pence.
3
The only point this book serves is to allow its author to caSh in. Big whoop.
2
I don’t support anyone whose name is Anonymous
1
Really appreciate this book review; now I don't need to buy the asinine book. You saved me $30 and a fair amount of frustration!
2
If I felt this strongly about trump and those around him I would run, not walk to the hill and tell the House Judiciary Committee what I knew, however many days it took to tell the tale. Damn the consequences.
I swore an oath to the Constitution on June 29, 1970 that would propel me up there. This coward swore the same, or very similar oath the day s/he joined the White House. Are you an American? Or another Russian this man seems yo have surrounded himself with?
4
A hero is someone who's willing to demonstrate courage while accepting that s/he might not be recognized for it.
This person wants the recognition without demonstrating the courage.
9
One would suspect that in order to be a 'Senior Trump Administration Official' you would need to possess a shocking dearth of decency and humanity. That Trump's treatment of McCain, instead of any of the awful things he did or said before that, was the final straw for Anonymous would seem to confirm that suspicion. I see no reason to purchase this book if it only repeats things we already know.
6
The traditional rule in the U.S. is that political advocates are expected to be open. PACs have been allowed license to shroud PAC funders, which is a mistake. But that mistake does not justify Anonymous in making personal observations in apparent contravention of the legal duties of Anonymous not to leak, thereby compromising the ability of the executive to act.
1
I am just inferring from this review that the book lacks specific, first-hand accounts of Trump's poor behavior and erratic decision-making. That's the problem with any author (or any source for a journalist) who does not want to be identified. On the one hand, your story is only compelling if it can be confirmed; tell us what Trump said or did, and journalists or lawmakers can find others who were in the room or on the phone at the same time. On the other hand, if you give us too many specifics, the White House will have no problem figuring out who was present at all of the documented events -- and presto, you've been outed. So a book written anonymously almost has to be vague and anecdotal. And that's just what makes it much less useful or insightful than it could be.
2
This book (and its profits) is a paean to alleviating one's guilt for contributing to getting Donald Trump elected and not doing more to stop it. It is an elaborate and detailed excuse for covering one's behind while still supporting the GOP.
The anonymous author helped bring us to the point where we have Donald J Trump as our President. Frankly, I didn't need any up close analysis to judge Trump as a person. It was as plain as day and has been for years. The author was blinded (or hopeful, like many) that Trump would shake things up. Instead, we're suffering from shaken baby syndrome.
I'm glad to know who the "Steady State" is. It's apparently it isn't Democrats, but Republicans.
The real adults in the room are those speaking in the impeachment hearings. Not the author. Beware of those who are all motion, and no action.
5
So, will the Anonymous donations to charity be anonymous, and if they are, how will we know if Anonymous made them?
2
Give me a break. The only reason this book was released early was because impeachment is about to dominate the news, even more than it does now. Poor as the timing is now, they calculated it would land with more of a splash now than in the near future.
1
If nothing else, this account of Trump is proof positive that the Republican Senators, and the Republican Party as whole, will have lots of explaining to do in the years ahead for blindly supporting this president.
6
If the author wants to make a case against Trump and his re-election, a book is not the best way to do that.. Unfortunately, his supporters won't read it. They did not read the Mueller Report, they did not read the transcript of that call with Ukraine (even though some of his supporters sent the message "Read the Transcript" like they actually did and still thought there was nothing wrong with it), even Senators didn't read these reports and publicly admitted they didn't and they don't care, etc, etc.
These supporters only listen to one cable news, and believe what these people say. These news outlet will say that everything is a lie and people will believe them. Trump's base won't read it, sorry. Best example: We saw these week in the elections, mostly suburban districts voted Democrat. The rest voted Red. That tells you something.
Time will prove me wrong, but this author wants to be the hero so when the ship sinks he/she can say " I was not one of them", but no matter how many bad things he/she says about Trump, you are one of them. I won't read your book even if it is handed to me for free. When you speak publicly, then I'll reconsider it.
4
I’d believe the author’s claims if all the proceeds for the book were being donated to charity, or if he or she weren’t anonymous. Otherwise, just another cheap publicity stunt.
1
When Trump stole the election, I figured that the intelligence community was well aware of the type of person that was soon to occupy the White House. I surmised that going forward, the community would treat the Oval Office as they would a foreign embassy. I figured that there would be moles and lots surveillance and certainly no unnoticed phone calls, especially with Russian and Saudi leaders.
Just like they observed other threats to our country, the intelligence community probably waited until it was clear, that Trump was about to do something very harmful, when they decided that it was time to unleash the whistle blower.
I’m sure , years from now and after the threat that is Trump is gone, books will be written about what really took place, during these dark times in American history.
I’m also sure that these same Republicans that used a mentally ill Trump to further their agendas, will say they were really Patriots, saving the country from Trumps worst instincts and were working against Trump for the people, the entire time.
Guaranteed.
3
Clearly, the Asset should be in adult day care.
Bring on the 25th A.
6
Considering the stakes at hand, y’know, little things like the continuity of our republican democracy, the approaching climate apocalypse, deepening tribal resentments, the ticking economic time bomb, this “warning” is as useful as taking a bucket of sand from the Sahara. I simply cannot understand why each and every person who has had the misfortune of working around this horrid failure of a human does not stand up, as a group if need be, and shout at the top of their lungs about the insanity they have witnessed. This includes Mark Burnett, Tillerson, Mattis, et.al. There simply is no justifiable excuse for failing to pull the fire alarm.
Their failure is complicity. Their failure is cowardice.
5
Is Anonymous is still working in the White House? I've always suspected John Kelly. That said, I really wonder why the publisher even wanted to publish this book without revealing the true identity of the author. Did they think they were going to make any money? Why? How? The author/publisher's wish that this book will even be read by any Trump stalwarts, much less change their minds, is ridiculous. Instead, it will serve as just another thing for Trump and his supporters to mock. Come on! Choose a viable opponent for the next election and unseat this monster already.
1
Here's my takeaway from this book and the Op-Ed column written in the Times last year.
If authoring a book and column anonymously is all that has been produced to illuminate and illustrate the many faults and short comings of this president while being a senior Trump administration official, then I'd say this anonymous individual has failed and continues to fail miserably at his or her job.
Apparently that person's presence, impact and influence has accomplished NOTHING and continues to have no bearing on the extremely reckless and detrimental policies and decisions Trump continues to make.
By merely having first hand knowledge is only half the story. Not coming forward and discussing with Adam Schiff the information this individual holds, even as a registered whistle blower, is pointless.
For me it comes down to either put up or shut up.
6
Anonymous should both resign and give a Presser late next summer (or in OCT ) following the actual Primary season to tell the nation about what you observed - and how you worked to prevent the most disastrous inclinations by Trump. THAT is the only way you will make any kind of impact in defending America from this Autocrat of a President being re-elected. His cult following may still be unaffected - but then again, it may persuade Independents (and possibly people of color) to get out and vote DEM.
2
Courage can be exemplified in many ways, but, first and foremost, it comes forth by speaking the truth, openly and with no strings attached (such as writing anonymously). All Republicans in the U.S.Senate are gutless wonders --men and women who sit on their hands as the nation they were elected to serve flounders in the wake of corruption and evil.
4
The metaphors quoted here, in WaPo, and last night on the news suggest that Anonymous is not a skilled writer or a particularly nuanced thinker. I'm guessing s/he is someone who got on the Trump train early thinking they could manipulate the instability to their own benefit but was irked to discover that that was impossible.
The quoted language alone undermines their credibility and raises suspicions about motive.
7
@JNR2 i.e. Anonymous is a Republican and their clash is more a matter of personalities than policies. That coupled with their deeply flawed op-ed from last year meant they never had any credibility with me.
3
@JNR2 I have posted before on the potential of a skilled forensic linguist being able to unmask Anonymous, and your post makes me wonder if editing has been done to deliberately screen this person's inherent linguistic tics, thereby preserving anonymity.
1
I want a change of president but I simply will not read or accept information from those who don't have the courage to stand behind their words.
17
Maybe Anonymous will sell enough books to justify the cost of publishing it. But from the quotations cited from it and everything I've read about it, its going to land with a big thud in the arena of public opinion. Given the mistakes about Trump's character and actions Anonymous acknowledges making, why should anyone trust what he says without detailed accounts of actual events with would allow for corroboration? What kind of "Senior Trump Administration official is he or her? Why should we lend our trust to this person? I find it implausible and completely unconvincing that he or she has remained "anonymous" to keep the story from being about the story teller. It may not be about keeping whatever post the person presently holds. Despite its "warning," it surely is about not wanting to be responsible for the consequences of having offered it. This is known as want to to have your cake and eating it. I suppose the author now feels relieved to have gotten the warning out, and can now wash his or her hands of the matter. History will not be kind to this person whether or not Trump is removed from office or loses the upcoming election,
6
That was a fun review.
First laugh of the day.
Thanks.
5
great review, and independently echoing similar points made by rachel maddow. we can't fact check anything, we can't compensate for the author's possible biases, we can't calibrate for limitations in his or her field of view and closest colleagues.
we're left with a long form tweet and rumor as knothole gossip.
3
If Anonymous really is serious about reversing the damage that President Trump has already done and preventing further damage, then he/she should step forward and say who they are. The only way that Anonymous will move the political needle will be if they have the courage to put their job and reputation on the line.
11
Don't wait for "A Warning. " Go to Amazon and get "Trump and the Demise of Democracy. " It's a new book on Amazon in Kindle and paperback at what must be introductory prices. It combines a blueprint for disassembling democracy with examples of how Trump is doing it. It's not another inside tell all about Trump's character defects. Instead, it looks at how our democratic government is crumbling both by design and gross ineptitude. Once you read it, everything in the news fits a whole new pattern. This isn't a conspiracy book either, just one that puts all the visible pieces together in a way no one else has done.
4
Lots of books with similar names...but not that one.
I feel that Kelly Anne Conway is the author and thank her for staying to protect, not like the other Republicans who have bailed
What, exactly, is this book meant to accomplish? It will not be read by Trump supporters because they will take it as a "deep state" attack against Trump. Those of us who despise Trump will not be surprised by anything Anonymous reveals. More than a year ago this person wrote an op-ed that had zero impact on holding Trump in check and I'm guessing this will book will not change anything either. If there really are secret patriots in the White House, then blow the whistle on what you are witnessing or resign and tell the truth.
7
If Anonymous had something to say and failed to say it to Trump I think that qualifies as cowardice.
If Anonymous has so much angst about how horrific a president Trump is then speak up on the news in person instead of hiding behind a book without an author's name.
8
No wonder it’s anonymous
Anonymous writers are making a choice
To hide their identity but not their voice.
Sometimes they do this for their own protection
Or to try to expand their literary connection.
But there is another reason we can add:
When what they write is just plain bad.
The excerpts we've heard so far reveal nothing surprising and nothing that can be corroborated. It may feel good, but how does it help remove Trump from office?
The review kind of insinuates a lot of things, but just doesn’t say them out loud.
At the end of this long national nightmare, there remains the spectre of Trumpers believing that Hillary Clinton would have made a far worse president than a misogynistic, racist, adulterous man child who thinks it is OK to mock a disabled person, to bully his rivals, to give his children government jobs. I have no sympathy for them; I have no respect for them. They gave us this mess. They are complicit in ruining our country, and our country's global standing. All this because they couldn't handle the thought of a woman in the Oval Office. They should be ashamed for what they have done.
8
You can't have it both ways. He's so dangerous he shouldn't be reelected.
That's obvious. But since he's dangerous we shouldn't be subjected to the ongoing threat of his presidency for 15 more months until Jan 21, 2020.
Make a whistleblower complaint and do something now before it gets worse. People have been harmed and died because of this awful person. You are complicit.
7
Stale, old material hashed over a thousand times. Don't need to read it. Don't need to buy it. It's here every day, pretty much for free, in the peanut galleries that are the comment sections in our newspapers. While there's sometimes a very good reason someone doesn't want their name associated with their opinions, it does color their credibility.
Want to be taken seriously? Want to be paid for your opinions? Put you name in boldface under your warning.
