When Trump said he would be a dictator on day one my response was “ what dictator gave up that power on day two?” People called me names, belittled and unfriended me. This included childhood friends and one of my brothers. I take no solace in saying I told you so. Every single day we are bombarded with the horrors of authoritarian rule by a man who has no clue what he is doing. I listened to Cory Booker for hours yesterday and I answered “the constitution lives in my heart”. I will fight the good fight, I will run the race with endurance and I will trust God to save us from this debacle. I don’t want to play Calvinball!
I go with Matt Tiabbi's view that Trump is too lazy to be a dictator. I was an establishment Republican until they disavowed me for "not being a good team player."
I want good government that functions well. I think that on one side we have Trump and the new Right: I will use Angelo Codevilla's term and call them the Country Party. On the other side we have the Ruling Party that consists of the Democratic party leadership, most of academia, most of mass media, and most of the civil service. This looks like a well balanced fight.
I fear what happens if the Ruling Party gets back in control. Would it be long before we follow the European example of banning politicians and political parties? Our new 17 Justice Supreme Court would rule that all of these new laws are Constitutional.
Whether or not Trump wants a 3rd term is really irrelevant. His age will take care of the issue, if not his mental and physical health. He will be 83 years old at the end of the current iteration of his Presidency, and, like Joe Biden before him, will be put out to pasture by his party, if not the American voters. And, of course, there is something called the Constitution which has the ultimate say so in all of this. In my humble opinion, if America as we know it is still a thing when these 4 years are up, we will not need to wring our hands worrying about Trump. Like the Russian Czars, he will fall out of power and we will move on to having even more than Trump to worry about.
I would imagine in my mind-reader that Trump thinks he can run govt better than anyone he knows. He is, after all, of the real king line of real Judah....and that's a trademark of real Judah. Not that others don't think the same, but Judah sure does
Well, while I don't like some of Trump's brand of politics and his handling of certain issues, I also don't subscribe to the Trump's a dictator and a thug narrative either. If he were going to try to get control of our government and rule America with an iron fist, I think he would have tried in his first term. And I know, you are now going to try to make the argument that Trump tried to wrest control of the government in 2021, on Jan. 6th, but that dog won't hunt as I have pointed out to both you and Mr. Thornton many times. As far as him supposedly wanting a third term, I think, like one Barack Obama, who also talked about it, it is just that, a lot of talk and bluster, which, as we know, Trump certainly doesn't shy away from.
Here's one possibility. He did try in his first term. He was hindered by (1) his ignorance of how the federal government (at that level) works; (2) his expectation that he would probably lose (he really didn't expect to win!); (3) his acceptance of advice from people inside the "system" and the party. Nothing about Trump changed, but he learned. His time outside the WH, those 4 years of preparation and war, forged him into the president we see now. No holds barred. He didn't change. His goals, aims and desires are the same as they were in 1990, or 2016. He's just better at being him in the Oval Office.
Yes. You’re right. He’s “much better at being him in the Oval Office” because now he’s seen the enemy up close ( as close as his ear) and he’s now battle ready. He’s thought long and hard in that 35 years and especially in the last 4. Thinking is good. As far as his comments about nuclear war, by “we don’t use weapons” I believe he means we avoid non nuclear weapons and “ that is bullshit.” He does not want nuclear war. I believe him. I do not want the rogue judiciary to usurp the executive which it now does. Trump did win in 2020 and in 2016 and 2024. Anyone who still does not know that does not want to know it. 2028 is a long time from now. So let’s just stay in the present. I do believe him when he speaks but I am not not obsessing over it.
Then you might have wanted to wait a couple years to write your article, because as of now, you are pretty far off base. Time will tell. Let's revisit all this in 2 years, and one of us might just have a heaping dish of crow for dinner.
You’re doing exactly what Trump wants here, jumping all over his musings and prognostications, no matter how silly, while he gets on with his agenda unmolested. I’m sure he would love nothing better than four years of media obsessing over his third term and other fantasies. It’s how he stays so far ahead of you.
Bullseye
When Trump said he would be a dictator on day one my response was “ what dictator gave up that power on day two?” People called me names, belittled and unfriended me. This included childhood friends and one of my brothers. I take no solace in saying I told you so. Every single day we are bombarded with the horrors of authoritarian rule by a man who has no clue what he is doing. I listened to Cory Booker for hours yesterday and I answered “the constitution lives in my heart”. I will fight the good fight, I will run the race with endurance and I will trust God to save us from this debacle. I don’t want to play Calvinball!
