General Discussion

kpete

(72,898 posts) Thu Jul 21, 2016, 07:20 PM Jul 2016

112

Trump’s nomination is the first time American politics has left me truly afraid -by Ezra Klein [View all]

Donald Trump is not a man who should be president. This is not an ideological judgment. This is not something I would say about Mitt Romney or Marco Rubio. This is not a disagreement over Donald Trump’s tax plan or his climate policies. This is about Trump’s character, his temperament, his impulsiveness, his basic decency.

............

Trump admires authoritarian dictators for their authoritarianism. When MSNBC's Joe Scarborough asked Trump about his affection for Vladimir Putin, who "kills journalists, political opponents and invades countries," Trump replied, "He's running his country, and at least he's a leader, unlike what we have in this country."

But it’s not just Putin. Trump has praised Saddam Hussein because "he killed terrorists. He did that so good. They didn't read them the rights." He said "you've got to give (Kim Jong Un) credit. He goes in, he takes over, and he's the boss. It's incredible." It’s not just that Trump admires these authoritarians; it’s that the thing he admires about them is their authoritarianism — their ability to dispense with niceties like a free press, due process, and political opposition.

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The simple fact of it is that Donald Trump should not be president of the United States. That is not because he is too conservative, as some Democrats would have it, or because he is not conservative enough, as many Republicans would have it. It’s because the presidency is a powerful job where mistakes can kill millions, and whoever holds it needs to take that power seriously and wield it responsibly. Trump has had ample opportunity to demonstrate his sense of seriousness and responsibility. He has failed.

It is said that the benefit of America’s long presidential campaigns is they offer the candidates time to show us who they really are. Trump has shown us who he really is. He is a person who should not be president. That he is being brought this close to the presidency — that he is one major mistake by Hillary Clinton away from winning it — should scare us all. It certainly scares me.

MORE:
http://www.vox.com/2016/7/21/12218136/donald-trump-nomination-afraid

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Trump’s nomination is the first time American politics has left me truly afraid -by Ezra Klein [View all] kpete Jul 2016 OP

I was afraid when bush wa elected, but that was nothing compared to my fear now liberal N proud Jul 2016 #1

I was afraid when both Reagan and Bush (GW) were elected and both hurt us badly. lark Jul 2016 #44

Glad Ezra is finally waking up. There have been heavy warning signs for many years. newthinking Jul 2016 #48

I live in BC, and I've had a handful of my American friends ask if I'll help them get into Canada. BobTheSubgenius Jul 2016 #78

Age makes a difference! DRI Jul 2016 #56

Blue dog here lark Jul 2016 #79

If elected, Trump would set America back a hundred years. In_The_Wind Jul 2016 #2

Worse than that... 2naSalit Jul 2016 #6

It's truly frightening. In_The_Wind Jul 2016 #8

He'd be setting us back to colonial times.... AlbertCat Jul 2016 #59

I do know that 2naSalit Jul 2016 #71

But: fuzzwald Jul 2016 #75

Some of us who look different would probably be deported yuiyoshida Jul 2016 #15

We cannot let that happen! We need to vote for Hillary to Stop Trump. In_The_Wind Jul 2016 #25

yes! or harassed and otherwise made to feel unwelcome. sarae Jul 2016 #51

It's not my concern about Trump as much as all of his minions who would carry out his message. bulloney Jul 2016 #36

I never thought it could get worse than W and Cheney. tallahasseedem Jul 2016 #3

+1 Hekate Jul 2016 #13

Pence tossed that ticket to the whack-a-doo side of the fence. HughBeaumont Jul 2016 #32

That's also how I feel about Pence. LuvNewcastle Jul 2016 #74

Yup. progressoid Jul 2016 #37

People should be afraid especially after his comments about NATO nt maryellen99 Jul 2016 #4

I have a very queasy feeling at the pit of my stomach tonight..... northoftheborder Jul 2016 #5

Michael Moore says you are in denial if you feel Trump can't win davidn3600 Jul 2016 #7