Anonymous senior Trump administration officials are the dime a dozen sources called, "Those familiar with Trump's way of thinking." In common parlance, it's called blabbing and it's no badge of honor.
Who are you that have to hide? You're someone who is hedging their bets. That's who and all you are.
5
This anonymous person claims this president’s behavior is reprehensible and he is unfit for office yet the author of the book is pleased with the administration’s “accomplishments”. Until this person is willing to acknowledge the damage this president’s decisions (and the complicit GOP Congress) have had on this nation and world affairs (the Syria debacle, the family separation policy, breaking of the Iran nuclear pact, ruination of the environment, forsaking the Paris climate accord), I hold no truck with his thesis. Either he or she unmasks, and quits; otherwise he or she remains complicit in the decisions made by a president so consumed by hatred of Obama that in itself is Madness.
2
Exactly as Trump has stated all along. The "deep state" does exist.
1
This is weird. Just weird. What sort of credibility does someone who refuses to sign his/her own name have? I have no doubt the individual will be doxxed sooner rather than later - just ask Joe Klein! - but right now I have to wonder, who is this person that we should listen to him/her?
3
This may be an unpopular opinion, as I hear many commenters throwing around the word coward, but I imagine would remain anonymous as well. There are some extremely unhinged Trump supporters that may engage in “vigilante justice” against those who attack their hero. I would fear for my life and wellbeing if I were this author (or the whistleblower) and my identity was disclosed.
1
Terrific review of a book that is is too little, too late, and therefore has no teeth.
"The ideal reader would seem to be an undecided voter who has lived in a cave for the past three years." Yep. The rest of us have already been there and saw that because it's all been on public display for 3+ years.
Anonymous should have outed him- or herself a year ago. At that time, this kind of news may have still felt fresh and wouldn't be competing with an in-progress impeachment.
At this time, I'm afraid the book is just "yadda-yadda" - more coverage of a shallow, ignorant yet arrogant man.
3
These “resistant” staffers act like powerless pre-teens whispering behind their alcoholic daddy’s back. Please live up to your oath and citizen responsibility. Stand up, unmasked, en masse, and tell the America people the truth.
4
For The New York Times to twice publicize the writings of a source anonymous only to its readers, means the writer is so highly placed in the administration that his/her unmasking would initiate a tsunami of political upheaval with an unknown extent of damage to the functionality not only of the GOP, but of the current US government. This person would have to be close enough to the administration’s operation that when their identity is finally revealed, the understanding of the NYT’s protecting of this source is not only nationally appreciated but applauded. Who could such a person be? My guess is on Mike Pence.
1
Or NYT is willing to publish anything anti Trump without thoroughly checking the sources.
Remember we had 2 years of Russian collusion story
If under the law, a whistle blower can remain anonymous for his/her own protection so can the author, Anonymous.
To all the critics, put yourself in his or her shoes. False fortitude is a cheap shot.
I vote for Stephen Miller. He seems like someone who knows in his soul that you can only tread water for so long before you drown.
He has no soul
1
It is frightening beyond all measure to witness what has happened in the world given the short period of time Trump has been in office. He has weakened NATO and placed Europe in its most vulnerable position ever, the situation in the middle east has never been more tenuous, the repeal of protections in environmental laws, walking away from the Paris accord. We have scientists now warning the world that we are a very short time line to reverse the climate trajectory. We have a rabid cult following of this. the most incompetent human being to ever sit as President and then we have the so called elite media who wait with baited breath for the next gaffe coming from this man so they can point fingers and laugh at his incompetence instead of holding this administration to account with facts. It's not a joke, and I cant quite figure out who the really stupid people are as we have aĺl become the fools who follow this insanity with no apparent understanding of just how to stop it
1
Trump is unfit.
1
Deep Throat again.
Just fine with me!
1
I have news for "Anonymous." "Mainstream America" is not far right wing, hateful, anti-science, misogynist, racist, or xenophobic and we are not "out of touch" with Obama or vice versa, except insofar as he tried too hard to please Republicans like Mitch McConnell who never missed an opportunity to shaft him, and us.
6
“These are just words. A bunch of words. It doesn’t mean anything.” Exactly. Thank you Jennifer Szalai for a perfect summary of this book penned by the cowardly enabler Anonymous.
2
That Trump is insane is not news and proof of it is not much more than a juicy, if painful, read. What’s more disturbing is the absurdity of this presidency lasting as long as it has and the frightening possibility of 5 more years of it .
It’s going to be up to at least 20 republican senators to stop this insanity.
Who would have thought three years ago that it would come down to this dangerous predicament.
19
Having learned that his plan to help keep Trump on track as a leader is a failure, the author has no excuse for remaining in the administration. His responsibility is to resign and use his experience in the effort to stop Trump. PERIOD.
11
If the book sells, the author may have the financial stability to quit and speak out unanimously.
Maybe the administration aids are much more aware of the damage done by Trump. Although, Republicans appear to have encountered in Trump the most vociferous supported of their corrupt agenda. Republicans have sold their soul to the devil. The so-called Christians with no Christian values. The Republicans are the worst kind of human being.
12
I feel that the Anonymous author is not coming forward so he can stay in the White House and give the American people more information about president trump's corruption and incompetence. The author will eventually disclose his/her identity.
3
There is one honorable course for GOP dissidents. Break ranks. Openly. Anything short enables.
14
Anonymous knows what side of history their judgement will fall on and is making a buck while the getting is good. The real patriots are testifying before Congress with their identities in full view of the tweeter in chief. Is there a Purple Heart for valor defending the constitution against a tyrant? These are the “adults in the room”, and anonymous is now irrelevant. Best stay in your cloak of invisibility, as we the people now have no patience for your cowardice.
13
It is hard to take Anonymous seriously as a person of character and grit; any one such would have long ago walked out of the Administration, trumpeting clearly in public why he or she did so. Judging by this review, if I have read NYT I don't need to read the book, either: Trump's malfeasance is manifestly on display, act after act, speech after speech, tweet after pathetic tweet. So pointing out Trump's stupidity, vanity, venality and weaknesses as though it's some "inside scoop" is unconvincing. And, even for this (admittedly liberal-leaning, but you've figured that out already) NYT reader, it's hard to overlook how much money the author likely will make from the book's publication. My guess? $0..99 on eBay within two weeks.
8
Nothing quite like monetizing your complicity.
25
Excellent comment
1
Anonymous... what good are you doing by staying closeted? Have the courage to come out and stand for something more important than a political party. I fantasize about who you could be... KellyAnn? Mike Pence? Jared?
Come out, come out. Our democracy, our planet is literally at stake.
8
Perhaps a reason to remain anonymous is because of the pretty despicable things you say or do every day, before a camera, in front of journalists, at talk shows. There you are, Kelly Ann, Don McGahn, simultaneously sounding the alarm about our degenerate president in the dark and defending his lies and awful behavior in full light of day. How humiliating that would be. There you stand, exposed before the world as a gutless hypocrite. While Yovanavich, Taylor, Vindman and others brazenly present themselves to the House as courageous people whose behavior and morals are are in lock step. I won't read "The Warning." I was warned 4 years ago; fat lot of good it did us.
8
So now we have a new lower bound on the number of Republicans who recognize their own hypocrisy: 1.
4
The two opposites of getting Trump out and an author who remains anonymous cancel any points made about Trump's mental state, the state of his office, the state of the nation under his confusing and rather terrifying administration. Anonymous hides since September 2018 op-ed in the NYT and now the current publication of "A Warning;" we are left with smoke and mirrors. All that is revealed is known and yet the author stays in his or her warren w/i the office of the White House.
1
The phrase "Tell me something I don't know..." comes to mind in relation to this "Warning". I have no reason to doubt that the author is some sort of insider, but from the excerpts presented here, he offers (as others have noted) nothing other than an emasculated distillation of information we already know. Might as well write a book about the spherical shape of the planet....just don't expect me to buy it. Nothing here suggests this is "....soon to be a major motion picture...".
3
"We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark, the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light".
(Often erroneously attributed to Plato)
Yet that quote most certainly fits Mr. Anonymous
People who have paid attention to the White House production of "An Apprentice in the White House, and/or a Theatre of The Absurd are just waisting money on a book whose writer is out to fatten his bank account but wants to stay in the dark.
5
So, in other words, this person is another of Trump’s “Best People”?
3
Anonymous is stating the obvious about the dimbulb in the Oval Office. What I want is for a whistleblower to explain exactly who is pulling Mitch McConnell's strings. Not to mention Lindsey Graham's.
11
Another book that I will rush to neither purchase nor read. Too much real news in the world to waste time on what is likely a self-serving rehash of facts already known. Hiding behind anonymity serves the author and the public poorly. One either has courage or not. This is a valueless tell-all book because we don’t know who is the teller.
1
One more anonymous source.
1
It's Dan Coats. Trust me. As a Hoosier--I KNOW THIS GUY. It's Coats.
2
In other words, "Anonymous" puts up with Donal Trump until the fact that he is a giant jerk becomes intolerable. The graft, self dealing etc is all OK as long as we get what we want.
4
"Trump stumbles, slurs, gets confused, is easily irritated, and has trouble synthesizing information."
Dementia. It will only get worse.
5
"Just words. It doesn't mean anything." Slurring. Confusion. Stumbling. Can't read. Can't understand. Why is this man still in the White House? All politics aside. This man is ill and incapable.
9
I applaud Anonymous (and his ilk). And I also feel sorry for him. After all, the mind-numbing feeling of being in Donald Trump's orbit must be like being pinned in solitary confinement for 3 years with little food, water, or oxygen.
3
To Anonymous:
A warning
Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas.
7
This book sounds like a regurgitation of what those of us who've been paying attention already knew. The author knew early on that the President was unfit and a danger to the country. He/she (like so many in the cabinet) was too gutless to take any meaningful action in spite of this knowledge. History will not be kind. I won't bother buying the book.
2
Power turns a bad man into a mad man. That’s what anonymous learned and what he is trying to share. As my mama used to say: A word to the wise should suffice.
4
Two thumbs down for NY Times for giving this person a platform and publicity. It only reinforces the Deep State argument of the right. This Anonymous is no different than the current republicans they are nothing but leaches feeding of the swamp creatures.
4
If Americans had only known that Trump was dangerously unfit for this office; that Putin was using blackmail and grooming him as a Russian asset; that Russian trolls were orchestrating cyber-espionage to aid his campaign and destroy America from within; that he was a cruel and petulant man-child whose primary means of income was money laundering and bankruptcy... If only someone had given us a warning!
13
As grateful as I am for Anonymous' (albeit anonymous) book, the book stupidly premises that Trump is some sort of bizarre, inexplicable anomaly, instead of acknowledging that Trump is the very logical conclusion to the racist, misogynistic, homophobic, and xenophobic policies the GOP has been virulently peddling for the last 50 years. Trump is not simply Trump, Trump is the GOP. Sooner or later they will be another Trump.
9
Anonymous is a self-serving coward Republican asking all of us to forgive them and allow Anonymous to maintain their status quo and reputation WITHIN the Republican Party.
This person is still receiving a government salary!!!
3
What if Anonymous is someone like KellyAnne Conway? Who has gone to the mat for him over and over. Someone like that saying these things could put a dent in that base. Maybe it IS one of his inner circle...
My guess would be that Anonymous is hoping to build some mystery before ultimately coming forward. They want more than just the $$$ and the slight chance at redemption. They want some fame.
2
To paraphrase MaxMillian Schell in "Judgement at Nuremburg:
"You didn't resign, even as you witnessed Trump's vile and traitorous acts.? Can you imagine what it would have meant if a man in your position had stepped up and resigned"?
Did it have something to do with your pension Mr. Anonymous?
5
For the record...I can not STAND Donald Trump.
Trump is a boor, a national embarrassment, a proven liar, and possibly, a traitor.
BUT....A book by "Anonymous"? Come on now.
Name yourself. Be brave. There is still time to be called as a credible witness to the impeachment debacle.
Otherwise, it's like ME saying I am related to Bill Gates, and am entitled to his money when he dies. I can say anything under the guise of "anonymous".
