I am convinced that Trump keeps drawing the curtain more closely around himself because he knows he’s done wrong and knows that the bright light of transparency would reveal his wrongdoing. My guess is that in his heart of hearts he also knows he is incompetent and that revelation of his incompetence would be more than his fragile ego could ever bear.
He is paranoid not so much because he thinks folks are out to get him, but because his fear of being found out is as broad and as real as the corruption and incompetence he is trying so desperately to keep under wraps.
200
The pity is that this bullying behavior. taught at his father's knee, is corrosive. It leaks and trickles down from Donald Trump. At the not naive age of 79, I'm listening to my children and grandchildren who see the effect of ruthless vindictiveness on the part of the president as well as the weakness of those who allow his behavior to go unchecked. It goes against what my children and their peers have been and are behind taught. Each day parents and teachers struggle to undo the damage being done to the concept of civil discourse by this president.
189
Trump still has no idea how government works, even at the most basic level. He never answered to a Board of Directors or Stockholders, he acts as if he’s running his “Mom and Pop” real estate business. Trump had no idea what the nuclear Triad was or even any idea of how many countries there are in the world. Those who have “covered” and “carried” him will share a special chapter of shame in the history books.
254
I am so tired of people who claim he was treated unfairly because of his “agenda” to do things “differently”. And that the Washington “elites” are out to get him.
He campaigned with division and hostilities. On his first day in office he raged against photos of his inauguration crowd.
He encouraged hostilities against government workers and put people in charge of agencies whose only goal is to destroy same agencies. He hates the biggest state of his own country.
That is not doing things differently. That is threatening and divisive and destructive without any positive vision for the future of the country. And it has nothing to do with some “great” economy.
308
@Antor
10 years of economic growth.
4
@eubanks Which started way before Trump was elected. He's been riding on the air of a previous administration. If anything, he's slowed economic growth.
60
@alabreabreal
and him crashing the entire economy with one bad idea after another is also possible
30
When a man rules only by instilling fear and hate, has no other agenda but self glorification, and has no empathy, he is wise to be wary of others. I really feel sorry for the man, since destroying everything around him will bring him no peace. I reserve my anger for the enablers who understand what is going on and can’t summon the courage
651
@Charles Shafer
I agree completely on the guilt of his enablers. Trump at least has the excuse of BEING Trump.
45
@Charles Shafer While Trump was campaigning and briefly after he took office, I felt sorry for him, too. I really did. I felt sorry for him because there's nothing sadder, and more terrifying than witnessing a narcissist unravel. Watching someone disintegrate shamefully and publicly is awful. I still feel that way...but I no longer feel sorry for Trump. I feel sorry for us. Someone should have stopped him from becoming an embarrassment; a vindictive, thoughtless, barely intelligent and destructive president. People tried. And in the coming election he needs to be voted out. Then, at least, he can unravel in private.
106
@TH I think we're past "enablers." I think we should start calling them what they are: "collaborators"-- collaborators in the destruction of American democracy.
78
It's not only suspicion and distrust that is guiding Donald Trump, there's a distinct need to seek revenge as well, and all this doesn't bode well for a country that is supposed to be a democracy.
The truth is, by allowing this president to act indiscriminately without the slightest hint of repudiation has turned him into a tyrant and this country into a dictatorship.
When you have independently elected officials cowering in fear and unable to speak out in favor of what's best for the country, or attacked for following institutional protocols, there is something wrong.
Case and point.
Mr. Trump's firing of Lt. Col Alexander Vindman, who spoke out against him in the recent impeachment trial.
It's not enough that Mr. Vindman was escorted off White House grounds like a common criminal, but he was also threatened with further investigation, as was his twin brother who wasn't even directly involved with the case.
And in the interim, other heads have been flying in this administration as people continue to kowtow to this president or simply resign from their posts altogether.
Little by little this country is being turned into one of Donald Trump's gated communities, where access is limited and entrance is denied.
And it's not making America great again.
21
Turley criticized the FBI and Justice Dept. for what he describes as anti-Trump bias,but neglected to mention that those agencies initiated investigations of Trump's campaign and White House operatives only reluctantly. Moreover,they did so only when the operatives' illegal or suspicious actions came to light.
Turley also seems not to have noticed that Trump probably would have been indicted after the Mueller investigation ended, if Justice Dept. allowed sitting Presidents to be indicted.
12
Trump unfortunately projects to the world all those negative attributes he possesses. A very sad way to live and to see the world. It would be one thing if he weren't the leader of the free world, but with his powerful position, he makes all of us suffer for it...
8
Anyone who has bothered to read anything about the man understands that with the exception of a very very few close confidants, primarily family, President Trump trusts no one totally. Period. Full stop. The behavior of “the resistance” serves to reinforce and firmly cement that point of view.
In one of the few truly behind the scenes biographies of Trump as a man, not specifically as a politician, Donald Junior recalls a morning while he was eating breakfast and his dad asking just before he left for work “do you trust me?” Donald Junior answered “of course, you’re my dad.” Donald Trump’s immediate answer was “No ! Trust no one!“.
No one will argue that there are aspects of this that are dysfunctional, but it is difficult to argue with the results. Of course the results could be viewed as positive or negative depending upon your opinion over deconstruction of the administrative state.
Bottom line, President Trump’s lack of trust with anyone outside his extreme inner circle is no revelation for anyone who has been paying attention over the years, and in particular has paid attention to any of the writings representing an actual deep dive into the psyche of the person and his background. Most who despise the man and his so far effective assault on 20th century progressivism I’m sure I could care less. Their devotion to simple hatred and lack of any curiosity about the person has actually hampered their ability to thwart his objectives.
3
"He came to Washington with an agenda that was highly antagonistic and threatening to the status quo."
But what exactly IS that agenda? MAGA is a slogan, not a agenda. If his agenda is to remake the US in his image and become his "brand" as the autocrat, the "status-quo" he threatens isn't elites or corruption, it's the existence of a democratic America.
7
Sounds like Stalin after too much dessert. Honestly, I'd like to see a different type of leadership. I'm sure a woman could be as ill suited to a leadership role as Trump and as paranoid, but I would love to see a strong, competent woman as president as well as a shift in the idea of what national leadership looks. Trump's behavior is more in line with what I'd expect from a Mafia or Narco Don. He's all about his survival and power, but has no mental space left to consider the needs or future of the nation. The world is too complex for the narrowness of strong men :leadership".
8
I just feel really bad for Vindman's twin brother. He did nothing except be a brother. Also a military hero, he just "had to go" per Trump's tantrums. And sadly, I haven't seen one interview or expose to see how the poor guy feels.
12
"The president and his staff have increasingly equated disloyalty to him with disloyalty to the nation."
This is how Donald trump has always run his private businesses, in which any "disloyalty" (or lack of fawning over him) is a firing offense.
He thinks he was elected King, and that since January 20, 2017 is the sole owner of the US Government.
He has not read, and has no understanding of, the US Constitution.
The concept of "public servant" is totally foreign to him.
In short, Donald Trump is intellectually, experientially and emotionally unfit to be POTUS.
We The People, who are the actual owners of the US Government, and from whom the US Government derives its legitimacy, need to remove him from office.
On November 3, 2020, We The People need to vote out all of his enablers as well, who have no intention or desire to hold him to account for any of his misdeeds.
13
@peterh
yes, this is sad! what is the reason for this apathy, i keep asking myself... why do the americans not care about checks & balances, their justice system, the constitution?
5
Yes, there are people out to get him, but only because he is so vile and manipulative that he needs to be removed from office. Trump is essentially stealing money from the American people as well as making bad decisions on matters like climate change that will haunt America for years.
11
This is a man who is very unwell, and we will all pay the price, including those who learned at the feet of the hateful Newt Gingrich. This will not end well at all. We need to prioritize education in our country, or we will get what we deserve.
5
This is the inevitable result of narcissism and mendacity.
I forget but isn't there at least one or two fables or cautionary tales told to children as part of their training in ethics and morality? usually put more simply as "why you should not lie".
1
I have just read (there's a link) the article sited here "The Paranoid Style of American Politicts." an 1964 (Goldwater era) essay in Harper's. It is free to read online; it explains early on that it is not using "paranoid" in its clinical sense, but rather as shorthand to a different purpose).
The essay is rather intellectual, siting many historical examples that support the premise of the essay. It is as well enormously instructive for understanding Trumpism.
Most NYTimes readers will likely not invest in reading the longish essay, so I have, so you don't have to. (But do!)
I quote here what I found to be the most salient section elucidating our present situation with the Trump presidency, a presidency that is:
"...a style made up of certain preoccupations and fantasies: “the megalomaniac view of oneself as the Elect, wholly good, abominably persecuted, yet assured of ultimate triumph; the attribution of gigantic and demonic powers to the adversary [i.e., non-Trumpers]; the refusal to accept the ineluctable limitations and imperfections of human existence, such as transience, dissention [sic], conflict, fallibility whether intellectual or moral; the obsession with inerrable prophecies . . . systematized misinterpretations, always gross and often grotesque.... We are all sufferers from history, but the [non-clinical] paranoid [i.e.. Trump] is a double sufferer, since he is afflicted not only by the real world, with the rest of us, but by his fantasies as well."
5
Folks, don't think our current institutions and media will save us from this DANGEROUS Putinesque autocrat - he thinks he is the King. A friend of mine pointed out the following:
It took Putin a year to take over the Russian media and four years to dismantle its electoral system; the judiciary collapsed unnoticed. There are ways to do this. It is in his plans. He can buy them out, sue them out of existence and have his crony judiciary try the case, shut them down in a state of emergency decree, or jail their owners and editors.
The press has not been outraged enough. Maggie Haberman early on wrote in a NY Times article that they don't use the word "lie" to describe Trump's lies because it is too emotion-packed. Big mistake on the part of the Times by not showing their outraged quickly and strongly enough. They were and are still playing by old rules that no longer apply in this new normal.
Democrats need to propose big change, to get rid of outdated institutions, especially The Electoral College which is now anti democratic. The Senate is much worse and needs to go. Both prevent us from having fair elections.
https://www.nybooks.com/daily/2016/11/10/trump-election-autocracy-rules-for-survival/
7
The "double standard" Senator Graham is that Republicans treat the smallest indiscretion of Democrats as heinous crimes, while they treat heinous Republican crimes as indiscretions. You see, sir, media is watching you today while history is watching you forever.
10
How depressing to see how readily Trumpism has been normalized in Washington.
And how dreadful to think what it will be like if Trump is granted "four more years" to solidify his twisted, corrupt, idiosyncratic, un-American practices.
8
Trump does not Trust anyone because he is not to be trusted. He does not like or dislike for it's on sake. It's all about him. If you are good for him he will like you. It has nothing to do with the peson themself. He has no Loyalty or Integrity it all how does this help me. So Sure he is paranoid. In the end it just eat at him.
2
Every day I wake up hoping to find out he completely imploded. Maybe someday soon.
1
This article would be entirely different if the reporters ever acknowledged any of Trump's actions that caused people to tell the truth about him. Instead, the article leaves those out so readers are left with no knowledge that Trump had done anything wrong, but his "enemies" -- Fiona Hill, Marie Yovanovitch, Lt. Col Vindman -- were "out to get" an entirely innocent president. This article embraces the mischaracterization of those witnesses as "enemies" and only quotes Trump-defenders who say he did nothing wrong.
The main point of this article is clear: just because Trump may be paranoid does not mean people are not out to get him. Of course missing entirely from this article is any acknowledgement of what Trump actually did that led to Hill, Yovanovitch, and Vindman testifying. They are simply more people out to get Trump.
This newspaper's Washington bureau reporters are like the parents of a spoiled bully who always come up with excuses for why their child does such terrible things. "People are just out to get our innocent son!" those parents say "and it is our son who is the real victim!".
Everyone knows what happens when bullies are enabled to be even worse bullies because those with power to limit the bullies' bad actions instead simply justify and enable them.
The bullies just get worse. And at some point, their enabling parents are to blame.
At some point, it is journalists who enable Trump who are to blame.
2
Paranoid individuals do have real enemies. What is particularly pathological about Trump’s paranoia is the belief that he is a victim. The FBI didn’t take interest in his behavior because of some differences in political beliefs but because his behavior was unconstitutional and criminal. Trump is incapable of recognizing or owning how he is the author of his own persecution , he sees it only as unfounded malice and envy.
3
Unfit. Unwell. Corrupt. Nothing could be more obvious. And yet... there is a very good chance that this person, a man who embodies the very worst aspects of human nature, will continue for years in the role of president. As horrible as that is, it is sadly not surprising. When a society kicks science to the curb, embraces superstitious ideology and conspiracy thinking en-masse, eschews learning and reading, glues itself to the insipid, closes its mind to ideas that challenge assumption, gorges itself on junk food and junk consumerism, and is generally bloated, unfit, unwell and corrupt. Well, then that is the sort of leader we get. And it is the sort of leader we deserve.
3
Trump surrounds himself with loyal comrades from the 2016 campaign. So, what's new?
Chairman Mao also surrounded himself with Comrades from the Long March.
The part about Trump's upbringing reminded of a song from the late sixties called "Skip a Rope". Part of the lyrics follow
"Cheat on your taxes, don't be a fool,
Now what was that they said about a Golden Rule?
Never mind the rules, just play to win,
And hate your neighbor for the shade of his skin.
Stab 'em in the back, that's the name of the game,
And mommy and daddy are who's to blame."
Our country has turned into a reality TV show run by a paranoid megalomaniac! I can't wait until he turns on his supporters when they question some of his decisions. No one is permitted to question the king.
This article consists of Trump's closest aides and family and friends justifying Trump's suspicion and distrust because Trump has so many enemies out to get him for no reason. No wonder Trump believes it -- he reads it in this newspaper!
It is shocking to read this propaganda in which those who believe in the rule of law and the Constitution are "enemies" of a man who has done so many things wrong. Why would this article simply portray Trump as an innocent victim of "enemies"? Trump did many documented bad things - none of which are mentioned in this article. This article portrays Trump as the good person and everyone trying to limit Trump's power as an "enemy".
This is like Al Capone complaining that the FBI is out to get him, and a journalist writes a story portraying Al Capone as an upright and honest citizen who has never done wrong, but the FBI just doesn't like him.
This is like a rich daddy getting journalists to write a story portraying his teen as the "victim" of the school principal because the teen was "investigated", and the journalist writes a sympathetic story. And that journalist fails to mention the teenager's long history of terrorizing children half his age culminating in the teenager breaking the arm of a kindergarten child when he threw him on the ground and jumped on him. Instead, the journalist portrays the parents of that injured chid as the teen's "enemy" without explaining why!
That is this article.
2
trump has successfully infected the susceptible parts of the nation with his psychological illness. How can America possibly recover? One camp is equally suspicious of the other, and it will be a very long time—if ever—before the rift can heal.
It is lamentable that a minority of angry, distrustful, and selfish people were able to vault their angry, paranoid, manipulative, and corrupt icon to such a position of power. The manifold, glaring flaws of this republic are now laid open to view—those who want to remedy them can’t, and those who are in power won’t.
1
A lot of chatting here but at the end no organization to defeat President Trump, America choose him and will get him for 4 more years. The magic is it is a maximum 4 years by law.
The lack of clear message from Democrats makes me feel only Bloomberg can defeat him as a real billionaire and aggressive enough contender.
As rational thinking can not make US DT supporter change their mind, you win need another “bully” to defeat him...
Some people can still not accept that America had a black president and this is why they supported DT at the first place...racism is the easiest commun point to share here...
As a Puritan country, where a single affair had destroy politician carrer now the norm will be very low. You can have a mistress, bad behavior with women and be president no big deal anymore.
Sad for America, once a beacon for democracy and open mindset...
There have been many previous Presidents who were not prepared for the responsibilities but never anyone who simply refused to make a sincere effort to fulfill them. He feels put upon by those who refuse to accept that he feels no obligations to conform with the dumb expectations of Presidents and the dumb limits imposed upon Presidents.
I love the comments by the rabid Trump supporters on here.
Donald Trump, the man who personally led the birther movement to discredit President Obama, the man who claimed he had an actual copy of Obama's Kenyan birth certificate, the man who claimed he had absolute proof that Obama was in illegitimate president, feels "persecuted" whenever anyone offers truthful statements about what Trump did.
Sadly, these two reporters still treat Donald Trump as if he was Barack Obama, victimized by a billionaire with a microphone going around the country claiming that Barack Obama was an illegitimate president, with a fake birth certificate.
Notice these reporters interviewed endless Trump defenders explaining how victimized Trump is. And not once did they ask any of those defenders whether Trump had blatantly lied when he claimed Obama was an illegitimate president with a fake birth certificate.
Not once did those reporters ask the obvious: Since Trump went around the country looking to destroy the sitting president by blatantly lying about Obama not being legitimate, by their own logic, that should be enough to call for Obama tearing apart Trump's life with an investigation! And he did not.
Jonathan Turley should be asked whether a billionaire claiming he had evidence that Obama was illegitimate and lying is a bigger "enemy" to an American president than Fiona Hill who testified TRUTHFULLY about what happened.
6
Obeying the law is insubordination in Trump's world.
3
I'd like to hear more from Professor Turley on this alleged "well-documented bias" against Trump by the FBI and the DOJ. Is that his opinion or does he have evidence of such?
4
What difference between this adminstration's conduct and Stalin's (minus the mass murders)? They are fighting against that which they can never overcome—now or ever:
The truth.
“There’s just a general frustration that the system is — there’s a double standard in the media and actually in the law.”
It’s easy to blame the media, or the law, isn’t it, Lindsey? The only “double standard” is people like you who claim to care about the rule of law but let the president do whatever he wants.
And, Lindsey, there’s an awful lot of hypocrisy, too: You love holding Democrats accountable (remember Bill Clinton?), but not Republicans, especially when they’re your meal ticket.
3
If he were not president, Trump would just be another rich old man with lots of mental baggage -- cranky, distrustful, confused, racist, loud, and judgmental. Let's put where he belongs in November -- retired, playing golf, and hating the world. But no longer an existential threat to our values, global reputation, international friendships, and overall civility. None too soon!
3
When you're in the most powerful position on earth, your every action is scrutinized --- truly terrifying for a liar and cheat like Trump.
1
Of course he is paranoid and scared. He is a Quisling, and fears that the Republicans may actually grow a backbone.
When you're a crook, and you know it, of course you are paranoid about taking the rap. But, that's Trump being Trump, so i don't blame him for that. It's the enablers that provoke my disdain. So many, the powerful, the powerless, not only tolerate what they know is wrong, but praise it because they think doing so is to their benefit. They will reap what they sow.
1
All roads lad to Putin......follow the money and ask who benefits?
2
Damaged people damage others.
3
Those Americans who thought it would be cool to put Donald Trump in office should now realize his problems have to do with mental illness. While I completely support helping the mentally ill, I also believe that we shouldn’t have a mentally ill person as our president.
1
All I want is Austria! Sure, bud, here’s Austria.
Give me the Sudetenland, and that’s it! You bet, here you go...
The paranoid "president" reminds one of Pee Wee Herman:
"Your mind plays tricks on you! You play tricks back!"
Trump is right people are out to get him because he is liar, a crook, and possibly a traitor.
2
Donald J Trump is a horrible human being by virtually any standard, and it makes me ashamed of America for putting this man in charge. It also makes me furious to think that one of so little character was able to rise to power.
Vote, 2020, please.
4
The discredited Jonathan Turley, treated with reverence in this article:
"“The well-documented bias in the F.B.I. and Justice Department against Trump fuels his suspicions and tendency to counterpunch. "
This supposed "well-documented bias" in the FBI was also against Hillary Clinton, and Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. If anything, the FBI went overboard to release lots of innuendo about Hillary Clinton's crimes, while (dishonestly) leaking that the Trump campaign had been totally exonerated. Apparently neither Turley nor the reporters of this article recall any past events and prefer the false narrative that everyone was out to get Trump.
Of course, since Jonathan Turley and these reporters are certain that Trump has never done anything worth investigating (because if they did SURELY it would be mentioned in this article), then readers now understand that from now on, every article in this newspaper will be based on the premise that Trump has been upright and honest and never done anything wrong.
Did Trump claim to have Obama's Kenyan birth certificate? That history is erased! Did Trump con people into paying for Trump U? That history is erased. Did Trump use donations to his fake "charity" to donate to the campaign of the Florida State AG who was investigating his sham university? That history is erased.
Poor Trump. He keeps getting investigated by "enemies for no reason!" No wonder he's so paranoid.
3
One reason that Trump feels persecuted is that he's being persecuted. The resistance has raised the following issues to try to undo the election and get rid of him: faithless electors, the Logan Act, emoluments clause, Russia collusion hoax, Ukraine phone call ,and, most recently, giving orders to the Justice Department (which, it happens, is part of the executive branch, and just as subject to his orders as the military). His phone calls with foreign leaders leak, and the press attempts to amplify any embarrassment. (Contrast that to the reaction to Obama's hot mic promise to Medvedev to become more flexible after the election). Former heads of the CIA spied on his campaign to catch collusion that didn't happen, and now make a living as CNN pundits criticizing him. This story in itself could be seen as part of the persecution. It does note that other presidents have reshuffled advisers in the direction of loyalists. But that begs question, did the press call the presidents paranoid when they did that?
12
@rick
All crooks feel persecuted. Honest people do not.
Mr. Trump is persecuted because he is corrupt. He is a disgrace to his office and should be in prison.
201
Hear! Hear!
15
Trump amplifies his own embarrassments every time he tweets.
64
It is very clear that Donald Trump and his “loyal” advisors want to run America the way North Korea operates. Sorry to disappoint you, Mr. President, that will not be happening. But as you are great pals with Chairman Kim and have expressed your love for him over your letter exchanges, please feel free to resign your office and take your “loyal” advisors with you straight to North Korea where you can all exist in your fantasyland.
37
@Howard
This post confirms my upcoming vote for the appalling DJT in November.
I didn’t vote for him in 2016 but there is no way I’m turning this nation over to deluded ‘progressives.’
5
Where on earth did Donald Trump get the idea that government operators in the deep state were conspiring against him?
Could it be because illegal and politically motivated FISA warrants (as now acknowledged by the chief FISA judge) were used to launch unwarranted investigations against his campaign and administration, based on Russian disinformation purchased by the Hillary Clinton campaign? And that he had to spend two years defending himself against that until cleared by Mueller? And that other deep state operators continue to leak false allegations about him to the press. And that the liberal media will attack him relentlessly based on all manner of false allegations?
Duh?
4
He wasn’t cleared by Mueller. Duh?
2
@Jose Pieste
Trump is the guy that claimed he had a copy of Obama's Kenyan birth certificate and insisted he had absolute proof that Obama was an illegitimate president. Trump is the guy who conned so many veterans into attending Trump U. to get rich.
Trump is the guy who said he could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue and the same people who were stupid enough to pay money to attend Trump U. would say still support him.
Really funny to read this defense of Trump from the same people who always fall for his cons.
I bet you think that Trump really does have Obama's birth certificate, right?
3
Many commenters seem to be genuinely in the dark about the deductibility of campaign expenses (or of donations made to fund them).
Bottom line: They AREN'T.
Two questions must be answered. The easier one: "Is otherwise-taxable income earned by this entity taxable?" The tougher one: "Are donations to this entity deductible by the donors?" The answer to the first question is often "yes" -- in the political campaign world, for example, income earned by 501(c)(4) entities is not taxable, but donors to 501(c)(4) entities may NOT deduct their contributions.
In sharp contrast, donations to 501(c)(3) entities ARE deductible (AND any otherwise-taxable income earned by the entity is not taxable). But 501(c)(3) entities must be devoted to very limited purposes: "charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering national or international amateur sports competition, and preventing cruelty to children or animals...", according to the IRS. It's tough to get 501(c)(3) status, and it won't be granted if the IRS suspects that the would-be 501(c)(3) entity will in fact be "political." Such an entity might (or might not) qualify as, say, a 501(c)(4) entity, meaning that it can avoid taxes on any otherwise-taxable income it may earn, but donations to the entity won't be tax deductible.
5
After the Russian collusion fantasy and attacks from the left every day, he should be paranoid. But in a few years, there will be books focusing not on Trump, but on how the self-professed, thoughtful people of the left, including many media outlets went crazy.
11
@ehillesum Actual evidence would indicate otherwise, for example, Mueller's inability to exonerate him, and the many members of his administration indicted or in prison.
10
Collusion that was proven and admitted to by the Trumps. Remember, the defense changed from No Collusion to Collusion is not a crime. The Mueller report accounted for double digit indictments and criminal cases, including people admitting to their guilt, and explicitly did not exonerate the President of wrong doing.
As for books, the fantasy genre you are referring to is sure to be exciting, but all the non-fiction books released by “the best people” Trump has hired including decorated soldiers have been anything but kind. Or are the presidents supporters going to start saying the military is part of deep state, too?
14
On July 27, 2016, Trump was speaking to a crowd in Doral, Florida, when he said: "Russia, if you're listening, I hope you're able to find the 30,000 (Clinton) emails that are missing. I think you will probably be rewarded mightily by our press."
Trump’s weird followers are the only ones delusional enough to think it was a hoax.
17
Trump has a disordered mind, and it's disgusting that republicans don't care about that.
That he energized the worst among us can only have a disastrous ending.
I think the republicans must be practicing their wide eyed expressions in the mirror for when chaos happens, so they can pretend they didn't see it coming.
79
We need him to destroy the most evil country in world history. Slavery 1619, racism, regime change wars, caging children . Enabling climate change.
We must be removed from the face of the earth.
We have been good at marketing ourselves however.
But the facts speak otherwise.we are unspeakably evil.
Corporations rule . Middle class wealth being plundered. Private prisons. Military Industrial Complex, Medical Industrial Complex. Agricultural Complex. Lead poisoning of Flint Michigan water.
We must be neutered.
4
@Yuri Pelham
‘The most evil country in world history...’
And Democrats and ‘progressives’ wonder why Trump has support.
Who would turn this country over the likes of a ‘progressive?’
An essay written about Mr. Trump becoming increasing suspicious, attempting to frame that suspicion as an internal characteristic or flaw even? These two writers, both of them, wrote extensively about the Russian collusion hoax (did they they both win the Pulitzer for that writing?), but their investigations for that writing never once included the truth. They always wrote about it as if Mr. Trump did collude with Russia, always as if the entire Mueller initiative was real and legitimate. We now know, and we will know much more soon, much more, that it was a hoax and not real. That they spied on the Trump campaign using false evidence to obtain a warrant. So for three years, these writers splashed all over the front page of this paper the lie that Mr. Trump was somehow involved with Russia. They smeared his name and his character, and they did this for the world to see.
1
Len,
Paranoia anyone?
2
@Len Trump smears his own name. He doesn't need any help at all. He should never have been elected. He is not good for this country. He is a degenerate who is destroying the rule of law. The U.S. is on a world stage. Other countries no longer trust us. That is important to remember. We need trust on the world stage.
1
Years ago, I rented a room in a house managed by a fellow student. Over the course of several months, he told me about his previous roommates, who he said had lied to him and stolen things from him. Several of them eventually sued him. Everyone, he felt, was out to get him.
He got in a fight with another roommate, and she and I both moved out. This made me a bad person. I sued him to try to get back the deposit he stole from me. History repeated.
What he, like Trump, never understood was that the one person that all of the nastiness revolved around was him. He was the focal point because he placed himself there. He lied, he stole, he treated people like garbage; and they reacted as any sane person would.
Other people aren't surrounded by treachery because they don't invite it with open arms.
806
@dtm
Indeed; sounds like the guy everyone was "out to get" was, like Trump, the common denominator in every situation.
49
@dtm
"Other people aren't surrounded by treachery because they don't invite it with open arms."
That's not completely true. I was a department head in a civil service job. I took a test scoring very high and would only accept a position when the currency person there could not handle the position. I made that clear in interviews and it took a while for me to accept a position.
After being there for more than a few years the top administration changed and after about a year things got ugly I was lied about some folk I had promoted were turned against me. However most of my staff remained loyal to me, I had worked very hard to gain their trust and loyalty.
It got so bad that I almost accepted another position back in the private sector. Then the folk trying to get me out over played their had insulting and yelling at me in a major meeting. I have a personality quirk if I am angry enough I will not do what you want. I referred the other positions (that paid a lot more money) and told that administration "I was here when you got here I will be here when you leave."
Just a note I knew I had not done what I was accused of doing in the campaign against me.
About a year and a half later those folk were terminated and escorted off the grounds, it took a few more years for the person (who I knew was abusing staff) to be exposed and escorted off the grounds by the police in hand cuffs.
Just an old white man's opinion based on experience.