Uh . . . . HughBeaumont Jul 2016 #31

2012 Electoral College Vote totals mnhtnbb Jul 2016 #33

That being said, Trump isn't taking all four states. HughBeaumont Jul 2016 #54

Three of those four states currently have Republican governors mnhtnbb Jul 2016 #73

Far from the first for me (nt) bigwillq Jul 2016 #9

I admit that I am terrified. nruthie Jul 2016 #10

I just remarked to a friend tonight tammywammy Jul 2016 #11

Now look at the GOP platform and you won't be able to sleep world wide wally Jul 2016 #12

Never under estimate coco77 Jul 2016 #14

completely agree trixie Jul 2016 #16

"his basic decency"???????? are you ******* KIDDING? niyad Jul 2016 #17

I read that to mean his lack of decency. (nt) Skinner Jul 2016 #27

those two words should definitely have been there. niyad Jul 2016 #64

Me too. The context was very clear. PatrickforO Jul 2016 #77

Is that all you read? ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jul 2016 #29

confused? really? thanks for the insult, but I read the whole thing, and niyad Jul 2016 #63

I don't know how you can read that article and think Klein in ANY way was crediting Trump ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jul 2016 #68

and so does mine. but keep on trying. niyad Jul 2016 #69

Nah, I'll stop trying ProudToBeBlueInRhody Jul 2016 #70

Bad editing. malthaussen Jul 2016 #39

I would certainly hope so. niyad Jul 2016 #65

Trump keeps telling us who he is. Those who either don't believe him or think they can control ... Hekate Jul 2016 #18

Their is a lot of denial that can push him to victory Person 2713 Jul 2016 #26

No, not necessarily fools. malthaussen Jul 2016 #40

Do they know Trump is lying and can't fulfill the promises he is making? Martin Eden Jul 2016 #45

And I think most of them know exactly what he is... malthaussen Jul 2016 #46

Difficult to know how many of Trump's ardent admirers really know he constantly lies to their face Martin Eden Jul 2016 #47

Understood, but that is just as difficult to know as the other... malthaussen Jul 2016 #49

But whenever an election is in process ... Martin Eden Jul 2016 #52

Sure, because that's what it was. malthaussen Jul 2016 #53

Trump is an absolute menace demfromWA03 Jul 2016 #19

Absolutely terrifying, horrifying. +1, I agree he is alarming, dreadful. uppityperson Jul 2016 #22

Internment Camps Will Come billhicks76 Jul 2016 #20

Reagan gutted the education system. 40 years of that gave us Trump. Initech Jul 2016 #21

Raygun begat shrub, now Drumpt. Raygun was the worst President ever. kairos12 Jul 2016 #41

I'm scared n/t hibbing Jul 2016 #23

Don't be scared of Trump GreenEyedLefty Jul 2016 #24

Yep Kimberly1990219 Jul 2016 #28

K&R napkinz Jul 2016 #30

What I keep thinking of as I read this thread Prisoner_Number_Six Jul 2016 #34

“I am the law and order candidate.” Is there any doubt what he means? bucolic_frolic Jul 2016 #35

It could even be like 1980 bucolic_frolic Jul 2016 #43

Still wondering what the "October Surprise" will be. malthaussen Jul 2016 #50

Look at who he says he admires: Still In Wisconsin Jul 2016 #55

Rec! progressoid Jul 2016 #38

I agree Third Doctor Jul 2016 #42

I am going to say something first bullsnarfle Jul 2016 #57

that he is one major mistake by Hillary Clinton away from winning it — should scare us all. AlbertCat Jul 2016 #58

This was a really good read! A keeper. calimary Jul 2016 #60

View from the Midwest sammcgee68 Jul 2016 #61

I hate Hitler analogies but we have to learn from history the ramifications of being complacent and YOHABLO Jul 2016 #62

The Bubble Led To This colsohlibgal Jul 2016 #66

I am not alone. nt TeamPooka Jul 2016 #67

Well, Ezra, TNNurse Jul 2016 #72

On another post you did, there was a brilliant quote from Maya Angelou: PatrickforO Jul 2016 #76

K & R Scurrilous Jul 2016 #80