Let the REAL light shine, if there is any more that we cannot detect on our own, or give the profits on this book to charity.
3
“December Project” All that means is in time for a holiday gift.
As the alt right has some wacko conspiracy theories...here are a few bonafides from this proud libtard.
Kellyanne Conway is Anonymous! George helped her! (Angelina Jolie will play Kellyanne in the movie)
It's amazing that the VP had time to write a book! Mother helped him!
It's Mitch and Elaine's tell all....nahh
3
I don't see the reason for all this critical carping (in the review, not the book). The book seems to have written for Republicans, by a Republican who wants the party saved from Trumpism. He doesn't quite see that Trump has hollowed it out and eaten its vital parts. It's a bankrupt Trump property -- welcome to America! Nevertheless, the book can appeal to ex-Republicans.
1
One quality about Trump is his flaws are obvious for all to see. He doesn't have a well oiled PR machine or speech writers carefully crafting a favorable image as the previous administration did as Obamas real views 'evolved' from middle American values to leftist values.Trump doesn't engage in such deception.
Political triangulation calculus, politics of personal destruction, class warfare divisions used by Democrats in lieu of tangible issues is why Trump beat Hillary. Too bad most Democrats can't be themselves, not a fake calculated caricature crafted by highly paid teams of PR experts.
1
@Lane Don't kid yourself - Trump has speech writers. He just opts to go off-script most of the time because he is convinced he knows better than anyone else.
It's hard to get competent people to volunteer to work PR for someone who lies all the time.
Trump claims to be a Christian. Do you really believe he holds any value higher than himself or money? Surely, he has made no attempt to follow the lessons of Jesus about caring for the sick and the poor. He's not trying to be meek, not trying to be faithful to his wife, not trying to be honest.
1
I welcome any Trump supporter, however belatedly, coming to his or her senses. These people need to wake up and smell the end of our Republic. I don't ask that everyone think exactly as I do about everything. That is an infantile notion. But the newly awakened need to vote blue or not vote at all in the next election.
3
I cannot imagine any reputable doctor diagnosing an illness, physical or mental, by observation of a patient that they have neither met nor examined. I also can't imagine someone being taken seriously who will not stand up and be forthright about something as momumental as this anonymous author is charging. If any and all of the book is true it is time we know the background of the man or woman who has written such an explosive work. If his/her purpose is to save us from a madman we should be able to assess for ourselves the veractiy of this person. Whether or not you love or loathe Trump, there is something that is frightening about the possibility that one's life can be destroyed or forever altered by anonymous charges. If this can happen to a president, we are all at risk. I don't believe this is the way America works.
This book seems more like an attempt to cash in than anything else. Trump backers won't be swayed by vague, anonymous claims and everyone else knew better in 2016.
2
"Trump administration officials considered resigning en masse"
Instead, you have one one official, who stays anonymous.
By all measures, Trump won.
3
I have purchased many books , Amy Siskind's, THE LIST, James Comey's HIGHER LOYALTY, Woodward's FEAR, Wolff's FIRE AND FURY, McCabe's THE THREAT.... and a few more.
I actually had this new book on order but had mixed feelings and just could not put my finger on what they were.
This article by Jennifer Szalai put those feelings into words for me.
Anonymous is not telling us anything really new about Trump. Anonymous is also STILL not doing the right thing , which would be to come out and call for the resignation NOW of this person who is destroying our country.
Anonymous could even be one of those who received a subpoena and has ignored it !
I just cancelled my order for the book.... maybe I will change my mind but until the supposed "grownups", if there are any left in the administration stand up and do the right thing, there is no reason to to buy this book enabling Anonymous to gain from his/her cowardice .
I just hope that we can remove this toxic POTUS before it is too late.... I love my place up here in Canada but wish there was no need for me to be here because it is the only place I feel safe right now .
Meanwhile I will vote next year and continue to make donations to those who oppose this administrations agenda.
3
Trump's appalling behavior is the only criticism many of his supporters seem to agree with. I haven't talked to a single person who supported him but were also willing to defend his behavior. Disrespecting John McCain, therefore, isn't a surprising straw to break the camel's back imo.
This is helpful though. Whenever I'm confronted with a Trump supporter, I just tell them I can't agree with their choice because I don't like the way the guy talks and acts. I say he's just disgraceful in the things he says and does. That generally takes the wind out of them, because they can't disagree.
2
It don’t plan on reading this book. However, I have noted that “Anonymous” refers to himself as a “senior administrative official.” He also makes reference to “top appointive officials.” However, I wonder if he ever refers to HIMSELF as an appointive official in his book.
If I were Trump and had Trump’s personality and if I could narrow down the possibilities to, say, 3 people, I would get rid of all 3 and go hire 3 new sycophants to replace them. There is only one person who knows he can never be exposed to that risk. There is only one person who is a senior administrative official, not because he is a Trump sycophant, but because his political credentials were politically useful to Trump. There is only one person who goes out of his way, in fact over the top, to prove he worships Donald Trump, but does relatively little to participate in the activities of the administration. What better way to appear loyal without implicating oneself in Trump’s criminality.
If I were Mike Pence and also Anonymous and I wanted to divert suspicion from myself, I would call Anonymous disgusting and call for his resignation, too.
1
I find Anonymous to be the worst kind of individual there is. Anon claims to give warning, but yet remains working for Trump (I assume).
Weakness comes to mind, also dishonesty.
More than quite a few of have given warning about Trump.
I didn't vote for Trump, and I'm pretty sure I didn't vote for this person either.
2
Perhaps the anonymity is a good thing. It will unnerve Trump and his enablers that there's a watcher within and that s/he is a republican. Others in the administration might be prompted to discover some backbone and agree to testify to Congress when called. I see this as a crack in the Trump edifice.
3
What a coward. While I applaud the author's commitment to saving our Great Experiment in constitutional democracy, I am deeply disappointed in the writer's evidently greater allegiance to the money-making opportunities and influence he or she works to preserve by remaining anonymous. Either you love the country more than [x] political leaning or party, or you don't. Unless you're gathering evidence to inform a whistleblower complaint, under the law a legitimate exercise, draw back the veil. Stand in the sunlight, fortified by the courage of your convictions. Join the rest of us true patriots who value the singular thing that is the United States of America above all else.
3
@J Young
False fortitude and braggadocio. What have you done so far?
Anonymous— I don’t think a mass resignation signifies nearly the alarm bell — nor would have half the effectiveness— as invoking the 25th amendment. And after we have abandoned the Kurds to Turkey and the Russians, what exactly are you people waiting for?
2
Not telling us anything more than we already know. Making it tantalizing by remaining anonymous. Act of cowardice. We need fewer words about this fraudulent president and some real action. Where is the action?
2
@blgreenie
Where's your action? Flipping your BIC is not enough.
Vice President Pence is “anonymous”. Pence is much smarter than he acts.
@janye Pence doesn't have a straight bone in his body. He doesn't have enough sense to know who he really is let a lone write a book unless it's a long the lines of see Trump run, run Trump, run.
1
Anonymous isn't telling me anything I don't already know. What he/she does demonstrate is the abject cowardice of Trump's minions. Not only do they still justify Republican actions and ideas that undermine the functioning of our government (i.e., the Merrick Garland fiasco), they refuse to take any personal risk or action that would end this dangerous administration, not even making their names public.
1
The title of the book should be, "Could've, SHOULD've"
Anonymous wrote last year: “Many reasonable people voted for Trump because they love their country, wanted to shake up the establishment, and felt that the alternative was worse,” Anonymous writes. “I know you because I’ve felt the same way.”
Reasonable people did not vote for Trump. People who voted for Trump do not love their country, their fellow citizens, their own neighbors. People who voted for Trump wanted to destroy the establishment, full stop, because to the them, the establishment provides no value to their lives, because their lives are about criticizing, dismissing, hating anyone who actually has some integrity, intellect, drive to contribute to the betterment of the world.
That Anonymous ever felt a kindred spirit to those who voted for Trump because he/she felt Hillary Clinton would be so much worse, exposes his/her character and judgment as fundamentally flawed and untrustworthy.
That Anonymous chose to wait with his/her book until a year before the election instead of a year into Trump's presidency again demonstrates a soul corrupted by ideology rather than patriotism.
He/she could've, SHOULD've resigned and encouraged the whole lot of the administration to so en masse instead of rationalizing Trump's incompetency away. Shame on this coward. Shame on all the cowards in the GOP and this administration.
3
If “Anonymous” were really interested in leveraging their proximity to the creep in the oval to save us, they’d undertake a study of tasteless compounds that don’t leave a trace and slowly doctor his Coca Cola.
The information provided by anonymous is a waste of my time. Obvious to the casual observer Trump is unfit for office, an ignorant man with no desire to learn and will tell a lie when the truth would not cause him harm. If anonymous would provide actionable information and documentation of said information, that would be quite useful in hopes it would lead to his removal. Succinctly put the information, if it can be called that, is useless and perhaps harmful to attempts to hold this man accountable.
RUSSIA! RUSSIA! RUSSIA!
Oh wait...
UKRAINE! UKRAINE! UKRAINE!
Oh wait...
ANONYMOUS! ANONYMOUS! ANONYMOUS!
The reviewer fails to note that A WARNING is just more of what the MSM has been pushing for three years. Unable to cite a single instance of law breaking by the President we have been told that he "violates the norms". Their norms of course.
Having for three years derided the notion of a Deep State the MSM is suddenly not only announcing their existence but praising them in these very pages.
Anonymous is just another in a long line of unelected officials who think they know better than the voters what should be the direction of our country.
They seem not to realize that they in fact reinforce our desperate need for a President Trump.
Let's see them beat him in the anonymous voting booth. What a novel notion that is!
1
@Barooby Public hearings are coming. Let's see how many broken laws you get to hear about then.
Would you be in favor of a President from the other party who behaved like Trump? Constant lies and insults would be cool with you for someone with a (D) after their name? I bet you'd be be screaming about norms before long.
So what's new. The 'adults' in the room caved fast in 2016. A search for Republicans against Trump in 2016 brings up a slew of Republicans who then signed onto Trump's platform: 'Make America Serve Me, Me, Me', all are now his ardent defenders (read: defending their own access to the riches and power of the US) and few of those who have balked and are in the know say nothing to defend America's future. They resign forever silent.
When the well dries up these Republicans will cry 'Country' (that long forgotten place), to save a spot in the next round of shaft country, shaft citizens and grab what you can for yourself. Anonymous is one of them, no more willing to give up his/her favored position, eager to play phony-baloney & double-agent to get personal desires met. It's pathetic, puerile and dangerous, this sense of grandiosity. btw: It is the mindset that is important, not the name, it has infected politics.
Shame that many a citizen has not yet cottoned onto the ruse that this Republican Party is another name for 'Social Services for Republican Leaders' replete with million/billion/trillion dollar handouts to themselves.
This isn't about Trump (he is a blip in time) it's about deciding the future of the US. Are people really willing to settle for the dregs, allow the president (and favored others) to treat the US as their own personal asset. Has mindset not evolved past grateful serf and reverential subject. Bread and circuses suffice - all hail dear leader?
4
Anonymous needs a better pseudonym. How about "Deep Pockets," since Kelly Anne--I mean anonymous--is going to make money off the book and, presumably, the Netflix comedy series based on the book.
1
I think it's Stephen Miller. Think about it.
I'm not sure why Anonymous stays in the Trump administration if he or she sees the disastrous actions of Trump every day. Wouldn't that damage a person's psyche to witness this deranged activity? I do see why the person doesn't want to reveal his or her identity, because you never know what Trump and his cult would do to destroy them.
261
@Conner Grandiosity. I alone can save America. S/he sounds like Trump's twin.
26
@Conner money and power is all that counts in this country. If the whisteblower had financial independence and back bone, they'd do the right thing. I can't believe someone published this book written by a coward
23
@Conner Pence would be the one to write such, and and still retain a sense of detachment and decorum. Pence is always the dour man in the background frowning at Trump, or Trump's actions.
Staying anonymous means keeping a highly prestigious job, VP, getting to go al kinds of places and have the where-with-all to set up one's retirement in grand style, so why would he publicly rock the boat?