6
@dtm from Alaska. You are comparing apples and oranges. Comparing what we are told to believe was a nasty character no one liked with the president of the USA has been persecuted and porosecuted from the day 1 of his announcing his presidential run simply because he had the audacity to even think that a person who never ran for elected office or belonged to any established political party was running for the highest office did not sit well with a lot of Americans including me. Since I started paying attention to DJT in a couple of months, it became clear to me that DJT was a businessman who meant business and I thought to myself whats not to like about his proposed campaign policies, Today I don't judge DJT by the what his critics and opposing forces say. I judge him by the results of how USA has changed for the better.
1
When you live your whole life manipulating others and saying whatever people want to hear to get ahead, without following through on promises or demonstrating any real ideals or morals, you shouldn’t be surprised that the people closest to you are similar in nature. If all your relationships are transactional then your core team will act more like vultures than guard dogs the second your status appears vulnerable.
639
@Elizabeth
There is no mention in this article that Trump has not been an upright and model citizen all his life. I just read the entire article and Trump is simply portrayed as a typical honorable president who has done nothing but work for the good of the country, but his "enemies" want to stop him. Thus there are multiple interviews with people explaining how Trump's distrust is justified because of those "enemies" who are out to get a normal, honest president who has done absolutely nothing at all that is wrong.
If you think that what I wrote is incorrect, then this newspaper would have to issue a correction about his entire article, because there is not a single word in this article that would tell readers that Trump has ever done anything but act like a normal president.
3
When will Mr. Truley stop making excuses for Trump? basic knowledge of psychology will tell you what kind of Personality Trump has, his life journey of business or personal will tell any decent person that this guy is not presidential material. I guess Turley and the Evangelicals are on the same page.
6
Trump is not paranoid. There has been an effort to impeach since the day after Queen Hillary lost the election. Most of the main stream media is part of the effort to remove Trump.
13
"Trump is not paranoid." Proof please, because the evidence is overwhelming.
10
@Reader In Wash, DC
And these personal acquaintances of his are the "best" people available for the job?
The reality, anyone of quality does not wish to be associated with this president.
7
If Obama disrupted norms and had as many in his staff convicted of crimes would you be saying the same thing?
9
when a career criminal takes the presidency it is hardly surprising that people who dedicated their lives to their country resist and look for reasons to investigate.
11
This is a heck of a way to run a country: Intra-governmental communications via tweets (the very word trivializes the presidency, and he is as addicted to them as a teenager) and TV show interviews with top officials. And all we can do is watch the show in states ranging from horror to laughter, and everything in between.
Our government has become so fragmented and suspect that it is hard to imagine how we will ever regain some semblance of sanity.
156
@dutchiris Tweets: Fast food words served with a click.
16
@dutchiris
Donate everything you can reasonably afford to reasonable candidates whether Republican or Democratic and vote!! That's how we'll regain sanity.
5
You can only cheat, mistreat lie to and disrespect people, especially those who work for you, and get away with it. Eventually, the house crumbles and people get sick of you, and get tired of keeping your secrets. That is where Trump is. He is guilty, a bully who mistreat people and they’re tired of keeping quiet and keeping his secrets, and he is going ballistic.
7
Many people in the government have worked to get President Trump removed from office. He would be irrational if he was not suspicious.
Ideally we would not have people in government who would fabricate evidence for a Fisa warrant or create 17 other defects in the Presidents disfavor including defects of omission. Ideally, we would never have been presented with a distorted version of the Ukraine call or got many illegal leaks. Ideally there would have been no discussions of wearing wires to apply the 25th.
All these things have happened.
I can understand a legitimate and true leak to reveal unambiguously criminal behavior but it seems we have been getting lots of deceptive leaks whose purpose is to damage or remove a President rather than honestly exposing criminal behavior.
When will those who commit crimes to damage a president facd criminal consequences?
37
@John
Never. Because Trump has actually done the crimes.
214
@John When will those who commit crimes facd (sic) criminal consequences? In a very odd coincidence, that is what the majority of Americans want to know about the President? It takes an attitude overflowing with paranoia and personality disorders to believe that the World is out to get you when you are engaging in criminal behavior, the list of which crimes are (in part) extortion of a foreign nation to gain an advantage over a potential election opponent, obstruction of justice on many occasions and so on.
That you have been hypnotized into believing that Trump is this innocent lamb who is constantly being attacked by a pack of wolves shows how successful a con man he is, just as he has been his whole life. And that is one of the items about Trump supporters that leaves me scratching my head. He has cheated and lied throughout his entire life. You cannot deny that. The evidence is overwhelming. Now that he has managed to get to the Presidency, you wish to believe that he is going to do a 180° turn and be a completely different person. In a word, NO!
133
@John
... when a president stops committing crimes to damage those who speak out against his behavior .. When a president stops engaging in criminal behavior.
That would be a great trade-off.
78
We all knew as they stood on the debate stage we had one candidate with 30+ years of ongoing public record and one candidate with a closely held private company and a long history of "do not disclose" orders. (and buddies at the National Enquirer to buy the right to buy stories).
The power of a republic is the power of the written word. Each act, each decision is recorded as part of a collective record we can all agree upon.
The president of the US's behaviors and words are therefore public record - to be shared with governing and governed.
If mr trump needs that must opacity perhaps he's in the wrong business.
2
Trump is incompetent and should be removed.
11
Suspicion and distrust, hatred and vindictiveness color the lens through which this pathetic excuse for a "man" views the world. I suspect he has had this poisonous personality since birth. Nothing can be done about it except to get him out of our sight and out of our government as soon as possible.
12
Trump exhibits symptoms of someone with a paranoid personality disorder. See. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9784-paranoid-personality-disorder. People with PPD are always on guard, believing that others are constantly trying to demean, harm, or threaten them. These generally unfounded beliefs, as well as their habits of blame and distrust, interfere with their ability to form close or even workable relationships. People with this disorder:
Doubt the commitment, loyalty, or trustworthiness of others, believing others are exploiting or deceiving them.....Are unforgiving and hold grudges......Perceive attacks on their character that are not apparent to others......Cannot see their role in problems or conflicts, believing they always right.....Are hostile, stubborn, and argumentative.Tend to develop negative stereotypes of others, especially those from different cultural groups....
In addition to his narcissism he is paranoid. When will Kelly, Matis, Bolton, Priebus, et al. Have the courage to speak out and save our country from this sick and dangerous man?
9
How many articles have been published by the NYTimes and for how long, referencing President Trump’s increasing paranoia and further isolation? How many articles published by the NYTimes tell us of his danger to democracy and his intention to turn our nation into a dictatorship?
The continued publishing of this hysterical nonsense is the true threat to democracy and the nation. The continued publishing of this hysterical nonsense is the cause of much of the paranoia and isolation this country currently suffers from.
@Arthur Taylor " The continued publishing of this hysterical nonsense is the cause of much of the paranoia and isolation this country currently suffers from."
If only we could wall that all off...
John I ask you:
When did a president present classified information to a Russian ambassador in the Oval Office?
When did a presidential nominee ask the President of Russia to meddle in our elections at a Champaign rally?
When has a president of the United States been found guilty of running a sham college and a disreputable non profit?
When has a President of the the United States disparaged a 16 year old for speaking forcefully to those who abuse the planet she will one day inherit?
When has a president given the Medal of Freedom to a man who has been an unabashed racist and misogynist?
When has a president stood before Congress and lied to the public that he will protect people with pre existing health issues while knowingly fighting against it in court?
When has a president refused to release his taxes while simultaneously lying that he is being audited for the past three years?
When has a president repeatedly disparaged a deceased Senator and war hero?
When has a president insulted the intelligence of our nations enlisted men and told them he gave them a 10% salary increase knowing full well the increase was only 2 or 3%.
When has the president of the United States mitigated the severity of brain injury incurred by our troops while they are under deployment?
When has a president locked children in cages?
When has a president assassinated an enemy and lied to the nation about his motives?
When has a President asked a foreign nation to help him win an election?
21
If trump followed the law instead of skirting it, he would not have to worry about any body ratting him out.
14
I await the day when things go back to normal. Instead it is a daily barrage of insane tweets, abuse of power, bullying. If someone reduced his screen time, we would all be less anxious. He is paranoid because he lives a life of lies and crime and inevitably the truth will catch up to him. If not this term or next term, the SDNY will be waiting. At which time, we can exhale.
7
It's not paranoia if they really are out to get you.
2
Can anyone name a single mafia boss or dictator who was NOT suspicious and distrustful?
When you are so corrupt that only the most corrupt people work for you, you have to be very suspicious and distrustful.
That is what this article should have said in the first paragraph.
8
Trumpanoia! His fears are nothing compared to the rest of the world.
3
Dude obviously forgets, or ignores, he works for us, the American people. We have a right to know who he’s talking to.
8
So far nonviolent trump "traitors amongst us" tactic mirroring Saddam Hussein's chilling 1979 spectacle; Iraqi bureaucrats escorted out ultimately murdered, while remaining fearful audience worshipping tyrant.
4
Trump should be paranoid, as he has attacked, bullied, corrupted and demeaned most Americans, and he’s supposed to be our president. Is it any wonder people don’t trust him? He’s never been able to trust others because he has never been trustworthy. When someone lies like he does, can’t sustain any commitments, nor contain his clamoring need for affirmation, what would you expect? Between his narcissistic personality disorder and his genius ability to con the masses, he’s the epitome of an evil villain in any story, fictitious or non. Graham shows him all kinds of empathy (poor Trump they’ve been out to get him) but Trump shows no ability to empathize with anyone nor realize the damage he’s doing daily to our democracy and to the majority of Americans. The worship Trump expects, God alone is worthy of, and Evangelicals should know better than to make a man like God, above the rule of law and untouchable. He isn’t worthy and the Republicans in leadership know it better than the voters and have an obligation to our country to do their job and uphold our Constitution and our institutions.Senators are supposed to be more informed and deliberative than the average American, that’s why we elect them to represent us, but our current senators didn’t want witnesses or evidence to understand the truth to make an informed decision about impeachment, so we are now forced to deal with a rogue president selling out our country to the highest bidder for he and his donors wealth and power.
9
I just got a horrible eye opening article from my Scranton Times. The title Pennsylvania’s dirty little secret. In 2018 coal pollution killed prematurely 3,100 people that year the most in the nation. Plus the coal particulates are in the air in their neighboring states killing people there. Pope Francis warned oil men not long ago if you harm the environment you harm humanity. We must impeach Trump now on charges for crimes against humanity. He and his supporters are all an accessory and should be ashamed of themselves. Lock them up. The facts of toxic coal are in the statistics now so lets impeach and save our American humanity .
5
Trump is paranoid, like Nixon.
And is self-immolating, like Nixon.
Too bad there are no leaders with a conscience left in the Republican Party to go to the White House and tell Trump he needs to resign for the good of the country.
So much for the Republican Party - which has abandoned all responsibility and claims of being for the good of the country.
11
He’s not paranoid. People really do hate him. I myself pray for his heat attack every day.
7
You can be both. His style of defensiveness is aggression and anger, instead of hiding in a corner.
Unfortunately some people seem to have an assortment, a personal cluster if you will, of mental health issues, as I have found in my practice. This is true in part because there is a lot of overlap, plus learned behavior. He may seem confident, but many people read loud as confident, which is a mistake.
I would not be surprised if he was anxious a lot, which can interfere with clear thinking. It looks so exhausting to be him, but he is used to it and seems to enjoy the constant drama.
He wants us to think he's the toughest smartest guy in the world, but at the same time he's the biggest whiner and nonstop claimant of victimization. Everybody is out to get him.
This from somebody who endlessly claims that Obama, Clinton, etc., etc. are all horrible, evil people who should be serving prison sentences. On what charges? Who is out to get who?
9
"... the government is full of leakers, plotters, whistle-blowers and traitors out to get him?"
What's wrong with that? Maybe they're upholding oaths, which he is not. Besides, none of them are "traitors".
7
I am a conservative and a Republican so I despise Trump in every way possible. But we will never heal until Democrats own their role in creating this situation. The 2016 Clinton campaign was a five dimensional disaster, but what followed was exponentially worse. Every 8th graders knows that the electoral college vote determines the outcome of the presidential election, but both the Democrats and Sanders insisting on being stupider than 8th graders.
Then, ineptly an unattractively, the Democrats began throwing everything including the kitchen sink at Trump before he even took the oath. Impeach him! Right, more utter stupidity. Now he is acquitted and in the eyes of many Americans the victim of insider politics and the "deep state" ( wait 'till they're done with Brennan).
I would vote for a Democrat in a second, but I will never, ever vote for a Democrat worse than Trump, those being Warren and (especially) Sanders. This nation can survive the transparent, if unique, venality of Trump. It was not survive the Messianic leadership are zealot followers of those two.
We don't need Michael Bloomberg to run for president, we need James Mattis to run. We need him to run right down the center and take out the 1 pin, and the 7 and 10 pins while he's at it. I would cash in my retirement to donate to his campaign.
1
There's a good reason people are out to get Trump: he's a liar, a cheat, and a betrayer (possibly even a traitor).
What's not to like?
6
Trump started his presidential campaign by unfairly maligning Mexicans and it went downhill from there. In my life time I never experienced such a viscous political campaign where candidate Trump mocked a disabled reporter, encouraged violence toward hecklers and threatened on national television to prosecute his political opponent while advocating for his supporters to not only chant “lock her up” but parade effigies of her in cages in the streets. Trump is a viscous man. A vindictive and petty man. And he is a narcissist. And since becoming president he has not hesitated to demonstrate just how viscous and petty he is on a daily basis. This article makes it sound like he is justified in being so. He is not. He has brutalized and bullied this country while initiating his reforms, many detrimental, and some of which a large majority of this country does not want or need. Obama said the presidency reveals the truth about the person. It makes them more of what they are. He was right. Trump is a petty tyrant and he will get no pity from this reader. This article is too kind.
9
The Democrat effort in the impeachment trial was a failure. The only thing it showed was the ugly neo McCarthyite politics they were practicing. The public was unmoved the as polls moved not a bit. Trump fired the people who joined in the political effort to unseat him. Everybody already knew before the "never Trump" charade started that Trump is an immature narcissist cry baby. Some GOP senators carped about it as they voted to acquit Trump. This election is winnable for the Democrats because Trump is going to continue with his tirades and poor judgement. Trump has harmed the country on a wide range of serious issues. His climate change denial should certainly lead to his defeat.
1
This guy in the White House is a dictator. He is not paranoid, he is not distrusting. He is simply out to get what he wants: to maximize his power so that he can get what he wants, without resistance.
Any other analysis falls short of appreciating the gravity of the situation and does this society that used to be a democracy a disservice.
6
Just another way for our liar in chief to exercise his control over all governing processes while remaining unaccountable for his actions. Mistrust moves from us to him. All around him are not to be trusted. Paranoid?
1
Donald Trump has lived the dictatorial culture of business in America. "I'm the boss. Do as I say or be fired. I can blacklist you and you will never find another job again. " Slavery was never abolished.
3
Trump expects admiration because he is Trump. He surrounds himself with people who feed his ego and have nothing better to do. But here's the truth: Trump doesn't know what he is doing. A "perfect" call? Based on what criteria? And, what about his buddy from North Korea? Not sure that turned out the way Trump predicted. Trump is dangerous because of his ignorance and arrogance. He's a bully; it's how he thinks he shows strength. It's all about fear. Stop the Twitter buzz and the rallies, the attempts to interfere with others' campaigns, and you're left with a guy who has plenty of time to mow the White House lawn. Let it be.
4
A clear and helpful analysis. It is impressive to realize that one man can so shape a country. Trump’s America is desolate, disturbing, and fills hearts with disgust. Brrr...it’s a very cold and frightening thing to behold. Has anybody asked him nicely to simply leave and go home and let the country figure a way out of his terrifying mind and heartless behavior to try to live and search for sanity again?
4
I can’t wait until he is tried for treason and has no choice but to face the consequences.
4
When pundits like Jonathan Turley claim a “well-documented bias” at the FBI, I would like some examples. The “bias” I see is a bias against law-breakers, criminals, con men, grifters, etc., regardless of their political affiliation.
3
Is it possible for reporters to stop quoting Jonathan Turley? That guy appears to be seeking a job with Trump just like Barr did. What was Trump's "agenda" upon arriving in Washington? His only agenda was to destroy everything his predecessor created and build his stupid wall. Oh yeah, and to "drain the swamp." He hasn't drain anything except the coffers of government. He, his offspring and associated hangers-on have made more money then they could have ever hoped for had he not won.
Most of the FBI and the Justice Department are PRO-TRUMP! Law enforcement will always side with authoritarian thugs because it makes their jobs easier. Plus now they have a whole new cadre of conservative judges to help them turn the country into more of a South American police state. That he has turned on them a bit smacks of being careful what you wish for, but those two agencies are doing just fine and will continue to do the bidding of the powerful in this country.
I really hope Trump is defeated this year, but in some way it would be so justified that he win. Just so all his supporters can feel the full wrath of his agenda.
3
Of course , he's paranoid. Most thinking people do not want him, but not from the beginning as he suspects; that is his paranoia---always the victim. As the list of his misdeeds grows and the number of individuals he hurts increases, the number of people who discover that he is ill fit to be president grows. His charge that from the moment he entered the campaign for president, from that very beginning, everyone (except for the few patriots in his base), everyone was against him and schemed to remove him from the office of presidency. No, Mr. President, the number of people who want you out of office grows , grows as your inappropriate actions increase. Not everyone from the beginning, but the number is growing. You deserve to be removed. Your bad acts are piling up as rapidly as your lies.
4
I cannot agree with the conclusion of Mr D’Antonio more. We all are living in an alternative reality straight out of his head!
Unfortunately one that it is made predominantly of distrust, paranoia, ignorance, disregard for the law, lots of vulgarity and extensive unethical behavior.
1
Sadly, too many can't or won't see the harm Trump has done with his march toward fascism. Too many believe the never-ending lies disemanating from Trump every single day. Too many are comfortable with his misogyny, racism, bullying, and hatred.
3
Our president is an uneducated, ill-informed, paranoid narcissist.
Can one imagine a worse personality amalgam than that running the most economically and militarily powerful country on the planet?
This nation (and the world) is going to have to be very, very lucky regarding global challenges if Trump remains in power beyond January 2021.
This administration has neither the wit nor the interest in solving any of the problems we are now facing let alone those headed our way.
3
Of course Trump is paranoid. There are so many misdeeds to be uncovered...years and years of them. Fear and guilt are enough to make anyone paranoid.
2
He is not nearly as suspicious of us as we are of him.
1
Does it ever dawn on this man that just maybe, maybe, people are against him because his ideas are, bad ideas?
We spend....50 years fighting for clean air, clean water, better.....schools, race relations, fair immigration policies, name your areas of interest, and he comes in and takes the clock off the wall, turns the hands back, and laughs.
Probably the worst are the lies. Constant lies. And he gets a kick out of it. And his users, get a lot of money out of it. They are laughing at his base....all the way to the bank.
5
"You ain't seen nothing yet." If Trump is reelected, we will see people swearing personal fealty to King Trump I. Lese Majeste will become treason. Our democracy could very well end.
2
Definition of a dictator: one who has total control over a country with no checks and balances to prevent abuse of power. Our fledgling democracy is struggling under the weight, literally and figuratively, of Trump.
Where are the checks and balances if one party has total power and is in thrall to a paranoid, vindictive narcissist? Saddam Hussein, who saw himself as Iraq’s savior, was so paranoid, he employed surgically altered body doubles. The more he isolates himself with perceived loyalists who will not dare to disobey him, the more paranoid he will become.
Trump has operated with complete and absolute impunity. There are serious cracks and flaws in a system that allows this to happen. According to psychologists, every time someone panders to an autocrat, it fuels his lust for power. If the autocrat perceives that someone has been disloyal, he becomes increasingly paranoid and aggressively vindictive. Fred taught Donny well. Donny has honed his killer instincts and has killed every government institution and bent it to his will.
Trump has normalized chaos, immorality, ugly rhetoric and pathological lying. The danger is that all this has lost its shock value.
His base proclaims he is keeping his promises and he will be rated as one of our best presidents. I need to go to Philly to see the Liberty Bell before Trump replaces it with a gold statue of himself.
How do we fix a very broken system after his reign, especially if he is officially crowned emperor in 2020?
4
'45* is bringing back loyalists and tightening the circle around him to a smaller and more faithful coterie of confidants'.
From now on these will be the conversations in the White House: 'Yes stable genious, great stable genious, what an unbelievable insight stable genious, you are correct as always stable genious, etc....'.
In short, the emperor has no clothing.
Welcome to the role of public servant, Mr. President. Scrutiny and accountability go with the job, as that is how democracy works. Trump has brought all this on himself and, typically, blames everyone but himself. It was obvious long before his inauguration that he was temperamentally unsuited for the job. That, his long history of bending the law, and his non-stop lying, is why many "wanted to impeach him from day one." Republicans' accusations of rabid partisanship on the part of Democrats is nothing but projection.
2
Any attack Trump makes on other people multiplied by 10 and you have an accurate description of Trump himself.
Professor Turley: "It was immediately clear that he faced deep opposition to his agenda.”
Yeah, that's right. Mexico didn't want to pay for the wall.
Also: how does all this insanity benefit our country? We have a disaster on our hands.
4
Shouldn't the headline be "President Trump Has Good Reasons to be Paranoid?" You mostly quote people who are saying just that.
He was born worth $400,000 dollars, never had to worry about a medical bill in his life, is benefiting from the economy Obama left him, yet he's an embattled victim. Kurdish families are freezing in Northern Iraqi winters because of he got them kick out of their towns, but he's the victim. Right.
3
Paranoia and normal suspicion is warranted by President Trump after the Comey, Stzrok, McCabe, Brennan, Clapper cabal's unethical, illegal leaks and efforts to bring Trump down from before he was even sworn in. Add the anti-Trump Mueller investigation to be crowned finally by the Pelosi, Schiff and Nadler unhinged impeachment travesty and anti-Trump obsessions and lies.
Trump is the least self aware leader in recent history. What really infuriates me beyond the lying and self-dealing is how he has exploited his base and divided this Country. This is damage that will take generations to heal.
4
A few days ago a NYT writer talked about Trump projecting his own flaws onto other people. Since he would stab anyone in the back to make a buck, he assumes other people will stab him in the back. And since most people in government are more intelligent than he is, he is terrified of being outsmarted.
" But you have to realize that people, sadly, sadly, are very vicious. " -- self-descriptive quote from Trump.
3
If he hadn't lied, cheated and stolen to get ahead in life, then the people who work for/with him wouldn't have to watch him like a hawk and report his illegal activities just in case he's pulling a fast one on them or on the American people. There is a tone in some of these comments that leans towards excusing him of his cruelties because of his upbringing as a child and his years in the real estate business in New York, where it's a dog eat dog world. There are other Presidential qualities than paranoia which he totally lacks.
3
I’m reading The Washington Decree, written in 2006 by Jussi Adler-Olsen, about a US president who initiates a plan to suspend the rule of law, erode constitutional dictates, and suppress the right to vote. When it was translated into English in 2017, some reviewers called it far-fetched. Actually, the word “prescient” comes to mind.
2
“There’s just a general frustration that the system is — there’s a double standard in the media and actually in the law.”
Exactly right for a change, Lindsey. But it’s tRump’s shill media like Fox and the Washington Times that are not playing by the rules and tRump’s team that is playing fast and loose with the law.
It’s amazing how successful one can be at violating norms, lying and breaking the law just by screaming, “Not me, the other guy did it.”
3
Of course a lot of people (decent people) are «out to get him» and for a thousand good reasons. The irony is that there are also many of the other kind: the crooks and grifters that the Great Dictator attracts and surrounds himself with. Sooner or later, one or more of these chancers will act true to character (or lack of it), and «get» him
2
I don’t like Trump but, since there were numerous calls for his impeachment since around 10 pm on election night 2026, I can understand his suspicions. Can’t you?
This craziness will continue for few more years as Trump will be re-elected in 2020, courtesy of our fellow citizens and the so called media. Trump who is a characterless, honorless, who has no moral values and etc, we elected him as our president, that tells about what American people are. We reap what we sow.
1
“There’s just a general frustration that the system is — there’s a double standard in the media and actually in the law.”
Exactly right for a change, Lindsey. But it’s tRump’s shill media like Fox and the Washington Times that are not playing by the rules and tRump’s team that is playing fast and loose with the law.
It’s amazing how successful one can be at violating norms, lying and breaking the law just by screaming, “Not me, the other guy did it.”
1
Trump’s acts and statements are pure reprisal of Turkey’s Erdogan as his paranoid ambition purged and imprisioned countless of its citizens to achieve absolute control of the country as President-for-life. This man has to go. But right now, AG Barr must be either impeached or forced out by public opinion.
4
Worsening Paranoia is one thing. There are other visible changes -- shuffling gait, dis-coordination of tongue, slurred speech, intemperate speech, smaller vocabulary, emotionalism...the president looks like he has steadily worsening dementia. He needs to have an honest unbiased neurological exam. The nation needs and deserves to have competent leadership.
6
Why will no one use 'dementia ridden' to describe DJT? It's obvious that there is some mental deficiency going on. I know you can't make a diagnosis, but at least note the administration will not comment on his mental health or general health. Ask the questions.
3
Paranoia, schmeranoia. It matters not what Trump thinks or feels. He is the servant of the American people, not the other way around.
3
Trump's basic philosophy is like that of a Sociopath: "It is okay to cheat because everyone else does, It is okay to lie because all people lie, strike first before they can strike you." Sociopaths don't develop friendships, they build alliances with others they feel are more vulnerable than themselves which they can manipulate to their cause. They identify an "Other" group or person to scapegoat and blame for all their real or imagined problems of unemployment, low wages, lack of opportunity, etc.. The solution to these problems avoids complex solutions and the need to, work with or compromise with others, and sets its goals towards getting their followers to disenfranchise, punish and kill his perceived enemies which have now become their enemies as well.
4
The person he shouldn’t trust is himself. His gut instincts are wrong, and the people he surrounds himself with don’t challenge him. Sad.
3
Considering his behavior, I would HOPE there are many "who are out to get him!"
2
Lions don't live in the jungle Mr. President. Lions live in the savanna. Jaguars live in the jungle. Rain forest actually. A third grader could provide this information.
1
He knows he is distrusted and maybe hated by many voters and people abroad. Because he is treated like Oz in the White House, “the great and wonderful,” he is clueless as to why. But to Trump all opposition is personal and an insult.
1
John Gotti, Jeffrey Epstein and Bernie Madoff we’re worried about law enforcement and investigative journalists, too; and for the same reasons.
4
I want a sane, intelligent person for president. Trump rules as a mean teenager. He is paranoid. I remember how calm I felt under the Obama presidency. Every day now is a roller coaster ride. And the fact that he has Bill Barr in his corner now makes things worse. Are there any patriots left in the Republican party? These people have to be defeated. Our Constitution is only good if the people at the top believe in it and obey it.
5
There is also the side effect that paranoia and untruth at the top can be highly contagious: Knowing that the head guy is a habitual liar who doesn’t care about the law or people unless he can twist them to benefit himself, I just don’t trust anything or anyone in government anymore, particularly if a Republican or Republican influence is involved. Such a deep lack of faith and trust makes my quality of life worse and could end up causing me to make decisions to my detriment. I doubt that I’m alone in this. And the more talk there is of the inevitability of Trump being re-elected, and the more provocative and vengeful his actions and demeanor become; and the more Democrats seem, as usual, befuddled and unable to mount a coordinated and effective counteroffensive, the worse the problem gets.
1
That this pretender ended up occupying the White House boils down to multiple failures by our politics; our media; and, ultimately, our voters.
His entire career provided plenty of evidence for his unfitness for any position of governmental trust. If his more public behavior was not enough (it was - or, should have been), journalists and biographers who followed his career for years filled in the gaps - for instance, David Cay Johnston. It was well enough known, but grossly overlooked in election coverage, that trump's businesses had gone thorough several bankruptcies while he himself emerged whole. Admittedly it took genius to bankrupt multiple casinos (of all things) that had benefited from massive taxpayer subsidies. There's a record as long as your arm known of stiffing associates, contractors, customers, clients, employees, local and state governments....
And yet, he conned his way to the highest position of public trust in the land. There should be zero possibility of 2016 being repeated in 2020. But: fool us once, shame on you. Fool us twice, shame on us.
23:40 EST, 1/15
5
Trump seems to have no inkling that he is an employee of the citizens of the United States; we the taxpayers supply his salary and thus have a right to know what he's doing and why he's doing it. About half of us are in favor of firing him, as we showed by impeachment. Yet he insists on behaving as if he were the divinely Chosen One, with an inalienable right to rule imperially. Is that why he brags of returning his presidential paychecks (while royally taking advantage of millions of dollars' worth of perks)?
