Robert Reich: The Crazies Are Now in Charge of Donald Trump

[babylonsister]

http://www.smirkingchimp.com/thread/robert-reich/104128/the-crazies-are-now-in-charge-of-donald-trump


The Crazies Are Now in Charge of Donald Trump
by Robert Reich | November 28, 2022 - 7:26am
— from Robert Reich's Substack

Friends,

What worries me most about Trump’s dinner last week at Mar-a-Lago with Nick Fuentes, the outspoken antisemite and racist who is one of America’s most prominent young white supremacists, and Kanye West, whose recent antisemitic outbursts have rocked the entertainment world, isn’t just that a former (and possibly future) president would dine with such avowed bigots.

I don’t think Trump is seeking to legitimate antisemitism or racism. The only “ism” Trump believes in is narcissism. Fuentes and West apparently showered him with enough compliments to get an invitation from him.

What worries me is how they got that invitation.

A former president, or anyone even vaguely thinking about running for president, has a staff that’s supposed to warn against dining with people who much of the public view as reprehensible.

That Trump doesn’t have anyone around him to sound that alarm – or at least anyone he’ll listen to – is a serious problem. It’s not just a problem for his own ambitions and legacy; it’s a problem for the nation.

Let me explain.

During the last months of his presidency, the more level-headed of Trump’s staff were known in the White House as “team normal,” by contrast with “team crazy” that presumably helped him plan and execute his attempted coup.

But the only way Fuentes and West would have got an invite to Mar-a-Lago is if the normals had all left. I’m reasonably sure they’re gone. Why would any of them stick around? Why would we expect Trump to keep them around?

So there’s only one explanation for the dinner. Trump has surrounded himself with crazies.

snip//

That’s my real worry: A presidential candidate who would welcome Nick Fuentes and Kanye West to dinner at his home is a candidate without sound advice, a candidate who has no one around him to tell him no, or he’s a candidate who doesn’t give a damn.

Whatever the reason, that presidential candidate is untethered. He is surrounded by people as crazy as he is. Which means he’s even more dangerous.

[republianmushroom]

1. they have been for a long time

[apcalc]

2. He needs their loyalty, their money, and their associates.

Anyone who can help further his cause….

[jcgoldie]

3. Reich gives Trump too much credit

He knows who those fuckers are. He did not invite Fuentes to dinner because nobody told him who he is. He did so because they share a common purpose, then he feigned ignorance when the story got out. Its the old covfefe boy, 'barely knew him' over again.

[tanyev]

4. Fortunately he's no longer president.

Because I think the crazies would have completely taken over the White House.

[Abolishinist]

5. No doubt, no doubt.

We've been given a short reprieve, hopefully common sense will prevail.

Otherwise we're as done as a 190 degree steak (with ketchup).

[Ace Rothstein]

6. Now?

I respectfully disagree. He's had people like Bannon and Miller around him for a long time.