- Joined
- Feb 27, 2018
- Messages
- 14,396
- Reaction score
- 3
No. Trump is evidence that Americans will eat up empty rhetoric and is far more divided than they were willing to admit previously. But nothing about Trump is tyrannical.
No. Trump is evidence that Americans will eat up empty rhetoric and is far more divided than they were willing to admit previously. But nothing about Trump is tyrannical.
Corey Robin has actually been talking about how feckless Trump is for a while now. When people were calling Trump literally Hitler he was drawing distinctions between the two, and rebutting the notion that Trump is a fascist. Whether that was a politically productive use of his time as a leftist author is a different question, but he's essentially been proven mostly right on this point.
No, Trump is not showing that the USA could become tyrranical at the drop of a hat.
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/21/us/politics/video-dnc-trump-rallies.htmlTrump is a hardcore authoritarian (thinks law enforcement should be serving his personal interests, for example), but he's too lazy and stupid to really take over. But I think we are seeing how easy it would be for someone else to topple America. Republicans were perfectly willing to try to steal the election by putting trumped-up charges on their general-election opponent; Republicans in the House have not only helped him cover up corruption, they've actively tried to discredit the investigation into it; Republicans have shown a willingness to switch positions on a dime and ignore news that is unfavorable to the president. I could go on. A more committed, younger, smarter Trump type would have a decent chance to kill democracy.
Trump is a hardcore authoritarian (thinks law enforcement should be serving his personal interests, for example), but he's too lazy and stupid to really take over. But I think we are seeing how easy it would be for someone else to topple America. Republicans were perfectly willing to try to steal the election by putting trumped-up charges on their general-election opponent; Republicans in the House have not only helped him cover up corruption, they've actively tried to discredit the investigation into it; Republicans have shown a willingness to switch positions on a dime and ignore news that is unfavorable to the president. I could go on. A more committed, younger, smarter Trump type would have a decent chance to kill democracy.
It doesn't really matter what went on in the election so far as Trump's propensity to become authoritarian is concerned: he won the election.
You've demonstrated here that the Republicans are unscrupulous, and that Trump has worrying notions about american institutions. And yet he is still quite feckless. Look at the accomplishments that his supporters list. He needed that tax bill that they don't have the votes to fix. He's able to do very little, even with party affiliation or direct control of all three branches.
I think it's demonstrating the tremendous ability for the American system to bend, but not break. In Canada having a majority government is almost like having an autocracy. You can do whatever the hell you want for 4 years, the opposition government need not be there.
Im not saying he is a tyrant now...Im saying he has potential to be one and has shown that America can be taken over by a tyrant.No. Trump is evidence that Americans will eat up empty rhetoric and is far more divided than they were willing to admit previously. But nothing about Trump is tyrannical.
Im not saying he is a tyrant now...Im saying he has potential to be one and has shown that America can be taken over by a tyrant.
Just look at his fanatical fanbase who makes excuses for him...reminds me of third world dictators.
Just look at the fake news crap, reminds me of third world dictators, who say all ne2s are lies.
The potential is there...I can totally see a president, under the right circumstances and right narrative, taking over and having a good chunk of Americans supporting him.
Trump is'nt intelligent or ruthless enough to ever become a tyrant.Do you disagree, though?
Think of all that Trump has gotten away with, without losing any support from his base, that we previously thought was a deal breaker.
You don't think that revelation of the Trump era re just how little Americans care about policy/transparency/logical consistency go to show that our institutional guards against tyranny aren't quite as strong as we may have thought?
Trump is'nt intelligent or ruthless enough to ever become a tyrant.
Someone with Trumps morals and Bill Clinton's or Barack Obama's Charisma and intelligence would be very dangerous.
As opposed to Bill Clinton's morals?Trump is'nt intelligent or ruthless enough to ever become a tyrant.
Someone with Trumps morals and Bill Clinton's or Barack Obama's Charisma and intelligence would be very dangerous.
Im not saying he is a tyrant now...Im saying he has potential to be one and has shown that America can be taken over by a tyrant.
Just look at his fanatical fanbase who makes excuses for him...reminds me of third world dictators.
Just look at the fake news crap, reminds me of third world dictators, who say all ne2s are lies.
The potential is there...I can totally see a president, under the right circumstances and right narrative, taking over and having a good chunk of Americans supporting him.
Indeed it is. Joe Steele by harry turtledove is a pretty good book about the subject.Yeesh.
Trump's unscrupulousness + Clinton's ability to relate to people + Obama's intelligence and charisma + Dick Cheney's ability to smell fear and suck out victims' life force
That's a scary combo.
Bill Clinton sex hound that he is is more prudent tactful and discreet then Trump could ever be on his best day.As opposed to Bill Clinton's morals?