1
When the notion of “Presidential paranoia” takes center stage in a major news article, we are entering into new territory. In business, we called such an emergent condition, “Code Red.” In the military and other venues organized to cope with approaching emergencies, the term “in extremis” well describes the state of affairs in need of focused response. Based on the escalating series of incidents described in the article, the President’s state of mind about a “deep state” out to get him has become a self-fulfilling prophesy. More than ever, the guardians of our liberty need to utilize the constitutional protections designed to deal with the impending crisis in our highest office.
1
The Democrats have made President Trump the underdog by their nefarious actions. America loves an underdog. Democrats have torpedoed themselves in their constant virtue signaling and attacks on Trump.
Sadly it will get worse during an election year. Particularly when Trump will be stalked by a force that he fears. Called Michael Bloomberg. Trump’s greatest nightmare.
Paranoia has been part of the “Art of Deal” for Trump. Since all his deals were fraudulent, deceitful, and illegal he made it a point to trust no one.
Trump’s 1990 Playboy interview: “I instinctively mistrust many people. It is not a negative in my life but a positive!”
2
The idea that the US is somehow exceptional, Manifest Destiny, is delusional. Trump is not that much out of line.
1
It appears the entire Trump family has a genetic flaw, their sense of self is so distorted, impervious to the reality that there is good reason for people to be repelled by them. They are magnets for those who share their snatch and grab mentality with no regard for others and the swath of harm they leave in their paths.
1
The movie Parasite comes to mind
Paranoid? The FBI used paid plants to meet with his campaign staff overseas, then used Hillary's discredited dossier to spy on his campaign then his administration - Transcripts of conversations with the presidents of Australia and Mexico were leaked verbatim by Obama holdovers to try to embarrass Trump, his call with Ukraine was leaked by a deep state operative to another to create a false whistleblower complaint which led to impeachment strictly along party lines - It is not paranoid to know for a fact that there are enemies in the US government and the other party trying to destroy you and your presidency - To not realize this would be a bad sign -
Extreme scrutiny, criticism and bad publicity are a constant in politics regardless of which party is in power. More to the point is how the politician in question reacts. Trump typical response is to lie and change his story multiple times, in every instance exposing the validity of the charges you listed.
He’s paranoia is fueled by the knowledge he has been compromised by his ties- financial- and otherwise to Putin and the Russians. That’s why he hates all the leaders of intelligence and law enforcement (the “deep state” ) who briefed him on his dossier or have knowledge of his activities. He is paranoid like all the other dictators or authoritarian leaders who believe they are above the law.
2
When Obama came into office “It was immediately clear that he faced deep opposition to his agenda.”
Yet Obama conducted himself and his administration by the rules and conventions dictated by the Constitution.
4
Trump is right on one thing - people are out to get him. We have reached a point in this conflict where we can no longer negotiate.
It's eye opening to watch how this abusive personality cult has taken over the Republican Party. If I were a Republican, I would be worried. There is a back pressure building that will rise up and send these corrupt doers back to Mar a Lago - that is where the depravity began.
1
Truth and facts. Mr. Trump's two biggest enemies, it seems.
2
Trump's paranoia is pathological. His view of the world where he has delusions of grandeur ("I am the chosen one", etc), and that he is being unfairly persecuted. American, step back, and look closely at his history, it was all their. The dupes in the Senate who said he would learn a lesson from his impeachment are blind and got conned by the great con man again. Barr's comments are disingenuous and are a stall tactic. He is also a con man who only wants to keep his job as long as possible and when the heat goes away he will continue to protect his president. Come on media, don't be fooled again, and don't give Barr the benefit of the doubt.
2
The madness of King Donald will taint every move, every decision,
Those who speak against him are often mainstream conservatives. Clearly, not all are just out to get him, but see what an unstable poorly educated and paranoid he truly is, It would be disloyal of them to blindly support this man knowing the damage he does to this republic every day,
As for his interference in DOJ cases, that should be the last straw for any loyal citizen
1
Wait! Didn't Senator Collins from Maine say that trump learned his lesson and will change?
What's going on?
Every single Republican senator is guilty of not convicting trump and letting this clown loose to do more harm.
1
Other Presidents may have been paranoid but Trump's paranoia is a diagnosable disorder. Trump has an irrational fear of people of color, of foreigners, of the disabled. He feels others are plotting against him and that his campaign was being wiretapped. If you disagree with him you are out to get him. He is vicious and retaliates. Look at the number of cabinet and personal appointees are gone. He panics. He is impulsive. He is unfit and dangerous.
1
Here's the thing. This is written as if trump is a normal human being, persecuted simply because he is the president. We know trump is not a normal president. Paranoia is a trait of Paranoid Personality Disorder, a subset of Narcissistic Personality Disorder. The DSM5 lists "Suspects, without sufficient basis that others are exploiting, harming, or deceiving him." Another: "Preoccupied with unjustified doubts about the loyalty or untrustworthiness of associates."There are many such traits that trump exhibits. There is also the term, consciousness of guilt, which supports the myriad of lies trump tells daily, to cover up his criminal or norm breaking actions. The essay cites sycophant Lindsey Graham and son Donald trump Jr as reliable narrators regarding trump's failure to conform to social and presidential norms. They are not.
trump is the ninth president of my lifetime. I disliked Reagan and Bush policies, but I did not think either man was psychologically damaged. trump is a damaged man, and we are all being forced to live through the myriad of existential crises of his own making.
Personally, I've had more than enough of donald trump's lies paranoia, deceitfulness, and reckless regard for his position.
I hope a majority of my fellow Americans feel the same way.
1
In the words of Lincoln, "...government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth...", is what we have believed in and lived by. The disturbed man in the White House (make no mistake, he is that), and his son, both equally delusional in their narcissistic belief our government is, "...of Donald Trump, by Donald Trump, for Donald Trump...", present a clear and present danger. Do whatever you wish, follow no law, silence those with differing views, deny any truths, restrict scientific studies, move money in the direction of the already wealthy - and do it all with no one listening - yes, we will perish. And, when it's done, they can take their money and flee to Russia to finally build the world's tallest tower. Please, God, vote this power-hungry madman out of office before it's too late.
Mr. Trump projects onto others his own intentions to dominate, deceive, and defraud.
Unaware of this, Trump sees only disloyalty in people who defend themselves from his abuse. So he's out to crush anyone who refuses to submit completely to his rule.
Too bad he's in government because his life and character are the opposite of cooperation and collaboration in the name of public service. Trump is all about self service, self preservation, and self affirmation. He will get worse.
Like other famous autocrats in history, Trump has built around himself a quasi-religious personality cult. Hail to the Chief, or else!
It's a sick atmosphere of purges and guilt, fear and submission having nothing to do with bettering the lives of all the people of the United States.
With Trump, actions often devolve into a claustrophobic, tantrum-prone, never-ending daily misery -- misery to self and others -- where the agenda is to find, punish and destroy perceived enemies. It's a dark and dangerous place to be.
Trump is still the lone protagonist of his reality show movie, except now it's not The Apprentice, it's the actual United States of America.
But he's not the one in trouble. We are!
oz.
1
I think you are seeing someone with a narcissistic personality disorder implode. Psychiatrists have warned that it is dangerous. Someone with an ego like Trump's cannot take any criticism and certainly would be incredibly disturbed by being impeached. The combination of narcissistic personality disorder with being the "leader of the free world" is frightening to those of us who have seen those traits. Now he has to erase what happened by firing people and trying to get the Mueller report discredited. He does listen to Putin and other autocrats who know how to flatter him.
1
Paranoia is the irrational belief that they are out to get you Donald Trump is hardly paranoid. The Democrats are our to get him, and have been doing pretty much nothing else since before he got elected. In this they have had a powerful and equally obsessed ally in the mainstream media, this one included, if not especially. The remarkable thing is how he has managed to conduct the affairs of state as ably as he has despite being ringed by toxic domestic fire 24/7 domestic. Indeed his accomplishments as president, his record of delivering on his campaign promises and his capacity for generating massive support among rank and file, non elitists, non coastal, hard working, trust-fundless Americans is breathtaking.
@ JJ Gross
King Donald is from the East Coast, has relied on a huge trust fund from birth (which makes him an elite individual) and barely works, compared to any previous president. Why are you so sure he identifies with you hard-working commoners in flyover country? Lol
1
God forbid I don't think most of us want to live in a world akin to what Trump dwells in. He is a very damaged and lonely wanderer who, despite his self-proclaimed attributes and accomplishments (i.e., in many instances distorted fabrications and lies) is an emotionally barren shill of a person. His increasing paranoia and erratic, reckless behavior is a concerning sign that he is out of control, obsessed with vengeance and retribution, unable to stop for a moment and consider the opportunity he has to make a positive and real difference in the lives of all Americans. Johnson for all of faults, omnipotence and paranoia were certainly apparent, was able to channel his aberrant ways into constructive and vital programs to help people. This will never be the case with Trump as he will continue to be enveloped by his paranoia, rage and insatiable thirst for power.
1
Mr Trump achieved the honor of being president, and confusion it still reigns!
Republicans must select another one – if they wish to keep the Senate yours!
1
When someone’s psychopathology (severe in the case of the subject of Mr. Baker’s article), is so extreme that every slight turns into a projection, coupled with the mentoring he received from such a vile figure as Roy Cohen; it’s easy to see how this causes people in the country and some in his administration great anxiety.
His behavior IS a combination of his long standing defensive, paranoid view of others and his early conditioning from a parent to always mistrust others and “be a killer.”
Let’s hope he takes “be a killer” figuratively and not literally. As a psychotherapist, I don’t think we can be sure of that. Stay away from Fifth Avenue.
This president needs the hook.
Trump's own psychology is the problem here. A gigantic ball of suspicion motivated by greed and domination who now thinks he is a "king" demanding shows of loyalty instead of keeping his oath of office.
The royal rubber room is bringing back Hope Hicks, the woman who said she tells "white lies" for Trump, and Sean Spicer, who apparently learned no more than his ex-boss about the cost of "the action" to our country. Apparently mediocrity feels emboldened.
Maybe another impeachment call would sober these "players".
2
Young people are committed to global causes, like climate change, not nationalistic ones, like the European/American alliance. We need to start anew, pulling apart these relationships, so America is becoming much less a standard bearer.
We do not understand what is happening in America, guns, fighting over healthcare, which are so strange to us. Is that what you want? Your domestic policies seem to be more important right now.
Of all the evidence of collusion stated in the Mueller Report, what strikes you as the worst?
"as soon as he took office. In fact, as we know from his campaign's many contacts with Russia, they started BEFORE."
Trump wanted Hillary Clinton to lose and tried his best to make her lose. The Russian government wanted Hillary Clinton to lose and tried to make her lose. What I haven't seen, however, is any evidence that they worked together.
Should Trump have not tried to beat Hillary Clinton once he learned the Russian government also wanted her to lose? Wouldn't that give a foreign government power over our elections?
Many readers are mistaken to believe that other readers like Trump. Frankly, I don't, and never have. I do think he's more peaceable than Hillary Clinton ever was, and I like at least the lip service he gives to reducing the national debt. I haven't seen any progress on debt reduction -- quite the opposite, in fact -- but he has "threatened" to pull out of Afghanistan and has in fact stayed out of Syria. Would Hillary Clinton have done either? I doubt it.
I'm aware there's been instances of like practices and this isn't anything novel, but with that said, I'd like to add Scooter Libby, Tom DeLay, and Karl Rove should still be behind bars for what they got away with during the Bush/Cheney Administration.
1
And what has happened to all the investigations into The Trump Organization’s shady finances? Silent. The billions of loans to Trump from DeutscheBank? Silent. The tax evasion under scrutiny by the State of New York? Silent. How about the treasure trove of financial shenanigans uncovered during the Cohen trial and the depositions of his CFO? Nothing.
Has the Justice Department become so compromised that all of these investigations have been relegated to the circular file in protection of this vile man?
Americans can increasingly sympathize with the citizens of Russia and China who do not trust, and fear, their government.
It’s not too late to reverse course. I am a former Republican and an Independent who disagrees substantially with some of the Progressive candidates. But all them prize democracy and the Rule of Law and whomever is the nominee will get my vote.
November 2020. Vote out of office this scourge and all the Republican enablers who are defending the emergence of a dictator.
1
His supporters (Graham) suggest that the "deep state" (i.e. professionals) are out to get him by leaking his calls and blowing the whistle on his actions, and that therefore Trump is right to be paranoid and protective. It never occurs to them that had any other president performed actions as reckless, as compromised, or as illegal as Trump regularly does, their conversations would have been leaked, published, and criticized as well.
The article almost attempts to normalize what this president is doing by comparing his to Nixon and Johnson. It’s quite clear , however the comparison must strain to make them equal.
We have a president, who with a complicit party that controls the Senate, increasingly is influenced by? By what? We don’t know if the last call with turkey, or the one afte rwith Putin or perhaps a late night call from some Fox talking head.
Trumps paranoia as described may be somewhat couched in a reality, but the nations safety is at stake, the records are not just for him but for future Presidents, but he’s already telegraphed that he sees no need for future Presidents, so maybe it doesn’t matter after all?
1
Turley: “his suspicions were validated to some degree in these investigations — something that many refuse to acknowledge".
Turley seems to forget what prompted the investigations: documented contacts with Russian agents by his campaign staff, firing of the FBI director and his deputy, illegal imprisonment of asylum seekers, illegal separation and caging of children, etc., etc. This defense of tRump is disingenuous, to say the least. If even paranoids have enemies, also paranoids can be criminal.
1
That Mr. Trump got elected, this kind of results in great uncertainty regarding the America’s trajectory!
'Just because he's paranoid, it doesn't mean they're not out to get him.' They are not out to get him entirely without cause, put it like that.
1
"I think he feels like the people are out to get him, going overboard. I mean just put yourself in his shoes,” --Senator Lindsey Graham
O.k., I'm in his shoes. I constantly lie about everything, gratuitously, even when there's no apparent advantage to me. Then I expect to be believed in the face of utterly contradictory evidence to the contrary.
It's quite clear now--or should be--that the first lie about the size of the inauguration crowd was part of a deliberate strategy to suppress any criticism or even to establish any working sense of consensus reality with any of his interlocutors. So his is the only valid voice that must be listened to and, in the words of Stephen Miller, "must not be questioned".
Trump never had any other ambition for his presidency than being an autocrat and thug, like the Putin's and Xi's he so admires, and Kim Jong Un . His reason? Democracy puts running the country at the kind of disadvantage that has other countries "laughing at us", while they pursue their national interests.
This is Steve Bannon's ideology of destroying democracy and replacing it with a more efficient state. Trump's own narcissim and vanity are a good fit for such an overthrow of the liberal democratic state Bannon had in mind. Mike Pompeo, fundamentalist Christian, and end-of-days proponent of Apocalyptic prophecy will be a much better successor. He's smarter, more disciplined, and more competent.
Autocracy has been the plan all along.
1
Mr. Trump He seems to have been learning what he should have learned before being considered quite qualified
He may be appropriate in the actions he does. There can be discrepancies between
1. how he should act and what he should be in the know with respect to and 2. how he appears to act (which gets to us through good media and through uncritical media) as well as what he seems to have known (understood from enunciations) –
1
It is interesting that the more power Trump acquires, the more paranoid he gets. He knows how he got it, and he knows how many people know. History has shown what happens to despots. Now our country is creating one, because there are no checks on this man, except our election. And how many of us believe he'll leave even if he's defeated? He'll scream that it was rigged, the Republican Congress will defend him, he'll have it overturned, and our country will really be in trouble. He is a dangerous, dangerous man. Dangerous men do have many enemies. He is right to be paranoid, but the country will pay the price.
2
Well the jury forewoman certainly should not have been cleared to sit on Stone's trail given numerous conflicts of interest and and clear prejudiced against the defendant.Tthe Federal bureaucracy is filled with "resistors" and Obama loyalists throwing sand in the gears and leaking sensitive information. The Times ran an oped "I am part of the resistance" that explicitly made this clear. Obama would have had them arrested. Lucky for them that Trump has been so inept at shutting this down to date.
Mr. Trump confuses the people's house, the White House, with his. It's high time he receives an eviction order before he strips it of all the copper plumbing, wiring, and any valuable fixtures to sell for his own benefit.
1
As many have observed, Trump thinks like a mob boss. He’s worried about “rats” (his own phrase) and people being part of his phone calls because he knows full well that he routinely breaks the law.
He reflexively lies about just about everything, even when it’s unimportant, even when the lie makes little sense. He can’t stop; reportedly, he’s been told not to testify under oath because he’ll perjure himself, even if his attorneys prepare him not to.
So it is with his other behavior. His instincts are to do whatever he thinks will benefit him, even if it’s illegal. He has no grasp of ethics, so he doesn’t know when he’s going over the line. When asked in an interview if he would accept dirt from a hostile government, his reaction was “of course,” with no understanding of why it was a significant question.
He’s learned over the years that what he does is frequently unlawful, even if he doesn’t understand why, which is why he’s so concerned about witnesses.
1
Yes, President Trump is paranoid. That is not his most serious problem.
More serious is the fact that he considers himself an expert on everything and cannot take advice.
This is the reason for a series of foreign policy errors. Foreign leaders consider him to be superficial and unworthy of his high position. Trump is an embarrassment to the nation.
An even more serious defect is that he has undercut our belief in institutions, such as the FBI, the Justice Department and the Courts.
The Constitution was designed with separation of powers in mind. The various parts of government were supposed to act as countervailing forces. The Constitution was designed to force participants to compromise, compromise between President and Congress, between Congress and the Courts.
This provided for stability, and that stability has enabled the US democracy to last for about 230 years.
Trump's actions are tearing that democracy apart. He survived impeachment. We cannot afford to have him reelected in 2020.
Trump will be the Republican candidate. Since he is unacceptable the real decision will occur in the primaries.
Above all, we need a candidate who can win against Trump, then usher in an era of healing. We need to get away from excessive partisanship. We need to have two healthy political parties. Members of opposite parties need to cherish negotiations, because the extreme policies at the end of the spectrum won't work.
That's what I'll work for in the coming election.
61
He is not surrounding himself with a a faithful coterie of confidants. He is surrounding himself with a hypocritical group of sycophants.
27
Of course the irony, an administration filled to the top with irony, is a man who no one ever trusted, now, finds himself on the receiving end of the same treatment he gave his associates, employees, wives, and whoever crossed his path.
23
“The well-documented bias in the F.B.I. and Justice Department against Trump fuels his suspicions...."
I fully expect the FBI and the Justice Department to be biased against criminals.
43
"The president and his staff have increasingly equated disloyalty to him with disloyalty to the nation"
Trump is following Turkey's model in which any negative comment about Tayip Erdogan is considered "insulting Turkishness" -akin to being a traitor. Will Trump's next move be to throw those who criticize him into jail the way Erdogan does?
19
So much fodder to run an effective opposition, daily, by the Dems. Thus far, crickets.
Perhaps they're waiting for...something. I fear another snatching of defeat from the jaws of victory.
8
Blame fifty per cent of the American people for thinking that a failed real estate entrepreneur and cheap television personality
could magically turn into a competent, honest and dignified President.
54
Not fifty percent - not even close.
2
“Presidential paranoia is not a new phenomenon but Mr. Trump, burned by impeachment, seems to have elevated it to a governing philosophy of his White House.”
Trump’s paranoia is not a new phenomenon. Given that all his life he operated outside the law he trusted no one: “I instinctively mistrust many people. It is not a negative in my life but a positive!”
13
Excerpt from the article that tells the whole story.
“However,” Mr. Turley added, “his suspicions were validated to some degree in these investigations — something that many refuse to acknowledge. He came to Washington with an agenda that was highly antagonistic and threatening to the status quo. It was immediately clear that he faced deep opposition to his agenda.”
1
@James Every President faces opposition in and out of government to his agenda. The Mueller report and articles of impeachment were not about Trump’s agenda, they were about his corruption and criminality.
In terms of the basic wealth and power structure of the country, Trump’s agenda has been very much to protect the status quo. The rest is just a show.
@James Trump's agenda is personal aggrandizement and enrichment. Period. If you don't oppose that, if you ain't scared, you ain't right.
The circle draws tighter around Trump because he is a man with much to hide and to fear. He continues to use his power to enrich himself and his crime family, to crush his perceived enemies, protect his loyal enforcers and sell out America’s interests time and again. He cannot survive without a circle of people devoid of honor and driven by loyalty not to the Constitution but to Trump himself.
If he is re-elected and his republican toadies continue to hold a majority in the Senate and on the increasingly partisan Supreme Court, the Republic will fall and Trump will finally be the Strongman Dictator he dreams of becoming.
Once we have lost our Constitutional Democracy, as the people of Italy, Germany and Spain learned to their great peril, the price of getting it back (if it can ever be returned) will be horrible steep.
20
All of Trump's troubles are of his own doing. What grandma used to say. "You reap what you sow".
10
25th Amendment, anyone? Me thinks the man is delusional, and as president, dangerous to the country and the world. A truly scary article and assessment.
13
If you really want to be terrified, read The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump, edited by Dr. Bandy Lee, a collection of essays in which 37 psychiatrists and mental health experts assess tRump’s mental (in)stability. We are all endangered by the lawless tRump administration.
1
Finally, someone besides me is stating the obvious: a person who has an anti social personality( a sociopath) and narcissistic personality disorder coupled with extreme paranoia, extreme grandiosity and fear of the law and those who would uphold it is unfit to be an officer of a corporation -not to mention holding a country’s highest office. The 25th amendment deserves consideration.
1
Please, there is nothing new about the President s behavior. He has never been normal. Let us stop trying to explain and justify his actions.
11
If Trump actually is “a stable genius” and “the only one who can fix it”, why is the United States’ standing in the world dropping?
If Trump actually is such a great leader of a democracy, why has he called dictators, like Putin, Erdogan, Duarte and Kim, good leaders?
If Trump actually is on the people’s side, why does he attack and demean so many more regular people than he supports?
If Trump actually is a great president, why does he have to misstate his administration’s “accomplishments”? (It wasn’t the largest tax cut ever, the job growth rate has slowed from Obama’s last three years as president, etc.)
Why does Trump, in this retired history teacher’s eyes, act so much like almost every spoiled, lazy, failing student who was in my classes?
22
It is called paranoia and delusion, not suspicion and distrust.
11
One can’t help but notice that the explanations of Trump’s paranoia are all offered, from the perspective of professional psychiatrists, lay-people. Rationalization of the president’s behavior is one of the things for which so many will be judged by history. We wouldn’t, and didn’t, accept a president’s physical state to be assessed by an inadequately trained professional. We should expect the same regarding his mental state. That doesn’t mean he would be disqualified from office. History shows time and again that the populace is drawn to paranoid, narcissistic, grandiose leaders. The difference is with a professional assessment they would be doing so with their eyes open. The Goldwater Rule does not restrict assessing a president’s mental state; it simply precludes drawing a conclusion without a thorough, direct examination. We the people deserve at least that much.
5
@Vuk
Dr. Bandy Lee of Yale Univ. School of Medicine has written a book about this, & organized a well attended conference in 2017 about "The dangerous case of Donald Trump."
In my professional opinion, he clearly has Narcissistic Personality Disorder, probably has Attention Deficit Disorder, & may possibly also have dementia. This combination of psychiatric conditions renders him mentally unfit to serve as POTUS. Any other person in a position of responsibility who behaved as does Trump would have been required to undergo a psychiatric evaluation a long time ago. it is ridiculous that the one person in the position to do the most damage is exempted from this commonsense requirement.
1
@Vuk
Read the Dangerous Case of Donald Trump - this has already been done - Or Trump on the Couch.
Despite the repeated warnings of mental health professionals, Trump is in the White House and wreaking havoc on our country.
The real problem is that people around him defer to him and act as if he just has an out sized personality which must be "managed" rather than seeing what is before their very eyes and getting professional help with him. He will (is) only getting worse and we are all paying for it, over and over again.
1
The end result is Mr Trump continues to push ethical and legal boundaries, and expect his staff to blindly defend him. Perhaps if he changed his behavior, there wouldn't be a need to be paranoid that the truth will get out.
5
Senator Graham needs to get off the victimhood narrative. True, DT was elected fair and square under prevailing rules. Then he began to demonstrate almost daily incompetence and ignorance and a refusal to learn anything that would cure those manifestations. He demonstrated also a contempt for truth. If anything the House was almost too timid in holding him to account. Now the GOP Crowd in Congress wants us to believe everyone is picking on this very effective and selfless public servant. I truly wish he’d earned at least a passing grade as president, but he has not. Defeating his bid for re-election is now a priority.
17
“Here, in Trump’s America, we’re to believe that all institutions are corrupt. No one is to be trusted..." Fine. However, accepting this proposition inevitably leads to this conclusion: the office of the presidency must therefore be corrupt because it is also an "institution." It must be mistrusted, thoroughly investigated, overseen, and cleaned out when necessary. Everything is proceeding quite logically. So what's Trump's problem?
7
@Richard S
No, because the presidency is an institution and all institutions are corrupt. Trump uses that reasoning to push for investigations into other branches of government. Why not his?
How convenient to excuse his paranoia by laying it at the feet of the Democrats and the left and further excuse it based on his upbringing with his father and Roy Cohn. While they may all be contributing factors, like everything about Trump there is zero personal accountability. Lindsay Graham and the test of the Republicans once again give him a giant pass. It wouldn't hurt for the man to look in the mirror to recognize his very behaviour of I must win at all costs brings out antaganostic behaviour in others. Of course Democrats and the left are out to get him. Only in as much as he is out to get them.
4
Narcissists like Trump interpret every slight, real or imagined, as a personal attack. No offense is too small to simply ignore. Everyone who shows the audacity to challenge him in any way is viewed as a mortal enemy who must be annihilated. Absolute unconditional loyalty every step of the way is demanded from all comers; the moment one shows any inclination to push back for the sake of the truth, justice, or common sense, that person will be thrown under the bus despite having done his bidding faithfully up to that moment.
That is why he spends an inordinate amount of time & energy attacking his enemies on Twitter. That is why he seems much more invested in tearing people down than in actually accomplishing anything positive. That is why he is so determined to turn the Justice Dept. into his personal weapon to be used to defend his allies (e.g., Roger Stone, convicted felon; Paul Manafort, convicted felon, et. al.) & persecute his enemies with false charges & slanderous innuendo.
This shows the danger in allowing a POTUS to operate for his own personal benefit rather than the good of the nation. The sooner he is removed from office, the better. After the sham of an impeachment trial without hearing from witnesses, the only remedy will be to decisively reject him at the polls this November, if Russian meddling does not make that impossible.
14
..., from afar it looks like people not trusting Trump are surrounding the presidency more so than Trump being surrounded by people he cannot trust.
In the old days, people chose to circle the wagons for protection; the constitution and the presidency these days need all the protection available, and that certainly will not come from within.
“Freedom is what you do with what's been done to you.” (Jean-Paul Sartre)
3
I'm waiting for Sims White House.
Trump will invent invent an entire army of support staff, all attractive, woodenly servile, and deletable on a whim. These will join the talking heads on Fox with "news" about all our great leader is achieving, while in reality, he'll be out practicing his foot-wedge. I bet there will be cabinet positions for John Miller and John Barron. Only the best people.
And the Senate majority will applaud.
6
Mr. Graham and Mr. Turley attempt to give cover to Trump’s paranoia by claiming that he does have people in the FBI and intelligence community out to get him.
If so, it is not because he threatens the status quo. It is because he surrounds himself with criminals, several of whom have already been convicted by juries of their peers. When you engage in criminal activity you might well expect to have law enforcement investigating you.
8
Everything reported here is a preview of what to expect of Trump if he is reelected. Released from the constraints of campaigning, unafraid of any governmental power to check his excesses, Trump will become a dictator, while Republican lawmakers explain why that is good for America.
4
This is the culture that Trump built. Loyalty and praise are his main demands. He himself is incapable of loyalty, and he’s afraid others may be like him. Everybody is suspect, and down the line, everybody suspects everybody else. We’ve seen this from despots and their regimes throughout history, and now we have such a man in the White House.
6
". . . there’s a double standard in the media and actually in the law.”
Yes indeed. There is a double standard. There is one standard for Joe Citizen, shooting his mouth off in a bar, and another standard for the occupant of the most powerful office on earth. Trump's incomprehension about why that might be, and his determination not to take notice of it, lie at the very heart of his incompetence in office.
6
Rather than purge anyone who might rightfully blow the whistle on illegal behavior, perhaps Trump could consider modifying his behavior to stay within the law? One can dream. Then there would be no need for ethical officials to do their duty by calling illegal activity to the attention of authorities and the American electorate.
1
Let's face it, many of us are paranoid, hateful and hurtful, at least to a certain degree, yet many of us have learned to handle those conditions of human nature while many of us can't or won't, thereby destroying countless others of us who happen to get in the way. Once the truth is no longer the truth and the law is no longer law, anything goes, and with it, everything else.
