I think that presidents can do more damage than good, but their power is limited.
Trump greatly concerns me because of his abuse of executive power and because a lot of things that he wants to do, like implementing massive tariffs and quitting NATO, are arguably within president authority. And then there are his stress tests of national institutions that nearly broke us last time. Trump has the potential to do immeasurable damage.
I don’t know how directly Biden is involved in running the country, but if he’s not in charge, whoever is running it isn’t doing a horrible job.
To piggyback off of everything you've just said, it's important to make this distinction about Trump:
While our nation is one of checks and balances, if you give an ignorant tyrant unchecked authority, that system will fail. With Trump, he has managed to surround himself with cultish sycophants, out to cater to his every whim, no matter how destructive, nation be damned.
Simple 'bad policy' we can survive. We cannot survive the level of corruption and dishonor that a second Trump presidency would bring.
It's a very thought-provoking piece. And I'm tempted to agree with the sentiment to some degree ... but I agree more with David, that Steve is underestimating the sheer amount of damage a second Trump presidency could cause. Particularly as his intent it to avoid all the smart people who overrode his wishes the first time--and he has plenty of power-hungry slimeballs around him to make sure the "right" hiring takes place. The degree to which Trump's (and his nefarious hangers on) wishes weren't implemented the first round, I have less faith the will be successfully opposed this round. I'm including the Supreme Court in that list that won't be an effective guardrail.
More guardrails will crop up. We haven’t even begun to mine the depths of opposition. It’s been theatre up to now. If Trump wins, we might see the first level of what national resolve looks like. Then they’ll impeach and convict him, done proper.
If I've learned anything through Trump 1, it's that true impeachment is dead. Furthermore, the republican party in congress (as it is constituted now, and probably moreso after the election) will do absolutely nothing to curb Trump's excesses.
Absolutely, glancep and Steve, I appreciate your optimism. I wish I had some of it. The trend toward autocracy has increased around the world n the last decade or so and democracy is in a crisis worldwide. Democracies erode before they collapse. The Republican Party is in crisis with the MAGA take over and MAGA seems to revere autocrats like Viktor Orbán. Our country is polarized. Republicans revile Democrats to the extent that they are willing to destroy democracy in order to relegate them to the dustbin of history.
The rules set by the Constitution should protect democracy, but Trump doesn't follow rules. Those with whom he will surround himself in a 2nd term have disdain for the rules. Any guardrails you hope to stand will be further eroded.
I think the guardrails have been eroded over the last 50 years. I think the will to power in Trump and his acolytes is strong. But much of it is self-defeating. Trump doesn't want anyone to overshadow him in the news, or with his followers. He wants his cult exclusively for him. But he can't implement the things required to both capture power and to keep his cult together. 10 years younger, I think he could have made a play for it. Now, I think it will be more "Four Seasons" body shop garbage and low-quality incompetent grifters. I do have confidence in the natural defenses of this country--capitalism, governance, and the administrative state (which was correctly notched down in its supremacy by SCOTUS). It seems Democrats and others have less faith in those guardrails (unless they exert complete control over them). This is not the 60s when people are assassinated, riots are regular occurances, and the politics of violence is front and center. But scratch the surface, and there's a deep well of that to tap. And 90% of it is anti-Trump. I truly believe what I wrote. It won't matter who's in the White House because it will be nobody.
I think Biden showed he does in fact know what is going on, understands issues, and can speak to them more or less cogently and lucidly. He was likely overprepped, was trying to be too specific with numbers, and of course - if your debater is sick then leak that info prior.
In contrast, Trump had no grasp of any issues, addressed nothing in any specific manner, and generally lied his way through everything.
I doubt many votes were changed one way or another.
To add to this: I think the Biden Team's theory of the debate was about specifics, when it should have been more about optics (and you could also look at that as an issue affecting Democrats more generally - specifics put people to sleep, and are not useful when debating a liar). You can contrast Biden's performance during the debate with his performance post-debate: the post-debate Biden was the performance they should have encouraged rather than limited.
Agreed. Biden was over prepped. His team committed a terrible error and it backfired on them. They should fire themselves. The rules reflected better on Trump, when they should have not muted mics and let Trump go unhinged. Instead they got Trump delivering sewer water in a reasonable tone and Biden trying to respond to it.
I am going to assume that this article was presented as tongue in cheek and as such, I appreciate your attempt to try to alleviate people's stress levels via a dosage of light hearted humor. The debate was horrendous to watch, but your article this morning gave me a smile so thank you for that.
Actually I’m dead serious. We will survive. No matter what moral panic consumes the elite and media. I’m much more worried about the next pandemic than who will be president. WHO and NIAID and the uniformed Public Health Service are much bigger threats than politicians.
