A story in the New York Times today by Jonathan Swan, Charlie Savage, and Maggie Haberman outlined how former president Donald Trump and his allies are planning to create a dictatorship if voters return him to power in 2024. The article talks about how Trump and his loyalists plan to “centralize more power in the Oval Office” by “increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House.”
It just takes your breath away, the blatant declaration of the authoritarian plan. Republicans won't fight this monster. We must.
“...increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House.”
As before, TFG and compatriots are saying the quiet parts out loud. We need to believe them and behave accordingly. We need to point out how Biden’s administration is embracing Eisenhower’s Republican ideals—for example, using the federal government to accomplish needed infrastructure that the individual states cannot afford and taking advantage of economies of scale. We need to get nonvoters to realize how Biden administration policies have made their lives, and those of their grandchildren, better. It’s not a time to become paralyzed by fear; the Ukrainians have shown us how to fight for democracy.
“What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them,” said Russell T. Vought, who ran Trump’s Office of Management and Budget and who now advises the right-wing House Freedom Caucus. They envision a “president” who cannot be checked by the Congress or the courts.
" Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises". - Lincoln
“What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them,” said Russell T. Vought, who ran Trump’s Office of Management and Budget and who now advises the right-wing House Freedom Caucus. They envision a “president” who cannot be checked by the Congress or the courts.
If this planned Project 2025 goes through, the US will no longer be a government of, by, or for the people; no freedom or independence, and certainly no transparency.
Can we stop pussyfooting? Please. The Republican Party, and all organizations and individuals who enable Trumpism, are part of an openly fascist terror organization. The time to shut them down is NOW.
I read some pages of that over 900 pages manifesto before I had to stop. It nauseated me. It’s all about how white people should seize the day in 2025. Bring back Christian values, nuclear families, women stay at home to cook, clean, have kids, etc. I looked at the list of people who helped put this “project” together. It’s pretty alarming to discover their desire to create their perfect little world, under their authority, under their rules. See, this is why I became sick to my stomach.
Well written, Heather! It’s all damn scary. But what will an authoritarian President Trump do to destroy the world order while he is busy destroying American democracy? Americans need to understand that if Trump gets in office, WW3 will not be far behind. Napoleon had his Waterloo, but democracy will never recover if Trump is re-elected. The stakes and weapons are far more destructive.
How many will continue to support these designs to reshape what has been a democracy into a dictatorship? That many of these anti-democratic thinkers and influencers are more and more openly stating their goals, even giving interviews, is terrifying. Using tropes to anger,and incite hatred and distrust, they can motivate many to support their plans. All the good news about Biden's achievements may be too easily overshadowed by this bilious hatred, this desire for a white, racist society that ironically will have not a scintilla of Christianity in it.
It puzzles me why people think DeSantis is a buffoon. He is an effective Facist that has bulldozed the state of Florida in a very short period of time.
I read the NY Times story yesterday knowing full well this is the definitive gameplan for Trump and the Republican Party. It is not a pipe dream of the few crazy MAGA'S. This our future. They aren't kidding.
If by some miracle Biden wins this upcoming election and the Republicans are unsuccessful in slanting the outcome, we will only have 4 years of sanity.
Frankly, if we call what we are living now sanity, we really need to adjust our expectations. This constant baseball bat that is held over our heads by the GOP is really getting old.
Important and insightful. Thank you Heather. Pro-democracy members of Congress (provided they have voter support in the 2024 election cycle) should consider authoring, supporting, and passing comprehensive legislation geared toward the strengthening of voting rights, the elimination of gerrymandering, the expansion of SCOTUS, anti-corruption and insider trading initiatives, and the protection of federal pro-democracy institutions. While state governments pass a national popular vote compact to effectively render the electoral college a useless artifact of a racist history.
"Behind this initiative is “Project 2025,” a coalition of more than 65 right-wing organizations putting in place personnel and policies to recommend not just to Trump, but to any Republican who may win in 2024. Project 2025 is led by the Heritage Foundation, once considered a conservative think tank, that helped to lead the Reagan revolution."