High time for the pendulum of high crimes and misdemeanors to come to an end before our democracy does. Never pretty, always necessary.
4
Make no mistake: Trump is transforming our political culture for the worse, but we are complicit in the transformation. Some more than others. Most shameful of all has been the Republican establishment, which went from excoriating the Trump candidacy to embracing the Trump presidency. They have shown time and again that there is nothing Trump can say or do that will earn their rebuke. But there is blame to go around. "Experts" like Prof. Turley give Trump cover by explaining his paranoid behavior as an understandable response to real opposition within the government and the media. In fact, everyone who "normalizes" Trump contributes to his radical transformation of the nation's political culture. We all are in danger of becoming numb to his psychopathy. How long until Trump becomes a role model for aspiring politicians? His influence is already being felt in the schoolyard, where bullies are following Trump in choosing their victims and using his bombastic rhetoric to go after them. It cannot be said to often or too strongly: Trump is NOT a normal president. He is the Founders' nightmare come to life, a mad king unconstrained by constitutional checks and balances.
12
There is a difference between being Joe Public and POTUS. When Trumps makes calls, he's Trump, not the president. When he makes calls as president, he's speaking for all of us. We have the right to know what we are saying. Therefore, if Trump wants to be Trump and not president, he has that option, but if he wants to be president, he has to give up being Trump for if he doesn't he's reducing us as his unequal. We have the right to know how we are being used. To disallow us from knowing that is to reduce us to the status of slave.
4
Trump unfortunately provides evidence on a daily basis that the US presidential system does not have strong checks and balances in place that would prevent the democracy to deteriorate towards an authoritarian system if you have a president who does not adhere to the norms of the incumbent (and largely pro-democracy) elites and a partisan majority in the Senate the aim of which is to keep power at all cost. That can happen with either party. The system is vulnerable. Maybe time to change the system - towards the popular vote and a true parliamentarian democracy. The current system was created due to historic reasons that have long been outdated.
11
@Sina Excellent comment, Sina. The system was also created to assume the president would do the right thing voluntarily. Releasing tax forms, insuring others on calls may now need to be passed into law because of the first president after 248 years to abuse his power.
2
Trump ran a 2016 campaign based on fear and distrust. Whatever else, he's consistent about his world view.
4
@HPower
There's a saying "Just because I am paranoid doesn't mean there aren't people out to get me".
However there are times when on the job politics can become really nasty and lies are believed. I had a very painful few years of that. I refused to give in and leave saw those people terminated including one escorted off the grounds by the police in handcuffs and I retired from that facility after revitalizing my career.
Just an old white man's opinion based on experience...
1
The unknown frightens everybody. Trump has a serious inability to learn, the fact that learning requires confronting the unknown seems to be enough to dissuade him from trying. Time after time he has been given expert advice which he cannot appreciate and instead reverts to what he feels familiar, demanding that he be given what he wants without any effort by him to work through the problem. In his personal businesses, that seems to have worked because the issues were about money and getting money to address them was never a problem. Now he’s dealing with the issues of a great country with great consequences for the world, and his habits are inappropriate and so don’t work like he wants and so it frustrates him. But he cannot understand.
6
From day one, his political opponents have cited that Trump did not legitimately win the Presidential election. His opponents and even his own party's deep tentacles were being disrupted by a non politician. "He came to Washington with an agenda that was highly antagonistic and threatening to the status quo". That start and the tremendous fear and anxiety over his vast changes and successes in his agenda have caused undue precedent in attacking the President in any manner possible despite the lack of any evidence and or create chaos in our government to bring down the Presidency. Ultimately this will undermine our rule of law and create a climate that could evolve into civil war.
@Other
Mr Trump is the world's greatest victim. He is victimized by the Deep State, fake news, liars, leakers on and on.
The problem with that is some could be somewhat true but he ( Mr Trump) lies and misdirection is easy and essential for him. The only " Deep State" is Career Civil Servants who are trying to do their jobs and are loyal to our country. Fake News is real but is usually debunked by legitimate media. Whistleblowers are usually folk who see things that need to be corrected and report it but fear retaliation. It's true some Whistleblower complaints are politically motivated but most are not.
Just an old white man's opinion based on experience...
1
@Other That's a tired Fox talking point. Before the Ukraine phone call was revealed, Gallup showed that 63% of Democrats were against impeachment because of The Mueller Report. Pelosi was agaisnt it.
Trump does unAmerican, criminal things - it's his fault, not the Democrats.
Oh, but there is evidence. Mountains of it. This “President” is a criminal, who surrounds himself with criminals (Michael Cohen, Roger Stone, Paul Manafort, etc). This scandal presidency must end (must be voted out) or our democracy is over.
1
'A Presidency Increasingly Guided by Suspicion and Distrust.'
Just like after impeachment headlines declared 'An Increasingly Aggrieved and Angry President.'
Increasingly? No, no. Trump has always had the dial turned up full blast on suspicion, distrust, grievance, and anger. It's just like saying 'Trump is Increasingly Trump.'
4
Sounds like Donald is not having much fun lately. And as his behavior becomes even more bizarre, and his tweets even more extreme, can we expect that anything good will come of it? Will the GOP try to rein him in? Please Lord let us make it to inauguration day 2021 with a new Democratically-elected President, and a House and Senate controlled by the Democrats as well.
5
If you have not read the classic Greek play Antigone, do so. And pay careful attention to the character Creon. He is the one who famously declared to his people, I am the state, even as his own paranoia increased and his authoritarian use of power rose correspondingly.
How did that all turn out in the end? Not so well.
2
Suspicion and distrust, are two very relevant words to describe the words and actions of Donald Trump. They are totally deserved, based on his efforts since January, 2017.
2
If President Trump told the truth more often, then he would be trusted by others. It has become a vicious cycle of mistrust. As president, he should set the example for others to follow.
3
Aside from the psychological damage Fred Trump inflicted on his son, Donald has never worked in a company where he was responsible to anyone but himself. He was never the CEO of a publicly traded company, so he was never answerable to a board of directors or shareholders. His will was always unchallenged, whether he played by the rules, obeyed the laws, or not. And when he got in trouble by stepping outside the law, he had fixers who also did his bidding, either by tying up cases in court or through more direct (and illegal) means.
Republicans (and not a few Democrats) like to say that government ought to be run like a business, and while I don’t subscribe to that view, even if one did, the kind of business that a candidate has run is of paramount importance. Someone who ran a company like Trump Inc. should never have been given the reins of government, because his only skill set was autocracy.
10
Looking at 20th century dictators, examining 21th dictators like Erdogan and Poetin, one change in personality change unites them all: after getting power, staying in power, much more than serving their countries, is their most wanted , ultimate desire, which then deforms their character, fed by growing paranoia, that people around them are the enemy. So now Trump ‘sees’ a conspiracy , the deep State, threatening what ‘s in America’s interest: his re election. When he gets re elected, he will search for new, undemocratic means to stay in power, having Erdogan and Poetin as his examples, people he openly admires.
3
The damage this man has done will not be repaired simply by a presidential election. The fragile integrity of our society is at risk.
7
“Trump came to office with an almost pathological distrust of others and an irresistible impulse to attack any perceived threat,” said Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University who testified against impeachment last year before the House Judiciary Committee.
And we the American people have paid a tremendous price for the irrationality of this President. His distrust of everyone and every"structure" that upholds our democracy and his inability to perform the duties of one of the most important roles of our American Democracy "rationally" have created perilous times in our country. We the American people must set things right and work diligently by putting others in office who will not allow this type of turmoil to ever be put on our country again.
7
He’s never been successful at anything. Running for office was conceived as a stunt to stimulate publicity. He didn’t want the job and never expected to win. All that plus, as an added bonus, his business dealings, questionable loans, and immoral personal life was not meant to be shared with the general public....tax returns? But, he managed to eek out a win in the electoral college based on a total of 87,000 votes in five states that he never expected to win. He is P. T. Barnum incarnate, sitting at the controls of a 747 with no clue what all the little buttons, levers and gizmos do. But as time has gone on, and he’s thrown switches just to see what happens, he’s actually managed to convince himself, with the encouragement of the other no nothings, that he knows what he’s doing. There are 362 days until the election, then another 78 days after that until a new president is sworn in. The worst is yet to come!
9
@J I have good news! There are actually only 261 days til the election, just 261 days till we vote him out.
For those inclined to wonder how far this president may go a look at the story down page from here about the jailed Turkish fellow who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time during a peaceful protest may be instructive.
It's hard not to understand how far down the slippery slope toward autocratic rule we now find ourselves. Please pay attention to the words our self proclaimed "king" is mouthing these days. He's previewing our political and legal futures in real time.
4
Trump is not the only one who is suspicious and paranoid:
Where are the translator's notes from Trump's 2017 meeting with Putin in Hamburg?
Where are the notes of the Trump-Putin 2018 meeting in Helsinki?
Where are the notes missing from five other Trump-Putin meetings?
Even Ronald Reagan kept detailed recordings of his chats with Gorbachev.
What is Trump telling Putin he's afraid to tell his own government departments and the American people?
7
Many are still fuming over the non-outcome of this dismal impeachment trial as well as the insufferable double standard we live with daily. For example, NYT reported that a NY councilwoman has been accused of using her rank to get out of a $50 traffic ticket. In the end she was charged a $5,000 fine for violating a section of the City Charter that forbids elected officials from using their positions for personal advantage.
Is there anyone not aware that this WH occupant has been using his position for personal advantage? Why can’t one Democrat or one reasonably good lawyer get him successfully charged?
4
I'm not from the US and have enough problems with Boris Johnson here in the UK. But it seems to me that US presidents should have a pre-qualification mental health assessment before entering office. If, then, the populace wanted a paranoid, low-IQ individual on the job then at least they would have done that knowingly. Along with tax returns of course.
6
My whole remaining family, brother who lives in Kentucky, brother and sister in NY, continue to blindly support Trump. My sons and I just can’t believe how this could possibly be, and are totally at a loss. Unbelievably they’re proud of their support, along with all their friends and relatives, and flaunt their support whenever they get the chance, even politicizing the birth of a baby brought to term by surrogacy having the baby wearing a MAGA t-shirt in her first photos!
We say very little, but have clearly made our disgust of this president known, and I don’t wish to cause a family rift, but their flaunting seems like bullying at a level where they are trying to deliberately cause problems. I feel that bullying goes along with anyone who supports Trump, and maybe that is the appeal of people who do: the permission for supporters to bludgeon those who don’t agree into submission, like the occupant of the Oval Office.
8
The Donald is nothing without drama. He thrives on chaos and conflict. He believes dominance is legitimacy. It’s his way of showing up his father and anyone who has doubted him, especially institutions he believes have denied him approbation. He’s a rebel without a cause beyond his wallet. Don is fighting what he sees as an existential war for respect and validation. Unfortunately, his fans believe he’s fighting for them, as they share his need for respect; but, he’s fighting only for himself. They don’t see his betrayal yet.
It’s nearly impossible to disabuse people of their beliefs. No one wants to be told or admit they put their money (trust) on the wrong horse. The more they’re shown evidence, the more they resist, sinking deeper into denial. A cult provides a cocoon of self-reinforcing lies with comfort like family. While real families are being fragmented at home and at our borders, Murdoch is manufacturing a fantasy family at Fox. It’s so intoxicating that it’s difficult to penetrate the wall of obfuscation.
We’re looking at a long road to repair the nation’s divisions caused by Trump’s pathological need for validation. When will taxpayers and voters tire of being his therapist and ATM?
Until the election, not feeding the monster is a sound strategy to minimize the damage. MSM needs to focus on facts and minimize hyperbole to restore trust in its reporting. With justice in question, Democracy is now hanging on the credibility of the fourth estate.
3
Professor Turley makes the point that trump's suspicions that people in the government were out to get him were confirmed by investigations. What he neglects to mention is that most of the leaks and charges that are made by these same people have been proven to be accurate. trump was caught with his hands in the cookie jar, over and over again. He's shown plenty of anger at government officials taking umbrage at his transgressions. What we've not seen is any sense that maybe, just maybe, there are rules that have been broken, that those rules matter and that he needs to rethink what he should and shouldn't be doing.
6
1. Trump has always been this way. Now he feels unleashed by the refusal of the GOP senators to consider the evidence.
2. Trump knows he is guilty. His response is not paranoia, it is revenge, intimidation, and the consolidation of power in himself.
8
Acquitted without documents or witnesses. Fake trial. Fake acquittal. It was proved with overwhelming evidence in the House inquiry.
3
Donald Trump is not "turning paranoia into policy" as the article says. He sees an opportunity to act without any eyes on him and he is using it. He may be paranoid but paranoia is the projection of one's own violence, lawlessness, and aggression onto others. These are Trump's most important qualities. Now he can ask any leader for "a favor though" and not only will nobody squeal, nobody will even know. The FBI has already been cowed about investigating any matter related to election interference and McConnell has refused to do anything serious about election security.
November 2020 will surely not be a free and fair election.
5
Re Mr. Turley's comment about Donald Trump: "“However,” Mr. Turley added, “his suspicions were validated to some degree in these investigations — something that many refuse to acknowledge. He came to Washington with an agenda that was highly antagonistic and threatening to the status quo. It was immediately clear that he faced deep opposition to his agenda.”
I would like to point out to Mr. Turley, a Trump apologist who would be well advised to study the Constitution before he comments again, that Donald Trump came to Washington with an agenda that was largely unconstitutional, rooted in racism and hatred, and built around enriching his business for his family while he was in office, and for himself when he is no longer in office. On top of that, he has promoted the agenda of dictators over that of professionals and experts sworn to uphold the Constitution, and has threatened his political enemies with violence and punishment without due process.
If Mr. Turley thinks it is acceptable to separate children from their parents, deny immigrants the right to seek asylum for legitimate reasons, embrace the practice of political retribution through the courts and also practice wholesale discrimination against people solely on the basis of their religious beliefs, then I suggest he move to China or Russia, where these practices are accepted. They are not acceptable in the United States and never will be.
8
Because Trump’s mental constructs are not reality based, he has a remarkable ability to hold conflicting views in tension in his mind. If, as he repeatedly claims, he has done nothing wrong, how could all these people be betraying him?
1
Isn’t this a perfect description of an autocrat? Plain and simply we are in deep trouble and I for a wild and destructive ride that the current Congress appears unable to corral.
3
This article mentions an issue that many people have misunderstood. Congress can and should supboena the interpreters who assist the president in his meetings with Vladimir Putin, but the focus on their notes is misguided. Interpreters are not stenographers. They develop a personal note-taking system as a memory aid to help them grasp, retain, reformulate, and express the speaker's meaning in the other language in real time. Interpreters couldn't do their jobs without taking notes, but those notes will make little or no sense to anyone who examines them later.
2
Trump was the Republican nominee for President of the United States in the 2016 election, having won the most state primaries, caucuses, and delegates at the 2016 Republican National Convention.
What exactly does this say about the Republican Party and its backers?
13
Nothing good. During the campaign, one voter said she would vote for him because he would be “the bull in the china shop,” and he has certainly been that.
In normal circumstances, this would be the time to invoke the 25th Amendment.
@B. Granat That they vote? Is that your point?
I grew up in NJ, in the New York media landscape. It was widely known for decades that there was something seriously wrong with Donald Trump, that he had deep character flaws. I understand people from other parts of the country who only knew him as a reality star, that he gave voice to what they were thinking, and therefore were convinced to vote for him. What I do not understand are the many, many other people whom I have met who should have known better, and voted for him. Where are those people now? Do they honestly believe they made a good decision?
38
@John The choice was binary, as it pretty much always is in our elections. I believe the Democrats could have easily defeated Trump if their candidate had been just about anyone other than Hillary Clinton. I don’t like Trump, but I clearly understand why he was elected and will probably be re-elected in 2020. In my view, Bloomberg is the only one seeking the nomination who can beat Trump and this is a heck of a note for a party that has spent years denigrating billionaires.
2
@John It was the Electoral College that put Trump in office. The people chose Hillary. This could happen again.
3
"Loyalty not only in deed, but in character is demanded of you. Loyalty of character often demands no less heroic virtue than does loyalty in deed. Loyalty in character is unbreakable loyalty, a loyalty that knows no ifs or buts, that knows no weakening, Loyalty in character means absolute obedience that does not question the results of the order nor its reasons, but rather obeys for the sake of obedience itself. Such obedience is an expression of heroic character when following the order leads to personal disadvantage or seems even to contradict one’s personal convictions." Hess 1933
19
@Cynthia Collins The means justifies the ends. It is fascinating that after Nazism was destroyed it was almost like a spell was broken on the German people. "What have we done?" seemed to drive the Germany people for decades. But now the feeling in younger Germans seems to be "How to we do it 'right' this time?". Guilt all but wiped from the soul of Germany. It is amazing what people can convince themselves to do no matter how atrocious it may be.
1
Usually, when we say that we have learned from a situation, it means that we must not do what we did that created the problem. In the case of Trump, there is no hint to suggest that he has seen the error in his behavior and is determined not to repeat it. Instead, he has learned that he should not have people witnessing what he does so that the error cannot be revealed. People will remember his famous disclaimer about asking forgiveness from God. So, if he were to ask for forgiveness, he will promise never to do his deed... in front of others.
32
Sen. Graham implies there is an error in law....there is.....one for trump and his cohorts, and one for everyone else.....according to trump. He and
His people have the right to ignore suppeonas and everyone else must comply.
The people spoke with the popular vote for Clinton, and now we are in this deep morass,
Remember history which can if we are not careful repeat itself.
But this man carefully gutting science may meet its downfall with the coronavirus. Study the 1918 flu epidemic......we must start now to use science to help rescue us......and global warming studies which is known truth, and vaccines to prevent diseases. These must be fully funded . They can no longer be ignored .
1
I am reading the book A Very Stable Genius. The book portrays Donald Trump as very unstable person of low, if not average, intelligence. A fine comment on the obsessive focus of the Democratic and Republican parties on each others performance, rather than leadership and remedy of the many seemingly intractable problems facing our nation.
16
@Just So this needs to be covered by the media, in a calm, professional way. Information about mental illness and some behaviors needs to become part of this discussion.
2
@Just So
It is well known that there are many forms of intelligence - visual, interpersonal, linguistic, etc. Trump is off-the-charts in his ability to lie and project his own failings onto others - I've never seen anything quite like it before.
I state this not as an obsession, but a rational observation.
Regarding solving our problems, what good comes from lying?
1
Showing no integrity, no respect, and no trust to his staff, and demanding blind loyalty yet firing by a tweet, what does he expect?
Trust should be mutual.
83
My Goodness. Where did this narrative come from? "Burned by impeachment"... suddenly Donald Trump is *increasingly* guided by suspicion and distrust
Distrust of who? And of course we should just discount the last 36 months of similar Pre-impeachment erratic, distorted thinking and worse conduct?
Rhetorical question of course is, why is Trump paranoid? Could-it-be because, whether re-elected- or not, he will finally be exposed to all as the fraud he knows he's always been?
Could-it-be because the till is empty of dupes left to fall on his sword and the flames of prison are lapping at his labels?
76
@Candlewick Look up the symptoms of narcissistic personality disorder, and see if it reminds you of Trump. He did not choose that disorder, but he also has not, as far as any of his biographers have reported, ever tried to ameliorate its effects of other people
2
Tonight’s episode: Barr Bites Back! Each successive cliffhanger further demonstrates Trump’s control of the news cycle by setting up the next near-death conflict, and like any good serial villain he always slithers away only to return next week with a new plan.
Each utterance is presented as a democracy-shattering violation of the constitution, and the lead photo always shows him glowering from the podium.
Now on to the 2020 vote. Surely whoever the Dems nominate will vanquish Trump in a rout. Problem is we’re still in the midst of an historic economic expansion, with an aging population and growing environmental/resource constraints. Not the time for socialist experiments.
401Ks are up, unemployment is low. Democratic strongholds like San Fran and Chicago are cesspools of homelessness, wealth-concentration, corruption and crime. I expect he’ll win the election, and likely the popular vote. Maybe even retake the House. Voters hit the reset button in 2016; they’re unlikely to do it again now at the outset of the Roaring 20s.
10
Yep. Democrats have brought tofu to a gun fight.
Don't take your eye off the ball because the real concern isn't retribution, it is what Trump will do legislatively in the next 9 months to further destroy the Republic.
65
@Ken Solin Destroy the republic? Could you be a bit more specific as to what parts of the republic you think are at risk? Don’t like Trump? That’s OK with me, but hyperbole like this just doesn’t make sense.
An acquaintance who is more left-leaning than I am once opined in resignation that Mr. Trump is invulnerable, and it seems nothing can stop him. I answered the only person who can stop Mr. Trump is Mr. Trump. He's paranoid because he knows he's vulnerable, and as he weeds out all supposed threats on his staff, the last real threat to him will be himself. That one cannot be stopped, by anybody--much less by himself.
29
For every false headline and article in the NYtimes about Trump, Trump gains a few notches in standing. The news media keeps up the good work to re-elect Trump, although their intent is the opposite.
13
@sh
Please cite one 'false headline." Link to sources that contradict. Those sources cannot be Breitbart , Fox news or any other right wing source.
2
Sad spectacle watching once upstanding Geraldo Rivera taking on powerful Kennedy clan, exposing shameful Willowbrook housing helpless poor souls', shilling for congenitally contemptible trump.
21
Hey, it could be worse ... just take a look at the Chinese democracy
4
Trump is doing his best to emulate the Chinese and Russians. For the second term.
Poor comfort
Donald Trump was raised by his father to believe that everyone is against him. Trump practiced his paranoia in his years as a real estate developer in NY. Everything and everyone that held Donald Trump accountable for anything he did was met with, anger, lawsuits and every kind of reprisal imaginable. Because he was wealthy he had the power to intimidate and coerce people to do his bidding. Going to war with Donald was generally a losing proposition for anyone of lesser economic rank. Donald would simply buy an attorney and give him his marching orders. Donald's attorneys would go on the offense until the other side tired of the economic powerhouse that relentlessly pursued them. Sometimes people and/or businesses were destroyed by Donald's legal assaults. So, now, Donald is just being paranoid Donald as is his usual conduct. He seeks to destroy, demean and denigrate anyone who disagrees with him. Donald is a loose canon. He doesn't have a governing philosophy. He has a mean streak a mile wide and thousands of miles long. It's open season on everyone. The sooner we vote this psycho out of office in November the better off we'll all be.
146
As it turned out, Don’s dad should have watched out more for Don’s dad’s son than he did.
Personally, I’d rather be Tony Stark’s dad’s son. Richer, more talented, more important, stufff like that. Oh, also more human.
12
Even in business - being a paranoid is a virtue - I think it was said by either Google chairman or an Intel Chairman.
And of course, it makes sense - as long as not carried to extremes.
I think in case of our POTUS - the relentless campaign from the day he was declared a victor to his inauguration and now 3 years and counting - as illegitimate - speaks volumes for his paranoia.
And he was called illegitimate by someone who should know better - Jimmy Carter.
And as enumerated by the article - the constant investigations etc. - of a citizen he was and not a politician.
You can tell that because no astute politician would have kept Comey after what he did with Hillary or for that matter - told Comey to go easy on Flynn.
Our POTUS - like a typical business man is transactional and not relationship builder.
I spent 4 decades in the oil patch around the world - had great time and I thought deep relationships with folks I worked with.
Now retired, and not one of those with whom I thought I had a great relationship actually has stayed in contact.
It was all transaction.
My hope is POTUS - and I want him reelected - curbs his sense of paranoia and turns his fire on the Democrat nominee and not folks who are currently running his administration.
After he wins the election - there will be plenty of time to clean the house more.
But if he continues destroying his own administration - there ain't gonna much left to clean - plus, he will be defeated.
7
@Neil why do you think he will curb his paranoia? People thought he would become presidential. That did not happen either
51
Don't you know that Trump did tell Comey to go easy on Flynn? Which is obstruction of justice! It's funny how Trump supporters always look the other way. Read the Mueller report.
@Neil
Just why does the "house" need cleaning?
1
By incorporating prior presidents Nixon, Johnson, FDR, JFK the piece makes a false comparison and regrettably normalizes the behavior and actions of DJT but a long cast of willing adherents (Miller, Hicks, Pompeo, and most in the Republican caucus).
“The well-documented bias in the F.B.I. and Justice Department against Trump fuels his suspicions and tendency to counterpunch." Turley
Similarly, by quoting without annotation Turkey's false and overly broad attack on the Justice Department allows readers to come away with the conclusion there is nothing new in the paranoia exhibited by DJT as president and as he lunges for the 2020 election.
23
The only thing new about it is the transparency. As opposed to Johnson and Kennedy and Nixon and FFR who tried to hide their paranoia. So you should be happy with the transparency.
And you are, because it gives you more succor for meltdown and wringing of hands about your evil Trump.
And it all further inspires many to vote for him.
Good work!
This article implies that Trump was a perfectly normal president and implies that it is AFTER impeachment that Trump became suspicious and distrustful. Why would the two writers present such a totally false narrative?
Trump fired James Comey after a few months in office. Trump's improper actions -- which these writers don't even mention - started as soon as he took office. In fact, as we know from his campaign's many contacts with Russia, they started BEFORE.
The impeachment happened after years of this newspaper playing down all of Trump's corruption. Trump wasn't "burned" by impeachment. Trump was ANGRY that anyone criticized him because he was so used to the reporters normalizing every action he took and presenting any objections as simply "partisans out to get Trump".
It's shocking to read two so-called journalists trying to justify what Trump has done on "impeachment".
So tell us, who is to blame for the years that Trump claimed he had Obama's Kenyan birth certificate? If Trump is the "victim" now, then he was surely the "victim" then. Can you blame that on Trump's anger at being impeached?
Each day these reporters get amnesia about everything Trump has done for the last 8 years. These reporters believe "just because Trump is paranoid, it doesn't mean people aren't out to get Trump".
But what they ignore is that "just because Trump is paranoid, it doesn't mean Trump's corruption should not have been investigated."
59
Trump set the stage at his inauguration and has been playing on it ever since.He painted a picture of the poor, the powerless, the students with unsafe schools and the nation ruled by ruthless politicians.Someone wrote that speech for him -he set the bar low as in what he called American carnage.Since that moment he has forgotten the poor but has aided and abetted the ruthless politicians.He has not lifted up the voters-he has lied and bullied and made his office all about him.He has forgotten the Americans he promised he would never forget.Trump”s own image is all he cares about now-it is a pathetic performance devoid of the patriotism he fondly extols.
39
Thoughtful and measured people don’t even have a weapon against this.
2
What a miserable world Trump lives in! He may be the US President and all powerful but he sure isn’t a happy or peaceful or peace loving person! Is anyone else tired of his world yet? Let’s just start focusing on important policy issues instead like affordable health care for all, climate change, sustainable agriculture, affordable quality education, affordable child care, gun safety, elimination of dark money, opioid crisis, our deficit instead and start holding our lawmakers accountable for all the issues we can agree on.
55
A superb chronicle of Donald Trump's:
• paranoid retrenchment;
• vicious, scorched-earth character assassination; and,
• vandalism of essential government norms and institutions.
President Trump has jumped the tracks. The next election is the most important of our lifetimes, and may save us from the abyss.
However, if Trump’s cabinet and Vice-President Pence really believe in public service, they need to summon their courage, and invoke the 25th Amendment.
History will make them heroes if they do so.
Otherwise, Their support of Trump will be in the first lines of each of their obituaries.
32
I don’t think you understand. At least half the country loves what is happening.
Psychoanalyze him all you want.
Fact is that he has followed through on his campaign promises like them or not.
12
@Arch Stanton
I don't remember Trump promising to stick middle class Americans with the biggest deficit in history so that his billionaire friends could get a huge tax break.
But that's what you got. You got conned and you, your children and your grandchildren will be paying for Trump's "campaign promises" for a long, long time. He conned you just like the people who attended Trump U.
71
@Arch Stanton which ones, pray tell? He did not stop the ATandT Time Warner merger as promised.
17
@Arch Stanton: Such as, showing his tax returns, have Mexico pay for the wall, invest in infrastructure and that better and cheaper health care for all? Still waiting...
74
Like when a pharaoh passes all its servants are sealed in the tomb with them. If our presidents were like pharaohs none of this impeachment and witch hunt would probably have happened. Lucky for Obama’s holdover servants Trump is only a POTUS and not a god and they’ll just get fired now instead.