Easily one of your best commentary's ever Steve. While we are politically different, by nights end, i had an awakening, an epiphany. Life will go on in spite of two uniquely unqualified candidates running for the top job in the country.
Neither belong on the stage. Neither deserve our vote, yet we will be forced to choose. I am solidly in the camp of the democrats having a "come to Jesus meeting" and making some hard decisions. It would all be made easier if they forced Joe into a room and made him watch the damned effort in a doom loop till he finally understood..."i am too damn old."
Thanks Bill. I think what we see today is more of a panic than an actual reaction. Dem leaders knew Biden was “what you see on tv is what you get.” It will blow over by convention time. There’s simply no time to prop anyone else up to take on Trump. Dems would better use their time to move on from this forgettable lapse.
After last night’s debate, I thought about what Steve and David would write. My prediction was exactly what I saw in your pages this morning. Forgive Joe for the policies his handlers have implemented because Trump’s economy was not perfect. Forgive Joe because a few terrorists might have also made it into the USA under Trump’s watch. Accuse Trump of constantly lying but forgive Biden for a few factual inaccuracies. Accuse Trump of planning to take away our freedoms, something he did not do in his first four years only because he did not know how and did have the right people in place.
If Joe Biden wins the electoral vote, we deserve to know who was elected to run the country. Steve says it will be his handlers which means the disastrous policies will not change. It might also be Kamala Harris within a few months – a frightening thought because the President can wield awesome authority unless Congress or the courts reign it in.
From Patricia Heaton on X/TWITTER
“[This] isn’t about politics anymore. He is clearly incapacitated. This is very bad optics and even more, bad for our national security. The Democrats must find a new candidate even if it’s the slimy Gavin Newsom. Right now, there is no way that President Biden is actually in charge. So the question is, who is? Americans should know who is making the decisions. This can’t go on for another four years should the Democrats win.
[...]
He also reminds me of my dad at this age. I can’t imagine putting my father in such a situation in this condition. Imagine a wife allowing her husband’s frailty to be paraded across an international stage in such an undignified manner in service of political power. Quite Shakespearean. And unthinkable. And yet here we are.”
I do agree both parties could pick better nominees. I don’t believe the democrats are through with the process.
"It might also be Kamala Harris within a few months – a frightening thought because the President can wield awesome authority unless Congress or the courts reign it in."
Might not have been such a good plan for #MAGA to go full-hog on the whole unitary executive thing and push for things like Presidents having full immunity for the things they do in office, no?
I agree with Ms. Heaton as to Americans having the right to know who is making the political decisions and policies. Right now, whoever it is , they were not rightfully elected nor are they able to be held to any type of accountability.
More obfuscation of the fact that the Uniparty, under control of the donor class, has been shearing the sheeple (US Citizens) for decades. Everything the "government" does is in furtherance of the goals of a small coterie of wealthy families who see politicians as cheaply purchased, obedient drones. The return on I vestment has been staggeringly good. This is how we end up with the two candidates we have. There is an overwhelming amount of information to support this. If anyone cares to get informed I would recommend "Family Of Secrets" by Russ Baker, "Devil's Chessboard" by David Talbot, or "JFK and the Unspeakable" by James Douglass...
Umm, who told you that the government is made of people? As in “sheeple”. Federal, state and local government is the country’s biggest employer. And each employee is also a consumer of the product their employer produces. (Maybe this is communism?)
I’m so glad that I’m free, I have always held the thought that the president was the “ruler”. But in the end, the people are supposed to run the U.S. Even if you feel like you only have a little power, you still can decide who you want. Decide not by personality of the candidates (they’re all fake anyway) but by what you see in the government.
While I would agree that we have been a resilient people and country for our almost 250 years, I think America as we have known her is about to meet it's end. Down through the ages, most empires, dynasties and strong countries have had just about a 250 year run, some more, some less. The handwriting is certainly on the wall, plainly to be seen for anyone who cares to look. We have porous borders that nobody wants to put a stop to. Our immorality and national sins know no bounds. Crime is running so rampant our streets are no longer safe to even take a walk at night. God still rules in the affairs of men, and I doubt that He likes what He sees from this country.
I think that presidents can do more damage than good, but their power is limited.
Trump greatly concerns me because of his abuse of executive power and because a lot of things that he wants to do, like implementing massive tariffs and quitting NATO, are arguably within president authority. And then there are his stress tests of national institutions that nearly broke us last time. Trump has the potential to do immeasurable damage.
I don’t know how directly Biden is involved in running the country, but if he’s not in charge, whoever is running it isn’t doing a horrible job.
That should free you, brother! Let the aides and advisers do what they do. Competence over quality.
