BTRTN: Does Trump Have an Iron Grip on the GOP... Or on the USA? What Can We Do?

[reggieandlee]

Much has been written on Trump's iron grip on the GOP. today, Born To Run The Numbers reframes the issue, asking if Trump now has a vise-like grip on the United States of America, redefining our brand and our meaning in his image, his behavior, and his beliefs. Most important, what can we do about it?

https://borntorunthenumbers.com/2025/03/19/btrtn-does-trump-have-an-iron-grip-on-the-gop-or-on-the-usa-what-can-we-do/

Excerpts: "Want to annex Canada? Neither do I. Throw the Ukrainians under the bus? Me neither. Create a high-stakes trade war with our allies? Not what I asked for. The problem? Though you and I may be in the majority on these issues, apparently you and I no longer count.The undisputed, unambiguous, absolute face of the United States of America is Donald Trump. He is this nation...
"Trump controls his party with an iron grip, perhaps more so than Nancy Pelosi on her best day. House Republicans snapped into line behind Trump. That victory demonstrated Trump’s vise-like lock on two branches of government. In the grumbling, dissent, and anger with Schumer, it is clear that it is the Democrats whose fault lines and fractures have been laid bare.
"It somehow manages to gets worse. With each new day, it becomes clear that if the courts won’t bend to his wishes, Trump may decide to ignore the third branch as well...
"It doesn’t matter whether you live in a Red State, a Blue State, a state of panic or a state of denial, we are fast becoming the United States of Donald Trump...
"The failure of our people to register our abhorrence for Trump’s actions is effectively sending a message to Kiev, London, Paris, Taipei, Warsaw, and Berlin that we Americans are just fine with the new face we are putting out to the world. Before a European stage that is already at risk of tilting dangerously to the right, we are letting Trump define us, and the world hears our silence as either complacency or complicity. Tell me which is worse.
"So what do we do?...

[C_U_L8R]

1. He wants us to believe he does.

But his hold on this country is about as tenuous as his grip on reality. The town halls are turning, and it's only been 2 months.

[Wavelight]

2. All that stands

Between Trump/MAGA and full on autocracy are the courts. And they don’t have a way of enforcing the rule of law. He will eventually beat them down as well.

This is the dawn of a new era.

[tgards79]

3. Good idea

The idea in the article is a terrific one. Read on!