He obviously sees things going terribly wrong, but to say something out loud would make it look like HE was wanting Trump's Job, and I think that he has been humbled, having wanted this job before, but never before really knowing how deeply the job requires a level head, some intelligence, and teamwork.
It is not something a CEO can just order up and have delivered, he has to build the whole supply line first: Which is why his wall will never be built, his ideas never taken serious and his posterity is going to be that of a punchline for eternity.
Nobody Trumps being Awful like Trump Does!
And people will remember that for hundreds and even thousands of years, to wit he will be remembered to be much as Caligula is remembered now: with a distinct shudder and turning away of one's thoughts so as not to bring bad luck.
Thus is Trump's legacy.
16
I'm taken aback by the tone of this review and the leading comments. Did anyone read Tim Egan's columns today?
C'mon...the outrage is understanable but dismissiveness isn't working.
6
@S Exactly. The reviewer is so busy being smarter than everyone that she totally dismisses that anyone could be reached by this book. If you find yourself quoting Trump at the end of an article, maybe you've gone astray.
2
I did not know that Mike Pence could write.
6
Mitch McConnell. Lindsey Graham. Jim Jordan. Rand Paul. Ted Cruz.
These are the men responsible for the demise of our republic. Here in Colorado, I add Cory Gardner to the list. Each state has their own traitor.
13
If the author lacks the integrity to use his name then there is no point in wasting money to buy it and possibly enriching the coffers of some fraud out to make a buck!
2
Kellyanne's just prepositioning her post-Trump career. Nothing much to see here. :)
5
Publishing anonymously robs the book of all its power. Moreover, it is cowardly. Stand up, call out your name and put some muscle behind your opinions.
6
@Melinda Buterbaugh I agree since this is not supposed to be a work of fiction. It didn’t bother me that Primary Colors, about a presidential campaign, was at first published anonymously since it was fiction. Publishing a nonfiction book about the administration makes it pretty useless as a historical source for any kind of reliable information or evaluation.
I’m guessing this is Mike Pence.
3
This administration has become nothing more than the biggest reality TV show ever. Everyone is glued to the next utterance of stupidity and incoherence. we cant stop ourselves from watching this entertainment, and that's the problem. It is anything but a joke. the consequences are deadly serious. and we just cant seem to stop ourselves.
2
Worthless. Anyone who reads the book or has any interest in it wouldn’t vote for DJT anyway.
2
It’s Mike Pence.
1
Is this "anonymous" person still employed by the White House?
It’s the Conways, right?
1
Oh c'mon, you know it's George and KellyAnne.
1
Fox news says this book is just a bunch of liberal nonsense written by a big fat loser.
So who ya gonna believe?
A big Fat loser? Or a billionaire winner like Rupert Murdoch?
1
Don McGahn.
Lindsay Graham.
I am not a Trump supporter and am strongly in favor of his impeachment, but I have a problem with this anonymous author. Either you are for or against Trump but you can't remain anonymous and be truly effective. First, you give Trump and his lackeys ammunition to question your authority and integrity to print such a book as any number of people could have contributed to this book. In addition, to be truly effective come forward and reveal yourself because working from the inside apparently isn't working at all. I don't believe it's necessary to remain anonymous any longer. Resign and come out into the open. There are many true Americans patriots that will support you.
5
It's this simple: Resign, step up, and offer to testify. Everyone. Do your duty and uphold your oath. Thank you.
8
What's holding Anonymous back, along with his band of teasing, disgruntled compadres, is hatred of Democrats and ceding them the tiniest ground.
Look at the stakes.
Anonymous and associates, take one for the team, for once.
3
I am still amazed at Trump’s continued support. That his actions haven’t spurred resignations both enmasse and individually with subsequent reports to Congress for investigation and oversight reveals a profound corruption and lack of moral compass for all involved. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. It’s not just an impeachment or election that will correct this term. The White House is septic and parts of both the legislative and judicial branches are infected. Incision, drainage and possible amputation cross the mind of this retired surgical nurse.
5
For all of you that call this person a coward, do you understand the real threat those who share secrets about Trump face? Even though the information the original whistleblower revealed has been confirmed, Trump wants to reveal and hurt him. From a guy who claims he could get away with murder, with his crazed gun tooting followers, don’t discount that as a possibility.
There are very few Americans who are brave enough to be whistleblowers, if they feel threatened. We all have seen bad things that we know should be disclosed, but it is very easy to think it is someone else’s job and look the other way. Classic case of the person without sin throwing the first stone.
It is very legitimate not to want to read the book. It is hard enough reading about his daily antics, to put yourself about being reminded of them again. If you don’t like the book, don’t buy is, but please consider not taking Trump’s example and indulging in name calling.
3
So it appears that the writer of the September 2018 op-ed and this book is a senior administration official who is working against Trump because he doesn't care for his persona.
What I said in September 2018 is the same as I will say now. The writer should either work for the policies of the administration or resign his or her office. Anonymous sniping is not helpful. Tearing down the civil service's role in the government is not helpful.
This official could indeed be one of those who are trying to imply that President Trump's discussion with the Ukrainian President is impeachable.
He could be one of those who do not support the President's use of a representative to work with the Ukrainians, bypassing the normal State Department/ambassadorial circuit.
This anonymous writer speaks volumes about the President's view that certain tasks should be given only to trusted agents.
And it speaks volumes of the existence of a fifth column or 'deep state' within our government of people looking only to undermine the policies and processes of the elected administration.
This is a clarion call for the administration to refocus on cleaning out the underbrush, first within the White House staff and those assigned to it (especially from the intel services), and then within the other Executive departments and agencies.
80
@rcrigazio you want Trump to be more forceful tyrant than he already is.
111
@rcrigazio
The fact that the author doesn’t care for trump’s persona, but presumably stands to gain from his/her position by remaining in it, doesn’t mean trump’s persona is the only thing wrong with him.
The clearing of the underbrush and the fifth column starts with uprooting trump, giuiliani, mulvaney, barr, and a long list of other unsavory and corrupt characters masquerading as politicians and public servants. Blind allegiance to a failed “president” should not take precedence over allegiance to the nation.
176
@rcrigazio I was with you until the last two paragraphs, wherein you seem to support the president's attempts to circumvent Congress by appointing "acting" officials, then jettisoning them at will, and undermining time tested government employees, as well as ignoring all advice.
94
My sense is that Szalai is on the money in her criticism of the book. But she's dead wrong in her assessment of the country. Within the confines of the NY Times newsroom, I can understand the sentiment that every single person should be angered by very single thing Trump has ever done. In fact, there are tens of millions of people who believe this to be the case. That's a lot of people. But it's not enough to necessarily vote him out of the office. What we need to do is reach out to the people who are angered by a lot of the things Trump has done. A NY Times staffer may not recognize that such people exist, or may consider them deplorable. But they must be reached in order to assure that Trump doesn't get re-elected and they are the people Anonymous seems to be writing for.
3
Where to begin? Anonymous is no patriot as s/he would have us believe. Were s/he a true patriot s/he would have made arrangements to testify in the impeachment inquiry.
3
@Tiny Terror Maybe s/he already has, or soon will.
Seems to me Anonymous and their intrepid band of discontents were plainly deluded in thinking they could frustrate Trumps worst impulses and that proclivity towards delusion could easily leak into the book. Should we believe any shocking unattibutable revelations from an anonymous source that we know is inclined to delusion? Regardless, the book is timed for release into the Christmas selling season, not the election cycle, that tells me something.
1
@Dave:
We're in the election cycle; we're always in the election cycle.
1
I was already scared out of my mind by Michael Lewis's book "The Fifth Risk" about the Trump administration's ineptitude and disinterest in learning ANYTHING during the transition period from Obama's term. I am an adult who has seen life, not a naive kid, and I had to put the book down about 80 pages in, What I had already read was very frightening and I didn't want to know any more. Will not be reading "A Warning" as I feel I've been amply warned.
4
What I wish is that all the pundits, and maybe some of the commenters, would do an analysis of personality/background features mentioned - such as “student of history” - so we might figure out their identity. Perhaps via grid or a listicle, that would point to who Anonymous _might_ be. Then we could judge credibility, accuracy, agenda, etc. Without it, Anonymous indeed is just telling those of us who inhale daily political news and analysis, what we already know. Meh.
2
The anonymous author contrasts starkly against the image of Marie Yovanovitch walking fearlessly in broad daylight to be the first State employee with the courage to stand up to Trump’s abuse of authority.
The lack of courage and resolve among Republicans in the face of a despot of their own making, is stunning.
14
If Anonymous is a real patriot he should come out openly. Anonymous will be part of deep state conspiracy. Writing the book only satisfies his conscience that he did something to stop the chaos but really has no value to the nation.
4
It's not his Persona he objects to. It is his destruction of democracy.
1
The White House toadies have already denounced this as "fiction" even though they have not read it. But anyone who has not been under a rock completely recognizes the events detailed in this summary. The novelty in this book is seeing the reactions of the "insiders" in the White House to what has been patently obvious to the public. Trump's incompetency and unfitness for office has been totally on display for three years. Now we know that his closest associates know this as well, and it has created a toxic atmosphere at the very core of our government. Even if every detail of this account is not completely accurate, the core of this book rings completely true.
3
My guess is that Pence is Anonymous. He's one of the few "senior officials" that have endured since the beginning of the reign of error. He determinedly presents no affect when he's in video appearances with Trump. He is an orthodox, science denying, fact ignoring, religion clinging, party line Republican. He projects a sort of incredulous silence when Trump is rambling or blithering. He seems to be pusillanimous enough to hide behind anonymity when boldly invoking the 25th amendment would be the right thing to do.
5
If the author had character or courage, he would step out into the light of day, just like the brave State Department diplomats have been doing in the last few weeks. Trump is a clear and present danger and responsible 'adults' need to say so.
4
Anonymous, like all Republicans, has a problem he can't solve. The libertarian "small government" agenda that has underlain GOP policy at least since Reagan's time is rejected by a majority of voters.
Anon may have hoped electing Trump would shake things up. It did, but only by empowering the authoritarian impulses of the Koch/Mercer donor class and the Dominionist desire for a "Christian" theocracy among Evangelicals like Pence.
Polls show voters reject killing the New Deal and Great Society social safety net programs, and they don't want to destroy the federal agencies that protect our air, food, water, and public health. But those projects, plus lower taxes, are the core of the "small government" agenda.
We are witnessing the rebirth of American Fascism in parts of the Republican Party. The wealthiest donors and elected elites like McConnell, Barr, and the "freedom caucus" have decided that majority rule is "too socialist" for their taste. They can't win playing under our traditional political rules, so they have given up on them.
What they seem to want now is a Putin-style oligarchic kleptocracy (rule by the robber rich) fronted by a "President for Life" running a fake, Reality TV "democracy."
Anon is watching this happen under Trump, and he doesn't like what he voted for and now sees happening -- welcome to the club of those who still believe in the Constitution!
4
This is a fairly cynical review of the new book, which I'm sure Trump will appreciate. Nonetheless, I'm glad the author is speaking out. I don't relate the the author fully as I'm a lifelong G.O.P. voter, and Reagan Republican, who refused to vote for Trump the first time around because of his lack of character and fitness for the office. And I certainly wouldn't work for him. Trump is exactly what I feared, and he has largely dismantled the G.O.P. of Reagan with his pro-authoritarian, anti free-enterprise, self before country worldview. When Republican voters made the Faustian bargain to support Trump they held both houses of Congress, and a majority of gubernatorial offices/state houses. When this sideshow Administration is done the G.O.P. will be lucky to the majority in any of those spheres. That's what Faustian bargains bring...
5
To "Anonymous" and every Republican in Congress: You don't get credit for doing the right thing when it's too late. Enough gossip. Enough with expressing "concern". Act. That means either invoking the 25th Amendment, or voting to remove Trump when the impeachment trial comes to the Senate. Anything less makes you all fully complicit.
5
One of the comments says that patriotism would be to
“Stop the MADNESSES “ by exposing it all ) including the writer’s identity.