To piggyback off of everything you've just said, it's important to make this distinction about Trump:
While our nation is one of checks and balances, if you give an ignorant tyrant unchecked authority, that system will fail. With Trump, he has managed to surround himself with cultish sycophants, out to cater to his every whim, no matter how destructive, nation be damned.
Simple 'bad policy' we can survive. We cannot survive the level of corruption and dishonor that a second Trump presidency would bring.
It's a very thought-provoking piece. And I'm tempted to agree with the sentiment to some degree ... but I agree more with David, that Steve is underestimating the sheer amount of damage a second Trump presidency could cause. Particularly as his intent it to avoid all the smart people who overrode his wishes the first time--and he has plenty of power-hungry slimeballs around him to make sure the "right" hiring takes place. The degree to which Trump's (and his nefarious hangers on) wishes weren't implemented the first round, I have less faith the will be successfully opposed this round. I'm including the Supreme Court in that list that won't be an effective guardrail.
More guardrails will crop up. We haven’t even begun to mine the depths of opposition. It’s been theatre up to now. If Trump wins, we might see the first level of what national resolve looks like. Then they’ll impeach and convict him, done proper.
If I've learned anything through Trump 1, it's that true impeachment is dead. Furthermore, the republican party in congress (as it is constituted now, and probably moreso after the election) will do absolutely nothing to curb Trump's excesses.
Absolutely, glancep and Steve, I appreciate your optimism. I wish I had some of it. The trend toward autocracy has increased around the world n the last decade or so and democracy is in a crisis worldwide. Democracies erode before they collapse. The Republican Party is in crisis with the MAGA take over and MAGA seems to revere autocrats like Viktor Orbán. Our country is polarized. Republicans revile Democrats to the extent that they are willing to destroy democracy in order to relegate them to the dustbin of history.
The rules set by the Constitution should protect democracy, but Trump doesn't follow rules. Those with whom he will surround himself in a 2nd term have disdain for the rules. Any guardrails you hope to stand will be further eroded.
No, I don't share your optimism.
I actually just said something very similar to what you've expressed here, before scrolling down and seeing this.
You are correct.
I think the guardrails have been eroded over the last 50 years. I think the will to power in Trump and his acolytes is strong. But much of it is self-defeating. Trump doesn't want anyone to overshadow him in the news, or with his followers. He wants his cult exclusively for him. But he can't implement the things required to both capture power and to keep his cult together. 10 years younger, I think he could have made a play for it. Now, I think it will be more "Four Seasons" body shop garbage and low-quality incompetent grifters. I do have confidence in the natural defenses of this country--capitalism, governance, and the administrative state (which was correctly notched down in its supremacy by SCOTUS). It seems Democrats and others have less faith in those guardrails (unless they exert complete control over them). This is not the 60s when people are assassinated, riots are regular occurances, and the politics of violence is front and center. But scratch the surface, and there's a deep well of that to tap. And 90% of it is anti-Trump. I truly believe what I wrote. It won't matter who's in the White House because it will be nobody.
I disagree, Barack Obama is doing a terrible job running the country from his Martha's Vineyard digs.
If you really believe that, you should worry. Obama won handily twice and would clean Trump’s clock if he could run again. People liked Obama.
FTR I voted Republican in 2008 and 2012.
Obama is a likable guy. Usually that’s a feature. With Trump it’s a bug.
I dunno.
I think Biden showed he does in fact know what is going on, understands issues, and can speak to them more or less cogently and lucidly. He was likely overprepped, was trying to be too specific with numbers, and of course - if your debater is sick then leak that info prior.
In contrast, Trump had no grasp of any issues, addressed nothing in any specific manner, and generally lied his way through everything.
I doubt many votes were changed one way or another.
Agree I do
Speaking like Yoda we are?
Indeed, though Yoda likely most would have tuned out of that ‘debate’ sooner than I did.
When 900 years old you are, still you would be more lucid than the two jokers last night.
And right now, Joe Biden is speaking in North Carolina with vigor not seen last night.
As you said, his debate prep team should fire themselves - and whomever advised that Joe restrain himself needs retire and take up a new profession.
To add to this: I think the Biden Team's theory of the debate was about specifics, when it should have been more about optics (and you could also look at that as an issue affecting Democrats more generally - specifics put people to sleep, and are not useful when debating a liar). You can contrast Biden's performance during the debate with his performance post-debate: the post-debate Biden was the performance they should have encouraged rather than limited.
Agreed. Biden was over prepped. His team committed a terrible error and it backfired on them. They should fire themselves. The rules reflected better on Trump, when they should have not muted mics and let Trump go unhinged. Instead they got Trump delivering sewer water in a reasonable tone and Biden trying to respond to it.
I am going to assume that this article was presented as tongue in cheek and as such, I appreciate your attempt to try to alleviate people's stress levels via a dosage of light hearted humor. The debate was horrendous to watch, but your article this morning gave me a smile so thank you for that.