3
Paranoia strikes deep. Into your life it will creep. Thus sang Buffalo Springfield forty or fifty years ago. But it’s as true today as it was then. In those days we were at war with North Viet Nam. Today we are at war with the enemy in the White House. He has rallied his faithful around him while he wages war against his native land. He is becoming increasingly isolated, he is fearful of every Democratic presidential hopeful who espouses good common sense and decency, and he is attempting to force his influence into and over every branch, nook, and cranny of our government. He exists on lies, not even on half truths. He emulates the worst autocrats and dictators known to man, while he cannot even return to live in his own home state because he refuses to pay his fair share of New York State taxes, let alone his fair share of federal taxes. And it’s to this guy that William Barr, Mitch McConnell, and the Senate Republicans have pledged their lives. They’re all sick men. But their leader is worse and becoming the national bully that everyone with any foresight envisioned. Impeachment didn’t work, but the ballot box must and will. Or else our democracy is doomed.
43
"Mr. Trump’s advisers and defenders turn to the old nostrum — just because he may be paranoid does not mean people are not out to get him."
Dear writers of this article:
It will surely shock you and amaze you that Trump has actually acted improperly many, many times during his presidency. That is on the record. Trump held up foreign aid and asked for an investigation into his political rival. His son -- quoted here as if he was a respectable man - invited Russians offering dirt on Hillary Clinton into a meeting in Trump Tower and Trump directed him to lie about it. Trump asked James Comey to stop investigating Michael Flynn and stop investigating Russia and fired him when he would not.
I suppose if a journalist had no idea that any of those things happened, and knew that Trump had never done anything wrong, this article would make a lot of sense.
Ignorant journalists might interview dozens of Trump acolytes justifying Trump's paranoia because "people are out to get him" without any mention that Trump was being investigated because he did many things -- documented things -- that are improper. Are you truly that ignorant?
The fact that this newspaper cannot bring itself to say that Trump has ever done anything improper helps promote this idea that Trump is being "victimized". Yes, he is being "victimized" like Al Capone was "victimized" by the FBI. If you are doing bad things, people who stop criminals will investigate you.
35
I agree with Turkey that Trump’s agenda is antagonistic to the status quii I. Consider his current attack on Social Security and Medicare. The sooner he goes, the vrtter!
6
It is a lack of symbiosis in Trump’s scattered organization. He trusts no one and he is not trustworthy. What an ugly situation. Trump alienates everyone sooner than later. Therefore, he has no true confidants or someone he can rely on. His paranoia is outsized in scope. He cannot be trusted to be loyal, therefore he gets no loyalty.
12
Try obeying the law, Mr. President. Then people won't bother you so much.
37
At least Nixon had the decency to leave, more or less, on his own.
That won't be the Donald's way.
And oh, Lindsey, what in the heck? A 'double standard' you say, by the media and legally, for poor, victimized DJT, the guy who has gotten every break in the book for his entire life, including his time in the WH?
Your lifelong friend, mentor(?) and general conscience, John McCain must be in a constant spin -- no 'resting' easy for him.
16
When someone with delusions of grandeur, who doesn't know why he's always been a social pariah, fails so consistently all his life at everything he tries to do, he has to blame someone else. It certainly can't be his own fault. Can it?
But in the case of Donald Trump, his conspicuous lack of intelligence, skill, and compassion (and common decency) reveal his core self. This is who he really is. He can never be anything but a petty tyrant -- a born loser. And he senses that, even if he can't admit it to anyone else.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean you're not also malicious and inept.
28
Well, what do you expect? He just survived an attempted coup d’état! And who can forget the “I Am Part of the Resistance Inside The Trump Adminstration” article in NYT Sept 5th 2018?
If the Trump presidency has indeed achieved anything, it has been to make abundantly clear to the entire world, that the so-called Deep State is not just something conspiracy theorists fret about, but a very real entity. Which in turn opens a whole new can of worms, making us wonder who controls it and what those people are trying to achieve.
Anyone’s guess is equally valid. The Bilderberg Group? Skull and Bones? George Soros? The Rothschilds? The Rockefellers? Paedophile satanists? Lizards from outer space?
My point is that any notion of a powerful, secret entity in control of policy outcomes is absolutely terrifying to most people and poses a real threat to public confidence in government institutions. Let that be a lesson learned from this whole miserable impeachment saga. Regardless of how much you dislike Donald Trump and the values he stands for, he is still the democratically elected POTUS until the next election. Any move to undo that will destroy so much more than he ever could while he still governs under the rule of law.
5
@Michael
The deep state / swamp thought Hillary was going to be president and that they would make a ton of money with a second go at socialized medicine and climate change. The sky was the limit for the oportunities for taxes, bureaucracy and graft.
4
@Michael T
Trump has said "I can do anything I want as president," as he ignores the Constitution, separation of powers, and the oversight role that the Constitution assigns to Congress. His"values" are those of a person who wants to be a king. America does not want a king.
1
@Reader In Wash, DC It was DJT who created trillions of dollars of defict with his and the GOP's tax cut for the rich.
Crooks are the most paranoid people out there, they think everyone is just like them.
31
Other issues that qualify as articles of impeachment must be worked through the system, quickly, and impeach the very stable, but very corrupt genius.
6
The government is too big, the different departments view themselves as semi-autonomous and they all serve their own interests. Presidents are too hamstrung, too neutralized by excessive numbers of aides and advisors, (read: self-interested plotters and leakers). Mr. Trump is right to try to reduce the size of government and cut the number of assistants. Unfortunately his work is just beginning and he has to take flak from all directions for it. Mr. Trump needs our support, not our criticism; he's doing work that needs to be done.
7
@Ronald B. Duke like gutting the EPA so that your children's lungs can filter the smog and they can drink the polluted water.
32
@MLS I suspect Ronald's share portfolio (and of the other few supporters) will sweeten those pains. There cannot be any other "rational" cover.
2
@Ronald B. Duke Trump never received a mandate to deconstruct the US government (a goal the GOP has had since Reagan). Only the minority of the population who voted for him ever supported his agenda.
Donald Trump will never grasp nor allow himself to believe that the firestorm that surrounds him was ignited by the matches in his own hands.
92
He's tormented. Always has been, always will be.
That's all there is to it.
29
“I think you’ve been afraid all your life,” pretty much sums it up.
18
@Robert I would feel sorry for Trump, who is impaired by a personality disorder. But I can't forgive his deliberate cruelty and disrespect to the population. He is much too insecure and incompetent to be president.
2
With his paranoia, Donald Trump is likely to create more enemies. Some of them who maybe critical, may undermine his 2020 reelection campaign. Hopefully, it may help a Democratic win. Despite all his irrationality, so far his reign hasn't been that bad.
Whatever, bad things he did, like the tax-cuts for rich and judges have been engineered by hard-right Republicans.
And if he's not reelected, a subsequent Democratic administration can fix most of the bad policies he has implemented.
The Democratic front-runner as of now, Bernie Sanders appears bad news. Republicans may beat him if he's the nominee. Smart people like Michael Moore are supporting Sanders, which is scary to me.
I would request Democrats to support Pete Buttigieg with say, Amy Klobuchar as his running mate. A minority candidate may not be suitable now, but a (white) woman in the ticket may be helpful, to energize women. Minorities will vote for any candidate who can defeat Trump; they have more to lose, which they know it, if he is reelected.
6
:When a prominent man tells dozens of lies every day and believes them all, including the ones that contradict each other, that man naturally gets to be known, understood and dealt with as if he were crazy.
57
The comments section invites me to "Share your thoughts" - and the best way I can do that in this case is to share the thoughts of a few others with good ideas --
"There is a principle which is a bar against all information, which is proof against all arguments and which cannot fail to keep a man in everlasting ignorance - that principle is contempt prior to investigation."
~ Herbert Spencer
"The search for a scapegoat is the easiest of all hunting expeditions."
~ Dwight D. Eisenhower
Truth is eternal. Our knowledge of it is changeable. It is disastrous when you confuse the two.
~ Madeleine L’Engle
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; True nobility is being superior to your former self.
~Ernest Hemingway
"Fair play with others is primarily not blaming them for anything that is wrong with us."
~Eric Hoffer
"Mocking is the last resort of someone who has nothing intelligent to say."
~ Anonymous
"Sometimes people don't want to hear the truth because they don't want their illusions destroyed."
~ Friedrich Nietzsche
Sin has many tools, but a lie is the handle that fits them all.
~ Oliver Wendell Homes
36
Several eminent psychiatrists have opined over the years that Trump has severe Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
I don't think the public fully understands the implications of these opinions and they should
.
It's not as if Trump wakes up in the morning and says to himself, "I think I'll be a narcissistic again today, can't get enough of it."
No. He has no choice. He has an untreated medical disorder. Nobody is born this way. He came by it honestly. With a disorder like this, the man is in pain. He vascillates between elation and distain, but the moods are never consistent and are often prompted by his perceptions of what is happening on any given day.
Narcissism is an attachment disorder. Paranoia is part of the dynamics. A narcissist needs to be admired, otherwise there is more pain. He has to be wary about further injury. He is not capable of helping himself. This is not just a bad attitude we are talking about.
News accounts such as the above, of the interpersonal chaos around Trump while he is in office may be true, but they do not cause his disorder.
Americans need to separate Trump from politics.
Despite his disorder, Trump has excellent skills manipulationg others to get what he wants and he exercises them vigorously. He will not quit.
If he is not voted out of office, don't blame him. Blame ourselves. By now, we should all know better.
43
Actually, personality disorders are hard wired, so he was born with his maladies. There is no medication for narcissism, but theoretically he could make positive behavioral changes by working with a good clinician. The problem is that narcissists see everyone and everything as the problem, not them. He will be pathetic as long as he lives.
23
@Alex Trump's family doesn't seem concerned with his obvious instability and erratic behavior. They can't change him, but neither should they ignore his incapacities.
4
FYI, his ratings are going up despite his behavior. I think you’re (we’re) looking at the wrong variables, this is a sea-change...and we’re going to drown.
2
I was watching the ABC news tonight and good news. Mr Bloomburg is thinking of asking Hilary Clinton to be his Vice President. What a ticket!!! They will make the rich pay taxes , shut coal down and get every one a fair and affordable health care. I planned on voting for Bloomburg any way but with Clinton on board the best deal in town.
5
@D.j.j.k.
Establishment nightmare revisited. Time to wake up and embrace the winning ticket, Bernie Sanders and fill in the blank for VP.
7
This would be too good to be true. For us Trump supporters.
Bring it on.
Yours truly,
Vast Right Wing Conspiracy.
Having been a social worker and counselor, one of the first issues that usually came to the forefront was that the individual in counseling insisted that he was not to blame for the problems his was facing because the fault lied in everyone else around him.
A very similar tapestry is being woven by Trump. He continues to assume that "officials who actually worked for him, reinforced his view that the government is full of leakers, plotters, whistle-blowers and traitors."
Of course the question I would be asking is WHY did so many individuals go against Trump in the first place? Could it be his behavior, actions and words led many to firmly believe the president was wrong, was abusing his power which was leading to corrupt decisions?
Maybe people are turning on this president because they firmly believe he is a dangerous threat to this nation. The fact that he is paranoid, vindictive and hostile only supports the fears of so many.
There is paranoia and then there is unstable. Especially since the impeachment acquittal, his behavior is becoming more apparent towards unstable than ever.
39
Having been a social worker and counselor, one of the first issues that usually came to the forefront was that the individual in counseling insisted that he was not to blame for the problems his was facing because the fault lied in everyone else around him.
A very similar tapestry is being woven by Trump. He continues to assume that "officials who actually worked for him, reinforced his view that the government is full of leakers, plotters, whistle-blowers and traitors."
Of course the question I would be asking is WHY did so many individuals go against Trump in the first place? Could it be his behavior, actions and words led many to firmly believe the president was wrong, was abusing his power which was leading to corrupt decisions?
Maybe people are turning on this president because they firmly believe he is dangerous. The fact that he is paranoid, vindictive and hostile only supports the fears of so many.
There is paranoia and then there is unstable. His behavior is becoming more apparent towards unstable than ever.
8
I think it is time for a re-release of The Caine Mutiny. Trump is the perfect Queeg. I expect him to start rolling ball bearings in hand any minute. Or, maybe, his phone is the ball bearings of the 21st century.
11
Except Queeg was intelligent.
6
@Peter
Reasonable analogy.
Dems and ‘progressives’ are, of course, the back-stabbing, disloyal opponents of the captain.
Hopefully, Mr Barr and Mr Durham will be Jose Ferrer throwing the drink in Fred MacMurray’s disloyal ‘progressive’ face.
1
America does not need a paranoid, vindictive, self-serving, pocket-lining, never apologize, always, ALWAYS, blame someone else for their mistakes and their corruption.
Democratic presidents have led during great economic times and they have led well during economic recoveries. (See the Clinton and Obama presidencies.)
We don't need and should not have a president who distrusts America's intelligence agencies, but who trusts Putin, Xi, Kim, Manafort, Stone, Barr, McConnell, Limbaugh, and Hannity.
America doesn't need the drama and doesn't deserve the cruelty and drama of another four years of Donald Trump.
38
Re: "...Presidential paranoia is not a new phenomenon but Mr. Trump, burned by impeachment, seems to have elevated it to a governing philosophy of his White House..."
I laughed, cynically, when I read of Trump, 'trial_ballooning' the idea that, somehow, he might 'become' un-impeached, merely by the Republicans failing, miserably, in their senatorial responsibilities!
8
It wouldn’t have mattered which Republican or non insider president won, all the articles & smears would be the same. It could have been Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush, John McCain, the Pope, or anyone, the left has refused to accept defeat after the Clinton Administration. All part of their game. The MSM also fails to honestly cover Democrat Presidents, especially the last one. The Obama Administration literally treated reporters like dogs, no transparency, but it was all good, they sat there all polite during scripted pressers. Trump has given the most transparency of any modern president, answers non scripted questions, goes way past time limits, and is treated with disrespect. 4 more years folks.
7
@JOSEPH
Do you have any evidence to support these wild accusations?
Didn't think so.
19
@JOSEPH I live in a blue state and I can tell you nobody is thinking about Hillary. It's a very tired argument to say that Democrats disapprove of Trump because he is not Hillary. His own defiance of the Constitution, his erratic and impulsive decisions, his inability to form practical plans for problems of the country, and the evidence of corrupt activity on his party are more than enough reason to feel he is failing disasterously as president. More than 16,000 lies to the public by Trump have been documented So much for transparency.
3
Yes. The treatment of Mitt Romney by the media in the 2012 campaign was a perfect example.
I'd like to know how many WH staffers have signed NDU's. Anyone who does has agreed to be held hostage. If you report a Constitutional violation you are open to massive fines. Oath is to Constitution with no mental reservations,even if that specifically not mentioned, an NDA placed Trump first and essentially is a gag order. Loyalty only goes up to the edge of the Constitution.IfTrump is imposing NDA's on staffers he is up to no good,but we already know that.
Something is fishy with the phone transcripts.As both the WH short version are a verbatim record.Does "...like you to do us a favor though..."Does this sound like Trump?
Vindman's testified that there was a demand for the favor which sounds like Trump. I believe that NSA chief,O'Brien,who is a political appointee,was the one who vindman reported concerns to.Remember also that the phone call was stored on a special server so who knows what changes from verbatim recording which must exist to insure accuracy.
The Dems also allowed the "what is an impeachable offense" argument to be muddied by the R's.They are good at it.
But since the house has the sole responsibility for impeachment then it is the house that determines what is an impeachable offense. I did not hear that argued,though I confess I did not hear every word in the trial.
That said it is then up to the senate to determine if removal is warranted .
So I see mistakes were made by dems. They did not focus.
2
Well, it seems as if Trump has taken his own advice, i.e., to beware, to be paranoid. We all at times are a little paranoid. This present adverse political paradigm has made more than a few hundred Americans more fearful and more angst-ridden for certain. But Trump's paranoia is exaggerated to the point of neurosis, or worse. This is a man who shows troubling signs, his tendencies toward egomania and a Freudian projection are but two others of a growing list. I find it to be comical if not so pathetic to read Graham's words: "I mean just put yourself in his shoes." For as long as I can remember, once you are elected to the highest office in the land, criticism as well as praise are the constant status quo. It goes with the territory. So if Trump decides to go against tradition and make his conversations with Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, or South Korea private, he will get his wish. Why? Because no one will stop him. But I predict it would not be enough to stop or assuage his descent into mental imbalance and instability.
10
Trump is in an impossible position; he demands loyalty but doesn’t inspire it. In fact, he goes out of his way to inspire loathing and distrust. This goes back to everyone he’s ever done business with (or been married to.) He’s probably never had a real friend, and doesn’t deserve one.
Trump’s periodic rallies fulfill his emotional needs more than his political ones. They don’t wind up his base back up as much as they wind Trump back up. They keep his profound insecurity at bay.
For a while.
Watch out.
26
The APA Ethics Committee has ruled as follows:
"Question: May a psychiatrist give an opinion about an individual in the public eye when the psychiatrist, in good faith, believes that the individual poses a threat to the country or national security?"
"Answer: Section 7.3 of The Principles of Medical Ethics (sometimes called “The Goldwater Rule”) explicitly states that it is unethical for a psychiatrist to offer a professional opinion about an individual based on publicly available information without conducting an examination.
This article condones the violation of an APA Ethical Rule. It treats as appropriate an unethical practice. An impermissible diagnosis of the President is deemed legitimate and worthy of belief.
Journalism such as this promotes a practice barred by professional ethical rules and it therefore should be deemed unethical.
At the very least, The Times should be soundly criticized for legitimizing unacceptable psychiatric practice. This is nothing more than quackery. The reporter and the editor should be chastised and a hearing should be convened. to determine whether they should be fired.
This is not unlike perjury -- it credits notions that are not worthy of credit.
@michjas
Where have you been the past 3 years?
Trump and Bernie are ideologically closer than Times and Ethics.
@michjas
Your comment appears to be in order, but it neglects to take common sense into account. Out here in the everyday world, people who are neither licensed psychologists nor psychiatrists find themselves in situations where, despite their credentials as registered plumbers, restaurant managers or certified secondary school teachers, they must at times make an amateur real-time judgement.
“Is this nearly-hysterical person drunk? On drugs? Mentally ill?”
“Have I seen this abnormal behavior before from this individual? Is she dangerous? Do I need to dial 911?
Police? An ambulance?”
“I don’t know why, but this man’s behavior is completely inappropriate. He seems nuts!”
The point here is that millions and millions of American citizens have observed Trump’s behavior for years.
Those of us who believe he is psychologically unbalanced know that our opinions aren’t clinical or legal. However, they are practical. Since the president isn’t about to submit to examination by mental health professionals, our real-world practical opinions are all we have.
I personally believe DJT is as crazy as a bed bug. And, until a genuine diagnosis is made public, I doubt I’ll change my opinion.
I can’t have Trump involuntarily committed, but I can tell friends, co-workers, and family, “I honestly believe the president is dangerous. He’s detached from reality. We need to do everything we can to remove him from office.”
29
@michjas
Read DSM 5. A Psychologist friend was showing me the entry for Narcissistic Personality Disorder.
quote,
"Diagnostic Criteria 301.81 (F60.81)
A pervasive pattern of grandiosity (in fantasy or behavior) need for admiration, and lack of empathy beginning in early adulthood, and present in a variety of contexts, as indicated by five (or more) of the following:
1. Has a grandiose sense of self importance, (e.g. exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior, without commensurate achievements)...
2. Is preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, brilliance, beauty, or ideal love.
4. Requires excessive admiration..
5. Has a sense of entitlement(i.e. unreasonable expectations of especially favorable treatment or automatic compliance with his or her expectations) .
Sound familiar?
13
Well now its blatantly obvious trump hasn’t “learned his lesson”, and Congress must impeach him again on another article of obstruction of justice. trump GOP patsies have to really feel the heat, particularly prominent GOP senators McConnell, Graham, Cruz, Cornyn, Burr, Johnson, and Thune ... their unflinching support is growing more untenable each and every day. GOP senators defending trump’s malfeasance (ongoing brazen obstruction of justice) are accomplices not dupes.
8
Is there never any end to the continuous bad news and paranoid derangement of the illegitimate, impeached 45?
The dog and pony show conducted by AG Barr is not fooling anybody. Barr has done and is still doing EVERYTHING Trump has ever wanted including outrageous steps never before taken by any AG in US history. Even after this week's orchestrated media performance, Barr is assigning an outside prosecutor for the Michael Flynn case. Gee, I wonder why?! I'm sure it was totally Bill Barr's idea, having absolutely NOTHING to do with DJT, and justifiable in every imaginable way. NOT!
Trump has been trying to protect Michael Flynn from being punished for his crimes since he pushed Comey to "go easy" on the guy. Comey would not play ball with the corrupt Bully In Chief so he got fired. And now Trump, adding insult to injury, is calling Comey a "sleazebag". Trump should be looking in the mirror when the says that.
If Bill Barr ever seriously decides to stop doing Trump's bidding, he'll be gone in a flash as well. But so far, it's all talk from Barr, probably trying to disrupt a revolution in progress inside his DOJ. Barr is still very corruptly doing everything Trump wants benefitting Trump's friends and punishing Trump's perceived enemies, which includes honest loyal Americans like Colonel Vindman.
12
Yes, it's true, DJT. We are out to get you. Out of office. The deadline is Jan 2021.
17
Well, nothing substantively new in this article (I mean, his pathological paranoia surely has been obvious since his TV days), but thank you for the updates on the recent personnel actions of this “very stable genius.”
5
Him. Buffer him. Let him be him. Private public proceedings for him? Is there no "we" in America anymore? It started out only his base was crazed, believe anything and be oblivious to his lies and salivate at every tweet. NOW any inside dissenter or critic is banned and it's all but one GOP senator who kneel to kiss his ring. History will expose him and them but right now this is both scary and sick.
7
Paranoia? Is that a joke? After all this President has been through? It is not paranoia if they are really after you.
6
@David he's only " been through" what he has brought on himself, and as yet has not been brought to justice for all of his crimes and wrongdoing. his whole history is that of getting away with improper and often criminal behavior because he was white, male, rich, and therefore powerful.
sometimes, at some point, such people over reach sufficiently to bring themselves down. little pigs get fed but big pigs eventually get eaten
19
The guy is really bonkers.
His life cycle can be summed up this way: He gets up early in the morning, takes to tweeter and sends his first lie of the day, is promptly called out and throws a tantrum. As he just can't keep his mouth shut, this cycle repeats itself endlessly because no one around him dare tell him the truth. They're all sycophants egging him on. All others have been fired or left voluntarily a long time ago.
27
@William Dufort
Please see the story of "The Emperor's New Clothes".
Where is our little child who points out the Emperor is naked?
2
@pkbormes
Indeed, where is he/she?
1
Mentally ill...if he doesn’t run, nobody except his family notices, but, he did, never believing he could win. Now the whole world knows!
4
Trump has always had a persecution complex and the feeling that he has been slighted if not ridiculed by various New York City elites. In reality they regarded him as a narcissistic, and self promoting buffoon. He was very paranoiac even then and very hypersensitive to his perceived lower social status.
Thus, his paranoia is long-standing but has gotten more irrational as he unexpectedly became President in a very tainted election and as his mental capacities, always very limited. have deteriorated with age. He now is dangerously unhinged, mentally unstable and emotionally deranged. This is not what you want in a President, even in one like Trump who does very little work other than tweet and demagogue to his cultish supporters.
10
"In private conversations, Mr. Trump has complained bitterly that none of his enemies have been criminally charged"
Wow...could it possibly be because his "enemies" haven't actually committed any crimes, other than criticizing him because of his endless parade of saying and doing stupid things? To be clear, most of us are not wallowing in a baseless hatred of Trump, envious of his "success." We loathe him for his track record of ill-informed policy, endless indulgence of his ego at the expense of everything and everyone else, and his general lack of character.
29
@Jeff I notice that Trump is always ready to say "lock them up" about people he doesn't like, without mentioning a fair trial is necessary. But say anything critical of him, and the perpetrater is supposed to be imprisoned immediately. Not a good attitude in a president of a democratic republic.
2
@Bonnie Funny, I though that too. I wonder if that's just you and me, or whether anyone else noticed?
An investigation of him that's based on actual facts that present the appearance of wrong-doing is a total scam and a witch hunt, while trying to kick-start an investigation to look for dirt of a political rival is completely legitimate.
One would almost think some animals are more equal than others.
1
Trump, like his not so dear old dad, appears to be a sociopath. People are mere objects to him. He doesn't care how they feel or what happens to them. Therefore he will crush anyone who gets in his way without hesitation.
24
It finally hit me how I have always viewed DT. In my eyes his persona is that of an Elvis imitator. Fake from fake head to tender toes.
5
Paranoia? What’s the basis for this outlandish diagnosis? I would say this article is more paranoid than Trump.
6
I am so discouragrd about the future of our nation watching a fool who believes he is something of a napolean as well as he is absolutely sure he is not just right all the time but he can do no wrong. the other thing that has baffled me since he god the nomination, why all the folks who just believe what he says, like everyone else is lying but him. is he a Svengali, the next 8 months and lets be honest it is more like 11 months as jan 21 is the day its really over , hopefully, the end of this madness.
5
It is not paranoia when everyone IS out to get you.
6
@catlover We have a right to protect ourselves from Trump's instability and bad judgment. It is unclear how long a country of over 300 million can drift along in the absence of honest, effective presidential leadership.
5
Would you like another serving of strawberries Capt Queeg?
5
a. He has not learned
b. He will not change
c. Even when he is wrong he has no shame or humility to apologize
d. He is a pathological liar
1. He knows he can not change
2. He wants to win at all costs
3. Another impeachment scars him to death
4. He owes favors to other leaders
5. He will grant other favors to get what he needs
6. He will break the law as he has since who knows when
7. He will go after more opponents, enemies or those who “defy” him
8. He is married to Russia’s needs
Btw, Flynn and Stone are delaying up to November for in the weeks after the election most of the convicted looking at jail time in 2021 will pardoned
There will be lots of Russian interference this year.
As always everything will be obvious illegality if not conspiracy for he got a two term deal back before 2016.
10
"Just because he may be paranoid does not mean people are not out to get him."
People are out to get him because he's corrupt, because he's profoundly unfit for office, and because he and his minions such as Barr, with the active help of the Republic senate majority, are actively dismantling the constitutional order, and destroying the rule of law. And they're doing much of this in plain sight.
It seems to me that the Times simply refuses to acknowledge these things for what they are, and organize and frame its reporting around these core truths. The ship has hit an iceberg and is sinking and the Times is still reporting on where the current captain fits in the spectrum of ill-tempered captains.
12
The President's impeachment is being explained as Obama holdovers conspiring against him, ergo Donald Trump is the victim. He sells it. Junior sells it. His lap dog, Lindsey, sells it. Geraldo Rivera sells it.
“However,” Mr. Turley added, “his suspicions were validated to some degree in these investigations — something that many refuse to acknowledge. He came to Washington with an agenda that was highly antagonistic and threatening to the status quo. It was immediately clear that he faced deep opposition to his agenda.”
Jonathan Turley sells it with aplomb, because he can't identify.. WHAT EXACTLY validates Trump's suspicions?
Bottom line: Trump got caught abusing power AND he obstructed Congress.
But, SOMEONE steered these 2 journalists to turn-out an article that dovetails with Trump 2020 strategy - Paint Trump as the fighting outsider and the victim of all that is wrong with Washington. Who is behind this article?
2
It was that Vast Right Wing Conspiracy that the smartest woman on the planet warned us about.
One scary thought...
Trump loses in 2020 and claims that his loss is a hoax....and he won’t leave..
Think about that..
7
The only way to get rid of President McCarthy, er, Trump, is to kick him out---
and prepare for Trump and his Republican co-conspirators to
burn the house down before they leave.
And Trump will burn it down, out of spite and vengeance.
9
The idea that the President will restrict access to who is allowed to listen in on state phone calls should put a chill up your spine (unless you have become a member of the spineless). The President loves the sound of his voice and believes that only pearls of wisdom fall from it. Just what the nation needs, a secret hour long ranting riff with Vladimir. Who knows what mischief the two of them might cook up. You can see the sideways glances of the vanishingly few privileged enough to listen in quietly having sidebars:
"Think we ought to intervene on that one Mike?"
"Nope, it's just just a little additional territory added on to the peninsula. Nobody will miss it Mick."
"What are we getting in return."
"Branding rights."
10
As ye shall sow, so shall ye reap.
1
Alex,
I know someone who went to a Trump rally in New Jersey and was not able to get inside. She told me there were lots of people inside and out. I am envious and would love to attend as a Trump supporter. I will be a volunteer in New York City though.
7
Take a look at the quality (so to speak) of people who attend Trump rallies. Slovenly, angry, profane, belligerent, poorly educated and ignorant, and nearly all white. People who have failed in their lives and need to point the finger at others, usually ethnic and religious minorities, to explain away their failures. Those are Trump supporters.
13
@Cousin Greg “Which do we go to tonight, the Trump rally or the Professional Wrestling match?”
1
@Cousin Greg
Not everyone can be as valuable to society as you, I suppose...
(Again, why would any voter turn this nation over to the like of someone like Cousin Greg?)