More than a few forensic psychiatrists have attempted precisely
That by publishing their learned clinical opinions
About trump, including in this paper. Even that
Didn’t impress too many people in positions of decisions making
To act as they should have. There’s no established
Procedure ( other than invoking the 25-th amendment) to deal with the madness of trump.
Besides his own WH physician declared trum in”perfect health” so no one could
Possibly question that further.
The fact remains: had trump been a Ceo of a randomly picked corporation, everything we already know would UNDOUBTEDLY
Been sufficient to oust him.
Not in our political system.
So let’s just sit tight and continue watching the madness show still to unfold. Mind you: the impeachment proceedings underway are NOT intended to expose trump’s mental health status any further. Only an INDEPENDENT psychiatric EVALUATION will determine the end of this obvious madness.
Anonymity equals weakness. Period.
2
Dear Anonymous,I have no desire to read your unvetted ,uncorroborated accounts of Trump's flaws and failures.The majority of people reading this article already know who and what he is. Be a true patriot and come out of the shadows.Failure to do so reduces your accounts to mere gossip.No risk no reward.
2
The 2018 editorial seemed bold at the time. Now that we have individuals who have put their careers on the line to tell the truth about Trump's criminality, Anonymous just seems cowardly. If you are in government, and you have personal knowledge of Trump's misdeeds and unfitness for office, you have two choices at this point: Step up and tell the American people what you know; or resign yourself to being complicit in Trump's crimes. That's the way history is going to call it.
3
I don’t believe anything said by someone who is anonymous. If it’s true and you want to be believed step into the light.
2
Anonymous is a big part of the problem, believing that McConnell’s refusal to allow a vote on Merrick Garland was justified, believing that violations by this administration of the Clean Air and Clean Water acts are a good thing, that conservative’s embrace of what amounts to a state religion is a good thing (Barry Goldwater warned us). The list is endless, and Anonymous has clearly drunk the Kool-Aid.
The tragedy is that north of 30% of all Americans have similar beliefs. Our world is in extreme peril yet these believers want to burn more fossil fuels, fell more forests, and despoil more rivers. America first? Yeah, maybe we’ll be among the first to go.
2
This author is a true Republican. Loves the divisive and unfair political policies, wrings their hands but refuses to stand up to stop it. What is half of a whistle blower?
5
@APM from PDX A blower
Instead of airing these pipe dream stories .. we should help Dems and independent voters make teh real case with facts not emotions like why we must remove Trump .. he is not GOP .
Policies do not matter .. Question still remains why Russian help is always there for Trump so much so they embedded in Iran's web to foster Facebook disinformation already.
Since we cannot shutdown facebook , we should put to voters fixings the age old information law on web which lets these platform providers go free without any financial cost!
Just add a cost to disinformation data on facebook and twitter etc ! It will solve the issue !
Enquiring Minds Want to Know -
Donald Trump, an American businessman, politician, and 45th president of the United States, has used several pseudonyms, including "John Barron", "John Miller" and "David Dennison". His practice of sometimes speaking to the media under the guise of a spokesperson has been described as "an open secret" at the Trump Organization and in New York media circles. - Makes you wonder who is really speaking to us?
1
Sounds like it could have been written by a fly on the wall, except the fly would've been more insightful.
1
Anyone who has been watching Trump on the White House lawn with reporters already knows much of what Anonymous offers in the book. The man cannot deliver a simple declarative sentence. His brain is clearly overtaxed by all that he is trying to upset in world alliances and in world trade and in simple polite decorum. The man was never meant for anything but a New York boardroom where his petty prejudices could be winked at. By putting him in the Oval Office the American people irreparably damaged a nation, which will never be trusted again as the stalwart ally we were under 44 previous presidents.
2
This is tiresome and meaningless. It's tiresome that some Trump worker wants to paint himself, or herself, as a hero from the shadows without giving his name. It's tiresome that a publisher would publish it. It's tiresome that the Times would give it a front page review. It's tiresome that I read it. And probably even more tiresome that I am commenting on it. If this Anonymous character wants to have real impact, he or she will now identify himself and spend the next year working to elect Trump's opponent. Somehow, I don't think that will happen. Cowards seldom grow a backbone....
A very snarky review.
5
Dear Anonymous, you are a coward and an enabler.
Along with the entire Republican Party.
And Mitch McConnell is a traitor.
I will not read or buy your book.
You do not deserve to cash in on this.
29
After reading this review, it seems to me that this is the ultimate rationalization to try to clear this person’s conscience or reputation as not only being witness but complicit in desecration of the office of the presidency. While possibly an initial, noble gesture to stay on to keep Trump from screwing up, remaining rather than resigning seems to Anonymous now to be an error in judgement. The “train wreck” is coming and he wants to jump or survive the collision with an intact conscience.
It is essentially the same as a number of GOP senators who still remain silent. It’s a literary “wet nap” to try and wash the blood off his hands when American lives are lost due to a Trump impulsive decision. Sadly, those who need things spelled out won’t read this and those who already understand how bad it really is won’t read it because of the frustration and exasperation it reignites.
Unfortunately there are no seat belts on trains.
12
@ Michael G. Cost:
Their grandchildren will spit upon their graves.
If:
We still have a country.
They have grandchildren.
They have the temerity of marked graves.
1
Shameless coward then, shameless coward now.
15
Get real, Anonymous - you are part of the problem.
What a greedy, craven, lot you Republicans are.
23
“... electing Mr. Trump to a second term would be courting disaster.”
I don’t need a book to tell me that. Additionally, it’s a bit anachronistic to put it in a book when developments are flying by the minute. The 9/11 trope is beloved by a party that is anything but a party of “American spirit,” bravery, patriotism, and the rest of it, led by a draft dodger. If they were, they would have had the courage by now to do something about the assault on our “democracy.” Besides, Anonymous has been beaten to the punch by the brave and courageous “Human Scum” stepping before Congress.
14
To us who have been following Trump's behavior this book seems to be describing the new normal established by the GOP and Trump apologists. I have been dreaming that someday those surrounding Trump and know who Trump is would stand up in mass and put the final nail in Trump's insane presidency. But this anonymous portrayal only confirms that the sycophants and cowards who privately hold these views and continue to kiss his posterior in public will never do the right thing.
15
Anonymous, you are a coward.
12
Save your money, folks. With the exception of the staff en-masse resignation tidbit (too bad they didn’t do it), much of the book is old news. It does make me wonder if this effort is nothing more than a Hail Mary attempt to distance the GOP from Trump in order to save the party.
It’s much too late for that...Moscow Mitch has ensured they are all in for Trump regardless of the cost.
15
I read books for two reasons. I either want to learn something new or experience something vicariously. This book will do neither for me. I knew what a Trump presidency would be like the day he was elected so nothing written about him surprises me. And I am living in the nightmare so there goes the vicarious experience. Needless to say, I will not be reading this book. I would prefer to read about Trump’s removal from office and incarceration - hopefully a nonfiction book.
13
We liberals and middle of the roaders can easily get rid of Trump ad break the hold of the Republicans in Congress. All we have to do is vote for the Democratic Party candidate. Trump won because the leftist Democrats either refused to vote or voted third party instead of voting for Hillary Clinton. Oh yes. we m=need a moderate Democratic candidate to get the moderates to vote for the democrat. I pray every day that the leftist liberals, see the light and accept that the only way to get rig of Trump and the Republican machine is to vote Democrat.
7
@Jeff If we nominate Biden, I'm afraid we'll have a repeat of 2016, with the hardcore Bernie supporters staying home or voting third party (or for Trump again - I was surprised when I read how many who voted for Sanders in the primary ended up voting for Trump). It will be a difficult balancing act to energize the Democratic base while bringing in enough Independents. At this point I think Warren has the best chance of doing that.
1
@Paul Smith Please do not equate 2016 with today. I would be proud to vote for any Democrat or Independent on the ballot (or any decent Republican, for that matter). In 2016, Hillary was deeply unpopular..
Thanks for this review. I just cancelled my order of the book. If Anonymous cannot come forward and say who she or he is, that just tells me she/he is afraid of Donald Trump. Or comfortable with condoning (by her/his actions of staying in the WH) this egregiously unfit and dangerous autocrat.
13
Trail of breadcrumbs in here (for followers of links) leads us to a plausible source.
2
Is there anyone who supposes for a moment that John Kennedy would include Anonymous in "Profiles in Courage" were he to write it today?
5
Maybe Congressman Schiff could get Anonymous to testify. That would be an interesting hearing.
6
There's much resistance to the fact that the author chose to be anonymous at this time. At least the author is sharing something which resembles the truth of incompetence, urging anyone with an inkling of doubt of this President, and the implication of danger he presents to us all, to our country, urging that he must not have a second term and that we the voters must not re-elect him. Can we just say we don't fully know why he chooses to be unknown. But it occurs to this writer better this voice be in the house than being fired and considering who might next step into his her place.
With each new fall of a person in the administration, and we can agree there has strangely been very many, it has seemed to just get worse and worse.
1
Modern day “Deep Throat”. But I’m sure they won’t die before they are revealed.
3
Was "Deep Throat" also a coward? Perhaps rather than bashing his person, like we do any who expose corruptness of those in power, we should find some good investigative journalists like Woodward and Bernstein to follow the threads and further expose the things handed to good reporters, as opposed to gum-flappers, in this book.
3
We don't even know whether the author of this book is really the same as the person who penned the anonymous op-ed in the Times, or whether the author of either of these documents is really a senior Trump administration official, or just some nameless right-wing Republican, perhaps from the McCain circle.
Somehow I just don’t even want to read things from anonymous today. I guess those clowns that run around in masks are ruining my interest in their efforts at convincing me of anything.
1
Books can be very revealing and I hope Anonymous sheds new light on the darkness of the Trump administration.
When it comes to ridding the country of a bad president, the more context the better.
Readers should also consider Christopher Wylie’s account about how FACEBOOK data was manipulated and fed back to its users to foment anger, racism and general hatred in a strategic plan to advance far-right ideology and to illegitimately put Trump in office.
4
So Trump shouldn't be reelected? Thank you so much. I never would have figured that out if your book hadn't come out. Alternative seriousness.
9
The reviewer reminds me of the old definition of an editorial writer: someone who comes down from the mountain after the battle and shoots the wounded. We are all the wounded now, but the battle seems as if it will never end. Now comes Anonymous, with additional insight, call it 'color' if you want, but useful nonetheless. The reviewer's negative reaction to the author seems strange, coming in a newspaper whose editorials, for example, praised the current mayor endlessly during the campaign as the liberal version of the Second Coming. That he was a horror show is beyond question, but the Editorial Page has yet to fess up. So why should I care about her carefully crafted, mountaintop-opinion of a fighter who's still on the battlefield, trying to do his version of the right thing?
2
Methinks Pence may have a spine after all. Or an ever-increasing fear of god.
Nah.
1
I won't be buying this book. I have zero respect for someone who's afraid to use their name to state the obvious when there are dedicated civil servants marching to the Capitol to testify in the impeachment proceedings. They have far more on the line than this coward, who is willing to keep cashing in on Trump.
4
Republicans in the administration, Senate and House are a bunch of spineless enablers.
6
The only case for remaining anonymous is that it will drive the paranoid boy king further down the insanity road. Unfortunately these so called republic defenders will not do anything to actually save the nation so the squatter in the White House rages ever more dangerously. Come out come out wherever you are.
2
More absurdity from the White House circus. Anonymous is a coward and has now done something that will simply feed Mr. Trump’s staunch supporters. Thanks for nothing. And, the fact he or she (writing sounds male, though) hit their personal limit around John McCain’s flag pole issue is appalling. And, this person remains in the White House? The immorality astounds and, for my liking, Trump and Anonymous can have each other.
2
A more apt title might be “Complicit.”
9
Could Anonymous be Trump? Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde?
@Time - Space Nah.Not unless he has a ghostwriter.
So if the NYT Op-Ed essay that led directly to the existence of "A Warning" by Anonymous was “dead wrong”, why would or should anyone believe the contents of this individual's book?
I think it's disgraceful to compare writing this book to anything associated with the bravery and life sacrifices made by the passengers on board Flight 93.