Actually I’m dead serious. We will survive. No matter what moral panic consumes the elite and media. I’m much more worried about the next pandemic than who will be president. WHO and NIAID and the uniformed Public Health Service are much bigger threats than politicians.
Easily one of your best commentary's ever Steve. While we are politically different, by nights end, i had an awakening, an epiphany. Life will go on in spite of two uniquely unqualified candidates running for the top job in the country.
Neither belong on the stage. Neither deserve our vote, yet we will be forced to choose. I am solidly in the camp of the democrats having a "come to Jesus meeting" and making some hard decisions. It would all be made easier if they forced Joe into a room and made him watch the damned effort in a doom loop till he finally understood..."i am too damn old."
Best ever; did i mention that?
Thanks Bill. I think what we see today is more of a panic than an actual reaction. Dem leaders knew Biden was “what you see on tv is what you get.” It will blow over by convention time. There’s simply no time to prop anyone else up to take on Trump. Dems would better use their time to move on from this forgettable lapse.
After last night’s debate, I thought about what Steve and David would write. My prediction was exactly what I saw in your pages this morning. Forgive Joe for the policies his handlers have implemented because Trump’s economy was not perfect. Forgive Joe because a few terrorists might have also made it into the USA under Trump’s watch. Accuse Trump of constantly lying but forgive Biden for a few factual inaccuracies. Accuse Trump of planning to take away our freedoms, something he did not do in his first four years only because he did not know how and did have the right people in place.
If Joe Biden wins the electoral vote, we deserve to know who was elected to run the country. Steve says it will be his handlers which means the disastrous policies will not change. It might also be Kamala Harris within a few months – a frightening thought because the President can wield awesome authority unless Congress or the courts reign it in.
From Patricia Heaton on X/TWITTER
“[This] isn’t about politics anymore. He is clearly incapacitated. This is very bad optics and even more, bad for our national security. The Democrats must find a new candidate even if it’s the slimy Gavin Newsom. Right now, there is no way that President Biden is actually in charge. So the question is, who is? Americans should know who is making the decisions. This can’t go on for another four years should the Democrats win.
[...]
He also reminds me of my dad at this age. I can’t imagine putting my father in such a situation in this condition. Imagine a wife allowing her husband’s frailty to be paraded across an international stage in such an undignified manner in service of political power. Quite Shakespearean. And unthinkable. And yet here we are.”
I do agree both parties could pick better nominees. I don’t believe the democrats are through with the process.
"It might also be Kamala Harris within a few months – a frightening thought because the President can wield awesome authority unless Congress or the courts reign it in."
Might not have been such a good plan for #MAGA to go full-hog on the whole unitary executive thing and push for things like Presidents having full immunity for the things they do in office, no?
Never heard of unitary executive thing. I think there is a good case to be made for some degree of immunity. Total immunity is a bit too much.
I agree with Ms. Heaton as to Americans having the right to know who is making the political decisions and policies. Right now, whoever it is , they were not rightfully elected nor are they able to be held to any type of accountability.
More obfuscation of the fact that the Uniparty, under control of the donor class, has been shearing the sheeple (US Citizens) for decades. Everything the "government" does is in furtherance of the goals of a small coterie of wealthy families who see politicians as cheaply purchased, obedient drones. The return on I vestment has been staggeringly good. This is how we end up with the two candidates we have. There is an overwhelming amount of information to support this. If anyone cares to get informed I would recommend "Family Of Secrets" by Russ Baker, "Devil's Chessboard" by David Talbot, or "JFK and the Unspeakable" by James Douglass...
Umm, who told you that the government is made of people? As in “sheeple”. Federal, state and local government is the country’s biggest employer. And each employee is also a consumer of the product their employer produces. (Maybe this is communism?)
Wow. I am glad that brings you such great comfort. I will assume you are fully joking.
I’m so glad that I’m free, I have always held the thought that the president was the “ruler”. But in the end, the people are supposed to run the U.S. Even if you feel like you only have a little power, you still can decide who you want. Decide not by personality of the candidates (they’re all fake anyway) but by what you see in the government.
While I would agree that we have been a resilient people and country for our almost 250 years, I think America as we have known her is about to meet it's end. Down through the ages, most empires, dynasties and strong countries have had just about a 250 year run, some more, some less. The handwriting is certainly on the wall, plainly to be seen for anyone who cares to look. We have porous borders that nobody wants to put a stop to. Our immorality and national sins know no bounds. Crime is running so rampant our streets are no longer safe to even take a walk at night. God still rules in the affairs of men, and I doubt that He likes what He sees from this country.
Naw.
For what it's worth, my google searches seem to indicate that crime is on an extended decline (since the 90s).