The Catholic Church has a stronger hierarchical organization than our government. Every priest pledges personal obedience to his Bishop and all of his successors when he is ordained. No one who is not ordained is allowed in the inner circle. How many priests have you heard testify against their Bishop?
8
@RS
The Rule of Law does not apply to the Roman Catholic clergy. However, it does apply to every American citizen.
The observation of the rule of law by employees of the federal government is of particular importance.
“Loyalty” to the president in no way justifies failure to report any illegal act he may commit or have committed.
The Law and the Constitution are far more important than loyalty to individual politicians.
7
@DS
People in government and in the military swear allegiance to the Constitution, not to whatever person happens to be president. The military is supposed to follow the president's orders as Commander in Chief, but is not supposed to obey illegal orders. The Constitution gives the president no power over citizens, but he is supposed to serve them to the benefit of the country. The US was designed to be a government of laws, not of "men." The Founders did not want a king, and today most Americans still don't want one.
2
@DS. Good point. It’s an excellent system fo covering up grooming of young boys for their use.
Trump is correct in thinking he’s got nobody to trust. However could anyone trust him? It works both ways. But then, he shouldn’t trust himself. What a quandary! Better consult Bono.
21
Trump will leave his mark on history. Unfortunately, it will be a strain. Trump will be the first President to be impeached twice.
24
Trump is acting like the President that Nixon wished he had the power to be.
8
@Glevine Nixon was way smarter than Trump. He knew when the game was up and the better choice was to resign.
Suspicious? Paranoid? No need for either when it is beyond obvious that his vile speech and corrupt actions are held in contempt by any reasonable human being. The fact that Trump has been able to refashion Washington into his own fractured image is what should be examined and rejected by the general population come November.
40
Since day one, Democrats have been relentless in their efforts to oust Trump by any means necessary...including conspiratorial bad faith and malfeasance... and now they accuse him of being ‘paranoid’?
Truly out of this world. The hypocrisy is absolutely breathtaking.
8
@Susanna Trump has been a crook since age 19. The only ones surprised by that (non-)news are his supporters.
25
“By any means necessary”? Did you miss the fact that he is constantly doing and saying provocative, reprehensible and occasionally dangerous things?
I wish someone could explain to me how a guy that New York knew as a narcissistic, trust-fund blowhard so desperate for publicity that he regularly went on Howard Stern to brag about his prowess with “beautiful women” became the savior of the blue-collar midwesterner?
28
@Susanna
No, it’s not the Democrats’ fault.
Trump manifested symptoms of paranoia for many years before being elected President. From his vitriolic hounding of the Central Park Five (demanding their execution and, later, refusing to accept their innocence)... to his birtherism attacks against Barack Obama... to his treatment of his wives and all women... to his cheating contractors and workers... to etc., etc., etc., Trump’s views and treatment of other people and groups reflect a deep-seated fear and insecurity.
Trump projects his fears and insecurities onto others, while pretending to be a strongman savior. It’s Trump’s defense mechanism, through which any rational person easily sees.
36
In a way,the President is right .There has to be privacy when foreign leaders talk. You can’t conduct diplomacy in the open.Free exchange can be done only when there are frank talks. This cannot happen when such talks are leaked, If a foreign leader thinks his talks will be leaked, how much honesty can you expect from him?
@PentapatiPullar
7
@Dr.Pentapati Pullarao.Ph.D Foreign leaders surround themselves with people they trust. Trump trusts no one. Those who know would be foolish to trust him.
13
Trump has lost all credibility to international privacy. He is unable to govern because he has no knowledge of the issues.
22
@Dr.Pentapati Pullarao.Ph.D Except, this business with Ukraine was not diplomacy in the normal sense. Diplomacy involves dialogue between representatives of nations vis a vis the interests of those nations. In this case, Trump took the opportunity to use his office to promote his personal interests, which was, as John Kelly put it, an illegal order.
Also, it was the White House that make public the call transcript.
17
A person who has this degree of suspicion or paranoia knows they are doing something immoral or illegal, unless they are suffering from mental illness.
Blame the elected Republicans for condoning this behavior. Vote the GOP out in November . Until then, I console myself with knowing that he will eventually self-destruct.
35
Good lord, quite the collection of sycophants and mealy-mouthed apologists that are quoted in this story: Geraldo Rivera (really? Geraldo Rivera?); Lindsey Graham (c'mon, South Carolinians, oust this integrity-challenged boot-licker in November); and Jonathan Turley (rationalizer extraordinaire).
As Carl Sagan so astutely observed:
“One of the saddest lessons of history is this: If we’ve been bamboozled long enough, we tend to reject any evidence of the bamboozle. We’re no longer interested in finding out the truth. The bamboozle has captured us. It’s simply too painful to acknowledge, even to ourselves, that we’ve been taken. Once you give a charlatan power over you, you almost never get it back.”
Rivera, Graham, Turley, and the millions of "the base" are textbook cases.
And not only is Trump a charlatan, he is nuts.
79
As we march toward totalitarian dictatorship under this administration.... what I find the most troubling is the fact that most Americans are deliberately oblivious to the gradual demise of our Democracy!
52
This article's seeming defense of the President's behavior is disturbing. Compared to the scrutiny that Clinton faced -- a partisan special prosecutor who investigated various pre-presidential matters for years before settling on a matter that involved no misuse of presidential power or possible consorting with a foreign foe -- Trump has had an easy ride. And how can you let Turley get away with this falsehood: "The well-documented bias in the F.B.I. and Justice Department against Trump." Four Pinocchios!
36
I have it. Let's impeach him again over the Stone case, and throw in the Mueller 10 counts of obstructing a federal investigation, and the kitchen sink.
18
President Trump is 100% correct in distrusting the media, political pundits, and the swamp (being redundant here).
When he tweeted, "The President has never asked me to do anything in a criminal case.” A.G. Barr This doesn’t mean that I do not have, as President, the legal right to do so, I do, but I have so far chosen not to! ..
.. he was correct and correct again.
And yet this same publication criticized, ridiculed, and insulted what he stated. Instead of being fair as a media should and educating everyone that he was constitutionally correct.
And here you are, wondering why he is acting suspicious and skeptical?
5
@Bhaskar Just about everyone in New York knew he was a fraud artist years before he ever ran for office.
The folks he defrauded via Trump University eventually figured out he was a con artist.
When you're stuck watching Fox and can't figure put how to change channels, you'll likely never figure it out.
21
@Bhaskar
Have you really looked at the many unethical actions of Trump and his minions the past few years? Trump and his presidency is the SWAMP. Oh, the way, for a chief executive to have done what this one did in regards to Roger States violates a canon of presidential ethics. Bill Clinton never sought to influence his A.G., the late Janet Reno, during his Whitewater/ Lewinsky troubles. Not that it would have done him any good had he tried. Unlike William Barr, Ms. Reno had both a spine and respect for her office.
18
The POTUS can demean judges as a defined power of the Executive Branch? He can shift funds appropriated for one purpose by Congress to another unrelated purpose unilaterally? He can refuse to disburse funds that have been congressional allocated? He can enhance his prospects to be re-elected by using not just his bully pulpit but these same funds, or other powers of the presidency and Executive Branch that are ordinarily cordoned off from campaigns?
These powers are not enshrined in the Constitution.
And, this list doesn’t even touch on the actions he takes that are perhaps not illegal but grossly out of order, such as vilifying his opponents as “evil”, refusing to hold press conferences with media organizations that are critical to his politics and policies, demeaning people and countries with Twitter insults, and lying, lying, lying all the time.
11
The day President Obama was inaugurated, Mitch McConnell said they only thing on the Republican agenda was to make sure Obama was a one term president. The GOP really was out to get Obama, but you didn't see Mr. Obama whining about it, you didn't see him pitch hissy fits, you didn't see him blaming the intelligence services for everything, you didn't see him having tweet storms, you didn't see him watching TV all day and then spewing and stewing over the news.
What we saw was President Obama doing the job of being president, and not, like Trump, being a puerile, insecure boy.
115
@Linda Not that you'll believe me but it's a fact that is a false and misleading canard. It was originally mis reported in Politico and they chose to not clarify or retract. I know this because I watched and listened to the editor of Politico say as much. Obama was no boy scout when it came to the press either; https://www.factcheck.org/2018/09/obama-fox-news-and-the-free-press/
@Linda Not that you'll believe me but it's a fact that is a false and misleading canard. It was originally mis reported in Politico and they chose to not clarify or retract. I know this because I watched and listened to the editor of Politico say as much.
His paranoia is another example of his 'psychological-projection', accusing others of his own warped, transgressive , characteristics-- calling them "corrupt, crooks, liars", etc. His suspicions exemplify his OWN mind, fearing the worst in others because that is exactly who HE is. So he calls honorable people, like Schiff,or Brennan, Pelosi, "crooks" ---and all his enablers,--Barr Graham, McConnell, Cotton and the rest are either too afraid of his scorn, or figure, "what the devil", we got the Supreme court we wanted, the lower taxes we wanted, etc. so agree with him. But if the 'enablers' keep it up, we might just wind up with a madman despot in the oval office and the destruction of our republic.
28
OK, Mr. Graham, I'll put myself in Trump's shoes.
I have the power to protect the environment. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to ensure that all Americans have health care. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to command the military to act as a peacekeeping force for international stability and cooperation instead of intimidation and assassination. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to govern instead of golfing. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to read instead of watching TV. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to listen instead of shouting. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to speak to the press and the American people and show transparency of thought and action. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to heal instead of hurting. That's what I'll do.
I have the power to accept responsibility instead of blaming others. That's what I'll do.
Does this sound like your dear leader? No? Then what will you do? I know what I'll do in November.
89
Trump told Hillary on national television that he would put her in jail. Well, he’ll get to her soon enough. Then he’ll tell his DOJ to go after donors to his political rivals. Then we’ll all know how undocumented residents and their children feel when the US government takes you away. A king can do that.
15
People who are profoundly undeserving of trust, find trusting others to be difficult or impossible.
Donald Trump is obviously psychologically unwell.
Although he himself selected those who surround him, he finds them “untrustworthy”
Why is this paranoid, pathological-liar still our president?
Are the American people safe with the unbalanced Lord of the Lies in the Oval Office?
What behavior does President Trump need to exhibit to trigger the 25th Amendment?
It’s more than 8 months to election day, 11 months to inauguration day. The president appears to be more and more detached from reality as the weeks go by.
Who wants to roll the dice?
DJT is disturbed, erratic and dangerous.
28
If he had any insight into his own behaviors, he'd know thst it's not spies doing him in.
18
One is only guided by suspicion and distrust when one’s actions warrant it.
Trump will soon be an island when all but the last loyal sycophantic few cave in an effort to save their own hides. If you think we’re seeing feelings of suspicion and distrust now, just wait...
11/3/20. VOTE.
18
Trump's hatefulness, angry, negative, belligerent attitude toward everything in his environment clearly exhibits this guy is insane, full of dementia and paranoia. Not a balanced being. A 73 year old name calling is another very strange imbalanced being.
Clearly Trump is in need of some strong meds and counseling. Oh, and let's not forget the his focus of revenge, and the kissing of Putin and Kim Jong Un, Trump's fantasy of a wannabe.
Hope Hill and others returning to his environment must be desperate for something. They can't learn their lessons. Perhaps it is just pure ignorance. That seems to be what is driving this unethical nation: Fox News and Trump mob.
America isn't the brightest country on this planet. The Dems better get their act together and have a really strong candidate out there to beat Trump!
The fact we are where we are is baffling.
16
Oh, great. Trump is whining now even more than before! Every day he tweets out how awful his life is as President. He hates dealing with all the losers (i.e. the vast majority of American citizens, and all foreigners). And now everyone is out to get him.
It's about time he figures out this job is not his thing. He should do us all a favor and resign. Move to Mar-A-Lago, watch TV all day, and phone in interviews to Fox news.
34
Its not paranoia if they are really out to get you. And the knifes have been out since 2016.
6
Okay. Let's get one thing straight!
A President is a Public Servant, paid by us, the public taxpayer.
This gangster we call president, is criminally clever: he uses the cover of being the victim [they're out to get me, it's a witch hunt, etc.] in order to commit crimes. Then when he gets caught, he cries foul.
Holding a public official accountable IS NOT being "out to get him." It's simply that, being held accountable, not just to his employers (us), but to the Rule of Law, to Democracy and our U.S. Constitution. If he doesn't want to be held accountable to those things, then go get another job.
The only people trump trusts are those who:
are willing to help him break the law,
are willing to cover-up trump's and other's illegal actions,
and are complicit criminals themselves.
PS: When trump said: “When you call a foreign leader, people listen,” “I may end the practice entirely. I may end it entirely.” It's trump who can't "keep his mouth shut!"
Decoded: trump has already initiated this practice to further enable his criminal activities and conversations!
40
“You think we’re so different from the lions in the jungle?”...we humans always try to portray animals as vicious sociopaths which is completely untrue. Lions only hunt every few days only when hungry and only one animal at a time. Most of the time they just sleep and don’t bother anyone unless provoked. It’s amazing how vicious sociopaths always justify their actions by comparing us to “animals”...!!
12
Trump's administration is Nixon's on steroids and without doubt America is now facing a criminal presidency.
11
Please stop calling this "well documented bias"! The FBI had to know he was a crook, they had every reason to be alarmed. This phrase does no one any good. Call it what it is. Donald Trump is a layered-up conman.
22
Trump should follow the example of the prior paranoid presidents. Johnson decided not to run for another term, and Nixon resigned. In both cases, their decisions improved their legacies.
494
@Hector
For the life of me, I can't think of one positive aspect to Trump but him resigning. But that positive would be more of a sigh of relief than anything.
The difference between Johnson, Nixon and Trump is that Trump is on an out of control ego trip. No other president has ever stated he were the smartest guy in the room, upon other wild accusations.
My biggest fear is that he will never leave the White House, even if the locks were changed.
68
No. Nothing improved Nixon’s legacy.
He was untrustworthy before, during, and after his presidency.
36
@baba
Trump cannot resign. If he did, he would immediately be scheduled for a trial in New York's district court system.
This fact explains all the talk of a "third term," doesn't it?
57
I think there are greater causes for concern than our "President's" descending into self-destructive paranoia.
Indeed, I think we should see that as our only reason for hope.
5
When Donald Trump is out of office, the truth will emerge and it will not be pretty. All those silent Republicans will regain their voice. As the oldest President, it will take a toll on his health.
Washington will never be normal again. Nixon loyalists never returned and many left quickly with their reputation in tatters. When diplomats go abroad, their promises and words mean nothing to our allies. America's standing in the world may never recover.
A future President will cancel the wall and find other use for the revenue. Priorities will change, but the judicial branch will slow progress as it upholds right-wing paranoia. Eventually, history will judge Donald Trump and it will not be kind.
29
@Joseph Wilson A fair amount of truth has emerged.
5
@Joseph Wilson "Nixon loyalists never returned..."? I would refer you to Dick Cheney and Roger Stone, for just two. We are reaping the harvest from Gerald Ford's transparent excuse for pardoning Nixon - that the country could not withstand the division a trial would cause. I wonder if the last 40 years are not a terrifying testament to the idiocy of this self-serving Republican hogwash.
5
“”When you call a foreign leader, people listen,” he observed on Geraldo Rivera’s radio show. “I may end the practice entirely. I may end it entirely.””
People, when Trump says ‘I may end the practice entirely’, he is saying the ‘the practice’ is now ended. There is no debate, mono-e-mono, no listening in.
Going forward nobody else listens in on calls with foreign leaders or anything. There is no observer of fact, no objective third party, no independent account.
As a citizen and taxpayer, I counter.
I say: “There WILL ALWAYS be an objective observer of fact on any business that concerns me, the US taxpayer. Sincerely and regards.”
11
Increasingly?
Where have you been?
As mentioned in Spinal Tap, I guess we can turn the dial to 11, but it has been at 10 for quite a while.
5
Trump’s paranoia is expressed in his frequent assertion of his presidential rights.
Trump will continue proclaiming that he, as president, has a right to do virtually anything—and Barr will support his claim.
Trump, his enablers and supporters again and again prove that possessing a right is one thing, but the rightful exercise of a right is another.
Rights are rightly exercises only if the agent exercising them acknowledges that rights are also resident in others and that they are the bases of duties toward those others.
The chief “right” acknowledged by Trump is that of self-assertive pride—the “right” to dominate, to bully, to coerce and to manipulate others in his pursuit of self interest.
Whenever Trump asserts he has a right, his assertion evidences that he does not have the slightest idea what terms like “rights” and “duties” mean.
22
Like the main protagonist in the Elvis Presley song Suspicious Minds, Mr. Trump is "caught in trap", but he " can't walk out".
As in any reinforcing feedback scenero, the more he feels persecuted, the more paranoid he becomes. The more paranoid he becomes, the more he feels persecuted; and- on- and- on- and -on it -goes, where it stops, nobody knows.
3
I used to think that good could triumph over evil, but in this instance I'm afraid evil may win.
9
Checks and balances have failed.
First, the president blatantly lied about the reasons for the assassination of the Iranian general. It was not an imminent threat response, but an impulsive and optional choice that should have undergone consultation with Congress. The president has denigrated and downplayed the fact that one hundred troops were wounded by brain trauma in a retaliatory bombing, and it could have been a thousand times worse.
Second, nobody is going to know what the paranoid Don is going to be threatening or promising foreign leaders in his telephone conversations, the contents and contexts of which he won't even understand or remember accurately.
So foreign policy, including war, is being decided by one deranged and angry man, without any checks and balances.
27
I have no formal training in human behavior, but Trump seems to continue to slowly crawl more within himself. With every criticism he grows more angry for revenge. He may not remain sufficiently sane to complete his present term, much less adequately campaign for another one.
12
With the main stream media touting the Democratic narrative and with the government loaded with Obama appointed bureaucrats, he has every reason to distrust. In fact it is wiser for him to distrust than naively believe the bureaucrats are working to implement his policies.
6
@Qcell Tough to implement policies that change from minute to minute, the only consistent one being 'do whatever I said last or I will run you over'.
5
I don't want to live in Trump's world of paranoia. Trust, then verify seems much more healthy. Interesting, neither Peter or Maggie mentioned the additional narcissism which is another fly in the ointment. Trump's father taught him to crush his perceived enemies, yet Trump views all who are not "sufficiently loyal" or critical in any way as his enemy! It's pretty darn hard to run an entire organization or a massive government operation adequately if you can't trust anyone; the result of that is now obvious. We are seeing his excesses and faults along with his paranoia permeate the very structure of our democracy in a very negative way.
12
This article seems to be sympathetic to Trump. Just because previous presidents exhibited paranoia doesn’t excuse Trump endangering national security through his increasing vindictiveness and secrecy. He knew he would be under the microscope—and under the rule of law— as president of the US. If he doesn’t like it, he can resign.
12
Graham is right. There is double standard in the law. If Obama has done a tenth of what Trump is doing, he would not be impeached. He would be removed and maybe more.
21
Trump's paranoia is clinical, as President of your country he should not have the privilege of non-disclosure when it comes to medical issues and medications given to treat, anyone who has been following him has noticed an increase in behavioral changes especially since his impromptu visit to Walter Reed Health Center, what is necessary is the diagnosis as well as prognosis, did he have a psychotic breakdown which could cause the cognitive side of his brain to not recognize normalcy, if none of this has occurred then something much more significant is at play and his enablers, such as Fox Media, Lindsey Graham, McConnell, and many more should be looking towards National Security as opposed to their status and power by affiliation. The fact that Geraldo whose failure as an attorney and a Capone Conspiracy theorist does not have the qualifications to insert himself in discussing such delicate matters and influencing a possible dysfunctional President even brought this up is disturbing( I note possible dysfunctionality as there is no proven documentation to show if Trump is under medical assessment for physiological or psychological issues). The world is terribly unsafe especially if no medical reason for his increase in abnormal behavior is being investigated. It is of utmost Urgency that for once, the Republicans whom he trusts demand answers and discusses the ramifications of his latest actions and non-actions. there must be some form of oversight that overrules his privacy
10
Trump makes it so easy to do the right thing. Just do the opposite of Trump.
8
It is not distrust. It is corruption. Trump doesn't want anyone who can call out his crimes to have a voice. That's it. To call it distrust makes him sound like the aggrieved party.
21
Bill Clinton experienced 100 times more scrutiny than Trump. Whereas Trump had a fellow Republican doing a limited investigation of him, Bill Clinton was subject to years and years of an Independent Counsel from the opposing party - Ken Starr - having complete freedom to peruse all aspects of his life, and that was after the first Independent Counsel found nothing.
And yet this newspaper made fun of any notion that there would be people "out to get" Clinton. This newspaper minimized and made fun of that concern.
And despite it all, Bill Clinton did not govern with suspicion and distrust because he was basically an honest (but flawed) man.
Dictators, mob bosses, and thoroughly corrupt presidents like Nixon and Trump are guided by suspicion and distrust.
This shockingly misleading article was written to normalize Trump's suspicion and distrust and the entire focus of the article is to mischaracterize Trump's paranoia as caused by "enemies" out to get him. And yet every other person who had enemies out to get them does not act in that way snd every corrupt person does.
Andrew McCabe and James Comey had very powerful people who were out to get them. So did Bill Clinton. And none of them exhibited the paranoia of Trump that these two reporters are trying to imply is perfectly normal. It is normal in CORRUPT people.
Corrupt people get suspicious and distrustful. Even a child knows what these reporters don't.
22
@RJ After Clinton was acquitted, he made a statement alone in the Rose garden apologizing for his behavior. Such humility is unimaginable for Trump.
8
Trump’s psychological state presents an imminent danger to America and to the world. So say a group of 650 psychiatrists, who recently submitted a petition to the House Judiciary Committee. https://dangerouscase.org/petition-to-the-judiciary-committee/
This is a key passage:
“What makes Donald Trump so dangerous is the brittleness of his sense of worth. Any slight or criticism is experienced as a humiliation and degradation. To cope with the resultant hollow and empty feeling, he reacts with what is referred to as narcissistic rage. He is unable to take responsibility for any error, mistake, or failing. His default in that situation is to blame others and to attack the perceived source of his humiliation. These attacks of narcissistic rage can be brutal and destructive.”
Unfortunately, Trump's outbursts are likely to get worse.
12
@AKJersey Astute assessment!
Mental derangement of any kind is anathema to political office, yet it seems rampant in Washington.
Surely (hopefully) a more balanced populace can be found and motivated to stand up and make the necessary difference.
3
"Mr. Trump has always been convinced that he is surrounded by people who cannot be trusted."
WRONG!
Mr. Trump has always been convinced that he is surrounded by people who cannot be trusted TO COVER UP HIS CORRUPTION.
Just think how different this entire article would be if the more accurate topic sentence was used instead of the one used by these writers that downplays and normalizes Trump.
But certainly typical of readers can expect by the same reporters who see no evil in Trump or Barr, just normal activity that is perfectly fine and it is only "partisan Democrats" who object for no reason except they just don't like Trump.
Trump trusts Barr implicitly as long as Barr covers up what he wants covered up and goes after Trump's enemies as he wants.
10
He isn't "burned by impeachment". He was - and remains - unstable. Period. Paranoia is what makes a dictator.
10
Anyone who didn’t see this coming in 2016 wasn’t paying attention.
15
This article spends a lot of words to give Trump the benefit of assuming there is some method or logic to his 'choices'.
It is loyalty; not 'above all' but 'all'. No different from the pandering lowlifes he used when he was a 'developer'.
He has no use for knowledge or professionalism because he possesses little of either, apparently by choice.
There is no way to compare any of his behavior to past presidents. His level of distrust seems to operate in direct proportion to the excellence and professionalism of his staff.
The most trusted: 2nd or 3rd rate, except for Don Jr. who ranks well below the janitor.
8
There has likely never been a man so unfit in all ways to be president.
There has never been a political party as craven and corrupt as today’s Republican Party.
There has never been a group of citizens so unworthy to vote as Trump”s base.
22
Barr would never have issued his ststatement without passing it through Trump. He probably convinced the real estate guy that the statement would exonerate both of them.
As far as extent of Trump's foreign policy or lack of it, read chapter 9 of " A Very Stable Genius", it is frightening to Trump's ignorance exposed.
5
The stable genius fails to realize that not everyone loves, admires, or is afraid of him.
Sometimes we have to realize the problem is not everyone else.. It is us.. Ourself.. Trump is wholly incapable of introspection, self analysis.
After all, this is a man who said he has never done anything that would cause him to ask for forgiveness. That is scary.
I will leave it to those who are qualified to dissect that one.
It is readily apparent to me why he surrounds himself with family and sycophants.. They will encourage and tolerate him. They keep feeding the monster, if you will.
The American people have a hard choice to make in November. I hope for the sake of America that he is not it.
6
It will be too little, too late, but I have no doubt that we will see people from this administration going to jail once a Democrat is President.
4
When you review Trump's behavior it is very childish. His emotions are base. They consist of threats, name calling, revenge, angry, simplistic vocal utterances and tweets, demeaning and insulting attacks on others with different opinions.
In other words, Trump's primitive in thought and utterance.
The thousands that adore him are also very primitive thinkers. Such is their lot.
Duke University Neurology Department did a 2005 study of behavior in Rhesus Monkeys reveling much about Trumps following and all of us. These types of folks, the tribe, the followers, are emotive and undereducated. They form lowest common denominator of society and cannot change. They are what they are.
If our Government had invested heavily in our families well being and education, demanding excellence in parenting, health and education, these types of people would not exist.
They would readily see that 'The Emperor has no clothes'.
However, they currently see through primitive, emotional eyes, not the eyes of critical thinkers. This happens in narrow minded democracies. A demagogue arrises, sooner, or, later.
That's where we are and that's exactly where we deserve to be for allowing our government for forsake their duty to the foundation of our civilization, the family unit, it's parenting, health, well being and education.
Greed drives this engine and greed is driving it into the ground before our eyes. Greed is the core value of Republicans.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15797023
6
Trump is not normal; not a man with a moral compass; not a man who obeys any laws or rules but his own. His narcissism is an accepted trait. He cannot mentally accept the idea that he has done anything wrong. Everyone -- yes everyone -- else is mistaken, only he is capable of running the country.
As a result, when chastised he simply finds a way to defend his behavior, viciously if necessary. He will "hig back 10 times harder" if attacked. Senate Republicans cower under his threats -- yes they really do, this is not a stretch of the imagination.
So he can have private conversations with Putin and other leaders with no one else listening, he can do anything he wants, he is immune to investigation, his aides have blanket immunity. He doesn't work for us, he works for himself. Anyone who has testified against him is a criminal and needs to be investigated. The only qualification for his aides and advisers is loyalty. Criticize the President in any way and you can expect to be fired.
Trump is NOT a normal human. He needs to be voted out of office in November. All Democrats know it. Deep down most Republicans know it.
Vote for anyone else in 2020 and vote.
18
We may need to see Trump unravel in a paranoid outburst convincing even some of fanatical cult members that Trump is a clear and present danger. The only hope we may have for saving our democracy that Trump and Barr are fighting to turn into a dictatorship.
5
@REBCO
I think one way or another Trump will be locked up. It may be in a private mental institution or in a federal prison. As we watch his frightening unraveling, know somehow, somewhere, he will be gone.
7
So what part of Trump's malignant personality did so many Americans not understand before voting for him?
5
Article didn’t mention the dementia?
In addition to the narcissistic personality disorder, sadism, sociopathic condition and paranoia?
You make it seem like this is all explained in the context of a normalized person with cognitive power. Stop trying to make it rational. The personality comes from the ill brain, nkt the external forces you cite. The personality disorders drive the attitudes towards him. You completely missed it.
Even the staff speaks openly of the dementia. Compare the speech patterns and word choice to the development of dementia as codified by gerontologists worldwide. And hence the desire to be among familiar faces (hi Hope!).
Please.
12
He makes Nixon look normal.
8
Trump is the one who is corrupt. He has proven this in so many ways over so many decades.
3
Why is Jonathan Turley, who has been entirely discredited because of his misleading and dishonest testimony to exonerate Trump, quoted in this article? This article appears to be written with one purpose -- to normalize the paranoia and suspicions that are the hallmark of every single corrupt leader in history, from mob bosses to dictators.
There isn't a mob boss who hasn't been paranoid. There isn't a dictator who hasn't been suspicious of those around him. What is missing from this article is any understanding by the writers of why corrupt people are suspicious and don't trust the people around them!
What the dishonest Jonathan Turley fails to mention is that other presidents had just as much scrutiny. Bill Clinton had 6 years of an Independent Prosecutor who was from the OPPOSING party given all power to scrutinize every part of his life.
But despite that, Bill Clinton did not govern with paranoia and suspicion. Because despite the innuendo, he was basically an honest man with the typical human flaws.