6
I did laugh when I read this. It shows that at least one purported member of the inner circle Trumpers has the powers of external reflection (CF Adam Smith's Theory of Moral Sentiments). It's just that it doesn't work very well. Did he/she not mention that this narcissistic nincompoop has his finger on the nuclear arsenal? As with climate change - clearly not a consideration for Anon - there is nowhere to hide.
Still, when the Passion happens, they'll all be on the list!
a naive fool. he/she helped start this raging wild fire and now tries to put out the alarm? if he/she had any moral character the book wouldn’t be anonymous. and he/she would have come out publicly a long time ago. that en masse resignation would have been a real Elliot Richardson moment.
2
You lost my interest when you were attracted to the shiny orange object in the first place.
7
The excerpts from this book don't tell us anything we didn't already know about Donald Trump, and yes the "peddling of birtherism conspiracy theories and boasts about grabbing women's genitals" should have been a great big warning sign. Why remain anonymous to simply tell us things that we already know?
7
Shameless. Like all Trump staffers & administration officials - hollow men. These folks are trying to save the country - by whispers. ..
“This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but with a whimper.” T. S. Eliot
4
"Filled with sound and fury and signifying nothing"
1
OMG, deja vu, 1973 all over again would not be complete without its own Deepthroat! Enter, Anonymous. This is like a bad Hollywood script.
How many feel that this book by Anonymous is just a Trumpian ploy to stir up sympathy for the Trumps against an imaginary deep state? Why wouldn't Trump be more interested in this? The Trumps have already released the name of the Ukraine whistleblower.
It was Don Jr. who anonymously released the single page of Trump taxes in 2016 at the behest of Assange to make Trump look good, while manipulating the public and drawing sympathy for the Trumps.
These adults in the White House work against the interest of the Democratic party and I do not like it. And they do nothing to damage Trump's electability. Let us take this all with a grain of salt. They are perpetuating the liberal 'deep state' conspiracy theory, when they are nothing of the sort.
1
Imagine if you will, that Trump is Anonymous. After a life of ego-driven skullduggery, what's left of DJT's 'John Baron' split consciousness cries out in a futile attempt to claim identity from the beast who runs the chaos show.
Evidently, to the forces of greed and filthy lucre, Trump is what passes as good governance.
3
I'm sorry this reviewer had to drag Charlottesville into this, but the fact that he did shows how "mainstream" his views are. There indeed was violence on both sides there. In fact, the anti-racist protester whose beating led to severe prison sentences was carrying a flashlight -- during a daytime rally! Few events in recent history have been so consistently misrepresented as the Charlottesville affair (although Ferguson comes close).
2
@bob roberts
Please reconsider moral equivalency.
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/documenting-hate-charlottesville/
1
There are "undecided voters"? How can that be?
There are "adults in the room"? Can anyone point to them?
What we appear to have is a collection of gutless wonders.
What to do? Conclude that the impeachment effort will fail. The consequence of its failure will be the breakup of a dispirited anti-Trump camp and the reelection of an even more powerful, sick tyrant. Those reported to have considered en masse resignations are the problem. They may amount to a shadow government poised for victory in 2020.
596
@Gilin HK
Actually I agree with Trump and Pence on this anonymous writer, if he/she is so concerned for America then why not speak out publicly.
Is the whole world suddenly afraid of Donald Trump? And if so...why?
There are countless Government officials who will denounce trump when he is out of office, but they chose to stay silent fearing they will lose their job.
The time to speak out publicly is now.
If the writer does not have the courage to stand by what he/she believes publicly, then why should anyone care about the concerns they are airing.
96
@Gilin HK
adults in the room means they're old enough to vote.
couldn't mean anything else.
35
@Gilin HK
'Dispirited' indeed.
If citizens, collectively, could realize the actual power at their command, this would be a much different and better country. Be brave America! Speak out.
Be ready to vote in massive numbers to finally rid ourselves of gop pestilence. Come on out already, had enough yet?
62
Though Anonymous may believe they are doing the right thing, validating them is troubling - it establishes a precedent that high ranking executive branch officials (assuming that's what they are) could pen a critique of the President without recourse or retribution.
We can argue that extraordinary times often call for extraordinary measures, but every Presidency, even horrifically bad ones, should be free of unaccountable broadsides such as these.
47
You say, “without recourse or retribution.” No president should be able to seek retribution.
59
@JDeM
You're wrong. This one is so horrifically bad that we need all hands on deck.
37
@Kate The torpedoes need to be manned, and the hatches battened down, as well...
14
Anonymous' actions belie his words; he is doing everything in his power to re-elect this disgraceful administration. This idea that his anonymity makes him more effective at defending this country is a bad joke. His ethical and moral equivocations will be remembered as the Republican's lodestar.
5
It's all a bad, bad joke - and would be worthy of great derision and laughter were the consequences not so severe. The 2020 election looms large and I fear either result will be dire for our country and the future. Imagine Trump losing to Elizabeth Warren and invoking "fake news" and "rigged elections." He's set the stage for that. Imagine him winning the electoral college but losing the popular vote by in excess of 5 million of us. The wrath he will stir.
Who knows who Anonymous really is? I just ordered the book and am interested in reading it, but more than anything, once the book comes out, it will be interesting to see if the author is moved to speak publicly against Trump, but that is a long-shot. Perhaps the author knows that revealing themselves would be mistake at this juncture and is waiting to see what reponses the book elicits.
Instead of Anonymous' “deserves to be fired,” meaning the president’s contract shouldn’t be renewed, more apropos would be "you're canceled".
Anonymous reveals himself to be just another weasel with opinions.
Sadly, Washington and the government is full of them.
1
Trump is without question the worst person to occupy the Oval Office in our nation's history. This has been a relentless horror show since day one. That being said, I think this is one of the first steps by the Republican party to attempt to wash the stink of Trump off them. These silent, obedient Republicans who were so shocked, and so appalled, and so uncomfortable, and coudn't believe what they were seeing, and yet fell into line time and time again.
There is no decency, integrity, or patriotism left in the Republican party. It's just a loose collection of grifters, ideologues, bigots, and right-wing extremists coalescing for the moment around a greedy, racist autocrat named Donald Trump. When Republicans eventually turn on him, and they will, they'll attempt to frame their actions in patriotic terms, "rescuers of the Republic" and all of that. It's nonsense. We can't, and won't, let Republicans forget what they have done to us, to our government, to our allies, and to our nation, by their stalwart support and defense of Donald Trump. The GOP owns the Trump disaster for all time.
11
The author disgusts me to no end. They have been coordinating what seems to be a silent coup in the White House. That is not acceptable under any president, even one as corrupt as Trump.
Also, to use this opportunity to write a book? Are you serious? If they had any real courage, they would've stepped forward long ago. The Op-Ed was an exercise in cowardice and this book is an exercise in vanity and greed. Nothing, but gossip.
2
This author will not get a penny of my hard earned dollars, especially now that witnesses are coming forward with information that appear to make Anonymous’s claims pale in comparison.
3
I don't need another book about how bad Trump is, we've known this for years.
Someone (anonymous or not) write about the GOP congressmen, and what compromising dirt or deals have turned them into traitorous lemmings
7
Thanks for the review. I’ll pass on buying this book.
All Anonymous is doing is verifying "The Deep State" conspiracy amongst the right wingers. If he wanted to be effective he would've unmasked himself before releasing the book...
...Still looking at you, Mike Pence.
2
I would buy the book out of curiosity, but I wouldn’t want to contribute to anonymous’s wealth. If he is the kind of person that doesn’t care about kids in cages his idea of a charity to donate partial proceeds is probably something like conversion therapy or some racist group. He is right that trump can’t be re-elected, but then NYT readers already knew that 3 years ago.
1
Nothing surprised me in this article except the conclusion regarding the pending impeachment. We MUST Impeach. We must REMOVE FROM OFFICE. Trump must go down in total disgrace. Why? Because nothing less will shut his mouth after he stops being President. He will second guess POTUS46 and all subsequent Presidents, Republican as well as Democrat. He will continue to work with Putin and other autocrats. He must be removed with dishonor for what he has done to our Republic.
Of course had the GOP Senators and Representatives done their jobs in ensuring a balance of power (Do You Hear Me Now MoscowMitch?), this would not be necessary. Short of not being able to control HIM, they should have at least minimized the damage he has done through political and judicial appointments. Shame on the GOP.
6
The “elevation” of Trump to the presidency, since he was not really elected, was a case of incredibly poor judgement by all who voted for him.
It was well documented before the election that he was a crook, a liar, a can man, a cheat, a braggart, a horrible narcissist, deluded by his ill gotten money into thinking he was smarter than anyone else, and hid behind a phalanx of lawyers to shield his dirty dealings.
He had been like this all his life and was 70 years old. What on God’s green earth would lead these people to think he would be different as president?
For the Republicans, this was simply a case of getting back the White House. For some it was getting a black man out of the White House. And while Anonymous provides some interesting details, hand wringing at this time is hypocritical.
Shake things up? What needs shaking up is the Republican Party which cares only about their donors and big business. They are bought and paid for. They are the elite that need to go.
Obama out of touch? Why? Because there was not a breath of scandal from his White House, except that manufactured by his enemies? Because he sat down with his family for dinner most nights, ate healthy food, raised his daughters in the White House without any drama, wanted people to have better healthcare, and thought we should protect the environment instead of raping it for a buck?
What’s out of touch is Anonymous and their ilk. Vote everyone of them out.
12
Sorry, Mr/s. Anonymous just doesn't cut it. When Donald Trump in due course calls the author a coward, he will for once be right. Cringeworthy. And apparently no new revelations either. All this for some judicial nominations, tax cuts for the megawealthy and deregulation.
This is for the Republicans who voted for Trump, but “held their nose”, when they did so.
3
"For those who need it." You said it!
@Gilin HK
"The consequence of its failure will be the breakup of a dispirited anti-Trump camp and the reelection of an even more powerful, sick tyrant. Those reported to have considered en masse resignations are the problem. They may amount to a shadow government poised for victory in 2020."
A shadow government - like the Ukraine debacle w/Giuliani and his cast of behind the scenes actors and liars? They are a bunch of bunglers have been outed.
The "anti Trump camp" is hardly dispirited - witness the latest elections!
Onward ~
Warning? Really? Not to me because I read the news And I can Analyse and interpretative by myself: I don’t need warnings. This is a book written by a coward person afraid of the consequences. That’s why I much admire Edward Snowden that stands by what revealed and assumed the consequences.
Oh brave Anony-mouse, trembling in the corner, squeaking as loud as can be, warning us of DANGER, yet unwilling to come out from under the chair!
Strong Anony-mouse, stopping bad old Trump from imposing policies our mouse doesn’t like, but OK with border concentration camps- just don’t tear up any trade agreements, Bad Man!
Noble Anony-mouse, willing to sacrifice the well being of the nation until a sufficient number of conservative judges are appointed and taxes for the rich are lowered, and then DRAWS THE LINE. HERE AND NO FURTHER, BAD MAN! Well, no further than one term... still some judges to appoint between the Senate voting against impeachment and the next election. Oh, and unless the Democrats FORCE Anony-mouse to vote for Trump again for nominating someone “unacceptable (anyone to the left of Donald Trump).”
Anony-mouse stands, so brave and tall, cape waving in the stiff wind of self-satisfaction, mask firmly in place. “Fellow citizens, I cannot continue to protect you from policies I and other establishment Republicans don’t like unless I continue to keep this mask in place.”
Thank you Anony-mouse! Thank you for your brave, strong, and noble sacrifices! And thank you for donating an unspecified part of the profits to needy and worthy charities like the White House Correspondents’ Association!
True heroes wear masks!
(IN AN ERA OF GULLIBLE VOTERS, I MUST NOTE THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE IS SARCASM.)
"the ideal reader would seem to be an undecided voter who has lived in a cave for the past three years, and is irresistibly moved by quotations from Teddy Roosevelt and solemn invocations of Cicero."
Funny. Sad, but funny.
Unfortunately, anonymous sources, are the seeds for fabrications, in which everything and nothing grow into tall tales. The liberal media has opened Pandora’s Box, because what goes around, will most surely come around, and with it goes ethics and credibility. It is not the Russians we should fear, it’s our media which has become far more unscrupulous than those they demean.