I have some thoughts on what a response (counter-offensive) to Project 2025 might look like:
It should now be self-evident that our government is vulnerable to attack and/or control by a small minority of committed internal actors. Much of our vulnerability appears to flow directly from structural flaws in our 'rules of law.' Indeed, many maintain that at least some of those 'flaws' were created by the founders with the intention of facilitating control by a minority of elite, white, men.
It should also, by now, be self-evident that responding to the radical right and their weaponised 'issue' collaborators* with rational arguments is woefully ineffective and any success depends on the integrity of the voter registration and election systens which are also under attack.
We lack a clear voice to articulate the flaws and suggest corrections. And while there are a few gifted spokespersons among our legislators, they have, as a body, been unable to gain wide traction and gain commitment to a path forward. The fact that neither the legislative or executive branchs have made any progress against our horror-show Supreme Court is only one example of this void.
Unfortunately, the Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation provide examples of how this voice might function -- except the defense of democracy counter-offensive would be fueled by the power of truth and principle; not by capital which fuels Project 2025.
I sense a glimmer of such a voice in at least two places: the SistersInLaw (incuding Prof. Joyce Vance) and the small group of scholars and historians that meet with President Biden (incuding Prof. Richardson).
I have no idea how such a voice would form or function, but it seems clear that it is essential to have if we are ever to "herd the cats" making up the majority of Americans desparate to save democracy.
* Weaponised 'issue' collaborators are, for example: radical evangelicals, white nationalists, anti-semites, anti-vaxers, book burners, and anti-'wokesters' etc.
They are going all out to turn us into a Christian autocracy, opposition by most of the population be damned. People have become too complacent, too blinkered to any thought that - it could happen here. It’s described in a play written in the 30s and any concern was rejected by conservatives back in the days of Hitler
It just takes your breath away, the blatant declaration of the authoritarian plan. Republicans won't fight this monster. We must.
“...increasing the president’s authority over every part of the federal government that now operates, by either law or tradition, with any measure of independence from political interference by the White House.”
As before, TFG and compatriots are saying the quiet parts out loud. We need to believe them and behave accordingly. We need to point out how Biden’s administration is embracing Eisenhower’s Republican ideals—for example, using the federal government to accomplish needed infrastructure that the individual states cannot afford and taking advantage of economies of scale. We need to get nonvoters to realize how Biden administration policies have made their lives, and those of their grandchildren, better. It’s not a time to become paralyzed by fear; the Ukrainians have shown us how to fight for democracy.
“What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them,” said Russell T. Vought, who ran Trump’s Office of Management and Budget and who now advises the right-wing House Freedom Caucus. They envision a “president” who cannot be checked by the Congress or the courts.
" Accustomed to trample on the rights of those around you, you have lost the genius of your own independence, and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises". - Lincoln
“What we’re trying to do is identify the pockets of independence and seize them,” said Russell T. Vought, who ran Trump’s Office of Management and Budget and who now advises the right-wing House Freedom Caucus. They envision a “president” who cannot be checked by the Congress or the courts.
If this planned Project 2025 goes through, the US will no longer be a government of, by, or for the people; no freedom or independence, and certainly no transparency.
Get out the vote! GOTV! 💙
Can we stop pussyfooting? Please. The Republican Party, and all organizations and individuals who enable Trumpism, are part of an openly fascist terror organization. The time to shut them down is NOW.
I read some pages of that over 900 pages manifesto before I had to stop. It nauseated me. It’s all about how white people should seize the day in 2025. Bring back Christian values, nuclear families, women stay at home to cook, clean, have kids, etc. I looked at the list of people who helped put this “project” together. It’s pretty alarming to discover their desire to create their perfect little world, under their authority, under their rules. See, this is why I became sick to my stomach.
Let's call this what it is: the most venal and stupid among us attempting to mould our government in their own image:
A Kakistocracy.
Well written, Heather! It’s all damn scary. But what will an authoritarian President Trump do to destroy the world order while he is busy destroying American democracy? Americans need to understand that if Trump gets in office, WW3 will not be far behind. Napoleon had his Waterloo, but democracy will never recover if Trump is re-elected. The stakes and weapons are far more destructive.
