No "conspiracy theory" about what Trump has been up to with our enemies seems implausible now

[Tom Rinaldo]

The more malevolent the motives and behavior that can be attributed to Trump, the more likely it seems that it is true. The fact that my imagination about Trump's evil intentions can't keep pace with new revelations about his ongoing plots is truly terrifying for our nation; I thought I had a pretty good imagination.

This man was President of the United States two years ago. He might be again (though I doubt it.) I was around for Nixon, Reagan, and George W. Bush. I thought each of them, for different reasons and to different degrees, presented a threat to our Democracy. Not in the same dimension. Not in the same universe. They were garden snakes at worst relative to Trump's King Cobra. The fight is on to save democracy. Nothing is preordained, but I think we are winning.

[murielm99]

1. The only saving grace is that

trump is stupid. The next trump might be smarter. We have to make changes now. Get rid of the electoral college. Expand the supreme court. Get rid of the filibuster.

We need to take a good, hard look at our media. Why do so few own so much? Why are they all conservative? Why is everything done for ratings?

We need to take a look at our schools. Why are our children so uneducated? And gun ownership? People like me, gun owners, need to band together and be the ones who change these laws. It can be done.

[Tom Rinaldo]

2. I think he is more cunning than stupid, but in a tunnel vision kind of way.

Trump has street smarts. He excels at playing people. Not all fall under his sway but too many do, and some of those who don't he manages to bully and/or intimidate into silence, if not actual compliance.

His narcissism is his greatest weapon. He is so totally self centered that he will plow full steam ahead with any assertion and/or course of action that he thinks furthers his aims, no matter how far fetched at first it might seem to virtually anyone else. It is the perverse twist advantage expressed by "fools rush in where wise man fear to go."

It took someone uniquely like Trump to probe all of the fault lines in our society and politics simultaneously in a full frontal assault. I agree with you though that he may be followed by a better technician that Trump is, someone who can more skillfully exploit specific weaknesses that Trump has exposed.