"...Trump’s people secretly investigated journalists, Democratic lawmakers and their families and staff… and the president’s own lawyer and his wife, apparently out of concerns about leaks."
Leaks? In a pig's eye!
The former president was looking for anything he could use to damage, blackmail, or otherwise coerce his percieved enemies, A…
"...Trump’s people secretly investigated journalists, Democratic lawmakers and their families and staff… and the president’s own lawyer and his wife, apparently out of concerns about leaks."
Leaks? In a pig's eye!
The former president was looking for anything he could use to damage, blackmail, or otherwise coerce his percieved enemies, Adam Schiff being at the top of that list. In Don McGahn's case, there was likely added the question of loyalty to dear leader.
This is how dictators operate, especially the paranoid, megalomanic ones.
And, THIS is the fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans of all stripes employ fear in everything they undertake. What they can't achieve in selling the merits of their position, they coerce through threats and intimidation. Make no mistake, fear is equally applied to their enemies and their allies. Trump may have taken it to a whole new level, but Republicans have long depended on fear to keep people in line and gain the upper hand.
Thus far, Democrats have not found a way to counter the politics of fear, largely because they have not made the Republicans pay a political price for their cruel and ruthless authoritarian tactics (the same you see used by Russia, China, North Korea, as well as, numerous other countries in Africa and Latin America.) Democrats have another chance to severely punish the Trump administration. Will they find the strength and perseverance to bring all these people to justice. Trump didn't operate in a vacuum - he was surrounded by like-minded enablers. They all need to be indicted, prosecuted, and punished for high crimes and misdemeanors.
This should be the number one priority of the Biden administration and the entire Democratic Party. Anyone who isn't up to the task needs to be replaced immediately. If this is not addressed before the 2022 election, they may not get another chance to save democracy, and to save the Republic from becoming a quasi-autocratic regime.
It's true that 1/45 was obsessed over leaks. But every admin likes authorized leaks, not the unauthorized ones. Both Obama and now Biden choose to come down hard on them, and whistleblowers too. Presidents will rarely yield inherited powers, and seek to use and expand the ones they have. SWe should count on Biden obeying the law more than Idjt -- but his admin must be watched to avoid violating people's rights. We shall see.
"What they can't achieve in selling the merits of their position..."
They have proven time and again that when they are forced to create good policy and legislation for their wants and desires, they just can't do it. Whether that be because they can't get along or don't have the intellect to do it or the value system is often the question.
If Drump constantly watched TV and directed his people to bully, harass, and investigate his opposition and staff, where were the hours for actually learning about and running the country so to speak. Also, of note is that Drump is a severe paranoid narcissist. His ability to think of others is nonexistent and his paranoia could easily be manipulated by those so called friends and family and staff.
A layman could come up with a number of reasons why an emotional cripple like the former president is so dangerous, and I'm sure a psych professional could come up with several more even more frightening ones. In the end, I think there will be more volumes written about the previous administration by scholars of psychiatry than by students of history and political science. LIkely there will be additions to the lexicon of psychology that are variations of the word trump.
Christy McG and Ralph Averill - My dismal memories of the former PO(TU)S' administration during his term is what keeps me watching C-SPAN to watch and listen to Biden and his people speak knowledgeably, capably, intelligently about domestic and foreign affairs. I always feel that I learn something important about governance and diplomacy when I do. From 2017 through Jan. 19 of this year, every time I watched and/or listened to members of 45's administration, my anger, disgust, and disappointment grew. Watching members of the Biden/Harris administration calms me immeasurably. I know they will not be perfect and that they will do things that will not rise to my progressive expectations, but I don't deperately reach for the bottle of scotch every time I hear one of their names, and that is a good thing.
"...Trump’s people secretly investigated journalists, Democratic lawmakers and their families and staff… and the president’s own lawyer and his wife, apparently out of concerns about leaks."
Leaks? In a pig's eye!
The former president was looking for anything he could use to damage, blackmail, or otherwise coerce his percieved enemies, Adam Schiff being at the top of that list. In Don McGahn's case, there was likely added the question of loyalty to dear leader.
This is how dictators operate, especially the paranoid, megalomanic ones.
And, THIS is the fundamental difference between Republicans and Democrats. Republicans of all stripes employ fear in everything they undertake. What they can't achieve in selling the merits of their position, they coerce through threats and intimidation. Make no mistake, fear is equally applied to their enemies and their allies. Trump may have taken it to a whole new level, but Republicans have long depended on fear to keep people in line and gain the upper hand.
Thus far, Democrats have not found a way to counter the politics of fear, largely because they have not made the Republicans pay a political price for their cruel and ruthless authoritarian tactics (the same you see used by Russia, China, North Korea, as well as, numerous other countries in Africa and Latin America.) Democrats have another chance to severely punish the Trump administration. Will they find the strength and perseverance to bring all these people to justice. Trump didn't operate in a vacuum - he was surrounded by like-minded enablers. They all need to be indicted, prosecuted, and punished for high crimes and misdemeanors.
This should be the number one priority of the Biden administration and the entire Democratic Party. Anyone who isn't up to the task needs to be replaced immediately. If this is not addressed before the 2022 election, they may not get another chance to save democracy, and to save the Republic from becoming a quasi-autocratic regime.
It's true that 1/45 was obsessed over leaks. But every admin likes authorized leaks, not the unauthorized ones. Both Obama and now Biden choose to come down hard on them, and whistleblowers too. Presidents will rarely yield inherited powers, and seek to use and expand the ones they have. SWe should count on Biden obeying the law more than Idjt -- but his admin must be watched to avoid violating people's rights. We shall see.
Word to the wise "watched to avoid violating people's rights." Good advice.
Ask any early childhood care giver how to treat a mini-monster.
Yes, but what exactly are the steps we should be taking?!
"What they can't achieve in selling the merits of their position..."
They have proven time and again that when they are forced to create good policy and legislation for their wants and desires, they just can't do it. Whether that be because they can't get along or don't have the intellect to do it or the value system is often the question.
If Drump constantly watched TV and directed his people to bully, harass, and investigate his opposition and staff, where were the hours for actually learning about and running the country so to speak. Also, of note is that Drump is a severe paranoid narcissist. His ability to think of others is nonexistent and his paranoia could easily be manipulated by those so called friends and family and staff.
A layman could come up with a number of reasons why an emotional cripple like the former president is so dangerous, and I'm sure a psych professional could come up with several more even more frightening ones. In the end, I think there will be more volumes written about the previous administration by scholars of psychiatry than by students of history and political science. LIkely there will be additions to the lexicon of psychology that are variations of the word trump.
Christy McG and Ralph Averill - My dismal memories of the former PO(TU)S' administration during his term is what keeps me watching C-SPAN to watch and listen to Biden and his people speak knowledgeably, capably, intelligently about domestic and foreign affairs. I always feel that I learn something important about governance and diplomacy when I do. From 2017 through Jan. 19 of this year, every time I watched and/or listened to members of 45's administration, my anger, disgust, and disappointment grew. Watching members of the Biden/Harris administration calms me immeasurably. I know they will not be perfect and that they will do things that will not rise to my progressive expectations, but I don't deperately reach for the bottle of scotch every time I hear one of their names, and that is a good thing.