How many will continue to support these designs to reshape what has been a democracy into a dictatorship? That many of these anti-democratic thinkers and influencers are more and more openly stating their goals, even giving interviews, is terrifying. Using tropes to anger,and incite hatred and distrust, they can motivate many to support their plans. All the good news about Biden's achievements may be too easily overshadowed by this bilious hatred, this desire for a white, racist society that ironically will have not a scintilla of Christianity in it.
The first 3/4 of this letter, in my opinion, makes it the most frightening one to date. I’m very thankful for the last part of the letter.
The authoritarian plan described above creates heart thumping fear in me!
Thank you Heather.
It puzzles me why people think DeSantis is a buffoon. He is an effective Facist that has bulldozed the state of Florida in a very short period of time.
I read the NY Times story yesterday knowing full well this is the definitive gameplan for Trump and the Republican Party. It is not a pipe dream of the few crazy MAGA'S. This our future. They aren't kidding.
If by some miracle Biden wins this upcoming election and the Republicans are unsuccessful in slanting the outcome, we will only have 4 years of sanity.
Frankly, if we call what we are living now sanity, we really need to adjust our expectations. This constant baseball bat that is held over our heads by the GOP is really getting old.
Be safe. Be well.
Important and insightful. Thank you Heather. Pro-democracy members of Congress (provided they have voter support in the 2024 election cycle) should consider authoring, supporting, and passing comprehensive legislation geared toward the strengthening of voting rights, the elimination of gerrymandering, the expansion of SCOTUS, anti-corruption and insider trading initiatives, and the protection of federal pro-democracy institutions. While state governments pass a national popular vote compact to effectively render the electoral college a useless artifact of a racist history.
Re: Professor Richardson's obervation:
"Behind this initiative is “Project 2025,” a coalition of more than 65 right-wing organizations putting in place personnel and policies to recommend not just to Trump, but to any Republican who may win in 2024. Project 2025 is led by the Heritage Foundation, once considered a conservative think tank, that helped to lead the Reagan revolution."
I have some thoughts on what a response (counter-offensive) to Project 2025 might look like:
It should now be self-evident that our government is vulnerable to attack and/or control by a small minority of committed internal actors. Much of our vulnerability appears to flow directly from structural flaws in our 'rules of law.' Indeed, many maintain that at least some of those 'flaws' were created by the founders with the intention of facilitating control by a minority of elite, white, men.
It should also, by now, be self-evident that responding to the radical right and their weaponised 'issue' collaborators* with rational arguments is woefully ineffective and any success depends on the integrity of the voter registration and election systens which are also under attack.
We lack a clear voice to articulate the flaws and suggest corrections. And while there are a few gifted spokespersons among our legislators, they have, as a body, been unable to gain wide traction and gain commitment to a path forward. The fact that neither the legislative or executive branchs have made any progress against our horror-show Supreme Court is only one example of this void.
Unfortunately, the Federalist Society and Heritage Foundation provide examples of how this voice might function -- except the defense of democracy counter-offensive would be fueled by the power of truth and principle; not by capital which fuels Project 2025.
I sense a glimmer of such a voice in at least two places: the SistersInLaw (incuding Prof. Joyce Vance) and the small group of scholars and historians that meet with President Biden (incuding Prof. Richardson).
I have no idea how such a voice would form or function, but it seems clear that it is essential to have if we are ever to "herd the cats" making up the majority of Americans desparate to save democracy.
* Weaponised 'issue' collaborators are, for example: radical evangelicals, white nationalists, anti-semites, anti-vaxers, book burners, and anti-'wokesters' etc.
So... "Conservative" means "Smash it all".
And "Christian" means "Whatever I want it to mean this morning... this afternoon... this moment".
Delirium.
They are going all out to turn us into a Christian autocracy, opposition by most of the population be damned. People have become too complacent, too blinkered to any thought that - it could happen here. It’s described in a play written in the 30s and any concern was rejected by conservatives back in the days of Hitler