Ask the people who know Donald J. Trump best — the once-loyal partisans he appointed to high offices — who now line up against him.
From vice president to former press secretary to former lawyer, an unprecedented number of his appointees now repudiate him, some in the harshest of terms, as reported by the Associated Press, which is not fake news.
I can’t think of any American president being rejected by so many of his acolytes who have first-hand knowledge of his actions, personality, and thought process.
Although the AP did not report it, you probably remember Trump’s reaction as each jumped off the bandwagon (and keep in mind, he selected them):
He’s a loser.
A second-rate person.
Not too bright.
A traitor who should be shot.
That’s our Donald.
The story mentions, as it should, that many former officials still stand by the ex-president, and it doesn’t mention all the opponents, such as his former lawyer Michael Cohen and his former chairman of the joint chiefs, Gen. Mark Milley, who took a jab at “wannabe dictators” when he retired. Maybe AP wanted to avoid being accused of piling on.
The story is peppered with references to “threats to democracy,” which strike me as overblown, as when Trump says the same about Joe Biden. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. a few days ago said the same of Biden, whom he accused of censoring him.
My feeling is the safeguards built into our system can withstand the efforts of Trump to undermine them. I am not alone.
Yes, I am aware of the pernicious effort to replace honest secretaries of state, and other local officials, with Trumpsters who will follow his every dictate, such as House Republicans who rejected a decent bill cracking down on illegal immigration because Trump told them to. Not to mention efforts to overturn elections.
I said decent bill, not a perfect bill. It would not have closed the border, but it would have sealed some of the larger cracks.
What gives me confidence that our Constitution can withstand a man who wants to be dictator for a day?
This may surprise you.
The U.S. Supreme Court.
This may surprise Trump: When he appointed conservatives to majority rule of the Court, he seated justices who, unlike him, believe in the Constitution, as written and amended.
And that Constitution limits government power. It prevents presidents from running amok. The justices he appointed (for life) feel more loyalty to it than to him.
While it has occasionally ruled in his favor, it has ruled against him in a number of cases.
That is the bulwark in which I have faith.
So while I don’t think Trump means death to democracy, I think he does bring death to reason, to logic, even to proper elocution.
While I endorse some of his policies — strict border enforcement, Operation Warp Speed to create the Covid vaccine, the Abraham accords, a plan for energy independence, the Space Force, his anti-PC stance — he remains unfit for America’s highest office.
He is a transactional jerk, an admirer of Putin, a thin-skinned, narcissistic crybaby, the most sensational liar in American life, a person of low morals and lower intellect.
And that’s not just me talking trash. It’s his former friends.
Spot on Stu!!
I couldn’t agree more either, Stu. It’s not his policies, which as you pointed out, I was in favor of some of them. But that morally bankrupt, what’s in it for me personality that effects his every decision he makes just really turns me off.
🎯
It is true what you say about Trump but the alternative is Biden and he is just as bad if not worse. What is a voter to do with the choices we have.🤮🤮🤮
I have told you what I will do. Vote for the lesser of two evils.
Parse that thought: they are both evil, but you will vote for one of them anyway? I will vote for neither; I refuse to be party to the dismantling of the USA.
I understand. I voted third party in 2020. I have done so before. THIS time is different. I want Trump OUTTAHERE.
Both Trump and Biden have their critics. But the facts speak for themselves. The country and the world were in a better place under Trump. Because of Bidens incompetence and weakness our country and allies are in jeopardy.
Vote 3rd party. It shows that you’re willing to drag yourself to the polls but don’t accept the awful choices the major parties have given us.
Character matters, hope everyone considers it when voting.
I wish Stu would be fair and list Biden’s many faults. He makes Trump look like a saint when it comes to lying.
Danny boy, you are out of your freaking mind!
Just telling the truth.
You, telling the truth?
My mistake. I thought I was dealing with an adult.
Substitute the name Biden for Trump in the above blog, and you will see the dilemma too many voters have, unless the voter asks, “Who would strengthen the USA versus who would continue the unconscionable and deliberate, treasonous even, weakening of the USA , at home and abroad, by every act, proclamation, policy, burbled statement, executive action and every embarrassing creepy thing Biden has done?”
If voters want to strengthen the USA reversing the damage Biden has done in every sector, there is no question whom to vote for in 2024.
Biden has strengthened America. Under Trump, 5 million jobs were lost; under Biden we gained over 14 million jobs and the Biden economy is still creating many, many jobs. Wages are up and the stock market keeps hitting all-time highs. USA has the world’s best economy. If Trumpo were reelected his nonsensical tariff plans would cut economic growth and raise prices for Americans.
On foreign policy, under Biden’s leadership the trilateral security pact AUKUS (Australia, UK & USA) was created and the Japanese Prime Minister will shortly be in D.C. to talk about among other matters, joining AUKUS. Sweden & Finland joined NATO on Biden’s watch. Trumpo prefers dealing with murderous autocrats like Putin, Xi, and Kim (Trump loves being flattered). Trump hates dealing with Democratic leaders.
