We have been electing ever more authoritarian presidents for some time. But I am at a loss as to the mass "he can do no wrong" adoration of Trump as an American savior!!!
Trumps own statements about being able to do what he wants coupled with his moves to consolidate power, eliminate government oversight and silence his opposition, is a threat to our republic. Perhaps as troubling is the numbers of authoritarian followers-those who demonstrate automatic submission to their in-group leader; those who punish or are violent to out-of-group rule breakers; and the banner wavers who rigidly endorse whatever leader proclaimed in-group rules are du jour.
There is some work studying the idea that authoritarian follower tendencies are inherited.
Good article John. When I speak to sincere Trump supporters they tell me it is because the Democrats have adopted such a left-wing agenda and they see Trump as one to counter it.
Unfortunately, I'm all too familiar with the "the other side is always worse" defense (or at least rationalization) of anything and everything Trump does, even if it's immoral, unethical, illegal, unconstitutional, or un-American.
I just find the argument wholly ridiculous, and dismissive of our system and foundation of government. It's basically a permission slip for Trump to effectively do anything he wants (including the pursuit of a largely left-wing agenda himself), because the "other side," no matter what, will always be reflexively viewed as worse.
I share your sentiments, John, but Tim makes a valid point. The Democrats don't help themselves by protesting with signs praising socialism, or passing local laws forbidding local LEO from working with ICE. If public safety is the concern, which they claim it is, wouldn't having local police involved in the operation help to defuse tense situations? The "equal and opposite" reaction from the Left is what enables Trump for the most part, as it causes just enough moderates to see him as the lesser of two evils.
Oh, trust me... I get why people don't like or trust the Democrats. I just don't see their awfulness as a defense or rationalization of whatever Trump does as president. And that's before we even get to the Republican Congress, who has surrendered their authority on matters of huge national and international importance.
John, I know you don’t like President Trump. He does nothing to please you. I think he’s doing one hell of a job.
He loved to sail in Muddy Waters. It’s been successful in my opinion. It’s The muddy Waters you don’t like. Let Trump be Trump! As long as he succeeds.
Conrad, do you ever get tired of lying about this? It's a serious question. As you fully know, I have stated over and over the things I believe Trump has done right. And every single time, you purposely ignore it, and falsely claim once again that nothing he does pleases me.
Do you keep lying because it's easier to pretend, in your mind, that I'm totally unreasonable in my assessment of him, as opposed to holding him to reasonable standards I would, and have, applied to other presidents? That's my theory as to why you keep lying, but I'd be interested in hearing YOUR explanation for why you keep lying.
>>I think he’s doing one hell of a job.
We know. When you hold someone to no standards, they can never disappoint you.
>>He loved to sail in Muddy Waters. It’s been successful in my opinion. It’s The muddy Waters you don’t like.
No, it's the objectively bad things he does that I don't like. You'd dislike them too, if it were Biden doing them instead of Trump.
>>Let Trump be Trump!
No. He works for me, not the other way around. And contrary to how you worship him, he's not God.
>>As long as he succeeds.
He has failed on all kinds of things. You don't care because you hold him to no standards.
We have been electing ever more authoritarian presidents for some time. But I am at a loss as to the mass "he can do no wrong" adoration of Trump as an American savior!!!
It's a cult of personality - listen to the song by Living Colour....
I used to evoke that song quite when writing about Obama's appeal. Little did I know...
Obama gave us Trump 1.0. Trump 1.0 gave us Biden. Biden gave us Trump 2.0. The pendulum keeps swinging back and forth....
Yup.
Trumps own statements about being able to do what he wants coupled with his moves to consolidate power, eliminate government oversight and silence his opposition, is a threat to our republic. Perhaps as troubling is the numbers of authoritarian followers-those who demonstrate automatic submission to their in-group leader; those who punish or are violent to out-of-group rule breakers; and the banner wavers who rigidly endorse whatever leader proclaimed in-group rules are du jour.
There is some work studying the idea that authoritarian follower tendencies are inherited.
Good article John. When I speak to sincere Trump supporters they tell me it is because the Democrats have adopted such a left-wing agenda and they see Trump as one to counter it.
Thanks.
Unfortunately, I'm all too familiar with the "the other side is always worse" defense (or at least rationalization) of anything and everything Trump does, even if it's immoral, unethical, illegal, unconstitutional, or un-American.
I just find the argument wholly ridiculous, and dismissive of our system and foundation of government. It's basically a permission slip for Trump to effectively do anything he wants (including the pursuit of a largely left-wing agenda himself), because the "other side," no matter what, will always be reflexively viewed as worse.
I share your sentiments, John, but Tim makes a valid point. The Democrats don't help themselves by protesting with signs praising socialism, or passing local laws forbidding local LEO from working with ICE. If public safety is the concern, which they claim it is, wouldn't having local police involved in the operation help to defuse tense situations? The "equal and opposite" reaction from the Left is what enables Trump for the most part, as it causes just enough moderates to see him as the lesser of two evils.
Oh, trust me... I get why people don't like or trust the Democrats. I just don't see their awfulness as a defense or rationalization of whatever Trump does as president. And that's before we even get to the Republican Congress, who has surrendered their authority on matters of huge national and international importance.
Ann Coulter
Wrote a book about liberals.
She stated “ you can’t reason with a liberal”.
Conrad, you're a liberal. You support liberal policies. She was describing you.
John, I know you don’t like President Trump. He does nothing to please you. I think he’s doing one hell of a job.
He loved to sail in Muddy Waters. It’s been successful in my opinion. It’s The muddy Waters you don’t like. Let Trump be Trump! As long as he succeeds.
>>He does nothing to please you.
Conrad, do you ever get tired of lying about this? It's a serious question. As you fully know, I have stated over and over the things I believe Trump has done right. And every single time, you purposely ignore it, and falsely claim once again that nothing he does pleases me.
Do you keep lying because it's easier to pretend, in your mind, that I'm totally unreasonable in my assessment of him, as opposed to holding him to reasonable standards I would, and have, applied to other presidents? That's my theory as to why you keep lying, but I'd be interested in hearing YOUR explanation for why you keep lying.
>>I think he’s doing one hell of a job.
We know. When you hold someone to no standards, they can never disappoint you.
>>He loved to sail in Muddy Waters. It’s been successful in my opinion. It’s The muddy Waters you don’t like.
No, it's the objectively bad things he does that I don't like. You'd dislike them too, if it were Biden doing them instead of Trump.
>>Let Trump be Trump!
No. He works for me, not the other way around. And contrary to how you worship him, he's not God.
>>As long as he succeeds.
He has failed on all kinds of things. You don't care because you hold him to no standards.
It's quitE obvious....
Thanks! Corrected.