Good review I am not buying the book. “These are just words. A bunch of words. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Not a book written by a patriot trying to save the Republic from mortal danger.
Just someone trying to pad his savings while saving his day job. Sad!
1
Gary Cohn, Jim Mattis, Dina Powell....all these supposed adults in the room. The idea contributes to Americans waiting for the magic person to stand up and speak out. Guess what? Those people have! They are doing it. They are civil servants. Listen. And then there is the daily speaking up--by the president himself who tells us daily what he thinks and what he's doing. Believe him.
When this is over--however it ends, there needs to be some holding to account for the adults in the room who have told themselves that they did something good (hello, Paul Ryan). Maybe the only account will be that they feel some sham for what they haven't done but it will be important for the public and the media to remember.
1
Unless someone just came out of a coma, people should know what Trump is all about. Purchasing this book would be a waste of money.
1
Cashing in and being irresponsible is the great American Dream. Look at tv-Trump! hahahahaaaa
What cowardice - Anonymous. This is what passes for courage and integrity in a failed American society. Truly tragic.
Whoever anonymous is, he/she is akin to Mitt Romney. Making a show of being outraged and concerned, then voting like all the other Republican lemmings. Sad to say, but true of McCain as well. He supported the tax break, as it personally benefitted his family (isn't his wife part of the Anheiser-Busch clan?)
3
@Me ooops Anheuser Busch
Thankfully, this is not an anonymous review.
2
Alas. . . if only the average Trump voter would turn off FOX "news" on their television, and bother to read a book now and then. . . but that's probably asking too much.
1
As I dodder through my 80th year I still hope to live to watch former-president Trump respond to the words, “Will the defendant please rise.”
7
After all the lives lost in fighting for our freedom....for our Democracy to suffer so much that our standing in the world has diminished is just unthinkable. Trump was the most Divisive Candidate ever to run for office. He hasn't succeeded at any policy and his administration has an 80% turnover rate. Why do we need Anonymous to tell us what we already know...?? Cohen under oath testified that Trump was a Con ! Mueller...that other matters were being Investigated and he could be indicted once he leaves office. Mexico never paid,NK never Denuclearized,the trade war and the Gov't Shutdown Failed. The deficit skyrocketed...and our standing with our Allies around the world has suffered...and the Kurds were left running for their lives and the Russians have taken over our position in Syria. What a MAGA MESS!!! What in the world are Trump supporters supporting? Filed policies?
What a great review! It makes me think that Mike Pence wrote what appears to be a truly lousy book.
Regarding Trump's comment, “These are just words. A bunch of words. It doesn’t mean anything.”, Lewis Carroll put a much finer point on it in Through the Looking Glass: “When I use a word,” Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, “it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less.” “The question is,” said Alice, “whether you can make words mean so many different things.” “The question is,” said Humpty Dumpty, “which is to be master—that’s all.”
1
Anonymous needs to go public sometime around October of 2020.
1
It sounds like Pence.
1
@DanH
Or Graham playing double agent?
He was a great pal of John McCain by all accounts. And Graham did say that the Trump Administration was too ‘Incoherent’ to pull off a quid pro quo, playing both sides as one—attack/defend. Much like Anonymous appears to do based on this article. Have cake, eat cake.
If I were creating a disinformation campaign to draw in, confuse, and sedate people opposed to Trump, “Anonymous” would certainly be part of package. Certainly some grains of truth. But mostly stuff invented to fuel outrage that will lead to exhaustion. And if he/she thought Trump was going to deliver greatness, there is an obvious lack of smarts on display. Wish the NYT could move on.
---“These are just words. A bunch of words. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Yeah? Previous to Anonymous' revelations, when was the last time a similar tack was taken by a Senior White House official? While perhaps not...in this form, rising to the level of evidence that would be admissible in a courtroom, the fact that Anonymous exists at all, and feels the need to undertake unprecedented steps to attempt to counter, and expose a White House that the author feels perhaps poses a potential existential threat to the Republic...makes them far more than mere meaningless words. Easily.
2
Let me cut through the buzz and noise. We have a few major problems, America. The electoral college system got us here. Ms. Clinton was the choice of Americans. We also have a median population unable to engage in critical thought or information analysis at a level beyond the fourth grade. This is by design. An intellectually engaged, well-informed population is difficult to control. That we are wringing our hands concerned (rightly so) about the re-election of this dangerous and revolting administration should tell every American of conscience that the time for hand-wringing is over. When the people are in the streets, forcing the issue that the malignant cancer in the White House is destroying our nation and we will not stand by and accept this anymore, the walls will fall and we can start to attempt to rebuild anew.
4
What's stopping you all now from using the 25th to oust him from office? Sounds like if you are all so worried (as we all are - terrified, actually) that you would take this step and save our country.
596
@Lois Stober
Much as I would love seeing Trump gone, I am just as worried about Mike Pence's replacing him, which doesn't solve the basic problem at all.
Vote Democratic in 2020...
35
@RAS:
I beg to differ. We can fight Pence, odious as he is, on the issues. We can fight him politically. We can't do that with Trump. There's no cult of personality with Pence. There is with Trump.
41
@Lisa Simeone
This is the very thing I've struggled to explain to people.
Pence is horrific, truly. His policies have caused an HIV epidemic in his home state because he's more concerned with his "morals" than science.
But Trump is following Pence's policies. We ALREADY have them; removing Trump an installing Pence won't change that. And in addition to Pence's horrible policies, we have a chunk of the country that follow this man like a messiah... in some cases, they literally think he is. We wouldn't have that with Pence.
As a queer woman... yes, give me Pence over Trump any day of the week.
30
Trump supporters will never abandon him because they absolutely cannot admit they were wrong--about anything. I have met enough of them to realize that trying to make them see sense is futile. The best way to get them gone is to make sure more of the rest of us vote for our candidates. How could that possibly go wrong?
1
Sounds like a collaboration between George and Kellyanne Conway. If his signature is on the publishers' contracts, they would even avoid any pesky questions about the NDAs that Trump supposedly made his staff sign.
1
i hope this book will be superfluous in a matter of months : by that i mean everything will surely come out ; it is only a matter of time.
What bothers me about the premise of this book is that the author and others see that Mr. Trump is so obviously unfit for the job, yet they steadfastly refuse to do anything to get him out of office. Why? What does Mr. Trump have that merits this seemingly unbounded loyalty to him and the dangerous actions and decisions he has taken? Are these folks so dependent - emotionally or financially or politically- that they cannot do the honorable thing and invoke the 25th Amendment?
Which is worse: removing Mr. Trump legally from office now or making the country endure him another year?
4
Unfortunately, the criminal conspiracy, which is the Republican Party, will keep him from being removed from office. Voter suppression, Russia intervention in the voting systems, lies and social media, in particular Facebook, will control the electoral college. The only thing which will shake his base is the collapse of the economy, which is coming but maybe after the election. And his base is still there after he is gone.
1
@No recall Voter suppression? Where? Russia intervention - happened under Obama. Still hoping for a recession?
"Trust me." When my son tried his hand at selling knives during his freshman year in college to make a few bucks, he basically worked on a script to figure out what he could say to convince someone to buy his wares. He first tried this out on my brother, a small business owner, and one of the lines he used to try to convince him as to this being a clearly superior and most useful product was "trust me." In providing my son with feedback as to his spiel, my brother told him that anytime he's approached by someone making use of the line "trust me," that's a sales killer, with the person really having nothing of substance to sell. If one has been paying attention to the charlatan-in-chief - even only over the last six months, let alone from the time he took office - it's crystal clear that he has absolutely nothing to offer but chaos, confusion, and a determination to tear down much of what has made this country great. And this is news?
Nah, trust me, it's not.
Incidentally, my son's career as a knife salesman quickly came to an end. However, following his graduation from college - majoring in both environmental sciences and theater - he managed to get a spot selling Tesla's, and now he's one of their top salespeople in the entire northwest region. Trust me, this is true!
3
Thank you for this very incisive review, Ms. Szalai. Excellent, eye-opening writing. (Unlike Anonymous's writing, apparently.)
Until "Anonymous" identifies her/him/them/self(ves) - sorry - I am not remotely interested in what is said in that book. I was really surprised and saddened that Maddow spent so much time with it on her show yesterday. I don't care where the money made from this book goes. I just know it won't be any of mine.
Come clean, Anonymous. Then I'll be willing to read your work.
3
This book review is spot on:
"The ideal reader would seem to be an undecided voter who has lived in a cave for the past three years, and is irresistibly moved by quotations from Teddy Roosevelt and solemn invocations of Cicero".
Back in 2016, every discerning American knew trump was unfit for office.
"A Warning" will be forgotten in a few days - Monday or Tuesday. If Anonymous and his so-called "adults in the room" were so concerned for their country, they should have collectively or individually filed whistle-blower complaints. They didn't because they're truly cowards who love tax cuts, deregulation, and right-wing judges above country.
Anonymous also has not pointed out any major disaster these "adults" averted. Rather, they are just busy plugging away as Trump's minions and puppets that they truly are.
7
This book will not persuade anyone to change their mind. When the Electoral College was set to vote to elect Trump in 2016, I wrote to all the electors for Texas pledging them not to elect Trump - to elect any other Republican if they had to, just not him. Of all the electors, only one wrote back to me asking why I felt the way I did, and I explained, basically repeating the evidence of Trump's unfitness for office that was on full display during his campaign. Suffice to say, I did not change their minds. I do not think this anonymous author will, either. The partisan defiance is too strong with the Republican Party and they embody Trump's narcissistic fear of "losing."
3
I wonder if Anonymous is actually more than one person.
1
I wonder if President Trump is actually less.
3
This kind of arrogance is going to get Trump re-elected. Maybe the author is not the intended audience, but it’s an unfortunate lack of willingness to think beyond your enclave that declares that there is no possible utility to these revelations.
2
In one excerpt not discussed here, Anonymous suggested that aides send Trump off to do rallies to keep him occupied, that the people around him were/are constantly searching for ways to keep him from bouncing off the walls. I don't quite buy this scenario. No, they send him out to do fascist rallies, as planned. Trump and all his staff know he is out of his depth, but Trump very much likes the idea of being a dictator and so do many in his administration. There are new actors, too - Barr, Mulvaney - who enjoy it. Everyone knows he is propagandizing, doing the bidding of any American right-wing group who will support him. It's not reality T.V.. It's Third Reich stuff. He knows he has to do the Kremlin's bidding, too, but is O.K. with this - as long as he stays out of jail and gets richer, gets to play the tyrant. But he probably regrets on some level that he was elected in the first place. Anonymous would have us believe that he is in the later stages of dementia, that the 25th amendment is required, that he is barely responsible for his actions. That isn't believable at all. This is a brazen attempt, by he, and various groups with a vested interest in destroying American democracy, to bring down the government. They are succeeding. So far, you'd have to believe that Anonymous is either not very bright, and missing the point, or that he is too clever by half and, even with this unflattering expose, is shielding a coup of sorts that is unfolding throughout the government.
2
Thanks for an excellent review of the book. Sounds like the reviewers totally nailed this author. In the wake of the whistleblower’s real courage, Anonymous’ warnings seem empty. And it definitely sounds like the person is a “Never Trumper” who is nevertheless happy with Trump’s moving the federal judiciary to the far right. Heck, Anonymous might be Moscow Mitch himself!
This would have been a book to read a year ago. But Trump scooped him (or her.) Never sit on a story.
Excellent review, Ms. Szalai, you've given me everything I need to know about this book and everything I need to know about the author: namely that, in this case, "Anonymous" is synonymous with "Coward."
2
Why give Anonymous any money for stating the obvious in his book. The obvious that millions of people know prior to the election. Good riddance of Trump and Anonymous in 2020.
Republicans are truly wandering in the desert and this books serves to confirm they simply do not have a clue. I also love the ‘Obama out of touch with the mainstream’ meme to describe a president who secured a bigger majority than any Republican in recent history.
These guys need to wake up. Seriously.