Trump also referred to to US Marines who died in war as “suckers & Losers”. He refused to be photographed with disabled veterans. He refused to meet with Gold Star families. He asked Gen Mark Milley, whose son died in Afghanistan, ‘why did he do it and what was in it for him?’ Trump has consistently attacked and defamed the military. Trump is entirely transactional. He doesn’t even understand the concept of doing things for the greater good(you know, like joining the military, serving your country, etc…)
Any veteran who supports Trump is a traitor to the uniform they once wore.
Help me out here. I have no idea what you are talking about. Since you apparently believe there is a long list of things that have weakened America, perhaps you could list the top three?
Was it standing up to Putin instead of admiring his “brilliance” in invading Ukraine, and failing to promise to cripple Ukraine’s defense in order to give Putin whatever he wants?
Was it strengthening and expanding NATO instead of trying to end it?
Was it passing an infrastructure bill that Trump never managed to?
Is it supporting legislation to ban Tik Tok, instead of supporting the direct line of the Chinese Communist Party into millions of American households?
Throw me a bone here. What are you even talking about?
I am In favor of some of Trumps positions when he was president. Since losing in 2020, he has demonstrated his lack of diplomacy, maturity and overall decency.
He does not deserve the presidency. I cannot wait to open a paper and not see his name.
I also despise Biden and find him to be a total fraud and outright liar,
We are as a country faced with an awful dilemma.
I agree that the Republic would survive, and that the courts are a strong counter to Trump’s obvious desire to operate as an autocrat. During his tenure in the White House the courts struck down 78% (192 losses, 54 wins) of Agency actions that were challenged in the courts. There were “GOP Judges” who tossed stuff out, and “Democratic Judges” who upheld actions.
With very few exceptions, judges, including the Supreme Court, are primarily interested in getting the law right.
Sometimes there is a lot of room to disagree (and I do) on what the law requires. If there weren’t, we wouldn’t have lawsuits, and I’d be out of a job.
Besides the courts, I think another counterweight supporting democracy is the armed forces. In this country they are trained that they must disobey an illegal order. (When Trump was saying he was going to withdraw from NATO, the Pentagon looked at the legalities and determined that, yes, it would be a legal order that they would have to obey, however reluctantly–Yup, there’s lawyers everywhere, even the Pentagon.) Mass arrests by the military or political executions or martial law just aren’t going to happen–unless the Supreme Court says so.
That doesn’t mean I don’t think he is a “threat.” He’d dearly love it if he could become president and dictator for life. He’s demonstrated time and again that he has no respect for the Constitution and would toss it out if he could. I expect that he will TRY to be a threat to democracy. It’s just that I don’t think that the threat is one that he can carry out.
The country and the world were in a better place under Trump. And people with common sense know that. People like you are so full of hate you can’t think straight. If you compare Trumps record to Biden it’s clear Trump was a far better president. And stop this nonsense about Trump being a dictator. BIDEN IS THE WORST PRESIDENT IN HISTORY.
Danny, with the knowledge you appear to have I am guessing you were not burdened with an overabundance of schooling.
I question your schooling if you think our country is in a better place under Biden. You embarrass yourself every time you post something.
Look over what you have posted. You sound like your 8 years old. State your opinion and stop acting like a asshole.
And I was four years younger too! This is just magical thinking. We are not going to time travel back four years, and good thing too!
Trump totally mishandled the Covid crisis. He refused to invoke the Defense Production Act to get ventilators and crucial medical equipment to American health care providers. He downplayed the potential harms and left it to the states. He utterly failed to mobilize US to fight the pandemic. The only good thing he did was fast-track the vaccines, for which a good chunk of his voters think was a bad thing. Had he anticipated the anti-vaxers, he wouldn’t have done it.
Result: mortality from Covid in this country was 40% (40%!) higher than the average mortality in the rest of the G-7 countries. He killed Americans with his incompetence. If you think dead Americans stacked in parking lots is something to be nostalgic for, what’s wrong with you?
Because of the Covid disruptions to supply chains, we got inflation. (I listen to economists, not politicians, when comes to economics.) If you think it was Biden’s policies alone, why did we get world-wide inflation? But you know what? The US had the LOWEST inflation of the G7.
So, when you are talking about competing with the rest of the world in dealing with problems:
— with Trump we end up not even second or third, but dead last.
— Biden’s policies put us at the top of heap.
Or as the British publication, The Economist (centrist) notes: “America’s economic outperformance is a marvel to behold”
Typical lawyer bullshit twisting the truth. People that pay attention and know the truth know your full of shit.
Bless your little Woke heart. OBJECTIVE FACTS are just a tool of oppression. What the mean man says can just be waved away by calling him names and stomping your foot. If you pay attention to something or other (but not facts) you’ll be Woke to the truth. Facts don’t matter.