But if you look at 1990, he definitely has a clue what he's doing. He just has no clue if it's any good. Which mostly, it isn't.
I go with Matt Tiabbi's view that Trump is too lazy to be a dictator. I was an establishment Republican until they disavowed me for "not being a good team player."
I want good government that functions well. I think that on one side we have Trump and the new Right: I will use Angelo Codevilla's term and call them the Country Party. On the other side we have the Ruling Party that consists of the Democratic party leadership, most of academia, most of mass media, and most of the civil service. This looks like a well balanced fight.
I fear what happens if the Ruling Party gets back in control. Would it be long before we follow the European example of banning politicians and political parties? Our new 17 Justice Supreme Court would rule that all of these new laws are Constitutional.
Lazy? Did Matt say that? Whatever label you want to put on Trump, lazy is not one that fits. He is the exact opposite of lazy.
Actually he did. But Matt should probably revise his assessment.
Whether or not Trump wants a 3rd term is really irrelevant. His age will take care of the issue, if not his mental and physical health. He will be 83 years old at the end of the current iteration of his Presidency, and, like Joe Biden before him, will be put out to pasture by his party, if not the American voters. And, of course, there is something called the Constitution which has the ultimate say so in all of this. In my humble opinion, if America as we know it is still a thing when these 4 years are up, we will not need to wring our hands worrying about Trump. Like the Russian Czars, he will fall out of power and we will move on to having even more than Trump to worry about.
Will he? Convince me harder.
After a G20 summit during his first term, Trump wrote "Trade is bad" on some notes for a speech.
Degrowthers have got to be delighted.
I would imagine in my mind-reader that Trump thinks he can run govt better than anyone he knows. He is, after all, of the real king line of real Judah....and that's a trademark of real Judah. Not that others don't think the same, but Judah sure does
Well, while I don't like some of Trump's brand of politics and his handling of certain issues, I also don't subscribe to the Trump's a dictator and a thug narrative either. If he were going to try to get control of our government and rule America with an iron fist, I think he would have tried in his first term. And I know, you are now going to try to make the argument that Trump tried to wrest control of the government in 2021, on Jan. 6th, but that dog won't hunt as I have pointed out to both you and Mr. Thornton many times. As far as him supposedly wanting a third term, I think, like one Barack Obama, who also talked about it, it is just that, a lot of talk and bluster, which, as we know, Trump certainly doesn't shy away from.
Here's one possibility. He did try in his first term. He was hindered by (1) his ignorance of how the federal government (at that level) works; (2) his expectation that he would probably lose (he really didn't expect to win!); (3) his acceptance of advice from people inside the "system" and the party. Nothing about Trump changed, but he learned. His time outside the WH, those 4 years of preparation and war, forged him into the president we see now. No holds barred. He didn't change. His goals, aims and desires are the same as they were in 1990, or 2016. He's just better at being him in the Oval Office.
Yes. You’re right. He’s “much better at being him in the Oval Office” because now he’s seen the enemy up close ( as close as his ear) and he’s now battle ready. He’s thought long and hard in that 35 years and especially in the last 4. Thinking is good. As far as his comments about nuclear war, by “we don’t use weapons” I believe he means we avoid non nuclear weapons and “ that is bullshit.” He does not want nuclear war. I believe him. I do not want the rogue judiciary to usurp the executive which it now does. Trump did win in 2020 and in 2016 and 2024. Anyone who still does not know that does not want to know it. 2028 is a long time from now. So let’s just stay in the present. I do believe him when he speaks but I am not not obsessing over it.
Then you might have wanted to wait a couple years to write your article, because as of now, you are pretty far off base. Time will tell. Let's revisit all this in 2 years, and one of us might just have a heaping dish of crow for dinner.
You’re doing exactly what Trump wants here, jumping all over his musings and prognostications, no matter how silly, while he gets on with his agenda unmolested. I’m sure he would love nothing better than four years of media obsessing over his third term and other fantasies. It’s how he stays so far ahead of you.
He said those things in 1990. All I did was read them.
Yes, I was using the word ”you” in a sloppy way here that made it seem like I was criticizing you personally. My apologies.