Corrupt men, like Richard Nixon are sure that people are out to get them because they KNOW that they have done wrong and they can only get away with it if people cover up for them. Which means that they have to surround themselves with sycophants who are just as untrustworthy as they are.
This article implies that Trump's suspicion and distrust is due to outside circumstances and tries to normalize it. Why?
12
There's an old saying: "the fact that you are paranoid does not mean that they are not out to get you".
3
“Be paranoid,” he advised in a motivational seminar in 2000. “Now that sounds terrible. But you have to realize that people, sadly, sadly, are very vicious...”
Trump’s own way of operating is at the root of all this. Trump is boundlessly vindictive and would throw anyone under a bus the second they got in his way. And to Trump, this is acceptable, rather than an abnormality in himself.
451
@NM Knowing this about him - that he’ll throw anybody under the bus, that he is not capable of the kind of loyalty that he demands in others - why on earth do Republicans in Congress stick by him? Why has Lindsey Graham forsaken the memory of his friendship with McCain and his friendship with Biden to champion Trump, whom he previously derided? Is Graham so sure he won’t make a wrong move and be thrown under the bus? And all that aside, have these Republicans no self-respect? To roll over for a con man?
76
@Galfrido
First of all, I think they all have very serious skeletons in their closets that Trump will expose if they don't follow him. Secondly, I would not doubt that Trump would threaten violence against them and or their families. When one considers ALL of the enemies he has made, surely these people can band together and use their Yankee ingenuity (or Southern charm ) to to get rid of him by whatever means necessary.
20
@Galfrido “why on earth do Republicans in Congress stick by him?” Fear. Fear of Trump declaring them “never Trumpers”, which is the kiss of death for a Republican who wants to stay in office (or find a cushy job afterwards). Fear of being primaried. Fear of being voted out by Trump’s deplorable-but-dependable base of voters. In answer to your other question, no, they have no self-respect.
29
Maybe what we are seeing is the natural result of a nyc real estate developer going nationwide with how the wealthy get govt to work for them.
Maybe what the Donald’s actions evidence is his experience with govt officials.
2
Guided by Suspicion and Distrust of his fellow citizens and not this country’s adversaries, Russia, China and No Korea.
40
For a man who apparently thinks of himself as omnipotent in all matters (perhaps an outcome of living in extreme wealth for his entire life?), it must be quite disturbing to find out that one's actions or even one's approach to things, must be legally and morally answerable in a democracy.
This president's inability to offer level-headed assessments to how things should function around him is one of the reasons that he found himself confronted by a serious impeachment inquiry.
As overtly partisan as the outcome of his trial appeared to be--that is, his acquittal of both impeachment articles by all but one of the Republicans in the Senate, it's no wonder that Mr. Trump's paranoia has deepened.
Deep down, I wonder if Mr. Trump feels that he is inadequate to the presidency and needs to defend himself to himself--thus the mistrust of others who could possibly find him out on this?
48
Is this 1973? It sounds just like the end of Nixon.
25
@Patricia I remember and we can hope!!
3
But it’s not 1973. If it were, Republicans would have a sense if principle and a moral compass and would put country over party and over their own political power. It’s 2019 and only a solitary member of the GOP stood up for the rule of law and the good of the country. That’s the real problem. We can debate who was more debased — Trump or Nixon. But the spineless cowards who now form the GOP are the bigger problem.
7
Worse than Nixon. President Nixon had a grasp of history. Given all of his faults, he had basic respect for the rule of law. (I realize this is obviously not entirely true, he broke many, many laws but he understood the role of the courts, and understood government). Unlike the present resident he did not “forbid” people to testify, or stonewall all documents. The levels of corruption and malfeasance in this *presidency* makes the Nixon administration look like a church picnic.
5
The President is not entitled to Absolute Secrecy. We, the People, through our congressional representatives, are entitled to know every word he says and is said to him. Every word.
82
@DKarner You are correct. I am the government as is every other citizen and everyone being paid by the citizens of the country work for me and every other citizen. I remind them of that all the time and sometimes in not a nice way, I refuse attitude by governmental employees.
1
All elected officials work for the country and the people, most of all the president. He does not have exclusive rights to historic documents and international transactions. He does not have the right to hide the people's business from the people. The Republicans and right wing media who defend Trump's actions are complicit in his violation of the people's trust.
Vote in November as if your life depends on it, because it does.
121
This all belongs to us.
We will defeat him and his minions and take it back, just as we did in the late 60s and into the 70s.
29
Not to discount the possibility of mental issues, but Trump is a clear example of how our educational system is failing. Trump is simply ignorant where it counts. It takes more than the STEM subjects to form a fully functional human being. It takes rigorous study in philosophy, history, literature and ethics. Our leaders need a university education not a trade school designed for job placement or we're going to produce more Trump characters.
56
@jdp Trump’s problem is not ignorance, although he is not particularly intelligent. It’s character, or lack thereof. As a teacher, I’d like to make two points. One is that Trump’s father sent him to private school, a military academy. The hope was to develop some character in young Trump. By all accounts that failed.
Two is that when we teachers are faced with a student like Trump, with personality issues and ethical and moral deficiencies, we try counseling and therapy, as much as we can afford. Sometimes that can make some difference. However, a young person’s personality and character are shaped much more by home life, and parents. Trump’s father was a driven, selfish, grasping man. Acorns never fall far from the tree.
11
@jdp
And how about the dumbing down of the electorate?
Was this a Republican plan?
Dumb down the voters-- no history, no critical thinking, not art, music, literature.
It is the voters that show how are educational system is failing us.
4
@jdp
I wasn't aware the president had any STEM training...
6
For once I agree with Lindsey Graham—there is a double standard in the law— normal citizens are expected to obey the law, but anything Trump wants to do is a-okay with his base and the hypocrites in Congress who support him. And it’s true that there’s a well-documented bias at the FBI and DOJ— against criminal behavior.
SO UNFAIR!
86
The man should be ostracized, by everyone, globally as well as nationally. Just don't answer his calls. Say you're busy. Leave this bump in the road to twist in the winds of time.
36
While this is true, it must be remembered that Trump threatened and campaigned on throwing political opponents in jail once he was president.
Trump clearly warned us this would be his behavior before he was elected, and now here we are.
54
He will almost certainly destroy himself. The question for the rest us is how much more will he destroy in the process.
97
@Milton fan He will destroy himself. Which I will hate to see. I hate to see anyone self destruct...especially publicly. Nixon did himself and our country a service to resign and leave before his public humiliation was witnessed by the world. But Trump is different. He may choose to go down in public rather than quietly in the privacy of his family.
3
More insidious than paranoia, total disregard for constitutional and democratic imperatives motivates Trump. How many people have heard his chilling indictment of the judges who rule "against us," and how many in the GOP care about this most blatant attack on the justice system? We now face almost daily threats to the rule of law, threats about which most of us feel completely helpless.
34
@Daisy We cannot afford to feel helpless. We are not helpless. But there are those of us who understand that we have no option to assume helplessness as our guide. On the contrary, it is our obligation to stand firmly for the principles whose destruction we are witnessing.
In order for evil to prevail, only doing nothing is necessary. (A very wise person said this. )
2
With great respect to Maggie Haberman and her colleague, I don't think the phrase 'burned by impeachment' is an apt one here.
Idioms like 'burned by' sometimes defy precise definition but this one more often than not is taken to mean the person burned was somehow a victim. Macmillan says it is 'to suffer by being treated badly'.
A more appropriate use of the phrase would be to say that 'America has been badly burned by the presidency of Donald Trump'.
I'd normally forego this kind of nitpicking were it not for the disappointing, almost disturbing, habit of mainstream media to show excessive deference to this rogue administration. That and the urge to shower Trump with disproportionate ink and airtime were arguably factors in his election in the first instance.
The refusal, moreover, of the press to say that Trump or his associates lied even when evidence of it is incontrovertible is disconcerting. It almost legitimizes or normalizes the absurd proposition advanced by one of his most brazen apologists that there are such things as 'alternative facts'.
75
@thegreatfulauk
Yes, every article written by these two writers treats Trump as a victim and all who believe in democracy as simply 'Trump's partisan enemies who are out to get him."
Nowhere is there any context that explains that Trump has repeatedly acted improperly and corruptly, which might be the reason that people are investigating him.
Nope, Trump is always the victim to these writers, and it is merely "partisan Dems out to get Trump" who are dismissed.
3
Beyond the important glimpse into President Trump's mental state, this article is an essential, appalling chronicle of Donald Trump's simultaneous:
• paranoid retrenchment;
• vicious, scorched-earth character assassination; and,
• vandalism of essential government norms and institutions.
The dry language of penmasters Haberman and Baker - much as the formal language of a doctor when assessing a life-threatening condition - somehow makes the obvious inference more noticeable, more threatening:
President Trump has jumped the tracks.
The next election is the most important of our lifetimes, and may save us from the abyss; however, if Trump’s cabinet and Vice-President Pence really believe in public service, they need to summon their courage, and invoke the 25th Amendment.
History will make them heroes if they do so.
Otherwise, Their support of Trump will be in the first lines of each of their obituaries.
45
Trump has had an unusual fear since long, decades long, before he became president. According to those who worked with him, Trump is afraid of being poisoned. That's why he eats so much fast food. His belief is that fast food workers don't know who is getting the premade food so they can't poison it for one specific victim.
This is not normal thinking. Interestingly enough, Trump adores Putin who is known for having people poisoned. No wonder Trump is afraid to cross Putin.
58
@Linda I agree with you 100%, and in my own circles, I have been saying this for quite some time.
3
What does any of this have to do with being a public servant?
6
The only reason Trump faces deep opposition to his agenda is because it is mostly corrupt, self-serving, and even criminal. The only reason he needs to be paranoid is because he is constantly lying about his wrong-doing. Too bad we had a simple solution to his problems, and the GOP Senate, with the exception of Romney, refused to solve it.
21
@Brannon Perkison Back in the day, "Barretta" used to tell people to not do the crime if they can't do the time. And my mother used to tell me that actions have consequences.
If Trump didn't want people to say mean things about him, then he should quit saying mean things about other people. If he doesn't want people to think that he is a criminal, then he should quit doing things that are criminal. If he doesn't want people to think that he violates the Constitution, then maybe he ought to read the Constitution. This ain't rocket science!
7
It is impossible to believe that a President so emotionally, morally, and intellectually crippled as Trump will, in the end, have anything other than a disastrous record to show for his time in office. His abundance of deep character flaws is more and more revealed in his continuing irrational, divisive, and chaotic decision making processes. A majority of voting Americans find themselves unable to endure another four years of such societal turmoil unleashed by Trump’s habitual excesses. They have had enough of this historically negative, governing aberration. A return to normality, predictability, and order is yearned for. They have become utterly exhausted by his uncontrolled, narcissistic impulses.
40
Please sing us not a song about Mr. Trump's political "agenda" as a cause for "persecution." His only agenda is self-promotion, his perceived persecution from the "haters and losers" not as special as he and therefore naturally violently jealous of him. This delusional person, in a normally functioning world, was rendered dysfunctional; in the surreal world of the presidency, he has flown off the rails. I join Nancy Pelosi in praying for him, his family, and all around him.
16
The problem is not that Trump doesn't trust people, but that we can't trust him. He is untrustworthy, and he represents us. Thus, we dare not allow him private phone calls with far-reaching consequences. We don't want a "killer." We want an honest, trustworthy man of good will as our president. We don't have this.
30
President Trump is loyal to those who are loyal to him. Makes sense to me. Who after finding out a friend has betrayed them will put their trust in that person again. Not too many. As the saying goes, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. President Trump needs to have those he trusts in his administration. He is not paranoid just wise.
3
“President Trump is loyal to those who are loyal to him.”
Please give examples. (OK, there’s Roger Stone.)
7
Meanwhile Cohen is in prison for crimes Trump directed him to commit.
6
What? What continues to work with him? The wise? Barr? Pence? McConnell? Wise?
3
You're talking about a guy whose campaign was spied on in 2016 by the government (Crossfire Hurriance, Carter Page, the false FISA applications, etc.), who had high-level FBI agents trying to block his election (Strzok, etc.), who was subject to a massive Special Counsel Mueller investigation into the bogus theory that he colluded with Russia, and who was impeached for asking the Ukrainians to investigate an undeniable conflict of interest involving Hunter and Joe Biden.
Is that the guy who is suspicious of the DC establishment and so-called Deep State? Can't imagine why.
6
@JB
No, talking about a spoiled little brat who lied and cheated his way through life. Had decades long business involvements with organized crime, shady deals, multiple bankruptcies, tax fraud, business fraud, a record of bigotry and multiple accusations of sexual assault. Exactly the kind of person I would hope the FBI had their eze on.
7
"You think we’re so different from the lions in the jungle?"
Lions in the Jungle?
6
@Marco L'italien Good catch!
How can this end well? it looks to me like the worst possible case. An immoral, incompetent, dishonest, impulsive and erratic individual holds the office. He is consumed by paranoia, conspiracy theories, rage, and other irrational thought processes. He only knows how to attack, bully, divide, demonize. And the fearful Republican Senate has abandoned its Constitutional oversight duties, and is encouraging him in all of this.
(As for Turley, he is no longer credible. His comment here is an outright lie. There is no well-documented bias in the FBI and DOJ against Trump. Turley's testimony at the impeachment hearings should now be seen for what it actually was, the work product of a partisan hack.)
35
I personally don't trust Trump or his administration, or the Republican Party. I'm not sure it is paranoia. It is based on objective facts in the face of charlatans abusing power for illicit and illiberal ends.
23
Clearly, this is substantial analysis and facts demonstrating that Trump is indeed mentally ill: Paranoia is a co-diagnosis with several of the other ailments that have been noted in the past 2-3 years, and obviously the illness is becoming more severe.
And of course it is untreated—and aided and abetted by an increasingly young, or beholden, or poorly informed/educated.
Except for the “national socialists” around him, such as AG Barr, who may be riding his coattails to an unrecognizable USA that will be more to their liking.
Let’s hope that, if no Americans loyal to America are not permitted to listen in to Trump calls with foreign leaders, then those leaders themselves have staff on their end listening in and taking notes. It’s obvious nobody with any sense would believe anything Trump claimed was said or not said.
8
The following is what I will never understand.
How could this demonstrably vile person, trailing a lifetime of lies — on his fitness to be drafted, his business promises and practices, his wealth, his taxes — who, once improbably elected, immediately confirmed the fears of the voting majority who had seen through him, be so delusional to think that no one would investigate him?
Or that no one would or could reciprocate his hatred?
28
His ventures eventually crash and burn. His presidency will do the same, in fact it's in process.
17
To paraphrase that old saying you mentioned-
just because you may be paranoid doesn’t mean people ARE out to get you. But that’s too reasonable for Trump to comprehend,he’s beyond paranoia, he is in a delusional state of mind and getting worse by the day.
5
If you don't do bad stuff, you don't have anything to be paranoid about. It's that simple.
31
Trump’s paranoia is akin to that of several despots whom he admires (Putin, Kim Jong-un, Duterte), all of whom have jailed, tortured, or killed those around them who they perceived as their political enemies. The way Trump is usurping the Justice Dept for his own aims, I worry this may be next for our country too.
12
He should be worried. We are all out to get him out of office and we--and many of those who have the misfortune to work with him--will do what we can to limit the damage he's done. Insecure, volatile, petty people make terrible leaders, so it's no surprise that he has trouble finding loyalty around him.
Democrats, we need to unite. We only have a few months. Please donate all you can and phone bank and volunteer for your local candidates and those in other states that are even close to flippable.
25
Terrific, just add extreme paranoia to Donald's list of other fine qualities. Now doubt that will make him a better President and leader of the free world.
He may be right about one thing. We're out to 'get him' in November.
271
"Critics assume it is all a Kabuki dance, cynical theater meant to preserve Mr. Barr’s credibility as he executes Mr. Trump’s personal political agenda while pretending to look independent. And it is certainly true that, even now, Mr. Barr continues to demonstrate a willingness to personally take charge of cases with Mr. Trump’s interests at stake."
Above excerpt from the NY Times report on Barr.
Trump has lived his life, since his early NYC Real Estate days, managing perception, and manipulating all who interact with him, whether family, friends, business associates, lenders, essentially all who currently orbit and have orbited his existence, and now that he occupies the Presidency of the United States of America, he considers himself to be the Landlord of all who live in the nation, and he genuinely believes that he has the absolute right to affect the existence of every single resident of these United States, whenever and however he wishes.
Trump not only sees himself as the absolute ruler of all residents of the United States of America, he may in fact see himself as some kind of Diety, imbued with wisdom from a higher authority which makes him infallible, always always right.
As a NY landlord he had an effect on lives and businesses through his real estate activities, minor compared to what he now can effect on all aspects of life and living in the United States of America and everywhere on the planet.
He has been given the kind of power that no other ever has had.
42
@Mel Farrell He is rapidly losing that power to Xi Jinping & Vladimir Putin. He is no match for them in the Great Game; as he was no match in the Money Game.
He got to play a billionaire on TV and not he gets to play President on all our TVs.
6
Hey we get it; you don’t like landlords.
4
I'm not sure where I heard it, "Be suspicious of suspicious people ". Trump is suspicious of everyone and cannot trust anyone. This is why thinking people are suspicious of the President.
71
Why did New Yorkers in the 1970s put so many locks on their doors, and equip their cars with removable radios that they would take with them when they left the car parked and unattended? They did these things because they were regularly victimized by crimes against them and their property, and therefore were compelled to take extraordinary measures to protect themselves.
Democrats have been trying to reverse the result of the 2016 election from the moment it ended. The entire impeachment was over an incident that was a 1 on a scale of 0-10 compared to the shenanigans of prior administrations. (Ironically, had the Dems done nothing, the public would have never heard of Hunter Biden and the ethical questions of his employment while his father held the reins on matters involving Ukraine).
And it would not surprise me to see a new initiative against the President this summer. Given the President's experience to date, its not paranoia. Its prudence.
9
@RM
What Trump did was 10 out of 10. Exactly why the founders added power of impeachment to the constitution.
Republicans are the party that impeached Clinton for lying about an affair. Please. That is 1 out of 10.
21
@RM
I am confused about your post. Should Donald Trump have been removed from office would Hillary Clinton have been made President? That would be undoing the 2016 election. And when the brilliant minds of our day compare what Trump did in Ukraine with what Nixon did in '74, the break in at the Watergate rated a 1 to Trump's 10 on the scale. So please substantiate your claim about shenanigans pulled by prior administrations.
16
If potus had been removed, Pence would have moved into the Oval Office. If that’s “reversing an election,” then I’m Marla Maples.
7
And this paranoia is only about the stuff that we know he did. Consider the paranoia that is lurking behind what we do not know. To what extremes will he go to keep us from knowing?
118
@sentinel Careful. Trying to understand things lurking beneath the surface that we don't know about also leads to paranoia. Best to just stop thinking altogether and vote Trump out.
3
The last paragraph is very astute.
Fred Trump did not make Donald the way he sees himself. If that were a true, all of Donald's siblings would be exactly like him. Notably older brother Fred had a different view of life. At about 4-5 years of age each of us start making a self-image and choosing a strategy of how to act in a sad, dangerous world or however we werceive it through our individual lens. By the age of 11, this is a stable self-image unless events come along that force one to reevaluate that image like in FDR's case, polio.
Trump never learned the basic law of cause and effect:
that what goes around, comes around. You send AND receive the messages YOU send out. So if you attack others to defend yourself, YOU will be attacked. As Trump is now learning, it becomes a vicious cycle--the more you attack, the more you will be attacked.
But, even now he as all of us is a child of God--all he has to do is recognize that he did this to himself and ask for God's help in unwinding the snarls he made.
20
@New Eyes I suspect that Donald Trump was the Golden Child in his family, that he was spoiled and pampered and never once held accountable for his actions. This is not to say that he didn't learn a lot from his ruthless father, as you suggested. His brother Fred (and all of this is conjecture) may have been the scapegoat, the one upon whom everything was blamed, and his way of dealing with the psychological pain was by numbing it with alcohol.
3
Of course, a president should expect loyalty. This is very natural. If you cannot trust your administration, why have them in your employ? President Trump has had more leakers than any president before him. If he is suspicious or paranoid he has good reason to be. The Trump haters have been out to get him since he was elected. He was not supposed to become president and they are trying to remove him from office. He is strong and has inner strength. He will continue to fight against his enemies and win.
4
@KMW No, we should expect for Trump to be loyal to the American People and to the Constitution of the United States, he and other members of the government have sworn to uphold. Of course, for Trump loyalty only works one-way, every American should pledge fealty to King Bonespurs and be at his beckin call, while ho owns us the privilege of his existence.
12
@KMW
Then perhaps he should earn trust. Which isn't something you can buy.
12
All White Houses have some leakers. Trump has had more than most because of who he’s hired, the way he treats them and his bullying, lack of knowledge or interest in governing. The man is a paranoid weakling. His only vision is enriching himself. He brought this ALL on himself.
3
Look...DJT works for US the people. Phone calls are part of the historical record and belong to the country.
Who cares how paranoid this president may be. The public and governmental norms cannot all be shattered at whim.
He owes us leadership, a record of his actions as president and then should allow history to make the final judgment on his administration.
Just like every other president.
96
@It’s About Time Where have you been the last 3 years? Fat chance that DJT will act responsibly because he "works for the People".
3
@It’s About Time But norms are being shattered at whim right and left. So clearly they can be. Stamping your foot and saying "This is not right!" really isn't going to be very effective. The only thing that will be effective is to vote Trump out.
5
Paranoia is probably not the right word. I think many in Trump office really are fed up with him. This is not just an imagined problem.
36
Take a moment and think about it. I can't recall a single instance in over 3 years where Donald J. Trump has apologized for a single mistake, misspeak or act of cruelty or neglect. What a sad commentary on a 73 year old human being.
414
@Sunny You're right and it's so interesting how he feels so attacked and wounded when he has no problem viciously attacking and wounding others--often for superficial things that are beyond control--like appearance for example.
51
@Kim Some would describe this as narcissistic behavior.
16
@Sunny
Actually, there was one very early on, but he retracted it. So you are essentially correct.
6
This is a result of Trump's mental illness, not the external environment.
Trump has malignant narcissism, a condition consisting of narcissistic personality disorder, psychopathic tendencies, sadism, and paranoia.
Paranoia is part of who he is, deep in the structure of his psyche.
Of course his toxic personality and behavior generate real enemies, but even if he had none, he would invent some.
I urge readers to stop looking for method in his madness. There is only madness.
1065
@vbering , Spot on. In his warped mind, anyone who disagrees with him is "out to get him". He's incapable of seeing anything from a perspective other than what's good for him.
Even more disturbing is that he's aided and abetted by Republicans who know better. Many of them, e.g., Graham, Rubio, Cruz, and others, publicly called him out before he was nominated, but now proclaim this naked emperor's sartorial splendor.
320
@vbering
Trump's father Fred had Alzheimer's, which can be hereditary. I've read opinions from psychiatrists that Donald is showing signs of early-onset.
Watching video of Trump from 20 years ago, we see a well-spoken individual using multi-syllable words in complex sentences. Now he rambles in cryptic phrases, and constantly repeating himself. Excessive paranoia is also a symptom of what some call "dementia."
212
@Mark McIntyre
T%he economy is doing well, black unemployment is at its' lowest level ever and we seem to be winning the trade was with China , whose economy is tanking so maybe trump isn't senile
With trump we have far fewer people killed in wars over sand in places people cant find on a map
1
It’s not a style. He simply has a view of the world around him that he is constantly being judged. He tends to fear the worst unless others around him can convince him otherwise, and that typically takes a lot of flattery.
16
Dear Mr. Trump,
The answer to all your problems is readily apparent. Just follow the law and the Constitution.
We understand that you seek to change the system and disrupt the status quo. And that is what your voters elected you to do. But you appear to be incapable of coloring between the lines.
So yes, you are right. Many of us are out to get you. But not because you wish to change the system. Rather, because you refuse to play by the Rule of Law and the Constitution in order to accomplish these goals.
295
@MidtownATL Correct. But this approach is not (nor probably ever has been) part of the Trump playbook.
7
@MidtownATL — Actually, that part about following the Constitution is hard, so many norms. Trump doesn't do norms.
3
There are more than a few people who have had it in for Trump. Tens of millions of people. I’d say he has good reason to think and act the way he does.
While a CEO/President, loyalty is critical to any organization’s success and crucial to the safety, security and the well-being of others who report to the CEO/President. Typically, those in the private sector who stray from this are unceremoniously fired.
Attempts to interfere internally with the wishes of this country’s voters and the president’s commitment to honor those wishes, is treasonous. Those working for the president who commit treason against tens of millions of people, should be unceremoniously fired.
Trump may be voted out which would not be an treasonous act.
Sometimes one must allow the other side to win in order to win, long-term. Concessions and patience given and exercised by both sides makes for a better society of people.
5
@Tom Trump's actions and words, his corruption, immorality and misdeeds have led to " tens of millions " having it in for him, not the reverse. The only reason for him to be paranoid is that he is a sociopath who does not feel guilt or remorse for his actions, not that rational people, Patriots who care about the survival of our Democracy " have it in for him ".
6
@Tom
The majority of voters in this country voted against Trump. In no way is it "treasonous" to object to minority rule!
8
@Tom
Just so I get this straight...
The person who blew the whistle on, and the people who testified to the fact that Trump was abusing the power of his office in order to actively cheat in the upcoming election, are the ones that you accuse of "interfering" with the rights of voters to have a fair election, and the guy caught red-handed actually trying to cheat to influence that election is somehow the "defender" of voting rights?
Have you considered sending a resume to the White House? You are exactly the kind of guy Trump is looking for to run his communications operation.
8
Dear honest Republicans,
Leave it blank.
On November 3, if you cannot bring yourself to vote for the eventual Democratic nominee, then just do not vote for anyone for president.
We cannot survive another four years of Mr. Trump.
We can survive whatever policies that any of the Democratic hopefuls might actually be able to get enacted as president.
362
@MidtownATL
Please share the names of these "honest Republicans" you address. All I can think of is Romney, or those that are in the process of retiring.
Nothing honest about this White House and the Republican Party.
107
@MidtownATL Sadly any republicans that had a shred of decency or honesty either "quietly retired from politics" or became " independents ". What's left in office clinging to that party fall into the following 3 categories:
One group has never understood the concept of public service. They got into politics to grift as much taxpayers money as they can and will do ANYTHING to cling to power. their greed is limitless. They never had any loyalty to THIS country.
One group are the "true believers" and fully invested in the cult of Trump which has embraced the evangelical doomsday prophesies . They see Trump as a modern king Cyrus and view the book of Ester as a somber documentary. Like most evangelicals they never had a good grasp of the bible. They are fodder for televangelist and "prosperity" preachers.
One group are highly compromised to dirty money. They spent a 4th July in Russia where it was spelled out to them exactly what would be spilled out about them if they don't protect Putin's pick for our "president" .
There is a lot of overlap with the groups. Group one and three found it easy to align with group two to rationalize supporting a lying treasonous criminal.
This is the modern republican party.
4
: I would add, Midtown, for Republicans to leave ballots blank for ANY Republican office.
4
Why is this man in public office? If he wants privacy and the ability to operate without public scrutiny he should go back to private life.
536
@Judy Such a great point, but I'm afraid it isn't enough for him to have lack of scrutiny. He craves the kind of adulation he is able to achieve with his raucous re-election pep / cult rallies.
20
@Judy
The "whistleblower" A.C, wasn't a whistleblower as explained by Rolling Stone's matt taibbi and if anyone else had been president A.C. would be in prison for years for leaking classified information .The call was totally innocent anyway. The IMF and many counties have investigated Ukraine a country aas corrupt as Nigeria and Trump has withheld aid to over 20 countries as he has a right to do pending investigations into corruption . We need to know that millions of taxpayer dollars wont be stolen by Ukrainian gangster oligarchs as frequently happens.learn some facts
2
@Molly
Except, of course, the fact that Trump wasn't and isn't interested in investigating Ukrainian corruption, he was only interested in the Ukrainian President publicly announcing an investigation into the Bidens. Not even interested in a real investigation, just the announcement of one.
20
"It was immediately clear that he faced deep opposition to his agenda.”
Yeah, starting with the nearly three million more votes for Hillary.
And then the miserable turnout for his inauguration.
And the zillions of people in the streets on several occasions.
And the record midterm House election against his party.
None of which had anything to do with the "deep state."
If this article is accurate, there is a small ray of hope. He may not actually be a demagogue; he may simply want to run the country the way he ran his business. (Of course, that does mean running it into the ground.)
162
Dear Pete and Maggie,
I admire your work, and in the interest of achieving precision in diction (a losing cause in these times of Twitter, especially as practiced by the illiterate in the White House), I suggest you drop the word "nostrum," which means cure or remedy. Better words would be "adage" or "maxim." Perhaps an editor on the copy desk can make the change.