Dr.Fauci the chief medical advisor to the president . Do you think he mishandled the Covid crisis? Did the democratic governors who ordered Covid patients into old age homes. Did they mishandle the Covid crisis. I think everyone did the best they could. We’re there mistakes made. Yes. But there’s plenty of blame to be spread around. You can’t blame Trump for everything. That’s how you twist the truth . Just be fair and honest.
Daniel you’re entitled to your own opinion; However you are not entitled to your own facts.
Interesting point about the military. My best friend, a veteran, says the military is trained to obey orders.
I say, EXCEPT illegal orders. We argue.
Here’s a thought to chew on — military Americans are 1% of the population. They are volunteers and undoubtedly further right than the population. With the draft, we had “everyone” (who couldn’t avoid it) even hippies.
Would TODAY’S armed forces — led by a joint chief appointed by Trump — be MORE likely to back up the commander in chief, no matter what?
The military has a pretty good record in resisting Trump.
Milley almost resigned during the Floyd protests because he thought Trump was trying to politicize the military–something military leaders just don’t want. According to Esper, Trump wanted 10,000 troops deployed to DC and for the protestors to be shot. Milley and he talked him down. They were “dumbstruck” and “shocked” at the suggestion. Reportedly, he decided not to resign, and instead, said
Reportedly he asked Colin Powell if he should resign and Powell said: “F-k no! I told you never to take the job. You never should have taken the job. Trump’s a f*king maniac.” Later Milley said ““‘F*k that sh*t,’ he told his staff. ‘I’ll just fight ”
Or you can look at James “Mad Dog” Mattis, talking about you know who: “We must reject and hold accountable those in office who would make a mockery of our Constitution.” [He resigned after Trump abandoned the Kurds]
As Mattis said:
“The Marine Corps required you to read a lot of history….So we need to hold our allies close. In this world, if you study history, nations with allies thrive, and nations without allies wither. And that’s a reality.”
I’ve had the pleasure and privilege of working with high-ranking military men. They follow orders but they are probably a bit different from the rank and file, in that, for one thing, they all have college educations and usually advanced degrees (one Colonel I know, besides having been a test pilot, is literally a rocket scientist) and have all been to War College where the constitutional role of the military is drummed into them.
A general I worked with, who rose from enlisted man, told me how much War College had changed him from a shoot ’em up type to a very sober, serious analyst of situations and world affairs.
Mattis has an M.A., in security from War College. Milley, a Princeton graduate, has two M.A,’s: one from Columbia (International Affairs) and one from War College (national security). Eisenhower, after West Point, graduated first in his class from Army War College for his MA.
The military is the closest thing we have to a meritocracy in this country. (Which is why Michael Flynn was pretty much drummed out).
I’m not saying that being, smart, educated and competent, combined with the patriotism and the willingness to sacrifice for this country that serving in the military shows, means that high level commanders will disobey ilegal orders, but it will make it more likely. And one can be pretty sure that it is something they would at least think about.
If nothing else, they know that since Nuremberg, “obeying orders” is not a defense to being prosecuted.
And, every officer in the chain of command knows that as well. Generals are protective of the services, and giving orders that could cause dissension in the chain of the command or even the ranks is not something they would relish doing.
Remember minorities make up about a third of the armed forces. And, race aside, about 18% are Latino. They are certainly overwhelmingly conservative, but plenty of conservatives will tell you that being conservative means opposing Trump.
The Economist has some interesting military polling. https://www.economist.com/united-states/2021/10/14/military-bases-swung-hard-away-from-republicans-in-2020
They report a Military Times poll, which showed Trump ahead of Clinton by 20 points in October 2016, but showed Biden ahead of Trump by four points in October 2020. Maybe insulting war heroes, disabled veterans, folks from NATO countries with whom they fought alongside in Iraq and Afghanistan, not to mention respected generals wasn’t a great way to woo the military vote.
So I doubt there would be a lot of enthusiasm to shoot other Americans on his behalf.
Fairytale
Why don’t you tell a true story about how Biden didn’t listen to his generals. He pulled out of Afiganistan without conditions where 13 marines were killed and thousands of Americans and allies were left behind. And who knows how many of them were killed. Biden is a disgrace.
We agree on the generals, but, ah, you mention Michael Flynn. There may be a few more like him Trump can elevate.
Trump stops wars. And his record shows it. Stop this hypothetical bullshit and look at the guy who has us involved in 2 wars. Trump or no one in the military is going to fire on the people of this country. You people are pathetic.
Right on!
Tom 👍
Hey Danny boy, it was a REPUBLICAN who got us into these two wars, George W. Bush, who started the Afghan war and invaded Iraq. It was Bush & Cheney who lied about “weapons of mass destruction”. It was Bush/Cheney who started the misguided “war on terrorism”. It was Bush who wanted to go “nation building” in Iraq & Afghanistan.