No wonder that we are in such a deep trouble. The people believe they can change the country by voting?! That activity lasts a single second and nothing can be accomplished during such extremely short time. It takes the endless hours of hard work to improve any country. The elections?are worthless without the folow-up. If we don't kick the elected officials the very moment they broke and campaign promise then the entire concept of democracy is just a gigantic lie. Democracy without permanent responsibility, honesty, integrity, truthfulness, team spirit, unity, hard work and long term vision is just an empty shell.
2
Thanks for reviewing this "book" so that I won't have to read it and waste money--or send a "portion" of the proceeds to the "author" and to the publisher that, like CBS in 2015-2016 that regaled in making money off coverage of the trump campaign while watching the Republic go up in flames, cares more about making money than anything having to do with quality writing. Isn't it just possible that this publication is in fact yet another ploy by the Hydra of right-wing strategies--offering to the rabid yet another emblem of "liberal" efforts to stage a "coup?" Clearly there is nothing really to read here that any sane citizen might have mused/hoped possible until snapping out of such a daydream and realize that ANYBODY WHO SIGNED UP IN THE FIRST PLACE IS A SHALLOW OPPORTUNIST TO BEGIN WITH.
“These are just words. A bunch of words. It doesn’t mean anything.”
Forget about the tax returns, let's see his school transcripts.
1
The upstate military reform school for spoiled rich brats attended by the president instead of regular public Jamaica High School mere blocks from his house (my own alma mater) went bust years ago,so no records there. Other schools apparently have been forced (bribed?) into signing nondisclosure agreements concerning The Donald. Why, I wonder? He claims to have graduated from Wharton, so it’s almost surely on the continuum somewhere between a lie and creative truthful hyperbole. Maybe he took some classes but didn’t graduate. Perhaps he sat in on a class one day but didn’t left after the first boring 25 minutes. Maybe they required him to read books without pictures. Perhaps he was expelled. could be he took the logical leap after once seeing a Penn football game on tv from NJ. The Trump truth is a marvel of elasticity.
1
In a Mafia style administration having even more murky connections with Russian characters anonymity is the only way to avoid a sure revenge from the grinding abuse of power.
1
As history tells it, Jefferson wrote disparaging essays about Washington under a pseudonym. So even some of the founding fathers were anonymous authors.
1
Anonymous is clearly someone playing the long game. This person wants to have the best of both worlds - closeness to DJT and power now, but the ability to distance themselves from this sordid administration when things fall apart. This person is a slimy coward, an opportunist, and a manipulator. Contrast this with the whistleblower who registered his/her concerns through recognized official channels and, in the process, put themselves at considerable risk.
Here is a conspiracy theory for you: this book was in fact written by a Trump supporter because all it does is to increase polarization, which is what Trump needs to win in 2020.
This "Warning" is nothing but a distraction. What is needed is for resignations to come pouring in from patriotic Americans who refuse to participate in a criminal enterprise. What is needed is for Republicans who truly believe in law and order to publicly condemn the President's lawless behavior. Jim Jordan wants a seat on the Intelligence Committee so he can do something for "the team". What about finding out the truth and letting the chips fall where they may? What is needed is for a leader who can draw a line in the dirt and say "enough!" of the partisanship that is destroying this country!
1
Our country, as all countries at all times, everywhere, need leadership based on the traditional Greek and Roman philosophies that built this nation. Courageous moral leadership from courageous moral leaders who maintain liberty for all and act as role models who sacrifice for the good of our citizens and the nation as a whole.
What we don't need is squealing from a coward who wants to keep his job.
Don't we have enough of that culture in our society?
Vote the bum out. It will take the six states that flipped in 2016. All it takes is hard work and, of course, a candidate that will appeal to those citizens.
I disagree with Anonymous. Trump needs to be impeached by congress, and once gone, charged with crimes of corruption, and thrown in jail.
1
Not wanting to remove via impeachment but rather not renew Mr. Trump as Anonymous states, is akin to moving pedophile priests from one region to another rather than removing them entirely and holding them accountable.
What struck me after reading Anon's essays and book review, is what a shallow and immature thinker this person is! Is this what passed for deep thought and introspection among conservatives? Anon's mind seems to be populated by soundbites and cliches, and yes, he can quote Teddy Roosevelt and Cicero like any prize-seeking schoolchild, but that seems to be as far as it goes.
I know from personal experience that the conservatives that surround me here in Polk County, Florida are simplistic and rigid thinkers, but I did not realize that these failings extend right on up through to the educated leaders and so-called intellectuals of the GOP.
1
Trump is hated because he dares put a mirror up to the US and showing what is behind the mask. If America wants to get rid of Trump own up to the fact that he is America-a symptom of the US last 40 years of divisive politics, imbalanced trade deals that favor corporations and the evolution of our current Oligarchy.
Was Obama any better, really? Maybe a slicker master of disguise than Trump, able to camouflage his war-mongering with the Nobel Prize for Peace; his whiteness -- with his blackness, his materialist rapaciousness with idle talk of equality, democracy, and pseudo-spirituality. The hypocrisy disguising greed, war-mongering, and WASPy superiority were not just Obama's of course. They were of the country that had chosen him as the president. Americans are less comfortable with hypocrisy than Europeans that is one of our virtues & the erratic, bumbling, but much more straightforward people like Trump have a very strong chance of winning. By doing so, he is just bringing all the tensions and contradictions of the XXI century America to the surface.
1
Whoever this person is, and all those who treated this monster of a man too lightly, needs to atone, and this book doesn't go nearly far enough. Trump needs to be degraded, arrested, tried, and convicted. Anything less is a travesty.
1
The problem is that the fellow's followers are as intellectually and morally deficient as their hero; I don't think his fellow travelers will be up to the task of being capable of reading more than two lines and, moreover, UNDERSTAND it. Any book, even at the 3rd grade level, contains more than two lines so the probability that mentally deficient primitive deplorables could read the book and digest it is as unthinkable as the fellow suddenly becoming honest.
My thanks to the reviewer for having read this book so I don't have to.
1
More confirmation of what was already known.
Republicans in gov need to grow a spine and uphold their oaths to the Constitution.
Another nameless adjudicator reflecting our new world battle cry: I anonymously accuse therefore it’s true!
Anonymous writing does little except make people wonder who wrote it.
From the reviews I've read of this book and the excerpts Maddow read on her show, there isn't anything that anyone who followed the campaign and the last three years, doesn't already know because it has been in full view. Reading it would provide more instances of the same, and I'm afraid, that I'd be following confirmation reading by buying it. I've been boggled by the whole cabal since the Republican Convention nominated the dummkopf in a disgraceful display in July 2016. That's when I concluded the Republican Party is hopeless.
Maybe this book should have been titled, "Stating the Obvious."
6
This is an absurd stunt - a grab for cash.
Will the book tell us anything we didn't already know about Trump? For me, I doubt it, as I keep pretty well informed about the politics of this country. Having not read the book yet, I will hold judgement of its contents. Will it increase my desire to rid the nation of this fool the electoral college elected, I am not certain that is possible.
You know, I am not, to say the least, a fan of conservatism. And yeah--"Anonymous" made the same unfathomable error in judgment that so many in this tired, panicked, divided country have as well. And no, I have not yet read the book (although I read the Op-Ed with some small stirring of hope in my gut).
But can we just drop the partisan finger-wagging long enough to at least thank "Anonymous" for having whatever anatomical bits are necessary to admit that this whole thing is a terrifying fiasco that must end by any (non-violent) means necessary, and to--unlike most of his or her peers, except for those who fear perjury charges more than they fear/adore-whatever the lunatic in the hall--make some kind of amends? Sure, a name attached to it would be great, as would have been better critical thinking BEFORE 2016.
But the Lunatic thrives on our being at each others' throats. If someone from that camp does what he or she can to speak up and end the nightmare as soon as possible, how about we just say, "Thanks. Now what can we all do together to fix this?"
Would that his or her peers would at least make THAT much of an effort, once they've wiped the boot-wax from their tongues.
2
Thanks for the review--another book I don't have to read. "Anonymous" is a coward who must be expecting big bucks in royalties since s/he is donating only a portion of proceeds to charity. Sad.
The Republicans in Congress, instead of putting country before party, have managed to make a mockery of our Constitution. Their histrionics, failure to adhere to the rule of law, and refusal to acknowledge that the sky is blue have sent me into a spiral of depression and angst I have never before experienced in all my years following politics. Now we have a Republican who has direct knowledge and is speaking out, yet he/she wishes to remain anonymous. I will NOT be reading the book. Anonymous, shame on you.
1
Anonymous hasn’t resigned but wants absolution? Re-read Hamlet:
“Forgive me my foul murder'?
That cannot be; since I am still possess'd
Of those effects for which I did the murder,
My crown, mine own ambition and my queen.
May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?”
1
Speaking the truth is one of the best things in the world. It’s so relieving and uplifting. There is no inner peace in any human without courage to speak frankly and justly. You are aware if you are scared, afraid and intimidated. You cannot hide from self and that creates depression, anxiety, dissatisfaction, frustration and unhappiness.
I truly feel sorry for the author of this book. They say that the brave man dies only once but a coward a thousand times every single day...
What kind of individual as a member of the White House insider group would send several hundred thousand soldiers into the endless wars, to get killed, maimed, wounded and psychologically hurt only to personally hide behind that shameful word “Anonymous”...
Being anonymous is positive only if you did something great for the society and want to avoid publicity gained through your generosity, sacrifice, bravery and goodness...
Dear Anonymous,
President Obama was not "out of touch" with anything. You were out of touch with all that your republican buddies were doing to try to ruin him. You remained a republican as they kept Merrick Garland from becoming a supreme court justice. You remained a republican as your people claimed Pres. Obama was not born in America. You remained a republican as you watched your president claim "good people on both sides". You remained a republican as your president pulled us away from climate issues, away from education, away from healthcare, away from decency, away from country. And you still remain a republican as you watch the democracy fall. You should be ashamed.
I cry for my beloved country.
4398
I, too, was jarred by Anonymous’ claim that Barack Obama was out of touch with mainstream America. We may not know his name, but he is far from anonymous. Mainstream America is now comprised of people of color and/or non-males, though the mainstream center of power is still white and male. That’s changing very quickly.
We - the true mainstream America - proudly and overwhelmingly voted President Obama into office...while you, Mr. Anonymous, were silent when Trump spewed his birther rhetoric. Echoing Nancie, you (and your fellow silent Republicans) should be ashamed.
311
@Nancie
can we add in "your President betrayed our long time Kurdish allies and strengthened Russia's influence in Syria.", as well?
The list is getting longer and longer. It's getting hard to remember it all.
226
@Nancie You are right that President Obama was not out of touch with anything. Thank you for so elegantly stating so. Yours is one o the best comments I've seen of late.
205
Anonymous is doing the best he or she can to highlight the dangers of this presidency, all the more remarkable if she or he is a dyed in the wool senior administration employee and conservative. And the only way for Anonymous to tell the story first hand is to stay anonymous. NYT this author deserves more credit.
113
@AAA It's not the only way. They could resign and tell their tale to the world.
But that would require some amount of courage and sacrifice, as opposed to making a bunch of money risk free.
38
@AAA They most certainly do not deserve more credit. They are neither brave nor wise for belatedly pointing out what a majority of American voters already understood in 2016. Furthermore, they aren't remaining anonymous merely to prevent Trump from having the opportunity to create a distraction, but also to maintain their own internal political cred (after all, these observations are a limp and half-hearted warning for things that have already come to pass--in short, Anonymous is an imbecile).
17
@AAA Credit for what? For stating what millions of voters could plainly see 3 years ago?
15
Full of sound and fury, signifying nothing - except for a few book reviews and royalties. I have zero respect for this author.
Thanks for the review. Instead of reading this book I think I'll watch a good movie instead. The author's op-ed piece in the Times was more than enough. He (probably "he") thinks of himself as a hero. But he's still getting a nice fat paycheck while complaining about his job. Just another Republican hypocrite. Yawn.
If the author is unwilling to stand behind their words then why bother reading them. Anonymous author or a coward of one’s convictions. They are all the same.
1
It’s George Conway.
I'd die if it was Mike Pence.