Best wishes,
Art Carey
40
Mr. D’Antonio said. “Here, in Trump’s America, we’re to believe that all institutions are corrupt. No one is to be trusted. Those who would speak against him hesitate. Words of protest and revelations that might be made by whistle-blowers are stifled by fear. This is the world Trump has always inhabited and he wants us to live there too.”
This is exactly right. What's more, it was predictable from the beginning, for anyone who ever took more than a passing look at how he conducted himself in business.
I usually try to give people the benefit of the doubt, to consider that perhaps I don't understand their motivations, that maybe I'm operating in bad faith, that I'm just seeing them with a jaundiced eye because I disagree with their policies. But I have been forced to conclude that this president is not a normal human being, and that he is a grave danger for our country.
235
The headline that Trump has been “burned by impeachment” and the arguments of Trump, Lindsey Graham, and others that Trump has been unfairly investigated let Trump off the hook. Trump has been relentlessly investigated for a reason. His behavior stinks of corruption. And the fact that he’s dismissing loads of career government employees indicates Trump knows that if he wants to continue to operate above the law, he needs to rid his administration of anyone with a clear knowledge of the law who isn’t corruptible and who might report concerns. The reports of the personnel changes at the White House and the moves to make Trump’s calls even more secretive should alarm us all. And we have a majority in the Senate that continues to look the other way. Equally alarming.
520
And how, pray tell, might you know of the credence that should be accorded Federal employees? In my personal experience, many have their own agendas, protected by well-intentioned civil service practice.
2
You hit it in the penultimate sentence! How can Republicans, who didn’t want him in the first place, let this go on?? How can they live with themselves? I really don’t understand. He is a danger to our nation. He is a narcissistic sociopath, and he becomes more unhinged every day. I hope he doesn’t destroy mental health care in all of his proposed cuts - he and his family are going to need it.
39
@Bob, and pray tell how many of the 2M federal employees are in your sample? Why are YOU willing to cast doubt on the honesty and integrity of an entire group?
12
When a relationship is healthy, trust goes both ways. Donald Trump does not merit trust in any way, shape, or form. He lies, cheats, steals. This has been well documented for decades. People who know him, people who are close to him, do not trust him — for good reason. In some way, however corrupted his mind is, he knows this. His reaction is to distrust others. Paranoia is his last defense mechanism in a world of his own making.
166
Why I’m voting for Biden. Biden has a working class persona and is connected with the Great Lakes states. Biden can win back those states. Winning Pennsylvania, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin makes Biden’s numbers invulnerable. Do the math! Look at a map! The Progressives have a problem. If either Progressive wins, they will not be able to sell Congress on Progressive programs and they it will turn out to be just another, in a long list of promises broken, by politicians. What does Bloomberg bring to the table? New York? New Jersey? The Democrats already have those states. He buys everyone and everything. Remind you of someone? The last two are fine people and I wish them well, but not now. Trumps has got to be beaten. Why do you think Trump was making up stories about the Ukraine and Biden until he found it unnecessary?
10
@jerome stoll
I'm considering voting for Biden just because Trump has spent so much energy against him. And I'll do anything to go against Trump and his mob, and would vote for Mickey Mouse before a Republican and mostly our insane "liar in chief".
Bring it on! Can’t wait to see Quid Pro Quo Joes stammer through the debates.
And Hunter for VP!!
@James Hateful people usually die alone.
Trump's political play book of sowing suspicious and mistrust, fits perfectly with the career paths of Murdoch and Putin. These two are the most influential people with Trump and his GOP. They also happens to be two of most destructive people to global democracies, and decades of sowing mistrust and misinformation made them two of richest people in the globe. I have always said the current GOP are the party of Putin and Murdoch with their many nefarious minions using this same playbook to reelect them.
33
I can’t imagine going through life having such deep distrust of the people around me.
Where does Trump find actual joy? Not the false satisfaction of seeing enemies (real or perceived) vanquished, but actual happiness?
35
@Cousy By causing pain.
19
@Cousy By surrounding himself with toadies, yes-men and groveling sycophants who tell him what he wants to hear.
3
Paranoia can occur naturally, or it can be 'given' to someone. One of the favorite tools in the cyberwar is to make someone paranoid by creating little coincidences on their computer or phone. For example, if your internet connection becomes 'sticky' (slow, unresponsive) when visiting certain sites, it can cause you to believe that there is someone watching you. It's the electronic form of bumper-locking.
I suppose the question is, can someone be doing this to the President of the United States? We would assume that the Secret Service would be sensitive to this, and protect him from it. Or, for that matter, is the President listening to his advisers on the matter? If not, it would lead to beliefs in a Deep States, Qanon, etc.
The countermeasure for this used to be called 'psychological inoculation'. That's where someone is trained or 'inoculated' against the paranoia. In modern psychology it is studied as 'psychological agency', and in traditional depth psychology it was called the 'God-image'. In short, these terms refer to the psychological effects where someone senses the presence of an innate intelligence, under what is called the 'observer effect'. Religiously inclined people perceive it as 'God' or the Holy Spirit, or perhaps a demonic influence.
Government seems to be unwilling to discuss these methods openly, and in my opinion it's causing a public health hazard. The only solution is a public discourse on the issue.
1
He has always told and shown us the kind of low man he is. It disturbs me far more that millions voted for him and that the GOP fell so neatly in line behind him. We'll see him gone but his enablers won't be so easy to rid our democracy of.
112
Trump does not believe the law, any law, applies to him. Thus, he is stunned, angry, suspicous, and paranoid when, after breaking the law, the legal system tries to hold him accountable. In response, he is trying to break the entire legal system because this is the only mechanism we have to hold him accountable. For those paying attention, this fight is currently taking place in the Department of Justice and in the Senate, which is approving Trump appointed judges at an alarming rate. I have no doubt that if Trump is given 4 more years, he will use the DOJ and his appointed juduges to reduce our legal system to rubble. Then he can really go to town to form an imperfect nation in his warped image.
72
Trump has done nothing to inspire trust from those around him. Marine general John Kelly provides a good case in point....he went from being lauded as a hero, one of ‘my’ generals, etc. Now, Trump says he couldn’t fire him fast enough, he was in over his head, and so on.
My point is, how much longer will our best and brightest be willing to put up with this type of WH leadership? Why would anyone?
71
Why would anyone?? Myriad answers to that question:
Trump has something on them they don’t want to be public.
They believe he will help them gain power and wealth.
Supporters are gullible, blind, ill-educated or willingly uninformed.
Others crave the limelight Trump may provide.
And yet others want to use him, AG Barr and the DOJ, and the GOP Senate to usher in a US version of a “ national socialist” culture and government.
19
The best and brightest abandoned ship long ago.
5
@Kathy
And for anyone who might be confused by your use of the term "national socialist," that refers to nazis, not Scandanavian type government.
3
Certainly I find Trump repellent, but he also inspires for me bemusement and perhaps pity. Here’s a man who has more wealth than he could possibly spend. He’s arguably the most powerful person in the world, and shielded as he is from consequences by servile and sycophantic Senate Republicans, he has unprecedented freedom to use that power. He’s worshipped by hordes of Americans who attend his rallies and by millions of Fox News viewers. Yet he is seldom seen smiling and apparently never laughs. His behavior, speech, and affect are driven by anger, paranoia, and a ceaseless thirst for score-settling. How someone would choose to go through life that way is beyond my understanding. It’s as if he made a Faustian bargain and eternal affliction with bile and venom is the price he paid. Perhaps those autocrats whom gods would destroy the first make paranoiac.
53
@CA Meyer
The only reason he has money now is the he is billing the taxpayers for use of his golf course hotels, food and golf carts etc. He ran for president figuring after he lost he could keep the excess campaign funds. His golf courses were hemorrhaging money and some still are. But big loans and gifts from the Saudis et al are helping close his financial gaps and those of his children.
8
"The impeachment case against Mr. Trump, built largely on the testimony of officials who actually worked for him, reinforced his view that the government is full of leakers, plotters, whistle-blowers and traitors."
Sorry, but I view them as patriots. When you see wrong-doing, you are obligated, as a citizen and even more importantly as a government employee, to report it.
I don't want to live in Trump world and feel his paranoia. He's used to getting away with murder, but now he's at the top, and has contempt for our democratic freedoms.
He doesn't like being investigated, impeached, attacked, and reported on thoroughly? Well, he needs to stop breaking the law, lying, hiding call transcripts on a secret server, and politicizing/interfering with every aspect of government from immigration to legal cases to separation of powers, to foreign policy.
Paranoia? If anyone should be paranoid now, it's the American public.
250
@ChristineMcM I think the writers' point was that it was Trump's interpretation that those who testified were traitors, etc. I think the writers wholly agree with you that those testifying were patriots.
5
@alabreabreal: my comment was in answer to Trump's assessment of his detractors as "traitors'. I'm essentially talking to Trump, not the authors whom I'm quite familiar with as they comment regularly on TV. Furthermore, assuming he truly believes all this, I'm talking to him like a child who needs simple explanations.
13
@ChristineMcM Then why start your response with a quote from the article rather than just saying "I agree"? Why try to be clever by 'essentially talking to Trump"? It's confusing when it doesn't have to be.
It's really easy to be paranoid - and rightfully so - when one is deceitful. There would be no problem if there were not anything to hide. Rudy Giuliani, Mike Pence, Mike Pompeo, Mick Mulvaney, and John Bolton were all prevented from testifying under oath in front of Congress regarding Trump's actions. That did not happen because the Trump Administration's action have all been above board. If there were nothing to hide there would be no need for paranoia on Trump's part. Oh well.
40
“Testifying under subpoena was, Mr. Trump has made clear, “insubordinate.””
Very true.
3
Donnie is surrounded by people who don’t trust him - we’re called voters...
211
Trump made divide and conquer his trademark strategy. It’s worked for him and furthered the divide that was already underway when he “won” the election. Instead of appealing to the better angels of our nature Trump has used anger, suspicion and fear to keep his faithful amused and his enemies confused and at bay.
Now everyone is outraged and angry about everything. We have lost our ability to be respectful and listen to one another.
We will be lucky to get out of this mess without guns in the street.
26
Now tell me ‘it can’t happen here.’ Folks, it already has.
48
I'm tired of trying to understand Donald Trump. He is a clear and present danger to our Democracy; that fact needs to be recognized, and acted upon, by the very people who are trying to minimize the profoundly disturbing elements of his personal traits and how they affect our government and our country. The Senate's failure to act to remove him from office shows monstrous complicity in creating and sustaining a dictator. When, if ever, will Americans wake up to the fact that it is happening right here and now?
146
@doc Fully agree. Note how Elizabeth Warren has been the only Democratic candidate who has promised a DOJ task force dedicated to investigating Trump administration criminal activity. Where are Sanders, Buttigieg, Biden and Klobuchar on that issue? Nowhere to be found.
9
@doc Trying to 'understand' someone is difficult. I can see how it would be frustrating. However, really understanding how and why someone may be acting as they do (as Tony Schwartz did) makes it easier to move on and make an informed decision. I suspect everyone is tired of trying to understand Trump. I am, too. Which means forget 'understanding'...just vote him out.
13
A Brilliant summation: Paranoia elevated to a governing philosophy.
Beyond the important glimpse into President Trump's mental state, this article is an essential, appalling chronicle of Donald Trump's simultaneous paranoid retrenchment; vicious, scorched-earth character assassination of patriots; and vandalism of essential government norms and institutions.
The dry, precise language of penmasters Haberman and Baker - much as the formal language of a doctor when assessing a life-threatening condition - somehow makes the obvious inference more noticeable, more threatening:
President Trump has jumped the tracks.
While it is all well and good to talk about how to beat him in the next election, if his cabinet and Vice-President Pence really believe in public service, they need to summon their courage, and invoke the 25th Amendment.
History will make them heroes if they do so.
Otherwise, Their support of Trump will be in the first lines of each of their obituaries.
26
Virtually all the cabinet either owe him too much, are beholden to him for money or hiding secrets. Don’t look for them to do anything to upset the gravy train.
And a few believe in authoritarian or totalitarian government— in effect proto-fascists. No way are they going to do anything to remove a mentally ill leader who may hand them the anti-democratic country they want. In fact, we can easily assume that they will do all in their power to keep him in power, mental and emotional health notwithstanding.
Americans who care about the country now and the future for their children and grandchildren have significant reason to worry about oppression — quite apart from climate change and a faltering economy.
Maybe we can live with Trump for another 8 months, but the key is to keep a close eye on those cabinet secretaries in the meanwhile AND VOTE him and them out in November .
5
@Kathy
Well said... and we need everyone to vote. Not just a huge Democratic turnout, but Republicans and Independents whose consciences prevent a vote for Trump, but might stay home.
3
A paranoid president who demands loyalty will soon demand loyalty oaths. That’s what’s coming next. First for government jobs, then for government assistance, federal student loans, social security, Medicare, Medicaid, tax returns, on down the line. It’s enough to make one paranoid.
12
Paranoia is not a "style of governing" it is a symptom of mental illness.
It's time to look closely at the many signals of mental illness
during the last 3 and a half years.
169
@CJ37 Or 65 years.
9
Trump's entire presidency has been based on suspicion, distrust, prejudice and hate right from the very start.
He began with trying to convince America that all our problems come from immigrants coming here so we had to build a wall, then he makes everything politically based where in reality it's about right and wrong, and he will never ever take the blame for anything, he will always point the finger the other way.
We need to make America great again and get rid of Donald Trump.
49
Well, come now -- it was the NYT who originated doing a monthly list of who Trump had insulted or otherwise lashed out at during his 2016.
Trump first harnessed the media to serve him decades ago then started attacking it (to control the narrative) not long after.
Trump playing the victim has long been one of his main cons to gain sympathy and enlist support.
As has often been the case, Hillary was exactly right about Trump when she labelled him "Poor Donald."
13
If Trump thinks people in “his” government are out to get him he’s right! I hate to shine the light of day in the dark recesses of his mind but there are even more people outside government that want to see him out of office. It’s best that he satisfies himself with his MAGA rallies where he can feel the love. If that fails call Mitch or Lindsey for support and perhaps a lullaby come bedtime. Tweet dreams!!
14
With all the resources at his disposal, I honestly don’t know why the man does not seek help. Can you imagine living your life like that? Normally I would pity someone like him. But I just can’t.
32
Having experienced much anxiety myself, I might be more sympathetic to Trump's emotional outbursts if he didn't have our lives in his buttery fingers.
With great responsibility comes great mismanagement and hubris, apparently. Let him be a lesson to all of us.
15
We have yet to realize that we have a sociopath as president who suffers from extreme narcissism. That means he totally lacks empathy and must be constantly praised otherwise he reacts with vengeful cruelty. With his acquittal for impeachment, Trump has now been put “above the law” and his acts of hateful revenge as well as his active interference of the law on behalf of allies like Roger Stone are the result of any restraint. The Senate Republicans have let the evil genie out of the Constitution’s bottle and this callousness that is being loosed upon civility and the “rule of law” is just the beginning.
58
Well, as the saying goes, sometimes paranoids have real enemies.
3
Trump has become indistinguishable from his supporters.
Anger, suspicion, outrage and belligerence.
13
"supporters who are suspicious of the elite". Could someone please explain to me who the "elite" are? So, are all Republicans who were educated at Ivy League schools, live on the coast, and live in luxury... are they part of the elite as well? Silly me, that status seems to be given only to Democrats with these credentials.
If only his supporters could see that their "elite" dear leader could care less about them.
31
@Amy More like intellectual elite. Cf. Trump's remark about loving uneducated people. Ivy League doesn't guarantee intellectual prowess.
2
Maybe Mr. Trump could trust career government employees a little more if he wasn't the most corrupt president in U.S. history.
44
Trump will just call foreign leaders on a whim on his personal cell phone and there will be no more if in that infamous phrase Trump made famous:
Russia, if you're listening . . . .
5
Doesn’t “paranoia” suggest he has nothing to hide? I bet he does have good reason to fear persecution.
5
@Me Paranoia is more about people being out to get you for NO reason.
In Trump's case, I think it's more complicated because he's so dishonest & narcissistic (and ignorant of the Constitution & his job's description) that he maybe really does believe he's done nothing wrong--he may really believe that President is King.
Dear good people of South Carolina,
What happened to Lindsey Graham? He apparently does not have a moral compass of his own, and has to borrow one from other people.
Pleae reject Lindsey Graham on November 3. He is past his sell-by date.
Back when John McCain was still with us, and and was Graham's best friend in the Senate, Lindsey Graham could follow positive moral guidance from McCain.
But now, Lindsey Graham is following the lead of Donald Trump. John McCain must be rolling over in his grave, right about now.
- "I think he feels like the people are out to get him, going overboard. I mean just put yourself in his shoes,” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina and a staunch ally, told reporters this past week."
What would McCain do?
30
Can this be happening? Oh yes. It is. Barr should resign immediately for his unrepentant and unconstitutional corrupt support of our unrepentant and dangerous president.No senatorial critics or trump toadies have interfered with the Barr coverup. And no protests in the streets. Yes there are DOJ career attorneys who care and four of them have resigned. How many more will Follow?
14
Trump made this bed. Now he has to sleep in it. Unfortunately, the rest of us have to sleep with him. When he thrashes about in the night, we all suffer. Now most of us have insomnia as a result. Will we ever sleep peacefully again?
8
Ironic that it’s his regressive policies and despicable behavior that creates the force trying to oust him and his reaction to that force makes him even more regressive and despicable. Unfortunately, it’s apparent that he’s becoming progressively more dangerous.
9
Although Trump shows paranoia, I would argue that paranoia is not driving his purges and efforts to make anything and everything secret. He epitomizes corruption and criminality - of course, he’s doing everything he can to get away with in order to hide it. He and his kids are a crime family, enriching themselves and entrenching power at our expense and peril. And Senate Republicans are making that possible.
I look forward to the day he is out of office and ends his days in disgrace, if not jail.
22
Nixon’s paranoia was bad.
Nixon had lists of enemies.
Trump’s paranoia is just as bad.
Maybe worse.
9
Lindsey Graham - “I think he feels like the people are out to get him." He and other Republicans act blind to Trump's calls to lock Hillary up, accusing Ted Cruz's father of complicity in JFK's assassination, spitting on John McCain's service to his country and other things, all before his election.
Trump lies, cheats, attacks, mocks and ridicules every day, then says people are out to get him.
61
Please, don't expect me to feel sorry for this guy. If he lives in a world of suspicion it's one he created himself. If he thinks that people are out to get him, maybe it's because he tries to steam-roll everything in his path to achieve his goals.
The vulgar need to win at the expense of anyone and everyone else is practically guaranteed to make enemies. When your idea of success is to see everyone else either ground into the dirt or licking your boots, what do you think will happen?
18
This is to be expected from someone with over 3 thousand lawsuits pending against him? A handshake from him is like being passed a lethal virus.
17
As has been noted: just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they aren’t trying to get ya. He is. They are. Sooner the better.
16
Bloomberg can save us from the weakness and paranoia of Donald Trump. The nation deserves better! I’m all in with Bloomberg!
10
Trump is a reissue of James Cagney's last scene in "White Heat"
3
Thanks to all the GOP senators that taught the Don a lesson.
18
the president is a danger to the country and his party fears him too much to restrain him
9
Can anyone blame the President if he is a bit paranoid about the snakes that inhabit Washington politics.
Like most successful businesses try to weed out employees who undermine or disrupt the President and his loyalists should do the same. In spite of the leftist socialists (we should stop using the term progressives) doing everything they can to undermine and thwart the administrations successes they have failed.
Weeding them out prior to the campaign and President Trumps next four years in office seems logical.
3
Before I saw the byline on this article, the title made me think it must be by either Peter Baker or Maggie Haberman... only to find it was written by you both. I have read your articles and analyses of Donald J. Trump for long enough to know that you see his presidential choices in the context of his life in totality. Crazy as Trump’s recent tweets and actions may have seemed to many, they make perfect sense when you look at how he has always responded to anything he deems critical of or threatening to him personally.
As you write, “Michael D’Antonio, the author of ‘The Truth About Trump,’ recalled that the future president was raised by a father who taught him that all of life is a battle for power and that he should be a “killer.” Mr. Trump, Mr. D’Antonio said, came to see others as useful for his own purposes or obstacles to be crushed.”
The apple does not fall far from the tree.
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This description of Mr. Trump by both his detractors and admirers paint a picture of a man unfit for any office whatsoever, and yet since he now wears the mantle of President we all seem desperate to believe that he has intention and agency.
He has neither of those things. He is a sick man trapped in an office which will surely destroy him. As it does his chaotic flailing will hurt all of us.
And the blame here lies with us. Both those who enable him and take advantage of his infirmities and the rest of us who watch open mouthed, desperately hoping he will turn into some kind of president as it becomes more evident every day that he will not.
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As the wickedly sarcastic quip goes, “Sometimes even paranoids have enemies.” In Trump’s case, they are all well-deserved.
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Maybe if the press conspired to ignore him for a week or two it would deepen his paranoia of a conspiracy and would really drive him nuts.
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Trump does not look like he’s enjoying his presidency.
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The only things burned by the impeachment are the hopes of Democrats winning the House of Representatives and the Presidency.
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Greatly biased article proving the very basis for Trump’s so- called paranoia.
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“I think he feels like the people are out to get him, . . . “ Every criminal feels that way.
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He’s paranoid because he projects his own lack of integrity on all others.
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Don't be surprise when we find out Trump has created the new cabinet position of Official Food Taster.
You never can be too sure.
Any candidates?
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As Yogi Berra said, “This is like Caligula all over again”.
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The man is mentally ill. He has fooled himself and a shrinking number of others that he is a "good" man. He is the worst of men, and I hope he is gone before we all find out how bad he can be.
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"But you have to realize that people, sadly, sadly, are very vicious. You think we’re so different from the lions in the jungle? I don’t know.”
Our President, ladies and gentlemen.
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Benito Mussolini said "We become strongest, I feel, when we have no friends upon whom to lean, or to look for moral guidance"
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I no longer find myself interested in trying to parse the whys and wherefores of Mr. Trump's m.o. He is both a bad and a stupid man. What do you need to know about him after you know that? I think our time could most profitably be spent in working hard to defeat his reelection rather in trying to figure him out.
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“Despite the outward appearance of grandiosity and superiority, the narcissist actually lives in a state of anxiety and hypervigilance.”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/insight-is-2020/201701/the-true-roots-narcissism
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One thing all dictators and their hangers on have in common is full paranoia.
Look up and study dictators from Stalin to Mao, from Hitler to Putin from Mussolini to Franco,from Philippines to the India and now to Trump, they are all paranoid leaders, in that regard there is nothing new under the sun.
They all got their power very quickly by taking immediate control of their justice departments (just check it out).
Once you cannot get punished, they can punish the world and therefor control their world.
What is very suspect is that the old conservative Republican party was immediately in full sync with Trumps hunger for power.
Have they always been ready for it, have they always been waiting for their “liberator”. The answer has to be yes.
Their base, Trump’s base, has been extreme right Evangelicals as well as Christians who have throughout history been trying from hanging on to power to gain a lot more power.
Something one can find back in history over and over again in the rise of dictators.
For democracy to have any chance of surviving, there has to be a resolute wall between church and state, something our founders were rightfully adamant about.
Republicans were never full supporters of our Constitution, they knew and still know what they wanted to change to stay in power.
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Let’s just face it our president is a very sick man.
If he were in any other job he would have been fired long ago.
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Can a more salacious, corrupt, mendacious man and his family exist anywhere...and how is it possibly they reside at taxpayer expense in Washington DC instead of Rikers Island?
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How come there is an article like this for every President in my long lifetime? This makes a great argument for term limits for all politicians as well as government high level workers, the military included.
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@Tammy Judging by your opening sentence, you've only been alive for three years. I never seen an article like this about any president in my own lifetime, and that's twelve presidents, including Nixon and Clinton.
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@Tammy And in this case, the term limit was exceeded about 3 years ago.
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So Senator Collins, How are your aspirations for the President working out? Think he's learned a lesson? Grown from the experience?
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Better question; am sure you’ll agree.
Have the voters of Maine learned a lesson?
I sure hope so. Wait, we will see.
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Senator Collins knew very well that her talk of Trump learning a lesson was complete nonsense. She’s trying to walk a tightrope between the Trump cult on one hand and the decent people of Maine on the other so she can be re-elected. May she slip and fall into the abyss!
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@K. Anderson Not sure she's walking any walk other than the walk to her re-election. She's pretty single minded that way.
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Paranoia and Tyranny go hand in hand.
Ultimately a such a person, who trusts no one, destroys everyone.
Be afraid. Be very afraid.
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@TheraP
Yes.....”Be afraid. Be very afraid”....But, DO something. Actions speak louder. WE all must get to work and put our fears into action, or this nightmare we watch rolling larger each day could go on for many more years.
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@TheraP "Be afraid. Be very afraid."
Especially a man who has his finger on the Nuclear trigger and is insane enough to use it.
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so much for "the most transparent administration ever".
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Well, they are openly committing crimes and openly lying.
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@Baron That was always a joke. Just ask him about his tax returns, for starters....
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Trump did not fall into the grip of fear through circumstance, as Graham insinuates. He clearly lives with an all-consuming fear—a terror—of reality. His very core is anxiety.
In response, he tries to control people and circumstances around him. When he learns (as all adults of course do) that he CANNOT exercise such control, his fears only expand. And so he reaches again....and the cycle continues unceasing.
Of course as President of the United States he has a lot of strategies to convince himself that he is in control of the universe. And he uses now one, now the other, all unsuccessfully.
For the fact is none of us is in control of the universe. Not even the President. Most candidates realize that before they enter office. Some realize it most profoundly while in office.
Only Trump seems destined to enter and leave the office of the Presidency convinced that he alone controls all things, and therefore will forever remain alone facing his ultimate fear.
Sad.
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@Paul C. McGlasson You have so accurately hit the nail[s] on the head.
Just as no one can control Mother Nature or Father Time, we should all understand that these are very dangerous and grave times for all Americans, and, the rest of the world.
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@Paul C. McGlasson - So true. His core is anxiety because he is an emotional black hole. For all his projection and bombastic statements, he's fundamentally empty inside and knows he is a fraud. His all consuming fear is that other people will realize what he already knows and can't admit to himself, thus his constant need for validation, attention, and praise.
We're in serious trouble. Vote blue no matter who in 2020, people.
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@Paul C. McGlasson What he clearly lives with is extreme narcissism which is reflected in his extreme grandiosity. Space Force? Really? As every narcissist intuits at a gut level (as well as pretty much anyone coming into contact with him) is that he has no core. There's nothing really there. When a narcissist feels threatened he doesn't feel anxiety. He feels his life is being threatened. And he will fight with every tool available to stay alive. And he's surrounded himself with many tools.
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"For What It's Worth"
There's something happening here
But what it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking' their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
What a field day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly saying, "hooray for our side"
It's time we stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
Step out of line, the men come and take you away
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Hey, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Now, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
We better stop
Children, what's that sound?
Everybody look - what's going down?
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@AS Great minds think alike! I almost posted Dusty Springfield's song but you beat me to it! It fits Trump and his trumpistas, err, Republicans to a T.
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@Jeff
Stephen Stills while with the group Buffalo Springfield wrote 'For What It's Worth'.
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Widely known, if you follow the rules, follow the letter of the law, people will support you and respect you.
When you lie on a daily basis, insult and debase people, attack people who don’t agree with you, you set yourself up for criticism and distrust.
I also want to mention that trump is not a king, he did not win the popular vote and was NOT America’s first choice for president.
Many people in the US knew of him previously as a con man and a deceiver, and knew he was NOT presidential material.
1204
@Lynn STILL isn’t presidential material ...to be president of anything
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@Lynn
Perfectly articulated. Thank you for your comment.
Your first paragraph brings Obama to mind. He isn't the subject of numerous investigations because he is a law-abiding, constitutional lawyer who deeply loves his wife. He encouraged and served the people.
With DJT, it's always and only about him.Every day, I wake up hoping to read that he is out.
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And STILL is not our president.
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All Trump has to do is behave himself in order to avoid leaks and bad press. He might try that for once.
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@Lynda Demsher Not in his repertoire.
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@Lynda Demsher Any leakers would be prosecuted for felonies under any other president as expained by Matt Taibbi in his Rolling Stone article
@Lynda Demsher People like Trump live with hidden demons you cannot see and they cannot conquer. Even if he were alone, those demons are always there. They drive his behavior. That will never change.
I presume 35% of the U.S. population is the same way since they obviously see someone like themselves.
3
Like Gay Talese's portrait of Sinatra in "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," which circled around the man himself, what a horrifying picture this astute piece offers of the President's values, ideals and goals--by showing us what he sees when he looks outward.
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